Celebrate every step, every story as UM’s newest graduates cross the stage this fall

UM Convocation is a significant milestone on each Bison’s journey. From first lectures to final exams, their path is leading to this: crossing the stage after years of hard work to receive their parchment in front of friends, family, faculty and fellow students. Join the celebration honouring the class of 2025’s achievements and cheer them on as they move forward to shape Manitoba and the World.

Marking the moment

During Fall Convocation from October 21-23 (Fort Garry) and on November 6 (Bannatyne), UM campuses will have an atmosphere of pride and excitement! Find key information you need to join the festivities on the Convocation home page:

• View the ceremony schedules, link to the live streams and explore the Convocation program for each ceremony.
• Learn what time to show up, where to park and details about Convocation accessibility. 
• Explore Convocation traditions, like the meaning of the coloured stoles and hoods worn by the graduates and the significance of the Indigenous motifs on the robes worn by the Chancellor and President.

For more detailed information that will help Convocation day go smoothly:

• Graduates are encouraged to view the Convocation day schedule and read our 10 Tips for a memorable Convocation experience
• Anyone driving to campus should review current service disruptions and road closures as there is active construction on and around the Fort Garry campus. 

Celebrating every story

One of the best parts of the Convocation celebration is recognizing and honouring student achievement. It’s also a time for students to reflect— on what they’ve learned, what has ignited their passions and where they want to go from here. Here are some of their stories:

• After battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma three times, Joshua Chuwang-Kwa has been in remission since 2020. Now, he’s graduating with a Bachelor of Science from UM and sharing his story to inspire others to keep going, no matter the challenge. Hear more about his journey and the support that helped him succeed. 
• Graduating from any program is an incredible accomplishment; meet two students who did so at the top of their class:
  • Talia Smith (she/they), a bachelor of arts (advanced) grad was pursuing psychology at UM when she took an optional philosophy course and it fundamentally changed the way she thinks.
  •  Rachel Donnelly (she/her), a bachelor of respiratory therapy grad , was working in Alzheimer’s research and at a group home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while trying to determine her next move. She took a leap of faith when she applied to the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS).  
• UM nursing alum Ashley Bell seeks to close gaps for 2SLGBTQIA+ families with infants in intensive care: When working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), she saw some 2SLGBTQIA+ families were not receiving the same level of care as other families. That experience led Bell to return to UM to pursue a master’s degree with a thesis on the lived care experience of 2SLGBTQIA+ families with an infant in a NICU.

Read more 2025 Fall Convocation stories

Recognizing those who inspire

Along with celebrating student achievement, Convocation is a time for the university to recognize honorary degree recipients who have made an impact. We also celebrate teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to the development and governance of the university.

L-R: Dr. Mary Kerr, L. Kerry Vickar

At the Fall 2025 ceremonies, honorary degrees will be bestowed on:

• L. Kerry Vickar, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist and mentor, recognized for his integrity, civic engagement and commitment to stronger communities. (Wednesday Oct 22 ceremony)
• Mary Kerr, a visionary artist, designer and educator who has earned international acclaim as one of Canada’s pre-eminent theatre creators. (October 23 ceremony)

Read more about these two extraordinary Canadians

Other special honours and awards

During Fall Convocation, the university will also honour five faculty members:

• Warren Cariou, Lisa Lix and Joerg Stetefeld will be appointed Distinguished Professors.
• Jocelyn Thorpe will receive the Dr. and Mrs. H.H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching.
• Wan Wang will receive the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Learn more about the award winners in the Convocation program.

UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. 1395 degrees are being awarded at Fall Convocation, bringing the number of graduates in the class of 2025 to 5586. Many of these new alumni will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s $7.3 billion economic impact on our community.

Teri Stevens