What is Rural?
While the term rural can have different meanings to different people, there is a general understanding that rural areas are places that generally have smaller populations, are distant from urban areas and by and large have distinct identities and cultural ties. As there is no standard definition of what constitutes ‘rural’, this study defines a ‘rural community’ as any census subdivision (CSD)* which is outside of a census metropolitan area (CMA)** and Census Agglomeration (CA).***
Due the diversity of rural areas and the data sets available, for the purposes of this initiative, a common set of criteria for selecting diverse communities across four provinces – Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan – was created, looking at a variety of indicators:
Population Size
The total population of the communities chosen was between was between 1,000 and 12,000.****
Degree of Rurality
The study utilized indicators developed by Statistics Canada to determine the degree to which ‘rural’ communities are influenced by urban areas. Statistics Canada classifies rural areas in metropolitan influenced zones (MIZs) based on commuting flows to urban centres. Communities chosen had either no, weak or moderate MIZ.*****
Diversity
To ensure that the community selection process captured a diverse range of communities with varying social and economic backgrounds, Aboriginal, Immigrant and Francophone populations were looked at.
Communities
Though the above criteria, 28 communities across the four provinces were chosen – 20 Anglophone and 8 Francophone.
Notes
*A census subdivision (CSD) is a general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial/territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements, and unorganized territories).
**A census metropolitan area (CMA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100, 000 of which 50, 000 or more must live in the core. To be included in a CMA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows. At least 50% of employed labour force in the CSD must commute to work in the urban core or 25% of the employed labour force in the CSD must commute to work from the urban core.
***A census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a population centre (known as the core). A CA must have a core population of at least 10 000. To be included in a CA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows. At least 50% of employed labour force in the CSD must commute to work in the urban core or 25% of the employed labour force in the CSD must commute to work from the urban core.
****An exception was made for Francophone communities in Newfoundland and Labrador due to the diminutive nature of Francophone communities in the province.
*****No MIZ: Communities where the total employed labour force is less than 40 individuals or where no one commutes to a CMA or CA for work. Weak MIZ: Communities where between 0% and 5% of the employed labour force commutes to a CMA or CA for work. Moderate MIZ: Communities where between 5% and 30% of the employed labour force commutes to a CMA or CA for work.
