Northern College is pleased to announce the successful completion of the 2026 convocation season at all four of its campuses.
The Class of 2026, comprising of 650 graduates, crossed the stage at Northern’s Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Haileybury and Moosonee Campuses, marking the 59th Northern College graduating class.
“It is always a pleasure to experience this achievement alongside our graduates,” stated Mitch Dumas, President & CEO at Northern. “It’s the culmination of so much hard work, dedication and focus for each of our students; for us, it marks the realization of our core mandate, to graduate capable, work ready professionals, eager to make their impact on the world.”
Every year, each Ontario college issue the Governor General’s Award to the student with the highest-grade point average across the entire institution for that academic year. In 2026, the award was issued to Lonnie Bouvier, who maintained a 96.456 GPA as she completed her Social Service Worker Diploma.
Each campus celebrated their graduates with their own unique flair, across five ceremonies and three weeks, providing newly minted grads with the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments.
As part of the convocation experience, Northern College and its Foundation issued 211 awards to the Class of 2026, representing a $197,425 investment made possible by generous contributions from donors.
“We truly believe in providing many of our grads with solid financial footing as they embark on their careers, rewarding their focus, work ethic and achievement,” stated External Relations Officer Nicole Gingras. “None of this would be possible without the generous and consistent support of our donors, who share that same dedication to student support, success and achievement.”
Hundreds of donor’s support Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards at Northern College throughout the academic year, providing funds through various avenues and for a variety of reasons, consistent in their commitment to ensuring the success of Northern students and graduates.
“If I can give back to the people in need in the north, where I came from and where I was given a shot to move on then I will,” stated generous SBA donor, endowment creator and Northern College graduate, Tim Verrier.
A native of Matachewan, Verrier was amongst the first graduates of Northern College, initially enrolling in the Northern Ontario Institute of Technology (NOIT) in Kirkland Lake in 1964. Pursuing a successful career as a Mechanical Engineering Technician, Verrier founded Veronics Instruments, a company specializing in the development of process instrumentation equipment for the nuclear, petrochemical and semi-conductor industries. A successful engineer and entrepreneur, Verrier never forgot his roots, or his alma mater, donating proudly and generously to an endowment which will support Northern students for years to come.
“I hope that I can improve the lives of others the way that mine was, you just don’t know what you can achieve until it’s in front of you,” stated Verrier. “You have to seize that moment and give it the best kick you can, and if I can support that kick for someone, I am proud to do so.”
Northern College congratulates the class of 2026 on their achievement, wishing them all the best as they pursue their careers and play a role in the ongoing socio-economic vitality of the northeast region and beyond.
“As our grads head out into the workforce or pursue further education, it brings us such pride to know that for so many of them, they are doing so with the support of those alumni who came before them,” stated Gingras. “Moments like these – stories like these – are what makes Northern College a truly unique place to learn and grow.”
Northern College President & CEO, Mitch Dumas alongside Board of Governor’s Chair, Kraymr Grenke pose with Lonnie Bouvier, Northern College’s Governor General Award Winner. The award is issued each year to the graduating student with the highest GPA, Bouvier maintained a 96.456 GPA during her Social Service Worker studies.
