Internal Family Campaign Vice-Chair Mavis Reimer, Honorary Chair Dr. Henry Duckworth, Chair Lloyd Axworthy, Campaign Chair Bob Kozminski, and Chancellor H. Sanford Riley at the opening of the new Wesley Hall doors and launch of the internal Family Campaign.
The University of Winnipeg announced today a significant boost for student awards and fellowships thanks to both a successful internal fundraising campaign and a generous gift from the University’s Chancellor H. Sanford Riley.
A combined gift of $2 million from faculty, staff, retirees, and the Chancellor is the largest of its kind to date for the University’s fundraising efforts and the greatest show of support ever from the University’s internal community.
Faculty, staff, and retirees have made gifts and pledges totaling a record-breaking $1-million in response to the internal fundraising campaign launched at the start of the academic year.
“Our faculty and staff have made a major investment in our academic growth,” said University President Lloyd Axworthy, who also chairs the internal campaign. “Every day, they give generously of their time and talents to our students. It is not surprising then that they would want to extend that generosity by making this kind of financial commitment as well.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor Riley’s gift will benefit the study of Canada’s history through a new fellowship fund. The H. Sanford Riley Fellowships in Canadian History are designed to initiate dynamic relations between The University of Winnipeg and the country’s top historians.
“Our country’s history must be taught, celebrated, written about, and shared with others in ways we can get excited about,” said Chancellor Riley.
The fellowships will enable these historians to visit the University to undertake research projects, conduct academic seminars, and offer public lectures on the history of Canada. Each fellow will be invited to deliver a Distinguished Lecture to the community and to develop an interest in Canadian history among high school students.
“Chancellor Riley’s gift demonstrates his extraordinary commitment to our future, helping us build on our centres of excellence, attract top-notch students, and connect our University with additional gifted faculty from the broader academic world,” added Dr. Axworthy. “It reinforces the importance of the study of history for all Canadians. He is a great Canadian and we are pleased that he has chosen to lend his generous support to the success of the Internal Campaign in this way.”
The University of Winnipeg’s sixth Chancellor, Riley is a tireless worker at the local and national levels. From his efforts as a past Chair of the United Way Campaign, to his leadership with the highly successful Pan American Games, Riley has helped shape the positive reputation of Winnipeg and Manitoba abroad. Chancellor Riley is a member of Canada’s National History Society board of directors and is the inaugural Chair of The University of Winnipeg Foundation Board. The Foundation is currently in the quiet phase of a major fundraising campaign, chaired by local business person R. M. (Bob) Kozminski, in support of The University of Winnipeg.
Susan Thompson, President and CEO of The University of Winnipeg Foundation, praised Chancellor Riley as a good friend of the University with a benevolent goal. “He is a proud Canadian and we are grateful for his support of the Internal Campaign and the broadening of interest in Canadian history that will be achieved as a result of the H. Sanford Riley Fellowships in Canadian History.”
English Professor Mavis Reimer, Canada Research Chair in the Culture of Childhood, and Vice-Chair of the Internal Campaign, added: “Support from academic and administrative staff and retirees has been inspiring. The enthusiasm shown by the internal community demonstrates to our alumni and external partners our confidence in the future of The University of Winnipeg.”
