R2R24 CONFERENCE AGENDA

Preliminary conference information and session times are subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Print version of the agenda will be available closer to the conference date.

Day One – Exploring Our Differences Together
Day Two – Engaging in Participatory Leadership
Day Three – Taking Collective Wisdom into Action

DAY ONE – Wednesday, October 16 – EXPLORING OUR DIFFERENCES TOGETHER

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
10:30 AM	Registration		Open for registration, meet & greet, coffee & snacks at the Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM	Welcome Lunch & Opening/Greetings	Yes	Welcome to R2R24! Join us in the Lower Hall for a Welcome Lunch including greetings from the CCRC, dignitaries and special guests.
12:30 – 12:45 PM	BREAK		Delegates will move to the main theatre stage after lunch.
12:30 – 12:45 PM	The Rural Assembly: Introduction to the Conference	Yes	On the main theatre stage, Peter Smith and Casandra Bryant introduce the people, the places, the events, and the premise of R2R24.
1:15 – 2:15 PM	Keynote Address: What does it mean to meet this moment in time?	Yes	Dr. S Ashleigh Weeden provides a bird’s eye view of some of the leading issues, challenges, and opportunities in rural to help set the stage and offer lines of inquiry over the next three days together. [VIRTUAL ACCESS]
2:15 – 2:30 AM	BREAK		Coffee, tea and snacks available.
2:30 – 3:50 PM	Workshop: What time is it in our rural communities?		Delegates engage in conversations that matter using participatory leadership techniques. Facilitators trained in the Art of Hosting (an approach to leadership that scales up from the personal to the systemic using personal practice, dialogue, facilitation, and the co-creation of innovation to address complex challenges) will lead delegates in this exercise. Engage in exercises that welcome and connect diverse voices and perspectives, uncover insights and share collective discoveries that matter most in our rural communities.
3:50 – 4:00 PM	BREAK		Coffee, tea, and snacks are available.
4:00 – 5:15 PM	The Assembly	Yes	A unique and innovative theatrical presentation produced by Porte Parole Theatre on the Blyth stage. Delegates and the public are invited to experience an original documentary play about our Canadian rural life. We will be inspired to discuss and think critically together about current rural socio-economic issues.
5:15 – 7:45 PM	Continue the Discussion on the Rural Assembly & ‘Junk Food Pairing’		We continue the discussion in the Lower Hall while treated to delicious ‘Junk Food Pairings’ offered by local, family-run businesses (wineries, cideries, and breweries). Delegates enjoy the county’s finest libation with a unique food pairing to fuel our inspiration and dialogue. Other light dinner fare is offered. Delegates are encouraged to write down, and post ideas and strategies for exploring our differences together and have the opportunity to make informal group presentations. This experience will inform a letter-writing exercise linked to The Assembly.
			End of Day One

DAY TWO – Thursday, October 17 – ENGAGING IN PARTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP PRACTICES

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
7:30 – 9:00 AM	BREAKFAST		Breakfast in the Lower Hall at Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
9:00 – 9:15 AM	Welcome	Yes	Welcome to Day Two, Participatory Leadership Practices
9:15 – 10:15 AM	Keynote Address: AI, Data & Dignity	Yes	Dr. Wendy Wong, Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at UBC Okanagan unravels the sticky issues of AI and data regarding human rights, global governance, international relations, and especially, data rights through a rural lens.
10:15 – 10:30 AM	BREAK		Morning Break. Top up your coffee and have a chat!
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM	Workshop: Locating Yourself in your Rural Community		Delegates attend a workshop of their choice (workshop details will be provided closer to the conference) based on the leading questions posed for rural Canada. The workshops showcase tools and methods to help identify assumptions, worldviews, approaches, and overall patterns we tend to work from and what to do once those patterns are identified.
12:00 – 1:00 PM	LUNCH		A culinary experience – more to come! Mini-yoga (sitting or standing) available in the Art Gallery!
1:00 – 2:00 PM	Presentation: The Role of Art & Creativity in Fostering Dialogue	Yes	Join us in the Blyth Art Gallery as rural-based artists and storytellers present their art and creativity to share stories, express ideas, and find ways to connect and come together.
2:00 – 3:45 PM	Workshop: Stepping into Participatory Practices		Delegates attend a workshop of their choice (workshop details will be provided closer to the conference) to continue the rural conversation through participatory leadership processes. These workshops showcase ways to listen, engage, reflect, and connect. Time to hydrate and take a step outside!
3:45 – 4:00 PM	BREAK		Time to hydrate and take a step outside!
4:00 – 5:00 PM	Story Circle: Direction of Travel		Ellie Joseph, of the Mohawk Nation Turtle Clan and co-founder of The Two Row on Grand, Ailsa Clark from Inspiralba in the Scottish Highlands, and Dr. Wendy Wong come together to share stories about our current direction of travel and how leading from curiosity helps to explore our differences together.
5:00 – 5:40 PM	Day 2 Reflection and Wrap-up		Delegates reflect on the story threads heard in the Story Circle. Workshop reflections can also be shared at this time.
6:00 – 7:30 PM	SUPPER		For those staying for supper, we will break bread with local delicious fare along with beer and wine from the region‘s finest local makers.
			End of Day Two

DAY THREE – Friday, October 18 – TAKING COLLECTIVE WISDOM INTO ACTION & R2R Market

Time	Activity	Virtual Access	Description
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM	R2R Market		R2R Market featuring local and conference artists and businesses from 9 AM – 12 PM.
7:30 – 9:00 AM	BREAKFAST		Breakfast in the Lower Hall at Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
9:00 – 9:30 AM	Welcome	Yes	Welcome to Day Three, Taking Collective Wisdom into Action.
9:30 – 11:30 AM	Pathways to Practice: Collaboration in Action on Leading Rural Issues and Opportunities		An eagerly anticipated session that brings together best practices and research. Economic developers from rural Ontario (EDCO), University of Guelph rural graduate researchers (from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development), and rural health and wellness practitioners/researchers linked to Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health present their work together and invite a discussion on various topics in our rural communities. Delegates in small groups visit up to 12 stations throughout the Blyth Memorial Hall. Coffee/tea and snacks are available in the Lower Hall during this time.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM	Reflections on Pathways to Practice	Yes	Back in the theatre, delegates share insights and reflections on the Pathways to Practice sessions leading to how we can take collective wisdom into action.
12:00 – 1:00 PM	LUNCH		A culinary experience – more to come! Mini-yoga (sitting or standing) is available in the Art Gallery!
1:00 – 2:30 PM	Workshop: Collective Wisdom into Action		This final working session is a culmination of our three days together. Through participatory leadership practices, delegates work together to identify action items for their organizations and collaborate with others.
2:30 – 2:45 PM	BREAK		Grab your afternoon refreshment.
2:45 – 3:15 PM	Highlights & Learning	Yes	Conference hosts & facilitators, through story, music, and visual imagery share the key learnings and highlights of the conference.
3:15 – 3:45 PM	Closing Remarks	Yes	Peter Smith and team share their gratitude for your attendance and participation!
3:45 PM	End of Conference		Thank you and safe journey home!

Questions? Contact Peter Smith peter@ruralcreativity.org for more information.