DEAN GEORGIA QUARTARO: GOOD
AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AND JOIN
IN SINGING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.
THEN PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND AS
WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ABORIGINAL
HERITAGE FOR AN HONOUR SONG
BY JOSEPH HARPER, WHO IS
CREE, FROM THE BEAR CLAN.
O CANADA! OUR HOME
AND NATIVE LAND!
TRUE PATRIOT LOVE IN
ALL OUR SONS COMMAND.
WITH GLOWING HEARTS
WE SEE THEE RISE.
THE TRUE NORTH STRONG AND FREE!
FROM FAR AND WIDE, O CANADA, WE
STAND ON GUARD FOR GOD KEEP
OUR LAND GLORIOUS AND FREE!
O CANADA WE STAND
ON GUARD FOR THEE.
O CANADA WE STAND
ON GUARD FOR THEE
[APPLAUSE].
DEAN GEORGIA QUARTARO:
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
ON BEHALF OF GEORGE BROWN
COLLEGE, I WOULD LIKE TO
WELCOME YOU ALL GRADUATES,
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, TO THIS
AFTERNOON'S CONVOCATION
EXERCISES FOR THE CLASS OF 2012.
MY NAME IS GEORGIA QUARTARO.
I'M ACTING VICE PRESIDENT
ACADEMIC AND DEAN OF THE CENTRE
FOR PREPARATORY AND
LIBERAL STUDIES.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS
YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES TODAY.
OUR CONVOCATION CEREMONY TODAY
IS TAKING PLACE ON
THE TRADITIONAL LANDS
OF THE MISSISSAUGAS
OF NEW CREDIT.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
THE MEMBERS OF OUR
PLATFORM PARTY.
I WILL ASK THEM TO STAND AND
REMAIN STANDING AS THEY ARE
INTRODUCED AND I WILL ASK YOU
TO PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL THE END OF
THE INTRODUCTIONS.
IT IS MY PARTICULAR PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE SALLY HORSFALL
EATON, NEWLY APPOINTED
AS THE FIRST CHANCELLOR
OF GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
[APPLAUSE].
FROM GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE WE
HAVE ANNE SADO, PRESIDENT
OF THE COLLEGE.
[APPLAUSE].
DIANNE TESSIER, REGISTRAR,
[APPLAUSE] AND LORRAINE TROTTER,
ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT,
INTERNATIONAL AND IMMIGRANT
EDUCATION AND ACTING DEAN CENTRE
FOR HOSPITALITY AND
CULINARY ARTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE
OUR ELDER-IN-RESIDENCE,
PAULINE SHIRT, WHO IS CREE,
FROM THE RED-TAILED HAWK CLAN
ORIGINALLY FROM SADDLE
LAKE, ALBERTA.
[APPLAUSE].
OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER THIS
AFTERNOON IS GLEN CHAMPION
WHO WILL BE INTRODUCED MORE
FORMALLY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE].
AND FINALLY -- ALL RISE PLEASE
-- THE STAFF AND FACULTY OF
THE CENTRE FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS AT
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
[APPLAUSE].
THIS IS OUR PLATFORM PARTY.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
THIS AFTERNOON, WE ARE
RECOGNIZING GRADUATES FROM
THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS IN THE CENTRE
FOR HOSPITALITY AND
CULINARY ARTS.
OUR INTERPRETERS THIS AFTERNOON
ARE MONIQUE LEDREW
AND TARA EVERETT
AND OUR CAPTIONER
IS JOANNE ANDERSON.
[APPLAUSE].
I WILL NOW CALL UPON LORRAINE
TROTTER, ASSISTANT
VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL
AND IMMIGRANT EDUCATION AND
ACTING DEAN, CENTRE FOR
HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY ARTS
TO ADDRESS THE GRADUANDS AND TO
INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
DEAN LORRAINE TROTTER:
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MADAME PRESIDENT, MADAME
CHANCELLOR, MEMBERS
OF THE PLATFORM PARTY,
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND GRADUATES.
I AM HONOURED TO CELEBRATE
THIS DAY WITH YOU ALL.
THIS DAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY.
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE
WORKED FOR, LOST SLEEP FOR,
[LAUGHTER] STUDIED FOR...
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU
DESERVE, AND THAT
YOU WILL REMEMBER
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
TODAY YOU GRADUATE AND I AM HERE
TO TELL YOU WHY THAT MATTERS...
WHY YOU MATTER.
YOU MATTER BECAUSE, BY THE YEAR
2015, CANADA'S HOSPITALITY
SECTOR WILL REQUIRE
OVER 300,000 MORE PROFESSIONALS
IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
YOU MATTER BECAUSE IN THREE MORE
YEARS TORONTO WILL
BE ON THE WORLD STAGE
WHEN WE HOST THE PAN AM GAMES
AND YOU WILL BE REPRESENTING
THIS CITY
WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE.
YOU MATTER BECAUSE THE MINISTRY
OF TOURISM HAS SET
AN AMBITIOUS GOAL
TO DOUBLE ONTARIO TOURISM
REVENUE TO $44 BILLION BY 2020.
THERE ARE ALREADY OVER 32,000
HOTEL ROOMS IN THIS CITY
ALONE, NOT TO MENTION MORE
THAN 7,000 TORONTO RESTAURANTS.
THIS MEANS JOBS.
THIS MEANS OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU MATTER BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH
THERE ARE 128 LANGUAGES AND
DIALECTS HEARD ON THE STREETS
OF TORONTO, YOU SPEAK THE
INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE OF
SERVICE, OF HOSPITALITY,
OF DISTINCTION -- AND YOU
CAN WELCOME THE WORLD.
YOU MATTER TO OUR
TEACHERS AND SUPPORT TEAM.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO
NETWORKED ON YOUR BEHALF SO
THAT YOU COULD BE HERE TODAY...
SOME HELPED YOU ON YOUR PATH
WITH TRAINING AND COACHING,
OTHERS HELPED BUILD OUR SCHOOL
AND GROW OUR INDUSTRY...
YOU MATTER VERY MUCH
TO ALL OF THEM.
YOU MATTER TO YOUR FAMILY.
THEY SUPPORTED YOU.
THEY BELIEVED IN YOU AND THEY
HELPED YOU SO YOU COULD GET
HERE TODAY SO PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT YOU MATTER VERY
MUCH TO THEM.
AND LASTLY, GRADUATES, YOU
MATTER TO THIS COLLEGE.
YOU ARE NOW ALUMNI OF
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
BE PROUD OF THAT!
[APPLAUSE].
IF YOU HAVE COME FROM ANOTHER
COUNTRY, YOU MAY
BE RETURNING HOME
AND PROUDLY SHARING WHAT YOU
HAVE LEARNED HERE, OR YOU
MAY BE STAYING TO BE PART
OF THE GREAT TEAM HERE JOINING
OTHER CANADIAN STUDENTS
WHO CHOOSE TO WORK HERE
AND TO BUILD THIS INDUSTRY.
WHEREVER YOU REPRESENT OUR
COLLEGE, AROUND THE GLOBE
OR JUST UP THE STREET,
YOUR JOURNEY MATTERS TO US AND
WE HOPE THAT YOU STAY IN TOUCH.
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU TODAY AND
WE WILL BE TOMORROW AND ALWAYS.
WE ARE HONOURED TO HAVE
HELPED YOU ON YOUR PATH.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE
REASONS THAT YOU MATTER.
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
GLEN CHAMPION IS A LEADER IN THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BOTH HERE
IN CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD.
AT PRESENT, GLEN IS THE
VICE-PRESIDENT OF BERNS HOTELS
AND RESORTS, A MAJOR HOTEL,
LODGING AND TOURISM COMPANY IN
PANAMA, BUT LIKE YOU HE
WAS ONCE A STUDENT WHO WENT
THAT EXTRA MILE AND MADE
HIS DREAMS COME TRUE.
THERE ARE MANY ELEMENTS TO HIS
SUCCESS AND I URGE YOU
TO LISTEN CAREFULLY
AS HE SHARES THEM
WITH YOU TODAY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT MATTER TO
GLEN AND THEY ARE PART OF HIS
INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
GLEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OPERATIONS AND PROFITABILITY
OF 18 COMPANIES,
INCLUDING 10 HOTEL FRANCHISES
WITH BRANDS SUCH AS
INTERCONTINENTAL, WESTIN,
LE MERIDIEN, CROWNE
PLAZA, HOLIDAY INN.
HIS HOTELS ARE KNOWN FOR
THEIR SERVICE WORLDWIDE.
PRIOR TO JOINING BERN HOTELS
AND RESORTS HE WAS INVOLVED
IN OPENING THE WESTIN PUERTO
VALLARTA IN MEXICO
AND WORKED FOR HYATT
ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST
AT THE HYATT CANCUN.
PRIOR TO THAT, GLEN WORKED AT
THE FOUR SEASONS
HOTEL IN TORONTO.
HE PARTICIPATED IN THE OPENING
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAN
PACIFIC HOTEL IN VANCOUVER,
THE VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE
AND THE NATIONAL ARTS
CENTRE IN OTTAWA.
GLEN HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY AND HE KNOWS THE VALUE
OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING GLEN IS AN
AMERICAN HOTEL AND LODGING
ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED HOTEL
ADMINISTRATOR AND HAS BEEN A
VALUED PARTNER AND FRIEND OF
THE CENTRE FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS
FOR MANY YEARS.
HE LEADS CHANGE EVERY DAY.
HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT
MATTERS IN HOSPITALITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALL THE
WAY FROM PANAMA CITY PANAMA,
I'M HONOURED TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER,
GLEN CHAMPION.
[APPLAUSE].
GLEN CHAMPION: GOOD AFTERNOON
MADAME PRESIDENT,
MADAME CHANCELLOR,
MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY,
GRADUATES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I AM VERY HONOURED TO HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING YOU
AT SUCH AN IMPORTANT
MOMENT IN YOUR LIVES.
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE HAS LONG
ENJOYED A STRONG
REPUTATION AS CANADA'S LEADER
IN HOSPITALITY EDUCATION,
CONSISTENTLY REINFORCED
BY THE INDUSTRY,
LEADERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED THIS
COLLEGE I AM SURE THAT THE
FUTURE LEADERS HERE TODAY WILL
CONTINUE THIS LEGACY.
YOU HAVE ALL WORKED HARD AND
HAVE GAINED A WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY
THROUGH YOUR STUDIES HERE ALL
OF WHICH YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
THESE ARE VALUABLE TOOLS THAT
YOU CAN NOW TAKE
INTO THE INDUSTRY
AND DEVELOP YOUR CAREERS UPON.
I'M GOING TO GO ROGUE
A LITTLE BIT HERE.
I WAS TOLD TO FOLLOW THE SCRIPT
-- THIS SPEECH, BUT IT
WILL TAKE 20 SECONDS MORE.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS
IS THE ROWDY BUNCH.
THIS MORNING WE HAD
THE CULINARY TEAM.
[LAUGHTER].
A LITTLE MORE ANIMATED.
DIFFERENT IN FRONT OF THE
HOUSE/BACK OF THE HOUSE.
[LAUGHTER].
SOME TIMES YOU JUST
HAVE TO WING IT!
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
TALK ABOUT STRATEGY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU GET
INTO SITUATIONS WHERE LIFE
CALLS FOR IMPROVISATION.
LIKE A MUSICIAN, IF YOU'RE GOOD
IN SERVICE, YOU'RE
A GOOD IMPROVISOR.
THAT'S IT!
I'M GOING BACK TO THE SCRIPT.
[LAUGHTER].
ON THE TOPIC OF LEADERSHIP, I
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME
OF THE LEADERS HERE AT
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
I WANT TO THANK ANNE SADO,
PRESIDENT OF GEORGE BROWN
WHO HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT STUDENTS COME FIRST.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
DEAN FOR THE CENTRE
FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS
- LORRAINE TROTTER.
WELCOME LORRAINE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
THE WONDERFUL FACULTY AND
STAFF HERE AT THE CENTER.
TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL THE
PARENTS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY
WHO ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
MAYBE THEY'RE THE
BACKBONE OF WHY WE'RE HERE.
THEY HELPED YOU TO GET HERE.
DON'T FORGET.
MANY OF YOU HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OR
PLAN OF WHAT YOU WILL
DO AFTER YOU GRADUATE.
WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BASIC
STRATEGY THAT YOU CAN USE
AS A GUIDE AND BUILD UPON IT.T
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT A STRATEGY
THAT WORKED WELL FOR ME
AS I DEVELOPED MY CAREER.
TO BEGIN WITH, IT'S IMPORTANT
FIRST TO UNDERSTAND
THE DEFINITION
OF THE WORD "STRATEGY".
I LIKE TO DEFINE STRATEGY
AS THE MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE.
THIS MANAGEMENT INVOLVES ACTIONS
THAT IN MANY CASES INVOLVE RISK
WHETHER IT BE IN YOUR PERSONAL
OR PROFESSIONAL LIFE,
CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT.
WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
RESISTANT TO CHANGE?
PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT
THEY HAVE, BUT THEY DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY'LL GET --
AND THEY WORRY THAT IT MIGHT BE
LESS THAN WHAT THEY HAVE NOW.
HOWEVER CHANGE IS GOING TO
HAPPEN WHETHER WE LIKE
IT OR NOT, SO LEARNING
OR PERHAPS BETTER SAID TRAINING
TO MANAGE CHANGE AT A YOUNG
AGE IS A GOOD STRATEGY
IN ANY INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY
THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
MANY YEARS AGO I REALIZED I HAD
A PASSION FOR TRAVEL AND THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WAS VERY
ATTRACTIVE TO ME.
I MOVED AROUND A NUMBER OF TIMES
EARLY IN MY CAREER TO
GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE
WITH PAN PACIFIC HOTELS IN
VANCOUVER AS WELL AS FOUR
SEASONS HOTELS HERE IN TORONTO.
SURPRISINGLY I JUST RAN INTO AN
EX-COLLEAGUE ON THE
PLATFORM PARTY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU
JEANNE [PHONETIC].
I HEADED SOUTH TO MEXICO AND
IMMERSED MYSELF IN THE
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
THERE I FOUND LOTS OF CHANGES TO
MANAGE AND A WEALTH OF
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
IN DOING THIS I NOT ONLY
WELCOMED CHANGE, I EMBRACED IT
AND TRAINED MYSELF TO BE ABLE
TO MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY, COUNTRY
AND WORKPLACE AND HIT
THE GROUND RUNNING.
I SPENT MY EARLY YEARS WORKING
IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE
AS WELL AS THE KITCHEN.
I MOVED UP TO THE RANKS OF THE
HOTEL BUSINESS BY BEING
VERY ACTIVE IN OPERATIONS.
MOVING FROM MANAGING CHANGE TO
PROACTIVELY LEADING CHANGE
WAS A NATURAL CONTINUATION
OF THE STRATEGY THAT
HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME.
LEADING CHANGE INVOLVES
INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY.
TWO POWERFUL SOURCES THAT
CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING AND WORKING
NOW IN PANAMA FOR
THE PAST 16 YEARS.
I'M VICE-PRESIDENT OF BERN
HOTELS AND RESORTS, A
COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN
IN CONSTANT AGGRESSIVE GROWTH
MODE SINCE I ARRIVED TO
HELP OPEN THE FIRST HOTEL
IN THE OUR GROUP.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OPERATIONS AND PROFITABILITY
OF 18 COMPANIES INCLUDING 10
HOTEL FRANCHISES
PROACTIVELY MANAGING
AND LEADING CHANGE IS
MY DAY-TO-DAY CHALLENGE.
I ALSO DEVELOPED THE PANAMA
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SCHOOLS --
ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE THIS
GREAT RELATIONSHIP
WITH GEORGE BROWN.
WHEN I FIRST WENT LOOKING FOR
ALLIANCES FOR MY HOTEL
SCHOOL, I CAME TO GEORGE BROWN
AS I KNEW THE QUALITY I WANTED
TO ACHIEVE IN THE
SCHOOL WAS PRESENT HERE.
SOME OF WHO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE
TO SPEND SOME TIME IN PANAMA
HAVE COME TO KNOW OUR SCHOOL
AND THE COMPANY BEHIND IT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO PANAMA
DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENT
ATTITUDE AND SKILLS
AND REPRESENTED GEORGE BROWN
IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN
FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN PLEASED TO HAVE
A NUMBER OF OUR PANAMANIAN
STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES
AND PRACTICE HERE IN TORONTO
UNDER THE GUIDANCE
OF GEORGE BROWN.
MANY THANKS TO JOHN WALKER FOR
HELPING ME BUILD
THIS RELATIONSHIP
AND TO CINDY GOUVEIA FOR
ONGOING COORDINATION.
MANY YEARS AGO I ADOPTED THREE
BASIC GOALS THAT UNDERPIN
THE STRATEGY THAT I USED
TO DEVELOP MY OWN CAREER.
I OFFER THEM TO YOU TODAY AS
EXAMPLES OF WHAT COULD
HELP YOU IN YOUR CAREERS.
GOAL NO. 1.
PROVIDE EXCELLENT
SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMERS.
WHETHER YOU ARE WORKING THE
FRONT OF THE HOUSE OR
THE BACK OF THE HOUSE,
THE CUSTOMER IS THE KEY ELEMENT
TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY BUSINESS.
IN HOSPITALITY, TEAMWORK IN
MANAGING QUALITY
SERVICE IS IMPORTANT
AND THE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE
THAT EXCELLENCE IS
STRIVED FOR AND ACHIEVED.
YES, OCCASIONALLY THE BALL CAN
BE DROPPED BUT THE RECOVERY
ACTIONS AND TIMING ARE PARAMOUNT
TO ENSURING REPEAT CUSTOMERS.
GOOD COMMUNICATION AMONGST THE
TEAM NEEDS TO BE IN
PLACE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
A POSITIVE OUTGOING SERVICE
ATTITUDE IS FUNDAMENTAL
TO CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVING
GOOD QUALITY SERVICE.
EACH POSITION HAS A DIFFERENT
FOCUS ON HOW THAT IS ACHIEVED,
YET THE WHOLE TEAM IS
HEADING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL.
GOAL NUMBER 2: CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP YOURSELVES
THROUGH ONGOING TRAINING
AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING.
AFTER FINISHING SCHOOL I WAS
FORTUNATE TO WORK IN SOME VERY
GOOD RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.
HOWEVER, I REALIZED THAT TO MOVE
FORWARD THE COMBINATION
OF KNOWLEDGE
AND ABILITY WAS THE ROAD TO
SUCCESS AND I CONTINUED TO
TRAIN AND DEVELOP MYSELF
WITHIN THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES
AND PROACTIVELY PURSUED
OUTSIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
EVERY YEAR.
IF YOU ARE WEAK IN ONE AREA,
CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVING THAT.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY AND
DEVELOPING A SECOND, THIRD,
FOURTH OR FIFTH LANGUAGE WILL
OPEN UP DOORS OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
I CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EXECUTIVE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT
CAN PROVIDE ME WITH AN EDGE
IN DEVELOPING THE
BUSINESSES THAT I RUN.
TEAMS THAT LEARN TOGETHER, ENJOY
COLLECTIVE SUCCESS AND I
ENCOURAGE THIS IN MY COMPANY.
LASTLY GOAL NUMBER 3.
SUPPORT THE COMPANY'S
PROFITABILITY THROUGH
RESPONSIBLE COST CONTROL.
I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO THINK
AND ACT AS IF I WAS THE OWNER
OF THE COMPANY ASKING MYSELF
WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBLE WAY TO
CONTROL AND PROTECT THE ASSETS
AND OPERATING SUPPLIES IN
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS
ACTIONS AND MY DECISIONS?
LINE STAFF POSITIONS CAN HAVE A
BIG INFLUENCE ON WHETHER A
COMPANY MAKES IT OR BREAKS IT
AND INSTILLING PRIDE AND
OWNERSHIP AMONGST THE
STAFF IS THE BEST WAY
TO PROTECT THE BOTTOM LINE AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND PROTECT
THE JOBS IN THE COMPANY.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT
YOU WILL START IN YOUR
JOURNEY IN THIS INDUSTRY --
BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE
COMPANY'S ASSETS, AND BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR EMPLOYER
WHO HAS INSTILLED FAITH AND
TRUST IN YOUR ABILITIES.
SO NO. 1. FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER.
FOCUS ON DEVELOP GOING THE
WORKFORCE AND LASTLY PROTECT
THE INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY.
I FOLLOWED THESE THREE SIMPLE
GOALS IN MY CAREER AND
IMPLEMENTED THEM COMPANY-WIDE
WHEN I WAS IN A LEADERSHIP
POSITION TO DO.
I CONTINUE TO USE THEM TO BRING
A COMMON DIRECTION TO A DIVERSE
GROUP OF SERVICE COMPANIES.
THEY HAVE HELPED ME MANAGE AND
LEAD CHANGE BY ALIGNING A
LARGE GROUP OF ASSOCIATES
TO POINT THEIR EFFORTS
IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THE GOALS ARE SIMPLE BUT
CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVING
THEM IS COMPLEX
AND REQUIRES DEDICATION DAY
AFTER DAY IN 24 HOUR, SEVEN
DAY WEEK BUSINESSES INVOLVED
WITH SERVICE.
KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE
OPEN TO CHANGE, MANAGE
CHANGE AND HOPEFULLY BE
IN A POSITION TO LEAD CHANGE.
I HAVE BECOME VERY CONSCIOUS OF
THE POWER OF STRONG DISTINCTIVE
BRANDS AND WHAT THEY DO
AND HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS
IN MANAGING AND LEADING CHANGE
TO BRING THEM TO
WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
I AM INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF
DIFFERENT BRANDS, CREATED
BRANDS, FRANCHISED WITH BRANDS
AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO
THINK OF YOURSELVES EACH OF YOU
AS AN INDIVIDUAL AS A BRAND.
A GOOD BRAND HAS PERSONALITY,
PROTECTS ITS NAME AND
BUILDS ON ITS INTEGRITY.
A GOOD BRAND DEVELOPS ITS
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
AND IS KNOWN
FOR ITS QUALITY,
VALUE AND DELIVERY.
A GOOD BRAND IS INNOVATIVE
AND CREATIVE.
A GOOD BRAND DELIVERS A TANGIBLE
SOLUTION AS WELL AS
AN INTANGIBLE APPEAL.
SO MY MESSAGE TO YOU TODAY IS
LEARN TO MANAGE AND HOPEFULLY
LEAD CHANGE AND IN DOING
SO DEVELOP YOUR OWN
BRAND ESSENCE.
WHAT WILL YOU BE KNOWN FOR, NO
MATTER WHETHER YOU
ARE AN ASSOCIATE
OR AS AN END USER OF A BUSINESS?
WHAT TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS WILL YOU
BE ABLE TO OFFER AND WHAT
INTANGIBLE APPEAL WILL KEEP YOU
ATTRACTIVE AS A BRAND?
HOW WILL YOU FOSTER YOUR OWN
BRAND AND PROACTIVELY
MANAGE CHANGE
TO REFLECT THE NEEDS
OF OUR SECTOR?
AND, MY FRIENDS, THE ONE LAST
GOAL I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE WITH
YOU IS TO REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN
BECAUSE THIS MY FRIENDS -- THIS
IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PREREQUISITES
FOR ENTERING THE BUSINESS.
GRADUATES, I WISH YOU THE BEST
OF LUCK IN YOUR JOURNEY
AND I HOPE TO SEE SOME
OF YOU IN PANAMA IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] DEAN GEORGIA
QUARTARO: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE PART
OF TODAY'S CEREMONY IN WHICH WE
RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING SCHOLASTIC
ACHIEVEMENTS BY OUR GRADUATES.
TO BEGIN WE WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE RECIPIENT
OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S
ACADEMIC MEDAL.
THIS MEDAL WAS FIRST AWARDED IN
1873 BY THE EARL OF DUFFERIN,
AND HAS SINCE BECOME ONE
OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
THAT A STUDENT IN A CANADIAN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
CAN RECEIVE.
THE COLLEGIATE BRONZE MEDAL FROM
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA
IS AWARDED TO A STUDENT IN A TWO
OR THREE YEAR PROGRAM WITH THE
HIGHEST CUMULATIVE
GRADE POINT AVERAGE.
THIS YEAR THE RECIPIENT OF THE
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S
ACADEMIC MEDAL IS JENNIFER
RODRIGUEZ-ALLEN FROM THE
ACTIVATION
COORDINATOR/GERONTOLOGY PROGRAM
IN THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND
WELLNESS IN THE CENTRE
FOR HEALTH SCIENCES.
JENNIFER RECEIVED HER AWARD AT
HER CONVOCATION CEREMONY
ON WEDNESDAY.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
THE RECIPIENT OF THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEDAL.
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEDAL WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 2007 WHEN THE
FIRST DEGREE PROGRAM GRADUATES
GRADUATED FROM GEORGE
BROWN COLLEGE.
THE MEDAL IS AWARDED TO A
FULL-TIME STUDENT
IN A DEGREE PROGRAM
OF AT LEAST FOUR YEARS DURATION,
AND IS AWARDED FOR ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE TO THE STUDENT
WITH THE HIGHEST CUMULATIVE
GRADE POINT AVERAGE.
THIS YEAR THE RECIPIENT OF THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEDAL IS
CANDIE MCKINNON WHO GRADUATED
WITH A BACHELOR OF APPLIED
BUSINESS IN FINANCIAL
SERVICES FROM THE SCHOOL
OF FINANCIAL SERVICES IN
THE CENTRE FOR BUSINESS.
CANDIE GRADUATED ON TUESDAY.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN
CONGRATULATING THOSE GRADUATES.
[APPLAUSE] NOW THIS AFTERNOON WE
ARE PROUD TO HONOUR A GRADUATE
FROM THE CENTRE FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS WITH A DEAN'S
AWARD TO RECOGNIZE BOTH
HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
OVER ALL SEMESTERS WITH THE
CENTRE, AND CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON LORRAINE
TROTTER TO COME FORWARD
TO PRESENT THIS AWARD.
THIS YEAR THE RECIPIENT OF THE
DEAN'S AWARD FOR THE
CENTRE FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS
IS GIULIANA ROCCA.
GIULIANA IS A GRADUATE OF THE
HOSPITALITY, TERRIFIC
AND LEISURE PROGRAM.
GIULIANA WOULD YOU PLEASE COME
FORWARD TO ACCEPT YOUR AWARD.
[APPLAUSE].
CONGRATULATIONS.
NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE THE VALEDICTORIAN
FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
JOHN ROBERTS PRASKEY IS A
GRADUATE OF THE FOOD AND
BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
JOHN, WILL YOU PLEASE ADDRESS
THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2012.
[APPLAUSE] JOHN PRASKEY: MADAME
PRESIDENT -- THERE WE GO!
[LAUGHTER].
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
MADAME PRESIDENT, MADAME
CHANCELLOR, MEMBERS
OF THE PLATFORM PARTY,
FELLOW GRADUATES, GEORGE BROWN
FACULTY AND STAFF,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
GOOD EVENING.
IT IS AN AMAZING HONOUR TO SPEAK
ON BEHALF OF MY CLASSMATES.
LIKE MOST GREAT HONORS
IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK.
I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
AND NORMALLY I HAVE AT
LEAST SOMETHING TO SAY.
I TALKED TO FRIENDS, READ PAST
VALEDICTORIAN'S SPEECHES AND, OF
COURSE, I SPENT MANY HOURS TOO
IN DEEP THOUGHT ON MY BALCONY
IN THE SUN WITH A GLASS OF WINE.
[LAUGHTER].
I REALIZED THAT REALLY I HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS SPEECH
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,
MAYBE A LOT LONGER AND A LOT OF
EXPERIENCES HAS GONE INTO IT
HOURS AND HOURS OF CLASS TIME,
DAYS AND DAYS OF STUDYING AND
MORE TRIPS TO TIM HORTON'S
THAN I CARE TO COUNT.
I GUESS I HAVE BEEN GATHERING
MATERIAL I GUESS
FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
SINCE I WAS ABOUT EIGHT WHEN I
WAS GETTING MY DAD A DRINK
WHEN HE WAS WATCHING SPORTS,
AND I WAS A LITTLE MORE AT 13
WHEN I STARTED BARTENDING FAMILY
REUNIONS, A BIG PART OF IT CAME
FROM WORKING AT THE FOUR SEASONS
IN WHISTLER AND EXPERIENCES
TRAVELLING
BUT MOSTLY MY MATERIAL IS
FROM MY TIME AT GEORGE BROWN.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLE ENVIRONMENT
TO WORK IN BESIDES, WHAT
CAN YOU SAY ABOUT A COLLEGE
THAT PRODUCES GRADUATES
AS GOOD AS...
US. [LAUGHTER].
[APPLAUSE].
AND WE'RE AWESOME!
[APPLAUSE] WALKING THROUGH THE
CAMPUS AND SEEING THE WORK OF
THE OTHER STUDENTS HAS BEEN ONE
OF THE GREAT PLEASURES OF
MY TIME AT GEORGE BROWN.
I HAVE BEEN AMAZED BY THE IDEAS
AND PRESENTATIONS OF MY PEERS.
I HAVE PLANNED A NIGHT OUT,
BOOKED A FLIGHT, AND
EXPANDED MY PALATE
BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF
MY FELLOW GRADUATES.
WE ARE A CLASS VERY
INTO WHAT WE DO.
WE KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO GO
AND WE ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
BECAUSE OF THAT WE ARE MORE
DEDICATED, HAPPIER IN OUR
WORK AND MORE SATISFIED
IN OUR SUCCESS AND THE
SUCCESS OF OUR CLASSMATES.
EVEN IN THE DARKEST MOMENTS OF
MY GROUP'S CAPSTONE
PROJECT I STILL LOVED
ON WHAT I WAS WORKING ON.
AFTER THE PROJECT WAS FINISHED I
WAS SAD THAT THE BAR WE
PROPOSED WAS FICTIONAL.
I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE A
GREAT PLACE TO GRAB A BEER.
AFTER WE GOT OUR MARK AND OUR
FEEDBACK FROM OUR PROFESSOR
WHICH WAS BY FAR POSITIVE ONE
OF MY GROUP MEMBERS ACTUALLY
WENT BACK THROUGH THE PROJECT
AND MADE THE CORRECTIONS
MENTIONED IN THE FEEDBACK
BECAUSE SHE WAS BORED.
THIS IS DEDICATION OF A
GEORGE BROWN GRADUATE.
AS AMAZING THAT WE ARE WE COULD
NOT HAVE MADE IT
WITHOUT GUIDANCE.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT GEORGE
BROWN I SAY THAT I HAVE
NEVER BEEN AT A SCHOOL
WHERE PROFESSORS WILL BEND OVER
BACKWARDS MORE FOR
THEIR STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE].
YEAH! THE PROFESSORS I HAVE MET
WILL DO MORE FOR YOU,
WORK HARDER WITH YOU
AND GIVE YOU MORE OPPORTUNITIES
THAN YOU COULD ASK FOR.
SUPPORT HAS NOT ONLY
COME FROM OUR PROFESSORS.
OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS,
HUSBANDS, WIVES, BOYFRIENDS,
GIRLFRIENDS, CHILDREN,
PETS HAVE ALL BEEN WITH US FOR
THE LAST TWO YEARS AND
I HOPE THEY'RE AWARE
OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.
THEY HAVE MADE US COFFEE WHEN
WE'RE STUDYING FOR EXAMS,
GIVEN US RIDES TO CAMPUS
WHEN WE HAVE AWKWARDLY LARGE
PROJECTS TO GET THERE
AND TOLD US "DON'T WORRY.
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY."
JUST WHEN WE NEEDED TO HEAR IT.
TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE
TONIGHT, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU
SO MUCH FROM ALL OF US.
WE CANNOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT
YOU AND I HOPE YOU TAKE TONIGHT
TO HONOUR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT
AS WELL AS OURS.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU HAVE PUT UP WITH
US FOR TWO YEARS.
[APPLAUSE].
TONIGHT IS THE CULMINATION
OF SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT.
I HOPE YOU ARE ALL AS PROUD AS I
AM TO BE -- TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
AND BE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
I'M LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND WE
MUST NOT FORGET WHAT GEORGE
BROWN HAS BUILT FOR US.
THROUGH EACH CLASSROOM
FRIENDSHIP AND GROUP PROJECT
WE HAVE BUILT A NETWORK
OF INCREDIBLY TALENTED PEOPLE
AND I HOPE THAT THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE
WITH OUR PROFESSORS AND WITH
EACH OTHER WILL ONLY
GROW STRONGER.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING RESOURCE IN
EACH OTHER AND WHAT WE
HAVE LEARNED TOGETHER.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT -- THE
CONFIDENCE THAT WE
HAVE IN OURSELVES
AND IN EACH OTHER MAKES ME LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DAY I
WILL HAVE THE CHANCE
TO WORK WITH SOME OF YOU AGAIN.
PROFESSOR ANDY HICKL-SZABO ONCE
TOLD OUR CLASS THE
THREE BASIC ELEMENTS
OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WHICH
I THINK CAN BE APPLIED
TO A LOT MORE.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
"GET'EM IN THE DOOR, GIVE'EM
SOMETHING THEY CAN'T
GET ANYWHERE ELSE,
AND HAVE'EM LEAVE AMAZED.
GEORGE BROWN HAS GOTTEN US IN
THE DOOR, GIVEN US SOMETHING
THAT WE CANNOT GET ANYWHERE
ELSE, AND WE'RE LEAVING AMAZED.
NOW IT'S OUR TURN
TO AMAZE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] DEAN GEORGIA
QUARTARO: I'LL ADJUST
THAT DOWN A BIT.
[LAUGHTER].
WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE FORMAL
PART OF OUR CEREMONY WHERE
WE AWARD THE CREDENTIALS --
THE DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND
CERTIFICATES -- AND THESE
BECOME OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
OF THE COLLEGE.
I INVITE CHANCELLOR SALLY
HORSFALL EATON TO COME FORWARD
AND WOULD THE GRADUANDS
PLEASE STAND.
MADAME CHANCELLOR, IT IS MY
PRIVILEGE TO REPORT TO YOU
THAT THE CANDIDATES ASSEMBLED
HERE TODAY HAVE QUALIFIED IN ALL
RESPECTS FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS
BY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING
CURRICULA OFFERED BY THE
CENTRE FOR HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS AT
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE RECOMMENDED
THAT THEY BE AWARDED THEIR
CREDENTIALS IN RECOGNIZE
OF THEIR ACADEMIC
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
MADAME CHANCELLOR: BY VIRTUE OF
THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME
BY THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
OF GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE I DO
HEREBY CONFER ON YOU YOUR
RESPECTIVE DEGREES, DIPLOMAS
AND CERTIFICATES WITH ALL
THE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT GO WITH IT.
DEAN GEORGIA QUARTARO: MADAME
CHANCELLOR, ON BEHALF OF
THE GRADUANDS NOT PRESENT,
I REQUEST THAT YOU CONFER
THEIR CREDENTIALS IN ABSENTIA.
MADAME CHANCELLOR: I SO DO.
YOU KNOW IN LIFE -- SOME PEOPLE
ARE LUCKY AND THEY GET THINGS
WITHOUT WORKING FOR THEM.
THOSE THINGS ARE VERY NICE BUT
THEY'RE NOT ALL THAT IMPORTANT.
BUT WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING
THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR --
IT'S WONDERFUL AND ALL OF YOU
TODAY HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING THAT
YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND
TO ALL OF THOSE ON THE WEBCAST
THAT AREN'T ABLE
TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE].
TODAY IS YOUR DAY SO MAKE IT A
REALLY SPECIAL ONE
AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] DEAN GEORGIA
QUARTARO: PLEASE
TAKE YOUR SEATS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DURING
THE NEXT PART OF THE CEREMONY,
WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE
GRADUANDS INDIVIDUALLY
TO CHANCELLOR SALLY HORSFALL
EATON AND PRESIDENT ANNE SADO.
TO SHOW OUR RESPECT FOR EACH
GRADUAND, WE ASK THAT
YOU REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS
UNTIL THE LAST GRADUAND HAS
RECEIVED HIS OR HER CREDENTIAL.
WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU WITHHOLD
YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
ALL OF THE GRADUANDS
FROM EACH PROGRAM HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED SO THAT WE CAN
HEAR ALL OF THEIR NAMES.
FOR OUR GRADUANDS, UPON
RECEIVING YOUR CREDENTIAL WE ASK
THAT YOU RETURN TO YOUR SEATS
AND ENJOY THE REST OF
THE CONVOCATION PROGRAM.
MADAME CHANCELLOR, MADAME
PRESIDENT, I WISH TO PRESENT
THE GRADUANDS FROM THE CENTRE
FOR HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY
ARTS SO THAT YOU MAY
CONFER THEIR CREDENTIALS.
I WILL NOW HAVE OUR ANNOUNCER
NORAH SMITH TO COME
TO THE PODIUM.
NORAH SMITH: GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MADAME CHANCELLOR, I HAVE THE
HONOUR OF PRESENTING TO
YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FOR THE
CENTER OF HOSPITALITY
AND CULINARY ARTS -
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE].
MADAME CHANCELLOR, I HAVE THE
HONOUR OF PRESENTING TO
YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM
THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE] MADAME CHANCELLOR, I
HAVE THE HONOUR OF PRESENTING
TO YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
AND LEISURE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE].
MADAME CHANCELLOR, I HAVE THE
HONOUR OF PRESENTING TO
YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNING
[APPLAUSE] DESTINATION TOURISM.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE].
MADAME CHANCELLOR, I HAVE THE
HONOUR OF PRESENTING TO
YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
CATERING PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE].
MADAME CHANCELLOR, I HAVE THE
HONOUR OF PRESENTING TO
YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
CULINARY MANAGEMENT
NUTRITION PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE].
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE] MADAME CHANCELLOR, I
HAVE THE HONOUR OF PRESENTING
TO YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNING PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE].
NORAH SMITH: THANK
YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE] MADAME CHANCELLOR, I
HAVE THE HONOUR OF PRESENTING
TO YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
FOOD AND NUTRITION
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE].
NORAH SMITH: THANK
YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
[APPLAUSE] MADAME CHANCELLOR, I
HAVE THE HONOUR OF PRESENTING
TO YOU THE 2012 GRADUANDS
FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM THE
BACHELOR OF APPLIED BUSINESS
[HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM].
[APPLAUSE].
THANK YOU, MADAME CHANCELLOR.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALL GRADUANDS!
[APPLAUSE] DEAN GEORGIA
QUARTARO: WATCHING FROM WHERE
WE ARE WATCHING UP HERE,
WE GET TO SEE ONE HAPPY
SMILING FACE AFTER THE NEXT.
[LAUGHTER].
I NOW INVITE PRESIDENT ANNE SADO
TO ADDRESS THE GRADUATES OF
THE CLASS OF 2012 APPROXIMATE.
[APPLAUSE] ANNE SADO: MADAME
CHANCELLOR, STUDENTS
AND FACULTY,
PARENTS AND FRIENDS GOOD.
TO THE CLASS OF 2012
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.
YOU HAVE REACHED THE FINISH LINE
OF YOUR EDUCATION
AT GEORGE BROWN,
AND NOW IT'S TIME
FOR YOUR VICTORY LAP.
BE SURE TO SOAK IN ALL THE
APPLAUSE BECAUSE IT'S
VERY WELL-DECEIVED.
CONVOCATION IS MY FAVORITE TIME
OF THE YEAR BECAUSE IT FILLS ME
WITH SUCH PRIDE IN
YOU, OUR STUDENTS.
BEFORE ME TODAY, I SEE
INNOVATORS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS,
FUTURE LEADERS AND
LIFE-LONG LEARNERS.
I SEE AN AUDITORIUM FULL OF
SKILLED GRADUATES ABOUT TO
EMBARK ON REWARDING NEW CAREERS,
WELL EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE
AND TRAINING THEY OBTAINED
AT GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE.
THERE'S ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR.
FOR SOME OF OUR GRADUATES, THIS
CONVOCATION MARKS THE
START OF A FIRST CAREER.
FOR OTHERS, IT'S THE
SECOND OR THE THIRD.
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT CHANGE IS
THE ONLY CONSTANT IN LIFE AND
THAT FEELS PARTICULAR TRUE TODAY
AND WE HEARD ABOUT THAT TODAY
FROM GLEN TO NEED
TO ADAPT TO CHANGE.
AS TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES AT
LIGHTNING SPEED AND SOCIAL
DEMANDS CHANGE ALONGSIDE IT,
WE'RE SEEING ENTIRE
INDUSTRIES REINVENTED.
INNOVATION JIM -- INNOVATION
EXPERT JIM CAROL PREDICTS
THAT 65% OF THE CHILDREN
IN PRE-SCHOOL TODAY WILL WORK IN
JOBS THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST.
SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE THE GROUND
IS SHIFTING UNDERNEATH
YOUR FEET,
YOU'RE NOT IMAGINING THINGS.
BUT I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU:
YOU HAVE ALREADY STARTED
BUILDING EXPERTISE
AT ADAPTING TO CHANGE.
YOU HAVE BEEN BUILDING THESE
SKILLS DURING YOUR ENTIRE
ACADEMIC CAREER AT GEORGE BROWN,
EXPLORING NEW FIELDS OF STUDY
WHILE JUGGLING COMPETING
DEADLINES, HEAVY COURSE LOADS
AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES.
I'M WELL AWARE OF MANY OF THE
CHALLENGES FACED
BY STUDENTS TODAY,
BUT THIS CONVOCATION IS A
TESTAMENT TO YOUR RESILIENCE
IN THE FACE OF THESE PRESSURES.
THE COLLEGE HAS BEEN
CHANGING AROUND YOU TOO.
ONE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS IS
OUR WILLINGNESS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND EMBRACE CHANGE IN ORDER
TO OFFER THE MOST UP TO
DATE TRAINING POSSIBLE.
WE WANT OUR GRADUATES TO LEAVE
THE COLLEGE ARMED WITH THE
CRITICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE
AND CAPABILITIES THAT EMPLOYERS
VALUE MOST, AND THE
ABILITY TO EMBRACE CHANGE
SO THAT YOU'RE READY
FOR ANYTHING.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS --
DURING YOUR TIME
AT THE COLLEGE --
WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN A NUMBER OF
GAME-CHANGING ACADEMIC
INITIATIVES.
THESE INCLUDE: INTEGRATING A
COMMUNICATIONS COMPONENT
INTO THE CURRICULUM
OF PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COLLEGE.
COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED BY EMPLOYERS
AS A KEY INGREDIENT
FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE.
REINFORCING THE LEARNING OF SOFT
SKILLS THROUGH FORMAL
INITIATIVES
SUCH AS FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
STATE OF THE ART LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS AND LABS INCLUDING
THE CHEFS HOUSE RESTAURANT.
APPLIED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS
TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
AND SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND
OUR GRADUATES WITH THEIR JOB
SEARCH BY LAUNCHING GBCAREERS
WHICH HAS HAD OVER 7,000
EMPLOYERS REGISTER
SINCE ITS DEBUT.
WE HAVE MADE THESE CHANGES TO
ENSURE THAT EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU IS GRADUATING
WITH BOTH THE HARD AND SOFT
SKILLS NECESSARY TO
THRIVE IN A DIVERSE,
EVER-SHIFTING WORK ENVIRONMENT
AND THAT'S WHAT AWAITS YOU.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE
EASY BUT YOUR PRESENCE
HERE TODAY IS PROOF
THAT YOU'RE READY.
CLASS OF 2012, I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO THINK BACK TO YOUR
FIRST DAY AT GEORGE BROWN.
PERHAPS YOU WERE FEELING
NERVOUS, OR EXCITED, OR
A COMBINATION OF BOTH;
I WOULD WAGER THAT THESE
FEELINGS ARE ARISING AGAIN
AS YOU THINK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
YOU SELECTED GEORGE BROWN
BECAUSE YOU HAD A
BOLD, CLEAR VISION
OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL FUTURE.
YOU HAVE PUT IN LONG HOURS SINCE
THAT FIRST DAY WORKING
HARD IN OUR CLASSROOMS
AND OUR LIVING LABS TO PURSUE A
CAREER PATH THAT I HOPE
REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU.
YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO YOUR
EDUCATION AND YOU STUCK TO IT ON
GOOD DAYS AND NOT SO GOOD DAYS.
OUR STAFF AND FACULTY WERE HERE
TO GUIDE YOU ALONG THE
WAY, BUT YOU DID THE WORK.
WHAT WERE THE GOALS
THAT KEPT YOU ON TRACK?
WHAT WAS THE VISION
THAT INSPIRED YOU?
I HOPE THIS KIND OF
SELF-REFLECTION IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO
BECAUSE IT WILL COME IN
HANDY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
YOU HAVE LAID AN IMPORTANT
FOUNDATION HERE AT GEORGE BROWN.
NOT ONLY HAVE YOU BUILT UP YOUR
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, YOU
HAVE ALSO MADE CONNECTIONS --
BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
-- THAT WILL PROVIDE
ENCOURAGEMENT
AND SUPPORT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
LOOK AROUND.
SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST ADVOCATES
ARE CELEBRATING WITH YOU
TODAY, WHETHER THEY'RE FRIENDS
OR FAMILY MEMBERS, FUTURE
COLLEAGUES OR TRUSTED FACULTY.
THERE'S SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR
YOU AT THE COLLEGE AS WELL.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION AT
OUR ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE
SO YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE MANY SERVICES ON OFFER,
INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND JOB-SEARCH
ASSISTANCE.
YOUR PART OF THE GEORGE BROWN
FAMILY NOW AND WE'RE
HERE TO HELP.
THERE WILL BE MANY, MANY MORE
FIRST DAYS AHEAD -- NEW JOBS,
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
AND NEW CHALLENGES.
THE LEARNING DOESN'T STOP
WHEN YOU WALK OUT OUR DOORS.
APPLE CO-FOUNDER STEVE JOBS
FAMOUSLY TOLD A GRADUATING
CLASS AT STAN FORD UNIVERSITY.
"YOU CAN'T CONNECT THE DOTS
LOOKING FORWARD; YOU CAN ONLY
CONNECT THEM LOOKING BACKWARDS.
SO YOU HAVE TO TRUST THAT THE
DOTS WILL SOMEHOW
CONNECT IN YOUR FUTURE."
YOUR GRAD CONGRATULATION FROM
COLLEGE IS JUST ONE
OF THE MANY DOTS
THAT WILL PROPEL YOU FORWARD
INTO THE FUTURE AND WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT IS UP TO YOU.
BUT AS YOU WALK ACROSS THIS
STAGE TO RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA,
I HOPE YOU TAKE A MOMENT
TO COMMEND YOURSELF ON THIS
TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT.
YOU DESERVE IT AND YOU
SHOULD BE VERY PROUD.
I KNOW I AM FEELING VERY
PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN
AND BEST OF LUCK!
[APPLAUSE] DEAN GEORGIA
QUARTARO: THANK YOU
MADAME PRESIDENT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON BEHALF
OF THE STAFF AND FACULTY
OF GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE,
LET ME CONGRATULATE NOT ONLY THE
GRADUATES, BUT ALSO THEIR
FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND GUESTS.
[APPLAUSE].
GRADUATES -- AND NOW YOU ARE
GRADUATES -- EACH OF YOU
TODAY HAS COMPLETED --
EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY HAS
COMPLETED A LONG JOURNEY
TO REACH THIS ACHIEVEMENT.
ALONG THE WAY YOU HAVE HAD THE
SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT
OF PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU
AS BOTH OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND
OUR VALEDICTORIAN NOTED AND
MANY OF YOUR SUPPORTERS ARE HERE
TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU TODAY.
SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
SAY "THANK YOU" TO THE PARENT,
CHILD, BROTHER, SISTER, PARTNER,
SPOUSE OR FRIEND WHO
HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
THEY SHARE IN YOUR ACHIEVEMENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING
THEM NOW AND MIGHT WANT TO
STAND UP AND TURN AROUND.
[APPLAUSE].
AND NOW IF YOU'LL TURN THIS WAY,
GRADUATES, I ALSO
INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME
IN EXPRESSING YOUR THANKS TO
THESE FOLKS -- TO FACULTY
AND THE STAFF OF YOUR CENTRE.
[APPLAUSE].
IT TAKES GREAT MANY PEOPLE TO
PUT CONVOCATION TOGETHER
SO I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK DEBRA IAFRATE, OUR
ASSOCIATE REGISTRAR, AND THE
TEAM FROM THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
FOR ORGANIZING THIS CONVOCATION.
THANKS ALSO GO TO JOANNE
ANDERSON WHO PROVIDED REAL-TIME
CAPTIONING FOR THIS CEREMONY,
TO MONIQUE LEDREW AND TARA
EVERETT, OUR INTERPRETERS TODAY,
AND TO OUR ANNOUNCER
NORAH SMITH.
[APPLAUSE].
SPECIAL THANKS ALSO GO TO THE
STAFF AND STUDENTS FROM
VARIOUS COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS
WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR
SERVICES TODAY.
[APPLAUSE].
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR
PIPER, ALEX THOMPSON, OUR
MUSICIANS FROM LAM-CHOPS MUSIC,
AND JOSEPH HARPER WHO
PROVIDED THE HONOUR SONG.
I ASKED OUR ELDER-IN-RESIDENCE,
PAULINE SHIRT, EARLIER THIS
WEEK ABOUT THE HONOUR SONG
AND WHAT IT IS THAT JOSEPH IS
SINGING ABOUT AS HE SINGS
THIS SONG, AND PAULINE TOLD ME
THAT WHAT THE SONG IS ABOUT
HAVING A GOOD LIFE AND THAT
INDEED IS WHAT WE WISH FOR ALL
OF YOU AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL
ALSO SHARE WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO
YOU SERVE IN THE PROFESSIONS
THAT YOU ARE GOING INTO TODAY.
SO THANK YOU TO THOSE
PEOPLE AS WELL.
ME WITH. [APPLAUSE].
I HAVE ONE LAST THANK YOU THAT I
WOULD LIKE YOU TO HELP THE TASKS
OF ORGANIZING A PLATFORM PARTY
IS ENSURING THAT WE ARE
ALL WHERE WE SHOULD BE
WHEN WE SHOULD BE -- THIS IS
SIGNIFICANT -- AND PROFESSORS
AND OTHER ACADEMICS ARE NOT THE
EASIEST GROUP TO ORGANIZE
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.
[LAUGHTER].
THE TASK OF DOING THIS FALLS
EACH YEAR TO JOHN PRICE AND
JOHN HAS DONE THIS EFFICIENTLY
AND WITH WARMTH AND HUMOR AND
GRACE FOR ALL EIGHT
CONVOCATIONS THIS YEAR.
SO ALL OF US ON THE PLATFORM OWE
HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND I
WILL ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN THAT.
[APPLAUSE].
GRADUATES AND GUESTS, WE HOPE
THAT YOU WILL JOIN
US DOWNSTAIRS HERE
IN THE SONY CENTRE IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY.
THERE ARE SIGNS FOR EACH PROGRAM
AREA TO HELP GRADUATES
FIND THEIR GUESTS,
THEIR CLASSMATES
AND THEIR FACULTY.
WE ASK THAT YOU REMAIN IN THE
AUDITORIUM UNTIL THE PLATFORM
PARTY HAS LEFT THE STAGE.
I NOW DECLARE THESE
CONVOCATION EXERCISES CLOSED.
[APPLAUSE].
