Previous Programs

Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building (2003-2008)

The Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building is an initiative that was completed on March 31, 2008. One of the main goals behind the Models was to develop local solutions to local challenges.

The Research and Analysis Unit is now conducting a review and evaluation of the Models initiative. The resulting information will be distributed to all levels of government to be used when making decisions and developing programs and services regarding rural Canada.

Such research findings via lessons learned will provide validated information and concrete examples of what does and doesn't work in rural areas. To that end, such analysis of the Models initiative will lead to and encourage new and continued research within rural regions.

Model Fact Sheets 

Networking Initiative
2003-2008

The Networking Initiative funded three types of rural community projects aimed at building community capacity: learning events, partnerships and networks.

The following are a few examples of activities that qualified for funding:

Learning events: training and skills development for community stakeholders and needs/assets identification for rural and remote communities.

Partnerships: the development of action plans for community development and community capacity building, and carrying out socio-economic research on issues faced by rural communities.

Networks: enhancing the capacity of communities and community organizations to develop responses to rural and remote community issues thereby contributing to community capacity building.

Between 1998 and 2002, the Rural Secretariat, under the Canadian Rural Partnership administered four contribution programs aimed at supporting rural community development. These programs responded to needs identified through the Rural Dialogue - an on-going dialogue between people living in rural, remote and northern communities and the Government of Canada. For every dollar invested in community projects, communities generally raised another one to three dollars (cash and in-kind) within the community and through other federal and/or provincial initiatives.

Rural Development Initiative (RDI)
2001-2002

This one-year program funded 112 projects for a total of approximately $2.5 million in 2001-2002. An additional $2.5 million was leveraged, for a total injection of roughly $5 million in community projects. The primary focus of the Initiative was one of the 11 priority areas developed by rural Canadians: "Strengthening rural community capacity building, leadership and skills development." The overall objective of the Initiative was to help rural and remote communities respond to community development challenges by supporting the development and adoption of long-term, sustainable rural development strategies that strengthen their ability to build local solutions to local challenges.

Canadian Agricultural Rural
Communities Initiative (CARCI)
2000-2003

This initiative was developed through consultations with industry and stakeholders and was designed to enhance the viability of agricultural rural communities, especially those affected by changes in the agricultural sector. It was allocated $9.3 million over three years (2000-2003) from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) Fund, in response to CARD's rural development priority. In all, 200 projects were funded for a total of $6.1 million. In addition, roughly $6.1 million was leveraged for a total injection of almost $12.2 million in community projects.

Agricultural Rural Minority Language Community Planning Initiative (ARMLCPI)
2002-2003

Between 2002 and 2003, this initiative funded 39 projects for a total of close to $900,000 and helped leverage close to $2.7 million, for a total injection of almost $3.6 million in community projects. Its goal was to assist agricultural rural minority language communities build consensus on development options that draw on the community assets and balance economic, social and environmental objectives. The Initiative aimed to nurture the leadership already present in those communities, to strengthen communities to maximize their development potential by taking advantage of local opportunities and to diversify local economies.

Pilot Projects Initiative
1998-2002

This initiative operated in four rounds, funding 307 projects for close to $12 million. Approximately $24 million was leveraged, for a total injection of roughly $36 million into community projects. Between 1998 and 2002, the Initiative addressed priority areas identified by rural Canadians for focused attention, such as the need for better access to financial resources and employment opportunities for youth, as well as better program and service delivery in rural areas. To be eligible for up to $50,000 per project, proposals were encouraged to be innovative, have local impact, respond to one of the 11 priorities identified by rural citizens, contribute to government priorities, develop a multi-partner approach, including shared contributions, and include an evaluation framework.