Month: February 2025

On February 26th, we had the privilege of celebrating the achievements of our Winter 2025 Personal Support Worker graduates at St. Albert Learning Centre. This incredible group of diverse learners has demonstrated resilience, dedication, and a true calling to serve others—whether returning to school after many years, embarking on a second career, or beginning a new life in Canada.  

At the heart of our celebration was the reminder that no matter our religious beliefs, the core values of compassion, kindness, and service unite us all. Becoming a PSW is not just a job—it is a vocation to care for the most vulnerable, to bring dignity to those in need, and to be a light in our community.

A special thank you goes out to our special guests: Bishop Thomas Dowd, Father Raymond (Church of Christ the King) and Superintendent Natasha Folino, for their presence and support. 

A special mention to our secondary student, Ryan, who was our official photographer capturing the joy and pride of this special day!  

Congratulations to our award recipients!  
Debora – Valedictorian
Alysa – Highest Academic Award  
Sister Justine – Highest Placement Average  
Joshua – Estelle Scappatura Perseverance Award  
Nikhil & Abidemi – Perfect Attendance Award  

A huge thank you to our dedicated clinical instructors Dawn-Marie (who has helped train over 400 PSWs in the past 13 years!), Olivia, and Lexis (volunteer) for their invaluable support in guiding our students to success.  

And finally, to our graduates—we are so proud of you! May you continue to serve with compassion, integrity, and faith as you embark on this meaningful journey. 

This Saturday, we celebrated our our 2nd Annual Black History Day celebration—a day dedicated to African heritage, language, and storytelling.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Noch, Founder & Executive Director of Thriving African Families, whose exceptional leadership and organization made this event possible.

We were honoured to welcome our distinguished guests:

• High Chief (Dr.) Olusoji Ijidale – A respected elder and custodian of Yoruba traditions with over 31 years of experience in public health, dentistry, and leadership.

• Mazi Chidiebere Dickson Nwankwo – A revered Igbo elder from Abia State, Nigeria, with more than 20 years of leadership experience and a passion for cultural education and unity.

• Adetunji Akintonde – President of the Nigerian Community Association of Greater Sudbury and a dedicated advocate for community engagement and cultural preservation.

Our dedicated instructors enriched the celebration:

• Tolulope Kodaolu – A passionate Yoruba language educator from Abeokuta, Nigeria, who teaches at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre

• Marshal Ihechukwu – Committed to preserving the Igbo language and culture, he teaches at St. Albert Learning Centre, guiding families to embrace their Igbo identity.

A big thank you to all the parents for bringing your children every Saturday to help them connect with their heritage, culture, and language.

Last week, our PSW students explored the importance of honouring and respecting the diverse cultures of their future clients.

To mark the occasion of Chinese New Year, the principal led a meaningful activity that combined cultural awareness with career reflection.

Each student received a festive Chinese scratch fortune card, inspired by the Year of the Snake. In Chinese culture, the Snake symbolizes wisdom, adaptability, and transformation—qualities that resonate deeply with the role of a Personal Support Worker.

PSWs must be wise in their decision-making, adaptable to the unique needs of their clients, and always growing in their skills and understanding.

Students scratched their fortunes and reflected on how the messages connected to their PSW education or future careers.

Check out the photo of a few of our students posed with their fortunes alongside a training mannequin, adding a fun and creative element to the activity!

This hands-on experience was a great success—it celebrated cultural traditions, encouraged reflection on professional values, and fostered community among students.

What a wonderful way to tie cultural awareness to the skills needed for compassionate care!