Gail Asper
WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg will pay tribute to Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D., at the 2014 Duff Roblin Award Dinner, to be held Tuesday, November 18 at The Fort Garry Hotel. Asper is this year’s recipient of The Duff Roblin Award, which recognizes outstanding Manitobans for their commitment to education and community.
In 2002, Asper became President of The Asper Foundation, a private charitable foundation established by her parents, Babs and Israel Asper. The Foundation supports and initiates numerous projects in Canada and Israel. She has also spent the last 14 years working to establish the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as Canada’s first new national museum in 45 years and the first national museum to be located outside of the capital region.
An avid supporter of numerous arts groups Asper believes in the importance of the arts in building a creative, civil society. She serves and has served on the Boards of numerous not-for-profit arts groups such as Business for the Arts and the Arts Stabilization program and co-Chaired the $11 million Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Endowment Campaign, which followed a $6 million capital campaign also co-Chaired by Asper. She served on the Board and as President of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Arts Centre Foundation.
“Thanks to the examples set by my parents, I believe in the importance of giving back to one’s community and trying to leave the world a better place than the way you found it,” says Asper. “I am honoured to be this year’s Duff Roblin Award recipient and am proud to join the ranks of so many others whose collective commitment to community and gifts of time, talent, and leadership has helped shape the future of our city, province, country and global society.”
With a deep commitment to education, Asper and her family, are long time supporters of The University of Winnipeg and its Collegiate. A generous gift of $3 million from Canwest Global Communications Corp. to renovate and establish the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film has allowed UWinnipeg theatre students and faculty to flourish in a state-of-the-art facility that encourages creativity and learning and is a welcome addition to the arts community, contributing to Winnipeg’s cultural landscape.
“Gail’s ongoing support of UWinnipeg and the Collegiate is a testament to her dedication to excellence in education and encouragement of youth to pursue lifelong learning,” says Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Winnipeg. “Her commitment to community and tireless efforts to improve the lives of others are extraordinary qualities, we are proud to honour an outstanding role model who inspires all of us especially the next generation of students who seek to create a better world.”
Proceeds from this year’s dinner will go towards the Duff Roblin Scholars Fund. This fund provides Graduate Fellowships in the Indigenous Governance and Master’s of Development Practice programs at The University of Winnipeg. Its aim is to enhance educational opportunities for Manitoba’s Indigenous population.
The inaugural Duff Roblin Award was named in honour of and presented to The Honourable Duff Roblin in 2007. This prestigious award recognizes a recipient’s qualities as an outstanding Manitoban, a patron of education, and someone who demonstrates exemplary citizenship and life-long commitment to his or her community. Past recipients include Tom Jackson (2008), Kerry Hawkins (2009), Edward S. Kennedy (2011), Charles Coffey (2012), and Jan Belanger (2013).
For more information on the Duff Roblin Dinner please visit uwinnipeg.ca/index/duff-roblin-award-dinner or contact Dina D’Ottavio at d.ottavio@uwinnipeg.ca or 204.415. 2472.
