To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Manitoba’s aerospace industry faced a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) challenge: repairing aircraft components made from alloys highly susceptible to degradation and oxidization. These materials are lightweight but costly to maintain and repair—until now.

A collaboration between StandardAero and RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) proved that cold spray technology can provide an innovative solution that meets the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) standards.

“I was very appreciative of the work that RRC Polytech performed on this project and pleased with the collaboration between the two technical teams to produce an output we’ll hopefully be able to use for years to come,” says Brent Ostermann, Vice President of Product Assurance and Quality at Standard Aero. “[Cold spray] is going to help us advance our business, technology and capability in the future.” 

Cold spray is an additive manufacturing process where metal particles half the thickness of a strand of hair move at 23 times the speed of sound, impacting to a surface to form a bond. Light alloys are highly reactive so they can’t be repaired using traditional methods like welding, but they can be repaired using cold spray because the process occurs at a very low heat.

StandardAero worked with RRC Polytech researchers, faculty and students to identify which alloys had the best bonding properties and prove the technology’s capacity to repair those materials.

“Now that we have the proof of concept on specific materials, we’ll look at the data and identify some candidates from all the products we service…Sometime in 2025, we’ll start applying the technology to those products,” says Ostermann. “We believe this project has positioned us to be right there with the demands of the OEMs as they need new and advanced repair technologies to support their products.”

TACAM’s strong presence in the aerospace sector, experience with cold spray technology from ongoing projects and long-standing relationship with StandardAero made the Centre an ideal partner. 

“We were a bit challenged on having some of the internal expertise,” says Ostermann. “The collaboration gave us the bandwidth to get to the end result much quicker.

The year-long project took place at the Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training (CATT), co-located at StandardAero’s Plant 5 facility, engaging RRC Polytech researchers, faculty and students. It allowed the College and StandardAero to build in-house capabilities, provide training and foster technology transfer to support this MRO method. 

Along with producing highly skilled graduates, this project will have a broader impact across our province: The new experience and capabilities developed with cold spray technology can be transferred to support partners in other sectors across Manitoba.

“This project showed TACAM’s ability to push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing and repair techniques for critical aerospace components,” says Ryan Cummine, Research Manager, TACAM. 

“We are proud to have supported one of the province’s leading aerospace companies in developing innovative techniques for aircraft component repair by combining advanced manufacturing technologies and applied research.”

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

It was once unfathomable to build an electric battery that could power a Tundra Buggy in Churchill’s extreme weather conditions and allow visiting tourists to marvel at the wonders of nature in near silence. And yet, that’s exactly what RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) and industry partner, Noble Northern, accomplished through applied research. 

“Our teams worked together on the design and integration of the electric components, focusing on optimizing performance, range and reliability,” said Tye Noble, CEO of Noble Northern.  

On Aug. 24, 2021, Frontiers North Adventures and RRC Polytech unveiled the first Electric Vehicle Tundra Buggy®. Ever since, the EV Tundra Buggy has reduced Frontier North’s GHG emissions and operated in all of Churchill’s subarctic seasons.

This zero-emission vehicle technology initiative leveraged Noble Northern’s in-depth knowledge of EV conversion and built on VTEC’s existing work electrifying transit buses. 

“This involved extensive engineering work, including adapting the vehicle’s existing systems to support the new electric powertrain and ensuring that all modifications met rigorous performance and safety standards,” said Noble.

Together, they repurposed an e-bus battery to create an innovative solution that reduces noise pollution and addresses the climate crisis at a local level. The EV Tundra Buggy garnered massive media interest, solidified RRC Polytech’s reputation as a leader in EV technology and promoted the geography and people of Northern Manitoba. Noble said the partnership with VTEC significantly elevated the company’s profile in the EV conversion industry. 

“Working on the EV Tundra Buggy project allowed us to showcase our technical capabilities and commitment to innovation,” said Noble. 

“It also provided us with valuable experience in adapting our technology to specialized applications, which in turn attracted further opportunities and projects. The success of this project reinforced our reputation for delivering high-quality, effective solutions, and enhanced our business relationships and market position.”

The EV Tundra Buggy was made possible through the province’s Conservation and Climate Fund and the Vehicle Technology Centre (VTCI) — a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Manitoba’s heavy vehicle manufacturing sector. VTEC also provided in-kind support and technical services.

“The EV Tundra Buggy project is a quintessential made-in-Manitoba story. It has links to conservation, tourism and environmental stewardship, highlighting the ability of industry partnerships to create positive impact in Manitoba, for Manitobans, through reducing environmental impact and benefitting our local economy,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

It was just a few months after the unveiling, that Red River College evolved into RRC Polytech to better reflect its rapidly growing applied research capabilities and academic agility to support industry with the workforce of tomorrow. The EV Tundra Buggy project helped demonstrate to Manitobans that polytechnics help make things possible – things that would be impossible, were it not for our involvement. By the time, the project was featured in 2023’s comprehensive billboard, radio, print, digital and bus bench advertising campaign, the institution’s new identity had been embraced and it was chosen to showcase how we find solutions to local and global problems.

The project continues to resonate for all three partners today, as Frontiers North continues to shift its entire touring fleet of Tundra Buggies from diesel-powered to battery-electric. While in addition to lending their support, VTEC and Noble Northern are also using the valuable knowledge gained in their first successful endeavour, as they team up on an active school bus electrification project.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Established in 2004, Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) leads the applied research  enterprise at RRC Polytech. RPI is a gateway for industry and community to access the vast base of knowledge, capabilities, facilities and networks that reside at Red River College Polytechnic — a Canadian leader in applied research (AR) and commercialization.

RPI also proactively identifies practical AR opportunities that can provide mutual benefit to both the College and potential partners of all sizes with a focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through our Office of Applied Research Services (OARS), RPI oversees the administration of all research activities across the College.

Along with granting a variety of credentials and delivering skilled trades programming, AR is one of three pillars that define a polytechnic. It connects all areas of the College, it differentiates us from other post-secondaries in Manitoba, and our unique approach to align Research with Indigenous Strategy and Business Development positions us as a leader on the global stage.  

In its two decades of existence, our AR operation has reached an impressive scale through hard work, relationship building and a focused effort to lead innovation in Manitoba. Through our wide array of leading-edge facilities, expertise and technology, we can essentially support any industry, business or community, at any stage. We are eager to strengthen our leadership position in the innovation ecosystem and collaborate on AR projects that drive progress across our province and beyond.

RPI’s areas of specialization include: 

• Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics 
• Cleantech with focus on EV and building efficiency 
• Health, nutrition and social sciences with focus on culinary research and food innovation 
• Early childhood development research 
• Enabling adoption of digital technologies including AI and automation  

Through collaborative AR projects, we help transform the dreams and ideas of our partners into reality while providing students with invaluable experience through work-integrated learning. Our award-winning work is often admired as the gold standard, and has driven Manitoba forward economically, environmentally, socially and culturally – positioning the province for success in a globally competitive environment.

RRC Polytech has been demonstrating what is possible in Manitoba for 20 years. We want to thank our generous funders and supporters, and of course, all of our partners for trusting us to help achieve their goals by developing new products and processes that drive growth for everyone. We look forward to building on those relationships, as together, we’ll create a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for all.

In acknowledgement of our 20^th anniversary, we wanted to showcase some of the successes we’ve shared with our partners, past and present. Each week we’ll release a new installment of this online series entitled RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. We’ll provide recaps of previous posts and include updates on related accomplishments achieved since the original publish dates. We’ll also explain what our talented teams learned along the way to make us better at what we do and how the project made a positive impact on RRC Polytech.

With literally thousands of projects to choose from, we’re confident these 20 stories will highlight our strengths and capabilities, show the depth and breadth of the work we do, and spark interest in pursuing an AR collaboration with us.

Please enjoy these stories and reach out to rpi@rrc.ca so that your innovation can be featured at RPI’s 25^th Anniversary!

Dr. Jolen Galaugher

Director, Research Partnerships & Innovation, RRC Polytech

Innovative ideas and fresh new products are always on the menu at RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK), Western Canada’s only Technology Access Centre that blends culinary arts and food science. But in addition to contributing to applied research projects for industry partners and clients, this summer’s co-op students at PRK also whipped up a little something special for themselves.

As part of their work-integrated learning experience, a trio of ambitious culinary students jumped at the challenge to create their own unique food product and take it from concept to market.

“It was a fun process that really tested everything we’ve learned and boosted my confidence,” said Culinary Arts student, Yesenia Portillo. “It’s a nice sendoff or grand finale to a chapter of my educational journey that I’ll never forget.”

Portillo named their sweet pepperoncini relish ‘Prairie Glow’ as a tribute to their positive experience working at PRK. They actually stumbled upon the key ingredient by accident but say the combination of its acidic brightness and sweet subtle heat made their tastebuds dance. They recommend their relish to other pickle-lovers as a perfect complement to charcuterie boards or pizza.   

Originally from Winnipegosis and a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe, Tia Fleming chose to highlight her Indigenous culture with a barbecue sauce that works well with the wild game commonly served in the area. She combined locally grown saskatoon berries with jalapeño and after consulting with community, Fleming harvested and torched her own sweetgrass then infused it into vinegar to add smoky flavour and a spiritual element.

Indigenous Language Instructor, Corey Whitford provided the Anishinaabemowin translation for the label of the sauce that lists the main ingredients. Gaa Gi-zhi-deg Mis-kwaa-ko-a-too-mi-na Wiin-gash-ki Baash-ki mi-na-si-gan will be gifted and not sold due to its medicinal properties.

“I wanted my product to demonstrate that food can be delicious, healing and tell a story all at the same time,” said Fleming, a student in RRC Polytech’s Indigenous Culinary Skills program. “I feel proud that I’m learning new skills that I can share with family and my community and eventually give back by teaching others. It would be awesome if this was the first in a line of sauces that someday I could bring to Pow Wows and ceremonies.”

Intrigued by food chemistry with a focus on sustainability, Hui-Yun Sim, a Professional Baking student experimented with using a red lentil component before settling on a high protein chickpea pulse flour as the base for an instant brownie mix. Showcased at EDC’s Culinary Exchange, her Chocolate Chickpea Pleasers Brownie Mix lived up to its name as stock didn’t last long.    

“It’s so cool to see other students actually buying your product that’s made from weird or unfamiliar ingredients to them, and to know it tastes great,” said Sim. “PRK was an empowering place to work, I’m much stronger for it.”        

That’s because coming up with a clever or meaningful product idea was just the beginning. Determining the ingredients and recipe required more than just dozens of trials and taste tests – it took careful analysis of food costs and availability, allergens, nutritional values and scalability. They also needed working knowledge of procurement, health and safety measures, and marketing to navigate their ideas from potential to reality.

Despite the individual nature of the assignment, collaboration is a foundational objective at PRK, so the students worked together to perfect their creations and were supported by the professional research staff and even partners as Bee-Maid generously donated honey for the students to use.

“This is the first time we’ve attempted three separate student-led creations in one summer, but they each had their own vision and were very determined to showcase their culinary and critical thinking skills by seeing it through,” said Anna Borys, Research Technician at Prairie Research Kitchen.

“They ultimately came up with really tasty and thoughtful products while gaining a much better understanding of the amount of work it takes to put a single food item on a grocery store shelf.”

While their backgrounds, approaches, dreams and products are vastly different, all three of PRK’s most recent co-op students are moving forward in their careers with the same thought – it’s a healthy serving of thinking, learning, adapting, and planning that leads to culinary excellence and innovation.  

“Our team at PRK approaches our work with an entrepreneurial mindset. We encourage each member, including our co-op students, to expand their creative boundaries to best support our clients, each other and their own personal development,” said Mavis McRae, Director, Prairie Research Kitchen.

“Incorporating concepts like cultural significance, practicality and sustainability into great tasting food demonstrates the ability of these students to blend their expertise with their passions – something I’m proud to say our team does every day and that will serve them well in all of their future endeavours.”

You’re invited – please join us on November 19! 

Indigenous entrepreneurs are at the forefront of innovation, blending traditional knowledge with cutting-edge research to build businesses that honor culture and foster community. In today’s world, the strategic use of Intellectual Property (IP) can be a game-changer, driving growth and creating opportunities both locally and internationally.

Please join us for a special event at at RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus, hosted by Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) in collaboration with the North Forge ElevateIP Program, that aims to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs. This gathering will bring together innovators, legal experts, and community partners to explore how IP can be harnessed to protect and scale businesses rooted in applied research and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Location: Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
Exchange District Campus – RRC Polytech
 319 Elgin Ave.

Seating is limited, sign up today

Please RSVP Here 

Open to all – Elevate IP is committed to providing inclusive access to IP support for Canadian startups.

North Forge is an ElevateIP Recipient: a national program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, leading in intellectual property supports for startups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) at RRC Polytech is proudly celebrating its 20th year of connecting industry and community with academia through applied research. Collaboration is at the heart of all RPI projects, so we’re excited to invite all partners – past, present and future – along with funders, supporters, students and staff to join us for a special event to mark this significant milestone.    

Everyone is welcome to join us at our Notre Dame Campus on November 26^th for an RPI Open House. Visit our research facilities and meet our research professionals to learn more about the impact our applied research has on all Manitobans. Guests can also check out an academic showcase featuring information booths promoting many of the exciting programs being offered at RRC Polytech. You’re welcome to take a self-guided tour, explore and connect throughout the morning.

Free Parking and Shuttle

Complimentary event parking will be available in our W4 lot on Tuesday November, 26 for guests attending the 20-Years of RPI Celebration. Please use the WEST ENTRANCE to enter the campus off Notre Dame Ave. An Event Parking sign will be placed at the W4 lot. Click here for a Parking Map. A complimentary shuttle service will operate on a loop every 10 minutes to bring guests directly to the main doors of Building T and back to W4 when they are ready to leave.

Open House/Self-Guided Tours and Academic Showcase

• Tuesday, November 26, 2024
• 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (Building T)
• Notre Dame Campus – RRC Polytech
• 2055 Notre Dame Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3H 0J9

Please RSVP if you plan to attend, however, registration is not required

We’re eager to highlight how Manitoba’s polytechnic can continue to help industry and communities develop innovative solutions, increase technology transfer and accelerate commercialization while preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

To reflect on our collective accomplishments, we’ll also be releasing the first installment of an ongoing online collection of shared success stories, entitled RPI – 20 Stories for 20 Years.

RPI is proud to be industry’s gateway to applied research – 20 years and growing stronger!

Research Manitoba recently announced that RRC Polytech has been awarded a Research Connections grant as part of an overall $64,750 investment towards the overall advancement of the research ecosystem across the province.  

Research Connections funding supports events that create skill development opportunities, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, highlight research findings to the public, and connect researchers with potential industry partners. Eligible events include conferences, workshops, seminars, and other research-related gatherings.

In recognition of the 20th anniversary of its Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) enterprise, RRC Polytech will be holding a showcase event this fall to connect researchers across disciplines and build relationships with industry, funders and other post-secondaries. This will provide an opportunity to elevate profiles, forge interdisciplinary collaboration, exchange best practices and share valuable insights into the success of applied research at RRC Polytech.

Please mark October 16th on your calendar and stay tuned for more information!

Five years ago, RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen established a partnership with Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) to create a product incorporating kale into sausages – a popular food product in the community.

More recently, PRK was called upon once again to find even more delicious dishes incorporating kale to support research with the University of Manitoba related to consumption of the leafy green and the numerous health benefits. One example the culinary team and students created was a non-spicy chili and cornbread product featuring kale, while incorporating sage as a familiar and subtle enhancement.

This is the beginning of an ongoing tri-partnership collaboration with PRK, OCN and U of M using technology to grow, culinary research to develop new projects, and the science team to analyze the impacts.

Scroll this article for recipes.

About RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen:

RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen supports industry growth by leveraging College infrastructure and instructor expertise into applied research and training. The research team’s unique blend of culinary skills and food science knowledge drives creative new applications of Canadian food products.

In 2019, Prairie Research Kitchen received a Technology Access Centre (TAC) grant from NSERC, providing $1.75 million over five years. This is RRC Polytech’s third Technology Access Centre, joining the existing Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) and the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM).

Recipes

Kale Cornbread Muffins

Yield: 18 Muffins
Contains: Wheat/Gluten, Eggs, Milk

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (177C).
2. In a large bowl, sift and mix the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and sage.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add in the milk, kale puree, and the honey and whisk until combined.
4. Melt the butter. Add the milk mixture and melted butter to the dry ingredients.
5. Whisk until all the dry ingredients have barely disappeared.
6. Add in the chopped kale and fold using a spatula. Be careful to avoid overmixing.
7. Scoop into lined muffin tins, filling about ¾ of the way with batter.
8. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned on the tops.
9. Let cool for 3 minutes before removing from the hot pan and onto a different cool surface.
10. Let cool slightly and serve when still warm.
11. Other instructions: Best served when warm to maintain soft and moist crumb

Chili with Kale

Yield: 4 servings

Method:

1. In a large soup pot, cook ground beef until browned. Drain off excess fat, reserving 1 tablespoon.
2. Add in onions and cook until translucent.
3. Add in beans, tomatoes, water, and all seasonings. Mix well.
4. Simmer chili for 10 minutes.
5. Take off heat and add in fresh chopped kale, mix to incorporate.

RRC Polytech is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples to create opportunity through applied learning and research – so it’s imperative that the College community understands, respects and upholds the principles of OCAP® and the rights of First Nations to control their own information. Standing for Ownership, Control, Access and Possession, OCAP® is a tool that supports strong information governance and a path toward First Nations data sovereignty by establishing how First Nations’ data and information will be collected, protected, used, or shared.

The College’s applied research enterprise, Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) is uniquely positioned and eager to build relationships through collaborative initiatives and community-based research projects that contribute to transformative change by serving the needs of Indigenous communities.

RPI recently invited Leslie MacGregor, Senior Education Officer for the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) to RRC Polytech to conduct a training and awareness session for all College staff to enhance their knowledge about the principles of OCAP® and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as well as the importance of promoting First Nations data sovereignty.

“As partners, administrators, researchers and research leaders we need to ensure that OCAP® and FPIC principles are followed when First Nations data has the potential to be collected, protected, interpreted, stored, used or shared in any way and that our research addresses community-specific needs,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation at RRC Polytech.

“We recognize that research in Canada has a long history of harm to Indigenous Peoples and communities and that it’s our responsibility to build trust by establishing authentic partnerships that adhere to the vision each community has for its future and respecting the goal of self-determination.”

The one-hour OCAP® training session was offered virtually as well as in-person and will have a lasting impact across multiple schools, disciplines and areas of the College. In total, 40 staff members participated in the awareness presentation while almost 30 completed the full workshop including members of the School of Indigenous Education (SIE), RPI, Library, Corporate Solutions, and RRC Polytech’s Research Ethics Board.

In addition to defining terms and outlining strategies that consider Indigenous practices and principles including a First Nation’s worldview, traditional knowledge and protocols, MacGregor’s presentation touched on overarching themes of reciprocity, relationships, rebuilding and respect and concluded with a question-and-answer period.

“Living our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation requires constant action. This training and awareness session with FNIGC is just one step in ensuring that the research we carry out minimizes harm and maximizes benefit to communities,” added Dr. Galaugher. “To do so will require continuous learning, not only through formal training sessions but also by actively and conscientiously engaging the perspectives of Indigenous researchers, Knowledge Keepers and community members who choose to join us on a mutually beneficial journey of discovery.”

To facilitate the transfer of knowledge from that continuous learning, RPI has also launched an Indigenous Perspectives in Applied Research Speaker Series with three talks and workshops held to date.

OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) For full context and additional details please visit the FNIGC website.

The deadline to apply for the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grant is approaching.

As a Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) Partner Institution, current students and recent graduates from RRC Polytech could be awarded a $30,000 grant to initiate or extend a project/innovation that is youth-led (ages 18-30) and focused on climate change or climate mitigation. All projects will be made possible with funding from Wawanesa Insurance.

Canada needs your innovative solutions now more than ever. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a Climate Champion that creates lasting change. Apply for the Youth Innovation Grant today for your chance to be part of a more sustainable future.

Click to apply