Algonquin College Heritage Institute In Perth

Jeff Green | Oct 30, 2013

The Perth campus of the Ottawa-based Algonquin College houses only 300 compared to almost 18,000 full-time students at the main Algonquin college campus in Ottawa. It offers nine programs compared to hundreds at the larger campus. But that does not mean the students at the Perth campus are of less concern to the college or receive less training.

Three of the programs at the Perth campus are unique to the college, and unique to Ontario. The courses are all related to the building industry, and they are the reason the Perth campus of the college is called a Heritage Institute.

One is a course in Carpentry and Joinery that combines new construction technology with traditional carpentry techniques. Another, the Advanced Housing course, focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of energy-efficient, environmentally-responsible and healthy housing. The third is the Heritage Masonry program, which prepares students for both residential and commercial construction as well as work on heritage restoration projects.

Although the programs look backwards at the way things were built in the past, the future is bright for graduates of the programs. “The only reason we do not have 100 per cent job placement for graduates from these three courses is that a few of our graduates choose to do something else,” said Andrew Edmonson, the marketing manager for the Perth Campus of Algonquin College.

In fact, students in the Heritage Masonry course tend to be offered jobs long before they graduate from the intensive 45-week course.

“The average age of masons in Canada is about 60, and the traditional skills are very much in demand. The restoration of the Parliament buildings, which will run for another 10 years, will provide jobs for all of our graduates if they want them,” said Edmonson.

The advanced building course includes, as part of the curriculum, the construction of a building, which gives it a unique niche for building trade training.

While the construction courses have always been popular, places are available for those who apply and qualify, particularly in the masonry course, which is not completely full. “The message we want to get out to people interested in learning these skills is that we have a state of the art facility, top teaching professionals, and are offering a real opportunity for students to learn and enter into a viable profession as soon as they graduate,” Edmonson said.

One of the other features of the Perth Campus is the three-year-old main building, which was designed to meet LEED Gold standards, and provides a comfortable environment for study.

There are six other programs of study available at the Perth campus, including: Early Childhood Education (ECE), Office Administration (General and Executive), Personal Support Worker, Social Worker, and Police Foundations.

The campus offers intensive 45-week courses in Office Administration (Executive) and Early Childhood Education, enabling committed students to complete a two-year diploma program in a short time period provided they are willing to put the effort into doing two years of work in a shorter time frame.

Shelley Carter-Rose, who has been the dean at the Perth Campus for 18 months, says that the size of the Perth Campus is ideal for many of the students. “They are able to get support from staff as needed here, and we are small enough to deal with each other on a first-name basis most of the time,” she said.

That point was made as well by a number of the students who came forward to talk about their programs on the media day.

There is also a continuing education component to the campus, with interest courses available to the general public in a variety of subjects, from using computers to photography, sewing, and even wine appreciation. For further information call 613-267-2589 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.