Small Town Tries to Lure the Newly “Un-officed”

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When working from home became a reality for so many people due to the pandemic, the town of Trochu in the Canadian province of Alberta asks: “Why not make your home in Trochu?” The town’s Why Trochu campaign touts the benefits of small town life, inviting Canadians to come move in, and bring their friends, reports Producer.com.

The town is located between Edmonton and Calagry and is the home (for now) of 1,000 residents. The locals pride themselves on its landscape, safety, and affordable living. The most important thing for digital commuters, a reliable network, is something that the town is working to address. For now, residents connect via providers like Xplorenet, but the installment of a broadband fiber line is the dream.

“If [the town of Trochu] got a fibre line into their community, it is Field of Dreams,” said Paul McLauchlin, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and reeve for Ponoka County. “I mean, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and I think people will start realizing that you can run very successful, knowledge-based businesses out of smaller towns with lower per-square-foot rental prices. It’d be phenomenal.” 

“I think they [big companies] are really promoting their employees to say, ‘hey, you can live wherever you want as long as you can get to the office once a month’ or something like that, which is really a net benefit to places like Trochu,” added McLauchlin.

“The Town of Trochu believes these unprecedented times have created a unique situation full of opportunity for rural Alberta … If people are working from home and can live anywhere in this great province, why not choose Trochu?” asked enthusiastic Trochu town administrator, Jamie Collins. “I just think there’s nothing like it – the connection with people … and just the safety.”

Regarding the town’s preferred internet provider, Xplorenet, Collins said, “It runs everything that people need, or businesses would need, for sure.”

While it may work for now, McLauchlin has said he believes now is the time for the province of Alberta to diversify and modernize, and investment in rural high-speed broadband internet by the provincial and federal governments is essential. “That is the future of agriculture. There’s tremendous opportunity, and the telemetry needs to be there: the 5G, the Internet of Things,” he said. McLauchlin explained that he and his wife have both worked remotely for 18 years and love being able to stay connected, and still live in a quiet rural setting.

Those tempted to consider relocating to Trochu can find out more on YouTube, where a series of videos promotes the advantages of being part of the town’s small, close community. There are also social media posts under the hashtags #WHYTROCHU and #THRIVEINTROCHU, that will provide additional information.  

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