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.
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