No images? Click here MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORGreetings, As many of you know, we have gone through a period of significant transition here at the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities. Not only did our long-serving and hugely successful founding Director, Dr. Lars Hallström, take on a new position as Director of the Prentice Institute at the University of Lethbridge in January, we were also sad to say goodbye to our long-time Executive Assistant Carole Preston, very much the glue that was holding the centre together. In the wake of the moves, the ACSRC has spent the last few months completing an informal period of “strategic reimagining” and we look forward to launching new projects and partnerships while continuing to be a key player in the world of sustainable economic and community development in rural Alberta. For our first foray in this new direction, we are very pleased to announce our webinar series "Rural Economic and Community Development in a Post-Pandemic Alberta” Additional details on the presentations as well as the links to register are found below. In the months ahead, we look forward to announcing new research projects and outreach initiatives through our newsletter. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to us should you have any questions for us or some ideas for collaboration. Best wishes this spring and stay safe! Dr. Clark Banack, Acting Director, Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities AUGUSTANA CAMPUS LUNCH & LEARN - FIVE ECONOMIC RULES TO UNLEARN...AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ALBERTA IN 2021 Presenter: Todd Hirsch, Vice President and Chief Economist, ATB Financial LIVE WEBINAR (AUGUSTANA CAMPUS LUNCH & LEARN) April 29, 2021, 12 Noon MDT This webinar is part of Augustana Campus' Lunch & Learn series that shares research with our Augustana community. More Info & to Register OLD SOLUTIONS FOR NEW PROBLEMS: WHY ALBERTA'S SMALL TOWNS NEED TO CONSIDER COOPERATIVES Presenter: Kyle White, Governance & Education Lead, Co-operatives First LIVE ACSRC WEBINAR May 12, 2021 11am-12pm MDT ADVANCING LOCAL RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ALBERTA: INSIGHTS FROM A SURVEY OF MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND RURAL LANDOWNERS Presenters: John Parkins, Professor of Sociology, Department of Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta and Sonak Patel, Grad Research Asst Fellowship, Department of Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta LIVE ACSRC WEBINAR May 20, 2021 3pm-4pm MDT THE CHALLENGE OF SOCIAL COHESION IN POST-PANDEMIC RURAL DEVELOPMENT Presenter: Dr. Clark Banack, Acting Director, Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities, University of Alberta LIVE ACSRC WEBINAR June 3, 2021 11am-12pm MDT Dr. Clark Banack’s latest article, “Ethnography and Political Opinion: Identity, Alienation, and Anti-Establishmentarianism in Rural Alberta,” published in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, can he found here Dr. Debra J. Davidson's recent talk “Going Local: Participating in Community Food Systems” can be found here. Dr. Kristof Van Assche's recent talk “The Route to Reinvention: Community transformation in times of crisis” can be found here Dr. John Parkins has been leading a team of U of A researchers on a project that explores both the significant potential inherent in wind energy across much of rural Alberta, and the resistance to such development in rural communities. Click here to access many key publications that have been generated by this work. NEW OPEN ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATE IN AGRICULTURE & FOOD POLICY Augustana Extended Education has partnered with U of A's Department of Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology to deliver a new, online' Certificate in Agriculture & Food Policy'. This series of six, open enrollment short courses examines the key trends in the agriculture sector with a focus on research and policy innovation, and social, economic, and environmental impacts. More Info & to Register The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation has produced a series of reports on key issues impacting rural communities as they face the challenges of managing the pandemic and look to future recovery. Please find these resources here The ACSRC is grateful for your support. |