The University of Winnipeg is hosting a retirement party to honour Laurel Repski on Friday, December 7 at 2:30 pm in Convocation Hall. Laurel has served UWinnipeg for 12 years and retires as the Vice-President of Human Resources. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Laurel has built enduring relationships and helped contribute to UWinnipeg’s evolution since her arrival in December 2006. Laurel was instrumental in creating a fair, equitable, and inclusive work place, and UWinnipeg wishes her the very best for her next chapter.
We sat down with Laurel recently. Here are some things about her you maybe didn’t know:
Do you have a favourite spot on campus?
Actually, I have several – Wesley Hall speaks to me – Convocation Hall in particular; the spot in Manitoba Hall with the stained glass; and Riddell when it is full of students or people – I love the energy.
What will you miss the most?
The people, of course – I have had the opportunity to work with the most amazing team – I feel that HR is one of the best teams on campus (OK, likely I am pretty biased – but in the spirit of transparency, I really do feel that way!); and working with Dr. Annette Trimbee and the Executive team has been a real privilege. I will miss the faculty and staff who are so dedicated and committed to our students and work to fulfill our mission and Strategic Directions. I will miss the fall energy that comes when the students return to campus – being surrounded by students has helped me to stay young in my thinking, and kept me up to speed with new trends.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Outside of the physical transformation of the campus, the change in how human resources is viewed on campus has been a significant change, and one of my favorite accomplishments.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
I have so many things that human resources has been able to accomplish – building respectful and effective relationships with our unions; negotiating so many collective agreements, including three first contracts with the Public Service Alliance of Canada; many of the sustainability initiatives and accomplishments that I have been able to support at the executive level; and, of course, all of the friendships and relationships that I have been able to develop over the past 12 years.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Travel and golf
What is your favorite word?
Oh, that’s a tough one – resilience, integrity, patience.
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Law or if I could sing worth anything, to sing…..unfortunately, my dad (Len Cariou) did not pass down that skill/competency to me… sigh.
