Class Acts 2024

Class of 1960-1969

Johannson, Joan (BA 64) has completed a new book "Discovering the Mystical God: The God Who Loves Me."

Class of 1970-1979

Maddin, Guy (BA 78) co-directed the film Rumours which will be premiering at the Cannes Film Festival. Co-directed by Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson, it follows seven world leaders who become lost in the woods during the annual G7 summit.

Class of 1980-1989

Alfred, Quita (Collegiate 82) was the principal costume designer on the Miram Toews Talking Women movie. She received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.

Skene, Rick (BA 81) was set designer for Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

Class of 1990-1999

Blais, Eric (Collegiate 92, BAH 01) was lead actor in Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

O'Keefe, Jennie (Collegiate 94, BA 10) who along with Andraea Sartison and Shirley Muir are the creators of Holiday Alley a four-day celebration of art, music, light and creativity in Selkirk. The event has been named Travel Manitoba’s Event of the Year, Interlake Tourism Association’s Event of the Yea. They received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's 0f 2023.

Class of 2000-2009

Rhanye Vermette (BA 05) a Metis filmmaker and image maker was short-listed as a finalist of the 2024 Sobey Art Award, a pretigious prize for contemporary visual artists in Canada. 

Catacutan, Alvin (BAH 03) a Filipino Martial Arts trainer worked with Oscar-nominated actors Austin Butler, Josh Brolin and Timotheé Chalamet to prepare them for their roles in Dune: Part Two.

Keenan, Tom (BAH 01) was lead actor in Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

Klassen, Evan (BA 03) was announced as the incoming Executive Director of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, commencing in August 2024. Evan has a rich history working with Manitoba Cultural institutions such as Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Manitoba Opera and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. A steadfast advocate for the arts, Evan enjoyed a 15-year career in Stage Management prior to embarking on a path of leadership roles in the arts.

Martin, Suzie (BAH 08) was Director of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba.

Class of 2010-2019

Ballantyne, Sonya (BA 14) co-directed the documentary Death Tour following wrestlers on tour in northern Canada which was accepted and screened at the Canne's Film Festival. She has spoken about the importance of indigenous media presence in sci-fi and horror films. She received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.

Grabish, Austin (BA 17) Co-winner of an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter for investigative journalism. 

Leslie, Christine (BAH 19) was Assistant Director of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

Licup, Joyce (BA 19) was Assistant Set Designer of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

Class of 2020-2023

Marcelino, Jazz (BA 21) was the Apprentice Stage Manager of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba.

Romanishen, Ridge (BA 21) was the Stage Manager of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba. 

Class of 1980-1989

Modha, Ash (Collegiate 87) was recognized as a leader in sustainability with recognition on Canada's Clean50 list. This annual list celebrates environmentally conscious Canadian companies. He received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.

Heck, Gordon (BA 83) retired after a decade long career in banking/finance with North American Life, Trans Canada Credit, Wawanesa Mutual, Standard International Underwriters, AVCO Financial Service, and most recently, Coast Savings Credit Union.

Class of 2020-2029

Baliddawa, Joel (PACE 20) has been working in the Dillon Consulting Limited Winnipeg office since January 2022, initially as a Proposal Coordinator and since April 2023 as the company's Proposal Content Specialist.

Class of 1970-1979

Fudge, Jane (BA 71) received the Lieutenant Governor's Community Leadership Award - Urban [Winnipeg] The Lieutenant Governor's Community Leadership Awards recognize individuals from around Manitoba for their exceptional contributions to the community through leadership in voluntary service.Those considered for the award will have played a significant role in IDENTIFYING a need in the community, INITIATING creative and meaningful ways to fill that need, and MOTIVATING others to join them in service for the greater good.

Class of 2000-2009

Carther-Krone, Christopher (BSC 09) received the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Consultant Award [Winnipeg] an individual or company who has shown themselves to be a leader in the community, providing pro bono services to Winnipeg's community development and community economic development organizations through the completion of a successful match (or matches) facilitated by Spark.

Class of 2010-2019

Janke, Sabrina (BA Hons 18) was presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion from The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M. in May 2024. The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion, initiated in 2011, is presented in consultation with the Manitoba Historical Society who have rendered prolonged, meritorious service in the preservation and promotion of Manitoba’s history and heritage. Janke received an Honours Degree in History from the University of Winnipeg where she also served as President of the History Students Association.

Pizey-Allen, Shelagh (BAH 14) is advocating for transit riders in Toronto as Executive Director of TTC Riders. The group convinced city council to establish a reduced-rate transit pass for low-income residents, successfully lobbied to make the King Street Transit Priority Corridor permanent, and, most recently, helped land the Scarborough busway — a protected bus-only lane that will follow the route of the decommissioned RT.

Class of 2020-2022

Akuluka, Cheta (BA4 22) received the Mayor's Volunteer Service  Award. These awards were created to honour individuals, agencies and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Winnipeg through volunteer service.

Class of 1980-1989

Henteleff, Saul (BAH 85 BED 11) is a Film Studies and ELA teacher in the 7 Oaks School Division where hes also run the FILM for Human Rights Student Film Festival in partnership with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. He completed his Masters in Media Studies at Concordia University.

Mochoruk, James (BAH 81) is retiring from the University of North Dakota after 31 years as a faculty member. He received numerous awards during his tenure including the Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorship of History.

Class of 1990-1999

Lafreniere, Jennifer (BA 90) U of W Graduate class of 1990 with a BA. Master's of Education (M.Ed) from University of Western Ontario in 2015. Currently working in post-secondary as Acting Chair, Child and Family Studies at Centennial College, Toronto.

Class of 2000-2009

Kennedy, Gregory (BAH 00) is the new Dean of Arts at Brandon University. He was previously with the Université de Moncton, and for the last nine years was research director of the Institute of Acadian Studies within the university.

Class of 2010-2109

Schalla, Marika (BSC 17, BED 19, PBDE 23) is the youngest person to win an Indspire Guiding the Journey Award for Innovative Practice. She was recognized for her work indeginizing curricula. She received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.

Shekhawat, Dalip (PBDE 13) completed a marathon the the north pole and raised money for sensory rooms for children with autism at St. Amant School where they are a teacher. He received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.

Class of 2000-2009

Ward, Connor (Collegiate 05) is co-founder (along with Kal Smith and Ergin Gooriah) of Westside Premium Craft Sauce which is distributed at stores throughout Manitoba. They now have seven flavours of sauce and hope to expand into the USA soon.

Class of 1980-1989

Burzynski, Richard (BA 82) was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Canada for his dedication and influential leadership in shaping the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS. He is Senior Advisor, Universal Access Partnerships UNAIDS.

Class of 1990-1999

Chaudhary, Kleem (BSC4 98) is now the President and CEO of Hyku Biosciences Inc. Hyku Biosciences is a biotechnology company, based in the greater Boston area, building the leading covalent medicines discovery platform to inhibit disease targets which are challenging to address with conventional approaches.

Class of 2000-2009

Azad, Meghan (BSCH 04) was awarded the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award. The 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureate is recognized for outstanding  achievements in global health research. This was awarded “For research on understanding how human breast milk contributes to shaping the infant microbiome and lifelong health.”

Class of 2000-2009

Menzies, Jayme (BSC 09) was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. She was captain of the Wesmen Women's volleyball team for three years, coached Team Manitoba at the North American Indigenous games, and was named Manitoba's Female Indigenous Coach of the Decade. She received mention in Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitoban's of 2023.