School of Business & Hospitality

Algonquin College establishes Susan Pridmore Award for women in Event Management program

Posted on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

Algonquin College has announced the creation of a new annual award for women in the Event Management program. The Susan Pridmore Award will recognize a female student who demonstrates leadership within their field of study and community and who embodies the values of perseverance, tolerance and kindness.

The award honours Susan Pridmore, a dedicated events manager at Algonquin College who embodied a high standard of excellence and worked tirelessly to organize outstanding events. Susan sadly passed away in February 2024.

Six people stand in front of a sign that reads Philanthropy Champions.

(L-R) Mark Savenkoff, Vice President, Advancement and Strategy; Mistalyn Seguin, Director of Philanthropy; Kimberly Robichaud; Saam Askari; Cheryl Blake; Ben Dinh, General Manager & CEO, Algonquin Students’ Association.

“It’s truly fitting that Susan’s spirit will live on through an award that reflects her unwavering commitment to our learners,” said Tracy McDougall, Director, President’s Office and Communications at Algonquin College. “She always believed with her whole heart that everything we do here is to empower our students to succeed, and her incredible passion for that purpose inspired every one of us.”

 

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Algonquin College’s culinary students serve up kindness by preparing 2,000 meals for the Ottawa Food Bank

Posted on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024

group picture of Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science program students who volunteered to prepare meals for the Ottawa Food Bank in partnership with La Tablées Des Chefs

Student volunteers gather for a group photo after their hard work preparing meals for the Ottawa Food Bank in partnership with La Tablées Des Chefs.

OTTAWA (Feb. 26, 2024) – Algonquin College learners in the Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science program volunteered their time during their Mid-Term Break Week on Feb. 26 to prepare 2,000 meals for the Ottawa Food Bank in partnership with Tablée Des Chefs: The Solidarity Kitchen – Next Generation Edition project. The prepared meals will feed vulnerable people in the Ottawa area who are seeking emergency food assistance.

To make 2,000 portions, the team used a total of 20kg of pork, 8 boxes of legumes, 8kg of oats, 22kg of potatoes, 15 kg of liquid eggs, 20 kg of shredded cheese, 8 boxes of tomatoes, and 96kg of vegetables. The efforts took a full day of assembly-line style preparation, with 18 learners and 6 faculty dedicating their time to help.

“The collaborative efforts of all those involved in yesterday’s food production of approximately 2,000 meals are truly commendable. La Tablée des Chefs’ and the student and faculty volunteers demonstrated remarkable kindness and generosity. I believe their contribution positively impacted the community,” said Professor and Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science Program Coordinator David Fairbanks, who facilitated the logistics of this initiative.

La Tablée des Chefs’ mission is to feed and educate — fighting food insecurity and educating young people about their food autonomy as budding culinary experts. Since its start in 2002, the organization has distributed over 13 million cooked meals and educated more than 45,000 youth through its various programs.  

The Solidarity Kitchen – Next Generation Edition project mobilizes more than 500 culinary students each year. Since its beginning, the project has allowed culinary students to prepare and distribute more than 1.5 million meals to Quebec and Ontario food banks.  

The meals prepared by students today for the Ottawa Food Bank will make a dent in fighting food insecurity and will equip them with knowledge and skills about food autonomy that they can take with them into the working world.  

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For more information 

Megan Fraser 
Communications Officer 
Algonquin College 
613-302-0138 
fraserm2@algonquincollege.com

About Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality 

The School of Business and Hospitality combines the perfect mix of programs and learning environments to foster creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Learners can expect an immersive and dynamic experience using analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills in business programs, or showcase their artistic side in hospitality while focusing on people and providing superior customer service.  

About Algonquin College 

The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 200 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa, Perth, Pembroke and AC Online.

Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality unveils refurbished bar lab for enhanced learning experience 

Posted on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

OTTAWA (Dec. 19, 2023) – Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality is pleased to unveil the extensive renovation of its teaching bar lab, aimed at providing an even more immersive and dynamic learning environment for its students.

The renovations, which commenced on April 25, 2023, and concluded on August 30, 2023, represent a significant investment in elevating the practical training facilities available to learners pursuing programs in the School of Business and Hospitality. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to emulate a real-world bar setting, providing students with hands-on experience in bartending, mixology, and customer service.

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Algonquin College meets growing demand for strategic human resources management professionals

Posted on Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

OTTAWA (June 28, 2023) – Algonquin College is launching a new honours bachelor’s degree program to prepare future leaders in human resources management. The Bachelor of Commerce (Strategic Human Resources Management) program combines foundational business knowledge with human capital strategy, providing graduates with a unique skillset to leverage when entering the workforce.

Market trends support the need for a human resources management-focused commerce program. The strategic business nature of this program will provide students with unique and desirable qualifications upon graduation. Graduates will have a wide choice of employment opportunities, including human resources management generalist, recruiter, human resources business partner, human resources manager, training and development specialist and human resources management advisor.

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New Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) program integrates applied learning with contemporary marketing strategy

Posted on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023

OTTAWA (June 27, 2023) – Registration is now open for the new Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) Honours program, one of latest offerings from the School of Business at Algonquin College. As the only program of its kind in Ontario to offer three co-operative (co-op) education work terms, graduates will be well-positioned to connect with industry professionals while leveraging applied learning in business marketing.

The program emphasizes how emerging digital marketing technologies operate within today’s business environment. These learning outcomes align with trends in labour market data which identify a growing demand for skilled digital marketers with a strong foundation in business.

Traditional business disciplines like accounting, finance, human resources and economics comprise the first two years of the program. Learners will collaborate with industry professionals through three mandatory co-op placements in their last two years of study. Through these work terms, learned marketing strategies and tactics are applied to make data-informed marketing decisions in the workplace.

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Three Ontario colleges partner to launch a 4-year Business degree for tradespeople

Posted on Thursday, May 26th, 2022

OTTAWA (May 26, 2022) – Algonquin College, George Brown College and Mohawk College have joined resources to launch a new four-year honours degree in Business Administration, focusing on people working in skilled trades occupations.

The partner colleges will deliver this first-of-its-kind degree in September 2022, with all instruction provided remotely and virtually. The program, approved by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, is intended for people working in the skilled trades sector who are looking to grow their own businesses, take on greater responsibilities in their current work environments, or pursue management careers in medium-to-large organizations.

The online Bachelor of Business Administration (Trades Management) (Honours) degree will concentrate on business administration, managerial skills, accounting, project management, leadership, marketing, communication and applied research competencies. This theoretical instruction will be combined with 420 hours of structured work experiences (or equivalent), for which students receive credit.

Upon completion, graduates will have competencies in the human resources, marketing, finance and accounting aspects of skilled trades business operations. As well, they will have a grounding in research, executing strategic plans, assessing risk and fostering healthy workforce and business growth.

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Algonquin College students win Riipen Cross-College Entrepreneurial Challenge

Posted on Friday, April 29th, 2022

OTTAWA (APRIL 29, 2022) – Students from Algonquin College’s Business Management and Entrepreneurship program won top prizes at the Riipen Cross-College Entrepreneurial Challenge on April 29. Student teams from colleges across Ontario took part in the inaugural event. Sponsored by Enactus, HSBC, and RBC, the virtual event invited student teams to present innovative solutions to business challenges for Goodums Food and Riipen. Individual awards, including Most Cohesive Team, Most Engaged and Best Presenter, also went out to College learners.

The teams were coached by Michael Wood, professor in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program, and Stephen Gagné, professor in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program and mentor with the Office of Applied Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

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Michael Wood Named Alumni of Distinction Business Recipient

Posted on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Every year, Algonquin College celebrates the incredible achievements of its alumni through the Alumni of Distinction Awards. These awards honour the extraordinary contributions our graduates make to the community while achieving career success. Here is a closer look at the Alumni of Distinction – Business recipient Michael Wood. To register for the Alumni of Distinction event, click here.

Former Chief Marketing Officer/Managing Partner, Ottawa Special Events

Travel Counsellor – Class of 1997

From playing rock ’n’ roll in stadiums across North America to appearing before the federal finance committee during the pandemic, Algonquin College Professor Michael Wood has maintained a simple philosophy.

“My whole thing is that kindness matters, and everything happens for a reason. I am really just motivated by people being happy,” said Wood, one of Algonquin’s Alumni of Distinction Award winners for 2021.

After graduating from high school, the only career pursuit that appealed to Wood was becoming a rock guitarist and touring. His parents offered encouragement but wanted him to focus on school first.

“Because there was no music program at Algonquin back then, I went into the Travel and Tourism program. I thought that would be a way to get on a cruise ship and become a musician or learn how to book tours,” said Wood, who graduated in 1997.

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Adam Vettorel Named Alumni of Distinction Apprenticeship Recipient

Posted on Friday, September 17th, 2021

Every year, Algonquin College celebrates the incredible achievements of its alumni through the Alumni of Distinction Awards. These awards honour the extraordinary contributions our graduates make to the community while achieving career success. Here is a closer look at the Alumni of Distinction – Apprenticeship Recipient Adam Vettorel.

Co-Owner and Chef, North & Navy and Cantina Gia

Cook Apprentice, Class of 2007

As a young man, Adam Vettorel’s intended goal was law school. Restaurant jobs were just what he took on to pay the bills along the way.

Vettorel began working in restaurants in high school, and continued working his way up the line while taking a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Carleton University and then a second degree in political science. “I loved working in kitchens, and I had a proficiency for it,” he says, “so I was able to pay my way through university without taking out a student loan.”

But as his political science course load grew heavier, Vettorel was compelled to step away from the kitchens. He had a mentor at the time, a lawyer to whom he confided that the kitchen was where his real passion was, not the law. He gave the younger man the life-changing advice he wanted to hear: if he was passionate about cooking, that is what he should pursue.

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Algonquin College helps set Canada’s Table

Posted on Saturday, August 26th, 2017

AC Culinary StudentsAlgonquin College is helping set Canada’s Table, a unique, sold-out culinary experience at which Canadian food and wine will be showcased at a 1000-person, open-air table on Wellington Street on Sunday, Aug. 27.

On Saturday, Aug. 26, the event’s star-studded roster of out-of-town chefs will cook up a storm in Algonquin College’s kitchen labs — the ideal local space to bring their culinary creations to life. Chefs from the School of Hospitality and Tourism will be helping organize the guest chefs. Continue reading →