Rarely a week goes by without a rural community or region in Western Canada announcing a plan or project designed to revive itself.
Though a precarious agricultural economy, farm consolidation and the lure of booming cities threaten their existence, many towns and villages refuse to go gently into that oblivion.
But revival is a tricky business and many efforts fail amid community division, apathy, muddled priorities and inadequate planning.
Now a body of knowledge is developing about what works and doesn’t work in community development, planning and revival. Regional development groups have sprung up across the country and have spawned national associations to spread information and the secrets behind the success stories.
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Western Producer reporter Karen Morrison attended the Pan Canadian Community Futures conference in Whistler, B.C., in May to hear an overview of revitalization efforts across the country and listen to the advice of experts in the field.
She reports that with a clear vision, a commitment to collaboration with like minded groups, a specific plan with attainable goals, innovative entrepreneurial thinking and, most of all, long-term commitment, rural communities can turn the tide.
