The February 2026 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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A new peer-reviewed article titled “Revisiting rural economic development: New Localism’s potential in Canadian local government” shines a timely spotlight on the growing pressures facing rural communities across Canada. As local governments are increasingly asked to take on roles beyond basic services, many rural municipalities are struggling to keep up. Limited staff, tight budgets, and expanding responsibilities have created real challenges for communit
Looking to learn more about careers in the Ontario Public Service? Join a workshop on building a career in the Ontario Public Service on February 10 from 10:00–11:30 AM EST. You can attend in person in LA Room 127 or join virtually, making it easy to take part no matter where you are. This session is designed for students and recent graduates who want a clearer picture of public service career paths.
The workshop will be led by Scott Duff, Director of R...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Canadians packed up city life and moved to rural communities. But what did that sudden shift really mean on the ground? A new article in Plan Canada, “Reflecting on the Urban Exodus: Rural Planning for City Expats,” explores how rural municipalities across Ontario experienced — and responded to — this change.
Written by Sara Epp, Christopher Fullerton, Natasha Gaudio Harrison, and Ryan Gibson, the article draws o
Natasha D'Souza's recent Rural Studies PhD dissertation "Space, Place and Power: A Case Study of Highly Skilled Talent and Governance Dynamics in The Bruce County Energy Sector" is now available online.
Louis Helps' Rural Studies PhD dissertation titled "Migrant Stories, Industry Narratives: A Critical Discourse Analysis on Migrant Labour in Canadian Agriculture" is now available online!
The January 2026 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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Congratulations to Natasha D'Souza for successfully defending her Rural Studies PhD dissertation titled “Space, Place and Power: Case Study of Highly Skilled Talent and Governance Dynamics in The Bruce County Energy Sector".
Stay tuned for electronic access to Natasha's PhD dissertation.
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The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation recently hosted a webinar as part of the New Researcher Forum series titled "Mobilizing Knowledge for Stronger Rural Futures". Prof. Ryan Gibson explored what he called the “knowledge paradox" - while more research exists than ever before, it often fails to reach the people who can use it most. Too often valuable rural research is locked behind technical language, paywalls, limited internet access, or simply doe
Congratulations to Louis Helps for successfully defending his Rural Studies PhD dissertation titled "Migrant Stories, Industry Narratives: A Critical Discourse Analysis on Migrant Labour in Canadian Agriculture". Stay tuned for electronic access to Lou's PhD dissertation.
