Rural BC at a Crossroads — Supporting Seniors to Age in Place

Rural British Columbia is aging rapidly. Keeping seniors safe, healthy and socially connected where they live — “aging in place” — requires more than goodwill: it needs targeted housing, transportation, home‑support and health workforce responses built for rural realities. This article synthesizes recent evidence and practice, highlights Alert Bay as a BC example, and sets…

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Budget 2026 – The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The quick context Budget date: Feb 17, 2026. Provincial operating spending up $3.9B over the plan; deficits: $13.3B (2026/27), $12.2B, $11.4B. Taxpayer‑supported capital $37.7B over three years; taxpayer‑supported debt rising to ~$189B by 2028/29 (Budget tables summary, Part 1, pp.1–2, 11–12, 17). 2026_Budget_and_Fiscal_Plan The good (positive for rural, remote & First Nations): First Nations equity…

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Dark Sky Tourism and Rural Development: Lessons From The Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Journal of Rural and Community Development Dark Sky Tourism and Rural Development: Lessons From The Jasper Dark Sky Festival Authors: Clark Banack & Glen Hvenegaard Publisher:Rural Development Institute, Brandon University. Editor:Dr. Doug Ramsey Open Access Policy:This journal provides open access to all of its content on the principle that making research freely available to the…

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Exploring the Use of Ai in Health & IHSTS

THE RURAL HEALTH LINKED SECTORS Presentation Overviews: The Institute for Health System Transformation and Sustainability (IHSTS) presents the Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Network: Uniting communities, healthcare providers, and partners across British Columbia to support type 2 diabetes. The presentation will explain why the T2D Network exists, how it operates, what programs and initiatives it oversees,…

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Virtual Health Supports | Webinar

This engaging session will spotlight innovative virtual health solutions transforming rural care in British Columbia Discover how virtual health services, including HealthLinkBC 8-1-1, are transforming rural care by improving access, reducing Emergency Department congestion, and enhancing health outcomes across British Columbia. Guest Speakers: Dr. Kendall Ho is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the…

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The State of Rural Canada

The State of Rural Canada report provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse challenges and opportunities facing rural, remote, and northern communities across the country. While each region has its unique context, several overarching themes emerge from this fifth version of the report that paint a picture of rural Canada as a complex mosaic of…

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Rural Resident Retention and Attraction Guidebook

Introduction to Rural Resident Retention and Attraction What is Resident Retention and Attraction? Resident retention and attraction (RRA) initiatives position communities to address issues associated with population size (e.g., low or declining number of residents) or population composition (e.g., aging population) — whether that be a shortage of skilled workers, low school enrolment, or a…

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Strategic Planning for Economic Development

Using the Strategic Planning Toolkit as a foundation, we’ll explore in-depth a handful of stages in the strategic planning process. You’ll hear from your peers in B.C. communities who have used the Strategic Planning Toolkit in different ways: Gold River’s community consultation process; 100 Mile House’s engagement with the municipal council; and the Regional District…

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