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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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.
This summer, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 CIP-OPPI National Planning Conference, held at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto from July 8–10, as a recipient of a student CIP-PSTF bursary, alongside fellow planning students from undergraduate and graduate programs across the country. It was also a pleasure getting to meet them and form new friendships throughout the conference.
Attending this conference was truly a great experience. As someo...
The July 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.
Congratulations to graduates of the Rural Planning and Development programs who convocated during the summer ceremony at the University of Guelph:
Ajibola Agebjobi, Master of Science (Planning)
Calum Jacques, Master of Science (Planning)
Greg McLeod, Master of Planning
Heather Douglas, Master of Science (Planning)
Lucas Berek, Master of Science (Planning)
Sarah Lyons, Master of Planning
Taylor Wilson, Master of Science (Planning)
Good luck ...
Congratulations to Lucas Berek for receiving the CIP-PSTF Outstanding Graduating Student Award! The CIP-PSTF Outstanding Graduating Student Award is bestowed upon one graduating student from each accredited planning program in Canada, who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their future profession. This contribution is assessed through a wide range of contributing factors, including academic and extracurricular contributions.
The June 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.
Rural Planning and Development students, alumni, and faculty shared findings from a number of research projects at the 2025 Confluence Conference.
Ferdous Huq - Community Gardens and Food Justice: Exploring Access, Equity, and Effectiveness
Ben Tobias-Murray - Examining Local Food Procurement Practices: Costs, Strategies and Benefits of Purchasing Local Food in Long-term Care Homes
Lucas Berek - Growth on the Edge: Economic Development Challenge...
Take a read of a recently published an article by Lucas Berek in the Orangeville Citizen titled "A message from rural Canada to our urban friends". The article focuses on a recent presentation delivered as part of the Team Dufferin - County of Dufferin Tariff Response and Business Resources.
Calum Jacques recently published Master of Planning (Science) thesis, Agriculture as an Amenity: A Case Study of Peri-Urban Farmland in Tokyo, Japan, examines how small-scale farming continues to exist within Tokyo's expanding urban landscape. Unlike many North American cities where urban development often displaces agriculture, Tokyo has managed to preserve pockets of farmland that serve multiple roles, including food production, education, and disaster p
