Posted on Thursday, January 2nd, 2020
Sean Kyte was hoping for a better result. He had represented Canada at the World Deaf Hockey Championships in 2017 in Buffalo, New York and had felt the sting of losing in the gold medal game to the United States, but two years later he was confident his team could beat the Americans.
L to R: Thomas Kyte, Johnny Kyte, Sean Kyte
Kyte, along with two of his cousins, Thomas and Johnny Kyte, had made the Canadian team that had travelled to Chiavenna, Italy to play against the best hearing impaired hockey players in the world at the Winter Deaflympics hockey tournament. To participate, players must have a minimum hearing loss of 55 decibels in the better of their two ears.
Through the round-robin, the Canadian team cruised to four consecutive wins, beating Russia 3-1, Finland 5-1, Kazakhstan 18-0 and the United States 4-1. The undefeated record, including the win against the Americans, gave the Canadians confidence they could prevail in the gold medal game. Unfortunately, that confidence was shattered as the Americans took command of the game early and won 7-3, meaning Kyte and his teammates would again have to settle for a silver medal.
“After losing to the U.S. two years ago, and losing again this year, it was really heartbreaking. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it was an unbelievable experience,” says Kyte.
Part of that experience was playing in an arena that offered a breathtaking open-air view of the Alps. The arena had seating on only one side, and while the playing surface was covered, the other side of the building faced the mountains and was wide open, providing a picturesque setting for the championship game that was played in front of a sold-out crowd.
“It was stunning. Sitting on the bench, you could see the mountains across from you, which is something I will never forget,” says Kyte.
Players were not permitted to wear their hearing aids during games, so in addition to whistles, strobe lights were used to alert the players of a stoppage in play. The arena also had only one door on the player’s bench, making it more difficult to make line changes.
Hearing impairment is prevalent within the Kyte family. Sean’s father, Murray Kyte, also has hearing loss and won a bronze medal when he played in the tournament several years ago in Russia, while his Uncle Frayne Kyte won a gold medal in Switzerland. Sean’s Uncle, Jim Kyte, was the first deaf player in the National Hockey League, and through his 16-year professional career and following his retirement as an athlete, he continues to be a great advocate for deaf athletes.
Kyte is a double graduate of Algonquin College. He completed the Construction Techniques program (now Carpentry and Renovation Techniques) at the Pembroke Campus after graduating from high school, picking up some fundamental carpentry skills that have turned him into a “handyman,” for his family and friends. He then enrolled at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where he earned a Business Degree, but his educational journey at Algonquin College wasn’t over.
His passion for sports led him to enroll in the post-graduate Sports Business Management program at the Ottawa Campus. “I knew I wanted to work in a career that centred around sports,” says Kyte, who landed his first job with a start-up company called “Fan Saves.”
Fan Saves has developed a mobile sports application that helps companies promote their products and sell them to support local sports teams and organizations. The app gives users discounts and deals from brands affiliated with their favourite clubs and businesses, whether it be a local baseball team or a professional hockey club.
For Kyte, it has been exciting to be in at the ground level of the new company and watch it grow. With the title of business development executive, Kyte spends plenty of time on the road and making pitches to prospective clients. “It has been a blessing to be able to work within the sports industry while learning every day about the app world within business,” says Kyte.
To be able to play for Canada at the Deaflympics, Kyte required the support of his employer as he needed to be away from work to attend tryouts and training camp, plus travel to Italy to compete in the tournament. He was grateful to have had the opportunity to again play against the best deaf hockey players on the planet, but he is not satisfied with having two silver medals under his belt. He is still craving a gold medal.
In 2021, the World Deaf Hockey Championships will be played on Canadian soil in Vancouver, a city that has a golden hockey history, having hosted Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” in the 2010 Winter Olympics. If Kyte can again make the team, he hopes Crosby’s game-winning overtime marker against the Americans will provide the inspiration for Canada’s deaf team to win it all. If that happens, it will truly be a golden moment for both him and his country.
Posted on Thursday, January 2nd, 2020
The bursary application cycle will close on February 8, 2021.
You are encouraged to apply for the 2021 Winter Bursaries. 
Bursaries awarded to students are applied to the student account. If you are registered in a graduating level or are a sponsored student, a cheque will be mailed to you. You can expect to be notified of a bursary decision by email.
Students applying for bursaries will be required to have their Social Insurance Number (SIN) registered on the college system for income tax purposes.
If you cannot apply online, please email studentawards@algonquincollege.com.
Posted on Tuesday, December 31st, 2019
We asked some former Pembroke Waterfront Campus, first-year students, what survival tips they thought you would benefit from…some insider info! Here are your Top 10 Survival Tips from fellow student:
- Be proactive, surround yourself with positivity – be a star.
- Love your program, get involved – don’t be a tourist.
- Milk your instructors for their knowledge & expertise – know your learning style.
- Go to class, do assigned homework – learn new study habits.
- Stay clear of distractions, be focused – commit to a standard.
- Know your budget – apply for bursaries.
- Tap into available resources – talk to your coordinator or a support services staff member and visit the Students’ Association.
- Plan ahead. Your agenda is your bible – use your resources.
- Buy a watch, know the time and what you are doing next – be 5 minutes early.
- Ask questions, be in the know – read your email daily.
Posted on Friday, December 13th, 2019
When considering attending college, most prospective students associate the start of the school year with the fall, but there are also opportunities to begin post-secondary studies in the winter. In fact, Algonquin College leads the Canadian college system in online student registrations, but for students who prefer more traditional face-to-face classroom training, here are some options available this winter at the Pembroke Campus.
Academic Upgrading offers opportunities for students who are considering enrolling in a full-time college program to pick up pre-requisites that will help them meet admissions requirements. These courses are normally free for Ontario residents and can really help a student prepare for the rigor of post-secondary studies. Some students may have the admission requirements, but they have been removed from formal education for several years, and a refresh of their English, math or science skills can really prepare them for a college program.
Many of the courses offered in Academic Upgrading are available on a continuous intake cycle, meaning students can join classes at any time. This is very convenient for learners and with the help of an academic advisor, the students can carve out a plan that sets them up for a successful college experience.
Some students have plans to study in a specific vocational program, but because the program doesn’t start until the fall they enroll in the General Arts and Science program. This can be a very smart move for many students as they can customize their timetable to pick up credits that can be applied to other college programs. This lessens the student’s workload when they enroll in future programs as they have exemptions. Students can also enroll as a part-time student, a tactic often used by junior hockey players who are under consideration for an athletic scholarship at a university.
Personal support workers (PSW) are in high demand and Algonquin College is again collaborating with the County of Renfrew to offer a PSW program, beginning in January at Bonnechere Manor in Renfrew. With jobs plentiful in the field, the extra offering will help employers throughout the County meet their labour market needs. Many of these health care organizations have expressed concern over their difficulty in hiring PSWs as there is currently a shortage of these frontline health care workers.
The College is also offering a pre-apprenticeship electrical program at its Pembroke Campus this winter. This six-month program provides students with an opportunity to complete level one of the electrical apprenticeship theory course and includes a paid workplace experience within the electrical field. Pre-apprenticeship programs are free to students but are highly competitive as they draw a significant number of applications.
Finally, high school students can get a head start on college by enrolling in a Dual Credit course. Each year Algonquin College offers several of these courses in the fall and winter terms. A Dual Credit is a college course that high school students can enroll in, and if successful, they can earn both a college and a high school credit. It is a great way for high school seniors to transition to post-secondary education.
More information on all of the options that are available to students this winter can be found on the college website at www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke or by visiting the Pembroke Campus and speaking to an admissions officer. It’s never too early or too late to be planning your educational journey.
Posted on Monday, November 4th, 2019
Aiden Maher knew it was going to be a long day when he arrived at six o’clock in the morning on November 1st at TD Place field. The Ottawa REDBLACKS were playing that evening and after a day of pelting rain and high winds, Maher understood the field would need a lot of work to get it ready for the team’s final home game of the season.
The 23-year old Petawawa native had moved to Ottawa five years earlier to secure consistent work as a carpenter, but when he saw an advertisement for a job with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, he applied and landed a position helping to set up and tear down major events like concerts. He was working part-time in carpentry but thought the extra hours working in the entertainment business would help pay the bills.
After a few months on the job, Maher was asked, if he would be interested in helping the field preparation crew. He was curious about the work and once he started doing it, he really enjoyed it. He has now been doing it for five years as one of the organization’s leading Playing Surface Technicians, responsible for painting on both the TD Place field and the ice at the Ottawa Civic Centre.
“It’s a job that can be very demanding”, but Maher loves it. There is a lot of precision to the painting, whether it’s using a stencil to complete the Canadian Football League logo or it’s painting the numerals on the 110-yard long field. “There are some similarities in the carpentry work that I do in that you have to be really focussed to do the job well. Concentration is important,” says Maher.
After graduating from General Panet High School, Maher had enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship Construction Trades program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus in 2015. The program lasted six months and allowed Maher to complete level one of the theory portion of the carpenter apprentice training program. Students in the program also received a work placement experience, including a large group assignment to re-build Pembroke’s aging waterfront boardwalk.
“I enrolled because the program was free and I was always doing carpentry work when I was a kid. It was a great experience and got me started in my career,” says Maher. After finishing the program, Maher quickly found work in his trade, but when he was laid off from his job, he and his sister decided to move to the nation’s capital.
His first focus was on finding someone who would take him on as an apprentice so he could continue to hone his skills as a carpenter. It didn’t take long to find a small company that hired him on a part-time basis. That arrangement afforded him the opportunity to look for other work and that’s how he found himself on the sidelines of TD Place Field, keeping a watch on the playing surface.
On game nights, he blends in with the many other team officials who are watching from field level, standing near his alma mater, the Algonquin College Loggersports team. But, there is one thing that stands out. On this cold November night, it’s his jacket, covered in paint streaks, recognition of a hard day’s work.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Posted on Sunday, October 27th, 2019
Every year, Algonquin College celebrates the incredible achievements of its alumni through the Alumni of Distinction Awards. These awards honour the extraordinary contributions our graduates make to the community while achieving career success. Here is a closer look at the Recent Graduate award recipient.
Community is vital to Naomi Fong. When she speaks about her two years studying at the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College, one of the things she highlights is the extraordinarily tight community she formed with her fellow students in the Social Service Worker program. Even now, you can hear the enthusiasm in her voice as she speaks about this special time in her life.
Originally, she planned to study in a different program at the Ottawa campus. But when she looked into becoming a Social Service Worker at Pembroke, she saw a natural fit with her interests and her personal priorities. She wanted to learn how to help others and at the same time learn more about herself. She wanted to develop the confidence to be a full contributor to group work, to stand and speak in public, and to earn her credentials.
“My studies helped me come into my own skin and be confident and tell my story safely in a way that I hope can help others,” she says.
Naomi’s story is a difficult one to hear — but one she wants you to know. The nine-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, now retired, was sexually assaulted while she was in the military. The attacks devastated her physically and mentally. One incident in particular that contributed to her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulted in a physical injury that denied her one of her fondest wishes: to serve her country overseas. The former Bombardier is proud of her achievements in domestic operations serving Canada and the military but she says she will always regret that an overseas posting eluded her.
The assault completely altered her personal and professional trajectory. She says she went from being a proud member of the military to someone chain-smoking alone in her basement and refusing to come out into the light. It has only been gradually and with considerable help from the College and others that she has been restored to something like normal life. She describes the ongoing process as years of taking small steps in order to cope with the negative cycles that accompany PTSD.
One of her first initiatives involved taking a yoga teacher training course, where she rediscovered the sense of community she had once enjoyed in the military.
“Then I stepped into the College, and I found another community where you look at who you are and where you want to be, and there are people to help you get there academically and in terms of your mental health. I received a lot of support from my colleagues and professors and the Centre for Accessible Learning; they were there for me when I needed them.”
What the honours graduate gained through her studies, she says, now helps her tie everything together: she uses what she learned and experienced at the College in her dealings with other people when she’s speaking in public when she is making decisions about what comes next in her life.
One of those decisions after completing her diploma involved joining 39 Canadians competing in 13 sports at the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia in October 2018. The games, an international event founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, showcases the physical accomplishments of wounded and injured armed service personnel and veterans from around the world. Fong, a dedicated athlete who can be found daily at the gym, took home two bronze medals in the Women’s Road Cycling competitions, competed in three other sports, and was the Team Canada flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.
Fong says despite a disability and obstacles she is becoming “one per cent better every day.” She maintains a Facebook page promoting her values of fitness and creative expression. She says Algonquin College gave her a platform to practice making presentations and acquire confidence when speaking in public, and she believes that might provide a pathway to her next career.
“Talking about mental health and mental illness is a way forward. It’s healing for the speaker and for the listener. My education is helping me tell my story. If I can take what I learned and help others if I can help them feel safe and know they aren’t defined by their injury — maybe that will be my way to make a difference.”
Posted on Monday, October 14th, 2019
Colleges are well known for the practical education that they offer students. It’s in their DNA to be integrated with the communities they serve and as a result, students who study at a college can expect to have work-integrated learning experiences as part of their program of study. What students don’t see is the effort that is made to build curriculum that is relevant and meets the expectations of employers so that graduates are well prepared for the workplace.
A key part of the curriculum development process is gathering feedback from stakeholders. There is no group that is more important than a program advisory committee when it comes to taking the pulse of the industry. These committees are mandated for full-time college programs and are made up of individuals who have a vested interest in what is being taught in the classroom. They are often employers, entrepreneurs and organizational leaders who are in a position to hire graduates and because they come equipped with knowledge of the latest trends within their field, these subject matter experts are well-positioned to offer the college good advice.
Advisory committees normally meet two or three times a year. It is not an onerous commitment, but it is time well spent. Advisory committees are often involved in digging deeper into a program’s performance, reviewing critical data such as student retention and graduation rates, making recommendations on new courses or certifications that should be added to a program while also suggesting courses that should be discontinued, and offering feedback on partnerships that should be explored. Advisory committees can also play a major role in helping to promote programs, utilizing their connections within the community to share any changes to a program that will benefit businesses, such as adding co-operative education placements for students.
Committee members are very proud of the work that they do. The collaboration between these stakeholders and the college faculty and administration helps build a program’s reputation and can be very influential in decision making. Minutes from advisory committee meetings are shared with the Campus Dean and Vice President of Academic for the College, ensuring that committees are active and their recommendations are brought forward to the highest levels of the college.
Advisory committees are a key ingredient to the success of Ontario’s college system. They ensure that colleges are always in tune with industry needs, and that bodes well for the students who entrust colleges with preparing them for the workplace. They can rest assured that the organizations that will hire them when they graduate have been well consulted on the curriculum they have been taught.
Posted by: Jamie Bramburger is the Acting Chair of Health and Community Studies at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus
Posted on Thursday, October 10th, 2019
ATTENTION PEMBROKE WATERFRONT CAMPUS STUDENTS!
Please find below information regarding the Women’s Initiative Network Award. Please complete this application and return to Sharon Moreau, moreaus@algonquincollege.com. The deadline for application submission is November 12, 2020.
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WOMEN’S INITIATIVE NETWORK AWARD
For First-Year Post-Secondary Students Attending the Pembroke Waterfront Campus
Terms/Criteria:
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This $700.00 award is made available to ONE woman who is registered as a full-time college student in a post-secondary program. This award intends to assist a woman to gain qualifications that she needs in order to enter or to re-enter the workforce. Preference is given to those who have been absent from the school system or from the paid workforce for a period of time. Preference is also given to those who need financial support and who lack formal employment qualifications. The money will be paid directly to the Registrar in partial payment of second-semester tuition fees.
2. Applicants must demonstrate financial need as well as good academic progress. Applicants must also give permission for the committee to check on both their OSAP status and their academic standing.
Posted on Saturday, August 31st, 2019
MacLean’s magazine recently released its annual report on the best communities in Canada to live in. 415 municipalities made the list, including three from Renfrew County. Petawawa placed number 120, Laurentian Valley came in at 279 and Pembroke landed at 318 on the list.
Considering there are more than 3,500 municipalities in Canada, these three local communities should be very proud of their standing in this national survey. MacLean’s uses a number of factors as part of its methodology to determine where communities land on the list. One of them is access to post-secondary education.
Given that Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has been serving the Upper Ottawa Valley since the Ontario college system was founded in 1967, the results of the survey had me thinking about the impact the college had on the scoring.
To better address that question you need to look at how communities receive points in the review. MacLean’s compares communities by awarding 20 points for wealth and the overall health of a city or town’s economy. This category takes into consideration fluctuations in the employment rate, median household income and average household net worth.
Another 20 points is awarded for the affordability of living in the community. That section looks at house prices, rental costs, the value of primary real estate and the ratio of discretionary income compared to the average household income.
Eleven points focus on access to health care, the weather patterns in a region account for ten points and another ten points are awarded for the commute to work. Seven points are awarded for the safety of the community, primarily looking at crime rates and six points are given for the municipality’s demographics, the mix of age groups that support a vibrant community.
The final points come from culture and amenities. This is where having a nearby post-secondary school comes into play. While the value for culture is five points, the amenities section where colleges are found is only awarded 2.5 points.
In Pembroke’s case, I would argue that Algonquin College influences several of the factors in the survey including the overall health and wellness of the region, the housing and labour markets, and the region’s ability to retain youth in the community. For more than five decades the campus has been providing access to post-secondary education for hundreds of people who may not have pursued higher education had a college not been close by to their residence.
The college provides significant employment opportunities through its hiring of administrators, faculty and support staff and the graduates it produces support the local labour market. Think of the nurses who work in our local health care system, the forestry graduates who support one of the largest industries in the Ottawa Valley and the Early Childhood Educators who are vital to our elementary school system.
Finally, think about the pride and prestige that a college brings to our region. Having a post-secondary credential is essential in today’s competitive job market and any student who studies in an apprenticeship, college or university program is proud of their accomplishments. From a community branding and marketing perspective, having a college in a smaller centre is a competitive advantage when attracting new business or new residents.
By placing on the top 415 communities in Canada to live in, MacLean’s magazine has acknowledged that the Pembroke area is one of the greatest places in our country to live in. Algonquin College is a big part of the reason why this is so. The College has proven it’s a major influence on the region’s economic prosperity.
Posted by: Jamie Bramburger is the Acting Chair of Health and Community Studies at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.
Posted on Tuesday, August 27th, 2019
“I’m having trouble making friends in college. I’ve met some cool people in class, but everyone already seems to have their own social circle. On top of that, it’s hard to coordinate schedules and find time to hang out. How do I make closer friendships?”
The paradox of college: despite literally being surrounded by thousands of peers, it can be hard to meet people. These 10 tips will increase your chances of hitting it off with a new crew of friends.
Read more >
– Eliza, Counsellor
