Years of dedication and diligence will be rewarded this week as 530 graduates will receive their degrees at Brandon University (BU) Convocation.
The Class of 2026 will be celebrated during four ceremonies over two days at BU’s Healthy Living Centre. Graduates from the Faculty of Science and the School of Music will be the first to cross the stage, with their ceremony to begin on Thursday at 10 a.m. The Faculty of Education will be up next, with the event beginning at 2 p.m. Friday’s ceremonies also take place at 10 a.m., and at 2 p.m., with the Faculty of Health Studies up first, and the Faculty of Arts concluding the proceedings in the afternoon.
“Convocation is an event our graduates will cherish for many years to come, and our staff and faculty have put in a tremendous effort to make the occasion special,” said BU Registrar Andrea McDaniel, whose office organizes Convocation. “I feel privileged to welcome each of them as they cross the stage, and the joy and satisfaction they feel are uplifting for our entire team.”
Beginning with last week’s Our Journey celebration of Indigenous student success, Convocation is a tribute to academic excellence as well as teaching, research and community service. This week’s ceremonies will include the presentation of an honorary degree to Métis Knowledge Keeper Verna DeMontigny on Friday afternoon, with outstanding BU faculty and alumni also being recognized for their accomplishments throughout the two-day event. The audience will hear speeches from student valedictorians, and along with their parchment each graduate will receive a commemorative print of a work created by artist Betty Sawatzky.
Additionally, the formal installation ceremony for BU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen will take place during the Thursday morning ceremony.
“It’s a deep honour to share the stage for my installation with our brilliant and talented graduates, who are going out to shape the world as BU alumni,” Dr. Bovis-Cnossen said. “I offer them heartfelt congratulations that reflect the warm welcome they, and the rest of the community, have given me since my arrival in the fall.”
All ceremonies are open to the public, with thousands of family members, friends and other supporters expected to attend. The intersection of Louise Avenue and James Ehnes Way (20th Street) will be closed to traffic to allow everyone to safely gather and roam the campus, and parking in BU lots will be free during Convocation. For those unable to attend in person, ceremonies will be livestreamed at BrandonU.ca/Convocation/Livestream.
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Success is built at Brandon University. Our growing, progressive campus welcomes a diverse and inclusive community that combines proud tradition with shared ambition. Through our excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, we educate students to make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. Join us at BrandonU.ca.