Grassroots program aims to make returning to rural cool

Times Reporter

 

A unique, grassroots movement is sweeping through parts of rural Alberta, with the main focus on trying to bring people back to the Special Areas. The Special Areas consist of five million acres in southeast Alberta, bound by Consort (north), Hanna (west), Saskatchewan border (east) and the South Saskatchewan River (south).

Returning to Rural, R2R, began last year and is a youth retention and attraction 2.0 program, designed to reach people aged 21 to 45.

“So our focus and emphasis is using social media and technology to connect with young people that have left our area, or that have never lived here, and let them know that there is opportunity in our communities, and connect them with those opportunities,” said Christie Dick, R2R’s economic development officer. 

R2R is highlighting the fact that high speed internet is available through the entire region, and that people can run their businesses basically from anywhere in the world now 

“We’re focused on young people, but young families are our real target, or people thinking about having a family. So we’ve been targeting 21 to 45,” said Dick.

“We really felt that those were the people that were going to come back, and have families, and create their own jobs and be thinking about making changes in their life.

“While our focus is bringing and keeping young people in Alberta’s Special Areas, Return to Rural is a completely scalable idea that any rural community could undertake. The inspiration of using social media to connect with young people, and developing a new industry using technology, is an option every rural community would be crazy not to at least consider.”

Dick further explained that Wheatland County and Strathmore, because of the high percentage of commuters, would see changes if R2R were implemented into the area.   

“More dollars would be spent with your local businesses because many of those commuters would be able to work from home, or open satellite offices that would decrease the amount of ‘leakage’ in dollars going from your economy into Calgary’s,” said Dick.

“Volunteerism and Quality of Life would improve because commuters would have more time to spend at home, and in the community, thereby allowing them to engage more closely in the community in which they live and work.”

Dick said since beginning R2R, they have gained increased brand awareness in their region, and they have been getting the attention of their target audience who have been deciding to make the Special Areas their home.