Ask yourself: would you live in a house that looks like this?
Joseph Dupuis did – for two years in fact. He even made it himself (OK, 90-95% himself). Out of shipping containers. Yes, shipping containers. And: it runs off renewable energy.
Joseph, hailing from a proud tradition of successful entrepreneurs, is an engineering research assistant and student at Algonquin College. Passionate about renewable energy, community and holistically living, Joseph (age 28) built an cabin off the grid in the valley and lived there for two years. He thought he had a neat little idea going. But he didn’t know just how popular the idea could be.
When he invited his friend, a professional photographer, to come by and see the place, Joseph could not have anticipated that little photo shoot would result in 750,000 views and a trip to the frontpage of Reddit. That said, it is easy to see why when you check out the album of photos – amazing stuff. (All photos credit: Japhet Alvarez)
Way to go Joseph! Learn more about the project on BuzzFeed Canada.
Game Development graduates are kickstarting their amazing final project. Let’s help them reach their goal. Project Orion is a first-person space combat video game experience featuring epic large-scale battles, an in-depth story, and extensive ship customization.
Kyle Sergeant pens this thoughtful ‘acceptance speech’, recognizing the critical role the College played in his success – with special mentions to his professors and, yes, The Observatory. Read Kyle’s speech on Medium.
One of Pembroke campus’ best known graduates will be honoured for his career success and community commitment when Jason Blaine is presented with the Alumnus of the Year award during the Pembroke Waterfront Campus convocation ceremony. Blaine is a 2001 graduate of the Business program who combined his raw musical talent with the business skills he learned at Algonquin to become one of Canada’s leading country musicians.
The winter intake Event Management students have a great line up of community events planned in the next two months. If you are looking for a way to support our students and the community while having a great time, please plan to come out to one or all of these events!
Wish Upon A Tailgate on Friday, June 12 @ Hometown Grill
Heads up! There’s a tailgate happening this summer so come out and join the fun. “Wish Upon A Tailgate” is a fundraising event taking place on Friday June 12 – just in time to officially kick off the football season. Make sure to complete the pass and tell your friends to come one come all to the Hometown Sports and Grill in Ottawa. We will be grilling up some traditional tailgating eats and having some pre-game day fun! There will be plenty of opportunity to score some of our sweet prizes, mingle with one another, and get cheered on the by the Ottawa Sooners Cheerleaders all the while helping the Children’s Wish Foundation grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses in our community. So don’t get left out of the huddle and be sure to buy your tickets today by visiting our webpage at wishuponatailgate.wix.com
Wishes In Dixie on Friday, June 19 @ Centurion Conference & Event Center
The porch light will be on and y’all will be welcomed in a very southern way at the Centurion Conference & Event Center on Friday, June 19. Come on out to “Wishes In Dixie” where we’ll be fixin’ to serve you a 3 course southern themed meal and where you can enjoy good ol’ southern entertainment including step dancing and the sweet sounds of fiddles fiddlin’, the chance to win a truckload of prizes, and so much more! Proceeds raised will be headin’ the way of the Children’s Wish Foundation. We reckon you should get your kin folks together and buy your tickets lickety split! Tickets are only $50 – to purchase or for more information, visit wishesindixie.wix.com/home or email wishesindixie@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @WishesInDixie and #WishesinDixie! See y’all there!
Lei’d Back Luau on Wednesday, June 24 @ Brittania Yacht Club
Hula your way into a tropical paradise on Wednesday, June 24 at the Britannia Yacht Club. Beginning at 6:00 pm, guests at “Lei’d Back Luau” will experience the aromatic flavors of Hawaii captured through a buffet style sunset feast overlooking the beautiful Ottawa River. Guests will be entertained as they are whisked away to the peaceful and enriching life of the Hawaiian Islands. Come and enjoy a traditional Mai Tai beverage while checking out the silent auction tables, taking in the elegance and serenity of hula dancing, ukulele performances, and so much more! This fundraising event benefits the Children’s Wish Foundation who grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses in the National Capital Region. Tickets for this event are only $55! To purchase tickets or for more information, visit leidbackluau15.wix.com/wishevent2015 or email us at leidbackluau15@gmail.com. Mahalo!
Dreamcatcher’s Wish on Saturday, June 20 @ Restaurant International
Summon your wild spirit, gather your clan of family & friends and enrich yourselves in a night of Aboriginal Culture. “Dreamcatcher’s Wish”, is a unique and enriching First Nations experience taking place on Saturday, June 20 at Restaurant International, on Algonquin territory at 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa. Guests will enjoy a themed 4-course dinner and entertainment that will showcase Aboriginal culture up close – enjoy the sights and sounds of authentic drums, singers, and dancers, and mark your territory at the silent auction table filled with Native arts & crafts, and so much more! Funds raised go to the Children’s Wish Foundation who grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. This is a great way to kick start National Aboriginal Day celebrations – doors open at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $50 each – to purchase or for more information, visit dreamwishevent.wix.com/dreamwishevent or email dreamwishevent@gmail.com.
A Night In Gotham on Thursday, July 9 @ Centurion Events & Conference Center
Take a trip to the infamous city of Gotham with your crime fighting friends! Join us for “A Night In Gotham” on Thursday, July 9 when the Centurion Event Center will be transformed into the Iceberg Lounge and Wayne Manor. Enjoy a taste of Gotham’s nightlife and experience a level of sophistication that only Bruce Wayne himself could supply. This fundraising event will support the Children’s Wish Foundation who grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. Tickets are only $50.00 and include a 3-course themed dinner, games, live entertainment, photobooth, silent auction and so much more! To purchase your ticket or for more information, please visit anightingotham.wix.com/home.
Congratulations to Radio Broadcasting Coordinator Dan Pihlainen! The Broadcast Educators Association of Canada (BEAC) awarded Dan with the John Ansell Distinguished Service Award at their annual conference last week.
The award recognizes service to BEAC and its mandate, and Dan’s selection was decided by the BEAC Board of Directors at a vote prior to the conference. Dan is the outgoing BEAC President and was reportedly quite surprised by the win. Of course, no one who knows or works with Dan was surprised!
College’s Faculty of Arts, Media, and Design, and School of Business, launch program which industry experts say “Canada needs”.
(Ottawa, May 29, 2015) Algonquin College has long recognized the growing importance of strategic brand management skills to the Canadian economy and the need for dedicated professional training in this area. Which is why, after years of development and advice from top minds in Canadian branding, the Algonquin College Faculty of Arts, Media and Design has partnered with the Algonquin College School of Business to launch Ottawa’s first Brand Management Program this September.
The need for this intense one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate is clear, says program advisor Jeff Swystun, an international branding consultant, author and former executive at global branding agencies DDB and Interbrand. “A well-managed brand is the biggest asset and number one driver of business value for companies worldwide. But we haven’t traditionally treated brand management as a distinct profession requiring particular skills.”
Another advisory board member agrees that this program is timely. Rob Hyams, president of Ottawa creative agency McMillan, wholeheartedly welcomes the program: “Canada needs more people trained in the intricacies of brand development and management; they can bring much-needed creativity, efficiencies, and business value to both the client – and agency – sides of the equation.”
The program is designed for professionals who are already working in one of the many fields related to brand management, and for recent graduates hoping to work in the field. Class projects will be focused and realistic, and students will have many opportunities to interact with working brand managers and creative agencies through guest lecturers, site visits, and a final brand consulting project for a real client.
Robyn Heaton, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Media, and Design, says students will appreciate a hands-on, interactive and multi-disciplinary approach that breaks down barriers between business and creative disciplines: “Collaboration is a cornerstone of this project and of the College as a whole. Students can expect to work hard but they’ll benefit from excellent mentorship and practical experience that will serve them well in their future work.”
“It’s all about developing skills for the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. We need to teach them to build sustainable world-beating brands,” says faculty member, advisor, and consultant Dennis Van Staalduinen. “I’m excited to be part of it.”
Program Coordinators Jayne Van Dusen and Leanna Verrucci urge qualified students to contact the College now. Enrolment has already begun to fill up for the program’s inaugural class in September.
(Ottawa, May 28, 2015) The Algonquin College, Perth Campus is proud to announce that Tyler Sandes, a graduating student from the Police Foundations program, has received a PolicePrep Award of Excellence (East Region) to recognize his academic excellence, leadership and commitment to community involvement. This award has been given out 8 years now and the winners are selected by the group that runs the Justice and Public Safety Coordinator’s Conference each year. The award promotes recognition for the truly exceptional students in the programs throughout the province.
“Over the past two years, Tyler has consistently displayed leadership, integrity and teamwork,” Gerry Salisbury, Police Foundations Program Coordinator at the Algonquin College, Perth Campus stated. “I was overjoyed to be notified that he was the recipient of the PolicePrep award for Eastern Ontario colleges. It is a credit to our program that we have students that are so dedicated to the community and their fellow students. Through Tyler winning this award, it has simply added more credibility to the type of student we are producing through our program and the tremendous education that our faculty provides through their expertise and commitment.”
“It’s really nice to be recognized for something that I really enjoy doing,” Sandes said, adding that his ambition is to turn his passion for policing into a career with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). “This award will help me with my goal of becoming an OPP officer.”
Algonquin College believes in the importance of connecting students with their community through hands-on learning experiences and students are encouraged to participate in activities on campus and in the community. While completing his Police Foundations studies, Sandes volunteered with Victim Services and the Big Brothers mentoring program, spread holiday cheer at Christmas parades and served a term as the Director of the Perth Campus’s Students’ Association. He credits the support of his classmates and faculty with helping him to balance his academic and extracurricular commitments.
“My classmates and I had a team mentality, so we all helped and supported each other. I think that contributed a lot to my academic success,” Sandes said. “I’d like to thank Gerry for nominating me and supporting the whole class in general by putting in extra hours to be part of the community and to help us advance our careers.”
Sandes also expressed gratitude to PolicePrep and this year’s awards selection committee, thanking them “for their interest in assisting students…and supporting the learning that we do in the classroom in a very practical way.”
Sandes is set to graduate this June. Now that his studies have wrapped up, he plans to continue volunteering and pursuing opportunities to further develop his professional skills.
The Police Foundations program at the Algonquin College, Perth Campus is a two-year Ontario College Diploma program that prepares students to pursue careers in community justice and law enforcement. More information about the program can be found online at algonquincollege.com/perth.
Algonquin College students took home five medals from the annual Skills Ontario competition – among them, Carpentry gold medalist Matthew Scharf. He will be competing against Canada’s best next month in Saskatoon.
(Ottawa, May 12, 2015) May is a time both to celebrate and to prepare for Algonquin College Carpentry Apprentice Matthew Scharf. Scharf recently took home a gold medal in Carpentry at the Ontario Technology Skills Competition (OTSC), and has earned the right to compete nationally at Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatoon on May 27 – 30.
“We’re proud of all students and apprentices who competed on behalf of Algonquin College at the Ontario Technology Skills Competition,” says Cheryl Jensen, President of Algonquin College and Past Chair of Skills Canada – Ontario. “This important competition demonstrates the value of applied learning and gives those attending college a chance to test their skills against their peers before entering the job market. Algonquin historically does well at this competition, and we look forward to seeing Matthew’s performance at the national level. A job well done!”
“I am really proud of how things turned out with the competition,” adds Scharf. “I think I had a different approach than the other students and it certainly seemed to pay off in the end. Now I have to switch gears and focus on the Nationals.”
Of the 19 entrants from Algonquin College, five came away from the competition with medals in various streams:
Matthew Scharf – Gold in Carpentry
Matt Polson – Silver in Cabinetmaking
Jordan Biggs – Silver in Truck & Coach Mechanic
Mitch Rosborough – Bronze in Truck & Coach Mechanic
Kelly Johnson – Silver in Culinary Arts
Scharf is one of 40 students moving on from the Ontario-level competition to the National competition at the end of May.
The OTSC is Canada’s largest skilled trades competition, and one of the largest competitions of its kind in North America. With over 67 contests and 2,000 high school, college, and apprenticeship-level competitors, OTSC draws in over 20,000 spectators each year.
Algonquin College previously won the 2013 Carpentry OSTC competition – that apprentice, Cody Malloch, also went on to compete nationally at Skills Canada. He won that competition, and then competed in the 2013 WorldSkills international competition.
Ten-time Ontario award winning newspaper receives national recognition.
(Ottawa, May 1, 2015) Two programs of the Algonquin College School of Media and Design –Journalism and Advertising and Marketing Communications Management – received national recognition recently when the campus newspaper, the Algonquin Times, was awarded top rank for Outstanding Campus Newspaper by the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA).
This is the first time the nearly 30 year-old Times has been recognized nationally for its content and design excellence, although it has placed first in the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) competition 10 times – most recently in 2011 and 2012. Last year, the Algonquin Times placed second overall provincially, and is once again shortlisted in multiple categories for the 2015 Ontario Awards.
The Times is entirely produced by the students of the Journalism and Advertising programs as part the programs’ hands-on curriculum. Publication is primarily funded through advertising sales with limited support from the Algonquin Students Association. The Algonquin Times is truly a collaborative initiative where Advertising students sell, design and produce the paper’s ads, while Journalism students write the stories, take photos and layout the paper during their classes. Students from both programs also work together to produce the online and mobile editions of the paper.
CCNA judges submissions from campuses across the country and evaluates the newspapers’ content including story quality, photography, advertising and layout. Algonquin won based on reviews of April 2014 and September 2014 issues, both of which were produced by the Journalism 2015 graduating class in collaboration with two cohorts of advertising students. Participating students are proud of their accomplishment and honoured to be acknowledged.
Says Michael Robinson, Editor of the Algonquin Times from September to December 2014, and who will graduate this June, “2014 was an incredible year for the Algonquin Times with an incredibly diverse set of stories, striking photography and pristine layout. This win is not only reflective of the strength of Algonquin College¹s journalism programming, but also speaks to the formidability and expert advice provided by faculty who supported us every step of the way as we assembled this award-winning campus newspaper.” Robinson is currently completing a work placement at the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal as a general assignment reporter.
Robinson’s sentiments are echoed by Stefanie Wlotzki, Ad Manager (September 2014) – Advertising and Marketing Communications Program: “It’s a testament not only to the hard work, high standards and dedication put forth by our peers at the Algonquin Times but also to the strength of Algonquin College – a place where students are given the opportunity to learn first-hand through real world experience….”
“What a way for the class of 2015 to finish off their time here at Algonquin,” said Journalism program coordinator Joe Banks. “They can now say they worked as a team to produce the country’s best campus newspaper.”
“Through collaboration, hard work and excellent mentorship, the students in the program have achieved the highest honour possible,” stated Robyn Heaton, Dean, School of Media and Design. “I am delighted for their success. They so deserve this national recognition for their outstanding efforts.”
Cheryl Jensen, President of Algonquin College, echoed Ms. Heaton’s comments: “The School of Media and Design has continually proven its worth with the number of CCNA and OCNA awards it has won. The award is a testament to our belief in hands-on applied education. The national award is the pinnacle of achievement in student journalism and advertising. We at Algonquin College are truly proud of the students and professors in this program.”
Representatives from the Times will collect their hardware for both provincial and national wins at the CCNA Annual Gala taking place in Toronto on May 22, 2015.
