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Stephanie Forsyth (left), President of Red River College, and John Bockstael, President and CEO of Bockstael Construction Ltd.

In honour of the 100-year anniversary of Bockstael Construction Limited, John Bockstael, President and CEO, presented Red River College President Stephanie Forsyth with a cheque for $25,000 today.

The donation will be used to establish the Bockstael Construction Limited Endowment Fund for Student Awards at RRC, and will benefit students in the Construction Management and Carpentry programs.

Bockstael Construction is a strong supporter of a number of RRC initiatives, including the Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre, the Girls Exploring Trades & Technology (GETT) camps, the annual Alumni Dinner, and the College’s skilled trades.

Click here for more info on how to support student success at RRC.

(From left): Peter Bjornson, Provincial Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training & Trade; Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC; and Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering for StandardAero.

Red River College will continue to serve as an engine of economic growth in Canada, thanks to a recent donation worth $1.2 million from industry partner StandardAero.

Earlier this month, the company transferred ownership of a GE CF-34 turbine aircraft engine to RRC. The engine will be used as part of the College’s apprenticeship and training programs, in particular the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul program, which promotes engine maintenance, repair and overhaul skills.

“Here at Red River College, we pride ourselves on giving students the opportunity to train using state-of-the-art technology and industry-approved equipment,” says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth. “This donation, and our partnership with StandardAero, will allow us to continue to serve as a leader in aerospace training, and to continue supplying highly-trained employees to the workforce.”

The College’s partnership with StandardAero has been ongoing for several years, and has also resulted in the development of the Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training (CATT), a unique industrial campus model that serves as a technology validation site for RRC’s Applied Research and Commercialization department. StandardAero is also an active participant in RRC’s co-op and internship programs.

“Our (latest) donation serves as a key workforce skills strategy, not only for StandardAero, but also for Manitoba’s continued economic sustainment and growth,” says Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering at StandardAero.

“Training on real-world products without incurring capital costs is paramount to the learning and development of a highly skilled workforce in Manitoba. Our partnership with Apprenticeship Manitoba and RRC is nationally recognized as a leading contributor to the growth of the aerospace sector in Manitoba.”

Local author Ron Blicq, a member of Red River College’s Heritage Group, has an early Christmas present for local audiences.

While the rest of the country will have to wait until 2013 to read his latest release, The Spirit of Giving: Seven Contemporary Christmas Tales, local fans can get their hands on the book in time for the holidays, thanks to an advance agreement with an Altona printer.

The book will launch on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at McNally Robinson Booksellers Grant Park. Targeting readers of all ages, The Spirit of Giving tells of those who have given of themselves to ensure that others have a meaningful Christmas.

A former RRC instructor, Blicq has written three novels, six books on writing, and a number of plays that have been presented at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and in the U.K. His 2008 play Closure took top honours in the Samuel French Canadian Playwrights Competition.

Blicq’s book launch gets underway at 7 p.m. Click here for more information.

RRC President Stephanie Forsyth (far right), with Grade 7 to 9 students from Lake St. Martin First Nation.

When overland flooding forced them to be evacuated from their homes, residents of Lake St. Martin First Nation figured it would be a few months at most before they were allowed to return.

But after spending a year and a half living in temporary housing in Winnipeg — and with much of their community still under water — those same residents are wondering if they’ll ever return to their community again.

The 18-month ordeal has been particularly tough on the teens and children who were displaced when Lake St. Martin flooded in May 2011. That’s why Red River College stepped forward to send 12 of those students and two teachers to We Day — a global “youth empowerment” event that has since inspired the teens to become agents of social change for their own community.

“Too frequently we hear of children and individuals losing hope, or who feel powerless, and we have seen this with some of the evacuees of Lake St. Martin,” says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth.

“I wanted to reach out to the youth of this community — to afford them the opportunity to hear We Day’s very powerful message of hope, and the role they might play in bringing about change.” Read More →

Applications are now being accepted for single and double dorm rooms in Red River College’s new student residence at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute.

Located at the corner of Main Street and William Avenue (just blocks from the Roblin Centre), the new Exchange District Campus Residence offers convenient meal plans and rental contracts that align with academic schedules. The residences will open in January 2013, but applications are being accepted as of Nov. 1, 2012.

Dorm rates for the Winter 2013 term (Jan. 2, 2013 – Apr. 26, 2013) are $3,660.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit http://www.rrc.ca/campusliving.

A consortium involving Red River College, New Flyer Industries and other industry partners has been awarded $3.4 million in new federal funding to further develop battery-electric bus propulsion technology.

The new funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada builds on the $1-million investment made by the provincial government last year to develop an all‑electric transit bus and charging system, said Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak, who extended his congratulations to all involved in the project for this latest development.

The all-electric bus development and demonstration project is a partnership between RRC, New Flyer, the Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

“Together we are developing an entirely electric bus system to get families around, not only in Winnipeg, but in cities all over North America,” said Chomiak. “The development of renewable and sustainable technologies is a priority for our government and the support being offered ensures we keep can keep moving forward.”

In addition to the $1-million investment in 2011, the province has invested $100,000 for the creation of an electric-vehicle learning and demonstration centre at RRC under Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Road Map. Read More →

Over the past eight years, nearly 2,000 students have learned about ethics and sustainability from Red River College instructor Peter Denton.

But when his nickname became “Dr. Doom,” he decided it was time to write something that put our need to make choices for sustainability in a more positive light.

Denton, who also teaches technical communications at the college, launched Gift Ecology: Reimagining a Sustainable World (published by Rocky Mountain Books) on October 15th at McNally Robinson in Winnipeg.

Years of thinking about the subject and teaching all those students clearly had a positive impact on Denton, as Gift Ecology has already received glowing reviews.

Bill McKibben, American environmental activist and founder of 350.org, calls it “a very powerful book.” Warchild Canada founder and author Dr. Samantha Nutt, CM, found it “both inspiring and enlightening.” Dr. Vandana Shiva, an agricultural activist and author from India, calls it “a gift.”

And when Mardi Tindal, 40th Moderator of the United Church of Canada, described it “a profoundly hope-filled book,” it became clear that “Dr. Doom” was not a name Denton was likely to hear again.

Gift Ecology is available in hardcover and as an e-book in all formats.

The RRC Bookstore is hosting a reading and book-signing event at the Notre Dame Campus on Tuesday, November 6th from 3-5 p.m.

Photo credit: May Wady

Congratulations to Red River College student and Navy reservist Diego Mendoza, the latest member of the RRC family to receive a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Mendoza (shown at left), a student in RRC’s Chemical and Biosciences Technology Co-op program, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to Canada while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy. He received his award at a ceremony at HMCS Chippawa on Oct. 9, 2012.

Earlier this year, QEII Diamond Jubilee Medals were also awarded to former RRC Dean Dave Williamson, and current program coordinator Dwayne Forsman.

“There is no doubt that Red River College continues to be a place where great people gather and contribute to the community,” says Mendoza.

Click here for more information on RRC’s Chemical and Biosciences Technology Co-op program.

Photo: Canstar Community News

It’s got a longstanding reputation as a haven for hippies. But there’s a lot more to Wolseley than Birkenstocks and love beads.

That’s what Red River College student Laina Hughes has learned while researching a book about the storied neighbourhood — which she’s writing as part of her Creative Communications course work. She hopes to paint a picture of the neighbourhood that goes beyond the usual stereotypes (granola, cyclists, mosquito buffer zones, etc.), while positioning it within the larger context of Winnipeg’s cultural mosaic.

A longtime Wolseley resident herself, Hughes has always wanted to write a book, so when the opportunity to research her favourite neighbourhood arose, she knew the subject matter would prove a perfect fit.

“I thought this would be a great way to learn more about Wolseley’s history while celebrating the beauty and unique culture of the neighbourhood,” says Hughes.

“I think Wolseley residents are passionate about their neighbourhood, and I’ve gotten a lot of interest and support from the community so far.”

If you’ve got a story about Wolseley to share, Hughes would love to hear from you. She can be reached via her Twitter account, @WolseleyStories, or by email, wolseleystories@gmail.com.

Staff, students and their family members are invited to attend Red River College’s annual Welcome Party for Immigrant and International Students.

This year’s celebration takes place Friday, Nov. 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., in the Voyageur Dining Room at the Notre Dame Campus. As always, the Welcome event is hosted by RRC’s Diversity and Immigrant Student Support Department, with support from International Education and the RRC Students’ Association.

The College-wide event will feature live music and entertainment, including performances by Punjab Dancers, Paradize Band, Evan Coffie and Yoslai. There will also be fun activities for kids, lots of dancing, and sample foods from around the world.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Nov. 16, 2012. To register online, visit this link. To sign up in person, visit the Diversity and Immigrant Student Support offices: Room D206 on the Notre Dame Campus, or Room 103 at the Exchange District Campus.

For more information, contact Lauren Konrad, Student Integration Coordinator, at 204-631-3345 or lkonrad@rrc.ca.