Health, Economy and Adaption in Rural Ontario Initiative

A Message from the University of Guelph

Rural communities are the backbone of Ontario’s prosperity, food systems, and environmental stewardship. Yet they face growing pressures: limited healthcare access, labour shortages, economic volatility, climate risk, and persistent infrastructure gaps.

The Health, Economic, and Adaptation in Rural Communities (HEAR) Initiative is a long-term research project designed to better understand the experiences of rural and northern communities across Ontario. HEAR collects local, community-level data on health, economic well-being, and climate adaptation to support stronger planning, policy, and decision-making.

WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS

When rural communities are missing from the data, they are missing from the conversation. Funding allocations, healthcare planning, infrastructure investment, and climate adaptation programs are all shaped by evidence. Right now, that evidence is skewed toward urban centres.

The HEAR Initiative at the University of Guelph is one of the most ambitious rural research efforts in Ontario’s history. Over three survey waves in 2026, 2028, and 2030, researchers will collect data from 200,000 rural households, tracking health, economic well-being, and climate adaptation over time.

When rural voices are counted, rural communities get better policy, better funding, and better services. If you live, work, or operate in rural Ontario, your experience matters. Every response strengthens the case for communities like ours.

Learn more about the project & participate in the survey by clicking the button below.