BUILDING COMMUNITIES & CAREERS

FALL 2019

CONNECTIONS
CAPACITY

FOCUS ON
GROWTH
New campus for Waterloo

QUALITY

FOSTERING
EXCELLENCE
Supporting student success

SUSTAINABILITY

LOOKING TO
THE FUTURE
Solutions for
sustainable growth
 BRANTFORD

CAMBRIDGE

GUELPH

INGERSOLL

KITCHENER

STRATFORD

#
1 8
in Ontario for WATERLOO
trades & campuses
apprenticeship and
training training centres

25
One of Canada’s top
25 research colleges

1,200
35
Attracted more than
$35M in applied research
funding since 2014

16,500
full-time employees

full-time students
“Developing a highly skilled, adaptable
workforce where everyone can participate
and succeed is essential to our future
Thank you to the hundreds of
businesses, organizations and
individuals who support Conestoga

prosperity and well-being.” – John Tibbits programs and students through

CONTENTS
4 MEETING THE NEEDS OF A
CHANGING WORLD
6 NEW CAMPUS OPENS IN WATERLOO
10 BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
IN BRANTFORD
14 SERVING A GLOBAL COMMUNITY
16 YEAR IN REVIEW
20 FOSTERING EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
& LEARNING
26 ADDRESSING REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES
your service to Program Advisory
Committees, your donations,
gifts-in-kind, co-op and work
placement opportunities and
applied research partnerships.
Your generous
contributions make
success possible.
Together, we are developing the
entrepreneurs and innovators,
technicians and specialists who
help keep businesses competitive
and make our communities better
places to live.
Thank you for your support.

29 DELIVERING SOLUTIONS THROUGH

APPLIED RESEARCH

32 MOVING TO NET ZERO

33 CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING GRADUATES

CONNECTIONS 3
 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MEETING THE NEEDS OF

A CHANGING WORLD
The dawn of a new academic year is always a very special time, full of
excitement and energy, with the promise of new beginnings. It’s also a
time for reflection on what we’ve achieved, and the opportunities and
challenges that lie ahead.

As we enter the final year for Conestoga’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020, I
am struck by how very much we’ve accomplished in terms of enhancing
quality, capacity and sustainability, the three overarching goals through
which we will achieve our vision for excellence in polytechnic education.
This past June, we celebrated the convocation of a record number of
graduates, adding close to 7,200 new inductees to Conestoga’s alumni
community, now almost 140,000 strong. Like those who came before
them, they turned to Conestoga to help them in their efforts to launch
successful careers and build brighter futures for themselves, their families
and our community. Increasingly, they’ve come not only from the local
region, but all around the world as our college becomes established as a
destination of choice for international students.
We’ve expanded campuses and programming in Waterloo and Brantford
and look forward to a new campus in Downtown Kitchener that will open
in January 2020, and continue to invest in facilities, programming and
an outstanding employee team to provide all Conestoga students with an
exceptional learning experience.
Never has our work been more important
A recent report from RBC estimates that 25 per cent of current Canadian
jobs will be heavily disrupted by technology in the next 10 years, requiring
a different set of skills and competencies. Many sectors will face significant
job displacement, but many more jobs will be created as well. It’s expected
that Canada will add 2.4 million jobs over the next four years.
The challenge of developing the talent required to serve those needs
shouldn’t be underestimated. Even now, 77 per cent of Ontario businesses
describe access to talent as their greatest obstacle to growth. It’s happening
in communities across the province, including right here in our region.
Last year, Canada’s job vacancy rate hit an all-time high, with an estimated
400,000 jobs remaining unfilled for three months or more as the result of
a shortage of suitable applicants with the skills and experience required.
At the same time, there are many individuals who struggle to obtain
meaningful career opportunities because they lack the up-to-date skills
employers need.

It is with tremendous pride that I acknowledge the success of these
efforts, and the impact Conestoga continues to make not only on the lives
of the individuals we serve, but also on the prosperity and well-being of
the community.
Our graduation rate is among the highest of all
Ontario colleges. Last year, more than 89 per cent
of Conestoga graduates were employed within six
months of completing their studies. The employer
satisfaction rate for those who hire the college’s
It’s what’s often described as double jeopardy for Canadian prosperity –
jobs without people and people without jobs.
Conestoga and Canada’s other polytechnics have an essential role to
play in developing a future workforce that is well-prepared with the skills,
the resilience and the adaptability required to succeed in the new world
of work.
Affording broader access to career-focused education and training,
attracting new participants and providing everyone across our community
with the opportunity to develop new skills and achieve their potential are
essential steps towards developing the talent that will fuel innovation and
Canada’s future productivity.

recent graduates continues to exceed 90 per cent.

4 CONNECTIONS
 John Tibbits has been President of
Conestoga since 1987. This September
marks the start of his thirty-third
academic year at the college.

Conestoga will continue to grow to meet this

challenge, supported by an outstanding network
of community and business leaders who make
invaluable contributions to the quality of our
programs as well as providing opportunities for
students and graduates alike to develop their skills
and build successful futures.
I am grateful for their ongoing contributions and support, and for the
tremendous dedication of Conestoga’s employees, who make our
college a great place to work as well as to learn.

Let’s make 2019-2020 the best year yet.

Dr. John Tibbits, President

CONNECTIONS 5
 BUI L D I N G CA PACITY

It was an announcement that almost no one expected, but

it drew an immediate standing ovation from the crowd of
more than 300 partners, friends, students and employees of
Conestoga gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the
college’s newest campus in Waterloo in October 2018.

NEW
CAMPUS
OPENS IN
WATERLOO

6 CONNECTIONS
 Maureen Cowan, Chair and CEO of Princeton Holdings Limited, a former member
of Conestoga’s Board of Governors and widely recognized for her achievements as a
community leader and builder, was speaking on behalf of The Cowan Foundation. Earlier,
her organization had provided a $4 million leadership gift towards the development of
the campus, the largest donation from a private donor in the college’s 50-year history. Conestoga is Canada’s only member of the
“Conestoga has made this community better in so many ways,” Cowan said, “and I don’t Institut Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance,
think anyone would disagree that John Tibbits’ leadership has been the primary driver an exclusive network of the world’s top
behind Conestoga’s development and success.” hospitality management and culinary
arts schools. Membership in the alliance
“For this reason, I am pleased to announce the decision to have recognition of provides students and faculty alike with
Waterloo’s campus in John Tibbits’ name as a lasting gesture of our sincere thanks unique opportunities to experience
different food cultures, build new skills
for his profound contributions to Conestoga and to this community.” and participate in learning exchanges.
And so the John W. Tibbits campus was born, rising from the foundations of a 1960s-era secondary school
acquired by the college in 2006. The $58 million transformation project added 150,000 square feet of
learning space in a state-of-the-art environment to provide new capacity for the
delivery of programming and services in culinary and hospitality management,
applied computer science and information technology, and specialized programming
for newcomers to Canada.
Already recognized as a centre of excellence for construction trades education and
training, thanks in part to the support of government and industry partners which
resulted in the addition of new facilities in 2010, the expanded campus opened in
September 2018 and now provides a full range of programs and services for learners.

The new
Bloom
restaurant

Keith Müller,
Hospitality & Culinary Arts

Building capacity for enhanced programming

For Keith Müller, chair of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, the project provided
a much-needed opportunity to create new facilities and expand
programming to better serve both learners and the local community.

“With the growth in the region and the renewed

interest in culinary and hospitality, it became
necessary for us to be able to accept more students
and build on our successes.” - Keith Müller

CONNECTIONS 7
 “We were very fortunate to be able to design and
build a new, state-of-the-art facility. We researched
culinary labs at other colleges across Canada and in
other countries to determine the best technology,
equipment and layout.” - Keith Müller
The new labs and classrooms are spacious, bright and fully equipped with
the latest technology. The new Bloom restaurant has its own storefront
and is attracting both attention and new customers. Visiting chefs to date
have included Maxime Moïse, instructor with the Institut Paul Bocuse in
Lyon, France as well Funmi Joe-Oka, food and beverage manager at the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The expansion has provided essential capacity for Conestoga to prepare
more future culinary and hospitality professionals for successful careers.
New programming in Baking & Pastry Arts is now in place, with Butchery
& Charcuterie scheduled to launch shortly. A new institute for
cheesemaking and industry certification courses for in-service
New culinary labs and
classrooms are spacious,
bright and fully equipped
with the latest technology.
The expansion of Conestoga’s Waterloo campus was funded
in part through the Government of Canada’s Post-Secondary
Institutions Strategic Investment Fund.
8 CONNECTIONS
professionals are on the horizon as well. Müller anticipates that more
than 700 full-time students will be enrolled by January 2020, helping to
address the tremendous shortage of skilled workers to service the industry
both locally and across Canada.
For food enthusiasts, general interest courses in areas such as wine tasting
and pasta, bread and pastry making, provide opportunities to hone new
skills. Initial offerings have proven very popular, and additional courses are
slated to be offered in the near future.
For Müller, whose background includes long service in industry as well
as stints in similar roles at both George Brown College and Red River
College, the new facilities help position Conestoga among Canada’s
leading culinary schools, with available seats, a wide range of courses and
a commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge to
launch successful careers.
As well as hosting the School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, the John W.
Tibbits campus is also home to much of Conestoga’s Applied Computer
Science & Information Technology (ASCIT) programming. The full transition
of ASCIT programs to Waterloo is expected to be complete by 2020.
Supporting transition for newcomers to Canada
In addition to post-secondary programming, the new campus also serves
as one of Conestoga’s three delivery sites for Language Instruction for
Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programming. Funded through Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada, LINC provides free classes for
newcomers who want to learn English or improve their language skills for
life, work or further learning.
Over the last year, Conestoga’s three LINC locations served 1,100
learners, providing support to a wide range of clients, from individuals
with little formal education to those who left professional careers in their
home countries to come to Canada. Learners are grouped into classes
based on their language ability and may represent a wide range of ages
and backgrounds.
For Crystal Brown, chair of the Conestoga Language Institute, moving the
Waterloo LINC site from its previous location on Lincoln Road into the main
campus building at Waterloo has made a tremendous difference.
“The LINC students now feel like they’re more connected, and part of the
college community,” Brown said. “They can go to different centres on-site
and enjoy having direct access to resources such as the library. As the LINC
students see first-hand what Conestoga has to offer, there seems to be
more interest in continuing on in post-secondary once they’ve completed
their language studies.”
“The on-campus location provides a really warm and welcoming
environment for our newcomers,” Brown continued. “It also sends a very
strong message to all of our faculty as well as our students that what we do
matters, contributing to the college’s overall mission to support student
success and the success of our community.”
Thanks to a partnership with Conestoga’s School of Community Services,
newcomers with young children can access free, on-site childminding for
their infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Through a play-based curriculum,
the children develop important new skills that will help them in their new
country, from exposure to the English language to interaction with people
from different cultures. These skills will play an important role in their
future success when they transition to the school system.
CONNECTIONS 9
 CAMPUS EXPANSION

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

IN BRANTFORD
In 2012, Conestoga began the delivery of programming in Brantford through a
partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University, which had established a campus in the city
in 1999. As the newest member of the city’s downtown academic district, Conestoga
provided unique value for the community, delivering a slate of local, career-focused
programs to serve workforce needs. After six years of steady progress and success,
the college took a major leap forward in 2018, acquiring new facilities, enhancing
program offerings, and increasing enrolment exponentially, from about 100 full-time
students in 2017 to almost 500 in September 2018.
Paul Osborne, Conestoga’s associate vice president of Marketing & Community
Relations, played a key role in managing the expansion project, which included
introducing a large group of international students into the Brantford community.

“As the college looked to expand its footprint, it became clear

that Brantford was a market that was underserved in terms of
college-level education.” - Paul Osborne
With a large pool of qualified international applicants and limited space at other
campuses, expansion in Brantford provided new opportunities to increase enrolment,
augment existing programming and develop an enhanced service model in the city
that would support both local and international students.
To facilitate growth, the college acquired
a number of properties in the downtown
area and leased land at the Brantford
Municipal Airport to support the delivery
of trades training.
But new students, especially those who
come to Canada from afar, require more
than classroom and lab space. To make the
expansion successful, Conestoga needed to
support incoming students with all of their
needs, from finding homes and part-time
jobs in the community, to obtaining academic
counselling and support, to creating
opportunities for social and
cultural engagement.

10 CONNECTIONS
 “The college was committed to Brantford, and invested in additional employees who
could focus their efforts on providing support to students here in the city.
As a result, there’s a real community feel here, and the students are getting
great service.” - Paul Osborne
The local community stepped up in terms of providing accommodation for new students. Both the City of Brantford
and Laurier Brantford played key roles in the success of the expansion as well. According to Osborne, the support
provided through strong partnerships eliminated many of the growing pains that might have been expected with
rapid expansion.
“It was really a team effort,” he said. “We worked with Laurier on a number of student engagement initiatives that
resulted in multiple opportunities for cross-cultural learning for international and domestic students alike. It’s great to
see our students co-mingling and learning from each other.”
“Being in downtown Brantford has really helped too,” he continued. “The students have enjoyed exploring all the
restaurants and amenities, and have been very active in seeking out opportunities to help out at community events as
they jump in and enjoy the Canadian experience.”
And while it’s been good for the students, Conestoga’s Brantford expansion has benefitted the community as well. The
Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area named the college as its 2018 Champion of the Year for excellence
both in community relations and in promoting downtown Brantford as a live, work, play and learning destination.
With the groundwork now in place, Conestoga looks forward to further expansion in Brantford for 2019-2020, with
additional program offerings that will support students from the local community and around the world to develop
new career skills for successful futures.

According to BuildForce
Canada, Ontario
will need more than
100,000 new workers
in the construction
trades alone by 2028.
Government of Ontario
projections indicate that
more than one in five
of all new jobs in the province will be in
trades-related occupations.
The challenge is particularly acute in fast-
growing communities such as Brantford,
designated as an Urban Growth Centre in
Ontario’s Provincial Growth Plan.
Addressing skills shortages
Stephen Speers is Chair of Workforce Development & Partnerships -
One key area of expansion in Brantford is trades education and training Trades at Conestoga, and is well aware of local industry needs. A native
to help address the critical shortage of skilled trades workers in Ontario and long-time resident of Brant County, he sits on the Workforce
and across Canada. Planning Board of Grand Erie and co-chairs the local Skilled Trades
It’s an important issue. For more than ten years, skilled trades positions Alliance, a community organization dedicated to building the skilled
have been consistently ranked as the most difficult roles for employers trades workforce for Brantford and Brant County.
to fill, both locally and across the country. In 2017, the Ontario Skilled In 2018, his role at Conestoga evolved, allowing him to focus his efforts
Trades Alliance reported that more than 40 per cent of its members on expanding trades training in Brantford. An initial offering of the Heavy
would hire more employees if they could find people with the right skills.

CONNECTIONS 11
 Construction Equipment Operation (HCEO) program mounted to gauge A new, eight-week Production Welder program to be delivered in
local interest exceeded expectations, and the race was on to identify and collaboration with local industry partners will be introduced in Brantford
equip local facilities in advance of the September start-up date. this year as well.
As Speers points out, there are special challenges involved in delivering In addition, Conestoga will continue to work with local school boards for the
programs such as HCEO. “There are a lot of logistical requirements,” he delivery of trades-related programming through their School College Work
explained. “Students in the program are actually operating bulldozers and Initiative and Specialist High Skills Majors programs. These activities help
excavators, so we need acreage as well as classrooms and high-bay shops for introduce local students not only to Conestoga, but also to the potential of
storing the equipment.” careers in the skilled trades.
Drawing on both his knowledge of the community and his extensive For Speers, that’s an important message that young people in particular
network of contacts, Speers soon identified the Brantford Municipal Airport need to hear.
as a potential site: it could provide the land required as well as commercial
hangar and warehouse space that could be transformed into classrooms and “The skilled trades shortage is real. And the gap
shops to meet program needs. continues to grow as retirements outpace the number
With the support of both the County of Brant Council and the Brantford City of people entering the skilled trades. For the next few
Council, which hold responsibility for the land and the airport operations
respectively, a lease agreement was successfully concluded and Conestoga’s years, there’s going to be an acute shortage.”
new trades campus in Brantford was launched. - Stephen Speers
Speers couldn’t be happier. “This is a real win-win solution,” he said. “We’re “Skilled trades training is an excellent choice for students looking for
bringing activity to this end of the city, literally at the spot where city and successful careers, especially right now,” he continued. “If you work hard and
county meet. And the actual physical site is absolutely excellent for the develop yourself as a journeyperson in your chosen field, you are going to
delivery of the HCEO program, better than we could have hoped for.” be in demand for your entire working life. There are enormous opportunities
The one challenge with the site was the lack of public transit service, with ahead – you can work for someone else or you can have your own business.”
the nearest bus stop a kilometre from the airport. To address that concern, “For those who enjoy working with both their hands and their heads, it’s a
particularly for the international students in the program who were less super way to make a living, with small costs up front and an earnings stream
likely to have their own vehicles, Conestoga initially provided shuttle service that most people would be envious of.”
from downtown, but soon found it wasn’t required.
Conestoga is Ontario’s leader in trades and apprenticeship training,
“Students in the program came from all around Brantford, Brant County and delivering a wide range of post-secondary, pre-apprenticeship and
beyond,” Speers said. “As the program got underway, the students worked apprenticeship in-school training programs for the construction, motive
together to set up some carpooling options that allowed everyone to get to power, industrial and service trades.
class. It’s worked out really well and everyone’s happy.”
For more information, visit www.conestogac.on.ca/trades
With the first year of operations at the Brantford Municipal Airport now
complete, Speers is looking at further expansion for Fall 2019. More
hangar space has been leased and renovations are underway to support the
delivery of an Electrical Techniques program starting in September and an
Automotive Repair program scheduled for January 2020. Future offerings
under consideration include a Plumbing Techniques program and a
pre-apprenticeship in Landscape Equipment Operations.

12 CONNECTIONS
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER
CAMPUS TO OPEN IN 2020
On May 31, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and Conestoga President John Tibbits
announced that the college will soon open a new 82,000 square foot campus in Downtown
Kitchener. The new campus inside Market Square will open in January 2020, initially
delivering business programming for approximately 1,000 students.
Additional programming will be introduced in subsequent phases as the campus becomes Conestoga 2019
more established, attracting more students who will further contribute to the city’s diversity
and cultural vibrancy, while supporting Kitchener’s local ecosystem.
Stats & Facts

300
“Conestoga College has been a key community partner and a leader in polytechnic
education since its beginnings in 1967, and we are thrilled to welcome this new growth in
our city beginning this January,” said Mayor Vrbanovic. “Locating this campus in the heart
+
of Downtown Kitchener creates fantastic opportunities for welcoming these new students in
collaboration with our vibrant business community in the heart of our city.” More than 300 career-focused
programs
The new campus will attract new talent, supporting the success of established, start-up and
scaling companies within the city. Student placements offered through the program will

60+
also connect students with local employment opportunities.

“We’re tremendously pleased to have the opportunity to open

this new campus that will expand our capacity to deliver quality
More than 60 co-op programs
programming that prepares students for successful futures and
develops new talent to serve the needs of the local workforce.
We look forward to working with our partners to provide students
with an outstanding learning experience in Downtown Kitchener.” 89%
- John Tibbits More than 89% of graduates
The city will work closely with the college to ensure students feel welcome, and have access employed within 6 months
to the supports, services, amenities, housing and social networks necessary to feel a sense of graduation
of belonging in the city.

$1.2M
“I’m thrilled that Conestoga College has chosen Downtown Kitchener’s Market Square as
the site for their new campus,” said Ward 10 Councillor, Sarah Marsh. “This investment into
Downtown Kitchener will support and grow our local economy, and showcase Kitchener’s
dynamic and inclusive community to the world.”
More than $1.2 million in student
awards distributed each year

138,000+ Alumni

Members of Conestoga’s Board of Governors joined college and city officials for the May 31 announcement at
Kitchener City Hall.

CONNECTIONS 13
 SE RVI NG A GLOB A L COM M UN ITY

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

FOCUS ON
INTERNATIONALIZATION
International student enrolment at Conestoga’s network of campuses has grown exponentially in recent years, increasing from just
over 1,000 in 2011-12 to more than 7,000 in 2018-19, with additional increases projected for the upcoming academic year. We
asked Chris Buuck, Conestoga’s associate vice president of Academic Administration & International Education, to discuss the role
of internationalization in supporting the college’s mission and strategic goals, and how Conestoga has become a destination of
choice for students from around the world.

It’s often referred to as the grey tsunami, the demographic shift that will see Supporting student success
the continued rise of the senior population in Canada and other developed
Students who travel across the globe, leaving family and homeland far
countries as the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 and
behind in their pursuit of successful futures, face a daunting set of challenges
1964) reach retirement. Coupled with declining birth rates and longer life
as they make the transition to life and study in Canada.
expectancies, the growing population of seniors will have a profound impact
on Canada’s social and economic well-being. At Conestoga, support for such students begins long before they arrive on
campus, starting from the moment they receive admission to the college.
In 2016, seniors (those aged 65 and over) outnumbered children (aged
14 and under) for the first time in Canada’s history. By 2036, seniors could “Students are eager to connect with others who
account for 25 per cent of the country’s total population.
are already at Conestoga. It’s integral to their
Maintaining a thriving economy and delivering the services required to
support all of Canada’s citizens will require a robust workforce that cannot successful transition.” - Chris Buuck
be drawn from the domestic population alone. That’s why Canada has an International student ambassadors provide pre-arrival communications and
ambitious immigration agenda, with plans to admit more than 1 million support, engaging new students through webinars, videos and messaging,
new permanent residents in the years 2019 through 2021. providing opportunities for them to build connections with the college and
As Chris Buuck explains, Conestoga’s international students are an important with each other.
part of that immigration stream, as most of them are planning to settle in A new Airport Welcome program to be introduced this fall includes
Canada following the completion of their studies. everything from signage welcoming students and a free phone call home,
“Preparing international students for success is part of nation-building and to connecting students with ground transportation and providing support
a key piece in Canada’s future growth,” Buuck points out. as they navigate their way to housing. Current students will participate as
part of the welcome team.
Conestoga’s international students are drawn from more than 80 countries.
While the largest group are drawn from India, the college also attracts Proactively engaging new students, anticipating and addressing their needs,
significant student populations from South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, is an essential component of the transition process.
China and Brazil. Efforts to engage prospective students from additional
“It’s their first impression of Canada. It’s important
countries are ongoing.
that it’s welcoming and that students have a sense
of belonging right from the beginning.” - Chris Buuck

14 CONNECTIONS
A cross-college team, with representatives from the Registrar’s Office, The total enrolment growth resulting from the inclusion of a large contingent
Student Engagement, the Recreation Centre and Conestoga Students Inc. as of international students has provided opportunities to develop additional
well as International Education, work in tandem to deliver a comprehensive and more specialized programming clusters that mirror the needs of our
orientation and start-up experience to help all new students transition and changing economy. As a result, all students have more program choices.
put them on the path towards success. Additional orientation activities
address the specialized needs of students new to Canada.
“I have the opportunity to meet many of the new students at orientation,
and I’m blown over by their enthusiasm,” Buuck said. “They’re so excited
to be here.”
“Many of our upper-level international students participate and share their
experiences with the newcomers,” she continued. “What I hear them speak
of over and over is the quality of their education here and the overwhelming
kindness and support they receive from their professors.”
A comprehensive network of academic and social support services
provides assistance to all students throughout their studies and beyond.
The International Education office even provides support for employers as
they navigate the additional requirements involved with hiring
international students.

In addition, many international students bring a great deal of education and

professional experience with them – approximately half have completed
at least one undergraduate degree. Their knowledge and prior experience
enrich the classroom experience for students and faculty alike.
And perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the experience all students gain
from learning together in a diverse and multicultural environment.
“The internationalization of our classrooms provides very important learning
opportunities,” Buuck said. “Our students will graduate into an economy
and a work environment that are very multicultural and diverse. Having the
opportunity to learn and work across diverse teams during their studies is
important preparation for what they will encounter in the workforce.”
A local student who studied in a class of otherwise exclusively international
students sums it up best:

With so much emphasis on supporting international students in their efforts “Being the only domestic student in an international
to transition to Canada and succeed in their studies, it’s not surprising to student class was one of the best experiences of my
learn that success rates are very high. The graduation rate for Conestoga’s
international students in 2017-18 was more than 83 per cent – that far
life. It taught me a newfound respect for cultural
exceeds the overall graduation rate across Ontario colleges (66 per cent). differences and helped me further develop skills that I
Almost 85 per cent of Conestoga’s international graduates obtained
would never have developed in a regular class setting.
employment within six months of graduation.
Being able to help my peers adjust to Canadian living
Enriching classrooms and communities
Providing opportunities for international students to learn, succeed and start
was a reward in itself. It was a unique experience and
new lives in Canada is integral to Conestoga’s commitment to developing one that I will never forget.”
new talent to serve workforce needs. But Buuck points out that there are
many additional benefits as well.

CONNECTIONS 15
 This year, Conestoga launched a new Eligible students from the School of Business now
$6.9 million strategy to support student mental health
and well-being. The initiative will develop
have the opportunity to earn a Master of Business
Administration through a new partnership
The Government of Canada announced it will actionable priorities to help optimize between Conestoga and Niagara University.
invest $6.9 million over the next three years student learning and success.
to support a new Conestoga project that will
result in the delivery of the college’s Welding
Pre-Apprenticeship program at partner
institutions across Canada as well as in the
local community.

Conestoga’s new Student Rights and

Responsibilities office manages student
Culinary graduate Wallace Wong was named
concerns and codes of conduct at the
Graphics for a sustainability wall in IKEA one of 12 competitors on the 2019 edition of the
college. The office was established following
Canada’s new store in Québec City were Food Network’s Top Chef Canada. He ended the
a six-month research and development
designed by students in Conestoga’s competition in the top 3.
project that included consultation with 300
stakeholders across the college community. Visual Merchandising Arts program. The
installation took place earlier this year.

Year in Review
Dr. Veronique Boscart, executive dean, School of Health & Life
The new Test Centre at the Doon campus is a
Sciences, was named president of the Canadian Association
5,000 square-foot space designed with acoustical
on Gerontology. Last summer she received the Order of Merit,
features for noise reduction that can accommodate
Research Award from the Canadian Nurses Association.
testing for more than 130 students.

Broadcasting student Edwin Huras worked with

the Perimeter Institute and other partners to
create an announcement video for the unveiling
of the first image of a black hole. His video was
used by major media outlets in their coverage
of the event and has been viewed more than
640,000 times since its release.

Students in the Advertising and Marketing

Communications program applied their skills
to raise more than $20,000 for Send ‘Em Off
Smiling – a non-profit organization dedicated The new Student Wellness space at Doon opened
to providing backpacks filled with clothing last fall provides a calm, quiet area that offers
and supplies to underprivileged children in individual peer support, peer group workshops
the region. and private rooms for meditation and relaxation.

16 CONNECTIONS
 Awards
Conestoga Insurance students Ivy Tang and
Luke Upfold were presented with scholarships
from the John E. Lowes Education Fund in
November. Conestoga students have been
named recipients of the scholarship annually
for the last seven years.
Last fall, the Brantford campus was named
Champion of the Year by the Downtown
Brantford Business Improvement Area. The
campus has grown to support enrolment of
more than 500 students.
An animated video developed to highlight the
impact of Conestoga and its graduates on the
local community was recognized with the Award
of Distinction for Education Marketing in the
2018 Communicator Awards.
Conestoga faculty member Tracey Lopers was
named to the Supply Chain Management
Association’s first-ever list of 100 Influential
Women in Canadian Supply Chain.
Conestoga’s new VARLab specializes in
developing new academic learning experiences,
and exploring new technology and trends in
virtual and augmented reality.
Conestoga’s Library Services team was
honoured with a Library Architectural and Dion Sheppard, a 2019 Police Foundations
Design Transformation Award from the Ontario graduate, was one of three provincial winners
Library Association. The award recognizes of the Joe Moylan Award of Excellence.
excellence in renovations, restorations and Presented annually, the award recognizes
interior redesign and refurnishing in the Police Foundations or Law and Security
architectural design of libraries. Administration students who demonstrate high
academic achievement, a strong commitment to
community, portray strong leadership skills and
actively promote a healthy lifestyle.
In November, Culinary students Sydney
Lutz and Celina do Souto competed against
students across the country to win the title
of Canada’s Best New Student Chef. The pair
finished in second place.
Woodworking student Jennifer Norman placed
first at the 2019 Architectural Woodwork
Manufacturers Association of Canada Ontario
Apprenticeship Contest held in March. She also
won gold in the cabinetmaking competition at
the Ontario Skills competition.
Broadcasting - Television and Independent
Production student Gerard Browne won first
place in the music video category at the Canadian
Media Educators National Student Awards.
CONNECTIONS 17

Awards
In April, Conestoga Public Relations students
and graduates were honoured at the Emerge
Media Awards, winning both first and second
place in the PR category.
This year, United Way Waterloo Region
Communities named Conestoga a recipient
of its Rising Star award. In November 2018,
the college community raised more than
$39,000 to support United Way.
In April, Public Relations student Ahmed
Ullah received the Youth Activist Award
from the Canadian Council of Imams for his
advocacy and humanitarian efforts on behalf
of the Rohingya people.
18 CONNECTIONS
Conestoga received nearly $50,000 in funding
from the new Indigenous Research Capacity
and Reconciliation—Connection Grants, a
new federal program aimed at promoting
Indigenous research.
Broadcasting - Television and Independent
Production students were honoured with three
awards from the Broadcast Educators Association
of Canada in 2018.
Recent graduates and students in Conestoga’s
Graphic Design three-year diploma program won
both national and international industry awards
throughout the year.
Hospitality Management graduate Megan
Dron opened Red Eye Cafe and Donuts
last year. Her business has already been
recognized with a number of first-place wins in
the Cambridge Times Readers’ Choice Awards.
Wesley Lau, a student in the Architecture - Project
& Facility Management degree program, became
one of the most decorated student athletes in
the college’s history. The volleyball player is the
first from Conestoga to surpass the 1,000-career
point mark. He was also named the OCAA Men’s
Volleyball Player of the Year, OCAA West Division
First-Team All-Star and OCAA West Division
Scoring Champion.
Conestoga students finished the 2019 Skills
Ontario competition with 11 medals, and
received both gold and silver standing in the
cabinetmaking and welding categories.
Conestoga students earned five medals at the
2019 Skills Canada National Competition held
May 28-30 in Halifax. They were among more
than 550 students and apprentices from across
the country who competed in more than 40
areas representing skilled trades and technology
sectors. ACET student Mackenzie Carroll brought
home gold for Ontario in the Architectural
Technology and Design division.
Student Profile
Saifullah Muhammad: Journalism graduate will be the voice of his people
Through his advocacy work, recent Conestoga
Journalism graduate Saifullah Muhammad
speaks with the Honourable Bob Rae, former
Ontario premier and former interim leader of the
Liberal Party of Canada, and now Canada’s Special
Envoy to Myanmar, almost daily. He’s met with
Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland too
many times to count, and he’s had the opportunity
to sit down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on
three occasions.
All this, and Muhammad, a Rohingya refugee,
has only been in Canada since 2016. Now, with
the Conestoga credential he received at spring
convocation, he also has the distinction of being
the very first Rohingya to be professionally trained
as a journalist.
The Rohingya are members of the Muslim
minority in Myanmar. More than 700,000 fled
to Bangladesh in 2017 alone following the
Myanmar government’s most brutal genocidal
campaign against Rohingya civilians to date,
which according to a UN report, “brutally and
systematically violated the human rights of ethnic
minorities throughout the country.”
In Bangladesh, more than 1 million Rohingya
remain stateless and homeless, and live with the
trauma of the violence they have encountered.
Muhammad described the situation as dire.
His own parents have lived in a refugee camp
since 1992, but he managed to leave the
camp to attend school, secured a scholarship
for a university in Thailand, and later moved
to Malaysia where he taught at a UN school.
Mohammad is fortunate despite living in a
refugee camp for 15 years: most youth in the
camps have no access to education.
In 2006, the first few Rohingya families arrived in
Kitchener. Since then, many others have settled
in the city in an effort to stay together and share a
common culture.
Muhammad estimates more than 300 of the
nearly 500 Rohingya refugees living in Canada
call Waterloo Region home, with the vast majority
seeking skills training at Conestoga. He believes
approximately 50 Rohingya youth have either
graduated or are enrolled at the college.
Like Muhammad, other students from his
community have fled violence, and most still
have family members living in refugee camps.
Collectively, they want the world to know
what’s going on in their community, but of
the 3.5 million Rohingya, not one holds a
journalism credential.
“Originally I wanted to study English,
but I had community leaders around
the world encouraging me to pursue
journalism. We have many citizen
reporters. Some Rohingya youth
launched Rohingya Vision TV and
received training from AP on how to
write basic news stories, but none
were trained professionally.”
- Saifullah Muhammad
Enrolling at Conestoga provided Muhammad the
opportunity to develop skills to help shed light on
the ongoing refugee crisis. And he did this while
also serving as an advocate for his community.
He writes a blog, has co-authored an editorial in
the Toronto Star, lends time to other associations
and agencies, and consults frequently with the
Canadian government to support its response to
the Rohingya crisis.
He helped found the Canadian Rohingya
Development Initiative, held a rally in Toronto
that welcomed 10,000 supporters, and has been
invited to speak at the House of Commons and the
Senate, the UN General Assembly, the European
Parliament and an education conference in Dubai.
He’s also a father of two and is committed to
supporting Rohingya youth. He hopes to bring
students here so they can contribute positively
to Canadian society and wants to establish
scholarship funds for his community both here
and abroad.
“It’s not a burden,” said Muhammad when asked
about the pressure he may face as the voice of
his people. “We have everything here, but our
brothers and sisters need our voice. I’m trying to
give back to my community and it’s a pleasure
to do it.”
Speaking engagements and advocacy work left
little time for Muhammad to focus on his studies,
but he managed to meet his deadlines and
thanked Conestoga faculty member Larry Cornies
for his guidance and encouragement.
“I think faculty feel a responsibility to all students,
regardless of their age or background or
intention,” said Cornies. “But it’s a rare thing to
come across a student as passionate as Saifullah
about the power of journalism to inform, motivate
and help solve big problems. Good students
bring out the best in their teachers and so, yes,
I certainly felt an extra obligation to help him
achieve his aims, given the importance of his
cause and how focused he was on it.”
In addition to sharing their stories, Muhammad
would also like to bring peace to his community
and has been accepted into the University of
Waterloo’s Master of Peace and Conflict Studies
program. He credits his success at Conestoga for
helping him gain admission to the program.
“I can’t imagine that after living my whole life as
a refugee, being a newcomer to Canada, working
consistently for the community, supporting
family and travelling to different places to speak
at conferences about the Rohingya people, that I
CONNECTIONS 19
 would be able to maintain good grades in the program. However, at the
end of my studies at Conestoga College, I feel an immense feeling of pride
and accomplishment.”
Saifullah Muhammad graduated from Conestoga’s two-year Journalism
diploma program with distinction and was listed on the Dean’s honour list.
He was also named the winner of the Waterloo Region Record student award
for Most Dedicated Journalist.
F OSTERIN G EXC E LLE N C E
Elizabeth Coar (left) is a chartered
accountant who runs her own business
and teaches part-time at Conestoga. She FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
INNOVATION IN TEACHING & LEARNING
is pictured here with Kathryn Brillinger,
Teaching & Learning.
Conestoga’s 1,500 full and part-time faculty members define and shape
the learning experience within – and even beyond – the classroom.
Armed with real-world experience, a passion for teaching, and a strong
commitment to their students, they are also provided with ongoing
opportunities to innovate, develop new skills for the classroom, and meet
the needs of a highly diverse student body.
The Teaching & Learning team at Conestoga promotes and supports
educational leadership while building capacity to support students’
learning experience. Using evidence-based approaches, the group works
with faculty and academic areas across the college to achieve continuous
quality improvement in both program design and delivery.
One key area of emphasis is faculty development.
“Teaching & Learning exists to ensure all faculty at Conestoga are prepared
before they enter the classroom, and remain supported throughout their
20 CONNECTIONS
“I have no doubt that Saifullah will achieve his goal of becoming the first
professionally trained journalist from his community to report on the crisis
it faces,” said Cornies. “In many ways, he has already achieved that. Once his
journalistic training is paired with graduate work in peace and conflict studies
at UW, his voice and profile will become even more influential, despite his
soft-spoken manner. I hope the world hears it.”
Being a leader in polytechnic
education is no accident.
It requires an unwavering
commitment to excellence in
programming and services
that can support learners as
they create successful futures
for themselves, their families
and communities.
teaching career,” said Kathryn Brillinger, Associate Director, Teaching
& Learning. “We’re dedicated to better understanding and improving
student learning by supporting faculty development.”
According to Brillinger, the college takes a progressive approach to
ensuring that all faculty have a foundation for teaching excellence
through mandatory training sessions for new faculty that comprise part
of their orientation and onboarding process. These sessions help to set
expectations as well as building a framework for continuous improvement.
“New faculty are not only introduced to Conestoga,” said Brillinger, “they’re
also introduced to our team and the supports that are available to them as
they continue to develop their skills.”
Laura Stoutenburg, a consultant on the Teaching & Learning team, has
spent much of the last year delivering training sessions and faculty support
services in Brantford as the college expands its presence in the city.
“While there is a strong focus on what outcomes are expected as faculty
prepare to start teaching, there is also an expectation that as a team,
Teaching & Learning will keep moving forward to explore next steps in
educational support,” said Stoutenburg. “It’s our job to stay on top of
trends in education and understand how students are changing so that
we can anticipate not only their needs, but also the support our faculty will
need in order to deliver quality teaching.”
Rooted in industry
To produce career-ready graduates, programs must reflect real-world
conditions and include the most up-to-date industry knowledge. Input
from industry and community partners contributes to the achievement of
such goals, but faculty, who bring with them substantial industry expertise,
play a key role as well.
Many of the college’s part-time faculty have deep industry roots.
Elizabeth Coar is a chartered professional accountant who teaches part-
time at Conestoga in addition to running her own business. She holds
a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and has spent
15 years working as an accountant for various services and
manufacturing companies.
For instructors like Coar who are new to teaching, there’s an obvious
learning curve. Training provided at orientation lays the foundation for
teaching excellence, but support doesn’t stop there. In-class observations,
consultations and online resources are all used as tools to help instructors
at Conestoga develop their teaching skills.
“We help faculty to foster student success – that
could be through providing feedback on rubrics, tips
to help facilitate group work and participation, or
strategies to implement best practices for classroom
engagement.” - Laura Stoutenburg
According to Stoutenburg, providing support and opportunities for
developmental feedback is important for the delivery of a quality teaching
and learning experience, especially for new faculty.
Coar agrees.
“The training sessions build up your expectations, and the positive
reinforcement helps you realize the potential in the classroom,” she said.
“It allows me to create a richer experience for students by using what I’ve
learned from Teaching & Learning to relate my experience in industry to
what is in the curriculum.”
For students, there’s a clear benefit, but Coar benefits as well. “I don’t
want to just be in the classroom,” she said. “I want to stay rooted in
industry and bring that real-world experience to students, because I really
do enjoy both.”
Global perspectives
With more than 7,000 international students
as well as many who are newcomers to Canada,
Conestoga classrooms are rich in cultural diversity.
“As diversity increases at Conestoga, the dynamic in the classroom is
starting to shift,” said Brillinger. “Not only are we seeing an increase in
international students, but we are seeing an increase in internationally
trained faculty.”
Rajul Singh teaches in Conestoga’s School of Business, specializing in
Sustainable Business Management. She holds a PhD in Environmental
Toxicology from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in India and has more
than 15 years’ experience teaching and developing curriculum in post-
secondary institutions. She moved to Canada with her family five years ago.
“I love to teach – I love to share information and I’m
passionate about my subject matter. I didn’t want to
have to give it up when I moved to Canada.”
- Rajul Singh
Transitioning to a Canadian post-secondary institution comes with a unique
set of challenges, whether you’re a student or an instructor. For Singh, it
required adapting her teaching style to fit a new culture of learning, one
that was more informal than what she was accustomed to in India. It was
also recognizing and supporting the varying educational experiences of
students in her diverse classrooms.
Development and training opportunities focused on intercultural teaching
help Conestoga faculty in their efforts to interact with and support students
who are culturally, socially or otherwise different not only from each other,
but also from their instructors.
“Intercultural teaching is being aware of the diversity in the classroom,”
said Brillinger. “It’s recognizing, for example, that for some international
students, active learning was never a part of their educational experience,
nor was engaging with faculty by using their first name.”
Understanding these differences in experience helps create a learning
environment that supports all students to achieve success and adds value
to a classroom by fostering a more global perspective.
CONNECTIONS 21
 “My entire experience with the
college so far has made me feel
valuable. I feel that my skills and
experience in the field are seen
as an asset, that the time spent
on my training and development
means I am worth being invested
in, and the welcoming and
supportive environment created
by my colleagues has made me
feel connected to the college
community.” - Katrina Sparks

The next generation of professionals

Laura Stoutenburg (left)
delivers training sessions
and services to support
faculty members like
Conestoga has seen substantial growth over the last few years, investing in expanded facilities, programming
Rajul Singh (centre) and and human resources that provide broader access to education and training. Part of that investment includes the
Katrina Sparks. development of talent to sustain innovation and growth.
Katrina Sparks is a part-time faculty member in Conestoga’s School of Community Services. She has worked in mental
health care since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Waterloo in 2006. With more
than 10 years at the Canadian Mental Health Association behind her, Sparks decided to give back to the field in 2018
by helping train the next generation.
“My entire experience with the college so far has made me feel valuable,” said Sparks. “I feel that my skills and
experience in the field are seen as an asset, that the time spent on my training and development means I am worth
being invested in, and the welcoming and supportive environment created by my colleagues has made me feel
connected to the college community.”
It is a combination that set her up for success and gave her confidence in her ability to teach.
The services provided through Teaching & Learning are designed to support students by investing in faculty, enabling
the college to grow in a way that meets quality objectives.
“We can confidently tell faculty that from the time they are hired to their retirement, our team has something for them,”
said Brillinger. “We are invested in their development.”
For Sparks, seeing her students grow as they develop their skills and knowledge in the classroom is an indication
that she is doing something right in training the next generation of mental health care professionals. “It means,” said
Sparks, “that I have helped empower them to enter their communities and affect positive change.”

22 CONNECTIONS
Leaders in Teaching & Learning
FACULTY PROFILE - JUSTIN ST-MAURICE

Dr. Justin St-Maurice is committed to laying a foundation for student

success. As program coordinator of Conestoga’s Bachelor of Applied
Health Information Science program, his contributions in the classroom,
to the program, and throughout the community are exemplary to what
makes Conestoga a leader in polytechnic education.
St-Maurice joined the college in 2012 as a health informatics
technologist. In 2014, he took on a full-time faculty role and hit the
ground running.
A recent PhD graduate in Systems Design Engineering from the
University of Waterloo, St-Maurice plays an integral role in the
development of new curriculum, serves as principal investigator for
multiple projects at the college, and actively seeks to add to a robust
network of strategic partnerships to enhance classroom learning.
St-Maurice is helping prepare graduates for a number of in-demand
careers in the health-care industry.
Health information science uses technology and
information data to make improvements.

“We’re training students to look at the big

picture – to look at trends and data to find
solutions to process issues.” - Justin St-Maurice
He explained it using the idea of waiting in an ER – it’s not a clinical
issue. “You’re not waiting for four hours because the nurse has been
working the entire time to put ten stitches in. It’s a workflow issue. It’s
the way the ER is organized, it’s how patients are prioritized and triaged.
So whereas we have a lot of great clinicians that we are training at the
college, our program is unique in that we are focused on that big picture
in trying to find ways to make processes more efficient.”
A large part of that big-picture training is bringing the community and
industry into the classroom.
St-Maurice was instrumental in developing a public-private partnership
with Guelph General Hospital, software company Information Builders
and Conestoga. “We knew our students needed to learn about business
intelligence,” said St-Maurice, “but didn’t necessarily have the latest skill
sets and business cases within our team.”
Through Information Builders, students are trained to use tools
that provide business intelligence, analytics and data management
solutions, which feeds into business cases shared by Guelph General
Hospital to demonstrate the need they have for certain data.

CONNECTIONS 23

The integration of real-life learning into curriculum is critical for
producing career-ready graduates who have the skills to meet today’s
labour-market needs, address tomorrow’s challenges, and contribute
to community prosperity.
“Our industry changes so quickly, that we really need
to incorporate that real-world content into courses so
that our graduates are prepared. It’s not something
we can do without community partners and part-time
faculty. Those perspectives are incredibly valuable
and without them, I don’t think we’d be nearly as
strong as we are as a program, or as a college.”
- Justin St-Maurice
St-Maurice has demonstrated a high degree of leadership in the
promotion of quality education. In 2018, he was honoured with the
Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching award, joining an esteemed
group built over a thirty-year tradition of recognizing and celebrating
outstanding contribution to teaching and learning at Conestoga.
The award is the college’s top honour for a faculty member.
24 CONNECTIONS
Colleagues and students alike echo sentiments of appreciation for
St-Maurice’s innovative and engaging style, his genuine passion for
teaching, and profound commitment to his students. As St-Maurice
will tell you, however, being a distinguished teacher is not about being
perfect – it is about evolving.
It is a model of teaching excellence that champions innovation in
education and research, serves community needs and priorities, and
empowers individuals from all backgrounds to achieve their potential.
Recognizing contributions and leadership
The Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes a faculty
member who has made an outstanding contribution to or has taken
a leadership role in the teaching and learning process at Conestoga.
Nominated by their students and peers, candidates are evaluated by
a committee comprised of full-time faculty members based on the
following criteria:
Competence in learning design
Innovation and creativity
Integrity and professionalism
Leadership in the promotion of quality in education
Concern for and sensitivity towards students
Actions as an ambassador for the college
The award is named in honour of Aubrey Hagar, a respected teacher,
mentor and innovator who fostered the pursuit of excellence in teaching
and learning. He sat on the college’s first Board of Governors in 1967 and
remained a distinguished member of the Conestoga community through
his time as faculty and as a senior academic officer.
Hagar played a key role in the development of programs in Conestoga’s
early days, establishing innovative approaches to ensure curriculum
remained current and provided students with the skills and knowledge
employers required. He mentored instructors – practitioners in their
fields – to develop their teaching skills so that real-world experience could
be effectively translated to the classroom. He also championed student
success, understanding that a college’s job is to prepare students for
successful careers.
The Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award has been presented
more than 30 times since its establishment in 1988. It includes an
inscribed and framed College Coat of Arms, a specially designed gold
liripipe, and a professional development bursary.
 5,000 + More than 5,000
Ontario businesses
are owned by
Conestoga graduates

$2.3B
Graduates contribute more than
$2.3 billion to the local economy
each year

Awards
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PROGRAM EXCELLENCE
Conestoga is committed to excellence and continuous improvement in
programming and services. A comprehensive suite of quality assurance
measures and processes used across the institution guide program
development and review, providing ongoing opportunities to assess and
enhance program quality to improve student outcomes.
That commitment is at the foundation of Conestoga’s vision for polytechnic
education, helping to ensure that graduates have the skills and knowledge
they need for career and life success.
Award recipients were determined by an international panel of judges.
Sacha Burrows, Conestoga’s manager of degree quality, accepted the award
on January 31 at CIQG’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
In addition to Conestoga, Western Governors University, based in Salt Lake
City, Utah, was also recognized for its commitment to advancing higher
education quality.
Sacha Burrows (centre) accepts the CIQG Quality Award on behalf of Conestoga.

Earlier this year, the college received international recognition for its
commitment to quality, being named as a recipient of the first-ever CIQG
Quality Award presented by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s
International Quality Group.
The award recognizes outstanding performance in meeting international
quality principles. CIQG officials describe it as “a celebration of good practice
and a demonstration of the major stake higher education providers have in
improving quality around the world.”

CONNECTIONS 25
 ADDRESSIN G REA L-WOR LD C H A LLE N G E S

RESEARCH PROFILE

BUILDING A PRODUCTIVE AND

SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE
Each year, thousands of newly minted college graduates cross convocation stages, proudly receive
congratulations from faculty, family and friends, and prepare to enter or return to the workforce.
They are confident that the skills and knowledge they’ve worked so hard to attain have positioned
them well for successful careers and futures. That confidence is well-placed.

Ontario college graduates have an enviable record of employment

achievement. Almost 86 per cent of new graduates last year attained
work within six months of completing their studies: for new Conestoga
graduates, the employment rate exceeded 89 per cent. More than 6.2 million individuals in
Canada suffer from disabilities that limit
But for many individuals, the path through a successful career and into a happy and healthy their ability to participate in the workforce.
retirement is interrupted by work-related injuries and disabilities that impede full participation in
the workforce and detract from the quality of life they had envisioned.
In Canada alone, an estimated 20 per cent of adults – more than 6.2 million individuals – suffer
from disabilities that limit their ability to participate in the workforce. The costs of disability take a
staggering toll on workers and their families, as well as on employers and taxpayers.
Analysts suggest that the total economic burden resulting from musculoskeletal disorders and
mental health conditions exceeds $75 billion in Canada each year: almost $20 billion of that total Mental illness affects 1 in 5 individuals
results from productivity losses. in Canada each year and is the
A new applied research institute recently launched at Conestoga is committed to reducing the social leading cause of disability.
and economic costs of workforce disability and positioning Canada as a global leader in workplace
health and safety that will protect workers while empowering businesses to adapt and thrive in an
increasingly competitive economy.
The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness and Performance is based in Conestoga’s School of
Business, but is truly global in perspective, working in collaboration with an extensive network of
partners and stakeholders across the college, throughout Canada and around the world.
The centre is led by Dr. Amin Yazdani, who holds a PhD in Kinesiology (Work and Health) from the
University of Waterloo, and joined Conestoga in 2015 as a faculty member and later as coordinator
for the college’s Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness graduate certificate program. He
continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member at both the University of Waterloo and McMaster
University, and was recently named as the 2018 recipient of the Young Leader Award by the
Standards Council of Canada for his extensive research focused on innovative approaches to
improving workplace health and safety through standardization. His leadership has resulted in the
development of a number of Canadian standards aimed to optimize work and health.

26 CONNECTIONS

Dr. Yazdani’s interest in improving workforce productivity and sustainability
through innovative health and safety strategies dates back to his days
as a practitioner in the field, when he recognized how often people’s
expectations for productive careers followed by transition into a healthy
retirement were overturned by injuries, illnesses or disabilities.
“I realized that much needs to be done in terms of developing policies,
practices and resources to make sure that workers are protected and that
businesses can perform and stay competitive in the global economy,”
Yazdani said.
“The new institute will focus not only on innovative,
transdisciplinary research, but also on transferring
that knowledge into practice and training the next
generation of leaders to integrate injury and
disability prevention into productive and sustainable
business models.” - Amin Yazdani
“Much needs to be done
in terms of developing
policies, practices and
resources to make sure that
workers are protected and that
businesses can perform and stay
competitive in the global economy.”
The institute will embrace a range of overarching research themes,
from reducing the risk of the musculoskeletal disorders that account for
more than 44 per cent of all lost-time work days in Ontario, to
identifying effective strategies for the prevention, early detection,
intervention and management of mental illness, now the leading
cause of disability in Canada.
One area of particular focus is protecting the safety and well-being of first
responders. More than 50 per cent of Canada’s paramedics suffer from
musculoskeletal disorders and injuries that often result from the challenges
associated with patient handling, care and transport. With support from
Defence Research Development Canada, the institute is collaborating
with organizations across the country for the development of a series of
standards to improve the safety, wellness and performance of paramedics.
First responders are also at high risk of suffering from post-traumatic stress
injury (PTSI) as well as fatigue. The institute’s leadership in developing
national, evidence-informed standards to manage those risks will further
prevent workplace disabilities and provide an added measure of safety not
just for emergency personnel, but also for all of those who depend on first
responders in emergency situations.
CONNECTIONS 27
 Although the projects are focused on the development of national standards for
Canada, they have attracted substantial attention from researchers and policy makers
in Europe as well.
Dr. Yazdani is now focused on building a research team to develop the Canadian
Institute for Safety, Wellness and Performance as an international leader in both
research and education for productive and sustainable work. Two research scientists
with ergonomics and public health experience have been hired to date, and the team is
expected to grow further.
It’s an ambitious vision, but clearly one that is already on its way to being realized. In
the summer of 2019 alone, Yazdani travelled to Italy, Denmark and Belgium as well as
across Canada to present his research findings at a number of national and international
scientific conferences and meetings.
And while he may no longer have day-to-day responsibilities in the classroom,
Yazdani will continue to contribute to the education and development of Conestoga
students, providing student research opportunities, maintaining connections with the
Occupational Health and Safety grad certificate program, and integrating new research
findings into curriculum development.
For Gary Hallam, executive dean of the School of Business, the new institute is a
microcosm of Conestoga itself, with a strongly applied focus on improving the workforce
and increasing business productivity to build stronger, more prosperous communities.

“In addition to the moral and ethical imperative around

Amin Yazdani and his
team are focused on new
research that will protect
individuals and enhance
workplace productivity.
protecting and supporting individuals in the workplace,
there’s also a tremendous productivity incentive for reducing
workforce disabilities.” - Gary Hallam
“For all types of businesses, as well as for government, the financial impact resulting
from injuries and disabilities is staggering,” Hallam continued. “Reducing those costs
through improved health and safety standards will provide a long-term boost to our
economic competitiveness.”
Conestoga is currently developing a series of online courses and microcredentials to
increase access to occupational health and safety training for businesses and individuals
across Canada and beyond.

1 Knowledge Transfer and Exchange

The Canadian Institute
for Safety, Wellness and
Performance will focus
on SEVEN overarching
research themes:
2 Musculoskeletal Health
3 Mental Health and Wellness
4 Organizational Management Systems
5 disAbility and Employment
6 Changing Work and Workforce
7 Designing Work, Products and Environments

28 CONNECTIONS
 Priority Research Areas
Conestoga’s Applied Research Strategic
Plan for 2019-2021 identifies 10 priority
areas for applied research and innovation.
They include:
Information and Communications
Technology
Cybersecurity
Smart Manufacturing & Digital Innovation
Technology for Sustainable Living
Healthy Communities
Seniors Care
Workplace Health & Safety
Supply Chain Excellence
Food Innovation & Technology
Indigenous Initiatives

ADDRESSING REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES:

DELIVERING SOLUTIONS
THROUGH APPLIED
RESEARCH
Working in close collaboration with industry and community partners is a hallmark of polytechnic education.
These partners play a significant role in the quality of Conestoga’s programming and graduates by contributing
their expertise to program development and review processes as well as providing co-op and experiential learning
opportunities that prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving workforce. The college’s growing emphasis on
applied research adds an extra dimension to this long-established collaboration as well, addressing innovation needs,
providing solutions to real-world challenges and serving as an important vehicle for economic development here in
our region and across Canada.
A new Conestoga facility opened in June 2018 has provided a major boost to the college’s research capacity, supporting
“The world today innovation in Smart Manufacturing and Advanced Recycling Technologies that will improve effectiveness and
and in the future efficiencies in manufacturing while contributing to increased sustainability through a focus on lifecycle technologies.

is increasingly an Located at 96 Grand Avenue South in Cambridge’s Gaslight District, the facility was developed with support provided by
the City of Cambridge as well as HIP Developments. It also hosts Conestoga’s Applied Research and Innovation (CARI)
electronic one.” office, the team that provides services, administration and support for applied research activities across the college.
- Barbara Fennessy
Additional services in the repurposed 19th century industrial building include Grand Innovations, a new business
incubator centre, as well as Invest Cambridge, the city’s economic development group, and a number of other partners
who will work in collaboration to support business development from startup through growth stages.

CONNECTIONS 29
 Designing for sustainability
Manufacturing continues to be the single largest industry sector in Waterloo
Region’s diverse economy, accounting for close to 18 per cent of all local
employment. As Dr. Barbara Fennessy, Conestoga’s vice president of Applied
Research, points out, new technologies and digital innovation are changing the
very nature of the sector, bringing with them not only new opportunities and
efficiencies, but also new challenges.
“The world today and in the future is increasingly an electronic one,” Fennessy
said. “It’s much more than just computers and cell phones. As we bring in new
technologies such as automation and robotics, artificial intelligence, and other
digital innovations, there are simply more electronics in the world.”

“As manufacturers and consumers alike enjoy the

many advantages that digital innovation brings, we
also need to consider how to deal with the unintended
consequence, which is electronic waste.” - Barbara Fennessy
According to a 2018 report from the Earth Institute at Columbia University, the world’s population created 49 million tons of electronic waste (discarded
computers, cell phones, printers, televisions, microwaves, smoke alarms, and other electronic equipment and parts) in 2016. That total is expected to
increase to more than 60 million tons by 2021. Much of it ends up in landfills: estimates indicate that less than 20 per cent is properly recycled.
With support of federal and provincial research grants, Conestoga is combining
established applied research strengths in next-generation manufacturing and e-waste
recycling for the creation of the SMART (Smart Manufacturing and Advanced Recycling
Technologies) Centre to be located at the research hub in Cambridge.
By Fall 2019, the new centre will include a unique, fully functioning Waste Electrical
and Electronic Recycling pilot plant that will use advanced technologies such as artificial
intelligence and machine learning to provide new solutions for dismantling electronics,
removing plastics, recovering precious or rare earth metals for re-use, and making
recycling economically feasible.
The pilot plant is the latest extension of the work by Dr. Hamid Karbasi, Conestoga’s
NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Advanced Recycling Technologies for
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Bringing advanced manufacturing and e-waste recycling under a single umbrella
through the SMART Centre will provide Conestoga with unique capacity to address the
growing concerns of industry, governments and communities related to sustainability.
It’s somewhat familiar territory for Dr. Stephen Cross, who assumed his role as director
of Applied Research at Conestoga in November 2018. A world-class researcher in his
own right, Cross has served as NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Sustainable Aquaculture since 2012, developing collaborative
projects to support an environmentally and socio-economically sustainable coastal aquaculture sector through his work at North Island College
in British Columbia.
“A dedicated facility that houses both the smart manufacturing side and the smart de-manufacturing side provides us with a great opportunity
to specialize in full lifecycle technologies,” Cross explained. “By exploring how to build new electronic devices that can easily be de-
manufactured at the end of their lifecycle, we can support manufacturers in their efforts to be more sustainable.”
Cross points out that industry garners direct benefits from recycling: companies can re-use or sell materials recovered through the recycling
process, improving profitability and reducing reliance on external suppliers. The challenge to date has been making recycling economically
viable, something that may be addressed in part through sustainable design, working with manufacturers from the beginning of the product
lifecycle to integrate considerations for end-of-life de-manufacturing and recycling.

30 CONNECTIONS

“Really great innovations often happen at the
intersection of disciplines. Here, we’re working at
the intersection of environmental management and
advanced manufacturing, predominantly engineering
and IT technologies, as well as the software
development to support an expanded and integrated
set of activities.” - Barbara Fennessy
Conestoga and partners at 96 Grand will host an opening celebration in
Winter 2020 to showcase the new facility.
Building research capacity
The SMART Centre in Cambridge may be Conestoga’s newest standalone
research facility, but applied research across the college has expanded
exponentially in recent years, with a strong focus on inter- and
transdisciplinary activities.
“We’ve really ramped up,” Fennessy explained. “We’ve expanded our team
and created a focus on centres across the college. Research touches every
school and academic area, from seniors care in Health & Life Sciences and
mental health in Community Services to occupational health and safety and
a whole range of engineering activities to support local industry needs.”
“We are tremendously fortunate to have outstanding industry and
community partners, who are themselves leaders in the field, to provide
support for our applied research activities,” she continued.
In Fennessy’s view, applied research is a core component of Conestoga’s
polytechnic mandate.
“The WEEE pilot plant will provide us with
essential capacity to recover rare earth
elements that are vital for building new
electronic products and equipment as well
as for renewable energy technologies such
as solar panels, electric cars and windmills.”
- Hamid Karbasi
“Conestoga is one of the region’s most important contributors of innovation
as well as talent,” she said. “Through applied research, we contribute very
significantly to solving industry challenges, and serve as an important
vehicle for economic development across our region and beyond.”
More than 3,600 students and close to 270 faculty members were engaged
in applied research activities at Conestoga over the last year. In addition
to industry partners, the college also receives funding through agencies
such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
(NSERC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and the Ontario
Research Fund (ORF). In addition, the college collaborates with the Ontario
Centres of Excellence (OCE) and is a member of the Southern Ontario
Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) funded by
FedDev Ontario.
The college’s extensive applied research activity, which attracts
approximately $10 million in funding each year, has earned Conestoga
a ranking among Canada’s top 25 research colleges.
There are a myriad of other benefits as well. Industry benefits through
the development of new products and processes that help keep them
competitive in the global market. Through participation in applied research,
faculty members remain engaged in learning about new developments
in their fields, which helps keep programs aligned with industry needs
now and into the future. Students benefit through real-life learning
opportunities and connections with industry that support their future
success. The college benefits as well, through the enhanced reputation that
results from the quality research undertaken to support industry needs.
For more information about applied research at Conestoga, visit
www.conestogac.on.ca/research
CONNECTIONS 31

Moving to net zero
SOLUTIONS FOR
SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH
Across Canada and around the world, political leaders, research scientists
and advocacy groups continue to debate the best approaches for
addressing the critical issue of climate change. But whether it’s best
achieved through taxation or incentive programs, taking proactive
measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is widely accepted as
the best approach for reducing the impacts of climate change for a greener,
more sustainable future.
At Conestoga, sustainability concerns are embedded in a wide range of
programs, from Construction Engineering Technology and Project & Facility
Management to Interior Design and Sustainable Business Management.
These programs are preparing students not only to address current and
emerging workforce needs, but also to be contributors to advancing
sustainability within their future workplaces. Developing technology for a
sustainable future is also among the college’s top applied research priorities,
with a particular focus on advanced recycling for waste electronics.
Given the strong focus on sustainability and reduced emissions in
classrooms and laboratories, it comes as little surprise that the college also
walks its talk, placing environmental sustainability at the forefront of both
new development projects and ongoing operations.
Conestoga took a major step forward with the construction of the
Engineering & Technology campus in Cambridge, which was built with a
focus on the sustainable use of energy and carbon. Opened in 2011, it was
among the first post-secondary campuses in Ontario to be awarded LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification by the
Canada Green Building Council.
Since that time, Conestoga has continued to enhance sustainability features
across its growing network of campuses.
32 CONNECTIONS
Over the last year, in partnership with Blackstone Energy Services, the
college installed a 500 kW solar photovoltaic system at the Cambridge
campus that will generate close to 800 MWh of clean power each year,
reducing demand and emissions from Ontario’s natural gas-fired power
plants. The project was completed with funding provided by Ontario’s
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The solar project powers a 225 tonne ground-source geothermal heat pump
that replaces traditional heating and cooling equipment such as gas-fired
boilers, hot water heating systems, chillers and cooling towers.
The result: a 90 per cent reduction of GHG at
the campus, which represents 390 tonnes of GHG
emissions annually, the equivalent of removing
nearly 100 cars from the road.
A recent major expansion at the Waterloo campus included the installation
of solar photovoltaic cells as well as chilled water storage, low-flow water
fixtures, LED lighting and demand controlled lighting, among other
features. Combined, they will achieve 50 per cent more energy efficiency
than levels proposed in the model national energy code.
A multi-million dollar renovation to the exterior façade of the Guelph
campus, which included the installation of new windows, is also part of the
college’s ongoing energy initiatives that will result in additional emissions
reductions.
According to Tony Sasso, who leads Utilities Sustainability & Facilities
Information Systems at Conestoga, these projects place the college at the
forefront in sustainability among the province’s colleges.
Earlier this year, Conestoga also received a Community Environmental Fund
Sustainability Grant from Waterloo Region to support the installation of
electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the college’s Doon and Waterloo
campuses.
“The initial installations will serve as beta sites,” explained Sasso. “To signal
our role as environmental leaders in the community, it’s our overall goal to
have four electric vehicle charging stations at every campus so that we can
serve current and future EV owners.”
While large-scale renovations and sustainability projects unfold across
Conestoga’s network of campuses, efforts are also underway within the
college community to engage employees and students in waste diversion.
Rachel Lowe, recently hired as the college’s first full-time sustainability
coordinator, is undertaking waste audits at all campuses, and will develop
goals to increase the college’s waste diversion numbers in the future.
She will also support Conestoga’s future participation in Sustainability
Waterloo Region’s annual Carbon Cleanse Challenge — a series of
sustainability challenges that follow weekly themes around heating,
electricity, waste and commuting.
For more information about sustainability initiatives at Conestoga, visit
www.conestogac.on.ca/facilities-management/sustainability
CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING GRADUATES
Two Conestoga alumni joined the ranks of Ontario’s most distinguished college
graduates in November 2018, when they were named recipients of Premier’s Awards.
Established in 1992, the awards recognize the tremendous contribution that Ontario’s college graduates make here in the province and throughout the
world. Selected by an independent panel of judges from nominations submitted by Ontario’s 24 public colleges, award recipients have demonstrated
outstanding success related to their college experience and have made significant contributions to their communities.

Apprenticeship Award Recent Graduate Award

Don Gosen Allie Libertini
Air and Water Resources Technology – 1974; Electrical Apprentice – 1980 Community Integration through Co-operative Education – 2017

Don Gosen has been described as the Ontario apprenticeship program’s
biggest champion.
Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen the system by
fostering collaborations, promoting pathways and mentoring students.
As chair of the Ontario College of Trades (OCoT) and director of the
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Gosen worked to bridge communication
and strengthen ties between OCoT and government, union and non-union
organizations, and employers and students.
He sponsored more than 70 apprentices over his four decades as
president of Gosen Electric Ltd. before ceding the company to three
of his former trainees. Since returning to Conestoga as an instructor,
Gosen has impacted more than 200 students in the Electrical
Apprenticeship program.
Prior to being named as the first-ever Premier’s Awards recipient in
the Apprenticeship category, Gosen received the Minister’s Award for
Apprenticeship Training (2007), an Award of Excellence from the Waterloo
Region Board of Education (2009) and Conestoga’s Alumni of Distinction
award (2009).
Even among the outstanding graduates of a unique program for students
with learning challenges and exceptionalities, Allie Libertini stands out.
A world-leading Nordic skier, she represented Canada at the 2017 Special
Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, earning two silver medals.
An advocate of healthy living, Libertini volunteers at a community kitchen
and works as an assistant server and member of the food prep team at a
local restaurant. She was also instrumental in recruiting young women to
her gym’s first inclusive women’s program, where she remains a leader
and role model to many.
As a valued ambassador of Conestoga and her program, Libertini was also
named among Conestoga’s 2017 Alumni of Distinction award recipients
in recognition of her achievements and contributions to the community.
In addition to Don Gosen and Allie Libertini, a number of other
Conestoga graduates have been honoured with Premier’s Awards
in recognition of their achievements:
Tahani Aburaneh (Business Administration — Management
Studies, 1987) – Premier’s Award for Business, 2013
Chameli Naraine (Business Administration – Materials
Management, 1983) – Premier’s Award for Business, 2012
Marianne Walker (Nursing, 1977) – Premier’s Award for Health
Sciences, 2015

CONNECTIONS 33
 CELEBRATING OUR
EMPLOYEE TEAM
The dedication and commitment of Conestoga employees makes
a tremendous difference in the lives and futures of our students,
and contributes directly to the well-being and prosperity of our
broader community.
Conestoga students come to us from highly diverse backgrounds and
experiences – from recent high school graduates to post-secondary
degree holders to mid-life career changers. They include new Canadians
and those who have travelled across the world for the opportunity to live
and learn here in our region, as well as those who have always called our
community home. What they share, however, is the desire to succeed and
the willingness to work hard to achieve their dreams.
Together, we are championing innovation in education and research,
serving community needs and priorities, and empowering individuals from
all backgrounds to achieve their potential.

Guild Reception
In January, the Conestoga community recognized college employees
who had recently achieved milestone anniversaries at the college –
10 to 40 years of service, as well as those who had retired. Together,
the 275 honourees contributed more than 4,000 years of service.

United Way Campaign

Conestoga is committed to serving the whole community and recognizes
that there are many people in the region who need some support and
assistance. In November, the college community raised more than $39,000
to support United Way to assist the most vulnerable members of our society
and help build a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.

34 CONNECTIONS
+VG Architects (The Ventin Group) · 31st Line Strategic Communications · 3M Canada Company · ABA Architects · ABB · Abbey Packaging Equipment · Abell Pest Control · ABEX - Affiliated Brokers Exchange · Academy Construction
1996 · ACCO Group · Accucaps Industries · ACL Steel · Advance Construction Equipment · Advanced Motion & Controls · Adventureworks Associates · AECOM · Affiliated Services for Children and Youth · Agfa HealthCare · Agropur · Aids
Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo · Air Canada · Air Liquide Canada · Air Transport Association of Canada · Alder Construction Group · Alectra Utilities · Algoma District Services Administration Board · ALIGNED Insurance ·
Allensen Interiors & Associates · Allianz Global Assistance · ALS Consulting · ALS Environmental · Altruck International Truck Centres · Ample Organics · Anishnabeg Outreach Employment & Training · Answer Precision Tool · Apex Cycle
Sports · Apple · Aramark Canada · Arcadian Projects · Ardee Consulting · Arnold Hearing Centres · Artemis Canada · Artistrhe Beauty Studio · Arvizio · Association Francophone de Kitchener Waterloo · Association of Hearing Instrument
Practitioners of Ontario · Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario · ATS Automation Tooling Systems · Auditorium Neighbourhood Association · Avon Maitland District School Board · Avvia Renewable Energy · Awmac ·
Aztec Electrical Supply · Babcock & Wilcox · Back Works Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation · Baldor Electric Canada · Ball Construction · Ball Service Group · ballyhoo media · Barber-Collins Security Services · Barnswallow Place · Barrick
Gold Corporation · Bauhaus Window Coverings · Bayshore Health Care · BDO Canada LLP · Bell Media - CTV Calgary · Belle Aura Natural Skin & Body · Bender Construction · Bentall Kennedy · Bernafon Canada · Beyond The Stage
Homes · Bingemans · Bird Packaging · BlackBerry · Blue Coat Systems · Blue North Strategies · Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation · Bluewater Wood Alliance · Blum Canada · BMO Nesbitt Burns · Bob McIver · Bolton Railings
· Bombardier · Boreal Solar · Bowman Precision Tooling · Brantford General Hospital · Brantford Probation & Parole Services · Brian Kurtz Trucking · Britman Electrical, Safety & Controls Products · Britton Auto Parts Guelph · Burlington
Cycle · Burlington Hydro · Business Centre Guelph Wellington · BWX Technologies · Cabinet Effects · Cachet Cleantech · Cambridge Central Ambulance Communications Centre · Cambridge Country Manor · Cambridge Fire
Department · Cambridge Memorial Hospital · Cambridge Rigging Central Limited · Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank · Cambridge Solutions · Camcor Manufacturing · Camilla House · Campana Systems · Camtac Manufacturing ·
Canada Post · Canadian Association of Equipment Dealers · Canadian Food Inspection Agency · Canadian General Tower · Canadian Health Information Management Association · Canadian Hearing Society - Waterloo Region · Canem
Systems · Capital Paving · Capone’s Beer and Wine · Cardinal Fine Cabinetry · Cardy Winters & Simon, Chartered Professional Accountants · CarePartners · Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes · CargoJet Airways · Carrier
Centres · Car-San Manufacturing · Carter Design · Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team · Centre for International Governance Innovation · Centre Wellington Hydro · Challenger Motor Freight · Canadian Home & Renovation
Team · Chartwell Retirement Residences · Chase Project Management Done Right · Chicopee Ski Club · Chippewas of Rama First Nation Education Services · Christie Digital Systems · CIB Health Centre · CIBC · City of Brampton · City
of Brantford Fire Department · City of Cambridge · City of Cambridge Fire Department · City of Guelph · City of Kitchener · City of Mississauga · City of Stratford · City of Toronto · City of Waterloo · CJ Equestrian · Clair Hills Retirement
Community · Clearpath Robotics · Closing the Gap Healthcare Group · CMHA Grand River Branch · CMT Engineering · Cober Solutions · Coco Paving · Codesyne -Integrated Technology · Cohen Highley LLP · Collaborative Structures
Limited · College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario · Colt Canada Corporation · COM DEV · Communitech · Community Car Share · Community Care Access Centre of Waterloo Region · Community Employment Choices · Community
Justice Initiatives · Community Living Guelph Wellington · Community Support Connections - Meals on Wheels and More · Conestoga Meat Packers · Conestogo Mechanical · Conservation Halton · Convex Studio · Cooper Standard
Automotive · Correctional Service Canada · County of Brant · County of Brant Ambulance Service · County of Dufferin · County of Huron · County of Wellington - Ontario Works · Cox Construction · Crawford & Company (Canada) · Cross

More than 1,000 industry and community leaders

Heating & Air Conditioning · CTV Television · Culinary Adventure Co. · CWB Group Industry Services · Cycle Tech · D & D Automation · D’arcy Lane Institute of Massage · Dare Foods · Davis Design · DBD Construction & Renovations · DC
Foods · Dean Lane Contractors · Deloitte LLP · Delta Air Systems · Dematic · Derek Whitney · Designs by Cate · DeZurik of Canada · DHL Supply Chain · Diemedic Tool & Machine · Dietitians of Canada · District of Timiskaming EMS ·
Division of University Advancement · Dome Productions · Domino’s Supply Chain Centre · Donald R. McNichol Consulting · Dr. S. R. Wlodarczyk · DrewBar Project Solutions · Drouillard Sambrook Kingston LLP · Dueck, Sauer, Jutzi &
drawn from top businesses and organizations
Noll LLP · Dural/ IFS Adhesives · E&R Schwarz Masonry · E.B. Cross & Company · Eastforest Homes · Eaton · Echosims · Eclipse Automation · Educare Preschool · Eestairs America · Efficiency Engineering · Egar Tool & Die · eHealth Centre
of Excellence · Elemental Interior Design · EllisDon Corporation · Elmira District Community Living · Elmira Pet Products · Elmira Truck Service · Embody Health Centre · Engineer Your Brand · English at First (LINC) · Eramosa

across our region and beyond contribute to the

Engineering · Erb and Erb Insurance Brokers · Erie Innovation and Commercialization · Erie Meat Products · Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network · ERTH Power Corporation · Europro Real Estate · Euteneier Ludwig · Expressway
Motors · Extend-A-Family · Faithlife Financial · Family & Children Services - Waterloo Region · Famme & Co · FANUC Robotics · Fashion History Museum · Fastenal · Fat Sparrow Group · Fermar Paving · Festival Hydro · Financly
Bookkeeping Solutions · FinEx Group · FIO Automotive Canada · Fit Body Boot Camp · Flo Components · Flynn Canada · Fork And Cork Grill · Forterra Pipe & Precast · Forwell Materials · Four County Labour Market Planning Board ·

quality of Conestoga programs through their

Franklin Empire · Frey Building Contractors · G Adventures · Galt Massage Therapy · Gateman Milloy · General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada · George and Asmussen Limited (GA Masonry) · GeoSmart Energy · Gerrie Electric · GHD
· Giffen Lawyers LLP · GK Interior Solutions · Glen Dimplex Americas · Globe and Mail · Globus Family of Brands · Golden Triangle Roofing · Goliger’s TravelPlus · Google · Gore Mutual Insurance Company · Gosen Electric · Grand Erie
District School Board · Grand River Conservation Authority · Grand River Foods (Waterloo) · Grand River Hospital · Grand River Transit · Great Canadian Coaches · Great Floors · Great Lakes Helicopter · Great-West Lifeco · Greg Vann
service on Program Advisory Committees.
Nissan · Greystone Design Group · Guelph Fire Department · Guelph General Hospital · Guelph Hydro Electric Systems · Guelph Police Service · Guelph Tool · Guelph Volkswagen · Guelph-Wellington EMS · Häfele Canada · Hall Labour
Relations Services · Hallman Animation Studios · Halton Healthcare Services Corporation · Halton Hills Hydro · Halton Region Paramedic Services · Hamilton Family Health Team · Hamilton Health Sciences · Hamilton Wentworth
District School Board · Hammond Power Solutions · Hartmann North America · HD Style Studio · Healing of the 7 Generations · Hear More Canada · Hearing Centre of Burlington · HearingLife Canada · Henley House and Moore
Enterprises · Heritage Brick & Stone · Hewlett-Packard Canada · Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie · Highway Sterling Western Star · HL Staebler Company · HMA Equipment · Holcim (Canada) · HOMAG Canada · Home Depot of
Canada · Home Hardware Stores · Homewood Health Centre · Honeypot Marketing · Honeywell · Hucker Floor Coverings · Hudson’s Bay Company · Husky Injection Molding Systems · Hydro One Networks · IBM Canada · IFAB

Their expertise and insights keep our programs

Engineering Partners LP · Ignition · Image Air Charter · Immigrant Services Guelph Wellington · Imperial Roofing (Sarnia) Ltd. · Indspire · Industrial Cyber Sensing · Information Builders (Canada) · Inglis Cycle · Innovation Guelph ·
Innovative Steam Technologies · Inovata Foods · Insurance Institute of Ontario · Intelerad Medical Systems · Investors Group · ISARA Corporation · ITW Permatex Canada · J. Oulton and Associates · J. Weber Construction · JG Goetz
Construction · Joe Johnson Equipment · John Howard Society · John Murphy · Jones Electric · Just Fix It · Karmax Heavy Stamping · KBH Interior Design · KD Enterprises · KeliRo · Kelly & Co · Kelly’s Cycle Centre · Kinbridge Community

aligned to current and emerging needs, ensuring

Association · Kit Care Corporation · Kitchener Public Library · Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation · Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre · Kitchener Wilmot Hydro · Knape & Vogt Waterloo · Komet of Canada · Konia Masonry
Corporation · KPMG LLP · Krug Furniture · Kuntz Electroplating · K’ur Salon & Spa · KW Habilitation · KW Oktoberfest · KWA Partners Optimum Talent · L-3 Electronic System Services · Labstat International · Lakeland Power Distribution
· Landlord and Tenant Board · Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa · Langs Community Health Centre · Langs Farm Village Association · Lifeline Supply Co · Lignum Consulting · Linamar Corporation · Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
that Conestoga graduates will have the skills and
· ListenUP Canada · Little Mushroom Catering · Loblaw Companies · Logikor · London Health Sciences Centre · London Hydro · Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies · LOT 42 · Lutherwood · M&M Food Market · Mad Hatter Technology .
Madorin, Snyder LLP · Magna International · Magnet Forensics · Manulife Financial · Mapi Group · Maple Leaf Foods · Maplehurst Correctional Complex · Maplesoft · Martinek & Associates · Massilly North America · Maxxam Analytics

knowledge they need to make a difference in their

· Mayhew Inc · Medavie EMS · Medtronic Canada · Melloul-Blamey Construction · Memory Tree Productions · Metrican International · Metrolinx · Microsoft Canada · Middlesex London Health Unit · Milkbag Games · Millwright
Regional Council of Ontario · Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs · Ministry of Children and Youth Services · Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration · Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services · Ministry of
Education · Ministry of Government & Consumer Services (Ontario Public Service) · Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care · Ministry of the Attorney General · Miracle Ear Canada · Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network

workplaces and their communities.

· Modatek Systems – Milton · Monforte on Wellington · Moppet Preschool · Moser Landscape Group · Mozzaz Corporation · MTE Consultants · Multi Health Systems Inc · Nagami Custom Services Group · Nalco · Northern Digital · Neff
Hearing · Nelco Mechanical · Neruda Arts · New World Friction · Newgrounds · New-Life Mills · Nextide · Niagara Peninsula Energy · Nipissing University · Nith Valley Construction · Norfolk County · North Dumfries Community Health
Centre · North Inc · Northfield Racquet & Fitness Club · Norton Dental Guelph · Nortrax · Now and Always · NSF-Guelph Food Technology Centre · NXP Semiconductors · Ocular Health Centre · ODC Tooling & Molds · Office of MPP
Catherine Fife · OK Tire & Auto Service · Omniweld Integrated Solutions · OneCare · Ontario Agri-Food Technologies · Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres · Ontario College Application Centre · Ontario Co-operative
Association · Ontario Drive & Gear · Ontario March of Dimes · Ontario Masonry Training Centre · Ontario Mutual Insurance Association · Ontario Power Generation · Ontario Provincial Police · Ontario Veterinary College · OpenText

Thank you for your continued support.

Corporation · Orangetheory Fitness · Organic Meadow · Ornge · Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre · Overlap Associates · Oxford County · Pano Cap Canada · Paquette Travers Law · ParaMed Home Health Care ·
Paramount Painting & Renovations · Parmalat Canada · Paul Davis Systems · Pay Equity Commission · Pearce Wellwood · Peel Plastic Products · Peel Regional Police · Penad Pension Services · Penske · PeopleCare · PepsiCo Foods
Canada · Pfaff Automotive Partners · Pffaf BMW of Mississauga · Phonak Canada · Pigeon Brands · Pioneer Craftsmen · POINTTS · Pomerleau · Porter Airlines · Postmedia · Powerhouse Retail Services · Precision Resource Canada
·Premium HR Solutions · PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP · Pride Bodies · Process Advantage · Process Group · Progressive Machining · Project READ Literacy Network · ProResp · ProVantage Automation Corporation · Province of Ontario
· Public Health Ontario · Pulsar Mechatronics · Q30 Design · Quadrus Investment Services · Quarry Integrated Communications · Radisson Hotel Kitchener · Rae & Lipskie Investment Counsel · Ramp Manufacturing Resource Group
· Rampa Tec · Rebecca Sully · Region of Waterloo · Region of Waterloo - Public Health · Region of Waterloo - Sunnyside Home · Region of Waterloo Museums · Regional Municipality of York · Renison University College · RHI Canada
· Riverbend Place Seniors Community · RLB Chartered Professional Accountants · Robert B. Somerville Co · Roberts Onsite · Robin Interiors · Rockwell Automation · Rogers Cable · Rogers Communications · Rombald Inc · Royal
Canadian Mounted Police · Royal Containers · Royal LePage · Royce Ayr CuttingTools · RPNAO · RTBSoft · Russell Hendrix Foodservice Equipment · Ryder System · Ryder Transportation Services · S.G. Cunningham · Sanderson Harold
Company · Sandra Bester · Sandvine · SAP Canada · Saturn Power · Savery Bell Masonry · Schaeffler Group-Canada · Schiedel Construction · Schlegel Villages · Schneider Electric Canada · Scotiabank · Scout Public Affairs · Short Cooling
Solutions · Section Tourism Consulate General of Cuba in Toronto · Select Food Products · Semple Gooder Roofing · Seneca College · Shopify · Siemens Canada · Siemens Healthineers · Silo Wireless · Silver Cross · SiREM · Sivantos ·
Skyjack · SmithValeriote Law Firm LLP · Sobeys Pharmacy Group · Soprema · Sorbara Law · SOS Physiotherapy · Sound Choice · Southlake Regional Health Care · Spirax Sarco Canada · Spruce Lodge · St Louis Adult Learning Centre ·
St. George’s Centre for Adult ESL · St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto · St. Joseph’s Health Care London · St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph · St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton · St. Leonard’s Community Services · St. Mary’s General
Hospital · St. Thomas Energy Services · Stackpole International · Stanley Black & Decker Canada · Stantec Consulting · Steed and Evans · Stelco · Stonequest · Strongco Equipment · Stryve Digital Marketing · Sun Life Financial · Sun
Magic & Massage Magic · Sunbeam Residential Development Centre · Susan Harnock · Suzuki Canada · Synnex Canada · Systematix · TAB Software · Taurus Craco Woodworking Machinery · TD Wealth Financial Planning · Technical
Standards and Safety Authority · TECO - Westinghouse Motors Canada · TELUS Health · Tennyson’s of Underwood · Tesla Motors · Centre for Skills Development & Training · Charcoal Group · College of Family Physicians of Canada ·
Co-operators · City of Brantford · County of Perth · Davies Company · Economical Insurance Group · Frugal Decorator · Holmes Group · Kitchener Soccer Club · Literacy Group · Mearie Group · Miller Group · Murray Group · Ostic Group
· PharmaShoppe · Village of Winston Park · Walper Hotel · Wellington Health Care Alliance · Working Centre · Thermal-Tech Mechanical · Tigercat Industries · Tim Hortons · Tone-Gar Security Services · Toromont CAT · Toronto Public
Health · Town of Tillsonburg · Township of Woolwich · Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada · Trade Force Tech · Trade-Mark Industrial · Tradewood Industries · TransCanada Energy · Trellis Mental Health & Developmental Services · Tri
Fit · Trillium Automobile Dealers Association · Trillium Health Partners · Trinity Village Care Centre · TripSpark · Trylon · TW Properties · Two Wheel Motorsport · UA Local 527 & MCA Zone · Union Gas · Uni-Spray Systems · United Way
of Cambridge and North Dumfries · Unitron Hearing · University of Guelph · University of Waterloo · UPM Raflatac · Upper Grand District School Board · Urban Machinery · UYJ Aviation Partner Jet · Van Holst Automotive · VCCS
Employment Services · Veracity North · Veriform · VG Meats · Victorian Order of Nurses · Vidyard · Viessmann Manufacturing · Vigor Clean Tech · VitalAire Canada · VitalHub Corp · Voyageur Transportation Services · W2N2 Partnership
· Wabash Canada · Wajax Industries · Walinga Inc · WalterFedy · Walters Inc · Waterloo Catholic District School Board · Waterloo Collegiate Institute · Waterloo North Hydro · Waterloo Professional Fire Fighters Association · Waterloo
Region District School Board · Waterloo Region Homes for Mental Health · Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation · Waterloo Regional Museum · Waterloo Regional Police Service · Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre ·
Waterloo Wellington CCAC · Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre · Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network · Watson Hearing Health · WEHL · Wellington Catholic District School Board · Wellington Terrace Long Term Care
Home · Westmount Golf & Country Club · Wheels Training & Consulting · White Rose Farms · Whiteway Construction · Wilfrid Laurier University · Williamson Dickie Canada · WiseNow · Witzel Dyce Engineering · Wood Industry ·
Woodbine Entertainment Group · Woodstock Fire Department · Woodstock Physiotherapy Clinic · Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin · Workplace Safety and Insurance Board · Wright Auto Sales · Yamaha Motor
Canada · YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo · York University · Your Garage · Your Neighbourhood Credit Union · YWCA Cambridge · Zolarayz · +VG Architects · 31st Line Strategic Communications · 3M Canada

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CONNECTIONS Fall 2019

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