Manitoba's Top Employers

23 Innovative people and places connect the dots at Red River College. RED RIVER COLLEGE CONNECTION IS KEY AT RED RIVER COLLEGE Red River College's staff and faculty are one of its greatest resources. A big reason why is their connec- tion to industry, and that connection is also why many students choose an RRC ed- ucation here in Manitoba. That connection to industry doesn't only enrich learning at RRC, it allows the College to ensure its employees are supported in their work, and that's why the College has continued to make Manitoba's Top Employ- er list for the past 10 years in a row. What they're doing is listening With a resource this valuable, it's impor- tant for the College to ensure it's creating a workplace where employees feel valued, fulfilled and supported. That's why RRC has made employee engagement a stra- tegic priority. Its leaders understand that when employees are engaged in their work, they're happier and more productive, and that ultimately translates to greater success in the workplace and the classroom. This fall, they launched a new employee engagement initiative, starting with a new employee engagement survey. What's dif- ferent about this initiative – compared to previous initiatives from the College – is that the College will be sharing the survey results and acting on them. They'll also be building on the survey with employee focus groups in the new year too. "Everyone's voice matters. We want to learn more about an employee's experience working here so that we can work together to build a strong culture," says Melanie Gud- mundson, Chief Human Resource Officer. Meeting industry where it's at State-of-the-art facilities? They've got that too. The College continues to create and make new investments in learning spac- es, like the Skilled Trades and Technology Centre or the Innovation Centre (set to be complete next winter), to support students, faculty and industry. Modern facilities en- rich the applied learning environment and ensure that faculty have access to the latest equipment and spaces to ensure their stu- dents are well-equipped after graduation. "When people outside the College see what we're doing here, they want to be a part of it. Employees are proud to say they work here because they know they're do- ing big and innovative things," says Gud- mundson. The College's new Skilled Trades and Technology Centre is a great example of this. Taking up 100,000 square feet on the Notre Dame Campus, the Centre is home to the teachings of skilled trades, but also supports innovation in technology and ap- plied research. Everything about the space is bigger and better when it comes to window size, lighting, idea boards, air quality and more. The conversation of what learning spaces of the future will look like will con- tinue because of dedicated instructors who are always thinking about what the future of teaching and work look like. Supporting employees every day College employees are driven by the success of students, but the institute also ensures employees have the resources they need in order to succeed as well. The College's innovative work attracts talented employees, and these employees stay be- cause they believe in the bright future the College promises. "Our connections with industries and our employees continue to make Red River Col- lege recognized as a Top Employer of choice in our province, and across the globe too," says Gudmundson.

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