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Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter Summer Edition

Algonquin College Students

We hope that you are enjoying the warm summer evenings and taking some time to relax because the fall semester is right around the corner! Whether your student is a new first-year student at our Waterfront Campus, or a returning student eager to come back to the shores of the Ottawa River, our fall semester is going to be jam-packed with learning and community building activities!

Take a moment to have a look at our Events Calendar! It features recent activities, as well as upcoming opportunities for students and their families.

Our dedicated Parents’ and Families website features links to blogs, interesting articles written by our Student Services staff, and a calendar that notes some important upcoming dates.

Our goal is to keep you informed. While we respect the privacy of our students, the information we will provide in this newsletter will give you a good sense of what is happening on campus throughout the year and will provide you with enough information to have engaging conversations with your student.

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Advantage Week Orientation – An opportunity to start the academic year off right!

Before classes start on September 4, 2018 encourage your student to participate in their orientation activities. Orientation for full-time, first-year Fall students at the Pembroke Campus includes two important steps: Advantage Days (Step 1) and AC Day 1 (Step 2).

Both new and returning students are invited to join us for fun events and activities that will help them get to know:

  • Their new college campus
  • Their faculty and staff
  • Their new community
  • Their fellow students!

Our Orientation website is a one-stop portal to all you and your student need to know to get ready for school this fall. Be sure to explore the activities and events, FAQs, and 10 things to know about Algonquin’s Pembroke Campus too.

We also offer an orientation for parents and guardians! Learn more about these sessions >>

If your student is moving to Pembroke from out-of-town, plan on joining us for our FREE move-in day BBQ on Thursday, August 30. Register for the Move-in BBQ here >>

Before orientation, there are a few things your student should know:

  1. Reminder: Algonquin College is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) College which means that all students are required to have a mobile computing device that meets the technical specifications outlined by their program. The program specific details can be found on our BYOD site >>. It is also recommended that students bring their computing device to their Advantage Day in order to get their technology in place.
  2. Some of our programs require placement documentation prior to the start of college for first-year students. These programs include Early Childhood Education, Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing and Social Service Worker. The documentation requirements can be found on each of the program pages, but for convenience, we have embedded a link in the program names listed above. The documentation deadline was August 3, so a check-in might be beneficial to your student.

This information has also been shared with all students!

We might be small, but our Support Services are mighty!

Our Waterfront Campus has an extensive number of student support services that might be appropriate for your student including:

Our Student Success Specialist, Shelly Waplington, will be your student’s GPS for student services – guiding them along the path most appropriate to support their success.

A full list of our Support Services can be found here >>

International Students @ Waterfront Campus

Did you know, we have a growing international student population at our campus. Meet Mayowa who is from Nigeria and is currently studying in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

5 Quick Tips to Help Your Student During Their First Month at College

  1. Keep in touch! Quick texts or phone calls to ask how things are going will help you get a feel for how they are adjusting to college life and their program of study.
  2. Know what’s happening on campus. Follow the Waterfront Campus on social media so you can have an enriched conversation with them when they call. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and SnapChat (@ACWaterfront)
  3. Send them an inspirational card, perhaps with a photo from home. Nothing says you care like a traditional card that arrives in the mail.
  4. Help them manage their budget. Managing money may be new to them, so don’t be afraid to ask how they are financially. Our Financial Aid Officers are also available to help guide students who are new to managing their own finances.
  5. Coach your student into applying for our bursaries. Registered students can apply for all bursaries administered by Algonquin College through submitting one application. We even build the application process into our Advantage Days Orientation! Here is the step-by-step on how to apply >>

Upcoming Activities That Support Transitioning To College

  1. Thrive @ AC, August 22 – August 29: This series of workshops will help you to thrive at the Pembroke Campus and be prepared for your studies. Learn more about Thrive @ AC >>
  2. The Mature Student Success Workshop is a FREE day-long workshop for students who have been away from education for a few years. Learn more about this workshop on Thursday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. >>
  3. Strategic Learning in the College Environment (SLICE) Conference, is a FREE summer transition program offered to individuals with disabilities entering first-year studies at Algonquin College. Learn more about the SLICE Conference on Friday, Aug. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. >>

Encourage your student to come meet your CAL staff and learn about the support, resources, and services that are available to them as they transition to a college environment.

Dental and Health Coverage

If you have dental and health coverage for your student, your student can opt-out of the college’s insurance plan. However, this must be done within the first few weeks of classes. Withdrawing from the insurance program is easy. Your student just has to go onto the insurance plan website and complete a form. The money that was paid to the college for the insurance plan will then be reimbursed into their bank account.

Have your student visit wespeakstudent.com and complete the opt-out form.

Events on Campus

Fall Games Day

On Friday, Sept. 7 starting @ 2 p.m. Algonquin Administration, Faculty, and Staff will be ready to welcome all first-year and returning Pembroke Waterfront Campus students to the most exhilarating cross-campus orientation event – the Fall Orientation Games!

Students can wrap up their first week of studies with:

  • All kinds of sports including ultimate Frisbee, softball, mini-putt golf and more – all sports are co-ed
  • Carnival activities including buskers, cotton candy, and a free BBQ
  • 5 KM Just for Fun Walk or Run
  • Great prizes to be won including free groceries, gift cards, movie passes and much more

Students can get in on some CFL Action! Ottawa RedBlacks vs. Edmonton Eskimos, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018

Did you know our Varsity Loggersports Team has a great partnership with the Ottawa RedBlacks football team? Our varsity members and their coach attend each home game in Ottawa and put on quite the show when a touchdown is scored. Our students have an opportunity to attend Ottawa RedBlacks vs. the Edmonton Eskimos game:

  • Saturday, Sept. 22 – Bus leaves the Waterfront Campus at 1 p.m.
  • $20 ticket includes bus transportation to the game
  • Students can stop by the Students’ Association office in Room 100 during Advantage Days orientation to purchase tickets or purchase online!

Thank you for reading our newsletter for parents and families. We welcome your feedback.

Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.
Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Algonquin College Waterfront Campus, Pembroke, ON.
PM-Parents@algonquincollege.com

From Business Student to Community Entrepreneur

Marc Lapierre, Business grad, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus Marc Lapierre graduated from the Business program in 2003. Since then, he has been a busy man, working hard at building three different businesses. Marc shared his story with us about his journey.

Where are you currently working?

I have been working as a Financial Advisor at Frank Carroll Financial Ltd. since 2009 guiding business owners and professionals towards financial security. I also am the owner/founder of GoHuntBirds.com – a boutique media company that focuses on growing the bird hunting community in Canada. GoHuntBirds.com was founded in 2013. I also act as the business development director for Revel Marketing Agency in a mentorship role to its two founders. Revel Marketing Agency is a small start-up SEO/Media/Marketing agency in Burnstown, Ontario which was founded in 2017.

How do you feel that your program helped guide you to your current path?

I have always been interested in business. Taking the business course in my hometown of Pembroke, Ontario set me up with the foundation to what has become a career as a lifelong entrepreneur. It allowed me to stay at home while I was going to school and save up quite a bit of money while I was studying that I used to start several businesses when I graduated.

If you had to choose, what were the top 3 program-related items, activities or experiences that benefited you most during your studies?

Learning techniques in sales, strategy and marketing/advertising are three of the MANY skills I built upon at Algonquin. I still use these skills daily and always evolving them to make my business ventures better.

Why did you want to get into your chosen field?

Financial Planning was always an interest of mine. I started investing at the age of 16 and learned about the markets and insurance at a young age. I was offered a position out of college by Frank Carroll Financial Ltd. when I graduated, but I declined it to try selling Real Estate (which I never did pass the exam to do). I took a job as a courier from 2005-2009 and scratched out a pretty good living delivering parcels and running other small venture businesses on the side. In 2009, I was again offered the same position at Frank Carroll Financial Ltd. and seeing as the economy was in a recession, I thought it would be a great time to get into the financial services industry….and I was right. The thing I love about my chosen career the most besides the ability to make my own hours is helping people.

What are your next steps? What are your future goals and aspirations?

I plan to continue to grow the three businesses I have a hand in as well as add a fourth piece to the puzzle by adding some more recreational real estate to my portfolio. I’d also love to do more mentoring and perhaps some teaching to other small business owners and startups. I love the mentorship role that I have with Revel Marketing because I can actually see value in it for others.

Would you recommend the Business program to a future student thinking about taking the plunge?

YES!! I would honestly suggest EVERYONE should take this program as a foundation to whatever it is that they think they might want to do. The things that you will learn by taking a business course can translate into all aspects of life, regardless of the nature of your future employment. Anyone who is seriously considering taking the Business program at Algonquin College or even just wants to chat business is free to get a hold of me anytime at marc@fcfinancial.ca.

Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter Spring 2018 Edition

With spring fresh in the air, we thought it was a perfect time to provide an update on activities that have recently happened on campus and provide some insight into upcoming events.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit our dedicated Parents’ and Families website, featuring links to blogs, interesting articles written by our Student Services staff and a calendar that notes some important upcoming dates, we suggest that you take a moment to explore.

Our goal is to keep you informed. While we respect the privacy of our students, the information we will provide in this newsletter will give you a good sense of what is happening on campus throughout the year and will provide you with enough information to have engaging conversations with your student.

Convocation: An opportunity to celebrate student success!

Convocation, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

The month of May has almost come and gone and we are saying goodbye to graduating students and getting ready to welcome a new group of incoming students. For those leaving us, we remind them that their graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 1st at 1 p.m. at the Pembroke Memorial Centre.

Each graduate will receive a personalized email with an invitation to register for their convocation ceremony. Learn more >>

Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus Receives Key to the City

Key to the City

Algonquin College has always had a close working relationship with the city of Pembroke. To honour the College’s 50th anniversary, the municipality recognized the contributions the College has made to the broader community in a very special way by presenting the campus with its prestigious “Key to the City.” May 9, 2018 was also declared, Algonquin College Day in the city.

The Pembroke Campus began operating in the city in 1967, the same time that the Ontario college system was born. In 2012, when the Waterfront Campus opened, it was the result of a strong partnership between the city and the college that the project came to fruition. The city had donated 14 acres of waterfront property to the college to allow it to build what has become one of the most beautiful college campuses in the province. The campus has also played a critical role in revitalizing Pembroke’s downtown. The building of three privately owned and operated student residences to support the college’s growing out of town student population is a great example of the economic stimulus that has been injected into Pembroke through the opening of the campus. You can read more about the Key to the City presentation in this article by the Pembroke Daily Observer >>

Bursaries and Scholarships

Did you know, there are a number of funding sources available to students to supplement their income during their post-secondary studies.

Each semester, Algonquin College reaches out to current students and invites them to apply through the Algonquin College Student Information System (ACSIS) for all the bursaries that are available to our students. Make sure to remind your students to read all their AC emails because some of them are worth a thorough read, and contain very important information.

yconic is a student help platform that aims to make life easier, more affordable and less stressful for students pursuing higher education in Canada. Students complete their yconic profile to be matched-up with funding opportunities whether through scholarships or contests.

ScholarshipsCanada.com helps students find scholarships and bursaries free of charge.

Pembroke Campus to Offer Personal Support Worker Program in Renfrew

Colleges are well known for their ability to respond to community needs. In Renfrew, there is currently a critical shortage of Personal Support Workers and as a result, Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has partnered with the County of Renfrew to deliver a Personal Support Worker program at Bonnechere Manor, one of the county’s largest long-term care facilities. The program will begin in January of 2019 and will be delivered in an accelerated delivery model that will permit students to complete the program in six months, rather than the normal eight-month program length. With an aging population, the demand for healthcare workers, particularly PSW’s will continue to be great for the foreseeable future. Learn more about this partnership in this article >>

OSAP: Is your student eligible for “free tuition”?

If your family income is less than $50,000 per year, you may qualify for free tuition! That means you would receive OSAP grants (money you don’t have to repay!) that exceed the cost of your tuition.

Middle and higher income families

If your family makes more – even up to $160,000+ a year – your student may still qualify for support. Many students don’t apply for OSAP because they think their income (or their parents’ income) is too high – but you may be surprised! Get a quick estimate of your potential OSAP entitlement >>

Entrance Bursaries for OSAP Students

Students could be eligible for a $500 AC Aid Entrance Bursary! Learn more >>

Learn more by visiting our Financial Aid website >>

Repaying Ontario Student Assistance Program Loans: What’s the Next Step?

Is your son or daughter graduating and would like more information on repaying their student loans?

OSAP and the National Student Loans Service Centre offers a number of resources to guide your graduate through the repayment process.

Tuition Deposits Due June 15

Algonquin College requires incoming and returning students to pay a $500 tuition deposit fee by June 15th to hold their seat. Watch this short video to learn more about how this deposit can be paid. Watch College Tuition Deposit – Payment Options video >>

Did you know the Waterfront Campus has a Book Club?

Good news! For the first time ever, the Waterfront Campus Book Club will be running in the Spring/Summer semester! New members are always welcome. Our first book for the new semester is a fascinating page-turner:
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit By Michael Finkel – A National Geographic Best Book of the Year

Learn more about our Library Services and this Book Club meeting >>

Algonquin College Speaker Series Presents…Bruce Pappin and Pembroke’s Great Fire of 1918

Pembroke's Great Fire, Speaker Series, Algonquin College, Pembroke100 years ago much of Pembroke’s downtown was destroyed by a raging fire. The blaze broke out in the early evening of June 18, 1918, starting at the Laundriault’s Livery Barns on Prince Street and sweeping through the town. It took several hours for firefighters to get the inferno under control, but by that time a pile of rubble was all that remained for several blocks of the downtown. Local historian Bruce Pappin will lead an informative speaker series presentation to mark the anniversary of Pembroke’s Great Fire of 1918 with a two-part session that includes a walk through the downtown, highlighting how the fire progressed and what buildings were destroyed. The presentation will also explore the aftermath of the fire, including the inquest that was held to determine the cause. Learn more about our Speaker Series >>

We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter for parents and families. We would welcome your feedback.

Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.

Sincerely,

Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Call for Nominations: Board of Governors Election

The Algonquin College Board of Governors is looking for an Academic Staff representative and a Student representative for the 2018-2019 academic year.

All full-time and part-time Academic Staff and Students are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to serve the College.

NOMINATIONS:

  • Call for nominations begins March 26, 2018 (8:00 a.m.)
  • Close of nominations: April 4, 2018 (4:00 p.m.)

CAMPAIGNING

  • April 5 – 19, 2018

VOTING

  • April 18 at 9 a.m.
  • April 19 at 12 p.m.

To submit your candidacy, support a nominee within your constituency, and to access the Terms and Conditions of the Board of Governors’ Online Elections, please visit the Algonquin College Voting System.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity on Campus

Canada is a melting pot of people. With one of the most diverse populations in the world, the country has embraced immigration, but regrettably, most newcomers choose larger centres to settle in rather than finding a new home in a rural community.

It’s understandable why this happens. New immigrants are often sponsored by family members and they want to be around people who share the same beliefs and customs, while they embrace all that their new country has to offer. With fewer immigrants settling in rural areas, there is less of an attraction to go there, but now more than ever rural communities need immigrants. Declining birth rates, aging populations and youth out migration are among the major labour market challenges facing rural areas, and immigration provides an opportunity to address some of these issues by replenishing the population gap that has emerged.

African Students' Alliance, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusRegional college campuses located in smaller rural communities such as the Pembroke Waterfront Campus can play a major leadership role. As these campuses attract more students of culturally diverse backgrounds they create more welcoming communities for new Canadians. A great example is the recent establishment of an African Students’ Alliance on campus, a group that promotes and celebrates African culture.

Their work has been inspirational and is a great example of students being leaders. They have opened the eyes of so many students and college employees who had limited knowledge of African culture. Their integration into the broader community through volunteerism and student learning experiences is expanding their reach and influence. It’s powerful and timely as Renfrew County faces the reality of having almost 50 percent of its population over 45 years of age according to the 2016 National Census.

At the Pembroke Campus this year there are about a dozen international students, but there are so many more students who are from different cultural backgrounds. With about 50 percent of the campus student population coming from out of town, there is a great opportunity to attract more students who can enrich the cultural mosaic of the campus and greater community.

#3Drums3Campuses, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusThe Campus wants to be leaders in this effort. Case in point is the celebration of Indigenous culture that has been taking place in the month of March. Powerful learning is taking place as the college embraces the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that has challenged educational institutions to do their part by helping to preserve, revitalize and strengthen Aboriginal languages and cultures. Through a partnership with the Circle of Turtle Lodge, there have been several activities on campus that have engaged students and college employees to better understand the past, present and future of Indigenous ways.

The time is now for regional campuses to help rural communities embrace multiculturalism. It’s critical to the long-term prosperity of smaller towns and cities. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is well positioned to be Renfrew County’s diversity champion.

 

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

You Missed the February 1st Application Deadline. Now What?

Ontario Colleges aggressively promote the importance of applying to a program prior to what is known as the “equal opportunity deadline” on February 1st. It certainly is an important date in the application cycle, but if you missed it, there is a silver lining.

You can still apply to college and there’s a very strong chance you will be able to register in a program for the fall of 2018.

AC's Muskrat Lake Research Team

The reason is that colleges offer dozens of programs and with such a huge menu to choose from, only a select number of college programs fall into the category of oversubscribed. Programs in health care are a good example of highly competitive programs where the February 1st deadline is very real, and those who apply later run the risk of not being admitted into the program or ending up on a waiting list.

For many other programs, colleges review applications on a first-come, first-served basis. While seats remain open, colleges will continue to make offers of admission.

Pembroke Campus, Games Day

So the best advice is to apply sooner, rather than later. While missing the February 1st deadline won’t prevent you from attending college, the longer you procrastinate, the more difficult it will be to secure a seat in a program that you are interested in.

You can apply online through the Ontario Colleges Application Service. Your $95 application fee will allow you to choose up to five college programs, including three at any one college. Post-secondary is a great investment and the bottom line is, it’s not too late to apply.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter Winter 2018 Edition

The calendar has turned to a new year and there are lots happening at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus. Here is a quick update for parents and family members. Enjoy our 2018 parent newsletter winter edition.

Winterfest: February 28th

The winter semester at the Waterfront Campus is underway and recently we’ve had a lot of snow in Pembroke. This will certainly help us as we plan our Winterfest carnival for students on Feb 28th.

WinterfestWinterfest is a fun afternoon and evening for students that will include:

  • Outdoor activities in the snow like snowshoeing, ice sculpting and sliding
  • Loggersports and Action Sports Park Development demos
  • Free lunch for all students
  • Free public skating at the Pembroke Memorial Centre followed by a women’s and men’s student-staff hockey game
  • Free dinner back at the campus where students can enjoy live entertainment.
  • A Career Networking Fair featuring dozens of employers in many sectors.
  • Plus, we will be making a number of draws for some great prizes! All students who participate are eligible.

Yes, we like to give our students free stuff to make their college experience more enjoyable!

More details can be found here >>

Ottawa Valley Speaker Series

Ottawa Valley History: Speaker Series

The theme of our Algonquin College Speakers Series this year is Ottawa Valley history and there are certainly a number of stories to explore, including the Flying Bandit. On March 19, the reporter who broke the story and co-authored a book on the flying bandit, Ed Arnold, will share details of how an American convict escaped from prison and started a new life in Pembroke. Unfortunately, that life made him one of Canada’s most notorious bank robbers. Arnold was the managing editor of the Peterborough Intelligencer newspaper when the string of robberies was occurring. Three of the heists occurred in Peterborough, peaking Arnold’s interest, leading him on a journalistic investigation that led to him uncovering Canada’s most notorious bank robber.

This session will be held in the evening of Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at our Waterfront Campus. You can learn more about this presentation on our Speaker Series website >>

Indigenous Culture Celebration

Indigenous Hand DrummingIn partnership with the Circle of Turtle Lodge, we are exploring and celebrating the indigenous culture during the month of March with a variety of activities related to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The goal of our celebration is to offer the opportunity for our students and employees to learn more about indigenous ways through interactive lunch and learns. Our activities include:

  • Info Fair Celebration Kick-off: March 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons
  • Algonquin Song Lesson & Drumming Circle: March 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium
  • Kairos Blanket Exercise: March 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium
  • Talking Stick Workshop: March 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 426
  • Talking Circle: March 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium

Events, Events and More Events!

We have a number of events on campus, both faculty and staff-driven and student organized. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything that is happening, which is why we have created the Waterfront Campus Events Calendar >>. Learn more about the fun and academic event opportunities available for our students.

Flu Season Flu Season

With so many students and staff at the Waterfront Campus daily, it is easy for the flu to spread at this time of year. The College offers free flu shots to students through its Health Services office which is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. An appointment is not necessary.

Throughout the campus there are also hand sanitizer stations and our Health Nurse does a great job of promoting the importance of hand washing, particularly at this time of year when the flu and cold season is at its peak.

Mental Health Programs Winter 2018

As we start the new semester, establishing good habits for our health and wellness is really important to continue to be successful. Counselling Services will be providing a number of free programs this semester to help students achieve the best success possible. Some great tips and information can be found in our Mental Health Matters Newsletter >>

  • Is your student STRESSED? ANXIOUS? – Have them check out the Chill Café! A 6-week program to help students with managing stress and anxiety in a more effective way. Thursdays Feb 8-March 22 (excluding Feb 22) from 2-3:30 pm in Room 308. Students can sign up at chillcafe.eventbrite.ca
  • Does your student need to improve their physical well-being and exercise? They are welcome to join us for snowshoeing, yoga, and walks with Wellness In Nature Days (WIND). We are adding new activities regularly. See our up to date programs at fb.me/WINDACOV
  • Is your student having challenges with Alcohol or Drugs? What about Eating Challenges? Gaming or on the internet too much? SMART Recovery works to help with various behaviours that can be addictive and helps by teaching skills to overcome these challenges. This is a student-run and for students only program. Thursdays at 4-5:30 pm in Room 216.
  • Positive Space offers a safe space for students to meet with open-minded people and enjoy lunch together – Tuesdays at 12-1pm in Room 308
  • Coffee House Art Space is a weekly opportunity for students to be creative and learn or practice art skills – Mondays from 5-7 in Room 122

March Break Open House

Are you a parent/guardian or spouse of a student starting a program at our campus September 2018? If yes, we invite you to join us on Saturday, March 10, 2018 starting at 9 a.m. for our March Break Open House.

At our Open House, you can:

  • Meet our student services staff and find out more about supports for students. Staff from the following areas will be available to answer your questions: Admissions; Financial Aid; Fee Payment Cashier; Recruiters; Student Success Specialist; Disabilities Counsellor; Housing, and General Information.
  • Attend a variety of 30-minute information sessions
  • Take a tour of our new waterfront campus
  • Enjoy a free Lunch & Learn Session – Q & A: Bring all your questions and our current student panel will answer them
  • Hear directly from current students at our popular student panel
  • Meet some of our faculty from specific programs

Learn more and register now >>

We hope this newsletter has been helpful. Please keep in touch with us and offer us feedback on topics you would like us to cover in future newsletters.

Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.

Sincerely,

Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Algonquin College Waterfront Campus, Pembroke, ON.
PM-Parents@algonquincollege.com

Spring Business Conference at Waterfront Campus Hits the Mark

Today’s workplace is full of complexity, particularly for organizational leaders. It can be difficult to find the right employee, it is challenging to motivate and lead staff, new legislation governing the workplace is changing operational models and more workers are facing mental health challenges.

It’s a lot for managers, supervisors and leaders to deal with in their day to day work. To help organizations cope with these challenges, Algonquin College’s annual Spring Business & Leadership Conference has targeted topics that are at the front of mind in today’s workforce.

Now into its fourth year, the May 24 conference has proven to be a great benefit to local businesses by providing affordable and meaningful professional development in a “big city” conference format. Registrants can choose to attend up to four workshops and also hear a keynote address. This year’s headliner focuses on community collaboration and will be delivered by Doug Griffiths, an economic development guru for rural communities and the author of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

Angela Hoyt, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

The line-up of presentations includes Adapting to Bill 148-Ontario’s new Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs legislation. The bill introduced fundamental changes to employee working conditions that stretch far beyond the minimum wage increases that have captured most of the headlines since taking effect on January 1, 2018. The session will be led by Angela Hoyt, an experienced labour market consultant who has presented at hundreds of conferences across Canada.

Dr. Mike Condra, Algonquin College Speaker SeriesDoctor Mike Condra will present on Mental Health in the Workplace. Dr. Condra worked extensively in health care and post-secondary education for more than 30 years and co-developed training workshops in crisis intervention skills, training more than 5,000 people. His workshop will focus on the misconceptions of mental health in the workplace and how this impacts the work environment.

Sylvie Rimbach, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, Pembroke

Within every organization, there are people of all ages. This often leads to different ways of approaching work tasks and value systems that don’t match. Finding synergy among all working groups is the focus of Sylvie Rimbach’s workshop on the Generation Mix in Today’s Workplace. The session will help people better understand the differences between Veterans, baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and millennials.

Dr. Judy Law, Presenter, Spring Business & Leadership Conference, Algonquin College. Pembroke CampusEvery company is looking for an advantage over its competition. Doctor Judy Laws’ workshop on Sparking Innovation to Unlock Your Organization’s Full Potential will introduce participants to new concepts to create a culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. The College’s entrepreneur-in-resident, Chéla Breckon, will build on this session with a workshop entitled, Leading with Vision, Mission and Purpose, a how-to guide to strategic planning for organizations and businesses.

Katie Tollis-Flabbi, Spring Business and Leadership Conference, Algonquin College, PembrokeThe final workshop focuses on marrying events and marketing. Led by entrepreneur, Katie Tollis-Flabbi, Creative Event Marketing Strategies is focused on small businesses who have to balance their budget with the need to promote their products and services.

Registration for the conference is now open with an early bird rate of $199, plus applicable taxes. The conference is expected to sell out and businesses are encouraged to register early. At a time when budgets are being stretched and training needs to be a focus to support employees, the conference offers very high value for a reasonable investment. The best part is this training is available here at home at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Tax Receipts T2202A

Official Tuition Tax Receipts (T2202A) are available online via ACSIS in early February for qualifying programs and courses.

Please note: For post-secondary credit activity, fees are prorated over the learning period and are not always credited in the year of payment.

It is not necessary to include the T2202A with your income tax claim; however, it will be required to validate a claim if you are audited.

A T2202A is issued to the student. If a student is sponsored, the sponsor will issue a T4A for the amount paid on the student’s behalf. The student must claim the sponsored amount as income and can claim the tuition credit or allocate it to a parent/guardian if applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, please check the Government of Canada’s website at http://cra.gc.ca/students.

Algonquin College is Building the Action Sports Culture!

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are into action sports and those who aren’t. Extreme sports such as snowboarding, BMX riding, skateboarding and mountain biking have been around for years, but the idea of action sports really started to gain notoriety in the 1990s with the inception of the X Games.

The Ottawa Valley is rooted in the world of action sports as a result of the dynamic and adventurous landscape that surrounds our community. The City of Pembroke is nestled between the Ottawa River and Algonquin Park. The Ottawa River, recently designated as a Canadian Heritage River, boasts some of the most extreme whitewater rapids in the world and Algonquin Park offers an abundance of rugged terrain for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. As a result, the region is a destination for those seeking extreme adventures.

It’s not surprising the new Algonquin College Action Sports Park Development program was the brainchild of avid action sports adventurer, Jeff Jackson. Jackson, Coordinator of the Outdoor Adventure program at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, identified a gap in skilled professionals who had the knowledge and hands-on experience to build action sports parks. He recognized an opportunity for the Pembroke Campus to be at the forefront of developing a specialized program that teaches technical construction skills related to where these sports happen, helping to meet the needs of the rapidly growing action sports industry.

Action sports parks, such as ski and snowboard terrain parks, skateparks, BMX parks and mountain bike terrain parks, are everywhere. In 2016, in Canada alone, there were 650 skateparks, 250 ski resort terrain parks, 100 mountain bike parks, and 75 BMX race tracks. All of these specialized parks require teams of skilled professionals who can not only maintain the facilities but also work to improve and create new and more extreme features, keeping safety at the forefront of the design principles they implement.

It wasn’t hard to build some excitement about this new program because there are numerous action sports park trailblazers right in our backyard including Josh Brose and his family at The Brose Farm. This farm and its farmers are unlike any you’ve ever met. Josh is a renowned BMX rider and event manager that works with brands like Red Bull to create and organize action sports events at the property. The Brose Farm is a beautiful plot of multi-generational field and forest that in the last decade has evolved into something quite distinctive. “Over the years we piled the dirt and framed structures that have resulted in a top-notch BMX / Mountain Bike dirt course, which includes dirt jumps, pump tracks, wall rides, quarter pipes, drop-ins, and mini ramp,” says Josh.

Josh and his friend/co-worker Steve Moreau were tapped to teach our first cohort of Action Sports Park Development students the art of dirt jump building. And it is an art! The structural awareness and understanding of materials is paramount to noteworthy facilities such as The Brose Farm and The Construction Yards in Petawawa, ON.

Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is no stranger to creating college-level programs that raise eyebrows. Our small waterfront campus is known as a leader in outdoor training, and our new Action Sports Park Development program is pushing our reputation to new heights. This eight-month certificate program acknowledges that action sports is an emerging industry and a career pathway for anyone who is a passionate extreme sports enthusiast.