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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

three research projects

Red Deer Polytechnic awarded more than $1 million in research grants

Nov 3, 2025 | 4:06 PM

Red Deer Polytechnic will soon launch three innovative applied research projects, running from 2025 to 2028, thanks to more than $1 million in grants from the federal College and Community Social Innovation program (CCSIF).

A release notes the grants will help RDP evolve its applied research ecosystems through partnerships, and creating elevated solutions to industrial and societal challenges.

“We are extremely grateful to receive these CCSIF grants which will help us advance our applied research capacity with particular impact in social innovation across our key areas of focus,” says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, associate vice president, research, Red Deer Polytechnic.

“By aligning our education, training and applied research, RDP helps to address the social and economic priorities of Alberta and beyond. Over the three-year period, more than 120 students across RDP will have direct experience in these projects.”

Breakdown of the three projects, per RDP:

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• One applied research project led by Jennifer Dornstauder, Engineering Technical Lead at RDP’s Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre (CIMTAC), will establish the Parasport Research and Accessibility Collaborative Hub (PARAREACH). This national network will facilitate collaboration, knowledge-sharing and the development of scalable solutions in parasport. Guided by RDP in collaboration with Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta (CSIAB), PARAREACH will align academic research with the practical needs of advancing parasport across Canada.
• A second project, led by RDP’s Resiliency and Child Advocacy Research, will use community-based mapping to determine whether essential services in Red Deer meet the needs of vulnerable populations, including low-income families, survivors of abuse and Indigenous peoples. In partnership with The City of Red Deer, Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta and Community Foundation of Central Alberta, RDP will combine technology and community input to identify accessibility barriers.
• The third applied research project, led by Dr. Wolfe, aims to close gaps in long-term care services by integrating design thinking and creative expression into assistive devices for young adults with disabilities. Traditionally focused solely on function, assistive technologies often overlook emotional, psychosocial and identity-related factors. In partnership with Bethany Care Society, RDP will involve young adult residents as co-designers in developing personalized, empowering assistive solutions—applied directly within Bethany’s Young Adult Unit in Red Deer.

RDP has four areas of research focus: Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Innovation, Health Care and Health Technology, and Social Innovation. It is a top 50 research polytechnic in Canada.

For more information about research and innovation at RDP, visit rdpolytech.ca/innovation.