Portage College officials say the most recent graduating class was one of the largest in college history.
The recent convocation ceremonies were held over two full days as more than 980 students in 35 programs completed their learning.
Portage College President Nancy Broadbent says the trend is showing no sign of slowing down. She says as the next academic year draws nearer, enrolment numbers in programming across the college's Lakeland campus locations has almost doubled over the last few years, with further increases and new programming coming in the years ahead.
One of the programs that continues to see increases is the Practical Nursing program. Broadbent was on stage for the program's graduation, which saw a sea of white nursing uniforms ready to accept their formal convocation certificates and graduation pins. Other programs seeing increases in enrolment and even waiting lists for in-class studies include the Community Social Work Program, Early Learning and Childcare, and Aboriginal Cultural Arts.
With a large percentage of new and returning students representing Indigenous backgrounds, many of the recent convocations included culturally-significant components.
The convocation events included a traditional Indigenous honour ceremony where each Indigenous graduating student received either a symbolic eagle feather or a Métis sash.