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
Sarah-Patricia Breen (Selkirk College), Ryan Gibson (University of Guelph), and Hannah Main (Dalhousie University) recently published a new article in Canadian Public Policy. The article examines the distribution of federal public transit funding, highlighting a significant urban-rural disparity. The authors argue that current federal funding mechanisms predominantly favor urban centers, leaving rural and remote communities underserved. This imbalance not
As part of the 2025 Knowledge Translation and Transfer Conference, Ryan Gibson shared reflections on the Rural Futures: Mobilizing Knowledge and Sustaining Partnerships initiative. The Rural Futures initiative ensured rural knowledge and experiences within the university were translated and mobilized to rural partners in local government, community-based organizations, charities/nonprofits, Indigenous communities, all levels of government, businesses, and ...
How can rural communities weather the current economic uncertainty? What can we learn from previous economic downturns that might provide insights for future strategies and activities? On May 7, 2025, Ryan Gibson share research insights on these topics as part of Dufferin County's Tariff Response and Business Resources.
The Weathering the Storm? Strategies for Rural Stability and Growth in Uncertain Times session took a closer look at Dufferin County’s ru
Lucas Berek's newly published Master of Science (Planning) thesis, The Living Room of a Rural Community: Economic Development in New Tecumseth, Ontario, offers a timely and nuanced exploration of how rural communities are adapting to rapid change. Using New Tecumseth as a case study, Berek investigates how towns with deep rural roots are responding to rising affordability pressures, shifting demographics, and post-pandemic recovery challenges—all while sit
Congratulation to Calum Jacques for successfully defending his Master of Science in Rural Planning and Development thesis titled, "Agriculture as an Amenity: A Case Study of Peri-Urban Farmland in Tokyo, Japan".
Thank you to members of Calum's examination committee: Prof. Sara Epp, Prof. Silvia Sarapura-Escobar, and Prof. Nicolas Brunet.
Stay tuned for access to Calum's thesis.
Rural communities are critical to the country's economic success, yet they remain underrepresented and poorly understood in federal policies. Sarah-Patricia Breen, Heather Hall, Kyle Rich, and Ryan Gibson explore this question in the latest publication in The Conversation. Take a read of "In Canada’s 2025 federal election, is anyone paying attention to rural communities?" The article calls for stronger, evidence-based rural development programs to address
The latest issue of the Rural Review: Ontario Rural Planning, Development, and Policy is now available! This issue showcases graduate student, postdoctoral fellows, and community researcher led initiatives on a wide variety of topics related to rural environments, rural economies, Indigenous development, and rural peoples. The oral presentations and poster presentations were shared at the 2025 Rural Research Symposium on March 26, 2025.
Check out the recent Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health lecture on the Urban Exodus. The presentation features Sara Epp (University of Guelph), Chris Fullerton (Brock University), Ellen Sinclair (Rural Ontario Institute), Scott Taylor (County of Grey) and Ryan Gibson (University of Guelph). The presentation shares recent research on findings from a province wide survey of municipal governments regarding the impacts of the COVID pandemic.
Congratulations to Paul Sitsofe for successfully completing his major research paper as part of his Master of Science (Planning) degree! Paul's research paper titled "Workforce Development in Rural Ontario: An Examination of Experiences and Strategies" is now available online through the University of Guelph's Atrium. A brief overview of Paul's research can be found below:
This study examines workforce development strategies in rural Ontario to address sk
