Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation

The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) (Francais: Fondation Canadienne pour la Revitalisation Rurale) was established in 1989 to contribute to the revitalization and sustainability of rural Canada through collaborative research for rural leaders in the community, private sector, and in all levels of government. CRRF works to create credible insights and to improve our understanding of issues and opportunities that are of common interest to rural residents across Canada. Knowledge and better understanding are the fundamental pillars for the welfare of rural communities and environments.

CRRF is an organization with members from across Canada, with diverse international links, representing rural leaders, rural organizations, development practitioners, government policy makers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders interested in the future of rural Canada. CRRF explores a diversity of issues, including rural health and social provision, local and regional economies, local government and community governance, education, organization development, environmental management and stewardship, and many others facets of life and livelihood in rural Canada. Each year CRRF co-hosts a national conference to share lessons learned, research findings, and discuss key rural issues. In addition to the national conference, CRRF hosts and participates in workshops, forums, and symposia to advance rural issues in Canada.

Originally known as the Agricultural and Rural Restructuring Group (ARRG), CRRF is a national nonprofit society chartered in the Province of Alberta and a federally registered charity.

CRRF assembles creative minds from rural communities, governments, universities and businesses to enable rural populations to succeed with these challenges. Specifically CRRF addresses:

• the need for jobs and wealth generating activities.
• the need for institutional flexibility within the private sector, and within social and governing organizations in rural Canada.
• the need for urban and rural people to help each other find ethical environmental and economic solutions to the problems of sustainability and rural dependence.
• the need for continuing learning to enable rural populations to participate actively in the economic life of their country.

Governance

CRRF is governed by an elected board of directors. Current directors include: Ryan Gibson - President (Saskatchewan), William Ashton Treasurer (Manitoba), Heather Hall - Secretary (Newfoundland and Labrador), Robert Annis - Past President (British Columbia), Matthew Brett (Québec), Lars Hallstrom (Alberta), Al Lauzon (Ontario), Terri MacDonald (British Columbia), Sean Markey (British Columbia), Laura Ryser (British Columbia), and Chris Southcott (Ontario).

The State of Rural Canada

In September 2015, the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation launched The State of Rural Canada book. The edited book was the first comprehensive review of provincial and territorial rural policies.

Conferences & Learning Events

• 2015: Building Community Resilience: Culture, Innovation, and Governance in Place (Summerside, Prince Edward Island)
• 2014: New Relationships, New Realities (Prince George, British Columbia)
• 2013: Rural Canada Ready to Grow (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
• 2012: Creating Rural Connections (Olds, Alberta)
• 2012: Policy and Research in Community Investment - 2nd National Rural Research Workshop (Ottawa, Ontario)
• 2011: Culture, Place, and Identity at the Heart of Regional Development (St John's, Newfoundland)
• 2011: National Rural Research Workshop (Ottawa, Ontario)
• 2010: On the Bright Side Rural Works (Brandon, Manitoba)
• 2009: Rural Recession to Rural Revitalization (Québec City, Québec)
• 2008: Boom Bust Economies Conference (Inuvik, Northwest Territories)
• 2008: National Rural Research Network Northern Dialogue (Whitehorse, Yukon)
• 2007: Connecting Communities: Rural and Urban (Vermillion, Alberta)
• 2006: Future of Rural Canada (Gatineau, Québec and Lanark, Ontario)
• 2005: Big Lessons from Small Places: Governance in Rural North America and the North Atlantic Rim (Twillingate, Newfoundland)
• 2005: National Rural Immigration Think Tank (Brandon, Manitoba)
• 2004: Local Governance of Rural-Urban Interaction Think Tank (Prince George, British Columbia)
• 2003: Building Rural Capacity in the New Economy (Ste-Damase, Québec)
• 2001: The New Rural Economy: From Challenge to Action (Muenster, Saskatchewan)

External links

• Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation - http://www.crrf.ca
• State of Rural Canada Book - http://sorc.crrf.ca