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.
Research on rural philanthropy in Atlantic Canada was shared at the recent 8th Annual Conference of the Association of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research. Ryan Gibson (University of Guelph), Joshua Barrett (University of Prince Edward Island), Kelly Vodden (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University), and Edmund Yirenkyi (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University) shared a presentation titled "Investing in Place and Potentials: Rural Philanthropic Themes and Trend...
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...
The Ontario Professional Planners Institute recently published a story titled "Mobilizing Economic Planning Knowledge
for Rural Ontario" that emerges from research conducted by graduate students and faculty. Take a read of the story based on research by Lucas Berek, Eliza MacLauchlan, Christine Miller, Damilola Oyewale, Natasha Pennell, Avery Velez, and Ryan Gibson.
The May 9, 2025, press conference of the National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo provided important insights for planning researchers focused on rural communities. The Coalition for National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers (CoNaMi) led by Dr. Susana Caxaj, successfully brought together a diverse mix of voices, including seasoned researchers, passionate advoc
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.
On May 15, 2025, Ryan Gibson shared insights a lunch and learn session co-hosted by the the Community Foundation of Grey Bruce and Brightshores Health Systems Foundation. The event brought together over 30 lawyers and professions to explore how rural areas are places of wealth and to understand that this wealth is increasingly mobile. Without careful consideration, much of it could leave rural areas as younger generations move to urban centres. The present
