Rural Ontario research was on full display at the recent North Atlantic Forum in Letterfrack, Co. Galway, Ireland. Graduate students and faculty from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph showcased new and emerging rural development knowledge related to agri-food systems, housing, work force development, economic development, and rural transit:

• Sara Epp & Regan Zink – Rural Communities, Agri-Food Systems, and Planning in Transition
• Damilola Oyewale – Building Sustainable Communities Through Immigration and Housing: A Review of Ontario International Agricultural Workers
• Ryan Gibson, Heather Graham, & Paul Sitsofe – Addressing Workforce Development Through Innovative Approaches: Perspectives from Rural Canada
• Joshua Barrett – Rural Local Governments: Building Economic Development Capacity through Entrepreneurialism
• Calum Jacques, Lucas Berek, Damilola Oyewale, Hannah Main, Sarah-Patricia Breen, & Ryan Gibson – Analysis of Ontario Transit Projects Supported By Federal Funding

The North Atlantic Forum is a “collegial assembly” of community development practitioners, leaders, government, students, and researchers from across the North Atlantic region. The North Atlantic Forum facilitates the sharing of research and best practices in regional development and governance, island studies, place-based identity and culture and supports community, industry and government exchanges across the North Atlantic region for increased collaboration and partnership. Learn more about the North Atlantic Forum at http://northatlanticforum.org/about/.