Where else can 23 students and three instructors from China go for a trolley ride, see penguins and a polar bear, and explore parks, farmers’ markets and historical sites — all while building confidence using the English language? Red River College, of course.

The students are in Winnipeg as part of a new pilot program launched this summer by RRC’s International Education office and Language Training Centre. The aim of the program aim is to give students and instructors an opportunity to be immersed in the English language for two weeks.

“Red River College is so proud to share the culture and history of Winnipeg and Manitoba through an immersive language learning opportunity,” says Dr. Christine Crowe, vice-president of Community Development at Red River College.

“After such an exciting experience this summer, we trust these students will plan to come back to Red River College to study.”

Students and staff from the Shenyang Institute of Engineering (SIE) and Shanghai Medical Instrumentation College (SMIC) arrived in Winnipeg on July 28^th, and will spend their time here working through a packed schedule of events and tours. Each day starts with a series of interactive lessons delivered by staff from the Language Training Centre. Read More →

Red River College is pleased to announce the hiring of Jordan Goetting as the head coach of the Rebels men’s soccer and futsal teams.

“We are excited to bring a coach with his knowledge, skills and passion for the sport to Red River College as we continue to grow our soccer program,” said Shane Ray, Manager of Athletics and Recreation Services for Red River College.

Goetting got his start in soccer at the age of nine and worked his way up through the soccer system in Winnipeg. He brings to the College more than 27 years of experience in the game as a player, coach and trainer.

Goetting’s experience has taken him to some of the highest levels in soccer, including a 1995 trial with Swansea City F.C. of the English Premier League. It was there that Goetting learned the difference between being a professional and an amateur soccer player. Goetting continued to play throughout North America with stints in Thunder Bay, Ontario with the Chill, and in Missouri with the Springfield Demize of the Premier Development League. As an amateur soccer player Goetting has won the national championships with two Manitoba clubs in 2000 (Winnipeg Lucania FC) and again in 2009 (SC Hellas).

“I am looking forward to starting my first year as the Rebels head coach and growing the program that will continue to improve each year,” said, Goetting.

In 2011 Goetting started his own soccer school, JNJ SOCCER, and has continued to pass on his love for the game onto kids and adults throughout the city. In 2012 he coached Action FC to a 10th place finish in the country.

Committed to sharing his passion for the sport of soccer, and to provide opportunities to children in need, Goetting will be traveling to Kenya in 2014 to develop a soccer program for an orphanage.

Goetting is a Pre-B level coach and plans on obtaining his national levels in the near future.

Manitoba is investing $1.4 million over two years to improve the recognition of foreign credentials and get people working more quickly, Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Erin Selby and Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Christine Melnick announced today.

“The Manitoba government has been working to improve the recognition of foreign credentials, allowing new Manitobans the ability to put their education and experience to use sooner and establish successful careers in our province,” said Selby, at a press conference held at Red River College. “Today, we’re announcing new supports for our universities and colleges to work with trained and talented newcomers to put their skills to work. It’s good for our economy and it means newcomers can more quickly put down roots in Manitoba.”

This initiative will fund pilot programs designed to assist internationally educated newcomers get their professional qualifications recognized quickly and transition smoothly into the work force. 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 →

They took home every prize except one. A group of 14 advertising majors from Red River College’s Creative Communications program are $90,000 richer this week, having achieved a near-clean sweep at the Imagine Students (Verb) Charities awards gala, hosted by Muttart Foundation and Imagine Canada on June 21, in Toronto.

The biggest award of the night, $50,000 for first place, was presented to Creative Communications students Emily Doer, Courtney Brecht and Corinne Rikkelmann, for their awareness campaign, I am a Charity Case.

“It was such a strong campaign. It had some edge to it, and I think that really helped our product stand out,” said Doer. “I am still reeling from the win – I wouldn’t even cash the cheque until I got home.”

A total of 50 submissions were received for the contest and the judges had to narrow the field down to 12 ad campaigns. All five teams from RRC were notified they made it to the second round, where they would be given the chance to refine their campaign materials. At that point contest organizers would select six winners and invite them to the awards gala in Toronto. By mid-May all five teams were invited.

“It was an intense and emotional evening,” said Doer. “As they kept calling out names I just became more nervous and anxious until they had the final two teams on the podium and I was up there with my team. It was a great way to end the year.”

The contest was launched to get students to find a creative way to demonstrate how charities have a far reaching and positive effect. Teams were able to take any approach and use any medium to help communicate their message.

“I believe the primary reason that advertising majors from Red River College dominated this contest is because the Creative Communications program is the total package,” said Susan Nicol, advertising and marketing instructor. “Every instructor gave the students the tools they needed to do well in this competition, and they have met and exceeded our expectations.”

Full list of the award winners:

• First Prize of $50,000 was awarded to Emily Doer, Courtney Brecht and Corinne Rikkelmann from Red River College for their campaign, I am a Charity Case

• Second Prize of $25,000 was awarded to Suzy Bodiroga, Alex Kyle, Monique Pantel and Josie Marier-Loeppky from Red River College for their campaign, Charities are at the Heart

• Third Prize of $10,000 was awarded to Laura Stobbe from the University of Victoria for her campaign, A Charity Was Here

• Fourth Prize of $7,500 was awarded to Mitch Kruse and Tamara Adams from Red River College, for their campaign, Without Charities

• Fifth Prize of $5,000 was awarded to Jaclyn Leskiw, Michael Trakalo and Katie Madziak from Red River College, for their campaign, Charities are Everywhere

• Sixth Prize of $2,500 was awarded to Tanner Ziprick and Kelly McGuinness from Red River College, for their campaign, Most Canadians wouldn’t know a charity if it hit them in the face

To view the student submissions visit them at the Students (Verb) Charities

See the full release from Imagine Canada and the Muttart Foundation

Advertising students from Red River College’s Creative Communications program will pick up five national awards next month, when they head to Toronto to receive cash prizes for their work promoting Canadian charities.

Sponsored by Imagine Canada and Alberta’s Muttart Foundation, the Students Verb Charities contest rewards exceptional promotional campaigns exploring how charities ensure, improve and reflect our quality of life. A total of $100,000 is up for grabs next month, and with five out of a possible six awards going to RRC students, the odds are clearly in their favour.

Working in teams of two to four people, the RRC advertising majors developed creative concepts and videos, for which they’ll receive awards ranging from $2,500 to $50,000. They’ll travel to Toronto next month with their instructors; the Muttart Foundation is covering the students’ travel expenses, as well as putting up the prize money.

In other CreComm news, student Terry Proveda picked up the Best Film and Best Documentary awards for his video Going to Extremes at last week’s University of Winnipeg’s 2013 Student Film Festival, while classmates Katy Slimmon, Owen Swinn and Brian Wrede picked up Best Editing honours for their documentary Living in Harmony, about a local Hutterite colony.

As well, this year’s Broadcast Journalism class won first place in the Video Studio Newscast category at this year’s Broadcast Educators Association of Canada (BEAC) National Student Awards. That award will be handed out this weekend as part of the BEAC Annual Conference in Banff. Click here to view the winning newscast.

Youth who grew up in the child welfare system will have the opportunity to attend Red River College tuition-free this fall. The special bursaries will remove one of many barriers that typically see less than five percent of youth in care pursue a post-secondary education.

“Transitioning out of care can be very challenging for many youth—especially financially,” says Stephanie Forsyth, RRC President. “The prospect of student loans and debts may prevent capable students from receiving a post-secondary education. Red River College is delighted to be able to remove that worry for a number of students.”

There are more than 9,500 children and youth in care in Manitoba, with the majority being First Nations and Métis. Typically, once youth in care turn 18 they leave the child welfare system and must fend for themselves. With few supports available, many will find themselves on social assistance or even homeless.

“Youth raised in foster care face unique challenges once they leave the system,” says Jay Rodgers, CEO, General Child and Family Services Authority. “By waiving the tuition fee, Red River College is giving these young people the opportunity for a much brighter future through education and inspiring hope.”

A handful of RRC students have already received a Youth in Care bursary. With the program becoming permanent as of this fall, a minimum of 20 youth in care per year, selected by a child and family services authority, will be eligible to attend the College on a bursary. They will remain on an extension of care with their authority and have their living expenses covered up to the age of 21, so long as they remain students of the College and take a minimum 60 percent course load.

Students must meet regular entrance requirements. Tuition will be fully covered by revenue generated from the College’s Youth in Care bursary endowment fund, which recently received a $100,000 private donation. The College intends to fundraise $1 million to support the program on a permanent basis.

While mass shootings and other violence on university and college campuses throughout North America have increased our sense of vulnerability, Red River College has implemented a comprehensive plan to communicate threats and enhance the safety of students, staff and visitors. The quality of its Integrated Campus Emergency Alerting System has led to a leadership recognition award from the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba (HRMAM).

This Emergency Alerting System provides timely and effective warnings to allow people to take appropriate actions that save lives in the event of an imminent safety threat. It includes the following features:

• Emergency announcements through several public address speakers;
• Desktop alerts to computers and text alerts to cellphones for all staff and students;
• A comprehensive education campaign, including orientation for students and new employees;
• Weekly testing of the system, including annual campus-wide lockdown drills to ensure students and staff know what to do in the event of an imminent threat.

“As a result of the Alerting System, the entire College community has become more engaged and aware of their responsibilities in the event of an unforeseen emergency affecting one or more of our campuses,” said Dave Clarke, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.  “It has helped make Red River College a safer environment in which to work and learn.”

The system includes pre-scripted messages to initiate a lockdown at any campus, as well as the ability to issue live or updated messaging as a situation evolves.  Participants can also specify which campus they attend to receive alerts for only that campus.

The Alerting system also includes protocols and procedures for immediate notification of managers and senior staff in the event of a serious incident, as well as departmental call-trees to disseminate information to and from staff who may be off campus.

Red River College has again been recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability, having been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the third year in a row.

The prestigious honour recognizes RRC’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of College operations, incorporate sustainability into research and academic programming, and engage staff and students in more eco-conscious behaviour.

The unveiling of this year’s Greenest Employers coincides with Earth Day celebrations throughout Canada, and also with RRC’s week-long State of Sustainability, an event that includes recycling and green building tours, compost giveaways, e-waste collection drives and information sessions on organic lawn care and sustainability at home.

“There’s a real culture of sustainability at Red River College,” says Manager of Sustainability Sara MacArthur. “Our staff do more than just ‘know’ about sustainability — they also embrace the values of sustainability in their day-to-day actions.”

Launched in 2007, the Canada’s Greenest Employers competition recognizes organizations that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their workplaces.

RRC is one of only three Manitoba organizations to be named to this year’s Greenest Employers list (alongside Manitoba Hydro and Assiniboine Credit Union), and one of only seven post-secondary institutions across Canada.

It’s the second time in days that RRC has been recognized for its commitment to the environment. Last week, the College was awarded one of Polar Bears International’s Paws of Approval, which recognize organizational efforts to reduce carbon footprints. RRC also remains the only post-secondary institution in Manitoba to complete the STARS rating system, the most commonly accepted sustainability rating system for colleges and universities in North America.

Click here to learn more about RRC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.