Canadian Rural Partnership
Previous Issues
Spring 2001
Vol.2 Issue 1
AAFC# 2015/b
A-27-21/2000-5
Back to the Country
By Pierre Allard
For a couple of days in early February, rural Québec set up shop in the heart of old Montréal, at the Bonsecours Market, and wowed the city folk.
They called it the Foire des villages, the Village Fair. And villages there were. On Feb. 3 and 4, representatives from MRCs (regional county municipalities) were lined up, hoping to lure big city dwellers back to the countryside.
They had high hopes. Two years ago, Solidarité rurale du Québec, the organization hosting the Village Fair, had commissioned a survey with some impressive results.
“Suvey data showed that 40 per cent of urban dwellers dreamed of living in the countryside,” says Marie Anne Rainville, spokesperson for Solidarité rurale. “ For the 35 and under group, the proportion shot up to 89.5 per cent. That’s nine young people out of 10.”
“We didn’t believe the numbers, so we asked our pollster to take a second look. Still the same. For us, that’s like asking a horse if it wants a bucket of oats.”
It seems many people have had it with noise and pollution. They are longing for a sense of community.
With Solidarité rurale du Québec looking for a venue to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Québec rural Estates-General in 1991, it was soon decided that any such event in 2001 would be held in the city and used to showcase rural areas to all these would-be country folk.
The plan was put into action. In the February event, each MRC manned its own stand, artisans had their works on display and there was a constant hub of activity at the “village place”. When the doors closed, over 5,000 people paid $5 for their ticket to a possible move out of the city.
“On Sunday, the place was packed to overflowing. Over 200 people were lined up, waiting to get in,” says Rainville. “Most, it seems, had some kind of project and had real estate agents been there, transactions would have taken place.”
It may be too early to tell how successful the Village Fair was. Organizers for Solidarité rurale du Québec will be looking at results as they trickle in this year. Regardless of the final outcome however, the Village Fair will have opened many urban eyes to the reality of rural Québec.
"Many people, when they think of the country, they automatically think agriculture - that everybody is somehow, even if only peripherally, involved in the farming business," says Jacques Proulx, President of Solidarité rurale du Québec.
"The truth is, while agriculture is the most important economy out there and takes up plenty of place, only three out of 10 (Quebecers) who live in the rural milieu work in the agriculture sector."
For more information, please contact:
Solidarité rurale du Québec: (819) 293-6825
Or visit: www.solidarite-rurale.qc.ca
The new guidelines and application deadlines for the Canadian Agricultural Rural Communities Initiative (CARCI) are now available.
CARCI is a $9.3 million, three year initiative that was developed to enhance the viability of agricultural rural communities. It specifically targets communities affected by changes in the agricultural sector. CARCI will normally match up to 50 per cent of the costs (up to a maximum) for: rural coordination organizations; partnership projects; workshops, conferences and seminars; and research.
For more information, or for a copy of the guidelines please visit the CARCI web site at www.agr.ca/carci , or call toll free: 1-877-295-7160.
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RURAL THOUGHTS
by ANDY MITCHELL, SECRETARY OF STATE
(RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
(FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO)
Federal government supports sustainable community development
Sustainable community development. We hear those three words a lot these days, but how do communities pursue their own development and what should government do to help?
Let’s look at the second question first.
I think there are two specific roles for the government.
The first is to ensure that communities have the tools to pursue their particular strategies.
The federal government has worked hard over the last several years to develop a series of tools communities can access in the way that makes sense for them. Among them are:
In January’s Speech From the Throne, we reaffirmed and reinforced our commitment to give communities the tools they need to take charge of their own destinies. As stated in the Throne Speech, the government recognizes that “Canadian communities of all sizes — whether urban or rural, Aboriginal or multicultural — face diverse challenges and have unique needs. The Government of Canada will strive to ensure that, wherever possible, its actions and programs are co-ordinated to help build local solutions to local challenges.”
The second role for government is based on the fact that community development requires more than an investment of dollars. It requires an investment in people, an investment in community leaders – not just the decision-makers, but all of the people who have innovative ideas and an important contribution to make in realizing the vision they have for their communities.
So this is where we get back to the first question.
We have to foster that culture of creativity in our communities. We can have initiatives that sound great on paper, but if we don’t have individuals with the skills, the ingenuity and the initiative to set the economic wheels in motion, we won’t succeed in achieving long-term sustainable development in our communities.
The key to the success of these initiatives is that the communities themselves come up with the innovative ideas and then make them happen.
The government provides funding, but what makes these programs unique is the fact that the initiatives are developed by local individuals to address local issues and priorities.
The people at the grassroots are the best ones to make decisions that affect their communities. It’s this bottom-up approach that is absolutely essential to effective community development.
When we all work together as partners, we make our communities a better place to live, work and raise our children. Strong communities, vibrant communities can, and do, exist in rural Canada. And the key to that success is in our hands.
If you have any comments on this column, or any other topics you would like to see addressed, please don’t hesitate to contact me at:
SecretaryOfStateRural@agr.gc.ca
Or you can write to me at:
Andy Mitchell
Secretary of State for Rural Development
Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5
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Our rural and remote heritage
by Brent Kerrigan
In each edition, the Rural Times will feature a quick look at a rural or remote Canadian community. This week we travel to Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories.
Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories
Location: Lat. 66.1, Lon. 294.2
Population: 1,243 (93% Inuit, 7% non-Inuit) [Source: 1996 Census of Canada.]
Pangnirtung is also known as the 'place of the bull caribou'. The community lies on the Cumberland Peninsula and is bisected by both Akshayuk and Kingnait Passes, which provide an overland route from Cumberland Sound to Davis Strait. The central part of the peninsula is dominated by the Penny Ice Cap from which many glaciers flow to the sea.
Cumberland Sound, the large body of water Pangnirtung Fiord opens into, has been a traditional home of Inuit for more than 1,000 years. Here, they and their predecessors of the Thule and Dorset cultures lived in small hunting camps along the shore. Their survival depended on the seals, walruses and beluga whales that populated the waters of Cumberland Sound, and on the magnificent bowhead whale that also frequented these waters.
Today, the community sustains itself partially through the operation of a turbot fishery, and is home to a thriving arts and unique weaving industry. A walk in Pangnirtung will bring you to numerous local businesses and shops, including the Angmarlik Interpretive Centre, the Auyuittuq Lodge, the Miqqut Store, the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts, a print shop, and the Old Blubber Station.
For more information on Nunavut communities, please call:
The Government of Nunavut: (867) 975-6000, or,
E-mail: whalonen@gov.nu.ca
The discovery book of spirit
By Avery Ascher
The best books are full of surprises.
And so it is with The Pas Discovery Book, a fabric collage creation that turns the history and everyday life of this town 610 km northwest of Winnipeg into a three-dimensional delight.
In what other book, for example, can somebody find a two-headed cow (made from two little plastic cows artfully glued together)?
That’s the hook. From there, the reader is informed of the Sam Waller Museum, where there's an actual two-headed calf on display. Then it’s on to the museum itself, to explore the natural and human history of the region in one gallery, or perhaps to see a familiar name on a painting in another.
That's the thing about The Pas Discovery Book - it gets the reader started on any number of journeys. Which is only fitting, because putting the book together was anything but a straightforward process.
The Pas Discovery Book evolved out of a challenge put forward at a Rural Forum in Brandon, Manitoba last spring. Communities at the Forum, which was sponsored by Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs, were asked to assemble time capsules representative of their areas.
Several brainstorming sessions later, Annette Milot, Director of the Sam Waller Museum, and Laura Finlay, Tourism and Recreation Director with the Town of The Pas, came up with the answer. Not a time capsule in the usual sense, the Discovery Book nevertheless sums up the spirit of the community.
Once the idea was hatched, the next step was to start constructing the book, and, acting on the time-honored truth that 'if you want something done, ask a busy person,' Milot and Finlay gave Pat Wright a call.
Now living in Whitecourt, Alberta, Wright was busy as a mother of three, a parent council and tumbling and trampolining club volunteer, and sewing whiz at the time. She was, she recalls, "overwhelmed at first." But it wasn't long before creativity took over and the pieces began falling in place on the canvas pages.
Several of those pieces came from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. A tiny sneaker, the top half of which (laces and all) was incorporated into the page about the new community walking/bike path. So was a small swatch of suede from an old coat, which became a tipi to illustrate a page representing the role of native people in the fur trade.
The cover of the book also has a connection to the fur trade era. Made of deep green wool duffel traditionally used for parkas, it dates to the time of Kerr's Furs, a once-thriving business in The Pas.
Lego also did its bit for the Discovery Book, donating a bicycle for the page about the walking/bike path. Barbie and Ken (yes, those Mattel icons) contributed some of their household goods, and the Kinder Egg company also did its part (a little wooden airplane from a Kinder Egg is found on the page talking about transportation).
These details are a result of Wright's children letting them out of their sights.
"They like the fact that their stuff is in the book,” she says.
The grommets anchoring the canvas pages came from Dale's Upholstery, and the Town of The Pas crest was reproduced by Teresa's Trophies. In fact, support of one kind or another came from many sources including The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce, Keewatin Community College, Tolko Industries Ltd., The Pas Rotary Club, and Kelsey School Division.
The Discovery Book took about 50 hours and approximately $200 in materials to compile. Because it's a fragile, one-of-a-kind item, it stays at The Pas Library and won't do a lot of traveling, although it did receive rave reviews from Intergovernmental Affairs on a rare road trip.
But it is available for special occasions - like when Mayor Gary Hopper captivated some preschoolers with it at a library story time a few months ago. And who knows what kind of journey the Discovery Book has taken those kids on since then?
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Editor's Note
A good bye...
I am filled with mixed emotions writing my last "Letter from the Editor". Leaving The Rural Times will be difficult. Having been with it since its inception, I have enjoyed every minute of it. I am going to pursue a permanent position with the Department of Justice and like anything new, am eager for the challenge.
I would like to thank the Newsletter Advisory Committee for their support, ideas, commitment and enthusiasm. I would like to thank the writers and photographers I have worked with, all located in rural areas across Canada, and commend their desire in telling a story from the rural perspective.
Last but not least, I would like to thank you the reader. Through The Rural Times, it has been my good fortune to learn so much more about rural Canada and its people.
Brent Kerrigan will become the new editor of The Rural Times.
Andrea McDonald
... and a hello
First, I would like to thank Andrea for her hard work and dedication to The Rural Times. I will do my best to build upon the solid foundation she left for me.
My background is rooted firmly in rural and remote Canada. I was born and raised in the small community of Camlachie, Ontario, and have worked in rural Canada throughout my life - including time in the North where I was editor of the Slave River Journal, a small community newspaper based in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Living in rural and remote Canada has shown me how important it is for rural communities to have their stories told and shared. I encourage you to write, email or call me with any comments or suggestions on stories, including the look and feel of the Rural Times itself. After all, this is your publication. I look forward to working with all of you.
Thank you
Brent Kerrigan
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Imagine your community's most attractive natural feature - like a sandy beach with nearby cliffs ideal for hiking trails. As a community, you want to develop this area for a tourism destination. How to do this in a way that will not only be economically successful, but will also protect the natural beauty of the environment, is a daunting task. Where does one begin?
A program is currently underway in Bouctouche, New Brunswick that invites communities to tour just such a developed area, and during a two-day workshop, teach community leaders how to go about planning and creating their own sustainable tourist destinations.
The path to success
The development of Bouctouche is a true success story. Five years ago this coastal town created a plan to develop a major tourism destination based on the natural features of the area. Working with a tourism planning firm, the Bouctouche Bay Eco-tourism Project created a series of ecologically-friendly attractions, such as boardwalks, hiking trails, a farmers’ market, a dune ecosystem interpretation centre and a host of others that highlight the Mi'kmaq and Acadian heritages prevalent in coastal New Brunswick.
Today, the success of the Bouctouche Bay development project has been measured in some impressive statistics. The municipal Visitor Information Center is among the top 10 most frequently visited destinations in the province. When Irving Eco-Centre “La Dune de Bouctouche” first opened in 1997, general visitation to the area doubled, and has jumped another 30 per cent since then. More than 150 jobs have been created in association with a multitude of business opportunities such as Bed and Breakfasts, cafés, and kayak excursions.
Helping communities help themselves
In a determined effort to help rural communities develop sustainable tourism projects, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has partnered with the Bouctouche Bay group to offer hands-on training to approximately 20 communities throughout the region. Each community selected to participate in the "What Makes a Sustainable Tourism Destination" program will send up to 12 delegates to Bouctouche for two days. There the delegates will take part in a mixture of workshops, and interactive exercises focusing on the principle of sustainable development (which includes development that provides economic benefits, natural and cultural preservation and a community building experience).
"Rural tourism is really hot right now," says Jim Sackville, who is with BDA, the Sussex, NB environmental-planning firm that has worked on the Bouctouche Bay project since its inception.
Sackville says he expects there will be no shortage of development ideas from participating communities, as so many areas of Atlantic Canada have spectacular coastlines or forests or other natural features that would appeal to tourists.
Bouctouche, a ‘living laboratory’ for other communities to study
One of the major lessons learned during the development of the Bouctouche Bay Eco-tourism Project, and one that will be passed along to visiting communities during the workshops, is the necessity of building what Sackville calls "strategic alliances" with members of the community. This means opening lines of communication and partnering with the academic community, local industries and businesses, and other interest groups.
The best example of the benefits of this kind of partnering, says Sackville, occurred when the Bouctouche project involved the fishing and farming industries early on in the planning stages. Because these sectors actually work with the natural landscape of the area, they were able to contribute greatly to the project's development. Sackville says the two groups have actively taken part in developing the attractions, from creating farm vacations and a farmers market, to ensuring local fishermen can supply fresh fish to restaurants.
"These people have such a potential to be part of the economic growth," says Sackville. "By involving local industry, it works for everyone. Everyone wins by participating."
On-site skills development
Harvey Sawler is a Senior Tourism Consultant with ACOA. He says that while the Bouctouche project "isn't the final word in sustainable tourism development," it does help pave the way for other communities by having already experienced the pitfalls and corrected some of the inevitable mistakes. "It provides great groundwork for other communities to start from," he says. "Those communities can then adapt the Bouctouche experience to their own project."
Sawler says the protection of the environment will be emphasized during the workshops.
"Sustainable has two meanings here," he explains. "One is that the project is economically viable and can keep itself going. But of utmost importance is that the project is built and maintained in such a way that impact on the natural environment is not negative or harmful."
The curriculum of the workshops, which will be held spring and fall for the next two-three years, was developed largely by BDA, the Economic Planning Group (EPG) and Mount Allison University. Communities invited to attend will have gone through a screening process, which will look for three key factors. Each community must have a strong environmental feature that can be developed; each must demonstrate strong social and cultural influences; and communities need a good economic base, such as a willing workforce.
Adds Sackville, "we will give them an agenda, a time frame with milestones to mark the progress of their project. And they will be able to see the end of the road the entire time they are working on their development project…it's a chart for them to follow."
For more information, contact:
The Bouctouche Bay Eco-tourism Project
Tel:(506) 743-1495
Fax:(506) 743-1498
E-mail: rrc@nbnet.nb.ca
Internet: www.ecotourismnb.com
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Newsletter Advisory Group members
Marc Topola
Box 1210
Assiniboia, SK
S0H 0B0
(306) 642-5599
E-mail address: mtopola_pcr@qlo.com
Christine Black
1 Stone Road
4th Floor
Guelph, ON
N1G 4Y2
(519) 826-4128
E-mail address: cblack@frl.on.ca
Susan Felsberg
General Delivery
Mud Lake, Labrador
A0P 1K0
(709)896-5947
Ishbel Munro
Coastal Communities Network
R.R. #2
East Bay, NS
B0A 1J0
(902) 379-2688
E-mail: coastalnet@auracom.com
Make your rural voices heard!
Rural communities are filled with valuable information, stories, legends, quirks and characters, and we at The Rural Times, want to ensure all voices are heard and stories are told. Therefore, we are calling on rural Canadians from across the country to join our Newsletter Advisory Group. Membership is voluntary and will only require participation in one conference-call meeting per month. Volunteers should have a good understanding of rural issues that happen in their community, province or territory, and be ready to suggest great story ideas that reflect rural life.
Join the rural team!For more information, contact:
Brent Kerrigan
Newsletter
Coordinator/Editor
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Louisbourg, Sambro Island, Coffin Island, Nova Scotia
Rose Blanche, Newfoundland
Cape Enrage, Moncton, New Brunswick
Permanent fixtures on the Canadian landscape; the grain elevators of the Prairies and the lighthouses of the East Coast, serve as important reminders of our history. Rows of elevators built along railway lines indicated the wealth and prosperity of Canada's grain farmers. Lighthouses welcomed immigrants to their new homeland and, to this day, light a safe passage for fishing vessels on their way into harbour. Over time, these structures have made way for concrete and new technology, yet the romance still remains.
Join us in the exploration of the past, present and future in the second instalment of this two-part series celebrating grain elevators of the Prairies and lighthouses of the East Coast.
Part II - Lighthouses of the East Coast.
The Lighthouse
by Jane Ayer
The image is a familiar one for anyone living close to the ocean: a dangerous angry sea, a steep, jagged cliff, and, standing in defiance of all that wildness, a strong red and white tower with a flashing light. The lighthouse has long been a valiant symbol of the human race's efforts to control the uncontrollable. But for a country with the longest coastline in the world, it's been so much more. Lighthouses safely brought people who would help build a nation to this vast land. They are still a literal lifeline for the hundreds of thousands of Canadians whose lives would be the sea. Their steady, bright beams and their keepers brought some comfort to those whose days began far before the sun shone on a choppy ocean - and some level of comfort to the families they left behind on shore.
THE PAST
Canada's first lighthouse was of stone, built in Louisbourg between 1731 and 1733, on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Canada's second oldest lighthouse was also constructed of stone, built on Sambro Island at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour in 1758. It still stands there today as the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in North America. Stone towers eventually gave way to the octagonal wooden ones in the 19th century, and then to circular steel-reinforced concrete structures of the 20th century. Electric lights and foghorns slowly replaced oil lanterns, fog warning whistles and bells.
Romantic Heroes
Despite the somewhat romantic notion of lighthouse keeping some of us may have, there was little romance to it. It was often isolating, round-the-clock work in conditions that were usually harsh and damp. According to Dan Conlin, curator of marine history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, the job of lighthouse keeper was generally given to families who lived in the area.
"The documents make it explicit that they actually preferred families," says Conlin. "If you could get a keeper with a wife, you'd basically get two keepers, one of them for free. And those jobs were commonly passed from one generation to another, so it became a real family thing-that's a very strong element in Canada's lightkeeping tradition."
Another strong element to the work of a Canadian lightkeeper was rescue missions. Keepers were often credited with saving the lives of many shipwreck victims. Nova Scotian folklore tells of two such families on Seal Island who saw 95 shipwrecks, but not a single life lost. Their role as guardian angels to people on the sea greatly endeared lighthouses and their keepers to the community around them.
Since the 1960s, however, the advent of automated and solarized lights and foghorns has diminished, for the most part, the need for a lightkeeper. Of Canada's 583 lighthouses, only 52 are presently staffed: 27 in British Columbia, 24 in Newfoundland and one off the coast of New Brunswick.
THE PRESENT
Technology has greatly changed the need for and role of lighthouses in today's world. Recreational boaters and fishermen have a wide array of options to choose from to ensure an accurate and safe journey on the sea. Radiobeacons, radar, electronic charts, LORAN C (Long Range Aid to Navigation), GPS (Global Positioning System) and DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) are just a few of the choices mariners have that are fairly reasonably priced (a hand-held GPS receiver starts at about $200). But many think relying on technology alone is a mistake.
Carlton Lunn, an inshore fisher in Cape Breton, says technology is technology: it crashes. And while many of the larger ships can afford to buy two of everything as back up, this is neither practical nor affordable for small boat operators.
"There are a couple of constants here. One is the unpredictable sudden storm and the other is Murphy's Law." says Lunns. "You're in a storm and your electronics go out just when you are close enough to land to use a light and fog alarm to guide you into port if there was one there still operational. A similar situation has happened to me and I was damn glad to see Louisbourg lighthouse."
But you can't argue with the record of the latest technology, says Carl Goodwin, the Coast Guard's superintendent of aids to navigation for the Maritimes.
"It's only been in our lifetime that ships going aground and washing up on the shore have ceased to be a common everyday occurrence. Lighthouses are on the path to extinction as marine aids to navigation."
So if lighthouses are on the path to extinction why haven't they all been de-staffed, automated or completely decommissioned?
Reg Golding, interim manager of aids to navigation with the Coast Guard in Ottawa says when they decided to decommission or sell-off lighthouses a few years ago, the response from Canadians was immediate.
"The people said no and the government made the decision to listen to the people of Canada.
And so far, the one thing that seems able to save lighthouses from the auction block or the wrecking ball is often the public's reaction."
The Coffin Island lighthouse along Nova Scotia's south shore is a prime example. With the lighthouse on the verge of toppling into the sea, the Coast Guard made the decision to tear it down. When the community heard about it, they pulled together and formed the Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society. After convincing the Coast Guard they could save it, they built a breakwater at the base of the lighthouse and literally rescued it from the ocean. While they still need to raise approximately $10,000 to pay for the $70,000 cost of saving the lighthouse, Society president Ken Wilkinson hopes it stands as an example of the power small communities can generate.
"It can be done. We're just hoping other communities can see the possibilities."
And many communities have. Rose Blanche is a small fishing community on the southwest coast of Newfoundland with a population of about 800 people.
About 10 years ago the South West Coast Development Association had a vision of restoring the granite lighthouse that for years lay in ruins in the community. Last year the restored lighthouse
had about 10,000 visitors. And plans are now in the works to develop a lighthouse village complex so entrepreneurs can set-up shop with seasonal businesses.
Other rural communities around the Atlantic provinces are also seeing lighthouses as a great opportunity to attract tourists from larger cities. Many lighthouses have been turned into B & Bs, museums, adventure settings and tea rooms.
THE FUTURE
A lot of people are working to secure the future of lighthouses in Canada.
A Lighthouse Protection Act is in the works that would see lighthouses protected as heritage and cultural buildings. The recently formed Atlantic Lighthouse Council acts as an advisory body to the Coast Guard in the area of lighthouse use and is hoping to set the pattern for a National Lighthouse Council. The Coastal Communities Network, a volunteer association that promotes Nova Scotia's coastal and rural communities, is working to convince the Coast Guard that lighthouses are still necessary for safe navigation, at least in some areas. There are also a number of provincial and community lighthouse preservation societies that are working hard to bring lighthouses back to the people. And that seems to be the common goal: that lighthouses remain in the community and send forth a ray of light that will guide people in.
For more information, contact:
The Canadian Coast Guard:
www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca
Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society:
www.ednet.ns.ca/educ/heritage/nslps
The Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society:
www.coffinislandlighthouse.ns.ca
Rose Blanche Lighthouse:
www.gatewaytonewfoundland.com/tour/rblight.html
Coastal Communities Network:
www.coastalcommunities.ns.ca
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Cape Enrage: from dilapidation to tourist destinationA ray of light
Had you chanced upon Cape Enrage, along the Bay of Fundy near Fundy National Park, just ten-years ago, you would have met an abandoned, sagging light-keeper's house with peeling paint and boarded windows. The lighthouse sitting beside it had long since gone the way of automated lights and foghorns - the job of its keeper declared obsolete. The Canadian Coast Guard had decided to tear down the keeper's house and sell the land it was sitting on.
Salvation came in the form of Ann and Dennison Tate, and six students from Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton, New Brunswick. Dennison Tate, the son of a lightkeeper and a physics teacher at the high school, first discovered Cape Enrage more than 30 years ago with his family. The
lighthouse, in continuous operation since 1850, captured his heart and imagination.
In the summer of 1993, after a year of writing letters, the Tates got an answer: the Coast Guard agreed to let them mow the lawn, pull weeds, and paint the house - nothing more.
They've come a long way since then. In 1995 the province bought the keeper's house and the land it sits on. Cape Enrage Adventures Incorporated is now a full-fledged not-for-profit educational and tourism operation.
The Tates and 25 students live in the keeper's house all summer long. The students, who rely on donations and grants to get paid, do everything under the supervision of the Tates, from cooking hot chowder for the restaurant to running camps. Adventure-seeking tourists can canoe, kayak, hike, rockclimb or even rappel down jutting cliffs.
And while Ann and Dennison don't get paid for their work at the Cape, they both agree the rewards are plenty.
“We were coming down from the rocks in a fishing boat past Cape Enrage and I was standing on the bow of the boat,” says Dennison. “It was a beautiful evening and when we went past Cape Enrage, I caught myself thinking, that’s where I live…it dawned on me that I was considering it my home.
For more information:
Call Dennison or Ann Tate, (506) 877-2273
Website: http://www.monctonlife.com/cape_enrage
Attention to all students wanting a summer job.
Start looking early
by Brent Kerrigan
That’s the advice school councillors are giving to Canadian youth, who are finishing their studies and will be looking for work in the summer months.
For rural and remote students however, time is not the only factor to consider. Often, the best paying jobs are found only in the closest towns, where urban students have an advantage because of their proximity to work sites.
With better technology however, rural and remote students are now in a better position to compete for jobs - whether it be in their home communities or anywhere in the world. This technology is being driven by the Internet.
Being an interactive tool, the Internet allows students to post their resumes or mail them directly to potential employers through individual sites. Often, job sites will also include a description of the job, how much it pays, and what the employee will be expected to do.
The Rural Times has compiled a number of job sites the federal government has created that will help students get off to the right start. The sites are not only for students, though. Anybody wishing to research a career path, find the right job, or study the labour market, now has the information at the click of a mouse.
Background reading
Job Futures 2000
www.jobfutures.ca
As part of Human Resources Development Canada, Job Futures 2000 provides Canadians with the latest information available about the world of work.
Career Awareness
www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/career-carriere
If you are considering your career options, then the Career Awareness Website, hosted by Human Resources Development Canada, will provide you with clear, reliable and up-to-date career planning information.
Canadian Federal Government Job Sites
National JobBank
www.jobbank.gc.ca/
Search for jobs across Canada or zero in on a specific region. This site offers the choice of keyword, category or NOC (National Occupation Classification) code searches.
Electronic Labour Exchange
www.ele-spe.org
An electronic matching service for workers and employers. Create a profile of your skills and experience, find job opportunities, advertise your skills and save your profile for future use.
Youth Link
youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ythlink/sec2.shtml
A resource booklet for 15 to 30-year-olds as well as career counsellors, parents, educators, employers, and community groups covering topics such as Work Experience, Summer Jobs, Learning Opportunities and Career Planning Information.
HRDC Student Summer Job Action (SSJA)
youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/summer.shtml
Information on 14 Federal Government initiatives to create summer job opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students.
Worksearch
www.worksearch.gc.ca
A powerful new Internet service designed to guide Canadians through all aspects of the work search process.
Youth Resource Network –Job Opportunities
youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/yrnc/main.shtml
Bridging the gap between education and employment, this resource was created to provide youth with help preparing for and finding work
Public Service Commission Federal Job Site
www.jobs.gc.ca
View Federal Government job postings and post-secondary graduate recruitment calendars, both of which are open to the public.
Career Owl
www.careerowl.com
CareerOwl is a fast, convenient, and comprehensive system for bringing employers and job seekers together over the Internet. With many ways to interact, CareerOwl was coined with the phrase "electronic hiring hall" - with the term "hiring hall" conjuring the image of employers and job seekers meeting and exchanging information in a large open room.
The Canada Student Employment Guide Online
www.cseg.cfee.org/en
This site brings more than 900 employers in all industry areas to help job seekers learn about companies across the country.
Privately-run sites
Notice: The Rural Times does not, by listing these sites, endorse them or the jobs posted on them. Job seekers should always research and investigate any available job.
www.monster.ca
A large job board that lets users search for jobs online while also allowing them to post their resume online. Job hunters can search in their city, or across Canada and North America.
www.workopolis.com
A job search site that has grown significantly. Similar to Monster.ca, it allows job seekers to search for specific jobs in their cities. Includes many high-tech jobs across the country.
www.nonprofitcareerquest.com
A centralized resource centre for the employment and volunteer needs of the nonprofit sector, in Canada.
www.ns.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/english/cbreton/workp/wantad.htm
A link to a number of classified ad sites in Canadian newspapers.
Similar sites:
www.canjobs.com
www.canadajobsearch.com
www.actijob.com/
www.canada-wide.com
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HRDC JOBS
The Internet alone isn’t the only way to find a job.
Human Resources Development Canada also operates a number of employment centres throughout Canada during the summer months to help link students with employers.
The Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students open throughout the country at the beginning of May and operate until the end of August.
The centres, staffed by students and located throughout Canada, offer job search tools needed to find a summer job. Building on a philosophy of peer support, students help other students find jobs and make informed decisions about future career paths.
The centres offer many valuable services. Among other things, they post job openings for students, promote the value of hiring students to employers, provide resource material on the labour market and offer job-finding information sessions that cover topics such as résumé writing, interview preparation and how to effectively use the Internet as a job search tool.
Quick Facts (Source: Human Resources Development Canada):
How many students have used Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students?
1999: 447,875 students
2000: 452,445 students (excluding P.E.I. - no data available)
How many people does the Department of Human Resources and Development Canada hire each summer to run the centres?
1999: 989 employees (SEO/SSEO)
2000: 970 employees (excluding P.E.I. - no data available)
For more information on Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students, please call:
Human Resources Development Canada: (819) 953-2830
or visit: www.hrdc.gc.ca
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Getting that country fix
by Ken Gurr
"It's the sense of freedom, open spaces, getting away from the pressures of regular life and reducing it down to the basics," says renowned Canadian folksinger, Gary Fjellgaard upon reflecting on what draws him, and many others, to plan holidays on livestock drives and roundups. This past summer, Fjellgaard managed to squeeze two livestock roundup "vacations" into his busy touring and music festival schedule.
He talks enthusiastically of the beauty of the landscapes, living the romance of the cowboy life, "the essence of the country experience". There is no doubt another song is in the works for Fjellgaard, and it will strike a chord with hundreds of thousands of other vacationers who spent time as tourists in rural Canada this year. Whether it's a cattle drive, picking blueberries with the kids, taking in a small town craft festival, or spending a serene weekend at a back-road bed and breakfast (B & B), people are being drawn in ever-increasing numbers from the cities for a rural vacation experience.
Rural tourism on the rise
Dr. Alison Gill agrees that "rural tourism is definitely becoming much more important" though segmented economic statistics are either very outdated or nonexistent for Canada and the provinces. Gill, a professor at British Columbia's Simon Fraser University, who is a member of that institution's Centre for Tourism Policy and Research, and also sits on the board of the national chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association, says rural tourism's growth is a major trend driven by two essential factors: 1) our very urbanized society's quest for escape and recreation in rural settings; and 2) rural citizens and regions are recognizing and developing tourism opportunities as a way to diversify their traditionally agrarian economies.
She also notes that while the foundations of rural tourism - farm stays, country B & Bs and ranch holidays - are still very popular, there are many layers to rural tourism.
"You see everything: trail biking, heritage and cultural festivals, survival games, cornfield mazes and in BC, winery tourism is very big." Here are four examples:
B & Bs, corn mazes and more
What began as a volunteer research project that Lorene Frere took on for the Trochu and District local history book, turned into one of Alberta's most successful B & Bs. In her research she uncovered the rich cultural history of the area. In particular, the story of the sprawling 4,000-hectare St. Ann Ranch that is owned by the Freres, but was originally established by French cavalrymen in 1905. Inspired to share the ranch's culture with others, the family opened an onsite tea house and B & B in 1989. The ranch's attractions quickly expanded to include seven museum buildings full of artifacts and an interpretive centre. St. Ann Ranch now welcomes more than 10,000 visitors a year.
Though it's only their first year in operation, the Pauls' family farm between Chilliwack and Abbotsford, BC, receives a steady stream of tourists to their cornfield maze. Brian Pauls constructed the design of the maze, with the support of his sisters, Jen and Kari, and parents, Frank and Elma, using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to guide seeding. The maze covers seven hectares with close to 8 km of trails winding through the aerial image of three chickens, a chick, a mountain and sunset scene. It's billed as the "chicken maze" and according to Brian, is the largest corn maze in Western Canada. "The goal is to earn enough to put away for college for my sisters and I," says Pauls.
(The corn was harvested as silage for the Pauls' cattle in late October)
Linking the need for labour with a ready market of travelers wanting to learn more about organic agriculture and experience a small farm lifestyle, John Vanden Heuvel of Nelson, BC founded the Canadian chapter of WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). It's a continuously expanding directory and networking service designed to help travelers arrange farm-stays where they work on a farm registered with the program in exchange for free room and board.
One of the most exciting rural tourism developments over the last 10-15 years has been the full emergence of First Nations' cultural attractions, developed and promoted by First Nations. Promoting cultural features and values, many of these sites are located within predominantly rural landscapes.
The Cowichan Native Village located in the pastoral Cowichan River Valley on southern Vancouver Island is a world tourist destination. The operation is owned and operated by the Cowichan Tribes First Nation and includes educational programs and events throughout the year, a conference centre, and nature interpretation. In Saskatchewan, a multi-partnership venture managed by First Nations has seen Wanuskewin Heritage Park (just south of Saskatoon), grow to become that province's most-visited tourist destination. To meet the strong international demand, First Nations in Alberta and several other provinces and territories are also expanding their tourism attractions and programming.
Looking ahead
With entrepreneurial development, job creation, broadening of the tax base, and the construction of new recreational facilities being realized through the increase in visitors to rural and remote locations, many rural citizens and governments are singing the praises of rural tourism's growth. But there are some cautions. The very values that draw visitors to the country - cleanliness, peacefulness, natural attractions and a sense of community - could be threatened by too much popularity.
Fortunately, we can look to and learn from Europe says Gill, where there is much more rural development policy research and implementation as those nations work to deal with development pressures far more intense than here. In many rural regions of Canada, Gill also sees the evolution of the rural demographic playing a factor. The key will be ensuring economic development is consistent with the social and environmental values that define the rural Canadian experience.
For more information, contact:
Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) Canada
Tel: (250) 354-4417
Internet: www.members.tripod.com/~wwoof/
Agriculture Tour Operators International (ATOI) - a worldwide association of tour operators that specialize in the business of agricultural travel.
Tel: (519) 826-4077
Internet: www.atoi.org/
For a listing of rural tourism industry associations across Canada, contact the Canadian Rural Information Service (CRIS).
Tel: 1-888-757-8725
Internet: www.rural.gc.ca
Aboriginal Tourism Team Canada
Internet: www.attc.ca
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What does "rural tourism" mean anyway?
As rural tourism activity proliferates, definitions start to wriggle their way into the picture. Settling on a clear definition of rural tourism can be difficult. Does it also include eco-tourism and adventure tourism? Well, partly yes, if it takes place in the countryside and not a national park or wilderness area. According to its literature, the Canadian Tourism Commission essentially regards rural tourism as anything that focuses on countryside destinations (i.e. mix of farms, ranches, acreages, natural areas, and small towns or villages) and takes in all aspects of drawing upon local, uniquely rural features to attract vacationers. It is sometimes referred to as farm or agri-tourism, but rural tourism includes such broader concepts as nature trails and parks, and cultural features such as interpretive centres, festivals, local artisans and museums. Agri-tourism on the other hand, is a fairly large sector within rural tourism that includes farm or ranch focused activities such as cattle drives, agri-fairs, U-pick operations, farm-stays, and farm tours or other field-day events for people actively involved in agriculture.
Elliot Lake
Reinvesting in a future
By Avery Ascher
The uranium mines at Elliot Lake, Ontario now sit idle, and the city that boomed with 27,000 residents in the late 1950s is now home to about 15,000.
But Elliot Lake refuses to buckle under.
It was in the early-to-mid 1990s that this community, located halfway between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, was dealt two dizzying blows. The first was the loss of key international markets when alternative sources of cheaper and higher-grade uranium started flooding the market.
The second was political. Following a change in provincial government in 1996, orders from Ontario Hydro for Elliot Lake uranium to supply its nuclear-powered operations dwindled to a trickle.
By the end of 1996 the last of 12 mines that had operated in the Elliot Lake and nearby Blind River areas had shut their doors for good. As a result, according to Elliot Lake Mayor George Farkouh, more than 4,500 jobs in the industry plus an equal number in the support sector were gone. The city was out $44 million in tax revenues.
But by this time, Elliot Lake had already begun re-engineering itself as a retirement mecca. A liability (real estate left vacant by the departure of laid-off miners and their families) was refashioned into an asset, namely inexpensive accommodation. For example, a 2-bedroom apartment currently rents for roughly $400 per month, and a 2,000 square-foot home sells for roughly $60,000.
A target market of empty nesters and golden agers, primarily in southern Ontario, was identified and aggressively pursued. And over the years those seniors have answered the call in droves, selling their homes and condos and reinvesting in a community that offers clean air, a golf course, ski hill and shining lakes in any direction, along with a revitalized city centre with rejuvenated streetscaping and civic buildings.
Retirement living continues to anchor Elliot Lake’s economic base - the Elliot Lake Retirement Living Corporation manages 1,800 housing units, a mall and hotel complex - but the community is also actively diversifying its portfolio.
The city has entered into a joint venture with Serpent River First Nation to establish a school of fine arts. A call centre and software development company have opened their doors, and an overhead crane manufacturer has set up shop within the last year.
Additionally, a field station affiliated with Laurentian University focusing on mine reclamation and environmental research is now operating. Hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile trails have been developed, and a consultant has been hired to market the region’s nature trails and canoe routes.
Some in the community, however, feel efforts to date will not provide long-lasting solutions.
Mayor Farkouh disagrees.
He says the city and community leaders have been effective in creating programs to deal with the social and emotional fallout from the mine layoffs, in keeping day-to-day municipal operations running, and acting as a catalyst for new business.
“I think we have stabilized, and the next phase is economic growth. It will not be easy, and it will be long-term,” says Farkouh. “But we can sustain the economy as it is now.”
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Concordia University, Montreal
Transforming rural communities
By Avery Ascher
Let’s say you live in a small town dependent on a pulp mill for its livelihood – and one day the mill manager announces the mill is shutting down for good.
What do you do?
Well, you might want to get in touch with Bill Reimer at Concordia University in Montreal. He and researchers at other Canadian universities have been studying how communities survive and prosper when their main industry goes under.
Under a research initiative of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, Reimer’s team has put no less than 32 rural Canadian communities under the microscope, from Winterton, Newfoundland to Mackenzie, B.C.
They’re investigating why some communities weather a major economic downturn better than others, and they’ve arrived at a number of conclusions.
For example, people in resilient communities meet often. They debate issues publicly, and there’s much discussion in the local papers. There are a number of groups – business, volunteer, special interest – actively operating in the community. And businesses are diversified, not depending solely on local customers.
Communities prepared to “think differently about how they’ll respond to change” are the ones that will move forward, says Reimer. “They know entrenchment is not an option. It only traps them in a downward spiral and makes them more vulnerable.”
It’s also key for a community to keep an inventory of the skills and resources available within its borders and to ensure ideas remain fresh.
In Ste-Paule, Quebec, for example, school enrollment had fallen to the point where the school was in danger of closing. In speaking with people outside their community, residents in Ste-Paule realized the smallness of their school (with its favorable teacher-pupil ratio), was a selling point.
Supporters marketed the school to nearby urban Matane, and found parents willing to bus their children to Ste-Paule. The school stayed open.
Pinawa, Manitoba, is another example of a community that has found different uses for existing capital – in this case, intellectual capital.
Pinawa was established in 1963, a town built around the Whiteshell nuclear research and development facility established by Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL).
When the federal government cut 45,000 public sector jobs across Canada in the 1990s, Whiteshell took its share of the blow. A workforce that had peaked at 2,400 employees in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s today sits at 400.
Some formerly employed at the lab have taken their expertise into the private sector and opened their own businesses. Pinawa’s regional economic development corporation then promoted this well-educated and trained segment of the population to attract new business to the community.
Developing partnerships is another surefire strategy for “building local capacity,” a phrase Reimer uses to describe the process whereby communities capitalize on their strengths.
“Look to business, nearby communities, governments at all levels,” says Reimer. “People often know of local government and what’s available. We encourage them to seek further.”
Pinawa again serves as an example. Together with surrounding municipalities and AECL, Pinawa put together a $12-14 million proposal to establish an industrial park at the existing Whiteshell facility that may generate up to 700 jobs. The proposal has been submitted to both the provincial and federal government.
Sometimes though, uncertainty can impede this process of looking outward. A business owner, for example, may want to use the Internet to expand their operation but is wary of the risk.
However, there are many agencies such as the Rural Secretariat or Industry Canada that can offer assistance in lessening that risk, Reimer explains.
Another big reason that communities at the broader level are reluctant to explore partnerships, Reimer says, is the very real worry that in opening up to outside influences and markets, the rural or small-town lifestyles that residents cherish will disappear.
But Reimer says that at either the individual or community level, the reasons why people are resistant to change have to be identified.
“Once that’s been done, you can start to think about solutions, he says. “People can contact groups like ourselves for help”.
For more information, call:
(514) 848-2139
Or visit the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation site at www.crrf.ca
Rural News
The Pocket Directory of Rural Programs and Services
The Government of Canada continues the effort to make Rural Canadians more aware of its programs and services. The Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) unveiled an updated quick-reference guide while in Brandon, Manitoba in April.
The Pocket Directory of Rural Programs and Services provides information and contact points for federal programs and services of interest to rural Canadians. The directory lists approximately 200 programs and services that can be accessed by telephone and the Internet.
"Reaching people in rural and remote areas of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Rural Partnership," said Mr. Mitchell. "This pocket directory reinforces the commitment of the Government of Canada to ensure that Canadians in rural and remote areas of the country have easy access to public programs and services."
About 50,000 copies of the directory will be made available at various locations, such as local fairs where Government of Canada rural exhibits are set up, at rural Service Canada locations, through a number of Web sites, including www.rural.gc.ca, and by calling toll-free, 1-800 O-Canada (1-800-662-6232) or 1-888-781-2222.
The booklet is arranged under four themes to assist citizens in finding information that meets their particular needs: Key contacts for Government of Canada information on programs services and publications; Information for Business; Information for People; and Special Information, which provides information related to safety, customs and tax services, as well as international travel.
Ice hotel moving to the Duchesnay Ecotourism Station
Imagine a structure made out of ice and snow with ceilings as high as 16 feet, walls covered with original artwork, furniture carved in ice blocks.
Just like its counterpart in Sweden, the Ice Hotel Québec-Canada has two art galleries, a movie theatre and at Ice Bar. Located in Beauport, Québec, near the Montmorency Falls, the ice hotel covers a total surface of 1000 square metres (10,000 square feet).
It is one of the most unusual and complex construction undertakings. In fact, 4,500 tons of snow and 250 tons of ice were used during the five weeks it took to build this feat of architecture.
Next year, the ice hotel will move to the Duchesnay Ecotourism Station, one of the premier outdoors facilities in the Quebec City region, located in the village of Ste-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier on the shores of Lake St-Joseph.
If you have news clips you would like to share with The Rural Times, Please Contact:
Toll-Free: 1-888-781-2222
fax: 1800-884-9899
E-mail: ruraltimes@agr.gc.ca
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CRIS CLIPS
The Canadian Rural Information Service (CRIS)
CRIS responds to the information needs of rural Canadians. Clients from rural residents, to community groups, organizations and educational institutions rely on CRIS to provide them with information on specific queries such as rural tourism, literacy, and entrepreneurship for rural youth, etc.
In this and subsequent columns, we’ll bring you up-to-date on new books, videos, web pages, and other resources of interest. For a complete list of resources in each topic area, check CRIS’ information pathfinders and directories on the rural web site at www.rural.gc.ca/cris/about_e.phtml, or call 1-888-757-8725.
Our topic for this issue is information on writing proposals.
The Community Development Handbook:
A Tool To Build Community Capacity.
Written by Flo Frank and Anne Smith for Human Resources Development Canada
This introductory handbook is not designed to be a textbook for community development practitioners. Instead it is intended to be an introductory guide for those who have an interest in community development but who may not have an in-depth understanding of the concept, the process or the resources available across Canada.
The Partnership Handbook.
Written by Flo Frank and Anne Smith for Human Resources Development Canada.
The objectives of this book are to help people learn more about what partnerships are and to offer suggestions about how to be effective in creating and maintaining them. It provides tools and tips to enhance partnerships, and outlines what is needed to move forward together.
Available from Labour Market Learning and Development Canada
5th Floor, Place du Portage IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Hull, Quebec K1A 0I9
Tel. (819) 953-7370
Fax: (819) 997-5163
Internet: http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/topics/cyd-gxr.shtml
Internet sites
Writing Proposals - The Writing Proposals Pathfinder from the Canadian Rural Information Service (CRIS) provides references to Web sites and to print sources with useful information on how to write a proposal when applying for funding from a private or public organization.
http://www.agr.ca/cris/writingproposals/proposals_e.phtml (Also available in print: 1-888-757-8725)
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Table of Contents
Rural and Remote Events Calendar
May 25 – 28, 2001
Banff, Alberta
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FONOM) 41st Annual Conference
Contact: David Petryna, (705) 522-5455
June 16, 2001
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Raven Mad Daze
Contact: City of Yellowknife, (867) 920-5600
June 17, 2001
Saint John, New Brunswick
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) Congress
Contact: Nial Kuyek, (613) 238-6711
July 30, 2001
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Great Northern Arts Festival
Contact: Town of Inuvik, (867) 777-2607
August 17 – 19, 2001
Picture Butte, Alberta
Jamboree Days
Contact: Shirley Stevens, (403) 732-5536
August 19 – 22, 2001
Toronto, Ontario
Association of Municipalities of Ontario Annual Conference
www.amo.on.ca/amo/AMO_Conferences.htm
Oct. 21-27, 2001
Muenster, Saskatchewan
Carlton Trail Regional Economic Development Authority Conference
Contact: The Centre for Rural Studies and Enrichment, (306) 682-1759
If you have an event you would like listed in the Rural Times, contact the Canadian Rural Information Service (CRIS).
Call toll-free: 1 888 757-8725
Fax: 1 800 884-9899
E-mail: cris@agr.gc.ca
Rural Times Info
Editorial Staff
Newsletter Coordinator/Managing Editor
Brent Kerrigan (613) 759-7940
Fax: (613) 759-7031
E-mail: kerriganb@agr.gc.ca
If you have a story idea, Letter to the Editor, or would like to receive a copy of the newsletter, contact The Rural Times:
Rm E-139, Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5
Call toll free: 1-888-781-2222
Fax: 1-800-884-9899
ruraltimes@agr.gc.ca
Rural Times is a national quarterly publication provided to rural and remote citizens by the Rural Secretariat.
Rural Times is distributed nationally in paper form, and is also available on the Canadian Rural Partnership Internet site at www.rural.gc.ca
Rural Times is available in alternative format by contacting the editorial staff, as shown above.
Submission deadline for the Summer issue - June 10, 2001
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The Rural Times
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Date Modified: 2001-07-27 |
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