R2R16 · Conference Agenda
Rural Talks to Rural 2016
September 27–30, 2016 · Blyth, Ontario
Thank you to everyone who joined the first Rural Talks to Rural conference. Explore the original programme, conversations and people who helped bring it to life.
Conference archive — These events have ended. Session times, speaker details and background information below reflect the original 2016 programme.
Tuesday 27 Wednesday 28 Thursday 29 Friday 30 About the conference
Tuesday, September 27
Pre-conference tour of sites and attractions in Huron County.
Wednesday, September 28
8:00AM – 9:00AM
9:00AM
9:20AM
Setting the Table: The State of Rural Canada ~Al Lauzon
In the fall of 2015 the Canadian rural Revitalization Foundation released the report The State of Rural Canada 2015. In this session I will provide an overview of the findings in this report, noting both the commonalities and differences across rural Canada. I will also highlight some of the conclusions and recommendations made in the report, and contemplate the question “so what and where do we go from here? “
9:50AM
Storytelling | moderator: Wayne Caldwell
Many rural communities aspire to be resilient and healthy with diverse and sustainable economic activity. While some communities struggle to make progress in this area, others have made important strides to maximize their local resources and work towards controlling their own destiny. Following a brief presentation, this interactive session will invite participants to share successes from their own communities.
10:30AM
10:45AM
The Huron County Rural Lens ~ An interactive tool to promote rural equity and inclusion is presented by Jim GInn, Mayor of Central Huron and Sheila Schuehlein, Project Lead, Peer Health Support Program at the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health. Suzanne Ainley from the Rural Ontario Institute will present how this local project fits into their Measuring Rural Community Vitality Initiative
10:45AM / 11:35AM
Both times appear in the original programme.
A Story about Intelligent Communities ~ Dan Mathieson, Mayor of Stratford
12:00PM – 1:00PM
LUNCH
Catering by Eddington’s of Exeter
Chef James In Conversation with Jess Votary from the Red Rabbit, Stratford
1:15PM – 2:45PM
Concurrent sessions
ART & CULTURE
“Out in the Country…”
Why we need to give voice to rural stories to celebrate our way of life and help young and old value their work and lifestyle.
MODERATOR: Keith Roulston
FOOD & FARM
SEIZING THE DAY, SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES:
MODERATOR: Claire Carter
PANEL: Martin Vanderloo, Dr. Gordon Surgeoner, Charlie Hoy
COMMUNITY REVIVAL / DEVELOPMENT
APPS, NETWORKS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Internet access is fundamental to modern life, and has the power to transform rural communities. What do we need to do?
MODERATOR: Leanne Perreault
PANEL: Brian Beaton, Dan Mathieson, Rob Van Aaken, Geoff Hogan
SUSTAINING & GROWING OUR POPULATION
WHERE R U NOW? Engaging, supporting & retaining youth
MODERATOR: Katrina McQuail
PANEL: Jason Smith, Thian Carman, Emily Morrison, Grant Sparling
2:45PM – 3:00PM
3:00PM – 4:30PM
Concurrent sessions
(“Thank God I’m a Country …”)
(“SEIZING THE DAY, SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES”)
(APPS, NETWORKS…)
(“WHERE R U NOW?”)
4:30PM
Bar Opens at Belgrave Arena for Evening Dinner & Events
5:00PM – 6:45PM
THE PITCH THE CATCH
Innovation meets investment
6:45PM
PIG ROAST & KEYNOTE ~ Amy Cronin
Amy Cronin is a mother of 6, runs an international farm operation, is chair of Ontario Pork, and – along with her husband Mike – is Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (2015). How does she do it all?
9:00PM – 11:00PM
AFTER HOURS
More Cowbell, Maelstrom, music by the Irish Cowboys. Keep the conversation going.
Thursday, September 29
7:00AM – 8:30AM
BREAKFAST
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 420, Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 420 and Blyth Lions Club
Eggs, Sausage, Hashbrowns, Toast, Muffins, Fruit, Juice, Yogurt, Coffee or Tea
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Interactive/Open Studio ~ Discover more about this rapidly growing industry with leaders in the field
9:00AM – 10:30AM
Concurrent sessions
ART & CULTURE
FROM FIBRE TO FABULOUS: fashion from the ground up!
MODERATOR: Jennifer Treimstra-Johnston
PANEL: Peggy Sue Deaven-Smiltnieks, Thea Haines, Jennifer Osborn
FOOD & FARM
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED: Overcoming roadblocks on the way to Market.
MODERATOR: Keith Roulston
PANEL: Fred deMartines, Warren Ham, Don Nott
COMMUNITY REVIVAL / DEVELOPMENT
WHAT’S UP DOC? Rural Health & Well-Being: Why it’s different, how we move forward.
MODERATOR: Peter Smith
PANEL: Karen Davis, Gwen Deveraux, Lars Hallstrom
SUSTAINING & GROWING OUR POPULATION
CRICKETS, BIRCH SYRUP & ICE CREAM: Stories of innovation from across Canada.
MODERATOR: Wayne Caldwell
PANEL: Naomi Finseth, Heather Campbell
10:30AM – 10:45AM
10:45AM – 12:15PM
Concurrent sessions
(“FROM FIBRE TO FABULOUS”)
(“THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED”)
(“WHAT’S UP, DOC?”)
(“CRICKETS, BIRCH SYRUP & ICE CREAM”)
12:15PM – 1:30PM
LUNCH & KHOR II
Catering by Blyth Inn, Blyth | And a story by a unique theatre design told by our guests from the Netherlands, Breg Horemans & Benoit Vanraes
1:30PM – 3:00PM
Concurrent sessions
ART & CULTURE
THE RURAL VOICE – evolving ways of telling your story from newsprint to the electronic highway.
MODERATOR: Gil Garratt
PANEL: Simon Brothers, Bojan Fürst, Shawn Loughlin
FOOD & FARM
Not Your Mom & Pop Farm anymore …Creating jobs through processing local food and farm products
MODERATOR: Rick Sickinger
PANEL: Liz Irhig, Paul VanDorp, Amanda Bekkers, Shep Ysselstein
COMMUNITY REVIVAL / DEVELOPMENT
RURAL ROUTES: Stories of Community Revitalization / Reimagining Rural Tourism and measuring its Return on Investment.
MODERATOR: David Peacock
PANEL: Zac Gribble, Heather Mair, Anej Strucl
SUSTAINING & GROWING OUR POPULATION
RE-IMAGINING RURAL ASSETS: Smart growth strategies can help rural communities achieve their goals for growth and development while maintaining their distinctive rural character.
MODERATOR: Al Lauzon
PANELISTS: Ron Gaudet, Shauna Janssen, Kate Procter
3:00PM – 3:15PM
3:15PM – 4:45PM
Concurrent sessions
(“THE RURAL VOICE”)
(“Not Your Mom & Pop Farm anymore”)
(“”RURAL ROUTES””)
(“RE-IMAGINING RURAL ASSETS”)
5:00PM – 6:30PM
HOPS, GRAPES & APPLES
Cowbell Brewing Company, Maelstrom Winery, Cider, Cheese Tasting/Reception
BIRD’S VIEW
Folk Art Exhibit by local artist Ray Bird, curated by Rachel Thompson and Heather Morton.
6:30PM – 8:30PM
CHEF’S DINNER by Peter Gusso (Part II Bistro) and Jason Rutledge (Blyth Inn)
KEYNOTE Leona Dargis
Sharing a personal story of her passion for succession planning and organic gardening in the Yukon.
The Pressure Cooker
Eight delegates will report to the assembly about how to deal with a single rural issue.
9:00PM
AFTER HOURS
Bon Fire, Music, and S’mores
Friday, September 30
7:00AM – 8:30AM
BREAKFAST
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 420, Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 420 and Blyth Lions Club
Ham, Eggs, Toast, Hashbrowns, Muffins, Fruit, Juice, Yogurt, and Coffee or Tea
8:45AM – Greetings From Peter Smith & Rick Sickinger
9:00AM – 10:30AM
Concurrent sessions
ART & CULTURE
GOING FORWARD: what does leadership look like? And how can we create an ongoing dialogue and build a National Network?
Moderator: Mark Crawford
Panel: Jerry McGrath, Peter Smith, Savannah Barrett
FOOD & FARM
GETTING ‘ER DONE: Building Vibrant Rural Communities: Co-ops, crowd-sourcing and raising capital for your business venture and The Rural Social Enterprise Constellation
Moderator: Cathy Lang
Panel: Linda Best, Mary Ferguson, Chris Lee, Simon Berge
SUSTAINING & GROWING OUR POPULATION
ARE WE READY FOR IMMIGRANTS? Are we welcoming? Are we friendly?:
What we need to know,
Moderator: Gemma Mendez-Smith
Panelists:
Lena Gahwi, Shetha Roomi, Oliver Pryce, Naomi Finseth
10:30AM – 10:45AM
10:45AM – 12:15PM
Concurrent sessions
(“GOING FORWARD”)
(“GETTING ‘ER DONE”)
(“ARE WE READY FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS?”)
12:15PM
LUNCH
Catering by: Cait’s Cafe of Goderich
1:00PM – 2:30PM
CLOSING
Reflections on the R2R Conference
Closing Words by RIck Sickinger, Peter Smith, Karen Stewart
About the 2016 conference
The following is the original conference background, including historical venue and contact information.
“Tell your story and hear the inspiring stories of others, as we seek to gather solutions for healthy sustainable rural communities.” – Keith Roulston, publisher/editor The Rural Voice.
The original embedded video is no longer available. Original video link · 2016 video recaps
Thanks to those who participated in the September 2016 R2R conference.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
In the autumn of 2016, the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity in partnership with the County of Huron, invite you to join with creative thinkers and community builders for three days of dialogue, workshops, and exploration. You will be in the company of rural leaders, artists, elected representatives, food producers and distributors, policy researchers and scholars, entrepreneurs and small business owners.
R2R is an invitation to share ideas, establish new partnerships, to network, inform policy, and create innovative strategies for rural health and well-being.
What are your rural challenges? An aging population and youth migration? Reinvigorating the town centre? Job creation? Communications? R2R is your opportunity to connect with creative problem solvers who are making a difference.
Employing the latest technology the symposium will have uplinks for interactive dialogue throughout and be recorded by a professional team of documentary filmmakers for viewing and posterity following the conference.
Our partners:
LOCATION: The largest gathering space will be in a tent located at the Blyth & District Community Centre at 377 Gypsy Lane, Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0. Breakout sessions will be in the arena, the Trinity Anglican Church Hall and the Royal Canadian Legion. Please dress accordingly with comfortable footwear.
AUDIENCE
Rural Citizens & Community groups; Entrepreneurs & Farmers & Artists; Local Leaders; Provincial & Municipal Staff; Academics.
CONFERENCE FORMAT
Rural Stories
An opportunity for delegates to share their stories and hear the stories of others. It is the beginning of building relationships between delegates – to network, spark connections and gather ideas.
Kitchen Table Conversations
Great ideas often come from around the kitchen table – an informal setting for conversations on rural challenges – success stories will mingle with disaster tales. This will be an opportunity to drill down into each issue and to arrive at possible solutions or refine the questions. Plenary sessions to share highlights will follow.
In Conversation Sessions
With the help of a moderator, real life examples of rural solutions to rural challenges will be discussed to reveal how big notices small, how small works with big, and how work is created.
The Pitch & Catch
This session is about an innovative idea meeting a financial opportunity. Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their unique idea to a small group of investors.
“Afters” Evenings
A late night opportunity for delegates to connect, exchange ideas, and be entertained in a more relaxed setting.
R2R Pressure Cooker
A think tank will take place in a local kitchen during the conference. Eight delegates will tackle a rural issue and over four hours will come up with an implementable action plan.
HOSPITALITY
An array of accommodation options are available including a limited number of billeted lodgings at local residences for another chance to get to know some of the creators and innovators of Huron County.
Delegates will enjoy world class meals prepared by chefs featuring locally-sourced ingredients.
Registration, Accommodation and other Logistics:
Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity
197 Dinsley St., Box 279
Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
(226) 523-1419
Peter Smith, Project Director, Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity
519.955.4594 | peter@blyth1419.ca
Rick Sickinger, Cultural Development Officer, County of Huron
519.482.5457 ext. 8 | rsickinger@huroncounty.ca
ADDITIONAL READING