Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2025
As Clayton Cameron crosses the stage at the Algonquin College convocation on June 20, 2025. He’ll do more than collect his Police
Foundations diploma and speak to his class as its valedictorian; he’ll be the first in his family to graduate, while keeping his family and community in mind as they all deal with the realities of an emergency back home.
Cameron, an Indigenous student from Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, didn’t anticipate that between finishing his courses and graduation day, his community would be forced to evacuate due to wildfires, heavy smoke and poor air quality. Alongside hundreds of fellow evacuees relocated to Niagara Falls, he quickly found himself applying the skills he learned in class and supporting his community. Read more >
Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2025
When graduates cross the stage at Algonquin College’s convocation, gowns will rustle, the crowd will cheer and diplomas will be awarded—
but for Indigenous students, there’s an additional layer of meaning draped across their shoulders. The Indigenous stole, available for our students to wear during their ceremony is an opportunity to showcase their identity, resilience, and cultural pride.
Designed by Indigenous clothing artist Tammy Beauvais from Kahnawake, the stole weaves tradition into the graduation experience. Read more >
Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2025
In the lead-up to Convocation Spring 2025, Algonquin College is featuring unique stories of graduates and their post-secondary education journeys.
Maria Silveira
From an early age, Maria Silveira always dreamt of studying abroad. Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, Silveira’s parents encouraged her to pursue education to achieve her goals. After completing a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Business Administration in Brazil, she spent eight years working with project management before deciding to apply to Algonquin College.
“It was a very tricky moment for me because although I wanted to have this experience abroad, I was already at a point in my career where I felt I was achieving the success I had aimed for,” said Silveira. “However, I always had encouragement from my parents to try to do new things, knowing it would be better to regret something than to not try.”
Read more >
