Small-Town-Big-Idea-Man LaVerne Erickson wins Alberta Tourism Award

Alberta Tourism Awards Committee has announced small town tourism visionary, LaVerne Erickson, winner of the 2010 Alto Ambassador Award for his outstanding contributions to Alberta’s tourism industry. They state "Erickson has demonstrated how big ideas can make small towns in rural Alberta huge tourism destinations".

LaVerne Erickson founded the Rosebud Theatre in Rosebud Alberta (now Alberta's largest professional rural theatre) and the Chemainus Festival Theatre in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, and the Canadian Badlands Performing Arts Summer School in Drumheller, Alberta.


“Like a true visionary, his energy, passion, cooperative spirit and innovative ideas create synergies that would not otherwise materialize,” notes Bob Davis, Executive Director of the Rosebud Theatre. “LaVerne can see, feel and believe what might be possible. His favorite saying is ‘A rising tide lifts all ships’ – a phrase that inspires people to this day to continue the work he helped start.”

"Loan Eagles" Affect the Rural Knowledge-Based Economy

It is the individuals that are creating business in today's knowledge-based rural economy, says Mr. Paul Blais of Millier Dickinson Blais, and a former municipal economic development manager in Napanee, reports Brian Shypula with the Stratford Beacon Herald, especially in a rural, knowledge-based economy such as Perth County, Ontario. Blais' report is part of a provincial grant with support from the Perth Community Futures Corporation.

"Loan Eagles" are small businesses that are typically run by individuals, often fall under the media radar and grow by one, two or three people at a time. Their impact, however, can be considerable. They would often fall under the category of highly skilled, highly educated, and/or highly paid. The long-term migration of 'loan eagles' (as illustrated by Richard Florida, the George Mason University professor and author of "The Rise of the Creative Class") can, however, be contrary to rural development interests.
The arts/culture/tourism challenge for southern Ontario's Perth, Stratford and St Mary's region is to attract the Loan Eagles. Perhaps they can be lured with opportunities such as Blais' "green tech" businesses and University of Waterloo's Stratford "new digital media" campus.

Seven Pillars of Rural Development

The seven pillars of rural development are listed in a note to the Secretary of State, United States Department of Agriculture from a concerned citizen, reports Rural Alberta's Development Fund.

They are:
Natural Capital
Cultural Capital
Social Capital
Political Capital
Financial Capital
Built Capital
Human Capital

Rural Alberta’s Development Fund (RADF) is an independent, not-for-profit company that is focused on helping rural communities build capacity and leaders. Some of the funded RADF projects include:
Growing a Culture of Innovation in Northwest Alberta
Northern Alberta GeoTourism
Creative Campus Development
Buffalo Adventures Marketing Initiative
Edmonton Area Countryside Project

Over 90 Nebraska Maps feed U of Nebraska's Rural Initiative

 94 maps are available as a rural resource to residents of Nebraska via the University of Nebraska's Rural Initiative, including terrain, bedrock geology, demographics, surface and groundwater, crops, infrastructure, trails, canoeing, pasture-fed meat producers, GIS and others.

These maps form one of the four pillars for rural resources in the State: website search of rural resources, rural development programs, internet access, and Nebraska maps.

The Wineries Map, for example, displays 12 existing wineries, and lists 8 soon-to-be-open wineries, their location and web/email contact link. There is a renaissance in the Nebraskan wine industry. The Nebraska Trails Map shows all historic and recreational trails in the State. The Scott Lookout Trail, for example, lists the management, length, usage and surface type of the trail. Other maps of interest to the rural tourist include: Christmas Tree Growers Map, the Nebraska Speed Limits Map,  and the Nebraska Game and Parks GIS Land Atlas.

These maps can be accessed via Nebraska Rural Living, "the brainchild of two sisters who returned to their small town rural roots". Their mission is to market the rural lifestyle, spotlight the successful rural entrepreneur, highlight amenities, and provide links to rural resources in Nebraska.

"During our years living out of Nebraska, we read dismal articles describing the out-migration of rural Nebraskans, the declining farm economy, and drought. However when we visited back home, we noticed prosperous entrepreneurial businesses, safe streets, a nurturing quality of life for families, excellent schools and affordable housing. We also noticed communities seemed to be well governed, by citizens who cared."