Targeting population and business growth in rural PEI

Central Bedeque, PE – The growth of rural communities comes in large part through population and business development. Since 1995, the Central Development Corporation (CDC) has been dedicated to working with communities and business to grow a stronger economy in central Prince Edward Island. Now, the CDC is building on its work by implementing the Welcoming Communities Program, a project designed to attract and retain newcomers to rural PEI and by introducing the Community Capacity Fund, an initiative that supports the delivery of consulting and strategic planning services to rural not-for-profit organizations.

 

Today, the Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with the Honourable Pat Murphy, PEI Minister of Rural and Regional Development, announced more than $200,000 to support these two projects.

 

This investment builds on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces to drive economic growth in the region through the Atlantic Growth Strategy, by supporting strategic initiatives and organizations that encourage rural development and immigration.

 

Video: Jim Smalley: The Voice That Defined Saskatchewan Agriculture Journalism | CKRM 100th Anniversary

Our next 620 CKRM Icon is Jim Smalley. Jim reflects on his remarkable career, from his early days in Ontario and his first steps into news, to his move west and his lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s airwaves.

After joining CKRM in 1982, Jim spent more than four decades as one of the province’s most trusted and recognizable voices. Jim defined agricultural journalism — not just in Saskatchewan, but across Canada. His commitment to telling the stories of farmers, rural communities, and the people behind the headlines set the standard. Now retired from the newsroom that proudly bears his name, Jim shares memorable stories from his time on air. A broadcaster, a storyteller, and a true voice of Saskatchewan — Jim Smalley’s legacy continues to resonate at CKRM and beyond.