Message from the President

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

After careful consideration of the data from local public health officials, including steadily decreasing wastewater metrics, Algonquin College will suspend its mandatory masking policy for the majority of the College and academic programming, effective June 1.

Masking will continue to be required for any program where a regulatory body requires a masking mandate, such as massage therapy. Please check with your program coordinator to be sure.

Additionally, masking will remain mandatory for all those attending our convocation ceremonies in-person, in June.

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Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Earlier today (May 28), the College’s Facilities Management team began the process of switching back the remainder of our Ottawa Campus to the Hydro Ottawa electrical grid. With power fully restored, Information Technology Services teams began the validation process to ensure all systems are working as expected.

I am pleased to report that both these processes are now complete. As a result, please be advised of the following effective Monday, May 30:

• All classes – virtual and in-person – will resume on normal schedules at the Ottawa campus. The Program teams of faculty, coordinators, Chairs and Deans are working to develop recovery plans for Ottawa campus classes that were cancelled. Those plans will be communicated with students upon their return.
• AC Online courses will resume.
• For those placements that were postponed, they will recommence. If you are unable to attend a placement due to power outage, connectivity or safety issues, please contact your placement site to advise them of your situation.
• Co-op work terms with employers in Ottawa will also recommence. If you continue to be unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the aftermath of the storm, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
• The Early Learning Centre will be open.
• All Corporate Training programming will resume.

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. For employees, please connect with your supervisors to discuss how you can best be accommodated at this time.

I want to thank our entire College community for your resilience and patience over this past week. I know it has been difficult, and many of you are still facing challenges. If you need support, please click HERE for information regarding available resources and frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out to algcomms@algonquincollege.com.

I also want to offer our thanks once again 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 were working tirelessly behind the scenes to provide support this past week, and prepare us for classes and services to recommence.

Thank you, and stay safe.

Claude Brulé

President and CEO

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

We have been informed by Hydro Ottawa that we can expect to receive an estimate on when power will be fully restored to our Ottawa campus by the end of today (May 27).

As a result of this information, please be advised of the following for our Ottawa campus:

• Weekend academic activity (May 28 and 29) that is scheduled to take place in the ACCE building will proceed as usual. All other scheduled academic activity at the Ottawa Campus is cancelled. The ACCE building has power and connectivity, as it is situated on a different part of the Hydro Ottawa grid.
• Placements will recommence this weekend. If you are unable to attend a placement due to power outage, connectivity or safety issues, please contact your placement site to advise them of your situation.
• For any learners on co-op work terms with employers in Ottawa, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the storm, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
• Faculty, program coordinators, Chairs and Deans continue to develop recovery plans for Ottawa campus classes that have been cancelled.  Those plans will be communicated with students upon their return.

The progress being made and the prospect of a full return to power are encouraging. Our Facilities Management and Information Technology Services teams stand ready once power is completely restored, to ensure the campus is prepared to safely recommence full operations.

We remain optimistic that classes and operations can start again on Monday, May 30. We will provide another update over the course of the weekend, and no later than Sunday afternoon, to inform all learners and employees of the current status and plans for the week ahead. Messaging will be delivered via a variety of channels, including email and social media. We will also engage with local media to ensure our messages reach the community.

I want to thank everyone for their patience during this challenging time. If you need help, please click HERE for information regarding support, available College services and frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out to algcomms@algonquincollege.com.

Once again, many thanks to Hydro Ottawa, Hydro One and telecommunications companies that have been working around the clock to restore power and connectivity not only to our Ottawa campus, but services to thousands of our neighbours across the National Capital Region.

Take care, and stay safe.

Claude Brulé
President and CEO

Due to the massive storm that has affected large sections of the National Capital Region and the Ottawa Valley, the College’s Ottawa campus is currently without power, and in limited locations, is operating on backup generators.

Please be advised of the following schedule changes for May 24, 25, 26 and 27:

• All classes – virtual and in-person – are cancelled at the Ottawa campus. The Program teams of faculty, coordinators, Chairs and Deans will be working to develop recovery plans for Ottawa campus classes that have been cancelled. Those plans will be communicated with students upon their return the week of May 30.
• AC Online courses are cancelled.
• Placements in the Ottawa area have been cancelled for the remainder of the week. If you are in a placement outside of the Ottawa area that has not been affected by the storm and you are able to attend, you may do so. Some health programs may be required to make up time. If this is the case, you will be notified next week by your program staff to make any necessary arrangements. If you are able, please contact your placement site to advise them of your situation.
• For learners in co-op work terms in the National Capital Region, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the storm, you are not required to attend. When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer and your Co-op Department contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
• The Early Learning Centre will be closed.
• Unless expressly informed otherwise, all Corporate Training programming is cancelled.
• All classes and operations are continuing on normal schedules at Perth and Pembroke campuses.

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Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Due to the massive storm that has affected large sections of the National Capital Region and the Ottawa Valley, please be advised of the following:

The first priority is your safety. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please reach out to the City of Ottawa at this link HERE for details on emergency centres, and where you can receive support. You can receive contact information for various municipal services at the following links: Perth, Pembroke, Renfrew County, Lanark County and the City of Gatineau.

Please also be advised:

• The College’s Ottawa campus is currently without power, and in limited locations is operating on backup generators.
• All classes – virtual and in-person – are cancelled for Tuesday, May 24 at the Ottawa campus.
• AC Online courses will also be cancelled for May 24.
• All classes and operations are continuing on normal schedules at Perth and Pembroke campuses.
• All employees at the Ottawa campus who are not directly involved with restoring operations, or have not been directly advised by their manager to attend work on campus, should remain at home on Tuesday, May 24, and if possible, work in a virtual format.
• If you are not directly involved in restoring operations and are scheduled to work on Tuesday, May 24, but are unable to work virtually due to circumstances resulting from the storm, including connectivity or childcare issues, please be advised that safety is the top priority and you are not required to work and will be paid as usual for the day.
• If you have questions, or require further clarity, please connect with your supervisor, if you are able.
• The Early Learning Centre will be closed May 24.
• Please be advised that placements (Ottawa campus) for Tuesday, May 24 have been cancelled as a result of the storm, and will not need to be made-up in the future. If you are able, please contact your placement site.
• For learners in Ottawa campus co-op work terms, your safety is the top priority – if you are unable to attend due to safety issues, or other circumstances due to the storm, you are not required to attend.
• When/if you are able, please contact both your co-op employer/placement host and your College contact for updates to make them aware of your situation.
• Cancellations could be extended further into the week. Updates will be communicated directly to learners and employees as soon as possible via email and social media.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to algcomms@algonquincollege.com.

Please stay safe,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Due to the anticipated ‘Rolling Thunder’ event expected in downtown Ottawa from Friday, April 29 to Saturday, April 30, the City of Ottawa has implemented a number of protocols that will impact traffic and OC Transpo routes. You can find the information and updates at this link.

To our employees and learners who will be affected by this event, please be advised we are monitoring this ongoing situation and will be sure to communicate any additional updates.

To learners with a placement or co-op in the downtown area who are having difficulty with transportation to the placement site/workplace, you are not required to attend during the course of this event. Any missed placement or co-op for the duration of the protest will not need to be made-up in future. Please contact both your placement host/co-op employer and your College contact to let them know if you are unable to attend.

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Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Earlier this month, I announced that a number of planned changes to our COVID-19 policy would take effect on May 1, if there was not an identified heightened risk to health and safety for employees and learners.

In her most recent update, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, stated that Ottawa continues to see high levels of COVID-19 across the community, with individuals strongly encouraged to wear masks in indoor settings, particularly where physical distancing may be difficult or impossible. Her recommendation is based on wastewater data analysis, per cent positivity rates, outbreaks and hospitalizations during this prevailing sixth pandemic wave.

As a result of this direction from Ottawa Public Health, Algonquin College will maintain its mandatory COVID-19 mask policy after May 1 and until further notice. This means that all those required to attend our campuses must continue to wear a mask.

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April 11, 2022

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Reading the news and watching the daily disturbing images and videos coming out of Ukraine has been deeply unsettling. It is difficult to comprehend the sheer horror and destruction, and how this once peaceful country has been shattered, with so many lives forever altered or lost.

I know that many in our College Community are impacted by these events, in some cases on a personal level, and there is a strong desire to help. Knowing that we have learners directly impacted by the tragedy in Eastern Europe, we have been working right from the start of the conflict to help those most affected – those who may be struggling financially. In addition, today I am announcing a series of enhanced initiatives to offer further direct support to those learners in need, and also help with the humanitarian crisis:

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Dear Colleagues and Learners,

I want to provide an update on the College’s requirements for those who are required to attend work or academic activities in person at our Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke campuses.

The change is based on recent lifting of most provincial restrictions, advice from our public health and government officials as it pertains to high vaccination rates, population immunization and high efficacy of vaccines, as well as feedback from our employees and learners.

Algonquin College will, contingent on current state of the pandemic and corresponding public health considerations, be implementing the following changes to our COVID-19 policies and procedures effective May 01, 2022:

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Dear Colleagues and Learners,

I am pleased to announce that The College Employer Council and OPSEU/SEFPO have reached an agreement to enter binding interest arbitration, and that the strike that was scheduled to commence at 12:01am on Friday March 18, 2022, is called off. This also includes all work-to-rule activities.

I am grateful to all those who contributed to this resolution. Our entire College community – every employee and learner – has made many sacrifices during the last two years, and we have overcome many obstacles together. The news of this agreement is another example of the commitment we all share for providing quality education for our learners.

Please see the full joint statement from The College Employer Council and OPSEU/SEFPO at this link.

Sincerely,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO