School of Advanced Technology

Fletcher Foundation $15,000 Donation Leads Support for STEM Role Model Video Series

Thanks to generous grants from the Fletcher, MATT, and Leacross foundations, Algonquin College will be producing a series of marketing videos and establishing a new mentorship program to help recruit more women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs.

The College is actively seeking role models in STEM fields to come forward and lend their voices to the video series, which will feature them working in their area of expertise and encouraging students to follow their career dreams. Algonquin will consult with The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) and the broader technical community to attract the role models and produce the video series.

“Algonquin College is grateful to the Fletcher Foundation, the Leacross Foundation, and The MATT Foundation for providing these donations, as they will help with our goal of reserving up to 30 per cent of program seats for women applicants in STEM programs,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO. “STEM-related employment continues to see rapid growth, and these videos will serve as an inspiration for more women to develop the skills they need to meet this rising market demand and pursue rewarding professions.”

The Fletcher Foundation donated the initial $15,000 toward creating the video series; this was the catalyst for $10,000 donations from the MATT and Leacross foundations.

Algonquin has been pursuing its goal of increasing women’s enrolment in STEM programs through the We Saved You a Seat (WSYAS) program. Since 2019, 363 women have been enrolled through the College’s initiative. The We Saved You a Seat mandate aligns with the Fletcher Foundation’s ongoing support of innovative initiatives designed to enhance the education experience for students in OACETT-eligible programs in Ontario’s colleges.

The role model videos will also assist in the development of a unique network of alumni who graduate through the WSYAS program and become future mentors for female students. The mentors will enhance the student experience, provide much-needed support, and help student retention. Algonquin College will work with local OACETT chapters to help build the mentoring program.

“The Fletcher Foundation is thrilled to support Algonquin College’s We Saved You a Seat program and play a significant role in breaking barriers for women in STEM careers,” said Bob Jameson, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT, chair of the Fletcher Foundation. “Women have a place in the engineering technology profession, and this program gives them access to advisory support, mentorship and networking opportunities they need to help them reach their full potential.”
Leacross Foundation President Roslyn Bern says she and the foundation have supported women and girls in STEM and trade fields by providing tools that ease transitions and allow them to participate in careers which were discouraged.

“Women are bombarded by images from social media which do not promote female role models in STEM and, as such, few women attempt to break the boundaries of doing the extraordinary,” she said. “By providing funds to Algonquin, we allowed for women to enter into the underrepresented professions of engineering technology. As more women continue to succeed, they set up the new parameters of what is accepted and encouraged.”

Anyone who is interested in being a mentor or featured as a role model in one of Algonquin’s videos should contact Kathryn Reilander at reilank@algonquincollege.com

Three times a charm: Algonquin College receives $25,000 from the Princess Auto Foundation

 

Princess Auto Foundation logoFor a third academic year in a row, the Princess Auto Foundation has donated another generous $25,000 to Algonquin College’s Princess Auto Foundation Bursary. This donation will provide substantial financial support to students enrolled in programs within the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence and the School of Advanced Technology.

“This generous donation highlights the strong, long-standing partnership between Algonquin College and Princess Auto. They share the College’s commitment to providing our learners with the highest standard of education and every opportunity to find success in the job market upon graduation,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO.

Chris Hahn, Dean of Algonquin College Heritage Institute, noted, “For the welding and the heating and refrigeration post-secondary students that benefit from the generosity of Princess Auto’s donation, it means that they are that much closer to their dream being fulfilled. Students work hard. I see the effort and know first-hand how students appreciate the support and assistance they get to help with that. Princess Auto, a family-owned, Canadian company, is a dream to work with, and we very much appreciate being associated with such a quality organization.”

The Foundation’s generous donation brings their financial support of Algonquin College learners to a total of $75,000. When asked why the Princess Auto Foundation chose Algonquin College as one of its recipients for a third academic year in a row, David Shnider, Director of the Foundation, expressed it this way, “Our foundation continues to receive many letters from students expressing their gratitude and thanks for helping them achieve their career goals in the trades. This type of feedback has served to strengthen our belief in the direction and objectives of the Foundation.”

One recent student recipient wrote this as part of his thank-you to the Princess Auto Foundation: “This bursary greatly helps relieve a lot of pressure on me as I had paid this semester out of pocket with a majority of what I had made … over the spring/summer of 2020… I know my late father would be proud of how far I’ve come towards starting my career.”

The Princess Auto Foundation Bursary undoubtedly fulfills the College’s vision to transform students’ hopes and dreams into lifelong success.

Mazda Canada Inc. Donates Vehicles to Help Train Automotive Technician Students

Algonquin College’s School of Advanced Technology has received a generous donation of two 2019 Mazda CX-5s from Mazda Canada Inc. The vehicles have been delivered and are currently being used to train students.

Algonquin College President and CEO, Claude Brulé, thanked Mazda Canada Inc. for the vehicles and acknowledged their significance in providing students with top-level training opportunities.

“These donations are critical to providing our learners with examples of current automotive technology that they will encounter on a daily basis in the workplace. We are grateful to our community partners at Mazda Canada Inc. and appreciate their commitment to helping train the next generation of automotive technicians,” said Brulé.

The vehicles will be used by Motive Power Technician students and Automotive Service Technician apprentices primarily for electrical/computer diagnostics, suspension, brakes and engine operation/diagnosis classes.

Algonquin’s Chair, Mechanical and Transportation Technology, David Thibodeau, explained the significance of the donation.

“When our students have access to work on vehicles with contemporary technology and parts, it is a win-win situation for the College and for our partners at Mazda Canada Inc. We welcome the opportunity to provide the most current training and Mazda is helping ensure the automotive technician workforce will have the necessary skills to be job-ready,” said Thibodeau.

EXFO Partners with Algonquin College

EXFO Inc. (NASDAQ: EXFO, TSX: EXF), the communications industry’s test, monitoring and analytics experts, and Ottawa’s Algonquin College, the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, today announced their collaboration for the college’s Optical Systems and Sensors (OSS) program. EXFO will support the program’s upgrade of its Optophotonics Lab by donating advanced testing technology equipment (100G), in the form of FTB portable test modules.

“These testing equipment will enhance students’ work in the program’s state-of-the-art Optophotonics Lab and will give them invaluable hands-on, practical experience in operating and managing 200 Gb/s optical transport networks and optical switches in the Lab.” said Dr. Wahab Almuhtadi, Professor and Coordinator of Optical Systems and Sensors Program, an Algonquin College-Carleton University bachelor’s degree joint program.

The 100G FTB modules also offer feature-rich test applications allowing a multitude of Ethernet testing from 10M to 100G and transport protocol testing which students are likely to use later in cutting-edge telecommunications companies and which feature the friendliest graphical user interface on the market.

“Innovation is in our DNA here at EXFO, and we are deeply committed to supporting the next generation of innovators, such as through this partnership with Algonquin College,” said Stéphane Chabot, EXFO’s Vice President, Test and Measurement. “This kind of initiative benefits everyone: students, the college and our own team.”

“EXFO’s investment aligns with Algonquin College’s commitment to delivering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning,” said Claude Brulé, President and Chief Executive Officer of Algonquin College “Thanks to the company’s generosity, our learners will gain experience with cutting-edge technology and be positioned for long-term career success.”

As part of their commitment to innovation, both EXFO and Algonquin College are members of Canada’s Center of Excellence for Next Generation Networks (CENGN), where companies from different fields work together to ensure the continuity and expansion of the Canadian communications industry.

Lincoln Heights Ford Donation Supports Algonquin College Automotive Student

Algonquin College’s School of Advanced Technology received a generous donation of a Lincoln Corsair and Ford F-150 from Lincoln Heights Ford this week that will be used by Automotive Service Technician students learning their trade.

The vehicle donation also includes access to Ford Canada’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program for Algonquin faculty and students. ACE includes many online courses taken by Ford technicians to attain speciality certifications and will give students the opportunity to receive current industry-level training.

“Lincoln Heights Ford is delighted to partner with Ford of Canada to provide these vehicles to Algonquin College’s automotive program,” said Evan Bell, Operations Manager of Lincoln Heights Ford. “The Lincoln Corsair and Ford F-150 are equipped with some of the latest technology available, and will give students invaluable hands-on experience on their path to becoming certified automotive technicians.”

In accepting the donation, Algonquin President and CEO, Claude Brulé, thanked Lincoln Heights Ford for their generosity and acknowledged that Ford Canada and its local dealerships have a long history of supporting the College, having donated vehicles for training purposes in the past.

“We are grateful for our community partners at Lincoln Heights Ford and Ford Canada. The donation of these vehicles and the resources provided through their innovative online training program are evidence that they share Algonquin’s passion for giving our learners the most comprehensive training experience possible,” said Brulé.

Algonquin’s Chair, Mechanical and Transportation Technology, David Thibodeau, acknowledged the significance of the donation.

“We are delighted that Ford and Lincoln Heights continue to invest in our mutually beneficial relationship. Having vehicles that feature current industry technology and access to online course material for Ford certifications allows our faculty to teach the skills students need to enter the workforce with added confidence,” said Thibodeau.