THE RURBAN FRINGE

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 [...]

Spectacular Rural Canada Faces Tough Times Ahead

I’ve just returned from a week spent learning, networking and sharing with like-minded colleagues as over 700 of us converged in Ontario for a national conference celebrating ’spectacular’ rural Canada. 

It was amazing.  And encouraging to see others striving to ensure rural Canada remains relevant and viable in today’s changing times.
A recent report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, [...]

The Economic Impact of Community Pathways

Pathways are a vital component of a well-built and responsive community.  Not only do pathways and trail systems encourage alternate means of transportation, they also provide green space and can link neighbouring communities and businesses, contributing to economic stimulation of these areas.
By encouraging local governments to create thoughtful, well-planned pathways systems, residents and visitors will [...]

Highways and Byways

Within our region, there are a few communities experiencing the impacts of highway bypass development.
Yet in many urban fringe and rurban areas, highway construction activities are important to communities both because of the investment they represent and the changes they trigger.  And while such activities often relieve traffic congestion, shorten travel times, and provide new [...]

The Facts About Entrepreneurship II

So what entrepreneurship ideas can you foster in your community?
One way is to encourage entrepreneurship programming in schools; Junior Achievement is a great example of this, with hands-on activities and resources for both facilitators and students.
Communities also need to form public and private partnerships to stimulate job growth and encourage other improvements.
At the end of the day, [...]

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