OTTAWA – The Ontario government’s 2018 budget investments will ensure more students have access to college programs that open the door to rewarding and meaningful employment.
“The budget delivers some important investments in student success,” said Cheryl Jensen, President of Algonquin College. “This will help us produce more graduates with the professional and technical expertise that is pivotal to success in today’s economy.”
OTTAWA — Algonquin College is pleased to announce the unveiling of its 3 Drums, 3 Campusesproject as part of efforts to make Indigenous traditions an integral dimension of College culture.
Members of the public, including the media, were invited to visit the Mamidosewin Centre in the Student Commons at the Ottawa campus on Monday, March 19 to witness the building of a large ceremonial drum using traditional materials and craftsmanship.
Working under the guidance of Indigenous Elders, students and faculty members used traditional materials and craftsmanship to make the drum.
FEB. 9 – OTTAWA – DARE District is coming to Algonquin College.
At a special reception, the College announced the name of its new innovation, entrepreneurship, and learning centre, which is opening in May 2018.
Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen described the importance of the name, which was chosen from a list of more than 200 name suggestions from across the College community. DARE stands for Discovery, Applied Research, and Entrepreneurship.
“In choosing the DARE District, we are not just saying something about what we hope this exciting new building will become, but we are making a profound statement about who we are as a College,” Jensen said. “Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Right now.
“We are dedicated to Discovery. We are dedicated to Applied Research. We are dedicated to Entrepreneurship. In fact, we are committed to instilling an entrepreneurial mindset throughout the College – in our students and our employees. We are ready to dare. To be bold. To be strong. To be imaginative.”
The building will include the College’s new Library and Learning Centre, an Indigenous Commons, a Makerspace, a Cyber-Security Centre, and more. It will be home to new training and test facilities for high-demand job sectors, a multimedia production facility, expanded Applied Research and Innovation programs, and Indigenous entrepreneurship projects – and serve as a multidisciplinary space for students, faculty, researchers, and businesses.
Board of Governors Chair, Peter Nadeau, issued a challenge to the College community: “We still have a few weeks before the building is officially opened, but in that time, I would challenge everyone to think of what they might dare to innovate inside its walls. In this new DARE District, there will be no limits to creativity, no barriers to success.”
Victoria Ventura, President of the Students’ Association – which invested $1 million towards Indigenous art and architecture for the DARE District, including the courtyard – called the name fitting. “I believe calling it the DARE District just fits because becoming a student starts with a dare – to follow a dream… to put your education first, to learn new things… to forge new connection, friends, clients, and contacts,” Ventura said. “I believe great things will happen inside of the DARE District at Algonquin College, too.”
In her own remarks, Jensen said the DARE District would not be a place where Indigenous culture is compartmentalized in an office or a workspace. “I know you have all heard about the beautiful Indigenous courtyard — but that’s not where our commitment to Indigenous history, tradition and life begins and ends,” she said. “Indigenous culture will be a thread that runs through the DARE District, to be sure, but also through all of our campuses. It will touch every learner, employee and visitor to Algonquin College. We must accept nothing less — Indigenization is something that we carry in our name, that we aspire to in our everyday work and that we must honour as part of our unwavering promise to seek Truth and Reconciliation.”
“Algonquin College is being transformed by Applied Research, experiential learning, and collaboration with community partners,” said President Cheryl Jensen. “This game-changing funding will provide our faculty and students with dynamic opportunities, deliver solutions to our industry partners, and provide our learners with one-of-a-kind work experience and career development. On behalf of the College, I want to thank the Government of Ontario and its program partners for this investment in innovation within our community.”
Algonquin College was awarded funding in two streams: $1-million over two years for Stream 1, the CSSCTP (College Strategic Sector/Cluster/Technology Platform), which supports college partnerships with industry associations; and $150,000 over one year for Stream 2, the CVTA (College Voucher for Technology Adoption), which supports a college’s ability to assess and engage companies’ innovation challenges.
The Stream 1 initiative will see the College create a Digital College Research Lab (DCRL) focused on the exploration of emerging technologies in the Educational Technology (edTech) sector, and their application to post-secondary education. The lab’s initial project is a collaboration with IBM and Salesforce, which will apply IBM Watson machine learning algorithms to develop an early-warning system for students at academic risk.
The Stream 2 funding will allow the College to engage approximately 25 new small or start-up company partners in collaborative, Applied Research projects. An estimated 300 students are currently engaged in CVTA projects with these companies.
“Our province needs talent to continue to sustain its growing innovation eco-system. Investing in applied research and development is a step towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our province,” said Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. “By bringing together colleges and the R&D sector, we’re creating opportunities for our students and ensuring they are ready for the jobs of tomorrow.”
The CVTA projects will provide experiential-learning opportunities for students to develop problem-solving skills and knowledge in trend-setting technologies. Student teams will explore new products, processes, and services of commercial interest to companies. Based on academic program strengths, and industry demand, Algonquin has selected five sector themes: Life Sciences, IT & Digital Design, Electro-Mechanical, Manufacturing & Robotics, Buildings & Energy, and Wireless.
Feb. 5, 2018 — From sport safety to Olympic history, Algonquin College is home to a diverse set of media experts available for interviews in advance and during the Winter Olympics, which take place Feb. 9 to 25. Topics and expertise include:
Bio: author of Canada Our Century in Sport; 14+ years at the Canadian Olympic Association (now the COC), including as Director of Olympic Affairs; attended nine Olympic Games
Topics: Canadian Olympic history, milestones, athletes, best performances of all-time
Jeff Jackson: coordinator, Outdoor Adventure program, Pembroke Campus Bio: 25+ years of experience as an expedition guide; nationally-recognized expert in risk management; director of ski courses
Topics: risk management in sports and professional athletics, ski course design
AC was Named Top Employer in the National Capital Region for a fifth consecutive year.
A surprise secret announcement was made by Cathy Frederick, Vice President, Human Resources, at Tuesday’s Take 5 staff singing event. The winners were officially announced Jan. 31 in a special insert in the Ottawa Citizen, which recognizes the 2018 National Capital Region’s Top Employers. Continue reading AC Named Top Employer in the National Capital Region for fifth consecutive year
Jan. 22, 2018 (OTTAWA) — Algonquin College has launched a new, innovative Bachelor of Public Safety (Honours) Program.
Natural, technological, and human-induced emergencies and disasters are increasingly common in the current global climate. The College recognizes there is a growing need for well-trained, educated, and experienced public safety professionals.
This new program offers a unique combination of security and emergency management, and takes a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure students are earning a credential that prepares them for the evolving fields of public safety.
Jan. 17, 2018 (OTTAWA) — Earlier today, a student was injured at Algonquin College’s Ottawa campus. The accident happened in a stairwell in the College’s C Building.
Emergency crews were called immediately when the accident was discovered just before 4 p.m.
The male student was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.
The circumstances of the accident are not known at this time.
“Our thoughts are with this student and his family at this time,” said Algonquin President Cheryl Jensen. “This is an extremely difficult situation and we are still gathering information to determine what happened.”
The Ottawa Police Service is continuing their investigation. Further information will be made available, as possible, pending the police investigation.
