What’s open and closed at Niagara College for Thanksgiving

Please refer to the list below for the status of Niagara College operations, services and learning enterprises for the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Monday, October 10.

NC wishes you a happy Thanksgiving long weekend.

Campus access: Campus doors will be closed on October 10.

Wine Visitor + Education Centre: Retail store, patio and indoor service open daily (including October 10). Tasting, shopping, drinks by the glass and snack service is available every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Products include NC wine, beer, cider and spirits. For pickup, local delivery, and shipping across Ontario, please visit ncteachingwinery.ca or call 905-641-2252 ext. 4070.

Teaching Brewery: NC’s Teaching Brewery is closed on October 10. The Brewery is currently open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with plans to increase hours.

NC Teaching Greenhouse: The Greenhouse will be open for in-person shopping on Saturday, October 8. It will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 9 and on Thanksgiving Day (Monday, Oct. 10). Regular fall hours for in-person shopping are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online sales/curbside pickup is also available. Visit the Teaching Greenhouse’s online store to place an online order.

Athletics & Recreation: Fitness Centres and gymnasiums are closed October 10 and will reopen October 11. Visit the Knights website for facility hours.

Bookstores: Both campus bookstores will be closed on October 10 and will reopen on Oct. 11. Fall hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Online ordering is also available via the Campus Bookstore website.

Community Employment Services: (43 Church St. in St. Catharines): Closed October 10. Virtual and in-person services resume on October 11 and are available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit the CES website for more information.

Enrolment Services: On-campus and virtual services closed on October 10. Students may continue to submit requests via email and student portal. Requests will be reviewed in priority sequence when Enrolment Services reopens on October 11. Visit the Enrolment Services website for information.
Food & Ancillary Services: All food and ancillary services will be closed on October 10.

Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services: HWAS is closed on October 10. Virtual, phone and in-person services are available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students looking for support can also access the following resources:

Good2Talk
Good2Talk is a free, province-wide service for students in college/university and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It provides professional counselling, mental health information and connections to local resources. Students who are concerned about student life, health or mental well-being can contact Good2Talk via:

COAST Niagara / Mental Health and Addiction Help Line
COAST provides services to people in the Niagara Region who are in crisis and have a mental health concern. Ongoing telephone support and/or referral to appropriate follow-up services may be recommended to prevent further crisis.

Call 1-866-550-5205 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and press 1 for COAST or press 2 for Mental Health and Addiction Help Line. Visit the COAST website for more information.

Indigenous Education: The Indigenous Student Centres will be closed on October 10 and will reopen Oct. 11. Visit niagaracollege.ca/indigenouseducation for information about IE services.

International Centres: Centres will be closed on October 10. Student Assistants will resume operations on Oct. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at both the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus (NOTL).

ncLibraries and Learning Commons: In-person and virtual services, including student support, test centre, academic drop-ins and peer tutoring services will be closed Monday, October 10. Online resources are available 24-7 at niagaracollege.ca/library.

NCSAC offices and Student Centres: NCSAC offices, virtual chat services, student centres and cafes will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday (October 10).

Transit

Please check with individual transit providers for the most up-to-date information and holiday schedules:

Niagara Region Transit
St. Catharines Transit Commission
Welland Transit (including Port Colborne)
Niagara Falls Transit

For information, schedules and the latest updates, visit: Niagara Region Transit webpage

Visit yourncsac.ca/yourtransit for information and Frequently Asked Questions related to student transit.

Return to Campus website

For a comprehensive list of services and supports available for students, visit the
Campus Services page on NC’s Return to Campus website.

 

Record hiring to support planned and anticipated growth at Niagara College

Niagara College is poised to make key investments in people over the next two years, with record hiring of faculty, staff, administrators, and counsellors and student support staff since the spring.

Hiring for new and replacement positions began over the summer and the College filled more than 100 positions before the Fall Term began in September, with a further 100 employees anticipated in the coming year.

Emerging from one of the most challenging times in the College’s history and buoyed by an ambitious strategic plan, these positions will serve students in key learning and support areas at NC’s Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Current full- and part-time openings include entry-level to senior management positions in academic schools, Human Resources, Facilities Management Services, ncLibraries, Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services, Indigenous Education, and Research.

“We’re positioning our College for growth, and to play a lead role in the period of economic recovery that lies ahead,” said President Sean Kennedy. “We look forward to welcoming a record number of new people to our team, where we offer an outstanding, welcoming, and student-focused workplace culture, flexible work environments and opportunities to innovate.”

The work of new hires – who span all employee groups – will be tied to the College’s interconnected areas of focus for the next five years: a wholistic student experience; academic excellence; global reach, alumni and partner engagement, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, and organizational excellence. Their contributions will support significant growth and change on NC’s mission to advance student learning.

“Our employees enjoy competitive compensation and a highly engaged workplace where they are inspired to do their best work and have a strong sense of personal accomplishment,” said Pam Skinner, Senior Vice President, College Operations.

As one of the region’s largest employers, Niagara College currently employs more than 1,600 full-and part-time employees.

This September, NC introduced a Remote Work Policy that incorporates many of the lessons learned over the past two years of College operations and work and provides employees with flexibility through a balance of on-campus and remote work. As a place-based organization, all positions will involve some degree of on-campus work.

New positions will be posted regularly on NC’s Human Resources website via the Job Posting Portal, and prospective employees can sign up to receive alerts.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Michael Wales
Director, Communications
Niagara College
905-328-4101
[email protected]

Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
Niagara College
905-932-1520
[email protected]

Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden blossoms for one of Niagara College’s most beloved champions

A new English-style garden has taken root at Niagara College to honour the memory of Saundra Patterson – the College’s long-time ‘first lady.’

Saundra, who passed away on January 27, 2021, was the devoted partner of long-time NC President Dan Patterson (now President Emeritus). She is remembered as a champion for NC who supported the College and its students at every opportunity.

To honour Saundra’s memory and her love for gardening, the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden was created at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The garden was designed and built by students and faculty from NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture and staff from the Teaching Greenhouse with whom Saundra forged a special connection with over the years.

At an event held on October 3 at the garden site, members of the NC community gathered with special guests and donors to mark the official unveiling and dedication of the new outdoor space.

“Saundra Patterson was a truly remarkable woman whose love of horticulture and commitment to Niagara College, our students, and their success left an indelible mark on our community,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “On behalf of the College, it brings me great joy to officially dedicate this truly one-of-a-kind garden to Saundra to honour her legacy on campus.”

President Emeritus Patterson, who thanked everyone who had a hand in the project, was moved by the “magnificent garden” in honour of his late wife, who inspired a ‘living lab’ on campus.

“One of the quotes in this memorial garden is about ‘gardening being a grand teacher,’” said Patterson, referring to one of Saundra’s favourite quotes from late British horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll. “The faculty, staff and students have created a world class teaching garden – it is blossoming into a beautiful place of reflection, a unique gathering space, and a showcase that represents all the very best of a college learning environment.”

Niagara College President Sean Kennedy and President Emeritus Dan Patterson celebrate the unveiling and dedication of the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden on October 3.

A labour of love for the School of Environment and Horticulture and Teaching Greenhouse

At the October 3 event, faculty members Carrie Zimmerman and Dena Gavin shared details about the School of Environment and Horticulture’s and Teaching Greenhouse’s involvement in the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden – calling it a labour of love for one of their biggest supporters.

As a special applied learning project, more than 150 students participated in the creation of the garden, including Amanda Saulnier, a second year Greenhouse Technician student from New Brunswick who spoke at the event on behalf of her classmates.

“It’s been a fantastic learning experience for me and my fellow Horticulture students to create Saundra’s memorial garden,” said Saulnier, who had the opportunity to work on the garden from the very beginning of the project.

Saulnier noted that her work involved a variety of tasks such as, “digging and prepping the garden beds, framing up and laying down hardscapes, aligning a surprisingly heavy fountain, right through to planting this wonderfully chosen array of plant life we see here today,” she explained.

Also at the root of the project is Alice Lee, a graduate of NC’s Landscape Design program (2021) who designed the memorial garden in 2021 as part of a class assignment.

Key elements of the English-style garden include decorative urns with seasonal flowers and plantings and a large water fountain. Pink and white-coloured blooms – representing Saundra’s favourite shades – as well as evergreens, are planted throughout the structured gardens while special features such as decorative panels and cobblestone pavers add interest to the space. The elegant space is meant for the College community to enjoy for a short stroll or to relax and take a seat at one of its featured benches or tables.

Lee, who is originally from Korea, attended the Oct. 3 dedication to celebrate the opening of the space that she designed. “I feel so lucky to be a part of this project. The experience motivates me to continue forward with my work as a landscape designer,” she said.

“The Niagara College faculty, staff and students have made so many people proud with this project, and I know that Saundra is shouting ‘Bravo!’ from above,” said Patterson.

The memorial garden will continue to provide applied learning experiences for students as they lend their green thumbs to maintaining the space for years to come.

It has also planted the seed for future projects of a similar scope according to Greenhouse Manager Matt Orr. “This project a stepping stone to create other design-focused gardens on campus to bring the botanical garden feel to the College,” said Orr.

NC President Emeritus Dan Patterson stands in the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden with alumna Alice Lee (left) and student Amanda Saulnier (right) who worked on the garden project.

Community support flourishes in honour of Saundra Patterson

The Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden was completely funded through the generosity of community donors, who contributed a total of $89,000 to the garden project and to support students through the Saundra Patterson Horticultural Bursary.

A total of $50,000 was raised specifically for the garden, while an additional $39,000 was raised for the Saundra Patterson Horticultural Bursary supporting NC horticulture students. A tireless supporter of student learning, Saundra established this endowed Horticultural Bursary Fund in 2006, which has provided financial assistance to 46 students since its inception. Thanks to this most recent support, more students will benefit for years to come.

Donor Bonnie Rose – a close friend of the Pattersons who has held senior executive positions at Niagara College and served two terms on its Board of Governors – attended the Oct. 3 dedication to see how the garden has come to life as a living testament to honour Saundra’s memory on campus.

“Knowing all the love Saundra poured into the college and the students, I know this is the perfect memorial,” said Rose. “Saundra will always be here at the heart of [the campus], helping people come together, feel better and learn.”

Saundra Patterson’s family and close friends gather at the memorial garden at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus on October 3.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
Cell: 905-328-2532
[email protected]

Michael Wales
Director, Communications
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

 

 

Message from President Kennedy: Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

As we prepare to mark the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, Niagara College continues to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities.

This important day serves to recognize and reflect on the tragic history of residential schools in Canada. It’s a day to honour the children who never returned home, as well as survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day – an Indigenous-led grassroots movement that raises awareness of the impacts of residential schools, and that ‘every child matters.’ This is a day when we wear our support ‘on our sleeves’ as we don our orange shirts, signifying the culture, freedom and self-esteem that was taken away from Indigenous children over generations.

While our College has been a long-time supporter of Orange Shirt Day, we were fortunate to get a head-start this year with a special visit from Orange Shirt Day Founder and Ambassador Phyllis Webstad, a third-generation residential school survivor. Phyllis visited our Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake on September 22 and delivered her powerful message to our College community.

Staff and students stood side by side, clad in orange as a show of support, to hear Phyllis, her family members and others speak about the devastating impacts that residential schools had on their lives and on their communities.

It was an impactful and truly unforgettable experience.

I strongly encourage those who were not able to attend to watch the video recording of Phyllis’ speech, which was captured by a small team of students from our Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program (sent via Campus Notice email).

During Phyllis’ visit, we were proud to announce our new Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship at NC which will help more Indigenous students achieve their dreams. Beginning fall 2023, four students will receive a scholarship every year, and we strive to grow this scholarship until it becomes available to every Indigenous student entering NC.

Earlier this year, we introduced NC’s new strategic plan, which commits to working in partnership with students and Indigenous partners, and to actively respond to and support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

While we have made important strides, there is a long way to go on our journey towards reconciliation, and education is key.

Only truth will lead us to reconciliation. We all share a responsibility to learn about residential schools, so learn more and get involved whenever you can – on campus and in our communities.

Let’s open our minds and our hearts on September 30 and beyond. By shedding light on the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, we can strive for a brighter future.

Learn more

There are events happening throughout Niagara featuring Phyllis Webstad’s Beyond the Orange Shirt Story. View Facebook: Beyond the Orange Shirt Story–Niagara Falls 2022 for event details.

Read about Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Day movement at orangeshirtday.org. The site also features a list of official orange shirt suppliers which help to support Indigenous communities.

Resources to enhance your learning journey about First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples across Canada are also available via a  Government of Canada website dedicated to Indigenous arts, culture and heritage.

Visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s site and read its final report detailing 94 calls to action.

On September 30, the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) will partner with major media outlets and radio stations throughout Canada to amplify Indigenous voices through A Day to Listen 2022. Visit downiewenjack.ca/a-day-to-listen/ for details.

Support for Indigenous students and employees

As we discuss truth and reconciliation, this can be a particularly difficult time for Indigenous students, faculty and staff. Know that your college community supports you and that there are resources in place to assist.

Resources and supports are available on the HWAS Indigenous Mental Health Resources website for students who are experiencing the impact of trauma inflicted by the residential school system that is affecting their ability to participate fully in their courses or programs.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program offers supports for employees through Human Resources (staff can call Homewood Health 24/7).

 

View Sept. 23, 2022: Orange Shirt Day Founder leaves legacy with College visit

 

Orange Shirt Day Founder leaves legacy with College visit

Like the tree freshly planted on campus in her honour, the impact of Phyllis Webstad’s visit to Niagara College will root and flourish for years to come through her powerful message in pursuit of truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, as well as a new scholarship to support Indigenous students.

The Founder and Ambassador of the Orange Shirt Day movement visited NC’s Daniel J. Patterson in Niagara-on-the-Lake on September 22 to share her story with students, staff and faculty – many were clad in orange as a show of support.  

“As a long-time supporter of Orange Shirt Day, we were thrilled to welcome Phyllis to NC to share her powerful messages with our College community,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “Phyllis inspires us to open our minds and our hearts – to strive to learn more about the devastating impacts of the residential school system in Canada, to consider new perspectives, and to continue engaging with truth and reconciliation initiatives, while honouring residential school victims and survivors.”

A survivor from St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School (Williams Lake, B.C.), Webstad has made it her mission to honour survivors of the Indian residential school system – including intergenerational survivors – and to remember the children who never made it home.

Webstad spoke about the impacts of the residential school system in Canada and the origins and importance of Orange Shirt Day, which coincides with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation later this month. She read an excerpt from one of her books, Beyond the Orange Shirt Story, and recounted her first day at residential school as a six-year-old girl, when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her.

“It didn’t matter how much I protested or told them I wanted it back.  They didn’t’ listen. This was the beginning of that feeling like I didn’t matter,” she said.

The feeling went on to inspire the slogan, ‘every child matters.’

“That’s where ‘every child matters’ comes from …  we could be sick, hungry, lonely, sad, and it didn’t matter, our feelings didn’t matter,” said Webstad, who pointed out that today’s survivors are now adults and elders, “but they were children then.”

Family and friends travelling with Webstad’s group – including her mother Rose Jack and her aunt Theresa Jack – spoke out about how their experiences at residential schools severely impacted their lives. Another member of Webstad’s group, Ron Murphy, spoke of how bullying and sexual abuse he faced at residential school led him to life on the streets as a young teen, and the challenges he faced as a male survivor.

Jamie Consoli, Indigenous Counsellor, Health, Wellness and Accessibility, was instrumental to Webstad’s visit to the College and spoke at the event. Consoli was excited and honoured that Webstad reached out with an interest in visiting NC.

“Not only has her story has inspired so many, but it is a conversation starter to spread awareness on the impacts of the residential school system,” said Consoli. “As Indigenous faculty at NC, the opportunity to meet her and hear her speak is one in a million.”

In addition to her speaking event, Webstad met with Indigenous students during her time at the College and visited the on-campus Indigenous Garden where a Norway spruce was planted in her honour.

President Sean Kennedy and Phyllis Webstad participate in a tree planting at the Indigenous Garden (Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake), where a Norway spruce was planted in honour of Webstad’s visit.

Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship

President Kennedy announced NC’s new Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship to support Indigenous students during Webstad’s speaking event.

The scholarship was initiated by Indigenous Education at NC as a tribute to Webstad’s momentous visit and her important work through the Orange Shirt movement. It is intended to recognize Webstad’s name as well as her story of strength and resilience, which have not only inspired the community to give, but will be meaningful for future scholarship recipients.

“Thanks to the Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship, more Indigenous students will receive the support they need to achieve their dreams,” said Kennedy. “We are proud to name this scholarship in Phyllis’ honour, in recognition of her tireless pursuit of truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous peoples of Canada through the Orange Shirt movement.”

The scholarship announcement was met with applause and was well received by Webstad who thanked the College.

“It was education that got us into this mess and education will get us out of it,” said Webstad, paraphrasing a quote from Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair Murray Sinclair, regarding education being the key to reconciliation.

While an initial fundraising goal was set for $20,000 to launch the scholarship, total funds raised exceeded expectations at more than $41,000. Contributors include CIBC, Scotiabank, Niagara Community Foundation, United Way Niagara, OPSEU Local 242, and individual donors from the community.

To start, four students will receive a $1,000 scholarship every year, beginning fall 2023.

Fundraising is still underway, with a goal to grow the Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship until it can be offered to every Indigenous student entering NC.

To apply for the new scholarship, through the Financial Aid section of the NC website, students will be asked to submit a written statement outlining how the scholarship would assist them, and recipients will be selected by a team of College representatives from Indigenous Education and Financial Aid.

Those who wish to contribute to the Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship at NC are asked to visit donate.niagaracollege.ca.

Learn more

Webstad’s visit to NC kicks off several upcoming events where she will be speaking across Niagara, including an Orange Shirt Day Recognition of Survivors event to be held at Niagara Parks Power Station in Niagara Falls on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.  Visit Facebook: Beyond the Orange Shirt Story—Niagara Falls 2022 for event details.

For information about Webstad or Orange Shirt Day visit orangeshirtday.org. The site also features a list of official orange shirt suppliers which help to support Indigenous communities or organizations.

Phyllis Webstad (middle) stands with Jamie Consoli (Health, Wellness and Accessibility Counsellor), Leah Hogan (Associate Director, Indigenous Education), Aria D’alimonte (Events Coordinator, Indigenous Education) and Deane McGean (Indigenous Student Success Leader, Indigenous Education).
 

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

TOP PHOTO: Phyllis Webstad and Sean Kennedy (NC President) hold a symbolic ‘cheque’ for the Dr. Phyllis Webstad Indigenous Scholarship. Standing (from left): Suzanne Veenstra (Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Niagara Community Foundation), Frances Hallworth (Executive Director, United Way Niagara), Phyllis Webstad, Deane McGean (Indigenous Education, NC), Aria D’Alimonte (Indigenous Education, NC), Leah Hogan (Associate Director, Indigenous Education, NC), Sean Kennedy, Noelle Urquhart (District Vice President, Scotiabank), Meaghan Bowler (Market Vice President, CIBC) and Rick Anderson (NC VP, Student Affairs).

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
Cell: 905-328-2532
[email protected]

 

Double win for Niagara College’s budding Commercial Cannabis Production program at Grow-Up Awards

Niagara College found itself in the spotlight, September 12, with two great reasons to celebrate at the 2022 Grow Up Industry Awards in Niagara Falls.

NC’s Commercial Cannabis Production (CCP) graduate certificate program, now in its fourth year, won the Cannabis Education Award, while one of the program’s first graduates, Stacie Hollingworth, was named Master Grower of the Year.

Stacie Hollingworth is the Master Grower for Safari Flower Co. in Fort Erie and is a 2019 graduate of Niagara College’s Commercial Cannabis Production (CCP) graduate certificate program.

NC’s win is a testament to the college’s spirit of innovation, said Alan Unwin, Dean, Business and Environment.

“It’s exciting to be recognized as a top educator in an emerging industry,” Unwin said. “To know that our Commercial Cannabis Production program is being celebrated for its excellence in providing students with the expertise they need to thrive in the cannabis industry is very rewarding. We are proud of Stacie for this incredible achievement.”

Hollingworth was one of only three females nominated in her category, which recognizes the professional grower whose dedication to their craft consistently produces top quality crops for the marketplace and a positive workplace for the sector.

“It truly was an honor to be recognized with this distinction,” said the two-time NC alumna, who also graduated from the Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2003. “The award was based on voting from individuals within the cannabis industry, so to have been supported in this way by my peers and colleagues is an incredible accomplishment.

“Winning this award as a Niagara College alumna at the same time Niagara College won the award for Best Cannabis Educator really feels like a full circle: the best instructors educating the future best industry leaders.”

Hollingworth currently works as Master Grower for Safari Flower Co. in Fort Erie where she grows product for more than two dozen brands distributed across Canada, Israel and Germany. She leads a grow team of 46 people who cultivate 12 varieties at once in 10 indoor controlled grow rooms.

Her expertise includes disease, mildew and microbial mitigation.

“What excites me about the work I do is not only making Canada known on the global market as a leader in commercial and medical cannabis standards, but to help propel Niagara as a craft cannabis destination,” Hollingworth said. “Niagara is already known nationally and internationally for is agricultural hub of excellence and innovation, now is the time to add cannabis to the list.”

The Niagara College Commercial Cannabis Production team at the Grow Up Awards Gala. Pictured: Professor Sebastien Jacob, Technologist Stanley Leggett, Program Coordinator Bill MacDonald, Horticulture Technologist Laurie Zuber, Associate Dean in the School of Environment & Horticulture Evan DiValentino and Dean, Business and Environment, Al Unwin.

Grow Up’s Cannabis Education Award recognizes the institution that has led the way in the education of a new crop of growers. Niagara College was one of nine educators nominated for the award.

Program coordinator Bill MacDonald is proud of what the CCP team has accomplished in just a few short years.

“Winning the Cannabis Cultivation Education award is extremely rewarding and recognizes the dedication and hard work the whole team put forth in the Commercial Cannabis Production program at Niagara College. Having a graduate of the program, Stacie Hollingworth, recognized by her peers as Master Grower of the Year really gives me a tremendous sense of pride for what we have and will accomplish at Niagara College.”

MacDonald won the Cultivation Education Award at the 2021 Grow Up Conference.

The Grow Up Awards were presented during the three-day Grow Up Conference and Expo at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre, September 11-13, and all current CCP program students were invited to participate in discussion panels and the science symposium.

“This is such a great way for the students to connect with industry professionals, learn from them and get a glimpse into the cannabis industry,” said Laurie Zuber, horticulture technologist with the College’s Commercial Cannabis Production program and a member of the conference’s advisory board. “Students learned so much from the speakers on the scientific panel and had the opportunity to make some really great connections.”

Launched in 2018 at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the Lake, the one-year post-graduate Commercial Cannabis Production program was the first of its kind in Canada. Students enrolled in the program are trained in the biological and cultural practices of cannabis production including plant nutrition, environment, lighting, climate control, pest control and cultivar selection.

As a graduate certificate program, applicants must possess a diploma or degree in the areas of horticulture, greenhouse technology, agricultural sciences, plant sciences, biology or a related discipline. Graduates can go on to work at Licensed Producers in a variety of roles in growing, operations, quality assurance, and more.

Since opening the doors to its state-of-the art, fully secure growing facility, NC has cultivated a total of 137 alumni from eight cohorts.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs, as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

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

Fall 2022 graduates: Mark your calendar for Oct. 28

With Fall term well underway, Niagara College looks forward to celebrating its latest class of graduates.

Fall 2022 Convocation will be held on October 28 with two in-person ceremonies at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.).

Further details, including programs graduating this fall and ceremony schedules, are available at niagaracollege.ca/convocation.

Additional updates will be shared in the coming weeks via College’s convocation website.

The College will also continue offering graduates and their families an option to celebrate their special milestone virtually, from anywhere in the world. Ceremonies may be viewed in the moment via livestream or later via the convocation website.

Deadline for graduation requirements  

A reminder to all potential graduates: Friday, September 16, 2022, 4:30 p.m. EST is the deadline to meet graduation requirements to be included in Fall 2022 Convocation Ceremonies. An email reminder was shared with all potential graduates earlier this week. For questions contact [email protected] with your name, student ID number and program.

Alumni reunion for virtual graduates 2020-2022

Before Fall 2022 convocation begins, alumni from NC’s classes of 2020-2021, who graduated virtually, will be invited back to campus for a reunion celebration on October 27.

View the announcement: Reunion celebration for 2020-2021 virtual graduates Oct. 27

Save the date: Reunion celebration for 2020-2021 virtual graduates Oct. 27

Alumni who graduated with virtual ceremonies over the past two years will have a chance to return to campus, pose for photos, and celebrate with their former classmates at an in-person reunion this October.

The special event, geared to NC’s classes of 2020 and 2021, is scheduled to take place at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on October 27, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Beginning at 3 p.m., alumni will hear from College President Sean Kennedy as well as prominent NC alumnus Jason Ofield, President and CEO of Bulk Barn (Business – Sales and Marketing, 2005) who will speak on the topic of resilience and leadership.

The College’s 100,000th graduate Emily Gushue (Community and Justice Services, 2021) is also scheduled to attend, in recognition of the special College milestone that was marked at NC’s Spring 2021 Virtual Convocation ceremonies.

A reception will follow, which will feature food from Niagara College’s School of Culinary Arts as well as local entertainment.

Please note that this event will not be a traditional convocation ceremony and will not include a ‘crossing of the stage’ as part of the formal program.

This social event is an opportunity for alumni who attended virtual convocation ceremonies to return to campus and celebrate their achievement with their fellow graduates.

This is a ticketed event and guests may attend by invitation only. Invitations to the reunion celebration will be distributed during the weeks ahead and each graduate will be invited to bring one guest. Alumni from 2020 and 2021 are encouraged to check their email for registration details.

Change is on the menu at Niagara College

Weekly pop-ups, a Christmas market, and more ticketed dining events than ever, are among a fresh batch of culinary service offerings at Niagara College, with the launch of a new academic division.

Expanded culinary offerings

The start of NC’s Fall term marked the launch of its new Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division along with a new culinary service model that transcends the traditional. With a variety of student-led culinary initiatives based entirely on academics, the College community and the public can get a taste of what students are producing in class – whether they’re picking up a takeout meal at a pop-up event, enjoying an a la carte lunch or five-course signature dinner at an on-campus venue, sampling student creations at an event or festival, and more.

Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies, said that changes have been discussed for several years but when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect NC’s culinary operations more than two years ago, it became the perfect time to reimagine the future. The past two years have also created challenges for the culinary, beverage and hospitality industries, and the new model enhances the College’s ability to support recovery and growth in these key sectors of the Niagara economy.

“We had an opportunity to flip the script and create something new and better for our students, our community, and the industries we support,” said Youdale. “I think just restarting the old model would be a lost opportunity and this new student-first approach will continue to grow and develop.”

Benchmark – which had been closed since March 2020 – will transition from a traditional restaurant operation to a learning space and venue for a variety of ticketed lunch and dinner events and to support the Feed the Community program.

Weekly culinary pop-ups featuring food and products made by students in their culinary labs – from meals ready to enjoy or packaged for take-out – will become a prominent fixture of the Hospitality wing lobby each Friday. Upcoming pop-ups include food truck themed fare (September 16); chicken/plant-based menu (September 23); stews, soups, schnitzel, fries and pork sandwiches (September 30); salmon dinner, fish (October 7); and five-course dinner (November 25 and December 2).

Guests can whet their appetite for ticketed student-led signature culinary events (October 21 and December 16), student-led dinners, Project Brew (December 2002) and a Traditional Christmas Market (November 26).

The division will also expand on the Feed the Community program, giving more students a chance to help those in need while ensuring that no food goes to waste from NC’s academic programs. Culinary students are preparing and packaging 300 meals per week for delivery to local food banks and shelters.

“This new model creates increased opportunities to connect students with the community through work with agencies and charities, allowing students to put the skills and knowledge gained in classes and labs to work while learning important lessons in social responsibility,” said Youdale.

Real-world experience

Michael Kim, Diego Naranjo, Jin Choi, and Arran Zaman present their plated vegan meals to their chef professors in their Contemporary Food Production Course on Sept. 9. Meals from their class were ready just in time for a culinary pop-up takeout event at noon the same day.

On September 9, a class of second-year Culinary Management students prepared vegan take-home meals for NC’s first culinary pop-up of the term which drew a lineup to the first pop-up at noon that same day. Food preparation took place in a newly introduced Contemporary Food Production course that morning.

“This course has a real food service industry applied feeling, timing, standards, accuracy, pressure, and repetition; alongside guest’s comments, critics and gratification,” said Chef Professor Olaf Mertens. “It’s real industry standards played out within our College kitchens with real guests and many opportunities for guest feedback and interaction.”

Chef Mertens noted that he is ecstatic about new model and launch of new courses that equip students with experience in mass food production and repetitive skills work. Students will continue to practice French culinary cookery every week in the course while continuing to produce a ‘planted cuisine’ duplicate.

“Students elevate from cooking recipes to production, all while serving, feeding all people in our NC community and food insecurities within our Niagara neighborhoods,” said Mertens.

Students were excited about the experience they were gaining in the new course and that food they are preparing in class will be featured at a culinary pop-ups and other events.

“Last year, we were preparing food, but this semester we are also presenting those skills to an audience … that’s what hospitality is all about,” said Bollar Thakar, who is originally from India and currently lives in Niagara Falls. “We are now preparing food for larger number of people and cooking a larger amount, but we still have to maintain our skills and still have to maintain all the protocols in the kitchen – cleaning, hygiene, sanitizing everything.”

“I had very limited experience with vegan cuisine because I’m not a vegan myself, so everything was new to me, but it’s always nice working with new ingredients … it follows the current trends with more people eating sustainable food,” said Affran Zaman, who is originally from Bangladesh and currently lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “This course makes it exciting – to work in a real kitchen and gain hands-on experience. This is more like the real world.”

Looking ahead

Dean Youdale is looking forward to even more initiatives in the works for Winter 2023 term, including a plan to expand culinary service offerings beyond the division’s location at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Welland Campus, and to involve more program areas from across the College in the future.

“This is only beginning,” he said. “We look forward to this new model creating not only opportunities for our students, but also a chance for the community to connect to what our students are capable of.”

New division

The new Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division, includes three distinct schools of study for the first time: Culinary Arts; Wine, Beer and Spirits; and Hospitality and Tourism – replacing the former Canadian Food and Wine Institute. The new division is poised to spark new synergies between programs and fresh opportunities for students and the community.

Hospitality and Tourism Professors Janet Jakosbsen and Stephen Carroll applauded the announcement of the new division and the possibilities it will bring.

“This structure is in perfect alignment with our industry stakeholders and as such we can capitalize on expanding our experiential learning opportunities and bring more value to our students, NC and our industry partners,” said Jakobsen.

“I believe, years down the road from now, NC Hospitality and Tourism School members will look back on this exciting ‘joining of forces’ as the catalyst and launch pad for new growth, prosperity, alignment and collaboration among the united NC Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division,” said Carroll.

More information

NC culinary services are open to the College community and guests. Pop-up meals will be available on Fridays at noon in limited quantities, on a first-come, first-served basis, in the Hospitality wing lobby, at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Find out what’s next on the menu, and get the latest information about upcoming pop-ups, festivals and ticketed dining events at niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/culinaryservices/.

Visit NC Culinary Foodservice on Facebook @BenchmarkatNC and @ncculinaryfoodservice on Instagram for updates.

 

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
Cell: 905-328-2532
[email protected]

 

 

Teaching Winery welcomes new winemaker, alumna Allison Findlay

Allison Findlay has made her mark in Ontario’s wine industry since she graduated from Niagara College, and now she’s returning to her alma mater as Winemaker at the Niagara College Teaching Winery.

Findlay, who graduated from the College’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2014, was most recently Head Winemaker at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, where she honed her craft producing award-winning wines – including a Best in Show at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards.

“It has been rewarding to see Allison’s skills and talents come to fruition as an award-winning winemaker, with recognized success not only here in Niagara but among the best in the world,” said General Manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises, Steve Gill. “We are very excited to welcome her back to our Teaching Winery, where she will continue to produce outstanding wines and become a valuable mentor for budding industry professionals.”

Findlay, who is originally from Dryden, Ontario and currently resides in Grimsby, reflected on how joining the team at the NC Teaching Winery has been a homecoming of sorts.

“I have felt at home here since I first toured the campus on a freezing February afternoon in 2012,” she said. “I have had such a wonderful career so far in the Ontario wine industry and cannot wait to share my experience and passion with the students.”

Passionate about maximizing the fruit and quality that comes from the vineyard to produce balanced, focused wines, Findlay noted that she is looking forward to experimenting with new grape varieties available at the College.

“Education, for me, is at the forefront, demonstrating different winemaking styles and techniques, all while mentoring students,” said Findlay. “I am excited to blend my commercial experience with my student experience to best prepare the next generation of fermentation experts.”

Findlay is the first female winemaker at the Teaching Winery – but not the first NC graduate. Former Head Winemaker Gavin Robertson, who graduated from the Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2011, has been a fixture of the Teaching Winery for more than a decade – beginning as a student in 2010, then full-time after graduation.

Head winemaker since 2014, Robertson gained recognition as the highly skilled Winemaker behind the Teaching Winery’s growing roster of numerous award-winning products and as a Nuffield Scholar (2018), where his international work helped to address challenges faced by Ontario grape growers.

As he begins a full-time faculty position at the College, Robertson noted that he will miss his production role – “especially the adrenaline rush of a midnight grape intake on the crush pad” – but he is looking forward to spending more time working directly with students in the world-class facilities he has come to know so well over the past decade.

He was happy to pass the torch to Findlay, who he knows well from both the College and the industry and praised the natural talent and hard-earned industry experience she brings to the College.

“She’s open-minded and creative with the right personality for making wine in our unique Learning Enterprise context where commercial winemaking goals have to align with academic programming in a way that fosters a safe, fun and engaging learning environment for future generations of Canadian winemakers and viticulturalists,” said Robertson.

“She’s an amazing addition to the winemaking team at the Teaching Winery and to our beverage programs, and I look forward to working closely with her to help students learn and innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the Canadian wine industry as it continues to grow and evolve.

“I know that she’ll drive the quality of our wines to new heights.”

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. It is located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visit ncteachingwinery.ca.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca..

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Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
Cell: 905-328-2532
[email protected]