Rural Spark

Rural communities are benefitting from a new wave of urban-to-rural migration during the pandemic. Especially in coastal communities of Atlantic Canada and B.C., new families are providing a much needed boost to school populations and local economies. But are able to keep them? In this episode we explore the challenge of rural retention with Dr.  Wayne Caldwell from the University of Guelph, an expert in issues of change in rural communities. 

The recent federal election result builds on a trend in the rural-urban vote split in Canada. At what point is that cause for concern? Should our electoral system and political parties take any steps to address potential negative impacts of the divide? We talk with political science professors Zach Taylor and Jack Lucas about their research in this area and what the future may hold. 

A group of medical students from Ontario medical schools are reaching out to those in urban schools to extoll the benefits of small town practice. Their efforts could be one part of the puzzle in solving Canada's rural doctor shortage. Current resident Kathleen Walsh joined us to share the story. 

Scotland is about to host its first seaweed festival -- an artistic, culinary and environmental event on Isle Martin. Festival curator and environmental photographer Julia Barton shares the story and rolls out the welcome mat. 

Test driving new, innovative ideas for rural communities makes sense. It's a low-risk, low-cost way of seeing what might work, what doesn't and what could be a success with a little adaption. That's the kind of work Mary Doyle does in her enterprise, Rural on Purpose. She joined us to share the Rural on Purpose story. 

Young people from countries bordering the North Atlantic recently spent a weekend working in teams to tackle some of the urgent challenges facing our rural communities. We talked with Paula Haapanen with the Canadian partner organization -- the Cooperation Council of Ontario -- to find out how it went and what new ideas rose to the top. 

While studying medicine in Ireland, Canadian Sarah Kaip is building a network of future doctors there, encouraging them to consider rural medicine back home in Canada. There's no shortage of Canadians studying medicine abroad, and they're sometimes overlooked as a possible solution to our rural doctors shortage. Sarah plans to practice in a rural community; hear her reasons why, and how she's mobilizing others to do the same.

Who could have predicted that videos of Bhangra dancing from the wilds of the Yukon would help so many of us get through COVID-19? Gurdeep Pandher had to step back and try to make sense of it all himself, as he tells us in this episode. Hear his inspiring story. 

Got milk? In the small town of Almonte in Eastern Ontario, the Dairy Distillery is using a byproduct of the dairy industry to make vodka -- to rave reviews. It's a terrific example of rural business innovation that turns waste into valuable products. 

The risk of mental illness among farmers is much higher than in the general population, with often devastating results for individuals, families and communities. DoMoreAg is a non-profit working to raise awareness, break down the stigma and build communities of support for farming families. Executive director Adelle Stewart shares their story.