Assiniboine College Parkland Campus held its annual graduation ceremony, celebrating 71 graduates.
Following the processional and the elder blessing from Reg Nepinak, Parkland Campus director Carol Stewart made some opening remarks.
AC president Mark Frison then brought greetings, as did Kayla Gillis on behalf of the Assiniboine College Alumni Association.
Then it was time for the Valedictory address delivered by Tammy Chief.
It’s an honour to stand here today and represent a graduating class that showed so much determination and heart. They say the journey to education begins within, but no one gets there alone. True success is built through the support of family, friends, classmates and instructors. Along the way, we don’t just learn what’s in textbooks, we learn who we are.
During my time at Assiniboine College, I saw firsthand the dedication, drive and perseverance of each one of my fellow graduates. I saw it every day in the classroom and across campus. We all showed up, even when it was hard. We endured sleepless nights completing assignments, juggling schoolwork alongside life and work commitments and facing financial stress that sometimes felt overwhelming. Yet here we are, standing today with a diploma in hand and with it, the power of education that we will carry into our future roles as individuals, employees and leaders.
With the guidance of my classmates, instructors and faculty, and the unwavering support of my family, I gained more than knowledge. I gained perspective, patience and flexibility. Those lessons have shaped me and they are something I will carry forward into my new career and throughout my life.
Choosing to return to school after 30 years may have been a difficult decision, but for me it was the right one. Right here in Dauphin, having Assiniboine College campus close to home made this journey possible for so many of us. It gave us more than an education; it gave us the skills and confidence to face what comes next. Education gives us the ability to stand up for ourselves and to be voices for those who cannot, and that is a responsibility I know this graduating class carries with pride.
Our instructors and staff created a space where growth was encouraged and where every student was truly seen. The friendly greetings from staff and faculty, the laughs we shared after handing in a test or assignment, and the check-ins from instructors who genuinely cared, these are memories I will hold true in my heart.
There’s a quote from a Scorsese film where a character says, “I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.” That idea reflects what we have done here. Through our willingness to learn and grow, we shaped our environment into one that reflects resilience, determination and connection. And now, as graduates, we are stepping out into the world as that product, not just educated, but stronger, sharper and more capable because of the tools we’ve gained along the way.
It wasn’t always easy. There were busy schedules, heavy course loads, and moments of real stress. But through it all, one thing remained constant. We had each other. We leaned on one another, encouraged one another and were guided by instructors who pushed us to do our best and believed in our potential.
Today, we celebrate not just our accomplishments, but the journey that brought us here and the people who walked it with us. I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved.
So, as we take this next step, let’s carry forward the lessons we’ve learned, the connections we’ve built and the confidence we’ve gained. Let’s continue to shape the environments we enter and make a meaningful impact in our communities.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. We worked hard for this, we earned it and I’m proud to stand here with you today.
The graduates were then presented with their diplomas.
Adult learning and upgrading
High School Diploma Secondary Diploma - Magnus Smith.
Mature Student High School Secondary Diploma - Cooper Beckman, Hayven Brezden, Aaron Catcheway, Lindy Chartrand, Alexander Flett, Julia Friesen, Colan Lafreniere, Brett McKay, Chloe Moar, Jorgia Moosetail, Luke Parenteau-Thompson, Jesse Sinatynski and Janine Zalizniak.
STRIVE Succeeding in the Work World Document of Achievement - Harley Bone, Michael Costello, Derrick Didluck, Cameron Flatfoot, Wynona Guiboche and Renee Roulette.
Youth Employability Skills Certificate of Achievement - Jazmanee Gregory, Kaitlyn Hatt, Lisa-Marie Kitchemonia, Chantelle Wishira and Isabelle Wishira.
Edna Edwards School of Nursing
Comprehensive Health Care Aide Certificate - Hailey Catcheway, Taiton Dyck, Shannon Holt, Marcus Lusung, Abby Maczuga and Tia Thiessen.
Peters School of Business
Business Administration: Accounting Diploma - Jaitanna Delaronde and Ashley Didyk.
Business Administration: Human Resource Management Diploma - Omolade Akinsete, Trevor Boyd, Tammy Chief, Courtney Clearwater, Tia Crawford, Kaur Manpreet, Courney Settler and Gurpreet Singh.
School of Health and Human Services
Early Childhood Education Diploma - Skylar Collins, Jaylene Gabriel, Calista Hudyma, Tanisha Meyer, Amanda Pangman, Johana Postrano and Ling Zhang.
Early Childhood Program Management (DE) Advanced Diploma - Angie Moosetail.
Social Service Worker Diploma - Haley Bone, Shavanna Genaille, Shuai Jiang, Alexandria Jordan, Julia Kotyk, Josephine Okeke and Kailyn Ushkowski.
School of Trades
Applied Plumbing Installation Certificate - Chukwudi Agi, Baron Arneson, Nyles Brazeau, Tanner Gamache, Keegan Ganchar, Ryan Gustilo, Kare Josephson, Matthew Knott, Drake Malcolm, Nevada McDougall and Devan Normandin.
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Achievement - Jesse Boehling, Braidy McKay and Jimoh Olatunji.
The Governor General’s Academic Award, presented to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma program, was presented to Calista Hudyma of the Early Childhood Education program.