Planning Your Day

Convocation is a busy event that involves hundreds of people, including graduands and their guests, faculty, staff, and volunteers. Here you will find information on what to expect on your convocation day!

Campus Parking
There is no fee for parking. We suggest carpooling if possible.

The Voyageur Grill will be open for refreshments.

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Time to Arrive - Practical Nurse Pinning Ceremony
Practical Nurse students will need to be assembled in the Main Foyer before 9:45 a.m. dressed in white scrubs for the Pinning Ceremony in McGrane Theatre.

Time to Arrive - Afternoon Convocation
Graduands must be in the hall by Room 135 no later than 12:15 p.m. to register and line up for the processional. Be ready to line up for the ceremony 12:30 p.m.

Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns are required for participation in the Convocation Ceremony. 

Pick-up: Caps and gowns are available free of charge for pick-up from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 135. Return: Gowns must be returned to Room 135 by 4:30 p.m.

Proceed to Room 135 at least one hour prior to your ceremony to fit your gown, v-stole and cap. Assistants will be on hand to help you.

  • Put the robe on first.
  • Position the V-stole with the shorter V in front and longer V in the back.
  • Place your cap. Tassels are worn on the right side of the cap before the ceremony and are then moved from the right side to the left on the stage.

Check-In & Name Card
During check-in you will be given a name card which will show your preferred name as it appears in the convocation program. Remember, your legal name will appear on your certificate or diploma. You need to keep this card with you until you reach the stage. Hand the card to the Convocation Marshal at the podium, who will read your name as you cross the stage during the Convocation Ceremony.

Guests
Guests must be seated in the gymnasium by: 12:40 p.m. Guests arriving after 1:00 p.m. will be seated when the processional has finished, and all Graduands are seated. Guest seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

Friday, June 7, 2024

Time to Arrive - Morning Convocation
Graduands must be in the hall by Room 135 no later than 9:15 a.m. to register and line up for the processional. Be ready to line up for the ceremony 9:30 a.m.

Honour Ceremony
The honour ceremony will take place in McGrane Theatre from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Time to Arrive - Afternoon Convocation
Graduands must be in the hall by Room 135 no later than 1:45 p.m. to register and line up for the processional. Be ready to line up for the ceremony 2:00 p.m.

Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns are required for participation in the Convocation Ceremony. 

Pick-up: Caps and gowns are available free of charge for pick-up from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 135. Return: Gowns used must be returned to Room 135 by 4:30 p.m.

Proceed to Room 135 at least one hour prior to your ceremony to fit your gown, v-stole and cap. Assistants will be on hand to help you.

  • Put the robe on first.
  • Position the V-stole with the shorter V in front and longer V in the back.
  • Place your cap. Tassels are worn on the right side of the cap before the ceremony and are then moved from the right side to the left on the stage.

Check-In & Name Card
During check-in you will be given a name card which will show your preferred name as it appears in the convocation program. Remember, your legal name will appear on your certificate or diploma. You need to keep this card with you until you reach the stage. Hand the card to the Convocation Marshal at the podium, who will read your name as you cross the stage during the Convocation Ceremony.

Guests
Guests must be seated by: 9:40 a.m. for the morning convocation and 2:10 p.m. for the afternoon convocation. Guests arriving after these times will be seated when the processional has finished, and all Graduands are seated. Guest seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

Attire
As this is a special day to honour convocating students, we suggest Graduands and Guests attending the ceremony wear daytime formal attire.

Tips for Graduands, you can get warm wearing a robe, dress appropriately. Also pockets come in handy, you'll need somewhere to store your phone (volume off please).

Photographs 
An area will be set up in the Voyageur Grill for anyone wishing to take photographs. Guests are welcome to take photographs throughout the ceremony, as long as it does not interfere with the processional or recessional. Please be considerate of others when taking photographs.

Marshalling
Marshalling is the procedure of forming an alphabetical line of Graduands by department and by parchment classification for the procession to the convocation venue. The marshalling area is the hallway outside room 135. (This is area is not secure, please don’t leave any items in this area).

As it takes time to marshal all of the Graduands, it’s important that you arrive at least 60 minutes prior to your ceremony to collect your robe and be marshalled in order ready for the processional.

Processional
The President, Platform Party and Faculty will lead the procession, followed by the Graduands. Convocation Marshals will lead each group of Graduands and direct them to their seats.

The President and Platform Party will be seated on the stage. Graduands and Faculty will be seated in reserved seating. You should remain standing until everyone is in place and the music stops, which will be indicated by the Master of Ceremonies.

Seating
If you require special seating, please contact Student Services at 780-623-5504.

Program
The order of events will be listed in the Convocation Program. Copies will be available for Guests at the reception table.

Certificates / Diplomas
At the ceremony, Graduands will receive a ceremonial scroll. Your official certificate or diploma will be mailed out after successful program completion.

Recessional
All Graduands will exit the Gymnasium as directed by the Convocation Marshals. The Graduands will lead the recessional, followed by the President, Platform Party, then Faculty, and finally Guests. Watch the Convocation Marshals for direction. Recessional participants will be led out the main entrance where Graduands can take part in a cap toss.

Convocation will be held at the Lac La Biche Campus. Ceremonies will be scheduled by program and grouped to create an equal split between the three events.

Thursday, June 6, 2024
Afternoon Convocation Ceremony 1:00 PM - Gymnasium

Friday, June 7, 2024
Morning Convocation Ceremony 10:00 AM - Gymnasium
Afternoon Convocation Ceremony 2:30 PM - Gymnasium

Students who are eligible for graduation and whose program of studies will be completed in the 2023-2024 academic year (by June 29, 2024).

Invitations will be sent in March to students who are eligible to attend. If you don't receive an email, you are most likely not eligible to attend. Or you email may have been held in your "Junk Mail" folder.

The Registrar’s Office will remove the names of students that withdraw prior to May 1st from the eligible student list.

If you wish to know more about convocation pleas contact Student Services at 1-866-623-5551.

All students participating in the ceremony are expected to wear the cap, tassel and gown. There is no cost to the student as Convocation is a gift from the College to the Student.

Students will be required to register so that the College can order the cap, tassel and gown. The cap and tassel are yours to keep after the ceremony. The gown and stole must be returned at the end of the day.

No, you will receive a letter at the ceremony. Your certificate (or diploma) will be mailed to you at a later date.

No, there is no childcare available on convocation day, there is an outdoor play area that adults can bring children to if they are getting restless during the ceremony.

There will be refreshments available throughout the day. Food will not be provided, but there is the onsite Voyageur Grill located on the Lac La Biche campus where you can purchase meals, snacks and beverages.

Thursday June 6, 2024

Practical Nurse Pinning Ceremony - 10:00 AM McGrane Theatre
Afternoon Convocation Ceremony - 1:00 PM Gymnasium

Friday June 7, 2024

Morning Convocation Ceremony - 10:00 AM Gymnasium
Honour Ceremony - 12:30 PM McGrane Theatre
Afternoon Convocation Ceremony - 2:30 PM Gymnasium

We acknowledge that Portage College’s service region is on the traditional lands of First Nation Peoples, the owners of Treaty 6, 8 and 10, which are also homelands to the Métis people. We honour the history and culture of all people who first lived and gathered in these lands.
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