SHORE TO SHORE is a series of unique gatherings in Western Newfoundland that will happen June 16–23, 2026 in a region that stretches 750 kilometres from Port Aux Basques in the southwest, to the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula in the north – travelling through mountains, over rivers, into fjords, past the icebergs at sea, via thousands of miles of coastline connecting communities all along the shore. This week-long event will bring people from the local communities with folks from away, together in art, science, local and Indigenous knowledge, to share stories, wisdom, food, music, and intersect with an exploration of the excitement of, and the challenges in, our rural communities.
A good idea can come from anywhere — and a good idea can be adapted from one community to another. The central theme of the gathering is “Relational Wellness” and local knowledge. Inside that are questions: how can art, creativity, and story in community connect with healthy aging in rural places? How does the convergence of human artistic creativity connect with the natural world? Connect us to each other? How can nature’s complex patterns inspire innovative expressions, new perspectives on understanding, and appreciation of where we are? And as importantly – where we could be going? Up for discussion is food security, Indigenous research partnerships, water, climate change and environmental stewardship.
Presentations, panels, workshops, and field trips hosted by the North Atlantic Forum (NAF), Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland will take place in Corner Brook, NL as part of the 2026 CRRF annual conference and bi-annual NAF event. Keynote addresses, panels, and parallel sessions in Corner Brook will feature papers, creative works, and poster presentations. Off campus field trips and activities in Corner Brook and Elmastukwek / Bay of Islands will also be incorporated. Following the Corner Brook portion of the event, the program will extend into two connected community focused events titled Shore2Shore (S2S). S2S is inspired by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity’s highly successful Rural2Rural (R2R) events held in Ontario over the past ten years. The S2S events will take place in Norris Point, Gros Morne (June 18-20) and Flat Bay, Bay St. George (June 20-23), including participation in National Indigenous Peoples Day community events. These follow-up gatherings are designed to deepen the connections and conversations initiated during the first three days of the conference, providing opportunities to share stories and further discuss and experience practical applications of the ideas discussed in two different community settings.
Organizing partners include North Atlantic Forum (NAF), The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF), and the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity (CCRC), together with Memorial University (Grenfell Campus, ARC-NL, Water Lab) and multiple communities, business, and community organizations in western Ktaqmkuk (Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation in Norris Point, Benoit’s Cove First Nation in Elmastukwek / Bay of Islands, and Abadak and SOONL in Nujioqo’nik / Bay St. George.) The event seeks to enhance sharing of knowledge regarding research and practice in rural development and community engagement nationally and internationally.