It is with a deeply sad heart that I acknowledge the passing of Nelson Mandela. The University of Winnipeg students, staff and faculty join the global community in mourning the loss of this extraordinary leader and champion of peace.
In the face of deep oppression and systematic denial of human rights under South Africa’s apartheid system, Mr. Mandela remained a beacon of tenacity and hope for decades. There are few others in history who have had such a profound and positive impact on this world.
His legacy of truth-telling and reconciliation as a process of national healing has had lasting effects beyond South Africa. Rwanda has embarked on its own process of reconciliation. Canada has also started the process of addressing its history of residential schools through the recording of oral testimonies by those affected by the residential school experience and the establishment of Canada’s own Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In 2011 and again this year, UWinnipeg’s Global College has sent students to South Africa to learn first-hand about the history of apartheid and the role of reconciliation in healing.
Mr. Mandela’s influence and inspiration lives on, and will do so for many generations to come.
