Planning for rural communities in decline: A case study of the Hamlet of Grouard.

摘要

This Masters Degree Project (MDP) examines the challenges of rural community planning through the case study of an Area Structure Plan (ASP) for the Hamlet of Grouard in west-central northern Alberta. The ASP was developed at the request of the Municipal District of Big Lakes and is based on a Grant-In-Aid of research. The purpose of the project is to develop a policy framework that guides future development in Grouard and offer ways the declining hamlet can be enhanced. Amenity migration and the need for rural community planning are also discussed to provide a theoretical foundation underlying the creation of the ASP. Although the document is specific to the needs of Grouard, it provides a framework for other rural communities facing similar challenges. The MDP concludes with recommendations on rural planning in general and offers key actions for the Municipal District.; Keywords: Rural Planning, Community Planning, Decline, Area Structure Plan, Amenity Migration, Hamlet of Grouard, Municipal District of Big Lakes