Student leader receives award

Assiniboine College student Alec Walters received the prestigious Manitoba Council for International Education (MCIE) International Student Award at the Manitoba Legislative Building recently.

Walters, who is the president of the college’s Students’ Association, was among four exceptional international students honoured by the council for their academic achievement and community involvement.

The award was a surprise, he said.

“I told my sister first, and she was so happy for me,” he said. That sister, Alexia, a former instructor with the college, was the spark that ignited Alec’s journey to Canada.

“Growing up in Jamaica taught me the value of community and being together for each other. I trained as a teacher in Jamaica, and going through that program, we were stressed. But we supported each other. We had fun, and that helped us thrive. I want to bring that same energy and commitment to wellness here.”

Alec isn’t just a standout student — he’s someone who inspires everyone around him, Assiniboine social service worker instructor Brandy Robertson said.

“His drive to learn and grow goes far beyond what’s expected, and he approaches every challenge with compassion and positivity,” Robertson said. “That enthusiasm for learning is something that will carry him far, both in his career and in life.”

When he first arrived in Canada, Alec noted that it was often a lonely experience.

“Making connections was my biggest challenge when I arrived in Canada. Thankfully, my sister encouraged me to join the Students’ Association, and that changed everything.”

From Health and Human Services representative to ACSA president, Alec has created spaces where students feel supported and seen. He has also garnered praise from fellow Jamaicans on campus.

Alec is very representative of the Jamaican Canadian community, where people go above and beyond in giving back to their newfound home, seeking to leave a legacy and meaningful mark on those they work alongside, Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts chairperson Karen O’Gilvie said in a press release issued on Friday.

The release stated that two initiatives stand out for Alec with the ACSA: the Wellness Wagon, which delivers stress-relief support for students, and men’s mental health events.

“Both aim to break stigma and spark conversations among students throughout the college, noting much of his passion for improved mental health initiatives (especially among men), has guided his time in the Social Service Worker program at Assiniboine,” it read. “Now in his second year, he challenges societal norms that discourage men from seeking help and commits to improving those conversations.”

Winning the MCIE award has only strengthened Alec’s resolve.

“It makes me want to go further,” Alec said. “I want to help others thrive — international students, council members, anyone who needs support.”

He tasked international students and newcomers not to be afraid to try because mistakes often teach more than success.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, so make the most of it,” he said.

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