Pembina Trails celebrates 2026 Governor General’s Award winners

Congratulations to our Governor General’s Academic Medal recipients!

Each year, the Governor General’s Academic Medal is awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic average at their high school. Established in 1873 by Canada’s Governor General, Lord Dufferin, the medal remains one of the country’s most prestigious student honours. This achievement reflects academic success, as well as the hard work and perseverance these students have demonstrated throughout their educational journey.

On behalf of our Board of Trustees and Senior Administration team, congratulations to these exceptional graduates. Your future is bright, and we look forward to seeing the many ways you will learn and lead in the years ahead.

Nichola Chen - Fort Richmond Collegiate

Nichola Chen’s outstanding academic achievement, technical expertise, musical talent, and strong character make him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious honour. Nichola exemplifies excellence both inside and outside the classroom and makes the Fort Richmond Collegiate community proud.

This fall, Nichola will be entering the engineering science program at the University of Toronto. We congratulate him on this remarkable accomplishment and wish him every success in his future endeavours. 

Rachel Bray - École Secondaire Oak Park High School 

Rachel Bray is planning to begin her studies in science at the University of Manitoba in the fall. After completing her Bachelor of Science, Rachel plans to pursue optometry with the goal of becoming an optometrist and continuing to help others in the future. Congrats, Rachel! 

Jade Smith - Pembina Trails Alternative High School

Jade Smith stands out as a student whose academic excellence is matched by a genuine compassion for the world around them. A dedicated learner with a steady, thoughtful presence, Jade has consistently demonstrated the curiosity, discipline, and integrity that defines a Governor General’s Academic Medal recipient. Jade is considering a wide range of possibilities and post‑secondary opportunities. While they have not yet chosen a specific career path or area of study, they approach the future with curiosity and confidence, knowing that their academic foundation and personal values will guide them. 

Pembina Trails Collegiate – Jaimee Pang

After graduation, Jaimee Pang will be attending the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she will be studying political science and media studies. She wants to explore both the legal and marketing sectors to see what she is most passionate about. PTC staff wishes Jaimee all the best in her future educational journey, and we hope she will come back to visit.  

Halden Gietzel – Shaftesbury High School

Halden Gietzel plans to attend the University of Manitoba this fall to study for a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree. His witty sense of humor and endless curiosity will be missed at Shaftesbury, where he has been an avid participant in curling, band performances, cross country, track and field, and AP classes. Halden's excellent academic average speaks to his desire to learn; he is a student always ready to tackle the unknown in search of new information. We wish Halden all the best in his future adventures and know he will represent Shaftesbury with pride and charisma.

Elijah Kanhai – Institut Collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate

Elijah Kanhai’s impressive grades are a testament to his genuine love of learning, dedication and strong work ethic, which will all serve him well in his continued studies. He is also a valued member of his school community as demonstrated through involvement in musical theatre, drama, choral, improv, band, and cross country. Next year, Elijah will be entering University 1 at the University of Manitoba. His short-term pursuit is to explore how best he can advocate for a better world. Ultimately, Elijah looks forward to taking every academic opportunity to further climate justice and help others however he can.