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.    

Convocation Schedule

Graduates will check-in at the Joe Doupe gym, in the basement of the Brodie Building. We ask that graduates arrive at 1:00 pm in order to get their cap, gown and procession card. For some general tips on how to prepare for your Convocation, please review the emails that were sent to you in preparation of graduation.

Grad Photos

A UM photographer will be at the ceremony to take a photo of each graduate as they cross the stage and of the ceremony itself. Graduates will be able to order their photos through Artona.

Guests

Guests can attend in person or stream the ceremonies online.

For guests attending in person, the ceremony will be located in the Brodie Atrium, in the Brodie Centre at 727 McDermont Avenue. The doors will open at 1:00, and guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis.

You can view the ceremony schedules on our Convocation Dates and Times page.

We look forward to celebrating your graduation this Fall! Join the conversation online by using #umanitoba2023 to celebrate.

Parking

If you plan to drive to the ceremony, you will need to make your own parking arrangements. There are public parking garages and street parking available – you can view parking options on the Bannatyne Parking Map. There is no complementary parking provided.

The Bannatyne Campus is also well served by transit, you can visit Winnipeg Transit’s Website for details on bus routes.

Not Attending

If you are not coming to Convocation, you do not need to advise us. We will send your parchment through regular mail to your address listed in Aurora, two weeks after the ceremony.

Graduation Pow Wow

The Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow is held in the Spring. Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) graduates who participate in Fall 2023 convocation are eligible to participate in next year’s annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 4, 2024. You are also eligible to receive an Indigenous Graduation Stole* to wear at Fall convocation.

*If you attended the Graduation Pow Wow on May 6, 2023, this is a reminder to wear your Indigenous graduation stole at your convocation ceremony. Due to limited stock, there may not be extras to give out if you forget yours. If one can be given out to borrow, it must be returned. A deposit of personal ID such as a license or credit card must be made to ensure return. Decisions will be made daily. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

More information will be sent out next term. Students graduating this fall can look for registration information next April on our Indigenous Student Experience page.

Guest host Pat Kanuiga speaks with Nicole Macintosh about her post-secondary experience and what that diagnosis meant to her.

Listen here

Yikun Wang [MSCM/23, BComm(Hons)/17]

Now a double-Asper alum, Yikun Wang graduates this year with one of the first MSCM degrees from the Asper School of Business.

Currently working as a transportation coordinator at Richardson International, Wang describes how the MSCM prepared her for industry leadership, highlighting the program’s curricular knowledge and emphasis on collaboration.

“The MSCM program advocates teamwork and cultivates our cooperation skills. This has been one of the most impressive parts of my Asper experience and has helped me integrate into my current team seamlessly,” she says.

Read more about Wang’s career journey and innovative approach to teamwork.

Meet even more exceptional Asper School of Business graduates!

Chisom Ike [BComm(Hons)/23]

An international student from Nigeria, Chisom Ike receives his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) majoring in accounting, completing three terms with the Asper Co-op Program and representing UM on the football field as a Manitoba Bison.

Ike credits his Bison experience for teaching him unwavering discipline and commitment, which allowed him to balance the demands of student athletics and his business degree. 

“Rain, snow, cold—in a harsh climate like Winnipeg’s, we show up to practice no matter what,” he says. “That discipline is what got me to show up for class, to study and to give my all at Asper.”

Currently employed as an accounting analyst at Richardson International, Ike acknowledges the Asper Career Development Centre (CDC) for supporting his career goals through co-op. “Meredith [Wood] was amazing. She worked with me to develop my resume-writing and interview skills, and her guidance helped me secure my first co-op placement at KPMG.”

Ike graduates knowing that his professional skills and discipline will be invaluable over the next few years as he pursues his CPA designation.

Nicole MacIntosh [BComm(Hons)/23]

Nicole MacIntosh began her university journey about eight years ago with the drive to get a business degree. An ADHD diagnosis became a turning point in her academic career, and as MacIntosh began to access resources and develop strategies to work with her neurodivergence, she also found community at Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) at the Asper School of Business.

This fall, MacIntosh gradates with her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Asper, proving that resilience, community and an investment in student success across the university make a resounding difference in the lives of our future leaders.

Read more about MacIntosh’s journey to graduation and her connections to IBEP and the UM Indigenous Student Centre.

Sage Weselowski [MBA/23]

Sage Weselowski receives an Asper Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Leadership and Organizations and Health Administration.

Weselowski reflects on what she has gained since beginning her degree in Fall 2021. “My time at Asper served to bolster my confidence to sit and actively participate at tables with professionals of all backgrounds and to know that my contributions have merit,” she says.

A dedicated healthcare professional and registered nurse, Weselowski pursued the MBA hoping to broaden her ability to effect change within the healthcare system. She began a new healthcare management position this summer that is already putting her MBA training to good use.

“This new role along with my MBA feels like a first step in becoming a more well-rounded healthcare professional,” she says. “There are so many possibilities in this field, and I’m embracing each new experience as a chance to grow.”

Solomon Schlegel [BComm(Hons)/23]

Graduating with a double major in Leadership and Marketing, Solomon Schlegel developed an aptitude for research during his BComm experience. He received an undergraduate research award in Summer 2021 and had the opportunity to work with Dr. Bruno Dyck studying sustainable business.

He combined this experience with co-op work, engaging his business theory and practice skills early.

“The Asper Co-op Program provided me with hands-on work experience while the concepts and theories I was learning were freshest in my mind,” says Schlegel. “I also began to develop a professional network that I would not have been able to achieve at this stage in my young career without co-op.”

Schlegel now works full-time for his previous co-op employer, IntegrateIT, as a program manager, where he gets to share his knowledge with a small team that includes current Asper Co-op students. Planning to continue gaining work experience for now, he hopes to return to research and pursue a master’s degree in the future.

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Congratulations to all students graduating from the Asper School of Business this fall!

In anticipation of this once-in-a-lifetime moment, here are the top 10 ways to have a great convocation experience.

1. Arrive on time. The Fort Garry ceremonies will be held in the Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC). Graduates should report to the James Daly Field House in the Max Bell Centre 60-90 minutes before their ceremony. View the Convocation Day Schedule.
2. Plan ahead and take everything you will need with you. Bring your photo ID, so you are able to pick up your procession card, gown, hood, and mortarboard at the Gaspard table. We recommend leaving other valuables with a friend or family member.
3. Look your best. Convocation is a formal occasion, meaning dress clothes are recommended even if under your gown and hood. Please avoid wearing corsages and boutonnieres, fraternity or sorority adornments, or flowers. Indigenous students can wear traditional Indigenous attire in addition to or in lieu of the other approved academic regalia (gowns, hoods, etc.). You can also pick up an Indigenous graduation scarf at the James Day Field House on the day of your ceremony.
4. Know where to park. Complimentary parking is provided in the U Lot and Q Lot (as seen on the Parking Map) on the Fort Garry campus. Please note that complimentary parking for Fall Convocation will be available all day on October 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th parking will be complimentary until 4:30 PM.  Accessible parking will also be available in the P lot.
5. Make any necessary arrangements for accessibility support. Everyone deserves to have a memorable experience! Contact Student Accessibility Services if you require assistance with seating, sign language interpretation, or other accessibility support.
6. Take graduation photos! Have something to remember this day. Photographers will be present for individual and family photograph sessions before and after the ceremony. A photographer will also be capturing the moment you are handed your parchment.
7. Visit the Alumni photo booths! You’re officially an alumni now! Stop by and capture all the moments at one of two digital photo booths in the Fieldhouse after the ceremony (we’ll send you links to the pics!). Use our photo backdrops to take your own, and chat with Alumni staff, Board and volunteers to find out all the cool perks and opportunities available to you as new UM alumni.
8. Include family, friends and loved ones no matter how far away they are. We encourage graduates to invite guests, but we kindly ask that you limit your in-person guests to five people. Guests should enter the IGAC and take their seats before the ceremony begins. If you have a guest with mobility issues, they should talk to an usher at the door for seating accommodations. Those unable to attend in person are welcome to tune in virtually by accessing the immersive virtual platform and joining the live stream component.
9. Share the experience on social media. Post your pictures and videos using #UManitoba2023 and tag @umanitoba and @umstudent in your Instagram stories for your fellow graduates and the UM community to see!
10. Celebrate! Convocation Day is meant to honour you and your accomplishments while looking forward to the future ahead of you. Join up with family and friends in the James Daly Fieldhouse to enjoy one of the best memories of your lifetime at the ceremony after party. Hosted by the Alumni Association, the celebration will include a DJ, lots of fabulous photo ops, an audio booth to record your alumni advice for others, refreshments and more!

To stay up to date on what to expect on convocation day, visit umanitoba.ca/convocation.

GOVERNOR GENERAL’S SILVER MEDAL

Emily Morrison, Kinesiology and Recreation Management

Growing up in Hartney, Manitoba, Morrison was active in all manner of sports like figure skating, volleyball, softball, and dance while also harbouring a keen interest in math and science. Studying Kinesiology at UM was “the perfect combination” of her interests. Morrison is now graduating with a bachelor of kinesiology and the Governor General’s Silver Medal, awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level.

As part of her degree, Morrison completed the Option in Aging, gaining knowledge on how to best serve Canada’s aging population. Her experience with sports, and the injuries that often result, helped her understand the struggles of not being able to participate in activities you enjoy.

“I hope to help people get active and remain active by sharing the knowledge I have gained, including the benefit that physical activity can have on health and wellbeing. More specifically, its potential to prevent or delay chronic disease development and its benefits for the older adult population,” explains Morrison.

She had the opportunity to do so firsthand in her Leisure and Aging class. “I interviewed my grandma multiple times over the course of two months. I learned about the barriers that she faces to physical activity, considered her interests and what is accessible to her living rurally, and used my knowledge from this class and others to work with her to come up with ideas for how she can overcome those barriers and stay active.”

To complement her studies, Morrison volunteered with St. Amant’s adult recreation program and assisted with research studies on balance control and youth athletes. She was also part of the Bisons track and field teams from 2020-2022 competing in triple and long jump.

Morrison plans to pursue a master’s degree in physical therapy and build a career on helping individuals restore their optimal physical function and return to engaging in the activities they love.

UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA GOLD MEDAL

Kaylene Normand, College of Rehabilitation Sciences

Kaylene Normand wasn’t sure which of the many healthcare fields she wanted to pursue. This fall, she is graduating with a bachelor of respiratory therapy and UM’s Gold Medal, awarded for highest standing in an undergraduate faculty, college or school.

Her motivation is personal, as she explains: “Growing up with poorly controlled asthma, I was familiar with the frustrations and fear that came along with chronic respiratory disease. My asthma often prevented me from participating in activities the way that I would have liked to and made me feel left out as a child. It’s my hope that as a respiratory therapist, I can help people with respiratory disease get the appropriate treatment so that they can do the things they love without having to worry about being able to breathe. Overall, I chose to pursue respiratory therapy because I wanted to help people with respiratory disease improve their quality of life.”

Part of her studies included participating in research projects. Normand received an Undergraduate Research Award to join a team at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba investigating the developmental origins of chronic lung disease. She also assisted with a literature review regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19 and was listed as second author – her first publication.

Normand sees research experience as invaluable to her future career and hopes to continue to contribute to the growth of the respiratory therapy profession in this area.

“The hospital is a frightening environment as a patient, and often a place where people feel that they lose their autonomy and control. The way that I believe I can best combat this is to help patients and their families become well informed by providing them with high quality education; something that I can do best via being involved in research initiatives and learning from other health-care providers with different areas of expertise.”

Morrison will graduate during the Fort Garry Convocation ceremonies on Oct 17. Normand will graduate during the Bannatyne Ceremony on Oct 26. Find out more about Fall Convocation 2023.

The pair will receive the title for demonstrating outstanding distinction in research, scholarship, creative endeavours, professional service and teaching. Up to 3 Distinguished Professors may be named each year, with no more than 25 full-time professors allowed to hold the title at once. Distinguished Professors are appointed by the University’s Board of Governors on the recommendation of a selection committee, which is chaired by the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

This year’s recipients have made significant and meaningful impacts in their fields, gaining worldwide recognition in the process.

Dr. Lori Wilkinson

Dr. Wilkinson’s action-oriented research has been highly influential on policies throughout the world, especially those pertaining to refugees and migrants who are often overcoming significant trauma. As the Canada Research Chair in Migration Futures, Dr. Wilkinson and team are working to generate and share immigration and refugee research to support policy decisions and programming to ultimately help newcomers smoothly transition to living in Canada.

As founder and director of Immigration Research West, with $13 million in grants spanning three continents over the last two decades, Dr. Wilkinson is a highly sought-after expert by governments and not-for-profit organizations. She has assisted governments in Canada, France, Germany and Sweden with the resettlement of Syrian, Yazidi and Afghan refugees and served on the boards of newcomer organizations in five Canadian provinces.

Dr. Wilkinson goes to great lengths to ensure that her work is available and understandable to the organizations that could benefit from it the most. Her philanthropic approach to her sociological endeavours makes her a wonderful teacher and mentor, a prolific expert and an award-winning scholar.

As a professor, Dr. Wilkinson has supervised numerous graduate and post-doctoral students, many of whom have been international students. She was named Professor of the Year in 2008 and received a Teaching Excellence award from the Faculty of Arts in 2017, demonstrating the highest aptitude and raising the international profile of UM.

Dr. Can-Ming Hu

Dr. Hu came to the University of Manitoba in 2005. As an esteemed instructor and pioneering researcher, he used his contacts in China, Germany and at UM to attract over 60 first-rate graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting scientists, many of whom have gone on to take faculty positions.

Dr. Hu was named an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Distinguished Lecturer in 2018. During that year, he would give an astonishing 53 lectures in 8 different countries, at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including the University of Paris-Saclay, Johns Hopkin and MIT. Dr. Hu and team also managed to publish eight papers and two patents in 2018.

Dedicated not only to his research, Dr. Hu is also an exemplary teacher, having taught all levels, from first year to graduate courses. Widely respected and consistently highly rated, he has mentored numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. In the spirit of learning collaboration, Dr. Hu has also hosted several international workshops, including Magnetic North in Canada and the International Symposium on Quantum Hall Systems and Quantum Materials in Germany.

Dr. Hu’s tenacity and deep commitment to research have led to influential publications and patents, along with millions in research funding and cutting-edge training opportunities for students at UM and throughout the world.

Author David Robertson and palliative care researcher Dr. Linda J. Kristjanson will be recognized for their distinguished achievements in the arts and scholarship.

Discover their impact and watch them address the graduates at each of their ceremonies as they receive UM’s highest honour, beginning on Oct. 17.

Dr. Linda J. Kristjanson
BN, MN (Manitoba), PhD (Arizona), AO
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 3:00 p.m.

Dr. Linda Kristjanson has taught us how to have the most difficult conversations, and how to compassionately care for patients and their families facing grim certainties.

Every day, her impact is felt around the world. It began in 1991 when her dissertation exposed the challenges people face when dealing with palliative care. She uncovered the questions and concerns families had but couldn’t bring themselves to ask or say. She illuminated a new field of query and went on to improve palliative care for all.

The University of Manitoba spotted the enormity of her talent early on. In 1993 it recognized her with the University of Manitoba Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Rh award, which is given to early-career researchers showing exceptional promise.

Today, Dr. Kristjanson is considered a pioneer in the field of palliative care, celebrated for the vast contributions she has made. In 2012, for instance, she received the Bethlehem Griffith Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also received the Canadian Nurses Foundation Ross Award for Nursing Leadership in Research, and was named the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s Balfour Mount Professorship in Palliative Medicine, as well as Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Dr. Kristjanson is one of the most highly cited researchers in her field and she has procured more than 110 grants totaling more than $30 million dollars from organizations in Canada, the USA and Australia. This is an outstanding sum matched by few other nursing research scientists.

She is a gifted collaborator, having published with 150 different authors across a number of countries, including at her first alma mater where she has an ongoing relationship with UM’s Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit.

Indeed, her connection to this university has remained strong throughout her career. Before leaving Canada in 1997 to build a program in palliative care at Edith Cowan University in Australia, she served as the co-director of the Cancer Nursing Research Centre at UM.

She left her mark on generations of palliative care nurse researchers in Manitoba and across Australia where she has led and taught for many years. She has done the same on the global stage too, through her involvement with 47 boards and committees, including the International Palliative Care Society, which she founded.

The University of Manitoba is proud to award a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, to professor Linda Kristjanson for her distinguished achievement as a scholar, leader, and a humanitarian who has improved health care everywhere.

David A. Robertson
BA (Winnipeg)
Thursday, October 19, 2023, 3:00 p.m.

David Alexander Robertson is a voice for a new generation, one that smites the stigma of mental illness and unveils truths so that Reconciliation can follow.

As a Cree boy going to school in Winnipeg, Mr. Robertson felt disconnected from his heritage, partly because his school did not teach about Indigenous cultures and histories. But he also found that textbooks on these (or any) matters were uninviting and vapid, unlike comics, which captivated him. Thinking that other children may also be disconnected from their history and textbooks like he was, he began writing graphic novels that not only enthrall, but teach. He firmly believes that understanding Indigenous cultures and Indigenous peoples’ place within Canadian history is imperative for all Canadians.

Today, having written more than 25 books, some of which are now widely used in classrooms across the country, he has brought Indigenous characters and voices into curriculum that for too long had excluded them. His book When We Were Alone, was recognized with many awards, including the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award, and his other works, like The Misewa Saga series, have been a hit with young readers.

Mr. Robertson’s voice is an important one that is helping to spark change. His novels delve into issues of identity, family, connection, and relationships. They offer an open and frank examination of colonialism’s ongoing impact as well as systemic and overt racism.

He also weaves themes of mental health into his writing and his public speaking, providing people with a foundation to understand mental health struggles and see that speaking about it is as normal as talking about having the flu.

His books are nationally known and critically acclaimed, winning numerous awards. Indeed, Mr. Robertson’s memoir Black Water: Family, Legacy and Blood Memory earned the 2020 Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award, won the Alexander Kennedy Isbister award for non-fiction, and was named Book of the Year by the Globe and Mail and Quill & Quire. He also received the 2021 Writers’ Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award.

Mr. Robertson asks people of all ages to think, to understand, to imagine, and to help build a better society. The University of Manitoba shares this vision. For his outstanding contributions in the arts and distinguished achievements, the University of Manitoba is proud to award a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, to David Alexander Robertson.