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Educator Dianne Leggatt to Receive Honorary Doctorate

Leggatt honored for inspiring young people, promoting education, peace & harmony

Dianne Leggatt

Dianne Leggatt

WINNIPEG, MB – Dianne Leggatt’s 30-year teaching career is marked by her generosity, creativity, compassion and vision. As a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, vice-principal and principal with York Region District School Board, Leggatt focused on helping students reach their full potential. Leggatt – who graduated with a BA from United College in 1964 and Masters of Education from York University in 1987 – will be honored for her achievements with an Honorary Doctor of Laws from The University of Winnipeg at a special convocation ceremony next month.

When Leggatt retired as Principal with the York Region District School Board in 1999, she knew she needed to continue her work in making a difference in the lives of young people. She found this opportunity working and volunteering for the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation. Its mission is to assist young people to attend university or college and inspire them to become responsible, respectful, peaceful, confident and caring citizens.

As a member of the Education Team with the non-profit Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation, Leggatt gives presentations to students and school staff and facilitates workshops on implementing the Future Aces Philosophy and Character Development Program. The Future Aces initiatives benefit more than 70,000 students annually and since 1988, the Foundation has awarded $370,000 in scholarships to students from across Canada who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship qualities.

Leggatt is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Holistic Tourism Education Centre, a non-governmental organization dedicated to developing global sustainability and education programs that educate young people through tourism as a vital force for peace.

“Dianne Leggatt has helped many students reach their full potential,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg. “She gives generously of her time and expertise through her voluntarism to the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation and to the International Holistic Tourism Education Centre and deftly promotes education, peace and good citizenship, making a difference in the lives of young people.”

Leggatt is one of nine people who will receive University of Winnipeg honorary degrees at a special convocation ceremony on Sept. 14, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. in Convocation Hall. She is the fifth individual to be named an honorary doctorate degree recipient. The others are David Bergen, Raymond McFeetors, Honourable Ruth Krindle and Harvey Thorleifson. The University will announce the other recipients in the weeks leading up to its 40th Anniversary Homecoming Event, slated for Sept. 13-16. To register for Homecoming, please visit http://40th.uwinnipeg.ca.

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Located in the heart of downtown, The University of Winnipeg is a compact, diverse, multi-cultural academic community committed to access and excellence. Home to more than 9,200 full- and part-time students, UWinnipeg has been ranked by our graduates in the Top-10 of all Canadian universities when asked about their “Entire Educational Experience” (MacLean’s Graduate Survey, June 2006). The Globe & Mail Report Card 2006 gives the University of Winnipeg an overall “A” grade in the areas of quality of education, teaching quality, class sizes, faculty-student interaction and the availability of faculty outside of classroom hours. Find out why. Visit http://www.uwinnipeg.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ilana Simon, Communications Officer, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9930, C: 204.782.3279, E: i.simon@uwinnipeg.ca

Backgrounder: Dianne Leggatt