[00:00:00] [A large crowd of people sit outdoors in folding chairs, forming an audience to a stone and brick stage. The audience is at the left-hand of the screen. 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. The stage is set with three sets of seats in a U formation, with all facing the centre-right of the stage. There is a large lectern at the centre-right of the stage and facing the audience. It reads “Trent University.” Volunteers in blue vests move through the crowd and help guests to their seats. It is overcast. The banner on the video reads “Convocation Begins at 10 AM. Please standby.” There is no audio.] [00:00:47] [The view changes to face the opposite direction. The audience is now on the right hand of the screen. More audience is visible, including some seated under a tent. Large concrete steps are visible behind the audience. Flags from countries around the world decorate the large concrete building. Volunteers and guests still move about. There is no audio.] [00:00:57] [A bagpiper in green and white kilt, jacket, and hat can be seen approaching from the left-hand of the screen. He leads the graduates in the procession down the stairs. The banner on the screen reads “Reverend Jaime York. Piper.”] [00:01:03] [The Graduand Procession begins. The audience stands. Graduates receiving their Doctorates in Philosophy wear red gowns with gold sleeves and details. They wear round dark green velvet beefeater-style hats with gold cords. Some wear dark green scarves as well. Graduates receiving Masters degrees wear dark green gowns with knee-length sleeves. Those receiving their Masters of Arts degrees wear white and dark green academic hoods. Those receiving their Masters of Science degrees wear gold and dark green academic hoods. Those receiving their Masters in Education wear bright blue and dark green academic hoods. Graduates receiving their Bachelor of Education degrees wear dark green gowns with waist-length sleeves. Their academic hoods are bright blue and white. The graduates process to the stage two-by-two behind the bagpiper and take their seats at the left-hand side of the stage. It is windy. Some graduates smile and wave to the audience as they walk to the stage. The view shifts several times to show the Graduand Procession and audience. Doctorate of Philosophy graduates sit in the front row of the stage, facing towards the centre of the stage. Other graduates sit behind them.] [00:04:18] [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.] [00:05:27] [The piper is shown standing and playing while graduates continue to take their seats. They first fill the seats at the left-hand side of the stage, then those at the centre-back of the stage. The banner on the screen reads “Reverend Jaime York. Piper.”] [00:06:25] [The piper finishes playing. The view returns to the group at the top of the back stairs. 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 wears indigenous regalia and 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.] [00:08:08] [The Academic Procession is shown taking their seats. They sit at the right-hand side of the stage.] [00:09:46] [The view changes to focus on the large lectern at the centre-right of the stage.] [00:10:19] [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 morning everyone. Please be seated. I’m Don Tapscott and I’m the Chancellor of Trent University and a proud graduate of this great institution. This is a very special day for everyone here and I’m certainly delighted to share it with you. Heartfelt congratulations to all of our graduates on reaching this important milestone. I now declare convocation open. [Applause and cheers in the audience. Don Tapscott leaves the lectern.] [00:10:53] [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 morning. My name is Leo Groarke. I consider myself fortunate to be the eighth President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University. It’s my honour and pleasure to welcome you here today. I note that convocations this week are taking place while there’s an election in Ontario and we’re not here to be political so what I’m going to say is that no matter what happens in the election in Ontario this week, Trent is going to give you something to celebrate. [Light applause, cheers, and laughter] I want to begin by respectfully acknowledging that we are on the traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabe. We offer our gratitude to our First People for their care of and teachings about our Earth and our relations. May we always honour those teachings. I’m very pleased to welcome graduates, parents and families, spouses, partners, and friends today to today’s ceremony. I know that some of you come from close by, others from Canada and around the world. If you are here today, you are part of the Trent family. I would like to preface the awarding of degrees by saying something about the ceremony today. From one point of view, this is a very formal ceremony. This is the ceremony where our graduands officially complete and are awarded their degrees. At the same time, I do want to remind you that a convocation is supposed to be a celebration. It’s supposed to be a party. [Scattered cheers in audience] It’s a party we are hosting to celebrate the successes of our students. If you are a parent, you may want to treat it as a party to celebrate they have finally got their degree. With that in mind, I want to open this convocation by giving you permission to be loud, to applaud, to yell, to embarrass your children if you want when they walk across the stage. We are having this convocation to give you a chance to celebrate. As you celebrate, we want you to be comfortable and I have a note here to remind you that we have shade hats available. [Scattered laughter in audience] Now I will tell you, I asked the organizer of the convocation, I asked them if they could arrange that everyone could have a hat like the one I and the Chancellor are wearing but they wouldn’t get, they wouldn’t go for that. But there are shade hats, they’re baseball caps, they make for a snappy souvenir if you’d one. To our visitors, I will say that I hope you will enjoy Trent’s deep sense of community. I also hope that our graduands will show you some of our beautiful campus here in Peterborough. I hope you will walk across the Faryon Bridge and will be able to visit some of the places your graduands have lived and studied. If you are adventurous, I invite you to explore our wildlife trails on the east side of the river. If you are very adventurous, I invite you to sign out a canoe from the Athletics Centre and go down the river, though as President I have to ask you to sign a liability waiver if you plan to do that. [Scattered laughter in audience] As a university, I do believe that we have more canoes per student than any university in the world. 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 Academy Award winners. This is a family of scientists, 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 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. Chancellor, Professor Craig Brunetti, Dean of Graduate Studies, will now present candidates for admission to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts and Master of Science and recognize students who have achieved remarkable success in their studies. As Professor Brunetti reads the students’ names, they will cross the stage to be congratulated by the Chancellor, myself, and then by the University Registrar, Tracy Al-Idrissi before returning to their seat. [00:16:30] [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.] [00:16:39] [The view changes to show a man in burgundy and white academic robes standing at a small lectern at the far-left side of the stage. The banner on the screen reads “Craig Brunetti. Dean of Graduate Studies.”] Craig Brunetti: Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 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. To recognize the fact that these students have achieved the highest academic degree awarded, and are now eligible to become professors, after they cross the stage, they will join the faculty section and sit with them for the remainder of the ceremony. [00:17:15] [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. The Registrar wears a dark green gown with white details and a round dark green velvet beefeater-style hat.] [00:17:16] [Applause can be heard after each name is read.] Carly Louise Armstrong Mary Anne Martin Pamela Ouart-McNabb Robin Quantick The next student is receiving the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal to reward scholastic merit. The medal was established in 1873 and is awarded to the student who achieves the highest academic standing on graduation at the graduate level. Professor Steven Rafferty, graduate studies faculty, will bring the medal to the Chancellor. Mister Chancellor, I call upon you to present the Governor General’s Gold Medal to Guillem Sebastian Dayer. Please join me in congratulating the graduates who have received the Doctor of Philosophy degree. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] [00:19:22] Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree of Master of Arts, 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. Katie Allen Cory Baldwin Melissa Baldwin Sean Berger Amber Colibaba Krystle Dinunzio Shahira Adel Hathout Sarah Elizabeth Healey L. Renee Hendricks Isaac Jiang An Kosurko The next student is receiving the President’s Medal, which recognizes academic excellence and achievement at the graduate studies level in four categories. The student has excelled in Master of Arts. Graduate co-supervisors Professors Joan Sangster and May Chazan will bring the medal to the Chancellor. Mister Chancellor I call upon you to present the President’s Medal to Madeline Macnab. Jessica-Lynn Reid Yasmin Juliet Strautins Matt Evan Tallon Please join me in congratulating the recipients of Master of Arts degrees. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] [00:23:27] Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree of Master of Science, 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. [Applause can be heard after each name is read.] Donald Richard Bourne Melissa Brochu Catherine Jean Cook Sherri Lyn DeGasparro Kristi Marie Goulet Ryan Arnold Hill Sarah Victoria Lousie Langer Dongchul Lee The next student is receiving the President’s Medal, which recognizes academic excellence and achievement at the graduate studies level in four categories. The student has excelled in Master of Science. Professor Marcel Dorken, graduate studies faculty, will bring the medal to the Chancellor. Mister Chancellor, I call upon you to present the President’s Medal to Beverly McClenaghan. Vazgen Minasyan Please join me in congratulating the recipients of Master of Science degrees. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] [00:26:54] Mister Chancellor, Professor Cathy Bruce, Dean Education, Teaching & Learning, will now present candidates for the degrees of Master of Education and Bachelor of Education. [A woman steps to the small lectern at the far left-side of the stage. She is wearing academic robes in black and bright red with a round black beefeater-style hat. The banner on the screen reads “Cathy Bruce. Dean of Education.”] Cathy Bruce: Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree of Master of Education, 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. I would like to add that this is the first group of M. Ed. graduates in the history of Trent University. [Cheering from audience and graduates.] Zachary Brault Heather Crowley Megan Curran Tara Flynn Laura Gunning Jennifer Moore Eliza Nicholson Indra Noyes Andrea Robb Christopher Rooney Mary Ruth Anne Washburn Abigail Lillian Grace Wilson Kelly Zatorski Please join me in congratulating the recipients of Master of Education degrees. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] [00:30:15] Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present for the degree Bachelor of Education, 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. Natalia Anderson** Joshua Matthew Armstrong Kalen Authier-Henry Lindsay Bateman Robin Beck John Brandon Belcastro Lindsay Bereza Constantine Bexis Alexandria Kathleen Natalina Biglieri Keir Bisset Kate Michelle Boyce Morgan Lane Brauer Brendan Taylor Burlock Samantha Carolyn Evelyn Busby Marisa Pacheco Lemos Cardoso Carley Chapman Helni Cherian Amanda Lindsay Rae Chin Ashley Jessica Chrisman Mallory Olivia Colquhoun Christa Cook Natacha Couillard Alexandria Daryll Critch Jesse Ricardo De France Rachel-Anne De-Almeida Marco Delellis Lucas Tory Deluca Justin Demarchi Kelsey Dion** Andrew Vincent DiVito Sarah Dunn Christi English Kaitlyn Faria Kaitlyn Rose Finn Heather Frost Maitree Candhi Tyler Mark Gates Megan Gingrich **** Godwin ** Shaunna Gordon Bobby Henry Kelsey Catherine Hinton Serena Holmes Natalie Iozzo Brooke Mary Beth Lakeman Ryan Landriault Kathleen Mary Larocque Cheryl Leighton Gregory Lemieux Nicole Lilakos Jaime Leslie Lotton Julia Elizabeth Lousie Csath Brittany Luccitti Meredith Albina March Bryan Glenn Joseph Martell Dana Marie Mayer Sadie Isabella Rose McLean Justo Hermogenes Mendoza Brittany Monig Maxine Monsour Kristyn Mott Ashley Myles Jill Alexandra Nichols Jessica Ann O’Reilly Jessica Sarah Ameilia Parks Kaitlyn Payne-Burke Jessica Meagan Lee Pinhey Dylan Pond Katrina Ramjattan Shealaine Richardson Mackenzie Eve Robinson Brittany-Marie Roelofs Lauren Marie Rogers Christopher Rotondo Carolyn Ashley Rumble Amanda Lauren Russo Jayson Douglas Ruth Jacquelyn Elizabeth Ruttle Lia Sahrmann Connor Frances Salmon Beth Shaw Jordan Lincoln Simon Nathan James Arthur Smith Patricia Charlotte Smith Samantha Smith Adelle St. George Christopher James St. Peters Hilary Margaret Stafford Brittany Heather Marrisa Stewart Kyle Taylor Laurie Nicole Alexandra Taylor Brianna Theobald Allie Thompson Shawna Timmermans Christie Todd Teodora Toma Dimitra Varitimidis Nitasha Vasanthakumaran Zeinel Wallace Amanda Ward** Brittney Watson Brittany Waugh Emma Lorraine Williams Kayla Jean Wingrove Christopher Withenshaw Emily Woods Matthew Zappone Patricia Rose Zuraw Mister Chancellor, I am pleased to present the degree Bachelor of Education candidates. Please join me in congratulating these recipients of Bachelor of Education degrees. [Cheering and applause in audience and on stage. Chancellor turns towards graduates and removes his hat to bow toward them.] 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.] Mister Chancellor, Professor David Newhouse will now introduce the Honour Song. [00:50:49] [View changes to entire stage in a large panoramic shot. A man in academic gowns stands at the large lectern at the centre-right of stage.] David Newhouse: Before all words can be spoken, we bring greetings to all of Creation. We give thanks for the rising of the sun and the light and warmth that it brings. [The view shifts to a closer shot of 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. Chair of Indigenous Studies.”] 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 of life. In the honour of Anishinaabe teachings, the sound of the drum represents the original sound of Creation. This heartbeat of Creation reverberates still and infuses our being with Life. We sound the drum to connect us with all of Creation, to honour and celebrate life, and to remember to live with humility among all living things. We offer these words of praise for those who are graduating this day. We offer these words of thanksgiving to those who have made this accomplishment possible. We offer these words of respect to those who have come before us and who brought dignity to our lives, and we offer these words to remind us to live for the Seven Grandfather Teachings to live with respect, kindness, honesty, sharing, courage, and strength. And we offer this song to accompany you on your travels and 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. And may I ask you to stand if you are able for the Honour Song. [The audience stands and many remove their hats. 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 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. Mister Chancellor, I would like to invite Dr. Andressa Lacerda of the Trent University Alumni Association, to welcome the graduating class. [David Newhouse leaves the large lectern.] [00:55:05] [A woman in Trent’s Doctoral gown approaches the large lectern. The banner on the screen reads “Andressa Lacerda. Alumni Welcome.”] Andressa Lacerda: Mister Chancellor, Mister President, graduates, honored guests, it is a great honor to be here with you today. Talking to Jess just earlier, I realized that I’ve been a part of the Trent community for ten years. It is bittersweet, because I’m getting old but also very sweet because I chose to stay. I came here in 2008 from Brazil to pursue my degree in biology and chose to stay to pursue my PhD with Doctor Craig Brunetti. I am very proud of Trent. I know from experience that, as a student, dedicating so much of your life to further your education can be scary, overwhelming at times, let’s be honest...a little bit soul taking, especially for those of you who chose to pursue higher education – putting so much of your life, travel plans, and weekends off on hold – it’s very honourable of you. Because of the pressure students and especially grad students put on themselves, getting to graduation can be scarier than expected for the fear of the “what now?”. But if there is one thing to take away from my speech today, it would be that graduation is not the time to be scared because you are not alone. The Trent Alumni Association is here for you and will continue to be there to support you for the long haul. So please, do not forget and take the time to update your information so you can stay tuned-in to what is going on, and for them to remind you that on Homecoming, you get to skip the beer garden line which is the whole reason I came here today. [Cheering from graduates.] Public service people, you’re welcome. So, take this time to look back from where you started and acknowledge how far you have come. Me, even as a stranger for most of you, am extremely proud for what you have accomplished and for coming this far and again for the courage it took to pursue higher education. This is just the beginning of the amazing path you have ahead of you. And just remember, that if you ever feel uncertain or scared, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you won’t have to look far to find a fellow Trent Alum to cheer you along. So, graduating class of 2018, welcome to the Trent Alum family. [Applause. Andressa Lacerda leaves the large lectern.] [00:57:32] [Leo Groarke moves to stand at the large lectern.] Leo Groarke: Thank you Doctor Lacerda. As we near the end of the convocation ceremony, let me again, on behalf of Trent University, thank you all for being here today. Just in the spirit of the party and celebration, how about a round of applause for our new graduates. [Applause and cheering from audience and stage] And I think it would be only appropriate if the graduates would stand for a moment and thank the people in the audience who have been their supporters, financially and otherwise, as they’ve made it through their time here. [Graduates stand at the stage and face the audience, cheering and clapping.] You may be seated. After the ceremony, please note there’ll be a reception in the Alumni Atrium of the Student Centre. This is just to your right here where it warm and you can still see the river. The processions will leave the stage following the singing of ‘O Canada’ and I would ask that when ‘O Canada” is played you stand if you are able until the processions have departed. Mister Chancellor, I now call upon you to dismiss Convocation. [Leo Groarke leaves the large lectern.] [00:59:09] [Don Tapscott stands at the large lectern.] Don Tapscott: Well thank you all very much for being here today. After the convocation ends, there’s a skating rink that’s been set up in the parking lot. They’ll be making snowmen, various other fun activities, so we hope that you’ll all participate. [Laughter from audience.] But seriously, I hope that the graduates, that you look back on today with fondness as you really kind of end this stage in your life, but also look forward because this is the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It’s a little-known fact actually that I have a Masters of Education and it was a great honour to be here for the first convocation for that degree and it certainly served me well. And I know for all of you that what you learned at Trent, in particular not just what you’ve learned but your capacity to think, to solve problems, to communicate, to put things in context, your passion for learning lifelong – that’s all equipped you well for your professional success. So, as you leave these hallowed halls, by all means as Spock said ‘Live Long and Prosper.’ Build a prosperous life, for you and your families but let me conclude that we need more than that from you. The world you’re entering is full of opportunity and there are also many challenges. This is a time of very profound change – in technology, our economy, and society – and your generation is really being called upon to ensure that the smaller world that your children inherit is a better one, a prosperous, just, and sustainable one and so each of you is going to have to step up to participate in perhaps one of the greatest transformations ever. Now I’m not suggestion that you all go work for an NGO or become candidate for leader of the world or something like that, but rather that each of you will have a role to play in this historic transformation, whether you’re and educator, entrepreneur, consultant, business executive, researcher, public sector manager, politician, social innovator, or parent. My hope is that each of you will teach your children well and will live a principled life of consequence. And of course, this week you each have a historic opportunity to exercise your precious right to vote and it is a precious right. I’ve just come back from parts of the world where young people would die to have that right and your generation is now the largest voting group and if you choose it, if you will it, you will choose the next Ontario government. So, changing the world is your opportunity and it starts on Thursday. One more thought. When I graduated, I lost contact with the university, actually for a couple decades and in hindsight, I think that was a mistake because over time, I started to think about this place and I decided to become involved. Not out of a sense of obligation but more because this is an important little institution that’s worth defending and advancing. I decided to become involved and it’s brought me great satisfaction and so I hope that you won’t make the mistake that I did and you’ll stay connected to the university. So, congratulations, heartfelt, to all of you. Good luck. Dream big. Be bold. Be Consequential. Change the world. Convocation is now dismissed. [Applause and cheering from all.] [01:03:22] [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.] [1:04:39] [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!”]