Chrisopher Doré

Spring Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter

With spring fresh in the air and the end of the winter term just around the corner, we thought it a perfect time to provide an update on activities that have recently happened and provide some insight into upcoming events.

We are pleased to present our latest Waterfront Campus video, featuring Karen Davies, Dean highlighting our campus along the shores of the Ottawa River.

We also reflected on the fact that we have a number of Office Administration – Executive graduates who work on campus. To celebrate this fact, we created a “We Hire Our Own” video.

Take a moment to have a look at our new Events Calendar too! This features recent activities as well as upcoming initiatives for students and 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.


An animated snowman holding a sign that say Waterfront Campus WinterFest

Winterfest: An opportunity to celebrate to wonders of winter!

Earlier in February, students had the opportunity to participate in some wintry activities including:

  • Outdoor activities: kayak pull, snowshoeing and bean bag toss
  • Loggersports Demo & hot chocolate warm-up station
  • Indoor games: Waterfront Jeopardy trivia, board games and video game station
  • Hockey! Hockey! and more Hockey!
  • Chuck-a-puck during the hockey intermission for a chance to win prizes worth $1,000!!!
  • Free dinner back in the Commons, some cards and a wee pub night!

Have a look at our Winterfest photo album >>


Pembroke Campus Book ClubDid you know the Campus has a Book Club?

The Waterfront Campus is lucky to have a very engaged Library and as a result we have our own Waterfront Campus Book Club!

This semester students and staff have read Fifteen Dogs by by André Alexis, Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling, The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker and they are currently reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Learn more about our Library Services!


Chris Dore with arms crossed and smiling at cameraWaterfront Campus Welcomes Our First Entrepreneur in Residence

Christopher Doré is our Waterfront Campus Entrepreneur in Residence and is responsible for creating an on campus entrepreneurial hub, putting tools in place to support our students who are interested in starting up their own business or being innovation leaders. Learn more about the supports and features that are available to our students on our Entrepreneurial website >>


Events on Campus

Algonquin College Speaker Series Presents…

Martin Sprigg, in the field as a registered nurseHumanitarian & Adventurer Martin Spriggs

Toward the end of February, Martin Springs, former Ottawa Valley resident and friend of the College, spoke to our students and staff. Martin has spent his life helping others, whether during his 15-year military career as an infantryman and paratrooper deployed to global hotspots like Cyprus, Croatia or the streets of Sarajevo or in his post-military life as an emergency medical technician or his multiple trips overseas on international humanitarian or disaster relief missions.

The focus of Spriggs’s main address in the colleges commons was a solo bicycle trip he took in 2014, where he covered more than 7,000 kilometers and rode from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, Nfld., all to raise as much awareness as possible about the spectre of suicide and mental health ailments among current and former Canada Armed Forces members.


At about 02:15, Titanic's angle in the water began to increase rapidly as water poured into previously unflooded parts of the ship through deck hatches.UPCOMING: Titanic! Canadian Stories From the Ill-Fated Ocean Liner

April 14, 2016, 7 p.m.
Author and Titanic Researcher Alan Hustak will be on campus to recall some of the Canadian stories from the ill-fated ocean liner on the 104th anniversary of the tragedy.

Alan spent years researching the 130 passengers on the Titanic who were bound for Canada and will share their stories, including a real-life romance that rivals the fictional story of Jack and Rose in the blockbuster movie, “Titanic.” Learn more about this event >>


Waterfront Campus Convocation

Do you have a son, daughter, or spouse graduating this year? Mark your calendars because our Waterfront Campus Convocation will be held on Friday, June 3 this year!

Ceremony to be held at the Pembroke Memorial Centre situated in downtown Pembroke at the corner of Lake and Christie Streets across the street from our Waterfront Campus. More details will be shared with your loved ones in the near future.


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

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Entrepreneurial Lessons from Deadpool the Movie

This weekend, I went to the new movie Deadpool, an “anti-superhero” movie with a restricted rating and a departure from most superhero movies that usually hold a PG-13 rating. In its first weekend, this movie broke the box office record for an R rated movie with a take of 132 million! This definitely makes Deadpool a huge success.

Deadpool

Image Source: comicbook.com

So, how does “Deadpool” apply to starting a business?

  1. Deadpool

    Image Source: upi.com


    Firstly, the movie studio did something different. It took a risk on a character that however beloved is really “out there” and the opposite of “family friendly”. The studio took a chance instead of sticking to the tired reboots…Spiderman, Superman, Batman, etc. This risk taking is exactly what entrepreneurs need to do when they want to start something. I would even say that “Deadpool” was an innovation on the typical superhero movie, with not only a new out-of-the-norm character but also with the regular breaking of the 3rd dimension, where Deadpool talks to the audience. Deadpool is unpredictable – he does not follow the typical path, and does things that certainly set him apart from other heroes. His ability to innovate on the fly is clear throughout the movie. The lesson to be learned here for entrepreneurs is don’t be like everyone else. This movie is successful because they did not follow the typical formula, so like this one-of-a-kind character, be yourself, be innovative, and create something different.

  2. Secondly the character Deadpool, is successful as an antihero due to his ability to regenerate cells which virtually makes him immortal. Despite losing a hand and various other setbacks throughout the movie, Deadpool keeps on trucking. Just like what an entrepreneur or business owner does. We have set backs, we fail, but we somehow regenerate our ability to keep trying despite the odds.
  3. Deadpool

    Image source: arstechnica.com


    Lastly, despite having maybe the best super powers ever, he needed help to accomplish his mission. By letting go of his ego for a brief moment and asking the help of the X-Men. Just like in business, we sometimes try to go it alone, but most of the time we need help in some way, shape or form. We may not have a team of “X-Men” but we do have lawyers, accountants, mentors and numerous other professionals that can help our businesses succeed and accomplish our very own “missions”.

Remember when starting a business, just like Deadpool, take risks, be true to your values, move forward with your goals and don’t be afraid to find some good partners. And just like Deadpool, you may live happily ever after until the next money-making sequel.

Posted by: Chris Doré, Waterfront Campus Entrepreneur in Residence

Entrepreneurial Lessons, Believe or Not, from Deadpool the Movie

This weekend, I went to the new movie Deadpool, an “anti-superhero” movie with a restricted rating and a departure from most superhero movies that usually hold a PG-13 rating. In its first weekend, this movie broke the box office record for an R rated movie with a take of 132 million! This definitely makes Deadpool a huge success.

Deadpool

Image Source: comicbook.com

So, how does “Deadpool” apply to starting a business?

  1. Deadpool

    Image Source: upi.com


    Firstly, the movie studio did something different. It took a risk on a character that however beloved is really “out there” and the opposite of “family friendly”. The studio took a chance instead of sticking to the tired reboots…Spiderman, Superman, Batman, etc. This risk taking is exactly what entrepreneurs need to do when they want to start something. I would even say that “Deadpool” was an innovation on the typical superhero movie, with not only a new out-of-the-norm character but also with the regular breaking of the 3rd dimension, where Deadpool talks to the audience. Deadpool is unpredictable – he does not follow the typical path, and does things that certainly set him apart from other heroes. His ability to innovate on the fly is clear throughout the movie. The lesson to be learned here for entrepreneurs is don’t be like everyone else. This movie is successful because they did not follow the typical formula, so like this one-of-a-kind character, be yourself, be innovative, and create something different.

  2. Secondly the character Deadpool, is successful as an antihero due to his ability to regenerate cells which virtually makes him immortal. Despite losing a hand and various other setbacks throughout the movie, Deadpool keeps on trucking. Just like what an entrepreneur or business owner does. We have set backs, we fail, but we somehow regenerate our ability to keep trying despite the odds.

  3. Deadpool

    Image source: arstechnica.com


    Lastly, despite having maybe the best super powers ever, he needed help to accomplish his mission. By letting go of his ego for a brief moment and asking the help of the X-Men. Just like in business, we sometimes try to go it alone, but most of the time we need help in some way, shape or form. We may not have a team of “X-Men” but we do have lawyers, accountants, mentors and numerous other professionals that can help our businesses succeed and accomplish our very own “missions”.

Remember when starting a business, just like Deadpool, take risks, be true to your values, move forward with your goals and don’t be afraid to find some good partners. And just like Deadpool, you may live happily ever after until the next money-making sequel.

Posted by: Chris Doré, Waterfront Campus Entrepreneur in Residence