This asset-mapping practicum project on Riverdale/Rivers, Manitoba, was conducted in summer 2025 by Brandon University Master of Arts in Rural Development students (led by Osabutey Awall Mustapha) as a partnership between the Rural Development Institute and the Riverdale Community Development Corporation. Rather than collecting new data, the students used secondary research, discussions with RCDC leaders, and some exploration of AI tools to build an initial inventory of the community’s assets across seven categories: natural/environmental, cultural, social, built/physical, economic/financial, political/leadership, and human. Their key finding is that Riverdale has substantial strengths (the Little Saskatchewan River, Lake Wahtopanah, heritage buildings, strong volunteerism, active leadership, agriculture, and skilled residents) that could be leveraged for tourism and community development.

The project identified that connecting these local assets to tourism could attract visitors, support businesses, protect heritage and build community pride, and it offers next steps such as creating a cultural and tourism plan, developing digital and print asset maps, starting small with events and festivals and validating the asset map with local stakeholders.