We are is pleased to welcome Dr. Sheri Longboat as an assistant professor in rural planning and development. Longboat joined SEDRD on July 1, 2016.
Longboat’s research focuses on water security and governance. Much of her work connects with First Nations and looks to traditional customs and knowledge to redefine our relationship with water.
During the July board of directors meeting of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet), Dr. Ryan Gibson was re-elected president for a one-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.
Prof. Wayne Caldwell, with master of rural planning and development student, Bryce Sharpe, set out to examine the viability of Mennonite communities in southwestern Ontario. “This research project represents an interest in the diversity of agriculture,” notes Professor Caldwell. "There are special considerations for these communities in a planning context, and this research provides the potential to address these considerations.”
On March 18th, 2016, Rural Planning and Development graduate students in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development hosted the inaugural “Rural Romp”. Planning students from across the province were invited to learn about the unique challenges of planning in rural areas and allowed University of Guelph students to showcase their research.
The Plan Canada Awards were introduced by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) to recognize the best short and feature articles published in Plan Canada the preceding year. These articles are evaluated by the Plan Canada Awards committee and judged according to: the extent to which the article serves the needs and interests of Plan Canada readers; writing style and clarity; good journalism (including insight, imagination, depth of reporting and analysis); and demonstrated leadership and innovation.
Congratulations to Professor Harry Cummings on becoming the new president of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) for 2016-2018 by the CES Board of Directors.
Learn more about Prof. Wayne Caldwell's research in the Rural Planning and Development program within SEDRD in this one minute video clip produced by the Ontario Agricultural College.
Each year the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) holds a national competition for students of evaluation called the “National Student Evaluation Case Competition”. It happens in two rounds and the first round was held on February 6, 2016. In round one, 24 teams from Universities from across Canada received an evaluation problem and wrote a response to the problem.
The graduate students in Rural Planning and Development's RPD*6280 - Advanced Planning Practice class ventured forth to Ontario County, New York State from March 2nd to 4th. The intent of the journey, besides staying at a really nice lakeside resort in the Finger Lakes district on the off-season, was to examine the on the ground planning practices conducted at the state, county and local municipal areas.
Rural Planning and Development graduate students Taylor Wellings and Jenn Burns have authored a blog post titled "Rural Planning: Not just an Urban Thing" in the Ontario Provincial Planning Institute (OPPI) website.
The blog post is meant to facilitate an exchange of planning knowledge, best practices, and issues important to planners. OPPI wants to foster meaningful and respectful discussion about planning and the planning profession.