Posted on Sunday, March 11th, 2018
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.
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.
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
Posted on Monday, February 12th, 2018
The calendar has turned to a new year and there are lots happening at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus. Here is a quick update for parents and family members. Enjoy our 2018 parent newsletter winter edition.
Winterfest: February 28th
The winter semester at the Waterfront Campus is underway and recently we’ve had a lot of snow in Pembroke. This will certainly help us as we plan our Winterfest carnival for students on Feb 28th.
Winterfest is a fun afternoon and evening for students that will include:
- Outdoor activities in the snow like snowshoeing, ice sculpting and sliding
- Loggersports and Action Sports Park Development demos
- Free lunch for all students
- Free public skating at the Pembroke Memorial Centre followed by a women’s and men’s student-staff hockey game
- Free dinner back at the campus where students can enjoy live entertainment.
- A Career Networking Fair featuring dozens of employers in many sectors.
- Plus, we will be making a number of draws for some great prizes! All students who participate are eligible.
Yes, we like to give our students free stuff to make their college experience more enjoyable!
More details can be found here >>
Ottawa Valley History: Speaker Series
The theme of our Algonquin College Speakers Series this year is Ottawa Valley history and there are certainly a number of stories to explore, including the Flying Bandit. On March 19, the reporter who broke the story and co-authored a book on the flying bandit, Ed Arnold, will share details of how an American convict escaped from prison and started a new life in Pembroke. Unfortunately, that life made him one of Canada’s most notorious bank robbers. 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.
This session will be held in the evening of Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at our Waterfront Campus. You can learn more about this presentation on our Speaker Series website >>
Indigenous Culture Celebration
In partnership with the Circle of Turtle Lodge, we are exploring and celebrating the indigenous culture during the month of March with a variety of activities related to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The goal of our celebration is to offer the opportunity for our students and employees to learn more about indigenous ways through interactive lunch and learns. Our activities include:
- Info Fair Celebration Kick-off: March 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons
- Algonquin Song Lesson & Drumming Circle: March 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium
- Kairos Blanket Exercise: March 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium
- Talking Stick Workshop: March 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 426
- Talking Circle: March 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium
Events, Events and More Events!
We have a number of events on campus, both faculty and staff-driven and student organized. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything that is happening, which is why we have created the Waterfront Campus Events Calendar >>. Learn more about the fun and academic event opportunities available for our students.
Flu Season 
With so many students and staff at the Waterfront Campus daily, it is easy for the flu to spread at this time of year. The College offers free flu shots to students through its Health Services office which is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. An appointment is not necessary.
Throughout the campus there are also hand sanitizer stations and our Health Nurse does a great job of promoting the importance of hand washing, particularly at this time of year when the flu and cold season is at its peak.
Mental Health Programs Winter 2018
As we start the new semester, establishing good habits for our health and wellness is really important to continue to be successful. Counselling Services will be providing a number of free programs this semester to help students achieve the best success possible. Some great tips and information can be found in our Mental Health Matters Newsletter >>
- Is your student STRESSED? ANXIOUS? – Have them check out the Chill Café! A 6-week program to help students with managing stress and anxiety in a more effective way. Thursdays Feb 8-March 22 (excluding Feb 22) from 2-3:30 pm in Room 308. Students can sign up at chillcafe.eventbrite.ca
- Does your student need to improve their physical well-being and exercise? They are welcome to join us for snowshoeing, yoga, and walks with Wellness In Nature Days (WIND). We are adding new activities regularly. See our up to date programs at fb.me/WINDACOV
- Is your student having challenges with Alcohol or Drugs? What about Eating Challenges? Gaming or on the internet too much? SMART Recovery works to help with various behaviours that can be addictive and helps by teaching skills to overcome these challenges. This is a student-run and for students only program. Thursdays at 4-5:30 pm in Room 216.
- Positive Space offers a safe space for students to meet with open-minded people and enjoy lunch together – Tuesdays at 12-1pm in Room 308
- Coffee House Art Space is a weekly opportunity for students to be creative and learn or practice art skills – Mondays from 5-7 in Room 122
March Break Open House
Are you a parent/guardian or spouse of a student starting a program at our campus September 2018? If yes, we invite you to join us on Saturday, March 10, 2018 starting at 9 a.m. for our March Break Open House.
At our Open House, you can:
- Meet our student services staff and find out more about supports for students. Staff from the following areas will be available to answer your questions: Admissions; Financial Aid; Fee Payment Cashier; Recruiters; Student Success Specialist; Disabilities Counsellor; Housing, and General Information.
- Attend a variety of 30-minute information sessions
- Take a tour of our new waterfront campus
- Enjoy a free Lunch & Learn Session – Q & A: Bring all your questions and our current student panel will answer them
- Hear directly from current students at our popular student panel
- Meet some of our faculty from specific programs
Learn more and register now >>
We hope this newsletter has been helpful. Please keep in touch with us and offer us feedback on topics you would like us to cover in future newsletters.
Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.
Sincerely,
Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Algonquin College Waterfront Campus, Pembroke, ON.
PM-Parents@algonquincollege.com
Posted on Tuesday, February 6th, 2018
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.
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.
Doctor 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.
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.
Every 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.
The 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
Posted on Monday, February 5th, 2018
Official Tuition Tax Receipts (T2202A) are available online via ACSIS in early February for qualifying programs and courses.
Please note: For post-secondary credit activity, fees are prorated over the learning period and are not always credited in the year of payment.
It is not necessary to include the T2202A with your income tax claim; however, it will be required to validate a claim if you are audited.
A T2202A is issued to the student. If a student is sponsored, the sponsor will issue a T4A for the amount paid on the student’s behalf. The student must claim the sponsored amount as income and can claim the tuition credit or allocate it to a parent/guardian if applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information, please check the Government of Canada’s website at http://cra.gc.ca/students.
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are into action sports and those who aren’t. Extreme sports such as snowboarding, BMX riding, skateboarding and mountain biking have been around for years, but the idea of action sports really started to gain notoriety in the 1990s with the inception of the X Games.
The Ottawa Valley is rooted in the world of action sports as a result of the dynamic and adventurous landscape that surrounds our community. The City of Pembroke is nestled between the Ottawa River and Algonquin Park. The Ottawa River, recently designated as a Canadian Heritage River, boasts some of the most extreme whitewater rapids in the world and Algonquin Park offers an abundance of rugged terrain for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. As a result, the region is a destination for those seeking extreme adventures.
It’s not surprising the new Algonquin College Action Sports Park Development program was the brainchild of avid action sports adventurer, Jeff Jackson. Jackson, Coordinator of the Outdoor Adventure program at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, identified a gap in skilled professionals who had the knowledge and hands-on experience to build action sports parks. He recognized an opportunity for the Pembroke Campus to be at the forefront of developing a specialized program that teaches technical construction skills related to where these sports happen, helping to meet the needs of the rapidly growing action sports industry.
Action sports parks, such as ski and snowboard terrain parks, skateparks, BMX parks and mountain bike terrain parks, are everywhere. In 2016, in Canada alone, there were 650 skateparks, 250 ski resort terrain parks, 100 mountain bike parks, and 75 BMX race tracks. All of these specialized parks require teams of skilled professionals who can not only maintain the facilities but also work to improve and create new and more extreme features, keeping safety at the forefront of the design principles they implement.
It wasn’t hard to build some excitement about this new program because there are numerous action sports park trailblazers right in our backyard including Josh Brose and his family at The Brose Farm. This farm and its farmers are unlike any you’ve ever met. Josh is a renowned BMX rider and event manager that works with brands like Red Bull to create and organize action sports events at the property. The Brose Farm is a beautiful plot of multi-generational field and forest that in the last decade has evolved into something quite distinctive. “Over the years we piled the dirt and framed structures that have resulted in a top-notch BMX / Mountain Bike dirt course, which includes dirt jumps, pump tracks, wall rides, quarter pipes, drop-ins, and mini ramp,” says Josh.
Josh and his friend/co-worker Steve Moreau were tapped to teach our first cohort of Action Sports Park Development students the art of dirt jump building. And it is an art! The structural awareness and understanding of materials is paramount to noteworthy facilities such as The Brose Farm and The Construction Yards in Petawawa, ON.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is no stranger to creating college-level programs that raise eyebrows. Our small waterfront campus is known as a leader in outdoor training, and our new Action Sports Park Development program is pushing our reputation to new heights. This eight-month certificate program acknowledges that action sports is an emerging industry and a career pathway for anyone who is a passionate extreme sports enthusiast.
Posted on Friday, January 19th, 2018
As we start the new semester, putting in good habits for our health and wellness is really important to continue to be successful. Counselling Services are happy to be able to provide a number of programs this semester to help achieve the best success they can. Some great information to help you succeed can be found in our Mental Health Matters Newsletter >>
Winter Mental Health Programs
- STRESSED? ANXIOUS? – What about Chill Café? A 6-week program to help with managing stress and anxiety in a more effective way. Thursdays Feb 8-March 22 (excluding Feb 22) from 2-3:30 pm in Room 308 sign up at chillcafe.eventbrite.ca
- Need to improve your physical well-being and exercise? Join us for snowshoeing, yoga, and walks with Wellness In Nature Days (WIND). We are adding new activities regularly. See our up to date programs at fb.me/WINDACOV
- Having challenges with Alcohol or Drugs? What about Eating Challenges? Gaming or on the internet too much?
SMART Recovery works to help with various behaviours that can be addictive and helps by teaching skills to overcome these challenges. This is a student-run and for students only program. Thursdays at 4 -5:30 pm in room 216.
- Want to be able to help a friend at risk of overdose?
Opioid Information and Harm Reduction Workshop for students – Wednesday Feb 7th 2:30-3pm room 435.
- Wanting a safe space to meet with open-minded people and enjoy lunch together. Join us for Positive Space – Tuesdays at 12-1pm in room 308
- Wanting a place to be creative and learn or practice art skills. Join us for Coffee House Art Space on Mondays from 5-7 in room 122
Posted on Thursday, January 11th, 2018
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.
Fast 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.
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.
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
Posted on Monday, January 8th, 2018
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 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.
Pembroke 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
Posted on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018
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.
This 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 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 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
Posted on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017
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.
A 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.
At 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
