Rural Development Institute
Encyclopedia
 A centre for excellence in rural development |
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| Director: | William (Bill) Ashton |
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| Affiliation: | Brandon University Brandon University Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr.... |
| Address: | Brandon, Manitoba Brandon, Manitoba Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...  |
| Website: | http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi |
The Rural Development Institute (RDI) was established in 1989 by Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
as an academic research center focusing on issues affecting rural communities in Western Canada and elsewhere. The Institute provides an interface between academic research efforts and the community by acting as a conduit of rural research information and by facilitating community involvement in rural development. RDI has diverse research affiliations, and multiple community and government linkages related to its rural development mandate. RDI is located in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, Canada.
History
RDI was created in 1989. In 1999, WESTARC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Brandon UniversityBrandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
) was integrated with the Rural Development Institute. WESTARC has served for almost two decades as a nonprofit consulting group that has concerned itself with the applied research, training and economic development needs of communities and organizations in western Canada. WESTARC has provided project management, research, training and consultancy services to meet the needs of communities, businesses and organizations.
Advisory Committee
The role of the RDI Advisory Committee is to provide general advice and direction to the Institute on matters of rural concern. On a semi-annual basis the Committee meets to share information about issues of mutual interest in rural Manitoba and foster linkages with the constituencies they represent. Members of the Advisory Committee include: Dr. Scott Grills (Chair, Brandon UniversityBrandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
), Mona Cornock (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives is a department of the Government of Manitoba, overseen by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives...
), Larry Flynn
(Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada is an agency of the Government of Canada that is responsible for public health, emergency preparedness, and response and infectious and chronic disease control and prevention...
), Monika Franz-Lien (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives), Reg Helwer (Shur-Gro Farm Services), Ben Maendel (Baker Hutterite Colony), Jonathon Maendel (Baker Hutterite Colony), Darell Pack (Rural Secretariat
Rural Secretariat
The Rural Secretariat is a focal point for the Government of Canada to work in partnership with Canadians in rural and remote areas to build strong, dynamic communities...
), W.J. Pugh (Meyers Norris Penny
Meyers Norris Penny
MNP is one of the largest chartered accountancy and business advisory firms in Canada, serving mid-market clients all throughout the country. MNP is widely known for providing client focused accounting, tax and business advisory services...
), Dr. Fran Racher (Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
), Dr. Doug Ramsey
(Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
), Frank Thomas (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
), Larry Wark (MTS Communications Inc.
Manitoba Telecom Services
Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. , or MTS , formerly Manitoba Telephone System, is the primary telecommunications carrier in the Canadian province of Manitoba and the fourth largest telecommunications provider in Canada with 7000 employees...
), Dr. Dion Wiseman (Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
), Dr. Robert Annis
Robert Annis
Robert “Bob” Joseph Annis was an American soccer defender. He was a member of both the 1948 United States Olympic soccer team and the U.S. team at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
(Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
).
Research domains
RDI responds to rural challenges and opportunities by focusing on a comprehensive range of research topics, including:- Community economic development (CED)
- Community leadership
- Environmental and agro-economic issues
- Information management and technology utilization
- Policy and program research and development
- Rural adaptation and change
- Rural/northern health & well-being
- Rural Immigration
- Rural tourism
Research team
In June 2009, William Ashton was named the new Director of RDI, replacing Dr. Robert C. Annis. RDI researchers include: Robert Annis, Marian Beattie, Kenneth Beesley, Kenneth Bessant, Jill Bucklaschuk, Susannah Cameron, Wayne Dibgy, John Everitt, Barbara Gfellner, Ryan Gibson, Diane Martz, Alison Moss, Beth Peers, Fran Racher, Doug Ramsey, Karen Rempel, and Ray Silvius.Linkages
RDI has linkages with major research and research institutions with rural interests, such as:- Canadian University Network on Rural Development (CUNORD)
- New Rural Economy
- Community Futures Manitoba
- Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program
- Canadian Community Economic Development NetworkCanadian Community Economic Development NetworkThe Canadian Community Economic Development Network is a member-driven Canadian organization, founded in 1999, that seeks to increase the scale and effectiveness of community economic development - helping organizations and individuals strengthen their communities and create solutions to local...
- Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group