Posted on Friday, December 16th, 2022
As the calendar turns to a new year, there are many things to celebrate at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Our year in review starts with a very special anniversary as we marked ten great years since we opened our campus along the shores of the Ottawa River. 
We celebrated by inviting many of the people who contributed to the building of the campus, including elected officials, donors, current and past board members, strategic partners, alumni, employees and retirees, all of whom made contributions to the project. The celebration was capped by a surprise performance by Business alumnus and Canadian Country recording artist, Jason Blaine, who has become a leading philanthropist.
Blaine had another successful charity event in the summer of 2022, raising more than $130,000 for community causes. His charity has now invested more than $750,000 into community projects and services in the Pembroke area since it launched almost a decade ago. A major benefactor of Blaine’s generosity has been Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Blaine has donated $200,000 to the campus to support the building of the campus and an endowment fund that helps students in financial need. 
The generosity of Blaine has been extraordinary, but there are other great examples of the college community giving back. Students in the Forestry Technician program were presented with a Changemaker award by the College’s Board of Governors for their work in planting trees in a Forest of Hope near Beachburg, an initiative to bring awareness to preventing suicide.
Promoting equity, diversity and inclusion is a core value of Algonquin College and in the summer of 2022 a new mural was unveiled at the campus that has become a focal point for celebrating the many groups of people that are represented on campus. Many students and employees had the opportunity to participate in the mural painting, making the project very special to everyone who was involved in its creation.
For the first time, National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30 was marked with a special on campus ceremony of reflection led by the Campus Elder, Aimee Bailey. The back-drop for the ceremony was a powerful Legacy of Hope display that chronicled the indignities forced on Canada’s Indigenous peoples, such as the residential school system which separated thousands of children from their families, having a devastating impact on Indigenous communities.
With the guidance of the Elder and Kampus Kokum, Joanne Haskins, the campus Medicine Wheel Garden was refreshed by students and faculty. This spiritual place is located on a hill to the west of the campus and has become a special area for reflection and learning about Indigenous teachings.
As students returned to campus in the Fall of 2022 in much larger numbers, following two years of adapting to primarily remote learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was renewed energy inside the building. Social events and activities were well attended by students who enjoyed the opportunity to connect to their peers outside the classroom, and the campus recreational facilities were well used as students enjoyed rock climbing, intramural sports and the fitness centre.
Prospective students also returned to campus. For the first time in three years, the campus held its Open House for senior high school students. More than 450 students from schools across Renfrew and Pontiac Counties attended. They participated in interactive activities and presentations led by faculty as they learned about the many programs and services offered at the campus.
A change in leadership occurred as the campus welcomed a new Dean and Board of Governor’s representative. Sarah Hall replaced Keltie Jones, becoming the seventh Dean in the more than 55 year history of the campus and Tony Pollard took over for Jay McLaren at the Governor’s table. Hall presided over her first convocation in June, a welcome return to an in person celebration of the graduates after the College had been holding online graduation ceremonies since the pandemic had started. 
As the campus looks toward 2023, it plans for more international students, new programs, more partnerships and the continued support of communities throughout the Ottawa Valley. Mostly, it looks to welcome more students who have hopes and dreams for life-long success. Happy New Year!
(Jamie Bramburger is the Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. The campus will be closed for the holiday season from Friday, December 23 until Monday January 2.)
Posted on Saturday, October 29th, 2022
It’s been a decade since classes were first offered at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. It was October 29, 2012 when students walked into the building for the first time. They had been anticipating the move since classes started after Labour Day, but when the building opening was delayed by a few weeks, it built up their anticipation even more to attend the brand new campus that had been in the works for several years.
When students arrived for classes, they were awestruck. Not all of the building was operational, it would take a few more weeks for the gymnasium to be ready, but it was clear that this was a world class post-secondary building, a significant improvement from where they had come.
The original Algonquin College Pembroke Campus had been a dairy that was added onto when the college was founded in the late 1960’s. Located on Pembroke Street East, beside the historic courthouse, the building was landlocked and lacked many of the modern facilities students expected from a college.
In 2006, the College released an economic impact study that confirmed the campus was generating millions of dollars in economic stimulus for Renfrew County through its students, its employees and its operations. That was the start of the advocacy campaign that would result in the opening of the Waterfront Campus on the shores of the Ottawa River six years later.
Recently, the campus celebrated its tenth anniversary by taking a walk down memory lane. Many of the major donors who participated in the community fundraising campaign were there and so were elected officials, alumni, employees and retirees of the college. They were treated to a special musical pop up concert by Business alumnus and Canadian Country Recording artist, Jason Blaine, who also gave a cheque for $15,000 to Algonquin College President, Claude Brulé, the final installment in his $100,000 commitment to establish an endowment for students in financial need.
The most poignant message of the celebration came from long-time community volunteer, Fred Blackstein, who was on the College Board of Governors when the project was approved. It was Blackstein who moved the motion in 2008 that cleared the way for the college to capitalize on a donation of 17 acres of waterfront land made available by the city of Pembroke, to build what has become a centre-point for the downtown and a source of pride for all of Renfrew County.
In his speech, Blackstein captured several moments in the past decade when the college has made significant contributions to the community, noting the clean-up done by students and employees during two floods along the waterfront, the campus hosting Governor General David Johnston for National Volunteer Week in 2013 and the volunteer work done by Office Administration-Executive students in helping establish the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre.
A month after the campus opened in October of 2012, a grand opening was held. As Blackstein smashed a champagne bottle against the exterior of the new building, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski, called the opening of the campus a “game changer” for the region. Yakabuski was right. In the past decade, the campus has delivered on the promise that was made to the community.
There is more access for local and out-of-town students to post-secondary education as more programs have been added. Increased enrolments have resulted in five privately owned and operated student residences being built to house almost 200 students. The city’s downtown has been revitalized through investments made by developers and the campus has become a hub in the city’s inner core.
Ten years have gone quickly, but celebrating this milestone is a reminder of how proud the community is to have the Waterfront Campus in its midst. It was Blackstein who coined the phrase, “Be Algonquin Proud, Make Algonquin Proud,” when he delivered those words at a convocation ceremony shortly after the campus opened. They continue to ring true for every student, employee and graduate who either studied or worked at the campus. It’s a special place.
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
Reunited-and it feels so good! Hundreds of students who are registered for classes this fall at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus attended orientation activities leading into the start of classes on September 6th and were met by smiling faces as life looked a bit more like it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After two years of only holding virtual orientation for students, this year there was a buzz on campus as students met with faculty and made connections with new classmates and student services staff as orientation returned to the campus. From move in day barbeques and welcome breakfasts, to learning from their teachers what they can expect in the new academic year, it was an exciting time for everyone who is part of the campus community.
There was even opportunities for students to try out the recreational and fitness facilities on campus, including the rock climbing wall which was a huge hit for both new and returning students. The campus attracts many students into its popular Outdoor Adventure program who are heavy users of the wall, but students from many programs enjoy the experience and this year they will have much more access to the facility.
Orientation is such an important part of the college experience. While it is voluntary, most students participated this year, a strong indication of how excited students are to be back on campus. For everyone, it feels like we have turned a corner after more than two years of being apart more than we were together.
Seeing students gathered with their faculty or learning about student services was a breath of fresh air after so many opportunities were lost during the pandemic to bring students together on campus. It was obvious that the students were excited to be back and were highly engaged with everything that was happening around them, even if orientation can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming for some students.
In the days and weeks ahead, students will settle into their academic studies, but there will still be lots of opportunities to engage in social activities that help students make connections and feel more at home in their new surroundings. From concerts to intramural sports, there will be something for everyone and students are encouraged to get involved in things like book clubs, volunteer opportunities and the upcoming 5 kilometre walk or run so they can meet new people.
We are so happy to have students back on campus. We have missed them and look forward to getting to know them better. It’s the most exciting time of the year for a college and having the students on campus has revitalized the campus and everyone who works hard to support student success. Welcome back!
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022
Getting off to a good start is paramount to a student’s success when they enrol in a post-secondary program, but not all students attend their orientation. By not attending, students often start their program a bit behind their classmates, sometimes scrambling to get on the college network, accessing their text books or having trouble navigating their way around the campus. So, here are some good reasons for all students to attend orientation.
Orientation is intended to be an opportunity for students to make connections. At an academic orientation, students meet their faculty and new classmates, they review their timetable, learn about the expectations of the program and their program coordinator will go over a list of things they need to do be successful in the program. This may include submitting documents that clear them for a clinical or work place experience, purchasing equipment or supplies that they will need such as a laptop computer or safety equipment, or participating in a library orientation. It’s important to have all of this information up front so that when classes start, students are ready to go.
Beyond the academic preparation is the need to be familiar with student services. There are many supports that are in place to help students navigate their way through college such as counselling, the centre for accessible learning that helps students with disabilities, tutoring, academic coaching, financial aid, co-op and health services. All of these services work together to provide comprehensive support to students who may need help with understanding curriculum, managing their time or addressing personal issues that are impacted their ability to perform to the best of their ability.
When students attend orientation, they get to know about these services and meet the staff who will help them. Making these early connections can go a long way to helping a student feel comfortable in their new surroundings. But, there are also some business items that students can check off of their to do list. Completing a financial aid profile during orientation will help students who are eligible for financial assistance to access bursaries. Students can also pick up their student I-D photo cards which give them access to printing credits on campus as well as discounts at local businesses and students can learn about the Students’ Association dental and health plan coverage.
Of course, there are lots of fun social and recreational activities as well, including a move in day barbeque, a 5 kilometre walk/run, a concert, comedy night and so much more. All of these activities help build a campus community of support that quickly takes away any apprehension students have about their new learning environment.
Parents can also attend some orientation activities such as the move in day BBQ and a special brunch held on Labour Day weekend for out of town families. There’s also an information session for parents which helps them better understand how the college operates and where they can be an ally to help their student success. By sharing information with parents about what services are available to students, they often can help the college ensure students are accessing the supports they need to overcome any difficulty they are having in their program of study.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus is kicking off its orientation activities on Thursday, September 1st and Friday, September 2nd. Classes begin on Tuesday, September 6th so attending orientation sessions in advance will have students much better prepared for day one of classes. So, make the time and attend your orientation. It will be time well spent.
(Jamie Bramburger is the Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus)
Posted on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022
Canada’s worst day of World War ll highlights the Algonquin College virtual speaker series as the country marks the 80th anniversary of the ill-fated Dieppe raid. In a single day, more than 900 Canadian lives were lost on August 19, 1942 while another 3,460 Canadian soldiers were wounded and almost 2,000 were taken prisoner.
Author Hugh Brewster has written two books about the Dieppe raid and has joined other researchers in poring over the details of the disastrous mission and pondered why it had to happen. Brewster will share new insights into the raid through stories he was told when he befriended several Dieppe veterans during his research and his visit to the French port of Dieppe where the massacre occurred. His presentation is scheduled for Thursday, August 18.
Two nights earlier, on Tuesday, August 16, the College’s speaker series will mark the 45th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. The ‘King of Rock and Roll’ almost exclusively performed in the United States, but on three occasions in 1957 he travelled North of the border where he was greeted by enthusiastic Canadian audiences. Author Brandon Yip has researched and written about the three Canadian tour stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver and will share stories about the Elvis Canadian experience and why it was controversial.
On Wednesday, September 14, author Christopher Dummitt presents “Knowing Too Much about a Dead Canadian Prime Minister” when he digs into the life of Canada’s longest serving head of state, Mackenzie King. The diaries of Mackenzie King exposed the very private life of the Prime Minister and Dummit believes it led Canadians to rethink the boundaries between the public and the private and what counts as important information in judging public figures.
The final presentation in the history series will cover the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 when American President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khruschchev squared off over Cuba. It is often referred to as “13 Days in October,” a time when the world held its breath as the two leaders threatened nuclear strikes. In his presentation on Thursday, October 13, journalist Andrew Cohen questions why it happened, what we learned from this terrifying brinkmanship and six decades later, whether we could be facing another nuclear crisis over Ukraine?
The Algonquin College Speaker Series has been bringing interesting people, including authors, journalists, scientists and high-profile public personalities to the Pembroke Campus for more than 25 years. Speaking events have historically been held on campus, but since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the campus has moved to a virtual speaker series platform which makes the series more accessible to anyone who has internet connectivity.
Tickets for any of the upcoming speaker series are available online and all of the virtual presentations are being made available free to seniors 60 years of age and older. All of the presentations begin at 7 p.m. (EST)
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2022
It’s the middle of the summer and some recently graduated high school students are still making plans for their future. It’s a big decision and the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed their outlook on where they see themselves career wise. It may also have them questioning whether they are ready for the rigor of post-secondary studies.
With rumblings of a recession, high inflation, rising interest rates and a red-hot labour market, we are in the midst of some turbulence. But, over time post-secondary education has proven to be one of the wisest decisions a person can make, leading to longer term stability in the labour force, opportunities for career advancement and a better resume that opens doors to employment for new college graduates.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has a lot to offer. With more than 20 full-time programs available and a very committed group of student services staff and faculty, a smaller campus environment can help students make the transition to higher education. For example, the college has staff who support students with disabilities, provide guidance on applying for financial aid and help students secure co-op positions or work placements that provide them with real life work experience before they complete their program.
As more programming returns to campus this fall, students can expect a robust college experience that includes many events and activities offered through the Algonquin College Students’ Association and Student Services including an orientation concert, a 5 kilometre walk or run, comedy shows, intramural sports and access to great facilities like a gymnasium, fitness centre and rock climbing wall. All of these social and recreational experiences with other students help to make connections that can lead to new interests that broaden a student’s perspective, making them a more well-rounded individual when they complete their academic studies.
Becoming part of a college learning community is a special time for students. Meeting new people, some of whom will become life-long friends, and being taught new skills in a field that inspires you to make a difference is what a new high school graduate can expect. Of course, enrolling in a college program comes with responsibility and ultimately a student will need to take charge of their post-secondary experience.
Asking for help is always a good decision. Free services like coaching and tutoring can help keep a student on track, and learning about how to apply for a bursary can remove some of the burden that may be placed on students who are struggling financially. To be successful, students should take advantage of all of the supports that are available to them to succeed.
There is still time to apply to a college program that begins in September. Many programs have seats available and it’s not unusual for both recent high school graduates and mature applicants to make the decision during the summer months to attend school in the fall.
The first step is contacting the admissions team at the Pembroke Campus to learn more about the programs that are available, or doing your own research by visiting the campus website at: www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke. Step two is to apply through the Ontario College Application Services at: www.ontariocolleges.ca. Then, the admissions team will guide you through the rest of the process to become a student in the fall.
Colleges are well positioned to support employers and job seekers when the economy gets bumpy. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is well integrated within the community and is the primary feeder of trained individuals in several sectors including health care, social services, business, skilled trades, tourism, forestry and adventure tourism. If that’s where your career plans are focussed, take the time to connect with the college. It may be the best decision you make this summer.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. You can reach Jamie by email at brambuj@algonquincollege.com.
Posted on Monday, June 27th, 2022
Marcie Lane remembers the excruciating pain of losing her husband. Master Corporal Scott Vernelli was a career soldier, committed to the cause of the Canadian Armed Forces to bring peace and stability to people around the world and he repeatedly volunteered for missions. In Afghanistan, he would lose his life, only six months after he and Lane had welcomed their first child into the world.
The couple had met while they were both in uniform. Lane was a photojournalist, working under the direction of former Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier when she connected with Vernelli at a banquet in Ottawa. Soon, they were dating and making plans to begin a life together. That plan moved ahead when Lane landed a posting to Garrison Petawawa.
(Scott Vernelli and Marcie Lane hold their infant daughter Olivia)
By early 2008, Lane was pregnant. The soon-to-be parents looked forward to the arrival of their daughter, while Vernelli trained for his third tour of duty to Afghanistan, a mission to a war-torn country that had already cost many Canadian lives.
Canada had joined other nations in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Ironically, Olivia Vernelli would arrive on the seventh anniversary of the day the World Trade Centre crumbled to the ground in New York City.
Vernelli would leave for his final deployment to Afghanistan, 12 days after the birth of his little girl. Over the Christmas holidays, Vernelli was able to come home. Lane put her photography skills to work, capturing special family moments. It would be the last time Lane would spend time with her husband.
(Master Corporal Scott Vernelli in Afghanistan)
On March 20, 2009, only a few weeks before his scheduled return to Canada, Vernelli and another Canadian soldier were killed in action by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol. Vernelli was only 28 years old.
The tragedy left Lane broken. As she grieved the loss of her partner, she became angry and then depressed. “There were days I wanted to kill myself. The grief was so blinding and debilitating,” says Lane who remembers breaking down in a grocery store, feeling rage and pain that dropped her to her knees as she watched other military families in the store.
Unable to cope, she eventually reached out to a grief counsellor, an opportunity that was available to her through the Canadian Armed Forces. Gradually, Lane tried to get her life back on track. She accepted a posting to CFB Borden, but living away from her family with a young child was tough and her mental health again declined.
It was exercise and fitness that helped her turn her life around. As she began working out, her mood improved and she regained her confidence. When she left the military, she enrolled in a Fitness and Health program at Georgian College and then in 2018 found work with the Canadian Armed Forces Morale and Welfare Services in Gagetown, New Brunswick.
(Wearing her Algonquin College convocation gown, Marcie Lane stands with her Father, Harry Lane; daughter Olivia Vernelli; and Mother, Bonnie Farrell at the Fallen Soldier Monument at Garrison Petawawa on Sunday, June 26.)
It was a dream job. She was happy to be engaged again in a military community, helping soldiers stay fit, but three months later, after she and her daughter had driven halfway across the country to allow her to start a new position, she was on her way back to Petawawa. Lane was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. It was devastating news.
She knew she needed to be closer to family, so she and Olivia returned to Petawawa as she began cancer treatments. She lost her hair, shed some tears, often felt very tired and struggled emotionally with whether she would be able to beat the cancer. As she reflected on her life, she questioned why such horrible things had happened to her. But, she was about to have an awakening as her illness brought her face to face with someone who would become a soul sister.
The turning point for Lane came when she was lying in a hospital bed in Ottawa undergoing treatments for her cancer. She had a roommate who was facing the same battle and the two women bonded quickly, referring to themselves as “pink sisters,” but their socioeconomic status was very different.
The woman that Lane was drawing strength from while they simultaneously experienced the side effects of chemotherapy was on the verge of being homeless. She had given up her job while she was undergoing treatment, she had no health care benefits and the loss of an income left her with no money to pay rent and in danger of losing her vehicle.
“Nobody came to visit her. She often tossed and turned at night, not entirely caused from being ill after a day of gruelling treatment, but because she was grappling with how she would survive if she did survive,” reflects Lane.
By contrast, Lane had the support of her parents and her daughter who often visited her in hospital and took care of her family pets while she focussed on getting better. She couldn’t help but think that life was unfair. She thought about those who had helped her in her darkest days and found her calling. She wanted to be a social worker.
Lane had joined the army in 2000, following in the footsteps of her father, Harry Lane. During basic training, she kept a photo of her father in the inside pocket of her military fatigues. In the photo, her father is curled up in his military sleeping bag, exhausted after a hard day’s work in the field. Scribbled on the back of the well-weathered photo, was a message from her Dad that always inspired her. It said, “Quitting is not an option.”
Marcie Lane is definitely not a quitter. She has experienced the raw pain that life can sometimes deliver and has overcome a life-threatening illness. She takes life one day at a time and works hard to help others, including helping her daughter learn about the father she never knew.
(Marcie Lane’s daughter, cadet Olivia Vernelli, salutes at the Fallen Soldier Memorial at Garrison Petawawa, while Marcie and her parents look at the memorial)
Master Corporal Scott Vernelli is buried at Beechwood, Canada’s National Military cemetery. On Father’s Day, Marcie and Olivia stood at his gravesite. Olivia wore a cadet uniform. Marcie brought a graduation gown. It was an emotional but beautiful private moment, one that mourned the loss of a husband and father, but also celebrated Olivia following in her parent’s military path and Marcie’s recent graduation from Algonquin College.
Last fall, Olivia became an Army Cadet with the 3rd division of the Royal Canadian Regiment, embracing the family’s military tradition and joining the same regiment that her Dad had served in. A few weeks ago, Marcie walked across the stage at the Pembroke Memorial Centre, an Honours graduate of Algonquin College’s Social Service Worker program, a credential she earned during a worldwide pandemic. She also received the W.T. Eldon Craig Memorial Award for “Most Outstanding Graduate of the Social Service Worker Program.”
But, it’s not the end of Lane’s educational journey. She has recently been admitted to a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work Degree program at Laurentian University. She will begin her university studies this coming fall.
Lane’s story is still being written, but her response to tragedy is what has driven her to help others. The “pink sister” she met while staring down cancer remains her inspiration. She’ll never forget her, nor her husband who died a Canadian hero. She has found a way forward, demonstrating that “we can all overcome adversity and succeed in life.” That’s the message she will carry forward in her career as a social worker.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus
Posted on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022
Jason Blaine has done it again! The talented musician who has become a philanthropist has raised another $130,000 through his signature charity event held every year in his home town of Pembroke. Over the past eight years, the event has now contributed more than $750,000 to causes that are important to Blaine including youth, mental health and education.
It’s a silver lining for Blaine who has been put through the wringer in the past couple of years. There are few sectors of the economy that were impacted more by the COVID-19 pandemic than the entertainment industry. Blaine knows all about it. For almost two years he wasn’t able to get back on a stage to do what he loves-playing and singing music. But now, he’s back in his groove performing at concerts and fairs across Canada including his hometown.
The Algonquin College Pembroke Campus alumnus and Canadian Country recording artist was born into a musical family and started playing a guitar when he was only five years old. By the time he joined the Business program at the Pembroke Campus after graduating from high school, he was writing songs and a few years later he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where his career took off.
(Jason Blaine performs on stage at his annual charity concert and golf tournament at the Pembroke Golf Club.)
With several hit songs and awards under his belt, Blaine started thinking about how he could give back to his hometown. He set up his own charity just as the Pembroke Waterfront Campus was opening. It was a project that provided the perfect kick off for his charity and he quickly committed to making a $100,000 donation to the campus capital campaign. He then followed it up by establishing the Jason Blaine endowment, a $100,000 bursary fund to help students in financial need at the Pembroke Campus.
During the peak of the pandemic, Blaine’s annual charity event had to be postponed for a year, but it returned in 2021 with a modified one day format at the golf club. It had previously been a two day event that included an evening indoor concert, followed by the golf tournament the following day.
Organizers weren’t sure how supporters of the event would react to the new format, but it worked. More than $75,000 was raised last year and so the single day golf tournament and outdoor concert returned this year, but outdoor events are always risky because of the threat of bad weather and the organizing committee was dealt another curve ball. A torrential rain storm that pounded the Pembroke area the day before the tournament left several holes on the golf course unplayable.
If a pandemic didn’t stop Blaine from continuing with his charity event, mother nature had no chance. The golfers took things in stride. Some sat and listened to a day of great music while others took to the course and played as many holes as they could. A few ended up with soakers because of the wet conditions, but no one minded. They were there to support Blaine who has never forgotten his Ottawa Valley roots.
Through his generosity, Blaine continues to make Algonquin College proud.
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus)
Posted on Friday, June 3rd, 2022
It had been two long years since Algonquin College had celebrated its graduates with an in person ceremony, but on Friday, June 3 the traditional pomp and circumstance of a convocation ceremony returned to the venerable Pembroke Memorial Centre. The 70-year old arena that has hosted the Pembroke Campus annual celebration of its graduates for more than a decade was transformed, decorated in black curtains, large video screens and a well lit stage with the College’s Coat of Arms as its focal point.
(Valedictorian Steven Lafond receives the valedictorian plaque after delivering an inspiring message to the graduating class of 2022.)
All of the elements of a convocation ceremony were back. The President’s address, a message from the school valedictorian, the conferring of certificates, diplomas and degrees and most noticeably, the clapping and cheering for the graduates. It was special. It reminded all of us of what we had missed over the past 24 months.
(The graduating class of 2022 sit in front of the main stage, awaiting their opportunity to be celebrated as graduates.)
President Claude Brulé delivered a fitting message, reminding the graduates that life “is a zig zag,” encouraging them to pull together all of their life experiences to create their pathway for success. “Instead, build your life portfolio with a variety of experiences — some from work, some from your social and family activities, some from your hobbies or leisure time. Together, it will create a mosaic that is uniquely you, a rich profile that will take you places you might not have originally imagined, where your passion makes a difference and your tenacity makes you proud,” said the President.
(College President Claude Brulé addresses the graduates, congratulating them for their resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Pembroke Campus Valedictorian, Steven Lafond, knew exactly what the President was talking about. He had landed what he considered a dream job on Canada’s west coast shortly before the pandemic began in March of 2020, working as a production manager for a theatre in Vancouver. In an instant, he was out of work as the arts and entertainment industry was plunged into darkness. Lafond faced an uncertain future. He chose to return to school, enrolling in the Business program at the Pembroke Campus.
Lafond told the graduates, “Some of you may have faced a similar crossroads. As a mature student, returning to college wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew it was the right decision for me.” 
(Campus valedictorian Steven Lafond of the Business program is all smiles after the ceremony.)
The decision to attend college has already paid off. Lafond has secured a full-time position with the federal government, working as Ministerial Appointments Officer for the Corporate Secretariat. His message to his classmates reflected on his own experience facing adversity, but stressed the importance of controlling your own destiny.
“So be confident — be bold! And most importantly believe in yourself. Because if you can earn a college certificate, diploma or degree during a pandemic, you can do anything,” said Lafond.
(Acting Dean Sarah Hall presents the graduates to the President, recommending them for graduation.)
Some graduates chose to watch the ceremony online, but many did attend in person as did their families. Physical distancing and mask wearing were required, but no one minded. Everyone was just happy to be marking this significant milestone in the lives of our graduates, who have now moved on to become alumni of Algonquin College.
Congratulations to the class of 2022!
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Monday, May 16th, 2022
For four days, employees and students at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus watched as the new mural came to life. What started with a community painting day ended with a vibrant display of colour and powerful imagery that brings attention to Algonquin College’s commitment to celebrating diversion and inclusion at all of its campuses.
L to R: Kalkidan Assefa, Jimmy Baptiste and Allan Andre spent a week at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, where they painted an outdoor mural at the campus, helping to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the campus.
Initiated by the College’s Inclusion and Diversity Circle, the project intentionally introduced street art style murals to the Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth campuses in an attempt to tackle visual representation as a barrier to belonging in the college community. The artists, Jimmy Baptiste, Allan Andre and Kalkidan Assefa, provided a dream team of artists who used paint brushes and spray paint to showcase their talent in creating a centrepiece for the campus.
By using street art, the mural is deeply rooted in Black and Latinx culture and creates a welcoming message that is not restricted by colonial perceptions of art. The art is rooted in social equity and tackles visual representation by helping to create a more welcoming place for people from all cultures and races. It also weaves in Indigenous story-telling through the inclusion of animals and a Wampum belt.
The murals that have now been completed at the three campuses are all connected. Where one mural ends, the next one begins, sharing a common message that was inspired by the Algonquin College community. Choosing the murals’ different elements came from consultations involving the artists listening to various stakeholders, including college employees and students.
Campus employees, students and members of the community contributed to the mural painting.
What makes the mural incredibly personal is that it involved so many hands. At each campus, community painting days were held, allowing novice painters to contribute to the mural by painting small sections of the artwork. At the Pembroke Campus, more than 40 employees, students and community members participated, adding colour to what has become a signature piece of artwork for both the College and the city of Pembroke.
The mural is located in a covered picnic table area on the North side of the campus, easily seen from the Kiwanis Walkway, which provides a recreational space for walkers and bikers along the shores of the Ottawa River. The walkway attracts thousands of people annually who get their exercise and can now enjoy some beautiful art as they pass by the college.
As the project progressed, many people stopped by to admire the work that was being done by the artists and to learn more about the mural. The artists were very accommodating, even modest, as they graciously accepted the compliments that were delivered to them by an appreciative audience.
The mural is a conversation starter and sends an important message to the entire community while reinforcing Algonquin College’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The mural has done exactly what it was intended to do. It loudly states, “We all belong.”
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at the Pembroke Campus)
For the first time, National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30 was marked with a special on campus ceremony of reflection led by the Campus Elder, Aimee Bailey. The back-drop for the ceremony was a powerful Legacy of Hope display that chronicled the indignities forced on Canada’s Indigenous peoples, such as the residential school system which separated thousands of children from their families, having a devastating impact on Indigenous communities.
With the guidance of the Elder and Kampus Kokum, Joanne Haskins, the campus Medicine Wheel Garden was refreshed by students and faculty. This spiritual place is located on a hill to the west of the campus and has become a special area for reflection and learning about Indigenous teachings.
(Jason Blaine performs on stage at his annual charity concert and golf tournament at the Pembroke Golf Club.)
(Valedictorian Steven Lafond receives the valedictorian plaque after delivering an inspiring message to the graduating class of 2022.)
(The graduating class of 2022 sit in front of the main stage, awaiting their opportunity to be celebrated as graduates.)
(College President Claude Brulé addresses the graduates, congratulating them for their resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
(Campus valedictorian Steven Lafond of the Business program is all smiles after the ceremony.)