FRPP PiRf 1M "'W"W'-' The end byJolene Brisbois Editor-in-Chief I Semester endings are synonymous with exams, Sprucing up resumes for summer jobs, and preparing for some hard post-semester partying. For me, the end of this semester is the end of an era. I will be leaving the clutches of the College of New Caledonia (going on six years here, four with Free Forum), and moving to the BIG CITY. No, not Vancouver but Calgary. I Some of you may not Associate Calgary with big 'citv status beinq the Texas of Canada, and home to the Calgary Stampede, but I have been reading upon the cowboy town, and it is definitely more that what it seems. With an exploding population of over one million residents with an average age of just 34, Calgary boasts having the youngest urbanites in Canada. They are also the most ethnically diverse and have the highest use of computers and cell phones. Those are some pretty impressive statistics for a cow town. To me, moving is a big thing. I moved a lot as a child and had the fortunate personality trait of adaptability; therefore I byJolene Brisbois For nearly ten years the College of New Caledonia has offered a two-year diploma program featuring new media technology. In September 2006, the New Media Diploma is being reintroduced as the New Media Communications and Design program (NMCD). Whereas the old diploma combined UT courses with new media training, the NMCD is a full-time program and features a broad range of courses designed to give graduates the most integrated skill-set ever. Community, Industry and Business Initiatives Director, enjoyed packing up my things. Unwrapping everything in a new place was like Christmas with a new house thrown in. Now, however, I am settled. I am married, have a child, friends and family here. Most frighteningly, I have stuff. A whole lot of shit that I don't know how I accumulated (my husbands helped me with this). I have moved this stuff before, across town, but this time I am moving out of town and I have to pay for it. YIKES. Suddenly, the stuff I have diligently purchased over the years seems like junk. The worst thing about this move is that I have to go through everything: organize, pack, clean, pay, travel, unpack, etc. I seem to recall having parents Cathe Wishart examined more than two hundred documents regarding the needs of new media industry employers and from that research the NMCD was reborn. The entire NMCD program was re-examiried and improved, beginning with a more competitive application process including the submission of a digital portfolio. Every course was developed to ensure that students receive the most up-to-date information about the ever-expanding new media industry, and that students are able to use the latest software in new media and design. Many of the program courses focus on desktop publishing, Campus Connection 3 ") that did this and now I am the parent. THIS SUCKS! All that aside, when considering the actual location of my move I am both apprehensive and excited. I have travelled to Vancouver and had a brief bout of living there. If Calgary is anything like Vancouver I am already panicking about things like traffic, crowds, line-ups for everything, and mostly the sense of isolation people develop to protect themselves from being mentally squished. Then again, Calgary is fairly new to the BIG CITY scene and they have that whole white hat welcome thing going for them, so they just might be friendly still. Besides, I am sure I can CNC New Media programme gets it If you are interested in theff NMCryprogramjcheckJout theilwebsite at: www.cnc.. - mum., , , .a !" i , bccanmcd Jlf j Youfcan contact Lonnie DyPr1stgowLdcn6 Dcca orrpnone nepattu Fi ;800-371-8111Aextl25f for information. Y'"W' imYou can also contactCNCs Counseling andr Advising Depaitmentf (250), 561-5818 &or1 -800-371-81 1 1 fextf 81 8 - II I If you would like to, speak1 to any of the instructors of the NMCDprogram)her contact .information isPoh the website under, Contacts. - yjfF Af '"Thei application Jsand . digital' portfolio submission . Drocedure nformat on A is i' ri; rA., j .&. & also--onithelwebsitefunder. m Admissions, lusiscruit uown, is near Internet, and multimedia design as the program title suggests. This curriculum is supported by several courses in creativity, illustration, design history, and animation, video and sound. Not only do students learn to use the software, they also develop a strong sense of design and style to compliment their technical skills. Besides learning publication software and web design, students also learn to develop writing skills that focus on corporate, advertising, web and technical writing techniques. These skills include recognizing audiences and markets for new media, forms and styles of writing in find enough things to do to keep myself busy for a good long while. For example, I am looking forward to going to the zoo (my son will be two when we move and he thinks that animals are these tiny things on the television, so it will be very amusing to see the look on his face upon seeing his first elephant). There are also fabulous restaurants, outdoor markets and parks to explore. And don't forget the Calgary Stampede. Although I am not a cow-person, I will most likely get caught up in the frenzy and do something crazy, like buy a cowboy hat. So, until I become a bonified Calgarian, I wish everyone at CNC the best of luck and YEE HAW! ne new media, developing skills fn storytelling, and editing written material. All of these skills lead up to the completion of a portfolio of hard copy and digital projects and an internship in the local new media industry, both of which can be invaluable additions to a new media resume. The New Media Communications and Design program is intended to provide graduates of the program with an understanding of the new media industry and strong skills that will enable them to work in a broad range of careers. The new media career possibilities from this program are only limited by the graduate's imagination. " " '"--, " vMlv ' -jMAR 200 JAMIE LANGEVIN - v .v.y .-''. v-AiskW . The writings and opinions featured throughout the,Free Forum do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Free Forum staffLetters to tTedrnstl 1