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,…

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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…

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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!
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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!

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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Affordable Housing in Rural Communities

Affordable housing is a pressing issue in many small rural communities, this webinar features Lisa Byers, Executive Director of OPAL (“Of People And Land”) Community Land Trust on Washing State’s Orcas Island. Providing affordable housing that’s place-appropriate is the real challenge facing many rural and remote communities across North America. There are different approaches that…

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BC Rural Centre’s Recommendations for Rural Development

What kind of provincial policies and tools would help us with rural development in BC? This is an issue the BC Rural Centre/SIBAC has spent a lot of time and effort researching. We have developed a brief document (see below) that provides a summary discussion of the top five recommendations the BC Rural Centre would…

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Escape the City Contest — Win a Weekend in Alpine Nirvana!

Escape the City to Kaslo

Tired of the urban rat race? Wish you could afford your own home? Want to walk to work? Wish you had access to world class skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and climbing? Like the idea of being able to walk to do all your shopping? Kinda dig the idea of living in an alpine village…

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B.C. Government Invites Rural Strategy Suggestions

Government invites submissions

If you’re concerned about the future of rural B.C.’s communities and First Nations, you’ll be interested in the following invitation from B.C. Government to share your ideas and suggestions. Note that the deadline for submissions is February 28.     The B.C. Government is committed to developing a new, long-term, durable Rural Development Strategy that works for…

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