However, national figures do not tell the whole story. Many rural communities are strong and growing and are proud of their quality of life. They have taken advantage of local opportunities, expanded their existing resource base, and attracted new businesses and investment. The following sections outline some of the key challenges and opportunities that have been raised by rural Canadians. Rural People and Communities People are the foundation of any rural community.
Most rural residents have strong social and cultural attachments to their communities.
Over the years, communities have had to adapt to a changing world to survive. However, the pace of change in today's society is quicker than ever before and the challenges are, therefore, greater. One of the great concerns to many rural communities is the continuing loss of young people through urban migration, particularly young, skilled adults. As young people leave, they leave behind an increasingly older population. Thus, many communities are faced with providing support services to an aging population .