Celebrating Caring Hands and Inspiring Hearts: 82 New Nurses Join Our Community
Posted on Friday, August 15th, 2025
Eighty-two newly minted nursing graduates took their first professional steps this spring at the Practical Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Pinning Ceremonies. The dual celebrations were extra‑special as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of our Practical Nursing program and the 25th anniversary of our collaborative BScN degree. Together, these milestones remind us that for half a century, our campus has been a steady source of skilled, compassionate caregivers for our community.
Why the Pin Matters
Long before graduates write “RN” or “RPN” after their names, the pin signals entry into nursing’s global family. The tradition dates to the 1880s, when Florence Nightingale awarded a “badge of honour” to exemplary students. Today’s ceremony is both a rite of passage and a gesture of gratitude to the individuals who supported each student’s progress, including family members, mentors, and sometimes entire communities. During this year’s ceremonies, graduates spoke eloquently about why they chose a particular person to fasten that gleaming pin to their uniform.
Stories Behind the Pins
Behind every nursing pin is a story of resilience, encouragement, and the relationships that carried each graduate through. For many students, the person chosen to do the honours represented the heart of their support system throughout the long journey to becoming a nurse.
Ainsley Lee chose her mother, Jennifer MacIntosh, to pin her. Jennifer had been her constant cheerleader, offering wisdom and encouragement that helped Ainsley stay grounded through the challenges of nursing school. Similarly, Gabriella Bouffard selected her mom, describing her as her lifelong supporter who consistently encouraged her to be her best self. Her mom’s guidance over the past four years, Gabriella said, helped open the door to the next chapter of her life.
For Rebecca Langille, the decision was deeply rooted in family values. She asked her mother, Helen, to pin her, crediting her as the single most influential person in her academic journey. Rebecca also honoured her late grandmother, a longtime RN, through the gesture, saying her mom’s belief that “education is never hard to carry around” helped propel her through difficult times. Kimberley Foster was pinned by her aunt and godmother, Julie St. Denis, a critical care nurse for 45 years. Julie’s lifelong commitment to nursing was part of what inspired Kimberley to pursue a career in the profession herself.
Nurses inspired several graduates in their own families. Quincey Lane chose her mom, Erin Van Hoof, who is an RPN, calling her “the perfect candidate.” Paiton Prince echoed that sentiment, choosing her mom Pam for always being her rock and helping her in more ways than she’ll ever know.
In one especially moving moment, Shelley Dick was pinned by her four daughters—Amber, Allison, Aleesha, and Angelina. Shelley described their grace, perseverance, and optimism as her greatest source of inspiration throughout her nursing journey, making the milestone even more meaningful.
Other students chose siblings or mentors who had walked alongside them through both school and life. Tiffany Matthews asked her brother, Jean-Luc Martin, to pin her, noting his steady presence and unwavering support. And Vicki Alexopoulos Read, the valedictorian of the 2025 Algonquin College graduating class, turned to someone who had shaped her nursing perspective in profound ways: her professor and program coordinator, Kerri-Lynn Weeks. Vicki shared that Kerri-Lynn had expanded her understanding of what nursing could be and had been a consistent source of guidance throughout the program’s ups and downs. “I hope to be as supportive a nurse to others,” she said, “as she has been to me.”
Each story underscores a truth we sometimes overlook: students rarely arrive at graduation alone. Partners cover childcare, elders share wisdom, peers trade lab notes, instructors open doors, and the entire community benefits when those efforts culminate in new nurses ready to serve.
This year’s 82 graduates will soon be caring for patients in acute-care wards, home-care agencies, and community health centres that will feel the immediate impact of their training.
As we celebrate golden and silver anniversaries side by side, the message is clear: our campus remains committed to educating nurses who are clinically excellent, culturally competent, and deeply rooted in community values. That commitment is evident in every pin clasped by a proud parent, sibling, mentor, or child, and in every patient who will soon feel the steady, confident hands of a 2025 graduate.
To the Class of 2025, thank you for choosing nursing, thank you for choosing our community, and thank you for reminding us that behind every polished pin lies a story of courage, love, and hope.
Posted by: Jodi Bucholtz, Acting Manager, Community & Student Affairs
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