1. 1 Ipods, Algae, and Oil: Your place in the future of (rural) Canada Bill Reimer bill.reimer@concordia.ca2007/10/24http://nre.concordia.ca Tom Beckley David Bruce Omer Chouinard Ivan Emke Greg Halseth Bruno Jean Patrice LeBlanc Dianne Looker Diane Martz Solange Nadeau John Parkins Steve Plante Doug Ramsey Richard Stedman Ellen Wall Derek Wilkinson Anna Woodrow

2. 1962 - 2007 2

3. My Path 3

4. Canadian Situation 4

5. 5 Canadian Balance of Trade, 2004

6. 6

7. 7

8. 8 Observations - 1 Rural Canada is diverse Rural Canada is diverse Primary industries are shedding labour Primary industries are shedding labour Manufacturing and services competitive Manufacturing and services competitive Industry has concentrated Industry has concentrated Environment more important Environment more important Knowledge-intensive employment growing Knowledge-intensive employment growing Price of communication and transportation is falling; moving people increasing Price of communication and transportation is falling; moving people increasing

9. 9 Observations - 2 Youth leaving, families returning Youth leaving, families returning Government services more regional Government services more regional Rural aging fastest Rural aging fastest Rural perceived as safe Rural perceived as safe Immigration strong Immigration strong Local capacity is critical Local capacity is critical Rural and urban Canada are interdependent Rural and urban Canada are interdependent

10. Rural Responses 10

11. Our Responses 11

12. 12 NRE…The Rural Observatory …an International Network

13. Collaborate 13

14. Learn 14

15. Opportunities? Curious Curious Passionate Passionate Knowledgeable Knowledgeable Imaginative Imaginative 15

16. 16 The New Rural Economy Project Bill Reimer bill.reimer@concordia.ca2007/10/24http://nre.concordia.ca