Meet Kimana Mar, a three-time world champion rhythmic gymnast with Special Olympics, and student in the Office Administration – Health Services program.
Mar is featured in Ottawa Tourism’s new ‘Every Body Plays in Ottawa: Athlete Stories from Ottawa’s Sport Community’ campaign that launched online on Sept. 9. The campaign champions inclusivity and accessibility in sports.
Kimana Mar performing her rhythmic gymnastics routine.
Students showcase their culinary creations, including cookies, guacamole and Pico de Gallo. (DJ Porter/NYA)
Participants from the Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) Next program have returned to Algonquin College to learn life skills and receive individual career coaching. Open to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories youth aged 16-22, NYA Next students reside at the Ottawa Campus for several weeks in July while taking classes in the applied trades and live as a post-secondary student. The twenty-three students in this year’s cohort will leave the program with high school credits, career preparedness and volunteer experience.
NYA Next participants gain valuable experience in constructions skills and culinary arts, where they learn to construct dog houses and mix recipes for cookies, guacamole and Pico de Gallo. New this year is the addition of welding, automotive, music, horticulture and finance classes.
An NYA Next participant practices welding under the watchful eye of an instructor. (DJ Porter/NYA)
Participants transplant elephant ears (and dodge worms!) at the Horticulture Gardens.
Automotive class is a new addition to the NYA Next program. (DJ Porter/NYA)
More information about the NYA Next program can be found on the NYA website.
On June 10-11, 2025, learners from Algonquin College’s Culinary Skills and Culinary Management programs supported the Prime Minister’s Annual Media Garden Party at Rideau Cottage. The event took place over two days, serving approximately 1,500 political staff members, media, Members of Parliament (MP) and other invited guests.
Participating learners received an official photo with Prime Minister Mark Carney.