Gov. Gen. David Johnston visits Algonquin College for President’s Breakfast

Posted on Thursday, August 24th, 2017

Algonquin College’s annual President’s Breakfast served up multiple surprises.

The College’s Ottawa campus was honoured to host his Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, to its Ottawa campus. Johnston was on hand to help unveil the Letters Patent for the College’s new Coat of Arms.

In his speech, the Governor General praised the College’s four core values – Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect – which anchor the new Coat of Arms, and noted they can guide the College through any challenge.

“The 150^th anniversary of Confederation and the 50^th Anniversary of Algonquin College are opportune occasions for us to ask ourselves, What do we live for? and What do we value above all?,” he told the crowd of nearly 1,000 employees from Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke. “The answers are in this emblem. I thank you all for your commitment to caring, learning, integrity and respect…. This institution aspires to empower people and to be learner driven, innovative, connected and sustainable, and one way you will do that is by staying true to ‘thine own self’ — to those values.”

His Excellency was joined by the Chief Herald of Canada, Dr. Claire Boudreau, and the Saguenay Herald, Dr. Samy Khalid, of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, to present the Letters Patent of the College’s new Coat of Arms – which also received its official proclamation from Khalid.

Algonquin College applied to the Canadian Heraldic Authority in 2015 for a grant of a coat of arms, flags and a badge as a legacy project to mark the College’s 50th anniversary. The Coat of Arms, the College’s first, is an honour from the Canadian Crown. This spring’s graduating class was the first to have it embossed on their degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The Governor General also noted that the final design reflected the input of many individuals and groups, including Indigenous communities.

The unveiling of the Letters Patent was part of the President’s Breakfast, an annual event for employees hosted by Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen to mark the start of the fall term.

In another powerful moment, Algonquin College Students’ Association President Victoria Ventura announced a $1 million investment towards Indigenous artifacts and architecture for the new IELC building and institute for Indigenous entrepreneurship, slated to open in spring 2018.

The Students’ Association’s board of directors approved $1 million “to ensure Indigenous architecture, arts and cultural artifacts” will be a “permanent part” of the new building, she explained. That investment includes design elements in the courtyard, which Ventura envisioned playing home to everything from pow wows to ceremonial drumming events. Ventura said the investment would encourage the College community to both experience and learn from “traditional Indigenous knowledge.”

“Your incredible contribution to the students we all serve — together — is appreciated,” Jensen said in thanking Ventura, the Students’ Association, and its Board of Directors. “By me, by the employees of Algonquin — those here today and those who will follow us in the years to come…. Your investment will allow us to see, touch, feel and experience the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation report. I salute you.”

In Jensen’s own speech, she looked towards the future, and discussed everything from the College’s five-year Strategic Plan to ongoing 50th Anniversary celebrations like the upcoming, inaugural Alumni of Distinction Awards Gala.

The Governor General praised the College’s first five decades in his own remarks: “For the past 50 years, Algonquin College has indeed honoured Canada through its relentless dedication to education — to learning, and to helping us build a smarter, more caring nation.”

To start the event, Ron McLester, Executive Director and Special Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Initiatives, gave a traditional Thanksgiving Address: “As summer is ending, harvest time is beginning and school is starting over again,” he said. “We are once again able to acknowledge our connections with one another… in this place, in this special organization, we have a chance and opportunity to make a difference, and that’s exactly what we are going to do…. We are going to look to our our future and we are going to make a difference today.”

Keynote speaker, futurist Jesse Hirsh, ended the morning by encouraging educators to be at the forefront of critical thinking and digital literacy in the 21st century. He called upon teachers and post-secondary institutions to ensure that “technology serves us rather than us serving technology” and to teach students to “question everything in their world.” He also praised colleges like Algonquin for leading the way by embracing entrepreneurship and opening innovation centres.

A reoccurring theme at the event was the College’s core values: Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

“We’re going to keep our values … at the centre of everything we do,” Jensen said. “So, let’s get to work and focus on achieving our goals.

“As we have seen this morning, our beautiful new Coat of Arms is rich with symbols that reflect our values and goals — not just who we are, but who we aspire to be as we move into the future.”

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