WINTER 2009 Rural Report Rural Immigration: Big Changes to Small Places by Jill Bucklaschuk and Monika Sormova ural Canada is becoming increasingly diverse as immigration continues to be an important strategy to address demographic R challenges and labour shortages. Rural communities face challenges around infrastructure, funding, and the provision of public services that can make it difficult to successfully attract and retain immigrants. These challenges have an impact on how well or to what degree rural communities are able to provide services for the economic and social integration of immigrants. In May 2007, RDI embarked on a new It is estimated that more than half of the research initiative building on past rural foreign workers have been approved for immigration projects. Interest in further Provincial Nominee status while the other developing knowledge on rural immigra- half is in the process of applying. Upon tion emerged from observing recent demo- receiving Provincial Nominee status, for- graphic changes in the city of Brandon as eign workers can initiate family reunifica- nearly 1,000 temporary foreign workers tion; it is anticipated that more than 3,400 have arrived to work at Maple Leaf Foods. continued on page 2 E-Publications Launched Pali Rao / istockphoto.com by Ryan Gibson and Sylvia Henry over 40 years of collecting aerial and re- In this issue motely sensed images that depict the geog- Director’s Message 2 DI launched two e-books raphy of Manitoba. Over 550 images were and celebrated a new selected for presentation. The “remoteness” Collaborating to Improve Northern 3 edition of the online journal of the sensing varies from a few tens of Access to Health Services R metres (from building tops) to hundreds of at an Open House in September 2008. Communities Connect in Regional 4 kilometres (from satellites). The aim was to The electronic book (e-book) format use remotely sensed images to display and Round Tables has many advantages, such as the describe the geography of Manitoba which Invasive Plant Species Grow at 5 ability to be continually edited/updated would be made readily and freely avail- Alarming Rate and publications are freely available able to all interested people. The electronic online to all. format provides a dynamic and interactive Opinion Corner: Rural Poverty 5 environment for the reader and has already Manitoba from the Air: A Geographi- been introduced in classrooms. Strengthening International 6 cal Interpretation by John Welsted (Pro- The collection is intended as a com- Collaboration on Rural Policy fessor Emeritus, Department of Geography, panion to The Geography of Manitoba: Brandon University) is the culmination of continued on page 3 Increasing Leafy Spurge Awareness 6 through Collaboration Understanding the Mobility Patterns 7 of Today’s Youth Editorial Team Marian Beattie, Sylvia Henry, Bev Lischka, Growing the Diverse RDI Team 8 Alison Moss, Beth Peers Director’s Message by Robert C. Annis researchers both at In 2008, RDI published fourteen reports and Brandon University and discussion papers, two editions of the online elcome to the Winter 2009 from other institutions. Journal of Rural and Community Development edition of the Rural Report. 2008 saw the comple- and two e-books. RDI representatives were W I am pleased to provide an tion of two multi-year invited to present at twenty-eight conferences update of our projects and the Rural Develop- projects, one on com- and workshops: three international, eighteen ment Institute’s (RDI) team. RDI’s research munities collaborating national, six provincial and one local. and community development activities are regionally to achieve External funding, which is the majority conducted by individuals from a variety of aca- common goals and the of RDI’s funding, is critical to the Institute’s demic disciplines and by community develop- other studying access success as a rural research institute. In ad- ment practitioners with skills and experience to health services in northern Manitoba and dition to the many project funders, Manitoba in rural research and community development. Saskatchewan. We also completed a study of Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives provides Beverley Lischka supports the operation and youth mobility in selected regions of Manitoba $100,000 per year to support RDI’s research, management of RDI and Sylvia Henry provides on behalf of Rural Team Manitoba. RDI ac- community development initiatives and support for the projects. Students are integral tively worked to facilitate cooperation with our knowledge mobilization. In 2008, the Institute’s to RDI. By assisting with projects and activities, groups across Western Canada as they dealt external funding was more than $800,000 students have opportunities to work in the field with invasive plants species and we also un- which represented seventy-eight percent of and to develop and present findings through dertook a project which aimed to increase the the total funding. To our funders, thank you for discussion papers, reports and presentations. adoption of beneficial management practices to your continued support. During this past year we have been fortunate combat spurge, an invasive plant. In 2008, RDI This is the last Rural Report that I will issue. to have three Master of Rural Development continued to study rural immigration, especially On June 30, 2009, I will step away from being students and five undergraduate students temporary foreign workers in Brandon. RDI’s Director. I have been privileged in my engaged in RDI projects. A Faculty of Arts An important aspect of RDI’s mandate is mo- ten years as Director to associate with many student is also engaged as the current Brandon bilization of knowledge. For several years RDI outstanding contributors to rural research and University Community Outreach Coordinator. has provided open-access through its website community development. To all of you, thank Over the past months, RDI has been engaged so that rural citizens, community and govern- you for the opportunities and friendships. with many stakeholders in rural and northern ment leaders and other interested people are I will undoubtedly still encounter you from time communities in western Canada, as well as able to access our reports, discussion papers, to time. with government representatives and academic presentations and other pertinent information. Rural Immigration: Big Changes to Small Places continued from front page lenges, information gaps, and the need for support of Manitoba Labour and Immigra- building collaborative partnerships. The tion and the Winnipeg Inner-City Research family members will arrive in Brandon by purpose of the group is to create a forum Alliance, this project develops an under- 2011. In light of these estimates, the city of that encourages open discussion and de- standing of ethnocultural groups, what Brandon can anticipate 5,140 new resi- velops a network of expertise and knowl- they need to be vibrant and successful, and dents in the next two years, representing edge sharing. To date there have been five the challenges they face as a community. nearly 12% of its total current population meetings focusing on such topics as roles Developing strong, resourceful ethnocul- (41,511). and responsibilities of key stakeholders, tural communities contributes to success- Demographic analyses and popula- issues of settlement and service provision, ful settlement of newcomers and leads to tion projections are the foundation of the and experiences of family reunification. more inclusive, active communities. This research project, providing information Partnering with industry has proven to be project is multi-phased and adopts a case to community leaders, service provid- an effective means to share information study approach. The first phase explored ers, and policy makers. This research also on recruitment efforts, hiring practices, ethnocultural organizations and related seeks to identify the implications of rapid and settlement strategies. The value of non-government organizations in Brandon demographic change on rural communities, increased communication and information while the second phase focuses on Stein- service providers, and public infrastructure sharing has benefited all involved in the bach. The results of each case study will within a framework that explores the con- group. Visit www.brandonu.ca/rdi/tfw.asp be compared to develop a comprehensive cept of ‘welcoming communities’. for more information. analysis of what is needed for ethnocultural The RDI Temporary Foreign Worker The Ethnocultural Organizations and organizations and communities to become Dialogue Group was established in Sep- Communities research project was initi- or remain vibrant and active elements of tember 2007, resulting from discussions ated by RDI in January 2008. The project Manitoba’s increasingly diverse rural com- with government, community, and industry explores ethnocultural communities and munities. For more information visit www. representatives about communication chal- organizations in rural Manitoba. With the brandonu.ca/rdi/ethnocultural.asp. 2 | Rural Report • Winter 2009 Rural Development Institute Rural Report E-Publications Launched continued from front page The e-book can be found at http://revital- ization.brandonu.ca/. Its Land and Its People (Edited by John Welsted, John Everitt, & Christoph Stadel, Doug Ramsey (Associate Professor, De- 1997) with the topics presented in the same partment of Rural Development, Brandon order. Welsted’s