What happens to local governance when a dominant industry actor becomes the primary driver of talent attraction and economic development in a rural region?
PhD research by Natasha D'Souza from the University of Guelph examines exactly this question through the lens of Bruce County, Ontario, a community transitioning from an agricultural economy to a specialised nuclear energy hub. The research explores how Bruce Power's influence shapes not only employmen
Jayden Cote's recently successfully defended MSc (Planning) thesis titled "Rural Economic Development in the Iron Cage? Measuring Constraints on Municipal Development Strategies in Rural Ontario" is now available online -https://hdl.handle.net/10214/29650.
Congratulations to Jayden Cote for successfully defending his MSc (Planning) thesis titled "Rural Economic Development in the Iron Cage: Exploring Pressures on Economic Identity and Political Autonomy in Ontario's Municipalities".
An electronic copy of the MSc thesis will be available shortly.
The University of Guelph is home to a wide diversity of research on rural people, places, and environments. As a leader in rural research, this video series facilitates knowledge sharing across rural Ontario and beyond.
This recent video summary highlights recent research by Alex Petric and Ryan Gibson titled Hidden Treasures: Estimating Intergenerational Wealth Transfers in Rural Canada. This research estimates the scale of housing-based wealth transfe...
A recent article in the Wellington Advertiser, written by Jordan Snobelen, takes a closer look at a growing concern for many communities: the difficulty of finding volunteers. The piece, titled “Are volunteers becoming harder to find? Local organizations struggling to find help,” explores how groups that rely on volunteer support are feeling the strain as fewer people are able or willing to commit their time. You can read the full article here: https://www
The University of Guelph is home to a wide diversity of research on rural people, places, and environments. As a leader in rural research, this video series facilitates knowledge sharing across rural Ontario and beyond.
This video highlights recent research by Lucas Berek completed in 2025 titled The Living Room of a Rural Community. This thesis examines the actors, processes, and COVID-19 influences shaping economic development in the Town of New Tecum...
Are you an economic development practitioner in Ontario? We want to hear from you!
Please consider participating in the Knowledge Translation and Transfer to Advance Rural Economic Development survey. Your insights will help us better understand the realities, challenges, and opportunities facing economic development practitioners in rural Ontario, and inform recommendations to support economic development activities and knowledge sharing. You can acces...
Want to do more with your rural research? Join us for a workshop that teaches you how to create plain language summaries and videos on April 28 starting a 10.00 am.
Rural communities, businesses, and organizations face increasing challenges that require evidence-informed solutions. As a leader in rural research, the University of Guelph is well-positioned to support these communities through knowledge mobilization. To better address emerging complex and...
How safe is your favourite beach and who decides? The Connecting the Dots initiative is excited share the latest Rural Research Summary, “Canadian Beach Cohort Study: Protocol of a Prospective Study to Assess the Burden of Recreational Water Illness” providing implications and practical recommendations for conservation authorities, local governments, and community organizations among other stakeholders. The research was conducted by Ian Young, Binyam N. De...
The recent Rural Symposium brought together 160 participants, both in person and online, for a dynamic exchange of ideas focused on rural research and policy. The event featured 17 presentations and 11 posters, highlighting the depth and diversity of work being done by graduate students at the University of Guelph. These projects explored a wide range of rural issues and offered practical insights for policymakers and practitioners.
The Rural Symposium is
