Welcome to ARDN

Welcome to the Alberta Rural Development Network. ARDN is a network of committed universities, technical institutes and colleges from across Alberta, working together in rural Alberta to support and enhance the well-being of individuals and the vibrancy of communities through learning. The goal of this website is to provide an interactive forum for information sharing as well as an extensive database of information on beneficial practices for rural development. Alberta’s 21 public post-secondary institutions are the primary source of this information, but contributions may come from any credible source. The website will be constantly changing as we populate the site with new and existing research and information.

About the Website

We have a constantly expanding calendar of events where we post events related to rural development. You can stay up to date with all types of ARDN and rural news by reading the News Stories and Rural Connector. Research projects and blog can be found under Research Info and Forums – we encourage your feed back through the forum on the projects and blog posts.  Under ARDN Initiatives you can learn about projects and events that we have hosted and funded. 

ARDN and BRTF Partner on Survey to Discover Gaps in Education

The Battle River Training Foundation (BRTF) and the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) are collaborating on a needs assessment, which includes the distribution of a survey. By entering the survey rural Albertans get the chance to win one of three randomly drawn $100 cash prizes! To participate in the quick survey, click the appropriate link below.
I am from East Central Alberta.
I am from another area in Alberta.

ARDN Community

Membership in the ARDN community is free and open to everyone. As a non-member you can view posts and find research information. Membership allows you to post comments and engage in discussion about projects and research. The Research Blog is also open to participation and further discussion.

ARDN Event Highlights

ARDN hosts and funds multiple events, such as the recent Creating Rural Connections 2010 conference which was a huge success. Keep an eye out for more information about ARDN’s upcoming 2011 conference. A list of networking events that we have funded is also available. For information about upcoming events, visit our calendar.

ARDN Project Highlights

ARDN works endlessly to provide rural Alberta with a supply of important projects and research related to rural development. These projects are written in plain language and are available in the forum. Please feel free to comment and begin discussions on specific projects

Pathways for First Nation and Métis Youth in the Oil Sands - This study, produced for Canadian Policy Research Networks, looked at the political, social, and economic influences on the First Nations and Metis youth attitudes towards education in the municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta. Click here to learn more.