Niagara College and its partners marked a signature moment in the construction of the new Health Education Building on November 10, bringing the community together to celebrate a shared vision for the future of healthcare in the region.

At the Welland Campus, partner organizations, government officials, donors, students, and alumni gathered to sign a structural timber beam that will become part of the building itself, a symbolic gesture representing their collective investment in the people who will help meet Niagara’s future healthcare needs.

“As the timber beams go up and we see the shape and scale of Niagara College’s new Health Education Building emerge, we’re seeing what’s possible when a community comes together around a shared priority,” said President Sean Kennedy. “Each beam represents a shared investment in our students and the future of healthcare in Niagara. This building will allow us to expand enrolment to meet student demand, help address the region’s critical need for skilled professionals, and create more opportunities for community care.”

The 75,000-square-foot, two-story building is the centrepiece of Niagara College’s strategy to address critical shortages in frontline healthcare, and it will allow the College to graduate 800 additional students from its healthcare programs each year.

The facility has received tremendous support from philanthropic partners through the College’s Together Campaign, including the Myhal Family Foundation (Myhal School of Nursing), the estate of Norris Walker, the Haj-Ahmad Family Foundation, and others whose generous investments will have a transformative and lasting impact on students.

The event also included a tree planting celebrating the building’s timber structure and commitment to sustainability, alongside a dedication honouring the Myhal Family Foundation for its generous contributions.

“Supporting Niagara College’s new Health Education Building isn’t just about constructing state-of-the-art classrooms or expanding footprint; it’s about investing directly in the human pipeline that will sustain our community for generations,” said Rayla Myhal, President of the Myhal Family Foundation and namesake of NC’s Myhal School of Nursing. “When we looked at Niagara College’s vision, we saw a perfect alignment with an organization that doesn’t just educate students but anchors this region by recruiting local talent, providing world-class, hands-on training, and deploying compassionate healthcare professionals directly into our hospitals, long-term care homes, and community health networks.”

“A stronger future for healthcare in Niagara starts with investing in the education and training of tomorrow’s workforce, and the community support of partners like the Myhal Family Foundation has been truly transformational in bringing our vision for the new Health Education Building to life,” said Gord Arbeau, Vice-President, External Relations. “This milestone shows what we can achieve together, and the College’s Together Campaign offers a meaningful opportunity for more community partners to help build a stronger future for healthcare in Niagara.”

The community will benefit from expanded access to healthcare, including a dental clinic with double the capacity to serve 3,000 Niagarans annually, a Health and Community Hub with space to host vaccination clinics and wellness screenings, and expanded student-run physical therapy clinics.

Students will also benefit from enhanced learning environments, including upgraded clinical equipment, virtual reality and simulation technology, and hands-on training opportunities that better prepare them for the workforce.

“As a nursing student, it’s exciting to see this building come to life,” said Practical Nursing student Alycia Fedchyshak. “I’ve seen firsthand how important hands-on learning and access to the right resources can be. Knowing that future students will have even more opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build their skills here is incredible. It’s amazing to think about the future nurses and healthcare professionals who will learn here and go on to serve our community.”

Project phasing and construction

The project will be completed in two phases.

Phase one, with occupancy targeted for early fall 2027, will feature a larger dental clinic, upgraded dental materials, grinding and radiography labs, new and enhanced paramedic, virtual reality learning and pharmacy labs, a bookable multipurpose clinic and general instructional classrooms.

Phase two, scheduled for December 2028, will see the renovation of the existing Applied Health Institute with improved massage clinic space, upgraded occupational therapy assistant and physiotherapy labs, and additional nursing lab capacity.

During the next phase of construction from November to January, 941 mass timber components (columns, beams, and floor and roof panels) will be installed.

Compared to traditional steel and concrete, the timber structure will reduce the building’s carbon footprint, supporting ambitious Net Zero and Carbon Neutral goals. The use of Canadian lumber supports a more sustainable and efficient building process while bringing natural warmth to the space along Woodlawn Road and creating a welcoming environment for students and visitors alike.

Complementing the material approach, the building’s design prioritizes accessibility and equity through enhanced barrier-free spaces, inclusive amenities and dedicated family and parenting spaces for students and the broader community.

Together Campaign

Niagara College’s Together campaign is a multi-year, $50 million initiative focused on addressing critical workforce shortages in healthcare and skilled trades, making education more accessible, creating diverse learning environments, and fostering research, creativity, and innovation to help close Canada’s productivity gap.

Community partners and donors are invited to learn more about the important priorities of the Together campaign by visiting niagaracollege.ca/together.

A leader in applied education, Niagara College offers diploma, bachelor degree, post-graduate and apprenticeship programs at specialized campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Consistently ranked among Canada’s top research colleges, NC is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world that provide students with important hands-on-experience. NC welcomes students from across Niagara, Ontario, and around the world who are studying in in-demand programs that support key sectors and industries in Niagara and beyond, with graduates making important contributions in all corners of our community. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

– 30 –

Media inquiries:
Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
905-932-1520
[email protected]

The post Community leaves its mark on Niagara College’s future Health Education Building appeared first on Niagara College.

Niagara College is ready to shine a spotlight on the finest wines in the history of Canada’s first Teaching Winery with a unique dinner event this fall.

On Thursday, November 19, the College will host An Evening on the Dean’s List. The ticketed dinner event, to be held at Benchmark Restaurant, will shine a spotlight on a roster of select NC wines that were hand-picked as the “best of the best” premium vintages from the Teaching Winery since its inception more than 25 years ago.

Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies, gathered a team of College winemakers and expert faculty from the School of Wine, Beer and Spirits to sample the Teaching Winery’s collection of Dean’s List wines for a mass tasting before nine Dean’s List wines were ultimately selected: 2019 Blanc de Blancs, 2019 Blanc de Noirs, 2022 Viognier, 2019 Chardonnay, 2019 Pinot Noir, 2022 Riesling, 2022 Cabernet Franc, 2017 President’s Red and 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Fortified.

The final wine list inspired a custom menu, which was curated by the dean himself to ensure each chosen wine would be poured alongside a perfectly paired dish.

“Usually, we select wines to complement the menu for our dinner events, but on Nov.19, our wines will be the star of the show,” said Youdale. “My key role is to make sure that the food we produce allows the wines to shine and showcase their best qualities for our guests.”

The event will offer a highly educational comparative tasting of the Teaching Winery’s history. Guests will explore the 2019 vintage by tasting Chardonnay and a bronze-medal-winning (National Wine Awards) Pinot Noir as both sparkling and still wines – a rare, side-by-side comparison that highlights the versatility of Niagara wine and the impact of critical winemaking decisions.

“People are in for a sensorial treat as well as some surprises,” said Allison Findlay, Head Winemaker at the NC Teaching Winery, who graduated from the Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2014. “We have been making exceptional wines since the day we launched the program and we are excited to tell the story of our 25 years through these bottles. They show growth, education, innovation, and quality.”

The event will feature the first ever crops from NC’s estate vineyard, along with a 2022 Viognier, a gold-medal winning (National Wine Awards) 2022 Riesling, and a 2022 Cabernet Franc, which recently earned a prestigious platinum medal (National Wine Awards).

The vintages hold a personal connection for Gavin Robertson, Professor and Coordinator of the Winery and Viticulture Technician program. Robertson began working at the Teaching Winery as a student in the program in 2010 and served as Head Winemaker from 2014-2021.

“We don’t often get an opportunity to put this many wines from the Teaching Winery’s history on the table at once and taste them comparatively,” said Robertson. “Wines such as the 2017 President’s Red, allow us to show what can happen when quality Niagara fruit, thoughtful winemaking and time come together. These wines provide a great snapshot of what our approach to wine education has produced over time.”

The selected 2019 sparkling wines have earned prestigious accolades, including two gold medals for the Blanc de Blancs (Decanter World Wine Awards and National Wine Awards), and a double gold (Ontario Wine Awards) for the Blanc de Noirs.

“Over the past 25 years, the Teaching Winery has been a place where students have learned by working with real equipment and real production decisions,” said Robertson. “The legacy we are celebrating isn’t only a collection of wines; it’s also the people who learned through making them and then carried that knowledge and experience into the evolving Canadian wine industry.”

The event will be held at NC’s Benchmark Restaurant – where the next generation of culinary and hospitality leaders gain real-world hands-on experience at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake – supported by the Benchmark team led by Victor Oliveira and Chef Justin Downes.

The signature dinner event will also put experiential learning into action for culinary and hospitality students, who gain the experience and expertise they need to succeed in the industry at a high-pressure, real-world dinner event.

Youdale noted that An Evening on the Dean’s List is a prime example of what makes NC’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division so unique.

“Our students aren’t just learning in classrooms; they’re making world-class wines alongside our expert, award-winning winemakers, and delivering world-class culinary and hospitality excellence in real-world settings,” he said. “This event will be a true celebration of their work.”

A limited number of tickets are on sale for the Nov.19 event (reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m.). For information and tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-evening-on-the-deans-list-tickets-1995780204316?aff=oddtdtcreator

The NC Teaching Winery became Canada’s first commercial teaching winery in Canada when it was launched in November 2002 and is the only facility of its kind in the country today. A living laboratory for students in NC’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program, it is located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Products are available at the NC Craft Beverage Centre: visit nccraft.ca.

A leader in applied education, Niagara College offers diploma, bachelor degree, post-graduate and apprenticeship programs at specialized campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Consistently ranked among Canada’s top research colleges, NC is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world that provide students with important hands-on-experience. NC welcomes students from across Niagara, Ontario, and around the world who are studying in in-demand programs that support key sectors and industries in Niagara and beyond, with graduates making important contributions in all corners of our community. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant, Niagara College

905-328-2532

[email protected]

The post An Evening on the Dean’s List: Sip, savour and celebrate NC Teaching Winery’s finest appeared first on Niagara College.

Niagara Parks and Niagara College are proud to partner and present, History on Tap at Old Fort Erie – a one-of-a-kind experience combining NC Craft beer samples from Canada’s first Teaching Brewery and cider from Canada’s first commercial Teaching Winery with historically inspired food pairings and immersive storytelling. This unique event invites guests to step back in time and discover life in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.

“History on Tap showcases the power of collaboration in creating innovative visitor experiences that allow guests to connect with Niagara’s rich cultural history in a whole new way.” said Sarah Wood, Director, Cultural Services, Niagara Parks. “Through our partnership with Niagara College, we’re bringing together local history, culinary traditions and Niagara’s vibrant craft brewing industry to create a memorable new event at Old Fort Erie, a National Historic Site that was a pivotal battleground during the War of 1812.”

As a national trailblazer in beverage education, Niagara College is bringing its living-lab model to the forefront of this unique historical event.

“NC Craft is proud to partner with Niagara Parks for the inaugural History on Tap event, celebrating Niagara’s rich brewing heritage through historically inspired food and beer pairings that reflect what would have been enjoyed in the early 1800s.” said Gary Torraville, Senior Director of Global Business Development, Niagara College. “As home to Canada’s first Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery, we’re especially excited that our students will be serving guests throughout the event, gaining valuable hands-on experience while sharing the award-winning beverages they help create. It’s a unique opportunity to connect our region’s history with the next generation of craft beverage professionals.” 

“History on Tap is a wonderful opportunity for Niagara College Teaching Brewery to connect with the community while sharing our knowledge of brewing and exploring the important role beer production has played in Canadian heritage and culture,” said Amanda Baldinelli, Hospitality and Events Manager for the Niagara College Learning Enterprise Corporation. “It also gives our students further practical experience engaging with guests, who can enjoy a variety of NC Craft products, many of which are available to take home from our retail store or online.”

Brews, bites and ballads

As autumn paints the Niagara River corridor in rich hues of red, gold and orange and cooler evenings settle in, step through the gates of Old Fort Erie for a different kind of journey into the past. History on Tap transforms the old stone fort into an immersive after-hours experience with costumed interpreters sharing stories of beer rations and military life in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.

While exploring the fort, guests will enjoy five historically inspired bites prepared by Niagara Parks’ culinary team, each perfectly paired with a 4 oz. sample of NC Craft beer. Highlights include Three Sisters Stew with corn, beans and squash, paired with NC Craft IPA, and a Bison Slider with blueberry chutney and caramelized onions, paired with NC Craft Light Lager.

Black-powder demonstrations and live music performed by Celtic rock band, The O’Deadly’s, will bring the sights and sounds of the era to life. Together, the stories, flavours and music invite guests to tap into the past and experience Old Fort Erie like never before.

History on Tap takes place at Old Fort Erie on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. and is a 19+ event. Tickets include admission, five 4 oz. NC Craft beer samples and five themed dishes paired with each beer selection. Additional NC Craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Free parking is available at the Old Fort Erie Welcome Centre. Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased here.

Crafted by student learning

The beverage lineup for the event was carefully selected from the College’s roster NC Craft beverages to complement the historical theme. The featured products are produced at NC’s Teaching Brewery and Teaching Winery. Here, students have a hands-on role in crafting beverages from start to finish, working closely alongside expert makers to hone their craft.

The selected beverages highlight authentic brewing and cider-making heritage. Guests will enjoy Butler’s Bitter, a modern take on the traditional English bitter style of the 1800s brewed with caramel malts and classic English hops.

Originally released by the NC Teaching Brewery in 2012 as a flagship beer to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, this multi-award winning ale will feature its retro 2012 commemorative label applied directly to NC Craft cans exclusively for this event.

“Not only is Butler’s Bitter a natural fit for History on Tap because it was originally brewed to commemorate the War of 1812, but we’re actually bringing back a piece of our own history in honour of the event,” said Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing. “We took the original Butler’s Bitter labels from the 650ml bottles and they fit perfectly on the front of the new cans so the retro designs will be used specially for this unique event.”

Butler’s Bitter has consistently impressed at competitions, earning over a dozen industry accolades. These include gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards, and multiple golds and silver at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, and silver at the 2025 Ontario Brewing Awards.

The lineup also features an India Pale Ale that highlights a historic brewing style originally formulated in the late 1700s and early 1800s for shipping to the colonies – specifically India – leading up to the first documented record of beer specifically called the 1820s “India Pale Ale.” The IPA won a silver at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2025.

Representing the traditional Leichtbier style first developed in the 1870s and popularized into the 1900s, the Light Lager offers a crisp clean profile. Also selected is a Porter, which is a cornerstone style of the 18th and 19th centuries, emblematic of the robust dark ales favoured by working-class soldiers and citizens of the period.

The traditional Cherry Cider produced by the Teaching Winery reflects the longstanding historical tradition of blending seasonal fruit into apple ferments to impart a vibrant flavour and acidity. It won a bronze medal at the 2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship.

Explore NC Craft

Niagara College is Canada’s leader in applied beverage education. Located at its Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, NC’s Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery were each the first facilities of their kind in Canada. Here, students gain hands-on, real-world experience alongside expert makers.

NC Craft Butler’s Bitter, India Pale Ale, Light Lager, and Cherry Cider are regular offerings available for purchase at the NC Craft Beverage Centre (formerly the Wine Visitor + Education Centre) while supplies last. Visit on campus (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake) or online at nccraft.ca.

About Niagara Parks

Since its establishment in 1885, Niagara Parks has remained a self-financed agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, entrusted to preserve and protect the land surrounding Niagara Falls and the Niagara River. Today, Niagara Parks boasts gardens, a horticulture school, recreation, golf courses, restaurants, heritage and historic sites, gift shops and, of course, Niagara Falls. In short, natural landscapes, history, family fun, hiking, culinary delights, attractions and adventure. Visit niagaraparks.com.

About Niagara College

A leader in applied education, Niagara College offers diploma, bachelor degree, post-graduate and apprenticeship programs at specialized campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Consistently ranked among Canada’s top research colleges, NC is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world that provide students with important hands-on-experience. NC welcomes students from across Niagara, Ontario, and around the world who are studying in in-demand programs that support key sectors and industries in Niagara and beyond, with graduates making important contributions in all corners of our community. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca

Media inquiries, please contact:

Katy Wassenaar

Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Niagara Parks

(905) 356-2241 ext. 2224

[email protected]

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant, Niagara College

905-328-2532

[email protected]

Media photos:

Additional media assets from Niagara Parks are available here.

The post Niagara Parks and Niagara College present History on Tap at Old Fort Erie appeared first on Niagara College.

Strategic collaboration agreement signed as inaugural class of Defence Systems Engineering Technology students begin at College this fall.

On September 4, Niagara College took a step towards becoming a national hub for defence and public-safety technology, partnering with the Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association (CERRA), a national organization representing emergency responders and advancing the use and integration of robotics and emerging technologies spanning air, ground and water.

The strategic partnership signed by Niagara College and CERRA will create a Canada-wide platform connecting education, applied research, technology developers, and operational end users in the rapidly evolving defence, public-safety, robotics, and autonomous-systems sectors.

“Niagara College is pleased to partner with the Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association as the College strengthens its emerging role in Canada’s defence and public-safety ecosystem,” said Niagara College President Sean Kennedy. “CERRA’s network of emergency responders brings valuable real-world experience with drone technology, creating meaningful opportunities to connect operational expertise with education, applied research and workforce development to help drive innovation.”

The signing of a Strategic Collaboration Agreement between NC and CERRA comes ahead of the launch of the College’s new Defence Systems Engineering Technology programs this fall, when they welcome the inaugural class. More than 40 students will train to become drone developers, reflecting strong demand for the program that is a direct response to government priorities and labour market needs.

CERRA represents over 700 members from Canada’s emergency response community, advancing the safe, effective and coordinated integration of robotics, autonomous systems, sensors and other emerging technologies across air, ground and water operations. Working across government, defence, industry, academia and research, CERRA connects these groups with emergency response end users to identify capability gaps, evaluate emerging technologies, and develop the training, standards and operational practices needed to bring new capabilities into the field.

At the signing, CERRA Co-Chairs Andy Olesen and Erik Blouin were joined by CERRA Directors Jeffrey Inch, Dave Beatty, and Colin Giles, as well as Member of Parliament for Niagara South Fred Davies.

“Technology and operational capabilities are evolving rapidly across air, ground and water robotics,” said Andy Olesen, Co-Chair, CERRA. “It is important that we have the ability to keep pace with that momentum, understand where these technologies can provide real value in emergency response operations, and help Canadian technology developers move promising capabilities toward real-world applications. This partnership with Niagara College gives us an opportunity to bring emergency response end users together with researchers, educators, technology developers and government. By creating that connection, we can identify emerging technology pathways, evaluate new capabilities against real operational requirements, and help Canadian-developed technologies move from concept and research into meaningful operational capability.”

About Niagara College’s Defence Systems Engineering Technology programs

The Defence Systems Engineering Technology (three-year) and Defence Systems Engineering Technician (two-year) programs offer experiential learning in mechatronic and photonic (optic/laser) systems for the development of real-world aerial, terrestrial and marine drones. As Canada strengthens its defence readiness and technological innovation, the programs will give students experience building drones, instrument payloads, and autonomous systems, preparing them for sought-after careers in defence, public safety, aerospace, and emerging technologies. 

About the Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association (CERRA)

The Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association (CERRA) is a national organization representing approximately 700 members from the emergency response community across Canada. CERRA advances the operational integration of robotics, autonomous systems and emerging technologies to support emergency response operations.

Working across air, ground and water domains, CERRA brings emergency response end users together with government, defence, industry, academia, research organizations and technology developers to identify operational capability gaps, explore emerging technology pathways, and evaluate and validate new systems.

Through applied research, technology trials, training, standards development and operational exercises, CERRA helps bridge the gap between emerging technology and real-world emergency response capability. This work provides Canadian technology developers with access to operational knowledge and end-user perspectives while helping emergency responders identify, evaluate and integrate technologies that can improve their capabilities.

A leader in applied education, Niagara College offers diploma, bachelor degree, post-graduate and apprenticeship programs at specialized campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Consistently ranked among Canada’s top research colleges, NC is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world that provide students with important hands-on-experience. NC welcomes students from across Niagara, Ontario, and around the world who are studying in in-demand programs that support key sectors and industries in Niagara and beyond, with graduates making important contributions in all corners of our community. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

– 30 –

Media inquiries:
Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
905-932-1520
[email protected]

---

The post Niagara College and Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association partner to advance Canada’s defence and public-safety technology ecosystem appeared first on Niagara College.