Download the Rural Matters! Evaluation Summary

Keynote Address -- Building Vibrant 21st Century Communities: Skip Hot Fads and Lose the Rearview Mirror
Dr. Mark Partridge courtesy of Alberta Economic Development Authority

Educational Session Presentations (Click on the title to download the presentation and check back often as we will be uploading presentations as they become available)

Sunday, July 6, 2008
1-2:30pm

• The Rural-Urban Interface
  • Dr. Mark Partridge presentation
  • Dr. Bill Reimer presentation
• Managing Risk in Rural Communities -- An Insurance Perspective courtesy of Aon, Travelers and Jubilee Insurance
• Rural-Based Communities Virtual Cluster Model
• The Future of Rural Canada
• Rural Alberta's Development Fund
• Rural Diversification Models in Canada and Abroad
  • Dr. John Bryden presentation
  • Toby Williams presentation
  • Christine Gosselin presentation
• Rural Land Use and the Environment courtesy of Alberta Environment
• Water Connections: Gateway to Canada's Water Information courtesy of Alberta Environment
• Youth, Culture and Community

3-4:30pm

• Regional Governance Models Across Canada
  • David Bruce presentation
  • Dr. Doug Knight presentation
• Tools to Build Entrepreneurial and Vital Communities
• Digital Prosperity -- Building the Next Rural Legacy courtesy of Rural Alberta's Development Fund
• Planning For and Managing Economic Change in Rural Communities
• Labour Issues: The Use of Temporary Foreign Workers in Western Canada
  • Dr. Robert Annis presentation
  • Labour Issues: An Alberta Perspective presentation
  • Brandon's Changing Cultural Landscape presentation
  • Jill Bucklaschuk presentation
  • Susan Yaeger-Szoke/ Maple Leaf Foods presentation
  • Labour Issues: A Manitoba Perspective presentation
• The New Rural Economy -- Capacity Building Examples in Rural Communities
• Green Energy: A Look at Municipalities Generating Green Power
• Responding to Meth in Alberta: Prevention Works!!
  (*Individual enquiries may be entertained. Please contact Kate Hovland at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.)
• Advancing Aboriginal Inclusion Through the Use of E-Learning Technology

Monday, July 7, 2008
9-10:30am

• Major Changes Affecting Rural and Small-Town Canada
• From Restless Communities to Resilient Places -- What is Next?
• Planning and Building for Sustainability
• The Capacity Building Power of Community Collaboration courtesy of Rural Alberta's Development Fund
  • Robert Annis, Marian Beattie and and Ryan Gibson presentation
  • Wes Wirth presentation
  • Yukon Regional Round Table Advisory Council presentation
  • WaterWolf presentation
• Farm-On
• The Role of Co-operatives in Rural Sustainability and Development courtesy of the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association
• The Future of Energy on Earth
• Aboriginal Leadership, Vision and Strategic Focus in Transforming Our Communities
• Relationships with Resource Industries
  • Darci-Jane McAulay presentation
  • Parker Hogan presentation 

11-12:30pm

• Re-population Issues and Strategies
• Emergency Response and Preparedness in Rural Canada
  (*If you are interested in viewing the slideshow pictures of the Wabamun oil spill, please contact Kate Hovland at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• The Role of the Media in Rural Sustainability courtesy of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association and the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association
• Community-based Development Organizations
• Role of Academic Institutions in Rural Development
  • Dr. Rob Greenwood presentation
• Resolving the Disparity between Environmental and Economic Interests
• Rural Canada's Vulnerability to Climate Change and Global Warming courtesy of Health Canada
• Youth Engagement in Politics, Decision Making and Community courtesy of Starland County
• Ontario's Visual Character Project