June 23 is International Women in Engineering Day, a day to celebrate the important contributions that women and gender-diverse engineers make in their communities through their engineering work.

From Engineers Canada, “INWED is a day to celebrate the important contributions that women and gender-diverse engineers make in their communities through their engineering work. It is an opportunity to raise the profile of women and gender-diverse people in engineering and underscore that a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive profession improves the quality of engineering work and its impact.

INWED is a fantastic opportunity to consider how each of us—engineering employers, individual engineers, allies, professors, students—contributes to gender equity in our workplaces, our post-secondary institutions, and our profession. It is an opportunity to reflect on what we are currently doing, and what more we can be doing to each contribute to welcoming and inclusive environments for all engineers.”

Today – and everyday – we celebrate RRC Polytech leaders like Ellowyn Nadeau, the first woman to head the Winnipeg Construction Board. Read more here.

The following message was sent to All Staff and All Students today on behalf of RRC Polytech President and CEO, Fred Meier.

June is National Indigenous History Month and today, June 21, is the summer solstice: the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. June 21 was proclaimed National Indigenous Peoples Day in 1996 after continuous support from the National Indian Brotherhood (Assembly of First Nations), the Sacred Assembly and Elijah Harper, and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Indigenous communities around Turtle Island gather every year to celebrate the summer solstice with ceremony and celebration and to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day. Many organizations and communities host events proudly showcasing the many vibrant Indigenous cultures from dawn until dusk.

This year, RRC Polytech kicked off Indigenous History Month with the raising of the Red River Métis Flag, the Treaty One Flag, and RRC Polytech’s original Pride Flag. In years past, we’ve hosted our own event to recognize the summer solstice and Indigenous Peoples Day, but this year the School of Indigenous Education has a new venture—the Indigenous Student Support Team has organized a bus tour with Elder-in-Residence Paul Guimond around Winnipeg and surrounding areas to experience a variety of events to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Though it’s felt like summer for a few weeks already, I encourage you to ring in the new season by visiting any number of events hosted by Indigenous folks around the city and beyond. Many events can be found on the Government of Canada’s website with the search term ‘Manitoba.’ The Forks is hosting the Wa-Say Healing Centre Pow Wow followed by musical performances; the Manitoba Métis Federation is hosting a celebration at Selkirk’s Memorial Hall; WAG-Qaumajuq is hosting an art education event and evening concerts on Memorial Boulevard; and in Brandon there will be a celebration at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

Thank you, and please enjoy a beautiful National Indigenous Peoples Day!

In fall of 2022, the Zone Permit program was introduced at Notre Dame Campus. Over the last year, we’ve collected data, taken feedback, reviewed zones and pain points, and are excited to announce several improvements that will come into effect on September 1, 2023.

Here’s a quick summary of changes:

• Designating specific lots for daily parking;
• Designating specific lots for permit holders;
• Creating an additional zone: North, West, Central (Staff Only), and South;
• Renaming the lots for easier navigation; and
• Updating the process for electric vehicle and accessible spots.

Daily and guest parking

Each zone, aside from Central, will have designated daily parking areas for those who purchase daily or hourly parking. Angood Road (updated name: South 3) Northeast (updated name: North 1) and West 1 will be designated guest and daily parking areas. Please see map below for specifics.

Permit holder only lots

Each zone will have dedicated permit holder only lots. Only those with an active permit for that zone will be able to park within those lots. Daily and guest parkers will be required to park in the designated Daily areas on campus.

Additional zone

An additional zone has been added, and there are now four zones to select from. The South lot (updated name: South 1) and East lot (updated name: South 2) will now fall under the South zone. All lot names will be updated to align with the new zones and make it easier to navigate around campus. Maps will be posted online and across campus beginning August 1, 2023. Please see map below for specifics.

Staff-only zone

The new Central parking zone will now become a staff-only permit zone due to its layout and stall configuration. All other zones will remain shared between staff and students. The South and East lots will no longer be a part of the Central zone as they will fall under the new South zone. 

Updated process for electric vehicle and accessible spots

All parkers who drive an electric vehicle (EV) and wish to charge while onsite will be required to purchase either a power permit or daily/hourly parking pass. Electric vehicle parkers will then be able to charge in any available EV stall regardless of zone. Once your charge is complete, you will be required to move back into a spot within your permit zone to support all EV parkers.

All permit holders who require permanent accessible parking will be asked to reach out to Commuting and Parking Office directly to begin the registration process. All temporary requests should be directed Lori Walkow in Accessibility Services.

As the parking program evolves, we want to ensure our commitment to not oversell any permits or zones. If you have any questions, please contact parking@rrc.ca and we’ll be happy to help you! 

Last week, RRC Polytech was pleased to host Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland at the Notre Dame Campus. Minister Freeland participated in a roundtable discussion with industry partners, toured spaces across the campus, and had the opportunity to speak with students, faculty and leaders about the important work we are doing at Manitoba’s Polytechnic.

The visit began with an economic roundtable discussion with Minister Freeland and industry stakeholders from across Manitoba, hosted by RRC Polytech President and CEO, Fred Meier, VP Academic, Dr. Christine Watson, and VP Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development, Jamie Wilson.

Following the hour-long discussion, President Meier and Derek Kochenash, Dean of Skilled Trades and Technology, toured Minister Freeland around the campus and met with staff and faculty in RRC Polytech’s Smart Factory and Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology Research Centre, MotiveLab, and spoke with students in our Transportation Technology and Women of Steel programs. 

This visit provided RRC Polytech the opportunity to invite key community and business leaders on Campus, and to highlight to our national leaders how RRC Polytech’s programs and applied research directly benefits priorities in the federal budget related to clean technology, EV technology and support for critical minerals and mining.

Recognizing these two distinct sovereign nations an important step in Reconciliation; new Pride design creates inclusive environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation – Today, Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) is raising three flags in an act of unity, pride and inclusivity to mark the beginning of National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. The Treaty One flag, Red River Métis flag and RRC Polytech’s new Pride flag will now fly year-round at the Notre Dame Campus in Winnipeg to acknowledge the history of the land, respect for the treaties made on the land, and representation of the people who live here.

“RRC Polytech is committed to enacting Truth and Reconciliation and equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. A large part of that is creating representation and inclusive spaces on our campuses,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech. “By raising these three flags we are demonstrating to staff, students and community members that this is a place where you belong. We know that there are still institutions and situations where 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous and Métis people don’t feel welcome or recognized – but at RRC Polytech we are giving a firm message that everybody belongs and is welcome here.”

The three flags will be raised at 1:30p.m., with support from Joan Ledoux, Minister of Provincial Education at the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) – the National Government of the Red River Métis; David Beaudin, Associate Minister of Provincial Education at the MMF; Knowledge Keepers Barbara Bruce and Albert Mcleod; Vic Savino, Treaty One Nations Director of Communications, Peguis First Nation; Frank Beaulieu, Cultural Advisor, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation; Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Treaty One Territory; and members of the RRC Polytech community. Ray “Coco” Stevenson will be providing a hand drum Flag Song for the ceremony

Treaty One Flag

Treaty One represents Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Nehiyaw (Cree) original peoples of the territory of present-day southern Manitoba, including the Forks at the Assiniboine and Red rivers which was a vital trade and gathering site.

Treaty One Nation is composed of the seven First Nations who are signatories to the first of the numbered Treaties, originally signed on August 3, 1871 at Lower Fort Garry after several days of discussions and ceremonies.

“I am extremely proud to see RRC Polytech raise our Treaty One flag on their campus today. Despite the spirit and intent of the Treaty, which has benefitted the people of Manitoba for over 150 years, we were continuously denied of our rights, our titles, our jurisdictions, our culture, our language, and our children,” says Chief Gordon Bluesky of Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation and Treaty One Chairperson.
“Despite our darker periods of history, we are still standing strong, and each one of these flag-raising ceremonies is a concrete, tangible expression to our Treaty Partners that we are still here. Today, we can all look forward to a brighter future for the next generations, and feel the pride in sharing the history of Indigenous peoples on this land. Through these actions of reconciliation, our young Indigenous learners have a very bright future ahead.”

The Treaty One Nation flag was designed to incorporate the original spirit and intent of the Treaties: green, to represent the grass; blue, to represent the waters; and yellow to represent the sun. The red represents the circle of life and the red people who inhabit this land. Lastly, the seven points around the sun represent the seven signatory First Nations of Treaty No. 1.

RRC Polytech recognizes in its land acknowledgement that the land we use is the land of the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené and that Treaty One is the agreement that allows us the live the way we do.

Red River Métis Flag

The Red River Métis have a rich and important history, language, and culture. The Red River Settlement – now Winnipeg – is the heart of the Red River Métis Homeland and the birthplace of the Nation.  
 
“The Red River Métis have been fighting to have our rich culture, heritage and history recognized and respected for over 200 years. Manitoba is the only province in Canada to have been brought into confederation by an Indigenous Nation with the signing of the Manitoba Act in 1870, intertwining the history of the Red River Métis with the history of Manitoba. Today, the MMF, the National Government of the Red River Métis, has made great strides in advancing our Nation and regaining our rightful place in Canada’s confederation. This flag-raising today is one small step toward a brighter future for our Red River Métis Youth, ensuring that they know their identity is recognized and celebrated as they achieve their educational goals at this institution,” said Minister Joan Ledoux, Minister of Provincial Education and Associate Minister of Métis Employment & Training at the Manitoba Métis Federation.
 
RRC Polytech recognizes the impact that the Red River Métis had in the formation of this city, province, and country. The Red River Métis were instrumental in confederation and fought battles to retain their rights throughout history – in the courtroom, in houses of government, and on the battlefield. 
 
RRC Polytech Pride Flag

Last year RRC Polytech revealed the design of its new Pride Flag, which was painted on pedestrian walkways at the Notre Dame Campus, Exchange District Campus, and Portage la Prairie Campus. Moving forward, the flag will also be raised at RRC Polytech’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute throughout the month of June.

The College’s Pride design is an evolution of the Progress Pride flag that includes representation for all 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual) community members, and includes specific Indigenous elements.  It was created through engagement with RRC Polytech’s Knowledge Keepers Council, with a strong lead from Two Spirit and Métis Elder Barbara Bruce, and Two Spirit and Cree/ Métis Elder Albert McLeod.

RRC Polytech’s Pride design includes the following elements:

• The triangle represents the badge LGBT prisoners were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps.
• Moving the triangle to the bottom maintains this meaning, but also forms a tepee, which is a shelter shape historically used by many First Nations people in Manitoba and shows the upward momentum of the movement.
• The Medicine Wheel incorporates traditional Indigenous knowledge and teachings.
• The purple and yellow circles around the Medicine Wheel recognize intersex folx.

By combining these elements and colours and displaying them in prominent locations, the Pride design has been created to represent all human beings, and welcome everyone on Indigenous lands.

“The Pride design was developed collaboratively across the College, carefully considering the meaning of all elements of the design, such as the colours, location of the chevron, and centering and orienting the Medicine Wheel,” says Vera Godavari, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist. “At RRC Polytech we are committed to our reconciliation journey as we walk the path of understanding, respect and advocacy with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As learning organization, we celebrate our progress and continue our dedication to this important work through these ongoing initiatives.”

In addition to consulting with RRC Polytech’s Knowledge Keepers’ Council, Students Association, and its Gender and Sexual Identities working group, RRC Polytech also worked with the Rainbow Resource Centre on the evolution of the College’s Pride design.

Members of the community and media are invited to attend the ceremony from 1:30-3:30pm, today, Monday June 5, 2023 at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus (2055 Notre Dame Avenue).

Last week 19 students from RRC Polytech represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition, which took place at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. The competition saw more than 550 secondary and post-secondary competitors from across the country competing in more than 45 categories of skilled trades.

RRC Polytech students won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and earned valuable experience throughout the competition. Beyond growing their technical skills, they also had the opportunity to work on human skills – teamwork, time management, listening, problem solving – while also building connections with professionals from their respectiveindustries.

Congratulations to the medalists, and to each of the competitors for demonstrating their skill.

RRC Polytech Medalists

• Derrick Penner, Cabinet Making, GOLD
• Kevin Schroeder, Bricklaying, GOLD
• Mathew Dyck, Aerospace Technology, SILVER
• Dorrian Selley, Car Painting, SILVER
• Jacob Abbey and Kayla Wieler, Landscape Gardening, BRONZE
• Luke Friesen, Outdoor Power & Rec Equipment, BRONZE
• Mason Bessey, Steamfitter, BRONZE

RBC Best in Region – Manitoba:

Derrick Penner, Cabinet Making

Complete results and more information can be found on the Skills Canada website

Christian Zacharias is no stranger to carpentry — he says he’s been swinging hammers since he was three years old. With a desire to pursue a practical career in carpentry, he went on a journey that led him to Apprenticeship Manitoba, and eventually to RRC Polytech.

“Growing up, I really enjoyed working with my hands, doing and helping with projects around the house and at my cabin,” Zacharias recalls. “I didn’t want to spend years at university to get a degree, it just wasn’t for me.”

Today, he’s working as a residential finish carpenter while he attends RRC Polytech where he hopes to earn his Red Seal Certification.

Zacharias’ skills as a carpenter have not gone unnoticed. He competed and won gold at the Skills Manitoba competition and represented Manitoba at the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) in Vancouver last year.

Initially unsure of what to expect at SCNC, he received extra training after work to go over skills and concepts he hadn’t previously learned or mastered. The additional support played a crucial role in his preparations. Even though he fell short of clinching a victory at the SCNC last year, he drew from this experience and won gold in Carpentry at this year’s Skills Manitoba competition.

“It was a great confidence booster that my skills as a carpenter are improving, and now there’s some proof of that,” Zacharias says. He is eagerly anticipating SCNC in Winnipeg this week, and is thrilled to showcase his abilities on home turf.

His word of advice to anyone competing at SCNC: Look at the bigger picture and visualize the end result before starting. Creating something isn’t just memorizing material, but understanding how everything works and connects together by looking at all the details.

Zacharias says his instructors at RRC Polytech have been an invaluable source of guidance and support. He credits them for their commitment to helping him succeed, and showing him opportunities he didn’t even know were available.

As he continues to grow and excel as a carpenter, Zacharias is forever grateful for the opportunities that have come his way and the people who have supported him along his path.

The Carpentry program at RRC Polytech is a five-month course offered at the Notre Dame Campus. Although it’s not an apprenticeship program, students can transfer their credit towards apprenticeship through Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Learn more about the Carpentry program by using RRC Polytech’s Program Explorer.

More than a dozen Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) students will be representing Manitoba this week in the annual Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), after winning big at the Skills Manitoba Competition in April.

One of them is RRC Polytech Professional Baking and Pastry student Gayeong Yun, who won gold in Baking at Skills MB.

“I am very delighted and proud of myself to be representing Team Manitoba. For me, it’s the first time I get to participate in a competition on behalf of a province or region,” said Yun.

As an international student from Korea, she arrived in Canada in August 2022 year to study at RRC Polytech.

Yun joined the preparatory team for the competition late, and as a result, she felt behind compared to her colleagues. To compensate, she often practiced after school and on her days off.

She credits her instructors for providing her with everything she needed, not only to succeed in the competition, but as a professional baker. Skills like tempering chocolate, cooking sugar, and making daily work plans were just some of the things she took from the program and showcased at last month’s competition.

“I have great respect for the chefs in my program, and I am always grateful to them,” Yun said. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the best chefs in the College.”

During the Skills Manitoba competition, Yun was given 5.5 hours to create two components for judging: a plated dessert of chocolate caramel tarts, and a chocolate showpiece. The theme for this years’ competition, The Four Seasons, had to be represented in some way for both components. Part of the judging criteria also included sanitation, safety, and equipment.

To participate in SCNC, Yun not only had to win gold but also score higher than 70 per cent.

SCNC will be held at the RBC Convention Centre on May 25 and 26. Skills Canada expects over 550 competitors participating in 45 skills.

RRC Polytech’s Professional Baking and Pastry program teaches students like Yun the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue a variety of baking and pastry careers. The program is held at the state-of-the-art facilities in the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute at the Exchange District Campus.

Learn more about the Professional Baking and Pastry program by using RRC Polytech’s Program Explorer.

Look! Up in the sky! It’s not a bird… It’s not a plane… It’s RRC Polytech! Red River College Polytechnic’s alternate moniker now proudly hovers over 50 feet high above Winnipeg’s Princess Avenue, identifying The Roblin Centre from far and wide. A new 160 square foot-plus, red and black sign, constructed of aluminum and vinyl was recently installed over the course of a few days by SRS Signs, but the behind-the-scenes process to execute the change took months of planning and delicate negotiation before the proper permits and permissions were granted.   

The College’s Facilities Management team was tasked with ensuring the new signage was mounted similar to the rooftop’s existing steel structure to maintain the building’s historic esthetic, but policy upgrades by the City of Winnipeg presented some significant challenges.   

Technical Officer, Jason Ilagan worked diligently with the City and SRS Signs to find a solution that worked for all parties resulting in the final product you see today – a sign that is not only built to current code but maintains the spectacular vintage vibe of the surrounding Exchange District.

Home to many of the College’s business and management, Information Technology and creative arts programs the Roblin Centre is an important hub of activity at the recently expanded Exchange District Campus. But the completion of its exterior transformation is more than just a physical modification to the city’s skyline, it also serves as a major milestone in securing our new identity as Manitoba’s only polytechnic.

“The new sign atop Roblin Centre will serve as a beacon in our rejuvenated downtown that as Manitoba’s polytechnic we help make things possible to stay in front of what’s ahead,” says David Petis, RRC Polytech’s Executive Director of Advancement.

“For more than 80 years, students have come to us to prepare themselves to thrive in the future, so we are constantly striving to provide leading edge, post-secondary education by working with industry and community partners to identify what Manitoba needs next. This commitment has guided our evolution from a community college to a college of applied learning and now to the polytechnic we are today.”

Polytechnics are agile and can transform learning models to ensure graduates are properly prepared to help businesses combat disruption. Through applied research projects, RRC Polytech provides our partners with the unique solutions they need in order for Manitoba to thrive. It’s been over 18 months since the unveiling of the College’s new identity and strategic plan, and the reaction to our accomplishments in this short time has been overwhelmingly positive.

The relationships staff, students and faculty have and continue to build enhance our reputation for providing trusted training to the province in a welcoming environment for all, and our connection with the public is strong.

In February 2021, Probe Research asked the people of Manitoba’s familiarity with the term polytechnic and less than one third (28 per cent) of respondents were familiar. When asked again in February 2022, after just five months of RRC Polytech’s strategic brand marketing and communication with stakeholders, that number jumped to 45 per cent. Soon we expect all Manitobans will understand as we do that polytechnics are known across Canada and around the world as institutions that are inextricably tied to the labour market to offer high quality in-depth study and practical skills training.

A strong brand is important because it helps build recognition, understanding, trust and affinity. When audiences share the values of a brand, convincing them to apply, engage, partner, forgive, advocate and give back takes less effort, because an emotional bond already exists. It’s important to always remember that who we are and the culture we are creating is just as important to the community we serve as what we do, and that work will never be complete.

The new RRC Polytech sign above the Roblin Centre provides a constant reminder of our brand and our values to everyone who lays eyes on it.

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis – Manitoba’s regulated egg farmers are inviting you to join them for FREE coffee and delicious egg sandwiches on May 17^th from 7:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the corner of King St. and Bannatyne Ave.

Got burning questions about eggs? Meet your local egg farmers and ask questions about how eggs are produced in Manitoba. Attendees can take home MEF-branded swag, including whisks, fried egg pins and cookbooks, and radio station QX104 will be onsite playing music and inviting folks to join in on the fun.

“We want to share our love of eggs with Manitobans,” said Catherine Kroeker-Klassen, Chair of MEF. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate that love for eggs than for our farmers to come to the city, chat with folks about life on the farm and then give away delicious sandwiches made with local nutritious eggs.”

MEF is working with Chef Terry Gereta to make the sandwiches fresh onsite at Red River College Polytechnic’s Paterson Globalfoods Institute. Gereta is an instructor from RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts program, who has sourced local ingredients for these sandwiches and is supervising students, who will benefit from the opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice.

“As one of the most versatile and nutritious ingredients available to us, eggs are an essential ingredient for most chefs on a daily basis, so it’s important that our students not only master how to cook with them properly – but truly understand their value as well as the process and effort that is required to get them to our kitchens,” said Ryan Whibbs, Chair of Baking and Culinary Arts at RRC Polytech. “We’re thrilled to partner with Manitoba Egg Farmers for this event that provides Chef Terry’s short order students with experiential training while showcasing the fundamental role that farmers play to feed our communities and grow our economy.”

“Eggs are delicious, protein-packed and highly versatile – perfect for weekend brunches, after-gym snacks, holiday baking and a quick nutritious way to start every day,” said Catherine Kroeker-Klassen. “When you are buying eggs in Manitoba grocery stores you are supporting a local Manitoba egg farm – just like mine! Those eggs are fresh, nutritious and affordable. Thank you for supporting local egg farmers!”

We hope you can start your day with a hot egg sandwich this Wednesday from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Old Market Square! Celebrate #LocalEggs with us!

About Manitoba Egg Farmers – We’re Egg Farmers We Love What We Do® Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF) represents 170 regulated egg and pullet farmers in our province. MEF is an independent organization, funded entirely by egg and pullet farmers. Regulated egg farmers are the primary caregivers of their hens that produce over 76 million dozen eggs each year and feed all communities across Manitoba. Eggs are nutritious, versatile and can be eaten with any meal. For more information about egg farming in Manitoba, hen care or recipes visit eggs.mb.ca