On the Move

The report, by the Newfoundland and Labrador research component of the On the Move Partnership, a national research project headquartered at Memorial, is the outcome of a forum that explored the housing-related pressures faced by communities in this province in the context of a mobile workforce.

Research in this area is particularly important to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, a place with a long history of working far from home. The province has experienced unprecedented economic growth in recent years, driven largely by oil and gas, mining and energy projects in remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador and other parts of Canada, particularly Alberta. Communities across the province benefit from this growth, but also face associated challenges. Some of these challenges include housing, such as housing affordability, sense of place, and community engagement.

“It’s clear that a greater range of housing choices and housing opportunities are needed to address the diverse housing needs of residents,” notes Dr. Kelly Vodden, co-author of the report and associate professor, environmental policy, Grenfell Campus. “This will require appropriate planning and flexibility on behalf of municipal and provincial decision-makers, as well as other housing stakeholders.”

“The relationship between housing and working in one place and living in another is complex,” adds Dr. Sandrine Jean, report co-author and assistant professor, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Despite the current economic downturn, different types of mobile work will continue to play an important role in the province’s economy in the future, and continued research will enhance our understanding of its impacts and help to inform policies and practices so to ensure housing accessibility and affordability for future generations.”

The full report, Forum on Housing and the Mobile Workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador, is available here.

Presented by:

Dr. Kelly Vodden

Dr. Vodden is Associate Vice-President (Grenfell) Research and Graduate Studies? and an Associate Professor (Research) with the Environmental Policy Institute at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. She also serves as a Research Associate and advisor to Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador, a board member with Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation, and a former  board member with the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation. Kelly’s research and publications relate to governance and sustainable community and regional development, with a focus on rural, coastal, often natural resource-dependent communities.