Youth and adults from all over B.C. will be converging in Williams Lake next month for the annual BC Rural Network conference.
The theme this year is Bridge to the Future: Youth and Rural Community Development.
One of the big issues today is how to keep young people in rural communities, says conference co-ordinator Maureen LeBourdais, hence the youth focus for this year’s workshops.A series of workshops and forums will be held on a range of rural issues impacting youth, including:• Living wage/social return on investment• Emerging leaders• Food security• Building effective and respectful relationships with First Nations• Rural business succession planning.• Liking social media and social connection in Rural BC• Innovation in the rural arts and culture sector• Invitation for a host community for the 7th BC Rural Communities Summit in 2012 … and much more.
The BC Rural Network will hold its annual general meeting and workshops at Thompson Rivers University in Williams Lake May 23-25.The workshop is open to members and non-members alike. The annual meeting will include the election of officers.
For information on how to register go to the web site at www.bcruralnetwork.ca/node/950 LeBourdais can also be reached at 250-392-1400 or by e-mail at mlebourdais@fraserbasin.bc.ca.
The BC Rural Network was formed in 2004 and is a coalition of organizations, communities, and individuals who share a commitment to enhance the capacity of B.C. to develop responses to rural and remote community issues.
The conference is held every second year and is an opportunity for rural residents and representatives of rural organizations from across the province to come together and discuss ways to build the capacity of rural communities in B.C.For more information go to www.bcruralnetwork.ca