The team behind the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, based in Blyth, has taken its message to the corridors of Parliament Hill.
A reception room down the hall from the House of Commons was packed Thursday evening for an event dubbed "A Taste of Rural."
It was hosted by the Centre and project partners Cowbell Brewing Company, the Blyth Centre for the Arts, the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail, and Regional Tourism Organization 4.
Among those to attend the reception were Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, Liberal House Leader and Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger, Treasury Board President Scott Brison and a number of other MPs, including Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb.
The Blyth delegation spread its message about the unique rural revitalization project, the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity. They had the chance to interact with MPs, senators, cabinet ministers, government officials and journalists.
The delegation began its day meeting with T.J. Harvey, the chair of the Liberal party's rural caucus and Vice Chair Will Amos, MP for Pontiac in West Quebec.
"It was really interesting to have the opportunity to interact with this group and to see the passion they bring to the table with this project," Harvey said. "What we’re seeing with them and this project is something that is truly remarkable, the resurgence of a rural community and how collective passions from different areas can come together with a common vision."
Peter Smith, head of the delegation and director of the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, explained "The Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity is a rural lab. We’re looking at innovation, challenges that are facing rural communities and doing research and development that we can share with other rural communities across the country. It’s a think tank, it’s an arts and culture centre, there’s a fashion artists and creative textile component to it as well. And we’re trying to attract the younger demographic, which is one of the factors in rural communities."
The Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity delegation included: Steven Sparling - CEO/President and Founder, from Cowbell Brewing Co.; Peter Smith, Project Director, and Karen Stewart, Director of Operations, from the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity; Gil Garratt, Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival; Chris Lee, Director of Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail; David Peacock – CEO of Regional Tourism Organization 4 - North American award winner for Innovation 2016; and Allan Thompson, journalism professor at Carleton University and the federal Liberal candidate in Huron-Bruce in the 2015 election, who is a member of the Centre’s campaign cabinet and helped to organize the Ottawa events.
Peter Smith with Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly (photo submitted)
