Language Training Centre (LTC) Student Support Services is now offering two new Learning Labs for LTC permanent resident students:

• LTC students seeking additional support with their LinkedIn profiles and informational interview practice can drop-in to the Tuesday Learning Lab from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in computer lab room P403 (Exchange District Campus).
• LTC students looking for general support in their English studies are welcome to participate in the Wednesday Learning Lab from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in computer lab room W312 (Exchange District Campus).

Please contact LTC Educational Assistant, Colette Thiessen, at cthiessen46@rrc.ca for more information.

Friday, October 7th, 4:00pm-9:00pm

• Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Avenue
  • Get free general admission to the museum’s three main attractions – the Museum Galleries, the Planetarium, and the Science Gallery.
  • Click here for more information.

Saturday, October 8th, 12:00pm-11:55pm

• Hargrave Street Festival, Carlton Street
  • Hargrave St. Market presents a cultural festival that invites you to enjoy some of our city’s best music, food, and art in “Heart of the City” on October 8th. There will be activities for people of all ages. Enjoy performances by local dancers and entertainers all day long! Performances by Cassidy Mann, Fontaine, Sierra Noble, Boogie the Beat, Mariachi Ghost, and Dirty Catfish Hot + Dirty Dance Party! DJs Anthony OKs, Hunnicutt, Zuki, Swift and Dad will keep you dancing all night long!
  • Click here for more information.

Sunday, October 9th, 11:00am-5:00pm

• Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard
  • Enjoy free admission to the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
  • Free admission includes Qaumajuq, an innovative new museum dedicated to Inuit art and culture that’s connected to the WAG on all levels. Discover the 185,000-square-foot cultural campus that is WAG-Qaumajuq, including the stunning Visible Vault showcasing thousands of carvings and much more.
  • Click here for more information.

All RRC Polytech students are invited to participate in our fourth annual Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 26-29, 2022.

Through a mix of in-person and virtual events offered by departments from across the College, immerse yourself in Indigenous teachings, story-telling and experiences to evolve your understanding of history and current issues impacting Indigenous people, reconciliation efforts and society as a whole. Help spark a conversation around Truth and Reconciliation and contribute to understanding, healing and stronger relationships.

Click here for more information and a full list of RRC Polytech events.

Below are some community events happening on September 30th to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

• Survivors Walk & Pow Wow
• All-day programming and free admission to the Manitoba Museum

There have been several reports of attempts to scam students through fraudulent job postings/job offers. Avoid these scams by watching for these warning signs:

• You received a job offer without an application or interview
• You’re promised high pay for easy work or a limited amount of work hours
• You’re asked to use your own money or give up bank details to work for the company

Many scammers now have an elaborate website with a matching professional-looking email which makes it difficult to tell if they are legitimate or not. 

If you have any doubts or questions, please contact your Student Integration Coordinators, Jillian at jhoogland@rrc.ca (for Winnipeg students) and Christy cdepp@rrc.ca (for regional students).

For more information and/or to report a suspicious email message, visit Phishing FAQ : Red River College Polytechnic: Information Technology Solutions

Welcoming Week brings many smiles and welcomes

Language Training Centre students, faculty and staff take a little time to enjoy a sweet treat as part of Welcoming Week 2022 celebrations.

Dean Kerri Korabelnikov shares a warm welcome from Manitou a bi Bii daziigae as part of the Welcoming Week.

Anna shares a glimpse into her story of immigrating to Canada as part of the Welcoming Week Celebrations.

There are two ways to describe the events of September 25, 2007. The official version is that I landed as a Family Class immigrant and obtained my Permanent Resident status that day. The other version is much shorter: I moved to Winnipeg that day.

Before I moved here, I didn’t think much about life in Canada. I had visited before and life on the surface wasn’t that different to that at home. But visiting for fun is very different to immigrating and reorganizing your life: culturally some things just don’t make sense, yet that’s how they work (small talk, casual friendliness of strangers, cold milk for breakfast, planning meals for a week…). But then you discover that process-wise, this country is very well organized – don’t roll your eyes if you haven’t had to deal with bureaucracy in any country outside of the Commonwealth.

Before I left my country, I really didn’t think about any obstacles. I was ready: I had both official languages, a place to live, knew how to cook and how to drive, and knew how to dress in winter.

Then I arrived and was ready to find work and live the life in the greatest country in the world. And suddenly things weren’t that easy: I didn’t have childcare (4–12-month waitlist!!!) so no looking for a job; I didn’t know how to take a bus to the get to a store; and how the heck do you shop for a whole week (daily shopping where I come from)? And then winter came early and stayed for a really long time. And I absolutely hated my life. For about 2 years until I was really annoyed with the person I became. But I did get a job and started making new friends within the first year of living here.

So how am I still here? The first step to embracing life in Canada was to stop evaluating things as better or worse. Instead, I started telling myself things are different. The second step was to engage in an informal study of the habits and customs of Canadians. The third step was to start accepting the differences, understanding them, and adapting/adopting different ways. But also, not losing my own identity.

Welcoming Week 2022 has encouraged me to stop and reflect on my personal and professional journey of coming to Canada. As my 15th anniversary approaches, I reflect on all the achievements and losses. I have 3 amazing, smart, fun kids; a career that I immensely enjoy; a beautiful home and lots of places to explore and visit in and out of the province. I have learned to use public transit here and even though grocery shopping for a week is still a challenge, no one goes hungry. I also learned that coffee and eggs make a better breakfast than cold cereal. I no longer am nervous when strangers say ‘hi’ and smile at me on the street.

But, more importantly, I can be me. In my personal life, I can maintain the traditions I care about, make my own choices about my health and lifestyle, and spend my free time as I see fit. In my country, choices aren’t always free, so I value them and am so grateful for them. I also can raise my kids to be happy, independent, hard-working adults – the way I was raised by my parents and grandparents – and instill the values of curiosity, education, contribution, fun, and respect.

In my professional life, I am so lucky to work in alignment with my values. This makes me feel appreciated, valued. And this is what makes me feel genuinely included. I think that for any person coming to Canada, they need to know that there is place and space for them to achieve success on their own terms and that there are people and organizations who will help them. The process is not easy, it takes time, grit, adjusting, and learning, but it is not impossible. Your heart feels like it has two homes through this, you learn to focus on being grateful for what you had, what you have and what lays ahead. For me, this is an extremely rewarding journey and, I hope, it’s mutual for Canada.

The Language Training Centre will host an in-person English Conversation Club (ECC) kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 15^th between 1pm – 3pm (in room E235 Manitou a bi Bii daziigae).

​Students are invited to stop in anytime between 1pm-3pm to say hello to the volunteers, enjoy a snack and enter to win some great prizes.

The Government of Manitoba announced yesterday, that it will be recognizing Sept 19 as a day of mourning for the funeral of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

RRC Polytech will observe this day of mourning and all campuses will be closed on Monday, September 19. All in-person and remote learning classes are cancelled.