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Dr. Ryan Gibson, a researcher from Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, will be presenting (via video) the results of two studies investigating where philanthropy, rural development, and public policy come together in rural Canadian. Ryan will share the research findings showing the:

• substantial financial capital held by community foundations in rural Canada;
• creation and influence of local-based funders;
• re-balancing of the relationships with government; and
• disconnect between philanthropy and other local actors with similar local priorities.

We hope you can join us in person or via webinar at this Rural Development KX event.

To RSVP:

Contact Elin Gwyn: elin.gwyn at ontario.ca or Ramona Cameletti: ramona.cameletti at ontario.ca

Session Description

Rural communities are at a critical turning point in Canada. Rural communities and regions have witnessed decades of dramatic changes: the dismantling of rural institutions, the out-migration of young people and skilled labour, economic restructuring, and the continued investment on infrastructure to bring resources out of rural areas. Rural regions, and consequently their development, have largely been viewed as being dependent on external actors and funds. External actors have largely taken many forms, such as provincial agencies, federal agencies, and the private sector. Philanthropy, through the platform of community foundations, provides an opportunity for rural regions to utilize existing local resources to facilitate sustainability and revitalization. Community foundations, as one type of registered charity, can play a substantial role in rural and regional development.

Philanthropy through community foundations is explored as a mechanism to facilitate and sustain rural development. This discussion shares findings from two research initiatives investigating the intersection of philanthropy, rural development, and public policy in the Canadian context. The findings focus on: the substantial financial capital held by community foundations in rural Canada; the creation and influence of local-based funders; the re-balancing of the relationships with government; and the disconnect between philanthropy and other local actors with similar local priorities. The research findings enhance our current understanding of philanthropy and its potential roles in regional development.

About the Facilitator

Ryan Gibson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Since 2009, he has served on the board of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation/Fondation canadienne pour la revitalisation rurale (www.crrf.ca), serving as President from 2012-2014. CRRF/FCRR is a national non-profit charity focused on enhancing the lives of rural Canadians. Ryan also serves as an elected board member with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network and holds appointments with the Rural Development Institute (Brandon University), the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development (University of Saskatchewan), and Assiniboine Community College.

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An analysis of Manitoba’s Economic structure suggests:

• 35% of Manitoba’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is generated in non-metro areas. At the Canada level, non-metro areas contribute about 30% of the GDP.
• Within non-metro Manitoba, the goods-producing sectors generate about 43% of the GDP, compared to 29% of Manitoba’s overall GDP being generated by the goods-producing sectors.
• The four largest sectors in non-metro Manitoba in terms of employment are: - Health and social assistance; wholesale and retail trade; manufacturing; and agriculture.
• Manitoba’s agricultural GDP ranks 5th among Canadian provinces and Manitoba’s share has been declining slightly which means other provinces are growing slightly faster.

What are the structure and trends of these economic changes in Manitoba and how might they impact the province's economic strategy and your work?

On December 10th, founding editor of Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletin, retired from Statistics Canada and also past-chair of OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators, Ray Bollman, will present an online webinar to discuss the significance of Manitoba rural economic structure and trends looking at its national and provincial implications.

Register now

RSVP by December 8, 2014

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Before the glass condominiums that crowd Toronto’s downtown skies rose, the city was already home to a veritable concrete jungle of apartment buildings.

Twelve hundred towers house nearly one million people today – with many providing affordable options in the city’s core, a place that is becoming more and prohibitively expensive. Built following the Second World War, however, these towers are far from beacons of sustainability and certainly not immune to disrepair.

Tower Renewal is a program to drive broad environmental, social, economic, and cultural change by improving Toronto’s concrete apartment towers and the neighbourhoods that surround them. Their vision is to work with residents to reinvigorate these important neighbourhoods, making them more liveable and energy efficient, while bringing new community amenities to the sites.

Toronto’s Tower Renewal program is a great example of the kind of project Cities for People and SiG are interested in exploring for our Social Innovation and Resilience in Cities Series. Using it as a case study, we will explore how communities can identify problems and opportunities together, how they can be part of decision-making processes, and how partnerships and attention to positive social and ecological resilience can bring life and long-term vitality to urban systems.

Register now

About the Presenters

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