Red River College’s Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations department will host an event to connect Aboriginal LGBTT* people and RRC in a meaningful way that honours the voices of Indian Residential School Survivors.

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, the department will partner with Two Spirited People of Manitoba Inc., and the organizers of RRC’s LGBTT* Initiative, to host “Gakina Awiiyaa — We Are All Related,” an event celebrating both communities’ participation in post-secondary education.

The event will feature presentations by Kelly Houle, a two-spirited residential school survivor, and the University of Saskatchewan’s Dr. Alexandria Wilson, a member of the Opaskwayak First Nation who will speak about the effect of residential schools on Aboriginal gender identity, as well as the repercussions on education, communities and ceremony.

Held to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia, the event stems from earlier presentations organized by Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations for RRC students and staff, exploring the impact of Western viewpoints on Aboriginal gender identities, as well as an overview of pre-colonial roles of Two-Spirit (LGBTT*) people.

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Red River College’s School of Indigenous Education hosted the 12th Annual Graduation Pow Wow last week, honouring the achievements of our Aboriginal graduates and paying tribute to their personal triumphs.

Held Friday, May 4, at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, the event celebrated the accomplishments of 93 Aboriginal graduates, and attracted more than 850 friends, family members and dignitaries to a day-long event that included a pipe ceremony, traditional dancing, and a feast.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the Jules Lavallee Award, named after a former RRC Elder-in-Residence. This year’s award went to Corey Bear, a student from RRC’s Biindigen College Studies program.

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RRC alum Sean Trembley (right), with judges at the Barry Callebaut Canadian Intercollegiate Chocolate Competition in Toronto.

Congratulations go out to Red River College grad Sean Trembley, who represented the College at this year’s Barry Callebaut Canadian Intercollegiate Chocolate Competition in Toronto.

Trembley, a recent graduate of RRC’s Professional Baking and Patisserie program, placed first in the molded bonbon category at the third annual chocolate-makers’ contest — a junior version of the World Chocolate Masters competition, launched by Callebaut to help young chocolatiers develop their skills.

This year’s event, held at Humber College in Toronto, also featured mouthwatering entries from students at Humber, Cambrian, Canadore, Fenshawe, George Brown, Georgian, and Vancouver Community Colleges.

Click here for more info on RRC’s Baking and Patisserie program.

Rob Neufeld, Executive Director, North End Community Renewal Corporation

Representatives from Red River College joined a host of North End advocates and community organizations in celebrating a newly-announced housing and retail development on Selkirk Avenue yesterday morning.

Following news the notorious Merchants Hotel is now being managed by a coalition comprised of 20 government and community agencies, RRC President Stephanie Forsyth commended those involved on their collaborative vision of renewal and revitalization.

“This is what Red River College is all about — meshing the needs of the community with the community’s educational goals, so that we can move forward,” said Forsyth. “That constant renewal is so critical to initiatives like the one announced today.”

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Students and staff at Red River College pledged to continue serving as sustainability leaders this week, during activities timed to coincide with Earth Day celebrations taking place the world over.

On Monday, April 23 (one day after the actual Earth Day), RRC held a “State of Sustainability” forum to inform the College community of the results of a recent environmental assessment.

Over the past year, RRC became the first Manitoba institution to take part in the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a comprehensive process to measure post-secondary sustainability performance — including operations, academics, social outreach and long term planning — and to benchmark those results against other post-secondary institutions.

College officials also launched Sustainability 365, a one-year work plan that outlines 42 specific and measurable targets to advance sustainability, including developing a Green Catering program, enhancing sustainability awareness through faculty development, and forming a Paper Reduction Task Force. Staff and students were invited to make their own sustainability pledges, by setting eco-friendly targets they plan to achieve within the coming year. Read More →

Red River College students were the dominant force at last week’s Skills Manitoba Skills Competition, sweeping the gold, silver and bronze medal categories in a number of post-secondary contests.

All told, RRC students earned 15 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze medals, for a total of 44. (Competitors Winnipeg Technical College and Assiniboine Community College both took home 14 medals each.)

The event was held April 12, 2012, at Red River College. Over 475 high school, post-secondary, and apprentice students competed in 42 skilled trades and technology contests in six industry sectors. Read More →

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Red River College’s annual industry night/open house for graphic design will be held on Thursday, May 3. It will be an opportunity to view the work of talented students in the Graphic Design, Advanced Graphic Design, Digital Media Design and 3D Computer Graphics programs.

Join the event on Facebook to get the latest updates and see photos from last year’s Graphic Design Open House.

Sustainability is an important concept at Red River College, continuing to be a significant focus in our new strategic plan.  It’s about taking measures that enhance the viability of our institution, our environment, and our community. That’s why, on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 8:30 pm, Red River College will be joining millions of individuals, organizations and municipalities in 135 countries worldwide by shutting off all non-essential lighting and participating in Earth Hour.

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Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, will speak at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus today, March 29, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., in the Black Lecture Theatre.

Blackstock, who’s also an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, will speak on the topic of Culture + Equity + You = Hope for First Nations Children.

“Now is the moment when caring Canadians are needed the most,” says Blackstock. “We know just what to do to make a big difference in (the lives of) First Nations children and families.”

Blackstock, a member of the Gitksan Nation, has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years. The author of more then 50 publications, Blackstock’s key interests include exploring and addressing the causes of disadvantage for Aboriginal children and families by promoting equitable and culturally-based interventions.

Blackstock’s address will also be streamed live at the following web address: rrc.ca/cblackstock.

Red River College graphic design instructor Randall Butterfield spent time in Scotland and France in recent years. A series of his paintings, which depict the European landscapes he observed, is on display at the Fleet Galleries from March 12 – 30.

Click here to learn more about the show, titled Montpeyroux: Paintings of France & Europe.

Click here for more info on the Graphic Design program at RRC.