Award-winning novelist welcomed to campus

Students, staff, faculty, community members and aspiring writers now have the chance to connect with renowned Canadian novelist and U of W alumnus David Bergen. As U of W’s 2010 Carol Shields Writer-in-Residence, Bergen will have an office on campus (room 2M69) from now until Apr. 30. Bergen has won several literary awards, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and is the three-time winner of the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. Bergen will be available for private consultations throughout the semester. To set up an appointment, call 786-9203.

UWSA gets green seal of approval

The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association were recognized by the provincial government for their commitment to environmental sustainability. On Dec. 4, conservation minister Bill Blaikie awarded the four UWSA executives a Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability award for their efforts in banning bottled water sales on campus. The U of W is the first Canadian university to implement a bottled water ban. The ban seems to be inspiring other university campuses across Canada, such as the University of Saskatchewan, to take similar measures.

Axworthy in demand

President and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy will lend his knowledge and expertise to yet another advisory board. The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CCIC), an international partnership that works to ensure fairness in the International Criminal Court, recently formed a new advisory board. The board consists of various world leaders and distinguished individuals and will serve to advocate for, and contribute feedback pertaining to, international justice issues. Axworthy served as Foreign Minister under former prime minister Jean Chrétien.

Students of new U of W program receive awards

Five U of W continuing education students were recently awarded Helen Betty Osborne Awards. Each student received $2,500 to put towards the completion of their academic program. The students are part of the new Aboriginal Information and Communication Technologies Diploma program, which began in the fall term. The program aims to increase the number of aboriginal employees in the regional information and communication technologies sector.

Manitobans moving up the academic ranks

A former University of Manitoba alumnus and kinesiology faculty member has been appointed President of the University of Lethbridge. Dr. Michael J. Mahon is to become the university’s sixth president. “It is exciting to see a graduate of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management take on such a significant role in university administration,” Jane Watkinson, dean of the faculty of kinesiology and recreation at the U of M, said in a press release. U of L is excited to welcome Mahon when he takes his role as president in July. “Dr. Mahon has a unique combination of skills and a proven research, community service and administrative track record in Manitoba and Alberta which gives us a high level of confidence that he can continue his approachable style of leadership at the U of L,” Bob Turner, chair of U of L’s board of governors, said in a release.