RRC: Inaugural two-year diploma in Indigenous Social Enterprise empowers students to address social challenges head-on, at program open-house

December 14, 2018

Winnipeg, MB – TODAY, students at Red River College will host more than twenty industry partners, including leaders from Manitoba’s successful and emerging social enterprises, to introduce them to RRC’s newest two-year diploma program Indigenous Social Enterprise.

“This new program defines how Red River College continues to operate on the leading-edge in addressing the immediate needs of our communities and partners in industry. These connections and partnerships enable us to create programs that provide meaningful pathways and educational opportunities for our Indigenous learners, while staying beyond the curve to ensure Manitoba’s innovative businesses and industries can be provided with career-ready grads who hold the knowledge and skills necessary to take an idea to the next level,” said Paul Vogt, President and CEO, Red River College.

“We have taken important steps forward as a College community to grow and provide our students with the wrap-around supports and services they need to succeed and this is an exciting time for our students as they grow into the social enterprise sector. Their work, once they complete their studies, won’t only have an impact here in Manitoba, but beyond our borders as well.”

Social Enterprise is one of the five new programs launched this fall for Indigenous learners that aim to grow Indigenous representation and assist RRC in continuing its strategic priority to advance Indigenous achievement at the College.

This two-year diploma introduces students to a multitude of for-profit, non-profit, and co-operatively structured social enterprises addressing today’s most pressing issues. Students will work alongside social-enterprises here in Manitoba to gain the right hands-on experience to understand what it takes to work on these environmental, social, cultural, and spiritual needs. Students will also experience first-hand how their work can have an impact on addressing a variety of societal challenges that exist in many urban and rural communities.

“Over this semester students have met with different social enterprises not just here in Winnipeg, but in Fisher River Cree Nation as well. Along their journey they started mapping the social enterprise ecosystem. After months of work and over 150 social enterprises mapped out, our students will share their work with and connect to industry leaders who are driving social change across Manitoba. The work they did is part of a larger community project that is trying to access some of the federal government’s $805M Social Finance Fund, so what they did has real-life, real-time applicability,” said Richard Tuck, Coordinator for the Social Enterprise Program.

At the end of the program each student will have an opportunity to incubate their own social enterprise idea and then launch it upon graduation.

Media are invited today’s event and the details are as follows:

WHAT: Indigenous Social Enterprise Open House
WHO:
•             Paul Vogt, President and CEO, Red River College
•             RRC students and faculty

WHEN:                 Friday, December 14, 2018
TIME:                   2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WHERE:              Red River College’s Exchange District Campus
The Roblin Centre (160 Princess Street)
Room P312

RSVP:
Sarah Panas
spanas@rrc.ca
cell: 204-807-2042

– 30 –

For more information, contact:

Conor Lloyd
Director
204.795.2864
clloyd@rrc.ca

Sarah Panas
Indigenous Education
Communications Officer
Office: 204.632.2401
Cell: 204-807-2042
spanas@rrc.ca

NT5