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How do connection, creativity, and community help rural communities thrive? 🌎🏘️

Our first theme spotlight explores Relational Wellness — the relationships that sustain us through culture, creativity, healthy rural living, and connection to place. 💙🌿🎨

At the heart of S2S is creating spaces for storytelling, collaboration, shared experiences, and meaningful dialogue that bring people and communities together. 🤝✨

As part of the CRRF/NAF Conference 2026, we’re excited to explore how stronger connections can help shape healthier, more vibrant rural, island, and northern communities. 🌊🍁

Stay tuned for more theme spotlights coming soon 👀

#CRRF2026 #NAF2026 #RelationalWellness #S2S #Shore2Shore #RuralWellness #CommunityConnections #CreativeCommunities #HealthyRuralLiving

We’re excited to highlight the incredible host location for the upcoming CRRF/NAF/S2S Conference 2026 — Grenfell Campus at Memorial University (MUN)!

As the first location we’re featuring in this series, Grenfell Campus truly sets the tone. Nestled in the stunning natural beauty of Western Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus and Memorial University have been incredible partners, collaborators, and sponsors for S2S, helping support and strengthen this important gathering and the connections it creates.

S2S is proud to partner with the CRRF/NAF Conference as we come together to explore connections, innovation, and wellness in rural, island, and northern communities.

We can’t wait to share more about the people, places, and partnerships that make this conference so special. Stay tuned for more location highlights!

💙 With gratitude, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the organizations, companies, institutions, and individuals supporting Shore To Shore (S2S).

🌊 S2S is part of the larger R2R conference series, where creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and the idea of “leaving the campsite in better shape for the next crowd” are at the heart of what we do.

Rooted at the intersection of art, science, and local knowledge, S2S brings people together to explore contemporary rural issues in an environment grounded in respect, connection, and hope. 🎨 🔬 🌿

Your support helps make these conversations, collaborations, and community experiences possible – and helps us continue taking R2R on the road.

🙌 Thank you for being part of the journey!

Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity – www.ruralcreativity.org
Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation – https://crrf.ca/
North Atlantic Forum – https://northatlanticforum.org/
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University – https://mun.ca/grenfellcampus/
Abadak – https://abadak.ca/
The Cottage Hospital – https://oldcottagehospital.com/
Gateway CERH – https://www.gatewayruralhealth.ca/

We are proud to recognize Atlantic Edge Credit Union – and especially Candace Matthews and Charlotte Taylor – for their ongoing support, guidance, and participation in the upcoming S2S gatherings.

Their partnership reflects a shared commitment to community connection, collaboration, and creating meaningful experiences across the region. Their commitment to community impact is exactly what S2S is all about.

We’re excited to have AECU participating in Norris Point as we continue building a collaborative model with credit unions.

At CCRC, we know credit unions play an important role in strong, connected communities, and we’re grateful to have Atlantic Edge Credit Union as part of the R2R journey.

Thank you for helping strengthen communities through collaboration and engagement! 

Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) has always been rooted in rural southwestern Ontario since 2016.

It began as a simple idea. Bring rural communities together in conversation to explore:

🎨 Art. 🔬 Science. 📍 Local and Indigenous knowledge. 🌾 Lived rural experience

Not to arrive with answers. But to share what we are already learning where we live. To celebrate different places, different perspectives and shared ground.

The story continues, now on the road. This year, R2R travels as Shore to Shore (S2S).

This June, following the CRRF/NAF conference in Corner Brook (June 16–18), S2S continues in Western Newfoundland at these locations and dates:
📍 Norris Point (June 18-20)
📍 Flat Bay (June 20-23)

Shore to Shore is an invitation:
🌊 Across coastlines.
🤝 Across communities.
🌿 Across ways of knowing land and water.

A chance to listen closely to place. And to each other. At S2S, you can expect:

🗣️ conversations, shared knowledge and research
🎶 music, art and shared local meals
🚶 walks on trails, shorelines, and in the communities
🌊 time by rivers and the ocean
Ideas already in motion in one place shared with another. We explore the path by walking it.

Learn more about S2S by visiting – https://shore2shore.info/

Registration for the Flat Bay gathering is now officially SOLD OUT.

As part of the larger CRRF/NAF conference series taking place across Western Newfoundland from June 16–23, 2026, Shore2Shore brings together local residents, visitors, artists, researchers, knowledge keepers, and community leaders to explore the theme:

“Relational Wellness: Prioritizing connections that matter in sustaining rural, island, and northern communities.”

Through conversations, workshops, storytelling, music, food, art, science, and Indigenous knowledge sharing, SHORE TO SHORE creates space to reflect on the opportunities and challenges shaping rural life today — and where we go from here together.

Limited spots are still available in Norris Point.

Register today at:
https://shore2shore.info

Registration for the Shore2Shore gatherings in Norris Point and Flat Bay is now over 80% sold out.

As part of the larger CRRF/NAF conference series taking place across Western Newfoundland from June 16–23, 2026, these community-focused gatherings will bring together local residents, visitors, artists, researchers, knowledge keepers, and community leaders to explore the theme:

Relational Wellness: Prioritizing connections that matter in sustaining rural, island, and northern communities.”

Through conversations, workshops, storytelling, music, food, art, science, and Indigenous knowledge sharing, SHORE TO SHORE creates space to reflect on the opportunities and challenges shaping rural life today — and where we go from here together.

Register today at:
https://shore2shore.info

✨ Welcome to the Team, Keri! ✨

We’re excited to welcome Keri Ryan to the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity as our new Creative Assistant through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Keri brings experience in graphic design, marketing, content creation, branding, and visual storytelling — along with a passion for community engagement and creativity.

Over the summer, Keri will be supporting projects, events, and creative initiatives, including SHORE TO SHORE 2026

We’re so happy to have her on board!