Experiential Learning Showcase: Rhiannah Pinkerton
Jun 20, 2025 | Experiential Learning
In today’s Experiential Learning Showcase we meet Rhiannah Pinkerton, a recent graduate of Canadore’s Social Service Worker (SSW) program. Read on to learn more about her experience at Canadore, the wide range of learning experiences she tapped into, and some of her truly impressive accomplishments!
Canadore College’s focus on experiential learning was a key factor in Rhiannah’s choice to enrol. “Canadore College has intentionally incorporated numerous experiential learning opportunities within the SSW program and the College for students to access and experience,” she shares, adding: “The campus itself and the easy access to nature were also a huge perk for me, as someone who loves to spend time outside. Studying by the pond or taking a walk in the trail system between classes was a major bonus to help keep me focused.”
Rhiannah enthusiastically describes a substantial list of experiential learning opportunities she had during her time at Canadore College. She was part of a group of students who organized a Food, Art Supplies, and Toy Drive for a local social service agency. For another assignment, she and a couple of her classmates created a Mindfulness and Movement psychoeducation group offered at The Village. She experienced therapy simulations on campus in the Canada Life Mental Health Counselling Rooms – one of her mock sessions was even chosen to be a model for future classes!
She also got to experience Sim City, a mock home with live simulations that include Police Foundations students as well as actors. “This allowed students in my program to experience what it would be like to work alongside law enforcement in crisis situations and in various scenarios,” she says. “It enabled us to use the wide array of skills we learned throughout our program to de-escalate the situation using a trauma-informed approach.”
Rhiannah also participated in a community agency placement as part of her program. Her placement was with the Near North Palliative Care Network, and she reflects on this experience fondly. “It was truly influential,” she shares. “I was able to apply so much of the knowledge gained throughout the SSW program to tasks such as case management, client assessments, client support, record keeping, report preparation, event coordination, data support and time management. This experience resulted in me being hired on after my placement, as the ‘Palliative Care and Bereavement Summer Intern’, which to me, was a huge accomplishment.”
In addition to the experiential learning Rhiannah participated in as a result of her curriculum, she went above and beyond in pursuing co-curricular experiences. “I had the privilege to partake in two outbound mobility programs. The first one that I participated in was the Lima, Peru program. We had the opportunity to participate in a few experiential learning opportunities within the community there. I also had the privilege to partake in a SSW outbound mobility program based in Trinidad and Tobago, which was by far the highlight of my time with Canadore College. It allowed me to immerse myself in social work and social justice on a global scale. The most impactful aspect of this experience for me was the opportunity to visit numerous social agencies within the local community. These experiences gave us the chance to examine both the similarities and differences in the services offered and the therapeutic approaches used. Additionally, they offered valuable insight into the gaps and barriers in services from a different cultural perspective, enabling us to compare and contrast them with the social services offered in Canada.”
“I full-heartedly believe that experiential learning is what truly equips students to be prepared to enter the workforce and/or pursue higher levels of education,” she shares. “My advice to future students is to fully immerse yourself in what the program has to offer, specifically the experiential learning aspects of the program. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and embrace all the opportunities that come your way. I know that for myself, at times the live simulations felt daunting, however, I am so grateful I navigated through them with an open mind, because they resulted in so much learning, improvement of skills and confidence, and personal growth.”
The message she has for other students is encouraging: “Whether you’re a mature student or a student fresh out of high school, I encourage you to tenaciously pursue your professional aspirations, to trust that you can succeed at whatever you put your mind to, and to approach every experience as a learning opportunity. Make the most of your time at Canadore College, because if you embrace the experience, it has the potential to be truly life-changing. You’ve got this!”
“I encourage you to tenaciously pursue your professional aspirations, to trust that you can succeed at whatever you put your mind to, and to approach every experience as a learning opportunity. Make the most of your time at Canadore College, because if you embrace the experience, it has the potential to be truly life-changing. You’ve got this!”
Rhiannah’s inspiring story clearly shows how her learning was enriched through the many experiential learning opportunities she accessed at Canadore. If you are a Canadore student and would like to share your experiential learning story, please contact the Manager of Experiential Learning at jeremie.carreau@canadorecollege.ca.