Words

Dear Learners,

On Monday, March 14, the College of Applied Arts and Technology-Academic (CAAT-A) employee bargaining team representing full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors informed their members that unless negotiations resume or the matter is referred to binding interest arbitration, a full strike (including picketing) will commence at 12:01am Friday morning (March 18, 2022).

I want to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to minimize disruption for our learners. Bargaining is a complex process, and one that we respect. You are going to hear arguments on both sides, and I hope you will keep an open mind as we face the future. While we may be facing a difficult time, I have every confidence that the Algonquin College community – all of us – will proceed in the coming days and weeks with a commitment to our values of Caring, Learning, Integrity, and Respect.

Open communication is critical at this time, and I want you have the information you need throughout this process. Rather than including a long list of possible academic and service impacts in this note, you will, instead, be receiving separate communiqués from various areas of the College that will provide you with guidance and information. Please be on the look out for these details.

In the meantime, should a labour disruption occur, here is some valuable information for you to note:

• All classes (including virtual/remotely delivered courses) at our Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth campuses will be temporarily suspended; our AC Online campus programs will continue without disruption.
• Continuing Education and Corporate Training classes will continue unless you are advised otherwise by your program.
• Field and clinical placements will be suspended during the full strike unless you are advised otherwise by your program.
• Co-op work terms will continue.
• Students will retain access to BrightSpace
• Students will be permitted to access all campuses in order to use available resources and services, such as the Library, labs, bookstores, athletic centres, Student Commons, the AC Hub, residences, and communal areas used for group work and study.

The College Employer Council (CEC), which is the government-mandated bargaining agent for the 24 Ontario publicly-funded colleges in negotiating collective agreements with unionized staff, has prepared a communiqué specifically for Ontario’s college students; it can be found HERE.

As always, we are here to listen to your concerns, and I want to ensure you that all strategic and operational planning around a potential labour disruption will be conducted with the overriding purpose of ensuring student success and a harmonious workplace for everyone.

Additional information will continue to be communicated as soon as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO

AC Culinary and Baking students were recently challenged with submitting a short video of themselves at home, creating unique dishes using Ontario eggs. The videos were judged on creativity, proper cooking skills and food safety.

Although it was difficult to pick finalists, the judges chose the following three winning videos. Gold and Silver winners received a Dinner for Two at Restaurant International, and the Bronze winner received a certificate to Savoir Fare. Have a look at the delicious results!

Gold Winner: Ashlea Laszewski’s take on Breakfast Tacos

Silver Winner: Emiliana Robinson Silver’s Custard-Filled Meringue Tarts

Bronze Winner: Ruijue Wen perfects the Portuguese Egg Tart

Get inspired to get cracking! Read more about the Egg Farmers of Ontario collaboration with Algonquin College.

Algonquin College Professor Matthew McCooeye lent his broadcasting expertise to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. This is McCooeye’s third Olympics, following Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018. He was one of only two hockey replay directors in men’s and women’s hockey production at Beijing 2022 with the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).

Producing all live coverage for the Olympic and Paralympic games, the OBS uses leading technology and production methods to deliver the live feed at the Olympics. As the Program Coordinator of Algonquin College’s Broadcasting – Television program, being part of the OBS production crew gives McCooeye an opportunity to work with equipment unavailable in Canada, and bring that knowledge back to learners at the College.

“It’s a different kind of storytelling and our job is to tell the story of the game and the story of the athletes,” he says. “We have a camera and a replay machine that shoots 300 frames per second and provides beautiful pictures and replays; it’s like art. For reference, a normal replay camera in Canada shoots 30 frames per second.”

Continue reading →