ON Regional Economic Development

On October 4th 2018, OMAFRA and Wellington County held the Municipal Agriculture Economic Development and Planning Forum. The forum was an opportunity for those involved in municipal and local economic development or planning to network and share success stories.

Wayne Caldwell, from the University of Guelph, was the  key note speaker presenting on Revitalizing Rural Economic Development.  He outlined the process used to select rural research priorities and demonstrate how we can use this research to enhance our own community work. He also presented several  recent projects pertinent to agriculture economic development and rural Ontario, for example the Enhancing Local Food in Northern Ontario initiative. 

Attendee’s listened to a panel presentation that focused on Local Economic Development Initiatives – “How are Municipalities Supporting Agriculture and Local Food.” The panelists included:

• Christina Mann – Taste read Guelph Wellington
  • County of Wellington: Taste Real Our journey ‘from the ground up’
• Bonnie Wrightman Clarington Board of Trade
  • How Clarington Supports Agriculture & Local Food
• Zach Gable from Haldimand County
  • Community Improvement Plans as a Tool for Rural Development
• Philly Markowitz from Grey County
  • Agriculture and Food in Grey 2018

They discussed how local initiatives develop and evolve and what communities have experienced during the process and the results of these local initiatives.

Three counties then talked about how they are attracting the much needed talent they require for rural economies and communities to thrive. Speakers included:

• Kristin Crane from Huron County
  • Huron County Workforce Attraction and Retention Strategy 2018-2020
• Jacinda Rudolph from Grey County and Making Grey Bruce Home
  • New to Grey
• Tom Lusis from Wellington County 
  • County of Wellington: Immigration Initiatives

The panel discussed how the labour shortage is a widespread concern among rural businesses, and how there is work to be done to ensure that communities are welcoming to newcomers, both New Canadians and those moving from other regions.

Following the panel was a session called, Planning + Economic Development: Tips for a Successful Journey. This session involved a discussion on ways to help local entrepreneurs turn their creative ideas into reality through education and collaboration. The audience heard from:

• Andrew Payne
  • Guiding Farmers Through Agricultural Planning Applications
• Kelly Maloney from Kawartha Lakes
  • Planning + Economic Development: Tips for a Successful Journey
• Mat Vaughan from Norfolk County
  • Agri-tourism through On-farm Diversified Uses Examples from Norfolk County

Jackie Fraser, shared her experience with the local food business Fraberts Fresh Food, a family-run local fresh food market. After a working within the non-profit sector, she is now focusing full time on Fraberts Fresh Food and her presentation One Entrepreneur’s Perspective, reflected on her experiences behind the boardroom table and now on the front line of the local food movement.

The last panel presentation was called “Legalizing Cannabis and Emerging Opportunities”, examined cannabis from the perspective of land use planner, an economic developer and educators and operator in the legal cannabis industry. Panelists included:

• Bonnie Wrightman of Clarington Board of Trade
  • Supporting the Cannabis Sector in Clarington
• Al Unwin, School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, Niagara College
  • Commercial Cannabis Production Program – CCP
• Joanne Hickey-Evans of City of Hamilton
  • Legalizing Cannabis and Emerging Opportunities
• Jack Krosinski, Krosinski Enterprises Ltd.
  • Agracan – LP Palmerston Industrial Park Cannabis Cultivation Facility

To view all the presentation decks visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1spyiRsIxhnmzVJhDgyBmDRQ-fiKPrrnZ

To view the video from the day visit https://omafra.adobeconnect.com/p028paqhjmp7/