1. Rural Policy Events Calendar /
Calendrier des événements sur la politique rurale
January 25, 2010 / 25 janvier 2010
JANUARY / JANVIER
National Infrastructure Summit
January 26-28 – Regina, SK
http://www.nisummit2011.ca/
For this summit, all three orders of government and the private sector are invited and encouraged to engage in
discussions and workshops from experts in various fields on global best practices and new approaches to planning,
building and maintaining infrastructure. These discussions will lead to recommendations and commitments towards
new approaches of financing infrastructure, while managing public and political expectations. It will conclude with a
plan to move forward.
Polar World's Conference: Environmental and Social Sciences to Understand Observed Changes
January 26-28 – Paris, France
http://thema.univ-fcomte.fr/polarworlds-2011/accueil_en.html
The focus of this conference is Conference is to account for observed changes in the polar regions with a joint
environmental and social perspective. By the use of interdisciplinary sessions, it will give an overview of certainties
and uncertainties in current mutations.
FEBRUARY / FÉVRIER
FCM Sustainable Communities Conference
February 8-10 – Victoria, BC
http://www.fcm.ca/scc/
Whether your community is just starting on a sustainability path or has already seen the changes that a sustainable
approach creates, the Sustainable Communities Conference is an opportunity to share your experience and learn
from peers. Come to embrace change for the better!
First Nations Social Development Society 2011 Annual Conference
February 9-10 – Vancouver, BC
http://fnbc.info/content/fnsds-2011-annual-conference-call-presenters
This year’s conference theme is predicated on “Celebrating our Successes, Giving Hope and Inspiring” our people
and First Nation communities. We would like to encourage other BC First Nations Bands to come forward and
present on their successes. Conference workshops, presenters and speakers will focus on sharing successful
practices that will engage and inspire other First Nations communities.
Canadian Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting
February 22-24 – Ottawa, ON
http://www.cfa-fca.ca/whats-new/coming-events/annual-meeting
More information to come.
Pathways 2 Sustainability 2011
February 23-25 – Red Deer, AB
http://www.pathways2sustainability.ca/
Pathways 2011 is a networking opportunity for over 250 industry innovators, community & institutional leaders, and
the investment community to engage in moving communities in Alberta towards resiliency.

2. USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum 2011: Today's Strategies & Tomorrow's Opportunities
February 24-25 – Arlington, VA
http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/
More information to come.
Are We There Yet? Assessing Municipal Recovery - Rural Ontario Municipal Association / Ontario Good
Roads Association Combined Conference
February 27-March 2 – Toronto, ON
http://www.ogra.org/OneItemPage.asp?itemcode=OGRA-CONF-GENERAL
The Ontario Good Roads Association and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association combined their respective
conferences in 2000. Since then the ROMA/OGRA Combined Conference has become one of the largest municipal
conferences in Canada attracting over 1,500 delegates and more than 2,300 participants in total.
MARCH / MARS
Arctic Gas Symposium
March 2-3 – Calgary, AB
http://www.arcticgassymposium.com/
This anticipated annual event highlights the political and commercial challenges of oil and gas development in the
Arctic and provides a forum for solutions to environmental and community stakeholder issues. Get the latest on
proposed northern pipeline projects, market drivers for resource development and the impacts of oil and gas
development on Aboriginal communities.
2011 Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Annual Convention
March 7-10 – Saskatoon, SK
http://www.sarm.ca/events/event_calendar.php?dispevent=34
More information to come
Gathering Our Voices: 2011 Aboriginal Youth Conference
March 21-24 – Prince Rupert, BC
http://www.bcaafc.com/newsandevents/gathering-our-voices
The Aboriginal Youth Conference will provide up to 1,500 delegates with networking and leadership development
opportunities, best practices strategies, tools and techniques, and culturally appropriate teachings over four days.
Youth can gather, share and learn from each other and from mentors. This is an excellent opportunity to promote
healthy living in Aboriginal communities as well as to provide education to Aboriginal youth on many important
topics.
International Environmental Technology Trade Show and Conference /
Salon international des technologies environnementales
March 22-24 – Montréal, QC
http://americana.org/Home
http://americana.org/Accueil
More than 200 technical and scientific presentations, workshops and panels dedicated to environmental and
economic issues. Three days of international conferences will be presented by renowned experts.
Plus de 200 présentations techniques et scientifiques, ateliers et panels sur les grands enjeux environnementaux
et économiques. Trois journées de conférences internationales seront animées par des experts reconnus.
Green Belts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges
March 22-24 – Toronto, ON
http://www.globalgreenbeltsconference.ca/
Many brains are certainly better than one when generating new ways of tackling the complex challenges in near
urban farming, rural vibrancy, protecting our ecosystems and governance. With speakers from four continents and
nine different countries – check out our newly updated program outline!

3. Metropolis 2011 – Immigration: Bringing the World to Canada
March 23-26 – Vancouver, BC
http://www.metropolis2011.net/welcome
The 2011 National Metropolis Conference will focus on the role of immigration in connecting Canada with the rest
of the world. The conference will include six plenary panels with distinguished speakers and over one hundred
workshop and roundtable sessions on a wide variety of topics related to immigration and cultural diversity. We
anticipate that approximately one thousand participants, drawn mainly from Canada but a significant number of
international participants is also expected.
The Fishermen and Scientists Research Society Annual Conference
March 24-25 – Truro, NS
http://fsrs.ns.ca/events/ac2011.html
The conference will include a range of workshop sessions, the Scientific Program Committee Report and Workplan
for 2011/2012, and the Annual General Meeting.
APRIL / AVRIL
Growing Rural Tourism Conference 2011
April 4-6 – Camrose, AB
http://www.growingruraltourism.ca/
Renowned Rural Tourism experts and participants from a broad cross-section will share successes, challenges,
and ideas for future growth. Comments from last year's participants indicated that the conference was a powerful
tool in initiating strategic tourism planning.
Creating Rural Connections 2011
April 12-14 – Edmonton, AB
http://www.ardn.ca/
Get ready for three exciting days of presentations, discussions and networking. Top notch speakers will share their
rural projects, programs, research and lessons learned. Gain new ideas to apply or adapt to your own work or
community. Meet colleagues from across Alberta to explore new opportunities. It’s the perfect blend of rural
community and post-secondary collaboration. It will featured a combination of keynote and concurrent
presentations as well as interactive discussion groups, poster sessions, and networking opportunities.
Regional Studies Association Annual International Conference
April 17-20 – Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/events/2011/april-newcastle/cfp.pdf
The challenges for regional development are intensifying. Long-term factors shaping the prospects for cities and
regions include the effects of climate change and new demands on energy, water and food systems. Cities also
face significant demographic shifts. Rapid technological changes – captured in the notion of an emerging
Knowledge Economy – will also affect cities and regions. Moreover, we are witnessing significant changes in
international political economy - encapsulated by the term globalisation - but increasingly understood as
incorporating the rise of new economic powers, such as the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and, above all, China).
The immediate context for thinking about these questions in many parts of the world is the aftermath of a severe
economic crisis and a new politics of austerity.
Deadline for abstract submission 31st January 2011
Capturing Opportunities: A Business and Community Forum
April 20-21 – Brandon, MB
http://www.capturingopportunities.ca/
More information coming soon.

4. MAY / MAI
From Data to Decision-making - Statistics Canada Socio-Economic Conference /
Les données appuyant la prise de décisions - Conférence socioéconomique de Statistique Canada
May 2-3 – Gatineau, QC
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/conferences/socioecon2011/index-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/conferences/socioecon2011/index-fra.htm
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: innovation; productivity; international trade; agriculture; environment-
economy linkages; natural resources and energy; transportation; industrial development; urban and rural
development; health; justice; education; families; income and wealth and their distribution; immigration; and labour
markets.
Les sujets abordés peuvent comprendre les suivants, sans toutefois s’y limiter : l’innovation; la productivité; le
commerce international; l’agriculture; les interactions environnement-économie; les ressources naturelles et
l’énergie; les transports; le développement industriel; le développement urbain et rural; la santé; la justice;
l’éducation; les familles; le revenu et le patrimoine et leur répartition; l’immigration; les marchés du travail.
From Policy to Research and Back Again: 1st Annual Rural Research Workshop /
Des politiques à la recherche, aller et retour : 1er atelier annuel sur la recherche rurale
May 5 – Ottawa, ON
http://www.fcm.ca/english/View.asp?mp=788&x=1531
http://www.fcm.ca/Francais/View.asp?mp=788&x=1531
The Workshop is to foster networking among rural researchers and to provide a forum for rural research and policy
discourse. The opening keynote address “From Policy to Research and Back Again: Evidence from the South” will
be made by Julio A. Berdegué, Principal Researcher at RIMISP-Latin American Center for Rural Development, and
Coordinator of the IDRC-funded “Collaborative Program on Rural Territorial Dynamics in Latin America”.
L’Atelier vise à promouvoir le réseautage entre les chercheurs ruraux et de fournir un forum pour la recherche
rurale et l’élaboration de politiques. Le discours d'ouverture « Des politiques à la recherche, aller et retour :
Information en provenance du Sud » sera prononcé par Julio A. Berdegué, chercheur principal au Centre latino-
américain de développement rural (RIMISP) et coordonnateur du Programme de collaboration pour la dynamique
territoriale rurale en Amérique latine financé par le CRDI.
Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities Annual Conference
May 11-13 – Timmins, ON
http://www.fonom.org/?q=node/3
Northern Ontario municipal politicians, senior municipal and government staff are the target audience for this
conference; essentially the municipal decision makers of today. Participation in the FONOM-MMAH Conference as
an exhibitor is a great opportunity for suppliers, vendors and professionals to showcase their products and services
to our 111-member Association.
Vision Quest Conference
May 17-19 – Winnipeg, MB
http://www.vqconference.com/
Vision Quest is back by popular demand for a 15th year! It has become a very well-respected event providing
opportunities for learning, networking, information sharing, partnership building as well as cultural awareness and
entertainment. In the past 14 years, more than 9,000 people have attended this great event.
International Conference on Rural Development and Entrepreneurship (ICORE 2011)
May 28-30 – Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
http://www.icore-uum.net/
This conference will explore policies avenues and experiences and contributing factors for promoting rural
development. The focus is on entrepreneurship and knowledge development through government, private sector,
non-governmental organizations and community interactions for formulating the right mix for sustainable rural
development and community well-being policies. It is aimed at research organizations, universities, government
agencies, policy-makers, public policy advocates, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), international
development agencies and business and corporate representatives from all over the world.

5. JUNE / JUIN
Building Communities: Exploring the Contributions of Nonprofits and the Social Economy /
Des communautés en construction : exploration des contributions des organisations à but non lucratif et
de l’économie sociale
June 1-3 – Fredericton, NB
http://www.anser-ares.ca/files/conf11/UNBCallAnnouncement2011-Eng _1_jq.pdf (Call for papers)
http://www.anser-ares.ca/files/conf11/UNBAppel-commu-ARES-2011F-2JMF _2_.pdf (Appel à communications)
The Association for Non-profit and Social Economy Research (ANSER) brings together leading academic
researchers, practitioners, consultants, policymakers and community organizations from Canada and
internationally to discuss current and emergent issues, debates and challenges in the fields of civil society, social
economy, and nonprofit research and practice. Join us for what promises to be an engaging and provocative
conference.
L’Association de recherche des organismes sans but lucratif et de l’économie sociale (ARES) regroupe des
chercheurs, des acteurs de l’économie sociale, des consultants, des représentants de différents niveaux de
gouvernement, des représentants d’organisations communautaires canadiennes et d’autres pays. ARES se veut
un lieu d’échange et de discussions entre ses membres sur des questions portant sur les enjeux, les débats, les
défis théoriques et pratiques dans les domaines de la société civile, de l’économie sociale et des organisations à
but non lucratif. Vous inscrire à cette conférence s’avérera une expérience stimulante et instructive.
Cooperation in a Changing Economy: The Role of Social Innovation and Collective Entrepreneurship -
Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation Annual Conference
June 1-3 – Fredericton, NB
http://www.coopresearch.coop/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CASC-call-2011-English.pdf (Call for papers)
http://www.coopresearch.coop/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CASC-call-2011-Francais.pdf (Appel à
communications)
This year’s CASC conference will be held from June 1st to June 3rd, 2011 during the Annual Congress of the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2011 at the University of New Brunswick and St.
Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. We invite researchers, students, and practitioners to
submit abstracts that reflect on the importance of co-operative research to building equitable and sustainable
communities.
People in Places: Engaging Together in Integrated Resource Management
June 26-29 – Halifax, NS
http://www.coastalcura.ca/peopleinplaces2011.html
The Coastal Community-University Research Alliance (Coastal CURA) announces a conference in June, 2011,
focusing on the inclusion of resource dependent communities, including Aboriginal communities, in processes of
spatial planning, integrated management and natural resource management. In addition to resource-based and
aboriginal communities, the meeting will be of interest to governments, universities (academics and students),
community based management and networking organizations, civil societies and NGOs, and small scale natural
resource industries – all those interested in finding ways to engage together to better manage natural resources.
International Comparative Rural Policy Studies 2011 Summer Institute
June 26-July 11 – Ås, Norway
http://www.umb.no/icrps2011
The ICRPS summer institutes provide students with the opportunity to study in two countries. For students who
wish to attend two consecutive schools (one in North America and one in Europe), the program includes advanced
topics and an opportunity to share research results with faculty and other students.
Canadian Co-operative Association Congress 2011
June 27-29 – Halifax, NS
http://www.coopscanada.coop/en/meeting_event/Congress
More information to come.
5th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations
June 27-29 – Edmonton, AB
http://rtd5.icrtcanada.ca/

6. The Conference has four themes: Local Economic Development in Developed Countries, Indigenous Tourism,
Polar Tourism and Youth Engagement.
JULY / JUILLET
Reshaping Rural America in an Urban Society: Innovative Approaches for Community Change
Community Development Society / Rural Sociological Society Joint International Conference
July 28-31 – Boise, ID
http://www.comm-dev.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=74
The CDS has a long tradition of dynamic and enlightening conferences. We are excited to travel to Boise, Idaho for
our annual conference. The conference schedule will include the same great highlights like plenary speakers,
mobile learning workshops, and numerous presentations. In addition, the local host committee has been busy
planning a great local event for your enjoyment.