The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) has named Ray Hoemsen, Red River College’s (RRC) Director of Applied Research & Commercialization as their prestigious Gold Leadership Excellence Award winner.
“Mr. Hoemsen was recognized for the exceptional work he has done in creating and leading sustained applied research, innovation, and commercialization programs in Manitoba,” said James Knight, ACCC President and CEO. “His leadership in this area has been a model for other colleges regionally and nationally.”
Every year, the ACCC recognizes an individual from a Canadian college that has made the greatest impact on his/her institution and, as a result, the communities it serves.
“We were proud to nominate Ray for this award and are delighted that he has won,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC.  “Ray is creative, dynamic, and has shown a sustained level of leadership excellence in his field and amongst his communities.”
Ray is credited with launching the College’s applied research enterprise in 2004.  Since then, he has been the driving force behind the creation of four applied research centres and a key factor to RRC winning several government and industry awards that amount to several million dollars in funding for the College.
“RRC continues to overachieve in the area of applied research with Ray leading the way,” said Ken Webb, VP, Academic and Research at RRC. “But the impacts he has made extend far beyond RRC and include leadership roles both nationally and internationally.”
Ray has been a leading advocate in driving the public policy change to recognize the strategic role played by Canadian colleges in Canada’s research and innovation agenda.
“Canadian colleges’ historical focus has been on providing technical education and training,” said Ron Britton, Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Manitoba. “Ray successfully made the case for applied research at the college level to create the program we see today at RRC, and at other Canadian colleges.”
Ray’s leadership contributions are indeed far reaching. He has led, or played a notable role in over 70 community organizations in post-secondary education, engineering and technology, policy leadership, national and local sports, and neighborhood clubs.
“It has been said, half in jest, that a committee that is working for the betterment of our community isn’t officially sanctioned unless Ray is a member,” said Britton.  I’ve known him since his undergraduate days, and even then, you could tell he had that something extra.”
Ray has historically led by example and shown humility.  He was no different in accepting this award.
“This is really a team award,” said Hoemsen. “I love what I do and am lucky to have been surrounded by people who can embrace change and make things happen. “

Red River College (RRC) was one of 35 colleges that will share in more than $8 million in federal grant money, via the federal government’s recently announced Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants, a brand new initiative under the College and Community Innovation Program.
This grant supports the purchase of research equipment and installations to foster and enhance the ability of colleges to conduct applied research.
“This funding helps us with our ongoing mandate of applying knowledge to solve real-world challenges,” says Ray Hoemsen, Director of Applied Research and Commercialization at RRC.
RRC received a grant of $127,001, which will be used to upgrade the environmental test chambers in the College’s Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure and acquire air leakage testing equipment to be used for commercial and industrial buildings.
“Upgrades are under way and we are already using the air leakage testing equipment on a handful of projects,” says Hoemsen. “Applied research is a key element in improving Canada’s productivity and innovation capacity. We are thankful for the federal government’s continued support.”
Click to learn more about RRC’s office of Applied Research and Commercialization.

Province Will Invest $30 Million Over Five Years: Selinger
A new, $30-million Commercialization Support for Business Program has been established to promote and support entrepreneurism, commercialization and business development, Premier Greg Selinger announced today. Click here to read more.

As part of their efforts to make composite manufacturing more economical, an instructor and a grad from RRC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program have developed a new means of making dissolvable mandrels and patterns, otherwise known as “rapid prototype composite tooling (RPCT).” Read More →

Red River College, recently named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers (2011) and featured in the Globe and Mail’s Earth Day special supplement titled “Report on Green Solutions.”
Read the article on RRC here.

Premier Greg Selinger today announced the province will invest $1 million for the development of an all-electric transit bus and charging system, and $100,000 for the creation of an electric-vehicle learning and demonstration centre at Red River College, two of several initiatives under Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Road Map.
“This is exciting. We are working together to develop an entirely electric bus to get families around in cities all over North America,” said Selinger. “We’re also creating opportunities for young people right here in the province to become leaders in developing and building clean, electric vehicles and helping cut greenhouse-gas emissions.”
The $3-million, three-year project brings Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, New Flyer Industries, Manitoba Hydro, Red River College and the province together. The bus development will be completed within one year and tested in Manitoba for two more years, the premier said. Project development will be focused at Red River College and New Flyer Industries’ Winnipeg facilities.
The electric-bus development will benefit from New Flyer’s experience in building hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell buses, Mitsubishi’s leading-edge lithium-ion battery technologies, Manitoba Hydro’s grid-management knowledge and Red River College’s instructors and students who can assist in solving the technological challenges coming from the project.
“It is our great pleasure to take part in this important project in Manitoba,” said Ichiro Fukue, senior vice-president, Mitsubishi. “It is also a great honour for us that our state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery technology has been selected and can contribute to a cleaner life for Manitoba people. Our challenge to develop cleaner and sustainable energy in Manitoba has just started from here today. We hope that this joint demonstration of the electric bus is the only a beginning of a long and strong relationship between Manitoba and Mitsubishi.”
“This is very positive news for vehicle technology in Manitoba. It is great to see our government being progressive and embracing this technology,” said New Flyer president and CEO Paul Soubry. “All-electric buses are an emerging need in the heavy-duty transit market as our customers are focused on cleaner technologies and reducing fuel costs. We are pleased to be the vehicle supplier for this demonstrator program as the funding provided serves as the catalyst to commence development. This program is consistent with the New Flyer strategy in regards to product innovation and we will leverage our existing resources and knowledge gained through electric trolley, hybrid and fuel cell buses. ”
“Manitoba Hydro is pleased to be a part of a project that provides such an exciting opportunity to influence the future of mass transportation and ensure that Manitoba businesses can play an important part in that future,” Bob Brennan, Manitoba Hydro president and CEO, said. “Understanding where electric buses will fit into the transportation mix and how charging will impact the grid will ensure that Manitoba Hydro can reliably meet these requirements.”
To support the development of electric vehicles in Manitoba, Selinger also announced a new Electric Vehicle Technology and Education Centre (EV-TEC) at Red River College.
“We all know that better training opportunities, like this new one at Red River College, will give more Manitobans the skills they need to get well-paying jobs and give their families hope for a better future,” said Selinger. “We’re proud to be a part of it.”
The province will provide funding of $100,000 to support the centre.
“This centre will establish Red River College as a Canadian leader in electric-vehicle testing and research and will allow us to enhance our training programs to better prepare students for the future of the automotive industry,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president of Red River College.
The (EV-TEC) will be a demonstration site for various all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles and their recharging equipment. The public will have a first-hand opportunity to learn more about these emerging technologies as electric vehicles become commercially available.
“The province is pleased to partner with Red River College for this exciting initiative under Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Road Map,” said Selinger. “When we’ve worked together in the past, the college has played an integral if not critical role, particularly in adapting vehicles for our cold weather conditions.”

The following article on Red River College’s Office of Applied Research & Commercialization was recently featured in a special section in The Globe and Mail about innovation. To download a copy of the complete feature, click here.
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Red River College opens third research centre
At Winnipeg’s Red River College (RRC), the definition of applied research is short and sweet: the use of knowledge to solve real-world challenges.
For Ray Hoemsen, director of the college’s Office of Applied Research and Commercialization, applied research is also a key element in improving Canada’s productivity and innovation capacity.
That’s why his office provides support for applied research, knowledge transfer, prototyping, product development, testing and commercialization – helping business and industry access RRC’s expertise in the search for practical, innovative solutions.
“For us, it’s all about applying knowledge to deliver results. The how is more important than the why,” says Mr. Hoemsen.
In recognition of RRC’s efforts, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awarded the college $2.3 million to establish a Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group focused on improving the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings.
With three independent research centres now open or in development, RRC is well positioned to continue making significant contributions to technology innovation in Manitoba and beyond. For example, the Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) is the first dedicated research laboratory at a college in Manitoba. Its aim is to develop advanced sustainable infrastructure technologies in four strategic areas: asphalt, concrete and pavement; advanced composite materials; large, light-frame wood structures; and building envelopes.
On one of its first projects, CARSI worked with Manitoba Hydro to ensure that the utility’s new, $278-million downtown Winnipeg headquarters would be the most energy-efficient building in North America.
At CARSI, Manitoba Hydro was able to try new technologies and materials before constructing the 22-storey office complex. In the process, CARSI gained a valuable long-term client and gave its students hands-on experience.
Mr. Hoemsen says RRC’s objective is innovation rather than invention. “We are constantly looking for better ways to do things and to adapt and apply existing technology more effectively.”
The college maintains ownership of the intellectual property it develops so that it can continue to be used for the benefit of students and faculty, but the companies that call on RRC to solve problems get to implement the solutions for themselves.
Mr. Hoemsen says working on real-world challenges not only gives students an opportunity to experience what they will face when they enter the workforce, but also give them a distinct advantage in their job hunt.
“To be able to recruit college grads who have already worked on and solved problems that employers are familiar with means our students are that much further ahead than job applicants who have not had the same experience,” he says.
The college also established the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training, the Centre for Non-Destructive Inspection and is developing the Advanced Transportation and Energy Centre.

Red River College’s (RRC) Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group (SITRG) will conduct an air leakage test on one of the most prominent office towers on Broadway. This will be the first in a series of buildings to be tested across Manitoba as part of a new applied research project launched by SITRG.
363 Broadway is undergoing a $4-million renovation to make the building more energy efficient and enhance its appearance – it involves completely replacing the building’s exterior.
“We will be testing for air leakage in the building, pre- and post-renovation,” says Rob Spewak, Research Manager with Applied Research and Commercialization (AR&C) at RRC. “Along with SITRG and Manitoba Hydro, RRC students will take part in this leading edge research using state-of-the-art tools and techniques to assess building energy performance.”
The renovation project will achieve energy savings through the installation of new glass panels that will have a special glazing. This will make them not only more energy efficient, but also allow up to 60 per cent more daylight into the building.
“In addition to high performance glazing, it is also essential to minimize air leakage to maximize energy savings and comfort as well as ensure long-term durability,” says Ken Klassen, RRC’s Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) Research Professional. “ Our test will determine how the new exterior stacks up versus the old, as well as versus Canadian building standards.”
AR&C is excited about the project as it satisfies a critical applied research need in the area of sustainable infrastructure. In 2009, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada awarded RRC $2.3 million to establish SITRG with a focus on improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
“We’ve attracted considerable capital and operational funding to establish RRC and SITRG as a leader in sustainable infrastructure research,” says Ray Hoemsen, Director of AR&C. “This project is a good example of industry recognizing the value we can offer in assessing innovative building technologies and inventions.”
RRC’s CARSI was utilized by Manitoba Hydro to test the advanced curtain wall system installed in its new Downtown Office Head Office Project, one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the world. See this video for more information: http://www.innovationcanada.ca/en/articles/building-smarts.
For more information, please contact:
Brent Wennekes
Technology Transfer and Communications Officer, AR&C
Red River College
204.631.3323
bwennekes@rrc.mb.ca

The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), and the Honourable Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, were at Red River College in Winnipeg today to tour the school’s expanded landscape construction shop and greenhouses, which will give students modern new facilities for hands-on training in their field.
The federal and provincial governments each contributed $525,000 toward this $1,050,000 project as part of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
“We are investing in research and training facilities at campuses across the country to create jobs, help our economy recover quickly and improve the quality of life of Canadians,” said Minister of State Fletcher. “This investment created local jobs and helped improve Red River College’s research infrastructure, providing benefits now and for years to come.”
“The Manitoba Government is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the federal government to complete exciting projects such as the greenhouses and landscape construction shop at RRC,” said Minister McGifford. “In Manitoba, all of our public post-secondary institutions have benefited from joint investments like this one.”
The work led to the creation of two greenhouses and a 2,900-square-metre landscape construction shop, which will give students indoor facilities where they can get hands-on training experience in drainage, irrigation and arboricultural systems. The new facilities also open the door to more applied research partnerships with industry.
“The completion of the greenhouses and landscape construction shop will provide modern new learning space for our Greenspace Management program, and allow us to explore innovative applied research opportunities with the horticulture industry,” explained Stephanie Forsyth, President of Red River College.
In addition to the landscape and greenhouse facilities, the new complex includes storage for the College’s groundskeeping equipment and a staging area for its mobile training labs.