This week, RRC Polytech and its post-secondary partners across Canada proudly launched Labs4, an applied research commercialization engine aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and accelerating the country’s innovation economy.

Labs4 brings together 38 Canadian polytechnics, colleges and universities to collaborate with businesses, entrepreneurs and communities on transforming research into real-world solutions.

Initially known as the College-University Lab to Market Network for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization, Labs4 will develop and deliver hands-on entrepreneurship training, product development support and mentorship through eight regional hubs and three Indigenous entrepreneurship hubs that stretch from coast to coast.

“Labs4 is built for impact. This is innovation with purpose, delivered across every region and rooted in community,” says Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director of Research Partnerships & Innovation at RRC Polytech and chair of the Labs4 executive committee.

“We operate at the intersection of academia and industry to translate applied research into practical solutions. By teaching researchers and businesses how to work with each other, building stronger relationships with Indigenous communities and scaling innovation with intentional speed and purpose, we’ll equip entrepreneurs to quickly move from insight to action to benefit all Canadians.”

Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Mitacs and its institutional partners, Labs4 is a $55-million initiative created to close the gap between research and commercialization across all Canadian sectors, while reducing barriers faced by equity-seeking groups and strengthening Indigenous and regional innovation. 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 →

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 →

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 will operate on holiday hours from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

During the break, the Notre Dame and Exchange District campuses will be closed and there will be no access. Regular hours of operation will resume at 6am on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

We wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season!

RRC Polytech welcomed Manitobans to the Notre Dame Campus today, as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of its Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) enterprise.

A gateway to applied research since its establishment in 2004, RPI connects industry and community partners with RRC Polytech’s comprehensive array of facilities, technology and expertise in collaborative projects that bring innovative ideas to life.

As part of the event, guests toured RRC Polytech’s research labs and areas, saw demonstrations of its leading-edge technology and engaged with faculty, professional research staff and students to learn how applied research projects connect all areas of the College and are driving our province into the future.

“As Manitoba’s polytechnic, RRC Polytech is committed to creating change through innovation and using the knowledge and tools that we offer to benefit our communities and the industries that our graduates will soon be leading,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

“Applied research projects drive progress while providing students with invaluable experience through work-integrated learning. We’re eager to build on the incredible success stories we’ve shared with our partners over the last 20 years and to explore new opportunities to find solutions for real-world challenges.”

With 135 researchers and more than 600 students directly involved annually, along with applied research training enabled by research infrastructure in more than 60 courses, RRC Polytech is consistently named a top research college in Canada.

The College’s three NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres (TACs) and other various research facilities and resources are focal points for advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration and accelerating commercialization — with thousands of square feet of space to develop, test and create solutions to support small, medium and large enterprises and communities. Read More →

Health-care education at RRC Polytech enters a new chapter today with the opening of its new Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre. This facility, the first of its kind in Manitoba, will begin training the province’s future health leaders in January.

The Simulation Centre is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary facility that will revolutionize health-care training in Manitoba. It’s the first centre in Manitoba to focus on nursing, allied health professions and community services, with 16,630 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus.

“The Simulation Centre will maximize education opportunities and provide immersive and collaborative training for our health and community care programs,” says Fred Meier, the College’s President and CEO. “As one of the largest trainers of health-care professionals in the province, this is an exciting new frontier in how we can better train and prepare students to be confident in their careers and make an impact in our communities throughout the province.

“Simulation is critical, as it ensures students in all programs have access to immediate experiential training opportunities vital to graduation, gaining experience that helps better prepare them for the clinical environment and being job ready on day one.”

Using state-of-the art, high-fidelity simulation equipment and live actors to create small- and large-scale activities and mock scenarios, the Simulation Centre will provide students from 13 programs with real-world experiences that mirror the realities they will face in the workplace. These training opportunities will equip them to fill vital and in-demand career roles in Manitoba’s health-care system from their first day on the job. Read More →