Letterkenny producer, NC alum shines light for students during challenging times

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His show has catapulted into such popularity that even Brad Pitt professed his fandom from the Oscars red carpet, but executive producer of Letterkenny Mark Montefiore has not forgotten his roots.

Montefiore, who has been making his mark on the Canadian film and television industry since graduating from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, TV and Film program in 2003, reached out to students from his alma mater on March 31 through a remote webinar.

Appearing alongside BRTF faculty Dutch VandenBerg, Tom Otto and Bruce Gilbert via Zoom, Montefiore shared advice with students from the College’s Broadcasting and Acting programs.

It was all his idea. Montefiore had reached out to BRTF faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic with a desire to speak to students during this challenging time.

The remote webinar took place just two years after Montefiore addressed students in person at the Welland Campus.  This time, the president of New Metric Media appeared on their screens ‘live on location’ from his home – or, more specifically, from his future baby’s room – awaiting the birth of his first child. With his office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he admitted that the backdrop was by default; he got rid of his home office years ago to create more balance in his life – along with implementing daily morning meditations.

Montefiore not only shared tips on how to break into the industry but how to navigate through the current challenges faced by both students and professionals alike during COVID-19.

Professors join Mark Montefiore (bottom right) in a Zoom webinar including (clockwise from top left) Dutch VandenBerg, Tom Otto, and Bruce Gillbert (bottom left).

‘Get back on the horse’

While their internships have ended and many are in self-isolation pursuing their studies remotely, Montefiore encouraged students to push forward with pursuing their dreams.

“We had last week to mourn and let our fears drive us and be concerned about everything. Now we’ve got to get back on the horse,” he said.

Because nobody knows how long the current situation will last, Montefiore advised students take advantage of the time they have now, to best position themselves for the future.

“I wouldn’t let this get you down. There’s a long-term success in this field. Business is built over time,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity right now to start thinking about what you want to do and how you can be productive.”

Instead of putting their aspirations on hold, he encouraged students to figure out what they can do with the time and materials they do have. He spoke about the upside of this time, when students have more freedom and flexibility to pursue projects and look at what they could be developing now.

“Get inspired during this time,” he said.

Montefiore cited one of his favourite videos – one from actor Will Smith speaking about what skydiving taught him about fear. Like Smith does in his video, he told students that there is no need for fear before they ‘jump,’ and that the best things in life are on the other side of fear.

“There’s no point to being worried or concerned. There’s no benefit – all it does is distract you,” he said. “Keep your head up and focus on the future. It is bright.  Put yourself in a position to take advantage of that. Be a light to those around you.”

Montefiore told students to keep their connections strong with their classmates and with their industry contacts. He encouraged them to reach out to their network, check in, and offer to help, however they can. He advised them to view their classmates as colleagues, not competitors. He spoke of how his college classmates became a valued part of his network when he began working in the industry.

“It’s easy to forget stuck at home by yourself but everyone is in the exact same position and you’re able to help each other out,” he said. “From a creative standpoint, there are lots of people in your class to read your script and give feedback on it.”

Students should also get creative with the equipment and resources that are available to them – even without professional equipment they may typically have access to – and keep creating.

He spoke about how even Letterkenny began by a creator producing five YouTube videos that captured his attention and he ended up spinning into a popular TV series.

“What can you create that doesn’t have to be in the same vicinity as everybody else,” he said. “Are there stories to be told in the life we’re living right now?”

He also encouraged students to take this time to hone their administration skills – an area that can give many a ‘foot in the door’ into the industry.

During the hour-and-a-half webinar, Montefiore covered a lot of ground as he fielded incoming questions from students – from what his typical workday is like, to the state of his own company and the industry in general during the COVID-19 pandemic, to how he deals with stress.

‘A bright light of inspiration’

It proved to be an engaging experience for students who participated. Faculty and students were grateful for Montefiore’s guidance during what has been a stressful time for many students.

“It was a bright light of inspiration in what feels like dark times to many of our students,” noted Dutch Vandenberg, who noted that his phone lit up with texts of appreciation afterward.

“Mark’s messaging was incredibly timely – keep moving, keep creating, don’t give up and don’t let technology be the hurdle; use whatever tools you have access to,” said VandenBerg. “Our students needed to hear that even the pros are adapting and utilizing less than professional means to continue creating content.”

Second year BRTF student Jordan Gascon found the webinar engaging, interactive and insightful.

“Mark definitely had a lot to say that struck me as interesting on both a professional and personal level. I feel like I received a lot of validation from today’s conversation and I was able to ask lots of questions which was great as well,” said Gascon, who is in the TV stream of the program. “I will definitely be taking much of what he said today with me as I move forward in production.”

Jensen Croughan, also second-year BRTF student majoring in TV production, wrote down Montefiore’s tips and now feels more confident preparing to enter the industry.

“I got some inspiration knowing that he likes to create content all the time. Even when he was volunteering he was creating content to get his name out in the industry,” said Croughan. “That really stuck with me and inspired me to keep up with my YouTube channel.”

About Mark Montefiore

Named The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation Under 36 (2015), and Playback‘s Top 10 to Watch (2012), Montefiore’s name draws crowds as the executive producer of Hulu/Crave TV multiple-award-winning original comedy  series Letterkenny  and What Would Sal Do, and Netflix/City TV original drama series Bad Blood.

He also has several film credits to his name, including his feature film Cas & Dylan – starring Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany – which won a Circuit Audience Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival; as well as award-winning films Easting Buccaneers and The Armoire.

Recently, Mark conceived of and negotiated a landmark global partnership with Bell Media to produce more than 40 additional episodes of Letterkenny over the next three years.

Visit newmetricmedia.com/

Related articles

March 19, 2018: NC grad returns: Letterkenny producer Mark Montefiore offers students inspiration, advice

Encore magazine, 2018 issue, pages 24-25: Alumni profile Mark Montefiore: How this award-winning producer got his start at NC

View digital magazine here:

niagaracollege.ca/insidenc/2018/06/23/hot-off-the-press-view-2018-issue-of-encore-magazine/

 

PR alumni host virtual Grad Panel for Class of 2020

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NC’s Public Relations alumni will not let a campus closure interfere with their desire to share advice with current students.

Following the cancellation of the annual PR Grad Panel that was scheduled to take place in mid-March due to COVID-19, a small group of recent graduates from the program zoomed in on a brand new way to present the experience to current students – literally.

For the first time, PR students were invited to participate in the Grad Panel remotely, via Zoom, on March 27.

The alumni behind the event included three from the class of 2019 including Alex Rankin (communications advisor, Niagara Region Public Health), Katie MacCabe, (digital engagement specialist, Shaw Festival), and Serena Stewart (development officer for individual giving, United Way Niagara). Cody Cabral, who graduated in 2017 and is currently a PR specialist for CAA Niagara, joined them.

Rankin felt it was important for the Grad Panel to continue, despite the campus closure, due to his previous experience as a student. He and the 2019 graduates who were behind the virtual event also organized last year’s Grad Panel as students.

“I found the Grad Panel valuable for connecting with different professionals and I felt reassured hearing the perspectives and advice of so many successful individuals who were in our shoes,” said Rankin. “Chatting with my colleagues, we realized that, with the technology many of us are already using to work from home (during this time), there was no reason we couldn’t offer to help this year’s class continue with the Grad Panel (at a smaller scale) and provide them with the same opportunity that we all benefitted from it greatly.”

PR professor Emily McInerney noted that the PR Grad panel is a long-standing tradition in the program, which always takes place the last week of class, just before students begin their internships. Grads are brought in for small round table discussions followed by a large panel discussion and during both. Students are encouraged to ask anything they wish, related to preparing the launch their careers.

“The students often leave this event feeling excited and motivated – speaking to others who were in their shoes, in some cases, just 12 months before, and learning about their career path and success can be very inspiring,” she said. “We pride ourselves on having a strong network of NC PR grads who remain committed to supporting the program each year and in this regard, I feel we are a bit unique.”

McInerney said she was blown away when the four grads reached out immediately after this year’s Grad Panel was cancelled to ask if they could run their own for the class because they did not want current students to miss out.

“I was so busy attempting to transition our last week of class online that it simply was not on my radar to attempt to salvage this – so it makes it even more meaningful that they offered without me putting out the ask,” said McInerney.

Student Elena Coholan said she was pleasantly surprised when they heard that the grads had decided to host a virtual event for them.  She was among a group of current students tasked with organizing the original 2020 Grad Panel as part of their Event Management class.

The event’s cancellation was understandable however, it was also disappointing for Coholan and her classmates due to all the hard work they put into the planning. She was grateful for the virtual event and noted how helpful they can be for students while studying remotely.

“I find it amazing that technology can connect us in this way. That teachers can still teach their classes and students can still learn, even if it is from home,” she said. “I feel as though it allows us to continue on with (somewhat) of a normal life and routine.”

As a student, she believed it offered a great learning experience for everyone.

“It allowed us to learn from people who have created so much success for themselves, all after being in the exact same position as we are right now,” said Coholan. “Sometimes it is hard to picture that we will all be successful in the future, but these grads are models of exactly how you can become successful from this program.”

 

PR alumni share advice with students

“It is important to keep in touch with your fellow classmates, especially if you are hoping to stay in the region. We’re all connected in some way, so you never know if you’ll need help in the industry. Also, once students are job hunting, I think it is important to ask the question, ‘How did your company respond to COVID-19?’ I think the way a company reacts and treats its staff is very telling.”

–Serena Stewart, development officer for individual giving, United Way Niagara

 

“You can learn something valuable from every experience. When you are beginning your job search it is okay to be selective, but don’t overlook what could be a great opportunity. You don’t need to jump at the first opportunity you are offered if your gut is telling you the job isn’t for you – but it is also important that you look at opportunities realistically and take every opportunity as a learning opportunity. You may end up gaining valuable experience from a role you didn’t consider to be your “dream job.'”

– Alex Rankin, communications advisor, Niagara Region Public Health

 

“My advice for this year’s graduating class is always to have a local mentality. Before you send your media release or launch your campaign, make sure to ask yourself how this benefits the people in your community. Especially within a region like Niagara – local comes first.”

-Cody Cabral, PR specialist, CAA Niagara.

 

“It is so important to have a ‘Trusted 5’ in this industry. That means having five (ish) people in your network that you can go to with any communications/work-related problem.  You might be the only communications person in your organization or you might have a big team. Either way, you’ll eventually find that you’ve gone way too far down the rabbit hole on a project. When that happens, you need an honest, trustworthy outside perspective. This is an industry that thrives on collaboration and, well, communication. That means being able to ask people for help and advice. Having people in your circle that you can go to for advice will help you grow into a well-rounded communicator.”

Katie MacCabe, digital engagement specialist, Shaw Festival

Scholarships and bursaries help quench mature student’s thirst for knowledge

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Submitted by Development and Alumni Relations

Tim Miller has a strong sense of school spirit.

The 54 year old is one of only 12 students in Niagara College’s Artisan Distilling program, whose classroom is a sweet-smelling Teaching Distillery – the first of its kind in Canada – complete with stills, mash tuns and fermenters that get his creative juices flowing. As passionate as he is about crafting spirits, it is not a career choice that he considered until recently.

A former chef, Miller’s journey began in the kitchen. After starting a family he realized that his schedule, working long hours into the evening and on weekends, was no longer ideal and that money would be tight. Switching gears, he became a machinist to better provide for his growing family until an illness left him with a disability and unable to work.

Miller found positives in the situation, like getting to spend quality time with his three children and coaching lacrosse. Supporting a family on a disability pension, however, was challenging.

“After about nine-and-a-half years, I thought to myself, ‘I can do better than this … I need to do better than this,'” he recalled.

In better health and ready for a change, it seemed meant to be when Niagara College’s program guide showed up in Miller’s mailbox one day. He was intrigued to find that the College offered a Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, with a Teaching Brewery on campus that was the first of its kind in Canada. “Being from the culinary world and having dabbled in home brewing, I thought the program would be a good fit for me,” he said.

As expected, his instincts were spot on. Miller excelled in the College’s Brewmaster program and found a tight-knit community of fellow students who he remains connected with after graduating in 2019.

“Having my triple chocolate stout be nominated for the U.S. Open Beer Championship and winning medals at the Niagara College Brewing Competition was an incredible feeling,” said Miller. “The best moments, though, were just brewing with my classmates every week. I still keep in touch with many of them – to bounce ideas off of and to collaborate on brew projects.”

Miller is thankful for the lasting connections and hands-on experience gained at NC. He is also thankful for the donor-funded scholarships and bursaries that he received during his studies.

“On a disability pension you don’t have a lot of income coming in, so when you are given a scholarship it makes an incredible difference,” he said. “The support I received lifted a weight off my shoulders and helped my overall well-being.”

Receiving financial support also helped Miller budget for an International Field Studies trip to Munich, Germany offered through the College’s Be World Ready program. He visited the country’s historic brewing sites and one of the most prestigious brewing schools in the world, the Technical University of Munich. For Miller, the opportunity was a valuable experience and confirmed that brewing is a universal language – it can be done anywhere.

Inspired by his travels, Miller has since connected with breweries from Newfoundland to Colorado to Norway and has found that Niagara College is known worldwide.

“The Brewmaster program is definitely a foot in the door anywhere,” he said.

Upon graduation later this year, Miller will be one of two graduates with a dual credential from the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program and the Artisan Distilling Program at Niagara College. Whether he ends up working locally or globally as a brewer or distiller, Miller feels that his specialized skillset will lead him to something great.

“Not knowing what the future was and having this world pop up is mind-boggling,” he said. “It’s amazing to think that it all started when the NC program guide came in the mail that day.”

With his studies nearing completion, Miller is reminded of his early days getting ready to embark on a new life chapter at Niagara College.

“When I was starting in the Brewmaster program, I decided to order three branded uniform shirts, which my wife, Kristiina, questioned me about it,” he chuckled. “I recently admitted my reason for ordering so many at the time. I wanted to be able to pass on a shirt to each of my kids, as a reminder to them to always follow your dreams no matter what, and to never give up until you have done what’s in your heart.”

NC alumna continues to give back to NC as International Field Study lead

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In 2019, Hospitality and Tourism Management student Carolin Seiferth – who was an exchange student from Germany – had a life-changing experience when she participated in the College’s International Field Studies (IFS) trip to the Dominican Republic. Now, she is the first graduate – apart from staff or faculty – to lead an IFS trip, this time to Costa Rica.

“As the second lead on the IFS in Costa Rica, Carolin is sure to bring a unique perspective unlike any faculty lead in the past,” said Agnes Nowaczek, PhD, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport professor.

Nowaczek, who is the primary lead on the IFS to Costa Rica this February, taught Seiferth during her time at NC.

“As an alumna of our graduate program, Carolin can reach our current students like no faculty ever could,” said Nowaczek. “Add to that her global cultural portfolio, current experience in Costa Rica, and plans to continue her MA in Sweden, she is a tremendous asset on both the academic and experiential areas of education that NC offers and thrives on.”

Seiferth attended NC through the College’s semester exchange program and requested to extend her studies with NC to a full year. She became the first semester exchange student to graduate from a NC program after earning a graduate certificate from NC’s Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2019.

“Carolin’s impact as an exchange student was culturally enriching perspective in the classroom, not only from her German background but globally,” said Nowaczek. “During her short stay at NC, Carolin travelled to the Dominican Republic on IFS and spoke Spanish well enough to continue later in her internship in Costa Rica. She engaged with students from various cultures eager to learn and try new things.”

Seiferth is currently completing her internship at Senda Monteverde in Costa Rica, which is one of the 10 luxury eco-hotels managed by Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality. She continues to stay connected to her NC roots and offered to share her internship experiences with Nowaczek’s students in TOUR 9610 Sustainable Tourism Destination Development using a video conferencing program called Zoom.

Nowaczek explained that the process of Seiferth virtually presenting to the class through and answering questions worked very well.

“At the time, she was developing a sustainability tour for visitors which applies to the program planning portion of the course,” said Nowaczek. “Additionally, being a former student of the graduate certificate program, she was able to list relevant skills she gained in various courses that she found very applicable to her work at Senda Monteverde.

“She continues proudly in her role as alumna, with her endless creative ideas and projects she shares with me and our students.”

Explaining how her semester exchange program was one of the best experiences during her bachelor studies, Seiferth expressed how being world-ready implies more than taking classes abroad and began with her decision to leave her home country for a year.

“Living in a homestay family, getting to know another culture and embracing cultural diversity in the classroom and outside the College helped me develop an open mind and curiosity to explore more,” Seiferth said. “Therefore, I went on a Be World Ready field study to the Dominican Republic with Greenhouse and Horticulture students.”

Being world-ready also means Seiferth has friends all around the world.

“After I arrived in Costa Rica for my internship, I was able to stay with the family of a fellow exchange student I met at NC,” she said. “He and his friends made it easy for me to feel home right away.”

For Seiferth, it feels like her experiences with BWR are coming full circle as she worked for BWR while studying in Canada and participated in an IFS as a student. Excitement is the first thing that comes to mind when reflecting on this leadership opportunity.

“I’m excited to share my passion for sustainable tourism with the students, help them understand how businesses here align their goals with protecting nature and supporting the local community all while generating a profit at the end of the day as well as travel through a country which is a role model when it comes to eco-tourism,” said Seiferth. “I’m looking forward to applying my leadership skills and improve them further.

“In the future, I would love to take on similar roles and support students living their experience abroad because I know myself how valuable it is – both on a professional as well as personal level.”

Nowaczek believes her former student will have a positive and large impact on IFS students.

“What better example for our students than meeting one of our stars,” said Nowaczek.

Carolin Seiferth (left) celebrates her convocation ceremony in 2019, and poses with Maxine Semple, manger of cultural and global engagement.

To read about Seiferth’s first week at NC, visit:

www.niagaracollege.ca/insidenc/2018/09/19/welcoming-the-world-to-nc-meet-exchange-students-studying-at-our-campuses-this-fall/

To learn more about Be World Ready and semester exchange opportunities, visit: beworldready.ca/

Honouring Dan’s leadership through the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund

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A message from Sean Kennedy, senior vice-president International, Steve Hudson, senior vice-president academic and learner services, and Pam Skinner, senior vice-president Corporate Services:

As Dan Patterson concludes his extraordinary 25 year career as the fifth president of Niagara College, we are proud to launch a special fundraising campaign to recognize his legacy.

As the senior vice-president team, we are pleased to have each made a personal donation to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund to honour Dan and his commitment to Niagara College. Please join us in a gesture of gratitude for Dan’s tremendous legacy by making your own gift to the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, to support our students to achieve their academic and career dreams.

Funds raised through the Legacy Campaign will establish a permanent endowment, The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, which will support three student-focused areas of need:

  • Needs-based Bursaries to help make education more accessible for those struggling financially to cover tuition and other related costs;
  • Merit-based scholarships to continue to attract and retain academically-gifted students to our programs, supporting the increasing demand for a highly qualified workforce with strong professional and technical skills;
  • Be World Ready travel bursaries to enable more students to participate in semester exchanges, summer institutes or international field studies through our Be World Ready program to gain culturally diverse experiences and global sensitivities to help them successfully navigate an increasingly connected world.

We hope you will join us in congratulating Dan on his leadership journey at Niagara College by donating to this Fund. We cannot imagine a gift more meaningful to Dan than a legacy of support for NC students, for whom he has worked so tirelessly and with such passion.

Please visit donate.niagaracollege.ca/ways-to-give to contribute to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund (see NC Faculty and Staff Giving box for making your gift though payroll deduction) or contact a member of our development team:

Ellen Schonewille, ext. 7384 [email protected]

Erica Walters, ext. 7847 [email protected]

Wendy Dueck, ext. 7569 [email protected]

 

Honouring Dan’s leadership through the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund

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A message from Sean Kennedy, senior vice-president International, Steve Hudson, senior vice-president academic and learner services, and Pam Skinner, senior vice-president Corporate Services:

As Dan Patterson concludes his extraordinary 25 year career as the fifth president of Niagara College, we are proud to launch a special fundraising campaign to recognize his legacy.

As the senior vice-president team, we are pleased to have each made a personal donation to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund to honour Dan and his commitment to Niagara College. Please join us in a gesture of gratitude for Dan’s tremendous legacy by making your own gift to the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, to support our students to achieve their academic and career dreams.

Funds raised through the Legacy Campaign will establish a permanent endowment, The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, which will support three student-focused areas of need:

  • Needs-based Bursaries to help make education more accessible for those struggling financially to cover tuition and other related costs;
  • Merit-based scholarships to continue to attract and retain academically-gifted students to our programs, supporting the increasing demand for a highly qualified workforce with strong professional and technical skills;
  • Be World Ready travel bursaries to enable more students to participate in semester exchanges, summer institutes or international field studies through our Be World Ready program to gain culturally diverse experiences and global sensitivities to help them successfully navigate an increasingly connected world.

We hope you will join us in congratulating Dan on his leadership journey at Niagara College by donating to this Fund. We cannot imagine a gift more meaningful to Dan than a legacy of support for NC students, for whom he has worked so tirelessly and with such passion.

Please visit donate.niagaracollege.ca/ways-to-give to contribute to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund (see NC Faculty and Staff Giving box for making your gift though payroll deduction) or contact a member of our development team:

Ellen Schonewille, ext. 7384 [email protected]

Erica Walters, ext. 7847 [email protected]

Wendy Dueck, ext. 7569 [email protected]

 

Alumni connections: Broadcasting students, alumni collaborate on the Olympic wrestling trials

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Highlights video supplied by NC’s BRTF program and edited by student Jacob Kelusky.

For third year Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program student James Maier, covering the Olympic Wrestling Trails in Niagara Falls in December wasn’t his first foray into event coverage, but it was the most dynamic to date.

“The project was different from others we’ve worked on. We were working with a new organization on a sport we were not used to. Not to mention we had two streams happening at the same time,” said Maier. “Everything I have been learning in Dutch’s class came back to help me. I am definitely going to look fondly on this experience for years to come.”

With the help of NC alumnus Brent Gust (BRTF, 2011), video operator with Dome Productions in Ottawa, who led on the technical side, twenty BRTF students applied their learning to covering Canada’s best wrestlers – live – as they took to the mat to compete for a spot on the national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Gust, who regularly works on NHL, CFL and other major events in Ottawa, will be covering the summer Olympics in Tokyo. “Coming back to Niagara to work on productions with the students and staff is an amazing experience,” said Gust, “The students can do amazing things and with the support of alumni there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I love coming back and working with students. Paying it forward makes it better for everyone, and having proud grads that give back is the real NC advantage.”

Each match was covered by up to five cameras at a time, and due to space restrictions, students worked out of two on-site control rooms that had to be setup and wired for this project. This became the hub where the group managed the productions for the live-streamed broadcasts, editing stations, audio mixing, instant replays and graphics. Maier was grateful to his fellow students for their support throughout the grueling three days of filming.

The coverage garnered the interest of CBC Sports, who aired footage of the trials on their national platforms. On the receiving end of the feeds at the CBC in Toronto was none other than NC alumnus Hayden Grierson (BRTF, 2017). Grierson works as a Media Presentation technician – Streaming at CBC.

Grierson saw Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg, professor in NC’s School of Media’s name on an email chain for the coverage and realized it was an NC-produced event.

“It was a little bit surreal for me,” said Grierson, who reached out to VandenBerg to let him know that they would be working together. “I was excited to watch the BRTF student’s coverage. The production was good to start, but over the course of the three days I could see the students improving. Camera movement got smoother, graphics looked better and more professional, even the directors sequencing and storytelling improved.”

“The quality of the production definitely lived up to the quality expectations of CBC.ca,” said Grierson. “I love seeing students get opportunities like this to improve their abilities and show off their skills to a wider audience.”

“My colleagues at the CBC were making fun of me because I was acting like a proud mother any time there was a nice sequence or a well-placed shot,” said Grierson. “As Dutch always says, we bleed blue. I still take pride in everything that I see NC students do and always will.”

While in the BRTF program, Grierson had the opportunity to produce the high profile IIHF World Junior Women’s Hockey Championship, another project partnering with TSN.

Thinking back to his own experience as a student, Grierson recalls the nervous energy from the crew before the game. “Everybody got into the swing of it and we were able to create something that we could be proud of. I can only imagine that the crew on the wrestling trials felt similar. They can look back on it as a highlight of their college career.”

2021 Canada Summer Games 

The Olympic wrestling trials were hosted by Wrestling Canada Lutte, the 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Society, and the Brock Wrestling Club. BRTF students’ involvement was just the beginning, as they’re set to cover the 2021 Canada Summer Games, the country’s largest multi-sport.

“The wrestling trials were a great opportunity for our students to get their feet wet filming live sporting events outside of their coverage of the Knights, especially in preparation for the 2021 Canada Summer Games. NC broadcasting students will play a central role in live-streaming coverage for Canada’s largest multi-sport event,” said VandenBerg.

 

 

 

Niagara College 31st annual Seafood Gala

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The Seafood Gala is Niagara College’s most successful annual fundraising event raising over $3.1 million in its 30-year history for equipment, learning resources, scholarships and bursaries. This premier event features a sumptuous buffet including many seafood and non-seafood items prepared by the award winning chefs of the Fallsview Casino Resort, accompanied by Niagara College wines. Guests enjoy an elegant evening filled with live entertainment, music, dancing, and silent and live auctions valued at nearly $100,000. Supported by nearly 75 Niagara College students, this event is not one to be missed.

Please join us at the Niagara College 30th Annual Seafood Gala on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Fallsview Casino Resort Grand Hall in Niagara Falls.

Reception: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.

Tickets are $250 per person. Tables seat ten. For specific staff rate, see below.

Black tie optional. Non-seafood options available.

The Seafood Gala has consistently sold out for the past several years, so please don’t delay. There are a limited number of staff tickets available at a special rate of $200 per ticket. (Maximum of two tickets per staff member). To order tickets at the staff rate, please contact Joanne Cousineau at ext. 7775 or [email protected].

We are looking forward to enjoying a wonderful evening with you.

For event details visit: niagaracollege.ca/seafoodgala

A ‘Knight’ to remember: Alumni gather for inaugural College event

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Five decades.

That’s approximately how long it had been since George Bailey had stepped foot inside his alma mater.

But on November 1, the Class of 1970 alumnus returned for the first time to attend the College’s inaugural ReuKnighted celebration. Held at the Welland Campus, the event was a collaboration between the College’s Alumni Relations and Athletics departments, and included a reunion weekend of activities.

For Bailey, attending the pre-game tailgate party sparked a trip down memory lane, as he marvelled over how much the College has grown and changed since he attended during its early days.

“There were only two buildings when I was here and that’s where we had our programming,” said the former Radio and Television student who enjoyed a career in public relations and communications for 30 years and wrote a travel column for 20.  “I’m very impressed by the College’s programs and the facilities today. And the people here are still as enthusiastic and friendly as they have always been.”

Bailey was among an estimated 150 attendees who returned for a tailgate party on November 1. Hosted by NC’s Alumni Relations team, the event was held at the Core, and drew former athletes and alumni – mostly from Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film, and Sport Management programs – as well as College staff and students.

For former Knights athlete John Mataya, who is VP and CFO of Bosch Rexroth in Welland, ReuKnighted was another reason to return to NC. Mataya has been a frequent visitor to the College since he graduated from Financial Management in 1984. In addition to cheering on the Knights basketball teams at home and on the road, he has been a supporter of the College and events such as the Seafood Gala and Golf Classic. He has also hired many college students and alumni over the years. His son also followed in his footsteps as a NC graduate.

“It’s always nice to come back to campus, connect with friends and watch the basketball team,” said Mataya.

The event also drew more recent alumni such as television host, reporter and basketball coach Amy Audibert, who graduated from the Broadcasting program in 2012 and has since worked for sports media networks including CBS Sports, NBATV, and NBATV Canada. The Niagara Falls native, who was a basketball player for the University of Miami prior to her days at NC, was an assistant coach for the Knights women’s basketball team (2011-2012) and men’s basketball team (2018-2019). She noted that she was happy to support ReuKnighted by working to broadcast the basketball games and attending the tailgate.

“There are a lot of people I work with in the industry that are here tonight,” she said. “A lot of NC grads work in the TV industry so it’s really fun when we get to chat.”

The alumni tailgate was followed by Knights home-opener basketball games in the Athletic Centre and an after-party. Festivities continued on November 2 with a National Scholar Brunch, a Hall of Fame induction and a volleyball double-header.

NC alumni engagement officer Jana Boniferro noted that following the success of the first alumni reunion of its kind, the College is considering future events to engage the wider alumni community, numbering more than 90,000 worldwide.

“Our first-ever ReuKnighted was a tremendous success,” said Boniferro. “It was amazing to witness the reactions of attendees after not seeing each other in years, and we love all the new memories that were created as we brought together members of our alumni community while cheering on our NC Knights.”

“It was great to see and meet so many Niagara College Knights alumni,” said Michele O’Keefe, associate director of Athletics and Recreation. “With basketball the focus on Friday, and Knights Hall of Fame induction of the 1999 and 2000 men’s volleyball teams on Saturday, the camaraderie ignited a flood of memories and storytelling. Our current student-athletes felt the pride in the gym for basketball and volleyball.”

Funds raised from ReuKnighted ticket sales support scholarships and bursaries NC.

ReuKnighted: Former Knights to reunite at Niagara College for alumni tailgate on Friday, Nov. 1

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Niagara College is gearing up to welcome the spirit and enthusiasm of former Knights at the Welland Campus for ReuKnighted, the first alumni reunion of its kind. The weekend will kick off with a tailgate on Friday afternoon followed by a Knights basketball game, with festivities continuing into Saturday.

Tickets are still available and alumni are welcome to register for the event this Friday.

Former Knights athletes and alumni from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio Television and Film, and Sport Management programs, will come together for an exclusive tailgate party with appetizers and refreshments beginning at 4:30 p.m. in The Core, hosted by the Alumni Relations team. The indoor tailgate will be followed by the men’s and women’s basketball home-opener games in NC’s Athletic Centre. An after-party featuring entertainment will follow.

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

The reunion weekend will continue into Saturday with the National Scholar Brunch and Hall of Fame induction in the morning, followed by a volleyball double-header in the afternoon. Tickets include game admission for both the Friday basketball and Saturday volleyball games.

“ReuKnighted is a great opportunity for alumni to come back to campus and reconnect with former classmates, teammates, faculty, and friends of Niagara College,” said Jana Boniferro, NC alumni engagement officer. “We’re very excited to host members of our alumni community and look forward to getting ‘reuKnighted’ as we help cheer on our NC Knights.”

ReuKnighted is a family-friendly, ticketed event, and a chance to reconnect with former classmates and teammates. Registration is open at niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations/reuknighted.

The first 100 alumni to register will receive a special gift – an NC-branded alumni scarf – courtesy of Alumni Relations. All event proceeds support scholarships and bursaries for student athletes.

Being the first alumni reunion of its kind, NC is considering future events to engage the wider alumni community, numbering over 90,000 worldwide.