Small Town Canada Strives to Survive

Small towns strive to survive

Here’s an informative report by CBC on how rural Canadians are striving to cope with change in the 21st century.  TRANSFORMATION How Canada’s small towns are trying to survive and thrive in changing times All summer CBC News will showcase communities adapting to demographic and other changes Chris Iorfida · CBC News · Posted: Jul 09, 2018 4:00 AM…

Read More

New Rural Dividend Intake Begins June 1, 2018, July 31 Deadline

New Rural Dividend announces new intake

New Rural Dividend Intake Announced The BC Rural Dividend provides $25 million a year to assist rural communities with a population of 25,000 or less to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies. It was developed to recognize both the contribution rural communities have made to B.C.’s economy, and the unique challenges they face to diversify…

Read More

Escape the City Winners Announced!

Escape the City winners, the Stober family

It’s like a law of physics — you know, for every action an equal reaction. As our major centres grow ever larger and more congested, attracting young people from rural areas with the promise of jobs and, well, glitter and glamour, an increasing number of youngish city folk are starting to look longingly at BC’s…

Read More

Tale of Three Cities — Rural BC Tech-Based Innovation

Tale of Three... tech creates rural jobs
BC Rural Centre
BC Rural Centre
Tale of Three Cities — Rural BC Tech-Based Innovation
Loading
/

Innovation is about staying relevant. We are in a time of unprecedented change. As a result, what may have helped a community or organization be successful in the past could potentially be the cause of their failure in the future. Communities and companies need to adapt and evolve to meet the ever changing needs of…

Read More

Rural Innovation — Communities As Engines Of Change

by Rupert Downing, June 1, 2018   This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Scotland, one of the most impactful examples of community partnerships for change in rural areas anywhere.  It was fitting that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) chose to hold its 8th international conference on rural development, Enhancing Rural Innovation,…

Read More

Small Town Love Campaign Spreads in Northern BC

Small Town Love works!

Love Northern BC had its beginnings in Quesnel, B.C. with the launch of Small Town Love in 2011. Quesnel entrepreneur Amy Quarry developed a vision through her company, Small Town Love Media Inc., to help small businesses hold their own against the onslaught of chain stores and online competition, and to inspire communities to support…

Read More

Christina Lake — there’s a lot happening in this picturesque community!

Christina Lake is lovely!
BC Rural Centre
BC Rural Centre
Christina Lake — there's a lot happening in this picturesque community!
Loading
/

Christina Lake is a beautiful community in southern British Columbia. Locals Grace McGregor & Donna Wilchynski fill listeners in on the local scene in this lively, informative podcast!

Read More

By Their Own Hands — St. Andrews, Nova Scotia

By their own hands — the people of St. Andrews take charge!

Building on the legacy of pioneering Scottish and, later, Dutch immigrants, St. Andrews, Nova Scotia, a rural agricultural community, has been able to muster active and enthusiastic volunteers for a series of ambitious community initiatives and has maintained a thriving community into the 21st century. This 22 minute video explores some of the reasons why…

Read More

ABCD Toolkit

ABCD Toolkit

In this toolkit by DePaul University’s ABCD Institute, Dan Duncan sets out the concept of asset-based community development, or “ABCD.” Duncan argues that, to improve individual and family well-being, communities, neighbourhoods and their residents need to be involved as co-producers of their own and their communities’ well-being. Everyone has something to contribute, Duncan asserts, and…

Read More

Cormac Russell Explains Asset-Based Community Development

Cormac Russell on ABCD

Cormac Russell is Managing director of Nurture Development, one of eleven strategic partners of the ABCD Institute, and the lead partner in Europe. Russell and his Nurture Development colleagues have worked as ABCD social explorers, trainers, mentors, facilitators, researchers, and consultants with change partners and disruptive innovators around the world. These include communities, charities, NGOs/NPOs, faith-based organizations,…

Read More