After working seven years as executive director for the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development, Linda Pipke remains optimistic.
In an interview at a provincial conference of rural economic development groups, Pipke said that by working together the regional bodies can create business opportunities in their areas.
When Pipke asked those at the conference to predict what their community will be like in 20 years, three delegates each said their town would likely not exist or be merged into another.
“We don’t feel real good but there are no options,” said one man.
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Pipke, in her speech to the conference, urged all rural and small town delegates to plan so they can adjust to the reality of lost railroads and migrating youth.
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Pipke said communities must share their leadership roles: “Don’t have the same person as chair for 15, 20, 25 years. You need to find a way to help people carry on after you’ve retired.”
Communities, as well as individuals, must learn how to work together. Not every town can have an elevator, a school, a hospital and the RCMP station. But a region can share these resources.
Learn to trust
There will be human problems along the path to collaboration – fear of hidden agendas, economic rivalry and individuals feeling a loss of control. Pipke said these can be overcome by building trust though sharing information and power and setting common values and goals.
Pipke, who also farms near Davidson, Sask., with her husband, said it was harder to be upbeat about agriculture. She said the industry is driven by consumers, not producers.
“At one time the consumer bought whatever we produced, no matter how it looked or was packaged. (Now) they want to see it in a certain package at a certain weight, in a certain color.”
Adding value to farm commodities and finding a unique or niche market are her suggestions of how farmers can survive.
