WINNIPEG, MB – Media are invited to Red River College’s 17^th annual Graduation Pow Wow to celebrate the success of our Indigenous students. This year, there are 117 students registered to be honoured at the Pow Wow that are graduating from programs across the College.

WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, May 5, 2017

10:00 am – Pipe Ceremony

12:00 pm – Grand Entry

1:00 pm – Honouring Indigenous Graduates

WHERE:          Red River College, North Gym, 2055 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg

The Graduation Pow Wow is a community event that welcomes hundreds of guests, community members, dancers, drummers, college staff, faculty and student and his hosted by the School of Indigenous Education.

“It is a time for celebration, where we come together as a community, to honour the achievements of our Indigenous graduates through our annual Graduation Pow Wow,” says Jules Lavallee, Elder-In-Residence.  “As we acknowledge their successes through this cultural event, these role models are an inspiration to all of us, but more importantly, to our next seven generations.”

In addition to celebrating student success, RRC’s Pow Wow festivities reflect the College’s continued commitment to making education more accessible for Indigenous learners. RRC aspires to deliver excellence in Indigenous achievement through partnerships and networks, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, philosophies, perspectives and content with innovative and relevant programming. It is through a respectful, student-centered and culturally safe learning environment that quality programming will be delivered to address Indigenous achievement.

New programming will further enhance training provided in
Winkler and Portage la Prairie

Red River College today announced that it will expand its award-winning Bachelor of Nursing program to its regional campuses in Winkler and Portage la Prairie, providing opportunities for students to train in some of the most state-of-the-art training facilities in rural Manitoba.

The program recently received an award for Regional Achievement by the Canadian Nurses Students’ Association, and the College is excited to have the opportunity to enhance and expand its programming by offering this program through its regional campus network.

“It’s important to deliver programming that meets the needs of Manitoba’s labour market and for many years the Regional Health Authorities asked us to bring our Bachelor of Nursing program to rural Manitoba,” said Paul Vogt, President & CEO, Red River College.

“Our regional campuses provide important access and pathways to pursuing a post-secondary education and the programs we provide are developed in consultation with the community to ensure their needs are being met.”
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Red River College today received two federal grants totaling nearly $2 million for applied research in aerospace, manufacturing and sustainable building technology. One of these grants is a milestone for the College, which received its first College-University partnership grant.

“This is great news not only for the College but for aerospace, manufacturing and sustainable building technology,” said Paul Vogt, President of Red River College. “We are placing a strong emphasis on collaboration, bridging a critical gap between colleges, industry and universities by working directly with the University of Manitoba.”

Federal Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan announced these grants during an industry breakfast at the Colleges and Institutes Canada Conference this morning in Ottawa.

“I’m so pleased that the Government of Canada was involved in such a valuable funding opportunity. Uniting Red River College with these sustainable industries will allow for brilliant minds to work towards a bright future for Canada; complete with a vibrant middle class, quality jobs, and an innovative economy,” said Minister Duncan.

Both grants are being awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

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$95.4 million investment will create jobs, expand research and foster innovation

The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, joined Manitoba Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart and Paul Vogt, President and CEO of Red River College (RRC) to announce support for the construction of a $95.4 million Innovation Centre at RRC’s Exchange District Campus.

RRC will use government and private-sector funding to develop a new Innovation Centre, the first of its kind in Western Canada. The Innovation Centre will attract an additional 1,200 students to the Exchange District, stimulating economic development and further growth of this historic part of downtown Winnipeg. It will bring together industry, students, instructors, researchers, and community members to work on commercialization projects for start-ups and SMEs. The Centre will also enable social enterprise and Indigenous entrepreneurship, and help ensure students are job-ready and able to thrive in the new economy.

“This historic investment by the Government of Canada is a down payment on the government’s vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation,” said Carr. “That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into middle-class jobs and start-up companies into global successes.”

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Newest addition to the College’s Ceremonial Grounds will help RRC continue to infuse Indigenous culture and knowledge throughout our campus: Vogt

For Immediate Release: April 20, 2017

WINNIPEG, MB – Elders, students, and leaders from Red River College came together today in a special cultural ceremony to officially open the College’s first Sweat Lodge.

Led by Elders-in-Residence, Jules Lavallee and Mae Louise Campbell, today’s ceremony, which included a teaching about the Sweat Lodge, welcomed more than 40 participants – many of whom have never participated in this type of sacred ceremony before.

“I had a vision in 2004 of having a Sweat Lodge at Red River College available for students and staff and that vision has now become a reality,” said Elder-In-Residence, Jules Lavallee. “It’s a legacy for everyone to enjoy, that will help to heal for years to come and it was an incredible opportunity for staff and students to work together for the same purpose.”

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Red River College (RRC) is launching its 2017 billboard advertising campaign this week – marking the return of the highly-anticipated public celebration of RRC grads and their diverse, innovative employers.

“Red River College is pleased to once again join forces with leading Manitoba businesses to showcase elite alumni who are working in industry and the community across the province,” said Paul Vogt, president & CEO, Red River College. “This creative, co-operative marketing campaign is about recognizing strategic partnerships and celebrating student success.”

Appearing this spring and summer on nearly 60 billboards throughout Winnipeg and rural Manitoba, the 2017 billboard campaign features more than 40 members from RRC’s diverse alumni community.

“It is wonderful to partner with Red River College and to help showcase the fact that RRC grads get jobs in their fields and are leaders in our community,” said Darrell Brown, 2017 billboard campaign partner and Founder and President of KISIK Inc., a Canadian Indigenous owned and operated company offering office furniture solutions.

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RRC’s culinary research program growing in partnership with industry and government
Red River College, two local microbreweries and other key partners unveiled a new culinary invention today – miso made from spent grain – at an event highlighting the college’s growing Culinary Research and Innovation program and its impact on food creation in Manitoba.

Partners from the province, federal government and industry, were among the special guests at today’s miso soup and snacks taste testing at Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, the hub of RRC’s culinary research and education activities.

Delicious sampling of one of the many culinary creations unveiled at today’s event.

“This miso project is a really innovative partnership that links Manitoba’s dynamic microbrewery industry with local culinary arts and research,” said Paul Vogt, president of RRC. “I’d also like to thank the provincial and federal governments for their support of our research efforts and for joining us here today.”

RRC teamed up with microbreweries Farmery and Torque to successfully test and utilize spent grains from the beer brewing process to produce miso, putting a new twist on an ancient culinary tradition. Other partners included the Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network (MAHRN) and the University of Manitoba’s Food Science department.

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Red River College has been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the third year in a row. This prestigious recognition – awarded today to 65 organizations across the country – highlights employers that stand out through their efforts to create diverse, inclusive workplaces.

“At Red River College we strive to ensure equity and diversity are embedded in College practices and demonstrated throughout the institution,” said Paul Vogt, President & CEO, Red River College. “Equity and inclusion form part of our blueprint and help us create a welcoming and open environment. This reflects the commitment of our faculty and staff and it’s an honour to be recognized with this distinction for the third year in a row.”

Red River College has many initiatives that encourage diversity and inclusivity including various workshop series’ offered by the Elders in Residence; LGBTT initiative; Healthy Minds, Healthy College Initiative, GETT Camp Program; and a workforce audit to determine representation of designated group members in the RRC workforce.

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Red River College today announced two new support services as part of the Healthy Minds Healthy College initiative aimed at enhancing mental health programming for students, staff and faculty.

The announcement is part of a broader awareness-raising event, held today in the North Gym at the Notre Dame Campus and featuring TSN journalist Michael Landsberg presenting his #SICKNOTWEAK talk to the RRC community.

“We’re excited that Michael has joined us today to help us announce these new and important initiatives but to also hear him talk about his personal battle with depression as part of his #SICKNOTWEAK movement,” said Paul Vogt, president of Red River College. “Michael’s leadership has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many Canadians.”

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Action a Key Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report: President

Red River College today announced the creation of a new executive director, Indigenous strategy to provide leadership on advancing Indigenous education at the College, which will include expanding programs and supports for Indigenous students and building new partnerships with Indigenous leaders and the community.

“Advance Indigenous Achievement” is one of the top priorities in RRC’s Strategic Plan (2016-2021) as well as a key goal of the Academic Division, which is committed to enhancing “the environment supporting Indigenous student success.” RRC is also a signatory to the Manitoba Indigenous Education Blueprint (2016) – one of nine post-secondary institutions in the Province – following the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“The TRC report is clear – Indigenous Canadians need access to post-secondary education and supports while in school if we are to close the income and employment gap in our country,” said Paul Vogt, RRC’s president. “One of the specific calls to action is to establish senior level positions in order to elevate the priority of Indigenous programming and forge new pathways to success. Today’s announcement is a major step in this direction.”
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