New bursaries will be available for new Indigenous programs at RRC and students are encouraged to attend today’s open house to learn more and apply.

Today, as part of Red River College’s (RRC) first Indigenous Education Open House, RRC and Indspire, announced “The Red River College School of Indigenous Education Award,” that will provide financial support for up to 85 Indigenous students enrolled in one of RRC’s newest Indigenous academic programs that are being launched this fall.

“Red River College is working to create a seamless flow of wrap-around supports for aspiring Indigenous students that will help increase enrolment and graduation rates across the College, and these bursaries will help remove the existing financial barriers that many of our learners’ face,” said Rebecca Chartrand, RRC Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy

“We are proud to partner with Indspire, a leading national Indigenous charity, who recognizes the important work we are doing as a College and has made an investment in a bright future for Indigenous students in our community.”

This, first-of-its-kind Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards partnership between RRC and Indspire will cover the full cost of tuition, books and supplies for students enrolled in one of the following new academic programs being delivered by RRC’s School of Indigenous Education:

• ACCESS Health Pathway Program
• ACCESS Engineering Pathway Program
• Social Enterprise Diploma Program
• Indigenous Languages Certificate Program
• Indigenous Culinary Skills Certificate

A key pillar of RRC’s five-year strategic plan is to continue to support Indigenous student success and through this initiative, led by RRC’s School of Indigenous Education, the College believes these bursaries will help continue to remove the barriers of access to post-secondary education for Indigenous learners in Manitoba.

“This partnership is another step in the direction of transforming education for our youth so they can in turn transform their families, communities, and Canada,” said Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire. “We are grateful for the support of Red River College and for the work they are doing to advance Indigenous achievement and education.”

Indigenous students who are interested in learning more about the new programs and bursaries available are invited to attend the Indigenous Education Open House today, May 31, 2018 from 1:00pm – 7:00pm at the Notre Dame Campus.

The Open House will provide future students with an opportunity to meet Support Staff and Instructors who can answer questions and help with filling out application forms for any of the featured programs. Students are asked to bring their Social Insurance Number, official high school transcripts and proof of Indigenous Ancestry to help complete the applications.

This new award is the result of a one-year pilot agreement between RRC and Indspire with RRC’s School of Indigenous Education investing a net total of over $210,000 towards the award. In return Indspire will match the College’s contributions dollar-for-dollar through the Government of Canada’s matching funds, for a total of over $420,000 to support Indigenous learners.

ABOUT RRC’s NEWS INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS

The ACCESS programs provide learners with preparatory, exploratory and transitional experience, while the remaining three programs aim to grow Indigenous representation within these sectors. The culinary program for example, will provide courses aimed at developing fundamental culinary skills, knowledge and basic business skills. It will also include a cultural component and land based curriculum. The Indigenous Social Enterprise Diploma will focus on the principles of economic reconciliation and how this relates to the Canadian social economy. It will give students the tools they need to solve programs and address challenges in our urban and rural communities.

ABOUT INDSPIRE

Indspire is a national Indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. Indspire’s vision is to enrich Canada through Indigenous education and by inspiring achievement. In partnership with Indigenous, private and public sector stakeholders, Indspire educates, connects and invests in Indigenous people so they will achieve their highest potential.

Indspire is led by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. We serve First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students in remote communities, rural areas and urban centres across Canada. With the support of our funding partners, we disburse financial awards, deliver programs, and share resources with the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education.

Learn more at www.indspire.ca

Red River College’s (RRC) Portage la Prairie Campus has a vacancy for some feathered friends.

For efforts in restoring an old chimney to create a hospitable habitat, RRC has been presented with the Swift Champion award from the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative (MCSI). Over the summer of 2017 two swifts were spotted using the chimney a number of times, indicating the restoration was a success.

“We’re honoured to accept the Swift Champion award and to continue our role in protecting the Chimney Swifts,” said Guy Moffat, Regional Campus Manager for the Portage Campus. “It’s been amazing to see the work our facilities team have put in to restoring the chimney, and to be able to witness the swifts flying in and out of their summer home. Part of RRC’s Strategic Plan includes fostering sustainable growth – not just for the College, but for the entire province. This is just one way we contribute to that.”

This Chimney Swift is a small brown bird, often described as a ‘cigar with wings’ that enjoy roosting and breeding in brick chimneys. The species has declined by a large amount in Canada since the 1970s and are now listed under both the Manitoban and Federal Government Species at Risk Acts.

When an MCSI volunteer noticed upgrades being made to the chimney, which sits atop the 100-year-old building, they notified RRC to bring awareness that it had been identified as a designated chimney swift habitat. That awareness resulted in a shift to the original repair plans, which would have closed off the chimney with a metal cap. Now the top part of the brick chimney remains intact, with an opening that allows Chimney Swifts to enter for roosting. The College’s efforts also ensure that toxic gases won’t collect in the nesting area.

“We’re proud to present Red River College with this award. The College is a very deserving recipient of this award thanks to the initiative taken to preserve the chimney and create a suitable habitat for the swifts,” said Tim Poole, Outreach Coordinator for MCSI. “It’s important for more organizations and individuals across the province to follow suite and recognize they can make an impact, either through the restoration of existing habitat, the building of new habitats or simply growing awareness.”

The College joins sites like the Merchant Hotel (Selkirk), The Parish Church (St. Jean-Baptiste), St. Avila School, Good News Fellowship Church and St. Ann’s Catholic Church (Winnipeg) in the effort to help the Swifts.

The MSCI has also erected swift towers in Starbuck, St. Adolphe, Portage la Prairie, and Winnipeg, including a new tower in Assiniboine Park Zoo, and has partnered with volunteers across the province in their monitoring and conservation efforts.

RRC will soon be adding signage that identifies the chimney as an endangered species habitat.

The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative (MCSI) is a volunteer-run arm of Nature Manitoba with a mandate to coordinate all volunteer monitoring, outreach and stewardship for this threatened species in Manitoba.

Living Textbooks will be Updated Regularly, Accessible Anywhere in Manitoba: Fielding

The province is providing free access for students and professionals across Manitoba to online learning resources on prenatal and child development, Families Minister Scott Fielding announced today. The Science of Early Child Development (SECD) includes regularly updated living textbooks and modules that offer current research and links to practice through a convenient online platform, accessible via computer, tablet and smartphone.

“We are making a first-of-its-kind investment in the early years fields in Manitoba to increase professional development opportunities, encourage independent study, strengthen the sectors that work with children and families, and improve the quality of services for Manitoba families,” Fielding announced at Red River College. “Living textbooks are a cost-effective way to continually expand knowledge, provide educational opportunities and relay the latest research for everyone involved in the early learning and child-care sector.”

The province will provide $365,000 to Red River College (RRC) through the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement with the federal government to open up provincewide access for two living textbooks and three additional modules. This will eliminate the license fee currently required to register, which will benefit hundreds of students and teaching staff as well as early learning and child-care professionals, family child-care providers, teachers, public health staff, community organizations and any Manitobans interested in the impact of early experience on lifelong health and well-being. RRC will oversee the initiative and report to government on annual usage.

“The Government of Canada is very pleased that investments from the Canada–Manitoba early learning and child care bilateral agreement are being used to develop innovative projects such as the living textbook,” said Robert-Falcon Ouellette, member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre. “Flexible access to quality training for educators and students is a major step forward in supporting a quality early learning environment for Manitoba’s children.”

RRC researched and developed the SECD initiative in partnership with the University of Toronto and the Aga Khan Development Network. These resources are currently used in other jurisdictions but this is the first time they are being made openly available in Manitoba. The site is updated regularly and includes readings, videos of children’s programs around the world, interviews with experts, links to reports and websites, reflection questions and interactive activities. The information supports courses in the Child Care Assistant and Early Childhood Educator training programs.

“Red River College is proud to be a leader in social innovation in Manitoba,” said Paul Vogt, president and CEO of RRC. “The SECD resource is a globally recognized, successful research and resource tool that is elevating the success of our early childhood educators within the classroom. We are pleased that this Manitoba-made, award-winning research and educational resource, created right here at Red River College by our knowledgeable staff and faculty, will now continue to provide all front-line child-care workers in the province with the tools, skills and training necessary to shape young minds and build a strong foundation for bright futures.”

Manitobans can access SECD at https://content.scienceofecd.com/mbaccess. Available resources include the living textbook, Child Development Primer / Introduction au développement de l’enfant modules and Prenatal Development, geared to the public health sector.

Winnipeg, MB – Red River College announced new and enhanced programs, and more student supports for Indigenous learners – all part of the College’s strategic plan to grow its Indigenous student population and chart a bold, new path forward for Indigenous Education.

“Red River College is proud to be a key signatory to the Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint, and we are fully committed to providing the student-centered and culturally relevant supports necessary to help aspiring students successfully transition from community to classroom to career,” said Rebecca Chartrand, RRC Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy.

“Over the last year, we have been working to create better access to programs, new training opportunities, and more pathways to post-secondary education for our Indigenous learners. We have taken important steps forward as a College community to grow and provide our students with the wrap-around supports and services they need to succeed.”

This fall, the College will launch five new programs for Indigenous learners:

1. ACCESS Health Pathway Program
2. ACCESS Engineering Pathway Program
3. Social Enterprise Diploma Program
4. Indigenous Languages Certificate Program
5. Indigenous Culinary Skills Certificate

The ACCESS programs provide learners with preparatory, exploratory and transitional experience, while the remaining three programs aim to grow Indigenous representation within these sectors. The culinary program for example, will provide courses aimed at developing fundamental culinary skills, knowledge and basic business skills. It will also include a cultural component and land based curriculum. The Indigenous Social Enterprise Diploma will focus on the principles of economic reconciliation and how this relates to the Canadian social economy. It will give students the tools they need to solve programs and address challenges in our urban and rural communities.

The College also worked very closely in consultation with internal and community stakeholders to create a new internal infrastructure that reflects the growth of Indigenous Education at RRC, and is more agile and responsive to the needs of learners. This has resulted in the development of 12 new positions, including two Navigators, Academic and Enrollment Coaches, a Transition to Employment Coach, and a Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Manager.

“Everything we do as a College is ultimately about the success of our students. As Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning, we are taking the lead to create more pathways to post-secondary education, deliver innovative and relevant programming, and ultimately, increase graduation rates among Indigenous students,” said Paul Vogt, RRC President and CEO.

These new programs and supports for Indigenous students build on the many positive initiatives and milestones Red River College has celebrated in the last year, including:

• Opening the College’s first Sweat Lodge at the Notre Dame Campus.
• Opening a new Indigenous Student Support Centre at The Roblin Centre to better support Indigenous learners pursing studies at the Exchange District Campus.
• Creating two new Anishinaabemowin language courses designed to support the growth of Indigenous language revitalization in Manitoba’s schools and advance reconciliation efforts in our province.
• Taking training outside of the traditional classroom and offering two new skilled trades community-based training programs to students in Lake Manitoba First Nation and Sagkeeng First Nation.
• Redeveloping and expanding our ACCESS programs to better meet the needs of students, and to provide opportunities to enroll in a wider range of program offerings including new streams in Health and Engineering.

Winnipeg, MB – The Province of Manitoba is helping Red River College (RRC) reach new heights in aviation and aeronautics training by supporting the College’s acquisition of its successful Stevenson Aviation Campus, Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart announced today.

“Our government recognizes the leadership shown by Red River College in the purchase of their campus property, where they provide essential training for Manitobans in a skilled and high-demand industry,” Wishart said. “This is a fiscally-responsible plan that will help ensure many more people can pursue a career in aeronautics and learn in an exceptional environment with industry leaders and experts.”

The Manitoba government enabled the purchase of the Stevenson Aviation Campus by approving RRC’s plan to borrow up to $8 million to acquire the previously-leased facility. RRC requires government approval to borrow, as set out by The Red River College Act. By purchasing the campus from its landlord, Hubert Kleysen, RRC will save nearly $1 million over the term of the mortgage and will have greater flexibility to grow and adapt its renowned aviation and aeronautics programs.

“Red River College works shoulder-to-shoulder with industry to deliver cutting-edge training at our Stevenson Campus, and to provide students with the job-ready skills they need to compete here at home, and on a national and global stage,” said Paul Vogt, RRC president and CEO.

“By acquiring our campus – with the support of the provincial government – we will continue to provide strong workforce training for Manitoba’s aerospace and aviation sector, which is one of the largest in Canada. This move will make us more agile and ensure that we are successful for generations to come.”

RRC’s Stevenson Aviation Campus offers diploma programs for aircraft maintenance engineers, aerospace manufacturing technicians and gas turbine engine repair. Each year, RRC trains about 400 students in these programs, boasting high graduation rates in the 80 to 90 per cent range.

“Boeing Canada Winnipeg is proud of our diverse, talented, and innovative workforce, many of whom are graduates of Red River College and were trained at the Stevenson Campuses,” said Kim Westenskow, GM, Boeing Canada Winnipeg.

“As one of the largest aerospace composite manufacturers in Canada, our partnership and collaboration with the College has been imperative in advancing our role in the global aerospace industry. We are proud to celebrate this important milestone with you today, and a bright future ahead.”

The campus, which is located on the west side of the Winnipeg airport, also offers specialized training for individuals already working in the industry, to help them meet certification requirements and continually upgrade their skills and knowledge. All programs are developed with industry partners and follow federal aerospace guidelines.

Over 5,000 people are directly employed by the aerospace and aviation sector in Manitoba.  Aerospace manufacturing, repair and overhaul, training and related services contribute $1.9 billion to Manitoba’s economy every year. The province is home to the third-largest aerospace sector in Canada.

Move over, Warren Buffet. A team of students from Red River College’s (RRC) Business Administration program recently proved they have the know-how to assess a person’s situation and deliver successful financial planning advice when they won first place at the 2018 Canadian Institute of Financial Planners Case Challenge in Calgary, Alberta.

This was RRC’s first time participating in the challenge, which saw the team, made up of four students specializing in Financial Services (three competitors and an alternate), competed against five teams from three other Colleges in the Western Canada division.

“Competitions like this are as close to real life as the students are going to get,” said Maria Vincenten, Financial Services Instructor at RRC. “The feedback and experience is unbelievable for the students, and it helps the industry to recognize our program as having strong learning outcomes. We are applied learning – so any time we can showcase what we’re doing here (at the College) helps us evolve the program further.”

Beginning in January, Shelby Joss, Vitor Machado e Melo, Virginia Giesbrecht, and Shannon Krahn would practice as if they were competing in the challenge that day. In the morning they would receive the details of a case and spend two hours discussing and strategizing the best way to help the ‘client’ and hand in their materials to their instructor. In the afternoon they would be able to briefly review their notes before giving a 20 minute presentation, followed by notes and discussion with Vincenten.

“Practicing looking at cases and making recommendations for different clients was a fantastic way to pull together everything we were learning in class and apply it to real life situations,” said Shannon Krahn, the team’s alternate. “Aside from honing my teamwork skills, the experience also helped me grow in my understanding of financial products and how to deal with clients.”

The types of cases, and the skills necessary to provide strong advice, being practiced by the group matched the curriculum of what they were learning in class – which was another advantage of taking part in the competition.

“I wanted to improve my teamwork and rational thinking skills,” said Vitor Machado e Melo. “At school you learn a lot of important information, and the additional work – being able to practice and compete – helped us link everything. I think for me the biggest strength that I acquired is being able to see a problem and apply it to a client’s big picture.”

The Financial Services specialization in the Business Administration program is designed for those interested in banking, insurance and finance as a career. It is also the only program in Manitoba that offers three certified courses, allowing students to become certified in Canadian Investment Funds (CIFC) and the Life License Qualifcation Program (LLQP) through the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, and certified in the Fundamentals of Insurance through the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba.

By placing first at the Western region competition, the team is now working to improve their skills before facing off against the Eastern champions at the first ever national event this June in Halifax.

“We need to keep honing the skills and finding new ways to tackle problems,” said Shelby Joss. “If I want to be a financial advisor, what better way to be recognized by an employer than to say I won a national competition in financial planning.”

Learn more about Red River College’s Business Administration program here: http://me.rrc.mb.ca/catalogue/ProgramInfo.aspx?ProgCode=BUSAF-DP&DescriptionType=19&RegionCode=SC

Winnipeg, MB – An alternator-driven electric bicycle, a study on lullaby therapy for infants, an online divorce agency, and a social media assessment for the Winnipeg Police Service, are just a small sample of the close to 30 student-led research projects that will be on display today at Red River College’s Applied Research Innovation Day.

This event, now entering its second year, welcomes close to 200 participants from the College, and its partners in business and industry, to learn about the College’s many research initiatives and to learn about the student’s experiences and successes in applying their work – in many instances – in a real-world environment.

“We started our applied research initiatives a little more than a decade ago, and today we’re leading the way in applied research here in Manitoba, and across Western Canada,” said Paul Vogt, President and CEO, RRC. “More and more the idea of teaching and learning is moving away from students sitting and desks and taking notes and towards hands-on, collaborative projects. Applied Research & Innovation Day strongly showcases the success of that approach to learning.”

Today’s event will feature an industry luncheon with a keynote from Paul Soubry, President and CEO of New Flyer Industries – recently named Canada’s top CEO of the year by the Financial Post. The luncheon will also feature a high-speed student quick-pitch competition – similar to what you would see on CBC’s Dragon’s Den – where the top four group projects from the morning’s student showcase will explain how their research created a sustainable solution to a real problem.

While today marks an important milestone for our students’ research projects, it’s also an important milestone for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – one of the many federal partners who support RRC’s applied research initiatives – as they prepare to announce their 10,000^th Engage Grant at today’s luncheon in support of colleges and universities across Canada.

At the College these grants have helped RRC students and grads to develop new products, especially in the College’s culinary research program that created the macaroons being served as dessert for today’s luncheon and were developed with NSERC funding at RRC by Piccola Cucina.

“There are some amazing products being made in Manitoba that start with locally-sourced ingredients and turn into something elevated. We’re proud to be able to announce here at Red River College that NSERC has been able to provide more than 10,000 Engage Grants – up to $25,000 per project – to colleges and universities across the country. It’s research like this that is pushing the country forward and adding value to our already rich resources,” said Bert van den Berg, Director, Colleges, Commercialization, and Portfolio Planning Division.

Engage Grants are designed to give innovative companies that operate from a Canadian base access to the unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities available at Canadian universities and colleges.

The Applied Research and Innovation Day event has doubled in size this year with the addition of external exhibitor booths including Bioscience Association Manitoba, Cypher Environmental, New Media Manitoba, North Forge Technology Exchange, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and many others.

All of today’s activities are being hosted at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus with the student showcase beginning at 9:00am in the mall level, and the keynote and quick-pitch competition taking place in the Voyageur Dining Room starting at 11:30am.

Indigenous high school students will receive interactive, hands-on tour of 11 potential career paths

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Today, over 200 Indigenous high school students from across Canada will be participating in the Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering,and will visit Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus to tour classrooms and program areas, meet instructors, and explore the many career opportunities and supports available to them.

“Engaging more aspiring Indigenous students and providing more pathways to post-secondary education and training is a key priority at the College,” said Rebecca Chartrand, Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy.

“The College is charting a new path forward focused on elevating Indigenous student success and achievement, and we are creating new and enhanced programs and supports in order to recruit and retain more Indigenous students, and ensure they have the tools and wraparound supports they need to succeed and thrive.”

As a Host College Sponsor for Soaring, students will spend the day on campus and explore 11 different program areas RRC has to offer or is developing, including Social Indigenous Enterprise, Construction Trades, Allied Health Sciences, and Civil Engineering Technology. They will also meet and hear from Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy, and enjoy lunch and entertainment by local artist, Darius Parenteau.

“We are excited to welcome high school students from coast-to-coast to our province and our school, and provide an opportunity for them to visit our campus, meet our industry leading instructors, and interact with the many rewarding career paths and supports available to them here at Red River College,” said Chartrand.

Soaring is an Indigenous youth empowerment gathering that provides First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to learn about the many career and post-secondary education options available to them. Gatherings are held across Canada, and students participate in motivational career workshops, learn about financial support, and meet Canada’s top employers.

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Today, Red River College (RRC) is proud to accept the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Manitoba distinguished Partner Award – recognizing the College as a leader in training, programming and applied research for the province’s robust aerospace and manufacturing industries.

“As Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning we are proud to play a critical role in driving Manitoba’s economy,” said Paul Vogt, RRC President and CEO.

“Since we first opened our doors, the College has been central to the growth and success of our Province, and has continually responded to the ever-increasing demand for highly trained and highly skilled graduates to meet the needs of businesses and industry. We are honoured to be recognized by CME Manitoba for our efforts, and to accept the Partner Award this evening.”

Each year, CME Manitoba’s Partner Award is presented to an organization that has made a notable contribution to the Manitoba manufacturing and exporting community.

It recognizes partners and service providers who demonstrate a measureable impact on the growth, sustainability or mission of manufacturing companies. Recipients are widely recognized for their integrity, dedication and collaboration in service to manufacturing.

“One of our key priorities at the College is to foster strategic partnerships that allow us to drive research and innovation by matching industry problems and needs with College expertise, resources, capabilities, and facilities,” said Vogt.

“These partnerships are the backbone of the advancements we are seeing in the aerospace and manufacturing industries here in Manitoba. We must continue to grow and compete here at home, and on the global stage, with the latest research, state-of-the-art technology, and a highly trained workforce that has the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of industry today, and the future.”

RRC President and CEO, Paul Vogt, will accept the award this evening on behalf of the College at the 2018 CME Gala Awards Dinner, held at the RBC Convention Centre during Manitoba Manufacturing Week.

Red River College’s new Innovation Centre. (Rendering by Diamond Schmitt Architects)

(Originally published in the Winnipeg Free Press on March 17, 2018)

By Paul Vogt

The new Innovation Centre that Red River College is building in Winnipeg’s Exchange District has been making headlines recently but for all the wrong reasons.

The Winnipeg Free Press has covered extensively the uncertainty this crucial project is facing due to unrealistic construction deadlines set by the federal government. Despite raising alarm bells with Ottawa in recent weeks and months, RRC is still waiting for a resolution.

This is unfortunate because the better story is what the new Centre will bring to our city and our province – what it will mean to the students it will serve; to the surrounding cluster of start-ups and leading edge industries in Innovation Alley; and to the unique, urban ‘gem’ the revitalized Exchange District is quickly becoming.

The $95 million, 100,000-square-foot Innovation Centre, announced last April, is merely Red River’s latest contribution to the ongoing revitalization of our historic Exchange District.

(Rendering by Diamond Schmitt Architects)

It started 15 years ago when RRC took a risk and opened its first building on Princess Street, bringing 2,000 students, faculty and staff downtown and creating a catalyst for the renaissance that has been taking place in this iconic neighborhood ever since.

That building, later named the Roblin Centre, set a high bar for RRC’s presence in the Exchange, preserving the architectural heritage that makes the area a unique and appealing destination while incorporating modern classrooms, labs and equipment. Behind the facades of the old mercantile shops, a state-of-the-art campus was built for students in computing, business, design and communications.

Five years ago we did it again, taking the old Union Bank Tower on Main Street – vacant and derelict for 17 years – and transforming it into a leading-edge culinary and hospitality training school with dining areas and a 90-bed student residence. Now known as the Paterson Global Institute, the school has helped spark an emergence of exciting new restaurants in the area, many involving RRC alumni.

(Rendering by Diamond Schmitt Architects)

Our new Innovation Centre will live up to the standards of its award-winning predecessors. It will be located on a site that includes an old market warehouse on Elgin Avenue. It is a century-old structure built to serve for another century. Our design will preserve this heritage building in its entirety, while incorporating a new structure that is modern, green and outfitted to meet the needs of 21^st century education.

The very design of the new facility is central to the Innovation Centre story. It is also the story of Red River College and how we have always been about turning major challenges into new opportunities and historic pivot points.

Our mandate is to provide students with job-relevant skills; to produce graduates who can hit the ground running wherever they are hired. We are, in fact, a little obsessive on this point. We survey our students six months after they graduate and the results show that 94-96 per cent of our grads are employed in the fields they were trained for.

We also get high marks from employers, but are also constantly reminded that we cannot rest on our laurels, that RRC must keep changing in order to meet the needs of our students, employers and match the accelerated pace of today’s workplace.

Across all sectors of our economy, workplaces are undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the introduction of new technologies and process or product innovations. Employers are looking for technical skill sets that match their innovation strategies. They are also looking for a more general set of skills – the so-called “power skills” – that contribute to an employee’s resilience and adaptability. These include the abilities to problem-solve, work effectively within a team, communicate well and acquire new competencies as needed.

Our response to these emerging needs is college-wide, but the new Innovation Centre is where the changes will be most apparent. Modeled on a similar facility recently opened at Waterloo University, our Innovation Centre is designed to facilitate an approach known as collaborative- or problem-based education – where teams of students learn by working directly or “colliding” with local firms, social enterprises and entrepreneurs.

In one sense, we are just doubling down on the college’s existing strength, which is our close industry partnerships. The growth of Red River’s applied research program – to the point that we are now the top applied research college in Western Canada – has added a new dimension to our partnerships, supporting Manitoba companies and enterprises in product and process development.

At our Exchange District Campus we work closely with Innovation Alley (now North Forge) to provide entrepreneurs and start-ups with facilities and expert advice. The pay-off to the college, of course, has been to expose our students to leading-edge innovations and the real-world challenges of getting ideas off the ground. The Innovation Centre will feature this form of collaboration on a much grander scale.

In another sense, this is about the changing face of education. The Innovation Centre won’t have many traditional classrooms, where rows of seats are aligned to face “the sage on stage.” The rooms are designed for collaboration, with open space to mingle, wall-to-wall whiteboards, and connected alcoves where industry partners can set up shop and become part of the learning process.

(Rendering by Diamond Schmitt Architects)

The Centre will bring an additional 1,200 students to the Exchange District. It will allow us to accommodate rising demand for our existing programs in computing, business and communications.  We will also be bringing our language training programs to the Exchange and adding new programs in Indigenous entrepreneurship and social enterprise. Most importantly, we will be breaking down boundaries between our program areas, offering RRC students the opportunity to acquire different combinations of skills, with an emphasis on problem-solving and innovation.

This model of education is taking root across Canada and North America. If Red River College loses this opportunity, we run the risk of falling behind other jurisdictions when it comes to modernizing and innovating our college system. We need the federal government to honor its promises to Manitoba and ensure our students and employers have the same competitive advantage as others across the country.

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