Month: December 2014

(Ottawa, December 19, 2014) Algonquin College TV Broadcasting Coordinator Jeremy Atherton flips through five great moments in Canadian TV in 2014.

5. SOCHI WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD

There were many golden Canadian moments in these games. From watching sister Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe share the podium, to Alex Bilodeau pulling his disabled brother over a security barrier to help celebrate his gold, Canadians were glued to their screens and cheered on as a nation.

The dramatic come back and sensational overtime win by the Canadian Women’s hockey team stands out as a defining Canadian moment. Like the team, we never gave up! The overtime goal by Marie-Phillipe Poulin should be up there with Henderson’s 1972 winner for iconic Canadian TV moments.

Half a world away, supported by social media, television was the medium Canadian turned to. Online streaming also continued to grow, with the CBC reporting almost 14 million hours of Olympic coverage. Proving that content is still king, there were reports during the games of Americans acquiring Canadian IP addresses so they could enjoy CBC’s online streaming. Continue reading →

David Hall, Professor in the Algonquin College Public Relations program and communications blogger, provides his look ahead at 2015.

(Ottawa, December 19, 2014) Wearable tech and the music industry could be in for a bumpy ride in 2015, while content marketing and higher education technology is expected to be #trending according to Professor David Hall.

Below are excerpts from his 4.5 tech and social media predictions for 2015 – visit davidhallsocialmedia.com for full details!

1. Wearables will not live up to expectations. “I’m thinking that these products may fall below expectations because: first, the price point. Google Glass is selling for around $2,000 on Amazon.com, and smart watches range from about $100, but if you want a watch with good two-way connectivity, you’ll be putting out a couple hundred dollars for these watches. I’m not convinced that the average Jane or Joe will opt to fork out another couple hundred bucks for an accessory for their smartphone, which already set them back close to $1,000.” Continue reading →

(Ottawa, December 18, 2014) Music Industry Arts program Coordinator Colin Mills offers up his top album picks from 2014.

5) Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence

I find myself listening to albums like this when I’m marking assignments, but then having to turn it off because I find myself enthralled in the music! The production is excellent and being able to listen to something mellow but deep like this is refreshing. The recording is never too busy and there’s lots of air bringing out the songs. Continue reading →

Algonquin College Public Relations program Coordinator Stephen Heckbert names top five public relations crises in 2014.

(Ottawa, December 18, 2014) From political washouts such as Alison Redford’s travel spending scandal, to international crises like the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 debacle, 2014 has had a fair share of PR slip-ups and mishandlings.

Stephen Heckbert, who is also a communications consultant, names the following scandals as having the most buzz in Canada this past year

5. Rob Ford getting cancer and being replaced by his brother, Doug, in the Toronto mayoral election. “Mayor Ford provided many moments before this one, but the speed of this, and the shock factor, made Doug Ford’s entrance into the Toronto mayoralty race such a shock — had it been handled properly, Doug Ford would be mayor today, but his anger came through right away. Continue reading →

Algonquin College faculty members and former journalists Dan Pihlainen and Julie McCann weigh in with their top five news stories affecting people living in Ottawa this year.

(Ottawa, December 18, 2014) They were talked about in the hallways and classrooms of Algonquin College, and in coffee shops and offices, around dining room tables, and on talk radio all year long. And finally, from a list of 40 down to five, expert faculty members Dan Pihlainen of the Radio Broadcasting program and Julie McCann of the Journalism program have named their picks for the Top Five Stories of the Year

5. Alfie: “The prodigal son returns,” explains Julie. “Mending the fences with Alfie and allowing him to retire where he belongs makes this the human interest and sports story in Ottawa this year.”

4. City gets set for 2017: “Between federal projects like the Museum of Science and Technology, the National Arts Centre, and Lebreton flats, to city projects like the LRT, it seems like we will be looking at a very different nation’s capital when Canada celebrates its 150th,” says Dan.

3. Uber: “Technology continues to challenge established business models, and our city government insists we have to do things the same way they have been done for 70 years,” adds Dan. “This one incident speaks to a larger issue that will certainly continue to be an issue in 2015.”

2. Ghomeshi fallout: “Jian Ghomeshi was the domino that set many similar stories in motion,” says Julie. “And it is far from over. It has opened up the conversation about sexual assault – online, on the airwaves, and on Parliament Hill.”

1. Parliament Hill incident: “The phrase that was used is, ‘We lost our innocence’ that day,” adds Julie. “Sometimes Ottawa has a reputation as being sleepy. This was a wake-up call. Everyone remembers where they were when Michael Zehaf-Bibeau opened fire. We are only starting to see the consequences for Ottawa as a city and Canada as a nation.”

TV Broadcasting students release their annual holiday video, featuring Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind dogs in training paying a special visit to Algonquin College students and employees.

(Ottawa, December 11, 2014) It can be a little ‘ruff’ this time of year, being a student.

The perfect winter remedy for that? Taking a ‘paws’ for a surprise visit from Santa and a group of young guide dogs in training! Broadcasting – Television students teamed up with the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and students from the Police Foundations program to help de-stress students before exams.

Watch the dogs in action as part of the TV Broadcasting program’s annual holiday video.

Recently, about 40 first year students in the Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program got a behind-the-scenes look at the new TD Place and Lansdowne Park. The tour was hosted by members of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), the students’ client for their major project in their marketing class. For five years the first year “adkids” have worked with the 67’s, and now OSEG, on this project which has become known as the Ottawa 67s marketing face-off.

This year the students were taken out on the field so see the new TD place from the field, and then were led to the media room where they were given a presentation by John Mathers, Vice President of Marketing and Ticket Sales for OSEG ,who shared his views on the challenges the organization has faced as it has grown and evolved.

After being provided with a presentation and a Q&A session from the client, the students took in a 67’s game, and then worked in groups to prepare marketing plans to help the client achieve specific goals. Then, on December 2 and 3, the students present their work and creative concepts to the client.

Congratulations to Taryn Albert, Corynn Mountain, Raven Salter, Rosaly Welsh, Chris Burt, and Zoe Easton – part of the first winning team! And the second winning team included Ryan Byberg, Courtney Franks, Monique Jones, Adrianna Hickey, Wes Theoret, and Nicole Meier!

In recognition of the students’ hard work, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group presented the winning group in each section with Ottawa 67’s jerseys, vouchers for game tickets and concession vouchers to each group member. The first runner up group in each section also received ticket vouchers to take in an upcoming 67’s game.

“It’s been a real win-win…” says Steve Jenkins, the course instructor. “The client receives innovative ideas and a fresh perspective on their marketing efforts while the students benefit from the experience of working with and presenting to a local prominent client.”

Algonquin College one of the first Canadian colleges to sign on to protocol, which reaffirms the Colleges’ commitment to Indigenous education.

(Ottawa, December 3, 2014) Today, Algonquin College signed Colleges and Institutes Canada’s (CICan) historic Indigenous Education Protocol. This aspirational document reaffirms the Colleges’ commitment to Indigenous education and provides a vision of how it will strive to improve and better serve Indigenous peoples.

“With 1,000 Aboriginal students, Algonquin College is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities that honours and respects the culture and values of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit learners,” says Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “We are committed to helping our Aboriginal students succeed – through our Aboriginal student centre, the largest in the Ontario college system; through our support services, events, and initiatives; and through our Aboriginal Education Council.”

The Indigenous Education Protocol was developed by CICan’s Indigenous Education Committee, comprising college and institute representatives from across the provinces and territories, as well as through consultations held at the Serving Indigenous Learners and Communities Symposium in December 2013, and the CICan annual conferences in 2013 and 2014. Algonquin College is a member of CICan.

“As key providers of applied postsecondary education for Indigenous communities, colleges and institutes recognize that they have important responsibilities and obligations to Indigenous education,” says Denise Amyot, President and CEO of CICan. “This protocol will encourage our members to be even more inclusive of Indigenous cultures and even more proactive in eliminating the barriers to education that many Indigenous learners still face.”

Fast Facts

• This CICan protocol has seven main points, including “Commit to making Indigenous education a priority” and “Implement intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through curriculum and learning approaches relevant to learners and communities.” (Read the Protocol)
• Approximately 1,000 students of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit heritage study at Algonquin College.
• The College actively consults with local Aboriginal communities and educational organizations about the goals and needs of indigenous learners through the College’s Aboriginal Education Council.
• In 1994, Algonquin College established a General Arts & Science program in Aboriginal Studies.
• Algonquin College, along with other Ottawa-Gatineau area postsecondary institutions, regularly participates in Aboriginal community activities, such as Pow Wows and an annual graduation celebration.