Our Research

The CDI maintains a clear focus on research and on providing access to valuable resources toward the goal of increasing knowledge and understanding and building capacity around community, regional, and economic development. Our goal is to balance both applied and basic work so as to maintain academic credibility and to be of practical relevance to communities.

The information in this section is organized by topic. Please contact us if you need help finding information or have a question about any of the research or resources included here.

  • Re-Constructing Rural Places in a Globalized World: Insights from place-based development, new regionalism, and competitive advantage theories

    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2010

    By Greg Halseth

    Rural and small town places are experiencing social and economic change at an accelerating pace.  The purpose of this presentation is to share ideas about how we can understand the changes affecting our rural and small town communities.  A key problem for rural and small town renewal in BC is that many of our approaches are still being constructed as if it was the year 1970.  The processes of change today, however, are not those of 1970.   This presentation begins by discussing the nature of the New Rural Economy, followed by a discussion of the restructuring pressures and senior government policies that can impact the trajectories of our rural economies.  We then explore some new approaches to community renewal that are grounded in place-based development, new regionalism, and the competitive advantage. Once we better understand those foundations, then local places and regions can evaluate for themselves where they think they may wish to go with community development and economic development planning.

  • Norman Lake - Foundations of Cottage Culture

    • Housing

    2010

    Recreational cottage properties are a common part of the rural Canadian landscape. This study explored the changing nature of cottage property development and use. The goal was to gain a better understanding of the human and natural landscape connections that attract cottagers to their recreational properties, and also the changing nature of cottaging communities. In addition to this study at Norman Lake, a companion study was carried out in the ‘cottage country’ lakes area of central Finland.

  • Voluntarism, Ageing and Place: A Critical Review

    • Age-friendly Communities
    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2010

    Population aging coupled with changes in the delivery of health and continuing care services means that more attention must be paid to the role of the voluntary sector (formal and informal) in providing needed services in rural and small town places. This project undertook a critical review of the available literature in the topics of volunteerism, population aging, rural health and social care, and rural and small town community development. The purpose of the project was to provide a better understanding of the pressures facing small communities in supporting older residents via voluntary services.

  • Developing a Communication Strategy for Seniors in a Resource Town in Transition

    • Age-friendly Communities

    2010

    By Laura Ryser and Greg Halseth

    This presentation explores ways to improve communication strategies connecting with, and providing information to, seniors in a resource town in transition. We begin by exploring the unique context of aging in resource communities, as well as how social, economic, and demographic restructuring processes have impacted these places.  After reviewing demographic and service restructuring pressures in Terrace, BC, we explore factors impacting the awareness amongst seniors’ of local services and supports. The presentation ends with some recommendations to enhance communication strategies that can link seniors with needed supports.

  • Including Youth in an Aging Society

    • Age-friendly Communities
    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2010

    By Laura Ryser, Don Manson, and Greg Halseth

    This presentation explores gaps impeding the development and capacity of youth to respond to rural change.  We begin by reviewing the impacts of rural restructuring, as well as the important role of youth in community renewal.  We then draw our attention to key gaps impeding the development of human and social capital assets amongst our next generation of community builders.

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