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Educators focused on ensuring rich career path-way experiences for K-12 students are applauding the provincial government’s investment into a multi-partner Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI) programming model. Currently, the CACI partnership involves Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Public, Red Deer Catholic and Wolf Creek school divisions, along with Red Deer Polytechnic, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, and CAREERS: The Next Generation with plans to involve additional Central Alberta school divisions as programming and facility is established. The partnership has received an announcement from Alberta Education that it has been granted collegiate status, and that the partnership will receive $8.7 million in funding for the first stage of CACI, beginning in the 2023-24 school year. The provincial criteria for approval included: partnership agreements, the need for specialized programming, the strength of post-secondary pathways, experiential learning opportunities, and cost-effectiveness. “This is a collaborative partnership of school divisions and post-secondaries, which has been forging strong links between high school students and their career connections for over a decade,” says Kurt Sacher, Superintendent, Chinook’s Edge School Division. Sacher says, “Our history of success with career programming shows that when high school students have a deeper experience with a career pathway, they are more likely

Thousands of post-secondary leaders from around the globe gathered in Montreal, QC this week at the World Congress hosted by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP). A team from Red Deer Polytechnic was in attendance to receive three CICan Awards of Excellence in Indigenous Education (Gold), Sustainable Development (Silver), and Student Leadership (Bronze). In addition, Red Deer Polytechnic received international honours with a silver WFCP Award in Indigenous Education Excellence. “These awards recognize the strong programs and talented people that makeup RDP,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “The awards for Indigenous Education, sustainability and student leadership, reflect the impact RDP delivers for our communities -- regionally and globally -- and position us well for the future.” Red Deer Polytechnic was named the gold recipient of the CICan Indigenous Education Excellence Award for its commitment to reconciliation, respect of Indigenous cultural traditions, and creation of supportive learning environments. RDP is among 71 post-secondary institutions that are signatories to CICan’s Indigenous Education Protocol, which affirms its responsibility to Indigenous Education. In addition, Red Deer Polytechnic received silver for an international WFCP Award in Indigenous Education Excellence. This award recognizes actions RDP

The Market@Red Deer is very happy to announce its new home at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). The 52-year-old Farmers’ Market will be held at Red Deer Polytechnic’s main campus from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm every Saturday from May 20 to October 7. “We are so excited to have RDP as our new home. Along with the location and space for vendors and customers, there are some great opportunities to explore with RDP that may not have shown themselves at our last location,” says Patrick Moffat, Co-Manager of the Market@ Red Deer. “We really believe this is a good fit and a great location.” The new site will give the Market a larger footprint with up to 320 stalls and room for growth if needed. This does not include the plenty of nearby customer parking stalls, including accessible stalls. “We are excited to welcome vendors and visitors to Red Deer Polytechnic’s main campus for the Red Deer Public Market in the weeks and months ahead,” says Patrick Machacek, Vice President of Development and Partnerships at Red Deer Polytechnic. “This is an example of how RDP is deepening our community partnerships and supporting central Alberta’s entrepreneurs. Markets like this are incubators

Red Deer Polytechnic is preparing to welcome youth and adult participants on campus this summer for a variety of popular returning camps and some exciting new ones. Beginning in July, youth from across the province will be able to participate in Summer Adventures Camps, which include Day Camps and Overnight Camps, expanding their knowledge, skills, and connections in a supportive environment. “We are excited to continue the long-standing tradition of offering dynamic camps and workshops to youth of many ages at Red Deer Polytechnic during the summer months,” says Dr. Maureen Toews, Associate Vice President, Teaching, Learning and Research. “With camps in science, cooking, music, fine arts, and sports, youth will be able to develop their talents in an area of interest while connecting with their peers and creating memorable experiences.” The Polytechnic will offer an array of day camps that will entertain and educate students of different ages, interests, and abilities. Youth can enroll in camps that include Arts, Crafts, Superheroes, Babysitting, Dance, Junior Chefs, Wizard Academy, Science, Technology, and Sports. A new Esports Day Camp has been added this year for youth aged nine to 18 at RDP’s Downtown Campus. With beginner and advanced camps, students will be

Red Deer Polytechnic is expanding its capacity to offer training opportunities in high-demand, industry-relevant programs starting in Fall 2023. New seats are being added with funding provided by the Government of Alberta’s Targeted Enrolment Expansion (TEE) Grant, which was announced in the recent provincial budget. Today, the provincial government confirmed RDP will receive more than $1.3 million to add 180 new seats in three programs over the next three years. With support from this grant, Red Deer Polytechnic will begin offering a new Medical Device Reprocessing Certificate through a curriculum-sharing partnership with Lethbridge College. The program will train students in central Alberta to safely clean and repurpose medical devices in hospital settings and in dental and veterinary clinics. This program will be offered for the first time at RDP in Fall 2023 with an initial intake of 20 seats, growing to 60 seats by 2025/2026. In addition, over the next three years, the Polytechnic will add 48 more seats to its existing Pharmacy Technician Diploma program and 72 new seats in the Administrative Professional Certificate program. “We thank the Government of Alberta for supporting Red Deer Polytechnic in delivering more applied learning opportunities for more students and for collaborating with

In conjunction with Campus Alberta Central, Red Deer Polytechnic will host two information sessions about its Health Care Aide Certificate and Practical Nurse Diploma programs in Drumheller. Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Health Care Aide Certificate presentation | 5 PM Practical Nurse Diploma presentation | 6 PM Drumheller Community Learning Society 250 Centre Street | Drumheller, AB “The Health Care Aide Certificate and Practical Nurse Diploma Information Sessions will provide prospective students the opportunity to connect with instructors and program developers, and to learn more about curriculum, program workload and career opportunities,” says Dana Davidson, Drumheller Community Learning Society Site Manager, Campus Alberta Central. “The ability to offer these programs in Drumheller helps learners in the region to conveniently achieve their career goals near the support of family and friends.” Health Care Aides are integral members of healthcare teams, providing expertise and front-line care to clients in several different healthcare settings. Throughout the eight-month Health Care Aide Certificate program, students will grow their competencies through online readings, lessons and assignments, and in-person labs and clinical placements. “The health care industry is seeing a significant demand for certified Health Care Aides right now,” explains Kalcy Dube, Program Coordinator for the Health Care

Today, Red Deer Polytechnic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trinidad and Tobago’s NESC Technical Institute and the University of Trinidad and Tobago ( UTT) to grow opportunities in training, research and innovation. The new MoU expands on the 2015 agreement between the three institutions, which collaborated in the training, development and certification of workers in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. “Through this expanded collaboration, RDP’s strength in applied technical and trades education is making a difference on an international scale,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic, who signed the agreement in Trinidad and Tobago. “Our three institutions are committed to serving industry and training job-ready graduates, many of whom go on to work for companies with a presence in both our countries.” The MoU promotes the future of Technical and Vocational Educational Training in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. The enhanced agreement also advances knowledge and cultural exchange. As well, it increases opportunities for staff and student mobility between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada by working with both public and private organizations in relevant industries. As a polytechnic, RDP offers industry-relevant programming, training, and applied research opportunities that make an impact provincially

Red Deer Polytechnic continues to grow its breadth of industry-relevant education opportunities with the approval of a number of new or revitalized programs. Learners can apply to RDP now to begin the new programs in September 2023. The breadth of new programs demonstrates Red Deer Polytechnic’s continued movement to develop more ways for students to design their learning pathways while continuing to ensure those pathways connect students to employment after graduation. “We are excited to add these new and re-energized programs to our comprehensive mix of industry-relevant programming at Red Deer Polytechnic,” says Dr. Paulette Hanna, Interim Vice President Academic. “The knowledge and skills that graduates will possess help to address the needs of the labour market, communities and learners, advancing the economic and social interests of Alberta.” Red Deer Polytechnic’s new programs, which are open for enrolment for Fall 2023 Term are: Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies: Students design a four-year degree that can be completed entirely in Red Deer. The program pathway allows students to achieve their specific career and learning goals by combining courses across a range of disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, with elective options in Business, Health, Science, and the Creative Arts

As a way for organizations and employers to connect with students and potential employees, Red Deer Polytechnic is set to host its first Education and Career Expo: Thursday, April 27 Red Deer Polytechnic’s Main Campus Day session: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Evening session: 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM With funding from the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and Careers, Red Deer Polytechnic is proud to collaborate with central Alberta exhibitors, employers, teachers, and community members to offer an educational and immersive experience for students and community members to explore a variety of programs and careers. Grade 8 to 11 students can attend RDP during the day session to learn about the breadth of more than 80 industry-relevant programs offered at Red Deer Polytechnic. In addition, central Alberta exhibitors and employers will have the opportunity to engage with Polytechnic students and youth to increase their awareness about various careers through hands-on and interactive displays. Employers will have further opportunities, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, to connect with high school and post-secondary students, along with community members who are looking to enter the workforce or are seeking a career change. Red Deer Polytechnic will also host program presentations

The diverse ways in which faculty, staff and students make an impact through applied research by solving society’s challenges was on display yesterday at Red Deer Polytechnic’s (RDP) annual Research Showcase. During more than 20 different presentations, RDP faculty, staff and students presented to about 150 community members some of the current applied research that they are conducting. Presentations highlighted the breadth of programming and applied research at the Polytechnic, with topics that spanned disciplines including animation and visual effects, education, nursing, science and sociology. “The Research Showcase demonstrated the vast research that is led by learners, faculty, and staff from across the institution, addressing challenges and opportunities in industry and society,” says Dr. Paulette Hanna, Interim Vice President Academic. “As a polytechnic, we connect our applied research, education, and training to develop skills, knowledge and solutions that provide meaningful impact for Alberta and further abroad.” One of the students who participated in RDP’s Research Showcase was Payton Baltzer. He is enrolled in the Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Science – Biological Sciences program and is also a forward on the Kings Basketball team. He presented two different research projects, including one in which he studied the home range size of female

At a small gathering this afternoon, Red Deer Polytechnic leaders and members of the Welikoklad family toured the newly named Welikoklad Simulation Lab to learn more about the upgrades made possible through a generous donation from Bill and Irma Welikoklad. In the Welikoklad Simulation Lab, Health Sciences students work through simulations of real-world patient care scenarios, which are facilitated by instructors. These experiences help students develop competence and confidence in a safe environment. In simulation, students may either work with actors, who represent a variety of patient scenarios, or with high-fidelity manikins that simulate a range of high-pressure situations, such as cardiac arrest. At the event this afternoon, attendees observed two Bachelor of Science - Nursing students participating in a high-fidelity simulation involving a post-operative complication. Experiential learning opportunities for students help them connect classroom theory to the real-world application of their skills, which is important across all programs. “For students in our Health Sciences programs, the scenarios they work through in the safe environment of the Welikoklad Simulation Lab help them to develop critical skills in patient care,” says Sharon Hamilton, Dean of the School of Community, Wellness and Health “Through these experiential learning opportunities, including mandatory professional practice

February is Black History Month in Canada, where we honour the contributions, achievements and lived experiences of Black community members. At Red Deer Polytechnic, we honour the contributions, achievements and lived experiences of students, alumni, faculty and staff. Read on to discover the strength, resilience and passion of RDP's community members. Meet Wemi and Encounter His Passion for Social and Racial Justice Meet Wemi whose passion for impacting, helping and advocating for people led him to pursue his studies in the Social Work Diploma program at Red Deer Polytechnic. Wemi is from Nigeria and emigrated to Canada, and he also holds a degree in Industrial Chemistry. “Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate Black community members who had influenced and significantly impacted their society. It's an opportunity to create awareness of the legacy of the heroes in the past. These people have helped shape and well position our society. I am passionate about social and racial justice because of their common traits: fairness, equitable division, and opportunity. As a prospective social worker, I want to fight for the right and justice of the oppressed, irrespective of who they are or what they believe. We live in a dysfunctional world where people