Graduating with class

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/06/2012 (5083 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OK, so every parent has taken his or her child to school — but go to school WITH your kid?

Barbara Klassen and Vanessa Parent went through the 10-month Red River College dental-assisting program together at the Winkler campus and now they’re graduating together.

Ian Ross, meanwhile, provides even more evidence it’s never too late to go back to school. He’s graduating at 43 in business administration and hoping to put that education to work on a long-cherished dream — establishing a summer camp for disabled children.

They’re among 1,764 graduates at Red River College’s spring convocation, receiving 915 diplomas, 773 certificates and 76 post-graduate diplomas Wednesday and today.

So flash back to a phone conversation in Winkler between Klassen and Parent — Parent is 25 with an office job and a young child, and mom is 52 and had spent the past 27 years at home raising three children.

Klassen told Parent she’d just enrolled in the dental-assisting program.

And 20 minutes later, Parent phoned back to say she’d enrolled, too.

“Right from high school, I had taken my business administration. I’d done accounts in a small business,” Klassen said. “I did some catering, I did some retail work. I’ve been a stay-at-home mum for 27 years.”

When her youngest reached 17, Klassen said, “My husband said, ‘This is your turn, go and do something you want to do.’ I signed up and said to my daughter, ‘Am I stupid to do this at my age?’ “

Parent takes up the story.

“I said that would be awesome.

“I started working right out of high school, as a receptionist in a medical centre. I had thought about (becoming a dental assistant) on and off,” Parent said. “I decided I’m just going to go for it — it’s a better career.”

First, mother and daughter had to go to the adult learning centre in Winkler to get their Grade 12 biology. Then off to class, lab, and clinic.

All 20 students on the Winkler campus were women this year.

“We were in class together the whole time — we sat together. I was labelled the mum of the class,” Klassen said with a laugh.

Parent said the rest of the students were delighted to see them together.

“It was a lot of fun. Me and her are best friends, so we never get tired of each other.”

At night, Parent would bring her daughter over to her parents’ place, where she and Klassen would do homework together.

“My husband made sure that when it was study time, no one bothered us,” said Klassen. “It was unbelievable getting back into that study group.”

Klassen explained a dental assistant prepares trays and mouthguards, deals with the instruments, keeps the patient’s mouth clean, hands the dentist instruments, and most importantly, “You’re comforting the patient… be sure the patient is comfortable and remains calm.”

The Winkler campus has four dental chairs.

“We were working on each other,” Klassen said. “We worked on family members galore.”

With school done, the reality of finding a job sets in – a job they’ll compete for against each other as well as the program’s 18 other grads.

Some of the 20 came from as far away as Elie and Letellier, and some came from Winnipeg because of the shorter waiting list in Winkler. There are two dental offices in Winkler and two in Morden, and only one half-time position currently open, said Parent. “It’s going to be intense.”

And as for how the two did when it came time to discuss report cards… Klassen laughed and acknowledged, “Her marks were just a little bit better than mine.”

Ian Ross’ marks were high enough to earn him a Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal.

He started work last month as assistant CAO of the RM of Armstrong, working out of the municipal office in Inwood.

But his dream remains Camp Kan-Do.

The camp site is 48.5 hectares, off Highway 7 between Arborg and Fraserwood. “It’s pasture land with a little bit of trees,” he said.

But if he can raise $20 million — if — then Ross and his wife will transform that site into a camp for disabled children, with a dorm, a big hall, cabins, an artificial lake and an indoor swimming pool.

When his wife’s vision began an inexorable deterioration nearly eight years ago and she started dealing with organizations that work with the disabled, Ross learned recreational opportunities for disabled children are limited.

“Especially if they have multiple (disabilities)… your options pretty much drop to zero for a little guy.”

Ross has had considerable information technology training over the years. He gave university a try a while back, but, “found the pool hall more entertaining than the professors.”

At his most recent job before returning to school, Ross worked for U-Haul for 7 1/2 years in management, only to be laid off by the American head office.

“At the time, I was the (company’s) only victim of the recession in Manitoba. I went into the Employment Manitoba program.”

That led Ross to Red River, where he was the oldest student in business administration.

With his studies and now a full-time job, and all the work on Camp Kan-Do, Ross said, “My nights were usually full. I look and say, where the heck did I even have time to sleep?”

 

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Lieutenant-Governor Award Winners

Patricia Comeau

A graduate of Red River College’s Business Administration program, Patricia Comeau is already putting her skills to good use as an assistant accountant at Wildwood Transport, a family-run business that’s been providing transportation services since 1989.

Originally from Calgary, Comeau moved to Winnipeg in 1995 when her position at CP Rail was centralized. She enrolled at RRC in the hopes of broadening her career options, and opted for the Business Administration program because she’s always had a head for numbers.

Comeau has been committed to community service for much of her adult life, having coached and managed minor hockey, baseball and soccer teams; volunteered for local schools; overseen workplace participation in the Breast Cancer Walk and the AIDS Walk for Life, and organized fundraisers that allowed a local athlete to take part in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

A mother of two boys, Comeau said it was often difficult balancing the program’s workload with her obligations at home and in the community, but credits the support of her instructors and her family with helping her to succeed. She’s already planning for the next phase in her career, by achieving her designation as a Certified General Accountant (CGA).

Ian Ross

A fellow graduate of the Business Administration program, Ian Ross came to Red River College looking for the skills to help him succeed in a particularly altruistic endeavour. A former executive assistant for U-Haul, Ross and his wife have plans to open a summer camp in Manitoba’s Interlake region — one that will provide recreational and educational opportunities for children with disabilities.

A resident of Fraserwood,Ross majored in the program’s General Administration stream, on the advice of instructors who felt it would help him achieve his dream of making Camp Kan-Do a reality. The idea for the camp came while Ross’s wife was undergoing treatment for vision loss seven years ago, and discovered children with disabilities have limited access to outdoor recreational options.

Since then, the couple and their two daughters have moved from Winnipeg to the country, and purchased a piece of property south of Rembrandt which they plan to convert to a summer camp. Ross is currently putting his new skills to use raising the required $20 million in start-up capital; in addition, he’s working as the assistant chief administration officer at the office of the R.M. of Armstrong.

2012 Industrial Technologies Teaching Excellence Award

The Industrial Technologies Teaching Excellence Award recognizes a full-time permanent faculty member who has exhibited exemplary instructional qualities over a sustained period.

Jim Mackey

Jim Mackey has embraced technology in the classroom, introducing animation programs into the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul (GTRO) program at Stevenson Aviation. As an instructor in the Industrial Math and Science department, Mackey incorporated Smart Board technology and tablets.

As an online instructor for the E-Apprenticeship Alternate Design and Delivery Initiative (EADDI) project, he helped to launch the online delivery of Level 1 Electrical for apprentices. This project work earned the EADDI team a League of Innovation Award for Innovation in 2012.

While involved with the Collision Repair program, Mackey revamped the electrical portion of the training with upgraded testing equipment, and the introduction of electrical simulators.

Along with others in his department, Mackey is currently involved in negotiations with textbook publishers and E-pub creators to produce a standardized math curriculum for RRC’s Math and Science department.

Mackey is a life-long learner. He is a licensed electrician and holds a Certified Engineering Technician designation. In 2007 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University, graduating magna cum laude, and is currently pursuing his Masters in Adult Education at the University of Manitoba.

2012 Students' Association Teaching Award of Excellence

The Red River College Students’ Association Teaching Award of Excellence is awarded annually to an instructor in recognition of outstanding teaching practices and dedication to students.

Allan Green

An instructor with Red River College’s School of Business, Allan Green has been teaching since 2002, when he joined the RRC team following a diverse career in business and marketing.

A former Pinawa resident who later spent seven years living in Spain as an adult, he has experience running his own business, working for the Minister of Western Diversification, and as marketing manager at Southport (current home to one of RRC’s Stevenson Aviation and Aerospace Training Centre campuses).

A graduate of Queen’s University (with degrees in both Arts and Education), Green brings a wealth of academic and industry-related expertise to his role as instructor of RRC’s Business Administration, International Business, and Commerce Industry Sales & Marketing programs.

“The difference between sales and marketing and teaching is not that great,” Green explained.

“You’ve got a concept or an idea or a product you want to get across, and you have to come up with a way to convince people it has value. That’s essentially what teaching is, too.”

Green said it’s important for instructors to be well-versed in their subject matter, but also open to learning new things — and says the most rewarding aspect of the job is when students have a “lightbulb moment” that allows them to grasp new concepts or ideas.

“You have to enjoy what you’re doing, and your students have to enjoy what you’re doing,” he said. “If everyone is enjoying themselves, then learning will happen.”

He was nominated for this year’s award by students in the graduating class of RRC’s Commerce Industry Sales and Marketing program, who compiled a video paying tribute to his patience and perseverance.

2012 Red River college Distinguished Alumni Award

The Red River College distinguished alumni award recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves in both their professional achievements and their contributions to the community.

Bob Tallman

Esteemed entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Tallman is the 2012 recipient of Red River College’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

The longtime owner and CEO of Princess Auto Ltd., Tallman joined the family business in the mid-1970s, shortly after graduating from Red River College’s Business Administration program.

He was the first in his family to attain a post-secondary education, and the investment clearly paid off, as Tallman and his brother Larry led the Winnipeg-based firm in expanding across Canada throughout the late-1970s and 1980s.

Tallman became sole owner and CEO in 1989, and today oversees a network of 34 retail stores and 1,800 staff specializing in a range of farm, industrial, garage, and surplus items.

“I learned through my experiences at RRC that a business ultimately is about the people who work in the business — the roles they play, and most importantly, how they interact as a team,” he said. “It is probably the greatest lesson I learned at RRC, and has driven much of my strategy in building Princess Auto.”

In addition to his work with the company, Tallman and his family have also founded two charitable organizations. The Princess Auto Foundation provides student bursaries to support trades training at 12 Canadian colleges (including RRC), while the Tallman Foundation supports educational and community needs in Winnipeg’s North End.

 

Student Awards

Gold Medals

• Aboriginal Self-Government Administration — Ashley Atatise
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer — Matthew Bowditch
• Animal Health Technology — Rachel Harms
• Aviation Management — Peter McKenzie Heron
• Business Administration (Marketing) — Christa Cogill
• Business Administration (Office Management) — Brittany Nicole Stephen
• Business Information Technology — Justin Daniel Haywood
• Chemical and Biosciences Technology — Mitsuko Sylvia Miyamoto
• Child and Youth Care — Charlene Renee Penner
• Civil Engineering Technology (Structural) — Angela Kasdorf
• Community Development/Economic Development — Molly Jacklyn Dunbar
• Computer Applications for Business — Courtney H. V. Tait
• Creative Communications — Ryan Gregory McBride
• Digital MultiMedia Technology — Gilles Francois DeCruyenaere
• Disability and Community Support — James Gerald Gayhart
• Early Childhood Education — Stephanie Joy Klassen
• Graphic Design — Christian Lloyd Gutierrez Gilbang
• Greenspace Management — Jonathan Scott Peters
• Health Information Management — Adelita Dilim
• Power Engineering Technology — David Michael Kestirke
• Technical Communication — Wyeth Antoine Krauchi

 

Individual student program awards

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

• Matthew Bowditch, Karimn Khelifi, Matthew Reynolds, Kevin Vacola — Snap-On Tools

Animal Health Technology

• Rebecca Beaudoin — Dr. Nancy Brock Anesthesia, Southglen Veterinary Hospital
• Marnie Elgar — Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association
• Stephanie Foote — Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada, Small Animal Nutrition; Manitoba Animal Health Technologist Association
• Vanessa Geirnaert — Merial Canada
• Rachel Harms — Elsevier Science Canada
• Susan Hepburn, Madison Toews — Barbara Nagler Memorial
• Jenna Olivier — McPhillips Animal Hospital Nursing
• Amanda Unger — Animal Health Technology Faculty, Canadian Animal Blood Bank

Applied Accounting

• Devin Lowdon — Doug Newton Memorial
• Joan Martens, Graham Sproule, Malgorzata Walentynowicz — Gladys Bell
• Jing Jing Yan — Accounting and Computer Education, Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba
• Yamei Zhou — Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba
• Natallia Zhuk, James Wood Institute

Architectural/Engineering Technology

• Joshua Bambridge, Darren Irvine — Bird Construction Company Limited
• Michael Sagriff — Mondrian Technology
• Kevin Todd — Frank M. Fowler Memorial
• Geoff Wurtak — F. Ross Browne CSC

Aviation Management

• Jarvis Christianson, Peter Heron — Accounting and Computer Education
• Patrick Rollins — Geoffrey C. Morrow Memorial

Building Design CAD Technology

• Nicholas Dupuis, Andrew Holmes — Mondrian Technology
• Phoenix LaPointe — Robert Kwok Memorial

Business Administration

• Bryan Borlase — Richard Borlase CMA Memorial
• Robyn Bronk — Norm Konowalchuk Memorial
• Jason Chubey, Andrew Hodgson, Aminata Koroma, Kirk Smith, Jennifer Usunier — Peter Nykoluk Memorial
• Christa Cogill, Krista Czarnecki, Matthew Kehler, Jillian Kulbacki, Edward Markowski, Sydney McArton, Marcos Reimer, Spencer Samson, Adam Sanderson, Brittany Stephen — Academic Achievement Graduation
• Patricia Comeau — Golden West Broadcasting Mentorship, Academic Achievement Graduation
• Sarah Dobson-Wood, Gary Li, Ying Wu — Business Administration Bridging
• Wei Du, Yuqing Zhang — International Student
• Maureen Falloon — Academic Achievement Graduation, Bison Transport
• Kirstie Finkel — Academic Achievement Graduation, Red River Exhibition Foundation
• Andreas Friesen, Katelyn Hall — Society of Management Accountants of Manitoba
• Robyn Grant — Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce
• Jerilyn Hall, Gerald Richard — Business Administration Mentorship
• Daniel Hallock — Academic Achievement Graduation, Leslie Snell Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba
• Amanda Hofer — Norm Konowalchuk Memorial, Neill Nedohin CMA
• Lana Hood — Academic Achievement Graduation, Society of Management Accountants of Manitoba
• Mike Horyski — Academic Achievement Graduation, Business Administration Bridging, Leslie Snell Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba
• Ivonne Huerta — Matthew Matczuk Memorial
• Zhiling Liu — Leslie Snell Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba, Academic Achievement Graduation
• Tuire Metsovuori — Academic Achievement Graduation, Leslie Snell Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba
• Daemin Song — Business Administration Bridging, International Student
• Kimberly Steffensen — Gold West Broadcasting Mentorship
• Fang Hua Wei — Academic Achievement Graduation, Society of Management Accountants of Manitoba

Business Administration Integrated

• Henry Langit, Anna Kret — Academic Achievement

Business Information Technology

• John Benitez, Cash Craig, Steven Gerbrandt, Justin Haywood, Colin Kelly, Brandon Martel, Collin Quick — Accounting and Computer Education
• Patrick Chevallard, Christopher Scatliff — Accounting and Computer Education, MTS Academic Excellence
• Cyrus Custodio, Weiqun Zu — Ricoh Canada
• Ryan McMillan — Henry Penner Memorial
• Michael Sunico — Paterson GlobalFoods

Child and Youth Care

• April Bauman — Child and Youth Care Workers Association of Manitoba
• Jason Cooper — New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families, Ross A. Johnston
• Florence Courchene — Susan McDonald Memorial
• Stephanie Davidson — Project Neechewan
• Stacey Dzuba — Marymound
• Chelsea Foster — Naturas
• Karla Hendrikson — Macdonald Youth Services
• Anyope Joy Idahosa, Amber Peters, Catherine Titarniuk — Ross A. Johnston
• Kalyn McFadyen — Manitoba Association of Residential Treatment Resources
• Janique Messner — B & L Youth Services Cameron Lecuyer Memorial
• Josephine Phiri — MK (Community Services)
• Charlene Penner — Knowles Centre Justice Jim Smith Memorial, Ross A. Johnston

Commerce/Industry Sales and Marketing

• James Anseeuw — Outstanding Student
• Robert Groce — Academic Achievement
• Han Yan — Outstanding Sales Performance

Construction Management

• Kurt Gustafson, Yared Melketsadik, Kristjan Sackney — Winnipeg Construction Association
• Jorge Laba, Carl Pederson — Paul Charette, Winnipeg Construction Association
• Devan McLenaghan — Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Cornerstone, Winnipeg Construction Association
• Dominique Pereiras — Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

Creative Communications

• Suzana Bodiroga, Bryan Couch, Katherine Dow, Jaylin Massey, Terrance Proveda, Corinne Rikkelman, Mark Schram, Sterling Shanski, Amy Tuckett — Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association
• Sean Campbell — Broadcasters Association of Manitoba, Television Production, Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association
• Michael Cuma — Bob Brandson Student
• Emily Doer — Advertising Association of Winnipeg, Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, Jack Matheson
• Jackie Doming — Citytv, Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism, Shaw, Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association
• Jaremy Ediger — Broadcasters Association of Manitoba, Radio Production, Shaw
• Lindsey Enns, Charmaine Jennings, Alyssa McDonald, Kirah Sapong, Jennifer Thiessen, Amanda Thorsteinson — Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism
• Jenna Friesen — Robert Drinnan Memorial
• Dylan Hughes, Alexandra Rohne — S.A.M. Advertising Award for Excellence
• Kyle Jahns — Don Wittman Memorial, Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association
• Mitchell Kruse — Advertising Association of Winnipeg
• Crystal Laderas, Allison Marinelli — Shaw
• Maria Cristina Laureano — MTS Allstream
• Ryan McBride — Canadian Public Relations Society Manitoba
• Jamie McKay — John Harding Memorial, Women in Media/CHUM
• Megan Merasty — Citytv, Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association
• Alana Odegard — James S. Purvis Memorial, University Women’s Club of Winnipeg, Women in Media/CHUM, Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism
• Andrew Parker — Don Wittman Memorial, Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, Jack Matheson, Shaw
• Pamela Vernaus — Broadcasters Association of Manitoba Aboriginal

Dental Assisting Level II

• Erin Anderson — Manitoba Dental Association, Sinclair Dental, Hu-Friedy, Germiphene, Dental Assisting Faculty, Drs. J. Perry and N. Boorberg Additional Skills
• Kala Blair — Manitoba Dental Assistants Association
• Melanie De Leon — Sinclair Dental, Manitoba Dental Assistants Association
• Sarah Hendricks — Dental Assisting Faculty, Sunstar Americas
• Amber-Rose Sawka — Dental Assisting Faculty
• Andrea Towle — Manitoba Dental Association, Dental Assisting Faculty, Drs. J. Perry and N. Boorberg Additional Skills

Digital Media Design

• Gilles DeCruyenaere — Digital MultiMedia Technology Award of Excellence
• David MacDougall, Rim Schewczyk — Vision TV
• Johanna Schmidt — Women in Media/CHUM

Disability and Community Support

• James Gayhart — Association for Community Living Winnipeg
• Maria Osorio — MK (Community Services)
• Sylvia Truesdale — Jason Mueller Memorial

Early Childhood Education

• Lollet Dias — Frances Evers Early Childhood
• Crystal Dueck — Dr. Gretta Brown
• Tara Friesen — Early Childhood Education Student
• Ashley Lachance — Irene Stratford
• Miranda Moses — “Our Children, Our Ways”
• Shelly Musser, Andrea Van Ryckenghem — MK (Community Services)

Electronic and Network Technician

• Leonard Tecter — Jessica Miner

Environmental Protection Technology

• Kayla Orten-Lederhouse — Civil Engineering Technology
• John Palson — Frank M. Fowler Memorial
• Hailey Syrnyk, Malorie Worth — Elizabeth Ptashnik Memorial

Geomatics Technology

• Damion Bernard — Neelin Willson Construction
• Neil Christianson — Lewis Instruments
• Wei Dong, Xin Wei Zhou — Alberta Land Surveyors Association
• David Eng — Paul Charette
• Jordan Neufeld — Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors Private Members, Bryan I. Dreger, Louis Picard Memorial
• Garrett Richards — Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors
• Bradley Rose — Nelson River Construction

Graphic Design

• Joanna Bulowska, Dustin George — S.A.M
• Karen Gabutero — Harold and Doris Margolis
• Christian Gilbang — Terry Kuzina Memorial
• David Kotschorek, Carl Shura — OnWard Achiever
• Tim Manness, Alyssa Pangan — Dennis Pankiw Memorial
• Marianna Peters — Valerie Fostey Memorial
• Caitlin Popoff, Steve Ramos, Mellary Stonehouse — Harold and Doris Margolis
• Ethaniel Ritchot — Mandy Coyne Memorial

Graphic Design - Advanced

• Michelle Gamache — Dennis Pankiw Memorial
• Sam Giesbrecht — Bruce Gillespie Collection

Greenspace Management

• Richard Dionne — Greenspace Management Faculty
• Jonathan Peters — Greenspace Management Faculty Practicum, Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association
• Dave Sallis — Manitoba Horticultural Societies

Health Information Management

• Angela Charbonneau — Outstanding Student
• Adelita Dilim — MED2020 Health Care Software Inc., Manitoba Health Information Management Association, Salumatics Inc.

International Business

• Junchi (Amanda) Zhou — Outstanding Student

Library and Information Technology

• Kristin Johnson, Darren Wesselius — Betty Andrich Memorial
• Ebony Novakowski — PAR Excellence E.Q.

Municipal Engineering Technology

• Wayne Decaire — Paul Charette
• Remiglo Espiritu, Louis Maluk — Frank M. Fowler
• Jason Moffatt — Manitoba Good Roads Association
• Michelle Monkman — AECOM
• Kerri Reckseidler — Civil Engineering Technology

Power Engineering Technology

• Wayne Fleming, David Kestirke — Institute of Power Engineers
• David Stuart-Edwards — Eric Littler Memorial Award

Structural Engineering Technology

• Kyle Arneson — Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba
• Robert-John Balahibo, Peter Buechi, Mallory Miller, Miranda Pachal — Ernst Hansch Construction Ltd
• Ferdinand Buot — Tetra Tech
• Jason Doerksen — Beach Rocke Engineering
• Paulo Ferrer — Neelin Wilson Contruction, Paul Charette
• Miguel Fulugan — Beach Rocke Engineering
• Michael Hayward — Frank M. Fowler Memorial
• Angela Kasdorf — AECOM
• Kyle McLeod — Civil Engineering Technology
• Daniel Mulaire — Ken Rist Memorial

Welding

• Jerret Shulha, Michael Trueman — H.C McGregor Memorial
• Scott Tait — Phil McGregor