News

Red Deer Polytechnic is pleased to welcome Emile Johnson as our new Director, Resiliency & Child Advocacy Research. This important role will lead the growth of RDP’s applied research program in resiliency and child advocacy that focuses on integrated practice and harnessing the power of data analytics to advance new best practices that will shape the future of child advocacy. “Integrated practice involves the seamless coordination of various disciplines such as Psychology, Social Work, Education, Justice Studies and Healthcare to create holistic solutions that cater to the diverse needs of our vulnerable population,” comments Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Applied Research. “By working with key partners like the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, our researchers can analyze vast datasets and derive meaningful insights to inform evidence-based interventions.” The Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence, home to the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, several Alberta Health Services supports and programs, and The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre is located at Red Deer Polytechnic. The new Centre is an excellent example of integrated practice, where our most vulnerable children can access multiple supports and services in one building. Having the Centre located at RDP provides enhanced applied research and work-integrated learning

SUNDRE – Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) have signed an agreement that will benefit nursing students, nursing staff and healthcare as a whole. Under the agreement, AHS nurses can take on RDP clinical instructor placements on a temporary basis when RDP is unable to recruit a qualified instructor. This joint appointment fills RDP’s need for instructors while students are completing their placements and, at the same time, enables AHS to preserve its valuable and experienced nurses. “There is significant demand for registered nurses across the province and the Government of Alberta has responded with an investment for more post-secondary spaces to teach them,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health and MLA for Red Deer North. “Through collaboration between AHS and RDP, more instructors become available, more nursing students from rural areas can learn in their home communities, and more nurses graduate to provide care at sites across the province. We are grateful for the innovation of these partners in providing sustainable healthcare solutions.” RDP has created 192 more spaces in its nursing program through 2022-2025 as part of the Government of Alberta’s investment in more seats for post-secondary programs across the province. The Myron Thompson Health

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) continues to recognize and celebrate its culture of creative activity and research by hosting the Third Annual Research Showcase. “The Research Showcase demonstrated the innovative research that is initiated by students, faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines across our institution, providing significant impact for learners, RDP and communities across Alberta,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience. “As a polytechnic institution, we are committed to growing our scholarly and applied research capacity to solve real-world challenges.” This year, the Polytechnic’s Research Showcase featured 53 poster displays and presentations about diverse subjects. Two concurrent sessions, which included topics in science, technology, humanities and skilled trades, enhanced the experiences of attendees. Dr. Anomi Bearden, RDP Psychology instructor, was the keynote speaker. She shared her research about how applying social and positive psychology promotes well-being. Dr. Bearden also spoke about the benefits of collaborative applied research for a range of partners, which includes promoting work-integrated learning and future opportunities for students. “RDP's Research Showcase is invaluable to students, providing opportunities to explore many paths of academia. It allows students to enhance their communication skills as they present their findings to an engaged audience,” says Amanda

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is pleased to announce Chad Flinn is the institution’s new Associate Vice President, Academic (AVPA). Bringing a wealth of experience in education, research and administration, Mr. Flinn is an excellent addition to the Polytechnic’s leadership team. In this role, Mr. Flinn will play a key part in promoting teaching excellence and academic integrity across RDP. He will lead efforts in program expansion, quality assurance and the enhancement of learning and teaching standards. His responsibilities include guiding the Career Education and Experience Development (CEED) department and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship (CTLS). “Mr. Flinn’s extensive experience and innovative approach to education make him the ideal candidate to help us continue to evolve and meet the needs of our students and the community,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience. “His proven leadership and commitment to Indigenization, as well as equity, diversity and inclusion, align well with our strategic goals and the type of institution we strive to be.” “I am deeply honoured and excited to join the Red Deer Polytechnic team. Education is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about creating an environment where every student can thrive, innovate, and contribute to our

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is pleased to welcome Cristal Glass-Painchaud to the role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Executive Director of People & Culture. An experienced and thoughtful human resources leader, Ms. Glass-Painchaud brings over 25 years of experience as an educator, post-secondary leader, and human resources (HR) professional. “We are very pleased to have Ms. Glass-Painchaud join the Red Deer Polytechnic team. Her experience as an HR executive within higher education and her emphasis on diversity and collaboration in the workplace will make her a valuable addition to RDP,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, RDP. “An advocate for the polytechnic model of experiential education, innovative learning methods and spaces, and a believer in the power of lifelong learning, Ms. Glass-Painchaud will play a key role leading our dedicated People & Culture team and advancing the implementation of our 2030 Strategic Plan – in particular, Strategic Driver #7: Employer of Choice.” Ms. Glass-Painchaud joins RDP from CGP HR Services where she was Principal Consultant. Prior to that she held the role of Associate Vice President, Human Resource at Royal Roads University, as well as senior administration and faculty positions at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She holds a BEd from the University

Recently, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) provided 55 high school students in central Alberta with an opportunity to explore careers in skilled trades at the World of Choices Summit. At the event, the high school students learned about careers in Carpentry, Heavy Equipment Technician and Welding through interactive activities and discussions with career mentors. Through these initiatives, students were able to better identify the skills, knowledge and post-secondary pathways that they need to enter the workforce as skilled trades professionals. “The World of Choices Summit is a great opportunity to showcase Red Deer Polytechnic’s dynamic programming and facilities while helping youth to prepare for the future,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience. “We are proud to offer more than 80 industry-relevant programs in a variety of credentials, including 17 apprenticeships, that prepare students for rewarding careers and help to meet Alberta’s labour market demand.” The World of Choices Summit is held as part of the Explore Trades and Technologies program, a one-year national program delivered by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) in partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) Canada and funded by the RBC Foundation. Through the program, 20 summits will be held across the country from 2022 to

Expansion of Red Deer Polytechnic’s nationally recognized Technology Access Centre will provide more than 2,400 students direct and indirect innovative learning opportunities by 2030, significantly boosting applied learning and research opportunities. Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is celebrating a significant capital investment of $13 million by the provincial government to expand RDP’s Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC). The funding was announced today as part of the Government of Alberta’s 2024 budget. “Red Deer Polytechnic is playing a critical role supporting technological innovation while creating opportunities for students. That’s why Alberta’s Government is making a strategic investment to expand CIM-TAC and give RDP even greater capacity to train apprentices and help sectors across our economy remain competitive,” says the Hon. Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education. “We thank the Government of Alberta for the $13 million provided in Budget 2024 to expand our Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing–Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC). This funding will help create new and innovative teaching and learning spaces at Red Deer Polytechnic, while expanding our applied research capacity to support Alberta based companies,” said Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “Because of this investment, Alberta based manufacturers across multiple sectors will have greater

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā’at are pleased to host the 17th annual World Religions Conference. Wednesday, March 6 6:30 to 9:00 pm Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre, Main Stage Admission is free, but pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable items for the Red Deer Polytechnic Students’ Association Food Bank. This will be an evening of thoughtful discussion and questions between panelists and audience members. Participants will embrace the mosaic of religions and Philosophies from around the world, celebrating the harmony and unity that brings us together. This year's conference, themed "Truth and Faith: How Do We Know What to Believe?" promises to be particularly insightful, given the contemporary challenges surrounding truth and misinformation. As the world grapples with an onslaught of misinformation amplified by rapid advancements in communication technologies, the quest for truth has never been more crucial. A Legacy of Peaceful Dialogue: The World Religions Conference has a rich history, dating back to its inception in 1981 in Canada. Over the years, it has grown into Canada's largest and longest-running multi-faith event, serving as a platform for scholars from various religious traditions and Philosophies to come together and share their

Meet Sheldon Bailey (M.Ed.), an Educational Administrator of the School of Health and Wellness at Red Deer Polytechnic. What drives me is the desire to leave my corner of the world a little better than the way I found it. I believe that I owe my kids that much. I am a career Allied Health Practitioner who transitioned into adult education as an instructor, and now as an Administrator. I am passionate about creating an environment where aspiring professionals can discover and become their best selves as they chase their individual dreams. I am a lover of the outdoors, music, and vintage cars, though I am an expert at none of those things. For me, being Black requires unwavering resilience. The black community has been side-lined, ill-treated, and undervalued for hundreds of years, yet we remain strong, proud, and relevant. Mediocrity has never been an option for our people and I do not intend for it to start with me. Racism is a learned behaviour resulting from an unfair social construct that has been allowed to exist for too long. Too much has happened between privileged and minority groups for us to ‘unsee’ race at this point, but it is

Meet Oluwaseyifunmi Alabi, a second-year Social Work Student at Red Deer Polytechnic. Oluwaseyifunmi hopes for a future where the Black community thrives collectively, with equal opportunities, justice, and solidarity, while fostering a sense of empowerment and unity. Black Excellence, to me, acknowledges strength, power, courage in adversity, and resilience. It highlights the collective achievement of the Black community while breaking barriers and inspiring positive change in society. I am an entrepreneur with over ten years of experience in fashion designing and styling and 15 years of experience in American Sign Language. I'm passionate about social justice; I love fashion design and photography. I hope to have my own studio for fashion and photography in Red Deer, where I can tell stories through arts and creative work and teach young people who have the same passion. Being a member of the Black community holds a deep cultural, historical, and personal significance for me. It represents a sense of belonging to a group that shares common experiences, struggles, and resilience. Proudly being part of a Nigerian community in Red Deer means showcasing my cultural identity and embracing and celebrating my African heritage, such as music, food and traditions. It is also about

Long-time friend and supporter of Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), the Donald Family, has given a record-breaking $20 million gift, the largest ever received by RDP, in support of healthcare and healthtech programming and applied research. “We are immensely grateful for the Donald Family's transformational gift,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, RDP. “With this gift, we will establish the Donald Family Institute for Healthtech Innovation where we will bring together diverse teams of experts, practitioners, and interdisciplinary researchers, to develop and deliver innovative healthcare education, training and applied research in Alberta.” Cullum continues, “By supporting the health industry as it evolves beyond the status quo, RDP is contributing to the region’s economic diversification and providing the innovative solutions, education and training that will benefit generations of residents here in central Alberta and across the province. On behalf of all of RDP’s students, staff and faculty, I would like to thank the Donald Family for their incredible generosity and support in helping us bring this important healthtech concept to life.” One of central Alberta’s most well-known community leaders and philanthropists, Joan Donald, along with her late husband Jack Donald, and their children John Donald and Kathy Lacey, have been supporters of education and

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is creating opportunities for students, employers and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue about employment and trends in the labour market at its Career Fair and Conference on February 27. “At Red Deer Polytechnic, we are proud to offer enhanced education, training and applied research opportunities that prepare students for Alberta’s diverse workforce,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience. “The Career Fair and Conference is one of the ways we facilitate industry connections for RDP students and members of our communities, helping to address labour market demand and advancing the economic and social development of the region and province.” Red Deer Polytechnic’s Career Fair and Conference is a collaborative effort between several stakeholders. RDP’s Career Education and Experience Development (CEED) Centre and Donald School of Business, Science and Computing is hosting this on-campus event with support from the Government of Alberta, Scotiabank and Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic. The Career Fair and Conference will feature keynote speaker Emily Genereux, Senior Consultant, Human Resources Consulting Group Inc., who will present “Saying Yes: Creating Opportunities, Community and a Life You Are Proud of.” In addition to providing opportunities to network, this event will