This evening, RRC Polytech will name Tessa Potter, an Emmy award-winning broadcast technician, the recipient of its 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award.

The award, which recognizes the remarkable personal and professional achievements of RRC Polytech alumni, will be formally presented at an event marking the 60th anniversary of the Electrical Engineering Technology program.

Potter graduated from the program’s Electronic Engineering specialization in 2000 and has since built a distinguished career in television, radio and live broadcasting, earning two Sports Emmy Awards for her work behind the camera at the 2022 Beijing and 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Tessa’s career shows how far a polytechnic education can take you, particularly in technical industries,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Tessa has built an incredible career through collaboration, hard work and continuous learning, which are all qualities that reflect her character and RRC Polytech’s values. We’re proud to count Tessa among our alumni and pleased to recognize her with this award.”

Potter works as a Senior Broadcast Technician at SBL Engineering and as a Broadcast Liaison with True North Sports + Entertainment, where she’s been supporting NHL and AHL broadcasts for over a decade. She balances these roles with broadcast contracts for major international sporting events, such as the UEFA EURO Finals, FIFA World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games.

“I’m surprised, but also proud to be acknowledged as a worker who has taken my education and turned it into a career that has been valuable, given me the ability to look after my family and filled my days with challenge, intrigue and some really great people,” says Potter.

“Working in a field like electronics, the range of places where your skills can be applied is really wide. I now understand the importance of that fundamental knowledge even more than I did at the time.” Read More →

As governments, industry and academia work collectively to strengthen Canada’s economy, RRC Polytech’s Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics is proud to launch the new Centre for Automation and Manufacturing Technology Transfer (CAMTT) — a vital solution designed to drive technology adoption across the sector while training the workforce of tomorrow.

Serving as a hub to connect business and industry with applied research, innovation, technology transfer and talent, CAMTT will strengthen our workforce and economy by helping small and medium-scale enterprises in Manitoba address productivity through automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and mechatronics.

By leading collaborative projects as they upskill and reskill in their careers, students at the Price Institute will gain valuable experience solving real-world challenges.

“CAMTT is a collaborative workspace where industry and academic partners can work together to bridge gaps by accelerating the acquisition and adoption of existing and emerging technology,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Our students will not only hone their skills by leading applied research projects — their insight, energy and expertise will lead to innovative solutions that support Manitoba businesses in today’s competitive global market.”

CAMTT is the first of its kind in Manitoba, with a new working space that can connect faculty, students and partners anywhere in the world. Manufacturers-in-residence will effectively guide teams dedicated to each venture as they experiment to perfect new concepts and processes under a shared vision. Read More →

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 →

RRC Polytech is bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them get ahead by continuing to grow its critical role in Canada’s low-carbon transition, along with its capacity to train the workforce of today and tomorrow.

An established research leader in clean energy, EV and battery technology and sustainable construction, RRC Polytech is unleashing the power of pan-Canadian collaboration to make housing more affordable, catalyze change in the construction sector and create new jobs in the skilled trades.

With support from a $11.3 million investment from the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, RRC Polytech is joining its Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) partners in a national green construction training initiative to upskill and reskill Canadians to build and retrofit homes and buildings that reduce energy consumption in pursuit of the ambitious targets of net-zero emissions by 2050 and a net-zero electricity system by 2035.

Home to Manitoba’s only Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre, RRC Polytech will use the funds announced last week to drive economic growth while helping Canada meet its climate and housing goals by working with its industry and academic partners to develop and deliver practical, innovative training in sustainable construction.

“This nation-wide training initiative is the latest example of how RRC Polytech’s flexible learning model and vast applied research facilities and expertise — combined with our commitment to foster collaboration with industry, communities and government — uniquely positions us to not only support but to lead the low-carbon transition,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

Accessible, industry-aligned training that equips workers with the technical and leadership skills they need to adopt green building practices, create sustainable designs and upgrade existing aging infrastructure will be offered through the Quick Train Canada platform — exclusive to RRC Polytech in Manitoba — with the first intake in Building Science for the Retrofit Sector scheduled for November.

The next phase of available courses will be launched this winter, as funding through the Advancing Access and Skills Training for Green Buildings and Retrofits initiative will be available until March 2028.

“This project-based funding allows us to expand our available suite of clean energy training and share that knowledge with our C2R2 partners while helping to reduce fees for students — making this an affordable choice for local industry leaders to upskill their workforce and for individual learners who want to expand their knowledge to maximize on the opportunities created as the province transitions to a low-carbon economy,” says Jill Latschislaw, Director of Corporate Solutions, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development. 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 →

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 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 →

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 →