Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Welcome to our Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter
With spring around the corner, we are midway through the winter semester. We thought it a perfect time to provide an update on activities that have recently happened and provide some insight into upcoming events.
Our goal is to keep you informed. While we respect the privacy of our students, the information we will provide in this newsletter will give you a good sense of what is happening on campus throughout the year and will provide you with enough information to have engaging conversations with your student. Enjoy our 2020 parent newsletter winter edition.
Next Steps in the Admissions Process
February 1st was a big day for College applicants. Colleges across Ontario started to make offers of admission, including Algonquin College. There are several key dates for applicants and their families to be aware of leading up to the start of classes in September 2020. They are:
- May 1st Confirmation Deadline: This is the deadline for applicants who have been made an offer of admission to confirm their intentions to enroll at the Pembroke Campus.
- June 15th Tuition Deposit Deadline: This is the deadline to pay the non-refundable $500 tuition deposit for the fall term or to complete a fee deferral through the College’s Financial Aid office.
- August 7th Documentation Deadline: This is the deadline for applicants to provide the college with any outstanding documentation such as transcripts for completed pre-requisites, health immunization records and police records checks, for applicable programs.
- Algonquin Advantage Days Orientation: Orientation for all Pembroke Campus students on September 3 and 4. Full schedules will be emailed and mailed to applicants.
Learn more about additional next steps.
Meet our Campus Dean
Dr. Keltie Jones became the sixth Dean in the 53-year history of the Pembroke Campus when she arrived from the Agricultural College of Dalhousie University in Truro, Nova Scotia last August. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Stanford University in California and has held leadership roles in post-secondary education in both Canada and the United States. She enjoys getting to know our students and her popular “Ask the Dean” sessions are enjoyed by students as it helps keep the lines of communication open with our students.
Dr. Jones enjoys engaging with parents and families and attends many of our student events. She looks forward to meeting you on campus.
Student Housing Options
With approximately 50 percent of students attending the Pembroke Waterfront Campus from out of town, student housing is an important consideration for both the College and families. While the College does not have a student residence, there are four privately owned and operated student residences that have the capacity to house more than 200 Algonquin College students.
These residences all offer different housing experiences and are all within walking distance of the campus. They include Algonquin House, AMNA Student Housing, the Lake Street Residences, one of which is currently under construction but will be ready for the Fall 2020 term and Canoe Lofts, a new student housing complex that is also expected to open in September.
The College has a Housing List page which provides information to students and families on all accommodation options including its new Homestay Program. Homestay allows a student to live with a family in Pembroke and is primarily available to international students and newcomers to Canada who are looking for an enriched Canadian cultural experience while studying at college. The campus housing website will also provide detailed information on other housing options including rental units and room and board.
All decisions made by students and their families to enter into a lease agreement with a landlord are made independent of the college. Therefore, families are encouraged to do their due diligence when making decisions about housing.
Paws 4 Stress – Meet Winston!
Winston is our Pembroke Waterfront Campus Therapy Dog and member of our Dog Squad at Algonquin College. Winston is on campus every Wednesday this semester to help support our students and staff.
Getting Around Pembroke and Getting Back Home
As a smaller city, Pembroke is very walkable, however, it no longer has a public transit service. This can be problematic for students who do not have access to a vehicle. Therefore, students and families should take this into consideration when looking for housing options that are within walking distance of the campus.
Many students use bicycles to get to and from school. The College provides bike racks for students to lock up their bikes while they are in class. Other students carpool, but most walk to and from the college.
Out of town students have two bussing options if they are going home for weekends, statutory holidays or break weeks. Both Greyhound and Ontario Northland serve the city of Pembroke and travel to most medium and larger cities across the province. The bus stop is located at the Giant Tiger store in downtown Pembroke, a short walk from the College.
Positive Space
The Positive Space program is organized by volunteers who work to create awareness of 2SLGBTQ+ communities at Algonquin College. The Positive Space program hosts events, conduct educational initiatives and shares information with all members of the campus community. Learn More →
Pembroke Area Offers Lots of Fun Activities in the Winter Months
Winter can be long and the Pembroke Area has experienced record snowfalls this year. The best way to get through winter is to embrace it. If you are the parent of a student who is currently studying at the Pembroke Campus, here are a few fun activities that you might suggest to your student to help them enjoy the winter season.
- Pembroke is home to a beautiful outdoor skating trail that is 1.5 kms long and curls through a forested area. The Laurentian Valley Skating Trail is only a 15-minute drive from the campus. If your student is interested in trying this free activity but doesn’t have transportation to get there, have them drop by student services where we can help arrange for carpooling.
- The Pembroke Lumber Kings Junior A hockey team plays most Sunday afternoons or evenings through the middle of March. Free tickets are often available through student services in Room 131. The Pembroke Memorial Centre, where the Lumber Kings play, is located across the street from the Waterfront Campus.
- If being outdoors is not for your student during the winter months, Festival Hall Centre for the Arts has plenty to offer with concerts, plays and engaging presentations all winter long.
- If your student is interested in history, Garrison Petawawa has an excellent military museum and the Champlain Trail Museum in Pembroke is well respected for providing a view into the Ottawa Valley’s past.
- The Waterfront Campus has a vibrant book club. Tell your student to drop by the Huckabone Library to get involved and start reading and discussing some of the best books on the market.
These are just a few ideas to help your student get through the winter months. Soon it will be spring!
City of Pembroke By-Laws
Like every municipality, the City of Pembroke has many by-laws that govern how the city operates. These by-laws provide important information that helps families and students understand how they apply to things like parking on city streets during the winter months, noise restrictions, fire department false alarms, and more. It’s a good website to bookmark on your computer. Learn More →
Employment Opportunities in Pembroke
Many of our students are looking for a part-time job while they study at our campus. Our Campus Employment Support Centre office is located in Student Services on the first floor of our campus and is well connected with local businesses that are looking for help.
Job postings are regularly updated and students can access free help with updating their resume and cover letter by dropping by to see our helpful staff.
Many of our programs offer opportunities for students to participate in paid co-op work placements. Students pay co-op administrative fees and must complete a series of learning activities and maintain a high academic standing to be eligible for co-op, but it’s worth it! Co-op provides an exceptional opportunity for students to gain relevant work experience within their field of study, opening up opportunities to get their foot in the door and launch their career. Learn more about the Co-op Experience.
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.
Posted on Wednesday, March 4th, 2020
Ironically, loneliness is a shared experience. Everyone has experienced loneliness at some point in their life, and if you are feeling this way right now you are definitely not the only student. Loneliness is caused by there being a discrepancy between the social and interpersonal connections you want and what you have. The focus on connection here is important: you may have a lot of friends and people around you, but it is the quality of those friendships and connections that influence the feeling of being alone.
Let’s be real here. Pembroke is a small town. This campus is a small campus. This means there are less options and opportunities for social events, activities, and just meeting “your people.” Homesickness, culture shock, and isolation are common and natural to experience in any new environment but are especially heightened in a small town/campus setting. Maybe you don’t feel connected to your classmates, roommates, or the college community. Maybe there are not as many social opportunities as you’d like or even solo activities in the area that fit your unique interests. Maybe you thought it would be different or you would feel differently by this point in the year. Maybe you’ve been trying to put yourself out there and are feeling rejected and dejected. All of this can feel very discouraging. So what can you do?
Practical Options for Dealing with Loneliness
- The first step is accepting the way you feel. Acknowledge that you feel alone or isolated and wish things were different.
- The second step is identifying what exactly you are missing. Are you missing companionship and just having others to do activities with, like going to the movies? Are you maybe more missing having someone you can connect with on a deeper level and feel unconditionally supported by?
- The third step is exploring how you can try or continue to try to combat your feelings of loneliness. This Practical Options for Dealing with Loneliness document reviews some practical options.
- The fourth step is considering if you can live with your loneliness. Yes, you might wish things were different, and loneliness is making you feel sad, but is this feeling tolerable? Can you accept that right now, for whatever reason, you may not have the social and personal connections you want in life? Is there a way to reframe this in terms of the value of having a lot of time to yourself, to focus on your own interests and passions or self-growth? Acceptance of your present circumstance, without judging it or wishing for it to be different, can help to lessen the feeling of distress that accompany loneliness.
Regardless of what steps you take to manage your feelings, I am always available as a support option on campus, even if I can’t replace friendship. Loneliness is difficult to experience and navigate out of, and it may also indicate that something deeper is going on.
I also want to hear what the student community wants for support moving forward. Next week, I will be sending out an email listing some options for social and counselling groups to be offered over the spring/summer semester, and options for Fall 2020.
Shannon – Counsellor, M.C., RP, CCC
Room/Office 138
T 613.735.4700 x2804
Counselling website
Posted on Monday, February 24th, 2020
Maximizing the potential of your employees should be a priority for every business. That’s the focus of the 2020 Spring Business and Leadership Conference scheduled for May 21 at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.
Now into its sixth 
year, the conference supports local organizations by providing high quality and affordable professional development opportunity close to home. This year’s headliner is Doctor Robyne Hanley-Dafoe who will deliver a poignant keynote address on resiliency in the workplace.
As the senior educational developer for the Centre of Teaching and Learning at Trent University in Peterborough, Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award winning psychology instructor who specializes in navigating stress and change with a focus on personal wellness in the workplace.
Hanley-Dafoe will be joined by five other women in producing the first all-women line-up of presenters in the conference’s history. All will focus on topics that will drive improvement within organizations.
For example, Iman Haasan will provide tips on how to promote health and wellness in the workplace through lessons learned from sports psychology. Hassan is a mental health performance consultant who is also a Sport Performance and Psychology doctoral student at the University of Ottawa.
Colleen Walsh has spent more than 20 years helping businesses solve human resources issues. She has entitled her workshop as “The Modern-Day Performance Management Process.” From Walsh’s perspective, there is a lot of discontent with the way employers evaluate employee performance. Her workshop will focus on how to provide constructive criticism that will motivate your employees to build stronger working relationships.
Within a work team, everyone has different responsibilities, but when someone lets the team down it can cause a lot of tension. Victoria Miles is an employee engagement specialist and will deliver a punchy presentation on “Demystifying Accountability,” an interactive workshop that will tackle questions like, what does accountability look like when it’s in action? Most importantly, the session will drill down on why accountability is so important in the workplace and will provide tips on how to introduce it as an employee engagement priority.
Why do so many projects fail? Becky Wright is a certified project manager and will explore the most common reasons why projects don’t succeed. Through group work, Wright will help her audience understand how poor planning is usually to blame and more importantly will delve into what organizations can do to learn from their past failures to plan better.
Erin Blaskie is a social media guru, but she’s also a leading entrepreneur. A lover of technology, Blaskie helps entrepreneurs achieve their goals by inspiring them to achieve greatness, while also understanding the pitfalls that often derail entrepreneurs. In her enlightening session, Blaskie will tackle the question of what does it mean to be an entrapreneur within an organization? In answering that question, Blaskie will be promoting the need for more creativity and innovation to drive business growth and build successful teams.
Registration has opened for the conference. Early bird rates of only $210 plus applicable taxes are in place until March 31 and businesses that register three people for the conference will receive the fourth registration free.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.
Posted on Wednesday, February 12th, 2020
Calling all students! Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is hosting a photography contest! Rules are simple,
- Submit a picture of what inspires you the most in the classroom, in placement, or in the field.
- Provide a brief explanation about why you chose this image to be entered into the contest.
- Only one entry per student – so make it unforgettable!
- Submit by March 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
Submissions will be judged based on both the photo and the written explanation, so remember to include each in your entry! Both 1st and 2nd place winners will be featured in our upcoming Pembroke Campus newsletter. For those wishing to enter please email all submissions to raem@algonquincollege.com by March 6, 2020.
Posted on Monday, February 10th, 2020
At some point, you may ask, “Why should I go to college?” Here are five reasons to study at our campus:
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We prepare you for your future career – learn the skills to get the job: Research reveals 86% of college graduates secure employment within six months. College education continues to be an effective and swift route to employment. The provincial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) show that 85.5% of Algonquin College graduates found employment within six months of graduation. “Colleges are experts at helping people find rewarding careers,” said Linda Franklin, the president, and CEO of Colleges Ontario. “Our graduates’ professional and technical expertise will be even more important in the years ahead as new technology and automation create a heightened demand for a more highly qualified workforce.” There’s no question that having a post-secondary credential has become paramount to a person’s ability to progress in the workplace. Increasingly, employers are asking for a minimum of a college certificate or diploma as a starting point to be considered for a job posting. That reality is the primary factor that drives a person’s decision to enroll in a college program.
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You’re not just a number – we get to know you: At the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, you’re not just a number – we get to know you, your name, and your goals – your opinion is valued. Our campus feels smaller and homier than others, and we are always here to help. Our Support Services team works together to support you based on interactions with you. The best way that we can support you to achieve success is through planning and collaboration within the College’s support services.
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We offer one-of-a-kind programs – you won’t find anywhere else: We offer a number of truly one-of-a-kind programs, with a strong reputation across Canada and internationally. Our beautiful campus is surrounded by scenic countryside, forests, lakes, and rivers–the perfect location for some of the most exhilarating outdoor training programs on earth. Whether you are interested in building the action sports culture, learning how to preserve the present for the future, or looking to become an outdoor guide, we have the programs and certifications that will guide you toward your dream career! Learn more about our programs.
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We’re generous – bursaries help pay your tuition: A bursary is a monetary award that is granted on the basis of financial need. Bursaries are different than scholarships. Scholarships are merit-based and are awarded for academic achievement. Bursaries are financial-need based awards that do not have to be repaid. We have over $250,000 available in bursaries money annually for our Pembroke Campus students. These generous gifts of money from our community members and local businesses are truly appreciated by the students and the College. It helps the college to fulfill its overarching goal of supporting students to be successful in their academic studies and to be career-ready when they graduate. Learn more about
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Our small campus provides more opportunity to connect to your professors: Your professors are experts in their chosen field, so they can help you to succeed academically. Whether you need help to answer questions or clarify materials that are covered in class, you have the opportunity to get that extra one-on-one time at our campus. Professors also know people and have many connections, so when it comes time for you to secure a co-op, placement or even a job, they can reach out to companies who are looking for qualified individuals and speak with them on your behalf.
Join us and learn first-hand the advantages of studying at a smaller campus where we offer our students exceptional learning opportunities and a friendly, supportive environment.
Posted on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020
The Class Representative and Wybourn Awards application process are now open.
Once again, the Class Representative Award allows for three awards; one for each the Perth, Pembroke and Ottawa campuses. The Wybourn award is awarded to one student from any of the three campuses.
- The Wybourn Award is awarded on an annual basis to a Student Leader who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and/or upholding of student rights at Algonquin College during the academic year. It consists of a $500 award and an award certificate. The Wybourn Award was created by Algonquin College’s Board of Governors in honour of Dr. Ed Wybourn, the first Dean of Student Affairs.
- The Class Representative Award is awarded on an annual basis and is designed to acknowledge and reward a student who is deemed to be the most deserving Class Representative. An award is selected for each of the three Algonquin College campuses (Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke). It consists of a $500 award and an award certificate.
The submission deadline for both of these awards is Tuesday, March 10th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
All nominations are submitted online and the link to the page to obtain information, criteria and the online application form can be found here.
All award winners and a guest are invited to the Volunteer Appreciation Gala at the Woodroffe Campus. This is a lovely event acknowledging and thanking student volunteers. This year the Gala will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2020.
Posted on Monday, January 13th, 2020
As you review your new schedules and start to plan out your workload over the semester, you are likely considering how to manage your time, what instructors and services you may need to seek out extra support from, and which subjects and assignments you are going to need to focus more on. It is also important to consider what you may need to best support your mental health over the semester. There, unfortunately, is no “Fitbit” we can wear for our mental health, which would beep if we were at risk for psychological injury, inform us if “what if” thinking was escalating our anxiety, or congratulate us for responding vs. reacting in a situation. Until something like a “mental wellness watch” exists, we have to do this ourselves.
So, are there strategies for managing stress and anxiety that you can start to implement now so that you are less overwhelmed later during the year? I know how hard it can be to learn about strategies for stress or test anxiety when it is exam time. Would you benefit from learning about techniques to manage depression, strong emotions, and low motivation? Will establishing a connection with myself (or others) now help you if you are experiencing distress later on? Especially as the winter weather can lead to isolation, lower activity levels, and even low mood, now is an ideal time to consider what you need to maintain wellness, manage mental health, and limit the impact of mental illness and distress.
To help you start the year off right, the counselling department is continuing to launch initiatives to best support you. You can learn about strategies through the education we have in the waiting area and on the website. You can start to explore coping tools that might come in handy on hard days. I always say that “it’s easier to learn to swim when there aren’t strong waves.” You can start checking in with me to establish a relationship, learn some techniques, and just have a place to get things off your chest. Below is a reminder of the additional ways the counselling department is here to support you.
The COUNSELLING WAITING AREA is an environment for any student to come and decompress throughout the day; it is more than just a waiting area. This is a secluded space with a variety of coping items, including a weighted blanket, kinetic sand, coloring books, and a light therapy lamp (great for during these dark winter months). There are information sheets about stress, panic, and being in crisis, and there are psychoeducation packages for concerns such as depression, anxiety, and general coping. Resource lists and information about community supports are also available.
The PEMBROKE COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT WEBSITE has been updated to include many of the resources available in the waiting area. The psychoeducation packages currently available are: Stress Management; Anxiety Management; Depression Management; Coping and Distress Tolerance; and Trauma and Acute Stress. algonquincollege.com/pembroke/counselling
WIN COUNSELLING CLINICS start up this week, between 1 pm-4 pm on Tuesday, January 14th and Thursday, January 16th. WIN = What’s Important Now? These clinics will consist of 6x 30-minute same-day appointments available for students who have immediate needs they want to address, or an issue they don’t need a regular, longer appointment for. You need to sign-up the morning of, between 8 am-12 pm or you can try dropping in during the afternoon to see if a spot is still free. Information and the sign-up sheet is located in the back of Student Services, in the counselling waiting area. You can use these clinics even if you have not met with me before. Regular appointments will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Posted by Shannon Sevigny, Counsellor
Community & Student Affairs, Algonquin College
1 College Way, Pembroke ON K8A OC8
T: 613-735-4700 ex. 2804
F: 613-735-8805
sevigns@alqonquincollege.com
Posted on Friday, January 10th, 2020
Since 2004, Jennifer Austin and her family have hosted out of town college and high school students in their home. Now, she has become a champion for Algonquin College’s efforts to attract more international students to its Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Austin has signed on to host an international student for the Fall 2020 term because she says “Homestay is a meaningful experience that empowers students to succeed, and it helps you learn a new culture and meet a new friend for life.”
The College has partnered with Canadian Accommodation Services to establish a Homestay program in Pembroke that encourages families to open up their homes to international students. For Austin, it was an easy decision to participate in the program. Her family has hosted high school students from across Canada including the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and from as far away as New Zealand, normally for six months to full year stays. In all, the Austin family has provided a home for 15 students over the years.
“The most rewarding part of being a host family is the bonds that are formed. Each student creates a different bond with our family. It could be something special like inside family jokes or cherished memories of time spent together,” says Austin.
In recent years, the Pembroke Campus has been gradually attracting more international students. These students have come to the campus from several countries including India, China, the United States, Morocco, Ukraine, and Africa. The students study in many programs and have come to Canada because of our country’s excellent reputation for providing high-quality post-secondary training and also its openness to welcoming people from around the world.
“Diversity enriches everyday life. These students have traveled around the world on an adventure, and we get to be part of it,” says Austin who is now collaborating with the College to find other families who are interested in taking part in the Homestay program. As a supporter of the work the College is doing to promote cultural diversity, 
Austin speaks passionately about why she has stepped up to help the Pembroke Campus and has offered some simple advice to other families who are considering hosting an international student.
“Host with open arms and an open heart. Show your student a new perspective, a new culture and be ready to learn something new yourself,” says Austin who is excited to recruit more families. More information on the Homestay program is available on the campus website, including the application form.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Posted on Thursday, January 9th, 2020
#DidYouKnow that we offer WIN Counselling Clinics for students? WIN = What’s Important Now? These clinics consist of 6x 30-minute appointments available for students who have immediate needs they want to address, or an issue they don’t need a regular, longer appointment for. These clinics will be every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 1 pm-4 pm. Students need to sign-up the morning of, between 8 am-12 pm. Information and the sign-up sheet is located in the back of Student Services, in the counselling waiting area. Check out our Counselling resources.
Posted on Thursday, January 2nd, 2020
What’s a better investment? Buying a new car or enrolling in a college program? The answer is very obvious, but too many families don’t hesitate to finance a vehicle, but they second guess the cost of post-secondary education.
Simpl
y put, buying a car is a short term purchase while enrolling in post-secondary education is a life long investment in your future.
Society has been programmed to believe that higher education is expensive and out of reach for many families, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The recent transformation of the Ontario Student Assistance Program has made access to post-secondary training greater than it has ever been.
More grants are available for students with lower incomes, the threshold for family income eligibility for student loans has increased and the application process has been simplified. Moving forward, students will also have a much clearer picture of what their investment will need to be in their education, allowing families to have better information sooner to make their plans for college.
The next time you see the sticker price of $25,000 or $30,000 on a new vehicle that is tempting you, just think how that money could be better spent on earning a post-secondary credential that will carry its value for the rest of your life. Going to college is often a life-changing experience for a student that propels them into a career with higher lifetime earnings, more employment opportunities, enhanced confidence, and eventually more disposable income for things like new cars.
The bottom line is a higher education credential doesn’t depreciate and if you commit to life-long learning, you’ll continue to open doors for yourself. The little black book is a certificate, diploma or degree that will maintain its value and never run out of gas.
Need more convincing, check out Algonquin College’s graduate placement report.
