It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. Cathy Merrick had a profound impact on the community in Manitoba during her career, and conducted her work with tremendous strength, leadership, and determination to advocate for and improve the lives of Indigenous People and our province. She always met that determination with warmth and kindness, which all leaders strive to possess.

Flags are lowered to half-mast to observe the Grand Chief’s passing and to celebrate her life and her accomplishments. Services will be held throughout the city and the province to mourn the loss of the Grand Chief, and we want to be conscious of and support the needs of the community.

The Indigenous Support Centres at Notre Dame Campus and Exchange District Campus will be staffed by Indigenous Counsellors, Elders, and Navigation Coaches to offer support to students throughout the week. Staff will be accommodated with paid time to attend services off-campus in honour of the Grand Chief. Homewood Health is available for employees and their families to use if they need additional support.

Grand Chief Cathy Merrick will lie in state at the Manitoba Legislature Building for the public to pay their respects. Her family is inviting the community to attend a Candlelight Vigil tonight, Tuesday, September 10, at 7:00pm. The vigil will take place outside the Law Courts Building, 408 York Ave. in Winnipeg.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs will be holding a Sunrise Ceremony on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00am in Oodena Circle at The Forks. A fire will be lit at 6:00am and all bundle carriers and community members are invited to arrive at 6:30am to prepare for the Ceremony.

At this year’s Fall Equinox celebration, we invite you to offer Tobacco ties to honour the Grand Chief. The Indigenous Support Centre will host sessions in the coming days for the College community to learn how to make Tobacco ties – supplies and Tobacco will be provided.

Elder Belinda Vandenbroeck will facilitate a Sharing Circle on Wednesday, September 18, in F209 Indigenous Support Centre at Notre Dame Campus. Staff are invited to join at 12:30pm and students are invited to join at 2pm.

• Staff: 12:30 PM
• Students: 2:00 PM
• Notre Dame Campus, F209 Indigenous Support Centre
• Wednesday, September 18

The School of Indigenous Education and Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement are working to coordinate more opportunities to honour Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, and we will update the College community as more information becomes available.

View Fred Meier’s message of condolence to the community on Grand Chief Cathy Merrick’s passing here.

Thank you and take care.

The following message was sent to All Staff and All Students from RRC Polytech President and CEO, Fred Meier:

Like many across our College community and throughout the Province, I was shocked and saddened by the news of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick’s sudden passing.

I consider myself one of the many fortunate people to have had the opportunity to meet with Grand Chief Merrick throughout my career. I have always had tremendous respect for Grand Chief Merrick and admired her strength, leadership, and determination to advocate for and improve the lives of Indigenous People and our province.

She always met that determination with warmth and kindness, which all leaders strive to possess. She shared that message with our graduating class this spring when she joined us for the first time at convocation. A first time that is even more profound and impactful today.

As we offer our condolences, I believe that what she shared with our students is equally important to share today. It is a message that she believed in and one that we, as a community, should continue to uphold.

“You carry with you the power to make real change. You carry with you kindness that will get you through all the obstacles you are going to meet on your journey. Kindness will get you through everything, anywhere, anytime.”

– Grand Chief Cathy Merrick’s message to RRC Polytech’s Class of 2024

On behalf of our RRC Polytech community, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Grand Chief Merrick’s family, friends and community. Our flags will fly at half-mast in celebration of her life and contributions.

The Facility Management team is working quickly to address a system issue that is affecting backup power that operates emergency lighting in the classrooms, corridors and stairwells of the Adelaide Building at the Roblin Centre. This issue is isolated to the Adelaide Building; all other emergency lighting at the Roblin Centre has not been affected. 

There is no impact to regular day-to-day operations at the Roblin Centre. The campus is safe, and our alarm systems are not affected by this issue. 

However, in the event there is a power outage, emergency lighting and the lighting on the bridge to Manitou a bi Bii daziigae will not operate.   

A temporary solution is being installed today that will improve emergency lighting in the Adelaide Building in the event of a power outage.  

In the event of a power outage, all staff and students in the Adelaide Building must follow these evacuation protocols:  

• Only use stairwells in the Adelaide Building when the emergency lighting is engaged. If lighting is not activated, proceed to the nearest exit.  
• Calmly and in an orderly fashion, travel to either the second or ground floor, and exit via the Atrium in the Roblin Centre. 
• Security will be on-site waiting to provide you with further directions 

If you have any questions or need further information about how to properly evacuate the Adelaide Building during a power outage please contact Safety, Security and Health Services at safety@rrc.ca or visit the Security Team in the Atrium at the Roblin Centre.  

Once a permanent repair is in place we provide an update through staff and student news. 

Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this issue.  

Jodi Pluchinski 
Director, Safety, Health and Security Services 

Dave Cushnie 
Director, Facility Management 

The Vehicle Technology Centre (VTC) is hosting a showcase event at RRC Polytech to connect students and potential employers in Manitoba’s heavy vehicle and equipment (HEV) manufacturing sector.

Representatives from over a dozen companies are eager to show off the massive and powerful products they produce locally and explain the amazing opportunities that exist in developing the technology that supports this 2.4-billion-dollar sector of the provincial economy.       

Learn about multiple potential career paths within the industry that give students the option to pursue working in a wide variety of areas from engineering and manufacturing to business administration and product design.

All students are welcome and encouraged to stop by the Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology and Research Centre building throughout the day to check out the displays and heavy machinery and make valuable connections.

• Get hands-on with Manitoba-made heavy vehicles and equipment 
• Learn about amazing technology being developed in our province 
• Meet industry leaders
• Explore career options in the HEV sector
• Submit a resume

When:

Thursday, September 12, 2024

9:00 am – 3:00pm

Where:

Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology and Research Centre

Building Z – Notre Dame Campus – RRC Polytech

2055 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0J9

At RRC Polytech, we want everyone working, learning and visiting our campuses to feel and be safe, which is why we have a comprehensive safety strategy in place. At the Exchange District Campus, a vital part of our safety strategy has been leveraging the dedication and great work by our RRC Polytech Security team and collaborating with the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP). 

The DCSP is a non-profit organization for the purpose of enhancing the safety, health, and wellbeing of all those who live, work, learn and enjoy the downtown. This also includes providing proactive, non-emergency response, outreach, and intervention to those experiencing complex issues in Winnipeg’s downtown. 

Enhancements to our existing partnership include collaborating with additional community groups –   Bear Clan, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CARHD), N’dinawemak, and OPK Manitoba – to ensure the right resources are available at the right time. This means that there are additional supports and access to resources for students, staff, visitors as well as community members.  

RRC Polytech is a central hub within DCSP’s patrol Zone 2 and therefore a space within the Roblin Centre has been designated for DCSP, community partners and RRC Polytech security personnel to do daily briefings, ensuring emerging safety concerns or issues are addressed in a timely manner. All partners communicate through a shared radio channel, leading to an improved incident response time. 

Having a dedicated space for DCSP and community patrol partners to be stationed on campus will help ensure members of the community can get the right supports they need, providing the RRC Polytech Security team with more capacity to support the College community – staff, faculty and students. Our Security team will primarily patrol within the three campus buildings – Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Paterson GlobalFoods Institute and the Roblin Centre – and DCSP alongside community partners will patrol campus grounds and the entirety of Zone 2, supporting within campus buildings as needed. 

RRC Polytech security offices are open 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, and with the support of DCSP and community partners, EDC campus grounds are patrolled 24-hours a day.  

On the Exchange District Campus and the surrounding area, if you see a DCSP Ambassador nearby, they are here to assist you and everyone who makes up the downtown Winnipeg community. DCSP also hosts regular walks on Wednesdays and are open to anyone and any organization wanting to attend. To sign up for a walk and learn about upcoming events, check their social media channels @WinnipegDCSP. 

While RRC Polytech’s expanded partnership with DCSP is made possible through funding for this summer’s Downtown Safety Action Plan, it will move forward into the beginning of fall. Beyond this time, we will continue to collaborate with DCSP and community organizations to support one another and prioritize the safety of staff, students, visitors on campus. 

As we begin the Fall Term, it’s a good time for a reminder about the safety and security services on campus, and how you can access them.  

Safe Walk and Safe Ride services provide escorts for students, staff and visitors between two points at the Notre Dame Campus or Exchange District Campus, or to a point near the College (including parking lots.)  

To contact the patrol, pick up a Safe Walk or Safe Ride phone located across campus, or call: 

• Exchange District Campus – 204-949-8305 
  • DCSP can also be called directly at 204-947-3277 or 211 for Safe Walks 

• Notre Dame Campus – 204-632-2323  

If you witness or are experiencing a safety concern, call or visit Security on campus. RRC Polytech security personnel will address and direct your concern as needed. For example, connecting with the DCSP front line team to provide support to vulnerable community members.  

• Exchange District Campus Security Contact Info: 
  • The Roblin Centre, Room P106, Phone: 204-949-8305 
  • Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, Room 100, Phone: 204-631-3381 

• Notre Dame Campus Security Contact Info: 
  • Room C115, Phone: 204-632-2323 

In June, six international students at the Steinbach regional campus were given bicycles to help them travel to and from their work placements over the summer.

Geoff Heath, Environmental Initiatives Coordinator at RRC Polytech, got involved with this project when on a site visit to the Steinbach campus. He heard some of the students could benefit from having access to bikes from Regional Campus Manager, Sheri Stoupe, and Student Success Coach, Syd Shukla-Bergen. Steinbach doesn’t have public transportation and some students’ only means of getting around was walking everywhere they went.

With Geoff’s background as Education Director of The WRENCH in Winnipeg, he knew exactly where to go to get the bikes they needed. The half-dozen used bikes chosen needed a little love, so Geoff, along with another staff member, fixed them up to be ready to ride.

He then brought the bikes out to Steinbach and connected Sheri, Syd, and the students with their local community bike shop, La Bikequerie, to set up a bike maintenance session so the students could learn how to best care for their new-to-them bikes.

The local Canadian Tire also donated helmets and locks to ensure the students could bike safely and keep their bikes secure wherever they go.

The students were excited to receive their bikes – some of them re-learning after not having ridden a bike for many years. One student, Urvashi Sharma, said using the bike has cut down their commute time from 45 minutes by walking to 10-15 minutes by bike to get to their job.

Kim Koop, staff member at RRC Polytech’s Steinbach campus, and a resident of Steinbach, often sees the students riding their bikes. She said, “It is wonderful to see the international students using their bikes to get around.”

As part of the sustainability team at RRC Polytech, Geoff hopes to encourage a “culture of repair” – one where we learn the value of repairing what we have rather than buying new. A new bike can be expensive to buy, but a used one with a few parts to make it work like new is a low monetary cost and a low environmental cost – and is more accessible to many folks who cannot spend hundreds of dollars on a new bike.

“Access to transportation is something that the Sustainability Office advocates for, and in some cases, options can be limited,” said Geoff. “Cycling can be a new option for some that is cost effective and sustainable. Our office is happy to support these choices and connect students and staff with community resources just as we did for these students in Steinbach.”

Sustainability is one of the six values the guides RRC Polytech forward. Learn more about the Sustainability Office and how they can support you in making sustainable choices.

The Manitoba Hydro power outage impacting RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus has been resolved and power is now restored.

We will move forward with the resumption of all classes as planned at 11:00am.

If you have any questions or concerns about your class, please contact your instructor.

Staff can continue to work with their manager to determine a plan for work for the rest of the day.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we awaited the restoration of power.

Due to a Manitoba Hydro power outage, RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus, morning classes will be cancelled. Manitoba Hydro anticipates power will be back on by 10:30am and we will provide an update at 9:30am to the College community.

We anticipate a resumption of in-person classes beginning again at 11:00am.

The campus remains open and if you are already on Campus, please do not use the elevator at this time. If you need assistance or support, please visit the Security Services team in the C Building.

Staff at NDC should work directly with their Manager to determine work arrangements during the power outage.

All other RRC Polytech Campuses are unaffected by this outage and will maintain regular operations and activities.

For immediate release: August 22, 2024

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis – On August 22, 2024, RRC Polytech is hosting a special celebration to recognize the latest cohort of students to earn a Shelter Support Worker micro-credential.

RRC Polytech’s Shelter Support Worker micro-credential program was designed with industry partners to address skill gaps, meet community needs, and improve staffing levels and delivery service in homeless and family violence shelters across the province.
 
The Shelter Support Worker micro-credential program is the first of its kind in Manitoba, and the result of a collaborative effort between the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) and RRC Polytech. It is supported by Women and Gender Equity Manitoba (WAGE).

The Honourable Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families and Minister responsible for Women and Gender Equity Manitoba will be among the speakers during the podium presentations and photo-op. Light refreshments will be served.
 
Date:
Thursday, August 22, 2024
 
Time:
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
 
Location: 
Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
319 Elgin Avenue
Roundhouse Auditorium
RRC Polytech Exchange District Campus
 
Agenda:
Podium Presentation/Student Testimonials/Photo-op
 
Speakers:

• The Honourable Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families and Minister responsible for Women and Gender Equity Manitoba
• Jill Latschislaw, Director, Business Development, Corporate Solutions, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development, RRC Polytech
• Tsungai (Sue) Muvingi, Associate Provincial Coordinator, Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) 
• Nadine Smith, Acting Executive Director, Women and Gender Equity Manitoba
• Nadine Powell, Instructor, RRC Polytech
• Abhijot Kaur Chohan, Student
• Adigun Ifeoluwa, Student
• Lindsay Monkman, Student

Over the summer, the Facility Management team made important repairs and updates to the West Zone parking lot at the Notre Dame Campus. While this project is nearly complete, we want to provide an update on what to expect when arriving on Campus for the first few weeks of the academic term while we complete this important work for the RRC Polytech parking community who uses the West zone.

Beginning on Monday, August 26, the West Zone Entrance 4 (Notre Dame Avenue/Lorimer Lane) will remain temporarily closed for repairs until September 3, 2024.

Entering West Lots:

During this period, a temporary gravel roadway and access ramp (East of Lorimer Lane) will be established, serving as an inbound one-way access point to the West parking lots. Barriers will be placed along sidewalks and pathways to alert pedestrians of the change in vehicle traffic location, and a flag person will be stationed at the entrance throughout the week.

Exiting West Lots:

Exits from the College will be routed through the northeast corner of Didcote Drive or Buhr Blvd.

Facility Management will install large signs at entrance and exit points to guide parkers accessing and exiting the West Lots.

View PDF map of alternate access and exit routes.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these repairs to the West Zone.

Please take care when entering and exiting campus, adhere to all signage and barriers, and drive cautiously as everyone navigates these temporary changes. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact facilitymanagement@rrc.ca.