Northern Youth Abroad students learn culinary, carpentry skills at Ottawa Campus

For three weeks in July, Northern youth aged 16-22 from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut travel to the Ottawa Campus to build career and life skills in the Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) Next program. This year, 21 participants are living on campus while they volunteer in the community, receive individual career coaching, and develop public speaking and presentation skills. They leave the program with high school credits, career preparedness, and the experience of living on a college campus.  Read more >


AC student Kimana Mar wins gold at 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games  

Just 23 years old, Algonquin College student Kimana Mar recently represented Canada at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. From June 17 to June 25, Mar joined a staggering 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers to take part in the experience of a lifetime.

As a rhythmic gymnast, Mar has spent over a decade honing her craft — last month’s summer games served as an opportunity to showcase her years of hard work and dedication.

Mar achieved outstanding success at the Games, winning five gold medals and one silver medal in the top division: one individual gold for level 4 ball; one individual gold for level 4 clubs; one individual gold for level 4 ribbon; one individual silver for level 4 rope; one individual gold for all around level 4 gymnast; and one team gold for group floor.

Kimana Mar holds up her hands in celebration at the Special Olympic World Summer Games in Berlin. Mar wears a red, Team Canada jacket, her medals and a smile.

Source: Special Olympic Canada

Her success at the Games is a testament to her hours of hard work. In any given week Mar is dedicating five to six days toward gymnastics, fitness, ballet, and mental skills training all while juggling a rigorous academic schedule.

“I am very proud to have won these medals for Canada and that all my hard work leading up to the games paid off. It was incredible to feel the emotions and excitement of representing Canada and meeting athletes from around the world,” said Mar. “The team gold medal that the Canadian rhythmic gymnastics team won for the group floor routine means a lot to me because we came from across Canada, bonded as friends, and did it together. It feels amazing.”

Congratulations, Kimana! Algonquin College is proud to be a part of your incredible journey.


AC/CDI College International Business Management program holds first graduation ceremony

On Thursday, June 6, 41 learners graduated from the joint Algonquin College/CDI College International Business Management program.

This convocation ceremony — the first such celebration since the two colleges signed their partnership in June 2022 — took place at the Light Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Ont., and was attended by representatives from both AC and CDI, including Patrick Devey, AC’s Associate Vice President, Global, Online and Corporate Learning; Ernest Mulvey, AC’s Director, International Education Centre; guest speaker Suzanne McKrimmon, Executive Director of Economic Development at North Simcoe; and Yul Kim, CDI College’s Senior Vice President.

Kim delivered the welcoming address, sharing his own story of coming to Canada and the challenges he overcame as an international student. He urged students to “err in kindness” in their endeavours and wished them success in the exciting adventures ahead.

Simran Kaur, the International Business Management class representative, acknowledged the achievement, dedication and sacrifice of her classmates, urging them to view graduation as the start of their journey. She thanked the College for both the lessons learned and for instilling a sense of curiosity, critical thinking skills and a desire for lifelong learning.

Learners in the International Business Management program study at CDI’s campus in Mississauga and receive an Algonquin College credential upon graduation. The program develops the skills necessary to understand and manage international business activities and the global market. Students engage with case studies, develop mock business plans, learn to create feasibility studies and gain an understanding of various financial reports.

The AC/CDI partnership agreement was formally signed on June 7, 2022. CDI, which is a private career college, operates across Canada with more than 14,000 students, though the AC partnership only extends to its campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. The partnership was developed to support Algonquin College’s strategy to enhance its global presence by increasing international enrolment. Revenue garnered from the partnership is intended to be strategically reinvested to support program development, curriculum renewal and technology at the College’s Ottawa, Pembroke, Perth and AC Online campuses.