Collège Boréal has set a new institutional record by celebrating over 1,000 graduates during its 31st graduation ceremonies. Since May 12, ten ceremonies have taken place across Ontario, honoring the academic achievements of students from various campuses.
Historic Graduation Numbers
The final ceremonies for the spring 2026 graduating class were held today for Boréal campuses in Hearst, Kapuskasing, Nipissing, Ottawa, Sudbury, Timmins, Toronto, and Windsor, as well as for Boréal Online. With parents, families, and friends in attendance, Collège Boréal President Daniel Giroux, along with the college's senior leadership, distributed no fewer than 1,058 diplomas this spring, marking a new record in the institution's history.
Governor General's Academic Medal
Souhila Ouari, a graduate of the Early Childhood Education program offered through Boréal Online, received the Governor General's Academic Medal. This prestigious distinction is awarded to a full-time student who achieves the highest average in a program that is at least two years in length and leads to a diploma.
Honorary Diploma
This year, Collège Boréal awarded an honorary diploma in business and community services to Paul C. Genest, Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation of Canada and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada. The recognition honors his outstanding career serving the common good, contributing to cultural life, and advancing Ontario's Francophone community. Over his remarkable career, Genest has demonstrated influential leadership in the public, community, and corporate sectors. As Ontario's Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Francophone Affairs and Deputy Minister responsible for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, he contributed to lasting policies and partnerships that promoted access to French-language services and raised the profile of communities in Ontario. In addition to his leading role in the cultural and philanthropic sectors, Genest also made a significant contribution to the college by negotiating its very first Strategic Mandate Agreement with the Government of Ontario.
Collège Boréal President's Award and Board Chair Award
Awarded respectively to private-sector and community organizations, Collège Boréal's President's Award and Board Chair Award recognize outstanding contributions to the development of the college and its community.
This year, the President's Award was presented to DJB Mining Products and Services Ltd., particularly for its active role in training the next generation and for sharing its expertise in support of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). By making its facilities available and helping enhance the college's educational infrastructure through equipment donations, DJB Mining Products and Services Ltd. has become a valued partner. Daniel Brunet, the company's owner, also serves on the advisory committee for Boréal's welding programs, helping to foster an innovative and inclusive learning and work environment that reflects the needs of the region.
The Board Chair Award was presented to FrancoQueer, a Francophone association based in Toronto, whose sustained commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ people contributes significantly to Collège Boréal's equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. Through its ongoing support, FrancoQueer offers consultations, facilitates webinars, and provides workshops that raise awareness and give both Boréal's students and staff tools to better understand the realities of sexual and gender diversity. These activities foster respectful and open dialogue, while highlighting the collective responsibility to act with openness and active listening.
