The puck stops with Trevor Buhnai as the newly appointed CEO of Hockey Manitoba – and he couldn’t be any happier.

“Hockey’s been part of my life since I was four years old,” said Buhnai, who graduated from RRC Polytech’s Creative Communications (CreComm) program in 1990 and Business Administration program in 1994.

“Being able to combine a lifelong passion with what I believe is a skillset the organization was looking for…it’s not trite to say this is my dream job.”

Buhnai quickly took to goaltending as a kid. He’s played the position at various amateur levels, including Senior AAA Men’s, ever since. These days he’s suiting up in the Southdale Oldtimers Hockey League, still playing 48 games a year.

He takes the helm of Hockey Manitoba with more than twenty years of leadership experience spanning sport administration, hospitality, telecommunications, gaming and entertainment, corporate operations, and community organizations.

A big goal for Buhnai, along with the 9-member board and 10-member staff at Hockey Manitoba, is to help more people feel a sense of belonging within hockey community.

“One of the most exciting areas of growth in Manitoba right now is women’s and girls’ hockey. We’re seeing steady increases in registration, stronger development pathways, and more young players staying in the game longer. That tells us the environment is improving — and it reinforces how important it is to keep investing in opportunity, visibility, and leadership at every level.”

“As broad as hockey is, we want more people to feel there’s a place for them,” said Buhnai. “That includes para hockey for individuals with disabilities, newcomers to Canada who may be interested in playing but don’t know how to access the system, and anyone who wants to explore the game but isn’t sure where to start.”

“And that really excites me, because I came through the traditional hockey system,” he said. “That perspective motivates me to help broaden the game and create meaningful change.”

A Regina native, Buhnai had already spent three years studying at university when he arrived in Winnipeg and entered CreComm at age 21.

“I was the right age to really understand the opportunity in front of me in terms of developing a specific skillset, honing those skills, and bettering them over time.”

Buhnai chose the program’s advertising stream. A term position with Manitoba Telecom Services (now Bell MTS) followed graduation.

Kirsty Muller didn’t want to do her mental health and psychiatry clinical rotation as a nursing student. With lived experience of mental illness and addiction in her family, she initially believed a career in that space would be too close to home.

But within days of stepping onto the unit, that concern became clarity.

“I knew that’s where I was meant to be,” said Muller. “So I did my senior practicum there at Health Sciences Centre, and that’s where I started my career after graduation.”

Muller graduated in 2014 from the Joint Baccalaureate Nursing Program, a collaboration between RRC Polytech and the University of Manitoba that has since been phased out as RRC Polytech transitioned to its current Bachelor of Nursing degree. That moment shaped the rest of her career, and it happened because of her self-advocacy and the support she found at RRC Polytech.

Muller was in her 30s when she decided to leave her career in insurance and follow in her mother’s footsteps to become a registered nurse through RRC Polytech. She said she was nervous to return to school after being out of the classroom for so long, and knew she needed a refresher in subjects like math and science. As a mature student, she was looking for a program that would help her succeed and provide additional support.

At the same time, Muller said she didn’t know much about her cultural history, and she wanted an opportunity to explore that part of her identity.

That led her to RRC Polytech’s ACCESS program for nursing (now called Pathway to Health Programs), a year-long pathway designed to help Indigenous Manitobans build the academic skills and supports needed to transition into post-secondary programs at RRC Polytech.

“It had an Indigenous focus, and we had access to our elders in residence. So that was a big draw for me,” said Muller. “Elder Mae Louise Campbell would do teachings with us…it gave me an opportunity to learn about our cultural traditions and practices.”

Once she started RRC Polytech’s Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree program, Muller said she “really relied on” the staff and resources available in the Indigenous Student Centre.

“Once you were in the ACCESS program, you were kind of attached to it for the remainder of your time at RRC Polytech,” said Muller. “We could go [to the Indigenous Student Centre] for lunch, tutoring, or help with financial issues…It was like an extra place you could go that other nursing students didn’t have access to.”

RRC Polytech officially unveiled its new Indigenous visual identity at Fall Convocation on November 18 – a project grounded in the institution’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous student success, and shared values of respect, inclusion, and belonging. 

“Celebrating our latest cohort of graduates is always an exciting, profound occasion,” said Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

He shared that the fall ceremonies carried extra significance, as Indigenous graduates crossed the stage wearing new stoles that honour tradition while embracing progress and change.

The stoles and new visual identity are the result of extensive conversations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, community partners, and hundreds of alumni, led by a steering committee made up of RRC Polytech staff and valued partners. 

“The design on these stoles is rooted in sacredness, seasonality, and interconnectedness, honouring the distinct identities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples while weaving together themes of land, language, and story into a living expression of who we are,” said Carla Kematch, steering committee member and RRC Polytech’s Director of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement.

“The visual identity reflects teachings learned through engagement sessions and a survey that was shared among our community, ensuring that the design is a true reflection of an identity that belongs to all of us.” 

New Educational Assistant grad credits positive practicum experience for confirming career path

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Elizabeth Henderson. “I feel empowered.”

Henderson graduated from the Educational Assistant Certificate Program with honours. She credits her practicum at Isaac Brock School — which has an Ojibwe bilingual program —­­ for confirming she was on the right career path.

“I plan on furthering my education to become a Anishinaabemowin teacher because I did so well in my practicum that people thought I was a teacher.”

“An opportunity just opened up back home in Ontario, so it’s just aligning with my life perfectly right now,” she said. “I think that’s my next step, revitalizing the language.”

While she was a student, Henderson sat on the Indigenous Student Panel and had the chance to speak to teachers about how they can better support Indigenous students. Wearing the new stole at graduation felt like a full-circle moment.

When asked what graduating meant to her, Henderson shared how proud was.

“Coming to RRC Polytech, I felt like I was able to succeed really well, especially thanks to the Indigenous Student Services Centre. That was my place to go and have some peace and quiet, practice my culture and smudging, and just have a home.”

Henderson drove from her hometown in Ontario to Winnipeg to attend convocation, her brother in tow. And though the ceremony was a meaningful event, she shared excitement about returning home.

“Taking this stole back home, the little kids can see that they can leave their home and then come back with education,” Henderson said. “It’s inspiring.”

You can learn more about RRC Polytech’s new Indigenous visual identity and Indigenous student supports on our website.

For Melanie Forbes, connection isn’t just a word, it’s the foundation of a career at St.Amant that’s spanned 20 years and impacted many lives.

As Manager of Corporate Education, Forbes supports employees and volunteers through their education and onboarding. She has plenty of lived experience here to share, as she’s continued to advance her education at every step of her career ladder.

“I think we’re never done learning,” she said. “It’s important to me to challenge myself and to continue on in my learning and my career.”

A beloved organization in Manitoba, St.Amant is dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and autism to live full lives, rooted in dignity and choice. With a team of more than 2000 staff and hundreds of volunteers, the nonprofit offers residential, clinical, educational, and outreach services, always emphasizing person-centred care and inclusion.

Forbes’s career with St. Amant began in 2005, when she started as a direct support professional in the Community Residential Program, a service that empowers adults with intellectual disabilities to live their lives in their own homes in the community.

“We support them to do the things that everybody does in life – go hang out with friends, participate in clubs, see their family, go to church – all that good stuff.”

As an Honours Graduate from RRC Polytech’s Health Care Aide certificate program, Forbes initially considered a career in nursing. However, a few years into her time at St.Amant, she realized that her passion was more in community-focused work. Transitioning to a supervisory Team Leader role, her passion and compass started to align.

“That’s when I started my diploma in Disability and Community Support,” said Forbes. Enrolling in RRC Polytech’s two-year program, she finished the first year, took a break to start her family, and then returned years later to finish off the second year, graduating in 2019.

“It was important to me to challenge myself in my learning and career,” she said. Even now, Forbes is studying at the University of Winnipeg, pursuing a degree in Disability Studies. “At RRC Polytech, I wanted to finish what I had started, and I knew it was a program that my organization valued.”

One standout memory from the program was a media course on disability representation.

“We did an arts project as part of that course, and that was just really fun for me — something that sort of combined my academic interests with my personal hobbies, being sort of crafty,” she recalled.

What a difference one open door makes.

Alana Odegard was an expatriate Canadian in Iceland with a husband and a young daughter when she found her vocational calling.

“I had arrived in Iceland as a University of Manitoba student planning to do a couple of credits and instead of a couple of months, I’d ended up staying seven years,” said Odegard, Director of Chamber Relations with Winnipeg-based insurer Johnston Group.

“I was teaching English. And I came to realize I really wanted to help people find their message and communicate it. A friend – also an expat – said to me ‘that’s a thing.’.”

That was in 2010.

Odegard looked up RRC Polytech’s 2-year Creative Communications (CreComm) program. It sounded too good to be true.

She moved back to Canada in June 2011. Though intake was closed for the upcoming academic year, she went down to the College’s Exchange District Campus on her dad’s recommendation.

“I really wanted to start my path. The person at reception said ‘okay, go up to the (Creative Arts) Chair’s office, you never know.’ I went up there – locked door. I turn to leave, and the door opens. Out comes (then Chair) Larry Partap. I gave him my pitch,” she said.

“I was so excited at the prospect of starting the program that I had already looked up and finished the entrance requirements — like the photo essay —even though I knew it would be another year before I could submit them.”

Partap listened and asked for Odegard’s submissions, which she was ready to hand in the next day.

Two months later – and one year earlier than she anticipated – Odegard was starting CreComm.

Ninety per cent of Cypher Environmental’s employees are RRC Polytech graduates. That’s not a coincidence.

The company has built a strong connection with the College and actively seeks out grads who are ready to tackle real-world challenges—a must in the manufacturing industry.

“Red River is home for a lot of us,” said Dr. Teaghan Wellman, Executive Vice-President and Vice-President of Research and Development at Cypher.

“The College does a fantastic job of giving students the opportunity to get their feet wet—not just in a perfect situation, but what might actually take place—on a manufacturing floor or in a research project,” adds the 2016 grad, who completed a post-graduate diploma at RRC Polytech in Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Wellman knows this firsthand. What started as a short-term research role at Cypher turned into a decade-long career leading one of Manitoba’s most innovative environmental companies.

Today, she helps develop sustainable road solutions used in more than 60 countries—and it all began with an unexpected opportunity at RRC Polytech.

The Road to Real-world Exposure

Wellman’s path to Cypher wasn’t part of some carefully laid-out career plan. It happened because she stayed open to opportunities.

After earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba, she wasn’t sure what was next. A master’s degree felt like the obvious choice, but she wanted something more applied to bridge the gap between theory and industry.

That’s what led her to RRC Polytech’s Post Graduate Diploma in Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

“The program had a diverse course load,” she said. “There were different courses in not only the pharmaceutical industry but also general manufacturing and quality control.”

She describes her time at RRC Polytech as creative, hands-on, and motivating. Unlike traditional academic programs, where learning often stays theoretical, RRC Polytech provided Wellman with real-world exposure.

“When you have to do something, don’t think, ‘I have to do this’. Look at it as an opportunity and say, ‘I get to do this.’”

This motto guides Shannon Bunn, Funding Officer at Treaty One Nations, in her work, family life, and community involvement.

A proud member of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation with family ties to Sandy Bay Ojibway Nation, Bunn has spent her career serving urban Indigenous communities and helping build self-reliance and strength for First Nations in Manitoba.

In 2012, as a young parent, Bunn planned to enroll in the Early Childhood Education program at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech). When the program was full, an advisor recommended the Business Administration program, which then offered a flexible, three-year option for students returning to education.

“I was able to commit to my education and my family at the same time because of that program,” Bunn said.

The program’s supportive environment made a big difference. Bunn appreciated the small class sizes, hands-on learning, and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge. “There was a high rate of Indigenous students in the classroom, which made me feel more comfortable venturing into something new,” she said.

Bunn recalls a communications class with instructor Lyall Krahn as a turning point. “I remember questioning why I was in the program and what I wanted to do after,” she said. “He gave me good words of encouragement, shared his experiences working with Indigenous communities, and told me how well I was doing. That gave me the confidence to continue with the program.”

A Career in Community

The skills Bunn gained at RRC Polytech became the foundation of her career. After graduating in 2015, she brought her skills to the non-profit sector, working to support and strengthen Indigenous communities. Her desire to make a difference comes from her upbringing in Winnipeg’s North End.

“I grew up there and could relate to many of the stories of the youth and children in the area and wanted to make a positive impact on their lives,” she said.

Katherine Westwood first joined Relish Ideas as an intern.

Little more than a decade later, they’re stepping up to big responsibilities as a principal and Director of Product Development with the Winnipeg design and digital-strategy firm.

“It happened gradually, then all at once,” quipped Westwood, a 2013 Digital Media Design honours graduate, reflecting on the still-fresh promotion. “It’s a little surreal.”

“I advanced in fits and starts. I took on tutorials and then more duties as a junior and then senior web-developer.”

Hired off their internship, Westwood knew right away Relish was the place for them.

“When I filled out my work-placement form at Red River, I said I wanted to go someplace quiet. That’s Relish; everyone is focused, using headphones. It was my dream workplace. It was where I belonged.”

“From the start, I was given my own project as an intern. I was fortunate to get coaching from (Relish principal) James Black.”

It was during their annual review two years ago that Westwood was asked what they wanted to accomplish at Relish.

“I turned it around and asked ‘What do YOU want to see from me. What is YOUR long-term goal for me?’”

So began the career-development conversation that led to Westwood assuming new roles this past August.

Westwood has worked more closely with Black during their time with the firm. Now, as a principal, Westwood is also collaborating with Suzanne Braun, who founded Relish as a one-person studio in 1998.

The firm has grown since then, expanding its business from graphic design to a broader set of digital capabilities. Relish now employs 29 people.

Westwood will aim to keep that momentum going. As Director of Product Development, they are working to commercialize technology, lead special projects, and develop unique applications for Relish clients.

Kevin Wasylenko has the ability to reach into the future through his life’s work.

The Winnipeg-based landscape horticulturalist has turned his lifelong passion for plants and trees into a rewarding – one might even say blossoming – career with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis.

“In the realm of horticulture, and with positions in the green industry, you get this really profound chance to leave a legacy,” Wasylenko explained, seated in a trendy coffee shop.

“As long as you’re planting things and following the right systems or protocol to make sure those plants are able to succeed, you can leave a mark that may last hundreds of years. I think that’s powerful for the entire green industry, and anyone who works with plants,” he said.

“Trees aren’t going out of style anytime soon,” he said with a smile.

Wasylenko is a 2019 graduate of RRC Polytech’s Landscape Horticulturalist apprenticeship program. He earned his Red Seal designation with Apprenticeship Manitoba the following year.

Today, as Green Initiatives Coordinator for the Energy, Infrastructure, and Resource Management Department of MMF, he is leading the Métis government’s ambitious pledge to plant 2 million trees and shrubs across the Red River Métis national homeland. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association, and even teaches horticulture workshops.

In November of 2024, Apprenticeship Manitoba recognized Wasylenko as Rural Journeyperson of the Year at its 18^th annual Awards of Distinction at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, celebrating the work he has done to educate and develop Manitoba’s skilled trades workforce.

Red Seal apprenticeship appealing

Wasylenko grew up near Richer and Ste-Geneviève, southeast of Winnipeg.

“I’ve always had a close connection to nature,” he said. He remembers many daytrips berry-picking with family and neighbours, many of whom were also Métis.

In his youth, Wasylenko grew up in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program and had plans to join the Royal Canadian Navy. “But, at 18, I wanted to take some time to see what was out there,” he remembered.

He picked up a landscaping job and worked it for a year or so. “A family member reached out and told me the landscape work I was doing actually qualified me for the Apprenticeship Manitoba Landscape Horticulturist trade. My hours could be put towards eligibility for technical training,” he said.

Gavin Taylor is not only “Polytechnic Proud” – he’s Portage la Prairie proud as well.

“Portage la Prairie produces lots of bright, young people who can make a positive impact on this community,” said Taylor, 27, of his hometown.

“Some chase their dreams elsewhere but they can always come back and make this community a great place to live. We need them here.”

You can say as much of Taylor, a 2021 graduate of RRC Polytech’s Business/Technology Teacher Education program.

He’s now in his fourth year as an Applied Commerce Teacher at Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI), where he was once a student.

“I always said I’d take the best job available that suited me. I wanted to be a full-time business teacher. I wanted something rural. I thought it would be somewhere else; it turned out to be Portage.

“My second year, I became the lead business teacher. And the room I inherited was the same room where I studied when I was a student. A lot of the staff were also the same – except now I was calling them by their first name.”

More than 1,100 students attend PCI. As Portage la Prairie’s lone public high school, it reflects all the challenges, opportunities and potential of the city itself.

“Our students are from all walks of life. The demographics are similar to those of Winnipeg’s inner-city schools. We have challenges but there are really great things coming out of our classrooms.”

Taylor teaches a range of business courses for grades nine through 12. The school store plays a big role in the learning. Students order products, take inventory, launch promotions and generally learn how a business operates.

Meanwhile, a venture development course has students seeing their own business ideas to fruition. The course builds up to a tradeshow day in May when students show off their work to the public, including local media.

“We make things as real-world as possible. And whether a student goes on to establish their own enterprise or become an employee, they’re gaining skills that really transcend business.”