Students

Rady’s women in science program honoured at Manitoba legislature

Students from the Women in Science: Development, Outreach and Mentorship (WISDOM) program invited to Manitoba Legislative Assembly.

A group of students from the WISDOM program stand inside Manitoba legislative building holding a framed copy of a member's statement.
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Members of the WISDOM trainee working learner group executive team with a framed copy of the member's statement (L-R): Gunjan Thapar, Lea Soliman, Riley Greenslade, Allison Balasko, Courtney Marshall, Chelsea Lukawy and Nuzhat Tabassum.
Members of the WISDOM trainee working learner group executive team with a framed copy of the member's statement (L-R): Gunjan Thapar, Lea Soliman, Riley Greenslade, Allison Balasko, Courtney Marshall, Chelsea Lukawy and Nuzhat Tabassum.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
By

Alan MacKenzie

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Women in Science: Development, Outreach and Mentorship (WISDOM) program was honoured for “reshaping what science looks like” at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on March 4 by Hon. Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families. 

A group of students from WISDOM’s trainee working learner group executive team were invited to the assembly and received a framed copy of Fontaine’s speech. The learner group is made up of nine students from across the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, including the colleges of pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences and the Max Rady College of Medicine. 

Students meeting ministers at the Manitoba Legislature.

The students also received a legislative tour and met privately with Fontaine,  Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, and Hon. Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training. 

“We thanked them for inviting us and they each congratulated us on the work that we do,” said Courtney Marshall, a PhD student in immunology and co-chair of the WISDOM learner committee. “Following that, we went into the chamber … and when it was Minister Fontaine’s turn to read her statement, all the ministers stood up and clapped for us. It was really nice.”  

WISDOM executive chair, Dr. Janilyn Arsenio, said it was an “incredible honour” to have the program’s achievements recognized by Fontaine.  

“This speaks to the meaningful and impactful positive changes that WISDOM mobilizes through mentorship, leadership and creating and advancing opportunities for women in science in Manitoba, including advocacy for gender equity,” said Arsenio, an assistant professor of internal medicine.  

A group of students from WISDOM stand with Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families.
Back row (L-R): Riley Greenslade, Marith Been, Allison Balasko, Courtney Marshall, Nuzhat Tabassum; Front row (L-R): Gunjan Thapar, Lea Soliman, Minister Nahanni Fontaine, Rushie Tyagi, Chelsea Lukawy

'Architects of a new scientific culture'

Fontaine first met with the WISDOM learner group in January at a retreat on Bannatyne campus, where she was invited to speak.  

“When I first met the powerful women of WISDOM earlier this year, I did not just see researchers and mentors. I saw architects of a new scientific culture in Manitoba, one rooted in equity, collaboration and courage. They are leading cutting-edge research. They are mentoring the next generation. They are challenging biases. And Manitoba is stronger because of them,” Fontaine said in her statement. 

A video featuring Fontaine’s full statement can be viewed on Instagram.  

Learn more about the program:

Women in Science: Development, Outreach and Mentorship (WISDOM)

Boilerplate: empowering learners

At UM, we encourage life-long curiosity while providing tools – inside and outside the classroom – to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Empowering learners is one of the strategic themes you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.