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ACCE 10th Anniversary: Algonquin Alumni Says Ottawa Offers Endless Possibilities for Skilled Trades Grads

In honour of the tenth anniversary of the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence (ACCE), we caught up with a few ACCE alumni to see what they’re up to now.

When Jeff McCoy decided to get out of a job he didn’t like, and into the trades, he chose Algonquin for his training mainly because it was convenient.

Now working as a licensed plumber, and having completed two trade programs at the College, McCoy believes he couldn’t have chosen better even if his education options had been far wider.

He was impressed by the flexibility of the instructors in his courses who readily adapted to different learning styles. “With the trades, one person is not always going to learn in the same way as the next person,” says McCoy. “I found (the Algonquin instructors) were really good in accommodating.”

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Working to Make Campus Welcoming for All

As the Wellness and Equity Centre Coordinator for the Students’ Association at Algonquin College, Quinn Blue understands the importance of having a space for students who face barriers to come together, make connections, and feel comfortable being their full selves.

“I think students in any context face a variety of different barriers,” says Blue, “and the campus setting is no different from the rest of the world. There are different barriers and oppressions to people being able to bring their full selves to school … and just having a space to connect with other students who might be facing similar barriers, to have a space where you might be able to talk about a crappy thing that happened, is really important.”

The Wellness and Equity Centre is a space at the College focused on mental health and wellness, and all the equity issues that can impact them. “It’s a space and campus environment that is welcoming to absolutely everyone regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, race and mental health status,” explains Blue.

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How to Save: Five Finance Tips for your First Year at College

One subject you will learn all about in college is freedom — picking your own path, choosing your classes, decorating your apartment, nights out with friends. But freedom can add up in the expense column, and no one enjoys scraping together dollars to get through the year. So where do you start when it comes to financial freedom? Here are five tips to help pay for your college freedom.

1. Budget. It’s fun!

Okay, it’s not really fun. But it’s important, takes time and often leaves you in shock at how much you’re spending. But college is the perfect time to learn how to budget properly before you undertake post-college responsibilities.

Before you start college, take time to create a spending log. Track the small items you are spending cash on every day. After a two months review the items — it’ll give you a good indication of your spending habits in the future and is a base line for estimating your non-college expenses. Monitoring your day-to-day habits will help prevent overspending and let you know where you can easily cut costs.

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Next, make a list of comparing monthly income and expenses. Would a part-time job help? If you don’t have an income for the upcoming year, the AC Employment Centre is a good start to your search. The Student Association operates a job board and there are opportunities on campus, or you may want to look into student loan options. Your expenses could include groceries, rent, clothing, laundry, travel, and entertainment. Continue reading →