2024: A year to remember

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2024 (360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the post-secondary sector, 2024 will be a year to remember. Unfortunately, it will be in keeping with the spirit of the 1955 book “A Night to Remember,” about the sinking of the Titanic.

The changes to the international student program initiated by the federal government in January 2024 have caused significant harm to Canada’s post-secondary sector and will eventually have significant implications for rural Canada. While the impetus for those changes were clear, the policy levers were pulled in haste, with bias and misplaced anger.

Unfortunately, it’s not even clear that the changes are done. It seems that Immigration Minister Marc Miller rolls out a new change every couple of weeks, causing further damage and further eroding Canada’s reputation as a desirable destination for international students and immigration.

For Assiniboine and Manitoba, the implications are significant. Here’s hoping for a more stable and rational 2025.

Nevertheless, we persist. Here’s a recap of the top 10 items from Assiniboine from 2024.

10. Assiniboine students in the Edwards School head to Italy for global learning experience

Students and faculty from our Russ Edwards School of Agriculture & Environment travelled to Italy for two weeks in May, immersing themselves in authentic Italian flavours, culture and history.

9. Partnerships strengthen Mechatronics program

After announcing our new Mechatronics Engineering Technology Program last year, the Matlashewski Foundation ensured students would work with industry-leading technology by supplying the robotic arms. In addition, Siemens provided Assiniboine industry leading certification through the Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (SMSCP).

8. Six students qualify for Skills Canada, after 16 medalled at Skills Manitoba.

Our students had an incredible showing at the Skills Manitoba and Skills Canada competitions. With 21 students competing in 12 events at Skills Manitoba, 16 brought home medals. Six advanced to Skills Canada in Québec City, with Assiniboine students Christopher Obsniuk and Kathryn Nichol winning gold in network administration technology and digital art and design, respectively. Nik Ross earned the silver medal in electrical installation. We’re so proud of our talented students who participate in this competition each year, as well as the dedicated faculty who prep them for these practical, real-world scenarios.

7. Assiniboine releases new strategic plan, signs SDG Accord

This spring, we released our 2030 Strategic Plan — One Manitoba, Working Together, Growing Together. In it, we outline our key commitments to graduates (2,030 by 2030), reconciliation (2,500 Indigenous graduates from 2024 to 2030) and population (welcoming 3,000 new people to make Manitoba their home by 2030).

As part of this plan, we also commit to the United Nations sustainable development goals by signing the SDG Accord, joining a worldwide movement for environmental, social and economic impact.

6. Peters School progresses

We ended 2023 with an exciting commitment from local visionary leaders Gord and Diane Peters. In 2024, fuelled by the record-breaking $10-million gift from the Peters family, we have been working to create a standout brand experience to match the growth of the Peters School of Business.

With plans for its own strategic plan, a thriving MBA partnership and plans for a degree option with multiple occupational pathways, we are excited to see what the next year brings to this exceptional school.

5. Horticulture research and infrastructure investments

Assiniboine received more than $3 million from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and Canada Foundation for Innovation and Research Manitoba to transform our horticulture production programming, expand infrastructure and support applied research projects that focus on sustainability. These investments inspired more support, and the RBC Foundation came on board with an additional contribution to the initiative.

This funding supports the continued growth of Assiniboine’s applied research and extension programming by uniting agricultural education, innovation, industry collaboration, extension and applied research. In its strategic plan, the college has its eyes set on being a top-50 research college in Canada by 2030.

4. Record number of students graduate from Assiniboine, and grads continue to succeed

This year, we celebrated a record-breaking 2,777 graduates from more than 75 programs. Of domestic graduates, 26 per cent identify as Indigenous.

Our grads are getting jobs and doing well! In 2024, 95 per cent of 2023’s graduates reported that they remained in Manitoba nine months after graduation. That’s a net population and brain gain for Manitoba, as fewer than 83 per cent originated from Manitoba.

3. Assiniboine reveals new name, brand identity

We changed our name this year, and released a new brand identity to modernize our image.

While “Community” may no longer be in our name, it remains at the core of our DNA. Assiniboine delivers programs in more than 25 communities across Manitoba and looks to provide even more access points in the future.

2. Assiniboine awarded bronze in Indigenous Education

Assiniboine was recognized with a bronze medal on the world stage for its leadership in community-based program delivery at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics annual World Congress.

Through partnerships with Indigenous organizations and nations, Assiniboine’s Community Development department focuses on place-based learning to advance Indigenous education and foster community growth throughout Manitoba.

In 2022-23, Assiniboine delivered programs in 34 rural, remote, and First Nations communities, with 56 per cent of Indigenous graduates coming from these community-based settings.

1. $10-million donation drives Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture closer to reality

This was our first story of 2024 and now closes out our countdown in the top spot.

In January, a $10-million donation toward our planned Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture moved the project closer to reality, surpassing our private fundraising goal, which started at $10 million in 2019. The college has now raised $23 million for the project — the largest private fundraising effort in western Manitoba history.

With one in three agriculture jobs expected to go unfilled by 2029, the time for the Prairie Innovation Centre is now, to ensure we can meet those needs as they emerge. This generous donation will propel the vision for the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment at the college.

That’s the way we saw it this year. We wish each of you a successful 2025, full of joy and good health.