At a special plaque unveiling, Red River College honoured Maxim Truck & Trailer’s partnership with Red River College with the naming of a classroom.

The Maxim classroom signifies the long standing partnership between Maxim Truck & Trailer and Red River College which includes support of Alumni and student success and a generous $100,000 pledge to the Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre in 2012.  Maxim President, Doug Harvey served as the Capital Campaign Chair of the HETC fundraising campaign and through his network was able to assemble a group of industry representatives to aid in supporting this project. Mr. Harvey has been a driving force in the success of the activities related to the campaign that will benefit apprentices and the industry for years to come.

Pictured L-R: President Maxim Trucking Inc. Mr. Doug Harvey & President and CEO, RRC Mrs. Stephanie Forsyth.

“Doug Harvey’s contributions to Red River College and to various causes and organizations demonstrate what an incredible philanthropist and friend he is to the Manitoba community,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President & CEO, Red River College. “With his passion for the transportation industry, Doug Harvey has been one of the most influential reasons for industry engagement in this monumental project that has allowed the realization of a 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art technical training centre.”

“The importance of Heavy Duty Technicians to our business cannot be overstated,”said Doug Harvey, President, Maxim Truck & Trailer.  “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.”

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Red River College is pleased to be an integral part of building Manitoba’s workforce needs today and for the future.

“Red River College is a compelling first choice for post-secondary education; a critical source of knowledge and training and one of Canada’s Top 10 research colleges,” said Red River College President and CEO, Stephanie Forsyth. “We applaud the government’s decision to issue a tender to build a new state-of the-art Skilled Trades and Technology Centre that will be housed at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus.”

“Business and industry are key partners in RRC’s success,” said Forsyth. “This new facility will be one of the most advanced in the country and we look forward to the opportunities it will provide to Manitoba students and employers.”

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

Red River College has been ranked seventh out of 50 Canadian research colleges and polytechnics, having posted $4.37 million in research income during the 2012 fiscal year. The ranking is based on the inaugural Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges List, released Oct. 23 by Research Infosource Inc.

“This is excellent validation for the College,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President and CEO of RRC. “Colleges and polytechnics play a key role in research and innovation in our country. Today’s announcement demonstrates our growth and ever-increasing engagement with industry, while further establishing us as a top-performing Canadian college and polytechnic and a strategic research partner for businesses.”

Major areas and initiatives supported by the research funding included improvements to the energy performance of commercial and industrial buildings, technology and training for Manitoba’s aerospace and manufacturing industries, and testing and demonstration of electric vehicles.

Much of the research leverages the province’s harsh climate to conduct practical research and testing to solve real-world problems faced by Manitoba industries and communities, while also producing innovative solutions that can have an impact on the lives of all Canadians. Read More →

Please join us on Friday, November 22 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm in the Voyageur Restaurant at the Notre Dame Campus to celebrate the annual Welcome Party for Immigrant and International Students. Take part in celebrating diversity and extending a warm College welcome to our immigrant and international students.

As we are celebrating diversity, we welcome you to share your traditions and come dressed in cultural clothing, and dressed for a party! Please bring a donation of non-perishable food items (canned food) for the RRC Student Food Bank. This is a College-wide and family-friendly event; everyone is welcome to bring family, children and friends.

This year’s party features live music and entertainment including performances by Punjab Dancers from India, South American band, Descarga Latina, African drummer, Evans Coffie and Cuban dance group, Yoslai de la Rosa. Take part in fun activities for children including arts and crafts, face painting and balloons. Participate in educational games and cultural teachings brought to you by RRC’s Aboriginal Student Support and Community Liaison Department. Enjoy lots of dancing and sample global cuisine.

Please register by Friday, November 15. To register, please find the attached invite and visit the on-line link: http://blogs.rrc.ca/diversity/welcomeparty/

If you have any questions please contact, Lauren Konrad, Student Integration Coordinator at 204.631.3345 or lkonrad@rrc.ca.

This event is organized by the Diversity and Immigrant Student Support department, with additional sponsorship from the International Education office and the RRC Students’ Association.

Since the 1930s, Red River College has delivered programs to provide a skilled workforce and drive Manitoba’s economy.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, a special ceremony took place at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus to mark the College’s 75th Anniversary. Live-streamed to all nine campuses, the celebration paid tribute to the countless staff, students, alumni, donors and friends of the College who over the years have helped to make RRC one of North America’s leading post-secondary institutions – and Manitoba’s only polytechnic.

“Red River College has become a network of choice for post-secondary education and is a critical source of knowledge, training, research and innovation,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president and CEO, Red River College. “We’ve come a long way in 75 years and – as proud as we are of the past – we are equally excited about the vision for the future.”

“My sincere congratulations to Red River College on their 75th anniversary,” said the Hon. Erin Selby, Manitoba’s minister of advanced education and literacy. “The College plays an integral role in meeting our government’s target of adding 75,000 workers to Manitoba’s labour force by 2020.”

“On behalf of students past and present, I want to congratulate the College on their 75th Anniversary,” said Jocelle Cuvos, president of the Red River College Students’ Association. “The College has always been dedicated to students’ success and the SA is proud to be a partner in the continued success of students at RRC.”

Annually, Red River College has more than 30,000 enrolments in full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate programs. Through award-winning instruction and training on state-of-the-art equipment, RRC prepares its students to become leaders in their fields, while partnering with industry to conduct research and ensure curriculum remains up-to-date.

Find out more about RRC’s 75th anniversary festivities →

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 2:30 p.m., a special ceremony will take place at the Notre Dame Campus, to officially mark Red River College’s 75^th anniversary.

The event will take place in the Voyageur Dining Room, and will be live-streamed to all nine RRC campuses, celebrating the countless staff, students, alumni, donors and friends of the College who have contributed to the vision of making RRC one of North America’s leading post-secondary institutions, and Manitoba’s only polytechnic.

The afternoon celebration will include a short program featuring the RRC Daycare Choir and Aboriginal drummers. In the evening, a Homecoming Barbecue will be held from 4:00-7:00pm at the Notre Dame Campus’ D,E,F courtyard, featuring a live performance by Free Ride.

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).

Preliminary numbers for Red River College’s (RRC) Fall 2013 enrolment show significant increases in specific diploma, degree and certificate programs, with overall enrolment remaining at par with the 2012/2013 academic year.

“Red River College offers over 200 full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate programs that provide opportunities for students to walk off the graduation stage and into meaningful careers,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president of Red River College. “Our applied, experiential approach to education in innovative learning environments is attractive to students and this is reflected in our enrolments. Students know that RRC is working closely with industry and communities to fill jobs and create businesses critical to Manitoba’s economy.”

Of particular note are enrolment increases in Culinary Arts (up 29%), and Hotel and Restaurant Management (up 48%). In other diploma and certificate programs, Automotive Technician (up 33%), Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (up 33%), Architectural/Engineering Technology (up 52.9%), and Electronic Engineering Technology (up 29%) all saw increases, as well.

RRC’s new Construction Management degree program (up 19%) and Nursing degree program (up 12%) have also seen significant gains this academic year.

Reflective of RRC’s visits to India and China, the College successfully attracted more international students to Manitoba. In 2013, RRC welcomed 602 international students to the College, an increase of 24% from last year. 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.

Red River College is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris MacLennan, Head Coach for the Rebels Women’s Volleyball team.

“Chris will be a great addition to the coaching staff here at RRC, and the athletes who are part of the program will have the opportunity to learn and play for an excellent coach,” says Shane Ray, Manager of Athletics and Recreation Services for Red River College.

A Level 2 NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) coach, MacLennan begins his first year at RRC after having established himself in Ontario with the Maverick Volleyball Club in Ottawa, then moving on to work as an assistant coach at Lakehead University during the 2011-12 campaign.

He also coached with the Shock Volleyball Club in Winnipeg over the past year, and led Team Manitoba at the National Team Challenge Cup in July. His proven success at the club, provincial and post-secondary level will be an asset to the program here at Red River College.

MacLennan says, “I am very excited to begin training this season, and will look to put together an excellent group with some of the returning players in combination with some new talent entering the gym this year. We will look to improve upon the established success of this program — this year and moving forward.”

The Red River Rebels are the varsity sport teams of Red River College, and compete in the Manitoba College Athletic Conference (MCAC). The College fields men’s and women’s teams in basketball, futsal, soccer and volleyball.

Click here for more information about RRC Rebels Athletics.