Gratitude was in the air on March 11, as Niagara College’s Schools of Allied Health, and Community Services hosted a Partner Appreciation Event to celebrate the dedication, collaboration and success of industry partners.
NC’s program advisory, field placement and clinical placement partners – 140 in total – gathered at The Core at the Welland Campus to be recognized for their unwavering support for the College and its students.
“We were so pleased to be able to give thanks and recognition to the partners that support and enable the experiential learning opportunities for our students that are hallmarks of a Niagara College education,” said NC’s Vice-President, Fiona Allan.
The event – held for the second year – was planned and organized by four students – Ellie Stittle, Zoë Krieger, Hope Monaco, and Jeremy Mol – in professor Emily McInerney’s Special Events course in the Public Relations (PR) graduate certificate program.
The NC PR student team. Back row from L to R: Ellie Stittle and Jeremy Mol. Front row from L to R: Hope Monaco and Zoe Krieger.
“The goal of the event was to show thanks and appreciation for our industry partners while also providing a hands-on, applied learning opportunity to the PR students,” explained McInerney.
Krieger of St. Catharines explained that the format was intended to create a “balance of recognition, celebration, and networking opportunities.”
The festivities included food, music, networking, guided tours of key labs, and a drum performance by the Aunty Social Singers.
Founded in 2024, the Aunty Social Singers are a group of Indigenous women from diverse backgrounds that evolved from a neurodivergent youth drum circle at the De Dwa Dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre. They provide a space for healing and cultural connection through drumming, a medicine that connects them to their culture and ancestors.
VP Allan, Dean of Health Sciences, Sinéad McElhone, and Dean of Community Services, Justice and Fitness Studies, Carol Phillips, shared words of thanks, as did students from various programs.
Sinéad McElhone, Dean, Health Sciences.
“I spoke with multiple partners who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and really appreciated hearing from students about their placement experiences,” said Dean McElhone.
The NC team gifted succulents – made by Horticulture students – as small tokens of their appreciation to the College’s partners.
Planning the event, Kreiger leveraged skills gained from McInerney’s class. Kreiger and her team handled challenges with grace and professionalism, from aligning conflicting schedules, confirming last-minute details, and adapting to unexpected changes to the guest list and timing.
“From coordinating and booking entertainment, meeting with the staff from the CORE to design a menu, creating a concise and up to date critical path, designing invitations and meeting with our clients, we had a lot on our plates,” said Kreiger. “She [Emily] taught us critical skills such as event logistics and coordination, budgeting, crisis management, problem solving, and so much more.”
Krieger, who joined the PR program following a degree program in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University, had the urge to advance her learning in the field.
“I feel it [PR] is an ideal career path for someone that is passionate about communication, enjoys problem-solving, and wants to be at the intersection of media, business, and public perception,” said Krieger.
Aunty Social Singers
“Carol and I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and creativity Ellie, Zoë, Hope and Jeremy demonstrated in the organization and execution of this Partner Appreciation Event,” said McElhone. “It was evident that a lot of planning and passion went into making this event a success and they all demonstrated key teamwork and professional skills.”
“Thanks also to all members of NC staff who supported this event to make it a success, including Cassie Landsborough (AA), Emily McInerney, members of the Core Team who provided beautiful food and excellent service, and also our academic staff, including program and placement coordinators, who play a critical role in supporting our students and our partners,” said McElhone.
“With my end of my program quickly approaching, this experience has given me the confidence to apply to any position with ‘event planning’ in the roles and responsibilities,” said Krieger, who will complete her internship at the Catholic School Board Head Office in Welland.
