What inspired you to pursue engineering at the University of Manitoba?

“I grew up using, fixing and tinkering with offroad vehicles, ATV’s, snowmobiles and so on. I enjoyed learning how engines, suspensions, and everything to do with them work, and how to modify or optimize them for the arctic, this is what led me into mechanical engineering. The Engineering Access Program (ENGAP) did a recruitment presentation at my high school and that is how I became aware of that path into engineering.”

What do you plan on doing after you graduate? Do you envision leveraging your engineering education to make a positive impact within your community or beyond?

“I am moving back home after graduation and working with Parks Canada as a Technical Services Coordinator. Managing the construction, maintenance, repairs, renovations etc. of Parks Canada assets and equipment. I just hope that I can inspire other Inuit to pursue an engineering degree as well. I would happily and eagerly provide advice and support in any way I can to help them be successful, and hopefully return home as leaders of their community and in Nunavut.”

What was it like to work on your studies far from home? What sort of supports helped you along the way?

“Engineering is a very challenging degree and requires unwavering motivation and dedication to be successful. For me initially, moving away from my community, family and friends, I was too easily side tracked whenever family or friends came to Winnipeg. I had difficulty maintaining the level of dedication towards studies that was needed to be successful. The ENGAP program provided a home away from home and was the reason I was able to make it into engineering in the first place, and to ultimately complete it.”

Is there a particularly memorable project that you worked on during your studies?

“This would be my final engineering capstone project. I was lucky enough to be selected for the team who researched and redesigned the reed valve petal for Polaris Inc. for their snowmobile engines. A reed valve is an engine component used to control air flow into a 2-stroke engine. My love and interest for these kinds of things is what led me into mechanical engineering. Having this as one of the options for a final engineering design project, and being selected to be a part of it, couldn’t make me happier.”

Is there any advice that you would give to other Inuit wanting to pursue this degree?

“Stay extremely dedicated and motivated to do well and you can do it. Find and utilize all the resources available, such as a program like ENGAP which was a huge help in my education. They provided me with the academic upgrading I needed to make it into engineering and supported me throughout my years as a student. I know there are many more Inuit like me who enjoy tinkering with and understanding engines, suspensions and basically any mechanical system. I hope my completion of Mechanical Engineering will shed some light for Inuit towards engineering and show it is possible to achieve.”

The Price Faculty of Engineering congratulates RJ on his accomplishments, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

For more information about the Engineering Access Program, please visit their website. 

Ellen holds a Bachelor of Education degree from 1996 and a passion for teaching mathematics. Since then, she has dedicated her career to nurture a love for mathematics among her students. Ellen has numerous achievements throughout her career, including co-authoring her first textbook and being the youngest-ever recipient of the MAMT Murray McPherson Award for outstanding contribution to mathematics education. Ellen is always seeking out something new to learn, showing her dedication to professional development through her participation in various educational initiatives and her role as a mentor to young math teachers.

The award was created to recognize the important work of teachers in Manitoba. For Ellen, the award helps to acknowledge the challenges of teachers, “it is so rewarding for the University of Manitoba to recognize teachers for our contributions to the profession.”

Receiving the Excellence in Teaching Award “helps to validate the daily choices I make in my classroom,” explains Ellen. It reaffirms the significance of her role as an educator and instills confidence in her teaching methods and approaches.

Ellen Thompson

Advice for Future Teachers

Drawing from her professional journey, Ellen offers advice to future teachers and current students: “Pace yourself.  Not every lesson needs to be perfect or amazing.  Building connections with your students will always be more important than planning the perfect lesson.”

Ellen reflects on the rewarding nature of teaching despite its inherent challenges: “Teaching is hard work, but when you look back over an entire career, the rewards out weight the hard times.  The relationships you form will last a lifetime.”

Ellen Thompson’s professional journey continues to inspire and innovate in the field of mathematics education, and is always willing to share resources and ideas or be a sounding board.

The long-time alum met his wife in his second class held in St John’s, where they connected, studied together, and met many friends whom are still connected to this day. Amongst meeting his wife and staying connected with his close friends, also known as “the beer boys,” Les and Terry Wiens have always felt at home in St John’s.   

In staying connected as an alum throughout his 29-year financial planning career, Les jumped back into writing, which he found his passion for before getting into financial planning. “Back in 1992/93, I started getting into writing stories. In the fall of 1994, I started my financial planning career, and that’s when my writing was put on hold.”   

As he concluded his financial planning career and got back into writing, Les revisited stories like “A Natural Cause,” where he could now finish the book and work towards publishing.   

“The book is a mystery thriller that focuses on a young student who gets involved with a researcher’s work. It focuses on the abuse of older people, and the crime gets worse as the book goes on.” The first book is one of three that will be published.   

 

In bringing his St John’s experience together in this book publishing, Les Wiens had a successful book launch at the Stone Angel Brewery where he could bring together his close friends with this book publishing that he is excited to continue.   

To learn more about “A Natural Cause,” visit the book launch.   

Growing up in rural Manitoba, specifically Kenton then Neepawa, Nicole has always been a curious person, wanting to try new things, travel the world, and enjoy herself while doing it. Upon graduating high school, Nicole spent a year in Taiwan as a Rotary Exchange student, then received her Fine Arts degree at the University of Manitoba. Coming from a small community, Nicole stayed at the St John’s college residence while studying. She was the international student representative and a Don in her last year. She loved every minute of the small college community.   

“I loved my experience at the college. I met students worldwide, including rural students from Manitoba and international. Getting the opportunity to also be involved in planning events, talent shows and the banquets made my time memorable. The home-cooked meals and friendly staff were also a huge plus.”  

Fast forward a few years, Nicole travelled abroad after her fine arts degree, worked in tourism overseas, and then decided to come back to the UM to study Education. Nicole then went on to be a teacher in Churchill, Winkler, Gillam, and Rolling River School Division where she impacted many communities with her kind heart, bubbly personality, and creativity. She always brought dance, science fairs and top-notch art classes to whichever community she went to.

Nicole then decided it was time to switch careers and follow her dream of working on television. The TV scene has changed in recent years, but after studying Media and Communications at Assiniboine Community College, Nicole has decided to create her own media company telling stories through audio and video. She enjoys creating factual productions being in-front of camera hosting, as well as being behind the camera. She is currently in her last semester and is open to video clients. Fun fact! Nicole’s first taste of being on YouTube was when she won the University of Manitoba’s Define Your Future Video Contest back in 2012 which sent her to Greenland! Nicole remembers that winning that contest made her realize that she enjoys being herself on camera, not playing a fictional character.

Between travelling abroad and realizing her new passions and skills, Nicole is open to the adventure of whatever is next for her. To check out Nicole’s video projects visit: www.nicolewruth.com

To learn about other college and UM alumni within our community, visit our other UM Today stories.   

To learn about the college residence community on the UM campus, visit our website.   

The 2022/23 Honorary Degree Recipients that we recognized included The Honourable Patricia Bovey, who received the Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa), Brian Bowman, who also received the Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa), Vincent Solomon, who received an Honorary Fellowship, and Brenda Cantelo, who received the Fellow’s Recognition Award.  

Each of these recipients has left their impact on the College and University community over the years, whether serving in office as Mayor, being a member of the University of Manitoba Board of Governors, or serving in the Senate of Canada. In recognizing each of these individuals, one thing they all have in common is their connection and the feeling of community they have at the College.   

In honoring these recipients, we enjoyed catching up with Patricia, Brian, and Brenda to discuss what these recognitions mean and what the College has meant to them.   

Patricia Bovey   

Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa)   

 The Honourable Patricia Bovey is no stranger to the University of Manitoba after serving nine years on the Board of Governors. Patricia got involved with St John’s when her first husband was a member of the college council and it progressed from there. Recognizing the importance of the College’s art collection, Patricia used her internationally recognized expertise in the art world to highlight several of the more significant pieces at an event held for college alum. Over the course of Patricia’s career, she has had multiple books published by the University of Manitoba Press (located on the third floor of St John’s College), including one released in 2019 about the works of Don Proch who previously received the Doctor of Canon Law from St John’s College.  

In receiving the Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa), Patricia was touched and overwhelmed by this recognition and the acknowledgment of her achievements by St John’s college.  

“Winnipeg is my home base and means a great deal to me. To be recognized in the city where I was born and raised, this award is very personal. It was a meaningful day to be recognized and share it with Brian Bowman, who I’ve connected with over the years, and Don Proch, who was on stage whom I also read my citation for.”   

Patricia will speak at the School of Art later this month.  

Brian Bowman   

Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa)   

After serving as Winnipeg’s Mayor for eight years, Dr. Brian Bowman was also awarded the Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa). Before politics, Brian attended the University of Manitoba and was a member of St John’s College, where he found a sense of belonging, and adopted a strong work ethic, and drive to succeed. Utilizing the study carrels at the College to study for his LSAT and learning how to study effectively, Dr. Bowman found the College instrumental in building his career and allowing him to succeed during his time in office. 

“When I became Mayor, my goal was to make City Hall more inclusive. In doing this, I remembered the sense of inclusivity I felt at the College.”  

While enjoying the supportive environment of the college, Brian met his now wife Tracy Bowman, Executive Director of Alumni Relations, who was also at St John’s where they had a study carrels next to each other. As Brian notes, “Tracy elevated my game” when it came to studying and establishing a commitment to academic excellence.  

Reflecting on his time at St John’s College and continuing his next chapter at Canada Life as the VP in Sustainability and Social Impact, Brian is humbled by this Doctor of Canon Law recognition.   

“I’m at a loss for words, truly humbled by this recognition. The College is a warm and inclusive environment for me. It’s where I worked hard to get my marks up in the study carrels, built skills on how to learn effectively, and was motivated by my wife Tracy, whom I had a carrel beside at the College. The first award I won was a World Religion Award from the College approximately 30 years ago. The award wasn’t just any award; it was the first time receiving an award of this kind that meant a lot to me in helping me be more inclusive with my work.” 

Vincent Solomon  

Honorary Fellowship 

Vince has played a critical role in reconciliation facilitating workshops and courses on indigenous awareness amongst other impactful teachings Vince has done. Born in 1964 in Norway House Cree Nation and moving to Winnipeg in 1987, Vince is an Anglican Priest who has had a deep impact on St John’s College as an educator especially in 2019 and 2020.  

Vince has given so much to his church, St John’s and the wider community. He has written and spoken on Gospel-based apology, reconciliation, and Indigenous self-determination within the Anglican Church. He has also served on the board of Circles for Reconciliation and has worked for the Mennonite Central Committee as coordinator of Indigenous Neighbors program. 

St John’s College, the Diocese of Rupert’s land, the Manitoba Mennonite Central Committee, countless organizations, and of course his parishioners are all very blessed by Vince’s gift of teaching, storytelling, and caring.  

Brenda Cantelo   

Fellow’s Recognition Award   

 The final recipient we recognized on November 5th was Brenda Cantelo. Brenda started at the College in 1998 as a Junior Fellow, where she immediately felt at home. To her, and many of our Fellows, the College has a distinctive feel, making it stand apart from other places at the University. She’s enjoyed being part of committees, participating in the governance of the College, and getting to know other academics from all areas.  

“It is rewarding to have been remembered profoundly and meaningfully by one’s Fellows. Sometimes, amidst all the hard work and “busyness “of the term, one doesn’t see the outcomes immediately, so to know that these achievements are reverberating in the thoughts of one’s colleagues is heartwarming. And to hear them expressed in such a thoughtful and gracious manner made for a memorable day.

Continuing with her research in Religion, Brenda plans to expand her academic interests in the future, which will include travels to Mexico and Spain. 

On behalf of St John’s College, congratulations to this year’s honorary degree and fellowship recipients.    

She discovered the Fine Arts program at the University of Manitoba, where she began her university career following in her families’ footsteps as she joined St John’s college residence.    

Fast forward to 2002, when she graduated from Fine Arts with a minor in art history, where she opened a gallery with her friends to display her artwork. In 2002, she had nowhere to display her artwork, so a group of friends started a gallery and studio space. In 2006, Jordan left that space to renovate 2-125 Adelaide Street, along with her partner at the time and opened cre8ery gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  

Jordan has owned the gallery for 17 years and is a proud solo-entrepreneur. Going into her 18th year in business, Jordan is excited to launch her “Journey to the Stars” exhibition at the Pulse Gallery from October 1st until 31; the gallery will be open from Monday to Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm, and Sunday, 12 – 5 pm.   

The story behind this exhibit comes from Jordan’s story of letting go. As a child living in a small town, Jordan found peace when she looked up at the stars, which she used to guide her when she felt lost or overwhelmed. Bringing her story to life through her art, Jordan mostly shades of blue alcohol inks which she finds calming in exploring her connection to the land, the sea, and the sky.  In March 2024, she will exhibit at cre8ery in an exhibition she calls “Letting Go.”  

Find below an example of her artwork displayed in this exhibit.   

Thank you, Jordan, for sharing your story.   

Read more about Jordan’s work at the link here.   

Thirty college alumni gathered as we re-connected over the lunch hour to see what they’ve been up to in the past year, how they are doing post-COVID, and share what exciting things are happening around the college lately.   

Notable alums that were present include our former fellows:   

• Former Warden, Chris Trott   
• Retired History Fellow and Senior Scholar, Francis Carroll   
• Retired Chemistry Fellow, a graduate of ’59, George Baldwin   
• Emeritus and Retired Fellow, a graduate of ’62, Anthony Waterman   

Other alums in attendance include:   

• Lutheran pastor, Carol Janke   
• Retired Anglican Priest, a grad of ’65, David Pate  

Following the lunch provided by our Daily Bread Café, our Dean of Studies, Dr. Jade Weimer, finished the afternoon with a talk on her research focusing on Women’s participation in early Christian assemblies. Dr. Weimer’s presentation opened our alum’s eyes to the impact our fellows are making in the academic world and their impact on our students in the college. 

In recapping Dr. Weimer’s talk, here are the takeaways we took away:   

• Women’s participation in communal singing during worship in early Christian assemblies became a problematic issue, partly because of the reference in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, which some later Patristic authorities used to claim women ought to remain silent in the church. However, there are differing opinions, ranging from complete inclusion of women in this ritual practice to total exclusion.  
• The latter opinion prevailed, and women were permitted to sing we can understand this permission in three possible ways:
  • A) The focus on unity is greater than gender hierarchy 
  • B) Singing is an autonomous expression of faith by women. 
  • C) This is just an example of patriarchal control where women were permitted to sing to prevent them from doing other things such as teaching.  
  • All three explanations can exist simultaneously, and they are not mutually exclusive but somewhat dependent on time, location, and perspective.  

It was a great afternoon of connection, food, and conversation, and we look forward to more alumni community events in the coming months.  

To learn more about our community and alums, visit here.   

To gain insight on our new residence campaign, visit our website here.   

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Andrew Hogan. I recently obtained my PhD in Microbiology from the University of Manitoba. I have a deep passion for understanding life’s smallest organisms and how they contribute to the broader field of biology.

What pivotal moments or experiences built your passion for microbiology?

There was not one specific pivotal moment, but as a child, I developed a keen interest in biology and the workings of life through watching nature documentaries. Almost anything with David Attenborough got me interested in biology and then how life works. Over time, I realized that studying microbiology was the best way to explore the intricate workings of life at a fundamental level.

Which resources and specialized equipment had a significant impact on your learning journey?

As an experimental researcher, access to physical lab space was crucial for my work. Additionally, high throughput DNA sequencers like Illumina platforms played a vital role in my research. Although we had limited access to these instruments here, we had to send most of my samples to Toronto for processing. However, the University of Manitoba is working on acquiring its own sequencers, which would be a valuable addition. Moreover, the university’s computing resources, such as the West Grid computing cluster, proved essential for handling the enormous amount of data generated by DNA sequencing. Some of our files were huge. I was backing up my data and I had about a terabyte of data all to myself. It’s really important that there are good ways to handle it and to store it safely.

Were there any individuals or mentors who significantly influenced your academic journey?

Absolutely. My supervisor, Dr. Silvia Cardona, deserves special mention. She provided me with the freedom to explore my ideas, even the ones that seemed unconventional. My advisory committee members, Dr. Ayush Kumar who is now an associate dean, Dr. Karen Brassinga, and Dr. Sean McKenna from Chemistry who is also an associate dean, played integral roles in my research and offered valuable guidance.

Did you engage with any science-related or university clubs during your time at the University of Manitoba?

Throughout my six years at the University of Manitoba, I was an active member of the Microbiology Graduate Students Association, a departmental subsidiary of the UMGSA (University of Manitoba Graduate Student Association). This involvement allowed me to step away from the lab and engage with fellow students. In general, I am also a big supporter of student life. Especially after COVID, it was important to show the new cohort of graduate students who really had comparatively little lab experience or proper work-life balance, but all that would connect them with their peers who had struggled the same and could give each other some advice.

Can you share a specific challenge you faced during your research and how you overcame it?

One significant challenge was attempting to apply a published method to my own research for over a year. Unfortunately, it did not yield the expected results, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters. However, instead of viewing it as a complete failure, I realized that the techniques and knowledge gained along the way led to the development of new genetic tools that could be useful in their own way. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and finding value in even the most unexpected outcome. Even if you fail, you’ll always learn something.

Have you collaborated with researchers or students outside of your field, and how did it impact your perspective?

I have been fortunate to collaborate with a diverse range of researchers through Silvia’s collaborator network. One notable interdisciplinary collaboration involved working with Dr. Rebecca Davis from Chemistry and Dr. Pingzhao Hu from Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. Over time we learned the basics of each other’s fields and the best way to explain our own to each other. Now as a group we are doing fantastic work applying machine learning and chemoinformatics to antibiotic discovery. The take-home I guess is that the best way to understand something is to try and teach it to someone else because then you realize all the gaps in your prior knowledge that you need to go back and look at. That influenced my knowledge of being able to now tell or explain things to non-experts.

What advice would you have for someone who is just entering the University of Manitoba?

Especially as an undergrad. As someone who will soon be starting a post-doc at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, a prestigious facility that I never thought I would have the opportunity to join, I have learned a valuable lesson: never undervalue your own experience and expertise. We often underestimate our abilities and are overly critical of ourselves. My advice is to be ambitious and think big. To solve complex problems, we cannot rely on outdated methods or yesterday’s thinking. We must constantly embrace the latest ideas and approaches. Remember, we solve today’s problems with innovative thinking and fresh perspectives. So, as you embark on your journey at the University of Manitoba, believe in yourself and aim high. You are far more capable than you realize.

They’re used to sweating it out and cheering on their music students at recitals, concerts, choral events, and contests. Now it’s time for the music students to cheer on their teachers on Canada’s biggest music stage.

Since 2005, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award has recognized 17 extraordinary Canadian music teachers, honouring and awarding their impact both on students and the broader music education profession, and for promoting music education in their schools and communities through their passion.This year, MusiCounts, CBC Music and presenting sponsor, the CST Foundation (Canadian Scholarship Trust), are proud to spotlight these five awesome nominees from across Canada:

• Jewel Casselman, Lakewood School, Winnipeg.
• Susan Evoy, St. Teresa’s Elementary AND Waterford Valley High School, St. John’s.
• Stephen Richardson, École St. Joseph School, Yellowknife.
• Kelly Stronach, Mitchell Woods Public School, Guelph, Ont.
• Heidi Wood, Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School, Calgary.

One of these nominees will win top honours — and a trophy of their own — during the 2023 Juno Awards broadcast on March 13 from Rogers Place in Edmonton. It’s a fitting location, since a large percentage of winning music teachers from MusiCounts and CBC Music’s annual Canadian Music Class Challenge have come from Edmonton-area schools. It will also be a poignant reminder that this year’s Juno Award winners likely started out with a teacher, like these nominees, who inspired them to learn music.

Jewel Casselman, Lakewood School, Winnipeg

Casselman is a music educator with extensive expertise in Orff (pitched percussion) instruction for elementary-aged children. She’s been teaching music since 1988, and is a fierce advocate for empowering kids with an early start. She’s successfully advocated for music to be added to kindergarten programming at several schools in the Winnipeg area, helping kids build a foundation of musical knowledge to carry them through their lives.

Casselman sits on several committees (at the national and provincial levels), promoting diversity, inclusivity and equity in music education, and believes that regardless of a child’s race, economic status, or learning style, they should have access to quality music education.

This is Casselman’s fourth nomination for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. She was previously nominated in 2019, 2020, and 2022.

Read the full CBC story here

 Pat Hanson (1981 M.Arch.), GH3*
S2 Architecture (Architect of Record) and gh3* (Design Architect)
Project: Blatchford District Energy Sharing System Sewage Heat Exchange 

Diarmuid Nash, (1974 B.E.S., 1979 M.Arch.), Moriyama & Teshima Architects
Eladia Smoke (2008 M.Arch.), Smoke Architecture
Project: Mukwa Waakaa’igan Indigenous Centre of Cultural Excellence

Jim Siemens, (1991 B.E.S., 1997 M.Arch.), Oxbow Architecture 
Anna Ringstrom (1988 B.A., 1995 M.L.Arch.), Oxbow Architecture 
Brad Pickard (2011 B.Env.), Oxbow Architecture 
Richard Kroeker, (1976 B.E.S.)
Project: Muscowpetung Powwow Arbour

 Awards of Merit

D’Arcy Jones, (1995 B.Env.D., 1999 M.Arch.) 
Project: Hornby Island Arts Centre

Photo Awards of Merit
Jacqueline Young (2011 B.Env.D.)
Project: The Builder
Project: Kenaston Building Blanket

Student Award of Excellence, Johnathan Lum (2022 M.Arch.)
Project: Chaos & Control: Complexity of natural systems and the industrialized condition

To see a full list of the projects and designers recognized please check out the following link: https://www.canadianarchitect.com/winners-of-the-2022-canadian-architect-awards-of-excellence-announced/