News

The Rural Symposium is an annual opportunity for University of Guelph graduate students to showcase their rural research to policymakers, policy analysts, and program staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The event facilitates knowledge mobilization and network building between graduate students at the University of Guelph, researchers, and OMAFRA. The 2024 Rural Symposium will take place on March 5 from 9.00 am - 3.00 pm. 

The Landscape Architecture program in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is saddened to hear of the passing of Kenneth A. Mitchell, who died at age 49 after a five-year battle with ALS.  Ken graduated from the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program in 1998.  He was a tremendously talented student during his time at the University of Guelph. 

SEDRD has three Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) positions available this summer for undergraduate students:

SEDRD will be well represented on the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) after three graduate students were elected to the board of directors at the November annual general meeting. Josh Barrett (PhD Candidate in Rural Studies) was elected President, and Danika Hammond (MSc in Rural Planning and Development) and Jeff Reichheld (PhD Candidate in Rural Studies) were elected as a board members for a two-year term.

Congratulations to Regan Zink, who is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) - Canadian Home Economics Association Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to a candidate studying in one or more aspects in the field of Human Ecology/Home Economics/Family and Consumer Sciences, at the master’s or doctoral level.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a visible migration of urban populations into rural communities. A new research initiative is examining the migration trends taking place in Ontario and their impact on rural communities, economies, and environments. 

On October 5, 2023, Vincent Fracchioni accepted an Award of Merit from the City of Brampton 2023 Urban Design Awards on behalf of his student group for their fourth-year studio project, "The Grove." Brampton has a vision to completely redevelop Steeles Avenue and Hurontario Street by 2040, turning it into a transit and community hub. 

Congratulations to Margot Kopache, a third-year master of landscape architecture student who was awarded the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) 2023 Frederick Gage Todd National Scholarship.

Congratulations to Kristina Zalite, a master of landscape architecture alumnus who was awarded the inaugural Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) 2023 Robert N.

Takudzwanashe Mundenga is a recent graduate of the Master of Science degree in Capacity Development and Extension program.  He was featured in an OAC article and with the Office of Graduate Studies Q&A article discussing his experience at the University of Guelph and the CDE program.