Governments across Canada struggle develop and implement robust, flexible, and effective rural policies and programs to meet the ever-changing contexts of rural communities. Critical to understanding how policymakers are addressing this challenge as they design, implement and/or evaluate rural policy and programming is examining if and how they use research evidence – and what kind of evidence – they use to inform this process.
As a sub-component of the...
Recent transformations in global economies have impacted for rural places throughout Canada. While some rural communities have flourished, others have struggled. This has lead to the question, "What is the future of rural communities throughout Canada?". As part of CBC's series called Transformations, Dr. Ryan Gibson participated in a series of 14 radio interviews to discuss the factors influencing the future of rural communities, the resilience
Sara Epp, PhD in Rural Studies candidate, shared her research on the migration of Mennonite farmers to northern Ontario at the International Comparative Rural Policy Summer Institute on July 3. Sara shared the experience of motivations, experiences, and challenges experienced by Mennonite farmers that recently migrated from southern Ontario to northern Ontario. Summer Institute students were interested to learn about the dynamics of the Mennonite f
Nearly 30 graduate students and faculty members from across North America and Europe are gathered in Tuskegee, Alabama for the 2018 International Comparative Rural Policy (ICRPS) Summer Institute. The summer institute is an opportunity for graduate students to gain new skill sets, capacities, and networks in the field of comparative rural policy. This year's summer institute theme is "Social Justice, Rural and Natural Resource Policy". Students w...
Stephanie Patzer, MSc in Rural Planning and Development student at the University of Guelph, was part of a team recently was announced as a top 20 finalist in an international ideas competition inspired by the sustainable development goals. In the Spring 2018, the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology launched an international ideas competition for students interested in the built environment and sustai...
The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) recently announced Dr. Ryan Gibson has been re-elected to the board of directors for a three-year term. CCEDNet is a member-driven, not-for-profit, charitable organization made up of community-based organizations, co-operatives, social enterprises, practitioners, active citizens, researchers, and other organizations involved in community economic development. Throughout Canada, CCEDNet...
The University of Guelph's Office of Graduate Studies recently released a new promotional video featuring Dr. Ryan Gibson and his research focused on finding a way to help transition rural communities into the new global economy. Check out the video below.
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
How can communities build and plan for vibrant local futures? Dr. Gibson recently contributed a keynote presentation on this topic to the 2018 Inspiring Results: Working Together to Make Great Things Happen Conference in Halifax.
Regional development and planning in Canada plays host to numerous experiments and experiences towards building vibrant local futures. Rural communities and regions encounter unique challenges related to distance, spa...
Check out the latest video from the University of Guelph's Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies featuring Ashleigh Weeden! The video showcases Ashleigh's doctoral research on innovation in rural communities. For more information on her research click here.
▶ University of Guelph Graduate Student Ashleigh Weeden (PhD, SEDRD)
