News

Red Deer Polytechnic will award Dr. James Barmby and Dr. Russell Schnell with Honorary Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Degrees in recognition of their incredible contributions and positive impact on society. “It is a privilege to recognize Dr. Barmby and Dr. Schnell as our Honorary Degree recipients this year,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “As respected experts in their fields with deep roots in central Alberta, they have spent their careers in service to the betterment of our communities and our world. They possess uncommon curiosity and passion for education, making them both the kind of lifelong learners we hope our students will be.” Dr. Barmby’s post-secondary journey began as an Art and Design Diploma student at Red Deer Polytechnic where he also served as a member of the Student Council from 1973 to 1975. Since then, he has made significant contributions to the provincial and national post-secondary sectors as an accomplished educator and leader. As an advocate for higher education and student success, Dr. Barmby has experience in curriculum development, strategic enrollment management, advanced education policy and accreditation. Throughout his post-secondary roles, Dr. Barmby has worked extensively to collaborate with Indigenous communities and to provide

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) received two awards from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE). In the annual Prix d’Excellence, Palate: A Taste of Local received silver in the Best Alumni Event category and the RDP Athletics Brand Reveal video received bronze in the Best Video – Announcements category. The CCAE is a national network of post-secondary professionals in advancement disciplines including advancement services, alumni relations, communications and marketing, fundraising (development), external relations and public relations. Members include representatives from universities, colleges, polytechnics and other schools from across Canada. The Prix d’Excellence awards are selected by volunteer panels that are comprised of CCAE members. “Palate: A Taste of Local is the RDP Alumni Association’s annual signature event. The event is driven by alumni and student volunteers to plan and deliver, so this award is especially meaningful for us,” says Courtney Avram, Chair of the RDP Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Palate builds on the rich history of the Fine Wine and Food Tasting event, which ran for 16 years. It was reinvented in 2022 to further enhance our community and alumni connections, and celebrate our region. To achieve this recognition in our first year is validating and reaffirms

Chelsah Thomas is so passionate about renewable energy it’s hard to believe she didn’t begin her education in the field. Her post-secondary journey started in the RDP Sociology program and she went on to graduate school at the encouragement of her professors, earning a Master of Environmental Management degree at Western State Colorado University. For her master’s project, Thomas was tasked with creating a solar social enterprise. She wanted to build an installation company, “We knew it was going to pick up crazily, which it has with all of the grants, new technologies and prices coming down. Because my degree at RDP was in Sociology, it was also important for me to include community.” Her company, Sol Invictus Energy Services, is based on that project. “After graduation, my husband and I were beginning to build our house and I was really enthusiastic and passionate about sustainable construction. I’d completed my master’s degree and I had a lot of learning under my belt with regard to renewables and solar. I was trying to locate consultants in the area that were familiar with energy efficiency, energy modeling, and Passive House design and there was nobody in Central Alberta. So, I took my

Makayla Willows and Cayden Nickel of the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Royals Rodeo team finished as the top competitors at the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Association ( CCRA ) Finals May 19-21 in Brooks. “Makayla and Cayden had an outstanding weekend,” says Trina Carroll, RDP Royals Program Lead. “They put in the work and were rewarded. I want to send a huge shoutout to all competitors and the CCRA Board of Directors, including Jamie Kuzma, who was our main contact at the CCRA.” Buck Lake’s Willows earned the prestigious honour of 2023 CCRA Cowgirl of the Year by accumulating the most points among female competitors at the Silver Sage Community Corral over the weekend. “I am thankful for the support from the RDP Royals Rodeo team, our wonderful coaches, and my family,” says Willows, who is graduating with an RDP Social Work Diploma in June. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been able to compete in the CCRA Finals. After working hard throughout the season, it was rewarding to complete my last year in College Rodeo as the Heeling Season Leader along with qualifying for the finals in Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping and Pole Bending.” As heeler in

What an honour it is to be able to say that we’ve left a mark on Red Deer Polytechnic. As former students, we’ve all called RDP home in one way or another along our journeys. In my role as Chair of the RDP Alumni Association Board of Directors, my primary goal is to help our alumni and community really understand what a special honour this is. Staying connected to our alumni community reinvigorates that sense of comradery, community and friendship you sparked the day you first stepped foot on campus. Homecoming celebrates that legacy. It’s an opportunity to connect, to feel, and to celebrate what makes RDP what it is today – you. At Homecoming, people from across the country will visit the campus that played such a significant role in our journeys. It’s a chance for us to show off the people that make this place so special, and the spaces that still hold so many memories for many of us. With an Open House and Athletics events, it’s an opportunity for us as alumni to see how much this place has changed and grown, just as we have. This is what Homecoming Weekend is all about, and why

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre ( CACAC ) are pleased to co-host a conference that will bring together more than 250 professionals from a variety of sectors across Alberta. Transforming Practices: Child Abuse and Trauma 2023 Conference Wednesday, May 31 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre, Main Stage With a variety of concurrent sessions anchored by keynote addresses, conference speakers and participants will contribute their expertise to help better understand complex issues surrounding child abuse and trauma, identifying ways to positively impact the health and wellness of children and families. Keynote speakers are: Dr. Michael Ungar , founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University, and Canada Research Chair in Child, Family, and Community Resilience. Time : 9:30 am – 10:30 am Topic : Nurturing the Resilience of Individuals and the Systems that Surround Them Dr. Alina Turner , Co-Founder/Co-President of HelpSeeker Technologies, a social technology and innovation Alberta-based B-Corp, founded in 2018, supporting systems planning and integration. Time : 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Topic : Decoding the Aftermath: Harnessing Data and Tech to Revolutionize Post-COVID Child Abuse Prevention and Systems Integration Sheldon Kennedy , who

Earlier today, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) celebrated its faculty’s innovative scholarly activity and independent research at the Recognition of Scholarly Activity (RoSA) Awards and Capstone Recognition Event. “Each year our committee is astonished at the quality of scholarly work completed by the faculty in our institution,” says Erin Lowe, Chair of RoSA Committee and RDP Nursing Instructor. “From ground-breaking research and insightful publications to original works, our faculty has been actively engaged in advancing knowledge and contributing to the world of scholarship. These accomplishments are a testament to their dedication and hard work as they strive to make meaningful contributions to their respective fields. We are proud to honor their scholarship and look forward to seeing the impact of their work in the years to come.” RDP’s faculty are recognized for scholarly activity in four categories that include Discovery, Integration, Application and Teaching. The following award recipients were honoured at the event for their exemplary scholarly activity during 2022: Dr. Fola Oluwasina - “Evaluating the Prevalence and Correlates of Major Depressive Disorder among Residents of Fort McMurray, Canada one year after a devastating flood.” Dr. Heather Markovitch - “White Magic, Black Humour: Ella D’Arcy’s Narrative Strategies, Cahiers victoriens et edouardiens

At an event earlier today, Red Deer Polytechnic celebrated its national and international recognition for the sustainability of its Studio Residence building. Since 2019, the Polytechnic’s newest Residence building has received or contributed to RDP being honoured with five sustainability awards. This recognition includes the 2019 Canadian Wood Council Award , 2020 Prairie Wood Design Award : Industry Award of Excellence, 2021 Canada’s Clean 50 Top Project ( www.clean50.com ) and 2022 Canadian Green Building Award : Residence Large. The Studio Residence building was a contributor to RDP earning Colleges and Institutes Canada's (CICan) 2023 Excellence in Sustainable Development silver . The facility was also named a 2021/2022 International Union of Architects 2030 Award Finalist . “At Red Deer Polytechnic, our Studio Residence building employs globally recognized sustainable technologies and contributes to our institution’s larger Alternative Energy Initiative,” says Jim Brinkhurst, Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Red Deer Polytechnic. “While this innovative facility provides a modern living and social space for RDP’s learners, it also creates education and applied research opportunities for students to gather and analyze data about solar generation in the Alternative Energy Lab.” The five-story building, which features 145 studio suites, including

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Apprentices continue to demonstrate their industry-leading knowledge and skills on the provincial stage. RDP Apprentices earned five medals, including two gold, two silver and one bronze, at the Skills Canada Alberta Competition, which was held at the Edmonton Expo Centre May 3-4. Jared Quast (Sprinkler Systems Installer) and Ben Rainforth (Welding) were the top achievers from the Polytechnic, both winning gold medals. Quast and Rainforth will represent Red Deer Polytechnic and Team Alberta at the Skills Canada National Competition , which will take place in Winnipeg May 25-26. Jared Gamble (Plumbing) and Joseph Saunderson (Sprinkler Systems Installer) won silver in their respective trades. Ryley Bakken (Steamfitter/Pipefitter) earned bronze. “These recent achievements reinforce the high-quality experiences available to apprentices at Red Deer Polytechnic and throughout the region,” says Joel Gingrich, Dean of School of Education and Trades. “Along with receiving enhanced education, training and support from RDP instructors, Skills Coaches and technicians, our apprentices receive industry-relevant opportunities from our region’s employers. This support and collaboration prepare our apprentices to excel in their fields.” RDP Apprentices have built a legacy of excellence on the provincial and national stages. Since 2003, Red Deer Polytechnic Apprentices have earned 78 medals

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce are partnering with Mount Royal University's Growth Catalyst program to create a first-of-its-kind business accelerator for central Alberta. Designed for enterprises with $2 to $100 million in sales, Growth Catalyst is a scale-up accelerator program, not for start-ups. The program is based on the research of MRU Professor Simon Raby, Ph.D. and his team, who identified gaps for serving small to medium-sized businesses that still have exponential growth potential. Growth Catalyst's hybrid model combines in-person learning with real-time coaching and implementation, supported by a variety of highly regarded local experts. This program allows companies to reimagine, rediscover and realize new growth opportunities over seven months. With a commitment to serving all of Alberta, the program’s fourth cohort will focus on central Alberta, from Rocky Mountain House to Ester, and operating from RDP. Businesses are invited to apply now for a September start. Designed for a team of up to four people, this is a highly subsidized (but not free) indisputably valuable accelerator that is helping drive the Alberta business economy. Interested companies are encouraged to visit the Growth Catalyst website or join an upcoming Chamber lunch and

Red Deer Polytechnic is pleased to announce the appointment of Blayne Meek as Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “I am delighted to welcome Ms. Meek to the Red Deer Polytechnic leadership team,” comments Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development and Partnerships. “Blayne brings extensive marketing and brand development experience to RDP and will provide exceptional leadership to her team and the Polytechnic as we strive to grow and enhance our profile at a provincial, national and international level.” Among her areas of expertise are brand development, traditional and digital marketing, strategic communications and change management in the post-secondary, public and private sectors. Most recently, she worked as Director of Marketing and Communications at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology where she played an integral role in evolving the brand of the institution into a national leader in agriculture technology education and applied research. “I am thrilled to join the Red Deer Polytechnic team,” comments Ms. Meek. "RDP is an institution with strong regional roots and global impact. I’m looking forward to working with the team to continue our brand evolution through compelling content creation that tells the story of our students, employees and partners.” Ms. Meek began her new

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