News

News

CreComm Grad Picks Up First Trophy at Radio and Production Awards

June 27, 2012

Red River College alum Jim Van Dusen (Creative Communications, 1987) picked up a trio of honours at this year’s Radio and Production Awards, adding to an impressive list of industry accolades acquired during his 25 years in radio and TV.

Now the Creative/Production Director for Astral Radio in Winnipeg (home of Hot 103 and QX 104), Van Dusen picked up his first RAP trophy in the Medium Market Promos category, for “Jets Song Comin’ Home”, a collaboration with Hot 103 morning man Ace Burpee that celebrated the return of Winnipeg’s NHL team.

He was also named first runner-up in the same category, and first runner-up in the Medium Market Commercials category. In years past, Van Dusen — who taught a radio course for second-year CreComm students last year — has nabbed a number of runner-up spots at the RAP Awards, as well as honours at the Crystal Awards and the Signature Awards, and a Standard Radio Presidents Award in 1999. He also won an honorary gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, for his entry in the Literary Olympics’ Poetry Sweatshop.

Click here to learn more about RRC’s Creative Communications program.

RRC Grad Honoured for Launching Recycling Program at Peguis First Nation

June 26, 2012

Congratulations to RRC student Tannis CochraneCook (Computer Applications for Business, Peguis-Fisher River Campus), whose efforts to set up a recycling program at Peguis First Nation have earned her a 2012 Spirit of the Earth Award from Manitoba Hydro.

CochraneCook first began advocating for environmentally-safe waste disposal practices while volunteering at the Peguis Landfill site in 2009. (Her motivation was simple: The landfill was located next to her home, and owners were burning materials rather than recycling them.)

She’s since launched a community-wide recycling program at Peguis, for which now serves as Project Coordinator. In just two years, the program has proven so popular that an estimated 25% of businesses and residents on the reserve now recycle on a regular basis. Read More →

RRC Joins in National Aboriginal Day Celebrations

June 20, 2012

National Aboriginal Day is held annually on June 21 to celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada. As Red River College President Stephanie Forsyth points out, we have much to learn about the rich culture and traditions of the people who first walked this land, and National Aboriginal Day provides an opportunity to engage in this learning in an enjoyable and festive environment.

On June 21, an episode of the CBC series 8th Fire will be shown in The Cave at the Notre Dame Campus from noon to 1:00pm. RRC will also host an exhibitor booth at the Indian Métis Friendship Centre (45 Robinson St.) from 10:00am to 4:00pm, while tours of the College’s Mobile Training Lab will be held from 11:00am to 2:00pm at 519 Selkirk Avenue, in the parking lot of the Urban Circle Training Centre.

On June 23, RRC Culinary Arts instructors Tom Pitt, Karl Oman and Chantalle Noschese will again participate in APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live festivities at The Forks. The team will contribute to the event’s cultural component by serving Aboriginal menu items starting at noon. Aboriginal Liaison/Advisor Jaime Richard and Graham Thomson, Dean of Business & Applied Arts, will also be at The Forks promoting RRC programs, supports and services. Read More →

New Selkirk Avenue Childcare Centre Bridges Generation Gap

June 7, 2012

(From left): Janet Jamieson, Chair of RRC's Community Services department; Eleanor Thompson, Urban Circle's Executive Director; RRC President Stephanie Forsyth; and Louise Gordon, Dean of RRC's School of Health Sciences and Community Services.

Last week marked the grand opening of another new addition to the Selkirk Avenue landscape — one that brings training and childcare opportunities to Winnipeg’s inner city, while celebrating the wisdom of the neighbourhood’s elders.

Launched through a partnership between the Urban Circle Training Centre, Red River Colllege, and the University of Manitoba’s Inner-city Campus, the newly-opened Makoonsag Intergenerational Children’s Centre serves as the College’s first demonstration childcare centre, and represents its commitment to providing community residents with increased access to programs promoting child and family supports.

Read More →

Rebels to Host Summer Sports Camps

June 6, 2012

Red River College’s Rebels Athletics program will once again help young athletes develop their skills this season, through a series of Summer Sports Camps aimed at youth of all ages.

The camps will run from late July to August, and will be led by experienced RRC coaches and athletes.

Read More →

RRC Takes Part in Pride Winnipeg Parade

June 4, 2012

Students and staff from Red River College marched in the 2012 Pride Winnipeg Parade over the weekend, as a means of showing support for the local LGBTT* community and of celebrating diversity in all walks of life.

A contingent of more than 60 RRC representatives joined the throngs of supporters at the Legislature for an opening rally attended by Manitoba Justice Minister Andrew Swan and parade co-marshals (and longtime local activists) Chris Vogel and Richard North.

From there, they joined the thousands of parade participants — many of them sporting eye-popping costumes and rainbow flags of all sizes — as they made their way through the streets surrounding Memorial Park.

The College’s presence in the parade marked the first time RRC has taken part in Pride Winnipeg festivities. This year’s entry was an extension of RRC’s LGBTT* Initiative, which provides educational opportunities and resources to build communication, understanding and respect for diversity throughout the College.

“Red River College is committed to building a strong relationship with our community, and supports efforts that contribute to a more inclusive and respectful society,” says Nora Sobel, Diversity Initiatives Coordinator at RRC. “We were proud to be participating for the first time in the Pride Winnipeg Parade, where students, instructors, staff, family and friends showed our College’s support for the LGBTT* community!”

 

Construction Management Degree Receives National Accreditation

June 1, 2012

(From left): Michael Bernier, Director of Education – CIQS Prairies and NWT; Mark Gardin, CIQS 2nd Vice-President; Nancy Wheatley, Dean of RRC's School of Construction & Engineering Technologies; Dave Burns, President – CIQS Prairies and NWT; Jerry Johnstone, Chair of RRC's Civil Engineering Technology program; Dave Lai, CIQS Education Administrator; and Roger Ward, CIQS Director (at large).

Red River College’s Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management degree program has received its first national accreditation from the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS), a self-regulatory body that sets the highest standard for construction economics on Canada.

The Institute represents an estimated 3,000 cost consultants, project managers and construction estimators across the country, and offers two professional designations: Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) and Construction Estimator Certified (CEC).

Representatives from CIQS — from Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax — joined RRC staff and students Wednesday for a short ceremony marking the new accreditation.

“This program came out of industry consultations that told us industry needs construction managers with technical knowledge and managerial expertise, and that graduates from a program such as this would find jobs,” said Nancy Wheatley, Interim Dean of RRC’s School of Construction & Engineering Technologies. “But they also told us the program must have solid credentials for our graduates.” Read More →

Campus Master Plan – We Need Your Help!

May 31, 2012

Click to open PDF

Red River College is developing a Campus Master Plan to direct future planning and growth relating to sustainability, campus life, learning and relationships with the community.

We’re interested in hearing your ideas and encourage you to let us know what you think by commenting on posts on our Community Forum blog.

Whether you’re a current student, staff, faculty or alumni, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

 

 

 

Boys and Girls Clubs Recognize RRC Student’s Volunteer Contributions

May 30, 2012

Armando Galindo (right), with Heather Black, Director of Volunteers and Events for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.

(Originally published on our Going Places blog)

Congratulations go out to Continuing Education student Armando Galinda, who was recently named Outstanding Student of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg.

A student in RRC’s Youth Recreation Activity Worker program, Galinda served as a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club before enrolling at the College. He’s continued to work for the organization while pursuing his studies — completing his practicum there (at two different locations) and serving as a special events planner in his off-time.

The Outstanding Student of the Year Award recognizes commitment to the Boys and Girls Club’s vision, community involvement, and dedication to children. Galinda received his award at the Club’s volunteer reception on Thursday, May 10, 2012, where he also picked up the Jacques Nollette Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership. Click here for more information.

RRC Students Advance to Skills Competition in Germany

May 18, 2012

A pair of Red River College students are among the trio of competitors who’ll advance to the 42nd World Skills Competition in Leipzig, Germany in 2013.

Jacob Bell (Bricklaying) and Dylan Pereira (Aircraft Maintenance) were named World Skills Competitors at the 18th Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton last weekend, along with Steinbach Regional/University of Manitoba student Ingrid Wieler (I.T. Software Solutions for Business).

In total, Team Manitoba brought home 22 medals: eight gold, six silver, and eight bronze. Of those medalists, the following were from Red River College:

Gold:

  • Jacob Bell (Brick Masonry)
  • Leonhard Derksen (Cabinet Making)
  • Dylan Pereira (Aircraft Maintenance)
  • Kevin Russell (Electronics)

Bronze:

  • Colin Dewitt (Landscaping Gardening)
  • Mackenzie Harman (Landscape Gardening)
  • Michael Walmsley (Refrigeration)

The 62 members of the Manitoba team earned the right to represent the province by winning gold medals in their respect trade or technology area at the Provincial Skills Competition. Click here for a full list of last weekend’s medalists.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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