Celebrating Asper Co-op's Record 2025

On January 28, 2026, the Asper School of Business hosted the 2025 Celebrating Co-op Awards and welcomed co-op students and employer partners to reflect on a record year for co-op education. Sponsored by The Associates of the Asper School of Business, this event celebrates the Manitoba business community’s dedication to experiential learning outside the classroom.

Accredited by CEWIL Canada, the Asper School of Business Co-op Program is the largest business co-op program in the province. Co-op placements offer students a chance to gain practical, paid experience in the workforce and connect to the Manitoba business community while pursuing their studies. 

In 2025, Asper Co-op received a record 234 applications from the Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) program, with the highest number of students ever admitted. 95% of Asper co-op students are employed full-time within 3 months of graduation, bringing their applied experience, strategic insights, and passion into the workplace.

Each year, the Co-op Student and Employer of the Year are awarded, recognizing excellence in leadership, mentorship, and contributions to learning. This year, 30 employers were nominated, as well as 43 students—31 from Bachelor of Commerce (BComm), 5 from Master of Business Adminstration (MBA). and 7 from Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM). 

The MSCM numbers are especially impressive because a staggering 70% of all MSCM students were nominated by their employers, demonstrating the students’ continued passion, dedication, and talent. 

The Co-op Student and Employer of the Year show the transformative experience of Co-op. Students grow as professionals and as people, while making incredible impacts on their team, department and organization. Co-op employers connect with top talent and nurture future leaders who make meaningful contributions every day. 

The 2025 Co-op Student of the Year is Aela Robbins, and the 2025 Co-op Employer of the Year is Canada Life.

Nominated by The North West Company, Aela Robbins showed the integrity, professional skill, and work ethic of a seasoned leader during her co-op term. 

While working as a project manager at the executive level, Robbins took the lead on complex projects that required clear communication and accurate coordination of deliverables from multiple departments. 

One of Robbins’ many incredible achievements was supporting The North West Company’s rollout of 121 stores in just six months. Jennifer Wilkinson, Senior Manager of Operations Support, said that Robbins was the “backbone” of their project team, and the change would not have been possible without her. 

“I was trusted to take on responsibility by leading cross-functional meetings and tracking critical tasks, all while working in an environment that encouraged me to ask questions, make mistakes, and challenge myself,” Robbins says. “Being trusted to take on responsibility meant I could take real ownership of my work, and seeing the direct impact of my contributions proved that my input mattered.”

She says that as she treks into the professional world, her greatest asset is the confidence she gained by overcoming real-world challenges in Asper co-op.

Wilkinson and her team were so impressed that they extended Robbins’ term until the end of April 2026. “We wish we could keep her forever. We are proud to support her next chapter.” Wilkinson wrote.
 

During his Asper Co-op experience, Yeasin Ahmed Sidad returned to Canada Life three separate times; each time, he learned a completely new side of accounting. 

Each round was thoughtfully planned out by the organization: from working alongside senior leaders on management reporting, to developing deep technical expertise in corporate tax, to handling time-sensitive investment operations where precision truly matters.

The care that went into challenging and educating him was not the only thing that stood out, though. It was also how he was treated not as “a student” but a true member of the team. Even across different teams and management styles, there was always clear communication, patient mentors, and a culture where questions were welcomed.

The message was clear: you belong here, and your work matters. 

Dean of the Asper School of Business, Dr. Bruno Silvestre, says, “Canada Life’s commitment to experiential learning has been exemplary. I’d like to thank them for elevating our Asper students’ co-op experiences and redefining what excellence for co-op student employers.”

Sidad says that every small gesture from Canada Life “Not only enabled me to perform effectively but also fostered an exceptional learning environment where I felt encouraged to grow.”