May 2, 2008
University of Winnipeg: Ray McFeetors, Great West Life Commit $2.67 Million for New UWinnipeg Student Residence
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.”
Source: University of Winnipeg, Manitoba

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March 5, 2008
Assiniboine Community College: International High Tech Company ResQ Partners with ACC Wireless Program
With a strong interest to deliver cutting edge product to the market place, ResQ and the ACC Wireless Technology program are joining forces to establish a research center in the new ResQ building that students of the program will have access to. On the cutting edge of the burgeoning wireless technology boom, ResQ specializes in custom end to end business solutions that use the Global Positioning System (GPS), along with cellular and satellite networks for location based services, such as asset, fleet, and mobile workforce management solutions. It may be as simple a finding a stolen vehicle, but more often than not, the information is pertinent to the customer's bottom line. One company was shown how it could save $8.6 million over a three year period on just 400 vehicles. This type of service makes ResQ unique in the North American market place. "You don't see one company that's bringing it all into one," says Chad Hughes, President and CEO. "We offer a complete wireless data communications business solution."
"We are very excited about the recent partnership with ResQ," says Wireless instructor, Grant Nicol. "This collaboration will benefit both parties as well as local industry in Western Manitoba. Students can complete large projects outside of the program as applied research and would give ACC the opportunity to access their own students as research assistants." The two year Wireless program is unique to ACC and was designed to meet the needs of the growing demands in the communication industry. The program trains students on a variety of technologies with a specialty in wireless. Students learn to design, test and document a variety of devices, components, applications related to the wireless industry. "National Accreditation was a big step for us and a testament to the work put into this program over the past four years, as well as the quality of the work our students have produced. This recognition gives our graduates the academic qualifications to become Certified Engineering Technologists," comments Nicol. "It speaks volumes and allows our grads to compete with any students from other accredited Engineering Technology programs in Canada, regardless of geographic location."
Source: Assiniboine Community College, Manitoba

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February 29, 2008
Assiniboine Community College: $4,800 Annually in New Scholarships
Assiniboine Community College is pleased to announce that the Manitoba Smart Network has established an ongoing legacy for future generations of information technology students. On an annual basis, three $1,600 scholarships will be available for students in the Computer Systems Technology, Wireless Telecommunications Engineering Technology and Web Design programs. By rewarding academic achievement and encouraging students to continue in their studies, this substantial gift will provide students with the opportunity to be leaders in an exciting and thriving field. Manitoba Smart Network Inc. (MSNI) was incorporated in July 1999 and was created through a partnership between the communities of Brandon, Carberry, Minnedosa, Neepawa and Souris. MSNI's goal was to stimulate the development and integration of information and communication technologies in new and innovative ways to enrich the partner communities and organizations socially, culturally and economically. "ACC students will benefit from the generosity of Manitoba Smart Network Inc., as their donation will be used to fund three ongoing scholarships. A high achieving student that is the recipient of the scholarship in each of the programs will be helped out financially as they move from the first year to the second year of the program. We hope that this financial reward will attract future students into these programs as well," says Keith Smith, former Chairperson and current Instructor for the School of Trades & Technology. The Manitoba Smart Network has successfully worked to build an electronic infrastructure in Manitoba supporting the four pillars of every community: business, education, health and community. Their creation of a substantial scholarship at Assiniboine Community College supports the Manitoba Smart Network's legacy to "help Canada to become a world leader in the development and use of information and communication technologies for economic, social and cultural development."
Source: Assiniboine Community College, Manitoba

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February 20, 2008
University of Manitoba: First Nations Students get Hands-on Learning Opportunities at Science and Engineering Symposium
On Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 2008, students from First Nations in Manitoba and Ontario will be treated to more than 100 hands-on sessions at the Third Annual Peguis Science, Engineering and Technology Symposium at the University of Manitoba. About 300 students in Grades 9 to 12 will travel to the University of Manitoba for opportunities to attend workshops on topics as diverse as tornadoes, microbiology, website design and even obstetrics. The sessions will be presented by lecturers and professors from many departments within the Faculties of Science, Agricultural and Food Sciences, Engineering, Nursing and Medicine, as well as the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. Sessions will also be presented by Manitoba Hydro and Red River College. "This is a fantastic learning experience for high school students," says Dr. Tom Berry, mathematics, an organizer of the event. "This program allows young people to see what it's like to be in university, while still in high school." Another aspect of the symposium is to have students meet Aboriginal role models to help them understand the importance of education and determination. Keynote speakers for the event are two notable members of the National Aboriginal Role Model Program: Candice Lys and Daniel McKennitt. Lys is from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and is working on her Masters of Arts in Health Promotion at Dalhousie University. Lys has traveled around the globe and has been an avid volunteer for youth and health promotion programs such as the Youth Challenge International and Peer Health Education programs. McKennitt is an Anishnabe (Ojibway) medical student from Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba. He is currently attending the University of Alberta Medical School, studying to become a physician. McKennitt has received numerous awards, including the Alberta Aboriginal Health Careers Bursary for leaders in the area of Aboriginal health. He has worked for many organizations including as a youth advisor for the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre with the Department of Heritage. Recently, he has been conducting Aboriginal health research with the University of Alberta. The students will arrive at the University of Manitoba this afternoon to get settled in and register. Tomorrow at 9:00 am, there will be opening ceremonies in University Centre and then the students will head off to the various science and tech sessions. The Honourable Dianne McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy and Mr. Tom Nevakshonoff, MLA Interlake, will speak at the opening ceremony, which will also feature the Young Bear Singers Drum Group from Peguis First Nation. Titles of some workshops include: "Feats and Failures of Engineering"; "Tornadoes: Hollywood Versus the Real Thing"; and "How to Deliver a Baby."
Source: University of Manitoba

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January 24, 2008
University of Manitoba: Student Leadership Encouraged with Generous Gift from Successful Graduate
Thanks to a $500,000 gift from 1957 Electrical Engineering graduate, Donald K. Johnson, the University of Manitoba Engineering Society has new office space and a generous scholarship to motivate students to pursue leadership in student government. New offices for student council members, a conference area, and a new student lounge were all made possible with Mr. Johnson's gift. "It's wonderful to have a space to plan and work," says Phil Dompierre, Senior Stick with UMES. "We have many exciting plans to improve the student experience in the Faculty of Engineering, and these facilities are enabling us to do that with greater success." In addition to the new space, now called the Donald K. Johnson Student Centre, the students are even more excited about the Student Leadership Award in Engineering. "The student leadership embodied by the Senior Stick and Vice-Sticks is crucial to the continued success of all engineering students," says Dr. Doug Ruth, Dean of Engineering. "It can mean an enormous time commitment for a student who is often in their final year of study." The Donald K. Johnson Student Leadership Award in Engineering will provide significant financial support for the Senior Stick and Vice-Sticks. Mr. Johnson graduated from the Faculty of Engineering in 1957. While his initial career was in electrical engineering he began a career in the investment industry in 1963. Johnson has had a long and successful career which culminated in his appointment as Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at BMO Nesbitt Burns. In 2004 he retired as Vice Chairman, but continues as a Senior Advisor to BMO Capital Markets.
Source: University of Manitoba

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