News

Nationally renowned First Nations artist and Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) alum, George Littlechild was the guest of honour at a special event marking the start of National Truth and Reconciliation Week at RDP. Public employees of RDP, the Students' Association of RDP (SARDP), and the RDP Alumni Association purchased a piece of Littlechild’s art entitled 4 Star Art Warrior. The organizations graciously gifted the artwork to RDP’s permanent art collection in recognition of the contributions of students, employees, and alumni and to honour Littlechild’s connection to the Polytechnic. The painting will ultimately be displayed inside the main entrance of Red Deer Polytechnic as a reminder to students, staff, and visitors of the ongoing journey towards reconciliation. The artwork was officially unveiled at a special event held on Monday, September 25, in the Arts Centre Main Stage on RDP’s main campus. Local First Nations leaders, community members, and RDP students, staff and faculty listened as Littlechild shared his personal story as a former RDP student and Indigenous artist. This special event is one of many taking place at Red Deer Polytechnic to acknowledge Truth and Reconciliation Week. About Dr. George Littlechild: Dr. George Littlechild was born in Edmonton, Alberta, of Plains

The Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) has announced two new names related to the new Centre of Excellence. On September 15, former NHL player and co-founder of Respect Group Sheldon Kennedy joined with the board and staff of the CACAC and other dignitaries to announce the new Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence in Red Deer, Alberta. In addition to the naming announcement for the building, the CACAC also joined with non-profit organization Smiles Thru Lindsey – led by the More family – to announce the Lindsey More Youth Mental Health and Addiction Hub, which is located on the second floor of the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence. “This honor bestowed to me strongly supports my vision and our collective goal to help ALL youth Child Advocacy Centres not only in Alberta, but across Canada and beyond. I am so proud to be part of this journey with the Centre of Excellence and I am incredibly humbled to have this one-of-a-kind facility will bear my name”. – Sheldon Kennedy The naming event included dignitaries from Alberta Health Services, Red Deer Polytechnic, Eagle Builders, the Calgary Flames Entertainment Group, the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group, and various other partners that occupy the

Andrea Pinsent, Senior Advisor, People and Culture at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has been recognized for her exemplary work and leadership in Human Resources by Chartered Professionals in Human Resources ( CPHR) of Alberta. Pinsent was nominated for the CPHR Alberta Impact Award at the 2023 Excellence Awards Ceremony hosted in Edmonton on September 12. Along with demonstrating exceptional leadership, Pinsent’s nomination acknowledged her efforts to enhance the performance and reputation of Red Deer Polytechnic through her strategic work in Human Resources. “I want to congratulate Andrea on receiving this prestigious recognition,” says Mara-Lee Moroz, Executive Director, People and Culture. “Andrea is invaluable in effectively expanding organization-wide, inclusive strategies and programs, with a focus on the employee experience. These areas of focus include recruiting and onboarding, employee recognition and engagement, learning and development and employee well-being. Her expertise will continue to enhance RDP’s reputation as a premier polytechnic institution, preparing learners for the workforce by offering enhanced education, training and applied research opportunities.” In June 2007, Pinsent joined Red Deer Polytechnic as Programs Administration Coordinator and later Operations Manager. In these roles Pinsent played an integral role within the academic division, managing the critical administrative functions that support the delivery

Today, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) are gathering for the first annual Alberta Corridor Technical Symposium — Research Matters: Empowering Alberta Through Innovative Solutions — presented by the Alberta Corridor Technical Committee. All three institutions were named in Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2022 as part of the Canada's Innovation Leaders report, adding an elevated level of expertise to this collaborative event. Held in Calgary on SAIT’s main campus, this one-day event is showcasing more than 15 industry-based, cutting-edge applied research projects in progress which embody the collective efforts in research fostered at Alberta’s leading polytechnic colleges. Exploring research in the areas of agriculture and sustainable ecosystems, thermal energy storage, carbon neutrality, remote healthcare delivery, veterinary medicine and much more, the projects aim to create advanced solutions to foster new opportunities for Alberta’s diverse economy. Industry professionals, academics, students and community leaders are attending the symposium to network with peers, learn from researchers and be inspired by the next generation of innovators. Students from all three post secondaries are exhibiting their research findings at the poster sessions on topics including advancing microplastics science, impacts of

Our Red Deer Guest Chef for August is passionate about students and setting them up for success! The 12th President of Red Deer Polytechnic Stuart Cullum rose to the challenge of Guest Chef, celebrating all things local with his “Cheddar Mushroom Melt”! It included Alberta beef smashed patties with melted cheddar house-made mushroom cheese sauce, Ceres Solutions oyster mushrooms on a Cob's Bakery traditional hamburger bun. $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Stuart’s cause of choice the Students’ Association of RDP Food Bank. Stuart says he could think of no better cause “established in 1995, it serves a critical need for our student community and contributes to their success and well-being. For us at RDP the student experience is so important, and a number of our students do struggle especially in an inflationary world, with costs, so the demand on the food bank continues to increase and the fact that our Students’ Association takes such a strong commitment into the food bank movement to support our students is heartening for our RDP community”. Students’ Association President Erin Bast says they are anticipating the demand on the student food bank to continue “we don’t know the full impact

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) faculty and staff will grow their impact through applied research, thanks to a $27.3 Million investment by the Government of Alberta to post-secondary institutions through the Major Innovation Fund ( MIF). Red Deer Polytechnic is one of the post-secondary institutions that will continue to collaborate with the Universities of Alberta and Calgary during the next four years to accelerate research and commercialization because of the MIF funding. RDP will receive $800,000 from the MIF funding within three projects. “We’re enthusiastic and eager to be collaborating with other post-secondary institutions to solve industry challenges in the medical devices, clean energy, and space and defense sectors,” says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President of Applied Research. “Our team is focused on applying the state-of-the-art equipment and hands-on experience we have at Red Deer Polytechnic to commercialize new technologies in order to strengthen and diversify the economy. Cross-functional collaboration creates exciting outcomes, and industry will benefit by having researchers from universities, polytechnics, and colleges working together.” The MIF investment will focus on projects in four areas. Red Deer Polytechnic is involved in three of those areas, including: Clean Energy - applied researchers from RDP’s Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) will

Starting on September 5, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) students and graduates will have 24/7 access to official transcripts, parchments and letters of completion in their own secure virtual credential wallet. Through a new partnership with the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC), RDP students and graduates will receive and manage their documents through the MyCreds™ platform. MyCreds™ provides secure and convenient access to academic documents, allowing students and graduates to share these with other colleges and universities, government, employers and third parties. Documents issued through MyCreds™ are tamper-evident and cryptographically signed, making them authentic and official. "Red Deer Polytechnic is committed to providing students with seamless access and services, and our partnership with ARUCC to offer academic documents through MyCredsTM is an important new aspect of this,” says Dr. Trish Nuyten, Interim Dean of Enrolment Management and Registrar. “By providing students and graduates with this new pathway to access and share their digital documents, we are offering them more opportunity and agency to connect with educational institutions and employers through an innovative, convenient method.” "The launch of Red Deer Polytechnic on MyCreds™ illustrates the growing impact of digital service in Alberta," says Jennifer Crothers, ARUCC

Tristan Wine’s connection to Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has extended beyond graduation. After earning an Engineering Technology Diploma at RDP in 2019, Tristan worked for more than a year and then decided to further his education in Camosun College’s Engineering Bridge program in 2021. That summer, he began working as an Applied Research Technician in the Polytechnic’s Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing (CIM-TAC) as part of his Engineering program’s co-op placement. As a Technology Access Centre, the CIM-TAC is a 15,000 square foot innovative hub that helps entrepreneurs with product and process development, improvement through technical services and applied research. After one year at Camosun College, Tristan enrolled at the University of Victoria, where he is in his fourth year of an Electrical Engineering Degree. His post-secondary education, including at RDP, has helped to prepare him for his job in the CIM-TAC. “The skills and knowledge that I have acquired throughout my courses and post-secondary opportunities have directly helped me perform the duties of an Applied Research Technician at RDP,” he says. Having received meaningful work experiences in his Engineering co-op placement at the Polytechnic, Tristan returned to the four-month co-op placement in the summer of 2022. “I wanted to

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has recognized eight outstanding employees who made extraordinary contributions in serving students, the institution and our communities through innovation. The awards were presented at the annual RDP Awards of Excellence event held on August 29 at Red Deer Polytechnic. “The dedicated employees we celebrate with these awards ensure our continued growth and success as a relevant, learner-centered Polytechnic,” says Stuart Cullum, President, Red Deer Polytechnic. This year, 18 employees were nominated by their peers in recognition of demonstrating excellence in innovation, teaching, service to their community or profession and leadership. RDP is pleased to announce the following 2023 Awards of Excellence Recipients: Excellence in Innovation Natalie Ford, Nursing Instructor, School of Health and Wellness. Recognized for her innovative approach to teaching and course development to enhance the learning experience for students. Guriqbal Munday, Industrial Research Associate, Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing (CIM-TAC). Recognized for significant contributions to RDP’s advanced manufacturing and innovation applied research program, which includes leading the design of a solar panel cleaner for Wash-Bots. Excellence in Service Krista Baumgartner, Operations Manager, Donald School of Business, Science and Computing. Recognized for her service in creating enhanced programming and fostering an environment of collaboration and

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) will be recognizing employees who made extraordinary contributions in serving students, the institution and communities over the past year at the 2023 Awards of Excellence.   The Awards of Excellence are given annually as formal recognition for remarkable contributions from faculty and staff that extend beyond their job requirements. These outstanding contributions may be through innovation, service, teaching or leadership, and make a positive impact at the institution, in communities or in their profession.   This year, 18 RDP employees have been nominated in four categories:   EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE  As an Administrative Officer for the Division of Student Success, Heather Adams has contributed to the Polytechnic community in many ways. She played an instrumental role in creating an onboarding manual for new employees. Heather has also been integral in developing initiatives to recognize her colleagues across Red Deer Polytechnic. She has assisted with the United Way Campaign, Student Orientation, Career Expo, RDP’s staff Christmas party and many other events.  As Safety Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, Megan Andruik advocates for the health needs of learners and employees and continuously promotes the importance of RDP’s safety and wellness culture. Megan has led several health-related initiatives and events, including a step

Are you new to Red Deer Polytechnic and unsure what to expect as a student? You're not alone. This is a new chapter in your life, and studying at a post-secondary institution can feel overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to start. If you're new to the Polytechnic and are looking for advice on what to expect, we're here to help. We created New Student Orientation, an event specifically for our first-year students to help you with the ins and outs of everything you need to know, preparing you for the next steps in your student journey. New Student Orientation will allow you to: Meet and connect with students. You're not the only one that's going through this new journey. New Student Orientation is an opportunity to meet and connect with other students who are just as excited and nervous as you are. Introduce you to your program and instructors. Post-secondary education is more than just late nights studying and eating macaroni and cheese. The whole reason for going to school is to explore your educational journey and take a step toward your bright future. Why not meet the instructors that will help you achieve those goals right from

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is pleased to announce that Dr. Tonya Wolfe has been appointed to the role of Associate Vice President of Applied Research. Dr. Wolfe began her employment at Red Deer Polytechnic in 2020 as the Director for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation. Throughout her time at RDP, she has played an integral role in leading the growth and development of the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing (CIM-TAC) and Energy Innovation Centre, and in RDP being ranked first nationally for applied research growth and recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Applied Research Colleges in 2021. “We are extremely excited to have Dr. Wolfe take on this new role with Red Deer Polytechnic,” says Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development and Partnerships. “RDP’s applied research centres are working with industry and community partners to find solutions for the betterment of our society and economy. As the Associate Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Wolfe will provide leadership across Red Deer Polytechnic for the benefit of our external partners, and also provide dynamic one-of-a-kind learning spaces for our students as we continue to grow and expand our applied research programs and services.” Along with continuing to provide leadership in applied research