Convocation 2023

"No matter what challenges you face, the love for what you do and the support from people around you will help carry you through difficult moments. And when there are times when you question whether any of this is worth it, just remember to give your all. Give yourself to it. Continue to do work that fuels you." -Jasmine Silang, Graduate 2023, Honours Bachelor of Brand Design

"Let us concentrate on the immediate, tangible actions we can take to move forward. It is through these small steps, each one building upon the last, that we inch closer to our personal and professional goals." -Christina Gluftsis, Graduate 2023, Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality)

"Remember the faces beside you and the faces you've breezed past in the hallways. Whether you've been at George Brown College for one year, four years, or more, I'm sure we'll all cross paths again. Connections are important because the truth is, it’s the relationships we create that make our job the most rewarding. … Never lose sight of the passion that brought you here. There will be challenges ahead, but doing what you love will make the journey worth it. Take initiative and create change!" -Mariam Mansour, Graduate 2023, Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Culinary Management)

"If I can leave you today with one thought, I would say: there is no right age, no right time to change. Go after your happy Mondays. And when you find it, do it with your heart, be passionate, engage, inspire, make a difference, and be the difference! Don’t be afraid of changes; be afraid of regretting later how comfortable you were in your comfort zone." -Giselle Gonçalves Prado, Graduate 2023, Business Administration - Project Management (Co-op)

"Let us remember to use our education as the compass that guides us through the uncharted territories of our future. And let us not forget the sage words of American country music singer and actress Reba McEntire, who reminds us that “to succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone." -Lilly Tran, Graduate 2023, Architectural Technology

"As we step into the next chapter of our lives, I implore you: 

Carry with you lessons you have learnt; 

Continue to challenge the status quo; 

And create a positive impact on the lives you serve, guided by the principles of unity, understanding and hope.

Bob Marley said it best, "One Love...”  

Lissa James, Graduate 2023, Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas

"As members of the care sector, let us hold steady to the late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s admonition that,  'If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.'   Each of us occupies a different intersectional identity, but what brings us together and stands out to me as an overarching and unifying theme is our aim to foster a more inclusive, caring, and supportive society."-Sumayya Bobat, Graduate 2023, Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership

Loice Kasande, Graduate 2023, Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate

Introduced in Spring of 2019, the George Brown College coat of arms showcases our core values and celebrates our treasured links to the past. It was designed by Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, with input from stakeholders from across the college.

Design elements include:

• A red-tailed hawk holding birchbark, which the original inhabitants of this land used as a means of communication and recording knowledge. Trillium flowers and maple leaves represent Ontario and Canada, respectively.
• A grid pattern that alludes to downtown city streets and the intersection of multiple learning disciplines, rendered in the college’s colours of blue and white.
• Multiple coloured squares represent the diversity of the student body, the city of Toronto, and the different academic centres.
• Two huskies, the mascot of our sports teams.
• A stone wall alluding to Casa Loma, the Toronto landmark that inspired the name of one campus.
• A wavy bar representing water, which reflects our proximity to Lake Ontario.
• The phrase “Inspire new confidence” is a quote from the college’s namesake, the Toronto publisher, politician, and Father of Confederation George Brown.

The Eagle, or Migizi in Anishinaabemowin, is viewed by Anishinaabe people as the messenger between the people and the Creator. As a symbol of honesty and truth, the Eagle shows courage, strength and vision. It is also the predominant totem of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), upon whose traditional territory George Brown is located.

The Eagle feather is the most sacred and honoured gift given to an individual and must be obtained from an Elder or Knowledge Keeper. According to the MCFN, “The Eagle is our most sacred of birds because

the Eagle carries our prayers to the Creator and is therefore heard. The Eagle is also our relative and is part of our family. As a part of our family, we must care for and respect that it has given up its life so that a person may carry its feathers.”

Eagle feathers hold great significance for some Indigenous peoples and are commonly used in ceremonies. As the late Edward Benton-Benai tells us in The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway, “we owe our lives and lives of our children to the Eagle” due to Migizi saving us from destruction by advocating to the Creator that there were still people that remained true to their original instruction.