COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN CANADA: A REVIEW OF RECENT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS

Abstract

Governments, universities and community-based organizations in Canada are struggling to determine the most appropriate means to build local capacity for community development. This paper reviews five recent research initiatives concerning the learning needs of community development practitioners in Canada. Lead organizations for the five needs assessments are the University of Regina, Employment and Immigration Canada, the Western Ministers' Working Group on Diversification, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers and the Economic Developers' Association of Canada. The context, objectives, research methods, findings and recommendations from each of the studies are presented, and implications for community development practitioners, educators and researchers beyond the borders of Canada are identified.