Congratulations to Josh Barrett (PhD candidate in Rural Studies, University of Guelph) who received the Best Student Paper Award at the 2024 American Association of Geographers in April 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The manuscript, co-authored by Kelly Vodden, focuses on how rural local governments in Newfoundland and Labrador are using entrepreneurial approaches and partnerships to achieve local development. The article, titled "Partnerships in Plac
Congratulations to Shanley Weston for successfully defending her MSc (Planning) thesis this morning! Shanley's graduate thesis was titled “Darkest Days: A Scoping Review of Violent Crime in Rural Canada”. An online copy of the graduate thesis will be available shortly – stay tuned!
Amid economic uncertainties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario faces challenges in tight labour markets, high unemployment rates, and a significant skills gap, particularly in rural areas, where approximately 250,000 jobs remain unfilled. In response to these pressing issues, a research initiative has been launched to spotlight innovative workforce development strategies aimed at addressing rural labour force challenges. By conducting an online
Congratulations to Damilola Oyewale for successfully defending his MSc (Planning) thesis this morning! Damilola's graduate thesis was titled "Evaluation of the Impact of the Provincial Policy Statement on International Agricultural Workers’ Housing in Ontario”. An online copy of the graduate thesis will be available shortly - stay tuned!
The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), hosted a one-day symposium to showcase rural research being conducted at the University of Guelph. The Rural Symposium is an opportunity for graduate students to share their research with researchers, policy analysts and program staff with the OMAFRA, and rural organizations.
Shanley Weston will defend her MSc (Planning) thesis on “Darkest Days: A Scoping Review of Violent Crime in Rural Canada" on April 19 from 10.00 am - 12.00 pm. Details for joining the thesis defence can be found on the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development website. All are welcome to join the thesis defence, either in-person or online. Shanley's thesis will be available for review after the defence.
The Examination Committee of. Dr. Ryan
Damilola Oyewale will defend his MSc (Planning) thesis on “Evaluation of the Impact of the Provincial Policy Statement on International Agricultural Workers’ Housing in Ontario" on April 16 from 10.00 am - 12.00 pm. Details for joining the thesis defence can be found on the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development website. All are welcome to join the thesis defence, either in-person or online. Damilola's thesis will be available for review afte
Rural research from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development was on display at the recent Liminal Spaces: Two Days of Rural Canada conference. The interdisciplinary conference examined the world between the cities and the wilderness. The following students and alumni presented rural research at the conference:
Danika Hammond (MSc Planning graduate): Defining rural: Advancing a place-based rural criteria matrix
John Dale (Rural Studie...
Congratulations to Ela Mastej for successfully completing the Qualifying Examination in the Rural Studies PhD program! Ela's qualifying paper was titled, "Confronting Colonial Legacies of Environmental Assessment by Exploring the Nexus of EA and Participation". Her presentation and discussion were recognized as outstanding by the examining committee. Stay tuned for more information on Ela's doctoral research.
Thank you to member of Ela's quali...
From March 13th to 15th, Heather Graham (MSc Rural Planning and Development student) and Dr. Ryan Gibson attended the 26th Annual Metropolis Canada Conference in Montréal, Québec. They had the opportunity to present their poster, titled, "Innovative Workforce Strategies for Engaging Newcomers in Rural Ontario." The poster highlights the results of a survey they had completed in Fall 2023, which asked workforce planning boards and Community Futures Developm
