From the
Ground Up

Together we can change healthcare supports for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

From the Ground Up is a community-centred program to improve access to healthcare for farmers and ranchers in Rocky View County. It is a collaboration between local communities and the University of Alberta.

Explore the project Read Our Reports

Community conversation · Airdrie and surrounding rural communities

A new health centre for Airdrie. What could it mean for rural communities?

Plans for the Airdrie Covenant Health Centre bring an important opportunity to talk about access to care for farmers, ranchers and neighbouring communities. What services would make the biggest difference? What barriers might remain?

Explore the plan & discussion questions

Announced September 2026

Urgent care, birthing, primary care and outpatient services

The proposed centre is expected to open in 2031. We want to understand how this development might support rural access, and where further solutions may be needed.

Information and community questions, not an official project consultation.

You're Invited · From the Ground Up Community Event

A New Health Centre. What Does It Mean for Rural Families?

A community conversation about local priorities, access to care, and what should happen next.

Join neighbours and community partners to share what matters most for rural families and help identify practical next steps.

Friday, December 4, 2026
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Madden Community Hall
Light lunch provided

Eventbrite registration QR code for the December 4 community event

Scan to register for the community event, or use the Eventbrite button above.

Our story

Support designed with rural communities, not just for them.

From the Ground Up began with farmers and community partners in Rocky View County, Alberta. Between 2024 and 2026, the project explored the realities of farm life and the challenges of finding mental health and wellness support.

Through community conversations, field research and design thinking, the team developed a foundation for solutions grounded in local values and lived experience.

What would it take for farmers to feel truly supported?

Our starting question connects rural identity, geography, community relationships and access to care.

110Community members contacted

66Guiding principles

5Community events

Understanding the challenge

Rural life needs rural-centred support.

The research highlighted how geography, farm culture and the structure of existing services can complicate access to mental health and wellness care.

01 / DISTANCE

Geography matters

Widely dispersed communities and travel requirements can make it harder to connect with services and resources.

02 / NAVIGATION

Finding the right support

Community members described uncertainty about where, when and how to access care, especially mental health supports.

03 / CONTEXT

Understanding farm life

Useful solutions must reflect agricultural work, local identity, social connections and the realities of rural communities.

Research & findings

Listening, learning and co-designing.

The project combined ethnographic fieldwork, community engagement, expert consultations, arts-based approaches and design-thinking methods.

Community engagement: The project has contacted 110 community members to better understand the challenges of accessing healthcare services in rural Rocky View County. The team also met with Rocky View County Council to discuss these challenges and the needs of rural residents, including farmers and ranchers. These conversations help inform community priorities and the next phase of co-design.

The work produced 66 guiding principles organized around regulatory considerations, near environment, cultural context, function, aesthetics and communication/expression.

These principles are intended to inform future products, services and community-led innovations; they are not a finished set of interventions.

Community first

Research questions and emerging ideas are shaped through engagement with farmers, families, organizations and experts.

The full research approach and guiding-principle framework are described in the 2026 report.

The next chapter

With the challenges identified, the next step is to co-create solutions.

From telehealth and clearer care pathways to peer connections and local events, the report identifies possible directions for future work. These are opportunities to explore and test together—not services already launched.

Possible solutions

Ideas for practical change

Healthcare & access

Explore telehealth, counselling, resource networks and clearer pathways to appropriate care.

Education & peer support

Develop learning opportunities, mentorship, training and community-to-community support.

Community engagement

Build connections through storytelling, community tours, gatherings and locally relevant events.

Communication & resources

Improve access to useful information through websites, printed materials and community communications.

What's next

From research to collaborative action.

The report proposes further co-research, co-creation and testing of products and services, alongside community-led initiatives and advocacy for resources.

The next phase will depend on continued participation, local priorities and partnerships.

Healthcare · Education · Community · Communication

Concept categories adapted from the report; no third-party images used.

Research publications · 2026