RRC Polytech will hold the first of four Spring Convocation ceremonies in Winnipeg beginning today at the RBC Convention Centre

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis Nation – This month, Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) will host nine convocation ceremonies across the province and celebrate over 3,300 graduates joining their friends, family and faculty as they watch them cross the platform at the College’s Spring Convocation ceremonies.
 
RRC Polytech’s Spring Convocation celebrations happen throughout June across the province and are live streamed worldwide to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2023. This year’s Convocation season celebrates three Lieutenant Governor’s Medal Award winners and two Honorary Degree and Diploma recipients, John Bockstael and Carolyn Young.
 
RRC Polytech will hold the first of four Convocation ceremonies in Winnipeg beginning today at the RBC Convention Centre and is hosting five more for its Regional Campuses in Selkirk, Fisher River, Winkler, Portage la Prairie, and Steinbach this June.
 
“Our Convocation ceremonies are an opportunity to celebrate the completion of our students’ respected accomplishments in various degree, diploma and certificate programs, and they also represent the opportunity and optimism that lie ahead, so we are thrilled to acknowledge this milestone accomplishment together,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.
 
Manitoba’s only polytechnic is proud to provide the skills, training and knowledge to the industry leaders of tomorrow in a welcoming environment for all, while promoting values that encourage positive action to enact meaningful change. The College’s highest honours are reserved for individuals who exemplify its commitments.
 
Three Lieutenant Governor’s Medals Awarded
 
Three outstanding graduates have been selected to receive Lieutenant Governor’s Medals this week, rewarding their academic and technical achievement, involvement in College and/or community activities, and overall good character.

• Pauline Tayag graduated with Honours from the Graphic Design program, while volunteering for multiple organizations in support of the Filipino community, sharing her love of arts and culture, calling out social injustices and advocating for those in need.
  
• Rubén Barrios graduated with Honours from the Information Security program. After arriving in Canada from Guatemala in 2021 with his wife and two children in the middle of a pandemic, his passion for collaboration helped him transition to his new environment quickly, participate in multiple College initiatives and become a tireless volunteer in his neighbourhood. 
  
• Josef Neufeld graduated from the joint Industrial Arts Teacher Education program with the University of Winnipeg and aspires to teach in the inner city or in a French immersion school division to share his passion for improving young people’s lives and his gifts in wood working and manufacturing. 

Read more about the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal Recipients

John Bockstael and Carolyn Young Awarded Honorary Degree and Diploma
 
RRC Polytech’s Honorary Degree or Diploma is awarded to an individual who demonstrates high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements, and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.
 
This Spring Convocation, RRC Polytech is awarding John Bockstael and Carolyn Young with honorary credentials. These two deserving recipients are accomplished professionals and outstanding community role models whose life’s work will resonate with and serve to inspire the graduating class of 2023.

• John Bockstael, CEO of Bockstael Construction will be awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management. He helped establish this credential as the first-ever degree program at the College. RRC Polytech proudly presents him with that credential at the Convocation Ceremony held at the RBC Convention Centre on Wednesday, June 14th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. 
  
• Carolyn Young, the Executive Director of the not-for-profit child and family care organization Manidoo Gi-Miini Gonaan, will be awarded an Honorary Diploma in Early Childhood Education at the Convocation Ceremony held at the RBC Convention Centre on Wednesday, June 14th, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.

Read more about the 2023 Honorary Degree and Diploma Recipients

“RRC Polytech’s trio of Lieutenant Governor’s Medal award winners are our future leaders and represent the unlimited potential of combining compassion with education and ambition. The accomplishments and pursuit of lifelong learning by our Honorary Degree and Diploma recipients serve to resonate with our graduates and inspire them to make an impact in their communities,” said Dr. Christine Watson, Vice-President Academic, RRC Polytech. “We look forward to seeing what the Class of 2023 brings to the workforce and to their communities.”
 
On average, 96 per cent of RRC Polytech graduates begin working in their field within six months of graduating. This year’s graduates will bring skills and knowledge that will help them contribute on day one and help ensure Manitoba’s industries can continue to stay in front of what’s ahead.
 
For a full list of graduates, award winners, and to stream the ceremonies please visit rrc.ca/convocation.
 
Schedule of RRC Polytech Convocation Ceremonies across Manitoba:
 
Winnipeg Ceremonies (live-streamed) will take place at the RBC Convention Centre, City View Hall (Hall C), 375 York Avenue.

• Tuesday, June 13 at 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 14 at 1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.  

Regional Ceremonies: 
Interlake Campus Selkirk – June 8 at 3:00 p.m.
Selkirk Recreational Complex – 180 Easton Drive, Selkirk

Peguis – Fisher River Campus – June 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Fisher River Community & Gaming Centre 83 Unnamed Road, Fisher River Cree Nation

Portage Campus – June 19 at 2:00 p.m.
The William Glesby Centre 11 2 St NE, Portage la Prairie

Winkler Campus – June 21 at 3:00 p.m.
P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall 783 Mountain Ave, Winkler

Steinbach Campus – June 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Mennonite Heritage Village 231 Provincial Trunk Hwy 12, Steinbach

The phrase “go to your room” has historically taken on a negative connotation for generations of youngsters. This will no longer be the case for dozens of Winnipeg tweens and teens, thanks to a new learning opportunity from RRC Polytech, in collaboration with IKEA.

Design Your Dream Room, one of four new day camps the College is offering this summer, teaches campers the basics of interior decorating and room layout under the guidance of an RRC Polytech interior decorating professional. Other youth can learn the art of photography, how to design and launch their own product, or deepen their relationship with their cultural identity.

“Our summer youth camps give young people a taste of what a polytechnic education looks like. They’ll learn new skills in hands-on, experiential environments – guided by experienced RRC Polytech leaders,” says Breanna Sawatzky, Manager of Campus Well-Being at RRC Polytech.

Aspiring shutterbugs will learn about composition, posing, exposure and light control under the direction of a professional photographer in Out and About Photography, while budding entrepreneurs will develop a product from idea to minimal viable product, and go through a design sprint in Entrepreneurship Camp. Indigenous Cultural Exploration Camp, open to all youth ages 9 – 11, will guide campers through experiential learning while incorporating cultural activities.

“We know the importance of introducing kids to technology, art, business, culture and creativity at an early age, as they’re beginning to think about their future careers,” says Sawatzky. “These camps are a fun, low-pressure opportunity for kids to start to explore their passions while familiarizing themselves with our campus.”

RRC Polytech continues to offer its popular Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT) camp, now in its 17^th year, as well as online photography camps Camp Canon – Photo Foundations Camp and Camp Canon – Beyond the Basics Camp, where kids can enhance their creativity and build their photography skills.

Summer Youth Camps, for kids aged 8 – 16, run for one week each and take place throughout July. For more information, visit rrc.ca/youth/camps.

Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery members meet with federal Parliamentarians to demonstrate how Canadian institutions are coming together to train workers for the transition to a clean economy

Red River College Polytechnic is meeting with federal Parliamentarians this week to discuss further opportunities for Canada’s colleges, Cégeps and institutions to be the driving force in providing the skills required to transition to a clean economy. The virtual meetings, led by the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) – a coalition of 14 institutions from across Canada that work together to provide the skills required to transition to a clean economy –  build off the success of the recently launched Quick Train Canada initiative.

Quick Train Canada is a series of tuition-free micro-credential courses offered at C2R2 institutes across the country that focus on providing Canadian workers and employers with options to update skills quickly through multi-week, virtual and in-person learning designed to boost job security and participation as the economy transitions to more sustainable practices.

“RRC Polytech’s six Quick Train courses filled up within the first week of being launched, which shows there’s a demonstrated need for learners to quickly and easily bolster their portfolios with relevant skills that will contribute to a greener economy,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“RRC Polytech and C2R2 members across Canada are positioned to quickly develop thousands of training and applied research opportunities to help Canadians access new careers, support the transition to a low-carbon economy, and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion.”

Each C2R2 institution offers Quick Train courses relevant to their areas of expertise. All courses are tuition-free, and many are offered virtually so anyone in Canada can access them.

RRC Polytech’s Quick Train courses focus on Clean Tech:

• Introduction to Electric Vehicle Technology
• Electric Vehicle Communication and Computer Systems
• Building Envelope Science: Principles and Practice

and Social Innovation:

• Engagement and Relationship-Building with Indigenous Communities
• Indigenous and Canadian Government Relationships
• and The Consultation Process

The Quick Train micro-credentials RRC Polytech currently offer draw on the College’s strengths in electric vehicle technology and reconciliation with Indigenous communities. Several areas within the College worked together to build academic programming to support the courses’ development.

“The fact that these courses were selected for a Canada-wide audience proves we’re not only local leaders in these areas, but that our work deserves to be showcased on a national scale,” says Meier. “The Quick Train initiative embodies RRC Polytech’s commitment to partnership – not only through cross-country relationships formed through C2R2, but through the inter-departmental efforts that took place here at the College.”

The courses wrapped up their initial runs earlier this spring. Due to high demand – with waitlists as high as 200 people for some courses – RRC Polytech has scheduled additional courses to launch beginning this month.

RRC Polytech and other C2R2 members are currently meetingwith parliamentarians and decision-makers to discuss how the government can further utilize C2R2’s expertise to deliver and implement training and inclusive economic recovery. Existing training opportunities include:

• Rapid training and upskilling through Quick Train Canada – a national curriculum and microcredential delivery platform serving employees and employers across Canada;
• A focus on innovation, research, and advancement with respect to climate action and sustainability to support a low-carbon future; and
• Alignment with employer needs, industry partnerships, work placement opportunities and community relationships. 

The C2R2 ecosystem is agile, working with its 14 partner institutions and 14 industry partners coast to coast to coast to seek expert advice, implement best practices, and rapidly address current trends, concerns, and needs arising in Canadian communities and industries.

“C2R2 is positioned to be a leader in Canada’s evolving ecosystem and play the critical support role needed for true success as we plan for the future,” says Meier. “We are proud to be members of C2R2 and to contribute to this important work to benefit workers and industries across our country.

For more information, visit rrc.ca/quicktrain or resilientcolleges.ca.

For immediate release – May 9, 2023

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Metis – An entire cohort of Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) Pathway to Information Technology (Pathway to IT) students were gifted $50,000 worth of state-of-the-art laptops from Lenovo with the newest technology to encourage innovation and prepare learners to succeed in IT roles across Manitoba.

“This partnership with Lenovo not only provides students with laptops, but it’s also another way barriers to education are removed,” said Fred Meier, CEO and President, RRC Polytech. “This gift enhances the student experience and provides access to technology that meets the needs of the industry and allows students to be successful in achieving their educational goals throughout their time at RRC Polytech.”

Pathway programs are designed to equip Indigenous Manitobans with the support and skills needed to confidently transition into specific RRC Polytech programs. Pathway to IT, created in partnership with RBC Future Launch, prepares and empowers students to participate in RRC Polytech’s IT Operations, Information Security and Business Information Technology programs.

“Our vision is to help create a world where every person has access to the technology that allows them to achieve their goals,” said Libby Richards, Community Engagement Manager, Lenovo. “Connecting students with technology is crucial in innovation and moving society forward. This program aligns with our goals and provides students with the foundational knowledge to be successful in the rapidly growing field of IT.”

Pathway to IT requires students to have access to a computer with certain memory and speed requirements, and students who do not have access to a computer are provided with options to rent a computer from the College. At the start of the first semester, Lenovo provided all students in Pathway to IT with new Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen4 laptops that they will be able to keep beyond the completion of the program.

Earlier today, representatives from Lenovo were able to tour Manitou a bi Bii daziigae and meet students in Pathway to IT.

“It’s clear to see why these students selected this program,” said Warren Beleyowski, Client Executive, MB/SK Public Sector, Lenovo Canada. “Providing them with laptops was an easy decision, as these students are going to be the ones who are meeting the ever-changing needs of tomorrow.”

Pathways are exploratory and preparatory programs that provide Indigenous Manitobans with the skills and supports required to transition into selected RRC programs by increasing their academic, personal, social, and financial readiness. Pathway graduates have dedicated seats for selected programs, to remove the barrier of wait lists.

Pathway to IT is the fourth Pathway program, showcasing the success of this model and the demand for these types of programs that increase opportunities for Indigenous students in various sectors.

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Robert Okabe, Distinguished Graduate Award recipient and Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech

For immediate release: April 27, 2023

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis Nation – A Winnipeg engineering technologist who has been a local, provincial, and national leader in the profession is being honoured with the Distinguished Graduate Award from Red River College Polytechnic.

Robert Okabe, CEO and Registrar at Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM) graduated with a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology from RRC Polytech’s Civil Engineering program in 1983. His dedication to technicians and technologists, along with his passion for his community and volunteering has set him apart and made him an outstanding candidate for RRC Polytech’s highest achievement.

“RRC Polytech is proud to honour Robert Okabe with the distinguished Graduate Award. His professional achievements truly embody the kind of commitment and leadership we aim to demonstrate to students. His contributions to Manitoba showcase the difference that RRC Polytech graduates make to our province, especially in the profession of applied science and engineering technology,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO.

RRC Polytech’s Distinguished Graduate Award honours and recognizes the College’s finest graduates – those who have made an impact in their profession and the community around them through outstanding achievements in one or more of the following areas: humanitarianism, professional excellence, and community service. 

Over his career Okabe has been recognized as a Fellow of Engineers Canada FEC by Engineers and by the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) in 2013. He has served in various positions for the CCTT and the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB).

Okabe is currently a Program Advisory Committee member with RRC Polytech, Assiniboine Community College, and University of College of the North and has provided invaluable guidance and advocacy with the accreditation of RRC Polytech’s engineering technology programs. He also has a role in all nine of the College’s Engineering Technology Advisory Committees — which provide direction and curriculum support from those working on the ground.

“I am incredibly excited and proud to be receiving this award,” says Robert Okabe. “I believe that giving back to the community is such an important thing I can do as a graduate and am proud to support the next generation. The College provided so much for me in my career, and it’s an honour to be celebrated in this way.”

Okabe understands how important a helping hand can be in propelling students from the world of academia into a lifelong career, and in 2008 he established the Robert Okabe Achievement Award for Civil Engineering Technology.

Always open to new ideas and opportunities to do outreach for student recruitment, Okabe ensures he does what he can to support young women in STEM, and help newcomers pursue this industry. His ongoing partnership with RRC Polytech is a welcome and substantial support in helping to transform today’s learners into a force for change.

One thing is clear looking back at Robert’s life: he believes in the potential of others and will stop at nothing to help them meet it.

Okabe was presented with the Distinguished Graduate Award on April 20, 2023 at the 2023 Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba Awards of Excellence in Consulting Engineering.

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Winnipeg, Manitoba, on original lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and homeland of the Red River Métis Nation – Have you ever turned on the Hallmark Channel and seen a setting that looks so familiar? It’s not a coincidence. You’re probably spotting Winnipeg’s Exchange District or Selkirk, Manitoba – the province has become an international hotspot for filming Hallmark movies. Manitoba’s total film and television production amounted to $365 million in 2021-22, with 88 productions produced in the province in this time period.

With the high level of growth in the film industry, Film Training Manitoba (FTM) and Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) are partnering to provide in-demand training to create new opportunities and support continued growth.

“Individuals that work in the film industry are highly skilled, and FTM and RRC Polytech have a long history of partnering which helps to attract more workers toward jobs and careers in film,” says Adam Smoluk, Managing Director of FTM. “As a member of the Province of Manitoba’s excellent Sector Council Program, FTM is pleased to work with a great partner like RRC Polytech to increase our reach and overall competitiveness when attracting and creating film productions in Manitoba,” adds Smoluk.

Through the Hollywood, or rather, Manitoba magic of lights, camera, hair and makeup, you see all the on-screen glamour. What you don’t see is the behind-the-scenes administration that makes your favourite Hallmark movie or TV series possible.

In consultation with local film industry partners, RRC Polytech and FTM identified a gap and a need to create specialized training focused on film accounting. Collaboratively, RRC Polytech and FTM have developed three 20-hour micro-credentials to meet the film industry’s on-going identified need for individuals with accounting skillsets.

“As a polytechnic, our strength is in remaining agile in the ever-changing world of work, which includes evolving our course offerings to meet retraining and upskilling demands in the province. This strength is realized through close relationships with our partners to create industry-focused training like the micro-credential courses we’ve developed in conjunction with Film Training Manitoba,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

The three Film Accounting Fundamentals micro-credential courses are Second Assistant Accounts Payable, Second Assistant Petty Cash and First Assistant Payroll.Throughout the Film Accounting series, learners will be introduced to accounting processes in the film industry, focusing on the analysis of production budgets and processing production expenses using financial accounting software. The courses also provide an additional focus on production payroll with attention to collective agreements and required protocols.

Creative, technical and administrative roles are all important to bolster growth in this key economic sector. The three micro-credential courses are geared at those already working in production and film as well as those who are wanting to get a start in the industry. All courses are at an introductory level, with no requirement for previous experience in accounting or finance necessary.

The Film Accounting Fundamentals courses start June 1, 2023. For more information visit rrc.ca/film

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Film Training Manitoba (FTM) is a not-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program (through the Department of Economic Development and Jobs). FTM conducts workforce development and training to build a highly skilled and adaptable film industry to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates with members of the film and television industry to identify the training needs within the community.

Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) is Manitoba’s only Polytechnic and largest institute of applied learning and research, with more than 200 full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate options. Through hands-on learning opportunities and state-of-the-art instruction, we prepare more than 22,000 students annually to become leaders in their fields – while also ensuring they can meet changing industry demands and contribute to the province’s economic growth. 

Red River College Polytechnic is ready to boost Canada’s resilient recovery, with the introduction of Quick Train Canada: a fully-funded series of micro-credentials from post-secondary institutions throughout the country. RRC Polytech is part of a coalition of Canadian colleges, polytechnics and cégeps called Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) that worked together to secure federal funding for this important training initiative, and is the only Manitoba institution to offer Quick Train courses.

C2R2 formally launched Quick Train at Mohawk College in Hamilton this morning, with the announcement of a $46.5 million investment from the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.

“One of our strengths as a polytechnic is offering agile, relevant training that empowers people to excel in their fields,” says Dr. Christine Watson, Vice President, Academic, RRC Polytech. “This funding creates access to important upskilling and re-skilling opportunities throughout their careers, ensuring Manitoba has a workforce that contributes to a more sustainable and equitable economy.”

Quick Train programming is designed to enable workers and employers to update their skills quickly through multi-week, virtual, and in-person learning. Each of the 14 C2R2 institutions offer Quick Train courses specific to their areas of expertise, all of which support Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy while fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Through this partnership, Manitobans have access to Quick Train micro-credentials from C2R2 institutions across the country – many courses are offered in-person for local learners, while others are entirely virtual.

“The transition to the new low-carbon economy will demand a well-trained workforce and Canada’s colleges and aligned institutions are well-equipped to develop and deliver the programs to prepare people for those exciting new careers,” said Ron J. McKerlie, President and CEO of Mohawk College, where C2R2’s administration and secretariat are managed. “The Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery coalition has developed Quick Train Canada to provide Canadians with a direct link to thousands of training and research opportunities to help Canadians access good jobs. We are excited to support the transition to the low carbon economy while fostering inclusion, diversity, and equity throughout the process.”

RRC Polytech currently offers six Quick Train courses through the C2R2 initiative: three that focus on Clean Tech (Introduction to Electric Vehicle Technology, Electric Vehicle Communication and Computer Systems, and Building Envelope Science: Principles and Practice), and three that focus on Social Innovation (Engagement and Relationship-Building with Indigenous Communities, Indigenous and Canadian Government Relationships, and The Consultation Process). The tuition-free courses are currently full, though the College plans to launch more Quick Train courses this Spring.

“The Quick Train initiative demonstrates that Canadian institutions thrive when we work together,” continues Watson. “As the only post-secondary institute in Manitoba involved with C2R2, it was important for us to work with our partners to establish a resource that will benefit not only Manitobans, but anyone across Canada looking to update their skills,” continues Dr. Watson. “Our partnership with C2R2 allows us, in particular, to showcase RRC Polytech’s significant contribution to electric vehicle applied research and training on a national scale.”

RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) is a local leader in EV technology, having recently worked with Frontiers North Adventures, a Churchill-based touring company, to convert their fleet of diesel-powered tundra buggies to battery electric vehicles, as well as providing supplemental training to Winnipeg Transit on electric bus maintenance.

Since 2020, 14 leading Canadian post-secondary institutions have worked together as C2R2 to lead Canada’s transition to a clean economy by bridging the skills gap for a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, visit rrc.ca/quicktrain.

Provincial Funding to Support Centre’s Construction and Implementation of New Equipment and Technology for Nursing, Community Services and Allied Health Programs

Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis Nation – Students in RRC Polytech’s Health Sciences and Community Services programs will soon be trained in an immersive lab, which simulates real-life scenarios including mock disasters, in-home emergencies, and care in community health spaces.

Today, the Government of Manitoba is committing $12.53 million in funding for RRC Polytech’s new Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Community Services Simulation Centre (Simulation Centre) at its Notre Dame Campus. The Simulation Centre will provide invaluable experiential training for the province’s future healthcare and community services professionals, ensuring that they are well-prepared with specialized skillsets required for the field.

The 16,630-square-foot Simulation Centre will feature dynamic learning spaces with immersive technology and settings, to be used annually by 1,000 RRC Polytech students from 15 programs, spanning from nursing to paramedicine and child and youth care practitioners.

“This new multi-purpose facility supports our government’s commitment to train more nurses and health-care professionals and build a stronger, more sustainable health care system,” says The Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba. Our government is proud to work collaboratively with RRC Polytech and all of our post-secondary institutions to provide training opportunities for our youth while building a strong workforce now and well into the future.”

“The centre will help students receive the training they will need to thrive in nursing and other health care fields, leading them into fulfilling careers in vital areas of our province’s economy,” says The Honourable Jon Reyes, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration, Government of Manitoba. “It will be a key component in realizing the next phase of our nursing seat expansion on the path to reaching our 400-seat goal.”

“This centre will provide quality training for students working toward careers in the health sciences, helping them to gain valuable skills and experience in a simulated, supportive learning environment,” says The Honourable Audrey Gordon, Minister of Health, Government of Manitoba. “This new facility will help learners succeed in their fields, strengthening the health care system for all Manitobans.”

Accrediting bodies continue to increase requirements for simulation experience, highlighting the deep importance of this type of training to complement clinical practicums and theoretical learning. The Simulation Centre was designed specifically to meet the increasing need for students to be immersed in realistic scenarios and environments that replicate those they will encounter in healthcare and community settings.

“The Government of Manitoba’s investment in the Health Sciences and Community Services Simulation Centre is critical to growing 15 Allied Health and Community Services programs at RRC Polytech, and in turn, providing career-ready graduates to meet labour market needs, says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech. The Centre will engage students in transformative learning; for example, the inclusion of a simulated apartment setting creates a realistic scenario where paramedics and direct support professionals interact with patients in their own homes and incorporate cultural home-based protocols and person-centred care.”

Housed at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus, the new Centre will have a strong focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning, with future nurses, paramedics, allied health and community services professionals engaging in experiential training in a wide range of settings. It will house a triage station, hospital ward, high-fidelity healthcare simulation room, phlebotomy laboratory, apartment, and exam room for experiential learning, plus academic classrooms and office space.

“Through small- and large-scale activities and mock scenarios, the Simulation Centre will engage students from multiple programs, mirroring actual healthcare and community settings they will experience in the workforce, says Debbie O’Donnell Weigelt, Dean, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, RRC Polytech.

This type of experience is fundamental to our polytechnic education model – deep theoretical learning blended with experiential training. It sets our graduates ahead of the curve and on a clear path to making an impact in the field of health and community care.”

Preliminary work is underway, and RRC Polytech is in the process of acquiring new equipment and technology. The Centre is anticipated to take two years to complete. Learn more about RRC Polytech’s Health Sciences and Community Services online.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, on original lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the Homeland of the Red River Métis Nation — Truth and Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to reflect and honour the victims and survivors of Canada’s Residential School system, ensuring they are never forgotten.

To begin Truth and Reconciliation Week, Red River College Polytechnic announced today that it is joining the members of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) as a signatory of a national Indigenous Education Protocol.

This comprehensive document underscores the importance of structures and approaches required to address Indigenous peoples’ learning needs and support self-determination and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities.

“We have dedicated ourselves to reconciling a broken trust in our education system and recognize that advancing Indigenous achievement requires organizations to listen, embrace new ways of learning and work together to prompt meaningful change,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO at RRC Polytech. “By upholding this agreement, RRC Polytech and its CICan partners will continue to create opportunities to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into student and faculty supports, to inform our administrative processes, and to build collaborative partnerships that elevate reconciliation.”    

Indigenous Education Protocol signatory institutions agree to:

• Commit to making Indigenous education a priority.
• Ensure governance structures recognize and respect Indigenous peoples.
• Implement intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through curriculum and learning approaches relevant to learners and communities.
• Support students and employees to increase understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
• Commit to increasing the number of Indigenous employees with ongoing appointments throughout the institution, including Indigenous senior administrators.
• Establish Indigenous-centred holistic services and learning environments for learner success.
• Build relationships and be accountable to Indigenous communities in support of self-determination through education, training and applied research.

Colleges, institutes, and polytechnics are often the primary access point to post-secondary education for First Nations, Inuit and Métis learners. As the main providers of adult education and upskilling programs they are key to breaking down barriers to post-secondary education. This is especially important for Indigenous learners because the percentage of Indigenous men and women aged 25-64 without a high school diploma stands at 26%, more than twice that of non-Indigenous Canadians (11%).

“Education is vital to strengthening Indigenous communities and we are so proud of the work our members do to ensure that their institutions make culturally relevant education, governance, and support services a priority,” says Denise Amyot, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada. “I am pleased to welcome Red River College Polytechnic as a signatory of our Indigenous Education Protocol. Congratulations.”

The Indigenous Education Protocol aligns closely with the recommendations issued by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 and is supported by many initiatives already underway at the College.

RRC Polytech works together with its Elders-in-Residence, Knowledge Keepers Council, and Director of Truth and Reconciliation to make informed decisions and embed Indigenous teachings and traditions into its programs and culture.

Manitoba’s former Treaty Commissioner, Jamie Wilson, was recently hired to add his visionary leadership and relationship building acumen to the portfolio of Vice-President of Indigenous Strategy, Research, and Business Development.

The location of today’s signing, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae at the College’s Exchange District Campus, includes open spaces that celebrate Mother Earth, technology to accommodate traditional ceremonies, and artwork on walls, ceilings and floors that celebrates Indigenous artists and creates an atmosphere of belonging.     

All staff are encouraged to complete the Four Seasons of Reconciliation training modules and a blanket exercise to learn about the true effects of Canada’s colonization. Throughout the year, the College hosts a variety of special ceremonies, presentations, workshops, seasonal solstice and equinox celebrations and concludes each year with an annual Pow Wow honouring Indigenous graduates.

“RRC Polytech is a learning institution, a workplace and a community; post-secondary is where many young people are exposed to life altering thought processes, ideas and new pathways. For me, post-secondary helped shape who I am,” says Carla Kematch, Director of Truth and Reconciliation at RRC Polytech. “Not only is it our responsibility to educate on Truth and Reconciliation, we hold a unique space for transformative learning to occur for the future of our province and to help heal the deep wounds that still impact Indigenous peoples.”

RRC Polytech is committed to Truth and Reconciliation and embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. CICan’s Indigenous Education Protocol will help guide the College on its mission of providing top level post-secondary education while transforming spaces, places and hearts; weaving together two distinct cultures; and improving relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to empower communities and promote a culture of respect and inclusion.

Colleges and Institutes Canada represents 142 of Canada’s publicly funded colleges and institutes. Founded in 1972, the association serves as the national and international voice of Canada’s largest post-secondary education network. Our work is guided by a simple yet ambitious vision: building better futures for peoples and communities. We achieve this by strengthening Canada’s system of publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics.

RRC Polytech is committed to continuing the journey of Truth and Reconciliation as individuals, and collectively as a College community. Next week from Monday, Sept 26, to Thursday, Sept 29, 2022, marks the fourth annual Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Week, a time to learn, reflect and spark conversations that will contribute to understanding, healing and creating stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Employees and students will be immersed in Indigenous teachings, storytelling and experiences to evolve their understanding of history and current issues impacting Indigenous people, reconciliation efforts and society as a whole. TRC Week is a blend of in-person, virtual and self-guided events and experiences offered by departments from across the College and the RRC Polytech Student Association.

“Truth and Reconciliation Week at RRC Polytech has grown to become a cross-departmental collaboration to offer a wide variety of events for staff and students. With this being our fourth year, we can build upon the foundational knowledge we have developed and really dive deeper into topics staff and faculty require to move forward in their work,” says Carla Kematch, Director of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement at RRC Polytech.

TRC Week focuses on the vital topics of Residential Schools, Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit, and begins with an all-day session on Indigenous research methodologies led by Dr. Shawn Wilson.

“As a polytechnic, there’s a huge opportunity to integrate Indigenous teachings and knowledge, to create learning opportunities from influential scholars in this space. For TRC Week we are fortunate to be hosting an Indigenous research methodologies session with Dr. Wilson, author of Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods,” says Kematch.

Alongside employees and students, community members are invited to join Dr. Wilson’s session on Monday, Sept 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roundhouse Auditorium, located at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, the Exchange District Campus. Pre-registration for this event is required.

Also embedded within the first day of TRC Week, RRC Polytech will be signing Colleges and Institutes Canada’s (CICan) national Indigenous Education Protocol. As an official signatory, RRC Polytech is furthering its commitment to reconciling a broken trust in our education system and advancing Indigenous achievement through addressing barriers, embracing new ways of learning and knowing, and working together to create meaningful change.

To support meaningful change and live the College’s renewed commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, at the beginning of this year, the re-imagined area of Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development was launched. This area, led by Vice President, James (Jamie) Wilson, helps guide transformation in Truth and Reconciliation, and strengthen the College’s relationship between Indigenous communities and the business sector, resulting in expanded opportunities for students, industry and Indigenous communities in Manitoba.  

“To truly embed Truth and Reconciliation and create transformational change, we need to do the work as Individuals and as a collective. TRC Week brings many opportunities to both learn and apply the learning, helping to build critical pathways between RRC Polytech, Indigenous students, and Indigenous communities and businesses,” says Jamie Wilson, Vice President, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development at RRC Polytech.

RRC Polytech’s work towards learning, understanding, healing and building relationships goes beyond TRC Week. Together, the School of Indigenous Education and Library and Academic Services are launching the Truth and Reconciliation Community of Practice, a forum for participants to extend and apply their learning, and to take action to advance TRC and anti-racism throughout fall 2022 and beyond.

For the full TRC Week event listing and more information, visit rrc.ca/indigenous/news.