Several hundred people, including more than 180 North West College students, gathered at the Civic Centre in North Battleford Monday for a new format in graduation ceremonies.
The afternoon ceremony was one of two hosted by the college honouring the 2016 graduates of university programs, skills credit programs and Basic Education Adult 12. The central graduations, one held in Meadow Lake on June 3 and the other in North Battleford, brought together all rural site and campus students. The two large celebrations replaced the location specific closing ceremonies held in past years.
The college believed the larger celebrations would make a more exciting event for the graduates, said Vicky Lamb Drover, manager of corporate services. The ceremonies included a grand march accompanied by drumming performed the renowned Wild Horse Singers, a keynote speech by North Battleford-raised entrepreneur W. Brett Wilson, the debut of a college song and a reception. Celebrations and photo taking were encouraged.
In opening remarks, Tavia Laliberte, president and CEO, said, “Today we gather to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students. From Little Pine to Duck Lake and all points in between, the students that cross this stage today represent the brightest and best of our region.”
Laliberte said North West College partners with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina to offer a full range of post-secondary education.
"As a regional college in Saskatchewan, North West College is dedicated to offering adult learning opportunities across our region and across the many disciplines of secondary and post-secondary education. The students who will graduate today embody this diversity representing programs such as Level 4 Adult 12, computer networking, continuing care assistance, early childhood education, hairstyling, office administration, welding, youth care worker and Master of Education. Offering welcoming and valuable education is who we are and what we do.”
In his remarks, Wally Lorenz, chair of the board of governors, said, “Graduation is an exciting time. It is both an ending and a beginning as you start the new phase in your life. I know you will take these lessons learned at the college into the world and make a meaningful difference in the lives of yourselves, your families, communities and country. It's an excellent beginning, the possibilities are endless.”
Keynote speaker for the day is a homegrown success story, international leader in the field of investment banking and entrepreneurship.
Born and raised in North Battleford, W. Brett Wilson first reached national recognition as co-founder of FirstEnergy Capital, one of the energy industry’s leading investment banks. He is perhaps most widely known as an alumnus of CBC’s Dragons’ Den where he remains the leading deal maker of all time. Wilson received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015 and continues to divide his time between innovative entrepreneurial ventures and a robust philanthropic portfolio. A major sponsor of dozens of charities across Canada ranging from Outward Bound to ALS Canada, to Military Family Resource Centres, Wilson says he never forgets his roots and continues to actively support the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation, Battlefords United Way and the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.
His first words to the North West College graduates were ones that acknowledged his first mentors, the late Senator Herbert O. Sparrow and his father, William G., better known as Bill. His father was in the audience as he spoke.
Wilson recounted his education and journey to becoming an investment banker, spending most of his adult career financing the Canadian oil and gas industry with “some of the most amazing partners imaginable.”
Wilson said, “Out of an investment banking career, I did a lot of very interesting things.”
Having visited 75 countries around the world, he said he’s had the privilege and pleasure of investing and supporting hundreds of charities and been involved with starting hundreds of brand new companies.
“So it's been an interesting run coming from my small town roots,” said Wilson. “Those who say you can't take the boy out of the prairie are absolutely right, because, really, you can't take the prairie out of the boy. I will always celebrate my roots.”
He added, “Some of you are aware of some of the charitable work I have done in the Battlefords. Why? Because this is what gave me my home town values.”
Wilson also talked about his Dragons’ Den journey, saying it has been an extraordinary learning experience.
“I've had my own career quite separate from Dragons’ Den,” he said. “In fact, in many ways Dragons’ Den is a small part of who I am, but it's a very big part of the personality, and certainly my profile gives me a platform to come to literally tens and tens of thousands of students across the country, and I have the privilege of speaking on campuses and at colleges across the country.”
On Dragons’ Den, Wilson made 60 deals, and closed 30 of them. His two most successful deals were based in Saskatchewan.
“In fact,” he said, “six of the 10 deals that are still alive were from Saskatchewan.”
The most successful deal was the first one he did on the show. He invested $200,000 in Rachel Mielke’s Regina jewelry business Hillberg & Berk, becoming one-third owner of a business that is now making millions.
“Today we employ 125 women across Alberta and Saskatchewan ... and the woman running it is one of the great entrepreneurs of our country.”
Mielke is going to become an “absolute legend,” said Wilson.
Wilson talked about approaching life as a life-long learner.
“I know that you are graduating today and here I am talking about going back to school. For me education is a life-long experience, the day that you finish one program is just a stepping stone to other learning.”
He shared three things he believes are critical to success, three essences of empowerment he believes are valuable to everyone, no matter what they choose to do in life.
“Number one is marketing,” he said, including learning how to brand successfully and recognize marketing opportunities, including social media.
“Understand how those tools work,” he recommended.
He said, “If you don't realize the most important marketing document you will ever prepare is your resumé, you haven't thought about marketing in the appropriate context.”
The second item he addressed was the study of entrepreneurship.
“It's not that you need to be an entrepreneur, but in my mind one of the things that Dragons’ Den did beautifully was plant seeds.”
He encouraged the graduates to study the stories of entrepreneurs who have gone before them.
“I’m not asking you to be one, nor encouraging you to be one. I'm actually saying that if you plant the seeds properly that will be a choice you may make some day.”
Wilson went on to say, “Number three is the study of philanthropy.”
He said many of the grads might have seen the words corporate social responsibility in their studies.
“I throw that out and call it corporate social opportunity, because changing the world is an incredible opportunity if you can use your charitable work to engage the community you're in for your benefit, whether you are an employee or entrepreneur … I don't care where you end up doing work, whether in a school environment, whether a hospital, politics or independent business or government, the thought that you can think in an entrepreneurial way and apply philanthropic thinking to that thought is going to be a game changer for each of you.”
Wilson concluded, “The bottom line from my perspective is the integration of all of those is going to change your life. And someone who says I don't have time and I don't have money? A little girl going to an old folks’ home to play checkers, that's about applying time. A little girl taking a brand new checker board going to an old folks’ home, that's a little money and time. That same little girl taking her best friend to an old folks’ home with a new checker board, that’s leadership, and I can guarantee you that every one of you is capable of a little bit of time, a little bit of money and a little bit of leadership. If you start there you will understand that changing the world is an opportunity and you will see life through a different lens.”
