News

Welcome back, all new and returning Red River College students!

As a way to celebrate your first few weeks of classes, and to help you get a feel for your new surroundings, the Red River College Students’ Association has a full slate of back-to-school events planned.

See below for details on welcome events and DisOrientation Week activities. And don’t forget our Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations team is also hosting a Welcoming Celebration for students, this Thursday at the Notre Dame Campus!

Tuesday, Sept. 2
Maw’s Eatery and Red River College Students’ Association presents…
Back to School BBQ
Free food, drinks and Fanta floats for students
Where: Bijou Park (beside Paterson Global Foods Institute, 504 Main St.
When: 11am – 1:30pm
*Rainout backup at Maw’s Eatery and Beer Hall (291 Bannatyne Ave.)
Feat. Musicians Mark Mills & The Vikings

Back to School BBQ Afterparty
Live music; food and drink specials for students
Where: Maw’s Eatery and Beer Hall (291 Bannatyne Ave.)
When: Doors open at 1:30pm

Wednesday, Sept. 3
MTS and Red River College Students’ Association presents…
Welcome Back BBQ
Free food, drinks and Fanta floats for students
Where: Outdoor courtyard between buildings D,E,F at Notre Dame Campus
When: 11am – 1:30pm
*Rainout backup in The Cave Lounge at NDC
Feat. Musicians Mark Mills & The Vikings

DisOrientation Week 2014 (Sept. 8-12)

Monday, Sept. 8
Magic performance: Wonderist Chris Funk
Where: The Cave Lounge at Notre Dame Campus
When: 12pm – 1pm
Free show for students Read More →

Red River College’s Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations team will host a Welcoming Celebration for students on Thursday, September 4, from 11:15am to 1pm, at the Notre Dame Campus.

Students have a lot on their minds when going back to school — like housing, buying textbooks, and just finding their way around campus. The Welcoming Celebration offers a break from it all — complete with a free lunch and the chance to meet other students while being entertained by comedian Don Burnstick.

Date: Thursday, September 4, 2014
Time: Doors open at 11:15am; Don Burnstick’s comedy show starts at noon
Place: F209, Aboriginal Support Centre (Notre Dame Campus)

For more information, please call 204.632.3773.

Aboriginal students from the Interlake marked some high-voltage achievements in the latest regional offering of Red River College’s Pre-Employment Electrical program, netting a combined average grade of 89.24% in classes delivered at the Peguis – Fisher River Campus.

The 10 students — eight young men, and two young women — celebrated their success at a special celebration on Wed., July 30 in Peguis.

The five-month Pre-Employment Electrical certificate program develops the knowledge and skills required for employment in the electrical field, including fundamentals of electricity, electrical codes, wiring practices, and trade safety awareness.

The program is made possible through funding from Apprenticeship Manitoba, and creates a terrific opportunity for students with no previous experience to become apprentice electricians.

“Red River College’s community partnerships prove to be invaluable,” says Darlene Bouvier, Manager of RRC’s Interlake Campuses. “As part of our community strategic planning, the Peguis – Fisher River Campus is providing preparatory courses prior to program delivery, that engage students in building self-esteem, while facilitating teamwork and providing participants with the essential skills and knowledge necessary for continued learning success.”

For more information on RRC programs and services in the Interlake, including at the Peguis – Fisher River Campus, call 1.204.785.5328 (toll-free 1.866.946.3241) or visit rrc.ca/interlake.

Red River College’s International Education office will again showcase the best Manitoba has to offer this season, while welcoming a group of visiting Chinese students taking part in its Summer English Language Camps.

Launched last year, the two-week program provides a unique way for international students to improve their language skills, while also learning more about local and national culture through field trips and tours of Winnipeg.

Delivered by RRC’s Language Training Centre, the camps balance fun and interactive classroom sessions with outings to some of the city’s most popular attractions — including parks, museums, historic sites and summer festivals — all while helping students build confidence by using English in class and in everyday situations.

“Last summer, students took a tour of the city with Winnipeg’s Trolley Tours, walked through the Exchange District, went on a tour of the Manitoba Legislature Building, and were able to attend tours of various programs that RRC has to offer,” says Kelsey Griffth-Parker, Program Coordinator of the summer camp.

“They also visited Polo Park Shopping Mall, Assiniboine and Kildonan Park, and were involved in many ‘Winnipeg’ activities — including visiting Lower Fort Garry, The Forks, and attending a Goldeyes baseball game!”

This year, 19 students from the Shenyang Institute of Engineering and 12 from the Shanghai Medical Instrumentation College will take part in the language camp program, which runs from July 27 to Aug. 8.

Camp organizers are currently seeking volunteers to assist with airport pickups, field trips and tours — activities that will take place during afternoons, evenings and weekends.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Kelsey Griffith-Parker at k.griffthparker@gmail.com.

Two Red River College students were honoured by the provincial government this month, picking up International Student of the Year Awards for their contributions in and out of the classroom.

Presented by the Manitoba Council for International Education and the Province’s International Education Branch, the awards recognize the contributions of international students to the Manitoba community. Each year, three students are recognized in the categories of Secondary, Post-Secondary and Language Programs.

Andy Thong Quoc Pham, recipient of this year’s award for Post-Secondary Students, has been an RRC student since 2013, completing language studies at the Language Training Centre (LTC) before enrolling in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute downtown.

Since his arrival as a new international student from Vietnam, Andy has made a number of important leadership contributions to the RRC community, excelling in his studies, representing his class on the Student Advisory Board, and participating in RRC’s Cultural and Language Mentor Program.

Andy also completed Ally Training as part of RRC’s LGBTT* Initiative, and launched an LGBTT* and Friends Club on-campus. He is outgoing and friendly, and reaches out to support and advocate for his classmates and others. As he enters the second year of his program, Andy plans to maintain a high GPA, and run for an elected position on the RRC Students’ Association executive.

Rae Ting Ting Shi, recipient of this year’s Language Program Award, graduated from the LTC in April 2014, and is now pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education. During her time at RRC, she was proactive, organized and resourceful as she worked to improve her English skills.

Rae also contributed to the LTC community through her positive attitude, creativity and flexibility, participating in both classroom and College events, and organizing potlucks and other activities for her fellow students.

Both Andy and Rae picked up their awards — which include a monetary prize of $200 and a certificate signed by the Minister of Advanced Learning and Education — on July 14. They will also be recognized this fall at RRC’s annual Welcome Party for Immigrant and International Students.

Career-camp season is already in full swing at Red River College’s Winnipeg campuses, where middle-schoolers are broadening their horizons through summer sessions on trades, technology and the culinary arts.

Now RRC’s Portage Campus has unveiled plans to extend the season a little longer, announcing the launch of a new trades camp for Aboriginal youth that makes its debut next month.

This August, Portage Campus hosts its inaugural Trades Exploration (Tr.Ex.) camps for kids in Grades 6-8, offering a fun and informative five-day mix of trades-based learning, culture and recreation.

“The Portage Campus is very excited to be delivering their first-ever Tr.Ex. camp in partnership with Apprenticeship Manitoba,” says Lori-Ann Grenkow, RRC’s Interim Director, Regional Services. “Camp participants will have fun exploring three skilled trades areas: Carpentry, Chef/Cook and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. In addition, they’ll have a great time participating in a variety of recreational activities and crafts, and learning about traditional Aboriginal teachings.”

Participants can take their pick of two sessions this summer — the first runs Aug. 18-22, the second from Aug. 25-29. Both are open to status, non-status and Métis youth, and both are free of charge (though a refundable $50 deposit is required to register).

Each camp can accommodate up to 16 participants. Programming will be coordinated by Portage Campus staff, with the help of two newly-hired camp assistants who’ll complement their efforts. Read More →

Red River College’s Athletics department is pleased to announce the hiring of Dan McGregor, new head coach of the Rebels Women’s Volleyball team.

Born in Winnipeg, McGregor graduated from Oak Park High School, and has been coaching since 1997, including stints coaching junior varsity and varsity teams at Oak Park from 1997 to 2008, and at Dakota Collegiate in 2013. He helped rack up a number of tournament championships and Top 10-ranked teams during his time at both schools.

More recently, McGregor spent two seasons as assistant coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons Women’s Volleyball team, and also served as head coach of the Manitoba 16-and-under provincial teams in 2013 and 2014.

“We’re excited to welcome Dan to the Rebels Athletics program,” says Shane Ray, manager of athletics and recreation services at RRC. “His proven success at the club, provincial and post-secondary level will be an asset to the program here at Red River College.”

Click here for more information about RRC’s Rebels varsity teams.

Red River College students brought home four medals from this year’s Skills Canada National Competition in Toronto.

Held June 4-7, the Olympic-style competition drew more than 500 participants from across Canada — all of them gold winners in their respective provincial contests.

A total of 15 RRC students represented Team Manitoba in a number of trades and technology-related fields. Congratulations to the following medalists:

• Dexter Bracken and Andrew Tutte (shown above): Silver, Landscaping Gardening
• Kyle Duguid: Silver, Aircraft Maintenance
• Clark Holmes: Gold, Auto Service
• Nina Widmer: Silver, Brick Masonry

Click here for a full list of winners.

From left: Apprenticeship and Certification Board Chair Leonard Harapiak; Minister of Jobs and the Economy Minister Theresa Oswald; RRC alum Nina Widmer (Bricklaying Apprentice); Reg Toews, Coordinator, Red River Technical Vocational Area High School Apprenticeship Program; RRC President Stephanie Forsyth.

More than 230 youth will gain awareness and exposure to the skilled trades through the province’s new Building for Tomorrow summer program – a series of educational camps and work experience programs delivered by Red River College and a network of other business, community and educational partners

“This summer, many of our children will have new opportunities to have fun while learning about a potential future career in various trades, including construction and transportation, trade and technology, hospitality and the culinary arts,” said Jobs and the Economy Minister Theresa Oswald. “Our government is focused on helping families and youth in exploring the many paths to good jobs and rewarding careers right here in Manitoba, and starting that conversation while kids are still in school.”

The province will support more than a dozen new camps during the summer, including RRC’s Girls Exploring the Trades and Technology (GETT) camps, which gives girls aged 12 to 14 the opportunity to design and build their own go-carts, while learning about the importance of science, math and industrial arts-based courses in high school.

Other camps include:

• RRC’s Portage Campus will offer two one-week programs, introducing 32 Aboriginal youth (Grades 6 to 8) to various skilled trades; Assiniboine Community College will offer 15 participants introductory experiences in carpentry or culinary arts.

• Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Association Inc., in partnership with RRC, will offer 15 Aboriginal youths (Grades 9 and 10) with opportunities to experience different trades, with a special focus on the culinary trades, while learning about the apprenticeship training model; participants will receive certified food-handler training and workplace hazard information system training.

• University College of the North will provide 80 Aboriginal youth in Flin Flon with the basic skills needed for a successful career in the skilled trades.

• Career Trek Inc., in partnership with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council and Winnipeg Technical College, will provide 24 Grade 9 youth with exposure to the carpentry trade.

Read More →

Red River College’s Greatest Summer Job Campaign has won a silver Prix D’Excellence medal from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).

The campaign, launched last summer by RRC’s Marketing and Web Presence and Campus Living teams, centred around a city-wide job search for a Blogger-in-Residence, who spent July and August of 2013 living in (and blogging about) the College’s first-ever student residence.

The opportunity provided the blogger with free accommodations, meals and access to a number of unique Winnipeg activities – all in exchange for daily blog entries about her experiences living downtown.

“This creative guerrilla marketing campaign was strategically designed to get neighbours involved, to form partnerships, and to use our collective networks to share our pride in the Exchange District and all it has to offer – with a key focus on RRC as a place to eat, study and live on campus,” says Christian Robin, Director of Marketing and Web Presence.

“The RRC team collaborated to make this campaign a tremendous success, exceeding all goals and expectations, including maximizing occupancy at the student residence.”

The Prix d’Excellence is the CCAE’s annual awards program, recognizing outstanding achievements in alumni and public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship, student recruitment and overall institutional advancement.

Earlier this year, the Marketing and Web Presence team won a gold medal in the CASE District VIII (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Communications Awards, for a three-minute promotional video showcasing the new student residence.