Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus will launch its Winter 2026 orientation for incoming students on Monday, January 12, 2026, with a face-to-face “AC Day 1” event designed to prepare students for their programs and placements. The session aims to connect learners in fields such as Practical Nursing, Forestry Technician and Social Service Worker with program coordinators and ensure they meet clinical requirements ahead of classes.
Students in programs that require clinical placements (notably Practical Nursing) must submit immunization records, complete TB testing and pass N95 mask fit checks by January 5, 2026, to secure spots at local hospitals and care homes. Julie Regier, the BScN Clinical Coordinator (clinical placements contact for the Nursing program), will verify documentation in dedicated sessions held in the Student Commons and program-specific labs. Other students will meet faculty members to review course outlines and work-integrated learning expectations.
On Wednesday, January 14, the Algonquin Students’ Association will host Wolves Fest Winter 2026 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., offering newcomers a chance to tour campus resources, learn digital platforms like ACSIS and Brightspace, and build social connections that support retention.
This orientation follows program suspensions announced in late 2025, making Winter 2026 a crucial intake for Pembroke’s local economy. Mayor Ron Gervais has noted that graduates from Algonquin’s applied programs often fill key roles in city water and wastewater management; local reporting has also connected Algonquin graduates to policing support and environmental programs. By easing the transition between acceptance and real-world work, the Winter orientation helps strengthen Renfrew County’s workforce pipeline.
