Prof. Ryan Gibson offered a timely look at how communities can navigate an increasingly unpredictable world as part of an event recently hosted by the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia. The presentation painted a picture of the complex pressures facing local regions today—from economic instability and government cutbacks to climate change and shifting societal values. These overlapping challenges, he explained, have created a new landscape where traditio
On November 4, 2025, Dr. Ryan Gibson delivered a presentation titled “Local Governance in Canada” at the Department of International and Regional Studies, Hokkaido University of Education in Hakodate, Japan. The session brought together students, faculty, and community partners to explore how Canadian approaches to local governance and rural revitalization could inform Japan’s regional development strategies.
During his talk, Dr. Gibson compared the geogra
20-26 October 2025 is International Open Access Week – a global event dedicated to openness in scholarship and research. This year’s theme, “Who Owns Our Knowledge?”, invites all of us to reflect on who controls the production and sharing of knowledge—and how we might open it up for the wider public good.
The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is excited to host three open access journals: Canadian Agri-food & ...
The latest report from the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review (SRCPR) has set its sights beyond Scotland's borders, drawing on a detailed case studies from four countries to inform how Scottish rural support systems might evolve. The report explores how community-led development, grassroots movements and local-government partnerships operate in four international rural settings: Canada, England, Finland, and Ireland. The report aims to glean lessons
Rural communities across Western Ontario are facing ongoing workforce challenges — from labour shortages to attracting and retaining new workers. At the 2025 Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) Conference in London, Ontario on October 17, Dr. Ryan Gibson, Libro Professor of Regional Economic Development at the University of Guelph, delivered a presentation titled “Place Matters – Lessons in Workforce Development.”
Drawing on research and collaboration w
The October 2025 newsletter contains updates to graduate students working with Prof. Gibson and recent alumni. This newsletter shares information about academic programs updates, celebrates receive achievements, profiles an RPD alumni, and share insights on upcoming events. If you have information to share in the monthly update do not hesitate to let Ryan know via email.
The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute recently hosted the Foundations for the Future of Rural conference, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to explore opportunities and challenges facing rural Canada.
Students, alumni, and faculty from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) made strong contributions to the event through a series o...
On September 11, 2025, the Facultad de Economía at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México hosted an engaging academic exchange highlighting migration, labor, and economic dynamics between Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ryan Gibson delivered a lecture titled "From Bunks to Belonging: Rethinking Seasonal Farmworker Housing in Canada". Drawing on recently collected data from local planners across Ontario, Dr. Gibson examined the critical role housing plays in
A big welcome to all incoming graduates students in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development! Profiles of new graduate students are forthcoming ... stay tuned.
The September 2025 newsletter contains updates to graduate students working with Prof. Gibson and recent alumni. This newsletter shares information about academic programs updates, celebrates receive achievements, profiles an RPD alumni, and share insights on upcoming events. If you have information to share in the monthly update do not hesitate to let Ryan know via email.
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