encore - Spring 2014 by Niagara College

Head of the class Niagara Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Educator of the Year

Capital Vision College unveils plans for $78-million expansion

Industry innovation New centre powers up Niagara manufacturers

Life-changing journey Me to We takes NC students to Nicaragua

encore APPLIED DREAMS.

THE MAGAZINE OF NIAGARA COLLEGE CANADA | NiagaraCollege.ca | SPRING 2014

Recipe for success NC takes on the world as Junior Culinary Team Canada

Teaching is our Passion. NC RESTAURANT

BENCHMARK

Learning is their Passion. Indulge

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING

WINERY

your Passion.

The Learning Enterprises at Niagara College’s beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake campus offer visitors a unique experience where food, wine and beer combine to treat your senses, a spa treatment will relax you and the aroma from the greenhouse will send you home smiling.

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING

BREWERY

We invite you to experience Niagara College in a way you never thought possible - an oasis of hospitality and indulgence.

As we tell our students...

NIAGARA COLLEGE

SPA

You’re going to like it here!

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING

GREENHOUSE

NiagaraCollege.ca

8 Encore is published once annually by Niagara College Canada.

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President’s welcome

Mailing address: Niagara College Canada 300 Woodlawn Road Welland, Ontario, Canada L3C 7L3

At a glance

NC Guestbook

Capital Vision 2016

Boosting Niagara’s manufacturing industry

Director Marketing and Communications Dorita Pentesco

NC among top research colleges

New STARS rating in sustainability

Second Carbonzero building status for NC

Student projects, community outreach

Director Development Foundation and Alumni Relations Lyn Russo

Editors Julie Greco, Michael Wales Contributing writers Julie Greco, Michael Wales, Carolyn Mullin

myStory

My Connection writers Lyn Russo, Helen Armstrong, Joanne Cousineau

Photography Luke Gillett, Julie Jocsak, Julie Greco, Michael Wales, Sandra Ozkur Graphic design Mark Hughes Comments are welcome. Contact encore@niagaracollege.ca

Faculty profile: Shelley Merlo

Junior Culinary Olympic team

Faculty profile: Christopher Bessette

Grads put skills to the test in Sochi

Grad profile: Flavia Orvitz

Faculty profile: Theresa Anzovino

Grad profile: John Vatcher

Students journey from ‘Me’ to ‘We’

myConnection

25 28

NC makes the grade

Celebrating athletic achievements

CFWI Research savours $100,000 donation

Mentoring brings students and grads together

Peter Kormos leaves legacy

Supporting student learning

Thank you to our supporters

Alumni benefits and services available

ON THE COVER Members of Junior Culinary Team Canada. Front (from left) Rebekka Schmitt, Trevor Littlejohn, Megan Proper, Daniella Germond. Middle: Katrina Young, Scott McInerney, Jeremy Gilligan, Wes Lund. Back: David Ross, Ben Lillico, Iain Dawson

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 3 academics

Welcome to the 2014 issue of encore. THIS YEAR’S MAGAZINE COMES TO YOU AMID EXCITING TIMES AT NIAGARA COLLEGE. As another successful academic year draws to a close, we’re looking forward to a new era of growth capped by a multi-million dollar expansion of our Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses – a major project aimed at supporting growth in our enrollment and our research and innovation activities, and enhancing the experience and success of our students. You can read more about this exciting project, which gets underway this fall, on page 8 of this magazine. Without a doubt, the most significant achievement for Niagara College over the past year is the victory of a team of students and graduates from our Canadian Food and Wine Institute, who have won the right to represent our country on the world stage as Junior Culinary Team Canada (see page 16). This team of emerging chefs will compete internationally for three years, culminating at the World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany in 2016. This outstanding opportunity comes after months of hard work and dedication – both on the part of team members, and the Niagara College faculty and staff who have guided them to victory. It truly reflects Niagara College’s growing status as a national centre of excellence for food, wine and beer education. As our reputation grows, more and more people are taking an interest in the work we’re doing. We’ve added a new Guestbook feature to this issue to highlight some of the high-profile visits we’ve had over the past year, from Canada’s premiers, to inspiring individuals like Craig Kielburger and Vicki Keith, legal legend Eddie Greenspan, top Canadian chefs like Michael Smith and Vikram Vij, and many more. Our greatest storytellers, however, are our dedicated faculty and accomplished graduates, and we’re pleased to bring you their inspiring stories in this issue. Theresa Anzovino (page 22), Shelley Merlo (page 14) and Christopher Bessette (page 19) are shining examples of faculty who have brought experience and significant accomplishments from the real world into the classroom. Accomplished alumni such as John Vatcher (page 24), Flavia Ortiz (page 21), as well as the successes of recent graduates like Austin Munday and Ryan LeBlanc (page 20) continue to demonstrate the positive impact that Niagara College graduates are having in their fields and in their communities. I hope you enjoy this issue and, as always, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to share your comments, feedback, questions or story ideas at encore@niagaracollege.ca.

Dan Patterson, Ph.D. President, Niagara College Canada

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At A Glance They put the NC in excellence

The tradition of celebrating excellence remained strong at NC, as three members of the college community were applauded as the College’s Awards of Excellence winners for 2013. Pictured above from left: Adel Esayed, associate dean of the School of Technology, was recognized with the Administrative Award of Excellence; Dan Patterson, President Niagara College; Theresa Anzovino, professor of Academic and Liberal Studies, who won the Faculty Award of Excellence; and Bart Lanni, technologist from Facilities Management Services, who brought home the Support Staff Award of Excellence. Congratulations to all 2013 winners!

Retirees support students with special needs The Niagara College Retirees’ Association presented a donation to Niagara College that allowed for the purchase of specialized learning equipment for students with visual impairments. The equipment includes a ZoomText ImageReadera software and camera solution that makes printed text accessible to people who are visually impaired. Pictured: Lorraine Gelinas (secretary, NC Retirees’ Association) and John Clark (president, NC Retirees’ Association) try out the new equipment which will help students with visual impairments. Standing behind Gelinas and Clark are Rick Anderson (director, Student Services) and James McEwan (assistive technologist).

From NC to D.C. In March, five Niagara College students found out first-hand what it takes to pull off an event in Washington D.C. for about 15,000, with swarms of U.S. Secret Service and top government officials like U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Senator John McCain, and the Prime Minster of Israel on the VIP list. Working as interns at the 2014 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference, held in Washington, D.C. the NC students were the only Canadians to be selected as interns for the entire conference. Pictured: Professor Janet Jakobsen (middle) stands with her BABH students (from left) Alex Burrows, Deanna DeBackere, Deanna Ward and Sabrina Butt shortly after their return from the conference. Absent: Event Management (post graduate) student Brianna Wheeler.

NC Teaching Brewery makes it a double Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery is now bigger and better than ever. Spring 2014 marked the completion of the Teaching Brewery’s 2,200-square-foot expansion. The project more than doubled the size of the academic space used by the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program. It has also become the new home of the NC Teaching Brewery Retail Store, which moved from its former premises at the NC Greenhouse. The expansion came just three years after Niagara College made history by opening the first teaching brewery in Canada.

BUY YOUR NC WINE ONLINE

NC WELCOMES DISNEY INSTITUTE

The Niagara College Teaching Winery is now offering its award-winning wines online. A wide selection of the NC Teaching Winery’s award-winning wines - including its 2010 Dean’s List Chardonnay (gold medal winner at InterVin and the Canadian Wine Awards) and 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay (gold medal at All-Canadian Wine Championships) - are now available to consumers in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba. To order, visit NiagaraCollegeWine.ca.

The Disney Institute brought its renowned programs to Niagara in March 2014. NC’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Administration sponsored Disney Institute in Niagara hosting a variety of educational sessions. From March 26 to 27, Disney Institute brought its Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence and Disney’s Approach to Quality Service programs to a two-day event at the Royal Cambridge at the Prince of Wales Hotel. A special 90-minute session was also presented to Niagara College at the Niagara-onthe-Lake Campus on March 28.

APPLIED LEARNING ON WHEELS Food trucks have become one of the hottest trends on the culinary scene, and Niagara College is ensuring its students are ahead of the curve by rolling out its own food truck. Called Bench on the Go, the food truck is not only bringing the skills of the college’s culinary students to the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake Campuses, but into the community with a presence at various events and festivals. Operated by the College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, its driving force is to enhance academics for the Canadian Food and Wine Institute’s culinary programs as a vehicle for applied learning, similar to its on-campus learning enterprises including the NC Teaching Winery and NC Teaching Brewery, Benchmark restaurant, the NC Greenhouse, and Niagara Waters Spa.

New NCSAC president elected

NC students have a new leader. Shane Malcolm was elected president of the Niagara College Student Administrative Council on March 27, 2014. Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Malcolm moved to Canada in 2009 to pursue a new path in the culinary arts at Niagara College. In 2011, he graduated with honours from the Culinary Management (Co-op) program and began pursuing his bachelor’s in Hospitality Operations Management, which he will complete in 2014. Malcolm said he was excited about his new role and the opportunity to continue to help define student life at NC. Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 5

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NC Guestbook A glance at the roster of VIP guests that have visited our campuses over the past year Chef Signature Series

Edward Greenspan A Niagara native and one of Canada’s most

Chef Ray Taylor from the

accomplished and

Niagara Fallsview Casino

storied criminal lawyers,

is pictured with Canadian

returned home to speak

Food and Wine Institute chef Dan Leblanc. Taylor was a special guest chef at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute’s Chef Signature Series event February 8. The evening dinner event celebrated some of the Niagara region’s finest chefs.

to a packed house at Niagara College in October. Addressing an audience of justice studies students, NC staff and the community, Edward Greenspan touched on his Niagara roots before explaining the role of the criminal lawyer in

On March 8, the Canadian Food and Wine Institute shined the

Canada’s justice system. The man who has represented such high-

spotlight on Toronto’s rising star chefs from one of the city’s hottest

profile defendants as Gerald Regan, Conrad Black, Robert Latimer and

dining establishments. Chefs included John Horne, executive chef

others, said that criminal lawyers have a duty to both clients and to

at Canoe; Alex White, chef de cuisine from Richmond Station, Jon

society, and are instrumental in “moulding the rights of the individual

Williams (chef de partie, saucier); Top Chef Canada Season Two

for generations to come.”

contestant Trista Sheen (executive chef) of Crush Wine Bar, and Royce Li, owner and chocolatier of Shoko. For two of the chefs on the roster,

Craig Kielburger

the event marked a return to their alma mater, as John Horne and Jon Williams are graduates of the College’s Culinary Management program. Norm Aiken, chef from Ottawa’s Juniper restaurant, was one of four

Aspiring community

talented chefs from our nation’s capital that united at NC for the

leaders heard from a

March 29 Chef Signature Series dinner. The event also brought Steve

model of leadership in

Mitton, chef and owner of Murray Street Kitchen; Patrick Garland,

March, as world-famous

chef, Absinthe Café; and John Taylor, chef, Domus Café; to the

humanitarian, social

Canadian Food and Wine Institute.

entrepreneur and author

Craft Beer & BBQ Festival

Craig Kielburger spoke to students and others as part of an appearance presented by NC’s Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership. Kielburger used his own story to demonstrate the importance of

Andy Annat, Ted Reader, Dr. BBQ

young people making a difference in the world. Kielburger first gained

Some of the world’s best

social enterprise that sells socially-conscious products and services in

barbecue chefs heated up

support of Free the Children. As part of his presentation, Kielburger

international attention as a 12 year old working to shed light on child labour. He is the founder of Free the Children – an organization that has implemented projects that help children in developing countries – and he co-founded Me to We with his brother, Marc. Me to We is a

the scene for the College’s first-ever Craft Beer and BBQ Festival on

acknowledged a group of Niagara College students who travelled

April 12. The star lineup of grillmasters included NC chef professor

to Nicaragua as part of a Me to We project. Following his address,

and ‘godfather of the grill’ Ted Reader, (left) and visiting barbecue

Kielburger met with students from NC’s Leadership Exploration and

chefs Dr. BBQ Ray Lampe (right), Eric Martinez, Timothy Grandinetti,

Development (LEAD) program.

‘Diva Q’ Danielle Bennett Dimovski, Andy Annat and Sue Torres. The sold-out day of beer and barbecue was followed by a Chef Signature Series dinner event for ticketholders. 6 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

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Vikram Vij

Scott Stratten

Celebrity chef Vikram Vij, known for reinventing

After viewing tweets

Indian cuisine, visited

from students in NC’s

the Canadian Food and

Principles of Marketing

Wine Institute on Oct.

class, business author

15 and 16, 2013. On

and social media guru

the first evening, he dazzled guests at a dinner event featuring his own specially-created menu at Benchmark Restaurant. On Oct. 16, staff and students alike were treated to a special presentation from Vij in the culinary theatre, followed by an opportunity to learn from him in the kitchen.

Michael Smith

Scott Stratten made them an offer they couldn’t refuse: tweet another photo flashing the rock and roll gesture and he would buy them doughnuts and visit their classroom. On Dec. 12, 2013, Stratten made good on his promise with a special visit to the class at NC’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus – with the promised doughnuts in tow. Stratten spoke to NC’s first-year Business students about technology and social media, responded to their questions, and signed copies of his latest book which he had sent to the students prior to his arrival – QR Codes Kill Kittens.

Celebrity chef Michael Smith hosted the CFWI’s

Bryan Baeumler

popular Caps, Corks and Forks event on Nov. 21, 2013. The event pitted

Construction Studies

students from NC’s

students had a special

Teaching Winery against their counterparts from the NC Teaching

visit by HGTV host Bryan

Brewery as each battled for supremacy in the world of food, wine and

Baeumler on Nov. 21,

beer pairing. Smith gave the event a rave review. “Niagara College continues to impress the hell out of me. This school’s knocking it out of the park on a regular basis,” he said. In a later media interview, he told The St. Catharines Standard: “I do believe Niagara College is now the best cooking school in the country.”

hosts hit shows Disaster DIY, House of Bryan and the more recently launched Leave it to Bryan, visited the class following a tour of the Welland Campus. He delivered a presentation to students, offering them career advice. Baeumler was accompanied by his wife Sarah.

Premier’s Visit

Photo: Queens Printer for Ontario

2013. Baeumler, who

The couple also attended the Caps, Corks and Forks event that same evening at Benchmark Restaurant.

On July 25, Canada’s

Vicki Keith

premiers, along with

She’s known as the first

representatives from

marathon swimmer to

government, business

swim across all five

and the media, visited

Great Lakes and the only

the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus for the Council of the Federation’s

person to complete the

opening reception. Guests got a taste of the College’s unique approach

104-km double crossing

to food, wine and beer education at NC’s Canadian Food and Wine

of Lake Ontario, as well as for her dedication as a swimming coach to

Institute. In addition to Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, who spoke

athletes with disabilities. On March 21, 2014, Canadian sports legend

at the event, premiers in attendance included David Alward (New

Vicki Keith brought messages of inspiration and perseverance to the

Brunswick), Darrell Dexter (Nova Scotia), Bob McLeod (Northwest

Welland Campus. The event was organized by the College’s School

Territories), Eva Aariak (Nunavut), Robert Ghiz (Prince Edward Island),

of Community Services, and Recreation and Leisure Services and

Pauline Marois (Quebec), Brad Wall (Saskatchewan), Alison Redford

Recreation Therapy programs, and took place in the Applied Health

(Alberta), Christy Clark (British Columbia), Greg Selinger (Manitoba),

Institute Auditorium.

and Darrell Pasloski (Yukon). Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 7

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Capital Vision 2016

Building an unparalleled student experience NIAGARA COLLEGE’S MAIN CAMPUSES – TRANSFORMED IN 2011 THROUGH A $90-MILLION CAPITAL EXPANSION – ARE SET TO GROW AGAIN. This spring NC unveiled plans for a multi-million dollar capital expansion project aimed at accommodating steady growth in enrolment and the expansion of the college’s research and innovation activities, while supporting an unparalleled student experience through new and improved facilities at the Welland and Niagara-on-theLake campuses. “We’re building on our position as a leader in student satisfaction and success, while supporting economic development in Niagara through highly skilled graduates and research and innovation support for local industry,” said NC president Dan Patterson. “Capital Vision 2016 will help us continue to play this important role. For our students, our staff and our community, it’s about realizing our goals and achieving dreams.”

8 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

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Capital Vision 2016 will help us continue to play this important role. For our students, our staff and our community, it’s about realizing our goals and achieving dreams.

It’s a true testament to what the college has set out to do: define the Niagara College experience as something that is unique and unparalleled. -Shane Malcolm, Niagara College SAC President

-Dan Patterson, Niagara College President

AN UNPARALLELED STUDENT EXPERIENCE A key element of Capital Vision is new buildings and expansions that

a student commons area and a new hub for student services. Together

create new commons spaces, expand the College’s capacity for athletic,

with a similar project at the Welland Campus, which will see the former

recreation and wellness programs and activities at both main campuses,

cafeteria space converted to a student services area, this will support

and support a move to an integrated model of student services.

NC’s move toward an integrated model of student services.

A new athletic facility will be constructed at the Niagara-on-the-Lake

A new student commons will be constructed in Welland, and will

Campus, while the Welland Campus Athletic Centre will see an expansion

include both renovations and additions to existing space in the current

of the existing recreation facility and fitness area. These additions

cafeteria foyer – which will be extended to the Simcoe Building. The

support the fitness components of academic programs and ensure

student commons will include flexible space, a student gathering area

that students at both main campuses have equal access to athletic

and a food court.

and recreation opportunities, and allow for additional recreational and intramural opportunities – from fitness classes and recreation programs to new intramural sports.

The scope of the project has been developed in consultation with students, who have been extensively involved in the design phase. “Students are very enthusiastic about this project,” said Shane

“These are significant investments and they indicate a clear

Malcolm, Niagara College Student Administrative Council (SAC)

recognition of the importance of athletics and recreation in the student

president. “It’s a true testament to what the college has set out to do:

experience,” said Matthew Davies, director of athletics and recreation.

define the Niagara College experience as something that is unique and

The existing gymnasium at Niagara-on-the-Lake will be converted to

unparalleled.”

SUPPORTING ACADEMICS, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Capital Vision 2016 is also designed to accommodate Niagara College’s

A significant expansion of culinary facilities at the Niagara-on-the-Lake

growing enrolment, expand capacity in key program areas, and support

Campus will help to meet the growing demand for programs in Niagara

Niagara College’s emergence as a leader in applied research.

College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, with the addition of new

First announced in November 2013, the Industry Innovation Centre at Niagara College is an 18,000 square-foot addition to the Rankin Technology

specialized labs. New academic spaces will also be constructed at the Welland Campus to accommodate growing enrolment.

Centre that will provide labs, offices and business and innovation space

The Niagara-on-the-Lake campus grounds will also get a facelift, with

where faculty and student applied research teams will work with small-

plans in place to realign roadways and re-pave parking lots, and options for

and-medium sized manufacturers on research and development projects.

residence expansion at the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus will also be explored.

PROJECT TIMELINE The design phase of Capital Vision 2016 is underway. Completion of the Industry Innovation Centre at Niagara College is scheduled for fall, 2015 and the remaining projects are scheduled for completion in 2016. Regular updates on Capital Vision 2016 will be provided as the project develops. Watch NiagaraCollege.ca for the latest information on this exciting initiative. The project will be funded through College savings, grants and partnerships, and a capital campaign, which will be launched this fall.

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 9

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Meeting the innovation needs of

Niagara’s manufacturing industry For the past 35 years, GGS Structures Inc. has been a world-class

development, technology adoption, expansion into new markets and

designer, manufacturer, and installer of greenhouse structures,

commercialization.

specializing in commercial greenhouse design, industrial greenhouse manufacturing and commercial greenhouse construction. But while the Vineland-based company has the reputation and the reward of success for its many clients served, GGS needed to look inwardly at ways to improve the efficiency of its own manufacturing process. Kwik Mix manufactures high-quality premixed concrete products and related items, serving independent lumber dealers and specialty masonry yards. Originally locating its production facility on the site of a quarry next to a cliff, Kwik Mix has been able to use natural energy from gravity to move the aggregate. However, the Port Colborne-based company recently decided to relocate production to its warehouse site, to upgrade and expand its capabilities in a very competitive market. PaperNuts are an environmentally responsible and consumer-friendly material used to fill the empty space inside shipping boxes. Unlike traditional polystyrene and corn-based products, which can shift during shipping, PaperNuts expand slightly, offering a protective matrix around the item. But PaperNuts’ greatest asset of staying in place during shipping actually provides a challenge when it comes to dispensing the product. Traditional materials can be dispensed from gravity-fed hoppers, but that doesn’t work with PaperNuts. THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES. THREE DIFFERENT NEEDS. But thanks to Niagara College, they are now all equipped with one big advantage. They all found appropriate solutions to their challenges by working with the College’s Research and Innovation division, Niagara Research, which operates the Industry Innovation Centre at Niagara College.

Niagara Research works with SMEs to meet their innovation goals, to help keep them competitive. Current students and recent graduates are hired to work alongside expert faculty to help industry partners leap forward in the marketplace. With recent contributions from the provincial and federal governments, the Industry Innovation Centre will be able to help many more of the region’s small- and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the months and years to come. In April, the federal government announced $1.75 million over five years for the Industry Innovation Centre, in the form of a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). “This is exciting news for us, as it allows us to formalize the work begun a year ago,” noted Marc Nantel, NC’s associate vice-president of Research and Innovation. “With this funding, we will be able to ramp up our activity and better serve the manufacturing industry, with increased equipment and services, as well as by hiring a centre manager, a fulltime researcher and a dedicated technologist.” “The Niagara region has more than 800 small–and medium-sized manufacturers who are working hard to be competitive, yet in many cases they do not have in-house research and innovation capacity,” added Dan Patterson, president, Niagara College. “That’s where our research division comes in. Our faculty and students work with local manufacturers to improve their products and efficiency. These projects then contribute to job creation and the overall revival of the manufacturing sector in the region.” The Industry Innovation Centre also provides support services and mentorship to hundreds of companies as a result of training and networking opportunities. The Centre was launched in May 2013 thanks to funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s

Located at the Welland Campus, the Industry Innovation

Prosperity Initiative fund, and has received support from the Province

Centre provides small- and medium-sized regional manufacturers

of Ontario, and from key regional partners such as Niagara Economic

access to facilities, equipment, technical expertise – including

Development and the Niagara Industrial Association.

3D printing and 3D scanning of objects as small as a dime and as large as a whole factory – and services to assist them in product 10 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

These regional partners realized the need in Niagara. Manufacturing is the largest sector contributing to the Niagara region’s gross domestic

myCollege

Kerry Dryer (left) technology manager at GGS Structures Inc., and Mike Holderney, senior research associate with the Industry Innovation Centre at Niagara College, discuss lean manufacturing principles aimed at maximizing production efficiency, at the GGS facility in Vineland.

product (GDP), in excess of $2.14 billion in 2012. Statistics also show

computer-aided design (CAD) drawings to plan a new production facility

that 16 percent of the region’s GDP is derived through the output of

in an existing building.

manufacturers, and approximately one out of nine Niagara workers makes his/her living in the manufacturing sector. The provincial government has come on board as a partner, by

The research team used the FARO Focus to scan the inside and outside of the existing building, including the placement of equipment. The Focus takes pictures with lasers, creating 3D images, but by using

providing funding for a new building for the Industry Innovation Centre.

CAD software. The research team was then able to transform those

In November 2013, the Ontario government announced support for

3D pictures into graphics. The factory components – silos, robotics,

an 18,000-square-foot addition to the Rankin Technology Centre at

conveyers and palletizers, for example – are then moved around within

the Welland Campus. The additional space will allow more room for

the graphic to match the needs of the company, according to building

specialized equipment, labs, and meeting areas, as well as spaces for

and safety codes, accessibility needs, etc., before a single dime is spent

industry partners as NC faculty and students meet with partners to solve

on construction.

their challenges. WHAT DID NIAGARA RESEARCH DO FOR GGS? After conducting research on GGS’s manufacturing process and using lean manufacturing principles, the team identified opportunities to streamline specific activities. They designed and implemented a fixture to clamp and remove aluminum parts in process, which

“It’s nice to be able to talk to people who speak using the same vocabulary, in terms of the engineering aspects,” said Jim Roy, plant manager, who added, “especially since there isn’t anyone else on our staff who is able to do that.” WHAT DID NIAGARA RESEARCH DO FOR PAPERNUTS? To create an efficient dispensing system – a free-standing unit that

has reduced manufacturing time by 15 percent on these parts. The

can be used by high-volume customers nationally and internationally –

team also created a set of standard operating procedures to allow for

the research team drew concept sketches, created basic computer-aided

consistency and efficiency in operations.

design (CAD) drawings, and then built and tested several concepts,

“When we started the project with Niagara College we did not know what to expect,” noted Kerry Dryer, GGS technology manager. “The more we learn about the facilities and skills that the mechanical engineering students are being taught, the more impressed we are.” Based on the team’s recommendations, GGS is also undertaking an investment of up to $150,000 in equipment with an expected rate of return of just six months. WHAT DID NIAGARA RESEARCH DO FOR KWIK MIX? Kwik Mix turned to the Centre team as the only Niagara location housing the necessary software and expertise to deliver 3D imaging and

using basic materials such as foam board, and components created using the college’s 3D printing machines. Once the best prototype was identified – using an auger to relieve the pressure and an agitator to keep the nuts moving – the team went back to the CAD drawing board and built a refined prototype for PaperNuts. “This is our second project working with Niagara College. Not only have they been very professional, they also bring a fresh new perspective to some of the issues that we’ve been having as we develop new and improved machines for the manufacturing and distribution of PaperNuts,” noted Scott MacRae, company owner.

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 11

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NC named one of Canada’s top research colleges

In its first report, Top 50 Research Colleges, Research Infosource Inc. announced the rank of 13 for Niagara College, based on total research funding numbers for 2012. Niagara was also fourth among Ontario’s five leading colleges in the report, released in late 2013. Using data from the past two years, Niagara College’s research funding increased by more than 22 percent between 2011 and 2012, up to $3.25 million in 2012 from $2.64 million in 2011. “This ranking reaffirms the importance Niagara College attaches to supporting the revitalization of the Niagara economy through our applied research initiatives,”

NIAGARA COLLEGE HAS EARNED THE HONOUR OF BEING IN THE TOP 15 colleges in the country for research funding, according to an inaugural national study.

said College president Dan Patterson. “Our strong industry-education connections help support the applied research needs of industry and, at the same time, link our students and the expertise of our faculty to local business.” Research Infosource annually compiles listings of the Top 50 research universities, corporate R&D spenders, and research hospitals. For more information on Niagara Research, visit NiagaraCollege.ca/research. For more information on the Top 50 list, go to researchinfosource.com.

Niagara College earns bronze sustainability rating

Second campus building is declared carbon neutral

WITH ITS BRONZE RATING FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR

NIAGARA COLLEGE - THE FIRST POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION

THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY in Higher Education

IN CANADA to achieve Carbonzero Certified status for an educational

(AASHE), Niagara College finds itself on the podium among

facility - has built on this accomplishment by earning Carbonzero

sustainable colleges and universities in North America and beyond.

Certified status for a second building.

NC earned the rating through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a transparent, selfreporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. “Incorporating environmental sustainability into our operations is a key priority for us,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “Participating in the STARS program allowed us to measure areas where we’re making significant progress in that regard, and identify opportunities to set new sustainability targets and goals.” “STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE executive director Wendy Scott. “Niagara College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS bronze rating and is to be congratulated for its efforts.” NC has set five sustainability targets including 10 percent reductions in electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, a five percent reduction in water consumption, cutting paper consumption in half, and achieving 65 percent diversion in waste. Naturalization projects have been undertaken at both main campuses, and the college has incorporated renewable technologies into its operations, including geothermal, wind and solar energy systems.

12 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

This year, the Rankin Technology Centre at the Welland Campus achieved Carbonzero Certified status, which means the carbon emissions resulting from the operations of the building have been quantified, audited and offset. The College’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre (WVEC) earned its Carbonzero certification in January, 2013. To achieve Carbonzero Certified status, NC worked with the Walker Environmental Group (WEG), a division of Niagara’s Walker Industries. WEG has created a carbon neutral building service with the vision of making sustainable building operations more accessible and practical for small- to medium-sized businesses and organizations. “Achieving Carbonzero Certified status for our Rankin Technology Centre is an important step as we pursue our key strategic priority of incorporating environmental sustainability and responsibility into our operations,” said NC president Dan Patterson. “We’re a leader in environmental education and we support a region that is looking to renewable technologies as a key economic opportunity. It’s important that we lead by example through innovation and build a responsible, sustainable college community.” With the purchase of carbon offsets from a Niagara-based offset project, the WVEC has earned its Carbonzero certification for carbon neutral building operations. Revenue generated through the College’s participation in government initiatives such as the Demand Response and Feed in Tariff (FIT) programs is used to support NC’s sustainability projects, including the purchase of carbon offsets.

myCollege

Students transform communities at home and abroad Student build to become a home for local family

MORE THAN 70 CONSTRUCTION STUDENTS from Niagara College have been a regular presence at 46 Myrtle Ave. in Welland since September 2013. Building a house from the ground up, the students are not only providing a home for a local family, but gaining experience at the same time. The house is being built as part of Habitat’s Youth Building Program in partnership with Niagara College. The College has partnered with Habitat for the past seven years. A home dedication ceremony is expected to be held in June 2014. Habitat group: Students from Niagara College pose in front of a home they are helping to build for Habitat for Humanity Niagara.

Many Hands Project reaches out to area youth

IT’S BEEN A NIAGARA COLLEGE TRADITION 17 years strong and on April 12, 2014, students from Niagara College’s Event Management, and Renovation Technician Construction programs celebrated the success of its most recent Many Hands Project at the Upper Deck Youth Centre. The transformation of the Vineland youth centre was unveiled at a reveal day festival, marking the completion of more than three months of renovations. The College’s construction students began renovating the Upper Deck Youth Centre in January 2014. Renovations included new paint, new flooring to the upper level, new kitchen cabinets and counters in the kitchen and snack bar area, concrete repairs, updates to washrooms facilities, a complete redesign of the basement, and the addition of a storage shed for sporting equipment. NC’s Event Management students raised $37,300 to support this year’s project – far surpassing their original $12,500 goal – through five successful fundraising events. The

NC students participate in ribbon-cutting ceremony with Glen Sparks, director, Upper Deck Youth Centre; Steve Hudson, VP Academic, NC; Bill Hodgson, mayor, Town of Lincoln; and Dave DeFelice, VP Customer Service and Operations, Canadian Tire Financial Services (lead sponsor).

Human power at work

additional funds enabled the students to not only support the renovations but to leave a legacy behind for the youth centre through the purchase of two new computers, a printer, homework stations, a new television, an oven, brand new couches, and more. The project also received significant support from founding and lead sponsor Canadian Tire Financial Services.

FIFTEEN NC STUDENTS may have signed up for a cultural experience through NC’s International Field Studies but their desire to help others turned the journey into so much more. The students, under the supervision of Environmental and Horticulture professor Bill MacDonald, travelled to the Dominican Republic for 10 days in February 2014. Before their trip, they volunteered to build two foot-powered treadle pumps to bring to the Dominican Republic, aiming to help those who are attempting to grow produce in the Las Cacaos region and launch a greenhouse industry. MacDonald had read about the foot-powered pumps, which resemble makeshift elliptical machines, and felt they would be a sustainable way to provide irrigation in Las Cacaos, where power such as electricity or gas is cost prohibitive. After building the treadle pumps at the NC Greenhouse, they were disassembled

NC students participating in an International Field Studies trip over Reading Week teach locals how to build treadle pumps, which use pedal power for greenhouse irrigation.

and packed in suitcases to bring on the trip. While in Los Cacaos, the students passed on their newly acquired knowledge, teaching the locals how to build them. After witnessing the impacts of their efforts, the group plans to continue to bring treadle pumps to the area on future International Field Studies trips, and is working to establish an organization to continue their efforts in developing countries. Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 13

myStory

Faculty profile: Shelley Merlo

Living an event-full life FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY, SHE’S MANAGED large-scale festivals, international sporting competitions, community celebrations, royal visits and more. But for Shelley Merlo, students have become the main event. Seven years ago, the professor and coordinator of Niagara College’s Event Management (post-graduate) program packed up the experience gained from more than two decades of high-level event management experience and brought it to Niagara College, where she and her fellow program faculty teach and inspire the next generation of event managers and planners. It takes a special kind of person to want to “do the work while everyone else is having fun,” as Merlo puts it. She was bitten by the events bug during her time studying Phys Ed at McMaster University where she was interested in the coaching and administration stream and gravitated toward the event planning side of things. After graduating, she found herself at the City of Hamilton where she worked her way up to events coordinator. There weren’t postsecondary programs in managing events back then. Merlo found development opportunities through industry conferences and associations. Hers was a role that she moulded herself and held for 20 years. Over the course of those two decades, she was a central contact for a long list of high-profile events – from the World Sailing Regatta, Bell Canadian Open, Grey Cup parade to the Road World Cycling Championships and the Hamilton Sesquicentennial Celebrations, just to name a few. From there, she spent a short time learning her father’s electrical business (and helping with the provincial electrical

wanted to help instill the values that students will take into the

contractors conference). Then it was back to her alma mater,

industry. Ethics, professionalism and credibility are so important.”

McMaster, where she coordinated athletic and alumni events, while

Merlo now leads one of the unique programs at Niagara College,

gaining classroom experience teaching continuing education courses

and one that has become well known in the tight-knit events

in event planning and logistics at Mohawk College.

community for the quality of its graduates. The program, which

When the position at NC came up, she saw it as a perfect fit.

received the Gold Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and

“After being in the industry for more than 20 years I thought

Events Association in 2012, has also become almost synonymous

I could bring my industry examples to the classroom and tie them

with the central element in its curriculum – the Many Hands Project.

directly to applied learning,” she says. “More importantly, I really

Many Hands was developed by faculty in the Event Management

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myStory

I really wanted to help instill the values that students will take into the industry.

program 17 years ago. It was inspired by a similar 1997 venture in

College, she’s been able to keep her hand in major events. Her

Scarborough called One Voice. What began as a one-day renovation

experience and expertise played a huge part in the successful visit

blitz has grown into a full-term project that also sees students from

to NC by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2009. She also

NC’s construction programs complete renovations over the course of

played a lead role in NC’s hosting of the Association of Canadian

the winter term. Merlo’s students handle the logistics and run a series

Community Colleges (ACCC) conference that same year.

of fundraising events in support of the project. This year they raised

Merlo will take a professional development leave from August

an incredible $37,300 for the renovation of the Upper Deck Youth

2014 to August 2015 to return to the City of Hamilton as the

Centre in Vineland.

Cultural Program co-ordinator for the Pan Am Games. She’ll lead the

Each year a student-led committee selects an agency that will

arts, cultural and festival component that will complement the 16

benefit from the project. Since its inception, 17 agencies from

days of soccer that her hometown will host during the games – from

all parts of Niagara, serving all sorts of important needs in the

preliminary matches to the gold-medal game.

community, have received facilities upgrades that greatly enhance their programs and their ability to deliver their services. Merlo describes it as a “capstone” project where students combine the lessons from all of their classes into one significant undertaking – and it’s significant. It incorporates logistics, planning,

It’s a chance to delve back into the vocation she loves on a big stage. More importantly for her, it’s a way to ensure that NC students get the most from the opportunities that come with the Pan Am games in southern Ontario. While she’ll return with new insights into the latest trends and

sponsorships, fundraising, marketing, budgeting, volunteer

issues in the event-planning world, she’ll be looking for opportunities

coordinating and more. It’s a great way to hone their skills, Merlo

to involve students while she’s there – and not just her own. Merlo

says, and an even better way to learn the value of community service.

is already searching for ways that students from NC’s hospitality and

That’s the great thing about Many Hands – it’s one of many

tourism, sport management, recreation and leisure, and other program

unique Niagara College projects where students gain important

areas can get involved in either the Hamilton portion of the games or

hands-on experience while doing work that enhances the community.

in Niagara, where rowing, canoe and kayak events will be held.

So effective is Many Hands in opening students’ eyes to the

Events can be an exhausting pursuit. Planning festivals and other

needs in their communities, that Merlo says she often finds students

gatherings is hardly a 9-5 job, and the pace is beyond hectic. So how

going into the agency outside of the project to lend a hand or learn

does Merlo escape from it all?

more about the clients and services offered. “They’ll go out and work with them, and then they’ll really understand that the little bit we’re going to do is going to make a really big difference,” she says. Ask Merlo what type of person is attracted to the events industry and she talks about passion. “Some people think we’re crazy, holding events for 10,000 or 20,000 people,” she says. “Why would we want to do it? It’s because

“I volunteer with some events in my community,” she laughs. “I know it might sound sick.” She also enjoys gardening, and loves to travel with her partner, Peter, and daughters Leslie, 21, and Laura, 19. Her daughters, by the way, haven’t shown an interest in following their mother into the world of festivals and events – they’re both pursuing environmental studies in Ottawa. “I took them to lots of events when they were little,” she jokes.

we have the passion and the drive and we love seeing what it does for

“They’ve probably had enough. My running joke is that they never

the people attending.”

want to see another mascot.”

It’s a passion that she still holds. While teaching at Niagara

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 15

myStory

NC takes on the world

Introducing Junior Culinary Olympic Team Canada WHEN IT COMES TO YOUNG CANADIAN CULINARY TALENT, A TEAM FROM NIAGARA COLLEGE HAS PROVEN TO BE THE CREAM OF THE CROP. They reign as Junior Culinary Team Canada, a distinction brimming with achievement and opportunity. They wear national pride on their sleeves - not just literally, with the red maple leaf emblazoned on the cuffs of their new crisply-pressed team uniforms, but figuratively, as the honour of representing their country is felt deeply by each of the 11 team members. The prestigious title was won at the Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CFCC) Junior Culinary Team Selection Competition in October 2013, when the NC team defeated their rivals from Holland and Humber Colleges. They won the right to represent Canada on the international stage for three years, and will vie to become global champions at the World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany in 2016. It’s a monumental achievement for the team and for Niagara College. Their title as Canada’s best has catapulted the team into the spotlight, opening doors that many of them have never dreamed of. However, the honour was not presented to these aspiring chefs on a silver platter. For each one of them, winning the distinction boiled down to months of hard work, meticulous preparation, and tremendous sacrifice and dedication. Now that the arduous road to becoming Junior Culinary Team Canada is behind them, the team looks forward to the even longer stretch that lies ahead; one that will take them even greater distances, and promises to be full of challenge, experience and adventure, as they prepare to take on the world. 16 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

The road to Team Canada For most members of the team, their quest to become Junior Culinary Team Canada began during the summer of 2013 when they were invited to join by one of their chef professors. Some, like first-year Culinary Management student Rebekka Schmitt, had little previous culinary experience. At the other end of the spectrum are seasoned competitors, such as Megan Proper who won gold for Baking in Skills Canada National Competition in June, and Scott McInerney who won silver at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition in May 2013. Culinary skills weren’t the only criteria. Other qualities, such as their willingness to learn and commit to long and frequent practice hours were vital ingredients to the team’s recipe for success. For the young chefs, reasons to join the team vying for the Junior Culinary Team Canada title were numerous. The thrill of high-level competition, opportunities to advance their skills, a chance to prove themselves, and the national pride they would feel if they won the honour of representing their country – these were the motivations that drew 11 individuals to practice after practice for months before the fall 2013 competition which changed their lives forever. “To be able to show the world no matter what, win or lose, we hold our heads high and be proud of what we have accomplished is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Gilligan, 43, who graduated from the Cook Apprenticeship program in 2013 as a second career student, and joined the team even though he wouldn’t make the Under–25 age requirement to actually be one of the four to compete at the Olympics. “To wear our flag and represent our country is a dream come true. To give back to the country that has given me so much, how could I not?”

myStory

Meet the team Iain Dawson Culinary Innovation and Food Technology (2015), Apprenticeship (2013) “We are submerged in a world where we work with those who share our love for food, our vision for perfection.” Daniella Germond Culinary Management (2014) “I was just coming in with a passion to cook great food. Being able to come this far and show my success is very rewarding.” Jeremy Gilligan Apprentice Cook 2 (2013) “To be given a chance to actually do what I have always wanted to do is getting a second chance at life.” Ben Lillico Culinary Management, Bachelor of Applied Business and Hospitality (2014) “The different skill levels, strengths and weaknesses from each individual on this team is very challenging but powerful and rewarding at the same time...”

Dean of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute Craig Youdale, who had already led two teams at Holland College to the World Culinary Olympics as Team Canada before arriving at Niagara College, knew exactly what it would take for NC’s team to win. “Before the competition, I was confident that if they excelled and did their best, that they would win and that’s exactly what happened,” he said. Hearing NC announced as the winner of Junior Culinary Team Canada is an occassion no member of the team will likely forget. There were hearts racing, hugs shared and many tears shed – even, admittedly, by some of the team’s male members – in the intense moment of excitement and joy. “I just cried along with everyone else,” said Katrina Young. “It was the most emotional experience I’ve been through in my life in the best way possible.” “I felt a huge weight off my shoulders,” recalls Iain Dawson. “All the time and effort we put in, everything we sacrificed to perfect our program became justified the minute they announced our name. I felt like I had just pulled myself over the final ledge of a mountain. I couldn’t help but do a little dance.” Practice makes perfect Time to celebrate however, was short-lived. After a short hiatus following their CCFC win, practices kicked back into high gear for Junior Culinary Team Canada in January 2014. Each weekend, members of the team can be found in the kitchen labs of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute. On their regular practice days, they are busy trying new techniques and experimenting with ideas to bring back to the team. On full practice days, the team spends 30–40 hour periods recreating the

Trevor Littlejohn Culinary Management (2013) “...all the experiences along the way have shaped me into a person ready for and willing to proudly represent my country...” Wes Lund Chef Apprentice (2013) “Our freedom to try new things with food is the most rewarding part of this team, as well as the skills you can pick up from every chef we work with.” Scott McInerney Culinary Innovation and Food Technology (2015) Culinary Management grad “I have always been very proud to be Canadian. Having the opportunity to represent your country on the highest level of your chosen field, in my opinion, is the greatest honour.”

David Ross Culinary Management (2014) “I have always put others before myself and when I got the chance to be a part of this team I really wanted to do this as a victory to myself.” Rebekka Schmitt Culinary Management (2015) “I am able to work with people who I know will keep pushing me further and making me better. ” Katrina Young Culinary Management (2014) “… it is everything you have been taught in class but it is more intense and you don’t have to think, you just do. It is like the last lap in a race.”

Megan Proper Culinary Management (2013) “You dedicate your time to always be thinking and researching new ideas to try for the next time you’re in the kitchen.”

timing and parameters they will face at the World Culinary Olympics. On the second day, this involves a gruelling overnight stretch from 2 p.m. until 7 a.m., to prepare food before judging takes place in morning. Behind the team members are the dedicated chef professors – including Avi Hollo, Olaf Mertens, Philippe Corbiere, Ruth Bleijerveld, Dan LeBlanc and Osvaldo Avila – who have been volunteering their personal time to train and support the team every step of the way. Youdale notes that the practices are important to get the team accustomed to being able to perform under those conditions. “At the end of those two days, it’s not just about being awake. It’s right at the last hour that they will need to be focused and at their best. A few too many Red Bulls or Double Doubles is not going to help them.” The journey ahead This amount of practice is key to preparing them for the high level of competition they will face in the years ahead. The first will come in November 2014, when five members of Junior Culinary Team Canada will have the opportunity to compete in the World Culinary Championships in Luxembourg, and a couple more will join them as part of their support team. The team will also compete in at least one other international competition in 2015 as well, giving each member of the team experience competing on an international scale prior to the Olympics in 2016. Competition for young chefs at this level is fierce, explains Youdale. “It’s about more than just performance; it’s about having the right ideas, the right concepts, the right menu, the right combination of food,” he says. “These are the best cooks, chefs and pastry chefs in the world, and all are exceptional. It comes down to not who is the best but who is going to excel that day.” Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 17

myStory

“I have been around chefs for a very long time and I’ve seen a lot of junior teams. This team is very focused and works very well together.” One of the biggest challenges Junior Culinary Team Canada will encounter is to sustain their momentum, so they will be at their peak of their abilities at the World Culinary Olympics in 2016. “It’s a long haul and an incredibly tough environment that wears you out,” says Youdale. “Add to that the social reality of trying to balance their work, career or jobs, and putting so much of their lives on hold, as well as their relationships and family, it’s tough on them.” Also challenging is the pressure that comes with being in the spotlight. “They understand that they are ambassadors for our college, the Niagara region and our country, and it’s a lot of pressure for a young person,” he said. “If they don’t cross their t’s or their hair is out of place, they get scrutinized.” Growing from experience Experience is already proving to make the team stronger. Since becoming Junior Culinary Team Canada, each team member has dramatically improved, not only their culinary skills, but in planning and organization – arguably the most important skills a chef could have. “The amount of time we put into recipe development, practice, events and planning is a lot. Finding time to work and go to school just makes it all the more difficult,” admits 20-year-old Daniella Germond. “But having this large workload has taught me how to manage my time better.” Executive chef from the House of Commons Judd Simpson believes the team has come a long way since he first saw them as a judge at the competition that won them the title last fall. In March 2014, he visited the Canadian Food and Wine Institute to critique the team’s work during one of their weekend practices. He noticed a dramatic improvement in their work since last fall – not only in their technical skills but in their determination to rework their dishes as a response to his feedback. “I have been around chefs for a very long time and I’ve seen a lot of junior teams. This team is very focused and works very well together,” he says, crediting the team’s coaches for their tremendous progress. “They’re really passionate about what they do and they have a good attitude – there is no room for egos. The future looks promising for them.” Simpson, who will be judging the team when they compete in Luxembourg in November 2014, noted how significant competing is to a chef’s career path. At competitions, chefs not only keep current with major trends, but learn to work as a team. Members of Junior Culinary Team Canada also enjoy the added benefits of travelling and working with different chefs and products, which will build their potential. “The importance of participating in competition is critical and

18 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

cannot be underestimated. They will all benefit tremendously from this experience,” he says. “In my opinion, it’s not about the medal but the journey to the medal.” Youdale agrees that the experience they are gaining goes far beyond making the students and graduates better cooks. “They are gaining so much experience in customer service working with the public, organizational and time management skills which aren’t necessarily the strengths of young cooks but skills that come with experience,” says Youdale. “Being a part of the team is a compressed experience for them where they’re forced to self-manage and excel at such an accelerated rate that it puts them ahead of the game.” Members of the team are confident the skills they are acquiring will help them succeed as they pursue their career dreams. Twenty-year-old David Ross hopes to own his own restaurant before he turns 30. “I believe the experiences that this time has already given me, plus the experiences yet to come, will definitely help me run and market a successful business as the team is like a business,” he says. “We have a budget and cannot waste product as if you were a restaurant. The contacts and marketing from the team will also be a huge boost in getting a restaurant started.” “I would like to open my own German-style café one day and I believe this experience has given me the drive I need to succeed,” says Rebekka Schmidt, 19. “It has taught me that I can achieve anything I want to as long as I am willing to put the work into it.” Youdale is optimistic about the team’s future and believes the entire NC community should take pride in their success. “The students and recent grads on this team represent all of us at NC, not just me or a few of their coaches,” he said. “They’ve been taught by all our staff and faculty before they got to us. Their journey started at their very first class here at NC and we should all be very proud.” As for how they will perform in 2016, he has high expectations. “Yes, it is about the experience, but we are there to win,” he says. “If this team performs at their best, they will be tough to beat.”

myStory

Faculty profile: Christopher Bessette

Motion picture writer/director/ producer begins a new chapter

Photo by Robert Nowell

For Christopher Bessette, there’s nothing more important than a story well told.

It’s a practice he lives by and enjoys passing on to his pupils. “You can cut around a bad actor, you can cut around a bad shot, but you can’t cut around a bad script. That’s the foundation of everything,” says Bessette, who returned to his alma mater part-time last year to teach Dramatic Scriptwriting classes to Broadcasting and Acting students . “I just hope to inspire good storytelling because that’s what it’s all about.” While the classroom may be a new professional environment for Bessette, his authority on the subject has been well earned. Since graduating from Niagara College’s Broadcasting: Radio, Television and Film program in 1984, his mission has been to get his stories told. And he has built a career doing just that as a multi-award-winning filmmaker, motion picture writer/director/producer, and – most recently – author. “Storytelling has always been part of my DNA,” he says. As a student at NC in the early 1980s, Bessette had initially been interested in pursuing a career in radio. Before long, he zoomed in on film to tell his stories. “It filled all of my creative needs of being a storyteller – the visuals, the sound, everything,” he said. “That’s where I shone.” At the time, he focused on camera work, playing with light to tell his stories. He never dreamed of shooting a feature film in those days – when there were few known Canadian role models in the field. After graduation, several of his initial credits were for television. Over they years, he increasingly began to focus on his love for dramatic stories which led him to theatre and feature films, as a producer, director and dramatic scriptwriter. His stories have taken him great distances over the years – from glamorous Hollywood studios to the jungles of the Amazon and Central

America, to the foreign lands of Russia and South East Asia – as a director and producer for television and film. One of his best known works is Trade of Innocents, a feature film which raises awareness of child exploitation through human trafficking, featuring Academy Award-winning actor Mira Sorvino and Dermot Mulroney. He received a Best Director and Best Drama award for the film at the 2012 Breckenridge Film Festival in Colorado and the film was the focus of a symposium on human trafficking at Yale University. He also received a Best Director Award at the ARPA International Film Festival in Hollywood for his film The Enemy God – an epic tale that spans 50 years of an Amazonian tribe. The fact he taught hundreds of tribal people how to act for the camera, even though most of them hadn’t even seen a television before, is a great source of pride for the filmmaker. While his career has taken him around the world, most of his work is done from his Thorold home – the same home he grew up in, where he and his wife began to raise a family of their own more than 25 years ago. The name of his production company, Terrapin Point Motion Pictures, pays homage to the fact that Bessette is a lifelong Niagara resident. It’s in his humble home office, often in the company of his three canine companions who like to surround his writing space, he tackles the pages of his latest screenplays or novels-in-progress, and puts the wheels in motion for his film projects. There he wrote the screenplay for Trade of Innocents and, between projects, plugged away at his first novel The Mythamohre – think: the myth of more – published last year. Bessette always has new ideas percolating for future projects. He constantly aims to tell bigger stories on larger stages to expand his reach and impact on people. With a larger platform however, comes greater responsibility. For him, the greatest reward is to make a difference in people’s lives – whether by drawing attention to important issues or moving an audience to tears. Always in pursuit of inspirational stories, Bessette never backs away from those that are difficult to tell. “I want to make a difference in my work because in the grand scheme of things, we are here for a short time and that’s really actively moved me to think about what I want to do,” he says. “I’m trying to leave a mark that goes beyond me, that inspires, encourages and builds up other people.” He never expected he would find himself back at his NC guiding a new generation of storytellers but he has been enjoying the teaching experience; first a scriptwriting class in 2013, then in a film lab for winter semester 2013-2014. He is eager to share his expertise in the industry with students preparing to embark on their own careers – so much so that he often finds he has more to share with students than class time permits. “I love working with the students,” he says. “Who knows what future novelists and screenwriters will come out of those classes.” Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 19

myStory

What do NC and

Sochi Russia

Opportunity is hard work and that’s exactly what the BRTF program teaches its students.

have in common? THEY MAY NOT BE OLYMPIC ATHLETES but two recent NC grads put their skills to the test on the world stage in Sochi. Broadcasting: Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) grad Austin Munday (2013), and Electrical Engineering Technology grad Ryan LeBlanc (2011), both had an opportunity to work at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Munday spent two-and-a-half months in Sochi as a cable rigger for Olympic Broadcast Services. He and a crew of 16 worked 10- to 11-hour shifts each day laying the audio and video cable for the host feed, making it possible for Canadians to watch the Games. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to know that the cables you hold in your hand every day are the reason the world will see and hear the Olympics,” said Munday. LeBlanc also worked for Olympic Broadcast Services as a field support engineer, where he provided on-site technical support for broadcasting equipment. He enjoyed working with people from different parts of the world to bring the Games to life for those who couldn’t be there in person. “Being involved in an international event on the scale of something like the Olympics instills you with a sense of awe and pride,” he said. “The sheer amount of logistics that goes into an event like this is pretty spectacular.” Both Munday and LeBlanc believe their education at NC opened the doors to this opportunity. Munday, who came to NC to pursue a career in sports media, worked an eight-month internship with Dome Productions, Canada’s leading sports mobile company. The internship out of the company’s Toronto location led him to be hired as assistant scheduler and then as assistant tech support for the summer of 2013. He was also hired as a freelance video assistant and worked at various sporting events including Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Argonaut games. A job as a TVA at a figure skating event with Broadcast Services International sparked an offer to work in Sochi - with one stipulation. “They asked, ‘can you ski?’” he recalled, noting how the job in Sochi often involved skiing cables down mountains. His answer was a resounding yes. Munday values the hands-on experience he gained at NC, particularly running the college’s mobile sports truck to cover live sporting events. “Niagara teaches you not only the skills you need to be successful in the industry but also the right attitude to keep moving forward in the industry,” he said. “Opportunity is hard work and that’s exactly what the BRTF program teaches its students.” LeBlanc believes his co-op experience at NC not only equipped 20 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

Austin Munday stands in the mountains of Sochi, where he worked as a cable rigger making it possible for Canadians to watch the 2014 Olympic Games.

Ryan LeBlanc landed a position as a field support engineer for the Olympic Broadcast Services, where he had the opportunity to work with people from around the world.

him with skills needed to apply for jobs and how to conduct himself in a professional environment, but to get the job done. “I think the fact that NC graduates are respected by companies in the area helped to open doors when applying to jobs,” he said. “My time at NC provided me with the technical foundation and tools to develop and acquire new skills as I evolve in my current career path.”

myStory

Graduate profile: Flavia Orvitz

Second career dream comes true Son’s autism diagnosis led mom back to school FLAVIA ORVITZ UNDERSTANDS HOW JUST ONE MOMENT CAN CHANGE A PERSON’S LIFE. For her, that time came 15 years ago when her second-born son Phillip was diagnosed with autism. Hopes and dreams for her son’s future were altered in a blink of an eye. Then she encountered the challenge that all parents of newly diagnosed children faced: accessing help and services. “At the time it was virtually impossible to find a helping professional in Niagara that knew anything about autism disorders. Nobody knew what to do with a child with autism,” she recalls. That was when a new dream was born for Orvitz, who was a stay-athome mom at the time who previously worked in the accounting sector in Toronto. Her goal: to become a helping professional to assist her son and other families. She turned to Niagara College. She enrolled in NC’s General Arts and Science program and then in the Social Service worker program where she learned about counseling and services available in the Niagara region. Orvitz was not confident she would succeed. “I had been out of school for many years and life was complicated as an older student with two young children – one of them with special needs,” she recalls. “I felt I had so much baggage, I couldn’t possibly be successful.” After four years and countless 4 a.m. wakeups to get her homework done, Orvitz earned her diploma in both programs. Beyond her academic credentials however, she believes Niagara College equipped her with the confidence she needed to further her education and pursue her career. Niagara College was just the beginning. She went on to complete an undergraduate degree in social work at Niagara University, a Master’s in Education at Brock University and more recently another Graduate diploma in Applied Disability Studies & Applied Behaviour Analysis, also at Brock. “Becoming a helping professional to assist families affected by autism seemed like a pipe dream to me, but Niagara College’s environment and staff instilled in me the confidence to succeed, then catapulted me further in my goal,” she says. Today, Orvitz is a registered social worker specializing in applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and education. She practices her profession as clinical coordinator at Brick by Brick Therapy and Wellness in Fonthill serving children with autism spectrum disorders and related disorders as well as their families. She is also a founding board member and secretary for the Julien School for Alternative Learners. For more than 15 years, Orvitz has also been affiliated with Autism Ontario, assisting in establishing best practices and ASD manuals for parents and professionals. She was president for five years, as well as educational coordinator for after school programs, among other leadership positions. She also served five years as Autism Ontario’s special education advisory committee representative to the District School Board of Niagara.

Life was complicated as an older student with two young children one of them with special needs.

In addition to her work with Autism Ontario, she volunteers with Ontario Association of Social Workers – Niagara Branch (board member), Club Roma (board of directors), Contact Niagara’s Residential Placement Advisory Committee (RPAC) and the Niagara College Alumni Council. The alumni council isn’t Orvitz’s only connection to her alma mater. Her oldest son Alexander now attends NC, enrolled in the Photonics program, and she is also site supervisor for NC and Brock practicum students for Brick by Brick and Julien School. Many of the students are enrolled in NC’s Autism and Behavioural Sciences program, which was launched fall 2012. Orvitz enjoys being involved with students. “We believe that by hosting students in their practicum, we are assisting to create a more knowledgeable and more accepting population of helping professionals which will benefit my own son and other families living with the challenges of autism,” she says. “Niagara College started me on the path towards achieving my dream, and it is my hope that in my role at Brick by Brick and Julien School, I can contribute to helping other NC students realize their dreams.” While it can be a hectic environment, Orvitz wouldn’t have it any other way. “These children need our undivided attention to be successful at their goals,” she says. “I probably speak for everyone here when I say, the most rewarding part of this job is helping our little clients and their families achieve their goals.”

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 21

myStory

Faculty profile: Theresa Anzovino

Educator of the Year NC FACULTY MEMBER THERESA ANZOVINO HOPES TO INSPIRE FUTURE WORLD-CHANGERS

Pictured: Theresa Anzovino stands before her Sociology class where she brings diversity and empathy to life for her students.

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THERESA ANZOVINO DOESN’T JUST TEACH students how to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, she goes the distance to make it happen. Finding creative ways to engage her students to teach them about diversity and empathy is this Sociology professor’s mission. One day, she’s equipping her students with wheelchairs for the day, so they may experience the challenge of narrow door widths and high countertops firsthand. On another, she’s brought in a pair of inversion glasses for her students to wear while attempting to catch balls, opening their eyes to the way a person with developmental disabilities may see the world.

I wake up in the morning and, even after about 10 years, I’m still excited to come to school. As for random acts of kindness, Anzovino doesn’t give her students the typical designated day to experience the ripple effect of good deeds. In her class, it’s a term-long assignment. Her students use a journal to document their reflections on the difference they make in the world. “It’s not just about writing tests and taking notes,” says Anzovino, whose eyes sparkle when she speaks about witnessing transformations in her students. “It’s about providing meaningful structured activities that the students will remember, take away, and keep with them.” These types of learning experiences are what ignited Anzovino’s passion for Sociology as a student. After achieving her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Waterloo, she completed her Master of Arts in Sociology at York University before launching her career in the non-profit sector. After graduation, her career led her to the nonprofit sector; first as a community legal worker for a poverty law clinic in Welland, then to becoming CEO for the Multicultural Centre and Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre in her hometown of Fort Erie, providing assistance for refugees coming to Canada and helping organizations adjust to cultural diversity. While she comes from a long line of educators, Anzovino never contemplated teaching as a career until she saw a job posting for a Sociology professor at Niagara College funded through a diversity initiative. After 20 years of working on issues of diversity in the nonprofit sector, Anzovino took the leap and began teaching at NC in 2006. “I realized early on in my first year of teaching that this is the profession for me,” she says. “I wake up in the morning and, even after about 10 years, I’m still excited to come to school. I still find that it energizes me and that’s because of our students.” Anzovino believes there is a special environment at Niagara College that resonates with her, particularly its ethos of caring. “I can walk up and down the hallway and see all of my colleagues spending time with students who are distressed or need help, and see teachers from different programs and disciplines sharing resources, speaking in each other’s classrooms, and working on collaborative projects,” she says. “It’s important ethically for me to be part of an institution that cares about the people it serves and I think that’s why

I’ve felt at home here, because the bottom line is always the student.” Anzovino is proud to have been part of developing NC’s diversity initiative. The course-based initiative using experiential methods is taught into various programs – not just Sociology but Police Foundations, Dental Hygiene, Early Childhood Education and more, preparing students to work with diverse populations. She points out how in today’s modern workplace, it has become more important than ever to have skills to work with people who have different abilities, come from different countries or speak different languages. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Anzovino was honoured with the Educator of the Year award in 2013, after being nominated for the award for five years, and she won the College’s Niagara Champion award in 2010. One of her more recent achievements is co-authoring a textbook called Walk a Mile with NC Sociology professor Deborah Boutillier. Published by Nelson Education in March 2014, the book is not only used by NC students but is being marketed to post-secondary students throughout Ontario. The book includes a foreward written by Craig and Marc Kielburger who applaud the authors for translating their decades of experiential learning and teaching into a practical guide to diversity competency. “The knowledge and active reflection provoked in these pages will help a generation of young Canadians to understand their own identity, the place of identity in our relationship with our fellow global citizens, and our responsibility to take action for a more equitable and just world,” state the Kielburgers in their foreword. Anzovino takes great pride in the fact that one of the textbook’s key features are powerful narratives from Niagara College students throughout the text, including one from her son Daniel who wrote about how being diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2013 changed his life in a matter of seconds. “These are the voices of our students from NC who we hope are going forward to help change the world too,” says Anzovino. Passionate about teaching diversity, she believes that the best way to make multiculturalism work in Canada is through empathy and experience. “Diversity isn’t something you can learn from a textbook, but by travelling to other places and experiencing culture, and that’s the approach we use for teaching,” she says. “We try to make diversity about the things that you do, so when students move on to the workplace they go with the experience of understanding.” It’s Anzovino’s greatest joy as a professor to learn that she has had a positive impact on a student’s life and that they’ll carry what they’ve learned in her classroom with them long after they graduate. “It’s always my hope that my students take the skills they learned here to create positive social changes and go out and be world changers,” she says. “Whenever I see a student go on to be successful, I always hope that the college and maybe I was a small piece in that. “It makes me think this is what I’m meant to do.”

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myStory

Graduate profile: John Vatcher

John Vatcher

How the executive producer/director for one of the CBC’s hottest TV series, Republic of Doyle, got his start at NC. SINCE GRADUATING FROM NC’S Broadcasting Radio and Television Arts program, John Vatcher’s career has advanced from owning and operating a small commercial production company to producing the popular TV drama Republic of Doyle. In June 2013, Vatcher was welcomed back to NC with roaring applause as a spring convocation speaker for the School of Media Studies. We caught up with the St. Catharines native, who currently lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and asked him about life, his exciting career, and memories of NC. Here is what he had to say: What drew you to pursue a career in film and TV? I’d created a radio station at my high school so I thought it would be cool to work in radio. I know. Once I got to Niagara I fell in love with visual storytelling. Did you have a specific career goal when you came to NC? I came to be a disc jockey but got more out of being behind the camera than being behind a microphone. What are your fondest memories of NC? You spent your whole life there – either in class or in labs trying to make your deadline. You played hard, worked hard and made great friends. What do you value about your training at NC? Niagara offered hands-on opportunity like no other. You had to take all three courses: Radio, TV and Film and that was great exposure no matter which field you wanted to specialize in. One odd thing which I can’t emphasize enough is that Niagara instilled a sense of perseverance. You had to produce – you had no choice. You had to deliver no matter the circumstance. If your gear ever broke down (and in the ‘80’s that was a thing we liked to call Tuesday) you were expected to know how to fix it. It was real world situations and you had to survive to succeed. Great training. How did your career launch after graduation? I started as a video technician with the Peel Police force after learning under former NC grad Jamie Saunders. It was awesome. You have spent more than 25 years as a producer, director and cinematographer. What are the highlights of your career to date? Well after 20 years practicing the ‘dark arts’ of commercial producing/directing, I think I’ve been re-energized by the opportunities I’ve had on Doyle. Producing and directing a TV series in Newfoundland was an impossibility for me a few years ago, and to direct the likes of Luis Guzman, Victor Garbor, Sean McGinley and Russell Crowe … Russell Freakin’ Crowe. Not to mention that I get to work with Allan Hawco every single day.

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John Vatcher is pictured on the set of Republic of Doyle with Russell Crowe

How has your career evolved over the years? I’ve gone from basically an owner/operator of a small commercial production company with a very tight-knit amazing crew of about six people to being one of four guys who produce a one-hour TV drama every day. TV is a team event and I have the best partners in Rob Blackie and Perry Chafe. Allan’s the fourth but I’m under contract not to mention him more than once in a given article. Is there a project/position you are most proud of? I’m very proud that my business is actually a family business. My wife Debbie is an art director on the show (NC grad in Human Relations) and my son Ian is the B cam/ steadicam operator. What do you find most rewarding about your career? I could say it’s that I wake up every day and get to figure out how we make magic against the odds today. But truthfully it’s the people I get to work with. Doing something that requires more than yourself to make something not just good but great is the actual reward. And these people want to do it as much or more than I do. What else are you currently working on? We produce Majumder Manor on W Network and we just released our second feature documentary ‘Boy on Bridge’ with Alan Doyle on TMN/MovieCentral/CMT. Doyle is currently working in production on its sixth season and MM is halfway through principal photography on season two. Plus we have many other irons in the fire but I love it that I can’t tell you what they are – yet. What advice do you have for students who are planning careers in Film and TV? Take every chance you have at your disposal to work on what it is that makes the clock go by so fast you feel you that your day’s almost over before it’s begun. When you’re not on the front line writing, directing, shooting, editing or whatever – learn from those who do and do it well. Get close enough to them to ask the questions and then listen and more importantly watch for the answers. Make your own opportunities; don’t wait for someone to offer.

“Make your own opportunities; don’t wait for someone to offer.”

myStory

Journey from ‘Me’ to ‘We’ WHEN HE FIRST SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE in a Me to We volunteer trip to Nicaragua, Andrew Vivaldo admits that his only motivation was to give his resume a boost. After a 10-day trip far away from the comforts of home where he helped build a school in an impoverished community however, his resume was the last thing on his mind as the 30-year-old Police Foundations student found himself forever changed by his newfound focus on others. Vivaldo was one of 22 students from Niagara College School of Justice Studies to embark on the life-altering journey in February 2014. Culture shock set in soon after landing at the airport in Managua. Taking the tour bus from the airport through cities and towns he was stricken by the extreme poverty that surrounded him. Panic set in. “I thought, I’m trapped here for 10 days! You think you have an idea what it will be like but you don’t until you get there,” he recalls. Being immersed in extreme poverty motivated the students to work even harder to make a difference. Each day, the group set out from their jungle lodge on a 40-minute bus trip to their work site. Their mission was to construct a Grade 2 classroom for the school, which was being built one classroom at a time as part of Me to We’s Adopt a Village program. Under the guidance of local contractors, they dug the foundation with pickaxes and shovels, and laid the rebar by hand. Countless buckets of sand and gravel were carried to wherever they were needed. Cement was hand mixed. It was physically demanding manual labour. Jim Norgate, program coordinator from NC’s Police Foundations program who initiated the trip, noted how the students worked so hard that he often had to remind them to take breaks. “We essentially built a house without power. I had high expectations of the students but I was astounded by their work ethic,” he says. Every evening, the group returned to their accommodation in the jungle, where the canopy of wilderness made nights seem darker. While drinking water was always available, some days, they lived without running water to shower, flush toilets or even wash their face. Some days, there was no electricity. One night, a 6.4-maginitude earthquake rattled the group from their sleep. Dinner was always followed by module time, run by Me to We facilitators. The modules aimed at teaching the students about the Nicaraguan culture, and to help them better identify with the local people, experiencing challenges first hand like shopping to feed a family of five at the local market with only $3. The depth of the discussions that followed the modules chipped away at superficiality. Soon, students began to open up to one another in new ways, and shared their personal stories – some, for the very first time, setting them on a new path of healing. “We bonded through the emotional experience and began to open up to one another,” says Vivaldo. As the group bonded, Norgate also saw changed individuals who were increasingly focused on helping others – literally, shifting from a ‘me’ to ‘we’ focus. Whether someone needed a drink of water or a per-

We essentially built a house without power. I had high expectations of the students but I was astounded by their work ethic.

The group from NC’s School of Justice Studies, along with their professor Jim Norgate, are pictured on their Me to We volunteer trip in Nicaragua.

son to talk to, there was always a student stepping in to help. At meals, Norgate would see students bringing items like cutlery or lemonade to the table for the entire group, voluntarily – without prompting. “It seems like these are simple things, but they’re not. In fact, it’s completely the opposite of what you normally see,” he says. Norgate says the trip was unlike anything he’s ever encountered. “What the students expected to do was go to Nicaragua and build a school,” he says. “While they built the school, they as individuals became rebuilt, renewed. It’s undeniable.” As for Vivaldo, the first thing he did when he arrived back home from the trip was to take a drink directly from the kitchen tap, marvelling at the simple act he had taken for granted before. He has gained a new appreciation for all that he has. As he prepares for a career in community service through policing, the most rewarding part is knowing he has already helped others in Nicaragua. “To know that I have helped make a difference, what I feel inside is magical. I think about the trip every single day and I want to go back,” he says. “I still haven’t put it on my resume.” Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 25

myConnection

NC makes the grade

Celebrating college achievements

WIN SENDS INSTRUCTOR ON ADVENTURE

As the first-ever recipient of Peter Lehmann Wines Mentor Award, Britnie Bazylewski travelled to the Barossa wine region in Southern Australia in March 2014 for a week-long adventure with mentor Anthony Gismondi where she participated in handson wine harvesting and vineyard tours, and experienced the history and culture of the region, as well as Melbourne’s dynamic food and wine scene.

CAPS OFF TO BUTLER’S BITTER

4. 6.

A beer inspired by history, is making history at the Niagara College Teaching Brewery. The beverage was developed as a celebration beer for the bicentennial of the war of 1812 and has proven to be the teaching brewery’s most popular brew to date. The beer won a gold in the Amber Ale category at the Ontario Beer Awards in April 2013, and a Golden Tap in the English Style Pale Ale Category at the Canadian Brewing Awards in May 2013. In July 2013, it won a bronze in the Bitter category at the prestigious U.S. Open Beer Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, and in April, 2014 it won bronze at the World Beer Cup in Denver.

CUTTING-EDGE EXPERTISE

Niagara College Hairstyling professor Joseph Abbruscato was recognized by the Allied Beauty Association for achieving a gold medal in its Master Judges of Canada program in September 2013. The Allied Beauty Association, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 90 percent of the Canadian professional beauty supply industry for hair and nails, awarded Abbruscato with the gold in September 2013.

INSTRUCTOR TAPS INTO VICTORY

In October 2013 Kevin Somerville won the Ontario Craft Brewers Education Leadership award. The award was one of six Centre of Excellence awards distributed by the OCB at a special ceremony on Oct. 17, 2013 at Amsterdam BrewHouse By the Lake in Toronto, following an industry conference.

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DOSE OF SUCCESS

Embracing simulation earned second-year Practical Nursing student Meaghan Friesen a Simulation Student Award from the Simulation Ontario Network (SIM-one) in December 2013. The awards were given out at SIM-one’s 2013 Ontario Simulation Exposition.

COUNTED AMONG ONTARIO’S BEST

Three second-year Accounting students captured silver at the 2014 CGA Ontario Case Competition. Niagara College students Christopher Ohlhoff (Smithville), William Nathan Hildebrandt (Welland), and Stephanie Martino (St. Catharines), each received a $1,000 scholarship towards the CGA program of professional studies.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Dental program professor Jennifer Turner has a reason to show off her pearly whites as the 2013 recipient of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association Excellence in Teaching Award. The CDHA Excellence in Teaching Award, given in partnership with Dentsply, is presented annually to a dental hygienist educator and CDHA member in a Canadian dental hygiene program. This award recognizes the recipient’s teaching contributions, innovative approaches to learning, and educational leadership.

FLOUR POWER AT ONTARIO SKILLS

NC students captured gold, silver and bronze medal wins at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition, which was held May 5-7, 2014 in Waterloo. Baking category winners included Baker Patisserie Apprentice student Krystine Parent, 23, (Windsor) who won gold; first-year Culinary Management Rebecca Schmitt, 19, (St. Ann’s) who won silver; and Baker Patisserie Apprentice graduate Lisa Giura, 22, (Niagara Falls) who won bronze. In addition to the three Baking winners, 20-year-old Hairstylist Apprentice student, Amelia Subhan, (Niagara Falls), won silver in the Postsecondary Hairstyling category.

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Celebrating athletic excellence THE DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS AND RECREATION CELEBRATED NC’S 45TH ANNUAL ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET IN APRIL 2014.

Major award winners (back row left to right) Tess Brown, Matt Scott, Bailey Cochrane, Alyssa McCabe, Zach Bankuti, Will Janetos, Miranda Ross, and (front row) Alexandria Botelho and Daniel Groenveld.

Student-athletes were presented with more than 90 awards and accolades

who earned a 93 percent average in the Dental Hygiene program. Her

at the 2013-14 intercollegiate athletics season event, held at Riverstone

name was called a number of times during the event, as she was also

Event Centre in Welland.

presented with the Tournament Sport Player of the Year, Curling MVP, and the Curling Top-Scholastic awards.

Male and female Athlete of the Year awards were presented to

The year’s top coaching honour – the Ralph Nero Award – went

Daniel Groenveld of the men’s volleyball program and Alexandria

to Frank DeChellis, head coach of the men’s and women’s soccer

Botelho of the women’s volleyball program, respectively. Groenveld,

programs. DeChellis, who also instructs in the NC Electrical Techniques

a third-year outside hitter, enjoyed an outstanding campaign for the

program, led the men’s and women’s soccer programs this season.

Knights. The General Business student was named a CCAA All-

Men’s soccer program enjoyed its strongest season to date, advancing

Canadian, an OCAA First-Team All-Star, and set the men’s volleyball

to the second round of the OCAA playoffs.

single season scoring record. Botelho, a third-year middle blocker, was

“The 2013-14 year was fantastic for our entire Knights family,”

named an Academic All-Canadian, OCAA second-team star, and was

said Matthew Davies, NC’s director of Athletics and Recreation. “We

named Niagara College Athlete of the Week a season high four times.

are very proud of our student-athletes and their continued commitment

Botelho is currently enrolled in the NC Recreation and Leisure Services

to excelling in the classroom while also representing the college in their

program.

respective sport.”

The male and female top-scholastic awards were presented to Matt

Other major award winners included; Rookies of the Year Bailey

Scott of the men’s volleyball program and Tess Brown of the mixed

Cochrane (men’s volleyball) and Alyssa McCabe (women’s basketball),

curling team. Scott, who is currently enrolled in the accelerated Police

Top Leadership winners William Janetos (men’s soccer) and Miranda

Foundations program, captured the scholastic award with a department

Ross (women’s basketball), and Tournament Sport Players of the Year

high 95 percent academic average. It was a busy evening for Brown

Zachary Bankuti (golf) and Tess Brown (curling).

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 27

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$100,000 investment for Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program

MAINTAINING CANADA’S LEAD IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY BY INVESTING IN YOUNG INNOVATORS IS THE AIM OF A NEW $100,000 GIFT TO NIAGARA COLLEGE.

Culinary Innovation and Food Technology students work in new food research labs at the College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus.

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THE GUELPH FOOD TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (GFTC) Legacy Fund will support scholarships and co-op placements that will assist students in the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program to gain valuable industry experience over the next four years. The donation will also help fund marketing efforts to promote Niagara College’s culinary programs as an exciting career choice. “This education partnership with Niagara College supports education and training that will build technical expertise, expand technology applications, and promote innovative solutions for the future competitiveness of Canadian food processors and manufacturers,” said Don Wilcox, chair of the GFTC Legacy Fund. “We are delighted to be able to partner with Niagara College in these initiatives.” Niagara College is one of nine schools with which the Guelph Food Technology Centre has established a partnership to support the Canadian food industry. “This generous donation is an incredible boost for our program that we launched in 2011 to bridge the gap between food science and culinary arts,” said Craig Youdale, dean, Canadian Food and Wine Institute. “We have already increased the number of students in the program to accommodate interest and produce more graduates to meet industry demand.” Starting in fall 2014, scholarships will be awarded each year to 15 students in the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program. Applicants must have a minimum 75 percent average and submit a one-page essay identifying past work experience and future goals in the food sector. The Co-op Work Term Travel Bursary will be available to eligible students to help cover some of the costs related to accepting a co-op work term outside the area and within Canada. The marketing plan includes a video, brochure, food science event and presentations at high schools. The GFTC was established in Guelph in 1994 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation with a vision to contribute to the growing competitiveness of the Canadian food industry. GFTC’s mission has been to help Canadian food processors and manufacturers to be more competitive and highly successful in their markets through the use of technical expertise, technology and innovative solutions that improve their people, processes and products. Every year, centre staff work with more than 1,500 businesses and train more than 3,000 professionals in areas ranging from new products and processes, to food safety and quality. In 2013, GFTC merged with NSF International to become one of the largest food safety certifiers in the world. The GFTC Legacy Fund was established using proceeds from the merger. The combined NSF/GFTC is a global, independent, not-for-profit organization committed to protecting and improving human health and the environment on a global scale, providing services in standards development, product certification, auditing, education and risk management. The Canadian head office remains in Guelph.

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Mentoring brings grads and students together

THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIP HAS BEEN PROVEN OVER TIME TO BENEFIT CAREER AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED. A new program matches Niagara College students in their graduating year with alumni mentors working in a field of interest to the student. “Based on the small pilot program we launched this past year, we want to find more alumni mentors that we can match with graduating students,” said Lauren Bauer, from the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership. The mentors, who have already graduated from a Niagara College program, can help students improve professional terminology, build confidence and establish professional networks. The program provides an opportunity for alumni to give back, enhance their leadership and coaching skills, and expand their own professional network by engaging with other grads and Niagara College staff. “My mentor has been extremely helpful and has given me real-world advice gained through her personal experiences,” said April Tyrell, Event Management graduate student. “She made me feel comfortable and allowed me to ask her a wide range of questions, which have been answered openly and honestly. She will continue to be a resource as I navigate the process of entering the event management workforce.” The program runs through the academic year with an orientation for the mentors, and an introductory networking opportunity with all mentors and their matched graduating student. There will be a mid-year round table discussion, and a final event bringing all participants together. Mentors and students may communicate in person, by phone or email. They are encouraged to connect at least three times from November to March. The ability to match mentors with graduating students will be dependent on how many students apply for the opportunity. The department cannot guarantee a match for every mentor who registers for the program. For more information about how to become an alumni mentor, please email lbauer@niagaracollege.ca.

Kormos leaves his legacy

PETER KORMOS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF MANY DURING HIS LIFETIME. A legacy gift to Niagara College will continue to help make a difference through new scholarships for students in the Law Clerk and Social Service Worker programs. The Estate of Peter Kormos will make four annual payments of $10,000 for a total of $40,000 to the Peter Kormos Memorial Scholarship fund, which will provide awards for the next 20 years. A $1,000 scholarship will be given annually to a student in each program based on an essay outlining their commitment to social justice activism. Kormos graduated from the Social Service program in 1973. He leveraged his diploma into entrance to university to pursue a legal career. He started as a criminal defence lawyer in Welland in 1980, and his political career was underway with his 1985 election to Welland City Council. Elected as an MPP in a provincial by-election in 1988, Kormos was re-elected in every subsequent Ontario general election until his retirement from provincial politics in 2011. He served for 23 years as an MPP. Kormos was House Leader for the Ontario NDP Caucus from 2001-11, and held two Ministerial portfolios in 1990-91: Consumer and Commercial Relations, and Financial Institutions. He was renowned for his effectiveness as an Opposition Critic for many portfolios: Justice, Community Safety and Correctional Services, Consumer and Business Services, Gaming, Human Rights, Labour and Democratic Renewal, Native Affairs, Poverty and Workers Compensation Board. He served on standing committees: Justice and Social Policy, Administration of Justice, Government Agencies, Estimates, Resources Development and Ombudsman. Following his retirement from provincial politics, Kormos was elected to Niagara Regional Council in March 2012. He died in March 2013 at the age of 60. NC nominated Kormos posthumously for a 2013 Premier’s Award in the Community Services category. Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 29

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Scholarships and bursaries support student learning DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HELPS STUDENTS overcome the financial challenges of a college education. Many students work part-time or full-time while completing their studies. An increasing number have responsibility for more than one dependent. About one-third of Niagara College students are the first person in their family to pursue postsecondary education. “We are grateful for every donation that we receive from businesses, organizations and individuals. We work with each donor of a named award to develop a customized terms of reference to guide how

the bursary or scholarship will be distributed,” said Lyn Russo, director, Development. The minimum amount is $500 to establish a named bursary and $1,000 for a named scholarship. Donations of other amounts may be added to the general award fund, or to an established scholarship or bursary. Niagara College has close to 500 named scholarships and bursaries, and encourages donations to help more students. Thank you to the following donors who made recent contributions for awards.

BETTY ANN AND RICK CHANDLER SCHOLARSHIP

AYAKO HARI, THE FIRST RECIPIENT of the Betty Ann and Rick Chandler Scholarship, is exactly the type of student the Chandler’s had in mind to receive financial support from their award. Hari is a mom of three, who was a nurse in her home country of Japan. She started in the Practical Nursing program at Niagara College and encountered some barriers with language. “Rather than give up, she shifted gears and switched to the Personal Support Worker program, where her performance has been wonderful,” said Angela Butt, program co-ordinator. “Ayako is always smiling, friendly, respectful, and frankly she’s a delight to know.” More than $10,000 was raised to establish the Betty Ann and Rick Chandler Scholarship fund which provides an annual award of $500 for a student, who has shown determination to overcome great odds in order to successfully complete the Personal Support Worker or Practical Nursing program, and prepare for a successful career in Canada. Preference is given to international students or landed immigrants. A second $500 award goes to a graduating student, who has shown determination to overcome great odds in order to successfully complete the Paramedic program.

BURSARY SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Valerie Grabove and Brian Green are encouraging donations for the new Len Yust Memorial Bursary to support students in the College’s Environmental graduate certificate programs: Ecosystem Restoration, Environmental Management and Assessment, and Geographic Information Systems – Geospatial Management. The bursary has been established in Yust’s memory by the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada to help a new generation of professional conservationists to continue the work he cared so deeply about. Grabove is chair, Centre for Professional and Organizational Development at Niagara College and Green is a retired faculty member. Both are founding members of the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, dedicated to cold water protection and restoration. Yust, who recently died at age 62, was a dedicated conservationist, passionate about the preservation and restoration of Ontario’s cold water resources. He was a renowned fly angler, whose affection for trout was closely aligned with his professional interest in the preservation of their delicate environment. As director of operations in Eastern Canada for Trout Unlimited Canada for eight years, Yust was responsible for the establishment of many chapters throughout Ontario, including Niagara. To make a donation, call 905-735-2211 ext. 7840 or visit NiagaraCollege.ca/giving; under ‘other’ add Len Yust Memorial Bursary.

OACETT supports student success

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) made a $10,000 donation, through the Fletcher Foundation, to establish the OACETT Technology Scholarship to provide an annual award to a student in one of the College’s OACETT-recognized engineering or applied science technology programs. From left: Sean Kennedy, CEO Niagara College Foundation and VP Student and External Relations; Misheck Mwaba, dean, Media and Technology; David Tsang, chair, OACETT Fletcher Foundation Board Trustees; and David Sloan, past president, OACETT. Both Tsang and Sloan are Niagara College graduates.

30 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

The Niagara Area Business Women’s Network (NABWN) provides an annual donation to support a female student from the Niagara region. From left: Helen Armstrong, Niagara College gifts officer; Shuk Kuen Abby Yip, student in the Business Administration-Accounting program; and Joan Fairchild, NABWN chair.

myConnection

Niagara College Seafood Gala raises $ 130,000 The Niagara College Foundation’s 25th Annual Seafood Gala set a record with 730 guests at the Fallsview Casino Resort. The Niagara Symphony Orchestra provided special entertainment for the milestone event that has raised more than $2 million over the past quarter century. The event generated $130,000 to support student success through equipment and learning resources, and scholarships and bursaries. Mark your calendar for the next Seafood Gala on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

From left: Bob Jackson, secretary, Niagara College Foundation Board and 2014 Seafood Gala Chair; Richard Taylor, VP Operations, Fallsview Casino Resort; Dan Patterson, president, Niagara College; Blair Pollard, chair, Niagara College Foundation Board; and Sean Kennedy, CEO, Niagara College Foundation and VP, Student & External Relations.

LES MARMITONS SUPPORT BURSARIES LONG-TIME NIAGARA COLLEGE SUPPORTERS, Les Marmitons Niagara, are launching a new fundraising event as part of Jackson-Triggs Niagara Summer Concert Series in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Around the Canadian Table will be held on Food Day Canada on Saturday, Aug. 2. The event will feature an evening of food, wine, conversation and music where guests will enjoy a Norris and Marilyn Walker have been major supporters of

delicious taste of the season. Proceeds

Niagara College for many years, donating to equipment,

from the event will be added to Les

scholarships and capital campaigns. Since 2006,

Marmitons’ trust fund at Niagara

the Norris and Marilyn Walker Scholarship disbursed

College to provide bursaries for

$57,000, recognizing academic excellence in 37 students

students in four programs: Culinary

in Business programs. The photo, taken at the 2013-14

Skills – Chef Training; Hospitality

Business awards event, recognizes Marilyn and Norris

Management – Hotel and Restaurant; Brewmaster and Brewery Operations

Walker and the three recipients of their award: Alena

Management; and Winery and Viticulture Technician.

Iwanowska, Brandon Peshko and Daniella Sermeno.

Guests will stroll through the winery savouring dishes, prepared by some of Niagara’s top chefs, paired with the finest VQA Niagara wines from Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin and Le Clos Jordanne. Chefs include NC chef professor Mark Picone; Anthony Greco, Zest in Fonthill; Andrew

Foundation Leaving a legacy If you are an individual, or professional advisor working with clients, who would like to leave a legacy gift through an insurance policy or a bequest in a will to help Niagara College students, please contact:

McLeod, Spencer’s at the Waterfront in Burlington; Erik Peacock, Wellington Court in St. Catharines; Tim Mackiddie, Great Estates of Niagara; and David Watt, Garrison House, both in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Anita Stewart, founder of Food Day Canada, will chair the Canadian Table Conversation, with an all-star panel of chefs, educators and producers including: Donald Ziraldo, co-founder of Inniskillin; Karen Whitty of Whitty Farms; Craig Youdale, dean of NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute; and NC chef professor Michael Olson. Pastry chef Anna Olson will prepare a seasonal fruit dessert. Since forming as a Chapter in 2005, Les Marmitons Niagara has held an annual fundraising dinner at the Niagara College and has raised more

Helen Armstrong, gifts officer

than $150,000 in a permanent endowed bursary fund at Niagara College.

harmstrong@niagaracollege.ca

For more information, visit lesmarmitons.org.

905-735-2211 ext. 7847

Tickets are limited, so book early. Order tickets at jacksontriggswinery.com/events/amphitheatre click on “Food Day Canada”. Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 31

myConnection

Thank you to the following donors and supporters who gave between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. Your financial investment helped support student success. ORGANIZATIONS Academica Group Inc. Advanced Office Solutions Algoma Central Corporation Amora Portrait Studios Angels Gate Winery Apotex Inc. Applied Electronics Limited Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. Aramark Canada Art Gallery of Ontario Balance Fitness Studio Balanced Way Consulting Bargain Central Bayview Flowers (Jordan Station) Ltd. Beatties Basics Beatties Home Improvement Beechwood Golf & Country Club Bell Benchmark Restaurant BlackBerry Limited Blackboard Inc. Boston Pizza Welland Briggsy’s Sportswear & Promotions Brock Centre for the Arts BTY (Ontario) Inc. Burgess Law Office Burning Kiln Winery Business Education Council of Niagara Business Link Media Group Busy Bee Gardens Lavender Farm Campus Living Centres Inc. Canada’s Wonderland Canadian Federation of University Women - St. Catharines Canadian Food & Wine Institute Canadian Tire - Grimsby Canadian Tire - St. Catharines Associate Stores Canadian Tire Financial Services Limited Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Cave Springs Cellars Central Music Welland Charter Building Company Chateau des Charmes Wine Ltd. Chef’s Hat Inc. Christie’s Dairy Ltd. A. Cianfarani Dentistry Professional Corp. Citrus Boutique CN Tower CogecoTV Niagara Colaneri Estate Winery College Compensation & Appointments Council Colleges Ontario Combat Networks Convergent Telecom Inc. Corporation of the City of St. Catharines Corporation of the City of Welland Corporation of the Town of Niagara-onthe-Lake Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Criveller Company of Canada Crosswinds Golf & Country Club Cytec Canada Inc. D. McMaster Investments Inc. Dayboll-Pascuzzi Jiu-Jitsu DC Bank Dell Deloitte Touche LLP Design Electronics Desjardins Caisse populaire Welland Desks Plus Inc. Diamond Estate Wines

District School Board of Niagara DMS Technologies Doug Forsythe Gallery Dr. Charles Daly & Associates Dr. Lori E. Bruce Medicine Professional Corp. Dr. Paul J. Coyne Family Dentistry DTZ Barnicke Niagara Ltd. East Main Dental Care Eastdell Estates Wines Eclipse Technology Solutions Inc. Embanent ULC Essence Esthetic Studio Estate of Edith Mary Kees Estate of Peter Kormos Falls Manor Resort & Restaurant Fallsview Casino Resort Finlayson Tire Automotive FirstOntario Credit Union Limited Flat Rock Cellars Flett Beccario Barristers & Solicitors Flying Saucer Restaurant Follett Higher Education Group Fort Erie Golf Club Fox Run Golf Course Framing & Art Centre Garland Canada General Contractors Association of Niagara Inc. General Motors of Canada Limited GIANT FM 91.7 Girotti Machine Golf Association of Ontario Golf Management Institute of Canada Great Estates of Niagara: Inniskillin Wines, Les Clos Jordanne, Jackson-Triggs Estates Wines Great Wolf Lodge Greens at Brock Greg Frewin Theatre Grotto Bay Beach Resort Bermuda guard.me Guelph Food Technology Centre Habitat for Humanity Hair Gallery Hallex Engineering Hamilton Waterfront Trust Harrow Sports Harwood Estates Vineyards Henry of Pelham Family Estate Hernder Estate Wines Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP Hilton Hotel & Suites Hinterbrook Estate Wines Holiday Inn & Suite Parkway Conference Centre Holt Renfrew Horne Construction Horseplay Niagara Howell Family Pumpkin Farm Huff Estates Winery Inc. Humberstone Speedway Imperial Sovereign Court of St. Catharines & Greater Niagara Innovate Niagara International Wine & Food Society Niagara Branch Invizij Architects Inc. James Cuttriss - The Heat is On Catering Jeffery’s Greenhouses Inc. Joe Feta’s Greek Village John Deere Foundation of Canada John Howard Society of Niagara Johnny Rocco’s Italian Grill

32 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

Joseph C. McCallum Barrister & Solicitor Joseph’s Estate Wines June Lindenfield Salon Kenedy Stairs Inc. Kinetic Synergy KJ Watson Farms Limited Knowledge First Foundation Konzelmann Estate Winery Koppert Canada Inc. KPMG LLP L.J. Barton Mechanical Inc. Ladson Creative Millworks Lailey Vineyard Lakeport Paint & Wallpaper Landscape Ontario Golden Horseshoe Chapter Lavo Hair Salon Le Creuset Canada Legends Estates Winery Leon’s Furniture Limited Lepp Farms Les Marmitons Niagara Lincoln Garden Club & Horticultural Society Log Cabin Pharma Save Magnotta Wines Malcolm Bernstein Consulting Malivoire Winery Mandarin Restaurant Franchise Corporation Marineland Canada Market Street Loft & Cheese Secrets Mark’s Work Wearhouse - Grimsby Martin Farms Ltd. McMaster University Degroote School of Medicine Medi Massage Medieval Times Toronto Mercer Tool Corporation Merck Canada Inc. Meridian Credit Union Metro Toronto Convention Centre Mick & Angelo’s Mike Weir Estate Winery Ltd. Mountainview Homes MT Bellies Nella Restaurant Supply Niagara Area Business Women’s Network Niagara Bruce Trail Club Niagara Classic Transport Ltd. Niagara Clifton Group Niagara College Athletics Department Niagara College Dental Clinic Niagara College Greenhouse Nursery Niagara College Hair Salon Niagara College Retirees Association Niagara College Student Administrative Council & Students of Niagara College Niagara College Teaching Brewery Niagara College Teaching Winery Niagara College Waters Spa Niagara Community Foundation Niagara Construction Association Niagara Falls Bridge Commission Niagara Falls Golf Club Niagara Helicopters Limited Niagara Hospitality Hotels Niagara Ice Dogs Niagara Inflatables & Games Inc. Niagara Parks Commission Niagara Region Niagara Region Wind Corporation Niagara Regional Broadband Network Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Niagara University Niagara Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Niagara Vineyard Candle Company Niagara Workforce Planning Board Niagara-on-the-Lake Jeweler’s & Precious Metal Studios Nigh’s Sweet Shop Nortel Network Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists Oban Inn, Spa & Restaurant O’Connor Mokrycke Consultants Olson Foods Concepts One Earth Basket ONESource Moving Solutions for Seniors Ontario Science Centre Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association & Heavy Construction Association of Regional Niagara Ontario Small Brewers Association Inc. Ontario Wine Society - Niagara Chapter Paragon Security Peller Estates Winery, Trius Winery at Hillebrand PenFinancial Credit Union Peninsula Lakes Golf Club Phillips Brewing Company Ltd. Pillitteri Estates Winery Pinder’s Security Products Pondview Estate Winery Put a Cork In It RA Shaw Designs Rachel Delaney Insurance Agency Ltd. Raimondo + Associates Architects Inc. Rankin Construction Inc. RBC Foundation Reed Stenhouse Inc. Reif Estate Winery Results Continuum Inc. Ricoh Document Management Rockway Vineyards Rogers TV Rolling Meadows Golf & Country Club Rona - Welland Rose City Suites Royal Ontario Museum Safari Niagara Savona’s Grocery Scotiabank Convention Centre Scotiabank Group Seguin Engineering Inc. Sentineal Carriages Inc. Serianni Construction Ltd. Shaw Festival Shaw Spa Sinclair Dental Company Skills Canada Ontario Skylon Tower Sobeys Headquarters Spacifix Esthetics St. Catharines Horticultural Society Stamford Physiotherapy Starbucks Steelite International Canada Ltd. Stephen Dominick Photography Stevensville Garden Gallery Stokes Seeds Ltd. Strewn Winery StuCor Construction Ltd. Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Sullivan Mahoney LLP SunMedia Group Sunshine Building Maintenance Inc. Suntastic Tanning Inc.

myConnection

Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill - Niagara Falls Syndicate Restaurant, Shaw Festival Tawse Winery TD Bank Techno-Bloc Inc. Telcon Datvox Cabling Solutions Teva Canada Ltd. Thatcher Garden Services The Baron Company Corp. The Boat House The Commercial Roadhouse The Crystal Beach Tattoo Company The Fairmont Royal York The Foreign Affair Winery The Hair Gallery Salon The Irish Harp Pub The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation The Sports Network The Watering Can Timbro Design Build Contractors Tony Roma Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club Toronto North Dental Hygienist Society Toronto Sun Tourism Partnership of Niagara Trafalgar Ales & Meads Ltd. Tree Amigos Landscaping Inc. Trigger Strategies Trius Winery at Hillebrand TVCogeco Tyler Simone Masterson VIA Rail Canada Vine Floral Vineland Estates Winery Vineland Research & Innovation Centre Vintage Hotels Walker Industries Holdings Limited Walmart Waterpark Golf & Country Club Welland Horticultural Society Welland Recreational Canal Corporation WestJet White Oaks Resort & Spa YMCA of Niagara Zees Grill Zehrs Zonta Club of Niagara Falls INDIVIDUALS Fiona Allan Carolyn Ambrose-Miller Theresa Anzovino Helen Armstrong Cathy Ashby Steve & Melina Baldinelli Barber Family Janice Barlow Ahmad Bashir David Berry David Bessey Sarah Biamonte Rosemarie Blackwood The Blair Family Christopher Blake Christine Blane Dr. Peter Boersma Michael Boldin Kathleen Roland Boose Alexandria Botelho

Jeanie Bourque Deborah Boutilier Jim Bradley Mr. B. Brand A.L. Branscombe Dr. Roger Brook Dr. Ian & Tina Brown Chris Brownell Thomas Bruce Hendrick Burgers Marilyn & John Burt Thomas Busnarda Jim & Louise Butko Barbara Butler Judy Calvin Denise Camire Michelle Carile Martha Casson Colleen Catling Dr. Ben Cecil Betty Ann & Rick Chandler Denise Charlesbois Jordan Charron Clutterbuck Family Robynne Cole Patricia Coleman Steve Collins Sean & Rachelle Coote Lynn Corbey Joanne & Michael Cousineau Louise Cowitz Bill Crumm Mark Csele Donna Cunningham Gary Cwitco & Fern Valin John Crossingham Dr. Charles R. Daly Kristine Dawson Shirley DeBeau Rachel & Brian Delaney Elizebeth Dempster Karen Debrousie Lina DeNardi Katie Devereaux Nancy Diamond Marilyn Dickinson Neil Dixon & Marilyn Bodogh Gary Dolch Steven James Douglas Daniel Doyle Martina Drljepan The Duncan Family Adam Dusome The Filice Family Stefane Filion Dr. Brian Findlay The Fischer Family Brock Francis Janet Fraser Lianne Gagnon Rene Galipeau Richard Gark Jim Garner Dena Gavin Vic & Debbie Gayed Tracey Gilliss Scott Glober Alan & Margaret Goddard Peggy Gordon James Gossifidou John Gowing Walter Greczko Stacey Green Chris Guay Greta Haanstra (deVries)

Michael Hardy Jack Hamer Gerald Harrison Cole Hayes Phil Hayes Trisha Haynes Margaret & Fred Hayward Lynne Heaman Peter Hendriksen Vince DiCosimo Family Richard Houghton Jennifer Hoyle Steve Hudson Eric Huffman Dr. William Hughes Gord Hunchak Sandra Huppe Bob & Amy Jackson Dr. Valerie Jaeger David Jastrubecki Eugene Johnson Lois Johnson Dr. Robert Josefchak John Kaloyanides Michael Katz Dr. Richard Kelly Edward D. Kendall Paul Kendrick Sean & Kerry Kennedy Maureen Kerbel Dr. Mary Kilmer-Tchalekian Nancy Kinberger Vivian Kinnaird Michael Klein Ulrike Klein Nestor Komar Patricia Labonte Nelson Lacroix Ralph Laird Heidi Lambrechts Eleanor Lancaster Michelle Latinsky Rayna Laughlin Gregory Laughton Brianne Lavery Sheila & Rick Lavery Esther Lee Stephen J. Letwin John & Dot Levay Darlene Levinski Jamie Levitt Bonnie Lobsinger Stephanie Lostraco Lauren Lynden & Barry Hodgson Carol Ann MacKinnon Dr. Cheslea MacNeil Allan & Betty Magnacca Vince Malvaso Emile Mansour Virginia Marr Katie Marshall Bonnie Martel Norbert & Rose Martel Bob & Kathy Martin Phyllis Mauro Dana Maxwell Stacy Maxwell McCallum Family Dean & Susan McCann Vera McCann Barry McCauley Cindy McDonald Karen McGrath David McKay Cosmo & Gina Menechella &

Family Shelley Merlo Lora Miani Jacqueline Miller Janet Misener Jayne Moffat Marilyn Montgomery Sandra & Ross Moorhouse The Moran Family Tonie & Bill Mori Alan Mutch Misheck Mwaba Nantel & Ward-Smith Family Laura Napon Robert Neill Terrence J. O’Malley Lynn Otto Overholt Family Wing Pak Wendy Palermo Lorraine Papalazarou Peter P. Papp & Estate of Valerie A. Lane Candace Paris David Pastirik Dr. Daniel & Saundra Patterson Paul Peebles Dorita Pentesco Nicole Perreault Carol Phillips Margaret Pickles Mira Pisano Janet Pizzati Kevin Poirier Blair & Lynne Pollard Teresa Quinlin Mark Ravelle Robert Rawle Ashley Reece Frank Roberts Margaret Robertson Gord Robinson Dr. Bonnie Rose & Dr. Walter Kubiski Andre Roy Lyn & Dan Russo Carl Ryan Jim & Dora Ryan Sandra Sabo Ray Sarkis Allan Schmidt Peter Schmidt Michael Scott Laura Scoufaris Ronald A. Shaw Clarence & Sandy Showalter Gillian & Patrick Shriner Eric & Linda Silvestri Donna Smith-Blackburn Richard Sniderman Betty-Lou Souter Barbara Smith Ed & Heather Smith Pat Spano Edward E. Stark Paul R. Stephenson Jeff Stewart Stephanie Stranges Abbas Sumar Greg Swick Josephine Szabo Lucia Szeplaki David Taylor Dave Thomas Barrie Tober Natalee Tokar

Dr. Andrew Tortorella & Dr. Bonnie Marek Phil Tregunno David Tsang C. Anne Tucker Dean Tudor Greg Unrau Alan Unwin Petronella van Bruggen Ted Van Geest Denise Van Osch Colleen VanderWielen Nicola Varalli Susan Varghese David Veres Shari Virtue Robert Visser Ian Waddell Kimberly Walker Rob Walters Jim Warren Trina Washington David Weaver Paul Weerdenburg Thomas Whitelaw Lance Wiebe Christine Wilkinson Roy Williamson Mary Wilson Deb & Kevin Winlaw Herman F. Winter James Woods Jay Yatulis Tatiana Young Melvin G. Yungblut Peter Zalauf Joanna Zalewa IN HONOUR/CELEBRATION Betty Ann & Rick Chandler Alejandra Figueroa Jana Katz Dr. Daniel Patterson Jennifer Turner IN MEMORY Alex Bartok II Alex Bartok III Barbara Bartok Jody Clark Katy Cole Randy Cole Albert Cipryk Jacob DeVries Kate Dixon Edward Eldred Medard “Chuck” Frigault Isabel Hernandez Edward Hoekstra Mark Johns Chantal Millet Maria Uribe de Piedrahite Carolyn Weaver

HOW TO DONATE NiagaraCollege.ca/giving or call 905-735-2211 x7840 to pay by credit card. Make cheque payable to Niagara College and mail to: Foundation & Alumni Relations, Niagara College 300 Woodlawn Road, Welland, ON L3C 7L3

Spring 2014 | NiagaraCollege.ca | encore 33

myFuture

Alumni NC GRADS Update your contact information at

NiagaraCollege.ca/alumni ›› Share your career success story ›› Receive monthly e-newsletter with successful grad stories, events and news ›› Encore magazine subscription ›› Looking for grads for class visits, networking events, recruitment and orientation activities ›› Mentor a graduating student ›› Network with other grads through NC Alumni LinkedIn ›› Keep in touch through NC Alumni Facebook

Have a story to share?

We’re always looking for grad stories to share with the NC community. Send your profile to us and we may include it in a future edition of encore.

For more information or to update your contact information, please visit: NiagaraCollege.ca/alumni

Benefits and services available for our grads Free access to OptimalResume™

Alumni Relations provides free access to OptimalResume™, a comprehensive career management platform with a variety of tools to help you create, present, manage and share your professional credentials. ›› Generate a professional resume in a variety of formats with Resume Builder ›› Create an online gallery of your work with Portfolio Manager ›› Refine interviewing skills with real-to-life, multi-media interview scenarios with Optimal Interview Visit NiagaraCollege.ca/optimalresume to obtain the alumni access code.

NC frames available

Foundation & Alumni Relations has frames in stock for a certificate, diploma, degree or photo. For more information and/or to place an order, visit: NiagaraCollege.ca/alumni or call 905.735.2211, ext. 7551.

Discounts and special offers

We have a loyal group of affinity partners, which offer competitive group discounts for NC grads. For every client that signs up, these companies provide financial support to help fund equipment and learning resources for students. Performance Cars ›› Special rebate for graduates, students, staff and retirees on all new and used cars purchased or leased ›› 15 brands with a model suitable for any time in life ›› Amount of the rebate depends upon cost of the car ›› Visit for details: pcrebates.ca/nc/ Johnson Insurance – Home and Auto ›› Monthly premium payments with no interest or service charge ›› Access to scholarships and academic grants ›› Personal priority attention, 24 hours a day MBNA Mastercard ›› No annual fee ›› Credit limit up to $100,000 ›› Around-the-clock fraud protection ›› Emergency replacement within 48 hours Canada Life – Life, Dental and Health Insurance ›› Low cost coverage term life plan that pays a taxfree lump sum payment of up to $250,000 ›› Select a health and dental plan to optimize your coverage ›› Get a no-obligation quote online

Stay connected with us on Facebook and Linkedin.

34 encore | NiagaraCollege.ca | Spring 2014

NIAGARA COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Golf Classic 2014

Proceeds will support scholarships and bursaries for student athletes!

200/person

Tuesday, Sept 16 12:00 p.m.

GOLF PACKAGE: 18 holes of golf, golf cart, golf clinic, special golf competitions, lunch by the Canadian Food and Wine Institute and banquet dinner.

For registration and sponsorship contact us at email: jcousineau@niagaracollege.ca web: NiagaraCollege.ca/golfclassic phone: 905-735-2211, ext. 7775

Peninsula Lakes Golf Club 569 Hwy #20, Fenwick, Ontario Please remove along the dotted line and mail or drop off your pledge to the address indicated below

Yes, I want to support Student Success! Contribution type: q One-time

q Monthly

Monthly pledge contributions will be deducted from your bank account or credit card on the 10th day of each month.

Credit Card contribution amount: q $25 q $50 q $100 q $250 q $______________ (Please enter credit card information at right)

Pre-authorized contribution amount: q $25 q $50 q $75 q $100 q $______________ (Please attach a VOID cheque)

You the Payor may revoke your authorization at any time, subject to providing notice of 5 business days. To obtain a sample cancellation form, or for more information on your rights to cancel a PAD Agreement, contact your financial institution, or visit www.cdnpay.ca You have certain recourse rights if any debit does not comply with this agreement. For example, you have the right to receive reimbursement for any debit that is not authorized or is not consistent with this PAD agreement. To obtain more information on your recourse right contact your financial institution or visit www.cdnpay.ca

Name__________________________________________ This donation is made on behalf of an q Individual q Business Company:_______________________________________ Address:________________________________________ City:____________________Prov:______ PC:_____窶点___ Telephone:______________________________________ Email:__________________________________________

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Registered Charitable Number 11905 7180 RR0001

Please direct my contribution to: q q q

Equipment & Learning Resources Enhanced Facilities Student Success

How to make a donation: > Donate online at NiagaraCollege.ca/giving > Mail a cheque payable to Niagara College > Pre-authorized payment (fill out the form at left and mail) > Charge to your Credit Card (donate online or use this form)

Select Card Type:

Card Number

Expiry Date

Security Code

Signature All donors of $100 or more will be recognized in Niagara College publications and other media. Please list my recognition as: __________________________________________________________________

q I wish my gift to be anonymous Completed pledge forms can be mailed to:

Foundation & Alumni Relations Niagara College 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, ON L3C 7L3

For more information please contact us at 905-735-2211, ext. 7840 NiagaraCollege.ca/giving

HOME+AUTO INSURANCE

Home and auto insurance coverage that is right for Niagara College Alumni members.

Johnson offers Niagara College Alumni members special group discounts, better products, AIR MILES® reward miles* and arguably the best customer service in the industry. Here are some of the advantages Johnson gives you: • Savings and Discounts – for Niagara College Alumni members. • First Accident Forgiveness – Protect your driving record in the event of a first at-fault accident. • PS Home Platinum Benefits – $10,000 jewellery coverage, first claim forgiveness, and much more. • Roadside Assistance – If your car breaks down on the side of the road, or you lock your keys in the car, we’ve got you covered.

1-800-563-0677 | www.johnson.ca/niagaraalumni Group ID Code: N6

Home and auto insurance is available through Johnson Inc., a licensed insurance intermediary. Policies are underwritten by Unifund Assurance Company (Unifund). Unifund and Johnson Inc. share common ownership. Eligibility requirements, limitations and exclusions may apply. Auto insurance in not available in BC, SK and MB. An alternate plan is available in QC. Availability of certain coverages, advantages or services may vary by province, may be limited to members of sponsor groups, and/or may be subject to an additional charge. *AIR MILES reward miles awarded only on regular home and auto insurance policies underwritten by Unifund and awarded at the time premium is paid. AIR MILES reward miles not available in SK, MB or QC. One AIR MILES reward mile is awarded for each $20 in premium (including taxes). ®™Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Johnson Inc. CAT.04.2014