News & Updates

In November, we invited partners, funders, and collaborators to share their experiences working with the Rural Development Network. Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2025 Partnership & Collaboration Survey. Your reflections on what’s working, what needs attention, and where we can grow are invaluable as we continue building a stronger, more responsive […]

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov 4, 2025 Edmonton, Alberta – November 4, 2025 – The federal government has allocated funding that will allow the Rural Development Network (RDN) to distribute approximately $4.8 million over the next two years to Alberta’s rural, remote, First Nation, Métis Settlement, and Métis communities through the Reaching Home Rural […]

Canada – August 2025 RDN is set to launch its Provincial Housing & Service Needs Estimation this October, a critical initiative aimed at better understanding housing insecurity across the province. From October 1 to 31, 2025, 21 organizations and municipalities representing over 64 rural, remote, and Indigenous communities will participate in collecting localized and regionalized […]

TO ALL OF OUR RDN FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES:  Following an extensive search process, the Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Melissa Fougere as RDN’s Chief Executive Officer as of July 28th, 2025.  Melissa brings over 17 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including senior roles with the Canadian Red Cross, where she led initiatives in […]

When we think about homelessness, we often picture what we see in urban centres, people sleeping rough in parks, shelters, or on busy city streets. This “urban lens” has dominated the national conversation, leading many to believe that homelessness is primarily an urban issue. But that’s only part of the story. In rural, remote, and […]

When it comes to housing, one of the most important questions any community can ask is: Are we meeting the needs of our people? A Housing Needs & Demands Assessment (HNA) helps answer that question with clarity and confidence. It’s a powerful planning tool that offers a clear, evidence-based picture of both current housing realities […]