The Rural Development Network (RDN), formerly the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN), is an Alberta-based organization purposed towards supporting development in rural communities in Canada.[1]
| Founded | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Rural communities |
| Location | |
Area served | Rural Canada |
| Services | Rural development, research, rural homelessness, affordable housing, immigration, agriculture, food security |
Members | 9 |
Key people | Dee Ann Benard, Executive Director |
Employees | 16 |
| Website | ruraldevelopment |
Formerly called | Alberta Rural Development Network |
Established in 2009, RDN was created as a partnership of Alberta's 21 public post secondary institutions.[2]
ARDN publishes a newsletter, The RTAB, at least once a month.
History
ARDN began operations in 2009 with a grant from the Rural Alberta Development Fund (RADF)[3] and in-kind commitments from its post-secondary members.
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]
More recently, ARDN administered the Homelessness Partnering Strategy's Rural and Remote Homelessness funding stream for Alberta.[9] So far, this has resulted in the funding of seven rural homelessness projects, including projects in Drayton Valley,[10] Chestermere,[11] Fort Macleod[12] and Cochrane.[13]