Message from the President – Israel and Gaza

Posted on Friday, October 13th, 2023

Dear Algonquin College Community,

Like many of you, the College’s leadership team has been watching the horrifying developments in Israel and Gaza this week.

We understand that these unfolding events may be causing concern, fear and distress among members of our community. In these challenging times, it is of the utmost importance that we uphold our College values, extend kindness, understanding and empathy towards one another, and maintain healthy, safe and respectful environments on our campuses. We place the safety and wellbeing of every learner and employee within our community as a top priority.

We have seen this situation create heightened tensions around the world, including here at home, and our Risk Management team will be increasing vigilance to ensure our campuses are safe and secure. The College has zero tolerance for any incidents of hate and treats all reports of antisemitism, Islamophobia, intimidation, threats, harassment, or violence with the greatest seriousness.

We also recognize that you may be grappling with a range of emotions. For some of our learners, being far from home and away from loved ones during such moments can intensify these feelings.

Please know that you are not alone. If you find that you require additional emotional support in the coming days, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our dedicated team is here to assist you. Please know that our International Education Centre has also reached out to students from the impacted region.

Please see below for the following links to available supports:

Learners

Counselling Services provides professional, confidential support for mental health, academic and career concerns. Visit the Counselling website to view available support services.

International students can also reach out to IECSupport@algonquincollege.com for additional guidance, support, or referral to other resources.

Employees

All employees have access to Algonquin College’s confidential Employee Family Assistance Program though TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks). For immediate EFAP program assistance including manager consultation, critical incident or crisis please call Lifeworks Care Access Centre anytime at 1-844-671-3327 or through the College’s single-sign-on portal sign on by using your work email and password.

We are continuing to monitor this situation with a view to keeping our campuses safe environments for everyone.

Sincerely,

Claude Brulé,

President and CEO


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