Waterfront Campus Blog

Alumni Experience the World and Make Us Proud

It’s amazing how far Algonquin College alumni will travel to leave their mark around the world. Whether it’s their career or personal interests that spur them to do great worldly things, the College is proud of how they have taken the Algonquin brand and are sharing it with a global audience.

Naomi Fong, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusIn recent weeks there have been several great examples of Pembroke Campus alumni showcasing their talent on the world stage. Social Service Worker graduate, Naomi Fong, captured national headlines when she won Canada’s first medal at the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia. The military veteran competed in several sports and made it to the podium twice, earning bronze medals in the Women’s Road Cycling competitions.

Fong, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, was an Honours student at the college and completed her studies last spring. She served nine years in the armed forces. Preparing for and competing in the Invictus Games has given Fong a means of dealing with her illness and has also provided her with a life experience like none other. While at the Games, Fong was honoured to be the flag bearer for Team Canada, and she also had the opportunity to meet Prince Harry, founder of the games and British soccer star, David Beckham.

Alma KeuhlWhile Fong was competing in the Invictus Games, Alma Keuhl was in Turkey at the 40th World Arm Wrestling Championship. The Personal Support Worker (PSW) graduate was introduced to the sport as a young girl by her father and has competed across Canada. Keuhl had a 6th and 10th place finish, results she considers to be “Fantastic, for my first worlds,” as she took on arm wrestlers from around the globe. Now back in Canada, she is continuing her work as a PSW, sharing her arm wrestling experience with her clients, who are among her biggest fans.

Susan and Richard Schmaltz, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

In 2003, Practical Nursing and Early Childhood Education graduate, Susan Schmaltz, became the only Pembroke Campus alumnus to win a prestigious Premier’s Award at the annual showcase of successful Ontario college graduates. Only a handful of these awards are handed out each year. Schmaltz was recognized for her incredible humanitarian work in Guatemala where she established a charitable organization to support young children and families living in poverty.

With her husband, Richard, at her side, Schmaltz created early learning centres and schools and operated them for more than 15 years in the third world country, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the most vulnerable people in Guatemala. They operated these schools within a large dump in the inner city, a place of extreme poverty. Now, she has written a book entitled, “Beyond Belief.” The book is very personal, describing the author’s spiritual journey that led her to pour her heart and soul into a life-changing experience.

The world really is a small place, but how our alumni are experiencing it, is a great story to share and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more worldly stories to be told! #BeAlgonquinProud #MakeAlgonquinProud

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community & Student Affairs

Giving Back!

For five decades Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has been an integral part of the Ottawa Valley’s economy. Our graduates have provided a constant source of employees for local businesses and have started up many new companies while our students have been active in community organizations that need volunteers. What is sometimes overlooked is the contribution the College’s students, staff and graduates make through fundraising efforts and the reciprocal benefits that come from this work.

Jason Blaine is the best known Pembroke Campus alumnus to embrace giving back. Over the past five years, his annual charity concert and golf tournament in Pembroke has raised more than $400,000 for various organizations, including the College. The Canadian Recording Artist and Business graduate had provided $100,000 through his charitable fund to the college’s capital campaign when the new Waterfront Campus was being built and then followed up by committing an additional $100,000 to establish an endowment for bursaries to support students in financial need.

Students in the Office Administration-Executive program have also embraced community service through their philanthropic efforts. To help raise awareness about homelessness in Renfrew County, the students built cardboard houses and then had to endear a driving rainstorm while they stayed overnight in their make-shift shelters. Their efforts attracted so much community interest, they raised more than $11,000 for the Grind, the centre that is supporting homeless people in Pembroke’s downtown.

 

The College has certainly been the benefactor of many donations. $2.5 million was raised to support the overall construction costs of the new campus, and many new bursaries have been established through generous community donations. There have also been donations made to renew equipment and to build training facilities on campus. Recently an anonymous donor helped fund a Personal Support Worker lab that replicates a home care setting. The Brick in Pembroke donated the furniture for the lab which will greatly contribute to better preparing graduates of the program to support the elderly in their homes.

Giving back builds stronger communities. We’re proud that Algonquin College is doing its part to get involved in fundraising projects and that the community has recognized the College’s importance to the region by continuing to support its students through financial donations for bursaries and equipment. It feels great to receive, but even better to give back.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Welcoming the World at the Waterfront Campus

Never in the more than 50-year history of Algonquin College has the Pembroke Campus had such an international flavour in its midst. In the fall of 2018, the campus has welcomed close to 30 international students from countries around the world. Almost three percent of the campus population of approximately 1,000 students now have international student status.

These students have arrived in Pembroke from India, China, Africa, Vietnam, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Morocco, Chile, the United States, and many other countries. One can imagine how difficult this transition can be for international students as they adjust to a new country, a small town Canadian city and a post-secondary academic setting in a foreign country. To help these students settle in, the College is providing opportunities for the students to get to know people and to experience all that Canada has to offer.Students on Ottawa River

Recently, the campus organized a social event for the students that included a pontoon boat ride on the Ottawa River. Some of the students had never been on a boat before but it didn’t take them long to appreciate the picturesque beauty of the area as they took pictures of the river, the islands and the pristine forests along the shoreline of the river. More importantly, they enjoyed each others company and bonded quickly.

Orientation is important for all new college students but essential for international students. Things that domestic students take for granted such as accessing health care or buying a proper pair of boots for winter weather are important pieces of information that need to be shared with international students. The boat ride provided an opportunity to help connect them not only with other students but also key faculty and staff who can provide support to them, whether it’s on campus or in the broader community.

Moving forward, the College will continue to teach the students about Canadian customs and culture, but the students will reciprocate International Student Orientation, Algonquin College, Pembrokethis learning experience by sharing their own culture with the college community. It’s already happening through the newly created African Students’ Alliance, a group of African students who have introduced Canadian students to African foods, music, and celebrations.

It’s been fun to watch the Waterfront Campus become a melting pot of diversity. As more international students choose to study at the campus it will enrich the learning experience of everyone who studies and works there. It’s a great example of how lifelong learning can occur both inside and outside the classroom and how education has no borders.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Celebrating Cultural Diversity on Campus

Canada is a melting pot of people. With one of the most diverse populations in the world, the country has embraced immigration, but regrettably, most newcomers choose larger centres to settle in rather than finding a new home in a rural community.

It’s understandable why this happens. New immigrants are often sponsored by family members and they want to be around people who share the same beliefs and customs, while they embrace all that their new country has to offer. With fewer immigrants settling in rural areas, there is less of an attraction to go there, but now more than ever rural communities need immigrants. Declining birth rates, aging populations and youth out migration are among the major labour market challenges facing rural areas, and immigration provides an opportunity to address some of these issues by replenishing the population gap that has emerged.

African Students' Alliance, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusRegional college campuses located in smaller rural communities such as the Pembroke Waterfront Campus can play a major leadership role. As these campuses attract more students of culturally diverse backgrounds they create more welcoming communities for new Canadians. A great example is the recent establishment of an African Students’ Alliance on campus, a group that promotes and celebrates African culture.

Their work has been inspirational and is a great example of students being leaders. They have opened the eyes of so many students and college employees who had limited knowledge of African culture. Their integration into the broader community through volunteerism and student learning experiences is expanding their reach and influence. It’s powerful and timely as Renfrew County faces the reality of having almost 50 percent of its population over 45 years of age according to the 2016 National Census.

At the Pembroke Campus this year there are about a dozen international students, but there are so many more students who are from different cultural backgrounds. With about 50 percent of the campus student population coming from out of town, there is a great opportunity to attract more students who can enrich the cultural mosaic of the campus and greater community.

#3Drums3Campuses, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusThe Campus wants to be leaders in this effort. Case in point is the celebration of Indigenous culture that has been taking place in the month of March. Powerful learning is taking place as the college embraces the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that has challenged educational institutions to do their part by helping to preserve, revitalize and strengthen Aboriginal languages and cultures. Through a partnership with the Circle of Turtle Lodge, there have been several activities on campus that have engaged students and college employees to better understand the past, present and future of Indigenous ways.

The time is now for regional campuses to help rural communities embrace multiculturalism. It’s critical to the long-term prosperity of smaller towns and cities. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is well positioned to be Renfrew County’s diversity champion.

 

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

You Missed the February 1st Application Deadline. Now What?

Ontario Colleges aggressively promote the importance of applying to a program prior to what is known as the “equal opportunity deadline” on February 1st. It certainly is an important date in the application cycle, but if you missed it, there is a silver lining.

You can still apply to college and there’s a very strong chance you will be able to register in a program for the fall of 2018.

AC's Muskrat Lake Research Team

The reason is that colleges offer dozens of programs and with such a huge menu to choose from, only a select number of college programs fall into the category of oversubscribed. Programs in health care are a good example of highly competitive programs where the February 1st deadline is very real, and those who apply later run the risk of not being admitted into the program or ending up on a waiting list.

For many other programs, colleges review applications on a first-come, first-served basis. While seats remain open, colleges will continue to make offers of admission.

Pembroke Campus, Games Day

So the best advice is to apply sooner, rather than later. While missing the February 1st deadline won’t prevent you from attending college, the longer you procrastinate, the more difficult it will be to secure a seat in a program that you are interested in.

You can apply online through the Ontario Colleges Application Service. Your $95 application fee will allow you to choose up to five college programs, including three at any one college. Post-secondary is a great investment and the bottom line is, it’s not too late to apply.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Spring Business Conference at Waterfront Campus Hits the Mark

Today’s workplace is full of complexity, particularly for organizational leaders. It can be difficult to find the right employee, it is challenging to motivate and lead staff, new legislation governing the workplace is changing operational models and more workers are facing mental health challenges.

It’s a lot for managers, supervisors and leaders to deal with in their day to day work. To help organizations cope with these challenges, Algonquin College’s annual Spring Business & Leadership Conference has targeted topics that are at the front of mind in today’s workforce.

Now into its fourth year, the May 24 conference has proven to be a great benefit to local businesses by providing affordable and meaningful professional development in a “big city” conference format. Registrants can choose to attend up to four workshops and also hear a keynote address. This year’s headliner focuses on community collaboration and will be delivered by Doug Griffiths, an economic development guru for rural communities and the author of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

Angela Hoyt, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

The line-up of presentations includes Adapting to Bill 148-Ontario’s new Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs legislation. The bill introduced fundamental changes to employee working conditions that stretch far beyond the minimum wage increases that have captured most of the headlines since taking effect on January 1, 2018. The session will be led by Angela Hoyt, an experienced labour market consultant who has presented at hundreds of conferences across Canada.

Dr. Mike Condra, Algonquin College Speaker SeriesDoctor Mike Condra will present on Mental Health in the Workplace. Dr. Condra worked extensively in health care and post-secondary education for more than 30 years and co-developed training workshops in crisis intervention skills, training more than 5,000 people. His workshop will focus on the misconceptions of mental health in the workplace and how this impacts the work environment.

Sylvie Rimbach, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

Within every organization, there are people of all ages. This often leads to different ways of approaching work tasks and value systems that don’t match. Finding synergy among all working groups is the focus of Sylvie Rimbach’s workshop on the Generation Mix in Today’s Workplace. The session will help people better understand the differences between Veterans, baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and millennials.

Dr. Judy Law, Presenter, Spring Business & Leadership Conference, Algonquin College. Pembroke CampusEvery company is looking for an advantage over its competition. Doctor Judy Laws’ workshop on Sparking Innovation to Unlock Your Organization’s Full Potential will introduce participants to new concepts to create a culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. The College’s entrepreneur-in-resident, Chéla Breckon, will build on this session with a workshop entitled, Leading with Vision, Mission and Purpose, a how-to guide to strategic planning for organizations and businesses.

Katie Tollis-Flabbi, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, PembrokeThe final workshop focuses on marrying events and marketing. Led by entrepreneur, Katie Tollis-Flabbi, Creative Event Marketing Strategies is focused on small businesses who have to balance their budget with the need to promote their products and services.

Registration for the conference is now open with an early bird rate of $199, plus applicable taxes. The conference is expected to sell out and businesses are encouraged to register early. At a time when budgets are being stretched and training needs to be a focus to support employees, the conference offers very high value for a reasonable investment. The best part is this training is available here at home at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Exploring the World of Outdoor Adventure

In the fall of 2000 Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus launched one of the most innovative college programs in Canada. The Outdoor Adventure program capitalized on the growing worldwide thirst for high adventure activities and the need to train individuals to work in the industry.

Greg Arminen ice climbingFast forward 17 years and the program is known around the world as its graduates have become the program’s greatest ambassadors, sharing their story of how they found a college program that finally met their expectations for post-secondary education. Students in the program spend three days a week on campus completing business courses in topics such as risk management, accounting, finance, and marketing. The other two days are spent at Wilderness Tours Resort, Mount Pakenham ski hill or other outdoor destinations where students earn certifications in a variety of outdoor skills including swift water rescue, alpine skiing and snowboarding, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking and more.

Outdoor Adventure, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

Students also have opportunities to participate in international expeditions, such as the group of second-year Outdoor Adventure students who recently spent a week in Iceland testing fat bike technology in a country that is struggling to deal with its overnight success as a tourism destination. That learning experience was recently highlighted by CBC Radio, giving the program some great exposure and demonstrating how innovative the program has become, in this case as a leader in testing new technologies to address sustainability concerns.

Action Sports Park Development, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

The introduction of the Outdoor Adventure program has resulted in several spin-off programs being created that allowed the Pembroke Campus to carve a niche as Eastern Canada’s leading outdoor education post-secondary school. Other programs that are also offered at the campus include Outdoor Adventure Naturalist, Action Sports Park Development, and Environmental Technician.

The next time you go on a big adventure, don’t be surprised if your trip guide is a graduate of Algonquin College’s cluster of outdoor adventure programs. After all, program graduates are scattered in countries around the world, because the adventure tourism industry holds no geographical boundaries. The world is truly at each student’s fingertips.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Ottawa Valley History-Focus of 2018 Speaker Series

On December 27, 1942 the Ottawa Valley experienced its worth disaster. 36 people were killed and more than 200 were injured when a passenger train, known as the “Pembroke Local,” was struck by a troop train loaded with soldiers at the Almonte Train station. Many of the victims were from the Ottawa Valley, as people who had been home for the holidays were making their way back to Ottawa when the accident occurred.

Well known musician, Mac Beattie, recorded a song about that fateful night some 75 years ago. It tells the story of how the train was packed and running late when it was plowed into by the troop train as it was stopped in Almonte to pick up more passengers. Through a partnership with the North Lanark Museum, the Algonquin College Speaker Series will explore what led to the crash, the aftermath of the investigation, and hear videotaped interviews with survivors of the crash.

The Almonte Train Wreck

The Almonte Train Wreck presentation on February 8th will kick off a year of Speaker Series events that are focused on local history. It will be followed by a March 19th presentation on the Flying Bandit, the story of Gilbert Galvan, an American convict who led a double life in Pembroke in the 1980’s. Galvan would fly from Pembroke, using the regional airline, Pem-Air, to fly to Toronto where he would transfer to larger airlines and commit almost 60 bank and jewelry store robberies before being arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police at the Pembroke Airport.

The reporter who broke the story and co-authored a book on the flying bandit, Ed Arnold, will share details of how Galvan managed to elude law enforcement and will speak about his exclusive interviews with Galvan after his arrest and sentencing. Arnold was the managing editor of the Peterborough Intelligencer newspaper when the string of robberies was occurring. Three of the heists occurred in Peterborough, peaking Arnold’s interest, leading him on a journalistic investigation that led to him uncovering Canada’s most notorious bank robber.

On June 18, 1918, Pembroke experienced a great fire that destroyed several blocks of its downtown. On the 100th anniversary of the fire, local historian Bruce Pappin will lead a presentation and walking tour of the downtown and share details of where and how the fire started, what buildings were destroyed, the investigation of the blaze and how the fire was ultimately deemed to be an accident, despite many claims that it was deliberately set.

Canada’s Hockey Town. How Pembroke Earned the Title! Speaker Series, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusPembroke is known as “Hockey Town Canada,” and for good reason. The first time a Pembroke hockey team played a game was in 1893. It ended badly as Pembroke was beaten 13-1 by an Ottawa club, but it started a love affair with the game that helped Pembroke produce three Hall of Fame players, multiple championship teams, and an interesting mix of players, personalities and politics. On December 5, the speaker series will explore how Pembroke earned the title of Hockey Town Canada.

Tickets are available now for all of these speaker series presentations. It will be a fascinating look back in time, covering some of the most interesting stories of the Ottawa Valley’s past.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Fresh New Night Courses This Winter

The New Year always brings new perspectives and for many people a list of goals. One of those goals might be focused on career development or educational pursuits that can bring more joy to someone’s life.

Urban Forestry - Arboriculture, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusThis winter, Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus has freshened up its Continuing Education offerings with several new classes that offer either professional development opportunities or practical learning experiences that can be applied in the workplace or at home. A few examples include safe operation of a chainsaw or the working at heights certification course.

Each term the college reviews feedback it receives from students as it plans new offerings. That’s where the idea to offer an advanced seniors computer course came from. This course has been designed for seniors who already have a good working knowledge of computer applications, but would like to enhance their skills in using popular software programs like Word and Powerpoint. There is also a social media component to the course, something that will really help seniors who may have a volunteer position that requires them to promote their organization.

Dementia affects more than 46-million people worldwide. The disease primarily strikes elderly people and when it does it can be very difficult for the patient and their family. The college is offering two dementia courses this winter, one for families to better help them understand the disease and how to cope with it, and the other for healthcare professionals.

Medical Terminology, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

Medical terminology is a pre-requisite for office administration professionals to work in many healthcare settings such as hospitals and doctor offices. Having the course can open many doors for anyone who is interested in working in a healthcare environment. This course will be offered over several evenings beginning in mid-February.

On the playing field, athletes and children can move quickly, making it difficult to get action shots with your camera. The new Sports Photography class is intended to help Moms and Dads and photography enthusiasts get better photos during sporting events like hockey and soccer games.

For history buffs, Pembroke’s Early Years in Pictures will be a fascinating look back at our city’s history. Led by Champlain Trail Museum curator, Angela Siebarth, the presentation will feature many never before seen photographs that tell the story of Pembroke’s early settlers.

Ben ShillingtonBen Shillington has spent a lot of times in some of the coldest places on earth, like Lake Winnipeg, where a few years ago he led a winter fat biking expedition across the frozen lake. He’s also written a book on winter travelling. Shillington will bring his expert knowledge to the classroom when he teaches a course on winter camping that will be of interest to anyone who enjoys Canada’s coldest season and wants to experience it outdoors.

Other new courses being offered include an infant and toddler sleep seminar, acrylic painting with Pam McNichol, Moroccan cooking and other food preparation courses. There are also some popular returning courses such as grant proposal writing.

Registration is now underway in person at the college or online. Happy New Year.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

More Canadians Enrolling in Post-Secondary Education-More Needed in the Skilled Trades

As a nation, Canada is one of the most educated populations in the world. New national census data indicates that more than half (54%) of Canadians between the ages of 25 and 64 had either college or university qualifications in 2016, an increase from 48.3% from a decade earlier.

It’s a trend that Canada can be proud of, but it also sends a message to young people about the importance of continuing on to higher education. The labour market is demanding it with almost all new jobs being created requiring a post-secondary credential.

Masonry - Heritage and Traditional, Algonquin College, Perth CampusA deeper look at the statistics shows that more young men are turning to the skilled trades for their career pathway. That’s encouraging because here in Renfrew County several manufacturers recently participated in a forum to work on community strategies that can help them address some of the challenges they are experiencing in attracting skilled workers. The data says that the proportion of young men who had earned an apprenticeship certificate in Canada increased from 4.9% in 2006 to 7.8% in 2016, but locally there are still more jobs than people to fill them in some trades areas.

Of course, there is plenty of room for women in the trades and initiatives to encourage women to take the pathway as well, but one of the more concerning statistics is that men are not enrolling in post-secondary education at the same rate as women. For the trades, which traditionally have attracted more men than women, that’s a call for action.

Skilled tradesAt Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus in Pembroke, there are some initiatives underway to help fill these labour market gaps. The Options Skilled Trades Fair has been offered to local high school students for the past 15 years as a grassroots effort to educate high school students on the career opportunities that are available through apprenticeship training. It has been very successful and there are plenty of stories of these students going on to trades school and becoming apprentices.

Our Campus offers full-time programs in Construction Techniques and Motive Power Technician, two important industries in the local labour market. The College also offers various pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs such as General Carpenter and welcomes feedback from local industry on their needs. In order to offer a program, a critical mass of students is required, and through partnerships with local companies, the potential is there to expand programming if a concerted community effort is made to promote the jobs that are currently difficult to fill. If that message gets out, more male and female students will be interested in enrolling in a program that can help them achieve their goal to work in the skilled trades.

Our country is getting older. The national average age has been creeping up for several years. Here in Renfrew County, the average age is over 45 years old. That statistic alone is enough evidence that we need more young people to fill the jobs that are being vacated in our workforce. Let’s start by getting more youth engaged in the skilled trades.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs