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Message from the Honourable Andy Mitchell
Young Canadians truly are the leaders of today and tomorrow, and agents for change and innovation
in rural, remote and northern communities. This was evident at the first National Rural Youth Conference,
held in Orillia/Ramara, Ontario from May 2-4, 2003. I had the pleasure to meet with many of you and was
impressed by your commitment and passion for building strong and vibrant rural communities. This was reflected
in the time and energy you dedicated prior to the conference, by developing community project proposals
and finding mentors.
As the conference showed, the Government of Canada is committed to helping young Canadians become
leaders and innovators in their communities. I made several announcements at the conference that reinforced
this, including a Rural Youth Awards program for outstanding contributions to rural communities. The
selection of the first National Rural Youth Network Council, and a $25,000 investment in the Network
were other important announcements at the conference.
The Government of Canada recognizes that youth need to be involved in addressing the challenges facing
their communities. The Government of Canada is interested in hearing their perspectives and ideas and,
with this in mind, I have committed to ensuring that youth have an increased involvement in the Rural
Dialogue over the next year.
The conference was a special event with a legacy that will last far beyond the time we spent together. I
hope the knowledge you gained from the inspiring presentations made during the conference will help you
achieve your project goals. You can count on ongoing support from the Rural Secretariat. I will also,
throughout the year, be visiting selected projects to see firsthand the progress you have made.
Youth delegates have now returned to their communities with the experiences, skills and information that
they gained from the conference. I am confident you will use this knowledge to shape a brighter future
for rural Canada. Together we can make a difference.
Community Projects Show Innovation in Action in Rural Canada
Prior to attending the National Rural Youth Conference, participants were asked to develop project
proposals on issues important to them and their communities. They came up with innovative projects
that address issues close to their heart and make creative use of community resources. The following
examples highlight some of the projects submitted by youth from across the country.
With the creation of the Cape Breton Regional Youth Council, Keith MacDonald (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
hopes to give young people in his county a stronger voice. “By participating in the Council, youth
will be able to provide input on local issues and increase their involvement in the community,” says Keith.
The Council will promote networking and resource sharing, as well as leadership training and skills development.
Action plans will be developed by the Council to address priority issues for the youth of Cape Breton County.
Keith is currently hard at work contacting local high school councils and looking for guest speakers to kick
off the first meeting of the Youth Council.
As Jérôme Baillargeon (Bellechasse, Quebec) has
discovered, working with youth who live on the streets requires adaptability
and resourcefulness, especially when trying to secure funding. Grants may
come from a variety of different sources without a guarantee of continued
support. Contributors look for measurable results to renew the funding,
but workers often have little tangible evidence to show the value of their
work. This creates a sense of instability for organizations and employees
who deal with youth living on the streets. Jérôme would like
to change that by creating a single source of ongoing funding for those
who work with these youth. He will also try to raise awareness of the importance
of their work and the need for steady funding.
Drinking and driving continues to impact the lives of thousands of Canadians. Heather Weber (Ayton, Ontario)
has set out to do something about this by educating youth in her community about the dangers of drinking and driving.
“This is an issue that affects our community and other communities across Canada,” says Heather. “Our county has one
of the highest alcohol (consumption) rates in Ontario. It is important to those in our community that we take a
look at it.” Through the Responsible Drinking project, Heather will work with high schools and other local
organizations, building on the Don’t Drink and Drive strategy. Her project has received interest from the
local police, health unit, board of education and the Ontario Provincial Police.
In Lynn Lake, Manitoba, mine closures have forced many families to look for work elsewhere. This economic
downturn led to buildings being abandoned and boarded up, many of which have now deteriorated to the point
of collapse. The Lynn Lake Demolition and Renovation Project offers a creative solution to this problem.
The project, led by Geraldine Lobster (Lynn Lake, Manitoba), involves acquiring these run-down buildings
and training youth to disassemble the buildings and reclaim the used lumber and building materials. These
materials will then be used to do basic home renovations for families in need. The project creates a win-win
situation for both the community and local youth.
The loss of traditional skills and values in her community has inspired Sylvia Ivalu (Igloolik, Nunavut) to
create the Cultural Camp Program. The Cultural Camp will bring together Inuit youth with elders who will
teach traditional hunting and gathering skills, along with crafts and culture. Through her project, Sylvia
hopes to help both the youth, who will acquire new skills and a better understanding of their culture,
and the elders, who will have the opportunity to share their knowledge. “Many of our youth aren’t connected
with the Inuit culture the way people used to be,” she says. “We want to get them connected, to remember the
skills we used to have, such as sewing and hunting. These traditional skills will be very helpful to young
people down the road.” Sylvia is currently consulting with youth to find out what they want to include
in the program.
Eva Bogdan’s concern over the lack of opportunities for youth in her hometown of Lumby, B.C. led to
her idea for a community garden run by youth. The Community Garden project will involve youth in
each stage of the process, from sowing the seeds to marketing the products. Through their experience
with the project, youth will acquire entrepreneurial skills, while learning environmentally sustainable
agricultural practices. Eva hopes her project will encourage positive personal development and provide
work experience.
In the coming months, youth delegates will continue planning their
projects and putting them into action. The Rural Secretariat wants to hear
about the progress being made on the community projects. Lessons learned
from the projects will be compiled and shared with other young people across
the country. The final date to submit an update using the evaluation questions
found in the Community Project Planning and Evaluation Guide is March 5,
2004. Achievements and news from the projects can be shared through the
Rural Youth On-line Discussion Group.
Breakout Sessions Give Food for Thought and Fuel for Action
Informative breakout sessions explored the National Rural Youth Conference’s themes of innovation,
leadership and partnership. Dynamic presenters shared some of their experiences and insights on
these topics, and offered delegates practical tips and tools to help them bring about change in
their communities. Case studies, selected from the community project proposals, gave delegates
an opportunity to exchange ideas and get inspiration for their own projects.
Juan Tellez, presenter for the session entitled Innovation: A New Mindset, encouraged delegates
to think outside the box. He suggested creative approaches youth can use to bring change
to their communities. Innovation in community development begins with identifying existing
resources and using them in a creative way. The next step is finding opportunities to mobilize
these resources, and encouraging people in the community to use new techniques. Tellez noted
that innovation comes from an open mind and commitment, and he counseled delegates to never
underestimate the power of new ideas. Participants agreed resources and support are usually
available, but also pointed out that there are many challenges that must be overcome to
change the status quo.
Laura Johnson led the breakout session on leadership entitled Making a Difference in Your
Communities as Leaders: Recognizing Your Assets. Participants heard that a leader needs
to be passionate about his/her cause and share that enthusiasm with others. Johnson spoke
of the important role that a leader plays in inspiring and motivating others to reach a
goal, while giving encouragement, feedback and continuous support. As she emphasized,
effective communication is essential for getting a message across, motivating others and
keeping the project on track. A leader needs to establish a clear direction and influence
others to follow a common course of action. Confidence is also key and it is important to
ensure everyone has a chance to contribute and feel that they are part of the team.
The breakout session on partnership, entitled You are not Alone: Building Partnerships and Teams,
focused on building relationships and developing social capital. Presenter Brian Smith
noted that all members of a community can make important contributions if given a chance.
There are also numerous assets (human, physical, economic, cultural, environmental) in
a community, many of which go unrecognized. When trying to build partnerships, it is vital
that these resources are identified so they can be fully utilized. Smith pointed out that
building successful partnerships requires learning how to sell an idea effectively. It is
important to show potential partners the tangible benefits of getting involved in the project.
Secretary of State Andy Mitchell Makes Key Announcements at the 2003 National Rural Youth Conference
Secretary of State Andy Mitchell made several key announcements at
the National Rural Youth Conference, including the establishment of the
Young Leaders in Rural Canada Awards. The annual awards will recognize outstanding
contributions of youth to rural communities. The first Secretary of State
Rural Youth Awards will be presented in April 2004 at the third National
Rural Conference in Red Deer, Alberta.
“A specialized awards program is the Government of Canada's way of recognizing rural youth who share their
passion, spirit and skills to the benefit of their communities. Young people have many innovative ideas and
we need to encourage their participation in their communities,” said Mr. Mitchell.
The criteria and nomination process for the awards program are under development and will be
announced in the near future.
Mr. Mitchell also announced the creation of a Youth Task Force and an Industry Canada/FedNor investment
of $50,000 to examine ways to increase the level of youth participation on Community Futures Development
Corporation (CFDC) Boards of Directors in Ontario. The Youth Task Force's first objective will be to
identify existing challenges facing Ontario CFDCs in the recruitment of youth as volunteers. It will
also make recommendations to increase the level of youth participation on CFDC boards, and will set
future targets and monitor progress.
“Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and CFDCs provide valuable assistance
to help them succeed,” said Mr. Mitchell. “By addressing the needs of young entrepreneurs in their
investment strategies, and by encouraging youth to serve on CFDC boards, CFDCs will continue to foster
diversification and stimulate employment growth.”
National Rural Youth Network Selects First Council
Congratulations to the National Rural Youth Network for choosing its
first Council and Executive! The Network's 13 Council members, representing
all provinces and territories were selected during the conference. The Council
and Executive members are: Kyle Holland from British Columbia, Tiffany Smith
from the Yukon, Shawna Wallace from Alberta, Steven Gauthier (Treasurer)
from Saskatchewan, Samuel Bruyère from Manitoba, Jennifer Rooke (Chair)
from the Northwest Territories, Beverly Young from Nunavut, Melanie Gorka
(Vice-Chair) from Ontario, Stephanie Maynard (Spokesperson) from Quebec,
Amy Higgins (Secretary) from New Brunswick, Colin Dauphinee from Nova Scotia,
Dawne Knockwood from Prince Edward Island and Andrew Normore from Newfoundland
and Labrador.
Since the Network was launched at the second National Rural Conference
in April 2002, a group of dedicated Steering Committee members has been
busy putting together Terms of Reference, producing a Rural Youth Organizations
Guide and making contacts for potential partnerships with a number of organizations.
The new National Rural Youth Network Council will continue where the
Steering Committee left off. The Council has identified several key activities
for 2003-2004. They will work to strengthen the Network by enlarging its
membership and establishing sub-committees on important youth issues. They
will also market and promote the Network, and facilitate communication and
information exchange through a Network Web site. Another key activity will
be the development of such partnerships with youth from the Americas and
the Carribean.
The Network is an important forum for young Canadians from rural,
remote and northern communities across the country to share information,
make contacts, and discuss their priorities and concerns. For more information
on the Network, please call 1 888 781-2222. The Rural Youth On-line
Discussion Group helps young people from across the country stay in touch
and keep up-to-date on the Network activities.
Quotes from delegates
“Rural youth need to realize their potential, and be proud of where they come from. Being a rural Canadian
is a privilege.”
Dixie Lynn McLeod, Alberta (Conference Delegate)
“The National Rural Youth Conference has given me the opportunity to network with other youth who
are facing similar challenges. The workshops taught me new skills and by consequence has made me a more
resourceful person.”
Kyle Holland , British Columbia (Conference Delegate)
“I think that by being young and living in rural Canada, you can make a bigger difference in your
community than if you lived in a city.”
Ian O’Neill, Nova Scotia (Conference Delegate)
“Have the courage to defend your ideas and believe in your dreams. Never accept no for an answer.”
Jonathan Strauss (Keynote Presenter)
“One person can make a difference. It must be our challenge to empower and inspire youth to get
involved, to show them they have a voice and that they can create change.”
Simon Jackson (Keynote Presenter)
Keynote Speakers Offer Encouragement and Inspiration to Delegates
Three keynote speakers offered words of encouragement and inspiration to delegates, giving them
guidance as they move forward on their community projects. The keynote speakers touched on the
topics of leadership, entrepreneurship and mentorship, and emphasized the importance of believing
in one’s potential.
Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State for Children and Youth, told delegates that they have
the power to become agents for change. While youth engagement and participation are key to bringing
about change, one must have a vision and determine goals. It is important to never undersell the
idea of mentorship, and take the opportunity to learn from others. She encouraged delegates to
believe in their potential for greatness. She also advised them to visit their country, keep an
open mind and exercise their right to vote.
Simon Jackson, founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, conveyed his experience of starting
a campaign to save the Spirit Bear and the power of one individual to affect change. The key,
according to Jackson, is to deliver a message with passion and to stay focused on the main issue.
It is also important not to be afraid to ask questions or try the impossible and not to lose hope
if there are roadblocks along the way. As Jackson told delegates, if they believe in their message,
ensure their voices are heard and stay the course, no challenge is insurmountable. He encouraged
delegates to take the information that they learned from the conference and become active
participants in their communities.
Jonathon Strauss, recipient of the 2001 Young Entrepreneur Award, realized from the start that
to become successful in business, one has to be an all-around successful leader. This means
becoming involved in the community, networking and learning from other leaders. One of the
challenges of being a leader is to direct and manage people. Strauss emphasized that a leader
cannot dictate to others, but should instead recognize each individual’s strengths and use them
to enhance the productivity of the project. Good leaders have to be able to make things happen,
and have the vision and foresight to identify and seize opportunities.
A common message from all of the presenters is that youth can create change if they believe
in themselves and their ideas.
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