In addition to providing solutions to business and key industry partners through applied research projects and technical services, Niagara College’s Research & Innovation division also supports the development of hundreds of students and graduates each year. We wanted to share the success stories of these NC graduates who have put their innovative and specialized knowledge into action in new, exciting careers.

To celebrate their post-NC successes, we have launched a new section of our website filled with profiles, called Alumni.

These NC alumni all share something in common: they’ve all been part of the Research & Innovation team, having the opportunity to work alongside expert faculty, staff and industry partners, supported by leading-edge facilities, technology, and equipment – all to prepare them for real-world professions.

Each has spent time as either a co-op Research Assistant or as a graduate hired as a Research Associate, and all in diverse roles across R&I’s division, conducting applied research or technical services for industry partners from the food and beverage, agriculture and environment, advanced manufacturing, business and commercialization, and digital media sectors.

They were able to interact with industry partners to help develop prototypes, evaluate new technologies, improve products and processes and create new recipes. They had the opportunity to work on real-life applied research projects and technical services, with real-life deadlines, budgets, and deliverables.

For Justin Vigneux, from the Renewable Energy Technician program, the experience in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre helped prepare him in all his positions since graduating from NC in 2013. “It was the first chance that I had to experience project-based employment where we had to sit and meet on a regular basis to keep everyone on the team up-to-date,” says Vigneux. “It also introduced me to things like budgeting, deadlines, and experimental troubleshooting.”

More recently, Ankita Mathkar, a 2018 graduate of the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program, says she learned what research and development was like in the “real world” from her time at the Canadian Food & Wine Institute Innovation Centre. “R&I was a fast-paced place to work, with all the projects coming in and deadlines sneaking up daily,” she says. “Most importantly, I was able to make connections with various influential people and suppliers that still come in handy.”

We invite you to spend some time and learn where these graduates have gone on to pursue. As you’ll read, there’s unanimous agreement that, in addition to their education, the real-world experience gained at R&I has played a pivotal role in preparing them in their current careers. Some were hired by the very industry partner they worked with while at R&I, while others took their knowledge base to the dream job in their field.

To the current and future R&I alumni, we encourage you to GET IN TOUCH with us and share your success story!

 

We are thrilled to announce that through the generous support of our community partners, our 2019 Golf Classic is sold out and online registration is now closed.

If you would like to have your name added to our wait list please contact Joanne Cousineau at 905-641-2252 ext. 7775 or [email protected].

For tournament details please visit niagaracollege.ca/golfclassic

Proceeds from the Golf Classic will support scholarships for student athletes.

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

On behalf of the Development & Alumni Relations team, it is with mixed emotions that I advise of the retirement of Helen Armstrong from her role as Development Officer – Scholarships & Bursaries, effective August 31.

While we are very happy for Helen that her retirement from this position allows her to spend more time on an activity that she has pursued with passion for the past nine years – teaching ESL part-time at Niagara College – she is a valued member of our team and will be greatly missed.

Helen has served in various roles at NC for almost 17 years. During this time, she has been committed to fundraising for scholarships and bursaries, helping to ensure ongoing financial support is available for our students. Helen has built many positive relationships with donors, including one that resulted in the College receiving the largest gift ever as a bequest in a Will of a long time donor whom Helen had thoughtfully stewarded over many years.

We are pleased to invite members of the NC community to an Open House to celebrate Helen’s many years of service and dedication, extend congratulations on her upcoming retirement from her full-time position, and wish her well in the next phase of her ncstory!

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2019

Time: 3 to 5 p.m.

Location: Development & Alumni Relations Office
Suite 303, Niagara Corporate Business Centre
509 Glendale Ave. E, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Canada’s first-ever Cannabis and Distilling graduates to cross the stage

Niagara College is preparing to celebrate its largest spring convocation ever – and make history in the process.

More than 5,100 students will graduate from the College this spring, making NC’s Class of 2019 its largest to date, as the College marks its Spring Convocation ceremonies. To be held from June 17-21 at the Welland Campus, the ceremonies will also mark a special milestone for the College with Canada’s first graduates to earn a postsecondary credential in Commercial Cannabis Production (June 20, 10 a.m.) and Artisan Distilling (June 21, 10 a.m.) Both postgraduate certificate programs launched at the College in fall 2018 as the first of their kind in the country.

Convocation is the highlight of the academic year and a celebration of student success at NC.

“All of the students who cross the stage at Convocation are part of Niagara College’s legacy of student success,” said College president Dan Patterson. “Our graduates have the skills to take on industry challenges and become tomorrow’s leaders. Our faculty and staff take great pride in their accomplishments.”

Spring Convocation will include eight ceremonies over five days, all held at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre. 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.

Ceremonies will begin on Monday, June 17 at 3 p.m. with the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies. The convocation speaker for the afternoon will be Keith Segal, owner, president, and CEO of guard.me International Insurance. Segal is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist serving the education industry and supporting international students. He will receive an Honorary Diploma in International Studies.

Tuesday, June 18 will begin at 10 a.m. with a ceremony celebrating graduates in the School of Community Services. Kim Plewes, principal development director of WE, a movement and organization to help communities around the world create positive social change, will deliver the convocation address and will receive an Honorary Diploma in Community Studies. Tuesday morning’s ceremony will also see Child and Youth Care graduate Emily Stewardson Gregory receive the 2019 Governor General’s Academic Medal, which is presented to the graduate with the highest overall grade-point average. Stewardson Gregory will graduate from the Child and Youth Care program with a 98.43% grade-point average.

The 3 p.m. ceremony will see students in the School of Business and Management hear a convocation address from Richard Taylor, president of Niagara Casinos, a recognized gaming industry leader who heads one of the largest business operations in Niagara. .. Taylor will receive an Honorary Bachelor Degree in Applied Studies.

Ceremonies will continue the morning of Wednesday, June 19 with the School of Justice and Fitness Studies. Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, acting medical officer of health for the Niagara Region, will address convocation. Hirji’s career focus is on the public health and emergency services that protect Niagara’s 450,000 residents and 15 million annual visitors. Hirji will be granted an Honorary Diploma in Health Studies.

On Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m., the ceremony for the School of Academic and Liberal Studies, the School of English Language Studies, and the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies will open with an address from Betty-Lou Souter, CEO of Community Care, St. Catharines and Thorold. Souter is known as the voice of poverty in Niagara, advocating for a healthy and vibrant community. Souter will receive an Honorary Bachelor Degree in Applied Studies.

On Thursday morning, the ceremony for the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies and the School of Technology Studies will take place. Guest speaker Carolyne Watts, plant manager for General Motors, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, and a former chair of the Niagara College Board of Governors will address graduating students. Watts has spent nearly four decades with General Motors and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to environmental preservation, safety awareness and community outreach. Watts will receive an Honorary Bachelor Degree in Applied Studies.

At the Thursday morning ceremony, School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies will see the first cohort of Commercial Cannabis Production graduates cross the stage. The first of its kind in Canada, the program launched in 2018 to meet the industry’s demand for highly skilled cannabis growers.

On, June 20 at 3 p.m., graduates in the School of Media Studies and the School of Trades will hear from CBC News reporter, Mike Crawley. Crawley is the Ontario provincial affairs reporter and has also reported on important global issues in Africa, Europe and the US. He will receive an Honorary Diploma in Journalism.

Spring Convocation Ceremonies conclude on Friday morning where graduates in the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport, and School of Food and Wine Sciences, will hear from Kelly L. Brown, senior vice president, Legal and Corporate Affairs for Arterra Wines Canada Inc. Brown is considered one of Canada’s top lawyers and sits on the leadership team for Arterra, the leading wine producer in Canada. Brown will receive an Honorary Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Management.

Inaugural graduates from the Artisan Distilling program, from NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, will cross the convocation stage at the final ceremony on Friday morning. Launched in 2018 as the first of its kind in Canada, the program rounded out NC’s program offerings as the only college in Canada with full-time wine, beer and distilling programs.

Niagara College’s Spring Convocation Ceremonies are streamed live, and may be viewed at livestream.com/accounts/15502389/NCSpringConvocation2019

New facility at Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus to be named Segal Family International Centre

At its Seafood Gala on the evening of April 5, Niagara College announced that the family of Keith and Sharon Segal have given more than $1 million to support international education at the College.

The generous $1,050,000 donation – half of which will support the development of, and equipment and furnishings for, NC’s new International Centre located at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus – was announced by College president Dan Patterson to an audience of almost 700 business, education and community leaders at the Gala, which is NC’s signature fundraising event.

“On behalf of all of us at Niagara College, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Segal family for this generous gift,” said NC president Dan Patterson. “Keith and Sharon Segal are long-standing supporters and friends of Niagara College whose passion for international education and philanthropic giving have helped thousands of students, not just at Niagara College, but across Canada. The Segals truly understand the transformative impact international students have on our campuses and in our communities, and the value of students studying abroad.”

This new Centre will significantly enhance the College’s ability to support its growing international student body, and the donation will enable students to benefit from study and work abroad activities. Fifty per cent of this gift will provide scholarships to international students attending NC, and Be World Ready bursaries for International Field Studies, semester exchanges and internship and co-op abroad, preparing students to become ‘world-ready’ graduates.

In recognition of the Segal family’s generous gift, NC will name the new facility at its NOTL Campus the Segal Family International Centre. The space is designed as a welcoming, one-stop service for international students to support their success. The Segal International Centre at NC’s Welland Campus is named in recognition of a previous $500,000 donation from Keith and Sharon Segal, along with their years of support for NC’s scholarships and instructional equipment and learning resources.

“As a family, we are very proud to support Niagara College’s growing international division and its diverse student population,” said Keith Segal, president and founder of guard.me International Insurance. “We feel that international education is the best tool for changing the world as it allows students to experience, investigate, understand and respect other cultures and ways of living. We could solve a lot of the problems in this world through understanding and respect for other people, and that’s what international education does.”

Keith and Sharon Segal are owners of guard.me International Insurance, and Keith Segal, CLU is president and CEO. Founded in 1998, guard.me International Insurance is one of the world’s largest insurance providers in international education, receiving numerous national and international awards for its client-focused approach and customized services. As part of its long-term investment in the field of international education, guard.me also regularly gives back to the community it serves in the form of resources, scholarships and funding.

Since 2002, Niagara College and guard.me have enjoyed a close and mutually-beneficial partnership, supporting students – over the past 17 years, tens of thousands of NC students have been served by guard.me. Keith and Sharon have been long-time supporters and great friends to Niagara College over the years, and many NC students have realized their educational and career goals thanks to scholarships supported by the Segal family.

The Seafood Gala is Niagara College’s signature annual fundraising event raising more than $2.8 million over the past 29 years to fund equipment, learning resources, scholarships and bursaries for students. This premier event, supported by many Niagara College student volunteers, features a sumptuous buffet with a variety of decadent seafood dishes and more to please every palate, accompanied by Niagara College wines. Guests enjoy an elegant evening filled with live entertainment, music, dancing, and silent and live auctions. For more information, visit ncseafoodgala.wordpress.com.

Link to video: youtu.be/tkNWFOA92x8