Rural Sociology
Sociologists working in this field study rural communities and their way of life. The purpose of this research cluster is to support and publicize the work of researchers whose interests encompass rural sociology.
Contact: Jennifer Jarman, Lakehead University
Sad News
We are very sad to share the news of Satenia Zimmerman’s passing. She has been an enthusiastic member of the cluster since 2014, helping to organize the yearly meetings of the Rural Sociology’s cluster activities as well as maintaining the website. One of her important contributions has been to organize, chair, and present in sessions devoted to discussing rural research undertaken with Indigenous communities. She will be sorely missed.
Obituary
Quick Links
Member Profiles
Conference Sessions
Congress 2024 will take place in-person in June 2024 at McGill University, Montreal.
Resources
ReSDA
Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic
Research Director: Chris Southcott
The Arctic remains one of Canada’s last storehouses of natural resources. For many Canadians, the Arctic represents opportunity and potential wealth. For those living there, however, the Arctic is home, and is viewed and experienced quite differently. Northerners are keenly aware of the enormous social, economic, and environmental challenges facing their homeland. For those living in Canadian Arctic communities, the development of capacity in order to meet these challenges is far more pressing than the exploitation of resources for the benefit of the rest of the country.
The main focus of the research will be on findings ways of ensuring that a larger share of the benefits of resource development stays in the region, with fewer costs to communities. Researchers in various disciplines of the social sciences and humanities have been examining different aspects of development in the North in a variety of regions and contexts. Recent funding opportunities, such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC)’s “Northern Communities: Towards Social and Economic Prosperity” program, have increased the ability of researchers to examine these issues. ReSDA will mobilize this critical mass of research and researchers around the focused question of finding out how to minimize the social, economic, cultural, and environmental costs.
In partnership and with the substantial support of a wide range of northern actors, ReSDA will fund a series of research projects around the themes of sustainable regions, sustainable communities, sustainable cultures, and sustainable environments. The potential exists for finding new ways of developing resources that will ensure greater benefits for, and build capacity in, these northern communities. Rather than being something that threatens communities’ vitality, the development of natural resources can be done in a way that will ensure the long-term sustainability of northern communities.
RESRG
Resources, Economy, and Society Research Group at Lakehead University.
Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Aid to Small Universities grant, RESRG was founded as a means of building research capacity by encouraging new research activities among faculty with diverse interests and experience. Focusing on issues related to local, regional, and global development, our research group brings together scholars from multiple disciplines working on issues pertaining not only to Canada, but also to Latin America, India, Africa, and Europe.
RSS
Rural Sociological Society
The RSS is a professional social science association that promotes the generation, application, and dissemination of sociological knowledge. The Society seeks to enhance the quality of rural life, communities, and the environment. This website is intended to serve all those interested in rural people and places.