Reading Time: 5 minutes “It’s grim,” admits Nita Chhinzer, professor of human resources in the department of management at the University of Guelph. It’s a function of demographics, she says. Our population is aging, the pool of young replacements is thin, and our immigration policies are tilted in favour of those at the mid-to upper stages of their careers. […] Read more
Tap into these labour markets
Labour is harder to find than ever, and the future isn’t looking any better
Getting comfortable at your computer
More computer time can cause pain and disability, so reduce your risks with these simple tips
Reading Time: 5 minutes Increasingly, farm work is computer work, which introduces a new set of risks. The human body is meant to move. Long periods of working at a computer aren’t what we’re designed for, and they can be damaging to the body, causing pain and disability. This kind of work puts the body at risk of musculo-skeletal […] Read more
Your role in supporting mental health
Farmers’ mental health is still a challenge, but there’s one thing we do know: With the right support, you can make a difference
Reading Time: 5 minutes University of Guelph professor Andria Jones-Bitton has been involved in farmer mental health since 2015 when she spearheaded a survey that documented the extreme levels of stress, anxiety, depression and burnout experienced by Canada’s farmers. Distressingly, though, Jones-Bitton says preliminary results from a subsequent survey her team conducted in 2021 indicate stress levels are as […] Read more
Dial down the stress response
Three essential steps to feeling better, both physically and mentally
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s been well documented in recent years that farmers are experiencing high levels of stress. And although farmers are typically very resilient, when the demands placed on them exceed their strengths, talents and resources, it can go far beyond healthy levels. Such stress responses can activate a myriad of unhealthy symptoms and behaviours, explains Kathy […] Read more
Achieving your goals in 2022
Turn your New Year’s resolutions into goals that will keep you healthier and more alive
Reading Time: 5 minutes There is something about flipping the calendar over to a new year that prompts many of us to want to adopt better habits such as eating healthier, drinking less alcohol or exercising more. These are worthy goals. Taking care of your body and mind can give you more energy, improve your mood, and have many […] Read more
Thriving with the science of positive psychology
Optimism and pessimism aren’t personality traits. They’re choices
Reading Time: 5 minutes Positive psychology is the study of human flourishing. It offers evidence-based insights, tools, skills and strategies for coping and for resilience during life’s challenges. “It’s about building up what’s right with us, not trying to fix what’s wrong with us,” explains New Dundee, Ont. well-being educator and coach, Rebecca Byers. Our thoughts, actions and behaviours […] Read more
Creating a better picture
A “vision board” will help keep you focused on your goals
Reading Time: 5 minutes Dawn Hart is passionate about the power of setting goals. When your goals are clear, she says, you know what you’re trying to achieve and you’re more likely to succeed. About five years ago, Hart began creating a vision board to display her goals along with pictures that represent those goals. Since adding this visual […] Read more
Canada moves back into the countryside
Are all those remote workers actually good news for your community? And your farm?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Across much of Canada, many communities have seen an influx of newcomers working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a trend that many in the real estate industry predict will continue. More people will choose to work remotely, they believe, because of the affordability and spaciousness available in areas away from major urban centres. […] Read more
Finding hope in Indigenous food
Food sovereignty is emerging as a core value in today’s reconciliation efforts
Reading Time: 5 minutes Almost half of Indigenous households living on reserve and a quarter of those living off reserve struggle with food insecurity, compared with about eight per cent for all households across Canada. The discovery earlier this year of the graves of 215 children buried at a former Indian residential school (and the thousands more that followed) […] Read more
Great rural neighbours
When rural communities offered to host Syrian families, many Canadians held their breaths. Should we send refugees into farm country? Actually, it’s been a major success
Reading Time: 5 minutes Rural people pride themselves on being good neighbours. Whether it’s a barn fire or equipment breakdown, or if a neighbour is seriously ill, they’re quick to offer help. So it’s not so surprising, at least to rural Canadians, that when researcher Stacey Haugen spoke to Syrian refugees who had settled in Canada’s rural areas, they […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
