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How are the truckers’ protests affecting the Algonquin College community?

The truckers “Freedom Convoy” protesting COVID-19 mandates in Canada arrived in Ottawa this past weekend, causing gridlocks and disruptions in the city. Ottawans living and working in the downtown core have withstood continual noise from large truck horns and intimidation from some protesters. Protesters from across Canada started to converge at Parliament Hill on Thursday, […]

Liam Fox

Photos: Liam Fox

February 3, 2022
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm

Photo: Liam Fox

The majority of protesters from across Canada arrived on Saturday, Jan. 29.

The truckers “Freedom Convoy” protesting COVID-19 mandates in Canada arrived in Ottawa this past weekend, causing gridlocks and disruptions in the city.

Ottawans living and working in the downtown core have withstood continual noise from large truck horns and intimidation from some protesters.

Protesters from across Canada started to converge at Parliament Hill on Thursday, Jan. 27, although the majority of the convoy arrived on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Although the protest has been largely peaceful, there have been incidents of harassment and vandalism coming from the protesters, including the desecration of the National War Memorial and Terry Fox statue.

“Several criminal investigations are underway in relation to the desecration of the National War Memorial/Terry Fox statue, threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals and damage to a city vehicle,” said Ottawa Police in a statement on Twitter.

Police have also advised Ottawans to avoid the city’s downtown core.

Micheal McMahon, a second-year Algonquin College community and justice services student, attended the protest at Parliament Hill as a counter-protester on Saturday, Jan. 29, in an effort to bring attention to the hate tied to the protests.

At the protest, McMahon said he was verbally harassed. “A guy told me and my friends that we should’ve been aborted and to jump off the Rideau bridge,” he said.

Cortny Jardine, a first-year veterinary technician student, said she supports peaceful protesting of vaccine mandates but does not support protesters vandalizing property and spreading hate.

Jardine drives two hours from Gatineau to get to Algonquin College and said the gridlocks downtown have slowed down her commute.

Interprovincial bridges connecting Gatineau and Ottawa including the Alexandra Bridge, Chaudiere Crossing and Portage Bridge have seen closures due to the protest. Many streets in the downtown core have also been shut down by the crowd of large trucks and people in the area. Bridge and road closures in the city could continue into Monday, Feb. 7.

Hudson Hind, a first-year film and media production student, attended the protest in Ottawa to see the size of the protest. Hind said he is neither for nor against the protesting of vaccine mandates, but admired the protestors getting together to support their cause.

“I found it beautiful that everyone could come together and have one communal voice and have that portrayed,” said Hind.

Ahmad Teymouri, a professor in the supply chain and operations management program at Algonquin College, said it will take months for Canada’s supply chain to feel the impact left from labour shortages in the trucking industry due to the protests.

The absence of truckers at work will have a “butterfly effect” on Canada’s supply chain for both essential grocers and retailers in Canada if the truckers’ convoy protests continue, according to Teymouri.

Teymouri also said he thinks truckers should prioritize the public’s safety and follow health guidelines. “It is not about freedom, it is about healthcare,” he said.

Demonstrators from the freedom protests still crowd Ottawa’s downtown core. Many have said they will stay in Ottawa until there is a change to Canada’s COVID-19 mandates and health guidelines.

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Liam Fox

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What’s next for AC graduates?

College and university students are often inclined to change careers post-graduation according to study. Students will often change their mind once they realize what goes into their field, according to a study conducted by edX, which shows 29 per cent of graduates completely change career paths following their graduation. Jessica Cuthbertson is a bachelor of […]

Griffin Waller

Photos:

February 2, 2022
Revised: February 2, 2022 9:39am

Volunteers who signed up to help new students move into residence pose for a picture inside Algonquin College's Student Commons. Photo/@AlgonquinCollege

College and university students are often inclined to change careers post-graduation according to study.

Students will often change their mind once they realize what goes into their field, according to a study conducted by edX, which shows 29 per cent of graduates completely change career paths following their graduation.

Jessica Cuthbertson is a bachelor of information technology student at Algonquin College. Her degree is a joint collaboration between Algonquin College and Carleton University. She, like many, is not exactly sure what she wants to do after college.

“I’m going to finish, but I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do. Something in IT, I hope.”

Cuthbertson embodies a similar mindset to many people attending college or university, having a rough idea but not knowing exactly what they want to do, and a lot of students are still set on finishing their course, even If they don’t think it’s right for them. These feelings can often come from anxiety and pressure which is a common occurrence 44 per cent of students feel, according to a survey conducted by Strada-College.

Despite the concern of some students regarding their future, a report conducted by Algonquin College from 2017-2018 shows the employment rate of graduates to be high. Business marketing has an employment rate of 95 per cent, paralegal 74 per cent and graphic design coming in at 90 per cent.

However, there are multiple courses falling into the 50-60 per cent range such as plumbing, aboriginal studies and police foundations due to competitive industry and low demand.

Even with employment in Ontario having increased 68,100 in November, as per the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by Statistics Canada, it can still be difficult for some people, including students to find work during the pandemic.

On another side of the spectrum, Grace Gordon, a first-year pre-health student at the college, is set on what she wants to do and has been for a long time.

“I hope to be working as a paramedic after I finish college.” It has an 82-93 per cent employment rate for pre-health graduates.

The employment rate within the medical fields of Algonquin College graduates is the highest, and the most consistent compared to other career paths, with courses such as veterinary technician, social service worker, and personal support workers all sitting with a rate of 90-100 per cent.

College can do wonders for students who are struggling with feeling misguided, as 94 per cent of people with a bachelor’s degree reported feeling happy with their lives overall in an American study by the Pew Research Center.

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Griffin Waller

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Photography students see life through the pandemic lens

Gazing through a lens, the process of learning how to use a camera has changed over the pandemic. Students and teachers alike have adjusted well to education remotely. However, there have been struggles. “I know my theory courses have not transitioned well to online. The interactivity, either through demonstrations, playing with lenses, or light, or […]

Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Photos: Rory Friend

January 31, 2022
Revised: January 31, 2022 11:22am

Photo: Rory Friend

Rory Woodland, a first-year photography student, crouching to get the best shot for his glass assignment. Once a week, the first-year photography students get a chance to work in studio.

Gazing through a lens, the process of learning how to use a camera has changed over the pandemic.

Students and teachers alike have adjusted well to education remotely. However, there have been struggles.

“I know my theory courses have not transitioned well to online. The interactivity, either through demonstrations, playing with lenses, or light, or seeing the student’s response to the lesson is all gone over Zoom,” said Tracy Byers Reid, a photography professor at Algonquin College.

Students still have the ability to ask questions through Zoom calls by accessing the chat option or using the raise hand feature. However, where some students come away from their shyness when in-person, being behind a computer screen doesn’t translate the same according to Byers Reid.

“I do like the ability for the students to ask questions through the chat on Zoom, but it is not a replacement for seeing a questioning look, or hearing a quiet sigh or question from the shy person in the back, or the student who ask a seemingly random question in a classroom, but doesn’t feel comfortable doing so online,” said Byers Reid.

Students facing new course deliveries have come to expect and accept the new norm COVID-19’s mandates have brought. However, they still reminisce about the past.

“The biggest stressor for me is the inability to have those out of class conversations with classmates and professors. I have found that you can learn a lot from casual conversations with one another, find out each other’s unique interests and expertise more easily and be able to connect with them for advice or transfer of knowledge when you are stuck with a problem or need ideas for creativity,” said Telah Morrison, a first-year photography student at Algonquin College.

With mandates and protocols everchanging, establishing a steady schedule and conducting classes in a structured manner has been disrupted.

“The unknown was likely the biggest stressor for me. Things changed so often and fast, that you couldn’t count on anything. We might be told that we’re going to be face-to-face, then within a month everything was different,” said Tracy Cherry, a first-year photography student at Algonquin College.

“It reduces your ability to learn from one another,” said Morrison.

“It’s hard to learn under those circumstances, for both staff and students. My schedule has changed multiple times,” said Cherry.

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Tyler Major-Mcnicol

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Students will soon be able to learn new first aid techniques on campus

Algonquin College students will be able to participate in a first aid course hosted at the college’s Woodroffe campus on Saturday, Feb. 5. “Learning first aid and CPR is a great way to become a community resource,” said Jennifer Sybrandy, a registered nurse and the founder of National Capital First Aid. “You never know when […]

Myriam Landreville

Photos: Myriam Landreville

January 31, 2022
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm

Photo: Myriam Landreville

A CPR/first aid course will be held in the Student Commons building at Algonquin College's Woodroffe campus on Feb. 5.

Algonquin College students will be able to participate in a first aid course hosted at the college’s Woodroffe campus on Saturday, Feb. 5.

“Learning first aid and CPR is a great way to become a community resource,” said Jennifer Sybrandy, a registered nurse and the founder of National Capital First Aid. “You never know when you will come across someone who could need life-saving help.”

Her company, which offers CPR and first aid courses in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, is offering classes to Algonquin College students throughout the month of February.

The courses are fun and relaxed and “help prepare students for their future placements as well as for life’s surprises in general,” she explained.

The courses will be taught by Paula Whaley, a first aid trainer who helps run National Capital First Aid. They’ve been offering monthly courses at Algonquin College for seven years.

“All of our instructors have an extensive medical background and are passionate about teaching a variety of life-saving skills,” said Sybrandy.

Sybrandy has had a passion for first aid since she was a little girl.

“I fell in love with first aid and CPR training at a young age while taking swimming lessons when I realized that I was able to change the outcome of someone’s situation simply by applying techniques I learned in class,” she said. “I went on to become a registered nurse and started a Red Cross first aid training company so that I can help equip others in our community with the same skills.”

The course will be conducted in room E206 in the Student Commons building.

Three courses are being offered on Feb. 5. The first course, Standard First Aid and CPR level C, will be taught from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The course fee is $129, but by putting the coupon code “algonquin99” at checkout, students can receive a discount of $30, bringing the course to $99.

The other courses offered are the Emergency First Aid and CPR level C course, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $95 and the CPR level C course taught from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for $69. All three courses have an online learning component that must be completed before the on-campus training day.

The courses also require all participants to be double-vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have a mask that complies with Ottawa Public Health guidelines.

Due to its popular demand, the courses for Feb. 5 are all sold out, but there is still a chance to register for the Feb. 12 and Feb. 26. courses.

More courses will be offered in March 2022.

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The customer is not always right.

Ask around the hospitality industry and the number of stories about customers making unreasonable demands because “they are right” can fill a book. But people have finally started to speak out against the old adage. The majority of hospitality staff fail to see any merit to the statement ‘the customer is always right.’ “I admire […]

Aadil Naik

Photos: Aadil Naik

January 29, 2022
Revised: January 29, 2022 8:56am

Photo: Aadil Naik

Customer service, and how it is perceived, remains at the heart of the hospitality industry.

The majority of hospitality staff fail to see any merit to the statement ‘the customer is always right.’

“I admire the spirit of it, but not the letter,” said Matthew Winter-Knox, 26, a student in the bartending program at Algonquin College. “The worker is not right or wrong, but generally more knowledgeable.”

“I don’t understand where it comes from,” said Colton Hroncich, 21, a supervisor at Orleans Bowling Centre and a graduate from the business management and entrepreneurship program at Algonquin College. “If you’ve never worked the job, I don’t understand how people think they are right.”

James Keohane, 33, another student in the bartending program at Algonquin College thinks it is also the customer’s belief that an employee needs to “drop everything and focus on them,” that service staff object to, as it is often followed by anger and frustration over the smallest of things.

“Being provided a service is a privilege, not a right,” said Keohane.

While there is almost unanimous rejection of a customer always being right amongst service staff, the feeling is not as universal when it comes to their managers.

“I’ve been yelled at and cussed out by customers,” said Scottie Lirette, 24, who works at Chop Steakhouse and Bar, on Hunt Club. “And my boss says: ‘Well, do a better job. Make sure the customer is happy.’ But there comes a point you’re being verbally abused or you feel uncomfortable. I think that’s where the line should be drawn.”

Others, like Abby Macmillan, 22, worked at Red Jacket Orchards where she faced similar treatment from employers. She believes it has become better over time.

“Even though customers expect (us) to cater to every whim, managers do stand up for the employee and the customer is surprised by that,” she said.

Chelsea Macdonald, 19, a chef at JJ’s Shawarma in Kemptville, Ont., agrees things have improved. “Employees won’t get fired anymore if a customer complains.”

Antonios Vitaliotis, a professor of the bartending program at Algonquin College, has been teaching for almost two decades and has a different perspective. “I believe the slogan ‘customer is always right’ is misunderstood by those who take it literally,” he said.

“Service is in the eye of the beholder and the expectations may vary. Depending on the perceived value, consumer perceptions of service and the delivery of the service by trained associates, you may have differences in the final service outcomes. But providing high quality service should be a priority for everyone involved.”

There is another incentive for staff to tolerate such customers, though. A sizeable portion of income is made through tips, and service staff that stand up for themselves tend to lose that.

“You could have a $400 table and not get a single cent from that,” said Lirette. “In order to make that money, you put up with it.”

Keohane thinks pay scales for restaurant and bar staff have become better in Canada, but points to places like Australia where pay is enough to not rely on tips.

“It’s a healthier environment because you don’t have to beg for something,” he said.

And if receiving stellar service is what a customer truly desires, Lirette has a simple suggestion:

“Treat people like humans, and you’ll get service that is human.”

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Algonquin college | Bartending | Hospitality Services | Restaurants | School of Hospitality and Tourism

Aadil Naik

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Georges St-Pierre talks mental health with Algonquin College students

As part of Algonquin College’s Mental Health Awareness Week, retired mixed martial artist Georges St-Pierre revealed how physical training and focusing on staying healthy helped improve his mental health. During the webinar, St-Pierre revealed his focus and motivation to keep on training despite being retired. “My focus is not about performance anymore. It used to […]

David Rotel

Photos:

January 28, 2022
Revised: January 28, 2022 2:34pm

During the webinar, St-Pierre revealed his focus and motivation to keep on training despite being retired.

“My focus is not about performance anymore. It used to be about performance,” he said. “My life is much different now, I focus mostly on staying healthy. For me, training is not only physically beneficial but it’s also therapeutic.”

St-Pierre said training helps him release all of his negative energy and aggression.

In the past, St-Pierre opened up about the fact he didn’t like fighting. This topic was brought up again.

“I never really liked to fight. I did it because I love the life that it gave me. I love having freedom. I love to be in shape,” said St-Pierre.

“Of course, I’ve had a lot of money and success doing it, even though the success rate of this kind of work is not very high,” he said. “I was able to achieve it and that’s the reason why I fought. I didn’t fight because I loved to fight, I fought because it gave me the life that I have now.”

At the beginning of his career, St-Pierre kept wondering if mixed martial arts was the right field of work for him.

At times, he said he felt as if he was “surrounded by psychopaths” because his training partner and other fighters loved to fight while he didn’t. This led to St-Pierre seeking help from sports psychologists.

St-Pierre also revealed his method of dealing with his anxiety and other mental health struggles.

“When I go through a tough time, what always helped me is focusing on what’s my dream, what do I want to accomplish.” He said people should always feel the need to accomplish something and never be satisfied because “satisfaction is the end of your life, it means you’re ready to die.”

St-Pierre also spoke about his acting career. He played Batroc The Leaper in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

St-Pierre said he’s involved with home fitness equipment, has a food supplement company and a vodka that’s also coming out soon.

“It’s a very exciting time for me with less stress than when I was fighting.”

The event, organized by Allison Barnes, the events programmer of Algonquin College’s Students’ Association took place on Jan. 24 and was hosted by Algonquin College journalism graduate Breanna St-Jean.

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ARC to reopen Monday, Jan. 31

The Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre is set to reopen Monday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. after shutting down earlier in the month due to provincial COVID-19 regulations. It will initially serve only students and staff of Algonquin College. Proof of vaccinations, masks and social distancing will remain mandatory. The ARC will be accessible […]

Aadil Naik

Photos: Aadil Naik

January 27, 2022
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm

Photo: Aadil Naik

The Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre has been shut since Jan. 5 due to provincial COVID-19 mandates. It will reopen on Monday, Jan. 31 to vaccinated Algonquin College students and staff.

The Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre is set to reopen Monday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. after shutting down earlier in the month due to provincial COVID-19 regulations.

It will initially serve only students and staff of Algonquin College. Proof of vaccinations, masks and social distancing will remain mandatory.

The ARC will be accessible to eligible members Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will remain closed on Sundays.

Students and staff can go back to using Algonquin College’s newest building and all its facilities, from the free weights and turf training areas on the first floor to the 346-metre-long Discovery Track and fitness area on the second floor.

There is one section that will not be open to people.

“The climbing and bouldering wall will be delayed due to some technical issues that need to be addressed before the wall can open up safely for all students and staff,” said Timothy Lee, manager athletic operations – fitness. “Hopefully, it will open in the very near future for all to enjoy.”

The Ontario government had mandated all gyms be closed down from Jan. 5 in order to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Prior to this, gyms had been allowed to operate at reduced capacity, following social distancing protocols.

For the past few months, ARC’s fitness and wellness staff have curated weekly online workouts that individuals can follow from the comfort and safety of their homes.

These online activities are conducted by the Students’ Association through its social media channels and are free to everyone. Upcoming activities are listed in the events calendar on the SA’s website.

Some of the more popular activities, according to SA staff, are the fitness challenges and workouts of the week, as these are more conducive to being conducted online. People can also choose when they want to participate. There are archived recordings if they would like to do more than one at a time.

Due to the positive response these online activities received and the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 reopening timelines and restrictions, Lee said some of them will continue to be offered.

“It will allow participants to have some consistency in their routines despite restrictions and perhaps other concerns such as travel,” he said.

The ARC was conceptualized to offer the best service to students and staff, day in and out, and Lee says the plan is still, “to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of our students and staff.”

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Arc | Covid-19 | Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre

Aadil Naik

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January 26 a day to talk about mental health

Local News CTV News Ottawa: A “freedom convoy” of truck drivers protesting against vaccine mandates are expected to arrive at Parliament Hill this Saturday, Jan. 29. The convoy left from B.C. on Sunday and has been gaining momentum along the Trans-Canada Highway, where gatherings are taking place in support of the truckers. Ottawa police are […]

Magan Carty

Photos:

January 27, 2022
Revised: January 27, 2022 11:12am

Local News

CTV News Ottawa: A “freedom convoy” of truck drivers protesting against vaccine mandates are expected to arrive at Parliament Hill this Saturday, Jan. 29. The convoy left from B.C. on Sunday and has been gaining momentum along the Trans-Canada Highway, where gatherings are taking place in support of the truckers. Ottawa police are doing their best to prepare for other groups to flood the downtown core in addition to the main convoy and are urging the public to avoid downtown this weekend.

National News

CTV News: For the 12th straight year, January 26 is being marked as Bell Let’s Talk Day. Canadians are encouraged to engage in tough conversations about mental health. “This year’s campaign encourages everyone to keep listening, keep talking and keep being there for each other,” said Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk.There are Bell Let’s Talk events happening all day across the country. With every text, call or tweet, Bell promises to donate five cents to Canadian mental health programs.

International News

BBC News: The Russia-Ukraine war crisis is escalating, causing United States President Joe Biden, among others, to threaten “enormous consequences” on Russia if President Vladimir Putin triggers an invasion of Ukraine. Putin has deployed some 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. The United States has issued a formal response to Russia’s demands. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, said the proposal offers “a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it.”

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Magan Carty

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Mental Health Matters – We are Here for You

We recently marked Mental Health Awareness Week and Bell Let’s Talk Day with the College Community. The week allowed us to shine a light on the many ongoing resources and services available to our learners and employees. In the Spring of 2021, Algonquin students were surveyed and remarkably, 72% of students reported some level of […]

Office of the President

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January 26, 2022
Revised: January 26, 2022 12:58pm

In the Spring of 2021, Algonquin students were surveyed and remarkably, 72% of students reported some level of psychological distress. In another survey done in the Fall of 2021, 63% of students expressed concern for their mental/emotional health. While it is encouraging to see a decline in these numbers, they are still too high and show a continued need to prioritize mental health.

The ongoing pandemic has made us acutely aware of the need for not only supporting one another, but providing tools and resources to ensure everyone has access to mental health support and the ability to seek out help in a variety of forms.

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Algonquin College hosted multiple events, workshops, and speakers to bring awareness to our community, and provide students and employees with mental health resources. While attention was focused on the week at the end of January, ensuring our learners and employees have continued access to support and services is an important goal of the College.

While the week allowed us to draw attention to programming and guest speakers, it is important to note that we have made significant commitments and investments to ensure there are resources and supports in place for our community year-round.

Looking after our mental health and wellness should be a top priority for all of us. I believe we are finally reaching a point where the stigma surrounding these societal issues is disappearing. The normalization of sharing how we are doing and asking after others has become one of the welcome positive aspects of the lessons learned from the pandemic.

The College is committed to providing tools and services to our AC community in a variety of ways. We recently hosted a podcast devoted to the topic of mental health and wellness. Laura Stanbra – Vice President Student Services; Caprise Perrineau –Health Promotion and Education Coordinator, and Doug Stringer – Manager, Counselling Services and the Spiritual Centre, discussed mental health resources, tips and advice, and shared helpful information.

Our Student Support Services employees work diligently to ensure the needs of our learners are met in a variety of ways including The AC Purple Couch™, which promotes mental health awareness, and presents valuable mental health resources to support students and foster success throughout their college experience. Peer Support is also available through The Beacon: Health & Wellness Peer Support Space. You can chat with a trained Algonquin College student peer about mental health, sexual health and sexual violence, and substance use. Support is offered in a one-on-one, drop-in, non-judgmental, confidential, and accessible virtual space.

I acknowledge that virtual learning has been a challenge to our learners. Virtual does not mean that you are alone. While service delivery has temporarily changed, you can reach out to faculty, staff, colleagues and friends with questions or discuss issues of concern.

Being self-aware is also important. It is crucial to help you understand how you are feeling. Are you down because of the cold weather and feeling alone because of the pandemic, or is this a time where you need to ask for some additional help? Vulnerability is not a weakness. Asking for help is a brave thing to do. Putting yourself first and admitting you are not well is the first step to wellness.

While we have many resources for our internal AC community, there are additional resources outside of the College that you can also explore:

Ottawa Crisis Line – 613-722-6914 or 1-866-966-0991 or crisisline.ca
Good 2 Talk – A professional counselling and information and referral telephone service is reachable by calling 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 to access the Crisis Text Line.
Big White Wall is a safe peer-to-peer mental health community that is accessible online 24/7. It’s free for all students and staff. In a time in which social isolation, loneliness and anxiety are already increasing mental health issues, COVID-19 is creating additional challenges. Find support right now at bigwhitewall.ca.

BounceBack® is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, and stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. bouncebackontario.ca.
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Hotline (services available in Cree, Ojibwe, Inuktitut, English, French) 1-855-242-3310

I encourage all of you to check in on your classmates and friends. Take the time to ask how someone is doing. Reach out and say hello. Talk. Listen. Share. Become familiar with the tools and resources available to you. Most importantly, take care of yourself.

Our College values are Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect, and we take them very seriously. We care about you and the welfare of all our learners. We are here for you. You are not alone.

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Broadcasting-television graduate publishes first horror novel

Andrew McManaman, an Algonquin College graduate from the broadcasting-television program, recently published his first horror novel. McManaman graduated from Algonquin College in 2017 and drew from his experience in the broadcasting-television program to bring a cinematic feel to his debut novel of terror and paranoia, Dollhouse. “It’s been a really neat experience. About four years […]

Evangeline Sanderson

Photos: Andrew McManaman

January 25, 2022
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm

Photo: Andrew McManaman

Andrew McManaman, a graduate from the broadcasting-television program, says his time at Algonquin College helped him improve his storytelling skills.

Andrew McManaman, an Algonquin College graduate from the broadcasting-television program, recently published his first horror novel.

McManaman graduated from Algonquin College in 2017 and drew from his experience in the broadcasting-television program to bring a cinematic feel to his debut novel of terror and paranoia, Dollhouse.

“It’s been a really neat experience. About four years have led up to it, and it’s finally out,” said McManaman.

Published on Nov. 26, 2021, Dollhouse took on a few other forms before settling its way into a novel.

The terrifying tale started off as a short story, one of many McManaman wrote soon after graduating from Algonquin College. McManaman then pulled Dollhouse from this collection of horror stories and stretched it into a full-length screenplay.

After a move out to Whistler, B.C., to work as a photographer, and a sudden onslaught of free time courtesy of the mountain’s dead season, McManaman decided to turn the screenplay into a novel. With that, Dollhouse reached its final form.

“I had the template, so I thought that I would just expand from there,” said McManaman.

McManaman believes his time in the broadcasting-television program served him well throughout the novel-writing process and helped him further develop the ability to effectively tell a story.

“Andrew’s time at Algonquin definitely gave him that basis in storytelling,” said Jeremy Atherton, Algonquin College’s film production program co-ordinator and one of McManaman’s former professors.

“All of the things you’re taught you need to have in a film to make people want to watch your film, he would have applied that when writing his novel.”

Algonquin’s College’s broadcasting-television program also fosters creativity, a skill that can lend itself to all sorts of media production.

“Television is a creative business, and Andrew was able to be creative here,” said Matthew McCooeye, another former professor of McManaman’s and Algonquin College’s broadcasting-television program co-ordinator.

“He was a hardworking and creative student. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s found yet another creative outlet in writing a novel.”

In another display of these traits, McManaman opted to independently publish Dollhouse under his own imprint, Popcorn Paperbacks.

“I wanted the full creative experience,” said McManaman.

Having drawn inspiration from many classic horror films from the eighties, such as John Carpenter’s The Thing and West Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street, McManaman endeavoured to convey Dollhouse’s cinematic ties.

The book cover looks like a movie poster from the horror genre’s golden decade, the tagline is similar to the slick taglines of eighties horror films and the novel ends with credits as any good movie should.

“To give it that look and feel was really important to me,” said McManaman.

“The story isn’t set in the ’80s, but I thought I could imagine them making a movie like my book back in the day,” McManaman said.

“I think every professor or teacher gets in this business to see students succeed,” said McCooeye. “We want to see them succeed in our classroom, and we want them to succeed after they leave our classroom.”

“I’m thrilled for Andrew. I hope he is proud of himself, because we are proud of him.”

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