OTTAWA (June 25, 2024) – Algonquin College is pleased to announce a generous donation of $100,000 from CIBC, to be distributed over the next two years. This significant contribution will support student bursaries for students from the Black community, Indigenous students and students with disabilities. The bursaries will benefit those enrolled in the School of Business & Hospitality, School of Advanced Technology and School of Media & Design across all Algonquin College campuses.
CIBC’s commitment to this initiative underscores their dedication to causes that matter to their clients, employees and communities. By supporting these student bursaries, CIBC is helping to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds have the financial support they need to pursue their educational goals. Continue reading CIBC donates $100,000 to Algonquin College in support of underrepresented students
Algonquin College to bestow degrees and awards at Convocation
Five community leaders to address graduates at Canadian Tire Centre
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2024, Ottawa, Ont. — Steve Barkhouse, Graham Bird, Tomson Highway, Dipak Roy and Chris Phillips will be front and centre this week as they are honoured at the Algonquin College Ottawa Campus Convocation Ceremony at the Canadian Tire Centre.
OTTAWA – June 5, 2024, Algonquin College is thrilled to announce a generous donation of $50,000 from the Salo family, establishing The Salo Family Endowment for Social Innovation. This endowment is dedicated to supporting student interns in the Social Innovation Lab, empowering students to engage in meaningful social innovation projects.
The Salo Family Endowment for Social Innovation will provide funding for student intern salaries, allowing them to work on projects that support community-based organizations, including service agencies, charities, non-profits, and social enterprises. This initiative aligns with Algonquin College’s demonstrated culture of social responsibility and community engagement.
“Kwey” shares vocabulary,phrases and information as part of Indigenous Heritage Month
June 3, 2024, Ottawa, ON – As part of its commitment to embracing the traditional Anishinàbe Algonquin language on campus, Algonquin College has created an Indigenous language video series to share common words and sayings with the College community.
The video series is called Kwey, an Algonquin greeting that means hello.
“It is fitting we say kwey as we introduce employees and learners to a series of videos we’re sharing over the next month to familiarize everyone with vocabulary, expressions and phrases in the Anishinàbe Algonquin language, the traditional language of this region,” said Anita Tenasco, Director, Indigenous Initiatives at Algonquin College. Continue reading Algonquin College Launches Indigenous Video Language Series
Chris Phillips is the longest-serving player in Ottawa Senators franchise history and an Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Phillips’ professional accomplishments are abundant. He played for Team Canada at the 1996 and 1997 World Juniors, won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, and the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for top defenceman. Phillips assisted the Senators in reaching the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, and he was the longest serving alternate captain for the Senators for 10 seasons. His jersey number, #4, was retired by the team in 2019.
In addition to his accomplishments as a professional athlete, Phillips put his business mind to action in 2012 when he became the co-owner of Big Rig, a microbrewery in Ottawa, which he has since sold. In 2014, his Big Rig Black IPA beer won a gold medal at the Ontario Brewing Awards. Continue reading From elite athlete to philanthropy: Chris Phillips on giving back
Dipak Roy knows a thing or two about the future of technology.
With engineering degrees from Kolkata’s Jadavpur University and Ottawa’s Carleton University, two tech patents, appearances in more than 30 technical publications and membership in AOC Global’s Electronic Warfare Technology Hall of Fame — the first Canadian to ever receive this prestigious recognition — Roy has made a name for himself as an authority in the electronic defence sector.
A long-time entrepreneur, Roy started his first company, ICS, in 1978, initially operating out of a warehouse basement. With a focus on sonar, radar and communications technologies for the defence market, his company grew to serve in more than 20 countries and win multimillion dollar contracts, including a $50 million sonar upgrade for the United States Navy. Continue reading Dipak Roy on education, defence and the future of technology
“I learned to appreciate life early because death was a possibility,” said Tomson Highway. His gratitude is evident in his prolific body of work. An impressive wordsmith, Highway is an author, playwright, novelist, songwriter and musician who has enhanced the Canadian literary, music and arts scene for decades.
Highway was born in tent during a cold December winter as the 11th of 12 children to loving parents. He grew up trapping and fishing and living off the land until he was six years old, when he recalls being put on a pontoon plane with his younger brother and sent to residential school.
“He put us very proudly on the plane,” Highway recalled of his father. “He didn’t want us to be illiterate. He could see the social revolution coming and he didn’t want us to be unprepared.”
The roots of the Bird family run several generations deep in the Ottawa area. Graham Bird has taken that family legacy as an obligation to keep making Ottawa better for future generations. As president and CEO of GBA Group, Bird often says that helping to build Ottawa is a great privilege – to imagine what could be, to work with visionary partners and to achieve that vision together. This aligns with the vision of Algonquin College and the School of Business and Hospitality.
Bird’s work at GBA Group included involvement in several large redevelopments in the Ottawa area and beyond. A few notable projects include the Lansdowne Revitalization Project, World Exchange Plaza, the Shaw Centre, and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Currently, GBA Group is engaged in the major New Campus Development of The Ottawa Hospital, a multi-year project comprised of several progressive infrastructure developments. Continue reading Graham Bird on the importance of getting involved and giving back
Community is an important word to Steve Barkhouse. Growing up in a farming community in Stittsville, he was raised by his parents who he described as “exceptional” and who taught him that community did for them, and they did for you. His grandfather and father were both drywallers and builders, so he knew early on that a career in the trades was something he wanted to pursue. “I always knew sitting behind a desk wasn’t for me,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be in the construction industry.”
Those small-town values stayed with him and led him to study at Algonquin College, first in the Architecture program before switching to Business Management. He graduated in 1988, then attended and graduated from Lakehead University with a degree in human resources and industrial relations. All the while he describes his sense of community as being ingrained in him as a part of his fabric and make up. He believes Algonquin College shares those same values. Continue reading Steve Barkhouse to receive Algonquin College Fellowship Award
OTTAWA — May 22, 2024– Algonquin College is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Porter Airlines, marking a significant commitment to enhancing educational and career opportunities in the aviation sector. This new strategic partnership is poised to leverage Porter’s position as a leading provider of air services in Ottawa, with the official signing ceremony that took place on May 21 during the grand unveiling of Porter’s Airlines’ new maintenance facility in Ottawa.
professional accomplishments are abundant. He played for Team Canada at the 1996 and 1997 World Juniors, won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, and the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for top defenceman. Phillips assisted the Senators in reaching the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, and he was the longest serving alternate captain for the Senators for 10 seasons. His jersey number, #4, was retired by the team in 2019. 
An impressive wordsmith, Highway is an author, playwright, novelist, songwriter and musician who has enhanced the Canadian literary, music and arts scene for decades. 
keep making Ottawa better for future generations. As president and CEO of GBA Group, Bird often says that helping to build Ottawa is a great privilege – to imagine what could be, to work with visionary partners and to achieve that vision together. This aligns with the vision of Algonquin College and the School of Business and Hospitality. 
described as “exceptional” and who taught him that community did for them, and they did for you. His grandfather and father were both drywallers and builders, so he knew early on that a career in the trades was something he wanted to pursue. “I always knew sitting behind a desk wasn’t for me,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be in the construction industry.”