[00:00:00] [Bagpipes can be clearly heard. A large crowd of people sit outdoors in folding chairs, forming an audience. The audience is at the right-side of the screen. Some seat beneath a large white tent. Large steps are visible behind the audience. Flags from countries around the world decorate the large concrete building. It is sunny. Bagpipers in green and white kilt and shirts can be seen leading the Graduand Procession down the stairs. The audience stands. The banner on the screen reads “Livia Mui & Nick Lasch. Pipers.” Graduates receiving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees wear dark green gowns with waist-length sleeves and peach and dark green hoods. The view shifts several times to show the audience and Graduand Procession.] [00:00:55] [The view shows the graduates entering a stage elevated by five steps at the front of the audience. It is brick. The stage is set with three sets of seats in a U formation, with all facing the centre-right of the stage. They sit first in the seats on the left-hand side of the stage, then the centre-back of the stage. There is a large lectern at the centre-right of the stage and facing the audience. It reads “Trent University.” The view shifts several times to show the audience and Graduand Procession. In the background, Trent’s Bata Library can be seen. It is large and three storeys of concrete with large glass windows and wooden awnings are visible.] [00:07:30] [The pipers finish playing. The view changes to show a group of people standing at the top of the back stairs near the flags. They are in academic and traditional Indigenous regalia of many forms. This is the Academic Procession. Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov’s Procession of Nobles begins to play over the sound system. It is a grand, full-orchestral melody without words. The man at the front of the procession carries Trent’s Condolence Cane, the cane that is a symbolic representation of the governance power of the Haudenosaunee peoples and represents the academic governing power of the University.] [00:10:02] [The Academic Procession is shown taking their seats. They sit at the right-hand side of the stage.] [00:11:20] [A man from the Academic Procession approaches the lectern. He is in a dark green gown with elaborate gold and dark green embroidery and a round green velvet beefeater-style hat with gold tassel. The banner on the screen reads “Don Tapscott. Chancellor.”] Don Tapscott: Good afternoon everyone. Please be seated. I’m Don Tapscott and I’m the Chancellor of Trent University and a proud graduate from this great institution. Over five decades ago, I hitchhiked from Orillia, Ontario to check out this start-up university that I might attend it. And I took the road less travelled, and as with the graduates on the stage, for me it has made all the difference. I’d like to welcome you all to this most magnificent venue there is for graduating, for convocating, on this glorious afternoon. I think we should start by giving mother nature a big round of applause for the day. [Applause in the audience.] I’ve done a number of convocations over the years and that wonderful processional music has always started off the day. I finally decided today to figure out what it was, so I’m pleased to announce in the spirit of lifelong learning that it is Rimsky-Korsakov’s Procession of Nobles. Now the people behind me are no longer eighteenth-century nobility, but surely in devoting themselves to higher education, they are a noble group. So well done, folks back there. [Scattered laughter in Academic Procession.] It’s a very special day for everyone here and I’m delighted to share it with you. Heartfelt congratulations to all of our graduates on meeting this important milestone. I now declare convocation open. [Applause and cheers in the audience. Don Tapscott sits.] [00:13:23] [A man stands at the lectern. He is in a dark green gown with elaborate silver and dark green embroidery and a round green velvet beefeater-style hat with silver tassel. The banner on the screen reads “Leo Groarke. President & Vice-Chancellor.”] Leo Groarke: Good afternoon. My name is Leo Groarke. I have the privilege of being the eighth President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University. Before we officially begin the proceedings, I wanted to say a few things about this particular convocation. Of course, convocations are all special, but there are, if I can put it this way, some extra special things about this convocation. One, I will let you know that this is the last of eight convocations we are have at Trent University. I would also like to note that we have some very special guests that I would like to introduce, and last but not least, this is our Nursing convocation. [Cheers erupt from the audience.] And I did want to make a couple of comments about Nursing convocation. One, I will tell you that this is the convocation I feel safest at. [Laughter] Like, there’s not going to be a catastrophe, but if there were a catastrophe, we have so many nurses here to take care of you. If that should ever happen, I recommend that you get one of the nurses that has passed by the Chancellor because they are the ones who have their degrees. I will also mention that somebody asked me just the other day about last year, they said – well we have different convocations for different programs and different disciplines, and they asked me last year which convocation was the loudest and rowdiest and I have to tell you, it was nursing. [Hooting on stage.] Now I also have to tell you that science was very impressive this morning, and it’s not a competition – but science was very impressive, business was good – but you still have a chance to win that. In keeping with Trent tradition, I want to officially begin by respectfully acknowledging that we are on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabe. We offer our gratitude to our First Peoples for their care for and teachings about our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings. I’m very pleased to welcome our graduates, their parents and families, spouses, partners, and friends to today’s ceremony. Some of you come from close by, others from across Canada and even around the world. I’d like to begin by recognizing some special guests we have here. I’m going to do it in two lots. First, we have the Founding President of Trent University over fifty years ago – Tom Symons. [Applause] And we have the alumni from the first two classes of Trent University, this was in 1964 and 1965, they were here when none of this was here. It started in the downtown. I would like those alumni who are either sitting here or on stage to stand for a moment and can we have a warm welcome to our pioneers of Trent University. [Applause and cheers on stage and in audience.] Thank you so much. Finally, we have had a special alumni gathering and there are a whole lot of people here I want to read their names quickly. I want to read their names because they were key people in the founding of Trent University – architects, professors, people who ran the colleges. Bruce Cossar, Margaret Doxey, Marion Fry, Dick Sadleir, Denis and Dawn Smith, Paul Merrick, and Molly Thom. If I could have a round of applause for those guests. [Applause.] So now before we get to the official part of the ceremony, which is the awarding of degrees, I did want to say something about it and I would like to say that at Trent we try to make the convocation like Trent itself. And I want to quote from a recent review of the university that described the university in a way that I think is quite accurate. It described Trent as “a prestigious and elite small university, but one that is approachable and friendly.” And I like that. I think it really does capture our personality and like Trent, I would like to say that there is a formal and serious side to this ceremony but we want it to be approachable and friendly. On the one hand, it marks the successful completion of the graduates’ degrees and that’s an important moment but at the same time, I want to encourage our graduands and the audience that the convocation is intended to be a celebration. It’s a party, okay? It’s a party that we are hosting to celebrate the success of our students. If you want, if you’re a parent in this situation, you can celebrate it as a party to celebrate that your son or daughter is finally graduating. [Applause and scattered cheers in the audience.] There might be a few out there like that. But what I mostly wanted is I want to give you permission to be loud, shout, come up to the front when the person you’re here to support is here, dance if you want, and above all else, because it’s a true convocation tradition, don’t feel shy about embarrassing your children if you want to. One quick comment about the sun. It gets very hot out here and there are sun hats – I’m glad to see that lots of you are wearing them. There’s also protected areas. If anybody feels uncomfortable, if it’s not too bad, one of our volunteers will take you to a shade area. If it’s really bad, then we’ll get one of the nurses here to attend to you. To our visitors, I want to say that I hope you will enjoy this convocation and Trent’s deep sense of community. I also hope that our graduands will show you some of our beautiful campus her in Peterborough. I hope you will cross the Faryon Bridge and visit some of the places where they have lived and studied. Let me end these remarks by saying to our graduands that you are joining a prestigious Trent family. It includes famous authors, Nobel Prize winners, Rhodes scholars, and Governor General and Academy Award winners. This family includes scientists, of course nurses, artists, religious and political leaders, and perhaps even more importantly, a cadre of teachers, researchers, medical practitioners, mothers, fathers, and good citizens. I believe that Trent has prepared you well for the exciting and challenging adventures that lie ahead. This is your moment, this is your day, enjoy it as an important time to imagine your future and create a life of consequence and purpose that is uniquely your own. Please, a round of applause for our graduates. [Applause in the audience and on stage.] [00:22:06] Mister Chancellor, Professor Kirsten Woodend, Dean of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, and Professor Carol Kelsey, Dean of the School of Health and Wellness at Fleming College, will now present candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. [The view shows Chancellor Don Tapscott move to the center-front of the stage. Graduates begin to move out of their seats to line up outside of the camera’s view.] Graduands, as your name is read you will walk across the stage, be congratulated by the Chancellor, then myself, and then the university Registrar, Tracy Al-Idrissi. [00:22:40] [The view changes to show a woman in black and red academic robes with a red hood with white trim standing at a small lectern at the far-left side of the stage. The banner on the screen reads “Kirsten Woodend. Dean, T-F School of Nursing.”] Kirsten Woodend: Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, candidates whose names will be read, whom the Senate has duly declared worthy of the honour, that they may receive the degree at your hands. [As names are read, the named graduate walks across the stage from left to right, first shaking hands with Chancellor Don Tapscott at the centre of the stage, then the President & Vice-Chancellor Leo Groarke at the centre-right of the stage, then Registrar Tracy Al-Idrissi at the far right of the stage.] [00:23:01] [Applause can be heard after each name is read.] Timur Abdrakhamanov Mahelet Tesfaye Abebe Charisse Aganon Allison Aguirre Jethro Alegado Kwabena Amegah Shae-Lynne Rose Anthony Sarah Elizabeth Armstrong Meredith Anne Arnold Jessica Sarita Bandoo Melanie Claire Barber Britney Bates Cindy Bauld Deon Anthony Bickram Jessica Birch Kayla Nicole Bittner Rebecca Emily Blackburn Tirzah Catherine Blackstone Natalie Blier Natalie Anne Blimkie Veronica Braini Ramandeep Kaur Brar Ana-Maria Brissette Moya Brown Devin Bugarin Kirsten Bunce Claire Burns Kaitlyn Carolyn Joy Campbell Jose Luis Carinhas Katrina Anne Carter Kristina Carter Holly Viva Cavanagh Margaret Marie Chandler Angela Chao Veronica Cheung Laura Christie Kathleen Clarke Monica Pina Closs Sylas Coletto Kayla Maria Condotta Lina Corda Rachael Rochelle Sarah Cosby Janessa Paige Cruickshank Emma Chrstie D’Arcy Terri Darwiche Kaitlyn Dashney Mellisa Demille Victoria Marilyn Doody Cassandra Demitra Duncan Natalie Elliott Hunter Ellis Ekaterina Eshcherkina Emily Jane Felske Shermaine Ann Florendo Melissa Flores Cassandra Forgie Yveline Fortilus Samantha Francis Kenene Patricia Gallant Carlee Anne Giffen Katherine Marlene Girodat Felicia Girard Maggie Gray Volodymyr Goloborodko Marisa Jean Green Peter Habashi Melissa Hodges Andrea Citori Holden Lianna Hood Cheyenne Hosein Brittany Howes Holly Marie Howson Kevin Hua Joanna Margaret Hunse Aleisha Iachetta Parminder S. Jawanda Jennifer Diane Jeffs Christine Alison Jensen Amy Johnston Paige Mary Johst Najme Karami Jatinder Pal Kaur Sukhman Kaur Laurie Kelly Kathleen Marie Kendall Jannette Kennedy Rachel Kerr Erika Kiernicki Christopher Kirby Alexa Knautz Nathan Richard Koopman Marissa Kump Lylian Lam Jwala Lamichhane Doranga Kelly Le Clair William Ly Jessica Lyjak Kimberly Macias Mak Maharaj Sheimalee Maratha Noemi Ann Kilbertus Marcoux Derek Martin Kelty Nichelle Perry Martin Shelby Martin Danier Martinez Rosalie Gwynneth Matthews Julia Denise McAuley Mackenzie Brittany McCarthy Katelyn McConville Tamisha McGregor Quinn McKitrick Sydney Phyllis McNaughton Caroline Elizabeth Minaker Safia Mossi Madison Marie Nagy Kinga Janette Nanaszko Ruel Nandwani Karen Day Natividad Karly Abigail Nelson Colleen Savanna Noorhoff Claire O’Neill Brega** Jade Lalonde O’Reilly Natasha Tatjana Oros Grace Leona Ridout Osler Gaganpreet Parmar Katherine Partington Alysha Persadie Candace Pilgrim Julie Diane Ridding Sasina Ratnasingam Alexandra Rayner Blake Reid Kayla Reid Estefania Rincon Charmaine Rittenhouse Amanda Diane Roach Marissa Rodger Sarah Maureen Ross Marta Rusiniak Samantha Melisha Saint Firdaws Saleh Nivedita Sankarane Karley Ann Sarkioja Sarah Anne Savov Kaitlyn Sawyer** Kaitlyn Marie Scannell Aislinn Scantlebury Micaela Emily Schmitt Christina Shannick Heidi Lynn Shaw Faduma Shek Adan Christina Sherriff Carlo Smith Melanie Ann Smith Ashten Snyder Ruth-Marie Stewart Chelsea Natasha St-Laurent Sonata Taing Krishnie Thasan Kelsey Marie Elizabeth Thibert Ellenore Anne Lachlin Thomas Tanya Elizabeth Thompson YingYing Tong Chloe Toupin Emma Truin Jessica Tsenis Desiree Tsoutsas Rachel Anne Tuninga Ositadima Monique Ugoh Charity Umeh Matilda Chichi Uzus Natasha Marie Valentine Janelle Marie VanRooyen Safia Vavda Alannah Nicole Vlasic Raluca Vulcu Megan Vyn Emilie Susan Walsh Yi Ru Wang Kassandra Elizabeth Warner Nikole Watson Colleen Rose Welch Sean Welds Allison Wood Matthew Wouters Tanya Yako Anastassia Zakrjevskaia Shan Zhou Magdalena Teresa Ziemnicki Please join me in congratulating the recipients of Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. First the audience and then the stage stands to cheer. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] [00:59:08] Mister Chancellor, I ask you to confer degrees in absentia on candidates whose names are before you and who are unable to be with us today. [Chancellor holds the brim of his hat and nods.] [00:59:25] Mister Chancellor, Professor David Newhouse will now introduce the honour song. [The view shifts to the large lectern. A man in a black gown with a gold and purple trimmed hood and black mortarboard hat stands at the lectern. The banner on the screen reads “David Newhouse. Director, Chenie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.”] David Newhouse: Before all words can be spoken, we bring greetings to all of Creation and we give thanks for another day of life. Mister Chancellor, Mister President, honoured guests, graduates. In the custom of the first peoples of this land, we offer the sound of the drum and our voices to honor our mother, the Earth. We send our profound and deepest thanks to all of Creation and we greet the world with humility and embrace the richness, diversity, and wonder that is life. In the Anishinaabe teachings, the sound of the drum represents the original sound of Creation. It is the heartbeat of Creation that echoes still throughout the universe and infuses our being with life. We sound the drum to connect us with all of Creation, to honour and celebrate life, and to live with humility among all living beings. We offer these words of praise to those who are graduating this day. We offer these words of thanksgiving to those who have made these accomplishments possible. We offer these words of respect to those who have come before us and who brought dignity and respect to our lives. We offer these words to remind of the Seven Grandfather Teachings to live with respect, kindness, honesty, sharing, courage, and strength. We offer these words to honour our Founding President Tom Symons. We offer these words to honour the members of the original class who are with us today. And we offer this song to accompany you on your travels. May you travel well and may your lives be filled with grace and dignity. Mister Chancellor, Mister President, honoured guests, graduates, I have the pleasure of presenting Unity and the Honour Song. May I ask you to stand as you are able for the Honour Song. The Honour Song this afternoon is the Bear Song. In Anishinaabe teachings, the Bear is the most powerful healer of all and a friend to human beings and protector of all life. [Four women move to the front-centre of the stage. They carry traditional Anishinaabe hand-drums decorated with ribbons and played with single-head mallets. They face the audience. The audience, graduates, and Academic Procession stand. Many remove their hats. The banner on the screen reads “Unity. Honour Song.” The Honour Song is Anishinaabe vocals with harmonic melodies over rhythmic drumming. The women sway in time with the music. The song ends with whoops and applause.] David Newhouse: Thank you, Unity. You may be seated. [01:05:22] Mister Chancellor, I would like to invite Doctor Thomas Miller of the Trent University Alumni Association to welcome the incoming class. [David Newhouse leaves the large podium.] [01:04:55] [A man in Trent’s dark green gown with a gold and dark green hood approaches the large podium. The banner on the screen reads “Dr. Tom Miller. Alumni Welcome.”] Tom Miller: Thank you very much, David. And thank you very much for that beautiful song. It is a true honor to be giving this alumni address to the graduating class of nurses. Congratulations Kelty wherever you are, there you are! What a day. The last time I was up here it was 1986 and I received my Honours Degree in chemistry before launching onto a career in medicine. And Professor Tom Symons was on the stage at that time. And we’ve been dear friends ever since – that’s the kind of university that Trent is. So, Leo Groarke has said he will be best friends with all of the graduating class of nurses. Mister Chancellor, Mister President, graduates, and honoured guests, good afternoon. I’m here on behalf of the Trent University Alumni Association and there are two parts to my speech. The first part is a recruitment pitch so everyone listen very carefully and the second part is just a speech from me, so you know, you can wander off. The Trent University Alumni Association is delighted to have you officially join our community today. We are a part of your lifelong connection to Trent. As I speak, an email – I’ve been guaranteed this – is being an email is being delivered directly to your inbox, so you can update your contact information. Do it right away, right now – pay attention to the speech though – we want to keep you informed. We have awards, benefits, and services we’d love for you to take part in over the years. Remember this is just the beginning od your relationship with Trent University. You’re with us for another 60-70-80 years. Today the entire alumni family celebrates you. On behalf of the Trent University Alumni Association, it is my honour and privilege to say welcome and congratulations. [Applause] Alright and then I was asked to say a few words to the class. It really is a great honour as a Trent alum and as a physician to be here speaking to the graduating class of nurses. I have the opportunity to work with some of you possibly and I know that now Keltie is in our emergency department and it’s started off extremely well. It really is an honour and privilege to be standing here before you today to give this alumni convocation address. As a physician who has worked side-by-side with my nursing colleagues for over 25 years, I have learned so much from you over those years in some very stressful working conditions. We work as a team of doctors and nurses – truly we are supposed to – who support each other and to bring our combined knowledge skills and empathy to the care of our patients. What incredible and meaningful work we have. And now, as new graduates, you’re walking through the nurse’s door into a life of new opportunities and experiences. I’m sure that at times it felt like a heavy door to open but with perseverance, hard work, support from your friends, classmates, professors, and your family, it’s now wide open for you. So what advice, what message can I pass on to you today? Well I went to the source and conducted a qualitative research project in the emergency department and interviewed some of your nursing mentors and teachers. And what advice did they give that I can publicly report today? Support one another. Keep your empathy. Always remember why you went into nursing. Remember your good heart and pass that on to your patients and their families. It’s too easy to become cynical. Your part of shaping a work culture that needs to be positive, healthy, and exceptional. Nursing has a rich history of caring and fighting for your patients’ rights. We may need that now more than ever. Remember those who worked and trained before you, Connie Swinton, now 100 years old who lives in Peterborough and was one of the first VON managers in Western Canada and took risks to advocate for the rights and well-beings of her patients. You’re an academic and your learning journey is just beginning. We always are in school, learning from our colleagues, patients, and other health professionals – day in, day out. Listen to your patients. Listen to their families. They have a history to tell you. If you have a sense of humour, keep it. And if you don’t, work on getting one because it’s really going to change your life. Work can be very tough but it’s also deeply rewarding and gratifying. Pause and hold that thought. This is a different profession than other professions. When you save a life, hold a child’s hand when they are crying, or comfort a family member after the loss of a loved one, your work has deep meaning. Breathe. And last of all, for all of us who provide care, look after yourself. When you are healthy and centred, then you are able to be the thoughtful, caring, smart nurse that you’ve trained to be. So, as you walk through that door, be proud of who you are and how you can transform lives. People will look up to you, they need you – be there for them, and be there for yourself. Thank you and congratulations. [Applause in the audience and on stage. Tom Miller leaves the large podium.] [1:1131] [Leo Groarke stands at the large lectern.] Leo Groarke: Thank you, Doctor Miller. And I will say, I certainly wouldn’t claim that I will be the best friend to all the graduands, but I will try to be friendly and we are the kind of university where, if for some reason you’re looking for help, please go ahead and reach out to the university. This day and age, you can send me an email and we’ll do our best to help you out. [1:12:02] As we come to the end of the ceremony, I did want to thank some people. And I thought that I would start – I want to thank somebody whose been a key part of convocation for a long time. I’m going to ask Colin Campbell to come to the front here. [Applause in the audience. A man in a green and black kilt, green hat, and white shirt with green tie comes to the lectern. This is Colin Campbell.] I want you to stand right here. Now I do want to do a shout-out to the unsung heroes of convocation. It takes a community to raise a child, it takes a large community to run a convocation and that community is made up of a whole lot of volunteers. They’re manning the parking lots, they’re handing out hats, they’re in various kinds of places. And I want to recognize those people, and I want to do it by picking one person in particular and that is Colin Campbell. [The Chancellor and Colin Campbell stand at centre stage. The banner on the screen reads “Colin Campbell. Piper.”] Just to explain why Colin is here, Colin is a former employee of Trent University. When he ended his career at Trent in 1998, he started piping in the students to convocation. So, he’s a bagpiper, unfortunately he was unable to pip students in this year due to a knee replacement. He’s turning a young eighty years old this year. [Applause in the audience and on stage.] So, he’s decided to retire from piping. What I want you to know is that he’s piped in approximately seventy-two convocation ceremonies, at least three installation ceremonies, and a number of other special events. He is an all-weather piper. [Scattered laughter.] I guess right now is bad way to put it, given what’s happening in the summer. We estimate that he’s piped in over 20,000 Trent students to their convocation ceremonies. That’s approximately 40% of Trent alumni. Please, a round of grateful applause for Colin Campbell. [Applause and cheering in audience and on stage. The Chancellor and Colin Campbell pose at centre stage for a photo with a framed photo collage.] Now there’s one other thank you shout out that I want to do, and I’m going to ask the graduands to help me with this. Of course, you’re here because of your own accomplishments and I want you to be proud of them, and I will say I know nursing is a tough degree. So, if you’re here, you’re going to do well – I have no doubt about that. But I want us to remember that’s partially because you have a support network and that support network, first of all, it’s made up of your families. One thing I like about convocation is all the families that come here. Your families and your friends have provided you with emotional, maybe even some financial support as you work your way through the nursing program. So, I’m going to ask you stand and let’s do a shout out – a round of applause for the people in the audience. Your support network at Trent University. [Graduates stand at the stage and face the audience, cheering and clapping.] Thank you. Let me note – please join us in the gymnasium of the Athletics Centre for a reception. If your student is attending the pinning ceremony, it will begin in the gymnasium at 4 PM after the reception. The procession will leave the stage following the singing of ‘O Canada.’ And I would ask that at that point, you remain standing if you are able until the procession has departed. Mister Chancellor, I now call upon you for some closing remarks. [Leo Groarke leaves the large podium.] [01:16:41] [Don Tapscott stands at the large podium.] Don Tapscott: Well thank you very much and thank you all for being here with us today on this glorious day. A special day in many ways. One is that Professor Tom Symons, the Founding President of Trent University joined us today and I think that we should give him another round of applause. [Applause in the audience and on stage.] And I hope that you will look back on today, not just with fondness because it’s the end of a stage in your life, but also the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Now closing remarks like this are designed to inspire the graduating class and give some helpful ideas for the future, so – it’s kind of hot – let me dispense with that quickly. Graduates, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Good things come to those who wait, and what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. Turn lemons into lemonade. Buy a good suit, and more important a good shirt and good shoes – hello, it’s all about the accessories! As nurse, you know you should brush your teeth and floss – I can’t overemphasize the importance of flossing. Increase the proportion of vegetables in your diet. And finally, I want you to write this one down, please never show up at a job interview with your parents in tow. Okay, that about sums it up. Are there any questions before we’re done here? [Applause in the audience and cheering on stage.] Okay, good. Seriously, I’m not going to pass along career advice to you as you will all have successful careers. The research shows that. It shows that you will al get good jobs, and they will all be related to what you studied at Trent. But more important, what you learned at Trent was critical but what really matters is that you learned how to think and solve problems, and research, and communicate, and collaborate. You developed capability to see the big picture and hopefully a passion for lifelong learning because you will surely, in this profession, reinvent your knowledge base multiple times as you go throughout life. So, as you leave this wonderful venue, by all means ‘Live Long and Prosper,’ as Spock would say. Build a prosperous life, for you and your families but because of your chosen profession, you will do more than achieve prosperity. You will do good and you will do well at the same time. You are the foundation of healthcare, and most of you were probably drawn to nursing because you care. It’s a rare job where you make real difference in somebody’s life every day. And these are times of big change in healthcare, extraordinary new technologies are coming, all kinds of wonderful new breakthroughs in research, but all kinds of big pressures too – it’s the irresistible force to control the cost of healthcare. Meet up with the moveable object of public expectations, which is that we all want better healthcare. And I don’t think tinkering is going to solve the problem – we’re going to need to make some fundamental changes and you will be part of that. Now I’m not suggesting that each of you, you know, try and become the prime minister or join an NGO of something like that, but rather that each of you will have a role to play but rather each of you will have a role to play in these huge changes in healthcare and overall in our economy and society that are underway. You’ll have a role to play whether you’re a researcher, a clinician, practitioner, some of you will be entrepreneurs, consultants, business executives, educators, public sector managers, social innovators, or parents. And my hope is that you will also teach your children well and that you will live a principled life of consequence. And one of the things you can do that’s pretty straight forward, is in every election for the rest of your life – municipal, provincial, and federal if you’re in Canada – you can vote. And there are many young people around the world who would kill to have that right, and it’s yours to exercise. [Applause and scattered cheers in the audience.] One more thought, and I’d like to refer to the Trent motto – which is ‘nunc cognosco ex parte.’ And you know ‘nunc cognosco’ means ‘now I know everything’ and ‘ex parte’ means ‘I’m out of here.’ Hold it, I’m told that that’s not right here. [Chuckles in audience.] Now of course, it means ‘now I know in part,’ and you’ll need to continue your learning. Some of you will do that formally but one important thing you can do is stay in touch with Trent. And when I left this university, I lost contact for a couple of decades and I think in hindsight, I made a mistake. And I got involved again, not because of a sense of obligation but out of sense that this is a precious little institution that is worth defending and it’s worth advancing. And becoming involved again has given me great satisfaction. So, I hope that you will do the same. So again, congratulations to all of you. Good luck. Dream big. Innovate. Be bold. Fight for what is right. Be consequential. And change the world. Convocation is now dismissed. [Cheers and applause from all.] [01:22:52] [O Canada plays. It is an orchestral version without words, played over the sound system. Audience members, graduates, and members of the Academic Procession stand as able. Most remove their hats. Some sing along to the melody. A sign language interpreter signs the words from the right-hand side of the stage. The views shift multiple times to show both audience and stage.] [01:24:07] [O Canada ends. The Academic Procession leaves the stage, following the same order and path used to enter the stage. The Academic Procession is followed by the Graduand Procession. The banner on the screen reads “Thanks for watching. Congratulations to All!”]