PhD - Geography, University of Western Ontario (2010)
MSc - Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph (2004)
BA - Communications and Earth Sciences, University of Windsor (2001)
Dr. Leith Deacon is Associate Professor of Rural Planning and Development in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph and McCall MacBain Research Chair in Resilient Rural Communities. He is a Full Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP).
His research examines how rural, remote, and peripheral communities can strengthen resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in the face of demographic change, economic restructuring, climate-related challenges, technological transformation, and evolving governance systems. Through interdisciplinary and community-engaged approaches, his work integrates rural planning, geographic information systems (GIS), data analytics, artificial intelligence, citizen science, and longitudinal survey research to better understand the complex systems shaping rural communities.
Dr. Deacon leads several large-scale national and international research initiatives focused on rural resilience, health and well-being, economic development, climate adaptation, governance, emergency management, and digital innovation. He is the founder and director of the H.E.A.R. (Health, Economy, Adaptation and Resilience) Research Platform, a province-wide longitudinal research initiative designed to generate one of the most comprehensive evidence bases ever assembled on rural communities in Ontario.
His research is conducted in collaboration with municipalities, governments, Indigenous communities, community organizations, industry partners, and international researchers to ensure that research findings directly inform policy, planning, and community decision-making. His work has secured more than $4 million in research funding and supports collaborations across Canada, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Germany, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.
Prospective graduate students interested in rural planning, community resilience, GIS, spatial analysis, data analytics, public policy, climate adaptation, health and well-being, and community-engaged research are encouraged to connect.
Dr. Deacon welcomes inquiries from prospective MSc and PhD students interested in rural planning and development, community resilience, GIS and spatial analysis, data analytics, health and well-being, economic development, climate adaptation, governance, public policy, and community-engaged research.
Current opportunities are available for students interested in quantitative and qualitative research, longitudinal survey design, geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial modelling, artificial intelligence applications, and collaborative research with municipalities, governments, Indigenous communities, and community organizations. Students interested in contributing to the H.E.A.R. (Health, Economy, Adaptation and Resilience) Research Platform and related rural resilience initiatives are particularly encouraged to connect.
Students have opportunities to participate in funded research projects, collaborate with national and international partners, present at conferences, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, and engage directly with community and policy stakeholders.
Research Goal: The goal of this research program is to advance understanding of how rural, remote, and peripheral communities can strengthen resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in the face of demographic change, economic restructuring, climate-related disruptions, technological transformation, and evolving governance systems. Through interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and data-driven approaches, this research generates evidence, analytical tools, and decision-support systems that support effective planning, policy development, and community action.
*Mongeon, Amanda, Cowan, Eric, Humeniuk, Walter, Liu, Shujian & Deacon, Leith. (2025). Using collective impact for intersector action in rural Northern Ontario: Two case studies. Canadian Journal of Public Health. doi:10.17269/s41997-025-01137-y (Published).
*Huq, Ferdous & Deacon, Leith. (2025). A systematic review of community gardens and their role in urban food security and resilience. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 696. doi:10.1007/s43621-025-01628-5 (Published).
*Mongeon, Amanda, Deacon, Leith, Mulligan, Kate & *Telfah, Rana. (2025). Post-Normal Science, Post-COVID: Multi-Method Approaches to Actionable Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. doi:10.1177/160940692513746 (Published).
*Norton, Amanda, Deacon, Leith & Adams, Matthew. (2025). COVID-19 in Rural Ontario Communities: Exploring Women’s Mental Health During a Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6). doi:10.3390/ijerph22060937 (Published).
Roberts, Robert, Munoz, Sarah-Anne Munoz, S., Thorpe, Karla, Dalton, Hazel, Deacon, Leith, Meredith, David, . . . Bain, Steve. (2024). International declaration on rural mental health research: 10 guiding principles and standards. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 34(3), 611-616. doi:10.1111/ajr.70192 (Published).
Mongeon, A., Deacon, L. and Mulligan, K. (2023). A Conceptual Framework for Governance of Health and Wellbeing in Rural Communities. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 18(3).