Lac La Biche, AB – Portage College graduate Hunter Ray says her recently completed journey to be a Red Seal certified hairstylist was filled with highlights and style. The Kikino Métis Settlement member is now working full-time at the Portage Salon at the college campus in Lac La Biche.
Her journey with Portage College began in 2019 when she entered the Office Administration program to get a feel for the business side of a possible hairstyling career. Ray graduated with honours from the program and went on to take additional business courses that gave her more confidence to pursue her career choice. She began the Portage College Hairstyling Certificate program in 2023 and graduated in 2024. In December of 2025, Ray completed her last required hours of training to become a Red Seal certified Hairstylist under Apprenticeship and Industry Training standards.
Ray says the education and support she has received from Portage College was a cut above the rest.
The small-town learning environment at Portage College has played a key role in her success, offering meaningful one-on-one support and fostering strong relationships with instructors and classmates. During her studies, the campus hair salon opened to the public, providing her and her classmates valuable real-world experience in a supportive, supervised setting. Having instructors present throughout consultations and services helped her develop professional skills she continues to use daily.
Helping along the journey, Ray said student scholarships and awards also helped to trim her costs.
With all of this support, Ray has also been able to give back to the community by sharing her knowledge with local middle school students, introducing them to hairstyling skills, and providing hands-on exposure to the industry.
Reflecting on her experience, she emphasizes that Portage College reinforced an important lesson: there is no set timeline for education, and when individuals are ready to pursue their goals, the support and opportunities are there to help them succeed.
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