Urban Studies

In Manitoba, Urban Studies finds its focus in the University of Winnipeg Urban Studies Institute. Like so many of the programs at the U of W, the focus is on the application of those programs (for example Education)to the issues of the (inner) city. Manitoba is a small province, so the three Universities divide the tasks, with Brandon University focusing on the needs of Prairie and Northern Bush-land, U of W focusing on inner city where it is located, and the University of Manitoba (the largest) focusing on the specialty and professional programs.

Urban issues are front and center in the world today because such a large percentage of the population lives in urban areas and the percentage is still growing. As Brandon University's Dr. Kenneth Beesley pointed out, the social supports for the poor are also urban based, resulting in most people staying in the city when misfortune strikes. He cited a fascinating Toronto study of the location of single moms, which showed them clustered around transportation and social services supports.[]

The Urban poverty problems are frequently rural problems which have migrated to the city, not the least of which has been an educational differential between urban and rural. Addressing urban problems is not unrelated to addressing rural problems. The reverse is also true. Most legislation now is made in urban areas by urban citizens, but it has massive implications for rural areas. Case in point is the recent gun control legislation fiasco.

Further Resources

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