University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba (established in 1877) is one of two universities in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was the first university ever established in Western Canada.

It was created to confer degrees on the three founding colleges. They were:

• St. Boniface College
• St. John's College
• Manitoba College

The Manitoba legislature modified the University Act in 1900, so that the university could do its own teaching. This led to the construction of a building in downtown Winnipeg with a teaching faculty of six scientists as professors. In 1929, the University of Manitoba moved to its current home in the Fort Garry area of Winnipeg.

The current colleges are:

• St. Boniface College
• St. John's College
• St. Paul's College
• St. Andrew's College
• University College

In 2002, the University of Manitoba had a total enrollment of approximately 22,000 students (post-grad med: 1.8%, distance: 3.5%, grad: 12%, undergrad: 83%) in 20 faculties.

The university is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the Manitoba Bisons.

List of Presidents

1. James Alexander MacLean (1913 – 1934)
2. Sidney Earle Smith (1934 – 1944)
3. Henry Percy Armes, acting (1944 – 1945)
4. Albert William Trueman (1945 – 1948)
5. Albert Henry S. Gillson (1948 – 1954)
6. Hugh Hamilton Saunderson (1954 – 1970)
7. Ernest Sirluck (1970 – 1976)
8. Ralph Campbell (1976 – 1981)
9. Arnold Naimark (1981 – 1996)
10. Emöke J.E. Szathmáry (1996-)

Notable alumni

• Izzy Asper, tax lawyer & media magnate (BA – 1953, LLB – 1957, LLM – 1964)
• Monty Hall, television personality, president of Variety Clubs International, Order of Canada BSc
• Sam Katz, mayor of Winnipeg (BA – 1973)
• William Norrie, mayor of Winnipeg (BA – 1950, LLB – 1955)
• Clay Riddell, oil tycoon (BSc Honours – 1959)
• Donald Triggs, vintner, co-founder of Jackson-Triggs (BSc (honours) – 1966)

Notable faculty

• Carol Shields, Pulitzer Prize winning author and former Professor

External link

• University of Manitoba (official site)