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Hi Vanessa and Beacher,

Something that came to mind as I was reading your discussion as well as a few other of our classes’ threads this week is that advances in connectivity may completely redefine rural as we know it today. By adopting the planning model of smart villages many of the characteristics we’ve associated with rural areas could be erased entirely to some degree, such as being geographically removed from urban centres, having limited access to capital and other resources, and being generally reliant on urban areas. What’s left are the differences between urban and rural regions in population and dominant industry.

I find this to be an interesting thought experiment that might help us finalize how we define a rural area vs an urban area. Assuming the smart village model can reduce differences to these two characteristics, we’re left to debate whether population density or how residents make their income is the dominant factor influencing whether a region could be considered urban or rural. To me, I leave it to the dominant industry of the community. Specifically, if a community is rooted in primary industries and conducts their economic activities in a relatively local manner – businesses are owned and operated locally – the community can be defined as rural. On the other hand, if the communities economic activity relies on commuting into a traditionally urban area, or is a secondary industry dominant community, I would define it as a small-urban or extra-urban place. I’m curious what the two of you think about both the premise of this thought experiment and which of these factors may be more important.

- Dan

Last Post: To the Infinity and Beyond.

Hi all 

I guess this would be my last post. Firstly, some reflections of this course, I am really thankful for the field trip to the two rural locations (okay maybe St Jacobs isn’t that rural). I learnt a lot from the weekly seminar sessions and sharing by my fellow peers. It is a pity because I feel like I did not participate much in the discussion mainly because I am still rather fearful of saying incorrect things during class. It was really an eye-opener to be exposed to a seminar styled class which I have never experienced before. I hope in the future I would be more active in class and actively participate in the in-class discussions.

Alright back to the topic at hand: the future of rural places. I think I mentioned in another previous post about the future of rural places. I am glad that the topic given reinforced the importance of future thinking for the rural place because they are the fuel for the urban. For this post, I would discuss some of the trend and issues of future rural places. I will end off by introducing the idea of smart villages which I think would be what I imagine most future rural places will transform into.  

Demographics

I feel that future demographics of the rural is a pressing issue for policy-makers that it would continue to be a significant issue for the future. With regards to my version of rural Ontario for the population size, to be honest, I am uncertain. This is due to the high variability of the balance between rural and urban population growth. Currently, we are seeing the ‘life-cycle effect’ within rural Canada. It describes the movement of people between the urban and the rural, younger population would move the cities in pursuit of better opportunities whilst the aged would migrate to rural areas. Future of rural demographics is highly dependent on the continuation of this cycle. If the life cycle effect proceeds as with current trends, the rural would age more rapidly than the cities. This could have several implications on the rural communities, one salient implication would be the availability and accessibility of public service for these communities. Hence, I think it is also certain to say that the future liveability of the urban would have implications on the cycle, ultimately determining if the cycle will continue.

For those that are left behind, the impacts are massive. As the population slowly diminishes, all sources of incoming for social spending as well as the continuation of cultural activities will gradually dwindle. With each decrease in spending, closure of stores and cancellation of events, each step further erodes the quality of life of the rural. As mentioned, the local government would face more difficulties in the provision or maintaining the quality of various social services. Cost of these services is also expected to increase if the trend continues. The Canadian Council on Learning reported in 2006 that students in rural Canada significantly underperform their urban peers. Secondary school dropout rates are nearly twice that of metro regions and the percentage of 25- to 54-year-olds with at least some post-secondary education is 10% below that of urban areas.

Of course, there are some abnormalities for some of the rural areas. Those communities that are proximate to urban centres suffer fewer consequences of demographic issues. Those with scenery, cultural or recreational attractions can balance local enterprise with income from tourism. Proximity also draws out the issue of connectivity which would be discussed in the next section.

Connectivity

Although connectivity between the rural and the urban has been mentioned multiple times throughout this term, I feel that it is important to reintroduce it to illustrate its importance for the future of the rural. Improving both physical (transport networks) and virtual connectivity is paramount to support rural economics as well as the provision of public services. This connectivity is especially important for more isolated rural areas as they are in dire need of services and resources to sustain themselves. In order to ensure a sustainable future for rural Canada, the topic on connectivity is therefore significant. In terms of physical connectivity, in the future, I think there would be an improvement in physical infrastructure to improve connectivity. This is especially important rural communities that are dependent on a market-based delivery method for their economy. The lack of transport networks creates natural barriers for rural business to break into the increasingly concentrated markets in the urban. Therefore, I feel it is important to fill in these gaps in the transport networks. One suggestion I feel that would greatly improve transport would be inter-provincial and federal level collaboration to plan for high-speed rail throughout Canada. This idea is mainly based on the success in the development of similar high-speed rails in other developed countries like Japan, China and other European countries.

Source

With regards to virtual connectivity, I think broadband communication (3G and 4G) is going to be an issue of growing importance. This is so because, in the digital age that we live in today, the absence of such connectivity would lead to unwanted problems like digital exclusion. The rural is deprived of crucial information which can further worsen existing problems in the rural. With the improvement of digital connectivity, I argue that it can bridge the gap between the rural and the urban. As such digital connectivity should be addressed in rural communities in the future. However, looking at current trends for internet penetration, I am optimistic that future rural place would not lack digital connectivity. With better virtual and physical infrastructure, I think rural places are slowly transitioning into what should be known as “Smart villages”.

Source

Smart Villages

 Rural communities are slowly closing the gap with the metro by applying their “smart city” concept to smaller rural places. Although one difference between smart cities and smart villages would be the forms of implementation. Smart cities used interrelated digital technologies to transform the different functions of cities with top-down implementation.

On the other side, smart villages are created through the focus on local communities taking their futures into their own hands, often, but not exclusively, with the help of digital technologies.

Although there is still contention for the meaning of While the idea of smart villages may mean different things to different people, several key features of smart villages have, in fact, been articulated and clarified through the European Commission’s EU Action for Smart Villages (April 2017).

“In Smart Villages traditional and new networks and services are enhanced by means of digital, telecommunication technologies, innovations and the better use of knowledge, for the benefit of inhabitants and businesses. Digital technologies and innovations may support quality of life, a higher standard of living, public services for citizens, better use of resources, less impact on the environment, and new opportunities for rural value chains in terms of products and improved processes. The concept of Smart Villages does not propose a one-size-fits-all solution. It is territorially sensitive, based on the needs and potentials of the respective territory and strategy-led, supported by new or existing territorial strategies.”

Source

Personally, I think smart villages will be the general morphology of future rural place. I am a strong supporter of information and communication technologies development. I concur with the statement mentioned in the same article by European commission which states that “Technology is important as are investments in infrastructure, business development, human capital, capacity and community building. Good governance and citizens involvement are also key.”

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Hey Maddy,

I love the Aldo Leopold quote you included in your post. It reminds me of the book he wrote: the Sand County Almanac. If you haven’t read it I’d really recommend it. It details his experiences in connecting with his land and the ways in which he experiences the natural world, both as a steward of it but also as a member of it. It recounts a slow relationship built on commitment and patience, the latter of which I feel that we struggle within an increasingly small and fast-paced world. I completely agree with you that physical interaction with the natural world in a way described by both you and Mr. Leopold as slow and personal is essential to ensuring we make healthy decisions about the environment. 

Using this to plot out a flight path for land preservation leads me to think that outdoor education for youth and children is essential. Very few people get the privilege to escape their suburban or urban hometown and experience a natural space beyond a city park. Without formative experiences with more natural spaces, I feel it becomes impossible to imagine the beauty and value of non-humsn kin and the relationships between us all. Making these relationships accessible for everyone is essential for the society-wide shift we need to promote permanent land preservation. Once again great post Maddy!

- Dan

How are you reconciling your personal relationship with the land?

Something that has been evident throughout this course for me is that the future of rural spaces is largely unknown. Population growth, urbanization, decline in the agricultural sector, out migration…. there are several contributing factors to this unknown future. This being said, the future of rural spaces needs to be certain and these spaces need to be preserved. I fear what our collective future will look like without these places that sustain life.

Land preservation is something that is so critical right now in society. Land sustains us and without it, I fear for our very survival as a race. Food provision, technology provision, air and water regulation… all of this is made possible because of natural entities and spaces. I am reminded of the Biosphere 2 project of the 1990s where 8 people tried living in an artificial environment for two years. Despite mimicking environmental processes this project largely failed… species relied on for food died, pollinators died, CO2 levels became a worry and so forth. The takeaway here is perhaps that we are extremely vulnerable without natural capital and we cannot manufacture substitutes. Watch more about the interesting project here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJGR6qNVzA 

So what can we do? How can we get people to care about promoting these literally life sustaining landscapes. A flightpath to this that I see is a resurgence in connecting with nature. A focus and shift on building relationships based on deep reciprocity and responsibility. Relationships with ourselves, with others, with our environments and everything within them, biotic and abiotic. This can have profound impact on the way we interact, care for and therefore manage nature.

The way we interact with nature is not static. In fact, over the past few centuries it has been continually shifting and evolving. This can be seen in transitions that have shifted from fearing nature and therefore seeking to control it, to celebrating it leading to fortress conservation, to again utilizing it to sustain human life. At the same time, we have seen human lifestyle change dramatically alongside and influencing the way we view and interact with nature. The way we interact with nature is directly tied to history and lifestyle. This has led us down a path that currently seeks to separate humans from nature in order to command and control environmental resources. We do this by simplifying nature and its components in order to utilize and control them. I would argue we need to be seeking lifestyles and thought changes that situate ourselves within and as a part of nature. Our historical resource use has largely deteriorated our relationship with nature, however, this does not have to be our future. Alternate futurities exist.

The top layer of muskeg and earth (right), and the underlying tar sands (left) after the removal of the muskeg, at the Syncrude tar sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, on September 17, 2014. Photo: Todd Korol.

And yes, generalization alert flashing in red… Of course there are many wonderful communities and individuals who work to dismantle this destructive system. I am not dismissing them, in fact I am proposing we witness and therefore learn and (un)learn from them.

For example, baring witness to Indigenous people and the ways that they interact with the environment. Indigenous worldviews tend to be intrinsically tied to nature and can therefore teach us so much about environmental stewardship. As Tully (2018) states, “The unsustainable and crisis-ridden relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people that we are trying to reconcile has its deepest roots in the unsustainable and crisis-ridden relationship between human beings and the living earth” (Asch, Borrows & Tully 2018, p. 266). Reconciling the land is a crucial component to reconciling with each other and simultaneously learning about being stewards to the environment. Something like 80% of the planets biodiversity is found within the customary lands of Indigenous peoples which has been managed and maintained by these people for time immemorial. Upholding these practices offers hope for the future.

Additionally, I feel that for the past few years as Spring is sprung and all beings (including myself) are reawakening, I revisit Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. I hadn’t yet, until mulling over this prompt where I realized that this ethic over half a century later continues to reign true. Based on extending moral value to all natural beings and ecosystems as a whole, I feel it aligns with what I am trying to advocate for in creating deep reciprocal relations. It does not separate humans from nature as it is important to think of how we therefore shape these ecosystems we find ourselves situated in. How do we live, breath and exist while maintaining ecological integrity… Is this possible?

Leopold (1949) states, “It is inconceivable to me that an ethical relation to land can exist without love, respect, and admiration for land, and a high regard for its value” (Leopold 1949, p. 223).  As our society has largely headed in the opposite direction, engaging in command and control management styles, I think it is time to revisit this ethic towards intense consciousness and responsibility to the land. If we are all equal then we must all be protected.

From a day spent on hands & knees, picking chanterelle’s on Haida Gwaii. 

I see this deep connectivity as a path for all on this planet. We can learn so much from our non-human and human kin and I think that is such an important part in ensuring the wellbeing of all beings both biotic and abiotic to exist and thrive in this world. I think it is one of the biggest questions we are facing and I see reconciling our personal relationships with nature as a way to find these answers.

Further, it is a way to preserve our spaces and places by breathing life into them. People protect what they hold dear to their hearts. Reconnecting with nature and rural spaces will promote preservation of them. I truly hope that is the future of rural Ontario. I hope we see this resurgence of land based practices and land based love and therefore land preservation. The introduction of more Greenbelt-esque preservation plans that work to both protect and filter growth to very specific already built up areas. This therefore influences building up instead of out. We are seeing this in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area, and I only hope to see more rigid introduction and implementation of initiatives like this in the future.

Our history has shaped the way we interact with the land around us ~ let’s put in the work and energy then to shape our future that is built on connection and stewardship. We are all caretakers to this land, it is time to start embodying and acting on that. My questions for this week are surrounding how you work to foster relations with non-human kin? What drives and inspires you in this realm and do you see these as a flightpath to land preservation?

A beautiful Okanagan sunset as well as the backdrop for my blog! 

Warm regards & happy Spring, 

Maddy 

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Reflecting on ‘rural’

To kick off the last blog post of the semester, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on all that I’ve written while exploring rural Canada. Above is a word cloud generated based on ALL of the content written since the start of the semester, with each word growing in proportion to how often I used it in these blog posts. I find that some standouts within this word cloud such as community, agriculture, development, farmers, local and economic are unsurprising but reveal a lot about the ways which we as a class and myself have conceptualized rurality.

What counts as rural to me now

Throughout the last four months, writing this blog through the University of Guelph’s Seminar in Rural Geography has challenged my understanding of rurality in Canada, forcing me to question my preconceptions of rural spaces. Overall, I believe that my knowledge of rural spaces has deepened rather than shifted. Generally, I still view the parameters of what constitutes rural Canada similarly as I did at the beginning of this course. To me, there are three key components of rural spaces: (i) rural spaces are based in primary productive industries, centred about an agrarian economy; (ii) rural spaces have reduced access to services and amenities that act to limit their potential and may lower well-being for locals; and (iii) finally rural spaces are somewhat lacking in political representation. In this way, I contrast my conception of rurality with the remote spaces in Canada, which deal with much more severe dependence on primary industry and face much more extreme disparities in service/amenity access. In Canada, the rural-remote divide is just as interesting to examine and as challenging to define as the rural-urban divide. In Ontario, this line could be conceptualized as an east-west line that divides northern and southern Ontario and is significantly based on just how distant you are from an urban centre and what (if any) primary industries you take part in. Each region faces significantly different challenges and opportunities that will continually reshape rural Ontario.

Envisioning the future of rural Ontario

Within ten years the I think the dominant driver of change will be the loss of agricultural land due to ever-expanding urban- and suburban-sprawl. The debate of preservation vs development will be realized in real time and manifest within our rural areas as real estate development competes against our needs for natural capital and agricultural lands. I think this debate will be framed largely in the context of Ford government policy and their subsequent legacy. Previously legislation establishing the Ontario greenbelt has been challenged already by the Ford Government through Ontario Bill 66 while simultaneously campaigns for expanding the greenbelt have been active. Ultimately, I believe that in most cases the demand for new affordable single detached housing will dominate municipal land planning decisions throughout Ontario and we will see suburban areas continue to expand over prime agricultural soils.

A proposed expansion of Ontario’s Greenbelt (source)

Additionally, demographic changes and migration will shape the form of remaining rural communities throughout Canada. As we’ve discussed throughout this course, rural outmigration into urban areas has contributed to the decline in rural people as a proportion of the Canadian population. These shifts have been mainly done by young people, leaving an over-aged population in their wake. As such, the workforce required to maintain healthy communities has all but vanished into the concrete jungle of Canada’s urban centres. To replace this, I believe immigration will be heavily focused into rural areas within the next ten years, redirecting new Canadians from the urban to the rural. A quick google search confirms this, with many news articles (such as this one) covering the drive from the provinces to attract both skilled and unskilled labour to rural spaces throughout the country. These opportunities may dramatically shape the cultural fabric of rural communities, which will be interesting since much of rural culture is rooted in European settler-colonialism, exemplified by the murals Vanessa presented in her Jane’s Walk presentation.

Fifty years from today, the drivers of change in rural spaces will be much different and mainly out of human control. Specifically, Climate Change will be the most significant driver of change in rural areas all over the world. In southern Ontario, drought and water table depletion will be the most critical concerns for rural areas, particularly for agrarian regions. Cash crop agriculture is extremely water intensive and intensification throughout the past century has put tremendous stress on aquifers. With increasing temperatures and growing rates of evapotranspiration, water tables continue to drop significantly and may lead to an inability to keep growing the same types of valuable crops such as corn. Rising rates of extreme and violent weather events will also place stress on our rural communities, with increasing temperature extremes of particular concern in Ontario due to their effects on agriculture. Our ability to develop resilient economies and communities within rural spaces will be tremendously important, as I highlighted throughout my presentations this semester. Under these novel environmental conditions, I struggle to imagine what this might mean for rural communities and how it will actually shape their form and function, but the cynic in me is not tremendously hopeful.

How and why should we care?

Student art poster for the ‘Good things grow in Ontario campaign’ (source)

Challenges faced by rural communities in Ontario are severe and affect all Canadians. Rural areas contribute substantially to our economy, supply the vast majority of our food, are a recreational space for many, and relative to urban spaces are bastions of biodiversity. Getting people to care about rural spaces can be challenging, but to me, the best ways are to get people connected through food. Already, campaigns by our government such as the “Good things grow in Ontario” have been around for decades and aim to encourage people to think about both local food and their relationship to rural spaces. While rural tourism may offer some modes of education, often as we’ve seen, creative destruction of rural spaces ensures that the experiences tourists are purchasing are tailored to their wants of a rural idyll and may not be representative of what that rural community was before the tourist transformation. That’s why I see food as the best opportunity for meaningful connection. We all need to eat, and this region is capable of producing fantastic food, combining our natural agricultural bounty with education is an excellent opportunity to get people to care about rural people and spaces.

- Dan

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Putting the Digital Age to Work

(Image Source: https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/satellite-program-ghanas-cocoa-farmers/)

One week ago, I had the opportunity to visit the 2019 Rural Symposium at the University of Guelph, hosted by the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. In the early afternoon, Mr. Abdul-Rahim Abdulai – who also spoke in our lecture a few weeks ago on his research in Newfoundland and Ghana – presented on the social disruptiveness of digital agricultural technologies in Canada and in Ghana. I found this presentation fascinating. To summarize, big data – much like that gathered through social media – in agriculture is an exponentially growing industry. However, there are concerns that a lack of legal protections or legislative action will lead to issues regarding wealth generation, farmer independence, and ownership of data generated by farmers or on farms. A key point of this presentation is that we don't really know how these impacts will play out within communities, but understanding social dynamics within communities is critical to maximizing benefits for the farmer.

My perception of rural Canada changed through this presentation and associated reading because it helped me realize that the pace of change in Canadian agriculture is likely increasing at a rate much faster than I could have guessed. With the increased change, I fear for the stability and viability of rural communities. I think it’s fair to expect changes at a similar scale and pace as when the internal combustion engine entered agriculture. If Mr. Abdulai’s concerns about farmer independence are valid, then we need to be preparing for the worst for our farming communities and ready to support farming families as changes come. Perhaps this means reconstruction of the rural landscape as a whole as the profession of farming changes, or perhaps changes will remain isolated within the functioning of farms as independent entities.

According to Syngenta - the sponsor of this New York Times article - Smart Ag sector will expand by USD 6 billion in the next four years through expanding industries of  large scale data creation projects like satellite imagery and drone captured images; seed engineering that is expected to improve crop resilience dramatically; and an overlooked component in precision agriculture is the incorporation of targeted pollinator support and conservation into farming systems. This article claims that these technologies will help save time and money for farmers by improving the efficiency of farming.

Personally, I have trouble trusting them. Beyond this spokesperson's apparent vested interest in promoting digital agriculture, Mr. Abdulai is concerned that will make rural communities and farmers more dependent on the external private sector much in the same way as the Green Revolution made farmers exceptionally reliant on external inputs and agricultural infrastructure. I discuss the issues of this process for farmers in my last blog post if you're curious.

However, it seems that farmers are getting excited about the prospects of digital farming. This CBC article explains how throughout a significant agricultural conference in Alberta, farmers are being amazed and enticed by the possibilities of better information for decision making, support in the form of physical resources and infrastructure, and the ability to reduce their impact on the environment.

Moving forward with cautious anticipation is perhaps our best move as a society. Embracing the changes that digital technology may bring to rural communities while establishing strong data laws that will allow farmers to receive compensation for their data and protection from exploitation.

(Image Source: https://internetofbusiness.com/accuracy-drone-data-agriculture/)

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Hi everyone,

I’m so happy that this topic has generated so much discussion, it’s calling me back to dinner table discussions (read ‘arguments’) between me and my aunt about the development of wind turbines on the coast of Lake Erie in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. 

You can see six turbines in the distance in this google streetview image about a kilometer from the farm property where I spent my summers as a kid. I think it’s important to note that this photo was taken in 2014, and if my memory serves me right there are nearly double the number of turbines visible from this road today. 

Generally, arguments would go something like this: My aunt would remark “I can’t believe how many new turbines they’ve put up this summer!” “But Aunt don’t you think we need to be putting up as much renewable energy as possible?” I would retort. “Yes, but...” and the dogs of hell were unleashed between us. 

Common complaints from my aunt and other locals included: noise, aesthetic pollution (if you can call eyesores that), disturbance to crops, pollution to groundwater, and inadequate consultation. These are severe issues and have affected the community at large including on our own property where our well water has been irreversibly polluted with ultra-fine silt, explained to us as resultant of vibrations caused by the turbines. I now have to swallow my pride in our arguments and admit that the establishment of these turbines is exceptionally problematic. Especially considering that most people who allow turbine development do so out of financial necessity since you can receive sizable incomes from allowing their construction and operation. 

On the other hand, family friends of mine who had truly grown up in the region felt indifferent at worst towards the turbines, although they felt that they were eyesores they expressed the necessity for their presence under the realities of climate change. So they tolerate them, and often don’t think about them at all. It seems as if there are generational divides regarding the establishment of this form of infrastructure. I find myself agreeing with them as well.

So, once again, I find myself in the grey area on rural issues we’ve been discussing, navigating the social and environmental challenges we are required to face is exceptionally challenging. 

Thanks for your great discussion Vanessa and Kaleigh, for starting this discussion Taylor, and for entertaining me in this ramble to anyone reading. 

- Dan

Winds of Change: Rural Attitudes Matter

I’m glad that we were introduced to Guelph’s Rural Symposium because I got to listen to a variety of topics and get an idea of what is expected by graduate students in their master’s research (which I’m sure some of us are considering for the future). Before attending, I knew that there would be a good turnout because Guelph is very involved with Southern Ontario agriculture, but I didn’t realize that there are so many studies and support for rural Ontario- on social, economic, environmental, and spiritual spectrums. After attending the morning session, the presentation that I found the most interesting was the very first one, “Perceptions of Wind Turbines in Rural Communities: A Case Study in Orono, Ontario”, by Jenn Adams. I think this is because I was introduced to the impacts and controversial topic of wind turbines last semester in a FARE Land Economics course. In this course, we spent a few days discussing the wind turbine developments in Melancthon, Ontario and how it influenced people’s property values based on proximity and visibility of the turbines, as well as resident’s opinions. Below I have provided the link to a podcast in which our FARE class recorded in November 2018 with Professor Brady Deaton, interviewing Dr.Richard Vyn, who is the author of the article “Property Value Impacts of Wind Turbines and the Influence of Attitudes Toward Wind Energy”.

Podcast: https://www.uoguelph.ca/fare/institute/podcasts#propertyvalue

Article: http://le.uwpress.org/content/94/4/496.refs

This presentation reminded me of the complications faced with renewable energy development in rural Canada. Like the Melancthon township, Orono is predominantly a farming community, who generally have negative perceptions around wind turbines due to their aesthetics, noise, economic influence, environmental effects, and accused “health” effects on humans and livestock. In the Melancthon case, while some residents are largely against wind turbines, some have shown interest and are excited about having additional energy, as well as a possible return of funds. In Orono, Jenn mentions that there is no lack of support for renewable energy, so why are there negative attitudes towards wind turbines? Using the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) theory, Jenn made an important realization that rural community member’s perceptions on wind turbines will determine the support for turbine developments in Orono. This is interesting when you consider other Canadian rural towns, such as in Alberta, who have had very different experiences. Residents here don’t have large controversy because wind turbines have been around much longer than in Ontario. Similarly, when turbines first went up in mid-2000s in Ontario, community attitudes were neutral. I think that over time, the possible increase of media attention and development may have shifted attitudes towards turbines in rural jurisdictions. It’s almost like a ripple effect; the more that the message gets out that people think turbines are bad, the more people will consider that mindset (hetero-thinking becomes homo-thinking).

This has made my understanding of rural Canada more complex, coming to terms that not only do these communities face environmental and economic barriers, but also forms of social and psychological barriers. Perhaps being disconnected by large innovations that would be experienced in more urban centers has caused rural residents to develop a sense of nervousness and lack of trust, worried that innovations, such as wind turbines, will reduce their living and agricultural conditions. This idea is touched upon in the article form class, “Canada’s Rural Problem (1923)”, under the section, Work of Socialization.

I thought that Jenn’s research was interesting because it explores the attitudes of rural communities on development. It gave me the impression that rural residents are hesitant and passionate about technological developments occurring within their townships. I think these communities have a right to be ‘on alert’ about developments on the land, as rural Ontario is sensitive and must be protected with sustainable strategies to ensure it isn’t taken advantage by large companies. However, in class, we often talk about rural spaces as being the victim, but perhaps in cases such as these, where falsely lead perceptions discourages rural support of clean energy, they are unintentionally victimizing themselves.  

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The Issue of Rural Self-Determination

Writing for this blog has taught me that rural spaces are far more diverse than I could have imagined. As such, the problems facing rural communities in Canada are diverse and affect multiple groups of people in very different ways. However, I feel that there is one problem that through the 21st century will accelerate in its pace and influence over rural communities: the vertical integration of the agri-food system, a process I briefly discussed during my IGNITE presentation a few weeks ago.

Vertical integration of the agri-food system loosely refers to processes of globalisation and neoliberalism that began in the late 20th century that acted to consolidate capital within a gradually decreasing number of private sector firms [2]. This process occurred in response to the need to feed a rapidly growing global population and appetite, which at the time called for intensification agricultural practices [1]. In turn, this required farmers to take on much larger loans to finance new farm equipment, agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides, and seeds [1]. Vertical integration, therefore, concentrated capital into the hands of very few people, consolidating power from diverse communities and actors into highly specialised supply chains.

For Canadian farmers, this has squeezed profit margins to the bone, as ever-increasing capital investments are needed to stay competitive. The vertical integration of the modern food system has excluded sustenance farming as a livelihood strategy for the global south and required Canadian farmers to depend on migrant labour to maintain a bottom line [3]. The most vulnerable people globally are therefore tied into the mega-supply chain of agri-food giants out of necessity. Food insecurity has now become an issue of unethical and inequitable concentrations of power in the agri-food system rather than simply one of adequate production [3]. Disproportionate power distribution directly improves the profit margins of agri-food giants, while simultaneously reducing food security for both Canadian citizens and non-citizen migrant workers [3].

The increased necessity for economies of scale in agriculture has eroded the ability for farmers to remain independent decision makers with resilient livelihood strategies. It is argued due to the intrinsic relationship between food security and livelihood resilience for rural communities, developing tools to equitably implement resilience building policies is critical to improving food security in the modern world [4]. The amoeba method of capital evaluation (which I discussed briefly in my presentation but is explained in more detail in this paper [4]) provides us one tool to evaluate how specific communities might respond to the processes of globalisation and ensure that some decision-making autonomy can be retained by our rural communities. In our seminar discussions and blog posts, we have explored several examples of rural communities that have collapsed in response to shifting capital and industry abandonment. Ensuring that communities remain independent is critical to maintaining both a healthy agricultural sector and prosperous rural communities that remain livable well into the future.

(1)  Godfray, H. C. J., Beddington, J. R., Crute, I. R., Haddad, L., Lawrence, D., Muir, J. F., ... & Toulmin, C. (2010). Food security: the challenge of feeding 9 billion people. science, 1185383.

(2)  McMichael, P. (2009). A food regime analysis of the ‘world food crisis’. Agriculture and human values, 26(4), 281.

(3)  Weiler, A. M., McLaughlin, J., & Cole, D. C. (2017). Food Security at Whose Expense? A Critique of the Canadian Temporary Farm Labour Migration Regime and Proposals for Change. International Migration, 55(4). Doi: 10.1111/imig.12342

(4)  Pelletier, B., Hickey, G. M., Bothi, K. L., & Mude, A. (2016). Linking rural livelihood resilience and food security: an international challenge. Food Security, 8:469-476. Doi: 10.1007/s12571-0610-0576-8

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Hi Maddy and Emma,

I definitely agree that ongoing suburbanization and urban sprawl pose a threat to the ability for regions like Wellington County to be agriculturally self-sufficient or at least significantly contributing to its own food demand. However, I disagree that we are becoming increasingly disconnected with food itself. 

There are so many examples of shows that demonstrate that we are in a heyday for food appreciation. For example, on Netflix and cable, shows like Chef’s Table; Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; or Parts Unknown (Anthony Bourdain’s famous food & travel show). Facebook has Tasty videos and countless copycats. Youtube has brilliant shows like Binging with Babish or It’s Alive with Brad and Gourmet Makes with Claire on Bon Appetit.

In Guelph specifically, it seems that this appreciation is partnered with the local food movement, as exemplified in the ten community supported agriculture programs within the area and in the thriving Guelph Farmer’s Market. I truly think that when people can afford to, good local food becomes an accessible priority. That said, another conversation is worth having about who is able to access good local produce and what barriers currently exist.

Where I think you both have made a great point is that we are increasingly disconnected on an individual basis with the production of food. It is no longer a necessity to produce your own vegetables or raise animals. Maddy, your example of the closure of the University’s Organic Farm represents this perfectly. Programs like community gardens and getting gardening or hobby farming incorporated into our formal education system may remedy this and help people develop a stronger affinity towards their food, fostering respect and appreciation. Hopefully, we can achieve these before urban sprawl makes it unrealistic to seek out local food.

 - Dan

(sources are hyperlinked)

Food For Thought...

Happy Sunday,

Growing up in Milton, at one point dubbed the “fasted growing City in Canada” I have first hand witnessed out of hand expansion and development. One issue that therefore troubles me about rural Canada, more specifically rural Southern Ontario, is the conversion of prime agricultural land to suburbs and other urban uses.

Responses to population growth over the last few decades have resulted in an explosion of single family home dwellings. Constantly expanding urban city limits have continually encroached on rural spaces and gobbled up some of the best agricultural land in the country. This has resulted in declining local food systems.Of course, people need places to live, but don’t they need food to eat as well?

And yet farms persist! Althaea Herb Farm, located right in Guelph, Ontario. 

These events have simultaneously existed amongst some other major global issues and events. Most notably climate change and globalization which manifests in the passing of major free trade laws and increasing movement of goods over larger areas than ever before.

These events have caused disconnections between people and their food. What scares me the most about this is the discourse that supports and increases this disconnect. And I can see this discourse being created everyday. Fast food, grocery stores that allow for the consumption of produce from the other side of the world without thought, the University of Guelph’s slashing of the organic agriculture program, and the conversion of level 1 prime agricultural land into suburbs which I’ve witnessed within my lifetime. This manifests in instances such as the one witnessed in The Nature of Things episode Lost in the Suburbs. During this episode it was seen how as urban encroached on rural, complaints about the noise and odour of agricultural productions began. I wonder, where do those folks think that those eggs they are complaining over came from?

This troubles and scares me as this disconnect has severe implications. It causes us to acquire goods needed for everyday life and not question where they are coming from and at what cost beyond their extremely subsidized market value which does not account for other externalities. For example, fuel costs on the environment from shipping goods across the world. This can be seen in the average food item in a standard meal of our neighbours in the United States travelling 1,500 miles to get to that plate (Kingsolver 2008).

In an ever changing world, forming connections with our food seems to be some act of resistance on its own. Despite an increasing loss in agricultural lands due to population demands, we remain incredibly fortunate in Southern Ontario in terms of our access to fresh local foods. Options to connect with local systems in direct resistance to the globalized system we find ourselves in exist. Lets talk about them and simultaneously connect with the land that sustains us. Food is an incredibly powerful way to bring people together. It offers a multitude of ways to form connections and combat these growing disconnects.

A very smokey shot of a cherry orchard that I worked at over the summer in the Okanagan, British Columbia. A very humbling experience that taught me a lot about connecting with the food on our plates. 

A question I therefore have for folks is how are you connecting with your food in a globalized world?

In warmth and dryness on this very wet day,

Maddy

[dw-geog4390-blog]

Wait, your twitter bio says what?

I remember a trend that spread throughout my high school starting in about 2013. Several friends of mine suddenly become (in their words) ‘country kids.’ Suddenly, they had a deep love for country music; were purchasing pickup trucks, boots and hearts festival tickets, even cowboy boots; and were proclaiming that they were “country kids stuck in the city” in their Twitter and Instagram bios. People I knew seemed incredibly and suddenly drawn to the countryside and were not only seeking out authentic rural experiences but were also seeking to reinvent their identity to suit a rural lifestyle. At least their perception of a rural lifestyle.

At the time I was amazed (and if I’m being honest, perplexed) by this trend. The people who often were expressing themselves in this way had little experience in the country. Several of my close friends who were representing themselves this way had never worked on a farm or spent much time in rural spaces unless you count cottages in Muskoka. They, like me, were raised in Mississauga, a suburb with distinctly few rural spaces. In my first post, I discussed how several old family friends are from the Chatham-Kent area and grew up in a rural place. Their experiences of annually de-tassling corn as a summer job, working on farms, struggling to find both work and things to do applied very little in the context of the upbringing me and my Mississaugan friends shared. In hindsight, I think the fascination with rural places is rooted in something we’ve discussed throughout this course many times: the rural idyll. The romantics associated with the countryside I think acted as an antithesis to the experiences of suburban kids and created a strong cultural draw to something different. I thought for a long time that this was a strange thing to be happening until the same thing began happening within music circles of artists I started listening to towards the end of high school.

Recently, some alternative music has seen a big swing towards the influences of Folk, Americana, and Country [F.A.C.]. Neil Young is frequently cited as a significant influence for popular alternative bands and artists like Pinegrove and Kurt Vile who has increasingly leaned into this style in recent albums such as his newest, Bottle it In. These artists continue to steadily grow in popularity, each with a very strong F.A.C. influence but both made up of Philadelphians (a major urban centre). While I cannot speak to the experiences that each of these artists has that draw them towards F.A.C. influences, I find the popularity of these artists within the alternative/indie/punk community I find myself in surprising. Other alternative artists like (Sandy) Alex G – another Philadelphia local - have also suddenly engaged in similar sonic transformations. Their most recent record Rocket (which I was personally a big fan of) was filled with these same F.A.C. influences, with songs like Bobby standing out against the sounds of their lengthy discography. I’ve put hyperlinks to each of the above-mentioned artists, albums, and songs if you’re curious. I’d really recommend checking them out.

edit: I wanted to link this live session with Kurt Vile for NPR’s Tiny Desk series because I love it so much.

https://youtu.be/HPpjFtNPnAc

Reflecting on these two supposedly disconnected experiences is how similar my connections with the three bands above is to that of my old friends who suddenly felt such a strong connection to country music. While I personally don’t agree with adopting a personality based on stereotypes of what a ‘country person’ would do, wear, and drive, I think that these cultural transitions represent a changing perception of rural spaces and people within urban communities. Recognition of the importance of rural areas is drawing people towards them and fostering spaces where rurality as an identity is sought after, and cultural aspects of rurality are being incorporated into cultures typically associated with suburban people – such as the indie/punk music scene. Perhaps as the local food movement, recognition of the declining quantity and health of our rural places, and proximity to rural spaces increase this trend will become even more widespread. I just hope that this trend genuinely engages with rural people and culture without misappropriating it.

[dw-geog4390-blog]

Hi Taylor and Maddy, 

I think your point about people having a different point of reference is really important. In addition, I think taking the context of natural spaces into consideration is very important and should be a part of this conversation. In the same way that everyone’s definition of natural is different, I think the value system they will apply to a place depends on the space, natural spaces in wilderness areas will be valued so differently than a constructed ‘natural space’ like parks. 

For example, the Guelph Arboretum is one place that has for me like so many others a ‘natural’ space to turn to as an escape from the surrounding urban landscape and connect to nature. However, this is an entirely fabricated place. Check out this old aerial photo of the University of Guelph campus from 1964, the top of the photo shows the bottom extent of what would later become the Arboretum.

Photo source (https://www.archeion.ca/aerial-view-university-of-guelph)

Comparing this to a similar view in Google Maps (below) shows that this is truly a constructed place to imitate a natural space and trick you into feeling isolated from the urban space (in a good way).

Reflecting on my own experience engaging with natural spaces within multiple contexts, education has significantly changed my experiences. I remember thinking on my first trek into this place at how wonderful it was that such a beautiful natural space was available for the public. As I learned more about different species and got better at identifying them, I realised later that some of my favourite places in the arboretum were overwhelmed by invasive species and that many of these ‘natural spaces’ were more degraded and artificial than I ever could have realised through solo observation alone. My runaround point is that I think educating people from an early age about what natural spaces used to look like, what healthy ones look like, and why these healthy landscapes are so important will help people fully understand the implications of degrading rural spaces.

Do either of you have similar experiences of shifting perceptions on a natural or not-so-natural place?

“Fake Nature”  Artist- Humans.

I want to talk about a topic we recently started to discuss in class the other day; which is unpacking the values we determine of rural areas. It’s evident that humans have an undeniable appreciation for nature, some willing to spend millions of dollars to reside on land for it’s wilderness aesthetics, whether that be the wide open country, or in a lush forest. Perhaps this is why undeveloped areas in Ontario are very sot-after locations. It becomes worrisome that we have less amounts true nature today, which is addressed in the paper, “Canada’s Rural Problem”, by W.C. Good (1923), and also that people are encouraging this ‘lesser version’ because they have forgotten, or don’t know what it’s like to appreciate real rural. Some of the spaces that people consider to be “green” and lush are facilities like golf courses, which require mass amounts of inputs and design to look a certain way. For instance, the first image below of Ironwood Golf Club in Exeter is a classic example of a pristine golf facility found in Ontario. 

https://www.golfnorth.ca/welcome-ironwood-golf-club/

People tend to purchase property or homes around such course because there is a high chance that other residential housing will not be developed around them, and that they will be near this ‘natural’ beautiful golf course. We discussed in class that this can be problematic when courses look to sell years after. I think It’s very ironic how people seek to live in, or nearby, a rural look-a-like area. I bet if they could really see how much destruction and contamination is required for the upkeep of these so-called green, lush and natural spaces, their perceptions would change. Now, compare the above image to this second photo of Tara Iti, which is and all natural golf course design in New Zealand. 

https://www.linksmagazine.com/can-golf-course-natural/

Sure it may not deliver that same “wow factor” as Ironwood, but its ecosystem value is much higher. The value of rural spaces should be determined by these true ecosystem properties as well as being measured by their creation of recreational activities like hunting, bird watching, or hiking, and spiritual enhancement and physiological growth they provide, especially for early developmental stages of childhood. It can be hard to communicate to people the urgency to conserve their land when large corporations offer large amounts of money. Therefore it becomes even more important to express and communicate the value of rural land. I also think that it’s important to realize the urgency for using place-based strategies to save rural communities from these forms of destruction, as highlighted in the reading “Strengthening Rural Canada” (2016).

In theme with the faulty appreciation of fake nature, I have included some ridiculous examples of projects that attempt nature:

Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls. In 2008, artist Olafur Eliasson installed four artificial waterfalls around the waterfront in New York. 

Robotic flowers to attract bees. Using a synthetic pollinizer to further the pollination by bees and believed to keep them safe from pesticides.

Replacing Fireflies with Lasers. 

While all these technologies are great in that some may help to ‘push’ ecosystem services, do they inhibit people from striving for the real goal? Or will we just become dependant on these fake systems? Perhaps we should stop spending so much time on how to make spaces appear rural or ‘natural’, and actually look into protecting the real thing.

http://artdaily.com/news/24905/Olafur-Eliasson-s-The-New-York-City-Waterfalls-Opens-at-Four-Waterfront-Locations#.XHsS9eJKhQI

https://www.nextnature.net/2018/03/synthetic-pollinizer/.

https://www.nextnature.net/2017/08/replacing-fireflies-with-lasers/

[dw-geog4390-blog]

Paige,

We’re definitely on the same page about who needs space at the table when discussing and negotiating the goals and outcomes of new development projects. Looking back to my own post it looks like we identified the same groups as necessary for equitable and efficient project development.

Assuming each of these actors had space at the table the next greatest challenge is identifying how each of these actors will contribute to the conversation and decision-making process. Maddy did a great job in her post of outlining this issue, I covered this in my post as well. Generally, a proponent will seek the most efficient way possible at getting their project completed so it can begin the process of actually being profitable. To do this, people may not be consulted, land claims may be dismissed, concerns ignored. Effectively moving forward to better project development means that people can't merely be represented, they need to have decision-making power as well. I think this applied especially when projects receive public funding.

I also don’t think that decision-making power at the table should be equitable. Indigenous nations must now be treated on-par with foreign nations with the signing of Bill C-262, which requires that Canadian Law align itself with the accords of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Now, our government and all members of the private sector are required to approach an indigenous nation with the same diplomatic tact as if it were the United States or Mexico. This has been overlooked for a long, long time. Hopefully, with provincial or federal representatives at the table, Bill C-262 and UNDRIP will be respected by private sector-developers. Maybe with this in mind, we can rethink how each of these actors who have a seat at the table needs to interact with and approach each other.

Sources:

https://openparliament.ca/bills/42-1/C-262/?tab=mentions

https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html

5 Seats: A Timmins-James Bay Case Study

Public development projects – especially in Northern Canada, involve discussions between both governmental and non-governmental parties. It is important to include representatives from various backgrounds to ensure a fair decision is made and that all possible effects are taken into consideration. For the sake of my post, I chose the Timmins-James Bay area as a case study for the proposed construction of a transportation route. Here’s who I believe should have a seat at the decision table:

Firstly, a representative from the company leading the project should be present; perhaps a representative from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation or another affiliated organization. This individual will explain the details of the project and clarify any questions the community may have.

Secondly, public consultation is important for an equitable decision; I believe that the mayor of Timmins, George Pirie (below) should have a seat to speak on behalf of its citizens. Pirie won the 2018 election with almost twice as many votes as his closest contender, Steve Black. He will have the city’s best interests in mind and is familiar with the challenges that the city currently faces. He will best understand how the proposed project will serve to benefit or hinder the societal needs of Timmins.

Photo of George Pirie following his victorious election in 2018 - taken from an article by Len Gillis in The Timmins Times

Thirdly, an appropriate governmental representative should be consulted regarding development in the region. NDP leader Charlie Angus (below) has been the elected Member of Parliament for the Timmins-James Bay riding since 2004. He will have relevant local knowledge having been born and raised in Timmins, Ontario. Two years after being elected, the Toronto Star named him as one of the top-ten most effective opposition MP’s. Further, Angus is a known activist for First Nations rights, he was previously appointed as NDP critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs and also served as a member of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development committee until 2016. With the motivation to be re-elected, Angus will seek the most beneficial outcome for his riding.

Charlie Angus, taken from Wikipedia

Fourthly, the consultation should include an Indigenous community member/leader of whose traditional territory the proposed development encroaches on. The Timmins area lies in Treaty 9 territory, on land traditionally belonging to Ojibway/Chippewa, Oji-Cree, Mushkegowuk (Cree) and Algonquin peoples. It is imperative that these communities are included in the decision-making process including the incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), as of 2016, over 11% of Timmins’ population identifies as Aboriginal, which is more than double the national average. Not only is the consultation of Indigenous Peoples mandated by federal law, it is also a positive step toward mending the post-colonial relationship between First Nations and the Government of Canada.

Timmins Native Friendship Centre, established 1974

Lastly, the fifth spot at the table should be reserved for the environmentalist tasked with conducting the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA). An EIA is required before any major development project is approved - in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012). The results of EIA’s are made available online and are then subjected to a public review period of 30 days. The goal of this process is efficiency and transparency. An expert in this field will bring experience and scientific data to the discussion. Their report will contain suggested alternatives and mitigation plans for the proposed impacts of the transportation route. The individual will also help by answering any questions that the other stakeholders may have regarding the environmental risks of the project.

Current environmental impact assessments associated with northern development lack adequate consultation processes with both the public and Indigenous communities. People contain different opinions and biases and given the opportunity, can bring up concerns that were perhaps missed in the initial evaluation. Including stakeholders from multiple backgrounds ensures the final decision is made as fairly as possible and considers all parties and ecosystems affected.

References

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/timmins-must-come-grips-indigenous-relations - Ontario Human Rights Commission

https://www.timminstimes.com/news/local-news/george-pirie-wins-timmins-mayoralty-with-huge-vote - Article by Len Gillis, The Timmins Times

https://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017.05.31-Traditional-Territory-Acknowledgement-in-Ont.pdf - Traditional Territory Acknowledgements in Ontario

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-15.21/index.html - Government of Canada, CEAA 2012

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Developing for Everyone’s Sake

The approval and initiation of infrastructure projects in Ontario follow a generally straightforward and linear process driven by and for the projects’ proponent. From the project’s inception through its planning process, choices are dictated by the proponent to produce as profitable service or good as possible. As such, environmental assessment and community consultation are often tacked onto the end of the development and planning process as a (sometimes) legal requirement. In this process, changes to the proponent’s plan made in the late stages of development including environmental assessment and indigenous consultation that the benefit of these other actors can become costly for the proponent. These evaluations and consultations are often consequently dismissed as anti-industry, anti-development, and negative for the economy.

To maximize the social welfare acquired through economic development, the development process must shift from our current system - where actors must reactively engage with economic development through the market - to one where actors are involved directly in informed decision making. Ensuring actors aren’t merely represented with a seat at the table but are encouraged and assisted in participating fully with the state, the proponent, professional consultants, and indigenous state representatives.

Ideally, this system would holistically and proactively incorporate the needs of those with standing, individuals and communities who are likely to experience a significant change in their livelihoods in response to a project. Private sector actors would work alongside appropriate government authorities as co-operators. Fundamentally, any developer – private or public – must treat relationships with indigenous peoples as we are required to, by law, through nation-to-nation or firm-to-nation commerce and diplomacy. Five key actors should be involved: the project proponent; indigenous state representatives; government ministry consultants from relevant ministries; local communities; and environmental impact assessment professionals.

This very loose idea of a development decision-making model fundamentally changes the way we structure economic relationships throughout the development process. It forces us to look at citizens as active members within an economy rather than as consumer participants. This shift in thinking is particularly significant for projects that rely on public funding and government subsidies.  

Perhaps this could catch projects that are likely to export wealth into concentrated regions far from the actual project site, and help localities capture a more significant portion of the profits generated by their local landscape, a problem that rural communities face all too often. It may also ensure that risky projects are being decided upon by those most likely to be affected as early as possible to reduce economic damages within the private sector if project plans do happen to shift dramatically.

While this may sound radical, this type of planning process would function similarly to what we have currently, where the actor who bears the most risk is in charge of calling the shots. Those who have capital make the decisions of when and where this capital is utilized. Often, we are told that when capital is spent in our neighbourhoods, then we and our neighbours will reap the benefits. Yet this is not often the case. Environmental destruction and declining rural well-fare resultant from company abandonment show that many actors other than the proponent bare risk as well, yet are generally powerless to affect decisions that create and manage this risk.

To improve, transportation network developments in Northern Ontario, let’s rearrange the way we view the development table. We should push for equitable and long-term consultation and co-management between all five actors shown above. While it may result in slower project development, it may improve welfare and reduce social harms for society at large.

[dw-geog4390-blog]

Hi Maddy and Taylor,

It’s tragic that we need to consider relocating people from their communities, not only because of the implication that it will sever peoples ties to place as you brought up Maddy. It is also tragic due to the driver of the need to relocate people. Kaleigh has made a similar post in the past highlighting the collapse of small rural villages and towns on the east coast often with a common theme behind the collapse: a failing fishing industry. 

Drying up economic opportunities for younger people coincide with a declining ability for people to support a healthy livelihood on fishing. With a cultural and economic history tied in the extraction of fish from the ocean these communities face an existential crisis, that the environment has been too degraded for this lifestyle to continue. Perhaps this is why communities rely on tourism to stay viable and why young people are leaving so rapidly with no intention of returning. 

Relocation, while tragic, offers the opportunity for the Maritimes to redefine themselves economically and culturally in a way that can support communities well into the future by supporting a healthier environment. 

Rough Seas Ahead

In the summer of 2017 I toured around Newfoundland for about 2 weeks. We had a car and drove for a few hours everyday and would stay at a new location every night. Within these hours of driving there would be a lot of nothingness, just the road ahead. But in between those pockets of nothingness, tiny towns would appear once in a while. One of these tiny, rural towns was Greenspond. Below is a picture I took from above the town, looking down at the majority of homes. 

It really is a beautiful spot, and like most of the small towns in Newfoundland, there are many small motorboats to get around and help them with fishing activities. I have never seen so many crab traps, abandon fishing huts and boats, and rows of drying salted cod in my life. Visiting Newfoundland, it is very clear that many traditional practices come from the reliance on the sea. Another thing that these rural towns have in common is that they are struggling. More than 200 towns have fewer residents in 2016 than they did in 2011, according to Statistics Canada. Specifically, Greenspond’s population decreased by 9.9% from 1996 to 2001, and went from 383 in 2001 to 266 in 2016. The elder people are slowly fading out, and the younger ones are deciding to move away, usually without returning. Some say these towns will end up disappearing and that there is nothing they can do about it, which is quite sad. A large reason for these populations shifts are things such as decrease in jobs (fishing industry has become unreliable), closure of services in small communities, and other threats such as concern of clean drinking water, which came to surface in 2018. It’s a viscous cycle where people start to leave because there are fewer services, then that causes more businesses to shut down, therefore more people want to leave! Communities across the province are suffering with loss of jobs in industrial work- especially with the collapse of iron ore mines, which has trickled down to affect smaller local businesses as well.

Greenspond is one of the oldest out ports in Newfoundland with a continuous community who relied on it as a trading centre. This coastal community still continues to survive despite the unpredictable fishing economy.  I think that this is due to their ability to serve as a tourist spot for its beautiful scenery, introductions of new infrastructure and quaint bed and breakfasts. But there is no denying that their population is aging and decreasing. In 2017 Newfoundland and Labrador actually starting paying people to leave communities such as these to deal with the dwindling of tiny towns. This ‘resettlement’ strategy was an approach to move residents from their crumbling towns into larger centers with better healthcare, jobs and education. Many rural citizens did not take this well, of course, these are their family homes and traditions. Rather than just giving up on these coastal rural towns, I think that in order to support Greenspond’s sustainability they should increase tourist attraction and push to add more services. I definitely saw opportunity in that town. Perhaps they could try more branding techniques, such as the town Tirau, in New Zealand that John Smither presented to us in class. Here they started forming buildings into giant tin animals (sheep and dog) and figures, which created a huge tourist attraction and completely transformed this fading small rural town into a lively and thriving community. 

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/blogs/how-do-you-deal-with-dwindling-tiny-towns-newfoundland-and-labrador-will-pay-you-to-leave-1.4466157

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/census-data-population-change-growth-decline-1.3971917

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/newfoundlands-economic-woes/article29297377/

[dw-geog4390-blog]

The Movement of Mennonites

When I think of who might be a Mennonite, my perception is guided largely by a combination of stereotypes, some minimal interactions with local Mennonites in Kitchener-Waterloo such as at the market below, and conversations with my girlfriend’s uncle who comes from a new order Mennonite family. My perception of Old Order Mennonites emphasizes a lifestyle and culture based in subsistence agriculture, high-quality craft trades, and a relative rejection of modern luxuries including cars and the internet. I have also associated this group of people with deep roots in the places they have settled in Southern Ontario. However, as I have learned, this is not necessarily the case, Old Order Mennonites are migrating at an exceptional rate within Ontario and are contributing to dramatic demographic changes in Northern and Eastern Ontario.

Source (https://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/listing/st-jacobs-farmers-market/)

Generally, Old Order Mennonites have been shifting their communities north into Ontario in response to rising land prices and urbanization which was preventing them from continuing their traditional lifestyle. These people enter the community and the local economy as farmers and as entrepreneurs in industries including manufacturing. Practical adoptions of technology are accepted within these communities, and some technology like a telephone is being adopted in business contexts. Young men are working for other peoples farms to get greater access to technology. This interview provides an excellent overview of this phenomenon: http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2512564588/

The Desbarats Region, within the Township of Johnson, is one example of a community distinctly altered by the immigration of Old Order Mennonites. Beginning in 2004, families have been moving to this community, eventually growing the population of the region by 14%, comprising 25% of the population and 27% of the workforce. Residents cite that they moved to Northern Ontario to allow their children the opportunity to continue their way of life and purchase a farm. The influx of this new demographic contributed to a significant change in both the regional culture and food system.

Unlike the North Bay community described in the interview above, this community is exceptionally culturally strict in the use of technology. Community partnerships with the municipal government and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Foods, and Rural Affairs have been both essential for the successful establishment of the community, accommodating the strict cultural needs of the community.

Changes in community composition have generated more benefits than consequences for the longevity, sustainability, and well-being for Desbarats. The introduction of non-industrialised agriculture into the region offers hope that growth in the agricultural sector of the North can be done in a way that promotes the production of fresh fruits and vegetables with relatively fewer environmental concerns. Additionally, the establishment of these new farms has provided access for regional communities to fresher foods and reduced their reliance on southern imports. As such, communities outside of Desbarats stand to benefit from these demographic changes.

To continue improving the state of the Desbarats community for both this Mennonite community, facilitating long-lasting partnerships between families and OMAFRA to promote record keeping, access to newer technology (to the extent that the community are comfortable with), and facilitate access to broader markets than the local area. If this can be accomplished, then the new growth seen within the Desbarats area may be sustained and allow for a healthy rural community for generations to come.

 References

https://www.tvo.org/article/current-affairs/a-mennonite-migration-is-transforming-agriculture--and-diets--in-the-north

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/mennonites-feeling-at-home-in-northern-ontario-1.2762490

Epp, S. (2018). Assessing Resilience in Agriculture: A Case Study of Old Order Mennonite Communities in Northern Ontario (Doctoral dissertation).

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The idea of a tourist town is really interesting, especially when framed as the two of you have, as a new method of commodifying rural landscapes. Tourist towns seem to be an extension of the “use it, abuse it, lose it” attitude shown towards rural towns and especially company towns that have historically relied on primary industries. Perhaps the tourist town is the swan’s song of town whose purpose for formation was unsustainable resource extraction, such as those Kaleigh cited in Newfoundland.   I really like this article from the Globe and Mail which gives an overview of how company towns - the extreme form of rural communities reliant on specific industries - are coping with modern economic challenges. What is evident to me is the effort needed by relatively small companies to remain rooted in their company towns. If companies are either large enough to be globally mobile or are unwilling to remain rooted it’s easy to see how rural communities can become sidelined by the industries they’ve worked for. Seeking out new business in tourism can, therefore, be framed as a response to local abandonment by larger economic forces. Unfortunately, the tourism industry relies on attracting outsiders who may quickly decide that a rural community is not worth their time and money. Like you said Kaleigh, communities may have to cater to elements that are largely unhelpful for themselves for the sake of tourism growth. As the Globe article suggests, there is likely a solution in supporting entrepreneurial efforts that allow communities to reach out into new markets and build a diversified local economy. I guess the challenge becomes how do we support new growth in a way that fosters sustainability, positive local impacts, and self-determination.

What does that filter hide?

How is rural Canada portrayed in contemporary society? Think about art, music, film, news, etc. How might this influence decisions being made about it?

Pop culture depicts rural Canada as places with a deep connection to living simply and a tighter knit community network than you might find in the city. Like the seaside image below from, “10 Cute Towns In Newfoundland That Are Definitely Worth The Road Trip,” they are picturesque, quaint and colourful. Yet those within are often struggling to get out. Like Ariel in Footloose young people want to leave, and the few jobs are often working in local factories or with whichever resource the community is based around. Rural Canada is either depicted as idyllic and beautifully rural or as slow and exhausting. Keeping on the theme of Newfoundland, the map shows how 600 towns have opened and closed in the 500 year history of the province. A town or two a year may not be that bad, yet most of these towns died between 1930 and 1970, a rate of loss greater than any other Canadian province, yet a trend that has been occurring nation-wide as urban areas grow. Loss of employment in fisheries as stocks are depleted from off shore commercial fisheries and brain drain of young people to urban education and employment are two central features of this.

https://www.narcity.com/ca/nl/stjohns/best-of-nl/10-cute-towns-newfoundland-definitely-worth-road-trip 

http://theindependent.ca/2011/04/07/the-abandoned-communities-of-our-province/

Rural areas that are successful and thriving in Canada seem to be one of two things, picturesque or dramatically altered for economic extraction. Few farms today look like the farm in Babe and survive only through the goods they produce, they are larger and louder and nosier and smellier – they are functional farms that produce a lot and well for the needs of those in the cities. The same goes for mines and fisheries. The pretty ones, like Bogle Seeds – the sunflower farm near Hamilton that in a week went from being a nice way to supplement an income to being ‘closed for good’ after an influx of people sought their ideal picture for Instagram. Damaging plants, crossing four lane highways, and ignoring the requested entrance fees – resulting in the family announcing this will be the last planted sunflower crop. Cases like this demonstrate how the rural is valued when it is pretty – but not respected by those who tour through seeking photos or to consume the areas with minimal concern for sustainability. Rural either needs to be pretty or far away and giving cheap goods in the eyes of many Canadians.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-how-the-quest-for-the-perfect-selfie-forced-an-ontario-sunflower-farm/

Rural areas hold a key position in generally being among the first to experience environmental changes as they are commonly far closer to natural processes than those in built up areas. Loss of livelihood such as fish indicates a loss in environmental health. Oil spills or mining pollutants will effect nearby areas, often less populated and/or marginalized communities, and smaller rural populations have less of a political voice and social outrage weight than if the same event were to happen in Toronto. When fishing communities bring attention to fish dying from pollutants from an oil leak national outrage and action may last for a few days, and the Athabasca First Nation has been under boil water advisories off and on for 10 years – why? Fewer people are effected, those people have less of a political footprint, and we prefer to look at the pretty pictures. These polarized images of rural areas lead it to be idealized for what we want it to be, not what it is and how everything that exists is for us to consume at any desired rate. In a society that values social media as reality we need to be far more critical of the images we see and importantly, what is cropped out.

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Reflecting on portrayals of ‘rural’

Recently, the Ontario Conservative Government backtracked on a pledge to open the Ontario Greenbelt for development; they had hoped to reduce the environmental protections within this region, allowing municipalities to accept development proposals to replace forested and agricultural lands with urban expansions. Ongoing rhetoric from the government claimed that these protections were holding back Ontario from its full economic potential. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Doug Ford has been caught on camera making promises to urban developers that the Greenbelt would be opened for development.  Their perception of this peri-urban (read semi-rural) landscape is that rural lands that have the potential to be urbanized should; that these landscapes are ripe for the taking if only they could be.

Portraying the rural landscape in Canada as ready for the taking is not a modern phenomenon. These depictions of our countryside have been developed and disseminated for hundreds of years. For example, check out this online collection from the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa. This collection highlights the tropes used to convince foreign (European) people to emigrate and move to Canada. Images facilitate the ideation that Canadian land is open for exploitation, ready for outsiders to utilize, and not being used to its full potential. The critical thing to note is how similar the rhetoric promoted by Doug Ford is to that of early 20th century governments. As such, we should recognize that the rural landscape today is being socially constructed much in the same manner as it has always been in Canada: ready for exploitation, for the benefit of outsiders.

Conversely, a new narrative is developing regarding rural Canada, one of self-determination and opportunity. This narrative is expressed both within the realms of news media and in visual art. Both venues portray rural Canada as a mosaic of historical influences and a region looking forward to the future. Issues of environmental conservation, economic development, and rural identity are at the forefront, as exemplified by this piece below. This mural depicts a historical slogan “Be industrious so that you may live” used through the early 20th century as industrial agriculture was ramping up throughout Canada. In their interview here the artist explains how this slogan is rooted deeply in rural identity and still applies today as environmental destruction has reduced the ability of farmers to maintain viable crop harvests. It is also a mantra of self-sufficiency.

Self-sufficiency has been necessary amongst rural communities, who may feel that the corridors of power are shut to their concerns. Take for example this excerpt from a National Post article, published in 2013: “Consequently, rural Ontario is losing the unique, quaint, picturesque and charming barn venues that give local communities their individuality and allure.” Critical to this article’s perspective is the notion that rural areas are finding themselves facing a tidal wave of urban influence, that urban decision maker is placing unnecessary burdens on people they are not willing or able understand.

The duality of messages portrayed in modern media – both news and art – reflect a substantial cultural divide between rural and urban people. Perhaps this divide is arbitrary, amplified by click-bait worthy news articles; maybe it is not, exemplified through rural art displaying strong value identity and self-determination. Decision makers and the general public need to be aware that how we understand rural Canada is based in weighted discourse, heavily influenced by urban desires to utilize the rural landscape and the resistance to that expansion. Understanding this discourse is vital in linking our cultural ideations of rural to the decisions being made about it.

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Hi everyone,

Vanessa, Im really interested by the question you posed about whether rural areas are created to suit the needs of the urban population. I completely agree with you that rural spaces are being created for and adjusted to suit the ongoing needs (or more likely desires) of urbanites.

Due to unequal wealth distributions between rural and urban areas and reliance of many rural economies on urban financial institutions, urban populations likely have significant leverage over how rural communities need to operate. The multi-income household method described earlier this week by our guest lecturer highlights that farmers have had to significantly alter their businesses, avenues for income, and lifestyles to cater to changing urban tastes and increasing income insecurity.  

I think this systematic disempowerment likely has roots in Feudalism and peasantry and eventually may leave rural communities relatively powerless in the face of broader economic shifts such as globalization. Such an ironic relationship since urban centres entirely depend on rural lands for food and other services, which I think you, Maddy, and Kaleigh did a great job of exploring.

What I’m wondering is if any of you see opportunities to promote rural self-determination and independence from urban pressures. Is this something you see as worthwhile to pursue? Is it realistic? 

- Dan

How the urban and rural need each other

Urban Canada needs rural Canada for the inputs that it provides for urban consumption. Most apparent would be the provision of food – Farmers Feed Cities after all – yet we know that rural Canada is far more than food provision. To build up our cities and buildings mines and quarries are developed, farther north gold and mineral extraction facilitate stock market development and create incentive for people to come to the cities, from Canada and abroad. Yet rural areas are far more than just places with things that have value that the urban can take from like Lego blocks to build themselves up figuratively and economically.

Rural spaces that are functioning well will improve quality of life in urban areas, these ecosystem services include things such as cleaner water as a result of water ways and marshes that capture toxins. The benefits of rural spaces to urban Canada may be overlooked, operating quietly like the servants down stairs in Downtown Abbey with only moderate recognition from those whose lives are made possible. 

Canada is fortunate to have large spaces of non-urban areas in comparison to other nations of the world, smog warnings are comparatively fewer as green spaces that trap and transform chemicals and toxins are comparatively closer. Last year Beijing had 228 days of high air pollution, London England had 43 days, while Toronto and Vancouver had 18 days and 6 days of high pollution in the last year. Though factors beyond proximity and health of rural spaces alone are relevant factors in the air health of urban areas, I believe that the proximity of many Canadian cities to rural and semi-rural areas had a role to play in this.  

Depending on whose definition of rural you use, the purpose of some rural areas can be to provide a break from the city for those that are able to exit and recharge. While opinions may differ on the benefit received from rural or in the very least less urbanized areas, rural spaces and areas of what may be called wilderness have an appeal to urban visitors and those who call the rural areas home. Woods discussed the value of rural tourism, highlighting the value received by visitors as well as the revenue and attention that rural communities receive when they highlight and promote the most appealing aspects of their community. Lastly, recently I learned that traditionally Canadian First Nations do not allow alcohol at hunt camps and it is common for those suffering addiction in communities to be invited to detox in a supporting community environment. Though it may sound cliché, reconnecting with nature and wild spaces have been used by people to re-center themselves for thousands of years. The exact benefits of rural spaces may be vague as their benefit are subtle, they have immeasurable benefits in physical and spiritual ways for cities.

Statistics on Beijing, London, Toronto and Vancouver retrieved from;

Plume Labs. (2019). Plume Labs PLUME AIR REPORT. https://air.plumelabs.com/en/

World Health Organization. (2019). WHO Global Ambient Air Quality Database (update 2018). https://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/

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A matter of forced dependence

As described by Richard Florida (no apparent relation to the Office’s Robert California); the world is not round; it is not flat despite what some online communities might claim; in fact, the world is spikey. A spikey world implied that power and influence are never uniformly or equitably distributed, wealth, innovation, and power concentrate naturally into urban centres and capitals. The 'spikiest' parts of the world promote high population densities as opportunity and wealth concentrate, leaving rural regions with exceedingly little economic power or independence.

Globalization has exacerbated this phenomenon, as rural regions defined by agriculture, mining, or forestry rely on financial institutions to finance growing operations. Without loans and continual financing, input costs for agriculture, in particular, would be entirely unaffordable. This economic dependency has generated ongoing and worsening conditions for farmers such as reduced income security and loan-default crises that in the 1980s contributed to a massive epidemic of farmer suicide that tragically continues today.

The rise of mixed-income households and multipurpose farming for agricultural families has responded to this issue by attempting to diversify the incomes of farmers. Yet, these entrepreneurial efforts still require the farmer to rely entirely on a wealthy urban consumer who maintains fantasies of the rural idyll.

Given this unbalanced economic relationship, it is worth discussing whether urban Canada truly needs rural Canada anymore.

Apparent rural-urban relationships such as food consumption show that Canadians rely on our rural landscapes, consuming 70% of food from domestic products as of 2008. The “farmers feed cities�� bumper stickers and “good things grow in Ontario” jingle ring true, even for necessities, we rely on rural landscapes.

As mentioned earlier, agritourism has become an exceedingly popular form of recreation for urbanites. An often-fetishized view of the rural landscape – which I have discussed in my last post – contributes to the use of rural landscapes as a consumptive space as well as a productive one. Both course readings for this week have delved into this trend, emphasizing that this industry acts as an economic driver of change within rural communities and often a source of conflict as regions become effectively gentrified by tourism.

Additionally, non-consumptive benefits are produced for urbanites by rural regions in the form of ecosystem services, which are tangible benefits for humans derived from ecosystemic processes. Rural landscapes disproportionately produce benefits for urbanites in the forms of stormwater collection due to vast permeable surfaces, biodiversity support (at least to a greater degree than urban areas), and carbon sequestration. These benefits are really challenging to capture in economic terms or in an Instagram post, so they often go unnoticed by those in a position to either literally or figuratively consume the rural landscape.

Based on these trends, it seems to me that while rural and urban regions are mutually dependent, this relationship is anything but symbiotic.

Moving forwards, urban sprawl has become an incredibly pressing issue, particularly within southern Ontario. Due to the continual expansion of urban areas, the lines between urban and rural are becoming increasingly geographically blurred. For rural areas that don’t end up underfoot on the outward march of the suburbs, it is likely that blended land use will become increasingly more prevalent. To me, this challenge provides urbanites to confront the problems faced by ruralites. It offers an opportunity to reconcile the exploitative relationship that exists between the two and yield equitable and mutually prosperous relationships.