News

Manitoba’s first low-carbon school bus — converted from diesel to electric power — rolled out of RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) this week, demonstrating the viability of a cost-effective process to electrify current vehicle fleets and reduce the environmental impacts of fossil fuels.

Funded by the province’s Conservation and Climate Fund and the Canadian Shield Foundation, the diesel-to-EV school bus conversion kit is the result of collaboration between VTEC’s expert researchers, industry partners Northern Noble and representatives from the Seven Oaks School Division. The conversion kit reduces greenhouse gas emissions, cuts costs for schools and the government, and offers an affordable alternative to factory-built electric buses.

“Our work on the electric school bus conversion kit is the latest example of how applied research collaborations with industry partners support market-driven innovation and product development,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech.

“This project is an example of the applied research expertise and facilities RRC Polytech has developed over the last 20 years that contribute to advancing technologies to support Manitoba’s energy transition.”

The project began in August 2023, when Seven Oaks provided a bus suitable for conversion and students from RRC Polytech’s Heavy Equipment Mechanic program removed its diesel engine before transferring the bus to the team at Noble Northern.

VTEC’s researchers then joined Noble Northern — with whom they’d partnered years earlier to help develop an EV Tundra Buggy for Frontiers North Adventures — in laying the groundwork for converting the bus, including the preliminary design for the electric drive system and the procurement of electric motors, batteries, controllers, inverters and other essential accessories in the conversion kit.

After the installation and commissioning phase, the newly converted bus was returned to RRC Polytech for rigorous environmental performance evaluations within MotiveLab™, VTEC’s climatic chamber. Read More →

RRC Polytech is now set to help even more students build a brighter future in the skilled trades, thanks to a $1.25-million gift from Qualico, announced today at the College’s Notre Dame Campus.

The gift expands capacity in RRC Polytech’s Introduction to Trades program, in which Indigenous learners can build specialized skills and gain direct entry into the College trades program of their choice.

The gift also supports the creation of a new Navigator position — a role that helps to increase student participation and wrap-around supports.

“RRC Polytech and Qualico share a common vision of building strong communities with a skilled and talented workforce that is diverse and representative. This donation further exemplifies Qualico’s dedication to reconciliation and their efforts in creating equitable environments for everyone to learn and work,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO of  RRC Polytech (shown above, at left).

“Qualico’s support will benefit countless students and will bolster programming in our skilled trades and technologies department, which will in turn help build a stronger industry here in Manitoba.”

Qualico’s gift provides additional support to RRC Polytech’s School of Skilled Trades and Technologies and to the creation of 10 annual awards for Construction Trades students — at $5,000 each, one of the largest available for skilled trades students. Read More →

RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK) has joined an applied research consortium — made possible by a $1.2-million investment from Protein Industries Canada (PIC) — aimed at exploring agri-food opportunities and addressing barriers to food security in rural and remote communities in Manitoba.

The $1.6-million project finds staff and students from PRK and the University of Manitoba’s (UM) College of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences working together with communities across the province to address food insecurity and Indigenous food sovereignty barriers related to First Nations and Red River Métis food production and distribution systems.

“I am pleased to be announcing a new partnership as part of a consortium, together with RRC Polytech and the University of Manitoba, and enabled by the commitment and funding provided through Protein Industries Canada,” said David Beaudin, Minister of Agriculture and Associate Minister of Provincial Education for the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), in a news release.

“This project will help facilitate the reimagining of Red River Métis food systems and will unlock new opportunities to better connect with our foods across the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. I look forward to seeing the project build value through capacity and skills development, all while enabling greater local access to nutritious food options.”

Food security exists when all people — at all times — have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. It’s not just about having enough food — it also means having the ability to access it and use it in a way that supports a healthy, active life.

Fresh, nutrient-dense groceries often come with a hefty price tag in rural and remote Indigenous communities. The new consortium will work with Red River Métis and First Nations communities in Manitoba to increase access to affordable, nutritious, supply-stable and culturally appropriate food while creating community-specific recipes that incorporate pulses and other plant-based ingredients.

The creation of these options aims to nourish and nurture long-term health outcomes, while increasing opportunities for student learning and jobs and contributing toward future Indigenous economic development. Read More →

A new partnership between the province’s largest post-secondary institutions is creating a made-in-Manitoba pathway to earning an engineering degree.

Students graduating from RRC Polytech’s Engineering Technology programs are now eligible for direct entry into a department program in the University of Manitoba’s (UM) Price Faculty of Engineering, creating career options and opportunities for new graduates or industry professionals looking to level up.

The new partnership provides RRC Polytech grads the opportunity to further their education and earn an engineering degree in Manitoba, allowing students to experience the benefits of both programs through an accelerated approach.

Pathways are available for up to 10 College grads per year applying to UM’s Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering programs in Fall 2025.

“We’re thrilled to see this partnership with RRC Polytech become a reality. This will mean an easier transition for students, as we work together to develop and keep engineering talent here in Manitoba,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor of UM.

“UM’s Price Faculty of Engineering offers a comprehensive range of professional degree programs, co- and extra-curricular co-op, internship, and design opportunities to meet students’ interests, and it also offers the first-in-Canada Department of Engineering Education.”

This opportunity is open to RRC Polytech students graduating in 2025, and to graduates from the last 10 years. Read More →

Students, staff and film buffs of all stripes are invited to discover the pulse of Canadian cinema at an upcoming event presented by the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts.

The free event — Telefilm Canada: A Reel Conversation — takes place Thursday, March 20, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Round Room at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, 319 Elgin Avenue.

There, the College will host Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, for an engaging fireside chat. With nearly three decades dedicated to the film industry, Roy brings a wealth of experience, having served in pivotal roles at the National Film Board (NFB) and leading positions in programming, distribution and innovation.

The event presents a unique opportunity for students, faculty and industry professionals alike to delve into the insights and trends shaping Canadian media today. Whether attendees are passionate about film production and storytelling, or simply curious about the future of Canada’s cinematic landscape, the discussion promises valuable takeaways and networking opportunities. Read More →

PrairiesCan is investing $899,500 into the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems (P2INACLE).

A network of leading Prairie polytechnic institutions — including Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech), Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Northwestern Polytechnic, Red Deer Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology — P2INACLE will drive social, economic and technological innovation across Western Canada by providing businesses with access to facilities, equipment and research expertise.

Led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, P2INACLE will launch its first pilot with the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) this spring. The pilot will bring together polytechnics and industry partners from across the Prairies to develop a collaborative network that will fund and work on applied research projects.

The goal is to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions for the mining and minerals sector in Western Canada.

“Success on the Prairies has always been built on cooperation. That’s why our government is supporting P2INACLE — a partnership bringing Prairie polytechnics together to turn research into practical solutions,” said the Hon. Terry Duguid, Minister for PrairiesCan.

“By working together to tackle challenges in the mining sector and beyond, P2INACLE is driving economic growth, creating quality jobs, and setting a new standard for how applied research can empower communities far beyond the Prairies.” Read More →

RRC Polytech will more than double the child-care spaces at its Notre Dame Campus daycare, thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments announced this week.

Through the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the College will receive support to add 74 new child-care spaces to the R.R.C. Early Childhood Centre Inc.

“Child care continues to be one of the barriers that prevents Manitobans from accessing post-secondary education and training,” says Fred Meier, the College’s President and CEO. “RRC Polytech is committed to creating more pathways to education and enhancing the student experience, and we’re thrilled to have the support of the federal and provincial governments to create these new spaces and help us achieve this.

“These new spaces represent an opportunity for potential learners who would otherwise be unable to attend full-time programs, and for staff and community members who have been unable to find convenient, quality child-care solutions.”

RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Centre currently has 53 spaces, serving current students, staff and community members.

“R.R.C. Early Childhood Centre Inc. has been serving staff and students of RRC Polytech for the past 50 years. We are excited to see our program grow to serve more people,” says Executive Director Samantha Henry.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with RRC Polytech to ensure that we can continue to provide high quality child care and support families, as they pursue their post-secondary education and training or pursue their careers and grow their families.” Read More →

RRC Polytech is honoured and excited to embark on a meaningful journey to update its Indigenous visual identity.

This project reflects our deep commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous student success and our Strategic Plan priorities.

A key component to the RRC Polytech brand, the updated Indigenous visual identity will serve as a guiding resource for how our College visually represents Indigenous cultures (Inuit, Métis, Status and Non-Status First Nations), stories and relationships across formal communications such as marketing materials, business cards, advertising, signage and presentations.

It will complement our corporate visual identity while highlighting and celebrating Indigenous knowledge, innovation and leadership at RRC Polytech.

To lead this work, we have partnered with Narratives Inc., a creative agency specializing in culturally grounded consultation and design, who is supporting us with an Indigenous-led team

Narratives is working with a Steering Committee, representing areas from across the College, and alongside the Knowledge Keepers Council, to ensure this work is led with care, integrity and Indigenous ways of knowing. Together, we will undertake a collaborative process with input from students, staff, and community partners.

Why This Matters

Indigenous peoples represent the fastest-growing population in Manitoba, yet many continue to face significant barriers to accessing and succeeding in post-secondary education due to enduring and existing impacts of colonial systems. To support reconciliation and create meaningful opportunities, it is essential that our College environment not only welcomes Indigenous students but actively reflects and affirms our identities, histories and cultures.

While fostering a visible identity for Indigenous students and partners is an important step, it is only one of many actions needed to address systemic inequities meaningfully. By creating and sustaining a space that prioritizes safety, respect and cultural relevance, we can begin to build necessary trust, foster meaningful connections with partners, and support Indigenous students in their educational journeys.

How You Can Participate

Your voice is essential to this process. We encourage you to reflect on how this project can contribute to our shared journey toward Truth and Reconciliation and inspire meaningful connections for generations to come. Join one of the many in-person engagement sessions hosted by Narratives on RRC Polytech campuses, and share your perspectives, stories and reflections through the online survey.

This is an opportunity to help shape an identity that will resonate deeply with Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences alike and represent the values that are important to our community.

Students in two of RRC Polytech’s Pathway programs — Pathway to Information Technology Programs and Pathway to Engineering Technology Programs — are starting their second term strong thanks to free technology from Lenovo.

“The financial cost of accessing technology like laptops can pose a barrier and make it difficult for some students entering a post-secondary program,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Lenovo is eliminating that barrier by ensuring students have their own technology they can use in and out of the classroom. This gift is already boosting each student’s confidence in their abilities, enabling them to pursue their chosen paths with the assurance that they are prepared to excel in both their future education and the workplace after graduation.”

As the winter term began, Warren Beleyowski, Account Executive from Lenovo, joined Pathway students for a visual demonstration of how they are integrating Indigenous perspectives into the field of engineering, providing them with a more sustainable approach to the industry.

The Lenovo Thinkpad X13 Gen 4 laptops were given to the students at the beginning of the Fall 2024 term; they will be able to keep them even after their programs come to an end this spring. The College’s Pathway programs are designed to equip Indigenous Manitobans with the support and skills needed to confidently transition into specific RRC Polytech programs. Read More →

RRC Polytech has been chosen to lead a national network of post-secondary institutions and collaborative partners to bring more academic research ideas to reality, support Indigenous business and drive economic growth.

As part of a national innovation strategy to increase entrepreneurship and research commercialization across Canada, the College has been awarded $24.1 million in federal funding over five years through a Lab to Market grant — becoming one of four network leaders to share in a total investment of $95.3 million.

Administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), this is the largest tri-council grant ever awarded to or led by a college in Canada.

“For over 20 years, RRC Polytech has been solving industry problems and training tomorrow’s future leaders through applied research, and today we are honoured to continue to build on our strengths as a polytechnic and lead this collaborative, nation-wide network through the largest ever tri-council investment in a college,” said Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

“Our shared goal is to find solutions for the challenges that all Canadians are facing. This network combines the unique abilities of researchers at colleges and universities and connects them directly with industry and community to accelerate innovation.”

The College-University Lab to Market Network for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization spans eight regional hubs from B.C. to Nova Scotia and brings together 38 post-secondary institutions, along with other collaborators — including RRC Polytech’s Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah, one of three Indigenous hubs. Read More →