The virtual celebration included an uplifting keynote, the inaugural Outstanding Team Award, and three surprise Awards of Excellence presentations captured live.
On Thursday, October 28, over 750 NC employees tuned in to the virtual 2021 Niagara Day celebration. The livestreamed event was a chance for staff, faculty, and administrators to come together, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable achievements of their colleagues over the past year.
In addition to those that tuned in from their remote workplaces and on-campus workspaces, 40 employees joined their colleagues in real life, watching the event together in viewing rooms on campus (with health and safety protocols in place).
“Niagara Day is a cherished and longstanding tradition, a time to reflect on our past accomplishments, dream big for our future, and celebrate the exemplary employees who unite in our shared commitment to student success,” said President Sean Kennedy in his opening remarks.
The broadcast – recorded live from the gym at NC’s Welland Campus – was made possible thanks to the incredible work and expertise of staff and students in NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) production program. The sets on stage were adorned with stunning greenery courtesy of NC’s Teaching Greenhouse.
The event kicked off with a welcome and opening prayer from Elder and NC alumnus David Labbe in the College’s Indigenous Garden, followed by a Welcome Back video from familiar faces on campus. Niagara Day also included the annual Year in Review video, a visual culmination of some of the years’ milestone moments.
Comedic duo Gary Torraville, Director, International, and Cindy Andrews, International Contract Training Manager, returned for an encore performance as co-hosts and emcees of this years’ celebration. Their playful banter and ability to laugh at themselves left audiences in stitches, making for a fun and light-hearted celebration.
Cindy Andrews and Gary Torraville at Niagara Day 2021.
President Kennedy reflected on College firsts and historic milestones – including 100,000 alumni – noted new programs and partnerships, and introduced initiatives on the horizon, including the President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success. Kennedy highlighted the College’s new strategic plan, and Marc Nantel, Vice President Research and External Relations, encouraged employees to continue to contribute as part of the final stages of the consultation process.
Wendy Wing, the new Chair of NC’s Board of Governors, brought greeting from the Board, thanking employees for their contributions to the College, and setting the tone for the College’s role in pandemic recovery in the year ahead.
“Part of NC’s competitive advantage – the added value that you provide to learners, employers, partners and the community – are the people and culture of this remarkable college,” said Wing.
Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) President Sam Jemison and members from the NCSAC Board of Directors shared best wishes for Niagara Day and updates from the NCSAC team. Jemison likened the partnership between NCSAC and the College to a family working in harmony to ensure students feel supported and have the best student experience.
“Today is about celebrating all things NC. And included in that, I want to specifically focus on the incredible and equally unique partnership that exists between NCSAC and the College,” said Jemison in her amiable address. “We together, seek to achieve a common goal: to grow, to enhance, and to improve the lives of our students.”
Michele O’Keefe, Associate Director, Athletics and Recreation, and NC United Way campaign co-chair, announced NC’s United Way fundraising goal of $50,000, and how staff can donate via niagaracollege.ca/donatetoday to help make a difference in our community.
Niagara Day Keynote
Randell Adjei, Ontario’s Poet Laureate, speaking at Niagara Day 2021.
Niagara Day was marked by a moving and memorable keynote from Randell Adjei, Ontario’s first poet laureate, spoken word artist, speaker, arts practitioner, and cultural curator. Adjei’s message was uplifting, enlightened, and demonstrated the power of words to make a difference.
“You are not your struggles. You are not your pain. They are just roadblocks that prove how far you came,” said Adjei.
Adjei likened adversity to a seed of opportunity for growth: “The analogy of a seed is that it has to be buried into the darkness of soil for the potential inside of that seed to root itself in that soil, bloom, and find its light… We are like those seeds… It is broken people that have helped mend our world… brokenness is a sign of re-creation. A sign of growth.”
Adjei inspired staff to think about their ‘why’ and the legacy they want to leave students and the College, “…to make NC the best place that we have the opportunity to create.”
In his closing remarks, Kennedy thanked Randell for his wisdom and inspiration, highlighting Randell’s sentiment that “smart people learn from their mistakes but wise people learn from each other.”
“We are so lucky at Niagara College to be surrounded by so many talented, incredible people – both our employees and our students. Let’s continue to learn from each other. It will make us that much stronger as an organization,” said Kennedy.
Awards
Two Niagara Champions were recognized for their knowledge, spirit, and enthusiasm towards college recruitment efforts. This year’s Niagara Champions are Monique Finley, Professor, School of Business and Management Studies, and Tanya Martinsen, Financial Aid Advisor, Enrolment Services.
And for the grand finale, the Awards of Excellence – a highlight of many past Niagara Day celebrations -recognized outstanding achievement in the areas of work, NC values and culture, and commitment to the NC community. This year’s award presentation came with a twist: award recipients were surprised with the news at their homes and their reactions were captured live.
For the first time, the Awards of Excellence included the Outstanding Team Award which recognized a group of employees who collaborated for a common purpose.
Senior Vice President of College Operations, Pam Skinner, stands at the Niagara Day podium.
“At NC, we excel when we band together and harness one another’s energy, enthusiasm and expertise to solve complex problems, rise to meet new challenges, and develop new systems and supports for student success. This year’s recipients of the Team Award did exactly that,” said Pam Skinner, Senior Vice-President, College Operations.
The 2021 Outstanding Team Award – honoured with a special trophy created by staff and faculty in the School of Trades – went to the Tap-In System Team, a cross-functional team made up of staff from Information Technology Services, International, and Student Services. Their efforts supported a new system and process for campus access to ensure the health and safety of the college community.
The 2021 Awards of Excellence recipients are as follows:
Support Staff: Jody Thomas, Academic Advisor, Academic Advising, School of Nursing/PSW and School of Allied Health
Administration: Natasha Patrito Hannon, Associate Director, Educational Development, Centre for Academic Excellence
Faculty: Barbara Smith, Professor, School of Business & Management Studies
Outstanding Team: Tap-In System Team – Information Technology Services, International, and Student Services
We look forward to hearing more from our Awards of Excellence recipients in the weeks to come on InsideNC.
Milestone recognitions
Years of Service awards were also presented to staff with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years at NC. Among the recipients, Deborah Maloney celebrated 35 years, and Sindy Ammendolia celebrated 40 years.
Sixty-two graduates of the College Educator Development Program (CEDP) program were also recognized at Niagara Day. This year’s cohort was NC’s largest-ever, a testament not only to the number of newly hired, full-time faculty at NC, but also to their commitment to teaching excellence and professional development. The double cohort included graduates from 2020 (who had been postponed due to pandemic restrictions) and 2021.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our virtual Niagara Day possible.
A recording of the livestream event was sent to employee emails via Campus Notice.
The 2020-21 Year in Review video can be viewed separately here.
The Welcome Back video can be watched here.
President Sean Kennedy stands on the Niagara Day stage alongside Gary Torraville, Dutch Vandenberg, Carly Root and Cindy Andrews.
President Sean Kennedy behind the podium at Niagara Day 2021.
Gary Torraville and Cindy Andrews sit outside in new NC Muskoka Chairs.
