On August 2, the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games announced a new streaming platform that will broadcast over 1,000 hours of live coverage of the N22 Games from August 6-21. As the Games’ Digital Production Partner, the extensive coverage is made possible with the support of the Niagara College’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film Production program (BRTF).

Read the official media release on the N22 Canada Games website.

“I’m very proud to be involved with these Games from both the college side and as a member of the Host Society team,” said Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg, the Chair of the Broadcast Operations & Production Services for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games in the official release. VandenBerg is the program coordinator of Niagara College’s BRTF program. “It’s opportunities like this that make a huge impact on our students’ experiential learning. This is as real world as it gets and working alongside grads and industry professionals is what makes these kinds of events truly special for all of us.”

The N22 release highlights VandenBerg and his NC students and BRTF alumni who have delivered many phenomenal production programs over the last decade, including for major sporting events in the Niagara Region such as the 2016 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship, and the 2019 Canadian Wrestling Trials.

The new streaming platform at niagara2022games.ca/watch will give Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast free access to more than 90% of the Games’ sporting competitions, which will feature 18 different sports. Select competitions and events will have commentary in English and French. Viewers of the platform will also be able to enjoy plenty of on-demand content including archived events, features, highlights and a daily highlight show. The full 2022 Canada Games competition schedule can be found online here.

“We are excited to provide this opportunity to watch Canada’s largest multi-sport event in ways never seen before,” said Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. “With the expansive coverage that we will offer, thanks to the support of Niagara College, CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports, audiences will be able to enjoy all of the 2022 Canada Games’ best moments, including its Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and will have the opportunity to cheer on our country’s next generation of national and international champions.”

“This digital streaming platform will empower everyone across Canada to experience the magic of the Canada Games and watch as the next generation of athletes and leaders spark greatness at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games,” said Evan Johnston, Chair of the Canada Games Council. “ We thank the 2022 Host Society, Niagara College, CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports for their collaboration and commitment to showcasing the Canada Games through this extensive, multi-platform national coverage, and we look forward to following the journey of all of the athletes in Niagara.”

In addition to this comprehensive coverage, more than 100 hours of live competition and events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will stream live on CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports. Specifically, Canadians will be able to watch on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices throughout the two weeks of the Games. At the same time, they can also tune in at Radio-Canada.ca/Sports and the Radio-Canada Info app for iOS and Android devices.

Taking place at venues across Niagara, the 28^th edition of the Canada Games will see close to 5,000 athletes, representing Canada’s future generation of Olympians and Paralympians, travel to Niagara to compete for the right to be a national champion. Niagara 2022 will include an inaugural rugby sevens competition, the return of men’s lacrosse after a 37-year absence from the Games, and the first-ever women’s lacrosse competition in the history of the Canada Games.

Tickets for this summer’s Games are currently available for purchase online.

For more information, visit niagara2022games.ca or follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@2022canadagames).

Related story:

NC BRTF crew broadcasting the Canada Summer Games to the world

Two Ukrainian style solidarity brews are among the latest international medal-winners from the Niagara College Teaching Brewery.

The 2022 U.S. Open Beer Championship announced its winners on July 11, which included three silver medals for the NC Teaching Brewery. In addition to a medal for its popular multi-award-winning Beer 101 Bitter (Bitter category), silvers were awarded for Ukrainian Golden Ale (Ukrainian Golden Ale category), and Resist – Anti Imperial Stout (Resist Anti Imperial Stout category), which were first brewed at the Teaching Brewery earlier this year.

“We are proud of the continued successes of our trailblazing NC Teaching Brewery which continues to raise the bar for the industry as well as to raise awareness and support for important initiatives,” said Steve Gill, General Manager of the NC Learning Enterprises. “The awards won by our Teaching Brewery offer a taste of the quality of education, training and experience that our students gain at NC and, in turn, bring into the industry in Ontario and beyond.”

Following the onset of the War in Ukraine, NC Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing began to lead different classes of Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students in the brewing of Ukrainian beers as a show of solidarity and support – and their efforts continue to date.

For Downing, his connection to the cause is personal and professional. During the early nineties – a pivotal time after Ukraine gained independence in 1991 – he spent time living there while launching two microbreweries (in Dnipro and Haivoron).

“The situation in Ukraine may impact us in the short term but will be a part of the fabric of Eastern Europe for a generation. Brewers around the world including us have been raising awareness and funds for many months now, and this supports needs to continue as long as the war does,” said Downing. “I encourage everyone to do what they can to support however they can.”

In March, students brewed Resist – Ukrainian Anti Imperial Stout using a recipe developed by displaced Ukrainian brewers, and shared by Drinkers for Ukraine, an international effort to raise funds for Ukraine. They called for brewers worldwide to brew it in solidarity with the beer community in Ukraine whose livelihoods and, in some cases, their businesses were destroyed by Russian attacks.

They also brewed Ukrainian Golden Ale using a recipe developed from Pravda Brewery in Lviv, Ukraine, which halted beer production to make Molotov cocktails during the war.

Both recipes were modified to suit local ingredients and systems at the Teaching Brewery – along with the addition of beets in the brewing of Resist – Anti Imperial Stout.

The suggestion to add the two Ukrainian styles as new categories at this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship to help raise awareness and funds for the Ukrainian Red Cross came from Downing, who sits on the U.S. Open Beer Championship Board of Directors.

Not only did the NC Teaching Brewery become only Canadian brewery to achieve a medal in the two Ukrainian beer categories at the competition, but $1,700 in entry fees were donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross as a result.

News about the wins were applauded by Brewmaster students.

Brewmaster students cans: Brewmaster students Alanna Scully and Apoena Becker hold up cans of Resist – Anti Imperial Stout and Ukrainian Pale Ale which recently won silver at the U.S. Open Beer Championship.

“It’s something we did as a class and we did it together and we can celebrate that together,” said third semester student Alanna Scully whose class helped brew Resist – Anti-Imperial Stout.

The fact that the awards were won for a solidarity brew made it even more rewarding.

“It was definitely more special than just your average brew; it had more meaning,” she said. “So, it’s a special feeling to know that did as well as it did at the competition.”

Apoena Becker, an international student from Brazil, knows the challenges that can accompany even a well-planned long-distance move first-hand. He reflected on how difficult it must be for Ukrainians displaced by the war.

“I can’t imagine how it would be for someone having to move without any planning, without any back-up plans, without any safety net, without anything,” he said. “It’s not much, what we’re doing here; we made a beer. But we’re bringing awareness … It’s important.”

Silver-medal-winning Beer 101 Bitter is a mainstay from the Teaching Brewery’s popular Beer 101 series. The English Pale Ale is a version of the College’s multi-award-winning bottled Butler’s Bitter, available in cans as Beer 101.

Based on traditional recipes used in the 1800s by English brewers, the celebration beer was introduced 10 years ago to commemorate the War of 1812 bicentennial, and has won numerous awards since, including golds at the U.S. Open Beer Championship (2021 and 2020), gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards (Butler’s Bitter, 2013), and a bronze at the Canadian Brewing Awards (2019).

Downing noted that the continued success of Beer 101 Bitter is notable since all Beer 101 products are brewed by different classes of students under Head Brewer George Eagleson.

“This really shows the consistency and quality of our students learning and how focused they are on their education,” he said. “Being recognized with a medal shows our students that, if they do it right, they can brew with the best in the world.”

The competition also provided valuable experience for three Brewmaster students in their fourth term who had an opportunity to participate in the judging in Oxford, Ohio. The NC students did not participate in judging categories that NC competed in, which were judged at different locations.

This year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship was based in Oxford, Ohio, and drew more than 9,000 entries which represented more than 150 styles of beer. For info about the competition visit usopenbeer.com.

Student-crafted beer is available for purchase at the Teaching Brewery’s retail store, located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (135 Taylor Rd) or online at niagaracollegewine.ca.

Bitter 101 is regularly stocked as part of the Teaching Brewery’s Beer 101 Series. The Ukrainian Support beers were crafted during the spring as Small Batch brews. While they sold out, additional batches are being brewed. Ukrainian Golden Ale is currently on tap and is expected to be available in cans the week of July 18 (while supplies last). Resist is expected to be available the week of July 25.

Proceeds from products sold at the Teaching Brewery support student success at Niagara College.

TOP PHOTO: A third semester class of Brewmaster students take pride in brewing in support of Ukraine at the NC Teaching Brewery.

NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program was launched in 2010 as the first of its kind in Canada. The award-winning, two-year program offers extensive hands-on training at an on-site, state-of-the-art Teaching Brewery to prepare students for employment in the expanding brewery, microbrewery and brewpub industries. Located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson in Niagara-on-the-Lake, students learn from award-winning faculty and have access to on-site hop yard and local farm products to brew a full range of beer styles. Visit ncteachingbrewery.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.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

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

Welland-native and top Knights athlete Natasha Desjardins was the official torchbearer for Niagara College in the Welland leg of the N22 Canada Games Torch Relay on July 10.

Born and raised in Welland right around the corner from Niagara College’s Welland Campus, there has been no greater honour for gifted Knights volleyball and soccer athlete Natasha Desjardins than carrying the Canada Games torch.

On Sunday, July 10, Desjardins and a group of prominent Wellanders carried the Roly McLenahan Torch as part of its 28,000 km journey from Ottawa to Niagara for the opening ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games on August 6.

“These games will bring the community together. It’s a big deal,” said Desjardins, team captain and reigning OCAA Women’s Volleyball Athlete of the Year/All Canadian, among other accolades. “I would have never imagined doing something like this in my life. With how much Niagara College means to me, it’s extremely cool to do this for the College.”

“This is such a unique moment for the NC community to witness the Canada Games torch being run past campus, especially because of our personal connection with Natasha who embodies the spirit of NC and all the values we hold dear in sport: leadership, dignity, competitiveness and determination. It’s truly heartwarming,” said Michele O’Keefe, Director, Athletics and Student Engagement.

Desjardins accepted the torch from City of Welland Councillors Bonnie Fokkens and Claudette Richard, and passed the torch to Susan Kitchen, former Executive Director of the Coaches Association of Ontario and a 2018 Welland Sports Wall of Fame inductee.

Desjardins was happy to share the experience with some of her biggest NC supporters – fellow Knights volleyball and soccer teammates. Rachel Looby, Maddie O’Brien, Rylan Greatrix, Jessica Hric, Abbey Gooder and Dakota Barisan ran alongside Desjardins for the symbolic one kilometer stretch along Niagara College Boulevard.

Desjardins and company looped around the front entrance of the Welland Campus on Sunday morning where they were greeted by friends and family – including her parents, brother and grandparents –  and NC supporters in blue, including President Sean Kennedy and O’Keefe, who nominated Desjardins for torchbearer.

Being torchbearer for this once-in-a-lifetime event is a defining moment for Desjardins who has such a strong love for her community. Years before she would excel on the court and in the classroom, she grew up on the stands at NC.

“I would come to campus to watch volleyball games with my mom and dad for fun. Coming full circle and becoming an NC athlete, I never would have expected to have the success I had, academically or athletically.”

The star athlete has competed with the Knights women’s volleyball team for four years and the women’s soccer team for one. She is a two-time OCAA West Division All Star, and was named a 2020 and 2022 OCAA Women’s Volleyball West Division First Team All Star.

Desjardins is a two-time CCAA Academic All Canadian and a four-time CCAA Scholar Athlete/OCAA Scholar Athlete, an award granted to athletes who maintain an average of 80 per cent or above.

Desjardins completed NC’s Educational Assistant (2022) and Fitness and Health Promotion (2020) programs and is about to embark on graduate studies in Autism and Behavioural Sciences in NC’s School of Community Services.

One of the high points of her NC story was working as an Educational Assistant at École Secondaire Catholique Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf, the high school she attended and the one in which her parents work. The two-time NC graduate has dreams of working in education alongside her parents.

“My parents and older brother have without a doubt been my biggest supporters in the classroom and on the court/field. They have always been in my corner, and I am extremely thankful,” said Desjardins.

Fall 2022 will mark the start of her sixth year at NC, where, in addition to graduate studies, she plans to explore coaching through specialized clinics for women offered by the Athletics and Recreation Division.

While her NC journey is far from over, she says her experience thus far has exceeded her expectations.

“Better than imagined is the best way to put it … I am fortunate to have been surrounded by a lot of quality people who have had a positive and long-lasting impact on myself and my experience at the College. From my coaches to the athletic department, the broadcasting crew, the athletic therapists, the teachers, the teammates, and the list goes on.”

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
Niagara College
905-932-1520
[email protected]

Niagara College is receiving international recognition for its global citizenship.

On June 17, the College was recognized by the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) with a bronze award in the category of Global Citizenship.

The WFCP’s 2022 Awards of Excellence were presented at its World Congress in San Sebastian, Spain. The awards recognize WFCP member institutions and celebrate their contributions to excellence in the global technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.

“Each year, I am thrilled to see so many Canadian institutions recognized by the WFCP for their global leadership in education and training,” said Denise Amyot, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). “Niagara College’s award for Global Citizenship is a testament to how well the college continues to prepare students to excel in the worldwide community despite unprecedented global challenges.”

The award was accepted by Niagara College President Sean Kennedy, and Vice-President of International, Sean Coote.

“This achievement recognizes the dedication of Niagara College’s staff and faculty in providing outstanding applied education and training for a changing world,” said Coote. “In preparing world-ready graduates, Niagara College is fostering global mindedness and intercultural competencies, which are a necessity to thrive in the twenty-first century as the world becomes increasingly interconnected.”

“NC’s commitment to global citizenship is evident in its approach to student success as the College strives to provide culturally diverse and inclusive learning environments and experiences, infuse global competency development into its work, and foster collaborative partnerships in Canada and around the world.”

The Global Citizenship award recognizes an institution or institutional association that has demonstrated its commitment to providing the best experiences and exemplary strategies and tools to prepare students for global citizenship. The award has four levels of accomplishment: gold, silver, bronze, and honourable mention.  

NC was among eight Canadian colleges and institutes recognized by the WFCP’s 2022 Awards of Excellence, in addition to three Canadians – including Amyot, who was awarded the WFCP’s Gold Award of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement – and CICan, who won Gold in Sustainable Development. View CICan release here or view the complete list of recipients on the WFCP website.

Earlier this year, NC was awarded a silver in Global Engagement Excellence by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) at its 2022 Awards of Excellence ceremony. The awards, which acknowledge institutions from across Canada for their best practices and achievements, were presented at CICan’s annual conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For information about NC’s global engagement and partnership activities, please visit: ncglobal.ca.  Learn about NC’s Be World Ready program at beworldready.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.

 

TOP PHOTO: NC Vice President of International, Sean Coote (left) and NC President Sean Kennedy (right) receive a bronze award in Global Citizenship from WFCP Chair Dawn Ward (middle) at the 2022 World Congress Award Ceremony in Spain.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

 

 

The future awaits Niagara College’s Class of 2022 – and many of its latest graduates are already working to make it brighter for those around them.

On June 24, the College celebrated more than 460 new graduates from Community and Health Studies who are now well-positioned to take on critical roles in their communities – 229 from its high-demand Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker programs alone.

“As we honour graduands from our School of Community Services, and School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker, we have much to celebrate,” said College President Sean Kennedy. “Many of them have already been putting their sought-after skills to work during their studies with us.”

Governor General Academic Medal recipient Jonhel Ampil delivers a powerful speech on her convocation day

Recreation Therapy graduate Jonhel Ampil graduated with a 98.046% grade-point average – the highest GPA in the Class of 2022 – and the most prestigious award a student can receive: the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

Originally from Quezon City, Philippines, Ampil worked as an occupational therapist before she and her partner left to pursue their dreams in Canada and enrol in the College’s Recreation Therapy program. She currently lives in Niagara Falls where she has been working at local Chapel Heights retirement home.

“We left our professional careers, our families, and our friends behind in the Philippines. It was a difficult path to take, but we have no regrets,” said Ampil in a powerful speech during the ceremony. “Our decision three years ago has led us to today, our graduation, and it has led me to where I am standing right now proving that dreams do come true.”

Ampil addressed her fellow graduates – including her partner who graduated from the same program that day – and recounted how she overcame challenges as an international student during the pandemic.

“The experience has taught me so much about life and I believe I am stronger for it today,” she said.

To her fellow graduates who also persevered to achieve their goals, Ampil said, “Graduation is not the end but the start of a new chapter for us. Keep dreaming, believing, and surviving!”

The College’s top graduate had a special message for her mother watching from her home country.

“We did it, Ma!”

Practical Nursing graduate Aleksandra Foulis accepts her Dean’s Award for the highest cumulative average in the School of Nursing and Support Worker from Interim Dean, Angela Butt.

Practical Nursing graduate Aleksandra Foulis, who won the Dean’s Award for achieving the highest cumulative GPA in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies, was recently hired by Niagara Health to work in Mental Health and Addictions at the St. Catharines site.

“I have always had an interest in health care, doing something to give back to my community and make a difference in people’s lives. The nursing field has endless possibilities in terms of what you can do,” Foulis said. “The pandemic has brought so much to light regarding the nursing profession and how vital it is to the health care system, and I am honored to now be a part of that.”

Graduation was not the only new beginning for the Mississauga resident; she also gave birth to her second child less than three weeks after completing her consolidation.

Guest speaker Jon Montgomery, gold-medal Olympian and host of The Amazing Race Canada, received an Honorary Diploma in Fitness and Health Studies.

“You are in the real world and always have been. You are better prepared to launch and relaunch a million times over from your new ‘ground zero,’” he said via video to the Class of 2022. “Your new baseline will always be ‘college graduate’ and that equals opportunity.”

The June 24 ceremony – in honour of graduates from NC’s Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker,  Social Service Worker, Recreation Therapy, Educational Assistant – Special Needs Support, Early Childhood Education, and Autism and Behavioural Science programs – drew the curtain on the College’s five-day convocation week. Eight ceremonies were held from June 20-24 to celebrate more than 3,650 Class of 2022 graduates who joined the College’s global alumni community of more than 100,000 – a milestone passed during June 2021 convocation.

“Graduates, remember that you are part of an amazing NC alumni family making a difference in communities across our region, province, country and around the world,” said Kennedy. “Nothing brings us more joy than seeing you succeed. We know you’ll make us proud.”

Throughout the week, more than 2,100 graduates chose to cross the stage at Welland Campus before an audience of families and friends at NC’s first in-person convocation ceremonies since 2019. Grads also had the option of celebrating virtually and view their ceremony livestreams, which drew more than 10,640 views from 72 countries throughout the week.

Videos of all ceremonies are available on the College’s Convocation website (by accessing the ceremony from the schedule) at NiagaraCollege.ca/convocation.

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.

 

Related Media Releases:

June 23: Student broadcasting crew behind the lens of NC’s Convocation livestream

June 22: Third day of Niagara College’s Convocation celebrates in-demand grads

June 21: Grads cap off their academic journeys at second day of Niagara College’s hybrid Spring Convocation

June 20:  International student graduates head of the class at Niagara College

June 15: Amazing Race Canada host to address Class of 2022

 

Video

View June 24 ceremony here.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

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

 

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