Late last spring, on May 30th, as classes ended and exams were wrapping up, Vanier College held a special event to celebrate local graduates of Performa programs and honour 50 individuals who have graduated from Performa over the years: graduates of the Master of Education in College Teaching, the DESS (Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées), the GDCT (Graduate Diploma in College Teaching) and the GCCT (Graduate Certificate in College Teaching).
Performa, which is a partnership between member colleges and Université de Sherbrooke - is at the heart of pedagogical life in Québec's colleges. From the very beginning, Vanier College was active in Performa, but especially so since the creation of Performa's English language Master Teacher Program, in 1998. Indeed, event organizers welcomed many educational leaders from Vanier who played important roles as designers of the program and its courses, as course instructors, and more.
With live music by a jazz quartet of students from Vanier's Music program, wine and cheese to brighten spirits, and a festive and welcoming atmosphere, the event was a special moment for everyone. From the smiles on people's faces it was clear they were excited to reconnect with people they hadn't seen in some time, including retirees and MTP teachers who had travelled to Vanier for the event.
Large posters showcased the work of many Vanier M.Ed. graduates, and several guests were invited to speak to the crowd. Others spontaneously took the microphone to share personal stories about their experiences as members of the Vanier and Performa communities and how Performa had shaped who they are, how they teach and how they work with students.
Learning Specialist with the Vanier Tutoring and Academic Success Centre, Joshua Berman, states, "I found the Performa Masters to be extremely valuable to my every day work at Vanier. It allowed me to critically think about our peer tutoring practices and directly apply educational theories to our tutor training outcomes. Perhaps the most practical aspect of Performa for me was that I was able to convert my Performa research results into a pedagogical tool designed to help new college peer tutors get the most out of the tutoring experience and help their tutees grow and develop as much as possible."
