The RRC Polytech Students’ Association (RRCSA) is looking for individuals to help select board members for the 2026-2027 term. The Appointment Panel will be made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including alumni, RRCSA staff, past executives and board members, and current students.

The Appointment Panel plays a key role in selecting the newest members of the RRC Polytech Students’ Association Board (SAB), which guides major decisions and governs the RRCSA. Panelists will review board member applications and select new members that will uphold the SAB’s mission, vision, and values, ensure that the SAB operates with openness & transparency, and provide diverse perspectives.

All alumni interested in lending their expertise and wisdom as members of the Appointment Panel are invited to apply starting September 1, 2026. Applications close September 11, 2026 and selected members will receive detailed instructions by September 25, 2026. 

Time Commitment: Appointment panelists must be available the weeks of September 29 – October 5, 2026 and March 24 – March 31, 2027
Tasks: Review and grade SAB nominations
Honorarium: Provided upon completion (per term)

Learn more about the role of the Appointment Panel on the RRCSA website.

Be a part of something impactful — apply now!

Stay connected, give back, and mentor current students.

The RRC Polytech Students’ Association (RRCSA) is currently accepting applications to fill its opening for an ex-officio alumni position on it’s board – and they’re looking for a passionate graduate like you! All proud RRC Polytech alumni are warmly invited to apply.

This volunteer opportunity allows alumni to share their professional experience and insights with a dynamic, student-led board of directors. The alumni representative on the Students’ Association Board (SAB) brings industry knowledge and provides direction and mentorship to the team.

“The presence of an alumni representative on the SAB helps steer and shape our future. It’s a great opportunity to share new ideas, wisdom, and experience gained since graduating,” said Mohammad Butt, President of the Students’ Association for the 2026-2027 academic year.

“We also appreciate how the alumni representative lends perspective that will help us make sound judgments regarding student decisions. This is just a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, connect with the community, and truly make a difference.”

The SAB oversees a $3 million budget, which funds student initiatives and trust funds, and supports donation requests and capital projects. Your voice will help shape the decisions that directly impact the student experience and the broader RRC Polytech community.

“Being the alumni member on the SAB allowed me to give back to RRC Polytech and share some of my work and board experiences with student members since graduating many years ago,” said Colin Tirschmann (Business Administration, 1992), who served on the SAB for the 2024-2025 term.

“The SA Board is one of my favourite boards – the students bring a lot of energy and take their roles seriously. The bonus is that you meet a lot of nice people.”

The alumni representative will contribute to the development of the RRCSA’s Strategic Plan and serve on the Building Trust Fund Committee, which guides key campus infrastructure and improvement projects. They will also have the opportunity to provide invaluable mentorship to emerging student leaders who are committed to making a difference on campus.

The RRC Polytech Café, powered by Ten Thousand Coffees, is RRC Polytech’s free online networking and mentorship platform that connects RRC Polytech students and alumni through ‘coffee chats’ and exclusive nation-wide events with career development experts.

More than 3,900 current students and alumni members have already joined the Café, and more than 32,000 connections have been made so far since launching in 2020.

Learn more about how the platform works >

Contest Now Closed

Accelerate your personal and professional development – sign up to become a member of the RRC Polytech Café between August 24 at September 2 for your chance to win a $50 Amazon or $50 Tim Horton’s gift card! Make sure to set up your account and fill out your profile to qualify. Sponsored by Ten Thousand Coffees, this contest is open to all current students and RRC Polytech alumni.

The contest closed on September 2 at 3 p.m. and the winners will be notified by the email address they use for their RRC Polytech Café account.

View the official Contest Rules and Regulations before entering this contest to ensure your entry qualifies.

You’re invited! In partnership with Ten Thousand Coffees, we’re excited to offer a virtual ‘Office Hour’ to RRC Polytech alumni, students, and staff on decoding Canada’s current economic landscape so you can make informed career and life decisions. This free virtual event will take place on Thursday, August 27 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

Understanding what’s really happening in Canada’s economy isn’t just for economists. It’s essential for anyone job hunting, house hunting, planning their next career move, or living in Canada.

Between a shifting job market and ongoing questions about housing affordability, it can be hard to know what the headlines actually mean for you. Is hiring picking up or slowing down heading into the fall? What’s really driving housing and rental costs? And how should these trends factor into your own plans?

We are excited to invite you to an interactive Office Hour: Decoding Canada’s Economy: Jobs, Housing, & Insights, featuring Claire Fan, Senior Economist at RBC.

In this dynamic session, we’ll be covering:

• Overall Canadian Economy Insights: A broader look at the macroeconomic picture; inflation, interest rates, and growth.
• Housing & Rent Insights: An honest look at affordability, demand, and rental trends shaping the housing market today.
• Labour Market Trends: What’s currently happening in Canada’s job market, from hiring activity to shifting in-demand sectors.
• Fall Job Market Forecast: What the data suggests we can expect for hiring as we head into the fall.
• Ask the Expert: A live Q&A where you can bring your own questions about the economy directly to an RBC economist.

Claire Fan is a Senior Economist at RBC, which she joined in 2019 after completing her Master’s degree in Financial Economics from Western University and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree from the University of Toronto Scarborough. In her role, she focuses on macroeconomic analysis for Canada and the United States, covering growth and inflation projections, labour market and demographic trends, and related monetary policy discussions.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking for new opportunities, or shifting your career, RRC Polytech alumni at any stage of their career journeys are warmly invited to attend this interactive Office Hour.

Register now for this free webinar on Thursday, August 27 at 1 p.m. CT.

Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson (photo by Sarah Annand).

If the hit series The Bear has taught us anything, it’s that earning a Michelin Star is one of the highest honours a chef can receive. It takes grit, creativity, skill, and a deep passion for the craft. Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson has mastered that secret sauce.

Michelin Star Chef. Partner of one of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants: Published on Main – listed as #17 on The World’s 50 Best list. These are just two of the accolades that Stieffenhofer-Brandson has on his resume. He’s humble about these accomplishments. But before he was an award-winning chef, he was an ambitious teenager from Winnipeg’s North End, figuring out what he wanted to do next

“Nearing the end of my high school time, my parents said, ‘if you want to cook for real and take this seriously, you should go to school,’” said Stieffenhofer-Brandson, a 2008 alum of the Culinary Arts program at RRC Polytech. That advice led him to the two-year program at RRC Polytech, a decision that would open the door for a work placement in Germany and eventually his future culinary career in Vancouver.

While his upbringing in a family that prioritized home-cooked meals and fresh produce from their Sperling, Manitoba farm instilled a deep appreciation for ingredients, he says his time at RRC Polytech put him in the right direction to pursue a successful career as a chef.

At 14, he had his first exposure to working in a kitchen environment as a dishwasher at The Old Spaghetti Factory. He moved up the ladder, eventually becoming an assistant kitchen manager, but the true value of that time was the environment itself and learning to understand the fast-paced demands of a kitchen. Stieffenhofer-Brandson truly believes that early experience gave him an edge when he enrolled in RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts program.

“I kind of barreled through the first year of culinary because I was like, ‘I know how to do this,'” Stieffenhofer-Brandson recalled. “But then I had to slow down and start paying attention because there was so much product, time, and resources available to you and I knew I couldn’t waste it.”

His time in the Culinary Arts program taught him foundational skills he still uses today. He credits instructors like Tim Appleton, who stressed the importance of professionalism, standards, and the discipline required to succeed, and Don Pattie, who shared his skills and knowledge of contemporary and modernist cooking techniques.

“So many of the instructors were instrumental in shaping the direction I went in,” Stieffenhofer-Brandson said. “It really set the foundation of being better at learning. The lessons helped me to understand what I want to extract from whatever experience I’m having both in school and in every kitchen I’ve worked in since.”

All RRC Polytech alumni are warmly invited to a phenomenal culinary experience in support of RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality students at Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar on Thursday, June 4.

This year’s theme is La Dolce Vita, a memorable evening celebrating outstanding Italian wine and food pairings, while socializing on Hy’s beautiful patio at the iconic intersection of Portage and Main in downtown Winnipeg. Enjoy a curated tasting of premium selections from Tuscany’s world-renowned Castello Banfi, complemented by Chef’s decadent Italian-inspired hors d’oeuvres. This annual patio party celebrates the future of culinary and hospitality excellence here in Manitoba and supports the Hy’s – John Aisenstat Memorial Award, which is dedicated to assisting graduating students from RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality programs.

By purchasing a $125 ticket, you’ll make a meaningful impact on the next generation of culinary and hospitality talent and receive a $50 tax receipt. Your entire contribution will go directly to the John Aisenstat Memorial Fund at RRC Polytech. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support a great cause and have a fantastic time. Purchase your tickets now and be part of this memorable evening!

Join professionals from across the province for a day of inspiration, education, and empowerment at Hustle + Charm’s Roundtable Summit on Friday, May 29. Alumni looking for real connections, real talk, and real growth in business and leadership are warmly invited to attend.

Owned and operated by 2013 Creative Communications graduate Charmaine Jennings, Hustle + Charm is a community of women and non-binary professionals in business across Winnipeg and surrounding areas.

The Roundtable Summit, now in its third year, is an experience designed for those who:

• feel stuck or ready for their next level;
• want real conversations (not surface-level networking);
• are looking for practical strategies they can actually use;
• and value being in a room of ambitious, supportive women.

Gather with fellow RRC Polytech alumni, including speakers Andrea Katz (Business Administration, 2002) and Sarah Goethals (Business Administration, 2013), to engage in thought-provoking roundtable discussions led by inspiring local women who have created their own blueprints for career success. At the summit, you’ll learn about marketing strategies, gain financial literacy tips and tools, and leave confident that you can thrive in today’s ever-evolving world of business.

This full-day event is taking place at Pineridge Hollow, a women-owned Manitoba gem located just outside Winnipeg (67086 Heatherdale Road 25E, West Pine Ridge, MB R5N 0G9).

You won’t want to miss out on this interactive experience – register now to claim your spot at the table.

RRC Polytech alumni are invited to cheer on the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Friday, May 22 as they face the Niagara River Lions at Canada Life Centre.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are Winnipeg’s own professional basketball team, proud members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Founded in 2023, the Sea Bears bring big-time hoops energy to the Canada Life Centre every summer, backed by some of the most passionate fans in the country.

Inspired by Manitoba’s iconic polar bear, the team’s name represents strength, pride, and a true northern spirit, both on and off the court. Join your fellow alumni on May 22 to cheer on the team!

Special Discount for RRC Polytech Alumni

RRC Polytech alumni receive a 15% discount on tickets purchased for the May 22nd game. Purchase tickets for May 22 on Ticketmaster to redeem the discount >

Can’t make it on May 22? No problem. Alumni receive 10% off games for the rest of the regular season. Purchase regular season tickets at 10% off here >

It’s a familiar story: student becomes graduate, graduate becomes industry professional, industry professional comes back to teach. At least, it’s a familiar story at RRC Polytech – in fact, more than 900 current staff are RRC Polytech graduates.

And there’s no mystery why alumni make the career transition from industry to classroom: as students, they loved learning from instructors with real-world experience; after working in industry and gaining expertise, they want to pay it forward by teaching the next generation of graduates. Talk about coming full circle!

From Industry to Classroom: Become a Nursing Instructor

Nursing alumni are warmly encouraged to attend RRC Polytech’s Industry to Classroom event on May 19 to discover the rewards and impact of teaching the next generation of nurses at RRC Polytech.

Visit the state-of-the-art Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre (the Simulation Centre) located at the Notre Dame Campus to learn more about the power of combining your professional nursing career with teaching. Discover the flexibility, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to shape the future workforce.

The event features a panel discussion where you’ll hear directly from alumni, staff, and students, tour of the Simulation Centre, light refreshments, and the opportunity to connect directly with the Dean, Associate Deans, Chairs, and Instructors who have combined their professional nursing career with teaching.

RRC Polytech nursing alumni have invaluable expertise and experience that can help shape the future of health care. If you have considered teaching as part of your career journey (or are simply curious about how that might look), please join us!

Alumni curious about exploring academic programs transitioning from the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) to RRC Polytech are invited to join us at the South Winnipeg Campus Info Night on Thursday, May 7 from 4 – 7 p.m., jointly hosted by RRC Polytech and MITT.

Following a collaborative review by RRC Polytech and MITT, it has been confirmed that a number of MITT programs will continue to be offered by RRC Polytech, including unique offerings and aligned programs that sustain training capacity.

At Info Night, you can discover all 16 programs offered at the South Winnipeg Campus (130 Henlow Bay), including Pharmacy Technician, Cybersecurity, Welding, and Hairstyling. Visit program spaces, engage with staff and instructors at information booths, attend an information session, and talk to advisors about admission requirements.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, May 7
• Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Location: 130 Henlow Bay
• Parking: Complimentary parking is available on campus

Alumni are warmly invited to attend! Please share this information with a friend or family member who may also be interested. We hope to see you there.

Learn more about the South Winnipeg Campus programs, as well as other transitioning programs that will be offered across RRC Polytech campuses >