A legacy of opportunity

For Thelma Lussier [BA/72, MEd/95], education wasn't simply a stepping stone. It was a door to possibilities that might otherwise have remained out of reach.

Raised in a small rural Manitoba community, Lussier was the first person in her family to attend university. It was a bold step that would shape the rest of her life.

"I think for her, education was a way to create empowerment and choice," says her niece, Crystal Steele [BN/07, MN/21]. "It was a path to the life that she wanted."

That belief stayed with Lussier throughout her more than four decades at the University of Manitoba (UM), where she built a distinguished career and became a respected leader, advocate and mentor. 

A career built on helping students succeed

After earning both her bachelor's and master's degrees from UM, Lussier dedicated her professional life to the institution she loved. As Executive Director of Institutional Analysis, she helped the university better understand the changing needs of its students and make informed decisions to improve their experience.

While the title may sound technical, Steele says her aunt always saw the work through a human lens.

"She loved her job, loved her team, and loved asking, 'What's the best information we can get to help our students have the best experience and finish what they're studying here?'" 

Bisons supporting Bisons

Lussier passed away in July of 2025 and that was when her family found out that she had left a gift for the university in her will.  

"It was never a surprise," Steele says of her aunt's philanthropy. "She was always contributing, whether volunteering or financially supporting causes that were important to her."

For Lussier, giving back to the university wasn't just about supporting an institution. It was about investing in students and in the opportunities that education creates and was a natural extension of the values that guided Lussier throughout her life.

"I think her very generous gift reflects how much she valued her career there, her colleagues, her team and the work that they did," Steele says.

There is something especially meaningful about a gift from someone who experienced the university from so many perspectives: first as a student, then as an employee, later as a retiree and always as a proud member of the UM community.

Her story is a reminder that philanthropy takes many forms and that the strength of a university is often built by people who choose to invest in the place that shaped their own lives.  

Leading with courage

Lussier's passion for education extended beyond the numbers – she cared about people and was willing to ask difficult questions and push for change.

"She was always advocating for people to get an education," Steele says. "But also asking, 'Why are minority groups having trouble finishing? What are these barriers, and how can the institution remove them?'"  

According to Steele, Lussier spent much of her career advocating for women and underrepresented groups, often raising issues others would have preferred to avoid. She believes her aunt's advocacy and lifelong commitment to understanding how institutions could remove obstacles and create opportunities for more people to succeed left a lasting impact.  

That determination became one of the defining qualities of Lussier's life. Family members remember her as independent, outspoken and deeply committed to creating opportunities for others.

Putting values into action

When asked what advice Lussier might offer to others considering a charitable gift, Steele says, "Think carefully about what you believe in and then choose that. Vote, donate and be involved with the things you deeply believe in."

It's a philosophy that Lussier lived every day.

Whether through her advocacy, her career or her generosity, she consistently worked to create a future where education was accessible, opportunities were equitable and everyone felt welcome at the table.

Thanks to her gift, that work will continue. And for future generations of Bisons, Lussier's legacy will be felt not only in what she accomplished during her lifetime, but in the opportunities she continues to create for others.