Past Events

The Rural Planning and Development program is hosting a virtual town hall meeting with all current RPD students on July 14, 2021 from 12.00-1.00 pm EST. The meeting is an opportunity to check-in, receive program updates, discuss upcoming opportunities, celebrate achievements, and ask your questions. Instructions for joining the discussion are available on Courselink and will be circulated via email in advance of the meeting. 

Jeffrey Reichheld, a Doctoral candidate in Rural Studies, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development will be presenting her Qualifying Examination on “Discourses on the land: Understanding the impact of the conflicting discourses of neoliberalism and environmentalism in determining Canadian farmers’ land use decision-making”.

School of Environmental Design and Rural Development – Rural Planning and Development  M.Sc. Thesis Examination Miranda Ivany, a master student in Rural Planning and Development in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, will defend her thesis on “Rural Philanthropy:  Mapping Patterns of Charitable Giving in Newfoundland and Labrador & Canada’s Atlantic Region".

Join us in celebrating students that have graduated from the Rural Planning and Development (RPD) graduate program in Fall 2020 and Winter 2021. Details and zoom link will be provided via your UofG email.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for significant change at a rapid pace. Rural communities across the world have pivoted to address both the short-term and long-term implications for rural people, rural economies, and rural landscapes. This panel discussion examines four rural regions and their responses to COVID-19. Panelists will share their experiences how their rural region was impacted by the pandemic, their responses, and their future directions.

The International Comparative Rural Policy (ICRPS) consortium hosts an annual Summer Institute for graduate students, researchers, policy analysts, and rural communities. The 2021 ICRPS Summer Institute focuses on enhancing rural prosperity. The 2021 Summer Institute will convene for two weeks in a remote format and will involve approximately 30-40 graduate students and numerous faculty members from universities around the world.

School of Environmental Design and Rural Development - Landscape Architecture MLA Master's Thesis Examination Tina George, a master of landscape architecture candidate in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, will defend her thesis on "Evaluating the Role of Collage as a More Effective Representation in Landscape Architecture Praxis". Examination Committee: Nadia Amoroso, Advisor, SEDRD Sean Kelly, Advisory Committee Member, SEDRD Steven Clarke, Examination Member, SEDRD Silvia Sarapura, Chair of Examination, SEDRD

Dr. Alexandra Peel (Geriatrician, Royal Oaks Health and Wellness Centre and Research Chair in Rural Senior Care) will share insights on how to build rural communities where people can age at home. The webinar is hosted by the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health, a partner with SEDRD.  More details about the webinar and registration can be found on the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health website.   

The Rural Planning and Development program is accepting applications for the Master of Planning program to start in September 2021. The Master of Planning is a one-year degree program intended for students with a completed undergraduate degree and 4-5 years of planning and development experience. The program consists of both required and elective courses and concludes with a major research paper.

The Latornell Conservation Symposium is Canada’s largest gathering of environmental and conservation sector specialists. An important part of the Symposium is the annual student poster competition. In response to the ongoing pandemic, the poster competition aspect of the Symposium has taken on a virtual format for 2021 and is being held on May 27th. The Latornell Conservation Symposium has developed a reputation for quality, and is a wonderful experience for students (as well as professors who have a practical bent and an interest in conservation).