No one understands a community better than the people who live, work, and care for it every day. They know what’s working, what needs fixing, and—most importantly—how to rally together to make change happen. While rural and remote communities across BC may share common challenges, each one is shaped by its own geography, history, and relationships. Solutions that thrive in one place may not fit another, which is why local knowledge and leadership are key to building a stronger, healthier future.
“We’ve seen time and again that when communities lead the conversation, real change happens,” says Alice Muirhead, RCCbc’s Director of Outreach and Engagement. “The Rural Voices Initiative is about making sure those local voices are heard, supported, and empowered to drive the solutions that work for them.”
Since its inception, RCCbc has focused on building capacity in rural communities by fostering collaboration, supporting healthcare providers, and strengthening essential services. This commitment has been evident across RCCbc’s many initiatives—ranging from emergency medicine and point-of-care ultrasound training to continuous quality improvement, sustainable service delivery, and community-led innovations. Through this work, RCCbc has championed the idea that meaningful system improvement requires broad collaboration across healthcare sectors, with as many voices at the table as possible.
In November 2024, the Rural Voices Gathering brought together over 800 people from more than 200 communities across British Columbia—spanning every region of the province. From Haida Gwaii to the Kootenays, Fort Nelson to the Fraser Valley, participants shared perspectives from small towns, remote villages, First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, and rural municipalities. The diversity of voices enriched discussions, underscoring the need for tailored, community-led solutions while also reinforcing the common challenges and shared innovations that define rural healthcare.
A Province-Wide Conversation
The reach of the Rural Voices Gathering reflected the breadth of rural BC. Participants came from coastal islands, northern mining towns, First Nations communities, and agricultural heartlands. Places like Bella Coola, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Castlegar, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, and Port Hardy were well represented, alongside smaller and more remote communities such as Takla Landing, Telegraph Creek, and Zeballos. The sheer number of people from different communities underscored the importance of tailored, local solutions that address unique healthcare needs.
With perspectives from First Nations and Chartered Métis communities, the Rural Voices Gathering also emphasized culturally safe and Indigenous-led approaches to healthcare. Many discussions reinforced the need for community-driven initiatives that honour traditional knowledge while leveraging modern innovations like mobile health units, hybrid virtual care, and expanded primary care networks.
Taking the Next Step for Community Capacity Building: The Rural Voices Initiative
Building on the insights and connections from the Gathering, the Rural Voices Initiative is the next phase in this journey. It is designed to support rural and remote communities in BC, including First Nations and Métis Chartered Communities in setting up local, independent, and community-led partnership tables. These tables bring together people from across the community—residents, healthcare providers, local government, businesses, and other organizations—to share knowledge, identify priorities, and take action on local health and wellness issues.
This initiative isn’t about gathering feedback for external organizations. It’s about creating space for communities to lead their own conversations and initiatives, using a strengths-based Appreciative Dialogue and the Partnership Pentagram Plus model. These frameworks emphasize collaboration, relationship-building, and practical solutions that reflect both Indigenous and Western approaches to healthcare.
The Rural Voices Initiative exists to support communities in leading this work in ways that make sense for them. It’s about shifting the focus from one-time engagements to ongoing partnerships, ensuring that rural and remote communities have a sustained and empowered voice in shaping the future of their own health and wellness.
Join the Conversation
As the momentum from the Rural Voices Gathering continues, we are excited to take the next step with the Rural Voices Initiative. This initiative builds on the conversations, connections, and insights from the Gathering, creating ongoing opportunities for rural and remote communities to lead solutions-oriented discussions and action. RCCbc is keen to connect with and support communities that are interested in establishing local partnership tables to drive meaningful change.
Email us at ruralvoices@rccbc.ca to start the conversation.
Learn more about the Rural Voices Initiative.
Together, we can ensure that rural communities continue to lead the way in designing healthcare solutions that truly reflect their needs, strengths, and aspirations.
