Brandon University launches online Journal of Rural and Community Development

BRANDON, MB - Today, Brandon University's Rural Development Institute launched the online, open access Journal of Rural and Community Development (JRCD) with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the BU campus. The launch also featured a presentation from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Scott Smith of a cheque for $100,000 to BU's Rural Development Institute in support of rural development activities. Scott Smith, Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade and MLA for Brandon West, presented the cheque.

Brandon University launches online Journal of Rural and Community Development

BRANDON, MB - Today, Brandon University's Rural Development Institute launched the online, open access Journal of Rural and Community Development (JRCD) with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the BU campus. The launch also featured a presentation from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Scott Smith of a cheque for $100,000 to BU’s Rural Development Institute in support of rural development activities. Scott Smith, Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade and MLA for Brandon West, presented the cheque.

Adding to Brandon University's strong journal publication history, the purpose of the JRCD (founded by Dr. Doug Ramsey, Associate Professor in the Brandon University Department of Rural Development, who will also serve as its editor) is to provide a venue through which academics can publish findings in the field of development studies in either or both rural and community contexts. Though a number of journals exist in one or the other of these two areas the JRCD will distinguish itself by being one of the first to encompass both.

The format will include standard editorials, regular refereed articles, and a book review section, as well as shorter, refereed case study articles and pieces that analyze particular policies and programs developed for or impacting on rural and small towns. The closing section of each issue will list recently completed theses and upcoming conference announcements. For a full profile of the new journal, please see the attached backgrounder, or look at the first volume at www.jrcd.ca.

According to Dr. Ramsey, “the JRCD fills a void in the academic literature and while the editorial board is still being developed, it already includes academics from coast to coast in Canada, as well as from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe”. He continued, “that being part of the ‘Open Access’ journal system allows for free access to all, anywhere, anytime. This certainly improves the relevance and applicability to addressing rural and community development issues for all concerned”.

“This new electronic tool will provide an important and accessible site for published works by academics, policy analysts, community practitioners and students interested in rural and small community research,” said Smith. “And by going on-line, it opens the variety of published journal articles to researchers and readers world-wide. I congratulate Dr. Ramsey on his foresight and initiative in developing this journal.”

Minister Smith’s cheque presentation continues support to Brandon University from the Province of Manitoba for a variety of activities designed to increase the base of knowledge and skills required to support community economic development in rural Manitoba. Through this support, a Rural Development Advisory Committee comprising representatives from the Provincial and Federal governments and Brandon University was set up to review proposed activities and projects and recommend priorities to the Rural Development Institute.

The establishment of the Department of Rural Development at Brandon University in 1999 is a response to the issues facing rural communities, and will increasingly become a resource for affecting change in these communities. The Department offers programs focused on rural studies and rural development that are unique in Western Canada. Brandon University's Rural Development Institute (RDI) is a centre for excellence in rural development helping strengthen rural and northern communities through research and information on issues unique to rural areas.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Doug Ramsey
Associate Professor, Department of Rural Development

Brandon University
Phone: (204) 571-8514
Email: ramsey@brandonu.ca