Algonquin College at the Centre of Economic Prosperity for Renfrew County

Posted on Tuesday, April 14th, 2015

There is no question having a community college in Renfrew County for the past 45 years has helped shape what the region is today, but now more than ever, Algonquin College is at the centre of economic prosperity for the region. Shifting demographics, changing industries and the need for skills training for most new jobs being created, has created an urgency for communities to connect with the Waterfront Campus to plan the road ahead.

Recently the college secured a $400,000 contract through the Eastern Ontario Development Program that is focused on job creation, building entrepreneurial capacity within the region and career exploration for high school students. The project is called I.C.E., standing for innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship. The funding will stretch over four years, permitting the college to work with several community partners to achieve the project goals.

The Options Skilled Trades Career Fair which has been held in Renfrew County for the past 13 years will be one benefactor of the grant. Each year, Options attracts more than 2,000 local high school students, including more than 200 senior students that compete in skills competitions ranging from welding to culinary arts. The objective of the day is to introduce more youth to the great career opportunities that are available in the trades, particularly because trades are facing critical labour shortages as more tradespeople approach retirement. The Options event will be held this year on Thursday, May 14th at the Pembroke Memorial Centre.

Co-op Works is a partnership between the college, its co-op students and local employers. The program provides a wage subsidy to employers who hire students for summer co-op positions, providing them with meaningful work place experiences that support their learning in their field of study. There are six programs at the Waterfront Campus that have co-op, including Business, Computer Systems Technician, Motive Power Technician, Radiation Safety, Environmental Technician and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist.

There is plenty of evidence that demonstrates the importance of co-op in supporting post-secondary graduates with securing employment upon graduation. Through Co-op Works, employers can help students get started in their career, and potentially find their next employee.

Algonquin College is quickly building a reputation for innovation, and supporting entrepreneurship is a major pillar in the college’s work to better prepare its graduates for success in the workplace. The Waterfront Campus will be following the lead of its larger Woodroffe Campus in Ottawa, by introducing an “Entrepreneur in Residence” to work with students, faculty and the broader community to encourage more entrepreneurial thinking and doing in the region.

The College will also sponsor a number of “think-tanks” and activities that promote entrepreneurship with the goal of creating a lot of energy that will spur new ideas, resulting in economic growth and prosperity within Renfrew County. Some of this work has already started and has caught the attention of other communities that are also building entrepreneurial capacity in their regions.

Through the I.C.E. project, Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus looks forward to igniting Renfrew County’s entrepreneurial spirit, while also creating more opportunities for its students and the young people in high school that are still trying to figure out what road they will travel as they choose a career pathway.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

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