Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) is pleased to welcome Dr. Kristen Kindrachuk as the new Director of the Office of Applied Research Services (OARS). Named the successful candidate through a competitive process, Kristen will lead the administration and support the operation of applied research (AR) at RRC Polytech through OARS – which provides expertise, enables opportunities for researchers and partners, and drives AR excellence across our campuses.

Kristen is a strategic leader with extensive expertise in research administration, funding management, and cross-sector collaboration. Her experience spans pre- and post-award research management, large-scale proposal development, contract negotiation, and project oversight.

Kristen received her BSc and MSc from the University of Manitoba and her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia. She trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland and was employed as an Adjunct Professor teaching graduate studies in Pathogenic Microbiology at Hood College. Her experience at Ripple Effect Inc. consulting on projects for the NIH Office of Behavioural and Social Sciences Research and the NIH Office of Extramural Research sparked her interest in pursuing a career in research administration.

Upon returning to Winnipeg in 2016, she joined the University of Manitoba as a Research Facilitator and Business Development Officer to gain experience in funding administration. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed response efforts at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan where she served as Project Manager and Intellectual Property (IP) Manager.

Since 2022, Kristen has pursued her passion for funding administration at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) where she served as the scientific and strategic lead to the CIHR HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI) Research Initiative – a federal research priority that delivers $21M annually in research funding. To continue to hone her leadership skills, Kristen is currently pursuing a part-time MBA with a concentration in Leadership and Organizations at the University of Manitoba.

Her leadership, vision, and passion for research excellence will be invaluable to our community.

The College-University Lab to Market Network, led by RRC Polytech, is pleased to introduce Nasil Nam as its inaugural National Director. The accomplished innovation-driven leader stepped in immediately after being named the successful candidate through a competitive process, to begin mobilizing the network’s collaborative partners who have aligned to accelerate research commercialization and support entrepreneurship across Canada.

Nam will lead the national implementation of programs that support researcher-entrepreneurs across the 38-member network of colleges, polytechnics, and universities. She’ll guide the execution of the network’s vision to deepen partnerships and enhance commercialization outcomes for research-based ventures in health, STEM, social innovation, and the social sciences. 

“Nasil is exactly the kind of leader this initiative needs. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team as we work to bring industry into greater connection with Canadian research,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director of Research Partnerships & Innovation at RRC Polytech and Chair of network’s Executive Committee. “Her leadership will be instrumental in leveraging the expertise, capacity, and diversity of Canada’s universities, colleges and polytechnics to support Indigenous entrepreneurs and drive research-based ventures and social innovations that benefit all Canadians.”

With more than a decade of experience in program development, commercialization, and entrepreneurial ecosystem building, Nam brings a unique blend of hands-on entrepreneurial insight and national innovation leadership. She began her journey as a founder of her own ventures before moving into institutional leadership roles, including her most recent position as Associate Director of Start-ups & Commercialization at Dalhousie University. There, she played a key role in the national expansion of the Lab2Market program while developing a regional innovation program called Collide. 

In addition to her work in postsecondary innovation, Nam has championed inclusive entrepreneurship, serving as Project Lead for the Propelling Women Tech Founders program at the Centre for Women in Business, where she helped support the growth of emerging female entrepreneurs through mentorship and strategic planning. Holding a Master of Education in Psychology and Leadership Studies from the University of Victoria, her approach is grounded in collaboration, strategic execution, and a deep commitment to building sustainable innovation ecosystems that drive both economic and social impact.

“I am passionate about innovation, leadership, and community-building,” said Nam. “The College-University Lab to Market Network’s mission is to transform research into real-world solutions for a stronger, more inclusive innovation economy. Whether it’s leading national-scale initiatives or mentoring early-stage founders, I am dedicated to creating pathways for innovation and amplifying the impact of Canadian research on the global stage.”

Network Institutions:
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC Hub Lead), Cégep de Sherbrooke, Cégep de Thetford (QC Hub Lead), Cégep de Trois-Rivières, College of the North Atlantic, Concordia University, Dalhousie University, Humber Polytechnic (ON Hub Lead), Lethbridge College, Loyalist College, MacEwan University, Mohawk College, Mount Saint Vincent University, New Brunswick Community College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NA Hub Lead), NorQuest College, Northwestern Polytechnic, Nova Scotia Community College (ATL Hub Lead), Olds College, Red Deer Polytechnic, RRC Polytech (MB Hub Lead), Saint Mary’s University, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SK Hub Lead), Selkirk College, Sheridan College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SA Hub Lead), United College – University of Waterloo, University College of the North, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Guelph, University of Lethbridge, University of Manitoba, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, University of Yukon, Western University

Red River College Polytechnic’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) invites you to join our IRC 5 Programming I Course — a high-impact training designed to equip industry professionals with hands-on skills in ABB robotics.

As an ABB-certified training institution, RRC Polytech offers in-person instruction led by an ABB Robotics Certified Trainer, ensuring top-tier, industry-relevant learning that you can apply immediately on the job.

TACAM focuses on empowering today’s workforce with real-world, cutting-edge skills. This course dives deep into robot operation and programming using both the teach pendant and RobotStudio Online, ABB’s powerful simulation and offline programming software.

This course is ideal for industry professionals responsible for:

· Starting and operating ABB industrial robots

· Creating and editing robot programs

· Managing robotic systems in real-world manufacturing settings

Participants will gain hands-on experience in:

· Robot system safety practices

· Manual and automatic robot operation

· Event message interpretation

· Program management (load, create, save, delete, check, edit)

· Robot synchronization and calibration

· Tool center point (TCP) creation using the 4-point method

· Input/output instruction management

· Creating and using routines effectively

Upcoming course dates:

· July 14–18, 2025

· September 15–19, 2025

· October 20–24, 2025

Contact Gaganpreet Singh at gsingh199@rrc.ca to secure your spot.

The RRC Polytech-led College-University Lab to Market Network for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization has launched its first program – Technology Readiness Level Up (TRL^)!

The new TRL^ Program offers training in commercialization and innovation, helping students and researchers take their work to market. The goal of the program is to provide a new understanding and mindset shift regarding the ‘how-to’ of product development, scale up, and advancing technology readiness level toward commercialization.

The program is built for students, recent graduates and postdocs at Canadian institutions (Colleges and Universities) who have a research-based venture or an idea for a research-based venture and/or are interested in advancing the technology readiness of their invention, technology, product or service in any field. This program will help them better assess and navigate product development and the path towards commercialization.

It provides experiential placement in College and Polytechnic applied research environments, including Technology Access Centres (TACs) and les centres collégiaux de transfert detechnologies (CCTTs).

The TRL^ Program is now accepting Expressions of Interest from qualified applicants who want to participate in its Fall 2025 cohort.

Successful applicants will be awarded a $10,000 stipend over the Fall semester funded in part through applications to the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship program. The TRL^ program will help applicants to navigate this process at every step of the way.

Click here for more information and to access the EOI

The first round of EOIs for this first cohort will be accepted up until May 9, 2025. For questions about this program or to request more information, please contact TRL@rrc.ca

Join our team and play a vital role in shaping the future of innovation!

RRC Polytech is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead the Manitoba regional hub of its collaborative College-University Lab to Market initiative.

This strategic and leadership position is an exciting opportunity to work closely with other post-secondary institutions and a national network of peers and local innovators to support entrepreneurship training and research commercialization across Canada. The $24.1 million federally funded initiative is led by RRC Polytech’s Research Partnerships & Innovation enterprise and comprised of eight regional and three Indigenous hubs.

Key responsibilities include:

• administrative leadership
• program development
• financial and metrics reporting
• engaging the entrepreneurial community
• contributing to national strategies while ensuring program excellence locally
• collaborating with eight regional hubs and three Indigenous entrepreneurship hubs to drive impactful results

Similar positions at regional hubs across the country are being posted to the links below. Postings at the Indigenous hubs will be announced soon, as the network continues to take shape.

If you’re passionate about innovation, leadership, and community-building, this role is your chance to contribute meaningfully to Canada’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Apply today:

BC Hub – BCIT

AB Hub North – NAIT

AB Hub South – SAIT

SK Hub – Saskatchewan Polytechnic

MB Hub – RRC Polytech

ON Hub – Humber Polytechnic

QC Hub – Cégep de Thetford

ATL Hub – NSCC 

A new polytechnic network created last month to provide industry partners with better access to applied research expertise and facilities is already digging into how it can support the mining and minerals sector across the prairies.

Designed to drive economic growth and diversification through collaboration, the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems or P2INACLE launched its first pilot initiative in Saskatoon in mid-March.

A team from RRC Polytech joined peers from across Western Canada at P2INACLE’S lead institution, Saskatchewan Polytechnic to meet with the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) for some great discussion about the challenges that mining firms are facing and idea generation for ways to address them.

In May, P2INACLE researchers will join a larger group of mining and minerals industry professionals at IMII’s IDEATE 2025 event to connect and explore specific applied research projects that can solve problems for partners in the mining industry.

“This initiative will address key industry challenges and harness the collective expertise of polytechnics and industry partners across the Prairies, driving both economic growth and technological advancements,” said Al Shpyth, Executive Director of IMII, in last month’s PrairiesCan funding announcement. “We look forward to the impactful solutions that will arise from this collaborative effort.”

Although mining is the focus of its first initiative, P2INACLE aims to be a catalyst for wide-spread regional prosperity by providing streamlined access to resources for all industries, including small and medium-sized enterprises as well as larger businesses. By leveraging the expertise and facilities of each polytechnic, P2INACLE offers tailored solutions for commercialization and diversification, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. Areas of expertise also include clean technologies, digital technologies, value-added agriculture and natural resources.

Manitoba-based partners and businesses are invited to reach out to RRC Polytech’s Research, Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) department to learn more about P2INACLE and how they can connect with the College’s expertise.

rpi@rrc.ca

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

RRC Polytech’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) has been researching air tightness and methods of testing it since a 2012 pilot project, which means the partners who turn to BETAC for air tightness testing engage some of the province’s leading expertise in the field.

In the fall of 2021, BETAC completed an air tightness test at Gordon Bell High School, whose building features walls and mechanical systems that are more than 50 years old. The results provided insights into cost-effective measures for reducing energy usage at Gordon Bell, prior to its renovation.

Chris Buzunis, the Province of Manitoba’s Senior Energy Engineer and project manager for the Gordon Bell retrofit, says BETAC’s pre- and post-renovation air tightness testing has proven valuable on many projects like this.

“It helps identify problem areas to address at the start of a project and has also been a fantastic quality control tool when construction is complete. We have identified many deficiencies that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.”

BETAC offers a variety of non-destructive tests that target specific building sizes and challenges. The process usually starts with a walkthrough to assess door locations, HVAC intake and exhaust grills, power supply, and whether the building can be isolated.

During the test itself, powerful fans pressurize and depressurize the building, while equipment measures how much air is moved into or out of the building and tracks the corresponding pressure difference across the building enclosure. 

The results of the envelop test speak to the general durability of the building, and the continuity and performance of the air barrier. A second set of tests, conducted with all intentional openings left open, measures the energy performance of the building more directly. At this stage, testers may deploy smoke pencils and infrared thermography cameras to identify specific air leakage pathways.

All together, these tests can take anywhere from several hours to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the building. The results deliver quantifiable data that can help owners of existing buildings locate problem areas and determine the costs and benefits of a retrofit. For new buildings, a final air tightness test can complement air leakage testing performed throughout construction.

“Collaboration and coordination are critical to the success of all projects in the construction sector regardless of size and scope, so BETAC is proud to play any role required to support our partners in reaching their goals of delivering the highest quality results on time and on budget,” said Dr. Alireza Kaboorani, Director of RRC Polytech’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre.

Demand for tests like these will only increase as more cities and governments incorporate air tightness and energy efficiency into their building codes and green mandates. In addition to air leak testing, BETAC has committed to ongoing public outreach efforts to share the findings of its research. The results of BETAC’s work continue to inform the Province of Manitoba’s Green Building Policy and low carbon initiatives.

PrairiesCan invests $899,500 in Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems (P2INACLE)

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis – PrairiesCan is investing $899,500 into the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems (P2INACLE). P2INACLE will drive social, economic and technological innovation across western Canada by providing businesses access to polytechnic facilities, equipment and research expertise. P2INACLE members include Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech), Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Northwestern Polytechnic, Red Deer Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) — leading polytechnic institutions on the Canadian Prairies.
 
P2INACLE, led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, will launch its first pilot with the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) this spring. This pilot will bring together polytechnics and industry partners from across the Prairies to develop a collaborative network that will fund and work on applied research projects. The goal is to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions for the mining and minerals sector in Western Canada.

“Success on the Prairies has always been built on cooperation. That’s why our government is supporting P2INACLE— a partnership bringing Prairie polytechnics together to turn research into practical solutions. By working together to tackle challenges in the mining sector and beyond, P2INACLE is driving economic growth, creating quality jobs, and setting a new standard for how applied research can empower communities far beyond the Prairies,” said the Honourable Terry Duguid, Minister for PrairiesCan.
 
“Thank you to PrairiesCan for funding this polytechnic-powered, applied research network to help grow innovation for Western Canadian industry sectors,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO. “We are excited to share our expertise as the P2INACLE lead. This funding will enable P2INACLE to address mining industry issues swiftly and efficiently, providing access to a wide range of experts and quickly distributing funds.”
 
IMII is a hub for expertise and innovation in Saskatchewan’s minerals industry, driving change and creating solutions. With PrairiesCan support, P2INACLE researchers, along with IMII and their partners, will come together in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in March to launch the collaborative applied research network. In May, P2INACLE researchers will join mining and minerals industry professionals at IMII’s IDEATE 2025 event to learn about the challenges faced by the mining industry. At this event P2INACLE members will team up with industry on various applied research projects.
 
“We are excited to be part of the P2INACLE pilot project, a significant step forward in fostering innovation and collaboration within Western Canada’s mining and minerals sector,” says Al Shpyth, executive director of IMII. “This initiative will address key industry challenges and harness the collective expertise of polytechnics and industry partners across the Prairies, driving both economic growth and technological advancements. We look forward to the impactful solutions that will arise from this collaborative effort.”
 
This partnership with IMII will promote cross-disciplinary collaboration focused on industry needs and solutions. Through P2INACLE, industry will also have increased access to high-quality personnel and trainees, facilitating the implementation of new innovations.
 
“The P2INACLE initiative aligns with RRC Polytech’s areas of strength in clean tech, digital technologies, value-added agriculture and natural resources. We believe our efforts in this cross-prairies partnership, led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, will help Canada’s mining and minerals sector to be globally competitive,” says Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director of Research, Partnerships & Innovation at RRC Polytech. “P2INACLE enhances opportunities across the value chain by leveraging the collective capabilities of state of the art infrastructure, research expertise and talent at our prairie polytechnics.”
 
Manitoba-based partners and businesses are invited to reach out to RRC Polytech’s Research, Partnerships & Innovation department to learn more about P2INACLE and how they can connect with the College’s expertise.
 
P2INACLE aims to drive economic growth and diversification through collaboration. It acts as a catalyst for regional prosperity by providing streamlined access to resources for industries, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and larger businesses. By leveraging the expertise and facilities of each polytechnic, P2INACLE offers tailored solutions for commercialization and diversification, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. Areas of expertise include clean technologies, digital technologies, value-added agriculture and natural resources.

Learn more at saskpolytech.ca/p2inacle.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a global pandemic and the onset of Canada’s unprecedented precautionary policies to stop the spread of COVID-19. While the social and economic impacts of the pandemic still linger, life for most people has returned to normal because of the ongoing co-operative efforts made around the world to control the virus.

During the global fight against COVID-19, RRC Polytech proudly demonstrated its trademark agility and willingness to help by leaping into action to support its industry partners in the healthcare sector. With supply chains decimated by restrictions, the College’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) offered its assets and expertise to local partners like CancerCare Manitoba to aid in the production of much-needed medical equipment.

Under normal circumstances, CancerCare Manitoba is well-resourced to manufacture its own equipment, but increased needs combined with a short timeframe during the pandemic forced them to outsource immediate production of wheelbases for more IV poles.

TACAM’s digital manufacturing capabilities allowed for large-scale and rapid production of the unique items needed. TACAM supported the production of 100 new wheelbases for the poles. Specifically, the team manufactured 500 castor mounts for the wheelbases, which require 5 castor mounts per wheelbase.

“CancerCare Manitoba appreciates the ability of RRC Polytech to support us in the manufacturing of these components,” said Keith Sutherland, Business and Innovation Officer at CancerCare Manitoba at the time. “TACAM’s specialized machinery allows for quicker manufacturing, which allows us to get the required IV poles into the hands of hospital staff much quicker than if we had to manufacture them on our own.”

Throughout the pandemic, TACAM remained on call with Health Canada as a potential supplier of services should they need help in manufacturing other medical equipment and/or devices, as well as the National Research Council Canada (NRC), in case additional support for medical equipment and devices was required.

“Our professional research teams are experts in fostering collaboration to overcome challenges, so they are well-prepared to react quickly and leverage the College’s facilities and talent to support our partners, even in a crisis situation like a global pandemic,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director, Research Partnerships & Innovation at RRC Polytech. “We are eager to continue building these important relationships and working closely with industry and community to address Manitoba’s needs by solving problems through applied research.”

RRC Polytech continues to build capacity for innovative processes such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and reverse engineering with the recent addition of the Centre for Automation and Manufacturing Technology Transfer (CAMTT) at the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics.

Innovative ideas and fresh new products are always on the menu at RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK), Western Canada’s only Technology Access Centre that blends culinary arts and food science. But in addition to contributing to applied research projects for industry partners and clients, this summer’s co-op students at PRK also whipped up a little something special for themselves.

As part of their work-integrated learning experience, a trio of ambitious culinary students jumped at the challenge to create their own unique food product and take it from concept to market.

“It was a fun process that really tested everything we’ve learned and boosted my confidence,” said Culinary Arts student, Yesenia Portillo. “It’s a nice sendoff or grand finale to a chapter of my educational journey that I’ll never forget.”

Portillo named their sweet pepperoncini relish ‘Prairie Glow’ as a tribute to their positive experience working at PRK. They actually stumbled upon the key ingredient by accident but say the combination of its acidic brightness and sweet subtle heat made their tastebuds dance. They recommend their relish to other pickle-lovers as a perfect complement to charcuterie boards or pizza.   

Originally from Winnipegosis and a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe, Tia Fleming chose to highlight her Indigenous culture with a barbecue sauce that works well with the wild game commonly served in the area. She combined locally grown saskatoon berries with jalapeño and after consulting with community, Fleming harvested and torched her own sweetgrass then infused it into vinegar to add smoky flavour and a spiritual element.

Indigenous Language Instructor, Corey Whitford provided the Anishinaabemowin translation for the label of the sauce that lists the main ingredients. Gaa Gi-zhi-deg Mis-kwaa-ko-a-too-mi-na Wiin-gash-ki Baash-ki mi-na-si-gan will be gifted and not sold due to its medicinal properties.

“I wanted my product to demonstrate that food can be delicious, healing and tell a story all at the same time,” said Fleming, a student in RRC Polytech’s Indigenous Culinary Skills program. “I feel proud that I’m learning new skills that I can share with family and my community and eventually give back by teaching others. It would be awesome if this was the first in a line of sauces that someday I could bring to Pow Wows and ceremonies.”

Intrigued by food chemistry with a focus on sustainability, Hui-Yun Sim, a Professional Baking student experimented with using a red lentil component before settling on a high protein chickpea pulse flour as the base for an instant brownie mix. Showcased at EDC’s Culinary Exchange, her Chocolate Chickpea Pleasers Brownie Mix lived up to its name as stock didn’t last long.    

“It’s so cool to see other students actually buying your product that’s made from weird or unfamiliar ingredients to them, and to know it tastes great,” said Sim. “PRK was an empowering place to work, I’m much stronger for it.”        

That’s because coming up with a clever or meaningful product idea was just the beginning. Determining the ingredients and recipe required more than just dozens of trials and taste tests – it took careful analysis of food costs and availability, allergens, nutritional values and scalability. They also needed working knowledge of procurement, health and safety measures, and marketing to navigate their ideas from potential to reality.

Despite the individual nature of the assignment, collaboration is a foundational objective at PRK, so the students worked together to perfect their creations and were supported by the professional research staff and even partners as Bee-Maid generously donated honey for the students to use.

“This is the first time we’ve attempted three separate student-led creations in one summer, but they each had their own vision and were very determined to showcase their culinary and critical thinking skills by seeing it through,” said Anna Borys, Research Technician at Prairie Research Kitchen.

“They ultimately came up with really tasty and thoughtful products while gaining a much better understanding of the amount of work it takes to put a single food item on a grocery store shelf.”

While their backgrounds, approaches, dreams and products are vastly different, all three of PRK’s most recent co-op students are moving forward in their careers with the same thought – it’s a healthy serving of thinking, learning, adapting, and planning that leads to culinary excellence and innovation.  

“Our team at PRK approaches our work with an entrepreneurial mindset. We encourage each member, including our co-op students, to expand their creative boundaries to best support our clients, each other and their own personal development,” said Mavis McRae, Director, Prairie Research Kitchen.

“Incorporating concepts like cultural significance, practicality and sustainability into great tasting food demonstrates the ability of these students to blend their expertise with their passions – something I’m proud to say our team does every day and that will serve them well in all of their future endeavours.”