(OTTAWA – JULY 14, 2022) – Monday, July 18, marks the official launch of the All Hands on Deck (AHOD) campaign — a fundraiser for The Royal Ottawa Foundation for mental health. The launch event will take place in Algonquin College’s Student Commons Building from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The campaign is being organized and executed by 18 students from Algonquin College’s public relations program.
“Young people are struggling with their mental health and should not have to suffer in silence,” says campaign director, Sacha Foster. “We are partnering with The Royal to address what has been called the ‘invisible pandemic’ — the youth mental health crisis brought on by COVID-19.”
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), only one in five children receive appropriate mental health care in Canada. In Ontario, the reality is much the same. Mental health experts have expressed serious concern over the well-being of children and youth during COVID-19 — saying they’ve seen the number of mental health related walk-ins double in Ontario.
“This campaign is organized at no cost to the organization — 62 cents of every dollar raised will go directly to funding youth mental health care and research at The Royal,” says Foster. “For over 25 years the annual ACPR charitable campaigns have raised money and awareness for local organizations within the city of Ottawa and we are so proud to uphold that philanthropic tradition.”
The campaign will give students practical hands-on events and logistic experience while giving back to the community in which they live, learn and grow. To date, ACPR’s charitable campaigns have raised over $500,000 for local organizations.
The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health is a not-for-profit that raises funds to support research and care at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Center, the Brockville Mental Health Center, and the uOttawa Institute of Mental Health Research.
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Center (The Royal)
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Center is one of Canada’s leading mental health treatment and research centre. The Royal serves people ages 16 and older with highly specialized treatment and care. The Royal serves its patients through outpatient services, counselling, crisis intervention, and in-patient treatment at their 186-bed state-of-the-art centre. The Royal’s Youth Mental Health Program treats people aged 16 to 18 with a multi-dimensional team of professionals at The Royal ready to help when a young person is in crisis or in need of long-term care. That team includes psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, recreational therapists, and many other specialties.
For more information:
Reo Stubbs, Head of Media Relations, AHOD Campaign
Please be advised that Rogers internet service has now been restored to Algonquin College campuses and to those using College devices. Information Technology Services has verified that all systems are operating normally. All classes and services will be running on regular schedules at Ottawa, Pembroke, Perth and AC Online campuses as of Monday, July 11. Service has also been restored to 700 Sussex.
Rogers has indicated there are still some customers who may experience a delay in regaining full service. For learners who may still be experiencing connectivity issues on Monday, July 11, please advise your program co-ordinator when possible. For employees who may still be experiencing connectivity issues, please contact your supervisor/manager when possible.
(OTTAWA – JUNE 17, 2022) – Algonquin College is now receiving applications for a new intake of its Personal Support Worker Accelerated training program (PSW-A) starting July 11 at its Ottawa campus.
This intake is part of the Ontario government’s plan to train new PSWs and address the high demand for skilled workers in the province’s health and long-term care sectors. This program is part of the province’s Long-Term Care Staffing Plan, one of the largest health-related recruiting drives in Ontario’s history.
“Personal support workers play a vital role in nursing homes and health-care facilities to provide patients with care and comfort,” said Carmen Hust, Chair, Nursing Studies at Algonquin College. “There is a great demand for these services currently, and Algonquin College and our industry partners have the expertise to equip learners with the skills and confidence they need to enter this field and explore the many pathways and opportunities it has to offer.”
As a result of the provincial training initiative, students in the accelerated PSW program can expect no tuition fee, books and technology aids. The six-month accelerated program features 12 weeks of college courses and eight weeks of paid placement, which can include on-site work in long-term care homes or community care environments.
These features make the accelerated program an attractive option for anyone considering a new career in a high-demand field. To register for the College’ accelerated PSW program, please click on this link: Ontario College Application Service.
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 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.
Algonquin College is making final preparations for its Ottawa 2022 Spring Convocation ceremonies, which will include an in-person component for the first time in two years. The 11 ceremonies will take place over four days, commencing June 21, and will mark one of the largest graduation events in the College’s history.
Just over 10,500 graduates are eligible for the ceremonies in Ottawa next week. Ceremonies at Algonquin’s Pembroke and Perth campuses also took place earlier this month. The in-person Ottawa ceremonies will be held at the Canadian Tire Centre, and are open to graduates from Spring and Fall 2021 classes, and Winter 2022 graduates. Continue reading Algonquin College set to celebrate one of largest convocation ceremonies in its history
On June 7 the School of Hospitality and Tourism presented a check for $8,500 to World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides meals to countries in crisis such as Ukraine.
In March 2022, Algonquin College instructor Chef Tanya Skeates came up with the brilliant idea to organize a culinary fundraiser in support of Ukraine. Chef Skeates and her colleagues put their heads together and created a Ukrainian-inspired food sampler — an opportunity for all Ottawans to donate and dine!
The goal of the fundraiser was two-fold: provide tangible support to a country in crisis and raise awareness by showcasing the culinary delicacies of the region.
With the support of the College community and the broader public behind them, the team was able to sell over 150 samplers in less than 24 hours.
The sought-after samplers included pampushky garlic bread rolls, Kyiv-inspired chicken canapés, Ukrainian pierogis and Easter sugar cookies.
Chef Skeates says that while the idea may have been hers, the project’s overwhelming success would not have been possible without the support of her colleagues and students.
A special thanks to Chef Cory Haskins, Cathy Dewar, Chef Sean Edwards, Chef Margrit Werner, Chef Mary Kosta, Chef Scot Foeller, and the additional 15 faculty and 20 student volunteers who all graciously donated their time to ensure the fundraiser’s success.
Chef Skeates (bottom left) and President & CEO Claude Brulé (second row from bottom, middle-left) are joined by students and faculty who were integral to the fundraiser’s success.
OTTAWA (June 7, 2022) – Algonquin College welcomed the executive team from CDI College today to formally sign a partnership agreement which licenses CDI to deliver select Algonquin College programs to students at its four campuses in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, beginning in Mississauga in the fall of 2022.
With a good mind and several green thumbs, Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé and Vice President of Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization Ron McLester marked the start of National Indigenous History Month with an event this morning in the College’s Three Sisters Garden.
Joined by students from the horticulture program and eager young visitors from the Early Learning Centre, McLester told the story of the Three Sisters; the significance of the crops of corn, bean and squash and how they feed and sustain the community. Students big and small joined in the planting after a ceremonial song, where everyone in attendance participated in the call and response.
After careful consideration of the data from local public health officials, including steadily decreasing wastewater metrics, Algonquin College will suspend its mandatory masking policy for the majority of the College and academic programming, effective June 1.
Masking will continue to be required for any program where a regulatory body requires a masking mandate, such as massage therapy. Please check with your program coordinator to be sure.
Additionally, masking will remain mandatory for all those attending our convocation ceremonies in-person, in June.
Earlier today (May 28), the College’s Facilities Management team began the process of switching back the remainder of our Ottawa Campus to the Hydro Ottawa electrical grid. With power fully restored, Information Technology Services teams began the validation process to ensure all systems are working as expected.
I am pleased to report that both these processes are now complete. As a result, please be advised of the following effective Monday, May 30:
All classes – virtual and in-person – will resume on normal schedules at the Ottawa campus. The Program teams of faculty, coordinators, Chairs and Deans are working to develop recovery plans for Ottawa campus classes that were cancelled. Those plans will be communicated with students upon their return.
AC Online courses will resume.
For those placements that were postponed, they will recommence. If you are unable to attend a placement due to power outage, connectivity or safety issues, please contact your placement site to advise them of your situation.
Co-op work terms with employers in Ottawa will also recommence. If you continue to be unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the aftermath of the storm, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
The Early Learning Centre will be open.
All Corporate Training programming will resume.
We understand that some learners and employees are still struggling with the after effects of the storm, including power outages and connectivity issues. For learners in need of academic support, please connect with your teachers and program coordinators when you are able to discuss options. For employees, please connect with your supervisors to discuss how you can best be accommodated at this time.
I want to thank our entire College community for your resilience and patience over this past week. I know it has been difficult, and many of you are still facing challenges. If you need support, please click HERE for information regarding available resources and frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out to algcomms@algonquincollege.com.
I also want to offer our thanks once again to Hydro Ottawa, Hydro One, and telecommunications companies that have been working around the clock to restore power and connectivity. I also want to acknowledge and thank the many employees who were working tirelessly behind the scenes to provide support this past week, and prepare us for classes and services to recommence.
We have been informed by Hydro Ottawa that we can expect to receive an estimate on when power will be fully restored to our Ottawa campus by the end of today (May 27).
As a result of this information, please be advised of the following for our Ottawa campus:
Weekend academic activity (May 28 and 29) that is scheduled to take place in the ACCE building will proceed as usual. All other scheduled academic activity at the Ottawa Campus is cancelled. The ACCE building has power and connectivity, as it is situated on a different part of the Hydro Ottawa grid.
Placements will recommence this weekend. If you are unable to attend a placement due to power outage, connectivity or safety issues, please contact your placement site to advise them of your situation.
For any learners on co-op work terms with employers in Ottawa, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the storm, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
Faculty, program coordinators, Chairs and Deans continue to develop recovery plans for Ottawa campus classes that have been cancelled. Those plans will be communicated with students upon their return.
The progress being made and the prospect of a full return to power are encouraging. Our Facilities Management and Information Technology Services teams stand ready once power is completely restored, to ensure the campus is prepared to safely recommence full operations.
We remain optimistic that classes and operations can start again on Monday, May 30. We will provide another update over the course of the weekend, and no later than Sunday afternoon, to inform all learners and employees of the current status and plans for the week ahead. Messaging will be delivered via a variety of channels, including email and social media. We will also engage with local media to ensure our messages reach the community.
I want to thank everyone for their patience during this challenging time. If you need help, please click HERE for information regarding support, available College services and frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out to algcomms@algonquincollege.com.
Once again, many thanks to Hydro Ottawa, Hydro One and telecommunications companies that have been working around the clock to restore power and connectivity not only to our Ottawa campus, but services to thousands of our neighbours across the National Capital Region.
which will include an in-person component for the first time in two years. The 11 ceremonies will take place over four days, commencing June 21, and will mark one of the largest graduation events in the College’s history.
Vice President of Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization Ron McLester marked the start of National Indigenous History Month with an event this morning in the College’s Three Sisters Garden. 
