Bob Silver, UWinnipeg Chancellor
The University of Winnipeg is pleased to honour Bob Silver — University Chancellor, UWinnipeg Foundation Board Member, and community leader — with the 2018 Duff Roblin Award in recognition of his contributions to education and community through visionary business leadership, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
Silver will be honoured at the 12th annual Duff Roblin Award Dinner on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at The Fort Garry Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre in Winnipeg.
“Bob Silver is a dedicated champion of UWinnipeg and has provided tremendous leadership in Manitoba. His commitment to service and his tireless efforts to improve the lives of others is a perfect example of the qualities we value and celebrate with The Duff Roblin Award,” said Dr. Annette Trimbee, UWinnipeg President and Vice-Chancellor. “The University of Winnipeg is extremely proud to recognize Bob’s contributions with this honour.”
For more than 35 years, Silver has made an extraordinary contribution to the business and community sectors at the local, national and international levels. He is the president and co-owner of Western Glove Works Ltd. and co-owner of Urban Barn, Auld Phillips, and Comark retail chains. Additionally, he is a co-owner of the Brandon Sun, the Winnipeg Free Press, the CanStar Weekly, and Derksen Printers in Steinbach. He was also a founder of Canterbury Park.
In the business community, he has been involved on a number of boards, including CentrePort Canada, the Business Council of Manitoba, the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, and the Winnipeg Convention Centre. He was co-chair of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.
In the community-at-large, Silver gives his time to a multitude of causes. He helped spearhead the campaign to build the new Millennium Library, as well as the Grow Winnipeg initiative of the Jewish Federation. He is a past chair of Destination Winnipeg (now Economic Development Winnipeg) and the United Way of Winnipeg, and is a current co-chair of We Day Winnipeg.
Silver has received many honours, including the Order of Manitoba and The University of Manitoba’s Alumni of the Year award. Both JNF and the B’nai Brith have honored him as Man of the Year and in 2002 he was awarded an honorary degree from Red River Community College. He was also recognized by the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce as a member of the Business Hall of Fame.
Silver’s commitment to The University of Winnipeg extends far beyond his roles as Chancellor and Foundation Board member. He and his wife, Kim, are dedicated donors with particular interest in building pathways to education and supporting under-represented and non-traditional students on campus.
“I am honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Duff Roblin Award and be named amongst so many other incredible Manitobans who have given so generously of their time and talents to improve the fabric of our campus, city and province,” said Bob Silver. “I believe in giving back to the community and one of the best ways to advance society is through education.”
Established by The University of Winnipeg and its Foundation in 2007, the Duff Roblin Award recognizes outstanding Manitobans who, like former Premier and inaugural recipient The Honourable Duff Roblin, have made lasting and meaningful contributions to their community and especially to the advancement of education. Past honourees include Tom Jackson (2008), Kerry Hawkins (2009), Edward S. Kennedy (2011), Charles S. Coffey (2012), Jan Belanger (2013), Gail Asper (2014), Justice Murray Sinclair (2015), Dr. Gerry Price (2016), and Dr. Bob Kozminski (2017).
Since the first event in 2007, more than $800,000 has been raised in support of Community Learning initiatives, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Scholarship Fund, and the Duff Roblin Scholars Fund, which is now close to $1.2 million.
For more information or to attend this special event, please contact organizers at fdnevents@uwinnipeg.ca or 204.415.2472. Tickets and sponsorships are available, with proceeds benefiting academic and community programming at The University of Winnipeg.
