The first sacred fire at Algonquin College was lit in the C building courtyard Thursday afternoon, celebrated by more than 100 people who gathered outside just as it began to snow.
Indigenous Cook Pre-Apprenticeship Program student Rohahes Mitchell played the drum as the ceremony began, and elder Barbara Hill welcomed those gathered to the “Caring for the Spirit” celebration on behalf of the Algonquin Nation. Elder Peter Decontie prepared the smudging bowl and, after Cheryl addressed the gathering, lit the sacred fire.
Cheryl said the fire was like a light or a beacon for guiding the college forward as it builds a new Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship.
“This centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Algonquin College and our Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship is for you,” she said. “It is for you to bring new ideas for all of us here at Algonquin.”
She said the college would be looking to the Indigenous community to help articulate what the centre should look like, how it should function and what it should do.
In his remarks, Ron Deganadus McLester, Algonquin’s recently appointed Executive Director and Special Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Initiatives, challenged those gathered to consider what Indigenous entrepreneurship looks like, and how it might differ from traditional entrepreneurship, where entrepreneurs “start their own businesses, take their own risks and reap their own rewards.”
He told the gathering what he thought Indigenous entrepreneurship might look like: “Indigenous entrepreneurship is to focus on our community, our young people and our elders.”
After the lighting of the fire and the smudging, in which dozens of people participated, the crowd moved inside, where they heard the Ottawa River Singers perform drumming, watched dancer Ben Wawatie, in full regalia, perform, and were invited to participate in the dancing.
Inside, those gathered also had a chance to give their ideas about the new Indigenous entrepreneurship centre by answering a survey. They also heard from two Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Ottawa — Algonquin College will be lighting its first sacred fire on campus this Thursday as a way of celebrating the new Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship.
“We are very excited to bring this one-of-a-kind Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship to Ottawa,” said Algonquin President Cheryl Jensen. “And the name of this event, Caring for the Spirit, speaks to our sacred fire and to what we hope to achieve, which is nurturing not only the minds of our learners, but also the unique spark that makes them who they are.”
The ceremony will also include a special prayer by Elder Barbara Hill Dumont, a performance by the Ottawa River Singers, and personal stories from some of Algonquin’s most successful Indigenous entrepreneurs.
“This is a chance for us to reach out to our College community, especially our Indigenous students, and really nurture the spirit of the new Institute,” said Ron Deganadus McLester, Algonquin’s new Executive Director and Special Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Initiatives. “We want to focus on the possibilities of the future while also remembering, and respecting, our past.”
The new $44.9 million Algonquin College Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship, formally announced Oct. 12, was made possible in large part thanks to a $21.9 million grant from the Federal Government through the Strategic Investment Fund for Post-secondary Education Institutions and $2.9 million from the Province of Ontario.
The Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship will be the first of its kind on a college campus in Ontario and will be designed in consultation with Indigenous communities and be based on Indigenous business principles.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2018.
— 30 —
When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 Where: Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa Location: C Building Courtyard (In the event of inclement weather, ceremony will be held indoors in the Library) Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information:
Ruth Dunley, Communications Officer
Public Relations and Communications, Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452
Mobile: 613-406-0970 dunleyr@algonquincollege.com About Algonquin College: www.algonquincollege.com
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.
Ottawa — Algonquin College marked one of its most important announcements today with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship — a state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2018. President Cheryl Jensen was joined by Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli for the ceremony. Jensen gave special thanks to Vandenbeld and Chiarelli for “their stalwart support.”
The new $44.9 million Algonquin College Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship was made possible in large part thanks to a $21.9 million grant from the Federal Government through the Strategic Investment Fund for Post-secondary Education Institutions and $2.9 million from the Province of Ontario. Jensen said that the College has always been a champion of innovation, and today’s announcement made that clear. “We have enjoyed so many ‘firsts’ here at Algonquin, but today is arguably the most important ‘first’ of all,” she said. “It is the day when we are claiming our future and sending the strongest signal possible about our identity as a college. Is a day when we proudly say, ‘This is who we are.’ ”
The project, which will take approximately two years to complete, will feature facilities for testing and development, simulations, competitions, collaborative project development, as well as entrepreneurial support in the growing field of cyber security. The Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship will be the first of its kind on a college campus in Ontario and will be designed in consultation with indigenous communities and be based on indigenous business principles. “When indigenous learners arrive at Algonquin College, they will find a place that echoes their heritage, providing the kind of foundation they need to succeed,” said Jensen. “And these learners will take that success, and the confidence that comes with it, to their homes and communities.” “I have experienced firsthand Algonquin College’s impact in our community as an educator and bridge builder. With this investment we are ensuring Algonquin College will continue to provide a world-class education,” said Vandenbeld, who made the joint federal-provincial announcement to a capacity crowd in the College’s library, the site of the renovation. “Transforming the library into this modern, collaborative learning facility will provide access to the tools and technologies our students and community need to experiment, to create, and to innovate.”
Minister Chiarelli said the provincial government was “proud to support” the project. “We know that providing access to high-quality education and training facilities is critical to building the highly-skilled workforce we need to support good jobs and economic growth,” said Chiarelli.
— 30 —
For more information: Ruth Dunley, Communications Officer Public Relations and Communications, Algonquin College Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452 Mobile: 613-406-0970 dunleyr@algonquincollege.comAbout Algonquin College: www.algonquincollege.comThe 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.
The three-month intensive entrepreneurial boot camp SUMMIT consisted of 14 young and passionate entrepreneurs with a drive to move their businesses forward.
Managers of the boot camp, Leanna Verrucci and Patti Church, were searching for students with a “fire in their belly” who were ready to make a change, build on their ideas and further their entrepreneurial knowledge.
The SUMMIT program is an environment for entrepreneurs with a wide range of ideas – everything from Pierre Destin’s SixOne3 Media, which offers media production services, to Gillian Cochrane’s Ottawa EcoDome, the world’s largest bio dome.
Participants of the program are thankful for the mentorship, support, and skills they have gained throughout the summer program. These risk-takers haven’t only benefited from the help of fellow mentors, but also from each other. The participants explain their gratitude towards being exposed to other imaginative and creative minds – they feed off of each other.
“SUMMIT helps people to make their dreams come true,” said international student Bei Zhang (College Thriftshop).
SUMMIT has helped participants move past just an idea and onto solid, viable business with the assistance of funding, mentorship and resources.
“I feel well equipped and ready to go to take on new challenges. I love to recommend it to anyone and everyone,” said Godfrey Joekumar (BookPort) when asked about his thoughts on the SUMMIT program, “it’s a great program to go into and have your business more forward fast.”
More than 70 high school guidance counsellors from across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec got more than they bargained for when they participated in this year’s Forum, held for the first time at the Pembroke campus.
Many of the counsellors were visiting the picturesque campus for the first time, and despite a nasty north wind blowing off the Ottawa River, they ventured outside to watch some outdoor adventure students kayak in the choppy waters, just outside the campus.
That was one of several stops as part of a campus tour that also included a show-and-tell of the impressive mobile science unit used by environmental technician students while in the field, and a demonstration by bachelor of science in Nursing students in one of the high fidelity nursing labs.
The day was capped with an inspirational address by two-time Canadian Olympic athlete Melissa Bishop, who reminded the counsellors of the important role they play in helping high-school students make post-secondary choices. She advised them to let their students know that it’s OK to change directions in their life journey, adding, “life begins at the end of the comfort zone.”
Bishop has been pushing herself out of her own comfort zone for years. She graduated from high school and went directly to the University of Ottawa, before transferring to the University of Windsor where she became an elite athlete, leading her to Olympic appearances in London in 2012 and Brazil in 2016.
Her plan was to attend an American university, but when an athletic scholarship opportunity didn’t arise, she chose to attend university in Canada. Bishop now admits her first post-secondary choice didn’t work out, admitting she only applied to one university program. She says had it not been for her aspirations in track and field, she probably would have attended college, but her transfer to the University of Windsor allowed her to earn a degree with a plan to be a teacher when she retires from running.
She won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games and a silver medal at the 2015 world championships. At the Rio Games, she just missed the podium finished fourth in the 800-metre final. Bishop plans on taking one more shot at an Olympic medal and has already started training for the 2016 Olympiad.
After months of anticipation, the college has been given crucial federal and provincial funding that will allow us to transform the library into a state-of-the-art learning and entrepreneurship centre.
Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld was on the campus Wednesday to announce the federal government’s $21.9-million contribution, and Bob Chiarelli, the area’s MPP and the Minister of Infrastructure announced a $2.9-million contribution from the province.
Vandenbeld lauded the project, saying the new centre will help produce “students that will turn ideas into solutions, solutions into jobs, and start-up companies into global investments.”
In her remarks, Cheryl thanked both ministers for their support as well as MP Catherine McKenna, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, who was also on hand for the announcement.
She noted that Wednesday’s groundbreaking for the $45-million transformation, which took place in the C building courtyard, was an exciting moment, particularly because of what it represents.
“We’re excited not just about today’s announcement and groundbreaking, but also about being part of a wider wave of growth and expansion across this city, because that’s what today is really about, city-building.”
The college is one of a number of post-secondary institutions to receive funding from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Strategic Investment Fund and the Province of Ontario’s Facilities Renewal Fund this year.
Earlier this year, the Board of Governors approved in principle to fund up to $20 million from the college’s capital budget and reserve funds.
The new centre, which will be located in a portion of C building, will encompass the Algonquin College Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and the Algonquin College Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship.
Cheryl called it “a place like no other,” saying it will be a place that puts entrepreneurship at the heart of everything the college does, a place that pushes the envelope with innovation and ingenuity, and a place that recognizes the unique culture and talent of its indigenous students.
“Since I know the caliber of our learners and the excellence of our faculty,” she said, “and since this announcement guarantees we can create the best possible environment for them to unleash their talents, I will say this: ‘I can’t wait.’”
And she won’t have to. The project is now officially underway.
Information about the project will regularly be posted to myAC so that employees can be kept in the loop. In addition, for all disruption and construction-related news, go to the dedicated website algonquincollege.com/grow.
Photo: From left: Cheryl, Ottawa Centre MP and Minister of Environment and Climater Change Catherine McKenna, Algonquin Students’ Association President Egor Evseev, Ottawa West-Nepean MPP and Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli, and Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld take place in the groundbreaking in C building courtyard.
Don’t try to forecast future health-care demands and work-force needs using numbers, a British expert in health-care modelling told a gathering at Algonquin College on Thursday.
Instead, test the impact of “different futures” by getting expert advice and building scenarios.
About 100 senior leaders from the local health and wellness industry gathered at Restaurant International on Thursday morning to hear Dr. Graham Willis explain what he and his research team are doing differently. Dr. Willis is the Head of Research and Development, Workforce Analysis, Strategy and External Relations, for the Department of Health, England.
“Don’t try and forecast, try and think of a range of futures and use them to try and test your ideas,” he said. “We can use this (method)to explore the system without getting caught in the numbers.”
Dr. Willis’ framework also focuses on skills rather than job titles or functions to further improve the ability to predict future demand. He said this method also moves the analysis away from individual numbers and helps researchers think about the workforce as a whole, working together.
The gathering was the seventh event in the Future of Health and Wellness Speaker Series, hosted jointly by Algonquin College and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network.
Photo: Algonquin College Vice-President Academic Claude Brulé, Champlain LHIN Chief Executive Officer Chantale LeClerc, Dr. Graham Willis, Cheryl, and Barbara Foulds, Chair, Healthy Living Education Steering Committee, left to right.
Sir Terence Matthews to Co-Chair New Advisory Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
with Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen
Oct. 6, 2016 (Ottawa) — Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen is pleased to announce a new President’s Advisory Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to help guide the College in the coming years.
Canadian business magnate and high-tech entrepreneur Sir Terence Matthews will be co-chairing the panel with President Jensen, who was recently named to the board of directors of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship — making her the only Canadian representative on the board of the American organization.
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Terry and our other panel members to Algonquin College — each one of them brings a different perspective and different skills to the table,” said Jensen. “Our students already have an entrepreneurial spirit, but this panel is going to give them the edge when it comes to turning their dreams into reality.”
The panel had its first meeting on Oct. 5 and enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion on topics such as 5G networks and building smarter cities.
Other members of the panel who participated in Tuesday’s meeting included:
Eli Fathi, Chief Executive Officer, Mind Bridge Analytics
Ian Faris, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Michael Oster, President, Ottawa Community Loan Fund
Paul LaBarge, Founding Partner, LaBarge Weinstein
Peter Charbonneau, Lead Director Mitel
Brian O’Higgins, Executive Fellow, Mistral Venture Partners
Robert Hanlon, Chief Operating Officer, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The panel will advise on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at the College, overall strategic direction, fundraising strategies, potential partnerships and will also provide input on entrepreneurship programming and supports.
Under President Jensen, Algonquin College has increased its focus on entrepreneurship. In February it opened Ignite AC, an entrepreneurship centre for students that offers mentorship, guidance and resources.
More recently the College submitted a multimillion-dollar proposal to the federal government to help fund its state-of-the-art Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship. An announcement regarding this proposal is expected very soon.
For more information:
Ruth Dunley, Communications Officer
Public Relations and Communications, Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452
Mobile: 613-406-0970
dunleyr@algonquincollege.com About Algonquin College:
www.algonquincollege.com:
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.
Second-year students from the Community and Justice Services program participated in “24 Hours of Homelessness” to raise money for Operation Come Home and to raise awareness of the issues facing people on the street. The 12th annual event was organized by Police & Public Safety Institute professor Cat Baron, who spent her 10th year staying out with the students in Minto Park off Elgin Street. The group raised funds through a Go Fund Me page. Student Alex Cloutier prepared this first-person report.
24 Hours of Homelessness By Alex Cloutier
Walking up to Minto Park at quarter to two on Friday afternoon, I was filled with a sense of excitement, but also a sense of apprehension. It was a busy area, cars and buses constantly streaming past on the street, pedestrians walking their dogs, stopping in to grab a coffee at Starbucks.
I knew that the crowded streets would be optimal for collecting as much money as possible, but I was also nervous about how all of these people walking past would react to us, a bunch of eager college students with handmade signs, interrupting their conversations and streams of thought to ask, “Would you like to donate in support of homeless youth?”
We were all set to spend the next 24 hours living outside, panhandling to raise money and awareness for Operation Come Home, an employment, education and support centre that offers outreach to homeless and at-risk youth.
The afternoon started out with high energy and enthusiasm, small groups of us stationed at various points along the street, eagerly holding out our collection cups and stopping every person that walked by. People were polite and would respond with a “sorry, not today” or “I don’t have any change.”
Those who did donate would ask us about our cause, emptying their pockets or digging through their bags. More often than not though, pedestrians would just pass by us in silence, looking at their phone or staring straight ahead.
As the hours began to wear on, this enthusiasm and energy began to wane. I started to become tired, my voice hoarse from speaking to so many people. I began to feel the wind through my sweater and suddenly the noise of the city seemed so loud.
Nineteen more hours to go. As my mood began to change, I found myself starting to take things personally.
Every person that walked past avoiding eye contact and ignoring my attempt to speak to them made me feel as if I wasn’t worth a glance or the time of day.
After several hours, the message became clear: I meant nothing.
I began to feel myself wishing that I was back at home, snuggled under a blanket on the couch with my dog and doing homework.
And that was an option for me.
I had a home to go back to, filled with warmth and safety. This is not a reality for the hundreds of homeless youth that we were trying to support.
As the night went on, I found it more and more challenging to remain positive, especially as pedestrians became argumentative and aggressive towards me or my classmates.
What got me through the night was knowing that we were in it together and that we were only experiencing a small taste of what it meant to be homeless.
Soon morning came, and while we were all tired and hungry, we felt renewed.
We were humbled by our experience and by the generosity that we were shown. Many people emptied their wallets, some went to the bank and came back with 50s in their hands.
Countless numbers of people took the time to stop and speak to us, to give us their support and encouragement.
Despite those who gave negative comments, lashed out at us, yelled at us or ignored us, it was the overwhelming positivity and generosity of those who donated and spoke to us that will stick with me.
I am so grateful for having this experience and for being able to give back to a community that desperately needs our help and support.
Photo: Claude Brulé, Vice President Academic, top left, and Cheryl, top right, visited the students during their 24-hour stay in Minto Park.
OTTAWA — Following Algonquin College’s announcement last month that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Algonquin College – Saudi Arabia LLC, was investigating the return of its Jazan campus, on September 6, 2016, Colleges of Excellence requested Algonquin work to transfer oversight to the UK-based private-sector provider, Interserve Education and Employment. Since being notified, Algonquin College – Saudi Arabia LLC has worked diligently to ensure a smooth transition of operations to the new provider. The College will maintain a small presence in Jazan through the end of October to complete the transition process.
Algonquin College – Saudi Arabia has committed to costs of $3.2 million, comprised of employee and supplier settlements ($2.95M) and legal fees ($250K) against an estimated cost of $4.3 million. As previously reported, no taxpayer funds are being used to cover these amounts.
Colleges of Excellence is the Saudi authority responsible for establishing relationships with more than a dozen post-secondary institutions from around the world. These international schools support the Kingdom in its bid to expand applied training, particularly in the trades, in order to satisfy the growing need for skilled workers in the desert country.
The Jazan campus, which opened in 2013, is part of the College’s broader international portfolio that is an overall net contributor to Algonquin College’s revenues.
Ottawa — Algonquin College marked one of its most important announcements today with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship — a state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2018. President Cheryl Jensen was joined by Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli for the ceremony. Jensen gave special thanks to Vandenbeld and Chiarelli for “their stalwart support.”