Waterfront Campus Blog

Algonquin College Pembroke Campus Looks Back at 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus is looking back on another year of great accomplishments by its students, alumni and employees. Our year in review starts in January when the campus expanded its health care program offerings by adding new sections of the Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker programs to help address labour shortages in our local health care sector.

In February, the process of naming the campus drum began with a special ceremony led by Elder Barry Sarazin who later revealed that the Grandfather drum was to be named Mishomis Ashage Dwegan. The drum naming came six years after it was built by students under the direction of Elder Skip Ross and knowledge holder Pinock Smith.

Indigenous drummers at Algonquin College's Pembroke campus.

Elder Barry Sarazin leads drumming at a special drum naming ceremony at Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus.

Former Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould visited the Pembroke campus in March as part of the campus speaker series. She spoke about how Canadians can become “inbetweeners” to help strengthen the relationships between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous peoples. After leaving politics, Wilson-Raybould has been an outspoken advocate for Indigenous peoples and has now written several books.

Tree climbing is physically demanding, but students in the Urban Forestry-Arboriculture program were highlighting their climbing skills at their year-end climbing competition in April. The event always attracts a lot of arborist employers who are eager to hire these very talented students.

The Options Skilled Trades Fair continued to promote apprenticeship training as a career option for young people when it was held in May at the Pembroke Memorial Centre. Hundreds of high school students from across Renfrew and Pontiac Counties participated in the event which again included several skills competitions among senior high school students in fields such as welding, carpentry, culinary arts, small engine repair and tire changing.

Jason Blaine holds a key to the city of Pembroke on a stage at his charity concert in Pembroke.

Pembroke campus alumnus Jason Blaine holds a key to the city of Pembroke after his charity topped $1-million raised at his annual concert and golf tournament.

June was a month of celebration. Alumnus Jason Blaine cracked the $1-million milestone in fundraising as his charity golf tournament and concert marked its tenth anniversary. Blaine was also awarded the key to the city of Pembroke, recognition for his talent and his philanthropic support for his hometown. Also in June, hundreds of graduates crossed the stage at our convocation ceremony and our campus Dean, Sarah Hall, was honored with a special coin presented by Garrison Petawawa commander, Colonel Jason Guiney for her tireless work strengthening the college’s relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces.

July brought good news to the campus as it was approved by the province to deliver the Arborist apprenticeship training program. Adding this apprenticeship program is complimentary to the full time Urban Forestry-Arboriculture certificate program that the campus has delivered for several years. The campus also offers carpentry and electrical apprenticeship training programs.

In August, the Pembroke campus sought public input on its master campus development plan. As it looks towards the future, the college is considering where investments will need to be made in its facilities.

Former Olympian figure skater and mental health advocate Elizabeth Manley returned to campus in September to be part of a tree planning activity with Forestry students. The activity was held on International Suicide Prevention Day, giving students and campus employees an opportunity to remember friends and family who have died by suicide. It also opened up a door for Manley to speak about the importance of mental health and wellness, as she shared her own personal journey battling depression during her skating career.

In September, the Outdoor Adventure program marked its 25th anniversary with a special homecoming weekend at Wilderness Tours. Alumni from the program returned to the Ottawa Valley from across the country to re-connect with former classmates and faculty while enjoying a weekend of whitewater rafting and other adventure activities.

Retired General Rick Hillier headlined our Fall Business Leadership conference in October. General Hillier helped the conference attract a large crowd as he shared his experiences leading Canadian troops and offered sound advice on leadership. Television and podcast personality Amber MacArthur returned to the conference to speak about artificial intelligence and its impact on the workforce.

Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson and Pembroke Campus Elder Marie Wilson pose for a picture.

Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson and Pembroke Campus Elder Marie Wilson.

Marie Wilson was one of three commissioners to lead Canada’s National Truth and Reconciliation commission. She came to the Pembroke campus in November to speak about her new book, North of Nowhere, which chronicles her experience working with His Honour, Murray Sinclair and Wilton Littlechild for more than six-and-a-half years as they listened and recorded testimony from survivors of Canada’s residential school system.

More than 20 campus employees visited the Chalk River labs of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in December. CNL is a major employer of Algonquin College graduates and co-op students and the tour of the site helped faculty and staff consider future partnerships.

There was so much more that happened this year, but these few highlights show what a vibrant learning community exists at Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus. The college will close for the holiday season on December 24th and will re-open on January 2nd. The Winter term begins on Monday, January 6th.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean of Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus)

 

 

Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus Is Named a DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant Recipient

Building partnerships to support student learning experiences continues to be a priority of Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront campus. The campus has been chosen as a DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant recipient for its commitment to providing a skills labour force by training skilled trades students.

With an estimated 500,000 open construction jobs unfilled in North America, DEWALT’s Grow the Trades Grants aim to help close the skilled labour gap by supporting nonprofit organizations that are skilling, reskilling and upskilling tradespeople. Each year, the program awards funding and tool donations as part of a larger $30 million commitment over five years to close the skilled trades gap.

The Pembroke Campus was selected as one of 166 North American organizations providing greater accessibility and resources for trades training. The grant will benefit students in the Carpentry and Renovations Techniques program and the college’s Carpenter apprenticeship program.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized as a DEWALT Grow the Trades Grant recipient. This funding will further strengthen our ability to provide high-quality education and training to our skilled trades students, helping to meet the critical labour needs of our local construction industry,” said Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus.

“This support from DEWALT means our Skilled Trades programs will be able to upgrade our tool inventory, giving students hands-on experience with the same tools they’ll be using on the job site. Think of it as ensuring our learners get their ‘tool belts’ fully stocked and their skills sharpened for the future,” shares Adam Johns, Coordinator of the Carpentry and Renovation Techniques and General Carpentry Apprenticeship programs.

“DEWALT is immensely proud to support Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus as they work to skill and reskill the tradespeople of tomorrow moving us closer to our shared goal of closing the trade skills gap,” said Allan Hawes, General Manager of Stanley Black & Decker Canada. “Funding educational programs and non-profits like the Pembroke Campus connects more people to training, resources and opportunities that will lead to successful careers in the trades.”

To learn more about the DEWALT Grow the Trades Grant, recipients and updates for the upcoming application period, please visit DEWALT Grow the Trades.

Photo of Jordan Kell, PRO Contractor Specialist, StanleyBlack&Decker; Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean; Adam Johns, Program Coordinator; Bobbie Gormley, Business, Technology and Outdoor Training Department Chair

From left to right: Jordan Kell, PRO Contractor Specialist, Stanley Black & Decker; Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean; Adam Johns, Program Coordinator; Bobbie Gormley, Business, Technology and Outdoor Training Department Chair

About Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus

The Pembroke Campus currently offers 20 full-time programs, serving approximately 1,000 students. The campus also delivers apprenticeship and corporate training programming as well as several employment preparation and training programs for both the Ontario and Canadian governments. For more information, visit www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke or follow the Campus on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About DEWALT

DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, celebrates 100 years in business by continuing to provide our customers with total jobsite and landscaping solutions. By applying its latest technology to the challenges of today’s skilled trades, DEWALT is leading the charge for the jobsite of the future and pioneering the next generation of tools, outdoor equipment and forward-looking technologies. DEWALT products. GUARANTEED TOUGH®. For more information, visit www.dewalt.ca or follow DEWALT on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About Stanley Black & Decker

Founded in 1843 and headquartered in the USA, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is a worldwide leader in Tools and Outdoor, operating manufacturing facilities globally. The Company’s approximately 50,000 diverse and high-performing employees produce innovative end-user inspired power tools, hand tools, storage, digital jobsite solutions, outdoor and lifestyle products, and engineered fasteners to support the world’s builders, tradespeople and DIYers. The Company’s world class portfolio of trusted brands includes DEWALT®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, BLACK+DECKER®, and Cub Cadet®. To learn more visit: www.stanleyblackanddecker.com or follow Stanley Black & Decker on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

New Algonquin College Forestry Graduate Already Leaving Her Mark on Industry

The Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre near Lake Doré has become a special place for people of all ages, including students who study in the Forestry Technician program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus. The old growth forest that is part of the property is majestic, almost eerie, and sparks the imagination of visitors as they walk the paths that surround trees that are hundreds of years old.

During her time studying in the Forestry program, it was a special place for Sionaid Eggett, who had left a career in early childhood education to pursue her passion for the outdoors. It happened by accident. Eggett had worked in the field for more than a decade, primarily supporting children with special needs, but she was becoming restless and was planning to teach internationally. Then, the COVID—19 worldwide pandemic derailed her plans.

“I had done some backpacking trips in Algonquin Park and thought that if I had the opportunity I would become a park ranger as my favourite places to visit during my travels were the natural sites. The people who worked in the parks seemed to have the best time and it aligned with many of my personal interests and pursuits,” says Eggett.

One of the people she met in the Park was a woman who had graduated from the Forestry program at the Pembroke campus. She spoke glowingly about her experience and that was all Eggett needed to start doing some research about the program. She liked that the program could be completed in one calendar year and was inspired when she read about a female graduate who was doing well in her career as a forestry technician. “I was greatly attracted to the amount of hands on in the field learning Algonquin had to offer,” says Eggett.

Forestry alumna Sionaid Eggett poses for a picture with award.

Forestry alumna Sionaid Eggett receives the James M Kitz award for her dedication to her profession as a recent forestry graduate.

She enrolled in the program while the pandemic was at its peak in the Fall of 2021. It was challenging with her theory courses taught by faculty online, but the college managed to allow students to take field trips so they could hone their practical skills in the rich forests of the Ottawa Valley. At a time when it was difficult to make human connections, the field trips filled a void, allowing her to be with her classmates and teachers in the tranquil spaces of some of the most diverse forests in Canada.

By the late summer of 2022, Eggett had graduated from the Forestry program and quickly found employment with the Ontario Woodlot Association, hired as a field operations coordinator. She quickly left an impression with her employer and took on a leadership role, promoting careers in forestry while also helping to build on the tradition of the industry.

One of those traditions is a year end ring ceremony, where students who complete the program receive a special ring from the Canadian Institute of Forestry. It’s a tradition that started in 1953, but up until 2002 it was only forestry graduates from universities who could receive the rings. When college graduates were brought into the fold, it became a source of pride for all colleges who offered forestry programs.

At its core, the ring symbolizes the commitment forestry graduates are making to their field of study, acknowledging their responsibility to act professionally in their day to day work. Eggett believes strongly in the power of the ring and has fully embraced her new career, earning her recognition as one of Canada’s leading new forestry professionals.

Forestry alumna Sionaid Eggett receives award.

Forestry Technician alumna Sionaid Eggett is off to an excellent start in her career, having been recognized by her peers for her work.

She quickly took on a leadership role within the Canadian Institute of Forestry, chairing the Algonquin chapter of the CIF and has become a champion for the ring, sharing the importance of the values that is represents for all who are part of the fores try fraternity. That commitment has caught the attention of the industry and earned Eggett the prestigious James M Kitz award that recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals who are just getting their forestry careers started. Eggett received the award at a special ceremony in Newfoundland, having been nominated by one of our professors in the program, John Pineau, who is now her colleague at the Ontario Woodlot Association, having hired Eggett shortly after she graduated from the program.

Eggett’s forestry career is off to a great start and as an alumnua she remains attached to the college. “I continue to work with the Algonquin Forestry students each year to help to give back to the institution that has greatly influenced and changed my life. I have never been so happy in a career or workplace and feel extremely supported by the whole forestry community. My line is “if we as people are doing well then the forest is doing well” which really resonates with me,” says Eggett.

When the graduating class of 2024 at Algonquin received their silver rings, it was Eggett who presented them, but at the ceremony she learned something was amiss and wanted to address what she thought was an unfortunate situation. The program coordinator, Peter Arbour, who was presiding over the ceremony had mentioned he didn’t have a silver ring. Arbour was Eggett’s primary teacher while she was in the program and she wanted to pay it forward, acknowledging the impact Arbour has had on her life and new career.

Group picture at Algonquin College special silver ring ceremony.

Algonquin College Forestry Technician coordinator Peter Arbour receives his silver ring from alumna Sionaid Eggett and Brittany McKenzie and CIF lead John Pineau.

She worked with others including John Pineau, her employer at the Ontario Woodlot Association and a long time champion of the CIF and arranged for a special impromptu ring ceremony for Arbour at a meet and greet for industry partners to meet the new Forestry students. The setting was perfect. Arbour received his ring at the Shaw Woods Education Centre, in front of his current students. It was a full circle moment for Eggett, back in a place where her love of forestry was confirmed and while speaking about the significance of the silver ring she shared an important message with the new students who had gathered.

“Never have I worked in an environment that is so uplifting, where everyone cares about your journey,” said Eggett. It was an inspiring message from the heart that only someone who loved their job could share. It’s that enthusiasm that has made Eggett a leader in the field and while she is early in her career, Eggett has already proved she has a bright future ahead in one of our country’s most historic industries.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean of the Pembroke Waterfront campus)

 

 

Outdoor Adventure Program Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary on the Ottawa River

It had to involve whitewater rafting. 25 years after the Pembroke Campus launched its highly successful Outdoor Adventure diploma program, alumni from across Canada returned to the rapids of the Ottawa River to mark the significant milestone. More than 75 alumni participated in the two-day celebration, which included a Friday night reception at the Waterfront campus, some rock climbing in the campus gymnasium, and then an afternoon of rafting the following day at Wilderness Tours.

Program coordinator Jeff Jackson spoke passionately about how the program has changed the adventure tourism industry, producing graduates who now work around the globe. Jackson, who is highly respected as one of the world’s leading adventure tourism risk management experts, has a special rapport with the students he teaches. That resonated throughout the weekend as alumni re-engaged with him, some of whom he had not seen in decades.

Faculty and staff of Algonquin College's Outdoor Adventure program pose for a picture.

Faculty and staff of Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure program pose for a picture at the program’s 25th anniversary celebration. (L to R: Chris Melmoth, Cam Dube, Jeff Jackson, Kate Monahan, Bobbie Gormley and Jamie Bramburger.)

The celebration was a time to reflect on the program’s origins as former Algonquin College President Kent MacDonald provided a video message that shared the program’s genesis. MacDonald is now the President of Northwood University in Michigan, but in 1999, when the program launch was announced, MacDonald was the Chair of the Business, Technology and Outdoor Training department at the Pembroke Campus.

“There is no doubt in my mind that it is the preeminent outdoor adventure program,” said MacDonald, who highlighted the unique partnership the college struck with Wilderness Tours to bring the program to fruition. “This type of partnership was new for a college to work with a private industry partner. I can’t imagine the multi-billion dollar tourism industry in Ontario and Canada if it didn’t have the Algonquin College Outdoor Adventure program to produce these graduates with the latest education and training and being prepared to lead this industry,” added MacDonald.

Representing alumni, Abigail Dunford, who graduated from the program in 2017, spoke about how the program has allowed so many students to do what they want to do. Dunford came to the program from the Toronto area. Like so many others, she relocated to Pembroke because of her passion for the outdoors and the opportunity to enroll in a program that would allow her to turn that passion into a career.

Wilderness Tours Founder Joe Kowalski spoke to the alumni, sharing his own story of starting his company in 1975 after he fell in love with the thrills of whitewater. Kowalski talked about how his business has changed, highlighted by his company’s relocation to a new site along the shores of the Ottawa River four years ago, a place many alumni were visiting for the first time. “I’m impressed that so many of you have come back to celebrate this special occasion,” said Kowalski, who will mark the 50th anniversary of his Wilderness Tours enterprise next year.

Outdoor Adventure alumni listen to speeches.

Outdoor Adventure alumni gather at Wilderness Tours to celebrate the program’s 25th anniversary.

The Wilderness Tours partnership with the college was paramount to the program getting off the ground. The company was well established in adventure tourism and had the expertise to deliver the hundreds of hours of practical training experiences that have been the cornerstone of the program since the first intake in the Fall of 2000. Wilderness Tours also had the required resources for the training, including rafts, kayaks and mountain bikes.

Not much has changed in terms of how the program is delivered. Students still spend two days each week at the Wilderness Tours resort or Mount Pakenham ski hill, where they hone their skills, earning several industry-recognized certifications. When on campus, students learn about risk management, accounting, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship, and communications. This recipe of courses has helped many alumni start their own adventure tourism businesses or position them for leadership roles within the sector.

Algonquin College alumna Abigail Dunford speaks to a group of Outdoor Adventure graduates.

Algonquin College alumna Abigail Dunford , who graduated from the Outdoor Adventure program in 2017, speaks to a group of Outdoor Adventure alumni at the program’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Interim Dean Jamie Bramburger spoke about the impact the Outdoor Adventure program has had on the Pembroke campus. “When the program was launched, it showed us that if we created unique programs, we could attract students from outside of our area. I believe this program played a significant role in our ability to build the new Waterfront Campus because it demonstrated we could be a destination campus for students,” said Bramburger.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Outdoor Adventure program, the Pembroke campus announced the establishment of an endowment to support Outdoor Adventure students in financial need. The goal is to raise a minimum of $15,000, but it is hoped that the endowment will continue to grow to support more students by providing bursaries. Outdoor Adventure has one of the highest tuition of all programs offered by Algonquin College. Donations can be made at this link: Outdoor Adventure Bursary | Advancement and Strategy (algonquincollege.com)

Twenty-five years ago, the Pembroke Campus created one of the most exhilarating college programs in the world. By doing so, Canada’s multi-billion dollar tourism sector provided a skilled labour force focused on risk management and leadership skills. Since then, hundreds of graduates have taken their skills across the country and worldwide, starting up new adventure tourism businesses and strengthening the workforce in existing businesses. The program has left its mark and will continue to feed an evolving industry that remains vital to the nation’s economic prosperity.

New School Year Starts at Pembroke Waterfront Campus

There really is nothing like Day One at a college campus. It is filled with energy as new students arrive and returning students rekindle relationships with classmates they haven’t seen in several months. In a word, it is “fantastic.”

Indigenous drumming

Elder Barry Sarazin leads Indigenous drummers as they sing a morning song on Day One of classes at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront campus.

Day One at the Pembroke campus started with Indigenous drumming. Elder Barry Sarazin led drummers in singing a morning song under a crystal blue sky along the shores of the Kitchissippi or Ottawa River. Using the campus Grandfather drum, Elder Sarazin reflected on his own experience when he studied at Algonquin College’s Ottawa campus in the 1980s, sharing the excitement that he felt in being a post-secondary student for the first time.

As classes got underway, students had plenty of time to socialize and meet new people. Over the lunch hour, the Students’ Association had mentalist and illusionist Wayne Hoffman entertain students with his trickery, leaving students with plenty of questions on “how did he do that?” On Day One and throughout the first month of classes, there are always plenty of social activities and events for students to participate in. It helps them get comfortable with their new surroundings and plays an important role in student success.

For some students, Day One meant engaging in practical learning activities that are a key component of their programs. For example, the Urban Forestry and Arboriculture program students got their first taste of climbing trees. It was an opportunity to put on harnesses and learn about tree climbing safety, as the students will spend many hours honing their climbing skills during their program.

At the Wilderness Tours Resort, Day One for Outdoor Adventure students meant lots of time on the Ottawa River. Students will spend their first-week navigating whitewater rapids, a key program component. Students are trained to become whitewater guides, learning how to maneuver a raft safely through the turbulent waters of the Ottawa River, one of the top destinations for whitewater rafting and kayaking in Canada.

Arborist students get ready to climb trees.

Urban Forestry-Arboriculture students get ready to climb trees at Riverside Park in Pembroke on day one of their program.

The Pembroke Campus has always been a destination for students because of its unique mix of programs. More than 50 percent of the more than 800 students who started classes on Day One had to relocate to the community. This group includes students from across Canada and more than 160 international students who have arrived from all around the world. The list of countries that are represented by these students includes India, China, Ghana, Philippines, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Brazil, Nepal, Mongolia, Kenya, Chile, Pakistan, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Egypt, United Kingdom and Uganda.

Day One was great. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in our students’ lives, an opportunity to position themselves for career success. Getting off on the right foot is important. The journey is just beginning.

 

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean of the Pembroke Waterfront Campus

 

Forestry Technician Students Celebrate at Silver Ring Ceremony

Forestry is weaved into the tapestry of the Ottawa Valley. For hundreds of years, the abundant forests that attracted Samuel de Champlain have provided a livelihood in an industry one of the largest drivers of Renfrew County’s economy.

Not surprisingly, the Forestry Technician program is the longest-standing full-time program offered at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus. It started in 1968, only a year after Premier John Robarts and his education minister Bill Davis created Ontario’s publicly funded college system. Since those early days, the Pembroke Campus has been among a small group of post-secondary schools in Ontario that have produced thousands of Forestry graduates.

Picture of students wearing silver rings on their pinky fingers.

Students in the Forestry Technician program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus show their silver rings from the Canadian Institute of Forestry.

Recently, the class of 2024 completed its program of study and celebrated the occasion by receiving their silver rings from the Canadian Institute of Forestry. It’s a big deal for the students. This time-honoured tradition started in 1953 when a group of forestry and forestry engineering graduates staged their own ring ceremony at the University of British Columbia. By 1961, three other Canadian universities with forestry schools also handed out rings.

It wasn’t until 1967 that the CIF took on the ring ceremony as a project to mark Canada’s Centennial celebrations. For many years, the rings were only available to university graduates, but in 2002, technical colleges that offered forestry programs were added. The ring is now well-engrained as a symbol of success for students at Algonquin College who complete their forestry program.

Over the years, the curriculum has changed to reflect the new and future challenges that face the forestry sector. The recent wildfires in Alberta that forced the evacuation of thousands of people, leaving a trail of destruction and millions of dollars in damage to the tourist-friendly community of Jasper, is an example of the devastating consequences of a forest fire. Sadly, these fires are happening more often.

Climate change and environmental concerns, including the protection of wildlife and the demand for wood products to support housing needs across the country, emphasize the necessity of managing our forests well. Canada remains rich in natural resources, and trees are among the most renewable of those resources. Still, managing forests has become more complex with urban sprawl, a warming earth and labour shortages that have put tremendous strain on the industry.

A crowd of people gather for the Algonquin College Forestry Technician silver ring ceremony.

Families joined students as silver rings were presented as part of a program completion ceremony for Algonquin College’s Forestry Technician program.

During their silver ring ceremony, the students were reminded of the opportunity that had been presented to them to make a difference in their careers. As awards were presented to students who had achieved strong academic results in their program or had played a significant role in contributing to the overall success of their classmates, a long list of industry supporters was mentioned for having donated funds so the students could receive their rings at no cost. The message was clear: The forestry industry sticks together and welcomes new graduates to ensure the sector remains strong.

Forestry student receives award.

Student Jared Wiles receives the Canadian Institute of Forestry Gold Medal from past Forestry graduate and CIF member Sionaid Eggett and Forestry program coordinator Peter Arbour.

The ring comes with a commitment to live by a code of ethics for forestry professionals. Among the principles of that code are to always act in the best interest of the public good, to be true to their profession by being good stewards of the forest, to work in the best interests of their employer or client while performing their duties and to collaborate with other forestry workers in a respectful and supportive manner.

A new group of Forestry Technician students is about to start their program in September. It’s a full class of 50 students. Over the next 12 months, they will spend a lot of time in local forests, including time at the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre, Algonquin Park, Petawawa Research Forest and local woodlots. Between field trips, they will dig into theory classes in their forestry lab on campus. During that time together, they will become friends, a close-knit group of students who can look forward to their silver ring ceremony and the opportunity to join a special fraternity in one of Canada’s oldest industries.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger is the Interim Dean of Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

Alumnus Jason Blaine Receives Key to the city of Pembroke

Jason Blaine could never have imagined how much success his charity would have when he established it a decade ago to support causes that were important to him in his hometown. On the same day that his annual charity golf tournament and concert raised $200,000, allowing it to top the $1 million mark since it began, Blaine also received a key to the city of Pembroke.

The key to the city is rarely awarded and the last person to receive it in Pembroke was New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe after he led the Pembroke Lumber Kings to a national junior A championship in 2011. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus was awarded a key to the city in 2017 when the college celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Jason Blaine raises his arms as he holds key to the city of Pembroke.

Alumnus Jason Blaine celebrates after receiving key to the city of Pembroke from Mayor Ron Gervais.

Blaine graduated from the Business program at the Pembroke Campus and has gone on to record several hit songs as a country music recording artist. He and his wife, Amy, live in Nashville and are raising four children, but every year they return to Pembroke for what has become a signature community event that draws many Canadian celebrities and has raised thousands of dollars for organizations like the Pembroke Boys and Girls Club, the Pembroke Regional Hospital and Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus.

The campus has received $200,000 from Blaine’s charity, including $100,000 that was placed in an endowment to support bursaries for students in financial need. Blaine plans to continue to give back for many years to come, always finding time to come back home to the Ottawa Valley where he turned his love for music into a career that has placed him on stages around the world as one of Canada’s top musicians.

Among his many hits are “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore,” and “The Road That Raised You Up.” Each year, Blaine attracts many celebrities to his event. Among the group this year was former Ottawa Senator Chris Neil and musicians Dallas Smith and Aaron Pritchett, two Canadian artists who have become good friends with Blaine as his music career has evolved.

The event sells out every year and in the weeks in between Blaine will hand out thousands of dollars in cheques to causes that support youth, people struggling with their mental health and community building.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean of Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus)

Running a Marathon Into A New Career

The sweat dripped off the face of Nevill Carney as he crossed the finish line. It was a cooler and overcast Sunday afternoon in late May as he raised his arms in celebration of completing his first marathon. The pure exhilaration of running the 42.2 kilometre race was so satisfying that he forgot about the cramping pain he had experienced 30 kilometres into the Ottawa International Marathon.

He had finished the race in 5 hours, 18 minutes and one second. The time didn’t matter as much as the personal satisfaction of completing the marathon. The months of training through the winter months had been worth it. His body had responded well and the tips he had received from other runners were helpful.

For Carney, running the grueling race was the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. He had reached a pinnacle in his life, with everything coming together at once. Living in a new community, completing a college program, starting a new job and now holding on to a medal as proof that he had completed his first marathon.

Man crosses finish line at Ottawa International Marathon.

Nevill Carney completes the Ottawa International Marathon in 5 hours, 18 minutes and 1 second.

The journey to running in the marathon had started seven years earlier when Carney completed a half marathon in the Ottawa Army Run, but since then he had put running on the backburner. His focus was on choosing a second career and it brought him to Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus as a mature student.

When he was younger, Carney had completed an Advanced Diploma in the Film and Television Production program at Humber College in Toronto. That led to a job with the Discovery Channel where he travelled the world, helping to produce segments for shows like “Mighty Ships,” but when the winds of change blew through the sails of many media companies, he lost his job. That prompted Carney to move back to his hometown of Ottawa where he found employment in the trades working in home renovations. Eventually, he took a series of contracts with the federal government working in administrative roles with both Health Canada and Procurement Canada.

It was while working within the federal bureaucracy that he met his girlfriend who was from Eganville and in January 2023 Carney made the decision to move to the Ottawa Valley as the couple’s relationship became more serious. The move made finding employment in his new community a top priority, so he quickly inserted himself by becoming a volunteer with a local food bank as he started kicking the tires for job opportunities. At the same time, Carney started thinking about going back to school to better position himself for long term employment success in his new home.

He attended a career fair at Algonquin College’s Community Employment Services office in Eganville. There he met a college student recruiter and learned about the College’s new Business Fundamentals program, an eight month certificate program designed to help people move quickly back into the workforce with a fresh set of skills that were easily transferrable to many businesses. When he found out the program was offered in a multi-modal delivery format, it piqued his interest and he reached out to the Business program coordinator, Kim Drake, to learn more. He scheduled a virtual meeting with Drake and liked what he heard.

“The flexibility of being able to study in a multi-modal environment, that was huge,” says Carney about his decision to enroll in the program. “Kim did a great job explaining how multi-modal worked and left me feeling like she was my friend, not a faculty member.”

Man wearing medal he earned after running his first marathon.

Nevill Carney proudly wears the medal he earned after completing the 2024 Ottawa International Marathon.

That personal touch that Carney experienced is one of the trademarks of the Pembroke Campus. During the admissions cycle, program coordinators connect with incoming students to share more information about the program and to give the students the opportunity to ask questions. The process is called First Contact and it helps put students at ease, assisting them with building a relationship with one of their key faculty members before they start school.

As Carney had his questions answered he liked what he was hearing about the multi-modal delivery option. Multi-modal programs permit students to attend classes in person or join virtually. They can choose on a daily basis how they want to access their classes, but all students have the same timetable.

As a mature student, Carney was still weighing the pros and cons of returning to school, so he stayed connected with Drake and asked more questions. They got to know each other and Carney shared some of his personal interests, including an idea that had been percolating about running a marathon. Drake shared that the campus librarian, Patti Kim, had twice ran in the prestigious Boston Marathon and suggested he might want to talk to her about how she prepared for races. Carney acted quickly and was pleasantly surprised when Kim quickly responded to his email.

“Patti gave me some foundational pointers on nutrition, hydration and building a training plan. It was really helpful.” For Carney, the connection he was building with faculty and staff at the Pembroke Campus was increasingly convincing him he needed to follow through with his post-secondary plans. “When Patti responded quickly and was willing to meet with me, even before I started school, I could see myself studying here.”

At 36 years of age, Carney was taking the big step of enrolling again in college. He visited the campus and took a tour, introduced himself to the librarian and exchanged more running stories with her, met face to face with some of the other staff who he had been talking to as he made his decision to enroll in Business Fundamentals and then when September of 2023 arrived, he stepped into a classroom for the first time in many years.

He wanted to get to know his new classmates as quickly as possible so he chose to attend most classes in person during the Fall term, but when winter weather arrived, he increasingly joined classes from home. “Kim did a great job making everyone feel that they were part of the class environment,” regardless of how they were accessing the class. It was an eye opener into how much technology has taken a leading role in education,” says Carney.

Picture of man running in Ottawa International marathon.

Nevill Carney runs his first marathon in May of 2024.

Success came quickly for Carney. As he was nearing the completion of his program, he attended a job fair that was held on campus and had a good conversation with some of the city of Pembroke staff who were recruiting new employees. When Carney shared some of his background, he was encouraged to apply for a job with the city.

He had done well in his courses and had confidence as he interviewed for a temporary position within the city’s tourism department. When he got the summer job he quickly made an impression with city staff. That led to applying for a permanent position within the city’s planning department and just as he was finishing up his first marathon he received good news that he had won that competition too. Within a month of completing college, he had secured full time employment and had ran his first full marathon.

“When I was first humming and hawing about whether to go back to school, Kim Drake grounded me and showed me how the program would lead me to a career. The faculty care and want you to succeed,” says Carney who is looking forward to attending his convocation ceremony, the icing on the cake in a year long journey that has him running into a bright future.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College Pembroke Campus)

 

Algonquin College Pembroke Campus International Alumnus Pursues Nursing Career

Aneeta Jacob was only 17 years old when she travelled abroad to enroll in the Social Service Worker program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus. She had grown up in the southern section of India, a tropical region where the temperatures routinely hit 30 degrees Celcius, but she had become captivated by the pictures she had seen of the snowy conditions of Canada. She knew in her heart, some day she would live in this country that seemed so far away.

“I thought the snow would feel like cotton, but coming to Canada, I never knew the snow would be so cold,” says Jacob who has now settled into her adopted country as a permanent resident and is pursuing her dream to work in health care.

Student studying in campus library.

Aneeta Jacob was only 17 years old when she left India to study in the Social Service Worker program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus.

In India, she had written an entrance test to study medicine, but the draw to Canada and her young age prompted her to change her plans. She had no idea where Pembroke was, but she was excited when she received an offer of admission from the International Education Centre at Algonquin College.

With only one family member living in Canada, an aunt based in Calgary, Jacob was setting out on her own, eyes wide open with the hopes of starting a new life that would include the fluffy white stuff that had first drawn her to considering studying abroad. She came to the Pembroke Campus at a time when there were only a handful of international students, enrolling in the fall of 2018. Her friendly disposition allowed her to connect easily with classmates and staff, helping her make the transition to her new home.

“I am so happy I got into Algonquin College. The staff and faculty made me feel at home. I now see how much they cared,” says Jacob who now lives in Alberta and is studying to become a registered nurse at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

It was the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficult isolation that came with it that prompted Jacob to re-locate to the West. She was only a few weeks away from completing her Social Service Worker program when the pandemic kept her in a tiny apartment in Pembroke, not able to make the connections with people who had helped her navigate her time in school and in the broader community.

International nursing student

Aneeta Jacob graduated from the Social Service Worker program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus. She is now studying nursing at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

Her parents in India were worried about her safety, prompting her Aunt in Calgary to reach out, encouraging her to come live with her until things improved, but at the height of the pandemic it meant Jacob would need to stay in isolation for 14 days. Not being able to connect with her Aunt in person, despite living in the same house was really difficult, but in the pre-vaccination world of COVID, she did what she needed to do, following public health guidelines to protect others.

“It was very tough on me living alone in the basement of the home. I watched a lot of youtube videos,” says Jacob who stayed with her aunt for six months.

During COVID, many government services were not available. Jacob desperately wanted to get her post graduate employment permit so she could start working in the social work field, but she would have to wait. It took months to get it, but when it did come through, Jacob was on the move, seeking employment in her field.

She moved to Edmonton, but because of the pandemic shutdowns, she had trouble finding work, until an opportunity to work with people with disabilities opened a door for her to start her career in the social work field in the small town of Saint Paul, near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Jacob stayed in the border town for a year-and-a-half, then moved to Airdrie, Alberta, about a 20 minute drive from Calgary. There she became a team lead when she found another job that used her social service worker skills and she gained permanent residency status. She took a driver’s test and got her licence, bought herself a car, giving her more independence and she again started thinking about expanding her career into health care.

International Nursing student.“Nursing called me. I always knew I would do well in a crisis and that I wanted to work in medicine,” says Jacob who has just completed the first year of her baccalaureate program. Her previous studies at Algonquin College have helped her in her university courses, particularly the Developmental Psychology and Communications courses that she completed in the Social Service Worker program.

While she has been away from Pembroke for a few years, Jacob has a longing to return, maybe for a visit or potentially to work as a nurse after she graduates. “Pembroke treated me so warmly and my goal is to do something for Canada and to be a nurse that patients can depend on. I like small towns and once I am done, I want to move back to Pembroke.”

The shortage of nurses in smaller communities has put tremendous stress on the local labour market within the health care field. Jacob is an example of an international student who has fallen in love with Canada and is eager to make a difference in our country, but what separates her from many other immigrants, is her desire to work in a smaller community. While many newcomers settle in larger urban centres, Jacob says she is most at home in places like Saint Paul and Pembroke.

For now, she will work hard to complete her Nursing degree. If all goes as planned, she will graduate in the spring of 2027. A lot can change in three years, but right now Jacob has her eye on Pembroke. She misses the city and thinks often about how her first experience in Canada has shaped her desire to someday be a Canadian citizen, contributing to rural health care.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger. Manager of Community and Student Affairs)

Protecting Our Water Supply

There are few things more precious in the world than clean water. Canada has been blessed with an abundance of fresh water, including the Great Lakes, but to ensure the water that Canadians drink and use on a daily basis is safe, technicians are needed to effectively manage water and wastewater.

Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus will be offering a Water and Wastewater Technician diploma program for the first time in the fall of 2024. Many of the graduates will find work within municipalities, wherever there are water treatment plants.

Two Algonquin College students take water samples as part of a research project.

Algonquin College students take water samples as part of an applied research project.

The field of water and wastewater management emerged after the Walkerton water tragedy of early 2000. An e-coli outbreak at the Walkerton water plant resulted in the deaths of seven people and many more people became critically ill. The Ontario government ordered an inquiry, leading to much more rigid safety standards. Today, the small community that become the focal point of the inquiry is home to the Walkerton Clean Water Centre which offers research, training and testing services.

Since the centre opened in 2004, it has trained more than 80,000 people in clean water management, serving both urban and rural areas of the province. The tragedy and the creation of the centre has shone a spotlight on career opportunities within this important public safety field. Students in the Water and Wastewater program will learn about preventing waterborne illnesses, how to manage industrial waste and the operation of off-site wastewater treatment units.

In addition to their theory courses, students will have plenty of labs and field work, where they will be exposed to industry standard equipment and subject matter experts who will help understand the operation of mechanical systems. These applied learning experiences will prepare graduates to work as water and wastewater treatment operators, compliance officers, water analysts within municipalities or government operations and lab assistants in private and public research and monitoring laboratories.

Two Algonquin College students working in a pond as part of an applied research project.

Students in the Water and Wastewater program will find employment working in both public and private sector industries where water sampling is need to protect the public.

The role is detail oriented and involves plenty of team work. It requires individuals who are conscientious and committed to public safety and because the program is a compressed diploma, offered over 12 months instead of a traditional two year delivery format, the student timetable will be full. The program will have a lot of instructional time each week.

The primary admission requirement for the program is a high school diploma with successful completion of grade 12 English. However, having a strong foundation in math and sciences will help students succeed. The college offers free academic upgrading classes in Math, Chemistry and Biology to eligible Ontario residents, for anyone interested in the program but who feels they could use some additional preparatory courses to be better prepared.

Applications for the Water and Wastewater Technician program are available now at www.ontariocolleges.ca. More information can be found on the Pembroke Campus website at www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke.

(Post by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus)