They are two of only 15 people living in Manitoba with achondroplasia — a genetic disorder of bone growth that causes dwarfism.

They share the same initials, “VB” and stand 4-foot-2 and 4-foot-4, respectively. But ask world-class athlete Vivek Bhagria if his lifelong love for sport is inspired by his dad, Vikram, and his deadpan reply brings their comparison to an abrupt halt.

“No,” quips Bhagria, who’s currently studying Business Administration at Red River College. “I got into [sports] myself. He’s too lazy.”

His pop might not share his passion for athletics, but it was his kind words of support, when Bhagria was just four years old, that helped him find the courage to chase his dream.

“I was trying to join a soccer team,” recalls Bhagria of his first experience with organized sport. “Little kids were looking at me. I went crying to my dad. I talked to [him] about it and he said, ‘They’re just kids, they don’t know anything.’”

The message hit home for young Bhagria and the results speak volumes about how it fueled his ambition. From those early days in his St. Vital neighbourhood, he’s gone on to be a provincial champion athlete in high school and a podium regular at the 2013 World Dwarf Games (he won a silver in floor hockey and a bronze in volleyball) and the 2015 National Games, held this past August in St. Louis, Mo., where his medal tally rose to four: silver in basketball and soccer; bronze in volleyball and badminton.

He even rubbed elbows with a celebrity: Zach Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World recruited Bhagria to be on his basketball team after seeing his skills on Facebook. Read More →

A trio of Red River College students were honoured at the Canadian Marketing Association Awards gala in Toronto last weekend.

Guiliano Bellabono, Reynold Beniza, and Chelsée Cure (shown above, with instructor Melodie Richard at left) won Bronze in the Student Creative Case Study category for their integrated marketing campaign for retailer The Source. All three took RRC’s Creative Communications program, and majored in Advertising during their second year.

In this year’s Creative Case Study category, entrants were tasked with developing an integrated concept that would boost awareness and put The Source back into the consideration set among younger consumers. Their first challenge was to create a new value proposition that embodied the retailer’s youthful, energetic and future-ready tone and matter — one that fit into a one-year, $1-million marketing budget.

The RRC team’s creative honed in on millennials’ desire to update their social media followers with #phoneproblems, #autocorrectproblems, and more. In response, their campaign provided #SourceSolutions to the corresponding hashtags, highlighting issues that could be solved using The Source’s products and services.

The campaign included witty YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and transit ads (and branded content), as well as a direct mail piece.

The CMA gala is Canada’s premiere marketing awards event, celebrating the country’s best work by brands and agencies.

Students from Red River College’s School of Construction and Engineering Technologies were honoured at this year’s Technology Awards Reception.

Held Nov. 26 at the Notre Dame Campus, the annual event drew donors, staff and students from the College’s Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering Technologies programs. The reception is held in November to mark National Technology Month in Canada.

Over the years, the event has expanded from 62 awards to 113; this year’s totalled $125,400. As always, awards and scholarships are based on a range of criteria, including academic excellence, strong work ethic, leadership qualities, and active involvement in the community.

Keep reading for a sample of this year’s winners, or see the full list.

Read More →

By investing in a new Centre of Excellence in automotive repair research and training — and by increasing apprenticeship opportunities and fostering partnerships with Red River College, Apprenticeship Manitoba and provincial high schools — Manitoba Public Insurance will ensure that autobody technicians remain highly skilled and able to respond to a rapidly evolving industry, it was announced today.

“With an eye to the future, we all recognize that the auto manufacturing industry is going through significant change. The autobody repair industry must keep pace for the sake of its customers,” said Gord Mackintosh, Minister Responsible for MPI, while unveiling plans for the soon-to-be-built Centre of Excellence.

“The new research and training centre provides an excellent opportunity for Manitobans to pursue highly skilled careers, and ensures there is the capacity to do cutting-edge autobody work in Manitoba.”

Through collaboration with industry partners like RRC, Apprenticeship Manitoba, the Automotive Trades Association, the Manitoba Motor Dealers’ Association and the Manitoba Commercial Vehicle Repair Association, MPI will offer improved training for workers in the province’s autobody repair industry.

By doing so, they’ll ensure vehicles damaged in collisions continue to be repaired safely and to original manufacturer standards, resulting in increased safety to the benefit of all Manitobans.

“The collaboration between Manitoba Public Insurance and Red River College will augment the educational experience for our students,” said RRC President Paul Vogt. “We recognize the importance of autobody repairers staying abreast of new vehicle design, construction, technology and repair techniques. Partnership with MPI is an innovative learning approach to meet the high demand for skilled employees throughout the industry.”

In addition to the academic outcomes, joint research studies between RRC and MPI involving composites and advanced trades techniques will ensure the completion of safe and reliable vehicle repairs by autobody repairers in Manitoba, said Vogt. Read More →

Winnipeg will play host to the 2017 Skills Canada National Competition, Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief announced today.

The event — for which Red River College will serve as one of several partners — is scheduled to take place from May 31 to June 3, 2017, at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

The competition is expected to attract more than 18,000 visitors and 500 youth participants — the latter group comprised of students and apprentices enrolled in trades training programs in colleges and high schools across Canada.

“Hosting the Skills Canada competition will mean thousands of Canadians will travel to the city to share their talents and see what Manitoba has to offer,” said Chief (kneeling in above photo), who stopped by RRC today to take part in the College’s annual Engineering Technology Student Pep Rally.

“We’re proud that our government has supported youth in the trades by offering them educational opportunities, financial support and a strong economy that offers people entering the trades a world of options.”

As always, the goal of the event is to promote the skilled trades and reinforce their importance in building a strong provincial economy — a mission RRC has for years shared with Skills Canada’s provincial arm.

“[The College] has been the host site for the annual Skills Canada Manitoba competition and we are very excited to be part of the 2017 Skills Canada National Competition coming to Winnipeg,” said RRC President Paul Vogt.

“We applaud the government of Manitoba on making skilled trades and technology a priority, and on their investment in our new state-of-the-art Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (STTC), currently under construction at the Notre Dame campus.”

Red River College will train 10 Manitoba women who are already leaders in the skilled trades to become qualified instructors who can share their knowledge with the next generation of journeypersons, it was announced this week.

The women will receive a combined $55,000 in provincial funding to complete the Technical Vocational Teacher Education diploma program at RRC. Five are completing an accelerated one-year program, while the others will complete the program through part-time study.

“Some of our best role models will show young women the opportunities waiting for them with this program, and provide them with the skills and tools to succeed,” said Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief. “A career in the trades means a chance for them to earn a good living for themselves and their families, and a chance to give back in their hometowns and neighbourhoods.”

The news finds RRC continuing to play a central role in building capacity and driving the economy in Manitoba, says College President Paul Vogt.

“I am very proud that Red River College could demonstrate its leadership on this initiative,” said Vogt, “so we can help create pathways to success that will continue to encourage women to enter into many meaningful and rewarding careers in the skilled trades.” Read More →

Red River College President Paul Vogt accepted the keys to a $1-million Jetstream aircraft this morning, at a ceremony held to celebrate the history of Alberta’s Swanberg Air, and the company’s generous contribution to staff and students at RRC.

The British Aerospace Model Jetstream 31, along with associated equipment, manuals and training aids, was donated by the Swanberg family of Grande Prairie, Alta., and Fort St. John, B.C., in memory of company founder Sylvan Swanberg and his wife, Dorothy.

The Swanbergs’ daughter, Ann Sawyer, together with her son Konnor and employees of Swanberg Air (now Landsman Properties), were on hand at RRC’s Stevenson Campus to announce the donation, made in support of the College’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) program, which trains students in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of fixed-wing planes and helicopters.

“Our family is very proud to be able to support the next generation of aircraft maintenance engineers,” said Sawyer. “Continuous education and hands-on training is so important in the aviation industry, and we’re happy the donation of the Jetstream 31 to Red River College will have a positive impact on students and industry.”

Vogt says the Jetstream will allow RRC to continue meeting the labour needs of the aerospace and aviation sectors.

“There is an increasing demand in the aviation industry for highly skilled graduates, and with Manitoba being home to the third largest aerospace sector in Canada, this working aircraft will enhance training opportunities,” said Vogt.

“We are grateful to the Swanberg family for their impactful donation, which allows students to train on state-of-the-art equipment and become leaders in their field.” Read More →

Applications are still being accepted for the College’s new Seven Generations Award, available to any Indigenous student who’s the descendant (or dependent) of an RRC alum.

Launched last fall by RRC’s Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations team, the award seeks to create a seamless educational pathway for the next seven generations of learners. Two awards worth $500 each are available each year.

Application requirements include:

• Must be a full-time student (and provide enrolment/registration letter)
• Must be of Aboriginal ancestry
• Must fill out a general RRC awards application
• Must submit a 500-word essay, which includes an explanation of your relationship to the RRC grad in question, as well as a description of your career goals, community involvement and cultural awareness

Application packages can be dropped off at RRC’s Aboriginal Centre (F209, Notre Dame Campus). The deadline for submissions is Fri., Oct. 30.

For more information, please contact Joan Machendagoos at 204.632.2363 or amachendagoos@rrc.ca.

Shown above: Recent RRC grad Tynan Selkirk (at left) joins his father, fellow RRC grad Rob Selkirk, in announcing the launch of the Seven Generations Award at an Aboriginal alumni event in 2014.

Congratulations go out to Red River College student Adam Smoluk, who’s been named the new chair of the United Way of Winnipeg’s GenNext Council.

Smoluk, 35, is completing his Human Resource Management and Management Development studies through RRC’s School of Continuing Education.

As he explains, the GenNext program provides Winnipeg’s future leaders with an opportunity to become engaged in their community, while networking with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for the city. The council brings people together to create meaningful social change by providing tailored involvement opportunities.

“During my time on the council I’ve been proud of the dedication and determination of our GenNext membership,” says Smoluk, who’s served on the council since 2010. “I’m deeply honoured to serve and I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Smoluk works as a program Manager for Film Training Manitoba and has served on the ACTRA Manitoba council and as an ACTRA representative on the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL)’s Human Rights Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Youth Employment Services and is the Vice-chair of Essential Skills Manitoba.

An award-winning filmmaker, Smoluk studied on scholarship at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. He is the youngest graduate ever of the National Screen Institute’s Features First Program; his past accolades include the Future Leaders of Manitoba award, an Investors Group scholarship for leadership studies at The Banff Centre, and the MFL’s prestigious Al Cerilli Scholarship.

Early enrolment numbers from the first week of classes suggest it’ll be another busy academic year for students and staff at Red River College.

Preliminary figures for this fall are consistent with those from the same time last year, indicating RRC will continue its high-enrolment trend. Over the past 15 years, the College has seen an overall increase of 66 per cent in program enrolments.

“Human capital drives our economy,” says RRC President Paul Vogt. “There is an increasing demand for a workforce with specialized skills, and Red River College delivers education and training that keeps pace with industry trends and needs in our province.”

Of particular note, this year’s enrolments saw increases in Business Information Technology (up 24 per cent), Mechanical Engineering Technology (up 11 per cent), Automotive Technician – Diploma (up 50 per cent), and Manufacturing Technician (up 30 per cent).

In addition to key program areas, RRC is also seeing continued growth in its post-graduate diploma programs (up 48 per cent) and in the recruitment of international students (up 32 per cent).

The steady growth means the College is operating at capacity. This spring, RRC and the province broke ground on a new 100,000 sq.-ft., state-of-the-art Skilled Trades and Technology Centre at the Notre Dame Campus, set to be completed in 2017. Read More →