1. 1 From information to knowledge: Finding and using community data Bill Reimer Research Director Research Project on the New Rural Economy (www.nre.concordia.ca) Research Project on the New Rural Economy (www.nre.concordia.ca)www.nre.concordia.ca Ray D. Bollman Editor Statistics Canada’s “Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins” www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-006-XIE/free.htm National Rural Conference Workshop Red Deer, Alberta, October 21 – 23, 2004

2. 2 (our) Objectives Identify key rural issues Identify key rural issues Identify examples of community decisions Identify examples of community decisions Getting the information Getting the information  Identify appropriate information  Find this information  Analyze the information  Develop knowledge for local strategies

3. 3 Information to Knowledge Information has meaning only in the context of an issue, challenge, vision, or question Information has meaning only in the context of an issue, challenge, vision, or question Information has value only if it increases the value of a decision (or if it prevents a “bad” decision !) Information has value only if it increases the value of a decision (or if it prevents a “bad” decision !)

4. 4 3 Big Issues: Think Global Think Global The Power of Social Networks The Power of Social Networks Demographic Change Demographic Change

5. 5 Information to Knowledge 1.What is the issue? 2.What are the questions? 3.What information will answer the questions? 4.Where can it be found? 5.What does the information show? 6.What strategies does it suggest? Topic 1: Think Global

6. 6 Think Global: Issues Primary industries shedding labour Primary industries shedding labour Manufacturing or tradable services Manufacturing or tradable services Knowledge-intensive growing Knowledge-intensive growing Transaction costs falling Transaction costs falling Youth leave, families return Youth leave, families return Concentration increased Concentration increased Immigration continues Immigration continues

7. 7 Think Global: Questions What are local assets? What are local assets? How is our community connected? How is our community connected? How will it be connected? How will it be connected? What opportunities are created? What opportunities are created? What shall we deal with first? What shall we deal with first?

8. 8 Think Global: Information Local Assets Local Assets Trade Trade Travel Travel Communication Communication Global trends Global trends

9. 9 Think Global: Sources Statistics Canada’s “Community Profiles” Statistics Canada’s “Community Profiles” Local development agency community profiles Local development agency community profiles Chambers of Commerce Chambers of Commerce High school reunion committees High school reunion committees Number and characteristics of families welcomed by the “Welcome Wagon” last month Number and characteristics of families welcomed by the “Welcome Wagon” last month

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17. 17 Population by age class Observations for Tweed (Relative to Ontario)   pre-schoolers (age 0-4) slightly smaller share of pop.   (5 to 44) all significantly smaller share   seniors (65 and over) are larger share of the population Implications for Tweed (Relative to Ontario)   health and recreation services / opportunities for seniors are more important than services for youth   size and contribution of youth and young adults to the workforce is much smaller.

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19. 19 Workforce by industrial sector Observations for Tweed (Relative to Ontario)   lower in manufacturing (an exportable sector)   lower in business services (a potential exportable sector)   higher in retail services   higher in health and education Implications for Tweed (Relative to Ontario)   exportable sectors of manufacturing and business services are relatively small   Tweed’s employment in retail sales, health and education depends on demographic strength in neighbouring communities

20. 20 % of Sales by Market Area

21. 21 A “Community Profile” can show: Expected trends in age groups Expected trends in age groups General education / skills assets General education / skills assets Employment in potential downsizing sectors and employment in potential upsizing sectors Employment in potential downsizing sectors and employment in potential upsizing sectors Ethnic / immigrant mix that may be a community asset Ethnic / immigrant mix that may be a community asset

22. 22 Think Global: Strategies Use multiple sources Use multiple sources Use imagination Use imagination Make comparisons Make comparisons Look for changes Look for changes Gather intelligence Gather intelligence

23. 23 Social Networks: Issues Knowledge-intensive growing Knowledge-intensive growing Transaction costs falling Transaction costs falling Youth leave, families return Youth leave, families return Services more centralized Services more centralized We are all aging We are all aging Rural perceived as safe Rural perceived as safe Immigration continues Immigration continues

24. 24 Social Networks: Questions What networks exist? What networks exist? How are they used? How are they used? How might they be used? How might they be used? Which are worth building? Which are worth building?

25. 25 Social Networks: Information Business networks Business networks Public sector networks Public sector networks Volunteer networks Volunteer networks Family and friendship networks Family and friendship networks Who do they link?: bonding, bridging, linking Who do they link?: bonding, bridging, linking

26. 26 Family and friends are critical

27. 27 Services: Tweed Services NRE Sites (%) Tweed CanadaOntario In Site < 30 min Doctors360* Nurses3625* Dentists2725* Optometrists180* VON140* Social Workers 2325* Public Health Nurse 320* Speech Therapist 320*

28. 28 Social Networks: Analysis Build from strength Build from strength Build on common interests Build on common interests Networks of networks Networks of networks The power of weak ties The power of weak ties

29. 29 Resources www.ruralnovascotia.ca www.ruralnovascotia.ca www.ruralnovascotia.ca  Rural Tackle Box: links to Identifying Problems, Raising Awareness, Data sources, Using Research, Other Toolboxes www.statcan.ca -> “Community Profiles” www.statcan.ca -> “Community Profiles” www.statcan.ca www.brandonu.ca/organizations/RDI www.brandonu.ca/organizations/RDI www.brandonu.ca/organizations/RDI http://www.mta.ca/rstp/pubmain.html http://www.mta.ca/rstp/pubmain.html http://www.mta.ca/rstp/pubmain.html www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html

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31. 31 Summary Good information leads to good decisions Good information leads to good decisions First, focus on the decision(s) to be made First, focus on the decision(s) to be made Then, search for information from multiple sources Then, search for information from multiple sources  Governments, non-government agencies, the WEB, popular media, libraries  Local knowledge  Local assets... Local skills... Knowledge of residents... Use the networks of residents to gain more information... Knowledge of potential metro markets... Use local social glue to assemble the information in order to make a decision that will move the community in the direction that it wants to go... Knowledge needs Imagination plus Information Knowledge needs Imagination plus Information Imagination is best stimulated in groups Imagination is best stimulated in groups

32. 32 From information to knowledge: Finding and using community data The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation www.crrf.ca Statistics Canada www.statcan.ca