The Ontario government has announced a province-wide lockdown effective Saturday, December 26 at 12:01 a.m. in response to the spike in reported COVID-19 case across many regions of the province.
Algonquin College is undertaking a review of today’s announcement, and the associated regulations, to determine the impact on our operations and services. In consultation with Colleges Ontario, Algonquin is determining the best course of action for the College and its campuses.
As soon as we have a concrete, detailed plan, we will share additional information with the entire College community. Please watch your College email address and social media channels for updates in the days ahead. Continue reading Provincial Lockdown Announcement
On the most recent episode of Ciena’s monthly podcast—The Ciena Network Insights Podcast—host Rodney Wilson, Ciena’s Chief Technologist of Research Networks, discusses Algonquin’s new state-of-the-art Optophotonics Lab.
Ciena recently invested in upgrading the lab by providing it with the same cutting-edge technology used by the top corporations in the world, including the largest telecommunication carriers in Canada and abroad. The upgrade solidified Algonquin’s long-standing partnership with Ciena, which has hired many Algonquin grads over the years. Continue reading Ciena Podcast Discusses Algonquin’s Upgraded Optophotonics Lab
As the Fall Term 2020 draws to a close, it is important to reflect on our experience related to the ongoing management of COVID-19 on our campuses. The Ottawa Campus is still in the Orange Level of the provincial re-opening framework and Ottawa continues to be challenged by fluctuating rates of infection in the community. Our Perth and Pembroke campuses are in Yellow and Green Zones, respectively – while the latter campus is experiencing an outbreak under assessment by the local health unit. Overall, the Eastern Ontario region is experiencing concerning increasing rates of infection.
OTTAWA (Dec. 16) – Algonquin College is leading the $7-million expansion of a national project to help Indigenous youth obtain trades training while attending school.
The three-year project, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, is mandated through Indigenous YouthBuild Canada, a national job-readiness program that brings First Nations communities together with educational institutions, government, and corporate partners to help Indigenous youth acquire job-ready skills while extending their education.
Earlier this year, Algonquin oversaw a $1.2-million demonstration project that supported 80 Indigenous youth in receiving trade skills and schooling. The project’s success set the stage for the more long-term program. With the renewed funding, Algonquin will team up with four post-secondary institutions and two Indigenous organizations spread across Canada to provide First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth with earn-as-you-learn opportunities. Continue reading Algonquin College leads expansion of Indigenous YouthBuild program
Earlier today the Renfrew County District Health Unit confirmed a student at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This positive case is in addition to the three employees who tested positive for the virus earlier this week.
We continue to wish that the affected employees and student make a prompt and full recovery from the virus.
Algonquin College is committed to the health and safety of our community. Thank you to everyone for continuing to help us protect our employees and students.
The media release issued by the Renfrew County Health Unit can be found here.
OTTAWA (December 11th, 2020) — The Ontario government is investing $5,502,900 in capital funding to help Algonquin College address their deferred maintenance backlog, undertake critical repairs and upgrades, and provide a modern and safe learning environment for students, faculty and staff. The announcement was made today by Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean.
“Well-maintained facilities and the latest in learning tools and equipment are critical parts of a postsecondary education,” said MPP Roberts. “By investing in postsecondary infrastructure, our government supporting economic recovery, creating jobs and ensuring students obtain the skills they need for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.”
As part of the Facilities Renewal Program (FRP), the province is providing $3,999,600 in capital funding to help Algonquin College address the ongoing need for maintenance, repair, renovation and modernization of its existing facilities. The 2020-21 FRP funding represents an increase of more than $2.4 million over and above last year. Continue reading MPP Jeremy Roberts Announces Funding to Renew and Modernize Algonquin College
No doubt you have been watching the news in the last few days and like me, felt a genuine sense of hope that with the approval of the first vaccine against COVID-19 and the start of inoculation in the United Kingdom, a most significant milestone has been achieved – one that allows us to finally see a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
As exciting as this news is, the road ahead will continue to present challenges for many months to come as the roll-out of this vaccine takes place over the winter, spring and summer. This means that our continued vigilance will be paramount during this period of time, and in order to protect the people dearest to us the holiday season ahead will look very different this year.Continue reading Message from the President – December 10
OTTAWA (Dec. 9) – With funding from the federal government, Algonquin College is leading a $2.5-million program to provide more than 250 Indigenous youth across Canada with hands-on job training and employment skills related to the impact or effects of the pandemic.
The program, funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, is delivered by 11 federal departments, agencies and Crown Corporations to help young people gain work experience and skills they need to enter the labour market. The funding is provided under Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund announced in June by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It is deployed by Employment and Social Development (ESDC) to address the pandemic, focusing on high-demand and critical sectors such as health, community services, and information technology.
With the ESDC’s funding, the College’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative will support between 250 and 275 Indigenous youth in receiving work placement, training and skills to help them find employment in their communities. The College will provide funding to a number of organizations to deliver training and development programs in more than a dozen First Nations communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
The projects generally reflect community experience in responding to the pandemic. For example, several Indigenous communities want to set up food sustainability projects that would make them less reliant on outside sources.
“Algonquin College excels at delivering this kind of experiential learning and is excited to play an important role in the federal government’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy,” said Claude Brulé, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased and proud to demonstrate our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by helping Indigenous youth gain the skills that serve them and their communities.”
“The Government of Canada is proud to support innovative programs that aim to help young people reach their potential, and enter the workforce,” said Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. “Especially during these difficult times the government has taken action to support youth through a comprehensive package of COVID-19 supports and measures. One of these measures is Algonquin College’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative, funded under the government’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. This initiative will help Indigenous youth acquire the skills and training they need to integrate into the job market, realize their potential and pursue successful careers.”
Algonquin College is one of 13 institutions, organizations, and agencies – from the Halifax YWCA and the Canadian Mental Health Association to Trucking HR Canada and Simon Fraser University – selected to deliver ESDC’s additional funding to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on youth through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
Algonquin’s partners in the COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative include:
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’Kmaq in Nova Scotia;
The Tobique, Elsipogtog, and Esgenoopetitj First Nations in New Brunswick;
Akwesasne Education & Training Institute in southwestern Quebec;
The Wabano Centre in Ottawa;
Tsi’ Niyukwaliho:^ Learning Centre in Southwold, Ont.;
Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Man.;
Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg;
Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Sask.;
Little Red River Cree Nation and the Enoch Cree Nation, Alta.;
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.
The Industry Training Authority in Richmond, B.C.;
Fort Good Hope in the Northwest Territories.
“This is a welcome opportunity at a very difficult time for everyone,” said Ron (Deganadus) McLester, Vice President, Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenization. “It is quite interesting and very telling that half of the partner communities are focussing on sustainability and food security, reflecting a very real need on First Nations.”
For starters, I cannot say these two words enough: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you for the dedicated, sustained, collaborative efforts that have gone into making this unique and challenging term a success. Over 17,000 students engaged in remote learning this Fall – many for the first time. Guided by our health and safety protocols, we also had 7,200 student registrations in select courses that required hands-on learning on our physical campuses.
I recognize that this has been a very difficult road for many. I want to offer my sincere appreciation to our employees for their diligence and adaptability in creating an environment for students to continue on their paths to success. Continue reading Message from the Senior Vice President, Academic