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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Michelle Armstrong Forestry Survey

Graduation Highlight: Michelle Armstrong, NRMT

Michelle Armstrong   From: Boissevain, MB  Graduating Program: Natural Resource Management Technician (NRMT)  Campus: The Pas, MB  Why did you choose to attend UCN?  I was interested in taking some sort of natural resources. I did a quick Google search, and UCN was one of the first ones that came up! I liked how it looked…

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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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A Head Start in Healthcare – UCN Dual Credit HCA Program

A Head Start in Healthcare: UCN Partners with high school to Offer a Dual Credit Health Care Aide Program “Can you take me to St. Paul’s, please?” Meadow Hynes was catching a cab to St. Paul’s Personal Care Home when I called. She was on her way to complete another shift for her Health Care…

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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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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 Offers Pre-Law to Students in Fall 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2024 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – Beginning in September 2024, University College of the North (UCN) and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law will deliver selected courses designed to help prepare Indigenous and northern students for entry into law school. Pre-Law at UCN will provide a solid academic background for…

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UCN Announces Joint Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education programming in Bunibonibee, Mathias Colomb, Peguis, and York Factory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2023 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) is pleased to announce that joint Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education programming will begin in 2024 in Bunibonibee, Mathias Colomb, Peguis, and York Factory. These new program offerings are in addition to current joint Bachelor of Arts…

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UCN Helps Deliver All Levels of Heavy-Duty Mechanic Apprenticeship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2023 (Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) is spearheading the delivery of a comprehensive Heavy-Duty Mechanic Apprenticeship program in Thompson, MB. The program will be designed to help Northern and Indigenous students achieve their Red Seal and become Journeypersons by completing Levels 1 to 4. UCN will…

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UCN Partners With Manitoba Arts Network’s Travelling Art Exhibits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2023 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) is excited to announce its partnership with the Manitoba Arts Network (MAN). The partnership will showcase a series of travelling art exhibitions at the Thompson and The Pas Campuses. As a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Manitoba’s diverse arts…

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UCN Offers New Health Care Aide Certificate Programs Throughout the North

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2023 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) will offer Health Care Aide programs in three communities beginning early next year. In February 2024, up to twenty-seven students will be accepted into a Health Care Aide certificate program in Swan River, The Pas, and Thompson. The 20-week…

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UCN Launches Heavy Equipment Training Program in Support of Northern Industry and Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2023 (Thompson, MB) – A Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate Program will be offered from March 25th – May 3rd, 2024, in Thompson, Manitoba as part of University College of the North’s (UCN) strategy to support the growth of the mining industry in northern Manitoba. “The mining industry is expanding in…

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UCN is a Key Training Partner for Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2023 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) and the Government of Manitoba will work together to create flexible, in-demand training pathways to prepare skilled workers from the north to support Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy. “The inclusion of UCN in the Critical Minerals Strategy shows considerable confidence in UCN…

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Improving Access to Driver Training in Northern Manitoba

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 4, 2023 Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and University College of the North (UCN) are partnering to launch a new program to increase access to driver training programming in northern Manitoba. The UCN Class 5 Adult Driver Training Program will help create safer roads and improve workforce development in this critical area…

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UCN Announces Expanded Child Care Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2023 (The Pas/Thompson, MB) – The University College of the North is excited to announce the significant expansion of its childcare programs following approval from the Manitoba Department of Advanced Education and Training. The expansion includes modifications to the following programs: ” Early Childhood Education Diploma program ” Early Learning…

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UCN Launches Innovative IT Programs to Empower Northern Communities and Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2023 (The Pas, MB) – University College of the North is pleased to announce two new IT programs that will help to address the chronic shortage of skilled technicians in northern Manitoba. UCN President, Doug Lauvstad said a new IT Support Technician and Technology Readiness Program will be delivered on…

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