Mohawk College students are charting the path to a more sustainable future for their college.

Mohawk College recently completed its involvement in the Responsible Futures International Pilot Program, a global initiative transforming higher education to support sustainable development. The college announced today it has committed to ongoing membership in this student-centred international movement.

Based in the United Kingdom, the Responsible Futures accreditation program supports universities and colleges around the world to make transformative changes to their teaching and learning, strategies, and policies in partnership with students. Mohawk is the first college in North America to participate in the program.

“There is a strong desire among students to have sustainability included in their everyday programs,” said Kelsey Armour, a student leader on the Mohawk College Responsible Futures team. “The environment touches every single sector, no matter what job you're in, so it’s important to have sustainability included in each program to make sure students can take those skills into their careers.”

Student surveys confirm that students consider sustainability a high priority in their lives and they want the college to be socially and environmentally responsible while preparing them for today’s global challenges. Additionally, there is a growing demand for graduates with these skills in the workforce across all sectors.

“Responsible Futures offers students a really great opportunity to voice their concerns, their ideas and priorities,” said Jonah Scrymgeour, another student leader on the Responsible Futures team. “We can focus on the issues that students think are most important and take the steps to raise awareness and make change happen.”

Membership in Responsible Futures is consistent with recent initiatives at Mohawk. In 2023, an ambitious new Climate Action Plan was introduced that will see the college reach net-zero emissions in direct campus operations by the year 2035; will embed sustainability across the curriculum of all programs; and will support research with community partners to develop more than 50 deployable solutions to the climate crisis by 2030.

“At the core of Responsible Futures is a commitment to student leadership in sustainability. This program is unique because students assess the college’s progress against sustainability criteria through their own perspectives,” said Cebert Adamson, VP, Academic at Mohawk College. “The students hold us accountable and guide us toward more sustainable practices. We are excited to move forward on the college’s decarbonization journey with student priorities guiding our path.”

The criteria within the Responsible Futures framework covers key themes, such as establishing baselines and benchmarks, partnership and planning, leadership and strategy, policy and commitment, interventions and outreach. The 50 criteria used by Responsible Futures provide a roadmap for actions. 

In just seven months, Mohawk College has made significant strides in establishing a baseline for progress toward meeting the Responsible Futures criteria. Typically, that process takes two years.

Some key milestones of the pilot project include:

• The Responsible Futures Planning Team was formed, including students, student union representatives, and staff working together on sustainability efforts.
• A student-led audit was conducted, with eight students assessing progress against the Responsible Futures criteria by reviewing evidence and conducting interviews.
• A Student Sustainability Survey was conducted, reaching over 2,000 students and providing valuable insights into how students view sustainability in education.
• Mohawk College received international recognition for its leadership and commitment to this global initiative.

Based on the accreditation audit by Responsible Futures, the Mohawk College Responsible Futures Planning Team will identify strategies to advance sustainability efforts at the college. The Responsible Futures mark is awarded to institutions that follow their student-led audit, embedding sustainability across all aspects of student learning.

The Responsible Futures international framework was co-created in 2023 with pilot institutions and students: Queen’s University, Trinity College Dublin, Murdoch University, Mykolas Romeris University, University of the West Indies, Women’s University in Africa, Mohawk College and delivery partner International Association of Universities. 

Mohawk College is Opening Pathways for More Women in Skilled Trades

Interesting fact - women have been involved in skill trades since 500 BC. According to the Skilled Trades Colleges of Canada, who did research, found that in China, Lady Yun and her husband, Lu Ban, innovated woodworking and the best practices that are still used today. Here's a fun fact: Lady Yun also designed and constructed the first umbrella. In the late 1800s, an engineer, Emily Roebling, took charge of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Her husband was building the bridge when he passed away, and when her son fell ill, it was up to Emily to see the bridge to completion.

Despite the long history, women still only make up about 5% of skilled trade workers in Canada. But Jill of All Trades is working to change that number. Since 2014, Jill of All Trades (JOAT) has provided hands-on experiences to young women in grades 9-12 to introduce them to the possibilities of a trade career and encourage them to consider the opportunities and benefits of a future in skilled trades and technologies.

"Putting tools into students' hands ignites curiosity, which ultimately starts the flow of conversation. This true belief is necessary to break barriers," said Lisa Perino, a skilled trade teacher with the District School Board of Niagara  at West Niagara Secondary School.

And that is precisely what Mohawk College did when over 175 grade 9-12 students emerged on the Stoney Creek campus in a day of hands-on, creative learning opportunities.

Perino added, "What makes experiences like this so important is that it allows students who may be intimidated about embarking on trades to feel more at ease. Coupled with the support of showcasing females in trades, it instantly creates a safe space to ask questions.

Jill of All Trades is an example of what is changing for young girls to explore areas like trade, combined with the teachers who are actively still in trade, like I am. Students seeing teachers with a different lens and having honest conversations about paths traveled before embarking on teaching, in my experience, also negate the stigma attached to trades." 

Community partners support programs like Jill of All Trades as they recognize the importance of showing young female's pathways to success to fill the gaps.

“This is a great initiative to get more skilled trade workers into the workforce, and we have some women who come into the store to show us their woodworking projects, and the craftsmanship is fantastic,” said Eli Chaimovitz, Owner and Operator of TEGS Tools & Machinery.  "Throughout our ongoing relationship with Mohawk College, I've admired the teachers' work; it can be challenging. Whenever I see an email or get a call from Mohawk College, I get excited. Mohawk College is one of my favorite customers because its service to the industry is untouchable."

JOAT's hands-on approach provides females firsthand exposure to skilled trades, making these careers more accessible and appealing. “Building networks within the industry and connecting with female mentors and leaders inspires and guides them,” said Erica Chow, Human Resources Business Partner, Stelco.

Employers recognize the high demand for skilled workers. “At Stelco, we are encouraged by the increasing number of females considering skilled trades as viable career options, recognizing the value of diversity in the workplace. Diversity and inclusivity in the workforce lead to a positive and innovative work environment,” added Carley Roberto, Talent and Organizational Development Lead.   

Skilled trades provide a more than viable income and life; teachers like Lisa Perino know that firsthand.  "Being in a trade has afforded myself and my family a beautiful life. I love sharing experiences with students, destroying preconceived ideas about financial capabilities, and understanding that trades are a pivotal part of our economy, infrastructure, and everyday living.  My only wish is that students in high school, at least once in their experience, get to visit and embrace trade-based learning, events, and activities".

Over the next five years, Canada will need at least 75,000 new tradespersons to fill the skill trades gap.  Events Like Jill of All Trades and Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) initiatives will help move the pendulum in the right direction.

More Women Consider Careers In Trades | STC Canada. https://www.skilledtradescollege.ca/blog/women-in-skilled-trades

Ron Foxcroft knows a winner when he sees one. 

That’s why he agreed to not only be among the first to contribute to an inaugural Athletics fundraising effort through the Mohawk College Foundation, but also to be chair of the campaign itself. 

The campaign is built around the theme “Growing through GRIT (grit, resilience, initiative, and tenacity.)” Mohawk College is striving to set the gold standard for athletic excellence, by focusing not only on varsity performance, but on academics, mental health, leadership development, and community engagement. 

“I think the campaign and Ron's support have really morphed our approach into something that is special and unique, and will be a differentiator in terms of what helped us climb to the top and stay at the top,” says Matt Ferreira, Director of Athletics and Recreation, who was hired in 2019 with a mandate to renew and reinvigorate varsity and recreational sports programming. 

The campaign has launched in the midst of a strong year for Mountaineer varsity teams on and off the courts and fields, and growing community, provincial and national awareness of Athletics at Mohawk College. 

“Foxcroft is a name that is synonymous with Hamilton. He's beloved in this city. He's got great relationships with our two basketball head coaches, Mihai Raducanu and Jamie Girolametto, so we’re so grateful for his presence. We're grateful for his brain, his strategy, and just his ability to come on board with us and help us push the envelope and get the attention of people.” 

One of Ferreira’s key goals as he rebuilt the vision for Athletics was to see the College’s varsity teams become Hamilton’s teams. That is being realized in the support shown to Mohawk College’s basketball squads that often play to packed gyms in a city known as a provincial and national hub of basketball. 

“We want the barber shops and coffee shops in the city streaming our games. We want there to be chatter on game day. We want there to be a buzz, not just about basketball, but about volleyball, curling, cross country, and lacrosse.” 

‘Legendary status’ 

Foxcroft is an enthusiastic backer of Mohawk College and is a champion himself on many levels. 

He’s a veteran and decorated basketball referee in both the NCAA and the NBA, a highly respected community leader in Hamilton, and the founder of the Fox 40 International whistle empire. 

“Ron Foxcroft has surpassed legendary status in my books,” says Lorna Somers, Vice President, Advancement & Alumni Engagement, who worked with him on fundraising efforts for many years in many different roles. 

“Knowing and working with him for more than 25 years makes me a bit of an authority. I can say, with confidence, he has had a remarkable impact on so many people and organizations in our community and Mohawk College is at the top of that long list as a beneficiary of his wisdom, mentorship, philanthropy and most recently, through his commitment as our Athletics Campaign Chair. How Ron is able to do so much for so many is a marvel and I know every one of us at Mohawk College is immensely grateful.” 

“I have been a big fan of Mohawk College for a very long time. We have many Mohawk College grads in our companies. They are smart, well-educated, work hard and ready to contribute right away.” Says Foxcroft, who is focused on cultivating relationships with major donors and industry partners on behalf of Mohawk College Athletics. 

Successes piling up 

The successes are piling up. The College is already a powerhouse in cross-country and curling and has also built an intermural program in cricket that is expected to grow. Varsity teams are regularly cracking national rankings and Mohawk College had the second-highest number of academic all-Canadians in the country last year. 

“It was the third year in a row we were in the top three in the country,” says Ferreira. “So we were No. 3 out of roughly 100 and generally, the two schools that have been ahead of us have a much larger varsity program than we do.” 

This year, two student athletes were drafted into professional leagues: Jerry Jr. Mercury, who became the first Canadian college athlete drafted into the Canadian Elite Basketball League when he was selected by the Niagara River Lions in April; and Hamilton born and raised Dawson Brown, who was signed to a one-year contract by the Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League in October. 

Investing in excellence 

This campaign is intended to support the student athlete experience at Mohawk College, the creation of Mountaineer scholarships, and enhancement of the game day experience for fans. Mohawk Foundation recognized the importance of resources for student athletes, including mental health, academic and career supports, personal development workshops, and nutrition education. 

“It goes without saying that people gravitate to a winner. And I think we have a winning product here. So I feel as long as we keep up that end of the bargain, people will want to help and contribute.” 

‘Great champion’ 

Foxcroft has been a mentor to women’s basketball coach Mihai Raducanu since he was a teenager playing for Hamilton’s Cathedral high school 30 years ago. 

“I mean, he's a picture-perfect community man that's respected, and we are community school at the end of the day. He's a great connector. He's a great champion.” 

Since July, Raducanu has combined his on-court role with a Senior Development Specialist position in the Foundation. It’s the first time the College has had a such a role dedicated to Athletics. 

“Foxcroft helps to open doors with people who may not have deep connections to Mohawk College or who may not think about the College in terms of its Athletics or contributions to sports in the community,” says Raducanu. 

He took over as the coach for women’s basketball in 2022. The team went 5-16 that year and didn’t win a game until December. But he built a program and a team that totally turned things around, going 16-5 and ranking as high as 10th in country last year. 

The goal this season is an OCAA championship. 

Raducanu says the GRIT campaign will allow Mohawk College to accelerate and expand its high-performance mindset with coaches dedicated to academics, mental health and leadership. 

A long history 

Foxcroft and Mohawk College have a long history. 

He started refereeing at the college in the late 1960s, and his son Steve, now vice president of the Foxcroft-owned Fluke Transportation, graduated with a diploma in Journalism in the 1980s. Foxcroft also chaired the college’s entrepreneurial studies committee between 1990 and 2005. 

In 2015, the College bestowed an honorary Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Business Administration on Foxcroft and made him a Distinguished Fellow. 

Often called “Mr. Hamilton,” Foxcroft’s list of community roles is long and varied, from chairing the board of Hamilton International Airport to his longtime role with the Argylls. He has chaired capital campaigns for McMaster University, St Joseph’s Hospital, and Hillfield Strathallan College. He has been named Hamilton Citizen of the Year, sits in the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction and the Burlington Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and was named to the Order of Canada in 2019. 

Born of Foxcroft’s frustration with existing whistles, the Fox 40 whistle he invented is now the standard for officials in the NHL, NFL, CFL, NBA, NCAA and FIFA, as well as coaches, animal trainers, law enforcement and search and rescue. 

He even had an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who used a Fox 40 whistles to scare Canadian geese from her lawn. 

Foxcroft refereed for 25 years in the NCAA. After retiring from the court in 2000, he served as a referee evaluator for NBA and now works as replay coordinator at Raptors home games. 

His wisdom in life and business has been immortalized in The 40 Ways of the Fox, written in collaboration with Dundas author Mike Ulmer. 

Foxcroft has a ton of respect for the early leaders in Mohawk College’s sports programs, including Wes Hicks, Earl Begg, Ray Jones and Laurie Cahill. 

“You know, the college had a great culture. They had a winning culture, a championship culture. And great people.” 

Foxcroft says he sees that legacy reflected in today’s administrators and coaches in varsity athletics, and the team at the Mohawk College Foundation. 

The last thing he needs is a job, says Foxcroft, who still works 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week. 

“But I've received more than I've given on this campaign, and I've met so many of the students that are winners, leaders and champions. They have that love for their school and love for the community.” 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

Simulations are used to build clinical skills and critical thinking, preparing students for everything from the routine tasks they will encounter on their clinical placements to very rare disease processes and complex situations. 

Learners are supported through their experiences. They can pause a simulation to ask questions or seek guidance. Each scenario is recorded and evaluations are based on participation in debriefing sessions, rather than their performance in the simulation, where learners are expected to make mistakes. 

Scenarios are built around interprofessional teams, preparing healthcare professionals to work collaboratively in team-based care settings, and also teach important non-technical skills like communication and leadership. 

CHSR employs three simulation specialists – Lucky Pathirana, Nathaniel Mannella and Jessica Marsh – who are all registered nurses. 

“We oversee the simulation from start to finish,” says Marsh, who joined the CHSR about four years ago. 

“So we help to design the sims, collaborating with the faculty, and then prepare the students about the things that they need to learn beforehand. We also pre-brief the students, which is really important, because that's bringing them into the room a few minutes prior to the sim, creating a psychologically and physically safe space, and talking about their learning objectives. Then we operate the simulation, including operating the manikin behind the scenes, changing the vital signs based on what the students are doing and what interventions they're applying. And then afterwards, we'll debrief what happened in the simulation alongside the faculty.” 

Marsh says simulation-based education has changed drastically since she graduated from Nursing 10 years ago, both in terms of the technology but also in the development of best practices for a whole new modality of learning. 

Her healthcare training, which she received at IAHS, means Marsh is able to bring that knowledge to her role, along with empathy for and understanding of the viewpoint of learners. 

“When they walk in the room, that patient is their patient to care for, and they have to decide, not only assess what's needed, but then decide on their interventions and implement them. So it just puts the students in this real-life setting, as realistic as we can create it, and then can really focus on their critical thinking and the steps they might do to care for that patient fully.” 

Mahir Singh, a recent Practical Nursing graduate, has worked at CHSR as a lab technician and instructor and has fond memories of his learning there. 

“As a student, coming into the simulation centre was always something to look forward to. It wasn't just another class for me. It was a chance to put all those lectures and labs into practice to see how things really work. And most importantly, it was a safe environment where you could make mistakes and learn from them without real-world consequences. That's the magic of simulation. No one is expected to be perfect, but everyone gets a chance to improve,” Singh said at the official re-opening ceremony. 

“It's more than just a room with manikins and medical equipment. It's a space where students can build confidence and learn critical decision-making skills and develop the instincts they'll need in real-life situations. In simulation, you're not just learning skills. You're learning how to think, act and respond like a professional, all while being supported and coached in every step of the process.” 

Singh recently accepted a full-time RPN position with Hamilton Health Sciences. Fully engaging in simulation training is the difference between being a good nurse and a great one, he said. 

“I will bring everything I've learned in this space to my work as a nurse.” 

The CHSR also employs simulated participants, actors who take on roles of patients, loved ones and healthcare practitioners and is also piloting the use of VR environments to create immersive training scenarios. Learners can navigate through virtual hospitals, interact with lifelike virtual patients, and use medical equipment and diagnostic tools to perform procedures. VR technology allows for consistent and standardized training experiences and remote accessibility. 

“We embed many types of simulation into learning here,” says Julia Hansen, Director of Simulation Strategy and Interprofessional Learning. “We take a scaffolded approach, building up to high-fidelity and more complex scenarios.” 

But one thing is always expected: when students walk through the doors to the centre, they are treated like healthcare professionals, she says. 

Ariane Simbahan, who graduated this year from the Occupational and Physiotherapist Assistant program, continues to work part-time in the CHSR in addition to a position helping with the rehabilitation of stroke patients at HHS’s Regional Rehabilitation Centre. 

Simulations don’t have to be high-tech to be effective, says Simbahan. Many involve teaching students how to react to the actions and behaviours of patients who may be angry or panicked or how to deal with loved ones who may interfering with treatment, for instance. 

There are areas set up as a kitchen and a washroom, where students can practise teaching life skills or practise getting patients in and out of the tub, for instance. 

She said her learning within simulated patient environments reduced the anxiety of her first time in a hospital. 

“I just felt like I done it before so I wasn’t that nervous.” 

Mohawk College has led the use of simulation in healthcare education for nearly a decade, says Wendy Lawson, Associate Vice President Academic and Dean of the School of Health. 

The relaunched CHSR is a demonstration of the college’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation, she said. 

“As healthcare professions and practice models transform, we continue to adapt to offer world-class experiences to our students and to partner with our community in solving complex health system challenges. By bringing the newest technology together with our exceptional faculty and staff teams, we will continue to lead in this space, building capacity, advancing interprofessional education and engaging in research that improves patient outcomes.” 

CHSR will be used by workforce partners through Mohawk College’s Centre for Professional Advancement, which offers customized training and curriculum delivery that can be delivered online, in-person, or using a blended approach. It will also provide valuable data on learner performance and help with the development of innovative tools and technologies. 

“Whatever the activity – healthcare programming, applied research, customized in-demand training – there is magic happening here,” said Lawson, who was among the first cohort to graduate from the IAHS campus. 

Paul Armstrong, President of Mohawk College, was part of the planning of IAHS from its outset. 

“The revitalization of this simulation lab represents a steadfast commitment to innovation, technology, and growth—values that have been at the heart of a 25-year journey, and this journey is far from over.” said Armstrong. 

“As long as the need for healthcare professionals continues to grow, we're going to grow with it, ensuring our students have access to the best training available in Canada." 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

ECO Canada and Mohawk College are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing workforce development within Canada's rapidly growing environmental sector. This new partnership will be called the Centre for Applied Learning in Sustainability. This collaboration will leverage the unique strengths of both organizations to deliver innovative training solutions that address the pressing need for skilled professionals in this critical industry.

With approximately 1,400,000 individuals directly or indirectly contributing to environmental protection, natural resource management, and sustainability across Canada, as well as an increasing demand for new entrants and upskilling of existing workers with a need for 500,000 more by 2033, this partnership is timely. The joint initiatives will include a range of programs designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in emerging areas of the green and blue economies.

"This partnership brings together the academic leadership of Mohawk College with ECO Canada's expertise in environmental workforce solutions. Together, we are committed to filling the existing gaps between industry needs and available training," said Kevin Nilsen, President and CEO of ECO Canada.

Through this partnership, Mohawk College will be responsible for course development, delivery, and program management, while ECO Canada will provide National Occupational Standards, marketing, and support for certification and employment resources. The programs will feature stand-alone micro-credentials, certificates, and pathways to diplomas and bachelor's degrees, tailored to meet the needs of both new entrants and seasoned professionals in the environmental workforce.

"This collaboration aligns with Mohawk College's mission to provide high-quality education that prepares learners to be leaders in the workforce of the future," said Cebert Adamson, Vice President, Academic at Mohawk College. "The environmental sector presents a significant opportunity for job growth and career advancement, and our partnership with ECO Canada will ensure that Canadians have access to the skills and training required to succeed."

The partnership will also introduce newly created course curriculum which will serve the current and future needs of the environmental industry, positioning the partners as the providers of premier workforce solutions for the environmental sector. The initiative aims to meet both individual career goals and the broader societal priorities of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

For more information, please visit www.eco.ca and www.mohawkcollege.ca

About ECO Canada

ECO Canada is the steward of the Canadian environmental industry. From job creation and wage funding to training and labour market research - we champion the end-to-end career of an environmental professional. We aim to promote and drive responsible, sustainable economic growth within the industry while ensuring that environmental care and best practices are priorities. Over the past 30 years, we have forged academic partnerships, tools, and research to train and certify environmental job seekers and help fill the labour market.

We work alongside government, policymakers, academia, students, employers, professionals, industry, and international audiences to ensure we support Canada as a global leader in innovative workforce solutions and job creation. We remain the go-to source in the environmental labour market; our research provides unmatched statistics and analysis on the industry's economic and labour trends that identify workforce gaps.

The Mohawk College-McMaster University team in the Battery Workforce Challenge received a new EV van to use in their projects. 

The Battery Workforce Challenge collegiate competition is a three-year engineering competition that challenges North American universities and their community college partners to design, build, test and integrate an advanced EV battery pack into a Stellantis vehicle. Students learn valuable project management, communications, teamwork and problem-solving skills that will provide them an unparalleled educational experience and ready them for careers in the battery industry.

In May 2024, the Mohawk College-McMaster University team placed 4th placed in the overall competition so far and won the award for Best Competition Team – Battery Expo (best use case). The three-year competition will culminate in 2026, with the winning teams receiving dozens of annual engineering and sponsor-related category awards; $100,000 in industry-provided prize money; and invaluable employment, collaboration, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

Motorway America - Stellantis supplies 12 new Ram ProMaster electric vans for competition

The Alumni of Distinction Awards recognize graduates for their career achievements and community contributions that provide an exceptional source of inspiration for future generations. 

In honour of every recipient, the Alumni Association supports a bursary with a one-time donation of $500 to Mohawk College to support current students in achieving their goals.

There are ten award categories: Affinity, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts & Design, Entrepreneur, Health Sciences, Mohawk College Employee, Recent Graduate, Skilled Trades/Apprenticeship and Technology.

If you would like to nominate an individual, please fill out the Nomination Form

Deadline for Nomination:  Friday, February 14, 2025 (11:59pm).

Momentum will feature each Alumni or Distinction 2024 award recipients throughout the coming weeks. 

Janine Gaunt

Award Category: Affinity Award 
Year: 2024
Program of Study: Recreation Leadership 
Graduation Year: 1988

Senior Manager, Recreation Operations, City of Hamilton Assistant Basketball Coach, Mohawk College

Janine Gaunt is a long-time volunteer in the Hamilton sports community.

A graduate of the Recreation Leadership program, today she is the Senior Manager of Recreation Operations at the City of Hamilton and an assistant basketball coach at Mohawk College.

Since 2004, Janine has been a volunteer basketball coach for house league and rep programs at Blessed Sacrament Basketball, Soldiers JUEL and Ontario Basketball Talent Identification Camps. She has a Level 2 National Coaching Certification and well as training in Safe Sport. Along the way, she has coached and mentored many girls and young women from the ages of 3 to 19. In 2024, Janine was awarded the Bernetta Scime Assistant Coach of the Year Award for her contribution to the Women’s Basketball Program at Mohawk College.

Her volunteer sporting contributions also include over 20 years as an official with the Hamilton Board of Approved Basketball Officials, where she served as treasurer as well as the Secretary for the Ontario Universities Association (OUA) West Panel of Officials. Janine championed a path for female officials on local, provincial and national courts, and officiated high level events like OFSAA championships, OCAA championships, OUA and CCAA championships.

Janine has also volunteered as a coach and chaperone for three International Children's Games competitions. She served on the organizing committee for the Hamilton event in 1994 and 2000, and is now a Director and Secretary with the Hamilton chapter of the International Children’s Games.

Her other volunteer activities have included the World Basketball Championships in 1994, the World Road Cycling Championships in 2003, as well as many other events across the city. She has been part of the efforts to bring events to Hamilton including the Commonwealth Games, Ontario Seniors’ Games, International Children’s Games and Ontario Summer Games.

She was a contributor to the creation of The City of Hamilton’s Recreation Master Plan in 2022 and was a recipient of a 2016 Employee Spirit Award.

Janine was a part-time faculty member in Mohawk’s Recreation and Leisure Studies program and in the Special Events graduate certificate program.

In her 34-year career with the City of Hamilton, Janine has developed and trained hundreds of youth in the recreation field and has influenced many recreation programs and partnerships in the community. In her current role, she provides guidance and leadership for recreation centres, indoor and outdoor pools, seniors centres, seasonal programs, camps and city-wide standards for the Recreation Division.

Through programs that Janine has coached or collaborated on, many athletes have continued the sport at higher levels including OCAA, OUA and NCAA. Janine is an advocate for women in sport and leadership roles and truly embraces the concept “if you can see it, you can be it”.

Stacey Hill

Award Category: Community Services
Award Year: 2024
Program of Study: Harness Horse Technician 
Graduation Year: 1988

Indigenous Liaison Officer, Hamilton Police Services

Stacey Hill is the first Indigenous liaison officer for Hamilton Police Services and a long-time advocate for and within her Indigenous community.

Her liaison role, which she assumed in late 2022, is meant to build stronger relationships between police and Indigenous communities, which have often been strained and fraught with distrust.

Members of Hamilton’s Indigenous community held a traditional welcoming ceremony for Stacey in April 2023. At the ceremony, she was presented with an eagle feather, a high honour in the Indigenous community meant to represent the good work she has done and will do moving forward.

She has worked for HPS for more than 25 years serving as a patrol officer in the east end, along with stints in traffic, fraud, recruiting, and crime prevention, among many other postings.

Stacey is an Indigenous awareness trainer/presenter, has Level 3 training in crime prevention through environmental design, is a scene of crime officer, a crisis intervention team officer, a domestic violence officer and has training in behavioural interviewing and background investigations.

She works closely with Hamilton’s newly formed Indigenous Consultation Circle to assist Indigenous people navigate contacts with police.

She said her approach to policing has always been based on the Seven Grandfather Teachings and trying to help people rather than just simply always arresting them. Everyone has a story and talking to people to learn how they got to where they are can lead to solutions that makes things better rather than worse, she said.

About 12 years ago, Stacey led training at HPS for all officers and civilians to teach them about Indigenous people and their histories, including colonization, systemic racism, the Sixties Scoop and residential schools.

Though the new liaison role has been 20 years or more in the making, it took on great urgency after the violent arrest and stomping of an Indigenous man at a Hamilton gas station in 2022. An HPS officer was charged with assault and pleaded guilty.

Following the assault, the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC) made several recommendations to improve relations between police and the Indigenous community, including the use of mandatory body cameras, the creation of a committee that would implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and the liaison position that Stacey now occupies.

Stacey has a long history of volunteering and community advocacy. Along with OPP officer Monty Kohoko, Stacey formed the original Hamilton Aboriginal Advisory Board that served the city for more than 10 years. She served as a liaison between HPS and First Nations members during the dispute over the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway, served on a committee dedicated to race relations and missing Aboriginal women with the HPS and was a mentor on behalf of the HPS at the Niwasa Head Start Daycare.

She has served with the Hamilton Urban Indigenous Leadership consultation circle called Circle of Beads.

As a teen, she was Miss New Credit, an ambassador role for Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and she conducted tours of the Mush Hole, the notorious former Mohawk residential school that is now the Woodland Cultural Centre.

Andrew Moles

Award Category; Technology
Award Year; 2024
Program of Study: Architectural Technology |
Graduation Year: 2009

General Manager, PCL Construction Canada Inc.

Andrew Moles is leading the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects for Canada’s largest construction company. Today, Andrew is the general manager of PCL Construction’s solar division.

Throughout his career, Andrew has overseen the design and construction of 55+ ground-mount installations with more than 8 million solar modules. These projects produce enough energy to power more than 600,000 average homes and businesses across North America and Australia. That amounts to $5.7 billion worth of solar facilities, As a utility-scale Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) solar solutions provider, PCL manages the entire project life cycle: estimating, design, performance analytics, solar-specific technology, project execution and in-house commissioning, operations and maintenance.

Andrew is credited by PCL leadership for pioneering the expansion of PCL Construction's renewable energy division across Canada, the United States and Australia.

Over the years, Andrew has served as a board member on the Canadian Solar Industries Association and as a board member and vice-chair of the Utility-Scale Solar Division of the US Solar Energy Industries Association. He is recognized by the Canadian Construction Association as a Gold Seal certified project manager and is a LEED accredited professional.

In 2021, he was recognized by On-Site Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction and in 2015, received PCL’s prestigious Robert Stollery Construction Leadership Award.

The Travers Solar project in Vulcan County, Alberta, completed in December 2022, not only represents the largest solar project in Canada to date but was also the first of PCL Solar’s projects to surpass 1 million megawatt hours of production. In just 16 months, the project also offset more than 472,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrew began his career at PCL in 2007 as a co-op student where he worked with the team who oversaw the $3.5-billion new terminal development project at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Outside of work, Andrew is committed to mentoring at-risk youth, serving as a co-developer and facilitator of the CityKidz Roadmaps to Dreams program in Hamilton. The program helps young people in grades 11 and 12 develop the skills, tools, and strategies they need to transform their dreams into reality.

For the third consecutive year, the West End Home Builders’ Association (WE HBA) partnered with Mohawk College and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program to host the WE BUILD Showcase. The event welcomed 100 female-identifying students in Grades 7 and 8, offering hands-on introductions to career paths in residential construction, skilled trades, and STEM fields. The successful partnership was featured in a local media report.

Flamborough Today - Skilled trades were on display at WE BUILD showcase

Canadian aviation industry pioneer Bruce MacRitchie knows first-hand the value of hands-on learning.

MacRitchie, 90, has been deeply involved in helping to train pilots and technicians in the aviation industry, operating several aviation businesses, running hangars and overseeing the Welland airport for three decades since obtaining his first pilot’s licences and aircraft technician credentials more than 60 years ago.

When the Welland resident heard about Mohawk College’s thriving Centre for Aviation Technology campus, based at the John C. Munro International Airport, he was intrigued. A “couple of hours” meeting that turned into a day-long campus visit inspired MacRitchie to make a personal contribution to enhance students’ learning: a 1968 Cessna C421 Golden Eagle airplane.

The plane is part of MacRitchie’s personal collection, which was housed in his private hangar

at the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport. In June, he was on board with pilot Bill Chernish, who was taught to fly by MacRitchie, when the plane was flown to its new home at the Mohawk College Centre for Aviation Technology at the Hamilton airport.

MacRitchie’s gift will provide a unique training opportunity for twin-engine piston pressurized aircraft as it features equipment students will see on the job during their careers.

“When I talked to some people about Mohawk, I said this is hands-on,” said MacRitchie, an honorary board member and long-time director of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. “I went and spent the day, I was only going to go for a couple of hours. I knew Mohawk was where I wanted to do something.”

Learn more:   Interview with Bruce MacRitchie

Mohawk College President Paul Armstrong thanked MacRitchie for his investment in students and the aviation campus, which was created in partnership with the Hamilton airport and aviation companies such as KF Aerospace and Boeing.

“Thank you, Bruce, for your foresight and generosity,” said Armstrong. “With industry leaders like you, we have built a relevant and growing aircraft fleet to provide students with the essential hands-on learning experience they need to be job-ready for careers in the industry.”

The MacRitchie plane becomes the 13th aircraft in the college’s training fleet. Nearly 350 students train every year in three Aviation Technician programs: Aircraft Structures, Aircraft Maintenance, and Avionics Maintenance. This is more than double the number of students enrolled prior to the move to the 75,000-sq. ft. leading-edge campus three years ago.

“We are sincerely grateful to Mr. MacRitchie for his generosity, which reinforces our collective commitment to providing our learners with exceptional training opportunities,” said Jeff McIsaac, dean, Engineering Technology & Aviation. “His gift will help build confidence and technical expertise in Mohawk College graduates, ensuring they excel in their chosen careers across the aviation industry.”

Paul Armstrong has spent his adult life at Mohawk College. 

Paul Armstrong has devoted his adult life to Mohawk College. He earned a diploma in medical radiology and ultrasound in 1989, returned shortly after as a part-time instructor and from there, rose through the ranks of academic posts to become of Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Community and Urban Studies and then Vice President Academic.

In 2020, he became the College’s first Chief Operating Officer. 

After 38 years at Mohawk College, Armstrong officially took office as its ninth President on July 1. Remarkably, he is the first alumnus to assume this role. He knows of no other college graduate to serve as president of their alma mater.

“When I was doing the new student welcomes last week, I said, ‘At events like this, people like me say, I was in your shoes once, and I know what you’re going through. But in my case, it's actually true. I sat in those exact seats. Who knows? In 35 years, one of you may be up here.’”

Armstrong is sitting in his new office, reflecting on his path.

Young Paul Armstrong from Owen Sound embarking on his college career in 1986 would have never dreamed he would teach at Mohawk, he says, let alone become its leader. He had his sights set on working in healthcare, specifically in diagnostic imaging.

“I chose Mohawk College because that was the place I was going to get an education that would give me the career start that I wanted. It wasn't a second choice. It was my first choice because this was the place to go to get the education I needed to go where I wanted to in my career.”

Armstrong says he knew he made the right decision immediately.

“I knew that it wasn't going to be a transactional educational experience. I could tell from the first day that my teachers were preparing us to be colleagues in the industry. They challenged us. They taught us critical thinking and problem-solving.”

“I left Mohawk College with incredible hard skills and knowledge that made me really competent and capable in the job. But I would say what I also left with was a sense of confidence. When I think about my own journey, I think it's those things that gave me enough confidence to try new things, when I got out in clinical to take on new opportunities, to sort of challenge myself, to do different things. And so I still attribute that to the start I got here at Mohawk all these years ago.”

Armstrong finished his studies on a Friday and became a full-time employee in high-risk obstetrical ultrasound at the McMaster Medical Centre the following Monday. It wasn’t long before he was asked to teach an introductory course in ultrasound physics through continuing education, which began his career at Mohawk.

Mohawk College recognized Armstrong’s career achievements with an Alumni of Distinction Award in the Health Sciences category in 2013. In his personal life, Armstrong has two children, Daniel, 31, and Katrina, 29, and lives with his wife Lucy in Binbrook. He’s a dedicated hockey, soccer and lacrosse coach and community volunteer.

“With more than 30 years' experience as an educator and leader at Mohawk College and with the college sector, Paul has dedicated his career to building a college the community can be proud of – a college for learners who want to succeed and who are eager to make their mark in the world, and a college that is a go-to source for top talent among employers,” says Anna Filice, Chair of the Board of Governors.

“With Paul as its President, Mohawk College will not stand still. It will continue to lead and to innovate in the areas it is known for such as healthcare, technology and the skilled trades. And it will build on its experience and success to create new opportunities and push for meaningful change in areas like climate action.”

Focus on employers 

His priorities are to continue to advance Mohawk’s strategic plan. The strategic plan focuses on the College’s responsibility to address climate change and sustainability, Truth & Reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion, skilled trades shortages and generational poverty.

“I would say for me, the most important thing is how do we stay focused on ensuring that everything that we want to do against those aspirations is grounded in quality educational programs and academic excellence, having the right credentials, creating new opportunities for students to have different learning experiences through things like applied research, experiential learning or global learning opportunities.”

To stay relevant, the College must always ensure it is focused on the needs of employers.

“If our employers have access to the workforce they need, they're going to either stay in the community, they're going to relocate to the community, or they're going to grow in the community, and if they do that, it's going to create more opportunities for employment,” says Armstrong.

From there, Mohawk can help those employers upskill and reskill their workforce to adapt to changing needs, through the rapid skills training of micro-credentials right through to diplomas, degrees and graduate certificates. 

“If employers are successful, then the whole ecosystem and the economy in Hamilton is vibrant.”

Setting priorities 

Armstrong is dedicated to ensuring Mohawk College has the right mix of programs in rapidly growing areas of technology, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, while building on existing strengths in health and life sciences, aviation, engineering technology and advanced manufacturing. 

Armstrong says that while he’s been at Mohawk a long time, he still has lots to learn and relationships to build. He will be out across the campuses throughout the fall to meet with faculty and staff to hear what they’re thinking. 

“We will continue to have their voice shape what the priorities and the opportunities are going to be, because they're what make Mohawk College. I've talked to hundreds and hundreds of graduates over the years and I can tell you that almost every one of them has said that it was their faculty and our staff that had the biggest impact on them. Not one of them has ever said Mohawk was great because of the president. Never in the history of graduates, nobody has ever said that.” 

One of Armstrong’s most imminent priorities is the launch of a healthcare campus in Burlington to help address learner demand and employer need. Currently, about 600 students travel from Burlington and Oakville each year to study in the College’s healthcare programs, which have long wait lists. 

There is also the need to redevelop and expand the Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades to meet growing demand. The College was also key to brokering of a massive deal with partners Schlegel Villages and Indwell that will see Mohawk College expand on a parcel of land on formal hospital lands on the north side of Fennell Avenue. The property will also be developed to include two long-term care facilities, a retirement home and affordable housing.  

Rallying the Mohawk community 

When asked about what he’s most proud of, Armstrong points to the College’s longstanding ambition to strive and reach beyond the traditional role of a college and to forge unique and creative partnerships. 

He cites the first joint college-university educational facility in the Institute for Applied Health Science, The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation, Mohawk’s Aviation program, the launch of the School of Climate Action, and the Centre for Integrated and Advanced Medical Imaging. 

But ultimately, there is one thing that stands apart for Armstrong. 

“With complete authenticity, I would say that I'm most proud of the people that choose to work at Mohawk College, because they're the reason great things are happening here. I can't do them on my own. Nobody can. So my job is to make sure we're all focused on the right things, that we're all rallying around the important things and that we're making, at times, some of the hard decisions we need to make sure that we can stay focused on the right things.”  

‘Dream of a lifetime’ 

Armstrong’s wife Lucy, a retired high school teacher, says becoming president was the realization of her husband’s lifetime dream. 

“I will be able to finish my career at Mohawk,” he says. 

“And I will be able to continue to see through so many great things that are underway and realize potential in other areas. And I get to work with the amazing people that I've developed such strong relationships and trust with. So from that perspective, it's not the dream of a lifetime, because I can write the term president behind my name. It's the dream of a lifetime, because this is what I've been committed to for 38 years, and I can stay committed to the place that has been the longest component of anything in my life, and behind family and the health of my children, the most important thing to me.” 
 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

Andrew Fedurko,  Coordinator of Esports Administration and Lisa Funnell Associate Dean of Creatives Industries. with Mohawk College students TJ Beckham and Varsha Vinod

Two New Programs

New diploma programs in Game Design and Esports Administration are already attracting industry accolades for student skills and for Mohawk College’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the booming gaming sector. 

The College’s Esports program launched in September, following the kickoff last fall of Game Design. 

“The students are very enthusiastic,” says Lisa Funnell, Associate Dean of Creatives Industries. 

“They want to learn. They want to be part of this industry. They're passionate about gaming and they are eager and excited about coming to class.” 

Game Design and Esports Administration perfectly complement each other, says Funnell. 

“If you want to create the games, you can go into Game Design. If you want to be in the business of the gaming world, you want to host events, you want to train players, you want to be a player, you have this other space of Esports Administration, and so we're talking about different sides of the same industry.” 

As the programs get established, the vision is that esports students will host events based on student games developed at Mohawk College. Those games will be available to play in student areas. 

“We want anybody going through Mohawk College to be able to test out and play our student games. It’s an amazing thing if you're an artist or a creator when your work is placed on display. There's a professionalization that comes with that.” 

The gaming industry is a behemoth and it’s still growing. The global industry generated $184 billion in 2022, which is 3.5 times more than the movie and music industries combined. 
 

Lisa Funnell, Associate Dean of Creatives Industries. 

 

Empowering women 

Reports indicate more than 20 million Canadians are active video game players, with an almost equal number of male and female players. But women haven’t always found their rightful place either working in the industry or as participants at gaming events, says Jessica Medeiros, who launched Femme Gaming in 2020. 

“I started Femme Gaming because I saw a clear need for more representation and support for women in gaming. The industry wasn’t exactly set up to be welcoming, and I knew we could create a space where women not only felt included but truly empowered to succeed,” she says. 

Femme Gaming and Mohawk College have entered an educational partnership after working together on a number of industry events. 

“When we talked to Femme Gaming, we realized how perfectly aligned their goals were with our vision and goals,” says Funnell. “Everyone should feel welcomed in gaming, whether they are a player, a creator, or an event organizer.” 

Femme Gaming builds community through mentorship, providing resources, and organizing events that help women thrive in gaming. Mohawk is the perfect partner for Femme Gaming, she says, because the College is determined to change the industry. 

“I’m hoping this partnership helps students gain real, hands-on experience in the gaming industry while promoting inclusivity. The goal is to open doors for students, especially women, and make them feel confident and prepared to enter the field.” 

Funnell says Mohawk College has a responsibility to educate industry creators and leaders who understand that there is a place for everyone in gaming. “We were intentional in seeking out a highly diverse and qualified faculty.”

“Everybody should feel comfortable in gaming, whether that’s in the content of the games themselves or the actual gaming environments. That is just good for business. We lose great talent and great players and great creators if we don't create these types of places and spaces. Fifty per cent of gamers out there identify as women. And yet, when you look at the competitive sphere, they are severely underrepresented. We believe it's our job as educators to help bridge that gap.” 

In addition to the Femme Gaming partnership, there are other early wins for Mohawk College’s gaming programs. 

A group of Game Design students took second place for best overall game at the prestigious Level Up industry event in Toronto last year. 

“They came in with not even a year's worth of training, and our students are already competing and performing at the highest level, and that put our program on the map,” says Funnell. 

The two-year Esports Administration program will train students in team and league management, event management, marketing and sponsorship, and broadcasting and production. 

They will be prepared to work in the fast-growing esports sector. Next year, a new 7,200-seat esports arena is expected to be completed on Toronto’s waterfront and the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will be held in Saudi Arabia. 
 

Cutting-edge facilities 

“We believe that gaming is really that glue that can hold our community together,” says Andrew Fedurko, who is coordinator of Esports Administration. “We want students to be able to come into our space and see what is possible, to understand that a community college is for everyone, and this space is also for them.” 

Instruction and experiential learning will be happening in the Mohawk College eSports Community Arena (MECA) now under construction within the Digital Creativity Centre (DCC). 

The future MECA will be a sleek modern space with flashing LED lights, high-end computers, and screens, an advanced sound system, a broadcasting centre and a cool black and white colour scheme with pink accents. 

A gaming classroom features high-powered machines for face-to-face gaming, a portable of mobile broadcast system, gaming stations, and consoles. 

“Our students will learn in these spaces, but also will learn how to manage the spaces,” says Fedurko. “So there's some experiential learning, hosting events, hosting tournaments, and then being able to collaborate with the DCC and with the events we're doing through MECA to host things on a larger scale.” 

Mohawk students will also have access to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment gaming events at the Bell Gaming Centre at Toronto’s Exhibition Place and to learning opportunities with local esports company Incendium Gaming. 

Fedurko’s path to esports came after a career as a player agent, hockey coach, general manager and executive director with teams and leagues. 

“So I've been around sport my whole life. And one of the differentiators of our program is that we're not treating esports any differently than sports. They are part of the same larger ecosystem. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment own the biggest sports teams in the country, and they're invested in this.” 

For Funnell, the “interesting sweet spot” of potential is the intersection of traditional physical sports with esports, including the use of AVR to test and enhance skills and practise game and competition situations. 

To that end, Mohawk College’s new Esports program is working with campus athletics and recreation to build an e-varsity team. 

Students have high praise for Mohawk College’s gaming program. 

Varsha Vinod in an international student from Kuwait who is in her second year of Game Design. She had been focused on a biotechnology program but did “a 360” when she learned about Mohawk College’s new program. 

“I’m inclined towards the artistic side of things. I love to draw. So my favourite classes have been 2D and 3D design and sound design. I was intimidated by the coding side, but I’ve been doing well so far.” 

Faculty have a lot of industry experience, says Vinod. 

“They have a lot to offer and a lot of advice to give us as well. So that has really motivated me.” 

Vinod, who dreams of a job as a character or environment designer, says she appreciates Mohawk’s focus on inclusion, especially as a woman embarking on a career in gaming. 

“I am passionate about gaming and I believe the gaming community is becoming more inclusive for everyone.”
 

Her classmate Trevor Beckham had been working in digital marketing for about seven years when he decided his love of video games was impossible to ignore any longer. 

“When I was in high school, I always wanted to do something with gaming. I just didn't think I had the abilities to code or actually make a game, and that's what led me to the marketing side. But it was last September, a game had come out called Starfield. I'm a big space fan. I was super stoked for the game, and playing it reminded me of the impact games can have. I just felt a sense of like wonder and exploration and a desire to experience this world they created.” 

When he was a teenager, Beckham says video games – Assassin’s Creed, in particular – saved his life. 

“If I can make a game that can touch even one person, like those games have done for me, I could be happy.” 

He’s thrilled that his instructors come from some of the biggest and most successful gaming companies in the world. 

Along with another Mohawk College student and a third friend, Beckham has founded his own gaming company called Treebear Interactive, which is developing its first game. He is focused on the business side of the enterprise. 

Beckham was a member of the Mohawk College team that took second place among more than 90 teams from colleges across the province at Level Up last year. 

During Mohawk College’s Design Week last year, Game Design students were tasked with creating a two-player arcade game that had something to do with twins. Beckham was on a team of eight and in four days they had built Bedlam Brothers, which saw two people moving a twin mattress through a house. 

Beckham was shocked by the win and says it solidified his faith in his learning at Mohawk College. 

Design Week competitions each semester offer a real-world taste of building a game from scratch. 

“By the time I graduate, I will have six games to showcase that I have worked on. That is great experience.”  

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

The Centre for Climate Change Management (CCCM) at Mohawk College is playing a key role in the path to realizing a vision to harvest industrial waste heat for space and water heating in buildings in the lower city of Hamilton and beyond. 

Applied researchers at the CCCM evaluated a range of thermal storage technologies that could be employed by Hamilton Community Enterprises (HCE) in a future thermal corridor emanating from the industrial bayfront. 

In 2021, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce released a report revealing that a representative group of surveyed companies within Hamilton – far from an exhaustive list – produced enough waste heat to heat approximately 45,000 homes, potentially displacing 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. 

“The report found that there is a tremendous opportunity to use industrial waste heat for other purposes, one of which was building heating. As my boss says, there is a Niagara Falls of heat sitting on our bayfront,” says David Inkley, HCE’s Vice President of Engineering and Development. 

“This all ties to the reduction of carbon. The biggest contributor to carbon in the city of Hamilton, after industry, is buildings and heating buildings.” 

The vision is for a five-phase project over 10 years that results in a commercially viable business, provides an income stream to the industrial suppliers of waste heat, supplies dependable, reliable heat for buildings, both existing and new and ultimately creates “Canada's Thermal Corridor.” 
 

Commercial viability 

HCE is a for-profit corporation that is wholly owned by the City of Hamilton. 

It finances, designs and operates sustainable, resilient and low-carbon heating and cooling, electrical and data networks across the GTHA. 

HCE’s downtown district energy system produces hot water at its central plant, which is then piped underground to heat and cool buildings covering two and a half million square feet. It also operates a district energy system at McMaster Innovation Park. 

After defining the opportunity, HCE launched an Energy Harvesting Study to assess the commercial viability of taking waste heat from Hamilton’s nine-kilometre industrial bayfront to feed into and expand HCE’s existing downtown district heating network. 

The two-year study, expected to be complete by the end of the year, has identified a large and growing thermal demand zone in Hamilton, extending from the downtown core to the city’s north end and several waterfront areas, and including central portions of the LRT now in development. 

The study will map preliminary routes for installing insulated underground pipes, linking energy providers to users. These routes pass a number of large-scale purchasers of space heating – including hospitals, schools and public housing – that could become anchor customers of a thermal corridor. 
 

Assessing thermal storage options 

McMaster’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology engineering school has been deeply involved in the policy research framing the waste heat recovery project, but when it came to investigating competing technologies, the partners knew the place to turn was the CCCM, says Inkley. 

Thermal storage is critical to using waste heat to heat buildings. District energy systems use hot water to heat buildings and thermal storage captures heat when energy prices are low in order to access that hot water when prices are high. 

Project lead Nico Strabac says Mohawk College’s contribution was a “technical scan and feasibility assessment of thermal storage technologies, and if and how they can be integrated into this energy harvesting network, as it is being proposed.” 

That included looking at how other district heating systems with thermal storage technology across the world operate, what they cost and what are implementation factors to be considered. 

“I think where we really add value at the Centre for Climate Change Management is in de-risking pathways forward,” said Strabac. 

“So part of what we did was survey, consolidate and assess information about both conventional as well as cutting-edge thermal storage technologies, and speak to their cost and their fit with the heat harvesting network that HCE is considering. And then last, but not least, pointing out the potential technologies, or buckets of technologies, that have high fit with their needs.” 
 

Mohawk a ‘major plus’

Inkley has high praise for Strabac and the team at CCCM.

“We were really impressed with how they grabbed the baton and just took it and ran with it. They were excellent project managers. They made a plan and they stuck to it. They kept updating us. They made sure we were in the loop but we didn’t have to drive the bus. They were very independent. They just took care of it,” says Inkley.

“That was such a big plus for us and we look forward to working with them again.”

Strabac was even able to line up project funding through NSERC and the Mitacs Accelerate Program to help offset some of the research costs.

“Mohawk College’s engaged teaching, learning and research is something that is really important to our community, and the fact that we have Mohawk doing that style of applied research in Hamilton is a major plus for us,” says Inkley.

“HCE could have hired a consultant to do this work but there is much more value in working with a local college and university. It’s important to build a pipeline of next-generation talent in decarbonization and innovation in Hamilton. Hamilton Community Enterprises has a history of hiring students from local colleges and universities, so this is a natural fit for HCE. If we're going to change and move forward, we have to work with young people and our educational institutions to make that change happen.”

Amjad Alkhateeb, a graduate of McMaster’s engineering and public policy program, was hired by CCCM to work on the thermal storage project. 

 “We tested or examined both the technical viability and the economic viability of thermal energy storage. So I developed a software program that uses different kinds of parameters and scenarios based on different prices for natural gas, for electricity and for the price of the waste heat itself coming from the supplier sites, along with peak usage.”

The software calculates cost savings, payback period and return on investment employing various technologies.

Alkhateeb says he gained valuable experience in working with partners to understand their operations, their needs and their constraints. 

“It’s been a very good professional experience interacting with all of these people at these companies and institutions.”

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP)  announced the winners of the 2024 Awards of Excellence earlier this week during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 World Congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, with its secretariat at Mohawk College, received a silver medal for Strategic Leadership. 

WFCP - WFCP Announces Its 2024 Awards Of Excellence Winners

C2R2’s administration and secretariat are located in Hamilton, Ontario, at Mohawk College. 
Quick Train Canada is a learning platform powered by C2R2.
To learn more, visit: Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery 

Mohawk College has been recognized as the sixth-top ranked college in its category and maintained its prestigious gold rating in the international 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, managed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Mohawk College first received its gold STARS rating in 2019 and has maintained its 67.4 ranking score.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition from AASHE, which underscores Mohawk College’s commitment to climate leadership across the post-secondary sector,” said Mohawk College President Paul Armstrong. “We are excited to continue leading by example, as we execute an ambitious new Climate Action Plan and continue to foster a culture of sustainability within our college and the broader community.”

Mohawk College unveiled a new Climate Action Plan in November 2023 that will see the college reach net-zero emissions in direct campus operations by the year 2035; will embed sustainability across the curriculum of all programs; and will support research with community partners to develop more than 50 deployable solutions to the climate crisis by 2030. The college also announced plans to create a new school of programs, the School of Climate Action, and has received a donor gift to establish a new Research Chair, Skilled Trades for the Green Economy – the first position of its kind at a Canadian college.

The college’s sustainability team manages over 30 programs and initiatives each year that are dedicated to embedding sustainable practices into operations and programming across all Mohawk College campuses and providing learning opportunities in sustainability for Mohawk students. As well, the opening of The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation in September 2018 introduced students to one of the largest zero-carbon institutional buildings in Canada, meaning there are no net greenhouse gas emissions associated with the building’s operations.

With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: 1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership. 

Learn more about the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index

Mohawk College’s STARS report is publicly available on the AASHE website.

Mohawk College has a bold and innovative approach to climate action that has made it a leader at the local, provincial and national levels. Now the college in Hamilton, Ontario, is embedding sustainability into the curriculum of all its programs, under a climate action plan that ensures every Mohawk graduate can be a climate leader.

An article in The Globe and Mail explores that process.

The Globe and Mail - Whole-of-organization approach to climate leadership

The Centre for Professional Advancement offers employer-sponsored scalable, sustainable, and customized educational offerings that enable successful onboarding, upskilling, and reskilling, as well as the introduction of emerging roles, empowering workforce development across industries globally. This generous donation will help to create new education and employment opportunities as well as aiding employers with their recruitment and retention efforts.

“We have the right model and the right high-performing team at the Centre to help change workers’ lives and improve communities,” said Paul Armstrong, President of Mohawk College. “Through this gift and the support of champions like The Marinucci Family Foundation, CPA programs will provide even greater benefit to workers and employers across Canada.”

To acknowledge this gift, Mohawk College has changed the name of the CPA to The Marinucci Family Centre for Professional Advancement.

“At the Marinucci Family Foundation, we believe that education lights the path to success, which is why we’re thrilled to support Mohawk College’s Centre for Professional Advancement,” stated John Marinucci and Sarah Vienot, of The Marinucci Family Foundation. “Their innovative approach to develop and deliver tailored curriculum and training programs for industry partners resonates deeply with us, and we're excited to help them transform the way we educate and reskill our workforces in an ever-changing world.”

Over the past two years, the CPA has developed 18 customized programs and courses for employers to address their workforce challenges, enrolling nearly 2,500 learners in 56 deliveries across three provinces and internationally.

“I am deeply touched by the generosity of the Marinucci family,” said Larisa Volman, Associate Dean of The Marinucci Family Centre for Professional Advancement. “This gift will accelerate our success in leading workforce transformation and position the Centre to make a measurable impact through innovative educational and training solutions.”

The Marinucci Family Foundation has been a strong supporter of Mohawk College for more than 15 years. The Marinucci Family Foundation generously committed $500,000 to the Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation. Another $250,000 donation was made in support of applied research at the college. John was also engaged with the college as a member and Chair of the Mohawk College Board of Governors from 2009 through 2015. He was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow in 2023.

This donation will support the goals of The Marinucci Family Centre for Professional Advancement over the next five years:

• to be a national leader in workforce development;
• to graduate 10,000 learners from CPA programs; 
• to develop at least 100 employer partnerships across Canada and beyond.

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation was recently featured in an international article about exemplary sustainable buildings. 

Several countries—including Germany, France, Spain, Canada, and Ireland—have introduced targets to achieve net zero energy emissions by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency. There are so many strategies that can help design and construction teams attain net zero—including considerations related to lighting, HVAC, and windows.

gb&d (Green Building & Design)  magazine  explored 10 net zero energy building examples from around the world, including The Joyce Centre.