Nursing alumni, stakeholders, partners, and supporters gather at the USask Prince Albert Campus to celebrate 20 years of nursing education in Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan. Credit: JazCatte Photography.

Celebrating 20 Years of Nursing Education in Prince Albert

USask alumni come together to celebrate 20 years of nursing education in Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Prince Albert Campus was just one stop of many during a recent nursing alumni reunion celebrating graduates from Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan.

The 20 year reunion, organized by USask College of Nursing alumna and chairperson Joanne Mercredi (BSN’06) and a large committee, was open to all alumni who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from USask College of Nursing Prince Albert and northern distributed sites between 2006 and 2025, as well as graduates from the USask Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs.

Men’s Traditional Dance by Leander Dreaver. Credit: JazCatte Photography.

“This is a significant milestone recognizing the graduates who completed their nursing education in these communities and a celebration of previous partnerships between First Nations University of Canada, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Saskatchewan, that resulted in nursing graduates going on to do incredible things,” said Mercredi.

The reunion included tours of the previous nursing campus at First Nations University of Canada and morning presentations about everything from careers in nursing, an Indigenous nurse’s journey, to cultural safety. Attendees were also offered a tour of the Victoria Hospital and attended a program and reception in the afternoon at the USask Prince Albert Campus.

With alumni attending from all over western Canada and as far as Toronto, approximately 260 people were in attendance throughout the day of celebrations.

“These graduates have gone on to complete master’s degrees, become nurse practitioners, and some are working on PhD’s,” said USask College of Nursing emeritus professor and organizing committee member from Prince Albert, Dr. June Anonson (PhD).

“I see them working in the community and many are in health care leadership roles, including directors and managers and some are practicing in academia.”

Mercredi was part of the first class in Prince Albert and says, “I can honestly say I probably wouldn’t have taken nursing if it wasn’t available here in Prince Albert.”

(l to r) Dean Dr. Solina Richter, Knowledge Keeper and Indigenous Student Advisor Dr. Kathleen McMullin, and Professor Dr. Arlene Kent-Wilkinson. Credit: Submitted.

“Alumni from Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan are practicing in northern Saskatchewan, including Stanley Mission, Montreal Lake, Southend, Pelican Narrows, and Dechambeault Lake, which is testament that distributed nursing education really works,” said USask College of Nursing Dean Dr. Solina Richter (DCur).

“These graduates completed their nursing education in Prince Albert or at a distributed nursing site through our partnership with Northlands College, then some returned to their home communities to practice. These are great examples of why distributed nursing education is so important for our rural and remote communities in this province.”

There were many dignitaries in attendance at the May 10 celebration, including but not limited to, past directors from the Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan like Dr. Netha Dyck (DEd), nursing leaders like Dr. Joyce Desjarlais (PhD), Dr. Solina Richter (DCur), Acting VP Academic at Northlands College Cody Cooper, College of Nursing Knowledge Keeper and Indigenous Student Advisor Dr. Kathleen McMullin (PhD), Elder Patricia Victor from Trinity Western University, Shirley Woods from Prince Albert Grand Council, former Prince Albert Mayor Jim Scarrow, Andrew McLetchie from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and Elder and former Canadian Parliament Poet Laureate Louise Halfe – Sky Dancer. 

Prince Albert Mayor, the Honourable Bill Powalinsky, brought greetings on behalf of the City of Prince Albert, alongside his wife, Charlotte (BSN’11), who was part of the Nursing Class of 2011.

The afternoon reception included an Honour Song, the Nurses Prayer, traditional dancing, greetings from stakeholders, short reflections from alumni, and was emceed by College of Nursing Associate Professor Academic Programming Dr. Tania Kristoff (PhD) and Prince Albert alumnus Scott Cournoyer (BSN’24).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing alumnae gathered during the 20th anniversary reunion event. Credit: JazCatte Photography.

For additional photos from the event, please visit our photo gallery.

Article originally published at https://nursing.usask.ca