2006-2007

News Release

REF NO.: 0

SUBJECT: Grenfell - Community sustainability project gets underway at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College

DATE: April 30, 2007

The first in a series of workshops on community sustainability will take place May 8.
Dr. Ivan Emke, professor of social cultural studies at Grenfell College, Memorial’s west coast campus, is conducting a feasibility study for a rural research centre, under the working title “Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities.” To this end, Dr. Emke, along with research assistant Jennifer Butler, will hold workshops and conduct interviews with key stakeholders in community sustainability.
The first workshop will feature guest speaker David Bruce, director of the Rural and Small Town Program, Mount Allison University, NB. He will address what he thinks are the challenges facing rural communities; what post-secondary institutions can do to address the challenges; and what his program has been involved with to help rural areas face challenges. The evening will begin with refreshments at 7 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7:30 p.m., in room 328 of the Arts and Science Building, Grenfell College.
“The Rural and Small Town Program prepares people and organizations to adapt to change and to act on opportunities for developing sustainable rural communities and small towns,” said Dr. Emke. “The program links research and action by generating and sharing new knowledge, developing self-help tools, and providing information and educational services which lead to innovative approaches and solutions.”
The workshop is sponsored by the Rural Research Feasibility Project, which is looking into the possible development of a centre to focus on sustainability in rural communities.
 
Biography: David Bruce
Mr. Bruce is the director of the Rural and Small Town Program, Mount Allison University. He holds a BA in geography from Mount Allison and an MA in geography from UBC. Mr. Bruce also teaches part time in the Department of Geography at Mount Allison University. Mr. Bruce has knowledge and expertise in the field of rural community development and associated topics of housing, information technology adoption, home business issues, organizational growth and development, and community economic development. He has participated in more than 50 major research and outreach projects in many provinces and the NWT. He is a certified trainer with the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. He recently completed a two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer for the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation. http://www.mta.ca/rstp/rstpmain.html 

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