General News

RBC invests $500,000 to support skilled trades at Algonquin College

News Release

Announcement caps donor recognition event celebrating a ‘million-dollar day’

OTTAWA — December 7, 2022

Algonquin College is pleased to announce that RBC Foundation has pledged $500,000 through its RBC Future Launch program to support College skilled trades initiatives over the next five years. RBC’s investment will help tackle a critical and worsening nationwide shortage of skilled trades workers and prepare students for inclusive and sustainable jobs of the future.

“We are very pleased that RBC chose to partner with Algonquin College on its initiatives to close the skills gap and train workers for the current and emerging disciplines that will be critical to a sustainable future,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and Chief Executive Officer.

“This multi-year investment will pay dividends for years to come. Our graduates will bring new skills into the workplace and become leaders who approach their work with a sustainability mindset.”

Powered by RBC Future Launch, this collaboration builds on RBC’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

RBC’s donation will help Algonquin College increase enrolment in skilled trades programs, including in short-term “upskilling” programs for certified workers; boost work-integrated learning opportunities, such as coops and field placements; provide industry networking and event opportunities that focus on topics of interest to industry, including the development of a diverse talent pool; and support projects and applied research partnerships that prioritize sustainability.

“There’s a huge shortage of people in skilled trades. With retirements coming up, it’s only going to get worse. We need to act now. This is why RBC is joining forces with Algonquin College to help attract more people to the trades,” says Marjolaine Hudon, Regional President at RBC. “Creating on-the-job learning and showcasing career opportunities will help attract more students — women, men, people of diverse backgrounds — to the trades. This will prepare them for critical jobs required to deliver key infrastructure and construction projects in the future.”

The 2021 RBC report Powering Up — Preparing Canada’s Skilled Trades for a Post-Pandemic Economy, sounded the alarm on an industry that expects to see more than 700,000 skilled tradespeople retire by 2028. There are not enough replacements in the pipeline to meet future demand.

Pandemic-accelerated technological innovations in the skilled trades and the push to reach net-zero by 2050 have also increased the challenge of replacing workers, the report shows. It concludes that future workers will need a high degree of technological savvy and of “soft skills” like creativity and problem-solving and tapping into the pool of underused talent, including women and immigrants.

Algonquin College Donor Recognition Reception

The RBC Foundation gift announcement capped an Algonquin College donor recognition reception that also highlighted Ciena, CDW, Canerector Foundation, John Stewart of Commonwealth Historic Resource Management, and award-winning singer, alumnus and donor Jason Blaine. These generous donors together made it a “million-dollar day” at Algonquin College.

The donor recognition reception, held Dec. 7, 2022, in the Robert C. Gillett Student Commons on the Ottawa Campus, celebrated the many generous donors whose support and contributions help transform Algonquin College students’ hopes and dreams into lifelong success and highlighted their spirit of generosity and philanthropy.

More than 200 Algonquin College donors, students and employees, enjoyed a performance by Jason Blaine, and also heard from President Brulé, Mark Savenkoff, Vice President, Advancement and Strategy, College Ward City Councillor Laine Johnson, Dr. Gail Beck, Chair of the Algonquin College Board of Directors, and Ike Njoku, Building Construction Technical program alumnus.

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For more information:

Bruce Hickey 

Communications Manager 

Algonquin College 

613-727-4723 ext. 2091 

hickeyb@algonquincollege.com 

 

Lucie Caron

Regional Director, Communications

RBC

613-291-3520

Lucie.caron@rbc.com

 

About Algonquin College

The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario. Algonquin College

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 92,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

 

New bursary offers hope to refugee women

New bursary offers hope to refugee women

Pictured from left to right: Patricia Duffey, CFUW-Ottawa, Chair, Scholarship Trust Fund; Kyle Jorgensen-Lane, Manager of Financial Aid and Student Awards; Ola Asekun, HOMSA, Nigeria; Lorna Bickerton, CFUW-Ottawa; Sarah Harvey, HOMSA, New Zealand, HOPE Committee Chair. Photo by Nancy Druick

Algonquin College is pleased to announce the creation of a new bursary for refugee women. The HOPE Bursary for Refugee Women was made possible through a partnership between the CFUW-Ottawa and the Heads of Mission Spouses Association (HOMSA).

HOMSA and CFUW-Ottawa raised the $10,000 gift to support this bursary by hosting the HOPE Gala for Refugee Women in May 2022.

The $2,000 HOPE Bursary for Refugee Women will be awarded annually for the next five years to a woman in the second or third year of a diploma program who is a convention refugee, a protected person, or a permanent resident who was a refugee/protected person.

400,000 gift from Canerector Foundation supports skilled trades scholarship program at Algonquin College

Algonquin College is pleased to announce a $400,000 gift from the Canerector Foundation that will support as many as 125 first-year students in 13 skilled trades programs over the next four years. This gift will also help promote skilled trades as an excellent career choice.

“We are pleased to announce the Canerector Foundation’s donation to Algonquin College to support skilled trades, which played a pivotal role in Canerector Inc.’s history and development. It is a special honour to support a field that is critical not just at Canerector, but in our overall economy. We hope that these scholarships and the mentorship provided by Algonquin College will attract and encourage students to join these rewarding and in-demand careers across our country.” – Amanda Hawkins, Director, Canerector Foundation

The Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades will be offered to students based on their leadership qualities, ambassadorial potential, volunteerism and aptitude. Students in eligible Algonquin College certificate and diploma programs at all three campuses are eligible for the scholarship.

“This scholarship encourages student success from start to finish, giving learners additional support in their skilled trades career journey,” said Chris Hahn, Dean of the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence and Perth Campus. “Canada is facing a critical shortfall of skilled trades workers and this generous gift will also help raise the profile of skilled trades and increase the overall number and diversity of certified tradespeople in our community.”

Each of the scholars, numbering 110 to 125 over four years, will receive an initial scholarship of $1,000 and become a Canerector Foundation Scholar. Canerector Foundation Scholars will receive ongoing social and career support, including mentorship and increased access to employers and alumni.

Scholars who mentor current and prospective students in skilled trades, participate in co-curricular activities and maintain a minimum of 3.0 grade point average will be awarded an additional $1,000 per term, up to a maximum of $4,000.

“We are grateful to the Canerector Foundation for their support and dedication to our learners and to promoting skilled trades,” said Ian Lewer, Algonquin College Director of Philanthropy. “Canerector Foundation Scholars will become leaders and champions in and of the skilled trades, encouraging and inspiring others to follow in their career footsteps.”

The application period for the Canerector Scholarship in the Skilled Trades is from Aug. 17 to Sept. 19.

Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons/refugees entering the first year of an eligible skilled trade program of study. They must demonstrate a willingness to mentor current and prospective students in skilled trades training programs at the College and commit to participating in co-curricular events.

A full list of eligible programs and requirements is available on the College website.

Canerector Foundation Logo

Gift honours automotive industry veteran whose service went above and beyond 

Barry Gilbert Memorial Award to help graduating Motive Power Technicians

Algonquin College is pleased to announce that the family of Barry Gilbert, a friend of Algonquin College and mentor to co-op students and graduates, has donated a major gift to establish an award for Motive Power Technician students. The Barry Gilbert Memorial Award will be given each spring in perpetuity to a student in the final term of the Motive Power Technician program.

Barry Gilbert grew up in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. He moved to Ontario in 1988 to attend the Automotive Business Program at Georgian College. He later attended the Canadian Automotive Institute and obtained the Red Seal for automotive service technicians.

Barry always loved cars and he took this lifelong love along with his knowledge and experience to spend most of his working life in the automotive service industry, including time at Dilawri Automotive Group, Pathway Hyundai, and as service manager at Bank Street Kia. Barry passed away in August 2021 at the age of 58.

“Barry was much loved and admired by his colleagues and his customers,” said Mark Savenkoff, Vice President, Advancement and Strategy. “This award will help students just starting their careers in the automotive industry to walk in big footsteps as they transform their hopes and dreams into lifelong success.”

His family set up the award to honour his memory. Barry was a kind, caring man who would go out of his way to help others. He would share freely of his knowledge and experience to assist customers and co-workers alike. He took the time to mentor many people new to the industry. His family hopes that award recipients would look for opportunities to mentor and assist others as Barry did during most of his life.

The Barry Gilbert Memorial Award is open to any student in good standing completing the final term of the Motive Power Technician Program.

New ADGA Bursary to empower 50 globally minded learners in Algonquin College’s School of Advanced Technology programs

Woman smiling in front of equipment

As a fitting tribute on International Women’s Day, ADGA Group Consultants Inc. has signed a gift agreement with Algonquin College to elevate women and Indigenous students who have career aspirations toward security, systems and networking, applied science and environmental technology, information and communication technology, and other advanced technology studies.

The ADGA Bursary will provide ten (10) $1,000 bursaries per year to students enrolled in any of the college’s School of Advanced Technology programs—for a total of 50 bursary recipients over five years.

Shaun McEwan, President, ADGA Group Consultants Inc., said, “In full alignment with the value proposition of the Government of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, we want to do our part to support the long-term growth and sustainability of Canada’s defence, security and business communities by investing in the next generation of talent. We were interested in creating the ADGA Bursary not only to fill skills and training gaps in support of a more innovative Canada, but also to welcome greater diversity within the student population by prioritizing women and Indigenous students as bursary recipients.”

Mark Savenkoff, Vice President, Advancement and Strategy, Algonquin College, said, “We appreciate the generosity of ADGA to empower globally minded learners with advanced technology skills. Our Advanced Technology programs and 23 laboratories were created to meet the rapidly evolving and emerging needs of Canadian industries. Our job-ready graduates feed the talent pipeline to Ottawa’s leading technology companies and organizations, and others across Canada and throughout the world.”

The ADGA Bursary is open to students enrolled at the Ottawa, Pembroke, Perth and Online campuses. It is open to Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, permanent residents, protected persons, and international students enrolled in School of Advanced Technology programs at Algonquin College.

About ADGA Group Consultants Inc.

Founded in Ottawa in 1967, ADGA Group Consultants Inc. is a proudly Canadian-owned and operated company. Our team of professionals assist our clients in solving complex business problems by assessing, designing, building, and operating the systems and processes necessary to meet their requirements. We deliver strategic insight and world-class solutions across government and private sector clients operating in the defence and security markets. In December 2021, ADGA was acquired by Commissionaires Ottawa Group, converging its capabilities with allied companies to provide a one-stop, full spectrum of cyber, electronic and physical security solutions.

About Algonquin College

The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.