The Regional Development Network (RDN) is celebrating its five-year anniversary. The nonprofit organization was founded on November 15, 2019, by a group of executive directors from nine regional English-speaking organizations across Québec.
The founding organizations wanted better representation of the needs of English-speaking communities in the regions outside Montreal and Laval, and so they started this network with the aim of enhancing the socio-economic development of these regional English-speaking communities across the province.
RDN began to work collaboratively with the different levels of government to represent its members’ needs and to create projects and partnerships to enhance and maintain the vitality of regional English-speaking communities. Over the years, RDN has continued to fulfill its mandate while growing its capacity to serve its member organizations, thanks to increased funding to support new initiatives to meet its members’ needs.
“Since its founding in 2019, RDN has established and strengthened its position, forging crucial relationships with provincial peers,” said RDN Executive Director Cathy Brown. “I take immense pride in the outstanding achievements realized over these past five years, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the board, the RDN team, and our member organizations across the province.”
RDN MEMBERSHIP
Founding Members: 4Korners (Laurentians), Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders (Magdalen Islands), Committee for Anglophone Social Action (Gaspésie), English Community Organization of Lanaudière (Lanaudière), Megantic English-speaking Community Development Corporation (Chaudière-Appalaches and MRC l’Érable), Neighbours Regional Association of Rouyn-Noranda (Abitibi-Témiscamingue), North Shore Community Association (North Shore), Vision Gaspé-Percé Now! (Gaspésie), Voice of English-speaking Québec (Greater Québec City)
Newer Members: Coasters Association (Lower North Shore), Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence (Lower Saint Lawrence), Montérégie East Partnership for the English-speaking Community (Montérégie East), Assistance and Referral Centre (Central Montérégie), Montérégie West Community Network (Montérégie West), Regional Association of West Quebecers (Outaouais), Connexions Resource Centre (Outaouais), Centre for Access to Services in English (Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec), Townshippers’ Association (Eastern Townships), and ECO·02 (Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean)
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Increased membership from nine to 19 organizations and grew from a staff of one to nine.
- Developed of a strong network of provincial stakeholders and government actors in sectors essential to the English-speaking community outside Montreal and Laval.
- Pursued the employment strategy initiative to increase access to employment services and employability resources for English-speaking Quebecers with an emphasis on the youth population. This initiative involves 12 participating organizations, which are active in 48 MRCs across the province, and 157 active partnerships with employability partners.
- Began and grew an initiative to increase English-speaking Quebecers’ participation in the social economy (SEEnet).
- Launched other new initiatives and projects: the Canadian Heritage video project, a research initiative funded by the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, and a Community Builder Award.
