Brock President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg talked about Brock’s role in the rural Niagara community at a national conference on rural economic development last week.

The conference brought together federal, provincial and territorial ministers, as well as national Indigenous organizations, to talk about the realities of rural communities across Canada.

The theme of the conference was “Rural Canada as a Driver of National Prosperity.”

“Despite its relatively small size and rural nature, Niagara has an outsized impact on Ontario’s economy,” Rigg told the conference. And as a university serving a rural area, we have a unique opportunity not only to help propel Niagara forward, but to help create prosperity and opportunity for rural Canadians everywhere.” 

Rigg told attendees about Brock’s approach to helping to retain skill in the region, and highlighted Brock’s growing expertise in sustainable agriculture research, including the establishment of the Brock research farm where scientists and industry will develop agricultural innovations.  

Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson also invited Rigg to moderate a special panel discussion, which focused on programmatic approaches to attracting and retaining skilled foreign workers in rural communities.

The three-day federal-provincial-territorial meeting was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake last week, with the panel discussion taking place on Thursday, May 30.