Latest news with #SaskatchewanPolytechnic
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Outstanding Citizenship Award winner at Sask Polytechnic honoured to be chosen
Graduates at the Prince Albert Campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic crossed the stage at the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday. The convocation ceremony took place in two parts with a morning and afternoon session. Harishgowtham (Harish) Shanmugam, a graduate of the Business diploma program, received the Outstanding Citizenship Award. Shanmugam was vice president of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students Association in Prince Albert and positively influenced campus life through initiatives like the Community Pantry Project which helped students facing food insecurity by providing accessible food options on campus. Shanmugam was humbled to be recognized with the award. 'I'm really honoured to get the award and it's very exciting for me,' Shanmugam said. 'I'm truly grateful to for the experience I have had at Sask Polytech. 'I would say it's more than just a student role, and it's a really great experience for me. Receiving (the) Outstanding Student Citizenship Award is a huge honour. I hope this encourages other people coming up to make initiatives for the future for our community.' Shanmugam explained that he started the Community Pantry initiative because he saw fellow students struggling with food insecurity. 'I want every student to have food whenever needed,' he said. 'I don't want anyone to attend the classes with an empty stomach or it's hard to concentrate. This Community Fridge helps the students to get a meal and it helps them to avoid hunger. It's always easy to concentrate when you're feeling good.' Shanmugam said he became involved in student government in India. He continued that trend upon moving to Canada. He joined the SPSA as a campus representative in his first year and was elected vice president at the end of that term to serve in his second year. 'When I came to Canada, I found SPSA (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students Association) would be one of my go to places,' he said. 'If you want to make a change, if you want to advocate for change, or if you want to advocate for students needs, SPSA would be the right place.' In addition to advocacy work, Shanmugam created an engaging campus environment by organizing and participating in student events. Shanmugan is originally from the Namakal District in Tamil Nadu in India 'I have completed my two years of course in Canada, right now I have applied for my work permit and I'm just waiting for the work permit to get approved,' he said. He thanked the entire team at the campus for the experience. 'I would say thank you for Sask. Polytech as well,' he said. 'I'm truly grateful for the experience I have had at Sask. Polytech and the SPSA and I hope my story encourages others to step up and make most of their time as students. The time goes really quick.' Dr. Has Malik, Provost and Vice President, Academic gave the speech before Shanmugam received the award from Larry Rosia the President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prince Albert Carlton MLA Kevin Kasun brought greetings from the province. Sask Polytechnic Board Chair Mitch Holash brought greetings from the board and brought greetings from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students' Association. Rosia also gave the President's Address. Micah Daniels from Sturgeon Lake played an honour song and Elder Violet Naytowhow said the prayer to open the ceremony before Kim Villeneauve sang 'O Canada'. During the morning and afternoon session philanthropist and entrepreneur Jim Pattison received the 2025 Honorary Degree in Applied Studies, which will be awarded by Rosia on June 24 in Vancouver. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
First-year student honoured to be chosen for Reconciliation in Action Award
Graduates at the Prince Albert Campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic crossed the stage at the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday. The convocation ceremony took place in two parts with a morning and afternoon session. Jade Littlechief, a first-year student in Resource and Environmental Law program, received the Reconciliation in Action Award. Littlechief, who is originally from White Bear First Nations in the southeast, said he was shocked to be recognized as a first-year student. 'I was very surprised, but also it was a very big boost, and with how I feel about education and all that I'm very honoured to be selected for it,' he said. 'I know that the best way I could explain is (to say) I wasn't expecting that especially within my first year of school. 'I'm very appreciative, but also honoured to be able to be selected for an award like that.' Littlechief said he offers a different perspective as one of the only Indigenous students in the program 'This program really revolves around conservation and stewardship of the land, and a lot of these graduates are going to be conservation officers after this program many years down the road,' he said. 'I think it's very important for myself, but also future Indigenous students to be in this program, just to get that future understanding of the differences and all that and just being able to have that first-hand experience with different points of view.' Littlechief was inspired to join the program at the age of 16 he went to a museum in Regina and saw all of the prop animals. At the time he was still figuring out what he wanted to do after graduating. 'I didn't have any idea,' he said. 'I was a bit stumped, but then when I came across that, I (thought) I want to be around this all the time. I grew up around this stuff, but what can I do as a career to be around this?' He turned to his school guidance counsellor for advice and they pointed him to resource and environmental law. 'There was a bit of a hiccup getting to finishing school and then once I did finish school, I was like, OK, I'm going to apply for it now and then I eventually got in,' Littlechief said. 'It was one of the main things that kept me going for finishing school.' Another important thing that led him to the program was his upbringing. His grandfather liked the outdoors and did a lot of hunting and trapping. 'Throughout my early life, he exposed it to a lot of stuff like that,' Littlechief said. 'It didn't come to a surprise when it came down to like already having that mentality of stewardship.' As a volunteer in the Wîcihitowin Transition Program, Littlechief inspires adult learners by sharing his educational journey. He said the Transition Program helps student adapt to post-secondary life. Littlechief said the program brought in speakers to help the students adapt before other students were on campus. 'That's what I thought was really important and probably helped a lot of students that year and the year prior,' he explained. 'It builds a little bit of (a) relationship to have people eager to come in.' Littlechief is a member of White Bear First Nations in southeastern Saskatchewan but studies in Prince Albert because the campus is the only one to offer the program. He said no matter where the program was located he knew he would commit two years of his life to it. 'Once you commit to something and push yourself, it's so rewarding,' Littlechief said. Littlechief said he wished he could pass the lesson on to other people. 'Just being able to set your mind to something and want to complete it, all in, it's one of the best feelings and I wish everybody could experience it,' he said. 'You never know what can happen. Just being yourself.' Littlechief said he did not expect to be selected for an award and just thought he would be completing his program. 'I was just being myself though,' he explained. 'I got to talk with people and get to know people. I was inspired just from being at school and then that's where I was like, 'oh, how can I bring this home to my community.'' Littlechief also engages with his band to promote sustainable, land-based practices, reflecting his dedication to positive change and community advocacy. He is also an Indigenous role model for 2026. 'That's where I was just like, 'I want to be able to fulfil my goal of being a Conservation Officer,'' Littlechief said. He explained that he wants to start something of his own to make the program easier for future students who want to be Conservation Officers. 'I was thinking about what the possibilities can be and each time I go into the classroom, it gets closer and closer and closer,' he said. 'I think two years ago I felt like it was just work and then now it's that I want to create opportunity. I think it's very important for future students to just push through because it's super rewarding and you never know what's in store for you.' Dr. Has Malik, Provost and Vice President, Academic gave the speech before Littlechief received the award from Larry Rosia the President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prince Albert Carlton MLA Kevin Kasun brought greetings from the province, Sask Polytechnic Board Chair Mitch Holash brought greetings from the board and brought greetings from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students' Association. Rosia also gave the President's Address. Micah Daniels from Sturgeon Lake played an honour song and Elder Violet Naytowhow said the prayer to open the ceremony before Kim Villeneauve sang 'O Canada'. During the morning and afternoon session philanthropist and Entrepeneur Jim Pattison received the 2025 Honorary Degree in Applied Studies, which will be awarded by Rosia on June 24 in Vancouver. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Saskatchewan Polytech hosts more than 300 students at Saskatoon convocation
It was a day of celebration for the 318 graduates who convocated from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon on Monday. 'Convocation day is the most exciting day of the year. It's the opportunity where we get to come together, celebrate, recognize the accomplishments of the students of the faculty, and really just have that opportunity to celebrate and be together,' Kendra Strong-Garcia told CTV News. She serves as the director of student experience and learning services at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. TCU Place was filled with graduates, who were happy to share the day with loved ones. 'My parents are here. They're both teachers, so it's been nice to be able to have them have time off and come and then my boyfriend's also here as well,' explained student Stephanie Ritchie. 'It's nice to just have everyone that you care about be here.' Another graduate, Katrina Ilagan shared that her whole family travelled in from Rosetown to see her walk across the stage. '[It's] exciting, I saw my mom graduate last year and two of my sisters graduated last year. So, I'm like, 'Okay, next year is my day,'' Ilagan said. The students both added that their time at Sask Polytech has taught them a lot, and the immersive learning environment was one they enjoyed. 'I think having something that's way more hands on and kind of a smaller room was definitely a better fit for me. I think you just kind of get to know what you're more stepping into after graduation,' Ritchie said. 'It's like hands on learning, especially the teachers I like their one-on-one teaching, so that's why I chose polytechnic,' Ilagan said. While the Sask Polytech staff see several convocations throughout their careers, the day is always special according to Strong-Garcia. 'I love watching the families cheer on their students or their graduates walking across the stage, she said. 'Especially the ones that have younger kids themselves and the kids are here supporting their mom or their dad, that's my favorite part.'
Global News
23-05-2025
- Science
- Global News
Saskatchewan girls take part in 2nd annual ‘Jill of all Trades'
More than 100 female high school students gathered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic for the second annual Jill of All Trades event. During the course of the day, girls got the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops covering 12 trades. Watch the video above to see how the next generation is rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.
CBC
07-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Quilt sewn with stories from residential school survivors passed to Sask. Polytechnic
Warning: this story contains discussion of residential schools and abuse. At first glance, the talking quilt is a large blanket rimmed with colour and dressed with patches. To Sandra Head, it "was, and is, a vessel of healing." Head is a member of the Peter Chapman Band, which falls under the umbrella of James Smith Cree Nation. She was among a group of about 15 women from James Smith who sewed the talking quilt and opened up to each other as they did. It became known as the talking quilt because the women shared their experiences with each other, including about residential schools. For some of them, it was the first time they talked about their painful experiences, Head said. The blanket was passed to Saskatchewan Polytechnic during a presentation at the school's gym Thursday afternoon. "It was very difficult at times when we were making this quilt," Head said to a room full of people. After a pause for tears, and comforting words from people who hurried to the stage, she continued. "It was difficult for a lot of us because we had to talk about our experiences in the residential [school] and how it affected all of us when we were making this quilt," she said. "We cried, we laughed, we shared stories." Many of the quilt's patches are references to residential schools, Head said. Each object represents something in one of the women's lives at the schools. One symbol represents a woman's abuser. Another patch of a chair represents her ability to finally rest. More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend church-run, government-funded residential schools between the 1870s and 1997. The schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children while eradicating Indigenous languages and cultures, and there was widespread abuse. Head said she and her siblings were taken to residential schools in 1965 and she was forced to attend for seven years. James Smith Cree Nation Chief Kirby Constant said the nation's women are the heart of its people. "Let us wrap ourselves in their wisdom, their teachings and their love, just as we wrap ourselves in the warmth of this quilt," he said. Eileen Zaba, from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic psychiatric nursing faculty, met Head during a research project that centred around developing a framework for critical incident response for rural and remote Indigenous communities. The project involved James Smith Cree Nation, and Head agreed to be interviewed and contribute. That's when Zaba and Head talked about the quilt and providing it a new home. It will be displayed at the school's Saskatoon campus. Head hopes that people who see the quilt will understand the experience of Indigenous people who went through residential schools. Lindsey Boechler, a researcher with the school's Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship, said research is about relationships and is meant to be done with communities, not about them. "This talking quilt is more than just fabric and thread, which is obvious today," Boechler said. "Each square on this quilt carries a story. Not just of hardship, but perseverance. Not just of pain, but of the unwavering determination to reclaim voice in history. That's what you're doing, ladies." Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by the latest reports.
