R2R24 Pathways to Practice

The CCRC is committed to its contribution to a strong Canadian rural voice through collaboration, dialogue, and building collective wisdom. This year’s conference provides a space and place to explore our differences together and highlight various formats on how we can listen, learn, and collaborate.

Pathways to Practice (P2P) takes place on Day 3, Friday, October 18th, and runs from 9:30 – 11:30 am.

P2P presenters will present their work, engage in dialogue, and connect with delegates. The 12 stations will be spread around the community hall. Delegates will move from table to table during these 2 hours.

Specifically, P2P offers the opportunity for presenters and delegates to:

1. Share ideas through an economic lens – ideas that are working in rural communities now and can be adapted or adopted in another place
2. Explore contemporary research connected to that work
3. Bring multiple generations/organizations together to discuss their commitment to community
4. Present government programs by those who had a hand in it. Programs that support projects to keep the EC DEV ball rolling in rural community development
5. Showcase collaboration ‘in action’ among practitioners, researchers, and organizations

We are excited to share the lineup!

TITLE	DESCRIPTION	PRESENTERS	LOCATION
LABOUR FORCE ATTRACTION	Learn about the Hanover Innovative People Program (HIPP) that drives recruitment and retention of people, businesses and investments to the community. It infuses creativity, culture, and business with tools to accelerate Hanover to the next level. Coupled with research from Seaforth, ON – a ‘Business Walk’ – that gathered the stories of main street businesses. What are the challenges & opportunities before them and what goals and dreams do they hold?	EDCO MEMBER April Marshall Economic Development Manager Hanover County Email RESEARCHER Paul Sitsfe SEDRD, University of Guelph Email	TBD
FOOD SECURITY & RESILIENCE	An Emergency Food Plan launched in Thunder Bay inspired similar programs in Simcoe and Wellington Counties with exciting results. Do you have an emergency food plan for your community? Learn how a grant over four years helped to develop an emergency food plan based on a circular economy came to fruition – and how it’s still roaring ahead. A shareable idea extraordinaire.	EDCO MEMBER Justine Dainard Wellington County Email RESEARCHER Steven Clarke SEDRD, University of Guelph Email RESEARCHER Courtney O’Neill SEDRD, University of Guelph Email	TBD
FROM DENMARK TO CANADA: HOW A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPED A SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATED ENERGY SYSTEM	An economic/climate change development project in Skive, Denmark, is turning heads internationally and in rural places. GreenLab is a green and circular industrial park built on the belief that the energy system of the future is an integrated energy system – improving the way renewable energy is produced, transformed, stored, and utilized. Delegates can explore how this green and circular system can find a home right here in rural Ontario with the Mayor of Central Huron.	COMMERCIAL ADVISOR Alex Ripley Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Email MAYOR Jim Ginn Mayor of Central Huron Email	TBD
AGRICULTURE IN THE 21st CENTURY	What does…. -Economics on the farm – Food security -Farming and the community -Farming and nature -Rural and urban connections mean to you? Join Farmer/Planner/Scholar Wayne Caldwell as he leads a discussion with a crowd of other fine ruralists making a difference in Rural Canada. A rural talks to rural in the best sense of the word(s).	FARMER/PLANNER/SCHOLAR Wayne Caldwell Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph Email FARMER & SCHOLAR Kate Proctor Email RESEARCHER Regan Zink SEDRD, University of Guelph Email FARMER Dean Orr, organic and conventional farmer	TBD
DESTINATION NORTH: ECONOMICS, TOURISM & COLLABORATION	From our neighbours in the north we take a look at a unique partnership that straddles town and country and how it came together to create an innovative, multi-faceted tourism program. It came about because of a clear message from tourism businesses that asked if a pan-northern Ontario strategy could happen. This is an amazing story.	ECDO MEMBER Mike Wozny Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Destination North Ontario Email EDCO MEMBER Karen Bittner Director of Facilities and Community Services, Blind River Email	TBD
SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR THE HURON COUNTY FARM	Using podcast interviews and roundtable discussions with those who are a part of the ‘silver tsunami’ (coupled with the exchange of wealth from one generation to the next) we are entering one of the largest movements of wealth in our history. Learn about this adaptable idea for any community facing the challenges and opportunities of succession planning. It cuts across economics, family, tradition, selling out to investors, and sometimes losing connection to the home community. And there are also opportunities. Drop around to hear the story from Huron County Ec Dev Dept.	EDCO MEMBER Vicki Lass Director of Economic Development, Huron County Email	TBD
WELCOMING NEWCOMERS/RESIDENT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION	A collection of stories from the newcomer/immigrant community – stories that spoke to the experience of newcomers to Wellington County. The presentation will discuss a photographic exhibit, a multicultural festival and how social media amplified the stories. This is a story of learning and unlearning – a journey many communities are on.	EDCO MEMBER Anuradha Dam Economic Development Officer, Wellington County Email	TBD
LEVERAGE THE ONTARIO IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM TO ATTRACT & RETAIN SKILLED FOREIGN WORKS IN ONTARIO	Are you struggling to find qualified and skilled workers to fill critical labour shortages in your company? The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can be the solution for you. The OINP recognizes the importance of immigration in addressing the workforce needs of employers in Ontario. Leverage the OINP to access highly skilled immigrants ready to contribute to your organization’s success. Representatives from the Ministry of Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will deliver a presentation/info session/webinar/etc. followed by a Q & A session. More >	PROGRAM ADVISOR Meaghan Edwards Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development Email	TBD
FROM THE ROCK	An energetic discussion about the happenings in rural NFLD & Labrador and from an island perspective. This presentation explores art, indigeneity, economic & community development.	PROFESSOR & SCHOLAR Kelly Vodden Memorial University Email OWNER & OPERATOR Joanie Cranston Norris Point & Cottage Hospital Community Centre Email ARTIST & SCHOLAR Ivan J. White Artist/PhD Candidate Memorial University Email FILMMAKER & EDUCATOR Evan Butler Email	TBD
THE VOICE OF THE RIVER: THE GRAND RIVER COMMUNITY PLAT PROJECT	The project is in its 3rd year of development and will culminate in August of 2025 with a production that will play in 18 different communities from the headwaters, across the watershed, with an all-day finale at the mouth of the Grand at Lake Erie. This is a shareable idea and lessons learned will be shared. Having produced three community plays before – they are transformative experiences and impact community long after the lights go down.	EXECUTIVE & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Pete Smith CCRC Email RESEARCHER Mashad Akhoundoghli University of Waterloo Email MOHAWK ELDER Ellie Joseph Six Nations & co-founder of Two Row on the Grand Email DIRECTOR Tristin Vogel Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4) Email	TBD
OMAFRA PRESENTS	Unveiling a new program for newcomer attraction/retention in rural Ontario.	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEAD Stephen Morris Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Email COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT Serena Viola Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Email	TBD
PITCH IT/TRY IT: MAINSTREET REVITALIZATION IN HURON COUNTY	From the energy behind a plan to revitalize Minto and how it’s going to the resources and strategies that moved it along –  to the power of innovative thinking. The research on rural downtown transformation connected to youth, a collaboration between a business park and mainstreet – with a strong mix of passion and hope.	DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Belinda Wick-Graham Town of Minto Email RESEARCHER Luc Berek SEDRD, University of Guelph Email	TBD