University of Guelph hosted OJS journals
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Home on Borrowed Land: Residential land leasing and housing attainability in the Northwest Territories
No full textIn the Northwest Territories, the practice of leasing land from the government evolved out of the territory’s settler colonial roots, and in many communities little has changed. However, this unique practice has received little academic attention. This study explores the evolution of government land policy in the NWT from the Dominion Lands Act to “Land is Life,” and lays out the spatial trends and economic impacts of residential land leasing in the territory. While residential land in the largest communities in the NWT is by and large situated within the typical Canadian framework of privately-owned, fee simple land, the same cannot be said for the territory’s smaller communities, where more than five hundred households continue to lease their land directly from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Residential land leasing impacts majority-Indigenous communities the most, resulting in many residents paying the government a yearly fee to lease their own land. In a territory experiencing a housing crisis, the attainability of land becomes a key piece to the puzzle, and the current system, while beginning to evolve, merits critical attention
Closing the Gap: How 2+1 Roads can Save Time, Lives, and Money
No full textIn 2023, Northern Policy Institute published a report concluding that 2+1 roads offer a more cost-effective approach to upgrading major highways in Northern Ontario than highway twinning. 2+1 roads are three-lane roads with one lane in each direction and a passing lane alternating direction every few kilometres, along with a median barrier separating the two directions of traffic. The 2+1 model offers similar safety benefits to highway twinning but is less expensive because it does not require the construction of a second, parallel road. By offering more frequent and safer passing opportunities and reducing the number of road closures due to collisions, 2+1 roads can also improve traffic flow on transportation routes that are critical for rural and northern communities and national supply chains. Tested and proven internationally, 2+1 roads can represent the ideal road configuration on highways across rural and northern Canada where traffic levels are too high for a two-lane road but too low to justify the cost of a divided, four-lane highway. Drawing on the NPI publication, this presentation will discuss how 2+1 roads work, their advantages over alternative road configurations, and the locations where they tend to work best
Resilient Recreation in Rural Yukon
No full textThrough much of the last century, recreation was regarded as a “public good.” However, shifts towards cost-recovery and facility-based services have derailed the vital role that recreation can play in promoting individual health and community well-being. Public health restrictions put into place during the pandemic amplified the need for resilient recreation during times of social and economic hardship. Recent research in rural Yukon portrays resilient recreation as relying less on facilities and providing greater access to self-led recreation. Outdoor rinks, trails, sport courts, and picnic shelters are not as costly as indoor pools and arenas and provide spaces for recreation regardless of the time of day. Self-led activities provide opportunities to participate in recreation regardless of age, ability or means.
The Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon takes a purposeful approach to supporting rural communities to engage their citizens in active, healthy lifestyles. The focus is on recreation that is inclusive, accessible, and “lighter” or less of a burden on community resources. Recognize how this approach contributes to resilient recreation and ultimately contributes to Yukoners’ health and well-being
Addressing labour shortages through newcomer attraction in rural Ontario and British Columbia
No full textThis research investigates labor shortages and challenges in rural Ontario and British Columbia. It engages diverse stakeholders from various economic sectors including newcomers (both new Canadians and rural residents), rural businesses, and economic development agencies. The study focuses on various newcomer groups that contribute human capital, such as newcomers from urban areas, immigrant newcomers, and temporary migrants. The goal is to better-understand the issue and propose innovative solutions by capturing the experiences of individuals integral to rural life. This approach aims to identify actionable policies and strategies for attracting, retaining, and welcoming newcomers to support rural business in their efforts to meet evolving employment needs
Gender-Based Violence in Rural and Remote Communities: Impacts from COVID-19
No full textPresentation on Mental Health, Rural Well-being & COVID-19 as part of the panel discussion on Care and Community
Supporting Newcomers and Migrants in Rural Canada During and After COVID-19
No full textPresentation on Supporting Newcomers and Migrants in Rural Canada During and After COVID-19 as part of the Changing Patterns in People and Products panel discussion
Rural Employment & Workforce Development: Impacts and Opportunities
No full textPresentation on Rural Employment & Workforce Development: Impacts and Opportunities as part of the Changing Patterns in People and Products panel discussion
Building Community Resilience
No full textKeynote presentation by Shey Conover titled "Building Community Resilience" 
New Realities of Local Government: Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador
No full textPresentation as part of the panel titled "New realities of local government: Perspectives from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia
Co-developing Community-Based Understandings of Food Security, Food Sovereignty and Indigenous Food Self-Determination in Collaboration with Three First Nations in Northern, Ontario
No full textThis research study explores understandings and experiences of food insecurity among Indigenous Peoples in Canada, focusing on three First Nations in Northern Ontario. It critiques existing measurement tools for failing to capture Indigenous experiences and argues for policies informed by community-specific and culturally contextual understandings of food sovereignty and security. The research defines Indigenous food self-determination, emphasizing the importance of integrating local and scientific knowledge into governance and policy approaches. The study highlights the strong link between food sovereignty as a necessary pathway towards food security, noting challenges such as food accessibility, affordability, and quality. Child food insecurity rates were particularly concerning, with issues like limited meal ingredients and hunger. Results show that community members see their collective as the primary safety net against food insecurity, underscoring the importance of community-driven solutions. The findings suggest that braiding Indigenous and Western knowledge is key to developing effective, culturally relevant policies to address food insecurity