{{Infobox organization | name = Rural Development Network | logo = Alberta Rural Development Network logo.svg | caption = | former_name = Alberta Rural Development Network | founder = | type = Nonprofit Organization | tax_id = | registration_id = | founded = 2009 | location = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | key_people = Melissa Fougere President & CEO, Dr. Glenn Mitchell (Board Chair) | region_served = Canada | products = Guides, Toolkits, Housing and Service Needs Estimations, Housing Development Needs Assessments, Research, Product Development, Online Training, In-Person Facilitation, Community Engagement, Asset Mapping, and Shared Services | services = | focus = Rural, Remote, and Indigenous community, social, and economic development. | headquarters = Edmonton, Alberta | method = In-Person, Virtual, Hybrid | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = 16 | num_members = 9 | subsid = | owner = | leader_title = President & Chief Executive Officer | leader_name = Melissa Fougere | dissolved = | website = https://ruraldevelopment.ca/ }}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Rural Development Network |url=https://www.ruraldevelopment.ca/about-us/about |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.ruraldevelopment.ca}}</ref>

The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a national nonprofit organization based in Alberta, Canada, dedicated to strengthening rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. RDN works alongside local partners to co-create practical, evidence-based solutions that address housing and homelessness, newcomer settlement, and community and economic development challenges.

Established in 2009, RDN was created as a partnership of Alberta's 21 public post secondary institutions.<ref>Staff. [http://www.augustana.ualberta.ca/research/centres/acsrc/outreach.html "Community Outreach"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529043253/https://www.augustana.ualberta.ca/research/centres/acsrc/outreach.html|date=2013-05-29}}. Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities. Retrieved 25 June 2013.</ref>

RDN publishes a newsletter, The ''Rural Connector Newsletter'', once a month.

== History ==

Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) began operations in 2009 with a grant from the Rural Alberta Development Fund (RADF)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radf.ca/projects/alberta_rural_development_network/ |title=Alberta Rural Development Network |access-date=2014-01-09 |archive-date=2014-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110001625/http://www.radf.ca/projects/alberta_rural_development_network/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in-kind commitments from its post-secondary members.

Since its inception, RDN 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,<ref>Staff. [http://www.lakelandcollege.ca/applied-research/newsroom/_articles/news10021101.aspx "Lakeland and Portage partner to build East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130708230809/http://www.lakelandcollege.ca/applied-research/newsroom/_articles/news10021101.aspx |date=2013-07-08 }}. Lakeland College - Applied Research & Innovation. Retrieved 8 July 2013.</ref> Mount Royal University on a Business Retention & Expansion Symposium,<ref>Staff. [http://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Business/NewsAnnouncements/bresymposium2012.htm "Keeping rural business strong"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190131/http://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Business/NewsAnnouncements/bresymposium2012.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}. Mount Royal University. Retrieved 8 July 2013.</ref> the Alberta Academy of Art and Design on the Company of Albertans,<ref>Staff. [http://www.acad.ca/wh_2013_04_ikg_company_of_albertans.html "The Company of Albertans"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809172748/http://acad.ca/wh_2013_04_ikg_company_of_albertans.html |date=2013-08-09 }}. ACAD. Retrieved 8 July 2013.</ref> Pastor Tim Wray on the Young Adult Photovoice Project,<ref>Wray, Tim. [http://farmon.com/pages/workshops/guides/tim-wray/free-content/free-content/what-matters-in-small-towns.aspx "What Matters in Small Towns?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516081438/http://farmon.com/pages/workshops/guides/tim-wray/free-content/free-content/what-matters-in-small-towns.aspx |date=2013-05-16 }}. Farm On. Retrieved 8 July 2013.</ref> and Lethbridge College on Social in the South.<ref>Staff. [http://www.lethbridgecollege.ca/news/all/social-south-2012-social-media-strategies-business "Social in the South 2012: Social Media Strategies for Business"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530160034/http://www.lethbridgecollege.ca/news/all/social-south-2012-social-media-strategies-business |date=2013-05-30 }}. Lethbridge College. Retrieved 8 July 2013.</ref> More recently RDN has been supported by funders such as [https://www.aref.ab.ca/ Alberta Real Estate Foundation] to complete research and community engagement through Enabling Housing Choice,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enabling Housing Choice Project launches with an Alberta-wide survey |url=https://www.aref.ab.ca/news/enabling-housing-choice-project-launches-with-an-alberta-wide-survey |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=Alberta Real Estate Foundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title=Enabling Housing Choice Project In Trochu – ECA Review |url=https://ecareview.com/enabling-housing-choice-project-in-trochu/ |access-date=2025-10-11 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Enabling Housing Choice North<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-10 |title=Enabling Housing Choice North Project in LAC Cardinal County |url=https://www.mdpeace.com/community-recreation/news-announcements/enabling-housing-choice-north-project-lac-cardinal-county |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=Municipal District of Peace {{!}} CiviKit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Communications |date=2025-02-26 |title=Enabling Housing Choice North Project in Big Lakes County |url=https://biglakescounty.ca/enabling-housing-choice-north-project-in-big-lakes-county/ |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=Big Lakes County |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Enabling Housing Choice North Project comes to Fairview - Town of Fairview, Alberta |url=https://www.fairview.ca/news/enabling-housing-choice-north-project-comes-to-fairview/ |access-date=2025-10-11 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Guide and checklist for affordable housing in Canada,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case Study: Guide to Developing Affordable Housing |url=https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/housing-research/research-reports/nhs-outcomes/guide-developing-affordable-housing |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca |language=en}}</ref> and Responding to Veterans Homelessness in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous communities<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Veterans Affairs |date=2025-03-06 |title=MP Boissonnault announces support for Veterans and their families |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/veterans-affairs-canada/news/2025/03/mp-boissonnault-announces-support-for-veterans-and-their-families.html |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref> funded by the Government of Canada, Veterans and Well-Being Fund.

The Rural Development Network is the Reaching Home Community Entity for Rural and Remote Alberta, and is responsible for distributing this funding from the Government of Canada to rural and remote organizations and communities across the province to address and respond to homelessness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Infrastructure |title=Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada - Alberta |url=https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/communities-communautes/ab-eng.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917205514/https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/communities-communautes/ab-eng.html |archive-date=2025-09-17 |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=housing-infrastructure.canada.ca |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> These communities include First Nation and Métis Settlement communities amongst others.<ref name="albertaprimetime">Higgins, Michael. [http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Stories.aspx?pd=5156 "Alberta's Rural Homeless"]. Alberta Primetime. Retrieved 25 June 2013.</ref>

RDN helps communities identify needs, access funding, and design sustainable, locally-driven initiatives. Our work includes:

* '''Affordable Housing & Homelessness:''' Supporting communities to assess housing needs, plan affordable housing projects, and prevent rural homelessness. * '''Settlement & Inclusion:''' Helping newcomers successfully integrate into rural communities and strengthen local workforce capacity. * '''Community Development & Research:''' Providing consulting, data, and research tools—like our ''Sustainable Rural Community Index''—to help decision-makers and funders understand and invest in rural priorities.

'''Approach'''

We believe that rural voices must shape rural solutions. Through collaboration, applied research, and capacity-building, RDN helps communities overcome systemic barriers, leverage local strengths, and create measurable social, environmental, and economic impact.

'''Funding'''

The '''Rural Development Network (RDN)''' is a Canadian non-profit organization that receives funding through a combination of government, philanthropic, and fee-for-service sources. The organization’s primary funding comes from project-based and program-specific grants provided by federal and provincial governments, including '''Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)''', '''Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)''', and '''Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)'''. At the provincial level, RDN has received support from the '''Government of Alberta''' through various ministries focused on housing, community development, and social services.

RDN also collaborates with and receives contributions from '''municipalities''', '''Indigenous governments''', and '''regional alliances''' to deliver locally driven housing and community development initiatives.

The organization’s work has been supported by a range of '''charitable and private foundations''', including the '''Alberta Real Estate Foundation''', the '''Tenaquip Foundation''', the '''United Way''', and other philanthropic funders that invest in community resilience, housing innovation, and rural sustainability.

In addition to grants and contributions, RDN generates '''earned revenue''' through its fee-for-service activities, which include research, consulting, evaluation, training, and data analysis for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada.

RDN adheres to '''non-profit accountability and transparency standards'''.

== Members == * Keyano College * Lethbridge Polytechnic * Lakeland College * Medicine Hat College * Northern Lakes College * Olds College * Portage College * University of Calgary

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Homelessness in Canada Category:Affordable housing in Canada Category:Rural community development Category:Non-profit organizations based in Alberta Category:Rural development in Canada