Duff Roblin Dinner: Save the Date
Mon. Aug. 15, 2022
For those of you in the know, The University of Winnipeg and University of Winnipeg Foundation’s annual Duff Roblin Dinner is a night to remember. Honouring Duff Roblin’s legacy and recognizing the outstanding work that our fellow Manitoban’s have accomplished as patrons of education, while also coming together in support of UWinnipeg students and our campus is as good a reason as any to celebrate. This year’s recipient of the Duff Roblin Award is our very own Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, PC, OC, OM.
Dr. Axworthy has helped inspire progress and direct change on our campus since his tenure as President began in 2004. After finishing his second term in 2014, Dr. Axworthy has remained connected to our University as a trusted community member and donor. During his time as President, Dr. Axworthy worked to renew our campus and its downtown surroundings with the view to making post-secondary education more accessible to inner-city, Indigenous, new immigrant and refugee students through the creation of the Opportunity Fund and Wii Chiiwaakank Learning Centre. In addition to numerous other community learning programs, Dr. Axworthy also helped massively expand our campus through the construction of numerous buildings and renovation projects as part of the “A World of Opportunity” capital campaign—including the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, McFeetors Hall and Great-West Life Student Residence, Bonnie and John Buhler Centre, and the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film.
Prior to his time at UWinnipeg, Dr. Axworthy enjoyed a 27 year-long career as a political public servant, of which he spent 6 as a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly and twenty-one as a member of the Federal Parliament. He held several Cabinet positions, notably Minister of Employment and Immigration, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Minister of Transport, Minister of Human Resources Development, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996-2000. Dr. Axworthy became internationally known for his advancement of the human security concept while serving as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s Foreign Affairs Minister. The Ottawa Treaty - a landmark global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines encompassed a great deal of the work Dr. Axworthy accomplished in this position. For his leadership on landmines, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. For his efforts in playing a pivotal role in establishing the International Criminal Court and the Protocol on child soldiers, he received the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe.
An evening where good food and good conversation run hand-in-hand, this year’s dinner will no doubt impress. Sharing a fireside chat moderated by former CBC anchorman Peter Mansbridge, both Dr. Axworthy and his wife Ms. Denise Ommanney will share their thoughts on their own inspiring story.
A determined team who have helped support our campus for many years, Dr. Axworthy and Ms Ommanney continue to help UWinnipeg attract the best and brightest students and provide for our young scholars, professors and staff members. The pair have given to countless initiatives in the time since Dr. Axworthy began working at UWinnipeg, with both a building and numerous awards being named in their honour. Both the Axworthy Health & RecPlex and Axworthy Distinguished Lecture Series on Social Justice and the Public Good—a free to attend lecture series where public speakers from around the world are brought in to share their thoughts on social issues—are part of the lasting impact the Axworthy’s have made on our institution. From storied politician to campus visionary, Dr. Axworthy has played a part in shaping our university, our province, and Canada on the world’s stage. Hearing both Ms. Ommanney and Dr. Axworthy describe how it started and how it’s going will be truly exciting to those sharing the evening with the pair.
If you’d like to reserve your spot at this year’s dinner at the RBC Convention Centre on September 29th, tickets are now on sale! Those interested can purchase tickets and read more on our official Duff Roblin Awards Dinner website.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Javier