New digital issue of encore presents special feature on Canada Summer Games

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It’s time to connect with the latest alumni and College success stories!

A new digital edition of encore magazine has been released, with a variety of new articles and profiles that shine a spotlight on NC alumni and the College community – including a special feature on NC’s key involvement in the Canada Summer Games.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the newly added content:

My College

My Alumni

My Community

Niagara College’s official magazine, encore is a one-stop shop for the College community – from alumni to donors, to stakeholders and friends, in Niagara and beyond.

After 11 years of print magazine issues, the new digital encore made its digital debut in February 2021, expanding on the tradition of its former print editions by making it easier than ever for NC’s growing global community of alumni to stay connected, with 24/7 access to the site from anywhere in the world, and articles that are easy to post and share.

New digital editions of encore magazine will be posted each Spring, Fall and Winter term.

If you have an alumni success story or college feature idea for encore, please contact [email protected]

 

New digital issue of encore presents special feature on Canada Summer Games

/in ,

It’s time to connect with the latest alumni and College success stories!

A new digital edition of encore magazine has been released, with a variety of new articles and profiles that shine a spotlight on NC alumni and the College community – including a special feature on NC’s key involvement in the Canada Summer Games.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the newly added content:

My College

My Alumni

My Community

Niagara College’s official magazine, encore is a one-stop shop for the College community – from alumni to donors, to stakeholders and friends, in Niagara and beyond.

After 11 years of print magazine issues, the new digital encore made its digital debut in February 2021, expanding on the tradition of its former print editions by making it easier than ever for NC’s growing global community of alumni to stay connected, with 24/7 access to the site from anywhere in the world, and articles that are easy to post and share.

New digital editions of encore magazine will be posted each Spring, Fall and Winter term.

If you have an alumni success story or college feature idea for encore, please contact [email protected]

 

Niagara College’s Golf Classic is back

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volunteers cheer golfers riding in a golf cart

A message from Development and Alumni Relations:

The past couple of years have been like no other we have experienced, but we are thrilled to be getting back to some normalcy, starting with the return of our 20th Annual Niagara College Golf Classic on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at the beautiful Peninsula Lakes Golf Club in Fenwick.

In our 19-year history, thanks to great community support, our golf tournament has raised more than $750,000 to fund scholarships for Niagara College varsity athletes. Scholarships provide much needed assistance to ease some of the financial burden for student-athletes who are working hard to achieve their academic goals, while meeting their athletic team commitments.

Our NC varsity golf team will be on hand to provide clinic instructions before golfers head out for the day. They will also make their way around the course, giving golf tips to participants as they play.

Students and staff from a variety of NC programs will also be at the event to help make it a unique experience for all. Our learning enterprises will also be represented with a variety of wine and beer tastings from NC’s Teaching Winery and Teaching Brewery.

Registration for our 2022 Golf Classic is open and we are pleased to share that the event is nearly sold out, sitting at 90% capacity!

For event details visit golfclassic.niagaracollege.ca. For more information, contact Joanne Cousineau, Development and Event Coordinator (905-328-5528; [email protected]).

NC alumna Karen Steele wins 2022 Rosalie Award

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woman with long, red hair wearing a green shirt

Karen Steele, a Niagara College alumna and current Program Director of 99.9 Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM) Toronto, has been chosen to receive this year’s Rosalie Award, recognizing Canadian women who have blazed new trails in radio.

The award is presented annually by the Radio Trailblazers, a volunteer organization that celebrates and supports women in radio through education, inspiration and mentorship.

It’s not the first time Steele has been nominated, says Radio Trailblazers chair Nancy Brown Dacko. In 2019 — the last time the award was handed out — she received two nominations.

Brown Dacko describes the selection process as “rigorous,” and the winner must meet criteria based on four key pillars: career success, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and mentorship.

“The reason we chose those [pillars] is because we really want to profile women who are recognized for their contributions, but we also want to look at a wise spectrum of accomplishments just to show that up-and-comers can be very successful and can achieve their success at any level in the business,” Brown Dacko says. “Sometimes award shows might award a CEO or a VP or a director, but what we want to show is that you can be an excellent on-air talent, you can be program director, you can be an excellent salesperson. [It’s] any role that exists within the radio broadcasting platform. We want to take a look at every, single area.”

The winner each year is chosen by previous Rosalie Award winners, of which there were 15 in 2022.

Steele, who graduated from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television, Film program in 1991, started her radio career as the Program Director of CRNC, the college’s radio station, and as a “cruiser girl” at 97.7 HTZ-FM St. Catharines.
Back then, there weren’t many women studying broadcasting, Steele says. What drew her to it, though, was the flexibility of the program.

“I enrolled in Niagara College because I wanted the flexibility to try out film, TV and radio within a hands-on environment,” she says. “All of the programs were an absolute blast. There was always room for creativity with a degree of autonomy even within a team setting.”

She credits her “rock star” instructors for making learning fun and her Niagara College experience memorable, but two instructors, in particular, have had the biggest impact on her career.

“Chris Lukas, who was working on-air at 97.7 HTZ-FM at the time, was our Radio Lab teacher for CRNC,” Steele says. “She encouraged me to reach out to [program director] Eric Samuels for an internship. That invitation landed my foot firmly in the door at HTZ-FM as ‘cruiser girl’ and, ultimately, Program Director 7 years later.”

She said Bruce Gilbert, NC’s Program Director for the Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program, was also a big influence.

“He was my rock and had a huge impact on my career with his phenomenal talent, patience, support and friendship. I’m thrilled that he’s working with the future of our business.”

In addition to 99.9 Virgin Radio, Steele programmed KiSS 92.5 and MIX 99.9, where she became the first-ever female program director of a major market Toronto radio station in 2005. It was the second time she’d earned such a distinction: She was also the first female program director of a Standard Broadcasting radio station when she worked at 97.7 HTZ-FM.

“It was a very different time and the ’90s were wild, but I still kept forging forward to get to my ultimate goal of PD of a Toronto radio station,” Steele says. “It still seems surreal to be the first female PD of a radio station in Standard Broadcasting in the ’90s and (then) Standard’s first female PD of a major market Toronto radio station. The only other woman in a programming position at that time in Toronto was Julie Adam at Rogers.”

Steele also helped develop the GEN NOW program at Seneca College, providing college students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience on air as KiSS 92.5.

The Rosalie Award, named in honour of legendary music director Rosalie Trombley, is awarded each year to a woman in radio who’s considered a trailblazer.

Trombley worked AM Top 40 radio station CKLW, also known as “The Big 8” (Detroit/Windsor), and was deemed the most powerful lady in pop music. She was the first to receive the Rosalie Award in 2005.

It’s women like Trombley, “who never give up, who move the needle, who push boundaries” that inspire Steele.

But Steele says if she’s blazed trails, it was incidental.

“I learned everything so I could develop and grow in my roles,” she says. “I was never above any opportunity and worked up to 80-plus-hour work weeks. I always wanted to be the best person for the job. I also wanted to be treated that way. At times, I had to work harder and smarter to be taken seriously or get a seat or a voice at the table.”

Added Steele: “Today, I’m surrounded by strong, fearless and funny rock stars like Sarah Cummings who continues to pave the way for the future of radio across Canada in her role as VP of content for Radio/iHeartRadio and Orbyt Media, and Nat Hunter who is one of the funniest and most talented on-air personalities in the country.”

And although she’s been recognized with numerous awards over the past three decades, including Program Director of the Year from Canadian Music Week (CMW) in 2017, Steele says she’ll know she’s left her mark if her work has inspired others.

“In a perfect radio world, I will have left an impression and impact on the people I’ve worked with in a memorable and fun way. From creating and rolling out irreverent promotional campaigns and pushing creative boundaries, to putting on exclusive can’t-miss-event experiences and working with and developing talent on-air and behind the scenes, I hope I’ve inspired the people I’ve worked with as much as they’ve inspired me.”

Brown Dacko says Steele will be celebrated at an invitation-only reception for newcomers to the radio business on June 6 and then presented with the Rosalie Award on June 7 during CMW’s Radio Active 2022-The Future of Audio conference.

Niagara College goes the distance to help students impacted by war in Ukraine

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They have travelled across the world to study at Niagara College, now the College is going an extra mile for them.

NC is assisting international students impacted by the war in Ukraine with a range of supports – both financial and emotional – to help them through this challenging time. Whether they need financial assistance to help cover expenses, or emotional support as they struggle with anxiety over the safety of their loved ones in a war zone, Niagara College is demonstrating that they may be far away from home, but they are not alone.

Global Emergency Relief Fund

International students who face financial challenges due to world issues that arise in their home countries or here in Canada – from war and economic crisis to the pandemic – can turn to NC’s Global Emergency Relief fund.

The fund was established in 2020 to provide financial assistance to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, the College sought to expand the fund to assist Ukrainian and Russian students impacted by the war in Ukraine. The fund provides students with scholarships and bursaries to help cover tuition or living expenses, which are distributed on a case-by-case basis, as needed.

“Students from around the world study at NC to enrich their lives and fulfill their dreams, and we are dedicated to going the distance for them,” said Vice President, International Sean Coote. “During these challenging times, we won’t let our students fall behind due to global circumstances they cannot control. We are stepping up our supports to help ensure that they succeed.”

Supports for students

Since late February, staff members from the College’s International division have been reaching out to students impacted by the war in Ukraine. Those who are experiencing financial hardships incurred due to loss of bank transfer abilities, have been offered assistance as well as flexible payment options.

In addition to assisting with financial challenges, they continue to work with students, one-on-one as needed, to ensure that the students have access to mental and emotional supports or resources.

Director, International Gary Torraville noted that, as a “home away from home” for international students, it is a priority for NC’s International Division to support them during their stay.

“As a College community, we provide more than just an education to students while they are with us. In their time of need, we become their security blanket and their main source of support and care while away from their family and other loved ones,” said Torraville.

While all international students typically experience a feeling of being disconnected from their family and friends, Torraville noted that during times of crisis – such as the war in Ukraine – this becomes amplified. Students have been experiencing escalated fear and anxiety as they hear news from back home, which can severely hamper their ability to focus on their studies.

That’s why, when the invasion began in Ukraine, NC’s International Division shifted its immediate focus on the mental and emotional well-being of its students, and pointed them to supports and resources available to help them.

The College community also responded with an outpouring of support. Employees and students alike have been filling on-campus displays with messages of hope and encouragement for the affected students. Heart-shaped blue and yellow cards with handwritten notes are on display near International’s offices at the Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“We all recognize that students from Ukraine and many other countries, including Russia, are victims of this circumstance and it is critical that we illustrate to our students that we stand with them and are here to support them through this terribly tragic and stressful time,” said Torraville. “When world events occur like this current situation in Ukraine, I am always so proud of the way all areas of the College come together to show that level of care and support that NC is known for.”

Putting the ‘NC’ in community

NC’s efforts extend beyond the borders of its campuses.

To assist Ukrainian visitors who have recently arrived in Niagara and may benefit from advancing their language skills, NC is offering scholarships to its English for Academic Preparation (EAP) program. Twenty full scholarships have been offered to recently arrived Ukrainian visitors, to attend NC’s EAP program’s May start, and more opportunities will be available during the months ahead.

For information about opportunities for recently arrived Ukrainian visitors to Niagara to attend NC’s English for Academic Preparation program, contact [email protected] or call 905-735-2211 est. 7152.

NC also recently joined 18 colleges across Ontario, along with Colleges Ontario, and the Ontario College Application Service, with a joint donation of $200,000 to UNICEF’s Ukraine emergency fund.

Donations and support

The Global Emergency Relief Fund is supported by contributions from corporate and individual donors. CIBC recently contributed $10,000 to support the fund.

The provincial government also recently announced $1.9 to create an Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship in Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities, to be awarded to individual students through their postsecondary institutions based on merit and financial need beginning in September 2022.

“We are truly grateful for this vital support from our government and from corporate and individual donors who are making it possible for more students to overcome barriers and achieve their dreams,” said Vice President, Research and External Relations, Marc Nantel. “These much-needed financial gifts help us ensure that students who have been welcomed into the Niagara community have the support they need to succeed during critical times and we know that it will truly make a difference in their lives.”

Donate to NC’s Global Emergency Relief Fund

Niagara College welcomes donations from the community to help support students through the Global Emergency Relief Fund. Those interested in helping NC’s international students during times of crisis – including those impacted by the war in Ukraine – may donate at donate.niagaracollege.ca.

 

 

Virtual event to feature alumna, social justice worker Erica Williams April 20

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Students and the NC community will have a chance to connect with local social justice worker Erica Williams at an April 20 virtual event.

Williams, who has taken great strides in making a difference in the community since she graduated from the Social Service Worker program in 2018, will connect with students for the next segment of NC’s Ask an Alumni Anything virtual event series. To be held via Instagram Live, the event aims to give students an opportunity to learn from and connect with the College alumna.

Williams has made social justice for oppressed and racialized people her mission. She is the Founder and CEO of Erica Embrace Support Services, and also works for Bethlehem Housing and Support Services, which provides affordable housing and services to individuals and families. The non-profit organization offers support for individuals in Niagara who identify as Caribbean, Black, or African descent, by providing advocacy and by donating hair and beauty products for Black women staying in shelters in Ontario.

The St. Catharines resident is also a passionate activist and member of the city’s Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, a group of volunteers working to improve access and inclusion for diverse cultural communities in the city and surrounding area.

Originally from Kitchener, Williams has been living in Niagara for the past eight years. She was inspired to enroll in the College’s Social Service Worker program and pursue the field of social work for many different reasons. In addition to being a young mother and not having the support she felt she needed, she also had negative experiences trying to access services. Continuously seeing the staff that did not look like her, she said, at times made it very difficult for her to connect, trust and build rapport. She also had a passion to support women fleeing domestic violence and to educate and bring awareness to domestic violence, specifically in the Caribbean.

In 2018, the same year she graduated from NC, Williams launched Erica Embrace Support Services. She was motivated by the experiences of Black women she met while she was working in shelters that support women and children fleeing domestic violence.

“We received many donations of hair and beauty care products but these products were never specific to Black women,” she said. “It was disappointing to witness the frustration of the Black women in the shelter when they were looking through donations they couldn’t use.”

Advocacy is an important aspect of Erica Embrace Support Services. The advocacy is voluntary and intended for families that are involved with Family and Children Services or the District School Board of Niagara.

“Many Black community members experience racism and discrimination and micro-aggressions while at work, school, or trying to access services,” she said. “It’s important to have support during these situations to ensure the best possible outcome.”

Williams pointed out that the Executive Director of Erica’s Support Services, Mutsa Charamba, is also an alumna of NC.

“You see the relationships you build at NC can really blossom into long-standing positive friendships and partnerships,” she said.

While she is making strides in the field of social work, Williams continues her postsecondary journey. She attends Ryerson University part-time, as she works on her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and plans to pursue her master’s degree.

Williams is excited about the opportunity to speak to NC students. She recalled how, when she was a student, she felt that it was helpful to hear from others who shared their experience with her class and how she hoped that she would be in the position to do the same someday.

“I believe it is important to give back to the community and share experiences,” she said. “There is always a possibility that your experiences can help others.”

Williams plans to speak to students about the benefit of having a support circle they can trust and rely on.

“Even if it’s just one other person. It makes all the difference if you have someone you can relate to and reach out to for support,’ she said.

As an older student with children, Williams recalled that she found it difficult to relate to her classmates at times, but she hopes to encourage students to “think outside the box.”

“If you identify a need, speak up about it and find others who share your passion,” she said.

Presented by NC Alumni Relations with support from the NC Student Administrative Council, Ask an Alumni Anything launched in November 2020 to give students an opportunity to pose questions to successful NC alumni via Instagram Live. The sessions are generally 45 minutes to an hour long.

“It’s a unique opportunity not only for students to learn from a fairly recent graduate who has some pretty rich life experience to offer, but they can learn about ways in which our alumni initiate change for very important causes that are important to them,” said Jana Boniferro, Alumni Engagement Officer. “Erica is a prime example of an alumna leading the way not only in her field of social services but also bringing awareness and support to the Black community in the Niagara region.”

Ask an Alumni Anything

The Ask an Alumni Anything event with Erica Williams will be held on April 20 at 2 p.m. via Instagram Live @niagaracollege. The event will be hosted by NCSAC president Sam Jemison. While the event is geared to students, everyone is welcome. Advance registration is not needed.

Sport and Sustainability Summit gives NC students hands-on experience ahead of the 2022 Canada Summer Games

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Niagara College students are among those working behind the scenes to support the success of the upcoming Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. This March, two of those students – Allie Reddon and Lexi Barclay – are drawing upon their program expertise to support the Niagara Sustainability and Sport Series, happening March 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Presented by the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, the Canada Games Council and Green for Life Environmental, the virtual summit will explore how the three pillars of social, environment and economic sustainability can be applied to operational planning, organizational structures and the delivery of major events. It’s the third and final installment in the series, which aims to shine a light on the link between sustainability and sport.

a student with long blonde hair wearing a brown turtle neck smiles at the camera

NC student Allie Reddon is completing her internship with the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games

Reddon, a student in the College’s Environmental Management and Assessment (EMA) program, and Barclay, a Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) student, are both completing internships with the Niagara 2022 Games, a once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning opportunity.

Reddon has been involved in the planning of the Mar. 25 summit and is also working on several sustainability-related deliverables for the Games. One of those deliverables means calculating the carbon footprint of the summit by analyzing greenhouse gas emissions based on the amount of electricity consumed by event attendees. “Yes, even online events have an environmental impact,” she explained.

Reddon will go on to calculate the carbon footprint for the entire multi-sport event, happening from August 6 to 21. The calculation will track the environmental impact and serve as a benchmark for future Canada Games to help reduce their emissions.

“The focus of my work for the [Canada Summer Games] revolves around a much larger carbon footprint calculation – one that includes all the emissions caused by the two-week event,” she said. “This calculation will include emissions from electricity and natural gas consumption at each games venue, as well as ground and air travel fuel consumption.”

The opportunity is helping Reddon become work-ready. “I’ve gained valuable work experience with project management and carbon auditing, and I’ve learned so much from individuals working in carbon and sustainability-related fields.”

Reddon encourages other students to volunteer with the 2022 Canada Games to grow and develop their own career experience, advice echoed by Christopher Séguin, Media & Communications Manager for the Niagara 2022 Host Society.

“Ultimately, the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will be hosted in Ontario for just the third time in the event’s history, and the first occasion in 21 years. So, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students, including those at Niagara College, to seek opportunities with the Games this summer that will undoubtedly help further their professional development,” he said.

Séguin noted that while over 3,200 volunteers have been recruited for the Games so far, more are needed to fill a variety of roles. “In total, there are more than 150 different Games-time volunteer roles in a wide variety of areas including sport operations, food services, merchandise sales, event services, and media relations — just to name a few,” he said.

Those interested in volunteering can apply online on the 2022 Canada Games volunteer page.

Interning with the Games’ broadcast team, Barclay is leveraging her broadcasting skills to support logistics for the virtual delivery of the summit. She says BRTF program coordinator Peter “Dutch” Vandenberg encouraged her to take the opportunity as a sport and venue intern to put her classroom learning into practice.

“Working with the [Canada Summer Games] organizers on this delivery allows me to utilize course objectives from the program,” said Barclay. “It also offers valuable networking opportunities.”

In January, the Niagara 2022 Host Society announced NC as the official Experiential and Digital Production Partner of the Games. Through the partnership, the College will be responsible for the management and oversight of the full digital production, led by Vandenberg.

The March 25 summit will also engage other members of the NC community, including Al Unwin, NC’s Dean of Business, Tourism and Environment, and Environmental Management and Assessment alumna Crystal Rabley (2013).

Rabley will host the summit, while Unwin will share his knowledge as an expert in the field, leading a breakout session on “Mainstreaming biodiversity: How nature based solutions can be integrated into sport and event management.” The discussion will centre around several key themes including how mainstreaming biodiversity in the community can inform future Canada Summer Games and major sporting events as a legacy component of the Games.

Previous installments of the Niagara Sustainability and Sport Series were offered in March and November 2021. NC’s Taryn Wilkinson, Sustainability Advisor, Amber Schmucker, Sustainability and Program Outreach Coordinator, and Shelley Merlo, Professor in the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport, have supported the series as members of the planning committee. NC’s Athletic Director Michele O’Keefe and Michael Audibert, Coordinator, Board of Governors, have also been involved.

It’s not too late to register for the event. Learn more by visiting the Niagara Sustainability and Sport Series website.

Related article

Sustainability and sport collide in April 9 panel event

Tap into your hero mindset with Paralympian, alumnus Kevin Rempel

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The NC community will have a chance to learn about the hero mindset and resilience from alumnus and Paralympian Kevin Rempel.

Hosted by the School of Business and Management, the virtual event will take place on March 28 at 9:30 a.m. It is open to all students, employees as well as alumni.

“I will be speaking with the students about how to become a hero in your own movie,” said Rempel. “It all begins with having the right mindset to overcome the adversity you’re facing.”

Rempel has become known for his hero mindset. He reinvented himself as an entrepreneur after a motocross accident left him as an incomplete paraplegic in 2006 and has since devoted his career to making the world a better place for people with disabilities.

The 2013 World Champion and 2014 Sochi Paralympic bronze medalist in sledge hockey, is an author, corporate motivational speaker, and Founder/CEO of The Sledge Hockey Experience. As a speaker, he has been inspiring audiences with his keynote on The Hero Mindset and coaches leaders using The Resilience Toolbox.

“After I came home from the Paralympics, everyone kept calling me a hero, and I didn’t see myself as a hero,” he recalled. “So when I thought about it, if people see me as a hero for all that I have accomplished and wanted to understand my mindset, that is how The Hero Mindset was born.”

The event will be held via Zoom. Those interested in attending may  register at this link.

Rempel, who graduated from Business Administration – Marketing in 2005; and Event Management, 2009, has become known for his hero mindset. He reinvented himself as an entrepreneur after a motocross accident left him as an incomplete paraplegic in 2006 and has since devoted his career to making the world a better place for people with disabilities.

The speaker event featuring Kevin Rempel was originally scheduled for March 14 and rescheduled for March 28.

Put the ‘NC’ in resilience with Paralympian Kevin Rempel March 14

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Prepare to unleash your inner hero – with help from NC alumnus and Paralympian Kevin Rempel.

Rempel will be the featured speaker for a virtual event hosted by the School of Business and Management on March 14.

“I will be speaking with the students about how to become a hero in your own movie. It all begins with having the right mindset to overcome the adversity you’re facing,” he said.

Rempel has become known for his hero mindset. He reinvented himself as an entrepreneur after a motocross accident left him as an incomplete paraplegic in 2006 and has since devoted his career to making the world a better place for people with disabilities.

The 2013 World Champion and 2014 Sochi Paralympic bronze medalist in sledge hockey, is an author, corporate motivational speaker, and Founder/CEO of The Sledge Hockey Experience. As a speaker, he has been inspiring audiences with his keynote on The Hero Mindset and coaches leaders using The Resilience Toolbox.

“After I came home from the Paralympics, everyone kept calling me a hero, and I didn’t see myself as a hero,” he recalled. “So when I thought about it, if people see me as a hero for all that I have accomplished and wanted to understand my mindset, that is how The Hero Mindset was born.”

While his speech will focus on resilience, Rempel will also speak about being a student within the division and what he learned at the College. He believes that the experience he gained at NC has been valuable as he pursued his career.

“You never know where your education will take you. I found the most benefit from my co-op placements and the relationships I developed because of those placements,” said Rempel. “Had I not been in college and had those opportunities, it’s possible that a lot of my life’s journey wouldn’t have played out the way it did.”

This will be Rempel’s third speaking engagement at the College since he graduated from Business Administration – Marketing in 2005; and Event Management, 2009. He participated in an alumni webinar in February 2021 and in an Ask an Alumni Instagram event in 2020.

“Kevin coming back to his alma mater to speak to students about the importance of resilience at such a pivotal time in their studies highlights the role our alumni have in helping our students through to the finish line,” said Jana Boniferro, Alumni Engagement Officer. “We always welcome our alumni back to campus to share their experience in hopes of inspiring others in their respective journeys.”

The event is open to all students, employees as well as alumni. It will be held via Zoom and is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. To register visit: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wgrfDvBLjkqQsrP1J5AvuZf7htraoVlGgC17xFNxMP5UMzkyV1YzVTFJNVlMTFFDM1FDSTUwWkgwRy4u

Broadcasting alum debuts docuseries during Black History Month

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Canfield Roots
Director/Producer Graeme Bachiu graduated from NC’s Broadcasting program in 2003.
Photo: Courtesy of Windecker Road Films

Documentary filmmaker Graeme Bachiu, who graduated from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program in 2003, is behind a new docuseries Canfield Roots which debuted early during Black History Month and will continue to air on PBS and Bell through February and March. The docuseries shares stories of Black families who made rural Southern Ontario their home after escaping enslavement, whose descendants now work to save an abandoned cemetery.

Through his company Windecker Road Films, Bachiu produces broadcast and branded documentaries and works on projects from other producers on a work-for-hire basis. Prior to 2015, he had a career in broadcast news with CHCH-TV and, earlier in his career, he worked for Rogers in community television as a producer, director, and more.

View Windecker Road Films’ February 23 news release about Canfield Roots below.

Celebrate black history month with homegrown Canfield Roots docuseries

Windecker Road Films invites you to add the Canadian-made documentary series Canfield Roots to your Black History Month viewing this February and March. The six-part docuseries is premiering on WNED PBS Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., as well as a dozen other PBS stations, as part of the Public Media station’s offering of Black History Month programming – and will air a second time starting in March. The series is also available 24/7 on TV1 to Bell Fibe TV On Demand subscribers and available for rental or purchase at www.windeckerroadfilms.com.

Sharing the history of some of the Black families who lived and thrived in a small rural town, Canfield Roots follows present-day descendants in Canada and the U.S. as they learn about their family history, share their early experiences, and fight to preserve the Street cemetery, now the focus of a restoration project. Located on private land, the cemetery is the final resting place of freedom seekers and the last remaining evidence that Black people lived in Canfield.

“Canfield Roots details efforts to save an abandoned cemetery – only an hour from Buffalo – where formerly enslaved people, including Harriet Tubman’s niece, were buried. The series uncovers the history of freedom seekers and the lives they led following their escape into Canada that should not be forgotten, and we’re excited to bring it to our viewers on both sides of the border,” said Kathryn Larsen, VP of Broadcast Services, Buffalo Toronto Public Media.

“I expect the majority of viewers will be very surprised to learn the history of the area,” said Director/Producer of Canfield Roots, Graeme Bachiu. “As a filmmaker, I find it meaningful to shine a light on lesser-known history. And, in this case with Canfield Roots, if I can help elevate the voices of those working to save the Street cemetery, I’m proud to do so.”

To view the Canfield Roots trailer, visit windeckerroadfilms.com.

A still from the docuseries Canfield Roots shows Aileen Duncan (a descendent of the Street family) and siblings at Street cemetery.
Photo: Courtesy of Windecker Road Films

The 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.

“One of the inspiring people you’ll hear about in Canfield Roots is Lucy Street, who was born into slavery, made the perilous journey to Canada via the Underground Railroad, with children in tow no less, and then established her home in Canfield, becoming a wife and mother to 13 children, founding a Baptist Church, and becoming a substantial landowner with her husband,” said Bachiu. “We should all know about heroines like Lucy, just as many of us already know and celebrate more well-known freedom leaders like Harriet Tubman.”

The first episode of Canfield Roots garnered over 10,000 viewers on WNED PBS alone. The station has since added a second run for the series beginning March 15 and running weekly until April 19. This is the second documentary series PBS has aired from Windecker Road Films. The first was the four-part docuseries Making Things Count: Pandemic Postcards which aired in November 2020.

“I hope everyone gets as much out of watching Canfield Roots, as we did filming it,” said Bachiu. “Similar to Pandemic Postcards, much of this project was created during the pandemic, and we were heavily affected by COVID-19, so I’m especially happy to be sharing it with audiences now.”

The February/March airing of Canfield Roots on WNED PBS (Southern Ontario and Western New York) and on a dozen other PBS stations including WPBS (Eastern Ontario and Northern New York) and WXXI (Rochester) will be the first time American viewers have seen the series. Canadian viewers with Bell Fibe TV On Demand have enjoyed the docuseries on TV1 since October 2021 (available in cable packages on the mobile app), but this will be the first time all Southern & Eastern Ontario cable subscribers can access the series. The docuseries is also available for purchase (DVD or digital download) or rental at wwwwindeckerroadfilms.com.

Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM) is a trusted public media resource that enriches its audiences by providing educational, entertaining programming and services, as well as engaging the Western New York and Southern Ontario communities through cultural and civic involvement. BTPM‘s media properties include three television stations (WNED PBS, PBS Kids and Create) and three radio stations.

Windecker Road Films is a Cayuga, Ontario-based media production company focused on character-driven short films, broadcast, and branded documentaries. Founder and Filmmaker Graeme Bachiu was named a 2021 Breakthrough Fellow by the Documentary Organization of Canada. While Bachiu’s films have been screened at film festivals around the world, they remain rooted in the rural area he lives in. Current projects include Canfield Roots and Music From Windecker Road, a six-part TV series featuring local songwriters and celebrating a different locale in each episode. Join the email list at www.windeckerroadfilms.com to stay updated on all the latest projects. Follow Windecker Road Films on Facebook at @windeckerroadfilms and on Instagram @graemebachiu