Our Stories

UCN's students, faculty and staff have incredible stories to tell. You'll find some of them here.

Walking with the Land: Students Discover Learning Beyond the Classroom

For four days in late August, nine students and three faculty members from the University College of the North (UCN) stepped away from lecture halls and textbooks, immersing themselves in a living classroom guided by the Coast Salish Nation in Victoria, BC. Their journey was part of EDU.4045: Land-Based Teaching & Learning for Sustainable Development—a…

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UCN Shines, meet Ethel Nyabeze

UCN has been recognized as one of Manitoba’s top 25 employers for the second consecutive year! Our employees achieve remarkable things, which contributes to this recognition. To celebrate this, we will continue to interview outstanding UCN employees about their roles and what makes UCN one of the best places to work in Manitoba. Introducing: Ethel…

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Ken Troke Graduation Highlight

Graduation Highlight: Ken Troke, Kenanow Bachelor of Education

Ken Troke From: Winnipeg, MB Graduating Program: Kenanow Bachelor of Education Campus: Thompson, MB Why did you choose UCN and the Kenanow program? I originally went to school for my Social Work degree, but I decided to try teaching because I realized I wanted to be a teacher and work with students with exceptional needs….

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Graduation Highlight: Ambili Thankachan, Office Assistant

Ambili Thankachan From: South India Graduating Program: Office Assistant Campus: The Pas, Manitoba Why did you choose UCN and the Office Assistant Program? I was looking to go to college in Canada, and I heard good things about UCN. We have friends who work here in The Pas and thought it would be an easier…

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Aythan Mcleod in high vis vest.

Graduation Highlight: Aythan McLeod, Mature High School Diploma

Aythan McLeod From: Cross Lake, MB  Graduating Program: Mature High School Diploma, Adult Learning Centre (ALC) Campus: Thompson, MB  Why did you choose to take the ALC Program at the University College of the North (UCN)? Before UCN, I graduated from the Youth Build Program, and it was recommended that I get my grade 12…

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Graduation Highlight: Melissa Pham, Bachelor of Nursing

Melissa Pham From: Murillo, Ontario  Graduating Program: Bachelor of Nursing  Campus: Thompson, MB  Why did you choose UCN? One of the reasons I chose to study at UCN was because of the convenience of the Thompson campus in relation to my home. I started during COVID and was able to work while going to school….

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Celeste Shines Profile Picture

UCN Shines, meet Celeste Atchison

UCN has been recognized as one of Manitoba’s top 25 employers for the second consecutive year! Our employees achieve remarkable things, which contributes to this recognition. To celebrate, we will continue to interview outstanding UCN employees about their roles and what makes UCN one of the best places to work in Manitoba.   Introducing: Celeste Atchison Years…

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UCN Linkages Thompson 2025 Recap

On February 25-27, 2025, UCN hosted Linkages Thompson: Reimagine the North. In partnership with Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Province of Manitoba, and CEDF Look North, UCN Linkages is dedicated to tackling the challenges and opportunities shaping our region’s future. This recurring event facilitates productive and honest conversations about the North, in the North. Key People…

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Driving the Future: UCN Students Embrace Electric Vehicles in Northern Manitoba

When Kelly Campbell decided to take the Automotive Technician program at University College of the North (UCN), it wasn’t because she was a lifelong car enthusiast. “I think that every person should know about vehicles,” she said with a laugh. “Are we going to have someone there to change a tire? What if you’re just…

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Celebrating Dedication and Excellence at UCN

University College of the North recognizes the hard work and commitment of our staff and faculty who have reached significant milestones in their years of service. Together we celebrate the positive impact they have made on our institution and northern communities. Congratulations to all our awardees! 5 Years of Service Zulfqar Awan Chelsea Bensen Marie…

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Muses From The North

Muses

Muses from the North is an on-line journal for students of the University College of the North.

We publish biannually from UCN campuses in The Pas and Thompson, located in Treaty No. 5 territory. As a UCN students’ journal, MFTN provides a platform for our students to express their musings about our amazing northern tradition and culture in texts, words, images and pictures.  Our northern muses are not only from The Pas and Thompson, but also from a network of 12 regional centres, from Swan River to Churchill. Like the dwellers in the north, MFTN favors Northern tradition, culture and stories from our northern communities. Reach us through mftn@ucn.ca.

the quint

Interdisciplinary, the quint (a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal) disseminates new knowledge in the areas of literature, history, the arts, popular culture, education, the social sciences, and aboriginal studies.

The journal also publishes interviews, artwork, creative writing, and reviews. All issues of the quint are archived in National Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa, Ontario).

News Releases

UCN Employees Awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 24, 2022 (Winnipeg, MB) – University College of the North’s (UCN) President and Vice-Chancellor, Doug Lauvstad and UCN’s Vice‐President of Academic and Research, Dan Smith, were awarded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal celebrates the 70th anniversary year of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the…

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New and Returning Members Appointed to UCN Governing Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2022 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) welcomes four new and two returning Board Members to the Governing Council. Pam Marsden [Flin Flon], Glen McKenzie [Swan River], Alan McLauchlan [RM of Kelsey], and April Wastesicoot [Thompson Student Rep] have joined the Governing Council. Brea Anderson [The…

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UCN Grows Information Technology Opportunity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2022 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – For the first time ever, the University College of the North (UCN) will run three simultaneous information technology (IT) programs with the help of Future Skills Centre. UCN IT projects received additional funding from Future Skills Centre to continue operation through the 2022-2023 academic year….

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UCN Appoints Helga Bryant as Next Dean of Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2022 The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) has appointed Ms. Helga Bryant, RN, BScN, MScA, as UCN’s next Dean of Health. Her appointment begins in May 2023. Helga holds a M.Sc. in Administration (Health Care) from Central Michigan University and has been a Registered Nurse since…

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UCN Expands in Thompson with North Forge Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 27, 2022 University College of the North Expands in Thompson with North Forge Partnership (Thompson, MB) – The University College of the North (UCN) recently opened The North Forge North Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab) in Thompson in partnership with North Forge and community partners.North Forge North Fab Lab is a fabrication…

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UCN Information Technology Project Trains Indigenous Women for Technology Careers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2022 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North’s (UCN) information technology (IT) project received additional funding from Future Skills Centre to continue operation through the 2022‐2023 academic year. Future Skills Centre is investing $1.09 million to expand and modify this project following an earlier investment of $996,300. The…

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UCN announces new program to help applicants prepare for Diploma in Practical Nursing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2022 (Flin Flon/Swan River/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) is excited to announce a new program to help applicants get ready for the Diploma in Practical Nursing (DPN) program.The program was created in response to Manitoba government’s multi-year investment of up to $4.3 million for additional nurse…

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UCN Collaborates on Fish Stock Monitoring Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 9, 2022 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) will continue to administer the Collaborative Stock Monitoring Program (CSMP) in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and Indigenous fishers in northern communities. CSMP is a unique training initiative and data collection partnership to achieve sustainable…

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Near-Net-Zero Greenhouse Operating on UCN Campus

(The Pas, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) is operating a low (near‐net‐zero) energygreenhouse on The Pas campus. The construction of the greenhouse began in 2020 in partnership with the Composites InnovationsCentre (recently rebranded as CIC Engineering) with the primary purpose of strengthening foodsovereignty, community health, and student learning opportunities within northern communities….

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University College of the North Library Completes ‘Elder’s Traditional Knowledge’ Archive

(Thompson, MB) – The University College of the North (UCN) Wellington & Madeleine Spence Memorial Library at the Thompson campus completed a 16‐week long digitization project to create an online archive titled Elder’s Traditional Knowledge. The project in partnership with the Keewatin Tribal Council was made possible through the Libraries and Archives Canada’s funding Listen,…

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