Niagara College’s Board of Governors has approved an exciting and ambitious new five-year strategic plan that envisions a college that is diverse, inclusive and highly engaged; socially and environmentally aware; with trailblazing academic programs that are immersive, flexible and accessible, and meet the changing needs and expectations of students and employers alike.

Developed through more than a year of intense consultation engagement within the college and the broader Niagara community, the plan responds to a unique time in postsecondary education, marked by increased competition in postsecondary education, rapid technological change, students who are more diverse and globally aware, and a community in economic recovery and in urgent need of a highly skilled and stable workforce.

“Our ability to navigate the challenges of the past two years has highlighted the fact that our greatest strength as an organization is our highly engaged and dedicated faculty and staff,” said Niagara College President Sean Kennedy. “Our new strategic plan leverages our people and our strong organizational culture, our focus on students, and the welcoming, trailblazing and passionate characteristics that set Niagara College apart in the postsecondary world. It will serve as our guide as we write the next chapter in our College’s remarkable history.”

The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan provides six inter-connected areas of focus supported by clear action items, including:

• Wholistic Student Experience: With a focus on the wellbeing of the whole student, the College will nurture and leverage our unique relationship with student leadership, create new co-curricular activities and new opportunities for community engagement; new mental health and wellness strategies that recognize and respond to a more diverse college community; and new and vibrant learning and living spaces.
• Academic excellence: In an atmosphere of constant innovation in teaching and learning, the College will focus on immersive and experiential learning, whether on campus, online, local or global; leverage new technologies to make programs more flexible, accessible and responsive to the needs and expectations of students and employers; leverage connections with industry, employers and alumni to enhance pathways and opportunities for students, and ensure programs meet and exceed provincial quality benchmarks;
• Global reach: As Canada’s leading global college, engaging and celebrating diverse cultures to create world-ready graduates, the College will expand global operations and program delivery outside of Niagara, expand Be World Ready global learning opportunities, and create an inclusive and integrated campus community where students support, engage with and learn from one another;
• Alumni and partner engagement: The College will seek, build and support partnerships with alumni, local and global communities and partners in education and government toward shared goals. This means breaking down barriers, engaging and celebrate our alumni through a culture of “once a Knight, always a Knight; support industry and economic development through applied research and innovative, responsive academic programs, and foster positive relationships with our students and the community;
• Social inclusion and environmental responsibility: The College will take action to support the betterment of our communities, environment and society as a whole. This will include the response to and support for Truth and Reconciliation calls to action; developing and maintaining a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion; supporting sustainability through the continuous improvement of our processes and standards and modelling social responsibility for our students and the community;
• Operational excellence: The College will maintain its commitment to excellence in our operations, the development of our people, and our continued financial security. Key actions will include multi-year enrolment strategies; the development of new experiential learning opportunities; investment in the professional development of our people; supporting a culture of innovation, growing access to student financial supports and the continued diversification of revenue sources.

“We are at a pivotal point in our college’s history, and the plan we’ve unveiled today will enhance our ability to support industry, to provide pathways to career success for students, and to meet the evolving needs of the communities we support locally and beyond,” said Wendy Wing, Chair of the Niagara College Board of Governors.

Niagara College’s 2022-2017 Strategic Plan can be viewed at www.niagaracollege.ca/strategicplan.

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
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
Niagara College
Cell: 519-809-7634
[email protected]

On April 11, the Ontario government announced that colleges can develop new three-year degree programs—a historic breakthrough that ensures more students will acquire the professional expertise to succeed in their careers.

“This is great news for students, employers, and the community that recognizes the important role that colleges play in providing high-quality academic programs that respond to labour-market needs in key sectors of our economy,” said Niagara College President Sean Kennedy.

The announcement was made on April 11 by Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop at an event in Kitchener.

The minister announced colleges can begin developing new three-year degree programs alongside their diploma programs and can expand their range of career-focused four-year degree programs. Niagara College currently offers four-year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs in Hospitality, Human Resources, and International Commerce and Global Development.

“Expanding the degree programs at colleges ensures more students will have access to high-quality, career-focused programs,” Minister Dunlop said. “More students will acquire the expertise and credentials to succeed in today’s job market.”

Currently, most of the programs offered at colleges are diploma programs. Prior to yesterday’s announcement, colleges were only authorized to award degrees to graduates of their career-focused four-year programs.

The announcement yesterday recognizes the success of the colleges’ degree programs and brings true equity to Ontario’s post-secondary system. It ensures every student whose education fulfils Ontario’s degree-level requirements is awarded a degree upon graduation.

Expanding the degree programs at colleges will fulfil the growing demand among employers for graduates with more highly specialized qualifications.

This expansion of the colleges’ degree programs also opens the door to more career options for graduates, especially graduates who are looking to advance into management positions.

As well, this benefits companies that promote themselves and their workforce internationally, as most jurisdictions outside Ontario are not familiar with the diploma credential.

“We are always working closely with industry to identify and create new programs that meet the current and future needs of employers,” said Niagara College’s Vice President, Academic Fiona Allan. “This announcement adds another important option for us to consider as we look to expand our offering of high-quality, responsive academic programs.”

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
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

NSERC funding supports cannabis, craft beer and advanced manufacturing sectors

Niagara College researchers welcome the news of a $4.43-million investment from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

On April 5, NSERC’s College and Community Innovation (CCI) program announced three new Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTP) funding grants for NC. Funds included an ARTP grant to support a NC project in sustainable cannabis and hemp production research, as well as two multi-institutional ARTP grants for NC-led projects: to support craft breweries in Canada, and to expand the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI).

“We are thankful for NSERC’s significant investment in research and innovation at Niagara College, and for their outstanding support of NC-led applied research projects with our valued institutional partners – including SONAMI – that will benefit SMEs in vital and emerging sectors across Ontario and Canada,” said Marc Nantel, Vice President of Research and External Relations at Niagara College. “Innovation is a key priority at NC, and these projects will not only advance the applied research needs of industry, but will expand opportunities for students as they work with SMEs to provide innovative solutions.”

Supporting sustainable cannabis and hemp production research

The newly announced funds earmark $641,800 (over a two-year period) for research and development at NC to address challenges and continue advancement in the cannabis industry. This will provide research support in cultivation, as well as business and marketing, and will provide new applied research experiences for students within the College’s schools of Environment and Horticulture, and Business and Management.

“The ARTP funding for sustainable cannabis and hemp production will be instrumental in allowing our Agriculture & Environmental Technologies Innovation Centre (AETIC) and Business and Commercialization Services (BCS) teams to fully operationalize and support industry needs through the increased ability to execute more research projects,” said Kimberley Cathline, Research Program Manager of the College’s AETIC.

Thanks to the new ARTP funding, NC will be able to operationalize its dedicated cannabis space and begin assisting companies with cultivation-related challenges. It will support research in sustainable cannabis production, cannabis variety and growth trials, integrated pest management, and business and commercialization solutions. Cathline noted that the ARTP grant will allow NC to invest in these strategic areas while deepening AETIC and BCS’s role in contributing to the innovation ecosystem to support the sector.

By providing access to expert faculty, students, equipment and facilities, the College’s AETIC and BCS teams are ideally positioned to lead applied research projects that assist cannabis producers with meeting growth and competitiveness challenges.

In 2018, NC made headlines around the world when it launched the first Commercial Cannabis Production program in Canada. Over the last three years, the College has also been helping industry partners and associations address challenges and continue advancement in cannabis through course-based research projects.

In March 2021, the College expanded its on-campus cannabis education capabilities to include a Health-Canada-approved CannaResearch Bunker, funded through NSERC’s applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants program. This dedicated research space provides specialized equipment to grow crops, complete trials and conduct research in partnership with industry. It offers a controlled, sterile, and isolated growing space to perform safe, secure, and dependable research projects.

NC also has an Industrial Hemp licence, which is significant for research and academic endeavours, providing hands-on learning and research opportunities that enable students to advance Canada’s hemp and cannabis industries. Students learn to grow cannabis/hemp in a controlled environment, in a greenhouse and outdoors.

Improving Canadian craft beer competitiveness

An ARTP grant for $1,789,330 million (over a two-year period) has been awarded to NC to lead a project to support the Canadian craft brewing industry by improving quality assurance and control measures in small- and medium-sized breweries.

Its goal is to create a Craft Brewer Quality program, which will be piloted across the country to train brewers and students.

The project will be led by Niagara College (through its Canadian Food & Wine Institute Innovation Centre) – home to Canada’s first Teaching Brewery and renowned Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program –-and will involve Durham College, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s CCNB-INNOV (New Brunswick), and Olds College (Alberta).

“We are absolutely thrilled for the support from NSERC. It really shows that the federal government is committed to supporting the craft beer industry in its ongoing growth and development,” said Lyndon Ashton, Centre Manager, CFWI Innovation Centre. “Since the 1980s, the craft brewing industry has grown to 24% of all beer made in Canada. Of key importance now for the growing industry is developing a systematic way to increase quality assurance and consistency in the products sold to the public.”

Ashton noted that the funds will be used to collaboratively develop a framework of industry standards and guidelines with college and industry experts. They will be operationalized into customized written quality programs and the concepts will be proven in partnership with 16 breweries across New Brunswick, Ontario, and Alberta. Analytical testing at key points during the project will gauge the effectiveness of the standards.

At every step, students will be trained alongside industry partners, exemplifying work-integrated learning and capacity building for the businesses. Ultimately, the intellectual property will be assigned to industry association partners for potential adoption upon project completion.

Expanding SONAMI into four strategic sectors

SONAMI – a Niagara College-led network of nine postsecondary institutions designed to support SMEs in the manufacturing sector across Southern Ontario – will receive $2-million in funding (over a two-year period) to expand into four strategic sectors for targeted growth. The areas of expansion include transportation (auto parts and aerospace manufacturing supply chains); energy systems (energy storage, renewable energy production); food processing; and medical devices (to support access to medical device research and expertise for SMEs). The funds will support eligible SONAMI academic members including NC, Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, Lambton, Mohawk, Sheridan and George Brown.

“SONAMI is a prime example of how, when industry and applied research come together to innovate and grow, it can drive the development of national and regional economies and communities,” said SONAMI Network Manager Kithio Mwanzia. “In transportation, energy systems, medical devices, and food processing, given that they are fiercely competitive but highly rewarding global industries, innovation is a necessity.”

Mwanzia noted that the new ARTP grant will help SMEs in these industry areas leverage the growing SONAMI network to master multiple practices to commercialize products and processes that will catalyze their growth and success.

“These industry areas attract talent and investment from around the world,” said Mwanzia. “Industry leading companies in each of these industry areas choose Canada as the place in which to design and manufacture new products and from which to sell them to the world.”

Through the ARTP grant, SONAMI will conduct at least 42 applied research projects with industry partners in the four targeted sectors. These 42 projects will be assessed through a triple lens of sustainability, growth, and profitability, to best support the economic recovery for SMEs.

NC will be contributing to at least four of the projects and will have access to financial support for new equipment investments.

In addition to supporting applied research and SMEs, SONAMI projects support student success. Students gain access to industry experience, hands-on learning and exposure to working with industry partners – potential employers.

NC’s award-winning Research & Innovation division administers research funding support from various regional, provincial and federal agencies. Students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty researchers and assist industry partners with leaping forward in the marketplace.

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 Research Assistants Peter Brewer and Ryan Jarosz inspect cannabis plants, in the CannaBunker.

Media inquires, please contact:

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

Michael Wales

Director, Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

New partnership expands range of facilities and brings product design R&D capabilities

George Brown College has become the newest member of the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI), a Niagara College-led consortium of postsecondary academic institutions that provides competitive, disruptive and innovative solutions to Ontario’s manufacturers.

The partnership will expand the range of facilities and expertise available to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and extend SONAMI’s reach further into Southern Ontario. The addition of Toronto’s George Brown College to SONAMI now brings the total in the network to nine postsecondary partners, including: Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, Lambton, Mohawk, Niagara and Sheridan colleges, and McMaster University.

Through the centralized network hub, and the resources and talents of member institutions, SONAMI is able to meet the needs of SMEs in various industries, giving them access to cutting-edge technologies, knowledge and funding in order to de-risk their applied R&D, create innovative new products and optimize processes.

Targeted industries include energy systems, agri-food, health, environmental, computer and electronic automation, industrial internet of things technology (IIoT), traditional manufacturing, aerospace and transportation – and now expanded capacity in rapid early-stage prototyping and assessment, with the addition of The Product Development Exchange (PDx). PDx has been a leader in product innovation and design, including concept design, product research, prototype fabrication, and technical communications, for more than a decade.

“We are so pleased to join SONAMI ranks and stand alongside such strong players in the innovation ecosystem. This membership will allow us to sustain a pipeline of steady, reliable support for our partners—past, present and future,” said Krista Holmes, PhD, Associate Vice-President, Research & Innovation at George Brown. “To stay relevant in an ever-changing market, industry has long needed to evolve quickly, but the difficulty in doing so has been magnified by the last two years.

“This is our goal: to support our partners’ resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges, whether it’s in launching new products, adopting new technologies or building robust regional supply chains.”

In 2019, the award-winning SONAMI entered its second phase after a significant reinvestment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), following a successful first three years. With this continued support came the announcement the network would increase its membership to 10 postsecondary partners, enhancing its reach to help manufacturers innovate.

Since its inception, industry partners have benefitted from collaborative projects by: increasing sales, reducing manufacturing costs, diversifying product lines, and realizing their innovative ideas. SONAMI partners have worked with more than 200 SMEs to complete more than 319 projects, developed 437 prototypes, created or maintained 206 permanent jobs and provided skills and training for hundreds of students to prepare them for future jobs.

“George Brown College’s focus on product design and innovation brings a unique set of capabilities to SONAMI, further enhancing support for manufacturers,” said Marc Nantel, PhD, Vice-President, Research & External Relations at Niagara College.

“By welcoming this institution – with its strong history of applied research – to the partnership, the network will advance its resources available to assist SMEs to remain competitive by offering leading-edge solutions for industry partners,” said Nantel, who is also the Chair of the SONAMI Steering Committee. “At the same time, we continue to provide more students with the opportunities to gain essential skills by working alongside research staff and faculty on real-world projects.”

To access the advanced manufacturing network, representatives from interested businesses can contact SONAMI’s Project Manager, Sarah Dimick, at [email protected]. For more information about the network, please visit the SONAMI website.

Pictured top photo: George Brown students and researchers have a meeting to plan for a PDx project.

Toronto’s George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples. George Brown prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. George Brown offers 164 full-time programs and 180 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to more than 27,100 full-time students, including 29% international students, and receives more than 58,000 continuing education registrations annually. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees.  

NC’s award-winning Research & Innovation division administers research funding support from various regional, provincial and federal agencies. Students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty researchers and assist industry partners with leaping forward in the marketplace.

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.

FedDev Ontario has actively worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy for nearly 12 years through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation and growth in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in Southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving their productivity, growing their revenues, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. For more information view FedDev Ontario’s pivotal projects.

SONAMI Quick facts:

•      SONAMI was established in 2016 – led by Niagara College, in partnership with McMaster University, Mohawk College and Sheridan College – with an initial $7.3 million contribution from FedDev Ontario, which provided funding through March 2019. The network expanded to include three additional academic institutions: Conestoga, Fanshawe and Lambton colleges.
•   In August 2019, FedDev Ontario announced an additional investment of $14 million towards a five-year project (through to December 2023), which would grow the network to 10 partners, enhancing its reach to help manufacturers innovate.
•      Niagara College received the 2019 Research Partnership Award from the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) for the significant impact SONAMI has had on the regional economy.
•   Through specialized expertise, resources and R&D capabilities, SONAMI partners have a broad range of capabilities that provide effective innovation and technology transfer in areas of automation, additive manufacturing, product testing & validation, Industry 4.0, process optimization, simulation & modelling, and digitally-enabled and intelligent manufacturing.
•         SMEs wanting to innovate but do not have the resources of time, knowledge/skills or finances to take them to the next level can de-risk their R&D by leveraging a 1:1 funding match on projects. This could reduce overall project costs by up to 50% and help more manufacturers participate.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Saron Fanel
External Communications Specialist
George Brown, Office of the President
[email protected]

Julie Greco

Niagara College, Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]