SEDRD students Ashleigh Weeden (PhD, Rural Studies), Valencia Gaspard (PhD, Rural Studies) and Alex Petric (MSc, Rural Planning & Development) recently shared their insights on open data and innovation in rural communities at the 2018 GOOD Conference in Barrie, ON. Ashleigh, Valencia, and Alex were featured on a panel about the ‘networked rural’ and the opportunities and challenges of open data initiatives in rural communities, moderated by B
As part of the requirements for the M.Sc. program in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph, Stephanie Patzer is conducting a research project with TECHO Honduras, with support from Cuso International. TECHO is an NGO, present in 19 countries in Latin America, that seeks to overcome poverty through the collective action of youth volunteers and the residents of informal settlements, executing programs and projects that enable community d
What does the future of rural development policy look like? How can we ensure appropriate, effective, and efficient policies to support rural areas and their economies? This was the focus of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's 2018 Rural Development Conference.
The Conference brought together over 400 leading policy makers, private sector and renowned experts to exchange experiences and good practices on issues related
Rural communities throughout Canada experience unequal access to high-speed Internet. This 'disconnect' hinders the ability of rural residents, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations. Recently, Dr. Gibson was involved in a formal submission to the Government of Canada, advocating for changes to how broadband connectivity is delivered in rural and northern communities. The formal submission makes five recommendations to the Governmen...
How can rural communities create long standing public benefit from individual legacies? The Rural Ontario Institute is hosting two forums to explore how philanthropy can be utilized to sustain and revitalize local communties. The forums will be an opportunity for non-profit organizations to exchange experiences and learn from one another about how to connect local philanthrophy with community priorities. For financial planners, municipal staff, and commu...
The largest rural development and policy conference in Canada was recently held in Nelson, British Columbia. The Different by Design: Innovation for Rural Prosperity conference was co-hosted by the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation and Selkirk College. During the conference, faculty and students from the University of Guelph made a strong contribution. The following oral presentations, panel discussions, and poster presentations were share
Congratulations to Jodi-Ann Francis for graduating with her Master of Arts in Geography from Saint Mary's University! In addition to graduating, Jodi-Ann delivered the valedictorian address at the spring convocation.
Jodi-Ann's research focused on understanding the motivations of international students studying at Halifax universities as they are about to graduate. The research strived to understand how international students make decisions of...
Rural communities and rural development is at a crossroads. Rural areas are confronted with a multitude of challenges and opportunities related to their economies. The Università di Bologna, in partnership with the Rural Policy Learning Commons, hosted a two day workshop focused on rural sustainability, rural innovation, and rural development practices. Dr. Gibson was invited to present on his research focused on place-based development from the Canadian...
