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...
How can rural communities be ready to seize the opportunities—and avoid the pitfalls—of large-scale manufacturing investments? A new research initiative led by Dr. Ryan Gibson, titled Blueprints for Prosperity: Examining Rural Strategies for Mega-Manufacturing Investments, has been awarded funding through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance to help answer this vital question.
Running from 2025 to 2028, the project will explore how rural regions in O
Researchers recently made two outstanding contributions at the recent European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS) Conference held in Riga, Latvia. This international gathering brought together scholars from across the globe to explore pressing issues shaping rural life today.
Ryan Gibson and Damilola Oyewale presented their research titled “From Fields to Homes: Housing Realities for International Agricultural Workers in Rural Ontario, Canada.” Their pres
A new publication titled "Reluctant entrepreneurs or embracing marketization" sheds light on the growing trend of municipal entrepreneurialism in rural Canada. In response to decades of neoliberal policy shifts and mounting infrastructure challenges, rural governments across four provinces have turned to municipal enterprises as a tool for generating revenue and supporting community development. However, the research highlights a complex balancing act betw
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...
