40th Anniversary
UWinnipeg Chancellor Sanford Riley, James Richardson & Sons Ltd. President & CEO Hartley Richardson, UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy, and UWinnipeg Foundation President & CEO Susan Thompson at the Richardson College for the Environment announcement.
$3.5 Million Donation to Create
The Richardson College for the Environment
and New Inner-City Green Space
--Largest Private Gift in UWinnipeg History--
September 12, 2006
Hartley Richardson, President & Chief Executive Officer, James Richardson & Sons, Limited, today announced a combined gift totaling $3.5 million from the Richardson Firm, Family and Foundation to establish The Richardson College for the Environment at The University of Winnipeg.
“The new Richardson College for the Environment will be on the cutting edge of environmental studies and sciences, will be international in scope, and will have an interactive community educational focus,” said Hartley Richardson. “As strong proponents of sound environmental management, we are pleased to build on The University of Winnipeg’s strengths in this field. One of the key elements of the College, and an important addition to the development of downtown Winnipeg, will be a new urban green space – an environmental garden planted with native prairie vegetation, offering a living laboratory for students, researchers and the community.”
“This historic gift,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg, “is the largest ever in UWinnipeg’s history. It will help establish environmental partnerships, enhance research and educational facilities, equip future graduates with the knowledge and skills they need to become effective global stewards, and contribute to the development of practical solutions to today’s complex environmental issues. It will be a model for environmental and sustainable design in our urban context, integrating public education with applied university training and research facilities.”
Today’s announcement of the Richardson College for the Environment is only the first step in an innovative plan to enhance Science education and research at The University of Winnipeg. Planning has begun to determine the best physical location for the new College and environmental garden, as well as to develop key academic and community programs. The Richardson College for the Environment will offer studies in the following academic program areas: Forest Ecology; Urban Ecology; The Global North; Water Resources; and, Environment & Health. Community programming plans will include a “Model School” component, an innovative learning centre providing opportunities for high schools, as well as inner-city and Aboriginal students to learn science, relating indigenous values to traditional scientific and environmental issues, as well as hands-on displays and exhibits. Academic and community programming will benefit from the recent announcement of Dr. Dawn Sutherland as UWinnipeg’s Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Science Education.
“This project is an excellent example of public/private partnerships at work,” said the Honourable Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and MP for Winnipeg South on behalf of the Government of Canada. “There was recognition that an environmental college could have a very positive impact and steps were taken to make this dream a reality. I am also excited about the urban green space in the downtown. As the founder of the Winnipeg International Film Festival I am always interested in ways we can improve the quality of our downtown area. This urban green space will serve as a model to others and as yet another example of how Winnipeg is leading the way."
"I thank and congratulate the Richardson family for their generous donation to The University of Winnipeg,” said the Honourable Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Training for the Government of Manitoba. “Congratulations also to The University of Winnipeg on their initiative and vision for a College of the Environment, an important advancement for students and the larger community. Manitoba has a reputation as a leader in sustainable building technology and innovation, and today's announcement further facilitates that reputation."
The University of Winnipeg is committed to sustainability in all of its policies, operations, programs and activities. It established a Sustainability Task Force in 2005 with student, academic and support staff to foster environmental sustainability on campus and has introduced a number of initiatives to advance its sustainability goals. As a completely green ecosystem both in its design and in its academic mandate, the Richardson College for the Environment will represent a leading-edge demonstration of sustainability principles and practices, supporting Manitoba’s broader environmental vision and contributing to downtown revitalization.
“We are grateful to the Richardson Family, whose long-standing connections to The University of Winnipeg and its Collegiate, combined with the importance of environmental stewardship in today’s world, make this a gift of lasting significance,” said Susan Thompson, University of Winnipeg Foundation President & CEO. “We thank the Richardson Family, Firm, and Foundation for this important investment which will not only help shape the future of our students but also the future of the world around us.”