News

A Red River College student with a distinguished military record has again turned his attention to a different form of service — by launching a foundation to raise scholarship money for students with developmental disabilities.

Andrew McLean, a former Warrant Officer who retired from the Canadian Forces last summer after 22 years of service, recently donated $25,000 of his own money to start the Canadian Torch Foundation — which will provide its first $1,000 CTF Award to an RRC student next year.

The award is available annually to a full-time student with a developmental disability (physical, mental or documented learning disability, or visual or hearing impairment), who’s studying one of the following RRC programs: Child and Youth Care, Disability and Community Support, Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Education Workplace.

McLean’s goal is to eventually raise $2.5 million in funding for similar post-secondary scholarships at 10 colleges and universities, and to complement them with annual grants for rehabilitation efforts benefitting children and youth across Canada. Read More →

(From left): Ryan Garriock, Past President, RRC Alumni Board; Bob Tallman, Owner and CEO of Princess Auto; and Dale Oughton, RRC Alumni Coordinator, at the 2012 Alumni Dinner.

Red River College raised a glass to success stories of the past, present and future this month, as RRC alumni joined with students and staff to celebrate their roots at the 2012 Alumni Dinner.

Held Nov. 16 at The Fairmont Winnipeg, the event gave RRC’s growing family of alumni the chance to re-connect with old friends and toast the accomplishments of their peers — in particular those of Bob Tallman, owner and CEO of Princess Auto, and recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

A 1976 graduate of RRC’s Business Administration program, Tallman has since built Princess Auto from a family business into a national retailer, cultivated a passionate base of customers through a tireless focus on service, and devoted himself to revitalizing his community and helping dozens of young people pursue their own dreams. Read More →

Red River College Winkler Campus instructor Evelyn Currie has been recognized for her commitment to education with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Currie, a former high school teacher and guidance counsellor who’s now a Business Administration instructor at Winkler Campus, was among 15 Manitobans honoured with medals at a ceremony in Portage la Prairie earlier this month.

Currie says she’s especially fond of working one-on-one with students. She plays an equally supportive role in the community, working with the Christmas Cheer Board and on the board of directors of the Pembina Valley Arts Centre.

Congratulations to Red River College grad Lisanne Pajot (Creative Communications, 2003), whose debut film Indie Game: The Movie tied for 5th place on PBS’ list of the 10 best documentaries of 2012.

Directed and produced by Pajot and partner James Swirksy (shown at left), the film chronicles the world of independent video game developers, and has drawn rave reviews from critics across North America since it bowed at the Sundance Film Festival last January.

In addition to its recent ranking on the PBS/POV list, the doc also picked up the World Cinema Documentary Best Editing Prize at Sundance. It’s since been toured throughout Canada and the U.S., and was optioned by HBO and producer Scott Rudin (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Click here for more information, or to stream or download the film.

Brent Wennekes, Red River College

Accelerating innovation in Manitoba is Red River College’s motivation for appointing a technology- and research-focused business and communications specialist to the Innovate Manitoba team.

Brent Wennekes, Technology Transfer & Communications Manager with Applied Research & Commercialization at RRC will provide his skills three days per week to Innovate Manitoba as Research and Programs Manager.

“With its applied research program and reputation for graduating skilled individuals, Red River College is an important player in Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem,” said Jan Lederman, President of Innovate Manitoba. “Their provision of a highly-skilled programs manager to our team demonstrates a significant commitment towards accelerating innovation in Manitoba.”

Wennekes has experience in managing programs and research activities with a national not-for-profit advanced technology organization. With RRC, he has been supporting the growth of applied research programs in the areas of clean technology, advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and health sciences.

“Red River College plays a vital role in advancing innovation in Manitoba through its applied research endeavors,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of Red River College. “And it’s no secret that Manitoba’s true strength is our ability to collaborate to get the job done. To that end, we are pleased to contribute a dynamic individual to support the growth and impact of Innovate Manitoba which will ultimately provide a net benefit to our Province.”

Along with contributing to Innovate Manitoba’s ongoing activities, Wennekes will be looking to help increase collaboration among existing community members, increase innovation funding and resources available to the community, and help execute a membership drive.

About Innovate Manitoba

Innovate Manitoba is a non-profit, province-wide organization with programs dedicated to linking researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to the resources they need to succeed. It is an integrated hub for all innovation-related activities in Manitoba, focused on accelerating innovation and commercialization in the province. For more information, please contact: Jan Lederman at janlederman@innovatemanitoba.com, or call 204-934-2349.

About Red River College

Red River College is Manitoba’s second-largest post secondary institution with over 30,000 enrolments in full-time, part-time and apprenticeship programs each year. RRC is also one of Canada’s leading colleges in the area of applied research, with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure, alternative energy vehicles, aerospace and manufacturing.

Originally posted on Red River College’s Applied Research blog.

While some buildings in Manitoba’s harsh climate perform well over time, others experience major problems ranging from high-energy bills to crumbling facades. Researchers with Red River College are aspiring to determine why.

With funding from Manitoba Hydro, RRC will test 20 commercial buildings throughout the Province over the next 16 months for air leakage, a critical factor in a building’s energy use, durability, air quality and comfort.

“It is a significant but essential step to better understand how air leakage affects Manitoba’s commercial buildings,” said Rob Spewak, RRC’s research manager. “Manitoba Hydro’s support and assistance reinforces the importance of this issue.”

The need for airtightness in buildings was initially seen only as an energy issue, since excessive air leakage can significantly increase heating and cooling costs, but other significant problems can occur.

Read More →

Manitoba’s construction trades sector is poised for growth thanks to a provincial government investment of $60 million toward development of a new Skilled Trades and Technology Centre at Red River College.

The commitment was confirmed in today’s Provincial Speech from the Throne.

“We know industry needs significantly more skilled workers to keep up with the growth of the Manitoba economy, but our aging infrastructure hampers our ability to respond adequately,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of Red River College. “Today’s announcement lets us begin planning in earnest for a brand-new facility that features state-of-the-art industrial and learning technologies. We appreciate the government’s foresight in making this strategic investment.”

When completed, the centre will allow Red River College to create a central hub for all construction trades training at the Notre Dame Campus, enhance programming using new technology and collaborative work spaces, and expand capacity in high priority programs like carpentry, electrical and plumbing.

Forsyth also pledged RRC’s support for a planned Provincial Skills Summit, and noted that the government’s goal to expand Manitoba’s labour force by engaging more Aboriginal and international students is consistent with the College’s new strategic plan.

“I’m encouraged by the education and training priorities announced in the Throne Speech, and I look forward to working with our government, industry and community partners to bring them to life,” Forsyth said.

Red River College joins the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority in celebrating the accomplishments of the most recent graduates of its Health Services Leadership and Management program.

Available in class and online through RRC’s School of Continuing Education, and delivered in partnership with the WRHA, the program targets current health services workers who wish to further their careers by developing or upgrading their management skills.

Employees come from a wide range of services, including acute care, community programs, diagnostic, personal and long-term care facilities. The program allows them to build the knowledge, skills and networking connections required to succeed in the WRHA’s dynamic and evolving health care environment.

“The beauty of this program is that it couples tangible financial support with a sense of identifying and acknowledging potential in our future health care leaders,” says Nish Verma, vice-president and chief human resources officer for the WRHA.

The collaborative WRHA/RRC model of the program has grown steadily since its inception in 2003, and is now a widely recognized and established component of the WRHA’s management and succession planning strategy. It was developed through collaborations with the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders; curriculum is based on that organization’s Certified Health Executive competencies.

Those taking the program receive instruction from some of the most respected names in the health service industry, as well as expert guidance as they apply their practical skills in the workplace. Participants in the joint WRHA/RRC program have to be sponsored in by their employers, who in turn must be a health organization under the WRHA.

Click here for more info on the Health Services Leadership and Management program at RRC.

(From left): Fred Doern, Chair of Mechanical, Manufacturing & Communications at RRC; the Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport); James Knight, President, Association of Canadian Community Colleges; MP Joyce Bateman (Winnipeg South Centre); the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology); Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC; and Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, announced today that Red River College will receive almost $1.7 million through NSERC’s Community and College Innovation Program to establish the A2i2: Advanced Aerospace Innovation Initiative.

This new technology access centre will focus on making RRC’s facilities, technologies and expertise available to small and medium enterprises in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

“This technology access centre builds on the partnerships RRC has formed with companies like StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace to enhance innovation and productivity in these key industry sectors,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of Red River College. “Ultimately, the research done through A2i2 will create new jobs and other economic opportunities right here in Manitoba.”

Over the past decade, Red River College and its partners have invested over $20 million in acquiring state-of-the-art technologies specializing in advanced materials and bonding, imaging and automation, and machine vision and simulation. The A2i2 initiative will bring these facilities under one umbrella, making it easier for industry to access equipment and College researchers.

Red River College is Manitoba’s second-largest post secondary institution with over 30,000 enrolments in full-time, part-time and apprenticeship programs each year. RRC is also one of Canada’s leading colleges in the area of applied research, with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure, alternative energy vehicles, and aerospace manufacturing.

RRC alum Östen Rice (centre) along with Amici’s Jamie Snow (left) and Sydney’s at the Forks’ Michael Schafer (right), on the winner’s podium of this year’s Gold Medal Plates culinary competition.

Congratulations to RRC alum Östen Rice (Culinary Arts, 2001), of Wasabi Sabi restaurant, on his recent win at the Gold Medal Plates competition in Winnipeg.

Rice was awarded top honours at the event, which took place Oct. 26 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. As it does every year, the event celebrates the best in local cuisine, pitting the city’s premiere chefs against each other in a bid for a spot at the Canadian Culinary Championships.

Rice’s gold medal-worthy entry was a thrilling mix of sweet and sour, comprised of beet-cured butterfish, marinated sea asparagus, taro crisp and tobiko roe, and a slaw of julienned Fuki apple, golden beet and shiso leaf. Read More →