Welcoming Inclusive Communities & Organizations
Our team works collaboratively to identify challenges in welcoming newcomers, and develop training, policies, and resources to better attract, retain and settle newcomers in rural areas.
Our team works collaboratively to identify challenges in welcoming newcomers, and develop training, policies, and resources to better attract, retain and settle newcomers in rural areas.
Our team works collaboratively to identify challenges in welcoming newcomers, and develop training, policies, and resources to better attract, retain and settle newcomers in rural areas.
Welcoming newcomers to rural communities and workplaces requires an understanding of the needs of newcomers, best practices on how to support with settlement and integration initiatives, and strategies to create more inclusive environments so newcomers can stay, work, thrive and grow in rural communities across Canada. Our team works collaboratively and uniquely with rural communities and organizations to identify the knowledge gaps and challenges in welcoming newcomers, and creates individualized training, policies and practices, and resources to support communities in gaining the skills to better attract, retain and settle newcomers successfully in the long-term.
Supporting communities and organizations with better strategies to welcome, settle and retain newcomers through a rural lens
Identifying the existing gaps and challenges that organizations and communities face in being able to understand and meet the needs of newcomers through research, communication and public engagement, performance indicators and community conversations
Customized training opportunities that focus on a wide range of topics, skill-building and awareness to increase the capacity of organizations and communities to meet their diversity, equity and inclusion goals and support newcomers to the community or workplace
We will work with your community (organizations, private businesses, key stakeholders, the municipality, community members) to promote and educate on the importance of immigration relative to your unique needs.
Utilizing our vast network of stakeholders, communities and organizations to make connections, build partnerships and facilitate collaboration
Development of resources and materials to support individual organizations and communities with knowledge translation, information and policies through an equity, diversity and inclusion lens
Creation of concrete actions to address a Post Secondary Institution’s identified goals in increasing their international student base, to identify required resources within the Institution, and to identify key service and programming areas within communities for international students.
Support with grant writing, finding funding opportunities and collaborating on projects with communities, partners, and other organizations
The Shelter Pulse Database Project enabled rural and remote shelters to work together in providing trauma-informed policies and procedures for violence against women shelters in Canada. The experts from the field that gathered to share their knowledge to the Shelter Pulse Database make this new tool invaluable. Under the leadership of the Rural Development Network, many partner shelters contributed to the outcome.
Cindy Easton – Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA)
As a previous participant in the Enabling Housing Choice project with RDN, we are excited to be making progress on key recommendations outlined in RDN’s report – Attracting Diverse Housing Development in Mayerthorpe. This report has been critical to understanding our community’s diverse housing needs, and has equipped us with community-informed insights on how to address these needs.
Karen St. Martin – Town of Mayerthorpe
Enabling Housing Choice, Housing
Understanding the significance of having people with lived experience and Indigenous people being at the tables of all conversations – especially those with decision making authority. The value of community, and looking after ourselves so we can serve others. That there is a community of people who I can learn from and share with in my work to serve my community.
Training Participant
National Coordinated Access
This training was so invigorating, refreshing and very much needed. The intimate setting, I feel, made a huge difference. We left the event with a deeper understanding and a strengthened network. We were reminded to focus on the capacity that we have, not necessarily all we would love to be able to do, and take it in steps. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Coordinated Access Training Participant
National Coordinated Access
Creating a sense of home is so much more than just a building and the Innovation Fund gave SHI and the YWCA creative space to think differently about our approach to design. Living in Banff National Park also strongly influenced our commitment to net zero targets. Belonging, security, connection, affordability, community pride-these are all factors that have influenced how we developed the Courtyard project.
Connie MacDonald- Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Banff
Housing
We are forever grateful to work together on this insight for our project. If not for the support from RDN on this we would not be where we are today! Our dream was to attain transitional, affordable and market housing in our community. This turned into a goal and now a reality. This housing continuum of care will be able to meet people’s needs while recognizing what their housing realities mean in a rural perspective. RDN has walked along with us and been able to connect and answer many questions, concerns and thoughts during this time.
Rebecca Wells – Executive Director, Wellspring Family Resource Center
Housing
We brainstormed and some said nature and multiculturalism because we are a multicultural building, with people from many different countries and ethnicities here. So we wanted something to represent that, and the mural will make us a landmark in the community as there i s alot of foot-traffic in the community.
St. Joachim Tenant on the Community Mural
Placemaking for Inclusion
There were people there who don’t normally show up to different functions. Everybody was doing something somewhere and were happy to participate and help others
St. Joachim Tenant on the Mural-Painting Event
Placemaking for Inclusion
The atmosphere was quite welcoming for everyone. One person said they had been here for 20 years and this was the best event they had seen. The busyness of the room encouraged cliques to break up and this increase mingling
St. Joachim Tenant on the Mural-Painting Event
Placemaking for Inclusion
It really brought the community together. Overall it was a great success. We also really enjoyed the painting, it was a great opportunity for those who had never painted before.
Senior Tenant, La Société des Manoirs Saint-Joachim
Placemaking for Inclusion
September 11, 2024
Inclusive Communities, Rural Immigration, Test
A resource highlighting how rural communities can transform spaces to support diverse populations
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.
ViewFebruary 1, 2024
Affordable Housing, Inclusive Communities, Placemaking for Inclusion
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.
ViewConsultation Research Strategy, Homelessness
Consultation Research Strategy, Homelessness
Newcomers, Rural Immigration, Workshops & Training
Our customizable training is tailored for service providers and municipalities. It focuses on teaching strategies to effectively meet newcomers needs and foster welcoming communities.
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11443-143 Street,
NW Edmonton,
Alberta T5M 1V7
