Rural Youth Workforce Development Webinar
- The Rural Development Institute is offering a webinar that relates to Rural Youth Workforce Development.
Thursday, April 21. 10:00 a.m.
| This webinar brings together speakers from Brandon University, Acadia University and the Rural Development Institute to explore trends related to labour force conditions for rural youth. Presentations will be focused on research related to youth school-to-work transitions.
Please pre-register by contacting Michael Blatherwick (blatherwickM@brandonU.ca).
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| The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute is a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support. |
3rd Annual Spring Farm Fair at the Pass Creek Regional Exhibition
May 14 from 11 am until 5 pm in Robson
The Spring Farm Fair is associated with the Annual Pass Creek Fall Fair which informs and educates the British Columbia.
Spring Farm Fair brings ranchers, farmers, local business, local food producers and vendors, who raise all different types of livestock, fruit trees, nurseries, poultry, grape vines, nuts, herbs, bees etc, together.
We invite farming related businesses to attend and support farmers by offering information on merchandise and how it could impact their farm, improve their operation and financial bottom line. We invite the public to attend and give the option of purchasing items from farmers direct and/or the ability to purchase locally in the future!
Educating the public to purchase food and farm items would create a huge financial impact to our local economy. If each household spent just $40 a month ($10 a week) on locally produced food, multiply that by 12 months – that equals $480/per year. If you multiply $480 by the number of households in the West Kootenay (approximately 80,000), that would equal $38,400,000 back into the local economy, yearly! This would greatly support local farmers thus making them a viable industry in our area.
People are interested in where their food comes from and they want to buy local, they don’t want to buy offshore food that they have no idea how it is grown or handled.
Spring Farm Fair has continued to grow in it’s second year and has become an important event for farmers to gather and source local livestock, seeds, plants and equipment for the upcoming growing season. We anticipate a larger turn out for the 3rd Annual Spring Fair as word of this unique event spreads. We want to encourage more people to have backyard gardens growing their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. And want more backyard poultry and small livestock, where permitted, so people can have fresh protein that is raised humanely. Farming knowledge and being able to meet and talk in person to local farmers and ranchers is priceless.
Spring Farm Fair will have two bunny petting zoos and horse drawn carriage rides, which are free. There is no gate admission and there will be a concession and ATM on site.
We are hoping you will consider attending the Spring Farm Fair as a vendor – business rate is $50 and noncommercial is $10. For more information and for vendor registration, go to www.passcreekfair.com.
Wanted: Scenic Photographs of the Slocan Valley
The Slocan Community Library wants to brighten up by shining its newly installed energy-efficient lighting on the Slocan Valley and its local photographers.
The library is looking for 16 photos, preferably in colour, of landscape or nature and set in the Slocan Valley. The photos will be displayed in a revolving exhibit in the library and, possibly, in shared areas of the Wellness Centre.
This is a fame-only opportunity. Photographers will be asked to let the library print one copy of each photograph chosen for the exhibit. The library will pay the cost of printing, matting (if needed) and framing. The photos, to be displayed in 24˝ by 36˝ frames, need to be of high resolution, so that when enlarged they will be at least 300 dpi. A card by each photo will note the photographer’s name.
Submissions of photos or questions can be emailed by Friday, April 15 to dgole@telus.net
Small Business Training Schedule (April – June)
Community Futures Central Kootenay
Small Business Training-Learn something new this spring!
Our small business training schedule for Spring 2016 is now available. It includes workshops offered in the months of April, May and June. Some of the highlights from the new schedule include:
Branding – Company Identity Design (Nelson: April 26th, 9am – 4pm): Learn how to design your own professional-looking company business logo. This workshop covers basic design principles, ideation phase, creative concept phase, typography, colour theory and file formats.
Photography for Small Business (Nelson: May 12th, 9am – 4pm): Spend the day learning how to take great photographs with instructor Colin Payne. You will learn how to effectively use the various functions on your camera, pose people in a flattering way or capture them naturally in candid shots, as well as some basics about lighting, framing your shot and more.
Selling Your Products Online 101 (Nelson: May 31st, 9am – 4pm): Thinking of selling your products online? This workshop will provide you with the background you need to get started. Explore the pros and cons of various online marketplaces and payment options, as well as other elements like how to package, ship, and provide customer support for your products.
Mastering Productivity & Time Management (Nelson: June 3rd, 9am – 4pm): Do you have the tools and insight to know how to create the disciplines required to amplify your productivity and time management skills? Come join this workshop as we dig deep into the daily changes you can make to help you elevate your production rate.
This is just some of what we have to offer in the spring session. The complete schedule, including full course descriptions and registration costs, is available as a PDF download. You can also view the schedule online at http://futures.bc.ca/workshop-schedule/ (Note: our online schedule is not compatible with older versions of Internet Explorer).
Registration is required for all workshops. To sign up, call 250-352-1933 x100 or drop by our office at 201 – 514 Vernon Street in Nelson (above Canada Post). Enrollment fees may be paid by cash, cheque or credit card.
http://futures.bc.ca/
Email: info@futures.bc.ca
Phone: 250-352-1933
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
Address:
Community Futures Central Kootenay
201, 514 Vernon Street
Nelson, BC V1L 4E7
Canada
RDI Focus February 2016
Rural Development Institute e- News
The Changing Face of the Basin-Boundary Region
Like much of rural North America, the Basin-Boundary region is experiencing a significant shift in the size and structure of its population. New data released by the BC government helps us better understand how our communities are changing, and what we need to do to prepare for the years ahead.
Recent population estimates suggest that the total number of residents in the Basin-Boundary region has remained relatively stable since 2011 when the last Census was completed. However, at the sub-regional scale, the story is much different. Three municipalities are showing population increases greater than 2% over the period 2011-2015. Of these, Nelson leads the pack at 4%, or an increase of 431 residents. Conversely, twelve municipalities in our region show population decreases greater than -2%. Creston and Valemount are showing the biggest declines at -11% (loss of the 588 residents) and -6% (loss of 64 residents), respectively.
Even more notable than the change in Basin-Boundary population size is the rapid change in population structure. The number of seniors (65 and over) in our region is now approaching the number of youth (under 25 years). The situation is projected to intensify as the senior population grows by over 40% over the next 20 years, while the youth population remains relatively stable. These projections have important consequences for the organizations that serve various demographic groups in our communities.
"Communities must work together to ensure we are ready and able to support the needs of our growing seniors population," says Corrine Younie, Coordinator of the Age Friendly Community Initiative and Moving Together Project at Nelson Cares Society. "In order to prepare for the future, we are working with the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute and Selkirk College nursing students to better understand how 'age friendly' our community is. This is part of a provincially funded project focused on developing an Age Friendly Plan for Nelson. We are learning it is not just about ensuring services and social and recreational opportunities are in place, it is also about making sure things like transportation and healthy food are available and accessible to seniors."
As a region, our population is projected to grow by 4.5% over the period 2016-2035, with growth rates highest in the areas surrounding Castlegar (17%) and Fernie (10%). In comparison to the Province of BC as a whole, where the total population is projected to grow by 23%, these rates of growth are low. Given the largely rural nature of our region, however, demographers aren't surprised by the projections.
"A projected population growth for a rural area certainly provides hope," says Ray Bollman, retired Editor of Statistics Canada's Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins. "One major contributor to past population growth in the Basin-Boundary region has been in-migration from other provinces (largely from the Calgary area). The Basin-Boundary region has many amenity features that attract in-migrants. Building on these advantages will be needed to ensure the projected increase in population is achieved," notes Bollman.
"Another part of the story is related to emerging economic opportunities resulting from an aging demographic. Things like retirement housing, mobility equipment, and 'aging in place' services will be required, and the mature consumer is expected to spend their money on things like recreation, leisure and their grandchildren," says Dr. Terri MacDonald, Selkirk College's Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development. "Highlighting these opportunities alongside our amenity assets could be part of future efforts focused on attracting investors, workers and new residents (including seniors)."
BC Stats' population projections are based on past demographic trends that have been modified to account for potential future changes. Of course, they represent only one possible scenario. Our communities have immense opportunity to influence our own future by taking action to promote vitality and well-being across the region.
For a full discussion of population estimates and projections, view the RDI's 2016 Trends Analysis.
Research Funding
A partnership between Teck Trail Operations and Selkirk College has created an annual fund for a Selkirk College student to undertake a community-based research project in the West Kootenay-Boundary region during the summer months. Up to $10,000 is available to fund a student research intern.
Learn more.
Webinars & Forums
February 11
Social Sector Surprises - view video
February 24
Climate Change Impacts on Energy Demand in Canada
March 8
Exploring Mountain Culture Forum
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