THE RURBAN FRINGE

Be an Influencer

People don’t like being told what to do.  I know I don’t.
But what people do like, is believing they have decided to do something for themselves.  And do you know what the biggest influencer is on people’s behaviours?  Other people. 
People do what they see people doing.
If you want community members, co-workers, neighbours, friends, family and [...]

A Recipe for CED

While getting groceries the other day, I patiently waited while other shoppers lined up their purchases by the till.  More often than not, it seemed to be a mish-mash of items (hot dog buns, cottage cheese, pepper, and toothpaste, as one example) which led me to think … this is what communities do.
That is, many communities like to [...]

Do Highway Bypasses Bring Benefits?

My community has gone through several agonizing months of presentations, consultations and the like in order to determine the best possible scenario for a proposed major highway realignment.  I won’t lie, it’s been heated at times, with residents arguing for - and against – the proposals.
But do highway bypasses really create unimaginable damage to communities?  Or are there [...]

Investing in Leadership

[Alicia Evans is the Project Manager - Leadership Programs with Rural Ontario Institute who is helping oversee the implementation of an innovative leadership program in rural Ontario.  Read on for her summary of the terrific Steps to Leadership program.]     
When money is tight, the first disposable “luxury” is often leadership development. 
But when it comes to our rural [...]

Managing Great Expectations

Expectations are notoriously difficult to manage. 
For better or worse, I encounter this all the time in my line of work … where terminology such as ”community economic development” or “rural revitalization” cause blank stares, at best, or total misinterpretation, at worse.
Expectations are toughest to manage when people don’t know what to expect.    
So, when dealing with stakeholders on projects, programs or initiatives, [...]

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