Jayden Cote is a MSc student in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph with a Collaborative Specialization in International Development Studies. Under the supervision of Dr. Ryan Gibson, Jayden is passionate about bridging the socio-economic divide between urban and rural communities and is primarily interested in research surrounding innovative, data driven policies that would address key challenges in urban planning and sustainable economic development initiatives.

Born and raised on Georgian Bay in Penetanguishene, ON, Jayden graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Government, Economics, and Management from the University of Guelph where he completed an undergraduate honour’s thesis for the political science department pertaining to how disruptive business innovations affect traditional regulatory paradigms in Ontario municipalities. With professional experience in municipal and federal government, he is prepared to be an advocate for rural prosperity and its importance in Canada’s future.

Jayden is also a Graduate Research Assistant for the Rural Economic Development Knowledge Translation and Transfer research project, which examines the evolving role of rural economic development practitioners in Ontario.

To learn more about Jayden and his ongoing work, please contact him by email at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydencote/