Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres

Introducing: A Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres Purpose This toolbox is intended to help communities that wish to attract and retain newcomers. Within its pages, you will find ideas and illustrations designed to stimulate discussion about the benefits of incorporating immigrants and refugees into your community’s overall population strategy. Resources and best practices…

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Housing Shortages and Rural Migration

When non-metropolitan communities do not have enough housing supply, or not enough appropriate housing, community and economic development faces challenges, and social and economic momentum can be lost. Attracting new residents, housing a larger workforce, and enabling seniors to comfortably age in place, all while maintaining a high quality of life for all residents, becomes…

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Canada’s Rural Economic Development Minister Invites Public Ideas On Ways to Expand Rural Opportunity — News Release

Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, March 25, 2019 – Canadians living in rural and northern communities have unique needs. Access to better and more modern infrastructure, affordable housing, and faster, more reliable Internet Service can make a big difference in the quality of life for rural Canadians.   The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Canada’s newly-appointed Minister of Rural Economic Development, is…

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Pilot Pairs Immigrants & Rural Communities

Pilot pairs immigrant workers and small towns

New federal immigration pilot is pairing remote northern cities with newcomers who need jobs An article by Clare Hennig, first published by CBC News on January 28, 2019   Some small rural communities in Northern B.C. facing a looming shortage of workers are hoping a new federal immigration program might help fill the employment gap. Right…

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Small Towns Refuse to Die

Small towns fight back

Some small towns offer $1 lots, tax breaks and guaranteed loans to win over newcomers for a chance to prove they are islands of growth that matter to Canada’s future, says Joe O’Connor in this Financial Post article. Jay Patel decided about four years ago he wanted to buy a motel. He was living in…

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Escape the City Winners Announced!

Escape the City winners, the Stober family

It’s like a law of physics — you know, for every action an equal reaction. As our major centres grow ever larger and more congested, attracting young people from rural areas with the promise of jobs and, well, glitter and glamour, an increasing number of youngish city folk are starting to look longingly at BC’s…

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Escape the City Contest — Win a Weekend in Alpine Nirvana!

Escape the City to Kaslo

Tired of the urban rat race? Wish you could afford your own home? Want to walk to work? Wish you had access to world class skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and climbing? Like the idea of being able to walk to do all your shopping? Kinda dig the idea of living in an alpine village…

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Contest aims to lure city folk to small-town B.C.

Escape the City to Kaslo

  Contest aims to lure city folk…  The BC Rural Centre’s Escape the City contest is beginning to create some significant media buzz, witness this CBC blogpost with nearly 1,000 shares & over 40 comments in 24 hours.  It’s a fun contest with a serious purpose — to remind young urbanites there’s an option to the…

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Escape the City!

CBC

  Escape the City — that’s a concept that’s likely to become increasingly common as our major centres become increasing crowded — and expensive. Life in a major urban area isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Sky-high housing costs, seemingly endless traffic woes, crime, pollution, noise, and stress — lots of stress —…

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