Dr. Kenneth B. Beesley passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of Tuesday, March 10, 2020. He is survived by his daughter Rebecca Beesley, who will miss him greatly.
Dr. Beesley completed his PhD in Geography at the University of Waterloo in 1985. Dr. Beesley was a Professor in the Department of Rural Development at Brandon University from 2002 until his retirement in 2014. Prior to this time, he was a Professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro for ten years, the last eight of which he was the Director of the Rural Research Centre. His previous employment included several universities in British Columbia and Ontario.
Ken’s primary area of expertise was in better understanding community and life satisfaction in the rural-urban fringe. He published dozens of papers in scholarly journals and edited volumes. His last major work was an edited volume, titled The Rural-Urban Fringe in Canada: Conflict and Controversy (2010). This twenty-five chapter volume includes Canadian scholars from coast-to-coast and stands as a testament to his reputation in the field.
In the Department of Rural Development, Ken taught a range of courses, including Rural Sustainability, Economic Development, and the Rural-Urban Fringe. Throughout his career, he guided countless undergraduate and graduate students to successful programs and careers with his scholarly knowledge and his gift for, often long, one-on-one conversations.
In lieu of flowers, his daughter is asking that those who wish, please make a donation to Diabetes Canada.
Out of respect to Dr. Beesley, the flag in front of Brandon University’s main campus will be lowered to half-mast.
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