Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities

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Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities The ACSRC supports the resiliency of rural communities.

The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) at the University of Alberta has, since its founding in 2009, assisted rural communities in meeting diverse challenges across many areas of public policy through fostering constructive dialogue, promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative research, and developing partnerships. Thinking respectfully and reciprocally with, not just for, rural communities is a main objective of the ACSRC. Through dialogue and collaboration, the Centre operates an outreach program that provides direction and stimulates innovation in the development of rural communities. This is built around various collaborations with educational institutions, municipalities and not-for profit organizations on research projects that seek to create resilient rural communities across Alberta. Over the past thirteen years, the ACSRC has received roughly $3 million in direct funding from a wide assortment of academic and government sources; developed partnerships with over 140 community organizations, post-secondary institutions, rural municipalities, and research centres, and has employed over 150 research staff. Recently, we have been engaged in rural-focussed projects related to sustainable economic development opportunities, community mental health, the delivery of social services, enhancing inclusivity, advancing the transition to renewable energy, aiding municipal collaboration, and better understanding rural public opinion and rural-based populism.

Check out what we've been up to at the ACSRC!
10/13/2026

Check out what we've been up to at the ACSRC!

I trust you are all enjoying a pleasant fall.  Thank you for taking a few minutes to check-in with what we’ve been busy with lately at the ACSRC.

The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities is pleased to Present "An Evening with Roger Epp: People, Place and...
10/07/2026

The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities is pleased to Present "An Evening with Roger Epp: People, Place and Community in the Rural West". Join us as we honour Dr. Roger Epp's retirement and decades of dedication to rural communities. More information and to register: https://groupize.com/gz/app/e/an-evening-with-roger-epp

Let's talk rural mental health!
10/01/2026

Let's talk rural mental health!

Registration is still open for our Let’s Talk Rural Mental Health Workshop on Thursday, October 8!

We’d love to see more community members join us for an evening focused on rural mental health, connection, resilience, and practical tools for reaching out for support.

⚠️ Please note: Due to lower-than-anticipated registration, the workshop may need to be cancelled if we do not receive enough registrations.

Registration deadline: October 1.

📧 To register, email [email protected] or call 780-312-7533.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, please register by October 1 so we can make this workshop happen! 💚

09/29/2026

This Thursday! Join our friends at the Chester Ronning Centre for a conversation with Karen Sands-O’Connor, PhD, an award-winning scholar of Black British children’s literature, exploring representation, identity, and inclusion in the books we share with children.

Whose stories make it onto the shelf and whose don't? The books children grow up with quietly teach them who matters, whose experience is worth...

What makes YOU feel like you belong in agriculture? 🌾
08/25/2026

What makes YOU feel like you belong in agriculture? 🌾

What makes you feel like you belong in agriculture? 🌾

In our recently published research on farm culture, one thing came through clearly: belonging matters.

For some farmers, that sense of belonging comes easily. They've got a supportive family, a group of friends, employees, and friendly neighbours.

For others, they question whether they're experienced enough, connected enough, or even "farmer enough" to feel like they fully belong.

And then there are others who still feel alone in this, despite looking like they "have it all together."

Those experiences matter because farming isn't simply what people do. For many, it's an important part of who they are and where they feel they belong.

If you've ever questioned whether you fit -- or felt alone even when surrounded by others -- you're not the only one. Belonging isn't something you earn by farming longer, knowing more, or proving yourself to others.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing more of what farmers told us about farm culture, identity, values, and connection.

So we're curious: What makes you feel like you belong in agriculture?

ACSRC Director Dr. Clark Banack and Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson for collectively receiving over $800,000 in funding fro...
07/22/2026

ACSRC Director Dr. Clark Banack and Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson for collectively receiving over $800,000 in funding from SSHRC Insight Grants to support their research! Banack's research will explore the social and political implications of the consolidation, death, and even rebirth, of local newspapers in rural Canada and the USA. Purc-Stephenson's research will look at how farmer identities shape meaning, inclusion, and agricultural well-being. Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson is part of our research fellow network and one of our executive council members, congratulations!

University of Alberta researchers will seek new insights into culture and language, education, artificial intelligence, climate adaptation and more, thanks to nearly $8 million in new grants from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada.

Our annual report is out! Learn about our projects, the communities we work with and the folks that help make it happen...
07/20/2026

Our annual report is out! Learn about our projects, the communities we work with and the folks that help make it happen!

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/alberta-centre-sustainable-rural-communities/about-us/acsrc-annual-report_2025-26.pdf

U of A Augustana University of Alberta - Sustainability University of Alberta

Check out what AgWell Alberta has been up to!
07/20/2026

Check out what AgWell Alberta has been up to!

07/08/2026

New University of Alberta-led research suggests that if current clearcutting cycles continue, certain slow-recovering forest communities may disappear.

Address

Augustana Campus
Camrose, AB
T4V2R3

Telephone

+17806791672

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