Chloe Vickar wore the lavender stole she received at the Lavender Graduation Ceremony to her Convocation.
UM’s first Lavender Graduation celebrates 2SLGBTQIA+ students
Chloe Vickar felt honoured to participate in the University of Manitoba’s first-ever Lavender Graduation Ceremony.
Vickar, a master of human rights graduate, studied 2SLGBTQIA+ rights as part of her degree and she said the ceremony felt personally and professionally significant because UM was recognizing queer and trans students’ contributions.
“I know lots of people in our community – locally and all around the world – don’t have these same opportunities,” Vickar said. “For lots of people it’s not safe to be out, so I felt really privileged to get to be part of this event to celebrate my identity and not have to hide it.”
Elder Charlotte Nolin, Elder-in-residence at Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, gave the opening remarks and prayer at the Lavender Graduation Ceremony.
Ten students from faculties from across UM took part in the ceremony on May 21 in Brodie Centre atrium on the Bannatyne campus.
Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony that takes place on university campuses primarily across the United States to honour queer and trans students and celebrate their achievements and contributions as they graduate.
Organizers of UM’s event believe it is only the second Lavender Graduation to be held at a Canadian university after McGill University first held one in 2018. The ceremony was organized by UM’s Queer and Trans Graduate Student Group.
“It was fantastic,” said Mikayla Hunter, a PhD student in community health sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine and one of the event’s organizers. “It was just really lovely. Students brought their friends and family members, and we had faculty members there as well.”
Elder Charlotte Nolin, Elder-in-residence at Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, gave the opening remarks and prayer. Hunter and Dr. Deborah McPhail, associate professor of community health sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine, gave remarks.
When the students crossed the stage, they were presented with a lavender stole, a satchel of dried lavender and crocheted lavender.
“It was a really powerful moment to call the graduands across the stage and see the people who were there for them applaud and see them for who they are with their lavender stoles on,” Hunter said. “I think that it’s important for people to get the chance to do that.”
Hunter said there are plans to hold the ceremony again next year.