Niagara College kicks off new academic year with more than 10,000 students, new facilities

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Niagara College is ready to usher in a new academic year with more than 10,000 students projected to begin their studies after Labour Day – including close to 5,000 new students – along with a full slate of activities and new facilities to welcome them.

“We look forward to welcoming our new and returning students and providing them with an outstanding start to the new academic year,” said College president Dan Patterson, PhD. “We are also excited to unveil several new facilities that will enrich learning environments on our campuses and enhance student life for many years to come.”

New facilities

Students will kick off the fall term with newly renovated study spaces at both campuses. The Glynn Family Library and Learning Commons at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, as well as the Eva M. Lewis Library and Learning Commons at the Welland Campus have been renovated, featuring new and additional seating, as well as flexible space to accommodate individual and collaborative work.

September will mark the grand opening of the Marotta Family Innovation Complex at the Niagara-on-the Lake Campus. The new four-storey $18.25-million complex includes new research areas that expand the College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute Innovation Centre (CFWI IC) and classrooms, in addition to a fitness centre and gymnasium which opened in September 2018.

Renovations are also underway at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus that will provide new and updated spaces for NC’s Student Administrative Council, International offices, and Indigenous Education. The new NCSAC offices and International offices are expected to open the week of September 23, while new facilities for Indigenous Education will open in November.

Construction crews have been busy over the summer months to complete extensive road realignment and repave parking lots at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, to create additional parking spaces, make better use of available land, and aid in navigation.

Fall Orientation

The Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC), and Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership (CSEL) are gearing up to host Fall Orientation at the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses from September 3-6 with a new theme for 2019: ‘Orientation Week for All.’

NCSAC president Tom Price noted that by delivering opportunities for social engagement, Orientation plays a key role in stimulating positive well-being for students – particularly for new students who may experience a sense of loneliness during the transition.

“I believe #OWEEKFORALL is essential to the success of all Niagara College students. It provides the opportunity for students to connect with fellow classmates, make friends, and build lasting relationships, all while having fun,” said Price. “I hope that students will make a lifetime of memories and lifelong friends participating in NCSAC events.”

Orientation kicks off on Tuesday, September 3 with a day of activities for new students. For the first time, the College will host a Checklist Fair to help new students manage necessary tasks on their ‘to-do lists’ – from picking up student ID cards, to locker rentals, and ITS help. The day will also include help sessions, program and co-op information sessions, and social initiatives like a free lunch and a pub night at The Core (Welland).

The first day of class (for most full-time programs) on Wednesday, September 4 begins with a welcome back initiative for all students – free coffee, tea and baked goods from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at both campuses.

One of the highlights of the week will include a lawn party on Friday, September 6 at the Welland Campus (3-7 p.m.). Students can enjoy the Ferris wheel, carnival rides, browse vendor displays, mark the occasion with a henna tattoo, and pose for a photo near the green wall and more ‘Instagram-worthy’ moments.  A shuttle will be available to transport students from the NOTL Campus for this event.

The lawn party will also shine the spotlight on safety, with a live dorm room burn demonstration from the Welland Fire Department scheduled to take place that evening (weather permitting).

Orientation week will also include a courtyard cookout on Wednesday, September 4 at the NOTL Campus (3-7 p.m.), a BBQ lunch on Thursday, September 5 at the Welland Campus (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and more. All Orientation week activities are free for NC students to attend. College staff and volunteers will be ready to assist students at ‘Ask Me’ stations, which will be set up at both campuses throughout the first week of classes.

Be NC Ready

The College’s International Division has had a head start in preparing students who are new to Canada for college and life in a new country – from pre-departure to after arrival. The division is offering a full suite of ‘Be NC Ready’ initiatives with a Be NC Ready website, online modules and a new student life app. From August 27-29, ‘Be NC Ready’ orientation sessions were held at the Welland and NOTL campuses addressing topics including housing and lifestyle, education and immigration, and health care and services.

In addition to college-wide Orientation activities, international orientation will be held for English for Academic Preparation students (August 29, 30 and September 3), and postsecondary and graduate students (August 30-31), including a welcome breakfast, an information fair to highlight on-campus international services, games, and an outing to Niagara Falls for a Hornblower Cruise and a shopping trip.

NC is also one of 19 postsecondary institutions in the province to partner with Destination Ontario for a welcome kiosk at Toronto Pearson International Airport running until September 8. The kiosks are set up at terminals one and three to greet international students and provide a variety of services including shuttle and transit info, accommodation and hotels, banking services and currency exchange, special assistance baggage claim, orientation and campus info and more.

Move-in Day

For hundreds of students planning to call campus ‘home’ for the next academic year, the excitement will begin on Labour Day weekend when they move into campus residences. On August 31, 250 students will move into residence at the Welland Campus, and 230 students will move into residence at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. A team of NC volunteers will assist with the move, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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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* While we strive for accuracy, please note that the Orientation schedule is subject to change.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368
Cell: 905 328-2532
[email protected]

Michael Wales
Communications Manager
Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7773
Cell: 905 328-4101
[email protected]

Niagara College partners with Society for Ecological Restoration to certify Ecosystem Restoration graduates

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A batch of 27 recent graduates of Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration (Graduate Certificate) program are getting a jumpstart on their career, becoming Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners-in-Training (CERPITs), thanks to a new partnership between the college and the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER).

The SER is an international organization dedicated to advancing the science, practice and policy of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture. This summer, Niagara College became Canada’s first post-secondary institution to become a partner with the SER’s Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner program.

The initiative supports graduates as they pursue their CERPIT designation and provides a clear pathway for them to advance to  full Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners (CERPs).

SER’s CERP Program Coordinator Jen Lyndall said, “Certification recognizes practitioners who have met a high standard of knowledge and experience.  Early career CERPITs, like those from Niagara College, can really differentiate themselves from other candidates during job searches, but more importantly they gain access to technical information and a network of hundreds of other CERPs and CERPITs from all over the world.”

The partnership also provides the program graduates with an Emerging Professional membership to SER, which connects them with a vast network of restorationists and provides access to technical resources through SER newsletters and publications, a complimentary subscription to the Restoration Ecology journal, expert webinars, and the Restoration Resource Center.

Megan Lalli, landowner stewardship coordinator with Trout Unlimited Canada and a graduate of Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration program, is one of 27 recent graduates to receive her Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner-in-Training designation, thanks to a new partnership between the college and the Society for Ecological Restoration

Graduates in the first newly minted group of CERPITs are already seeing the value the designation has added to their Niagara College education. “Ecosystem restoration felt like a path that provided actual solutions to a lot of the issues our environment faces. While I enjoyed working in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education, I wanted to go one step further,” said Ecosystem Restoration graduate Megan Lalli.

Lalli, 25, is now working as a landowner stewardship coordinator with the Niagara chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, and manages a project working with landowners to restore portions of Twelve Mile Creek running through their properties in Niagara.

“As development and climate change continue to have an impact on our lives and the environment as a whole, we need to find ways to adapt, mitigate, and restore the areas that have been affected. The more people that become part of SER and get educated through institutions like Niagara College, the more push there will be to focus on not only protecting the environment but restoring the areas to productive and flourishing habitats for biodiversity,” said Lalli.

The certification is also a boost to the resumes of graduates looking to make an impact in their field. “My time at Niagara College provided me with field experience performing tasks that I could be performing later in my career,” says Kandyce Affleck, 24, another graduate currently working as land management assistant with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. “I feel that this certification will provide me with useful resources and connections in order to further my career and keep me up to date.”

Kandyce Affleck, 2019 graduate from Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration Graduate Certificate program, currently works as a land management assistant with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and recently received her Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner-in-Training designation

In addition to certifying recent grads from the College’s program, the partnership has allowed Niagara College and the SER to work together to ensure the program’s curriculum gives students the knowledge and experience their need to attain their certification when they graduate.

“Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration program has been preparing students to make a meaningful difference in the preservation and restoration of natural habitats here at home in Niagara, and indeed around the world, for over 20 years” said Al Unwin, NC’s associate dean of Environment and Horticulture. “Partnering with the Society of Ecological Restoration not only improves the employability of our graduates, it also allows our two organizations to work together to ensure that future professionals in this field are well-equipped to tackle the ecological and environmental challenges that face our society, now and in the future.”

Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration program is preparing students to be leaders in the preservation and reconstruction of the planet’s diverse environments. Graduates go on to contribute to major restorative projects around the world, and will be crucial in the implementation of the United Nation’s recent declaration of 2021-2030 as a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

SER is an international non-profit organization with nearly 3,000 members in more than 70 countries. We actively promote participatory, knowledge-based approaches to restoration. Learn more about us at www.ser.org.

Niagara College’s School of Environment and Horticulture prepares students for success in a wide variety of fields, including Horticultural Technician, Environmental Technician and Greenhouse Technician. The school is also home to several unique and pioneering Graduate Certificate programs, including Commercial Cannabis Production and Commercial Beekeeping.

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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For media inquiries, including interviews with any of the individuals mentioned above, please contact:

 

Andrew Korchok

Communications Consultant

Niagara College

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7430

Cell: 905 329-1642

[email protected]

 

Jen Lyndall

Certification Program Coordinator

Society for Ecological Restoration

Phone: 440-666-5334

[email protected]

 

Niagara College sparkles at National Wine Awards: Seven medal sweep for Teaching Winery

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It is proving to be a vintage year for applied learning at the Niagara College Teaching Winery, with seven new medals from a national wine competition – two for sparkling alone.

The Niagara College Teaching Winery recently won a gold, three silvers and three bronze medals at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. The competition, known as the Nationals, is the largest wine awards in Canada.

The College’s awards include:

  • gold for Balance 2014 Blanc de Blanc Brut (Sparkling category);
  • silver for 2017 Marmitons Gastronomy Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir category);
  • silver for 2017 Dean’s List Prodigy Icewine (Icewine category);
  • silver for 2017 Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay Ziraldo (Chardonnay category);
  • bronze for 2017 Balance Gewurztraminer (Other Single White including Gewürztraminer and Viognier category);
  • bronze for 2018 Balance Rosé (Rosé category); and
  • bronze for N/V Balance Brut (Sparkling category).

“Winning seven medals at the Nationals is a real achievement, more so when they are spread among different styles. That speaks to winemaking consistency,” said David Lawrason, co-head judge of the competition.

Lawrason particularly noted the College’s two medals for sparkling wines, including a coveted gold for the Balance Blanc de Blancs 2014 Brut.

“Niagara is positioning itself as a star for traditional method Chardonnay-based bubblies, and the College is now on the leader board,” said Lawrason.

“Winning seven medals at one national competition is an outstanding testament to the high quality of applied learning at Niagara College,” said Steve Gill, general manager of the College’s Learning Enterprises. “Our wine students gain the skills they need to lead and succeed in the industry right here at our on-campus Teaching Winery and on-campus vineyards.”

College winemaker and instructor Gavin Robertson, who is also a graduate of the College’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program (2011) noted that the Nationals marked a first win for both sparkling wines, the rosé, and the Marmitons Pinot Noir. He pointed out that he chose only current vintages to submit to this year’s Nationals, as a way to calibrate the College’s winemaking operations relative to the Canadian industry at large.

He was particularly pleased with the 2014 Blanc de Blanc’s gold medal, because it was the Teaching Winery’s first sparkling wine made from 100 percent estate fruit – in this case, Chardonnay, from the NC Teaching Vineyard.

“The fact that the fruit was grown on campus allowed us to have complete control over all aspects of the wine, from bud break through to disgorging, and to involve several cohorts of Winery and Viticulture Technician program students in the nearly five-year production process at various stages.”

Robertson noted that first-year students picked the fruit in early September of 2014, and were in the winery while the base wine fermented, and was stabilized and filtered. During the spring of 2015, they helped bottle the wine for the secondary bottle fermentation, along with some second-year students.

Students from the classes of 2017 and 2018 disgorged the wine early – a process which removes the yeast sediment from the bottles and tops the bottles up. Students also determined the dosage rate – the amount of wine and sugar added at disgorging.

“It’s great to see that all of the work and time involved was recognized by the judges of the National Wine Awards,” said Robertson.

This year’s Nationals drew 1,815 entries from 259 different wineries from six different provinces. Held in a different Canadian wine region each year, the 2019 competition took place in Prince Edward County (Ontario) between June 10 and 14.

WineAlign awards manager Sarah Goddard noted the high calibre of judging at the Nationals. Judging takes place over five days with two days dedicated to re-tasting the top scoring wines.

“The Nationals bring together the best of Canadian wines and Canadian wine critics under one roof,” she said.

For details about the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada visit winealign.com/awards.

The Teaching Winery’s award-winning wines are available at Niagara College’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre, located at its Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON). Proceeds from sales support student learning. Visit niagaracollegewine.ca.

Niagara College’s Teaching Winery is the first and only commercial teaching winery in Canada. It is located at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, along with the NC Teaching Brewery and – the latest addition in September 2018 – the NC Teaching Distillery which were also the first of their kind in Canada.

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
Manager, Communications
Office: 905 735-2211 ext. 7773
Cell: 905 328-4101
[email protected]

Bier ist wunderbar! Project Brew is back with Augtoberfest, August 9

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Brewmaster students from Niagara College are brewing up a variety of unique and delicious beers for Project Brew: Augtoberfest to take place on August 9 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Market Square in St. Catharines will be the venue for the College’s celebrated student-run craft beer festival. The event, held each semester, will feature 20 innovative and thirst-quenching beers crafted by NC students, and is a chance for the public to sample the small-batch creations of students in their final term of the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program. Local food, music and games are also on tap.

“Project Brew is the capstone of our Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program,
said April Tyrrell, faculty advisor for the event. “Students get hands-on experience crafting original recipe beers from scratch while also planning and executing a large-scale public event.”

NC Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program student Garrett Saulis samples the beer he crafted for Project Brew. ‘Mildly Mahgwan’ is a dark-coloured beer with a toasty profile, fairly smooth body, and hints of maple sourced from his family’s sugar bush.

For Brewmaster student Garrett Saulis and his fellow classmates, the Augtoberfest theme was inspired by the ethos of Oktoberfest. “We loved the idea of a Biergarten, and allowing people to mingle and socialize while sampling beers and discussing their thoughts on what they’re trying,” said Saulis.

“It’s definitely interesting when you’re toying with the concept of developing a beer that represents who you are as a brewer,” said Saulis. “Project Brew takes all of the knowledge we’ve gained from the program to be able to create the recipe, develop and oversee the steps for production, troubleshoot any problems that arise, and finish with what you hope is a quality beer that people will enjoy.”

Students have brewed a variety of summer-friendly brews to appeal to beer lovers of all kinds, including a raspberry saison, a mango smoothie IPA, a wine-like grisette, a kettle sour, and some grassy IPAs. Other brews include a light Mexican lager, an experimental low calorie beer, and Saulis’s own dark beer made with maple syrup from his aunt and uncle’s sugar bush.

Saulis sees Project Brew as preparation for his career as a brewer. “It’s a great way to get our foot in the door of the brewing scene, and add to our resumés that we have experience developing recipes and organizing a beer festival,” he said.

Proceeds from Project Brew support the Matt Soos Memorial Fund, which awards a scholarship each year to the student who brews the best beer at Project Brew. Established by Muskoka Brewery and Railway City Brewing, the scholarship is in memory of Matt Soos who died at the age of 26 in August 2015, just a year after he graduated from the Brewmaster program.

Student beers will be judged on-site by the Soos family who will award a $4,500 scholarship to the graduating student who creates the winning beer.

“Project Brew has a very special meaning to us. We lost Matt four years ago and his dream is alive. What he wanted to do we are doing for him,” said brother Dan Soos, owner and head brewer of Natterjack Brewing in West Lorne, Ontario. The Soos family opened their brewery doors in 2018, dedicated to Matt who dreamed of owning a brewery of his own.

For the first time, two NC Brewmaster students, Aiden Roos and Adam Weverink, had the chance to work with Natterjack Brewing on a special beer for Project Brew – a dark ale brewed with 50lbs of blueberries donated by local farmers in Elgin County.

“Cheers to another successful year of Project Brew, and cheers to Matt. He would have wanted to be right in there up to his elbows in spent grain coming out of the mash tun, joking and chatting with everyone,” said Soos.

Fourth-semester Brewmaster students standing in the craft side of NC’s Teaching Brewery. Students are pictured by the mash tun using paddles to mix the grain for an NC beer. From left to right: Mike Lounds, Clayton Berglis, Doug Rolfe, Collin Wareham, Aidan Roos, Garrett Saulis, George Eagleson, Max Saumure, Tim Miller, Doug Salloum and Woo Chul Sim.

Meet the brewers, get a sneak peek at the brews, order tickets and find more details at niagaracollege.ca/projectbrew. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.

*Must be 19 years of age or older. Valid photo ID required. Proceeds will be donated to the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship.

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 Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, 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. 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, spirits, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Michael Wales
Manager, Corporate Communications
Office: 905-735-2211 ext. 7773
Cell: 905-328-4101
[email protected]

Teaching Brewery hops on to BrewON initiative

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Brewmaster professor Jon Downing (left) welcomes OHGA vice president Rob Rombouts (right) to the NC Teaching Brewery. Rombouts met with students to introduce the BrewON program and dropped off stickers to be used for beers using Ontario hops.

Beers crafted at the Niagara College Teaching Brewery will now earn a special distinction when they stick to using local hops.

The NC Teaching Brewery – home to the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program – is the latest provincial brewery to hop onto the BrewON initiative. Launched by the Ontario Hop Growers’ Association (OHGA), BrewON indicates to consumers which craft beers and ciders from participating breweries are made with authentic Ontario-grown hops. Beers or ciders which use 100 percent OGHA hops earn a gold level BrewON logo, while those which use 50-99 percent OGHA hops earn a standard level logo.

OHGA vice president Rob Rombouts visited NC’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus in mid-July to speak to first semester Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students about BrewON, and dropped off BrewON stickers for 100 percent Ontario hopped beers that the Teaching Brewery produces.

Rombouts said he believes it is important for students to know about the great hops available in their own province and even their own backyards. He noted that Ontario hops are unique and, by brewing with local hops, brewers are supporting businesses in their own community and creating strong relationships with their suppliers.

“Across Ontario, farmers are growing hops and building connections with local craft brewers. We want to reach out to future brewers to get that message to them early,” said Rombouts. “Niagara College fits in as a grower, a brewer and a place to reach the next generation of brewers.”

“The Niagara College Teaching Brewery is proud to participate in the OHGA’s BrewON program,” said general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises Steve Gill. “Having a two-acre hop yard on campus, we are able to grow 12 varieties of hops which produce various styles of beers just steps away at our NC Teaching Brewery. Craft beer doesn’t get more local than this.”

Brewmaster professor Jon Downing noted that the Brewmaster program has used Ontario hops since it launched in 2010 and has incorporated hops grown on campus for the past four years.

“I believe that having students use hops that are grown in our own backyard is very important. They become educated on the use of locally-sourced ingredients and the influence of terroir in the products they use,” said Downing. “The fact that this is also supported by a new industry-developed and province-wide initiative, which will be available to them when they get jobs, is a bonus.”

The first College beer to bear the gold level BrewON sticker for using 100 percent local hops was Hefe It Up, crafted by third semester Brewmaster student Elizabeth Beresford. She used hops grown on campus to create the German-style wheat beer, which was released recently under NC’s Small Batch Brew label.

“I believe it is so important to use Ontario or locally-grown products as much as possible and not just for brewing,” said Beresford. “It gives me a sense of pride knowing I have ingredients grown so close to home and I was so excited to have certified 100 percent Ontario grown hops in my beer, as well as being able to advertise that fact on the can.”

 

Launched in 2017, the OHGA’s BrewON program participants currently include 17 craft breweries and one cider house. For information visit https://brewon.ca/

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 Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, 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

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Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Niagara College Communications Consultant

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Niagara College Communications Manager

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7773

Cell: 905 328 4101

[email protected]

 

Rob Rombouts

OHGA Vice President

289-242-1010

[email protected]

Funding for Niagara College will help strengthen local manufacturing sector and train the next generation

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Minister Filomena Tassi gathers with a group from Niagara College on July 17 following a funding announcement at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. Pictured (from left): Michelle Smith (project lead, Research & Innovation; technologist, Commercial Cannabis Production); Dan Patterson (NC president); Amal Driouich (research project manager, Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre); the Honourable Filomena Tassi ( Minister of Seniors); Chris Bittle (MP, St. Catharines); Tom Price (NCSAC president); and Carolyn Mullin (manager, dissemination and outreach, NC Research & Innovation).

Collaborations between college researchers and businesses help our national and local economies thrive and prepare young Canadians for the jobs of the future. Canada’s colleges are at the heart of communities across the country and fuel research that helps businesses innovate and grow.

On July 17, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced nearly $2 million in funding to support research at Niagara College. This funding is part of a $57-million investment through the College and Community Innovation Program that Minister Duncan announced on June 13, 2019.

The grants for Niagara College will support researchers working with the region’s manufacturing sector to accelerate the use of advanced technologies, such as machine learning, robotics and 3D printing, to foster innovation and boost local companies’ competitive advantage. The funding will also go toward equipment for researchers looking into the agricultural factors that can impact the production of cannabis.

This investment is part of Canada’s Science Vision and the government’s commitment of more than $10 billion to science and research, which includes the largest ever boost for college research funding.

Minister Tassi also signed the Dimensions Charter at Niagara College. Institutions that endorse the charter commit to embedding the principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness in their policies, practices, action plans and culture.

Quotes

“The recipients at Niagara College are building strong partnerships with local companies and industries so that businesses can take advantage of the latest innovations. At the same time, these partnerships are ensuring young Canadians get the on-the-ground skills needed to succeed in the economy of tomorrow. This is all part of our government’s work to strengthen the relationship between science and research and our economy and society.”

– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors

“Our government is committed to returning science and research to their rightful place. We’re investing in students and research collaborations with small to medium-sized businesses so they can work together on a diverse range of research projects to boost economic development and create jobs across the country. Through these projects, colleges, cégeps and polytechnics will be making a real difference in the lives of Canadians in their communities.”

– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

“NSERC values the tremendous contributions of Canada’s colleges in the research and innovation ecosystem. Today’s investment will enhance our country’s world-class research capacity, help businesses innovate to create growth, and train our next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs.”

– Dr. Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

“We thank NSERC for this significant investment in advanced manufacturing innovation and cannabis production research at Niagara College. Our regional collaborative innovation model continues to achieve great success, providing industry partners access to advanced technologies, services and expertise, and has had a strong impact on manufacturers in the Niagara region.”

– Dr. Dan Patterson, President, Niagara College

“We are grateful for NSERC’s significant investment in research and innovation at Niagara College, which enables us to further enhance the work we have been doing since the inception of the Technology Access Centre  in 2014. Our centre has established itself as a go-to place for technical services and applied research projects for manufacturers in Niagara, and its continuation is key to the economic development of our region.”

– Dr. Marc Nantel, Vice-President, Research, Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, Niagara College

 

Quick facts

Associated links

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Contacts

 

Daniele Medlej

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Science and Sport

343-291-4204

[email protected]

 

Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

[email protected]

 

Niagara College media inquiries:

 

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]

NC Teaching Brewery stands strong at U.S. Open Beer Championship with bronze medal win

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When it comes crafting award-winning craft beer, the Niagara College Teaching Brewery has flexed its muscle once again with a new international medal win for strong ale.

The NC Teaching Brewery – home to the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program – was announced as a bronze medal winner at the U.S. Open Beer Championship on July 9 for its Beer 101 Strong Ale (Old Ale/ Strong Ale category).

The competition is the only one to include beers from professional breweries and award-winning home-brewers, with judges from the United States, Canada and England. The 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship drew more than 7,000 beer entries representing more than 130 different styles.

“Winning a medal for one of our student-crafted beers at a major international competition like the U.S. Open is a testament to the quality of the applied education we offer our students at Niagara College,” said Steve Gill, general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “Our Brewmaster students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed and lead the industry in the future, as well as hands-on experience with crafting quality products that are applauded as among the best in North America.”

“The fact that our student-brewed beers are continually doing so well is fantastic,” said Brewmaster professor Jon Downing – who led the opening of more than 100 breweries around the world before bringing his expertise to NC prior to the launch of its Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program in 2010. “Their talent and dedication to the craft, even as students, shows in the fact that they are brewing world-class beers, from ‘grain in’ to ‘cans out.’”

Dow Scoggins, director of the U.S. Open Beer, College and Cider Championship, noted the NC Teaching Brewery’s continued success at the U.S. Open.

“Over the years, Niagara College’s students have consistently medaled at this competition – a pretty amazing feat considering they are competing with some of the world’s best brewers,” said Scoggins.

A group of the College’s Brewmaster students also got a taste of what it’s like to judge an international beer competition – about 1,600 different tastes, in fact. Downing, who also serves as director of judging for the U.S. Open Beer Championship, led a group of about a dozen Brewmaster students to Oxford, Ohio from June 21-23 where they participated in the final session of judging which began in Atlanta two weeks earlier. The group from NC helped judge about 70 out of the 130 categories for the competition, which involved judging about 1,600 samples in a single weekend. The beers are judged ‘blind’ to ensure fairness and judges do not participate in judging their own beer entries.

“There’s nowhere else in the world they could possibly get this kind of experience,” noted Downing.

Scoggins applauded the College’s involvement in the competition.

“Today, the U.S. Open Beer Championship is the third largest beer competition in North America and, since 2014, Niagara College Teaching Brewery students have joined the U.S. Open brew crew. The NC students help serve, clean and judge beers,” said Scoggins. “If it was not for the students, the U.S. Open would have never grown as large as it is today.”

Third-semester Brewmaster student Elizabeth Beresford valued the opportunity to participate in judging for a major competition, and plans to include the experience she gained on her resumé.

“This was beyond anything I ever thought I would experience as a student,” she said. “We met a lot of different people from the industry from across the U.S., and we got to taste so many different kinds of beers that we otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to taste.”

Beer 101 Strong is a British ale first brewed at the College as a version of the Teaching Brewery’s multiple-award-winning Christmas beer, Rudolph’s Red Nose Ale, which proved so popular it became one of the main Beer 101 offerings. The 7.5% Scottish ale’s medals include:

  •  U.S. Open Beer Championships – gold in 2018, bronze in 2017;
  • Canadian Brewing Awards – bronze in 2019, silver in 2018;
  • Ontario Brewing Awards – silver in 2018, gold in 2016, and gold in 2013); and
  •  Dublin Craft Beer Cup – silver in 2015 (for bottle version: Brewmaster Strong Ale).

Beer 101 Strong Ale is available for purchase at the Niagara College Teaching Brewery retail store (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake). Proceeds from sales support student learning.

For info on the U.S. Open visit http://usopenbeer.com/

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 Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, 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

 

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Photo:

Beer 101 Strong Ale

Beer 101 Strong Ale won a bronze medal at the 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]

 

Andrew Korchok

Communications Consultant

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7430

Cell: 905 329-1642

[email protected]

Niagara College agrees to purchase Niagara Corporate Business Centre

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As its campus spaces continue to grow and evolve, Niagara College has agreed to purchase the Niagara Corporate Business Centre (NCBC) in Niagara-on-the-Lake from Trivieri Investments Limited and is scheduled to assume ownership of the property on August 23.

Located on Glendale Avenue East in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the 33-acre property, which includes a three-story office building, is adjacent to Niagara College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, and is already home to Niagara College offices that were previously leased from Trivieri Investments Limited. “With its size and location right next door to our Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, the Niagara Corporate Business Centre property provides long-term flexibility and room for expansion,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “As we look to the future, this acquisition will help ensure the College’s ability to accommodate the needs of our growing community, and remain among the most innovative and unique learning environments in Canada.”

The NCBC is currently home to 18 businesses and agencies as well as some Niagara College administrative offices. Current building operations at the property will continue unchanged. Niagara College will work with Niagara Region and the Town-of-Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore options for the property under the Glendale District Planning process.

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:

Andrew Korchok

Communications Consultant

Niagara College

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7430

Cell: 905 329-1642

[email protected]

FedDev Ontario supports expansion of Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation

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$14-million investment will enable network to grow to 10 partners, enhance its reach into the manufacturing community and support over 550 jobs

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of helping Canadian manufacturers adopt leading-edge technologies so they can grow and compete both at home and abroad.

On July 11, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, announced a FedDev Ontario contribution of $14 million to Niagara College to expand the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI). This announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

Created in 2016 with a $7.3-million contribution from FedDev Ontario, SONAMI is a network of seven post-secondary institutions that pools the resources and expertise of its members and matches them to the needs of smaller manufacturers. This enables them to adopt cutting-edge technologies into their operations to increase productivity and create innovative new products, grow and diversify their businesses into new markets and become more competitive.

With new funding, SONAMI will expand its geographic reach beyond the Niagara region by adding three new post-secondary institutions. Companies will be able to connect to a broader range of expertise and knowledge in areas such as bio-industrial manufacturing, green product manufacturing and “Industry 4.0” technologies, including digitally enabled and intelligent manufacturing.

The expanded network will provide technical knowledge and expertise to another 240 businesses as they work to commercialize up to 240 new products. The project will create and maintain 552 permanent jobs and provide skills training and development for up to 360 students and researchers, preparing young Canadians for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the advanced manufacturing innovation ecosystem in southern Ontario, a vital manufacturing region in Canada.The SONAMI network offers the linkages and expertise that our smaller manufacturers need to seize new opportunities, develop the workforce of the future and adopt the latest technologies to remain competitive on a global scale.”
— The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario

“The Government of Canada proudly supports our advanced manufacturing sector, a pillar of the regional ecosystem in southern Ontario. SONAMI’s award-winning partnership model offers a single window for smaller manufacturers to access leading-edge expertise and facilities. With this FedDev Ontario funding, SONAMI will expand its network, allowing even more businesses to access the support they need to innovate, grow and compete in the economy of the future.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Niagara College and its SONAMI partners are pushing the limits of what our manufacturers can do. The network has already demonstrated its ability to help companies grow and create jobs for the Niagara Region and well beyond. I look forward to seeing the successes that will come from an expanded network.”
– Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

“Today’s announcement is a great example of how the most innovative solutions happen through collaboration. FedDev Ontario’s support to expand SONAMI will not only help to create jobs here in the Niagara region, but also help more manufacturers adopt leading-edge technology and access the expertise needed to succeed now, as well as build skills for the jobs of the future.”
– Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

“We are thankful to FedDev Ontario for this significant new investment in SONAMI. Niagara College is proud of the network’s tremendous success as a one-stop shop for advanced manufacturing applied research in southern Ontario. With this expansion, we will continue to help small- and medium-sized enterprises remain competitive, while enabling our students to gain valuable skills working on cutting-edge solutions for our industry partners. Together, we are stimulating the economy while building essential skills for tomorrow’s workforce.”
– Dan Patterson, PhD, President, Niagara College

https://youtu.be/K_EdmLPd-9o

Quick facts

  • Led by Niagara College, the SONAMI partnership includes Mohawk College, Sheridan College, McMaster University, Conestoga College, Fanshawe College and Lambton College.
  • Through the funding announced today, SONAMI will reach beyond its existing client base of nearly 12,000 manufacturing businesses across southern Ontario.
  • To date, SONAMI has worked with 109 businesses to commercialize more than 140 products.
  • 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. The SONAMI project administrator also received CARA’s Walter Hitschfeld Award for her dedication and exceptional impact on research administration.
  • FedDev Ontario’s non-repayable contribution is leveraging over $24 million in funding, including $14 million from industry collaborators and $10.3 million from SONAMI member post-secondary institutions.
  • This year marks 10 years of FedDev Ontario delivering funding and business services to support innovation and growth in southern Ontario.

Associated links

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

 

Media Inquiries, please contact:

FedDev Ontario Media Relations

416-954-6652

[email protected]

Toll Free: 1-866-593-5505

Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca

 

Niagara College Communications Consultant

Julie Greco

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]