THE RURBAN FRINGE

Demolition Before Renewal

Like a gardener pruning his plants, sometimes you need to tear something down in order to make it better.
Not the whole thing, mind you, just the rotten parts. 
The boarded-up shopfronts, weedy yards, broken windows and sagging rooftops that blight a community’s landscape.
It’s an urban trend that’s finally trickling down to smaller cities and towns; poorly maintained buildings – [...]

Innovative Internship Program Matches Students with Non-Profits

Post-secondary students graduate from their programs brimming with knowledge and eager to start out on their chosen career path.  However, with employers looking for a combination of education and work experience, getting their foot in the door for that first job can be a challenge … especially in smaller communities.
This is where the Government of [...]

Help Develop Canada’s Next Agricultural Policy

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and provincial and territorial governments want to hear from Canadians and agriculture industry representatives to develop the next agricultural policy framework – Growing Forward 2.
Growing Forward 2 will build on the success of existing programs and leverage the ingenuity of farmers, processors and others in the sector to continue to generate economic [...]

On the Irish Fringe

I couldn’t resist sharing some further, related photos from a recent trip abroad and, while visiting Ireland, also couldn’t get away from noting that the most thriving Irish communities were those that were diversified in their economic activities … demonstrating that no matter where you live, economic self-sufficiency and growth must come from within.
Approximately 40% of [...]

Vagabond Tours: An Irish Success Story

There’s nothing I love better than a small business success story … and while touring Ireland with Vagabond, this small – but growing - adventure travel company quickly proved why it’s worth its weight in gold.

While most travellers remember the sights and scenery encountered while on vacation, not many can say they’ve driven through them!  That’s the [...]