Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
RED RIVER COLLEGE POLYTECH CONVOCATION
RBC Convention Centre
Monday, June 17, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
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Graduates, staff and friends of a vibrant learning institution, it’s a pleasure to join you for this celebration of learning.
As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge first that we’re gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis.
The graduates we celebrate tonight will take what they’ve learned and put it to use in Manitoba, building prosperity in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples.
I feel fortunate to be able to share in your excitement tonight as you prepare to receive your diplomas.
This convocation is something close to my heart.
Earlier in my career, I worked in adult career education and saw the transformative impact that career training had on graduates of our programs.
This was a few of decades ago, so a great deal of what you’ve learned at Red River College Polytech wasn’t even imagined in the training our programs provided.
I am sure that in the various business, information technology and creative arts programs you are graduating from, you’ve learned how to do any number of things that would have looked like science fiction back in my day.
But what hasn’t changed is that of all the skills taught in any good educational program, the most important is learning how to acquire new knowledge.
Here at Red River Polytech, you’ve mastered bodies of knowledge that will get you in the door. And you’ve also learned the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that will help you to keep learning as your world and your work change.
Therefore, tonight we are celebrating the successful completion of one important stage of your learning and the beginning of another.
I wish you many fascinating and exciting challenges in the years to come as you use what you’ve learned and add, every day, to your store of knowledge.
Congratulations on this achievement. And to all who have helped you along on the journey, as instructors, as mentors, as part of your personal support system, thank you for supporting learning in our province.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom
