Defining their future

Sixty-six outstanding undergraduate and graduate student leaders from all corners of our campuses are being recognized at the annual Emerging Leaders Dinner on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

“The dinner is intended to be a celebration of all the Emerging Leaders; getting the brightest and best all in one room,” says Cora Dupuis, director of student life. “We will also have the chancellor, members of the administration, the student union representatives, deans, directors, staff and faculty in attendance to help congratulate students for their outstanding achievements.”

The Emerging Leader Award (ELA) recognizes students who are committed to furthering the university’s educational mission by contributing to the social, cultural or economic well-being of communities on and off campus, while encouraging cross-cultural understanding and demonstrating sustained leadership and initiative. “This is such a great program because it allows us to highlight some of the unique, notable, and amazing activities and accomplishments that our students are involved in,” says Dupuis.

For example, Shayne Reitmeier, third year College of Medicine student has been involved with the United Way’s Youth United Grant council for the last six years. He has also done great things in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) like initiating an all-college Community Mentorship Program and the LGBTTQI* Interest and Mentorship Groups for the Bannatyne Campus. Reitmeier believes that through effective collaboration, strong perseverance, and an unwavering desire to promote social justice, he will make lasting change for the LGBTTQI* community.

“This is not something that existed at my previous institution so when I discovered the ELA I seized the opportunity to be recognized for my contributions on our campus and in my community” said Tori Miller. The second-degree science student will be recognized on March 9 for her work with Student Life’s New Student Peer Mentorship Program, the Science Students’ Association, the Pre-Vet student club, for being the philanthropy chair of her sorority and volunteering with the Ottawa and Winnipeg Arthritis Societies.

The 2016 Emerging Leaders Dinner keynote speaker is Gabrielle Scrimshaw, a young professional with a passion to create social impact. Gabrielle was born in Northern Canada and is a proud member of the Hatchet Lake First Nation. As the first in her family to pursue post-secondary education and travel the globe, she is a believer in hard work and having a positive attitude. In 2011 she co-founded and became the President of the Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada. The organization now has over 500 members, thousands in seed funding, one full-time staff person and a formal governance structure. She was Indspire’s First Nations Youth Recipient in 2013 and named one of three Young Aboriginal Canadians to watch by the Huffington Post.

For a full list of all of the recipients go here.

To find out more about the Emerging Leader Award go here.

Student Life