Each year, RRC Polytech presents an Honorary Diploma to an individual who demonstrates high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements, and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.

RRC Polytech is pleased to present the 2026 Honorary Diploma in Creative Communications to Tina Keeper, and the Honorary Diploma in Automotive Technician to Don and Joyce Sobering.

Tina Keeper is Cree from Norway House Cree Nation in Treaty 5 territory, and related to the Muskrat Dam First Nation, Treaty 9. She is a film, television, and theatre producer; actor; advocate; and former Member of Parliament.

Her passion for the arts was influenced by her culture, and she explored theatre at the Winnipeg Indian & Métis Friendship Centre in 1980 and through the acting program at The University of Winnipeg. She has a BA in theatre from The University of Winnipeg and trained at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, the Banff Centre, and the Sundance Institute. Keeper won a Gemini award for acting in 1997 for her portrayal of RCMP Officer Michelle Kenidi in the long-running television series North of 60.

As an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Keeper co-produced the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s highly acclaimed ballet Going Home Star, guided by Indian Residential School Survivors. 

Keeper served as a Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Churchill from 2006-2008. In 2008, she introduced a Private Member’s Bill into the House that would ensure Canadian laws are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and introduced a Private Member’s Bill regarding Jordan’s Principle to address First Nations children’s healthcare in Canada.

Keeper now is the President of Kistikan Pictures Inc., a partner company with Phyllis Laing and Buffalo Gal Pictures. Since 2010, Kistikan Pictures has worked solely to develop and produce film and television projects by Indigenous creators with a priority on developing capacity for Indigenous people in all departments for production.  They are currently producing Acting Good season five, which has been the number one show on CTV Comedy since its first season.

Joyce and Don Sobering have built a remarkable legacy in Manitoba’s automotive industry, defined by entrepreneurship, service, and an ongoing commitment to community.

Joyce, by age 12, had already chosen the family dealership over the family garden, encouraged by her father’s belief that she could do anything she set her mind to. In a male-dominated industry, Joyce distinguished herself through determination and resilience, often working harder to prove her place – not only as a woman, but in the early stages of her career, as the boss’s daughter.

Joyce is now a respected industry leader, having proven herself over a career spanning more than six decades. Alongside her husband, she has contributed significantly to industry development while balancing family life, raising five children and volunteering on various community boards. Her volunteer leadership and board work include serving as recording secretary for the Automotive Trades Association (ATA) in 1986/87, serving on the Automotive Provincial Trade Advisory Committee, being the Apprenticeship Board Chair, and the Apprenticeship Appeal Board Chair, the Apprenticeship Futures Commission member and was a founding member of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF).

Don Sobering has a lifelong passion for automobiles. As a boy, he spent his time dismantling and rebuilding cars, eventually translating that passion into a career. After earning his Red Seal certification as an Auto Repair Mechanic in 1960, Don launched his own ventures, including a White Rose service station in 1966.

In 1971, Don and Joyce purchased the Sobering family business, Sobering Auto Electric, later relocating it to Dugald Road where it became a cornerstone business. Don served as ATA President in 1986, strengthening the association through negotiations, membership growth, and youth engagement. He spearheaded the organization of a major conference and established foundational bylaws. He was also one of the founding members of the Manitoba Used Car Dealers Association.

Together, Joyce and Don extend their impact beyond business. In 2002, they co-founded the Motor Vehicle Industry of Manitoba (MVIM), a scholarship initiative that has supported hundreds of apprentices in achieving their Red Seal certification. They believe that a career choice as a Red Seal technician in the Motor Vehicle Industry deserves the recognition of being a highly skilled individual who never quits learning.  Don and Joyce were among the first inductees to the ATA Hall of Fame, with Don receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. Through leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy, the Soberings continue to leave an enduring mark on the automotive industry.