A new study from Western University suggests Ontario's small towns and rural communities need to learn cultural acceptance and racial tolerance in order to stave off their own economic and demographic decline.

I've traveled extensively across western Canada and have spoken at length to the residents in medium and small towns. This study is 100% true. The smaller the town, the more hostile to 'others' moving in.

What's funny is they all seem to lament their town is dying - more move away all the time, nobody moves in, can't sell their homes for anything, etc, yet refuse to see they are the problem.

There are places that buck that trend. Niverville, Manitoba is a good example. While not as ethnically or culturally diverse as a large city, the small town of Niverville has grown from 1100 people in 1991 to over 5500 in just 30 years. They did so be being welcoming to all.

They have had incidents of racism, but they have been swift to deal with it.