R2R24 CONFERENCE AGENDA

Preliminary conference information and session times are subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Print version of the agenda will be available closer to the conference date.

Day One – Exploring Our Differences Together
Day Two – Engaging in Participatory Leadership
Day Three – Taking Collective Wisdom into Action

DAY ONE – Wednesday, October 16 – EXPLORING OUR DIFFERENCES TOGETHER

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
10:30 AM	Registration		Open for registration, meet & greet, coffee & snacks at the Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM	Welcome Lunch & Opening/Greetings Location: Lower Hall	Yes	Welcome to R2R24! Join us for a lunch including greetings from the CCRC and special guest The Minister of Rural Affairs, MPP Huron/Bruce Lisa Thompson. A culinary lunch experience presented by Khawla Kitchens: Authentic Syrian and Lebanese Cuisine from Goderich, ON.
12:15 – 12:30 PM	BREAK		Delegates will move to the main theatre stage after lunch. Thank you to Coastal Coffee from Goderich, ON for our delicious coffee and tea.
12:30 – 1:00 PM	Introduction to the Conference: Exploring Our Differences Together Location: Theatre Stage	Yes	On the main theatre stage, Peter Smith and Casandra Bryant, R2R co-producers, introduce the people, the places, and the premise including Art of Hosting participatory practices.
1:00 – 2:00 PM	Keynote Address: What does it mean to meet this moment in time? Location: Theatre Stage	Yes	Dr. S Ashleigh Weeden provides a bird’s eye view of some of the leading issues, challenges, and opportunities in rural to help set the stage and offer lines of inquiry over the next three days together.
2:00 – 2:15 AM	BREAK Location: Lower Hall		Coffee, tea and snacks available.
2:15 – 3:50 PM	Workshop: What time is it in our rural communities? Location: Lower Hall		Reconvening in the Lower Hall, delegates engage in conversations that matter in our rural communities using participatory leadership techniques. Facilitators from Canada and around the world trained in the Art of Hosting will lead delegates in a World Café to foster interaction and dialogue and ultimately surface collective wisdom.
3:50 – 4:05 PM	BREAK Location: Lower Hall		Coffee, tea, and snacks are available.
4:05 – 5:15 PM	The Assembly Location: Theatre Stage	Yes	A unique and innovative theatrical presentation produced by Porte Parole Theatre on the main stage. Delegates and the public are invited to experience an original documentary play about our Canadian rural life. We will be inspired to discuss and think critically together about current rural socio-economic issues.
5:15 – 7:45 PM	Continue the Discussion with the Rural Assembly on the Rural Assembly & Delicious Fare from Our County Location: Lower Hall		We continue the discussion in the Lower Hall while treated to the county’s finest libation and fare to fuel our inspiration and dialogue from Grassroots Woodfired Pizza, a family-run business from Lucknow, Cowbell Brewing Co. from Blyth and a local winery. Delegates are encouraged to write down, and post ideas and strategies for exploring our differences together and have the opportunity to make informal group presentations.
			End of Day One

DAY TWO – Thursday, October 17 – ENGAGING IN PARTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP PRACTICES

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
7:30 – 9:00 AM	BREAKFAST Location: Lower Hall		Breakfast will be served by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #420 in the Lower Hall at Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
9:00 – 9:15 AM	Welcome Location: Lower Hall	Yes	Welcome to Day Two, Participatory Leadership Practices.
9:15 – 10:45 AM	Workshop: Stepping Into Participatory Practices Location: Lower Hall	Yes	Delegates continue with conversations that matter in our rural communities. Using Appreciative Inquiry Trios delegates will identify the best of what is and pursue the possibilities of what could be.
10:45 – 11:00 AM	BREAK Location: Lower Hall		Morning Break. Top up your coffee and have a chat!
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Keynote Address: AI, Data & Dignity Location: Theatre Stage		Dr. Wendy Wong, Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at UBC Okanagan unravels the sticky issues of AI and data regarding human rights, global governance, international relations, and especially, data rights through a rural lens.
12:00 – 1:00 PM	LUNCH Location: Lower Hall		A beautiful spread is provided by White Carnation restaurant from Holmesville, ON in the Lower Hall. Mini-yoga (sitting or standing) available in the Art Gallery!
1:00 – 2:15 PM	CONCURRENT SESSIONS	Yes	Delegates can choose from one of two sessions weather permitting. CONCURRENT SESSION #1 PRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF ART & CREATIVITY IN FOSTERING DIALOGUE Join us in the Blyth Art Gallery as rural-based artists and storytellers present their art and creativity to share stories, express ideas, and find ways to connect and come together. Location: Art Gallery CONCURRENT SESSION #2 NATURE WALK: HOW THE G2G RAIL TRAIL NURTURES COMMUNITY Walk along the Guelph to Goderich (G2G) Rail Trail led by Sheila Robson, Knowledge Keeper of the Chippewas of Nawash, Marg Beard, New Adult Educator, Phil Beard of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and Chris Lee of the G2G Association. Location: Meet in the Link (entrance) before heading out to the trail.
2:15 – 4:05 PM	Workshop: Thinking About and Supporting Systems Change Location: Lower Hall		In the Lower Hall, delegates explore The Two Loops model – a map of how change works in systems. It charts the movement and relationship between systems of influence and emerging systems and it is a helpful tool that invites leaders to reflect on where their organization is in this lifecycle and what kind of leadership is most useful.
3:45 – 4:00 PM	BREAK
4:15 – 5:15 PM	Story Circle: Direction of Travel Location: Theatre Stage		Ellie Joseph, of the Mohawk Nation Turtle Clan and co-founder of The Two Row on Grand, Ailsa Clark from Inspiralba in the Scottish Highlands, and Dr. Wendy Wong come together to share stories about our current direction of travel and how leading from curiosity helps to explore our differences together.
5:00 – 5:40 PM	Day 2 Reflection and Wrap-up Location: Theatre Stage		Delegates reflect on the story threads heard in the Story Circle. Workshop reflections can also be shared at this time.
6:00 – 7:30 PM	COUNTRY SUPPER & RECOGNITION OF DR. AL LAUZON Location: Lower Hall		We are delighted to celebrate the career and community involvement of Dr. Al Lauzon, professor emeritus of the University of Guelph. Featuring the culinary art of James Eddington of Exeter, an extraordinary farm-to-table meal will be served with an extraordinary local dessert including beer and wine from the region’s finest local makers – Cowbell Brewing Co. and a local winery.
			End of Day Two

DAY THREE – Friday, October 18 – TAKING COLLECTIVE WISDOM INTO ACTION & R2R Market

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM	R2R Market Location: The Link		The CCRC and Eat Local Huron are pleased to announce the return of the R2R Market featuring local artists, businesses, and a pop-up bookstore. Delegates can visit the market on Day 3 of the conference to bring home gifts and treats from local businesses and shops.
7:30 – 9:00 AM	BREAKFAST Location: Lower Hall		Breakfast will be served by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #420 in the Lower Hall at Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
9:00 – 9:30 AM	Welcome Location: Lower Hall	Yes	Welcome to Day Three, Taking Collective Wisdom into Action.
9:30 – 11:30 AM	Pathways to Practice (P2P): Collaboration in Action on Leading Rural Issues and Opportunities Location: Throughout the facility		An eagerly anticipated session that brings together best practices and research. Economic developers from rural Ontario (EDCO), University of Guelph rural graduate researchers (from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development), and rural health and wellness practitioners/researchers linked to Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health present their work together and invite a discussion on various topics in our rural communities. Delegates in small groups visit up to 12 stations throughout the Blyth Memorial Hall. Coffee/tea and snacks are available in the Lower Hall during this time.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM	Workshop: Collective Wisdom Into Action Location: Lower Hall	Yes	Delegates begin the final workshop series building on P2P and the culmination of our three days together. Through participatory leadership practices using the Pro-Action Cafe, delegates move between cafe tables, cross-pollinate ideas and offer each other new insights into the questions, issues or projects that are most important in their life, work, organization or community.
12:00 – 1:00 PM	LUNCH Location: Lower Hall		Lunch sponsored by Blyth’s own award-winning state-of-the-art Cowbell Brewing Co. Mini-yoga (sitting or standing) is available in the Art Gallery!
1:00 – 2:30 PM	Workshop: Collective Wisdom into Action Continued Location: Lower Hall		This final working session is a culmination of our three days together. Through participatory leadership practices, delegates work together to identify action items for their organizations and collaborate with others.
2:30 – 2:45 PM	BREAK		Grab your afternoon refreshment.
2:45 – 3:15 PM	Highlights & Learning Location: Theatre Stage	Yes	Conference hosts & facilitators, through story, music, and visual imagery share the key learnings and highlights of the conference.
3:15 – 3:45 PM	Closing Remarks Location: Theatre Stage	Yes	Peter Smith and team share their gratitude for your attendance and participation including the road ahead for R2R!
3:45 PM	End of Conference		Thank you and safe journey home!

Questions? Contact Peter Smith peter@ruralcreativity.org for more information.