There’s a meaningful new addition to the flags that fly on the front lawn at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus. This morning, in recognition of the International Week of Deaf People and the International Day of Sign Languages, the Polytech raised the Deaf Flag for the first time in its history, following a short ceremony open to the community.

“Today is a wonderful celebration of our values in action,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO. “RRC Polytech strives to be a place where all members of our community can learn, work and thrive. Our hope is that through raising this flag, we are sending a powerful message to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they are welcome and supported on our campuses.”

Deaf staff and faculty members initially raised the idea of flying the flag to demonstrate the Polytech’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, and to show all members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they have a place at RRC Polytech.

“The Deaf Flag is a symbol of unity and inclusiveness, making the timing of today’s event all the more significant as we welcomed the return of the ASL-English Interpretation program to RRC Polytech this fall,” says Cheryle Broszeit, an instructor at RRC Polytech.

The ASL (American Sign Language)-English Interpretation program recently underwent an academic transformation of its content, design and delivery to better meet the emerging needs of learners and the community and was led by feedback from the Deaf and interpreting communities. This fall, there are nine students enrolled in the renewed program.

“The ASL-English Interpretation program underscores the value of the connection between the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and interpreting communities,” says Broszeit. “The new and improved program now has a stronger foundation for our students, so they can begin their careers as interpreters confidently and competently once they graduate.” Read More →

The decision to enter a career in nursing is a noble and compassionate endeavor. For 62 recent alumni from RRC Polytech’s Nurse Re-Entry Program (NREP), that decision was something they’ve committed to twice.

Today, a celebration was held at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae to recognize the individuals who have completed the program since 2024, qualifying them to write their National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses through the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and return to the profession as practicing nurses.

“These alumni are a reflection of the commitment RRC Polytech shares with the Province of Manitoba to strengthening the province’s health-care system and supporting nurses in returning to active practice,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Through targeted gap training and hands-on learning, RRC Polytech is proud to help nurses meet the CRNM’s entry-level competencies and rejoin the workforce with confidence. This program is not just about education – it’s about empowering skilled individuals to make a meaningful impact in our communities.”

NREP is composed of a series of courses that support nurses previously registered and trained — in Manitoba, across Canada or internationally — to gain the skills and competencies needed to return to active practice. Students review current nursing theories, skills and practices while integrating new knowledge and innovations.

The program has three cohorts per academic year and accepts up to 30 students per intake.

“It is always inspiring to meet students who have a passion for helping others and who choose to dedicate their lives to a career in health care,” says Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards, Dean, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, RRC Polytech.

“The nurses we are celebrating have overcome great obstacles and shown pure determination and perseverance to get where they are today. I am confident they will be successful leaders in nursing roles across the province and will join a great team of RRC Polytech nursing alumni who make a difference in Manitoba, each and every day.” Read More →

This month, for the first time in its history, RRC Polytech hosted 10 spring convocation ceremonies across the province to celebrate its largest graduating class in three years.

Nearly 3,750 students from the Polytech’s eight Manitoba campuses crossed stages to receive degrees, diplomas and certificates this month. Winnipeg campuses alone saw a 10 per cent increase in graduates compared to spring 2024, with a total of 1,670 grads registering to attend ceremonies last week.

The increase prompted the addition of a fifth ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre, up over four events in the previous 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 RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“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 applications increasing by 29 per cent from the year before. Enrolment numbers for domestic students also jumped by four per cent in fall 2024 from the previous year. 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 →

Two RRC Polytech grads were recently honoured for work in their respective journalism careers.

Gabrielle Piché and Austin Grabish are both graduates of the College’s Creative Communications (CreComm) program, which many in the industry point to as the launching pad for their careers.

Piché (2020), a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press, was one of two recipients of this year’s Hon. Edward Goff Memorial Prize for Young Canadian Journalists from News Media Canada. The award recognizes her as a top young journalist in the country, something she attributes to her college training and early work experience.

“Before entering CreComm, I didn’t know how to write a proper news article,” says Piché (shown above). “The program provided robust journalism training and exposed me to other communications sectors. The best part, I think, was being surrounded by fun and creative classmates and knowledgeable instructors who genuinely cared about your success.”

Piché’s internship through the program is what launched her career at the Free Press. No stranger to work-related accolades, she previously won the Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism Award while completing her joint Communications degree through RRC Polytech and the University of Winnipeg. Read More →

RRC Polytech is looking for a diverse group of employers to participate in an exciting new co-operative advertising opportunity. Launching in Spring 2024, the College’s Polytechnic Proud campaign will showcase employers and RRC Polytech graduates who excel in their workplaces and beyond.

Any organization with an RRC Polytech grad on their payroll, in their volunteer ranks, or on their Board of Directors, is invited to apply to participate.

The Polytechnic Proud campaign will feature RRC Polytech alumni who are in front of what’s ahead in their sectors, while showcasing the phenomenal partnerships the College has built with employers across the province. Nominations are open now and employers can submit applications until Nov. 24, 2023.

“As Manitoba’s only polytechnic, the relationships we’ve built with Manitoba employers, along with the RRC Polytech alumni who work for them, is something we cherish,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

“This creative, co-operative marketing campaign will highlight not only our strategic partnerships but also the successes of our graduates, as well as the incredible diversity of our alumni community.”

The Polytechnic Proud campaign will put front and centre the exceptional education the College provides in a wide range of disciplines and sectors. RRC Polytech plays a vital role in helping grads achieve career success with fantastic organizations; the new campaign will aim to capture examples of that success.

RRC Polytech alumni are known throughout the province and around the world for driving innovation, being work-ready, and possessing the skills required to become leaders in their chosen fields. The new campaign is the perfect vehicle for celebrating not only the College’s alumni, but also its partnerships with employers that are shaping the future of Manitoba.

To learn more, including how employers who proudly hire RRC Polytech graduates can apply to take part in the campaign, visit rrc.ca/ProudPartner.

RRC Polytech has partnered with Graphic Design graduate Leticia Spence — an Ininew artist and entrepreneur from Pimicikamak in Treaty 5 Territory — to create an original design for Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is tomorrow, Sept. 30.

“Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters is a solemn day where we recognize and honour residential school survivors and those who never made it back to their families,” says Carla Kematch, Director, Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement at RRC Polytech.

“It’s a day where we take action and raise awareness of the efforts that Indigenous communities and advocates make to find Indigenous children and bring them home. The world needs to know what happened at residential schools and why this work is important. Expressing our message through Indigenous art, teachings and symbolism is how we can heal.

“We’re so honoured to have worked with artist and alumna Leticia Spence. She shared her knowledge and skill to help convey this message of justice and created such a striking and meaningful representation of Every Child Matters.”

Spence graduated from the College in 2019 and has done work for Indigenous Tourism of Canada, the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, among many other organizations. She created the new Orange Shirt design in consultation with a committee of Indigenous staff members at RRC Polytech.

Spence’s design is intricate and intentional. As with the beadwork she observed family members creating while she was growing up, she wanted to ensure that the Orange Shirt design incorporated the intended energy represented by the Every Child Matters movement.

“I want whoever is wearing this t-shirt to feel a sense of hope and strength as they honour those who are currently being found, while also knowing that it’s okay to create space to honour themselves, as either direct residential school survivors or intergenerational survivors,” says Spence. Read More →

The art of RRC Polytech grad Leticia Spence is featured in media across Canada and the globe; closer to home, you’ve likely seen it worn proudly by fans and players at Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose games.

For her latest work, Spence — a Graphic Design grad from 2019 — partnered with the College to create this year’s Orange Shirt Day illustration in support of Truth and Reconciliation and the Every Child Matters movement.

Spence’s concept for the shirt came through collaboration with Indigenous staff members at the College, who felt her design provided a beautiful and harmonious representation of all Indigenous Nations.

She grounded the design in Cree floral beadwork and integrated symbols from the Inuit and Métis Nations: fireweed flowers, wild roses, rosebuds and berries. The focus on nature represents the Peoples’ roots in the land, Spence says, while the foundational beadwork carries energy and transfers the art’s intention spiritually.

“I want whoever is wearing this t-shirt to feel a sense of hope and strength as they honour those who are currently being found while knowing that it’s okay to create space to honour themselves as either direct residential school survivors or intergenerational residential school survivors,” says Spence in an artist’s statement that will accompany each shirt sold.

“In difficult times, hope is the one thing we can grasp onto — not only to survive, but to drive us to fight for a world in which we no longer have to cry out for justice, and to reinforce that we deserve to exist.” Read More →

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.

Pauline Tayag – Graphic Design

Pauline Tayag graduated with honours from RRC Polytech’s Graphic Design program. She continuously strives to make change in the community, having earned awards for academic achievement and volunteered for multiple organizations.

As a participant in the President’s Student Leadership Program — which helps shape future leaders from across academic levels, disciplines and post-secondary institutions — Tayag let her graphic design and storytelling gifts shine through the creation of “Without Borders,” a project that shared the stories of immigrants in Manitoba. Read More →

RRC Polytech awards honorary degrees or diplomas to individuals who demonstrate high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements, and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.

This year’s deserving recipients are accomplished professionals and outstanding community role models whose lives’ work will resonate with and inspire our 2023 graduates.

Carolyn Young: Honorary Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Carolyn Young has been supporting and advocating for young children and their parents — particularly Indigenous and newcomer families — in Winnipeg’s North End for more than 30 years.

She empowers her community through her work in early childhood education (ECE) and works relentlessly to teach, mentor and dismantle barriers for others as executive director of Manidoo Gi-Miini Gonaan (The Great Spirit is Giving), a non-profit organization overseeing several child-care centres and a family resource centre in a historically disadvantaged neighbourhood. Read More →