News

CDE alumnus, Farouq Ayiworoh, recently returned from northern Ghana where he worked with World University Services of Canada (WUSC). He served as an IT & Data Management Advisor with the Northern Development Authority (formerly SADA), based in Tamale, Ghana. Farouk's work helped the northern region of Ghana with a progressive initiative that involves the preparation of a Regional Concept Plan for the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) comprising of 5 Regions. Involving the local communities and stakeholders in this process has been essential.

Emma Drake is a graduate student in the Rural Planning and Development program in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph.   Her research interests involve finding a way to preserve agricultural land in Ontario.  Watch a short video clip about Emma here, produced by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Ryan Gibson is the Libro Professor of Regional Economic Development in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph. Prof. Gibson's research is finding a way to help transition rural communities into the new global economy, while ensuring sustainability and longevity.  Watch a short video clip about Ryan here, produced by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Marc-Antoine Larrivée, a student of the MSc in Rural Planning and Development program, recently had the opportunity to present at the Canadian Association of Food Studies Annual Conference hosted during the Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities in Regina, Saskatchewan from May 26 to May 31. It was a great opportunity for him to share his research on the Conventionalization of Organic Agriculture with academics from all over Canada and beyond. Moreover, it was an occasion to discuss challenges in the food sector with a range academics from other disciplines.

Professor J.D. (Jack) Milliken (ret.) was recently presented with his Canadian Society of Landscape Architects College of Fellows Medal and the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects 50 Year pin by Sean Kelly, Director of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph.  Although Jack retired in 1993, his legacy of founding the MLA program at the University of Guelph continues.

We are pleased to announce that SEDRD Landscape Architecture faculty member, Nadia Amoroso, has received the 2018 CELA (Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture) Award for Outstanding Communications. This award is given to an individual whose body of work “acknowledges truly outstanding, innovative and noteworthy work through communication.

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, Ontario. 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 Bianca Wylie from the Open Data Institute.

Check out the latest video from the University of Guelph’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies profiling Ashleigh Weeden! Ashleigh is a doctoral student in the Rural Studies program in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.  The video showcases Ashleigh’s doctoral research on innovation in rural communities.

The landscape architecture program hosted three sessions on May 3, 2018 as part of the OAC-sponsored Horticulture and Landscaping SHSM Training Day for secondary students and had fantastic responses throughout.

Congratulations to fourth year BLA student, Jenny Trinh on receiving the Brian D. Sullivan Leadership Award. This award was established in honour of Brian Sullivan who served as Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs from 1988 to 1999. This award is presented to a graduating student who has made significant contributions to student leadership through her/his involvement as an elected or appointed student representative at the University of Guelph.