In partnership with RBC, the School of Indigenous Education and RRC Polytech are hosting the annual RBC Reaction by Collision on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae in downtown Winnipeg. Join the celebration from 1 – 5 pm in the Upper and Lower Agora to celebrate Indigenous culture and arts!

Reaction by Collision is a community celebration featuring some of Canada’s brightest Indigenous entrepreneurs through food, fashion and music.

Discover the latest trends in haute couture as models stride the runway, indulge in delectable cuisine from local chefs, browse handmade crafts and jewelry from local artisans, and experience the talent of Indian City.

For more information and to learn about the featured artisans, subscribe to the Indigenous Education blog!

Many thanks to event sponsor RBC Future Launch for their gracious support of the Reaction by Collision event.

Throughout the month of March, RRC Polytech has supported Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) #ImmigrationMatters initiative, which encourages Canadians and established immigrants to engage with and welcome newcomers to their communities.

As part of RRC Polytech’s support for this awareness campaign, the Language Training Centre is highlighting a number of events and initiatives taking place that promote positive interactions between Canadians and newcomers.

Maria Chernova arrived in Canada in August 2021, equipped with an impressive portfolio of credentials: a bachelor’s and master’s degree in informational technology, a master’s degree in economics, and 10 years of experience in business operational and financial analysis. She had the skills, experience, and motivation to succeed in her new country, but she was missing one crucial thing: a proficiency in English communication skills. ​​​​​​​

“I’m a person who really likes to learn,” says Maria. “I had ambitions to work in my field but knew my language skills needed to be improved.”

As part of her 15-week language program at the Language Training Centre (LTC), Maria was one of 46 LTC students who participated in a work experience placement (WEP) in local industry.

Work experience placements provide language learners with an industry work experience where they can learn and use workplace language and communication skills, build confidence and skills while interacting in a Canadian workplace, and obtain industry information to assist them with their academic and career journeys, along with many other benefits.

Maria’s work experience was a three-week placement with RRC Polytech’s Information Technology Solutions department (IT Solutions), where she applied her financial analysis experience and technical knowledge to business intelligence reports, while gaining confidence in language.

“It was an amazing chance to work directly with professionals in my chosen field and get in touch with the real task environment,” she says.

However, her immersion in the profession did not end there – a few weeks later, she received an offer to continue working with IT Solutions as a student worker in business and data analysis, furthering her opportunity to practice professional skills while improving her English in a working environment. She is currently working on a project related to financial process automation, data analysis and reporting, and supporting IT Solutions Disaster Recovery team by providing assistance in process analysis and documentation.

While she was comfortable with the subject matter she was working with, Maria wanted to further develop her language and communication skills for the Canadian workplace – specifically the “language of business analytics,” so she could continue to communicate confidently in her chosen field.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Maria had many great learning experiences that helped develop her language, such as researching technical documentation, requirements elicitation, communicating with subject matter experts from different business areas, and regular online meetings and touchpoints. However, the most challenging – and rewarding – was facilitating her first meeting. While initially nerve-wracking, it was ultimately an empowering experience and an ideal way to apply her communication skills in the supportive environment of her team.

Maria’s placement with IT Solutions was the perfect fit for Craig MacDonald, the department’s director, who had been working on developing a strategy to involve more students in his area. The student worker position was new, and IT Solutions partnered with many different departments throughout the College to make it work.

“IT Solutions is a culture of customer service,” he explains, noting that the department acts as a service provider within the College, and that it was important to extend this service to providing opportunities to the College’s most important “customers” – the students.

Craig notes that as an educational institution, RRC Polytech and IT Solutions have the unique opportunity to foster learning opportunities within every department, not just in the classroom.  IT Solutions engages with all administrative departments and academic programs, offering students the opportunity to work within a wide-ranging scope of service needs – preparing them for success in a variety of sectors in the Manitoba workforce.

The WEP experience has been a win-win for IT Solutions. “We provide a quality and engaging work placement, see what the students are capable of, and we get to market ourselves as a great employment choice for these students should positions become available in the future,” says Craig.  “It’s about showing what a great place RRC Polytech is to work.”

Maria shared that the supportive environment was a real confidence-builder – her experience was so successful she has now been hired full-time in the department.​​​​​​​

“It feels like a team, a big family,” she says. “People try to help you grow.” Maria credits IT Solutions with helping her come out of her shell, noting it was intimidating at first to join a new department while being uncomfortable with her language and communication skills.

“Customer service is an important part of the IT Solutions culture. Staff need to be able to engage and interact with people you are supporting,” adds Craig. “It’s important that staff coming into these positions understand IT Solutions’ role is to create a great service experience.”

Craig notes this can be a barrier for many newcomers – so this becomes a great work-integrated learning opportunity, allowing his team to work with them to help develop these communication skills.

For Maria, moving to Canada has been a “beautiful story.” She now has a position in her field of interest in a department that fosters her creativity and supports her development. Maria continues her commitment to lifelong learning, taking language classes in the evening and studying data analytics online in her spare time.

“My husband calls me a ‘why-er,’” she says with a laugh, since her natural curiosity inspires her to question everything and ask why things are the way that they are.

In an industry built on problem-solving, it seems she’s found her reason why at RRC Polytech’s IT Solutions.

For more information on the Language Training Centre, visit rrc.ca/ltc.​​​​​​​

This session will benefit anyone looking to enhance their career prospects. Expert panelists will share valuable insights on building professional relationships, networking effectively, and finding a mentor to guide participants on their career paths.

• When: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Where: Zoom. Joining info will be provided to confirmed attendees.
• Click here to register or to learn more about the event.

Are you or is someone you know looking for a job?

If so, check out the upcoming Manitoba Tourism Education Council Job Fair.

Talk to exhibitors about job positions in all areas from entry level to senior management.

Enter to win some great prizes!

• April 6th, 2023

• 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• RBC Convention Centre (375 York Ave)

• Free admission!

Click here for more information.

Have you ever wanted to try African drumming? If you are one of those people who love music, different cultures and trying something new and exciting, this workshop will give you a chance to explore your sense of rhythm. African drumming is an exciting way to learn to play a musical instrument in a short period of time. 

Jay Stoller will enhance the workshop by relating cultural stories and information gathered from his years of music study in West Africa. Djembe drums are provided.

• Friday, March 31, 2023: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
• Roundhouse in Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Did you know that exercise improves your ability to concentrate and retain information? Understanding to associate words with motion can help you remember new languages better than translating directly from the English words.

All students are invited to join Language Instructor Corey Whitford for Lunch & Learn sessions to learn Anishinaabemowin in motion!

Dance, sweat, speak! On Tuesday, April 4, at EDC in P107 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, students can learn Anishinaabemowin verbs through Niimin (dance). They will also be learning how to salsa dance and will be able to build strong connections with other learners and have a safe space to practice the language and their dance steps!

• Tuesday, April 4, 1:00 -2:00
• P107 (EDC)
• Email Terri-Lynn Anderson at tlanderson@rrc.ca to register.

Attention LTC IRCC students!

There will be no Learning Labs during the LTC Spring break from March 27^th – March 31^st.

They will resume on April 4^th.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960.

Since then, some racist systems have been dismantled but, in many regions, too many individuals, communities, and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings.

We can use this day to reflect on the fact that Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities continue to experience racism and discrimination in Canada every day.

We can re-commit to take action against racial discrimination in all forms to ensure a world where everyone has equitable access to all aspects of society. 

Source: Canada.ca 

Visit the Anti-Racism Action Committee’s booth on March 21st from 12pm-1pm in the NDC Library hallway and EDC Roblin Atrium to: 

• Commit to an action towards ending racism 
• Make a button and wear it to show your solidarity 
• Enter to win a book educating about anti-racism 
• Explore the Anti-racism book display 
• Get a treat! 

Join us in the fight to end racial discrimination! 

Bring your friends and family for an “all welcome” board game night at Red River College Polytechnic presented by Campus Well-Being and the Students’ Association.

DROP-IN – EXCHANGE DISTRICT CAMPUS: Third Tuesday of every month, 4pm to 7pm, in the Dining Hall in The Roblin Centre near Tim Hortons. (Next date is March 21, 2023)

Some of the games include: Catan Family Edition, Cranium, Taboo, Cribbage and Crib Wars, Forbidden Island, Monoply Deal, Uno, Scrabble, Boggle, Yahtzee, Telestrations, Chess and Checkers, Sequence, Hedbanz, Battleship, Jenga and Pictionary.

Click here for more information.