Celebrating Creativity: Highlights from The Show and Convocation 2025

In May 2025, Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) celebrated the achievements of the largest graduating class in its 100-year history. The community took part in a vibrant display of their creative work at the 2025 edition of The Show and applauded as students crossed the stage at a formal convocation ceremony the following day.

These events would not have been possible without the contributions of our community, who came together to support our graduates and help shape their success over the past few years.

The Show

With over 2,000 attendees, the opening night of The Show on May 7 proved to be our most well-attended exhibition yet. Featuring work from more than 420 of ECU’s emerging creative leaders, each piece represented the culmination of years of hard work, growth and dedication.

At The Show, the audience immersed itself in the newest and most cutting-edge expressions of contemporary art, design and media, with work from across ECU’s undergraduate and graduate programs.

Level Two hummed with life as visitors engaged with multisensory art and design works accompanied by beats from DJ Rhonda Hunte to set the mood.

On the first floor, Dynamic Media graduates showcased their films, 2D and 3D animations and more in the Screening Room; sculpture, visual arts, and design students debuted their latest offerings in surrounding spaces; and riveting, thought-provoking performances took place throughout the exhibition areas.

Meanwhile, the ECU Library hosted spaces for quieter interaction, including a reading room featuring printed materials such as pamphlets, zines and books.

Convocation

On May 8, two convocation ceremonies celebrated the hard-earned achievements of our grads alongside the family members, friends and supporters who helped make their success possible.

During the morning ceremony, ECU recognized graduates from the Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Media Arts programs, with a focus on the animation concentration. Drummers Jay Percival, Carla George and Mace Bearer Kajola Morewood led the processional, followed by a greeting from the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

The morning ceremony also included the bestowal of an Honorary Degree to Canadian film icon and documentarian Alanis Obomsawin and the 2025 Emily Award to Michelle Fu and Brian McBay, co-founders of 221A, a Vancouver-based cultural space and artistic research organization.

Thoughtful and reflective remarks were delivered by undergraduate student speaker and Lieutenant Governor’s Medal winner, Parnian Anaa.

“We’re often asked who we are,” spoke Parnian. “But perhaps the better questions are: what is it you really want? What is it that you really need? Let’s live these questions and take our time. It will define who we are at each stage of our lives as well as intending our next steps.”

During the afternoon ceremony, ECU recognized graduates from the Master of Fine Arts, Master of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art concentration) and Bachelor of Media Arts (Film concentration). The afternoon processional was led by drummers Aan’yas (Austin Harry), Sheryl Rivers and Mace Bearer Kajola Morewood.

The ceremony also included the bestowal of Honorary Degrees to cultural leader Paul Larocque, President and CEO of Arts Umbrella, and Indigenous textile artist and weaver Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George.

In his speech, Paul touched on whole-self learning: “We believe that arts education goes past training artists but is critical to allowing young people to examine the world and their place in it, using arts education as a foundation for life no matter where their path may take them.”

After each ceremony, graduates had the opportunity to take photos and make memories with friends and family at the University of British Columbia’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and Rose Garden.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!