Project Leaders

The Rural Development Network (RDN) works to equip communities with tools, information, and expertise needed to jumpstart projects with the goal of amplifying the collective voice of rural communities and improving the quality of life for rural Canadians.

At RDN, our primary initiatives are dedicated to supporting communities in addressing their needs for things like affordable housing through our Sustainable Housing Initiative, preventing and ending homelessness through are unique homelessness estimation process, attracting and supporting newcomers through.

Our Rural Immigration program, developing agri-food initiatives, and revitalizing communities through our Rural Revitalization program. Our Health & Wellness team works alongside communities to develop responses in the areas of substance misuse, developing dementia friendly communities, mental health, and developing safer and healthier communities all through the lens of Reconciliation. RDN is also the Community Entity through the Federal Government for Reaching Home funding for rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Alberta.

In addition to the Shelter Pulse project, RDN and MRC partnered on methodologies to estimate homelessness. This research resulted in the creation of RDN’s award-winning Step-by-Step Guide to Estimating Rural Homelessness.

Mountain Rose Centre (MRC) was incorporated in 1990 and has since provided services to women and children in immediate need of safety and security due to domestic/family violence in Rocky Mountain House, AB and surrounding area.

MRC’s Mission:

To build on our abilities to meet individual, family, and the changing needs of those impacted by gender-based violence by providing trauma-informed services, increase community engagement, and championing the voices of all survivors by creating safe spaces for help, hope and healing.

In September 2019, The Mountain Rose Center opened. This new location provides a 21-bed emergency shelter, 5 Second Stage/Transitional Apartments, an administrative office, and various Community Support Services.

This project is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Feminist Response and Recovery Fund. The opinions and interpretations on this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.