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Algonquin College Welcomes New Federal Funding Support for Apprentices

Canada Apprentice Loan program, introduced in 2014 Federal Budget and long advocated for by Polytechnics Canada, will provide apprentices with an additional form of financial support in the form of interest free loans during their training.

 

(Ottawa, January 9, 2015) Hundreds of Algonquin College current and future apprentices could benefit from a new federal loan program, which is now open to Red Seal Trade apprentices.

The Canada Apprentice Loan program, a 10-year program announced in the 2014 federal budget, is designed to assist apprentices in completing their training, and to encourage more Canadians to consider a career in the skilled trades.

The program offers assistance of up to $4,000 to apprentices for a maximum of five periods of technical training. These loans are interest-free for up to six years, provided the apprentice is registered in an approved Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program.

The loans are intended to defray program costs, including educational fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone wages.

“We believe this new program will make apprentices at all postsecondary institutions more successful in their studies,” says Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “This program will help alleviate the financial worries faced by apprentices who step away from work to upgrade their skills. We applaud the government for recognizing the importance of supporting those pursuing a hands-on career in the skilled trades at polytechnic institutions like Algonquin College.”

“Canada Apprentice Loans will enable more apprentices to pursue the next level of their technical training at so many training institutions and organizations in Canada,” says Nobina Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnics Canada. “These loans, complemented by many other supports the government has opened for trades trainees across Canada, will help to ease the risk faced by apprentices who have to resign from jobs to gain the next level of training and certification in their trade.”

For more information on the Canada Apprentice Loan program, visit www.pca-cal.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Phil Gaudreau
Communications Officer, Algonquin College
Phone: 613-727-4623 ext 2091
Email: gaudrep@algonquincollege.com
Email preferred

Ken Doyle
Director of Policy, Polytechnics Canada
Phone: 613-688-0690
Email: kdoyle@polytechnicscanada.ca

About Algonquin College – www.algonquincollege.com:

The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into skills and knowledge, leading to lifelong career success. Algonquin College does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected applied learning in over 185 programs. Based in Canada’s capital, the Ottawa Valley, and Saudi Arabia, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario with 18,000 full-time and 37,000 part-time and online registrants.

About Polytechnics Canada – www.polytechnicscanada.ca

Polytechnics Canada is the voice of leading research-intensive, publicly funded colleges and institutes of technology. We are dedicated to helping colleges and industry create jobs for tomorrow through the innovation and talent of our students and graduates. Last year, Polytechnics Canada’s member institutions provided the technical training for over 40,000 apprentices in over 200 programs. Algonquin College is one of 11 Polytechnics Canada members.

Opportunities Growing for Algonquin College Students on Windmill Development Group Project

windmill mou

Opportunities Growing for Algonquin College Students on Windmill Development Group Project
Morning event serves as update for multiple projects underway or starting soon on the former Domtar lands in downtown Ottawa.

(Ottawa, December 4, 2014) It’s not every day students get to contribute to the development and construction of Canada’s most sustainable mixed-use community. But as Windmill Development Group and Algonquin College come together to re-sign the MOU originally signed in March 2014, the opportunities for students are growing and taking shape.
“Hands-on projects with real-world applications give our students the skills, knowledge, and experience they expect from an Algonquin College education,” says Cheryl Jensen, President of Algonquin College. “We are so pleased to be able to connect our students and employees with Windmill Development Group on this ground-breaking project. Years from now, we will be able to look at this environmental showpiece and say, ‘Algonquin College students helped make it happen’.”
As the College and Windmill work together to transform 37 acres of land into a world-class, sustainable waterfront community near the Chaudière Bridge overlooking Parliament Hill, students from Architectural Technology, Green Architecture, Horticultural Industries, Water and Waste Water Technician, and Applied Museum Studies (just to name a few) will have a variety of projects to contribute.
“This is one of the most important projects in our City’s history, and Algonquin College and its students are honoured to be part of it,” says Richard Briginshaw, program coordinator of the Green Architecture program at Algonquin College, and Co-Chair of the Algonquin College on the Isles committee. “We strongly believe our students will play a critical role in the development of Windmill’s vision.”
Architectural Technology students have completed their site analysis and have begun preliminary design work for 10 sustainable building design projects culminating as their third year project. Environmental Management and Assessment students will be sampling and conducting their own soil and ground water research, while also analyzing past reports. Finally, Applied Museum Studies students will be completing an integrated framework and an integrated master plan of the site. Some of the upcoming opportunities for student involvement include the development of multimedia materials, the restoration of stonework, and market research.
For more information on the AC on the Isles Project and the partnership between Algonquin College and Windmill, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/isles.
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For more information, please contact:
Phil Gaudreau
Communications Officer, Algonquin College
Phone: 613-727-4623 ext 2091
Email: gaudrep@algonquincollege.com
Email preferred

 

Stan Larose on his way to the Skills National Competition – June 4th-7th

At the beginning of June, Stan Larose and his coach, professor Stan Wierzbowski will be making their way to Toronto to compete in the Automotive Service Technician competition as part of the prestigious Skills Canada National Competition. Stan Larose earned his place at this competition by winning a gold medal in the Ontario Technological Skills Competition in early May 2014. Great job on winning the Gold medal at the Provincial competition and best of luck at the National Competition!

About the Skills Canada National Competition – The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Every year, more than 550 young people from all regions of Canada come to SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology contests. Skills/Compétences Canada expects 15,000 people to visit the over 500,000 square feet of event space at SCNC 2014. By providing a forum where Canadian youth can compete against each another at the national level, SCNC provides hands-on work experience related to skilled trades and technology careers. Through these competitions, Skills/Compétences Canada also seeks to raise awareness about skilled trades and technology sectors to all Canadian youth and their influencers

2014 Ontario Technological Skills Competition Winners!

Earlier this month, thirteen Algonquin College students attended the Ontario Technological Skills Competition, and we are pleased to announce three winners! Congratulations to Stan Larose who took Gold in the Automotive Service Technician competition, Spencer Livingston who took Silver in Truck and Coach, and Brennan Lane who took Bronze in Cabinetmaking. The Ontario Technological Skills Competition is the largest skilled trades’ competition in Canada and has been compared to the “Olympics of Skilled Trades”. For more information on this competition please visit – http://www.skillsontario.com/index.php/en/competitions/otsc

Algonquin College Instrumentation and Control Technician program featured in Manufacturing Automation Magazine

The Algonquin College Instrumentation and Control Technician apprenticeship program is featured in the January/February 2014 issue of Manufacturing Automation magazine and outlines how 140 employees at Abbott Point of Care are receiving training to help them “adapt to a changing manufacturing industry”. Please click on the following link and surf over to page 12 to find out more about this great opportunity and how Abbott Point of Care is investing in their workforce.

Motive Power Pre-Apprenticeship program offered in conjunction with University of Guelph

The University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus, in partnership with Algonquin College announces a new Motive Power Pre-Apprenticeship program being offered starting April 14th and running through to October 24th, 2014. Please view the University of Guelph flyer at the following link – https://www.algonquincollege.com/sat/files/2014/02/UofG-MotivePowerPreApprenticeFlyer2014.pdf

Cost: Free for selected applicants

Entrance Requirements: OSSD or equivalent, Mechanical Reasoning Test, personal interview.

No previous experience required

Space is very limited – please call Angela Rodger Casey at 613-258-8336 ext 61377 or email arodger@uoguelph.ca for more information.

Instrumentation and Control Technician Apprenticeship program highlighted in the Ottawa Citizen

This article highlighting the new Instrumentation and Control Technician Apprenticeship program appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on October 2, 2013 – “OTTAWA — Alvin Canlas is being paid to learn new skills that could help him get a better job someday.

The 37-year-old Ottawa man is one of 140 full-time employees enrolled in a new, on-the-job apprenticeship program launched last week by Abbott Point of Care, in partnership with Algonquin College.

The sprawling plant off Moodie Drive makes postage stamp-sized cartridges used in hand-held medical diagnostic devices, which provide doctors and nurses with real-time, lab-quality results in minutes.

“It makes me feel better if I wake up in the morning and I know that I’m going to benefit from this and the company is going to benefit by sending their employees to this training program,” said Canlas, who has worked as a technician at Abbott for a decade.

He works day-shifts through the week, but spends four hours a week in an on-site classroom next to the cafeteria, where students are trained to become instrumentation and control technicians.

Canlas and his classmates, who were invited by the company to apply, will attend classes here for the next three years, and eventually earn Algonquin diplomas and trade certificates that qualify them to work anywhere in Canada……..”

Please click here to visit the Instrumentation and Control Technician Apprenticeship web page