AUGUST 2006 IN THIS ISSUE: GAIL ASPER: BUILDING THE PROJECT OF A LIFETIME MEET THE 2006 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT RESPONDING TO STUDENT RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES CANADA POST AGREEMENT #40063720 POST AGREEMENT CANADA ASPER MBA Excellence. Relevance. Leadership. Our program delivers face-to-face business learning for students who want to combine real-life experience with academic theory, while meeting exacting standards of excellence. MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Joanne Sam – Asper MBA Student (Finance) For more information about our program call 474-8448 or toll-free 1-800-622-6296 www.umanitoba.ca/asper email: [email protected] Contents ON THE COVER: Gail Asper (BA/81, LLB/84) with a model of the proposed Canadian Museum of Human Rights Photo: Thomas Fricke 5 2006 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Dr. John Foerster, noted physician and researcher, was selected as the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2006. 18 CREATING A LEGACY Gail Asper discusses progress on the Human Rights Museum at the Forks, why it has become her passion, and the role that her family plays in her life. 26 RESPONDING TO RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES Executive Director of Enrolment Services Peter Dueck and Winnipeg School Principal Sharon Pekrul discuss factors that influence how high school students make their career choices and how recruitment efforts at the University of Manitoba have reacted to the increasingly competitive post- secondary education environment. IN EVERY ISSUE 3 FEEDBACK 4 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS 8 EVENTS 10 UNIVERSITY NEWS 17 BRIGHT FUTURES 22 OUR STORIES 24 A CONVERSATION WITH… 28 GIVING BACK 30 THROUGH THE YEARS 36 CAMPUS LIFE CANADA POST AGREEMENT #40063720 REQUEST FOR RETURN! If undeliverable, please return magazine cover to: THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC. OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA 180 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, MB Canada R3T 2N2 Alex Campbell p. 17 OnManitoba VOLUME 66, # 2 AUGUST 2006 The Alumni Association Inc. of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada EDITOR Maria Paletta, BA/01, Chair, Russ Medvedev, MA/95 Homecoming 2006 Maureen Rodrigue, MSc/96, Chair, CAMPUS • INSURANCE • CENTRE ADVERTISING Homecoming 2007 Jo-Anne Thompson Sheila Simonson, BA/04 Mr. Justice Perry Schulman, LLM/70 DESIGN Brandy Usick, MEd/04 Doowah Design Inc. Lindsey Wiebe, BComm(Hons)/01 Malinda Yuen, BA/01, LLB/04 PHOTOGRAPHY Dale Barbour, BA(Hons)/05 UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES Thomas Fricke Elaine Goldie, CertEd, Vice-President Michael Marshall (External) Lealem Mulugeta, BScME/05 Tom Booth, PhD, President, UMFA Allen Patterson Garry Sran, President, UMSU MCpl. Paz Quillé Richard Sigurdson, BA/80, MA/83, Samantha Robinson PhD, Dean, Faculty of Arts Bob Talbot Jana Thorsteinson ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF Judy Wilson, BSA/81, MBA GOVERNORS Wayne Anderson, BSA/63, MBA/68 PUBLISHED TRI-ANNUALLY Romel Dhalla, BA/99, Convenience By the Alumni Association Inc. of the BComm(Hons)/04 University of Manitoba. Doug Ward, LLB/69 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Rennie Zegalski, BComm(Hons)/95, Dale Barbour, BA(Hons)/05, University President and Chair, Alumni Fund Representative Bruce Miller, BRS/99, Past-President Bill Christie, DMD/64 and Chair, Nominating Karen Gamey, BHEc/78, Executive Brian Bowman, BA(Adv)/96, JD, Vice- Director Coverage For All Your President and Liaison, Receptions Lisa Kushniaryk Hansen, BA(Adv)/90, and Reunions CIM, FCSI Insurance Needs Anuj Maini, BA/03, Treasurer Adam Lister, BEd/01, Chair Christina Whittaker, BN/83, MN/02, Russ Medvedev, MA/95, Editor Board Representative Christina Penner, MA/03 • International Student Medical Plans Karen Gamey, BHEc/78, Secretary, Ex-Officio ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF • Condominiums, Homeowners & Tenants Insurance Karen Gamey, BHEc/78, Executive • Travel Health Insurance & Visitor Health Plans ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC. BOARD Director OF DIRECTORS Russ Medvedev, MA/95, Manager, • Sabbatical Leave Carrie Armitage, BA/94 Marketing and Communications • Autopac Racquel Baert, MSc/94 Jana Thorsteinson, Manager, Alumni Bill Christie, DMD/64 Relations Yuewen Gong, PhD/93 Judy McTaggart, BComm(Hons)/91, Enjoy The Convenience Of: Naomi Green, BA/97 CGA, Accountant • Our location on the Fort Gary campus; Christine Hanlon, BA/85, BEd/89 Jo-Anne Thompson, Manager, Karen Holden, BHEcol/92 Affinity Programs & Services • Handling all your transactions through the campus Cheryl Keachie, BA/97, ContEd/01, Co- Leslie Lyman, BHEc/96, Alumni mail system, by telephone, or by fax; and Chair, Student Relations Relations Assistant to the Evan Kuz, BFA(Hons)/90 Executive Director • Making your payments for homeowner, tenant, and Adam Lister, BEd/01, Chair, Editorial Denise Proulx, BA/99, condominium policies through payroll deductions. Karen Lister, BEd/01, Co-Chair, Alumni Relations Assistant Student Relations Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 116A University Centre The University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Phone: 204-261-7771 Fax: 204-261-7985 [email protected] In Association With The Alumni Association reserves the right to edit material as appropriate and may not necessarily share the views expressed by the writers. The Association makes all attempts to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine but cannot be held responsible for any inadvertent misrepresentations. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH VEGETABLE–BASED INKS. PRINTED IN CANADA 2 OnManitoba Feedback Dear Editor, Dear Editor, Thank You I extend my Former Bison hockey player Bob congratulations to Johnstone proudly “represented” the The Alumni Association would like Kristjan Thorkelson University of Manitoba in the 2006 to thank Holly Campbell for her con- on his extremely Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton tributions to the Association and to On generous support Relay as he carried the baton through the Manitoba. In May, she left the Association of the Thorkelson streets of Perth, Western Australia on its to assume the position of Administrative Undergraduate Lab journey to Melbourne for the games. Bob Assistant to the Associate Vice-President at the new Faculty had the potential opportunity to coach (Finance). We wish Holly well with this of Pharmacy. the Australian men’s in-line hockey team exciting opportunity. Patient care will be in the games but the bid for in-line roller improved far into sports to be included as a demonstration the future because sport was unsuccessful. of the improved education of pharma- In any case, Bob was selected to cists and the improved collaboration run a leg of the relay due to his combi- with other health professionals. I also nation of community involvement and want to express my appreciation for hav- sporting participation since his arrival in ing my name on the lab (almost). Australia in 1967. While in Australia, he played for and/or coached at the national Yours Sincerely, level in three separate sports up to World Lynne Thorkelsson, Championship competitions (ice-hockey, PPh, BScPharm/67 in-line hockey and athletics) in both Humber Institute of Technology senior and masters tournaments. Bob has and Advanced Learning also run in 18 marathons in three sepa- Toronto, ON Holly Campbell rate countries, including the Manitoba Marathon in 1982 with wife Alison. Alastair G.W. Cameron, a Harvard In his employment as a Social astrophysicist, Winnipegger, and Worker/Cognitive Behaviour Therapist at University of Manitoba alumnus died Perth’s largest teaching hospital, he was Spread on October 3, 2005. A former student the first staff member to have a position remembers him and writes… solely devoted to the prevention of Youth the Word: Dear Editor, Self Harm and is now specializing in The Arthur V. Mauro Centre for the group therapy treatment of patients Peace and Justice is the first I was a student at the University with Borderline Personality Disorder. Canadian institution to offer a of Manitoba Medical School at the Following undergraduate work at the doctoral program in peace and Broadway campus, 1945-47. During that University of Manitoba, Bob completed conflict studies. time Dr. Cameron taught us Biochemistry. post-graduate studies at the University of It was uncomplicated compared to Chem Western Australia. today but I remember him well. His son He says a big “hi” to all those who was a fine scientist as well. remember him from his Winnipeg days! L. Daniel Stern, MD/52 P.S. Stay Warm. CONTACT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA 180 DAFOE ROAD WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2 Telephone: (204) 474–9946 Toll–Free: 1–800–668–4908 Fax: (204) 474–7531 US Email: [email protected] www: umanitoba.ca/alumni August 2006 3 AlumniAssociationNews AGM 2006 At the Annual General Meeting on June 21, the Alumni Association thanked several volunteers for their contribu- tions and also welcomed new board and committee mem- bers. The evening began with Vice-President (Research) Joanne Keselman, BA/73, MA/75, PhD/78, who brought greetings on behalf of the university. Alumni Association President Bruce Miller recognized accomplishments of the past year and thanked those who are stepping down from the board. The new executive committee was also introduced with: Bruce Miller, BRS/99, past-president; Rennie Zegalski, BComm(Hons)/95, president; Brian Bowman, BA(Adv)/96, JD, vice-president; Anuj Maini, BA/03, treasurer; Christina As one of his last acts as president, Bruce Miller (right) passes gavel to Whittaker, BN/83, MN/02, CDE, board representative and Rennie Zegalski (left). Karen Gamey, BHEc/78, secretary, ex-officio. DHALLA ELECTED AS WELCOME NEW STAFF BOARD REPRESENTATIVE After a recent elec- tion, Romel Dhalla, BA/99, BComm(Hons)/04, was appointed the new Alumni Association representative to the University of Manitoba Board of Governors, succeed- ing Ian C.P. Smith, PhD. Dhalla is an Investment Advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns and a passionate advo- cate for the University. As a Romel Dhalla student, he served on many Denise Proulx and Leslie Lyman university committees, notably the Academic Senate and Board of Governors. Currently, Dhalla also serves as Vice- The Alumni Association recently welcomed two new President of the Network of Indian Professionals of North staff members to its team.