News

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 of rural communities, and illustrations of successful rural communities.

The Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) positions for the Fall 2018 semester have now been posted. The deadline for applications is July 27, 2018. In order to be considered for a position, you must apply online at www.uoguelph.ca/sessional_ta/.

Winifredo Dagli, a former MSc Capacity Development and Extension student and current Rural Studies PhD student shares his experiences and learnings as one of the 42 doctoral and post-doctoral students in the recently concluded STEPS Centre Summer School on Pathways to Sustainability in Brighton, United Kingdom.  This summer school was highly competitive and provided both academic credit and a tremendous learning opportunity.

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 sustainable development called Confronting Informality.

Congratulations to the graduating students in landscape architecture who received the following awards at the Ontario Agriculture College convocation awards celebration held on June 13, 2018.Above photo:  The Chanasyk Medal for Professionalism was presented by Linda Irvine, OALA, FCSLA (niece to Professor Chanasyk, a forefather of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph)

Ashleigh Weeden is a Ph.D. student in the Rural Studies program in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph.   Her doctoral research is finding ways to help rural Canada keep up in a future innovative digital economy.   

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.

Wayne Caldwell is a professor in Rural Planning and Development in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph.  Prof. Caldwell's research focuses on the future of rural communities, the future of rural Canada, the future of rural Ontario.

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.