“We have nearly 200 University of Manitoba alumni here today. What an impressive turnout! It’s wonderful to see alumni from across North America coming together and representing the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Max Rady College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS),” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Among those in attendance were classmates celebrating milestone 55^th, 50^th, 40^th, 25^th and 10^th reunions from across the health professions. They heard from dentistry student Winnica Beltrano, Class of 1973 nursing alumna Carolyn Hill-Carroll, Class of 1973 pharmacy alumna Lesley Buhr and Class of 1983 CoRS alumna Dr. Barb Shay.

At the event, Nickerson noted several developments underway at the Rady Faculty, including expansions to the number of students in the MD, respiratory therapy and nursing programs. He also acknowledged the graduation of the first doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) class, and plans for a new multipurpose building being constructed on Bannatyne campus starting this fall.

The new building will feature seven new dental clinics at which dentistry and dental hygiene students will deliver supervised care to the community. The plans include creating over 80 state-of-the-art dental operatories.

Following the breakfast, guests toured around Bannatyne campus learning about Indigenous medicines at Ongomiizwin’s Medicine Garden, Mashkiki Gitigaan, and visiting the George Yee Laboratory for Anatomical Sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine.

“Thank you for a lovely Dean’s Breakfast and an enjoyable reunion for our class. We would like to not go another five years before meeting again,” noted Class of 1983 medicine alumna Helga Sickert.

College of Rehabilitation Sciences alumni got to see inside the college’s “smart suite” at Health Sciences Centre, a model apartment equipped with user-friendly assistive technology used to assess ergonomics and support independent living.

“Coming back here, I felt like I was in a time machine,” said physical therapy Class of 1973 alumna Janice Edwards. “It’s been very eye-opening. The technology, the robotics and distance learning, it was all very impressive.”

The event was the centerpiece of a week of Rady homecoming celebrations.

Pharmacy alumni reception

On the afternoon of Sept. 22, the College of Pharmacy held an Alumni Reception at Apotex Centre.

“Please join me in welcoming alumni from the classes of 1973, 1983 and 2013 as they celebrate their 50th, 40th and 10th milestone reunions,” said dean of the College of Pharmacy Dr. Lalitha Raman-Wilms before the crowd of more than 30 alumni broke out into applause.

As well as Raman-Wilms, Tracy Bowman, executive director of UM Alumni Relations, gave welcoming remarks. Madison Wong, a PharmD student and past president of the UM Pharmacy Student’s Association, and Jaden Brandt, a member of the pharmacy Class of 2013, also addressed the audience.

Following the reception, the alumni went on tours of Apotex Centre.

“The venues, to say the least, were idyllic and made the Pharmacy Class of 1973 both envious, and so proud of all the changes that have come to pass and those yet to transpire,” said pharmacy Class of 1973 alumna Lesley Buhr following the tour of Apotex.   

College of Nursing celebrates 80 years

Nearly 90 people attended a homecoming brunch honouring the College of Nursing’s 80-year anniversary at Marshall McLuhan Hall on Sept. 24.

“Over 80 years, the College of Nursing has had the privilege of concurring more than 10,500 nurses and nurse leaders who have inspired us with invaluable contributions to health care in Manitoba and around the world,” said Dr. Netha Dyck, dean of the College of Nursing.

Following the brunch, guests toured the college’s facilities at Fort Garry campus, including the state-of-the-art simulation and virtual reality labs.

“Nursing didn’t have its own building back in our day,” said Class of 1973 alumna Betty Lou Rock. “We didn’t have all the incredible facilities and wonderful classes that you have today that we are super impressed with.”

Rock, who retired in 2019 after spending her career working in critical care, spoke at the event, as she celebrated her class’s 50-year anniversary.

“Fifty years is a long time, but we’ve been having lots of fun getting reacquainted. We’re all retired now, but I look around here and I think we can all be proud of the contributions that we made to health care in Manitoba and in other provinces,” she said.

Speaker Ari Al Khafagi, senior stick of the Nursing Students’ Association, said she was drawn to nursing by the challenges of the COVID pandemic and was impressed with how her professors and classmates worked through that time.

“I’m proud to be part of this resilient community that perseveres through challenges and emerges stronger,” she said.

Dentistry alumni awards

The annual Alumni of Distinction Awards Evening took place Sept. 22 at the Fort Garry Hotel. Dr. Gerald Niznick, a member of the Class of 1966 and the namesake benefactor of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, and his wife, Reesa, were guests at the event.

Dr. Aaron Kim, a 1987 dentistry alumnus and professor of restorative dentistry at UM’s dental school, received the Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM Dental Alumni Association.

Kim joined the full-time faculty in 2011 and is the former associate dean (clinics) at the college. Since 2002, Kim has organized humanitarian dental missions and led the establishment of dental clinics in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Guatemala.

“I would like to dedicate this award to my family, my teachers and friends,” Kim said. “I have been blessed with so many good people in my life. I can not pay back all the love and blessings you have given me, but I can only pay it forward.”

Kellie Watson, a 1995 School of Dental Hygiene alumna, received the Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association.

Watson was the inaugural registrar and executive director of the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba, and was a member of the teaching faculty at the School of Dental Hygiene. She has worked as registrar and CEO of the Saskatchewan Dental Hygienists Association and was the assistant dean of the dental assisting program at the University of Saskatchewan.

“I was really so fortunate to receive my education from this institution,” Watson said. “It certainly provided me with a strong foundation in dental hygiene theory and practice, but more importantly, I received the guidance and mentorship from so many exceptional faculty that inspired me to do more and to be more.”

The event also paid tribute to the dentistry classes of 1971 and 1973.

Watch a social media video recapping the events.

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.   

Executive Director, Alumni Relations Tracy Bowman joined CBC and Global Winnipeg Morning Show to highlight some of the events happening on campus.

Homecoming 2023 is September 19-23, 2023.

CBC Weekend Morning Show listen here

All UM students, staff, faculty and alumni are welcome to attend. 

Here’s what to expect for Indigenous Homecoming 2023 on September 20, beginning at Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge. 

10 a.m. – Welcoming remarks 

10:15 a.m. – Living library. Guests will rotate between invited alumni as they share about their student experience and career path. 

12 p.m. – Lunch will be served in the Circle Room at Migizii Agamik. 

1 p.m. – Walking tour begins 

The walking tour will begin after lunch. The tour will highlight Indigenous spaces at UM, including the Faculty of Education’s new gathering place, Gaa-maamawabing, and the new Sweat Lodge on campus. 

UM alumna Adrienne Carriere participated in last year’s event, and for her, Indigenous Homecoming is a time to connect as an Indigenous community. 

“The laughter, visits and conversations with alumni and colleagues is always a gift to cherish and an opportunity to talk about pathways that may create a better experience for future generations,” says Carriere. “Most importantly, it recreates a sense of community that is a reminder of how far we have come, the strengths we possess as a community and the many individuals who work tirelessly to create a brighter journey for those who will come behind us.” 

The event will wrap up at 3 p.m. and guests are welcome to join for all or any part of the festivities. 

Guests are asked to register here in advance.  

First up, free events: 
 
September 19, get up close with a live recording of UM’s podcast series, “What’s the big idea?” with President Michael Benarroch in conversation with prolific writer, professor and Indigenous activist Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair. Listen in as President Benarroch and Dr. Sinclair unpack “the big idea” that we are all deeply invested in reconciliation, whether we recognize it or not. 

September 20, network with some of our amazing Indigenous alumni at Indigenous Alumni Connect. After the networking session, join a guided tour of the Fort Garry campus that will highlight Indigenous spaces and art installations that celebrate and honour the Indigenous campus community. 

Stay for a celebration of music and art at 7 p.m. on September 20 with a concert and art demonstrations, featuring performances and works by students and faculty of the Desautels Faculty of Music and the School of Art at the Tache Arts Complex and ARTLab. 

September 23, wear comfy shoes and take a walk down memory lane or learn more about the Fort Garry campus with an interactive and informative outdoor campus walking tour, which takes approximately 60 minutes. 

Register for all FREE Homecoming events here. 

More great events:

Homecoming week always takes time to honour some of our greatest alumni and this year for the Distinguished Alumni Awards on September 21 at 6:00 p,m., UM is honouring seven inspiring alumni in five award categories: 

• Moses (Moe) B. Levy [BComm(Hons)/73, MBA/74] (Lifetime Achievement) 
• Colin Neufeld [BEnvD/00, MArch/03],  Johanna Hurme [BEnvD/99, MArch/02] and Sasa Radulovic [BEnvD/99, MArch/03] of the 5468796 Architecture Inc. leadership team (Professional Achievement) 
• Tracie Afifi [BSc/99, MSc/03, PhD/09] (Academic Achievement) 
• Howard Morry [BComm(Hons)/81, LLB/84] (Community Service) 
• Mihskakwan James Harper [BSc(ME)/17] (Outstanding Young Alumni) 

Share your excitement for Homecoming 2023 and your love for the herd, by taking in the UM Bisons football game on September 23. There will be a family-friendly tailgate party at 1:00 p.m., with kick-off at 2:00 p.m.

Alumni can get up to 4 free tickets for all regular season home games using promo code UMALUMNI23. Faculty and staff can claim 2 free tickets using promo code UMSTAFF23 and students ALWAYS enjoy free entry to Bison Home Games. 

Claim your tickets. 

Additional events or ideas to consider:  

• In a milestone year (grad year ending 3 or 8)?  See if your class is hosting a reunion.  

• Work with Alumni Relations to set up a future class reunion 
• Many other events hosted by UM faculties, colleges, schools and departments.  

If you want to show your UM pride, there is some UM and Bisons merchandise being sold especially for Homecoming 2023, but only while quantities last, so buy your merch now. 

Would you like to get involved as a volunteer? Homecoming 2023 and the Distinguished Alumni Awards are looking for volunteers to help with the events. Contact Amy Brake in Alumni Relations at amy.brake@umanitoba.ca to learn more. 

Events are open to all, and new events are getting added, so bookmark the Homecoming 2023 schedule  and register now!