Conference on Northern and Small Communities – North Bay, ON
The conference focused on Northern and smaller communities’ LIP strategies and action plans and explored how best to support them analytically. With this in mind, the following objectives were established for the conference:
1. To identify crucial issues associated with four inter-connected themes: (a) economic development; (b) attraction, retention, and branding (including Francophone recruitment and integration); (c) civic engagement and sports and recreation; and (d) the adaptation of mainstream services;
2. To set the stage for a series of high-priority studies by the WCI to help communities elaborate their LIP plans;
3. To identify potential pilot sites for implementing various studies; and
4. To help develop a cadre of researchers and graduate students, especially from Northern colleges and universities, who are interested in undertaking research to benefit Northern and smaller centres.
More than 70 participants attended the conference.
