WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg Alumni Association will honour noted journalist and Winnipeg Free Press Editor Margo Goodhand (BA Hons. ’79) with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the University’s Spring Convocation Ceremony for the Conferring of Degrees in Arts on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. at The University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre.
Alumni Association President Mike Cook (BA ’80) lauded Goodhand saying, “The Alumni Council selected Margo not only because of her remarkable career in journalism, but also because of her lifetime of service to her community, especially to those who are among our province’s most vulnerable.”
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Goodhand graduated from The University of Winnipeg in 1979 with an honours degree in Politics and English. Goodhand then went on to complete post-graduate studies in Journalism in British Columbia.
Her career began as a journalist for the West Ender in Vancouver. From there she became the first female news editor in Medicine Hat. This led to working for both the Winnipeg Sun and the Winnipeg Free Press. Goodhand has been a reporter, columnist, copy editor, and section editor. As a result of her journalistic talent and dedication, in 2007 Goodhand was named Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Under Goodhand’s leadership, the Winnipeg Free Press won the Excellence Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation and a Michener Citation for meritorious public service journalism in 2009. Goodhand published the first ever “pink” newspaper in 2008 as a way to increase awareness of breast cancer.
Goodhand believes in the integrity of journalism and is an active mentor to journalists and students. She also serves on the National Newspaper Board of Governors, the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, the John Dafoe Foundation Board of Governors and the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Manitoba.
Margo Goodhand was nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award in spring 2011 and was selected by a vote of the Alumni Council, the representative body of the Alumni Association that is comprised of more than 42,000 graduates of The University, United College, Wesley College, and The Division of Continuing Education.
