News

RDP officially broke ground on the expansion of its Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing – Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC) on May 9.

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) recently celebrated the scholarly achievements and research contributions of its faculty at the Recognition of Scholarly Activity (RoSA) Awards and Capstone Recognition Event. “At RDP, we were honoured to showcase the range of impactful scholarly activity and research projects undertaken by faculty during the past year,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience, Red Deer Polytechnic. “The RoSA Awards and Capstone Recognition Event highlights RDP faculty’s commitment to professional development, lifelong learning and the advancement of research and scholarship, helping to address industrial and societal challenges.” During the event, faculty were recognized in four categories of scholarly activity: Discovery, Integration, Application/Engagement, and Teaching. This year’s event featured 25 scholarly activity contributions and capstone projects – an increase of more than 40 per cent from 2024 - reflecting the growing depth and breadth of applied research at the Polytechnic. Seventeen faculty members were honoured for their influential and widely disseminated scholarly contributions throughout 2024: Alysse Bowd – 1 Milk/2 Sugar Dr. Anah-Jayne Samuelson - Kiskisitotaso, Don’t Forget Yourself: Indigenous Resurgence in David A. Robertson’s Barren Grounds Dr. Anomi Bearden – The Effects of a Course-based Mindfulness Intervention on College Student Perfectionism, Stress, Anxiety, Self-compassion and

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) released a new 2025 Silent Cries: Child Abuse Trends in Alberta report. The report provides an in-depth analysis of child abuse data from 2017–2024 and provides recommendations for targeted interventions and policies to enhance Alberta’s child protection system. “At RDP, we are dedicated to growing our applied research capacity in child advocacy by leveraging data and industry partnerships to advance the social priorities of communities across Alberta,” says Emile Johnson, Director, Resiliency & Child Advocacy Research, Red Deer Polytechnic. “The 2025 Silent Cries: Child Abuse Trends in Alberta report can serve as a blueprint for child advocacy organizations to help address a crucial need in the province to help children, youth and families.” Among the Silent Cries report findings, Alberta experiences higher reported rates of child abuse compared to the national average. Specific demographics, such as individuals with disabilities, Indigenous youth and sexual minorities, reported elevated rates of abuse during childhood. “The CACAC works collectively with RDP and other community partners to ensure the needs of children and families are met through an integrated network of professionals and organizations,” says Cassandra Galenzoski, Director of Operations, Central Alberta Child

Seventy-four graduating students from the collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) have been celebrated at an on-campus Pinning Ceremony. This heart-warming event marked a significant milestone in their journey, symbolizing their transition from students to nurses ready to make a positive impact in Alberta’s health care system. Led by the BScN faculty, the celebration brought together RDP leaders, Nursing faculty, staff, family and friends to commend the academic successes and dedication of the 2024/2025 graduates to the nursing profession. “The journey to become a nurse is both rewarding and demanding and it takes a supportive network to help nursing students succeed,” says Heather Dirks, Dean, School of Health and Wellness at Red Deer Polytechnic. “While we celebrate our nursing graduates, we also recognize the incredible individuals—educators, industry partners and loved ones—who have helped these students achieve their goals. Their collective dedication and support help to address a critical labour market need in the province.” The Pinning Ceremony, which was emceed by Erin Lowe and Natalie Ford (RDP Nursing faculty), featured inspiring speeches from RDP leaders and Raya Weimer, a fourth-year BScN pinning candidate. Elected by her peers, Weimer reflected on shared experiences and

A milestone for Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) programming is being recognized this weekend, as the post-secondary institution celebrates 50 years of making an impact through its Early Learning and Child Care programming. Since 1975, RDP has offered its Early Learning and Child Care Certificate and Diploma (formerly referred to as Early Childhood Development). More recently, RDP has added two new Workplace Immersive programs, the Workplace Advancement Specialization and the Early Childhood Education Leadership Development Certificate, all intended for working professionals to continue enhancing their knowledge and skills. With more than 1,000 alumni from these programs, graduates have created positive change and influenced the lives of the children they work with in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Alumni, former colleagues, industry partners and community members are invited to join in celebrating 50 years of industry-ready programming. Changemakers in Early Childhood Education: Building Connection, Community, and Capacity Saturday, April 26 | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Room 2602, RDP’s Main Campus ( view maps) RSVP However, individuals and families are also welcome to drop in to this event. During this event, guests will hear from a small handful of industry professionals as they share information about the current state and

In this three-part video series, Stuart Cullum, President, Red Deer Polytechnic and Janine Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer, FortisAlberta discuss the changing landscape of the energy industry, and how through an innovate partnership RDP and FortisAlberta are working together to drive innovation and productivity in Alberta. Part One | Developing talent for the next generation of Alberta’s workforce. Part Two | Contributing to Alberta’s productivity & growth strategy by creating strong communities Part Three | A shared vision for Energy Innovation

The future of energy innovation at RDP is brighter thanks to a generous $600,000 donation from RBC Foundation to establish the Energy Test Hub.

The Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) community continues to recognize and share research that creates vast institutional, industrial and societal impact. Red Deer Polytechnic recently hosted the Student Science Conference and Agora Student Conference which showcased a breadth of applied research that has been conducted by RDP learners. “As a polytechnic institution, we align education, training and applied research opportunities to create innovation ecosystem spaces that help address the needs of industry and communities,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience. “The Student Science Conference and Agora Conference are examples of unique student experiences offered at RDP that create positive economic and social impact and lead to meaningful employment.” At the Student Science Conference, attendees were able to view 28 poster projects highlighting a variety of subject areas while discussing the objectives and findings with student researchers. Guests were also invited to select from 20 formal student presentations, which showcased a variety of scientific topics. Additionally, the Student Science Conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Michael T. Woodside, Department of Physics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, and Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Woodside shared his research that found unique RNA structures

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is joining forces with many of Alberta’s other post-secondary institutions to increase supports for students and employees who are recovering from substance abuse and addictive behaviours to achieve success throughout their academic journey and in their careers. During a ceremony held earlier today on RDP’s main campus, the Polytechnic was designated as a recovery-friendly campus, after the Recovery Friendly Campus pledge was signed. This pledge is led by Recovery on Campus Alberta, providing RDP students, faculty and staff with services, resources, education and training that supports and celebrates diverse recovery pathways for individuals. “We are pleased to pledge our support of Alberta’s Recovery on Campus initiative,” said Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience, at Red Deer Polytechnic. “We are committed to creating an inclusive environment on our campuses that provides opportunities for our students to thrive in their studies, and for faculty and staff to make an impact in their work. Through Recovery on Campus, we appreciate the additional resource now available to better assist our diverse Polytechnic community members as we grow opportunities through education, training and applied research to meet the economic and social priorities of our province.” RDP is pleased to

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has been awarded a three-year PromoScience grant by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) valued at $162,000. This grant will help RDP grow the impact of its Red Hot Science outreach program by offering more land camps to Indigenous high school students. Additionally, the grant will enhance dual credit opportunities, enabling Indigenous high school students to earn both high school and post-secondary credits through the newly created land-based Indigenous Perspectives and Science course that integrates Indigenous knowledge and traditions. These initiatives aim to create a seamless path for Indigenous students to pursue studies at Red Deer Polytechnic while honouring their cultural heritage. The Four Seasons land camps, which have engaged 50 Indigenous youth, blend land-based teachings such as fish leather tanning and food preservation with opportunities to create digital stories capturing their year-long journeys. The Aunties in Training program, attended by 40 Indigenous girls, addresses the unique challenges they face through a curriculum guided by Indigenous women leaders. Both camps are led by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators and Red Deer Polytechnic faculty and staff, creating enriching experiences. The camps are among many programs offered through RDP’s Red Hot Science, coordinated by Pamela Neumann

The Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Alumni Association has donated $100,000 to the RDP Student Industry Engagement Fund. This innovative fund enhances the learning experience for students across the Polytechnic by providing funding support to cover the costs associated with attending external conferences, forums and events hosted by industry and professional organizations. “I would like to thank the Red Deer Polytechnic Alumni Association for their generous donation to the RDP Student Industry Engagement Fund,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Red Deer Polytechnic. “Through the Student Industry Engagement Fund, more learners will create meaningful industry connections across a variety of sectors. This kind of exposure not only elevates the student experience but also provides students with opportunities to grow their professional networks.” Most recently, eight RDP business students utilized the fund to attend the Central Alberta Business Summit where they had an opportunity to hear from keynote speaker, Andrew DiCapua, Principal Economist of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, participate in breakout sessions with local leaders and network with attendees. The Alumni Association has donated a total of $236,000 to the Polytechnic in support of student initiatives, including five annual student scholarships. “Our hope is that through the Student Industry Engagement Fund and through

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is pleased to announce Dr. Tristin Brisbois and Ms. Melina Dharma-Wardene as the newest members on RDP's Board of Governors, appointed by the Government of Alberta. Dr. Tristin Brisbois is a PepsiCo Executive, currently their Senior Director of Life Sciences Living Lab and Advanced Personalization Ideation Center. She has worked in research and development for over 15 years in various roles in the USA and Canada and holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Alberta and a Master of Business and Science (MBS) from Rutgers University. Dr. Brisbois has recently relocated from New York back to Red Deer where she began her studies at Red Deer College while playing soccer with the Queens. She is an active volunteer in the community and serves on several non-profit and academic boards across North America. Ms. Melina Dharma-Wardene is the Executive Director of the South Calgary Primary Care Network, an organization serving patients in the southeast quadrant of Calgary in partnership with 285 physicians and 87 clinics. She has previously held executive positions at Sante Medical, Canada Diagnostic Centers, and Bethany Care Society. She is a cancer scientist, holding a Master