Giving Tuesday: Support NC students, families in need on Nov. 29

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Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to give back during the holiday season and support NC students and families in need.

NC will participate in the one day give-a-thon, to be held on November 29, by raising funds for two College initiatives: the Nourishing Minds Fund and the Give Back Committee’s Adopt a Family program. The college community is encouraged to participate by making a donation on Giving Tuesday via NC’s Giving Tuesday page via Charity Village here.

Nourishing Minds Fund

Giving Tuesday: Donate to the Nourishing Minds Fund here.

Established by NC Student Administrative Council, the Nourishing Minds Fund addresses food insecurity by supplying electronic grocery cards to help students in need, to buy food, toiletries, and other life necessities.

Donating to the fund helps alleviate the food insecurity faced by many NC students. About 100 students have been receiving a free breakfast each morning at the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. To date, during Fall 20222 term, NCSAC has handed out 35 emergency grocery gift cards to students and has recently increased the value of the cards to be $50 for an individual student, and $100 for a student with dependants at home.

“We encourage donations to be made each year. The more money raised, directly translates to more students being helped,” said Andy Hall, NCSAC Marketing Communications Manager. “Each week, between both campuses, hundreds of students start their mornings off with a free breakfast. We also see around a dozen students each month receive an emergency grocery gift card to help with food at home.

“Fundraising initiatives like ‘Giving Tuesday’ tremendously help by enabling us to continue to offer our supportive services each and every month.”

The cards are e-gift cards for Walmart which enables the student to get a very wide range of items to help them during difficult times.

Adopt a Family

Giving Tuesday: Donate to Adopt a Family here.

Each year, during the holiday season, NC’s Give Back Committee organizes the Adopt a Family program in support of student families in need. Some families will receive gifts for each child, food, Christmas dinner, gifts for mom and/or dad, as well as some gift cards for groceries, gifts, and other necessities.

“The need to support our NC families during the holidays is incredibly important and very near and dear to my heart,” said Valerie Regehr, who has led the initiative at NC for the past 15 years with assistance from her co-workers at the NC Libraries and Learning Commons.

“Seeing the difference that this generosity makes for these families is what motivates me to continue these important initiatives that have become such a big part of our College community.”


About Giving Tuesday

Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a global movement that started with a simple idea: what if there was a day that encourages people to do good. This message has since reached over 73 countries, with $36 million collectively raised in Canada last year alone.

One-of-a-kind reunion offers alumni a ‘knight’ to remember  

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Alumni and their families gathered at the Welland Campus on November 11 to kick off ReuKnighted 2022.

The event, organized by Alumni Relations, offered alumni and their families a chance to connect at an exclusive indoor tailgate party at The Core where guests enjoyed appetizers and refreshments. The action continued in the gym that evening with women’s and men’s Knights volleyball and on November 12 with women’s and men’s basketball games against Sheridan College.

“It was great to see our alumni back on campus with their families to help us cheer on the Knights,
said Jana Boniferro. “I’m looking forward to next year already!”

This was NC’s second ReuKnighted event since it originally debuted in 2019.

Niagara College thanks donors on National Philanthropy Day

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As fundraising and charitable work enters the spotlight for National Philanthropy Day (November 15), Niagara College recognizes the impact of its donors who support student success.

“We are tremendously grateful for the support of our many generous donors who help Niagara College students achieve their dreams,” said Vice President, Research and External Relations, Marc Nantel. “Our donors make a real difference in the lives of our students by funding scholarships, bursaries, instructional equipment, learning resources, and Be World Ready travel bursaries, all of which help our students reach their academic goals.”

During the past year alone (2021-2022), more than 800 awards (including scholarships and bursaries) have been distributed to NC students. Seven-hundred-and-thirty-eight NC students benefitted from $1-million (total) in financial assistance at the College during the last academic year – thanks to the generosity of 160 unique donors.

“For many students, financial challenge is the greatest barrier to college success,” said Development Officer Erica Walters. “On Philanthropy Day and every day, we are truly thankful to all of our donors.  Whether their gift was a few dollars or thousands of dollars, their gifts help transform lives.”

For full-time student and single mother Laila Karami, receiving the Dorothy Doyle Memorial Nursing scholarship is something she described as “no less than a miracle” when she completed her nursing education at Niagara College last year.

“Receiving this award motivates me to maintain my honor roll and complete my Practical Nursing diploma,” said Karami. “One day, I hope I will be able to pay it forward and do this for future students who grew up in a less privileged community and may not have a financial advantage.”

“This scholarship will have an impact beyond explanation and will definitely improve my quality of life,” said Isabelle Wartabedian, a student in the Business – Sales and Marketing program who received a CIBC International Student scholarship in March.

“I am proud to be the first person in my family to go to college and am working extremely hard,” said Koby Jeffery, 2021 recipient of the Gene Haas Scholarship for students in the College’s Mechanical Techniques (General Machinist) program. “I am doing this on my own, both physically and financially. Just being selected for this scholarship is an honour and financially has relieved a lot of stress.

“I am trying to complete my program without any debt and this will definitely help toward that goal.”

Giving back is second nature for NC social worker and counsellor Trina Washington. Washington, who has been working within the College’s Health, Wellness and Accessibility department for more than 20 years, feels passionate about helping to level the playing field for students with disabilities and she created two Washington Family bursaries at NC to help. View article in encore magazine here.

Thank you NC donors and supporters

A list of NC donors has been updated on the encore magazine site. View the list of donors here.

About National Philanthropy Day

Information from the Association of Fundraising Professionals:

National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy–and those people active in the philanthropic community–to the enrichment of our world.

Visit afpglobal.org.

Niagara College to welcome alumni for ReuKnighted Nov. 11-12

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Niagara College’s one-of -kind reunion is back for 2022, with an alumni mixer and two days of Knights sports excitement at the Welland Campus.

The event will kick off on Friday, November 11 with an exclusive indoor tailgate party for NC alumni, including former Knights athletes, to begin at 4 p.m. at The Core. The action will transition to the gym for an evening of Knights volleyball, featuring women’s (6 p.m.) and men’s (8 p.m.) teams playing Sheridan College. NC alumni will also be welcome to stay for post-game festivities.

The games will continue on November 12 with Knights basketball, as NC’s women’s (1 p.m.) and men’s (3.p.m.) teams compete against Fanshawe College.

“Our inaugural 2019 event was a slam dunk and we’re excited to be back,” said Jana Boniferro, Alumni Engagement Officer. “ReuKnighted is the perfect opportunity for our NC alumni community to return to campus and show their school spirit by reconnecting with their former classmates, teammates, faculty and friends, and cheering on our amazing NC Knights!”

“We’re excited to welcome alumni back to Niagara College,” said Michele O’Keefe, Director, Athletics and Student Engagement. “Alumni are integral to NC Knights tradition and ReuKnighted is our way to celebrate and engage them.”

Adult tickets are $5 each and include VIP access to The Core, appetizers, and refreshments, as well as admission to Friday volleyball and Saturday basketball games.

Youth tickets (ages 12 and younger) are free for this family-friendly event and include the same perks as adult tickets as well as activities for ‘mini Knights.’

Tickets may be online via Eventbrite or at the door, first come, first served (limited capacity).

The first 100 alumni to register will receive a ReuKnighted scarf, courtesy of NC Alumni Relations.

This will be the second ReuKnighted event the College has hosted since it originally debuted in 2019.

ReuKnighted 2022 schedule

Friday, November 11, 2022

4 p.m. Kickoff Tailgate Party in The Core (indoor)

6 p.m. Women’s Volleyball (vs. Sheridan)

8 p.m. Men’s Volleyball (vs. Sheridan)

Saturday, November 12, 2022

1 p.m. Women’s Basketball (vs. Fanshawe)

3 p.m. Men’s Basketball (vs. Fanshawe)

Alumni gather in the gym following the tailgate party to cheer on men’s and women’s basketball teams at ReuKnighted 2019.

 

 

Alumni: Stay ahead of the game, save the date for ReuKnighted

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Tickets now on sale

Alumni: mark your calendar for November 11 and 12; NC’s one-of -kind reunion is back for 2022!

ReuKnighted will kick off on November 11 with an exclusive tailgate party for NC alumni and former Knights athletes to begin at 4 p.m. at The Core. Then, action moves to the gym for an evening of Knights volleyball, with the women’s team (6 p.m.) and the men’s team (8 p.m.) playing  Sheridan College. NC alumni will also be welcome to stay for post-game festivities.

The games will continue on November 12 with Knights basketball. NC’s women’s (1 p.m.) and men’s (3.p.m.) basketball teams will compete against Fanshawe College.

Tickets

Adult tickets are $5 each and include VIP access to The Core, appetizers and refreshments, as well as admission to Friday volleyball and Saturday basketball games, and post-game fun.

Youth tickets, for ages 12 and younger, are free and will include the same perks as adult tickets as well as activities for ‘mini Knights.’

Capacity is limited. Tickets may be purchased online at www.eventbrite.ca/e/nc-reuknighted-2022-tickets-429860553487 or at the door, first come, first served.

The first 100 alumni to register will receive a ReuKnighted scarf, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

This will be the second ReuKnighted event to be held since it originally debuted in 2019.

Schedule

Friday, November 11, 2022

4 p.m. Kickoff Tailgate Party in The Core (indoor)

6 p.m. Women’s Volleyball (vs. Sheridan)

8 p.m. Men’s Volleyball (vs. Sheridan)

Saturday, November 12, 2022

1 p.m. Women’s Basketball (vs. Fanshawe)

3 p.m. Men’s Basketball (vs. Fanshawe)

 

Mid-term break week events: What staff, faculty need to know

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The Welland Campus will be buzzing with activity during the week of October 24-28.

Several important College events are on the roster for Fall mid-term break week- including Niagara Day, a Virtual Grad Reunion and Fall Convocation – and they will all take place at the Athletic Centre.

To best prepare for the week ahead, staff and faculty are asked to take note of the information below, including event details and operational notices for the Welland Campus.

Operational notices

Welland Campus Parking – Oct. 27, 28

On Thursday, October 27,  Parking lots A and C will not be available to staff (starting at 8 a.m.)

On Friday, October 28 (Fall Convocation), Parking lots A, B and C will not be available to staff (starting at 8 a.m.)

To view a map of parking lots at the Welland Campus, visit: www.niagaracollege.ca/campussafety/parkingservices/lots

Welland Campus gym closure

The Welland Campus gym will be closed from October 24-28.

The Core/ The Shack closures

The Core will be closed from October 24-28.

The Shack will be closed on October 28 (Fall Convocation).

Ancillary services remain open

All ancillary services (including Chartwells) will be open on campus during mid-term break week.

Enrolment Services

Enrolment Services staff members from the Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be dedicated to convocation duties on October 28. The Enrolment Services office in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be closed during this time, while the Welland office (Secord 106) will remain open, operating with limited service.

Event info

Please view the following information related to Niagara Day, the Virtual Alumni Reunion, and Fall Convocation below.

Employees are reminded that NC campuses are mask-friendly environments where all members of the College community are supportive and respectful of individual choices with regards to masking. Masks will be available at the events. Those who feel unwell or are experiencing symptoms are asked to remain at home.

Niagara Day – Oct. 26

Niagara Day will take place at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on October. 26, beginning at 10 a.m. This year’s event is an exciting opportunity for employees to reconnect in person at and recognize their colleagues for their extraordinary work and contributions over the past year.

Light refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. with the program beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Welland Campus gym, followed by lunch to be served in the Learning Commons.

A reminder to all employees: please register for Niagara Day in advance.

Please view the notices and reminders about the event below, from organizers (Centre for Professional and Organizational Development):

  • Our NC Cares United Way workplace campaign is underway! Everyone is encouraged to stop by and say hello to members of the committee who will be at the event to help make giving accessible for anyone wishing to donate. The campaign has raised $33,500 to date towards a goal of $50,000.
  • In the spirit of giving and supporting our students, members of NCSAC will be on hand collecting monetary donations for the Nourishing Minds fund, a program created to battle food insecurity on campus which has already helped thousands of students.
  • Please be aware that the Allanburg (Highway 20) Bridge in Thorold is scheduled to be closed Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Virtual Grad Reunion – Oct. 27

NC will welcome recent graduates from its classes of 2020-2021 to campus for a Virtual Graduate Alumni Reunion. The celebration will be held at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on October 27, 3-5 p.m.

While the event is not intended to replicate in-person convocation ceremonies, alumni who graduated with virtual convocation ceremonies over the past two years will have an opportunity to return to campus, reconnect with their classmates as well as College staff and faculty. They will also have a chance to hear from speakers and pose for photos in convocation gowns.

Doors will open at 2 p.m.to allow alumni the opportunity to pose for photos prior to the event.

Speeches will begin at 3 p.m. Alumni will hear from College President Sean Kennedy and Vice-President Academic Fiona Allan, as well as alumnus Jason Ofield, President and CEO of Bulk Barn (Business – Sales and Marketing program in 2005). A reception will follow with food from Niagara College’s School of Culinary Arts.

Alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021 have been invited to the event, and NC staff and faculty are also encouraged to attend to help make this in-person reunion a meaningful one for virtual graduates.

Please note that advance registration is required.

Members of staff/faculty who have not had the opportunity to register for the reunion or have questions pertaining to the event, may contact [email protected].

Fall Convocation – Oct. 28

It’s time to celebrate the highlight of the academic year!

On October 28, NC will celebrate Fall Convocation, to mark the special milestone for 1,200 graduating students. Two Fall Convocation ceremonies will be held at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.).

NC staff and faculty are encouraged to attend the ceremonies in-person or virtually. View the ceremony schedule and access the livestreamed events on NC’s convocation website.

Employees are also encouraged to share congratulatory messages on social media using the dedicated convocation hashtag #NCGrad2022. Public posts will appear on screen during the in-person ceremonies and will be incorporated into the livestream.

Reserved seating will be available for all employees who attend Fall Convocation to support the latest class of NC graduates. Please ask Enrolment Services staff for directions to the reserved seating area upon arrival.

The School of Culinary Arts is also supporting food service for the event; a takeaway picnic package will be offered to graduates and their guests to enjoy around campus.

Visit NC’s convocation website for full details about Fall 2022 Convocation

Alumni: Share your NC memory for a chance to win

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In the spirit of fall harvest, Alumni Relations is hosting a contest for those who share their NC memories to Encore magazine!

Members of the alumni community who share their favourite NC memory to Encore magazine – whether it’s meeting lifelong friends, supportive mentors, or simply a funny anecdote from their time at NC – will have a chance to win a prize.

Prizes include a Howell’s Family Pumpkin Farm experience (tailored to the winner) and $25 to The Keg.

To enter:

1) Visit encore.niagaracollege.ca/category/nc-memory/… to share your favourite NC memory.

2) Tag a friend to ‘Have Fun @ Howell’s’ with on Facebook.

Submissions will be accepted until Monday, October 17 at 11:59 p.m., at which time a random draw will take place and announced shortly thereafter.

This contest is open to NC alumni only.

Those who share their NC memory will also see them appear in Encore magazine.

For full contest details, please view the post on NC Alumni’s Facebook page.

Official opening for Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden Oct. 3

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The Niagara College community is welcome to attend an official opening event for the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden.

The opening will be an outdoor event to be held at the new memorial garden, located at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (upper courtyard), from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. In the event of rain, it will be held indoors (Yerich Auditorium, E101).

The memorial garden was created in memory of Saundra Patterson devoted partner of long-time President Dan Patterson, currently President Emeritus, Saundra was a champion for NC who was well known and loved by the College community.

Plans for the new garden were first announced in March 2021. It was funded through the generosity of many donors who contributed to the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden and Bursary fund.

Speakers at the event will include President Emeritus Dan Patterson, NC President Sean Kennedy, Vice President Academic Fiona Allan, Vice President Research and External Relations Marc Nantel, as well as students who were involved with the memorial garden project, and more.

Don’t miss NC at Niagara’s Grape and Wine Festival

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Canada’s largest wine festival is returning for its 70th anniversary in 2022 and the NC Teaching Winery continues to be part of the action.

Raise a glass the College’s Teaching Winery at the park or with a festival Discovery Pass, and be sure to look out for NC staff and students during the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival’s Grande Parade and throughout the festivities.

Montebello Park

NC will be a participating winery during the six-day celebration at Montebello Park  (St. Catharines) from September 16-18 and 23-25. Guests can enjoy wine and culinary experiences – including more than 100 Niagara VQA wines – as well as more than 50 hours of live music.

Entrance to the park is free and a touchless, tokenless payment system will be used for food and beverage.

For more information visit .graapeandwinefestival.com/montebello-park.

Discovery Pass

The NC Teaching Winery is part of the festival’s popular Discovery Pass program, where guests visit participating wineries across Niagara’s best wineries to enjoy premium wine and culinary experiences.

The Teaching Winery’s experience features ‘Picnic Francais’ – a classic Burgundy-style Pinot Noir with rich aromas of sweet tobacco, berries, candied beet and black cherry paired with Parisian Jambon-Beurre. a smoked country ham on a sourdough baguette with Ontario gouda and porcini rosemary butter.

The featured wine is 2019 Dean’s List Pinot Noir and the featured chef is Tim Mackiddie, from Smoke and Barrel Niagara.

Discovery Passes may be purchased at  niagarawinefestival.com.

Grande Parade

Be sure to cheer on NC at the festival’s Grande Parade on Sept. 24. This year, the College float is a combined effort between NC’s Centre for Student Engagement, Student Administrative Council, and International division, and 165 students have registered to walk with the float.

Grape King

A NC Business alumnus now reigns as the 2022 Grape King for the festival.

On September 14, the Grape Growers of Ontario and Farm Credit Canada announced that Benjamin (Ben) Froese, of Willow Lake Ventures Inc  in Niagara-on-the-Lake, was chosen for the title. He was officially installed as the 65th Grape King that same day.

Froese was born and raised on a tender fruit farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake which he took over at the age of 20 and converted into vineyards which he has doubled in size to more than 40 hectares.

He has been an Arterra grower for the past 20 years and grows several varieties of wine grapes. He is also a current member of the Grape Growers of Ontario’s Growers’ Committee and Metrics Committee.

 Read more in the GGO’s news release here.

Find out more

For more information about the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, visit grapeandwinefestival.com.

College and budding Commercial Cannabis Production program alumna nominated for national award

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Voting is now open for the Grow Up Awards and NC is among the nominees.

The College is nominated for Cannabis Educator, and alumna Stacie Hollingworth (Commercial Cannabis Production, 2019 and Winery and Viticulture Technician, 2003) for Master Grower of the Year.

The Grow Up Industry Awards Gala is a national annual event honouring cannabis professionals and companies and recognizing excellence and innovation in the industry.

Hollingworth is the Master Grower for Safari Flower Co. in Fort Erie. She is one of just three female nominees in the group for Master Grower of the Year.

In her role, Hollingworth grows product for more than two dozen brands distributed across Canada, Israel and Germany. She leads a grow team of 46 people who cultivate 12 varieties at once in 10 indoor controlled grow rooms. Her expertise include disease, mildew and microbial mitigation.

The College is nominated alongside eight other educational institutions.

Professor and program coordinator Bill MacDonald won the Cultivation Education Award at the 2021 Grow Up Conference.

Show your support for NC – voting is open via until Aug. 31: growupawards.com