Superior Strategies president delivers Alumni keynote presentation at Confederation College Virtual Convocation ceremony
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Superior Strategies president Jason Thompson led the Alumni Charge at Confederation College’s Virtual Convocation ceremony for more than 2,100 Class of 2021 graduates and 1,800 Class of 2020 graduates on June 4. The Virtual Convocation ceremony is available online.
“It was more so just to inspire the grads on future success, encourage them to be a part of the Alumni, giving back to our college, giving back to the community, supporting the students that are coming behind them and to just get involved in the community,” says Thompson, Red Rock Indian Band citizen and Confederation College Human Resource Management 2010 graduate. “And again, trying to inspire them to do great things.”
Thompson says he has always been a firm believer in giving back to the community, adding that having a good successful healthy community is all about volunteering and giving back.
“I firmly believe that it takes a community to raise a child — that’s just my thought process, so that’s why it’s important that I participate, I volunteer, I give my time,” Thompson says. “And I think it is more so important as an Indigenous person that we get involved, to be very prominent in the city giving back, showcasing that. The path forward for reconciliation is being involved, not sitting on the sidelines and waiting for others to do it but actually getting involved and doing something and being a part of the change.”
Thompson says his company has been “expanding quite rapidly.”
“We doubled our workforce and are still hiring,” Thompson says. “We’ve been going through tremendous growth and always have partners reaching out to us that want to talk to do business. It’s been great and very successful.”
Thompson says they recently launched Warrior Engineering Ltd. as well, noting that it is one of the few majority Indigenous-owned engineering companies.
“It’s about meaningful engagement in projects, but also to inspire our youth to get involved in the engineering field,” Thompson says. “We want to go in and make sure we are bringing Western science, Western technology into projects but also ensuring that we are protecting the interests of our communities.”
Thompson says it was important to lead the cheer and inspire the graduates during the Virtual Convocation ceremony.
“We need to see more of our Indigenous folks out there and being very prominent, being mentors for our youth and showing them the future is very bright,” Thompson says. “You can achieve your goals but it is hard work.”
The Virtual Convocation ceremony provided an opportunity for graduates and their families and friends to gather with Confederation College faculty, staff, and community partners in recognition of their achievements.
“While we wish we could honour our graduates’ success in person, with ongoing restrictions, replacing our in-person ceremony for both graduating classes with a Virtual Convocation was the next best thing,” says Kathleen Lynch, president at Confederation College. “Our graduates have overcome significant challenges to finish their program and earn their credential and we are incredibly proud of the courage and resolve they have demonstrated to arrive at this important day. We know their collective impact will be long-lasting and are honoured to have played a role in their journeys.”
Kiara Michano, a graduate of the Early Childhood Education program and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg citizen, says she was able to take all of her courses online through Confederation College’s Northshore Campus in Marathon.
“It worked out really well for me,” Michano says. “After my first year, I got pregnant, so I can’t even imagine being in Thunder Bay with a newborn and taking classes. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it.”