Assiniboine Students’ Association President receives international Student award

When Alec Walters stepped off the plane from Jamaica, he brought with him a vision for community, resilience, and care. Today, Alec is in his second year of Assiniboine’s Social Service Worker program, he serves as the president of the Assiniboine College Students’ Association (ACSA), and earlier this month, he received the prestigious Manitoba Council for International Education (MCIE) International Student Award.

Each November, during International Education Week, the Manitoba Council for International Education (MCIE) honours four exceptional international students for their academic achievement and community involvement. Award recipients are invited to the Manitoba Legislative Building to accept their awards from the Minister of Education.

“I was so surprised,” Alec recalls of the moment he learned he would be receiving the award. “I told my sister first, and she was so happy for me.” That sister, Alexia, was the spark that ignited Alec’s journey to Canada. A former instructor at Assiniboine, Alexia introduced him to the Social Service Worker program, a field that he now feels is his calling.

“Alec isn’t just a standout student; he’s someone who inspires everyone around him. His drive to learn and grow goes far beyond what’s expected, and he approaches every challenge with compassion and positivity. That enthusiasm for learning is something that will carry him far, both in his career and in life,” said Brandy Robertson, Instructor, Social Service Worker at Assiniboine College.

“Growing up in Jamaica taught me the value of community and being together for each other. I trained as a teacher in Jamaica, and going through that program, we were stressed,” he remembers. “But we supported each other. We had fun, and that helped us thrive. I want to bring that same energy and commitment to wellness here.”

When he first arrived in Canada, Alec noted that it was often a lonely experience. “Making connections was my biggest challenge when I arrived in Canada. Thankfully, my sister encouraged me to join the Students’ Association, and that changed everything.”

From Health and Human Services representative to ACSA president, Alec has created spaces where students feel supported and seen. He also has garnered praise from fellow Jamaicans on campus, including Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts Chairperson, Karen O’Gilvie. She noted that Alec is very representative of the Jamaican Canadian community, where people go above and beyond in giving back to their newfound home, seeking to leave a legacy and meaningful mark on those they work alongside.

Two initiatives that stand out for Alec during his time with the ACSA include: the Wellness Wagon, which delivers stress-relief support for students, and men’s mental health events. Both aim to break stigma and spark conversations among students throughout the college, noting much of his passion for improved mental health initiatives (especially among men), has guided his time in the Social Service Worker program at Assiniboine. Now in his second year, he challenges societal norms that discourage men from seeking help and commits to improving those conversations.

“Men go through things too, and it’s okay to share emotions,” he added. His goal is to work in social services after graduation, ideally with organizations that support people navigating difficult circumstances.

Winning the MCIE award has only strengthened Alec’s resolve. “It makes me want to go further,” he says. “I want to help others thrive—international students, council members, anyone who needs support.”

His advice for international students and newcomers is simple: “Don’t be afraid to try because mistakes often teach more than success.” It’s a mindset that reflects his own journey and speaks to the mantra that he lives by: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, so make the most of it.”