Revitalizing rural communities could be a belly dance class away.
At least one Saskatchewan town has found that offering music, art and other general interest courses has created employment, boosted economic development and instilled pride and confidence.
“The biggest thing is it’s created a sense of optimism in our community,” said Christalee Froese, chair of Centre 48 in Montmartre, about 90 kilometres southeast of Regina. “There could be a lot to grumble about. This has given everyone something to talk about.”
Centre 48 was established in 2002 when the local economic development committee wanted to offer programs that would benefit residents and make use of local facilities.
Read Also
Stacking Canada up on gene editing livestock
Canada may want to gauge how Argentina and other countries have approached gene editing in livestock and what that has meant for local innovation.
The University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education got involved because it was interested in how the classes would contribute to the economic and social development of the town. The centre helped find instructors and studied the initiative and its role in rural revitalization.
It recently offered recommendations on how Centre 48 could continue to be successful and share its experiences with other communities.
In two years, Centre 48 has offered more than 80 classes to 800 students from 11 communities. About $60,000 has been injected into the local economy and 32 part-time jobs created.
Most of the classes are held in Montmartre School, which has quelled fears that the school, with a Kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolment of 185, might close.
“You can walk into the school any day of the week and it’s rocking,” said Froese.
Classes have ranged from fitness to flute lessons, but the big surprise has been belly dancing. In a survey first done to identify which classes should be offered, one woman suggested the Middle Eastern art. Later, a woman from a neighbouring town offered her services as an instructor.
Seventeen women took the first class and 21 filled a class offered in Kipling.
“It is our most successful class across the board,” Froese said.
Eighty-five percent of students in all classes have been women, but Centre 48 is reaching out to men with courses on snowmobile safety and a go-cart workshop for men and children.
The classes are held on a cost-recovery basis. Froese said money was the biggest challenge. After spending the first two months of the centre’s existence chasing grants, the board decided it wasn’t going to get any and proceeded with just $1,200 in start-up funds from the Saskatchewan Arts Board.
One of the university recommendations was that the provincial government provide funding for “social capital” projects.
However, organizers found that people are willing to pay for the classes. Froese said the centre can offer classes at lower prices than a city can because facility costs are lower or non-existent.
While instructors initially came out from Regina, Froese said many local people have now stepped up to fill those positions.
Centre 48 is expanding by co-ordinating classes in other towns. Froese is kept busy speaking to other communities that want to establish similar programs.
“I hope we’ve sparked an interest,” she said. “We just want everyone to know they can do it too.”
