Building, connecting and sharing knowledge : Dialogue on linkages between communities

Summary Report The Dialogue Papers Infrastructure Canada’s Literature Review The literature review prepared by INFC was designed to help bring together existing literature and insights, to be a point of departure for the event, and to contribute to the development of a longer-term research agenda on linkages To this end, the review sought to identify the literature sources that allow focused study [...] The trends in the growth of metropolitan areas, big cities and the urban system have substantial implications for the future of rural areas and communities in Canada. [...] Leadership is necessary to create the space for the development of processes in support of community linkages, and to promote the legitimacy of these approaches as routes to community sustainability. [...] Specific reference was made to: the importance of not overlooking governance-based linkages in the linking-up of Canada’s communities and the rich literature on governance; social networks and related concepts; the ecosystem concept and the research it informs; and, the role of information technology and values chains as bases for and drivers of linkages. [...] Summary Report Conclusions The dialogue contributed to understanding the two questions that guided the research and discussion: what are the impacts of the various linkages between communities?; and, what are the prospects for a more integrated analytical approach for increasing our understanding of linkages in support of policy-making?