Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning awarded Best Diversity Employer award in 2018

Winnipeg, MB – Today, Red River College (RRC) is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the fourth year in a row. RRC joins 70 other organizations across the country highlighted as employers that stand out through their efforts to create diverse and inclusive workplace.

“We often spend the majority of our waking hours at our places of work, that’s why creating an environment that is open, welcoming, and safe for all our staff and students is a priority for the College,” said Melanie Gudmundson, Chief Human Resource Officer. “Equity and inclusion are embedded in our practices and demonstrated throughout the College – it’s part of the fabric that makes up our College community. We’re honoured to be recognized with this distinction once again.”

There are a number of programs and initiatives that encourage diversity and inclusivity that the College was recognized for this year, including RRC’s Indigenous workshop series’ developed and delivered  by the College’s Elders in Residence; LGBTT* initiative; Healthy Minds, Healthy College Initiative; Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT) Camp Program; and a workforce audit to determine representation of designated group members in the RRC workforce.

New and noteworthy achievements this year include the addition of Rebecca Chartrand, Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy to the College’s leadership team. This new role is responsible for leading and developing RRC’s Indigenous strategic framework that will guide the College to a bold, inclusive new future, creating new pathways to support Indigenous achievement and student success.

The College created a new online Gender & Sexual Diversity Awareness Course – the first of its kind in Canada – which provides 24/7 access to awareness building courses and training to all staff and students.

RRC also completed an Inclusive Campus Climate Review that gave members of the College community a voice in shaping and developing an inclusive and supportive workplace for everyone at RRC.

As the College continues to make improvements in the area of diversity and inclusivity, a new Inclusion Coordinator position has been created. This new position will be responsible for leading the College’s ongoing commitment to inclusion with a focus on Indigenous recruitment and retention strategies, while also coordinating RRC’s ongoing work coordinating the College’s Accessibility initiative that will enable RRC to continue to be an open, safe, and supportive environment.

“We continue to see expansions across the College with the opening of new campuses, and rapid growth and enrolment in program areas like our School of International Education,” said Gudmundson. “We must look ahead for more effective ways to integrate, expand, and enhance Diversity and Intercultural services across the College and support more staff and students than ever before.”

To read more about Red River College’s 2018 Best Diversity Employer award click here.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, students at Red River College (RRC) had the opportunity to talk about intimate relationships and related issues, such as the importance of consent, in an interactive workshop designed to promote greater health and well-being.

The Cupcakes and Condoms workshop was facilitated Klinic Community Health and the Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) and brought to the College as part of the Healthy Minds Healthy College (HMHC) Initiative. Breanna Sawatzky, Mental Health Coordinator at RRC, said it’s important for students to have access to workshops like this so they can feel empowered to make healthy decisions and know how to protect their well-being.

“We know that strong healthy relationships, whether intimate or platonic are key to personal well-being,” she said. “The Public Health Agency of Canada found that Adults with strong relationships are more likely to report high life satisfaction and good mental health. Conversely, experiencing disrespect, harassment, abuse, and sexual assault take a toll on one’s mental health and well-being and are risk factors for developing certain mental illnesses.”

Through the HMHC initiative, RRC hosts several events per year with the aim to meet the demands of students, faculty, and staff with mental health problems and illness while promoting wellness, recovery and resilience for all. For Sawatzky, whose role was created in 2016, that means creating a comfortable environment for students, and staff, to learn and share.

“When students are here at College, we want them to be safe from harassment, abuse, and assault; to know what to do if they experience these; and importantly, know how to form and sustain healthy relationships,” she said. “Klinic and SERC are leaders in promoting sexual health through education so they’re a natural fit to educate our students on these important topics. Including free cupcakes, supplied by Lilac Bakery, and condoms for all who attend is a way to make this learning fun and enjoyable.”

February 12 to 16, 2018 is also SERC’s 15th annual national Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness week, with the theme of ‘Minding our Business’: Sexual Health & Mental Wellness, highlighting the interconnectedness of mental health and sexual health in our bodies and within our communities. The group will be hosting a number of events in Winnipeg and Brandon as well as posting self-care tips on social media.

To learn more about RRC’s Healthy Minds, Healthy College Initiative, click here: https://blogs.rrc.ca/wellness/

RRC’s Science of Early Child Development is now used in more than 43 countries worldwide

For immediate release: January 18, 2018

What began as a research project at Red River College to bridge the gap between current research in child development and to create educational tools  and resources to support frontline workers, has now received a national award from the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) recognizing the global impact it has had around the world.

“This award is particularly exciting as our primary goal in developing the Science of Early Child Development (SECD) is to make the rapidly expanding science engaging and accessible to those who make a real difference in children’s lives,” said Jan Sanderson, research chair, School of Health Sciences and Community Services. “Our team has had the opportunity to work with many amazing committed partners around the world who are now using SECD to develop the next generation of champions for young children.”

As part of their work, researchers at Red River College were able to point to significant and emerging scientific evidence that spoke to the benefits of creating experiences that would support brain development in children starting in prenatal and carrying-on into the first years of a child’s life.

Prior to the work undertaken at Red River College, this emerging knowledge was not being widely disseminated to caregivers and frontline workers, especially in remote and low-income regions around the world.

It’s this evidence and lack of resources which was the driving force behind SECD and today, that global impact resulting from the project earned the inaugural Public Engagement and Advocacy Award from CARA an award that recognizes an individual, institution, team or project that established and maintained public engagement with research though an innovative approach.

CARA selected the SECD project for the award because of its tailor-made approach to addressing critical issues around early childhood development.

“The Public Engagement and Advocacy Award is new this year and we are thrilled to be recognizing the SECD project at Red River College,” said CARA President Deborah Zornes.

This initial SECD resource became a core “living text book” in multiple educational programs in Canada and led to the creation of an online SECD course that is widely accessible.

Since then the program has evolved into an international knowledge mobilization initiative, making current research engaging and accessible. In 2010 the team partnered with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to modify and contextualize the resource and course for low- and middle-income countries. Since then the AKDN has trained over 70 practitioners in SECD internationally, who in turn serve as tutors and instructors in their communities.

To date the resources are in use in over 43 countries with portions translated into Arabic, Bangla, Kiswahili, Mandarin, Portuguese, Tajik, and Russian.

Current projects involve partnering with the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre and the Martin Family Initiative to support projects in First Nations communities in Canada. The research team is also developing online workshops to support a new national home-visiting program in Brazil.

Red River College students interested in the technical aspects of building design will soon bring their ideas to life through a new program.

Beginning in the 2018/19 academic year the College will be offering the renewed Architectural Technology diploma program, designed to prepare students for success in careers related to the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction.

Many of the skills students will acquire through these programs are in high demand in sectors across the province.  According to recent surveys, 98 per cent of Red River College graduates choose to stay and work in Manitoba, a trend that helps meet the needs of our province’s economy.

“As industry evolves in Manitoba, it’s important that Red River College continue to redesign, and create new programs that not only anticipate the changes that are emerging in industry, but create programming that allows our students adapt to the change as they enter into a meaningful and rewarding career,” said Paul Vogt, president & CEO, Red River College.

“Staying ahead of the curve and engaging with industry ensures that we can be agile in program development and continue to provide relevant training that ensures the success of our students and the many industries that we support.”

This new program replaces the current Building Design Technology program and was developed following extensive consultation of representatives from a wide range of industry employers and participants. A new curriculum was produced to address the current and future needs the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.

“The new Architectural Technology program will more closely align with the current needs of the AEC industry, providing graduates with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to join the workforce in a contributing role, while continuing in the life-long learning experience inherent to our world,” said Stephane Chappellaz, certified architectural technologist at Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd. and chair of the program’s partner advisory council.

The program is a comprehensive, two year, direct entry program consisting of four 16-week semesters and a four month co-operative session between year one and year two. The co-operative will help to provide students with practical experience related to their chosen career. Graduates of this program will be job-ready through the hands-on learning delivered by highly skilled, industry-based faculty.

Rapid advances in building and construction technology have increased the need for industry professionals prepared to meet the demands of a dynamic industry. Students will experience a wide-ranging curriculum of courses that emphasize the learning and practical application of current design and construction techniques, architectural working drawings, building codes, construction specifications, contract administration, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and the mastery of modern technology used in industry.

“As the industry evolves, it’s great to see Red River College being responsive to that evolution by working with industry professionals to address the current needs of the architectural, engineering, and construction industries. Having this insight ensures that the new program caters to the many different aspects of the field students could move into, preparing graduates for the challenges they will face in their future career,” said Leighton Klassen, project manager at Colliers Project Leaders.

Registration for the Architectural Technology diploma program will be available February 1, 2018 at rrc.ca

WINNIPEG, November 29, 2017 – Does going to work make you happy? Three initiatives at Red River College (RRC) focused on staff positivity have helped the College land on Manitoba’s Top Employer list for the 8^th year in a row.

Those initiatives include the wellness initiative known as Healthy Minds, Healthy College, a peer-to-peer recognition program, and a day-long professional development event called RED Forum.

“These are the kinds of programs that can engage staff, help them interact with each other and dedicate time to growing themselves. It’s important for us to provide these types of resources on top of things like a solid health benefits plan, pension, and vacation to ensure staff are motivated and feel proud to work at the College,” said Lindsay Allen, Acting Director, Human Resource Services, RRC. “These initiatives are positive incentives for self-improvement and peer recognition.”

Over the past year, major investments in the wellness and mental health of RRC employees have resulted in the creation of a new, full-time Mental Health Coordinator position, Breanna Sawatzky, who is responsible for the College-wide Healthy Minds Healthy College Initiative. The purpose of this new position is to ensure that RRC is a mentally healthy place to work and learn.

Healthy Minds Healthy College achievements over the past year include a #SICKNOTWEAK talk by TSN and Bell Let’s Talk Day speaker Michael Landsberg, who raised awareness and sparked real conversation about mental health with staff; the College-wide adoption of a new mental health training program from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, called The Working Mind; the second annual Get Movin’ Challenge in February that saw more than 320 employees take on a month-long challenge to achieve a minimum of 7,000 steps per day; and RRC’s first annual THRIVE Mental Health Awareness Week in October that delivered 23 events to staff across all campuses.

“Our employees – and students – are thrilled to see all this happening – the education, activities and conversation. They know help is available, and the conversation creates a greater feeling or normalcy,” said Laureen Janzen, Manager of Counselling & Accessibility Services at RRC. “We’re hoping to send the message that RRC is a place where everyone is encouraged to take care of themselves and each other – mentally and physically.”

This past year the College also launched Cheers for Peers – built on two years of research and consultation with over 150 employees. The result is a simple recognition experience between two employees using a handwritten card. The program was developed by a 24-member Staff Awards and Recognition Committee and is administered by a group of more than 16 Cheers Champions. Since launching, more than 1,600 cards have been written.

RED Forum is a new, full-day professional development event for all 2,600 full- and part-time RRC employees from all nine campuses. Focusing on Relationships, Education and Direction, the inaugural RED Forum was launched in May 2016. Sessions were delivered by employees and external facilitators on a broad range of professional development topics. The day is also an opportunity for staff who may only know each other by email to connect and get to know each other face-to-face.

For more information please visit: http://www.canadastop100.com/manitoba/

First of a kind language and culture courses part of RRC’s enhanced strategy to advance Indigenous achievement

For immediate release: November 27, 2017

Winnipeg, MB – Red River College is opening registration for two new Anishinaabemowin language and culture courses, created to help support the growth of Indigenous language revitalization in Manitoba’s schools and advance reconciliation efforts in the province.

The unique language and culture courses are part of a series of new initiatives that RRC will be undertaking in order to advance Indigenous achievement and support student success – one of the College’s key strategic priorities.

“As a College, we are taking the lead to provide more opportunities for educators to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous language and identity, and help continue to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous learners in our community,” said Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy.

These new courses are the first of their kind to be offered by RRC and are being delivered by the School of Indigenous Education and Continuing Education. As a key signatory to the Manitoba Indigenous Education Blueprint, RRC responded to a need identified by the community to fill a gap in providing opportunities for educators in the province to learn to speak, read, and write in Manitoba’s traditional Anishinaabemowin languages. Bridging this divide will help continue to support and enhance Indigenous academic success.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has called for action to protect the right to Indigenous languages, including the teaching of Aboriginal languages as credit courses,” Chartrand said. “As a learning institution, it is critical for Red River College to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, perspective and content to create innovative and relevant programming in order to achieve this.”

The curriculum for the courses was developed through a working group with RRC, Seven Oaks, Winnipeg and Louis Riel School Divisions and Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre. The priority was to ensure the College could create new courses that would provide students with a deeper knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and language history.

“Language and culture is such an integral part of our identity and sense of self, so as a post-secondary institution it’s important to support and create more learning opportunities for Indigenous learners in our province and across the country,” Chartrand added.

“These courses will help fill an important gap that’s missing in our classrooms currently, and create more resources for students to take these skills and drive change in our communities beyond the traditional school setting.”

The courses are being delivered by merging two different styles of teaching with the goal to preserve these languages for generations to come. They will build a bridge between Western style teaching through a modern classroom setting and delivery style, while maintaining the authenticity and integrity of these traditional languages and oral teaching styles.

The Introduction to Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture will begin in February 2018 and Level Two course will be offered in the spring. Both will be offered on a part-time basis to K-12 educators in the province, or anyone who may be interested in learning more. The introductory course is geared to non- or semi-fluent speakers, and a more advanced Level Two course for intermediate and fluent level of Anishinaabemowin speakers.

Registration for the Introduction to Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture 1 and Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture 2 courses opens TODAY, Monday November 27, 2017 and is open to all educators or anyone who is interested in learning more.

Full course descriptions and registration information is available here: rrc.ca/acl

First time competitors return home as Top International Student Team

Winnipeg, November 20, 2017 – A pair of Red River College (RRC) Nursing students have returned home with some new hardware and a greater sense of pride in their work. Elyse Griffith (2^nd year) and Rachel Rubin (3^rd year) took first place amongst international student competitors, earning a Silver medal overall, in the 7^th annual International Nursing Competition held in Shanghai, China.

“Being able to participate in this competition was an incredible experience, and I know I will be a better nurse for having participated,” said Rubin. “I was proud of how we represented RRC on an international level and showed what our students are capable of. It was a great opportunity to learn more about nursing in other countries and see the strengths of the participating students from all around the world.”

This was RRC’s first time sending a team to the competition, which is hosted by the Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences (SUMHS) in cooperation with the Shanghai Nursing Education Group. To earn the Silver medal, Griffith and Rubin faced off against 15 student teams from around the world in their abilities to assess and react in a simulated medical situation.

The students were judged on their ability to properly assess a medical situation, the level of care and their response to their patients’ needs, how they moved and positioned their patient, their ability to perform various medical procedures, and if they were able to – in the course of administering care – teach their patient or a patient’s family member something new.

Training and preparing was rigorous and leading up to the competition, the pair met weekly with their instructors, Myrna Davis RN BN MEd and Sandy Alguire RN MN, and Chris Hofer, a second-year Nursing student selected as the team’s alternate, to train for the possible scenarios. Each week Davis and Alguire put the team through two possible scenarios, ensuring they would feel comfortable and knowledgeable in the competition.

“I was filled with a sense of pride observing the students during in the competition. They were composed, competent, and caring. The positive outcome validates the quality of our nursing program at RRC,” said Davis. “Our time in Shanghai allowed us to interact with and learn about many different cultures to improve our own cultural competence that we can share in the classroom.”

Griffith and Rubin agreed with Davis the best part of the competition was meeting other students and being able to share and learn knowledge.

“I appreciated getting to see nursing around the world,” said Griffith. “Canada and RRC are progressive and modern in their approach to nursing, but other countries do have different ways of doing things and there are tips and tricks we can apply to our practice.”

Participating in international competitions like this helps the College to continue building relationships and partnerships with other institutions from across the world. Students and instructors are given the opportunity to share knowledge and bring home new information and systems, allowing RRC to remain a leader in industry training.

The Nursing program at Red River College is a 32-month degree program including a senior practicum of 450 hours. The program is offered at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, Portage la Prairie Campus and Winkler Campus. According to the latest RRC graduate report, 92 per cent of RRC Nursing grads are employed in their field.

Unique community-based training underway in Lake Manitoba First Nation and Sagkeeng First Nation

For immediate release: November 9, 2017

Winnipeg, MB – Red River College has launched two programs designed to take education outside of the traditional college setting and into smaller, more remote Manitoba communities in order to help Indigenous learners gain the tools they need to enter careers in carpentry, plumbing and the trades.

One of the programs – the first of its kind to be delivered by RRC at Lake Manitoba First Nation – involves 15 students completing level one carpentry apprenticeship training right in their home community, while helping renovate local infrastructure as part of their training. The other program at Sagkeeng First Nation is Intro to Trades and Pre-Employment Plumbing, which is being delivered through RRC’s mobile training labs (MTLs).

“These community-based training programs are an important example of how Red River College is helping create more pathways to post-secondary education for Indigenous learners in Manitoba. This is one of our key priorities,” said Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy.

“Classes like the one in Lake Manitoba First Nation provides learning opportunities to students who might not be able to access education otherwise. It allows students to remain in their homes and stay connected to family and other support systems, while receiving vital training and doing hands-on work in their community and the surrounding areas.”

The Lake Manitoba First Nation training is a 12-week program delivered in partnership with Apprenticeship Manitoba combining theory, safety training and practical learning. It is being delivered in a classroom within the community’s middle school industrial arts and shops area. Many tools and supplies are being provided by the College, and the students are being taught by an RRC instructor and journeyman carpenter.

“I have always enjoyed working with my hands, so it’s been great to learn a trade that’s in demand everywhere and be able to complete this training right here at home,” said 23-year old Kevin Choken, one of the students who was born and raised in Lake Manitoba First Nation, where he lives with his wife and children.

“It’s encouraging to gain experience using our training and problem solving skills to find solutions for these projects. Carpentry is something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life, so I hope to continue my education and training in the future, and contribute to the renovations and development of my community.”

Lake Manitoba First Nation has been a key partner in the project and hired the students to work on renovation projects and complete apprenticeship training hours within the community. Over the last few months, students have been accumulating practical experience hours conducting interior renovations, replacing windows and doors, and repairing roofs.

The program focuses on the study of material sciences and training on the use of hand and power tools and stationary machinery. The 15 students – including two young women – have been learning skills such as how to layout buildings using a builder’s level, and mixing and pouring cement for slab work, walls and floors.

Once training is complete, students will have their level one carpentry certificate, which allows them to apply for carpentry work or pursue more training in the future.

RRC’s mobile training labs (MTLs) hit the highway every academic year to support the delivery of quality trades training and classroom-based training to rural and northern Manitoba communities. The portability of the training labs allows RRC to deliver nationally-recognized trades training such as automotive, carpentry, electrical, machining, pipe fitting, plumbing, welding and industrial mechanics, based on the training needs of the specific community.

Each year the College uses the MTLs to support the community-based delivery of two five-month Introduction to Trades programs for rural and Indigenous learners. The program at Sagkeeng First Nation was completed in September, and the Pre-Employment Plumbing Program – which wraps up in spring 2018 – will be followed by Intro to Trades programs in Selkirk in January 2018, and Steinbach and Winkler over the 2018/19 academic year.

More information about Red River College’s Mobile Training Labs is available here.

For immediate release: November 2, 2017

Red River College is now the top research College in Western Canada, according to Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges, an annual ranking conducted by Re$earch Infosource Inc. which was released today.

“It’s fantastic to once again be recognized for our overall research efforts and successes in building research and innovation capacity for Manitoba,” said College President Paul Vogt. “Our research programming has never been more important as we work to support the increasingly sophisticated needs of current and future graduates, employers and industry.”

This has been a marquee year for the College, with major infrastructure announcements for both its Exchange District and Notre Dame campuses. Applied research has been the impetus for much of this recent growth.

“We now have so much research-related activity happening at the College – all in response to expressed needs by industry and our community,” said Ray Hoemsen, RRC’s Executive Director of Research Partnerships & Innovation. “Being recognized as the top Research College in Western Canada validates that we are not only playing a key role in economic development; but also that our knowledge, expertise and facilities are highly relevant.”

Top 10 highlights of the past year at RRC:

• Unveiling the new $95-million Innovation Centre, which will bring together students, instructors, researchers, industry, and community members to work on commercialization projects for startups and SMEs. It will also enable social enterprise and Indigenous entrepreneurship.
• Breaking ground on the new Smart Factory and expanding RRC’s Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training (CATT) with a major $10 million investment in 2017 by Western Economic Diversification.
• Officially opening RRC’s ACE Project Space, where students in the Applied Computer Education department now work in an interactive space alongside industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to bring new products and services to life.
• Starting construction on MotiveLab™, a climatic chamber with integrated chassis dynamometer test facility that will have an operating temperature capability of between -40°C and +50°C for testing buses and other on- and off-highway vehicles.
• Celebrating the work of Culinary Research & Innovation and industry to develop new products such as Piccola Cucina’s Hemp Macroon, which won the silver medal for best new food product at the Great Manitoba Food Fight 2017.
• Recognizing RRC’s Science of Early Childhood Development as a global leader– training ECE’s across Canada and in dozens of countries around the world, and working in partnership with the World Bank and the Aga Khan University.
• Receiving $1.75 million in federal funding for the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) to provide applied research, technical service and training needs. RRC is the only College in Western Canada with two NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres – TACAM and the Building Envelope & Technology Access Centre (BETAC), which serves the building construction sector and strives to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing commercial buildings.
• Winning a prestigious Synergy Award for Innovation in 2016 (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council or NSERC). The award recognized the College’s pioneering work with Manitoba Hydro on sustainable building and transportation technology.
• Welcoming more than 600 visitors to the College’s successful first-ever Applied Research & Innovation Day. The second annual event will be held on April 5, 2018 to showcase the research capabilities of the College, its students and industry partners.
• Winning a Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award for the category “Innovation and Research for Sustainability” in 2016.

For immediate release: October 27, 2017

Students in Red River College’s Business Technology Management (BTM) program will usually describe networking as the communication between computers – but tomorrow, they’ll be making a different kind of connection with Manitoba businesses who can gain new talent to stay innovative and competitive.

Manitoba’s first BTM Talent Mash, presented in partnership with RRC and the Information Technology Association of Canada Talent Division (ITAC Talent), will take place on Saturday, October 28 at RRC’s Roblin Centre in the Exchange District. The day will give students, industry representatives, and RRC staff the opportunity to talk about the BTM program and how graduates can help to bridge the gap between the business and technology functions of an organization. Speakers representing many industries will discuss the roles, skills, and career paths of business analysts and other related professionals in their organizations and also highlight the successes and impacts these they’ve made on the industries that they’re working in.

RRC’s new 28-month BTM diploma program’s first students will graduate in December and this event will be a great opportunity to showcase their skills to potential employers. RRC is the only post-secondary institution in Manitoba to offer a program like this, to support Manitoba’s business and technology sectors.

“The program focuses on hands-on learning and includes a co-op or industry project term so students can apply the business, technology and management skills they’ve learned in a relevant industry-setting,” said Kirk Johnson, Acting Dean of Business and Applied Arts, Hospitality and Culinary Arts. “Our relationship with industry professionals helps ensure that the College remains in step with ever changing industry needs. We want to be sure that we not only preparing our students to be career-ready, but future ready, and to excel upon graduation.”

Industry professionals will also be invited on tours of RRC’s ACE Project Space at the event. This interactive work space connects students, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and/or community organizations, using cutting-edge technology to bring unique ideas to life.

The BTM Talent Mash includes a keynote speaker, panel discussions, and a networking event:

10:00  Welcome and Opening Remarks – Paul Vogt, President and CEO (RRC), Kirk Johnson (RRC), Jan Hall (ITAC Talent), David Jones (RRC) 
10:15  Keynote Address – Loren Cisyk (ISC) and Chair, RRC Board of Governors
11:15  Business Analyst Alumni Panel*

• Mitchell Heintz, Business Analyst – Unionware
• Andrew Liebrecht – Business Analyst, BIRD Construction
• Marta Chukh, Business Analyst, Norima Consulting and Wawanesa Insurance
• Tia Hatch, Senior Business Analyst, National Leasing

12:00  Lunch break
1:00  Industry Panel*

• Ashleigh Lodge, Team Lead Application Development, Neovation
• Kevin Haines, Principal Consultant / Senior Business Systems Analyst, Online Business Systems
• David Hodge, Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer, Great West Lifeco Canada
• Alyosha Boldt, Product Coordinator, Skip the Dishes

1:45 – 3:30  Networking session
2:30 and 3:30  Tours of the ACE Project Space at 321 McDermot Avenue 

*All panelist bios are available here

Now in its fifth year, BTM TalentMash events have grown to include five cities across Canada, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg. For more information visit: http://btmtalentmash.ca/manitoba/