Latest news with #SaskatchewanPolytechnic
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sponsored Content FPDI drone pilot program
When Corbin Spence-Hart's boss approached him earlier this year to see if he would be interested in taking part in a training program to become a licensed drone pilot he immediately said yes. Spence-Hart works as a First Nations safety officer in Nelson House, part of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. He viewed the opportunity to become an accredited drone pilot as a chance to do more to help people in his community including assisting on search and rescue missions and helping deal with the wildfires that have plagued the region of late. In April, he was part of the first cohort of 15 students to graduate from the Advanced Drone Accreditation Training program offered through First People's Development Inc. (FPDI), a non-profit organization that facilitates partnerships designed to develop and deliver training- to-employment programs to meet labour market needs. The pilot program was developed in conjunction with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and its Centre for Continuing Education's training solutions department. Instruction was provided by Transport Canada-certified instructors from Queen City Drone, a Regina-based company that has trained hundreds of drone pilots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Evan Colgan, supervisor of FPDI's robotics and drones department, says the organization offered a couple of previous drone courses that were extremely popular with young learners and felt it was time to provide something a little more advanced to help meet a growing demand for trained drone pilots. 'We thought we needed to get others accredited so that First Nations communities can utilize this new technology because its growing and there's so many regulations that you need to know,' he says. 'This class is kind of perfect, especially for those communities that may not get this kind of chance otherwise.' Students received about 20 hours of classroom instruction as well as hands-on training as part of the Advanced Drone Accreditation Training program. Classroom instruction was provided in FPDI's offices on Mountain Avenue while flight training took place in a park space the organization reserved for test flights. The three-day program covers a wide range of topics including: a thorough understanding of Canadian Aviation regulations governing the use of drones; how to pilot a variety of different drones; how to read flight charts; and how to communicate with air traffic controllers. The final day includes a written test and a flight review which students must pass before receiving their pilot's license. The program is free of charge and is open to any First Nations person who resides in Manitoba. 'We really wanted to make it accessible to our First Nations which is why we offer the free tuition,' Colgan says. 'We really just wanted to make sure that we give as many people a chance as possible to help out their community.' Spence-Hart says one of his favourite parts of the program was having an opportunity to test fly some of the latest state-of-the-art drones including those used by law enforcement and firefighters. He also appreciated the fact that the instructors did a good job of explaining all the rules and regulations in easy to understand terms. 'They did an excellent job. They really helped us with some of the more confusing (topics),' he says. Queen City Drone owner Ryan Beston conducted both the classroom and hands-on instruction for the program's first session. He was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students and their genuine desire to learn. 'One of the guys in the class was actually the fire chief of his (community). He went up afterwards to a Sask Polytech staff member after we were done and said: 'When I came into this class I knew zero about drones or anything remote controlled. Now I'm 100 per cent sure I can do great with this',' Beston recalls. Gerry Youzwa, director of training solutions for Saskatchewan Polytech, says teaming up with FPDI to offer drone accreditation training was a natural fit for the institution since a big part of its mandate is to partner with industry to design custom training programs that address specific skills gaps in the labour market. 'Obviously our goal (with the program) was to provide Indigenous participants hands-on training in drone technology,' she says. 'Those types of skills are really in high demand and can help people manage emergency response plans and really map out the topical aerial view of different land masses that are being impacted.' A second session of the program is scheduled to run July 28 to 30 and will be open to 15 students. Future sessions will depend on demand from First Nations communities and FPDI may consider expanding it to include other provinces if there is enough interest. 'It's loads of fun and I hope more people join it,' Colgan says.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai': Indian student's Shiva chant at Canadian graduation goes viral
Graduation ceremonies across the United States of America and Canada are in full swing, and Indian students are making sure their celebrations are both personal and memorable. Among the many convocation videos going viral, one clip from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Canada is capturing widespread attention on the Internet, and sparking conversation online. Rahul Chhillar, an Indian student graduating from the institution, created a moment during his convocation that many will never forget. As he walked on stage to collect his degree, he turned toward the mic and loudly chanted, 'Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai… Jai Shambhu!' The unexpected chant, an ode to Lord Shiva, took everyone by surprise, especially the faculty on stage. But within seconds, his words echoed back from the audience, with several fellow Indians joining in. A post shared by R A H U L CHHILLAR (@rahulchhillar34) Chhillar shared the video on Instagram on June 21, 2025, and it quickly exploded, racking up over 15.2 million views and 2.6 million likes. Reactions, however, were mixed. Many viewers praised the moment as bold and uplifting, calling it a beautiful expression of faith and identity. One comment said, 'Look how the lady is trying to stop him. She thinks it will embarrass people,' pointing out the reaction of a staff member. Meanwhile, others debated whether a formal academic setting was the right place for such a statement. The comments section lit up with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and praises for the student's devotion. For many, it was a moment of pride and joy – a young man honouring his culture at one of the biggest milestones of his life. This isn't the only time an Indian student has gone viral during a graduation this season. Another popular video, from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, featured Dinesh Kyama walking on stage holding up Virat Kohli's No. 18 Test jersey. As his name was called, he proudly raised the jersey to the crowd's cheers before collecting his certificate. The gesture came soon after Kohli had announced his retirement from Test cricket, making the moment emotional for fans.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'Bol Shankar bhagwan ki jai!': Indian student's viral moment at Canadian convocation
A video of an Indian student in Canada is going viral on social media after he proudly chanted "Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki" during his convocation ceremony. Rahul Chhillar, a student from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Canada, shared the video on Instagram. Rahul Chhillar, an Indian student in Canada, goes viral for chanting 'Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki' at convocation.(Screengrab Instagram/@rahulchhillar34) The event was like any other- full of proud students, cheers, and applause. But Rahul's spiritual chant stood out. In the video, Chhillar is seen going on stage to collect his degree and chanting "Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki" on the mic. Many people praised the student for proudly showing his culture and faith on an international platform. Some called the moment bold, while others said it made them feel emotional and proud. Also Read: UCLA student goes viral after flashing ChatGPT on his laptop during graduation ceremony. Video Check out the viral video here: The viral video was posted on June 21, 2025, and since then it has garnered more than 12 million views and 2.2 million likes. (Also Read: Indian-origin student breaks into energetic bhangra at University of Washington graduation) Here's how people reacted to the viral video: Instagram users had mixed reactions to the viral video. Many praised him for proudly showing his faith and culture, calling the moment powerful and inspiring. However, some users felt it was not the right place, as the convocation was an educational event. One of the users, @beingharshamara, commented, 'If you have this much respect and love towards your religion and God, that you forcibly took over the mic in an educational convocation, which has nothing to do with an religion and your harkate are like this, then why the hell did you go to that foreign land brother??'. Also Read: 'Oxford University gets a taste of Bollywood' as desi boys dance their hearts out. Watch A second user, @devyanii_15, commented, 'Har Har Mahadev'. Another user, @ningthouzam, commented, 'Andhbhakts doing shit everywhere these days thinking it's cool.' The Indian student's moment has started a conversation about culture, faith, and expression at public events. Despite the debate, the video continues to spread quickly online.
Hamilton Spectator
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Outstanding Citizenship Award winner at Sask Polytechnic honoured to be chosen
Graduates at the Prince Albert Campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic crossed the stage at the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday. The convocation ceremony took place in two parts with a morning and afternoon session. Harishgowtham (Harish) Shanmugam, a graduate of the Business diploma program, received the Outstanding Citizenship Award. Shanmugam was vice president of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students Association in Prince Albert and positively influenced campus life through initiatives like the Community Pantry Project which helped students facing food insecurity by providing accessible food options on campus. Shanmugam was humbled to be recognized with the award. 'I'm really honoured to get the award and it's very exciting for me,' Shanmugam said. 'I'm truly grateful to for the experience I have had at Sask Polytech. 'I would say it's more than just a student role, and it's a really great experience for me. Receiving (the) Outstanding Student Citizenship Award is a huge honour. I hope this encourages other people coming up to make initiatives for the future for our community.' Shanmugam explained that he started the Community Pantry initiative because he saw fellow students struggling with food insecurity. 'I want every student to have food whenever needed,' he said. 'I don't want anyone to attend the classes with an empty stomach or it's hard to concentrate. This Community Fridge helps the students to get a meal and it helps them to avoid hunger. It's always easy to concentrate when you're feeling good.' Shanmugam said he became involved in student government in India. He continued that trend upon moving to Canada. He joined the SPSA as a campus representative in his first year and was elected vice president at the end of that term to serve in his second year. 'When I came to Canada, I found SPSA (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students Association) would be one of my go to places,' he said. 'If you want to make a change, if you want to advocate for change, or if you want to advocate for students needs, SPSA would be the right place.' In addition to advocacy work, Shanmugam created an engaging campus environment by organizing and participating in student events. Shanmugan is originally from the Namakal District in Tamil Nadu in India 'I have completed my two years of course in Canada, right now I have applied for my work permit and I'm just waiting for the work permit to get approved,' he said. He thanked the entire team at the campus for the experience. 'I would say thank you for Sask. Polytech as well,' he said. 'I'm truly grateful for the experience I have had at Sask. Polytech and the SPSA and I hope my story encourages others to step up and make most of their time as students. The time goes really quick.' Dr. Has Malik, Provost and Vice President, Academic gave the speech before Shanmugam received the award from Larry Rosia the President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prince Albert Carlton MLA Kevin Kasun brought greetings from the province. Sask Polytechnic Board Chair Mitch Holash brought greetings from the board and brought greetings from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students' Association. Rosia also gave the President's Address. Micah Daniels from Sturgeon Lake played an honour song and Elder Violet Naytowhow said the prayer to open the ceremony before Kim Villeneauve sang 'O Canada'. During the morning and afternoon session philanthropist and entrepreneur Jim Pattison received the 2025 Honorary Degree in Applied Studies, which will be awarded by Rosia on June 24 in Vancouver. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
20-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
First-year student honoured to be chosen for Reconciliation in Action Award
Graduates at the Prince Albert Campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic crossed the stage at the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday. The convocation ceremony took place in two parts with a morning and afternoon session. Jade Littlechief, a first-year student in Resource and Environmental Law program, received the Reconciliation in Action Award. Littlechief, who is originally from White Bear First Nations in the southeast, said he was shocked to be recognized as a first-year student. 'I was very surprised, but also it was a very big boost, and with how I feel about education and all that I'm very honoured to be selected for it,' he said. 'I know that the best way I could explain is (to say) I wasn't expecting that especially within my first year of school. 'I'm very appreciative, but also honoured to be able to be selected for an award like that.' Littlechief said he offers a different perspective as one of the only Indigenous students in the program 'This program really revolves around conservation and stewardship of the land, and a lot of these graduates are going to be conservation officers after this program many years down the road,' he said. 'I think it's very important for myself, but also future Indigenous students to be in this program, just to get that future understanding of the differences and all that and just being able to have that first-hand experience with different points of view.' Littlechief was inspired to join the program at the age of 16 he went to a museum in Regina and saw all of the prop animals. At the time he was still figuring out what he wanted to do after graduating. 'I didn't have any idea,' he said. 'I was a bit stumped, but then when I came across that, I (thought) I want to be around this all the time. I grew up around this stuff, but what can I do as a career to be around this?' He turned to his school guidance counsellor for advice and they pointed him to resource and environmental law. 'There was a bit of a hiccup getting to finishing school and then once I did finish school, I was like, OK, I'm going to apply for it now and then I eventually got in,' Littlechief said. 'It was one of the main things that kept me going for finishing school.' Another important thing that led him to the program was his upbringing. His grandfather liked the outdoors and did a lot of hunting and trapping. 'Throughout my early life, he exposed it to a lot of stuff like that,' Littlechief said. 'It didn't come to a surprise when it came down to like already having that mentality of stewardship.' As a volunteer in the Wîcihitowin Transition Program, Littlechief inspires adult learners by sharing his educational journey. He said the Transition Program helps student adapt to post-secondary life. Littlechief said the program brought in speakers to help the students adapt before other students were on campus. 'That's what I thought was really important and probably helped a lot of students that year and the year prior,' he explained. 'It builds a little bit of (a) relationship to have people eager to come in.' Littlechief is a member of White Bear First Nations in southeastern Saskatchewan but studies in Prince Albert because the campus is the only one to offer the program. He said no matter where the program was located he knew he would commit two years of his life to it. 'Once you commit to something and push yourself, it's so rewarding,' Littlechief said. Littlechief said he wished he could pass the lesson on to other people. 'Just being able to set your mind to something and want to complete it, all in, it's one of the best feelings and I wish everybody could experience it,' he said. 'You never know what can happen. Just being yourself.' Littlechief said he did not expect to be selected for an award and just thought he would be completing his program. 'I was just being myself though,' he explained. 'I got to talk with people and get to know people. I was inspired just from being at school and then that's where I was like, 'oh, how can I bring this home to my community.'' Littlechief also engages with his band to promote sustainable, land-based practices, reflecting his dedication to positive change and community advocacy. He is also an Indigenous role model for 2026. 'That's where I was just like, 'I want to be able to fulfil my goal of being a Conservation Officer,'' Littlechief said. He explained that he wants to start something of his own to make the program easier for future students who want to be Conservation Officers. 'I was thinking about what the possibilities can be and each time I go into the classroom, it gets closer and closer and closer,' he said. 'I think two years ago I felt like it was just work and then now it's that I want to create opportunity. I think it's very important for future students to just push through because it's super rewarding and you never know what's in store for you.' Dr. Has Malik, Provost and Vice President, Academic gave the speech before Littlechief received the award from Larry Rosia the President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prince Albert Carlton MLA Kevin Kasun brought greetings from the province, Sask Polytechnic Board Chair Mitch Holash brought greetings from the board and brought greetings from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students' Association. Rosia also gave the President's Address. Micah Daniels from Sturgeon Lake played an honour song and Elder Violet Naytowhow said the prayer to open the ceremony before Kim Villeneauve sang 'O Canada'. During the morning and afternoon session philanthropist and Entrepeneur Jim Pattison received the 2025 Honorary Degree in Applied Studies, which will be awarded by Rosia on June 24 in Vancouver. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
