Community Development author speaks in Cranbrook

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Noted community economic development Author Greg Halseth will be speaking in Cranbrook on Monday, April 11, and it couldn’t come at a better time.  There’s no question that municipal, provincial and federal elections will focus on the economy, and rural economies have huge challenges in responding to global economic shifts.

Greg Halseth is a University of Northern British Columbia professor, and Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies, as well as Acting Director of UNBC’s Community Development Institute.  His research examines rural and small town community development, and community strategies for coping with social and economic change.

At the Community Development Institute his work has included a wide range of community-based studies, including work in Aboriginal places, as well as the creation of a community transition toolkit. He has studied the needs of youth and seniors, research on the voluntary sector and community capacity issues, and critical housing issues.

Greg is the author of a number of books focused on  rural and small town community development and community economic development, including “Next Rural Economies” “Building for Success”,  “Building Community in an Instant Town”, and his forthcoming book,  “A Northern Place: Economic Renewal in Northern British Columbia” to be published by UBC press.

Greg is focused on how communities can renew their development foundations, beginning with the historic approaches that created our rural communities, and the local and global context within which these communities and economies function today.

“We understood more about the foundations of rural economies in the 50s and 60s”, said Halseth. “But over time people lost interest in looking at the core economic values of rural communities”.  Greg inspires communities to mobilize their local and regional assets and aspirations, which will, as he says “allow us to work in partnership to create a future for our children and grandchildren”.

Greg’s presentation looks at practical ways for communities to approach social and economic renewal so that it makes sense, is pro-active, and is driven by local purpose.

The event is free to the public and will be held at College of the Rockies on Monday, April 11, 7 pm.