April 26, 2006

Innovative Manitobans looking to build a better business will find the creative ideas to help them move forward at this year’s Rural Forum, scheduled for tomorrow to Saturday at Brandon’s Keystone Centre, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.

“The 2006 theme Manitoba Includes. . .You, Building a Better Manitoba, focuses on our greatest resource – our citizens – and their ability to create opportunities in their rural and northern communities,” said Wowchuk. “Manitobans have made great strides in reinventing their communities through innovative business ventures and the programs at Rural Forum can help ensure that momentum continues.”

Canadian singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark and noted Saskatoon motivational speaker Monica Coneys will bring wit, wisdom and music to this year’s program. In addition to business seminars, a separate one-day youth forum is dedicated to the interests of young Manitobans.

Workshops and seminars will focus on four main themes: Being Innovative; Being Prepared; Being Inclusive and Taking Action. They will encourage an open-minded attitude to seeking local opportunities in rural and northern communities as well as co‑operative business and economic development strategies. Topics will include:

• functional foods, agri-energy, bio-composites and value chains;

• community investments, franchising, and planning large-scale community and business projects;

• innovative women entrepreneurs, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities working together and achieving success using the co-op model;

• community visioning and how to pursue community economic development;

• unique solutions to health-care delivery and recruiting health-care professionals; and

• community immigration strategies and supports.

Public activities include the popular Flavour of Rural Manitoba food court which will offer samplings of Manitoba foods for sale. The forum will also present its third annual Small Artists and Crafters Show and Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. which will feature close to 100 craft tables.

Rural Forum is an annual celebration of rural and northern community success which involves close to 40 public and private sponsors and partners including Manitoba Hydro which will host its annual celebration banquet featuring Manitoba singer Alana Levandoski and the 2005-06 Youth Business Institute Grand Challenge Awards.

The opening ceremony, scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m., will kick off two days of exhibits and entertainment which are open to the public free of charge at Brandon’s Keystone Centre.

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