Moose Jaw and District EMS owner Ron Dufresne speaks to the students after accepting his honorary diploma.

 

 

Yesterday was a day many students at SIAST Palliser Campus had been waiting a long time for,  it was graduation day on Friday afternoon out in Caronport.

188 grads walked across the stage to accept their diplomas and they were joined by Moose Jaw and District EMS owner Ron Dufresne who was presented with an honorary diploma.

His message to students was that you never stop learning, "Everyday you can certainly learn and take something from it, but I think that supplemented with some formal education," said Dufresne.  "Whether it be through SIAST or university or even certificate programs or short course, any additional education you can take certainly helps you advance and become a better person in the future."

"It was a great surprise, I received a letter in the mail and just sure surprise, and an honour to be nominated," added Dufresne.

The prestigious Governor General's Academic Medals were also presented at the ceremony.  Greg Gatin, a human resource grad with a 94 average, was one of the recipients.

"It was two years of hard work and fairly unexpected to get it, but it's a tremendous honour and I couldn't be happier," said Gatin.

Pearl Auger was the other award winner.  She was happy with the honour after completing the Adult 12 Basic Education program, "I was shocked.  I didn't know my brain worked that well.  I'm proud, my grandchildren are proud."

There were over 1,000 graduates from SIAST Palliser Campus this year.