The Spring season has arrived in Eastern Ontario. With the changes in weather and our part of the world coming out of the Big Sleep of winter, also comes the end of the Winter 2021 term. This is the last week of classes for most programs.
The Winter 2021 term is ending in a period of increased COVID restrictions in Ontario. The Provincial Government has issued a Stay-at-Home order that began on Thursday, April 8 and will be in effect until at least Wednesday, May 5. In that respect, the Winter term will end the same way it began, under a Province-wide lockdown. I echo President Claude Brulé’s sentiments to say thank you for your continued strength, patience and flexibility as we continue to move forward and make progress together. Continue reading Message from the Senior Vice President, Academic – April 13
A 28-day stay-at-home order came into effect in Ontario at 12:01 a.m. this morning. The Premier announced this order yesterday along with a new state of emergency declaration; the announcement extends restrictions established in the ongoing province-wide shutdown.
Our campuses will continue to operate, in very limited ways, under these updated restrictions – similar to the stay-at-home order that was in effect at the start of the Winter Term. These new restrictions will not require us to modify our present academic delivery model. (Again, you should not visit campus unless you are a student participating in hands-on instruction or an employee who has been specifically authorized to attend campus in support of these activities.)
The government’s new restrictions – which include limiting non-essential businesses to curbside pickup – come in response to rising COVID-19 case rates, escalating hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions, and the increasing emergence of variants of concern.
“The Third Wave is different than anything we have experienced so far… the risks are greater; the stakes are higher,” the Premier said, “The COVID-19 situation is at a critical stage and we must act quickly and decisively to stay ahead of these deadly new variants.”
As a reminder, you can monitor cases on the College’s campuses here. The College has seen relatively few COVID-19 cases related to our campuses throughout the pandemic and I want to thank those required to come to campus for continuing to follow our health and safety guidelines, and helping to ensure continued operations are as safe as possible.
I discussed ongoing restrictions within our academic spaces in last week’s message. Any additional changes to course delivery – including placements and labs – will be communicated on a program-by-program basis as required. You can also review the current state of restrictions on our campuses’ services here.
Earlier this week, Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, supported additional measures being implemented stating that, “the COVID situation in Ottawa is concerning and we need further restrictions to bend the curve. Younger people are being hospitalized in Ontario. ICU admissions are increasing. Cases are too high in our city.”
The stark warning is a reminder that COVID-19 knows no boundaries, and the variants currently circulating in our community are easily transmitted and affect young and older people alike. While it is encouraging to see the increasing pace of the vaccine roll-out across Ontario, our adherence to public health guidelines – practicing physical distancing, wearing masks, washing our hands and staying at home – remain critically important.
We have all experienced fatigue in dealing with the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, but the progress on vaccinations is finally offering everyone hope. (For more information on the vaccine rollout in our campus communities, see my previous message.) Thank you for your continued strength, patience and flexibility as we continue to make progress together.
Finally, to our College’s Muslim community, I wish a happy, safe celebration to all those marking the Ramadan holiday starting Tuesday, April 13.
RE/ACTION features innovative applied research projects undertaken by studentsin collaboration with industry, institutional and community partners. Each project offers a glimpse into leading-edge technology or research that could profoundly impact our future.
April’s virtual showcase will feature the top five teams selected from over 75, who will present their projects to a panel of industry professionals during a live Zoom meeting. The judges will then have the opportunity to ask the team questions before retiring to a breakout room to decide on first, second, and third place winners. Continue reading RE/ACTION: Virtual Applied Research Showcase on April 9
This afternoon, the Premier announced that Ontario would move into a 28-day province-wide shutdown on the province’s COVID-19 response framework as of Saturday, April 3 at 12:01 a.m.
Our campuses can continue to operate under the new restrictions – similar to the previous Ontario shutdown that ended in early February.
While the vaccine rollout strategy is well underway, our communities are now dealing with a third wave of COVID-19 – as evidenced by rising case rates, rising hospital ICU admissions and the increasing emergence of variants of concern.Continue reading Message from the President – April 01
We are taking this opportunity to remind all members of the College community of the importance of the need to continue practicing all of the COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures.
While the vaccine rollout strategy is well underway, our communities continue to deal with the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 and we are currently seeing rising case rates and the emergence of variants of concern, which bring additional complexities and concerns. The circumstances in Ottawa are grave and it is entirely likely that increased restrictions will be implemented in the coming days. Perth Campus is still operating in the Red Zone of the reopening framework and our Pembroke Campus is operating in the Yellow Zone.Continue reading COVID-19 Safety Protocol Reminder
In a year when its business has been inundated with pandemic-related work, the Yordas Group has been turning to Algonquin College to find students trained to be industry-ready.
Dr. Giselle Vincett, Vice President North America for UK head-quartered Yordas Group, said the last year has been particularly busy thanks to a proliferation of pandemic-related products that clients want to market around the world.
The ongoing rise in Ontario COVID-19 cases and hospital ICU admissions are a clear reminder of the need for our continued vigilance in the face of this pandemic – especially when engaging in any kind of activity outside of our households. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to keeping our college community healthy and safe.
As you may be aware, Ontario has introduced less restrictive capacity guidelines for restaurants in its red-control zone – allowing for 50% capacity for indoor dining spaces subject to appropriate social distancing and table capacities. This change impacts food service operations at our Ottawa Campus (you can review current capacity details here). Continue reading Message from the President – March 25
The Ontario government’s 2021 budget includes multiple investments in post-secondary education, including $21.4 million for a new Virtual Learning Strategy, and funding for facility maintenance and new equipment.
The Provincial Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, was released on March 24. It included several measures to bolster the post-secondary sector, including expanding OSAP to students in eligible programs at Indigenous Institutes and in micro-credential programs. Post-secondary spending included $493 million in capital funding over three years – starting in 2021–22 – to help colleges and universities across Ontario address the ongoing need for the maintenance, renovation and modernization of their facilities. Continue reading Ontario budget invests in training, facility maintenance and new equipment
The Ontario government is providing up to $8.4 million to help Algonquin College address the financial impacts of COVID-19.
The funding, announced Friday, is part of $106.4 million to help publicly assisted colleges and universities address the financial impacts of COVID-19. The up to $8.4 million portion allocated to Algonquin will help the College with costs incurred due to the pandemic – and offset decreases in tuition and ancillary revenues. Overall, the College saw a $25 million drop in net contribution from its approved budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
The College’s pandemic-related expenses included Personal Protective Equipment, additional security, cleaning and technology costs to accommodate remote learning and working — including ITS help desk costs, Zoom licenses and other software applications. The College also incurred costs to increase the number of sections in some programs to cap in-class enrolments and accommodate social distancing on campuses. Continue reading Ontario Supports Colleges and Universities Impacted by COVID-19
