Class Acts 2020
UWinnipeg alumni are leaders in the community; scientists, writers, artists, politicians, business leaders, and entrepreneurs who expand knowledge and inspire innovation. Class Acts provides a snapshot of these achievements and is a great way to stay connected. Whether you received an award, changed jobs, joined a committee, published a book, or explored a new hobby, we'd love to hear from you. Please update your or send your personal or professional update for Class Acts to alumni@uwinnipeg.ca
The following lists share alumni achievements and milestones in 2019-2020. See our / 2020-2021 Class Acts for more great stories.
Class of 1960-1969
JOHNSON, PETER (BA 68) published his fifth book A Not So Savage Land: The Art and Times of Frederick Whymper 1938–1901.
PORTER, SYDNEY E. (BETH) (BAH 66) is author of Accidental Friends: Stories from my Life in Community.
RENDER (HURST), SHIRLEY (BA 64) is a UW Distinguished Alumni (2005), author of two bestselling books, Executive Director Emeritus of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and will be the first woman in Manitoba to be inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (June, 2020).
Class of 1970-1979
CARR, JIM (Collegiate 70) was re-elected as Liberal MP for Winnipeg South Centre.
FRIESEN, RALPH (BAH 70, MMFT 01) is author of Dad, God, and Me, a biography of his minister father and a personal memoir of his search for his father and a crisis of faith.
HAMILTON, IRENE (BA 75) is a Manitoba lawyer appointed as Queen’s Counsel in recognition of her contributions to the practice of law.
MACINTOSH (LITSCHKE), ANNEMARIE (Collegiate 70, BA 72) is now retired (July 2019) after serving
as pastor of Abundant Life Lutheran Church in East St Paul, MB (2006–19) and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Winnipeg (2017–19).
PISCHKE, GARTH (BA 77) was inducted into the Wesmen Ring of Honour. Star player for the Wesmen during the 1973–74 and 1976–77 championship seasons, Garth also competed for Canada's national team in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics before transferring to U of M for another national title in 1977–78. “Undoubtedly the finest player Manitoba has ever produced." — Winnipeg Free Press
THOMAS, SANDRA JOAN (BA 72) is author of the novel Five Wives, winner of the 2019 Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction.
WATERS-BAYER, ANNE (BAH 71) was given the lifetime achievement award by the German Council for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (2019).
WILSON, RICHARD (BSc 75) was re-elected last fall as Councilor for the RM of Springfield.
Class of 1980-1989
ALTOMARE, NELLO (BEd 86, BA 90) was elected as NDP MLA for Transcona.
PATTERSON, LISA (BAH 80) worked in Ottawa for Canadian Museum of History, Union of Nova Scotia Indians, Library and Archives of Canada, Indian Specific Claims Commission, Assembly of First Nations, Library of Parliament, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and, occasionally, as an independent
research consultant.
ROMANANSKI, RON (BA 80) launched his new book of poetry If 30,000 Workers Marched Today (May, 2019).
RYZ, JACQUELINE (BA 84) was recognized as a “Teacher of Distinction” by the Royal Conservatory of Music at its Manitoba Celebration of Excellence (November, 2019).
TASCONA, BRUCE (BA 83) was recognized with the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion for his involvement with military heritage in Manitoba.
Class of 1990-1999
CARROLL, SANDRA (BSc 95) was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. She captured three CIAU player of the year awards (1993–95) while leading the Wesmen to three national titles, earning MVP twice. She later went on to play professional basketball in Germany for over a decade.
COSGROVE, DORIAN (BA 95) has been working for the Government of Canada since 2000 and is currently in the Refugee Protection Division with Immigration and Refugee Board, after stints with CBSA and Citizenship unit at IRCC.
FREEDMAN, KEVIN (Collegiate 99, BA 08) was awarded the 2019 Mayor's Volunteer Service Award (Winnipeg).
GAZAN, LEAH (BEd 98) was elected as NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre.
KINEW, WAB (Collegiate 99, MA 19) was re-elected as NDP MLA for Fort-Rouge and is Leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
MOKHTAR, UMMIHANI (BEd 91) has worked in five schools and the Ministry of Education.
ROBERTSON, DAVID A. (BA 99) is the recipient of the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award: Older Category for his book Monsters.
MICKLEFIELD, ANDREW (BEd 01) was re-elected as PC MLA for Rossmere.
RAIZMAN, JOSHUA (BSc 4-yr 03) is a clinical biochemist and the medical director of hospital patient testing laboratories around Edmonton. He is also a clinical assistant professor at University of Alberta.
SQUIRES, ROCHELLE (BA 4-yr 09) was re-elected as PC MLA for Riel. She is Minister of Sustainable Development, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and Minister responsible for Status of Women.
TOEWS, OWEN (BAH 09) received the Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a MB Author, 2019 MB Book Awards; and the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award.
Class of 2010-2019
DYCK, LORALEE (BAH 13) is author of the book Shards of Law (The Avanir Chronicles Book 1) under the pen name of L. E. Dereksen and is currently working on a second book.
FREDERICKSON, CASSANDRA (BA 15) began a one-year clerkship with the North Dakota Supreme Court (2019).
FRIESEN, MATT (BBA 10) is manager at Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions.
SABATINI, SERGIO (BSc 95) was named President of OmniTRAX (previously Chief Operating Officer). Prior to joining the company in 2013, Sergio served in multiple capacities throughout his 18-year career with Canadian Pacific Railway, including field operations, risk management, and strategic planning.
SAWATZKY, ROLAND (BA 93) is the main curator behind the Manitoba Museum’s Winnipeg Gallery, which opened in late 2019, the first new permanent exhibition since 2003.
Class of 2000-2009
AZAD, MEGHAN (BScH 04) received a $6.5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for research into breast milk. She is a researcher at the University of Manitoba.
BLAIKIE, DANIEL (BAH 07) was re-elected as NDP Member of Parliament for Elmwood-Transcona.
FRIESEN, EWALD (BAH 07) is Executive Assistant — Leader of the Official Opposition, MB. He has also worked as Minister's Assistant — Education, AB, as a speech writer for Jack Layton and the MB Premier, and for MediaStyle Inc.
FRIESEN, TERI-LYNN (BAH 13) along with Élise Page, opened Fête — Winnipeg’s newest coffee and ice-cream parlour, offering an ever-changing menu of housemade ice-cream, affogato, and pancakes on Sunday.
KORNELSEN, JON (BA 12, BEd 12) a proud and happy father of four, is currently teaching grade eight in Steinbach and is actively involved in his local church.
LAMOUREUX, CINDY (BA 15) was elected as Liberal MLA for Tyndall Park.
LAVALLÉE-HECKERT, BREANNE (BA 4-yr 16) is a Métis woman from the Red River Settlement and Treaty 1 Territory, and a member of The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) board of directors for 2019–20. She is in her final year of the combined BCL/LLB program at McGill University.
MAY, KIIRSTEN (BA 4-yr 11) along with Alex Varricchio, co-authored the book The Proximity Paradox — How to Create Distance from Business as Usual and Do Something Truly Innovative
OLYNIK, BRENDAN (BScH 10) is a Forensic Case Advisor at the RCMP's National Forensic Lab in Ottawa. Previously, he performed work as a Forensic DNA Analyst as well as other federal security and public service roles across Canada.
SMITH, SCOTT (BAH 13) went on to complete a Masters of Arts in school psychology at the University of Manitoba. His research involved using music to train facial affect recognition in individuals with autistic traits. He has worked as a school psychologist in Manitoba and northern Alberta.
SOUSA, CHRIS (BAH 19) played Prince Ronald in Prairie Theatre Exchange’s production of The Paper Bag Princess and has been involved with a number of theatrical projects including the young creators unit at MTYP and the Vault Project.
SPILLET, TASHA (BA 12, BEd 12) was recognized at the 2019 Manitoba Book Awards, taking home the Manitoba Indigenous Writer of the Year Award, The Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book by a Manitoba Author, and the award for Best Graphic Novel.
We’d love to hear what’s new with you!
Please update your or send your personal or professional update for Class Acts to: alumni@uwinnipeg.ca