Following the AGM, the evening transitioned into a heartfelt celebration of our 2024 graduates. The graduation ceremony, held on December 6th, 2024, was a time to honour the hard work and dedication of our learners who completed the TPN and CreeCICR programs.
One of the evening’s highlights was the recognition of the CreeCICR members, with a special mention of Janie and Roderick Pachano for their vital role in the CreeCICR training program. Their contribution to the program was celebrated not only through heartfelt speeches by guest speakers, but by the reception of the prestigious Richard Batsinduka Peace Award that was presented by Don Nicholls to Janie and Roderick Pachano.
The CCRO year in review was shared by the wonderful CCRO director, Monique Newton, and the 2024 Service Award was presented to Kathleen Roberts by Daunett Tucker, highlighting her exceptional contributions to both CICR and CCRO as a volunteer and member of the community.
As the evening continued, attention shifted to the Third-Party Neutral Program, where graduates were recognized. Their journeys were celebrated through presentations, videos, and heartfelt speeches from their TPN4 trainers Carole Soucis and Pat Brady. A special moment to acknowledge the inspiring teachings and valuable initiatives led by Pat Brady, who is retiring after 16 years of collaborating with the Institute.
The evening ended with heartwarming words from Ernest Tannis, Yolaine Kirlew and Amine Menhich, expressing gratitude to all the trainers, trainees, staff, and board members who made the ceremony possible. Roderick Pachano offered a closing prayer, and the celebration moved to the Atrium, where graduates, staff, and guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, complete with sparkling wine and food platters.
This memorable evening was a true reflection of CICR's commitment to peace, conflict resolution, and the continued growth of our vibrant community.
See what our TPN graduates have said about the program:
"From the first class to the last, I was marked by the high quality of the teachers, Henri and Carole, as well as that of the participants, who shared enriching testimonies, their ideas and their opinions. All of this was greatly appreciated. helped make the TPN experience so rich. I feel privileged to now be a graduate of the Institute and I have nothing but good words for your organization. Thank you very much.”
“TPN training has allowed me to acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge that are essential to effectively facilitating conflict management. The training allowed me to better understand conflict escalation, conflict management styles, develop my communication skills, remain neutral and impartial (to name a few). The training gave me tools for mediation agreements, question styles, observation sheets, etc. In my opinion, this training is essential for anyone who wants to become a TPN.”
“TPN gave me a new way of seeing and approaching conflicts. I sincerely thought I knew a lot about conflicts, their evolution, everything related to conflict resolution, but I quickly realized that I was on the threshold of this knowledge. I learned an incredible amount, both about myself as a worker and about everything related to the Neutral Third Party. Thank you to the entire great ICRC team for this great gift that you offer to people who want to become a TPN. What a great “journey” I have had with the help of “boat captains” who are well versed on the subject. Many thanks for all the sharing of your wisdom (the facilitators), I am very grateful because through your wisdom I have grown.”
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