At the 2013 Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGM) Awards Gala Dinner held October 25, Mr. Ray Hoemsen, director, Applied Research and Commercialization, Red River College (RRC) proudly received the Honourary Life Membership.
“It’s truly an honour,” said Mr. Hoemsen. “Even though this type of recognition is individual in nature, it would not be possible without the support of the academic/applied research team and the College.”
“Ray has had an incredible career spanning over 35 years, and we are pleased to be able to grant him an Honorary Life Membership,” said Mrs. Dawn Nedohin-Macek, P.Eng, president, APEGM. “He is an inspiration to his students, faculty and fellow Professional Engineers.”
“On-behalf of the College I wish to personally congratulate Ray,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president and ceo, Red River College. “He’s instrumental in positioning our College on the map through research initiatives and has made RRC become a place where industry comes to explore applied research needs.”
The granting of an Honorary Life Membership recognizes many years of meritorious service rendered to the Association or the profession. Candidates are rated on Years of Membership in APEGM, Participation on Committees of APEGM, and Meritorious Service to the Profession. Honorary Life Membership may be granted only by a unanimous decision of Council.
Mr. Hoemsen plays a key-role in increasing research funding at RRC, and leading a team of dedicated research professionals. Some recent projects Hoemsen’s Applied Research & Commercialization team has spearheaded include improving energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings. This saw the College conducting air leakage testing on several commercial buildings and evaluating the effectiveness of capturing solar energy to generate thermal heat.
Additionally, working with the College’s Technology Access Centre assisted the College’s work with aerospace and manufacturing through the efforts of the Centre for Aviation Technology and Training (CATT) at Standard Aero and the Centre for Non-Destructive Inspection.
Other projects major projects included the College’s participation in electric vehicle technology demonstrations and participation in the development of the zero emissions all electric battery bus prototype as a partner in an international consortia. Integration of equipment to support food technology research and development at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute has also been a significant development in the College’s applied research capabilities.

Red River College has been ranked seventh out of 50 Canadian research colleges and polytechnics, having posted $4.37 million in research income during the 2012 fiscal year. The ranking is based on the inaugural Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges List, released Oct. 23 by Research Infosource Inc.
“This is excellent validation for the College,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President and CEO of RRC. “Colleges and polytechnics play a key role in research and innovation in our country. Today’s announcement demonstrates our growth and ever-increasing engagement with industry, while further establishing us as a top-performing Canadian college and polytechnic and a strategic research partner for businesses.”
Major areas and initiatives supported by the research funding included improvements to the energy performance of commercial and industrial buildings, technology and training for Manitoba’s aerospace and manufacturing industries, and testing and demonstration of electric vehicles.
Much of the research leverages the province’s harsh climate to conduct practical research and testing to solve real-world problems faced by Manitoba industries and communities, while also producing innovative solutions that can have an impact on the lives of all Canadians.
“We are working on several cutting-edge projects, such as solar trough evaluation, electric vehicle technology development and demonstration, and various projects focused in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors, but that’s only a sampling of the breadth of our research,” said Ray Hoemsen, Director, Applied Research & Commercialization at RRC.
“We started out with about $50,000 in research funding in 2004 and with the support of our faculty, staff and students have seen steady growth. There have been many successful partnerships with industry that have positively impacted our partners, provided our students exceptional applied learning opportunities, and made contributions to economic development in Manitoba.”
Some of the aforementioned partners include the Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, New Flyer Industries, the University of Manitoba, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Granny’s Poultry.
One example of a significant project is the development of a zero-emission all-electric transit bus prototype (shown above), for which RRC served as a partner in an international consortium. As well, integration of equipment to support food technology research and development at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute has been a significant progression in the College’s applied research resources and capabilities.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Western Diversification, and the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) have all provided funding to support applied research projects, programs and/or infrastructure.
Click here to learn more about applied research at Red River College.

Representatives from 12 colleges across Canada joined Red River College (RRC) to share best practices related to providing access to advanced technology and training with industry.
The forum was designed to allow participating Canadian colleges that receive “Technology Access Centre” funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to discuss best practices to increase the intensity of training, applied research, and professional services provided to industry.
“Colleges play a critical role within the training industry with input on the latest tools and technologies necessary for industry to remain competitive and productive,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president and CEO, RRC. “It was our pleasure to host this group of colleges who are leading many research efforts across Canada. This forum also gave us an opportunity to showcase Red River’s Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training at StandardAero and to provide delegates with an opportunity to tour our city via the all-electric battery transit bus prototype – just a few of the collaborative research projects Red River College participates in.”
“The forum covered a lot of ground, but focused on the key issues regarding building sector-specific technology clusters to serve the needs of the community and provide opportunities for applied research and advanced training partnerships,” said Ray Hoemsen, director of Applied Research & Commercialization at RRC.  “It was a great example of cross-sector collaboration on a national scale.”
Last fall the Honourable Gary Goodyear, then Minister of State for Science and Technology came to Winnipeg to announce the first national awards of the NSERC Technology Centres, from which RRC will receive almost $1.7 million through the NSERC’s Community and College Innovation Program to establish the Aerospace and Manufacturing Technology Access Centre.
“It is a significant level of support for the College, and we are receiving positive feedback from industry and the community,” said Hoemsen. “The lessons learned from this forum are being incorporated directly into the group’s strategic planning and deliverables.”
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International business development is an often-overlooked opportunity for small- to medium-sized (SME) enterprises. Renewable energy solutions definitely have a global market and a group of Red River College students are helping Manitoba SMEs understand where in the world they should seek business development opportunities.
Join Red River College instructor, Tatjana Brkic and selected post-diploma international business students as they share the details of their exciting research and prepare for their presentation and competition at Polytechnics Canada’s Applied Research Showcase 2013 in Calgary. An event is being hosted to present market intelligence information and project details for the industry and the College community. The event will focus on Geothermal and Solar Energy.
Nov. 1, 2013 | Global Market Intelligence for Solar and Geothermal Energy Solutions

Topics to be covered by Tatjana and her students:

• Key elements of the market research project, including its innovative approach, benefits to industry and other project clients, benefits to the students, and benefits to RRC communities
• Results of the research, i.e. the market intelligence gained for each renewable energy solution
• Next steps and future opportunities

Come help the student project team prepare for its Polytechnics Canada competition!  One student will be making a five-minute presentation on behalf of the 50 that participated in this collaborative research initiative; your questions and feedback will help us determine the best candidate to represent the College at this high profile national competition.
This project was selected out of several excellent student applied research projects to represent the College at this student showcase for its impact on Red River College’s Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profits.

Tatjana Brkic has been an instructor with RRC for over 10 years. She has provided instruction on Management, Business Administration, Economics and Strategy, and Research. Most recently, she has led the Business Applied Research initiative in the Applied Commerce and Education Department. Tatjana came to RRC from MTS Qunara where she established strategic planning and business intelligence functions, researched and analysed their eBusiness industry, technologies, markets and competition. Her multidisciplinary professional experience also included leading the development of an Internet based education resource about business planning for the UNEP SEED initiative; development of a global knowledge network about sustainability in business at IISD; work on Internet business applications at Industry Canada; as well as work on various engineering positions in Volkswagen (Germany) and its subsidiaries in former Yugoslavia. Tatjana Brkic holds an MBA from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS; MSc in Engineering from University of Belgrade/Sarajevo and a degree in Informatics from Belgrade Business School (Yugoslavia).

Innovate Manitoba’s PitchDay 2013 is a dynamic event that allows anyone with a business idea to deliver two-minute pitches to an expert panel of judges and an audience from Winnipeg’s entrepreneurship and innovation communities. Some PitchDay 2012 participants went on to participate in LaunchPad and Venture Challenge and refine their business model to significantly grow their customer base, as well as raise angel investments and earn local and international recognition!
Why you should attend PitchDay 2013:
PitchDay is a must attend event for entrepreneurs looking to kick-start their ventures, and investors and others looking to learn about the latest innovations in Manitoba. By taking part in PitchDay 2013, you can:

• Participate in a fun and interactive event
• Network and build relationships
• Witness an exciting competition as entrepreneurs present their business ideas in two minutes or less to an expert panel
• Enjoy pre- and post-event networking receptions with delicious food

Prizes:
The following prizes are awarded at the end of PitchDay:

• First place: $7,500
• Second place: $2,500
• People’s Choice: $1,000
• Best Student Pitch: $1,000
• Best Researcher Pitch: $1,000
• Best Technology Pitch: $1,000

Who should attend?
Entrepreneurs, capital providers, CEOs, VPs, directors, senior managers, service providers, entrepreneurial support professionals, academic faculty and students.
Event Details:

The deadline for Entrant registration to pitch at PitchDay, is November 1st at 5:00 p.m. The number of pitches is capped at 20 and last year we were oversold, so register early!
For information on competitor eligibility, judging, and more, please visit the PitchDay 2013 homepage.
Interested in sponsoring PitchDay 2013?
Last year we had over 30 amazing sponsors support PitchDay competitors!  Please contact Brent Wennekes (brentwennekes@innovatemanitoba.com) to learn about this great and cost-efficient opportunity to show your support for Manitoba entrepreneurs and innovators.

This week, Red River College (RRC), the University of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) unveiled the parabolic solar trough project. The unveiling also marked the beginning of first-of-its-kind research into investigating the feasibility of using the troughs to capture heating energy in Manitoba’s cold climate.
Located at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, the project features an array of eight parabolic solar troughs arranged in two rows designed to concentrate solar energy for heating and cooling purposes.
The parabolic troughs concentrate the sun’s energy using long, curved reflectors (mirrors). Installed in an east-west axis, they track the sun throughout the day, focusing sunlight on a glass-enclosed metal tube running the length of the mirrors. The reflected sunlight heats a heat-transfer fluid flowing through the tube.
Parabolic solar trough systems have typically been deployed in warm, sunny climates such as California and Spain where they are used to generate electricity year-round. However, in Manitoba it may be more advantageous to use solar thermal-energy directly for heating and cooling applications rather than producing electricity. This is due to Manitoba’s shorter winter daylight hours, increased heat loss due to cooler ambient temperatures and reduced solar irradiance in winter.
Solar thermal parabolic trough quick facts

• First phase with eight troughs fully operational in 2013
• Potential for second phase including an additional set of eight troughs
• Trough supplier: Abengoa Solar; trough fabricated in Denver, CO
• Total trough length: 50 m
• Total mirrored aperture area: 106 m²
• Total trough-site area: 1,900 m²
• Heat-transfer fluid: Therminol 59
• Winnipeg is the second sunniest major Canadian city, with just under 2,400 hours of bright sunshine in an average year.
• The peak output of eight solar troughs is equivalent to the energy supply needed to heat eight to ten Manitoba homes on a typical winter day. Additional research will quantify how much energy the solar trough can capture to provide for longer-term seasonal heating needs.
• The peak thermal output of the eight solar troughs is equivalent to the electrical supply required to power 5,000 LED lamps that produce the same output as 1,000 conventional 100-watt bulbs.

Click here for more information on RRC’s Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.
Links to coverage from Monday’s unveiling are below:
Winnipeg Free Press
Metro Winnipeg
CTV Winnipeg
CBC

A Winnipeg team – including RRC researchers – is investigating the feasibility of using floating cattail platforms to clean up harmful nutrients in Lake Winnipeg.
While existing cattail plants in the lake feed on phosphorus and nitrogen – nutrients that create toxic algae – they are limited to growth in shallow water. The team hopes to solve this problem by creating floating bioplatforms that could allow the cattails to grow anywhere in the water.
RRC is supporting the project in several ways, including a co-operative student from the Greenspace Management program, Jade Raizenne, who is working with Native Plant Solutions on cattail propagation. Ruth Rob, an instructor in the Greenspace Management program, has also worked with Curry Industries on two Technology Advisory Support Service reports to assist bioplatform development.
To learn more about the potential of this research, check out CBC’s recent coverage of the project:

Story: Cattails could help restore Lake Winnipeg

RRC researcher Jose Delos Reyes installs the weather station on the roof.

The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) has awarded one of its GeoExchange Excellence awards to Southern Comfort Mechanical Inc. (SCMI) for its work with Red River College (RRC) on the geothermal installation and measurement in The Cornerstone Life Lease Estates building.
CGC awards the prizes to regional geothermal heat-pump projects that showcase both complexity and quality of installation and design.
Opened in 2010, “The Cornerstone” is a four-storey Winnipeg residential development that features a number of sustainable design solutions, including above-average insulation levels and 100 per cent geothermal space heating.
Last summer, RRC staff and students from the Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) worked with SCMI to install a building-monitoring system and weather station on the roof of The Cornerstone. The system provided crucial performance evaluation on SCMI’s geothermal heat pump that uses loops in the ground to generate efficient energy for the building.
Among the many innovations of this design is the system’s ability to dump excess heat into the parkade floor when in cooling mode. RRC’s data allowed SCMI to make necessary adjustments that ensured the most efficient use of this technology.
“This award would not have been possible without the expertise and hard work of the RRC research team,” said Mike Millard, project lead and President of The Geothermal Alternative. “Their performance-evaluation data is vital to The Cornerstone’s improved energy efficiency and will be extremely valuable for the sustainable design of future Manitoba buildings.”
The prizes were awarded on May 3rd during the annual Canadian GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show in Burnaby, British Columbia.
For more information on RRC’s involvement in sustainable design, visit the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group web page.
For more information on the CGC’s GeoExchange Excellence awards, click here.
To view SCMI’s announcement and full application, click here.

Celebrate the rise of Manitoba’s startup scene…

Join CTV News Anchor, Gord Leclerc as he leads Manitoba’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation community leaders and supporters through an entertaining and informative luncheon to celebrate entrepreneurship and hand out over $30,000 in cash and in-kind prizes to Manitoba’s hottest startups.

On June 19, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Fort Garry Hotel, seven ventures selected from Innovate Manitoba’s Launchpad bootcamp will make formal 10-minute investment pitches to an eclectic panel of judges, followed by 20 minutes of no-holds-barred questions and feedback.

The Celebrating Entrepreneurship Awards Luncheon will follow the competitor pitches and will feature Lane Becker, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author and Kip Fyfe, Founder of Dynastream and 4iiii Innovations who will present their unique perspectives and expert insights on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
 at the Fort Garry Hotel

Register at http://www.innovatemanitoba.com/events/venture-challenge/

VENTURECHALLENGE CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON

Gord Leclerc of CTV News Winnipeg will guide Manitoba’s innovation community through the Awards Luncheon program, which, along with featuring two outstanding keynote speakers, will introduce all competitors, announce the finalists, and have them deliver two-minute elevator pitches to the audience before the first, second, and third place winners are announced.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Lane Becker | Entrepreneur & New York Times Bestselling Author
He is co-author of the New York Times bestselling book “Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business” and helped coin the term “blog”.  He is flying in from San Francisco to discuss “The Rise of the Global Start-up Scene”. Learn more…
Kip Fyfe | Founder of Dynastream and 4iiii Innovations
An innovator and visionary leader, Kip Fyfe has devoted over 25 years to the high tech industry and has helped redefine sport monitoring technology. This award-winning entrepreneur will share personal insights towards his road to entrepreneurial success. Learn more…

VENTURECHALLENGE COMPETITORS

Advolve Media – Bryce North & Kris Luinenburg
Epicenter AV – Chris Johnson
Eyewear Evolution – Sean Sylvestre
Joist – Justin Kathan & Brendan Sedo
Prairie Food Innovation – Michael Reimer
ScheduleAide – Dustin Refvik
VastCon – Anuraag Shrivastav
Learn more about the competitors online!

PRIZES

1st Place: $15,000 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
2nd Place: $7,500 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
3rd Place: $2,500 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
Major in-kind prizes: Innovate Manitoba has partnered with the Banff Venture Forum and the Canadian Financing Forum to award to the top three VentureChallenge companies an expense paid trip to attend the Banff Venture Forum in September 2013 or the Canadian Financing Forum in February 2014, plus a dedicated program at the Forum to help entrepreneurs further develop their skills.

VENTURECHALLENGE JUDGES

Lane Becker | Entrepreneur and New York Times Best Selling Author
Lane Becker has been hanging out on the Web since it was invented, from his work-study job setting up websites for the University of Texas at Austin in 1994, to his first, sadly failed startup in 1999 (don’t ask), and on to more successful ventures: co-founding Adaptive Path, the first user experience design firm, and Get Satisfaction, an online customer service community platform.
Marc Elrick | Principal, Critical Path Group
Marc Elrick is a Principal of the Critical Path Group, and the Executive Director of the Banff Venture Forum, the Canadian Financing Forum and the Agri Investment Forum.
Aki Georgeacacos | Managing Director, Avrio Capital
Aki Georgeacacos is a co-founder and Managing Director of Avrio Capital, a venture capital firms specializing in food and agriculture. Prior to co-founding Avrio Capital, Aki was a managing Director of FCC Ventures where he led the majority of the fund’s investments.
Jonathon Giller, CFA | Business & Investment Manager
As business and investment manager to James A. Richardson, Jonathon holds a B.A. (Honors) from the University of Manitoba, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and is a candidate in the Chartered Business Valuation program.
You don’t want to miss this outstanding opportunity to learn about the hottest ventures in Winnipeg and network with Manitoba’s leading investors, as well as both local and international leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship!
For more information: Check out the VentureChallenge homepage or REGISTER NOW
Questions? Contact:
Brent Wennekes
Research & Programs Manager | Innovate Manitoba
Technology Transfer & Communications Manager | Red River College
brentwennekes@innovatemanitoba.com | 204.631.3323

Red River College (RRC) has announced it has awarded over $80,000 in research funding to College faculty, staff, and students through the 2013 College Applied Research Development (CARD) Fund.
Applied Research & Commercialization (AR&C) provides the CARD Fund to encourage RRC faculty, staff, and students to engage in research activities at the College. The intent is to develop and build internal research capacity within RRC, while providing a platform for innovation for those who are eager to conduct practical research, but are in need of opportunities and resources.
This year’s projects – which were selected from a record 21 submissions requesting over $160,000 – are a diverse group that ranges from removing chemical pollutants in wastewater to researching the density of amphibian eggs.
The complete list of awardees, projects, and awards is below. Congratulations to all!

For more information on the opportunities available through the CARD fund, please contact:
Rob Spewak
Research Manager, AR&C
(204) 632-2357
rspewak@rrc.ca