Photo: Submitted Photo Hanna Depeel accepted the Vera Pezer Award for Student Enhancement during the 2026 University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) Excellence Awards ceremony at the Saskatoon Campus.
By: Michael Oleksyn
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Prince Albert Daily Herald
Third year Bachelor of Nursing student Hanna Depeel took a circuitous route to the Prince Albert Campus of the University of Saskatchewan (USask) but that decision has led her on the right path.
Depeel, a 2019 graduate of Ecole St. Mary School, grew up in and still lives in the RM of Garden River. She a dual perspective on the University, since she experienced both the Saskatoon and Prince Albert campuses, and is grateful for the opportunity the PA Campus offered.
“Right after high school, I moved to Saskatoon and started university there prior to COVID. Then COVID happened and I dropped out of university there,” Depeel said.
Depeel then worked at the Conservation Learning Centre for a couple of years before deciding to return to school at the Prince Albert Campus. She said that in the years between the Prince Albert Campus grew into what it is today.
“I’m very grateful that it grew and we have all this space and it’s a beautiful space to have,” Depeel said.
Depeel chose to return to school at the Prince Albert Campus because her family is in the area. The size of the classes was another part of her decision-making.
“When I did my tour I was shocked at how small the classes were,” she explained. “Like I said, I have that experience in Saskatoon where you’re sitting in a lecture hall of 350 or 400 students and now I have 25.”
Depeel said the small class sizes made it easier to interact with professors too. All the professors at Prince Albert Campus the professors know her name, and she knows theirs.
“There’s the open-door policy on campus, which is so wonderful,” Depeel explained. “Anytime I have a question, I can walk down the professor’s hallway, and there’s 10 people to answer my question.”
In Saskatoon, Depeel said students had to book times to see professors and usually there was a hard time finding office hours.
“I really appreciate how small (the PA Campus is,” she said. “It feels like a community, right? I know people from the dentistry program, I know people in arts and science, I know people in education. It’s just such a tight-knit community in PA.”
Depeel’s connection to nursing is personal. She wasn’t planning on being a nurse when she was in high school, but that changed after her father became sick.
“I took care of him for a little bit, and I realized how much of an impact a good nurse can make on people’s lives,” Depeel said.
Depeel said that since the program was available in Prince Albert she was able to stick close to home.
“Once I got into the program and actually experienced the clinical setting and learning the material, I fell in love. I love speaking to people and helping people and just feeling like you can make an impact on someone.”
Depeel said that one advantage of the Prince Albert program is you know where you will be placed mostly because of the Victoria Hospital. She also said that surrounding communities also provide placement opportunities.
“I’ve done placements in Melfort, I’ve done placements in Shellbrook, so you get to see different levels of acuity,” Depeel said.
Depeel said these placements gave her an opportunity to see how the different systems run.
“You get to see the interaction between the Shellbrook Hospital and the Prince Albert Hospital, and for community placements you have the opportunity to go to home care,” she explained. “There’s just so many different opportunities for learning and growth in PA.”
In March, Depeel was recognized at the 2026 University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) Excellence Awards ceremony with the Vera Pezer Award for Student Enhancement. The award honours student volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to improving the non-academic facets of student life at USask.
Depeel is the Prince Albert representative on the University Students Council (USC) as part of the University of Saskatchewan Students Union (USSU). This is the first year they’ve had a student from Prince Albert on the main council, Depeel said. She logs on for a Zoom meeting each week and tells the Council what is happening on the Prince Albert campus or what resources are needed.
“The previous president and vice president and executive team were so fantastic. They came out once a month, at least once a month, which is something that no other student council team has done before,” she said.
The USSU elected a new Executive in March, and she is not sure what will happen going forward.
“In the fall, I don’t know what it’s going to look like for us, but we’re going to hopefully continue to work more closely with that main campus in Saskatoon to improve our students’ resources and access and equity here in PA.
Depeel received the award from Vera Pezer in March.
“She was at the ceremony (and) she was such a nice lady,” Depeel said. “I did not expect that at all.”
Depeel was nominated by her fellow councillors and said she was uncomfortable accepting the award.
“I accepted it on the behalf of the student councillors. They do so much fantastic work. I feel like I accepted it on their behalf, because it is phenomenal,” she said.
“I was really grateful for that and that experience.”
Depeel said that if anyone is interested in the nursing program at the Prince Albert Campus they should come down and try it.
“If you’re nervous about it or you have questions, come in. There are students here every day, Monday to Friday. Come talk to someone. We’re all very friendly,” she said.
She added that there are also open houses for students who are interested.
Depeel said that the Prince Albert Campus is a warm and welcoming space.
“That’s what I feel, our beautiful wood and our glass and the plants everywhere, we’re just a very warm space and welcoming space,” she said. “Everybody has a place here in PA.”