The University of Winnipeg honoured its retirees at a reception on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Riddell Hall at 2:00 pm. These are some of the photos.
The list of retirees include (in alphabetical order) – Bill Balan, Vern Barrett, Dr. Neil Besner, Dr. Jane Cahill, Clarita Fernande, Dr. David Fitzpatrick, Dr. Cathrine Froese-Klassen, Dr. Joseph Goulet, Marianne Hardy, Cathleen Hjalmarson, Nancy Loadman, Rheal Marion, Richard Martin, Elaine Morris, Gilbert Pelletier, Dr. Evelyn Peters, Lois Pratt-Martin, Leslie Prizeman, Barbara Lynn Read, Dr. Kent Simmons, Judy Tanner, Dr. Sandra Tomsons, Harald Weigeldt, and Dr. Murray Wiegand.
If we added all their years of service together, it would cover more than a century of dedicated work. That is a remarkable amount of time that reflects their commitment and service. The mark these individuals have left on everyone that they assisted, taught or listened to resonates through generations of students and colleagues. You will be missed.
Learn about some of our colleagues* (in alphabetical order).
David Fitzpatrick, photo supplied
Dr.David Fitzpatrick
Dean of Kinesiology and Applied Health, professor
25 years served
What will you miss the most?
The people.
What won’t you miss?
Meetings.
What have your students taught you?
Learning is collective in that all, including student contribute to knowledge.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Campus transformation the past 12 years.
What makes you happy?
Family and friends.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Family and friends.
Favourite accomplishment?
My academic and administrative contributions to the University.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Obligation free days and flexibility. Thanks to UWinnipeg for 25 great years!
Cathleen Hjalmarson, photo supplied
Cathleen Hjalmarson
Department Assistant/Goddess, Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications
20 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
The library.
What will you miss the most?
The people and the atmosphere.
What won’t you miss?
The pace.
What have your students taught you?
Idealism and enthusiasm are alive and well.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Growth: enrollment, infrastructure, technology.
What makes you happy?
Helping someone cut through red tape.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
I want our students to be as excited about learning at UWinnipeg as I was, and when they are, I know we’re doing something right.
Favourite accomplishment?
Letting people know how great Kevin Doyle is.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
More time to follow my nose
Rick Martin, ©UWinnipeg/Cory Aronec
Rick Martin
Associate Dean, UWinnipeg Collegiate
6 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
Wesley Hall.
What will you miss the most?
The students and my colleagues from across the University.
What have your students taught you?
Patience and humility.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The growth of the facilities and the music program in Bryce Hall.
What makes you happy?
Seeing the tremendous growth and pride of our students.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Making little differences one conversation at a time.
Favourite accomplishment?
The growth of dual credit courses and the music program.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Won’t know till I know!!
Lois Pratt Martin, photo supplied
Lois Pratt Martin
Coordinator, Domestic Admissions
29 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
The University Club … always a great place to decompress in the classic building, Wesley Hall.
What will you miss the most?
Interaction with students and the many fine staff and faculty colleagues across the campus.
What have your students taught you?
The importance of living in the moment, optimism, and keeping your thinking young.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The expansion of programs, services, and buildings.
Favourite accomplishment?
My work with permanent residents in navigating for them a new system of education, and my involvement in the Colleague SIS project.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Flexibility to travel, to explore new learning and interests, and more time with friends and family.
Lisa Prizeman, photo supplied
Leslie Prizeman
Humanities Tutor
14 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
My favourite spot on campus is room 2W10. I spent several years teaching in this classroom and the memories of many wonderful students are so closely associated with that space
What will you miss the most?
I will miss the joy of interacting with the students. Their exuberance and joie de vie is infectious…
What won’t you miss?
I will not miss getting up at 5:45 a.m. in the dead of winter.
What have your students taught you?
My students have taught me a kind of humility and awe that can only be experienced in the presence of the young.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
When I was a student at the University of Winnipeg long ago I loved going to Tony’s with my friends for coffee and toast and long meaningful conversations. The restoration of a new Tony’s in Leatherdale Hall is an important change in a world that sometimes moves a little too fast.
What makes you happy?
The warmth of the summer sun makes me happy and the sound of the birds singing in the early morn. I love the sound of children’s laughter as they play outside in the summer.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
I am motivated and inspired by the strength of others whom I see struggling as we all do, with the complexities and difficulties of living a meaningful life.
Favourite accomplishment?
Giving students the tools in the classroom in order for them to be successful adults, and getting to know them and their situations in unique and meaningful ways to support their dreams and aspirations.
Barb Read, photo supplied
Barbara Lynn Read
Coordinator of Adult Learner Services and Recognition of Prior Learning
35 years 8 months served
Favourite spot on campus?
My old office in Graham Hall – equipped with full walls, door and window that opened and where the sun shone in twice per day.
What will you miss the most?
My colleagues and the adult learners I served.
What won’t you miss?
The bureaucracy.
What have your students taught you?
To be open minded, kind and to listen deeply to clearly understand their past and current circumstances and how that fits into their future goals and dreams.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Computer technology – started at the UWinnipeg on a typewriter with a handy bottle of whiteout!
What makes you happy?
Freedom to make my own choices!
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Curiosity.
Favourite accomplishment?
Establishing and developing UWinnipeg’s Recognition of Prior Learning and Adult Learner Services.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Living by my own biorhythm.
Kent Simmons, photo supplied
Kent Simmons
Esquire. Actually: Instructor III, biology
35 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
What will you miss the most?
Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
What won’t you miss?
Just about everything other than… Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
What have your students taught you?
That it is not about me. It is always about them. And this revelation came to me while sitting in the… Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
I’ve lost all my hair.
What makes you happy?
What comes with sitting in the… Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
What comes with sitting in the… Third chair, back corner table, UWinnipeg Faculty/Staff Club.
Favourite accomplishment?
No one told me I was supposed to accomplish anything.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Second chair, Center table, Squirrel and Birdy Pub, Rossmere Golf and Country Club.
Judy Tanner, ©UWinnipeg
Judy Tanner
Coordinator of Student Records
33 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
The Duckworth Centre as I really enjoyed watching the games in the The Duckworth Centre.
What will you miss the most?
Working with the student athletes from their rookie season through to graduation.
What won’t you miss?
The endless deadlines.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Technology, such as snail mail to faxes and email and high speed printing of Transcripts.
What makes you happy?
Sipping on red wine while watching beautiful sunsets.
Favourite accomplishment?
The implementation of the new SIS system in 2008 and the ongoing enhancements.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Our move to Falcon Lake, spending more time with our granddaughters, watching our new restaurant become a vibrant part of the West Hawk and Falcon Lake community and as time permits traveling.
Nancy + Murray Wiegand, photo supplied
Murray Wiegand
Professor, biology
33 years served
Favourite spot on campus?
“Riddell Hall I would say is #2 for his daily respite from his lab which is, of course, his #1 favorite place”, shared Nancy, his wife.
What will you miss the most?
Students, colleagues (staff + faculty).
What won’t you miss?
Marking.
What have your students taught you?
To be more optimistic about the future that I otherwise would be.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Enhancement of the research enterprise of the University.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
The opportunity to contribute.
Favourite accomplishment?
“Hands down, his most favorite accomplishment would be maintaining and expanding the fourth year project students’ course,” added Nancy.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Time with family, travel, reading, and spending more time outdoors.
Harald Weigeldt, photo supplied
Harald Weigeldt
Carpenter
18.5 years served
What will you miss the most?
My early morning bike rides to work.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The physical expansion of the University campus.
What makes you happy?
Planning a road trip in our 1983 VW Camper.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Getting on my cross-country skis on a cold, bright winter day.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
Seeing the Rose Window re-build re-build.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Spending time at home with family and friends.
*Some retirees choose to complete a questionnaire.
