See what your former classmates are up to, tell us about your post-grad accomplishments, and share your favourite UM memories.
Whether it’s career news, a personal achievement or something in between, tell us your Class Note and scroll down to see what your classmates are doing, too.
And, as a nod to the University’s upcoming 150th in 2027, we’re inviting you to include your best UM memories or moments—so, go ahead, get nostalgic.
(Submissions may be edited for clarity and length.)
Martin A. Koyle [MD/76] was awarded the David Frank Medal in Pediatric Urology at the Annual American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Denver, Colorado. He was also named a recipient of the American Urological Association’s Distinguished Contribution Award at their 2026 annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Lynnette Purda [BComm(Hons)/96] was appointed Vice-Provost, Professional and Continuing Education, at Queen’s University.
Melissa Rutherford [BSc/2007], a biologist in Ottawa, is receiving an Individual Contribution Award from the Transport Association of Canada (TAC), recognizing volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional initiative, creativity, effort and technical excellence through their contributions to TAC councils and committees.
Capt. Ed Labonte [BA(Geog)/ 2021] deployed to South Sudan in 2025 as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. He served as part of the Aviation Operations team, overseeing numerous support missions and medical evacuations throughout South Sudan.
From Raveena Manikku Badu [BSc/2024]:
My most memorable University of Manitoba moment is arriving on campus for Winter Orientation in 2019. As an international student from a tropical country, I was amazed to see so much snow for the first time. I came to Canada alone, carrying big dreams, high hopes and a lot of excitement about the future. Everything felt new and unfamiliar, especially the famous tunnel system. I remember wondering if I would ever learn my way around without getting lost!
Seven years later, I have graduated and now work at the University of Manitoba. What once felt unfamiliar has become home. The university has given me not only an education but also countless memories, meaningful experiences and friendships that have become an important part of my life. Every winter brings back memories of that first snowy day on campus and reminds me of how far I have come. Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunities, growth and community I found here. University of Manitoba will always hold a special place in my heart!
From Nancy Clarke-Shippam [BA/94]:
My Bachelor of Arts degree from U of M was the precursor to a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I joined a sorority (Alpha Phi) and met my life-long friend, Tricia. As much as my academics helped propel me in my career, it is this friendship that has buoyed me through life’s ups and downs.
I remember studying at Perkins with the bottomless pot of tea, walking the tunnels to get to classes, and endless photocopying of periodicals at the library.
From James Bryan Simpson [BSc(Pharm)/74]:
I met so many great people when I lived in East Taché Hall.
From Guy Maurice Bernard [BSc/94 and MSc/96]:
I am retiring this winter after a 30-year career. Thank you to the U of M for starting me on an amazing career path that has taken me to Halifax and Edmonton. I tell many people that my decision to pursue a university education is the best decision I have ever taken. I am very grateful to my undergraduate professors who started me on this amazing journey, and to Professor Ted Schaefer for his guidance and support through grad school.
James Bryan Simpson [BSc(Pharm)/73] published his first novel, a psychological thriller, Vicki’s Dark Secret.
Pelaiah Nwajei [BSc(Maj)/2024] is pursuing a Master’s in Data Analytics and is looking forward to pursuing a PhD in Information Systems.
Margaret A. (Kelly) Quance [BN/75, MN/97] was awarded the title Professor Emerita by Mount Royal University in Calgary.
Luke Chernesky [BSc(ME)/2024] signed with the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers in Ontario in the Canadian Baseball League.
From Stephen Choi [BSc/83], who is now retired:
I completed my undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Food Sciences. I especially remember two professors—Professor Gallop and Professor Pereira—who guided the courses of Food Processing, Water Waste Management, Food Problems, Dairy Science and Food Microbiology. All these helped me so much in my 40-year career working in the food industry with companies like Coca Cola China, Nestle China, Warner Lambert China, KFC China, Griffith Food China, Lee Kum Kee, Tesco UK and Pillsbury Green Giant China in Greater China, UK, Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong. Thank you so much, from my heart.
From Bert Treichel [BSc(GE)/59], who now lives in Ottawa after an early retirement in 1996 from employment in geology and computer technology:
Funding my education was a serious issue—being from a small backwoods farm where my supportive parents could not afford to fund me. My $1,000 annual budget for tuition, board, etc. enabled squeaking through the first years, earned from odd jobs and summer field work. I had to choose between buying a slide rule or jock strap to be a goalie on an engineering hockey team and chose the slide rule.
I am grateful to the engineering faculty for recognizing my financial plight and a Prof for advising me to apply for bursary support for my final years. I was, fortunately, awarded a $300 Winnipeg Tribune bursary followed by a second $300 bursary!
From Meycee Kalaw-Crevier [MBA/2023], who is a Project Manager with Shared Health:
During my Asper MBA program, I had the opportunity to participate in the world’s first virtual business plan competition, advancing to the final round of the 2020 SCG Bangkok Business Challenge. It was truly a valuable opportunity to represent UM on a global stage.
Team MYCA (myself, Paul-Émile Crevier, Sankalp Kalra and Yusuf Kacamak) was selected as one of six finalists from 208 teams, representing 83 institutions across 24 countries. I will be forever grateful for this experience, which brought together business, agriculture and science in a unique and meaningful way.
The debut novel by R. Y. Abdulrehman [BA(Hons)/97, MA/200, PhD/2007], Jinn in the Family, has been shortlisted for two 2026 Manitoba Book Awards: the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction and the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award. From Abdulrehman:
There is an interesting connection for me between my work at the University of Manitoba and my fiction. As a psychologist and member of the Department of Clinical Health Psychology, much of my professional work has focused on culture, identity, bias and belonging. Earlier in my career, that work also took me to Zanzibar, where I taught at three universities as part of my work within the department. Years later, Jinn in the Family returns to Zanzibar in a very different way, exploring some of those same questions through fiction—a story of family, migration, memory and the unseen, rooted in Zanzibar and Winnipeg.
From Marilyn Wiebe [BPed/74]:
Hello from warm and sunny BC. My husband Henry [BA/74, CertEd/75] and I both spent our teaching careers in Manitoba. Since my retirement from working in the Winnipeg School Division, I am kept busy in volunteer services. Both my husband and I have enjoyed volunteering in a number of places. We’ve spent many three-month terms in Maui at a private Institute. We’ve also volunteered in California, England and Austria. This is despite my husband having had congestive heart failure several times.
Currently we both volunteer in our city of Abbotsford—at our local MCC Center Thrift store, at the Fraser Valley Gleaners, and at our local church. We still enjoy a lot of world travels, having booked our next four-week trip for this fall. Having both graduated from the U of M has been beneficial for the knowledge we gained, plus the opportunities for great employment.
From Belinda Duncan, [BA/91, ExtEd(TESL)/2019]:
After my BA graduation in 1991, I worked as a Unit Clerk at St. Boniface Hospital, Health Sciences Centre and the former Municipals Hospital (now Riverview). In 2000, I changed professions and became a Police Officer with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). In 2019, I graduated with my Canadian TESL certification. I retired from WPS in 2022 and now work as a substitute ESL teacher for local organizations MOSAIC, IRCOM and the Seven Oaks Adult Learning Centre. I traveled to Poland in 2023 and Mexico in 2025 to teach English. I am moving to Spain in September 2026 to attend Universidad de Alcalá-Franklin Institute’s Teach and Learn Program where I will teach English while earning my Master’s in ESL and Bilingual Studies.
From Robert Hill [BSc/58, MSc/63, PhD/65]:
I have had a 70-year, wonderful association with the U of M, as a student, technician, professor and now professor emeritus. It is my home. I have benefitted from excellent mentors here that have given me opportunities that I could never have imagined. My training and experience at the U of M allowed me to study with an eventual Nobel prize winner, and helped me gain awards in Canada, Australia and France and recognition from professional associations. I have had a very enjoyable career in one of our great faculties and still remain active with a colleague. I have just completed 63 years of publications in refereed journals.
From Shelagh Jane Woods (Rider) [BA/75], who retired after a career with the federal government:
I’m not sure the exact year—1978 or so—Professor W. L. Morton, a distinguished Canadian historian and proud Manitoban, returned to UM following years at Trent University. He taught a graduate course in Hudson’s Bay Company history and I was lucky enough to be in that course. He was a family friend, but I was in awe of his comprehensive knowledge, his understanding of this fundamental part of the country’s history, and his many insights. He had a wonderful sense of humour, too, and when someone dared to ask him how long our essay was to be, he paused, drew on his unlit pipe, and said solemnly, “long enough to exhaust the subject without exhausting the reader.” I have never forgotten that moment, nor that outstanding course—the best in my years at UM.
Caroline Drury [MMus/2013] is the founder of three health and wellness companies: Beyond Before & After, a fitness app for women over 40; MacroPath, an AI-powered nutrition app that builds personalized macro-based meal plans; and AllergySpeak, an AI tool that translates food allergy information into more than 20 languages. This November she will compete in The Great World Race—running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, with races spanning Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Singapore, Faro, Cartagena and Miami. From Drury:
There is one moment from my time at UM that I will carry with me forever. I was going through a rough patch, and somehow professor Katherine Twaddle knew. Without hesitation, she cleared her schedule, cancelled meetings, set everything else aside and sat with me. She worked through it with me with more patience and compassion than I knew how to receive at the time. I still tear up thinking about it. That kind of humanity from a faculty member changes a person. It certainly changed me.
From Ann Goldfarb (Mendelson) [BSW/73], who retired after a long career in social work in Toronto, mostly in health care, as a hospital social worker and a community care coordinator:
My fondest memories are of my teachers. They each had a role in encouraging me and helping me get through the process. I started with an almost failing grade in my first year and graduated on the honour list. My teachers and fellow students were encouraging and invested in my success.
The Arts Lounge played an important role—it was where I learned to play Bridge and spent many spare hours. I remember my long rides with fellow student Cathy Azaransky from the North End to the U of M Campus, and time spent with (Instructor) Addie Penner, who offered guidance and encouragement.
From Karinna Bornilla [BA/18], who is now a staff member in the Asper School of Business:
I’ve come to realize that my most memorable UM experience is still unfolding. I first came to the university as an international student in 2012, and in 2024, I returned as a staff member. Over the years, I have built countless memories here, and I continue to create new ones every day.
As a student, I was given the opportunity to lead a student community group and create long-lasting friendships. Now, as a staff member, I have the privilege of connecting with current students, learning more about the work that happens behind the scenes and engaging in meaningful conversations with my colleagues who encourage me to share my ideas and continue growing both personally and professionally.
The university and its community have played such an important role in shaping who I am, first as a student and now as a staff member. I would not be the person I am today without this place and the people who make it so special. Here’s to celebrating 150 years of UM—and to creating many more memories in the years ahead. Happy 150th, UM!
From Maisy Do [BComm/24]:
Two memories stand out for me, one as a UM student and one as a staff member. As a student, I had the opportunity to host the first in-person Orientation Week event for nearly 1,000 Asper students after two years of online learning. We ended the week with a Friday night social on the Quad, and seeing so many students finally get together, make friends and enjoy being on campus again after a long time was something I’ll never forget.
Last year, I had the chance to return to UM as a staff member with Recreation Services. One of the highlights has been organizing Sneaker Day, an annual event that brings UM staff together to step away from work, get moving and connect with colleagues. Seeing more than 500 people join us for a lunch-hour walk and fill the campus with conversations, laughter and energy was such a special moment.
To me, it’s a full-circle experience. I came to UM as a student and found my own community. Now, as a staff member, I get to help create those same opportunities for others. So grateful for this journey. Happy 150th, UM!
From Christopher Penner [BA/21], who is a game designer, website and social media manager, and IT support worker in Winnipeg:
In the summer of 2016, just before I began my degree, the Pokémon Go game was released. The university campus was an ideal spot to visit and play. I would sit with future classmates and discuss the best strategies to level-up. Oh, how distracting that game would become for my first year.
Janine Zajac [BPE/2020], BEd/2022, PBDipEd/2026] won the Manitoba Marathon on the women’s side for the second year in a row.
After a career of more than 27 years transforming Canada’s justice and correctional sectors, Genevieve Michael [BA/91] is returning to the University of Manitoba campus as the Manager of Access and Privacy at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98], a pioneer in the field of palliative care and dignity-centred care, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Porto in Portugal. He is only the second Canadian to do so, following the writer Margaret Atwood.
Janice Martin [BSc/80] retired from the Assiniboine Park Zoo in 2023 after 43 years in various roles, including zookeeper, supervisor and curator. She is now among their dedicated volunteers.
Brandy Wicklow [BSc(Med)/2003, MD/2003], Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health in the Max Rady College of Medicine at UM, was recently featured in the Winnipeg Free Press for her groundbreaking work with the NextGen Birth Cohort study involving Type 2 Diabetes prevention.
From Vaughn Wadelius [PBCertEd/98, MEd/78, BEd/74, BA/71]:
After 37 years as an active teacher, and 16 more as a school trustee, I retired again to join the board of The Pas Tri-Community Foundation. A change IS as good as a rest.
A standout UM memory:
While spending a dozen years at UM summer schools was a significant event in my life, playing hockey on the Science Faculty team with my brother on the same line was memorable.
Madisson Lawrence [BPE/2023] was named to the 2026 Pan American Senior Athletics Championship Team.
Leanna Doig [BA(Geog)/2004, BEd/2006, PB DipEd/2011] will be the new Principal of Shevchenko School in Vita, Manitoba.
Cheryl Siran [BA(Adv)/2001, LLB/2005], a Partner at Hook, Seller & Lundin LLP, was appointed as the new Judge in the Superior Court of Justice in Kenora.
Chief Justice Glenn Joyal [LLB/86, MA/93] of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench has been nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Nora Murdock [BA/78, CertEd/78, Med/2005, PhD/2016], a member of the UM Faculty of Education Indigenous Advisory Council, received a 2026 CMU PAX Award for her dedicated leadership in First Nations education.
A standout UM memory from Evelyn Labun [BN/69], who is retired from the University of North Dakota:
We had a class with Dr. Margaret Hart and Mona McLeod at the very end of semester. We all grumbled that it should have been cancelled so we could get our families and ourselves ready for Christmas. But we had class and so dutifully were present.
Our surprise was that after a few introductory remarks about the class the two professors rolled out china tea cups, silver wear and dainties in a class Christmas celebration. So how could we not join in the fun of this surprise!
They were doing a wonderful thing for this class. As a professor myself in later years I often reflected on this kind action by our professors and did the same for some of my classes.
Sherri Walsh [LLB/85] has been appointed Manitoba’s new Ethics Commissioner.
Claire Lloyd [BPE/74] and Connie Lebrun [BSc/76] were among the former members of the Canadian women’s volleyball team inducted into the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame. Their tribute comes 50 years after making history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics when Canada made its debut in the sport.
Chris Voth [BPE/2020] was named to the Canadian senior men’s national team’s coaching staff for the upcoming Volleyball Nations League tournament in summer 2026.
Ceiran O'Hara [BComm(Hons)/2026] co-founded Amanie Health & Wellness.
The work of Pat Hanson [BFA/77, March/81], who founded the studio gh3*, was recognized with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal.
The following alumni were appointed in June 2026:
Donald K. Johnson [BSc(EE)/57, LLD/2008]
Loreena McKennitt [LLD/2005]
Peter Nickerson [BSs(Med)/86, MD/86]
Donald Colin Robertson [BA(Hons)/76]
Poy Riankasemsaku [BA/2016] co-founded The Pong Room, a family-oriented table tennis facility in Winnipeg.
Mark Torchia [PhD/2001, MSc/91], UM’s Vice-Provost (Learning, Analytics, and Academic Infrastructure), developed a robot-guided laser probe technology at UM to treat brain tumours and other conditions now used by Monteris Medical. The company recently secured US$28 million in funding to expand south of the border and advance its technology.
Sloan Smith [BMus(Perf)] appeared in The Little Opera Company’s cabaret, “At the Opera Why Not? Life, Love and Longing.”
Jill Verwey [DipAgric/88], Keystone Agricultural Producers President, spoke to the increasing number of women in agricultural leadership roles.
Jennifer L. Schulz [BA/91, LLB/94] is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Legal Studies in the Faculty of Law at University of Lucerne, Switzerland. A professor in UM’s Faculty of Law, she completed her term as Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty and will resume teaching here in September 2026.
Steven Lu (BA/78, MA/83) is a Co-Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Lu is a past President of UM’s Graduate Students’ Association (1982).
Scott Anderson [BA(Hons)/93] was elected as a Member of Parliament for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee in British Columbia in April 2026.
Allan Peterkin [BA/79, BSc(Med)/85, MD/85], a professor in psychiatry at the University of Toronto, has been named the inaugural recipient of the National Award for Excellence by the Canadian Association for Health Humanities. The award recognizes “outstanding contributions to advancing the medical and health humanities in Canada and beyond.”
Brenda Okorogba [BSc(Maj)/2017] was named one of Cardus' NextGEN Fellows for 2026-27.
The following alumni were appointed in May 2026:
Peter MacDonald [BSc/83, MD/83]
Ash Modha [BA/98]
Joss Reimer [MD/2008, MPH/2013]
Diane Roussin [BSW/96]
Billie Schibler [BSW/89]
Hartley Richardson [BComm(Hons)/77, LLD/2004] and Carolyn Hursh [MSW/78, BSW/74] will be inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in May 2026.
Marcel Dzama [BFA(Hons)/97] is the subject of Le voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon), a major exhibition of his films, drawings and sculptures at La Criée in Rennes, France.
Braden Drul [BSc(Agribus)/2012] and his wife Misty were named Manitoba's Outstanding Young Farmers for 2026 and will represent the province at the national competition in Vancouver.
Kimberly Ballantyne [BA/2014] became the first female Indigenous commercial pilot from Opaskwayak Cree Nation after completing her commercial pilot’s licence in January 2026.
Sopranos Aemilia Moser [PBMus(Perf)/2023] and Diana Rockwell [MMus/2025] were named finalists in the 2026 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, both former students of UM instructor Tracy Dahl.
Joss Reimer [MD/2008, MPH/2013] was appointed Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, beginning a three-year term on April 1.
Elissa A.B. Neville [BA/93] and Jonathan M. Woolley [LLB/2002] were appointed Judges of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Maryam Bagheri [BFA(Hons)/2023, MFA/2025] was featured for her weaving art practice exploring themes of home and diaspora, and for helping organize rallies of solidarity with Iranian protestors in Winnipeg.
Sonya Ballantyne [BA(Hons)/2008] became the Winter 2026 Writer-in-Residence at the University of Manitoba.
The following alumni are recipients of University of Manitoba 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards:
Ernest Cholakis [DMD/82] (Lifetime Achievement)
Mitch Bourbonniere [BSW/87, MSW/95] (Community Service)
Lorena Sekwan Fontaine [LLB/2000, PhD/2018] (Academic Innovation)
Ron Paley [BMus/71] (Professional Achievement)
Kelsey Wog [BSc(Agr)/2022, MSc/2026] (Outstanding Young Alumni)
Jayden Martens [BSc(Maj)/2022] co-founded 3Common, a Winnipeg startup offering a unified platform for live entertainment businesses. The company was featured in the Winnipeg Free Press after raising $1.3 million in pre-seed funding and tripling its annual revenue in 2025.
David Owasi [BSc(Maj)/2017] was featured in ChannelLife Canada for his Winnipeg-based startup OutreachGenius, which uses AI to help home service businesses manage calls and scheduling.
Alvin Finkel [BA/70, MA/72] published his 14th book, Humans: The 300,000 Year Struggle for Equality.
Adam Nepon [MBA/2018] was named the new Chair of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.
Jennifer Rattray [BA/98, MPAdm/2011] was named the new CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg.
Kirstin Gautron [BA(Hons)/2025] was hired as Program Manager at the Steinbach Family Resource Centre, where she oversees prenatal, postpartum and parenting programs.
From Chris Hunt [MA/2023]:
I graduated with an MA in political studies in the field of strategic studies under Dr. Jim Fergusson. After some years of development limbo, a tabletop gaming book that I contributed to has been released, which I thought might be noteworthy enough to share with you given the niche nexus between it and my MA.
I contributed two chapters to Ships of the Shattered Empire, a hardcover book supplement to the Twilight Imperium roleplaying game. Twilight Imperium is a fairly well-known space opera board game of galactic dominance which is (in)famous for its depth and length of play. The book I contributed to expands this fictional universe’s lore around military forces and starships. Working on this allowed me to use my academic knowledge of strategic studies to expand this fictional world. Here’s some info.
Given how grim international politics has become and how strategic studies is sadly very relevant in our everyday lives, I am pleased and proud to have this book out, which I hope entertains and delights in this era of increased doom scrolling.
Figured it was weird enough to mention!
Tania Willumsen [BA/68] received the Mount Royal University Community Ambassador Award in 2025. She was also selected as one of Calgary's Top 7 under 70 in 2023.
Diane Roussin [BSW/96] is the new Chair of the Winnipeg Foundation.
Appelt’s Diamonds, owned by Jeff Appelt [BComm(Hons)/96], was named the Canadian Multi-Store Retailer of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Jewellers Association Awards.
Leigh Anne Caron [BA(Hons)/2005, MPA/2024] was hired as the first Independent Seniors Advocate in Manitoba.
James A. Gow [BSc(Maj)/88, BSc(Med)/93, MD/93] was appointed Senior Vice-President, Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Abeona Therapeutics.
Jeyam Subbiah [MSc/99] was named Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research Development at the University of Arkansas.
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson [PhD/99] was featured in The Narwal reflecting on water as a connective force, land-based learning and her latest book, Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead.
Subhra Mohapatra [PhD/93] was inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame for her medical innovations, including the development of tumour-on-a-dish technology used in cancer drug testing.
Bryan Yakimishen [BSc(ME)/2016, CertQualityMgmt/2018] was recognized as a top manufacturing leader in Canada under 40 as Director of Operations at Ritz Machine Works Inc.
From Gwen Shandroski [BA(Adv)/85]:
"Friends don’t always follow through on their promises, especially those made over 40 years ago. Here’s an exception. Six Canadians gathered with Paul Burns [MA/86] in Ireland in Autumn 2024. Paul was an international student at U of M from 1984-86 and roomed with Raj Mathur [MSc/86]. Lester Deane [BSc(CE)/86] was their Resident Assistant of 4th East Tache. Ruth Deane [BN/85] had been the student nurse for Speechly-Tache Residence and Michael O’Brien-Moran [BA/86, MA/93, PhD/2013] and I were Speechly Head Residents.
Lester and Ruth’s Dublin hotel room served as the lounge where, just like 40 years ago, travel plans could be made and days debriefed. The moments were magical as we reconnected and forged new memories.
In the accompanying photo, at Oscar Wilde gardens in Dublin, in Sept., 2024: myself and my spouse Barb Hannah (U of M wannabe, grad of U of T); Paul Burns of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Ruth Dean; Lester Deane; Leslie Stafford and her partner Michael O’Brien-Moran."
The following alumni were appointed in December 2025:
The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella [LLD/2014]
Donald Lawrence Triggs [BSA(Hons)66, LLD/2023]
The Honourable Richard J. F. Chartier [BesA/79]
Brenda Okorogba [BSc(Maj)/2017]
Patricia O’Malley [BComm(Hons)/71]
Walter John Schroeder [ BComm/64, BComm(Hons)/68, LLD/2024]
Maria Schroeder [BA/65, LLD/2024]
Wade Miller [BPE/95] received the CFL Commissioner’s Award for his contributions to Canadian football as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ CEO and President.
Steve “North” Kent [MD/76, BSc(Med)/76] was remembered in The Globe and Mail for his life as a beloved pediatrician whose decades-long commitment to children, community and the outdoors included running a clinic in Tofino, B.C.
Chukwudubem Ukaigwe [BFA(Hons)/2022], Dee Barsy [BA/2007, PB DipEd/2013] and Ekene Emeka Maduka [BFA(Hons)/2020] were featured in the Winnipeg Free Press for work exploring identity, memory and diaspora within a rising generation of Winnipeg painters.
Brady Barrientos [BMus(Perf)/2025] starred as Percy Jackson in Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s musical adaptation of The Lightning Thief.
Leesa Streifler [BFA(Hons)/80] will lead an artist walk-through at Plug In ICA on Jan. 3, 2026, for her retrospective The Performance of Being, spanning four decades of feminist art.
Ainslie Mihalchuk [MD/2006, BSc(Med)/2006] received the Reg L. Perkin Award as Family Physician of the Year for Manitoba and was recognized for her leadership at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
Bruce Miller [BRS/99] was appointed Executive Director of the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council.
Gina Rempel [BN/2008] received the 2026 Distinguished International Nutrition Support Service Award from the American Society for Parenteral Enteral Nutrition.
Larry Cherrett [BSc(Hons)/73, LLB/78], who founded the University of Manitoba Rugby Football Club, was inducted into the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame.
The diverse career in Australian agriculture of Orville Hildebrand [BPE/78] was featured. Originally from a Manitoba farming community, Hildebrand arrived in southern Australia as a backpacker in 1981.
Former Bisons player Karissa Kirkup [BKin/2015, BEd/2020] received the BFL Women in Coaching Award from Hockey Canada.
Jessie Krahn [BA(Hons)2018, MA/2023] reviewed the documentary “The Haka Party Incident,” drawing parallels to broader issues of Indigenous erasure and injustice.
Retail Insider featured Omar Hamam [BA/2006], who launched a Slurpee business in Egypt before returning to Canada to establish the Tahini restaurant chain, with 60 locations across the countryv.
Patrick McLaughlin [BScGSc(Hons)/2005] was announced as Senior Project Geologist for Getchell Gold Corp.
The diverse art portfolio of Clyde Finlay [DipArt/2007] was showcased by the Golden Prairie Arts Council in Carman, Man., in August. He credits UM for developing the craft of cataloguing artistic experiences.
Jennifer Jones [LLB/99, BA/96, LLD/2017] published her memoir, Rock Star, reflecting on her life and successful curling career, including six national titles and two world championships.
Melanie Martin [BSc(Hons)/95] has been appointed Acting Associate Dean of Science at the University of Winnipeg.
The photographic work of Sudbury artist Kathy Browning [BFA(Hons)77] appeared in the exhibit 2 Photographers: Killarney at Amberhill Gallery in September. Browning and Nick Dubecki have been capturing the park’s beauty for more than four decades.
A member of Long Plain First Nation, Kyra Wilson [BSW/2016] is the newly elected Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
The artworks of Sarah Anne Johnson [BFA(Hons)/2002], who has received commissions from Louis Vuitton, are on exhibit at Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto until Oct. 25, showcasing her “Cedar Forest” and “Mountain” series. This is her seventh solo exhibit.
In September, Prabhat Jha [MD/88] began his new role at the University of Oxford as Nuffield Professor of Population Health and Head of the Nuffield Department of Population Health.
Soprano Caitlin Wood [BMus(Perf)/2010] was among the cast of Music of the Night, a showcase of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hits that came to Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall in September.
Myrna Wiebe [ExtendedEd/93] was named as the new President and CEO of Access Credit Union, the largest credit union in Manitoba.
Ken Lotocki [BA/2002, BComm(Hons)/2005], Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Conquest Plannin Inc., was a guest on the WealthStack podcast.
Uday Mann [MedicalResident/2024], a urologist, has begun practicing at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and the Central Alberta Urology Clinic.
Stacey Soldier [LLB/2007] became the first Anishinaabe woman to serve as President of the Manitoba Bar Association.
Dr. Wajd Alkabbani [MSc/2019] has been appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. She did her undergraduate degree at Kuwait University and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Alexandra Aquila [BA/2011] has joined Toronto-based Blaney McMurtry as an associate and member of the firm’s Family Law group.
Glen Redpath [BA/87, BFA(Hons)/94] and Jillian McDonald [BFA(Hons)/93] were co-captains of the UM Alumni & Friends team for the New York Terry Fox Run on Oct.4.
Kyle Dear [LLB/99, BA/95], a civil litigation partner at Taylor McCaffrey LLP, was elected as the 105th president of The Law Society of Manitoba.
Gabrielle Prefontaine [BA(Adv)/97] has been reappointed for the fifth time as Dean of the Library at the University of Winnipeg.
Carmine Militano [BSc(CE)/80] retired from Bockstael Construction and Daniel Bockstael [BSc(CE)/2008, MEng/2015] became the new CEO.
Pat Bovey [LLD/2021] was named a recipient of an honorary degree from York University.
Works of Aliana Au [DipArt/78] were featured during a summer exhibit at The Soul Gallery in Winnipeg.
Gene Bowers [BA/88] was sworn in as Winnipeg’s newest Chief of Police.
Francisco Kent Carasquero [BA(Adv)/89] became CFO of PanGenomic Health Inc.
John Dick [BSc(Hons)/78, PhD/84] was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for his pioneering research in cancer stem cell biology.
Godwin Ifedi [BOT/72], Editor and Publisher of Black Ottawa Scene and a social justice advocate for vulnerable and marginalized populations, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Guy Corriveau [MPAdm/2000] also received the King Charles the III Coronation Medal, for achievements to strengthen Canada’s capacity in emergency management, public policy and education.
Former Bisons track and field athlete Janine Zajac [BPE/2016, BEd/2022] won the 2025 Manitoba Marathon with a time of 2:58:07.
Former Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger [BSW/73, LLD/2025], who was a social worker in Winnipeg’s North End before teaching at UM and then entering politics, received an honorary doctorate from the Université de Saint-Boniface.
Sheila Seafoot [MEd/2023] has been appointed as the Literacy Consultant for the Seine River School Division.
Jason Breakey [BSc(Maj)/95] became President and Chief Operating Officer at Trace, a Calgary-based environmental science and engineering advisory firm.
Allison and Darren Hueging [DipAgric/2006] of Current Holsteins were named Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025.
Timothy Brown [MFA/2023] was appointed Executive Director of Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment in Portage la Prairie.
Kali Dumesnil [BKin/2024] is an athletic therapist for the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Joyce Ayoson [BA (Hons)/2024] was a recipient of the Vector Institute’s prestigious Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence.
The following alumni are recipients of University of Manitoba 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards:
Rick Duha [BComm(Hons)/82] (Lifetime Achievement)
Brian Dobie [BPE/74, CertEd/75] (Professional Achievement)
James Blanchard [BSc(Med)/86, MD/86] (Academic Innovation)
Kristie Pearson [BPE/96] (Community Service)
Tréchelle Bunn [BA/23] (Outstanding Young Alumni)
Lesley Sterling [BSc/2000] joined the Township of Ignace as its new clerk treasurer.
Nicole Mager [BA/2001, BEd/2003, MEd/2021] became Divisional Principal for the 2025-26 school year in the Louis Riel School Division.
Catherine Cook [MD/87, MSc/2003] was inducted into the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board Citizens Hall of Fame, on display at Assiniboine Park.
Ryan Wolfe [BKin/2025] joined the Prince George Spruce Kings hockey team as their new athletic therapist.
Third-generation farmer Ian Steppler [DipAgric/99], Chairperson of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association, runs a successful Youtube channel from his 1,500 hive apiary.
Several UM alumni will be inducted into the Order of Manitoba in July 2025:
Maria Chaput [LLD/2017]
Gordon Giesbrecht [BPE/85, MPE/86, PhD/90]
Digvir Jayas [MSc/82]
J. Kenneth Paupanekis [BEd/76, Med/83]
Walter Schroeder (BComm/64, BComm(Hons)/68, LLD/2024]
Charles Spiring [BComm(Hons)/80]
The artworks of recent grads Sydney Caldwell [BFA/2025], Colleen Simard [BFA/2025], Sharyn Gutierrez [BFA/2025], Mae Desmond [BFA/2025], Margot Morrish [BA/83, Med/98, BFA(Hons)/2025] and Maria Martin [BFA/2025] will be on display at Winnipeg’s Graffiti Gallery until August 25 in the exhibit Emergence.
George Reznik [BComm(Hons)/88, CA/91] has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at Light AI Inc.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation announced Tracy Bai [BComm(Hons)/2008] as its CFO and Vice President of Finance.
Defensive midfielder Desiree Scott [BA/2016] played her final international game for Canada, against Haiti, at Princess Auto Stadium in May. A mainstay of the Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team since 2010, Scott played for UM Bisons for five seasons.
Daphne Finlayson [BA/2017] received the inaugural Sick + Twisted Theatre’s Dan Augusta Promise Award. Finlayson plans to use the prize money to develop her new play, FanAddict, which she’ll stage at the 2025 Winnipeg International Fringe Festival.
Colin Hornby [BA/2018] was appointed as the new General Manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers.
David A. Robertson [ExtEd/2006, DLitt/2023] wrote a memoir about his struggles with anxiety. All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live With Anxiety launched in January 2025.
Andrew Yankiwski [BA/92, LLB/95] celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Winnipeg recording studio, Precursor Productions.
Camille Partin [PhD/2014] has been appointed the first Shklanka Chair in Precambrian Critical Mineral Systems at the University of Saskatchewan.
Muraly Srinarayanathas [BA/2002] released his book Between Borders, Beyond Boundaries: Strategies for Authentic Business Engagement in an Interconnected World through Forbes Books.
The work of Gayle Sinclaire [ExtEd/2007] was featured in Alberta Native News, with “Strawberry Moon” appearing on the cover.
Caitlin Wood [BMus(Perf)/2010] was the soprano soloist in Vancouver Bach Choir’s Messiah. Here she’s featured by Opera Canada as Artist of the Week.
Allan Wiens [DipAgric/2000, BSc (Agribus)/2006] joined SeedMaster as its CEO.
Yaser Maddahi [PhD/2014] is co-founder and CEO of Tactile Robotics, which received recognition from Calif.-based accelerator Peachscore as the best startup it worked with during the fourth quarter of 2024. Maddahi specializes in AI-powered robotics solutions for dental education, telehealth and research.
Defensive lineman Collin Kornelson [BA/2024], who spent six seasons with UM’s Bisons football, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Kathleen BlueSky [MBA/2015], CEO at Treaty One Development Corporation (the organization leading the development of the largest urban reserve in Canada), was named a 2025 Influential Leader by AACSB International.
Retired Manitoba lawyer Norman Yusim [BA/77, LLB/80] won the Canadian Bar Association’s 2025 Volunteer in Profile Award in recognition of his dedication to accessible and equitable legal support.
Malcolm Morrison [PhD/98], a crop physiologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Ottawa Research and Development Centre, did a Q and A with Farms.com.
The art of Leesa Streifler [BFA(Hons)/80] was featured in III, an exhibition addressing themes of aging and female identity at the Art Gallery of Regina.
Mathew Baranowski [BSc(CE)/2010, MBA/2019] was promoted to District Manager for PCL Construction’s Ottawa office.
Vanessa David [BSc/2007, BEd/2010] will be the Principal at Manitoba’s Landmark Collegiate beginning in September 2025.
Tijen Roshko [MSc/86, BID/91], lead designer of Kolye TJN and UM professor of interior design, launched her brand at New York Fashion Week 2025.
Laura Saward [PhD/2000] became Chief Scientific Officer at Synedgen, Inc., a biotechnology company targeting human glycobiology to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Kate Hudek [BA(Geog)/2007, BScGSc(Maj)/2015] joined Banyan Gold Corp. as Database/GIS Manager.
Chris Macey [BSc(CE)/77], Technical Practice Leader at AECOM for the Americas and globally, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Canadian Consulting Engineering.
Douglas E. Johnston [BComm(Hons)/80, LLB/85] was appointed a Judge of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba (Family Division) in Winnipeg.
Michael Banman [BEnvD/2003, March/2007] was elected to the College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Ukrainian-Canadian violinist Viktoria Grynenko [BMus(Perf)/2015] has released a new album, Unbroken: Music from Ukraine, featuring works by Ukrainian composers.
Dan Lewis [BA/2001] was named the Senior Men’s Head Coach for Canada’s National Volleyball Team.
Black Hole Theatre alum Ray Strachan [BRMCD/09] directed King James at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Warehouse. Fellow grad Justin Fry [BA/14] was among the show’s two-person cast.
Ashley Simac [BKin13], a former member of the Canadian national women’s volleyball squad, is Probe Research’s new Vice-President.
Marvyne Jenoff [BA/64] published her seventh book: Tree and Fruit: A Writer’s Life and Work.
Annie Drapeau [MD/2010], Kristjan Thompson [BSc/2007, MD/2011], Timi Ojo [BSA/2012, MSc/2017, ExtEd/2023], Lucy Fowler [BA/2012] and Christina McKay [BFA/09] were celebrated as Future 40 Under 40 by CBC.
Gayleen Dutchyshen [BA/2008] published her second novel On Veil Creek. She also recently launched the publishing company Scarlet Sky Press and is looking for other Manitoba writers of literary and trade prairie fiction, particularly rural and new writers.
Allan Peterkin [BA/79, BScMed/85, MD/85] published the seventh and 25th anniversary edition of Staying Human during Residency Training—How to Survive and Thrive after Medical School.
Allan Wiens [DipAgric/2000, BSc(Agribus)/2006] was appointed CEO of SeedMaster, the developer and manufacturer of no-till seeding technology.
Les Stechesen [BArch/57], whose designs include Executive House on Wellington Crescent and the Pantages Theatre addition, received the inaugural Legacy Award from the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation.
Professor Emeritus Don Flaten [BSA/89] was inducted into the Manitoba Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Bruce Miller [BRS/99] is the newly appointed Chair of the University of Winnipeg Board of Regents.
Wayne Chan [BSc/93, BA/2000] unravelled the mysteries of climate data with his work on the groundbreaking Silk Dress Cryptogram project.
Singer-songwriter William Prince [BSc/18] has been honoured with the 2024 Canada’s Walk of Fame Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, recognizing his profound influence and heartfelt contributions to the music industry. Prince was also added to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
Destiny Seymour [BA(Adv)/2000, MID/13], founder of Indigo Arrows, is bringing Anishinaabe history into modern homes with her minimalist designs.
The work of acclaimed artist Marcel Dzama [BFA/97] is being featured in Ghosts of Canoe Lake at Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art until March 2025.
Loralee Orr [BSA/97] was appointed Canada Commercial Leader at Corteva Agriscience.
Sheila Hurtig Robertson [BA/63] published her latest book Stories of Resilience and Courage: Women Coaches Form a Global Community. Watch an interview with Robertson and the female coaches from England, Uganda and South Africa who were featured.
Poet Chimwemwe Undi [BA(Adv)/16, JD/20] earned the prestigious 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry, celebrating her evocative contributions to Canadian literature.
Soccer star Desiree Scott [BA/2016], who went to three World Cups and won three Olympic gold medals, announced she’ll retire at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season. Olympic silver medalist swimmer Kelsey Wog [BSc/2022] also announced her retirement, just shy of her 26th birthday.
Estelle Simons [BSc/65, MD/69], a leading international authority on anaphylaxis, and philanthropist Tina Jones [BEd/89], of Jones and Company Wine Merchants, were inducted into the Order of Canada.
Hazel Wallace [BMus(Perf)/24] performed in Ma-Buhay, Rainbow Stage’s 2024 summer production.
A solo exhibit by Lita Fontaine [DipArt/97], a past Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, opened at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Winyan runs until January 2025.
Bisons receiver AK Gassama [BA/2024] signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Anna Stein [BA/2003] published her first novel, The Black of the Room.
TSN broadcaster John Lu [BA(Adv)/87] talked about following his passion in this CFL story.
Acclaimed artist Wanda Koop [DipArt/73, LLD/2009] exhibited Who Owns the Moon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Paul Norris [BComm/95] is the new President and CEO of TBayTel in Thunder Bay.
Ten years after starting Cranked Energy Bars, Cheryl Zealand [BComm(Hons)/99] will appear on the 19th season of Dragons’ Den.
Kelli Potter (nee Forbes) [LLB/2004] has been appointed to the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba (Family Division) in Winnipeg.
Vanessa Peters [BA(Hons)Psych/2002] of Private Ear Recording, along with her husband and business partner, dubbed the Ojibwe version of the film Star Wars: A New Hope at their downtown Winnipeg studio. This version will be broadcast on APTN and stream on Disney+.
Scott Dyck [PhD/2018] served as a handler to his wife, triathlete Leanne Taylor, at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris. Kristine Cowley [PhD/98], Director of the Spinal Cord Research Centre at UM, mentored Taylor and introduced her to para-cycling.
Ag entrepreneur Trina Semenchuk [BSc(BioE)/2021] wants to make Manitoba the vertical farming capital of the world and started her company, The Little Greenhouse That Could, to help facilitate that vision.
Ernest Cholakis [DMD/82] became the namesake of the Cholakis Dental Group: Kids Dental Outreach Program, a partnership between the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and the Winnipeg School Division.
Robynne B. Kazina [BSW/2002] was appointed a Judge of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba (Family Division) in Winnipeg.
Tracey Martin [BComm(Hons)/98] was named the new CEO of Kids Cancer Care in Calgary.
From Rachael Pettigrew [PhD/14]: “I have been a faculty member and now a dept chair in Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University in Calgary. I thought I would share that I was honoured to receive a Distinguished Faculty Award from MRU. One is given each year. Here is the story.”
Michael Pierre [BSc/2001] became the Executive Director, Indigenous Services, in the Corporate and Strategic Services Division for the Province of Manitoba.
Karen-Denise Cyr [BA/93] became the new Executive Director of the CW Wiebe Medical Centre in Winkler, Man.
Jayelle Friesen-Enns [BSc/2017, MSc/2023, MD/2023], a co-founder of Indigenous Medical Students’ Association of Canada, is a recipient of a 2024 Indspire Award.
From Grace Nickel [BFA/80]: “I travelled to Portugal in September 2024 for my inauguration into the International Academy of Ceramics. The IAC is a highly respected international body that promotes cross-cultural activity in ceramics on a global scale. It is especially active in helping bring visibility and awareness to ceramic artists and organizations from countries who are chronically underserved. I’m thrilled to be able to be part of this cohort.
I’m the first Manitoban to be accepted and only the 18th Canadian to gain entry. I look forward to participating and contributing to this important international body that sees ceramics as a unifying agent leading to peaceful and positive exchange between diverse cultures and countries in a critical time when sadly it is often the opposite.”
Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones [BA/96, LLB/99, LLD/2017] retired from team curling in February 2024, shooting her last rock in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Physical Education teacher Bryan Vermeylen [BPE/2004, BEd/2006] is bringing unique circus arts programming to local school curriculum in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division.
Jen Sonneberg [BFA(Hons)/2008, BEd/2016] was declared the winner on the CBC’s reality series The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down.
Iris Meck [BSA/78, ExtEd/88] was honoured with a Lifetime Achiever Award at the 2024 Women in Ag Awards.
The Métis artistry and multidisciplinary talent of Emma Mayer [BFA(Hons)/88] was on display at the Ace Art Inc. gallery in Winnipeg’s Exchange District in April for an exhibit by MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art).
Somia Sadiq [BEnvSc(Hons)/2007, MNRM/2017], founder of Narratives, won the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award from The Women Business Owners of Manitoba in fall 2023.
Emma Hill Kepron [BA(Adv)/2003], Associate Dean of Libraries at the University of Winnipeg, won big on Jeopardy and also made Ace Burpee’s Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitobans of 2023 list.
From Dr. Allen Jones [MSc/92]: “I started writing and drawing The Hidden Zoo Inside You during the pandemic after realizing the extent of misinformation regarding the coronavirus. I wanted to explain and demystify the language of medicine to my patients in my current practice and hope the Hidden Zoo can do the same thing for the general public.”
Klaus Hochheim [MA/95, PhD/2003] was a research scientist with UM’s Centre for Earth Observation Science when he died in a helicopter accident in Sept. 2013 in the Arctic. He loved photography and left behind a collection of images that reveal his unique lens of the North.
From his wife, Martha Hochheim: “I am hosting a photography exhibit of Klaus’ work at the Canadian Mennonite University Gallery in Winnipeg this summer as part of the 10th-year commemoration of his tragic passing (grand opening reception is June 21 and the exhibit runs until Aug. 31). I have been working together with gallery curator Sarah Hodges-Kolisnyk in order to share his stunning photographs with others. The photographs will be completely new to all. CMU Press is also publishing an artistic book of this work. In Sarah’s words, “In the tradition of modernist photographers such as Minor White or Edward Burynsky, Ice: Moments shares a first-hand perspective that eschews colonial, expeditionary views of the circumpolar and Antarctic regions in favour of an intimate, personal artistic and documentary viewpoint of one life on the ice.”
Couple Paige [BSc(Agric)/2009] and Marcus Dueck [BSc(Agric)/2007] of Four Oak Farms in Kleefeld, Man., were named Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers of 2024.
Disha Naik [BSc/2018] became India’s first female airport firefighter. She joined the Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting unit at Manohar International Airport in 2021.
Mainak Singha [PhD/2023] did an insightful Q & A on his interest in supermassive black hole and working for NASA.
Joss Reimer [MD/2008/MPH/2013], Chief Medical Officer of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the incoming President of the Canadian Medical Association, received the 2024 Canadian Mennonite University PAX Award.
From Steve LaDochy [PhD/85]: “I recently published a book Fire and Rain: California’s Changing Weather and Climate that your readers might be interested in. Speaking of rain, we’re getting buckets in southern California.”
From Janice Kehler [DipPT/76,BPT/83,MSc/88]: “I published a book in November of 2023 entitled Ode to Olympic Dreams—my coming-of-age story as an Olympic hopeful during the 1970s. As I prepared for the Olympics, I was also a student in the Rehabilitation Science program at the University of Manitoba. I graduated with a diploma in 1976 and then finished my BA in 1983. My memoir hybrid is a collection of personal essays that, in the later years, tells the story of one of my teachers, Miss James, who had a life-changing influence on my career both as an Olympian and as a physiotherapist. I would love to share this experience with alumni.”
The following notable alumni were honoured as the University of Manitoba’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients:
Steve Kroft [BA/88] (Lifetime Achievement),
Joss Reimer [MD/2008, MPH/2013] (Professional Achievement),
Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98] (Academic Innovation),
Michael Robertson [BA/98, MArch/2004] (Community Service),
Chimwemwe Undi [BA(Adv)/2016, JD/2020] (Outstanding Young Alumni)
Valerie Shantz [MPAdm/2010, ExtEd/2014] became the new Executive Director for the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Shantz’s attended the very first festival in 1974 with her parents and has been a regular attendee ever since.
Former Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman [BA(ADV)/96)] was appointed to the Court of King’s Bench in December 2023.
Gerry Price [BSc/70, MSc/72, LLD/2017], Chairman & CEO of Price Industries, was named as the 2024 recipient of the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA), presented by the Associates of the Asper School of Business at UM.
Charles CJ Prober [BComm(Hons)/94] was appointed CEO of California-based Netgear Inc., a Silicon Valley hardware tech company.
Joanne Crozier [BID/91] conducted research for her MA thesis on the experiences of Metro Vancouver women working from home during the pandemic, revealing new design considerations that could influence residential design—especially in smaller homes—as the post-pandemic labor force evolves to include a larger segment of remote employees. Her thesis, entitled “Mothers of invention: How the experiences of women working from home during COVID-19 could reshape the domestic environment,” has been condensed into an article that was published in the Journal of Interior Design.
The University of Manitoba is proud to be the alma mater to Bisons who are at the centre of advancing national and international conversations, and action on issues that matter.
Dr. Gerald Niznick and his Class of 1966 classmates had a sneak peek of the inside of the new Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Centre.
The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences held several events to help UM alumni connect with classmates and colleges.
Dr. Sara Goulet gave the Alan Klass Memorial Address at Max Rady College of Medicine’s Inaugural Day Exercises and White Coat Ceremony.
