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Women’s basketball: Wolves complete a perfect regular season. Is this their year?

A 14-0 win streak has the Wolves excited at the prospect of a gold medal

Nathan Heatherington

Photos: Nathan Heatherington

February 21, 2025
Revised: February 21, 2025 4:44pm

Photo: Nathan Heatherington

Jessica De Haan fighting for the ball on Jan. 31 against the Huskies at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

An 84-47 win over the St. Lawrence Surge in Kingston on Saturday Feb. 8 clinched an undefeated regular season for the Wolves women’s basketball team and put them on a path for an OCAA gold medal.

This is the women’s third straight undefeated regular season, finishing with a silver medal in 2024 and a bronze medal in 2023.

Could this be the year for gold?

“This group has been super motivated this year to chase gold based on our previous years,” said Jaime McLean, the head coach for the Wolves. “Having gotten silver in 2024 and bronze in 2023, gold has become a big motivator to put in the work and the extra reps.”

The last time the Wolves won gold was back in the 2013-14 season.

“We need to get ready for the West (conference), it’s a different beast,” said McLean.

The Wolves gather around their head coach, Jamie McLean, to talk strategy at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre. Photo credit: Nathan Heatherington

But the team isn’t too concerned about the playoffs.

“We’re just really happy to have positioned ourselves to be able to play our first playoff game at home and we’re excited to play a team outside our East Division,” said Mallory Katz, a forward for the Wolves. “I’m not really concerned heading into playoffs. It’s a team we’ve never played before, but we feel like we’ve prepared ourselves for it.”

“I don’t have any concerns heading into playoffs,” said Dasia McDonald, a guard for the Wolves. “It’s not going to be easy but as long as we stick to our principles and remember the scouts, it will be fun basketball.

“We watch some clips of their games to see how they play, each player on the other teams’ skills, their plays, and what our focus will be on,” said McDonald.

One thing may come back to haunt them though, and that is their loss to Lambton College for the gold medal in 2024.

“We are expected to play Lambton College in the quarter-finals, which I think could get in our heads a little bit,” said Libby Hirst, Wolves forward. “If we are locked in on our A-game, then I know we can come together and pull off the wins.”

This team has experienced three undefeated seasons together, and they have grown extremely close. But for many of the players, this is their last chance at a gold medal.

“I’m a little emotional, not because ball is ending but because I see these girls more than my family,” said Sydney Moore, a guard for the Wolves.

Sydney Moore passing the ball to the ref after the whistle at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre. Photo credit: Nathan Heatherington

“It’s been such a blessing, best team you could ask for,” said Kate Dahmer, a Wolves guard. “We are such good friends and we are lucky to have each other as teammates.”

The Wolves have been on fire this season, with their principles guiding the way.

“We have been playing really well this season, we have been able to showcase how deep our bench is and demonstrate how competitive we are on both sides of the floor,” said Dahmer. “I’m super excited to see what kind of competition playoffs has for us and to see how our team will continue to step up and adapt.”

While the seniors will be graduating, the first years will carry on the torch.

“It’s been an amazing season, it always is. Every year Jamie picks out a group of recruits that match the vibe so well,” said Hirst. “I’m very proud of the girls for achieving (this undefeated season). Now that we are crossing over to play the teams from the west, our work is just getting started.”

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Nathan Heatherington

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Canada-U.S. treaty under renegotiation after 60 years

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

Elyse Barker

Photos:

February 21, 2025
Revised: February 21, 2025 3:00pm

Local

CBC: Gatineau police have launched a crackdown on out-of-province licence plates, mainly targeting Ontario-plated vehicles.

The operation aims to catch Quebec residents who have not registered their vehicles locally, as required by law. Police say offenders could face fines and be forced to update their registration.

Authorities argue the enforcement ensures fairness, as some drivers use Ontario plates to avoid higher fees and insurance costs in Quebec.

The crackdown follows similar efforts in other Quebec cities, with police urging residents to comply with provincial registration rules.

National

Global News: The U.S. is seeking to renegotiate the Columbia River Treaty, a 1964 agreement with Canada that governs hydroelectric power generation and flood control in the Columbia River basin.

American officials argue the treaty is outdated and want changes to ensure a more balanced distribution of benefits and improved ecosystem protections.

Under the treaty, Canada controls water flows that provide significant benefits to U.S. power generation and flood prevention. In return, the U.S. pays Canada an annual entitlement, but some American officials believe the payments are too high and want to renegotiate the terms.

Canadian officials, along with Indigenous communities say any new agreement must address Indigenous rights, environmental sustainability and fair compensation for Canada’s role in the treaty.

They argue the treaty was originally signed without Indigenous consultation and must now reflect modern priorities, including salmon restoration and climate change adaptation.

Negotiations between both countries have been ongoing since 2018, but no deal has been reached.

International

CBC: Andrew Lester, the Missouri man who shot Black teenager Ralph Yarl after the teen mistakenly rang his doorbell, died at 86 before his sentencing, prosecutors confirmed Wednesday.

Lester pleaded guilty in January to second-degree assault for the April 2023 shooting, which left Yarl, then 16, seriously injured.

The case sparked a national debate over race and gun violence, as Yarl, who was unarmed, was shot after arriving at the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers.

Lester, who initially faced felony assault and armed criminal action charges, claimed he acted in self-defence.

He was scheduled for sentencing in April and faced up to 15 years in prison. His death means he will not serve time, leaving Yarl’s family with mixed emotions.

They continue to advocate for racial justice and gun reform, calling for changes to laws that allow homeowners to use deadly force in perceived self-defence situations.

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Elyse Barker

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Confusion, frustration and contemplation as Algonquin College calls for program cuts

The Board of Governors on Feb. 24 will consider the college's recommendation to suspend 37 programs

Ernest Ko

Photos: Ernest Ko

February 20, 2025
Revised: February 20, 2025 5:03pm

Photo: Ernest Ko

Algonquin College announced 37 program suspensions on Feb. 11, impacting 32 programs from the main campus.

Driving into work used to be a labour of love for Teri Loretto. She was always eager to arrive at the college, eager to see her students and mentor them in her dual role as the program coordinator for both the scriptwriting and performing arts programs.

For the past week, however, it’s become a stark reminder of what just happened, and what may come in the future.

She’s loved this job for half a decade.

But soon, the scriptwriting and performing arts programs could disappear.

On Feb. 11, Algonquin College president and CEO Claude Brulé announced plans to suspend 37 programs, removing 16 per cent of the college’s academic offerings. One of those programs was offered by AC Online while four were offered at Pembroke.

The program suspensions are recommendations to the Board of Governors, which will make the final decision during a meeting on Feb. 24.

The college says currently enrolled students will be allowed to finish their studies.

According to the college, “all learners should avoid unnecessary breaks,” meet necessary academic requirements and “follow the program progression as closely as possible.”

Brulé said the program suspensions are to ensure financial sustainability. He attributed these changes to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s recent restrictions, decreasing the number of international students in Canada for upcoming semesters.

Provincial funding shortfalls have also worsened financial strains.

The effects have been undeniable. This academic year, the college enrolled 2,400 fewer international students than expected. The college described it as a “significant loss in revenue” that amounts to a $60-million deficit for the upcoming academic year.

With 33 per cent of the student body being international students, shrinking that demographic means lowering the bottom line. By the 2026-2027 academic year, the college says the deficit may rise to $93 million.

Loretto understands. She has no misconceptions about the college’s financial situation. But she never expected to see a program like scriptwriting end up on a suspension list.

“It’s not a huge international draw and it’s a low-cost program,” she said.

Scriptwriting, a graduate certificate program, “is the only program of its kind in Canada,” Loretto said. It’s not simply screenwriting for movies; graduates have a high hiring rate in live theatre, game development, documentaries and other content creation industries.

Instead of suspending the program, Loretto would have been content to adjust, even if that meant returning the program online as it was during the pandemic, when it had a rare 100 per cent student retention rate.

Lucas Bear, a graduating student studying bachelor hospitality and tourism management, shares similar confusion about the college’s decision to suspend his program. For the past two years, his program has been tirelessly promoted as an important and innovative one.

Bear says it’s mixed messaging.

“I feel bad for those who just got into the program,” he said. “(The college) has always pitched it as such a promising and important program. They said people need you. The industry needs workers like you.

“And now they’re gonna say we’re not important and we’re not needed?”

Lucas Bear, smiling for a picture while studying and enjoying a pint in the Observatory. — Lucas Bear is in his last semester for the bachelor of hospitality and tourism management program. With the program's suspension, he may be in one of the final graduating classes. Photo credit: Ernest Ko

The college said programs were “evaluated against metrics such as student demand, retention and graduates rates, financial viability and program quality” before being recommended for suspension.

This isn’t the first time this year that staff and students have been stunned by a program’s closure.

In January, the college announced the complete closure of the Perth campus. In protest, heritage carpentry alumnus Braeden Suggitt created an online petition to save the campus.

With this new wave of proposed suspensions, more petitions are appearing online, including those related to the scriptwriting program, technical writer co-op program, radio broadcasting and others.

Current students will be sheltered from the cuts, but much of the discourse focuses on the staff’s looming job insecurity.

In an email to faculty on Feb. 11, Brulé addressed the labour impacts these program cuts will have on the college’s faculty, promoting two initiatives to mitigate layoffs.

One was the Targeted Retirement Departure Initiative, which provided a “one-time lump-sum financial incentive” to employees over the age of 50 who are eligible for an unreduced pension.

The other was a Voluntary Exit Registry “where employees can self-identify as willing to depart the College and receive a modest incentive.”

“While layoffs are unavoidable, we are committed to mitigating their impact through staged resource adjustments,” Brulé said in his email.

Full-time unionized faculty members will be protected by their collective agreements, while “the Employment Standards Act will determine severance and termination entitlements” with administrative, contracted and term employees.

“We are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect throughout this process,” the statement said.

Reacting to the potential layoffs, Maddy Thornhill, an esthetician student, waxed lyrical about her instructors.

“The profs are amazing,” she said. “They’re all so passionate. It’s really sad their programs are closing.

“I hope they can find somewhere else to work and keep teaching elsewhere because they’re all great at what they’re doing.”

Esthetician student Maddy Thornhill in her scrubs, speaking to an Algonquin Times microphone in front of Savoir Faire. — Esthetician student Maddy Thornhill speaking to the Algonquin Times' Nick Korim about the recently announced program suspensions. Photo credit: Ernest Ko

Loretto is a full-time faculty member and unionized. Her thoughts go out to part-time staff, who do not possess the same job security as full-time staff.

Without programs like scriptwriting, performing arts, tourism management and other suspended programs, Loretto fears other voices and experts will fill the void, replacing strong local talent.

“Throughout these past five years, I’ve passed on the knowledge I’ve worked so hard to gain all my life to deserving learners. These students are going to go and highlight Canadian voices at a time when Canadian voices desperately need to be heard,” Loretto said.

“It’s a disfavour, not only to the industries affected, but the country at large.”

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Ernest Ko

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Trump accuses Zelenskyy of being a ‘dictator without elections’

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

Nicklaus Korim

Photos:

February 20, 2025
Revised: February 20, 2025 4:03pm

Local

CBC: Pat King, a key organizer for the 2022 “freedom convoy” protest, was sentenced to three months in jail, with credit for time already served.

King was first convicted in November 2024, on charges including mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counseling to obstruct a public peace officer and two counts of disobeying a court order.

King received a 12-month term with nine months credited for time spent in custody. He will be serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest in Alberta.

National

CBC: A new Ontario transit system was just announced by the federal government Wednesday Feb. 19.

This project will cost an astonishing $3.9 billion, and will run from Toronto all the way to Quebec City, with stops in Peterborough, Montreal, Laval and Trois-Rivières.

The name of the train will be the Alto, and it will reach speeds of 300 km/hour running completely electric.

Along with added convenience, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Alto would create 51,000 good paying jobs for Canadians.

International

CBC: Tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump rose as Zelenskyy accused Trump of “living in a Russian-made disinformation space.”

Trump in turn, fired back calling Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections,” after Zelenskyy called for more truthful reporting from Trump’s team.

This happened just before a U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv to shift U.S. policy and engage with Ukrainian leaders and military officials.

Kellogg has been sent to shift U.S. policy away from trying to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin. American and Russian diplomats met Tuesday in talks that sidelined Ukrainian and European officials.

News

Nicklaus Korim

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Women’s basketball: Wolves book spot in quarter-finals after win over Sheridan

Wolves women's basketball team fights past Sheridan College in first-round game

Gavin Oregan

Photos: Gavin Oregan

February 20, 2025
Revised: February 20, 2025 11:11am

Photo: Gavin Oregan

Wolves guard Dasia McDonald after whistle against Sheridan College on Feb. 15 at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

The Algonquin Wolves women’s basketball team fought off a tough challenge to advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 57-43 win over the Sheridan Bruins on Feb. 15 at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

The Bruins made it clear early they weren’t going down without a fight. After an early three-pointer from Dasia McDonald, the Wolves went five minutes without scoring in a quiet first quarter.

After the slow start, the Wolves began to assert their dominance defensively as McDonald came up with one of her game-high four steals on the defensive end for a layup that brought fans back to their feet.

“We locked in defensively and made sure that even though we weren’t shooting well, we were still going to get the win,” said Wolves head coach Jaime McLean.

No.12 Cianah Miller for the Algonquin Wolves women's basketball team dribbling up the court Photo credit: Gavin Oregan

The Wolves held the Bruins to just 28 points on 32 per cent shooting over the final three quarters, forcing 13 turnovers and scoring 15 points off those turnovers.

McDonald led the way offensively with a game-high of 16 points, while Sydney Moore added nine. Though the team struggled to score for much of the game, their defensive intensity remained high.

“Our defence is the main point of our game,” said McDonald. “Just keeping them under eight points in the third quarter — we like keeping that standard. If we’re not hitting shots, as long as our defence is there, that’s going to keep us in the game.”

Free-throw shooting was a key factor in the win. The Wolves made 12 of 16 from the line overall, including 7 of 8 in the third quarter, where they took complete control of the game.

The Bruins maintained their intensity throughout the game, giving the Wolves a tough test in their playoff opener.

“Everybody’s going to try to take away our No. 1 rank in Canada, right?” said McLean. “We’ve just got to stay strong, make sure we’ve got a point to prove, and be able to match them physically like we did today.”

With the win over Sheridan, the Wolves now face a tougher challenge against the fourth-seeded Lambton Lions, who are coming off a first-round win over Durham College.

The Wolves and Lions will face off in the quarterfinals on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

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Gavin Oregan

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Men’s basketball: Wolves advance to the OCAA quarter-finals

The Wolves men's basketball team took down the Niagara Knights in a 93-69 blowout at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb. 15

Jaiden Martin

Photos: Jaiden Martin

February 20, 2025
Revised: February 20, 2025 9:02am

Photo: Jaiden Martin

Albert Opena on a fast break push against the Niagara Knights at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb 15.

The men’s basketball Wolves came out on fire for their first playoff game, scorching the Niagara Knights 93-69 on Feb. 15 at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre.

Leading the charge was Tesloch Luk, scoring eight of the 10 points for the Wolves in the first two minutes of the game. Luk was excellent from the free throw line to start the game, going four for four at the line in those two minutes.

“That was team success today,” said Luk. “That was everybody as a team. We all rallied together as a score sheet, probably show after tonight, and we just rallied together and played together, ”

Simon Desta kept the Wolves’ fire ignited. The Wolves’ all-time leading scorer was making it rain from three, shooting three for four in the first quarter.

Desta said the intensity shown by the Wolves women’s basketball team earlier in the day fuelled his own game. “Watching them definitely got me ready for today,” said Desta.

Simon Desta shooting a three point shot in the corner in the 4th quarter at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb 15. — Simon Desta shooting a three pointer against the Niagara Knights at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb 15. Photo credit: Jaiden Martin

The Wolves women’s basketball team beat the Sheridan Bruins 57-43 at home before the Wolves men’s game.

The score at the start of the second quarter was 25-14 for the Wolves and the Knights were starting to put out the fire. The Knights made some defensive adjustments in the quarter, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Wolves.

Heading into halftime the Wolves had a 15-point lead.

The third quarter belonged to Ted Braden, the Wolves’ starting centre, who put on a clinic the entire quarter. Braden went four for four from the field while grabbing a rebound and getting a block on the defensive end.

Albert Opena looked to widen the Wolves’ 65-47 lead by shooting four for five from the three point line.

“The way we played team basketball, when we play like that I feel like we’re hard to stop,” said Desta after the win.

Team photo with the whole roster in the locker room after the win against the Niagara Knights at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb 15. — Team photo with the whole roster after the win against the Niagara Knights at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Centre on Feb 15. Photo credit: Jaiden Martin

Wolves head coach Trevor Castello was energetic and very vocal as usual. Castello emphasized how the team came to play in a big moment.

“Guys came to play. I wasn’t sure what kind of team we would show up, but our guys were well prepared and it was just a matter of executing, and those guys did,” said Castello.

Castello was very excited to have the chance of beating the Humber College Hawks to advance to the OCAA playoff tournament.

“A trip to Toronto, Let’s go see Humber, number one team in the country,” said Castello.

The Wolves will play their quarter-final game at Humber College on Feb. 23.

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Plane crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport causes delays

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

Robyn Lanktree

Photos:

February 19, 2025
Revised: February 19, 2025 4:37pm

Local

CTV: A CN train was derailed in Dorval, a Montreal suburb, causing several delays for trains on the Montreal-Toronto route on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

“This situation, beyond our control, is causing significant delays,” said Via Rail in a comment to CTV Ottawa.

“VIA Rail is closely monitoring the situation, and cancellations or schedule changes may be announced during the day. Passengers affected will be informed directly.”

The delays caused some Via Rail cancellations for trains running on Tuesday, including train 31 from Montreal to Ottawa, train 44 from Toronto to Ottawa and train 53 to Toronto from Ottawa.

Tuesday’s delays came after weekend delays from cold weather causing “multiple frozen switches” on the tracks between Toronto and Montreal.

National

Global News: Delta Air Lines flight 4819 crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday just after 2 p.m. while carrying 76 passengers and four crew members.

The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900, landing from Minneapolis touched the tarmac just before the plane caught fire at its side and rolled over upside down.

“Airport emergency workers mounted a textbook response, reaching the site within minutes and quickly evacuating the passengers,” said Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the airport.

Twenty-one passengers were taken to hospital, with none of them facing fatal injuries. Nineteen of the passengers have since been released.

Two runways are closed at Pearson Airport and delays should be expected.

A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

International

CBC: Officials from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine.

The meeting was the most extensive contact between the United States and Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

“The delegations of the two countries need to work closely together. We are ready for this, but it is still difficult to talk about a specific date for the meeting of the two leaders,” said Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs advisor.

No Ukrainian officials were at the meeting.

The meeting held the goals of restaffing the respective embassies in Russia and the United States, developing a team for Ukrainian peace talks and strengthening relations and economic cooperation.

“Should this conflict come to an acceptable end, [there are] incredible opportunities … to partner with the Russians geopolitically on issues of common interest and, frankly, economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world and also improve our relations in the long term,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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Robyn Lanktree

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New Board of Governors student rep wants more opportunities for students

Despite an easy win by acclamation, the newly elected student representative still intends to take the role seriously

Kevin Clasper-Inglis

Photos: Kevin Clasper-Inglis

February 19, 2025
Revised: February 19, 2025 4:33pm

Photo: Kevin Clasper-Inglis

After no other nominations were put forward, Kevin Ishimwe was chosen by acclamation as the next student representative on the Board of Governors.

Kevin Ishimwe was acclaimed as the next student representative on the Board of Governors after only a single nomination was put forward.

Despite not having to prove himself against other contenders, the first-year student in the technology in business system development program has strong ideas for what he wants to achieve for students next school year as the Board of Governors student rep next school year.

“I want to give the opportunities Algonquin College gave me to more students. And it’s not like I want to be someone’s voice,” said Ishimwe.

“I want to help them to raise their voice in order to have a pristine environment, I believe, if everyone can stand up and express their opinions we will have much more innovations and more businesses and opportunities to create for students.”

He believes students should have better access to the administration to directly voice concerns.

“I have to make sure that they are creating the opportunities at the college that are missing for the students. Algonquin doesn’t have many scholarships, but there has to at least be more chances for students if they have good grades,” said Ishimwe.

He suggests that beyond scholarships, students with strong academic records could be offered part-time jobs on campus.

“They are giving us 10 honours letters if you have more than a 3.6 GPA. But at least we could also create something that will be beneficial in terms of finances. For those students, they could be given part-time jobs at school,” said Ishimwe.

“Do something that reflects their hard work.”

Ishimwe added, “If students are successful, then the school is successful and our country can be too.”

Ishimwe feels it’s important that he’s always done his best and is proud of his efforts at the college.

“My character is always pressed in. I always do something I’m proud of,” he said.

“I know I got this role because I was the only one who tried but I’ll make sure to use this position to make sure that everyone will feel satisfied by my actions.”

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Advertising students bead their way to New York

Students browsed and beaded bracelets to raise money for an international trip for the advertising program.

Robyn Lanktree

Photos: Robyn Lanktree

February 19, 2025
Revised: February 19, 2025 4:28pm

Photo: Robyn Lanktree

Bella Marasovic (left) and Victoria Conwell (right) pose in front of room 204 in the N-building with bracelets they made.

Algonquin College’s advertising and marketing communications program hosted a beading workshop on Feb. 12 to fundraise for their program trip to New York Advertising Week in September.

N-building’s room 204 was decorated with red tablecloths, roses and hearts as the event’s organizers displayed bracelets they made for sale while offering a space for students to make their own.

The bracelet display and bracelet-making workshop took place in room 204 in the N-building on Feb. 12. Photo credit: Robyn Lanktree

Prices for the displayed bracelets ranged from $7 to $12, while participating in bracelet making was $5. All proceeds went toward the program’s trip to New York this fall.

Victoria Conwell, a Level 4 student in the advertising program and one of the event’s organizers, said there will be industry leaders at the conference in New York and it will be “a really good experience for ad program students.”

The event's organizers (starting from the left): Margaret McBrearty, Vishwa Solanki, Inayat Arora, Bella Marasovic and Victoria Conwell smile for a photo while showing off the bracelets they made for sale. Photo credit: Robyn Lanktree

The fall will mark the 21st Advertising Week in New York and will offer a variety of speakers, events, networking opportunities, live performances and conferences. Former speakers include actor Terry Crews, Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Jon, journalist and former NFL player Michael Strahan and senior vice president of global partnership marketing for The Walt Disney Company Mindy Hamilton.

Margaret McBrearty, another advertising student planning to go to New York, said her program will be hosting various fundraisers before their trip to New York.

“There may be some bake sales, thrift stores, and future events coming as well,” said McBrearty.

Margaret McBrearty (left) and Laura Guerrero (right) pose for a picture as they make bracelets. Photo credit: Robyn Lanktree

Vishwa Solanki, a Level 4 advertising student, said the bracelet-making fundraiser was an idea from the program’s Glue Agency course.

“Glue Agency is the foundation agency we have in our semester for having a real-life agency work experience where we get real clients and work on them with the team together. Moving on, we’ll have Slide and Dig Agency which is more in-depth,” said Solanki.

The Slide and Dig Agencies are courses, like the Glue Agency, that introduce work experiences to the students as they progress through their program.

Inayat Arora, one of the event organizers, showcases Valentine's Day themed bracelets — Inayat Arora, one of the event organizers, showcases Valentine's Day-themed bracelets. Photo credit: Robyn Lanktree

“A part of our assignment that we have is fundraising for the trip, which is a really nice factor that we were able to implement,” said McBrearty.

Beading alongside the event organizers and other students was professor and program coordinator Liz Babiak.

“I’m one of the profs that gets to go, so we love this trip. It’s been going on for a really long time,” said Babiak.

When deciding on her bracelet theme, Rebekah Lailson, a student in the animation program, was inspired by Valentine’s Day.

Rebekah Lailson smiles with the bracelet she had started making. Photo credit: Robyn Lanktree

“I’m enjoying the activity so far, I think it’s cool they’re fundraising,” said Lailson.

Advertising students are planning another fundraiser to be held on March 18 in the E-building.

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First-time voters ready to cast ballot in Ontario election

New voters at Algonquin College share their election concerns and messages to politicians

Delaney Smith

Photos: Delaney Smith

February 19, 2025
Revised: February 19, 2025 4:21pm

Photo: Delaney Smith

Sage Dickman is a student at Algonquin College and pushes new voters to go out and vote.

As Ontario heads to the polls on Feb. 27, first-time voters at Algonquin College are weighing key issues and considering the significance of their vote.

Most students, like 18-year-old Sage Dickman, are enthusiastic to vote for their first time.

For Dickman, it’s an important decision.

“I think no matter how small of an impact your vote has, you never know how close an election can be,” she said.

“You should try to make a difference and be informed no matter what.”

Ryan Gardener, an 18-year-old computer engineering student at the college, is also eager about casting his first ballot.

“I do plan to vote for the upcoming election, as it’s important for citizens’ voices to be heard, and that my say has an effect on the outcome of my daily life,” said Gardener.

Ryan Gardener (left) and his friend Ben Schacker, encourage young people to vote at Algonquin College. Photo credit: Delaney Smith

While some students are high-spirited about voting, others admitted the process was confusing and not interesting enough to pay attention to.

“No, I do not plan on voting in the next Ontario election because it does not interest me and I have no clue how to vote,” said Trishanna Lennon, 18.

She is a first-year graphic design student at Algonquin College and admits that she only learns about news through friends or classmates at school.

“I did not grow up watching the news or following what is going on in the world,” Lennon said. “This makes me not understand what is going on in this election.”

First-time voters are a key demographic in this election, but their turnout has historically been inconsistent.

According to Elections Ontario, youth voter participation has fluctuated in past elections, often lagging behind older age groups.

The main concerns brought up by the students are health care, public transportation, and most of all, education.

“Without school, it becomes harder for people to make money, so making kids pay that much for school makes it so much harder to make money,” said Dickman.

Additionally, Gardener hopes that politicians take the time to listen to the voices of students, recognizing the younger generations impact on future politics.

“If I had the opportunity to speak to a politician, I’d generally talk about extracurricular activities within the school, affordable schooling and diversity,” said Gardener.

As Ontario’s election campaign unfolds, these first-time voters will be watching closely to see if their concerns are being addressed.

Visit Elections Ontario for information on how to vote, which electoral district you live in to discover your local candidates and job opportunities.

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Delaney Smith

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Delaney Smith

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