We are very excited to share that The Voice of The River: Grand River Community Play project is gearing up for its production this July and August!
We have launched a fundraising campaign! Be a part of the 310KM long play on the Grand River and across her Watershed – stories, songs, and celebration connect the communities and inhabitants from the headwaters to the mouth of the River at Lake Erie.
The Voice of the River is truly a work of partnership and collaboration. It is co-produced by the CCRC and Grandview Theatre along with an incredible creative team. There are a multitude of partners involved in making this a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience of storytelling, and as importantly, a coming together of people in celebration, in hope, in creativity along the Grand River.
> More on the partners, creative team and co-producers
> View the DRAFT tour dates
Calling all interested fabric artists and craftspeople! We invite you to participate in helping to create a quilt celebrating the Grand River. This quilt will be displayed throughout The Voice of the River: Grand River Community Play in July and August.
> Learn more about the Grand River Quilt Project including information on how to participate
LAUNCHED!
Listen to the 6-episode podcast series.
A collection of sounds, stories, interviews and observations from Rural Talks to Rural 2024 – Exploring Our Differences Together, narrated by host, Shauna Rae of Radar Media.
NEWS
Press Release with comments from the Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson
Ontario Farmer, November 19, 2024 – “Story trios are a recommended way to talk out differences ~ Appreciative Inquiry helps cross rural community divides”
Wingham Advance Times, October 24, 2024 – “Connecting with the Land: Indigenous knowledge keepers lead reflective trail walk at R2R conference in Blyth“
The Huron Citizen, October 24, 2024 – “Blyth hosts Rural Talks to Rural conference, bring rural Canadians together“
Stops Along the Way, Fall 2024 (page 30) – “Rural Communities Connecting”
REPORTS AND OTHER MEDIA
Podcast Series
Pre and Post Conference Information
Conference Summary Report
Visual Wall including recap video on Day 3
Conference Photos
Reflections & Testimonials
POST-CONFERENCE SURVEY IS STILL OPEN
We invite everyone who attended R2R24 to take the 5-minute post conference survey.
Your feedback is much appreciated!
Click here to start the survey>>
Learn about what happened at R2R24
Grand River Community Play Project
Find out what’s been happening
THE GRAND RIVER COMMUNITY PLAY PROJECT
The Grand River Community Play Project is an interdisciplinary piece that will connect the communities and inhabitants that live along the length of the Grand River – a river that starts in the highlands of Dufferin County, travels 310 km, before emptying into Lake Erie at Port Maitland. About a million people live within the watershed, a watershed that passes cities, towns and villages, trees, wild grasses and coyotes, and includes thirty-nine municipalities and two First Nations territories. This is an inclusive creative activity involving artists, municipal and Indigenous leaders, scientists, Elders, Community folk, children, NFP organizations, educational institutions – and most importantly the Grand River. This is a project about storytelling – in all the ways stories can be told – in spoken word, in song, in dance, ceremony, in art installation, in silence, through different cultural lenses, and via technology. It is being imagined as an environmental experience – something that will develop and build over time, leading toward a unique presentation in all four seasons, and over many years, passing the experience along to next generations for them to reimagine, for them to inhabit with their own stories.
A look back at R2R over the years
In all matters it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
Bertand Russell
The CCRC strives to advance the needs and promote the interests of rural or remotely located communities: by facilitating research, disseminating information to the public, and, providing educational and networking opportunities to the public, and by engaging in public policy dialogue and development activities.
We strive to establish an inclusive gathering place, a place for creativity and meaningful participation
Missed the launch of RADICAL? Listen to the first episode HERE so you’re ready to join us for episode two coming in November!
In August 2022, the CCRC hosted its first information session about the Social Innovation Hub (SIH) we are building as one of the three pillars for the organization. It is a vital step in our reset – something that began at the Rural Talks to Rural conference in November of 2020. SIH is a connector for relationships, networks and capacity development for rural changemakers through learning, sharing and co-creating.
These actions support rural well-being and foster vibrant rural communities and inspire radical change. At its core the Hub is a place for collaboration, creativity, action and transformation. A first public presentation of the proposal took place virtually and is available online now! Check it out.
Want to join the CCRC conversation?
Join our mailing list to stay connected and be the first to know about upcoming events and opportunities!
Click on the icons to go to our social media and get connected!