This collection challenges misconceptions that rural Canada is a bastion of intolerance. While examining the extent and nature of contemporary cultural and religious discrimination in rural Canadian communities, the editors and contributors explore the many efforts by rural citizens, community groups, and municipalities to counter intolerance, build inclusive communities, and become better neighbours. Throughout, scholars and community leaders focus on building new understandings, language, and ways of thinking about diversity and inclusion that will resonate with rural people. Scholars of rural studies will find this book useful as will rural community leaders and community organizers.
Contributors: Clark Banack, Ray Bollman, Claudine Bonner, Corina Borri-Anadon, Jen Budney, Michael Corbett, Roger Epp, Murray Fulton, Stacey Haugen, Phil Henderson, Sivane Hirsch, Michelle Lam, Coleen Lynch, Aasa Marshall, Darcy Overland, Trista Pewapisconias, Dionne Pohler, Samuel Reimer, Jennifer Tinkham, Kyle White
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Clark Banack and Dionne Pohler
I Rural Demographics and Diversity
1 The Demographic Context of Rural Canada: The Size of the Indigenous and Visible Minority Populations
Ray D. Bollman
2 Making Diversity in Rural Areas Visible: A Changing Perspective for Rural Schools in Québec
Sivane Hirsch and Corina Borri-Anadon
II Understanding Rural Attitudes toward Inclusivity
3 Partisanship, Patriarchy, and Prejudice: Inclusivity among Evangelicals, Albertans, and Rural Canadians
Samuel Reimer
4 Understanding Rural Attitudes toward Cultural and Religious Minorities via Political Ethnography: The Case of Rural Alberta
Clark Banack
5 Driving into Nowhere: Refugee Resettlement and Integration in Rural Canada
Stacey Haugen
III Practical Tools for Building Inclusive Rural Communities
6 A Noisy Silence: Challenges for Rural Teacher Education
Michael Corbett, Jennifer Tinkham, and Claudine Bonner
7 Promoting Understanding and Equity in Rural Canada: The Role of Community Education
Michelle Lam
8 Contextual Bible Study: An Effective Practice to Promote Inclusivity in Rural Communities and Faith Groups
Coleen Lynch
IV A Rural Approach to Anti-racism and Settler-Indigenous Relations: Co-operation and Neighbourliness
9 Co-operative Development Possibilities in Rural Settler and Indigenous Communities: Lessons from the Co-operative Innovation Project and Co-operatives First
Dionne Pohler, Jen Budney, Murray Fulton, Darcy Overland, Aasa Marshall, Trista Pewapisconias, and Kyle White
10 Inclusion on Whose Grounds? Against Liberal Essentialisms and toward Radical Neighbourliness in Rural Anti-racism
Phil Henderson
11 The Work of Neighbours: A Rural Ethos for Reconciliation
Roger Epp
Conclusion
Clark Banack and Dionne Pohler
Contributors
