Red River College President Stephanie Forsyth addressed a packed house at an Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week, speaking on the topic of Aboriginal post-secondary education.

Forsyth discussed the College’s longstanding commitment to engaging and supporting Aboriginal students; shared some success stories about Aboriginal graduates who are making a difference in their communities; and outlined how the College plans to make Aboriginal student achievement a strategic priority by integrating traditional knowledge and practices throughout the organization.

The full text of President Forsyth’s speech is below.

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(From left): Debbie O’Donnell, interim chair of Community Services at RRC; Janet Forbes, executive director of Community Living – Winnipeg; and RRC instructors Harry Havey, Tara Mullen, Cheryl Martens, and Michelle Lodewyks.

Red River College’s Disability and Community Support program has been recognized by Community Living Manitoba for its leadership role in advocating on behalf of those with intellectual and other disabilities.

A team of DCS representatives (shown above) was on hand to receive the President’s Award for Leadership at a joint national conference hosted by Community Living Manitoba and People First of Manitoba in September.

The award is given annually in recognition of excellence in practice, commitment to inclusion of children with disabilities in community programs, innovation, and spirit of caring.

(From left): Ryan Garriock, Past President, RRC Alumni Board; Bob Tallman, Owner and CEO of Princess Auto; and Dale Oughton, RRC Alumni Coordinator, at the 2012 Alumni Dinner.

Red River College raised a glass to success stories of the past, present and future this month, as RRC alumni joined with students and staff to celebrate their roots at the 2012 Alumni Dinner.

Held Nov. 16 at The Fairmont Winnipeg, the event gave RRC’s growing family of alumni the chance to re-connect with old friends and toast the accomplishments of their peers — in particular those of Bob Tallman, owner and CEO of Princess Auto, and recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

A 1976 graduate of RRC’s Business Administration program, Tallman has since built Princess Auto from a family business into a national retailer, cultivated a passionate base of customers through a tireless focus on service, and devoted himself to revitalizing his community and helping dozens of young people pursue their own dreams. Read More →

(From left): Fred Doern, Chair of Mechanical, Manufacturing & Communications at RRC; the Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport); James Knight, President, Association of Canadian Community Colleges; MP Joyce Bateman (Winnipeg South Centre); the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology); Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC; and Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, announced today that Red River College will receive almost $1.7 million through NSERC’s Community and College Innovation Program to establish the A2i2: Advanced Aerospace Innovation Initiative.

This new technology access centre will focus on making RRC’s facilities, technologies and expertise available to small and medium enterprises in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

“This technology access centre builds on the partnerships RRC has formed with companies like StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace to enhance innovation and productivity in these key industry sectors,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of Red River College. “Ultimately, the research done through A2i2 will create new jobs and other economic opportunities right here in Manitoba.”

Over the past decade, Red River College and its partners have invested over $20 million in acquiring state-of-the-art technologies specializing in advanced materials and bonding, imaging and automation, and machine vision and simulation. The A2i2 initiative will bring these facilities under one umbrella, making it easier for industry to access equipment and College researchers.

Red River College is Manitoba’s second-largest post secondary institution with over 30,000 enrolments in full-time, part-time and apprenticeship programs each year. RRC is also one of Canada’s leading colleges in the area of applied research, with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure, alternative energy vehicles, and aerospace manufacturing.

RRC alum Östen Rice (centre) along with Amici’s Jamie Snow (left) and Sydney’s at the Forks’ Michael Schafer (right), on the winner’s podium of this year’s Gold Medal Plates culinary competition.

Congratulations to RRC alum Östen Rice (Culinary Arts, 2001), of Wasabi Sabi restaurant, on his recent win at the Gold Medal Plates competition in Winnipeg.

Rice was awarded top honours at the event, which took place Oct. 26 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. As it does every year, the event celebrates the best in local cuisine, pitting the city’s premiere chefs against each other in a bid for a spot at the Canadian Culinary Championships.

Rice’s gold medal-worthy entry was a thrilling mix of sweet and sour, comprised of beet-cured butterfish, marinated sea asparagus, taro crisp and tobiko roe, and a slaw of julienned Fuki apple, golden beet and shiso leaf. Read More →

Stephanie Forsyth (left), President of Red River College, and John Bockstael, President and CEO of Bockstael Construction Ltd.

In honour of the 100-year anniversary of Bockstael Construction Limited, John Bockstael, President and CEO, presented Red River College President Stephanie Forsyth with a cheque for $25,000 today.

The donation will be used to establish the Bockstael Construction Limited Endowment Fund for Student Awards at RRC, and will benefit students in the Construction Management and Carpentry programs.

Bockstael Construction is a strong supporter of a number of RRC initiatives, including the Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre, the Girls Exploring Trades & Technology (GETT) camps, the annual Alumni Dinner, and the College’s skilled trades.

Click here for more info on how to support student success at RRC.

(From left): Peter Bjornson, Provincial Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training & Trade; Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC; and Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering for StandardAero.

Red River College will continue to serve as an engine of economic growth in Canada, thanks to a recent donation worth $1.2 million from industry partner StandardAero.

Earlier this month, the company transferred ownership of a GE CF-34 turbine aircraft engine to RRC. The engine will be used as part of the College’s apprenticeship and training programs, in particular the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul program, which promotes engine maintenance, repair and overhaul skills.

“Here at Red River College, we pride ourselves on giving students the opportunity to train using state-of-the-art technology and industry-approved equipment,” says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth. “This donation, and our partnership with StandardAero, will allow us to continue to serve as a leader in aerospace training, and to continue supplying highly-trained employees to the workforce.”

The College’s partnership with StandardAero has been ongoing for several years, and has also resulted in the development of the Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training (CATT), a unique industrial campus model that serves as a technology validation site for RRC’s Applied Research and Commercialization department. StandardAero is also an active participant in RRC’s co-op and internship programs.

“Our (latest) donation serves as a key workforce skills strategy, not only for StandardAero, but also for Manitoba’s continued economic sustainment and growth,” says Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering at StandardAero.

“Training on real-world products without incurring capital costs is paramount to the learning and development of a highly skilled workforce in Manitoba. Our partnership with Apprenticeship Manitoba and RRC is nationally recognized as a leading contributor to the growth of the aerospace sector in Manitoba.”

RRC President Stephanie Forsyth (far right), with Grade 7 to 9 students from Lake St. Martin First Nation.

When overland flooding forced them to be evacuated from their homes, residents of Lake St. Martin First Nation figured it would be a few months at most before they were allowed to return.

But after spending a year and a half living in temporary housing in Winnipeg — and with much of their community still under water — those same residents are wondering if they’ll ever return to their community again.

The 18-month ordeal has been particularly tough on the teens and children who were displaced when Lake St. Martin flooded in May 2011. That’s why Red River College stepped forward to send 12 of those students and two teachers to We Day — a global “youth empowerment” event that has since inspired the teens to become agents of social change for their own community.

“Too frequently we hear of children and individuals losing hope, or who feel powerless, and we have seen this with some of the evacuees of Lake St. Martin,” says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth.

“I wanted to reach out to the youth of this community — to afford them the opportunity to hear We Day’s very powerful message of hope, and the role they might play in bringing about change.” Read More →

Over the past eight years, nearly 2,000 students have learned about ethics and sustainability from Red River College instructor Peter Denton.

But when his nickname became “Dr. Doom,” he decided it was time to write something that put our need to make choices for sustainability in a more positive light.

Denton, who also teaches technical communications at the college, launched Gift Ecology: Reimagining a Sustainable World (published by Rocky Mountain Books) on October 15th at McNally Robinson in Winnipeg.

Years of thinking about the subject and teaching all those students clearly had a positive impact on Denton, as Gift Ecology has already received glowing reviews.

Bill McKibben, American environmental activist and founder of 350.org, calls it “a very powerful book.” Warchild Canada founder and author Dr. Samantha Nutt, CM, found it “both inspiring and enlightening.” Dr. Vandana Shiva, an agricultural activist and author from India, calls it “a gift.”

And when Mardi Tindal, 40th Moderator of the United Church of Canada, described it “a profoundly hope-filled book,” it became clear that “Dr. Doom” was not a name Denton was likely to hear again.

Gift Ecology is available in hardcover and as an e-book in all formats.

The RRC Bookstore is hosting a reading and book-signing event at the Notre Dame Campus on Tuesday, November 6th from 3-5 p.m.

Photo credit: May Wady

Staff, students and their family members are invited to attend Red River College’s annual Welcome Party for Immigrant and International Students.

This year’s celebration takes place Friday, Nov. 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., in the Voyageur Dining Room at the Notre Dame Campus. As always, the Welcome event is hosted by RRC’s Diversity and Immigrant Student Support Department, with support from International Education and the RRC Students’ Association.

The College-wide event will feature live music and entertainment, including performances by Punjab Dancers, Paradize Band, Evan Coffie and Yoslai. There will also be fun activities for kids, lots of dancing, and sample foods from around the world.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Nov. 16, 2012. To register online, visit this link. To sign up in person, visit the Diversity and Immigrant Student Support offices: Room D206 on the Notre Dame Campus, or Room 103 at the Exchange District Campus.

For more information, contact Lauren Konrad, Student Integration Coordinator, at 204-631-3345 or lkonrad@rrc.ca.