The recent announcement of approximately $300 million invested over the next five years in broadband infrastructure is great news according to a SEDRD researcher. "A faster, higher quality and more ubiquitous fibre optic network in rural SW Ontario and Niagara Region is overdue," says R2B2 project leader Dr. Helen Hambly.
SEDRD Faculty Dr. Helen Hambly Odame and Adjunct Faculty Dr. Ataharul Huq Chowdhury are pleased to announce the successful defense by Pawandeep Kaushik, a Masters of Science student from Wageningen University in The Netherlands. Pawandeep was a Visiting Scholar in the Capacity Development and Extension graduate program from Spring 2014.
Learn more about capacity development and extension and Professor Helen Hambly Odame's research within the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development in this one minute video clip produced by the Ontario Agricultural College.
Professor Helen Hambly Odame
Capacity Development and Extension MSc student, Rachana Devkota and Rural Studies PhD alumnus, Dr. Silvia Sarapura publish their research in a new book entitled “Transforming Gender and Food Security in the Global South”, edited by Jemimah Njuki, John R. Parkins and Amy Kaler.
Abstract:
Canada has a long history of accepting refugees from around the world, and many of these refugees have come together in communities that form the diverse backbone of the Canadian population. With them they have brought new foods to the Canadian dinner plate, and products such as okra, eggplant and bok choy are now grown in Canada and enjoyed by Canadians of all cultures.
“We share culture and richness through food,” shares Valencia Gaspard, a first year student in the Rural Studies PhD program. “Food can be used to build communities and bring people together.”
In December 2013, members of Wayne Caldwell’s and Jennifer Ball’s Community Engagement class became involved with a community revitalization strategy in Vanastra, Ontario. After a successful Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) initiative, the task of the students was to explore more closely what some of these revitalization strategies might look like for the Village.
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our former SEDRD colleague, Dr. Mark Waldron. Mark has had a long and varied career. He started his professional life after graduating from McGill University as an agricultural extension agent in Lanark County and later joined the CBC as a farm commentator covering agriculture across Canada. In 1963, Mark returned to his alma mater as Director of Extension and in 1967, he was named associate director of Continuing Education for McGill University.
This week graduate students in Foundations of Capacity Building (CDE*6070) took the opportunity to visit the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) mobile global development exhibition entitled "TOGETHER" which was parked just outside the School. As a rapid "field trip" students examined the exhibit and its presentation on food security and sustainable rural development projects in Africa and Asia. The graduate students then participated in a collective learning exercise that identified and discussed knowledge sharing and learning tools used in the exhibit.