Event Title
Scaling up: emerging regional governance structures for rural economic development
Description
Rural and small town places in Canada are experiencing economic, social, and political changes. As such, these places are faced with having to renegotiate their economic and social viability through new challenges and opportunities. In response to these changes, some rural and small town places in British Columbia (BC) have "scaled-up" development initiatives from being locally- to regionally-based. This presentation frames emerging regional development initiatives in the context of historical regional development in Canada and BC. Contemporary neoliberal policy impacts on rural and regional development are discussed and concepts of social cohesion and social capital are used to understand how rural and small town places may be adapting to political and economic changes. The Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition is identified as an emerging governance group that is addressing issues of regional development in the central interior of BC. I propose a case study of this group to gain a greater understanding about experiences of rural and small town places in regional governance structures. The presentation is concluded with a discussion of the importance of researching regional development governance to inform future policy directions as they relate to facilitating rural regional development.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Rural development--Economic aspects--British Columbia; Rural development--Government policy--British Columbia
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Session
Rural Geographies
Genre/Form
Abstracts
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
British Columbia;
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
rural studies, regional studies, economic development, governance mechanisms, new regionalism
Scaling up: emerging regional governance structures for rural economic development
Rural and small town places in Canada are experiencing economic, social, and political changes. As such, these places are faced with having to renegotiate their economic and social viability through new challenges and opportunities. In response to these changes, some rural and small town places in British Columbia (BC) have "scaled-up" development initiatives from being locally- to regionally-based. This presentation frames emerging regional development initiatives in the context of historical regional development in Canada and BC. Contemporary neoliberal policy impacts on rural and regional development are discussed and concepts of social cohesion and social capital are used to understand how rural and small town places may be adapting to political and economic changes. The Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition is identified as an emerging governance group that is addressing issues of regional development in the central interior of BC. I propose a case study of this group to gain a greater understanding about experiences of rural and small town places in regional governance structures. The presentation is concluded with a discussion of the importance of researching regional development governance to inform future policy directions as they relate to facilitating rural regional development.