Former Algonquin College hotel and restaurant management student Sushen Kakkar is now the owner of Ottawa’s first milkshake bar. “When I came to Canada, I think I always wanted to […]
Annika Schlarb
Photos: Annika Schlarb
April 10, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Annika Schlarb
Former Algonquin College hotel and restaurant management student Sushen Kakkar is now the owner of an Ottawa milkshake bar.
Former Algonquin College hotel and restaurant management student Sushen Kakkar is now the owner of Ottawa’s first milkshake bar.
“When I came to Canada, I think I always wanted to open a restaurant,” said Kakkar, who was originally looking to open a regular bar but decided to try something he hadn’t seen in Ottawa. For God Shakes is located downtown on Dalhousie Street and is the first milkshake bar in the city.
What Sushen Kakkar learned during his time in the hotel and restaurant program helped guide him throughout the planning process for opening his restaurant. After graduating from the program, he was able to apply his marketing and business knowledge.
“I learned how to take things step by step,” Kakkar said.
Despite the idea that milkshakes are more likely to be a summer favourite, the restaurant’s opening in October 2022 was a success, and sales throughout the winter were great.
“There’s nothing like this in Ottawa. Everybody was excited, and we’ve had a really good response,” explained Kakkar.
The Algonquin program taught Kakkar aspects of a successful business, and he still falls back on the information while running his restaurant.
“Algonquin is doing amazing. The program is practical and really helpful,” said Kakkar.
The For God Shakes website says, “We serve 100 per cent flavourful milkshakes made with 100 per cent pure love and originality.” With over 10 flavours, the diverse menu also offers lactose-free and vegan options.
The milkshakes at For God Shakes often come with special toppings, including cake. The lemon lavender milkshake comes with lemon cheesecake Photo credit: Annika Schlarb
With the anticipation of tourism, For God Shakes is already preparing for the summertime. Twenty new milkshakes were recently added to the menu. For God Shakes will be open from 1 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends.
The dessert menu has a delicious variety of cheesecakes, gluten-free strawberry champagne cake and vegan carrot cake, along with the popular pancake towers that come in three different flavours.
Kakkar explained how teamwork is important when running a restaurant; he always leads his team instead of giving orders. He said this is something he will always remember from the hotel and restaurant management program.
Opening and running a business comes with an elaborate planning process. Kakkar described the importance of background research that must be done before even investing in a property. “You have to be calm and patient,” he said.
Community members have had the chance to sing and dance along to their favourite songs on the second floor of the Student Commons at the AC Hub every Friday from […]
Kit Gervais
Photos: Kit Gervais
April 10, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Kit Gervais
Student navigators Fabiana Ferrvosso, left, and Irina Alengoz, right, take in the song requests for the AC Hub event. “I think it definitely helps students to turn on music you like to relax,” said Alengoz.
Community members have had the chance to sing and dance along to their favourite songs on the second floor of the Student Commons at the AC Hub every Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The “Feel Good Fridays” event is meant to make students feel good while listening to their favourite tunes while they study or just hang out before the weekend.
Between the natural light from huge windows to couch-like booths, the AC Hub is an environment many students choose to unwind.
Students let Irina Alengoz or Fabiana Ferrvosso, students navigators taking requests at the Hub, know what songs they want to play, as long as it’s safe for work.
“I think it definitely helps students to turn on music you like to relax,” said Alengoz.
Talya Blakey, a a drawing foundations for animation and illustration student agrees. While twirling a coloured pencil near her sketchbook on Friday, Blakey says that she thinks it’s beneficial to listen to music while studying or doing assignments.
“I didn’t know that was a thing [before today], that’s cool,” Blakey said, about the Feel Good Friday event. She just comes to the Hub to study or hang out.
Drawing foundations for animation and illustration student, Talya Blakey, works on a drawing in the AC Hub. Photo credit: Kit Gervais
Alengoz said that most students are indeed surprised by the event. She said not many are aware that they can choose their own music in the AC Hub, but despite that, they get a lot of song requests.
There’s yet to be one that is a top pick or fan favourite. The songs played over the speakers are randomized, since each student has their own specific taste.
Gabriel Zuluaga, drawing foundations for animation and illustration student, agrees that music can help students work. But when it comes to the event itself, he wondered why they can’t just listen in their headphones.
“You can just, like, listen to it on your own,” he said.
Ferrvosso, a student navigator, thinks the event is really nice.
She’s also a full-time student and helps post about AC Hub events on social media to invite more people to participate.
Now that the term is nearing exam season, she said it really helps students “chill and relax a little.”
Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story
#ACHub | AC Hub | Event | Events | Friday | Music | Songs | Student | Student commons | Students | Study
From her time spent in the computer science program at Algonquin College, to her time working as a 911 dispatcher, Johanne Marelic has spent her working career learning where her […]
Rebekah Houter
Photos: Rebekah Houter
April 10, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Rebekah Houter
Johanne Marelic aims to put people at ease when they come to see her at her new job.
“Our door is always open and if we don’t have the answers or there is nothing that we can do, we will help with the process with whatever the answer is,” Marelic said.
From her time spent in the computer science program at Algonquin College, to her time working as a 911 dispatcher, Johanne Marelic has spent her working career learning where her passion lives: helping people deal with tough issues.
After a 34-year career with the Ottawa police department as an officer and a detective, Marelic has been hired as the sexual assault investigator with Algonquin College’s security services. She plans to use her experience to help students who report sexual assaults get the help they need.
The college’s corporate policy SA16, the Sexual Assault/Sexual Violence Policy, states that everyone should have the right to work, learn and socialize without the fear of sexual harassment or assault, and has put measures in place to help.
Marelic’s job is one of those measures. In 2018 the position was created with security services following the #MeToo movement.
Her role is also to help people who have questions or are unsure about something that might have happened to them.
“Our door is always open and if we don’t have the answers or there is nothing that we can do, we will help with the process with whatever the answer is,” Marelic said.
As Marelic is the person survivors talk with about all sexual-assault related incidents, her goal is to support people who come forward.
“We can’t predict the future but at the same time we can certainly help make the survivor feel comfortable and safe the best we can,” Marelic said.
“It’s an open door, if they want to stay anonymous, they can stay anonymous, there’s no pressure.”
Marelic says she wants to make it clear to those looking to disclose sexual assaults or harassment there are options, and there are people at the security services ready and willing to help.
Investigator Hannah Brown is one of them.
She started as a guard with security services and wears plain clothes to put people at ease when she interviews.
Brown says security on campus works 24/7 including overnights, holidays and weekends. There is a full-time dispatcher working and the policy is your phone calls will never go unanswered.
Other safety measures around campus include emergency buttons scattered throughout the campus which are connected to security services and will always be answered by a dispatcher.
Algonquin’s Mobile Safety Apphas an anonymous reporting or an online form for people to fill out, or you can call, or simply walk into the office to fill out a report for any type of incident.
The app can also be used to call or text security services and receive emergency notifications.
Safe walks are another way security will help. If asked, security will walk you anywhere on campus, from your car in the back parking lot, or from your residence to your classroom.
“Campus is a spot where you should feel safe as a student. And if you don’t, we try to do our utmost best to make you feel safe,” Brown said. “We want to make students feel safe because they pay to be here, and they have the right to be here.”
Eunji Jo, a first-year animation student, says while she thinks it is sad that the position of sexual assault investigator is needed, she’s glad the college is taking steps to help.
“I feel pretty safe walking around campus,” Jo said. “But at night, like last drinking day on St. Paddy’s Day with the drunk people, I didn’t feel as safe. Going downtown is worse, there are more high and drunk people there.”
Data from Stats Canada from 1996 to 2021 shows sexual assault is the only violent crime remaining on the rise or unchanged, with 2021 having the highest number of assaults reported.
In the security offices, there are private rooms for one-on-one talks with a member of security services like Marelic or Brown.
They try to make people feel as comfortable as they can when coming to make a report, such as letting the survivor bring a comfort buddy with them, like a friend, teacher, or co-worker with them.
The investigators then follow up to solve the issue at hand or help the survivor by walking them through the steps to report it to Ottawa Police.
Project Lighthouse is also a good resource for those wishing to learn more about sexual health and safety.
If students have concerns to discuss or wish to talk with Marelic, even for advice or concerns about off-campus incidents, she can be found at the security office in A-building at the end of the hall in room A149. Or students can call security services at 613-727-4723 ext. 5010 or report online at any time.
“My goal here is to have an open door and to make sure that it’s open for anybody that wants to come forth. And whether it’s to discuss about options, discuss about what’s happened, I’m here,” Marelic said.
“There is no right or wrong. What’s wrong is what happened, but from this day forth they’re in control they make the decision with what happens.”
Featured Story | News
Crime | Safety | Safety on campus | Security | Sexual assault
Happy Monday!this weeks music monday feature is ottawa indie pop artist “Maxime.” All beginning in his small bedroom in Ottawa, “Maxime” released an 18-track project as his debut to the […]
Valentina Ortiz Galvis
Photos:
April 8, 2023 Revised: April 8, 2023 8:08pm
Happy Monday! this weeks music monday feature is ottawa indie pop artist “Maxime.” All beginning in his small bedroom in Ottawa, “Maxime” released an 18-track project as his debut to the music scene in 2019, generating over 10M streams. Now with two albums and multiple hit singles, “Maxime.” Now has over 250,000 Spotify monthly listeners.
The spotlight song this week is “cherry stems”, which is a song on his newest EP, “cherry stems”.
Local news CTV News: Freezing rain caused five LRT vehicles to lose power on Wednesday morning, trapping passengers for long periods of time until they could safely get off with […]
Naomie Twagirumukiza
Photos:
April 7, 2023 Revised: April 7, 2023 12:44pm
Local news
CTV News: Freezing rain caused five LRT vehicles to lose power on Wednesday morning, trapping passengers for long periods of time until they could safely get off with the help of emergency responders.
The five LRT vehicles included one east of Tunney’s Pasture Station, one at Rideau Station after coming in from uOttawa station.
Two trains were stuck between Lees and Hurdman stations, and the fifth train was immobilized east of Tremblay Station.
National news
Global News: The police in Canada helped the FBI stop Genesis Market, a massive illegal online marketplace that packaged and sold stolen data.
The market sold applications that infected victims’ devices through malware or account takeover attacks to commit fraud, hack into corporations, drop ransomware and steal intellectual property.
The director general of the RCMP’s National Cybercrime Coordination Centre said that there were 79 “distinct law enforcement actions, including arrests, the execution of search warrants and direct engagement of suspected users” in Canada on Tuesday.
International news
Africanews: Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga announced that the country intends to introduce a law that would make it illegal for other nations to recruit its health workers.
He says it will prevent the loss of valuable healthcare professionals to other countries.
Jason Brennan, the owner of Nish Media, stressed the importance of being invested in your work during a recent discussion with television broadcasting students. “As a producer, this might seem […]
Andrew Sorokan
Photos:
April 6, 2023 Revised: April 6, 2023 4:05pm
“As a producer, this might seem excessive but you have to be ready to die for that show because you are selling it,” Jason Brennan said. Photo supplied by Jason Brennan
Jason Brennan, the owner of Nish Media, stressed the importance of being invested in your work during a recent discussion with television broadcasting students.
“As a producer, this might seem excessive but you have to be ready to die for that show because you are selling it,” Brennan said.
Brennan talked with the students for an hour on March 30.
Brennan started the presentation by talking about how he got to where he is today. He stressed to students only the best make it in the industry, so they have to work as hard as possible.
“It’s a tough business, you need to really work hard,” Brennan said. “Only the best make it, that’s the bottom line. Out of my graduating class, we had three classes back then of about 30 people. I think there’s maybe 15 of us really working.”
Brennan told the students he had to sacrifice to get where he is today, including working two jobs.
“He’s a prime example of what going that extra distance can do for your career,” Susan Stranks, a professor in the television broadcasting program, said.
Nish Media produced a drama in 2021 called Pour Toi Flora. The show was the first completely Indigenous-created drama series in Canada. The show was extremely popular and won awards over shows on Apple TV and Netflix.
Nish Media is known for its work with Indigenous peoples.
“Not only is he alumni of the broadcasting television program and a very successful producer, but he’s also the owner of an Indigenous production company whose philosophy really is to promote Indigenous content and culture around the world,” Stranks said.
“I think the messages were there for the Indigenous students to be inspiring and the students who are not Indigenous can certainly learn from that experience,” Stranks said.
Throughout all his success, Brennan has stayed local in Quebec and is a great example of how an Algonquin College graduate can succeed without going to big cities like Toronto or L.A.
“Not only is he a grad, not only is he an award winner, but he’s also still local,” Stranks said.
More than 40 audience members attended Trevour Strudwick and Jamie Rallison’s hypnosis and comedy show in Algonquin College’s N-building on March 31. The audience members let their conscious minds go […]
Andrew Sorokan
Photos: Andrew Sorokan
April 5, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Andrew Sorokan
Performers Jamie Rallison and Trevour Strudwick pose for a photo after their show on Friday evening.
More than 40 audience members attended Trevour Strudwick and Jamie Rallison’s hypnosis and comedy show in Algonquin College’s N-building on March 31.
The audience members let their conscious minds go and had fun with their subconscious instead.
The duo teamed up for the fundraising show, delivering a performance to remember. The tickets sold helped fund the performing arts program’s end-of-year grad party and the scriptwriting program’s trip to Toronto.
Strudwick is a student in the performing arts program and Rallison is a professor in the same program with 15 years of performing experience.
“We get the conscious out of the way so the subconscious can play. That’s the fun part,” Rallison said.
One part of the performance involved volunteers. Strudwick and Rallison took 12 people who wanted to be hypnotized from their seats. Once under hypnosis, the volunteers did things like act like they were four-year-olds, behaved as if they were meeting their favourite celebrities and clucked like chickens.
William Thibodeau, a scriptwriting student, was one of the 12 volunteers and enjoyed his time under hypnosis.
“At first, I was really nervous, but like I remember as a kid it was always my dream to be hypnotized. So I was like wow I’m getting hypnotized,” Thibodeau said. “It was fun at first but as it went along it was more fun.”
The group has been working tirelessly for two months to put the show together, and their work paid off with one hour and 20 minutes of laughter and hypnosis for the crowd.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Logan Indewey, a performing arts student. “I didn’t know what hypnosis really felt like. It was relaxing, very relaxing. All of that stress you hold in your shoulders, gone.”
Other attendees felt differently about the relaxation part of the performance but still agreed it was overall relaxing.
“I don’t know if I would call it relaxing,” “Thibodeau said. “It was relaxed at times, but also like you really had to calm down because the dopamine level was just so high at certain moments. It was great.”
After the great performance, the performers were generous with their time and stayed back to talk with the audience afterwards.
“To see people who are off the street who’ve come to see the show, who are not professionals in any way shape or form, just let go and do these things, it’s pretty funny,” Strudwick said.
The duo had fun performing on Friday night doing the thing they love most.
“I love just making people laugh,” Rallison said. “That’s just what I like to do.”
Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story
Comedy | Graduation | Hypnotist | Party | Performing arts | Scriptwriting
Local CTV News: A vote regarding a tax grant worth $13 million to build an airport hotel has ended in a tie at the finance and corporate services committee. Because […]
Andrew Sorokan
Photos:
April 5, 2023 Revised: April 5, 2023 3:51pm
Local
CTV News: A vote regarding a tax grant worth $13 million to build an airport hotel has ended in a tie at the finance and corporate services committee.
Because the vote ended in a tie it will now rise to the council for consideration on April 12.
Six Ottawa city councillors voted in favour of the grant. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe plus five others voted against it.
“I want to be clear, it is not because I don’t support the airport,” Sutcliffe said. “It’s not because I don’t believe in economic development. It is not because I don’t support staff. It is because I don’t believe in this type of funding model.”
Those in favour of adding a hotel near the airport hope it would improve the viability of the airport and make it a hub like in Toronto and Montreal, therefore, bringing more people to Ottawa.
National
Global News: Premier of Prince Edward Island Dennis King, is projected to get another term in office after Monday’s provincial election.
This will be King’s second term in office. King’s first term started in 2019 and was marked by issues regarding COVID-19.
The leader of the Progressive Conservatives campaigned and debated hard over issues regarding health care and housing.
The party won more seats this election than the previous one and will now hold a projected 22 out of 27 potential seats. If the results hold, that would be a gain of seven seats from election to election.
International
CBS News: The men’s basketball NCAA March Madness has ended with the UConn Huskies defeating San Diego State in the finals 76-59 in Houston, Texas.
Coming into the tournament, UConn was a fourth seed. They went on a strong run, including an upset 82-52 win over Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.
San Diego State was a fifth seed and had a strong run coming into the finals with a big upset win over number one seed Alabama in the Sweet 16. Many predicted Alabama to win the tournament.
The Huskies run to the championship, including six wins en route to their fifth national championship.
Algonquin College was filled with smiles on April 1 as future students filled the cafeteria talking to professors and staff about programs and activities during the spring open house. “With […]
Blaire Waddell
Photos: Blaire Waddell
April 4, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Blaire Waddell
Visitors checking out the booths located in the Marketplace Food Court in D-Building.
Algonquin College was filled with smiles on April 1 as future students filled the cafeteria talking to professors and staff about programs and activities during the spring open house.
“With everyone registered I would say we have 2,200 for the event but not everyone registers. It is hard to gauge everyone who walks through the doors, but I am going to say with today we have anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 people who have attended,” said Anne Kalil, manager of recruitment, during the open house.
Throughout the day, both people could attend campus tours, visit classrooms and apply for programs, making it a bustling hub of activities.
Nicholas Veens travelled seven hours to talk to professors about the business agriculture program. After finishing the program, he hopes to take over his dad’s apple orchard.
“I grew up on an apple orchard and I plan to own it after my dad retires. The college is seven hours away, but it seems nice and it’s in the capital and everything is conveniently close,” said Veens
Professor Rod Delcourt of the accounting programs mentioned that the open house had been fairly steady for him.
It was “not so overwhelming all at once, but there has been a steady flow of one at a time,” said Delcourt
Over 434 programs are offered at Algonquin College and Dawson Shirley is interested in the firefighting program.
“The helping and assisting-other-people aspect I love. I have always wanted to be a firefighter for a long time. All of the hands-on, technical parts and equipment I enjoy,” said Shirley.
College staff were spread throughout the campus always willing to lend a helping hand to visitors who were lost and had questions about the event.
The province’s announcement in late March that it will invest $224 million in skilled-trade education to build and upgrade facilities and $75 million for programming and operations, is for private […]
Rebekah Houter
Photos: Rebekah Houter
April 4, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Rebekah Houter
Destini Broom, a student in the cabinet making program, works on her latest project.
The province’s announcement in late March that it will invest $224 million in skilled-trade education to build and upgrade facilities and $75 million for programming and operations, is for private training centres only.
Public colleges, Algonquin College included, will not receive any part of these funds.
“Today, we’re supporting employers, unions and other training providers so that they can build and improve the facilities we need to attract and prepare our next generation of skilled trades workers for better jobs and bigger paycheques for themselves and their families,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development in a news release on March 21.
Claude Brulé, Algonquin College president and CEO, expressed his disappointment about the government’s decision in a release the following day.
“Algonquin College prides itself on providing the best opportunities to prepare students for careers in the skilled trades,” said Brulé. “It is surprising and unfortunate that the college sector was excluded from this announcement, given the major role we play in providing the talent pipeline to the skilled trades sector.”
These funds are part of Ontario’s plan to help the growing shortage of qualified workers in the trade sector. Current estimates from the province say nearly 300,000 jobs are needed in key sectors including technology, health care and in the skilled trades.
With the high number of jobs needed, Ontario’s private and public colleges will be essential to help fill these roles with trained graduates ready to go into their various fields.
Some students at Algonquin have thoughts about the news that Algonquin College was left out of this funding.
Will Mowat, a first-year student in the cabinetmaking and furniture technician program, said though they currently have enough equipment, funding from the province would have been nice.
“I think it’s kind of a bummer. I think it could help students a lot more, maybe like add more equipment,” Mowat said. “Honestly, we could always upgrade more.”
Tom Duda is a student in the carpentry apprenticeship program and said he hasn’t been paying attention to the funding coming from the government, but from his perspective, the college has been doing well on its own.
“It’s my first time going through the trades and (the college) has been pretty solid,” said Duda. “If anything, it should be a balance thing. It seems like they’ve got a solid intake of students all the time here. Whether or not the funding is not getting here is hard for me to say, from what I see, the school seems to be running.”
Destini Broom is a small business entrepreneur in the cabinetmaking and furniture technician program. She has plans to make and sell holistic chairs called perineum steam seats for people menstruating and said she chose Algonquin after she was unable to get her own funding in Québec.
“I’m building perineum steam seats and I realized I didn’t have the skill set I wanted to have the quality of them,” Broom said. “I’ve been in the holistic health field for a long time and wanted to help menstruators have healthy menstrual systems. That’s why I’m here, which is absolutely very different from why most other people (came here).”
Broom is excited about the future of her business as she now officially has prototypes out.
Alex Quigley, a student in the cabinetmaking and furniture technician program, says he doesn't know much about the recent funding decision from the provincial government. “I can understand how that would upset some people,” he said.
Regardless of the provincial funding news, planned improvements to assist students in the trades are underway.
Chris Hahn, dean of the Perth campus, says the current plans are for improvements specifically to meet the growing need of the programs relying on skilled trades, industry professionals, technicians and technologists.
“By the fall term, we will be opening a new Electronics Lab, a new Basic Wiring Lab and a new Computer Aided Design Lab,” said Hahn in an email. “These new labs will repurpose existing spaces so that we can provide expanding training within existing programs as well as make room for new program development.”
The changes and expansion will touch program areas such as electrical, architecture, carpentry, building science and building automation. He says there will also be opportunities to offer courses on a part-time basis to professionals in the industry.
Hahn adds the benefits of improving these spaces also help with the program timetable as more options will be available.
“Moving forward we have long-held plans to do more with our space such as closing in the north end of ACCE and adding second-floor spaces over existing labs to create even more classes and labs to continue to address the booming construction sector in Ottawa,” Hahn said.
Brulé is urging the provincial government to continue to work with public colleges to provide jobs to bolster the economy and help find people careers.
“Algonquin College, and other colleges in Ontario, already offer the highest quality training and provide our learners the technical expertise and the skills critical to these industries,” said Brulé.
