Rural communities have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Ryan Gibson and Lissel Hernandez participated in the Rural Rebound panel discussion organized by the Rural Ontario Institute on September 24, 2020. The discussion brought together community leaders, government, nonprofit organizations, and researchers to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on rural communities and strategies for how rural rebound. Ryan and Lissel were joined by Ray Bollman and Heather Hall (University of Waterloo) on the panel.
Approximately five months ago, the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation created the Rural Insights Series on COVID-19. The Rural Insight papers strive to provide a critical perspective on how COVID-19 is impacting rural communities. The intention is to ensure that a one-size fits all approach to recovery is not applied to rural communities. Since the launch, 17 Rural Insight papers have been created by leading experts in rural development from across Canada. Ryan’s contributions to the panel discussion highlighted the following recent rural insight papers:
- Supporting Rural Recovery and Resilience After COVID-19 (Heather Hall, Ryan Gibson, Sean Markey, and Ashleigh Weeden)
- Rethinking Infrastructure Investments: Supporting Post-Pandemic Rural Recovery and Climate Resilience through Green Infrastructure (Jay Maloney, Paul Kraehling, Kacia Tolsma, S. Ashleigh Weeden, Sean Markey, and Ryan Gibson)
- Supporting Newcomers and Migrants in Rural Canada During and After COVID-19 (Louis Helps, Ray Silvius, & Ryan Gibson)
- Rural Employment and Workforce Development: Impacts and Opportunities (Victoria Agyepong, Ryan Gibson, Ray Bollman)
Lissel shared perspectives from the Rural Rebound Case Study initiative conducted by the Rural Ontario Institute. The case studies focus on positive innovations undertaken by rural communities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and encourage economic recovery. Lissel conducted case study research on the Northumberland Economic Recovery Task Force and the Supporting Oxford initiatives.
Learn more about the Rural Ontario Institute, it’s mandate, and it’s activities in the 2019-2020 Annual Report.