school | SMART


Tey’ve got skills National skills competition is bringing the country’s top trade students to Winnipeg


A


n expected 18,000 visitors and more than 500 youth are heading to Win- nipeg this month for the 2017 Skills/


Compétences Canada competition. Te event takes place May 31 to June 3 at


the RBC Convention Centre. The competition, which is in it’s 23rd


year, will see Canada’s top youth and ap- prentices who are enrolled in trades train-


ing programs in colleges and high schools across Canada showcasing their skills. Te competitions are represented in six sectors: Construction, Employment, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Engineer- ing, Transportation, and Service. Skills Canada says the event provides


tremendous opportunities for students from not only the province of Manitoba,


The 2017 Skills Canada National Competition comes to Winnipeg June 1 and 2.


but the entire country, to develop a stronger appreciation for the importance of skilled trades and technology careers. In the next 10 years it is expected there


In case you missed anything – a roundup of facts we picked up last month School Zone RED RIVER COLLEGE


Red River College Awarded Nearly $2 Mil- lion in Federal Funding for Industry and University Partnerships


Red River College has received two fed-


eral grants totaling nearly $2 million for ap- plied research in aerospace, manufacturing and sustainable building technology. One of these grants is a milestone for the College, which received its first College-University partnership grant. Tis is great news not only for the Col-


lege but for aerospace, manufacturing and sustainable building technology, said Paul Vogt, President of Red River College. We are placing a strong emphasis on collaboration, bridging a critical gap between colleges, in- dustry and universities by working directly with the University of Manitoba. Federal Minister of Science Kirsty Dun-


can announced these grants during an industry breakfast at the Colleges and In- stitutes Canada Conference this morning in Ottawa. “I’m so pleased that the Government of


Canada was involved in such a valuable funding opportunity. Uniting Red River Col- lege with these sustainable industries will allow for brilliant minds to work towards a bright future for Canada; complete with a vibrant middle class, quality jobs, and an in- novative economy,” said Minister Duncan. Both grants are being awarded by the


Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Tese grants are hard-earned validation


for the innovative work we are doing in aerospace, robotics, manufacturing and sustainable building technology, said Ray Hoemsen, Executive Director of Research Partnerships & Innovation at the College. “We are fostering collaboration with in- dustry and post-secondary institutions, creating a positive climate for the regions innovation clusters in the process.”


A College First: Red River Awarded Col- lege-University Ideas to Innovation Grant Te first grant is for a partnership with


the University of Manitoba to develop a cost-effective thermally broken concrete balcony. Tis is the first time that the College has


received one of NSERC’s College-University Idea to Innovation Grants, awarded through its College and Community Innovation Program, signalling the Colleges ongoing commitment to collaboration with other post-secondary institutions. “Working together, colleges and uni-


versities can provide the entire spectrum of research and development continuum and a full-service complementary skillset to move industry forward on projects like this,” said Dr. Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) at the Univer- sity of Manitoba. Tis $113,000 in funding will be awarded


to the College and the University of Mani- toba over the course of one year. The Building Envelope Technology


Access Centre (BETAC) at the College is collaborating with the U of M and a local engineering firm, Crosier Kilgour & Part- ners, for a joint-applied research project focused on the development of an affordable and effectively designed thermal break in concrete balconies. Tis is a significant engineering problem


June 2017


in high-rise residential buildings. Without an effective thermal break in balconies, heat is lost resulting in higher energy con- sumption.


$1.75 Million Awarded for Aerospace and Manufacturing Partnerships The second grant awarded this morn-


ing went solely to Red River College and is valued at $1.75 million over five years for the Colleges ongoing applied research and training partnerships with aerospace and manufacturing organizations. NSERC will be granting $350,000 each


year between 2017 and 2021 as part of their College and Community Innovation Program. Tis grant will allow for the continued


operation of the Colleges Technology Ac- cess Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM). Tis funding renewal is a vote of confidence in the TACAM, which has served over 40 organizations with applied research, technical services and training, including the integration of battery packs to New Flyers all-electric transit bus. Te TACAM has provided over 60,000 hours of training to industry. TACAM enables aerospace and manufac-


turing organizations to utilize the Colleges capability, equipment, applied research, assets and expertise, which opens a signifi- cant level of access to advanced innovation and productivity for large and small-to- medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).


UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG


University of Winnipeg forced to make tough choices as provincial funding stag- nates. Operating Budget preserves aca- demics, eliminates $3.7 million in costs


Te University of Winnipeg's Board of


Regents approved an operating budget for 2017-2018 which preserves academic excel- lence and student supports while eliminat- ing $3.7 million in costs in order to achieve a balanced budget as required by provincial legislation. Te new cost reductions are in addition


to years of belt-tightening. UWinnipeg is one of the most efficient


universities in the country. Over the past decade, UWinnipeg has demonstrated fis- cal prudence, streamlining administrative operations and cutting more than $16 mil- lion in annual expenses from its operating budget. Additionally, since July 1, 2016, UWinnipeg has eliminated 15% of senior management positions. Historical imbalance


UWinnipeg receives a much smaller an-


nual operating grant per student from the province than any other Manitoba universi- ty. Te University of Manitoba and Brandon University receive operating grants almost double that received by UWinnipeg. Tis disparity goes back decades and requires UWinnipeg to operate with $42 to $57 mil- lion less in revenue per year. Ongoing requests by UWinnipeg for


"catch up" funding were heard with the Manitoba government agreeing to phase it in. We received a special $1.5 million grant for 2016-2017, but no additional catch up grant for 2017-2018. UWinnipeg continues to operate with a significant funding gap. For this fiscal year, the government of Manitoba has frozen post-secondary oper-


ating grants, provided no "catch up" grant specific to UWinnipeg, and limited tuition increases to 1.3% (this equates to approxi- mately $63 more for the year for the average UWinnipeg student.) Te considerable gap between revenues and expenses neces- sitates tough choices. In order to preserve academic excellence and front-line student services to the best of our ability, UWin- nipeg has elected not to reduce expenses across the board, but rather, to take a tar- geted approach that aligns with its Strategic Directions and priorities as approved by the Board of Regents. Providing a 2017-18 balanced operating


budget UWinnipeg is undertaking the fol- lowing measures: Personnel: • Management restructuring has elimi-


nated 4.5 senior positions which will remain vacant • Dean of Science, Dean of Kinesiology


and Director of Global College positions will be filled by internal candidates on an acting basis for fiscal year • New tenure track faculty hires are ex-


tremely limited, resulting in approximately five fewer faculty positions compared to last year • Salaries for non-unionized staff frozen


for 2017 and 2018 (approx. 100 positions), including senior executive team • Voluntary Days Without Pay program


for staff provides $120,000 in payroll savings • Numerous support staff positions will


remain vacant this year in order to achieve budgeted targets Athletic restructuring


UWinnipeg remains committed to the


outstanding Wesmen teams with deep his- tory in our community. In recent years new sports teams have been added to the roster which are no longer fiscally sustainable. UWinnipeg has initiated a resettlement process with student athletes impacted by this restructuring. Effective spring 2017, UWinnipeg is eliminating the following: • Men's baseball; Men's wrestling • Women's wrestling • Men's soccer - on pause for 2017-18. The


coach position is currently vacant and we cannot afford to replace that position for the upcoming fiscal year The following Wesmen teams remain


intact: • Men's basketball • Men's volleyball • Women's basketball • Women's volleyball • Women's soccer Preserving academic excellence


Despite the significant challenges posed


by the provincial grant allocation, UWin- nipeg continues to make strategic invest- ments in budget 2017-18 to strengthen teaching, research and student success, including: • Creation of a teaching hub to support


teaching resources and pedagogy (replac- ing the Centre for Teaching and Learning Technology) • Increased support for Indigenous


students with financial need through an enhanced partnership with Indspire • Maintaining library acquisitions follow-


ing a 15% increase in library budget last year • Strengthening a diversified revenue


stream with increased contributions to the operating budget from the Collegiate,


www.smartbizwpg.com


English Language Program and Profes- sional, Applied and Continuing Education division.


UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA


Helping more Indigenous students come to study. $1M Donation to Front and Cen- tre campaign creates the Qualico Bridge to success program


Indigenous students will now make a


smoother transition from communities across this province to University of Mani- toba campuses thanks to a visionary new program supported by real estate company Qualico. Te Qualico Bridge to Success program,


supported through $1-million donation to the U of M’s Front and Centre campaign, is positioned to ease the transition of Indig- enous (First Nation, Inuit, Métis) students into post-secondary education at the U of M. “Trough the Qualico Bridge to Success


Program we will be able to join the Univer- sity of Manitoba as a partner in Indigenous learning, piloting a new way of supporting Indigenous students as they transition to post-secondary studies,” said Kevin Van, Vice President of Qualico. “We are hoping that the Program will ultimately result in the success of talented, inquisitive students who want to make a difference in our world.” Every year, the University of Manitoba


welcomes approximately 500 new Indig- enous students to its campuses. Students who attend come from both rural and urban locations in order to embark on their goal of achieving their dreams of obtaining a university degree. With determination and motivation, students leave their comfort zones and look to the university to support their goals. Te University of Manitoba strives to be


a welcoming place that translates into suc- cess for Indigenous students. However, the transition to university can be a challenge for many and with an ever-growing Indig- enous student population, the Indigenous Student Centre is grateful for the support the Qualico Bridge to Success program will offer students. Qualico has donated $1 million to the Front and Centre campaign to support this transformational Indigenous Achievement program. “Te Qualico Bridge to Success program


will enhance the first-year experience for Indigenous students and allow us to provide a cost-free program with numerous ben- efits,” says student advisor Carla Loewen. “With this donation from Qualico, we’ll be able to do more than ever. It’s a really excit- ing time for our incoming students.” Te program will offer one-day summer


camps prior to the start of the Fall Term, the Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Men- tor Program, social events, and academic enhancements such as a learning cohort, tutoring and more. Students will be invited to join the program once they are accepted and will be able to apply online through the Indigenous Student Centre’s website. “Te University of Manitoba is committed


to creating a strong foundation for Indig- enous students,” says Christine Cyr, direc- tor of the Indigenous Student Centre, which oversees the program. “Tis program will allow us to promote Indigenous student suc- cess in meaningful and intentional ways.”


Smart Biz 11


is going to be a demand for close to 12,000 jobs for skilled workers in the construction industry alone in Manitoba. Tis past April, over 500 students took


part in the 20th Annual Skills Manitoba competition at Red River College. Students competed in over 40 different contests with a chance to represent Manitoba at the up- coming Skills Canada event. Every two years, the winners of the Skills


Canada National Competition go on to compete at the WorldSkills Competition, where their skills are put to the test at an international level against the best in the world. Manitobans Ashley Weber and Silas Meeches will be a part of World Skills Team Canada 2017 taking place in Abu Dhabi October 14th to 19th.


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