Journal of Rural and Community Development
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Struggling with New Regionalism: Government Trumps Governance in Northern British Columbia, Canada
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamics of a (new) regionalist development process that sought to enable communities, within a rural region of British Columbia, Canada, to chart a new strategic direction for their future development. We highlight the case of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (C-CBAC), which formed in response to the mountain pine beetle infestation that has destroyed much of the province's pine forests. Spurred by this crisis, the C-CBAC formed to create community and economic transition strategies to cope with long-term economic restructuring and environmental change. While the coalition has achieved many admirable successes, internal governance struggles and the reliance of senior governments on traditional vehicles to distribute supports have severely hindered any regionalist potential for implementation. Ultimately, government trumped governance in this attempt to construct a new regional ideal. The paper highlights the need for 'co-constructing' new regional governance, which entails both bottom-up and top-down responsibility and coordination in the implementation of new regional development processes.
Keywords: regional governance; rural; new regionalism; British Columbia
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Résumé
L'objectif de cet article est d'examiner les dynamiques d'un (nouveau) processus de développement régionaliste requis pour permettre aux communautés, à l'intérieur d'une région rurale de la Colombie Britannique, au Canada, de dévoiler une nouvelle stratégie de direction pour leur futur développement. Nous soulignons le cas de la Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (C-CBAC), qui s'est créee en réponse à l'infestation du dendrostone des pins et qui a détruit la plupart de la pinède de la province. Encouragée par la crise, la C-CBAC fut formée pour créer des stratégies transitoires communautaires et économiques pour affronter les changements environnementaux et de restructuration à long terme. Alors que la coalition a atteint de nombreux succès notables, la gouvernance interne lutte et la confiance envers les hautes sphères gouvernementales quant aux moyens traditionnels de distribuer de l'aide a sévèrement empêché les mises en œuvres potentielles. Au bout du compte, le gouvernement a pris le pas sur les priorités de bonne gérance dans cette tentative de construire un nouvel idéal régional. Cet article souligne les besoins de "co-construire" une gouvernance nouvelle régionale qui entraîne à la fois une responsabilité et une coordination du haut vers le bas et d'amont en aval, dans la mise en oeuvre de nouveaux processus de développement régionaux
Perceptions of Institutions and Development in Rural Costa Rica
Get PDFDissecting complex institutional webs and the roles they play (or should play) in development is an ongoing endeavor. To better understand the relationships between local and external institutions in small communities—specifically, whether these two sets of institutions act as complements or substitutes—we analyze subjective assessments of organizations and development indicators in nine rural Costa Rican towns. We expect to find that attitudes toward both local and external institutions are positively related to perceptions of development indicators. While the regression model we present yields a relationship between the perceived strength of local institutions and development indicators, we fail to find such a relationship with the importance respondents place on the presence of external organizations in their community. The results of a second regression model suggest that individuals may link the importance of external institutions with the specific services they provide. We consider that weak informal ties (embededdness) established by external institutions in these communities may account for the observed lack of a relationship between development indicators and the importance of external institutions.
Keywords: community development, complementarity, embeddedness, substitution, synerg
Food Clusters, Rural Development and Creative Economy
Get PDFThis paper presents a conceptual framework that outlines the formation of a food cluster as part of creative rural development, transforming the 'comparative advantages' of a place into 'competitive advantages' by enhancing a local food production and consumption nexus. A conceptual framework is proposed that emphasizes four facilitators that constitute the innovation process that underpins the creation and operation of food clusters as place-based rural development. The framework is used to guide information acquisition, analysis and presentation in a case study of SAVOUR Muskoka, a food cluster in Ontario, Canada. Together, the framework and case study show how the innovation process involved in the formation of a food cluster contribute to the rural development of a creative food economy
Assessing Transportation Disadvantage in Rural Ontario, Canada: A Case Study of Huron County
Get PDFIn virtually all rural areas of Ontario, Canada, the limited availability of transportation alternatives means that rural residents without access to a personal vehicle are at an increased risk of transportation disadvantage. To date, little research has been conducted in Ontario as to the transportation limitations of rural residents, nor has a comprehensive study of groups at risk of transportation disadvantage been conducted. To address this gap, this research involved the development and testing of a transportation disadvantage framework, using Key Informant Interviews with service providers operating within Huron County, Ontario. Five demographic groups were found to be at risk of transportation disadvantage within Huron County: (1) older adults, (2) those with physical or mental disabilities, (3) youth, (4) people in low-income households, and (5) women. The results confirm that transportation disadvantage exists on a continuum, with some groups more disadvantaged than others, as well as some services more attainable than others. The framework was found to be a useful, and accessible, starting point for assessing groups at risk of transportation disadvantage in a rural community. The findings suggest that a coordinated transportation service, serving multiple demographic groups, may contribute to reducing transportation disadvantage while better utilizing the resources of existing service providers.
Keywords: rural transportation; car dependence; transportation disadvantage; mobility; accessibility; rural Canada
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Résumé
Dans presque toutes les régions rurales de l'Ontario, au Canada, la disponibilité limitée des moyens de transport signifie que les résidents ruraux n'ayant pas accès à un véhicule personnel ont des risques plus élévés d'être désavantagés en terme de transport. Jusqu'à présent, peu de recherches ont été menées en Ontario quant aux contraintes des transports des résidents ruraux, pas plus qu'une étude détaillée n'a été menée sur les groupes exposés à des risques de désavantage de transport. Afin d'aborder cet écart, cette recherche a inclu le développement et l'essai d'un cadre de désavantage de transport, en utilisant les entrevues auprès des informateurs clés avec les fournisseurs de service opérant dans le comté de Huron, en Ontario. Cinq groupes démographiques ont été considérés à risque de désavantage de transport dans le comté de Huron, en Ontario: (1) les adultes âgés, (2) ceux ayant des incapacités physiques ou mentales, (3) les jeunes, (4) les personnes ayant un faible revenu et (5) les femmes. Les résultats confirment que les désavantages en terme de transport existent, sur un continuum, avec des groupes plus désavantagés que d'autres, ainsi que des services plus atteignables que d'autres. Le cadre a été reconnu comme utile et accessible; c'est un point de départ pour évaluer les groupes présentant des risques de désavantage de service de transport dans une communauté rurale. Les résultats suggèrent qu'une coordination de service de transport, servant de multiples groupes démographiques, pourrait contribuer à réduire les désavantages en terme de transport tout en utilisant mieux les ressources des fournisseurs de service existant
Sustainability of Tourism as Development Strategy for Cultural-Landscapes in China: Case study of Ping'an Village
Get PDFThis case study explores the challenges associated with tourism development in a village within China's Longji Rice Terrace Scenic Area. We employ Butler's (1980) Tourism Area Life Cycle model as a starting point for understanding the evolution and growth of tourism in this area and suggest that the prospect for sustainable tourism in the region remains uncertain and will depend on how scarce resources such as water and agricultural labor are managed. Drawing upon observations from site visits and interviews with local stakeholders in one village in the Scenic Area (SA), this case study identifies the various social, economic, and environmental variables that will shape tourism's future contribution to the area's economic and community development and landscape and cultural heritage preservation.
Keywords: poverty alleviation; rural development; cultural landscape; China; sustainable development
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Résumé
Cette étude de cas explore les défis associés au développement du tourisme dans un village dans la région de rizières en terrasses panoramiques de Longji, en Chine. Nous employons le modèle d'évolution des destinations touristiques de Butler (1980) comme point de départ pour comprendre l'évolution et l'augmentation du tourisme dans cette région et suggérons que la perspective d'un tourisme durable dans la région demeure incertaine et dépendra de la manière dont les ressources rares, telles que l'eau ou la main d'oeuvre agricole, sont gérées. À partir des observations faites sur le site et des entrevues avec des intervenants locaux dans un village de la Zone Panoramique (ZP ou SA en anglais), cette étude de cas identifie les variables sociales, économiques et environnementales qui façonneront les contributions futures du tourisme au développement communautaire et local ainsi que la préservation du paysage et de l'héritage culturel
Alberta's Priority Rural Policy Research Questions
Get PDFIn 2012, the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) adapted the collaborative approach taken by Sutherland, Fleishman, Mascia, Pretty, and Rudd (Sutherland et al., 2011) to create a list of Alberta's Priority Rural Policy Research Questions. This approach has primarily been used in the field of environmental conservation, however, it was noted early on that it could be "transferable to a wide range of policy or research areas" (Sutherland et al., 2011, pp. 238). Here, it was adapted to identify what research questions, if answered, could advance the knowledge base for policies and/or management strategies targeting or supporting the sustainability and development of rural Albertan communities. This project and process were designed to aid rural communities in identifying their research needs and priorities, while creating a list of policy-oriented research questions that could be taken on by researchers. In addition to providing a typological analysis of the questions, we argue that such questions, and indeed this form of exercise, provide a contribution in the form of an agenda for rurally-based knowledge synthesis, translation, and exchange.
Keywords: policy, scanning, priorities, sustainability, decision-makin
Outcomes of Migration to Small Regional Retirement Communities on the Canadian Prairies
Get PDFThe broad aim of this paper is to further our understanding of the mobility of older people by investigating the outcomes of migrations to small regional retirement communities on the Canadian Prairies (i.e., Manitoba's Interlake). A three-stage survey design includes (i) a interview survey of 34 recent older movers to the retirement communities; (ii) an interview survey of 10 community leaders; and (iii) two focus group interviews. Community leaders and elderly migrants were in general agreement about key issues facing newcomers to the study area. However, the migrants were generally satisfied with their moves to communities in the study area and had no migration intentions for the future. These results may be viewed as evidence of the successful place integration of elderly migrants within semi-rural retirement communities located in a cold Canadian climate. Policy interventions should be directed toward maintaining sustainable retirement communities to facilitate the integration of older migrants.
Keywords: rural communities, qualitative analysis, migration intentions, migration outcomes, place integration
Drivers of Innovation in Rural Tourism: the Role of Good Governance and Engaged Entrepreneurs
Get PDFGood governance and engaged entrepreneurship are integral pillars for innovation in rural tourism and ultimately its success. This paper investigates the barriers to innovative rural tourism development in the province of Ontario, Canada, through a stakeholders' workshop where success factors for innovation in rural development were categorized as: governance, human resources, investments, research, marketing, communication and co-ordination. A detailed survey followed up on stakeholders' perceptions of innovation in rural settings based on the themes identified. This research suggests that while engaged entrepreneurship may not necessarily be conducive for radical innovation, it has been instrumental in providing the impetus for incremental and liminal innovation, allowing rural businesses to sustainably thrive and also to survive turbulent economic environments. Similarly, governance, which includes broader strategic approaches for the management of rural tourism, bottom-up planning, longer-term strategies and better coordination at the federal level, also creates the environment for innovation in rural tourism. Engaged entrepreneurs are further perceived to play a critical role in providing leadership at the local level to effect product development, packaging, advocacy, training and development for the overall success of rural tourism in Ontario, Canada.
Keywords: rural tourism, governance, engaged entrepreneur, innovation, leadershi
Understanding the Link between Social Organization and Crime in Rural Communities
Get PDFRural communities make up much of America's heartland, yet we know little about their social organization, and how elements of their social organization relate to crime rates. The current study sought to remedy this gap by examining the associations between two measures of social organization – collective efficacy and social trust – with a number of structural community characteristics, local crime rates, and perceptions of safety in a sample of 27 rural and small town communities in two states. Measures of collective efficacy, social trust, and perceived safety, were gathered from key community members in 2006; other measures were drawn from the 2000 Census and FBI Uniform Crime Reporting system. A series of competing hypotheses were tested to examine the relative importance of social trust and collective efficacy in predicting local crime rates. Results do not support the full generalization of the social disorganization model. Correlational analyses showed that neither collective efficacy nor social trust had a direct association with community crime, nor did they mediate the associations between community structural characteristics and crime. However, perceived safety mediated the association between community crime and both measures of social organization. Analyses suggest that social trust may be more important than collective efficacy when understanding the effect of crime on a community's culture in rural areas. Understanding these associations in rural settings can aid decision makers in shaping policies to reduce crime and juvenile delinquency.
Keywords: rural, crime, social disorganization, collective efficacy, social trust, mediatio
An Assessment of Co-operative Society as a Strategy for Rural Development in Edo State of Nigeria
Get PDFThe main object of this paper is to assess the role of co-operative societies as a development strategy. The study was conducted in Edo State of Nigeria. One hundred and fifty respondents were selected using a convenient sample technique. They were drawn from three local government areas of the State. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Statistical analysis was accomplished by means of frequency distribution, percentages and Chi square. The result of the analysis showed that the co-operative society strategy is successful and should indeed be encouraged in the development of the rural communities. The study showed that there is a significant relationship between the co-operative society and the growth in size of the rural business in the rural community and that there is also a significant relationship between the growth in the co-operative society and the creation of employment in the rural community. The study may lack generalization due to the small number of co-operatives used for the study and the convenient sample nature of the selected respondents.
Keywords: co-operative society; rural development; fisheries; assessment; strategy
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Résumé
L'objectif principal de cet article est d'évaluer le rôle des sociétés coopératives comme stratégie de développement. L'étude fut menée dans l'État d'Edo au Nigéria. Cent cinquante candidats furent sélectionnés à l'aide d'une technique d'échantillonnage simple. Les personnes sondées appartiennent à trois régions gouvernementales locales de l'État. Un questionnaire structuré fut utilisé pour collecter les données des répondants. Les analyses statistiques furent réalisées grâce à une distribution des fréquences, des pourcentages et le chi carré. Le résultat de l'analyse montrent que la stratégie de la société coopérative est un succès et devrait en fait être encouragée dans le développement des sociétés rurales. L'étude montre qu'il y a une relation significative entre la société coopérative et la croissance en taille de l'entreprise rurale dans la communauté rurale et qu'il y a aussi une relation significative entre la croissance de la société coopérative et la création d'emplois dans la communauté rurale. L'étude pourrait manquer de généralisation à cause du faible nombre de coopératives utilisées pour l'étude ainsi que la nature pratique de l'échantillonnage des personnes sélectionnées