RDP Receives Grant to Support Campus Community
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has been awarded a Recovery on Campus (ROC) Alberta Tier 2 Seed Grant valued at $75,000 for 2025-26, strengthening its ongoing efforts to support recovery, well-being and substance use awareness across its campuses.
This funding will enable RDP to expand its recovery-friendly initiatives and increase access to wellness resources for all students, faculty and staff.
“We are grateful for this funding, which enhances our capacity to support individuals in the Polytechnic community in recovering from addictions and substance use, while also increasing awareness,” says Kristine Plastow, Associate Vice President, Student Experience, Red Deer Polytechnic. “This grant will support our growing wellness programming, ensuring all students, faculty and staff have the tools to enhance their well-being and reach their potential.”
Designated as a recovery-friendly campus in April 2025, RDP joined ROC Alberta—a provincial network of 26 post-secondary institutions advancing recovery through peer support, education and stigma reduction. ROC Alberta is led by the University of Calgary and funded by the Government of Alberta.
With this new grant support, RDP will create a part-time ROC Coordinator position to work with existing services at the Polytechnic, including Counselling Services. This position will coordinate recovery-focused initiatives and collaborate with students, faculty and staff to foster a supportive campus culture. The institution will also host Recovery Steering Committee meetings to guide programming and ensure inclusive engagement.
Planned initiatives that will also utilize this grant funding include Recovering Out Loud, a peer-led program empowering students in recovery to share their experiences and build connections. RDP will also offer Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART) and Recovery Ally Training to equip the campus community with skills to support diverse recovery pathways.
To boost awareness, RDP will host a Recovery Panel and offer inclusive, substance-free events throughout the year. A new ROC webpage will provide centralized access to recovery resources.
Establishing a strong recovery community on campus is expected to improve both employee and student retention and support academic success. The initiative will also generate data-driven insights to inform and enhance future programming.
“Being a recovery-friendly campus means actively creating an environment where all individuals feel safe, supported and empowered in their wellness journey,” adds Plastow. “This grant takes us a step further in realizing that vision.”
Sustainability is central to RDP’s approach. By integrating recovery programming with existing wellness supports and encouraging student leadership, the Polytechnic aims to build long-term capacity while pursuing future partnerships.
These initiatives align with RDP’s 2030 Strategic Plan: Productivity and Social Impact, particularly the pillars of Learner Impact—fostering inclusive student experiences—and Employer of Choice, which prioritizes employee well-being.
