News

Red River College helped to showcase the latest in culinary research and innovation today, incorporating bean flours and purées into delicious and healthy dishes.

The ‘Plating Pulses’ showcase, held at Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, was the product of a research partnership between RRC and the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA), a not-for-profit organization representing 3,000 farmers of edible pulses such as soybeans, dry beans and peas.

“We are thrilled with the work the College has been doing to develop nutritional and delicious recipes that demonstrate to consumers how locally-produced pulses can be incorporated into their everyday diets,” says Kyle Friesen, MPGA president.

Research has shown that only a half-cup of beans per day can reduce bad cholesterol, help manage hunger, and provide a sustainable source of protein.

“That is why we partnered with College,” says Friesen. “We know about the amazing health benefits of pulses, but we wanted to create more awareness among consumers and the Manitoba food industry by modifying traditional dishes that feature pulses, without affecting the taste or texture of the food.”

The dishes showcased include perogies made from bean flour dough, chicken potpie with a bean flour crust, and crème brulée with half of the fat cut using navy bean puree.

“This showcase is an excellent example of the role that our culinary institute plays in supporting the growth of Manitoba’s food producers,” says Ray Hoemsen, Director of Applied Research and Commercialization at RRC. “Along with training the culinary innovators of tomorrow, RRC provides a wealth of applied research resources for local businesses, including recipe development, test marketing and demonstrations.” Read More →

Now that the winter break is behind us (but not winter itself, clearly), Red River College’s Students’ Association has some suggestions for warming up the first few months of the new year.

On Thu., Jan. 8, head to The Cave at the Notre Dame Campus, for a fundraising beer bash in support of the College’s Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race team.

And next month, make plans to join your SA reps on their annual Reading Week trip to Revelstoke, where you can hit the slopes, take part in climbing wall and water park excursions, or just blow off some steam with your fellow students!

Additional info on both events is below. (Stay tuned to the RED Blog for more on upcoming SA initiatives!)

Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race Back 2 School Beer Bash
Thursday, January 8
3-9pm, The Cave (Notre Dame Campus)
Tickets $10 at the door (18+ event)
Enter the auction to win great prices like a snowboard and a signed Winnipeg Jets jersey.

Reading Week Trip to Revelstoke
February 13-21
Six nights accommodation at Powder Springs Hotel
Four days of lift tickets included
Round-trip bus transportation
$670, taxes included
For more information, email uwsnowboard@gmail.com

Students from Red River College’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts served up a pre-holiday feast to guests at Siloam Mission today, preparing hundreds of turkey dinners donated by the Manitoba Turkey Producers and Granny’s Poultry Cooperative Ltd.

Under the guidance of Culinary Arts instructors Chef Scott Ball and Chef Gordon Bailey, students cooked and served approximately 18 turkeys (more than 400 pounds worth), along with traditional vegetable side dishes, sauces, gravy and dessert.

The students prepared the meals for approximately 600 Siloam guests, then served them alongside a host of local dignitaries, including Kevin Chief, Minister of Jobs and Economy, Mayor Brian Bowman (above, far right) and David Rew, Interim RRC President (above, second from right)

“The holiday season can be particularly hard on those in our community experiencing homelessness and poverty. They do not have the resources to enjoy a Christmas feast,” says Floyd Perras, Executive Director of Siloam Mission. “We are grateful to have these students share their skills and passion. Red River College, the Manitoba Turkey Producers, and Grannies are bridging the gap to build a stronger, more compassionate community here in Winnipeg’s inner city.” Read More →

Students from the College’s School of Construction and Engineering Technologies were honoured last month, at RRC’s annual Technology Awards Reception.

Held Nov. 27, the event brought together donors, related College staff, and student award recipients from RRC’s Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering Technology programs. Over the years, the event has expanded from 62 awards to 114; the reception is held each November to coincide with National Technology Month.

Awards and scholarships are presented based on a range of criteria, including academic excellence, good character, strong work ethic, leadership qualities, and active involvement in the community.

See below for a sampling of some of this year’s winners. (Click on photos to enlarge.) Read More →

Red River College’s International Education office met with a high-profile delegation from Hebei, China this week, to discuss potential partnerships in the field of early childhood education.

On Tue., Dec. 9, the College welcomed delegates from the Hebei Institute of Foreign Languages (in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei, China), as well as government officials from Qinhuangdao City.

The delegation consisted of:

• Ding, Guosheng: President, Hebei Institute of Foreign Languages (HIFL)
• Shan, Yingchun: Associate Director, Department of Early Childhood, HIFL
• Wang, Jingyan: Associate Director, Department of International Studies, HIFL
• Lian, Ruyuan: Deputy Mayor of Qinhuangdao City
• Yang, Xuegong: Director, Qinhuangdao Department of Education

With support and direction from International Education, RRC is building innovative partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the world, including those in China, India, South America and Europe.

Agreements such as the one discussed with HIFL this week often result in joint partnerships, exchange programs, and new ways of collaborating to meet the mutual interests of both partner institutions.

Winnipeg’s rich photographic history is now more accessible than ever, thanks to collaboration between the city and students from Red River College’s Business Information Technology (BIT) program.

Winnipeg in FOCUS is a new web-based application that allows users to search and view photographs and other graphic materials held by the City of Winnipeg Archives. The web app is the product of a partnership between RRC, the city’s Archives, and the city’s Corporate IT department.

In January 2014, RRC students in the BIT Industry Project course began developing an app to improve access to the Archive’s collection of photos. Functional requirements were provided by the Archives; technical mentorship and design services were provided by Corporate IT.

Materials held by the Archives capture moments in the city’s development. Many were taken by civic employees in the course of their work documenting projects or program delivery, though the collection also includes individual photos and collections donated to the Archives.

“[They] have much to show us about ourselves, our government, and the history of the natural and built environment from 1974,” reads the city’s website. “These images are a powerful record of change and growth.”

Currently, Winnipeg in FOCUS includes only a fraction of the thousands of images in the Archive’s holdings, though content will be added as resources allow.

Click here to learn more about the initiative, or to search the database.

Above photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives: Winnipeg looking west from the tower of City Hall, September 5, 1900. Present site of Red River College’s Princess Street campus.

Red River College’s Disability and Community Support program and its Diversity and Intercultural Services department came together this week to raise awareness of the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

On Wed., Dec 3, students and staff gathered in the Library hallway at the Notre Dame Campus, where they offered passers-by holiday baking. Others fanned out across campus, distributing stickers and bookmarks with powerful messages.

The bookmarks were made to address how societal attitudes can present a barrier to those faced by people with disabilities in achieving full acceptance and integration in society. They offered ideas for appropriate and respectful language related to disabilities, while also addressing less respectful terminology.

“The goal of the event was to raise awareness about local issues such as Manitoba’s Accessibility legislation,” says Cheryl Martens, lead instructor of Disability and Community Support. “By connecting with the RRC community face-to-face, we hoped to focus on awareness on a local, global and personal level.” Read More →

A pair of Red River College students pursuing careers in journalism received a recent financial boost from two of their chosen profession’s late legends.

Second-year Creative Communications students Eva Wasney and Jade Markus each received $500 bursaries last month from the Eric & Jack Wells Foundation, established in 1994 by the families of the late Eric Wells (former Winnipeg Tribune editor and CJOB commentator) and “Cactus” Jack Wells, a ground-breaking Canadian sportscaster.

The bursaries were presented by Megan Wells — daughter of Eric and president of the foundation’s board.

“I know that my father and Uncle Jack would have been very happy to know that both of you will be following in their footsteps,” said Megan, shown above (centre) with Markus (left) and Wasney. “They both encouraged young people to get into — and stay in — the business.”

Wasney (who like Markus is majoring in journalism at RRC), says the support for CreComm students is always welcome, as the program is very demanding and includes a lot of work outside of classroom time.

“I live on my own — I can’t work as often as I need to,” says Wasney. “Having scholarships and bursaries in place is very helpful so I can focus on improving my skills and being a better journalist, not worrying about how to support myself.”

“Living with your parents isn’t an option for everyone,” Markus adds. “It’s really good [that] an option like this exists for students.”

The Eric and Jack Wells Foundation has given more than $70,000 in cash awards and bursaries to 100-plus CreComm students over the past 20 years. The Foundation’s awards for excellence in journalism will be announced in the spring.

Click here for more information about RRC’s Creative Communications program.

If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then Red River College instructor Rodney Braun has a lot to say.

A Professional Photography instructor at the College for nearly four years, Braun was recently named Manitoba’s Photographer of the Year by the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC).

The award was based on a sampling of four photos submitted to a panel of industry peers from across Canada. The submissions (see above example) showcase Braun’s talents as a portrait photographer; together with his wife, he runs Eve Studios, where he specializes in beauty and nude art photography for women.

“You always kind of hope you’re the best — but rarely do you find out you are,” quips Braun, who’s originally from Saskatoon but moved to Winnipeg with his family in 2000.

“It’s always good to hear that your peers consider you in that position!”

Before moving to Winnipeg, Braun (shown at left) worked with youth and as a paramedic, so he was well-prepared for the daily pressures that came with his job as an instructor.

He teaches a mix of disciplines — everything from portraiture to smartphone photography to marketing and project management — and says he’s happiest when he sees light bulbs (or should that be flashbulbs?) going off over his students’ heads.

“The most rewarding thing is seeing how excited students get when they learn a new skill,” he explains, “and then seeing them take that to the next level, where they can actually make money through that skill.”

RRC’s Professional Photography program is delivered through the School of Continuing Education. Click here for more information.

Red River College instructor Peter Denton has released a new book exploring society’s obsession with technology, and its impact on the environment.

Technology and Sustainability is the fifth book for Denton, who teaches ethics, sustainability and technical communication at RRC. Published by Rocky Mountain Books, it challenges readers to re-imagine the ways they engage with technology, in the hopes of creating a better world for future generations.

From the publisher: “Technology is in our heads, not in our hands. If we don’t like what our technologies are doing to the world and to ourselves, then we all have both the power and the responsibility to make better choices today than we did yesterday. Technology and Sustainability redefines our relationship with technology and offers ways in which we can use these tools to make the world a better place through enlightened and positive engagements.”

In addition to his teaching role at RRC, Denton also serves as one of two civil society representatives for North America to the United Nations Environment Programme, and as an adjunct associate professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada and an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada.

His new book will appeal to anyone with an interest in technology, and in sustainable practices for improving the environment.

McNally Robinson will host a book launch for Denton on Fri., Nov. 28, at 7pm, while RRC will host a book signing on Tue., Dec. 2, at the Notre Dame Campus Library from 12:30-1:30pm.

Click here to learn more about Technology and Sustainability.