Connecting Knowledge to People: Plain Language Summaries from the North Atlantic Forum

The 2024 North Atlantic Forum was a collegial assembly to further the discussion surrounding public policy, regional development, place-based development and expanding the importance of identity and cultural development. Researchers, students, community development practitioners, and government representatives from across the North Atlantic region gathered to present findings, participate in panels and field trips. To amplify knowledge mobilization presented at the conference a series of plain language summaries were created to advance the discussion in various topics surrounding rural development and rural businesses. This initiative created a series of plain language research summaries on innovative approaches in building and maintaining sustainable rural livelihoods in a post-pandemic environment. This initiative mobilizes knowledge shared at the 2024 North Atlantic Forum to rural stakeholders in Ontario, ensuring this critical information reaches rural communities and businesses. The series of research summaries focus on topics of solar energy, food security, heritage tourism, housing, entrepreneurialism, and economic development. The purpose of the summaries is to amplify knowledge sharing, particularly among individuals/organizations that may not have been able to attend the conference. This initiative disseminated new knowledge outputs to key rural Ontario stakeholders, such as local governments, economic development actors, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The research summaries generate an alternative tool in facilitating an accessible transfer of key messages in research while providing a pathway to practice and participation for rural community members at-large.