“It’s never too late!” Sean Gallop wrote above his graduation photo in a social-media post that would go viral.

He’d just finished law school at the age of 49, decades after he dropped out of high school to work at Pizza Hut. One of the guys he worked with back then was among more than a million people who viewed Gallop’s LinkedIn post. He got a congratulatory message from him — one of thousands from all over the world. Many wanted to know: how did he do it?

“I said, well, just make a plan,” Gallop says in an interview. “If you want to do something, make a plan, start researching and then follow through on your plan.”

It sounds straightforward, but it wasn’t easy. By the time Gallop decided to study law, he’d battled drug addiction, been homeless on the streets of Winnipeg, attempted suicide, and, yes, needed a lawyer. But when he graduated this spring as the oldest student at University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall and began articling at Legal Aid Manitoba, Gallop was fulfilling a teenage dream. He’d wanted to be a lawyer since he was in high school, before he became homeless for the first time as a teen.

“I’d like people to think to themselves that if they had a vision or a dream or an idea or something that they wanted to do, it was given to them for a reason, and it is possible and they can achieve it,” he says. In other words: don’t give up.

“Because, quite frankly, I gave up a long time ago on this, and then it came back around again, and here I am.”

Read the full story at the Winnipeg Free Press.

University Gold Medal

Erin Wieler, Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours Co-op)

The University Gold Medal is an opportunity to honour the best in the undergraduate graduating class of each faculty. A gold medal is awarded to the undergraduate student in the Riddell Faculty who has achieved the highest standing. The 2021 recipient is Erin Wieler. Wieler is graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours Co-op) with a Focus Area in Conservation & Biodiversity and a Minor in Biological Sciences.

Riddell Faculty General Program Medal

Devan Vercaigne, Bachelor of Environmental Studies

Devan Vercaigne is the 2021 recipient of the Riddell Faculty General Medal, awarded for highest standing in a three-year General Degree Program. Vercaigne completed a Focus Area in Policy and Law. Growing up in Winnipeg, Vercaigne set his goals on a career in the environmental field in grade 12. He achieved that goal by graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (General) degree – Vercaigne’s proudest moment as a Riddell student is the completion of his degree in three years!

Vercaigne has been accepted into the University of Manitoba’s Law program and hopes to eventually practice in the environmental law field.

While Vercaigne achieved Dean’s Honours list status multiple times, he is also proud of his extra-curricular achievements as he received many scholarship awards from his hockey league and team, the St. Vital Jr. Victorias of the MMJHL. Vercaigne hopes to still play for his hockey team while attending law school.

Vercaigne credits his great professors for creating a “fun and interactive learning experience that made me happy I chose this path over others”. Vercaigne notes that he was offered an education that covered all aspects of the environmental body of knowledge, which allowed him to gain a great understanding and specialization in this field.

An exceptional student throughout his time at UM, his advice to future students is non-academic in nature. “Don’t be shy! Try to get involved and make connections with not only other classmates, but your professors as well. It makes your 3rd and 4th year a lot more enjoyable when you have many familiar faces around you helping each other reach their goals.”, Vercaigne says.

Congratulations to the Riddell class of 2021!

For more information and messages to the Riddell class of 2021, check out the Riddell Faculty convocation website here. 

Below are glimpses of some of the students featured in the interviews. Please click their hyperlinked names to enjoy their full stories on Instagram.

Juris Doctor Class of 2021

Student leader Daphne Comegan, credits her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and a job working for Cree lawyer and Robson Hall alumnus, Kenneth B. Young [BA/67, LLB/73] as inspiring her to pursue a career in law. In her interview, Comegan advises future law students to, “Do the readings, manage your time accordingly, most importantly take care of yourself.  Love yourself. Heal yourself. Be kind to yourself.”

Suraj Lakhi came from a business undergrad degree with an interest in tax law but discovered a love of property law in Lord John Irvine’s class. Lakhi advises students to, “Be yourself, don’t try to fake being someone else. You were accepted to law school for a reason, so this is the opportunity for the world to see the real you!”

MBA representative and student leader Braeden Cornick deviated from his path to becoming a professor to pursue law instead, where he found an affinity for advocacy. He admonishes future students, “Don’t sit back and let opportunities and chances that Robson is offering come to you. Go and get them from day one and you won’t regret it.”

Moot competition star Amber Harms had come to law school seeking to become a knowledge worker and was transformed by courses offering practical experience including mock trials and negotiations. Advising future law students to make the most of law school, she says, “Make good friends and more importantly, good impressions. Take advantage of every educational and social opportunity that you can fit into your life, and you’ll have an amazing 3 years.”

Master of Laws, Class of 2021

Meghan Menzies [JD/2012] initially practiced in the area of Human Rights and Environmental Law before moving to the University of Manitoba Student Advocacy Office in 2016. Currently serving as the UM’s Human Rights and Conflict Management Officer, she returned to her Alma Mater at Robson Hall to complete an LL.M., graduating this year. Menzies’ thesis was on “The Right to Access to Justice: Expanding the Court’s Protections Against a Complex Law.”

Master of Human Rights, Inaugural Class of 2021

Fortunate enough to have spent her first year of the brand-new Master of Human Rights program in person at Robson Hall, Cara McCaskill counts being able to get to know her classmates as one of her favourite memories. “The members of this initial MHR cohort are some of the most passionate, dedicated people I know, and it has truly been a privilege to be inspired by them,” she says in her Instagram interview.

Coming from a background in politics and human rights, the biggest lesson she learned in this program was resilience. McCaskill advises future MHR students that “The opportunity to gain specific knowledge related to your chosen area within the discipline of human rights is an invaluable resource if you’re wanting to go out into the world and advocate for human rights on any scale. Once you’re here, make the most of your time, it goes by so fast and is over before you know it.”

Ashley Haller likewise counts being able to form friendships with fellow students among her favourite memories. Having studied communications and political science, Haller saw the M.H.R. program as a great way to channel her passion for meaningful social change. Overcoming imposter syndrome was one of her biggest lessons, and she advises future students to get involved, but to also take care of themselves. “Burnout is really common for those in the human rights field, so take rest when you need it.”

Please follow @umanitoba_law and @umanitobamhr on Instagram to read the full interviews with more of the remarkable J.D., LL.M., and inaugural graduating class of M.H.R. students in our Faculty of Law Class of 2021.

The University of Manitoba had a momentous day on Saturday, celebrating the graduation of more than 500 Indigenous students — the largest cohort the university has ever had.

For the second year in a row, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university held a virtual powwow to celebrate its self-declared Indigenous graduates. This year, there are 510.

Kirsten Fleury —  a Métis biology student — was among them.

“I’m just so proud of all of us,” she told CBC Manitoba’s Weekend Morning Show before the ceremony took place.

“I think it’s a great example of showing us that, you know, we’re still here and we’re a really resilient group of people and that we’re just going to keep achieving bigger and better things,” she said.

Graduates to take their bows at virtual convocations

As the Winnipeg Free Press reports:

University of Manitoba students will get an immersive experience through an online platform designed to include a reception area, graduation cap photo booth and alumni hall, in which users can access real-time advice from older alumni….

Ceremony aside, students are missing out on end-of-year family parties and annual graduation powwows.

Nicole Luke, who is finishing her master’s degree in architecture, is taking part in a virtual celebration for Indigenous graduates at the U of M this weekend.

“It feels very relieving (to be done), even though it didn’t quite end the way I wanted it to,” said Luke, who is Inuk from Chesterfield Inlet, in Kivalliq Region of Nunavut.

Luke plans to celebrate convocation with an outdoor bonfire with her roommates, and a nice family dinner.