Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) Conference
In the autumn of 2016, the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity in partnership with the County of Huron, invite you to join with creative thinkers and community builders for three days of dialogue, workshops, and exploration. You will be in the company of rural leaders, artists, elected representatives, food producers and distributors, policy researchers and scholars, entrepreneurs and small business owners.
R2R is an invitation to share ideas, establish new partnerships, to network, inform policy, and create innovative strategies for rural health and well-being.
What are your rural challenges? An aging population and youth migration? Reinvigorating the town centre? Job creation? Communications? R2R is your opportunity to connect with creative problem solvers who are making a difference.
Employing the latest technology the symposium will have uplinks for interactive dialogue throughout and be recorded by a professional team of documentary filmmakers for viewing and posterity following the conference.
Register for the R2R Conference
Register by September 7th
AUDIENCE
Rural Citizens & Community groups; Entrepreneurs & Farmers & Artists; Local Leaders; Provincial & Municipal Staff; Academics.
CONFERENCE FORMAT
Rural Stories
An opportunity for delegates to share their stories and hear the stories of others. It is the beginning of building relationships between delegates – to network, spark connections and gather ideas.
Kitchen Table Conversations
Great ideas often come from around the kitchen table – an informal setting for conversations on rural challenges – success stories will mingle with disaster tales. This will be an opportunity to drill down into each issue and to arrive at possible solutions or refine the questions. Plenary sessions to share highlights will follow.
In Conversation Sessions
With the help of a moderator, real life examples of rural solutions to rural challenges will be discussed to reveal how big notices small, how small works with big, and how work is created.
The Pitch & Catch
This session is about an innovative idea meeting a financial opportunity. Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their unique idea to a small group of investors.
"Afters" Evenings
A late night opportunity for delegates to connect, exchange ideas, and be entertained in a more relaxed setting.
R2R Pressure Cooker
A think tank will take place in a local kitchen during the conference. Eight delegates will tackle a rural issue and over four hours will come up with an implementable action plan.
HOSPITALITY
An array of accommodation options are available including a limited number of billeted lodgings at local residences for another chance to get to know some of the creators and innovators of Huron County.
Delegates will enjoy world class meals prepared by chefs featuring locally-sourced ingredients.
Registration, Accommodation and other Logistics:
Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity
197 Dinsley St., Box 279
Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
(226) 523-1419
Peter Smith, Project Director, Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity
519.955.4594 | peter at blyth1419.ca
Rick Sickinger, Cultural Development Officer, County of Huron
519.482.5457 ext. 8 | rsickinger at huroncounty.ca
ADDITIONAL READING
- State of Rural Canada (2015)
- Cross-currents: Art + Agriculture Conference (North Carolina 2014 – Report by Peter Smith)
- Local Prosperity Conference: New Economies for Rural Canada (Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia 2015 – Report by Peter Smith)
12:00pm to 2:00pm
