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.

Due to a Manitoba Hydro power outage, RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus is closed until 12:00p.m. today, October 24 2022.

All on-campus classes and services at the Notre Dame Campus will be cancelled.

Regular operations are expected to resume at 12:00p.m. today. All other campuses remain open. 

Updates, if required, will be shared on the College’s website, through email, and on social media. 

Red River College Polytechnic is committed to providing a safe environment for everyone to work and learn. We are pleased to introduce a new Campus Alerting System to centralize notifications of potential impacts to personal safety. The new system will ensure all members of the college community will be informed in real time with reliable information.

The Campus Alerting System will use multiple channels to consistently share important information to you depending on the type of situation:

• Broadcasts on hallway speakers
• Desk phone calls with the same broadcast as the hallway speakers
• Desk phone display
• Emails
• MS Teams
• Text messages and phone calls on college-issued cellphones and stipends
• *Coming soon: digital television display and desktop display

Campus Alerts will include a brief description of the situation, instructions to keep yourself safe, how the college is addressing the situation, and updates as the situation is resolved.

SMS Alerts will come from (+1-844-961-4619) and phone call Alerts will come from (+1-608-480-6382). *After November 9, 2022, the SMS Alerts will change to (+1-833-232-5051). Phone call alerts will remain the same. The numbers from which the Alerts are issued are not usually subject to change, so we don’t expect that the number will change again. You can add these numbers to your contacts so you know when an Alert is live.

The introduction of the new Campus Alerting System means we are moving away from the Mobile Safety App.

Staff members will automatically be enrolled in the system on all college-issued devices and emails. If staff members would like to receive alerts on their personal phones, please contact safety@rrc.ca.

Students will receive notifications through academic email, MS Teams if they self-subscribe to the MS Teams channel, and hallway speakers throughout applicable campuses.

If you have any questions, please see the FAQ or contact safety@rrc.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red River College Polytechnic staff, faculty and students can now access medical services through QDoc. Current RRC Polytech partners, Dr. Norm Silver and Dave Berkowits are part of a new initiative called QDoc that provides virtual medical services when you need them.

No more running out to medical appointments, trying to find and pay for parking, and time wasted in waiting rooms. Save time by using QDoc with wait times less than 15 minutes.

Starting September 26, you will be able to access a doctor with the click of a button here.

See Q & A below for additional information:

How do I access it?

Go to  Home – QDoc and press SEE DOCTOR NOW.  You can access it from any mobile device.

What are the QDoc hours?

QDoc is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Please note that after midnight to 6am there may be longer waiting periods.

Is there a cost?

No. This is FREE for staff, faculty, and domestic students.

However, International students’ visits will be direct billed to their insurance provider (Gallivan).

Do I need my provincial Health Card?

Yes. Domestic students will be required to show their MB or other provincial Health card.

International students will be required to show a current health insurance card to either the treating physician or to a Health Centre staff.

What if I go to the Health Centre and the nurse determines that I do need to see a doctor?

No problem, you will be asked to sign a waiver that will identify that your treatment is shifting from the nurse to the QDoc physician.

There will be a treatment space that you can use to contact the QDoc physician.

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.

Due to a safety incident, Red River College Polytechnic evacuated Building Z, RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology Research Centre, at its Notre Dame Campus shortly before lunchtime today. The incident was a Freon leak that occurred outside a classroom while a contractor was performing regular maintenance work, resulting in a small spill of less than 5 litres.

Safety protocols were activated immediately, the Building was evacuated and the College notified our staff and students about the incident through our Campus Alerting System. No injuries were reported, and our nurses assessed any staff or students near the spill at our Health Centre.

There was no risk or impact to the rest of the campus. Normal operations at all other buildings continue.

RRC Polytech reported the incident to workplace safety and health, and we have worked with them to declare the Building safe to return. Building Z will reopen around 4:00pm today and scheduled classes will resume tomorrow.

We appreciate the quick action and support from our staff, faculty and students in quickly responding to this incident to keep everyone safe.  

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.

Canada is still in the midst of its official mourning period following the death of the country’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II at age 96, on September 8, 2022.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has deemed Monday, September 19, a federal holiday and a National Day of Mourning as Her Majesty is buried in the U.K.

The College continues to extend its deepest condolences to all members of the Royal Family and has lowered its flags to half-mast to express a collective sense of sorrow.

It is national protocol for the flags to remain at half-mast from the time of notification of death until sunset on the day of the funeral or the memorial service.

Tests and exams scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled by the appropriate program area ensuring students will not incur any negative impact from the closure.

All RRC Polytech campuses will reopen, and all classes will resume as normal on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

Ceremony unveils a new symbol of support for 2SLGBTQIA+ community

RRC Polytech unveiled its first Rainbow Walkway today at the main entrance of its Notre Dame Campus, featuring a 14 by 7-metre (approximately 45 by 22.5-feet) painting of a new Pride design that includes representation for all 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual) community members.  Similar paintings will welcome guests at the College’s Exchange District Campus and Portage La Prairie Campus.  

Students’ Association VP Academic, Joshua Malam hosted a brief ceremony to acknowledge the groups that worked together to create the new artwork, including RRC Polytech’s Knowledge Keepers’ Council, the Students’ Association, the Gender and Sexual Identities working group, Facilities Management, and the Rainbow Resource Centre. President and CEO, Fred Meier and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist, Vera Godavari explained the elements of the design and the importance of living our commitments.

“The new Pride design reflects RRC Polytech’s on-going commitment to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion, and continuing our reconciliation journey as a College community,” says Melanie Gudmundson, Chief Human Resource Officer. “As an organization, we will continue to evolve our practices, policies and physical spaces to ensure that our staff, students and community feel accepted and welcome on our campuses.”

The new Pride design includes the following elements:

The triangle represents the badge LGBT prisoners were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps.

Moving the triangle to the bottom maintains this meaning, but also forms a tepee, which is a shelter shape historically used by many First Nations people in Manitoba and shows the upward momentum of the movement.

The Medicine Wheel incorporates traditional Indigenous knowledge and teachings.

The purple and yellow circles around the Medicine Wheel recognize intersex folx.

By combining these elements and colours and displaying them in prominent locations, the Rainbow Walkways project has been created to represent all human beings, and welcome everyone on Indigenous lands.

“The Rainbow Walkways, featuring the personalized Pride design, serves as a daily reminder of the work we have done and the work we still have to do after the paint dries,” says Vera Godavari, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist. “At RRC Polytech we are committed to walk the path of understanding, acceptance and allyship with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and are proud of making strides toward creating safer and braver spaces.”

This evolution of the Progress Pride flag aligns with the College’s recent announcement to adopt the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym and lead with “2S,” respectfully acknowledging Two Spirit Peoples’ longevity, importance and status in Indigenous beliefs and traditions.

The term Two-Spirit has roots in Treaty 1 (Winnipeg), coming from the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) words niizh manitoag (two-spirits). It often refers to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity. The new Pride design recognizes these origins and the trauma that has occurred throughout history.

“Honouring the teachings of our Two-Spirit ancestors and the Original Peoples of this land on the College’s Pride design demonstrates a willingness to create a culture of inclusivity moving forward and serves as a symbol that everyone is truly welcome,” says Carla Kematch, Director of Truth and Reconciliation. “Its unique design will prompt important conversations and continue to help us learn, grow, and heal.”    

The evolved design aligns with Commitment Two of the College’s Strategic Plan: Commit to Truth and Reconciliation. Pursue equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. June is traditionally an important time for living this commitment as it marks both Pride Month and Indigenous Peoples History Month, and a year-round emphasis will continue to strengthen that relationship.   

In addition to consulting with RRC Polytech’s Knowledge Keepers’ Council, Students Association, and its Gender and Sexual Identities working group, RRC Polytech also worked with the Rainbow Resource Centre on the evolution of the College’s Pride design.

“There is a rich history of pride within the 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and while it is important to honour that history and its impacts, Pride and its symbols will continue to evolve to better represent the communities we celebrate,” says Bre Calma, Training and Education Coordinator at Rainbow Resource Centre. “Pride is inclusive. Pride is diverse. Pride is progressive. Adapting the Pride flag to be more inclusive embodies these ideals. Rainbow Resource Centre supports RRC Polytech’s decision to incorporate new elements into the Pride flag to better represent their communities.”

We’ve had a few comments that the artwork is so beautiful and the meaning behind it is so purposeful, isn’t it disrespectful to walk all over it? While it is a beacon of safety and support for all people, it is indeed still a walkway, and you’re encouraged to use it as such, same as the Pride crosswalk at the Forks or other locations. The College’s Facilities Management Team has used a specialized coating to ensure it can stand up to the rigours of daily foot traffic, and it has been painted in prominent locations as a meeting point and a giant welcome mat of sorts, so don’t be shy to walk across it with Pride or even show your allyship with a selfie. The opportunity to walk on a rainbow is rare, so please take full advantage!

RRC Polytech has an evolving list of resources to support learning and allyship, available online at rrc.ca.

The Knowledge Keepers’ Council was established to support the College’s 2022-26 Strategic Plan and its commitments, including the renewed commitment to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. Allen Sutherland, Barbara Bruce, Albert McLeod and Martha Peet join Elder-in-Residence Paul Guimond to form the Knowledge Keepers’ Council, providing guidance and diverse Indigenous perspectives throughout RRC Polytech’s work to embed truth and reconciliation.

Winnipeg Police Services (WPS)  and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) are on site at the Roblin Centre responding to an incident involving a member of the public who had entered the campus needing assistance. RRC Security Services responded and contacted 911.

RRC Security has confirmed there are no safety or security issues at EDC because of this incident and no threat to the RRC Polytech community.

The College is working with Security Services and the WPS to determine further information and will provide updates as they become available.