Manitoba has been hit by a heavy snowfall overnight that is expected to continue with periods of snow throughout the day. There is also a risk of freezing drizzle early this morning, and the potential of icy road conditions. Please click here for more information on highway closures and road conditions.

Winnipeg campuses remain open and will operate as usual and please use caution while commuting.

RRC Polytech’s regional campuses will be operating as follows:

• Portage Campus is open however classes will move to online delivery.
• Stevenson Southport is open however there are no classes scheduled today.
• Stevenson Winnipeg is open and will maintain regular operations
• Selkirk and Peguis Campuses are closed and classes will move to online delivery.
  • please note the exams will be rescheduled
• Steinbach Campus is open and will maintain regular operations.
• Winkler Campus is open and will maintain regular operations.

For those driving both inside and outside of Winnipeg, please drive with caution and adjust to weather conditions.

If you cannot make it to classes or work safely due to weather conditions, please work with your instructor or supervisor directly.

Any updates to campus operations will be shared here.

Gurman Ubhi has made significant impacts throughout their time at RRC Polytech – for themself, for fellow students, and – through their co-op placement at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) – for the environment. Their commitment to going the extra mile has recently earned Gurman the title of RRC Polytech’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Co-op Student of the Year. 

As a student in the Electronic Engineering Technology program, Gurman not only excels academically, but volunteers their time to serve as the Chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch at RRC Polytech.  

It was during Gurman’s co-op placement with ECCC where their skills, passion, and initiative truly shone. Gurman worked for the Atmospheric Monitoring Division of the Meteorological Service of Canada, and traveled throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut during their four-month placement. 

This work saw them assisting senior technologists during weather station verification inspections – learning and working on complicated weather station systems that involved high-powered electrical components and complex instrumentation. These are the systems that generate the climate data that the ECCC uses to provide weather forecasts to Canadians across the country. 

“Gurman’s work in assisting the senior technologists during site inspections directly contributed to the safety of the Canadian public,” noted Michael Maurice, Supervisor/Expert Technologist, Monitoring and Data Collection, Prairie Northern Operations – East at ECCC. 

Gurman credited their education at RRC Polytech with preparing them for the complex work at ECCC. 

“One of the most technically challenging yet rewarding aspects of my role was working on radar systems. This included inspections and testing of critical components such as antennas, power delivery systems, and safety equipment,” said Gurman. “These experiences required me to draw upon my coursework in circuits, signal processing, and measurements, demonstrating the real-world applicability of my academic studies.  

“Through these tasks, I developed a strong understanding of high-powered electrical systems and advanced instrumentation, further enhancing my technical expertise and critical thinking skills.” 

On top of their regular duties, Gurman developed and implemented a new online fleet vehicle tracker – a project that was so successful, it was eventually adopted by the division and is still used to this day. 

“Gurman demonstrated outstanding problem-solving skills, adapting to feedback from multiple departments and ultimately delivering a valuable tool that streamlined fleet monitoring,” said Maurice. “This project showcases Gurman’s ability to think beyond assigned tasks and actively contribute to our team’s objectives.” 

Gurman’s contributions during their co-op placement have reinforced ECCC’s commitment to RRC Polytech’s WIL co-op program, as their high performance and proactive approach demonstrates the value of working with emerging talent. 

“Co-operative education has been pivotal in shaping me into a well-rounded professional,” said Gurman. “It has provided me with the skills, experiences, and network to excel in my career while reinforcing the importance of giving back to the student community. This experience has not only prepared me for my future career but has also inspired me to advocate for the expansion of WIL opportunities, ensuring that more students benefit from such transformative learning experiences.” 

Co-operative education plays a vital role in RRC Polytech’s commitment to delivering high-quality education and training. Learn more about Co-operative Education and other types of Work-Integrated Learning at RRC Polytech.   

The full program for the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase, hosted at Red River College Polytechnic from May 13-15, is now available.

Each of Polytechnics Canada’s partner institutions will be presenting sessions with topics ranging from harnessing wearable technology and machine learning to support first responders, to building community as part of campus expansion, bolstering the skilled trades, and empowering innovation through AI and applied research.

RRC Polytech’s session, Indigenous Strategy at Work, will be on May 14 during lunch:

At this insightful panel discussion, RRC Polytech will share how its Indigenous strategy is transforming the institution. Hear from staff leading this work and students who are experiencing changes firsthand as they discuss how new approaches are reshaping learning outcomes, institutional policies and procurement, human resource practices and the student experience. Discover how weaving Indigenous viewpoints and strategy into everything we do creates meaningful change across the polytechnic and adds new dimensions to its culture.

Presenter: Jamie Wilson, Vice President, Indigenous Strategy, Research & Business Development

Click here to see the full schedule and session descriptions

Early bird registration for the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase is available until April 1. Visit Polytechnics Canada’s event page to learn more and to register today.

From May 13 to 15 Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) will be hosting delegates from 13 polytechnic institutions across Canada as well as representatives from industry, business and government for Polytechnics Canada’s annual showcase, focusing on the theme of Propelling Canada’s Productivity.

This year’s keynote speakers, Dr. Niigaan Sinclair and Ben Wildavsky, are sure to inspire attendees to bring new ideas into their thinking and work.

Opening Keynote: Dr. Niigaan Sinclair

Dr. Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian Columnist of the Year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger. His first book, Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024), was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Closing Keynote: Ben Wildavsky

Ben Wildavsky is a veteran higher education strategist, writer, speaker, convener and host of the Higher Ed Spotlight podcast. His decades of experience in journalism and education policy include leadership roles at Strada Education Network, the College Board and U.S. News & World Report. He is a visiting fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2024-2025.

He is the author of The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections. He is also the award-winning author of The Great Brain Race and coeditor of Reinventing Higher Education and Measuring Success with bylines in many national magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. His New York Times guest essay, Let’s Stop Pretending College Degrees Don’t Matter, was reprinted in the bestselling textbook The Norton Field Guide to Writing.

He was recently selected as a Fulbright Specialist and a Salzburg Global Fellow. A former scholar at the Brookings Institution, the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Kauffman Foundation, he has been a speaker on globalization and higher education innovation in 16 U.S. states and 10 foreign countries, including events at Google, the World Bank, the OECD in Paris and the London School of Economics. He has long experience as a consultant on high-profile writing projects, including policy reports and thought leadership articles by education and workforce executives. He has convened leading thinkers to produce memorable events and publications.

Register for the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase

For more information, and to register please visit Polytechnics Canada’s website. Early bird registration is available until April 1.

Last December, Megan Hederson received news from her instructors she’ll never forget – she was shortlisted for the 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). And this January, her instructors asked whether she would like to attend the awards to represent RRC Polytech. 

“I was so honoured that my story was worthy of recognition. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I couldn’t not go,” said Hederson, 2024 graduate of the Creative Communications (CreComm) program. 

The COPAs are presented by Masthead, an industry magazine for Canadian publishing professionals, and are judged by media professionals from across the country. Eight student articles – plus the online magazine where they’re hosted – were submitted for the 2024 awards by Emily Cain and Karen Press, CreComm instructors. 

The articles selected by Cain and Press are part of the student-produced Working Draft online magazine. All Working Draft articles are long-form pieces that CreComm students write, peer edit, and focus on continuous improvement through diverse feedback, as a second-year final project. 

The Working Draft theme for 2024 was Time. With this theme, students could take their writing in many directions, opting for a long-form non-fiction creative piece, feature article or white paper. For Hederson, she chose to share a deeply personal moment of time from her life, recounting her experience of psychosis and navigating the mental health system in her feature article, Together We Escape.  

Together We Escape was one of five Working Draft submissions shortlisted for the 2024 COPAs. 

This February, Hederson, who now resides in Bracebridge, Ontario, invited her mom to join, and made the train commute to the COPAs in downtown Toronto. As Hederson sat on the train to Toronto, she read all the fellow Feature Article (Academic) nominations, noting that she was sure In Sickness and Health written by Chloe Hannan would win. 

At the COPAs Hederson made her way to the stage to accept awards on behalf of her peers. She recalls the event MC commenting as she stepped on stage to accept the third award on behalf of her peers and RRC Polytech, “you’re producing really great things out there!”  

When it came time to announce the winner for Feature Article (Academic) category, the Silver award winner was called first, In Sickness and Health written by Chloe Hannan. Next, Hederson heard her name. Together We Escape took home the Gold. 

“While receiving this recognition is incredible, what was even more meaningful was the support of my instructors and classmates throughout the entire process. CreComm instructors – especially Karen Press, Emily Cain, and Joanne Kelly – go above and beyond to set their students up for success. This isn’t just my win; it’s a win for all of RRC Polytech and its CreComm program,” said Hederson, acknowledging that she shed a few tears when she realized she had won. 

Throughout the awards, Hederson was texting live updates to her instructors back in Winnipeg, letting them know each time another CreComm graduate was awarded. 

“When I teach students in semester four of Writers Craft, I haven’t taught them since their first semester, so there’s a lot of growth. It’s rewarding to see how far students have come,” said Cain. 

CreComm students are building an award-winning reputation, placing RRC Polytech in the top three out of 50 post-secondaries and publications such as Toronto Life and CBC British Colombia, at the 2024 COPAs. 

Congratulations to all the 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards winners – Danna Carreon (Silver for Investigative Article), Megan Hederson (Gold, Feature Article – Academic), Caleb Jutzi (Gold for Feel Good Story – Academic), and Christina Klysh (Silver for Lifestyle Article).  

Read the award-winning articles that were published as part of the 2024 Working Draft issue on Time: 

A Forest in a Day by Caleb Jutzi  
10,000 trees or bust. 

Together We Escape by Megan Hederson  
When a psychotic break lands a teen in the hospital, she is forced to navigate the mental health system. Eight years later, she meets a woman with similar experiences — and finds community and connection. 

Life Beyond Borders by Danna Bianca Carreon  
International students leave their home countries to pursue their dreams — and education — in Canada, but once they arrive, many are faced with a harsh reality. Housing, employment, and issues around recruitment that don’t surface until they are already thousands of kilometres from home leave many international students in precarious situations. 

The Resale Revolution by Christina Klysh  
Thanks to TikTok, Gen Z, and the impending climate crisis, the online second-hand clothing resale market is booming — but in-person thrifting is here to stay. 

Shortlisted Working Draft article 

Aaniindi Ezhaayin? (Where are you Going?) by Hannah Palamer 
In the family tree, trauma’s roots run deep. After losing a family member to addiction, one young woman confronts the pain of her past and reconnects to her Indigenous identity. 

The Working Draft online magazine was also shortlisted for Best News/Sports site. 

While recent Safety Updates have primarily focused on the Exchange District Campus (EDC), our comprehensive safety strategy extends across all campuses, with a focus on creating a secure and welcoming environment for everyone.  

For this month’s update, we are sharing reminders about safety at the Notre Dame Campus (NDC) and enhancements underway on campus. 

Ongoing Safety Enhancements

Currently there’s a CCTV and security infrastructure upgrade underway at NDC which includes enhancements to cameras, alarm systems, and electronic door access. These upgrades will take place over the next two years, supporting improved surveillance capabilities and increased security effectiveness. 

In addition to updates at NDC, this past fall enhancements were made to CCTV and surveillance systems at the Portage La Prairie and Winkler Campuses.  

Safety Reminders

Accessing Campus

Security Services at NDC is located on the main floor (Plaza Level) of C Building. See campus map for reference. Contractors and visitors must sign in with security upon arrival. 

All campus doors are locked after 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and locked all day on weekends at both EDC and NDC. To access NDC after hours or on weekends, use the east entrance of C Building.  

Staff and students should have their College ID cards on hand at all times, for swipe card access spaces and accessing facilities such as the gym at NDC. 

Personal Belongings

As a reminder for students and staff across all campuses – do not leave personal belongings unattended at any time. This includes locked spaces such as classrooms and breakout rooms. RRC Polytech is not liable for any loss of, or damage to unattended property. 

Safe Ride and Safe Walk Services

Safe Ride and Safe Walk services are available at EDC and NDC, providing students, staff and visitors with a secure ride or escorted walk between two points on campus, or to a point in close proximity to the College, for example, parking lots. 

To arrange for a Safe Ride or Walk, visit RRC Polytech Security Services in person or call: 

• Notre Dame Campus – 204-632-2323 

• Exchange District Campus – 204-949-8305 

Reporting Security Incidents or Concerns

To report a safety concern or incident, visit Security Services at the campus where it occurred. A Security Officer will discuss the incident with you, ensure a report is completed, and guide you on the next steps you should take. 

If you are in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1 immediately. If using a cell phone, notify Security Services to ensure a coordinated response with emergency services.   

Thank You 

We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback. For any concerns, questions or suggestions you may have, please reach out to Safety, Health and Security Services at safety@rrc.ca.

From May 13 to 15 Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) will be hosting delegates from 13 polytechnic institutions across Canada as well as representatives from industry, business and government for Polytechnics Canada’s annual showcase, focusing on the theme of Propelling Canada’s Productivity.

This year’s showcase will have attendees engaging with ideas about how polytechnics are essential to boosting Canada’s productivity, with a mission and mandate built around fueling the country’s economic and innovation ecosystems. Sessions will demonstrate how polytechnics are fostering business growth through applied research, developing an unrivaled workforce, and propelling Canada toward a more prosperous future.

Throughout the showcase attendees will also have the opportunity to tour RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus, meet instructors and staff from across programs and the College’s Research, Partnerships & Innovation department, and collaborate with members from other institutions. For more information, and to register please visit Polytechnics Canada’s website. Early bird registration is available until April 1.

For the first time ever, RRC Polytech is proudly delivering a customized version of its Human Resource (HR) Management Certificate program to students in Nunavut. Over the next 13 months, RRC Polytech’s Corporate Solutions team will deliver 10 courses – that include both online and in-person training in the capital city of Iqaluit – to provide critical HR training that was previously unavailable to a class of Inuit learners aged 19-75.

“It’s so rewarding to lead this groundbreaking initiative for the College that contributes to our Indigenous community on a national level,” said Georgette Rochon, Business Development Manager, Corporate Solutions at RRC Polytech. “Our team is committed to building these relationships, breaking down barriers to education and creating customized training that can benefit all communities and organizations, regardless of their location.”  

The Government of Nunavut (GN) partnered with RRC Polytech to fully fund the cost of tuition and is providing support to the cohort of just over thirty of its employees working in a variety of positions across numerous departments. The partnership ensures the talented and motivated professionals working in Canada’s northern-most territory no longer have to leave their homes, families and support systems to pursue the HR training they need to be eligible to waive the National Knowledge Exam® – the recognized industry standard required for designation by CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) Canada.

“It’s a super intense course that these students of all ages are choosing to do while still working at their jobs, so it speaks volumes to their level of commitment to their education, careers and their region as a whole,” said Rochon.

Students like Laura Nowdluk, who says a recent lesson on recruitment really piqued her interest and has her feeling optimistic that the strategies and processes they are learning will ultimately lead to increased efficiency right across their government.

“It was great, I loved every minute of it, actually,” said Nowdluk, following the second full week of in-person classes. “It was a lot of information at first, but it was very hands on which I liked.”

Born and raised in Iqaluit, Nowdluk moved south to Kingston, Ontario a year after graduating high school to study computer science and biotechnology but eventually returned home. She is currently working as a Human Resources Coordinator in the GN Department of Justice and had no formal HR training, so she jumped at the opportunity when her manager suggested it.

“I feel I’ve learned so much already,” said Nowdluk. “I could use it to develop and further my HR career, especially up here, there’s a lot of potential to grow and I think this training could help with that.”

One of her additional highlights so far has been the connection her fellow students have made with their instructors and facilitators. Whether it’s working together to overcome minor hurdles involving technology or language, incorporating local governance into the curriculum, or simply sharing their unique customs and traditions, she says the class appreciates their engaging and respectful nature and eagerness to learn as much as they teach. 

“They just have a really friendly aura, they’re very helpful and understanding of the work-life balance as well,” said Nowdluk. “I like it when people are interested in learning not only about the culture from like an Indigenous aspect, but just about day-to-day life in a northern community, how different the norm is up here.”

Given the impactful life experience for everyone involved and the shrinking of a critical gap in educational options in the North, RRC Polytech’s Corporate Solutions team is exploring other opportunities to collaborate with the Government of Nunavut so this mutually beneficial partnership can grow and thrive.  

“By making our training flexible and customizable and living our commitments, we can help everyone feel comfortable and supported throughout their learning experience – which we know increases student success,” said Rochon. “I cannot wait to return to Iqaluit and continue working with such driven professionals.”

Manitoba Hydro has given the ALL CLEAR in Building S – Greenhouse at NDC.

Those who evacuated can now resume operations and all parking lots are now open.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Manitoba Hydro is enroute to the Notre Dame Campus to investigate a suspected gas leak in the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse was evacuated immediately, along with the surrounding areas.

Please do not enter the Greenhouse and avoid the following parking lots:

• 4W
• C1
• C2
• C3

There are members of the Parking Services team who are onsite and helping to direct traffic away from these areas.

There is no further impact on operations.

We will continue to provide updates through the Campus Alerting System and on rrc.ca/marcom