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.

  • Tourism and Development Foundation Project

    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2005

    Between May and October of 2005, CDI staff along with faculty from UNBC's Resource Recreation and Tourism Program developed new connections with organizations in the tourism sector.  Our research has shown that tourism plays an important but little studied part of northern BC's economy.  Building upon the Northern BC Economic Development Vision and Strategy Project, and with funding support from Western Economic Diversification Canada, this project explored some of the opportunities and challenges for the tourism sector.

    These project reports include:

  • Resource Frontier Aging: Trends and questions from a mature industrial town in northern BC

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

    2005

    By Greg Halseth, Neil Hanlon, Rachael Clasby, and Virginia Pow

    This presentation examines the process of “resource frontier aging” in Mackenzie, BC by tracking population change and by posing policy questions about how to cope with these changes.  Following a brief introduction to the context and nature of resource towns, the presentation then turns to the community of Mackenzie, BC to look at the way its local population age-structure has been changing.

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

  • Economic Development Framework for Interpreting Local Housing Markets in Small Town Canada

    • Housing

    2005

    By Laura Ryser, Greg Halseth, and David Bruce

    Despite the diversity of rural and small town places, decisions about changes to housing policies and programs are often based upon broad generalized assumptions about the future of such places.  This presentation discusses the linkages between economic restructuring pressures and the rural housing market in different types of rural and small town places.  After developing a framework approach for understanding the housing market and community change in rural and small town Canada, we apply our framework to understanding the potential implications for housing markets in Port Clements and Gold River, BC.

  • Burdening the Overburdened: Understanding the rural and small town voluntary sector in health care reform

    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2005

    By Greg Halseth, Laura Ryser, Neil Hanlon, and Lana Sullivan

    This presentation outlines the importance of the voluntary sector as a key form of capacity for rural and small town communities responding to health care reforms.  After briefly reviewing the changing context of service delivery over time, we draw upon examples from across Canada to discuss some of the stresses being experienced by the rural and small town voluntary sector.  If the voluntary sector is going to play additional roles in the delivery of various health, social, and care supports, then these stresses must be addressed

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

  • Northwest BC Shopping and Commuting Patterns

    • Community Services Provision
    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    2005

    The University of Northern British Columbia's Rural and Small Town Studies Program works with residents, service providers, voluntary organisations, business organisations, and decision makers to identify factors that contribute to the changing social and economic nature of rural and small town places in British Columbia.  This study focuses upon three key aspects of local economies including changing residential and employment patterns, changing shopping patterns, and economic leakage.  In particular, this research explores shopping and commuting patterns in the Northwest region of B.C. with a specific focus upon Kitimat, Prince Rupert, and Terrace.

    Over the past thirty years, transportation infrastructure has been greatly improved in northern B.C. With these improvements, and an increase in alternative media and communication methods, the rural and small town retail landscape is changing. Consumers are choosing to shop in other communities (out-shopping) where they perceive the shopping may be better or they use alternative methods, such as the Internet, to purchase goods. This ‘extra-community’ commuting for shopping results in economic leakage where wages earned in one town may be spent on goods and services in another town. Studies have shown that the availability of goods and services, perceptions about local shopping services, and community satisfaction are important in shopping behaviours.

    This report provides information to help residents, businesses, service providers, and policy makers of each community adjust to changing circumstances. This research is funded by the Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies. The work was carried out under the direction of Greg Halseth of the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia.

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