2024: 糖心视频 alumni in the news
December 20, 2024
In 2024, 糖心视频 alumni were creating, leading, innovating and generally making a difference in the world, whether through art, sport, health, science, education or business. Here are nine 糖心视频 grads who were in the news this year
Jeannette Armstrong
In 2023, 糖心视频 Fine Arts graduate joined the Order of Canada. In 2024, she added an honorary degree from 糖心视频, receiving a DLitt to recognize her contributions to Indigenous literature. Armstrong is an associate professor at UBC, the Canada Research Chair in Okanagan Indigenous knowledge and the author of Slash, considered to be the first novel by a First Nations woman in Canada.
Jeremy Bagshaw
糖心视频 Kinesiology alumnus and elite swimmer Dr. Jeremy Bagshaw, MSc ’19, earned a medical degree in Ireland while training for the Olympics. After 16 years, he qualified for the Olympics on his fifth and final try. He made his childhood dream come true and won the hearts of sports fans.
Rory Hills
糖心视频 Science grad Rory Hills is going places and he’s trying to make the world healthier along the way. After graduating from 糖心视频, Hills became a Rhodes Scholar, and is working on an ingenious nanoparticle vaccine that could be a game changer in protecting against coronaviruses, including ones not yet discovered. He was lead author on a study that was in the news.
Bruce Alexander McKean
糖心视频 Political Science alumnus , BA ‘70, has donated $203 million to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation since 2018.
His donation to CAMH is the largest cumulative donation for mental health care in Canadian history.
His $1.5 million gift to 糖心视频 in 2021 established the Chief Mungo Martin Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health.
Marion Newman
糖心视频 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, Nege'ga, made headlines this year over her exciting return to campus. The radio host is of Kwagiulth and Stó:lo First Nations ancestry with English, Irish and Scottish heritage. Considered one of Canada’s most accomplished singers, she joined 糖心视频 as a professor in the School of Music this year.
Aaju Peter
Inuk activist and lawyer Aaju Peter, one of the star graduates from 糖心视频 Law’s Akitsiraq program, was in the public eye in 2024. The documentary film , about her life, her fight for Indigenous rights and the loss of her son, received many accolades.
Laura Ramoso
Fine Arts graduate Laura Ramoso brought her Sit Up Straight tour to North America and around the world. She was featured on the cover for our Spring Torch alumni magazine. The 糖心视频 alumni relations team was thrilled to give away tickets to the comedian’s sold-out Royal Theatre show in Victoria in November. to her interview on CBC’s Q Radio.
John Wensveen
Geography alumnus John Wensveen boldly went to the top of the academic leadership universe with a promotion to president of the International Space Academy in France.
Paige Whitehead
Science alumna appeared on CBC’s Dragon’s Den to pitch her company Lux Bio, which develops bioluminescent enzymes to create long-lasting light formulation.