Up to 48 high school graduates will be enrolled in the 28-week program at Mohawk College’s Stoney Creek campus starting in January 2017. Students will train for jobs in advanced manufacturing / computer numeric code (CNC) and mobile industrial / hydraulics. Registration is $350 with a $200 refund on successful completion of the program.

The ESTATE program is being delivered by IEC in partnership with Mohawk College, Mohawk College Enterprise, Express Employment Professionals, the City of Hamilton, the Government of Ontario and several local companies.

The single largest donation ever made to Mohawk will support the largest renewal of labs and classrooms in the college’s 50-year history. The cornerstone of the renewal project is the 90,000-square-foot centre that will feature state-of-the-art labs where students and faculty work alongside industry partners on applied research projects.

In recognition of the record-setting donation, the newest addition to the college will be named The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation. Mohawk President Ron McKerlie unveiled the name at a ceremony this morning attended by Joyce Family Foundation trustees Grant and Steven Joyce.

The Joyce Family Foundation first made history at Mohawk in 2013 with the single largest donation to the college in support of student bursaries. The $1.5 million donation established full-tuition Ron Joyce Access Bursaries for up to 20 students a year from priority neighbourhoods in Hamilton.

FAST FACTS:

• Mohawk will invest $54.25 million over the next two years to build and renovate 120,000 square feet of technology labs and classrooms at the Fennell campus.
• The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation will be the region’s first net-zero energy institutional building. The Canada Green Building Council has selected The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation as a national pilot project to demonstrate its new net-zero carbon standard and validation process.
• Construction on The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation will be substantially complete by Spring 2018, with the doors opening to students and industry partners for the Fall 2018 term.
• Once the renewal project is complete, enrolment in Mohawk’s technology programs will grow from 3,500 to 4,500 full-time students and applied research activity will increase by 50 per cent.
• The Government of Canada’s $20 million investment in The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation is the largest federal infrastructure grant in Mohawk’s history.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Maureen O’Neill, Foundation Administrator, The Joyce Family Foundation, 905.336.6993, moneill@joycefamilyfoundation.com

Jay Robb, Director of Communications for Mohawk College, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Ryder Canada

The donation will go toward a major redevelopment project that will benefit Mohawk’s current and future students, enhance accessibility to college education, and provide benefits to faculty, staff, and the broader community. In honour of the donation, Mohawk named a classroom at the Stoney Creek campus after the company at the announcement that was held on Tuesday.

At the announcement, Paul Ayotte, Director of Operations for Ryder Canada called the donation an investment in the company's future as the money will enhance the educational experience for current and future generations of truck technicians.

"Our greatest asset is our front-line employees," said Mr. Ayotte. "Our goal is to put all of our energy into employing, developing and coaching young people who want to be the best at what they do."

"Ryder is pleased to partner with Mohawk as they supply skilled employees to the community," said Michael Cole, Senior Director of Human Resources with Ryder Canada. "Mohawk is mobilizing our shared vision, to realize the goals of students, employers and the community through the expertise of their faculty and investment in their facilities."

Speaking about Mohawk's role in the community, Mr. Cole said the college plays an essential role in educating highly skilled, well prepared and motivated employees, making it the job-creating engine of our community.

Mohawk is the final stages of building a new 12,000 square foot building at the Stoney Creek campus. Located just opposite the Gerald Marshall Centre for Transportation, the $3 million facility will include a large shop where students and apprentices from across the campus will work together on large scale community projects. The centre will also include classrooms and programmable control labs.

“Ryder’s generous investment will help us expand our skilled trades campus,” said Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie. “We’re excited to open a new building, where students and apprentices from different programs and trades will develop their skills by working together on major projects.”

Mohawk is one of the largest trainers of apprentices in Ontario with more than 4,000 students and apprentices studying at the Stoney Creek campus each year. 

MEDIA RELEASE

INDUSTRY EDUCATION COUNCIL LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO CLOSE SKILLS GAP IN HAMILTON

HAMILTON, ON (Oct. 6, 2016) -- The Industry Education Council of Hamilton (IEC) is launching a new program to train youth for high-demand jobs with local manufacturers.

The Employer Skills Training Advantage to Employment (ESTATE) program was developed by IEC in direct response to the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development and the Premier’s Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel.

Up to 48 high school graduates will be enrolled in the 28-week program at Mohawk College’s Stoney Creek campus starting in January 2017. Students will train for jobs in advanced manufacturing / computer numeric code (CNC) and mobile industrial / hydraulics. Registration is $350 with a $200 refund on successful completion of the program.

The ESTATE program is being delivered by IEC in partnership with Mohawk College, Mohawk College Enterprise, Express Employment Professionals, the City of Hamilton, the Government of Ontario and several local companies.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth has invested $627,500 in the ESTATE program with an additional $627,426 in in-kind services from participating community partners.For more on the ESTATE program, email estate@iechamilton.ca or call 905.529.4483 ext. 226.

QUOTES

“The ESTATE Program will support the Hamilton workforce by creating unique training and employment opportunities for our youth with local employers. This is an effective experiential learning program, made possible through the support of our strong educational and community mentors, who guide and shape the training.”

- Cesare Di Donato, Executive Director, IEC of Hamilton

“The funding support for the ESTATE Program from the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth is another vote of confidence in Hamilton by the Province, recognizing that we are doing great things here in our community. The work of the Blue Ribbon Task Force has provided relevant information to inform this project, which is one of several positive outcomes.” – Mayor Fred Eisenberger, City of Hamilton

“Closing the skills gap is a priority for Mohawk and our industry partners. We’re proud to be working with IEC on developing and delivering the curriculum for a program that will meet the workforce needs of employers and open up a world of opportunity for young people.” – Ron McKerlie, Mohawk College President and Chair of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development

“Fruitland Manufacturing recognizes the need to excite and engage students for the CNC machinist trade. We are committed to developing a strong relationship with all stakeholders of the ESTATE program with the intent to provide stable career employment opportunities.” - Chris White, President & COO, Fruitland Manufacturing

For more information, contact:

Cesare Di Donato, Industry Education Council of Hamilton Executive Director, Cesare.didonato@iechamilton.ca, 905.529.4483 ext. 225.

But what are the opportunities and limitations of the new technology?

On October 27, 2016, Mohawk College will be hosting 3D Printing for Health in Hamilton, Ontario, the only event in Canada that is exclusively designed to explore emerging trends in medical 3D Printing.

This half-day conference will showcase the wide variety of ways that additive manufacturing and 3D Printing can be included in a physician’s workflow.

Featured speakers are:

• Julielynn Wong, MD, MPH, Founder, 3D4MD
• James Janeteas, CEO and President, Cimetrix Solutions Inc.
• David Holdsworth, Scientist, Robarts Research Institute
• Jeff Mason, Horizon Scanning Officer, CADTH
• Kathryn Chan, Medical Student, McMaster University & former research assistant, CSII

3D Printing for Health is supported by NSERC and organized by Mohawk College’s Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre.

Registration is open at www.3dprintingforhealth.ca. Early Bird registration pricing of $45 +HST is available until October 7.

For more information, visit www.3dprintingforhealth.ca or email 3Dprintingforhealth@mohawkcollege.ca

The introduction of a pollinator garden at Mohawk will support local food production and a diverse, healthy plant population while creating teaching and learning opportunities that engage our students and community members.

The project was funded through a $6,000 grant from the World Wildlife Fund. Mohawk College was one of 21 grants from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada’s ‘Go Wild’ Community Grants, presented by Telus.

The Government of Canada is contributing $20 million through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. The fund was established to enhance, modernize and improve the environmental sustainability of college and university campuses across Canada. The largest federal infrastructure investment in Mohawk’s history was announced by Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas Member of Parliament Filomena Tassi at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning.

Construction and renovations to 120,000 square feet of labs and classrooms at the college’s Fennell campus represent Mohawk’s largest ever renewal of academic programs. Enrolment in high-demand technology programs will increase by 1,000 students and applied research activity with industry partners will grow by 50 per cent.

Designed by Hamilton-based McCallum-Sather Architects in partnership with B&H Architects, the 90,000 square foot Centre for Partnership and Innovation will be the region’s first net-zero energy institutional building. The five-level centre is expected to be substantially complete by Spring 2018 while renovations have already begun to existing labs and classrooms.

BACKGROUND:

• The Government of Canada’s targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund promote economic activity and help colleges and universities develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.

• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada’s climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.

• More than 3,500 students are currently enrolled in 23 technology programs at Mohawk. Enrolment will grow to 4,500 students over five years following the renewal of the technology programs.

• The renewal of Mohawk’s technology programs is endorsed by college partners, including ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Burlington Economic Development Corporation, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, BWXT Canada The City of Hamilton, FANUC, Hamilton Health Sciences, Horizon Utilities, IBM Canada Ltd, Innovation Factory, L-3 Wescam, St. Joseph’s Health System, Schneider Electric, Siemens Canada and Walters Inc.

• Mohawk plans to add a FANUC Robotics Training Laboratory, a Non-Destructive Testing Centre, a Centre for Climate Sustainability Excellence and partner with Siemens on delivering Mechatronics certification.

• Mohawk currently ranks among the top 20 colleges in Canada for applied research activity and is recognized as a leader in digital health, additive manufacturing and energy research.

• More than $100 million has been invested in the renewal of Mohawk’s Fennell campus since 2009. Projects have included the 40,000 square foot Harold Cummings Library, the 64,000 square foot David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre, the Mohawk Transit Terminal, consolidation of Student Services and repatriation of the college’s Justice, Health and Wellness programs.

• A net-zero building generates as much energy as it consumes. The Centre for Partnership and Innovation will serve as a living lab by giving students access to its environmental technologies.

For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Under Business and Services:

• Adult education
• Employment services (Mohawk College Employment Services)
• French lessons
• Radio (101.5 The Hawk)
• Theatre Hall (McIntyre Preforming Arts Centre)

And under Entertainment:

• Recreation Centre (David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre)

Cast your ballots at www.Readerschoice.thespec.com by Monday, Sept. 26 at 11:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTING IN REGION’S FIRST DIGITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ACCESS CENTRE AT MOHAWK

HAMILTON, ON (September 7, 2016) – Mohawk College is launching the region’s first Technology Access Centre for Digital Health to support innovation, adoption and commercialization of digital technology into the healthcare sector.

Filomena Tassi, Member of Parliament for Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas, today announced the Government of Canada’s $1.75 million investment over five years in Mohawk’s Technology Access Centre with a College and Community Innovation Program Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Set to open in January 2017, Mohawk’s Technology Access Centre in Digital Health will draw on the expertise of more than 30 faculty, staff and students working in the college’s award-winning mHealth and eHealth Development and Innovation Centre (MEDIC). The team will work with small and medium-size companies to design, build, test and implement digital health technologies and also deliver customized training.

Digital health uses informational technology and electronic communication tools, services and processes to deliver health care services in new ways.

QUOTES:

“I am thrilled to make this major funding announcement for Mohawk College today. This grant is proof that Mohawk is a college on the move. The funding will help Mohawk continue to build its dynamic presence as a leading Ontario centre for innovation in e-health and mobile health, as well as contribute to our economy by offering innovative opportunities to small and medium sized businesses in our region and around the province. I am so happy for the hard-working faculty, students and staff at Mohawk College." – MP Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas Filomena Tassi

“We are proud to invest in Canadian colleges and CÉGEPs that are at the forefront of applied research and technological innovation. This unique program supports R&D excellence and invests in the next generation of highly skilled innovators. By deepening interactions between the college community and businesses we’re helping local companies increase their R&D capacity, access new technologies and boost their competitiveness.” – Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada President Dr. B. Mario Pinto

“The Government of Canada’s $1.75 million investment in the region’s first Technology Access Centre for Digital Health will allow Mohawk to share our wealth of expertise with even more college partners. Our team will help companies bring innovative digital health solutions into homes and hospitals, create new jobs, further develop the skills of our students and help build healthier communities.” – Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie

“Mohawk’s Technology Access Centre will bridge the gap between small and medium-size companies and our healthcare system. Our centre will give these companies full access to our talent, technology and our connections to more than 1,000 digital health professionals from around the world.” - Mohawk College Director of Digital Health Applied Research Duane Bender

FAST FACTS:

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada awarded $32.7 million in College and Community Innovation Program Grants to 32 applied research projects at colleges across Canada.

The Government of Canada has invested more than $4.3 million in Mohawk’s mHealth and eHealth Development and Innovation Centre (MEDIC).

Mohawk ranks among the top 20 colleges in Canada for applied research activity and has set a goal of being among the top 10 colleges within the next five years. Mohawk is recognized as a leader in applied research in digital health technology, additive manufacturing and energy.

MEDIC was established in 2007 and has worked with more than 60 private, public and non-profit sector partners in 10 countries. Partners include Canada Health Infoway, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, eHealth Ontario and PATH, an international health organization

MEDIC faculty and staff have educated approximately 700 Mohawk students through co-op work terms, capstone projects and classroom instruction.

MEDIC was a finalist for PwC’s (formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers) 2016 Vision to Reality Innovator of the Year Award and received a Canada Health Infoway  Standards Collaborative Team Peer Award in 2010.

Mohawk is a member of the Synapse Life Science Consortium, which includes St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, the City of Hamilton, Innovation Factory, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area Health Trust.

Hamilton’s health service and research sector is the city’s largest employer, with more than 1,350 healthcare, information technology, software and medical equipment and device manufacturers in the region.

CONTACTS:

Jay Robb, Mohawk College Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

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Mohawk College educates and serves 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students at three campuses in Hamilton, Ontario. Mohawk has been ranked number one in student satisfaction among all colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for six consecutive years and number one in graduate satisfaction for the past four years.

Is there anything more inspiring or useful than our world presented to us in the miniature? Scale models of land and sea have been motivating explorers and inventors for centuries. In our modern world, they’ve served as the foundation for new technologies and tools such as GPS and Google Maps.

And now maps have inspired a team of Canadian experts and researchers to use additive manufacturing to turn 2D into 3D.

It was the potential of 3D printing and additive manufacturing to accurately portray geographical features that inspired Fred Norouzian of Environment and Climate Change Canada to call Mohawk College’s Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre (AMRC). Norouzian was looking for help to produce a scale model of the Turkey Lakes Watershed. The watershed, located 50km north of Sault Ste. Marie, is the subject of a multi-disciplinary research study on the anthropogenic perturbation of Canadian Shield ecosystems and is one of the longest running watershed studies in North America.

“It’s important for our focus in water chemistry and hydrology to show the proper relative elevation of each lake and stream with respect to the other lakes and streams in the watershed- both upstream and downstream,” explains Norouzian.

His initial solution should have been a topographic map. Topographic maps, or raised relief maps, are commonly used to visualize an area’s landscape. They are traditionally made of vinyl molds, using information from GPS data, field surveys, and aerial photography.

But what Norouzian wanted was a scale model that incorporated more than a birds-eye view map of the area. He wanted to use the research data collected by researchers from the various government agencies involved in the area and create a three-dimensional teaching and training tool for the team.

That’s how Mohawk’s additive manufacturing expertise came to play a role.

The 3D printing of topographical maps, created on-demand and available online, has been gaining in popularity, primarily for its ability to commemorate travel experiences- say a trip to the Grand Canyon or to Whistler. But for more remote areas, 3D printing from existing aerial maps doesn’t work- it will only result in two undefined landmasses with no clear distinctions between topography features such as rivers and the lakes.

That was far too imprecise for Norouzian and his colleagues. What Environment and Climate Change Canada needed was a custom solution that would use various 2D data sources to generate a 3D map of the area.

For the team at the AMRC, accustomed to working with industry on manufacturing and automotive projects, it was a project that captured their imagination with the following question:

How do you combine 2D and 3D data into a single, 3D printed output?

“It’s easy to go to Google Maps and find major physical landmarks and print them out,” said Simon Coulson, manager of the AMRC. “But if you try to find this watershed using an online map or a similar tool, there isn’t enough data available to produce an accurate model.”

“However, when you combine the accuracy and the level of detail available from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s various data sources, that’s when you see the potential of the technology to capture every detail and make it a viable tool for researchers.”

Mohawk Mechanical Engineering student and AMRC co-op student Jason Podger was tasked with creating a step-by-step process to transform the data into a usable file for 3D printing.

“While the data that Environment Canada gave us had all the contours marked, it was like a piece of paper with no thickness,” explained Podger. “We had to convert it to a solid model and then add in the lakes and water so you can fully see the area in 3D.”

When Podger first started this project, in late 2015, a documented process for 3D printing topographical maps wasn’t yet available. (Although a few online tutorials have since sprung up, none, as of writing, address the complexity of the files that the AMRC was working with.) So before the printing of the scale model in plastic could begin, Podger had to create a 12- step process that used four different software tools in order to make the map multi-dimensional.

The new process created by Podger for the 3D printing of topographical maps resulted in a model, measuring a tiny (in comparison) 40 cm by 46.7 cm, that accurately captures the terrain of the watershed area.

For Norouzian, the resulting product is the perfect tool for a team that includes researchers and collaborators from The National Water Research Institute of Environment Canada, The Great Lakes Forest Centre of Natural Resources Canada, The Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Science of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, The Meteorological Service of Canada of Environment Canada, The Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, and The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

“It was exciting to see the watershed and its landscape 3D printed and produced to this high level of accuracy. Now other researchers, scientists and collaborators can truly see the relative location and elevation of each lake within the system,” said Norouzian.

Just as the new scale model of the Turkey Lakes Watershed Area helps researchers like Norouzian see the terrain in a new way, Coulson believes that the model has the potential to also help us see 3D printing in a new light.

“When we think of additive manufacturing, we often think that you have to start with a design for a three dimensional part in order to use the technology. With a project like this, you can see how you can start with a two dimensional part and bring it to life.”

About the Author: Andrea Johnson is the Promotions and Industry Liaison Officer for iDeaWORKS.

Follow iDeaWORKS on Twitter @mohawkideaworks

The prize features recording time, future festival appearances, prize money, and included a feature performance on the festival's TD Stage. Each year, the festival selects 10 Canadian artists to compete for the award and, after careful consideration, selects a winner based on their festival performances.

Brad Cheeseman—joined by pianist Sam Kogen, drummer Marito Marques, saxophonist Chelsea McBride and fellow Mohawk College alumnus guitarist Robert Chapman—delivered the exciting competition-deciding performance on July 4 at the Club Jazz Casino stage, performing selections from the band's award-winning self-titled album for hundreds of enthusiastic festival-goers.

At the festival's press conference, Cheeseman stated that "to be here at all, especially with nine other fantastic artists, is a huge honour and to get this recognition is incredible." The band later delivered a concluding performance on the festival's TD Stage on July 5.

The Province’s investment allows Mohawk to expand City School beyond its two current locations in downtown Hamilton and the city’s North End and also launch a mobile classroom next year.

City School serves as basecamp on the journey to post-secondary education, bringing Mohawk into priority neighbourhoods throughout Hamilton. City School offers tuition-free college credit courses and workshops taught by Mohawk faculty and staff.

Putting a college education within reach of everyone in the community is a strategic priority for Mohawk.

Read the full press release here 

(Toronto, August 19, 2016) – For the first time in Ontario, McDonald’s employees can now receive credits towards a college business diploma, thanks to a new agreement between Colleges Ontario and McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited. ....read more in the following articles.

• Toronto Star
• Globe and Mail

Several years ago, she was working as an adult educator and preparing to start a family. But when she was pregnant with her first child, she got laid off. After her maternity leave, she and her husband crunched the numbers and realized that the jobs she was looking at didn’t pay enough to cover the cost of child care.

She now has two kids, ages three and five, and is eager to return to the workforce. So when she read that City School by Mohawk College was partnering with Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) for a month long Introduction to Health and Wellness course, the decision was a no-brainer. “When the opportunity came along, and it was free,” says Skarrat, “I jumped.”

CITY SCHOOL BY MOHAWK

City School by Mohawk is a community-based initiative that aims to break down barriers to education and employment. It works with community partners to develop specialized training programs that encourage gradual steps to a postsecondary pathway. Their two campuses at the Eva Rothwell Centre and the Hamilton Public Library’s central branch aim to make education accessible to all young people...read more

Mohawk and Ontario’s 23 other public colleges will mark their 50^th anniversary in 2017. Special events are planned throughout the year for everyone who’s learned, worked and supported Mohawk during the past half-century.

Mohawk is also collecting photos and stories from graduates, students, retirees, faculty, staff and college partners. Submissions can be made online to Mohawk’s 50^th anniversary webpage at www.mohawkcollege.ca/50th.

QUOTE:

FAST FACTS:

• More than 110,000 students have graduated from Mohawk since the college opened its doors in 1967.
• Province-wide, more than two million students have graduated from Ontario colleges.
• 1,900 full-time and part-time students were educated and served by 150 faculty and staff in Mohawk’s first year.
• 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students currently attend Mohawk and the college employs 1,100 faculty and staff.
• Enrolment in Ontario colleges is at a record high, with 520,000 full-time and part-time students.
• Mohawk’s predecessors were the Provincial Institute of Textiles (opened in 1947) and the Hamilton Institute of Technology (opened in 1957).
• The $15 million Fennell campus opened in 1967 following three years of construction.

Contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

HAMILTON, ON (July 19, 2016) – Mohawk College has been selected to receive one of 21 grants from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada’s ‘Go Wild’ Community Grants, presented by Telus.

Mohawk College is creating a dedicated pollinator-friendly rooftop garden to encourage a healthy pollinator population. Mohawk was selected from more than 255 applicants and is receiving $6,000 to support the Pollinator Paradise project.

The Pollinator Paradise will be located on the rooftop patio of the Learning Exchange (H-Wing), updating the existing partial green roof with a variety of plants that attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators native to Ontario.

The introduction of a pollinator garden at Mohawk will support local food production and a diverse, healthy plant population while creating teaching and learning opportunities that engage our students and community members.

“We’re excited to build on our commitment to sustainability in a way that engages students and the community in the importance of pollinators while providing them with skills and knowledge to implement sustainable practices in their own lives,” says Kate Flynn, Sustainable Food Systems Research and Program Coordinator in the Mohawk College Sustainability Office.

Part of the Pollinator Paradise project includes a part-time student co-op position to help with maintaining the gardens, reporting on pollinator activities, and the development and implementation of educational materials and outreach activities for students, staff and community members.

“Too often we miss the signs that nature needs our help, and as a result we forget that solutions are within our grasp. That’s why WWF-Canada is proud to support the 21 recipients of the Go Wild Community Grants for their leadership in turning ideas into meaningful action for the environment. Projects will help thousands of Canadians nurture an understanding of how our actions impact wildlife and ensure nature thrives in their own communities.” Sarah Winterton, director of nature-connected communities at WWF-Canada

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Public Relations graduates offered new route to postgraduate study at QMU

Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, Scotland has teamed up with Mohawk College to offer the latter’s public relations graduates a new route to postgraduate study in Scotland.

Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Certificate in Public Relations at Mohawk College can now progress directly on to the MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations at QMU, receiving credits for their Mohawk award. This new agreement will see Canadian students coming to Scotland for a year’s study commencing in September 2016.

Greig Lawson, International Officer at QMU, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Mohawk College and providing their PR graduates with a new pathway to postgraduate study and the opportunity to experience student life in Edinburgh.

“We are confident that this new venture will strengthen QMU’s links with Mohawk College and other educational institutions in Canada, as well as providing a platform for future collaborations.”

Keith Monrose, Dean, International & Partnerships at Mohawk College, said: “Mohawk is thrilled to provide its students with an opportunity to further their credentials and professional growth through the QMU partnership. This relationship supports key elements in our new strategic plan that ensure graduate success by embedding global competencies into our curriculum and establishing pathways to international experiences for students and faculty”

Mohawk College’s PR graduates matriculating with QMU under this agreement will be eligible for a reduction in the standard international fees for the programme.

For further media information please contact:

Queen Margaret University

Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk, T: 0131 474 0000, M: 07711 011239 or Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, E: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk, T: 0131 474 0000.

Mohawk College

Keith Monrose, Dean International & Partnerships, Mohawk College, keith.monrose@mohawkcollege.ca, T: 1 905 575 1212 ext 429

Hoop Dance at Mohawk’s Fennell campus will be used by students and community partners for outdoor classes, cultural presentations and traditional ceremonies. The Hoop Dance can be reserved by emailing hoopdance@mohawkcollege.ca.

Work on the gathering space began last summer, with support from the Mohawk Students’ Association. Constructed of yellow Alaskan cedar pillars and steel hoops, Hoop Dance is surrounded by a traditional Three Sisters garden of corn, bean and squash.

Joining Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie to mark the official opening of the Hoop Dance were Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport the Hon. Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale Ted McMeekin, Six Nations Polytechnic President and CEO Rebecca Jamieson and Mohawk Students’ Association President Kyle Datzkiw.

QUOTES:

FAST FACTS:

• Mohawk educates and serves 400 Indigenous students.
• Mohawk’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Community and Urban Studies offers four diploma programs in partnership with Six Nations Polytechnic (Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing, Registered Practical Nursing to BScN, and Police Foundations). Mohawk also offers three continuing education courses in support of Indigenous education (Ontario Metis, The 8^th Fire: The Relationship Between Natives and Newcomers, and Diversity and First Nations). Mohawk will introduce a fourth continuing education course this winter – Bridging Two Worlds: Connecting with Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
• Over the past 15 years, Mohawk has graduated the most Indigenous learners among the top 10 post-secondary institutions funded by the Grand River Post Secondary Education Office in Ohsweken.
• Mohawk is a signatory institution to the Indigenous Education Protocol for Colleges and Institutes developed by Colleges and Institutes Canada.
• Mohawk received funding from the Government of Ontario to build the region's first collaborative Indigenous Education Plan in partnership with Six Nations Polytechnic, the Metis Nation of Ontario, the Mississauga of the New Credit, Grand River Employment and Training, the Grand River Post Secondary Education Office, Sheridan College, McMaster University, the University of Guelph and Wilfred Laurier University.
• The Government of Ontario has also funded a province-wide study by Mohawk of best practices by Indigenous Education Councils.

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Contact:

Jay Robb, Mohawk College Director of Communications
905.979.8893
jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Industry partners can use their VEBTA to work with Mohawk's Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre (AMRC), a state-of-the-art research and development lab in Hamilton, Ontario that offers expertise in metal 3D printing (Direct Metal Laser Sintering-DMLS) and plastic Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

As an applied research centre, the AMRC supports the research, development, education and innovation activities of companies, supporting and facilitating the transition from an initial idea or concept, and preparing a company for their next step of working with 3D print service bureau. The AMRC can work with companies in Aero-space and defense, medical and dental, and other manufacturing areas. It can also work with companies that require design and optimization support to help develop a prototype.

At the end of each VEBTA project, a company will have a prototype and/or design to secure future investment and/or move directly into mass production of their project.

The AMRC will work with 19 VEBTA companies over the next 8 months. In order to apply for an OCE voucher, please email Simon Coulson, manager of the AMRC at simon.coulson@mohawkcollege.ca.

Mohawk’s Distinguished Fellows make invaluable contributions to the college through academic advisement and student engagement, community outreach and strategic advisement to Mohawk’s senior leadership team. The distinction is conferred during Convocation by virtue of hooding. Participation in Mohawk College’s Distinguished Fellow program is by invitation only, with the title conferred and service to the college recognized during Convocation ceremonies.

Peter Vicano was inducted during the Convocation ceremony for the School of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships on Tuesday, June 14. From modest beginnings that included himself, a pick up and borrowed tools to a major construction company with an impressive list of industrial, commercial and institutional projects, Peter built a company to be proud of. Founded in 1973, Brantford-based Vicano Construction has completed thousands of construction projects throughout Ontario, with individual projects in excess of $50 million. Under Peter’s leadership Vicano Construction has earned a reputation for ability, integrity, fiscal responsibility and sound management in serving clients. Peter graduated from Mohawk College’s Architectural Technology program in 1972.

Winnie Doyle was inducted during the Convocation ceremony for the School of Health Sciences on Wednesday, June 15. A healthcare professional with more than 35 years of experience, Winnie serves as Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Winnie has worked in clinical practice, research and more recently as a senior administrator in acute clinical programs. Winne is an advocate and leader when it comes to ensuring that clinical placements are made available to Mohawk students. She has worked tirelessly to create opportunities in all disciplines for a wide range of students at all levels. Without her support, Mohawk would not be able to achieve the high level clinical experiences required to sustain the college as a leader in Health education. Winnie received her Master of Nursing Administration from the University of Toronto in 2000.

Ann McLaughlin was inducted during the Convocation ceremony for the School of Human Services on Thursday, June 16. An entrepreneur, educator and community builder, Ann is a retired business owner with strong connections to the Hamilton community. Among her many accomplishments, Ann helped build a local business that caught the eye of Toshiba industries and resulted in that company establishing itself in Hamilton. Deeply committed to social justice and the creation of a diverse, tolerant and culturally rich community in Hamilton, Ann has served on numerous boards and advisory committees including Co-Chair for Workforce Planning Hamilton, Mohawk College’s Access Hamilton Employer Engagement Steering Committee, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s HR Committee and as Chairperson of the Turning Point Giving Circle with YWCA Hamilton. Ann has an MBA from McMaster University and an Honours B.A. in Physchology from the University of Guelph.

Richard J. Brennan was inducted during the Convocation ceremony for the School of Media and Entertainment on Thursday, June 16. A newspaper reporter for 43 years, Richard covered a variety of stories from his days at the Ingersoll Times weekly newspaper to the Toronto Star where he worked as a National Affairs reporter and most notably as a political reporter with the paper’s Queen’s Park and Ottawa bureaus. It was at Queen’s Park where he earned the nickname the Badger for never letting go of a story. It was a reputation that preceded him to Ottawa where shortly upon his arrival in 2007 he was elected president of the 400-member Parliamentary Press Gallery – the only person to hold that title both provincially and federally. Richard graduated from Mohawk’s Journalism program in 1972.

Approximately 5,000 students graduated from Mohawk during nine Spring Convocation ceremonies. More than 115,000 students have graduated from Mohawk since the college first opened its doors in 1967.

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Contact:
Jay Robb
Director of Communications
905-575-1212, ext. 3965

Related:
Video: City School off to a great start at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre

Related:
Video: Mohawk welcomes the Three Sisters
Hoop Dance begins to take shape at Mohawk College

Results from the pilot project will be shared at a province-wide summit for colleges in the fall of 2017 to help other post-secondary institutions find opportunities to increase their own procurement of locally sourced food. Mohawk College is expecting the project to help increase local food purchases by $1.5 million over the next two years — a 15:1 return on the LFIF’s investment.

“Mohawk College’s leadership in local food will create a model that can be replicated across the province,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Fund. “The public sector spends $745 million on food each year, and we are investing to make sure more of that money is spent on Ontario grown and made food.”

“Through the Local Food Investment Fund, our government is helping to expose more students and young people across this province to the great foods we grow, harvest and make here in Ontario, while helping to create new opportunities for our local agri-food producers,” said Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.. “By tapping into broader public sector institutions, like colleges, this funding can change procurement habits to ensure more public money is spent buying Ontario products, and in turn, make more Ontarians aware of local food while building a strong agri-food sector to help grow our economy.”

“Mohawk College is committed to sustainability and local food is a key component of that commitment,” said Deborah Brown, Vice President of Corporate Services at Mohawk College. “Our hope is to use our experience to establish best practices we can share with Colleges Ontario to change the way students eat across the province.”

Through the LFIF, the Greenbelt is investing nearly $850,000 to support ten projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, bringing more Ontario grown and raised food to Ontarians. A total of $1.5 million in funding is being invested across the province.

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Erica Woods
Communications Manager
Greenbelt Fund
Phone: (416) 960-0001 ext. 306
ewoods@greenbeltfund.ca

About 20 students, from area schools and the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, participated in the eight-week City School Sprouts progam. A joint project between the Eva Rothwell Centre, Mohawk Sustainability and City School by Mohawk, the Sprouts program focused on cultivating environmental stewardship and social entrepreneurialism among youth attending programs at the community centre. 

The students were taught how to care for their seedlings and the importance of healthy eating and sustainability. After a lesson in marketing and advertising, the seedlings were sold at the Mustardseed Co-op on Mother’s Day weekend, and at Fennell campus this past Tuesday to celebrate the end of the program.

Mohawk College wants to help family businesses beat those odds. Mohawk’s McKeil School of Business is launching a series of workshops this month that will include an introduction to family business, ownership and governing models, strategic planning and operations, conflict management and negotiations, succession planning, transfer of ownership and philanthropy.

Mohawk’s Family Business Series is designed by successful Hamilton, Burlington and Niagara family business owners. Founding families and guest speakers include:

• Ward, Brandon and Carley Campbell (Starwood Homes)
• Dennis Concordia (POWERGROUP Resources)
• Dale McDonald (Ira McDonald Construction Ltd.)
• Ben Gould and family (Milli)
• Blair McKeil (McKeil Marine)
• PJ and Joe Mercanti (CARMEN’s Group)
• Sam Mercanti (CARSTAR)
• Lisa Mercanti-Ladd (Southbrook Golf and Country Club)
• John Peller (Andrew Peller Limited)
• Michael Schwenger Jr. (Stresscrete Group)
• Robin, Teresa and Michael St. Jean (St Jean Realty)
• PJ Vermeer (Westbrook Group of Companies)
• Chris White (Fruitland Manufacturing)

The first Family Business Service workshop will be offered May 19. For more information on the Family Business Series, go to www.mohawkcollege.ca/familybusiness.

QUOTES:

FAST FACTS:

According to research by the University of Alberta and the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, family businesses:

• Generate approximately 60 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product
• Employ six million Canadians
• Create 70 per cent of all new jobs in North America
• Account for 55 per cent of all charitable donations

A 2014 Deloitte Family Business Survey found that only 17 per cent of businesses surveyed had formal leadership succession plans in place.

According to the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, 70 per cent of family businesses will not survive the hand-off to the second generation.

The Mohawk Family Business Series is facilitated by Janice Locke, a past CEO and CFO of a family business.

Each Family Business Series workshop costs $199 or $999 for all nine workshops.

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Mohawk College Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Lauren found out about the honour after it was announced at The Canada Photo Convention that was held in Vancouver in April. Lauren graduated from Mohawk's Creative Photography: Still & Motion program in 2014. The Hamilton-born photographer now runs a wedding photography business in Hamilton called Moments by Lauren.

Congratulations to Karlo King, Rachel Hamilton and Matthew McDougall on winning 2016 Emerge Media Awards.

Karlo took first place in the videography category for Cut the Cords a video ad he created for BE Headware. Rachel finished second in the graphic / editorial design competition for Hello Giggles, a brochure she created for the competition, and Matthew took second place in the Advertising category for an ad he designed to promote fragrance company Diesel.

The Emerge Media Awards showcase the achievements of journalism, media studies and communications students at colleges and universities in Canada. The awards were presented during a dinner organized by the University of Guelph – Humber College 4th year public relations students.

He spent 35 years in industry, engineering design and management, product design, and research and development in a range of sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, confectionary and general industrial.

“I always kind of thought that, at some point, I would want the opportunity to give back, mentor student and usher in a new crop of engineers.”

That opportunity came in the form of a professor of mechanical engineering position that opened up at Mohawk about four years ago. It was earlier in his career path than he had imagined, but Gerritsen decided the time was right to get into education.

He brought with him experience in exploring additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for industrial applications. And he was just in time to help open the doors to the Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre (AMRC) at Mohawk’s Fennell campus.

“I delivered on the concept but the real visionaries in seeing an industry need and putting the concept forward were Tony Thoma (Dean of Engineering Technology), Brad Bowman (Professor in Engineering Technology) and other colleagues,” said Gerritsen, who serves as AMRC’s coordinator and lead faculty researcher.

In a nutshell, additive manufacturing creates an object by building up layers of plastic or metal material. That’s different from traditional manufacturing techniques, such as machining, casting and milling which remove material to form a part.

The industrial-strength additive manufacturing printers in Mohawk’s $2.5-million lab takes computer-generated digital or CAD files and prints them within oxygen-free chambers using a laser to fuse fine layers of plastic or metal powder into solid forms.

“This is one of the best-equipped labs in the country and then added to that we have an enormous amount of local expertise at McMaster and the CANMET lab to support the AMRC. This is developing into an industry cluster around additive manufacturing. Our centre helps attract businesses to the region.”

The big advantage of additive manufacturing is the ability to create objects that are either impossible or too costly to create with conventional techniques. There’s the added bonus of far less waste of valuable and costly materials. Products can also be built as whole units rather than as parts needing assembly. That cuts down on labour and eliminates potential failure points such as bolts, adhesives or welds.

The machines can print multiple copies of the same part or dozens of different ones at the same time. But the printers are still slow compared to other manufacturing techniques and the process doesn’t work well for producing parts in large volumes.

Gerritsen says 3D printing is just another tool for industry, not an across-the-board solution. It can produce designs not possible through conventional techniques. As Gerritsen explains, curved holes can’t be drilled but they can be printed.

“It’s the right tool for the right job,” he said. “It deals very well with complexity and can produce impossible geometry.”

The “pride and joy” in the lab’s equipment is an EOS M280 direct metal laser sintering machine, which can produce parts out of stainless steel, chrome, titanium, nickel, aluminum and other metals. Only a few academic institutions in Canada have that technology. None are currently available at a college or university in Ontario.

The facility is also home to an EOS P395 selective laser sintering machine, which prints parts in polyamide, polystyrene and thermoplastics. A Stratasys FDM printer and state-of-the-art design tools, as well as other additive accessories, are also in the lab.

Demand for industry partnerships has been huge. The client roster is now well over 100, with Mohawk partnering to educate, develop new materials and find additive manufacturing solutions to production challenges.

Mohawk works with McMaster and CANMET to offer a “one-stop shop” to clients in aerospace, healthcare, consumer goods and a wide range of industrial production.

Use and access to the lab continues to grow. Adding to a roster of targeted industry workshops and internships and co-ops using the lab’s resources, Mohawk kicked off is first embedded course at the start of the year. The course is offered to third-year mechanical engineering technology students.

“We are constantly thinking about the evolution of the lab, such as degree offerings and post-grad certificates.”

The lab is already a terrific recruiting tool for the college and one of the clearest manifestations of Mohawk’s commitment to collaborations, partnerships and applied research, he says. Mohawk aims to be among the top 10 colleges in Canada for applied research activity.

Students who have trained in the lab are immediately snapped up for industry jobs.

“This affords them access to absolutely state-of-the-art equipment in a rapidly emerging technology.” says Gerritsen. “They have skills and experience that are in heavy demand and short supply.”

AMRC received a total of $720,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund, along with industry partners.

And support from Mohawk’s leadership for the lab has been “outstanding,” says Gerritsen.

“When you start engaging with applied research and new emerging technology, it takes some fortitude and strength to make one of the best labs in the country a reality. That’s what we’ve achieved here at Mohawk.”

Contact Robert at:

robert.gerritsen@mohawkcollege.ca

Spotlight on is written by Freelance writer and editor Meredith MacLeod.

Follow Meredith on Twitter @meredithmacleod

Mohawk College educates and serves 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students at three campuses in Hamilton, Ontario. Mohawk has been ranked the number one of the college in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for student satisfaction for the past six years and number one for graduate satisfaction and employment for the past four years. Mohawk has also been recognized as one of Canada’s greenest employers and one of the top employers in Hamilton-Niagara.

The program the students received trained for is called Run, Jump, Throw (RJT). RJT is a national program from Athletics Canada that is designed to develop fundamental movements to support physical activity in young children. RJT aims to give children a physical activity program that is a strong foundation for all sports so they grow in to adults who are physically active, have lower obesity rates and overall better health.

“When children are able to run, jump and throw, hop, skip and jump properly, they are more likely to want to take part in sports later on in life,” says Kathy Kemp, an Early Childhood Education professor at Mohawk College. “These critical stages in the early years, are crucial to help build basic skills and to set children on the right track to becoming and staying physically literate.”

Kemp says the two-day training program which included a mix of in class education, physical drills and lesson plan development qualifies the Mohawk students as nationally recognized RJT instructors. The training highlighted fundamental skills such as balance, coordination, endurance and confidence, she added. The students will be able to apply the RJT knowledge in their field when working with preschoolers and school age children.

“(RJT training) was a wonderful experience,” says first-year ECE student Leigh Wetherup. “It was informative and supportive to the work we do in our field. After the Run, Jump, Throw Training I now feel more competent and excited to incorporate physical literacy into my daily curriculum.”

The RJT training was provided by Physical Literacy for All Hamilton in partnership with Athletics Ontario and Blessed Sacrament Basketball. The classes were run at the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre in Hamilton this week.

Mohawk is one of three colleges in Canada to make the 2016 list, and one of two colleges in Ontario. A complete list of this year’s winners is available on Canada’s Top 100 website.

Quotes:

Fast Facts:

• Canada’s Greenest Employers competition is now in its 10^th year. Winners are considered to be national leaders in creating a culture of environmental awareness.
   
• This year’s competition recognized 65 Canadian employers.
   
• Mohawk is the only Hamilton employer on this year’s list.

• Among other priorities, Mohawk’s new five-year Strategic Plan commits the college to reducing or eliminating observable, wasteful energy consumption on campus and to ensuring students leave Mohawk with a solid understanding of environmental sustainability and skills they can apply in the workplace.

• Mohawk’s first Environmental Management Plan committed to a 20 per cent carbon reduction target below the 2007 baseline by the year 2020. Mohawk exceeded this target reaching a 24 per cent reduction by the end of 2012 and set a new target of a 30 per cent reduction by 2020.

• The college’s Sustainability Office oversees numerous activities and initiatives aimed at encouraging faculty, staff and students to live sustainably. These include programs promoting alternative transit, an on-campus community-based garden with plots available for students, staff and the community, and a seasonal mobile Farm Stand that sells fresh, locally grown produce.

• Mohawk has also been recognized for its efforts to build a more sustainable campus. Its 64,000 square foot David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre achieved LEED Gold certification in 2015, becoming the second building on campus to obtain the sought-after certification.

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

The 19-member task force was convened by Mohawk President Ron McKerlie in early 2015 to help identify how the college could better serve international students and support newcomers to Hamilton. Following a year of conversations and consultations, the task force has made 34 recommendations aimed at:

• helping newcomers make a successful transition to Hamilton
• creating stronger connecting in Hamilton for newcomers
• building intercultural competency within Hamilton businesses and organizations
• moving Hamilton from friendly to welcoming by promoting the value of global citizenship

In response to the Welcoming Communities Task Force recommendations, Mohawk has developed a multi-year action plan. The plan includes opening a Language and Culture Centre at the Fennell campus for international students and newcomers to Hamilton, launching a smartphone app for international students, promoting volunteer opportunities in the community for international students, launching an entrepreneurship program for international students, strengthening ties with community groups and introducing a global exchange program for students to live and learn in other countries.

The Welcoming Communities Task Force report and recommendations, along with Mohawk’s action plan, are posted at: www.mohawkcollege.ca/welcomingcommunities.

QUOTE:

FAST FACTS:

• The members of the Welcoming Communities Task Force were Layla Abdulrahim-Moore (City of Hamilton / Global Hamilton Connect), Luke Baylis (Mohawk Students’ Association), Max Brown (Mohawk Students’ Association), Clement Chan (Columbia International College), Jim Commerford (Hamilton Burlington Brantford YMCA), Terry Cooke (Hamilton Community Foundation), Huyen Dam (Global Hamilton Connect), Laurie Davidson (RBC), Glen DeCaire (Haimlton Police Services), Howard Elliott (Hamilton Spectator), Christine Hoey (Fell Fab), Vahn Kalong (My Thai Restaurants), Keith Monrose (Mohawk College), Eric Taylor (Fell Fab), Judy Travis (Workforce Planning Hamilton and chair of the Hamilton Immigrant Partnership Council), Jim Vanderveken (Mohawk College), Dr. Gary Warner (McMaster University), Sarah Wayland (City of Hamilton / Global Hamilton Connect), Sandra Wilson (Hamilton Police Service).

• The Welcoming Communities Task Force met four times, organized an October conference at Mohawk, held consultations with the Hamilton Immigrant Partnership Council and presented to Hamilton City Council.

• Leadership in internationalization and global experiences is one of the commitments made in Mohawk’s new five-year strategic plan.

• Mohawk currently educates and serves 2,000 international students from more than 70 countries.

• Mohawk officially opened its Language and Culture Centre at the Fennell campus on April 14. The centre offers services and supports to both international students and newcomers to Hamilton.

• The GoMohawk orientation app for international students is available for free download through the iTunes App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gomohawk!/id1090954269?mt=8

• According to Statistics Canada, 24 per cent of Hamilton residents were born outside of Canada.

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca