From left: Kim Jasper, Red River College; Dale Friesen, Manitoba Hydro; Bert van den Berg, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Ray Hoemsen, Red River College; and Dr. James Blatz, University of Manitoba.

Red River College (RRC), Manitoba Hydro (MH), and the University of Manitoba (U of M) partnered to develop a solar thermal parabolic trough system (Solar Trough) to concentrate energy and test its effectiveness in cold climates.

“This world-class project will explore the feasibility of providing sustainable heating to the world’s cold-climate communities,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president of Red River College. “It also serves as a successful partnership model for applied learning and innovation, with the University of Manitoba and the College sharing resources and expertise.”

The system captures and concentrates solar energy into a fluid-filled tube where heat production is being measured. Phase One of the project will measure the amount of heat the troughs produce in a cold climate environment. This is the first time an application like this has been explored in a cold climate. While solar power systems have been effective in much warmer regions like California and New Mexico, there has never been a chance to determine their effectiveness in an extremely cold climate.

“This project will test the trough’s performance in Manitoba’s climate, and we intend to use the results to estimate Manitoba’s solar thermal resource,” said Dale Friesen, division manager, Industrial and Commercial Solutions for Manitoba Hydro. “These troughs could potentially be used to lower the province’s use of electricity and natural gas for heating purposes.”

The Solar Trough located at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus

“This partnership between the University of Manitoba, Red River College, and Manitoba Hydro is an example of how we can pool our considerable research talents at the three institutions to deliver successful and meaningful research,” said James Blatz, associate vice-president (partnerships) and professor civil engineering, University of Manitoba. “It’s our collective goal to capitalize on many more successful research partnership opportunities such as this.”

The solar trough site is the latest in RRC facilities and equipment dedicated to research in sustainable energy and infrastructure. Along with funding from Manitoba Hydro and the U of M, this project is financially supported in part by the College’s Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group, with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Red River College’s Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre (HETC).

Red River College wishes to recognize the Manitoba Trucking Association and its members during National Trucking Week in Canada.

“Red River College works closely with the trucking industry in Manitoba to ensure we provide training opportunities to drive the economy and provide a qualified workforce,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president of RRC. “We want to recognize National Trucking Week and applaud the Manitoba Trucking Association and its members during this celebratory week.”

In 2009, RRC opened its innovative Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre (HETC), which offers training in the areas of Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics, Truck and Transport Mechanics, and Transport Trailer Technician. The facility has provided the College with increased enrolment opportunities in the heavy duty and transport trade programs.

HETC also supports Manitoba’s growing green-energy economy by affording opportunities for conducting applied research and advanced training in leading-edge technologies such as biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen and electric hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and emissions and cold-weather testing. Read More →

Photo courtesy the Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.

Alumni and staff from RRC’s Culinary Arts program will take part in next month’s 100-Mile Dinner in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.

The fall charity bash, taking place Sept. 8 at the Caboto Centre on Wilkes Avenue, features an impressive lineup of local chefs, including RRC staffers Luc Jean and Jonny Royal, and culinary grads Adam Donnelly (head chef and co-owner of Segovia Tapas Bar & Restaurant) and Mark Teague (head chef at Sydney’s at The Forks).

The chefs will join other culinary stars  — including reps from Peasant Cookery, Deer + Almond, and Bistro 7 and 1/4 — to serve up a mouthwatering meal made of fresh, seasonal and locally-grown ingredients found within 100 miles of Winnipeg.

RRC Hospitality instructor Janet Townsend and current students from that program will also lend their support, providing front-of-house service at the event.

Now in its third year, the 100-Mile Dinner raises funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, which provide after-school, athletic, educational and leadership opportunities for more than 4,100 disadvantaged children and youth in Winnipeg.

Individual tickets are $125 each; to order, email marcial@wbgc.mb.ca, or call 204.982.4940.

Congratulations to RRC grads Dylan Pereira (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, 2013) and Jacob Bell (Apprenticeship Bricklaying), who were both awarded Medallions of Excellence at the WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 competition in Germany earlier this month.

The men competed as part of WorldSkills Team Canada, whose 35 members (shown, above) were chosen from the thousands of contestants in provincial and national Skills Canada competitions held over the last year. In Germany, Pereira (shown, directly behind Mike Holmes) earned a medal in the Aircraft Maintenance category, while Bell (back row, fourth from left) medalled in Bricklaying. Read More →

She beat out some pretty stiff competition to land the Greatest Summer Job in the City.

Kayla Jeanson, a Film Studies student from the University of Manitoba, is excited to be part of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, and to serve as Red River College’s first-ever “Blogger in Residence”.

“I hope to shine a light on the experience of living downtown. I want to showcase the beauty of our Exchange District”, said Jeanson. “I have a strong following on social media so I’m hoping I can engage with them, and thousands of other people throughout the city and province. It’s going to be an amazing experience.”

Jeanson moved in on June 28and will live rent-free in the RRC residence until August 16. As part of her job as the “Blogger in Residence”, Jeanson will be submitting five stories a week and providing content to Twitter, Facebook and any other creative means she wants to use.  Read More →

A rockin’ power chord salute and a round of flying windmills go out to the students at Ecole Selkirk Junior High, who under the tutelage of RRC alum Kris Hancock (Industrial Arts/Technology Teacher Education) have raised more than $100,000 to help support the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The students raised the scratch through their wildly successful B.O.S.S. (Building on Students’ Success) Guitar Works program, in which kids are taught to make functioning electric guitars after school. Once built and painted, the guitars are sent to visiting rock stars and other high-profile celebrities for signatures (among them, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Gene Simmons and The Tragically Hip), before being auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Last week, ESJH students presented the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights with a cheque for $68,421, the proceeds from two guitar auctions — one online, the other live — held in May 2013. That amount, in combination with the $32,579 raised during the program’s inaugural auction in 2011, brings B.O.S.S.’s total CMHR donations to $101,000. Read More →

Graduates of RRC’s Youth Recreation Activity Worker program gathered to celebrate their achievements last Friday, at a special event held to showcase their contributions to the community.

On Friday, June 7, the program’s graduating class met at RRC’s Roblin Centre to pay tribute to each others’ achievements, and to mark the College’s 12th year of making a difference in the lives of inner city youth.

“Congratulations to all of the Youth Recreation Activity Worker program graduates,” said lead instructor Kerry Coulter. “You have already affected the lives of so many youth in a positive way and I know you will continue to have a huge impact in our community and with each individual child you are yet to meet.”

The program, which trains participants to work with inner city youth, was launched in response to increased demand for drop-in programming at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg. Building on existing materials from RRC’s Child and Youth Care program, the College developed a 10-month certificate program to train a new generation of young adults to serve as recreational leaders.

Graduates of the program, many of whom face socio-economic barriers themselves, often go on to find jobs with Boys and Girls Clubs and other inner city youth agencies, or as childhood educators and teachers’ aides.

Last week’s event was attended by a number of politicians and community leaders, including Mayor Sam Katz, Premier Greg Selinger, and Boys and Girls Clubs President Ron Brown.

Click here to learn more about the program, which is open to students aged 18 to 29.

A heartfelt thank-you — and an equally heartfelt congratulations — to everyone who took part in Red River College’s entry in the 2013 Pride Winnipeg Parade on June 2.

Approximately 60 students and staff members, together with friends and family, donned bright red RRC t-shirts while walking the parade route in support of Manitoba’s LGBTT community.

As a result of their enthusiasm (and possibly all the free frisbees they handed out!), Red River College won the “Best Walking Group” award from Pride Parade organizers.

Click here to see a gallery of photos from the event.

Culinary student Randy Grieg, who won a gold medal at last month’s Skills Manitoba Competition.

Congratulations to the 48 Red River College students who won medals at last month’s Skills Manitoba Competition, many of whom will go on to represent the province at the national contest in Vancouver next month.

The 16th annual Olympic-style competition was held April 11 at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, with students competing in 40 different categories aimed at showcasing their hands-on expertise, talent and determination in a variety of skilled trades and technologies.

RRC students swept the podium in 13 different categories, and earned medals in six more. Those who won gold medals who will go on to compete as Team Manitoba at the 19th Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver, June 5-8.

More than 500 students from across Manitoba took part in the provincial trials. See below for a full list of RRC winners. Read More →

Linley James (second from right), with Christine Crowe (Vice-President, Community Development, RRC), Tom Trottier (RRC Recycling Team), and Lori Walkow (RRC Student Services and Community Development Services)

The purchasing agent for RRC’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute has been recognized for his role in supporting those with intellectual disabilities as they find and maintain meaningful employment in the community.

RRC staffer Linley James received the “Outstanding Natural Support” award at this week’s Sweet Success 2013 reception, hosted by Connect Employment Services to honour the achievements of Connect clients and supports over the past year.

In his prior role as Supervisor of Campus Services at the Roblin Centre in the Exchange District, James worked closely with members of RRC’s Recycling Team, supporting them in their day-to-day tasks and researching products and equipment used in the course of their duties.

The Sweet Success reception, held Thursday at the University of Manitoba, included a dessert-tasting and auction, and was attended by the Rt. Hon. Ed Schreyer, former Manitoba premier and governor general of Canada. The event was presented by Connect Employment Services and the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.