R2R24 Conference Tickets Available!

➡️ Full conference Early Bird pricing runs until June 30, 2024

➡️ Group (10 or more from one organization) rates

➡️ Students

➡️ Virtual tickets are available for those who cannot attend in person.

Virtual delegates access includes keynote addresses, presenters, conference highlights and closing remarks.

Use the QR code or click to purchase your tickets here.

We shared R2R24’s conference photo, “Blue Heron in Flight” by artist Kelly Rebar. As mentioned, the Blue Heron symbolizes many things such as being present, patience, good judgment, and the ability to progress and evolve.

A very apt image for this year’s conference theme – The Rural Assembly: Exploring our Differences Together. 

An assembly is a gathering of people in one place for a common purpose. In our case, the common purpose is our rural communities, livelihoods, places, and spaces. 

We invite you to join the rural assembly to explore key rural issues and opportunities across our landscape, such as artificial intelligence (AI) ‘s impact on our rural communities, economic development, and health & wellness. Delegates have the chance to engage in discourse, make contributions, support others through listening and learning, and discover strategies for advancing rural development. 

R2R24 will provide various formats, methods, and models to step into this dialogue – through documentary theatre, storytelling, participatory leadership methods, art, and simply providing the place and space for rural to talk to rural. 

Early bird pricing is available until June 30th
More than 10 people attending from your organization? Click here for a further group discount.

We are delighted to showcase R2R24’s conference photo, “Blue Heron in Flight” by artist Kelly Rebar. In some cultures, a blue heron symbolizes being present, at peace, and in balance. In others, it represents patience, wisdom, good judgment, self-reflection, determination, and the ability to progress and evolve.

Please meet the artist and the story behind “Blue Heron in Flight.”

Kelly Rebar was born and raised on the prairies, and after a series of moves, made her home in the mountain town of Nelson, British Columbia. She has written plays, screenplays, and shares her photos daily on X https://twitter.com/kellyjeanrebar. Visit her fine art photo website: kelly-j-rebar.pixpa.com.

“Taken from a canoe while paddling on Kootenay Lake on a summer evening a few years ago. I noticed a great blue heron and an osprey in a fight for a fishing spot. Their flight antics were dramatic to observe as they chased each other back and forth across the west arm of the lake. Finally, the osprey gave up and flew off. The image of the heron was captured after the struggle – as it flew one last time to the other side of the lake, and disappeared into the night. The light and soft shades of blue of the image are dreamlike, I know, but the quality of light that makes it so is due to a nearby forest fire that was burning out of control; the shades are softened due to heavy smoke hanging in the air. It impacted both those birds, as well as me, and every other living thing in the area.”

• Learn more about R2R24
• Buy your Early Bird tickets today!

At this year’s biennial conference, we have an opportunity to explore our differences together, engage in methods of participatory leadership to support our dialogue AND use our collective wisdom towards collective action whether as an organization, community, or individual.

More to come on the concept of The Rural Assembly – a powerful platform to truly welcome all voices.

We are excited to share that R2R24 is returning to the Blyth Memorial Community Hall from October 16 – 18, 2024. Tickets will be available in early spring.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for R2R24, reach out to Peter Smith at peter@ruralcreativity.org.

THE GRAND RIVER COMMUNITY PLAY PROJECT…

is building toward a presentation of stories that will run the 310-kilometre length of the Grand River by August 2024.

The project is the story of the River, created and developed by the people of the River, and ultimately told to those who are engaged and impacted by the River. It is a coming together of stories and, as importantly, a coming together of people along the length of this magnificent waterway. It also creates room for the River to speak for herself.

We continue to connect with communities up and down the Grand in story circles, in song, in quilting, photography, poetry, theatre, mapping and workshops.

The project is inclusive, and anyone who wants to participate can do just that. We invite you to get in touch with us.

The project is being produced by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity – where we strive to establish an inclusive gathering place, a place for creativity and meaningful participation.

For more information, click here.
To get involved contact: Pete Smith, peter@ruralcreativity.org

The Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity in association with Six Nations Tourism, the Two Row Wampum, Six Nations Polytechnic, RTO4, and the City of Waterloo, invite you to two unique presentations – one held at Six Nations and the other in the city of Waterloo.

PROLOGUE #1
WHERE: Chiefswood Park – 1037 Brand County Hwy. 54, Osweken, Ontario
WHEN: November 12, and 13th, 2022
TIME: 4.15pm-6.30pm

The presentation begins just before sunset on both days – with a Thanksgiving under the trees followed by a walk of the Park with stops along the way for stories/poems/songs. The journey concludes at the Six Nations Tourism Office with a light snack, and an interactive art experience with the Dragonfly installation. That’s followed by a discussion as to next steps for the Grand River Community Play being built for the summer of 2024 – a presentation that will run the length of the River.

PROLOGUE #2
WHERE: Abraham Erb’s Grist Mill – Caroline St N, Waterloo, Ontario
WHEN: November 19, and 20th, 2022
TIME: 3pm – 5.30pm

The presentation begins at 3pm both days with a water ceremony on Laurel Creek and is followed by stories/poems/songs. We will be led by music and enter the Grist Mill to experience the interactive Dragonfly installation. There will be a light snack and a discussion as to next steps for the Grand River Community Play that will be happening in the summer of 2024 – a presentation that will run the length of the River.

For more information: peter@ruralcreativity.org

As we prepare for this year’s biennial R2R conference, we invite you to take a look back at past R2Rs. You’re in for a treat!