Niagara College and Niagara Parks signed a new Strategic Collaboration Agreement on June 29 that will strengthen opportunities for students, employees and the broader Niagara community while expanding collaboration between the two organizations.
The signing ceremony, held at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, brought together leaders from NC and Niagara Parks, elected officials, community partners and Niagara College alumni employed by Niagara Parks. Among those in attendance were members of NC’s Executive Team, Niagara Parks’ senior leadership team, Member of Parliament Tony Baldinelli, Member of Provincial Parliament Wayne Gates and Niagara College Board of Governors Chair Lora Tisi.
Niagara Parks CEO David Adames opened the ceremony by reflecting on the long-standing connections between the two organizations and the impact NC graduates continue to have throughout the region.
“We know that we have Niagara College alumni right across the entire region,” said Adames. “At Niagara Parks for many years we’ve hired students to work with us during summer months, we’ve hired alumni, we’ve hired co-op students.”
Several NC alumni who now work at Niagara Parks were recognized during the event, representing a range of industries including horticulture and landscaping, culinary, policing, human resources and other areas across the organization.
Adames also highlighted Niagara Parks’ continuous support of NC’s culinary apprenticeship program, noting that the organization has enrolled nine apprentices since the program’s recent return.
NC President Sean Kennedy took the podium to reflect on the strong foundation shared by the two institutions and the future opportunities that lie ahead through deeper collaboration.
-
- On June 29, Niagara College and Niagara Parks signed a new Strategic Collaboration Agreement focused on supporting student success, workforce development and innovation across the Niagara region. Back row L to R: Niagara Parks Chair Graham Coveney and Niagara College Board of Governors Chair Lora Tisi. Front row L to R: Niagara Parks CEO David Adames and Niagara College President Sean Kennedy.
“The synergies and partnership between Niagara College and Niagara Parks go way back, but we know that we can do even more together and that’s what today is all about,” said Kennedy.
“Both organizations have very similar values and strong organizational cultures but are always striving to be not just the best in Ontario or Canada, but to be truly world-class,” added Kennedy. “We are two very diverse organizations and are always trying to figure out how to do what’s best for Niagara.”
Kennedy highlighted the important role NC plays in preparing workforce-ready graduates, helping organizations like Niagara Parks continue to grow and succeed while supporting the broader Niagara region.
Alumni from a variety of NC programs who now work at Niagara Parks attended and were recognized at the event.
“If we do our jobs well and we at Niagara College train Monday morning-ready graduates, it means Niagara Parks can do even more, be better, and continue to be world-class, and that connection ultimately serves Niagara to the fullest”
Niagara Parks Chair Graham Coveney spoke about the significance of formalizing the partnership and the opportunities it creates for future collaboration.
“Today, we formalize a long-standing partnership between Niagara Parks and Niagara College that is rooted in our shared commitment to excellence, innovation and growth both for our respective organizations and the Niagara region as a whole,” said Coveney. “This agreement lays the foundation for future collaborative opportunities that will provide mutual benefits for students, faculty and staff, helping to raise Niagara’s profile as a world-class destination in alignment with the Province’s Destination Niagara Strategy.”
The new agreement builds upon the decades-long relationship between NC and Niagara Parks, who have worked closely to provide enriching career opportunities for students in the Niagara region across a number of sectors from hospitality and tourism to skilled trades.
The new agreement formalizes the institutional bond between the two organizations and outlines a number of shared objectives, including:
- Expand co-op and placement opportunities, providing Niagara College students with meaningful hands-on experiences and a pathway to enriching careers in the Niagara region.
- Develop staff training programs with Niagara College that enhance workforce skills for Niagara Parks employees.
- Enhance the student experience by showcasing the unique benefits of working at Niagara Parks through guest lectures, presentations and on-campus engagement.
- Cultivate work-integrated learning projects that align with the objectives of both organizations, fostering innovation and real-world problem solving.
- Grow and celebrate our alumni connections, highlighting the important roles that Niagara College graduates play within Niagara Parks.
- Deepen academic partnerships, particularly between the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and Niagara College’s School of Environment and Horticulture, through shared projects, events and resources.
- Advance applied research and industry-engaged initiatives that will benefit a multitude of sectors and the broader Niagara community.
