We share our thanks and gratitude to the organizations, companies, institutions, and individuals that sponsor the biennial Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) conference series.
Creativity, curiosity, and working to leave the campsite in better shape for the next crowd, lie at the heart of R2R. The conference continues to be at the intersection of art, science, and local knowledge. It brings people together to explore contemporary rural issues in an environment of respect and hope.
Thank you for your support in helping to create a place and space to ‘talk rural’ every two years in the heart of Huron County.
LEAD PARTNER
We have worked alongside Lead Partner Libro Credit Union since the inception of the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity back in 2014. They have been with us since the inaugural R2R conference held in a tent at the Blyth Fairgrounds in 2016. Libro is a rural leader – a community-building organization that is passionate about building resilient, sustainable and inclusive communities. Thank you for your continued support!
MAIN SPONSOR
We are excited to have OMAFA with us this year supporting very important mandates in rural development, the rural economy, and investing in rural youth – all of which will weave throughout the conference. You can also stop by the OMAFA Pathways to Practice station on Day 3 to learn more about the Ontario government’s Community Immigration Retention in Rural Ontario program.
GENERAL SPONSOR
Huron County has been a great friend and supporter of R2R from the start – they’ve come as guest speakers, panelists, volunteers, and in just about every other way we’ve asked – they’ve stepped up. Huron County – Ontario’s West Coast – is bountiful with its agricultural productivity, as a leader in agriculture technology, and the fast-growing wine, cider, and brewery culture. Not only that, it is decades old as a rich centre for the arts in theatre, music, dance, and visual art. A beautiful county and remarkable people.
GENERAL SPONSOR
A big thank you to Community Futures Huron who has also been an amazing friend to rural communities and in supporting the R2R conference series. This organization invests in rural entrepreneurs and has been a proud partner in over 400 distinct economic development and business projects at the federal, provincial, and regional levels. They continue to offer guidance, resources and wisdom at each R2R.
GENERAL SPONSOR
We give thanks to The Municipality of Central Huron, located along Ontario’s West Coast in the heart of Huron County for its sponsorship this year. Central Huron is broadly known as a place with a strong sense of community that takes great pride in building long-standing, positive relationships with its valued business and community partners. At the forefront, the county is vibrant, innovative, inclusive, and open for business. Mayor Jim Ginn and fellow council members have been long-standing supporters, presenters, and participants at R2R and we look forward to having them as a part of R2R24.
YOUTH SPONSORSHIP
Engaging youth in rural development fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment. It can nurture deeper connections to the community and its overall well-being. Investing in youth leadership opportunities such as attending conferences to be able to learn, contribute and network with rural leaders helps to shape the future of rural in all the right ways. The CCRC launched the Youth Scholarship program in R2R22 for students in high school, and post-secondary to attend the conference. This scholarship is funded by the University of Guelph and the university will also support the students participating in the Pathways to Practice session on Day 3. The CCRC has been closely linked to the university, especially the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD). In fact, SEDRD students have been attending R2R since 2016. SEDRD helps to support communities where planners, leaders, communicators, landscape architects, citizens, and politicians play important interdependent roles in community strength. We’re happy you’re here!
DAY 3 LUNCH SPONSOR
Cowbell Brewing Co. holds a very special place in our hearts and we are excited to have them back this year as our lunch sponsor on Day 3! Cowbell’s story is near and dear to many of us. It began as a group of successful craft beer enthusiasts looking out on more than 120 acres that turned into a dream of an accessible, inclusive, sustainable, responsible and family-friendly destination in Huron County. They saw a place where friends could gather for good times, delicious food and great beer. They saw Cowbell Country. Delegates are in for a treat on Day 3 with a Cowbell spread.
IN-KIND SPONSOR
A very warm thank you to North Huron Publishing which publishes The Citizen, Huron County’s only community-owned, independent newspaper serving Blyth, Brussels, and northern Huron County, a monthly agricultural magazine, Rural Voice, and the county’s premier tourism magazine, Stops Along The Way (published 3 times a year). They have generously advertised R2R24 in The Rural Voice & The Citizen. Thank you!
IN-KIND SPONSOR
R2R24 celebrates rural in many ways including supporting local businesses that help to produce the conference. Blyth Printing has stood on Queen Street since 1938 first as the Blyth Standard newspaper and a shift to commercial, full-service printing and graphic design in 1971. We continue to be delighted with the quality of print work from banners, to signs to the conference agendas.
DONOR
Thank you to Huron Commodities for its generous donation to R2R24. Huron is a privately held Canadian agri-trading company based in Clinton, Ontario and is a family-owned business with 30 years of international success as global marketers of grains and feeds. Our leadership is now entering the second generation dedicated to innovative and ethical service to growers and customers. Thank you!
Last but not least, thank you to W. Bill Dow, a CCRC board member, for sponsoring two registrations to R2R24. This opportunity provides the opportunity for two delegates to attend this year’s conference – thank you!