Events to be held at Welland and DJP campuses

NC employees who are also NC graduates are invited to become a part of a new College tradition: Internal Alumni Coffee Hour!

Inaugural Coffee Hour events will be held for internal alumni on:

• March 21, 10-11 a.m. at the Welland Campus (SA 208); and
• March 23, 10-11 a.m. at the DJP Campus (N002).

Presented by Alumni Relations, the casual events offer internal alumni a chance to meet and mingle on campus. Alumni will have a chance to enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and pastries, and pick up some NC alumni swag.

“Not only is NC one of the best places to work, it’s also one of the very best places to earn an applied education,” said Gord Arbeau, Vice President, Advancement, who plans to attend both events. “The College is powered by a sizeable community of alumni who choose to work here after graduating and who put their applied learning to good use on our campuses and in service to our students.

“The Alumni Coffee hour will bring together graduates who are employed by the College and we can’t wait to celebrate their success and thank them for what they do each day for NC.”

“Whether you’re a brand-new employee or you’re an alum who has been working at NC for a while, we’re excited to welcome you to Internal Alumni Coffee Hour, where you can enjoy a warm beverage and good conversation while connecting with our College’s strong internal alumni community,” said Jana Boniferro, Interim Manager, Development and Alumni Relations. “We encourage all internal alumni to attend one of our inaugural events in March as we kick off this exciting new tradition, which we look forward to continuing during the years ahead.”

Chance to win

Attendees will also have a chance to win a $25 SAC gift card, which may be used at The Core and The Shack at the Welland Campus or at The Armoury and The Undergrounds at the DJP Campus.

Show your NC spirit

Attendees are encouraged to bring their NC alumni mug, if they have one, or they may have a chance to receive one at the event (while supplies last).

RSVP

Please RSVP by email to [email protected] (indicate which campus event you plan to attend).

Update your contact info

All internal alumni (whether or not they’re attending Internal Alumni Coffee Hour) are encouraged to update their contact information with Alumni Relations at www.niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations/contactinfo/?bbeml=tp-EyLVuBnEvUisTw8_WeJqCw.jjJOivsQd

 

In honour of Black History Month, ncLibraries is shining a spotlight on the docuseries Canfield Roots, a six-part series that shares the stories of Black families who made rural Southern Ontario their home after escaping enslavement, whose descendants now work to save an abandoned cemetery.

The docuseries was directed and produced by NC alum, Graeme Bachiu, who graduated from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program in 2003, and is available to view, free of charge, for all NC students, staff and faculty through the ncLibraries.

Canfield Roots was first released during Black History Month in 2022 and continues to serve as a reminder of the rich history of freedom seekers and the lives they led following their escape into Canada.

To view Canfield Roots, visit the ncLibraries website, and click on the “Black History Month Featured Resource.”

History

In the mid-1800s, Black American freedom seekers journeyed north to Canada on the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses and hiding places that took people north. Some families put down roots near the small village of Canfield, building homes, raising families, and contributing to the cultural fabric of the community. Over time, the children of those families married into other families across Ontario and the United States, including a connection with the family of Harriet Tubman, the heroine known for making 13 return trips on the Underground Railroad to help liberate other freedom seekers.

On January 25, Niagara College’s Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) honoured the memory of Saundra Patterson, one of the College’s most beloved student champions, by officially unveiling the newly renamed Saundra Patterson Wellness Lounge.

Saundra, who passed away on January 27, 2021, was the devoted partner of long-time NC President Dan Patterson, currently President Emeritus. She was loved by the college community for her compassion and her unwavering commitment to the betterment of students.

At the dedication, NC President Sean Kennedy, NCSAC President Sam Jemison and past NCSAC President Tom Price (2019-2021) welcomed guests to the renamed student space and shared touching tributes to Saundra.

“Saundra leaves behind a legacy of building incredible connections that served to improve the student experience,” said Kennedy. “Saundra truly was a pillar of our NC community, and we are proud to carry on her vision and the important work of supporting students through initiatives like the Saundra Patterson Wellness Lounge.”

Reflecting on his time as NCSAC President, Price recalled Saundra’s thoughtfulness and dedication to NCSAC programs in support of students.

“Saundra embodied the passion we all have for student life, and the betterment of it. Whether it be her attendance at student or college-led events, announcements, convocations, or donations to the NCSAC Nourishing Minds Fund, if it was supporting NC students, Saundra was there.”

A special indoor space at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus, the Saundra Patterson Wellness Lounge is a place for students to drop-in and engage with trained wellness peers about common student challenges, such as feelings of loneliness, sadness, and stress, and to help them access resources on and off campus.

“This recognition of the Saundra Patterson Wellness Lounge by Niagara College’s Student Administrative Council is a wonderful tribute to Saundra and will be a permanent legacy and reminder of her tireless commitment to student success,” said President Emeritus Patterson, shared his appreciation to NCSAC.

“As I reflect, I have many great memories of Saundra enjoying her time with students at convocations, student award nights and so many other student events,” he added. “One tradition Saundra particularly loved was welcoming the Student Council to her home every year to a summer dinner before the start of term. She had a special gift of listening and made everyone feel welcome and at ease in her company. Saundra would have been thrilled to have such a special place named in her honour for students to gather and to support their well-being”

NC also honoured Saundra’s memory last fall with the creation of the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The garden was designed and built by students and faculty from NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture and staff from the Teaching Greenhouse with whom Saundra forged a special connection with over the years.

To learn more about Saundra Patterson’s life and her contributions to Niagara College, please read her full bio.

Event to support Black women experiencing homelessness

Niagara College is supporting the efforts of a member of its alumni community, by donating proceeds from upcoming two upcoming culinary pop-ups to Erica’s Embrace Support Services.

Two culinary pop-ups – open to the College community and the public – will be held on Thursday, February 2 in support of Erica Erica’s Embrace, founded by NC alumna Erica Williams. The first will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a second pop-up will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. Both will take place in the Benchmark Dining Room (Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake).

Williams, who graduated from NC’s Social Service Worker program in 2018 and won a prestigious Premier’s Award from Colleges Ontario in late 2022, is dedicated to making a difference to support Black women. The St. Catharines resident is a social service worker and savvy non-profit entrepreneur. Through Erica’s Embrace, Williams and her team gather and distribute B

lack hair care and beauty products to women’s shelters across Southwestern Ontario. It is the only known service of this kind in the area. Her team has also expanded to Black advocacy within the Niagara region.

“I’m extremely excited and appreciative of the support that we are receiving from Niagara College,” said Williams. “I started developing the idea to begin Erica’s Embrace when I was in my last semester at Niagara College and it’s an indescribable feeling to have the college that I went to support my initiative.”

Williams said the support from NC will bring more awareness to the work they do at Erica’s Embrace and how others can help.

“It’s important because our team attempts to fill a gap not often seen in shelters. We put a focus on support for Black women experiencing homelessness,” said Williams. “Our team consists of Black and Indigenous women with lived experiences that want to help and give back to our communities.”

Williams plans to attend the pop-ups at NC to help spread the word about Erica’s Embrace.

“Our hope is to continue to spread awareness about what we do and connect with others,” she said. “We will have a donation bin available as well for anyone that would like to donate Black hair or beauty care products on that day.”

Culinary pop-ups for a cause

Hosted by Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division, culinary pop-ups are open to the College community and the public.

“Our division and the College are proud to support Erica’s Embrace as an organization that advocates for inclusion,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to see, first-hand, how their skills and hard work can do so much more than produce food but can help those organizations that make our world a better place.”

Manager of Food Services Operations Sarah Scott highlighted the importance of collaborations with community organizations in the food service industry.

“It’s an important lesson for culinary students at NC to learn, first-hand,” said Scott.

The pop-ups in support of Erica’s Embrace are on the heels of similar events which raised $2,000 in support of Women’s Place of South Niagara on January 19, to help women and children impacted by domestic violence(view NC pop-ups raise funds for Women’s Place of South Niagara).

February 2 culinary pop-ups

The February 2 culinary pop-ups to support Erica’s Embrace will be held from 11:30 a.m.to 1: p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m. at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (Benchmark Dining Room).

A pork menu and a plant-based option will be available. Menu items include pork roast, pork vindaloo, pork pie, Italian pork cutlet sub, BBQ Pulled Jackfruit on a bun (vegetarian option), and apple pie.

Meals are first-come, first served – organizers recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment.

Culinary pop-ups

Culinary pop-ups were introduced at NC during Fall 2022 term and will continue during Winter 2023 term. They are scheduled to continue in February on Thursdays – twice per day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Meals are first-come, first-served.

Visit Facebook for menus and pop-up locations.

Find out what’s next on the menu, and get the latest information about upcoming pop-ups, festivals and ticketed dining events at niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/culinaryservices/ or by visiting the NC Culinary Services Facebook page for more information about culinary pop-ups and academic signature events, including menus, links to purchase tickets, pricing and more.

Black History Month

The upcoming culinary pop-up is one of several NC events that Williams will be involved with throughout February. As the College marks Black History Month, Williams will speak to the College community at a virtual event on February 21.
View Jan. 24 article here.

Related posts

Jan. 24, 2023: Alumna and social justice worker Erica Williams headlines NC’s Black History Month celebrations

Nov. 29, 2022: Two Niagara College alumni win Premier’s Awards

Nov. 25, 2022: Seven Niagara College alumni earn Premier’s Awards nominations

View encore Alumni Spotlight featuring Erica Williams here.