THE RURBAN FRINGE

2010 Merry Christmas

The holidays are here and I’m off for some well-deserved time with family and friends … thanks for following along and all the best to you this Christmas season!  See you in the New Year.

Calling All Rural Canadian Businesses!

In partnership with the Monieson Centre at Queen’s University School of Business, the Community Futures Pan-Canadian Network is organizing a survey to gain a better understanding of how individual rural businesses vary from province-to-province.  
The survey will focus on key factors related to small business start-ups and growth and how these factors affect the sustainability of rural businesses.
All answers [...]

Author Inspired By Rural Upbringing

Have a little person on your Christmas list?  I was delighted to stumble upon Mike Boldt’s children’s book, The Gophers in Farmer Burrows’ Field, which – besides the fantastic illustrations – reminds us that it’s often the unexpected gifts that turn out to be the best.
On an ordinary farm, Farmer Burrows has his routines turned [...]

It’s Still a Wonderful Life in the Prairies

Rick Spence, columnist with the Financial Post, happily shared his impressions of one Community Futures organization where he …
“… discovered an idealized all-Canadian community where timeless small-town values meet 21st century economics – and where the caring custodianship of a small group of business lenders and advisors who see beyond the bottom line has made a huge [...]

Give to Your Community This Christmas

With only 12 days left until Christmas, our communities are often inadvertently left off our lists, unless a donation is made to local charities, not-for-profits, or community foundations. 
Shopping locally, though, is a great way to “give back” to your community.
Last year, I posted about how small towns could attract visitors to their communities by creating day-trips … but equally [...]

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