For two decades, Credit Union Place (CUP) has been a cornerstone of recreation, activity and community connection in the Parkland region.
Fusion Credit Union (FCU), a sponsor since inception in 2006, is proud to continue its commitment with a new 10-year sponsorship agreement as the exclusive naming partner of the facility.
“Facilities like Credit Union Place play an important role in the vitality of our communities,” Darwin Johns, CEO at FCU, said in a press release.
“We’re incredibly proud to have supported this facility since day one and are excited to continue that partnership for the next decade.”
Since its inception, Dauphin’s CUP, managed by Dauphin Recreation Services (DRS), has become a gathering place for sports, major events and activities that contribute to healthy, vibrant communities.
“Partnering with local organizations such as Dauphin Recreation Services aligns closely with Fusion’s co-operative values and commitment to helping communities remain active, connected and economically strong,” said Johns.
“Credit Union Place brings people together, supports active lifestyles and creates opportunities for connection and community pride.”
Beyond recreation, Credit Union Place supports the regional economy by hosting major events and attractions that bring visitors to the area.
“When communities have spaces that bring people together, the impact reaches far beyond the four walls of the building,” said Johns.
“These facilities create economic activity, support local businesses and help foster the kind of vibrant, connected communities we’re proud to serve and live in.”
The long-standing partnership between DRS and FCU symbolizes the power of collaboration to create lasting impact in our communities.
“Investing in Credit Union Place is an investment in the future of our communities,” said Johns.
“When organizations come together with purpose, they create opportunities that shape brighter futures for everyone.”
“We are incredibly grateful to have Fusion Credit Union returning as our naming sponsor for the next 10 years,” said DRS assistant general manager Lindsey Kyle.
“There is no better symbol of community than Credit Union Place, a central hub that brings together residents from across our region for recreation, connection, and events.
“Support from partners like Fusion is what allows us to continue offering a wide range of recreation opportunities and community events. We are proud to move forward together and look forward to building on this strong partnership for years to come.”

A short run in the 2026 Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs has resulted in a financial loss for the Dauphin Kings.
A year after reporting a profit of more than $47,000, the Kings are reporting a loss of $44,308.
In terms of revenue, the biggest fall came in ticket sales. In 2025, the local junior A hockey club reported ticket sales of $339,727. That number fell to $186,448 this year.
Total revenue in 2025 was $835,599, while revenue in 2026 was $644,534.
Expenses also fell, from $787,927 in 2025 to $688,842 in 2026.
Fund-raising increased from $174,833 to $182,020 on the strength of the tractor lotto, which raised approximately $130,000 and the Par 3 Golf Tournament, which raised about $14,000, almost double from the year before.
Despite the shortfall, the Kings still have assets totalling $27,996.
Bryan Romanow was named interim team president last August.
He faced a number of challenges over the course of the season, noting there is a new era in junior hockey.
“It’s tough when you lose a player like Havryil Simchuk at Christmas time to B.C. He would have helped us out immensely in the playoffs, for sure” he said.
“I think stuff like that is the biggest impact now. Losing players at the wrong time of year.”
The Kings have been searching for a new head coach and general manager since parting ways with Doug Hedley at the end of the season.
Romanow said the team was close enough to hiring someone new to offer a contract.
“And we thought we had one locked up and then they had a family meeting and had a change of heart,” he said.
“There were a couple more that we were just about to offer contracts to, but then they backed away. We’re working really hard. It’s tough. Coaching nowadays, too, they want a lot of money. But hopefully, in the next week to 10 days, we’ll have somebody in place.”
Romanow will remain on the board as vice-president with Jason Gibbs stepping into the president’s role. Romanow hopes to use his time as vice-president as a learning experience.
“I was only on for about six months, so I have quite a bit to learn yet. So it will be nice to follow Jason’s lead for a while and then hopefully, I’ll step back up into president or remain a vice-president, which is fine,” he said.
As for the financial situation, Romanow said the loss shows how important a long playoff run can be. He also noted while the Kings appreciate the support from sponsors, the team lacks a major industry to support the team, unlike other teams in the league
“Our sponsorships are awesome in Dauphin, don’t get me wrong. But you’re dealing with the Steinbachs, where they have HyLife. And you’re dealing with Portage, with McCain. They back their teams fairly well,” he said.
“We are very happy with the support we get in Dauphin. It’s just we don’t have any industry, basically. What it comes down to is we’re a farming community. So we try to make the best with what we have.”
Gibbs joins the Kings after serving as governor a few years ago, before moving on to the Parkland Rangers program.
“I still love the game of hockey and, obviously, my kids have moved on, so we have a little bit of empty nest syndrome and I still want to give back. So I just thought coming back to the board and helping these folks get through things was the right step,” he said.
Among the challenges will be to right the ship financially.
Gibbs credited director of business operations Christian Laughland for his work in securing sponsors.
“But just keeping the team afloat and, obviously, we need to focus on getting a head coach signed and announced,” he added.
The Kings are also looking for added revenue streams to help the bottom line.
One thing Gibbs hopes to do is to get players back out into the community.
“Giving back to the sponsors, helping out wherever they can. We’re hoping that we’ll get more folks in the stands and get them excited about the players and the team,” he said.
Recognizing time is of the essence, Gibbs hopes to have a new coach and general manager is place soon.
While there were no resignations from the board, a number of people stepped up and joined the team.
Cam Abrey will be the billet co-ordinator, Jason Alf joins as community relations, Joey Pasternak and Troy Steeves will serve as game day directors, Craig Kaminski will serve as information technology and Dave Campbell will join Rob Hrechka and Rae Csversko in external relations.
Remaining on the board are Laughland, who will also serve as the team’s governor, Erin Sigvaldason in finance and Scott McCallum as director of hockey operations.
The Kings recently announced its schedule for the 2026-27 season.
Of note, all but one home game will be played on weekends, with 15 Friday games, seven on Saturdays and six on Sundays. The lone weekday home game will take place, Dec. 31, a Thursday.
The season opens, Sept. 18, when the Kings are in Selkirk to battle the Steelers, with the home opener the next night at Credit Union Place also against Selkirk.

The Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School celebrated the Class of 2026, Saturday at Credit Union Place.
This year saw 143 graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.
Following the processional, greetings were brought by Mountain View School Division assistant superintendant Gord Wood, MVSD trustee Jarri Thompson and DRCSS principal Taylor Schmidt.
Then came the convocation and presentation of awards followed by the Valedictorian address by Jacobi van Luijn-Michaluk.
Here is her speech:
Hello everyone, my name is Jacobi and I am honored to have been voted valedictorian for the Class of 2026.
This role has made me reflect on all the memories and accomplishments we’ve had over the years. These are some of the most important times in our lives.
It has also forced me to think about one of the scariest things and that’s the unknown ahead of us. I’m sure this fear has crossed everyone’s mind, especially us graduates.
For so long, we sort of knew what was ahead. We knew that the next year we would return to school, see the same teachers and friends that we have seen every day for years, to then go home and continue that cycle, but it won’t be like that anymore and it’s been so hard to admit that. We are breaking years worth of habits and routines and that’s an extremely difficult thing to do.
This change can really take a toll on kids. So many people have told me that it sort of feels like we are suddenly leaving behind our whole life. It’s as if we are popping this safe little bubble we have built around each other.
I made sure this year to really take my time to process it all and cherish every second I spend with my friends, teachers and family. We should all be thankful for the people that surround and comfort us during this time in our lives. Every single person here today wants the absolute best for us and it’s important that we keep that love close to us.
As scary as this new chapter may seem, there is some excitement to it. We are all going to have this new level of independence and a new sense of individuality. We are going to discover so many new and exciting things about ourselves we have no idea about. In order to grow as people, we must branch out and face our challenges head on. But that growth can be intimidating.
It feels like we are ready to grow up until it’s actually happening. Growing up feels like it should just be all fun and exciting, but it feels so hard and confusing, too. I know it’s normal for us to feel like this, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult. It may not seem like it right now, but it’s important for us to grow up. Even as we get older, we will still have parts of our childhood with us, along with all the memories we have made. So many memories and crucial parts of my life have happened in high school, and I’m going to cherish that for the rest of my life.
We are so lucky to experience this together and to be there for one another.
Along with all these good things that we will carry with us, it isn’t like that all the time. So many teens struggle with mental health and I want to take this opportunity to spread awareness about it.
They say one in four youth have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Suicide remains the second leading cause of death in Canada for youth between the ages of 15 to 19. LGBTQIA+ youth are five times more likely to attempt suicide and Indigenous youth are five to seven times more likely.
Let that information sit with you for a moment. Think about that next time you decide to judge someone based on their looks or because they are a bit different than others. We are all human and we only have one life. Everyone should be able to live that life with some happiness in it. We all have our things we are insecure about, maybe we think too much about what others think of us. I hope that whatever you are dealing with, you persevere and go to the people that are willing to help you when you need it. Everyone has someone who cares about them. If you don’t think so, check again because I guarantee they are there.
I am so proud of all the graduates for getting through the highs and lows of high school. We may complain about our assignments or skip class because we don’t feel like doing work, but there is at least a part of us that is going to miss all this. During our time in school, we have learned to become our own person, to take care of ourselves and others and to trust that there is always someone who is willing to help us.
I want to take a moment to thank all the teachers at the DRCSS for teaching us these things and for always being there for your students. I want to highlight a few teachers that have impacted me, and many other students.
Mrs. Coombs, thank you for bringing light to your classroom and our lives and for believing in students even if they have given up on themselves.
Mr. Cote, you bring laughter, joy and comfort to any room you walk into. Thank you for creating such a safe space for me and many other people.
Lastly, I’d like to thank two teachers that have made the biggest impact on me, Mrs. Michaluk and Mrs. Krisjanson. You may not work in a classroom, but the work you do is just as important. You help kids reach the finish line and get through anything they may be going through.
Mrs. Krisjanson, you are so patient with kids and supporting them academically. Mrs. Michaluk, you always go above and beyond with kids who need you. These teachers I have named are true heroes in so many people’s lives and I’d be lucky to become half the person that they are. Teachers truly save lives and the work they do is so crucial in our world. Thank you to all the teachers for guiding us through life and helping us ease into young adulthood.
I’m so curious to see the people we are all growing to be. It’s hard to say goodbye to this chapter and all the stories in it, but it’s time to write the next one. Maybe it will be even better than last. Whatever is in store for all of you, I hope you achieve great things and have the life you deserve to live.
Before I’m done talking, I want to read one of my favorite poems called “Wild Geese” written by Mary Oliver.
“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
The mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination,
Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
Over and over announcing your place
In the family of things.”
Thank you class of 2026, we deserve to celebrate all we have accomplished.
Following her speech came the turning of the tassel and the recessional.

The Dauphin Clippers rugby teams handed out year-end awards, last week.
Four awards were handed out for the Clippers girl’s 7s team.
Kiersten VanDekerckhove was named the varsity MVP and Mindy Chartrand was the Top Rookie, while the JV MVP was Alina Genik and Edie Fleck was the JV Top Rookie.
The varsity girls award winners were: Top Forward - Ryann Richard-Soltis; Top Back - Felicity Sahulka; MVP - Paityn Bourgouin; Top Rookie - Anna Durston; Maverick Award - Isabella Williams; Playoff MVP - Desiree Lariviere; Spirit Award - Mackenzie Kropelnicki; and Most Improved - Maya Hughes.
JV boys award winners were: Top Forward - Garrett Urichen; Top Back - Garrett Sahulka; MVP - Rudy Oosthuizen; Top Rookie - Hendrik Du Plessis; Maverick Award - Sly Fedorkiw; Playoff MVP - Rudy Oosthuizen; Spirit Award - Dax Arneson; and Most Improved - Cohen Lambie.
Varsity boys award winners were: Top Forward - Ben Miner; Top Back - Jordan Evans; MVP - Julien Lopez; Top Rookie - Emil Saifulin; Maverick Award - Blake Thacker; Playoff MVP - Alex Thompson; Spirit Award - Blake Symchych; and Most Improved - Tristen Fidierchuk.

After starting the season with two straight wins on the road, the Parkland Mavericks have now lost two in a row at home.
The latest set back came at the hands of the Manitoba Wombats, 34-24, Saturday, at Mavs Fest in Dauphin.
Ronin Mouck had two tries and two converts and Julien Lopez, playing his first game ever with the Mavericks, also had two tries.
The Mavericks were shorthanded for most of the game after losing a player to a red card late in the first half.
“Considering we played down a man the whole game, we played really, really good. They were starting the get tired in the second half and we did come back pretty close. But playing 14 on 15 stopped us from getting an even shot,” said captain Jordan Campbell.
The Wombats have always been one of the top teams in Rugby Manitoba’s Premier Division, with 60 players to choose from.
“And they’re a really competitive group and we were neck-and-neck with them. So I’m very happy with the way we performed, for sure,” Campbell said.
Campbell feels the Mavericks need to work on being more conservative in how they play with aggression.
“We need to stop getting penalties. That definitely is the big thing. Penalties kind of butcher us,” he said, adding the Mavericks are also missing some of their main starters.
“And I thought we played really good for what we had,” he said.
The Mavericks don’t play again until they host the Winnipeg Wasps Division 1 team, July 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Campbell said it will be good to have a two-week break.
“We’ve got about eight new players coming to practice, so we’re pretty excited to have some new faces. And back-to-back home games, we get the Premier Wasps and then the Div. 2 team, so it will give us a nice little break and build some team chemistry, so we can let them have it,” he said.
The Parkland Lady Mavericks hit the pitch for the first time, hosting the Winnipeg Brumbies, Saturday.
The Brumbies took advantage of a team which hadn’t even practiced together yet, scoring a 66-29 win over the Lady Mavericks.
Desiree Lariviere had three tries and Halie Garlinski had two tries. Kateri Mills had two converts.
Coach Cassandra Kostelnyk was pleased with how the team played.
“A lot of the girls had never played together before and they actually didn’t have a chance to get together to practice as a team before the game. So all things considered, I think they did a good job,” she said.
Kostelnyk was most impressed with how quickly they started playing as a team.
“It was almost hard to tell that they haven’t even practiced together, let alone play together,” she said.
The Lady Mavericks will travel to Brandon, June 23, to play the Lady Barbarians, a game rescheduled from May 30.
The Lady Mavericks practice Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kin Field from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are still looking for players.
“Anybody is welcome. We’re always accepting new players. And if you’ve never played before and you’re interested, we’ll teach you everything you need to know,” Kostelnyk said.
Practice will see the Lady Mavericks go back to the basics.
“And making sure that we continue to grow our dynamic as a team and start running as a team more often and just build off what we did on Saturday,” Kostelnyk said.
“We’re excited for the next game and for what the rest of the season will bring.”

The Rural Municipality of Lakeshore hopes to borrow almost $2.5 million to cover deficits its current council discovered after examining financial records going back more than a decade.
Council held a public meeting, June 8, in Ochre River to discuss introducing a bylaw to authorize the borrowing of $2,497,543 million from the Province to cover deficits for 2023 and prior years of $1,825,399, as well as $672,144 for 2024.
The mandate to borrow the money came from the Province, with the money to be repaid over 10 years at an estimated interest rate of five per cent per year.
The meeting, which was attended by close to 150 residents, lasted for more than two hours, with many residents asking questions surrounding the issue.
“The forensic audit, we can’t speak on that, because it has just been finalized with the insurance company and it’s now gone to the RCMP,” said acting reeve Michael Brunen, adding more information will be released later this week.
The Province of Manitoba was represented and some of the information they gave out during the course of the meeting was different than what the Lakeshore council was told before hand, Brunen said.
The Province, Brunen said, gave council two choices - borrow the $2.5 million with the 10-year payment plan or the Province would step in and eliminate the council and run the RM.
“How high do you think your taxes would go? Because we are one of the lowest tax-based municipalities in the province,” he added.
It was mentioned at the meeting that about 20 other municipalities in Manitoba are also having financial difficulties.
Council gave first reading to the borrowing bylaw, June 9, and is expected to give second and third reading, June 22, in Rorketon.
Brunen understands the frustration residents have regarding the deficits and how they came about.
“Naturally, you’re going to wonder, ‘where did we go wrong? What did you buy?’ Well, it wasn’t just one term or one year. It’s going back at least 10 or 12 years when this was first noticed,” he said.
“It goes back that far. Three terms. And that’s just a failure from a lot of departments, not just the CAO. It goes to council itself. The finance department. The reeve. The Province needs to step in and oversee this or have someone help us. Ever since amalgamation, really, things have gotten bad. It really has. We’ve seen the failures. And it’s happening all over the province.”
No deficits were found for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Brunen pointed out the current council is the one that found the deficits because of a forensic audit being performed.
“They went back and found this by other council’s mistakes. Not saying we’re perfect either. But this is why,” he said, adding when he became acting reeve, discrepencies were found in the office, which resulted in the need for a forensic audit.
“During its process, these things were discovered and, of course, it went back and found more and more and more. But the forensic audit had nothing to do with the deficit,” he said.
Brunen was overwhelmed and pleased with the turnout for the meeting.

The annual Gary Brandon Memorial Men’s Match Play Tournament saw 120 golfers comprising 60 teams hitting the links at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club, June 5 to 7.
The tournament, sponsored by Aspen Insurance and Assante Wealth Management, is a fund-raising event for local charities and a proud supporter of the Dauphin and District Community Foundation.
Shawn McQuarrie and Chad Facey won the championship flight, beating Bob Gilroy and Christian Laughland.
Nelson Lepla and Jordan Brown placed third, beating Lance Prytula and Drew Tyschinski.
Lynden Smigelski and Tyler Carefoot teamed up to win the first flight, defeating Wayne Catcheway and Earl Thompson, while Boston Karlson and Jackson Delaurier were third after defeating Brett and Perry Farnsworth.
Mark Odut and Regan Hedley won the second flight over Seth and Darcy Gares, with Shawn Woods and Dustin Underwood finishing third after defeating Darcy Malcolm and Julian Houle.
Ron Low and Andy Pickering beat Ron Love and Mike Penrose to win the third flight, with Randy VanHumbeck and Dan Bourgouin defeating Kelly Eastman and Bryan Diboll to finish third.
In the fourth flight, Wayne and Scott Heide took first place, beating Denis McKay and George Campbell, while Brendon Green and Jack Reis finished third after a win over Jody Bilous and Derrick Kabel.
Mike Shawn and Deegan Delaurier scored a win over Bart Michaleski and Blaine Johnson to win the fifth flight. Dean Cooley and Ron Hedley finished in third place after a win over Mike Sparrow and Rob Bouchard.
Terran Roos and Branden Hrychuk won the sixth flight scoring a win over Derrick and Dryden Vendramin, with third place going to Jeff Sutherland and Chris Garand, which beat Troy and Mark Steeves.
The seventh flight was won by the team of Clayton Carefoot and Jeff Gorawk, which defeated Steve Bell and Jordan Morrisseau, while James and Chris Davidson beat Mitch Prawdzik and Brendon Kruk to place third.

The provincial final in 2022 was the last time the Dauphin Clippers girls rugby team lost a game.
That was when they fell, 34-14, to the Rivers Rams in the provincial final.
The Clippers suffered its first defeat since then, Saturday, again in the provincial final, when they fell 31-22 to the Steinbach Sabres.
Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak said the Clippers haven’t seen that level of competition in a long time.
“And I think the girls were a little bit shell shocked. They ended up getting down 18-0 in probably the first 15 minutes. But they were resilient, for sure. They battled back. They scored two quick ones right after,” he said.
“We went into the half, it was 24-12. Steinbach scored early in the second half and then the girls battled back, but, ultimately, couldn’t get it done.”
Despite the loss, Sarkonak is pleased with the silver medal, noting everything must come to an end.
“But what I’m most proud of is the way the girls didn’t quit. They battled as hard as they could. They put it all on the line. They went right to that final whistle. And they gave Steinbach a good push,” he said, adding he is pleased the girls were able to experience that level of competition.
“Especially our graduating girls,” he added.
Steinbach’s success over the last couple of years is proof of how far women’s rugby as a whole has come, not just in Manitoba, but across the country.
“With the success of the national women’s team, I think it’s just sparked an uptick in youth rugby, which is now translating into high school and young girls aspiring to play as high a level as possible. We haven’t had competition in Winnipeg in the last two years, so it was nice to finally see that,” he said.
To reach the final, the Clippers beat Springfield, 67-0.
Sarkonak offers his best wishes to Vanderkerckhove and Ryann Richard-Soltis who will be attending Brandon University, where they will play for the Bobcats, as well as Bourgouin, who will play for Mount Royal College, while Megan Thompson has transfered to Regina University to play for the Cougars, where she hopes to play alongside Felicity Sahulka and Percival.
The Clippers boys defeated St. John’s Ravenscourt, 52-5, to advance to the final against the St. Paul’s Crusaders.
In the final, the Crusaders won their 11th provincial title in a row and 12th in the last 13 years with a 26-19 win over the Clippers.
Clippers coach Aaron Miner felt the Clippers came as close as they possibly could to pulling off an upset.
“We lost by one try and we lost to a better team. They were better and stronger and just made fewer mistakes than we did. You couldn’t ask for more from our players, that’s for sure,” he said.
Miner feels the Clippers surprised the Crusaders with their strong play, noting they have had a good relationship with the Winnipeg school.
“In talking to their head coach, he did mention that this was definitely the best team that he’s ever coached in his career at St. Paul’s. So he was quite certain they were going to take it to us,” he said.
“I think we shocked them by being persistent and not giving up and making a full comeback. Even when they were up on us by two tries, we managed to come back. Like I told the guys, if it was a hockey game and there was a third period, we might have made the full comeback.”
Overall, Miner is pleased with the season, not just for his squad, but the girls and JVs, as well.
“It just goes to show the strength in the program at the DRCSS. Parkland rugby in general. Just nothing but a bright future ahead for the programs. We’re only one day out of high school rugby season and we’re already starting planning for the next event and the next wave of players coming up into the program,” he said.
“So no rest, and I think that’s how we keep our program strong and keep it going.”

Assiniboine College Parkland Campus held its annual graduation ceremony, celebrating 71 graduates.
Following the processional and the elder blessing from Reg Nepinak, Parkland Campus director Carol Stewart made some opening remarks.
AC president Mark Frison then brought greetings, as did Kayla Gillis on behalf of the Assiniboine College Alumni Association.
Then it was time for the Valedictory address delivered by Tammy Chief.
It’s an honour to stand here today and represent a graduating class that showed so much determination and heart. They say the journey to education begins within, but no one gets there alone. True success is built through the support of family, friends, classmates and instructors. Along the way, we don’t just learn what’s in textbooks, we learn who we are.
During my time at Assiniboine College, I saw firsthand the dedication, drive and perseverance of each one of my fellow graduates. I saw it every day in the classroom and across campus. We all showed up, even when it was hard. We endured sleepless nights completing assignments, juggling schoolwork alongside life and work commitments and facing financial stress that sometimes felt overwhelming. Yet here we are, standing today with a diploma in hand and with it, the power of education that we will carry into our future roles as individuals, employees and leaders.
With the guidance of my classmates, instructors and faculty, and the unwavering support of my family, I gained more than knowledge. I gained perspective, patience and flexibility. Those lessons have shaped me and they are something I will carry forward into my new career and throughout my life.
Choosing to return to school after 30 years may have been a difficult decision, but for me it was the right one. Right here in Dauphin, having Assiniboine College campus close to home made this journey possible for so many of us. It gave us more than an education; it gave us the skills and confidence to face what comes next. Education gives us the ability to stand up for ourselves and to be voices for those who cannot, and that is a responsibility I know this graduating class carries with pride.
Our instructors and staff created a space where growth was encouraged and where every student was truly seen. The friendly greetings from staff and faculty, the laughs we shared after handing in a test or assignment, and the check-ins from instructors who genuinely cared, these are memories I will hold true in my heart.
There’s a quote from a Scorsese film where a character says, “I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.” That idea reflects what we have done here. Through our willingness to learn and grow, we shaped our environment into one that reflects resilience, determination and connection. And now, as graduates, we are stepping out into the world as that product, not just educated, but stronger, sharper and more capable because of the tools we’ve gained along the way.
It wasn’t always easy. There were busy schedules, heavy course loads, and moments of real stress. But through it all, one thing remained constant. We had each other. We leaned on one another, encouraged one another and were guided by instructors who pushed us to do our best and believed in our potential.
Today, we celebrate not just our accomplishments, but the journey that brought us here and the people who walked it with us. I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved.
So, as we take this next step, let’s carry forward the lessons we’ve learned, the connections we’ve built and the confidence we’ve gained. Let’s continue to shape the environments we enter and make a meaningful impact in our communities.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. We worked hard for this, we earned it and I’m proud to stand here with you today.
The graduates were then presented with their diplomas.
Adult learning and upgrading
High School Diploma Secondary Diploma - Magnus Smith.
Mature Student High School Secondary Diploma - Cooper Beckman, Hayven Brezden, Aaron Catcheway, Lindy Chartrand, Alexander Flett, Julia Friesen, Colan Lafreniere, Brett McKay, Chloe Moar, Jorgia Moosetail, Luke Parenteau-Thompson, Jesse Sinatynski and Janine Zalizniak.
STRIVE Succeeding in the Work World Document of Achievement - Harley Bone, Michael Costello, Derrick Didluck, Cameron Flatfoot, Wynona Guiboche and Renee Roulette.
Youth Employability Skills Certificate of Achievement - Jazmanee Gregory, Kaitlyn Hatt, Lisa-Marie Kitchemonia, Chantelle Wishira and Isabelle Wishira.
Edna Edwards School of Nursing
Comprehensive Health Care Aide Certificate - Hailey Catcheway, Taiton Dyck, Shannon Holt, Marcus Lusung, Abby Maczuga and Tia Thiessen.
Peters School of Business
Business Administration: Accounting Diploma - Jaitanna Delaronde and Ashley Didyk.
Business Administration: Human Resource Management Diploma - Omolade Akinsete, Trevor Boyd, Tammy Chief, Courtney Clearwater, Tia Crawford, Kaur Manpreet, Courney Settler and Gurpreet Singh.
School of Health and Human Services
Early Childhood Education Diploma - Skylar Collins, Jaylene Gabriel, Calista Hudyma, Tanisha Meyer, Amanda Pangman, Johana Postrano and Ling Zhang.
Early Childhood Program Management (DE) Advanced Diploma - Angie Moosetail.
Social Service Worker Diploma - Haley Bone, Shavanna Genaille, Shuai Jiang, Alexandria Jordan, Julia Kotyk, Josephine Okeke and Kailyn Ushkowski.
School of Trades
Applied Plumbing Installation Certificate - Chukwudi Agi, Baron Arneson, Nyles Brazeau, Tanner Gamache, Keegan Ganchar, Ryan Gustilo, Kare Josephson, Matthew Knott, Drake Malcolm, Nevada McDougall and Devan Normandin.
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Achievement - Jesse Boehling, Braidy McKay and Jimoh Olatunji.
The Governor General’s Academic Award, presented to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma program, was presented to Calista Hudyma of the Early Childhood Education program.

The Parkland Mavericks are 2-0 to start the season.
Ronin Mouck and Owen Tyschinski had two tries each to lead the Mavericks to a 56-29 win over the Winnipeg Assassins Second Division team, Saturday in Winnipeg.
Will Miner, Dylan Craik, Alex Boshoff and player-coach Codi Harrigan also had tries for Dauphin and Mouck had all eight converts.
Harrigan credited the Assassins for never giving up when the Mavericks pulled away.
“They never quit and they kept at us right to the final whistle,” he said.
Both teams suffered through the heat, with the temperature reaching 32C.
“We were tested physically and mentally (Saturday),” Harrigan said, adding it was nice to see the scoring spread out.
“We only had three substitutes available, so a lot of players had to put in big minutes. I’m really proud of our players for managing the heat, staying disciplined with hydration and working hard for the whole 80 minutes,” he said.
When fatigue set in, Harrigan said, the Mavericks continued to communicate and stuck to the game plan instead of trying to do everything individually.
“We had contributions from everyone on the roster and that showed on the scoresheet,” he said.
The Mavericks will host the Assassins First Division unit, Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Because they were a bit shorthanded on Saturday, some players played in unfamiliar positions.
“But again, everybody contributed great. It’s those players that aren’t on the scoresheet that really shine throughout the whole game, as well. There were a lot of players doing the dirty work and they put the team first and that’s a big reason we were successful. So we hope that continues on into the weekend,” Harrigan said.