Bachelor of Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony – Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, 7:00 PM
Meaning of the Pin
A nursing pin is a badge worn by nurses to identify the nursing school from which they graduated. They are traditionally presented to newly graduated nurses by faculty at a Pinning Ceremony as a symbolic welcome into the profession.
Most pins have a symbolic meaning, often representing the history of the nursing program for that school. The Red River College Polytechnic pin was designed by graduates of the program and incorporates the following symbols:
The vine that encircles the school and program name symbolizes growth, prosperity, and continual development.
The traditional medical caduceus (two snakes wrapped around a staff with wings at the top) is understood to represent the image of a nurse as a guardian angel who provides guidance and protection.
The three dots surrounding the caduceus represent the students’ past, present, and future. The lamp at the base of the pin references Florence Nightingale, the “lady with the lamp,” who cared for injured soldiers during the Crimean War and revolutionized the art and science of nursing practice.
Agenda
Processional
Land Acknowledgement and Introduction of Guests
Tasha Gregory, Chair, Quality Assurance, Research and Curriculum
Welcome Remarks
Elder Paul Guimond, Elder-in-Residence
Congratulations
Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards, Dean, School of Health Sciences and Community Services
Greetings from College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
Deb Elias, CEO/Registrar, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
Greetings from the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba and Presentation of the Medals of Excellence
Jacob Ahiaegbe, President, Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba
History of the Pinning Ceremony / Significance of the BN Pin
Monica Burfoot, Chair, BN Program – Year 2 Theory and Clinical
Introduction of Graduates
Doris Miller, Nursing Instructor/Course Leader – Senior Practicum
Presentation of Nursing Pins and Roses
Lesley McGuirk, Associate Dean, Nursing
Monica Burfoot, Chair, BN Program – Year 2 Theory and Clinical
Karen Di Pietro, Nursing Instructor/Clinical Mentor, BN Program
Closing Remarks
Tasha Gregory, Chair, Quality Assurance, Research and Curriculum
Recessional
Audience to stand as graduates leave
Graduates: Page 1
Aggelopoulos, Peter
Ajayi, Paulyn
Akinyemi, Bukunmi
Alex, Renzel
Allen, Chinara
Andaya, Aaron
Anderson, Erica
Anderson, Mary
Anyiaka, Nkechi
Arabit, Anne
Araya, Meg
Arriola, Jules
Arsenault, Tori
Asfaha, Lidya
Ayanniyi, Bola
Balitao, Sheila
Bell, Jayden
Bellman-Traeger, Brittany
Berezowski, Hillary
Bernardo, Bea
Bethge, Chantelle
Bhachu, Sukhman
Biggs, Bradley
Black, Julian
Bond, Rhianna
Bousquet, Tamara
Braun, Sadie
Bryden, Shaelyn
Calaje, Carl
Cannizzaro, Tianna
Childs, Elizabeth
Chukwu, Cynthia
Copones, Aleeah
Cortes, Jansen
Cortes, Jirehdei
Cosino, Jovi Lynne
Cowen, Stephanie
Cowie, Kaitlyn
Cruz, Shayla
Cuaresma, Keithly
Cucio, Eunice
Dayao, Rose
De Sahagun, Krystelle Anne
Deerpalsing, Jenna
DeFehr, Will
Dela Cruz, Joyce
Desautels, Allie
Desepida, Caile
Drewlo, Karissa
Driedger, Landen
Duarte, Alexandre
Ducay, Jodi
Duller, Dafny
Dziadyk, Jenna
Ebuen, Hannah Nicole
Enns, Katrina
Everhardus, Celeste
Fashina, Mary
Franz, Madison
Friesen, Jade
Friesen, Taya
Friesen, Tyson
Froilan, Samantha
Fuentes, Joshua
Gabriel, Ariane
Galvan, Amber
Gamallo, Pierre
Gard, Alyssa
Gill, Anshmeet
Gill, Parbhjot
Gonzales, Jason
Gonzales, Patricia Marie
Gregoire, Makayla
Groot, Olivia
Guderyan, Robert
Gusowski, Christine
Graduates: Page 2
Gyrmov, Ksenia
Harder-Alby, Hailey
Hong, Sung
Hussien, Dahlak
Jandu, Simran
Jassal, Aman
Jenson, Jaden
Jude-Ogu, Trust
Kaltenthaler, Brooklyn
Kaur, Kamalpreet
Kelpin, Alissa
Klenke, Natalie
Krishna, Aishwarya
Kubay, Kennedy
Laker, Ethan
Lantin, Paolo
Lasquete, Martina
Lavallee, Annie
Lim, Trisha
Lysenko, Nikita
Lorenzana, Katheryne
MacLellan, Katelyn
Maconachie, Sydney
Manzano, Briana
Maranon, Nathan
Martin, Kaetlyn
Mathez, Abby
Maurer, Vanessa
McAulay, Lindsay
McKubok, Nikki
McTavish, Tori
Medeiros, Jordan
Melnyk, Maryssa
Mohamed, Nusaybah
Moos, Katharina
Morrissette, Jonelle
Murray, Nicole
Nernberg, Haley
Nicholson, Kaydn
Nienhuis, Jennifer
Nieveras, Queen
Nunez, Janine
Oguntoye, Bukola
Oliver, Grace
Ong, Angela
Orpilla, Pamela
Ortiz, Kacie
Ostapovich, Lauren
Pacuribot, Ted
Paetzold, Hannah
Paoletti, Rhonda
Paull, Brandon
Penner, Melissa
Peters, Jazreel
Pluchinski, Ahna
Popiel-Asselstine, Jaden
Radovan, Arlijah
Rathaur, Amanjot
Resch, Dylan
Reyes, Tricia Nicole
Roberts, Kyrstyn
Rosario, Sarina
Sabot, Celeste
Sanghera, Rupy
Santos, Lorraine
Santos, Ma Ali Zandra
Saqui, Darlene
Saseniuk, Katrina
Schentag, Emily
Schimnowski, Kaila
Shapata, Mbayo
Sharma, Prerna
Shastko, Mackenzie
Siason, Corene
Smolyak, Emily
Solarczyk, Ashley
Solis, Maria Shamei
Stark, Avery
Stefanyshen, Lauren
Tasico, Erika
Graduates: Page 3
Thompson, Avery
Tourond, Jennifer
Treble, Jamie
Unruh, Allison
Urrutia, Nicolas
Vieira, Melissa
Villegas, Clarisse
Waschuk, Sadie
Watson, Camryn
Weiser, Lindsay