A Message from the President (April 6, 2022)

Posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2022

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

I want to provide an update on the College’s requirements for those who are required to attend work or academic activities in person at our Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke campuses.

The change is based on recent lifting of most provincial restrictions, advice from our public health and government officials as it pertains to high vaccination rates, population immunization and high efficacy of vaccines, as well as feedback from our employees and learners.

Algonquin College will, contingent on current state of the pandemic and corresponding public health considerations, be implementing the following changes to our COVID-19 policies and procedures effective May 01, 2022:

  • Active screening for COVID-19 and proof of vaccination checks will no longer be required at campus entrances. All building entrances to our campuses will be reopened. Employees and learners are still encouraged to monitor and self-screen for symptoms before coming to campus. If you are feeling unwell, please stay at home. The College’s Mobile Safety App screening functions will be paused unless conditions change and reactivation is required; therefore, you can reference the City of Ottawa COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces/Post-Secondary Institutions HERE
  • Masking will be optional for all those required to be on campuses. As per our values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect, all employees and learners are asked to respect individuals’ personal choice in this regard. Certain activities and roles that involve health care and/or clinical settings including third parties (such as health clinics, hospitals, elementary and secondary schools, and other organizations where students complete their placements) may have different requirements for both masking and vaccination that will still have to be followed. Students and employees should contact their respective Academic Department for details.
  • Physical distancing of 2 metres will be encouraged, but no longer be mandated on our campuses.
  • Policy HS 16 will be suspended until such time as conditions change and the policy needs to be reinstated. Please note however, that all international travel for business purposes requires specific authorization and approval, based on College operational requirements and specific considerations for the associated risks related to COVID-19, in accordance with Global Affairs Canada travel advisories and existing policies AD 17 and AA 44 for employee and student travel, respectively.

For the health and safety of all of our employees and learners, all precautions will continue to be encouraged, including handwashing and hand sanitizing, cough and sneeze etiquette. In addition, we strongly encourage people to get their full vaccination and booster shots against COVID-19, as advised by public health authorities.

As we have seen throughout the pandemic, it is difficult to predict the evolution of the virus and the emergence of new variants. The College’s Leadership Team is closely monitoring relevant reported COVID-19 statistics, regularly consulting with local public health officials and evaluating transmission risks. If a heightened risk to health and safety for employees and learners is indicated by local public health experts, the College could reimplement any or all of the previously mentioned protocols and safeguards. Any changes to the College’s direction on this matter will be communicated directly with employees and learners.

These are encouraging signs and I have been really pleased to see and meet many more employees and learners on campus since the mid-term break. I look forward to seeing an even more vibrant and lively atmosphere on our campuses with the advent of our Spring/Summer term.

While it is gratifying to see these positive changes taking place, I have to say that my delight in finally moving towards a more normalized environment is greatly dampened by the news that is coming out of Ukraine. It is a very tragic situation that is extremely concerning for everyone, and in particular those in our community who have family or friends in the country. Algonquin College is finalizing details on several initiatives to support those who are directly affected and struggling financially; additional details will be forthcoming shortly.

We can now sense that spring’s arrival is upon us, and that nature, including us, is emerging from the winter blanket we call the Big Sleep. I wish all of our learners great success with final assignments and in your preparations for upcoming final assessments.

Take care and stay safe,

Claude Brulé
President and CEO


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