The Observatory, located just before the bridge in A building, closed regular operations last Friday until further notice due to staffing shortages. It comes less than a month after most […]
Alex Campbell
Photos: Alex Campbell
September 26, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Alex Campbell
Bartender and health and fitness student Julia Spanninga cleans the bar.
The Observatory, located just before the bridge in A building, closed regular operations last Friday until further notice due to staffing shortages.
It comes less than a month after most classes resumed for the fall semester and the Observatory opened for the season.
“We’re just struggling to find qualified full-time staff,” said Brian Kitchen, the senior manager of hospitality services. “Unfortunately we just weren’t able to fill the vacancies, and with an increase of catering and events it just became the reality of our situation. We weren’t able to operate both the Wolves Den and the Observatory at the same time.”
Jobs that are the hardest to fill are full-time positions, including evening front-of-house staff, supervisors and cooks, according to Kitchen.
Many of the current employees working at the Observatory will be moved to the Wolves Den. Sawyer Jones, a bartender at the Observatory, is one of those employees.
“It sucks. It’s kind of a good vibe here, it’s a lot of foot traffic we’re going to miss out on, but I feel like they’re making the right decision for what they need to do. Hopefully, they figure out their situation and get it open soon again.” said Jones.
Regulars at the Observatory are also upset, but understanding of the temporary closure.
“It’s unfortunate that they have to close because I love going after class and hanging out with my friends, but I understand that worker shortages are a big problem right now, so I’m not that upset. It’ll open up soon and I’ll be back,” said Dianna Cinnamon, a horticulture student who regularly stops in after class.
As to when the Observatory could reopen, it could take some time.
“Unfortunately it will be a number of weeks, but it depends on how long it takes us to fill the vacancies,” Kitchen said. The hiring process can take a while, but Kitchen remains optimistic that the Observatory will open again soon.
In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Algonquin College is hosting a screening of the multi-award-winning 2021 film Beans on Friday. The semi-autobiographical film takes place during the […]
Magan Carty
Photos: Courtesy/EMA Films
September 26, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Courtesy/EMA Films
An image from the movie 'Beans,' directed by Tracey Deer.
In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Algonquin College is hosting a screening of the multi-award-winning 2021 film Beanson Friday.
The semi-autobiographical film takes place during the 1990 Oka Crisis, a 78-day land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the Quebec town of Oka.
Guests are invited to gatherin C–building‘sNawaponat 4 p.m. for light food and refreshments and will be ushered to the screening in N-building’s Big BlackBoxTheatre .
Following the 90-minutescreening, there will be a pre-recorded Q and A with the film’sdirector, Tracey Deer, who lived through the Oka Crisis as a child growing up on Kahnawake Reserve in southwestern Quebec.
There will also be a space for reflection and discussion around the fire in Ishkodewan, moderated by the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival.
This event is being organized by Indigenous pedagogy and curriculum consultants Kerry Potts and Sheila Grantham.
"It's a long road to reconciliation," says Professor and Indigenous Pedagogy and Curriculum Consultant, Kerry Potts. Photo credit: Magan Carty
The purpose of these brand-new roles at the collegeis to build relationships across the academics so teachers include Indigenous created content, according to Potts.
“Algonquin is really thirsty for this. Now thatwe have these beautiful spaces, it’s time to fill them with Indigenous voices,”she said.
Potts wanted to spark a conversation at the college that acknowledges “reconciliation is about so much more than residential schools.”
Beans, she decided, was an ideal outlet for people to reflect on the meaning of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“It shows the realities that the community of Kanesatake faced in 1990 as they were protecting their traditional lands and sacred burial grounds,” said Grantham.
Potts described it as an example of the lack of relationship between Indigenous communities and the towns they are next to, the federal government and the military.
The film is special to Pottsin that it’s told through the eyes of a child. Its perspective allowed her to experience “immediate emotional empathy” for the affected community and relate to the characters on a human level.
“It really highlights what it’s like to feel like you don’t belong on your own land, allowing us to think about how we build bridges, literally and figuratively, and the power of those bridges,” she said.
It is important to look toward the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, as well as what the college is doing to implement these actions, especially on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, according to Grantham.
“Indigenous people all over Canada continue to fight for access to their lands and face racism, lack of justice and access to necessities,” Grantham said.
On Friday, a monument at Algonquin College will commemorate the children who did not return from residential schools, as well as residential school survivors and their families. A wide range of events and exhibits are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The screening and discussion event of Beans is a collaborative effort of the Truth and Reconciliation Indigenization, Learning and Teaching Services, film and media production and the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival.
Everyone is welcome but space is limited. If you are interested in bringing a class or large group to the screening, email Shelia Grantham at granths@algonquincollege.comto RSVP.
Featured Story | News
Arts and entertainment | Indigenous history | Movie | Truth and reconciliation
After their disappointing home debut the previous week, the Algonquin Wolves men’s soccer team had a point to prove on their second home game Friday. They did it in flamboyant […]
Aadil Naik
Photos: Aadil Naik
September 25, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Aadil Naik
It was a cold night to play soccer, with the temperature hovering in the six-to-eight degrees Celsius range, but the teams didn't let that stop them putting on a show.
After their disappointing home debut the previous week, the Algonquin Wolves men’s soccer team had a point to prove on their second home game Friday.
They did it in flamboyant fashion, beating the Centennial Colts 5-1.
The Wolves went on the offensive early, with the first shot on target ricocheting off the post in the fourth minute, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Shortly later, in the seventh minute, Cristian Aviles-Molina put the ball in the net for the Wolves with a perfect free kick from just outside the box, opening the floodgates for the offensive streak that followed.
Kerim Tosun was next, scoring for the hosts in the 27th minute, tapping the ball in after another free kick was insufficiently deflected by the Centennial defence.
After this early rattle, the Colts composed themselves and started to keep possession for longer periods. They did not manage to make it through the very committed Wolves’ defence and went into the half trailing by two goals.
When the second half resumed, the hosts stuck to their offensive strategy, and it paid off.
In the 63rd minute, the Wolves picked up an interception and pulled off a very swift counterattack that culminated with Latif Shaif scoring the first of his two goals. His second came 20 minutes later with a lunge to push the ball into the net after the Colts’ defence failed to clear it.
“It’s a different type of experience right now. A different type of feeling,” said Shaif as he celebrated with his team after the match. “We came back from a hard loss last week, but we’re back and we’re here to show that we are out here.”
To their credit, the Colts never lost heart and stayed composed. They tried to rally, with Peter Ubreye scoring for the visitors in the 68th minute, but it just wasn’t enough.
Mecheri Mohammed put the final nail in the coffin when he scored for the Wolves in the two minutes of extra time at the end of the game, successfully putting last week’s disappointment to rest.
“I think we could have dictated the tempo a little bit better with possession, but overall I was happy with the performance,” said head coach Angus Wong, visibly pleased with his team’s effort. “We saw some of the themes of this week’s training sessions implemented in the game, so that’s what we as staff were most happy about.”
Intramural sports are back at Algonquin College after a more than two-year hiatus. The college is once again offering intramural sports to its students after they were suspended in March […]
Cameron Ryan
Photos: Cameron Ryan
September 23, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Cameron Ryan
Intramural sports officially begin October 3.
Intramural sports are back at Algonquin College after a more than two-year hiatus.
The college is once again offering intramural sports to its students after they were suspended in March 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college is offering seven intramural sports: volleyball, floor hockey, basketball, dodgeball, futsal, badminton and ping pong. Intramurals are open to full-time and part-time students.
This is the first time that the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre has hosted intramural sports since it opened in September 2021. The ARC provides all the necessary equipment for intramurals, including racquets, hockey sticks and goalie equipment.
“We want to keep our students active and healthy and it’s a good way to socialize as well,” said Stephanie Rheaume, the college’s campus recreation coordinator.
“I’m looking forward to having a really competitive season and also meet new people who are more skilled than me, and learn from them,” said Abdirahman Aden, a first-year business administration student, who is the captain of a intramural futsal team.
With registration week wrapping up on Sept. 23, exhibition games will start on Sept. 26 until the official start of the intramural season on Oct. 3.
Students will still be able to register during exhibition week and can register with a team or as an individual and be added to a team.
Three more sports will be added in January 2023. Ultimate frisbee, touch football and cricket will be played on the Algonquin Students’ Association sports field.
League-wide NHL training camps started on Sept. 22, and the Ottawa Senators had a big off-season. Fans and rivals have differing expectations for the team’s roster this season. The playoffs […]
Tyler Major-Mcnicol
Photos:
September 23, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
"The Ottawa Senators are going to the playoffs," said Moad Saeed, a public relations student at Algonquin College.
League-wide NHL training camps started on Sept. 22, and the Ottawa Senators had a big off-season.
Fans and rivals have differing expectations for the team’s roster this season.
The playoffs were approaching when news about the passing of longtime Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk shocked the hockey world. The Senators brought in two big pieces for their forward group: Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat, along with a new goaltender, Cam Talbot.
The moves have somewhat divided the hockey fan base at Algonquin College.
“They have upgraded their forwards. They’ll be an offensive club, but will suffer on the back end defensively. And they’ve improved in goal,” said Joseph Ieradi, a professor in the police foundations program.
Tyler Cyr, a recent graduate of the radio broadcasting program, feels optimistic about the team.
“This season is going to be a real test for the Senators come Oct. 13 in Buffalo against the Sabres, and I’m super excited about the team and for the fanbase. This is arguably the best Ottawa Senators lineup the team has seen in years, and while the core is quite young, they have the potential to surprise many people,” said Cyr.
While some feel the team is still a year or two away in terms of allowing the younger guys to develop and get used to the speed and size of players in the NHL, Cyr remains optimistic.
Frankie Benvenuti, a former journalism student who graduated in April 2022, also feels optimistic about the Senators’ young roster.
“I think there’s general excitement about the team right now. Some of the additions they made — Giroux and DeBrincat — have proven they are ready to actually go after it and compete this season,” he said. “That’s something we haven’t seen for some time. Adding the new acquisitions to the young group they already have is going to be interesting. I think expectations are really high.”
While the team looks promising on paper, growing pains are a real possibility according to Benvenuti.
“I think expectations are high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if things took a little while to fall into place,” said Benvenuti.
Greg Avgeropoulos, a radio broadcasting student, feels as though Senators fans need to reel in their expectations, as the additions didn’t occur a few years ago, which changes the narrative.
“I think they are becoming way too overrated by their fans. They got a 34-year-old Giroux, who everybody seems to think is still a 25-year-old. He is still a good player, but not what he once was,” he said. “They also got a 35-year-old Cam Talbot, who was decent last year but lost his starting job, and their defence still stinks.”
The Senators have certainly divided Algonquin students, with some students viewing the team as pretenders who won’t go far in the playoffs, while others see the potential for a dark horse and a team that might surprise hockey fans.
With on-ice practices starting on Sept. 23 the start of training camp is upon us, and fans won’t have to wait very long to get a glimpse of the group set to represent the Senators in the upcoming season.
Students and friends took the stage at the Observatory on Wednesday night, rocking out to Don’t Stop Believing, Creep, Dreams and other rock classics. The Students’ Association welcomed Rockstar Live […]
Jantina Huizenga
Photos: Jantina Huizenga
September 22, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Jantina Huizenga
Kyla Doner-Freire performed Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.
Students and friends took the stage at the Observatory on Wednesday night, rocking out to Don’t Stop Believing, Creep, Dreams and other rock classics.
The Students’ Association welcomed Rockstar Live Karaoke to Algonquin College, a Toronto-based live karaoke group that consists of musicians who have toured the world and won Juno, Socan, gold and platinum awards.
The band kicked off the event with Highway to Hell to get the crowd excited. It didn’t take long for students to get on the stage and sing their favourite songs.
Kyla Doner-Freire, a student in the esthetician program, sang Don’t Stop Believing, Dreams, and Jack and Diane.
Doner-Freire was a natural on stage.
“I’ve been singing for a while, but I love coming to karaoke because I can sing what I want,” she said.
For some students, it was a bucket list item.
“I love music and I like watching other people sing. I was nervous, but I knew I needed to do it once,” said Reegan Derikx, a student in the public safety program.
For others, it was more of a fun extracurricular activity that didn’t need a lot of thought.
“For me, I know I don’t have the vocals for it, but I have the energy for it, and I loved being up there,” said Derikx’ karaoke partner, Robert Craig.
Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story
Entertainment | Karaoke | Music | Observatory | Student life
Ottawa will elect a new mayor in October, and veteran city councillor Catherine McKenney, 61, is one of the front-runners of the race, according to a Mainstreet Research poll. McKenney, […]
Magan Carty
Photos: Magan Carty
September 22, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Magan Carty
More than 80 volunteers came out to canvass for McKenney on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Ottawa will elect a new mayor in October, andveteran city councillor Catherine McKenney, 61, is one of thefront-runners of the race, according to aMainstreet Research poll.
McKenney, who uses they/them pronouns, strives to build an Ottawa that works for everyone and said they have a “very strong vision for the city.”
McKenney has been the city councillor for Somerset Ward since 2014. They live in West Centretown with their wife and daughter and have roots in Ottawa’s downtown as well as the Kanata suburbs.
Prior to being elected to city council, McKenney was a political stafferfor former councillors Alex Munter and Diane Holmes. They said they were“shared” by the Kanata and Somerset wards for a period, working for Munter in the mornings and Holmes in the afternoons.
“I have been very fortunate in my career to have worked for some of the strongest and most progressive politicians in the city,” said McKenney.
Their mayoral platform includes working towards a greener, healthier and more connected Ottawa where climate change is at the centre of alldecisions, everyone has a safe place to call home and transit is as reliable and affordable as possible.
“It’s a change. It’s bold. But I will stick to it, and I have the experience to make it happen. I am not promising anything I can’t deliver,” said McKenney.
They said they have a plan to ensure small businesses thrive in Ottawa’s growing community. They also pledge to restore trust, transparency and accountability at city hall.
“We need voices that will fight for people,” they said.
When McKenney was working at city hall in 2011 as chief advisor to city manager Steve Kanellakos, they said they saw the mayor make serious cutbacks to transit operations and “knew it wasn’t going to work.”
“I could see more cuts coming and decided then to leave my job in administration and run for council,” said McKenney.
McKenney did not run against Holmes, their “favourite councillor of all time,” but filled her shoes upon retirement from 30 years in municipal politics.
According to Holmes, the upcoming election is a unique opportunity for change in Ottawa.
“Catherine has the vision and will to build the green, inclusive city we’ve been dreaming of,” said Holmes.
“They know what they want to accomplish and the steps to make it happen.”
McKenney delivers a speech at Capital Pride on Aug. 24, 2022. Photo credit: Courtesy/Media Kit
Eight years after replacing Holmes as city councillor of the Somerset ward, McKenneyrefuses to compromise their vision to earn votes for mayor.
“It’s extremely important I stay true to my values no matter what, even if it means I don’t win. No one should run for mayor just to have a job. You should do it because you genuinely care and believe you can make a difference,” they said.
The most positive part of McKenney’s run for mayor has been the “enormity” and “energy” of their campaign team.
“I’m surrounded and supported by so many people I’ve never met before, and the team just keeps on growing,” they said.
The most difficult part of their election process has been the “negativity that comes with campaigning”. They’ve received backlash for the price tag of some of their promises, including fare-free transit.
Mark Sutcliffe, another front-runner in the mayoral race, criticized McKenney’s plan to rapidly expand cycling infrastructure in Ottawa. He called it “incredibly expensive,” claiming it prioritized bicycles over cars and downtown over the rest of the city.
Negativity is to be expected in any election campaign, according to McKenney, but it’s nothing theycan’t handle.
“I stood up to an illegal occupation for three weeks. I can withstand criticism,” they said.
Ottawa’s municipal election is happening Oct. 24.
If McKenneywins the election, the first thing they’ll do on the morning of Oct. 25 is get up at 5 a.m., as they always do, and go for a run. Immediately after, they’ll start to consider who they need to talk to – who will be able to transition Ottawa to a city that is healthy, green and connected.
“My first day as mayor will be in contemplation of who I need around the table to transition us and realize the potential of the city,” McKenney said.
“We haven’t tapped into the expertise of people who live here. If I’m fortunate enough to be mayor, I intend to do that.”
The Algonquin Times has also reached out to mayoral candidates Bob Chiarelli and Mark Sutcliffe for interviews. Follow the Times for ongoing coverage of the Ottawa municipal election.
Featured Story | Municipal Election
Catherine mckenney | City council | Climate change | Diversity | Downtown | Election | Mayor | Ottawa | Pride | Transit | Voting
On the beautiful sunny afternoon of Sept. 15, donors and staff gathered in the Innovation Research Lab building at the Perth campus to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the campus. […]
Myriam Landreville
Photos: Myriam Landreville
September 22, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Myriam Landreville
Brent McLaren – Town Crier for the Town of Perth
On the beautiful sunny afternoon of Sept. 15, donors and staff gathered in the Innovation Research Lab building at the Perth campus to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the campus.
The Ontario Vocational Centre (OVC) opened in 1965 on what is now the college’s Woodroffe campus in Ottawa. The Perth campus started operating in 1967 when the OVC and Eastern Ontario Institute of Technology (EOIT) merged to create the new Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology.
By 1969, construction was underway on a permanent building for the Perth campus. Opening in 1970, the new campus featured a 22,500 square-foot facility that held 22 classrooms and three shops.
When the Perth campus opened, it served primarily as a retraining site with academic upgrading and skill programs such as stenography, electronics, welding, carpentry and various programs relating to employment needs in Lanark County.
By the early 2000s, the college had grown and it was clear a new building was needed. In 2011, a new 42,000 square-foot facility opened for students.
The building has LEED Gold certification and features a specialized health lab, a carpentry and joinery Shop, a masonry shop, a library (which also houses a local archive), a Students’ Association office, a fitness centre and student services.
Throughout the years, the Perth campus has been through a lot of changes and it has lost and gained programs.
“We have lots of room for optimism,” said Christopher Hahn, the Perth campus dean. “We recently put in an application for a Bachelor of Applied Science in building conservation. The program focuses on preserving and restoring old buildings.”
Due to COVID-19, the campus was not able to celebrate its true anniversary, which would have been in 2021.
Nevertheless, everyone was excited to finally celebrate.
The festivities started at 3 p.m. to honor the staff and donors that have made the Perth campus possible.
The event highlighted how much the Perth campus is tied with the community. Perth Mayor John Fenik talked about how integral the Perth campus is to the community, and vice versa.
“The donors really are an integral part of the college,” said Ian Lewer, the director of philanthropy for Algonquin. “For students, a donor offering bursaries could be the difference between a student deciding to go to school or not.”
Former students and current students of the campus spoke about what the Perth campus means to them.
“The people make it what it is,” said Dylan Wallace, a student in the business-agriculture program. “I absolutely love the program.”
Festivities continued into the night with a concert hosted by the Students’ Association. Country music stars Jason Blaine, who graduated from Algonquin College, and The River Town Saints, who are from the Ottawa Valley, played for students, staff and community members.
Melissa Marchand, an interior design student in her fourth year, was in the ACCE building last Friday sitting near the biowall. “I’m really happy they replanted the wall, this is […]
Leslie Bader
Photos: Leslie Bader
September 21, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Leslie Bader
Rising over 20 metres high, the biowall is a prominent feature of the ACCE building.
Melissa Marchand, an interior design student in her fourth year, was in the ACCE building last Friday sitting near the biowall.
“I’m really happy they replanted the wall, this is my zen area,” said Marchand.
After looking brown and dead during the pandemic, the biowall is again alive with plants.
Marchand noted the abundance of natural light, and that when it was quiet she could hear the water running, a sound not heard for over a year.
Fourth-year interior design student Melissa Marchand takes a study break with a classmate. Photo credit: Leslie Bader
Horticulturalist and grounds maintenance manager Amanda Carmichael outlined the series of events leading to the demise of the previous plants.
“The pandemic affected all of us in so many aspects and, unfortunately, it wasn’t different with the biowall,” said Carmichael. “The lift used to access and maintain the wall requires annual recertification to operate and it can only be provided by two companies, which are both American.”
As the Canada/U.S. border was closed, technicians could not travel to the college, which meant the lift could not be used to service the irrigation system.
Last spring, the lift was back in action moving flamingo flowers and philodendrons up and down the wall, while a maintenance crew worked below, carefully washing soil from a shipment of corn plants.
The biowall uses a hydroponic system which allows water and fertilizer to bathe the roots tucked into fabric pouches.
Horticulture program coordinator Tommy Wingreen said the department was involved with the biowall in the past but is no longer involved in any way.
“We used to be able to have our students participate in the maintenance, but due to liability issues, we are no longer doing that,” said Wingreen,
When asked to comment on past student involvement, Carmichael said it may be true, but if so, it preceded her role with the college.
The biowall is 21 meters tall and requires Working at Heights and Fall Arrest Training to be in the basket, as well as Arial Lift Training for operating the lift.
Carmichael said she was confident that decisions regarding the biowall’s maintenance were done with students’ best interests in mind.
“Our students’ health and safety will always be our top priority,” said Carmichael.
The Algonquin College men’s soccer team saw its perfect start come crashing to a halt in its home opener on Saturday afternoon. The Wolves lost to the George Brown Huskies […]
Kolbe Devaux
Photos: Kolbe Devaux
September 20, 2022 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Kolbe Devaux
The Wolves and the Huskies chase down a loose ball.
The Algonquin College men’s soccer team saw its perfect start come crashing to a halt in its home opener on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolves lost to the George Brown Huskies 1 – 0 in front of a very engaged home crowd, particularly towards the end of the game as the hosts tried to find a goal.
Oscar Forward, holding midfielder for the Wolves, was disappointed with the result but felt his teammates fought well.
“We’ve had a lot of games in the past two weeks and it felt like we crumbled apart,” he said. “We showed character at the end but it was a difficult game.”
The hosts started the game brightly, but slowly theHuskies took control of the match.Most of the action took place in the middle of the field, with the visitors having a slight advantage in possession.
In what was a tight first half with several ill-tempered fouls, the Wolves did manage to put the ball in the back of the net.However,the goal was called off because of anoffside and the two teams went into halftime on level terms.
The he Wolves conceded their first goal of the season in the 64th minute. The Huskies then stifled the home team’s attempts to salvage a point as both the weather and the spirit of the match soured.
“We changed our formation to try to get more people forward and we came close to finding some success,” said head coach Angus Wong, speaking after the defeat. “We had some chances late but just didn’t get the end product. However, I think the guys fought well at the end and played with some urgency.”
The Wolves created one great opportunity to equalize in the last 10 minutes before the referee added seven minutes of extra time due to the stop–start nature of the game. However, they couldn’t break down the Huskies’ defence and dropped their first points of the season.
Looking ahead, Wong said the team has room to improve despite their overall strong start.
“There’s a few things we’ll have to work on to prepare us for the weekend coming up and the rest of the season,” he said. “Hopefully this week we have four good sessions going into Friday’s game and we can get better results on the weekend.”
The head coach is optimistic about his team’s performances as the season progresses.
“Having four games in eight days is tough, but we deal with this part of the schedule now and at the end of the season we have a little more time between games. Hopefully that spacing helps us going forward into the post-season,” said Wong.
Algonquin College currently sits in second place in the Ontario College Athletics Association’s East Division with nine points from four matches.
The Wolves next play the Centennial Colts on Sept. 23, at 8:15 p.m. and the Fleming Knights on Sept. 24, at 4:15 p.m.
Both games are scheduled to be played at the Algonquin College Students’ Association sports field.
