BACKGROUND
RDN was founded in November 2019 to respond to the need for effective representation and engaged involvement in enhancing the vitality and supporting the development of English-speaking communities across Quebec that work within a defined territory.
The organizations serving these communities face multiple socio-economic challenges in fulfilling their mandates. Typecast as ‘generalist’ organizations, they face funding constraints while dealing with community needs and issues in multiple sectors, within numerous jurisdictions, and in a minority language setting that is often not given recognition. In addition, many organizations must carry out their work over a large territory while serving isolated populations.
In this context, it was determined that there is a need for a network of ‘regional’ organizations serving the English-speaking communities of Quebec for the purposes of networking, collaboration and representation to support the individual organizations in the work they endeavour to carry out.
- Act, on behalf of its member organizations, as a point of interaction with the various actors involved in the field of community development, including governments, institutions, and other organizations.
- Provide a forum for dialogue and discussion on issues related to the socio-economic development of the communities served by member organizations;
- Provide support to member organizations in achieving their objectives related to community development, including research, training, expertise, and coordination;
- Foster and facilitate collaborative initiatives that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the communities served by member organizations.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
Members of RDN serve a defined territory within the province of Quebec yet do not have a provincial mandate, and fulfill a generalist role, which is to say they are involved in more than one sector of socio-economic development activity on behalf of their community.
⦁ 4 Korner’s Family Resource Centre
⦁ Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders (CAMI)
⦁ Committee for Anglophone Social Action (CASA)
⦁ English Community Organization of Lanaudière (ECOL)
⦁ Megantic English-speaking Community Development Corporation (MCDC)
⦁ Neighbours Regional Association of Rouyn-Noranda
⦁ North Shore Community Association (NSCA)
⦁ Vision Gaspé-Percé Now (VGPN)
⦁ Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ)