Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) will celebrate the Class of 2026 with families, faculty, staff and community members at its 62nd Convocation taking place on June 5. More than 1,080 RDP graduates from 2026 will attend the morning and afternoon ceremonies in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, marking the largest graduating class in the Polytechnic's history.
Debra Lynn Murphy
"I want to congratulate the Class of 2026 on achieving this significant milestone," says Stuart Cullum, President, Red Deer Polytechnic. "Convocation is both an ending and a beginning. At Red Deer Polytechnic, our graduates have gained the knowledge, confidence, and real-world experience to succeed and to make a meaningful impact in their communities and industries. As they move forward, guided by purpose and a commitment to lifelong learning, their journey is just beginning and full of possibility."
Debra Lynn Murphy is receiving the Governor General's Academic Medal (Collegiate Bronze Level), achieving the highest overall academic standing amongst the 2026 graduating class. Murphy completed a Legal Assistant Diploma, earning 14 A+ and seven A grades while maintaining a GPA of 4.0 throughout the program.
Laura Abraham is being acknowledged as the recipient of the Alberta Teachers' Association Gold Medal in Education. Abraham was selected by RDP faculty for demonstrating the highest general proficiency in her coursework and field experiences.
Laura Abraham
The Polytechnic is also celebrating the first graduating classes of its dual credit Health Care Aide Certificate program, providing high school learners an opportunity to begin post-secondary studies.
This year, Red Deer Polytechnic will be granting an Honorary Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies Degree to both Randy Ermineskin and Dianne Finstad Harder at the Convocation ceremonies. The prestigious honorary degrees recognize individuals who have made an outstanding social, cultural, or economic contribution locally, provincially and nationally.
Ermineskin is a lifelong educator and leader dedicated to strengthening Indigenous communities. A former Ermineskin Cree Nation Chief, President of Yellowhead Tribal College and Treaty Six Grand Chief, he has championed education and Treaty rights for decades. Now pursuing doctoral studies, he continues to advance Indigenous led learning. His guidance to Red Deer Polytechnic has shaped conversations on reconciliation, governance and community partnership, reflecting his commitment to mentorship and educational empowerment.
Randy Ermineskin
Finstad Harder has spent more than 40 years elevating rural Alberta's stories through trusted, award-winning agricultural and rodeo reporting. Raised on a ranch in Manyberries, Alberta, she built a distinguished broadcasting career with CKRD and programs like "This Business of Farming" and "Makin' 8". A mentor and post-secondary contributor, she has shaped public understanding of Western heritage. Her celebrated work reflects RDP's values of community, applied learning and uplifting others.
Since 2014, Red Deer Polytechnic has bestowed Honorary Degrees to 17 individuals, including Ermineskin and Finstad Harder.
A new ceremonial staff was also integrated into the Polytechnic's Convocation Ceremonies. Designed by Cassie Suche, an Alberta artist, the staff titled The River Stem blends Indigenous teachings with modern polytechnic characteristics. The ceremonial staff is spiraling, carved balsam poplar which represents the turning of the earth and motion of water while resembling a drill bit that resonates with productivity and the Polytechnic's applied research and hands-on learning.
Dianne Finstad Harder
More details about RDP's 62nd Convocation, and a livestream of the ceremonies on June 5, are available at: rdpolytech.ca/convocation.
Backgrounder : Information about Ermineskin, Finstad Harder, Murphy and Abraham
