Reading Time: 5 minutes Rural communities across Canada know the challenges all too well. Populations are shrinking, and services of all kinds are getting harder and harder to maintain, not only for businesses but also for new Canadians, the disabled, the elderly and those suffering from mental health challenges or addictions. It’s not all doom and gloom though. Doug […] Read more
Keeping small towns alive, building communities that thrive
Saving our small communities has less to do with keeping our kids at home than giving them reasons to return
Guide HR: Do you make smart mistakes?
Never fear, learning from your mistakes can make you a more successful person
Reading Time: 3 minutes Let’s be honest, even though we don’t want to admit that we make mistakes. We do make them. It seems that it is inherent to the human condition. Human beings are error prone. I am a human being; therefore, I make mistakes. In fact, the more decisions we make, the more mistakes we will make. […] Read more
Guide Health: Drugs and pregnancy: To take or not to take?
List any medications you are taking and discuss with your doctor prior to conception
Reading Time: 2 minutes For pregnant women, taking drugs can be a real concern. They may need the drug to control or treat a condition, but there can be a balancing act between their health and their baby’s safety. It is estimated that two to three per cent of babies are born with birth defects which can range from […] Read more
The strategic approach to managing employees
AME Management: It's important to foster a culture of employee engagement so people feel respected, motivated
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you own or manage an agricultural business of any size, you likely have a number of employees (family members or otherwise) working with you. And you have them for good reason. Employees come with many benefits, or at least they should. Employees with specialized skills can provide missing competencies and networks, allowing the business […] Read more
Guide HR: Don’t work harder, work smarter
We all want to be more productive, so here’s the good news. You can be. Higher productivity is within your reach
Reading Time: 3 minutes I would do it if I only had more time.” We all want to be more productive and to perform at our peak every day. We all want to manage our time better, but guess what? If there is one thing that everyone has equally, it is time. We all have 24 hours each day. […] Read more
Guide Health: Reducing your risk of hearing loss
Hearing loss does increase with age, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. These steps can help provide lifelong hearing protection
Reading Time: 3 minutes The number of times you say “Pardon me” may be the only sign you have that your hearing has gradually lessened. It happens with age, but even so, it’s important to recognize there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and to maximize your hearing. About 10 per cent of all Canadians have […] Read more
Time management for farmers can make for less stress
How do you manage today’s increased workload without hitting the red zone?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Growing up on a farm in upstate New York, Julie Gray thought she was learning lessons that she could share with executives and entrepreneurs in virtually every other line of business. It turns out she was learning lessons that today’s farmers need to learn too. From her office near Washington, DC, Gray is now an […] Read more
Guide HR: Six characteristics that help build a foundation for success
We invest a lot in the idea of success, but we often take more time to plan a vacation than to plan our lives
Reading Time: 3 minutes We all want to succeed in life. But how do we define success? Success in your personal life is connected to success in your business, and vice versa. It’s like having two containers that are connected together. Each one influences the other. It’s hard to be energetic when you are haunted by negative emotions. It […] Read more
Guide Health: Topical corticosteroids — use them wisely
Before opting for topical corticosteroids, be sure to check for any environmental factors that may be causing your rash
Reading Time: 3 minutes Steroids in the body are normally produced by your pituitary gland and regulate your body’s growth and functioning. They have a common carbon-based structure and range from substances like estrogen and testosterone to cortisol and prednisone. First identified in the late 1850s, oral formulations were developed by 1933 and topical versions by 1973. Topical corticosteroids […] Read more
Guide Health: Eye drops — just a little drop will do it!
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’ve ever had to use an eye drop, or if you do use eye drops regularly, it is important to use them properly to get the most benefit. Keeping your eyes healthy is a lifelong activity, and using eye drops correctly is a key component. Eyesight is a valuable, irreplaceable sense. Even so, however, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
