Earlier this summer, the federal and provincial government announced over $12 million in combined funding towards community initiatives and organizations working to end gender-based violence.

RRC Polytech’s Shelter Support Worker micro-credential will receive $350,000 to continue to offer this important tuition-free program – one of 19 organizations in Manitoba to receive such support.

At the July announcement, the Hon. Marci Ien, federal Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister, joined the Hon. Nahanni Fontaine, provincial Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equity, to announce the combined funding — $6.2 million in federal support, and $6.35 million from the province through Year Two of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

“We are honoured to be a part of this announcement and receive support for our tuition-free Shelter Support Worker micro-credential,” said Christine Watson, RRC Polytech’s Vice-President, Academic. “This training prepares current and future shelter workers to support those in need of refuge from difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. RRC Polytech is proud to be a partner in creating a safer Manitoba for all.”

The micro-credential program is the first of its kind in Manitoba and was designed with industry partners to address skill gaps, meet community needs and improve staffing levels and delivery service in homeless and family violence shelters across the province.

Last year, RRC Polytech celebrated its first cohort of 23 students successfully completing the program and next month will host a ceremony for an additional 19 who will complete the second cohort.

The micro-credential was developed in partnership with RRC Polytech, Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) and Manitoba’s family violence and homeless shelters. The program aims to provide essential skills and knowledge for individuals involved in or aspiring to work in homeless and family and gender-based violence shelters.

The program trains existing and potential workers, provides individuals with specific knowledge and education, and improves staffing levels and service delivery. It also provides individuals with a chance to apply their knowledge through a practicum.

The bilateral funding agreement is part of the second year of a comprehensive 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which aims to create a Canada free of GBV and provide support to victims, survivors and their families across the country.

Supported initiatives — like the Shelter Support Worker micro-credential — align with five pillars: supports for survivors and their families, prevention, responsive justice system, implementing Indigenous-led approaches, and social infrastructure and enabling environment.

“To work towards a future free from gender-based violence, our government is supporting community-driven actions in Manitoba,” said Ien in a joint press release. “By investing over $6.2 million in 2024-25, we are empowering Manitoban organizations to lead the way forward in preventing and addressing gender-based violence. Together with the Manitoba government, we are implementing the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence to ensure safety, support and justice for all.”

“We need to put a stop to gender-based violence in our homes and communities, and make sure survivors have the supports they need,” said Fontaine in the release. “We are taking action to ensure there are more supports for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, working with communities to break cycles of violence, and supporting Indigenous-led and community-informed approaches to address gender-based violence across Manitoba.”

Learn more about RRC Polytech’s Shelter Support Worker micro-credential.

RRC Polytech is excited to announce a game-changing partnership with the Winnipeg School Division (WSD). This collaboration aims to empower WSD employees and area residents by offering RRC Polytech programs free of charge.

What makes this partnership such a game-changer?

1. Investment in people: RRC Polytech and WSD recognize the importance of growing the workforce and strengthening the community. Together, we are embarking on a transformative journey—one that empowers graduates with the skills and knowledge to succeed in critical roles as administrative assistants, library technicians and power engineers.
2. Flexible education: Participants looking to gain new skills without disrupting their daily routines can take advantage of RRC Polytech’s flexible scheduling, which offers classes during and outside of regular work hours.
3. Pathways to credentials: These programs don’t just provide in-house training — they’re a journey toward earning an official RRC Polytech credential. Along the way, participants will have access to instructors with real-world expertise, an industry-aligned curriculum and a supportive learning environment.
4. Cost-free: Thanks to WSD’s generous funding, these programs are accessible to qualified participants at no cost. RRC Polytech and WSD believe that education should be within reach for everyone, and this partnership exemplifies the mutual commitment to making quality education affordable and attainable.
5. Inclusivity and community connections: Beyond workforce development, this partnership allows RRC Polytech and WSD to build meaningful relationships with those working and living in the division — including engaging with First Nations, Métis and Inuit students — making post-secondary training more accessible and inclusive. Together, we are shaping a stronger, more vibrant community, one learner at a time.

Upcoming Offerings

Administrative Assistant Program

The Administrative Assistant program provides the essential business skills for organizing schedules, managing communications and handling all day-to-day office tasks.

Program at-a-Glance

Start date: Nov. 4, 2024

Length: 10 months, including practicum

Delivery: In-person at R. B. Russell School, 364 Dufferin Ave., Winnipeg

Credential: Certificate

Tuition: $0 (value of up to $8,100)

RRC Polytech is proud to celebrate National Administrative Professionals’ Day, and to recognize the valuable contributions these individuals make in our workplaces.

Staff and students are encouraged to thank the administrative professionals in their lives for the essential work they do here at the College, and across our community.

Celebrated on the Wednesday of the last week of every April, the day recognizes the work of administrative assistants, receptionists and other administrative support professionals.

This year, the day falls on April 26, when the College will host a 2.5-hour professional development session for administrative staff. Participants will discover how they rank in the four primary personality types — dominance, influence, steadiness and conscientiousness — using the popular DiSC tool.

“The administrative professional role is that of a ‘hero’ — supporting efficiency and productivity, providing the technical and administrative support to teams both internally and externally,” says Denis Cordella, Chair of Business and Management for RRC Polytech’s School of Continuing Education.

“They are ‘solution builders’ and proactively make a difference to support goals.”

Administrative assistants keep things running smoothly by juggling countless tasks in businesses and office settings every day. They are the glue that binds teams together, and without them, many businesses would grind to a halt.

In 2023, Randstad Canada once again listed administrative assistants as one of the best jobs in Canada.

RRC Polytech’s 18-week Administrative Assistant certificate program covers accounting, bookkeeping, event planning and business communications, ensuring students are well-rounded and workplace-ready.

The last four weeks of the program include a practicum that provides students with hands-on experience, allowing them to apply what they learned in a real-world setting.

One of the biggest advantages the program offers is flexibility. Students can complete it on a full- or part-time basis, allowing them to maintain balance between home, school and work life.

This makes it an ideal option for those who are looking to move into a new career or to strengthen their skills, but who may not have the time or resources to commit to a regularly scheduled instruction time.

Graduates have also reported the ease of finding and keeping a good job, often finding one during their practicum, or soon after. Alumni have found fulfilling careers in a variety of industries, including health care, education, finances and more.

The new online courses are taught by experienced industry professionals and cover three skills — mobile app development, security intelligence, and predictive analytics modelling — that are highly sought-after by tech sector employers.

Two of the three courses — Security Intelligence Tech and Predictive Analytics Modeler — are being offered by RRC through a strategic partnership with IBM that will develop and deliver the curriculum through its Learn@IBM skills training platform.

“Red River College’s strong ties with Manitoba’s fast-growing tech sector ensures we are creating more accessible, flexible learning options that channel homegrown talent into workforce gaps with speed and precision,” says Dr. Christine Watson, Vice-President, Academic and Research at RRC.

“Micro-credentials such as these in support of the IT sector continue to position Red River College as the go-to source for rapid, relevant programming that meets student and labour market needs.”

RRC’s new Android Mobile Development course starts on the first of each month from September to December. The first mobile computing micro-credential to be offered in Manitoba, it covers the foundations of native mobile application development, including user-interface, notifications, event-driven programming, development environments, APIs, and tools such as emulators.

Students who complete the course earn a digital badge from RRC. Alumni of the College are eligible for a 10 per cent discount.

The other two courses, Security Intelligence Tech and Predictive Analytics Modeler via Learn@IBM, start Sept. 20. Security Intelligence Tech introduces learners to concepts of security intelligence necessary to identify threats to networks and assets.

Predictive Analytics Modeler prepares students to learn analytics models to collect and analyze data efficiently. Learners who complete each course earn a globally recognized IBM digital credential.

“Through IBM’s innovative skills training programs, we are delivering leading-edge curriculums to higher education Canadian institutions to better prepare students as they enter the workforce,” says Steven Astorino, Vice-President, Data & AI Development and IBM Canada Lab Director.

“This program provides a skills-building pathway to in-demand IT career openings such as security intelligence and predictive analytics. Additionally, we’re giving faculty members a window into industry-relevant tools and skillsets to provide greater learning value to students,”

“IBM Canada is a proud supporter of higher learning across the country, and we’re proud to support progressive Manitoba institutions such as Red River College.”

“Bite-sized, online courses and credentials that target specific skillsets are helping RRC better prepare students, including those already in the workforce, for the future of work,” adds Kathleen Kerr, Dean of RRC’s School of Continuing Education.

“Advances in technology are disrupting economies and labour markets at a pace that will only increase in the years ahead. The result is a skyrocketing demand for continuous learning, via up-skilling and re-skilling, from students and employers alike. These micro-credentials are another example of how Red River College is facing the future of work head-on.”

Micro-credentials are shareable endorsements of knowledge, skills or competencies that are awarded as digital badges. Under the umbrella of Social Innovation, RRC’s Indigenous Community Consultation and Engagement micro-credentials provide the knowledge and understanding to drive positive social change through strong, relationship-focused engagement with Indigenous nations and communities and a deeper understanding of the diversity of Indigenous peoples, Indigenous sovereignty, policies, principles and Treaty rights.

“When we look at reconciliation and Indigenous worldviews, it’s all about relationships,” says Carla Kematch, RRC’s Manager of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement. “We can provide industry and professionals the foundation to build strong, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples using guiding principles and processes, while simultaneously responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action in their work.”

The Indigenous Community Consultation and Engagement courses are open to both individuals — to start a rewarding career in community development and social innovation, or obtain necessary communications skills used in many professions — and to businesses, to help streamline processes, provide a competitive advantage, and guide work with Indigenous communities for mutual success.

Businesses and professionals will learn the historical and current colonial context — including the Indian Act, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — and how this impacts Indigenous communities and projects within their communities.

“Red River College has proudly pledged to support reconciliation action and education in Manitoba, and micro-credentials are uniquely positioned to support a gradual and strategic response to evolving reconciliation needs of businesses and professionals,” says RRC President Fred Meier.

“This suite of courses specifically is a very important place to start to understand how to build strong relationships, especially as organizations are trying to figure out how reconciliation will take shape in processes and policies. While there are positions and professionals who are experts dedicated to truth and reconciliation and advising on strategies to respond to the Calls to Action, we all need to have this knowledge and learn how we can apply it within projects, initiatives and daily work.

The courses are endorsed by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC), which is encouraging its nearly 10,000 members businesses to enrol.

“We are proud to support initiatives and programs that make Manitoba a better place to work and live. Reconciliation starts with education, and I believe that many of MCC’s members will benefit from having access to these courses,” says MCC President Chuck Davidson.

“The Chambers and RRC have fostered a strong partnership to help businesses adapt and grow through disruption, and I believe an integral part of growth is a commitment to learning respectful processes for engagement and consultation with Indigenous communities.”

Social innovation brings new perspectives to existing ways of decision-making in today’s world by exploring the tremendous capacities of communities and individuals looking to initiate systems change. In this context, consultation focuses on collective community knowledge, adding value to the lives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, building capacity and reflecting cultural ways of knowing so community members can make informed decisions.

“Social innovation is a really important and exciting emerging field where business and entrepreneurship meet advocacy and social change,” says Kematch. “This is in natural alignment for many Indigenous peoples, because its purpose is effecting real change in today’s complex systems, while also using a sustainable, environmentally-conscious lens.

“While we are seeing many Indigenous students follow this as a rewarding, full-time career path, a lot of these skills in this career can be transferred to many different types of businesses and even industries. We know that to move forward, there is a lot of work that needs to be done in effectively and respectfully working with Indigenous nations and communities, as well as understanding Indigenous sovereignty and decision-making. This is where reconciliation can make huge strides.”

The Indigenous Community Consultation and Engagement suite is comprised of three online 25-hour courses, with each awarding one credit hour and a digital badge upon completion. Completing all three courses awards a fourth digital badge that demonstrates competencies in Indigenous Community Consultation and Engagement.

RRC alumni, as well as group bookings for organizations (registering five or more employees), receive a 10% discount. Online information sessions will be offered so those interested in the micro-credentials can learn more.

Red River College is calling all videographers ready to roll camera on a career in digital film and media production, all developers and analysts looking to crack new codes in data science and machine learning, and all gamers ready to “level up” by turning their online passion into a job in game development and design — just a few of the new programs slated to launch this fall, many of them at the state-of-the-art Innovation Centre downtown.

The roster of new programs includes:

• Digital Film and Media Production
• Data Science and Machine Learning
• Communication Management
• Interaction Design and Development
• Video and Motion Graphics
• Game Development – Programming
• Game Development – Design
• Full Stack Web Development*

“Red River College’s programs are uniquely designed in collaboration with employers to ensure our learners are prepared to be adaptive and creative — and to become leaders in their industries — at a time when these critical skills are more important than ever,” says RRC President Fred Meier. “The launch of new programs is about anticipating the needs of our workforce and designing programs that align with the labour market needs, so that we can continue to grow and retain talent right here in Manitoba.”

With the opening of the Innovation Centre and expansion of its Exchange District Campus, RRC is poised to introduce the most new programs ever launched at once.

All of the programs will expand the College’s capacity for putting students and industry partners to work on real-world projects geared towards solving problems — and creating opportunities — in important, emerging sectors of our economy.

“Innovation will be critical to our city’s future growth and business leaders have consistently told us they need access to a strong pipeline of talent to grow their companies,” says Dayna Spiring, President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg.

“RRC is developing the right kind of programs, innovative spaces and training that companies want and need. This is very important when we’re trying to sell Winnipeg to the world and attract new business and talent to our city. It also provides an incentive for local companies to expand, because they know they will have access to highly skilled workers when they need them.”

Once opened, the Innovation Centre will also house a number of RRC’s signature programs in such areas as Indigenous education, applied commerce and management, and creative arts, and will be the new home of its Language Training Centre and Applied Computer Education (ACE) Project Space.

“Red River College continues to be a key pillar in developing talent for Manitoba’s interactive digital media industry. We are thrilled that they are putting a strong emphasis on video game development with their newly designed programs, and it’s even more exciting that they will be delivered from this new state-of-the-art space,” says Louie Ghiz, Executive Director at New Media Manitoba.

“Our local game development sector is constantly evolving and has the potential for explosive growth with the addition of these new programs that will help train even more people. Together we can grow and thrive in alignment with the booming global video game development industry.”

Expanding and enhancing its facilities and programs will allow the College to support the goals of the province’s Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy, and to take action to advance Manitoba’s economy and promote positive outcomes for a brighter future.

“Projects like the Innovation Centre and the development of new programs and micro-credentials are critical as we continue to future-proof education in Manitoba, and to prepare a workforce with the trained professionals that employers need today, tomorrow and decades from now,” says Meier.

The College will continue to take a flexible approach to academic planning this fall to support the blended delivery of courses, combining on-campus activities with online education to ensure quality learning, successful student outcomes, and student engagement — all within a safe learning environment supported by Public Health. This approach will allow the College to continue meeting the needs of employers and preparing students for success.

*For more information about the Full Stack Web Development program, please contact Continuing Education.

Red River College, in partnership with the Province of Manitoba, is proud to announce the creation of a new micro-credential course that will provide essential training to help increase COVID-19 testing capacity for Manitoba Public Health.

“Protecting the health and safety of Manitobans remains our number one priority,” says Premier Brian Pallister. “Our government is committed to expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity to reduce wait times to get a test. This partnership with Red River College will enable us to provide essential training opportunities to highly skilled health-care workers, who can now our efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

The course — which takes as little as five hours to complete — is designed to train a number of health-care workers and students studying for careers in health care to safely conduct a nasal swab to collect samples to test for the virus. It will be offered tuition-free to students through RRC’s School of Continuing Education, and will be a blended delivery model, which will include essential theory offered through online delivery and a hands-on training component.

The course was designed to fit with a ministerial order that comes into effect today, enabling more health-care professionals and students training for careers in health care to perform this function at COVID-19 testing sites, including:

• students in at least the second year of one of the following regulated health professions:
  • registered nursing
  • licensed practical nursing
  • psychiatric nursing
  • medicine at the University of Manitoba, including medical students and physician assistant students
• students enrolled in an approved paramedicine or respiratory therapy program
• people qualified to practice in one of the following regulated health professions in jurisdictions outside Manitoba or Canada (based on the presentation of valid credentials):
  • registered nursing
  • licensed practical nursing
  • psychiatric nursing
  • medicine
• health-care aides
• medical laboratory technologists
• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• pharmacists

The micro-credential will provide a direct pathway to employment at a COVID-19 testing site. Anyone who completes this course will be added to a pool of qualified candidates who can support testing sites in Winnipeg and across Manitoba where needed. The College will initially train up to 30 students a week and will add capacity as required.

“We are pleased to offer our expertise to support the fight against COVID-19,” says RRC President Fred Meier. “Red River College is a leading institution in applied learning and health sciences. The development of this new micro-credential is just one example of how we are able to quickly adapt and design programs that support the needs of industry and our community. As the College continues to evolve the ways it delivers education in the face of COVID-19, we are proud to offer this new micro-credential that will prepare our front line and students from a variety of health-care programs to help reduce the spread of the virus.”

Registrations are now open, and the course’s first intake starts Monday, Oct. 19. New intakes will be offered weekly. For more information and to register, visit rrc.ca/covid.

Red River College has partnered with The Maker’s Collective to offer Manitoba Side Hustles, a free webinar and paid course for beginner side-hustlers, freelancers or entrepreneurs, or anyone looking to turn their skills and passions into successful business ventures.

The free 90-minute webinar, Manitoba Side Hustles: Side Hustle Starter Kit, guides you step by step through the basics of getting your side hustle off the ground. You’ll hear from a panel of experienced side hustlers about their journeys, including local guest speakers who have walked the walk and are operating their own side hustles right here in Winnipeg. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get coaching from the panel.

The paid 12-week course takes a more in-depth look into getting your side hustle off the ground. It offers a community to support, a template to follow and resources to help you set up your business and thrive in today’s economy.

The Maker’s Collective is a Canadian business development hub and community for creative entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, freelancers and makers.

FREE WEBINAR
Manitoba Side Hustles: Side Hustle Starter Kit

• Wed., July 8, 2020
• 7 to 8:30pm
• Location: Online
• Price: Free
• Register now

COURSE
Manitoba Side Hustles: Side Hustle 101

• Begins Thu., July 23; runs for 12 Thursdays
• 7 to 9pm
• Location: Online
• Price: $179.97
• Early Bird Price $134.97 (25% off) if you register by July 12
• 10% discount for RRC alumni after July 12
• Register now

Red River College announced today that academic programs and services for the Fall 2020 term will be delivered online. This cautious but agile approach will allow RRC to continue providing high-quality educations to students, while preparing graduates to help Manitoba’s economy emerge from the current global pandemic.

“I remain incredibly grateful to our faculty, staff and students as they adjust to our new way of teaching and learning,” says interim President Dr. Christine Watson. “As we prepare for the fall term, our approach will put the safety of our staff and students first, while providing meaningful, high-quality learning experiences for students at every step of their academic journeys.”

While the College is focused on online delivery for the fall, planning is also underway to quickly pivot should public health directives change, to allow for the delivery of some courses on campus. Priority will be given to hands-on learning that was delayed due to the pandemic, in order to help students who are close to graduating get caught up and complete their programs.

“Over the past few months, we’ve learned a great deal from our experiences transitioning to online program delivery,” says Aileen Najduch, acting Vice-President, Academic. “We’re building on that foundation to ensure Red River College continues arming our graduates with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to help support our partners in industry and rebuild our economy.

“Online learning will help prepare our graduates for a new age of disruption by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in industry and in workplaces that are undergoing a digital transformation.”

The College will keep faculty, staff and students informed of plans for the fall via its coronavirus information page. Campus facilities will remain closed to students and the public. Only essential workers and staff at RRC’s research facilities remain onsite, where they’re adhering to strict guidelines for physical distancing.

“COVID-19 meant that all post-secondary institutions had to pivot quickly in order to keep supporting students, and our economy,” says Watson. “I can’t thank everyone at the College enough for their resilience, their creativity and their dedication, which has carried us through some tremendously challenging times. In the end, we know our College and our students will be ready to support a new way of working.”

Red River College will continue providing alternative delivery models for programs and services for the upcoming spring and summer terms, which means there will be no on-campus classes or public events until September.

Work integrated learning (practicums, clinical, work experience) will continue to be suspended except for those instances that can be completed using online or alternative approaches. Co-op/industry placements will continue at the discretion of the workplace employer.

Today’s announcement extends the timeframe that students, faculty and staff are expected to work off-campus in order to meet increasingly stringent public health directives aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Manitoba.

“We know this is a challenging time for students, faculty and staff,” says Dr. Christine Watson, interim president and CEO of RRC. “With public health advice changing regularly, we felt that it was important to make a decision that allows for planning certainty throughout the rest of spring and summer.”

Watson lauded the hard work, commitment and creativity of faculty and staff in making the transition to alternative delivery over the past few weeks.

“We have seen our faculty and staff re-imagine their work via technology in a way — and at a pace — that we never thought possible. I also know that we have students who are struggling to adapt to this new reality. We are thankful for all of those who are working together to find a way through this unprecedented situation.

“We would love to be able to re-open our doors and go back to the hustle and bustle of our vibrant campuses. But that simply isn’t an option. We also know that when we begin to rebuild our economy, Manitoba will need Red River College — students will need training to get jobs and launch their careers, and industry will depend upon our grads to fill their workforce needs.

“Our core mission has never been more important to the future prosperity of Manitoba.”

Watson said she is proud of and inspired by RRC employees. In addition to working remotely and taking care of family and loved ones during an uncertain time, many in the RRC community continue to go above and beyond the call of duty.

She cited several examples, such as the 14 Health Information Management students who are helping public health track the spread of the coronavirus data, the TACAM and Smart Factory equipment being used to manufacture wheel bases for IV stands, and the donation of nearly 1,700 N95 respirators from Safety and Health Services to help health-care workers on the front lines.

“Not everything we are trying is going to work perfectly — but what we’re doing is working and working hard to help our students, our employees and our province get through an unusual and unpredictable time. We know there will be disruption. We also know that if we persevere, we will be well positioned to quickly resume regular operations once it is safe to do so.”

The College continues to operate in accordance with public health directives and is in regular contact with the Province of Manitoba.

As the situation is fluid, the College will revise and update its operating procedures and policies as needed. This includes the possibility of re-opening RRC campuses to classes prior to September if public health advises that it is safe to do so.

The College will continually update faculty, staff and students; the latest information will always be available at rrc.ca/coronavirus.