New Video: Innovating through Infrastructure in Response to COVID19

New Video: Innovating through Infrastructure in Response to COVID19
  The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation recently released a new video on the Innovating through Infrastructure discussion from the recent 2020 Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience conference. The video showcases three presentations: Addressing the Digital Divide: COVID-19 and the Importance of Connecting Rural Canada: Ashleigh Weeden & Wayne Kelly Challenges with Rural Drinking Water Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance ...

Suggestions to Help Immigrants Join Recreational Activities

Suggestions to Help Immigrants Join Recreational Activities
Niva Shrestha’s recent major research paper entitled “Understanding Challenges of Nepali Immigrants to Enroll their Children in Recreational Activities in Guelph, Ontario” is now available online! You can read the full report by clicking here. You can also read the summary of the research here. A brief description of Shrestha’s research is listed below: “Sports is universal language that has been practiced in every culture and tradition since ancient times

New Video: COVID19 and Impacts Rural Products and People

New Video: COVID19 and Impacts Rural Products and People
  Did you miss the recent online panel discussion on changing patterns in people and products at the 2020 Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation's Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience conference? Great news - the recording of the discussion is now available online! The discussion features Karen Foster speaking about supply chains, Emily Sousa and Sara Epp discussing agriculture and agri-food, Louis Helps and Ray Silvius speaking about immigra...

Local Economic Development Trends and Implications

Local Economic Development Trends and Implications
What are the key trends in local economic development and what are the implications for small communities? As rural and northern communities plan for COVID-19 recoveries they need to be aware of the broader trends in local economic development. On November 6, 2020, Prof. Ryan Gibson shared local economic development insights with the Community Futures Northeastern Ontario Conference. The presentation outlined key macro-level themes influence local developm...

COVID19 and Rural Employment

COVID19 and Rural Employment
The COVID-19 global pandemic created great uncertainty for employment across Canada and internationally. News reports have noted job losses by different sectors, the unequal distribution of the impacts, and the gradual re-opening of some sectors. Victoria Agyepong, Ryan Gibson, and Ray Bollman recently published a report called "Rural Employment and Workforce Development: Impacts and Opportunities". The report takes a rural lens to understand the impac...

Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience Online Conference

Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience Online Conference
  COVID-19 has greatly influenced rural communities throughout Canada. To better understand the impacts, recovery strategies, and how to build long-term resilience the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation is hosting a free online conference from October 1-2, 2020. The Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience online conference will features a series of discussions enhancing our understanding of the impact of the global pandemic on rural communit

Provincial, Territorial and Federal Governments Met to Discuss Rural Development Approaches​

Provincial, Territorial and Federal Governments Met to Discuss Rural Development Approaches​
Provincial, territorial, and federal government representatives connected in an online meeting to share information about government approaches to rural development across Canada on June 26, 2020. During the meeting, each government shared perspectives on rural development, rural policies, rural programs, and rural priorities. The attendees perceived this discussion as a great tool to connect with other governments from across the country and they are look...

Building the Future project re-launches municipal survey with OGRA

Building the Future project re-launches municipal survey with OGRA
In partnership with the Ontario Good Roads Association, Ryan Gibson, Ashleigh Weeden, Sean Markey (Simon Fraser University) and Jay Maloney (Simon Fraser University) from the Building the Future project re-launched a province-wide survey aimed at exploring the challenges and opportunities involved in rural infrastructure and regional economic development during a webinar hosted by OGRA today. To complete the survey, please visit: http://bit.ly/BTFSurvey20

Building the Future Project featured in Ontario Good Roads Association Webinar

Building the Future Project featured in Ontario Good Roads Association Webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging local governments on every level. Infrastructure investments are often used as critical mechanisms for supporting economic recovery. This crisis, combined with anticipated challenges associated with climate change and opportunities presented by technological breakthroughs, requires new approaches addressing the connection between infrastructure and economic development. However, there is very little information avail...

Building the Future: Municipal Survey launches at Ontario Good Roads Association Conference

Building the Future: Municipal Survey launches at Ontario Good Roads Association Conference
On February 25, 2020, in partnership with the Ontario Good Roads Association, the Building the Future research team launched a survey for rural municipal officials and staff to learn more about their experiences in planning for and connecting infrastructure initiatives and economic development strategies. Ashleigh Weeden (PhD Candidate, Rural Studies) launched the survey to a standing-room-only session of more than 75 delegates at the 2020 Ontario Good