Retirees 2018
The University of Winnipeg honours the retirees at a reception on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 in Riddell Hall at 2:00pm.
The list of retirees include (in alphabetical order): Per Brask, Leonard Cann, James Christie, Lenna Glade, Patty Hawkins, James Henderson, Wendy Josephson, Jacqueline Mikolash, Allen Mills, Sheila Page, Dr. Eleoussa Polyzoi, Brian Rice, Dawn Rittberg, Lesley Sisler, Marion Tetrault, Romeo Vallejo, Brenda VanDekerkhove, and Hans Werner.
If we added all their years of service together, it would cover more than a century of dedicated work. That is a remarkable number reflecting commitment and service. The mark these individuals have left on each student that they assisted, taught or listened to resonates through generations of students and colleagues. You will be missed.
Learn about some of our colleagues (in alphabetical order).
Per Brask, photo supplied
Per Brask – Professor, Theatre & Film
Favourite spot on campus?
The Babs Asper Lilac corner by the Theatre building.
What will you miss the most?
Discussions with colleagues.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Our department getting a dedicated facility.
What makes you happy?
My grandchildren.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Figuring things out.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
Getting a job at the UWinnipeg.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Reading, writing, family time.
James Christie, ©UWinnipeg
James Christie – Executive Director, United Centre for Theological Studies,
United Centre for Theological Studies
Favourite spot on campus?
The University Club.
What will you miss the most?
The people.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The physical renewal of the University and its centrality in rebuilding the heart of the downtown.
What makes you happy?
At UWinnipeg – Teaching; always teaching and the students themselves.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
The role of the University in building a richer, more inclusive society, locally, nationally and globally.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
The building and hosting of the 2010 World Religious Leaders G8 Summit and Forum.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Reading, reflecting, ‘riting and rambling.
Patty Hawkins, ©UWinnipeg
Patricia Hawkins – Office Manager and Student Advisor,
Theatre and Film
Favourite spot on campus?
My favourite spot is the Theatre Building! It is pretty much self-contained and offers our students everything they need for our discipline (well, except actual classrooms). The spaces are wonderful and interesting, especially the theatre itself, which is magic!
What will you miss the most?
I can tell you already that I miss the students and my colleagues/friends the most. I don’t miss the work at all!
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
Two things – the utilization of computers, and the massive growth in both the number of students and the size of the administration and physical campus.
What makes you happy?
I enjoy spending time with my husband, Don, and my friends, and working on my hobbies.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
I am a passionate embroiderer. I am inspired in my art by the wonderful designers and teachers who have shared their ideas and skills with me. I have made lifelong friendships through my needlework and enjoy creating beautiful pieces.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
I am satisfied with the work I did at the Department of Theatre and Film. It was a very busy job but I feel confident that I helped our students reach their educational goals, and the fact that I see them performing professionally – onstage, backstage, in film and television (as actors and technicians) – makes me very proud. I am also delighted with the accomplishments of those who did not follow careers in entertainment but are contributing in a myriad of other worthwhile enterprises. I never lost sight of why the university exists. It is for “our kids”.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
I am already enjoying retirement – it is awesome! I love spending time on the things I want to do at the pace I want to do them. I am very happy to now have time to nurture my personal relationships and enjoy my hobbies. I am currently the President of the Winnipeg Embroiderers’ Build. And I’m going on an Alaskan cruise in June!
James Henderson, photo supplied
James Henderson – Associate Dean (LTD), Collegiate
Jim has been a long term disabled employee since his June 2003 car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. He has been working hard to improve his cognitive and physical abilities. His wife, Carol Pawluk has typed the answers as per his request.
Favourite spot on campus?
Jim has been a long term disabled employee since his June 2003 car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. He has been working hard to improve his cognitive and physical abilities and he has asked me to type his answers for him.
Jim’s favourite spot was the West Court at the Duckworth Center because that is where he coached many Collegiate Boys’ basketball teams.
What will you miss the most?
Jim misses teaching his chemistry labs, visiting with students to discuss their academic futures in his Collegiate Office when he was Associate Dean, and coaching many basketball players.
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The biggest change Jim remembers is the addition of the Duckworth Center to the University. He considered it his second home as he spent many days and evenings there coaching and watching basketball games.
What makes you happy?
Jim is very happy for his daughters. His oldest Maggie is a Music Teacher with the Winnipeg School Division and she also teaches online courses to the Ballet Students at the Collegiate. He is happy she is connected to the Collegiate. His other daughter Anna shares his love of chemistry and basketball. She was in a Master’s Program for Analytical Chemistry at the U of Alberta and is now in her first year of Veterinary Medicine at the U of Saskatchewan. She also plays pick up basketball there and does well with it.
Jim also loves being at his cottage in the summer and going for boat rides.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Jim feels that his time as a university basketball player ( U of Brandon) has helped motivate him to continue to improve physically after his accident.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
Jim is very happy to have taken a Collegiate Boys’ Basketball team to the provincial playoffs many years ago.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Jim is looking forward to watching as many basketball games on tv and at the Duckworth Center as possible
Allen Mills, ©UWinnipeg
Allen Mills – Professor, Political Science
Favourite spot on campus?
Riddell Cafeteria
What will you miss the most?
The bustle of students at 12.30
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The growth of the size of the student body.
What makes you happy?
Reading books.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
Believing that knowledge will bring enlightenment.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
Writing two books on noted Canadian public intellectuals.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Raising my young daughter.
Jacqueline Victoria Mikolash, photo supplied
Jacqueline Victoria Anne Mikolash – Reference Supervisor, Library
Favourite spot on campus?
Well of course the Library but I also love to meet people in the Faculty Club.
What will you miss the most?
The first day of classes in the Fall..nothing will ever replace the energy or excitement of those first days of class on Campus!
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
The growth of the Campus!
What makes you happy?
Family.
What motivates you? Or inspires you?
I have always loved to do research…whether I was working in the Library or writing papers as a student or just keeping up with current topics of interest.
What is your favourite accomplishment?
I think I am fortunate to have been an employee at the University as well as a student, Union representative and a member of many University Committees. This has given me an opportunity to work with many different people and Departments on Campus.
Dawn Rittberg, photo supplied
Dawn Rittberg – Instructor III – Biology
Favourite spot on campus?
Walking from Richardson College to Main Campus to deliver all of my lectures on a warm fall day or a warm spring day (that would not be this spring!!)
What will you miss the most?
My colleagues and the students.
What have your students taught you?
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
What has the biggest change that you have seen during your time at UWinnipeg?
So many changes!! There are a lot more students, way more distractions from technology for them when they are trying to learn and similarly technology glitches that play havoc with teaching. Good thing that the chalkboard still doesn’t break down!
What is When I first started at UW I was fortunate to work with many people who were wonderful mentors providing me with opportunities to extend myself beyond what I was initially hired to do. I am forever grateful to their confidence in me and I have tried to emulate them. I hope that I have been able to support and mentor faculty who have joined the department over the last 20 years in a similar manner. If I have that would be my greatest accomplishment.
What are you looking forward to the most post retirement?
Not having to make the walk from Richardson College to Main Campus in January at -35 degrees wind chill!!
