RED-enewsletter-December2011.htm

In the world of marketing and branding, it helps to have a strong connection to your subject matter, since much of your job revolves around helping people create emotional connections of their own.

That's certainly the case with Red River College alum Kyle Romaniuk, who as president of creative agency Cocoon Branding oversaw the recent rebrand of long-running children's charity The Rainbow Society, now known as The Dream Factory.

Romaniuk, who graduated from RRC's Graphic Design program in 1996, has been serving on the charity's board since 2009. But his connection runs much deeper than that.

After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12, Romaniuk was on the receiving end of his own dream come true -- a chance to swim with dolphins, made possible by The Rainbow Society. He sees his current work with the newly-revamped organization as a way to give back to a particular worthy cause.

"My whole family was encouraged to participate in my 'dream' ... so for my parents and my sister, I know it's one of the highlights of their lives, as well as mine," says Romaniuk, whose dream took him to the Dolphin Resource Center in the Florida Keys. "It was an opportunity we all got to experience together, get our minds off the illness and the treatments, and just escape in the dream."

Click here to learn more about Cocoon Branding, and Romaniuk's work with The Dream Factory.

If you’re interested in being profiled in the RED alumni e-newsletter, e-mail Dale Oughton, Alumni Coordinator, at alumni@rrc.mb.ca.

On behalf of everyone here at Red River College -- in particular, the membership of the RRC Alumni Board -- we'd like to offer our warmest wishes for a happy holiday, and a healthy, prosperous new year!

Here's hoping that everyone gets a chance to spend time with family and friends over the holidays, and to share in the wonder and good cheer of the season!

Please click here to see RRC's holiday greeting "come alive." All the best in 2012!

Gimli Campus Grad Passionate About Community Childcare

Red River College grad Loretta Sinclair is an important presence in the lives of all the children she works with.

After much hard work and determination, Loretta recently graduated with her diploma in Early Childhood Education. A mother and grandmother from Little Saskatchewan First Nation, she completed a portion of her studies via distance education, and the remainder in St. Laurent as part of a community-based training initiative.

Loretta now works as director of the childcare centre in her home community, and feels strongly about the movement of First Nations communities to meet provincial licensing standards by 2015. She wants Aboriginal childcare centres and families to have the same benefits, licensing, trained workers and subsidies for parents as mainstream centres in Manitoba.

It's this vision that led to her decision to immediately begin her post-diploma training in the Studies in Aboriginal Child Care Certificate program, in order to achieve her ECE III -- a requirement for directors of licensed centres. Loretta is currently working on this training via distance education, and has encouraged other students in her community to begin their training, as well.

Health Services Management Program Marks 10th Anniversary

Red River College continues to take a lead role in providing management and leadership education to the health sector in Manitoba, through the delivery of its Health Services Management program.

In October, a class of 32 employees -- all of them employees of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority -- successfully completed the program, making for a total of more than 200 HSM graduates over the last 10 years.

The program's success rate demonstrates the College's commitment to leadership in the health services field, and with providing health sector employees with the knowledge and theory required to become effective, proactive managers.

"It really helped you to develop new relationships and to collaborate with people who are either in leadership, or want to go into leadership," says recent grad Catherine Troia, Manager of Therapeutic Services at Seven Oaks General Hospital. "It's a great way to connect with people at other sites who are going through the same challenges and experiencing the same successes."

Click here to learn more about the Health Services Management program at Red River College.

Red River College Continuing Studies instructor Ursula Neufeld (above) has helped transform one of Main Street's most "colourful" landmarks into a similarly eclectic downtown showpiece, while at the same time providing a creative outlet for those struggling with mental illness, addiction and homelessness.

Neufeld, a local visual artist who teaches Early Childhood Education courses at RRC, has for the last two years been involved with a community arts project launched by artists working out of the Red Road Lodge at 631 Main St. (formerly the New Occidental Hotel, now a transitional housing complex for at-risk individuals).

The result is a stunning outdoor mosaic located on the Lodge's north facing wall -- one that's inspired by traditional Aboriginal teachings, but also reflective of the diverse backgrounds of those who've contributed to its completion. Designed by local artists and residents of the Lodge, it was constructed with the help of hundreds of volunteers -- among them, participants of programs delivered through nearby Siloam Mission, the Salvation Army, and the Main Street Project.

Click here to learn more about Neufeld's contributions to the project, and to see pictures of the mosaic.

Middle school students from throughout Manitoba got a firsthand look at the manufacturing industry this month, while taking part in an expo aimed at encouraging teens to begin thinking about their post-secondary and career options.

The third annual Youth in Manufacturing expo, held Dec. 1, 2011, at RRC's Notre Dame Campus, gave Grade 9 and 10 students a chance to explore the impact of the manufacturing sector on Manitoba's economy. It also provided them with a range of industry-related educational options to consider as they begin planning for life after high school.

The world of manufacturing may have changed, but one thing has remained constant -- the need for highly skilled workers," says Lori Royal, Program Director at Skills Canada Manitoba. "Computers, advanced technologies and processes are redefining the way products are designed and produced. Innovation, improvement and increased productivity are no longer the future -- they're the norm."

Red River College recently produced a special report entitled Building the Community, which outlines the tremendous economic and social impact the College has throughout Manitoba.

"Community is a concept that resonates throughout our academic programs, our institutional activities, and our partnerships with industry and non-profit organizations," says Stephanie Forysth, President of RRC.

The report shares the success stories of our alumni, and highlights important College initiatives such as the development of the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, the growth of our applied research program, and our work with community organizations to enhance child care services in Winnipeg's North End.

Building the Community was distributed province-wide in the Nov. 26th edition of the Winnipeg Free Press. An expanded version of the report is available here.

Click here to learn more about Planned Giving opportunities at Red River College.

Alumni Membership Advantages

Did you know that as a Red River College alum, you are eligible to receive exclusive discounts at several local businesses?

Stay Connected

Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information so you can stay current with College news, learn about exclusive Alumni events and find out about the latest job opportunities.

To update your information, visit the Address Update webpage at www.rrc.ca/alumni or call

Alumni Profile - Kyle Romaniuk

Gimli Campus Grad Passionate About Community Childcare

Health Services Management Program Marks 10th Anniversary

Alumni Membership Advantages

Stay Connected