Economic development practitioners, health practitioners, and researchers shared their insights and experience on twelve critical topics to the future of rural communities and regions at the Rural Talks to Rural Conference last week. The interactive session allowed conference participants to learn more about current best practices, learn about existing programming, and to hear about current research. Participants had the opportunities to migrate between ...
Throughout the week, the Rural Planning and Development social media accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter) are sharing reflections and contributions from the 2024 Rural Symposium. Presentation and poster contributions from the 2024 Rural Symposium can be found online - https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/ruralReview.
Details about the 2025 Rural Symposium are forthcoming - stayed tuned.
Congratulations to everyone who graduated in today's fall 2024 convocation ceremonies. Many wonderful achievements were celebrated! Congratulations to:
Jennifer Aikman, Master of Planning
Joshua Barrett, PhD in Rural Studies
Ken Chew, Master of Science (Planning)
Mohammed Jalabi, Master of Science (Planning)
Niju Mathew, Master of Science (Planning)
Kalind Patel, Master of Planning
Geetanjali Rana, Master of Planning
Olassayil Sancy Sebast...
How are rural and northern Ontario businesses attracting and retaining workers? Ryan Gibson, Heather Graham, Paul Sitsofe, Niju Mathew, and Sarah-Patricia Breen share insights on this question in a recent publication in the Y Magazine of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. The article, titled "Help Wanted: Innovative Approaches to Workforce Development in Rural and Northern Ontario", identifies challenges rural and northern businesses face in work
Welcome to October! I hope the first month of the fall semester went well for everyone. This emails contains updates to graduate students working with me and recent alumni. The October 2024 newsletter contains information for graduate students working with me and recent alumni. This newsletter shares information about our academic programs, celebrate receive achievements, and share insights on upcoming events. If you have information to share in the monthl
Congratulations to Prof. Ryan Gibson on recently being elected to the University of Guelph Senate! The University of Guelph Senate was established through the University of Guelph Act, 1964 and is responsible for academic programs, regulations and policies. The Senate is responsible for activities such as:
to control, regulate and determine the educational policy of the University;
to determine the courses of study and standards of admission to the Un
Researchers, policymakers and practitioners recently gathered in Letterfrack, Ireland for the 2024 North Atlantic Forum. The Forum focused on sustainable livelihoods and sought to engage new ideas in rural development, policy practice, and the social economy.
To facilitate knowledge mobilization a series of rural research summaries were created by graduate students on innovative approaches to sustainable livelihoods. The summaries provides a snapshot of r
On 18 September 2024, five graduate students set out to collect information from businesses owners in Seaforth, Ontario to better understand the realities of attracting and retaining employees. Paul Sitsofe (Master of Science in Rural Planning and Development student), Paul Anim (Master of Science in Capacity Development and Extension student), Lucas Berek (Master of Science in Rural Planning and Development student), Calum Jacques (Master of Science in Ru...
Farmland preservation is critical to the future of rural Ontario. The Connecting the Dots initiative is excited share the first Rural Research Summary - Farmland Preservation and Urban Expansion in Ontario. This summary sheds light into the challenges and strategies associated with balancing farmland preservation amidst growing urban development pressures, providing implications and practical recommendations for policymakers, planners, and community stakeh
Businesses across rural Ontario are confronted with challenges and opportunities in attracting and retaining workers. On 18 September 2024 (Wednesday), researchers from the University of Guelph will be in Seaforth to speak with businesses to better understand these local issues related to attracting and retaining workers. All businesses are invited to share their perspectives in a brief 5 minute discussion. Researchers will pop into businesses in t
