The RRC Polytech Distinguished Graduate Award recognizes the outstanding personal and professional achievements of RRC Polytech’s most accomplished alumni.

This year’s recipient is graduate Sean Rayland-Boubar, who completed his studies in Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship in 2021.

Rayland-Boubar is the founder of Indigenous-led streetwear brand Red Rebel Armour, a social enterprise rooted in culture, community, and purpose. Rayland-Boubar has deliberately used Red Rebel Armour to create opportunities for people facing barriers to employment, including people transitioning out of incarceration, while creating a culturally-safe environment where people can develop skills, confidence, and stability. Red Rebel Armour reinvests profits to maximize its social mission, while grounding its business practices in traditional Indigenous ways of knowing.

At the heart of Red Rebel Armour is Rayland-Boubar, whose vision goes far beyond apparel. He has worked hard to build a self-sustaining business that not only supports his own community but also helps uplift others. One of the ways he does this is by collaborating with and showcasing the work of other Indigenous artists, incorporating their art and stories into products and helping amplify Indigenous voices through fashion and design.

Rayland-Boubar’s own journey is equally powerful – he has transformed difficult lived experiences into a platform for entrepreneurship, mentorship, healing, and community empowerment. An ex-gang member and recovering addict, he started Red Rebel Armour after learning graphic design, screen printing, and basic business skills through YouTube tutorials. But he knew he wanted to take Red Rebel Armour further – so he enrolled in RRC Polytech’s Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship program to learn how to grow his brand and business.

“Everything I was learning in school and ceremony became merged with the business – this gave birth to Red Rebel Armour. Everything I’ve experienced, lived, and been through…that’s Red Rebel Armour. It’s a reflection of me,” Rayland-Boubar shared during the keynote at a CreativeMornings Winnipeg event in February 2022.

Driven by a desire to help people, Rayland-Boubar turned a course lesson on social enterprise models into a business plan.

“The social purpose I was passionate about was helping my brothers and sisters find their way after being released from prison. I knew having access to Indigenous ways of knowing could transform a person’s life if they decided to practice it,” he said.

By removing barriers, Red Rebel Armour provides people with the chance to gain meaningful employment, learn new skills, rebuild confidence, and work toward a brighter future. For many, it becomes more than a job — it becomes a place where they feel respected, valued, and supported.

The impact of Red Rebel Armour has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, the organization received the Canada Post Tales of Triumph Doing Good Award, recognizing the company’s outstanding commitment to community, social impact, and positive change.

Since graduating, Rayland-Boubar has become a role model for Indigenous entrepreneurs and young people, including in northern and remote communities, and continues to share his story to show others what can be possible. His honesty, resilience, and willingness to speak openly about overcoming adversity has inspired many people who may be facing barriers and challenges in their own lives. Through these conversations, he encourages others to believe that change and growth are possible, while also helping build greater understanding and reconciliation within the broader community.

Rayland-Boubar was nominated for the Distinguished Graduate Award by fellow RRC Polytech graduate Shaun Vincent (Advanced Graphic Design, 2003), founder of Vincent Design, an Indigenous-led marketing company in Winnipeg.

“Sean has always had a remarkable ability to bring people together, and it is inspiring to see him surrounded by so many genuine, caring, and supportive people. Watching Red Rebel Armour evolve into something that positively impacts so many lives has been both inspiring and deeply meaningful to me,” Vincent shared in the nomination.

We are thrilled to honour Rayland-Boubar’s leadership as an entrepreneur and community builder at the Auntie Awards at the 2026 Manito Ahbee Festival on Friday, October 30 at Canada Life Centre. RRC Polytech alumni and supporters are warmly invited to attend.

On Friday, October 30, RRC Polytech grad Tessa Potter is taking the stage at CreativeMornings Winnipeg’s free event to talk about her exhilarating career in sports broadcasting. All RRC Polytech alumni and community members are warmly invited to attend!

More than a decade ago, CreativeMornings was launched out of a desire for ongoing, accessible events for creative communities to connect. Today, these communities gather in 247 cities across more than 60 countries — including right here in Winnipeg.

Founded six years ago, the Winnipeg chapter of CreativeMornings not only celebrates our city’s creative talent, but also promotes an open space to connect with like-minded individuals. From marketing legends to hometown heroes, speakers are selected by each chapter based on a global theme. CreativeMornings Winnipeg has also been host to many powerhouse RRC Polytech alumni, providing a platform for homegrown artists, creators, and innovators to share their insights, struggles, and successes.

This month’s theme is ALTITUDE: Big ideas are often described as elevated. A flight of fancy. A lofty goal. A bird’s-eye view. Blue-sky thinking. Turns out, it’s not just a figure of speech — psychologists have found that being physically higher up actually shifts how the mind works. People in elevated spaces generate more abstract, creative ideas than those at ground level. Altitude doesn’t just change the view. It changes how you think.

Join the CreativeMornings Winnipeg community at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 30th at The Forks (2nd Floor, Event Space) to explore what it means to rise above the noise, gain a new perspective, and come back down with something worth the climb.

Electronic Engineering Technology grad Tessa Potter has spent more than 20 years working in media and entertainment technology — and her career has literally taken her around the world. The 2025 recipient of RRC Polytech’s Distinguished Graduate Award, Tessa’s the person pulling cables at international sporting events, troubleshooting on hockey game days, and coordinating broadcast crews across continents. Her work with NBC on the Paris and Beijing Olympics earned her two Emmy Awards. Most recently, she spent the summer in Miami coordinating crews across 16 cities for Telemundo’s FIFA World Cup coverage — all 104 games.

When she’s not on the world stage, Tessa volunteers with the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE), where she served five years on the executive, including as President. After a big summer, she’s happy to be home in Winnipeg — and CreativeMornings Winnipeg is happy to have her.

Join CreativeMornings Winnipeg on October 30 at The Forks Event Space for an inspiring morning!

You’re invited! In partnership with Ten Thousand Coffees, we’re excited to offer a virtual ‘Office Hour’ to RRC Polytech alumni, students, and staff on decoding the hiring landscape in the era of AI. This free virtual event will take place on Wednesday, October 7 at 1:00 p.m. CDT.

AI is rewriting the rules of hiring — how resumes get screened, how interviews go, and what actually gets you noticed.

We encourage you to listen in on an engaging fireside chat with industry pros Piyush Bhatnagar (Senior Managing Director, Accenture) and Ilona Dougherty (Managing Director, Youth & Innovation Project, University of Waterloo) who will share insights on how to navigate this ever-changing (and ever-challenging) landscape with confidence.

In this dynamic session, we’ll be covering:

• How AI is changing hiring, and where the resume-vs-real-person gap is showing up in interviews
• The human skills AI can’t replace – and what employers are actually screening for
• Career-building through networking and mentorship, straight from Piyush’s and Ilona’s own paths
• Concrete steps you can take this week that go beyond ‘applying online’

Your Panelists

Piyush Bhatnagar is a Senior Managing Director in Accenture’s Financial Services practice, with 30 years leading technology, data and AI transformation work for major banking clients, and Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship Lead for Canada. Ilona Dougherty is Co-creator and Managing Director of the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo, an award-winning social innovator, and co-founder of Apathy is Boring. And session host Erynn Gauld is Head of Social Impact & Strategic Partnerships at Ten Thousand Coffees.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking for new opportunities, or shifting your career, RRC Polytech alumni at any stage of their career journeys are warmly invited to attend this interactive Office Hour.

Register now for this free discussion on Wednesday, October 7 at 1 p.m. CDT.

It’s a familiar story: student becomes graduate, graduate becomes industry professional, industry professional comes back to teach. At least, it’s a familiar story at RRC Polytech – in fact, more than 900 current staff are RRC Polytech graduates.

And there’s no mystery why alumni make the career transition from industry to classroom: as students, they loved learning from instructors with real-world experience; after working in industry and gaining expertise, they want to pay it forward by teaching the next generation of graduates. Talk about coming full circle!

From Industry to Classroom: Become a Skilled Trades Instructor

Grads of RRC Polytech’s Skilled Trades programs – particularly Welding and Construction Trades – are warmly encouraged to attend RRC Polytech’s Industry to Classroom event on October 29 to discover the rewards and impact of teaching the next generation at RRC Polytech.

Visit our Notre Dame and South Winnipeg Campuses to learn more about the power of combining your professional career with teaching. Discover the flexibility and competitive compensation offered at the Polytech, as well as the opportunity to shape the future workforce.

The event features a panel discussion where you’ll hear directly from alumni, staff, and students, tour of lab spaces, and the opportunity to connect directly with the Dean, Associate Deans, Chairs, and Instructors who have made the transition from industry to classroom. Light refreshments will be served.

RRC Polytech grads have invaluable expertise and experience that can help shape the future of trades in Manitoba. If you have considered teaching as part of your career journey (or are simply curious about how that might look), please join us!

You’re invited! In partnership with Ten Thousand Coffees, we’re excited to offer a virtual ‘Office Hour’ to RRC Polytech alumni, students, and staff on decoding Canada’s current economic landscape so you can make informed career and life decisions. This free virtual event will take place on Thursday, August 27 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

Understanding what’s really happening in Canada’s economy isn’t just for economists. It’s essential for anyone job hunting, house hunting, planning their next career move, or living in Canada.

Between a shifting job market and ongoing questions about housing affordability, it can be hard to know what the headlines actually mean for you. Is hiring picking up or slowing down heading into the fall? What’s really driving housing and rental costs? And how should these trends factor into your own plans?

We are excited to invite you to an interactive Office Hour: Decoding Canada’s Economy: Jobs, Housing, & Insights, featuring Claire Fan, Senior Economist at RBC.

In this dynamic session, we’ll be covering:

• Overall Canadian Economy Insights: A broader look at the macroeconomic picture; inflation, interest rates, and growth.
• Housing & Rent Insights: An honest look at affordability, demand, and rental trends shaping the housing market today.
• Labour Market Trends: What’s currently happening in Canada’s job market, from hiring activity to shifting in-demand sectors.
• Fall Job Market Forecast: What the data suggests we can expect for hiring as we head into the fall.
• Ask the Expert: A live Q&A where you can bring your own questions about the economy directly to an RBC economist.

Claire Fan is a Senior Economist at RBC, which she joined in 2019 after completing her Master’s degree in Financial Economics from Western University and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree from the University of Toronto Scarborough. In her role, she focuses on macroeconomic analysis for Canada and the United States, covering growth and inflation projections, labour market and demographic trends, and related monetary policy discussions.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking for new opportunities, or shifting your career, RRC Polytech alumni at any stage of their career journeys are warmly invited to attend this interactive Office Hour.

Register now for this free webinar on Thursday, August 27 at 1 p.m. CT.

All RRC Polytech alumni are warmly invited to a phenomenal culinary experience in support of RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality students at Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar on Thursday, June 4.

This year’s theme is La Dolce Vita, a memorable evening celebrating outstanding Italian wine and food pairings, while socializing on Hy’s beautiful patio at the iconic intersection of Portage and Main in downtown Winnipeg. Enjoy a curated tasting of premium selections from Tuscany’s world-renowned Castello Banfi, complemented by Chef’s decadent Italian-inspired hors d’oeuvres. This annual patio party celebrates the future of culinary and hospitality excellence here in Manitoba and supports the Hy’s – John Aisenstat Memorial Award, which is dedicated to assisting graduating students from RRC Polytech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality programs.

By purchasing a $125 ticket, you’ll make a meaningful impact on the next generation of culinary and hospitality talent and receive a $50 tax receipt. Your entire contribution will go directly to the John Aisenstat Memorial Fund at RRC Polytech. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support a great cause and have a fantastic time. Purchase your tickets now and be part of this memorable evening!

Join professionals from across the province for a day of inspiration, education, and empowerment at Hustle + Charm’s Roundtable Summit on Friday, May 29. Alumni looking for real connections, real talk, and real growth in business and leadership are warmly invited to attend.

Owned and operated by 2013 Creative Communications graduate Charmaine Jennings, Hustle + Charm is a community of women and non-binary professionals in business across Winnipeg and surrounding areas.

The Roundtable Summit, now in its third year, is an experience designed for those who:

• feel stuck or ready for their next level;
• want real conversations (not surface-level networking);
• are looking for practical strategies they can actually use;
• and value being in a room of ambitious, supportive women.

Gather with fellow RRC Polytech alumni, including speakers Andrea Katz (Business Administration, 2002) and Sarah Goethals (Business Administration, 2013), to engage in thought-provoking roundtable discussions led by inspiring local women who have created their own blueprints for career success. At the summit, you’ll learn about marketing strategies, gain financial literacy tips and tools, and leave confident that you can thrive in today’s ever-evolving world of business.

This full-day event is taking place at Pineridge Hollow, a women-owned Manitoba gem located just outside Winnipeg (67086 Heatherdale Road 25E, West Pine Ridge, MB R5N 0G9).

You won’t want to miss out on this interactive experience – register now to claim your spot at the table.

RRC Polytech alumni are invited to cheer on the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Friday, May 22 as they face the Niagara River Lions at Canada Life Centre.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are Winnipeg’s own professional basketball team, proud members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Founded in 2023, the Sea Bears bring big-time hoops energy to the Canada Life Centre every summer, backed by some of the most passionate fans in the country.

Inspired by Manitoba’s iconic polar bear, the team’s name represents strength, pride, and a true northern spirit, both on and off the court. Join your fellow alumni on May 22 to cheer on the team!

Special Discount for RRC Polytech Alumni

RRC Polytech alumni receive a 15% discount on tickets purchased for the May 22nd game. Purchase tickets for May 22 on Ticketmaster to redeem the discount >

Can’t make it on May 22? No problem. Alumni receive 10% off games for the rest of the regular season. Purchase regular season tickets at 10% off here >

It’s a familiar story: student becomes graduate, graduate becomes industry professional, industry professional comes back to teach. At least, it’s a familiar story at RRC Polytech – in fact, more than 900 current staff are RRC Polytech graduates.

And there’s no mystery why alumni make the career transition from industry to classroom: as students, they loved learning from instructors with real-world experience; after working in industry and gaining expertise, they want to pay it forward by teaching the next generation of graduates. Talk about coming full circle!

From Industry to Classroom: Become a Nursing Instructor

Nursing alumni are warmly encouraged to attend RRC Polytech’s Industry to Classroom event on May 19 to discover the rewards and impact of teaching the next generation of nurses at RRC Polytech.

Visit the state-of-the-art Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre (the Simulation Centre) located at the Notre Dame Campus to learn more about the power of combining your professional nursing career with teaching. Discover the flexibility, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to shape the future workforce.

The event features a panel discussion where you’ll hear directly from alumni, staff, and students, tour of the Simulation Centre, light refreshments, and the opportunity to connect directly with the Dean, Associate Deans, Chairs, and Instructors who have combined their professional nursing career with teaching.

RRC Polytech nursing alumni have invaluable expertise and experience that can help shape the future of health care. If you have considered teaching as part of your career journey (or are simply curious about how that might look), please join us!

Alumni curious about exploring academic programs transitioning from the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) to RRC Polytech are invited to join us at the South Winnipeg Campus Info Night on Thursday, May 7 from 4 – 7 p.m., jointly hosted by RRC Polytech and MITT.

Following a collaborative review by RRC Polytech and MITT, it has been confirmed that a number of MITT programs will continue to be offered by RRC Polytech, including unique offerings and aligned programs that sustain training capacity.

At Info Night, you can discover all 16 programs offered at the South Winnipeg Campus (130 Henlow Bay), including Pharmacy Technician, Cybersecurity, Welding, and Hairstyling. Visit program spaces, engage with staff and instructors at information booths, attend an information session, and talk to advisors about admission requirements.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, May 7
• Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Location: 130 Henlow Bay
• Parking: Complimentary parking is available on campus

Alumni are warmly invited to attend! Please share this information with a friend or family member who may also be interested. We hope to see you there.

Learn more about the South Winnipeg Campus programs, as well as other transitioning programs that will be offered across RRC Polytech campuses >