Comfort matters to Hannah Tataryn, new graduate of Lakeland College's interior design technology class and winner of the 2023 Governor General's Academic Medal for Vermilion campus.

Hannah Tataryn proudly holds out her Governor General's Academic Medal.She was drawn to Lakeland because of the small class sizes which promised hands-on learning opportunities without getting lost at a larger school. She found comfort in the close-knit bonds she formed with her fellow classmates and support from Lakeland's caring faculty.

And though she found the program challenging, with that sense of community and comfort, she was able to excel in her academics and graduate with the highest grade point average in Vermilion campus' Class of 2023.

That search for a sense of community and peace also inspired her favourite class design project.

“For my retail project, I did a cancer supplies resource store called Collective Peace,” Tataryn explains. “It's something that I wanted to make happen for a couple of years now. I had cancer when I was 18 years old and had to drive to Edmonton and all over the city to get the different things I needed. In a time like that, it shouldn't be so difficult. A lot of those stores were industrial with white walls and concrete floors and it just didn't feel comforting to be there.”

For the project, students visited an actual site in Vermilion, measuring it and imagining what that space could be. Tataryn's design, Collective Peace, would function both as a gathering place for those affected by cancer to share their experiences, and also a one-stop shop for all the supplies they might need, designed in a welcoming, comforting way.

Hannah Tataryn's retail design assignment titled Collective Peace“I wanted to create a space that felt like home to me,” Tataryn says.

After finishing her classroom sessions, Tataryn completed a practicum at Maison Design Build in her home town of Saskatoon, Sask. She worked on multimillion-dollar homes, visiting sites and meeting with clients. Now, she is freelancing and planning on a future career in custom home building.

“It feels incredible to win this award,” she says. “I worked really hard to get to where I am and it feels really nice to be recognized for all that dedication to the program.”

Rochelle Horne, program head for IDT, says, “Hannah is an excellent role model for other students, not only academically but as a team member and peer as well.

Other students sought her out for support throughout both of her years at Lakeland. Academically, she is incredibly detail-oriented and always wanted to ensure she was creating the best end product. She very much deserves this award.”

Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College, presents Hannah with the Governor General's award.

Tataryn is quick to point out, however, that her success would not be possible without the support she received along the way.

“I'd like to thank the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) for sponsoring me to go to school,” Tataryn says. “I don't think I'd have had as much time to dedicate myself to my studies if it wasn't for their financial support.”

The GDI is a Saskatchewan-based organization dedicated to the development of Métis culture. Part of that includes a scholarship and bursary program that sponsors Métis students, like Tataryn, as they complete their post-secondary education.

Tataryn received her Governor General's Academic Medal at a ceremony on Vermilion campus on July 7, 2023, following the completion of her practicum. Lloydminster's award recipient, Dominic Skibba, received his award at convocation.

Photos: Top - Hannah Tataryn with her Governor General's award. Middle - Hannah's retail design assignment. Bottom - Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College, presents Hannah with the Governor General's award.