Trends in Service Delivery: Examples From Rural and Small Town Canada, 1998 to 2005

During the past two decades, social and economic restructuring in rural and small town places across Canada has been accompanied by changes in the availability of local services. From retail to social, health, and government services, changes in local availability are occurring at the same time as such services are increasingly needed to support local economic revitalization in response to economic change. Drawing upon a seven year study of service availability in 19 rural and small town places, this paper explores two key questions. The first concerns trends in service availability over time. The second concerns patterns with respect to the location of those services. The findings highlight general trends towards service reductions and regionalization. The implications from these findings may be significant as both outcomes have the potential to erode crucial local supports necessary for economic renewal and transition in rural and small town Canada

Community Services and Resources for Depressed Women in Two Rural Regions of Nova Scotia

The present study investigated the community services and resources available for depressed women in two rural regions of Nova Scotia. Employing asset mapping by means of a checklist, we surveyed 41 service providers in community agencies in these two regions regarding services and resources they viewed as available for a community project for depressed women. Analysis indicated that there were community and ancillary services that would be appropriate to meet the psychosocial and socioeconomic needs of depressed women. The respondents were also willing to offer their resources for such a cooperative network of community services. The findings suggest that there is a foundation for the establishment of more integrated community services in these rural regions to meet the needs of depressed women

Internet Connectivity: A Churchill, Manitoba Case Study

The Churchill Community Network (CCNet) was a community based Internet business in Churchill, Manitoba. The company was established in 1997, at a time when Internet connectivity was just gaining momentum, particularly in rural, remote and northern areas. CCNet members successfully established broadband connectivity in Churchill prior to nationwide initiatives to address bandwidth needs (Cameron, et al. 2005). This case study contributes to an understanding of connectivity barriers, decision-making processes, government involvement, and economic opportunities for a northern community through connectivity infrastructure. It demonstrates the way in which one community achieved connectivity on its own, illustrates the reasoning behind it, and shows why it is important. The research also provides a basis for comparison to other communities as they address Internet connectivity

The Economic and Social Contribution of the Public Sector to Rural Saskatchewan

As the economic and social landscape of rural Saskatchewan continues to change, the capacity of rural communities to remain viable is tenuous. Employment opportunities are a significant determinant of the economic viability of rural areas. In Saskatchewan, the public sector is an important component of the labour force, representing an estimated 23% of employment, with approximately 46% of those employment opportunities occurring in rural and northern areas. This represents more than 55,000 jobs with a further 21,762 jobs estimated as indirect employment supported by the public sector work. The estimated economic impact generated by these rural and northern jobs is represented by the direct public sector earnings of $1,856 million and a further$823 million in indirect expenditure generated from these earnings. The public sector also tends to employ highly skilled individuals and provides well-paying jobs. This is especially important for rural women as there are often fewer high waged opportunities for women in rural areas. In addition to economic benefits, these public sector employees bring skills and networks that generate economic and social benefits for the communities and rural areas where they live and work. As services consolidate in larger centres rural communities continue to lose public facilities and the economic and social benefits generated by those who were employed there. Public sector employees contribute not only to the economic viability but also to the social capacity of their communities through their important roles as volunteers, often in leadership positions. To assess the economic and social impact of the public sector on rural communities, an analysis of the economic impacts of public sector employment and a survey of public sector employees in two Saskatchewan communities were undertaken. This research reports on the economic and social benefits that public sector employment brings to rural Saskatchewan

Communications & Capacity Building: Exploring Clues from the Literature For Rural Community Development

It almost goes without saying that communication lies at the root of all human development, in any context. Thus, capacity building for rural development takes place in the context of communication practices and processes. Historically, much rural development has taken place through communication in terms of education through university extension programs, radio and other traditional media, and perhaps most importantly, through the communal ties which are created and fostered by face-to-face communication. In today’s world, rural development is also becoming increasingly tied into new information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as the internet. Further, an examination of the literature surrounding rural development and capacity building reveals that in virtually all of it communication is inextricably involved in the process. The literature also provides some important clues as to why those involved in rural development for the new rural economy in a North American context need to pay attention to existing and potential communication tools and practices (or the lack thereof) when building capacity in their communities. With this end in mind, this article will present an overview of the literature concentrating on the following ideas: communication as a framework of oil, glue, and web; communication and capacity building, i.e., the role of communication in enhancing capacity and the capacities that good communications creates; participatory communications strategies; and communications capacity and conflict resolution in rural communities. While looking at literature concerning both the developed and developing world, the emphasis will be upon work which has a direct rural North American application. Finally, the article will discuss what this foregrounding of communication means in concrete terms to Canadian rural communities caught in the midst of global economic shifts, i.e., those trying to engage and sustain themselves in the New Rural Econom