CAM Institute of Design Graduates Its First Cohort
There are moments in a school’s history that define its legacy—and for CAM Institute of Design, Friday, June 20, 2025, was a milestone achieved as this day marked our first-ever convocation ceremony, which was celebrated with pomp and pageantry at our uptown office on Crown Street, Saint John.
More than a graduation, the event was a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and focused determination. It marked the emergence of a new generation of designers, ready to leave their mark on the creative economy of Saint John and Canada. The event also served as a platform to launch our new campus, the former Telegraph Building, now a modern design hub reflecting our progressive culture.
At the event, our graduating students —Olivier Donald Griffin, who graduated from the Game Programming course, Jaclyn Elizabeth Salerno, who graduated from Animation & Special Effects, and Allison Alexander Dutton, who graduated from Game Art & Design —expressed their profound joy and appreciation for their time in their respective courses and also their successful graduation. According to them, the experience at CAM Institute of Design has been transformative, and they are excited to contribute to the creative economy in Saint John and Canada.
The event played host to several A-list guests, including Hon Alyson Townend, the Minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, John MacKenzie -the deputy mayor of the Saint John Common Council; Keith Melvin, Manager- Fundy & Southwest District Office; and Heather Acker co-owner of ConnexionWorks.
The highlight of the convocation ceremony was the showcasing of the graduating class’s design portfolios. From UX/UI prototypes to motion graphics and digital storytelling projects, the exhibition was a testament to the thriving digital and tech hub that Saint John is becoming, and it also proved that CAM Institute of Design is proficient, adept and dedicated to its vision of upskilling creative talent for the global market.
Speaking on the impressive array of digital portfolios on display, Hon Alyson Townend expressed her joy at having an advanced design school located in the heart of Saint John. In her words, “this event marks a huge achievement for the creative hub in Saint John and indeed Atlantic Canada. We have graduated our first cohort of homegrown talent who will contribute their unique voice and abilities to the global creative community. I am full of excitement, as this is a win for the creative economy here in Saint John, and indeed all of Canada”.
Expressing his gratitude in his thank-you speech, Kamran Mohammed, founder of CAM Institute of Design, thanked all the guests present and commended the graduates on their achievements. He also reiterated the need for youth to acquire future-oriented skills that will be relevant to tomorrow’s workplace. He used the opportunity to welcome the next set of design students for the September cohort, emphasizing that the CAM Institute of Design is a safe space where curiosity, collaboration, and creativity thrive.