Economic development practitioners, health practitioners, and researchers shared their insights and experience on twelve critical topics to the future of rural communities and regions at the Rural Talks to Rural Conference last week. The interactive session allowed conference participants to learn more about current best practices, learn about existing programming, and to hear about current research. Participants had the opportunities to migrate between the twelve stations. The twelve sessions included (students and faculty from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development noted in bold):

• Destination North: Economics, Tourism, and Collaboration with Mike Wozny, Karen Bittner, Christopher Fullerton
• Food Security and Resilience with Justine Dainard, Steve Clarke, Courtney O’Neill
• From Denmark to Canada: How A Small Rural Community Developed a Successful Integrated Energy System with Alex Ripley, Jim Ginn
• From the Rock: Place-Based Development in Rural Newfoundland and Labrador with Kelly Vodden, Joan Cranston, Evan Butler
• How’s Your Rural Health with Gwen Devereaux, Neelia Lewis, Meagan Tamming, Sage Milne
• Labour Force Attraction with April Marshall, Paul Sitsofe
• Pitch It, Try It, Move It: Mainstreet Revitalization in Minto with Belinda Wick-Graham, Lucas Berek
• Resident Retention and Attraction with Serena Viola, Sara Epp
• Succession Planning for the Huron County Farm with Vicki Lasse, Ryan Gibson
• The Evolving Nature of Agriculture in the 21st Century with Wayne Caldwell, Kate Proctor, Regan Zink, Dean Orr, Martin Straathof, Kiana Simmons
• Two Row on the Grand + The Voice of the River with Ellie Joseph, Peter Smith, Mashad Akhoundoghli, Tristin Vogel
• Welcoming, Attracting, and Retaining Skilled Foreign Workers in Ontario with Anuradha Dam, Rana Telfah, Meaghan Edwards

The Rural Talks to Rural 2024 (R2R24) conference, held from October 16-18, 2024, in Blyth, Ontario, brought together people from rural communities to share ideas and solutions. The event included presentations, storytelling, and workshops focused on improving rural life. Key topics covered community development, policy, and the role of technology like artificial intelligence. Attendees left with practical ideas to help their own communities.

The Passport to Practice session was co-hosted by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, Economic Development Council of Ontario, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health, and the University of Guelph.