Sault College honours graduates at its 2018 convocation
Sault Ste. Marie, ON (May 31, 2018) – Over the next two days, friends, family and the Sault College community will join together to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of Sault College’s newest graduates at its annual spring convocation ceremonies.
Each ceremony will honour graduates from various programs for their hard work and perseverance. “Convocation is always one of the highlights of the year,” said Dr. Ron Common, Sault College President. “Our students are an integral part of our community and we are proud to have been able to help them find their passions. Today we celebrate their successes and it is with great pride that we watch as their academic journey at Sault College comes full circle. On behalf of Sault College, I congratulate each graduate on this great achievement and wish them all the best as they begin a new chapter,” he added.
The spring convocation will welcome more than 970 graduates to the Sault College alumni family and each ceremony will feature inspiring addresses from notable keynote speakers.
The ceremony on the morning of May 31 will celebrate graduates from Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing and Occupational Therapist Assistant-Physiotherapist Assistant and feature keynote speaker Monique Kevill, Registered Nurse, graduate of Sault College’s Nursing program class of 1998, and Clinical Instructor for Sault College.
The May 31 afternoon ceremony will see graduates from various programs including: Community Services, General Arts and Science, Justice Studies, and Health. Keynote speaker Grand Council Chief Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee, who is currently serving his third consecutive term as Grand Council Chief, will address guests.
Graduates from Business, Culinary, Media and Design, Natural Environment and Outdoor Studies and Continuing Education will be honoured at the morning ceremony on June 1 and will feature keynote speaker Joanie McGuffin – Canadian explorer, conservation photographer, writer, motivational speaker, documentarian and conservationist.
The afternoon ceremony of June 1 will honour graduates from Sault College’s Aviation, Engineering Technology, Information Technology, and Skilled Trades programs and include a keynote address from Jorge Mitre who has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry and is currently the Tenaris Quality Director for USA operations.
The National Anthem for Thursday’s ceremonies will be sung by Genevieve Andre. The Korahster’s Choir, led by Ms. Denine Williams, will perform before each ceremony and will also sing the National Anthem at both ceremonies on Friday.
In keeping with Sault College tradition, the platform party guests, faculty and graduate procession will be led by the Lone Piper, Tyler Duncan. Following the presentation of liripipes and credentials, the Obadjiwon Singers and Baawating Community Jingle Dress Dancers will lead the recessional. Graduates, along with their families and friends, will celebrate this special occasion with a reception immediately following each of the convocation ceremonies.
In addition to these four convocation ceremonies, various other Sault College graduates in programs located outside of the Sault Ste. Marie campus have been celebrated throughout the past month, including: Aircraft Structural Repair Technician Program in London, Ontario on May 18.
June will also see the convocation of graduates from the Social Service Worker – Native Specialization, Thunder Bay, Ontario on June 6, 2018 and Welding Techniques Program in Fort Frances, Ontario on June 7, 2018.
Sault College congratulates all of this year’s graduates and wishes them all the best as they embark on a new life journey.
About Keynote Speakers
Monique Kevill
Registered Nurse and graduate of the class of 1998 Sault College Nursing program, Monique Kevill has worked in many settings since graduation. The main focus has been Obstetrics – Labour and Delivery and Post-Partum at Sault Area Hospital since 1999. Monique has shared knowledge since 2002 as a Clinical Instructor for Sault College in the area of Maternal/Child and has been a preceptor for 4th year consolidating students in this area as well.
A Core Team Member for the MoreOB program (Managing Obstetrical Risks Efficiently) implemented at Sault Area Hospital, Monique participated in educating and facilitating peers in this area. Presently, Monique sits on the Maternal Child Program Committee and the Maternal Child Unit Council.
Monique also volunteers for several organizations including Sault Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors serving as Vice-president and the Queen Elizabeth Public School Parent Council as Chair.
Grand Council Chief Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee
Grand Council Chief Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee is currently serving his third consecutive term as Grand Council Chief. He also served one term as Grand Council Chief in 1980, the youngest Grand Council Chief ever at 27 years of age. He is the President of the Union of Ontario Indians and the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity.
With more than 40 years’ experience in Band politics, including 17 years as Chief of Aundeck Omni Kaning. Madahbee has served as Manager of Aboriginal Financial Services for TD and as a Regional Sales Manager for the First Nations Bank of Canada.
His dedication to the Anishinabek Nation has included active leadership positions such as chairperson for the Robinson-Huron Treaty Claim Legal Strategy Team and the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre. He is the past Vice President of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and has held numerous other board positions.
He is the Health portfolio holder for the Chiefs of Ontario, member of the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Committee of Health, and Co-chair of the joint Non-insured health benefits review.
Grand Council Chief Madahbee has been involved in several areas including business development, management, finance, Band management, program supervision, community infrastructure and development, federal and provincial programs and resources, and is an active participant in the political arena with the Anishinabek Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and the Assembly of First Nations.
Joanie McGuffin
Joanie McGuffin is a Canadian explorer, conservation photographer, writer, motivational speaker, documentarian and conservationist. Joanie’s partner in business, adventure and life is her husband Gary. Their most documented adventures have been about canoeing on waterways throughout North America, bicycling from the Arctic to the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans, backpacking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, circumnavigating Lake Superior by canoe and paddling across Northern Ontario in the footsteps of Grey Owl.
The McGuffins are noted primarily for their popular paddle sports instructional books on canoeing and kayaking and their documentary film based on their research about the Group of Seven artists. Between adventures, the McGuffins are ambassadors of the wilderness, touring the world through speaking events, photo exhibitions, book tours, eco-tourism development, and educational seminars on conservation.
In 2000, the Ontario government officially appointed Gary and Joanie as Champions of the Coast under the Great Lakes Heritage Coast program. In 2003, they were the recipients of the Premier’s Award and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for wilderness preservation and environmental education achievements for their province and their country.
Jorge Mitre
Jorge Mitre has over 30 years’ experience in the oil & gas industry and is currently the Tenaris Quality Director for USA operations. Mr. Mitre began his career with Tenaris Argentinean mill, Siderca in Argentina during 1984.
Mr. Mitre graduated from the National University of Bahia Blanca in Argentina in Electrical Engineering in 1984 and became an APEGA professional engineer in 2007.
Mr. Mitre had an extensive training in Maintenance Management from KITA in Japan, 1994. He holds a Masters in Industrial Administration from Escuela de Organizacion Industrial in Madrid, 1992. In 2002 he attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Mr. Mitre is married, has three children and lives in Houston.
About Sault College
The vision of Sault College is to provide a transformative life experience through empowering those who study with us to think and learn in progressive, innovative ways, including those we have not yet imagined. Sault College grants Ontario College certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, graduate certificates, and degrees to its graduates. The College is the largest deliverer of apprenticeship training in all of Northern Ontario. Sault College has a significant economic impact on the community, with spin-offs in excess of $158 million. Over $1.8 million dollars in scholarships, bursaries and awards are distributed annually to students at the College. Located on the border to the United States and situated in the middle of three of the largest Great Lakes on the planet, Sault College is one of 24 publicly-funded colleges in the province of Ontario.