Margot Cathcart
As we come to the end of the year, I have been reflecting on the many conversations that shaped our work. Each visit, event, webinar, meeting, and phone call reminded me of how deeply people care about the strength and future of rural Manitoba. Every community south of the 53rd parallel carries a story of commitment, resilience, and steady progress, and it has been our privilege to walk alongside you.
Thank you for welcoming our team into your communities, for sharing your challenges and successes, and for trusting RMED to support your efforts. We value your partnership.
Much of our work this year centred on listening, including through specialized tools like the Community Growth Strategy Assessment . At various touch points, economic development leaders told us what information they need, what pressures they are facing, and what kinds of tools help them plan more confidently.
Your feedback shaped our tools, guided updates to our resources, and influenced the focus of our programmes. It also continues to shape our plans for next year. Communities used the Advance Rural Manitoba platform and our resources to better understand their local economies. These tools helped leaders assess business activity, workforce shifts, and local strengths in ways that support real planning. We know how important accessible information is, and we will continue to make this a central part of our work.
Some of the most meaningful insights this year came from rural communities themselves. Childcare solutions, industrial developments, main street revitalizations, and recreation initiatives offered practical proof of what can be achieved. Our case studies and some of our programmes captured these stories so that other communities can learn from real examples and adapt ideas to their own context.
RMED hosted series of webinars that brought together provincial and federal partners, sector experts, and community leaders. These conversations offered clear information that communities can use in their planning.
Throughout the year, RMED continued to collaborate with municipal leaders, Indigenous partners, Community Futures organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), provincial and federal partners, and business and industry groups. These relationships remain essential. They ensure that our resources are grounded in real needs and real opportunities.
While this year focused on listening and strengthening foundational tools, next year will introduce new supports that bring even more clarity to rural economic development.
RMED will unveil new initiatives that will help communities understand and apply data more easily. This includes work connected to a broader vision for rural data excellence. We will share full details early next year.
We will also introduce new digital supports that strengthen how communities track business needs, understand local trends, and respond to opportunities. These tools will help rural leaders plan with more precision and communicate their strengths more effectively. We will also continue the community assessments we have started. If we have not reached your community yet, we will.
Next year will bring additional case studies, more webinars, more CGSA sessions, and expanded guidance for communities that want practical and accessible information to support their economic development goals.
Our focus remains the same. Provide tools and insight that help rural communities move forward with confidence.
Thank you to every economic development leader, partner, and community member who worked with us this year. I am also grateful to our board of directors for their thoughtful guidance, and to our staff whose steady commitment supports everything we do. Your dedication strengthens our shared belief in the future of rural Manitoba. I look forward to continuing this work with you next year.
Wishing you a peaceful close to the year and a hopeful beginning to the next.
Sincerely,
Margot Cathcart
Chief Executive Officer