WORKSHOP MAGAZINE | 2026 PREVIEW EDITION
MEET THE FACILITATORS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM BUILDING BELONGING, CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS Meet the facilitators, explore the programme, and discover a practical day of learning, connection and opportunity.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM | BRANDON UNIVERSITY Education Building RM 101 | Rowe Theatre RM 209
MONEY | ACADEMICS | WELL-BEING | CAREER | COMMUNITY
FROM THE FOUNDER
WELCOME & WHY IT MATTERS A message of invitation - and the purpose behind the day.
Welcome to Beyond the Classroom. Students thrive when they have access not only to education, but also to practical knowledge, supportive relationships, trusted guidance and opportunities to build community. Post-secondary life brings many decisions at once - academic expectations, finances, health and well-being, employment, networking and belonging. This workshop brings experienced professionals and community leaders into one space for practical conversation, questions, connection and learning.
DR. ALOYSIUS C. ANYICHIE
I am grateful to our facilitators, participating organizations, the Brandon University Research Committee, the CREAMS Research Lab team, volunteers and participants. My hope is that you leave with useful information, new relationships, greater confidence and at least one concrete next step.
Founder, Loy Excellentia Initiative Founder & Director, CREAMS Research Lab
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE
Research, writing, academic integrity and knowing where to seek support.
FINANCIAL LITERACY
Budgeting, saving, banking, credit, housing and protecting your future.
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Mental health, sexual health, consent, safety and healthy relationships.
CAREER & COMMUNITY
Employment, networking, entrepreneurship, leadership and belonging.
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MONEY & YOUR FUTURE
BUILD A STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION Budgeting, saving, banking, credit, housing and protection.
BARB CAMERON
ANGELA HAINSWORTH
JORDAN NUNES
Associate Financial Advisor & Mutual Fund Investment Specialist, The Co-operators
Senior Mortgage Specialist, RBC Royal Bank
Assistant Branch Manager, RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Barb Cameron has worked in the financial industry since 2009, with experience in credit unions, RBC and The Co-operators. Her roles have ranged from teller to branch manager/advisor, and she is currently studying toward the QAFP designation. Angela Hainsworth is a Senior Mortgage Specialist with RBC Royal Bank with 15 years of experience, including helping clients purchase first homes and investment properties. Jordan Nunes brings more than ten years of financial-industry experience, including personal banking and project management. Originally from Jamaica, he is passionate about relationship building and meaningful interaction. Also participating in the RBC session: Brodie Gobin, Investment and Retirement Planner, RBC.
PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY Build stronger everyday money habits while understanding Canadian banking, credit, homeownership and protection.
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SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE & CAREER TRANSITION Tools for succeeding in your studies - and preparing for what comes next.
Academic Success Toolkit: effective research questions, search strategies, credible sources, library databases, academic writing, paraphrasing, integrating evidence and academic integrity.
MARIAN RAMAGE
KAREN SKINNER, MA
Library & information literacy support, Brandon University
Writing Skills Specialist, Student Services, Brandon University
GEDEISHA WILLIAMS Employment & Outreach Manager Westman Immigrant Services
Gedeisha leads employment, workforce development, employer engagement and economic-inclusion initiatives. Originally from Jamaica, she brings professional expertise and personal understanding of building a new life and career in another country.
FROM POST-SECONDARY TO EMPLOYMENT
Career development, transition, community life and finding pathways to opportunity.
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STUDENT WELL-BEING
MENTAL & SEXUAL HEALTH Healthy relationships, safety, belonging and support.
Associate Professor | Brandon University
Associate Professor | Brandon University
Mental health systems; gendered and structural violence.
Belonging, mental well-being, sexual health and student experiences.
CANDICE WADDELL-HENOWITCH, RPN, PhD
ANDREA THOMSON
NADINE SMITH, RN, BN, MN, CCNE
Associate Professor | Brandon University
Sexual Violence Education & Prevention Coordinator | Brandon University
Crisis intervention, counselling, trauma, accessibility and peer mentorship.
Consent, healthy relationships, safety and trauma-informed education.
LOY EXCELLENTIA | WORKSHOP MAGAZINE | 2026 PREVIEW EDITION
JESSICA LAXDAL
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OPPORTUNITY & BELONGING
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES. HEAR STUDENT VOICES. Entrepreneurship, networking, leadership - and lived experience beyond the classroom.
EMELIO BROWN CEO & Client Success Manager, IntriTech Marketing President, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
After immigrating from Jamaica in 2014, Emelio completed a B.Sc. in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics at Brandon University and built an entrepreneurial career in marketing, digital strategy and business leadership. His session explores creating opportunities through entrepreneurship, networking and community leadership.
STUDENT PANEL
STUDENT VOICES BELONGING, CHALLENGES & SUCCESS A student-centred conversation about experiences beyond the classroom - including belonging, navigating challenges, finding support and defining success.
FACILITATED BY STELLA AKOMOLAFE
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WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Brandon University
8:30-9:00
MORNING WELCOME CAFE
LEI Team
Registration, light breakfast & networking
9:00-9:15
WELCOME & WORKSHOP CONTEXT
BU Rep.; Dr. Aloy Anyichie
Land acknowledgement, welcome & opening remarks
9:15-9:50
STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION
Barb Cameron
Budgeting, saving & protecting your future
9:50-10:00
NETWORKING PAUSE Presenter transition
10:00-10:40
MONEY MATTERS IN CANADA
Hainsworth; Gobin; Nunes
Banking, saving, credit & homeownership
10:40-11:20
ACADEMIC SUCCESS TOOLKIT
Skinner; Ramage
Research, writing & academic integrity
11:20-11:45
FROM SCHOOL TO EMPLOYMENT
Gedeisha Williams
Career development & community transition
11:45-12:00
REFRESHMENT BREAK Networking
12:00-12:40
STUDENT WELL-BEING
BU Health Team
Mental & sexual health; healthy relationships
12:40-1:00
WELLNESS BREAK Reflection & transition
1:00-1:30
CREATING YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES
Emelio Brown
Entrepreneurship, networking & leadership
1:30-2:10
STUDENT VOICES
Facilitator: Stella Akomolafe
Belonging, challenges & success
2:10-2:20
KEY TAKEAWAYS & CLOSING
LEI / CREAMS
Evaluation & closing remarks
2:20-2:50
NETWORKING LUNCH
All participants
Informal conversations with presenters
2:50-3:00
GROUP PHOTOGRAPH
Everybody
Workshop concludes
EDUCATION BUILDING RM 101 | ROWE THEATRE RM 209 Arrive early for registration, breakfast and networking.
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RESEARCH, COMMUNITY & IMPACT
CREAMS + INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Connecting community engagement, research and knowledge mobilization.
CREAMS RESEARCH LAB CULTURE | REGULATION OF LEARNING ENGAGEMENT | ACADEMIC MOTIVATION | SUCCESS Founded and directed by Dr. Aloysius C. Anyichie, CREAMS advances research on culturally responsive and self-regulated learning to foster engagement, academic motivation and success.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY This workshop is organized by the Loy Excellentia Initiative and supported by a Brandon University Research Committee (BURC) Research Event Grant. The research component is led by the CREAMS Research Lab, Brandon University.
WHY THE RESEARCH MATTERS The workshop creates an opportunity to listen to student experiences, strengthen understanding of belonging and support, and generate insights that can inform future programming, knowledge mobilization and research on student success.
Workshop Lead: Dr. Aloysius C. Anyichie | Community Lead: Loy Excellentia Initiative Research Lead: CREAMS Research Lab, Brandon University
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ABOUT US & REGISTRATION
LOY EXCELLENTIA INITIATIVE Mentorship | Empowerment | Excellence
BUILDING PEOPLE. BUILDING COMMUNITY. Loy Excellentia Initiative is a non-profit organization founded in 2023 to promote excellence among students of African descent. It provides mentorship for students and professionals, helping mentees navigate academic institutions, community life, career pathways and professional growth. Its work includes mentorship, academic support, leadership development, professional learning, networking and community engagement.
JOIN US - FREE REGISTRATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM | BRANDON UNIVERSITY Education Building RM 101 | Rowe Theatre RM 209
Registration closes Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM. contact@loyexcellentia.org | loyexcellentia.org Follow Loy Excellentia on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube
SCAN TO REGISTER
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LEARN. CONNECT. GROW. BELONG.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Building Belonging, Confidence and Success
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 | 8:30 AM-3:00 PM | BRANDON UNIVERSITY Loy Excellentia Workshop Magazine | 2026 Preview Edition Research partner: CREAMS Research Lab, Brandon University contact@loyexcellentia.org | loyexcellentia.org
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