NorQuest College

Meet NorQuest Alumna, Bernadette!

Bernadette came to NorQuest in the fall of 2020 to attend the Dental Office Administration program, right after graduating from high school. NorQuest was the obvious choice for her, after seeing her mother and sister both complete programs at the college.

During her program, Bernadette was placed in a practicum with Dental Choice, and immediately after her program she received full time employment with them. While working, Bernadette chose to return to school once more and completed her dental hygiene diploma at another post-secondary just this year. When asked about her challenges along the way, Bernadette said “I didn’t see a lot of Indigenous representation, but I used this as empowerment to keep going”.

Looking to the future, Bernadette wants to be that representation and inspire the next generation of learners. “There are so many places you can go in life," she said. "Education is so important and the possibilities are endless, and I hope to inspire current students”. Her favorite piece of advice? “Never tell yourself that you can't because you CAN. Everyone has the ability to learn and become the best; it may be tougher for some and easier for others but you can achieve the highest version of yourself if you try hard enough."

Bernadette's goal is to one day open her own dental hygiene clinic. “I want students to be able to use the skills they learn at NorQuest to transform themselves into someone who they never thought they could be," she said. "Four years ago, I never thought I would be in the position I am now and it was all possible because NorQuest gave me the education to start."

Congratulations on all of your success, Bernadette! We can’t wait to see what you continue to achieve.

Learn more about our Dental Office Assistant program at norquest.ca/dental

Last month, NorQuest College buzzed with an air of celebration as the inaugural cohort of our Insurance Professional program prepared to graduate. On June 18, a completion ceremony was held to mark the culmination of four intensive months for twenty-four dedicated students, each equipped with newfound skills and ready to tackle work in the insurance industry.

With Alberta’s insurance sector playing a pivotal role in the economy and offering ample career prospects, these graduates are well-positioned to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond, and we wish them all the best!

Read the full story: https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/stories/all-smiles-at-the-first-insurance-professional-completion-ceremony

Learn more about the Insurance Professional program at norquest.ca/insurance

Another beautiful summer day at our downtown Edmonton campus ☀️😎

NorQuest students are the best! Here are some of our LINC students volunteering at Edmonton's Food Bank 🙂

Edmonton's Food Bank does wonderful work in our community. Learn about how you can volunteer, donate, and more at edmontonsfoodbank.com




📷 by : We had students from NorQuest College in the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) program in our sorting area recently.

Our thanks everyone for dropping by and donating some time with us! Thank YOU!

A former Wetaskiwin physician and wife are hoping to strengthen the future of hundreds of students, thanks to a large investment in nursing education. Dr. Tuhin Bakshi and wife Dr. Rita Bakshi are donating $150 thousand dollars to support students in NorQuest College's practical nursing program who are studying at the Wetaskiwin Campus.

“I left India with seven dollars in my pocket,” says Rita Bakshi. “I came to Canada to study and had a lot of support through scholarships, so I told myself that one day, if I had enough money, I’d donate some.”

The Bakshis spent nearly 40 years living in Wetaskiwin and say they are grateful for the community and wanted to give back. They say they picked NorQuest College because of its focus on helping students develop the skills that will make them career ready upon graduation.

“We both value education, and we both love to learn,” says Dr. Bakshi. “Education leads to careers, and careers lead to successful futures, that’s why we picked this program and this community.”

The practical nursing diploma is one of the several programs NorQuest College offers at the Wetaskiwin campus to make nursing education more accessible to Albertans. The program consists of in-person and online courses, along with clinical placements, and time spent in specialized labs on site.

As a rural doctor, Dr. Bakshi says he wants to show people the impact they can have when they work in smaller communities. He says he hopes that being able to study closer to home, at the Wetaskiwin campus, will encourage future NorQuest graduates to consider a fulfilling career in a rural centre.

The Bakshis say they also support NorQuest’s efforts to bring education opportunities closer to Indigenous communities. They are hopeful their donation will also help reduce some barriers for Indigenous students looking for a career in healthcare.

Engaging in small talk, particularly in a second language, has its own set of challenges. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) students recently partnered with the SouthWest Edmonton Seniors Association (SWESA) in a fun and informal coffee and conversation circle to practice small talk as part of a community service learning (CSL) project.

SWESA is a registered charity non-profit association that aims to address the social, cultural, and recreational needs and interests of people over 55. By joining SWESA in this CSL experience, NorQuest learners not only practiced their conversational English speaking and listening skills, but also made friends across different ages!

"It wasn’t just a CSL experience, but it was a new experience," one student reflected. "When I was at the senior house, I learned a lot. I met people from different countries with unique English accents. I learned a lot of new English vocabulary. The seniors shared their lived experience with students, their retirement, their education, their life, and work professions. They behaved very kindly and friendly with us. They also advised students on their future goals. Visiting the senior house was very helpful for us.”

Thank you to SWESA for this wonderful collaboration!

If you are a community organization interested in engaging NorQuest learners in community service learning, send us an email at [email protected]

And just like that, it's July ☀️😎

Hope everyone had a great Canada Day long weekend!

On June 21, NorQuesters gathered in the Singhmar Centre for Learning Atrium to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. The energetic event was an opportunity to honour Indigenous culture, traditions, and contributions through performances, workshops, artwork, and activities.

June 21 is a significant day for Indigenous peoples. For centuries, many of the first inhabitants would celebrate the arrival of warm weather and the pleasures of the summer solstice. ​The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest light and a time when people's moods are lifted with the joys of summer. And so it was a perfect day to celebrate Indigenous people and cultures.

Talented musicians and performers from across Alberta made the day come alive with drumming, dancing, and throat singing. Métis jiggers got the crowd on their feet, and the entertainment concluded with a fun display of Bollywood dancing by NorQuest learners!

For many people, failing once is enough to convince them to quit, but for a resilient few, failure presents an opportunity to try a different approach. That was the case for Aiden Wadden-Lynk.

In 2018 Aiden moved to Alberta to attend NorQuest College while also beginning his medical transition from female to male. At the time, Aiden was not only struggling with managing the mental health impacts of his transition but also trying to juggle school, which he said has been something he’s always found to be difficult.

Despite his efforts, Aiden faced failure.

“I had always struggled with learning, so when I arrived at NorQuest I connected with academic supports and was put on a waitlist for free ADHD testing,” he said. “Fast forward to December 2018 I had failed all but one course.”

At that time, Aiden was informed by the college that he needed to take at least two semesters off before he would be eligible to re-attempt his diploma. This is the point where many people would choose to quit. But not Aiden.

“Instead of two semesters, I took three years off."

In February 2021, after subsidizing his own ADHD assessment, Aiden decided to try again. He applied in February, and a year later following an interview he found out he had been accepted.

“At that time, I explained my struggles with learning and ADHD and how much my transition had impacted my mental health.”

Despite his determination to succeed, returning to the place where he had failed once before was intimidating.

“In August 2022, I walked into my first class feeling terrified, alone, and unsupported… but that first day changed my life.”

Aiden says everything changed after meeting his microeconomics instructor, Daisy Loh. Aiden said Loh saw his desire to learn and inspired him in a way no teacher has done before.

“Daisy, along with quite a few of the other instructors I’ve had over the past two years have inspired me and supported me every step of the way,” he said.

With a new understanding of his neurodiversity, new confidence in his own skin, and a new support system, Aiden found success.

It was at this point, after Aiden was celebrated for being part of a group of business students who brought home multiple awards at a case competition, did he meet Norma Schneider, NorQuest’s Vice President of Academic.

“Aiden’s comment about how meaningful it was for him to participate in the competition, and how grateful he was to be a NorQuest student piqued my interest,” said Schneider. “I wanted to hear his story.”

It wasn’t long after that Aiden shared his experience with her.

“I remember exactly where I was when I opened that email,” she said. “As I read it, I felt tears running down my cheeks.”

In his email, Aiden had included photos of his first set of transcripts which showed his failing grades, and then photos of his final grades which were all A’s and B’s. The final photo he included was of his conditional acceptance to the Master of Business Administration Program in the Community Economic development program.

“I was, and am still in awe,” said Schneider. “What courage to rise from having a failing semester to try again, what determination to work with a learning disability and achieve such academic success, what strength to be him to be his authentic self and carve a pathway for his future. Aiden is an inspiration.”

Aiden crossed the stage at his NorQuest convocation at the end of May, and is excited to soon start his master’s program, following in Daisy Loh’s footsteps.

“It is thanks to those instructors that I have found my path.”

Last week, we hosted several instructors from the Sangalo Institute of Science and Technology/ Polytechnic in Kenya as part of our Train the Trainers program—a culinary and cultural exchange program that provides experience for instructors from other countries.

Chef John Lizotte—who has worked as the Executive Chef at the Royal Glenora Club, a Continuing Education instructor at NAIT instructor, and a culinary instructor for NorQuest's Foundations of Cooking program—worked with our Kenyan guests to prepare an incredible meal of chateaubriand, spring rolls, dragon rolls, and sweet corn brulée!

NorQuest College has launched a new education model that is helping reduce barriers by bringing the classroom to students!

Our mobile health lab is currently set up in Castor, Alberta, and provides an opportunity for students in surrounding communities to complete their education close to home, eliminating the need to travel to NorQuest’s Edmonton or Wetaskiwin campuses.

“This mobile lab gives students the opportunities to live in their town, work in their town, and be with their families while also completing their education and earning their certification,” says Sonia Khangura, Associate Chair of NorQuest’s Health Care Aide program, and one of the mobile health lab instructors.

NorQuest is using the lab, which was built inside a mobile trailer and looks like a continuing care setting, to host its Health Care Aide program. In June, the college celebrated the mobile lab’s first graduating class with a mini convocation ceremony for six health care aide students.

“There was a lot of learning,” says Khangura. “I’m so used to Edmonton and its health care system but rural settings are different, so we did have to learn and adjust along the way. We ended up tailoring some of our material to help prepare students for working in rural communities.”

Different protocols and supplies, staffing limitations, and delayed EMS response times are just some of the differences between health care in major cities versus rural settings. Khangura says it’s common to have to wait 45 minutes for emergency services to arrive, and many of the staff working in health care settings know their clients personally.

“That can create a difficult situation,” she says. “It’s our job as instructors to give them the skills to be able to navigate those situations and be as prepared as possible when heading back to work.”

Due to recent regulatory changes in the Health Care Aide profession, many of the students in June’s graduating class are already working in the industry but required a certification to be eligible for pay increases or to change jobs. Khangura says this new education model, where students complete their theory classes online and their labs in person in Castor, allowed some students to continue working while completing their certification.

“Right now, we are only offering the Health Care Aide certificate, but the lab was designed to be a flexible space so there are a lot of opportunities of how we can use this space in the future.”

That includes the possibility of NorQuest offering a practical nursing program to help people complete their nursing education in rural communities and continue supporting their communities by filing vacant positions.

NorQuest College is incredibly grateful for the Indigenous culture, teachings, and wisdom that enriches our college.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we encourage all students and staff to participate in the activities happening around the campus to honour Indigenous cultural teachings and ceremonies.

https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/events/2024/national-indigenous-peoples-day.aspx

Returning to work after being a stay-at-home parent can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you were out of the workforce for several years. Education and upskilling can be incredibly beneficial for not only your confidence but also your career opportunities.

NorQuest College student Kassey tells the story of her journey from full-time work to full-time parenting and the educational path she took to start a new career that she loves (and one that gives her the flexibility to prioritize her family):

https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/stories/returning-to-work-after-being-a-stay-at-home-parent-and-the-impact-of-education.aspx

NorQuest College provides Work-Integrated Learning opportunities that empower students to build confidence in their own professional skills and abilities.

Tonja, Honour student and recent graduate of our Early Learning and Child Care program, shared her thoughts on the lasting impact of her hands-on practicum experiences.

“I had a really hard time both socially and academically in high school. I did not think I would ever return to a traditional school setting, let alone be successful at it," Tonja said. "My time at NorQuest has provided me with so much support and hope.

"The instructors reminded me that I can study hard and come out on top," she continued. "I’m about to graduate with honors and have been hired on at my practicum placement. I couldn't be prouder of myself. Thank you, NorQuest, for the opportunity to learn and grow my skills!”

For more information about Work-Integrated Learning at NorQuest, visit norquest.ca/WIL

Congratulations NorQuest College class of 2024! 🎉 🎈 🎇 🎆

We want you to know how proud we are of your accomplishments and how honoured we are to have been part of your journey. You have reached this milestone—and the next step in your journey—through hard work and determination, and that deserves a standing ovation 👏 👏

We know you're going to go on to do great things, and we wish you all the best for the future!

Day 2 of our 2024 Convocation ceremonies 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓💐

Another great-looking group! Congratulations to all of the NorQuest College students graduating today!

Day 1 of our 2024 Convocation ceremonies 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓💐

Congratulations to all of the NorQuest College students graduating today—we are so proud of you!

Everyone looks amazing!

A former Wetaskiwin doctor and his wife are hoping to strengthen the future of hundreds of students, with a large investment in nursing education. Dr. Tuhin Bakshi and his wife Rita Bakshi are donating $150,000 to support students in NorQuest College's practical nursing program, who are studying at the Wetaskiwin Campus.

The Bakshis spent nearly 40 years living in Wetaskiwin and say they are grateful for the community and wanted to give back. They picked NorQuest because of its focus on helping students develop the skills that will make them career ready, upon graduation.

We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation!

We're less than a week away from Convocation and we're getting excited for the big day! We can't wait to see all of our amazing grads dressed up and walking across the stage 🎓 🎉

Find full Convocation details at norquest.ca/Convocation

As the Class of 2024 prepares for their big day at Convocation next week, many of our recent alumni are looking back at their education and graduation journeys. For them, it’s a time to reflect on how far they’ve come and impart their own words of wisdom to the next generation of NorQuest grads.

Read on for more from four alumni who completed their programs in 2023 and are offering their advice to the graduating class of 2024:

https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/stories/norquest-college-alumni-offer-their-advice-to-the-class-of-2024.aspx

Lifelong learning is important to two sisters from Woodland Cree First Nation, 80 kilometres northeast of Peace River. The small reserve has four lakes and about 800 people who call it home. There is one school and a day care. The sisters, 64-year-old Wanda Laboucan and 59-year-old Rebecca Cardinal, have always had a passion for helping children to learn and play in their tight-knit community. It is one of the reasons why both were eager to enrol at NorQuest College when the Early Learning and Child Care certificate was offered to the Northern communities.

“I love learning. You’re never too old to learn,” said Rebecca. “I love children and I love working with kids. Taking this course made me a better educator and really opened my eyes to how important play is.”

This class created a new community of learning. Students in the Treaty 8 cohort of the Early Learning and Child Care certificate program connected online and at times in person. The two sisters not only encouraged each other, but also had an impact on their classmates.

Now, 26 students are graduating and will be travelling to Edmonton for Convocation. The learners walking across the stage will be cheered on by their community members who have been their biggest supporters since their first day of class.

“I didn’t truly understand what I was getting myself into,” said Wanda. “The nice thing is that the first time that I met my instructor, I told her I’m not going to do this, I think I’ll just give up. She said, ‘oh no you’re not,’ and here I am.”

Read the full story: https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/stories/empowering-futures-treaty-8-elcc-grads-transforming-their-communities.aspx

NorQuest College’s Honorary Diploma is one of the highest accolades the college can bestow. Reserved for individuals of exceptional merit, this accolade acknowledges extraordinary achievements, outstanding service, or transformative contributions to the college or wider society.

At our convocation ceremonies on May 30 and 31, 2024, NorQuest will award Honorary Diplomas to three exceptional community members in recognition of their extraordinary contributions: Zahra Somani for Business Leadership, Lewis Cardinal for Indigenous Voice in Leadership, and Dr. Jasneet Parmar for Health Science.

Read more about our Honorary Diploma recipients: https://www.norquest.ca/about-us/news-and-events/stories/announcing-honorary-diploma-recipients.aspx

Last week we held our annual Indigenous Completion Ceremony. This event gives Indigenous graduates the opportunity to celebrate with their family, friends, and elders in a way that honours their ancestors and commemorates their traditions.

Congratulations for your achievement, and thank you for making NorQuest a part of your growth. Even though you may be moving on to new opportunities, we truly hope NorQuest will continue to be a part of your lives for years to come!

May 5 is Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People. This day is meant to raise awareness, amplify Indigenous voices, remember those who have lost their lives, and honor their families and communities.

NorQuest College staff and students have donated items to be respectfully displayed in our atrium as a symbol and reminder of missing and murdered Indigenous women and two-spirit people.

As well, students, staff, and community members are welcome to take part in the remembrance walk on Sunday, May 5. Bring a sign, wear your ribbon skirt, or wear red:

8:30am - meet at Miyonohk Park (along 107 Street NW, across from the fire station) for a smudging ceremony
10:00am – walk to Churchill Square
11:00am – walk to Beaver Hills House park

Last week on April 26, we celebrated the milestones of our learners in Wetaskiwin at the Wetaskiwin Campus Completion Ceremony!

Indigenous ways of being and cultural celebrations—including a drum circle and Indigenous dancing—added a wonderful element to the event that helped us mark our close connection to the community in Maskwacis.