Algonquin College - Public Relations and Communications

The students, faculty and staff of Algonquin College organize and participate in numerous activities that support their local communities.

Ottawa Reads
Algonquin College lends its support to OttawaReads, a unique school/business partnership which draws volunteers from the corporate or public sector to be involved in school-based early literacy initiatives. Employer-supported volunteers fulfill a weekly one-hour commitment to read one-to-one to students in kindergarten and primary grades. Algonquin is partnered with Christie Public School, at which Algonquin College staff reading to its JK/SK and grade one students.

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Mary Lou Moulton, Retiree
Sandra Brown, Library Technician, LRC
Janice Turcotte, Clerk, Architecture/Civil/GIS/Technical Writer
Colette Petschke, Executive Assistant, Public Relations & Communications
Dawn Dubé, Director, Public Relations & Communications
Nancy Brady, Principal, Christie Public School
Laurie Logan, Instructor, Marketing & Management Studies
Joanne McDonald, Employer Relations Officer, Student Services
Louise Barnabe, Academic Manager, Media & Design

World Partnership Golf
More than $50,000 was raised at this year’s World Partnership Golf fund raising event took place on August 10, at the Chateau Cartier Resort and Golf Club in Aylmer, Quebec. The event was organized by dedicated volunteers who were led by the convenor for the tournament, Altaf Sovani, Manager Operations/ International Projects of Algonquin College’s, School of Hospitality & Tourism. In addition, Joe Mariani, Donna Gravel, Leslie Ann Palamar and Phil Rossy, who are also faculty of the School of Hospitality & Tourism were part of the core planning team.

Chamber of Commerce
Algonquin College is an active member of both the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce. The push for technical training facilities by the Greater Ottawa Chamber was one of the driving forces behind the founding of Algonquin College.

The United Way
The annual United Way campaign is a much anticipated and successful affair at all Algonquin campuses. The campaign has grown to more than 40 events held over a three week period each fall. Since 1999, the College has raised $425,000 for the United Way in Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth.

Donors to Algonquin College’s United Way campaign can direct funds to the Algonquin College Foundation Plant Some Roots endowment fund. The donations go toward student bursaries and scholarships.

Woodroffe Campus
Canadian Blood Services
The College regularly hosts blood donor clinics at its Woodroffe campus in Ottawa.

Canadian Cancer Society
Algonquin has supported the society’s annual daffodil fundraising campaign and Denim Day to support Breast Cancer research.

Centre 454
Algonquin College faculty and staff respond generously to requests for clothing and toiletries for clients of Centre 454, an agency that provides counseling services related to addictions, housing, mental health, relationships or legal matters.

Computer Olympics
Since 2003, Algonquin’s School of Advanced Technology has organized a highly successful annual Computer Programming Olympics to support and encourage Ottawa-area high school students who have a keen interest in advanced technology.

Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing Organization
The College community regular makes donations of requested supplies for residents of the Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing complex in Blackburn Hamlet, a resource for single parents in need.

Kiwanis Medical Foundation
Ottawa’s annual Bed Race on the Rideau Canal during Winterlude celebrations has proven to be a highly enjoyable opportunity to raise funds for medical research in Ottawa and to showcase College pride. Algonquin students, faculty and staff are all enthusiastic participants.

Ottawa Food Bank
Numerous food drives for the Ottawa Food Bank have been hosted by Algonquin College.

Ottawa Reads
Every year, some 20 or more Algonquin employees take time from their busy schedules for weekly visits to a local elementary school where they share their joy of books with young children and encourage them to read.

Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
When the call goes out, the College community responds generously to this appeal.

Snowsuit Fund
Ottawa’s Snowsuit fund is another beneficiary of the generosity of students, faculty and staff at Algonquin College.

Toy Mountain
Toy Mountain is Ottawa’s annual Christmas collection of toys for needy children that the College has supported over the years.

Tsunami 2004
Students and staff at Algonquin College organized several initiatives to raise funds to aid victims of the devastating tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December of 2004.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Calling themselves “Teachers with Heart, professors in Algonquin’s School of Advanced Technology have participated in a 5 x 5 km corporate relay in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute - a fun and healthy way to contribute to a local charity that benefits many families in the region.

Algonquin College Heritage Institute
The Town of Perth
When the Town of Perth received the Prince of Wales Prize from Heritage Canada in 2004, the jury acknowledged the contribution of Algonquin College's Heritage Institute which has been teaching heritage carpentry and masonry in Perth since 1989. The prize honours a municipal government for exemplary commitment to the preservation of its built heritage. The jury praised the restoration projects undertaken by the students, saying that their work and dedication has strengthened the town's commitment to conservation.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Book Program
Staff and students at the Algonquin College Heritage Institute organized a local drive in support of Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman’s 2004 Book Program. The province-wide initiative collected thousands of used books for school libraries serving First Nations in Ontario’s north where students have no access to bookstores or libraries.