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Zen mornings return to Ottawa campus with outdoor yoga on the lawn

The Student Association invites the Algonquin College community to take a one hour outdoor yoga class with Stephanie Bonser on Aug. 18. “What I like to see every time I […]

Eyssa Dahoma

Photos: Eyssa Dahoma

July 11, 2023
Revised: July 11, 2023 3:30pm

Photo: Eyssa Dahoma

Outdoor yoga on the lawn returns in August

The Student Association invites the Algonquin College community to take a one hour outdoor yoga class with Stephanie Bonser on Aug. 18.

“What I like to see every time I teach or what I aim to see, is that people can leave feeling a little be better than when they came in, then I’m good,” says Bonser, a yoga instructor at Algonquin College.

After a recent morning of Zumba on the lawn, two ARC members arrived early and eager to roll out their yoga mats.

“I love it, it’s very relaxing, and it’s time for yourself. Zumba is fun, you have fun and you’re sweating and everything. But yoga is more to calm down, be yourself and think about your life and I think it helps me to go through my day,” says Luciana Monteiro, a recent project management and event management grad from Algonquin College.

Bonser teaches multiple classes at the college along with a variety of locations across the city with a unified goal for all her classes.

“I will generally see the vibe of the group that comes in. It will be a more accessible class than others, because it is outside and open to really anybody. So I want make sure it is as accessible as possible for everybody that shows up,” says Bonser.

Student life can become very stressful and yoga is a great way to step away and ground oneself to be able to perform their best. This need for relaxation is what brings Bonser to the Ottawa campus each week.

“I teach five classes a week and when this opportunity came up, I thought it would be wonderful to get outside and do it out here,” says Bonser.

The student association in its attempt to prioritize wellness has incorporated off campus ideas and resources such as Yoga on the Lawn and Zumba on the Lawn to make them more time and cost efficient for students.

Amanda Logan the events programmer at the Student Association says: “Yoga is what inspired these outdoor event ideas in the first place. There is Yoga on Parliament Hill that occurs and it is so popular in the summer time, and I thought well, us being here in Nepean we’re not going to drive all the way downtown for outdoor yoga, so lets bring it out here.”

The next yoga on the lawn will take place on Aug. 18. Registration is at: https://www.algonquinsa.com/event/yoga-on-the-lawn-2/ .

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5K foam fest tour coming to Ottawa

Registration to join the Wolf Pack in this year’s 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour, as it makes its way to Ottawa on Aug. 19 is now open to all Algonquin […]

Eyssa Dahoma

Photos: Eyssa Dahoma

July 11, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Eyssa Dahoma

The college is helping students gear up for the big day

Registration to join the Wolf Pack in this year’s 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour, as it makes its way to Ottawa on Aug. 19 is now open to all Algonquin College students, staff and alumni.

The 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour is a 5K run, walk or jog which has partnered up with Make-A-Wish Canada.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for Canadian families to help other families in need, in a fun and impactful way,” says the organizers of the 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour.

The 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour is intended to “help support children with critical illness.”

Once participants have registered for the race, they may begin collecting donations for their team.

Organizers at Algonquin College are assisting participants with their preparation.

Algonquin College is now an offering an obstacle course training through the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre, for those who wish to participant but are apprehensive about their abilities to complete a five-kilometre race through an inflatable obstacle course with challenges and obstacles, such as the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, slips and slides, mud pits and 2.5 million cubic feet of foam.”

“We offer a complimentary program for members who have registered for the 5K race. We offer just a training session, whether it is something specific that they are working on as a goal or just generic training, to build either strength to go through the obstacles or endurance for the running portion,” says Erika Johnston, a client services associate at the Student Association.

“We have two coaches. Our wellness coaches are organizing these events and being in contact with those registrants and just keeping up with them, as it gets closer to the date to see if they’re able to achieve those goals that they have,” Johnston said.

Joining the Wolf Pack will give students, staff and alumni the most cost efficient option for participating in this years Foam Fest Tour. The current pricing is sitting at $84.99 and will jump to $119.99 the closer the event approaches. The student association is providing the Wolf Pack tickets for $49.99, more than a 50 per cent saving. Use the code ASA2023 at checkout.

The Student Association and the AC Hub will also be providing all those who join the Wolf Pack with an Algonquin Wolf Pack team T-shirt.

A past participant of the 5K Foam Fest Canada Tour, Mary Duff, took to Facebook to describe her experience.

“Absolutely amazing . . . a great experience for all levels of fitness. Doesn’t matter how old you get, running through bubbles and sliding down a bouncy slide is always fun.”

Bus transportation will be provided those who need assistance commuting to and from the obstacle course.

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Algonquin College wants to better understand students

Algonquin College wants to know if students are satisfied or require more support in all departments during their journey through college. This latest college-wide survey is geared toward bringing a […]

Eyssa Dahoma

Photos: Eyssa Dahoma

July 11, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Eyssa Dahoma

The Algonquin College student survey is underway

Algonquin College wants to know if students are satisfied or require more support in all departments during their journey through college.

This latest college-wide survey is geared toward bringing a better experience for Algonquin College students.

Cristy Montgomery, Manager, Institutional Analytics and Planning says: “It asks students questions about their experience at our college with their programming, all the services from counselling, health services, the food at Algonquin, campus services.”

The 20-minute surveys were emailed to students at their email addresses to be completed at their convenience.

“We need more feedback from the students, we need the students to be aware about it, do it and that’s how the results of the survey can be used to better the student experience … it’s not about what one person says is about what everyone says,” according to Irene Tika Balsani, a marketing research analysis student completing her work term interning with the Institutional Analytics and Planning department at Algonquin College.

“We work with all areas of the college to collect this information from the students, and then they use them to improve the services, help with housing issues, food issues and that kind of thing … the more information we have, the more things we can do for them,” says Montgomery.

Post-pandemic, the Algonquin College Institutional Analytics and Planning department began collecting data to understand how things may have changed for students and how the college may need to change to better support students.

Algonquin College currently provides various resources and facilities specifically geared to the student overall experience such as the AC Hub, located on the second floor of Student Commons.

The college says: “The AC Hub strives to enhance your college experience beyond the classroom by providing you with opportunities to meet new people and become actively involved in campus life.”

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OC Transpo plans on-demand bus service starting this fall

Local News Ottawa Citizen: OC Transpo has announced a pilot project for on-demand bus service beginning this fall. The service will use idle Para Transpo vans and bring riders to […]

Roxanne Lamarche

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July 7, 2023
Revised: July 7, 2023 11:37am

Local News

Ottawa Citizen: OC Transpo has announced a pilot project for on-demand bus service beginning this fall. The service will use idle Para Transpo vans and bring riders to an existing transit hub. Renée Amilcar, the OC Transpo General Manager, has compared to the service’s accessibility to Uber.

National News

The Independent: On June 18, a submersible holding five people leaving St John’s, N.L., lost communications with its mothership and went missing. The submersible belonged to OceanGate, a company that offered private tours of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. After a five-day search, the US Coast Guard announced it had found debris of the submersible, suggesting it had imploded.

International News

Sky News: In France, the murder of Nahel Merzouk by police has sparked riots across the country. Merzouk, a 17-year-old of North African descent, was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in his hometown of Nanterre. Following the incident, French residents took to the streets to protest the murder, some of which have turned into riots.

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New ownership for Ottawa Senators sparks hope for downtown arena

With new ownership taking over the Ottawa Senators, Algonquin College students are hoping to see this lead to a new, more conveniently located arena. The Senators current arena opened in […]

Hunter Miller

Photos: Hunter Miller

July 7, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Hunter Miller

Ottawa Senators apparel is popular with fans.

With new ownership taking over the Ottawa Senators, Algonquin College students are hoping to see this lead to a new, more conveniently located arena.

The Senators current arena opened in 1996, in Kanata, on the western edge of Ottawa. It opened as the Palladium, was renamed the Corel Centre and Scotiabank Place, and has been known as the Canadian Tire Centre since 2013.

Kanata is a suburb of Ottawa, but with the arena 25 km away from downtown, students at Algonquin College find the trek daunting.

“It is nice as a student to have the Sens close by, but getting to the arena is always a pain,” says Damrong Saynorath, a paramedic student at Algonquin College. “It would be nice to have an arena downtown around some other places.”

Many students also said the current home of the Senators in Kanata makes it tough to attend games and have an evening out.

“When we go to the games, there is nowhere around to go out after or before. Plus, somebody always has to drive and pay for parking,” says Zach VanderGlas, a Bartending student at Algonquin College. “Whenever we go to a Redblacks game at Landsdowne, we have places like Jack Astors, Craft or even Milestones to go out afterwards.”

The general parking lot fee at the Canadian Tire Centre is $20. The closest bar to the current arena is Crazy Horse, about a 30-minute walk away.

Some students were concerned where a new arena for the Senators might be located.

“Having the stadium closer than Kanata would be nice, but there isn’t much room downtown to actually put a massive stadium and how much tax dollars is this going to cost? What will become of the old stadium?” said Jacob Daly, an Aviation Management student at Algonquin College.

Michael Andlauer is set to take over the NHL team’s ownership later this summer once the deal closes.

No purchase price has been disclosed. Andlauer is also owns a minority share of the Montreal Canadiens.

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Coffee shop closes for renovations

The Algonquin College Starbucks joins the list of on-campus food services closed for the summer. The campus Starbucks (building E) closed on June 23 for an undetermined amount of time […]

Meg Wall

Photos: Meg Wall

June 24, 2023
Revised: June 24, 2023 9:56am

Photo: Meg Wall

The Starbucks on campus temporarily closed at 5 p.m. on June 23, joining a host of food services postponed for the summer semester.

The Algonquin College Starbucks joins the list of on-campus food services closed for the summer.

The campus Starbucks (building E) closed on June 23 for an undetermined amount of time for upcoming renovations and expansions.

In an Algonquin College news release, the school announced the trendy coffee chain will be temporarily closing “in preparation for renovations and expansion… We apologize for any inconvenience.”

Digital rendering of the expected renovations on the campus Starbucks. Photo credit: Algonquin College

The announcement, however, did not get much attention from the many staff and students who visit the spot.

“I wish they had said more,” says TV broadcasting student Yann Nzirabatinyi. “I often like to be here, and I like most of their meals and the strawberry acai drink.”

Suhani, a student in the early childhood education program says her daily visits to Starbucks in the Student Commons always bring her joy.

“I love the iced chai,” says Suhani. “They make it exactly how I asked them.”

Despite there being a Starbucks less than a kilometre away in College Square, many students felt as though it is too far of a walk in the hot sun for a refreshing drink in between classes.

Food services will remain available at the Marketplace Food Court (D Building) and The Fix (CA Building) from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday and the Wolves Den is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday (Games Room only).

The campus Starbucks is expected to reopen ahead of the Fall 2023 term.

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Ottawa campus shutting down power

Algonquin College renovations require a five-day long power outage, that will leave most of the Ottawa campus dark until Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30 a.m. A statement by the Senior […]

Eyssa Dahoma

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June 23, 2023
Revised: June 23, 2023 5:20am

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Ottawa campus going dark for five days.

Algonquin College renovations require a five-day long power outage, that will leave most of the Ottawa campus dark until Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30 a.m.

A statement by the Senior Vice-President, Academic, Chris Janzen reads: “The Algonquin College facilities management department is co-ordinating a campus electrical shutdown June 23-28, 2023 to replace the antiquated switchgear that services the Ottawa Campus.”

The electrical shut down will be taking place during the reading week, when most students are away.

Bassam Nasr, a Level 2 Manufacturing Engineering Technician student says: “I’m Always in T building, maybe 99 per cent of the time and during the reading week, I will be not here.”

For the staff and students present at the Ottawa campus during the shutdown, there will be limited buildings that will continue operating with: full power, only emergency power and/or with a reduction in the cooling system.

The D,E,K,Z building and the Residence building will continue to have generator provided power during the shutdown, allowing students to continue to complete assignments, socialize and relax in their dorms.

The ARC, A,B,M, H, J, N, P, S, T ,V and C Building will also be limited to emergency power only.

The shutdown will also affect parking ticket machines and on campus street lights.

Emergency services and security will also be affected by the electrical shutdown.

The director of Risk Management, Micheal Lavoilette says: “Emergency phones and internal phones on campus may not work. If you require Security Services during the shutdown period please call security via your mobile using 613-727-4723 extension 5010 or 613-727-423 extension 5000. When calling please state your name and location.”

For more details about the electrical shutdown visit: https://algonquincollege.my.site.com/myAC/EC_CommunityNewsDetail?id=a3h3b000001VHi1AAG&name=Ottawa%20Campus%20electrical%20shutdown%20-%20June%2023-

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Algonquin College alumni named winners of sought-after Ottawa business award

Five Algonquin College alumni are being recognized for their achievements as leaders in Ottawa after being named in this year’s Forty Under 40. Considered Ottawa’s “most sought-after business award for […]

Meg Wall

Photos: Meg Wall

June 22, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Meg Wall

Nitin Mehra, 38, is the executive chef and COO of his family's restaurant, East India Company. Mehra is a recipient of this year's Forty Under 40 award.

Five Algonquin College alumni are being recognized for their achievements as leaders in Ottawa after being named in this year’s Forty Under 40.

Considered Ottawa’s “most sought-after business award for people under the age of 40″ by the Ottawa Business Journal, the annual Forty Under 40 selection committee chooses its recipients not only for their personal and business accomplishments but also for their community involvement.

For the past 26 years, the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade have recognized and celebrated the outstanding leaders within the region who have impacted their communities in many ways.

“Giving back differentiates a recipient from a non-recipient,” says Ottawa Business Journal publisher and Forty Under 40 committee chairman Michael Curran.

During the 20 years Curran has been on the selection committee, he has enjoyed seeing an increase in the diversity of recipients who have come from all professional sectors, genders and racial groups.

“It’s not a surprise that many challenges are facing Ottawa today,” says Curran. “These useful leaders offer a sense of hope.”

According to the Ottawa Business Journal, there were 160 nominations for the 2023 award, which were narrowed down to 91 finalists, before zeroing in on the 40 recipients.

Executive chef and COO of East India Company, Nitin Mehra, is one of the commemorated in this year’s cohort.

Mehra, 38, grew up with his parents owning the first East India Company location in Winnipeg. But, like many people just leaving high school, Mehra had been looking at a different career than the one he ended up in – one in the police force. However, his father convinced him to try a future in cooking.

“When you’re 18, you’re not sure what direction to go in,” says Mehra. “I remember even after the first semester – I loved Algonquin, I loved Ottawa – but I still wasn’t sold on a life inside the kitchen.”

After graduating from Algonquin College’s culinary management program in 2005 and later studying at Le Cordon Bleu, Mehra committed himself to his family’s business.

“It’s like everything that you kind of love,” says Mehra. “There are days where you love it, and there’s days where you hate it. But every day does involve work, and it’s challenging, and I think that’s what has kept me around.”

But it is not just a job for him. What started as a small family restaurant in Winnipeg has now expanded to three locations (the additional two being in Ottawa) with now over 100 employees who have become family to him.

In 2017, one of Mehra’s waiters, a young man only 20 years old, had “a sudden and full-blown kidney failure”. Mehra only knew one way to help: to donate one of his kidneys to his employee.

“Blood relative or not, these people are important to me,” says Mehra. “The restaurant industry is hard enough without it being a non-welcoming environment. So, if there’s something we can do for our staff or a way we can be there for our staff, let’s do that; let’s figure that out.”

Adam Van Cleeff, 37, who is also part of the 2023 cohort, graduated in 2008 from Algonquin College’s business administration program with a major in finance. He credits his education at Algonquin College for helping him set his career up for success.

“I really appreciated a lot of the working groups and the teachers, and how well you got prepared for the world,” Van Cleeff says. “It wasn’t super high level that it didn’t make sense and it was just enough in the weeds that it gave you something to come out of it with.”

Now vice-president of customer success at Fullscript, Van Cleeff is excited to be able to scratch off this bucket list item for himself.

Alongside Mehra and Van Cleeff, three other Algonquin College alumni are recipients of this year’s Forty Under 40 award: Derick Cotnam, owner of My Catering Group; Dave Hale, CEO of Craft&Crew Corp; and Kelly Rusk, president of Kelly Rusk Consulting Inc.

Recipients will be recognized at an awards gala at the Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel and Casino in Gatineau on June 23.

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Lunchtime yoga, promotes mental and physical health

Algonquin College has introduced a weekly lunchtime yoga event, providing students and employees an opportunity to prioritize their mental and physical well-being amidst their busy schedules. Jules Medeiros, a student […]

Sebastian Pinera

Photos: Sebastian Pinera

June 18, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Sebastian Pinera

Jules Medeiros (host of the Lunchtime Yoga event) inside the Spiritual Centre.

Algonquin College has introduced a weekly lunchtime yoga event, providing students and employees an opportunity to prioritize their mental and physical well-being amidst their busy schedules.

Jules Medeiros, a student from the Social Services Worker program, hosts a yoga session every Monday, providing a much-needed opportunity to unwind and take care of oneself.

According to Medeiros, the main reason behind organizing the Lunchtime Yoga sessions is to create a space for staff and students to relax and pay attention to their bodies.

“One of the biggest reasons the college started the Lunchtime Yoga for, is to actually find a way in the middle of the day for staff and students to just relax and be able to be there for their bodies. It’s like an excuse to stop whatever you’re doing and just focus on your body and your mental health,” she said.

The event is available both in-person and online. Participants can choose to join the sessions at the Spiritual Centre located in E building, or attend virtually.

When asked about the benefits of practising yoga, Karen Chiarelli, the instructor in charge of the online sessions, said: “The best thing about yoga and what makes it focus so much on mental health is that it’s so focused on breathing, taking a deep breath, be there in your environment and don’t worry about everything else that might be going on.”

“It’s good for everyone to just feel distracted and relax, it’s a non-judgmental space, nobody is coming here as a professional, no matter what level you are, you can just join in,” added Trudy Price, the in-person yoga instructor.

The “Lunchtime Yoga” event takes place every Monday from 12:05 p.m. to 12:55 p.m., for more information and to register, check the events calendar located on Brightspace.

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Book launch event held for Algonquin College alumni at Centrepointe Library

Centrepointe Library hosted a book launch event for books written and illustrated by three Algonquin College Professional Writing graduates and three Illustration and Concept Art graduates. The books, Aboard the […]

Roxanne Lamarche

Photos: Nathaniel Whelan, Lucille Jodoin and Kris Brabant. Photo credit

June 18, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Nathaniel Whelan, Lucille Jodoin and Kris Brabant. Photo credit

Pictured left to right

Centrepointe Library hosted a book launch event for books written and illustrated by three Algonquin College Professional Writing graduates and three Illustration and Concept Art graduates.

The books, Aboard the Dreamscape, Jimmy and the Monster Slayer and Mina and the Magical Fish, will also each have a copy donated to the library.

“It was completely unexpected,” Kris Brabant, writer of Jimmy and the Monster Slayer, said. “There was a little bit of mention that there was a possibility that they could be published later on down the road, but I think nobody was thinking too much about that.”

All the books were made for young children and the event had a reading session for each one.

The first book read was Aboard the Dreamscape, written by Nathaniel Whelan and illustrated by Shannon Wilvers. Whelan presented the book to the children attending the event.

“One thing that the Professional Writing program really taught me was how to write for different age groups,” Whelan said. “Being able to be descriptive and fun, but yet making sure that it can be understood by the audience is a big thing.”

“I have university experience, as well. So having theoretical knowledge and then being able to bring that to the more practical knowledge in college has been useful.”

“There used to be this idea that university was the big brother and college was the little brother, but I like to see it as a mutual balance. They both prepare you for two different things and can be mutually inclusive.”

“Huge props to Michele Hall, our program co-ordinator, too, though. It’s been an amazing experience with her.”

Next, Jimmy and the Monster Slayer was read by Lucille Jodoin, the book’s illustrator. Brabant, the writer of the book, also attended the event.

“The Illustration and Concept Art program let us do a bunch of projects that let us find what our strengths were,” Jodoin said. “We were able to find our style through it.”

“For kids, you have to add a lot of colours and make shapes simple because that’s what they’re attracted to. I also think imagination plays a huge part in a children’s book.”

The final book presented was Mina and the Magical Fish, written by Desirea Caballero and Sara Komarnicki.

Hall, the Professional Writing program co-ordinator at Algonquin College, read the book to the children.

The books were published by Spine Online Press, the Professional Writing program’s in-house press.

The books are available for digital purchase on Amazon. Those interested in a physical copy of any of the books can contact Hall’s email address hallm@algonquincollege.com for more information.

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