Rural Development Institute

The Rural Development Institute (RDI) was established in 1989 by Brandon University 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, Canada.

History

RDI was created in 1989. In 1999, WESTARC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brandon University) was integrated with the Rural Development Institute. WESTARC has served for almost two decades as a non-profit 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. [http://www.brandonu.ca/organizations/westarc/release.pdf]

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 University), Mona Cornock (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives), Larry Flynn(Public Health Agency of Canada), 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), W.J. Pugh (Meyers Norris Penny), Dr. Fran Racher (Brandon University), Dr. Doug Ramsey(Brandon University), Frank Thomas (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce), Larry Wark (MTS Communications Inc.), Dr. Dion Wiseman (Brandon University), Dr. Robert Annis (Brandon University).

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

The Director of RDI is Dr. Robert C. Annis. Dr. Annis has been RDI Director since 2000. RDI researchers include: 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 Network
*Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group

References

External links

* [http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi Official site]