Alberta Rural Development Network
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{{COI|date=July 2013}}
{{notability|Organizations|date=July 2013}}
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{{Infobox organization
| name = Rural Development Network
| logo = Alberta Rural Development Network logo.svg
| image =
| caption =
| formerly = Alberta Rural Development Network
| founder =
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| founded_date = 2009
| location = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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| origins =
| key_people = Dee Ann Benard, Executive Director
| area_served = Rural Canada
| products =
| services = Rural development, research, rural homelessness, affordable housing, immigration, agriculture, food security
| focus = Rural communities
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| num_volunteers =
| num_employees = 16
| num_members = 9
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| website = {{URL|ruraldevelopment.ca}}
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}}
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.{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Rural Development Network |url=https://www.ruraldevelopment.ca/about-us/about |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.ruraldevelopment.ca}}
Established in 2009, RDN was created as a partnership of Alberta's 21 public post secondary institutions.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.
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){{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 }} 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,Staff. [http://www.lakelandcollege.ca/applied-research/newsroom/_articles/news10021101.aspx "Lakeland and Portage partner to build East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network"]. Lakeland College - Applied Research & Innovation. Retrieved 8 July 2013. Mount Royal University on a Business Retention & Expansion Symposium,Staff. [http://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Business/NewsAnnouncements/bresymposium2012.htm "Keeping rural business strong"]. Mount Royal University. Retrieved 8 July 2013. the Alberta Academy of Art and Design on the Company of Albertans,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. Pastor Tim Wray on the Young Adult Photovoice Project,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. and Lethbridge College on Social in the South.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.
More recently, ARDN administered the Homelessness Partnering Strategy's Rural and Remote Homelessness funding stream for Alberta.Higgins, Michael. [http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Stories.aspx?pd=5156 "Alberta's Rural Homeless"]. Alberta Primetime. Retrieved 25 June 2013. So far, this has resulted in the funding of seven rural homelessness projects, including projects in Drayton Valley,Whalen, Courtney. [http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/2013/05/06/drayton-valley-receives-homelessness-partnership-money "Drayton Valley receives homelessness partnership money"] Drayton Valley Western Review. Retrieved 9 July 2013 Chestermere,Chorney, Allison. [http://www.rockyviewweekly.com/article/20130610/RVW0801/306109996/0/rvw "Chestermere receives $57,000 to help prevent homelessness in community"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710014024/http://www.rockyviewweekly.com/article/20130610/RVW0801/306109996/0/rvw |date=2016-07-10 }} Rocky View Weekly. Retrieved 9 July 2013 Fort MacleodStaff. [http://www.fortmacleodgazette.com/2013/fort-macleod-get-funding-for-housing-support-program/ "Fort Macleod get funding for housing support program"] Macleod Gazette. Retrieved 9 July 2013 and Cochrane.Edey, Noel. [http://www.cochranetimes.com/2013/05/01/support-for-homeless-youth "Support for homeless youth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215202/http://www.cochranetimes.com/2013/05/01/support-for-homeless-youth |date=2016-03-03 }} Cochrane Times. Retrieved 9 July 2013