Three new General Motors vehicles rolled into Niagara College’s Motive Power Lab on June 25, destined for many years as key learning tools in Niagara College’s Motive Power programs.

The vehicles, a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2018 Cadillac XTS, were generously donated to Niagara College by General Motors Canada to increase the hands-on learning opportunities offered to students. The three vehicles contain some of the most current automotive technologies employed in modern consumer cars, and will allow students to gain real-world experience diagnosing, fixing, and replacing these technologies.

In addition, General Motors donated $50,000 to support the purchase of instructional equipment in the College’s recently opened Green Automotive Technology Lab. The 3,600-square-foot lab boasts electric vehicle charging stations, hybrid and electric motor diagnostic and simulation tools, alternative fuels technology, and vehicles that allow students unfettered access to the technology that will dominate the roads of the future. The Green Automotive Technology Lab will also be a hub for research activities into the future of automotive technology, working in concert with the College’s Research and Innovation division.

Carolyne Watts, plant manager at General Motors Canada’s St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, presented the donation to Niagara College president Dan Patterson at the College’s Rankin Technology Centre this morning.

“General Motors Canada is proud to support Niagara College with this gift,” said Watts. “The new Green Automotive Technology Lab and its innovative curriculum will no doubt further Niagara College’s leadership in automotive education and training, and help support the changing needs of an evolving auto industry.”

General Motors Canada has long been a strong supporter of Niagara College’s Motive Power programs. The company works closely with NC’s school of trades to provide guidance and input on program and curriculum development, and many NC grads go on to become service technicians or service managers in GM dealerships across the country. On Aug. 27, 2015 GM Canada also donated a salvaged 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS, which students rebuilt over a period of two years, giving them the opportunity to practice hands-on body repair techniques.

GM’s St. Catharines Propulsion Plant also partners with the College on several environmental initiatives, including collaborating for World Environment and Earth Day events, and hosting student field projects from the Ecosystem Restoration post-graduate program since 2011, and student interns from the Environmental Management and Assessment post-graduate program since 2013.

“Niagara College is incredibly thankful to GM Canada for this generous gift, and for their ongoing support of our School of Trades,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “We pride ourselves on offering students a unique formula of hands-on, experiential training with the tools and technologies being used in industry, both now and in the future. This donation will allow our Motive Power students to train on the latest and greatest technologies in the automotive industry. As graduates, they’ll be well-prepared to enter this constantly evolving market.”

More than 3,700 students will cross the platform and enter the next phase of their life at Niagara College’s Spring Convocation Ceremonies, to be held at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus June 19-22.

Graduates and their guests will hear from a variety of distinguished business and community leaders who will deliver convocation addresses and receive special honours from the College.

Vicki Heyman

Ceremonies will begin on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 am with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport as well as the School of Food and Wine Sciences. The convocation speaker for the morning will be Vicki Heyman,

Daljit Singh Gujral

founder of Uncharted, values-driven family office that convenes and connects a diverse group of Americans and Canadians. Heyman will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

The 1 pm ceremony will see students in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies hear a convocation address from Daljit Singh Gujral, a first-generation entrepreneur from India and president of INSCOL, which operates a nursing institute in Toronto that trains internationally educated nurses who move to Canada. Gujral will receive an Honorary Diploma in Health Studies.

Coletta McGrath

Wednesday, June 20 will begin with a ceremony celebrating graduates in the School of Community Services. Coletta McGrath, executive director of Quest Community Health Centre and a founding board member of the St. Catharines Life Lease Corporation, an organization that built two of the first not-for-profit life lease buildings for older adults in Niagara, will bring the convocation address and will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

Chief Bryan MacCulloch

In the afternoon, Bryan MacCulloch, chief of the Niagara Regional Police Service, will address graduates in the School of Justice and Fitness Studies, the School of Allied Health Studies, and the School of Nursing and Support Worker Studies. Chief MacCulloch will receive an Honorary Diploma in Police Foundations.

Anthony Spiteri

Ceremonies will continue the morning of Thursday, June 21 with the School of Business and Management Studies hearing from Anthony J. Spiteri, who graduated from Niagara College’s Business Administration program in 1989 with honours. Spiteri, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, grew up in Niagara, and is now a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry. He has held executive level positions with Maple Leaf Foods, Thrifty Foods, Lilydale Inc., New Food Classics and is currently vice president of marketing, research and development with Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc.

Thursday morning’s ceremonies will also honour the recipient of the 2018 Governor General’s Academic Medal, presented to Business Administration – Accounting graduate Jesse Reynders, who graduates with a grade average of 98.23 per cent.

Tim Denis

Thursday ceremonies will conclude in the afternoon with Niagara radio host Tim Denis addressing graduates in the School of Academic and Liberal Studies, the School of English Language Studies and the School of Media Studies. Denis, who recently celebrated 40 years in radio, has been CKTB Talk Radio’s morning host for more than 23 years, and has made waves in Niagara and beyond with his work as a singer, actor, director and songwriter. He will receive an Honorary Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film.

Sarah Watts-Rynard

Spring Convocation Ceremonies conclude on  the morning of Friday, June 21.  Graduates in the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, the School of Technological Studies and the School of Trades will hear from executive director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Sarah Watts-Rynard. An advocate of the skilled trades, Watts-Rynard works to encourage a better understanding of the high-level of competency and skill required by these careers. Watts-Rynard will receive an Honorary Diploma in Skilled Trades.

Friday will also be a milestone for the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, as it will see the first cohort of graduates from the college’s Commercial Beekeeping program. The Graduate Certificate program is the first of its kind in Eastern Canada, and was launched in 2017 to meet a significant demand for qualified, professional beekeepers across the country.

Schedule of Proceedings

Tuesday, June 19 – 10 a.m.
Hospitality, Tourism and Sport; Food and Wine Sciences
Speaker: Vicki Heyman

3 p.m.
Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Daljit Singh Gujral

Wednesday, June 20 – 10 a.m.
Community Studies
Speaker: Coletta McGrath

3 p.m.
Justice and Fitness Studies; Allied Health; Nursing and Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Bryan MacCulloch

Thursday, June 21 – 10 a.m.
Business and Management Studies
Speaker: Anthony J. Spiteri

3 p.m.
Academic and Liberal Studies; English Language Studies; Media Studies
Speaker: Tim Denis

Friday, June 22 – 10 a.m.
Environmental and Horticultural Studies; Technology Studies; Trades
Speaker: Sarah Watts-Rynard

A message from Wendy Dueck, director of Development and Alumni Relations:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jana Boniferro as alumni engagement officer in the Development and Alumni Relations department. Jana joined the NC family on May 23.

Jana has a Business Communications degree from Brock University and over 10 years of experience in both the not-for-profit and corporate community. For the past five years she worked in the Advancement department at Brock University, most recently as senior major gifts officer focusing on the Goodman School of Business expansion; prior to that she worked on the fundraising efforts for the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. Both roles required her to create meaningful engagement and trusting relationships with key alumni – experience which will be instrumental in helping build a robust alumni community for Niagara College.

The primary focus of Jana’s role is fostering relationships and strengthening alumni affiliation that results in alumni having a lifelong relationship with the College. This includes presenting opportunities for meaningful continual engagement, such as sharing their talents and experience with students, and the ability to continue to learn from and with exceptional faculty members and talented peers.

Recognizing the existing effort and attention given within each College department to enrich the experience of students, both prior and beyond graduation, in the coming months Jana will be reaching out to the NC community to identify opportunities to engage, and strengthen the College’s relationships, with alumni.

In the interim, if you would like to reach out to Jana to discuss alumni engagement opportunities, she can be reached at extension 7427 or jboniferro@niagaracollege.ca.

Please join me in giving Jana a warm NC welcome!

Spend a memorable afternoon celebrating local architecture in the historic Port Dalhousie area and help support students along the way.

The Canadian Federation of University Women is hosting its 44^th Annual House Tour on Sunday, May 6, from noon until 5 p.m. Tour five homes of character and enjoy a refreshment stop at St. John’s Anglican Church, one of the oldest parishes in Ontario with roots dating back to the 1830s.

Tickets are $25 and are available online at www.cfuwstcatharines.org, at 16 ticket outlets in Niagara (click here to see all ticket outlet locations) or at the houses on tour day.

Proceeds from ticket sales go to CFUW St Catharines’ Registered Charity for Scholarships, some of which support Niagara College students, and to local charities that help women and children in need.

For more information about CFUW St Catharines 44th Annual House Tour visit www.cfuwstcatharines.org ; call 289-696-1400 or email cfuwstcatharines@gmail.com

Benny and Louise Marotta, are accompanied by daughters Angela and Melissa, son-in-law Giuseppe Paolicelli, and grandchildren.

Niagara College announced on April 6 that the family of Benny and Louise Marotta are donating $1 million to support the College’s Achieving Dreams Campaign.

The donation of $1 million – which will support the development of, and equipment and furnishings for, Niagara College’s new innovation complex located at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus – was announced to an audience of more than 600 business, education and community leaders at Niagara College’s Seafood Gala.

NC President Dan Patterson announces an astounding $1 million donation from the family of Benny and Louise Marotta to support the Achieving Dreams campaign! Thank you! pic.twitter.com/7v3P5yvNLP

— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) April 6, 2018

The Gala also celebrated the successful completion of the College’s Achieving Dreams campaign. The campaign, which began in April 2015, far surpassed its original goal of $7 million. Including the Marotta family gift, a total of $11,450,791 has been raised to support three areas of student success:

• $6,319,028 for campus redevelopment
• $3,472,692 to support scholarships, bursaries, study-work abroad and student leadership development opportunities
• $1,659,071 million to fund instructional equipment and learning resources

In recognition of the Marotta family’s generous gift, Niagara College will name the new complex the Marotta Family Innovation Complex. The new 49,000 square foot four-storey complex is scheduled for completion in Fall 2018 and will significantly enhance the College’s ability to support the growing competitiveness of Niagara’s agri-business sector. The complex will include agri-food research and innovation laboratories, incubation space for business, specialized training facilities for student engagement and entrepreneurship, and will house a student fitness centre and gymnasium on the lower level.

“As a family we have always looked ahead towards progress, keeping traditions alive and making communities stronger.  We are proud to be supporting Niagara College.  Our goal is to help ensure this vibrant student community is always looking forward and that they will achieve successes in all aspects of their life,” said the Marotta family.  “These students represent the future of our local agri-business industry and the wine and culinary community of Niagara on the Lake and will continue to bring it recognition on the national and world-wide stage.”

The Marotta family has been active in land and community development within southern Ontario.  They have a history of supporting various charitable organizations close to their hearts such as Mackenzie Health, Humber River Hospital, Sick Children’s Hospital, Vaughan Hospice, Art Gallery of Ontario, Caledon Food Bank and others.

Louise and Benny’s daughters, Angela and Melissa, are the proprietors of award winning winery Two Sisters Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Two Sisters Vineyards has also committed $20,000 to Niagara College to establish the Two Sisters Vineyard Bursary Fund. Two awards of $2,000 each will be awarded annually to students in Niagara College’s Culinary Innovation and Food Technology, Culinary Management, and Winery and Viticulture Technician programs.

“All of us at Niagara College are extremely grateful to the Marotta family for their generosity,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “This gift, supporting the Marotta Family Innovation Complex, will provide our students with innovative learning spaces, and facilitate cutting-edge research projects that will move Niagara’s growing agri-food industry forward.  It is an important investment in innovation and economic development in the Niagara region. The additional support through the Two Sisters Vineyards Bursary will help many capable and aspiring

More than $2.6 million has been raised through the Seafood Gala over the last 28 years. pic.twitter.com/8ndIneB4gC

— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) April 6, 2018

Congratulations to the NC team on a terrific evening! Annually the most memorable Gala in the Niagara Region!

— John F.T. Scott (@JohnFTScott) April 7, 2018

We’re getting the party started at the 29th Seafood Gala! @fallsviewcasino pic.twitter.com/GVbx3J27gr

— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) April 6, 2018