This week, as students at Red River College settled into their first week of classes, staff and faculty gathered to pay tribute to David Rew (shown above, at right), who capped off an already impressive 36-year career by serving as the College’s interim president and CEO for the last 12 months. As Rew prepares for his retirement, we thought it only fitting to sit down for a follow-up Q&A session — much as we did when he took over the role one year ago.

At this time last year, you’d just taken over as Interim President — at what can only be described as a low point in the College’s history. The province had launched an audit of our operations, our former president had departed somewhat suddenly, and employee morale was suffering. What did you consider to be your top priority?

Our Executive had identified about 10 priorities, all of which were really important at the time. One of the top ones was internal communications … how we communicated with staff in a variety of ways. Probably the most important piece in all of that was to make sure that staff were informed of events that had occurred before anyone else, so they weren’t going home and watching the news or reading the newspaper and getting their news there.

And how do you think you did?

We made a lot of progress on that one. I think the most telling example was when the provincial review came out. We had an arrangement with the [Minister of Education’s] office where we could tell our staff about the release of the review first, which the province agreed to. So our staff were made aware of that before anyone else. A lot of people commented on that, as they did the Town Hall sessions — the “On the Road with Rew” tours — those also worked really well.

With respect to the last 12 months, what would you say you’re the most proud of?

I’m very proud of the Executive team and how they came together as a group. They’re an incredibly courageous lot, taking on their roles and really going for it — and working to turn the College around. Read More →

To help meet the growing demand for highly-skilled automotive technicians in Manitoba, Mercedes-Benz Winnipeg has contributed $15,000 to a new student scholarship at Red River College, one valued at a combined $30,000, thanks to a matching grant from the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative.

Starting this year, students from RRC’s Automotive Technician diploma program will be eligible for the Mercedes-Benz Winnipeg Technician Excellence Award — worth at least $1,000 each year — based on academic performance, leadership skills, teamwork in the classroom, and work experience at a dealership. Students can use the funds for tuition or to apply to the cost of their tools.

Brian Lowes, President and General Manager of Mercedes-Benz Winnipeg and Motor Dealers Association Vice-President, says the award allows his company to make a lasting contribution to the industry, and to continue to invest in its most valuable resources – people.

“Our team has benefitted greatly from the programs at RRC, specifically in the automotive service technician trade,” says Lowes. “We are happy to have the opportunity to invest in our community. We look forward to being part of the solution to attract, train and employ these bright young individuals and contribute to our combined long-term success”

Currently in Canada, the automotive service sector faces a shortage of almost 5,000 qualified automotive service technicians — a number that climbs to nearly 12,000 once auto body and parts counter technicians are included. Read More →

Canadian grain industry leaders Viterra have announced $750,000 in new scholarship funding for Canadian colleges — $20,000 of which will go to support students in RRC’s Electrical Pre-Employment and Power Engineering Technology programs.

RRC is one of 12 colleges and polytechnics in five provinces that will benefit from the company’s investment in post-secondary education, which allows students to access funds to support their skills training.

“At Viterra, we place a high value on providing ongoing education and learning opportunities for our employees, so they are well equipped with the knowledge they need to serve our new customers,” says Kyle Jewosrki, Viterra’s president and CEO for North America.

“We’re proud to be offering access to similar learning opportunities at the post-secondary level, by supporting students that aspire to work in roles that Viterra employees perform across our industry-leading asset network.”

Viterra will also work with the schools and their respective provincial governments to access any matching funds available through existing programs and initiatives.

Headquartered in Regina, Viterra’s commitment to agriculture dates back more than 100 years. The company partners with farmers to market and move their crops to areas of need around the world, and provides further value through a variety of contracting and risk management tools that help partners realize the full potential of their crops.

Would you like to meet someone new, from another country and culture? Are you proud of where you study or work? If so, then please help us welcome new international students to Red River College! We’re looking for ambassadors to serve as a friendly, welcoming face when our international students first arrive in Winnipeg.

RRC first piloted an Airport Pickup Service for international students during the fall semester of study in 2013. The service is made possible by volunteers from RRC’s staff, faculty and student communities.

Since the program’s inception, we’ve been able to welcome many international students as soon as they arrived in Winnipeg, but in order to continue this service, RRC’s International Education office needs your help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment? Do I just complete the student pickup and drop-off?

The time commitment is usually two hours. You’re simply expected to pick up the student from the airport and bring them to the location where they’re staying. If you would like to take them for a tour (or go shopping, etc.), you can do so, but it is not the expectation of this initiative.

Can I specify a time I’m available?

Your availability is a key factor when matching up our arriving students and our volunteers, so you’re more than welcome to identify times when you are not available. Since the students arrive on various dates and times, we’re not able to specify the time until the request for pickup comes in. Our pickup service will be offered from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. only.

International Education will handle the coordination and scheduling of all pickups. In addition, your parking at the airport will be reimbursed.

If you would like to volunteer, or have any questions, please email international@rrc.ca.

Red River College’s Board of Governors announced today that Paul Vogt has been named the College’s fifth president and CEO, effective Aug. 17, 2015.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Paul Vogt to Red River College,” says Lloyd Schreyer (above, at right), chair of RRC’s Board of Governors. “Paul’s extensive background as an administrator and public service leader, and his contributions to education policy in Manitoba, will be an asset as Red River College continues to evolve and grow as a leading post-secondary institution in Manitoba.”

Vogt (above, at left) was head of the public service in Manitoba for eight years. He joins RRC after serving as an executive in residence at the University of Manitoba and advising on the development of a multi-year post-secondary education strategy. He also helped to establish the province’s new Advisory Committee on Advanced Education.

“While Paul’s extensive background is well-suited for institutional leadership, his relationships within the community are key to driving strategic planning initiatives with various stakeholders who contribute to the mission of the College,” says Schreyer. “I look forward to working with Paul as the College continues to prepare skilled graduates to drive Manitoba’s economy.” Read More →

For the next 20 years, Red River College will be able to offer joint diplomas with the Shenyang Institute of Engineering (SIE) in China, one of RRC’s oldest international post-secondary partners.

As part of the new agreement, signed earlier this week, RRC and SIE will offer joint diplomas in Electrical Engineering Technology, Power Engineering Technology, and Hospitality and Tourism Management, giving students and instructors from both institutions the opportunity to participate in exchanges and study abroad.

“We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with the Shenyang Institute of Engineering for more than 27 years,” says David Rew (shown, seated), interim president at RRC. “This new agreement will allow us to continue to offer high quality education to our students, and to grow our international education program here in Manitoba.”

The College’s work in international education began in 1987, when the partnership with SIE was first struck. Following that, the College continued to expand its mandate and in 1994 opened the Department of International Education — welcoming a Malaysian student as RRC’s first official international learner.

“As a leader in applied learning, RRC is in a very strong position to work with institutions like the Shenyang Institute of Engineering, to develop these joint programs and expand our abilities to continue to attract international students,” said Eddy Lau (shown above, at left), RRC’s acting director of International Education.

“We continue to recruit more international students each year, and our international students continue to enrich the global learning environment we have cultivated at the College.”

This year, RRC has over 800 international students participating in studies and joint programs. On average, the College has seen a 27 per cent increase in international student enrolment from year to year.

Red River College’s Bridge to Civil Technologies (BCT) program has been recognized with a national award for Best Initiative in the category of Workplace Integration, at this year’s International Qualifications Network (IQN) Awards.

The BCT program — a joint partnership between RRC’s Language Training Centre (LTC) and its Civil Engineering Technology department — was recognized by the federal government’s Foreign Credentials Referral Office for its efforts to improve foreign credential recognition and assessment.

The BCT program was piloted in 2014, and included three components: a five-month gap fill term, a five-month paid co-op term, and Year 3 of RRC’s Civil Engineering Technology program — in either the Municipal, Structural, Architectural or Environmental majors.

Students graduated earlier this month with a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology, and will be eligible for a Certified Engineering Technologist designation from the Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM) after one year of Canadian work experience.

Of the 13 students who began the program in January 2014, 12 are already working full-time as civil engineering technologists. Read More →

Congratulations to the most recent recipients of Red River College’s Lieutenant-Governor’s Medals for Proficiency: Katrina Clarke (Civil Engineering Technology) and Lauren MacLean (Business Administration).

Each year, a maximum of four Lt-.Gov.’s Medals are awarded to RRC students who best combine good character, academic and technical achievement, and involvement in the College and/or community. This year’s winners embodied every aspect of the award.

Katrina Clarke (Civil Engineering Technology)

Originally from Miniota, Man., Clark (shown above, at left) graduated from Birtle Collegiate in 2009. After working for a surveying company after graduating, she enrolled in RRC’s Civil Engineering Technology program, where she majored in Municipal Engineering Technology.

In May of this year, Clark began working as part of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Wetlands Restoration Team — as an engineering technologist dedicated to restoring drained and damaged wetlands throughout Manitoba.

Currently living in Brandon, Clark is heavily involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and is passionate about animals and the outdoors. While at RRC, she was a member of the Rebels Women’s Soccer team, making her the third Rebels athlete in two years to win a Lt.-Gov.’s Medal. (Fellow Rebels Kimberly Cowan and Abby Silva won in 2013.)

Lauren MacLean (Business Administration)

A 2010 graduate of Morden Collegiate, MacLean originally enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s U1 program, with the hopes of transferring into the Faculty of Engineering.

After “failing miserably” in her first year (her words!), she opted to instead enroll in RRC’s Business Administration program, with a major in Accounting. She also ramped up her extra-curricular involvement, joining the RRC Students’ Association as a class rep and later running successfully for SA president.

MacLean now works for Richardson as an accounting clerk in the Engineering department. She remains passionate about her RRC roots, and plans to continue along the educational path the College helped her develop.

A film festival submission about a tattooed hipster puppet has earned a pair of Red River College students a $2,500 prize.

Modern Love, a five-minute short by first-year Creative Communications students Matthew Dyck and Tedi Gilmartin, was the third-place winner at this year’s Big Rock Eddies Short Film Festival in Calgary.

The humorous short, which details the “un-traditional” romance between a woman named Blaire and a puppet (sorry, “plush person”) named Zane, began as a student project for Gilmartin and Dyck’s advertising class.

The pair then entered the project in the Eddies’ inaugural short film festival (newly rebranded after 22 years celebrating mock ads and commercials for Big Rock Breweries.)

This year’s event drew close to 50 submissions — all based on the theme of “tradition” — which were then reviewed by a panel of judges that included Emmy-winning producer Chad Oakes and Hell On Wheels star Anson Mount.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that CreComm students have placed in the competition, and the first year that a CreComm video entry brought home an award.

Visit the Big Rock site to view the top three winning entries.

Six Red River College students were among the Team Manitoba members who picked up medals at last weekend’s Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatchewan.

The students were part of a team of 60 high school, college and apprentice-level participants in the annual Olympic-style competition, which took place May 27-30 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.

All told, Team Manitoba brought home 27 medals — 10 gold, 11 silver and six bronze — from the event, which saw 550 young students and apprentices from across Canada competing in 46 different trades areas.

“I wish to congratulate Team Manitoba on their medals … and also to recognize our staff’s support,” says David Rew, interim president of RRC, which hosted Team Manitoba’s provincial qualifying rounds on April 9 of this year.

“Our College is committed to supporting skilled trades, as not only the host site for the annual Skills Canada Manitoba Competition, but also on a national level, with a large contingent of staff attending and supporting by judging, volunteering and contributing through the National Technical Committee.” Read More →