Page 81 – Algonquin Times

Board of Governors approves draft budget for 2024-2025

The board expects more information on the international enrolment cap will have an impact on the college's financial projections

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

March 4, 2024
Revised: March 4, 2024 1:49pm

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Grant Perry, chief financial officer of Finance and Administrative Services, talks about the draft budget on Feb. 26 at the Board of Governors meeting.

The college will end the current fiscal year with a surplus, according to Grant Perry, chief financial officer of Finance and Administrative Services, but a final 2024-2025 budget may only be approved in June as it depends on more information from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

The college will take into consideration the impact from a federal government decision to decrease international student permits.

The Board of Governors gathered in room T102 at the Ottawa campus on Feb. 26 for their first meeting of the year. The board approved budgets, received reports from several committees and spoke about recruitment for future board members.

Perry presented updated financial projections for fiscal year 2023-24.

“The college is poised to have a stabler year,” said Perry. “And we are pleased that a surplus will be achieved. These funds are critical to the future of the college as we invest in new infrastructure, equipment, facilities, and services. We will continue to remain focused on financial sustainability of operational activities and our cash reserves.”

Normally the board would approve a definitive budget at this time of year. However, the restrictions to international student enrolment caused the board to approve a draft budget. A final budget will be considered when more information is released by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

“The college has a challenging time ahead as we continue to understand the full impact of these recent developments,” said Perry. “As information becomes available, we will be updating and refining our scenarios, and we look forward to presenting you with a budget with more certainty at the Board of Governors meeting on June 3.”

The Board of Governors establishes the governance practices for the college, decides on institutional goals and directions, as well as supervise the performance of the college’s president and CEO Claude Brulé, who was present at the meeting.

A motion to suspend the hairstyling and esthetician programs was mentioned, however, no decision has been made while the Academic and Student Affairs committee awaits further details from program staff and stakeholders. The matter will be discussed at its next meeting on May 14, according to Gabrielle Berard, vice-chair of the committee.

College management also provided updates on two major projects.

The R3 project, which plans to retire the current student information system and replace it with a new system, as well as an updated learner portal, requested that the board approve an up to $20 million expenditure budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. The board passed the motion with one abstention from Robert Harvey, the academic staff representative.

Highlights of the Master Campus Development Plan 2025-2035 framework and an update on the progress of the development plan were presented by Ryan Southwood, executive director of Facilities Management.

The updates included the development of mixed-use learning and residence buildings in the Ottawa campus as well as the possibility of residential building development in Pembroke. The board passed the motion to approve the framework and updates.

A recruitment ad for new board members was published in the Ottawa Citizen on Feb. 3. The application process closes on March 8, and interviews will be conducted from April 10 to 15, according to chair of the board, James McCracken.

Another ad, aiming to hire board members of Indigenous representation was published on Feb. 10 in the Ottawa Citizen. People interested in the position should submit their application directly to the director of Indigenous initiatives, Andre O’Bonsawin.

The next Board of Governors meeting will be held April 29, in Room T102 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public.

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Two optimistic climate action student advocates win $3,000 bursary

Student Climate Action Leader Bursary winners are eager about environmental sustainability initiatives at Algonquin College

Grinje Randa Bringi

Photos: submitted by Zeeshan) Photo credit

March 4, 2024
Revised: March 4, 2024 11:41am

Photo: submitted by Zeeshan) Photo credit

Arkyn Kornell (right) 22, Student Climate Action Leader Bursary Winner and host of Mythic Resilience podcast. Mohammad Zeeshan (left) 33. Global Supply Chain Management (

Mohammad Zeeshan and Arkyn Kornell expressed surprise, shock, gratitude and uncertainty after recently learning they won the Climate Action Leader bursary.

“I was not expecting it. It came as a surprise for me,” said Zeeshan. “I believe that everyone who’s in the impact challenge applied as well, so it was a surprise for me that I am the one who got it.”

Following submissions to the CICan ImpAct Climate Challenge, Kornell, a public relations student, and Zeeshan, a global supply chain management student, have emerged as champions of climate change awareness and sustainability and were awarded $1,500 each on Feb. 23 at Algonquin College.

Kornell, 22, and Zeeshan, 33, share a commitment to inspire change and bring sustainability to the forefront of education and campus planning. Their efforts align with the urgent global call for climate sustainability, making them exemplary leaders in the fight against climate change.

“I love that they chose two people for the award,” said Kornell. “It balances out because you need the technical side, you need the people who are doing the research and you also need the people out there to communicate, like said research.”

The ImpAct Climate Challenge is an initiative designed to engage CICan member colleges and institutes across Canada to raise awareness of greenhouse gases and encourage behaviour change toward SDG 13 Climate Action. Based on the highest level of participation, four colleges or institutes from different size categories are awarded a $3,000 bursary to support a student climate leader.

Colleges and Institutes Canada representative André Garneau shared the positive feedback garnered from participants.

“In our last challenge, in the six thematic areas, 93 per cent of participants indicated that they learned something new, while a remarkable 98 per cent indicated that the information presented inspired them to take further climate action in their daily lives,” said Garneau.

Zeeshan, who is from India, holds a master’s degree in environmental sciences and engineering and has over five years working in the industry. When asked about the comparability of the climate change landscapes in India and Canada, Zeeshan emphasized that India is leading in its climate action initiatives.

“In contrast, if I’m going to compare Canada and India, I will put India at the upper hand in terms of climate change and sustainability,” said Zeeshan

He is currently involved in analyzing and curating sustainability topics into the current Algonquin College School of Business curriculum.

“We have to include climate change and sustainability in our curriculum from now to ensure graduates are market ready,” he said.

Kornell describes herself as outdoorsy. She spent much of her childhood in nature and is extremely passionate about environmental sustainability and addressing climate change efforts.

“When I do this work, environmental work, it’s never for the purpose of being nominated or being appreciated,” said Kornell “I just like to do it because I’m passionate about it.”

As a public relations student, Kornell hopes to use the power of storytelling and empathy to reach her audience. She intends to use some of her bursary toward her upcoming podcast Mythic Resilience which focuses on re-imagining the effects of climate change through Norse and Greek mythology and through amplifying existing Indigenous stories.

Kornell’s vision for Algonquin College involves placing more importance on environmental measures and sustainability in its campus development plan. She stressed the need for transparency and actions that resonate with the community.

“Climate change is such a big issue, and there’s a feeling that I as an individual cannot do much, but as we ripple out, it creates a bigger effect,” said Kornell

To enroll in the next round of the ImpAct Climate Challenge visit the ImpAct Climate Challenge website to register.

“Together we can make Algonquin College a leader in sustainability,” said Zeeshan

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Five dental hygiene grads receive the Student Changemaker Award

The graduates were honoured at a Board of Governors meeting for developing a community initiative to provide oral healthcare

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

March 1, 2024
Revised: April 11, 2024 3:34pm

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Lisa McLeod, Zeel Patel, Priya Renta Kumari and Sule Hamamcioglu waiting to speak about their community initiative Heart of the Matter on Feb. 26 at the Board of Governors meeting.

On the last semester of the dental hygiene program, five students donated their time and knowledge to developing an initiative helping people in their community receive quality oral healthcare for free.

On Feb. 26, the now-graduates attended a Board of Governors meeting in Room T102 to receive the Student Changemaker award for exceptional student efforts and to speak about their project.

“Our firm belief that everyone deserves quality dental care kept us motivated every step of the way,” said Sule Hamamcioglu, one of five recent graduates from the Algonquin College dental hygiene program who led a successful initiative called Heart of the Matter.

“I’m honoured to present our Equal Opportunity Dental Care Project to you,” said Hamamcioglu. “Right from the beginning, we knew it was our duty to focus on what our community needed. We worked hard for 13 weeks to plan everything carefully and gather what we needed to make this project happen. Today, we are proud of our achievements.”

The graduates are: Hamamcioglu, Priya Renta Kumari, Lisa McLeod, Zeel Patel and Tuli Chakma, who could not attend, but was represented by her peers through a photograph.

“This is Tuli. She wishes she could be here today,” said McLeod. “But she went home before we knew this was happening. She’s here in spirit.”

Heart of the Matter was created to bridge the gap in access to preventative oral health care in the community. They collaborated with their professors, 43 volunteers and Ottawa Public Health to provide treatment for 20 clients, delivering approximately $12,000 in services.

“Our volunteers played a critical role in making this event successful and possible,” said Patel. “Without their support, it wouldn’t be possible. Additionally, we engaged with the Ottawa Public Health to promote our event. Our professors, Scotia and Tonya, provided support and collaboration throughout the process.”

Their award was presented by Algonquin College president Claude Brulé and board chair James McCracken.

“Our target population included low-income adults who cannot afford private dental insurance or participate in many of the city’s dental programs,” said Renta Kumari. “Through this project, we welcomed individuals who lacked the services and provided them with complimentary care.”

The event has occurred six times since 2017 and will continue to happen yearly, according to the dental hygiene program. All of the recent graduates have already found employment since graduating in December.

“They have truly embodied the spirit of Algonquin College changemakers,” said Paula Benbow, chair of allied health from the School of Health Studies.

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East meets West: Man Like Ikky Tour brings unique sound to Observatory stage

Fans cheer as Punjabi-Canadian producer Ikwinder Singh performs original compositions blending hip-hop, R&B, reggae and pop with rustic Punjabi rhythms

Cole Crossthwaite

Photos: Cole Crossthwaite

March 1, 2024
Revised: March 1, 2024 2:58pm

Photo: Cole Crossthwaite

Ikwinder Singh, a.k.a. Ikky, performed in the Algonquin College Observatory on Feb. 16, as part of his Canada-wide Man Like Ikky Tour.

Punjabi-Canadian producer and composer Ikwinder Singh, a.k.a. Ikky, performed in the Algonquin College Observatory on Feb. 16, as part of his Canada-wide Man Like Ikky Tour.

Ikky’s performance marked the fourth stop in the 23-year-old Rexdale Ont.-based artist’s first ever headline tour across Canada.

The show began at 8 p.m. with a half hour set from the opening act, solo R&B artist Gurtêj Singh. After the opening act completed his roughly half-hour set, there was a brief pause before Ikky took the stage. Ikky called his fans to gather closer to the stage and began performing his original compositions that blend the sounds of traditional Punjabi music with those of modern western genres.

The Man Like Ikky Tour made stops in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa and Montreal.

Ikky’s music is a unique combination of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and pop with rustic Punjabi rhythms and vocalsthat Ikky says, on his website, is best described as “groovy, forward-thinking Punjabi music.”

He released his breakthrough single Diamond with Gurnam Bhullar in 2018 which has amassed over 600 million views on YouTube to date. Since then, he has gone on to collaborate with various artists to create numerous crossover hits. Most notably, the lead single 52 Bars, from Ikky’s recent 2023 collaborative EP with Karan Aujla titled Four You, debuted in the top 15 of Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 chart.

According to his website, with now over a billion total streams worldwide, Ikky continues looking to innovate the future of music.

“My goal has never changed, I will work to find opportunities to grow the music I love with the hopes that the rest of the world sees what only Punjabi’s and the diaspora see at the moment,” Ikky is quoted on his website.

With this in mind, in 2021, Ikky launched 4N records in partnership with Warner Music and Coalition Music with the hopes of creating “songs and collaborations that will bridge the gap between India’s exploding music scene and the rest of the world”.

Under the colourful hue of stage lights, song by song, solo artist Gurtêj Singh alternated between acoustic guitar and keyboard. As smooth vocals intertwined with instrumental notes, the melodic sounds of R&B rippled effortlessly through the audience.

After playing the last song of his set, Singh announced to the audience, “Ikky is in the back. He’ll be right out.” Ikky’s fans waited in patient anticipation for the headline artist to begin his set.

Ikky crossed the stage and was met with the cheers of fans who came to hear his distinct brand of hip-hop, pop and Punjabi music that bridges the gap between the sounds of India and the West. As he beckoned his fans to gather closer to the stage, the room’s energy shifted to match the energetic upbeat mood set by Ikky. Launching into his opening set, Ikky called his fans to “put your hand up, keep your hands up,” continuing to elevate the atmosphere and energy of the crowd throughout his performance.

In a biography posted on his website, Ikky says, “I really just want to make sure that once the door opens for Punjabi music worldwide, it will flood the gates.”

Ikky’s latest release, Ishq Hua (Love Happened), marks a foray into uncharted territory as his debut composition of Hindi music. Ishq Hua (Love Happened) can be found on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and various other music platforms.

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Academics shouldn’t approach ChatGPT as the enemy, students say

International Peer Mentor Program hosts discussion on generative AI, with students calling for more acceptance by teachers

Yuye Jiang

Photos: Yuye Jiang

March 1, 2024
Revised: March 1, 2024 9:05am

Photo: Yuye Jiang

Louisa Lambregts, a Learning and Teaching Design Strategist who works at Algonquin College, gives an opening address for a generative AI roundtable discussion.

International students who participated in a roundtable discussion on Feb. 27 said academics should consider ChatGPT an ally rather than an enemy.

The International Peer Mentor Program hosted a roundtable discussion on generative AI on the third floor of T-building. The discussion explored the impact of generative AI on the academic landscape.

Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, commonly known as ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot developed by Open AI, has rapidly garnered a substantial user base among Canadian students.

ChatGPT has been a controversial topic since its release, but opinions are shifting toward the positive today.

Trang Nguyen, a postgraduate student in brand management at Algonquin College, said that ChatGPT has provided accurate assessment and feedback for her English writing.

“When I write my essay on ChatGPT, I ask it to help me grade on the scale of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and they give the exact score that I got when I took the actual test,” Nguyen said. “Then I figured out how to write like a 9.0 in IELTS, so I strive to satisfy that scale.”

Rinki Prajapati (left), a student who graduated from supply chain management at Algonquin College had a group photo with Tang Yuan (middle) and Haoran Zu (right), students majoring in computer programming at Algonquin College. — Rinki Prajapati (left), a student who graduated from supply chain management at Algonquin College, poses for a photo with Tang Yuan (middle) and Haoran Zu (right), students majoring in computer programming at Algonquin College. Photo credit: Yuye Jiang

Haoran Zu, a student in computer programming at Algonquin College, believes that ChatGPT’s capability of problem-solving can save students valuable time.

“I think the biggest win with ChatGPT is its ability to quickly tackle about 80 per cent of the everyday issues you encounter in your studies and life,” said Zu. “For instance, when I’m stuck on a code bug for two hours, throwing it into ChatGPT might solve it in less than five minutes, leaving me with more time to focus on pushing forward with other tasks. I see it as a kind of AI lending a helping hand to humanity.”

After students enthusiastically shared the conveniences brought by ChatGPT, they delved into a thoughtful discussion on the effective and ethical use of generative AI tools both inside and outside the classroom.

“While ChatGPT is powerful, we must recognize that it currently serves more as a reference tool rather than a perfect problem solver,” Zu said. “Normally, we use it to organize thoughts for assignments or seek an example. As we’ve found that when faced with more complex issues, ChatGPT’s answers tend to be inaccurate.”

Zu also emphasized the importance of balancing innovation and academic independence, ensuring that ChatGPT serves as an academic assistant rather than a tool that replaces human thought.

“Treating ChatGPT as a ghostwriter is a really bad way because many subjects require writing to hone your expression and logic skills. You can’t hand over those core aspects to ChatGPT,” Zu said. “Considering ChatGPT as a tutor or assistant is better, then we can utilize it to propel many tasks forward.”

Tang Yuan, a student in computer programming, believes that teachers should embrace ChatGPT with students, or at least be open to accepting it.

“I think both teachers and students should use ChatGPT because we can’t resist the AI era, so better adapt to it,” Tang said. “Future AI will only evolve faster and smarter, so only those who use tools well can survive. Teachers can pose more abstract questions and allow students to use AI tools for answers. This not only prevents AI from directly providing solutions but also hones students’ ability on using AI.”

Manpreet Singh, a student in building automation system operation, offered another insight.

“The world is stepping ahead, so we also should know what the world is doing,” Singh said. “If the world is using ChatGPT and other AI tools, we also need to step ahead in terms of knowledge and skills, so we can keep up and get a job.”

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Dancers showcase their talents and raise money in memory of local teenager

DanceRoots put on their annual event to raise money for the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County in honour of Chase Downs

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

February 28, 2024
Revised: February 28, 2024 2:14pm

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Marvellous party being performed by Abbygael Cardinal, Alayna Haji, Ava Bignuccolo, Charlotte Bussey, Duncan Griswold, Evalyn Kantymir, Isabel Campbell-Rosser, Izabella Caputo, J Godwin-Sens, Katherine MacRae, Madelaine Bourdeleau-Kelly, Mhalia Milius and Raigen Brien at the Algonquin Commons Theatre on Feb. 24.

When Raigen Brien, a 17-year-old high school student, is dancing on stage, it relieves her stress. It’s a place where she finds comfort and finds inspiration.

“Dance allows you to surround yourself with a fresh outlook and a positive environment,” she said. “It is something so special to add to your life. Dance has also given me a second family. I was able to meet and create deep connections with so many different people.”

This connection also helps her want to be part of helping to raise money for good causes.

Brien, a graduating senior dancer at the Ottawa-based dance and performing arts school DanceRoots, participated in Chase Your Dreams, a competitive showcase to raise money for the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County. The showcase took place at the Algonquin Commons Theatre on Feb. 24.

“I feel truly honoured to have been even a small piece of the incredible performance that Chase Your Dreams is,” said Brien. “I am so grateful to have had the chance to celebrate the life of Chase Downs.”

Chase Downs was the firstborn child of Sarah Nolan, artistic director and owner of DanceRoots. Chase Your Dreams is made in honour of her life and aims to raise money in her behalf for important causes and charities.

Downs was born with a brain tumour, was in treatment for much of her life and endured several surgeries. She died just after her 14th birthday on Jan. 22 2013.

“She was fiercely strong, funny, polite and loved the arts,” said Nolan. “She wrote a book of jokes.”

The showcase consisted of 37 performances by 71 dance students of different age groups and levels, including three graduating seniors.

Brien said dance has given her powerful life skills and deep personal connections with fellow dancers.

“Dance has taught me discipline, gave me a strong passion, and a place where I find comfort,” said Brien. “It’s something I think many more college students should try out. It is a huge stress relief. Dance allows you to surround yourself with a fresh outlook and a positive environment and it is something so special to add to your life.”

Nolan said they have a long-term connection with the Algonquin Commons Theatre.

“We dance at this theatre the most in our season, through competitions and our recital,” said Nolan. “So, it gets especially our younger dancers and our first-time competitive dancers accustomed to the stage. It makes a big difference to be able to perform before they compete.”

“Because things like spacing are super important to a dancer,” she explained. “Knowing what curtains you’re going through. Just little things like that are so important. So, this gives them that opportunity, because every stage is different. And our first full competition is here, in April, as well as our recital at the end of the year.”

Izabella Caputo, another 17-year-old graduating senior from DanceRoots, said it was very special to be a part of the yearly charity event.

“It’s an event that happens every year and each year it never fails to feel the same way,” said Caputo. “For me, this is the kick-start and the first time of each season where it feels real that the season is starting up.”

“[Dance classes] are a very supportive environment and a place where you can meet new people,” she added. “When you’re starting college it can be overwhelming and scary to not know that many people so a dance class is an easy way to meet new people.”

Nolan said her favourite part of any event is getting to step back and watch students.

“It’s just standing backstage and being a part of the dancers’ first journey on the stage,” Nolan said. “Seeing them come to life and they’re just so in love with that experience. To be able to see that is just the biggest blessing.”

The event raised over $1000 according to Nolan, although the exact number has yet to be released.

“This event is something that everyone looks forward to,” said Caputo. “It is a staple at our studio and is known to happen every year no matter the circumstances.”

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Warm winter weather challenges Ski and Snowboard Club in planning trip to Mont-Tremblant

“If there were no snow, then this will likely be the last trip,” Senez said.

Zixuan Li

Photos: Zixuan Li

February 27, 2024
Revised: February 27, 2024 2:48pm

Photo: Zixuan Li

Cristiano Venucci (left) and Vivek Jaswal (right) stand in front of the bus after returning from a ski trip to Mont-Tremblant on Feb. 25.

Despite the unusually warm winter, the Algonquin College Ski and Snowboard Club successfully organized its second ski trip to Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort on Feb. 25.

The club is facing an unprecedented challenge this year due to the unfavourable snow conditions. Planning the trip became a formidable task, as organizers grappled with uncertainties surrounding snowfall and slope conditions.

“We didn’t have a very nice snow season this year, so it was a little hard to plan with bad snow,” said Noah Senez, the club’s leader. “We got snow and then it got warm, and then it rained, and then the snow kind of went away. So, it was like, it’s really hard to plan trips four to six weeks out when the snow keeps going away.”

However, undeterred by the obstacles, the club pressed forward with determination and resourcefulness.

“This season, we didn’t get a lot of snow up until closer to January or so,” said Cassandra Jones, the clubs coordinator of Algonquin College. “It was a bit of a slow start to the season, but we’ve gotten our two trips in. At least you were able to get something going.”

Despite the initial concerns, the day of the trip dawned with a spirit of optimism as about 50 students gathered early at 6 a.m., eager to embark on their adventure.

Excitement filled the air as the group set off for Mont-Tremblant, the biggest ski resort in Eastern Canada.

The recent lack of snowfall had left some slopes thinly covered, challenging even experienced skiers and snowboarders. Nevertheless, people still thoroughly enjoyed this rare trip.

“My friend and I both fell down a few times,” said Damian Piper, an audio-visual technician from the college’s IT services. “It was a really fun time, but certainly challenging since there were some icy parts.”

Senez said the trip is “cost-effective for students,” with the general ticket fee totalling $76 after taxes.

“We pay for the transportation, and we arrange discounted tickets for students,” said Jones, “So that’s why your ticket is just for your lift ticket. And for those who bought rentals, it’s at a discounted price as well.”

The club plans to organize one more ski trip at the end of March.

“We might have one at the end of March, and I’m looking into it. But that’s very dependent on the conditions in March because it’s either we get a lot of snow in March or we get no snow,” said Senez.

“If there were no snow, then this will likely be the last trip.”

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New Board of Governors student rep cites food, transit and housing as 2024 priorities

Candidates suggest changing the voting process after low voting numbers in recent election

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

February 27, 2024
Revised: February 27, 2024 2:32pm

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Aditya Mishra, Algonquin College's newly elected student representative, standing beside his poster outside of E-building on Feb. 24.

Aditya Mishra, the student representative recently elected to the Board of Governors, says he will work with the board to address three main student concerns: food costs, transportation issues and housing costs.

“Food on campus is much more expensive than outside, it should be less,” said Mishra. “Students have a hectic schedule, a lot of them work after school and they don’t have that much time or a large budget for food.”

Mishra said that his second priority after food costs is making sure transportation is more reliable and frequent, as well as possibly arranging for transportation provided by the college.

“I want to increase the frequency of buses for some areas,” said Mishra. “There are areas where students are more concentrated. I want to just increase the frequencies of buses to that area. There should be buses coming from the college as well.”

Voting in the Board of Governors election opened on Feb. 21 at 12:01 a.m. and closed on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m., a week when most of the student body was going through midterms.

A total of 615 votes were cast: 253 for Mishra, 154 for Germain Arrighi, 117 for Mouatez Aissaoui and 91 for Linh Ngo. The official numbers were released by Duane McNair, vice president of finance and administration, on Feb. 23 through an email addressed to all students.

The college has over 20.000 full-time students in 200 programs, according to the Algonquin College website. It means only about three per cent of students voted in the election for their Board of Governors representative.

Mishra shared his priorities with the Algonquin Times after the college announced his election victory.

“The next thing is accommodation, due to inflation, rent costs have become too much,” said Mishra. “I have said this [during the campaign], I am saying it again, I will try, with the help of management, to have conversations with landlords to see what we can arrange in the form of a discount.”

One of the runners-up, Arrighi, said his experience running was overall positive, but he would like to see reform to the election process.

“Campaigning was fun, and I would consider it again. However, I feel there need to be some changes to the election process,” said Arrighi. “Although the turnout is better than last year, these numbers don’t seem representative of the student body. Physical polling stations would be great for students to have the experience to prepare for federal and provincial elections.”

Arrighi also said he believes the voting was hindered due to site operational maintenance and election day being scheduled to happen during midterms.

Mishra said he expected the votes to reach the thousands and agrees physical polling stations would be a good solution to explore in future elections.

“In-person voting is important. And more than that, it’s important that people are aware of voting,” said Mishra. “The college voting system in my opinion does not make it convenient for students either.”

Ngo said she has learned a lot through campaigning.

“I wholeheartedly appreciate those who supported and voted for me,” said Ngo. “This was such a great experience and I do not regret my decision at all. I have learned a lot and hopefully, I can try again next year. I just want to congratulate the winner. I wish him a great run as the student representative.”

Aissaoui did not respond to a request for comment.

“I have met so many students who said they were with me, and it just filled me with such positive vibes,” said Mishra. “Management also helped me a lot. When I was running, 20-plus posters were stolen by someone, and management helped me a lot. They even gave me more posters.”

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Student-led band Ashtray lights up debut gig

The band showcased its original music and shared hopes for future in the industry

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

February 27, 2024
Revised: February 27, 2024 11:21am

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Darcy Gibbons, Oscar Ash, Ryan Hobbs and Matthew Benoliel (left to right) playing on stage at Irene's Pub and Restaurant on Feb. 19.

Ashtray lit up a gloomy Monday night, debuting a set of five original indie songs on Feb. 19 at Irene’s Pub and Restaurant in the Glebe, surrounded by a devoted crowd.

“Honestly, my favourite part was the clapping from the crowd,” said Oscar Ash, Ashtray’s vocalist. “The applause was really great.”

From the start of the first song, the Algonquin College student-led band had their audience captivated, receiving applause and encouraging shouts after each song came to an end.

The band, which received its name from its front man’s surname, is comprised of four members: Ash on vocals, Darcy Gibbons on guitar, Matthew Benoliel on bass and Ryan Hobbs on the drums.

“I think the use of acoustic guitar mixed with electric guitar sets us apart from other bands. You don’t see a lot of that,” said Ash. “I think the indie scene could use more acoustic guitar.”

“And we play all originals, we’re not a cover band,” Gibbons added. “We’re really well rehearsed, we have a real dedication to the indie music scene, and we really care about the music we put out.”

Ash, Gibbons, and Hobbs are students at Algonquin College, currently in their second semester of the music industry arts program, where they met and bonded over their shared passion for music, and started creating together.

Darcy Gibbons, Oscar Ash and Ryan Hobbs (left to right) performing at Irene's Pub and Restaurant on Feb. 19. Photo credit: Nathalia Lencioni

Ash said the program taught him about the importance of promoting their music.

“Always push for opportunities and practise. The practice paid off tonight. I think it’s important to stay on that no matter what,” he said.

Benoliel said he was inspired to pursue music by Ash, who he’s played with for years prior to the forming of Ashtray.

“Seeing him [Ash] play guitar, he wanted me to get into bass and it went from there,” said Benoliel. “His style is also very unique. It’s very different from other live bands that I’ve heard and played with.”

All band members agreed that a goal for the future of the band is performing more often. Their debut show had previously been scheduled for the end of January but had to be postponed due to hazardous weather conditions.

“Playing more shows would be awesome,” said Hobbs. “We’d like to refine our set list, continue to play, and to be well-known in the scene. Come out and see Ashtray, wherever we’re playing, we put on a kick-ass show.”

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Nathalia Lencioni

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Nathalia Lencioni

Wolves women’s basketball earns hard-fought win in quarterfinals

This victory has secured their place in the semifinals this coming weekend

Claire Donnan

Photos: Claire Donnan

February 26, 2024
Revised: February 26, 2024 1:06pm

Photo: Claire Donnan

The Algonquin Wolves' women hold hands in support before the game starts. They are also cheering on team members who were receiving provincial awards before the game.

The Algonquin College Wolves’ women’s basketball quarterfinal victory against the Mohawk Mountaineers was enthusiastically met by packed stands of family and friends at the ARC gym on Feb. 24.

The nail-biting 66-58 win secured the team’s place in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association semifinals this coming weekend. Throughout the ups and downs of the game the women were supported by stands of family and friends, with young children chanting “defence” and fellow varsity players heckling the opposing team during free throws and timeouts.

The stands at the ARC gym, absolutely full of people. Most wear black, white or green or Wolves merch and several wave towels or flags. — The crowd was electric at the Feb 24 quarterfinal game, cheering on the Wolves and showing up in numbers. Photo credit: Claire Donnan

The game had a tense start, with the Wolves down 14-16 in the first quarter. While the game was back-and-forth throughout, they turned it around by halftime, and held tightly to a 40-36 lead.

Despite the close start by the currently undefeated team, fans were undeterred by the tight game.

“They’re definitely staying consistent in terms of their defence,” said Djibril Fall, an ARC employee and fan watching the game. “As long as they keep rebounding, forcing the rebounds, putting constant pressure on defence, I think that they’re gonna win the game.”

From the halfway point onwards the game was intense, with two-way gameplay and strong defence from the Wolves. The team credits this victory to their strength in their defensive game.

“I feel like honestly it was one of our better games this season,” said Piper Hatherall, a power forward and the player of the game due to her 15 points scored. “The shutdown of the plays on defence was irritating them and giving us an ego boost at the time to keep going and push on offence.”

Coach Jaime McLean was pleased with the results, as well as the performance awards some athletes received for their work during the season.

“Those are the provincial awards, so those are performance awards from the season, we had multiple different award [winners] in there,” said McLean.

Dasia McDonald, a black woman in a Wolves jersey and multicoloured shoes, faces off against an opponent on the Mohawk team. — Dasia McDonald (right) locks in on an opponent. McDonald was recognized with a variety of accolades, including all-Canadian and East player of the year. Photo credit: Claire Donnan

Three athletes from the Wolves were recognized, including Libby Hirst as First Team All Star, Sienna Miller as Second Team All Star and Dasia McDonald as OCAA Defensive Player of the Year, East Division Player of the Year, First Team All Star and as a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All Canadian.

The team also took home two awards, East Division Champions and East Defensive Team of the year.

Overall, McLean was pleased with the team’s performance throughout the game.

“I’m really happy with our performance, I think we’re showing we’re ready to peak at the right time,” said McLean. “We came in prepared this week, the girls all understood the jobs they needed to do and stepped up.”

McLean acknowledged that the Mountaineers were a tough opponent due to their organization, but that the Wolves’ defence ultimately won out.

“We knew the kind of shots they [Mohawk] were gonna be looking for. They’re an excellent team, they’re very well-coached and they’re very organized,” said McLean. “We knew that if we didn’t do our job defensively they could run away on us.”

Looking ahead, the women’s basketball team has officially made it into the OCAA semifinals happening on March 2, and the players are thrilled.

“We are absolutely super excited,” said Hatherall. “I think this year we have that drive, we want to get to the gold and silver. We want to prove ourselves. The East are not weak.”

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