Assiniboine to celebrate more than 1,300 graduates

Postpones June graduation ceremonies until October

Assiniboine Community College is projecting over 1,300 graduates from across certificate, diploma, and post-graduate programs when this academic year ends this June. 

 With more than 1,250 graduates eligible to attend celebrations in Brandon, Assiniboine is planning to host multiple ceremonies to accommodate and split the possible 3,000-plus graduates and guests into separate events. 

Previously, the college determined a fall graduation ceremony would be necessary to accommodate the growth in graduates at completion points throughout the year. 

June ceremonies are postponed and graduates can participate in fall graduate ceremonies that will be held the week of October 26, 2020.  

 “Graduation is a memorable time for students and their families to share in together, and we’re committed to having venues for all graduates to celebrate at a later date,” said president Mark Frison.  

Recognizing that some form of crowd limitations could remain in place well into the fall, Assiniboine is planning to hold ceremonies for its various program areas—Business, Trades, Access, Health & Human Services, Agriculture & Environment, and Nursing—as well as its Parkland campus in Dauphin.  

Assiniboine continues to pursue its stated strategic goal of 2,028 graduates by 2028 which supports the provincial government’s emerging Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy, and Manitoba’s economy. 

 In the past six years, Assiniboine has increased its graduate numbers by 49 per cent, from 954 in 2013 to 1,426 this past academic year. 

 “With the economic situation we are facing in Canada, we realize there may be new demands placed on the college system as we work to help people displaced from the labour market,” said Frison. 

Assiniboine plans to announce ceremony dates and locations in the coming months.