Those in attendance were celebrating milestone reunions (10, 25, 50 years, etc.), with some having graduated as long ago as 1965. Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said he was inspired to see such a large group of alumni gathered together.

“Congratulations, University of Manitoba alumni, on your milestone reunions,” Nickerson said. “This Homecoming breakfast is always a highlight and the energy in this room is really electric.”

Nickerson updated the guests on several developments underway at the Rady Faculty, including the establishment of the new College of Community and Global Health and construction of the newest building on the Bannatyne campus. The building will open in 2027 and will be home to medical education spaces, the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s new dental clinics, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing and a child-care centre.

Other speakers included Dr. Allan Winchar from the Dentistry Class of 1975, Susan Fogg from the College of Nursing Class of 1975, and current Max Rady College of Medicine student Guneet Uppal.

Facility tours

Following the breakfast, medicine, dentistry and rehabilitation sciences alumni took tours of their respective college facilities.

Medicine alumni from the classes of 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 2000 and 2015 toured the Max Rady College of Medicine skills labs.

Medicine Class of 1975 alum Dr. Frank Martin said he enjoyed the breakfast, tour and spending time with old friends throughout the weekend.

“I thoroughly enjoyed talking with classmates, and catching up with their lives was very special,” he said.

Members of the dentistry classes of 1975 and 2015, and the dental hygiene classes of 1975, 1985 and 2000 toured the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry building. The tours were led by college dean Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis and Mary Bertone, director of the School of Dental Hygiene.

Dr. David Nerman from the Dentistry Class of 1975 said it was great to be back on campus 50 years after graduation and to see classmates he hasn’t seen in decades.

“I moved to Vancouver three years after I graduated,” he said. “I attended the 40-year reunion, when only nine people showed up, but that was really nice, too. There’s about 14 or 15 of us here [out of 28 grads]. We were a very close-knit class, and it’s like we’ve never left.”

Occupational therapy department head Dr. Leanne Leclair led tours of the updated facilities at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences for alumni from the 1975, 1985 and 2000 physical and occupational therapy classes.

Standing in one of the new physical therapy classrooms, alum Lori Anne Lobb said she enjoyed seeing the modern facilities and reconnecting with her classmates.

“I haven’t seen some of these people in 50 years. We’re having a great time catching up,” said Lobb, who currently works part-time as a physiotherapist in Gimli. “I’m still having fun.”

Other Homecoming events

The College of Pharmacy held a celebration the previous evening at the Apotex Centre on the Bannatyne campus, where alumni learned about the facility and today’s student experience.

“In 1965, it wasn’t the pharmacist’s role to share any prescription information with the patient. People swallowed, inserted, inhaled or applied meds without ever knowing [the meds’] names,” said Muriel Barber from the BScPharm Class of 1965.

“Any questions or concerns were directed back to the prescribing physician, and as pharmacists, we didn’t talk to patients much at all. There was very little collaboration between our two professions back then — what a stark contrast to current practice.”

Dr. Hope Anderson, dean of the college, addressed the alumni, along with Kyra dela Cruz, student council president.

“It’s really special that you would travel and make the time and the effort to come back and reconnect with each other,” Anderson said. “And it suggests to me … your time as pharmacy students was meaningful in a very positive way.”

The College of Nursing welcomed alumni from the classes of 1975 and 1985 to a reception and tour of the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing on the Fort Garry campus, also on Sept. 19.

College dean Dr. Kellie Thiessen updated the group on current activities at the college and thanked them for their service as nurses. Other speakers included Nursing Students’ Association senior stick Mariam Yusuf and Diane Cepanec from the Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

John Russell, from the Nursing Class of 1985, said he was very impressed with the tour, which included the college’s state-of-the-art simulation and virtual reality labs.

“I know what virtual reality games are like, but to actually be able to do that interactively with a virtual patient is pretty neat,” he said.

Watch a social media reel from the events.

A focus of this year’s edition is access to justice and legal education, as Dr. Richard Jochelson points out in his “Message from the Dean.” “Thanks to a transformative $4.5 million grant from the Manitoba Law Foundation, we introduced three new bursaries: the Truth and Reconciliation Bursary, the Equity and Transformation Bursary, and the Northern, Remote & Rural Access to Justice Bursary. These bursaries will significantly increase opportunities for students from historically underrepresented communities and strengthen the profession’s diversity.”

Further, he shared that new programs including the Prison Law Clinic, the International Human Rights Clinic, and the Internationally Trained Lawyers (ITL) Program would help move access to justice forward significantly for the benefit of marginalized and underserved communities.

The magazine features an In Memoriam piece for the late Honourable Murray Sinclair an alum of 1979 who returned to the law school regularly to give lectures and special presentations. Also featured are profiles of the 2024 Alumni Award recipients, The Honourable Judge Catherine Carlson [BA/83; LLB/86] and Kevin Sharma [JD/19; LLM/22].

Significant news stories include a report on a special lecture featuring renowned advocate Marie Henein, held in honour of Harry Walsh O.C. Q.C. after whom Robson Hall’s Moot Courtroom was named; the launch of a new podcast studio in the MLT Aikins Classroom; and a sneak peek at new graduates in “Meet a few members of the Class of 2025.”

The Faculty of Law Alumni Magazine 2025 is available to read online.

Here’s what to expect: 

Doors open at 12:00 p.m.

• Enter through Gates 1, 2 or 3 at Princess Auto Stadium
• Free parking in U lot off Chancellor Matheson Rd.
• New Bisons apparel, along with the Mondetta x UM collaboration, will be available at the Merch Pop-up on the concourse!

Bisons Homecoming Football Game 

• Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium 
• Cheer on the Manitoba Bisons vs. Alberta Golden Bears! Be part of the excitement and celebrate the NEW Bisons logo! 
• Enjoy music from Morgan Grace at halftime!

Kid’s zone  

• Billy the Bison’s B-day Party
  • 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on the concourse near the Gate 3 entrance
  • Join UM’s beloved mascot, Billy the Bison, and mascot friends from around the city! Kids can enjoy carnival games, face painting, and loot bags. Arrive early and get a free cupcake!

Community and alumni engagement 

• Alumni Lounge  
  • 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Pinnacle Club 
  • Reconnect with fellow alumni and faculty over bar service and live music.

• Speaker Series powered by the Free Press  
  • Join us in the Pinnacle Club for these exciting speakers!  
    • 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Southwood Circle
    • Greg Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer, UM Properties, will lead a presentation about the future of the Southwood Circle development. 
    • 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Homegrown Drones with UM Knowledge Exchange
    • Join Annemieke Farenhorst (AVP Research) and Andrew Bowman (UM STARlab) and discover the drones and satellites built and used in Manitoba research on land, in the sky and in orbit. Get an up-close look at the ArcticSat, nanosatellite, research rovers and high-tech attachments like thermal cameras and radars which will all be on display.  
    • Halftime (approximately 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.) – Mondetta x UM
      Hear from UM alumni and Mondetta co-founders, Prashant and Ash Modha, as they discuss building a global brand from Winnipeg, rooted in sustainability and ethical production. Learn more about how Mondetta went from its iconic flag designs and retro flair, to its newest luxury boutique and partnerships with the Jets and now UM!

• Campus Tours and Scavenger Hunt  
  • Hourly from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
  • Register ahead of time to secure your spot for a guided campus tour or scavenger hunt.
  • Meet outside Gate 1 at Princess Auto Stadium for campus tours and the scavenger hunt. 

Educational and interactive activities on the concourse 

• Visit the following UM faculties and programs for engaging activities: 
  • UM School of Art: Craft table for creative fun 

• • Desautels Faculty of Music: Try a new instrument and make some noise! 

• • UM Heart Garden: Fill out orange hearts in support of the Heart Garden at UM 

• • UM Extended Education: Enjoy a game of cornhole 

• • UM Libraries/Archives: Discover historical photos and insights into UM’s history 

• • Price Faculty of Engineering: See drones and robots from UMUAS (Drone Team) and UMRT (Robotics Team) in action 

• • Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources: Pick up fun stickers 

• • IDEA START: Play a fast-paced board game themed around innovation, showcasing UM’s Innovation Hubs and I-VIC community outreach 

• • St. John’s College: Enjoy games for all ages, alumni nostalgia activities, and the chance to win SJC gear! 

• • UM Student Recruitment: Apply before December 1 for a chance to win a $5,000 tuition prize 

• Visit the faculties and programs on the concourse to learn more about: 
  • UM Faculty of Social Work 

• • Asper School of Business 

• • UM College of Nursing 

• • Faculty of Arts 

• • Indigenous Engagement & Communications 

• • Indigenous Student Centre 

• • Indigenous Leadership Programming 

• • Indigenous Birding Club 

• • Indigenous Student Recruitment 

Support our campus community 

• Bring a Tin for the Bin! 
  UMSU and the UM Food Bank are partnering for a food drive at the Bisons Block Party. We’ll be collecting food donations to support students in need and raise awareness about food insecurity on campus. Learn more about the most needed items. 

“This is what being a Bison is all about,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch. “Homecoming gives us the chance to come together, celebrate our community and show what makes the University of Manitoba so special.”   

Tickets for the Bisons Block Party are free and available through Ticketmaster. For groups of 10 or more, please register here. 

To explore the full schedule of events and register, visit the Homecoming page. 

See you there! 

Dr. Patricia Kmet, a recently retired Winnipeg dentist who has served as president of the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) and for several years chaired the annual MDA convention, will receive the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM Dental Alumni Association.

Mary Bertone, a faculty member who is director of the UM School of Dental Hygiene and past director of UM’s Centre for Community Oral Health (CCOH), will be recognized with the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association.

Dr. Patricia Kmet

Kmet was raised by Ukrainian immigrant parents in Winnipeg’s North End. She earned her UM bachelor of science in 1983 and graduated from the UM dental school in 1987.

She practised at Regent Avenue Dental for 35 years, from 1989 until her retirement in 2024. She was a board member of the MDA from 2002 to 2009, serving as president in 2008-09.

For 10 years she was a part-time instructor in the restorative and pediatric departments at UM’s Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. She also served as a longtime examiner for the National Dental Examining Board of Canada.   

Kmet’s honours from the dental community include being inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the International College of Dentists. She received the MDA President’s Award of Merit in 2022.

Recently, she has given back to UM by fundraising for the leading-edge dental clinics planned for the Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Centre, now under construction on the Bannatyne campus.

Kmet has also generously given her time to the Ukrainian community, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the Kyiv Pavilion at Folklorama and Holy Family Home.      

Mary Bertone

Bertone earned her diploma in dental hygiene at UM in 2005. She also holds a bachelor of science and master of public health from UM. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in rehabilitation and health leadership at Queen’s University.

She has led the School of Dental Hygiene since 2014 and concurrently led the CCOH from 2017 to 2021.

Her provincial and national leadership roles have included serving as president of the Manitoba Dental Hygienists Association and the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Throughout her career, Bertone has been committed to improving oral health care for underserved populations, including elderly people, those with disabilities, care home residents, people in remote communities, Indigenous people and newcomers to Canada.

In spite of her leadership commitments, she continues to maintain a clinical practice in the northern community of Churchill. She has twice been honoured with the UM Community Outreach Award.

Bertone has also been involved in many research projects, on topics such as the promotion of early childhood oral health.

Her nominators for the Alumni of Distinction Award wrote that she “has selflessly and significantly contributed to the dental hygiene profession through her extensive leadership, community involvement, collaboration, health promotion and volunteer experiences.”

Tickets for the Sept. 19 Alumni of Distinction Awards Evening at the Fort Garry Hotel, honouring Kmet and Bertone, are available through the UM Dental Alumni Association website. The event will also pay tribute to the Dentistry Class of 1975.

This free, all-ages event runs on the concourse from 12 to 5 p.m. and brings alumni, students, families and friends together for an afternoon of fun and celebration. 

Here’s what you can look forward to: 

• Bisons Homecoming Football game

• Alumni lounge

• New Bisons athletics logo reveal 

• Kid’s zone 

• Billy the Bison’s Bday Party 

• Merchandise pop-up shop featuring the new Mondetta x UM collaboration

• Live entertainment 

• Speaker series 

• Prizes and giveaways

• Free parking

• And much more! 

Billy the Bison’s Bday Party is one of the day’s family-friendly highlights, celebrating their 40th birthday with cupcakes, face painting, bouncy castles and visits from local mascot friends. Billy’s milestone birthday will be celebrated throughout the Bisons Block Party for fans of all ages. 

It’s all part of Homecoming 2025, taking place from September 18 to 20. Explore events across campus, including the 66th Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration of Excellence Gala, the Homecoming Concert, Bisons Soccer games and campus tours. 

Tickets for the Bisons Homecoming Football game will give you access to all the Bisons Block Party activities. Registration is free and available through Ticketmaster. For groups of 10 or more, please register here. 

Tickets for the Homecoming Bisons Soccer games are available on Ticketmaster.

Tickets for the Homecoming Concert are free and available through Showpass.

To explore the full schedule of events and register, visit the Homecoming page. 

See you there! 

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.

“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.   

“Canada does not have enough workers for the future,” says Yvonne Kinley from Economic Development Winnipeg. Kinley joined Extended Education’s Acting Dean Rod Lastra and Program Manager Paul Jenkins for our Homecoming 2022 webinar.

According to Statistics Canada, all provinces except the Maritimes are continuing to experience low unemployment and our population growth has slowed, from  1.2 per cent in 2019 to .only 71 per cent in 2020. As well, the gap between the general population and the working-age population is growing.

“We need to build a sustainable talent pipeline. The goal is to create a robust economy to provide opportunities for the future. Investment follows talent,” says Kinley.

She explains that skilled workers earn higher wages and support economic growth. Manitoba businesses want to increase their ability to retain youth and attract skilled workers from other provinces. More skilled workers can attract more companies that create more jobs.

“There is a global shortage of talent.”

Understand employer need
To benefit from this shortage, graduates must understand what their potential employers need. Businesses are looking to increase their productivity and potential employees should showcase what they can do to support and improve business.

“Businesses love hiring UM grads. They have fantastic knowledge. But they are also wishing students had more chances for business experience and to develop skills you need to have for a job. Those are what we call the soft or power skills. The way to improve them is by sheer practice. Work opportunities are really important to gain skills. Businesses have a role to provide them,” says Kinley.

Retired professionals and fellow alumni can also mentor and create experience opportunities. “A lot of small businesses don’t have the opportunity to offer mentorships. In other countries, for example, they are tapping into the retirement community.”

She reminds grads that not all jobs require a degree from a specific faculty or school. For example, Arts and Science graduates looking for work should consider how to articulate their skills and how those skills might align with business needs. “Don’t just say you have an Arts degree in History. What can you do? That is so important. Translate what you are able to do into business language.”

Struggles to define skills
Understand that businesses are struggling to figure out their current operating models due to many factors: COVID-19, supply chain issues, international wars and conflicts. The move to working from home means any company can now poach local talent. Busy leaders are trying to figure out what they need and how to find it. Articulating this is a challenge because there is no common language for skills. And when it comes to post-secondary training with a large institution like UM, they are often unsure how to go about it.

That’s where Canada’s Skills Strategy comes in. But we don’t have one yet.

While other places like Singapore and the United Kingdom have a skills and qualifications framework and learning strategy, “Within Canada, there is no national strategy,” says Rod Lastra. “We need to work together to reimagine learning for a working world.”

Lastra highlights how the working world is changing from an industrial one to a digital one. “The transition will require upskilling and reskilling (continuing education). A major shift in skills is needed for economic development based on the requirements of industry,” he says.

The current labour market has its challenges. Unemployment of Indigenous, minorities, and adults 55 and older is high. Not everyone has equal access to reliable internet. Parents need childcare. Lifelong learning must be accessible and equitable, says Kinley.

The business community is interested in diversity and inclusion. And from a business perspective, lifelong learning involves more than just university. It’s not the university’s role to fill every need. The value to the employer is to be able to train a person in a short amount of time in order to increase productivity.

“It’s not as straightforward as taking a course and moving forward in your career.”

Paul Jenkins agrees, noting he often receives requests for faster and cheaper education options from partner organizations.

So, businesses need skilled workers. Graduates need skills. What are those skills and who needs to contribute in order for you to get them? The discussion continues.

In the meantime, post-secondary must prepare youth for work and grads have additional opportunities to embrace lifelong learning.

Be self-aware
For grads, being self-aware is very important, says Lastra. “To learn a lot of soft skills and apply critical thinking.

“The future is uncertain. It will include disequilibrium and disruption. It will require a greater collaboration between education and business, innovation in higher learning, and refining lifelong learning,” he says.

Graduates will need to upskill and reskill in order to succeed in their careers. But they are starting with a good foundation.

“It is surprising how much people don’t know about what we do know… You know more than you think you know.”

Take that knowledge, and build on it.

Watch the webinar 

It is the first time since 2019 that in-person events have returned, bringing back many of the traditional celebrations like the Rady Dean’s Homecoming Breakfast for University of Manitoba alumni and community. If you are unable to attend in person, there are some virtual options available as well. Come together and celebrate what it means to be part of the University of Manitoba community past, present and future.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE GALA

Date: September 22, 2022

Cocktails: 5:30 p.m.

Dinner:  6:30 p.m.

Location: Manitoba Room, UMSU University Centre

Join the UM community during Homecoming 2022 to celebrate the accomplishments of five remarkable UM alumni.

This year’s recipients are:

• Arnold Naimark [B.Sc.(Med.)/57, MD/57, M.Sc./60]
• Charlie Spiring [BComm(Hons)/80]
• Peter McPherson [B.Sc.(Hons.)/86, M.Sc./88]
• Pam Klein [M.Ed./83]
• Carly McLellan [BA/16, MD/20]

Learn more about the Distinguished Alumni Awards.

MAX RADY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Class of 1972 Dr. Arnold Naimark Lecture in Medicine and Society

Date: Friday September 23, 2022

Time: 12:00 noon

Location: Frederic Gaspard Theatre, Bannatyne campus

“Mindfulness in Medicine”

Speaker:  Edward Berinstein [MD/72] is a Fellow in the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

His clinical work includes all facets of family practice. Dr. Berinstein’s introduction to Mindfulness

Medicine occurred in the 1970s when he arrived on BC’s Sunshine Coast. He began hosting meditation groups in the 1990s which led him to the work of Jon Kabitt-Zinn in 2003.

Dr. Berinstein trained at the Centre for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

The lecture lecture can be viewed by livestream here: https://media1.cc.umanitoba.ca/TheatreA.html

For more info see the event listing.

DR. GERALD NIZNICK COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY

UMDAA Alumni of Distinction Awards

Date: September 23, 2022

Cocktails: 6:00 p.m.

Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Fort Garry Hotel

The University of Manitoba Dental Alumni Association in partnership with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the University of Manitoba School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association is pleased to present their annual celebration of alumni.

DEAN’S HOMECOMING BREAKFAST

Date: September 24, 2022

Registration: 8:30 a.m.

Program begins: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Brodie Atrium, Bannatyne campus

This event is open to Rady Faculty of Health Sciences alumni who are celebrating milestone reunions.

COLLEGE OF NURSING

College Tour and Reception

Date: September 24, 2022

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, Fort Garry campus

Open to all nursing alumni. Tour of the College of Nursing including the simulation centre. Immediately following the tour there will be a reception with refreshments.