Algonquin College’s new Athletics and Recreation Centre, due for completion in 2021, remains on schedule. Continue reading “New Athletics and Recreation Centre
will include golf, bowling, climbing”
Hello Everyone!
I wanted to share with you the Board of Directors’ priorities for this year. We are excited to work on these throughout our 2020/2021 term and look forward to seeing the college’s positive impact.
We will connect the three campuses by exploring options to create convenient inter-campus travel, possibly via shuttle buses. There are so many talented students at Perth and Pembroke, and we want to share their work with Ottawa students. We want to share what the satellite campuses have, and we also will ensure that Perth and Pembroke have access to the same student services as Ottawa. With the Algonquin Wolves re-branding process, our Directors are excited to unite our school spirit to strengthen our student identity.
We are looking forward to modelling the college’s commitment to Truth, Reconciliation, and Indigenization. One way to accomplish this is by working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Vice-President, Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization. Together, we want to introduce Algonquian language courses as options for general electives and increase education on teachings surrounding the Thanksgiving Address and the Honorable Harvest.
A strong priority on our list for the year is recommitting to the Social Economic Environmental (S.E.E.) Model of Sustainability. With everything going on in the world, every effort to help the Earth is crucial. With this in mind, the board will resurrect the Sustainable Algonquin Steering Committee to focus on the college’s sustainable goals. We want to learn more about what sustainability means and practice our findings.
Something close to our hearts is maintaining access to education. Our research and discussions with students have brought to our attention the struggles that some students face every day. We want to resolve barriers that prevent students from having safe student housing in Perth and Pembroke and explore local transportation options in Pembroke. We want to increase the visibility of student support services, particularly for the Centre of Accessible Learning, Mental Health Services, and the SA’s Food Cupboard.
Finally, ensuring proactive student support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We will advise the COVID-19 Collaboration Committee based on students’ health and wellness needs and adapt online infrastructure to support students’ experiences such as events, clubs, etc. The board will support the continuous improvement and standardization of instructor utilization of Brightspace. In this way, all professors will provide the same layout for their courses, so students have consistency in their program studies. We also will be exploring future options for emergency responses to pandemics and epidemics.
All the best,
Emily Ferguson, President
Algonquin Students’ Association
Story of the Week
BBC – In June, Canada announced it was looking to the WE Charity to run a program for students hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justin Trudeau is now under fire for giving WE Charity Canada a contract worth up to $43.5 million. He is also coming under fire because his mother and his brother have been paid by the WE Charity for speaking at events in the past.
Trudeau is being investigated by the ethics commission for the third time since he was elected Prime Minister in 2015.
International
The New York Times – U.S. Navy releases videos showing unexplained flying objects.
The Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force is now going to report some of its findings to the public within 180 days after discovery. The main focus of the task force with its new transparency is to uncover whether another nation is using breakout aviation technology that could threaten the United States.
Eric W. Davis, subcontractor astrophysicist, said he gave a classified briefing to a U.S. Defense Department agency about “off-world vehicles not made on this earth.”
Local
CBC – Ottawa Public Health has reported there is a steady rise in cases of COVID-19 in the area with 28 cases just on Saturday, July 25.
Ottawa has entered Stage 3 of Ontario’s reopening plan. This means more businesses can reopen such as dine-in restaurants and movie theatres. Indoor gatherings can have up to 50 people and outdoor gatherings can have up to 100 people attend.
Face masks are mandatory in indoor public areas all across eastern Ontario and Quebec.
Human Interest – Sports
3DownNation – The CFL and CFLPA are currently negotiating the 2020 collective bargaining agreement so they can get a 2020 season underway. Friday was their self imposed deadline, but that was pushed back while they wait for more information from the government.
The CFL and the CFLPA have been unable to have meaningful negotiations regarding the pay for players. The CFL requested federal assistance to the tune of $42.5 million according to CBC in order to pay the players and host them all in Winnipeg for a shortened 2020 season.
There is still no clear outcome for this situation, but nothing significant will happen before the federal government approves the grant.
Algonquin College raised $785 through a Virtual Pub Crawl on July 22, according to Alaya Fuller, one of its co-ordinators.
The fundraiser raised money for the Ottawa Riverkeeper, Candlelighters, The Ottawa Food Bank, and The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre.
There was no fee to join the events. Participants were not expected to donate. Because of this, Fuller said she hoped by the end of the night that they would raise $250.
“We understand that our attendees are feeling the financial loss, as well as businesses,” Fuller said. “We don’t want our guests, at the end of the night, to feel uncomfortable, like they didn’t do enough.”
The event management program has relied on businesses to be sponsors and donors in previous years. When COVID-19 hit, it became unclear whether the students could still expect that support.
Despite their setbacks, the event went off without a hitch and exceeded expectations.
According to the Virtual Pub Crawl website and Fuller, there were six businesses which stepped up to sponsor the event and donate gifts.
The event was emceed by Kiersten Hanley from Headquarters. Headquarters is a full-service salon and restaurant/café. In her introduction, Hanley described herself as “a jack of all trades.”
Warren Frederedick, a mixologist who also works at Headquarters, taught the attendees how to make two lavish cocktails – the Strawberry Philter and the Smoked Pineapple Express, which are served at Headquarters.
“We take reservations,” said Frederick, “but not on the weekends. That’s on a first-come, first-serve basis.”
After an “Uber trip” to Escape Manor, the participants took part in a scavenger hunt. The prize was four passes to the escape room at Escape Manor. The value of this prize was $100 and was donated by Escape Manor.
When two participants tied for first place in the scavenger hunt, the stakes were raised. They were asked to sing in front of everyone and be judged.
“You have to be in it to win it,” said Hanley. The group listened to karaoke versions of “One Week” by the Barenaked Ladies and “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.
There was live music by Canadian artist Almyr Jules, who is currently a competitor on Canada’s singing competition, “The Shot.” He sang a new song called “Take a Little Time,” which is to be released in September.
“I like writing music that’s real,” Jules said. His song is about taking breaks in relationships. He also sang a song named “For Today.”
Participants also took part in trivia at Atari, which is one-part restaurant and one-part cocktail bar. It is, as the name suggests, a retro video game-themed bar. Trivia was played over the virtual platform Kahoot.
The night ended with a raffle. For every $5 donated to the Go Fund Me campaign, a ticket was entered into a raffle.
“If you have any extra to spare, please do,” said Hanley, “but if not, please reach out and see what you can do.”
By the time the raffle came around, most had donated and the event had raised over $700.
There are still three fundraising events hosted by the event management program coming up between July 23-July 26. Registration is free at Rediscover Canada, Party Like A Youngster, and Namaste India. Donations, while appreciated, are not mandatory.
As Ontario begins to open up, the Algonquin College campus, like many of the 43 other post-secondary institutions across the province, remains largely empty. Following the plan set out by the Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano back in June, some schools introduced limited face-to-face instruction in early July.
For now, the college campus’s hallways, usually teaming with students, are quiet, the parking lots, normally filled with hundreds of cars, almost vacant.
The campus waits until students can return after the pandemic is under control. The following photos are a small sampling of what the college is like right now:
When the great philosopher Plato called art a mere imitation and the “greatest danger” for humankind, he wouldn’t have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that one day art would be a saviour, a creative way to cope during the tough times.
With the world in a state of confusion and chaos due to the Coronavirus pandemic, art has come to the rescue. All of us, in some way or the other, have consumed art during quarantine; some for sanity, and some to find happiness and hope. Madonna’s statement, “art can heal if allowed to exist,” never felt more true.
While everyone was looking for hope, Andrea Emery, a graphic design professor at Algonquin College, was busy creating it through art.
“My friend sent me a text message. She said she was having something sent to me but didn’t tell me what it was. Her message read, ‘I saw this and immediately thought of you,’ ” Emery said.
A week later, a small envelop arrived in the mail. It was a 5×7” sketchbook from the Brooklyn Art Library, part of “The Sketchbook Project.”
It was November 2019 when Emery received that message from her friend Laura Brisson. It would be a life-changer.
The innovative sketchbook project allows artists to order a sketchbook and fill it with their art. After completion, the sketchbook needs to be sent back to the Brooklyn Art Library, in New York.
Once submitted, the sketchbook is catalogued and becomes a part of the creative library.
One can also choose to digitalize their sketchbook. To create the digital sketchbook, each page is professionally photographed and added to the online digital library- preserving it in the virtual world forever and making it accessible to anyone around the globe. Since 2006, the library has successfully collected 36,000 artists’ books from more than 135 countries.
Emery, who thrives on art and doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t drawing, painting or sewing, couldn’t think of any ideas to fill the sketchbook when she received the gift that November.
By March everything turned upside down.
During the start of the pandemic, Emery began noticing how her friends used their time in isolation. She also read an article by the American film director Julio Vincent Gambuto where he described the pandemic as “The Great Pause.”
Gambuto suggested using this period to rethink what was important to us. This idea struck Emery and she used it as her inspiration and the title of her book.
“I started to draw pictures of things we were doing: making bread, cooking, making and wearing masks, working from home, gardening. All these interesting things,” she said.
Just like everyone else, Emery was going through a low phase during the quarantine. To motivate herself, she began uploading her work on social media. This helped her complete the sketchbook by May. She also received an overwhelming response from friends and social media followers who asked her to replicate the booklet and print copies.
Reluctant at first and waiting for the long backlog of digitizing her sketchbook, she finally decided to print the booklet.
“The plan, at first, was to print 25 copies with four blank pages to be filled by the buyers. But when I told my friends about it, I had pre-paid orders for 200 booklets in just three days,” Emery said.
After making enough profit to cover the printing cost, she decided to get another 150 copies printed, this time donating the profit to Highjinx, a non-profit shop which helps the vulnerable in Ottawa. The copies were a hit and were sold out in under two weeks with many people buying the booklets as gifts for friends and family.
The Great Pause was shipped across Canada (Nova Scotia to British Columbia) and all over the world (Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, Indonesia, Japan). The final batch of 200 copies is up for sale on Etsy.
Overwhelmed by the response, Emery said: “I am honoured that so many people can relate to my illustrations and love my booklet. It makes my heart feel so good!”
Two weeks ago, Emery was informed her work will become a part of the City of Ottawa Archives Collection of COVID-19 objects, adding a feather to her cap.
“I am thrilled and honoured that my work will become a little part of history,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned, this is as close as I am going to get to having my work in a museum.”
Currently, Emery is waiting for her booklet to be digitalized at the Brooklyn Arts Library.
“It is a wonderful initiative and a great undertaking. I can’t wait to be able to visit the library and thumb through the sketchbooks myself,” said Emery. “I feel honoured to be included along with so many other artists from all over the world!”
Up and coming artists can be a part of the worldwide initiative through The Sketchbook Project.
Check out some of Andrea Emery’s artworks on Instagram.
Counselling Services at Algonquin College is open to provide you virtual mental-health help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Services are available by phone or video during the day. Hours are Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Students can call 613-727-4723 ext. 7200 to book an appointment.
Students seeking an appointment with a counsellor are able to be seen for an initial assessment within a day or two or on the same day if there is a counsellor available.
“Typical initial assessment is usually booked for 60 minutes; followup sessions are 30-60 minutes. For the majority of cases, 30-60 minutes is sufficient for an appointment,” said Patti Hancock, a group counsellor from Student Support Services at Algonquin College.
The counsellor will send forms to patients before the appointment to the students’ Algonquin live e-mail accounts. Students have to make sure to check those forms ahead of time. During the appointment, the counsellor will check all the necessary details and make sure to obtain consent in order to continue the appointment.
You will be able to make an appointment via phone or email.
For phone appointments, the counsellor will call from a phone number that will be blocked at the arranged appointment time. Also, make sure the phone can take calls from numbers which are blocked.
With a video call appointment, the link will be sent to your email with instructions.
Algonquin is also helping students to develop their skills to manage mental health concerns by offering group counselling virtually. The college is connecting students with a variety of approaches to deal with challenges.
Group counselling offers topics such as netflix and chat, dialectical behaviour therapy which helps release stress and ask an expert which has a variety of topics to talk about such things as, healthy relationships, coping with stress, sexuality, COVID-19 and more.
“Virtual services offer a greater reach, especially for students who may be too anxious to walk into an office,” Hancock said.
“We try to make the virtual sessions as comfortable as possible for students.”
“AC counselling offers group counselling virtually and people report that they enjoy connecting with others,” said Hancock.
Hancock says Counselling Services is using Microsoft Teams for group counselling and each session had 15-20 students.
Email welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com to book a virtual appointment.
A revised financial projection plan for Algonquin College’s 2020-2021 academic year was approved during a Board of Governors’ meeting on July 13.
When the 2020-2021 Projection Plan was first approved in February, it assumed a net contribution of $5.7 million. The college is now anticipating, as a worst-case scenario, a deficit of $18.9 million to remain operational.
The reason? The financial risks “resulting from enrolment decreases, insufficient financial support from the province, funding policies and pandemic-related costs being incurred by the college,” said Duane McNair, manager of Financial Services and Algonquin College’s treasurer.
“As expected, changes in our enrolment is really the most impactful part for the budget at this time,” said Grant Perry, the chief financial officer at Algonquin College.
Last year, there were fewer domestic enrolments but more international students, so the school was able to achieve its budget. These enrolment statistics help inform the current projection for the first quarter of the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“The fall delivery assumes that it will be done remotely with some in-person classes being completed with physical distancing measures in place,” Perry said, “The winter term assumes domestic enrolment is slightly improved from the approved annual budget, however the international enrolment is reduced by approximately 24 per cent for level-one intakes.”
In this best-case scenario, the college continues to reopen into the fall and there is enough enrolment to achieve a budget that aligns with the Board of Governors’ Guidance set out in May. Moderate to worst case scenarios see a drop-off in enrolment due to limited face-to-face instruction and the COVID-19 pandemic. In both these scenarios, the college would achieve a budget in alignment with the Board of Governors’ Guidance.
Algonquin College has already spent money on the pilot programs that allow students to return safely to campus.
“Up to 20 labs and shops across four buildings at the Ottawa Campus were assessed and fitted up with the necessary modifications,” said Colin Bonang, the director of risk management. “Fitting up these spaces includes both physical adaptations and procedural measures. Physical distancing measures and signage were implemented throughout the included spaces.”
The college has been contributing to reserve funds for years, which they now intend to draw upon to meet the $18.9 million deficit they are facing. This includes a contingency reserve fund.
However, insufficient funds from the government and the cost of operating under the COVID-19 pandemic has put Algonquin College under significant financial stress.
The Projection Plan will be revisited more frequently than in previous years as the situation with the global pandemic continues to change.
Some major grocery store chains and other businesses have cancelled a $2 an hour pandemic wage bonus for employees.
Loblaw Companies Inc., Metro Inc. and Empire Company Ltd., which owns Sobeys and Safeway stores, provided their employees with a $2 an hour increase early in the COVID-19 pandemic. That bonus has now been cut. Many employees are back at or near the minimum wage. In Ontario, that’s $14 per hour.
Workers who were considered heroes by the public are not pleased with the wage cut.
“I personally think that the $2 getting taken away from us is disappointing,” said Jacob Cairns, a recent high school graduate working at a local grocery store. “We all showed up to work in a workplace that has restrictions on social distancing and wearing masks due to a global pandemic, but it’s not enough. We deserve a bonus for working through the mental and physical distresses of COVID-19.”
“I was surprised that we were even given the raise,” said Shane Ryan, a Starbucks employee who also saw his wage cut. “It sucks knowing that we are putting ourselves at risk to serve people. I feel like companies should be willing to take this hit.”
Not everyone feels the reduction has negatively impacted them.
“I don’t feel like the $2 bonus being stopped is bad,” said Cierra Wilson, a student at Algonquin College.
“Employee hours have been cut . . . and people believe they deserve more than they do. People might believe they are that they are entitled to that extra $2 because they think they stepped up during the pandemic, but stepping up is a basic courtesy.”
Many employees have also received money paid in a one-time bonus. Metro employees, for example, have been given $100 if they are part-time and $200 if they are a full-time employee, according to a statement by the company that can be found here.
Unions representing grocery and commercial workers have expressed displeasure with the move to cut pandemic pay.
“The pandemic is not over. The danger has not passed. These workers are no less at risk and are no less essential today than they were yesterday. There is no justification for ending pandemic pay now, or ever,” Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a news release.
International
Global News: A new U.S. immigration policy has changed the future of immigrantion for students in the United States. According to the new law, students currently enrolled in “online-only” courses for autumn could have their visas revoked.
Students would either have to leave the country immediately or transfer to schools with in-person classes.
The new policy has led to a worldwide uproar. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have sued President Donald Trump to stop the student visa rules.
National
Reuters: The economic recovery underway in Canada will be stronger in the near-term than expected a few months ago, according to a Reuters poll of economists who said a resurgence in coronavirus infections and high unemployment were the two biggest risks.
The July 6-9 Reuters poll of 32 economists showed the economy rebounding by an annualized 30 per cent in the current July-September quarter, a sharp upgrade from the 19 per cent forecast in the last Reuters poll taken in April.
“In the very near-term, economic activity has not been as bad as we were expecting, but still there are a lot of concerns going forward around how much the economy can recover without prompting another resurgence in the virus spread,” said Nathan Janzen, a senior economist at RBC.
Local
CBC: Canada’s rail safety agency is launching a formal investigation into wheel cracks on the light rail trains that run on Ottawa’s Confederation Line, CBC has learned.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) was “assessing reports” of cracks on wheels on three separate vehicles.
Maintenance workers found two cracked wheels on July 2 on a single train, the TSB said. The next day, on July 3, two more cracked wheels were found on two additional trains, the TSB says.
After making initial observations, the TSB has now decided a formal investigation is warranted, according to CBC sources.
After CBC first broke this news Friday morning, the TSB confirmed later in the day it would be launching a class three investigation into four cracked wheels on three light rail vehicles.
