Foundation for Rural Living

GUELPH, ON – January 28, 2009 – With the recent downturn in the Canadian economy, our politicians are tackling the difficult challenge of determining how best to invest limited resources.

Investing in programs that assist unemployed individuals to re-enter the workforce will stimulate innovative career opportunities that align with the emergence of a new economy. This must be part of Canada’s broader economic investment and recovery strategy.

Today the Foundation for Rural Living (FRL) hosted an orientation for the new Rural Development Officer Program (RDO) in partnership with RBC.

The RDO program recruits and places unemployed individuals in rural “host” nonprofit organizations for up to one year. “Our aim is to support rural individuals with their efforts to re-enter the workforce and become self-reliant, while at the same time build the human, resource and fund development capacity of rural organizations so they can better respond to the priorities of their communities,” says Anita Hayes, Executive Director of the Foundation for Rural Living.

This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada. RDOs are compensated through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Job Creation Partnership Program.

In addition to the placement, FRL will provide support to the RDOs through a specialized program that includes knowledge transfer and education. This program also provides RDOs with access to resources and tools as well as coaching and mentoring.

FRL is pleased to announce its Host Organizations:

4-H Ontario – Guelph
4-H Ontario Foundation – Guelph
Brant Cultural Centre Project – Paris
Centre for Applied Renewable Energy & Huron Community Futures Development Corporation – Brussels & Seaforth
County of Perth – Stratford
Elgin County CFDC, Eat Fresh, Buy Local Project – St. Thomas
Fort Erie Arts Council – Fort Erie
Foundation for Rural Living – Guelph
International Plowing Match / Ontario Plowman's Association – St. Thomas
Municipality of West Elgin – Rodney
Niagara Historical Society – Niagara on the Lake
Niagara West Employment & Learning Resource Centre – Beamsville
North America Railway Hall of Fame – St. Thomas
Oxford County Library – Ingersoll
Perth Community Futures / Perth East Library – Milverton
Stratford & Perth County Community Foundation – Stratford
The Hope Centre – Welland
Women's Rural Resource Centre – Strathroy

The organizations represent various sectors, including: agriculture, arts and culture, children and youth, education, environmental, health, philanthropic, rural community development, poverty reduction, and social services.

“The range of organizations represents the breadth and depth of rural communities,” says Hayes.

The RDOs will ensure their success in their work placement activities by reaching their personal skill enhancement goals while developing new capacity-building skills to re-enter the workforce.

The Foundation for Rural Living advances the rural nonprofit and voluntary sector and builds sustainable rural capacity to enhance the quality of life of rural citizens.

For inquiries contact:
Anita Hayes, Executive Director,
Foundation for Rural Living.
(519) 826-4126 x.230
anitahayes@frl.on.ca