RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
RDP joins Alberta's Recovery on Campus initiative

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 (April 9) 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."

Representatives from Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and Recovery on Campus Alberta gathered at a ceremony where RDP was designed as a recovery-friendly campus (left-right):Chelsie Graham (Program Manager, Recovery on Campus Alberta, University of Calgary); Dr. Victoria Burns (Founder & Director of Recovery on Campus Alberta, University of Calgary); Lindsay Engel (Vice President, Academic and Student Experience, RDP); Samantha Cooley-Morrison (Lead for Recovery on Campus Alberta branch at RDP and Mental Health & Wellbeing Coordinator, RDP); Shaela Brandt (Student Lead for Recovery on Campus Alberta branch at RDP and Student in Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, RDP); Steve Walker-Duncan (Steering Committee Member for Recovery on Campus Alberta branch at RDP and Associate Dean, School of Trades and Technology, RDP). 

RDP is pleased to help fund recovery-friendly campus initiatives through receiving a seed grant, as part of a three-year, $3-million grant from the provincial government that funds Recovery on Campus Alberta.

"Alberta is full of incredible partners helping us build a strong culture of recovery throughout the province," said the Hon. Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction. "Our government is grateful for work being done to support recovery at Red Deer Polytechnic, to those leading the program, and especially to the students, staff and faculty for their recovery."

Examples of the Recovery on Campus Alberta toolkit of programming that will be available to Polytechnic community members include webinars exploring topics such as substance use, stigma and recovery, Recovery Ally training and a breadth of online research and resources that campus community members can use to enhance their learning about recovery.

"Campus life can be challenging even under the best of circumstances, but for individuals grappling with addiction and recovery, we are providing them with the essential tools for success," shared Shaela Brandt, a student enrolled in RDP's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Brandt is also the Student Lead with RDP's Recovery on Campus initiative, gaining valuable applied experience through this work-integrated learning opportunity.

Supported by the Government of Alberta, Recovery on Campus is based at the University of Calgary (which initially signed the Recovery Friendly Campus pledge in September 2024). There is a growing network of Alberta's post-secondary institutions that are joining the initiative to support campus community members.

"The Recovery Friendly Campus pledge is more than a symbolic gesture - it's a tangible commitment to transforming campus culture. By signing this pledge, Red Deer Polytechnic joins a growing movement across Alberta that recognizes recovery as a strength, not a barrier. Together, we are building academic environments where students, staff, and faculty in recovery feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive," said Dr. Victoria Burns, Founder and Director of Recovery on Campus Alberta.

For more information about Recovery on Campus visit: recoveryoncampusalberta.ca.