St John’s College News Archive
St. John's College
Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe awarded with prestigious UM Teaching Excellence Award
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.
St. John's College
Home isn’t just a place: How a Malaysian student adjusted to life in Canada
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.
St. John's College
“I wish I had known sooner”: How St John’s College changed Chloe Dreilich-Girard’s university experience
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.
St. John's College
Finding strength in community: Angela Soulsby achieves her Nursing dream
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.
St. John's College
“Be a Free Woman”: Honouring Dr Punam Mehta for Women’s Empowerment Month
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.
St. John's College
St John’s College scholarship applications now open!
March 31, 2025 —
Are you a University of Manitoba student looking for financial assistance? St John's College is proud to support students by offering over $200,000 in scholarship, bursaries, and prizes each year.
St. John's College
It’s not Just Water—a creative approach to exploring water and justice
March 21, 2025 —
Internationally recognized artist-in-residence at UM brings unique lens to exploring relationships with water as part of the Just Waters project
St. John's College
Defying the odds at the 41st Annual Marjorie Ward Lecture
March 13, 2025 —
On March 11, 2025, St John's College hosted the 41st Annual Marjorie Ward Lecture, a series that has been focused on Canada, and in particular, Western Canada. It was established in 1980 to honour the College's long-standing Registrar, Marjorie Ward, on her retirement. Surrounded by his past and present players, friends, and passionate football fans, Coach Brian Dobie took to the stage—not to boast of his own achievements, but to celebrate the remarkable journeys of the athletes he had the privilege of coaching. As the evening drew to a close, one thing became undeniably clear: nothing is impossible!
St. John's College
Welcoming our newest Fellows to St John’s College
March 3, 2025 —
St. John’s College is pleased to welcome four distinguished scholars as new Fellows: Dr. Gerd Prehna, Dr. Punam Mehta, Dr. Patty Thille, and Dr. Shirley Thompson.
St. John's College
Echoes of Elmina Castle: Edmund Opoku-Agyeman’s journey to reclaiming Black identity
February 27, 2025 —
As Black History Month comes to an end, stories of resilience and triumph have come to the forefront. For Edmund Opoku-Agyeman, his journey from Ghana to Canada showcases the impact of centuries of history on personal identity and opportunity. Born and raised in Ghana, Edmund’s connection to its history runs deep. His maternal hometown, Elmina, is home to Elmina Castle (Fort St George’s) —one of the most significant landmarks of the transatlantic slave trade. Built by the Portuguese in 1482, the castle evolved from a gold trading post into a major center for the enslavement of Africans. “In the late seventies, a few hundred years after the castle was built, an extension of it was turned into a community secondary school,” Edmund recalls. “There was enough space for classrooms, a library, a canteen, administrative offices, staff common room, and even an assembly area. I was among the fourth batch of students to attend that school in the eighties.”