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CAEconomy2 days ago

Regina alternative school celebrates 1st class of graduates

Cornwall Alternative School in Regina is celebrating its first graduating class in its 53-year history. The school was originally established as a downtown tutoring program by social workers and now serves students facing significant challenges in the traditional education system. Principal Andrew Irwin-Pasloski noted that the school supports students dealing with behavioral issues, addiction, trauma, and mental health concerns. The graduation also highlights the impact of prioritizing Indigenous education, as 90% of the students come from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds.

By Hannah Sangster

Global News

Posted June 18, 2026 9:06 pm

1 min read

1:42

Students graduate against all odds

WATCH: Cornwall Alternative School is celebrating their first graduating class in its 53-year history. Hannah Sangster has more in the video.

Cornwall Alternative School is celebrating their first graduating class in its 53-year history.

What started decades ago as a downtown tutoring program run by social workers now stands as a school that helps kids who deal with significant barriers in the traditional education system.

Cornwall’s principal, Andrew Irwin-Pasloski, says, “If you can think of any reason for a student not succeeding in mainstream school, they come here. We have lots of behaviour issues, addiction, trauma, lots of mental health issues — you name it, we see it here.”

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The graduation highlights not only the student’s academic achievements, but the impact that prioritizing Indigenous education in a curriculum can have, as 90 per cent of Cornwall’s students come from First Nations, Metis, and Inuit backgrounds.

Irwin-Pasloski added, “Honestly, just with us getting Grade 12, it provides students with hope. Now we don’t necessarily have to transition students out, and we can really focus on raising those graduation rates of Indigenous students.”

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One of the graduating students, Angelina Peigan, hopes to become a nurse, saying she feels called to help others because she’s been given help.

“I’m so excited and I hope I make Cornwall Alternative proud with my career and my future.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Read the full article at Global News

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Global NewsParty-alignedCenter2 days ago
Regina alternative school celebrates 1st class of graduates

Cornwall Alternative School in Regina is celebrating its first graduating class in its 53-year history. The school was originally established as a downtown tutoring program by social workers and now serves students facing significant challenges in the traditional education system. Principal Andrew Irwin-Pasloski noted that the school supports students dealing with behavioral issues, addiction, trauma, and mental health concerns. The graduation also highlights the impact of prioritizing Indigenous education, as 90% of the students come from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the school's history, student demographics, and the significance of its first graduation without overtly favoring any political perspective. It focuses on educational achievement and Indigenous inclusion without using biased language or selective source