Cheers to 10 years of NC beers: Canada’s first Brewmaster program celebrates decade of excellence

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Niagara College and craft beer lovers across the country have an extra reason for holiday cheer this December.

Ten years ago, just in time for the holiday season, Canada’s first class of Brewmaster students at Niagara College were just months into their studies when their first student-crafted beer was launched: First Draft Campus Ale. On December 6, 2010, St. Nicholas Day – as a nod to the patron saint of brewers – they tapped their first keg of First Draft Ale. On December 10, they bottled it.

A decade and more than 1,600 different styles of beers later, NC’s trailblazing Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program has grown alongside the now booming craft beer industry in Ontario. Provincial, national and international awards continue to pour in for student-crafted brews from the College’s on-campus Teaching Brewery, also the first of its kind in the country, which has become a springboard for budding Canadian brewing talent and continues to raise the bar for the industry.

NC’s first class of skilled Brewmaster graduates in June 2012 set forth as pioneers in what was then an emerging craft beer scene. Since then, class after class of students have been answering their ‘call to the bar’ and seeping into the industry – many as brewers and brewery owners who continue to craft their own award-winning brews.

“There are few programs in the Ontario college system that got as much attention as the Brewmaster program did when it first launched in 2010,” said dean of NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute (CFWI) Craig Youdale. “It came at a time when the craft brewing industry in Ontario was just taking off, and the program was the perfect support for creating skills and knowledge in the expansion across the province.”

President of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCBA) Scott Simmons congratulated the College on the10th anniversary of the program and upcoming milestone for the Teaching Brewery, which opened officially in April 2011. He noted that the OCBA was a proud founding industry partner when the College launched the program, and the partnership is still going strong today to help craft brewers adapt to the ever-changing brewing scene. He noted that while there were less than 100 breweries in Ontario when the Brewmaster program launched in 2010 – less than 40 of them still exist today – and the number of breweries has since increased to more than 320 in 2020.

“The program has played a major role in growing the craft beer industry in Ontario, with graduates making their mark across the industry, including many launching their own breweries,” said Simmons. “We understood the importance of having this incredible resource in our own backyard to foster the growth of our industry in the province, and to help fulfil our vision of developing Ontario into a centre for brewing excellence. The continued success is a testament to the importance of this applied learning and program.”

Key to program success

NC’s Brewmaster program has become a vital component of the College’s CFWI family of programs, and has created skilled members of the brewing community from its inception – following in the footsteps of the College’s wine programs based at its on-campus Teaching Winery which was the also the first in Canada and was a game-changer for Niagara’s wine scene.

Youdale noted that the CFWI takes immense pride in the growth, improvement and expansion of the Brewmaster program over the past 10 years, and he applauded the group of faculty and the NC Teaching Brewery team that has pushed it to new heights each year.

“The key to the success of the program is both consistency and constant improvement. Each and every year, the quality of beer created by the students continues to be world class and, at the same time, the entire team strives to bring new and innovative ways to support the learning in the classroom, science lab, and brewery,” said Youdale. “The amount of hands-on application the students get is unrivalled in our education system and that is the secret to their success.”

Inside the Teaching Brewery

College Brewmaster Jon Downing stands with the first original bottles of First Draft, the College’s first beer brand that debuted in December 2010 just months after the program launched. Behind him, on tap at the Teaching Brewery retail store, is a lineup of current student brews.Brewmaster professor Jon Downing still has the first bottle of First Draft Ale that came off the bottling line on December 10, 2010. It’s still being produced, with slight variations in the ingredients each year, and, more recently, as Beer 101 Pale Ale – part of the popular series of 12 varieties of beers bearing the Beer 101 label. Students assist with these award-winning brands, and are responsible for producing 54 project brews, 54 target brews and numerous others for class projects each year.

In addition to College brews, Downing and the Brewmaster team have also designed or assisted with numerous recipes for industry – including Wayne Gretzky Estates Craft Brewing (No. 99 Rye Lager), as well as MADD Virgin Craft Brewed Lager with NC’s Research & Innovation Division – and have contract brewed dozens of beers for others.

Downing noted that the past decade has been “a wonderful ride” with 19 graduating classes, more than 360 graduates, and 74 current students.

“It has been so much fun and hard work that would not have been possible without the dedication and diligence of all the students who wanted to succeed and thereby helped us to,” said Downing.

Over the past 10 years, Downing has found it rewarding to help students develop their passion for brewing at the College, then watch them move out into the industry or launch their own ventures.

“Seeing our graduate success is probably the most amazing thing,” he said. “We have almost 75 students in class right now who will graduate next year, and then they will be out in the industry doing the same thing too.”

History meets innovation

Aaron Spinney, who was among the first class of June 2012 graduates, is now at the helm of his own craft brewery: Merit Brewing Co. in downtown Hamilton. He noted that while being among the first to attempt anything is a great feeling, being a guiding light and beacon for others to follow is also a great responsibility.

“The challenge is to never stop learning and improving one’s self all while welcoming others to the table, paving the way with smiles, safety, constant learning and growth through educated beers and science,” said Spinney. “It’s a great responsibility to carry the history and traditions of brewers past, yet rules are meant to be challenged. Without challenge, you cannot have innovation.”

Inspiring future brewers

A photo of the first class of Brewmaster graduates is displayed in the Teaching Brewery as a reminder of their legacy and as a source of inspiration and connection for current students.

“People have been in this program for a decade now all over the industry, all over the world, not just Ontario. You get to see the stuff they do and the breweries they opened and it’s really inspiring,” said second-year student Shane Wright, who hopes to open a brewery someday. “We’re a family. When you talk to someone you met in the industry and he went to brewmaster school here too … you’ve got a connection.”

Nikolai Dusome recalls enjoying a bottle of First Draft 10 years ago while watching a football game and first hearing about the program. Now he is also working towards his dreams of launching his own brewery.

“I remember when it [the Brewmaster program] first started and hearing about it,” said Dusome. “Now actually being here and working through the program is a pretty cool experience.”

‘Resume in a bottle’

Steve Gill, general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises, is proud of the past decade’s accomplishments.

“When we first opened the Teaching Brewery, there was nowhere else in the country that postsecondary students could gain the hands-on brewing skills they need to succeed in the industry, and our Teaching Brewery continues to lead the way in Canada’s growing craft beer industry today,” said Gill. “Each beer brewed at our Teaching Brewery is a ‘resume in a bottle’ for our students, and the multitude of awards won for student-crafted brews is a testament to the quality applied education and training that our students bring into the industry in Ontario and beyond.”

 

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:

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

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

Niagara College hosting We Are All Treaty People, a Living Library event on Dec. 1

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On the heels of Treaties Recognition Week, Niagara College is hosting its first-ever Living Library event to help educate the community about the historical and cultural significance of treaties, and the role they continue to play in the lives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Ontario.

We Are All Treaty People, a free online event hosted by NC’s Indigenous Education department and the Library and Learning Commons in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, will be held on Tuesday, December 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. and the community is invited to join the live remote conversation via Zoom.

NC’s director of Student Services Lianne Gagnon noted that the event provides a learning opportunity for the College community, as well as the broader public.

“Niagara College has a strong partnership with the Indigenous community and we value this relationship greatly,” said Gagnon. “Part of this commitment is welcoming opportunities that provide meaningful dialogue about Indigenous history and traditions to support cultural connections for our Indigenous students and education for anyone who is willing to learn.”

The event features guest speakers Karl Dockstader and Sean Vanderklis, recipients of the 2020 Canadian Journalism Foundation’s CBC Indigenous Fellowship Award and co-hosts of the Indigenous-focused One Dish, One Mic radio program, which airs weekly on Newstalk 610 CKTB, who will offer an in-depth discussion about treaties, including the local importance of the Treaty of Niagara.

“In December 2015, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its Calls to Action, education was at the centre,” said Vanderklis. “We are all treaty people is intended to do just that, educate.”

Drawing on recent events, Vanderklis also noted, “Canadians have witnessed three crucial events this year; the Wet’suwet’en and the Mi’kmaq asserting their inherent rights, and members of Six Nations of the Grand River fighting for their rights to be recognized.”

“This presentation will focus on the collective responsibilities we have to honour the treaties that could have prevented these events from happening,” he said.

NC’s Living Library event is part of a broader initiative from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs that aims to educate students and Ontario residents about the importance of treaties during Treaties Recognition Week in November. The Ministry’s Living Library program provides an opportunity for students and members of the public to learn more about treaty rights and relationships and receive teachings from Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers about why treaties matter to all Ontarians. Since 2016, the Ministry has organized more than 700 Living Library events.

This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Ministry encouraged partners of the Ontario Library Association, which NC is a member of, to host their own Living Library events, virtually.

Gagnon encourages the broader community to participate, and hear from diverse Indigenous perspectives.

“Our Living Library event is a wonderful opportunity for all NC students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community, to deepen their knowledge about Indigenous history and treaties right here in Niagara,” she said. “We look forward to hearing from Karl and Sean, who will offer a rich conversation to help facilitate a greater understanding of this important topic.”

Registration is required for the event. Visit the ncLibraries and Learning Commons website here for further details and to register.

About One Dish, One Mic

The winners of the 2020 Canadian Journalism Foundation’s CBC Indigenous Fellowship, hosts Sean Vanderklis and Karl Dockstader aim to highlight Indigenous Excellence and bring to light issues that are affecting Indigenous People.

Vanderklis is Mississauga of the Curve Lake First Nation who lives in St. Catharines, while Dockstader is a Haudenosaunee member of the Oneida, Bear Clan living in Niagara Falls. Both have worked as social service providers before launching their podcast, now broadcast – One Dish, One Mic. The radio program is live every Sunday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Niagara’s house of talk, Newstalk AM 610 CKTB.

Niagara College offers more than 150 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
Manager, Communications
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

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

Niagara College ready to flex its muscles in massage therapy

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Future massage therapists will soon be able to gain hands-on experience at Niagara College.

After receiving formal approval from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the College is preparing to launch a Massage Therapy advanced diploma program in September 2021. Forty students will be accepted into the first intake of the new program, which will be based at NC’s Welland Campus.

Dean of Community and Health Studies Carolyn Triemstra noted that this will be the first time NC has offered Massage Therapy – and just in time, as the need for professionals grows. Data on massage therapist employment, from labour market analytics firm Emsi, projects a 22% growth in Ontario from 2018 to 2026 and a 12.6% growth in the Niagara region, specifically.

“We are looking forward to launching a new program within our School of Allied Health which will not only lead students to rewarding careers but will serve a growing need for healthcare professionals,” said Triemstra. “Massage Therapists can play a vital role in serving communities by helping to improve the quality of life of their patients, as well as assisting with the reduction of pain, and the treatment of illness, injury, rehabilitation and disability.”

With a six-term academic delivery, students will be able to complete the program in 24 months. The program will equip students with the knowledge and skills to provide safe, competent and ethical care at an entry-level of practice within the massage therapy profession. Students will gain experience working with clients in supervised placements on campus as well as in community placements.

The program will prepare students for their provincial licensing exam to be written post-graduation (but prior to practice) through the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.

For program entry requirements and additional details, visit the program page on the College’s website here.

Niagara College offers more than 150 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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Photo: Dean of Community and Health Studies Carolyn Triemstra stands at the Applied Health Institute at NC’s Welland Campus as the College prepares to launch a Massage Therapy program in September 2021.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Michael Wales

Manager, Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

 

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Niagara College Early Childhood Education program launches Virtual Preschool

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Future Early Childhood Educators are discovering new ways to keep children learning and engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to Niagara College’s new Virtual Preschool.

A free website recently launched by the College’s Early Childhood Education program, NC Virtual Preschool is an innovative project for about 100 second-year students. When it became apparent that their program placements – which are typically in kindergarten classes or childcare centres – would not take place during Fall term, faculty began to explore new options.

“NC Virtual Preschool is an innovative solution by our ECE program team, including faculty and support staff contributors, who wanted to ensure that our students meet their learning objectives during the COVID-19, with a need to switch to remote learning,” said Carol Philips, associate dean, Community Services. “At the same time, it presents an opportunity for students to apply their skills in new ways and connect with children virtually.”

ECE program coordinator and professor Angela Hayes said that as students apply their skills to create modules and learning activities for NC Virtual Preschool, they are also responding to an existing need in the community. She noted that there is an increased need for support from parents who may be home more often with their children during the pandemic. The new Virtual Preschool may be a particularly valuable resource for children who aren’t attending in-person daycare or kindergarten during the pandemic, as well as the parents who find themselves working from home and may not be able to access childcare.

“While exploring new ways for our students to apply their skills and connect with children, we wanted to do something uplifting and supportive for the community during COVID-19,” said Hayes. “Many of our faculty are not putting their kids in daycare and working remotely at this time, and we thought there was a need to support that.”

Whether it’s counting and adding with Paige, marching to the beat of unusual instruments with Grace, making sun catchers with Megan, exploring sinking or floating with Rupinder, users can ‘meet’ the ECE students via video and engage in a variety of quality early learning activities posted to the site. New activities are added each week in various experience areas including language/literacy, fine motor/ sensory, math, music and/or movement, creative art, dramatic play, science and nature, or field trips.

Hands-on virtual experience

For NC students who may not have an opportunity to interact with children and colleagues in the classroom, NC Virtual Preschool opens doors to a virtual community. If they were completing their typical placements in-person at a preschool or kindergarten classroom, the ECE students would learn about the children they interact with, along with their development stages and interests. For virtual preschool, ECE student students were provided with a sample ‘class’ of junior and senior preschoolers to create different activity modules for – representing a variety of preschool age groups, home situations and interests. ECE students record videos of themselves engaging in activities they have created. After they are submitted to faculty and graded, activities are uploaded to the Virtual Preschool website where they become a resource for children and their parents who can access them free, anytime.

Alexandria Craddock

ECE students value the opportunity to participate in NC Virtual Preschool this Fall term. Second-year ECE student Alexandria Craddock noted that her participation in NC Virtual Preschool is taking her outside of her comfort zone, as she creates online content for people to view – which isn’t something she would typically do.

“I have enjoyed creating the content knowing children can access it from the comfort of their homes during these uncertain times. One of my goals for this year was to be more open to online learning,” she said. “I also love that I am sharing this online experience with children that I am creating activities for; it has really encouraged me to make the activities as fun and as inviting as possible.”

Craddock noted that it has been difficult to not be able to interact with preschool children in person during her placement but she believes the virtual preschool offers students a silver lining. “That is the reality of COVID, and this experience has given me the opportunity to look at how I can interact with the children in different and new ways while helping them learn something new,” she said.

Hunter Carroll

Hunter Carroll, who is also in her second year of the program, also misses working directly with children since the onset of COVID-19 but is happy that she is gaining experience through NC Virtual Preschool.

“The main thing we are taught in this program is to follow the children’s lead. This is much harder to do when there are no children to follow,” said Carroll. “However, when working with kids, you have to be flexible. Children are going to surprise you and do things that you don’t expect so you have to be able to adapt – and that is what we are doing through this Virtual Preschool.”

The NC Virtual Preschool website is available to the public and free for all users. View NC Virtual Preschool here.

Niagara College offers more than 150 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
Manager, Communications
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

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

Niagara College Teaching Brewery wins three medals at provincial awards

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The awards keep pouring in for the Niagara College Teaching Brewery, which scored three honours at the recent Ontario Brewing Awards.

The Teaching Brewery walked away with a trio of medals for its student-made beers, including:

  • Gold for Beer 101 Bock in the Amber Malty European Lager category;
  • Silver for Beer 101 Strong in the Strong British Ale category; and
  • Silver for Beer 101 Saison in the Strong Belgian Ale category.

“Our Teaching Brewery’s repeat success at the Ontario Brewing Awards and elsewhere shows how Niagara College is a leader in training the best and brightest in the province’s and country’s brewing industry,” said Steve Gill, general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “Another testament to the Teaching Brewery’s leadership is the number of Niagara graduates who medalled at these awards for beers produced at their own breweries and for others in Ontario.”

This is the 11th medal for NC’s Beer 101 Strong and the second year in a row that it’s been a Top 3 finisher at the Ontario Brewing Awards. The repeat accolades, handed out in a virtual ceremony, attest not only to the quality of beer produced by the Teaching Brewery but to the quality of training the country’s future brewmasters are receiving, said NC Brewmaster professor Jon Downing.

“It’s great that we get recognized for what students are doing. Every time we win, it’s a different group of students that wins. That validates what we’re doing at the brewery,” said Downing. “Our standards are high; head brewer George Eagleson’s training of students is awesome, and our beers — people like them.”

This is the first time the Teaching Brewery entered its Beer 101 Saison in a competition. The recipe has been a work in progress for the past five years, Downing noted. While it occasionally appeared on Teaching Brewery store shelves as a seasonal beer done in the style of a rustic Belgian farmhouse ale, it never gained the traction of other one-off suds made by students until now.

Downing credits Eagleson’s tenacity at perfecting a recipe that produced consistent results in the classroom, which isn’t always the case with this style of beer. With Lead Brewer Brad Barta’s guidance, and bottled under the Beer 101 label, the saison has become one of the Teaching Brewery’s big sellers. And now it’s an award winner.

The gold medal for Beer 101 Bock follows a silver medal finish at the Canadian Brewing Awards in September.

The award-winning beers are sold in 473-millilitre cans and are available for purchase at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

A full list of Ontario Brewing Award winners is available online. For details visit ontariobrewingawards.ca.

Niagara College Teaching Brewery wins three medals at provincial awards

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The awards keep pouring in for the Niagara College Teaching Brewery, which scored three honours at the recent Ontario Brewing Awards.

The Teaching Brewery walked away with a trio of medals for its student-made beers, including:

  • Gold for Beer 101 Bock in the Amber Malty European Lager category;
  • Silver for Beer 101 Strong in the Strong British Ale category; and
  • Silver for Beer 101 Saison in the Strong Belgian Ale category.

“Our Teaching Brewery’s repeat success at the Ontario Brewing Awards and elsewhere shows how Niagara College is a leader in training the best and brightest in the province’s and country’s brewing industry,” said Steve Gill, general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “Another testament to the Teaching Brewery’s leadership is the number of Niagara graduates who medalled at these awards for beers produced at their own breweries and for others in Ontario.”

This is the 11th medal for NC’s Beer 101 Strong and the second year in a row that it’s been a Top 3 finisher at the Ontario Brewing Awards. The repeat accolades, handed out in a virtual ceremony, attest not only to the quality of beer produced by the Teaching Brewery but to the quality of training the country’s future brewmasters are receiving, said NC Brewmaster professor Jon Downing.

“It’s great that we get recognized for what students are doing. Every time we win, it’s a different group of students that wins. That validates what we’re doing at the brewery,” said Downing. “Our standards are high; head brewer George Eagleson’s training of students is awesome, and our beers — people like them.”

This is the first time the Teaching Brewery entered its Beer 101 Saison in a competition. The recipe has been a work in progress for the past five years, Downing noted. While it occasionally appeared on Teaching Brewery store shelves as a seasonal beer done in the style of a rustic Belgian farmhouse ale, it never gained the traction of other one-off suds made by students until now.

Downing credits Eagleson’s tenacity at perfecting a recipe that produced consistent results in the classroom, which isn’t always the case with this style of beer. With Lead Brewer Brad Barta’s guidance, and bottled under the Beer 101 label, the saison has become one of the Teaching Brewery’s big sellers. And now it’s an award winner.

The gold medal for Beer 101 Bock follows a silver medal finish at the Canadian Brewing Awards in September.

The award-winning beers are sold in 473-millilitre cans and are available for purchase at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

A full list of Ontario Brewing Award winners is available online. For details visit ontariobrewingawards.ca.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus hub wins Interior Design Award of Excellence

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Niagara College student spaces continue to steal the spotlight in the design community.

Just weeks after winning an international design award for its Welland Campus Student Commons, the Student Commons at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake captured an Award of Excellence from the Niagara Biennial Design Awards. Celebrating design excellence throughout Niagara, the 2020 awards announced 18 winning projects – among 68 submissions – on November 9.

“As our jury team reviewed interior design submissions, we took note of those that rose above simply solving pragmatic project requirements to achieve a truly unique public gathering place. The Student Commons at Niagara College’s Niagara on the Lake campus has accomplished just that,” said Niagara Biennial Design Awards juror Gordon Stratford. “The Commons submission presents a uniquely engaging and agile hub that reflects the energy of Niagara College’s academic community.

“Having personally experienced the Commons during packed open houses, active academic term weekdays and quiet times, the space is remarkable in its ability to morph itself and embrace such extremes of community use while maintaining its design clarity and character. For this, it rightfully deserves the award of excellence.”

The Student Commons has been central to student life at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus since it opened in 2016, doubling the space of the previous cafeteria. The contemporary student hub offers students a welcoming, social and collaborative environment. The project was part of a $65-million campus redevelopment designed to modernize learning environments, and enhance the student experience at NC’s Welland and NOTL campuses.

Niagara College’s senior vice president of College Operations Pam Skinner congratulated the team at Gow Hastings Architects for their latest achievement.

“As Gow Hastings continues to build on their track record of design excellence by winning the acclaim of judges at home and around the world, their vibrant student hubs are winning hearts within our College community,” said Skinner. “These transformational spaces not only beautify our campuses, they are truly foundational to student success.”

“This Award of Excellence recognizes the contribution of students to the diversity and richness of the Niagara region,” said Philip Hastings, partner-in-charge, Gow Hastings Architects. “The Student Commons was developed out of a need for dedicated student space on the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. We could not have designed this award-winning centre without Niagara’s significant student community.”

Hastings noted that the Student Commons is an impactful space crafted from a series of small design interventions.

“The project transforms what was once a large, open gymnasium into a collection of comfortable seating areas set under custom light fixtures and a lowered ceiling,” said Hastings. “Finished with a nine-metre integrated video wall, these innovative features brighten and enliven the student experience.”

Building on the former Niagara Community Design Awards – which ran until 2016 – the Niagara Biennial Awards were launched in 2019 to celebrate the role of design toward the enhancement of the region’s unique and diverse environments. Submissions were judged on comprehensiveness, innovation, stakeholder engagement, vibrancy, quality of execution, contextual response and sustainability.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Student campus Student Commons has received numerous accolades since it opened in December 2016, including Interior Design Best of Year Awards, Honoree (2018); FX International Interior Design Award – Public Sector shortlist (2018); Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Awards (2018); Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario Award (2018); Interior Design Council Value of Design Award (2019); and IIDA Global Excellence Awards Finalist (2019).

In October, the Welland Campus Student Commons— which officially opened in September 2018 and was also designed by Gow Hastings Architects – won a prestigious Society of British and International Interior Design International Design Award in Public Space Design. It was featured in the October issue of Canadian Facility Management and Design Magazine, as well a recent issue of The Education Snapshots – a monthly digest of the latest education designs. It was also shortlisted for the FX Design Awards 2020 (Public Sector category).

Niagara College offers more than 150 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, Niagara College

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]

 

Puneet Sidhu

Marketing Director, Gow Hastings Architects

416 920 0031 x 236

[email protected]

NC Business students team up to help local entrepreneurs become more sustainable

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As Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off Monday, Nov. 16, students from Niagara College’s School of Business and Management are gearing up to spend the next five days helping local business owners become more sustainable.

More than 130 students from various programs will participate in the inaugural NCSustainability Hackathon, which runs until Friday, Nov. 20. Twenty-six teams of students will pore over case studies from five entrepreneurial ventures – based in Niagara and the GTA – in an effort to discover sustainable business solutions that create shared value and focus on the three P’s of sustainability: people, planet and profit in a COVID-19 era

The teams, made up of second- and third-year students, have until November 20 to collaborate virtually on ideas and submit their proposals to a judging panel made up of College business faculty. Their analysis of their assigned businesses will be reviewed and two winners will be chosen to present their ideas to the entrepreneurs at a later date. 

“Students need to come up with ideas of how, in a time COVID, these organizations can reach out sustainably and improve their actions in the marketplace to strengthen their business,” said Cammie Jaquays, professor of Business, Entrepreneurship and Leadership, and NC Sustainability Hackathon co-organizer. “The hackathon is about looking at where we are in the world right now, the challenges entrepreneurs face, and what sustainable solutions can be found to survive – and thrive.”

The NC Sustainability Hackathon is an experiential learning initiative inspired by the $5 Challenge held in March 2020 when teams of students were given $5 in seed money and five days to grow it as much as possible in a financial or social venture. The goal of the hackathon, which is an intensive, collaborative academic event, is to nurture entrepreneurship among students and take their skills and know-how into the community.

“Students get experiential learning, confidence, teamwork, applications of entrepreneurship, and the application of what they’re learning in the classroom,” said Jaquays. 

The businesses involved in the NC Sustainability Hackathon include a brewery, bakery, food artisan, cannabis store, and pet fostering not-for-profit that helps vulnerable Niagarans. The businesses were chosen as case studies for the competition because of their reputations for making community and social responsibility priorities in their business plans. 

Winners of the hackathon will be announced online at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.

The Niagara College School of Business and Management prepares students for a wide variety of industries, from accounting to marketing, human resources, international business, and more. Diploma, certificate and two four-year degree programs are taught by professors with significant expertise in their field and reflect NC’s commitment to providing students with hands-on learning opportunities through internships and placement opportunities. In addition, students have access to academic pathways and can challenge for industry certifications that align with their program of study post-graduation.

Niagara College offers more than 150 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
Manager, Communications
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

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

NC celebrates students with Virtual Student Appreciation Week Nov. 16-20

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Student Appreciation Week has gone virtual for fall 2020!

Between November 16 and 20, Niagara College will celebrate students through a variety of online activities and contests – offering students a chance to win numerous gift card prizes.

Organized by the Centre for Student Engagement, along with departments across the College, the weeklong initiative has taken on a Survivor TV series theme, as a nod to what has been a term like no other for students through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We felt it was important to celebrate our amazing students, especially this semester as they are navigating and experiencing a great deal of change with the pandemic,” said Shari Walsh, associate director of Engagement, Advising and Career Services. “The College community came together to create a virtual version of our very popular Student Appreciation Days that we hope students will enjoy. Our goal was to create a variety of online activities and contests that would be open to all students and encourage them to engage with us online.”

From easy to enter random draws, online games that students can play in teams, and contests that will challenge their creativity – there is something for everyone, Walsh noted. Activities include:

  • Zoom Pictionary and  Family Feud sessions;
  • A message from  NC president Sean Kennedy with a secret message encrypted;
  • Daily guessing games;
  • Live Karaoke, Dirty Bingo and participant prize giveaways from NCSAC;
  • A TikTok video submission contest;
  • Canadian Winter Trivia;
  • A MyCareer Contest (students will log on to MyCareer, take a screenshot of a job posting that interests them and submit it to be entered into a draw for a gift card) ;
  • A Scout the NC Cat Art Contest;
  • Daily online trivia from ncLibraries; and more.

Winners will receive their prizes (gift cards) directly by email.

“This is our small way to say thank you to our NC students, and to give them that little boost to continue to December and have a great semester,” said Walsh. “Thank you to all the amazing NC staff and faculty who donated prizes, planned activities and contests and have promoted to our students.”

A full list of activities and details will be posted to the NCSAC Events Calendar at https://www.yourncsac.ca/eventscalendar

Niagara College to host Fall Virtual Open House Nov. 21

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Prospective students and their families can discover what Niagara College has to offer, explore its trailblazing programs and state-of-the-art campuses, and speak to current staff and students – all from the comfort and safety of home this fall.

On Saturday, November 21, Niagara College will host its Fall Virtual Open House. This live, interactive online event – which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – is an opportunity for future students to learn about NC’s innovative programs, facilities and services, along with a chance to win a $2,000 credit towards their NC tuition (for Fall 2021, Winter 2021, or Spring 2022).

“Although current circumstances prevent us from welcoming visitors to our campuses in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are looking forward to giving our future students and their families a warm ‘NC virtual welcome’ on November 21,” said NC president Sean Kennedy. “For those preparing to embark on this important chapter of their educational journey, NC’s Virtual Open House is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to connect with our students, staff and faculty, and find out firsthand why the Niagara College experience is truly like no other.”

NC’s Fall Virtual Open House offers an inside look at the College’s Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses, with 360-degree views of the grounds and facilities. Through virtual narrated tours, future students can walk the vineyards and gardens, and get a sneak peek inside labs, classrooms, learning enterprises, student centres, eateries, athletic facilities, residences and more.

Visitors who attend the interactive event will have access to:

  • Live information sessions about College programs, and a question-and-answer period with NC team members (including current students) on the day of the event;
  • Recorded information sessions with panels of NC experts discussing available student services and supports;
  • Engaging information about the College’s schools and programs, including curated YouTube playlists of video sessions with NC staff, faculty and students;
  • Registration for one-on-one virtual visits and virtual college exploration sessions – booked for a date and time that works for prospective students; and
  • Direct contact information for the College’s recruitment team members in regions across Ontario and beyond.

Registration is required for the event and is now underway. Attendees are encouraged to log in prior to November 21 to review Virtual Open House content, including schedules for live information sessions. In addition to a chance to win a $2,000 tuition credit, those who register before Thursday, November 19 at 11:59 p.m. will be eligible for a chance to win one of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards.

Visit niagaracollege.ca/openhouse for more information and to register. Recorded content from the event will be available on the Virtual Open House website for one month following the event.

Niagara College offers more than 150 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
Manager, Communications
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

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