Funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada, RDN’s Awareness Builds Connection in Dementia Friendly Communities (ABCD) project was guided by three priorities aligned with Canada’s national dementia strategy, A Dementia Strategy for Canada – Together We Aspire: (1) dementia prevention, (2) reducing stigma related to dementia, and (3) supporting communities to become more dementia-inclusive. The ABCD project worked with five rural Albertan communities, with a larger senior population, interested in adapting an evidence-based, dementia-inclusive initiative into their community. The approach was strengths-based, which allowed selected pilot project leads to oversee their pilot projects as they were the experts on the needs of their community. RDN’s role was to provide seed funding, assist with the planning and communication, and support community consultations as needed.
In February 2022, the Expression of Interest to rural Albertan communities was publicized on RDN’s social media platforms and through outreach to existing partners and networks. In consultation with the ABCD Advisory Committee, five rural communities were announced to have been successful in their applications at the end of March 2022, those communities and associated initiatives being:
ABCD Project Documentary
To learn more about the dementia-inclusive initiatives implemented in Taber, Sturgeon County, Spirit River, Strathmore and Drumheller. please watch the mini-documentary at https://youtu.be/93g5tiyWP4w. Promotion for the documentary is shown below.
Each ABCD pilot community adapted a dementia-inclusive initiative outlined in the ABCD catalogue which included memory cafes, speaker series’, train-the-trainer sessions, and dementia-friendly audit of office and library spaces. Memory Cafes were introduced in three communities, offering safe, stigma-free environments where individuals living with dementia and their caregivers could connect and participate in activities without fear. These cafes also played a role in promoting dementia awareness and reducing stigma within the broader community by involving local organizations and using public spaces.
Efforts to create dementia-inclusive spaces included audits to enhance accessibility in community spaces. Collaborations with local schools and knitting groups produced “twiddle muffs” and activity mats, available for free at local offices. Libraries also contributed by creating dementia-inclusive activity kits and acquiring books focused on dementia, supporting families at various stages of the condition. Educational initiatives included workshops and presentations aimed at raising awareness about dementia among professionals, volunteers, and community members.
In collaboration with the ABCD pilot project leads in each community, five step-by-step guides were developed to support other rural communities in the implementation of dementia-inclusive initiatives.
Age-Friendly, Community Development
Informed by research and the experiences of the ABCD pilot communities, these guides have been developed to support rural communities looking to improve the lives of those living with dementia by becoming more dementia-friendly. Understanding that each community is unique with its strengths and perspectives, this guide is meant to be flexible and adaptable based […]
ViewJune 20, 2024
Age-Friendly
A critical factor of ageing in place is having a community that enables older people to do what they have reason to value. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Age-friendly Cities:” A Guide; communities that are age-friendly encourage active ageing by improving opportunities for health, participation, and security, ultimately helping to enhance quality of […]
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Our event coordination team helps you organize impactful events while alleviating the stress. We also provide audio-visual services for in-person events, and to live-stream it online to expand your reach by going hybrid.
Learn MoreOur tailored sessions cover a spectrum of essential skills and knowledge areas. We can also customize workshops and training to your needs.
Learn MoreOur team works alongside you to successfully address community needs in many areas. We can help with:
Learn MoreOur dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.
The Rural Roots program allowed students to gain much-needed experience to transition into their future careers and for employers to boost their capacity while generating projects that have tangible results. Through meaningful engagement in our program, we aimed to raise awareness of the benefits of working, living in, and supporting rural communities.
What is Work-integrated Learning, Rural Roots
Understanding that the landscape of work-integrated learning (WIL) is changing, students or employers have access to a variety of opportunities that suit their needs. From applied research projects to apprenticeships or micro-placements to hackathons, the possibilities are endless.
The core purpose of WIL was to provide value to students (e.g., employability, and personal development) and employers (e.g., access to new talent, new ideas, and the opportunity to grow and diversify their workforce), specifically for those in rural communities.
The Benefits of Rural Roots
The Rural Roots Work Integrated Learning Program created more than 1,000 placements by August 10, 2023. Of these, more than 40% were students from underrepresented communities. The program engaged with 75 businesses that created WIL opportunities and hired post-secondary students. Based on survey results from employers and students, on average 94-95% of participants found WIL to be valuable and beneficial and 100% of students and employers found the resources and support from RDN valuable throughout their experience. Top resources included:
I had the pleasure of working with Rural Roots on another course-based project in Year 1 and saw my ideas being brought to life, so I jumped at an opportunity to take on another project. [This experience] was an opportunity to apply concepts like SWOT analyses and market research to an actual data set. I could see how the data influenced recommendations and supported community development.
Rural Roots Student
September 11, 2024
Inclusive Communities, Rural Immigration
A resource highlighting how rural communities can transform spaces to support diverse populations
ViewAugust 27, 2024
Homelessness
The Rural, Remote and Indigenous Communities’ Responses to Homelessness in Alberta What We Heard Report was published in May 2024 and funded by Homeward Trust Edmonton and the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
ViewAugust 26, 2024
Homelessness, National Coordinated Access
The development of the training materials and toolkit builds upon the Housing First philosophy while using a place-based approach along with a person-centred and trauma-informed care lens based on Reconciliation. The was based on a bottom-up, rather than a top-down approach to understanding Coordinated Access through the voices of those with lived experience and the […]
ViewAugust 26, 2024
Women’s Shelter Policies
Guidelines on how to implement best practices and inclusive policies when writing women’s shelter policies.
ViewWomen’s Shelter Policies
Shelter Pulse Literature Review: A review of literature, research, and current policies relating to Violence Against Women shelters and the lived experience of survivors. Shelter Pulse Environmental Scan: A review of the internal and external factors affecting Canadian shelters and the Shelter Pulse project, and considerations for the future. What We Heard Report: A summary […]
ViewAge-Friendly, Community Development
Informed by research and the experiences of the ABCD pilot communities, these guides have been developed to support rural communities looking to improve the lives of those living with dementia by becoming more dementia-friendly. Understanding that each community is unique with its strengths and perspectives, this guide is meant to be flexible and adaptable based […]
ViewJune 20, 2024
Age-Friendly
A critical factor of ageing in place is having a community that enables older people to do what they have reason to value. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Age-friendly Cities:” A Guide; communities that are age-friendly encourage active ageing by improving opportunities for health, participation, and security, ultimately helping to enhance quality of […]
ViewHousing, Rural Immigration
With growing populations of Ukrainian evacuees across the province, it is also the reality that many more organizations, businesses, communities, groups, and individuals who may not specifically aim to support Ukrainian evacuees are and will be increasingly coming into contact with them throughout the course of their day-to-day activities. This is especially true for smaller, […]
ViewJune 20, 2024
Rural Immigration
This guidebook will discuss resources to assist Ukrainian newcomers with finding housing, employment, healthcare, education, and the next steps in settling successfully in their new home.
ViewInclusive Communities, Rural Employers’ Awareness on Diversity and Inclusion, Rural Immigration
To receive the guide, please click the button below and complete the following form. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and we’ll only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the information you requested from us.
ViewInclusive Communities, Rural Immigration
To receive the guide, please click the button below and complete the following form. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and we’ll only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the information you requested from us.
ViewFirst Nations Data Collection, Homelessness, Housing, Indigenous
Inclusive Communities, Placemaking for Inclusion
Please click the button below to download a PDF of the guide.
ViewEnabling Housing Choice, Housing
Diversifying Housing in Rural Communities is meant to assist rural areas both in Alberta and across Canada in examining their local housing landscape and then using that information to update local policies, bylaws and processes, so that diverse housing development may be enabled in their community.
ViewApril 1, 2024
First Nations Data Collection, Homelessness, Indigenous
The purpose of this storytelling tool is to help us take steps to improve the quality of life, housing, and basic needs within our community. Click the buttons below to download/view the resources.
ViewApril 1, 2024
Homelessness
Resource Missing
ViewApril 1, 2024
Affordable Housing, Housing, Housing Education to Support Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta, Rural Immigration
Click the buttons below to download/view the following resources in PDF format.
ViewFebruary 1, 2024
Women’s Shelter Policies
The Shelter Pulse Policy Database represents a collaborative effort by the Rural Development Network team, Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association, Taproot Strategies, and rural shelter partners throughout Canada. It offers a comprehensive collection of policies in a searchable format. This platform enables women’s shelters across Canada to locate, download, edit, and compile specific policies into […]
ViewFebruary 1, 2024
Affordable Housing, Inclusive Communities
A resource for affordable housing providers and tenants seeking to foster greater social inclusion in their community. Click the button to view the resource as a PDF file.
ViewJanuary 1, 2023
Alberta Provincial Estimations, Homelessness
November 1, 2022
Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice
The second edition of our award-winning guide for those looking to develop, build, and operate affordable rental housing. Click the button below to learn more.
ViewOctober 1, 2022
Alberta Provincial Estimations, Estimating Rural Homelessness, Homelessness
This step-by-step document has been developed by the Rural Development Network (RDN) for rural communities across Canada that wish to accurately estimate the number of homeless individuals in their community. Click the button below to view the resource as a PDF.
ViewApril 1, 2022
Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice
Research for driving transformational, long-term policy change that encourages housing choice and diversity in communities. Click the buttons below to view more.
ViewJune 1, 2021
Homelessness
Often, rural and remote communities do not have emergency shelters or supportive/ transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness. In addition, communities may be limited in the resources, staff capacity, trained volunteers, as well as the time needed to implement longer-term responses to homelessness, such as housing or shelter solutions, particularly prior to the onset of […]
ViewJanuary 1, 2021
Immigration
The Rural Development Network developed the Rural Employers’ Awareness on Diversity and Inclusion toolkit to support employers, municipalities and service providers with the successful attraction, settlement and retention of newcomers in rural communities. This toolkit was funded by the Government of Alberta’s 2022-2023 Settlement, Integration and Language Program (SILP) and was done in partnership with […]
ViewJanuary 1, 2021
Affordable Housing
A guide to the development and operation of sustainable, efficient, and resilient housing co-ops in Alberta. Click below to view each resource.
ViewMarch 1, 2020
Affordable Housing
Evidence-based building design recommendations to improve your tenants’ quality of life. Click below to view/download the resource in PDF format.
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Our event coordination team helps you organize impactful events while alleviating the stress. We also provide audio-visual services for in-person events, and to live-stream it online to expand your reach by going hybrid.
Learn MoreOur tailored sessions cover a spectrum of essential skills and knowledge areas. We can also customize workshops and training to your needs.
Learn MoreOur team works alongside you to successfully address community needs in many areas. We can help with:
Learn MoreOur dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.
11443-143 Street,
NW Edmonton,
Alberta T5M 1V7
