Month: September 2022

College holding day-long series of events for students and employees

Each year, Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Recognition of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

As part of a full day of activities, Algonquin College is holding a Recognition Ceremony and Commemorative Sculpture Unveiling on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The unvelling will take place in Ishkodewan at the Ottawa campus on Friday, September, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

President and CEO Claude Brulé will be joined by Indigenous story-telling with community Knowledge Keeper and Indigenous Rights Advisor, Michael Desautels. Algonquin College will then unveil a monument created by local artist, Barry Ranger, to commemorate the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools across the country.

Activities will also be held throughout the day at Algonquin College’s Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth campuses in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Campuses will have a Legacy Of Hope Foundation exhibit on display. Escaping at Ottawa; Generations Lost at Pembroke; and Bi-Giwen at Perth. Each campus will also fly the Every Child Matters flag.

The Mamidosewin Centre (Ottawa campus) will be open for students dropping in to host supportive discussions. The Centre intends to provide a place students can go to feel supported, to make sense of what reconciliation means to them, and have a meal as well as supportive dialog.  

• 9:30 a.m.: Morning smudge and welcome breakfast
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Chili and bannock lunch
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Speakers Series: The History of Colonization from Pre-Contact to Truth and Reconciliation led by Eric Johnston and Jackie Tenute
  

Film Screening, Nawapon (Ottawa campus), 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Join to watch the multiple-award-winning film Beans and hear a special talk by Director, Tracey Deer. Afterwards, there will be space for reflection and discussion outside by the fire, which will be moderated by the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival. 
This event is a collaborative effort by Learning and Teaching Services, Film and Media Production, the Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, as well as the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival.

Pembroke Campus

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony, 9:40am
  Please join a Special Truth and Reconciliation ceremony led by Kampus Kokum and Campus Elder in the Commons.
• Kairos Blanket Exercise, 10am-1pm
  Join the Pembroke campus in the gymnasium for an interactive session to experience teaching tool that shares the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The College community is mourning the sudden passing of first-year Pre-Health Sciences Pathway’s student, Savanna Pikuyak. Savanna, aged 22, was studying at the Ottawa Campus and had come to Algonquin College from Nunavut.

A community gathering to honour Savanna will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. in Ishkodewan (rain location in Nawapon). Community members are invited to mourn, pay respects and come together at this challenging time.

As we grieve this senseless and tragic loss, the College is making resources available, including counselling services, to any employee or learner in need of assistance. Program chairs and faculty are also coordinating any support required for classmates, teachers and friends of Savanna at this difficult time.

For updates and information, check back here before the event.

For those in need of support, please reach out to these resources:
Counselling Services and supports for learners
Counselling Services and supports for employees
Mamidosewin Centre and Indigenous Community Supports

The following email is sent on behalf of Maureen Castella, Senior Manager, Total Compensation, Human Resources

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Note to People Leaders regarding Upcoming Federal Declaration of Statutory Day Off (September 19, 2022)

We have been receiving questions regarding yesterday’s federal announcement that advised that Monday, September 19 will be designated as a federal statutory holiday in recognition of the service for Queen Elizabeth II.

The federal announcement applies to federal employees only. As Algonquin College is a provincial employer, we abide by decisions made by the Premier of Ontario. The Premier’s Office has declared that Monday, September 19 will be a provincial day of mourning in lieu of a provincial holiday. A moment of silence may be observed at 1:00 pm.

The College will be open for regular business on Monday, September 19, 2022.