Fleming College

Peterborough, ON (October 4, 2024) – Six Fleming College alumni have been selected as nominees for the distinguished Premier’s Awards this year.

Founded in 1992, the Premier’s Awards are administered by Colleges Ontario, the advocacy voice for Ontario’s 24 colleges.

This annual celebration recognizes the important social and economic contributions college graduates make on a provincial and global scale. Colleges can nominate alumni in seven categories: Skilled Trades, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Science, Technology and Engineering.

The Fleming College nominees for 2024 are:

Skilled Trades
Dylan Stadtke: Mechanical Techniques Plumbing (2016), HVAC Technician (2018)
The co-owner of Pristine Plumbing Peterborough, Dylan’s business is thriving, reflecting his dedication to high professional standards and community involvement. In addition to two Fleming diplomas, Dylan completed the Construction Leadership Program at Fleming in 2022, demonstrating his commitment to leadership and excellence in his field. Beyond his professional achievements, Dylan is deeply committed to men’s mental health and is a strong proponent of promoting women in trades. His dedication to these important issues underscores his role as a leader and innovator in his industry.

Health Sciences
Francine Sam: Practical Nursing (2024)
Francine Sam began her nursing career while living in Australia where she was enrolled in university for nursing. She ended up moving to a rural village in northern Uganda where she did humanitarian work for seven years alongside her young family, caring for vulnerable children and their communities. It was through her experiences there that compelled her to further her education at Fleming College. Francine recently graduated as a Practical Nurse and was the Valedictorian of the School of Health and Community Services and is now working as a Registered Practical Nurse in the Emergency Department at her local hospital.

Community Services
Heather George: Museum Management and Curatorship (2008)
Heather George is an influential leader in the Canadian museum sector. As Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, she advocates for Indigenous perspectives and creates opportunities for Indigenous artists and curators. As the Past President of the Canadian Museum Association and current Vice President for the Indigenous Heritage Circle, Heather advances the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #67, urging museums to engage in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. In 2021, she led a national review of museum policies in relation to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This review involved Indigenous communities and museum professionals, culminating in recommendations to change sector standards and develop federal repatriation laws.

Science, Technology and Engineering
Matthew Wilson: Conservation Biology (2024)
In 2022, Matthew Wilson made a significant decision to leave his career in the shipping industry and return to school. He was driven by a desire to pursue a more meaningful path, he chose to focus on addressing the pressing environmental and natural world challenges facing our planet today. Matt has always had a deep passion for animals and nature. Over the years, he has worn many hats, including biologist, arboricultural field technician, and research assistant. Recently, Matt enrolled in the Conservation Biology Program at Fleming College, where he graduated as Valedictorian of the School of Environmental and Natural Resources. Driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact on our climate, Matt is committed to preserving our natural legacy for future generations.

Recent Graduate
Jacques Graveline: Business Administration-Marketing (2022)
Jacques Graveline was a Student Ambassador for Fleming Indigenous Student Services and Fleming Student Administrative Council. He graduated from Fleming College with an Advanced Diploma in Marketing in 2022 and has been extremely involved in the College since. Elected as Board Chair at Fleming SAC in 2023, he passionately advocates for students to ensure an exceptional college experience. Jacques is a leader in the Peterborough community, supporting the United Way homeless initiative and Dragon Boat Races for Breast Cancer, while creating and implementing marketing strategies as the Marketing Assistant at Bridges Peterborough. Jacques is currently the Governance and Advocacy Coordinator with the Fleming Student Administrative Council.

Creative Arts and Design
Aaron Robitaille: Graphic Design-Visual Communication Advanced Diploma (2020)
A 2020 graduate of Fleming College’s Graphic Design (GDV) program and recipient of the Muriel Cooper Award for Design Excellence, Aaron launched "Aaron Robitaille Design" and developed notable branding for Haven Brewing Company. Her expertise spans large-scope murals, websites, and mentoring local artists, with work featured across Ontario. She is currently an instructor at Fleming College and acts as Vice Chair and member on Artspace’s Board of Directors, Peterborough’s only artist-run centre. The GDV program’s comprehensive training and community partnerships were pivotal in her success, fostering a blend of art and design that continues to drive her career and contributions to the local arts community.

The Premier’s Award nominees will be recognized at a gala event in Toronto on November 25, where the winners will be announced.

To nominate a deserving Fleming graduate for a 2025 Premier’s Award, please contact the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office at 705-749-5530 ext. 1197 or email alumni@flemingcollege.ca.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Asher Lurie
Director, Communications
asher.lurie@flemingcollege.ca

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege
Instagram: @flemingcollege
TikTok: @flemingcollege

Peterborough, ON (October 3, 2024) - Fleming College is helping workers achieve their goals and bridge skill gaps through five rapid training programs, funded by Ontario’s Micro-credentials Challenge Fund.

Micro-credentials offer students targeted training in career-specific skills, addressing skills gaps between postsecondary education and ever-changing workforce needs. Micro-credentials take less time to complete than a traditional diploma or degree, allowing workers to quickly upskill.

The Province of Ontario has provided Fleming College with a $250,000 grant to provide the following five industry-focused micro-credentials:

• Introduction to Biomanufacturing: This micro-credential, being developed in partnership with industry, will be the first in a series of stackable credentials. This first micro-credential equips learners with essential skills, including an understanding of biomanufacturing's role in industry, hands-on experience with bioreactors, associated monitoring, quality assurance/control procedures, and familiarity with downstream processing steps. Fleming College and Kawartha Ethanol currently share a partnership that supports this project.

• Indigenous Perspectives in Economic Development: This micro-credential prepares students to engage in culturally appropriate strategies for economic development with Indigenous communities by providing students an understanding of Indigenous culture, history and current events, community research issues and methods, and an introduction to economic theory and business in an Indigenous context.

• Embedded Systems Design 1 – Firmware Development for Microcontrollers: In this first course of the Embedded Systems Design micro-credential series, learners will be trained in the fundamentals of microcontroller firmware development. Programming topics will include the compilation process, variables, data types, operators, branches, loops, functions, arrays, pointers, data structures, interrupt handling, and debugging.

• Embedded Systems Design 2 – Sensor Integration, Motor Control: The second course of the Embedded Systems Design micro-credential series trains learners in the different methods utilized in capturing information from the outside world, conditioning the captured data for microcontroller-level processing, and generating signals to control external actuators.?Learners will learn to select and read input variables such as temperature, acceleration, proximity, and distance using the standard communication protocols for interfacing sensors with microcontrollers/computers.

• Embedded Systems Design 3 – Position and Orientation Control: In this third course of the Embedded Systems Design micro-credential series, learners will be introduced to the position and orientation control methods. Students will implement complex sensors such as accelerometers and rotational encoders. The students will be exposed to the numeric methods that can help obtain speed and position, when necessary, through mathematical integration or differentiation of digital values.?

All five micro-credentials are still in development. Additional information, including enrolment dates and more detailed course information, will be available later in the fall.

Visit here for more information on Fleming’s full roster of Continuing Education courses, programs, credentials and certificates.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Asher Lurie
Director, Communications
asher.lurie@flemingcollege.ca

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege
Instagram: @flemingcollege
TikTok: @flemingcollege

Peterborough, ON (September 25, 2024) - Fleming College is honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a series of events focused on listening, learning, and raising awareness.

Through these events, the college aims to foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous histories and cultures, while promoting healing and unity between all communities.

A schedule of events is as follows:

Interactive Learning Exhibit: Monday, Sept 23 – Monday, Sept 30 Sutherland Campus Main Foyer, Frost Campus Discovery Trail and in the Great Hall at the Haliburton School of Art + Design.

Throughout the week there will be a children’s shoe display in the Main Foyer, alongside information posters and interactive digital displays.

Posters will include information on residential schools and calls to action. Digital displays feature stories from Residential School Survivors and an interactive Residential School map.

Sutherland Campus Events

Orange Shirt Activity: Thursday, Sept. 26, Main Foyer, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Staff and students are encouraged to write words that reflect the theme of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) on an orange shirt cutout that will be added to a banner that will be displayed on campus.

Each person who adds a message will receive orange pony beads to wear in support of NDTR.

Orange Shirt Sales, Steele Centre: Friday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Shirts are $20 for students, $25 for staff and faculty.

Orange shirts were purchased from Nish Tees, a local, Indigenous-owned business. Net proceeds will be donated to an Indigenous initiative, or organization identified by Fleming Indigenous Student Services.

Fleming Men’s and Women’s Soccer Games: Sunday, Sept. 29, 12:30 – 5:30 p.m., Fleming Sports Fields

Opening ceremonies for the games begins at 12:30 pm and will include an Indigenous drummer and information about National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Players and game day staff will be wearing orange bands and spectators are asked to wear orange shirts in support of the day. All spectators wearing orange can fill out a ballot for a draw to win Phoenix swag. One draw will take place at the end of the women’s game and one draw at the end of the men’s game. The winners must be present when their name is announced to be eligible for the prize.

The Sutherland Campus Student Administration Council (SAC) will also be selling orange shirts while supplies last. The cost is $20 for students and $25 for all other spectators. Cash sales only and students must show proof of enrolment for the student price.

The Phoenix women’s soccer game against George Brown begins at 1 p.m., with the men’s game starting at 3:15 p.m.

Residential School Memorial: Monday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Main Foyer

Hosted by Liz Stone, Vice President Indigenous Knowledge and Relations, this event is a memorial service to the children and generations of Indigenous peoples who residential schools have impacted. There will be a special unveiling of a permanent installation.

Blanket Exercise: Monday, Sept. 30, 1:15– 3:30 p.m., Phoenix Field (Rain location: Gym A at the Sport and Wellness Centre)

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, learn from Indigenous leaders about the histories and experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada during pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, and resistance.

The goal of the Blanket Exercise is to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance.

Everyone is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy.
The blanket exercise was developed collaboratively by Indigenous elders for settlers on Turtle Island.

Frost Campus Events:

Poetry Reading: Sept. 30, 12:15 – 1 p.m., Auk's Lodge

Poet Robyn Pierson will perform a reading for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring reconciliation through the magic of art.

Movie Screening: The Secret Path: Sept. 30, 1 – 2 p.m., Auk's Lodge

On October 22, 1966 near Kenora, Ontario, Chanie Wenjack died when he walking home to the family he was taken from over 400 miles away. The film follows his escape from a residential school, as he tried to return home.

Haliburton Campus Events:

Guest Speaker Larry O'Connor: Sept. 30, 12 p.m., The Great Hall

The Haliburton School of Art + Design is welcoming Haliburton community member Larry O’Connor to its campus at 12 p.m. on September 30. Larry will share his personal journey as an Indigenous person and speak about the legacy of colonialism and the Residential School system.

Everyone is welcome to attend all events at any of our campuses.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Deeth
Communications Officer
sarah.deeth@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 ext. 1161

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege
Instagram: @flemingcollege
TikTok: @flemingcollege

Peterborough, ON (September 20, 2024) - Fleming College has been awarded $360,000 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF).

With CCSIF funding, Fleming is partnering with Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Saiwa Inc. to innovate the fight against “Canada’s worst invasive plant,” a highly prevalent aggressive reed commonly known as invasive phragmites. The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry made the announcement last week.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada with their important conservation work,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “Together, we will provide conservationists and resource managers with valuable tools to effectively combat the spread of invasive plants that threaten our native vegetation.”

Led by the researchers from Fleming College’s Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT), as well as Fleming’s School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS), the 3-year project aims to advance automation in the detection and surveillance of the invasive plant using machine vision algorithms, remote sensing data, and innovative drone technologies.

Dr. Fereydoon Diba from Fleming’s CAMIIT, in collaboration with Saiwa Inc., will develop a specialized drone with machine vision capability to recognize the invasive phragmites. Dr. Josh Feltham, Professor at SENRS, will work alongside Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada to collect drone surveillance data. Fleming students will assist with the project’s data collection and hardware development.

“This collaboration highlights the capabilities that technology and innovation can bring to natural resources, and the real-world problems that can be solved through applied research,” said President Adamson. “It’s promising to see CAMIIT and SENRS combining forces with such highly respected national conservation organizations.”

Phragmites forms dense patches and spreads voraciously, releasing toxins from its roots that impact habitat for fish, birds and other animals. Traditional detection methods are costly, involving physical assessment of sites to identify the correct species. There is a growing need for cost-effective tools to identify, map and monitor invasive plants, and organizations across Ontario and Canada will benefit from the development of a standardized method to facilitate a coordinated response.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Deeth
Communications Officer
sarah.deeth@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 ext. 1161

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege
Instagram: @flemingcollege
TikTok: @flemingcollege

Lindsay, ON (September 17, 2024) - Fleming College is bringing its highly sought-after Personal Support Worker program to Lindsay’s Frost Campus this winter through a unique, state-of-the-art mobile laboratory that will help expand health care in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

There is a tremendous need for qualified personal support workers across Ontario and within the Lindsay community. The Province of Ontario estimates that it will need up to 24,000 qualified personal support workers by 2026.

Fleming College is investing in the community and Frost Campus as it works to fill the demand.

A new mobile lab will train 64 potential personal support workers using state-of-the art equipment. Over the course of two semesters, students will receive 400 hours of theory and hands-on laboratory experience, combined with 300 hours of real-life training to launch them into successful health care careers.

“This mobile laboratory allows us to conveniently bring health care training into the heart of Lindsay and the surrounding regions,” said Fleming College president, Maureen Adamson. “These students will offer health care support to the local community during their placements and upon graduation.”

"I am thrilled to see Fleming College taking such a proactive approach in addressing the healthcare needs of our region. The introduction of this mobile PSW lab is a game-changer for our community, providing accessible and high-quality training right here in Lindsay. This initiative will not only equip our students with valuable skills but it will ultimately enhance the overall healthcare services available locally," said Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

Fleming’s new mobile lab allows the college to deliver PSW training across our region without the need to renovate a physical space. The program curriculum is identical to the renowned and sought after PSW program offered at Fleming’s Sutherland Campus.

The mobile PSW program will be located at Fleming’s Frost Campus in the winter of 2025, with the potential to expand to other communities within our region to provide localized training for aspiring personal support workers.

Fleming College is committed to enhancing and developing high-quality healthcare programs to better serve the needs of our region. This new mobile PSW laboratory will provide PSWs in the City of Kawartha Lakes with the essential training and resources to deliver exceptional care and support to their local communities.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Deeth
Communications Officer
sarah.deeth@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 ext. 1161

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

Web: flemingcollege.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege
Twitter: @FlemingCollege
Instagram: @flemingcollege
TikTok: @flemingcollege