RED-enewsletter-May2012.htm

It’s a high-stakes field requiring a delicate balance of mental dexterity and mechanical know-how. But for aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) Chevy Peters, the work is quite literally in his blood.

"My grandfather and my father are both engineers, so it’s kind of the family business," says Peters, now an instructor for RRC’s Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson (AMJ) program. "There’s a lineage there. I’m a third generation AME, and I’m pretty proud of that."

Peters’ grandfather worked on helicopters in British Columbia (and later, as an instructor at B.C.I.T.), while his father served as an AME before becoming a pilot with Air Canada. In fact, both his grandfather and his father had pilots’ licences, so Peters logged his share of hours working in and around planes as a kid.

"For a while I was thinking I'd be a pilot, but I found out I enjoyed fixing planes more than flying them," says Peters. "I've always been mechanically inclined, and I actually got started by helping out with inspections, then trading that (work) for flying time. I found out I loved fixing stuff, and that was where my true calling was."

Click here to learn more about Chevy Peters, and here to learn more about the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer diploma program at RRC.

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

She's one of few female faces in a largely male-dominated field. And she's building a reputation as a quick study -- one brick at a time.

Meet Nina Widmer, the first female apprentice in the history of Red River College's Apprenticeship Bricklayer program. The daughter of German-born master craftsman Alfred Widmer, Nina has been working at her father's side on historical restoration projects since she was nine.

The Widmers moved to Canada when Nina was just six weeks old, after Alfred was commissioned to produce ornate plaster mouldings and statuary at Fort Garry Place. In the ensuing years, father and daughter have worked together on the University of Winnipeg's Wesley Hall, the A.A. Heaps Building (Bank of Nova Scotia), and the Union Bank Tower -- aka RRC's Paterson GlobalFoods Institute.

Since opportunities for historical restoration work are limited, Nina entered RRC's Apprenticeship Bricklayer program on her father's advice.

"I love working with my hands, and at the end of the day, I love being able to see what I've done," she says. "And I want to be able to tell my grandchildren, 'I worked on that 40 years ago, and it's still standing!'"

Click here for information on Nina Widmer, and here for more information on Apprenticeship programs at RRC.

Stevenson Campus 10th Anniversary

Join us as we celebrate AIR FAIR, the 10th anniversary of RRC's Stevenson Campus. The free event is open to the public -- in particular, graduates of RRC's aviation and aerospace programs -- and takes place Saturday, June 2, 2012.

RRC's Alumni Board is pleased to congratulate local entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Tallman, who's been named the 2012 recipient of RRC's Distinguished Alumni Award.

The longtime owner and CEO of Princess Auto Ltd., Tallman joined the family business in the mid-1970s, after graduating from RRC with a diploma in Business Administration. The investment in education paid off, as he soon expanded the Winnipeg-based firm across Canada.

Today, Tallman oversees a network of 34 retail stores specializing in farm, industrial, garage, and surplus items. One of the company's defining attributes is a commitment to exceptional customer service, which Tallman says was inspired by his time at RRC.

"(Ultimately), a business is about the people who work in the business -- the roles they play and most importantly, how they interact as a team," says Tallman. "It is probably the greatest lesson I learned at RRC, and has driven much of my strategy in building Princess Auto."

Tallman will receive his award at the 2012 Alumni Dinner, taking place Friday, November 16, at the Fairmont Winnipeg.

Congratulations go out to RRC grad Sean Trembley, who represented the College at this year's Barry Callebaut Canadian Intercollegiate Chocolate Competition in Toronto.

Trembley (shown, far right), a recent graduate of RRC's Professional Baking and Patisserie program, placed first in the molded bonbon category at the third annual chocolate-makers' contest -- a junior version of the World Chocolate Masters competition, launched by Callebaut to help young chocolatiers develop their skills.

This year's event, held at Humber College in Toronto, also featured mouthwatering entries from students at Humber, Cambrian, Canadore, Fenshawe, George Brown, Georgian, and Vancouver Community Colleges. Click here for more info on RRC's Baking and Patisserie program.

Red River College alumni living in Brandon and Western Manitoba gathered earlier this month for a special wine and cheese reception celebrating their achievements.

The second annual reception was held Thursday, May 3, at the Lady of the Lake restaurant in Brandon. The event was attended by 50-plus alumni from a range of graduating classes -- all of whom enjoyed the opportunity to re-connect with old friends and make new acquaintances.

Congratulations go out to RRC grad Adam Donnelly (Culinary Arts, 2005), whose Segovia Tapas Bar & Restaurant won in five different categories in Uptown Magazine's Best of 2012 poll.

The Osborne Village eatery achieved a near-sweep in the poll's restaurant categories, winning top marks for Best Service, Best Atmosphere, Best Menu, Best Appetizers, and Best Place to Take a Date for a Meal.

Uptown's annual poll features Winnipegers' top picks in 97 categories, ranging from Best Local Coffee Shop to Best Place to People-Watch. Click here to read the full results of the poll.

Wanted: Alumni Board Members

RRC's Alumni Board is currently accepting resumes from those interested in serving as members.

See the Alumni Board page for a full list of the Board's terms of reference. Resumes can be emailed to Dale Oughton, Alumni Coordinator, at doughton@rrc.ca.

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

Grad Profile: Chevy Peters

Stevenson Campus 10th Anniversary

Wanted: Alumni Board Members

Stay Connected