RDÉE Alberta

Through its affiliation with the Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité (RDÉE) (Economic Development and Employability Network), the Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta (CDÉA) provides access to a wealth of services to the Francophone business people in the province.

There are more than sixty-five thousand people in Alberta for whom French is their first language. They make a significant contribution to the economy since almost 1,500 Francophone and Bilingual surveyed entrepreneurs create employment there.

Whether it be to research funding, provide local or national resources or contribute technological monitoring, CDÉA and RDÉE Alberta can contribute to the success of your business or your community development.
The product of a partnership between 10 federal departments and Francophone communities outside Quebec, RDÉE brings resources together and makes for more focused action in the areas of rural development, knowledge-based economy, youth integration in economic development and tourism.

With the help of RDÉE Alberta, you can rely on the presence of CDÉA in Edmonton, Calgary, Peace-River and Bonnyville. See www.lecdea.ca.

Services offered

Rural Development

DÉE Alberta development officers work with business people and Francophone or bilingual communities in the area. They undertake research, liaise with various groups, research funding, in short are directly involved in entrepreneurial or community business project development.

For the past years, the development officers have worked with the communities in the context of local initiative projects termed, Community Vision Projects. The consultants have presented their recommendations and different initiatives are presently on their way.

Youth

With the help of RDÉE Alberta, CDÉA set solid partnerships with different groups involved with the youth: La Fondation Fernando-Girard en économie, Campus St-Jean, School boards, Éduk and the Bilingual Business Administration Program of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Through conferences, workshops and contributions to bursaries, CDÉA encourages students to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.

In addition, in collaboration with other partners, the youth adviser offers young people aged 15 to 35 years various tools – information, references and various services. The Junior Achievement programs offered in French are very successful in the Francophone schools of the province and in some of the French immersion programs.

RDÉA Alberta took part in two surveys to evaluate the employment opportunities for the youth and to determine what type of skills were available to suit the needs of the businesses. The documents are available on line www.lecdea.ca in the Publications section.

Tourism

Tourism is the fourth major economic sector in Alberta, generating an income of more than four billion dollars annually and 100,000 jobs. Francophones contribute to the rich heritage of the province and add an extra dimension by their ability to welcome a Francophone clientele.

CDÉA and RDÉE Alberta publish an excellent tourist guide and have provided a toll-free number for tourist information, 1-866-PARTONS (727-8667). Through these promotional tools, contact is possible with an increasingly important Francophone clientele in Canada and Europe. In 2005, with the help of 22 partners form the private sector and governments, an important marketing campaign valued at $450,000 was put in place in an effort to reach the market from Quebec and France.

In addition, CDÉA and RDÉE Alberta cooperate with the other RDÉE networks in the Western provinces to develop the Francophone tourist corridor, encouraging travelers to discover the Francophone heritage of the West.

In short, tourism entrepreneurs wishing to become established or already in business in Alberta can take advantage of the advice and services of Francophone tourism expertise.

Knowledge-Based Economy

The technology adviser offers business people advice, workshops, further training and computing in Internet services and E-commerce.

RDÉE Alberta collaborates with private businesses to find solutions to provide high speed internet to Francophone communities in the province.
“Our business is involved with CDÉA to develop a wireless Web,” Léo VanBrabant, owner of Electric Avenue/Micro Computer Store, award winner at the 2002 Lauriers de la PME, a national competition organized by  RDÉE Canada.

An important project was developed in this sector, the i-live seminars and i-live telephone systems, using VOIP technology.

 

For more information on what RDÉE Alberta can do for you, please refer to the following:
Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta (CDÉA)
8929-82nd Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6C 0Z2
Tel. : (780) 414-6125 / 1 888-414-6123
Fax. : (780) 414-2885
pdg.ceo@lecdea.ca
www.lecdea.ca