Last month, the first cohort of students in Hollow Water (Waanibiigaaw) First Nation’s Educational Assistant certificate program gathered alongside their instructor and family members with a ceremony and feast to celebrate their graduation.

The community centered celebration allowed them to share their accomplishments with their loved ones and community members. The graduates were gifted materials from their community to create their own ribbon skirts to wear to the ceremony.

Instructor Patricia Stouffer says it was important to the grads that they had a ceremony, not just for themselves but so younger people could see the accomplishments that are possible for them in their community.

Hollow Water First Nation is located on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, over 200 km northeast of Winnipeg. The community of Hollow Water is a tightknit and welcoming one and staying close to home was a crucial element of the success of this program according to Patricia.

“One of the biggest things is having support from home and not experiencing culture-shock. It’s hard enough to transition into education and having this opportunity right in community opened doors for the students who were a part of this program. Being in their community allowed them to keep their values and connection to family alive and well throughout their education and get the support that only being close to home can provide.”

Chloe Seymour is one of the eight graduating students and is already working right in her community at Wanipigow School. She said it felt nice to be recognized at the ceremony and for their community to see their hard work in the program – echoing Patricia’s sentiment that access to education in her community was crucial.

Chloe had two part-time jobs while in the program, jobs she would’ve had to quit if she had needed to travel to another part of the province to complete the program. It was also important to her that she could set an example for kids in Hollow Water.

“I’m glad I got to show youth in my community that they don’t have to leave their home to continue their education, and that they can be successful just like I was.”

Delivering programs like the Educational Assistant certificate program in Hollow Water is one way that RRC Polytech addresses the needs of the communities it serves, while also committing to the College’s responsibility to Truth and Reconciliation.

This program is a step to ensure equitable education opportunities throughout Manitoba and was designed to remove barriers to students who would not have otherwise had the opportunity for education outside of their community. By providing communities with access to post-secondary education, RRC Polytech aims to close gaps in our educational system and create a more equitable environment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Please be advised that starting on Monday, May 27, 2024, Facility Management will be conducting repairs and updates to the bus loop at the Notre Dame Campus. The bus loop entrance will re-open at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 3, 2024.

During the closure, please access the South lot via Entrance 2 off of Notre Dame Avenue. Please check the Marcom blog for the latest news on the bus loop closure. Facilities will also be putting up large signs at Entrance 2 to assist parkers looking to access the South lot. 

View the map of alternate routes.

Please take care when entering campus, avoiding the active construction site, and adhering to all signage and barriers. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact facilitymanagement@rrc.ca.

Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF) will be promoting the benefits of eggs and egg products and celebrating their partnership with RRC Polytech on Tuesday, May 21, by giving away 1000 free egg sandwiches and coffee in Old Market Square. 

Culinary Arts students will once again be demonstrating their talents and gaining valuable experience by preparing the sandwiches fresh onsite at the Paterson Globalfoods Institute (PGI) on the Exchange District Campus.

“Eggs are versatile, nutritious and an essential ingredient for most chefs on a daily basis, so it’s critical that these industry leaders of tomorrow learn how to cook eggs well and truly understand the benefits of eggs and egg products,” said Lylah Erkau, Chair of Baking and Culinary Arts at RRC Polytech. “Our partnership with Manitoba Egg Farmers provides students with added expertise in the classroom as they learn the fundamental role farmers play in feeding our community and growing our economy. This event brings us all together to share that important message with the public and allow the students to hone their skills.”        

Chef Terry Gereta, an instructor from RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts program has sourced local ingredients for these delicious egg sandwiches, including Bothwell Cheese, a fan favourite! He will oversee the kitchen as students get their first taste of a fast-paced breakfast service.

“Cooking one thousand egg sandwiches, in just a few hours, is an amazing experiential learning opportunity for students in our short-order class who must work as a team to plan, prepare and deliver a massive amount of food under the very real pressure of a tight timeline,” said Chef Gereta. “In addition to improving the skills and knowledge required to work in a commercial kitchen, they are also building confidence that will serve them well throughout the rest of their studies and their careers.”  

Meet local egg farmers, ask them how eggs are produced and learn about the journey from their farms to your fridge at home. Attendees can take home MEF-branded swag, including whisks, fried egg pins and cookbooks.

“We’re egg farmers and we love what we do – this annual egg sandwich giveaway is a part of loving what we do,” said MEF Chair Catherine Kroeker-Klassen. “Every day, Manitoba’s 150 egg farmers care for the hens that help feed our province. It’s a pleasure to share what we do on-farm to get those marvelous eggs from our barn to your table. Giving away a delicious, protein-packed egg sandwich is part of sharing our love and life with fellow Manitobans.”

Start your day with a hot coffee and delicious egg sandwich while supplies last! 

• Tuesday, May 21, 2024
• 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Old Market Square at the corner of King St. and Bannatyne Ave.

We’re providing an update and clarity around the campus alert just issued, and to advise the college regarding a Manitoba Hydro Issue in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

First, please disregard the alert. There are no issues at the Notre Dame Campus and we are operating normally. 

A system error in our campus alerting system generated the announcement and it was sent in error. 

We apologize for any stress or confusion that resulted from this system issue. 

Manitoba Hydro Issue in the Exchange District 

Manitoba Hydro is responding to an underground equipment fire that is impacting power in the downtown area. At this time there is no impact to business operations and we will keep you updated as needed.

Winnipeg, MB on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis – A $500,000 donation from the Canerector Foundation is helping more young women and girls in Manitoba try their hand in skilled trades, while also providing support for current Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech)’s students in their journey to a career in skilled trades and technologies.

A portion of the gift funds the Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT) Camp – a summer program at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus that gives young women and girls between the ages of 12 and 14 first-hand experience with a variety of skilled trades at no cost to them or their families. This camp has been so successful that shortly after it was announced for 2024 all the spots were filled. The Canerector Foundation’s support ensures this camp will allow the program to continue and provide learning opportunities for young women in Manitoba for years to come.

“We’ve been working to increase representation in the trades by creating more opportunities for women and equity deserving groups who might not have considered a career in the trades. A big part of this is creating safe spaces for them to explore and learn,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech. “Through the Canerector Foundation’s support of the GETT Camp, we create even more opportunities for young women to get inspired and curious about skilled trades in a safe and fun learning environment.”

The gift also funds the Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades.  These support students enrolled in one of 14 diploma and certificate programs in the School of Skilled Trades and Technologies. Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to community involvement and active engagement in mentorship activities. The first round of scholarships is scheduled to be given in the fall of 2024 and supports up to 27 recipients annually.

“Skilled trades are the backbone of our economy and provide a lot of value to our communities,” said Amanda Hawkins, Director of the Canerector Foundation. “Canerector was founded and built by tradespeople and hopes to bring attention to the wide variety of careers that begin with a skilled trades education. We are happy to see RRC Polytech’s focus on strategic workforce development and are excited to be a part of it.”

The next GETT Camp runs in July 2024 and the first Canerector Foundation awards are scheduled to be given this fall.

More about the funding announcement: Canerector Foundation Supports Trades Success with Half Million Dollar Gift : RRC Polytech: Donor Community

More about the GETT Camp: Girls Exploring Trades and Technology : Red River College Polytechnic: Youth Initiatives (rrc.ca)

For immediate release: May 7, 2024

Sophie Walker, a Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) nursing student has received a $30,000 grant from the inaugural Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) and Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grant for her project, Climate Resilient Nursing.

“As a founding member of Canadian Colleges for Resilient Recovery, RRC Polytech has made a commitment to preparing students to use the skills they’ve learned and make real-world impacts,” said Dr. Christine Watson, Vice President, Academic, RRC Polytech and Co-Chair of the C2R2 Steering Committee. “As a leading post-secondary institution, we play a vital role in advancing sustainability through our academic programs and applied research. Sophie’s project is an exciting reminder of how our students can help us move toward a more sustainable future. We are also very pleased that a Winnipeg-based organization such as Wawanesa has provided such a unique investment to support students’ research to positively impact climate action.” 

Sophie’s Climate Resilient Nursing project aims to address nursing professionals’ lack of capacity to address climate change related health care system vulnerabilities and resilience. The project will increase climate awareness among nurses, help nursing students develop practical skills to become more climate conscious in their future careers and create a comprehensive resource guide for future students and instructors at RRC Polytech.

“I am very grateful to receive this grant and excited to dive deeper into the research! I have been interested in research since my first year in nursing school back in late 2019 and in the last three weeks I’ve had incredible support from my instructors and researchers at RRC Polytech in finding an idea and creating the proposal,” said Sophie. “Receiving this grant means I can help to make a difference and leave a lasting change. It will also help me gain valuable experience for my future career.”

Sophie worked with her instructors in the Nursing program and Research, Partnerships & Innovation team at RRC Polytech on the project, which was inspired by one of Sophie’s instructors, Jennifer Morin, who Sophie says is passionate about the subject and has a wealth of knowledge that helped her with the application.

Sophie is one of five Youth Innovation Grant recipients. Each grant is given to a student from a C2R2 partner institution to launch or enhance a climate adaptation or climate mitigation project. RRC Polytech is one of the founding partners of C2R2 and currently offers six micro-credential courses aimed at clean tech and social innovation.

“C2R2 is proud to support the empowerment of youth leaders in their efforts to drive impactful change that centers on climate change adaptation and mitigation,” said Adrienne Madden, Coalition Manager, C2R2. “RRC Polytech is among our esteemed partner institutions amplifying C2R2’s collective efforts, and we were excited to see such a strong project led by them for this inaugural Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grant. We are eager to see the impact that Sophie’s project will have in Winnipeg, and more broadly within the nursing community.”

Sophie’s contributions to her community don’t end here. She was also recently in the news for her generous creation of the Journey Award for nurses to support other nursing students who have faced formidable challenges in their academic journey as she did.

For more information about the awards: The Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery and Wawanesa Insurance Youth Innovation Grants announcement

Marjoie Gibas and Trevor Walld are just two of the RRC Polytech students who took home medals in their competitions.

Over 450 students from schools across the province, including 130 Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) students, took part in this year’s Skills Manitoba Provincial Competition on April 11.

Students competed in over 40 skilled trades and technology categories across six industry sectors. Many of the competitions were hosted at RRC Polytech campuses with others being held at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology and Sisler High School.

The Skills Manitoba Competition challenges students to test the skills they’ve learned in their chosen trades and technology programs in a series of hands-on challenges. The competitions were supported by over 300 volunteers.

In this year’s competitions, 51 RRC Polytech students won medals – 18 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze. Students took home all the medals in 12 categories including CNC Machining, Carpentry, and Mechanical Engineering – a testament to their hard work and talents.

Among the winning students are Trevor Walld and Marjorie Gibas who respectively took home the gold and silver medals in the Post-Secondary Cooking Competition.

“The success of our students this year represents all of the effort they’ve put into their programs,” says Derek Kochenash, Dean, Skilled Trades and Technologies. “It is also a testament to the benefit of the knowledge-based learning with applied, hands-on experience and opportunities students get at RRC Polytech.”

All gold-medal winning students now have the chance to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition in Québec City, May 28- June 2, 2024, as a part of Team Manitoba where they will come head-to-head with winners from other provinces.

All gold-medal winning students now have the chance to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition in Québec City, May 28- June 2, 2024, as a part of Team Manitoba where they will come head-to-head with winners from other provinces.

“It is incredible to see the talents of Manitoba’s future skilled workforce,” says Maria Pacella, Executive Director, Skills Canada Manitoba. “Skills Canada Manitoba is working to change the perception of skilled trades and emerging technologies. We hold these competitions to encourage students and see them put their skills to the test. Each year we are impressed with what they accomplish.”

RRC Polytech has been a proud partner of the Skills Manitoba Competition since it first began 26 years ago and has a long history with skilled trades and technologies. What began as a one-room workshop on Henry Avenue in 1938 has since grown into one of the province’s largest institutes of applied learning – and Manitoba’s only polytechnic. RRC Polytech proudly celebrates these roots and continues to put trades and technology programs on display.

As Manitoba’s only polytechnic, RRC Polytech has a proven track record of success in training an innovative skilled trades workforce. Its Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (STTC) is a state-of-the-art, 104,000-square foot complex that houses labs, shop space and classrooms for up to 1,000 students per year in high-demand trades and technologies.

The STTC also supports technology and innovation in robotics and automation, hydraulics and pneumatics, materials, electronics, and computer aided design, and houses the Innovation Lab for applied research initiatives, and industry and student projects, as well as the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics which was designed to tackle the primary challenges facing Manitoba’s manufacturing sector.

Results of the 2024 competition has been posted to the Skills Canada Manitoba website.

The Province of Manitoba has proclaimed April 28 through May 4 of 2024 as the 33^rd annual Week of the Early Childhood Educator (ECE). The Week of the ECE was established in 1992 by the Manitoba Child Care Association.

This week is important to acknowledge the crucial work ECEs do here in Manitoba for children and families. The dedication of ECEs to support the youngest minds and their development is invaluable.

Thank you to the instructors of Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech)’s ECE program and to each of the students of the program who will guide the next generation of learners. Each of you fulfills a vital need and has a profound impact on children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

Learn more about the Week of the ECE from the Manitoba Childcare Association.

We at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) recognize this Sunday, April 28, 2024, as the National Day of Mourning, where we honour those who have been injured or killed in the workplace. This day is a reminder to us all just how important practices of safety are in everything we do at the College – not only for staff and students, but for all our loved ones, family, friends, and extended communities.

RRC Polytech will fly our flags at half-mast today in recognition of those affected by workplace tragedy, and our commitment to preventing workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. At 11 a.m., all campuses will observe a minute of silence for workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job, and will renew our commitment to health and safety in the workplace.

According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, in 2022, there were 993 recorded fatalities at work, and nearly 350,000 claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or illness, in Canada. Thirty-three of those who lost their lives and 40,203 of those injured were between the ages of just 15 and 24.

These numbers remind us of the role that we all must continue to play in ensuring a safe working and learning environment for everyone who enters our campuses. As a College, we directly impact the practices and behaviours we instill in our students, which they carry forward into their careers and future workplaces.

RRC Polytech is committed to a proactive approach to safety and to setting an exceptional standard as an educational leader of safety and health. Some of the initiatives RRC Polytech have undertaken to provide all staff and students with a safe and healthy environment includes:

• Machine Guarding Program – the College is in the fifth and final year to review and update protective guards and equipment on campus. Since the project started, the College has audited over 800 machines, and made safeguarding upgrades to over 325 pieces of equipment in student labs, workshops, and facility management spaces, ensuring every piece of equipment on campus complies with the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations, and replacing those that don’t.

• Campus Alerting and Emergency Response Plan – The Campus Alerting project has been successful in enhancing communications efforts to keeping our College community informed on everything from icy sidewalks to an evacuation of an area if necessary. Informacast is a mass notification software which enables RRC Polytech to broadcast alerts in a timely and efficient manner. Alerts will appear through your mobile phones, emails, on-premise devices (office phone or computer), or MS Teams. Staff and students are encouraged to subscribe for updates through the campus alerting system.

• Contractor Safety Enhancement Project – RRC Polytech focuses on building stronger relationships with contractors and partners we work with to ensure that they continue to meet RRC Polytech’s high safety standards while on our campuses.

• Security Services – aims to provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and visitors. Learn more on the safety and security section of our website.

On this National Day of Mourning, take a moment to reflect on the importance of workplace safety, let us honour those who have been affected by workplace-related incidents, and work towards a future where everyone can learn and work safely.

If you have questions or ideas on how we can continue to make RRC Polytech a safe place to work and learn, please reach out to safety@rrc.ca.

Today, April 22, is Earth Day. RRC Polytech has identified sustainability as one our of core values in the 2022-26 Strategic Plan: In Front of What’s Ahead and celebrates this day to encourage action toward a more sustainable and healthy future for our planet.

Back in November RRC Polytech became the first post-secondary in Manitoba to sign the SDG Accord, committing to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – including urgent calls to action to tackle climate change across the globe.

The Sustainability Office launched the Sustainable Development Goals Student Competition earlier this year, encouraging students to submit projects that support one of the 17 SDGs. Today we will host a celebration for the winning projects in the Roundhouse at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae. Learn more about the competition and the celebration event here. 

In addition to signing the SDG Accord, RRC Polytech has made some significant progress in relation to established sustainability initiatives including:​​​​​​​

• Composting – we’ve diverted waste from our kitchens away from landfills with 25 tonnes diverted from PGI kitchens and 40 tonnes total from PGI and NDC combined.
• Print Reduction – we’re using 5 million fewer sheets of paper per year compared to five years ago – a 75% overall reduction.
• Net Zero Efficiency – we’ve been recognized with the prestigious Canada Green Building Council – Excellence Award for New Construction for Manitou a bi Bii daziigae.
• Applied Research – we continue to work with our partners to produce numerous successful projects through our Technology Access Centres (TAC) and other research initiatives.
• Waste Audit of Campuses – our sustainability team undertook an audit earlier this year to better understand the waste produced by our campuses and how we can further reduce it.
• Transportation Audit – we’ve completed a transportation audit to determine how staff and students are getting to and from our campuses and to identify opportunities to support sustainable transportation.

These and more projects across our campuses help fulfill this commitment to a sustainable future. RRC Polytech is committed to demonstrating economic, social, and environmental resiliency for generations to come which includes inspiring values of sustainability in students and staff. One such project is a new addition to the Portage la Prairie campus which gives students the opportunity to learn to grow their own food.

Last year, the Portage la Prairie Campus installed a hydroponic garden thanks to funding from the Campus Well-Being team. The tower garden is housed in the Student Lounge and has allowed students to start a plant from a seed, see it grow and learn how to harvest it.

The Tower Garden is an aeroponic system that self-waters and operates grow lights on a timer, and Guy Moffat, Portage Regional Campus Manager, says the greenery brightens the space and the sound of the water running through the center of the garden has a calming effect – giving it a dual purpose of supporting the well-being of students too.

They are now on their second growing cycle and have been growing basil, arugula, bib lettuce, gourmet lettuce, and kale. Plans for a third cycle include planting cherry tomatoes, herbs, and some edible native Manitoba flowers.

​​​​​There are many things you can do to create a positive impact this Earth Day:

• Take an active mode of transportation – click here to learn more about how you can cycle to campus,
• Reduce waste,
• Bring your own water bottle and use water refill stations – RRC Polytech recognizes that all of our water comes from Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation,
• Start a garden like the students in Portage la Prairie,
• Or take part in a community clean up.

Don’t just celebrate Earth Day today, take care of our planet all year round too. Learn more about initiatives happening at the College on our Sustainability blog.

Get involved in sustainability initiatives at RRC Polytech by reaching out to sustainability@rrc.ca.