From doubt to degree: students rewarded after post-COVID pivot

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This article was published 05/06/2025 (183 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, both Jennifer Breddam and Deanna Garand never dreamed they would go to university — let alone graduate.

Breddam, 37, stepped out of her wheelchair she uses due to chronic back problems and walked across the stage to receive her labour studies degree Wednesday at the University of Manitoba spring convocation ceremony. Garand, 32, was handed her degree in nursing a day later.

“I feel I can do a lot of good through a public policy lens,” said Breddam, who will begin a masters degree program in social justice and equity studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., in the fall.

Garand said she told people many times through the years that she would never set foot in a university.

“People who know me can’t believe I was in university,” she said laughing.

“My aunts are nurses, my grandmother was one too, and they were surprised when I said I’ve been accepted into nursing — but they were all excited.”

Breddam and Garand are two of the 2,934 graduating students receiving their diplomas this week at the U of M Fort Garry campus convocation.

The convocation began Wednesday and continues to Friday.

The ceremonies have already seen Dave Angus, who was president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce for 17 years before becoming president of Johnston Group, an employee benefits company, be installed as the university’s 15th chancellor.

Four people will receive honorary degrees, the university’s highest honour. They include: former Manitoba premier Greg Selinger; Sister Lesley Sacouman, who joined the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary when she was 17 and went on to co-found Rossbrook House and Esther House; Rosanna Deerchild, host of CBC radio show Unreserved and a Cree storyteller from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation; and Catherine (Kate) Bowler, a Winnipeg historian and New York Times bestselling author who wrote several memoirs after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at 35.

Breddam, who had injured several discs in her back years earlier, was working in human resources with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority when the pandemic hit.

“With my job, I was in the car for long periods of time, doing visits within the health region, and I had constant back pain,” she said.

“Then, in 2020, one day I couldn’t get up — I couldn’t stand or walk. For about eight months (during COVID-19 lockdowns) I was pretty much bedridden. I even needed help with dressing and showering. But, when I was lying down, I was not in a lot of pain and my fiance recommended that, to distract me and give me something to work towards, that I register for online courses at the university.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be a quick recovery, so I did.”

When lockdowns were lifted, Breddam switched to hybrid courses, with some online and others in person.

While in university, Breddam became involved with organizations supporting and advocating for people living with disabilities. She has been chairwoman of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities for two years. She also served as president of the Labour Studies Students Association.

There’s only one downside to the two-year degree program she is about to start.

“My wedding for this July has been put on hold — that really sucked — but, while I have received scholarships, I needed the money for my education. My fiance fully supports me.”

Garand, who is Métis, was working as a makeup artist and manager with a retail cosmetic company and cannabis outlet when the pandemic shuttered all that. That’s when she began looking at her options.

“I never really wanted to go to university, I didn’t want to go to school for any reason,” she said.

“But once COVID started, and I couildn’t work anymore, my family and friends said why don’t you go to school? Maybe you’ll find something you like.”

Garand said she “hemmed and hawed” but submitted her application on the final day. “I thought, if I ever go back to school, now is the time.”

With a nursing job in the community waiting for her, she is thanking the university and the Indigenous Student Centre for the support she was given.

“If I had gone back to school when I was younger, I wouldn’t have been able to finish,” Garand said. “I think a little bit of life experience helped.

“I’m glad I did.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca