2007 Spring Issue
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THE SPRING | SUMMER 07 THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG ALUMNI MAGAZINE THE FEATURES 4 Leonard Asper VALUABLE INSIGHTS FROM COLLEGIATE DAYS 4 7 Nobel Nominee SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER 8 Rhodes Scholar ACTIVE FOR CHANGE 10 Rayleen De Luca DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD 12 Into Africa A HUMANITARIAN JOURNEY 14 Claudia Wright THE POSSIBLE DREAM 22 Vic Toews LAW AND ORDER 18 NEWS 6 $3 Million Gift Creates CanWest Centre for Theatre and Film 11 Annual Spring Pow Wow 16 Honouring Our Heritage WESLEY HALL WINS 2007 CONSERVATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 16 Summer Institutes at UWinnipeg 18 The Opportunity Fund CHANTAL KREVIAZUK LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE PROGRAM 20 Winnipeg as Human Rights City 12 21 Plan Your Winnipeg STUDENTS BRING A CREATIVE TAKE TO TIMELY ISSUES 24 National Champions WESMEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM DEPARTMENTS 2 Letter from the Editor 3 President’s Letter 17 Homecoming 17 Reunions 25 In Memoriam 14 26 Class Acts 30 Alumni News Briefs 32 Coming Events cover Front cover features CanWest Global Communications President and CEO Leonard Asper (Collegiate ’82) at the December 12, 2006 news conference where he announced a corporate gift of $3 million for a new centre for theatre and film at UWinnipeg. L to R, back row: Doug Arrell; middle row: Kate Jestadt, Lisa Durupt, Leonard Asper, Michael Lyons, and Hilary Carroll; front row (kneeling): Robin Pooley, Felicia Peron, and Samantha Hill Photo: Nadine Kampen, BA ’81 7 EDITOR’S NOTE PRESIDENT’S LETTER The practice of sitting down once in a while and taking stock institution and its students; potential, present and graduates. For Chantal Kreviazuk, giving back to her home city comes children, women and gender rights, human rights education, of things, professional and personal is something that I take This issue’s front cover showcases a classic example of how naturally. “It means a lot to me to give back to a place that and the rights of indigenous peoples. Prominent speakers very seriously. At the professional level, through this entire our alumni continue to be connected and are an integral part has given me so much,” declared The University of Winnipeg included Paul Meyer, Canada’s Ambassador to the UN Human process, the most rewarding parts of my experience have of both the university and the students of today. The Journal Collegiate grad and internationally-renowned singer- Rights Council; Monia Mazigh, wife of Maher Arar; and been the relationships that I have developed and intend to will continue to showcase the success its alumni enjoy today. songwriter during her benefit concert in Winnipeg on Feb. 19, Irwin Cotler, parliamentarian and human rights activist. develop with each of you, the alumni, faculty, staff, readers, 2007. (see sage 18) At the same time, we also want the Journal to be a medium While a formal declaration to the United Nations is still advertisers and supporters. As the new Editor of the Alumni for our alumni to share and exchange their stories, successes, And give back she did. The proceeds from Chantal’s concert being prepared, conference delegates called for a stronger Journal, I did the same. and experiences. The Journal belongs to you the alumni. netted nearly $17,000 for The University of Winnipeg’s new emphasis on human rights education in the school system, and The only thing constant in our lives is CHANGE. Likewise, I encourage all alumni to take advantage of it. We have Opportunity Fund—an innovative bursary and tuition credit recommended declaring Winnipeg a “human rights city.” For the Journal must continue to evolve to ensure it remains introduced some changes to the Journal’s format and will program for students currently underrepresented at The UWinnipeg’s part, under the leadership of our Global College, effective and develops a belonging, with its readership, continue to implement others in future issues. As this is your University of Winnipeg. The fund will offer Aboriginal and we are moving forward with a new degree program focusing on advertisers and its supporters. We need to attend to things Journal, please feel free to provide suggestions or comments. inner-city youth, as well young people from war-affected human rights education. we have developed or nurtured to make sure they still have nations, with an incentive to stay in the classroom, complete I thank the entire Journal team, all writers and advertisers Finally, I invite you to mark on your calendar the weekend relevance and a connection to our changing times. I am high school, and continue on to a post-secondary education who have made this first edition as the Editor an easy Sept. 13 to 16, 2007, as The University of Winnipeg celebrates not saying that we should discard the past and create a new at UWinnipeg. With a targeted $10 million endowment and transition for me... the 40th anniversary of its charter. We have a wide range of product. The last changes to the Journal were made five years with the help of private donors, we hope to open new doors to the future underprivileged students, especially from the events and reunions for alumni, students and families alike. ago. Those changes served us well. The Journal should never See the insert for more information on how to register for this stand still; we make new friends and never forget the old. local neighbourhood, by making education more accessible. I encourage you to give to the Opportunity Fund today by historic event. It’s a weekend you won’t want to miss. I do not have the words to express what an honour and visiting www.uwinnipegfoundation.ca/donate and make a privilege it is to serve as Editor of the Journal. I have always AnnaMaria Toppazzini (MPA ’89) difference in a young person’s life. Sincerely yours, valued the Journal as the “umbilical cord” between the Editor Chantal’s stirring performance also helped kick off Human Rights Action Week at the University, culminating in the Lloyd Axworthy, BA ’61, LLD ’98 Human Rights and Social Justice Conference from Feb. 23 to 25, President and Vice-Chancellor PUBLISHER: Dan Hurley, BA ’93 CONTRIBUTORS: 2007. Hosted by the Global College, the conference attracted a [email protected] Robin Alford diverse array of high-school students and international experts The University of Winnipeg Vivian Belik, BA ’06 EDITOR: AnnaMaria Toppazzini, MPA ’89 alike who came together to advance the causes of war-affected Annette Elvers, BA (Hons.) ’93 [email protected] Dan Hurley, BA ’93 MANAGING EDITOR: Annette Elvers, BA (Hons.) ’93 Nadine Kampen, BA ’81 [email protected] Rob McMahon Ilana Simon, BA ’84 ADVERTISING: Claudius Soodeen, BA ’90 Annette Elvers, BA (Hons.) ’93 How do you teach a kid from the inner city AnnaMaria Toppazzini, MPA ’89 under go leadership training, creative problem solving and guide [email protected] to appreciate nature and the environment? Susan Rennie, BA ‘02 the younger students by incorporating traditional Aboriginal or visit http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/alumni-index The answer is Eco-Kids and Enviro Techs. teachings with environmental science. JoAnn Wright, DCE ’01 to view the Rate Card and back issues. The University of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg GRAPHIC DESIGN: Guppy Graphic Design School Division have partnered to establish a Program coordinator Kevin Chief (BA ’98) says Eco-Kids and Enviro JOURNAL ADVISORY TEAM: lunch-hour and after-school program involving Techs give inner-city children and youth a sense of belonging at Robin Alford (Dir. of Communications) PHOTOGRAPHY: schools in downtown Winnipeg. The Eco-Kids the University. “We’re trying to tap kids on the shoulder, so that Nadine Kampen, BA ’81 (Foundation) Cory Aronec are children, ages 9 to 14, who explore the relationship between they may one day see themselves at The University of Winnipeg BA ’84 (Communications) Ilana Simon, grajewski.fotograph culture, science, the environment, through hands-on as an athlete and a university student,” says Chief, who grew up Claudius Soodeen, BA ’90 (Alumni Council) Boris Minkevich environmental science experiments, community projects and in the inner city and rose to become a star basketball player with the Wesmen. “We want them to know that they can realize their JOURNAL SUPPORT: PRINTING: Lea Marc Inc. field trips to Oak Hammock Marsh and Fort Whyte Alive! Eco- JoAnn Wright, DCE ’01 Kids are supported by Enviro Techs, high-school students who dreams and achieve academic success.” Mark Bezanson, ’85 B.Ed., ’86 BA MAILHOUSE: Dycom ALL CORRESPONDENCE AND UNDELIVERABLE COPIES: PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT NO. 40064037 THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG The University of Winnipeg Alumni Journal distributes more than ALUMNI AFFAIRS 32,000 copies three times annually. Visit the Journal online at 515 PORTAGE AVE. http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/alumni-index WINNIPEG, MB R3B 2E9 2 | THE JOURNAL THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 3 FOUNDATION FEATURE LeonardVALUABLE INSIGHTS FROM COLLEGIATE Asper DAYS TEXT: Nadine Kampen, BA ’81 Filled with the dreams of youth embracing the possibilities of communications companies, he draws on his Collegiate the future, CanWest Global Communications President and CEO experiences whenever he envisions meetings and training Leonard Asper (Collegiate ’82) at age 17 made what proved to sessions for his own people. “While I wouldn’t go so far as to say be one of the best decisions of his young life. He attended The The Collegiate was a school without walls, it was at least a school University of Winnipeg Collegiate for his Grade 12 studies. with ‘floor to ceiling windows.’ The Collegiate provided the right balance of structure and intellectual flexibility. I apply these “I had a tremendous experience at The Collegiate,” recalls Asper. principles today, because I have found that too much of one “It was very different from regular high school—the hours of class and not enough of the other produces inferior results.” time, the way you interacted with the teachers, the freedom you had to make responsible decisions for yourself.” All of it The insights Asper gained from his Collegiate days, broadened contributed to his growing confidence and offered important by experiences in life and in the workplace, have helped shape lessons that would give him insight into lifelong learning.