A groundbreaking program from Niagara College to support Indigenous students transitioning to postsecondary education will return with an expanded outreach for fall 2023.

The College’s My Path of Worthwhile Educational Re-engagement (MPOWER) program, which was introduced last year to its first cohort of students, was recently approved for more than $59,000 in funding from The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT). The agreement came into effect at the beginning of April 2023.

On June 9, Niagara College was among eight Ontario postsecondary institutions announced as a recipient of funds from the Government of Ontario to develop programs and supports for students impacted by the pandemic – including specialized supports for Indigenous learners. View ONCAT’s June 9 release here.

“The MPOWER program is a unique amalgamation of cultural and academic components,” said Dean of Academic and Liberal Studies David Atherton. “Creating programs and pathways for students to access postsecondary is integral to the work of the Academic and Liberal Studies division, and we are so pleased to continue supporting our Indigenous learners.

“I am immensely proud of the team and the work they have done with this program and look forward to our work continuing with the support of ONCAT.”

“We are so excited to have received this funding from ONCAT to continue delivering the MPOWER program,” said Rebecca Nicholls, Associate Dean, Workforce Development and Community Partnerships. “MPOWER has proven to be an incredible success with our first cohort of students last year and we know it will continue to do exciting things in the community.”

The launch of MPOWER forged a new path as a wholistic program specifically geared to Indigenous students with engagement from the Indigenous community. Offered by NC’s School of Academic and Liberal Studies, the program is based at the Welland Campus and will include “on-the-land” teachings and experiences.

MPOWER offers college level credit courses, creating a path for Indigenous students towards postsecondary education through essential academic and applied skills. A foundation of Indigenous cultural knowledge is woven into both academic and applied learning experiences. Wellness and cultural support are available through the College’s Health Wellness and Accessibility program, as well as through the College’s Indigenous Education team.

“We are excited to partner with Workforce Development and Community Partnerships on the expansion of MPOWER that delivers culturally responsive curriculum and supports for our Indigenous learners,” said Leah Hogan, Associate Director, Indigenous Education at NC. “Our collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to increase postsecondary participation.

“MPOWER has proven to demystify the college experience and we are truly excited to see this successful program expand to our entire community.”

Enrolment is geared to those 18 and older. When the College welcomes the next cohort of students into the program for Fall 2023 term, there will no longer be a cap at the age of 30, opening doors for applicants in their thirties and beyond for the first time.

The positive impact MPOWER has on students may be seen through the success of its first cohort of students who attended the program from January to April 2022.

The majority – 22 out of 25 – of students remained actively engaged through the two terms (eight months) of the academic component and most students received two or more college credits.

Several students from the first cohort decided to continue their education beyond the MPOWER program. Some entering regular postsecondary programs at Niagara College and some beginning programs at other postsecondary institutions. Success for the students is not only determined by their decisions to move immediately on to regular postsecondary programming but by their new sense of confidence and direction to explore and secure other education, training and employment opportunities.

Community Access Program Manager, Shanyn Porter attributes MPOWER’s success to its targeted, culturally sensitive approach to access programming, which has a positive impact on students.

“I believe that education can serve as an undercover healing journey for many. We know the difference MPOWER makes for students; I see it empower our learners every day,” said Porter. “By design, we have built a well-rounded, wholistic program, supportive of Indigenous culture and we are continuously working towards creating safe spaces for Indigenous students.

“We see how MPOWER builds a sense of confidence, hope and self-esteem in students. Some students continue their educational journey, some take on full-time work; and, in others, we see positive impacts through positive life choices they make while they’re in the program and those positive life choices continue beyond the program.”

St. Catharines resident Kayla Clifford believes the MPOWER program set her up for success in college, as a Pre-Health student who plans to enrol in Recreation Therapy. She valued the opportunities to learn more about Indigenous medicines and Mohawk teachings, which helped her to feel more connected to Indigenous culture, and to make new friends.

“I probably never would have gone to college if it wasn’t for this program,” she said. “The people in this program supported me throughout everything and made me feel not alone. The program has encouraged me to become a better person for myself and for others.”

Porter also noted the program benefits faculty. “Whether they are Indigenous or not, it’s an opportunity for conversation, to open doors and for dialogue about what it means to be a part of this land.”

A portion of the funds have supported the purchase of books and resources that will be available for students via the new Indigenous Programming Resources Lending Hub. The new hub, at the Welland Campus (Black Walnut) includes a variety of books — including Indigenous biographies and storytelling, the history of different Nations, to books on curriculum and lesson planning ideas, books specific to Two-Spirit, MMIWG and Orange Shirt Day as well as books to celebrate the beauty of the culture – and other resources such as games, blankets and chairs for on-the land activities and classes. A new lending system will soon be established for the Hub.

Porter noted that the new Hub resources will be a valuable tool for MPOWER students, staff and faculty to access Indigenous content and marks a significant step for the College.

“NC is still taking steps towards addressing the Call to Actions for Truth and Reconciliation,” said Porter. “This Hub is a Workforce Development & Community Partnerships commitment, through our Community Access Programs, to enthusiastically address and honour some of those Calls to Action.”

All books and resources in the MPOWER Hub were purchased through Indigenous owned and operated businesses throughout Turtle Island, such as GoodMinds, Indigenous Reflections, Two Chiefs, and the Ontario Native Literacy Coalition.

The program is also earmarked to receive $208,000 from NC’s Dream Big Fund to further support program objectives and provide invaluable learning experiences for MPOWER students.

MPOWER is a two-term program within NC’s School of Academic and Liberal Studies. The program is funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Tuition, textbooks, and course resources are free for eligible students. A Statement of Completion credential is awarded. Wellness supports are available through NC’s Indigenous Education department. Applicants be 18 or older, self-identify as Indigenous and have a strong desire to commit to their future in education. Visit niagaracollege.ca/liberal/program/mpower/ for information.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

TOP PHOTO: NC’s first class of MPOWER students celebrate completing their credential at an achievement ceremony in August 2022.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant

905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

The Structural and Multidisciplinary Systems Design (SMSD) Lab at Queen’s University has become the newest member of Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI), a Niagara College-led consortium of post-secondary academic institutions that provides competitive, disruptive, and innovative solutions to Ontario’s manufacturers.

SONAMI has received more than $21.3 million from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to establish and then grow its network. 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 eastern Ontario. The addition of Kingston-based Queen’s University to SONAMI now brings the total in the network to 10 postsecondary partners, including Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, George Brown, Lambton, Mohawk, Niagara and Sheridan colleges, and McMaster University.

Through the centralized SONAMI hub, member institutions pool their resources and talent to match them to 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.

“The focus of Queen’s University’s SMSD Lab on Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and multi-disciplinary design and optimization working with industry partnerships in aerospace, automotive, and energy brings a unique set of complementary capabilities to SONAMI, further enhancing support for manufacturers,” said Marc Nantel, PhD, Vice President, Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises at Niagara College.

“By welcoming a leading university from eastern Ontario – 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.”

SONAMI supports all SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The SMSD Lab will expand the network’s capacity in FEM and multi-disciplinary design and optimization.

SMSD’s capabilities can be used to solve a wide variety of real-world challenges, for example reducing the weight of automotive or aircraft structural parts, while considering stiffness, strength, vibrational behaviour, fatigue, and certification requirements. Cost reduction is always the most important criterion in SMSD’s research, and using state-of-the-art computational optimization and in-house tools, lifecycle costs may be minimized, including material, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and operation and recycling costs. Multiphysics and multidisciplinary design optimization can be used to maximize the performance of various complex systems, including electric vehicles and UAM (urban mobility systems), which will also help create more resilient and sustainable parts and systems.

Over the past 19 years, the SMSD Lab has developed and published novel academic research for automotive and aerospace applications. The lab utilizes analytical and computational optimization techniques to develop new principles and methodologies to solve practical problems with various industrial partners.

“I am truly excited to be part of SONAMI. I look forward to making an impact on the automotive and aerospace industry in Ontario. This will also bring tremendous opportunities for the students in my lab,” said Il Yong Kim, PhD, Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the SMSD Lab. “Close collaboration with industry has always been a top priority for SMSD, and our research in multi-physics and multi-disciplinary optimization will help improve system performance and lower the cost of products for SONAMI members.”

“The SONAMI network has been instrumental in providing important resources and support to manufacturing businesses,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “With their support, businesses are innovating and growing their ventures. This latest partnership with Queen’s University will further strengthen the SONAMI network, expanding the reach in the province and providing more essential tools to SMEs. The Government of Canada understands the importance of Southern Ontario’s advanced manufacturing sector, and these investments are supporting the people that create jobs and build a strong economy.”

“We are thrilled to see Queen’s University join SONAMI, our office has been working with SONAMI over the past year supporting local manufacturers to develop processes, producers and technologies, that align with our vision of sustainability and innovation,” said Abdul Jendi, Investment Manager, Sustainable Manufacturing at Kingston Economic Development. “Queen’s Structural and Multidisciplinary Systems Design Lab (SMSD) which specializes in advanced modelling and multi-disciplinary design and optimization is a great addition to SONAMI’s spectrum of specialties. We look forward to the continued collaboration with SONAMI in pursuit of excellence in manufacturing.”

Since the award-winning network’s inception in 2016, industry partners have benefitted from collaborative projects by: increasing sales, reducing manufacturing costs, diversifying product lines, and realizing their innovative ideas. To date, SONAMI partners have worked with more than 300 SMEs to complete more than 400 projects resulting in $12.5 million in sales from commercialized innovations, created or maintained over 220 jobs and provided skills and training for hundreds of students to prepare them for future jobs.

To access the advanced manufacturing network, representatives from interested businesses can contact SONAMI’s Business Development Lead, Mitchell Lutz at [email protected]. For more information about the network, please visit the SONAMI website.

Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that has shaped our collective knowledge and helped address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, the university offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment with prominent strengths in robotics/AI/design optimization, physics, cancer research, geoengineering, data analytics, surveillance studies, art conservation, and mental health research. Welcoming and supporting students from all countries and backgrounds to a vibrant, safe, and supportive community is an important part of the Queen’s experience. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich the Queen’s campus and community. A core part of the University’s mission is to engage students, staff, and faculty in international learning and research, both at home and abroad. Queen’s Partnerships and Innovation develops and facilitates collaborations with industry, governments, not-for-profit organizations, and other academic institutions to strengthen Queen’s local, national, and global impact.

In 2023, Queen’s ranked 3rd in the world and 1st in Canada and North America in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The rankings measured over 1,700 post-secondary institutions from 117 countries worldwide, on their work to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) is a Niagara College-led network of postsecondary institutions, who, through their respective Research and Innovation Centres, collaborate with small- and medium-sized companies to tackle their manufacturing-related challenges. SONAMI leverages faculty, students, and state-of-the-market equipment, together with funding from the Federal Government, to support manufacturing in Canada. Learn more at sonami.ca.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation 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 productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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 six additional academic institutions: Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, Lambton, and George Brown colleges, and Queen’s University.
• In July 2019, FedDev Ontario announced an additional investment of $14 million towards a five-year project (through to March 2024), which would grow the network to 10 partners, enhancing its reach to help manufacturers innovate
• SONAMI is funded by FedDev Ontario, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON).
• 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 Research & Development (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 1:1.2 funding match on projects. FedDev’s investment is matched by a mix of cash and in-kind contributions from the industry partner. This could reduce overall project costs by up to 50 per cent and help more manufacturers participate.

 

Top photo: Queen’s University Professor Il Yong Kim (in the centre) is surrounded by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Videos

A video featuring Queen’s University Professor Il Yong Kim and the Structural and Multidisciplinary Systems Design (SMSD) Lab team, along with the research done by team members on various industry projects:

https://vimeo.com/284404179

A video that focuses on the story of one part at the SMSD Lab at Queen’s University and its transformation from an idea to a reinterpreted topology optimized design:

https://vimeo.com/284929765

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Niagara College, Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Julie Brown

Queen’s University, Manager, Media Relations

343-363-2763

[email protected]

 

 

 

On Thursday June 1, Niagara College proudly raised the Progress Pride flag at both the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in recognition of Pride Month.

Speaking at the flag raising ceremony at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, Pam Skinner, Senior Vice President, College Operations, highlighted the College’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.

“Our NC community is one where all are welcomed and where respect for each other is of the utmost importance,” said Skinner. “Your presence this morning is a strong signal of support for fellow colleagues and students and Niagara College’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It represents a great stride by our whole community to bolster the strong culture of inclusion and belonging that is so central to our NC identity.”

This spring, Niagara College launched its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint which represents the College’s shared commitment to accessibility, equity and inclusion where all members of the College’s diverse community are engaged, valued and supported.

NC’s Vice-President, International, Sean Coote referenced the importance of the EDI Blueprint in connection with Pride Month at the Welland Campus flag raising ceremony.

“Recently, the College launched our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint, which is guiding our continuous commitment and actions to ensure a learning environment and workplace that is respectful, inclusive, and welcoming for all,” said Coote. “Raising the Progress Pride Flag is an example of our commitment to creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive College.”

Last year, Niagara College adopted the Progress Pride Flag to better represent the College’s inclusive environment. The Progress flag features the “traditional” rainbow colours, and black and brown stripes, which represent those lost to HIV/AIDS and those currently living with AIDS as well as the inclusion of pink, light blue and white which pay homage to the Transgender Pride flag.

Representatives from the Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) and the Rainbow Knights – a club comprised of both 2SLGBTQIA+ and allies dedicated to promoting acceptance at Niagara College – also participated in the flag raising.

During his remarks, Coote also noted that the NC Rainbow Knights were recently awarded the Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Award from Pride Niagara at the 2023 Niagara UNITY Awards celebration. This award is given to an academic institution or student-run group that focuses on supporting the young members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community of Niagara.

“Flying the Progress Pride flag at both NC campuses for the month of June highlights the College’s commitment to creating an inclusive community for everyone,” said Dipal Patel, NCSAC President. “Not only does the flag acknowledge the hardships members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community face, but it also celebrates their achievements and reminds NC students that we are part of a supportive and welcoming community.”

Niagara College will continue the recognition and celebration of Pride Month through various events and activities throughout June. The NC Recruitment team will also be out in the community at various Pride events including Pride Niagara’s 10^th annual Pride in the Park on June 3 and Fort Erie Pride on June 24.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 9,500 students from over 80 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquires, please contact:

Courtney De Caire
Communications Consultant
Cell: 289-407-8298
[email protected]