Month: April 2023

For Immediate Release

April 24, 2023 OTTAWA – Claude Brulé, President and CEO, Algonquin College, announced today six names of regional community leaders who will be awarded honorary degrees at the College’s Spring Convocation ceremonies in Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth.

“We are proud to acknowledge and honour this group of community leaders for their achievements and contributions”, said President Brulé. “Their leadership in their individual fields have touched the lives of many and we are pleased to recognize their incredible accomplishments.”

Perth campus ceremonies will take place June 7, 2023 and Pembroke ceremonies will occur on June 9, 2023. Ottawa Campus and AC Online Campus ceremonies will take place between June 20, 2023 and June 22, 2023.

The honorees are:

• Perth Campus

John Stewart, former Chair, Perth Heritage Commission

• Pembroke Campus

Wendy Jocko, former First Nation Chief, Pikwakanagan

• School of Health Studies

Mark Barnes, Owner Respect Rx

• School of Hospitality

Deirdre Freiheit, President & CEO, Shepherds of Good Hope and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation

• School of Wellness, Public Safety and Community Studies

Elizabeth Manley, Olympic Silver Medalist, Mental Health Advocate

• Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence

James (Jim) Taggart, Chair Taggart Group

More information is available on the Algonquin College convocation page

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

I know many in our College community have been impacted by yesterday’s ice storm, with many across our region still without power. College leadership has been monitoring the situation, and would like to provide the following updates:

• All College campuses – Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth are open and all classes are running on normal schedules.
• AC Online continues to operate on normal schedules.
• We understand that some learners and employees are still struggling with the after effects of the storm, including power outages and connectivity issues.
• For learners in need of academic support, please connect with your teachers and program coordinators when you are able to discuss options. Please continue to monitor your College email, social media and Brightspace for any updates.
• For employees impacted by the storm, please connect with your supervisors when you are able to discuss how you can best be supported at this time.
• For learners on co-op work terms with employers or on placements, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to weather conditions you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact, or placement coordinator, for updates to make them aware of your situation.
• The Early Learning Centre at the Ottawa campus is operating on its normal schedule.

I want to thank our entire College community for your resilience, patience and flexibility. I also want to offer our thanks to Hydro Ottawa, Hydro One, and telecommunications companies that have been working around the clock to restore power and connectivity. I also want to acknowledge and thank the many employees who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to provide support.

Thank you and stay safe,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

College leadership has been monitoring the forecast today (April 5) with rapid accumulation of freezing rain and ice in parts of our region continuing into this afternoon and evening. As a result, please be advised of the following updates to this morning’s message:

• All remaining in-person classes at the Ottawa and Perth campuses this afternoon and evening (April 5) are cancelled.
• All classes at the Pembroke campus have been cancelled today (April 5) and the campus has also been closed for the remainder of the day.
• Learners will not be penalized for missing any classes and should monitor their College email accounts and Brightspace for updates on accommodation and scheduling.
• AC Online programming continues as scheduled.
• Your safety is the top priority. As such, the Ottawa and Perth campuses remain open.
• Learners can either go home, or stay on campus.
• Any employee that is non-essential to operations may also go home, or stay on campus. If you have questions, please check with your manager/supervisor.
• Please note, that Human Resources will be also providing an update to People Leaders.
• The main Ottawa campus cafeteria will remain open.
• The Early Learning Centre will close today (April 5) at 4 p.m. For parents unable to arrive by that time, employees will be on site to accommodate later pick-ups.
• For learners on co-op work terms with employers or on placements, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to weather conditions on April 5, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact, or placement coordinator, for updates to make them aware of your situation.

We are committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for our College community and will continue to monitor this situation. We ask everyone to take extra caution as you make your way to and from the College. We will all need to show understanding, patience and flexibility.

Please continue to watch the College’s social media accounts, your email account and Brightspace account for any updates.

Thank you and please stay safe,

Claude Brulé
President and CEO

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for our region this morning (April 5). College leadership has been monitoring the forecast, which indicates a rapid accumulation of freezing rain and ice in parts of our region. As a result, please be advised of the following:

• All classes at the Pembroke campus will be cancelled today (April 5). The campus has also been closed for the remainder of the day. Pembroke learners are advised to monitor Brightspace for updates, and will not be penalized for today’s class cancellation.
• Ottawa and Perth campuses currently plan to remain open, and classes are proceeding as scheduled. However, safety of employees and learners is the top priority. College leadership will continue to monitor the situation. Should the forecast change to predict greater storm impact, further announcements may follow.
• AC Online programming continues as scheduled.
• Learners who are scheduled to be on campus are strongly encouraged to monitor their College email accounts, social media and Brightspace for any updates on scheduling.
• Learners who are unable to attend campus due to weather conditions should contact their program coordinator and/or teacher to discuss accommodation.
• Employees scheduled to be on campus who cannot attend due to weather conditions, should contact their manager/supervisor to discuss accommodations.
• For learners on co-op work terms with employers or on placements, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to weather conditions on April 5, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact, or placement coordinator, for updates to make them aware of your situation.

We are committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for our College community and will continue to monitor this situation. We ask everyone to please allow extra time for travel and to take extra caution as you make your way to and from the College. We will all need to show understanding, patience and flexibility.

Please continue to watch the College’s social media accounts, your email account and Brightspace for any updates.

Thank you and please stay safe,

Claude Brulé
President and CEO