News

Former RRC Dean Honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

October 2, 2012

Former Red River College Dean Dave Williamson got a surprise out of thin air last week — when he was honoured with a prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The medal was presented to Williamson by Winnipeg South Centre MP Joyce Bateman, at last week’s Thin Air Winnipeg International Festival.

The letter that Williamson received along with the medal reads: “You were nominated for this award for your outstanding contributions to the cultural and arts community of Winnipeg. Your passion and dedication to your craft is truly inspiring. In addition to your literary contributions as author and teacher, your work as the founder of the Creative Communications program and the Dean of Business & Applied Arts at Red River College must be recognized and commended.”

Williamson, who recently released a book detailing the history of RRC, was one of the featured writers on the Festival mainstage. He says Bateman had arranged with the Festival’s executive director to surprise him with the presentation.

“I was sitting there on the Festival stage after giving my reading and, as they announced the award presentation, I was wondering who was going to be the recipient,” says Williamson. “I was in total shock when they called my name. Once it more or less sank in, I was grateful that they presented the medal on that particular night, with many members of the writing community in attendance.”

Click here for more information on Changing People’s Lives: An Illustrated History of Red River College.

RRC Inks New Partnership Agreements with Post-secondary Institutions in China

September 28, 2012

Red River College continues to expand the scope of its international reach, through recently-signed partnership agreements with a trio of post-secondary institutions in China.

In September 2012, RRC President Stephanie Forsyth took part in a Canada Trade Mission with the Province of Manitoba and other Premiers and delegates from across the country. During the trip, she took time to further relationships with existing partner schools, and to sign new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three new institutions — Xi’an University, Bangde College, and Shanghai Medical Instrumentation College (shown above).

The MOUs outline the College’s intent to work towards the development of program partnerships and students and staff exchanges.

“As more interest in the College is generated through our international endeavors, the work of the International Project Team gains in importance,” says Forsyth. “This Team will ensure we have the necessary supports and infrastructure in place to receive students and faculty from other countries, as well as open the door for increased opportunities for RRC students and staff.”

 

Nursing Students Honoured at Awards Lunch

September 27, 2012

Students from RRC’s Nursing program were recognized for their academic and clinical accomplishments last week.

The following students picked up awards at the Nursing program’s Celebrating Excellence luncheon, held Fri., Sept. 21 at the Prairie Lights restaurant:

Bachelor of Nursing

  • Amber Anderson
  • Jocelyn Beaumont
  • Rae-Ann Buydens
  • Andrea Chapman
  • Heather Day
  • Diane De Groot
  • Jennifer Romanoff
  • Chantal Roziere
  • Melissa Walker

Diploma Nursing (Accelerated)

  • Kari Gagne
  • Lillibeth Garachico
  • Navdeep Thind

Joint Baccalaureate Nursing

  • Sherry Haderer
  • Caroline Kuzminski

Click here for more information about RRC’s Nursing program.

RRC Earns Best Overall Honours for NAOSH Week Activities

September 25, 2012

Red River College’s winning streak continued at the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Awards this month, where its safety and prevention efforts won Best Overall honours at both the national and provincial level.

The national award was handed out on Sept. 11, 2012, at the annual Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Conference in Niagara Falls, Ont. The provincial award was received on Sept. 17, at the Workers Compensation Board in Winnipeg.

“NAOSH Week provides us with a valuable opportunity to celebrate our ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving a safe and healthy workplace,” said Daryl Nielsen (above, right), Manager, Environmental Health and Safety Services at RRC. “Our safety culture is promoted through senior management commitment, strong safety leadership and effective engagement with our employees, with a goal to instill the same commitment in our students to carry high standards and values into other workplaces.”

This marks the second year in a row RRC has won a double-dose of honours, having picked up a national award in 2011 for “Best Representation of a Theme,” and a provincial nod in the “Most Innovative” category.

Plans are already underway for next year’s NAOSH Week, which will be celebrated across Canada May 5-11, 2013. Next year’s theme is “Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life! Are You As Safe As You Think?”

RRC’s Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee, NAOSH Planning Committee and Environmental Health and Safety Services department wish to thank everyone who participated in NAOSH Week events, and who continue to demonstrate their commitment to safety in the workplace and at home.

Click here for more information about this year’s awards, and here for more information about NAOSH Week.

RRC Grads Raising Money for Dog-Saving Mission in Nepal

September 24, 2012

Animal Health Technology grads Mary Robinson (left) and Tannis Rentz, with furry friends Aspen, Willow and Capone.

Red River College grad Tannis Rentz (Animal Health Technology, 2002) has been providing aid to people’s pets for more than 10 years now — ever since she began volunteering at the Transcona Veterinary Hospital as a teen.

But in April 2013, Rentz and fellow AHT grad Mary Robinson (2011) will travel a little further afield to help the tens of thousands of sick or malnourished dogs crowding the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Rentz and Robinson are headed to Nepal’s KAT Centre, a not-for-profit treatment centre for sick and injured street dogs. As Rentz explains, there are currently more than 20,000 dogs living on the streets of Kathmandu — many of them infected with rabies and other communicable diseases that pose a threat to their human counterparts.

“And of course they’re constantly reproducing, because none of them are spayed or neutered,” says Rentz, who over the last 10 years has worked her way from a clinical position at the Winnipeg Animal Emergency Clinic to an administrative role with the Petsecure arm of the Western Financial Insurance Company.

“Initially, the government there thought it would be a good idea to terminate these dogs by throwing poisoned meat into the streets. But then they’d dispose of the poisoned bodies by throwing them into their water supply, which just made things even worse.” Read More →

RRC Dean to Take Part in CEO Sleepout for City’s Homeless

September 24, 2012

Red River College Dean Graham Thomson will be among the 50-plus business leaders, celebs and community-minded decision makers taking part in this week’s CEO Sleepout, in support of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Change for the Better campaign.

Thomson, Dean of the School of Business & Applied Arts at RRC, will spend this Thursday night camped out at the corner of Portage and Main, as a means of raising funds for homeless employment programs and raising awareness of issues related to homelessness and poverty in Winnipeg.

“Obviously this is just a gesture — since it’s entirely unlike what people face out in the streets every night,” says Thomson. “But any little thing we can do to help draw awareness to the issue is good.”

Last year’s inaugural CEO Sleepout raised over $100,000 for the Change for the Better initiative, which helps to support homeless people as they transition from the streets to positions of paid employment.

Proceeds from this year’s event will also support Siloam Mission’s Mission Off the Streets (MOST) team, which employs individuals in keeping the downtown clean while building the life skills, work experience and confidence to help them in finding a full-time job. Read More →

RRC Hosts United Way Plane Pull 2012

September 20, 2012

Members of RRC’s Plane Pull 2011 team.

Red River College is proud to play host to United Way Winnipeg’s ninth annual Plane Pull.

The event, taking place Friday, Sept. 21, at RRC’s Stevenson Campus, will draw more than 40 workplace teams, whose members will attempt to pull either a 191,000-lb Boeing 727 or a 90,000-lb DC-10. Red River College will have teams competing in the Plane Pull, so feel free to show your support!

The competition gets underway at 11a.m., following the announcement of this year’s fundraising goal by United Way Campaign Chair Doug Finkbeiner.

Click here for more information on Plane Pull 2012.

Deadline for Mentorship Program Extended

September 20, 2012

Red River College’s Cultural and Language Mentor Program has extended the deadline for student, staff and faculty volunteers interested in mentoring an immigrant or international student.

The Mentor Program is a local/global partnership that pairs immigrant and international students with Canadian-raised students and staff for friendship, English language practice and cross-cultural exchanges.

The program helps immigrant and international students adjust to life in Canada, make friends with other Canadians, improve their English and cross-cultural communication skills, and develop the skills required for success in their studies and in the workplace.

Participating mentors, meanwhile, get the chance to make new friends while gaining valuable experience working with culturally diverse individuals and preparing them for success in a global work environment.

Applications are being accepted until Friday, Sept. 28. Click here to fill out an online application.

The program requires a 10-hour commitment over the Fall semester, which includes a one-hour orientation meeting, plus seven hours of meeting time with their partner. Mentors receive support, guidance, and — best of all — tickets to local events and activities.

Click here to see a video about the program. For more information, contact Jacqueline Wood, Mentor Program Coordinator, at 204-632-3847.

Student Services to Host Information Fair

September 18, 2012

Red River College’s Student Services department will host an informational fair in the library hallway (mall level) of the Notre Dame Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Students are encouraged to come by to learn more about the services and supports available to them. They can also enter their names in draws for great prizes — just for stopping by the tables.

Representatives will be on hand from RRC’s Academic Success Centre, Student Employment Services, Counselling & Accessibility Services, Academic Advising, Recreation Services, Health Services, International Education, Indigenous Education, Diversity & Immigrant Student Support Services, and the Red River College Students’ Association.

RRC Students Support Trades/Technology Training in Manitoba

September 17, 2012

A classic car built by Red River College students has helped to raise over $60,000 in support of young Manitoba residents pursuing training and accreditation in the area of skilled trades and technology.

The car, a replica 1933 Modified Ford, will be raffled off this week as part of a fundraiser launched through a partnership between Skills Canada Manitoba and the College. It was built from a kit purchased by Skills Manitoba, and assembled by more than 100 RRC students and apprentices in a number of trades and technology programs, including Automotive Pre-Employment, Automotive and Motorvehicle Apprenticeship, and Collision Repair and Refinishing.

Students and apprentices worked under the supervision of instructors from the College, putting their theoretical skills into practice by taking the car from its bare bones early stage to road-worthy completion

“The significance of this car is huge for us,” says Neil Cooke, chair of Transportation, Math and Sciences at RRC. “Students can apply the skills they have mastered, but more importantly they take pride and ownership in the vehicle.”

The car’s new owner will be drawn at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 18, during a reception at RRC’s Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre. Read More →

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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