When close to 700 graduates cross the stage at RRC Polytech’s Fall Convocation ceremonies today, many of them will be wearing newly designed stoles that meaningfully reflect the voices, teachings and stories of Indigenous Peoples.

The Polytech is officially unveiling its new Indigenous visual identity — a project grounded in the institution’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous student success, and shared values of respect, inclusion and belonging.

“Celebrating our latest cohort of graduates is always an exciting, profound occasion,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech. “Today’s ceremonies will carry extra significance, as Indigenous graduates cross the stage wearing new stoles that honour tradition while embracing progress and change.”

The stoles and new visual identity are the result of extensive conversations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff, Knowledge Keepers, Elders and community partners, led by a steering committee made up of RRC Polytech staff and valued partners.

“The design on these stoles is rooted in sacredness, seasonality and interconnectedness, honouring the distinct identities of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples while weaving together themes of land, language and story into a living expression of who we are,” says steering committee member Carla Kematch, Director, Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement.

“The visual identity reflects teachings learned through engagement sessions and a survey that was shared among our community, ensuring the design is a true reflection of an identity that belongs to all of us.”

​Also featured as part of this year’s ceremonies, Kate Rudnyk — a Spring 2025 graduate from the Digital Media Design program — was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal, the highest recognition that may be obtained upon graduation.

Recipients are selected by a standing committee comprised of RRC Polytech management, students and instructors. Rudnyk was selected in recognition of her academic and technical achievement, involvement in Polytech and/or community activities, and overall good character.

A passionate community builder whose journey has been shaped by resilience, compassion and commitment to helping others, Rudnyk says she found direction at RRC Polytech, where collaboration replaced competition and belonging came naturally.

She now leads student tours and draws from her own experience to mentor others through uncertainty, noting her Ukrainian heritage inspires her to make a difference — from volunteering at Holy Family Home to working with MBHelpsUkraine, a grassroots initiative that has raised more then $5,000 for humanitarian aid.

This evening, RRC Polytech will name Tessa Potter, an Emmy award-winning broadcast technician, the recipient of its 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award.

The award, which recognizes the remarkable personal and professional achievements of RRC Polytech alumni, will be formally presented at an event marking the 60th anniversary of the Electrical Engineering Technology program.

Potter graduated from the program’s Electronic Engineering specialization in 2000 and has since built a distinguished career in television, radio and live broadcasting, earning two Sports Emmy Awards for her work behind the camera at the 2022 Beijing and 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Tessa’s career shows how far a polytechnic education can take you, particularly in technical industries,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Tessa has built an incredible career through collaboration, hard work and continuous learning, which are all qualities that reflect her character and RRC Polytech’s values. We’re proud to count Tessa among our alumni and pleased to recognize her with this award.”

Potter works as a Senior Broadcast Technician at SBL Engineering and as a Broadcast Liaison with True North Sports + Entertainment, where she’s been supporting NHL and AHL broadcasts for over a decade. She balances these roles with broadcast contracts for major international sporting events, such as the UEFA EURO Finals, FIFA World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games.

“I’m surprised, but also proud to be acknowledged as a worker who has taken my education and turned it into a career that has been valuable, given me the ability to look after my family and filled my days with challenge, intrigue and some really great people,” says Potter.

“Working in a field like electronics, the range of places where your skills can be applied is really wide. I now understand the importance of that fundamental knowledge even more than I did at the time.”

Beyond her professional accolades, Potter is also a passionate advocate for her industry and for greater representation within it, as well as a mentor to the next generation of professionals. She has served as a subject-matter expert at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and as the first female president of the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers for the past five years.

“In accepting this, I think about future students and how sometimes you can’t be what you can’t see,” she says. “Behind-the-scenes workers like me represent a career path many don’t know about, but it exists. If someone with my education realizes there are technical jobs like this and it sparks their interest, we might just have one more worker ready to join our teams.”

There’s a meaningful new addition to the flags that fly on the front lawn at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus. This morning, in recognition of the International Week of Deaf People and the International Day of Sign Languages, the Polytech raised the Deaf Flag for the first time in its history, following a short ceremony open to the community.

“Today is a wonderful celebration of our values in action,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO. “RRC Polytech strives to be a place where all members of our community can learn, work and thrive. Our hope is that through raising this flag, we are sending a powerful message to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they are welcome and supported on our campuses.”

Deaf staff and faculty members initially raised the idea of flying the flag to demonstrate the Polytech’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, and to show all members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they have a place at RRC Polytech.

“The Deaf Flag is a symbol of unity and inclusiveness, making the timing of today’s event all the more significant as we welcomed the return of the ASL-English Interpretation program to RRC Polytech this fall,” says Cheryle Broszeit, an instructor at RRC Polytech.

The ASL (American Sign Language)-English Interpretation program recently underwent an academic transformation of its content, design and delivery to better meet the emerging needs of learners and the community and was led by feedback from the Deaf and interpreting communities. This fall, there are nine students enrolled in the renewed program.

“The ASL-English Interpretation program underscores the value of the connection between the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and interpreting communities,” says Broszeit. “The new and improved program now has a stronger foundation for our students, so they can begin their careers as interpreters confidently and competently once they graduate.”

This morning’s event featured remarks from Meier, Broszeit and Rick Zimmer, Deaf advocate and former instructor and coordinator of Deaf Studies programs at RRC Polytech. Current Deaf students and students from the ASL-English Interpretation program came together to raise the flag.

French Deafblind artist Arnaud Balard designed the flag, which was adopted by the Deaf French National Federation in 2014 and has since been flown around the world. The Deaf Flag is a powerful symbol for Deaf communities, representing unity, recognition and the ongoing fight for equal rights. RRC Polytech sourced the flag directly from the World Federation of the Deaf.

The Deaf Flag now joins flags representing Treaty One, the Red River Métis and RRC Polytech’s Inclusive Pride flag, which are flown year-round at RRC Polytech. It will be flown for the remainder of the week, and every year moving forward during the International Week of the Deaf.

The decision to enter a career in nursing is a noble and compassionate endeavor. For 62 recent alumni from RRC Polytech’s Nurse Re-Entry Program (NREP), that decision was something they’ve committed to twice.

Today, a celebration was held at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae to recognize the individuals who have completed the program since 2024, qualifying them to write their National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses through the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and return to the profession as practicing nurses.

“These alumni are a reflection of the commitment RRC Polytech shares with the Province of Manitoba to strengthening the province’s health-care system and supporting nurses in returning to active practice,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“Through targeted gap training and hands-on learning, RRC Polytech is proud to help nurses meet the CRNM’s entry-level competencies and rejoin the workforce with confidence. This program is not just about education – it’s about empowering skilled individuals to make a meaningful impact in our communities.”

NREP is composed of a series of courses that support nurses previously registered and trained — in Manitoba, across Canada or internationally — to gain the skills and competencies needed to return to active practice. Students review current nursing theories, skills and practices while integrating new knowledge and innovations.

The program has three cohorts per academic year and accepts up to 30 students per intake.

“It is always inspiring to meet students who have a passion for helping others and who choose to dedicate their lives to a career in health care,” says Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards, Dean, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, RRC Polytech.

“The nurses we are celebrating have overcome great obstacles and shown pure determination and perseverance to get where they are today. I am confident they will be successful leaders in nursing roles across the province and will join a great team of RRC Polytech nursing alumni who make a difference in Manitoba, each and every day.”

Delivery of NREP is strengthened through collaboration with industry and government to meet Manitoba’s health-care needs. In 2023, RRC Polytech partnered with Shared Health and the CRNM to support 50 internationally educated nurses (IENs) through the Philippines Recruitment Initiative.

In 2024, the Manitoba government also launched a full-time pilot for IENs already in the province, offering up to 12 courses over 12 months.

At today’s event, students celebrated along with their friends, families, instructors and representatives from the Province of Manitoba, including Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care; Hon. Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training; and Hon. Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration.

They also heard a heartfelt message from one of their peers, Melissa Reyes, who shared her experience re-committing to nursing after immigrating from the Philippines.

“After being away from the nursing profession for several years, I was slowly losing my confidence as a nurse,” says Reyes.

“I decided to take the full (NREP) program, which I would say is not a walk in the park, but it gave me back my confidence to work as a nurse and taught me the value of lifelong learning. The overall experience was truly transformative, refreshing my nursing knowledge and instilling in me a deeper appreciation for the profession.”

Learn more about the NREP at RRC Polytech.

This month, for the first time in its history, RRC Polytech hosted 10 spring convocation ceremonies across the province to celebrate its largest graduating class in three years.

Nearly 3,750 students from the Polytech’s eight Manitoba campuses crossed stages to receive degrees, diplomas and certificates this month. Winnipeg campuses alone saw a 10 per cent increase in graduates compared to spring 2024, with a total of 1,670 grads registering to attend ceremonies last week.

The increase prompted the addition of a fifth ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre, up over four events in the previous year.

“Convocation is a wonderful celebration — not only of our students’ hard work, but for the future of Manitoba, whose workforce is now receiving this influx of thousands of talented, job-ready individuals,” says RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

“Our role as a polytechnic is to provide students from across the province with the education, skills and support to become industry leaders as soon as they leave our campuses. Graduation numbers have been increasing year to year — a clear demonstration that our commitment to meeting the emerging needs of both students and industry is working.”

RRC Polytech has seen considerable growth in domestic applications year-over-year, with fall 2024 applications rising 14 per cent since 2023, and winter 2025 applications increasing by 29 per cent from the year before. Enrolment numbers for domestic students also jumped by four per cent in fall 2024 from the previous year.

Among those honoured at this year’s ceremonies were a community advocate from Peru, a compassionate caregiver from Nigeria and a data scientist from the Dominican Republic; all three were recognized with Lieutenant Governor’s Medals.

RRC Polytech’s highest graduation honour, the medals recognize graduates who exemplify high academic and technical achievement, community and College involvement, and overall good character.

Learn more about this year’s recipients:

• Daniela Ruiz Fernandez, Social Innovation and Community Development (Indigenous Social Enterprise major)
• Deborah Modupe, Disability and Community Support
• Yanna Polonia Gutierrez, Data Science and Machine Learning

Convocation also provided an opportunity to recognize a longtime champion of education and career development: Maria Pacella, Skills Manitoba’s Executive Director, who received an Honorary Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration.

Over her nearly two-decade-long career with Skills Manitoba, Pacella has built strong partnerships, developed inclusive programming, and created opportunities for students, apprentices and underrepresented groups in the trades.

Learn more about her career and accomplishments.

In addition to the five Winnipeg events, convocation ceremonies were also held at campuses in the Interlake, Peguis – Fisher River, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach and Winkler.

Visit RRC Polytech’s Convocation page for a full list of graduates and award winners, and to stream the ceremonies as they’re posted online.

A new partnership between the province’s largest post-secondary institutions is creating a made-in-Manitoba pathway to earning an engineering degree.

Students graduating from RRC Polytech’s Engineering Technology programs are now eligible for direct entry into a department program in the University of Manitoba’s (UM) Price Faculty of Engineering, creating career options and opportunities for new graduates or industry professionals looking to level up.

The new partnership provides RRC Polytech grads the opportunity to further their education and earn an engineering degree in Manitoba, allowing students to experience the benefits of both programs through an accelerated approach.

Pathways are available for up to 10 College grads per year applying to UM’s Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering programs in Fall 2025.

“We’re thrilled to see this partnership with RRC Polytech become a reality. This will mean an easier transition for students, as we work together to develop and keep engineering talent here in Manitoba,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor of UM.

“UM’s Price Faculty of Engineering offers a comprehensive range of professional degree programs, co- and extra-curricular co-op, internship, and design opportunities to meet students’ interests, and it also offers the first-in-Canada Department of Engineering Education.”

This opportunity is open to RRC Polytech students graduating in 2025, and to graduates from the last 10 years.

“This partnership creates an invaluable pathway for graduates … to continue their educational journey right here in Manitoba,” says RRC Polytech President and CEO Fred Meier.

“RRC Polytech and UM have a strong relationship, and this articulation agreement creates more opportunities for student mobility between our institutions. Most importantly it keeps talent here in Manitoba to support our industry and economy.”

A recent report from the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Canada West Foundation noted that over the past decade there have been more people aged 15 to 34 leaving the province than arriving, with one of the key factors being a lack of opportunities for career advancement.

RRC Polytech and UM work closely with industry through program advisory councils and regular discussions about bolstering the province’s economy and providing training for the skills of tomorrow.

For Price Industries, it’s an important part of growing and attracting a strong local workforce.

“For decades, I have had the privilege of hiring and working with graduates from RRC Polytech’s Engineering Technology programs and UM’s Price Faculty of Engineering,” says Dr. Gerry Price, Chairman and CEO of Price Industries.

“Both institutes produce incredible talent that has been vital to the success of our company, and both institutes are our preferred providers of engineering talent, many of whom now lead our various business units. I’m championing this partnership because I know that individuals who take both programs will elevate their own professional skill level and help companies grow and succeed in a multitude of industries.”

The collaborative approach between the post-secondary institutions leverages existing strengths in research, facilities, equipment, infrastructure and curriculum, with the shared goals of supporting student achievement leading to increased graduate numbers and diversity of students, offering high-quality program delivery, and ensuring research success.

Both RRC Polytech and UM strive to meet Manitoba employer needs for a diverse workforce through recruitment of under-represented students into Engineering programs.

“It is important for Manitoba’s Polytechnic and Manitoba’s U15 university to be collaborating on education and training opportunities, and we know that the dual credentials are highly valued in industry and support career mobility for the graduates in fields that are important to Manitoba’s economy and growth,” says Marcia Friesen, Dean, Price Faculty of Engineering.

Manitobans of all backgrounds can access an engineering degree through this partnership and existing pathway programs, including supports for Indigenous students through RRC Polytech and UM’s respective programs, Pathway to Engineering Technology Programs and Engineering Access Program (ENGAP).

“No matter their level of education or career experience, students can obtain a diploma and degree in engineering and accelerate their career options,” says Derek Kochenash, Dean, School of Skilled Trades and Technologies at RRC Polytech.

“This type of cross-institutional agreement will provide clear steps and support for students to adapt seamlessly from classroom to industry.”

This new agreement is available for students graduating from the following RRC Polytech programs:

• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Municipal Engineering Technology
• Structural Engineering Technology
• Geomatics Technology
• Environmental Engineering Technology

Applications will close June 1 for the Fall 2025 start date.

In Fall 2026, the agreement is expected to have additional articulation pathways available for RRC Polytech graduates applying to Biosystems, Electrical and Computer Engineering programs at UM.

Two RRC Polytech grads were recently honoured for work in their respective journalism careers.

Gabrielle Piché and Austin Grabish are both graduates of the College’s Creative Communications (CreComm) program, which many in the industry point to as the launching pad for their careers.

Piché (2020), a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press, was one of two recipients of this year’s Hon. Edward Goff Memorial Prize for Young Canadian Journalists from News Media Canada. The award recognizes her as a top young journalist in the country, something she attributes to her college training and early work experience.

“Before entering CreComm, I didn’t know how to write a proper news article,” says Piché (shown above). “The program provided robust journalism training and exposed me to other communications sectors. The best part, I think, was being surrounded by fun and creative classmates and knowledgeable instructors who genuinely cared about your success.”

Piché’s internship through the program is what launched her career at the Free Press. No stranger to work-related accolades, she previously won the Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism Award while completing her joint Communications degree through RRC Polytech and the University of Winnipeg.

Grabish (2017) became an Emmy-winning investigative reporter at San Diego’s ABC10 News this past June, less than two years after starting his job there. He was honoured for his investigative work into complaints filed against a California-based burial-at-sea company. He says his drive for this type of reporting was nourished while an RRC Polytech student.

“Creative Communications … gave me a solid foundation for my future, and it gave me lifelong friends. I learned hands-on skills that are used in the industry and the program taught me that your work, especially writing, can always be improved,” says Grabish (shown at left).

“In my last year of the program, I did a year-long investigative reporting passion project. The support of my instructors and the skills I gained during my time in CreComm helped me get to a career in that same field. I’m now working as an investigative reporter in a major American city and still feel passion for enterprise reporting that can trigger change.”

Piché and Grabish are shining examples of what’s possible for RRC Polytech grads once they enter the workplace. Melanie Lee Lockhart, Chair of Creative Communications, says she’s seen many students pass through the College’s Exchange District Campus before heading on to successful careers.

“Gabrielle and Austin are in excellent company when it comes to CreComm grads making a difference, and not just in journalism,” says Lockhart. “We have grads leading major organizations in the business and non-profit worlds, undertaking passion projects that improve people’s lives in various ways, and helping organizations of all kinds connect with the people they need to connect with.

“Like many successful CreComm grads, both Gabrielle and Austin demonstrated that inner motivation as students that signals a future difference-maker.”

Piché and Grabish both completed CreComm’s Journalism stream, in which students create ethical and original stories, craft clear and concise writing for media sources, and hone visual storytelling skills through videography and photojournalism.

Learn more about opportunities available through Creative Communications.

RRC Polytech is looking for a diverse group of employers to participate in an exciting new co-operative advertising opportunity. Launching in Spring 2024, the College’s Polytechnic Proud campaign will showcase employers and RRC Polytech graduates who excel in their workplaces and beyond.

Any organization with an RRC Polytech grad on their payroll, in their volunteer ranks, or on their Board of Directors, is invited to apply to participate.

The Polytechnic Proud campaign will feature RRC Polytech alumni who are in front of what’s ahead in their sectors, while showcasing the phenomenal partnerships the College has built with employers across the province. Nominations are open now and employers can submit applications until Nov. 24, 2023.

“As Manitoba’s only polytechnic, the relationships we’ve built with Manitoba employers, along with the RRC Polytech alumni who work for them, is something we cherish,” says Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

“This creative, co-operative marketing campaign will highlight not only our strategic partnerships but also the successes of our graduates, as well as the incredible diversity of our alumni community.”

The Polytechnic Proud campaign will put front and centre the exceptional education the College provides in a wide range of disciplines and sectors. RRC Polytech plays a vital role in helping grads achieve career success with fantastic organizations; the new campaign will aim to capture examples of that success.

RRC Polytech alumni are known throughout the province and around the world for driving innovation, being work-ready, and possessing the skills required to become leaders in their chosen fields. The new campaign is the perfect vehicle for celebrating not only the College’s alumni, but also its partnerships with employers that are shaping the future of Manitoba.

To learn more, including how employers who proudly hire RRC Polytech graduates can apply to take part in the campaign, visit rrc.ca/ProudPartner.

RRC Polytech has partnered with Graphic Design graduate Leticia Spence — an Ininew artist and entrepreneur from Pimicikamak in Treaty 5 Territory — to create an original design for Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is tomorrow, Sept. 30.

“Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters is a solemn day where we recognize and honour residential school survivors and those who never made it back to their families,” says Carla Kematch, Director, Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement at RRC Polytech.

“It’s a day where we take action and raise awareness of the efforts that Indigenous communities and advocates make to find Indigenous children and bring them home. The world needs to know what happened at residential schools and why this work is important. Expressing our message through Indigenous art, teachings and symbolism is how we can heal.

“We’re so honoured to have worked with artist and alumna Leticia Spence. She shared her knowledge and skill to help convey this message of justice and created such a striking and meaningful representation of Every Child Matters.”

Spence graduated from the College in 2019 and has done work for Indigenous Tourism of Canada, the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, among many other organizations. She created the new Orange Shirt design in consultation with a committee of Indigenous staff members at RRC Polytech.

Spence’s design is intricate and intentional. As with the beadwork she observed family members creating while she was growing up, she wanted to ensure that the Orange Shirt design incorporated the intended energy represented by the Every Child Matters movement.

“I want whoever is wearing this t-shirt to feel a sense of hope and strength as they honour those who are currently being found, while also knowing that it’s okay to create space to honour themselves, as either direct residential school survivors or intergenerational survivors,” says Spence.

The design features a tree made up of florals, medicines and roots. Hummingbirds flank the tree, surrounded by rosehips, rosebuds and berries. First Nations, the Métis Nation, and the Inuit Nation are represented by symbols deeply intertwined with each nation: the cardinal directions, a wild rose forming an infinity, and fireweed flowers.

Every stroke and line forms a deliberate connection to Indigenous People — even the physical linework reflects Ininiwak beadwork, a traditional artform passed down through the generations. Every purchase of the shirt includes an artist’s statement, written by Spence, outlining the many representations present in the design.

This year, RRC Polytech also partnered with Red Rebel Armour — owned and operated by Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship graduate Sean Rayland-Boubar, of Peguis First Nation — to produce the shirts.

“My Brothers’ and Sisters’ voices were silenced for too long,” says Rayland-Boubar. “To me, Orange Shirt Day means giving a voice to all the children who were robbed of their culture, family, strength and song. A song that never had a chance to be heard, a drum that never found its rhythm.

“A celebration of spirit that should have had a lifetime to flow with the rivers, run with the wind, connect their spirit in ceremony and follow the path that Creator had laid out. It’s about Reconciliation, bringing the darkness to light and talking about the truth.”

Shirts are available for purchase at the RRC Polytech Campus Stores, with all proceeds going to support the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award when applications open in January 2024.

Mínwastánikéwin is a Cree word meaning to set it right; the award, valued at $1,000, is intended to alleviate some of the financial burden Indigenous students may experience each year.

In 2022, artist Peatr Thomas created the first RRC Polytech Orange Shirt, the proceeds of which, along with a $1,000 donation from the RRC Polytech Students’ Association, allowed for two students to receive the award in February 2023.

This year marks the fifth annual Truth and Reconciliation Week at RRC Polytech. Events span over two weeks, including nearly 20 student-, staff- and community-led sessions and self-guided resources aimed at educating the College community about the many different facets and responsibilities of Truth and Reconciliation.

This year, nearly 90 volunteers from all areas of the College joined the TRC Week Planning Committee to help organize events, activities and learning opportunities.

The art of RRC Polytech grad Leticia Spence is featured in media across Canada and the globe; closer to home, you’ve likely seen it worn proudly by fans and players at Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose games.

For her latest work, Spence — a Graphic Design grad from 2019 — partnered with the College to create this year’s Orange Shirt Day illustration in support of Truth and Reconciliation and the Every Child Matters movement.

Spence’s concept for the shirt came through collaboration with Indigenous staff members at the College, who felt her design provided a beautiful and harmonious representation of all Indigenous Nations.

She grounded the design in Cree floral beadwork and integrated symbols from the Inuit and Métis Nations: fireweed flowers, wild roses, rosebuds and berries. The focus on nature represents the Peoples’ roots in the land, Spence says, while the foundational beadwork carries energy and transfers the art’s intention spiritually.

“I want whoever is wearing this t-shirt to feel a sense of hope and strength as they honour those who are currently being found while knowing that it’s okay to create space to honour themselves as either direct residential school survivors or intergenerational residential school survivors,” says Spence in an artist’s statement that will accompany each shirt sold.

“In difficult times, hope is the one thing we can grasp onto — not only to survive, but to drive us to fight for a world in which we no longer have to cry out for justice, and to reinforce that we deserve to exist.”

Spence credits her mom with recognizing her talents and encouraging her to pursue art from an early age. To nurture her creativity, her mom would occasionally buy her pencils, paints and sketchbooks — items Spence says she treasured due to the unpredictability of their circumstances.

Between living on reserve and in downtown Winnipeg, Spence found stability hard to come by in many aspects of her childhood. Her anxiety, compounded by her environment, inclined her to withdraw, especially in high school. Sometimes she’d go days without speaking to another student.

Spence was a shy kid and says that art was her rock — the thing that anchored her and helped her to get out of her head. It was an escape as much as it was a home — how she expressed herself when she couldn’t find the words. She recalls often staying up until 3:00am drawing to forget about the things happening around her.

In her last year of high school, Spence began considering a career in the arts, inspired by a brochure commission from the Rainbow Resource Centre, the first time she’d been paid for her art. She was later invited to the organization’s graphic design studio, where she witnessed the behind-the-scenes creation of art for commercial use.

At the time, though, Spence was too busy with schoolwork, and later — despite prompting from a teacher who encouraged her to consider college courses to develop her skills — opted instead for university. Three years of school (and one language exchange program in Japan) later, she found she was spending too much time on theory, writing and waiting, and not enough time creating.

She revisited her teacher’s recommendation and applied to RRC Polytech in 2017.

“My career is truly like capturing a flash in a bottle,” says Spence. “I didn’t anticipate much, but all the opportunities I’ve taken, they’re more than what I thought I could achieve. Growing up in Winnipeg and experiencing racism and poverty can make it hard to see your value at first.”

Of the many projects Spence participated in throughout her career, she says her proudest accomplishments are those where she could authentically express her identity as an Ininew person.

In 2022, Spence collaborated with Inuit artist Jason Sikoak and Métis artist JD Hawk on the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake for the Royal Canadian Mint and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. She says it was the first project she put into the universe that wholly represented her identity, and that gave her the space to demonstrate her Cree values and knowledge without restraint.

This year’s Orange Shirt Day collaboration with RRC Polytech is one of the first projects she’s worked on since taking time off after experiencing burnout. Focusing too much on keeping up with production left her emotionally and financially drained.

“My work comes from a spiritual place, but if I can’t nurture that because of all this other stuff going on — you know, making deadlines, meeting expectations, paying bills — it really impacts the quality,” she says. “I took a break this spring for some much-needed rest, then when RRC Polytech came knocking with this design proposal, it was a really exciting and welcome opportunity.”

Spence’s shirts — which commemorate both Truth and Reconciliation Week and Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters (on Sept. 30) — mark the last project she’ll complete in Manitoba before making an exciting move to Quebec, where she looks forward to new career opportunities, reconnecting with family, and exploring the province’s diverse music scene.

Produced by Red Rebel Armour, an Indigenous streetwear outlet owned and operated by RRC Polytech grad Sean Rayland-Boubar, the shirts can be purchased through the College’s Campus Stores.

All proceeds go to the College’s Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award, which aims to alleviate financial burden for Indigenous students. Last year, two students received the award thanks to support from the College community and the RRC Polytech Students’ Association.

Artist’s Statement

As an Ininew person, I wanted to create something utilizing Cree florals because beadwork is something that I grew up watching my family members do. Beadwork carries energy. I’ve been taught to put good intentions into my beads and that’s what I wanted to achieve through this t-shirt design.

I want whoever is wearing this t-shirt to feel a sense of hope and strength as they honour those who are currently being found, while knowing that it’s okay to create space to honour themselves as Residential School Survivors or Intergenerational Residential School Survivors.

In difficult times, hope is the one thing we can grasp onto — not only to survive, but to drive us to fight for a world in which we no longer have to cry out for justice, and to reinforce that we deserve to exist.

I wanted to create a tree with florals because of the medicine and protection they gift us, to represent our connection to this land and how we’re rooted here.

On the outer perimeter of the tree, sunflowers with seven petals represent the seven Grandfather Teachings and thirteen strawberries for the thirteen moon cycles.
Starting from the top, just below the strawberries, is a fireweed flower for the Inuit Nation.

The floral with the four cardinal directions in the middle represents First Nations.
The wild rose with two rosebuds creating the infinity symbol represents the Métis Nation.

Flanking the tree on each side are two hummingbirds feeding from the nectar of the flowers in the middle. I chose hummingbirds for their ability to see things from multiple perspectives. The hummingbirds, along with the vines branching out from the trunk of the tree, build out two faces to represent our ancestors that walk with us on our journeys.

I chose to branch out rosehips, rosebuds and berries from the bottom of the tree because they’re common motifs in Cree beadwork.