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

Friesen, Ralph (BA 70, MMFT 01) has written a new book published by the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society. It is called Prosperity Ever--Depression Never: Steinbach in the 1930s. The village of Steinbach, Manitoba, defied the odds in the Depression years, actually growing and progressing during that devastating time. How did this happen?

Maddin, Guy (BA 78) co-directed the film Rumours which premiered 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.

Walton, Diane (BA 73) is a founding member of the  creative team behind the Aurora award-winning Canadian Literary journal, On Spec.  She has served as a fiction editor, and for the past twenty years, as Managing Editor. On Spec showcases the new work of established and emerging authors of Science Fiction and Fantasy, and has been a springboard for the careers of Canadian writers such as Cory Doctorow, Fiona Moore and Karl Schroeder, to name but a few. Now retired and living in Nova Scotia, Diane continues to run the magazine with her team of editors, proofreaders, designers and other volunteers.  

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.

Parisien, Cheryl (BA 93) published her first novel The Unweaving, September 2024. Loosely based on Cheryl's own family history, The Unweaving is a historical novel exploring one Métis family's fight against colonialism. Cheryl is a Winnipeg-based Red River Métis writer. 

Class of 2000-2009

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. 

Keeper, Tina (BA 07) was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada. Best known for her role in CBC's North of 60, Tina Keeper is an award-winning actress, producer and former politician. One of the first Cree members of Parliament, she championed bills on Jordan's Principle, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit. Co-founder on Kistikan Pictures, she focuses her Indigenous-themed film and television work on human rights, reconciliation and gender-based violence. 

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.

Shawcross, Andrea (BA 02) a tv producer and writer was selected as one of eight emerging TV writers to fellow for the 2024 Moonshot Pilot Accelerator. Moonshot Pilot Accelerator is a 3-week program of intensive industry training to complete a full script (Pilot) episode of an original TV series and then pitching their shows to Netflix, HBO, Starz, Amazon Studios/Prime Video and much more. 

Vermette, Rhanye (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. 

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 2020-2024

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. 

Srinath, Rohit (BA 24) joined Farpoint Films, an award winning company in Winnipeg Manitoba, as a Colourist and Online Editor. Rohit's film A Girl From Nola was selected out of 40 films to be screened at the 48 hour film festival at the Gimli Film Festival. A Girl From Nola also received the best cinematography award.

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.

Roberts, Patricia (BA 70) says her BA from U of W opened the door for her enrollment in the ECE program at U of M where she also received a Teacher's Licence in '71. She continues to be Director/Owner of a daycare in Nova Scotia with a program of 110 children ages infant to school age.

Class of 1990-1999

Madden, Patrick (BSC 95) Sergeant RCMP (Retired) is a Fellow Royal Canadian Geographic Society, member National of The Explorers Club and Canadian Honours System Recipient of "The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers". He is has been a Certified Scuba Diver since 1969, is recipient of Scuba Schools International Platinum Pro 5000 award for diving. He was the project leader for the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in the successful search & recovery of "The Ghost of Charron Lake"

von Buchholz, Garth (BA 94) is a UX Design & Content Strategist for the B.C. Government's Ministry of Finance. He is also enrolled in graduate studies in Educational Technology at the University of British Columbia (graduating 2025).

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

Helstrom, Finn (BA4 11) after graduating Finn has worked as a journalist, a receptionist, at a military base, and as a teacher. They are currently on the lookout for further career opportunities that jive with their skills and interests

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 1960-1969

Janzen, William (Bill), C.M. (BA 68) – was appointed as a member to the Order of Canada for his dedication to the Office of the Mennonite Central Committee Canada. Over a 30-year career, Bill influenced government development and made contributions to refugee resettlement, citizenship, development aid and peace building. He was instrumental in the creation of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, mobilizing Canadians to support incoming refugees, notably from Southeast Asia, thus marking a turning point in Canada’s immigration policy.

Class of 1980-1989

Bates, Tyler (Collegiate 88, BA 92) will be the new Chief of Police for the City of Brandon starting October 15, 2024. He is currently the RCMP’s chief superintendent of the Saskatchewan’s south district.

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

Mihalchuk, Ainslie (BSC 98, BA 99) became the Registrar and CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba in July .Mihalchuk was president of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, chief medical officer of Concordia Hospital from 2013 to 2019, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s associate chief medical officer from 2017 to 2019 and interim chief medical officer from 2019 to 2020, before becoming the college’s assistant registrar in 2020 and deputy registrar in January.

Class of 2000-2009

Taylor, Justice Karin L.E. (BA 02) In July 2024, Justice Karin L.E. Taylor was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife. Karin enjoyed a varied legal practice with a focus on civil litigation and public sector law. She practiced law in the private sector before moving north to pursue an opportunity at Justice Canada’s Northern Regional Office. She was lead counsel in a number of high-profile matters, including during the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and COVID-19 response. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to her community.

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 2019-2024

Jackson, Shayla (MSc 24) was awarded a 2024 NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to continue her study of diets in coyotes at The University of Guelph. The Vanier Scholarships are one of the largest and most prestigious competitive scholarships that a PhD student in Canada can receive.

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.

Class of 2010-2019

Cote, Kirby (BA 12) received the Order of Sport, marking her induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, October 2024.Kirby is one of Canada's most decorated Paralympic swimmers. Between 2000 and 2008, she represented Canada at three Paralympic Games, winning seven Gold Medals and six Silver Medals.