CBC bridges Albertan communities through rural library initiative

In a bid to foster deeper connections with Alberta's rural communities, CBC Edmonton and CBC Calgary collaborated on an innovative initiative spanning nine libraries across the province. Our aim was to bridge the gap between the public broadcaster and people in rural areas, to hear their opinions and stories.

At the heart of this endeavour was a partnership between the Alberta's CBC newsrooms and The Alberta Library (TAL), a non-profit corporation dedicated to serving over 300 libraries of all types across the province. Together, we were able to convene a series of community events hosted in rural libraries, turning these hubs of knowledge into vibrant centres of engagement and dialogue.

The initiative's multi-faceted approach revolved around three key elements designed to foster meaningful interactions and mutual understanding. 

Culture: CBC collaborated with local libraries to showcase homegrown talent, from musicians to painters, who transformed these spaces into stages for artistic expression. By curating diverse performances and sharing them with CBC's radio, television and online audiences, the initiative celebrated and preserved the rich cultural fabric of rural Alberta.

Conversations: CBC facilitated community conversations, bringing together local leaders, business owners, Indigenous representatives and media outlets for candid discussions on their community's concerns and aspirations. These sessions, held within the welcoming confines of the region's libraries, gave our team valuable insight to each community. These conversations spurred further in-depth discussions, which led to stories like a beading workshop led by an Indigenous creator from Maskwacis and small-town perspectives on childcare challenges.

Creativity: CBC extended a unique opportunity for community members to participate in CBC's Writer's Circle program. Through workshops and virtual sessions, aspiring writers were supported in sharing their perspectives on local matters and personal stories, with some of their articles being published by CBC as one of its First Person columns. This not only amplified diverse voices but also enriched CBC's rural coverage with grassroots insights.

While the core elements underpinning this project, Our Your Way also found other ways to explore the communities, including on-site storytelling, live-on-location shows and interactive contests. Most importantly, it underscored CBC Alberta's commitment to inclusive, community-centred journalism, ensuring that every Albertan, regardless of their location and lifestyle, feels heard and represented.

We want to thank people from the Alberta communities of Slave Lake, Bassano, Newbrook, Delia, Maskwacis, Mayerthorpe, Hinton, Fort Macleod and Irvine for welcoming our teams with open arms to help us pave the way for a more inclusive and connected media landscape in the province. We also want to acknowledge that this initiative would not have been possible without the support of TAL and the staff members of each local library.