Algonquin College President, Cheryl Jensen, and Siemens Canada CEO, Robert Hardt, came together on Earth Day to unveil a new high-efficiency co-generation power plant at the College’s Ottawa campus. The organizations also strengthened ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will benefit Algonquin College students by providing opportunities to learn first-hand in a “living lab” for the future of energy systems.
The co-generation natural gas plant will generate two megawatts of power – enough to cover the baseline power needs of the Ottawa campus. Algonquin College and Siemens Canada will continue to collaborate on leading edge academic programming that will maximize experiential learning opportunities for students and lead to new applied research opportunities. In addition, the College has announced a new graduate certificate program to debut in January 2017. Energy Management is aimed at students with existing credentials who are looking to further their careers in the energy sector.
“This project is a game-changer in our efforts to maintain our facilities, control our costs, and expand the learning opportunities for our students,” said Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “Delegations the world over have visited our Ottawa campus because of the innovative thinking behind this project. This project has become a trend-setter, and we thank Siemens Canada for their creativity and their partnership.”
Ontario’s Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli, Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld, and German Ambassador Werner Wnendt were on-hand to tour the new plant and the future site of the new Energy Innovation Centre that will showcase inventive technologies for sustainable energy generation and energy management.
“I want to congratulate Algonquin and Siemens as they unveil this innovative project”, said Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli. “This facility will have long-term positive impacts on our local college, our region, and on our province. It will provide innovations in technology to reduce electricity costs, better manage energy use, and improve the training of the next generation of power workers and energy system innovators.”
”Canada’s energy landscape is changing dramatically and the industry innovation needs to happen in a real-world setting,” explains Robert Hardt, CEO, Siemens Canada. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s skilled workforce and strong private-public partnerships like the one between Siemens and Algonquin are vital to enhancing education and research in the energy space, ensuring Canada remains competitive and sustainable.”
Algonquin College’s Guaranteed Energy Savings COntract (ESCO) with Siemens is a 20-year, multi-million collaboration that has resulted in numerous efficiency and sustainability retrofits to the Ottawa campus. Installing the co-generation plant represents ‘Phase 3’ of the ESCO2 agreement, and confers a number of benefits for Algonquin College:
Reduces the College’s energy expenses
Reduces the College’s deferred maintenance (outstanding repairs and maintenance)
Allows the College to continue to operate in an electricity outage
Opportunities for students and programs to conduct applied research projects
The heat generated by the plant will also be retained by this new system and used to heat and cool the College, further reducing Algonquin’s energy expenses.
For the sixth year in a row, Algonquin College ranks first in Student Satisfaction amongst large Ontario colleges according to the 2015 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) survey data. The 2015 KPI numbers were released today by Colleges Ontario.
The College’s score of 80.4 once again exceeded the provincial average of 76.8 and represents an increase from last year’s score, which was 80.2.
“On behalf of the College, thank you to our students for once again giving us a strong mark in student satisfaction,” said Claude Brulé, Senior Vice President, Academic, Algonquin College. “We take pride in our efforts to ensure students have a positive and meaningful learning experience, and will continue to strive for that “A”.”
The KPI survey is a government mandated survey administered to Ontario community college students. All students who are in full-time funded programs (except those in their first semester) are surveyed in class to determine their satisfaction with college programs and services. To ensure all students have an opportunity to complete, three survey periods are conducted during the year (June, November and February). Survey results are compiled by a third party research firm (CCI Research). Students are asked to rate their satisfaction with their program outcomes, the quality of learning experiences, the quality of services, the quality of facilities and resources, and their overall satisfaction – where Algonquin placed first among large colleges for the sixth straight year.
While 80.4 per cent of Algonquin College students said they were satisfied, just 4.9 per cent were dissatisfied – below the provincial average of 5.6. The remainder were “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied”.
The federal government’s planned investments in jobs for young people, infrastructure, health, and applied research is good news for the Algonquin College community and good news for Eastern Ontario.
“I applaud the federal government for their efforts to make postsecondary education more affordable, and for the strategic investments that will unlock the potential in our students, faculty and applied research activities,” said Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “Investments in infrastructure and postsecondary research are really an investment in our learners, and through education they will prosper and develop the skills they need for today’s innovation economy.”
The federal budget, released today, announced $2 billion over three years, starting in 2016-17, for a new Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. This funding will help postsecondary institutions modernize on-campus research, commercialization and training facilities. Colleges will be better equipped to create world-class programs and conduct the research our entrepreneurial start-ups need to grow and prosper.
An additional $95 million per year to the granting councils (Canada Institute for Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Research Support Fund) will further support the applied research at colleges.
Colleges have long been leaders in providing real-world education and training and connecting our students to opportunities with local employers. The announced a Post-Secondary Industry Partnership and Co-operative Placement Initiative will ensure more students have access to experiential learning opportunities that will help them get the job they want.
Reforms to the Canada Student Loans program will make the financial aid system simpler and help more low- and middle-income families.
Algonquin College is especially pleased the budget is committing $800 million over four years, starting in 2017–18, to support innovation networks and clusters. These networks are what ensures our post-secondary programs and applied research are connected to the latest innovations through partnerships that benefit our students, engages industry and leads to positive economic outcomes for our region. Located next door to Canada’s largest technology and research park in Kanata, Algonquin College is well poised to leverage these new supports into strategic partnerships.
“The government’s Innovation Agenda, in particular, is perfectly timed to spur economic growth,” added Jensen. “We look forward to playing our part in building Canada as a centre for global innovation.”
“Additionally, the emphasis on data – through the reinstatement of the long-form census, open government initiatives, and enhanced labour market information – is very helpful to our institution as we plan for the needs of our communities.”
Algonquin College students have answered the challenge yet again.
Students have raised $66,476 in support of the Spread the Net Student Challenge since 2012, and – as has become an annual tradition – the CBC’s Rick Mercer stopped by to congratulate them on winning the 2016 Spread the Net Student Challenge.
Proceeds raised through the Student Challenge, an annual competition organized by Plan Canada, support the fight against malaria in Africa through the purchase of bed nets. Mercer, relaying his own experience from a trip to Africa, said the bed nets make a huge difference – saving lives and ensuring the communities can grow and flourish. Each net costs about $10 and can protect a family for up to five years.
2015-16 marked the fourth consecutive year the students of Algonquin College have been named the postsecondary Student Challenge champs.
In addition to a rally in the Student Commons, Rick visited a few classes as part of a segment which will air on The Rick Mercer Report season finale on March 29.
Algonquin College will add two new electrical labs in 2017 with space for 120 apprentices, and a new welding lab in 2018 supporting multiple apprenticeship programs, thanks to $4.6 million in Apprenticeship Enhancement Funding (AEF) from the Ontario government.
In addition, the College will launch a Cook pre-apprenticeship program for 20 Aboriginal learners this May after receiving $238,053 in pre-apprenticeship funding. This program will provide them with level one apprenticeship training and an eight-week placement in the Ottawa food service industry.
Ontario Energy Minister and Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Bob Chiarelli announced the funding this morning at an event held in Minto Hall at Algonquin College’s Centre for Construction Excellence. Apprenticeship funds were also announced for Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre, YMCA, Ontario Industrial and Finishing Skills Centre, and LiUNA Local 527.
“Ottawa has many exciting construction projects underway in the coming years, including light rail, and this investment will help ensure Ontario’s future workforce has the skills and training for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Chiarelli. “This investment will help support the almost one in five new jobs in the province that is expected to be created in the trades in the coming decade.”
“Our government always talks about the importance of Building Ontario Up, and our talented skilled tradespeople are literally doing that in every corner of our province, including in Ottawa,” added Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “Ontario’s apprenticeship training system, supported by employers, colleges and unions, is a crucial part of our plan to build the highly-skilled workforce we need to compete, and I’m proud that we are supporting so many projects that will bring new equipment and high demand training programs to the local markets that need it.”
“I am very proud of the students at Algonquin College, and I know I speak for the entire College community when I say we are very grateful for the province’s investment in our students. And, I would add, this is really an investment in the future of our community,” said Cheryl Jensen, the College’s President. “We are forging a new path in the training of the workers of tomorrow, workers who will keep our city and province at the forefront of innovation.”
The new labs will include the latest state-of-the art equipment, while supporting growth in apprenticeship enrolment and completion at Algonquin College. The electrical labs will be added onto the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, while the welding lab will be an addition to the College’s automotive building. Construction on the new labs will begin this summer.
Seriously, is it a four-peat? Well, whatever you call it…
Algonquin College students have, for the fourth time in a row, been named the postsecondary winners of the Spread the Net Student Challenge.
The Spread the Net Student Club, which was supported by the Algonquin Students’ Association, raised the most money of any postsecondary institution in Canada in support of Plan Canada over the course of the annual fundraising competition. The announcement was to be made last night on The Rick Mercer Report – due to a last minute challenge, the announcement did not happen but the College was given approval to announce the win.
The students will be rewarded with a visit from CBC’s Rick Mercer within the next month as he tapes part of an episode of his show from Algonquin College. The Spread the Net Student Challenge winners’ segments will be shown on Mercer’s season finale in April. Stay tuned for details on how you can participate.
Congratulations to all involved on another successful campaign!
College education in Ontario will be strengthened by the measures announced today in the 2016 Ontario Budget.
“I applaud the efforts by the government to help ensure more Ontarians have access to a quality postsecondary education,” said Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “We believe education is one of the best ways to ensure a better quality of life for your family, and new investments in college-based applied research – as outlined in the budget – is an important boost to innovation within our communities. We also congratulate the province for their continued investment in postsecondary education and training for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit learners.”
The budget helps more low-income students pursue higher learning that leads to a good job without incurring debt. For example, the budget measures will result in free average tuition for every student with a family income of $50,000 or less, starting in the 2017-18 school year.
There are also commitments that students in families with incomes of $83,000 or less will receive non-repayable grants in excess of average tuition, and students in families with family incomes of less than $50,000 will have no provincial student debt. The maximum debt level for higher-income families will be capped at $10,000 annually.
Another budget highlight was an important investment of $20 million over three years for college-based applied research projects. This funding will allow colleges and businesses to work together on real-world research that helps businesses become more innovative and create new jobs.
As well, colleges were pleased with the increased investments for aboriginal education and the commitment to consult on college funding as the sector approaches its 50th anniversary in 2017.
“The budget recognizes that colleges are drivers of their local communities, through education, applied research, and community resources,” added President Jensen. “The province is improving access to a college education through this budget, which is essential in our new innovation economy.”
Samir Al-Rubaiy is a first-year Computer Systems Technician student at Algonquin College, and his goal is to study computer security. Wednesday night, Samir was recognized for security skills of a different kind.
This past December, Samir saved twin toddlers from a fire in his apartment building. The toddlers’ mother, Bernadette, was accidentally locked out of her apartment when one of the children closed the door behind her.
“Bernadette needed help. My children play with her children. I didn’t really think about what I was doing. You just do these things,” Al-Rubaiy told the Ottawa Citizen at the time.
Last night, as part of the second annual Cyber Security Days conference at Algonquin College, Samir was presented with an award by one of the conference’s sponsors Cisco, recognizing his bravery.
“I congratulate Samir for demonstrating true heroism and community service,” said Subir Chadha, Vice President, Ottawa sales for Cisco Canada. “We are all in awe of Samir’s courage during the events that transpired last December”, added Craig Delmage, Senior Manager of Information Security and Data Privacy at Algonquin College, and conference chair. “I am honoured and proud that Samir is determined to join the cyber security profession once he graduates.”
The funds from Cisco’s award will be used to help cover Al-Rubaiy’s education at Algonquin College.
L-R: Alessandra Bottero, Initial PR; Bryant McNamara, Initial PR; Councillor Marianne Wilkinson; President Cheryl Jensen; Alex Scantlebury, Initial PR; Graham Spero, Initial PR; Councillor Rick Chiarelli
We’re open for business, and students are all fired up about it.
At today’s launch event for Algonquin College’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the centre’s official name – IgniteAC – was formally unveiled, and students were introduced to the resources designed to help them launch their businesses during their studies.
“We believe that college is the best place to start your business, and in the coming years you will hear us talking more about how we are building that entrepreneurial culture internally with our students and employees,” said Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “Algonquin College has long been known within the college sector as an innovator, and by opening this centre we are placing more tools in our toolbelt and better equipping our students and graduates for success.”
The centre, located in room C151, is open to students and employees of the College. It offers office and meeting space, and connections to a variety of College entrepreneurship resources including events, education, and programming (like the upcoming SUMMIT Summer Intensive entrepreneurship ‘boot camp’ this summer).
The centre complements existing entrepreneurship support offerings within the College, including Applied Research – a business incubation service uniting innovators, students, and faculty mentors to tackle business challenges.
The Algonquin Students’ Association’s Executive-in-Residence, Andrew Foti, also supports students working out of this space and guides students through the many community resources outlined at www.algonquinsa.com/entrepreneurship
In addition to the centre’s opening, guests were treated to a surprise announcement – a business launch! Initial PR, a public relations firm headed up by four Algonquin College students, officially unveiled itself to the world. Company president Bryant McNamara spoke to his classmates’ burning desire to start their own business.
“We are honoured to be a part of this new facility, as this is precisely what we need at this time to make sure that we succeed in our career and in the economy of today,” said McNamara. “This economy is one that requires entrepreneurship to grow, and Algonquin has heard that call. IgniteAC will be a valuable resource, supporting us as we blaze our own trail into the working world.”
The College’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship forms one part of the Capital Entrepreneurs program, a joint venture with Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and La Cité collegiale, which is supported by the Ontario government through the Campus Linked Accelerators program.
The Ottawa Police Service is honoured to host the 2nd Annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics taking place at Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, on Saturday, February 27, 2016 in partnership with the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Polar Plunge takes place in several cities across Canada and raises much-needed funds for the athletes and families of Special Olympics Ontario.
“We are a non-profit organization and we want to continue to support athletes and their families by providing quality sports and training programs,” stated Glenn MacDonell, President and CEO of Special Olympics Ontario.
Athletes range in age from children, youth to adults who have an intellectual disability. Sports and training programs are only possible through funds raised through initiatives like the Polar Plunge.
“These athletes are my heroes, truly,” said Ottawa Police Inspector John McGetrick. “Their perseverance and dedication to their sport, coupled with their enthusiasm and sportsmanship, makes for a really enjoyable team experience for athletes, as well as their families.”
Plunging begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 27. Register online, collect donations, and track your fundraising progress.
About Special Olympics Ontario
Special Olympics Ontario is part of a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through transformative power and joy of sports. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance. Special Olympics encourages sports and fun, bringing people together and breaks down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities through a unified sports approach.
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