RRC Polytech is launching two new degree programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics.

These broadened learning experiences include a foundation in research methods, Indigenous worldviews and Industry 4.0 technologies to equip graduates with the skills and confidence to take on increasing responsibility in the workplace.

The move creates even more options for learners to meet growing workforce demands in key Manitoba industries, and to accelerate their education and advance their careers. The Bachelor of Technology degrees are hosted by the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics.

Through a flexible two- plus one-year degree-completion model, learners can build on their existing technical training, such as an engineering technology diploma, and earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one additional year. Full- and part-time completion options support the scheduling demands of working professionals looking to obtain a degree relevant to their field.

“RRC Polytech has a long history of delivering high-quality applied education that responds directly to labour market needs,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech President and CEO.

“Diversifying our program offerings with these new degrees provides options for existing students, graduates and mid-career professionals to access the applied and experiential learning that are sought after by industry and hallmarks of a polytechnic education. This is another important step on the path of responsive workforce development we’re building at RRC Polytech.”

The flexible structure of RRC Polytech’s bachelor’s degree model allows learners to earn while they learn, upskill during their career by building on prior education and experience, and progress seamlessly from technical training to degree-level study.

This new model responds to growing demand for post-secondary qualifications in Manitoba’s labour market, as nearly 70 per cent of all job openings between 2025 and 2029 will require some form of post-secondary education. It also provides learners with another option along the continuum of engineering technology and engineering education provided by RRC Polytech and partners such as the University of Manitoba. Read More →

The Manitoba government will invest $146,000 in new American Sign Language (ASL) training opportunities for Indigenous women through a partnership with RRC Polytech, it was announced yesterday.

Provided through the province’s Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag (All Women Doing Well) Strategy, the funding includes $18,000 for the development and delivery of three ASL micro-credentials on reserve and $138,000 over three years to fund four reserved seats for Indigenous women in RRC Polytech’s ASL-English Interpretation program.

Seats will be fully funded and will include tuition, books, fees and access to wraparound student supports.

“This important partnership … reflects our shared commitment to creating more inclusive communities and expanding educational opportunities for Indigenous learners,” says RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“By increasing access to ASL education through new micro-credentials and fully funded seats in our ASL-English Interpretation program, we are helping to remove barriers, strengthen representation in the profession and build capacity to support Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Indigenous communities across Manitoba.”

The partnership was announced yesterday at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus by provincial Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, who noted the new micro-credentials will provide an introduction to ASL and Deaf culture and will be equivalent to ASL 1, a prerequisite for entry into the ASL-English Interpretation program.

Training will be delivered in community to help reduce barriers to participation, and will accommodate up to 15 learners per cohort. The curriculum will incorporate Indigenous perspectives and approaches, and be developed in partnership with Indigenous communities to ensure training reflects local needs and experiences. Read More →

RRC Polytech welcomed the first cohort of students to its South Winnipeg Campus today, marking a strong start to the academic year at all nine campuses across Manitoba.

While admissions continue and final enrolment figures are still being confirmed, early indicators point to a strong year for RRC Polytech. Preliminary reports show domestic enrolment is up three per cent compared with this time last fall, reflecting strong demand for applied learning and skills training across Manitoba.

Interest remains particularly strong in areas critical to Manitoba’s economy, including cybersecurity, skilled trades and health-care programs, which help prepare more learners for rewarding careers in some of the province’s most in-demand sectors.

“As Canadians enter an era of growth and building for the future, RRC Polytech is well positioned to provide the education and training that students want and the workforce needs,” said RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“Our program offerings have always been a reflection of the critical needs in Manitoba and across Canada, and students will develop the skills and experience to immediately enter roles that will make an impact and support people and communities across our province.” Read More →

Three outstanding Manitobans are the latest recipients of RRC Polytech’s Honorary Diploma: acclaimed creative leader and former politician Tina Keeper and respected automotive industry champions Don and Joyce Sobering.

Keeper and the Soberings were awarded their diplomas at the Spring 2026 Convocation ceremonies held last week at the RBC Convention Centre. The diplomas are awarded 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 Honorary Diploma recipients represent very distinct fields, yet they are connected by a common drive to improve their communities through a deep passion and dedication to their work,” said RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“The values that Don and Joyce Sobering and Tina Keeper bring to their work align with those that drive our mission — learning, respect, integrity and collaboration. This makes them a natural fit.”

Keeper — whose multifaceted career spans film, television and theatre production, as well as acting, advocacy and public service — received the Honorary Diploma in Creative Communications.

“I am beyond honoured and delighted to be accepting this,” said Keeper (shown above). “While I have been actively involved in serving as an advisor on RRC Polytech’s Advisory Committee, this opportunity is truly a wonderfully unexpected surprise. For the institution to recognize my work and efforts through Kistikan Pictures and its impact on the local creative landscape is an extraordinary honour.” Read More →

Even more Manitobans will have the opportunity to earn an engineering degree without leaving the province, thanks to an expanded partnership between RRC Polytech and the University of Manitoba (UM).

The two post-secondary institutions have finalized a new set of articulation agreements that significantly expand pathway options for Engineering Technology graduates seeking to pursue an engineering degree. The agreements build on a partnership announced last spring, and further strengthen collaboration that supports learners on their academic journey and workforce development in Manitoba.

“When post secondary institutions build on each other’s strengths, we create pathways that are stronger, more flexible and more accessible than any of us could offer alone,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech. “These partnerships allow us to provide the complementary learning opportunities our province needs — ensuring students, communities and industry all benefit from a more connected and collaborative education ecosystem.

“RRC Polytech is committed to working with our partners to strengthen and grow Manitoba’s workforce — bringing together our shared expertise to ensure learners can thrive.”

Under the new agreements, graduates of several RRC Polytech Engineering Technology programs are now eligible for entry into all undergraduate programs within UM’s Price Faculty of Engineering. This expansion opens additional career and academic opportunities for recent graduates — and those who have graduated within the past 10 years — who are currently in the early stages of their career and looking to advance their credentials.

The newly completed agreements extend pathways to Biosystems, Electrical and Computer Engineering, joining Mechanical and Civil Engineering, which were announced in May 2025. Read More →

Today, RRC Polytech and the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) Local 73 celebrated the signing of an agreement that puts change into action to decolonize and enhance equity and inclusion within the Polytech’s Collective Agreement.

This collaboration — the first of its kind — represents a new and transformative approach to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action within labour relations and the collective bargaining process. What sets it apart is the intentional approach rooted in Indigenous knowledge and ways of being, guided by a Knowledge Keeper and supported by both RRC Polytech and MGEU.

“The signing reflects the collaborative work of RRC Polytech and MGEU to live our shared values, advancing Truth and Reconciliation organizationally and within Manitoba,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“This process stands out across Canada, setting a precedent for other post-secondary institutions by aligning with Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement (TRCE) and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA), honouring Indigenous Knowledge Protocols, and fostering leadership, mentorship and systemic change at the Polytech.”

To review RRC Polytech’s collective agreement, a joint Truth and Reconciliation Working Group was established through an expression of interest, comprised of eight staff and faculty representing both parties.

Guided by Kookum Barbara Bruce’s teachings, ceremony and wisdom, the group ensured the process moved forward in a good way, grounded in Indigenous Knowledge Protocols. Using priority-setting and Design Thinking — a non-linear, iterative process that reflects true Indigenous engagement — the working group developed recommendations under key themes for the collective agreement. Read More →

Today, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) announced a $3.3-million investment that will expand applied research capacity at RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC), helping local manufacturers and businesses in sectors vital to Manitoba’s economy to address gaps in their ability to innovate on the path toward zero emissions.

“Building a stronger, more competitive Canadian economy means investing in the Prairies’ unique strengths,” said the Hon. Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, in a news release.

“Our new government is helping Manitoba’s heavy equipment and vehicle sector innovate, adopt new technologies and create good jobs for workers and opportunities for local business. Together we are strengthening Canada’s clean industrial economy and ensuring we build Canada strong.”

The federal investment will help establish the Innovation Garage at RRC Polytech, in partnership with the Vehicle Technology Centre — a non-profit that works to accelerate Manitoba’s heavy equipment and vehicle (HEV) manufacturing cluster — the province, and private-sector partners. The funding is in addition to the $3.3-million investment made by the provincial government.

“This investment builds on the strength of Manitoba’s heavy equipment and vehicle sector, which exports around the world and supports thousands of good jobs right here at home,” said the Hon. Jamie Moses, Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation, in a news release.

“By partnering with industry and RRC Polytech, we’re helping companies adopt new technologies, scale up and bring more made-in-Manitoba innovations to the global market.”

The Innovation Garage is a flexible project space that will enable academic researchers and industry partners to work together to advance research and development of processes and products that support the HEV sector and accelerate the province’s transition to a low carbon economy.

It will feature leading-edge equipment, tools and technology, including a microgrid lab focused on energy innovation and HEV infrastructure, and a hydrogen and fuel cell lab to advance clean propulsion systems and other new technologies. Read More →

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just shaping the future — it’s reshaping the present. From health care to manufacturing, from marketing to software development, AI is transforming how we work, create and make decisions.

In this rapidly changing landscape, RRC Polytech is equipping students and professionals with the tools and confidence they need to keep pace with innovation — and lead it.

As Manitoba’s polytechnic, RRC Polytech’s programs pivot on one central idea: education should respond to industry change, not chase it. That philosophy is baked into every education and training offering, where flexibility, practical learning and direct links to employers ensure students can adapt to the evolving demands of today’s technology-driven workforce.

Learning for the Real World

“Technology doesn’t stand still, and neither do we,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO. “We constantly update our curriculum to reflect what’s happening in the workplace. AI is no longer something you learn about in isolation — it’s woven into everything.”

That’s clear across RRC Polytech’s technology programs. Students in Application Development and Delivery gain hands-on experience building software solutions that increasingly integrate AI-powered features such as automation, predictive analytics and natural language interfaces.

Meanwhile, the Data Science and Machine Learning program takes learners beyond theory, training them to turn raw data into meaningful insights — a skill that’s in high demand across nearly every sector. Graduates don’t just understand the tools of AI: they understand how to apply them ethically and effectively to solve real-world problems. Read More →

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 →