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.

  • Exploring the Diverse Landscapes of Hidden Rural Poverty

    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2009

    By Laura Ryser and Greg Halseth

    Communities across northern BC have been exposed to mounting pressures stemming from fluctuating commodity prices, the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, social and economic restructuring, job losses, and poor conditions on Indian Reserves. Despite these pressures, there is no national or provincial poverty strategy for rural and small town places, and little research has explored the complexity of rural poverty across Canada. This presentation explores the spatial relations that drive coping strategies around rural poverty.  After reviewing the unique characteristics of rural poverty, we assess who is at-risk for living in poverty in resource towns that are typically known for having high paying jobs. This is followed by a discussion of key issues that drive rural poverty, including exclusion, power, and infrastructure.  The presentation ends with a look at the institutional barriers to addressing rural poverty

    Visit https://www2.unbc.ca/greg-halseth/presentations to learn more.

  • Warmth of Welcome Project

    • Community Services Provision
    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2007-2009

    Through collaborative and action research plans, Catherine Nolin, Greg Halseth, and members of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) will work together to highlight the barriers to, and needs for,the strengthened participation of new immigrants in northern community life as well as develop recommendations and concrete initiatives which foster more inclusive and welcoming communities for new immigrants in northern BC. A dearth of research on non-metropolitan immigrant settlement in Canada means that the experience of whole regions of the country is little understood. Activities are being carried out in Fort St. John, Prince George, and Terrace.

    Please note: this was an action-based project. No final report was prepared.

  • Service Industry Sector Project

    • Community Services Provision
    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2009

    Much has been written about the transformation of the North American economy and the rise of the Service Industry sector. As knowledge and information become increasingly valued commodities, the need for workers in all components of the Service Industry sector will be crucial to extracting increased value and GDP from the traditional basic sectors of the economy. Employment pressures/shortages within the Service Industry sector means that this has emerged as a critical labour market issue in northern BC. With funding from Service Canada, this project seeks to delineate this labour market issue and identify practical responses to addressing gaps/needs in both the short and long term.

    These project reports include:

  • Tumbler Ridge Mayor's Task Force on Seniors’ Needs

    • Age-friendly Communities
    • Housing

    2008

    The purpose of this project is to housing and support service needs for seniors in Tumbler Ridge. The work was carried out by the Community Development Institute to provide local community decision-makers with information relevant to service planning and infrastructure investments. The project was carried out in the winter of 2008 and included Census population information, community focus groups, and a door-to-door household survey.

    These project reports include:

  • District of Hudson's Hope Seniors’ Needs Dialogue

    • Age-friendly Communities
    • Housing

    2008

    The purpose of this project is to explore the following seniors' needs in the District: infrastructure and planning, housing, health care, social support services, transportation, networking, barriers to mobility, information, and education. The work will be carried out by a research team from the Community Development Institute at UNBC in May 2008 with the goal to provide community decision-makers with information relevant to local planning and infrastructure investments.

    These project reports include:

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