RRC Polytech has won the bronze medal for Excellence in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Awards of Excellence, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Following our commitment to embed EDI and Truth and Reconciliation into everything we do, the College proudly implemented a corporate equity, diversity, and inclusion action plan over the past year. This helped establish a network of Diversity Champions who encourage EDI engagement on campus through events, programs, and training opportunities.

The College has made a public pledge to make Manitoba a centre of excellence for Indigenous education, research, languages, and culture. To guide this significant and transformational work, the College continuously seeks strategic advice from its Elders-in-Residence, Knowledge Keepers Council, Director of Truth and Reconciliation, and new Vice President of Indigenous Strategy, Research, and Business Development portfolio.

RRC Polytech continues to actively embed EDI practices and Truth and Reconciliation into all activity across all campuses to ensure everyone in the College community feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. 

The CICan Awards of Excellence recognize best practices from colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics across the country, as well as individual leadership and achievements in 10 categories. The awards are distributed in partnership with TD Insurance.

RRC Polytech is an anchor tenant on the list of Canada’s Greenest Employers, which is compiled annually by Mediacorp Inc. and unveiled each Earth Day. This year marks the 12^th consecutive time the College has earned this distinction. It’s an enviable streak made possible by a campus community committed to environmental awareness, and the ongoing expansion of programs and practices that enhances sustainability.

“We’re proud of how universal the commitment to sustainability is at RRC Polytech,” says Maria Mendes, Director, Environmental Stewardship and Campus Renewal. “Earth Day is a perfect occasion to celebrate the steps we’ve taken together toward greater sustainability. It’s also a time for us to reflect on how we will enhance these efforts in the years to come.”

In addition to recognizing RRC Polytech’s environmentally friendly policies and programs, the award also honours the opening of Manitoba a bi Bii daziigae – a significant new expression of sustainable design.

The new facility expands the green footprint of RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus. Its state-of-the-art design includes Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) along its exterior that use Kromatix glass panels to allow monocrystine solar cells to absorb and conduct energy while also protecting the building from the elements. This installation is the first of its kind in Canada and will reduce energy consumption by an estimated 15 to 20% per cent.

Kerri Korabelnikov speaks at the opening of Manitou a bi Bii daziigae

Kerri Korabelnikov, Dean, School of Education, Arts and Sciences at RRC Polytech, has been appointed to a new advisory council on immigration to recommend improvements to current immigration policies and programs for the province of Manitoba.

She is one of twenty Manitobans appointed to the Immigration Advisory Council (IAC), which will be co-chaired by Lloyd Axworthy and Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes.

“We are all coming to this council from different perspectives, but we all know how important encouraging economic growth is by investing in immigration,” said Korabelnikov. “Manitoba is an incredible destination for newcomers, especially for international students coming to RRC Polytech, and this work will ensure we are able to improve our foreign credential recognition to help these people enter the work force promptly.”