The Rural Voice, 2004-11, Page 50BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ota.on.ca/bruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
' The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Bruce County by the BCFA
`Building Bruce' to release Phase 1 report
Over the past number of months a
group of Bruce County farmers and
rural stakeholders collected input and
• ideas from the rural community to
develop the capacity for growth in the
agricultural sector.
Ralph Dietrich, is chairman of
"Building Bruce" the Bruce
Agricultural Community Capacity
Development Project. The co-ordinator,
Gary Davidson, with Beate Bowron
(The Davidson Group), have been
working with the group to deliver the
"Agricultural Community Capacity
Development" initiative. After
consulting the farming community, the
co-ordinator is now positioned to
develop a strategy for the top feasible
business opportunities.
This initiative began with a Bruce
County Federation of Agriculture
seminar held in 2000 called "Taking
Back Your Livelihood". Due to the
enthusiasm of a group of producers, a
Trillium grant was secured and a
consultation process put in place.
Over the past months a number of
public meetings have been held to help
flush out ideas and information
concerning the needs of business
people and residents of Bruce County
ISE NUTAIT INFIUM* ISN
Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada
1-866-613-4800
Canada/Ontario BSE Recovery Program
1-877-838-5144
BSE Help Line
(Advice from OMAF Specialists)
1-888-292-5856
The organizing committee consisted of
farmers but now includes people in
agri-business and finance, in the hopes
of finding local solutions to improve
the county's economy. A separate
committee of key people within the
county reviewed the public meeting
results and helped to highlight some
key projects for the County. Ideas that
were submitted and additional
information can be viewed on the
Bruce County website
www.brucecounty.on.ca and then click
on Building Bruce.
December of 2004 will see the
completion of Phase 1, which consisted
of the series of consultative meetings
held throughout the County of Bruce in
2004. The project co-ordinator along
with the steering committee developed
consultative questions, facilitated the
information sessions and tabulated the
gathered information. The public was
once again consulted on August 18 at
the Paisley Community Centre prior to
the final recommendations of a project
and the developing of a strategy for the
chosen project or projects. The final
report will be delivered to community
stakeholders for validation.
In Phrase 2, several of the options
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2004
8:00 P.M.
Bruce County Administrative Building
30 Park Stieet, Walkerton
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
( Note: Date change due to OFA
Convention Nov. 22, 23
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
63rd Annual Meeting and Banquet and OFR Regional meeting
Friday, October 29, 2004
Paisley Community Centre
Guest Speaker: Hon. Ralph Ferguson, P.C., Author: "Compare The Share"
Social: 6:30 p.m. Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Notes:
1. OFA Regional Directors, Delegates and Alternates for OFA Convention,
BCFA Presidents and Township Directors will be elected at the meeting.
2. Changes to our Constitution and By -Laws will be presented at the Annual Meeting.
46 THE RURAL VOICE
identified from Phase 1 will be
prioritized. A definitive strategy or
business plan will be developed. The
co-ordinator will help narrow and
define these options into a manageable
project. A presentation will be made to
stakeholders and Bruce County Council
representatives.
The project was funded with dollars
provided by the Ontario Trillium
Foundation, the Bruce County
Federation of Agriculture, other
commodity organizations and the
County of Bruce. The County of Bruce
and the Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture also provided in-kind
contributions. The final report will be
available for any interested individual,
party or agency by December 2004.
The farming community is taking
charge in determining the direction of
their future. Any new rural agricultural
based opportunity has the potential to
put additional dollars into the farmer's
pockets. The community of Bruce
County also benefits with new business
opportunities.0
— Submitted by Jayne Dietrich
Past President, BCFA
CONTACTS
Animal Care Helpline
(Ontario Farm Animal Council)
1-905-821-3880
Queen's Bush Rural Ministry
(collect calls accepted)
1-519-369-6774
The Farm Line
1-888-451-2903
Distress Line of Grey Bruce
(2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. - daily)
1-888-371-8485
Crisis Team
(24 hours per day)
1-888-525-0552
Kids Help Phone
(24 hours per day up to age 21)
1-800-668-6868
Parent Help Line
1-888-603-9100