Canadian Rural Partnership
Welcome to Rural Team BC

Our Priorities
Our Members

About Rural Team BC (RTBC)

Guided by grassroots direction and regional rural input, Rural Team B.C. is a partnership network of federal, provincial and community-based organizations. We are committed to working with rural British Columbians to help identify and address their priorities by focusing on local assets and resources, community capacity and a strong connection between rural communities and government. As a Team we utilize our network to work in partnership to address priorities, and collectively we support citizens and communities to build their capacity for self-reliance and resilience.

In B.C., "rural" has not been defined precisely. However, rural areas are generally considered to be those outside of urban centres like the Lower Mainland, South Island, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Prince George.

The Team believes that rural communities in B.C. have a promising future and so, are dedicated to working with rural British Columbians to achieve the future they aspire to. As of 1999, Rural Team B.C. has carried out its activities by concentrating its efforts on:

• Rural Dialogues to listen to the rural voice, share best practices and build partnerships
  
• Rural Lens to ensure new policies and programs consider rural issues
  
• Research to deliver insight into important rural issues and be of direct benefit to rural community development and progress
  
• Partnerships for collaboration across government, community-based organizations and rural communities to address the unique issues of rural B.C.
  
• Information Outreach to provide better information access

Our Priorities

Working towards viable and sustainable rural communities has been a goal for the Team. Rural Team B.C. has supported this goal through collaboration with its partners, focussing on four key priority areas identified from input by rural citizens:

Community Access - Address issues around access to the information highway, access to information on government programs and services, access to education and training, and the sharing of best practice and networking across communities.

Community Development - Address issues relating to economic diversification, community capacity building, partnerships, and the measurement of community progress.

Community Strength, Safety and Wellness - Focus on access to health care, linked health and environmental issues and safe communities.

Youth - Target more opportunities and assist in the coordination of programs and services for rural youth.

 

Our Members

The Rural Team B.C. membership includes representatives from the following federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and community-based organizations:

Federal Partners

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canadian Heritage
Environment Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Industry Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Public Works and Government Services
Status of Women Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada

Provincial Partners

Ministry of Community Services
Ministry of Economic Development
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts
Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services

Community Partners

BC CED Network
B.C. Rural Network
Columbia Basin Trust
Community Futures Development Association of BC
Fraser Basin Council

Team Structure

Rural Team B.C. has adopted a federal-provincial co-chair structure to reflect the important role both levels of government play in rural and remote communities. The Team is currently being chaired by representatives from

• Western Economic Diversification Canada and the
  
• Ministry of Community Services

 

Date Modified: 2006-07-04

Important Notices