Attracting Immigrants to Rural Communities with Ryan Gibson

Dr. Ryan Gibson shares research findings on attracting newcomers to rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Gibson works at the University of Guelph and his research supports the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation.

The Local Immigration Partnership aims to strengthen the role of local communities across Lanark and Renfrew Counties in integrating and serving our newcomer population.

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIP) are funded by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a department of the government of Canada, and support communities in bringing together service providers, settlement agencies, community groups, employers and other key municipal organizations to create a welcoming and inclusive community for newcomers.

In Lanark and Renfrew Counties, the work of Local Immigration Partnerships is administered by Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus. To enable this work to happen, LIP staff conduct research to identify challenges that are preventing newcomers from fully participating in the economic, social, cultural and recreational life of the community. The LIP team also identifies new opportunities with a goal of helping newcomers settle in rural areas.