OTTAWA — April 23, 2024 – Algonquin College is delighted to announce a $120,000 donation from the Canerector Foundation to help establish a second Computer Assisted Design (CAD) Lab at the College, addressing the growing demand for digital expertise in the local construction industry.
The new CAD Lab provides more students with hands-on experience in 3D modeling, enabling them to test designs, calculate construction costs, and plan the efficient use of materials using industry leading technology. With the increasing importance of digital skills in the industry, the demand for specialized labs like the CAD Lab has surged, which resulted in the current lab operating at full capacity.
“We are extremely grateful for the Canerector Foundation’s generous contribution,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “This donation will have a significant impact on the education and future of our students, addressing the urgent demand for skilled professionals in the construction industry. It is a testament to the Canerector Foundation’s commitment to advancing education and supporting our community.”
In recognition of their support, Amanda Hawkins, Director of the Canerector Foundation said, “We are thrilled to support exposing students to practical, hands-on technology that will prepare them to excel in their careers.”
This is the second significant investment from the Canerector Foundation to Algonquin College. In 2022 the Foundation made a $400,000 gift to establish The Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades.
By supporting the CAD Lab, the Canerector Foundation is not only investing in the education of Canerector Foundation Scholars, but in all skilled trades students, enabling the college to produce a higher number of graduates who possess the unique competencies required by the industry.
This continued collaboration between Algonquin College and the Canerector Foundation will have a profound and lasting impact on the skilled trades, further strengthening Canada’s economic landscape.
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About Algonquin College
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 250 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa, Perth, Pembroke and AC Online.
About the Canerector Foundation
The Canerector Foundation is a registered, non-profit Canadian charitable organization founded by the Hawkins family, owners of Canerector Inc. — a group of over 50 companies that design and manufacture industrial products across a wide range of industries. Since its formal establishment in October 2019, the Canerector Foundation has donated over $10 million to Canadian-based charities that support communities across the country and around the world. To date, the foundation has focused on supporting skilled trades education, healthcare (particularly Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes), housing and at-risk youth.
OTTAWA — April 15, 2024 – Hazel Smart-Patterson, a distinguished alumna of Algonquin College, is paving the way for women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs with the establishment of the Hazel Smart-Patterson Scholarship.
With a visionary pledge of $100,000, Hazel Smart-Patterson aims to ease financial constraints and ignite the ambitions of female students entering their third or fourth year of full-time STEM studies at Algonquin College.
OTTAWA — Apr. 8, 2024 – The Schulich Foundation and Algonquin College are thrilled to announce the continuation of their transformative partnership with the Schulich Builders scholarship program. Building upon the success of the inaugural year, this collaboration will further empower students pursuing careers in the skilled trades across 12 esteemed Ontario Colleges, including Algonquin College.
CAE and Algonquin College executives and employees gather for a group photo following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Algonquin College is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CAE, a global leader in training for the civil aviation and defence and security markets. This landmark agreement marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between academia and industry, aimed at advancing workforce development, skills training, and innovation across multiple sectors, as well as supporting skills development for Indigenous Peoples.
Ottawa, ON, April 2, 2024 — Today, as part of its continuing commitment to Reconciliation and as part of its indigenization strategy, Algonquin College honoured the Indigenous language of the region by naming four private streets on the Ottawa campus with Anishinabe names.
“Our Indigenous Pathways Project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to preserving Indigenous culture and heritage through the installation of interior signage, murals, and wayfinding signs,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO, Algonquin College. “With the introduction of exterior street signs, our college embraces and celebrates the first language of this territory, fostering familiarity with Anishinàbe language, history, and culture throughout our Ottawa campus.” Continue reading Algonquin College Brings Anishinabe Language to Ottawa Campus Streets
OTTAWA (April 1, 2024) – Algonquin College has become the first college to sign Health Canada’s food guide-friendly pledge, committing to taking meaningful steps to maintain, and enhance, a healthy food environment on campus.
“We are very proud to be the first college in Canada to make this commitment,” said Duane McNair, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Algonquin College. “This pledge not only highlights our excellent food options on campus, but also demonstrates our dedication to continue to make healthy eating more and more accessible.”
The food guide-friendly program is a voluntary initiative designed to help publicly-funded institutions create healthier food environments, which ultimately leads people to make more healthy eating choices.
“Health Canada’s pledge recognizes our existing efforts in making fruits and vegetables readily available and encouraging healthy eating behaviours in the Marketplace Food Court,” said Emma Kaye, Wellness and Sustainability Coordinator, Registered Dietitian.
“But our work is never done. Part of the pledge is committing to nutrition on campus by looking for ways to improve by putting more emphasis on promoting healthier choices and increasing availability of these options.”
The Marketplace Food Court is Algonquin College’s first food service location to be recognized as food guide-friendly. Other self-operated Food Service locations on the Ottawa Campus will be working towards the same recognition in the upcoming terms.
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 200 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa, Perth, Pembroke and AC Online.
Today’s release of 2022-23 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results by Colleges Ontario reaffirms Algonquin College’s commitment to guiding learners toward successful post-graduation employment and meeting the evolving needs of employers in the communities it serves.
The results show Algonquin College’s continued success in preparing graduates for the workforce – including ranking in the second position among large colleges in graduate satisfaction and seeing nearly 92 per cent of employers indicating their satisfaction with the quality of Algonquin College graduates they’ve hired.
Highlights from the report Include:
Graduate satisfaction and employment rates: Algonquin College saw 77% of graduates expressing satisfaction with the quality of education received, and 86% finding employment within six months of graduation.
Above provincial average performance: Algonquin College continues to outperform the provincial average in two critical categories: ‘Graduate Satisfaction’ and ‘Graduate Employment’. Additionally, the institution remains on par with the provincial average for ‘Employer Satisfaction’.
“These results indicate what we all know – that hiring an Algonquin College graduate is good for business. We are pleased to see that our graduates are not only satisfied with their education, but are also having success in finding employment. These results give us the opportunity to measure successes against our strategic direction, with a view to understanding where we can enhance our program and service offerings to learners going forward,” said Algonquin College President and CEO, Claude Brulé.
Student volunteers gather for a group photo after their hard work preparing meals for the Ottawa Food Bank in partnership with La Tablées Des Chefs.
OTTAWA (Feb. 26, 2024) – Algonquin College learners in the Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science program volunteered their time during their Mid-Term Break Week on Feb. 26 to prepare 2,000 meals for the Ottawa Food Bank in partnership with TabléeDes Chefs: The Solidarity Kitchen – Next Generation Edition project.The prepared meals will feed vulnerable people in the Ottawa area who are seeking emergency food assistance.
To make 2,000 portions, the team used a total of 20kg of pork, 8 boxes of legumes, 8kg of oats, 22kg of potatoes, 15 kg of liquid eggs, 20 kg of shredded cheese, 8 boxes of tomatoes, and 96kg of vegetables. The efforts took a full day of assembly-line style preparation, with 18 learners and 6 faculty dedicating their time to help.
“The collaborative efforts of all those involved in yesterday’s food production of approximately 2,000 meals are truly commendable. La Tablée des Chefs’ and the student and faculty volunteers demonstrated remarkable kindness and generosity. I believe their contribution positively impacted the community,” said Professor and Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science Program Coordinator David Fairbanks, who facilitated the logistics of this initiative.
La Tabléedes Chefs’ mission is to feed and educate — fighting food insecurity and educating young people about their food autonomy as budding culinary experts. Since its start in 2002, the organization has distributed over 13 million cooked meals and educated more than 45,000 youth through its various programs.
The Solidarity Kitchen – Next Generation Edition project mobilizes more than 500 culinary students each year. Since its beginning, the project has allowed culinary students to prepare and distribute more than 1.5 million meals to Quebec and Ontario food banks.
The meals prepared by students today for the Ottawa Food Bank will make a dent in fighting food insecurity and will equip them with knowledge and skills about food autonomy that they can take with them into the working world.
About Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality
The School of Business and Hospitality combines the perfect mix of programs and learning environments to foster creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Learners can expect an immersive and dynamic experience using analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills in business programs, or showcase their artistic side in hospitality while focusing on people and providing superior customer service.
About Algonquin College
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 200 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa, Perth, Pembroke and AC Online.
Algonquin College has been recognized as a National Capital Region’s Top Employer for 2024, marking the eleventh year in a row since the College first received this honour.
“I am immensely proud of the College’s demonstrated commitment to employee engagement and the opportunities we provide for personal and professional growth,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “Our employees make up a compassionate, vibrant, effective and diverse workforce, one that works hard every day to ensure the success of our students.”
Canada’s Top Employer is an annual competition that recognizes exceptional workplaces on a national, provincial and regional basis. Algonquin College has won an award in the National Capital Region category every year since 2014.
“Our employees are the driving force behind Algonquin College. The work they do makes a difference every single day, and it is their efforts that make this such a wonderful place to learn and to work,” said Brulé.
