Red River College’s Disability and Community Support program and its Diversity and Intercultural Services department came together this week to raise awareness of the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

On Wed., Dec 3, students and staff gathered in the Library hallway at the Notre Dame Campus, where they offered passers-by holiday baking. Others fanned out across campus, distributing stickers and bookmarks with powerful messages.

The bookmarks were made to address how societal attitudes can present a barrier to those faced by people with disabilities in achieving full acceptance and integration in society. They offered ideas for appropriate and respectful language related to disabilities, while also addressing less respectful terminology.

“The goal of the event was to raise awareness about local issues such as Manitoba’s Accessibility legislation,” says Cheryl Martens, lead instructor of Disability and Community Support. “By connecting with the RRC community face-to-face, we hoped to focus on awareness on a local, global and personal level.” Read More →

Red River College instructor Peter Denton has released a new book exploring society’s obsession with technology, and its impact on the environment.

Technology and Sustainability is the fifth book for Denton, who teaches ethics, sustainability and technical communication at RRC. Published by Rocky Mountain Books, it challenges readers to re-imagine the ways they engage with technology, in the hopes of creating a better world for future generations.

From the publisher: “Technology is in our heads, not in our hands. If we don’t like what our technologies are doing to the world and to ourselves, then we all have both the power and the responsibility to make better choices today than we did yesterday. Technology and Sustainability redefines our relationship with technology and offers ways in which we can use these tools to make the world a better place through enlightened and positive engagements.”

In addition to his teaching role at RRC, Denton also serves as one of two civil society representatives for North America to the United Nations Environment Programme, and as an adjunct associate professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada and an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada.

His new book will appeal to anyone with an interest in technology, and in sustainable practices for improving the environment.

McNally Robinson will host a book launch for Denton on Fri., Nov. 28, at 7pm, while RRC will host a book signing on Tue., Dec. 2, at the Notre Dame Campus Library from 12:30-1:30pm.

Click here to learn more about Technology and Sustainability.

In recognition of a generous gift and ongoing support from TransX Group of Companies, Red River College unveiled a plaque today naming a classroom in the organization’s honour at the Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre (HETC).

The newly-named space symbolizes the long-standing partnership between TransX and RRC, which includes support of alumni and student success, and a $100,000 pledge.

TransX joins a host of other industry partners that have supported HETC by providing opportunities for students who graduate from a variety of RRC programs.

“Support from industry partners like TransX assists Red River College in creating opportunities for students that align with industry needs,” says RRC President David Rew. “TransX’s financial and advisory support allows the College to create a state-of-the-art learning facility designed with industry in mind. Our students are the ultimate beneficiaries of their support, and we are grateful for this ongoing partnership.”

Located at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, HETC boasts 60,000 square feet of classroom and lab space in which students can work on large vehicles representing a variety of industry sectors. Offering modern transportation technology, the facility meets the LEED silver standard in energy efficiency, and is home to four RRC programs: Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic, Outdoor Power Equipment Technician, Transport Trailer Mechanic Apprenticeship and Transport Truck/Bus Apprenticeship.

“We are proud to support a first-class training centre at Red River College that helps promote, attract and train heavy duty technicians for the transportation industry,” says Mike Jones, Vice-President of Operations at TransX. “Our industry relies on highly skilled graduates and we’re proud to partner with RRC to continue to provide these types of opportunities.” Read More →

Did you know that one out of two Canadians will be touched by a disability, either personally or within their immediate family?

Help Red River College reaffirm and draw attention to the rights of the more than one billion people throughout the world who are living with a disability. Join us at noon on Wed., Dec. 3, for a Disability Awareness Lunch Hour Blitz at the Notre Dame Campus, where you can visit a display in the library hallway, or chat with students from RRC’s Disability and Community Support program.

Did you know?

Internationally: More than one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, are living with a disability. Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which affirms that all people with disabilities have human rights and freedoms.

Locally: Manitoba has signed into law Bill 26, the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. This legislation ensures there is a plan to eliminate barriers that currently exist for 200,000 Manitobans with disabilities, allowing them to experience their human rights with the same expectations as other citizens.

Personally: Join us in taking a stand against the “R” word (retard), and “Spread the Word to End the Word”. Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families and friends. Make a personal pledge to remove this form of hate speech from our collective vocabularies.

Sponsored by the Disability and Community Support program and the Diversity and Intercultural Services department.

Already a model of the potential for success through partnerships with community organizations, Red River College stands to benefit even further from a new pilot project aimed at strengthening communities through social innovation research.

Announced today by the Hon. Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), the new Community and College Social Innovation Fund will increase colleges’ capacity to engage in collaborative projects with community organizations and businesses to address such social issues as poverty, crime prevention, community safety and economic development.

“Our government understands that local community organizations are essential in addressing social issues like economic development, poverty, education and integration in Canadian communities,” says Holder (shown above, fifth from left). “The Community and College Social Innovation Fund will connect the innovative talent of researchers and students at colleges and polytechnics to meet the research needs of local community organizations to build stronger, safer, healthier communities.”

Administered through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the fund allows colleges and polytechnics to partner with community organizations and businesses to apply for funding of up to $200,000 (plus an additional 20 per cent to offset overhead and administrative costs) to undertake collaborative projects that address community issues.

The new fund will provide $15 million over three years in support of social innovation projects, which could take the form of products, processes or programs that create positive social outcomes for communities.

“Social innovation requires breakthrough ideas, applied research and community collaboration,” says David Rew, Interim President of RRC. “We welcome the government’s recognition that colleges like RRC are instrumental in making meaningful contributions to advancing solutions to issues that face communities, not only in Manitoba, but [throughout the globe].” Read More →

A smartphone-controlled dog collar designed by a Red River College student fetched a $1,000 prize at Innovate Manitoba’s annual pitch-off.

Pablo Steinberg (above), an International Business student at RRC, won the Best Student Pitch award at Innovate Manitoba’s Pitch’Day, where 20 local startups were given two minutes each to convince a panel of judges to support their respective business concepts.

Steinberg’s award was for N’leashed, a dog-training collar that’s operated with a smartphone. Steinberg will soon take the next step to finish the N’leashed prototype and bring it to market.

This year’s Pitch’Day drew its largest attendance yet, with roughly 200 innovators, investors and business leaders gathering to challenge and cheer on the startups pitching their ideas.

The event’s $7,500 top prize went to Chris Karasewich, whose Cattle Track app digitizes farmers’ log books, while the $2,500 second-place prize went to Matthew Doak, whose GameChangr service matches competitive eSports players with suitable one-on-one coaches.

The People’s Choice Award, Best Researcher Pitch and Best Technology Pitch (worth a combined $3,000) all went to Andrea Kraj and Noel Ferrer, whose CORE Renewable Energy Inc. provides real-time solutions for complex energy problems.

All of the event’s winners received entry into Innovate Manitoba’s Launch’Pad Startup Skills Workshop. Jan Lederman, Innovate Manitoba president, said she was thrilled with the concepts presented.

“The quality of the pitches was impressive, and I have no doubt that many of these innovative companies will go on to great things,” said Lederman. “[Even] companies that didn’t win here today may be our next big success stories.”

Click here for more information on Innovate Manitoba, and here to learn more about RRC’s International Business program.

Red River College’s Students’ Association invites you to get in the Halloween “spirit” this week, with a series of haunted happenings and ghoulish goings-on.

Get ready for the big night by taking part in the following eerie events:

Pumpkin Carving Contest
Tuesday, Oct. 28 in the Cave Lounge (NDC)
Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the Roblin Centre Cafeteria (EDC)
11am – 1:30pm

Grab a sharpened implement and show off your creative side! Or compete for prizes in a host of Halloween-themed games!

Halloween Kegger
Thursday, Oct. 30 in the “Haunted” Cave Lounge (NDC)
3-7pm
(18+ event; bring student and gov’t ID)

Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve a day early at the SA’s annual party. Come in costume — enjoy all-night drink specials, terror-inducing tunes and (best of all) FREE admission!

Costume Contest* and Movie Marathon
Friday, Oct. 31 in the Cave Lounge (NDC)
Until 3pm

Stop by your nearest SA office to have your photo taken and entered in the Costume Contest. Or swing by the Cave to watch back-to-back Halloween classics — perfect for getting you in the mood for a freaky Friday night!

* Just a friendly reminder that your costumes can’t include weapons of any kind, including replica and toy guns, knives, explosives, hatchets, etc.

This week, Red River College joins the growing number of individuals and organizations across Canada taking steps to cut waste and improve the environment.

From Oct. 20-24, RRC will mark Waste Reduction Week with a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging the College community to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle — whether on campus or at home.

Waste reduction is a year-round effort at RRC, where each month we collect and recycle over nine tonnes of paper, food and beverage containers and cardboard. The diversion rate at RRC is over 50% — an impressive figure, considering Winnipeg’s residential diversion rate is only about 28%.

Here are three ways you can get involved: Read More →

The Creative Communications grad behind the College’s new mental health website will receive a hero’s welcome from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) this week.

Red River College alum Meghan Franklin (CreComm, 2014) has been nominated for a Heroes of Mental Health Award by CMHA Winnipeg. Her newly-launched Mind it! website — which arrives just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week at RRC (Oct. 14-17) — is designed to help RRC students take better care of their mental health, by providing a range of online resources on everything from test anxiety and financial stress to sleep deprivation and seasonal affective disorder.

“Every student experiences challenges while balancing school, work, friends and other commitments,” says Franklin. “When we’re aware of our emotions and the state of our mental health, we’re better equipped to deal with difficult situations, to work toward our goals, and to recognize when to take a breather or ask for help.”

By the time she began the CreComm program in 2012, Franklin already completed treatment for an eating disorder, which she’d struggled with throughout high school and university. Her recovery process triggered a passion for progressing the mental health conversation, and a commitment to providing all students with a range of related supports.

As part of her second-year independent professional project (IPP), Franklin engaged fellow students about their emotional and mental health and wellbeing, creating a student club and initiative called Mind it!, which held a number of mental health awareness events on campus. By hosting art expos, dog therapy events (shown above) and stand-up comedy performances, Franklin and her team of student volunteers helped spread the word about the importance of mental health. Read More →

Photo courtesy of Imagination Foundation

Now that’s what we call thinking outside the box!

Red River College’s Early Childhood Education department, in partnership with IKEA Winnipeg, will join with children’s organizations around the world this week for the 2014 Global Cardboard Challenge — an event that encourages kids to harness their imagination and creativity while turning everyday household items into treasures.

Inspired by Caine’s Arcade — a short film about a young boy (shown above) whose cardboard creations triggered a worldwide movement celebrating the “power of play” — the event is organized globally by the Imagination Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to raising the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

On Friday, Oct. 10, the College will play host to 60 children from four local child care centres, one Aboriginal Head Start program, and one Winnipeg school. Each group of kids will be paired with a team of adults, comprised of one IKEA staff member and two second-year ECE students.

“The idea to plan a Global Cardboard Challenge event was conceived in the classroom after ECE students viewed Caine’s Arcade,” says ECE instructor Karen Riediger. “Over the last few weeks, participating preschool and grade 5 children have already been busy discussing, imagining, sketching, measuring and experimenting with tape and cardboard. When they arrive at RRC they will be able to put all of that effort and imagination into action right away!”

The event is a perfect fit for corporate sponsor IKEA, Riediger notes, given the company’s belief that children are the most important people in the world.

To help ensure the Cardboard Challenge is a success, organizers are accepting donations of the following supplies:

• Wrapping paper and paper towel tubes (no toilet paper tubes, please)
• Rulers, tape measures and yard sticks
• Tape of all kinds (electrical, packing, Scotch, masking, painters, hockey, etc.); partially-used rolls of tape are also welcome
• Tarps and/or drop cloths

Donations can be made to Mary in Room A109, anytime before Oct. 10. For more information, contact Karen Riediger by email or at 204.632.2962.