Learn – Nov 2015
Non-Fiction: Remembering the 11th hour/11th day/ 11th month
By Ian Clarke
Memorial Chapel, Ottawa
It seems that with the passage of time and countless films, books and recollections, a patina has settled over major conflicts from the past.
Retrospect has lavished us with the knowledge that the Germans did indeed lose both world wars, but as a Canadian veteran once told me, “In 1941, it didn’t look so good.” However, we’re aware of how and when those ‘stories’ ended – for they have become, in many ways, just stories replete with characters, drama, plot points, and thin on historical significance.
Indeed, as we contemplate the intended meaning of Remembrance Day, it’s an effort to escape the encumbrances of comment and entertainment.
What remains are those seemingly polarized qualities of conflict – death and rebirth. From ancient times up through Vietnam and Afghanistan, the reason for fighting remains the same (power), technology evolves, but soldiers change little, situated as they are in the realms of sacrifice, compassion, fear, anger, forgiveness and peace.
Most of us have been fortunate not to have confronted the face of war: those who have would just as soon have not. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its bru
tality, its futility, its stupidity.”
History, if interpreted without prejudice, tells us to proceed with faith, intelligence, compassion and diplomacy. Those qualities may be buried beneath steaming piles of Hollywood sets, costumes and scripts of heated rhetoric, but they can be uncovered and brought forward as teaching tools.
General George Patton once commented, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
No fiction, just truth. On Remembrance Day we recall the millions who had their lives ended, shattered, and destroyed, fighting for causes far beyond themselves, to attain, ultimately, a peace that seems to demand such terrible loss. We remember with eternal gratitude and respect.
Having a PARENTING MELT DOWN?
“Parenting Fail 101” with Tricia Kassotis
Okay, so you just blew it. Your four year old is still screaming, only now for a new reason. Your insides are still roiling, only now you have fresh frustrations. You’re pretty sure you both hate each other, not to mention the crowd of people who have just witnessed the disastrous struggle, have nominated you for the most awful parent of the year award.
So now what?
Take a deep breath and a step back. We have all been there, and whatever the behavior management scenario, or opportunity for positive discipline situation is lost, we have all lost our level headed parenting cool at some point with our children. Consider yourself a bonafide member of the club now. You’ve just paid your dues.
In those first few ‘failed’ moments:
- Step back and try to disassociate yourself from the raging emotions scorching your insides and repeat these words: I have not failed as a parent. I tried a tactic that didn’t work and my child will not be permanently damaged by this one moment in time. Yes, my parenting ego just took a beating, but it’s not down for the count. I will do better next time.
- Turn off your parenting judgement radar. Yes, you are in the middle of the grocery store, and a crowd has gathered to gawk at the screaming toddler and distraught mother, but really, who are those people to judge you? You are the one who will be drying your child’s tears, making their favourite supper and reading ‘just one more book’ tonight. Keep your mind on that as you get those disapproving scowls from ‘other’ people.
- Quickly think of yourself an hour from now. What will you be doing? Most likely everything that’s just happened will be a distant memory. Situations with young children happen quickly and though they can blow up, sometimes in our face, realize that this is just one small thing in your child’s life. You have a life time of opportunities to do it ‘right’ the next time. Parenting is a process, not an event.
- Forgive yourself and move on. Your child already has. While you’re wringing your hands and going over again what happened, your child has long forgotten the whole thing. You love your child and they know it. Review once what happened and what you will do next time. Then let it go. You’re human and you’ll get another chance tomorrow.
Algonquin Reads – Kim Thuy
By Helen Merriam
If you ever get the chance to work with the wonderful people of the AC Hub, I highly recommend it! As part of the Algonquin Reads initiative, we wanted to host the author Kim Thuy, at Algonquin College, and on a day when she was already planning to be in Ottawa, which was September 16th. Being so early in the semester, getting a room large enough for this event, would normally be a challenge. We asked the AC Hub staff if we could partner with them to host this event, and they enthusiastically said yes!
And a great event it was. The dynamic Kim Thuy arrived by train that day and it was a gorgeous fall day. The sun was shining, and right outside the window of the AC Hub, we could see bouncy castles and carnival type events set up. Uh oh, I thought. An author reading, competing with a bouncy castle? I was worried we won’t have any many participants. But my worries were quickly alleviated and we had an excellent turnout, filling the AC Hub, with people perched at the back on stools to see the action. In addition, the first twenty audience members received a free copy of Kim Thuy’s book Mãn, the Algonquin Reads book for 2015-2016.
Algonquin College Food Services Brings You a Taste of Home
By Lisa Barker
Algonquin College Food Services believes that recipes are about more than just mixing ingredients in a bowl.
They are traditions handed down over generations. They are mistakes in the kitchen or a work of imagination that turns into something delectable! Recipes represent family time, traditions, togetherness and community.
Algonquin College Food Services, with the help of AC Residence students, will be featuring our students’ family favorites this year. At the end of the year, these recipes will come together to create the “AC Taste of Home” Cookbook filled with recipes submitted by students, for students! This cookbook will be shared with the Algonquin College Residence student community as a wonderful and useful keepsake of the year past.
One recipe will be featured biweekly at the 35th Street Market Café, which is located in the lobby of the AC Residence building. The selection of the chosen recipe will be based on variety, ability to expand to the number of servings required, nutritional value and overall student appeal. If the student’s recipe is selected, they will win a dollar value credited to their meal plan and an opportunity to meet with the Algonquin College Executive Chef Russell Weir to discuss the recipe preparation. Even if the recipe isn’t chosen for a feature meal, Food Services hopes to include all recipes in the cookbook, depending on the number of submissions.
Partnering and collaborating with the Residence Life Coordinators and Residence Advisors has allowed for cross communication and joint promotion of this initiative. The Taste of Home Cookbook initiative encourages students to be a part of their college community, and contribute to a better Algonquin College. http://bit.ly/1MZWiiB
Join the conversation with #ACTasteofHome!
Melted Crayon Artwork
By Anelise Babcock, Ancillary Services
Melted crayon art is an easy and fun thing to do for those artistic adventurers out there. It’s so simple, yet the end result can be stunning. No wonder the trend is all the rage! You can create your own masterpiece by using some crayons, a canvas, and a blow-dryer or hot glue gun.
- Get your supplies. You will need a canvas (your choice of size), crayons (your choice depending on the size of the canvas), a hot glue gun, and a hair/blow dryer. You’ll probably want to lay newspaper
- Sort the crayons out. Sort depending on what you want. A rainbow is a popular design, so if you choose it, place the crayons in the order of the rainbow. Some people order their crayons lightest to darkest, others use different shades of the same color. The arrangement is totally up to you.
- Just make sure you have enough to cover the entire top of the canvas. Repeating colors is just as beautiful.
- Hot glue each crayon in order on the top of your canvas. Some people keep the wrappers on and some take them off, but either way works.
- You can opt to unwrap the crayons and cut them in half. This makes it look more natural and keeps the top three inches of your canvas from being obviously lined with crayons.
- Slant the canvas so that the wax will drip. A common idea is to lean it against a wall.
- If you do lean it against a wall, tape newspaper onto the wall to avoid any accidents.
- Use your blow dryer and blow the crayons. It’s best to point the blow dryer downwards so that the wax will drip. Take note that this will get messy!
- A heat gun is also a quicker alternative and can be picked up at most craft supply stores. Let your work dry.
- Proudly hang up your work of art.
Finished Melted Crayon Artwork by Anelise Babcock
Card Stampin for the holidays!
By Carol Ann Steeves
I attended a Stampin Up! Card workshop many years ago…. I was instantly hooked on stamping and paper crafting. I joined Stampin Up! as a demonstrator 8 years ago, so I could share my love of paper crafting with my family and friends. I host monthly club nights and we usually make 3-4 cards or little gifts. It is a fun social evening and they bring home some great cards too! The hostess always bring a little treat for us to enjoy too!
As we approach the Holidays, I get many requests to do cookie exchanges. I graciously decline these requests. Don’t get me wrong….I love a good cookie, but I grew tired of the sometimes burnt, blah or chocolate cookies people would swap.
My favorite Holiday exchange is swapping Cards! I am attending a Stampin Up! Conference on November 14th, in Mississauga. I made these 80 cards to swap, and in return, I will have 80 different cards to bring back. I am looking forward to sharing these cards and they will also inspire me to create, even more cards.
I believe that my family and friends would much rather receive a beautiful one of a kind handmade card, than an overdone blah cookie…. Hahaha!
Algonquin College – Perth Campus: A Proud Member of the Community
By Rebecca Szulhan
Tree Planting Photo: Tara Lee Ferguson
One of the rewards of working at a post-secondary institution like Algonquin College is the opportunity to create meaningful connections within our communities. These relationships are extremely valuable and mutually beneficial: We effect positive change in our communities through education, but not without the support of our communities in turn. We work together to shape the educational experiences of our students.
This fall, the Perth campus celebrated the roots that we have planted in our community—both literally and figuratively.
On National Tree Day (September 23), representatives from the Ottawa campus and the Town of Perth joined us to plant a red maple tree at the Perth campus—representing our commitment to sustainability, and symbolizing our hopes for the future growth of our campus, our students and our community.
Perth Campus Golf Tournament Photo: Mark McKay
This October, Police Foundations graduates teamed up with current students to organize the second annual Algonquin College, Perth Campus Golf Tournament. Faculty and staff from across Algonquin College’s campuses joined students and members of the public for a day on the links to support student bursaries.
For a student who is facing financial challenges, a bursary can make the difference between attending a program or not; we were delighted to raise more than $1,800 for bursaries at the Perth campus. We rounded out the month by raising nearly $800 for United Way Lanark County as part of Algonquin College’s annual United Way campaign.
Residential Living Lab
We have also broken ground on the Residential Living Lab as we look ahead to future opportunities to facilitate innovation and deliver experiential learning. Commissioned by the Office of Applied Research and Innovation, with the generous support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Residential Living Lab is being built by students in the Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing program. Once completed, this high-efficiency, low-energy building will house Applied Research and Innovation offices and serve as a hub for collaborating with community partners on applied research projects.
At Algonquin College, our commitment to our communities starts in the classroom, but it doesn’t end there. Through volunteerism, fundraising events, relationship building and a myriad of other activities, we are actively involved in promoting the well-being of our communities—on campus and off.
For more information about events at the Perth campus, please visit us online!