RMEDCorp

10/06/2026

A closer look at rural Manitoba starts here.

Meet the communities. Explore the data. Discover the possibilities.

Advance Rural Manitoba brings economic profiles of rural Manitoba communities into one place, helping you explore places to invest, live, work and do business.

Explore Advance Rural Manitoba: https://advanceruralmanitoba.ca/

09/29/2026

Our team recently came together to learn and reflect.

Using beading kits from Jill Ruep of ‘My Daughter’s Beads’, we learned how to make beaded lanyards. Going through the process ourselves gave us a greater appreciation for the patience, skill and care that go into beadwork, and for the work behind each finished piece.

As we prepare to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation tomorrow, we recognize the importance of continuing to listen, learn and deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous Peoples, families and communities.

Thank you, Jill, for sharing your work with us.

09/23/2026

What can communities achieve by building on their existing assets?

On October 15, RMED welcomes Zita Cobb, business leader, social entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Shorefast, and the visionary behind Fogo Island Inn, for a conversation about The Business of Place: Turning Local Assets into Economic Opportunity.

Drawing on the experience of Fogo Island, Zita will explore how communities can identify what makes their place distinctive, build economic opportunities around local strengths and keep more value in their local economies.

For economic development leaders, municipal leaders and anyone thinking about the future of their community, this is a conversation worth making time for.

Details:

Thursday, October 15, 2026

10:00 to 11:00 a.m. CDT

Virtual

Register now: https://rmedcorp.ca/workshop/webinar-series-topic-tbd-4/

09/21/2026

What makes rural Manitoba a great place to live, work and build a future?

The updated data gives us plenty to talk about.

Rural Manitoba is home to 557,661 people, and its population grew 8.8% over five years. It supports 65,125 business establishments and 228,389 jobs across many sectors.

Residents also benefit from:

• An average dwelling value of $306,454, based on the 2021 Census

• An average household income of $95,578, based on 2020 income data

• Shorter commutes, with 72% of rural commuters reaching work in under 30 minutes

• Strong home ownership, with 78% of rural households owning their homes

• A skilled workforce, including 153,560 residents with a postsecondary credential

Beyond the numbers, rural Manitoba offers space, connection, career opportunities and communities where people can build a life.

We updated these findings using information available through the Localintel data platform, which supports our Advance Rural Manitoba community and regional profiles.

What do you value most about living in rural Manitoba? Tell us in the comments, and share this post to help more people learn about what rural Manitoba has to offer.

Explore Advance Rural Manitoba: https://advanceruralmanitoba.ca/

Read the updated sell sheet:https://advanceruralmanitoba.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RMED-Rural-Manitoba-SellSheet-localintel-2026-1.pdf

09/18/2026

The recording of our Municipal Law and Economic Development webinar is now available.

Jennifer Hanson and Margaretha Spezzano of TDS Law discussed practical questions municipalities face when development proposals arrive:

Are your bylaws and fees ready?

What should a development agreement cover?

How can you keep permit decisions and project records on track?

They also explored ways municipalities can work with developers and partners while managing costs and protecting municipal interests.

Watch the recording here:

Economic development initiatives can create exciting opportunities ...

09/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the RMED table at the Manitoba Municipal Administrators conference yesterday.

We enjoyed hearing about the economic development work happening across Manitoba’s municipalities and the questions communities are trying to answer.

RMED CEO Margot Cathcart also presented “From Information to Informed Action: What Rural Data Could Mean for Your Municipality.” Thank you to everyone who joined the session, shared their experiences and took part in the conversation.

Congratulations to Stefani Lowe, assistant CAO for the Town of Winnipeg Beach, our trade show booth draw winner!

If you would like to continue the conversation or learn more about our Regional Profiles, the Economic Development Survey, Community Growth Strategy Assessments or other RMED resources, please reach out to our team.

Here are a few moments from the conference.

09/14/2026

We’re at the Manitoba Municipal Administrators Conference today! You’ll find us in the Kildonan Room, Table 3.

Have questions about economic development in your municipality? Stop by and tell us what you’re working on.

You can pick up our toolkits, scan the QR codes for Regional Profiles and the latest Economic Development Survey report, or talk with us about a Community Growth Strategy Assessment.

Margot Cathcart, RMED’s CEO, is also presenting at 1 p.m. on “From Information to Informed Action: What Rural Data Could Mean for Your Municipality.”

Come say hello if you’re here!

09/11/2026

RMED’s 2026 Economic Development Survey is now available for download.

The report examines the factors influencing economic development capacity across rural Manitoba, including:

• Staffing and organizational capacity

• Economic development planning and performance measurement

• Infrastructure and technology readiness

• Access to data and analytical tools

• Financial barriers and regional collaboration

The findings show how capacity differs across communities, where interest in data and technology is growing and why direct business engagement remains central to local economic development.

Download the report and explore the findings: https://rmedcorp.ca/reports/

09/08/2026

Businesses and organizations are invited to Lessons from the Shop Floor at RRC Polytech’s Steinbach Campus.

Members of RRC Polytech’s Research Partnerships & Innovation team will share insights, challenges, successes and lessons from collaborative industry projects.

Learn how applied research partnerships can help organizations address operational challenges, improve productivity, optimize processes and access specialized expertise, facilities, talent and funding opportunities.

📅 September 17

⏰ 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

📍 RRC Polytech, Steinbach Campus

Unit 2, 385 Loewen Boulevard, Steinbach

To RSVP, contact Sheri Stoupe at [email protected].

Learn more - https://www.rrc.ca/ar/2026/08/24/lessons-from-the-shop-floor/

Please share this opportunity with businesses and organizations that may be interested.

Join us for an engaging session exploring the real-world experiences of organizations that have partnered with RRC Polytech’s Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) team to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and support business growth. Members of our applied research team will share insigh...

09/02/2026

What is happening across rural Manitoba’s regional economies?

The latest stories on RADAR take a closer look at the data behind five regions and what it tells us about their economies.

From the strength of Southwest’s key sectors and changing labour market conditions in Southeast, to the role of small businesses in Parklands, agriculture and new growth opportunities in North Central, and the rebound in Interlake’s business base, each region has a different story to tell.

RADAR brings regional data and local context together to help communities, economic developers, and decision-makers better understand the trends shaping rural Manitoba.

What is the data saying about your region?

Explore the latest stories: https://rmedcorp.ca/radar/