Meet Breno. Breno is the Scheduling & Graduation Coordinator at UWinnipeg PACE. He’s on the team responsible for scheduling courses and seminars for all full time and part time programs at PACE. He also makes sure all our grads get their hard-earned diplomas by processing their graduation applications. We asked him to reflect on he found his PACE and how he’s coping with the pandemic.

“These last two months have been very challenging to me, and I struggled to find my pace in the midst of all uncertainty we are living in. I am a very social person, and I enjoy being surrounded by friends, family and coworkers – this is what I miss the most in the times of quarantine. As a newcomer to Canada, my friends have become my family here and it has been hard not to be able to do the things we usually do together, especially now with the weather warming up for summer.

The pandemic also affected my travel plans for 2020. My goal to visit all Canadian provinces and territories is now delayed for a year, and my trip to the east coast is on hold until things get better – and they will; they always do. It is important to stay optimistic and find the light at the end of the tunnel. Humankind has always been through delicate periods in history, and we always overcome every difficulty. I really hope for a more solidary interconnected post-COVID world, in which people care for each other and recognize that there are much more to unite than to divide us.

As for my work, I am so fortunate to be part of an amazing team. The transition to working from home was very smooth and I feel like I have all the tools that I need to perform my work. I have been very busy with all the changes we had to implement to make sure students can take their courses online and access all material they need in a timely manner. However, the willingness and commitment of all PACE team – and students together – to achieving these goals is fascinating.

I found my pace with a balance of work, family activities with my wife (movie nights and sunbathing in the backyard are now daily things), facetiming with friends and family – here and all over the world – and a routine of exercises. But I am really looking forward to going back to the office, and seeing our spaces full of students soon. Stay optimistic and safe everyone!”