Among those in attendance were classmates celebrating milestone reunions dating back to the 1960s to 2014 and from across all Rady colleges. Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said he was delighted to see classmates reconnect. 

“During Homecoming, I always feel a tremendous sense of pride at how the University of Manitoba produces outstanding health professionals and researchers who go above and beyond in terms of dedication and service, and who give back to UM in so many ways,” said Nickerson. “You are all an inspiration.” 

Speakers included Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, provost and vice president (academic), Dr. Lorna Guse from the nursing class of 1974 and Dr. Richard Blouw and Dr. Eric Sigurdson from the medicine class of 1974.  

Blouw spoke about the quality of education he received, the Class of 1974 gift in honour of their 50th reunion (and advising classes to start earlier!), and what it was like being part of the first medicine class to start the program with President and Dean Emeritus Arnold Naimark [MD/57] as dean, who was also in attendance. 

“I am proud to see the breadth and depth of my classmates. I smile when I see ‘University of Manitoba Class of 1974’ on somebody’s website…our education at this institution has put us on sound footing virtually anywhere in the world, and I am very grateful for it,” he said. 

Madison Chambers, fourth-year dental student and senior stick, also spoke. She talked about the role technology has played in her education, the excitement around the new state-of-the-art dental clinic currently under construction at Bannatyne campus, and what it was like starting her dental education during a global pandemic.  

“Our early days were far from typical…but that experience taught us resilience and adaptability, qualities that will serve us well in the profession,” she said. 

Following the breakfast, guests toured Bannatyne campus and their respective colleges. Eight medicine classes (1969, 1974,  1979, 1984, 1989, 1999, 2004 and 2014) visited their graduation photos, the Dr. George Yee Laboratory for Anatomical Sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Clinical Learning & Simulation Program’s skills lab. 

Medicine alumni, like UM associate professor of pediatric surgery B.J.Hancock, class of 1984, and her classmates were wowed by the new anatomy lab and its state-of-the-art equipment that allows students and residents to practice diagnostic procedures and treatments in an interactive, simulated environment, while also facilitating hands-on practice of clinical procedures. 

Members of the dentistry classes of 1981, 1984 and 1991, and the dental hygiene classes of 1974 and 1999 toured the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry building. The tours were led by Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, and Mary Bertone, director of the School of Dental Hygiene.  

On the tours, alumni reminisced about their time at the dental college. Some shared stories about professors, others sat in their old seats in a lecture hall and a group spoke with a student about the current curriculum and compared it to when they were studying dentistry.  

The college also held a Community Dentist Appreciation Day for the Dr. Sam Borden Periodontology Clinic’s referring dentists and prospective new dentists.  

Class of 1974 and 1999 alumni from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences toured the college’s building and the “smart suite” at Health Sciences Centre. The tour was led by faculty members Lisa Mendez and Liz Harvey, who are both members of the class of 1999.  

Class of 1974 physical therapy alumnus Vern Taylor said he was impressed with the tour, especially seeing the labs where first-year students were practicing for upcoming exams. 

“The facilities are fabulous. I’m very happy for the tour, it ties it all together. It makes you feel the history and it was really nice meeting the students in the building – it was accidental, but awesome. It’s a joyful experience,” Taylor said. 

The College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing held receptions and tours of their facilities the previous evening.  

Pharmacy alumni from the classes of 1999 and 1974 toured the lecture theatres, patient care labs and pharmaceutical research labs at the Apotex Centre.   

Dr. Lavern Vercaigne, acting dean of the College of Pharmacy, provided greetings and updates on the PharmD program to alumni, and Marc Herrera, fourth-year PharmD student and past-president of the student council, spoke to the classes about the changes to the profession and their current training. 

Kelly Drummond, senior instructor with the college and a member of the class of 1999, said she enjoyed reconnecting at the events.  

“It was wonderful to see so many of my classmates, some whom I hadn’t seen since we graduated. I was pleased by our turnout and it certainly didn’t feel like 25 years had passed,” she said. 

Nursing alumni from the classes of 1974, 1984 and 1999 alumni toured the college’s simulation and skills and virtual reality labs at the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing on Fort Garry campus.  

Class of 1974 alumna Marion McKay, a former instructor at the college, said she was impressed with how far simulation learning had come since she retired in 2018. 

“I think it is very exciting and a wonderful way for students to learn. It must feel real to them, but they can make mistakes. Making mistakes is a learning experience and not something you want to do in a clinical setting. To be able to do that and not be worried about the state of the patient while you do it, I think that is just incredible,” she said. 

Watch a social media video with highlights from the events. 

A focus of this year’s edition is clinical learning, as Dr. Richard Jochelson points out in his “Message from the Dean.” “We are proud to announce the opening of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, providing specialized legal support to the arts community, and we are also preparing to open an International Human Rights Clinic. Together with Legal Aid Manitoba, we are partnering on a new Prison Law Clinic,” he explained.

The magazine features profiles of the 2023 Alumni Award recipients, Bradley Regehr, K.C. [LLB/96], Heather Wadsworth [JD/15], and Dr. Brent Roussin [JD/09]. Spotlighted is Marion Ironquil Meadmore, C.M. [LLB/77] who was presented with an Honourary Doctorate of Laws at this year’s Spring Convocation ceremony.

Significant news stories feature the Moot competition program, the opening of the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, and major changes made to the Master of Laws program.

The Faculty of Law Alumni Magazine 2024 is available to read online.

This year, St John’s college invites alumni to a special edition of the lunch and lively series, where food, conversation, and history will be the focus of our celebration.

SJC is proud to welcome back alumni for one of the year’s top releases from the University of Manitoba Press, “The Honourable John Norquay”, authored by retired SJC fellow Gerald Friesen.

In a book with forty years in the making, this small thesis project has become a lifetime of Gerald’s work featuring Manitoba’s own, John Norquay.

The book showcases a biography of John Norquay, the Premier from Red River, offering insights into his legacy and views on the political landscape. 

The lunch and lively event will take place in the Cross Common Room (Room 108) at St John’s College on September 17 from 12 to 2 p.m.

To save your spot, RSVP by emailing to Development Coordinator, Edmund Opoku Agyeman. 

Click to learn more about Gerald Friesen’s book. 

The family tailgate party will be full of fun. Enjoy prizes, giveaways, face painting, bouncy castles, mesmerizing magic performances, and even a chance to snap a photo with Cinderella, Spiderman and  the iconic Grey Cup. Plus, the first 1,000 guests through the gates will receive a sample of UM Dairy Club’s newest ice cream flavour, made in collaboration with OMG. You won’t want to miss the exhilarating half-time show featuring the incredible X-Treme Dogs who will wow the crowd with their high-energy races.  Bring your family and friends and join the excitement!

The Bisons, already off to a 2-0 start on the season, is packed with experience and hoping to keep the momentum going. This Homecoming game also marks the last for head coach, Brian Dobie who, last month, announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign after 29 seasons. What a perfect time to show your Bison Pride and cheer on the team to a their third win of the season.

Homecoming football game details:

Date: Saturday, September 14
Family Tailgate Party: 1 p.m.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Location: Princess Auto Field
Opponent: University of Alberta Golden Bears

Claim your free tickets using the following promo codes:
Students: UMSTUDENT24
Faculty and staff: UMSTAFF24
Alumni: UMALUMNI24

Homecoming 2024: Sept. 14-21

Homecoming is always more than just a game—it’s a celebration of community and connection! Whether you’re an alum, student, or a fan, homecoming is the time to unite and share your Bison pride with something for everyone. Reconnect with fellow alumni, reminisce about your time on campus, and make new memories all week, September 14 to 21. We can’t wait to see you there.

Visit the Homecoming website for information about events happening throughout the week.

1. Homecoming is not…just for older alumni and major milestones.

“Homecoming is a great reason to come back and celebrate your connection to University of Manitoba,” explains Bowman. “Whether you love football, music, art, lectures, campus tours or reunions, there is something for every alum, whether you’re a new grad, you graduated 25 years ago or you graduated 50 years ago. It’s also an opportunity to spend quality time with your family and friends on campus, a place you spent some of your most formative years.”

2. Homecoming is not…boring and stuffy.

“Homecoming has a long and storied history, but every year we put a fun and modern twist on this tradition!” says Bowman. “We’re kicking off Homecoming with a fun and exciting family-friendly event in the Bisons Football Game and Tailgate Party. Our exceptional UM musicians and singers will be showing off our brand-new concert hall up close and personal.  Every single year, something changes on campus and there’s always something new to see and discover when you come back and visit. Not only can you reconnect with your faculty, but you can also enjoy the celebrations with the greater UM community. Campus comes alive with a vibrancy during Homecoming as alumni of all ages mix and mingle on campus with the students – the next generation of alumni!”

3. Homecoming is not…just a football game.

“We start off with a football game, but we also celebrate,” explains Bowman. “It’s a great way to see our wonderful alumni, faculty and student musicians who put on a wonderful concert that’s open to everyone in the community. We also have a School of Art demonstrations where you can literally see what our School of Art students are doing, whether it’s pottery, drawing, sculpting and more. Whether you live in Hong Kong or whether you live in Winnipeg, you can participate in a learning for life opportunities. And we also use Homecoming as a wonderful environment to celebrate some very distinguished alumni during the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala, where we share their stories and recognize the meaningful impacts they’ve made in every sector imaginable.”

4. Homecoming is not…just for alumni.

“It’s a great excuse for alumni to come back to celebrate with their fellow classmates, but really Homecoming is open to our entire community, including students, faculty, staff, and the community at large,” says Bowman. “It’s meant as a place to celebrate UM and participate in campus events. Most of our activities are free, whether you’re alumni or not. We’re opening the doors to our beautiful campus because we live in Winnipeg, we are proud of serving Manitobans, so we’re showing our community that UM is a destination to learn, create, work and play..”

5. Homecoming is not…just for adults.

“There are so many different opportunities, no matter the age,” says Bowman. “We encourage everyone to bring their kids and their grandkids to many of activities, and the one that usually is a very big family favorite is the Bisons football game. Kids get in free and there’s lots of great family-friendly activities at the tailgate party.  You won’t want to miss it. You don’t have to be a football fan to have fun at this beloved tradition!”

We can’t wait to see you back on campus for Homecoming 2024. Visit our webpage to learn more about the week’s events and celebrations.