Students organize "Dance for a Wish"

Algonquin’s event management students have donated over $300,000 to the children’s wish foundation over the past four years, all through events they setup with no budget.

Students who enroll in the program must organize one major event in their second term—based on what they learn in class—to raise as much money as possible for charity.

“It’s hard because people want to help by waiving venue fees, but that still leaves us with costs for equipment,” said Sonya D’Silva, who is currently in the flurry of organizing everything with her team.

D’Silva and her five classmates are putting on an urban hip-hop showcase, which will host dance troupes such as Culture Shock Ottawa, Driven, Thrive, and Hype, to name a few.

“We’re performing a very high-energy set that will get people up and having fun,” said Nicolas Najm, artistic director of Ottawa's Culture Shock troupe.

He explained that donating to causes like the Children’s Wish Foundation is exactly what his troupe stands for. It’s a non-profit organization that prioritizes giving back to the community. More specifically, youth at risk.

“Youth outreach is our mandate,” he explained.

The entire setup must be complete by January so that the group can begin putting up posters and selling tickets. Again, these steps aren’t covered by any budget, although the college does lend each group $100. It’s the students’ job to find a company interested in the cause that is willing to help.

In the end, they must raise a minimum of $1,000 and entertain one silent auction. The minimum can be achieved by selling food during the intermissions, searching for sponsors, independent donations, etc.

“You can’t do it if you’re not organized. You need to have time management skills and work well as a team, because you rarely ever work alone in this industry,” said D’Silva.

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TEDxOttawa connects with Algonquin college

Ottawa’s first ever TEDx event took place in the new ACCE building with volunteer support from 43 of the college’s students and alumni. 

The not-for-profit event took place on Saturday, Oct. 22, thanks to a team composed of social media volunteers, public relations representatives, photographers, marketing agents, sponsors, etc. Sarah Ormon, who was the lead organizer, graduated in business-marketing at Algonquin. 

“We thought we could really leverage what the programs have to offer,” said Ormon. She is well aware of Algonquin’s broad range of media- and business-related programs, and she jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of this.

TEDxOttawa was themed “creative actions”. It hosted close to a dozen speakers who took the stage for up to 18 minutes each. The lineup included popular figures such as Nigel Beale, Nicholas Charney and Stephen “Buddha” Leafloor—who all gave riveting speeches.

Although TED (technology, entertainment, design) events generally suggest an “ideas worth spreading” platform, independent events—where x=independent—can incorporate a theme that will ensure a more narrow focus from the speakers.

“The rule of TED is that you can’t promote yourself or your company. You have to promote your idea,” explained Amy Chamberlain, marketing manager of TEDxOttawa. Chamberlain is also a business-marketing alumnus from Algonquin.

TED is based in the U.S. but holds events across the globe. They also provide the opportunity for entrepreneurs to apply for a TEDx license, where as long as the applicant follows the rules and guidelines of TED, they can organize their own independent event once a year in any city.

The events always include a wide diversity of speakers and topics, as long as they can get the message across in less than 18 minutes and it’s of an innovative or inspiring nature. 

The process for attending a TED(x) event starts with an allotment of number of seats, which is set by TED and dictated by the organizers’ abilities and experience. TEDxOttawa seated 100 guests and has the potential to double at next year’s event.

Once the number is set, organizers provide an application form. They then sort through the pile—which was well over 300 applicants for Ormon and Chamberlain—and choose the best-suited personalities for the occasion in question. “It’s nice because you could be seated between a CEO and a farmer,” said Ormon.

The TEDxOttawa team was proud to say that all their speakers are local. They hope to capitalize on the once-a-year appropriation set by TED for our city.

“Ottawa’s cool but just doesn’t know it yet,” says Ormon.

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Military student finally awarded peacekeeping medal

Pte. Ross Nixon, former army infanteer turned Algonquin engineering student, was awarded the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) on Jan. 20 for his participation overseas — nearly 10 years ago.

“Congratulations,” said Major Mathieu Primeau, Commandant of the School of Military Mapping, as he shook hands with Nixon and handed him the medal. The CPSM was created in support of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to the Canadian Forces.

“It really highlights and recognizes the many missions that Canada served in overseas,” said Nixon. “It made me feel proud to have received it. It sounds just like any other medal, but it’s not. It is vital, regardless of some of its flaws,” he said.

Nixon worked in collaboration with the United Nations in three separate peacekeeping missions. He was stationed in Croatia in 1994, Bosnia in 1998 and Kosovo in 2000. During his tours, he was either placed in the weapons detachment or second in command (2IC) of a section, which is usually composed of eight to 10 soldiers.

Soon after his return from Kosovo, Nixon left the military to spend more time with his family. He had taken part in three tours over a span of seven years, which left him with very little spare time. He rejoined in 2007 and eventually received the CPSM, which had temporarily been awarded to his unit.

Nixon, born in Sardinia, Italy, is currently studying geospatial information systems (GIS) here at the college. Combat engineers do their part in the military by constructing bridges, roads, obstacles, and by detecting and using explosives in the battlefield.

The GIS program is a specialty which furthers the abilities of standard combat engineers. Upon graduation, he will have elaborate mapping skills including analysis, reproduction, distribution, surveying and management.

After a total of nine years of service, he completed the basic courses and qualifications, then advanced himself with courses such as Basic Reconnaissance Patrolman, Junior Leadership, and Advanced Machine Gunner.