“This conference shows that you’re engaged. It’s your annual opportunity to share ideas, network with colleagues, trade show exhibitors, and to connect with my colleagues,” the Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs told attendees during an opening address.
The minister used the opportunity to announce the release of “Enabling Opportunity, Ontario’s rural economic strategy,” a plan Thompson described as a strategy with three pillars.
Pillar One: Safe and strong rural communities - where the citizens “cultivate and have confidence in a wonderful quality of life.”
Pillar Two: Business development and attraction - including natural resources, manufacturing, and tourism-based businesses.
Pillar Three: Grow the rural workforce - to reverse the trend of youth leaving their homes and their rural communities.
Among the many topics at this year's event are:
- Building a Brave Culture for Asset Management Success
- Provincial Offences
- Rural Responses to Mental Health and Addictions
- Supports for Indigenous Rural Community Members
- What Can Be Done to Help End Rural Homelessness
- Healthier Democracies in Rural Ontario
- Navigating the Future of Municipal Waste Management
- Leadership to Protect Employees from Unreasonable Behaviour
- Keeping Ontarians Safe – Emergency Services Updates and Advocacy
The ROMA conference kicked off at 9 a.m. Sunday morning at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto. It runs through to Tuesday at noon.
The conference program outline is here.
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