News

(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.

Local media monitoring company MediaMiser has put out an infographic of the top Canadian colleges on social media – and you’ll never guess who took the top spot! Algonquin was tops in terms of Twitter mentions, with far and away the largest share of the top 10 colleges on Twitter (beating even Hamilton’s Mohawk College).

AC was just a bit behind Alberta’s NAIT in terms of retweets, but the quality of our retweets were better – blowing away the competition with our reach and followers.

Kudos to the many individuals who help make Algonquin College a social media superstar! If you’re not already following the College on Twitter, check us out @AlgonquinColleg. On Facebook it is www.facebook.com/algonquincollege.

Effective immediately, students who transfer business diploma programs from any of Ontario’s 24 colleges to any other Ontario college at the end of first or second year will not have to repeat the courses they have completed.

(Ottawa, November 25, 2014) Ontario’s 24 colleges, including Algonquin, have signed the colleges’ first-ever provincewide agreement that grants recognition for entire previous years’ credits when a student in a business diploma program transfers to the same program at another college.

“Postsecondary students who transfer to another institution shouldn’t have to repeat courses they have already completed,” says Dave Donaldson, Dean, School of Business, Algonquin College. “This new agreement will help eliminate duplication and cut costs for students.”

The agreement, announced by Colleges Ontario and the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT), applies to students in accounting, business administration, human resources and marketing programs.

This unique universal college agreement allows students to easily transfer among all college business programs across Ontario.

The agreement means that business students who transfer at the end of their first or second year will receive full credit for their completed courses. Given the high enrolment of business programs, these pathways provide additional flexibility for a significant number of students.

“Ontario’s colleges and universities continue to strengthen their systems for transferring credits among post-secondary institutions,” said Glenn Craney, the executive director of ONCAT. “We are pleased that all of the province’s 24 colleges have signed this agreement which demonstrates their high level of commitment to institutional collaboration on student mobility.”

Expanding credit-transfer options and helping students make informed decisions about their post-secondary education is a priority for the Wynne government. Ontario is investing $73.7 million toward credit-transfer improvements between 2011 and 2016.

“Our government knows a strong credit transfer system will lead to a more effective and cost-effective post-secondary education for students across the province. That’s why we continue to work with our sector partners to make Ontario’s post-secondary education system more seamless, flexible and affordable,” said Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Ontario’s colleges are working to develop similar provincewide agreements for other program areas.

Students from the Schools of Health and Community Studies and Allied Health recently raised $2,619 for the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group. This amazing group associated with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) does research, clinical and community work to try to reduce obesity rates in children and youth.

On Wednesday, November 19, over 100 students participated in a “military boot camp” in support of CHEO. Funds were raised by students from both programs through a custom-designed website developed by Algonquin College graduate Olenka Reshitnyk, Special Events and Community Engagement Officer at CHEO.

Students of the Fitness and Health Promotion program led nine different military-themed stations in a fun-filled, exhilarating forty-five minute workout. Pledges were solicited to assist the CHEO Research Institute in their fight against childhood obesity. Following the workout, Dr. Mark Tremblay, Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research (HALO) at CHEO, thanked the students and inspired them as future role models for kids to become more active!

Professors Kristen Hayes of DSW and Pierre Chartier of FHP presented Dr. Tremblay with a cheque of $2,619 for the CHEO Research Institute.