OTTERBURNE, MB – Providence welcomed the Honourable Renée Cable, Manitoba’s Minister of Advanced Education and Training, to the Otterburne campus for a two-hour visit on September 18th. She was accompanied by Grant Prairie, Executive Director of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Training, and Serina Pottinger, Director of Ministerial Affairs.
The Minister’s time on campus included a tour of key facilities, a wide-ranging discussion with students and faculty, and a leadership roundtable with Providence’s administration. President Kent Anderson and Board Chair Joan Franz greeted them at the campus gates before leading a tour through the William Falk Library, the Welcome Centre, the Buller School of Business, and the gymnasium. The Minister also stopped in briefly on a lecture, offering a few words of encouragement to students.
The central gathering of the day took place in the Student Life Centre, where a cross-section of Providence’s community — including board members, student leaders, faculty, staff, and alumni — introduced themselves and spoke about their experiences.
Indigenous student leader Kade Lepp (representing the Student Council in his role as Co-President) described how Providence has provided a place where he can “be himself in his faith and his culture,” adding that Indigenous students “feel very comfortable being part of this community.” In response, Minister Cable affirmed that belonging is foundational to student success. “We can talk about financial support, housing, or scholarships,” she said, “but the biggest indicator that a student will thrive is whether they feel they belong. Hearing you name that here at Providence means a lot.”
International alumnus Tanvir Singh spoke about the welcome he received as part of Providence’s downtown program. He recalled orientation support, academic advising, and the way faculty invited students from different faiths and cultures into respectful dialogue. “When I faced homesickness, Providence was there for me. When I faced financial struggles or anxiety, Providence was there for me,” Singh shared.
Dr. Rebecca Dielschneider addresses Minister Cable in the SLC discussion.
Faculty also used the opportunity to underline the institution’s academic contributions. Dr. Rebecca Dielschneider, Associate Professor of Health Science, highlighted the success of Providence graduates who have pursued further studies and been accepted in healthcare fields such as optometry, nursing, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, etc. She noted, however, that Providence’s current designation sometimes prevents students from being accepted into medical school. “With full university status, our graduates from rural Manitoba would be eligible to pursue medicine in their home province,” she explained. “This would not only open doors for our students but help address rural healthcare needs.”
Minister Cable acknowledged the point and committed to carrying the concern forward. “I will do all I can to work on it,” she said, noting that she cannot make unilateral decisions and that university designation requires oversight structures consistent with other institutions.
In the latter portion of the dialogue, President Anderson pressed the Minister on this issue as well as bringing up the urgent matter of granting the institution additional Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) for international students. He stressed that the request was not about funding, but about removing barriers so that capable students could pursue their vocations in Manitoba.
The Minister acknowledged both the importance of these matters and the complexity of the process. She committed to advancing conversations with her colleagues and would not allow the issue to languish, agreeing that international students bring vitality to Manitoba, not only as learners but as future contributors to the province’s labour force and communities.
The visit concluded with a private meeting between the Minister and Providence’s leadership team. Discussions touched on Providence’s history, its current role within Manitoba’s higher education landscape, and its aspirations for the future.
President Anderson expressed gratitude for the visit. “We deeply value the province’s partnership,” he said. “We are grateful that Minister Cable has shown her care for our students and for our school. We enjoyed our conversations and are hopeful that we now have a stronger foundation for the good work we share.”
The visit wrapped up after 1:00 pm, leaving Providence leaders optimistic about future collaboration with the province.
Minister Cable engages with the Providence community on various different topics
