News Releases February 2, 2026 The Rural Ontario Institute Welcomes Kimberly Earls as New Executive Director ROI is pleased to announce Kimberly Earls will be joining the ROI team as Executive Director. Kimberly will begin her new role in February. Read More 2026 2026 Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Dream Gala Summer Event Unveiled ROI announces the Community Well-being Dashboard in Ontario’s two official languages 2025 ROI Celebrates the Graduation of the 2025 Rural Change Makers ROI invests in leadership and rural economic development capacity through funding from the Ontario government ROI Welcomes Peggy Brekveld as New Leadership Programs Manager ROI Announces Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Class 21 Participants Tickets on sale for The Leadership Lecture and Reception with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns 2024 ROI Introduces the 2024 Rural Change Makers ROI Announces Launch of the 2024 Rural Change Makers Program Recruitment is now open for Class 21 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program ROI announces the launch of the Community Well-being Dashboard Celebrating 40 years of AALP Leadership Excellence at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2024 AALP Dream Gala Raises Over $122,157 for Ontario’s Agriculture Leaders ROI announces launch of the RHIS in Northern Ontario ROI announces recruitment for the 2024 Rural Change Makers Program. One Stop Solution for Rural Housing Information ROI is Now Hiring a Rural Housing Information System Coordinator - Northern Ontario 2023 ROI Introduces the 2023 Rural Change Makers ROI Announces AALP Class 20 Participants One Stop Solution for Rural Housing Information ROI announces new members to the Board of Directors The 2023 Canadian Rural and Remote Housing and Homelessness Symposium to be held virtually this June. ROI Announces Launch of Transformative Rural Change Makers Program Rural Community Wellbeing Project – Building capacity in rural communities for data-driven decision making Board Director Applications Now Being Accepted by ROI Rural Ontario Institute invests in ag-sector leadership and rural development through funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 2022 Rural Community Wellbeing Project: Helping Rural Stakeholders Identify Trends and Conditions Impacting their Communities. AALP Founders and Builders support the development of ag-sector leaders by donating to the Dean Rob McLaughlin Leadership Awards Announcing Recruitment for AALP Class 20 Agricultural Leadership Fundraiser Raises Over $105,000 ROI announces three new members to the Board of Directors Induction of Patricia Mighton to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame ROI supports ROMA's long-term strategic plan through shared data insights. Filling the Housing Gap in Rural Communities 2021 AALP Class 19 Participant Announcement ROI Announces Recruitment for 2021-2022 Rural Change Makers ROI Announces Launch of New Rural Change Makers 2021-22 Cohort New Ways to Engage for Rural Ontario Announcing Recruitment for AALP Class 19 Leadership Program Director's Greeting 2020 AALP Class 2 alumni honour the memory of their classmates Economic impacts of COVID - 19 in rural Ontario - CBC Radio Interview with ROI Executive Director Rural Ontario Wellbeing Report 2019 ROI releases 2019 Rural Ontario Foresight Papers Rural Ontario Institute selects community partners for two new projects 2018 Place does matter: New report highlights needs and unmet needs in rural communities ROI introduces Municipal Internship: Youth Engagement Strategies ROI welcomes Ferguson as new Leadership Programs Director ROI announces Measuring Rural Community Vitality Phase 2 ROI appoints Acting CEO Rural Ontario Institute CEO appointed to Senate 2017 Rural Ontario Foresight Papers launch event kicks off rural dialogue Newcomer Engagement in Rural Communities report released Study finds homelessness widespread in rural and northern Ontario ROI’s Census Update Highlights Latest Changes in Ontario’s Rural Population ROI releases Fact-Finder’s Guide to Local & Regional Data Ontario Soil Network kicks off with dedicated team of soil leaders ROI to launch a soil-focused leadership course for 2017 2016 Youth Engagement Showcase call for nominations AALP Class 17 Recruitment begins Ontario Community Transportation Network Launched ROI selects three community partners ROI unveils Youth Engagement Showcase videos Rural Ontario Institute unveils Municipal Councillor Profile Fact sheets reveal rural volunteering and philanthropy trends Rural Ontario Institute selects eight community partners Rural Ontario Institute announces Youth Engagement Showcase finalists 2015 Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets show rural income levels and trends Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets highlight employment trends Nominations now open for Youth Engagement Showcase Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets reveal migration trends vary across the province News Release: Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets show that rural residents make up 21% of Ontario’s population Program Media Contacts Gabe Ferguson - Leadership Programs Director Email: gferguson@ruralontarioinstitute.ca Ellen Sinclair - Executive Director Email: esinclair@ruralontarioinstitute.ca General Media Inquiries Media Relations Email: info@ruralontarioinsitute.ca