Keely spent the first year out of high school in the science faculty at the4 University of Manitoba as she got ready to audition the following year for the Desautels Faculty of Music (DFOM) where she started her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance. Always supported by her family after a big change of plans, “This must have been an adjustment since I had been planning to go into medicine since I was a kid!”, explains Keely.

In the faculty

One of Keely’s proudest moments as a DFOM student was when she was accepted into the faculty, “I remember I was on the bus on my home from a science lab when I got the email from Mel – I couldn’t stop smiling!”  Since then, she has participated in the Women’s Chorus, University Singers and Musical Theatre Ensemble. With Women’s Chorus she travelled to the Netherlands in 2018, “travelling and singing with Elroy, Monica, Cary, and all the choir members is one of my favorite memories”, explains Keely.

As far as performances Keely says her favorite pieces were “Little Known Facts” and “Book Report” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The group preformed scenes in the 2019 Musical Theatre Ensemble show where she played Lucy. “My favorite set I performed for my fourth-year recital was my musical theatre set. I always love singing musical theatre and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to include these pieces.” For her fourth-year recital Keely sang “Lying There” from Edges, “What’s Gonna Happen” from Tootsie, and “I Really Really Love You (Stalker Song)”

During her time at the Desautels Faculty of Music, she was able to explore her Indigenous background through her performances especially during her credit recital where she sang “Ni mayagenimaak”, an aria in Saulteaux from the new opera Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North.

On her road to become an artist, Keely found a faculty full of people who helped her along the way, “Mel Braun, Monica Huisman, Katherine Twaddle, Elroy Friesen, Tracy Dahl, Laura Loewen, and all the other professors I have been so lucky to learn from during my time at the Faculty”, explains Keely.

However, her biggest cheerleader and faculty mentor would have to be Donna Fletcher, “I always feel better leaving a lesson than I did when I walked in. Her confidence in me has helped me become confident in myself”, Keely says. Pushed and inspired by Donna, through their lessons, Keely was able to grow as an artist and as a person during her time at the Desautels Faculty of Music, “I truly couldn’t have done it without her.”

She also made great friends to help her and cheer her on while she is being in school. First, “Cary Denby played for my audition for the faculty and has been my collaborative pianist for every final jury and recital. I’ve learned many things from her. I’d like to thank her for her calm and supportive presence in all our rehearsals and performances.” To Celoris Miller who has been playing in all her festival classes since she began solo singing; “I’d like to thank her for being so much fun to work with and for providing an example of how to live authentically”, explains Keely.

Future Plans              

Keely’s future plans include spending the year focusing on Indigenous Studies and development in opera and musical theatre as she works through her Post-Baccalaureate at the University of Manitoba. “After this year I will spend some time working and doing auditions. I also hope to explore some additional acting or musical theatre programs”, explains Keely.

Focus on what you love

The biggest piece of advice Keely can pass on to any new DFOM students is “remember to focus on what you love and not let the other things get in the way!”

Even though Connor Stairs has been playing music since he is 12 years old, only after the second year of his undergraduate degree in music education he realized that a career in performance was a realistic goal. During his time at the Desautels Faculty of Music he was able to perform with the University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble, The Exchange Quartet, Band of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and various school quartets.

In the Faculty

As a DFOM student Connor received a graduate fellowship after a recommendation from Allen Harrington during his second year of studies, “it was a humbling honour to receive this award and I feel compelled to give back to the University of Manitoba in whatever way I can”, Connor explains.  

But his proudest award was “winning the 2020 ensemble competition with my duo partner, and close friend, Paul Rodermond as the newly named ‘Creston Crew.’ (After the composer of the piece we were performing)”, Connor remembers.

You can enjoy some of Connor Allan Stairs performances through his Youtube Channel 

Faculty of Mentors

Connor found a couple of mentors that shaped him in completely different areas of his study, “Allen (Harrington) built a relationship that fostered excellence, humility, and mater-of-fact playing, shaping me into a musician of greater confidence and skill. Jimmy (Maiello) watered the seed of academic inspiration that had previously lay dormant in me”, Connor explains.

During his time at the Desautels Faculty of Music he found a group of supportive peers and instructors, “I owe thanks to every person I met at the DFOM because each one of them put me on the path I am on today”, said Connor.

Future Plans

Winnipeg has turned Connor in an avid cross county skier and has directed him into a career in performance as a saxophonist. After graduation Connor will move to Canada’s capital city to begin a career as a saxophonist with the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Set your mind to it

As far as advice to the new DFOM students Connors firmly believes that “anyone can achieve anything they want if they set their mind to it. So, set your mind to it.”

“I was inspired to attend the University of Manitoba because I had spoken with friends who had graduated from science programs at UM and spoke highly of their professors and lab courses,” says Roy. “I had also spoken to a friend who knew that establishing a career in science can be difficult without relevant experience and recommended the Science Co-op Program, as it offers opportunities to establish a network and gain experience while going to school.”

Once enrolled, Roy joined the Science Co-op Program and found the community she was looking for.

“Once I joined the Science Co-op Program, I was able to gain work experience in science related regulation, but more importantly I met passionate mentors and other students who were just as interested in using their scientific knowledge to help others,” says Roy. “These opportunities to be a part of a community and offer collective support to other science students made the University of Manitoba feel like home.”

Now that Roy has officially completed her coursework for her degree, she feels she is well-prepared for post-graduate life and is excited for her new career in science, the field that she loves.

“When I first started university, I was reserved and uncertain in my career goals after my degree, but the Science Co-op Program has helped me develop my passion for regulatory compliance work, provided me with a supportive community, and allowed me to encourage other science students on their own paths,” Roy says reflectively. “I would say that the Science Co-op Program was crucial in my university experience and for this reason I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in pursuing science.”

Roy already has a position at Health Canada working within the Health Product Compliance Directorate, which she is excited to continue.

“I hope that I will be able to establish a career in promoting, verifying, and enforcing regulatory compliance while also continuing to learn and develop my understanding of microbiology and chemistry,” says Roy excitedly. “I am looking forward to chasing opportunities in which I can make science more accessible and offer guidance to those who want to learn more.”

From Kelly Clarkson’s Since You’ve Been Gone at age seven, to Orff’s Carmina Burana as his first concert with the Desautels Faculty of Music, Kyle is proud of his diverse career’s portfolio, “I’ve had the privilege of working as a performer, creator/producer, teacher, teaching assistant, administrator, researcher, and facilitator”, Kyle explains.

In the faculty

As a Bachelor of Music in the Performance concentration student, Kyle was able to explore a variety of music both new and classic. During his time at the Desautels Faculty of Music he performed with the Musical Theatre ensemble and Opera Theatre ensemble. His roles of Dickon from the Secret Garden, Slim from Paul Bunyan, Orpheus from Orpheus in the Underworld (English title), and most recently, Chevalier de la Force from Dialogue of the Carmelites (English title) are among his highlights of the time spent at the University of Manitoba.

As a DFOM student Kyle received the Andrew Kuryk Memorial Scholarship and the Emerging Leader Award for his leaderships within the University of Manitoba Singers Ensemble. During his third year, was awarded second prize in the Zita Bernstein competition for excellence in German Lieder, “participating in this competition was a memory I will never forget.

The mentorship, coaching, and comradery I gained alongside some of my most beloved colleagues is something I’ll surely treasure forever”, Kyle explains.

Faculty of Mentors

During his time at the Desautels Faculty of Music he has encounter a faculty full of cheerleaders along the way. Working closely with many of our faculty members has allowed Kyle to grow in a supportive environment where he was able to learn from peers and instructors.  

Kyle has special acknowledgements to pass on to Dr. Simpson-Litke, “she taught me everything I know about getting involved in music theory scholarship and got me genuinely excited about the field” and his teacher Mel Braun, “he taught me beyond what was on the page and became an inspiring figure for me in terms of how I want to live my life. He was someone I could trust and look up to too. Mel was the best voice teacher I could have asked for.”

The same way he has had a faculty of mentors around him, he has become a mentor for his peers and theory students as he explains, “being able to see growth, courage, and triumph amongst them has made and still makes me so proud.”

Future Plans

Kyle’s plans are simple, “I want to live my life, slow down, and have as much fun as I can”, he is ready to lean into the aspects of his career that he enjoys the most and become inspired by himself. His long-term goals include maintaining a private studio and operatic training, finding works in arts administration; and working towards releasing his first EP as a recording artist.

His next steps will be applying for McGill’s Master of Music in Sound Recording program and building new roots in Montreal next fall.

You can learn more about Kyle Briscoe through his Instagram account @kyle_briscoe_tenor 

Carve your own path

“I like to remind my mentees that being a music student never mind having a career in the field is so so hard. It will teach you so much about who you are and will make you into a better person. What your career looks like in comparison doesn’t matter – what matters is that you love the skin that you’re in and that you’re happy with the way you’re living your life because it goes by way too fast for you to care about anything else. Carve your own path!”

Students in the MHR program can choose either the Practicum or Thesis stream.  Since the program first started in September of 2019, the majority of students have chosen the Practicum stream, although three students in Whiteman’s cohort chose the thesis stream. “The thesis stream is appropriate for students interested in doing in-depth, original research on a human rights issue,” said Dr. Kjell Anderson, Director of the MHR program. “It is also excellent preparation for those who intend to pursue doctoral studies (and we have a couple of MHR students who have applied to PhD programs).”

Whiteman, however, who already was employed in her chosen area of child welfare, chose to deepen her knowledge of her chosen career in a way to provoke concrete change. “She decided to pursue a Master of Human Rights degree to gain a broader and deeper perspective on human rights, which she is now applying directly to her important work for the province,” Anderson explained. “Her thesis examined the right to legal representation for children in care, a crucial issue in ensuring that children’s rights and child welfare are at the heart of our system of care.”

“My thesis, Toward Guaranteed Legal Representation for Children in Care, is looking at the inequities that children who have been apprehended into the care of the child and family services systems across Canada face in having a voice in the process that so greatly affects the trajectory of their lives,” Whiteman explained. “Ultimately my research argues that every jurisdiction, and specifically Manitoba, should have an office of the children’s lawyer established to represent children and youth in the proceedings.”

With the MHR program being housed at the Faculty of Law with opportunities for students to take courses from the faculties of Arts, Education, Law and Social Work, Whiteman took Dr. Lorna Turnbull’s course Children, Youth and the Law course and determined from that experience, that “with her vast knowledge and understanding of the CFS [Child and Family Services] system and its linkages to the legal system, she was the ideal professor to advise me.”

The main inspiration behind Whiteman’s thesis stems back to one of her previous roles working over the past decade in child welfare, when she had occasion to visit all of the group homes in Manitoba where children in care were placed to live with staff hired to provide care for them.  “The best part of that role was having the chance to chat with the youth,” Whiteman said. “Inevitably what I heard is that this, whatever ‘this’ happened to be for that specific youth, is something that is happening to them and not for them and not with them. It struck me that if they actually had a voice in the process maybe their experiences and outcomes would be more positive or at the very least more authentic for them.”

This experience left a lasting impact on Whiteman, so throughout her studies in the MHR program, every paper and project she worked on was about some aspect of children’s rights. “It is what I am passionate about because I see that of all of the rights holders, children and youth are often silenced and have no avenue to voice their objections due to power imbalances,” she said. 

“I am intrigued by the law itself.  I am intrigued by the application of the law, so it was fitting for me to focus my thesis on the legal aspects of children’s rights as they intersect with my career.”

With her brand-new Master of Human Rights degree, Whiteman intends to continue using everything she has learned in the program “to improve the actualization of rights for the children and youth I serve through my role within government systems. My goal now is to see an office of the children’s lawyer come to fruition and I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive Director who has already shared my thesis with some potential ‘movers and shakers’, so I intend to build on that communication and hopefully create momentum.”

Despite being a seasoned worker in her chosen field already, Whiteman found there was much to learn while completing this degree. “I learned that I may have underestimated my need for rest as a late-thirty-something, single parent working full time in a demanding profession while completing a Masters in two years!” she said.

“All jokes aside, I learned that laws are not infallible and are meant to be challenged if they are misaligned or interpreted in a way that does not reflect the commitments made to human rights instruments on the international stage. 

“I would also note that it was invigorating to be studying human rights with a cohort of people with diverse passions as it highlights how interdependent rights truly are.  I learned so much both from the brilliant professors within the Faculty of Law and from my fellow students.”

Chancellor Anne Mahon

Celebrating you. Though we are unable to gather on campus, we have embraced this new way of honouring your achievements. We are incredibly proud of you.

Activist Vandana Shiva says, “Hope is a duty.” Let us act with hope. Let us remain open to the idea of possibility; of working together. All people. All disciplines, all communities and all races since diversity will only strengthen our society. Now, more than ever, we need to work together.

Communities thrive though connections—ones that exchange ideas, spark innovation, meet challenges, respect and learn from one another.

President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch

As you start your new journey, you’ll notice how UM is closely linked to others throughout Manitoba and around the world. We are connected through research, partnerships with Indigenous communities and our ties with local organizations and industry.

Along the way, you will also encounter fellow alumni. Today, you join their network of more than 181,000 UM grads living in 139 countries around the world. Our alumni are our strongest ambassadors, advocates, champions and thought-leaders. They elevate our communities and propel us to make a difference.

During these challenging times, we have a responsibility to turn our ideas, knowledge and skills into a new path forward for all of us. We know you are ready. Our time–your time–is now.

Congratulations on your graduation!

Karen Froman, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Arts)

Karen Froman began her undergraduate degree at 27 years old as a single mother of two young children—a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. She was dedicated to balancing her responsibilities to her family with pursuing her dreams.

While she did not have a clear idea of what her career would look like, taking a course that introduced her to Native studies in her first year was the catalyst to it all. Froman, who is Kanyen’keha (Mohawk) from Six Nations of the Grand River territory, went on to specialize in Native studies for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her path as a UM student ends with the completion of her PhD in history with an Indigenous focus.

Froman has secured a tenure-track position in the University of Winnipeg’s department of history as an assistant professor. “As an Indigenous scholar, I want to empower other Indigenous students the same way that I was empowered by my professors at UM,” says Froman.

Her family, especially her dad, is one of her greatest sources of strength and inspiration in this field. Her dad was a residential school Survivor, and Froman wanted him to be proud of his identity and culture. She looks forward to carrying this responsibility of influencing the next generation of Indigenous scholars.

Sidhant Sharma, Asper School of Business

After completing high school in Accra, Ghana, Sidhant Sharma moved to Canada for his university education. He intended to follow a career in computer science, but he soon felt a natural drive toward business. He confidently made the move into the Asper School of Business to focus on Finance and Management Information Systems.

Sharma speaks passionately about his education: “Being able to introduce new technologies, identifying gaps and inefficiencies within processes and helping improve them requires creativity as well as logical thinking. I thoroughly enjoy mixing both of those skills.”

From volunteering to mentorship programs, Sharma has embraced every opportunity to gain experiences that fueled his zeal and curiosity. This also helped him settle down in Winnipeg and truly enjoy his new life in this city. He received the Emerging Leader Award in 2019, which recognized his contributions to UM and the community on and off campus. It also served as a reminder to continue developing not only as a student but also as someone who has the power and abilities to make an impact on the community.

After graduating with a bachelor of commerce, Sharma will be starting in a new position as a business analyst at Bison Transport. He is excited to work with a company that puts an emphasis on technology, and to lead the charge in this evolving field.

Ashley Daniels, Faculty of Arts

Graduating with a bachelor of arts in Native studies with a minor in family social science, Ashley Daniels’s experiences throughout her undergraduate program have set her up for success.

She engaged in multiple volunteering positions such as the communications coordinator of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association as well as a student mentor for the Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentorship Program. She also volunteered in Ecuador with UM’s Community Engaged Learning program and served as the first female Youth Chief in the Southern Chiefs’ Organization for three years.

As a member of Swan Lake First Nation with ties to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, she is most fascinated by Indigenous-focused research, especially in data sovereignty and language revitalization within the discipline. Focusing on an area of study with expansive implications on scientific knowledge and research moving forward, Daniels has a crucial role in reframing the world’s views.

Her family is dedicated to keeping their Indigenous roots alive, which makes her education resonate with her on a personal level. “I enjoy spending time with the community, the land and maintaining kinship relationships,” says Daniels. “I am inspired by my family and how they continue to show up every day for the future generations of our kin.”

Daniels is currently serving as an elected executive council member and the Manitoba representative on the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council.

Corrine Clyne, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Occupational Therapy)

After earning her bachelor of arts at the University of Winnipeg with a major in conflict resolution studies, Cree student Corrine Clyne is now graduating from the master of occupational therapy program. At the same time, she has also completed the geriatric certificate program through McMaster University.

The diverse, holistic nature of the health profession immediately captivated Clyne– it was a natural decision to proceed with such a rigourous yet rewarding journey. Upon learning of the lack of culturally safe and relevant health-care services for many Indigenous communities, Clyne chose these programs as they will equip her with the skills and experiences to advocate for change in the health-care system and overcome jurisdictional barriers for better access to services.

“I also recognize the lack of mental health services that were present for me growing up in a reserve,” says Clyne, who is from Norway House Cree Nation. “It is important to address this because mental health affects a person’s health holistically.”

She is eager to join the workforce on reserve in Northern Manitoba and change the lack of culturally appropriate health-care services available in these communities. In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD in applied health sciences.

Ashley Ammeter, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Agricultural and Food Sciences)

Ashley Ammeter previously earned a bachelor of agricultural and food sciences and is now adding a master of science to her accomplishments. Her research focuses on plant breeding approaches to the improvement of canola meal protein quality.

Growing up on a farm in Starbuck, Man., agriculture was always an important part of her life. She learned more about the science behind plant breeding in high school and became fascinated by the topic, which led her to where she is today.  

Ammeter’s research applies to the future of Canada’s food systems and how it impacts the world. As the Earth’s resources are depleted over time, agriculture is at the forefront of addressing challenges related to food availability and access. Her research topic has the potential to create innovations that would ensure Canada’s agriculture industry can navigate future food shortage issues.

As a researcher, she uses a humble mentality when facing setbacks that other students can learn from, that also apply in the real world. “I’ve learned how to effectively solve problems when challenges arise,” says Ammeter. “When things go wrong, there is often a learning opportunity to gain a deeper understanding,”

Flyn Gallardo, Faculty of Science

Governor General’s Silver Medal: Awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level

Flyn Gallardo’s dedication and perseverance not only to self-improvement, but also to helping the community whenever he can, ensures that he will succeed in his future. Choosing microbiology as his path was the perfect choice. “I’ve always wanted to explore the world invisible to the naked eye,” he says.

This was even clearer when he developed an interest in the medical field as a high school student at Maples Collegiate. He reflects on his academic journey fondly, knowing he has found the place he belongs. “I got to learn how complicated life is, how even the smallest lifeforms are ridiculously complex,” Gallardo adds. “It made me further appreciate the world around me.”

Although he was fully immersed in his education, making the time to give back to the community was still very important to him. He undertook several volunteer positions at Health Sciences Centre and served as a medical first responder for St. John Ambulance, in addition to actively volunteering with other organizations.

His excellence has not gone unnoticed. From receiving the Governor General’s Bronze Medal in high school to being named a President’s Scholar at UM for four years, being awarded the Governor General’s Silver Medal this year is his latest accolade.

After graduating with a bachelor of science in microbiology, Gallardo is now in his first year of medical school at the Max Rady College of Medicine.

Haley Nakonechny, College of Rehabilitation Sciences

University Gold Medal: Awarded for highest standing in an undergraduate faculty, college or school

While Haley Nakonechny was not completely sure of what she wanted to pursue during her first years of university, she always knew she wanted to build a career in health care. She soon found her calling in the respiratory therapy program.

She is most fascinated by the specialization in this field of study, especially by the idea that there are many interconnected processes that make up the human body. “I like to learn things top to bottom, and this program gave me the opportunity to do that,” Nakonechny adds.

While Nakonechny pursued her education, she was able to work as a respiratory therapist assistant at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) and her passion for the profession grew even greater. Once she completed her bachelor of science and bachelor of respiration therapy, she started a new position as a respiratory therapist during the height of COVID-19. That helped her gain a new perspective and a greater sense of gratitude for the field and other health-care workers that inspire her.

Nakonechny is most proud of being awarded the University Gold Medal after seven years of her university education. She credits her support system of family, friends and loved ones for their constant encouragement, as their confidence has been critical to her success.

“Brayden was an excellent student, and we’re fortunate to have had him in the LLM program,” said McDonald’s thesis advisor, Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. “In his time here, he was able to showcase his research and verbal presentation gifts, and engage in more clinical work.”

The Dean also observed, “This directly afforded him the opportunity to network with prospective employers and showcase his talents.”

McDonald wanted to study law from the start. Born in Winnipeg, he completed an undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Studies. “I always liked the big picture, real world stuff so social science like that was more my forte, though I had a lot of history courses too. I was always stronger in writing than in sciences, so it kind of flowed from my skill set,” he said.

After completing his JD, he quickly turned the setback of not getting offered an articling position into an opportunity. “I had already forged a strong relationship with Dean (still Professor, then) Jochelson by working as a summer student for him, so he was really the one who showed me this alternative path, the LLM.”

Still a student, McDonald was therefore able to volunteer at the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre, which led to his involvement in a Tobacco Tax Act Charter challenge that law students brought before the Manitoba Courts last March.

With guidance from a thesis advisor who taught courses on Criminal Law, and Charter Issues in Criminal Law, and another strong mentor in Jochelson’s research collaborator, Professor David Ireland, McDonald completed a thesis titled: “Expert Evidence or Expert Decisions? Measuring the Impact of Expert Evidence on Criminal Proceedings Outcomes in the Provincial Court of Manitoba.”

“Specifically, I wanted to see how the presence of expert evidence in court proceedings swayed outcomes on a broad scale. We hear about the dangers of expert evidence in law school, as well as the advantages, and other issues like junk science, etc.,” McDonald explained.

“But it made me wonder to what extent this might actually be an issue, or if academia and case reporters were just highlighting a narrow slice of bad decisions in a much larger pie. Are judges just accepting science they don’t understand? How can we tell? Are the instances we can identify isolated or emblematic?”

As for what happens next, at the moment, McDonald is happy to have finally obtained an articling position last May, and is focusing on finishing that.  “In the end, I think I charted the best course. I have articles now AND a Masters’ degree. It felt pretty stressful at the time, not getting a job, but now at 26 I have a BA, a JD and an LLM, plus I’m articling, so if all goes well I’ll have my Call to the Bar by the time I’m 27! From there, who knows. I like practice so far, especially being in court, but I have my foot in the academic door now too, so you never know…”

Coming out of the Master of Laws program, the biggest lesson learned for McDonald was “self discipline,” he said. “Two years seem like a nearly infinite time to finish a project, even one as big as a thesis, but deadlines creep up fast and there is not really anyone looking over your shoulder.

“It’s an immense amount of work and you need to develop a routine and commit to it. It’s a lesson that’s served me well in articling, which is also, at least for me, significantly self driven. I imagine that practice is even more so.”

“I also learned that patience and determination pay off. I could’ve given up and just kept looking for a job, letting opportunities dwindle,” he said, “but instead I took a bad hand and played it the best I could, turned it into an opportunity, and now I’m quite happy with how things turned out. 

Things have turned out quite well, especially when the Dean of Law says things like, “[McDonald] is the epitome of a successful graduate student and is a valued Robson Hall community member.”

High praise, indeed. Well done, Brayden!

—–

Brayden McDonald recently contributed to Law and Disability in Canada: Cases and Materials, a book co-authored by Jochelson and Ireland with others, which launches Wednesday, October 20 at 12:00 p.m. (CT).

At the university’s upcoming 54th Fall Convocation ceremonies on October 18-21 and November 10, 2021, the following remarkable individuals will be awarded honorary degrees:

The Honorable Senator Patricia Bovey

The Honourable Patricia Bovey, appointed to her present position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016, is the first art historian and museologist to be appointed to the Senate. A native Winnipegger, over her more than 45-year career in the fine arts, Senator Bovey has revitalized galleries and community arts organizations, promoted Canadian artists and helped guide cultural policy at both national and provincial levels.

Senator Bovey has served on many national committees including as Deputy-Chair of the Senate’s Transport and Communications Committee, its Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee, and the Special Senate Committee on the Arctic.

Growing up in a family that valued art and history, Senator Bovey became a curator of traditional art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1970 before heading west to B.C. As director of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria from 1980 to 1999, Ms. Bovey turned it into a major tourist destination that was largely self-sufficient—an incredible feat for a Canadian art gallery. She guided the direction of Canada’s best-known arts organizations, serving on the boards of the National Gallery of Canada (2005-2009) and the Canada Council for the Arts (1990-1993).

Locally, Senator Bovey changed the landscape of fine art in Winnipeg as director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (1999-2004) and as a founder of St. Boniface Hospital’s Buhler Gallery, serving as its director and curator (2007-2016). Ms. Bovey was also a member of the Public Art Committee of the City of Winnipeg (2003-2007) and the Mayor’s Task Force on Public Art (2002-2003).

At UM, Senator Bovey established post-secondary programs, led in governing the University of Manitoba on the Board of Governors (2007-2016, Chair 2013-2016), and was a dedicated member of the President’s Campaign Team for the Front and Centre campaign.

Among her many accolades and honours, Senator Bovey is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK), and a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association. She received the Canada 125 Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, was Winnipeg’s 2002 Woman of Distinction for the Arts, and received the Canadian Museums’ Association Distinguished Service Award, and the Winnipeg Arts Council’s 2015 Making a Difference Award.

An independent Senator, Senator Bovey is arguably Canada’s leading government advocate for the visual arts. She has spoken in the Chamber about the impact of the arts, especially on health and crime prevention and has stated her goal is to ensure the voice of arts and culture is heard in the Senate and in every sector of our society.

The University of Manitoba is proud to recognize Senator Bovey for her work advocating for the visual arts by bestowing upon her its highest honour, a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Diana DeLaronde-Colombe

Diana DeLaronde-Colombe demonstrates the impact one person can have on a community. She is being recognized for her dedication and commitment to Manitoba’s northern communities and their people, addressing issues such as food security, access to health care, job training, transportation, and housing.

In 2001, wanting to make an impact in her community of Wabowden, Manitoba, Ms. DeLaronde-Colombe created the community development office. She quickly began facilitating programs, such as Truck Driver Training, to help others find employment.

She soon realized, however, that if she brought more communities together, their collective voice would ring louder in the ears of funders and they could achieve greater goals. So she brought together Councillors and other leaders from six communities along the rail line, from Ilford to Cormorant, and they created the Bayline Regional Roundtable.

In this new enterprise, Ms. DeLaronde-Colombe gave herself the title of “Animator” because that is how she views her role in all endeavours: as someone there to empower and impassion others. And she did. And she does.

Solving food security issues in Northern communities had troubled many before her, yet she saw an elegant and sustainable path forward. Following her vision, the Roundtable sought and received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada and other funders, which facilitated the purchase of a shipment of freezers to store the fish and meat hunted along with bulk food purchases. These freezers were provided to community members at cost, and the repayments were used to purchase even more freezers. To further help people maintain healthy diets, she facilitated programming that taught people how to garden, raise poultry and then preserve and can their food.

She championed this Northern Foods Initiative, and it led to the development of the Manitoba Food Charter, which then grew to become Food Matters Manitoba. Today, the legacy of her original project is astounding: in its modern form, it helps 80 per cent of Manitoban communities. Recognizing this impact, in 2007 she received the Capturing Opportunities-Outstanding Community Leadership Award from Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives.

Ms. DeLaronde-Colombe is also active in the community in other ways, fundraising and helping start new recreational opportunities for children and youth. Indeed, in 2007, after receiving the Women’s World Summit Foundation Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life from an international NGO (the first Canadian to earn such an honour), she used her prize money to purchase playground equipment for children in Wabowden. And last year, she led a fundraising campaign which helped the local musicians purchase audio equipment that has allowed them to continue to benefit the community.

“Anything that is going to empower someone else to make a difference, is where I will put my energy,” she says.

Ms. Diana DeLaronde-Colombe is a compassionate leader who always acts in the interests of others. And the University of Manitoba is honoured to celebrate her creativity and commitment to improving the lives of countless Manitobans by awarding a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

For details on Fall Convocation 2021, click here.