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 & tea 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 Welcome Lunch. Thanksgiving Address from Austin Silversmith from Six Nations. Greetings from the CCRC, The Minister of Rural Affairs, MPP Huron/Bruce Lisa Thompson and the Warden of Huron County, Glen McNeil. 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. | |
| 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 PM | BREAK Location: Lower Hall | Thank you to Coastal Coffee from Goderich, ON for our delicious coffee and tea. | |
| 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 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 – TRANSITION TO THEATRE STAGE | Grab a coffee, tea, and snack on the way to the theatre stage. | |
| 4:05 – 5:15 PM | The Assembly Live: Rural Canada Location: Theatre Stage | Yes | A unique and innovative presentation moderated by Porte Parole Productions. Delegates and the public are invited to experience an original documentary presentation 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 | Discussion about The Assembly Live: Rural Canada & Delicious Fare from Our County Location: Lower Hall | We continue the discussion in the Lower Hall with Wingham’s Cornerstone Pizza and local beer and wine served by the Community Hall to fuel our inspiration and dialogue. 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 is 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 | Delegates continue with conversations that matter in our rural communities. Using Appreciative Inquiry Trios delegates 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 | Yes | A beautiful spread is provided by White Carnation restaurant from Holmesville, ON in the Lower Hall. Mini-yoga (sitting or standing) is available in the Art Gallery! |
| 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 Refreshments (grab-and-go and onsite) are available during the concurrent sessions in the Lower Hall | Yes but limited | Delegates can choose from one of two sessions weather permitting. CONCURRENT SESSION #1 PRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF ART & CREATIVITY IN FOSTERING DIALOGUE Learn about the art, culture, & creativity with Two Row on the Grand and The Voice of the River: Grand River Community Play Project. Location: Art Gallery [VIRTUAL ACCESS] 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, 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. [NO VIRTUAL ACCESS] |
| 2:15 – 4:05 PM | Workshop: Thinking About and Supporting Systems Change Location: Lower Hall & Link | Delegates explore two models of how change works in systems – The Two Loops model and Doughnut Economics. They chart the movement and relationship between systems of influence and emerging systems – helpful models when looking at the future of rural. | |
| 3:45 – 4:00 PM | BREAK | Grab a coffee, tea, and snack in the Lower Hall! | |
| 4:15 – 5:15 PM | Story Circle: Direction of Travel Location: Theatre Stage | Yes | 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. |
| 5:15 – 6:00 PM | Day 2 Reflection and Wrap-up Location: Theatre Stage | Yes | Delegates reflect on the story threads heard throughout the day. |
| 6:00 – 7:30 PM | COUNTRY SUPPER & RECOGNITION OF DR. AL LAUZON Location: Lower Hall | Yes | We are delighted to celebrate the career and accomplishments 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 local beer and wine. |
| End of Day Two |
DAY THREE – Friday, October 18 – TAKING COLLECTIVE WISDOM INTO ACTION & R2R Market
| Time | Activity | Virtual Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | R2R Market Location: The Link | The CCRC, Eat Local Huron and The Village Bookshop in Bayfield are pleased to announce the return of the R2R Market featuring local artists, businesses, and a pop-up bookstore. Delegates can visit the market in the morning of Day 3 to bring home gifts, treats, fruits & veg from local vendors and shops. | |
| 7:30 – 9:00 AM | BREAKFAST Location: Lower Hall | Breakfast is 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 | Yes but limited | An eagerly anticipated session that brings together best practices and research. P2P is a partnership project that includes the Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO), the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) at the University of Guelph, Memorial University, the University of Waterloo, the provincial government, other community-based organizations, and the CCRC. Delegates in small groups visit up to 12 stations throughout the Blyth Memorial Hall. [ONE OR TWO STATIONS WILL BE STREAMED FOR VIRTUAL DELEGATES] 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 | Delegates begin the final workshop series building from P2P and the culmination of our three days together. Through participatory leadership practices using the Pro-Action Cafe, delegates have the opportunity to bring forth a mandated project goal, idea or challenge from their workplace or school for delegates to offer their thoughts, expertise, and skills. In this half-hour, delegates will choose which project they wish to join before breaking for lunch. | |
| 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: TBD | Yes | Conference hosts & facilitators, through story and visual imagery, share the key learnings and highlights of the conference. |
| 3:15 – 3:45 PM | Closing Remarks Location: TBD | 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.