Posted on Saturday, March 11th, 2023
They travelled to Pembroke from across Ontario and beyond. Their goal was to see whether the Pembroke Waterfront Campus was the right place for them to pursue their post-secondary hopes and dreams. If the energy that was present on campus during our March Break Open House is any indication, it appears many of the prospective students who attended will be joining us in the Fall when their program starts.
A family poses with Social Service Worker coordinator Rhonda Mullin while attending March Break Open House at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.
It was a special day to be on campus, in part because it has been three long years since the campus has been able to hold its annual March Break Open House, a signature student recruitment activity that always draws a large crowd. In the spring of 2020, the event had to be cancelled because of the surging COVID-19 pandemic and until this year, there hasn’t been an opportunity to reinstate the Open House.
Over a four hour period, students and their families were able to check out every corner of the campus which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary. It still looks brand new and the visitors were impressed by the facilities, including the Students’ Association gymnasium, fitness centre and rock climbing wall, but, they also liked meeting faculty from the programs they are interested in,
The teachers not only provided an overview of what the students can expect to learn in their program, many of them also did some show-and-tell in labs, allowing students to picture themselves gaining the hands on practical training that colleges are so respected for delivering.
Current students at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus answer questions from prospective students about their experience studying at the campus.
The highlight of the day was a student panel where five current students shared what their experience has been like at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus. The students provided authentic and transparent answers to questions asked by the audience, sharing how much they appreciated the picturesque setting that the campus sits on along the shores of the Ottawa River and the commitment of the staff and faculty to support them.
The questions came from both prospective students and parents and ranged from asking about living in the privately owned and operated student residences that house Algonquin students to finding the balance between working part time and staying on top of school work. Most of the students on the panel had re-located to Pembroke, partly because they had enrolled in a program that was unique to the campus or because they liked the small class sizes and the campus environment.
To finish off the day, the campus Food Services team had made homemade pizza, a nice touch that sent everyone home happy after a day of learning about all that the Pembroke Waterfront Campus has to offer. After three years of holding virtual Open Houses, it was really great to have so many people back on campus to truly experience how special of a place the Waterfront campus is.
The Food Services team at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus serve homemade pizza to prospective students and families who attended the March Break Open House on campus.
First impressions are important and the faculty and staff made their best effort to emphasize how all college employees play a role in the success of our students. It showed. Our visitors told us how much they enjoyed the day and how pleased they were that they had attended.
For students who weren’t able to make it to the Open House, they are invited to contact our recruitment team to book a campus tour. It remains the best way to make an informed decision on where to study and what program to choose. It often doesn’t take long for a student to know they have found the right campus. That was evident at our March Break Open House.
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus)
Posted on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023
It is now the time for college bound students to start finalizing their plans for post-secondary education. Many have already applied or are in the process of doing so, but making a firm commitment to a program or a college campus requires a bit more research.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus is hosting its annual March Break Open House on Saturday, March 11th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be the first time since the spring of 2019 that this event has been held. In March of 2020, the Open House was the first major event the College had to cancel because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The March Break Open House is primarily intended to help prospective students learn more about all that the campus has to offer. Campus tours are a big part of the day as they provide an opportunity for students to see great facilities like specialized training labs, trades shops, classrooms, the library, the gymnasium, rock climbing wall and the fitness centre.
Guided tours by the campus student recruitment team are more in depth, sharing information on everything from what student services are available to help students succeed to the campus operating hours. There’s always time to answer questions while groups of prospective students and their families make their way through areas like student services and the Student Commons.
Throughout the morning there will be scheduled presentations on financial aid, supporting students with disabilities, the Students’ Association and a special parent session. Parents are often involved in the decision making when young people are choosing the right college that suits their career interests and their personalities. They remain the most influential person in a young person’s life as they begin their post-secondary journey and the college encourages them to attend the Open House Spouses are also welcome as they provide a great deal of support for mature applicants who are returning to school. 
Students who are currently studying at the Pembroke Campus will be on hand for a student panel, an opportunity for campus visitors to hear first hand about what their experience has been like at the campus. Ove the years, a consistent theme has been shared about how welcoming the campus is and how genuinely interested the faculty and staff are in helping students achieve their hopes and dreams for life-long success.
The Pembroke Campus offers more than 20 full time programs. Given the significant labour market shortages in many sectors, these programs offer a direct link to filling job vacancies in our local region as well as across the province and country. Some programs are eligible for government funding to help pay for post-secondary education and new incentives such as the Learn and Stay grant offers free tuition to nursing applicants who enroll in the Fall 2023 intake at the Pembroke Campus.
Applicants who have already applied to the campus will have received an emailed invitation to attend the March Break Open House. Anyone who is interested in attending, but has not yet applied to college, can visit the campus website to pre-register at algonquincollege.com/pembroke.
Posted on Thursday, January 26th, 2023
In the Middaugh family, curling is a right of passage. For Kelly Middaugh, the sport has been part of her life since she was a young girl learning how to slide rocks down a sheet of ice, under the tutelage of her parents, Wayne and Sherry, who have both competed on the national stage.
Now, the 23-year old Outdoor Adventure Naturalist student at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus is trying to manage her school work while preparing to compete in her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the national women’s curling championship, which will be held in February in Kamloops, British Columbia.
To get to the national championship, Middaugh connected with a team that played out of the Glenmore curling club in Montreal, skipped by Laurie St-Georges. Middaugh is not bilingual but she had no concerns about crossing provincial boundaries to compete in the Quebec championships with the St-Georges team. She knew she could help the team and wasn’t worried about any language barriers, focusing on playing to the best of her ability. Her teammates helped provide translations when it was needed.
At the provincials, the St-Georges club played well, finishing the round robin in the six team tournament with a 4 and 1 record, before winning two close games in the semi-final and final to advance to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The provincial championships had been postponed the last two years in Quebec because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Left to Right-Team Quebec: Laurie St-Georges (skip) Alanna Routledge (second) Emily Riley (vice) Kelly Middaugh (lead)
It turns out attending Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus played a role in Middaugh’s decision to choose to play with them, even though she has lived most of her life in Victoria Harbour, Ontario and had other opportunities to participate in the Ontario provincial championships.
“It’s a pretty simple story on how I ended up playing for Team St-Georges out of Quebec. I knew I was coming to Pembroke for the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program and figured with the location of the town it was easier to get to Montreal than it would be to drive to Toronto to play with most Ontario teams,” says Middaugh.
Since coming to Pembroke, Middaugh has been a regular at the Pembroke Curling Club. She’s made new friends and while in school, she’s been encouraging her classmates to give curling a try, even offering to provide lessons, while getting to know the local curlers. She plays every Monday night and given her recent success she has become a bit of a celebrity at the club.
People enjoy watching her play, noting the precision in her shots. She’s happy to offer advice to other curlers, the same way her parents taught her how to play the game that she loves.
“I felt accepted into the community right away and everyone has been so supportive throughout the season. After winning the Quebec Provincials, Brenda Slomka, a member at Pembroke Curling Club and a part of the Algonquin College staff, made me this nice sign at the club wishing me congratulations. It was incredibly sweet and just proved how the Pembroke community has adopted me into their curling world,” says Middaugh.
Algonquin College Outdoor Adventure Naturalist student Kelly Middaugh has been playing at the Pembroke Curling Club as she prepares to represent Team Quebec at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Middaugh’s mother has participated in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on several occasions, while her father, Wayne Middaugh is a legend in men’s curling, having won three world championships while holding the distinction of winning those titles while playing three different positions. That’s unheard of at that level of play, but it’s not surprising. In this family, a challenge is always welcome.
Middaugh’s younger sister, Emily, is also really good at the game. She is part of a U21 Ontario team and recently won the Junior Curling Cup and will represent Canada at an international tournament later this year in Switzerland.
“My younger sister Emily, and I tried out other sports to find our own niche, but the curling community was always such a fun and safe place that it was almost impossible to not try and follow in my parents’ footsteps,” says Middaugh.
Before enrolling at Algonquin, Middaugh attended Wilfrid Laurier University where she earned an Undergraduate Degree in Global Studies. While attending university, she competed three times for a national intercollegiate university curling title, but when she was away from a curling rink, her passion was the outdoors.
“The Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program seemed right up my alley. Throughout my time at Laurier and in high school, I worked at a Wildlife Centre in my hometown and a forest school in Etobicoke and I loved the type of work I was doing,” says Middaugh who enrolled in the program last September.
The end goal is to work as an outdoor educator. She set out to college with an aim to learn more about identifying wildlife and improving her canoeing skills, but the program has taught her much more about working in the outdoors. Her eyes have been opened to many opportunities that she had not thought about previously, such as starting her own business.
“I’m not entirely sure where yet but I definitely want to work outside of the city. I loved what I did at the Wildlife Centre so if I could find something similar to that or even start my own company that would also be fun,” says Middaugh.
Team Quebec Left to Right: Laurie St-Georges (skip), Emily Riley (vice), Alanna Routledge (second), Kelly Middaugh (lead), Emilie Desjardins (fifth), Michel St-Georges (coach)
For the next few weeks Middaugh’s focus will be on school and curling. At the Pembroke Curling Club and at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus there will be a lot of interest in how Team Quebec is fairing at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts when the competition opens on February 17th. In particular, they will be watching the team’s lead, Kelly Middaugh, who has already won their hearts, no matter how the team does in British Columbia.
Given the family genes, it likely won’t be the last time Middaugh competes at a national championship. For now, she’ll continue to slide rocks down the ice of the historic Pembroke Curling Club, a place that will forever be part of her memory bank as she explores a new career in adventure tourism while continuing to play the game she loves.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus.
Posted on Friday, December 16th, 2022
As the calendar turns to a new year, there are many things to celebrate at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Our year in review starts with a very special anniversary as we marked ten great years since we opened our campus along the shores of the Ottawa River. 
We celebrated by inviting many of the people who contributed to the building of the campus, including elected officials, donors, current and past board members, strategic partners, alumni, employees and retirees, all of whom made contributions to the project. The celebration was capped by a surprise performance by Business alumnus and Canadian Country recording artist, Jason Blaine, who has become a leading philanthropist.
Blaine had another successful charity event in the summer of 2022, raising more than $130,000 for community causes. His charity has now invested more than $750,000 into community projects and services in the Pembroke area since it launched almost a decade ago. A major benefactor of Blaine’s generosity has been Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Blaine has donated $200,000 to the campus to support the building of the campus and an endowment fund that helps students in financial need. 
The generosity of Blaine has been extraordinary, but there are other great examples of the college community giving back. Students in the Forestry Technician program were presented with a Changemaker award by the College’s Board of Governors for their work in planting trees in a Forest of Hope near Beachburg, an initiative to bring awareness to preventing suicide.
Promoting equity, diversity and inclusion is a core value of Algonquin College and in the summer of 2022 a new mural was unveiled at the campus that has become a focal point for celebrating the many groups of people that are represented on campus. Many students and employees had the opportunity to participate in the mural painting, making the project very special to everyone who was involved in its creation.
For the first time, National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30 was marked with a special on campus ceremony of reflection led by the Campus Elder, Aimee Bailey. The back-drop for the ceremony was a powerful Legacy of Hope display that chronicled the indignities forced on Canada’s Indigenous peoples, such as the residential school system which separated thousands of children from their families, having a devastating impact on Indigenous communities.
With the guidance of the Elder and Kampus Kokum, Joanne Haskins, the campus Medicine Wheel Garden was refreshed by students and faculty. This spiritual place is located on a hill to the west of the campus and has become a special area for reflection and learning about Indigenous teachings.
As students returned to campus in the Fall of 2022 in much larger numbers, following two years of adapting to primarily remote learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was renewed energy inside the building. Social events and activities were well attended by students who enjoyed the opportunity to connect to their peers outside the classroom, and the campus recreational facilities were well used as students enjoyed rock climbing, intramural sports and the fitness centre.
Prospective students also returned to campus. For the first time in three years, the campus held its Open House for senior high school students. More than 450 students from schools across Renfrew and Pontiac Counties attended. They participated in interactive activities and presentations led by faculty as they learned about the many programs and services offered at the campus.
A change in leadership occurred as the campus welcomed a new Dean and Board of Governor’s representative. Sarah Hall replaced Keltie Jones, becoming the seventh Dean in the more than 55 year history of the campus and Tony Pollard took over for Jay McLaren at the Governor’s table. Hall presided over her first convocation in June, a welcome return to an in person celebration of the graduates after the College had been holding online graduation ceremonies since the pandemic had started. 
As the campus looks toward 2023, it plans for more international students, new programs, more partnerships and the continued support of communities throughout the Ottawa Valley. Mostly, it looks to welcome more students who have hopes and dreams for life-long success. Happy New Year!
(Jamie Bramburger is the Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. The campus will be closed for the holiday season from Friday, December 23 until Monday January 2.)
Posted on Saturday, October 29th, 2022
It’s been a decade since classes were first offered at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. It was October 29, 2012 when students walked into the building for the first time. They had been anticipating the move since classes started after Labour Day, but when the building opening was delayed by a few weeks, it built up their anticipation even more to attend the brand new campus that had been in the works for several years.
When students arrived for classes, they were awestruck. Not all of the building was operational, it would take a few more weeks for the gymnasium to be ready, but it was clear that this was a world class post-secondary building, a significant improvement from where they had come.
The original Algonquin College Pembroke Campus had been a dairy that was added onto when the college was founded in the late 1960’s. Located on Pembroke Street East, beside the historic courthouse, the building was landlocked and lacked many of the modern facilities students expected from a college.
In 2006, the College released an economic impact study that confirmed the campus was generating millions of dollars in economic stimulus for Renfrew County through its students, its employees and its operations. That was the start of the advocacy campaign that would result in the opening of the Waterfront Campus on the shores of the Ottawa River six years later.
Recently, the campus celebrated its tenth anniversary by taking a walk down memory lane. Many of the major donors who participated in the community fundraising campaign were there and so were elected officials, alumni, employees and retirees of the college. They were treated to a special musical pop up concert by Business alumnus and Canadian Country Recording artist, Jason Blaine, who also gave a cheque for $15,000 to Algonquin College President, Claude Brulé, the final installment in his $100,000 commitment to establish an endowment for students in financial need.
The most poignant message of the celebration came from long-time community volunteer, Fred Blackstein, who was on the College Board of Governors when the project was approved. It was Blackstein who moved the motion in 2008 that cleared the way for the college to capitalize on a donation of 17 acres of waterfront land made available by the city of Pembroke, to build what has become a centre-point for the downtown and a source of pride for all of Renfrew County.
In his speech, Blackstein captured several moments in the past decade when the college has made significant contributions to the community, noting the clean-up done by students and employees during two floods along the waterfront, the campus hosting Governor General David Johnston for National Volunteer Week in 2013 and the volunteer work done by Office Administration-Executive students in helping establish the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre.
A month after the campus opened in October of 2012, a grand opening was held. As Blackstein smashed a champagne bottle against the exterior of the new building, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski, called the opening of the campus a “game changer” for the region. Yakabuski was right. In the past decade, the campus has delivered on the promise that was made to the community.
There is more access for local and out-of-town students to post-secondary education as more programs have been added. Increased enrolments have resulted in five privately owned and operated student residences being built to house almost 200 students. The city’s downtown has been revitalized through investments made by developers and the campus has become a hub in the city’s inner core.
Ten years have gone quickly, but celebrating this milestone is a reminder of how proud the community is to have the Waterfront Campus in its midst. It was Blackstein who coined the phrase, “Be Algonquin Proud, Make Algonquin Proud,” when he delivered those words at a convocation ceremony shortly after the campus opened. They continue to ring true for every student, employee and graduate who either studied or worked at the campus. It’s a special place.
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
Reunited-and it feels so good! Hundreds of students who are registered for classes this fall at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus attended orientation activities leading into the start of classes on September 6th and were met by smiling faces as life looked a bit more like it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After two years of only holding virtual orientation for students, this year there was a buzz on campus as students met with faculty and made connections with new classmates and student services staff as orientation returned to the campus. From move in day barbeques and welcome breakfasts, to learning from their teachers what they can expect in the new academic year, it was an exciting time for everyone who is part of the campus community.
There was even opportunities for students to try out the recreational and fitness facilities on campus, including the rock climbing wall which was a huge hit for both new and returning students. The campus attracts many students into its popular Outdoor Adventure program who are heavy users of the wall, but students from many programs enjoy the experience and this year they will have much more access to the facility.
Orientation is such an important part of the college experience. While it is voluntary, most students participated this year, a strong indication of how excited students are to be back on campus. For everyone, it feels like we have turned a corner after more than two years of being apart more than we were together.
Seeing students gathered with their faculty or learning about student services was a breath of fresh air after so many opportunities were lost during the pandemic to bring students together on campus. It was obvious that the students were excited to be back and were highly engaged with everything that was happening around them, even if orientation can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming for some students.
In the days and weeks ahead, students will settle into their academic studies, but there will still be lots of opportunities to engage in social activities that help students make connections and feel more at home in their new surroundings. From concerts to intramural sports, there will be something for everyone and students are encouraged to get involved in things like book clubs, volunteer opportunities and the upcoming 5 kilometre walk or run so they can meet new people.
We are so happy to have students back on campus. We have missed them and look forward to getting to know them better. It’s the most exciting time of the year for a college and having the students on campus has revitalized the campus and everyone who works hard to support student success. Welcome back!
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022
Getting off to a good start is paramount to a student’s success when they enrol in a post-secondary program, but not all students attend their orientation. By not attending, students often start their program a bit behind their classmates, sometimes scrambling to get on the college network, accessing their text books or having trouble navigating their way around the campus. So, here are some good reasons for all students to attend orientation.
Orientation is intended to be an opportunity for students to make connections. At an academic orientation, students meet their faculty and new classmates, they review their timetable, learn about the expectations of the program and their program coordinator will go over a list of things they need to do be successful in the program. This may include submitting documents that clear them for a clinical or work place experience, purchasing equipment or supplies that they will need such as a laptop computer or safety equipment, or participating in a library orientation. It’s important to have all of this information up front so that when classes start, students are ready to go.
Beyond the academic preparation is the need to be familiar with student services. There are many supports that are in place to help students navigate their way through college such as counselling, the centre for accessible learning that helps students with disabilities, tutoring, academic coaching, financial aid, co-op and health services. All of these services work together to provide comprehensive support to students who may need help with understanding curriculum, managing their time or addressing personal issues that are impacted their ability to perform to the best of their ability.
When students attend orientation, they get to know about these services and meet the staff who will help them. Making these early connections can go a long way to helping a student feel comfortable in their new surroundings. But, there are also some business items that students can check off of their to do list. Completing a financial aid profile during orientation will help students who are eligible for financial assistance to access bursaries. Students can also pick up their student I-D photo cards which give them access to printing credits on campus as well as discounts at local businesses and students can learn about the Students’ Association dental and health plan coverage.
Of course, there are lots of fun social and recreational activities as well, including a move in day barbeque, a 5 kilometre walk/run, a concert, comedy night and so much more. All of these activities help build a campus community of support that quickly takes away any apprehension students have about their new learning environment.
Parents can also attend some orientation activities such as the move in day BBQ and a special brunch held on Labour Day weekend for out of town families. There’s also an information session for parents which helps them better understand how the college operates and where they can be an ally to help their student success. By sharing information with parents about what services are available to students, they often can help the college ensure students are accessing the supports they need to overcome any difficulty they are having in their program of study.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus is kicking off its orientation activities on Thursday, September 1st and Friday, September 2nd. Classes begin on Tuesday, September 6th so attending orientation sessions in advance will have students much better prepared for day one of classes. So, make the time and attend your orientation. It will be time well spent.
(Jamie Bramburger is the Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus)
Posted on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022
Canada’s worst day of World War ll highlights the Algonquin College virtual speaker series as the country marks the 80th anniversary of the ill-fated Dieppe raid. In a single day, more than 900 Canadian lives were lost on August 19, 1942 while another 3,460 Canadian soldiers were wounded and almost 2,000 were taken prisoner.
Author Hugh Brewster has written two books about the Dieppe raid and has joined other researchers in poring over the details of the disastrous mission and pondered why it had to happen. Brewster will share new insights into the raid through stories he was told when he befriended several Dieppe veterans during his research and his visit to the French port of Dieppe where the massacre occurred. His presentation is scheduled for Thursday, August 18.
Two nights earlier, on Tuesday, August 16, the College’s speaker series will mark the 45th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. The ‘King of Rock and Roll’ almost exclusively performed in the United States, but on three occasions in 1957 he travelled North of the border where he was greeted by enthusiastic Canadian audiences. Author Brandon Yip has researched and written about the three Canadian tour stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver and will share stories about the Elvis Canadian experience and why it was controversial.
On Wednesday, September 14, author Christopher Dummitt presents “Knowing Too Much about a Dead Canadian Prime Minister” when he digs into the life of Canada’s longest serving head of state, Mackenzie King. The diaries of Mackenzie King exposed the very private life of the Prime Minister and Dummit believes it led Canadians to rethink the boundaries between the public and the private and what counts as important information in judging public figures.
The final presentation in the history series will cover the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 when American President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khruschchev squared off over Cuba. It is often referred to as “13 Days in October,” a time when the world held its breath as the two leaders threatened nuclear strikes. In his presentation on Thursday, October 13, journalist Andrew Cohen questions why it happened, what we learned from this terrifying brinkmanship and six decades later, whether we could be facing another nuclear crisis over Ukraine?
The Algonquin College Speaker Series has been bringing interesting people, including authors, journalists, scientists and high-profile public personalities to the Pembroke Campus for more than 25 years. Speaking events have historically been held on campus, but since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the campus has moved to a virtual speaker series platform which makes the series more accessible to anyone who has internet connectivity.
Tickets for any of the upcoming speaker series are available online and all of the virtual presentations are being made available free to seniors 60 years of age and older. All of the presentations begin at 7 p.m. (EST)
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)
Posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2022
It’s the middle of the summer and some recently graduated high school students are still making plans for their future. It’s a big decision and the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed their outlook on where they see themselves career wise. It may also have them questioning whether they are ready for the rigor of post-secondary studies.
With rumblings of a recession, high inflation, rising interest rates and a red-hot labour market, we are in the midst of some turbulence. But, over time post-secondary education has proven to be one of the wisest decisions a person can make, leading to longer term stability in the labour force, opportunities for career advancement and a better resume that opens doors to employment for new college graduates.
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has a lot to offer. With more than 20 full-time programs available and a very committed group of student services staff and faculty, a smaller campus environment can help students make the transition to higher education. For example, the college has staff who support students with disabilities, provide guidance on applying for financial aid and help students secure co-op positions or work placements that provide them with real life work experience before they complete their program.
As more programming returns to campus this fall, students can expect a robust college experience that includes many events and activities offered through the Algonquin College Students’ Association and Student Services including an orientation concert, a 5 kilometre walk or run, comedy shows, intramural sports and access to great facilities like a gymnasium, fitness centre and rock climbing wall. All of these social and recreational experiences with other students help to make connections that can lead to new interests that broaden a student’s perspective, making them a more well-rounded individual when they complete their academic studies.
Becoming part of a college learning community is a special time for students. Meeting new people, some of whom will become life-long friends, and being taught new skills in a field that inspires you to make a difference is what a new high school graduate can expect. Of course, enrolling in a college program comes with responsibility and ultimately a student will need to take charge of their post-secondary experience.
Asking for help is always a good decision. Free services like coaching and tutoring can help keep a student on track, and learning about how to apply for a bursary can remove some of the burden that may be placed on students who are struggling financially. To be successful, students should take advantage of all of the supports that are available to them to succeed.
There is still time to apply to a college program that begins in September. Many programs have seats available and it’s not unusual for both recent high school graduates and mature applicants to make the decision during the summer months to attend school in the fall.
The first step is contacting the admissions team at the Pembroke Campus to learn more about the programs that are available, or doing your own research by visiting the campus website at: www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke. Step two is to apply through the Ontario College Application Services at: www.ontariocolleges.ca. Then, the admissions team will guide you through the rest of the process to become a student in the fall.
Colleges are well positioned to support employers and job seekers when the economy gets bumpy. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is well integrated within the community and is the primary feeder of trained individuals in several sectors including health care, social services, business, skilled trades, tourism, forestry and adventure tourism. If that’s where your career plans are focussed, take the time to connect with the college. It may be the best decision you make this summer.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. You can reach Jamie by email at brambuj@algonquincollege.com.
Posted on Monday, June 27th, 2022
Marcie Lane remembers the excruciating pain of losing her husband. Master Corporal Scott Vernelli was a career soldier, committed to the cause of the Canadian Armed Forces to bring peace and stability to people around the world and he repeatedly volunteered for missions. In Afghanistan, he would lose his life, only six months after he and Lane had welcomed their first child into the world.
The couple had met while they were both in uniform. Lane was a photojournalist, working under the direction of former Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier when she connected with Vernelli at a banquet in Ottawa. Soon, they were dating and making plans to begin a life together. That plan moved ahead when Lane landed a posting to Garrison Petawawa.
(Scott Vernelli and Marcie Lane hold their infant daughter Olivia)
By early 2008, Lane was pregnant. The soon-to-be parents looked forward to the arrival of their daughter, while Vernelli trained for his third tour of duty to Afghanistan, a mission to a war-torn country that had already cost many Canadian lives.
Canada had joined other nations in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Ironically, Olivia Vernelli would arrive on the seventh anniversary of the day the World Trade Centre crumbled to the ground in New York City.
Vernelli would leave for his final deployment to Afghanistan, 12 days after the birth of his little girl. Over the Christmas holidays, Vernelli was able to come home. Lane put her photography skills to work, capturing special family moments. It would be the last time Lane would spend time with her husband.
(Master Corporal Scott Vernelli in Afghanistan)
On March 20, 2009, only a few weeks before his scheduled return to Canada, Vernelli and another Canadian soldier were killed in action by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol. Vernelli was only 28 years old.
The tragedy left Lane broken. As she grieved the loss of her partner, she became angry and then depressed. “There were days I wanted to kill myself. The grief was so blinding and debilitating,” says Lane who remembers breaking down in a grocery store, feeling rage and pain that dropped her to her knees as she watched other military families in the store.
Unable to cope, she eventually reached out to a grief counsellor, an opportunity that was available to her through the Canadian Armed Forces. Gradually, Lane tried to get her life back on track. She accepted a posting to CFB Borden, but living away from her family with a young child was tough and her mental health again declined.
It was exercise and fitness that helped her turn her life around. As she began working out, her mood improved and she regained her confidence. When she left the military, she enrolled in a Fitness and Health program at Georgian College and then in 2018 found work with the Canadian Armed Forces Morale and Welfare Services in Gagetown, New Brunswick.
(Wearing her Algonquin College convocation gown, Marcie Lane stands with her Father, Harry Lane; daughter Olivia Vernelli; and Mother, Bonnie Farrell at the Fallen Soldier Monument at Garrison Petawawa on Sunday, June 26.)
It was a dream job. She was happy to be engaged again in a military community, helping soldiers stay fit, but three months later, after she and her daughter had driven halfway across the country to allow her to start a new position, she was on her way back to Petawawa. Lane was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. It was devastating news.
She knew she needed to be closer to family, so she and Olivia returned to Petawawa as she began cancer treatments. She lost her hair, shed some tears, often felt very tired and struggled emotionally with whether she would be able to beat the cancer. As she reflected on her life, she questioned why such horrible things had happened to her. But, she was about to have an awakening as her illness brought her face to face with someone who would become a soul sister.
The turning point for Lane came when she was lying in a hospital bed in Ottawa undergoing treatments for her cancer. She had a roommate who was facing the same battle and the two women bonded quickly, referring to themselves as “pink sisters,” but their socioeconomic status was very different.
The woman that Lane was drawing strength from while they simultaneously experienced the side effects of chemotherapy was on the verge of being homeless. She had given up her job while she was undergoing treatment, she had no health care benefits and the loss of an income left her with no money to pay rent and in danger of losing her vehicle.
“Nobody came to visit her. She often tossed and turned at night, not entirely caused from being ill after a day of gruelling treatment, but because she was grappling with how she would survive if she did survive,” reflects Lane.
By contrast, Lane had the support of her parents and her daughter who often visited her in hospital and took care of her family pets while she focussed on getting better. She couldn’t help but think that life was unfair. She thought about those who had helped her in her darkest days and found her calling. She wanted to be a social worker.
Lane had joined the army in 2000, following in the footsteps of her father, Harry Lane. During basic training, she kept a photo of her father in the inside pocket of her military fatigues. In the photo, her father is curled up in his military sleeping bag, exhausted after a hard day’s work in the field. Scribbled on the back of the well-weathered photo, was a message from her Dad that always inspired her. It said, “Quitting is not an option.”
Marcie Lane is definitely not a quitter. She has experienced the raw pain that life can sometimes deliver and has overcome a life-threatening illness. She takes life one day at a time and works hard to help others, including helping her daughter learn about the father she never knew.
(Marcie Lane’s daughter, cadet Olivia Vernelli, salutes at the Fallen Soldier Memorial at Garrison Petawawa, while Marcie and her parents look at the memorial)
Master Corporal Scott Vernelli is buried at Beechwood, Canada’s National Military cemetery. On Father’s Day, Marcie and Olivia stood at his gravesite. Olivia wore a cadet uniform. Marcie brought a graduation gown. It was an emotional but beautiful private moment, one that mourned the loss of a husband and father, but also celebrated Olivia following in her parent’s military path and Marcie’s recent graduation from Algonquin College.
Last fall, Olivia became an Army Cadet with the 3rd division of the Royal Canadian Regiment, embracing the family’s military tradition and joining the same regiment that her Dad had served in. A few weeks ago, Marcie walked across the stage at the Pembroke Memorial Centre, an Honours graduate of Algonquin College’s Social Service Worker program, a credential she earned during a worldwide pandemic. She also received the W.T. Eldon Craig Memorial Award for “Most Outstanding Graduate of the Social Service Worker Program.”
But, it’s not the end of Lane’s educational journey. She has recently been admitted to a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work Degree program at Laurentian University. She will begin her university studies this coming fall.
Lane’s story is still being written, but her response to tragedy is what has driven her to help others. The “pink sister” she met while staring down cancer remains her inspiration. She’ll never forget her, nor her husband who died a Canadian hero. She has found a way forward, demonstrating that “we can all overcome adversity and succeed in life.” That’s the message she will carry forward in her career as a social worker.
Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus
