The Assiniboine
EFFE Winter 2020
2020 GRADUATES HAVE THEIR MOMENT
Assiniboine celebrates graduates with a three-day, safe and distanced graduation event.
MAJOR DONATION TO EXPAND AGRICULTURE AT ASSINIBOINE
Sunrise Credit Union donation kicks off the campaign for an expanded agricultural training facility.
MAKING MOVES AT PARKLAND CAMPUS
Parkland campus announces two new opportunities for learners to start their education journey.
Winter 2020
CONTENTS 3 Partnering to expand Power Engineering
16 Creative minds belong at Assiniboine
4 Future of ag training looks bright
18 Public Safety growing
6 New opportunities in Parkland
19 Learning the business of cannabis
8 Grad at a distance
21 Love at Assiniboine
Pfizer Canada supports the expansion of the college’s Power Engineering program to offer 3rd and 4th class levels.
Sunrise Credit Union donates $1 million toward the expansion of agriculture training and the Prairie Innovation Centre.
A new program offering and recent partnership will expand the opportunities at the Parkland campus.
Amid the challenges of COVID-19, Assiniboine sees graduates safely receive their diplomas and certificates.
Assiniboine responds to industry needs, introducing three new creative media programs through a concentrated lens.
New advanced diploma provides crucial insight into a complex field.
A new, online program with Continuing Studies explores the evolving cannabis business.
Meet the alumni who graduated with not only a diploma, but also a life partner.
10 Prestigious award winners recognized
22 Student to teacher: a nurse’s journey
12 People first: a nurse’s passion
24 Taking agriculture digital with FCC
14 Field to Fork bringing students together
26 Writing the next generation’s story
Recipients of the Governor General’s and Lieutenant Governor’s awards discuss their Assiniboine experience.
Wrapping up the Year of the Nurse, we hear from nursing alumnae, Jessica Southgate, on how she found her passion.
Assiniboine students studying different areas find common ground in agriculture.
The final Year of the Nurse feature follows Terri Schell from student to instructor, and a few things in between.
An investment in the future of digital ag from Farm Credit Canada brings hands-on training tools to Assiniboine.
Funding Futures, the annual alumni giving campaign, encourages alumni to pay it forward.
Cover photo: Darise Peters-Fontaine, graduate of the Office Management program at Long Plain First Nation (page 10).
Hear from Pfizer Canada and other industry employers who have seen great demand for Class 3 power engineers.
WATCH NOW
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WITH PFIZER CANADA TO EXPAND POWER ENGINEERING
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ssiniboine Community College and Pfizer Canada have partnered to deliver a new two-year Power Engineering diploma program that will train students for 4th Class and 3rd Class certification.
“There has long been incredible employer demand for trained workers in this occupation and strong demand for expanded seats in our Power Engineering program,” said Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine. “By partnering with Pfizer to certify more third class power engineers, we are continuing our mission to meet the need of Manitoba’s labour market.” Pfizer Canada expressed a desire to support relevant programming and student success at Assiniboine, and the two parties landed on Power Engineering as the best fit. Pfizer is one of the aforementioned local industry partners who have a demand for these trained graduates. “We are pleased to support Assiniboine Community College to implement concrete measures that will attract future students to their Power Engineering program,” said Ron Cherepuschak, Managing Director, Pfizer Global Supply, Pfizer Canada. “Our
approach is to collaborate in new and dynamic ways with community stakeholders such as the Assiniboine Community College to help grow and scale future talent opportunities required for Manitoba to meet its growing economic demand.”
students entering Power Engineering at Assiniboine. Starting in fall 2021, students can apply for a $2,000 entrance award, a critical piece in moving the program forward. Assiniboine and Pfizer are currently in the curriculum development phase.
The new program will double student capacity from 16 to 32, bridging students in the college’s existing 4th Class Power Engineering program into the second year to prepare for 3rd Class certification. Across Canada, power engineers move through five classes descending numerically, with a 1st Class Engineer denoting the highest level of education in the occupation.
“We’re grateful to Pfizer Canada for their leadership in helping us to train students for occupations that are in demand, benefiting both graduates with wellpaying careers and employers who are in clear need of trained power engineers,” said Frison.
“This innovative partnership between Assiniboine Community College and Pfizer Canada will provide critical resources to allow students to participate in work-integrated learning to pursue careers as power engineers in Manitoba,” said Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Minister of Economic Development and Training. “Power engineers continue to be in high demand in our provincial labour market and this program expansion will help meet the needs of employers in Manitoba.”
The first intake for the new Power Engineering diploma program designed to train students to certify in both 3rd and 4th Class will begin in September 2021. Students start with 4th Class courses in their first year of studies, followed by the 3rd Class portion of the new program beginning in September 2022.
LEARN MORE assiniboine.net/powerengineering
A portion of Pfizer’s $75,000 support will go to 3
Sunrise
DONATES $1 MILLION TO AGRICULTURAL TRAINING
Assiniboine revealed this major donation from Sunrise Credit Union at a small announcement event October 19. This strong showing of industry support kicks off a significant campaign for an agricultural training facility.
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his is a strong partnership because we naturally align with Assiniboine Community College in our values and visions. Our joint commitment to supporting the agricultural community is key to the economic strength of our region,” said Sunrise Credit Union President & CEO Tim Klassen. “Expanding the agricultural educational programming at Assiniboine will not only help keep students in rural Manitoba, it will help meet the demand for highly-skilled workers in this field.”
The vision for expanding agriculture at Assiniboine comes in the form of the Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. This facility is Assiniboine’s response to labour market demands in agriculture and will enable the agriculture sector to continue to be an economic driver in the Canadian and Manitoban economies. “The college has long focused on providing leadership in agriculture and this donation is a significant step toward this major undertaking in expanding training to meet current and emerging labour demands,” said Mark Frison, president at Assiniboine. “The Prairie Innovation Centre brings the next generation of ag, environment and technology forward.”
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Expanding the agricultural educational programming at Assiniboine will not only help keep students in rural Manitoba, it will help meet the demand for highlyskilled workers in this field.” The Prairie Innovation Centre will combine indoor and outdoor learning spaces for seamless, handson training experiences and aims to expand seats from less than 300 to more than 800 students in agriculture, environment and related technology programs. “Partnerships like this, between industry and post-secondary, are paramount to supporting our economy and labour needs,” said Ralph Eichler,
Minister of Economic Development and Training. “Agriculture is an important industry and an economic driver in our province. With this strong showing of industry support, the agriculture sector is in good hands.” With expanded agricultural offerings, the college will also be able to grow the opportunities and vision related to agriculture careers. “Agricultural careers extend far beyond farming and this will provide a venue to turn students’ heads toward the great possibilities in agriculture and food production,” said Johanne Ross, Executive Above: Members of Sunrise Credit Union’s Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors stand with Assiniboine president, Mark Frison and representatives from the Prairie Innovation Centre Campaign Cabinet. Page 5 (left-right, top-bottom): Tim Klassen, President and CEO, Sunrise Credit Union Mark Frison, President, Assiniboine Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Agriculture & Resource Development, Province of Manitoba Initial plans for the Prairie Innovation Centre on the North Hill campus
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Partnerships like this, between industry and postsecondary are paramount to supporting our economy and labour needs.” Director of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, who serves as co-chair of the Prairie Innovation Centre Campaign Cabinet. “This Centre will surely create an increased interest in agriculture and related careers that will support industry demands and bring Western Manitoba to the forefront.” This major donation from Sunrise Credit Union kicks off a large capital campaign to provide a home-grown hub for agriculture innovation and build the academic heart of agricultural and environmental education in Western Manitoba. “In Manitoba, agriculture connects us all, directly or indirectly,” added Glenn Young, Chair of Sunrise Credit Union’s Board of Directors. “A community’s ability to foresee, adapt to, and leverage changing conditions to their advantage is a key to economic resiliency. The Prairie Innovation Centre is the right project at the right time. As our roots are in agriculture, Sunrise Credit Union is excited to support this important project.”
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PARKLAND
LAUNCHING ELECTRICAL CAREER Assiniboine will offer a new six-month Applied Electrical Installation certificate starting January 2021 at the Parkland campus in Dauphin. Applications for the program are now being accepted.
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In true learn by doing fashion, students’ safety and wiring skills will be put to practice in our simulation condos. 6
This electrical certificate program includes both practical and theory components, focussing on residential wiring systems and safety, including safe work procedures, electrical code and blueprint reading. “In true learn by doing fashion, students’ safety and wiring skills will be put to practice in our simulation condos,” said Grant Lawford, Chair of Construction Trades at Assiniboine. Applied Electrical Installation will consist of five months of theory and practical learning followed by an industry practicum, for a total of 740 hours. This program will be accredited with Apprenticeship Manitoba. Graduates will gain entry-level skills in the electrical trade and will meet the Level 1 electrical apprenticeship in-school technical training requirements.
“This program will form the basis for further training toward a journeyperson certification,” said Gabe Mercier, Director, Parkland campus at Assiniboine. “Industry is looking for entry level workers who meet Level 1 Apprenticeship requirements. Providing a six-month opportunity for these learners to launch their career and further training will allow more students to be trained to fill this need.” Graduates of this new program will have the opportunity to build careers and further their apprenticeship training with electrical contractors and construction companies, in maintenance departments or with public utilities.
READ MORE Visit assiniboine.net/news for the latest news.
TRANSITION PROGRAM TO GIVE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES Assiniboine Community College will offer a Parkland Youth Transition program over the next three years thanks to a $900,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program (YESS). The 11-week program, delivered in Dauphin and Russell, Man., will welcome six separate cohorts comprised of students aged 15 to 30 for a total of 80 students over three years. The program is intended for individuals with little or no significant work experience and who may not have completed their high school education. “This opportunity is designed to support youth facing barriers to employment in the Parkland region, to help them with transitioning into the workforce or bridging to further education pathways,” said Gabe Mercier, Director of Assiniboine’s Parkland campus in Dauphin, Man. “This also includes visible minorities, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and newcomers.” The program focuses on essential skills and is tailored to each student’s educational, career, and personal goals. Following their studies, graduates of the program will be better prepared for employment or to complete further education, such as a high school diploma.
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“We will assist each student in developing a work plan for employment or further education, and we will teach them about the opportunities available to them in the local labour market,” said Mercier. “Building confidence and self-determination in one’s future is an important aspect of this program.” The first two intakes of students in both Dauphin and Russell will begin the last week of September and wrap up by mid-December. The program is being offered at no cost to those who are accepted into it, and students will be paid provincial minimum wage throughout their training. Classes are held five full days a week with curriculum modules focusing on a variety of topics including essential skills, employability skills, career exploration and decision making. Students will also earn certification and complete workshops in a wide range of practical areas such as food safety, first aid, social media etiquette, basic keyboarding and workplace hazardous materials. Upon successful completion of the full 11-week program, students receive a certificate of achievement.
Image: Jadelyn McKay featured in her workplace as a Community Health Care Nurse. 7
s e t a u d a r G
GET THEIR DAY
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fter the postponement of the June convocation due to COVID-19, Assiniboine was able to welcome graduates to celebrate their accomplishments through physically distanced graduation-style events that took place in late October. These seven grad-style events, hosted over a threeday period at the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room in Brandon and the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium in Dauphin, allowed grads to register for a time slot to receive their diploma or certificate. The events gave grads the opportunity to don a graduation gown, receive their scroll and take photos with a small selection of friends and family who were able to accompany them. “Graduations inevitably bring out wonderful stories,” said Mark Frison, President at Assiniboine. “While the rigidity of operating procedures for the events were a constant reminder of our current public health circumstances, those stories and the pride of the families and graduates, also replenished my spirit about the importance of postGraduates (left-right, top-bottom) secondary education and Page 8 our role in helping society Jonalen Karla-Escobilla (Practical Nursing) recover and heal.” Morgan Surcon (Practical Nursing) Assiniboine had 1,514 people graduate this past academic year, with approximately 300 attending these graduation events—a number that is fairly aligned with the attendance of traditional graduation ceremonies.
Christopher Belhumeur (Business Administration) Page 9 Rajveer Braur, Manpreet Kaur (Food Processing) Travis Mayhew (Culinary Arts) Francis Munroe, Rolanda Chartrand (Mature Student High School - Parkland)
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I am honoured to receive this award. I have a great appreciation for my instructors who encouraged and developed my spirit of discovery.
Governor General‘s
ACADEMIC MEDAL
Being able to challenge myself by asking the right questions and then having the confidence to find the answers to those questions has given me the skills necessary to develop my career and I am grateful to have this award recognize my abilities.
Lieutenant Governor‘s SILVER MEDALS
JAMES EPP
Network Administration Technology The Governor General’s Academic Medal recognizes academic excellence. The medal is awarded to the student who has acheived the highest overall average from a diploma program at the college.
“ “ Assiniboine quickly became like a second home, providing me with both an education and a hockey program. I was able to receive a diploma in nursing and be part of a National championship team in 2019. To say I’m grateful and lucky is an understatement. Thank you, Assiniboine, for three amazing years.
MARIAH MCCUE
Practical Nursing
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“I congratulate James on receiving this prestigious academic award,” said Dr. Deanna Rexe, VP Academic at Assiniboine. “Receiving the highest grade point average at Assiniboine undoubtedly took great determination.”
Studying with Assiniboine has been such a rewarding experience. It’s uncommon for educational institutions to offer programs on reserves, so I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. I am grateful for the recognition this award brings and for the opportunities it opens up for my future.
DARISE PETERS-FONTAINE
Office Management
The Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal recognizes two students who have achieved outstanding academic performance and contributed in significant ways to the college and their community. Students are selected based on academic and technical ability, participation in college community activities, and good character and personality. “These award recipients embody what we want Assiniboine grads to represent,” said Mark Frison, President at Assiniboine. “When you see a grad that has been engaged and performed well academically, who has also been involved in the college outside of academics or has been a community contributor and volunteer, that speaks to an extraordinary character.”
9 months out
4 years out
4 years out
ACTION GRADUATE SATISFACTION Grads URVEY & EMPLOYMENT SURVEY 92% 96% with 82%
9 months out
of grads have jobs
9 months out
9 months out
4 years out
have careers related to their field of study
Grads with 9 months out careers related to 4 years out their field 82% of study
4 years out
89%
82% onths92% out
$46K 96% $57K
average annual income average annual income 9 months four years out have careers out related to their field of study
82%
of grads have jobs
Great outcomes for graduates despite COVID-19
57K
89%
4 years out
89%
in 89% stay Manitoba
GRADS
THRIVING
have careers related to their field of study
Graduates in this year’s study were polled during the height of the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19, from April to May 2020, which makes the results that much more impressive.
in 89% stay Manitoba
$46K
nnual income years out
RECENT SURVEY SAYS: EVEN AMID COVID-19,
89%
jobs
average annual income 9 months out
$57K average annual income four years out
ve careers related to their field of study
s year’s study were polled during the height of the economic d by COVID-19, from April to May 2020, which makes the h more impressive.
in 89% stay Manitoba
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It remains clear that pursuing a college education is a smart Great outcomes Graduates in this year’s study were polled during the height of the economic investment for for graduates slowdown caused by COVID-19, from April to May 2020, which makes the individuals and society, despite COVID-19 results that much more impressive. both economically and socially. While there may be some uncertainty, one thing’s for sure: Assiniboine graduates stay in are central to the growth Manitoba of our province as we bounce back from this pandemic.
89%
MARK FRISON
PRESIDENT, ASSINIBOINE Source: 2019 Graduation Satisfaction & Employment Survey
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AT THE CENTRE OF NURSE’S PASSION
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Assiniboine alumnae, Jessica Southgate, has found her passion in impacting patients’ lives.
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oing back to school to start a new career at the age of 34 had some advantages for Jessica Southgate.
“Life experience for sure,” said Jessica, who graduated from Practical Nursing at Assiniboine’s Parkland Campus in 2019, of the benefit to being a mature student changing careers. That, and a solid confidence in the commitment she was making. “I knew really strongly for a number of years prior that this is what I wanted to do, so it’s easy to study for something you love.” Before enrolling at Assiniboine, Jessica was a professional dancer, working for a couple different Canadian dance companies, and worked part-time as a certified health care aide to subsidize that income. Now, as she launches her new career as a nurse, she sees this experience as another bonus. “It can really change from day to day, sometimes even hour to hour I find. But I knew that going into it that it would be like that, I think. Because I was an aide before, I was ready for those ups and downs. I find it manageable.” Originally from Prince Rupert, B.C., she spent the first part of her adult life in her home province before life circumstances brought her to Winnipeg, Manitoba. She moved to Dauphin when she was accepted into Practical Nursing at Assiniboine’s Parkland Campus. While there were benefits to her return to post-secondary, there were also transitional challenges.
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“Your priority is first and foremost the welfare of that patient and maintaining what they want—trying to work with your patients to find and meet their goals.”
“Just being out of school for those number of years, the first few months were certainly an adjustment getting into the swing of things,” said Jessica.
“I also really enjoy the palliative care process and the process of helping people die and going through that with families and that individual.”
Along with her determination, she credits her instructors with helping her over that hump.
Jessica knew going into nursing that she had an interest in palliative care and says she had the opportunity to be involved in a few deaths during her practical clinical portion of the program.
“They were really encouraging and helpful, giving us study habits and guides and things that help with stress management,” she said. “I found that really helpful as well as the fact that we had smaller class sizes. We got that one-to-one if we needed it.”
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“I also really enjoy the palliative care process and the process of helping people die and going through that with families and that individual.” Jessica currently works at the Roblin Health Centre, after starting her nursing career in Personal Care Homes and Transitional Care in Birtle and Russell, Manitoba. “I like feeling like I’ve really done something when I go home for the day. Not every day necessarily, but you get to actually change a life and get to really help somebody and see that. It’s so tangible,” she said.
“It sounds so morbid and awful, but being able to give people a good death — that really always stands out for me,” she said. “Just being able to kind of help in that aspect and keep them as comfortable and peaceful as I can.” “It sounds weird to say, but there are good deaths and bad deaths.” Jessica also gives credit to her instructors for showcasing the sort of passion it takes to make an impact in the health care field. “They pulled on a lot of personal experience for us, which helped make what we were studying real. That was really helpful, just to have people that really cared about the profession and were also strong patient advocates.” And now, she sees the basis of these teachings translating into her own career. “A highlight for me now is advocating for people,” she said. “Your priority is first and foremost the welfare of that patient and maintaining what they want — trying to work with your patients to find and meet their goals.”
9 months after graduation
764
nursing graduates in the past 5 years.
100% $47k have jobs
average annual salary
e r u t l u Agric
OFFERS MANY PATHS
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hile exploring different areas of study, Assiniboine Community College students Rute Salemon and Jessica Truthwaite found common ground in horticulture. Salemon, who is studying Land & Water Management, and Truthwaite, a Culinary Arts student, both landed summer gigs as horticulture assistants at Assiniboine’s North Hill campus in Brandon.
districts, the connection between this summer’s work and her future career is fairly straightforward. The career options “vary so much,” she said, adding that there’s GPS work, assessments, aquatics. “It’s so broad, I haven’t even narrowed it down yet.”
Weeding, mowing, tending to irrigation systems, pruning and monitoring various research initiatives such as an onion rot effort, both students say that this summer job has added to their overall education and appreciation of the natural world. One of their more offbeat tasks is “weeding the weeds,” the task of keeping select weeds free of other weeds not being studied, and taking pictures to monitor weed growth as part of research projects. For Salemon, whose career aspirations are, as her program’s name implies, in “land and water management” either in agriculture or conservation
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
We’re actually growing a lot of the things we’re using in MICA, so that’s kind of nice.”
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While not as obvious, there are also connections between this summer’s employment and a future career for Truthwaite.
“We’re actually growing a lot of the things we’re using in MICA (Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts), so that’s kind of nice,” she said during a brief break from weeding alongside Salemon on a particularly hot summer day. “We have our own garden; MICA has their own section of garden, so we’re growing all our own squashes and pumpkins and cucumbers and what-not that we’re using in the fall. “It’s good to know where our food’s coming from, and it gives an appreciation of where your food comes from, so you appreciate more and there’s less waste, I think.” Truthwaite, who just finished her first year of studies, relocated to Brandon from the Interlake community of Fisher Branch to benefit from Assiniboine’s small class sizes, which offer a more hands-on learning environment. Upon graduation she plans on heading back north to find employment at a hunting and fishing camp. “I love being outdoors, so I’m kind of getting the best of both worlds,” she said. Salemon, who also just finished her first year of studies, said that she has learned so much in her time as a horticulture assistant so far that it’s difficult to rattle off a list of lessons.
RESEARCH IS Since 2018, Dr. Sajjad Rao, Sustainable Food Systems instructor and researcher at Assiniboine has been conducting research to determine sweet potato varieties and growing conditions that would suit our Manitoba climate.
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“We need crop diversification,” said Dr. Rao. “We are also importing a huge amount of food from the south. We need to produce locally to replace imports.” In addition, Manitoba has the processing capacity from existing potato processing industry that could use some of their capacity to process sweet potatoes.
It’s good to know where our food’s coming from, and it gives an appreciation of where your food comes from, so you appreciate more and there’s less waste, I think.” “I’ve learned the different stages of the weed and how they look, and IPM — integrative plant management, and irrigation systems — different leaf/plant diseases,” she said. “The best part of being in the field for me has been how I’ve been blown away by soil chemistry and the symbiotic nature of everything… The more I learn; it’s just nature is jaw-droppingly complicated and I love it.” The two students with very different professional aspirations were quick to bond over their shared interest in the natural world, with their time together flying by so far. “I haven’t stopped talking for five minutes since I started,” Truthwaite said.
Above: Jessica Truthwaite and Rute Salemonpose in the Sustainable Greenhouse at the North Hill campus Right (top-bottom): Educational Assistant, Ken Martens, shows sweet potato variety to student, Leanne Eleanor Plewes. Student, Kateri Hope Roulette harvests sweet potatoes
Collaborations with Vineland Research & Innovation Centre in Ontario have recently brought the Radiance variety to the commercial production stage. Now, Dr. Rao is working with local producers to experiment with the practical components at a grower’s level, which he says is a crucial piece of any research he conducts. Hespler Farms in Winkler has grown 10 acres this year as a pilot for commercial production, which were harvested for research in late September. Dr. Rao also had his students out harvesting the research plots at the North Hill campus that same week, activating the learn by doing aspect
of this applied research. With one group harvesting the potatoes, a second group of students worked on grading to gather data that would determine which of two growing conditions was ideal. “I’m really hoping to learn a lot about vegetable production,” said Madeline Kennedy, a student in Dr. Rao’s Horticulture Methods course. This is a lot of stuff we’ve never done before, but it is the best way to learn, with dirt under our fingernails. We’re not just looking at a book, we’re here actually being the producers of these vegetables.”
Sweet
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THREE NEW CREATIVE MEDIA PROGRAMS INTRODUCED Media and Communications, Digital Art and Design, and Web and Interactive Development begin in fall 2021.
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ssiniboine Community College has launched three new two-year diploma programs focusing on creative media and technologies within its School of Business.
The Media and Communications, Digital Art and Design, and Web and Interactive Development programs will all begin in fall 2021. These three new offerings will replace the college’s Interactive Media Arts (IMA) program.
“We’ve heard from industry and are excited to provide concentrated options for learners, based on updated labour market needs” said Jana Sproule, Chair of Media and Office Technology at Assiniboine. “Students can feel confident that these new programs will align with the skill sets industry is looking for.” Combined, these three new programs will welcome up to 120 new and returning students each year, an increase of more than 30 per cent from the
previous IMA programs’ capacities. Through the Media and Communications program, students will develop a working knowledge of various media, honing their communication skills and focusing on creative storytelling. This diploma will give graduates the opportunity to excel in a hands-on career in multiplatform journalism, television, radio or film.
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Digital Art and Design is for the visual storyteller with an interest in creating art that serves a purpose. In this program, students will learn
Students can feel confident that these new programs will align with the skill sets industry is looking for. the language of graphic design and gain an understanding of programming fundamentals and audio/video to build a foundation of skills and knowledge for today’s multimedia communication. In Web and Interactive Development, students will learn how to merge technologies to create memorable user experiences, customizing the delivery of digital content. While learning the fundamentals of programming and mobile app development, students will develop creative solutions to deliver results. 16
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There is a place for the creative mind at Assiniboine.
Through all three programs, students will work with local industry on real-world projects and develop a major Capstone project in their final year. “There is a place for the creative mind at Assiniboine, and we look forward to seeing students explore these more focussed opportunities to pursue training in the area that interests them,” said Bobbie Robertson, Dean, School of Business at Assiniboine. “Aligning with industry needs will enhance the opportunities for the eventual graduates of these programs.”
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ADVANCED DIPLOMA EXPANDS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMMING Assiniboine Community College has launched a new one-year Advanced Diploma in Public Safety. The immersive, full-time program is designed to prepare graduates for a range of careers in the public safety sector including municipal, regional and Indigenous police services, corrections and security. “This new post-graduate credential allows us to better meet the needs of students and employers, preparing graduates for a range of communityfocused careers in public safety organizations,” said Ian Grant, Special Advisor, Public Safety at Assiniboine. Grant spent 38 years working in public safety and retired as Chief of the Brandon Police Service in 2017. “The growth and expansion of our public safety programming is something we continue to put a great deal of our focus and energy behind.” The program centres around hands-on learning environments and scenario training that features a problem-based learning approach. As an advanced diploma program, students must have an existing degree or diploma from a college or university to enrol. “Critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, and emotional intelligence are all skills we focus on developing as graduates are entering into careers that serve communities,” said Jack Ewatski, Assiniboine’s Chair of Public Safety. Ewatski spent more than 35 years in policing and public safety, including serving as Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service from 1998 to 2007.
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“The college environment offers career-specific education and training, and so this program provides a terrific pathway for those with undergraduate degrees in disciplines such as criminology or sociology,” he added. The first cohort of students in the new Public Safety program will begin their studies in September 2021. The program offers two intakes a year in both September and January. The move to two intakes follows discussions with police services across Manitoba who signalled more frequent entry and exit points would better serve their needs. The program will be delivered at the college’s Victoria Avenue East campus in Brandon where its Public Safety Centre is located. Public Safety education and training at Assiniboine has expanded over the past several years. The college has delivered a Police Studies certificate program for more than a decade—the only of its kind in Manitoba. Since 2016, Assiniboine has delivered the province’s First Nations Safety Officer program. In less than five years, more than 220 students have completed the FNSO training.
CONTACT Email recruit@assiniboine.net for more information
Indigenous Awareness and Education Week
ASSINIBOINE OFFERING ONLINE CANNABIS INDUSTRY COURSE Business and career opportunities within Canada’s cannabis industry are expanding. In response to the growth of this sector and increasing labour needs, Assiniboine is partnering with Durham College to offer an online Cannabis Industry Specialization program. “Assiniboine works to prepare the labour force for new and developing labour needs and the cannabis industry is an excellent example of this,” said Diane Shamray, past Vice President, International. “With new consumer demand comes a demand for knowledgeable, trained workers and exciting career opportunities in this field.” The part-time online program has been designed in partnership with industry leaders to provide participants with crucial insights into the complexity of this developing field. Throughout the program, learners will become familiar with industry-specific operations and supply chain management as well as the ethical considerations of medical and recreational cannabis use.
Along with learning the fundamentals of cannabis business operations, students will gain valuable insights into the plant’s chemistry and the regulatory framework surrounding this industry. “This program will create a foundation of knowledge that can help pave the way to a career in the cannabis industry,” said Shamray. Career paths in the cannabis industry can include positions in quality management, marketing and risk management. The online format will include video sessions, coursework and quizzes. To receive a document of achievement, students will complete four courses and five microcourses (equivalent to one course).
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Assiniboine Community College hosted its second annual Indigenous Awareness and Education Week from September 28 to October 2. The virtual activities led by Elders consisted of a series of Zoom sessions touching on several themes around reconciliation and Indigenous culture. The week was about recognizing and celebrating Indigenous culture and perspectives and offering a time for reflection. In doing so, Assiniboine provided cultural awareness opportunities to educate staff, students, and the public on Indigenous history specific to Manitoba. This year’s program was fully accessible online and showcased Elders of different Nations sharing their experiences and knowledge with a larger audience than ever before. Each day of the week centred around an Indigenous Nation found in Manitoba and had a dedicated live Zoom session presented by an Elder of that Nation. During the zoom sessions, Indigenous Affairs staff and visiting elders shared insights into the unique culture and traditions of their respective Nations.
Orange Shirt Day On Wednesday, September 30 Assiniboine recognized Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters, which honours the over 150,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit children who were mandated to attend Indian residential schools from 1884-1996. On this day, Elder Gerry Oleman, from the St’at’imc Nation, shared his residential school experience and what it means to wear an orange shirt. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself. It brought together former students and their families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations along with the Cariboo Regional District, the Mayors and municipalities, School Districts and civic organizations in the Cariboo Region. The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of this project. As spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told her story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl.
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ALUMNI NEWS ATHLETICS UPDATE
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Our Assiniboine Cougars. which field both Women’s and Men’s teams across volleyball, soccer and futsal, and a Women’s Hockey team have, like most sporting teams and leagues in the world, been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our athletes are training hard and turning their attention to the 2021 season full of optimism and driven by the pursuit getting back out on the field, court or ice. The Manitoba College Athletic Conference (MCAC) decided in September to cancel the 2020 MCAC Soccer season due to varying Health Region response levels. Decisions regarding the MCAC Volleyball season and the return to play for other leagues our Cougars compete in are yet to be made. We’re forever grateful for your support of our Cougars Athletics, and we’re all looking forward to being able to get back out in action during 2021 with a strong and exciting squad representing our Cougars.
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JENNIFER JOUBERT (IMA, ‘17) recently started her business, 3A Interactive, specializing in design and web development, while working at Westoba Credit Union as a graphic designer. She was proud to respresent both #TeamWestoba and #ACCAlumni in the recent partnership that resulted in the college’s new learning space, the Westoba Innovation Lab. RANDY FRYKAS (MEDIA PRODUCTION, ‘00) has been busy producing documentaries. Check out Pavel Barber: The Stickhandling Specialist on YouTube. On Vimeo, see People Over Profit: A Small Business COVID-19 Story and The Urban Escapist. He has a couple more films in the works, so stay tuned! JANICE CYRENNE (SECRETARIAL CERTIFCATE, ‘88), the 1988 female athlete of the year, has been undertaking some exciting business ventures after several years in the administrative field. Her evolving offerings can be found at janicecyrenne.com and her most recent expansions include Virtual Office and Business Intelligence Process Consulting. MARK LAWN (AGRIBUSINESS, ‘18) is currently working for Shur-Gro Farm Services in Shoal Lake and hopes to take over the family farm. Recently he obtained his Class 3 drivers license and pesticide applicator’s license. SHASH PATEL (HOTEL & RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT, ‘15) was hired as the General manager for the Microtel Inn & Suites, a new hotel in Portage la Prairie. Being a part of the team that opened this new hotel, Shash says, helped him learn the work and planning that goes into opening a new hotel — a bucket list venture for him. Congratulations to SHERRI LUND (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ‘03) and her husband Mark on the arrival of their daughter, Maisie Jaymes on September 26. JON TEMPLE (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ‘08) and his wife Britney Toovey welcomed their first child, daughter Lily, on July 6. Congratulations, Jon and Britney! SHAUN WOODCOCK (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ‘09) and his wife Dana also welcomed their first child, son Jacob Elliott, on September 22. Shaun also had a recent career move, starting SW Financial Planning with FundEX Investments. ANDREW SMART (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ‘10) recently took on a new position as Vice President, Wealth & Advisory with New Outlook Wealth working with a team of fellow Assinboine alumni in SAMANTHA SMART (OFFICE ADMINISTRATION, ‘10) and REBECCA GREGOIRE (OFFICE ADMINISTRATION, ‘10).
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Wishing ALLISON COLLINS (MEDIA PRODUCTION, ‘02) well as she steps into her next chapter in Saskatoon, SK, leaving her role in Communications with the City of Brandon after nine years. Good luck on your next adventure, Allison!
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Congratulations to CAELIE AND TIM NICKEL on their July 4 nupitals. Caelie (nee Walker) is an OFFICE ADMINISTRATION ALUM (‘09) and Tim is an Assiniboine instructor and CONSTRUCTION ELECTRICIAN APPRENTICE (‘07).
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AT ASSINIBOINE
Jody Lyburn (nee Coxworth) Business Administration ‘96
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William Lyburn Business Administration ‘96
Get to know some Assiniboine alumni who met their life partner while studying at Assiniboine.
The Lyburns met on the first day of orientation for the Business Administration program in 1994. Later that week, they met again on a night out at Houston’s Country Roadhouse. Jody, coming from nearby Boissevain, MB and William from a much farther Stranraer, Scotland, the pair has since built a life complete with successful careers and two daughters.
Both raised in Manitoba, Trish (nee Smale) Fjelsted from Brandon, MB and Shaun Fjelsted from Arborg, MB were brought together by Assinboine, though they didn’t attend the college at the same time. Trish took the Hospitality Tourism Administration program and later, Shaun completed his Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (’01) and Level 4 Agricultural Equipment Technician Apprenticeship (’04). In Shaun’s class was Trish’s roommate, who introduced them.
Jody has worked with Manitoba Hydro for the duration of their relationship and William, currently self-employed, has worked in sales and marketing roles since graduation.
The two have built not only a marriage since then, but purchased their business together in 2008 and are still the owner/operators of the BloomBox in Brandon, providing floral arrangements and services.
The Lyburns have an active role in their daughters’ athletic extra-curriculars with William coaching their curling teams and Jody managing alongside her volunteer role on the Manitoba Junior Curling Tour Executive Board.
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Shaun Fjelsted Agricultural Equipment Technician
Trish Fjelsted (nee Smale) Hospitality Tourism Administration
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FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER:
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r e e r a C e s r a Dive
erri Schell graduated in 2008 from Assiniboine Community College's Practical Nursing program armed with the skills and knowledge to begin her career in the health care industry.
Licenced Practical Nursing (LPN) Program. This allowed her to facilitate acute practicums on surgery, maternity and paediatrics while educating students for the CHCA and LPN programs at long term facilities in Brandon.
When Terri enrolled in Assiniboine's Practical Nursing program in 2007, she knew it was going to be a challenge, especially with an eight-month-old son. However, her desire to create a better life for her family made becoming a nurse an easy decision.
Having experienced so many different areas of the health care field, Schell now enjoys working across maternity, NICU or pediatrics and occasionally Outpatient care unit (OCU) at Brandon Hospital.
Schell was no stranger to the health care industry, having worked in a pharmacy during her teenage years and then as an non certified health care aide during her studies. Schell's experience during her time at college sculpted her career in a way she didn't expect. "I enjoyed Assiniboine; the instructors were awesome. The teaching was straightforward, way more hands-on and the courses applied to actual nursing," said Terri Schell. In fact, Schell had had such a positive experience that she now juggles teaching various Assiniboine Distance courses while working full-time as a nurse. "I work Monday to Friday as a nurse and then teach three courses in the distance Comprehensive Health Care Aide (CHCA) program, mostly in the evenings and weekends." Schell began her nursing career at Minnedosa Hospital, 40 minutes north of Brandon. "The Minnedosa Hospital has an ER, and variance of patient acuity. I was able to see the different sides of nursing. I had done my senior practicum on surgery, so I applied for a term that brought me back to Brandon Hospital." Schell continued to apply her keen enthusiasm for learning and increasing her nursing skills at the Brandon Hospital, where she has worked the last 11 years. "I worked in surgery for two years. After that I was on Single Room Maternity (Labour & Delivery) for 6 years. I worked casually in NICU and Pediatrics as well" commented Schell. While cementing her knowledge in maternity, Schell became a Clinical Instructor for Assiniboine's 22
The diverse and intense nature of nursing has been a critical aspect which keeps Schell engaged and enjoying her role as a nurse. "I was able to use my full scope of practice in the hospital and learn more skills and experience across different nursing pathways."
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Nursing, however, is not for the faint-hearted and Schell manages the demanding role with a careful balance.
"I was able to use my full scope of practice in the hospital and learn more skills and experience across different nursing pathways." "I enjoy helping people, and the job is busy, but it can be rewarding and enjoyable, especially if with good colleagues,” said Terri. “Maternity was three different areas, triage area, labour and delivery as well as postpartum and each day you had a different role." Twelve years after graduating from Assiniboine, Schell still works alongside fellow graduates and now teaches beside instructors who taught her, passing on her passion for nursing to the next generation of nurses.
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I work Monday to Friday as a nurse and then teach three courses in the distance Comprehensive Health Care Aide (CHCA) program, mostly in the evenings and weekends.�
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FARM CREDIT CANADA HELPS TAKE AGRICULTURE
Assiniboine Community College will soon be able to offer an enhanced fibre-optic training and education experience inside the classroom, thanks to a $15,000 donation from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). “As the agriculture industry evolves toward an increased focus on technology and precision agriculture, so comes an increased demand for digital agriculture knowledge and training,” says Chris Budiwski, Chair of Agriculture & Environment at Assiniboine Community College. The new technology infrastructure will be used primarily by students in the college’s Communications Engineering Technology (CET) program. Graduates of the CET program are increasingly benefitting from hands-on technical training and exposure to agriculture and agricultural systems during their time at college.
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As the industry moves toward more digital ag, precision ag, machine learning and artificial intelligence, the need for designers and technicians of this digital infrastructure comes with this technological shift.”
“FCC is very interested in supporting digital ag, because we feel it benefits Canadian producers and agriculture as a whole,” said Diana Laturnus, Manager, Special Projects at FCC. “I think there’s a lot of technologies out there and it’s making sense of how they operate and their return on investment and I think it’s important for producers to get that kind of information.” Digital agriculture systems provide more reliable and faster data transmission, which is crucial to providing precise digital information and solutions on agriculture inputs and variables, like weeds, spraying, sunlight and feed. Much of this digital agriculture in action relies on fibre optic technology. “With the move of many industries, including ag, to focusing more and more on data, the need for faster and more robust data transmission is reliant on systems like fibre optics,” said Budiwski. Fibre optics provide the infrastructure connecting wireless communication systems being used in the fields for voice, data and sensor technology and can provide networks with increased broadband connectivity in rural areas and farm sites.
This donation from FCC brings digital agriculture training to a new and necessary hands-on level, where theory learning had previously been the only route. “With a combination of conceptual and applied learning, I think you set students up for success as we move forward and technologies continue to evolve and change,” said Wilco Van Meijl, Brandon District Director with FCC. “This is what our producers, customers and the industry are going to have to have a grasp on as we move forward in order to stay competitive.” “CET is essentially a program based on wireless communication and this transfers to agriculture applications very well,” said Budiwski. “As the industry moves toward more digital ag, precision ag, machine learning and artificial intelligence, the need for designers and technicians of this digital infrastructure comes with this technological shift.” This generous donation from FCC will allow Assiniboine to keep ahead of this digital shift and the labour needs that accompany it. “There is a lot riding on the adoption of digital ag technology. We need to be quick to identify existing technology gaps and be agile in innovating and anticipating the new agritech that will drive success in the Canadian ag and food sectors.” said Laturnus. Van Meijl agreed. “As we all know, technology is always changing, so we commend Assiniboine for being on the front line of that,” he said. “It’s an easy partnership for us to get involved in. We can see not only graduates of Assiniboine benefiting from this, we see our customers and Canadian ag as a whole benefiting.” Budiwski sees FCC’s contribution as a great taste of the potential that could help grow the possibilities surrounding digital agriculture. “This equipment will provide more hands on and experiential learning opportunities to apply the theory to real-time, real-life scenarios,” he said. “These are the real-world applications that will showcase practical rural and agricultural applications in Manitoba.”
LOCAL VEGETABLE GREENHOUSE PARTNERSHIP Assiniboine to collaborate with Vermillion Growers to enhance research opportunities and infrastructure. The college has initiated a partnership with Vermillion Growers, Manitoba’s first large-scale greenhouse. This state-of-the art Dutch-style vegetable greenhouse is currently under construction in Dauphin, Manitoba. The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for the college and the greenhouse to work together, collaborating on research and sharing resources and expertise. “Our plan is to work together to help Vermillion Growers develop and utilize sustainable greenhouse crop production technologies,” said Tim Hore, Dean of Agriculture & Environment at Assiniboine.
for Vermillion Growers, sharing her experience and ongoing research in a variety of areas to determine how certain inputs and variables can improve plant health and maximize yield. “Local research is important because of environmental differences,” said Dr. Singh. “If we can help Vermillion Growers in their quest to produce local and sustainable produce, which is also a goal of ours, while advancing Dr. Singh’s research, that is a partnership worth pursuing,” said Hore. The partnership will also involve students from the Horticulture Production and Sustainable Food Systems programs in the research.
Dr. Poonam Singh, instructor and researcher at Assiniboine will sit on the Advisory Board
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HOW WILL YOUR SUPPORT PAY IT FORWARD TO FUTURE ALUMNI?
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ssiniboine’s alumni community has raised close to $60,000 over the past three years through the Funding Futures campaign. The annual giving campaign encourages the alumni community to contribute to the success and future of current students who will soon join that very alumni community. All donations go directly to financial awards for students. In 2020, Assiniboine dispersed over $439,000 in financial awards to 338 students, including Drew Curtis and Hayden Remillard. Both Drew and Hayden say they have these financial awards to thank for helping them have a well-rounded college experience.
FUNDING
FUTURES READ MORE Visit assiniboine.net/news for the latest news.
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HELP WRITE THE NEXT GENERATION’S SUCCESS STORY
3,538
ASSINIBOINE FULL-TIME STUDENTS
A TAX RECEIPT
YOUR GIFT IS MAGNIFIED!
1,446
IN 2020, THE MANITOBA SCHOLARSHIP AND BURSARY INITIATIVE WILL MATCH EVERY DOLLAR DISPERSED TO STUDENTS.
up money for “ Itthefrees next term and
YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE
having to deal with life. It made the transition from working to student life much easier
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FOR A DONATION OF $20 OR MORE.
ASSINIBOINE INDIGENOUS STUDENT COMMUNITY
Michael Thompson, McDonald’s bursary recipient
AN ASSINIBOINE ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OFFERED
IN EVERY MANITOBA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.
lets you do other “ Itcollege stuff and live the full college experience
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Hayley Matiowsky, Lillian May Knox Award recipient
“You can kind of just relax and not stress so much about the financial part of school,” said Drew, who received a financial award in athletics and another dedicated to a Culinary Arts student. She is currently in her second year of the Culinary Arts program. “Every small bit counts. It all adds up,” she said. “A lot of us don’t have much going into college.” Hayden, a first-year student in the Interactive Media Arts program, with dreams of a career in radio, agreed. “It put my mind at ease. It took a little bit of the stress off,” he said. “It really helps students be able to come to Assiniboine, get a better education and hopefully have a successful life.” Cory Leefe, an Assiniboine alum who now works at the college gives to the campaign throughout each year through a payroll donation. “Every little bit helps when you’re a student. You don’t have to donate a lot. You can donate
SPREAD YOUR DONATION OUT THROUGH MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
as little as a couple dollars a paycheque. You will never notice it and if a lot of people do it, it really adds up and helps the students out.” The idea that no amount is too small is one that Lisa Huston, Alumni Relations Coordinator at Assiniboine wants alumni to focus on when they consider giving. “In addition to being a fundraising campaign, I want Funding Futures to build a sense of community,” she said. “I want alumni to believe in the fact that they belong to something bigger. This is a community of people who have had similar experiences and can celebrate their successes while giving back whatever they can to help the next generation of alumni see the success they have hopefully seen.”
DONATE assiniboine.net/fundingfutures email alumni@assiniboine.net or phone 204.725.8739.
“Truly, no amount is too small. The more people we have donating – be that $10, $20 or $100—the more successful this community campaign is. Opposite page (top): Alumni Jessica and Martin Raupers and family Right (top to bottom): Drew Curtis, Hayden Remillard 27
e n i l n OINFORMATION SESSIONS
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Session topics include: Get to Know Assiniboine | Parkland Campus Financial Aid & Awards | Indigenous Students | ...and more!
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