Alberta Rural Development Network

ARDN originated in Alberta, created as a partnership of Alberta’s 21 public post secondary institutions.[1] With the support of these institutions and the dedication of rural communities in Alberta, ARDN has evolved and grown over the past 11 years, developing and delivering a wide range of projects, resources, and capacity building services.

Rural Development Network
Founded2009
FocusRural communities
Location
Area served
Rural Canada
ServicesRural development, research, rural homelessness, affordable housing, immigration, agriculture, food security
Members
9
Key people
Dee Ann Benard, Executive Director
Employees
16
Website
Formerly called
Alberta Rural Development Network

Due to the broad range initiatives pursued by the organization, and in an effort to increase its accessibility to all rural communities, the organization evolved into the Rural Development Network.

RDN’s approach is founded on supporting communities in their efforts to address social issues. The needs of the community is heard, understood, and analyzed to develop solutions alongside residents. Each solution is tailored to reflect the uniqueness of the residents it aims to serve.

In addition, a key aspect of RDN’s work is supporting communities in actually implementing the proposed solutions by providing capacity and expertise. All too often projects are started, but stall without the right tools, capacity, and expertise needed to become a reality; RDN is committed to filling this gap.

Mandate

As stated on their website, "RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities. We work with communities to amplify the "rural voice". We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues."[2]

RDN focuses on four core principles to build community capacity:

  1. Research
  2. Education
  3. Collaboration
  4. Networking

According to the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, "The Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) has played a key role in helping communities across rural Alberta to flourish and thrive by strengthening links between Campus Alberta institutions, industry and community-based organizations."[3]

National Scope

The Alberta Rural Development Network originated in Alberta, and was intended to be a partnership of Alberta’s 21 public post secondary institutions. With the support of these institutions and the dedication of rural communities in Alberta, ARDN has evolved and grown over the past 11 years, developing and delivering a wide range of projects, resources, and capacity building services. Since its inception, ARDN has worked with several of Alberta's colleges, universities and organizations on projects, including Lakeland College and Portage College on a Regional Innovation Network in East Central Alberta,[4] Mount Royal University on a Business Retention & Expansion Symposium,[5] the Alberta Academy of Art and Design on the Company of Albertans,[6] Pastor Tim Wray on the Young Adult Photovoice Project,[7] and Lethbridge College on Social in the South.[8]

With this evolution came an increased need to make the organization’s services and resources accessible to all rural communities. In 2020, the organization announced the shift from a provincial focus to a national scope by renaming into the Rural Development Network.

In recent years, the organization’s efforts to support and bolster rural sustainability in Alberta unearthed many similarities amongst communities across rural Canada. The RDN continued to delve into the issues, problems, and many successes of an increasing number of rural communities. With continuous engagement and learning, the organization has been able to create and provide open-source resources, provincial and national collaborative networks, and accessible services with a rural-based approach.  

According to their website: “Our focus will not be shifting away from our Albertan roots, but is rather expanding to allow changemakers across rural Canada to more easily interact with us and utilize our resources. We will continue to build upon and support the amazing work being done by other organizations across Canada, with the aim of filling in the gaps and not creating duplication.”[9]

Reaching Home

The RDN currently administers rural and remote funding stream for Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.[10] So far, this has resulted in the funding of twelve housing and homelessness projects over four years.:[11]

Members

Media

ARDN publishes a bi-weekly newsletter, The Rural Connector.[12]

References
  1. Staff. "Community Outreach" Archived 2013-05-29 at the Wayback Machine. Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. "About | Alberta Rural Development Network". www.ruraldevelopment.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  4. Staff. "Lakeland and Portage partner to build East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network". Lakeland College - Applied Research & Innovation. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  5. Staff. "Keeping rural business strong". Mount Royal University. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  6. Staff. "The Company of Albertans" Archived 2013-08-09 at the Wayback Machine. ACAD. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  7. Wray, Tim. "What Matters in Small Towns?" Archived 2013-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Farm On. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  8. Staff. "Social in the South 2012: Social Media Strategies for Business" Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine. Lethbridge College. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  9. "About | Alberta Rural Development Network". www.ruraldevelopment.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  10. Canada, Employment and Social Development (2016-06-16). "Rural and remote homelessness". aem. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  11. "$3.7M of funding announced for 12 housing and homelessness projects across rural Alberta". Global News. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  12. "Rural Connector Mailing List". 47add05d.sibforms.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
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