The following story contains content about mental health illness, including suicide and discusses the death of a close family member, which may evoke strong emotions. It is recommended you read the story when you feel safe and supported. Resources are available for Mental Health Services in Manitoba (9-8-8 Suicide Hotline).

Our minds can be both our greatest challenge and our greatest source of light; they can pull us into darkness, leaving us searching for a way out.

And in those moments, we often wonder: is the fight for the search of light worth it?

The portrait Jocelyne Hebert shot, now representing Team Canada in the World Photographic Cup (WPC) this year, conveys the same message.

As a portrait photography instructor at RRC Polytech, Jocelyne has been inspiring her own students on their artistic journeys for years now. But this time her students were the ones who inspired the portrait and the message behind it.

“Over the years I have observed how some students struggled with mental health which opened my eyes to how deeply rooted this issue can be among the youth,” said Hebert. “But the brighter part of my journey toward achieving this goal was my students’ unwavering support and their ability to challenge me that truly motivated me toward success.”

The girl in the portrait is none other than Hebert’s 18-year-old daughter, symbolizing the youth of this generation.

Jocelyne has entered this competition a few times before but would usually make it past the first or second round of the three required to join Team Canada.

This time, when Hebert received emails confirming she passed the first two rounds, she couldn’t help but wonder if it would just be a repetition of her past attempts. But, on October 30, her doubts turned into tears of joy as she opened a third email stating her portrait has been chosen to represent Team Canada in the portrait/natural category—the only Manitoban on the team.

“It’s no surprise that she’s representing Canada––she’s worked incredibly hard and truly deserves this recognition,” said Joanne Struch, Acting Chair, Digital and Creative Industries at RRC Polytech. “Recognition like this not only showcases the exceptional talent of our instructors but also inspires our students and supports their own journeys.”

Struch noted this recognition is not only a significant achievement for Jocelyne but also for the College, as it highlights the value of having an instructor who, as an accomplished practitioner, can show her students the possibility for their future.

Surprisingly, the portrait wasn’t shot at a lake or a pond but at Hebert’s backyard in an inflatable swimming pool with leaves surrounding her daughter.

Hebert showed the BTS shot of the portrait to her students who said the video puts a lot more meaning to the portrait and the story behind it.

“Mental health is a great topic to shine light on and through her portrait it feels more powerful,” said Keiji Hunter, one of Hebert’s students. “It is like the Olympics of photography, and we feel lucky to have her as our mentor… she shoots more than all of us combined inspiring us with her burning passion for photography– a passion that makes her truly deserving of this recognition.”

Graham Burns and Faye Dia, another two of Hebert’s students, said every student’s relationship with her is more of a friendship than that of a teacher-student dynamic.

Beside her students, Hebert also drew inspiration from her brother-in-law, who tragically lost his life to suicide. She, along with her family members, remember him as a warm, cheerful person, making his sudden death even more impactful. The loss brought the importance of mental health into sharp focus for her.

Hebert was disappointed the same portrait – carrying a powerful message about mental health – was not received well when she entered Professional Photographer of Canada (PPOC) competition in February 2024. Though she remains grateful as it did score an excellence award at such a prestigious competition.

“A lot of times, we as a society miss the message,” Hebert reflected.

After consulting with friends, family, colleagues, students, and fellow photographers, she decided to take a bolder step by entering the WPC again.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are — always keep the fire alive,” said Hebert. “I’m proud and overwhelmed, but I did this for me, not for anyone else.”

Grateful for the support and recognition she’s received, Hebert believes it’s always worth fighting for the light, as the journey becomes the most meaningful part of reaching the destination.

Though it’s still uncertain whether her portrait will reach the finals, this achievement is already a significant milestone in Jocelyne’s career and for RRC Polytech.

Congratulations Jocelyne!

Learn more about her journey.

A reminder If you need someone to talk to about your challenges or anything in general, support and help for students is available through Campus Well-Being. Staff have access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program through Homewood Health. Your well-being is important to us, so please take a good care of yourselves and those around you.