St John’s College News Archive

October 31, 2025 — 
On Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, St John's College community members will come together to recognize the accomplishments of our 2025 graduating members, along with students, fellows, and alumni who have made meaningful contributions to the College. This year, St John's College is proud to support students across the University of Manitoba by awarding over $220,000 in scholarships and bursaries! 

September 16, 2025 — 
St John's College invites you to explore Colouring 'da Rock, a solo exhibition by Liv Valmestad, an Art Librarian and Senior Fellow at St John's College. This exhibition will be on display in the Quiet Room, room 111 St John's College, from September 22 to December 24, 2025. It is open to public viewing on Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and will have an opening on Thursday, October 23rd from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM. 

August 25, 2025 — 
How does our work (what we do to earn a living, and the conditions in which we do it) and our vocation (our deeper sense of purpose or calling in life) get affected during a time of climate crisis? A new workshop at St John's College invites participants to reflect on this question through poetry. 

August 21, 2025 — 
As the new academic year approaches, anticipation often comes with equal parts excitement and uncertainty. To ease the transition and celebrate the return to campus, St John's College invites all members to attend Jumpstart, the College's annual beginning-of-term celebration! 

August 14, 2025 — 
St John's College is excited to invite student members, Fellows and staff to one of our most cherished traditions: Matriculation!  Matriculation marks your formal welcome into the St John's community, a celebration that connects you to centuries of members, Fellows, and staff who have been part of the College before you. Whether you are a new student joining us for the first time or a continuing member showing your support, this ceremony is a special moment to gather as Johnians and celebrate our shared community

June 2, 2025 — 
St John’s College is proud to announce that Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Dr. And Mrs. H.H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching! This prestigious award recognizes a UM educator who has demonstrated teaching excellence and made significant contributions to the advancement of teaching and learning at both the UM and national or international level.  

May 20, 2025 — 
Raihanah Rahim’s decision to study in Canada began with a bold proposal to her parents. After finishing high school at 17 and completing her A-Levels, she found herself facing limited university options in Malaysia. The schools her parents considered "good" didn’t offer her admission, and private universities were simply too expensive. She presented an alternative: “If you really want me to go to university, I want to study in either Canada or Australia.” Between the two, Canada stood out for its educational opportunities and welcoming approach to immigrants after graduation.

April 21, 2025 — 
For Chloe Dreilich-Girard, joining St John’s College during her fifth year of university was a turning point—one she wishes had come much earlier.  A proud Métis woman and Manitoba Métis Federation citizen, Chloe came to law school after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. She is currently working with a sole practitioner to provide free wills and estate services in Nunavut and will be spending her summer with the Legal Help Centre, continuing her focus on accessible justice. 

April 3, 2025 — 
When Angela Soulsby walks into her new role with Health Canada under Indigenous Services Canada, she carries with her not just a Bachelor of Nursing degree and recently completed NCLEX, but a deep, personal story of healing and hope.  Growing up in an unsafe environment shaped by historical and generational trauma, Angela faced adversity that could have easily derailed her dreams. She later experienced a health care crisis and a violent assault—both stemming from institutional systems that have long dehumanized Indigenous Peoples. Rather than let these experiences hold her back, Angela found purpose in them. 

March 31, 2025 — 
As a child of refugee parents from Uganda and a lifelong advocate for community health, Punam Mehta has built a career at the intersection of health research and women’s empowerment. Whether she’s supporting mothers with addictions through yoga and body mapping, researching chronic diseases in Northern Manitoba, or mentoring the next generation of women in STEM, Mehta’s work is guided by justice and equity.  Now an instructor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Mehta shares her story for Women’s Empowerment Month, reminding us that leadership is not just about rising—it’s about reaching back and bringing others with you.