School of Dental Hygiene to stage Open alumni Reunion to commemorate first graduating class
Perhaps this may best be filed under ‘time flies when you are having fun,’ but the year 2015 marks a milestone for the School of Dental Hygiene. For it was back in 1965 that this prestigious body officially sanctioned its very first cohort of professionals. So it would seem only proper and appropriate that school officials might commemorate such an auspicious event. And so they have. The University of Manitoba’s School of Dental Hygiene plans to welcome back alumni to share in the Spirit of 65, a salute to members of the original class, on Saturday, October 3, 2015.
“Our first class of dental hygiene students consisted of only nine but many of them really made an impact on what was a very young profession at the time,” said Prof. Mary Bertone, director of the school. “In a lot of ways, these women were pioneers for our profession.”
So, similar to the tack taken by their dental school counterparts three years ago, the school, in conjunction with the University of Manitoba School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association, is rolling out the welcome mat for the pioneer members of the class along with the entire dental hygiene alumni community.
Although many of the plans are still in the formative stages, the preliminary blueprint calls for an open class reunion and reception for all alumni members of the dental hygiene community, wherever they may be. Tentative plans call for the reception to be held at the brand new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, located at the Forks in Winnipeg, just a short distance from the Bannatyne Campus.
Similar to the school’s 50–year champagne celebration three years ago, organizers are hoping to string together a series of events that will serve as more of an incentive for those outside the city of Winnipeg to attend. Those looking to attend will be asked to register in advance in order to help the planning committee maximize the potential for all activities in store.
The event is slated to run in conjunction with Alumni of Distinction Weekend, which also coincides with the University of Manitoba’s Homecoming Weekend, starting October 2, 2015.
Remaining members of this historic class are expected to be guests at the Alumni of Distinction Awards Evening slated for the Friday night of the weekend.
School of Dental Hygiene alumni are asked to stay tuned for further updates as plans are finalized and confirmed, which will be provided as soon as complete details are available. In the meantime, anyone who would like additional information is welcome to contact the School of Dental Hygiene via email at dent_hygiene [at] umanitoba [dot] ca.