ABSTRACT
Canada is a huge country, the second largest in the world in land area. Even discounting its Arctic territory, that accounts for 40% of the total, one is left with 6 million km2 that is mostly rural. Grasping the texture of this vast space can be done, at best, only partially. We can, however, construct a mosaic, even if not fully complete, that will be representative of the Canadian rural scene. The three main parts comprising this portrait are, firstly, the social milieu and its characteristics and tendencies; secondly, the geographical settings of rural activities; and, thirdly, the governmental context within which rural needs are articulated and planning is carried out.
