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Algonquin College at the Centre of Economic Prosperity for Renfrew County

There is no question having a community college in Renfrew County for the past 45 years has helped shape what the region is today, but now more than ever, Algonquin College is at the centre of economic prosperity for the region. Shifting demographics, changing industries and the need for skills training for most new jobs being created, has created an urgency for communities to connect with the Waterfront Campus to plan the road ahead.

Recently the college secured a $400,000 contract through the Eastern Ontario Development Program that is focused on job creation, building entrepreneurial capacity within the region and career exploration for high school students. The project is called I.C.E., standing for innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship. The funding will stretch over four years, permitting the college to work with several community partners to achieve the project goals.

_DSC0204The Options Skilled Trades Career Fair which has been held in Renfrew County for the past 13 years will be one benefactor of the grant. Each year, Options attracts more than 2,000 local high school students, including more than 200 senior students that compete in skills competitions ranging from welding to culinary arts. The objective of the day is to introduce more youth to the great career opportunities that are available in the trades, particularly because trades are facing critical labour shortages as more tradespeople approach retirement. The Options event will be held this year on Thursday, May 14th at the Pembroke Memorial Centre.

Co-op Works is a partnership between the college, its co-op students and local employers. The program provides a wage subsidy to employers who hire students for summer co-op positions, providing them with meaningful work place experiences that support their learning in their field of study. There are six programs at the Waterfront Campus that have co-op, including Business, Computer Systems Technician, Motive Power Technician, Radiation Safety, Environmental Technician and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist.

There is plenty of evidence that demonstrates the importance of co-op in supporting post-secondary graduates with securing employment upon graduation. Through Co-op Works, employers can help students get started in their career, and potentially find their next employee.

UndeclaredAlgonquin College is quickly building a reputation for innovation, and supporting entrepreneurship is a major pillar in the college’s work to better prepare its graduates for success in the workplace. The Waterfront Campus will be following the lead of its larger Woodroffe Campus in Ottawa, by introducing an “Entrepreneur in Residence” to work with students, faculty and the broader community to encourage more entrepreneurial thinking and doing in the region.

The College will also sponsor a number of “think-tanks” and activities that promote entrepreneurship with the goal of creating a lot of energy that will spur new ideas, resulting in economic growth and prosperity within Renfrew County. Some of this work has already started and has caught the attention of other communities that are also building entrepreneurial capacity in their regions.

Through the I.C.E. project, Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus looks forward to igniting Renfrew County’s entrepreneurial spirit, while also creating more opportunities for its students and the young people in high school that are still trying to figure out what road they will travel as they choose a career pathway.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Celebrating Algonquin’s Iron Men and Women

It takes courage to challenge yourself to do something that most human beings would never dream of doing, but at Algonquin College there is a collection of faculty and staff that are determined to push themselves to the limit. Trekking through a 150 kilometre snow trail on a bicycle is an extreme test of cam day after finishendurance. In fact, Outdoor Adventure Technician, Cam Dube, had tried it once before when he registered in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Ultra race, but he had to drop out about 40 kilometres through because of frigid temperatures that resulted in frostbite to both his fingers and toes. He learned from that experience and was determined more than ever to complete the race, setting a goal of finishing within 30 hours. He did much better, crossing the finish line in just over 19 hours. Business, Technology and Outdoor Training Department Chair, Murray Kyte, has run a few marathons in his lifetime, but he has rarely strapped on a pair of cross country skis. When he was challenged by some friends to participate in the world famous Vassaloppet race in Sweden, he couldn’t say no. He trained for several months and completed the 90 kilometer race in just over eleven hours. Big Swim BannerWhen she was in university, Environmental Technician Coordinator, Sarah Hall, was a competitive swimmer. Winning short sprint races in a pool is very different than swimming in an ocean, but in the summer of 2014, Hall was driven to help raise money for a charity that helps critically ill children when she participated in the “Big Swim.” Hall will do it again this coming summer, as she swims the 15 kilometres across the Northumberland Strait, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. And then there is Ben Shillington, a skills instructor in the Outdoor AdventureBen Shillington - Faculty Member program, that is the ultimate warrior. Shillington has tackled the most extreme winter conditions on several expeditions including a 300 kilometer ski trek across Lake Winnipeg in the darkest days of winter. He has led an 11,000 kilometre, four-month long mountain biking expedition through Istanbul, Turkey to Beijing, China and he once biked solo across Canada in 27 days. In between expeditions, Shillington has found time to write a book on winter camping while he plans his next great adventure. There are others at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus who are planning personal endurance tests, prepared to face the aches and pains that come from these human challenges, but willing to do it for the personal satisfaction of knowing they have knocked one more thing off of their “bucket list.” What’s your “iron man/iron woman” story? Please share. Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Outdoor Adventure Grad Wins Amazing Race Canada

After never winning a leg on ‘The Amazing Race Canada,’ Pete Schmalz, Outdoor Adventure grad 2010 and Mickey Henry pulled off the only one that mattered, taking home the Amazing Race Canada grand prize. These two best buds from the Muskokas were the perfect pairing for this extraordinary adventure that saw them explore Canada and the world. 600x338_Mickey-and-Pete-at-final-challenge-(2)_1 Mickey and Pete took an early lead on the final leg during a rafting challenge that required them to paddle across the Ottawa River. Thanks to Pete’s expertise as a river raft guide with our outdoor training partner, Wilderness Tours, and the skills he learned during his time at Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus this challenge wasn’t an obstacle.

600x338_Pete-and-Mickey-take-an-early-lead-over-Meaghan-and-Natalie-(3)

“The entire thing feels like one crazy, big dream. I didn’t think in a million years we were going to win. The Olympians (Natalie and Meaghan) beat us on every leg. I can’t believe we won,” says Pete.

But the two friends finished the challenge first and headed to the finish line at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, ON. After host Jon Montgomery confirmed they were the first team to arrive and had won $250,000, along with the chance to fly free for a year on Air Canada, two Chevrolet trucks and “gas for life” from Petro-Canada, Mickey and Pete were so ecstatic they took off their pants. That’s right, on national television, these champs took off their pants! This is a perfect example of the free spirited nature of students who take part in our outdoor training programs and a major reason why never finishing first didn’t phase this long-haired, carpe diem duo.

John Montgomery with Amazing Race Canada, season 2 winnners Pete and Mickey give John a hug.

“The whole way through we kept saying next time, we’re going to win the next one and we never got to take our pants off the whole time so the last one was like screw it we’re doing it,” says Pete. “We’d been wearing our good luck Speedos for like three legs,” says Mickey with a laugh.

So, what do the two plan to do with their winnings? Pay back student loans of course. After completing the two-year Outdoor Adventure program here at our Pembroke Campus, Pete took advantage of one of our articulation agreements or degree pathways with Thompson Rivers University, B.C. Not only did Pete earn 20 certification and some business fundamentals with the Outdoor Adventure program, but he leveraged his Algonquin education and enter directly into the 3rd year of the Bachelor of Tourism Management at Thompson Rivers. In a total of four years, Pete earned an absolutely unique diploma and a degree! Based on Pete and Mickey’s outstanding accomplishment, I feel there could very well be a large number of Outdoor Adventure and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist grads auditioning to be part of The Amazing Race Canada – because they have what it takes to win! Do you have what it takes to win The Amazing Race Canada? Do you have a “Pete” or “Mickey” in your life that would be the perfect partner for this race? Check out other great articles featuring our “amazing” grad, the Huffington Post and The Globe and Mail Posted by: Jodi Bucholtz, Here 2 Help Guru Photos source: The Amazing Race Canada website

A Grad’s Journey

It’s one thing to hear about a program from a recruiter, a Guidance Counsellor or your parents – it’s another thing to explore the post-grad journey of an alumnus who has actually taken the program that you are interested in!

Life's a Journey

At the Waterfront Campus, we love to keep tabs on our grads and to hear from our alumni. Matt Van Nus, Algonquin alumnus, recently shared some of his thoughts on the Outdoor Adventure and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist programs and all his accomplishments in the last ten years since he moved on from Algonquin College. Matt’s story is unique in that he graduated from the ODAN program in 2005 and immediately jumped into the ODA program – I say unique, but not totally unheard-of. Alumni Kayaking

Matt’s first stepping stone was working as a Rafting Guide for Wilderness Tours before having the opportunity to move-up to Assistant Trip Leader, working mostly on family trips cruising the Ottawa River. In August of 2007, Matt and his wife Caitlin, a graduate of the Practical Nursing program, moved to Port Sydney to work for Ontario Pioneer Camp as a lead in the Outdoor Education Centre. After four years, Matt worked his way up to Senior Instructor and built on the certifications that he earned with the ODA program, most notable Level 2 ACCT High Ropes Instructor!

Alumni, Rock climbing In 2011, Matt had the opportunity to flex his climbing skills and to put his forestry and flora knowledge to good use working for an arborist company. This position was short lived as it didn’t speak to Matt’s passion for education. In late 2011, Matt became the Assistant Outdoor Centre Director at the Mini-Yo-We Outdoor Centre and he hasn’t looked back!

“There is not a week that goes by where I do not use the skills that I learned at Algonquin. I still have opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, climbing, hiking, maple syrup, and so much more on my free time with my family and friends. I am also constantly using the business skills as well as many of the naturalist skills that I learned while at Algonquin.”

Alumnus Skiing

It is not only reassuring to hear that the skills learned at Algonquin are more than applicable, but it’s also invigorating to take this post-grad journey with an alumnus and explore the wide-open world that awaits our grads. Are you an Algonquin grad? We want to hear from you! Take us on your journey and help guide future Algonquin grads with your inspiring words. Posted by: Jodi Bucholtz

The Ultimate Orientation to College

It is one of the most exhilarating college programs on earth, but it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone that wants to work in the adventure tourism industry. Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure program was launched in the fall of 2000 and has attracted hundreds of students from across the country and abroad over its almost 15 years of existence. Graduates now scatter the globe working in various fields from leading rafting trips in Costa Rica to being ski instructors in British Columbia.

RunningFuture ODA student taking part in the 5 km running portion of the duathlon.

The program is appealing because of its interactive elements that allow students to earn more than twenty industry recognized certifications while blending their practical experiences with theory classes that cover everything from risk management in outdoor education to business skills like accounting, marketing and finance. Of course, there’s also several expeditions including a culminating experience in the final term of the program that requires students to plan and execute an adventure tourism trip anywhere in the world.

So what’s not to like about the Outdoor Adventure program? Not much, but for some students they may not be prepared for the physical rigor of the program or it simply takes them our of their comfort zone when taking part in the practical skills like rock climbing or white water kayaking. That’s why the faculty hold a program readiness camp that is imbedded in the admissions process. It is an opportunity for the teachers to evaluate the student’s preparedness for the program and for the students to self-reflect on whether the program is right for them.

Talking about gearGear Talk

Each May, the applicants spend two days at the Wilderness Tours Resort, where they participate in a number of outdoor activities including white water rafting, mountain biking and repelling from a Bungee Jumping tower, a means of determining their comfort level with heights. These activities are designed to promote team work and to measure an applicant’s anxiety level when taking part in high adventure exercises.

RappellingIt’s a long way down!

For most applicants, it is the ultimate orientation to college, and they are fully engaged and can’t wait for the program to start. But for others, the camp and its high adventure experiences, are a bit more than they anticipated, and it helps them choose a program that better suits their personality such as Outdoor Adventure Naturalist, the more passive sister program to Outdoor Adventure.

There is a lesson to be learned from the Outdoor Adventure program readiness camp for all college applicants. Take the time to get to know your program before enrolling. Participate in pre-enrolment events such as Open Houses, campus tours, meet and greets with faculty, or Student Association social outings. All of these opportunities to connect with a college help inform the decisions students make.

Whitewater Rafting PrepGetting ready to go whitewater rafting.

At the end of day, being flipped out of a raft into a rapid, may be the best pre-college experience a student will have, because it will help them decide whether the odd gulp of river water is right for them, or they prefer a more traditional college program with less adventure. I think that is time well spent!

I’d love to hear about your pre-college experience and how it helped reinforce your program choice, or helped you choose a different career pathway? Please post your story.

Posted by: Jamie Bramburger

Awareness = Success!

We believe that awareness is an integral component of success and in staying true to our beliefs we are introducing a number of Program Awareness Camps for some of our full-time programs this spring.

Success

Students who have confirmed their offers of admission or are interested in the programs listed are invited to take part our new Awareness Camp. These are intended to provide a snapshot of what you as a fall 2014 student will experience during your program. This interactive learning experience will also connect you as a student to faculty, support staff and fellow classmates.

Students who have applied to our Environmental Technician and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist programs are invited to participate in a two-day experience Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, 2014, where you will camp overnight at our educational partner, Wilderness Tours and get a taste of activities both on and off the water to expose you to a learning experience representative of your specific program. In addition, students get to participate in a gentle river raft trip on the beautiful and scenic Ottawa River!

outdoor adventurer naturalist students with binoculars

Prospective students who have applied to our Police Foundations, Practical Nursing, Radiation Safety and Social Service Worker programs also get the opportunity to experience a snapshot of their program at our new Waterfront Campus. This is an idea opportunity for all students in these program areas to become more aware of what awaits them in the fall. These Awareness Camps are intended to help with the transition from high school, work life or being out of school for a number of years.

Mock Disaster 2Mock Disaster Simulation – Police Foundations, Practical Nursing, Radiation Safety and Social Service Worker programs

Students new found ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of what is required of them for their full-time program will help them to be empowered and have a level of success that they can adhere to their educational journey.

Would a Program Awareness Camp have helped you transition to college life? Do you wish we offered Program Awareness Camps for our other full-time programs? Let us know!

Posted by: Jodi Bucholtz