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What Does Your Work Space Say About You?

Have you ever been to sea? Under the sea?? How about 2,700 metres under the sea in a titanium sphere, two metres in diameter???

It’s amazing what you can learn about colleagues at the College by checking out the spaces where they work. A visit to Chris Janzen’s office in T Building will bring you into contact with artifacts and souvenirs as diverse and fascinating as their owner’s life. Chris has been Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Trades for four years and the journey that brought him to Algonquin is right out of an Indiana Jones movie.

rockThat’s where the titanium sphere comes in. A photo of said sphere — a research submarine named “Alvin” — is propped behind a large rock of coal on a bookshelf in Chris’ office. The story of how these two items are connected is spellbinding:

Most of Chris’ life has been devoted to the study of chemistry, a passion he developed as early as age 5, growing up in an old farmhouse in Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior. Chris admits that a strong fascination with matches at a young age had him pondering questions like “What is fire?” and “Why do some things burn better than others?” This fascination also led him to “experiment” to try to find the answers, much to the dismay of his mother!

Fast-forward to his years as a professor of Chemistry at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and his research in Centralia, Pennsylvania, home to an underground coal fire that has been burning since 1962 (and in 2016, a virtual ghost town). Now an analytical environmental chemist, Chris was drawn to this fire. He and his colleagues spent years studying the effects of the carbon monoxide, heavy metals and sulphur created by the 400° C plus heat radiating from the surface of the ground over the coal fire and the impact of this extreme heat on micro-organisms and other forms of life. For a scientist like Chris, this extreme environment was a gift — the large rock of coal on his book shelf is a memento of his good fortune.

boatIt was his study of sulphur and other gases in Centralia that led Chris to a site of hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean, nine degrees north of the equator (two days’ sail due south of Manzanillo, Mexico) to study the role of sulphur in this extreme ecosystem under the ocean. Here Chris met “Alvin” and the two other men with whom he would journey 2,700 metres to the bottom of the sea. As if the thought of three men in sphere two metres in diameter weren’t enough to evoke a claustrophobic panic, the reader should know that Chris is 6’2”, the pilot was 6’10” and the other researcher 5’10”. Folded into Alvin, the three men were lowered in the submarine from the mother ship and descended the 2,700 meters over 2 hours. The surface of the ocean was 30° C and the bottom was 4° C, and Alvin had no heat or cooling system. The bottom of the sea was pitch black, and Alvin had no internal lights, only those illuminating what was outside the small windows. The fact that Alvin had no toilet seems almost trivial.

sub-drawingWhen asked if he was “scared,” Chris admitted that he had been but not because of the hours he spent under the sea, untethered to the mother ship, in total darkness, breathing in carbon dioxide (which resulted in his worst hangover ever the next day). Instead, he worried about the responsibility he bore; $40,000 per dive, Chris didn’t want to screw up. Indeed, his first dive yielded great results, supporting his research into the chemistry of deep water and its ecosystem. Chris published numerous papers based on this research and his most exceptional opportunity.

And yes, there was a second dive. A harrowing story of massively rough seas, a missed connection with the mother ship and more. … Drop by Chris’ office in T107a and he’ll tell you all about it!

WINTER DOESN’T HAVE TO BE …BLAH!

img_4657-002By Trudy Price

I always described myself as “not a winter person.” Ack. Give me flip flops, a beach, sunshine and fruity drinks with pretty little umbrellas in them! I convinced myself I was born in the absolute wrong climate!

Until …I accepted that yes, winter WILL come every year and … hibernating for those four months every year with Netflix and popcorn is just not a viable option for the rest of my life – and well, I wanted to ensure my kids didn’t take on my despise of this season!

Make friends with winter!! Do some digging then make a list of all the awesome things you can enjoy over the next few months! I dig out our ski gear, skates, trail runners, hiking boots, hats, mitts, sleds, snow toys, snowshoes, headlamps …you name it! I do have some favourite winter activities … whether it’s Winterlude, a canal skate or downhill skiing with my family or an evening on the XC ski trails with my girlfriends (so many easy, accessible trails right here in the city!) Nothing beats a ski up to Keogan lodge in Gatineau park – bring your backpack with your candles, beverages and food to heat on the wood stove in the cabin!

Get outside and embrace the season – you won’t regret it!

Here are just a few of my favourite websites that give me ideas on how to spend the next few months… whether I’m on my own, with family or in the company of friends!

Trudy Price Rocks! Post-Marathon “Check In” with One Of Our Own!

trudy1Since she was selected to run the NYC Marathon, and during the past 18 weeks of training and setbacks, it has been exciting to follow along and to also be by the side of our truly inspirational Trudy Price — as she finally crossed the finish line of her first marathon run! Trudy has now had a few weeks to recover and I have approached her to kindly share her amazing journey with us. This is what she had to say.

Q: It has been three weeks since your run. How are you feeling?

A: A-MAZING! As you know, I maintained a blog throughout this journey commencing on my first day of the 18-week training program I chose – and shared the good, the bad, the ugly! Mostly all good though! My last entry was just a few days prior to the Nov 6th race day and my intention is to wrap up my Blog with a final recap – but, I thought I would take a few weeks to digest the whole experience which began the moment I hit “send” with my $11 to throw my name in NYC Lottery, back in February of this year! Being my first marathon, I had heard and read many stories of the different emotions athletes feel as they crossed the finish line so, I was mentally preparing to accept whatever was to happen! As it turns out, those last few kilometers through Central Park were simply beyond words … as I crossed that finish line and had the medal placed around my neck … I felt strong, proud and incredibly grateful. I was one of the lucky runners that stayed healthy and injury free during the entire 42.2 kilometres. (don’t get me wrong … there most DEFINTELY was pain during those almost five hours —
but nothing that took me down). The first few days after, I did dread the stairs but I made sure to get on my yoga mat and keep my body in motion and by the fourth day, I headed out for a very relaxing 5k run through my favourite path in the Greenbelt. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my body recovered and felt back to normal. Now I am back to the good ol’ days of a few leisurely runs a week, with my running buddies.

Q: Since your last half marathon, what would you say was the defining moment or motivation for you to try for the marathon?

A: Umm … defining moment? Two words. Peer Pressure! Each year, several of the runners in my village throw their name in the NYC Marathon lottery and as luck would have it, we have always had a “winner!” The way this then normally unravels is that a group of 8-10 keen women would accompany “the winner/runner,” for a weekend in NYC and meet up with them at four check points along the marathon route, making them the Best Cheerleaders Ever! When the marathon general drawing opened this year (January), the running mommas were coaxing one another to “throw their name in” because trudy3we MUST continue our NYC weekend tradition! Not being one of the strongest or experienced runners, there was NO way I was putting my name in …until I did. The deadline was 11:59pm Feb 21. That evening my 9-year-old son said “mom, isn’t today the last day to apply to the marathon? I think you should put your name in. I believe in you – I know you can do it” I thought OMG not him, too! The pressure was coming from ALL angles and all seemed to have great faith in my ability to make this happen, somehow! Here was my son using the same words on me I have said to him so many times before. How could I justify saying ‘no. I can’t do it.’ Then . March 8th comes along and $350 US dollars has been withdrawn from my bank account by the NYC marathon organizers. My entry had been accepted …. O.M.G.!

trudy5copy

Finished!

Q: What were some of your plans and supports and how did it start to materialize for you?

A: I had been part of this support team in past years for our other NYC runners – I knew both the physical and mental rigour of the training. I knew the support I would need from my friends and family (they have to put up with a lot during the 18 weeks when everything revolves around Mom’s Runs!!!) . There is NO way I could do this alone and had no problem accepting any and all support my village was willing to offer! Our Motto has always been ‘nobody does a long run alone’ – and, just knowing that brought some calm! Not only did they meet me in the wee early hours of the morning – rain or shine – for runs, cross training bike rides, yoga classes, etc….but we even had spouses and kids involved! Mid-way through a long run … lo and behold! a spouse (mine or someone else’s!) would have a gourmet nutrition and hydration set up waiting for us at the beach or along the run path… and little girls would refill water bottles and cheerlead! I never ever…even when I was alone on short runs…. felt alone on my journey. When I ended up with a shin injury 6 weeks before race day? it was the positive energy from all kinds of friends and family that gave me the emotional strength to pull through it and end up back on my feet, in time for those few last training runs.

News

Perth Mayor John Fenik presents Award of Excellence to the dean of Algonquin College's Perth Campus.

Perth honours Algonquin College’s 50th Anniversary – Lake 88

lake88.ca

In celebration of Algonquin College’s 50th Anniversary in Ontario, Perth Mayor John Fenik presented an Award of Excellence to the dean of the college’s Perth …

Representatives from the Perth and Greater Ottawa chapters of Habitat for Humanity, Algonquin College students and staff, and members of the local construction community, gathered at the site of the first Habitat House on Arthur Street for the official sod turning on Sept. 8. Sept. 8, 2016.

Breaking good ground at Perth’s Habitat Housewww.insideottawavalley.com

Go to Arthur Street if you want to see a hole in the ground filled with hope. Yes, right now, it is still, literally, a hole in the ground. But within a short while …

Algonquin College – Perth Campus Presented the Town of Perth with a Sleeping Cabin at Last Duel Park to mark its 200th Anniversary.

The new sleeping cabin at Last Duel Campground is another legacy for Perth which highlights the heritage trades being taught in our community and provides a new accommodation opportunity for tourists. The project came about through discussions with town and college staff as Perth was approaching its 200th anniversary.

drone-shot-of-habitat-build-web log-cabin-at-last-duel-park-web

It is thanks to that partnership and the hard work of the Carpentry Joinery – Heritage students (class of 2016) and teachers Shawn Thomson and Mark Duffe that made this legacy project possible in honour of the 200th anniversary of the town.