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Convocation Day at Algonquin College

The following is an excerpt from the President Claude Brulé’s October 28 address at the 2020 Convocation; learn more about Algonquin College first virtual convocation here. As your President, I am both humbled and honoured to have this opportunity to celebrate your resilience and success. Amidst the events reshaping our global reality, be they the […]

Office of the President

Photos:

November 4, 2020
Revised: November 4, 2020 10:37am

The following is an excerpt from the President Claude Brulé’s October 28 address at the 2020 Convocation; learn more about Algonquin College first virtual convocation here.

As your President, I am both humbled and honoured to have this opportunity to celebrate your resilience and success.

Amidst the events reshaping our global reality, be they the pandemic, climate change, the fight for social justice and equality, or automation and the world of Artificial Intelligence, we come together to celebrate your incredible achievement, which is all the more remarkable given these extraordinary times.

In this age of great uncertainty, I can be certain of one thing…. The steadfast determination you have displayed will serve you well in the new environment being shaped so rapidly before us.

The world you are entering, upon graduation, looks nothing like the world from even a year ago. Yet, along with the challenges that lay ahead, the future holds promise and opportunities the likes of which have not been presented to any generation for a long time.

The door is open for you to really change the world, and not in a clichéd sense, but in real and tangible ways, emboldened with fresh ideas and new perspectives.

It also stands ready for your generation’s champions of social justice, to address issues of inequity, and the lack of diversity and inclusion that recent events have brought to the forefront in ways that can no longer be ignored.

Whatever your path forward, you will have the opportunity to help lead a true transformation –

to recalibrate the socio-economic inequities for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour on a scale never seen before. And to reshape the modern workforce and break new ground in your chosen field.

Embracing our community will hopefully be one of the enduring legacies to emerge from these times, and you will be the ones to pass this on to the next generation.

Education, in its many forms, is a significant touchstone. It helps form the solid ground beneath our feet. It allows us to adapt, pivot and anticipate rather than merely react when change inevitably challenges our lives.

The knowledge and skills you have acquired here at Algonquin College are now part of your “tool kit”, helping to “future-proof” your career.

I want to borrow now from my colleague, Ron (Deganadus) McLester, Algonquin’s Vice President – Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenization. He often uses the metaphor of arrows in a

quiver. An arrow on its own will snap easily, however when they are bundled together, they are strong and resilient. Having many arrows in your quiver provides strength, and will enhance your confidence when faced with the many challenges set to come your way.

So … going forward … be inspired to learn new things and develop new skills. Fill your quiver with more arrows and make your mark.

Everything of value starts with an idea. What ideas are you preparing to share with the world? What script are you about to write?

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the author, Neil Gaiman, and I’d like to borrow what I think is an appropriate quote from his book, Art Matters: “It is easy to pretend that nobody can change anything, that society is huge and the individual is less than nothing. But the truth is, individuals make the future, and they do it by imagining that things can be different.”

So, when you think about your future, where does your imagination take you? The world needs your creativity, your energy and your resiliency more than ever before. It needs you to dream big dreams, and to go forward and be fearless.

Be unafraid to fail and to learn from your missteps. To borrow again from Neil Gaiman: “Now go, and make interesting mistakes…Make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for you being here.” History is filled with the stories of entrepreneurs and leaders in every field whose ideas met with initial dismissal, failure, and seemingly insurmountable odds before they achieved success.

So let opportunity be what defines you. I know you already possess the determination, imagination and innovative spirit to overcome any obstacles in your path.

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Claude Brulé

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Taking care of one’s own mental health should be top priority

The Fall term has always been a time of excitement – but also of increased responsibility and stress within our College community. Amidst the pandemic, I know many of us are struggling with additional feelings of anxiety and isolation this year. That’s why I call on each and every one of you to make mental […]

Office of the President

Photos:

October 14, 2020
Revised: October 15, 2020 6:54pm

That’s why I call on each and every one of you to make mental health your top priority.

Six years ago, the Mental Health Commission of Canada released a report highlighting how post-secondary student populations across the country are at a higher risk of mental health issues.

The report detailed how half of all lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illness start by 14 years-of-age, and 75 per cent by the age of 24. Half of all Canadians will have, or will have had, a mental illness by the age of 40.

In the intervening years since that report, Algonquin College has taken many steps to enhance its support networks and resources to help our learners and employees look after their mental health.

That work continues with an even greater sense of purpose today, as we now face new personal challenges brought upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a return to normal still on the horizon, taking care of ourselves has become even more critical.

Algonquin College takes pride in being an inclusive, caring community. We strive each day to support and respect one another – to show kindness and empathy. By doing this, we break down the old and harmful stigmas around mental health.

Building awareness is crucial, and I encourage every learner and employee to take the time to reflect on how they are feeling and coping during these unprecedented times. Part of being aware is accepting that it is okay to be vulnerable. Asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness. Never hesitate to reach out when in need. In addition to the resources referenced above, there are also many apps and online tools available to you, and excellent resources offered by Ottawa Public Health.

One of the recent developments in our continuing efforts around mental health is the expanded partnership Algonquin College has with The Royal. This summer, thanks to a $250,000 contribution from RBC Foundation, more of our learners in need will be able to meet online with a psychiatrist from The Royal and get the support they need through a customized treatment plan.

We also offer a complete range of counselling services and general supports in an effort to cater to the individual needs of every learner, understanding the broad range of challenges and lived experiences across our student population. These services are provided by professionals who can accommodate you virtually from the comfort of your own home.

Like everyone, I am looking forward to the time when we can all safely be together again, enjoying the vibrancy and energy of being on campus. Until then, please know you are not alone. We want you to turn your dreams into lifelong success and are committed to helping you on the journey.

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News briefs: Ottawa health unit faces heat for reduced beach water testing

Top stories in your community and around the world as noted by Algonquin Times journalists

Mila Leclair

Photos:

June 12, 2025
Revised: June 12, 2025 1:55pm

Local

CBC Ottawa: Ottawa Public Health’s decision to reduce daily beach water testing to once a week starting June 21 is facing criticism.

Mooney’s Bay beach faced closures due to elevated E. coli levels in 2020.

Ottawa Riverkeeper Laura Reinsborough said this is “a huge step backwards” for OPH and puts Ottawa swimmers at risk of exposure to bacteria.

National

CBC: G7 country leaders are set to arrive in Kananaskis, Alta. on June 15 to attend meetings on June 16 and 17.

Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Canadian soil.

Carney laid out Canada’s core missions for the G7 summit. He’s looking to secure new partnerships to build “stronger infrastructure, create high-paying jobs and open dynamic markets where businesses can compete and succeed.”

International

Globe and Mail: More than 200 people were killed on June 12 in what authorities said is the “world’s worst aviation disaster in decades.”

Air India Flight 171 was headed to London with 242 people on board when the plane crashed only minutes after takeoff.

The plane crashed on to a medical college hostel during lunch hour.

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Mila Leclair

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From cocktails to mocktails, Algonquin College students embrace a new era in social sipping

College bartending pros have noticed younger generations are following social and industry trends and are switching to non-alcoholic options

Jade Louise Greenwood

Photos: Jade Louise Greenwood

June 12, 2025
Revised: June 12, 2025 11:25am

Photo: Jade Louise Greenwood

Ali Albaawadh shows off mixed drink at Algonquin College Wolves Den.

The shaker rattles in rhythm, a symphony of ice and juice, as Ali Albaawadh crafts a mocktail so vibrant it could fool anyone into thinking it carried a kick.

A bartender at Algonquin College’s Wolves Den, Albaawadh has noticed the growing trend of alcohol-free spirits reshaping the cocktail industry.

Ali Albaawadh, Algonquin College bartender, pours drink at Wolves Den Bar on June 9. Photo credit: Jade Louise Greenwood

“Small companies are making alcohol free tequila, alcohol-free gin and alcohol free vodka, so now people can have these cocktails that aren’t alcoholic,” Albaawadh said. “There’s schnapps and whisky and all these very flavourful liqueurs that have recently started to hit the market and are a good alternative for people.”

The shift isn’t just about taste — it’s about health. Mocktails provide benefits like better hydration, improved sleep, and no hangovers, making them a practical choice for many students juggling academics and a social life, according to research by Future Market Insights .

“More kids these days are really into the health grind,” Albaawadh said. “The guys at the gym don’t come over here for drinks.”

Morgan Sandrelli, a 19-year-old Algonquin College student in massage therapy, said that mocktails are a great addition to menus for someone who still wants to enjoy the night with friends.

“It makes you feel like you are part of the group,” Sandrelli said, “so you can have a fun drink like everyone else.”

Lindsay Groleau, a 19-year-old early childhood education student, sees mocktails as an excellent alternative to alcohol.

“I think it’s a good choice for people that maybe want to have that same cutsie moment,” Groleau said.

The Future Markets Insights research shows Gen Z is consuming 20 per cent less alcohol than millennials, driving bars and restaurants to expand their non-alcoholic offerings. The non-alcoholic beverage industry is expanding at an extraordinary pace, with worldwide sales projected to surpass $60 billion by 2034, according to the research.

Marie-France Boudreault-Champagne, a professor and program coordinator of the bartending program at Algonquin College, has watched the rise of the mocktail firsthand.

Marie-France Boudreault-Champagne, professor and program coordinator for the bartending program, stands in the practical bartending room for students. Photo credit: Jade Louise Greenwood

Boudreault-Champagne has observed younger generations increasingly shift away from alcohol, embracing mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

“The quality of these products over the past years has grown exponentially,” Boudreault-Champagne said. “We went from Labatt 0.5 per cent to now having craft breweries making beautiful selections of non-alcoholic drinks.”

Boudreault-Champagne said that dehydrated fruit, fresh herbs, and expert balance make mocktails just as enjoyable as traditional cocktails.

She has taught bartending students to craft mocktails for years, with the program also offering workshops and team-building exercises for members of Algonquin College, focused on alcohol-free mixology.

Marie-France Boudreault-Champagne, professor and program coordinator for the bartending program demonstrates pouring liquid into glass in H-building bartending practical room. — Marie-France Boudreault-Champagne demonstrates pouring liquid into glass in the H-building bartending practical room. Photo credit: Jade Louise Greenwood

“It is about hospitality, it’s about getting people together,” Boudreault-Champagne said. “It’s about people having the experience at a restaurant, and you don’t really need alcohol for that. What we are selling now is the experience.”

With mocktail culture booming, Boudreault-Champagne shared two summer mocktail recipes and a perfect food pairing to complement them.

Recipes provided by Boudreault-Champagne. Bloody BBQ Mary and a Maple Espresso Martini. Photo credit: Jade Louise Greenwood

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Festival season is here. Are concerts becoming a luxury for AC students?

Music-loving students at Algonquin College are finding different ways to combat rising concert prices amidst high living costs.

Mila Leclair

Photos: Mila Leclair

June 11, 2025
Revised: June 11, 2025 3:15pm

Photo: Mila Leclair

The Furious Bongos, a Frank Zappa tribute band, performing a show at Salle Jean-Desprez in Gatineau on Sept. 5, 2024.

Festival and concert tickets are more costly than ever, but students like Lucas Bear are enjoying the best of both worlds by volunteering at events to save money without sacrificing fun.

“After a while, I started noticing the volunteer community in Bluesfest, and someone told me that if you volunteer, you’d get to go for free,” Bear said. “I started volunteering every year since then. I started volunteering for CityFolk, and even Dragon Boat. I realized if I volunteer for stuff, I can start seeing the shows for free.”

Bear, a tourism and hospitality student, has made good use of his resources by getting involved with the festival community and fostering helpful connections.

Lucas Bear enjoying an afternoon beer at the Wolves Den on May 28. Photo credit: Mila Leclair

“It gives you more opportunities to meet other people in the space to give you a spare ticket or know how to get you one,” Bear said. “Once you are part of the concert community, it gets a little bit easier and a little bit cheaper. People will know you’re a concert person and think of you.”

Single-band concerts can be different because volunteering is not always an option. Resellers are a root cause for limited tickets and skyrocketing prices. Business marketing students Lotus Fakhrani and Abigail Mehari are adapting to inflated costs by finding second jobs to balance with school.

“It’s so expensive. It’s unaffordable to go to a concert at this point. Especially when you work minimum wage and you’re doing part-time because you also have school,” Fakhrani said. “It was almost $1,000 just for regular general admission for The Weeknd in Toronto. That’s why I went to the Montreal one, because it was $300 and it’s all floor.”

Many concert-goers who want to save money will purchase tickets with an obstructed view for a discounted price.

“It is a luxury going to front row concerts,” Mehari said. “The cheaper (tickets) are not the best seats either. You’d be far back, you can barely see the artist in front performing, and it doesn’t even sound right.”

Music lovers are sticking to what works when it comes to affording live events.

“I’m going to Montreal for My Chemical Romance. I might be going to the HOPE Volleyball SummerFest and I think I’m going to the Ottawa Jazz Festival, but those are as volunteering,” said Neve Gerow, a music industry arts student. “I noticed (concert) prices have definitely gone up. The ones I like to see are more expensive. Smaller acts are more affordable, but the bigger ones aren’t. The prices can be pretty high.”

Smaller live events held at local pubs and music venues can be a great outlet for students looking to dive into the music scene and save money, all while supporting local artists.

Posters advertising upcoming events at the Algonquin Commons Theatre on May 28. Photo credit: Mila Leclair

With bigger festivals like Escapade, Bluesfest and Osheaga coming up, students are weighing their options and contemplating affordability.

“I saw the lineup for Osheaga and every single day has at least three artists that I love,” Fakhrani said. “Then I saw that the tickets are almost $400 for each day. This is too unaffordable, I just can’t do it.”

Bands like The All-American Rejects have found a creative solution to regain control of their affordability and accessibility by performing at house parties on their latest tour across the United States. This eliminates predatory resellers and boosts fan engagement.

Here’s what Bear thinks about ticket scalping today.

“The upselling of tickets by scalpers is an issue even more so now. It’s just going to keep on making tickets rise in cost. In a weird way, (resellers) see this as a thing that people are going to buy anyway, so they keep charging more,” Bear said. “I’m not sure if that’s really on us for spending the money, or scalpers for taking advantage of it.”

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Moose Hide Campaign is trying to end violence one pin at a time

Algonquin College students wore pins made of moose hide on May 15 to raise awareness of violence against women and children

Skyla Murray

Photos: Skyla Murray

June 11, 2025
Revised: June 11, 2025 3:09pm

Photo: Skyla Murray

Summer Wabasse and Hollie Sabourin write letters to their members of Parliament.

The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative to end violence against women and children across Canada. It was started in British Columbia, along a stretch of Highway 16, known as the Highway of Tears because of the high number of disappearances that have occurred along it.

The Moose Hide Campaign was started by Raven Lacerte from Lake Babine First Nation and her father, Paul Lacerte from Carrier First Nation. They sell pins made of moose hide on the campaign’s official website.

On May 15, in the AC hub at Algonquin College, the Mamidosewin Centre and Project Lighthouse got together to encourage students to write letters to their member of Parliament. Moose hide pins were set out for students to wear, with the hopes of raising awareness of, and putting a stop to, violence against women and children.

“Unfortunately, domestic violence and violence against children happens everywhere,” said Summer Wabasse, the event coordinator for the Mamidosewin Centre. “It can happen here at the college, and I’m sure that some of our students are affected by this issue. And it’s lovely to be able to stand with them, and show them that we care and that there are resources available for them.”

Summer Wabasse, the events organizer for the Mamidosewin Centre. Photo credit: Skyla Murray

According to Statistics Canada, one in three women have reported experiencing violence in their lifetime. The Moose Hide Campaign aims to raise awareness and empower people to end violence against women and children. Pins made from moose hide are worn as a symbol of solidarity and empowerment on this day.

Red Dress Day, which happened on May 5, is another movement designed to raise awareness of violence against women and children. Red dresses are hung on May 5 due to the belief among some First Nations tribes that the spirits of the deceased can only see the colour red.

“So we did recognize Red Dress Day here at the college by putting red dresses all around campus that displayed facts about Red Dress Day and about different women who have been impacted,” said Wabasse. “The two events are very inherently tied together, just with missing and murdered indigenous women, a lot of those cases are caused by domestic violence.”

Moose hide pins are laid out for students to wear to show their support. Photo credit: Skyla Murray

Wabasse emphasized the significance of the Moose Hide Campaign, highlighting its impact and the vital message it aims to share.

“I think the Moose Hide Campaign Day is great,” said Wabasse. “I mean, it’s a nationwide campaign. So this is what we do here during the summer for Algonquin College because it falls every year on May 15. But nationwide, they have these huge marches with thousands of people, and there are a bunch of different campus partners like us all over Canada. So it’s definitely a far reach considering how new the campaign is.”

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Algonquin College computer engineering student launches indie game on Steam

Conrad Joshi turned a side project into his first publicly released video game

Matthew Grieve

Photos: Matthew Grieve

June 11, 2025
Revised: June 11, 2025 2:15pm

Photo: Matthew Grieve

Conrad Joshi sits with his laptop with his Unreal Engine code open.

Conrad Joshi, an 18-year-old Algonquin College student studying computer engineering, has created and released his own indie video game on Steam.

Balancing studies and solo development, he built Wraith, a rogue-like first-person shooter under his self-made studio, ConnorADever, and documented the process on YouTube.

Conrad Joshi’s video game Wraith, available on Steam and was published by ConnorADever. — Conrad Joshi’s video game Wraith, available on Steam, was published by ConnorADever. Photo credit: Matthew Grieve

While most students are juggling homework and exams, Joshi has been tackling academics on top of pursuing his passion for game development.

Steam, developed by Valve, is an online distribution platform offering various services related to video games, with over 132 million monthly active users. It’s a great stepping stone for aspiring developers like Joshi, who released his game on Steam on April 4.

The initial excitement of starting a project often drives developers, but maintaining motivation becomes challenging once that spark fades.

“The hardest parts are once you have a new idea, it’s easy to have the motivation to work on it,” said Joshi. “But after that, after you’ve created a base and have a proof of concept, then it’s about finishing it to make a product people can play. That part’s the hardest.

“You start to get in your own head, is this a good idea? You become more realistic about what you can and can’t do,” said Joshi. “It turns into tedious work.”

Balancing school with a personal passion project can be demanding, but for Joshi, managing both has come naturally.

“Algonquin College has been easy, considering I’ve worked with computers a lot,” said Joshi, explaining his strategy for balancing school work with his game development. “It was just finishing the assignment in the two hours after they gave it to me, and the rest of the time is free to work on the game, so it hasn’t been too hard.”

According to Howard Rosenblum, the program coordinator for computer engineering, independent learning is important for a student’s self-growth.

“I encourage students to work on side projects to improve their technical and time management skills,” said Rosenblum. “It is also a low-risk introduction to entrepreneurship.”

Conrad Joshi using his laptop to create his game on Unreal Engine — Conrad Joshi uses his laptop to create his game on Unreal Engine. Photo credit: Matthew Grieve

That balance between both responsibilities has given him time to develop his game and refine it through ongoing feedback, including from peers.

“I’m very impressed. He was always passionate about game development,” said Tyrell Jennings, a computer science student at Algonquin College who playtested the game. “Doing school and making the game at the same time is definitely very difficult and impressive.”

Conrad offered advice for Algonquin College students who also want to make a video game.

“Honestly, just start. You’re never going to feel completely ready or like you know everything,” said Joshi.

“Even after releasing my first game, if I made it again, I’d have to relearn a lot. The whole time you’re learning. Just download something you can make a game with, and start looking up how to use it on YouTube. Just start!”

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What should the Ottawa Senators do on draft day? AC students have tips for team brass.

With draft day slowly creeping up amid the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Algonquin College students have a lot of questions for the local team

Scott Crowell

Photos: Scott Crowell

June 10, 2025
Revised: June 10, 2025 8:35pm

Photo: Scott Crowell

Two Senators fans show off custom jerseys at a Game 3 tailgate.

Algonquin College students are weighing in on what the local NHL team should do ahead of the draft and on draft day.

The 2025 NHL Draft happens June 27 and June 28 in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theatre.

Ottawa Senators fans waving playoff rally towels as players burst onto the ice before puck drop. Photo credit: Scott Crowell

According to TSN’s mock draft as of May 2025, the Senators could draft a forward which fits the team’s timeline and current needs.

However, there is a looming question: could general manager Steve Staios end up trading the first-round pick?

Staios did say that they will “highly likely” keep the first-round pick, but nothing is ever certain when it comes to a general manager’s word in the National Hockey League.

The Senators were defeated in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.

Algonquin College Senators fans have some mixed feelings as the draft approaches to begin a crucial off-season.

Ottawa Senators fans surround CTC for Game four pre game tailgate — Ottawa Senators fans surround CTC for a Game 4 pre-game tailgate. Photo credit: Scott Crowell

Nathan Leitch, an accounting student at the college, believes there should only be two ideas in the management plan heading into the draft.

“The play should be either you use the pick and go draft a forward, which they need badly to insulate the bottom six,” Leitch said. “Or you trade the pick and go get an impact forward for the current vision of the team.”

Myles Frech, an HVAC student, has a very strong opinion on why the Senators should trade the pick.

“They should be moving late first-rounders like this pick to rebuilding or cap-strapped teams who have good players,” Frech said. “I personally would like a guy like Alex Tuch from Buffalo or Marco Rossi from Minnesota.”

With a sour taste in his mouth after losing to the Maple Leafs, Senators fan and radio student Jakob Casey wants them to get more aggressive with spending draft capital.

“After finally making the playoffs, they should most certainly be more enticed to spend draft capital like first-round picks, even the first-rounder in this year’s draft,” Casey said. “I fully believe even on July 1, free agency, they should be aggressively buying for the bottom six of the forward core.”

Ottawa has a salary cap space of $15 million to spend on extensions or signing free agents. They have eight current unrestricted free agents and two restricted free agents on expiring contracts. The team can either sign the players to new contracts or let them hit the free agency.

The Senators are forfeiting their first-round pick in the 2026 draft because of a league-imposed penalty related to the Evgenii Dadonov no-trade clause complications in 2021.

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Algonquin College researchers develop new greenhouse design to tackle food insecurity in Canada

A research team from Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence has taken the creative route to help Canada produce more fresh, organic fruits and vegetables locally

Vasuman Ravichandran

Photos: Vasuman Ravichandran

June 9, 2025
Revised: June 9, 2025 4:49pm

Photo: Vasuman Ravichandran

The aquaponic greenhouse team (from left to right) Amrisha Singh, Carolyn Lorimer, Chitra Omanakuttan Sreerangathu and Jose Angulo.

A student research team led by professor Carolyn Lorimer from the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence (ACCE) has developed an innovative greenhouse design that could become the long-term solution for Canada’s food insecurity crisis.

Canada’s fleeting summers and long winters mean that the only way to produce fruits and vegetables year-round is by using greenhouses. So what’s stopping Canadians from doing that?

Greenhouses in Canada rely heavily on natural gas for heating and lighting during winter. This results in high energy bills and significant greenhouse gas emissions, according to Greenhouse Canada.

To produce locally at a fair price for consumers, greenhouses need to be completely redesigned to make it a cost-effective option, according to Lorimer.

For Lorimer and her team, even a problem as complex as this can be untangled by their penchant for innovation.

Led by her expertise, students at ACCE have designed a greenhouse that is wheelchair accessible, cost-effective, energy efficient, beyond self-sustaining and more than eco-friendly. It will absorb far more carbon than is produced in constructing and maintaining the facility, according to Lorimer.

The greenhouse will look something like this.
The navy blue roof will support solar panels, and the water tanks below will be home to the fish. Photo credit: Provided by Jose Angulo

“The first step is redesigning the insulation so that the heat stays inside the greenhouse, so we don’t need to spend all that money heating it,” says Lorimer. “Plants need about 14 hours of sunlight. If the glass of the greenhouse faces south, we can use natural sunlight during the day. We’re gonna put solar panels on top to power LED lights to come on whenever we need extra light during winter.”

Chithra Omanakuttan Sreerangathu is one of the students who has worked on the project.

“The prototype is going to be built in Morris Island, Ont,” says Omanakuttan. “It will include a hydroponic system, where plants are grown in water (without soil). This will be integrated into an aquaponic system, where fish and plants are cultivated together in a self-sustaining ecosystem: fish waste provides a natural fertilizer for the plants. The plants filter and purify the water when they use the fish waste. The water is then recirculated back into the fish tanks.”

Jose Angulo, another student who worked on the project, offered more insight into its scope.

“The aim of this project was to implement a design that is also scalable,” says Angulo. “It can be built on different sites, according to the needs of different communities. For this particular plan, it can produce 6,500 kilograms of fish annually, not just produce.”

According to Statistics Canada, over 10 million Canadians currently live with food insecurity. Right now, buying local is not a sustainable option unless it’s cheaper to do so. The nation’s challenge is to find a way to become self-sufficient when it comes to food.

According to Canada’s Food Price Report from 2024, Canada relies on imports for roughly 30 per cent of its food and beverage consumption.

When it comes to dairy and meat products, Canada is largely self-sufficient. A large portion of the imports is, in fact, fruits and vegetables.

Table of Canadian reliance on imports. — The table shows Canada's reliance on imports, according to Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute and a study done by York University. Canada is the 6th largest food importer in the world, according to York University's study Food Policy for Canada. Photo credit: Vasuman Ravichandran

Lorimer’s greenhouse design would help Canada rely less on imports by producing locally grown fruits and vegetables according to the needs of communities across the country.

“My long-term goal with this project is to make inexpensive, fresh, organic produce and fish available to us, forcing Loblaws to reduce their prices,” says Lorimer. “Calculation-wise, we’ve shown that this prototype produces way more energy than is required for it to operate. It is more than enough energy to charge delivery vehicles that can stop by.”

According to Lorimer, the design plans for the greenhouse are available to anyone for free.

“If I give you a dollar, and you give me a dollar, we each have one dollar,” says Lorimer. “But if I give you an idea and you give me an idea, we each have two ideas.”

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Should Algonquin College offer Indigenous students free tuition?

The University of Ottawa announced it will be offering free tuition to members of the Algonquin First Nations. A prof says the college should consider following suit.

Mickey Banks

Photos: Mickey Banks

June 9, 2025
Revised: June 9, 2025 5:32pm

Photo: Mickey Banks

On May 6 the University of Ottawa announced it is offering free tuition to Indigenous students, the fourth university to do so.

Algonquin College should consider following a local university’s lead in offering free tuition to First Nations students, a professor says.

On May 6, the University of Ottawa announced that federally recognized members of the Algonquin First Nations can now enrol free of tuition fees.

The University of Ottawa is the fourth university in Canada to offer free tuition to Indigenous students, with Humber College in Toronto being the only college to do so, according to Humber’s website.

Algonquin College declined to say if it would also offer free tuition to students from Algonquin First Nations communities. However, in an emailed statement, the college highlighted its commitment to helping Indigenous students.

“We are continually exploring new ways to enhance access and inclusion, and we value ongoing dialogue with our Indigenous community partners as part of that commitment,” the college said.

The college also offers various financial assistance programs to Indigenous students.

The college has five scholarships, 15 bursaries and four awards that are exclusively for Indigenous learners, as well as nine bursaries and two other awards that give them special consideration. Indigenous women can also apply for the “We Saved You a Seat” entrance awards for women in the STEM fields, according to the college’s website.

But is it enough?

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in Indigenous education, believes the college should consider following the university’s lead.

“As an institution situated on unceded Algonquin territory, there is both a unique opportunity and a responsibility to support Indigenous learners in a tangible way,” Ouellette said in an email.

The term “unceded” refers to the fact there is no formal treaty between the Algonquin people and Canada.

Ouellette says the University of Ottawa’s decision on tuition is a “significant act of reconciliation.”

“Historically, education in Canada was used as a tool to assimilate and erase Indigenous identities and cultures,” Ouellette said. “Residential schools, often staffed by teachers trained through colonial systems, played a central role in this. So, when a university takes concrete steps to support Indigenous learners, it is not just policy — it is part of a larger healing journey.”

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Mickey Banks

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News briefs: René Amilcar prepares to leave OC Transpo after four years in charge

Top stories in your community and around the world as noted by Algonquin Times journalists

Janella Milord Ashford

Photos:

June 9, 2025
Revised: June 9, 2025 4:09pm

Local

CBC Ottawa: OC Transpo’s general manager of transit services, Renée Amilcar is leaving her position at the agency.

City manager Wendy Stephanson stated in a memo that Amilcar will be pursuing new career opportunities following four years in the organization.

The director of transit service delivery and rail operations for OC Transpo, Troy Charter, will serve as the interim general manager after Amilcar departs, according to Stephanson.

Amilcar’s last day will be on July 18.

National

CTV News: Many Manitoba First Nations have evacuated their homes and people are looking for shelter in Niagara Falls, Ont. in the midst of wildfires.

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati told CTV News Toronto the city is doing its part to make sure “everybody in Manitoba is safe.”

Manitoba’s provincial government declared a state of emergency in effect for 30 days, but it could be extended.

International

CTV News: U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to block all foreign students from studying at Harvard University.

Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday saying national security would be threatened if Harvard were to continue hosting foreign students on its campus in Cambridge, Mass.

Harvard officials declared that Trump’s decision to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students creates an environment of fear, concern and confusion. Harvard immigration services director Maureen Martin said many international students are asking about transferring from the university.

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Janella Milord Ashford

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Janella Milord Ashford

Algonquin College launches AI hub with Amazon Web Services

Students can expect a big improvement in local artificial intelligence innovation, all thanks to the launch of the new AI Accelerator Hub

William Barritt

Photos: William Barritt

June 5, 2025
Revised: June 5, 2025 3:19pm

Photo: William Barritt

Kevin Holmes, the director of the Social Innovation Lab at Algonquin College, giving a speech on the new AI Accelerator Hub. photographed on May 27.

Algonquin College and Amazon Web Services have started a new artificial intelligence “hub,” hoping to boost the implementation of AI in community and business sectors.

The college’s applied research group hosted a launch for the Artificial Intelligence Accelerator Hub (AAH) on May 27 in the C-building.

Artificial intelligence student Andrei Grobnic enjoyed the presentation but wants to see the plan followed through before he makes a judgment on the partnership.

“I like what they showed, it seems like a great partnership, but presenting it is one thing, actually doing it is what matters,” said Grobnic.

The director of the applied research program, Phillip Dawe, summarized the plan for the AAH and what students and faculty can expect in the collaboration with AWS

“Algonquin is about making stuff happen, and the AI Accelerator Hub builds on our strong foundation in AI academic programming, research, and innovation,” said Dawe.

The director of the applied research program, Phillip Dawe begins launch event. — The director of the applied research program, Phillip Dawe, begins launch event on May 27. Photo credit: William Barritt

The AAH is an applied research project designed to accelerate the implementation of artificial intelligence in community and business sectors.

They will offer specialized training programs led by experts in the field to improve efficiency and decision-making.

AWS is a computing platform offering over 200 services, including networking, analytics and storage.

AWS has offices in 36 locations across the world, including Calgary and Montreal.

Morgan Lim, the AWS head of academic research strategy for Canada, described the company’s contribution to the collaboration.

Morgan Lim being welcomed to the stage by Phillip Dawe on May 27. Photo credit: William Barritt

“We are committed to bringing the best of our training, enablement and expertise to Algonquin College,” said Lim. “We will support the hub by providing research credits, grant applications support and technical expertise.”

Kevin Holmes, senior program manager and the director of the Social Innovation Lab at Algonquin College, said AWS was the right choice for the project.

“Strictly for reliability, and hope for scalability, and that’s what AWS is known for,” said Holmes. “Their infrastructure is incredibly reliable, and that’s why we went there.”

Holmes has seen AWS’s capabilities through his work with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Innovation Lab collaborated with CHEO to develop a clinical research tool called InsightScope. AWS developed the InsightScope software to determine the necessary treatment for patients and help increase evidence-based decisions in healthcare.

For more news about applied research plans, check out the college’s applied research website.

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