Niagara College and Niagara Catholic District School Board team up to upgrade skills of High Skills Major students

Dec 19, 2008

Dozens of Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students from several Niagara Catholic District School Board secondary schools upgraded their skills credentials through several skills programs at Niagara College over this past week.

Skills Certifications were awarded in the areas of Construction, Horticulture and Landscaping, Hospitality and Tourism, and Transportation Technology. Students completed programs held at Niagara College’s two main campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Skills Certifications earned will add to the credentials of the respective students, facilitating the pursuit of further post-secondary education and training or employment following graduation from high school.

Examples of Certifications awarded include:

Construction – Health and Safety Basic, Fall Protection, Personal Protective Equipment and Traffic Control

Horticulture and Landscaping – Reach Ahead Tour

Hospitality and Tourism – Smart Serve

Transportation Technology – Fire Extinguishing, Vehicle Lift Safety, Health and Safety Basic

The over 150 participating students represented Notre Dame, Blessed Trinity, Denis Morris, Holy Cross, Lakeshore Catholic, St. Francis, and Saint Michael secondary schools.

The NCDSB’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) allows students to focus on a career path that matches their individual skills and interests. Each major is a bundle of 6 to 12 courses in a selected sector such as Construction, Horticulture and Landscaping, Hospitality and Tourism, and Transportation. Students who choose an SHSM designation learn through co-operative education and experiential learning placement within the community.

Students who complete an SHSM designation are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and industry-recognized qualifications desired by post secondary institutions such as Niagara College, and by employers.

Niagara College offers several post-secondary skills training and apprenticeship programs in the areas of Mechanical, Electrical, Motive Power, Culinary, Construction, Hospitality and Tourism, and Horticulture. Due to increased demand for skills training, Niagara College is undertaking a significant multi-million dollar expansion of its main Welland and NOTL campuses over 2009 and 2010.

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For more information, contact:

Gordon Hunchak
Director, Marketing & Communications
Niagara College
905-735-2211, ext. 7567
905-650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca

Pat Mete
Secondary Consultant
Niagara Catholic District School Board
905-735-0240, ext. 118
pat.mete@ncdsb.com

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Merritt Building project

Dec 17, 2008

Please be advised that Facilities Management Services (FMS) will conduct an extensive upgrade project in the Merritt Building beginning January 2009. The project will include replacing the existing 40-year-old heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with new, state-of-the-art equipment and system design, along with building upgrades.

As a result, the Merritt Building will see significant construction activity in 2009 as the project is completed in two separate phases.

Starting January 19, 2009, with exception of ME113, the south portion of the Merritt Building (from the center stair case and all areas to the south) including the first and second floors, will become a construction zone and be closed to the public (including all students and staff). ME 113 (resource room) will remain open and accessible from the south corridor for a period of time during the project. The north portion of the building will also remain open for business for the remainder of the winter term. For everyone’s safety, please obey all construction warning signs.

All winter term classes in the affected areas of the Merritt Building (south area) have been rescheduled and relocated into other areas throughout the Welland Campus. Affected faculty offices will also be relocated. Students who have lockers located in the affected areas of the Merritt Building are asked to relocate to vacant lockers in other areas no later than January 16, 2009.

The second phase will begin following the Winter 2009 term and will impact the entire north zone of the Merritt Wing. These details will follow in the New Year. The entire Merritt Building upgrade project is expected to be completed by mid August 2009, and will provide students and staff with a much-improved indoor environment for years to come.

As with all major construction/renovation projects, there will be short-term inconveniences, especially for those who work and study in the Merritt Building. Steps have been taken to minimize any inconvenience, and your patience and cooperation throughout his project is appreciated. The entire Merritt Building upgrade project is expected to be completed by mid-August 2009, and will provide students and staff with a much-improved indoor environment for years to come.

If you should have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact either Ange Bruni ext 7421 or Brad Barnhart ext 7527.

Thank you
FMS

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Niagara College environmental group, professor win provincial award

Dec 11, 2008

Niagara College’s student-led environmental organization, and the professor who founded it, have been honoured with a top provincial award.

Martin Smith, professor and co-ordinator of the College’s Environmental Technician program, and the Niagara Environmental Corps (NEC) were announced today as recipients of the Colleges Ontario Innovation Award.

“This is a great honour for the college, and it speaks to the innovative spirit that drives our students and staff,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “Through their many environmental initiatives and projects, Martin Smith and the NEC enhance college life and make a real difference in our community.”

Smith created the NEC in 2006 to increase environmental awareness at the college and empower students to be proactive in solving environmental issues and build healthy communities. In 2007, the NEC joined with the College’s Niagara Research department to gain experience in environmentally-focused applied research initiatives. These activities focus on protecting and restoring natural environments, including habitat restoration and monitoring, ecosystem restoration, site remediation, wetland conservation and solutions towards urban sustainability.

The NEC has grown to include more than 135 members, and has collaborated with local high schools to develop an NEC Junior Corps.

The Colleges Ontario Awards were established in 2000 to recognize individuals, organizations and volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Ontario’s college system. This year marks the third year in a row that Niagara College students, staff or alumni have been honoured by Colleges Ontario. Last year, the Student Administrative Council received the Colleges Ontario Innovation Award for its U-PASS public transit program, and in 2006, alumni Mark Hardwick, Wes Beauchamp and Chidi Opara received student leadership awards.

“The awards recognize passionate and innovative leaders,” said Linda Franklin, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario. “The winners are people who are helping colleges deliver the best education and training possible.”

The award will be presented February 23 in Toronto during the Colleges Ontario 2009 Conference.

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For more information, contact:

Gordon Hunchak
Director, Marketing & Communications
905-735-2211, ext. 7567
905-650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca

Martin Smith
Coordinator, Environmental Technician program
905-641-2252, ext. 4075
msmith@niagaracollege.ca

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