When Araiya Bernard addresses the Class of 2026 at UNBC’s Convocation on May 29, her message will focus on resilience and the power of community, values shaped through her experiences in classrooms, clinics and communities across northern British Columbia.
During her time in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Araiya completed clinical placements in small and remote communities, including Haida Gwaii in the summer of 2024 and six remote Gitxsan communities in the fall of 2025.
“In smaller settings, health care often extends beyond tasks,” she says. “It becomes deeply rooted in trust, stewardship, continuity and understanding the realities of the community.”
Those experiences reinforced her commitment to a profession she was already drawn to. A third-generation nurse on her paternal side, Araiya chose nursing out of a desire to help others in meaningful, practical ways.
“I wanted to pursue a career where compassion, advocacy and skill could come together to make a real difference,” she says. “Through my clinical experiences and connections with patients and families, I realized nursing was the right path because it allows me to build relationships, provide care and support people during some of their most vulnerable moments.”
That commitment to caring for others extended beyond clinical work. Throughout her studies, Araiya embraced opportunities to lead, serve and contribute to the University community.
This year, she served as president of the UNBC Nursing Club, an undergraduate student representative on the UNBC Senate, a Campus Cousin at the First Nations Centre and a member of the student leadership team with the UNBC chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Her focus on community also shaped her work at the institutional level. Over four years, she estimates she has dedicated thousands of hours to community service and governance work, including time on Senate committees advancing equity, access and meaningful institutional change.
At Convocation, Araiya will be presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation.
“This recognition makes those years of effort feel especially meaningful,” she says. “I am grateful for the opportunity to carry this honour forward as I continue my journey.”
As she reflects on her time at the College of New Caledonia and UNBC, Araiya says it is the strength of her classmates that stands out.
“Our class has navigated demanding academic programs, personal challenges and a rapidly changing world while continuing to show up for one another,” she says. “I hope to share a message about community, perseverance and the responsibility we carry forward as graduates.”
She will also remind the Class of 2026 to use UNBC’s motto En Cha Huná as a guiding light. Interpreted as “respecting all forms of life,” Araiya says the motto helps remind graduates that their impact will extend far beyond their degrees.
Araiya says her time at UNBC has shaped her as both a nurse and a leader, grounded in service and strengthened by resilience.
“UNBC has given me opportunities to grow as a student, leader and future nurse,” she says. “I am proud to be graduating from a University that values community, reconciliation and learning in and for the North.”
She will not be going far. After graduation, Araiya will continue her commitment to community and care as she launches her career as Registered Nurse in rural health care and begins a Master of Science in Nursing at UNBC, supported by a British Columbia Graduate Scholarship.
“Graduate studies will allow me to further explore leadership, equity, diverse perspectives and health care systems in a deeper way,” she says. “I am especially excited to continue learning at UNBC and contribute to research and practice that benefits northern communities.”