Building rural economies is a matter close to Becky Cianflone’s heart.
Having grown up in the tiny fishing community of Matheson Island MB, Cianflone is acutely aware of both the benefits of small-town life and the challenges that face rural communities today.
“I think our rural communities, a lot of them, are declining in population and we need to develop opportunities to keep young people in our communities, and to show people that small-town lifestyle is really unique and can be beneficial,” she said in an interview with The Reminder.
“That sense of community that you get from being in a small town, watching a community come together around a big project, or support a family that’s had a house fire…those are things that are unique to rural Canada.”
Cianflone’s passion for small-town life should serve her well in her new position as general manager at Community Futures Greenstone.
In her role, she will communicate with the 15-member volunteer board, coordinate staff and guide strategic planning and priorities for the organization, in addition to carrying out the day-to-day operations of Greenstone.
Those operations include supporting entrepreneurs with advice and training, sponsoring loans and taking part in community-development dialogue and initiatives.
Cianflone brings with her a strong background in small-town business development. Prior to coming to Flin Flon, she spent 11 years in the southern Manitoba town of Altona, where she served as a business analyst with Triple R Community Futures, and manager at the Altona and District Chamber of Commerce.
She said the move to Flin Flon appealed to her for several reasons, a dominant one being the opportunity to take on a new challenge within the Community Futures system.
Model
Cianflone is a big believer in the Community Futures model, in which federal funding is provided to a non-profit corporation which then administers funds to independently-operated branches. Each Community Futures branch includes a small staff and a board run by local volunteers, who focus on supporting growth in rural communities.
Community Futures offices operate as “a good starting point for entrepreneurs,” said Cianflone. Staff help prospective business owners write business and marketing plans, and provide support in determining what a business is really about, how it can be profitable and where an individual can add value.
“We provide a toolbox,” Cianflone said. “We point people to other organizations they could work with, and help them build a support system and access training.”
Community Futures offices also often host workshops that are relevant to entrepreneurs.
“I think the program is so strong – a lot of people don’t know about us and what we do, but the impact we are having across the country is huge,” Cianflone said.
Cianflone said an important feature is that each Community Futures branch has some independence to shape its mandate and focus to meet the needs of the community in which it operates. While some, like the Triple R branch in Altona, are more focused on small-business loans and supports, others invest more heavily in community development projects.
While Cianflone is still reviewing the files of the Greenstone operation, she said it is clear the branch has had a significant role in the communities it serves – including Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Snow Lake and Sherridon.
“From the volume of dollars that this organization has put back into the community, I would expect that the economic impact has been great,” Cianflone said.
“This is also one of the oldest CFs in Canada and so there is a long history here of doing good work in the community.”
When asked about success stories from Community Futures Triple R, Cianflone referred to a youth program developed in Altona called Youth Biz Camp.
The program, which teaches entrepreneurial skills to youth aged 9 to 13, was so successful that Cianflone and her colleagues were asked to present at the national conference for Community Futures. She said Youth Biz Camp is now being offered at other branches in the country.
“That’s the strength of the Community Futures network – that ability to share ideas and concepts and help grow the successes in rural Canada,” said Cianflone.
Planning
So what role should Greenstone Community Futures play in economic development and diversification in the Flin Flon region? Cianflone believes Greenstone should be one of many agencies and key players involved in discussing a strategy for the future.
“There needs to be a continued dialogue around how we are going to continue to invest in the region and help businesses grow, and how we are going to keep creating jobs here.”
Cianflone referenced a recent Winnipeg Free Press feature on Flin Flon’s arts and culture scene, mentioning the local arts industry as one possible area for economic diversification.
“Reading that article and exposing myself to some of the arts here, that has piqued my interest as someone working in the economic development realm,” she said.
“Sometimes you don’t see the forest for the trees, and sometimes local people don’t realize what they actually have.”
While Cianflone learns the ropes, her predecessor, Lois (Bunny) Burke, will stay on for a transitional period. Cianflone said Greenstone will likely operate in much the same way as it has in the past, with some adjustments to be made over time.
“Overall, I don’t think our clients and residents are going to see a lot of change from the outside,” she explained. “There might be some internal stuff that we are going to look at with our board of directors, in terms of strategic planning and talking about our priorities as an organization. We are in the very preliminary stages of that.”
In the meantime, Cianflone is looking forward to integrating into life in Flin Flon, with her husband Tony, six-year-old son AJ and two-year-old daughter Lily joining her at the end of the month.
On their initial visit to Flin Flon in January, Cianflone said she and her husband immediately felt comfortable in the community.
“My husband stopped people in the street and said, ‘What do you think about Flin Flon? We are thinking about moving here.’ And we had really positive feedback. We met a lot of people who said, ‘We moved here for three years 30 years ago.’ That tells you something about a place.”
In their spare time, Cianflone says she and her family plan to take advantage of the plentiful hunting and fishing opportunities in the area – not surprising considering she and her husband met at a fishing lodge.
“Our son is really excited,” said Cianflone. “When we talk about moving to Flin Flon he says, ‘We’re going to live beside the lake. We’re going to live beside all the lakes!’”
While mom and dad get ready for the move, the Cianflone kids are brushing up on essential local knowledge.
“We told them the story of Flintabbatey Flonatin, and they know the Flin Flon Song,” said Cianflone with a laugh.
“They like to dance and sing when we put it on YouTube.”
