Students begin the school year by creating goal-based career plans.
Isabella Disley
Photos: Isabella Disley
September 13, 2024 Revised: September 13, 2024 3:11pm
Photo: Isabella Disley
Jessica Andrews, a Career Advisor, speaking at the Career Planning Workshop in C126.
The Co-op and Career Centre hosted a workshop in Room 126 of the C-building, from 9:30 -11 a.m. on Sept. 11.
This 1 1/2-hour workshop is ideal for first-years but is open to all students via registration.
Jessica Andrews, a career advisor, presented a PowerPoint to students including resources, tips and tricks for making connections.
Each student received a “Career Action Plan” worksheet prompting an illustration of goals for gaining experience, building connections and developing career readiness.
Tom Truong, a first-year paralegal student, agreed the workshop provided many resources.
“I decided to participate in this event because I was hoping that I would get some resources to see what I can do for my next steps, career-wise. It allows me to see what kind of resources are available online and how welcoming and supportive the college is,” said Truong.
Truong mentioned that this workshop is a good starting point.
“I think it’s important because, when you’re a new student at college or you start anything new. It allows you to have a starting point so that everything won’t be coming at you all at once,” said Tuong.
Tom Truong reads the “Career Action Plan” worksheet at the Career Planning Workshop in C126. Photo credit: Isabella Disley
Fiona Ang, a first-year computing programming and analysis student, agreed that this workshop is helpful for other students.
“Other students should participate in it because it provides lots of information about how other activities we did can actually influence our career choices. The event gave me some insights into how our current efforts can directly relate to our own future goals no matter what,” said Ang.
Ang also found this workshop to be informative.
“I participated in this event to get to know what other activities and opportunities that I can do in the school and outside the school that can be related to my career path.”
Andrews mentioned that there is no specific answer to what the most important step is for planning a career. However, taking a step, big or small, is always meaningful.
“I think it can be very daunting to work towards a career goal. I think this is a good way to help you get prepared and get ready early so that by the time you finish your program, you will hopefully have some experience and connections, and it’ll be easier to find a job once you graduate,” said Andrews.
“Hopefully, by the end of the workshop, students will have a few steps or suggestions or ways to kind of move towards their career goal,” said Andrews.
Two-time Gemini Award nominee Robert Bockstael started teaching the performing techniques course at AC on Sept. 9.
Shaun Klepko
Photos: Shaun Klepko
September 13, 2024 Revised: September 16, 2024 2:29pm
Photo: Shaun Klepko
Robert Bockstael teaches the performing techniques course to his performing arts students on Sept. 11, 2024.
He’s been a cop, a pastor and even Rumpelstiltskin. For his latest role, Robert Bockstael is a new professor at Algonquin College. Bockstael has almost four decades of acting experience and is now sharing that expertise with students in the performing arts program.
Professor Teri Loretto, coordinator of the performing arts program, had previously worked with Bockstael in the Canadian theatre industry. She welcomed him to the position of professor on Sept. 6.
“We were looking for someone who had experience in teaching but more importantly in acting and performance,” said Loretto. “I was leading a scriptwriting workshop at the DIGI 60 Summer Accelerator program and Robert was leading the acting stream. It reminded me of how great he was and it went from there.”
On Sept. 9, Bockstael started teaching the performance techniques course, which covers a holistic approach to acting at Algonquin College’s Woodroffe campus.
“He is a fabulous and experienced instructor with many years of work under his belt,” said Loretto.
Bockstael has coached students and taught workshops at other institutions, including St. Lawrence College, Laurentian University and Canterbury High School.
“He mentioned that he’s taught before on the side,” said Nina Ashly, a first-year performing arts student. “But to think he’s worked professionally so much has me really excited.”
Bockstael has been nominated twice for the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, thanks to his role as Brian Fletcher in the Canadian television series North of 60. He has also played Macbeth, Sailor Moon’s love interest and Santa Claus’ liaison to the US Army.
In addition to his acting career in television and theatre, Bockstael has written for television, theatre and radio, and he published the novel “Willow’s Run” in 2022.
Though he is originally from Winnipeg, he is currently based in Ottawa, where he says he is focused on teaching at Algonquin College.
“I have a very special place in my heart for this school,” said Bockstael. “It is very welcoming, very calm, very positive. I have many colleagues who have taught here. Friends and family have gone here, and have gone on to very successful, happy lives.”
Bockstael’s son Henry even attended the college, graduating from the academic assistance for adults with developmental disabilities program in 2016.
“When this teaching opportunity came up, I was pretty excited about it,” said Bockstael. “I’m really interested to see how this progresses and evolves throughout the year.”
After many years of working in the performing arts, he says he is very passionate about supporting students in the performing arts program.
“There’s students here who want to be singers, dancers, voice-over actors,” said Bockstael. “That’s what I hope to encourage: that a life as an artist is a desirable one if you follow your passion. I can’t say that I’ve been disappointed in my career or life path at all.“
Many of Bockstael’s students were not aware of their professor’s extensive work experience.
“I kind of had a bit of a clue,” said first-year performing arts student Liam Komocki. “They said one of our teachers was off filming something, but I didn’t know how big he was.”
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Card combining student card and U-Pass causes frustration and complaints from students in first week of fall term.
Nathalia Lencioni
Photos: Nathalia Lencioni
September 10, 2024 Revised: September 10, 2024 3:30pm
Photo: Nathalia Lencioni
Johnny Woolsey (left) and Lathen Trojana exiting the AC card service centre in D-building on Sept. 5 with their brand new cards.
Johnny Woolsey stepped out of the AC Card Service Centre on Sept. 5 and breathed a sigh of relief. The long journey to have his new AC Card issued had ended and his first semester as a student in the music, media and film foundations program could begin.
“Oh man, this has been a whole process,” said Woolsey. “I’ve been having a terrible time. I’ve been here three days in a row and new hurdles just kept happening.”
Woolsey said he was unable to submit a photo prior to getting in line for the AC Card due to technical issues, and for that reason, was removed from the line multiple times over the past three days.
“Algonquin College, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and the City of Ottawa have been working together for the past two years to eliminate the blue U-Pass card and merge it onto each institution’s student card,” said Roch Lafond, Algonquin College’s manager of Parking, Lockers and Card Services.
The new card will be automatically activated at the start of the winter term and grant students access to many campus services, including borrowing library books and using campus printing services.
Students standing in the zig-zagging line inside the AC card service centre in D-building on Sept. 5. Photo credit: Nathalia Lencioni
Woolsey said he had a frustrating experience when members of staff tasked with managing the long lines gave him conflicting instructions. That miscommunication resulted in confusion and hours of standing in line waiting for his AC Card.
“Just now, I got my meal plan,” said Woolsey. “I’ve had to sustain myself off of crumbs basically for a couple of days now.”
In the future, students may not even need a card at all.
“We are always looking to improve our services and have started discussions on moving to a digital card,” said Lafond. “We are in the exploratory phase with this idea.”
Students were vocal about their frustrations with the long lines that sometimes reached past the length of the D-building Marketplace cafeteria.
Some students even reported having issues accessing OC Transpo with their new AC Card.
Justine Markhauser, a Level 1 student in the esthetician program, said her new card had not worked as of Sept. 5, despite seeking assistance from the card services counter in E-building.
She said she has been met with hostility from some bus drivers.
“Some of them have been nice and accommodating. And then some of them were just the opposite,” said Markhauser. “They said things like, ‘Why isn’t it working? I can’t let you on this bus if you can’t pay.'”
Justine Markhauser waiting for the 88 bus outside of the Student Commons building on Sept. 5. Photo credit: Nathalia Lencioni
Lafond said the number of technological integrations implemented made this project highly complex. The OC Transpo technical team is working to solve the validation issues.
“OC Transpo has identified the underlying cause of the validation issue and is now working on an update,” said Lafond. “This update will fix the ‘Not activated’ error message that some students are seeing when trying to board OC Transpo routes.”
Not all students experienced the new card headaches.
Lathen Trojana, a Level 1 student in the music, media and film foundations program, said it could not have been easier to pick up his new AC Card.
“I had kind of the opposite end of the stick,” said Trojana. “I found out that if you submit a photo before Aug. 27, once you show up the card will be ready. So my experience was kind of good, especially in comparison.”
Algonquin Wolves Sports Summer Camp offers activities for kids aged 7 to 14
Angel Belair-Poirier
Photos: Angel Belair-Poirier
September 5, 2024 Revised: September 5, 2024 4:12pm
Photo: Angel Belair-Poirier
Lisa Hartill, recreation attendant (left), and Eleonore Brunelle, camp counsellor.
Volleyball, basketball, dodgeball, badminton, pickleball, indoor curling, bean bag toss, scooter hockey, flag football, bowling, soccer and rock climbing are all on the menu at the Algonquin Wolves Sports Summer Camp.
Now in its second year, the camp is at the Algonquin Varsity Gym and the sports turf near Z-building. The camp offers more sports than most other camps.
“This is the best sports camp Ottawa has to offer. The facilities makes this all possible here at Algonquin College,” said Lisa Hartill, an athletics and recreation attendant at the college.
Most weeks of the camp are sold out. Children are organized into four groups based on age: Pups (age 7-8), Delta (9-10), Gamma (11-12) and Beta (13-14). There are 25 spots in each group per week.
“The activities are good… locker rooms are small. It needs more chairs to sit,” said Zakarerya Tantawy, age 8. “I like rock climbing a lot. We need more harnesses so more people can go at the same time.”
“I like it but it needs more space, more stuff, more teachers,” said Akram Rouiha, age 8. “The bowling balls are too heavy.”
The camp was created last year by Jenny Duval, manager of athletic operation facilities at the Algonquin Students’ Association, with the support of fellow manager Jori Ritchie, and Stephanie Rheaume, the campus recreation coordinator.
The camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A five-day week costs $250-$300, depending on the week. The Students’ Association takes the proceeds.
“This year we offer four weeks of camp and next year we hope to increase the camp to five weeks. We do not intend to increase [to] more than five weeks, because the gym is being rented for other events,” said Rheaume. “The first year, we started with three weeks.”
Once a week, Algonquin’s wolf mascot comes out to say hi to the kids and give positive reinforcements.
“I don’t believe the mascot has a name yet,” Rheaume said. “The Students Association is working on rebranding.”
The kids start the day with scheduled sports, then have lunch inside the Athletic and Recreation Centre with their respective age groups. After that, there’s free gym time until 2 p.m., then more activities. The weekly schedule is posted on a corkboard for parents to see. Parents also meet the camp coordinators while dropping off and retrieving their children.
Most parents are pleased with the services. “The facility is new, clean and very well organized,” said Noha Elmaghraby. The only negative feedback has been the time spent on the rock climbing wall. Each age group gets two hours twice a week, but the activity is very popular and some parents and kids have asked for more. Rheaume said that this is not possible due to needing to preserve time for the larger student body.
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ACPR students #ShattertheSilence with performers at the Rainbow Bistro for the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Steven Dalloo
Photos: Steven Dalloo
September 5, 2024 Revised: September 5, 2024 4:07pm
Photo: Steven Dalloo
Featured performer Monique Messier on the Rainbow Bistro stage.
Mic Drop the Silence, the fourth and final event of the ACPR students #ShattertheSilence fundraising campaign was held on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Rainbow Bistro.
Various artists lent their voices to shattering the silencearound mental health and to promotethe Royal, Ottawa’s main mental health care centre, for an audience of more than 50 people.
Ottawans were invited to express their mental health experiences creatively and build community solidarity.
The event also featured a drink calledtheRoyal Drop, in both alcohol and non-alcohol versions, with a dollar of the price of each drink solddonated to The Royal.
ACPR level 2 student Lois Caracas thinks the younger generation is responsible for making up ground. The support needed for mental health research is particularly lacking.
“We are 100 years behind in research in the field of mental illness compared to other medical issues,” said Caracas.
“I commend Algonquin students for breaking the silence,” said Birdie White, an Algonquin college alumna.White is one of the many who took to the stage to rock the interior of the Rainbow Bistro.
“It was absolutely amazing, a lot of passion in the room tonight,” said HannahSmithcommunity partnership and coordinator at The Royal.
The Royal was satisfied with the efforts of Algonquin students. “i think the campaign has been a successful on all levels,” said Smith
Ottawanstook to the stage in the latter half of the event to shatter the silence and promote mental health awareness.
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Students find inner peace amidst exam stress with a relaxing outdoor yoga session
Aicha Chamor
Photos: Aicha Chamor
September 5, 2024 Revised: September 5, 2024 4:02pm
Photo: Aicha Chamor
Students practise yoga in the sunshine.
Algonquin College hosted an outdoor yoga event, offering students a chance to de-stress and connect with nature.
The event, held on August 13 in the horticulture garden of the M-building, featured two sessions, each led by experienced yoga instructor Ro Nwosu, owner of Union 108 yoga studio in Arnprior.
The first session took place from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., followed by a second session from 12 p.m.to 12:45 p.m.
With 15 years of experience guiding people towards a deeper connection with themselves, Nwosu is known for her calming presence and encouraging demeanour. She emphasizes the importance of movement in general, highlighting yoga as a powerful tool for self-awareness.
“Yoga is another form and it does give so many great spaces to learn more about yourself, learn more about your connection to your breath and your connection to your mind, and your connection to your body,” said Nwosu.
The event drew in a diverse group of around 10 students, eager to experience the benefits of yoga in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Xiaojun Ma, a web development and internet application student from China, said, “I love yoga but I’ve never been into outdoor yoga. I think it’s a great chance to just experience it. I would definitely try that again.”
The event provided a unique opportunity for students to connect with nature while practising yoga. The serene garden setting, with its lush greenery and calming atmosphere, provided a welcome respite from busy campus life.
“I love the fountain. It’s so beautiful, and seeing it during the poses made the experience even more special,” said Priya Patel, a student in the computer engineering technology program.
Rebecca Lafontaine, events program coordinator with the AC Hub, said that the event was born from a desire to support student well-being. “We know how stressful exam season can be,” she said. “So we wanted to offer students a chance to de-stress, reconnect with themselves, and prioritize their health.”
The team researched popular student interests, ultimately deciding on an outdoor yoga session as a way to promote mindfulness and self-care in a beautiful and accessible setting.
Nwosu offered advice for those new to yoga: “Bring someone. I think it’s always great to bring a friend with you to connect in that space. Ask all the questions and make sure that the place you’re going to or the person you are going with really speaks to you and it’s something that you actually want to jump into. Start small, like it’s a journey and exploration, and it takes time.
The event offered a variety of smoothies, including a refreshing pineapple mango flavour and a berry blast containing yogurt and milk to help participants refresh and cool off.
Over 100 students took the field at evening trials
James Gray
Photos: James Gray
September 4, 2024 Revised: September 5, 2024 3:56pm
Photo: James Gray
A heavily-contested ball during the Talent I.D Camp scrimmages.
For those who wish to join Algonquin’s varsity soccer teams, the first opportunity came in tryouts held at Z-building on August 12.
But of the 72 men who showed up to “Talent I.D Camp”, only about 15 were left on the field by the end.
And they’re still not on the Wolves team. They must go through the three-week training process, then contend with newcomers from the second tryout on Sept. 3.
Fewer women showed up— 30 in total— but their training camp was no less grueling, with work on a full exercise routine, passing drills and defensive tactics practice.
“You gotta be able to execute even when you’re tired,” said Basil Phillips, head coach of the women’s team.
Both teams will be making further cuts during the training period before Sept. 3. Then the rosters will be announced before the first games on Sept. 8.
Kieran Spring, assistant coach of the men’s team and an Algonquin graduate, said they usually take between 22 and 25 players but “we don’t aim for a golden number.” Up to 18 players can be registered for a single match.
“We always get a lot of interest in the team. Soccer is the world’s most-played sport for good reason. We get players of all calibres [at the tryouts],” he commented earlier. “We’re happy with the ability of the players that came out today.”
This includes players from last year, as all must re-try-out each year.
Yousef Ibrahim, a game development student and two-year veteran of Wolves soccer, said: “You might have a better chance because you know the system, but you have to earn your spot each year. The coaches mentioned no-one’s 100 per cent guaranteed.”
Ibrahim recalled that he initially got on the team through a September tryout rather than the August one. He was given a trial period, impressed the coaches and was then fully registered.
After the men warmed up, the field was split into two (via rolling goal structures) and nine-on-nine games started on each half. After everyone played, the coaches cut about 20 of them. Then the remaining players were sent back out. This happened twice more, with a coach shaking the hand of each eliminated person.
“I was just here for fun, but if I wanted to get in the team, I’d say [it would be] difficult,” said Rabin Khatri, who was eliminated in the first round.
Gabe Taylor, eliminated in the second round, commented that he may have been at a disadvantage because he’s only 18, while many contestants were older than that. He intends to stick with the sport and play intramural soccer in the fall.
Ibrahim said that the most important qualities of a soccer player are “good basics, an open mind to play and good physique.”
Cristian Aviles-Molina, the men’s captain from last year, agreed on the importance of “simple things like ‘Can you pass the ball?’,” but also spoke of the need for “IQ, to be able to think ahead. Not just pass to get rid of the ball.”
And as for the Wolves’ future chances, both Aviles-Molina and Spring are optimistic.
Aviles-Molina commented: “We’re still a young team but if everyone’s mindset is aligned, then I feel like we can achieve everything… every year I feel like our core group gets smaller [via students graduating], but every year there are people coming in because of our reputation for soccer.”
“Historically, at Algonquin, we’ve had national-championship-winning teams,” said Spring. “I think that has to be our goal every year.”
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Algonquin students facing extreme heat are demanding solutions and raising awareness about climate change’s impact on their education
Aicha Chamor
Photos: Aicha Chamor
August 1, 2024 Revised: August 1, 2024 4:04pm
Photo: Aicha Chamor
Ottawa has seen a streak of extremely hot days this summer, often exceeding 30°C with blazing sun
Over the past few days, temperatures in Ottawa reached a scorching 30-32°C, with forecasts predicting more of the same through the end of the week. For many students, this heat is proving to be a major challenge.
“It’s really tough to get anything done when it’s this hot,” said Simran Vora, a business development and sales student from India. Even though she’s used to high temperatures up to 40°C back home, Vora finds the climate in Canada to be even more intense and draining.
She said that the heat seems to affect her skin and body more directly, saying, “I don’t know if it’s the humidity or something else, but I just can’t escape the feeling of the heat beating down on me.”
Kayla Johnston, an interactive media design student, also struggles with the heat and tries to avoid it as much as she can. She admits that when she does get overheated, it feels overwhelming and uncomfortable.
Additionally, she noted that some of the older campus buildings (such as A-building) lack adequate air conditioning, further contributing to discomfort on hot days.
“It makes me not want to have classes at one of these buildings,” said Johnston.
Lois Caracas, level 2 public relations student, said: "We have to find creative places to sit down outside because the heat is so bad. Being on the grass, shaded by the trees helps us cool down" Photo credit: Aicha Chamor
Mateo Guariguala Arrogo, a sustainability-minded student of practical nursing, is trying to do his part to combat climate change, which he sees as the root cause of the heatwave.
“I’m making a real effort to use public transportation, walk or bike whenever I can,” Arrogo said. “We all need to do our part to reduce emissions and help slow down global warming.”
Katrina Evan, a level 2 environmental management and assessment student, conveyed her frustration not just about the lack of urgent action on climate change, but also about the heatwave and its impact on students.
“As someone studying this issue, I know it’s important for us to recognize how serious extreme heat can be,” she said. “Heat waves are becoming the new normal, and it’s vital that we take steps to protect ourselves.”
Evan said that scientific data and viable solutions are available, governments and other organizations just need the will to implement them at both the individual level and within their communities.
She urged her fellow students to take precautions during these challenging times.
Students should seek shade and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during the heat wave Photo credit: Aicha Chamor
“Stay hydrated, find cooler spaces, and take breaks when you can. Don’t underestimate how dangerous heat can be.”
Projects on display show students' hard work in seven AC programs
Agrani Tiwari
Photos: Duane McNair vice president, finance and Administration with Joy Fidelis Ugbong, Abhinav Jain, Revati Hardikar, Mayank Mayank, Albin John Joseph and Philip Dave director applied research Photo credit
August 1, 2024 Revised: August 1, 2024 3:58pm
Photo: Duane McNair vice president, finance and Administration with Joy Fidelis Ugbong, Abhinav Jain, Revati Hardikar, Mayank Mayank, Albin John Joseph and Philip Dave director applied research Photo credit
Left to right
First prize in the 2024 Applied Research Project Showcase went to a deep dive into Canada’s airline industry.
Forty-nine booths showcased various projects that students from seven different programs have worked on for months. The projects ranged from websites to robotic machines.
The project then outlined a theoretical website, Inform-Me-Right, which could inform people about their rights and what to do in the event of difficulties.
Second place went toLit3D Lithophane Visualization & Generation System, an innovative digital previewer for lithophane designers used in 3D printing. Third place went to Interactive Data to Understand Data, a chatbot that can summarize various datasets.
The winning teams posing on stage after the awards were given Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari
Another such project was The Aerospace Experience 2025, done in partnership with the Canada Space and Aviation Museum and the CARTAMS (Centre for Advanced Research and Training in Aerospace, Mobility and Space).
“They’re doing an educational program right now named ‘Aerospace Experiences’ and they’re going to do this yearly,” said Maria Bernal, an interactive media design student and one of the team members. “We proposed to do a website for them where they can put all the resources, all the information about the project and all the programs that they want to focus on for the pathways and careers for all the students. Especially for the high school students right now in Ottawa, but they’re also looking to expand around Canada for that.”
The Aerospace Experience 2025 project members explaining their project to the judges Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari
The projects were judged in three categories: technical competency, client and team interaction, and communication. The judges were a mix of Algonquin professors [not from programs presenting the projects] and professionals from the relevant industries.
“The one thing that I’m always looking at as a judge, is to make sure that they’re explaining [their project] to me in simple terms,” said judge Farbod Karimi, dean of the AC Online department.
The team that created Interactive Data to Understand Data said they were surprised at their standing because they didn’t expect to be on the podium.
“Unexpected would be the right word for us, we didn’t even have the resources to present it very well, we didn’t get a chance to showcase it on a monitor or something,” said Vasant Dave, one of the team members. “We still did our job, and we didn’t expect anything, but thank you to the Algonquin team and our professors.”
Programs were involved in the showcase were Business Intelligence System Infrastructure, Computer Programming, Computer Engineering Technology – Computing Science, Electromechanical Engineering Technician, Interactive Media Design, Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design and Robotics and Automation.
With travel and employment scams on the rise in Canada, students are falling victim
Aicha Chamor
Photos: Aicha Chamor
August 1, 2024 Revised: August 1, 2024 2:31pm
Photo: Aicha Chamor
online data
An Algonquin College student lost $450 in a travel scam, and two others nearly fell victim to employment scams.
Sara Aracelly Gomez Jara, a hotel and restaurant operations management student, had been eagerly planning a trip to Vancouver, scouring the internet for the best deals on accommodations.
Her search led her to a travel website offering an unbelievably low-priced package deal for the entire week, including the hotel, for only $450.
The deal supposedly included access to a luxurious hotel property featuring a pool, spa, free drinks and complimentary meals.
“I was so excited for the trip,” Gomez Jara said.
Despite initial doubts, she decided to move forward with the booking and made the $450 payment.
However, Gomez Jara’s excitement quickly turned to dismay when she did not receive any additional information about the promised hotel accommodations.
“I was supposed to receive more information about the room in the hotel, but I received nothing,” she said. “I started to call, but no one replied, and that’s when I realized it was a scam.”
Determined to uncover the truth, Gomez Jara conducted research on the website and discovered that numerous others had fallen victim to the same scheme, with the company stealing their money and providing no services in return.
“I felt really bad because I was saving the money for more than four months, but someone came in less than 10 minutes and stole the money I had set aside,” she said.
A scam message, attempting to lure victims. Photo credit: Aicha Chamor
“I was almost scammed, but my aunt saved me,” said Jewely Joy, a brand management student.
Jewely Joy, a brand management student from India, nearly became a victim of a job scam. “My aunt saved me,” Joy said.
Like many others, she had turned to popular job-seeking websites in search of employment, at the suggestion of friends.
“I was in need of a job,” she said, “so, I decided to try Indeed as a source to find a reliable job.”
This decision nearly proved costly for Joy. After applying for a job posting on Indeed and providing her resume and contact information, she received a message on WhatsApp from someone who claimed to represent a gaming industry company.
They offered her a work-from-home opportunity. “It seemed professional to me,” Joy said.
The conversation progressed, with discussions about salary and other job details. However, the “employer” then sent Joy a link and asked her to click on it and make a payment.
“When I asked why I should pay, they said that’s the company protocol for a home-based job,” she said.
Joy almost went through with the request. “I was new, I had no idea about the scams happening here,” she said. “I wanted to ask my aunt first because I wasn’t feeling comfortable.”
Fortunately, Joy’s aunt, a professor who has been in Canada for years, intervened. She checked online for the company’s name and asked some friends.
“She told me it was a scam and advised me to block the number and not to click on the link,” Joy said.
Melina Muhetaer, a business accounting student, has been in Canada for two years and has become all too familiar with the persistent scam attempts plaguing the country in recent years.
As an international student from China, Muhetaer has experienced firsthand the alarming prevalence of fraudulent phone calls, messages and online schemes targeting unsuspecting victims.
“I’ve never been scammed before, but I know someone who got scammed,” she said.
Muhetaer’s professor back in Toronto had fallen victim to a scam that cost her $6,000.
“She clicked on a link in a text message, and by the time she realized what had happened, it was too late,” Muhetaer said.
“The police said they couldn’t do anything about it because she didn’t report it until one month later.”
As a result, Muhetaer’s professor has now activated a system on her online banking app that sends her a notification every time she makes a transaction, allowing her to closely monitor her finances and quickly detect any suspicious activity.
Muhetaer said that in her home country, the authorities and the government take a more proactive approach to tackling the scam epidemic, with widespread public awareness campaigns and the development of specialized anti-fraud applications.
Unfortunately, the same level of vigilance and technical solutions does not seem to be in place in Canada, according to Muhetaer. She recounted incidents where scammers pretended to be her family member, leaving her feeling vulnerable and unsure of how to protect herself.
“Someone sent me a link on WhatsApp pretending to be my uncle,” she said. “I was shocked because they knew my uncle’s name.”
Muhetaer’s message to fellow students and the broader Canadian public is clear: be vigilant, stay informed and don’t let scammers take advantage of your trust.
“I don’t understand why these scammers can’t just go and look for a job like normal people,” she said. “Why do they have to ruin others’ lives to earn money?”
Students need to beware of employment, travel and banking scams Photo credit: Aicha Chamor
Evan Brownrigg, a Mutual Funds Representative at RBC Bank, urges the public to exercise caution and remain vigilant.
Brownrigg emphasizes that RBC Bank has a robust security system in place that can automatically detect any suspicious activity, such as fraudulent electronic cheques.
“You’ll then have to come with your personal identity proof to reopen it,” he said.
Brownrigg also warns of phishing scams, where a sender pretends to be a person or company you trust in order to gain access to your information.
“If you receive an email that looks real but asks for financial or personal information, contact the sender’s public telephone number to verify its authenticity,” he said.
“Always trust your spam filter,” Brownrigg added. “It knows better than you do.”
