Great West Lifeco Chairman of the Board Ray McFeetors made a generous personal contribution of $1.67-million towards a student housing complex that will bear his name.
Kelly Morton/UWinnipeg.ca photo
WINNIPEG, MB – UWinnipeg Alumnus Dr. Raymond L. McFeetors, a Collegiate and University of Winnipeg graduate and Chairman of the Board of Great-West Lifeco Inc., has embraced the University’s vision of a greater downtown campus for the community, making a personal gift of $1.67-million that will launch development of an innovative student residence for The University of Winnipeg.
Great-West Life has committed a further $1-million to the project, for a combined gift of $2.67-million to help make the student residence come alive. The new student facility, to be named McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence, will be built on the north-east side of UWinnipeg’s future Richardson College for the Environment & Science Complex on Langside Street.
“There are times when our alumni and corporate partners make gifts that are truly transformational, not only for our University and Collegiate communities, but for our City and Province. This is such a gift,” said University President and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy. “Ray McFeetors and Great-West Life are helping to create an expansion that will fundamentally change student life and revitalize UWinnipeg’s campus and surrounding neighbourhoods. This important new facility will offer excellent and affordable housing right on campus so that our students and people in the community have a real opportunity and proper support to achieve their goals and dreams.”
This lead gift to the new student residence is one of the largest campaign gifts to date, bringing the University’s A World of Opportunity campaign achievements to more than $58-million toward a goal of $70-million. McFeetors is a member of The University of Winnipeg Collegiate Class of 1965, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2006, and was awarded a University of Winnipeg Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) in 2007 in recognition of lifetime achievements.
“I am honoured, as an alumnus of both The Collegiate and University, to make a gift today that gives back to this community in a way that will help others benefit, as I have, from higher education at this important institution. As a rural student living in residence on campus in the 1960s, I benefited from my Collegiate experience. I then received an invaluable university education that set me on my life path,” said McFeetors.
“At Great-West Life, we are committed to taking an active leadership role in the communities we serve,” added McFeetors, “We take pride in knowing that our support to Winnipeg’s downtown University campus and surrounding community will help bring new vitality to the inner city. We are pleased that future students, whether fresh out of high school or returning to school as mature students, will benefit from affordable, quality housing to help them achieve their dreams and goals in life.”
McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence will feature housing for rural and out-of-province students, mature students and their families, and international students, attending The University of Winnipeg as well as other educational institutions. Plans call for townhouse-style units – an initiative also supported by $500,000 in funding from the Government of Manitoba’s Housing Development and Rehabilitation Fund – featuring street level entrances.
Also in the plans are dormitory-style units on the upper floors to accommodate more than 175 students in single rooms and multi-bedroom suites, with facilities for private and shared bathrooms and cooking units. Student common rooms, lounges and ancillary space will provide opportunities for students to experience University campus housing at its best.
Adjoining the facility will be The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) child care centre for approximately 120 children from both the University community and surrounding neighbourhood. The day care will include outdoor play areas in an enclosed green space.
“The University is pleased to have the confidence of Dr. Raymond McFeetors and Great-West Life. Their outstanding gifts will bring a whole new meaning to life on campus for The University of Winnipeg,” said Campaign Chair R.M. (Bob) Kozminski, a member of The University of Winnipeg Foundation’s Board of Directors. “This support continues a tradition of important philanthropic contributions by Great-West Life and its leadership to our University.”
Click here for Backgrounder on McFeetors Hall Environmental Technologies
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Diane Poulin, Communications & Marketing Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
Marlene Klassen, APR, Assistant Vice-President, Communication Services, Great-West Life
P: 204.946.7705, E: marlene.klassen@gwl.ca
