Alan Wiebe

Alan Wiebe joined the Faculty of Education in 2004 and took up the challenge of providing mentorship opportunities through outreach to the community. In his unique role as Mentorship Program Coordinator, Professor Alan Wiebe has devoted his talent and energies to creating projects that reach specific “at-risk” youth, including Aboriginal teens, war-affected youth, economically disadvantaged young people, talented but troubled students and youth in the criminal justice system.

Wiebe's community outreach initiatives include working with recent immigrant children in partnership with the Spence Neighbourhood Association; mentoring newcomers at Daniel MacIntyre Collegiate and at UWinnipeg's Global Welcome Centre; helping at-risk street youth on Selkirk Avenue and at Sisler High School. Currently in development, the mentorship program will be adapted to assist incarcerated youth at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

In July 2008, the book Mentoring in a Canadian Context was released by four UWinnipeg professors (Alan Wiebe, Ken McCluskey, Philip Baker and Kevin Lamoureux) outlining the belief that all children deserve to be engaged, challenged and supported, and teachers can play a vital role in preventing youth from falling between the cracks.

Internationally, Wiebe has presented at The World Council for Gifted and Talented Conferences in Vancouver (2009) and Nairobi, Kenya (2010). He also presented at the International Centre for Excellence in Education in Ulm, Germany (2009).