This year’s celebration honoured 10 exemplary individuals, including a Chancellor Emeritus and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Congratulations to all the 2025 honourees.

Chancellor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Anne Mahon with certificate for Chancellor Emeritus.

Ms. Anne Mahon served with distinction as the University’s 14th Chancellor from 2019 to 2025, where she brought compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to community to her role. A bridge-builder and philanthropist, Ms. Mahon is known for connecting people and inspiring positive change. Her work at the intersection of storytelling, community-building, and education has amplified the voices of those marginalized and often unheard.

Ms. Mahon has dedicated herself to volunteerism and advocacy, including working closely with United Way Winnipeg, founding and facilitating the Bookmates Book Club at the Women’s Correctional Centre, and volunteering with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Humankind International, and Palliative Manitoba. Her leadership and compassion have left an enduring mark on the University of Manitoba, thereby earning the title of Chancellor Emeritus.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Leslie Roos with certificate for Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

The University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Leslie Roos the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. An influential scholar and innovative leader in population health and health policy research, Dr. Roos joined the University of Manitoba in 1973. Over the course of his distinguished career in the Faculties of Administrative Studies (now the Asper School of Business) and Medicine, he helped establish the university as an international centre of excellence in health services research and data-informed policy.

As a founder of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Dr. Roos led the creation of its internationally respected population health database, enabling groundbreaking studies on the health and well-being of Manitobans. He has played a central role in training and inspiring a generation of researchers whose work continues to shape Canadian health systems and stands among the most influential contributors to health policy research globally.

Professor Emeriti:

• Dr. Harold Aukema
• Dr. Ying Chen
• Dr. Kevin Coombs
• Prof. Herbert Enns
• Dr. Elissavet Kardami
• Dr. Eberhard Renner
• Dr. Wayne Simpson
• Dr. Qiang Zhang

To learn more about the 2025 honourees, please visit the Emeritus/Emerita Titles webpage to read their individual citations.

Emeriti titles are one of several awards given annually by the university in celebrating and recognizing the success of colleagues and other distinguished individuals. Learn about the university awards nomination process.

“Business is a powerful tool of change, and it must be about more than just profit. It must drive positive social and ecological change,” says Michael Benarroch, UM president and vice-chancellor. “Thanks to this selfless gift to our university, we will spark big ideas that will change how we think about and do business, and that will change the world.”

From engineering to entrepreneurship

An award-winning businessman, activist and philanthropist, Chiu grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Hong Kong before moving to Canada to pursue an engineering degree. He says UM provided him with the foundation and education to pursue his dream. As the founder of Calgary-based Trico Group, Chiu, alongside wife Eleanor, have exemplified what it means to build communities through business. Through their decades of work building homes, supporting women, families and new Canadians, and restoring communities in need, they’ve shown what’s possible when business puts people first.

In 2004, Trico was on a corporate retreat in Thailand when a catastrophic tsunami hit. As he clung to a tree watching misery below him, Chiu had an epiphany that led to him and his wife launching the Trico Charitable Foundation in 2008 that focuses on helping businesses solve problems in society.

“We are facing significant challenges in our society, from climate change to social inequality, and we need people who can come up with creative solutions,” says Chiu. “Throughout my career, I’ve always put community first. I firmly believe that doing well by doing good is not only the right thing to do but is also good for business. Through the Centre, students will learn to use entrepreneurial skills to create positive social change.”

Empowering students to lead with purpose

The Chiu Centre will be a university-wide initiative designed to advance our understanding and practice of fully harnessing the power of business models to enhance social impact and foster community, care and compassion. Students will benefit from:

• Research opportunities: Engagement in research focused on systems thinking, social innovation, and business models for social change.
• Thought Leadership: Stimulating thought and culture change in capitalism to the entire UM student body via promoting business models that address social and ecological crises facing humanity.
• Real-world experience: Co-op opportunities, internships, and hands-on projects in companies and organizations that promote progressive and innovative approaches to business, including not-for-profits, Indigenous nations and companies promoting or adopting business models for social and ecological impact.
• Career development: Exposure to purpose-driven careers through speaker series, mentorship, projects, and networking opportunities with national and international stakeholders.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Opportunities to work across faculties within UM through embedded programming and student advisory boards.

“The Centre will empower our students and future leaders to approach business with compassion, drive innovation with purpose, and create meaningful impact, all while advancing a culture that keeps community at its core,” says Bruno Silvestre, Dean, I.H. Asper School of Business.

A national leader in this space

This new Centre represents a bold, forward-thinking approach to business and research.

“In the next 10 years, we as a society, as a business school, and university, need to think about how we harness the power of business for greater social impact. We have an opportunity to be a national leader in this area with this Centre,” says Bruno Dyck [BComm(Hons)/84], inaugural Director and Norman Frohlich professor in Business Sustainability at the Asper School of Business.

While ideas like this are often led by fields such as sociology or economics, it’s groundbreaking to see this kind of leadership coming from a business school. By bringing together experts from across disciplines, it challenges the traditional profit-only model and calls on companies to “make the move” toward advancing social and environmental wellbeing alongside economic success.

“I’ve been a graduate student for a number of years, and I have always felt that there was a need for the university and the business school to do more in terms of setting a path for the local community and beyond,” says graduate student Arjun Odedra. “The Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community will be an important resource for both undergraduate and graduate students to help bridge the transition from ideas to actions, serving as a focal point for the community and allowing students to learn about and interact with businesses that are anchors of communities – that harness the intrinsic good that business was meant for.”

A centre built for impact

The Chiu Centre will not only support students, but it will also foster a culture shift in how business is taught and practiced. Rooted in Manitoba, the Centre is poised to inspire collaboration across the province’s business community and beyond. It has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to lead a new movement in which purpose and profit work together to drive sustainable growth and positive change.

Supported by an endowment fund, the Centre will provide sustained resources for leadership, programming, and research, ensuring long-term impact for UM and the broader community.

Learn more

You can hear more insights from Bruno Dyck on the latest episode of What’s the Big Idea podcast.

—

What does a future fuelled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.

This year’s program focused on innovative and sustainable transportation solutions to meet the needs of Canadians. Each group of students received training in entrepreneurial and creative problem-solving, as well as pitching their ideas. They collaborated on projects to examine the realities of public transportation in Manitoba and design game-changing solutions to address the challenges they identified.

Daniel Heschuk and Shad students at a coaching session.

“Coaching the Shad participants has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. In just one month, I’ve had the opportunity to see an exceptional amount of growth in these students as they work in teams to solve a complex problem,” said Daniel Heschuk, program development specialist at the Science Innovation Hub, Faculty of Science.

The highlight of this program, hosted by several faculties at UM, is the unique opportunity for students to travel to Churchill. This year, the journey took on a new dimension through the lens of transportation, where the very act of reaching Churchill turned into an educational experience: a nine-hour bus ride to Thompson, followed by 16 hours on the train through the boreal forest and tundra.

Shad students at Churchill.

“The Shad students’ journey to Churchill offered a profound lesson in what it means to truly understand and appreciate life in a remote northern community. The distance alone underscores both the remoteness and the resilience that define life in these communities,” said Associate Dean (Administrative) Krystyna Koczanski.

Immersed in this journey, students experienced firsthand both the stark beauty and the daily challenges of life in the region.

Shad students at Churchill with Danielle Pahud.

“Once there, we toured the Churchill Marine Observatory and discussed how the proposed shipping port—and climate change in general—might affect the quality of the waters and ice, as well as the living beings that depend on them,” said Dr. Danielle Pahud, program director of Shad Manitoba and instructor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “For example, we visited Polar Bears International to learn about how polar bears live and depend on Arctic sea ice. We also spent time on the water learning about and interacting with the beluga whales. It was a memorable, wonder-filled experience that I am grateful we were able to provide to the Shads. I hope they have returned to their homes and are sharing how special Churchill is with their friends and family all across the country.”

Krystyna Koczanski and Janine Carmichael at Shad students’ presentations, 2024.

Koczanski also emphasizes that these experiences serve as a reminder of why young people need adventure and courage to embrace uncertainty and risk: “This experience nurtures deeper empathy, respect, and awareness of what it means to live where geography and climate shape resources and opportunities.”

To see the students in action, please visit the Faculty of Science’s YouTube channel.

The program is made possible through strong collaboration across the university, working closely with Laurie Schnarr, Vice-Provost (Students), and supported by the office of Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

You can read more in The Free Press

VIBE is hosted by Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP). Located within the Drake Centre, this unit of Asper School of Business supports Indigenous business students as they develop the vision, grit and passion needed to become business leaders of tomorrow.

This year’s VIBE Awards take place November 6, 2025. The two recipients are Cody Gonsalves of Purposeful Movements Ltd. and E. Oliver Owen of Amik Aviation.

The two recipients of this year’s awards tell stories of entrepreneurs who lived through the issues that their businesses solve. They both lead by example, consistently going out of their way to provide the best possible experience for their clients while keeping community at the forefront of decisions.

“In Cody and Oliver’s stories, they followed their personal passions and ended up quickly becoming a staple presence in their respective community circles,” says IBEP Director Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19]. “By staying true to themselves and leading by example, both provide valuable and essential services to Indigenous communities across Manitoba.”

2025 VIBE Award Winner – Purposeful Movements Ltd. (Cody Gonsalves)

Cody Gonsalves used to be a boxer. When he first started, he would move around the ring constantly, trying to fake out his opponent and get the upper hand.

That was, until his coach told him: “Cody, you need to stop wasting energy and move with purpose.”

Cody’s company, Purposeful Movements Ltd., is the full manifestation of his story. He hopes to empower Indigenous individuals to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through exercise. To help people connect back to themselves and reclaim their health, just as he once did.

Of Cree ancestry from Red Pheasant First Nation, Gonsalves struggled on and off over 15 years with “using external solutions such as drugs, alcohol and takeout.” His internal solution was movement: he boxed and got a job as a personal trainer, which showed him focus, discipline, and how to impart those qualities to others. To Cody, movement is medicine.

Along the way, he completed his BComm (Hons) in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, graduating in 2015. His participation in the Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) gave him a strong foundation of mentorship, cultural connection, and entrepreneurial instinct that paved the way for his company’s values.

Purposeful Movements Ltd. works in and together with Indigenous communities, providing in-person and virtual lessons, one-on-one sessions and group classes, to youth and elders alike.

They created an innovative Wellness Ambassador Program, training and mentoring locals to be role models for their community. In May 2025, Purposeful Movements Ltd. collaborated with Indigenous organizations AMC, SCO, MKO & NCN to organize and operate the first Movement is Medicine 5K Walk/Run, which gathered over 200 participants.

Cody’s vision with Purposeful Movements Ltd. is to positively change Indigenous communities by creating strong, resilient individuals that will have a ripple effect across generations.

With every challenge they encounter, Purposeful Movements Ltd. continues to grow while meeting people where they’re at.

2025 VIBE Award Winner – Amik Aviation Ltd. (E. Oliver Owen)

When E. Oliver Owen was growing up, air travel to and from Indigenous communities in Manitoba was difficult, to say the least.

Owen’s hometown community, Pauingassi didn’t have an airport. If you needed a plane, you had to travel more than 40 minutes by boat over mini-rapids, then organize a ground transportation to get yourself the last half-mile to the landing strip. At best, this is a challenge, at worst (in the case of a medical emergency) it’s a nightmare.

Planes were essential for supplies, travel, and medical assistance, but they weren’t readily accessible or affordable. So Owen, who was fascinated with aviation his whole life, set out to change that.

He created Amik Aviation with the simple goal of making air travel more convenient for Indigenous communities.

It wasn’t long before he amassed a network of solutions: he located Amik in St. Andrews Airport, 20 minutes north of Winnipeg; built docks to make landing easy in certain communities; and expanded his operations to Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, Bloodvein, Berens River and Poplar River.

He was awarded the prestigious Pioneer of Flight award by the Manitoba Aviation Council in 2019 for his specific innovation in using the quiet and fuel-efficient Cessna 208—usually used for utility transport—for passenger services. He was the first person to do it.

With a fleet of six planes and close to 20 employees, many of whom speak Ojibwe or other Indigenous languages, Amik Aviation shows no sign of slowing down.

Though Owen has been the cause of seismic change in this area, the little things count just as much. Even the transportation of envelopes used to be tough. Some couriers would charge up to $25 to ship to Winnipeg. Give an envelope to Owen, and he’ll gladly get it there.

The fee? No charge. 

Investing in future Indigenous business leaders

IBEP Director Riley Proulx knows that students will come away from the VIBE Awards with more than they came in with.

“VIBE is a moment where we can reflect on the people who, through their drive, thoughtfulness, and community-involved leadership, inspire us to keep striving for greatness. Our guests are always thrilled to attend and learn about our recipients because they have stories that come from the heart. And for the students, our recipients are reminders that they too can achieve success in business while staying grounded to their communities.”

The VIBE awards directly benefit Indigenous students at Asper. Each year, 100% of event proceeds benefit IBEP students through scholarships, bursaries, academic supports, and more.

___

IBEP offers tutoring, mentoring, financial aid, and more to Indigenous students pursuing a business degree at the Asper School of Business. The annual VIBE Awards Gala is IBEP’s largest fundraising event for these services. Learn more about the 2025 VIBE Awards here.

Hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the event honoured recipients of teaching awards, community engagement awards, Merit Awards, and those granted Tenure.

Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), presented each award and expressed their gratitude to faculty members for their dedication, innovation, and meaningful contributions to the university.

Together, these faculty members are leading the change envisioned in our strategic plan – advancing knowledge, empowering learners, and strengthening connections with communities within and beyond the UM community.

Congratulations to all the honourees:

Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024)

• Sarah Cooper (Faculty of Architecture)

University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) Teaching Award (2024)

• Nandika Bandara (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Campbell Outreach Award (2024)

• Deborah McPhail (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)

Community Engagement Fund Award (2024)

• Jacquie Dawson (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Katrina Dunn (Faculty of Arts)
• Blair Fornwald (School of Art)
• David Herbert (Faculty of Science)
• Richard Milgrom (Faculty of Architecture)
• Victoria Sparks (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Qiuyan Yuan (Price Faculty of Engineering)

Merit Award (2023)

Each year, Merit Awards are awarded to faculty members for their outstanding achievements in teaching, research, scholarly work and creative activities, and service in three different categories. View the 2023 recipient list here.

Tenure (2025)

• Karen Alley (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
• Mandy Archibald (College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Ahmed Ashraf (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Shawn Bailey (Faculty of Architecture)
• Matthew Bakker (Faculty of Science)
• Katherine Boyer (School of Art)
• Kirstin Brink (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
• Jacob Burgess (Faculty of Science)
• Sean Carleton (Faculty of Arts)
• Jeremy Chopek (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Sarah Cooper (Faculty of Architecture)
• Bruno De Oliveira Jayme (Faculty of Education)
• Lucy Delgado (Faculty of Education)
• Elsie Duff (College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Katrina Dunn (Faculty of Arts)
• Paul Durkin (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
• Sherif Eltonsy (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Amy Farrell (Faculty of Education)
• Moni Fricke (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Lauren Goegan (Faculty of Education)
• Gayle Halas (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Sreemali Herath (Faculty of Education)
• Junyon Im (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Meaghan Jones (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Muhammad Kabir (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Aaron Kim (Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
• Karl Kohut (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Kaarina Kowalec (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Susan Logue (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Shannon Moore (Faculty of Education)
• Vimi Mutalik (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Shaylene Nancekivell (Faculty of Arts)
• Chris Pascoe (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Kiran Pedada (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Beryl Peters (Faculty of Education)
• Julie Pfeffer (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Dake Qi (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Fabio Ragnelli (Faculty of Music)
• Diana Sanchez-Ramirez (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Jill Stobart (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Patricia Thille (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Brandon Trask (Faculty of Law)
• Dana Turcotte (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Miguel Uyaguari (Faculty of Science)
• Shaowei Wang (Faculty of Science)
• Jennifer Watt (Faculty of Education)
• Ratchel Zeng (I. H. Asper School of Business)

The year associated with each award differs due to the timeframe of program. Learn more about the awards on the Faculty Awards webpage.

The Faculty Recognition Reception honoured recipients of Teaching and Community Engagement Awards, Merit Awards and those granted Tenure. Hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the event marked an occasion to celebrate the achievements of some of UM’s dedicated faculty members.

Congratulations to all the honorees:

Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023)

• Bruno Dyck (I.H. Asper School of Business)

University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) Teaching Award (2023)

• Youngjin Cha (Price Faculty of Engineering)

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Campbell Outreach Award 

• 2022 – Hee Jung Serenity Joo (Faculty of Arts)
• 2023 – Randy Herrmann (Price Faculty of Engineering)

Annual Community Engagement Award (2024)

• Polina Anang (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Julien Arino (Faculty of Science)
• Jacquie Dawson (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Adam Muller (Faculty of Graduate Studies)
• Janine Newton Montgomery (Faculty of Arts)
• Brandi Smith (Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management)
• Katinka Stecina (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Mario Tenuta (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)
• Shirley Thompson (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources)
• Heather Watson (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Andrew Woolford (Faculty of Arts)
• Carla Zelmer (Faculty of Science)

Community Engagement Fund Award (2023)

• Shawna Ferris (Faculty of Arts)
• Zana Lutfiyya (Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice, St. Paul’s College)
• Emily McKinnon (Access & Aboriginal Focus Program, Extended Education)
• Victoria Sparks (Desautels Faculty of Music)

Merit Award (2022)

Each year, Merit Awards are awarded to faculty members for their outstanding achievements in teaching, research, scholarly work and creative activities, and service in three different categories. View the 2022 recipient list here.

Tenure (2024)

• Kjell Anderson (Faculty of Law)
• Devi Atukorallaya (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Yik Au (I. H. Asper School of Business) 
• Nandika Bandara (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)
• Denice Bay (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Lori Blondeau (School of Art)
• Cara Brown (College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Leo Butler (Faculty of Science)
• Amine Choukou (College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Susan Cooper (Faculty of Science)
• Andrew Deruchie (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Philip Ferguson (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Julia Gamble (Faculty of Arts)
• Aleeza Gerstein (Faculty of Science)
• Jason Gibbs (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)
• Colin Gilmore (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Jesse Hajer (Faculty of Arts)
• Sarah Hannan (Faculty of Arts)
• Cameron Hauseman (Faculty of Education)
• Mohammad Khan (Faculty of Social Work)
• Bradley Klus (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Christian Kuss (Faculty of Science)
• RJ Leland (Faculty of Arts)
• Xihui (Larry) Liang (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Robert Martin (Faculty of Science)
• Neil Minuk (Faculty of Architecture)
• Hee Mok Park (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Jeremy Patzer (Faculty of Arts)
• Leslie Roos (Faculty of Arts)
• Soodeh Saberian (Faculty of Arts)
• Ben Schellenberg (Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management)
• Jillian Seniuk Cicek (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Tanveer Sharif (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Science)
• Olivia Wilkins (Faculty of Science)

The year associated with each award differs due to the timeframe of program. Learn more about the awards on the Faculty Awards webpage.

Asian Heritage Month is celebrated at UM with stories and events that highlight members of various Asian communities, along with the research, teaching and advocacy work they do.

 “Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to increase understanding and appreciation of the diversity and richness of Asian cultures, communities and individuals, and to recognize the impactful work and accomplishments of so many at UM,” says Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity) and Distinguished Professor of Chinese History.

“Asian Heritage builds solidarities amongst different Asian communities as we continue our work to dismantle oppression and eliminate anti-Asian racism, and all racisms, on our campuses. At UM, we commit to carrying forward the work from the National Forums on Anti-Asian Racism.”

UM research, teaching and community engagement advances critical understanding of the lives and cultures of Asians in Canada and globally. During her time as director of the UM Institute for the Humanities from 2018 to 2024, professor of English, theatre, film & media Hee-jung Serenity Joo has created models that centre community knowledges and creative projects in post-secondary learning, research and action for anti-racism. Another example is the interdisciplinary project Dried Fish Matters (anthropology), which focusses on a fisheries sub-sector particularly important in Asia and Africa, where women comprise a significant portion of this workforce. Asian Studies courses in the Faculty of Arts further provide opportunities to learn Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages and to study the cultures, politics, and histories of Asian nations, people, and diaspora.

Read on for stories, resources and upcoming events that are open to all.

Celebrating our unique stories

Watch for related content on UM platforms through May in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.

The Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance (REIA) is a student-led community group founded last year by fourth year Faculty of Arts student Allisther De Castro. She is proud of her Filipino heritage and eager to promote multiculturalism and inclusion within the university. (Learn more about Allisther’s story!)

This year REIA hosted its first Empowerment Gala to recognize the diverse cultures at UM. The gala, which took place Sunday, Mar. 31, awarded racialized students and staff based on accomplishments in athletics and sportsmanship, academics, visual and performing arts, and advocacy and representation. 

As a first-generation academic and former international student in Canada, assistant professor of pharmacy Abdullah Al Maruf supports justice, equity, diversity and inclusiveness in his personal and professional life. He co-founded a research network to connect scientists interested in pharmacogenomics research in Bangladesh (BdPGRN) and also founded Prospective Bangladeshi Students in Canadian Universities, a not-for-profit, virtual peer-to-peer support and discussion platform. 

Wayne Chan [BSc/93, BA/00], who works as a data analyst at UM, is also a bit of a history detective — his passion for tracking down stories and tracing unknown histories has led to gems like Winnipeg’s forgotten song and Lost campus, a Google Earth tour that recreates historical UM spaces. His latest, about decoding cryptograms in an antique silk dress (CBC), came from his hobby in cryptography and codebreaking and made world-wide news.

Dr. Gigi Osler [BSc/92, MD/92] is a UM assistant professor of medicine who in 2018 became the first female surgeon and racialized woman elected as president of the Canadian Medical Association. Born in Winnipeg to immigrant parents from India and the Philippines, she was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2022. “We have to be advocates for justice, racial justice, equity and social change,” she says.

Associate Vice-President (Administration) Raman Dhaliwal [B.Comm/07] is the first racially marginalized woman to hold the position and was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022. “Most of the time when I’m at different meetings, there aren’t a lot of people my age, my colour and even my gender sitting around the table with me,” she notes. Dhaliwal counts her parents, who left their homes in India to start a new life in Canada, as her biggest inspiration.

You may be familiar with the colourful artwork of acclaimed Winnipeg artist Takashi Iwasaki [BFA(Hons)/06] — including UM tunnel murals) — he and his wife Shih-Han Iwasaki are currently pursuing graduate degrees at UM. Iwasaki, who is back doing his MFA, grew up in northern Japan and arrived here at age 20, while Shih-Han, who is pursuing her master’s degree at Asper, is from Taiwan. Their two children speak both Japanese and Mandarin, along with English. (Watch for Takashi’s story later this month!)

Community events and resources

Join the learning journey on advancing equity, diversity, accessibility and anti-oppression at UM.

Support the work being done by the Office of Equity Transformation, UM’s Anti-Racism Taskforce and the Office of Anti-Racism (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences).

Check out the many ethnocultural student groups on campus.

Events

Stop by Taste of Asia – Asian Pop Fest! CN Stage at the Forks, May 25 and 26, 2-7 PM daily. Food, music, dance, art, fashion and more! Organized by Foodtrip and Asian Heritage Society MB.

Enjoy special screenings at the FascinAsian Film Festival, coming to Winnipeg May 24 to 26. Celebrating Asian perspectives, culture and integrity in film and media.

Check out additional local events throughout the month listed at Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba.

Watch CanAsian Arts On the Move: An online tour of Canada through its Asian artists in one evening! May 29, 8 P.M.

Upcoming: National Asian Heritage Symposium in Winnipeg. Nov. 6 to 9, 2024.

Resources

See “A Brief History of Asian Canadians,” “Asians in Early Canada,” and “Demographics of Asian Canadians in Manitoba” (Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba).

Winnipeg Public Library Guides: Asian Heritage. Deepen your learning about Asian history and heritage, with information that focuses on Manitoba and Canada. Resources including historical events and timelines, book recommendations!

Visit the Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Culture and Heritage. 

High airport rents, security fees and fuel taxes raise the baseline cost of flying, making it harder for budget airlines to coax budget-conscious Canadians on board.

“The high fees certainly make it more challenging for the discount carriers,” said University of Manitoba transport institute director Barry Prentice.

The market’s decades-long domination by Air Canada and WestJet can also stifle competition, some industry players argue.

Read more

“The success of these projects speaks highly of the quality of new and emerging research at UM,” said Mario Pinto, vice-president (research & international). “I congratulate these twelve researchers on seeking new and cutting-edge ways to address the challenges faced by society.”

The 2023 UM Insight Development Grant recipients are:

Margherita Cameranesi

Margherita Cameranesi, postdoctoral researcher/fellow, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences: Finding Your Resilience (FYRe): Listening to the Voices of Racialized Refugee Youth to Learn About Their Multisystemic Resilience Using a Participatory Action Research Approach

By listening to the voices of racialized refugee youth who resettled in Winnipeg, Margherita Cameranesi seeks to better understand the mechanisms that contribute to their resilience, mental health, and overall wellbeing. She also aims to develop culturally appropriate and trauma-informed resources for racialized youth seeking asylum in Canada.

Sarah Ciurysek

Sarah Ciurysek, associate professor, School of Art: Navigating a land gift as a settler committed to decolonization: a photographic research/creation project

This year Ciurysek (a settler artist) will be gifted a section of land in northwestern Alberta. Being committed to decolonization and reconciliation between settlers and Indigenous Peoples, Ciurysek seeks to examine decolonizing land use options for privately-owned farmland through a photographic interrogation of self, history, and contemporary land use.

Benjamin Collins

Benjamin Collins, assistant professor, Department of Anthropology: Narratives from Fragments: Re-Thinking Narratives of Manitoba’s Archaeology

Indigenous researchers Kayla Shaganash and Brandi Cable, co-applicant Laura Kelvin, and Collins will study archaeological materials from six sites across Manitoba to help inform how Indigenous peoples engaged with landscapes across the past 8,000 years. This project will provide further training for Indigenous researchers and facilitate engagement with Indigenous communities.

Merissa Daborn

Merissa Daborn, assistant professor, Department of Indigenous Studies: The Food Police: Carceral Food Spaces in Winnipeg

In response to recent increased security and policing at grocery stores, Daborn seeks to better understand the impact of surveillance on Indigenous people in Winnipeg, especially as it relates to their ability to achieve food security. This research will document how systematic surveillance practices result in criminalization of racialized communities.

Zhenzhen Fan

Zhenzhen Fan, Assistant professor, Department of Accounting and Finance: Market Crash Risk: Fact or Artifact?

This project seeks to address whether the risk of financial crash is inherent in the market, or if they result from subjective perceptions of investors. By exploring probable triggers for market turmoil, Fan seeks to better inform investors and policy makers and reduce the risk of crash in the future.

Hikmet Gunay, professor, Department of Economics: Anticipated Regret in Second-Price Auctions

Some bidders go bankrupt after winning an auction due to overbidding. In this research, we aim to understand how emotions cause overbidding, and offer solutions to correct it. Governments can use this research when auctioning infrastructure projects which will prevent bankrupts so that the projects will be completed on time.

Gayle Halas

Gayle Halas, researcher, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Homeless, Recovering and ‘Back to the Street’: Identifying the Support Network

Partnering with community agencies and individuals with lived experience of homelessness, the Halas research team seeks to bridge the gap between availability and access to resources/supports needed by individuals experiencing homelessness and discharged from hospital. This project will identify challenges and inform ongoing efforts to launch a Support Hub to facilitate navigation.

Sreemali Herath

Sreemali Herath, assistant professor, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning: Towards inclusive and reciprocal pedagogical practices for all learners: Insights from refugee journeys

Set against unprecedented forced migration, this study aims to document narratives of the refugee journey to Canada. Focusing on refugee families, it aims to develop asset oriented, inclusive and reciprocal curricula that will benefits all learners and provide a broader and more nuanced understanding of refugeeism.

Stephanie Hladik

Stephanie Hladik, assistant professor, Centre for Engineering Professional Practice and Engineering Education: The Impact of Facilitating STEM Outreach: Perceptions, Identities, and Other Impacts

This project works in collaboration with WISE Kid-Netic Energy, a nonprofit STEM outreach organization that recruits undergraduate students from underrepresented groups as facilitators. Hladik seeks to investigate how planning and delivering STEM education impacts how these facilitators perceive STEM fields, develop STEM identities, and gain new skills and career interests.

Jeongmin Kim

Jeongmin Kim, assistant professor, Department of History: Unseemly Military: The Undocumented Workers of U.S. War and Military Occupation in Cold War Asia

This project will engage labor injustice in war and military occupation by offering historical perspectives on contemporary issues of gendered and racialized militarization of everyday life. To understand how local people respond to unfavorable employment in times of war, Kim will investigate cases from 1940s and 50s Cold War Asia.

Suzanne McLeod

Suzanne McLeod, assistant professor, School of Art: Early Distortion: Pinturicchio and the Genesis of a Constructed Image

Possibly the earliest depiction of North American Indigenous people in European art, a recently cleaned Vatican fresco reveals a destructive embryonic stereotype developing alongside Columbus’s 1493 voyage report and the “Doctrine of Discovery”. This project will close an art historical gap by reinterpreting the visual record through an Indigenous perspective.

Virginia Tze

Virginia Tze, associate professor, Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology: Identifying Systemic Barriers Among People of Colour Entering in Professional Psychology

Canada is experiencing a mental health crisis, and People of Colour looking for a psychologist who is also a Person of Colour can expect to wait up to a decade.  This project seeks to understand how to better support People of Colour in becoming professional psychologists, through a mixed methods design.