Researchers gather to discuss development challenges facing Northern communities

November 21, 2012

WHITEHORSE - Yukon College is hosting 70 researchers in Whitehorse this week to discuss ways of reducing the social costs to communities of resource development in the North.

The second annual workshop of the Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic (ReSDA) research network is being held in Whitehorse, November 22 and 23 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

The main focus of ReSDA’s research is on finding ways to ensure that a larger share of the benefits of resource development stay in the region with fewer costs to communities.

This workshop is an opportunity for social science researchers, government representatives and community organizations to discuss existing research and determine what is needed to address the emerging challenges facing northern communities as resource developments in Canada’s North continue to expand.

Topics of discussion include resource revenue regimes, how Social, economic, and environmental impact assessments differ across the North, what is needed for community well-being, comparing different experiences of community- industry relations and impact benefit agreements, and the role of traditional knowledge in resource development decision-making.

ReSDA is a seven-year Major Collaborative Research Initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada that brings together a broad range of disciplines and organizations representing universities, colleges, communities, government, the private sector and non-profits in northern Canada and other Circumpolar countries.

Summaries of the workshops topics of presentation and discussion can be found here: http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/resda/gapanalysis

Workshop agenda: http://ycdl4.yukoncollege.yk.ca/frontier/files/resda/SecondAnnualReSDAWorkshopage.pdf

-30-

For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca