nursing students at pinning ceremony

BN Students' Pinning Ceremony

Our pinning ceremony formalizes your transition from student to professional nurse

Students today, alumni tomorrow, nurses forever

A pinning ceremony is a traditional part of many nursing institutions’ graduating events. The ceremony formalizes the transition from student to professional nurse. The tradition itself has roots back to the 12th century but is typically associated with Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing, who presented medals of excellence to exemplary nursing graduates at her London school.

By the early 20th century, it became standard in North America to award all nursing graduates a pin to celebrate their successes as students and their future in the profession.

At UCalgary Nursing, the Pinning Ceremony celebrates this key milestone with our new graduates, their family and friends. It’s an important tradition and one we’re proud to be a part of since 2018.

2019 Class Pin

Photo by Adrian Shellard

Please email us if you have any questions at nconnect@ucalgary.ca

2024

On May 30, the Faculty of Nursing held its Pinning Ceremony in the MacEwan Ballroom for the Class of 2024. More than 300 nursing students, family, friends and UCalgary Nursing faculty and staff gathered together to commemorate the occassion before convocation. 

2023

On May 29, the Faculty of Nursing held its Pinning Ceremony at EEEL, the first-time back in-person for the full program since COVID. Students read their International Council of Nurses' Pledge and celebrated with family, friends and classmates before attending convocation. 

2022

On May 30, the Faculty of Nursing hosted graduands and their families before the convocation ceremony in Professional Faculties and students picked up their Class of 2022 nursing pins, enjoyed treats and alumni swag and mingled with each other.

2021

In 2021, June convocation was held virtually and November convocation was in-person but we continued to suspend the in-person Pinning Ceremony. 

Congratulations UCalgary Nursing Class of 2021

UCalgary Nursing Class of 2021

Class of 2021 Nursing Pins

Due to the increasing instances of COVID-19 in Alberta and those on the UCalgary campus, we've cancelled our 2021 in-person nursing pin distribution. All pins will be mailed.

UCalgary Nursing 2021 class pin

2020

In 2020, we went virtual for both June and November convocation and there was no Pinning Ceremony. See all the stories and digital yearbook and video messages below.