Rural Outreach Projects
The Rural Outreach program was launched in 2019, operating out of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University. The program aims to support rural communities around the province at no cost, many of which are managed by volunteer teams, town councillors, Local Service District Committees, or community-based non-profit social enterprises. By connecting engineering students with rural communities, the Rural Outreach Project looks to create collaborative partnerships, supporting community ideas with practical solutions. These initiatives not only target community needs, but also assist in preserving the province’s cultural heritage.
The Rural Outreach program has been supported by a financial grant from the Family Fry Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping youth leadership and entrepreneurial ideas. The program is administered as a part of the Industrial Outreach Group within Memorial University. Encompassing various sectors such as industrial and technology, youth, and education, to strengthen the connection between academic and industry communities. As a service learning and community support initiative, the program is part of a broader range of activities made possible through contributions of the Family Fry Foundation.
Rural Outreach aims to create mutually beneficial opportunities for both engineering co-op students and municipalities. Students are presented with real-world challenges to gain hands-on experience under the mentorship of professional engineers. Collaborations with rural communities offer secure and professional engineering services to those without the available resources. Services such as 911 mapping, website and social media development, and design of trails and hospitality infrastructure offer students a practical understanding of community needs, while contributing to the long-term potential and growth of the region.
In partnership with the 911 division of the Government of Newfoundland, Rural Outreach has been assigning civic addresses to rural communities for improved emergency response systems. By providing Next Generation 911 (NG911), first responders will receive automatic transmission of a caller’s location and civic address with an incoming call.
Students have been helping communities with long-term, sustainable infrastructure through 3D modeling. With experience in various software tools, Rural Outreach has been helping communities with visual representations of buildings, outdoor spaces, and floor plans.
A common struggle with rural communities is finding funding for their projects. Securing resources and financial support is often a complex and time-consuming process. With well-developed models and project guidance, students have assisted communities in preparing funding applications, contractor scopes of work, and consultant fee requests, helping turn local ideas into actionable opportunities.
Newfoundland and Labrador communities are culture-rich and home to many natural attractions. With expertise in various platforms, students have been developing new websites to host community events, local initiatives, and public engagement. These online spaces strengthen community connections and provide an accessible way for visitors and tourists to explore what
each community has to offer.
Rural communities interested in participating in the Rural Outreach program can contact Brian at bpeach@mun.ca.
Brian Peach, P. Eng, CAMP
Project Engineer - Community Based Partnerships
bpeach@mun.ca
709-728-3435