As of March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. With two cases of COVID-19 now in Ottawa, Claude Brulé, president of Algonquin College, sent his fourth email to students and faculty since Jan. 28 to update the community on how the college is handling the situation. […]
Douglas Boyle
Photos: Angeleah Brazeau-Emmerson
March 12, 2020 Revised: March 13, 2020 2:11pm
Photo: Angeleah Brazeau-Emmerson
A student practicing good hygiene habits.
As of March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
With two cases of COVID-19 now in Ottawa, Claude Brulé, president of Algonquin College, sent his fourth email to students and faculty since Jan. 28 to update the community on how the college is handling the situation.
As of right now, Algonquin College is going to continue with classes and events as scheduled, with only updates to travel insurance plans through the college.
With 42 cases reported in Ontario, some institutions are taking precautions to combat the spread
In Sudbury, Laurentian University has decided to move its classes online starting March 12 and Windsor’s St. Clair College is preparing for cancellations.
The president has emailed the community about the issue three times in the last three months.
At the end of January, the college sent out two emails to students and faculty regarding the novel coronavirus. Citing Health Canada’s low risk assessment, the college asked students to stay home if sick and to practice basic hygiene.
On March 11, in an email from Brulé, the response from Algonquin College was to continue regular classes and events while maintaining a more thorough standard of cleaning for “touch-points” across campus. As well, travel insurance plans through the college will no longer apply when travelling to China, Italy or Iran.
In the March 11 email, students and faculty were assured that key personnel from the college are assessing the potential impact of COVID-19 and developing contingency plans. However, any details of what the contingency plan would look like were left vague.
Students are encouraged to stay updated with information provided on the college’s page dedicated to COVID-19 updates and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.
Until the guidelines set by municipal, provincial and federal health agencies change, it will be business as usual at Algonquin College.
It’s a common drill during a mixed martial arts workshop: attack an opponent in turtle position, reverse it and then progress into a guillotine choke so your adversary will submit. It’s something you would see in a fight that ends in submission, like Chiesa vs. Condit on Dec. 29, 2018, where Chiesa won in the […]
Breanna St-Jean
Photos: Breanna St-Jean
March 12, 2020 Revised: March 13, 2020 2:14pm
Photo: Breanna St-Jean
UFC's Michael Chiesa and Carlos Condit demonstrate a Jiu Jitsu technique to attendees.
It’s a common drill during a mixed martial arts workshop: attack an opponent in turtle position, reverse it and then progress into a guillotine choke so your adversary will submit.
It’s something you would see in a fight that ends in submission, like Chiesa vs. Condit on Dec. 29, 2018, where Chiesa won in the second round. Only this time, it was happening right here on campus.
UFC’s Carlos Condit and Michael Chiesa held a training session open to MMA enthusiasts in the Impact Zone of Algonquin College on Saturday, March 7.
Over 20 fans joined the welterweight division fighters to practice jiu-jitsu techniques before gathering in the Observatory for a watch party of UFC 248 later in the evening.
Before the group went in for the session, they discussed some fights they attended and spoke about the last UFC athletes that visited Algonquin College.
One member recalled attending the event where Condit, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, faced Canada’s very own Georges St-Pierre back in 2012 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
“I attended the event at Algonquin with Rory MacDonald and the one with Demetrious Johnson,” said Vivek Dalal, a 2017 dental hygiene grad.
Dalal follows UFC and is a big fan of both Michael Chiesa and Carlos Condit.
The men brought their expertise as Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes and coached attendees through their techniques while offering feedback and pointers.
“Training is sometimes an escape,” Dalal said. “It helps me to relax, though it’s intense. You’re only focused on what you are doing.”
Vivek Dalal, Algonquin College alumni, listens to Michael Chiesa's pointers on him and his partner's technique during a drill. Photo credit: Breanna St-Jean
During his time as an Algonquin student, Dalal worked at the Fitness Zone and started practicing MMA training weekly at the Impact Zone. Though he graduated two years ago, he still comes to the college for training sessions.
“You can keep your membership even after you graduate,” he said. “Anybody, even if they’re not an alumni or a student here, can get a membership for the Fitness Zone and the Impact Zone add-on.”
The Impact Zone is a state-of-the-art MMA gym within the school, open to all registered members. It offers classes in several disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, submission wrestling and MMA.
“If you look at all the coaches we have here at the Impact Zone, this is one of the best facilities in Ottawa,” Dalal said.
When the fighters asked who had done jiu-jitsu before, most of the hands in the room went up. They opted for intermediate-to-advanced techniques as their class was filled with people familiar with MMA.
Some members had the opportunity to practice with the UFC stars themselves and took to social media to thank them for “sharpening their ground game and teaching many new techniques.”
Ahmed Taher, a mixed martial arts enthusiast and civil engineer, posted a picture of himself with Condit and Chiesa on Instagram and thanked them for sharing their knowledge with him in the Impact Zone that day.
Walking into the Impact Zone, Michael Chiesa mentioned how great it was for students to have access to such a facility.
“I’ve never seen an MMA gym on college grounds,” he said.
LOCALOTTAWA CITIZEN Parents at a smaller school in the Ottawa Valley have mixed feelings about the provincial government’s latest announcement regarding class sizes. Stephen Lecce, the minister of education, announced at a press conference on March 3, the government’s willingness to fall back on their previous cuts. This includes implementing larger class sizes and mandatory […]
Breanna St-Jean
Photos:
March 12, 2020 Revised: March 12, 2020 11:53am
March 4, 2020
LOCAL OTTAWA CITIZENParents at a smaller school in the Ottawa Valley have mixed feelings about the provincial government’s latest announcement regarding class sizes. Stephen Lecce, the minister of education, announced at a press conference on March 3, the government’s willingness to fall back on their previous cuts. This includes implementing larger class sizes and mandatory online classes. Parents at Madawaska Valley District High School say they have issues with e-learning, as they are from a rural part of Ottawa where the internet can be weaker. Lecce asked the unions to stop escalating issues and find an agreement in good faith.
NATIONAL THE GLOBE AND MAIL An Amber Alert was issued in Toronto on the evening of March 4. Shammah Jolayemi, 14, was last seen Wednesday morning, around Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue. Toronto Police alerted the public to stay on the look-out for a black Jeep Wrangler with round fog lights, oversized tires and a push bar, that was suspected to be involved in the abduction. Jolayemi had been last seen wearing a grey hoodie, grey track pants with a thin orange stripe, a black puffy jacket and back and yellow Air Jordans. Police reported they feared for his safety. On March 5, they released a statement that Jolayemi had been found safe, and was suspected to have been taken as retribution for a step-sibling’s cocaine-debt of nearly $4 million.
INTERNATIONAL ABC NEWS | Eleven Americans have died of the novel coronavirus at the time of writing. ABC is offering the public a timeline of the updates on COVID-19 in the United States. In the most recent update, they inform us on California’s confirmed 53 cases. The Sunshine State has declare state of emergency. Some passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship were diagnosed and 1, 000 individuals in New York have self-quarantined.
Local Ottawa Citizen Two Ottawa schools have cancelled overseas trips due to outbreaks of Coronavirus. Broadview Public School cancelled their May exchange trip to South Korea and Merivale High School cancelled their March Break trip to Italy. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board spokesperson Darcy Knoll said that the board is planning to review all planned trips […]
Julien St-Jean
Photos:
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 7:28pm
March 3, 2020
Local
Ottawa Citizen Two Ottawa schools have cancelled overseas trips due to outbreaks of Coronavirus. Broadview Public School cancelled their May exchange trip to South Korea and Merivale High School cancelled their March Break trip to Italy. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board spokesperson Darcy Knoll said that the board is planning to review all planned trips based off of the federal government’s travel advisories.
National
CBC The Ontario government made a new offer in teacher negotiations on Tuesday. The offer included increasing average class sizes to 23 instead of the original planned 28. The offer allows for students to opt-out of online classes, as opposed to making them mandatory. The government has refused to offer more than a one per cent increase to wages and benefits. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association have said that they are willing to accept the wage increase, but are still unsatisfied with the increased class sizes because teaching jobs will still be lost.
Global
Global News President Donald Trump spoke with the leader of the Taliban Tuesday about Saturday’s agreement that called for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Trump is thought to be the first president to speak directly with Taliban leadership and claims that they have a “good” relationship. Taliban leadership allegedly told Trump that they will have “positive bilateral relationships” so long as the agreement is honoured.
Local CTV News Twelve trains entered the O-Train Confederation Line Monday morning – one train short of the required 13 trains for adequate levels of service during peak hours. OC Transpo described the 13 trains as “full service” but the number has dropped to as low as six in recent weeks. Trains now run every […]
Alvin Tsang
Photos:
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 7:11pm
Local
CTV News Twelve trains entered the O-Train Confederation Line Monday morning – one train short of the required 13 trains for adequate levels of service during peak hours. OC Transpo described the 13 trains as “full service” but the number has dropped to as low as six in recent weeks. Trains now run every five minutes during the morning rush. John Manconi, the transportation services general manager, promised that these new trains will not replace the supplementary bus services.
National
Global News Construction work resumed on March 2 at the gas pipeline in British Columbia. The protests and blockades have stopped following a proposed arrangement between the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and the federal and provincial governments. Protesters, however, will maintain the blockade to the south of Montreal until the Mohawks receive more clarification on the proposed arrangements.
International
The New York Times North Korea launched two unidentified short-range missiles on Monday. The missile was launched from a small east-coast town called Wonsan and flew 149 miles before landing in the waters near Japan. It was the country’s first weapons test since Nov. 28, and it came following the firing of one of Kim Jong-un’s closest aids, Ri Man-gon. The firing was due to Kim’s dissatisfaction of Ri’s anti-epidemic strategies in North Korea.
Growing up in competitive dance, I never thought I would step away from it at 18 to start a sport as intense as competitive cheerleading. Also known as all-star, the sport involves two-and-a-half-minute routines where athletes stunt, tumble and dance. And yes, cheerleading is a sport. When the word “cheerleader” gets brought up, many people […]
Charlotte Riethman
Photos: Angeleah Brazeau-Emmerson
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 7:00pm
Photo: Angeleah Brazeau-Emmerson
Growing up in competitive dance, I never thought I would step away from it at 18 to start a sport as intense as competitive cheerleading.
Also known as all-star, the sport involves two-and-a-half-minute routines where athletes stunt, tumble and dance.
And yes, cheerleading is a sport.
When the word “cheerleader” gets brought up, many people think to the NFL sideline cheerleaders or what they have seen in movies like Bring It On. While these versions are still sports too, they are a world of difference away from competitive or all-star cheerleading.
The sport I spend at least five hours a week training for requires that its athletes give up time, social activities and weekends. We spend late nights practicing and competing, always putting in extra time in the gym outside of practices. The drive that cheerleaders have resembles that of athletes from all types of sports.
For instance, stunting requires bases and a flyer – the athlete who gets lifted, thrown and caught by the bases during the routine. This requires athletes to have strength, endurance, stamina and mental strength to push through the demands of the sport.
The Canadian postsecondary world, however, isn’t always kind to cheerleading. Algonquin College varsity sports teams are run under the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association. However, cheerleading is not currently a varsity team under the OCAA.
While Algonquin doesn’t have a cheerleading team, other post-secondary schools in Ottawa have them.
The University of Ottawa and Carleton University both have competitive cheerleading teams. Carleton’s team, however, is considered a club instead of a varsity sport.
As for other schools, Humber College in Toronto had a competitive cheerleading team that was associated with the athletics department, but it was cut in 2015. Currently, Fanshawe College in London has a team, but like many others it is not officially associated with the school.
So why is it that soccer, basketball and rugby are commonly recognized as sports while cheerleaders have to argue to get the same recognition?
Part of the reason is the show and performance part of the sport. There aren’t many sports that have athletes wear makeup, put bows in their teased hair, apply spray tans or wear rhinestone covered uniforms.
This allows others to typecast cheerleaders as people who only care about popularity and looks. In reality, I show up to practice twice a week without any makeup and leave with my ponytail falling out, not caring how I look.
Even with the recognition by the Canadian Olympic Committee in May 2019 that cheerleading is a provisional sport, my teammates and I still face this argument.
The more people know about the sport, however, the more they’re persuaded to understand our point of view.
For instance, one thing that makes this sport unlike any I have played before is the team bond. Some of my closest friends have come from cheer, even though I haven’t known them for long. This bond is needed for the team to be successful in competition.
In addition to this bond, trust is a large part of cheer. Athletes have to trust teammates to do their job or the stunts fall which can lead to injury of the flyers and bases.
During my first year of training, I didn’t notice how much I’d developed these skills. The team I was on went to the Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, Florida in April 2019. We had a stunt fall during our semi-final run and didn’t move on to finals.
After the run, however, we all had a team meeting with our coaches. Addressing the whole group, the head coach looked at me and another new team member. “You girls took these two who had never cheered before and made them fall in love with the sport. That was all you guys.”
That statement made me realize how much I had come to love cheerleading. I came to understand that cheerleading is in fact a sport – but it is also so much more.
The stereotypes about cheerleaders are not going to be broken overnight. With the growing popularity of it I think people will begin to understand what actually goes on behind all the makeup and rhinestones is a lot of long hours at the gym, injuries and passion.
On a table at the front of the Makerspace sits a sprawl of disfigured shapes of varying colours. Behind them, a series of detailed info-graphics. Just a few days earlier, these models buckled under immense pressure when they were crush tested. The lines on the graphs illustrate when these moments occured. Now, some of the […]
Cody Byrne
Photos: Cody Byrne
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 6:58pm
Photo: Cody Byrne
Makerspace acting manager Stephen Gagne shows off a design replica created at the lab.
On a table at the front of the Makerspace sits a sprawl of disfigured shapes of varying colours. Behind them, a series of detailed info-graphics. Just a few days earlier, these models buckled under immense pressure when they were crush tested. The lines on the graphs illustrate when these moments occured.
Now, some of the models are nearly unrecognisable from their previous forms. Others had exploded in a maelstrom of plastic shrapnel.
However, a few of the shapes had maintained their integrity through the aggressive testing with minimal warping. For the researchers who ran these crush tests, this was an unexpected result with exciting implications.
The Makerspace hosted an innovative workshop on March 6 that focused on the results of pressure testing 3D printed PLA plastics. The results were displayed through printed models and charted data that elaborated the team’s findings from the first documented test on the strength-to-weight ratio of PLA that has ever been performed.
This offers up new insights and possible future applications of the substance.
A group of students from the civil engineering technology program, comprised of Derek Risk, Cam Huxter, Chance Hainer and Stefan Pecile, cultivated this advanced research project using a quantitative crush test to tackle the unknowns of PLA’s durability and to further our understanding of the material’s potential.
Civil engineering technology students Stefan Pecile, Cam Huxter, Chance Hainer and Derek Risk in the Makerspace lab. Photo credit: Cody Byrne
For context, PLA (polylactic acid) is a corn-based plastic which is completely biodegradable. “We specifically chose to use a corn-base plastic because it’s biodegradable,” said Stephen Gagné, acting manager of the Makerspace. “We didn’t want to open up a Makerspace that would dump a bunch of plastic in the ocean…we wanted to make sure to do something more responsible.”
Compression testing materials is a common practice in civil engineering that’s used to assess the strength of construction materials such as concrete, steel and wood. Until now, the strength-to-weight ratio of PLA has been an unknown. However, the group’s test phase has given insight into the material’s overall strength.
“We had no idea what the strength was,” said Risk. “No one else has ever done this before. We got 44 MPa out of a solid piece of PLA.”
MPa, or megapascals, is a measure of compressive strength of a material. One MPa is equivalent to a million pascals, which is one newton of force per square metre. Usually, concrete can range from 17-28 MPa for residential and commercial construction respectively, and anything over 41 MPa is considered “high strength” material.
Thus the 44 MPa of PLA comes as a staggering quantifiable – the catch: the material’s modulus of elasticity. Basically, the elastic modulus is a measure of a substance’s resistance to deformation under stress, which was readily displayed by the stress-strain charts presented at the event.
Info-graphics show the modulus of elasticity for the various 3D printed forms that are displayed from before and after the pressure tests. Photo credit: Cody Byrne
The tests involved several different structural PLA prints of varying degrees of durability, however the solid was determined to be the most resistant to deformity. This is where the PLA begins failing to meet standards for construction.
“It’s stronger than concrete, but it deforms quite a bit more than anything we use in construction,” said Risk. “Strong enough but not ridged enough.”
The modulus of elasticity for concrete is about 41,000 MPa, steel 200,000 MPa, a vertical pine column at 9,000 MPa, while PLA measured only 1,800 MPa.
Weather is also an issue for PLA. “It’s weak if you have it outside, it’ll degrade too quickly,” said Huxter. “But you can 3D print different design prototypes out of different materials. It’s still expensive to 3D print, but our hope is that in the future it will be more affordable.”
The viability factor second only to composition of PLA is its cost effectiveness.
“We did a feasibility study and our conclusion is that right now it’s not a useful construction material,” said Risk. “We got 3 cents a gram here… but if we can compare the price of PLA to the price of concrete, it’s 30,000 times more expensive than concrete, and that’s a big hurdle.”
Though the Makerspace is well equipped for plastics and soon to be resin based 3D printing, some printers – like the one at Algonquin’s ACCE lab – are capable of manufacturing construction materials.
Makerspace 3D printers can turn a spool of PLA into a variety of interesting shapes and designs. Photo credit: Cody Byrne
“They already 3D print concrete now, they started building houses out of it for only $10,000 so trying to beat that is hard,” said Pecile.
Despite these numbers, the team is hopeful that this discovery will promote research to be carried out by future students of the civil engineering technology program.
“Makerspace has a number now,” said Hainer. “Next year [students] could reinforce the plastics, find better plastics, covering the plastics so weather isn’t as huge a factor, also finding different uses for what we currently have. In theory, it could be used as a safety factor because it shows deformation. You could place it in a concrete pillar and be able to see deformation before a collapse. The possibilities of working with (PLAs) are endless.”
The team is required to publish their findings for the civil engineering technology program by March 7, 2020.
By fiddling with one small device and a coding program, you have the ability to create almost anything your heart desires, from a light switch to something as complex as a 1980s synthesizer. Coding is pretty much the closest thing to magic that humans have. You’re able to put in seemingly ordinary words into a […]
Alfred Carreon
Photos: Alfred Carreon
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 5:12pm
Photo: Alfred Carreon
Stephen Gagne, the coordinator of the event, explains what the Arduino device can do. Attendees were invited to create something incredible with the device if they put their imagination to the test.
By fiddling with one small device and a coding program, you have the ability to create almost anything your heart desires, from a light switch to something as complex as a 1980s synthesizer.
Coding is pretty much the closest thing to magic that humans have. You’re able to put in seemingly ordinary words into a program and watch it unfold right before your very eyes.
On Feb. 21, 2020, Algonquin College’s makerspace held an event for teaching the basics of coding using a small device called the Arduino box. This tool basically takes the instructions that were typed into the program and carries out the requested actions.
From each step that was typed into the Arduino program, the two student participants one retired faculty member were able to see what they were doing to the box.
“It’s similar to Teensy, the program we use in class,” said Dararancy San, a computer science student who attended the event. “Being able to type spooky language, or code, into the device and it works. But the difference is that you’re able to see each step that you put into it and see where you need to fix.”
The code that was taught at the event was a beginner’s code: creating a run device with lights.
Basically, you need to create a loop with the code and add a small delay to them, which, if successfully done, will create an illusion that the lights are chasing after each other.
Stephen Gagne, the coordinator of the event and a webmaster for the office of applied research, explained that Arduino was a great program when he was a teacher’s assistant.
“Students weren’t able to see the web code that they were putting into their program, but with Arduino, they were able to see what they were doing at every step,” he said. “It gives them a sense of accomplishment with every step.”
The chants from Thunder fans filled the air and the sound of their pounding feet against the bleachers sent vibrations through the crowd. The Algonquin women’s volleyball team won 3-1 in a crossover game against the Redeemer Royals on Feb. 22, wrapping up their season, and for some, their athletic careers at Algonquin. Going into […]
Angeleah Brazeau-Emmerson
Photos:
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 2:36pm
The Thunder gather together in celebration of their victory against Redeemer Royals.
The chants from Thunder fans filled the air and the sound of their pounding feet against the bleachers sent vibrations through the crowd.
The Algonquin women’s volleyball team won 3-1 in a crossover game against the Redeemer Royals on Feb. 22, wrapping up their season, and for some, their athletic careers at Algonquin.
Going into the game, head coach Everton Senior was looking for both teams to leave feeling accomplished.
“I am looking for both teams to play a solid game,” said Senior. Feeling the nervous energy from the players, Senior still believed his team was ready and up for the challenge. They would all have to be on their best game, he said.
The women played strong, winning their two first sets with little resistance. However, in their third, the Thunder lost by 21-25. As the progression of set four followed, tensions were high and both teams were neck and neck, each team answering back with one point after another.
The Thunder closed up their season with a win of 28-26, leaving the Thunder with a sweet victory and final game to remember.
Left-side player MC Ozorak, is a fourth-year team member and one of the senior players. This was Ozorak’s last game as an Algonquin Thunder.
“At first it’s a lot of nerves but after the first serve they go away,” said Ozorak. “It’s a lot of nerves, a lot of keeping it clean, and keeping it together.”
Ozorak was soon at a loss for words from the emotions that came with her team’s win.
Ready to collapse from the excitement, Senior was also overwhelmed with emotions. Senior explains how he wanted them to earn their points by not missing serves and keeping the ball in play, which he agrees they did.
“I think we were well deserving of the victory,” said Senior.
The women will soon be back to work in preparation for the next season to come.
The Thunder headed to Canadore College on Feb. 22 to 29 to compete in the Provincial Championship Tournament.
Algonquin College’s event management program aims to raise money for three local charities with their event, A Night in New York, which will be held on March 25. Following an 11-year partnership with the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, the event management program has now opted to support three other local charities instead. The charities […]
Jesse Iorio
Photos: Jesse Iorio
March 11, 2020 Revised: March 11, 2020 2:03pm
Photo: Jesse Iorio
The event management team for the "A Night in New York" will hold their event at Sala San Marco in Little Italy.
Algonquin College’s event management program aims to raise money for three local charities with their event, A Night in New York, which will be held on March 25.
Following an 11-year partnership with the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, the event management programhas now opted to support three other local charities instead. The charities are the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, Ottawa Riverkeeper and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Program.
Over the lifetime of the partnership, the event management program raised over $1 million for the Children’s Wish Foundation.
“The Children’s Wish foundation is a wonderful charity and we had been with them for many years,” said Sylvia Densmore, event management coordinator and professor. “We wanted to share the wealth with other organizations within the community.”
The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Program expressed excitement for the opportunity to work with Algonquin and hopes to raise awareness about what they do.
“People often don’t think about childhood cancer until it affects someone they know,” said Jason Campbell, community development coordinator for Candlelighters. “We’re very grateful to Algonquin for the support and helping us to get our name out there.”
The event, A Night in New York, promises the excitement of “The Big Apple” without leaving Ottawa. It will be held at the Sala San Marco Event & Conference Centre in Little Italy. Guests will enjoy Broadway hits, a stand-up comedian, busker acts and an Italian meal. Tickets cost $49.50.
While the event is organized by students, Densmore emphasizes that it will have a professional atmosphere.
“These events are very professionally done. We get feedback that people are impressed with the quality every year,” said Densmore. “They’re worth the money.”
As the students prepare for the final weeks before the event, the team members believes their extensive planning will lead to a successful night.
“Six months worth of planning has gone into this event,” said Genevieve Akins, a member of the event planning marketing team. “There has been an extreme amount of dedicated work and our team has done amazing.”
