As we head into the heart of the summer season, I’d like to take a moment to proudly acknowledge the achievements of our recent Convocation graduates – and to thank all the employees who helped guide them to success. I have no doubt these new Algonquin College graduates will go on to achieve extraordinary things and work to positively impact their communities.
With the recent difficult news of the finding of 751 unmarked graves on the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan, we need to make a positive impact on our communities – and that begins with each of us.
On the occasion of Canada Day this year, a day that has historically included celebration and festivities, let us use the time to reflect on these events, and strengthen our commitment to be better allies by reading the recommendations of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. This is an opportunity to educate, and acknowledge how Canada can play a role in our future by reconciling the past. At the College, we can play a part in building a country based on empathy, education, and mutual understanding.Continue reading Message from the President – June 28
The seven distinguished Honorary Convocation speakers shared inspiring words at today’s convocation ceremonies. Here is a small sampling of some of what they shared with today’s graduates.
Dr. Vera Etches – Honorary Degree Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa Public Health
Faculty of Health, Public Safety & Community Studies
“I’m inspired by today’s graduating classes, by you, for finding a way to complete your studies without the usual supports in place. Many of you had to juggle studies, different ways of working or loss of employment and online school for children at the same time. We know we can do hard things and we are not alone. We know we will see better days. Each of you will be part of these better days and I hope you will continue to support each other as you transition to work. Peer support can be so helpful. I also know that making time to care for yourself will allow you to make time to care for others. Keep your own well-being as a priority.”
I would like to share an update on our Fall Term academic planning, including some positive developments our students and employees can expect in the months ahead. These details will build upon our previous announcement that the current model of limited on-campus and primarily remote course delivery will continue through the Fall of 2021.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic – and the fact that many learners have already made decisions about where they will be living – our Fall Term format strives to offer fairness and certainty to our learners and academic programming teams. Underscoring this approach is our guiding principle – to put the health and safety of our students and employees first in all our decision making.
Our campuses successfully re-opened for select on-campus learning in July 2020 – and on-campus student activity has gradually increased since then and is poised for another step forward this fall. That said, there will be a moderate increase in activity on our physical campuses in the Fall Term. A total of 46 percent of our program levels will see some level of on-site learning activities. These programs were selected based on feedback from students and faculty, in compliance with government regulations for in-person learning. (As a reminder, program-delivery details can be found here.)
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé outlined the College’s next steps as a community to further embed Indigenous knowledge and culture “into who we are as a College and how we operate.”
He said that next steps include: 1) Over the next year, the College will develop a multi-year Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization Strategic Plan, in consultation with the College community and our Indigenous partners and 2) develop a Student Leadership Pack that will create opportunities for Indigenous learners to share and celebrate Indigenous culture with their peers and College community and Indigenous partners.
“I would like, on this National Indigenous Peoples Day, to reaffirm Algonquin College’s commitments,” said Brulé at an employee gathering on Monday, June 21. “Let us mark this annual day in the future by reflecting on how we are meeting our goals and vision. How are we living up to our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation?”
Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, and Toronto Maple Leaf Coach Sheldon Keefe are among the seven distinguished guests whom Algonquin College will bestow Honorary Degrees at Spring Convocation 2021.
Algonquin’s College virtual Convocation for the Class of 2021 will be held Wednesday, June 23. More than 8,568 students will receive degrees, diplomas, and certificates to mark their accomplishments as they embark on their chosen careers.
“Our graduates have earned this moment. The class of 2021 has had to endure many additional challenges and sacrifices, and it is more important than ever to recognize their achievements,” said Claude Brulé, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Hosting these ceremonies is a continuation of our commitment to our learners, helping them realize their lifelong dreams, and I congratulate them on reaching this important milestone.”
Elementary school teacher Bertha Chief of the Timiskaming First Nation had often observed her students’ fascination with iPhones and tablets, and started thinking about how she could harness that passion to teach kids about the Algonquin language.
One day, when Bertha and her son Kevin Chief were attending a pow-wow, Kevin introduced Bertha to his long-time friend Michel Lacroix, an Algonquin College professor in Design Studies, thinking Lacroix could help give shape to Bertha’s idea. Soon, Lacroix became the Creative Director of a collaborative project with the Chiefs to develop a mobile app that would teach children aged 3-12 about Algonquin language and culture. The app is called the Noopimok—which means ‘in the bush’— E-Learning Project.
Meagan Mallory (photo, left) and Jadzia Bryson (right) knew they wanted to be nurses from an early age. Mallory made the decision as a child when her brother was sick with leukemia (he later recovered). For Bryson, her determination to enter the profession solidified when she began the program two years ago and realized nursing and helping people “was where I needed to be.”
As the two young women, both 24 years of age, prepare for Spring Convocation on June 23, they took time to reflect on their studies and on entering the workforce during a pandemic.
Joe Thottungal, the owner and founder of Ottawa restaurants Coconut Lagoon and Thali, has been at the forefront of the Ottawa restaurant industry since 2004.
He describes his first restaurant as “humble beginnings,” but he clearly had a recipe for career success.
In 2008 he was named Ottawa Chef of the Year by the Canadian Culinary Foundation. Thottungal has competed and won top prizes at the Canadian Culinary Championships, winning the highest award the Gold Medal in 2016. He has also earned the prestigious Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) designation.
This past year, Thottungal and his fellow chefs in Ottawa created Food for Thought, an organization that provides hot meals to those in need in Ottawa. Food for Thought was originally run out of his downtown restaurant Thali, but has since relocated. The organization provides “a hot meal” for recent immigrants, refugees, people on social assistance, those fleeing from domestic violence, those affected by the pandemic, and seniors. Approximately 1000 meals a day are provided by local chefs and volunteers.
The Algonquin College community gathered together virtually on Thursday morning to honour the lives of the 215 children whose remains were recently found buried at the Kamloops Residential School.
The purpose of the gathering, explained President and CEO Claude Brulé ,was also to honour “the victims and survivors of residential schools across our country” and to “reflect on the discovery.”
Ron (Deganadus) McLester, Vice President, Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization at Algonquin College, who made opening remarks, said it was time for Indigenous people to be allowed to step back and grieve, and for settler allies to step up and act.
The Province of Ontario will begin implementing step one of its Road to Re-open plan this Friday, June 11 after seeing key public health indicators improve, including encouraging province-wide vaccination rates and a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
This step towards a more ‘normal’ way-of-life is a welcome and encouraging one after over a year of sacrifices and hard work made by the College community—and people across this province. We are hopeful that we will continue to see public health measures improve with continued vigilance and vaccination efforts.
The first phase of the re-opening plan will have no impact on academic programming. This means that the College is still limited to operating with a maximum of 10 persons in most instructional settings, not including prioritized programs. Some services, however, may be able to start slowly reopening. For example, starting Monday, June 14, The Campus Store will re-open for in-person shopping with limited capacity. As the re-opening process continues over the coming weeks, we will keep you updated on any other changes to the delivery of our services and academic programs. Continue reading Message from the President – June 09
Meagan Mallory (photo, left) and Jadzia Bryson (right) knew they wanted to be nurses from an early age. Mallory made the decision as a child when her brother was sick with leukemia (he later recovered). For Bryson, her determination to enter the profession solidified when she began the program two years ago and realized nursing and helping people “was where I needed to be.”