In September, the Small Business Accelerator librarian, Adena Brons, attended the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundations's 2017 conference, "Different by Design." She traveled to Nelson B.C. for two days of learning and discussing the themes of workforces of tomorrow, our changing environment, creating connections, and communities of opportunity. Rural entrepreneurship is dynamic and innovative, as rural small businesses and entrepreneurs create their own solutions and new ideas for the challenges of the 21st century.
The conference opened with a keynote panel called "Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Economic Development." Heather Hall, Tjaart Van den Berg, and Terry Van Horn discussed various ways their work supports and explores innovation and economic development in rural areas. Their perspectives came from academic studies, practitioner work, and their own experiences living and working in rural communities.
A second day keynote was provided by Brian Fry, a technology entrepreneur dedicated to building successful technology startups in the Kootenays. His presentation is an optimistic view of the potential of rural areas to become leaders in new technology industries and to woo top talent from the grind of Silicon Valley.
Adena also presented on the topic of workforces of tomorrow. View her slidedeck below for the presentation "Build Your Skills for Tomorrow's Small Businesses."
Other webcasts of presentations and panels are available from the Rural Policy Learning Commons.
Image courtesy of Keith Ewing on Flickr