News

Red River College has again been recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability, having been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the third year in a row.

The prestigious honour recognizes RRC’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of College operations, incorporate sustainability into research and academic programming, and engage staff and students in more eco-conscious behaviour.

The unveiling of this year’s Greenest Employers coincides with Earth Day celebrations throughout Canada, and also with RRC’s week-long State of Sustainability, an event that includes recycling and green building tours, compost giveaways, e-waste collection drives and information sessions on organic lawn care and sustainability at home.

“There’s a real culture of sustainability at Red River College,” says Manager of Sustainability Sara MacArthur. “Our staff do more than just ‘know’ about sustainability — they also embrace the values of sustainability in their day-to-day actions.”

Launched in 2007, the Canada’s Greenest Employers competition recognizes organizations that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their workplaces.

RRC is one of only three Manitoba organizations to be named to this year’s Greenest Employers list (alongside Manitoba Hydro and Assiniboine Credit Union), and one of only seven post-secondary institutions across Canada.

It’s the second time in days that RRC has been recognized for its commitment to the environment. Last week, the College was awarded one of Polar Bears International’s Paws of Approval, which recognize organizational efforts to reduce carbon footprints. RRC also remains the only post-secondary institution in Manitoba to complete the STARS rating system, the most commonly accepted sustainability rating system for colleges and universities in North America.

Click here to learn more about RRC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

On behalf of the School of Indigenous Education, Red River College is pleased to host the 13th Annual Pow Wow Honouring Aboriginal Graduates on Friday, May 3, 2013 in the North Gym. Please find below a breakdown of the day’s events.

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013

Stop by for a piece a bannock and sip of tea, or peruse the crafters booths and enjoy the dancing and music.

Should you have any questions, please contact Tracy Brant at 204-632-2106 or email tbrant@rrc.ca.

Red River College is about to embark on an ambitious campus master planning process, one that aims to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the existing Notre Dame Campus, and through collaboration with students, staff and faculty, arrive at a solution to the problems identified.

Following a request for proposals last year, RRC has selected Boston-based Sasaki Associates Inc., working together with Winnipeg’s Dillon Consulting Ltd., to carry out a three-phase planning process that’s scheduled to conclude this fall.

Sasaki has worked on master plans for more than 500 campuses, and recently completed a proposal for Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, the oldest community college in the United States. Bryan Irwin, a principal at the firm who’s working with fellow partner Dan Kelly, recently responded to some questions on the topic of the master plan.

Red River College: What exactly is a campus master plan?

Bryan Irwin: It’s a comprehensive road map for the College that links the strategic academic plan – what is it we’re teaching, and to whom — with the physical facilities of the campus. It requires looking well into the future, 10 or 15 years, and asking, “What are the reasonable projections we can make, and how can we right-size the campus facilities to best support the strategic vision of the College?”

…Everyone would agree Red River College has done a phenomenal job meeting the needs of the community and offering the courses that are required to support and catalyze the economy. But in so doing, they have made incremental decisions over a period of time that were based on expediency. Now the College wants to reassess that situation and look at how they might better use the existing space. Read More →

Congratulations to the above team of RRC Culinary Arts students, who took top honours in the 2013 Manitoba Mission: ImPULSEible competition.

Hosted by Pulse Canada at RRC’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, the event aims to develop innovative food products containing whole pulses (the edible seeds of plants in the legume family) or pulse ingredients. Students present their products at provincial competitions where judges evaluate them based on sensory and health attributes, the innovative use of pulses, feasibility and marketability.

RRC’s team — consisting of students Hayley Walker, Scott Ball and Ian Gerbrandt — won their provincial competition with a “Power Pulse Ice Cream Sandwich,” comprised of lentil cookie and chickpea ice cream. They now move forward to the national competition in Calgary in June.

Click here for more info on the Mission: ImPULSEible competition.

Last week’s federal budget promises to reinforce the work Red River College is doing to provide more opportunities for future students and faculty, says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth.

Overall, RRC welcomes the collaborative approach outlined in the budget, which envisions two levels of government, post-secondary education institutions, labour and industry working together to help address the Canadian skills shortage. Both the Association of Community Colleges of Canada (ACCC) and Polytechnics Canada have also welcomed these announcements, particularly because they’ve been advocating for this type of investment and focus in skills development.

One of the highlights of the budget was a proposed Canada Job Grant, a $500-million investment in 2014-15 to connect employers with prospective employees and invest in their education. Early information suggests a potential student could be eligible for a $15,000 grant paid for with equal contributions from employers and the federal and provincial governments.

As Forsyth points out, many programs at RRC have a waiting list ratio of up to four students for every one currently attending. At first glimpse, the Canada Jobs Grant would help train more students, though collaboration from all parties would be required.

“This proposed grant is dependent upon all three parties bringing money to the table, so it is far from certainty,” she said last week. “Working closely with industry, the private sector and community organizations is a particular strength of RRC. If this collaborative model comes to pass, it will hopefully help us leverage this strength to engage more students and meet the needs of industry.” Read More →

RRC Chef Instructor Luc Jean (right) accepts a Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award from Mallory Shack, Injury Prevention Coordinator for Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba.

He’s a whiz in the kitchen — and an honest-to-goodness lifesaver, to boot!

Luc Jean, a Chef Instructor with Red River College’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, was recognized by the Canadian Red Cross last week, for saving the life of a student who began choking while in Prairie Lights restaurant last year.

Jean was honoured with a Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award for his quick action and bravery. He was presented with the award during a Hospitality and Culinary Arts staff meeting on March 14, 2013.

(From left): Rachel Bard, CEO, Canadian Nurses Association; Barb Milton, President, Canadian Nurses Association; Karen Wall, RRC Chair of Nursing; the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health; Cathy Rippin-Sisler, President, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

Red River College is proud to congratulate Karen Wall, Chair of Nursing, on her recently-awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Wall was one of 30 individuals so honoured by the Canadian Nurses Association, who were given the medals by the Governor-General to recognize RNs who have demonstrated a strong commitment and dedication to the nursing profession and to health care in Canada.

She was first honoured at the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba’s centennial gala on Feb. 15, and received her medal during a ceremony in Ottawa on March 5.

Red River College’s Corporate Solutions department, together with culinary instructors from the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, partnered recently to welcome young people from a downtown youth centre to the new campus.

The March 12 event, a three-hour evening workshop exploring healthy eating options, drew 21 teens (aged 15 to 19) from Ka Ni Kanichihk Youth Centre on William Avenue. While at PGI, the group toured the newly-opened training spaces, learned more about the College’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, and took part in some health-conscious cooking classes.

The teens prepared a meal that put a healthy spin on traditional favourites — sandwiches made with bannock baked in butter (instead of fried in lard), and homemade rice pudding with fresh berries.

Ka Ni Kanichihk means “those who lead”, a mandate the youth centre carries out by “inspiring youth who face multiple barriers and challenges to believe in themselves, their potential and their ability to achieve high goals through education, training and employment opportunities.”

Click here for more information on Corporate Solutions at RRC.

(Back row): Sumeshini Letchmana, Project Assistant, RRC International Education; Eddy Lau, International Project Manager, RRC; Keith Muller, Dean, RRC School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts; Stevenson Alloso, Director, RRC International Education. (Seated): Toru Hoshino, Vice-President, International Hotel and Bridal College (WiSH) NSG Group; Christine Crowe, Vice-President, RRC Community Development.

Red River College welcomed delegates from Japan this week, to discuss possible partnership opportunities that will expand the College’s international reach.

From March 5 to 9, the College played host to Mr. Toru Hoshino — Vice-President of International Hotel and Bridal College (WiSH) NSG Group in Niigata, Japan — and Mr. Masashi Akagawa, a photographer from ICO Advertising.

Vice-president Hoshino was here to discuss joint programming opportunities in language training and hospitality management.

The visit comes just one week after RRC hosted a team of delegates from Siyuan University in China, to discuss joint programming opportunities in business, language training, and construction and engineering technologies.

Learn more about RRC’s International Education department.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the grand opening of Jane’s at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute such a success — in particular, the many sponsors and supporters who attended our launch party on February 21st.

We’ve put together a short informational video for those who weren’t able to attend. Click on the above graphic to watch the video, and here to make your reservation at Jane’s restaurant.