When education and industry collide, the spark doesn't just light up a classroom—it ignites local economies. Launched as a visionary collaboration in early 2026, the Rural Student Spotlight Program set out with a distinct, ambitious mission: connect eager post-secondary students with rural businesses across Central Alberta to tackle the modern hurdles of innovation, commercialization, and technology adoption. What began as a targeted pilot quickly became a powerful, living ex

Rural Student Spotlight Program: Interns Support Local Entrepreneurs When education and industry collide, the spark doesn't just light up a classroom—it ignites local economies. Launched as a visionary collaboration in early 2026, the Rural Student Spotlight Program set out with a distinct, ambitious mission: connect eager post-secondary students with rural businesses across Central Alberta to tackle the modern hurdles of innovation, commercialization, and technology adoption

Discover how future professionals are embracing artificial intelligence to transform business and workforce practices. A Conference That Sparked Change On October 22, 2025, sixteen Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) students attended the AI for Business Conference – Tools, Tactics, Transformation at Olds College Alumni Centre. The Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN) was proud to have sponsored this event, where we connected businesses and students with valuable AI