This poster, created by Marc-Andre Bonneau, was featured at the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Conference (September 2017) in Nelson, BC.

Canadian rural communities are marked by the presence of social health inequalities. These inequalities are aggravated by recent transformations associated with the phenomenon of devitalization (loss of services, rural exodus, etc.). In this context, participation has been recognized by many as an important lever for community development (Leroux & al., 2002) and a means of achieving health equity (Lachapelle & Bourque, 2008). However, few studies have documented rural participation, and even fewer have examined its impacts, particularly on the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Research Question and Objectives

• How does social participation contribute to health and well-being in the rural context?

More specifically, this research aims to:

1.      Describe the social participation (its nature and context) of people living in the community being studied.

2.      Explore how participation contributes, or does not contribute, to the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

3.      Explore the influence of the rural context in the dynamic between participation and health