Université Laval’s Largest Faculty Graduation Ceremony to Celebrate Our Graduates’ Achievements

Thursday June 22nd, 2023

A time to celebrate a milestone in life, an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved and the efforts made, an event to cherish every person who has joined us on our journey… A graduation ceremony is a highly colourful and emotional event. On the afternoon of June 20, a record number of participants joined in the celebrations of 785 of our graduates. The Québec City Convention Centre was filled to capacity.

A word from the Rector

Université Laval’s Rector, Ms. Sophie D’Amours, spoke about the journey the students had just completed, and the start of this new chapter for this community. Among the many challenges they faced, a pandemic that turned the world upside down and transformed teaching methods tops the list. Having overcome these difficulties is a testament to the resilience of our graduates, and their ability to influence the world around them.

“You’ve made some wonderful discoveries and overcome a few obstacles. You’ve certainly had fun, and occasionally stumbled, but you’ve always picked yourselves up. You’ve persevered through it all, and that’s what brings such value to the diploma you’ll be holding in your hands in a few minutes.”

An honorary doctorate for Sophie Brochu

The ceremony was also an opportunity for Université Laval to award an honorary institutional doctorate to Ms. Sophie Brochu. With a degree in economics, Ms. Brochu has left her mark on the economic and social development of Québec the rest of Canada throughout her career in the energy sector. In her career at Énergir and Hydro-Québec, she has contributed to the evolution of energy, in addition to becoming a highly regarded reference in the field. These outstanding achievements are what led Université Laval to present her with this prestigious honour.

“Now that your minds are prepared to embark on your career journey, and that you’re ready to embrace life and forge ahead, I say take some time for yourselves, to get to know who you are. Time for introspection, which is unfortunately lacking in life. There is where you’ll find your values, what guides you, your North Star. […] The more you get to know yourselves and your values, the deeper your roots will grow. And, one day, it will get really windy, because life is not always an easy road. But with self-knowledge and a solid sense of your values, there are no winds that can knock you down.”

A word from the Dean

Before the diplomas were handed out to the students from the undergraduate programs, FSA ULaval Dean, Mr. Frank Pons, spoke about this largest ever faculty graduation ceremony at Université Laval. He mentioned all of the recent transformations the labour market had undergone, and that would continue in the future. But, despite the technological advances, the contributions of people remain essential, whether in terms of audacity, caring or a variety of other skills that machines cannot reproduce.

The Dean also acknowledged the contributions of the teaching, research and support staff who make the FSA ULaval experience possible, including members of the community who left us this year.

“Be proud of what you have achieved, and embark on this new stage of your life with confidence. We will follow your career with interest, and rest assured that you will always be welcome back to your home at the Faculty.”

A word from the Mace Bearer

Mélissa Moreau served as the mace bearer for this cohort. A graduate of the Bachelor of Business Administration – Urban and Real Estate Management program, she was also involved as coordinator of the Jeux du Commerce 2023, where the FSA ULaval delegation walked away with first place, including a record score. With her heart filled with pride, she addressed the attendees on behalf of the graduates.

Among other things, she spoke of the adaptability and effort the entire student body had shown. True to her own journey, she also congratulated everyone who was involved in student competitions during their studies. She also thanked the professors and faculty management for their key contributions.

“I would like to thank all of the parents, friends and loved ones of each of the graduates. You were there to support us in our moments of doubt, to celebrate our successes and to comfort us in our disappointments. You have made a difference, and it’s now our turn to make a difference. On behalf of all the students, we thank you deeply for everything you’ve done.”

Vin d’honneur

The ceremony was also preceded by a vin d’honneur, a less formal opportunity to celebrate graduation with loved ones and the faculty. Around 230 people attended the get-together to socialize, have a drink, immortalize the event with photos, and introduce their learning environment to friends and loved ones.

Congratulations to all FSA ULaval and Université Laval graduates! You can watch the entire ceremony for a limited time at https://www.ulaval.ca/notre-universite/collation-des-grades.

Souvenir photos can be viewed at galerie virtuelle.