PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Focusing on assets instead of deficiencies can turn around the fortunes of rural communities, says Peter Kenyon, founder of the Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies.
Speaking at the Rural Economic Opportunities conference here Feb. 23, he said he created a bank of ideas to stimulate discussion and opportunities.
The Australian rural development specialist has worked with hundreds of communities on economic development and finds many similarities between rural areas of western Australia and Western Canada.
Both are facing depopulation, greying communities, local government amalgamation and declines in education and health services.
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Locally developed employment opportunities are key to keeping youths in the community, he said, and he encouraged communities to involve youth in economic development discussions.
“Young people are looking for interesting jobs. You have to focus on employment.”
Kenyon cited the Australian case of Hyden, population 400, which starting building a tourism industry around a once ignored natural wave rock formation.
Farmers invested money, even built an airstrip to attract planes to the spot hours from major centres. Tourism now accounts for about $3 million and has generated 60 jobs.
He also cited Donnybrook as a town that turned a negative into a positive. Labelled the ugliest town in Australia, it built a marketing plan around that to attract people.
It revamped its main street, improved customer service in local stores and doted on natural assets, promoting itself as the home of the Granny Smith apple.
“Don’t dwell on the weaknesses and what’s wrong. Start thinking about building upon assets,” said Kenyon, who stressed communities need a passion to bring about change.
He hoped the conference, one of four hosted by the Action Committee on the Rural Community throughout Saskatchewan in late February, would allow communities to “leapfrog on each other’s knowledge and expertise, and find new ways of doing things.
He reminded participants that towns do not get a second chance to make a first impression.
Town buildings need to be maintained, access to public washrooms and garbage pails should be available and the town sign has to give people a reason to stop and visit.
Documenting local stories can also breathe life into the town’s profile, he said.
ACRE member Germaine Dauk of Naicam, Sask., said rural communities need to celebrate their successes and share ideas.
He called Canada one of the best places to have a business and Saskatchewan one of the cheapest.
Dauk said it is necessary to adapt changes to survive and to seek solutions to counter declines in rural areas.
“We have to look to ourselves to do it,” he said.
The West Central Road and Rail Ltd. in Eston, Sask., would never have been created without someone taking charge, said Rob Lobdell, rail line president and owner-manager of a special crops processing plant.
“It’s got to be locally driven; there is no white knight coming to the rescue. Somebody has to do something.”
In Eston, that meant raising funds to create a producer car loading facility that manages 480 kilometres of rail line and now operates four facilities in an area that was ravaged by recent droughts.
Lobdell said it’s important to act and move beyond discussion, get help and direction and involve the community, citing his company’s 1,800 shareholders.
“You have to believe the risk and uncertainty far outweighs the certainty of doing nothing,” said Lobdell.
The success stories were an inspiration to Joan Corneil, economic development officer for North Battleford.
“Others need to hear this message,” she said.
