Phyllis Webster

BA, DipEd

During her 21 years at The University of Winnipeg Collegiate, Phyllis Webster left a mark that will last a lifetime. Using a wealth of experience obtained while teaching outside of Canada, she mentored and inspired generations of students in her English and journalism classes.

But her impact was also felt outside of the classroom. With the help of her students and colleagues, Webster introduced and facilitated the award-winning Collegiate literary magazine, Mindscape, along with the Collegiate Debating Club and the Collegiate News Magazine.

UWinnipeg Collegiate alumna Laura Butler described Webster as one of the pillars of her education: “I cannot imagine what my academic experience would look like without her. In my mind, she is the very essence of what a teacher — especially a teacher at The University of Winnipeg Collegiate — should strive to be: an educator committed to inspiring academic excellence and nurturing a joy of learning and discovery in his or her students.”

Webster was also very active administratively, as she was a representative for the University Library Committee and served on the Meaningful Assessment and Curricular Reform Committee, which was a joint UWinnipeg and UWinnipeg Collegiate initiative.

Prior to arriving at the Collegiate, Webster taught at Winnipeg’s River East High School and spent six years teaching overseas in South Africa, Australia, and England. During school breaks while on staff at The Collegiate, she taught as a volunteer in South Africa and Costa Rica, with the support of her Deans.

Beyond teaching, Webster has been an important part of her Fort Garry community. She was the founding member and first co-chair of the parent co-operative preschool Friends Together, was a founding member of the Fort Garry Family Life Centre, and sat on several school board committees.

For her decades of dedication to UWinnipeg’s Collegiate, being an outstanding colleague, and for inspiring the thousands of students who walked into her classroom, The University of Winnipeg is proud to honour Phyllis Webster with the Fellowship in United College.