Helps’ PhD 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!
January 2026 Updates
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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Natasha D’Souza Successfully Defends PhD
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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Louis Help Successfully Defends PhD
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.
New Research Amplifies Voices of Rural Youth: Dreams, Realities—and the Struggle for a Future
A new research publication by Margarita Fontecha, Silvia Sarapura‑Escobar, and Ryan Gibson published in the Journal of Rural Studies invites us to rethink what “rural life” really means in parts of Colombia where licit and illicit economies coexist. Using participatory methods grounded in theories of agency and intersectionality, the authors center the experiences and aspirations of rural youth from the community of La India. Rather than treating them as p
December 2025 Updates
The December 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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October 2025 Updates for Current Graduate Students
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.
Exploring Rural Futures: SEDRD Contributions to CRRF 2025
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...
September 2025 Updates for Current Graduate Students
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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August 2025 Updates for Current Graduate Students
The August 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.