Innovation requires a strong foundation. For rural municipalities, treating community wellbeing as an empirical, investable asset is becoming a crucial tool for economic development. Moderated by the IRPP, this panel brings together researchers and local elected officials -including Yorkton City Councillor and researcher Dr. Stephanie Ortynsky – to discuss the realities of integrating “wellbeing frameworks” into city planning. Discover how municipal leaders are moving beyond traditional budgets to measure and fund quality of life, and how these social investments can help create the conditions needed to drive regional economic growth and attract new industries.