Food confidence is a vital life skill, especially for youth navigating the transition to adulthood. When RRC Polytech was deciding on a new community-focused pilot program at R.B. Russell High School, it only made sense for it to revolve around cooking skills.   

RRC Polytech launched the Culinary Connections program in November 2024 in partnership with the Winnipeg School Division, funded under the provincial Universally Accessible Nutrition Initiative. This multi-faceted initiative equips youth aged 14–21 with weekly hands-on culinary training, supports household food security through take-home recipe kits, and fosters meaningful pathways to post-secondary education. 

“This program ensures that youth have the opportunity to explore their passion for cooking without limitations. We provided the tools; however, the youth and their families created the magic, learning and growing together,” says Candace Rea, Chair of Community, Education, and Youth at RRC Polytech. 

Culinary Connections was intentionally embedded in neighborhoods identified as food deserts—areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. By hosting sessions in local high school culinary labs, the program eliminated transportation barriers and brought learning directly into the community. 

Each week, students participated in interactive cooking classes led by RRC Polytech culinary instructors. They explored new ingredients, developed essential kitchen skills, and prepared nourishing meals. After each session, students received a take-home meal kit with all the ingredients needed to recreate the recipes at home—extending the learning experience to their families. 

The impact was immediate and meaningful.  

“Before coming to the program, I could only cook noodles and hotdogs. Now I’m so proud to see the finished recipes I’ve made,” said one participant.  

Another participant reflected that making muffins during the program was the first time they had ever baked. Over the course of the program, students gained confidence not only in the kitchen but also in themselves – learning to share ideas, solve problems creatively, and embrace mistakes as part of the process. 

Families embraced the program too.   

“My mom used the ingredients to make my dad and brothers’ lunches. She also used the extra cinnamon and brown sugar to bake Bannock buns—she loves baking and hasn’t been able to in a long time,” said a participant. 

The program’s roots trace back to a pilot project in July 2024, where 16 students from RRC Polytech’s After School Leaders program and their families participated in a trial run. The pilot aimed to ignite culinary passion, promote family engagement, and explore the impact of shared meals on youth mental health. Families received delivery boxes with fresh ingredients and recipes for two dinners and two desserts, including dishes like Chicken Piccata, chili, and sour cream coffee cake. 

The pilot revealed valuable insights – such as the importance of recipe accessibility. Some students had limited kitchen tools, prompting the program to adapt recipes that could be made without mixers, blenders, or multiple pots. This feedback helped shape the inclusive, accessible approach that defines Culinary Connections today. 

“As a parent with a youth with a chronic illness, it was so beautiful to watch her excitement making food for us,” one parent shared. “It is very often us taking care of her, so for her to take care of us was very moving to watch and experience.” 

The program has now expanded and is currently running for six weeks at St. John’s High School. 

For the first time in its history, RRC Polytech will be hosting ten convocation ceremonies across the province to celebrate the largest graduating class in three years, having added an additional ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre to bring the total Winnipeg ceremonies up to five from the previous four.

Nearly 3,750 students will receive their degrees, certificates or diplomas this year across the Polytech’s eight campuses. Winnipeg campuses alone have seen a ten percent increase in graduates compared to Spring 2024, with a total of 1,670 graduates having registered to attend the Winnipeg ceremonies this year.

“Convocation is a wonderful celebration – not only of our students’ hard work, but for the future of Manitoba, whose workforce is now receiving this influx of thousands of talented, job-ready individuals,” says Fred Meier, President & CEO, RRC Polytech. “Our role as a polytechnic is to provide students from across the province with the education, skills and support to become industry leaders as soon as they leave our campuses.

“Graduation numbers have been increasing year to year; a clear demonstration that our commitment to meeting the emerging needs of both students and industry is working.”

RRC Polytech has seen considerable growth in domestic applications year-over-year, with Fall 2024 applications rising 14 per cent since 2023, and Winter 2025 increasing by 29 per cent from the year before. Enrollment numbers for domestic students also jumped by four per cent in Fall 2024 from the previous year.

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Three Lieutenant Governor’s Medals Awarded

A community advocate from Peru, a compassionate caregiver from Nigeria, and a data scientist from the Dominican Republic are the three outstanding graduates who have been selected to receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Medals this week. The medals are awarded to students who exemplify high academic and technical achievement, community and college involvement, and overall good character.

• Daniela Ruiz Fernandez, graduate of the Social Innovation and Community Development Program with a Major in Indigenous Social Enterprise.
• Deborah Modupe, graduate of the Disability and Community Support Program.
• Yanna Polonia Gutierrez, graduate of the Data Science and Machine Learning Program.

Read more about the 2025 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal Recipients here.

Maria Pacella awarded Honorary Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management

RRC Polytech’s Honorary Diploma is awarded to an individual who demonstrates high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements, and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized. This year, RRC Polytech is honouring Maria Pacella, Executive Director of Skills Manitoba, with an Honorary Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration for her nearly two-decade-long career with Skills Manitoba, championing skilled trades education and career development across Manitoba, Canada, and beyond.

Read more about the 2025 Honorary Diploma recipient here.

“We are thrilled that three exceptional students trusted RRC Polytech with their education, and it will be an honour to present them with the Lieutenant Governor Medal Awards this year,” says Aileen Najduch, Executive Director, Student Services & Global Partnerships, RRC Polytech.

“Similarly, the significant impacts of long-time RRC Polytech partner Maria Pacella make her a highly qualified candidate for the Honorary Diploma, and I know her story of leadership within the skilled trades field – particularly her commitment to providing opportunities for students – will resonate with graduates.”

RRC Polytech’s Spring 2025 Convocation celebrations occur across the province throughout June and are live-streamed worldwide. The first of five Winnipeg convocation ceremonies takes place this evening at the RBC Convention Centre, with five more ceremonies being held for the Polytech’s Regional Campuses. Peguis-Fisher River, Selkirk and Winkler ceremonies occurred earlier this month, and Portage la Prairie and Steinbach ceremonies will follow next week.

For a full list of graduates and award winners, and to stream the ceremonies, please click on this link to our convocation webpage.

Schedule of RRC Polytech convocation ceremonies across Manitoba

Winnipeg ceremonies will take place in-person at the RBC Convention Centre, City View Hall (Hall C), 375 York Avenue, and live-streamed at rrc.ca/convocation:

• Monday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 17 at 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 18 at 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Regional campuses:

• Interlake and Peguis – Fisher River Campus (Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation), Thursday, June 5 at 2 p.m.
• Interlake and Peguis – Fisher River Campus (Selkirk), Wednesday, June 11 at 2 p.m., Selkirk Recreation Complex, 180 Easton Drive, Selkirk, MB
• Winkler Campus, Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m., P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall, 783 Mountain Avenue, Winkler, MB
• Portage Campus, Tuesday, June 24 at 2 p.m., William Glesby Centre, 2nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie, MB
• Steinbach Campus, Thursday, June 26 at 2 p.m., Southeast Event Centre, 321 Elmdale Street, Steinbach, MB

Each year, RRC Polytech presents an Honorary Diploma to an individual who demonstrates high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements, and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.

RRC Polytech is pleased to present the 2025 Honorary Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management to Maria Pacella.

Maria Pacella has led Skills Manitoba as Executive Director since 2006, championing skilled trades education and career development across Manitoba, Canada, and beyond. In nearly two decades, she has built strong partnerships, developed inclusive programming, and created opportunities for students, apprentices, and underrepresented groups in the trades.

Maria works closely with educational institutions, including a long-standing partnership with RRC Polytech, host of the annual Skills Manitoba competition. Skills Manitoba’s programs span all four Manitoba colleges and include schools in both urban and rural communities, ensuring that programming reaches students throughout the province.

In both 2017 and 2023, Maria led two of the most successful National Skills competitions to date, each drawing more than 13,000 students while breaking national records for school tours from Manitoba schools. Nationally, Maria has contributed to the success of many Skills Canada competitions, including Manitoba’s hosting of the 2017 and 2023 national event in Winnipeg.

Maria has launched many important initiatives throughout the province, helping Skills Manitoba build a strong presence throughout Manitoba including northern Manitoba. Notable initiatives include the Northern Young Women’s Conferences held in Thompson, The Pas, and Flin Flon, along with innovative programs like the Extreme Sledding Challenge, the Skilled Trades & Technology Olympics, Northern Manitoba Skills Challenge, Model Wind Turbine Competition, Youth in Manufacturing and various skilled trades awareness programs within the city of Winnipeg. Skills Manitoba also hosts ten Young Women’s Conferences throughout the Province. These initiatives play a crucial role in introducing young people in Manitoba to skilled trades. In Winnipeg, Maria helped create the North End Trades Discovery Initiative, introducing middle and high school students to the trades through hands-on learning.

Partnering with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations, Maria led the development of the Indigenous Skills Showcase – an initiative that celebrates Indigenous culture through skills like woodcarving, cooking, beading, and design – empowering youth to explore trades careers in a culturally safe environment. The showcase was featured at the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition.

Maria’s leadership continues to support Skills Manitoba’s mission to build a strong, inclusive workforce through education, innovation, and community collaboration, while fostering strong industry support that has led to outstanding partnerships that grow every year.

Three Lieutenant Governor’s medals – the highest award that may be obtained upon graduation from RRC Polytech – will be awarded at Spring Convocation ceremonies this week.

The recipients of these medals are selected by a standing committee comprised of representatives from College management, students and instructors. This year, three outstanding graduates have been selected in recognition of their academic and technical achievement, involvement in College and/or community activities, and overall good character.

Daniela Ruiz Fernandez, a graduate of the Social Innovation and Community Development Program with a major in Indigenous Social Enterprise, is a passionate community advocate from Peru, dedicated to fostering well-being, inclusion, and cultural exchange through volunteerism. With a background in humanitarian clowning and yoga instruction, she has supported children’s emotional development through initiatives like PayaSOS, ConPazion, and the online program Yo Cuento. After moving to Canada in 2023 to study at RRC Polytech, Daniela co-founded the Intercultural Alliance Student Club and served as Treasurer, promoting peer support and cultural dialogue. Her volunteer work spans diverse causes — from empowering women and gender-diverse individuals at The WRENCH to mentoring newcomer youth with NEEDS. She also shares her heritage through Peruvian dance performances. Daniela’s journey reflects a deep commitment to empathy, creativity, and community building, enriching every space she joins.

Deborah Modupe, a graduate of the Disability and Community Support Program, is a compassionate caregiver and community advocate whose journey began in Nigeria, where she cared for her grandmother with dementia. This early experience sparked a deep commitment to supporting others, leading her to volunteer in homes for older adults and later work with individuals with disabilities. Her desire to gain formal training inspired Deborah to move to Canada to study Disability and Community Support at RRC Polytech. Deborah volunteers at St. Amant as a Recreational Volunteer and at New Covenant Church, where she supports children and parishioners. Her experiences have shaped her into a resilient, empathetic, and skilled community member. Deborah’s story is one of courage, growth, and unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Yanna Polonia Gutierrez, a graduate of the Data Science and Machine Learning program,  excels in her academic pursuits while balancing working full-time with a full family life. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Yanna brings resilience, discipline, and a passion for learning to everything she does. She exemplifies academic excellence and time management, while maintaining a 4.5 GPA. Yanna’s commitment to personal and professional growth extends beyond the classroom – she actively pursues industry certifications to complement her education and prepare for a dynamic career in technology. Yanna is also a committed community volunteer, contributing over 60 hours annually to the Assiniboine Conservatory Park and supporting initiatives like Harvest Manitoba, Inspire Conference, and RRC Ready. Her journey reflects a deep belief in the power of education, service, and perseverance to create lasting impact for her family and community.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Terry Gereta demonstrates knife skills at RRC Polytech on Monday. He says a sharp knife is a safe knife, as a dull knife may move while cutting.

This week the Winnipeg Free Press launched a series launching called Homemade Cooking School, featuring stories and detailed tutorials from instructors in RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts and Professional Baking and Pastry programs. Stories and recipes were captured by Free Press reporter Eva Wasney (CreComm, 2015) and are accompanied by photos and videos from photographer Mikaela MacKenzie.

Chef Terry Gereta kicked things off with knife skills – teaching about mise en place, proper grip and knife maintenance. He provided an overview of common cuts, such as brunoise, dice, julienne and chiffonade.

A total of six sessions will be shared over the next six months, covering everything from sauces to vegetables to baked goods. The goal is to explain terminology often seen in recipes and share useful tips for achieving top notch results at home.

Read the first story featuring Chef Terry Gereta on the Winnipeg Free Press website.

Thank you to the entire RRC Polytech community for your continued support and patience as we temporarily utilized various spaces as part of our efforts to shelter wildfire evacuees on campus.

We remain on standby with the Canadian Red Cross as they continue to monitor the wildfires and needs of communities and individuals who are impacted.

At this time, we will be reopening the following spaces as of Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 6:30am:

• Parking lot Central 1
• The Cave
• Lockers

Please note that the North Gym, South Gym and the Loft remain closed at this time while we await further direction from the Canadian Red Cross and we will update you once we know more about reopening these spaces.

We also want to remind staff and students that as we remain on standby, we may be asked to reactivate these spaces again and would therefore need to restrict access temporarily for the college community. Should this occur, we will communicate these changes via Staff and Student News and email where appropriate.

We thank you again for your understanding and continued support for these important college-wide efforts.

Pictured from left to right: Stephen Lamoureux (AWMAC Manager). Joel Monsalud, Tony Lam (Silver), Logan Loewen (Bronze), Mia Epler, Angus De klerk, Di Wu, Tyler Michaud-Edmonds (Gold), Todd Birtwhistle (Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship Instructor)

Tyler Michaud-Edmonds’ journey to gold at the regional Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC) cabinetmaking competition and silver at Skills Canada Manitoba began long before he enrolled at RRC Polytech – it started in his family’s woodshop.

“I come from blue collar work,” Michaud-Edmonds shares. “My dad and grandfather are both carpenters, so I grew up in the shop. I took quickly to shop class in middle school and high school – that’s where I could apply myself and have freedom.”

After graduating high school, Michaud-Edmonds took time to work and reflect before entering RRC Polytech’s Cabinetry and Woodworking program.

“I knew I wasn’t going to thrive in (traditional) academia,” he says. “But I also didn’t want to be outside framing houses in -40 like my dad. Cabinetmaking is hands-on, engaging work and I knew it was something I would enjoy.”

Now a Level 3 apprentice working with Genuwine Cellars, Michaud-Edmonds helps design and build luxury wine and cigar humidors for high-end clients. “It’s kind of a niche market,” he explains.

“We’re a full design and build firm—whatever dream you have, we make it our daily work to bring that to life.”

Like many students, Michaud-Edmonds initially shied away from participating in competitions. However, Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship instructor Todd Birtwhistle, who has overseen the AWMAC competition for 18 years, emphasizes the value in taking the opportunity to compete.

He explained that the AWMAC competition focuses on testing students’ technical skills, while Skills Canada provides students with a venue to experiment and be creative. When students compete in both they are able to push themselves in different ways.

“All competitions are about honing skills—especially time management,” he says. “You’re working under pressure, and things may go wrong. But it’s about troubleshooting the problem at hand and moving forward.”

Birtwhistle adds, “Tyler is a very talented young man. He works for a company building multi-million dollar wine cellars. It’s a very interesting job that he finds stimulating.”

For Michaud-Edmonds, the experience has been transformative.

“It’s been really affirming,” he says. “Like everybody, I struggle with self-confidence. But it’s not even about the winning—you’re in there with people all pushing each other to do their best.”

As Birtwhistle puts it, participating in competitions creates a sense of pride in students’ work that they carry into their careers.

“We’re training them to train others. The more pride we take in our careers, the more that pride gets passed down.”

Last weekend Michaud-Edmonds’ cabinet was on display, representing Manitoba during the 2025 AWMAC National Convention in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His craftmanship on the project landed him second place amongst entries from the nine AWMAC regional chapters across Canada.

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

We want to share an important update with you regarding the activation of RRC Polytech’s Shelter Site at the Notre Dame Campus. Yesterday evening, wildfire evacuees began arriving at our campus from across the province, seeking refuge and support during this difficult time.

Through the night, we welcomed over 120 people – many of whom have now been moved to other accommodations. We are now prepared to welcome more evacuees throughout day.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of staff from departments across the college, we were able to complete the final preparations and warmly welcome guests. From preparing meals and assembling hygiene kits to welcoming guests and providing essential information, our community came together quickly and compassionately to ensure evacuees felt welcome and supported upon arrival.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, energy, and care over the last few days to prepare for their arrival.

Please continue to check Staff and Student News for operational updates including spaces that will not be available or bookable while guests are staying with us. These spaces will be utilized for serving food and providing recreational activities and entertainment for families.

We also want to thank the community who has reached out to and offered to volunteer in a number of ways. We are establishing a volunteering system that will be shared soon.

We will continue to keep you informed via Staff and Student News as the situation evolves and will share ways you can help in the coming days.

Over the weekend, the Canadian Red Cross reached out to RRC Polytech to request our assistance to shelter wildfire evacuees.

We are preparing to support approximately 200 Manitobans by offering a shelter space at the Notre Dame Campus.

We are anticipating that supplies and cots will be delivered today to help set up a temporary shelter in the North Gym. The South Gym will also be used as a recreation space for evacuees. 

As part of this effort, the North Gym and Loft (including changing room facilities), and South Gym will be closed to students and staff until further notice. Otherwise, there will be no impact to day-to-day operations on campus.  

Making our spaces available is an important way we can support evacuees during this difficult time and welcome them to campus as they seek safety and comfort. The Canadian Red Cross will manage the shelter, which will operate 24/7 while evacuees are on site. RRC Polytech will assist the Red Cross as needed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment. 

This work is being led by Safety, Health and Security Services who have engaged a coordinated team of representatives from areas across the College and have set up an Emergency Operations Centre located at AB37. We are all working together to ensure evacuees are supported and have what they may need while staying with us.  

Later today, we may reach out to staff who are available to help with setting up the shelter alongside the Canadian Red Cross. We will keep you informed if assistance is needed. 

We continue to take direction from the Canadian Red Cross and at this time we will not be accepting clothing or other donations at this site. As we learn more and understand how we can best support the evacuees on campus, we will continue to keep you informed.  

RRC Polytech has always been here to support our community, and we appreciate your assistance and understanding as we work together to help those affected by the wildfires. 

We will continue to provide regular updates on the shelter site at NDC through rrc.ca/marcom and Staff and Student News to keep you informed. 

Thank you for your compassion and support, and for welcoming evacuees to the RRC Polytech community.