CONGRATULATIONS to all CDI Graduates!
I do not care what anybody says, I have great faith in you guys.

The Grad Ceremony went very well.
I have never seen so much PRIDE in one place.
It was so great seeing everybody again.

The night started with our former Director as the “Master of Ceremonies“.
He talked about how…Mmmm…. He said..uuuhhh…His speech was…
Okay I can’t really remember.
But it was something about him looking for an inspiration for his speech,
and he went on the internet to get one. Something like that.

Then our guest speaker was Colin Trethewey from the TECH talk
on the Local News Cast “The New RO”.

His speech was about the history of the I.T. Industry here in Ottawa.
It was basically summarized as
“It was like waking up with a hangover after a whole night of a wicked party.”
And like any decent person waking up from a hangover…
you fix yourself up with leftover food and alcohol.
(Okay maybe that was just me.)

He said that “I.T.” is on it’s way back up. Slowly but Surely.

Then the Main Event.
The Graduates.
The distribution of that grand empty piece of paper with fancy ribbons around it.
Nevertheless. I could still see the smiles on their faces.
Especially Luc Seguin..
(wait.. that smile is already permanent on his face.)

Then my turn.
I was there to present the Against all odds award
to my very good friend Paul Proulx.
You really deserve it man. Don’t you ever change.
(Email me if you want a copy of my speech.)

I had the best fanfare cheer from all of the students when I was doing my speech.
I could not even try to control my laughter.
Some may have been surprised of how much cheer I got from our students.
Some may be not. But here’s what I want all of them to remember.

They are not just my students.
They are also my good friends.
I feel for them when they fail,
but I too celebrate their accomplishments.

And with all honesty,
I have been cheering for them throughout their whole stay.

Congratulations again. Graduates.

Keep in touch.