Monthly Archives: February 2012

Desiree Mendoza (Creative Communications, 2011)

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Mendoza, right, with RRC President Stephanie Forsyth.

“My life has certainly changed for the better and it is because of the support that I had received from generous people like you”.

So ended the inspiring words of Desiree Mendoza (Creative Communications, 2011) at the annual Red River College Donor Appreciation Reception in October 2011.

As the keynote speaker, Desiree shared her story of moving with her husband and children from Brunei to Winnipeg in 2005.  With the encouragement of her husband to pursue her studies in Canada, Desiree applied to the two-year Creative Communications program at Red River College.  Although it would be financially challenging to leave a job that helped pay the bills, Desiree entered the program.

She applied for and was awarded the Enterprising Women’s Conference Award which helped defray the costs of her tuition and other school expenses. Because of the financial support the award provided, she was able to focus on successfully completing the program, including providing public relations and fundraising support to a Winnipeg homeless shelter, as part of the CreComm program’s Independent Professional Project (IPP). Continue reading →

RRC Alum’s Debut Doc Wins Big at Sundance

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It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Red River College grad Lisanne Pajot (Creative Communications, 2003), whose debut documentary Indie Game: the Movie won the World Cinema Documentary Best Editing Prize at last month’s Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Directed and produced by Pajot and James Swirsky (shown above), the film chronicles the world of independent video game developers, and has drawn rave reviews from critics across North America since it bowed at the Park City fest in January.

Even in its infancy, the film received strong support from the online community. After launching the project in May 2010, Pajot and Swirsky appealed to fans online via a pre-order campaign that helped raise production capital. They met their initial goal in just 48 hours, and in June 2011 again reached out to fans to help offset post-production costs. Their second goal was met in just 24 hours.

“We cannot tell you how much this means to us and how completely and utterly our minds are blown,” the duo wrote on their website following the Sundance win.

“The festival’s belief in this little film has very much changed our lives. It’s been amazing, hugely educational and most importantly, endlessly inspiring.

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RRC Grads Find Success at CGA Manitoba

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CGA Manitoba employees (from left): Zachary Minuk, Coordinator, Marketing & Communications; Bruce Granke, Director, Professional Regulations; and Marni Russell, Manager, Communications.

If you want to succeed as a Certified General Accountant, it helps to have a head for numbers.

But if you want to find work at CGA Manitoba — the self-regulatory body responsible for 2,000 CGAs and almost as many students in this province — there are other avenues open besides a straight business background.

For proof, look no further than the above trio of Red River College grads, who followed divergent career paths on their way to the Donald Street employer: Bruce Granke (Business Administration, 1982), Director, Professional Regulations; Marni Russell (Business/Technology Teacher Education, 1999), Manager, Communications; and Zachary Minuk (Creative Communications, 2008), Coordinator of Marketing and Communications.

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Rob Williams (Creative Communications, 1997)

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RRC grad Rob Williams, with the late Amy Winehouse, at the 2007 SXSW festival in Austin, Tex.

Profile by Kate Grisim

Entertainment reporter Rob Williams, a self-professed “music nerd”, has more than just enthusiastic expertise and humble attitude to recommend him. He also juggles an insanely busy work schedule, and even manages to have fun while doing so.

Keeping one step ahead of the game (or even two or three, if possible) is Williams’ winning strategy. Strict deadlines at the Winnipeg Free Press keep the Red River College grad in a constant state of writing and researching. His copy must be filed at least three days ahead of when it’s due to appear in print, meaning each week is a balancing act of scheduling and conducting interviews, composing feature stories and concert reviews, and compiling daily entertainment briefs.

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