Waterfront Campus Blog

Jason Blaine Tops Half-a-Million Dollars Raised for Local Organizations

Jason Blaine is creating a legacy for himself that may very well be more meaningful than his music career. The Canadian County recording artist and Algonquin College Pembroke Campus Business graduate has now raised more than half-a-million dollars for local causes in his hometown of Pembroke.

Six years ago Blaine had a vision to establish his own charitable fund by holding a two-day event that included a concert and golf tournament. In its first year, the event raised $50,000 and it has been hitting new highs every year since including a record $125,000 raised this past June.

It has become a signature fundraising activity in the community that attracts some of the biggest names in Canadian country music. Artists that have performed at the concert include Tebey, Aaron Pritchett, Gord Bamford, Kira Isabella, Dallas Smith, Petric and many more and according to Jason, the party is just getting started. He hopes the event will continue for many more years, proud of the incredible impact his charity is having on the community.

All of the money raised supports local organizations and projects. This year’s recipients are the Pembroke and Area Boys and Girls Club, the United Way’s “After the Floods” campaign to support Renfrew County residents who have been badly impacted by this spring’s devastating floods, and Jason’s endowment fund at Algonquin College. That fund helps students in financial need pay for their educational investment at the college.

There is no question that Jason has been very generous in supporting his alma mater at the college. His charity provided $100,000 in funding to the college’s capital campaign when the new Waterfront Campus was being built and his endowment commitment will provide an additional $100,000 to students who need financial aid help. When you consider the dozens of other organizations that have received micro-grants from his charitable fund, it is clear that this high profile Algonquin alumnus is living the college mission to change lives.

We are very proud of all that Jason has accomplished in his musical career, but we are even more proud of his gift to humanity. As British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Congratulations Jason and thank you from everyone at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Acting Dean of Pembroke Waterfront Campus

7 Amazing Days at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus

Algonquin College has a powerful mission statement. It says that the college “Transforms hopes and dreams into lifelong success.” Over the past week, the college has lived that mission statement through a series of celebrations that exemplify the value the college brings to our community.

It started with the Pembroke Campus receiving an Excellence in Education Award from the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce. Through a public voting exercise, the Campus was acknowledged for the impact it has on the community through the provision of providing access to post-secondary education and training. It was the second year in a row that the College had won the award, but it was only an appetizer for what was to come in a very special week.

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing

Two days later, two programs were recognized for their efforts in supporting homeless people in Pembroke. Through its civic awards program, the city honoured the Office Administration-Executive and Carpentry and Renovation Techniques program for the work faculty and students did in bringing more awareness to homelessness in our region by raising money and supporting a building project to house people in transition in their lives.

The following evening, the Business program was highlighted for the work it has done with downtown businesses in Pembroke through a student ambassador program. For the past several months the students have been conducting research and developing marketing materials for seven businesses, helping them grow and provide better service to their customers. The program coordinator, with the help of a participating student, briefed Pembroke City Council on the initiative, demonstrating how college students can be integral to the progression of a business if they have the opportunity to participate in work-integrated learning projects.

The week continued with a very special event in Renfrew where the soon to be graduating class of a Personal Support Worker program celebrated the completion of their studies. The program was delivered at Bonnechere Manor through a partnership that was set up to address a critical shortage of Personal Support Workers in long-term care facilities in the Eastern end of Renfrew County. Many of the students commented on how having the program available in Renfrew made the difference in allowing them to access the training they needed to work in their home community.

The week concluded with a magnificent convocation ceremony at a packed Pembroke Memorial Centre. It was a historical event as for the first time a portion of the President’s message was delivered in the Algonquin language by President, Cheryl Jensen, who has made a considerable effort to ensure the College responds appropriately to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. The President simply said in Algonquin, “For all of us who have worked behind the scenes as you have taken this journey, it is an honour to be with you.”

The valedictorian for the class of 2019 was Winona Brown of the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program. She delivered a powerful address that focussed on the need for people to respect their differences, but to come together to make the world a better place, using education as the driver to understanding. Brown said, “There is no person without value and no person who does not have the ability to teach us something. There is no person who does not have the potential to learn something from us.”

That message captures the values of Algonquin College of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect and it underscores the College mission statement to transform lives. This has been a proud week for Algonquin College, but it’s not unique. These special moments happen all the time at the College, a place where we are making a difference every day.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Acting Dean, Pembroke Campus

Celebrating Excellence at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus

Receiving an award is always special, but when it is unsolicited and put forward through a community-wide nomination process, it makes the award much more significant. It speaks to how the community views the individual or organization that is receiving the award, and in the case of Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus, it confirms the impact the College has on people’s lives.

For the second year in a row, Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus has received an “Excellence in Education” award from the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce. After nominations are put forward in various categories, the ultimate decision on who receives the award is left in the hands of the public through an online voting system. The Chamber says 114 nominations were received in the 13 award categories and more than 45,000 votes were cast to determine the winners.

The Chamber of Commerce is at the core of every business community and while receiving the award was wonderful for the College, what was more striking was the number of Algonquin Business graduates who had become part of the business community in various roles. Throughout the event, there were networking opportunities where graduates shared their Algonquin story of how they had attended the Pembroke Campus and where their career had led them since graduating.

When the time came to hand out the awards, there were several alumni who were highlighted for starting their own business or for helping their organization succeed. Some were now teaching courses at the college and others were active on program advisory councils, sharing insight into how their sector was changing and how the college might adjust its curriculum to meet emerging industry needs.

Given the number of business people who had ties to the Pembroke Campus, it was clear that Algonquin graduates were taking an active role in being business leaders in our community. For example, the President of the Chamber is Meghan Sutherland and the Vice-President is Dez Patel, both of whom graduated from the Business program and are now doing wonderful things in their respective careers and giving back to the community through their volunteer work with the Chamber of Commerce.

Winning awards is an outcome of hard work, efforts that are recognized by others as being exemplary. When Algonquin College wins awards it is an acknowledgement of the efforts of its employees to live the college mission of transforming hopes and dreams into lifelong success. The College has the ability to change lives and that was on display at the Chamber awards night.

It felt great to see these alumni thriving in their careers and watching them take the stage to present or receive awards was a reminder of how important the campus is to the Upper Ottawa Valley. It’s obvious that our community understands this importance and we are very grateful that so many people felt compelled to again recognize the college for an “Excellence in Education” award. It means a lot to the campus to receive this support from our community and we are sincerely grateful. A big thank you from everyone at Algonquin College.

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

The Winding Road

Amber Campbell, Early Childhood Education, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus “I was born and raised in Pembroke, ON and attended Fellowes High School. When I graduated from Fellowes I made the decision to work full-time instead of considering college. After years of working various jobs, I realized I have a passion to educate young minds and shortly after I discovered the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus” says Amber Campbell, a recent graduate of the Early Childhood Education program.

Amber didn’t have any issues finding employment. She actually secured a full-time job at Wise Owl Day Care Centre in Pembroke before she graduated from her program a couple of weeks ago and she attributes this to the program. Amber shares, “this program has shown me the resources I need to be successful in my chosen profession. I have personally grown from my experience with the knowledge and skills provided throughout my two-year journey. The professors are approachable when it comes to questions and comments related to my program. I enjoyed the hands-on experience through my placements because everything we were taught was fresh in our minds making it a smoother transition into the field.”

Early Childhood Education, Creative Play Applied Research

Amber also attributes her experience in the Creativity Lab, an Applied Research initiative that provides students with first-hand knowledge through demonstration and observation and provides free creative play sessions for young children, with her transition. “The Creativity Lab in my first semester of year one was beneficial because I was able to get an idea of my comfort level and my abilities at the time. That helped me reflect on my skills and create goals to achieve before I graduate.”

When asked why she chose the ECE program, Amber shares, “I was working in the classroom as an art and jewelry instructor at Michaels Arts and Crafts. I would be in charge of implementing kids club, which is a morning art class on Saturdays and on holidays. I enjoyed the interactions with the children and their families, building positive relationships and having regulars who enjoyed the welcoming environment. I decided to stroll through college websites after a year of working and discovered the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin.”

This is only the start of Amber’s educational journey, “I want to build my experience in the field and go to University to gain entrance into Teacher’s College. I have an aspiration to be an elementary school teacher. While I wait to start University I have been interested in taking a French course to become bilingual and an American Sign Language course. I have experienced the highs and the lows of college, but it was all a part of the worthwhile opportunity that has made an impact on my future endeavours.”

Nothing Better Than Algonquin College Students Showcasing Their Skills

The end of a school year is always special as there are more opportunities for students to showcase what they have learned in their program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. In the past few days there has been a lot of talent on display and while we can’t highlight all of the great student activities that have been happening, here are a few examples of how students benefit from the practical learning experiences that the campus delivers.

Urban Forestry - Arboriculture, Tree Climbing Competition, Algonquin College, Pembroke The Urban Forestry-Arboriculture program is relatively new to the Pembroke Campus, but it is generating a lot of interest among employers in the arborist sector. To the program’s credit, it has reached out to these employers and invited them to observe the skills the students have at their annual tree climbing competition. Watching the students navigate high above the ground in large trees, performing tasks safely and with great confidence, is so much more of an indication of their abilities compared to handing in a resume and participating in an interview. The experience is powerful for both the student and the prospective employer, and very quickly you can see the connections that are made at this competition result in job opportunities for the soon-to-be graduates.

Students in the Carpentry and Renovations Techniques program have also been catching the attention of the community for their work in renovating an older building to accommodate a transition house for homeless people in Pembroke. The century-old home needs a lot of work and the students are essentially gutting it and re-building the inside of the home, by installing new interior walls, insulation, drywall and more. It is a wonderful culminating experience that has allowed the students to pull together all of the skills they have learned over the past several months in their shop classes.

Office Administration - Executive, Changemaker Award, Algonquin College, Pembroke

One more example we will share is our Office Administration-Executive students who recently won a Changemaker Award from the College’s Board of Governors for their work in bringing awareness to social issues in Renfrew County. Each year the students work on a community project that allows them to emphasize the organizational skills they have acquired through their studies. This year they have entitled their project, Raise A Flag, an initiative that shines a spotlight on mental health. It is both a community awareness effort as well as a fundraiser for the Robbie Dean Centre in Pembroke.

As our students look forward to becoming graduates and starting their careers, these demonstrations of what they have learned in their programs remind us of why having a college in our community is so important. It changes lives and helps us build stronger communities.

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

How the CBC Lost its Most Iconic Television Program. New Algonquin College Speaker Series Presentation

Image result for David Shoalts book cover As hockey fans prepare for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Algonquin College Speaker Series explores how the CBC lost control of its most treasured television program, Hockey Night in Canada. Author and Globe and Mail sports journalist, David Shoalts, has written a new book called Hockey Fight in Canada and will be at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus on Wednesday, April 3 to talk about the backroom maneuvering that led to the biggest sports broadcasting deal in Canadian history.

In 2013, Rogers Communications shocked the broadcasting world when it paid $5-2-billion for exclusive national television rights to broadcast NHL games. The deal ended a 60-year relationship between the CBC and NHL, and resulted in wholesale changes to the way games were presented on television.

Not all of those changes were well received by hockey fans, such as the failed move to replace longtime Hockey Night in Canada host, Ron MacLean, with George Stroumboulopoulus. After two years, MacLean was brought back in as ratings slipped and fans protested the removal of MacLean who with Don Cherry are the face of the Saturday night national broadcasts.

Rogers did negotiate an agreement with the CBC to continue carrying NHL games on Saturday nights, but as part of the agreement, the CBC lost all of its ad revenue that had been generated through Hockey Night in Canada. That loss amounted to millions of dollars, money that had helped fund other CBC programming for decades. In his book, Shoalts reviews how each of the major sports broadcasting entities approached the negotiations with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and why Rogers won, and the CBC and Bell Media lost in this high stakes game of poker that has changed the relationship between professional sports and its media partners.

This thought-provoking talk will provide information that hockey and CBC fans have never heard before, about how there were warning signs for the public broadcaster that this would be a very different round of negotiations than previous contract talks. Shoalts writes that a confrontational exchange between Bettman and MacLean during a 2010 interview during the Stanley Cup Final set the tone for those talks and contributed to the ultimate decision to replace MacLean. The presentation will also cover the devastating impact the loss of controlling Hockey Night in Canada has had on the CBC.

Shoalts joined the Globe and Mail in 1984. He has been covering the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL since 1990 and has written three books. Shoalts has also won several awards including the 2009 Outstanding Sportswriting Award from Sports Media Canada.

Register today for this Speaker Series!

Algonquin College Spring Business Leadership Conference on May 23

Branding like a rock star and becoming an employer of choice of millennials. Two topics that sound like they would be attached to a big city conference, but instead they will be engaging keynote addresses at this year’s Algonquin College Spring Business and Leadership Conference on Thursday, May 23 at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

The conference is now into its fifth year and has proven to be a must-attend for local businesses who can access high-quality professional development at an affordable cost. That’s the primary goal of the conference. The College has responded to the concern that many small businesses have had about the high cost of sending staff to larger cities where they pay expensive conference registration fees, as well as the costs associated with travel and accommodations.

David Coletto, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

This year’s conference covers many topics including marketing, branding, lean management principles, managing in change, and social media best practices. The keynote addresses will be particularly interesting. David Coletto is the Chief Operating Officer of Abacus Data, a company that has done extensive research on what makes millennials high performers in the workplace.

Himself a millennial, Coletto speaks to audiences across North America, stressing that millennials are now the largest grouping in the workforce and companies need to adapt if they want to retain these employees and help them develop into leadership roles. Coletto will back up his talk with a myriad of statistics that paint a picture of how millennials are now in the driver seat in the workforce and companies need to respond to their needs.

Steve Jones, Spring Business & Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

Steve Jones has spent his career in broadcasting. A 30-year music industry veteran, Jones is an expert marketer who delivers a punchy presentation that drives home the importance of businesses living their brand. Using music and video to connect with his audience, Jones has spoken at countless conferences around the world and has worked with some of music’s biggest stars. He’ll explain how they got to the top by creating a brand that resonates with their fans.

Registration for the Spring Business and Leadership Conference is now open with early bird rates available until March 31. A pre-conference activity has been added to this year’s event, a pontoon boat ride on the Ottawa River the evening before the conference begins. This will provide an excellent networking opportunity for conference attendees, some of whom travel from out of town to be part of the conference.

Last year the conference sold out with more than 100 attendees. You can learn more about the conference and the line-up of workshop presenters on the conference website.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger is the Acting Dean of the Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

The Sky’s the Limit for Forestry Students

There can be a bit of a misconception when it comes to career paths for students who study forestry. Students enrolled in the Forestry Technician and Urban Forestry – Arboriculture programs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus, soon realize that the sky’s the limit when it comes to possible career opportunities after they graduate from the program.

Griffin Kozij, Urban Forestry - Arboriculture, Algonquin College, Pembroke

Take for example Griffin Kozij’s story. Before registering in the program, Kozij had operated a successful landscaping business. Now, as a recent Urban Forestry – Arboriculture graduate, Kozij is taking the skills that he learned during the 8-month program and expanding his business.

He admittedly came into the program with a love for working in the outdoors but didn’t know much about being an arborist. He now says, “It’s all about trees. You can go into the program knowing absolutely nothing and graduate as an experienced climber.”

Kozij also has some advice for others who are unsure if they will be making the right decision if they are considering a career in forestry. “Don’t let your uncertainty hold you back. If you appreciate nature and trees it is definitely a good fit. You learn about climbing, but also about how trees and a forest in our urban environment can have such a big impact and be so important,” says Kozij.

Becoming an urban forester has allowed Kozij to expand his business and customer base. He can now offer more services and he has needed to add more team members to meet client expectations. He is much more knowledgeable and appreciative of how enrolling in a forestry program can open up doors to unexpected opportunities. “There are so many avenues that you can go into – you are not just going to be a climber – there are a hundred different paths from office work, to consultation, to forest management. You can even continue your studies.”

Julian Alvarez-Barkham, Urban Forestry - Arboriculture, Algonquin College, Pembroke Leveraging previous post-secondary education and continuing his studies is exactly what Julian Alvarez-Barkham decided to do. Also an Urban Forestry – Arboriculture graduate, Alvarez-Barkham thought he would enter the forestry workforce immediately after graduating, but had a change of heart when he discovered the Masters of Forest Conservation program offered at the University of Toronto.

Although he is not getting to climb as many trees as he did during his time at Algonquin College, Alvarez-Barkham appreciates how that practical experience helped prepare him for his university studies. “The Urban Forestry – Arboriculture program helped me develop a solid foundation in dendrology, tree assessment, soils, and urban forestry that I can build upon as I further my education. The Algonquin College faculty’s passion and enthusiasm for tree care was an incredibly important aspect of my education. Their dedication has motivated me to learn more and to keep improving. Their value to the program cannot be overstated.”

Nikki Domingo, Forestry Technician, Algonquin College, Pembroke

Photo Credit: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

When it comes to passion for the forest and education, few programs can challenge the 50-year history of Algonquin College’s Forestry Technician program and Nikki Domingo is proof of that. Domingo graduated from the program a few years ago and says, “I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for the amazing schooling and networking support I received from Algonquin staff.”

This past summer, Domingo was fighting forest fires in the Pickle Lake, Ontario area. Her passion for forest firefighting was sparked during her placement in the final semester of the Forestry Technician program in 2015. She is now into her second year as a Fire Ranger Crew Boss. “My role is to apply adequate fire suppression in a safe manner while supervising the crew members.

Photo Credit: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Some of the fires can be very intense. As a crew boss, Domingo’s role includes being a “cutter.” “When the helicopter can’t land I get out in a hover exit with a swamper and fell trees to cut a helipad. Once the helipad is cut we set up a pump and start laying hose to the fire. When we reach the fires’ edge, I jump on the nozzle and we begin to suppress and wrap the fire until it’s out.”

When all three graduates were asked if they thought they would be where they are now when they started their forestry studies, all answered no. But isn’t that the point of higher education? It opens up opportunities to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success.

If a career in the outdoors is what you are looking for, now is the perfect time to apply to our forestry programs and start on your new path this September with us.

Jordan Radford: What You Need to Become Successful

Jordan Radford is a young man born and raised in the Petawawa area, who not only recently graduated from our Business program, but he also became an author this year. At 19 years of age, Radford managed to find the time to write his digital book, What You Need to Become Successful, all while completing a challenging compressed diploma program.

This book was written with young people, like Radford, in mind. It offers advice and guidance on what he sees as the key characteristics necessary to become successful:

Work ethic
Drive
Patience
Passion
Communication
Planning

Entrepreneurship and leadership are at Radford’s core, using his background as a hockey coach, plus, his most recent experience as a personal trainer, to lay out a framework that anyone can use to help focus their ability to be successful.

Once Radford decided to write his book, he quickly discovered that self-publishing a digital book was the best way to get his book out there in the world. This simple discovery is a result of a characteristic that Radford touches on in his book – drive. Drive can be a powerful attribute to have that enables you to set a goal and work towards that goal step-by-step.

While many of Radford’s supporter have acknowledged that he is very young to have already accomplished such a goal, they also recognize that his advice is very relatable and practical.

Our Business program certainly helped Radford to work towards his writing goal with courses like Brand Creation for a Digital World to help develop the skills necessary to assess, create and deliver digital media content for online marketing and branding purposes and Communication Skills for Business to help develop his writing style. Radford offers, “You can take work ethic, drive, and passion – those attributes – and put those into your everyday life.”

It seems like nothing can hold this young man back and we wouldn’t be surprised to if Radford published another book in the near future building on what he continues to learn each day. Radford’s message for his readers, “Anything is possible.” Powerful words for everyone to remember each day.

Loggersports Alumni Perform at Grey Cup Game

Algonquin College’s Loggersports team was back on the national stage this past weekend as its team of lumberjacks traveled to the Grey Cup game in Edmonton to cheer on the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the Canadian Football League championship game. While their chainsaws were quieter than they would have liked as the REDBLACKS fell to the Calgary Stampeders 27-16, it was still a thrill for the team members to have the opportunity to participate in a great Canadian tradition. The Grey Cup game brings both passionate and casual football fans together each year to celebrate Canada’s unique brand of football and is the most watched sporting event of the year in Canada.

The team of coach, Chris Ryan, and Forestry Technician alumni, William Lance (2009), Taylor Popkie (2010) and Matthew Manion (2018) drew plenty of attention from the crowd of more than 55,000 people who packed Commonwealth Stadium, when they revved up their chainsaws at the start of the game and then cut a celebratory wooden cookie when the REDBLACKS scored their only touchdown of the contest. The media also took notice when they met, Quick-6, the Calgary Stampeders horse who runs down the sideline when the Stampeders score a touchdown.

The partnership between the College’s Loggersports team and the REDBLACKS started when the team began play in the 2014 season. The REDBLACKS were looking for a unique touchdown celebration that would tie in the Ottawa Valley’s rich forestry history. It has been a relationship that has benefited both organizations, especially given the success of the football team.

Loggersports Alumni Perform at Grey Cup Game

Ottawa has appeared in three Grey Cup games in its first five years, winning one of them in 2016 when they knocked off the Stampeders in overtime. The Loggersports team travelled with the team to Winnipeg three years ago when the club lost the championship game to Edmonton but was prevented from performing because the Eskimos protested that it would create an “unfair advantage” in what was supposed to be a neutral site game.

This year, the CFL allowed both the Stampeders to bring their horse and the REDBLACKS to bring their lumberjacks, creating a better fan experience and a public relations win for the league that had been criticized in the past for not allowing teams to incorporate their touchdown celebrations at the Grey Cup.

Now back at home, the Loggersports team is already looking forward to another football season and hopefully a return to another national championship game. Next year the Grey Cup will be played in Calgary, so you know that Quick-6 will be there. Hopefully, there will be a reunion with the plaid-wearing lumberjacks who have become a symbol of excellence for the football team that has captured the attention of the nation’s capital for its continued winning ways.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

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