OUR PROJECTS 

  

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching and extend beyond the spread of the disease and efforts to quarantine it. With emergency management efforts underway, opportunities exist to develop more effective and efficient response measures to increase the resiliency of our communities amidst this and future public health crises. Developing impactful resilience strategies requires a regional- and community-scale focus. While most Canadians live in urban centres, nearly 20% of the national population resides in small and/or rural centres. Across Canada’s rural landscape are communities facing unique realities, complex challenges, and numerous opportunities.

 

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Team members involved:

Miranda Ivany (MSc Student)

Jacob Papineau (PhD Student)

 

This research study asks: what enabling supports and structures would help small/rural communities in Northern Ontario to more effectively respond to disruption? Working with small communities in Northern Ontario, the project will include document review and interviews, then a participatory workshop to develop recommendations. Results will contribute to strengthening Canada’s public health system by identifying opportunities to better support local governments in small and rural communities to promote health and wellbeing.

 

Click here to view the Final Report: Lessons from Northern Ontario

Click here to view the Policy Brief: Lessons from Northern Ontario

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If you wish to participate, please click here to read the participation invitation.

 

Team members involved:

Amanda Mongeon (PhD Candidate)

Portia Derbedrosian (Research Assistant)

 

 

 

Rural communities are experiencing unprecedented challenges related to COVID-19: business closures, employment disruption, lack of revenue, and inability to maintain critical service delivery. To ensure that emergency preparedness in terms of actions that rural communities and government can take reflect their on-the-ground realities and concerns, it is critical that broad-based, community-focused data is collected and exchanged. Examining six counties from Ontario, this mixed-method project (i.e., surveys and interviews/focus groups) will examine well-being (e.g., mental health), social behaviour (e.g., employment-impacted behaviour), day-to-day living (e.g., shopping habits) and risk management (e.g., accessing existing services). Results will be coalesced into geographic regions (e.g., provincial- and/or county-level, lower and/or upper tier municipalities) to highlight (i) successful initiatives, (ii) pre-existing and newly recognized vulnerable populations within and across rural communities, and to make recommendations for how the province can continue to support rural communities to develop appropriate response plans for COVID-19 and future disruptive events.

 

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Team members involved:

Jacob Papineau (PhD student)

Megan Cranfield (MSc student)

Julia Di Castri (BA student)

Nicholas Vamvakaris (BLA student)

Emma Pothion (BLA student)

Ahmad Nazari (BLA student)

Finley O'Brien (BLA student)

 

 

 

Rural communities are at the forefront of Canada’s clean energy transition. Federal commitments to net-zero will require vast amounts of new energy infrastructure in rural places that land-use planning frameworks are not equipped for. Examining rural municipalities in Manitoba, this mixed-methods research reviews local development plans (the same as official plans) using a plan quality evaluation framework and interviews municipal officials, planners, and utility staff. Findings will help identify barriers and opportunities to the integration of energy planning into rural land-use planning frameworks.

 

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Click here for Michael's final thesis.

Click here for a related article published in Planning, Practice, and Research.

 

Team members involved:

Michael Kvern (MSc student)

 

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significantly negative and varied impact on rural Ontario's economy. Many rural communities in Ontario heavily rely on industries such as agriculture, tourism, and small businesses. With lockdowns, restrictions, and reduced consumer spending, these sectors have been hit hard. Tourism, for instance, suffered as travel restrictions and safety concerns led to decreased visitor numbers. Small businesses faced closures and financial challenges, while agricultural production and distribution faced disruptions in supply chains. To address these issues and facilitate recovery, comprehensive research on the specific challenges faced by rural Ontario is crucial. Such research will support policymakers and local leaders develop tailored strategies to support economic growth, create job opportunities, and ensure the resilience of these communities in the face of future crises broadly. Understanding the unique challenges rural Ontario face is a critical step in ensuring a more prosperous and sustainable future for these regions.

 

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Team members involved:

Adam Medeiros (MSc student)

Daina De Angelis (MSc student)