News related to Rural Planning and Development

The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development will host a Graduate Program Information Night on Wednesday, February 11th, 2015 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the Landscape Architecture Building Lobby (LA Pit).

This is a chance to learn about the graduate degrees we offer in Landscape Architecture, Rural Planning, and Capacity Development and Extension.  You can also learn about our PhD in Rural Studies.  This is a chance to chat with profs, current students & alumni, and learn about career opportunities.  You can also enjoy some free pizza!

How do you practice good planning? This question has consumed students, teachers, and practitioners alike since planning became a profession. SEDRD Director, Dr. Wayne Caldwell shares his thoughts on planning, planners, and his projects.

What is Good Planning Practice?

For Dr. Caldwell, good planning means serving the public interest. “As Planners, we are always thinking of the public interest,” said Dr.  Caldwell. “We have a professional obligation to define the public interest in a consultative manner and implement it through policies and programs.”.

Bryce Sharpe, a graduate student from the Rural Planning and Development program, spoke at the Elmira Produce Auction Cooperative (EPAC) Annual Grower’s Meeting held in the Town of Elmira in December. Bryce’s talk was part of his research dealing with policy for farm parcel creation in the Region of Waterloo. His research aims to document Mennonite perspectives regarding existing policy, as well as the strategies that Mennonite farmers are taking to adjust to, and even take advantage of, small parcel size.

Congratulations to the following School of Environmental Design and Rural Development undergraduate and graduate students who received the following awards at the Ontario Agriculture College fall awards celebration banquet which were held on November 18 and December 2, 2014:

Rural Landowner Stewardship Guide for the Ontario Landscape receives an Excellence in Planning Award from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph received an Excellence in Planning Award from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute for the Rural Landowner Stewardship Guide for the Ontario Landscape The award was received at Queens Park on November 7, 2014 in the Communications/Public Education category.

Mike Salisbury has been re-elected Councillor for City of Guelph’s Ward 4.  Mike is a specialist in the design and development of natural playgrounds and outdoor learning environments for schools, daycare centres and municipalities across North America.  He served as a Councillor for Ward 4 between 2006 and 2010 and will now serve a second term.  He entered the Master of Planning program in the fall of 2013.  Mike also has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Guelph.

During the 2014 Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) conference held on September 28, 2014 in Prince George, British Columbia retired Rural Planning and Development Professors, David Douglas and Tony Fuller were awarded Lifetime Memberships to recognize their outstanding contributions to the betterment of rural Canada and the Foundation.

Find full article of CRRF website under Lifetime Members.
 

The University of Guelph is a partner in the $2.5 million Rural Policy Learning Commons (RPLC) a 7-year project to identify and analyze policy options relevant to rural and northern places; evaluate these options in the context of national and international policy innovations, and build leadership capacity among rural and northern researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners.

The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects ‘OALA Honourary Member Award’ was presented to Mr. George McKibbon on Friday, March 28, 2014 at the OALA Conference and AGM at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel.  The Honourary category of membership is for non-landscape architects for whom the OALA Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.