Meet the RIC

George Penfold M.Sc., MCIP, has over 30 years of experience in community planning and development. He is committed to rural communities and to strategic decision-making as a fundamental ingredient to planning for positive change. He has training and experience in public service as an engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and as a planner with the County of Huron, Ontario. For 14 years, he was on faculty with the School of Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph, a graduate program focused on planning and development issues in rural communities in Canada and internationally. In his faculty role, he conducted applied research on a range of economic, social and environmental issues, taught both graduate and undergraduate courses, and was involved in development and administration of the Sustainable Rural Communities Research Program.

Since 1995 he has operated a community planning and development consulting practice in Comox, British Columbia. In that context, he has managed research and community development projects for a wide range of clients including municipalities and regional districts, not-for-profit organizations and Community Futures Development Corporations, federal and provincial agencies and First Nations. He has also continued to teach courses at North Island College and the University of Victoria.

Between 1998 and 2004, he also operated a marine eco-adventure business on Vancouver Island.

This wide range of experience is supported by training in communication, negotiation and conflict resolution, and by extensive experience in public consultation and strategic planning with municipalities, interest groups, provincial and federal agencies and community organizations. George Penfold’s combination of academic and consulting experience and his focus on rural communities brings a unique and valuable experience and skill base to the position of Regional Innovation Chair.

Examples of recent projects:

• Developed a strategy for managing a Community Salvage Licence for the Regional District of Mount Waddington.
  
• Developed Opportunities and Constraints background research, and business plans for Recommended Projects to Enhance Economic Development within the Kyuquot Sound for The Ka:'yu:’k't'h’ and Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations.
  
• Prepared an economic development strategy and action plan for the Regional District of Mount Waddington.
  
• Developed a five-year strategic plan for recreation facilities and programs for the City of Courtenay.
  
• Developed a needs assessment and business plan for broadband services to rural areas for Community Futures Development Corporations of Mount Waddington and Comox Strathcona.
  
• Planned and facilitated a process to establish economic development priorities on the North Island for Community Futures Development Corporation of Mount Waddington.
  
• Developed a strategy for the agricultural sector in the Comox Valley including recommendations for land use policy and regulation for the Regional District of Comox Strathcona.
  
• Updated the work plan for development of the North Coast Trail, and developed a community funding and management model for the North Island Tourism Initiative
  
• Developed Official Community Plans for the District of Lantzville, Malcolm Island, South Long Beach (Electoral Area C, Alberni Clayoquot), Regional District of Mount Waddington
  
• Develop a land use plan for the Tofino Ucluelet Airport lands for the Regional District of Alberni Clayoquot.