Evolution of the Foundation For Rural Living
For over 30 years, the Foundation for Rural Living has been committed to enriching the lives of rural citizens:
2009
FRL’s Rural Development Officer (RDO) Program, launched in October 2009:
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Invests in rural people
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Invests in rural community-based organizations
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Invests in rural economic and social outcomes
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Increased number of RDOs to 30 and Community Partners to 29
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Expanded geographic reach in Southwestern Ontario
The number one issue facing more and more Canadians and their families is Job Creation. To help address this issue, FRL has created the Rural Development Officer (RDO) Program, an innovative program that:
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Invests in people who are seeking to re-enter the workforce
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Invests in building the human and financial resources of rural-community-based organizations towards achieving important community outcomes.
The RDO Program places unemployed individuals as Rural Development Officers into Work Placements with rural charitable, nonprofit and community-based organizations across Southwest Ontario. These Work Placements provide RDOs with opportunities to:
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Build their knowledge and job-related skills
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Gain current work experience to add to their resumes
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Practice transferring existing skills into new applications in the nonprofit sector
At the end of their placement, RDOs have recent work experience and additional skills to add to their résumés, have developed new community contacts and networks and increased their chances of securing employment.
2008
FRL profiled in Senate of Canada Report: “Beyond Freefall: Halting Rural Poverty”.
2007
- FRL invited to present to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, “Understanding Freefall: the Challenge of the Rural Poor.”
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FRL invited by the Parliamentary Centre of Canada to participate in a field mission to China as part of the process of formulating a coherent legislative and policy framework on rural development in China.
2004
FRL launches the Rural Philanthropy Resource Network - now the Rural Development Officer Program.
2003
FRL commissions first-ever rural charitable sector research.
1999
FRL launches the Awards of Rural Excellence Program.
1998
FRL acts quickly to form the Ontario Rural Relief Fund. Over $500,000 was directed to support disaster relief after the 1998 Ice Storm.
1997
FRL is one of the first organizations to support the efforts of the Farm Museum, a volunteer-driven initiative formerly operated by the Province of Ontario (Country Heritage Park).
1991
FRL funds an Emergency Task Force on Agriculture to review
the problems in Ontario agriculture. From the Task Force’s recommendations, the provincial government develops a short-term financial bridging program for farmers.
1984
FRL is a founding partner of Agricultural Leadership Trust. As a registered charity, FRL establishes trusts and endowments to receive large capital donations in support of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP).
1979
Two years after initial thoughts by members of the OFA on forming a charitable foundation, the Foundation for Rural Living (FRL) is incorporated as a charitable organization.
