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| Ian Lane photo Patrick Callbeck |
A special welcome from the Huntsville Ideasguy Blog to Ian Lane. Beginning in the New Year we hope Ian will provide us with his views and ideas on Monday’s. When I started contributing to David Harris’ blog we used Mondays as well and this does take some pressure off the weekends. Here’s the bio info that Ian has passed on to me. He looks like a keeper for our community!
"I had the privilege of working for the government of PEI for the last 2+ years. My responsibilities revolved around developing adaptive immigration policies and efforts to retain youth, newcomers, temporary foreign workers, and international students among others. I’ve recently started an economic development consulting business that provides creative solutions for my clients. I have a MA from Ryerson University in Immigration and Settlement Studies, a BA in History from the University of Prince Edward Island, and a Music Diploma from Humber College. I am originally from Red Deer, Alberta. I’ve also lived in Toronto for 8 years and in PEI for 4 years. I am now happy to call Huntsville home."
Economic Development in Rural Canada: Lessons learned from Atlantic Canada
I’ve been fortunate to experience both sides the urban vs. rural debate, as I grew up on a hog farm in northern Alberta and have lived in large cities like Calgary and Toronto. I’ve left rural areas for big cities; however, the past few years I’ve returned to my small town roots living in Prince Edward Island and now Huntsville. This has given me new ideas on effective economic development concepts for rural Canada.
What is effective economic development in rural Canada? This is a difficult question and the answer(s) is just as complex. It’s like an onion with countless layers, and it can make you cry too! Let me pick at one layer, the shrinking labour force caused by increased youth out-migration to metropolitan cities, which has a negative impact businesses’ ability to grow.
PEI is a rural province juxtaposed by densely populated areas for a province of its size. PEI arguably feels the adverse demographic trends of the Western world more so than any other jurisdiction. Youth out-migration, an aging population, and low fertility rates have rendered PEI on a precipice towards negative economic and population growth. Combined with changes to the fishing and agriculture industries, these realities are creating serious concerns to the Island’s quality of life. This is happening all over Canada, so how can we address these issues to help sustain and even grow rural Canada? It’s understanding, acquiescing, and adjusting to these uncomfortable truths.
Looking at out-migration, it’s important to understand that the rural to urban trend is occurring globally. Doug Saunders book Arrival City: The Final Migration and Our Next World discusses how people are leaving traditional agricultural societies for opportunities in urban areas all over the world. Naturally, people are going to migrate to larger centres where the grass is always greener, which is especially true for youth. Youth are going to be attracted to larger centres or the Ft. McMurray’s for perceived better opportunities and to for the thrill of it. Generally, the first reaction to youth out- migration is negative; however, I think it’s good for them to go out and experience the world. The key is to figure out how to attract them back to their home communities.
Youth engagement is one tool for economic growth in rural Canada. Developing or enhancing local career awareness opportunities at a younger age and engaging them before they leave is critical to stabilizing the rural labour force. Cumberland County in Nova Scotia adopted a practical and effective approach in its 2005 Population Strategy by engaging grade 12 students that were preparing to leave the region for post-secondary education or other opportunities. The Regional Economic Development Office asked the students basic questions on why they were leaving, if they’d come back, what were the barriers to them returning etc. They had an overwhelmingly high participation rate, 97%, which allowed policy makers to make direct AND informed changes that would positively effect youth perceptions of the County and perhaps entice them to return. However, another immense benefit was giving youth a voice in how they’d like to shape the region and its respective communities. This empowerment is a creative method for youth to become civically involved and perhaps remain and strengthen the local labour pool.
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| A Youth Town Council Reviews the Budget |
Another example, again in Nova Scotia, is the small community of Parrsboro. It has a Youth Town Council that mirrors the governing town council. Student members are elected and can range from Grade 7 to Grade 12. The Youth Council aims to build an understanding of youth issues so that the municipality can act towards creating a welcoming community for youth. It also provides young people with the opportunity to build their confidence and become valuable and contributing members of their community. This won’t guarantee that young people will stay in Parrsboro, but it’s an effort and they will certainly remember having their voices heard.
Youth leaving for post-secondary or other opportunities may come back to their home communities as entrepreneurs that create jobs and economic development opportunities. Youth that remain help contribute to a stronger labour force that helps build the local economy. Youth also contribute to the creative class, which has emerged as a significant economic development component in both rural and urban societies. This is evident in Huntsville, which already embraces the arts. It’s critical that community leaders engage youth so that if they leave, they know that their home will miss them and welcome them when they return.
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| Sample Logo, Huntsville Youth Town Council?? |
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