Diversitas Alumni

Dr. Idris Elbakri – Ph.D, MCCPM, Imaging Physicist, CCMB, Adjunct Professor – Physics and Astronomy, Assistant Professor – Radiology; Past President – Manitoba Islamic Association. Inaugural Speaker, December 2015 – Islams & Muslims in Canada & the World.

 

 

 

Jonathan Niemczak, President – Pride Winnipeg. Jonathan has been involved in LGBTTQ* activism and serving the community for over 8 years in a variety of roles for several different organizations. March 2016 – A Conversation About LGBTTQ*

 

 

 

Dennis White Bird, former treaty commissioner, former Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. July 2016 – First Nations. During his 18 years as the Chief of Rolling River, Commissioner White Bird successfully negotiated a Treaty Land Entitlement agreement with Canada and Manitoba.

 

 

 

Dr. Clint Curle is presently Head of Stakeholder Relations at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. October 2016 – The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. His educational background includes a PhD in political science, Masters degrees in law and theology, and an LLB.

 

 

 

Senator Dr. Mari Lou McPhedran is the founder of the Institute for International Women’s Rights and the International Women’s Rights Project. She became a Member of the Order of Canada (1985). November 2016 – When Worngs Trump Rights: Rape as a Weapon of War.

 

 

 

Dr. Patrick Franklin is associate professor of theology and ethics at Providence Seminary. Member of American Academy of Religion, Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation (and ASA), Canadian-American Theological Association (CATA), International Bonhoeffer Society. March 2017 – Can Faith and Science Coexist?

 

 

Dr. Elliott Hanowski of the University of Manitoba who will speak about he history of atheist and secular movements in Canada, their beliefs, actions, motivations and social context. Dr. Hanowski received his Ph.D in Canadian History from Queen’s University and is the author of several articles on the subject. May 2017 – Atheist & Secular Movements in Canada.

 

 

 

Dr. Ruth Ashrafi is Judaic Studies Adviser at the Gray Academy of Jewish Education in Winnipeg. July 2017 – Judaism and Israel in 21st Century – It’s Complicated.

 

 

 

 

Dorota Blumczynska is the Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM). September 2017 – Immigrants & Refugees: The Impact.

 

 

 

 

 

Abdikheir Ahmed, Director, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW). September 2017 – Immigration & Refugees: The Impact.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shauna Labman, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba; a Trudeau Scholar she has worked as a consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi and with the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, as well as with the Law Commission of Canada, the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia, the Nunavut Court of Justice and as a law clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal. September 2017 – Immigration & Refugees: The Impact.

 

 

 

Yahya Samatar came to Canada as a refugee in 2015 swimming across the Red River during his journey. Mr. Samatar now speaks about his experience and as an advocate for newcomers. September 2017 – Immigration & Refugees: The Impact

 

 

Andrew J. Bergman is a novelist and ghostwriter from Manitoba, Canada. He is the editor and writer at The Daily Bonnet. His work has also appeared in Geez, Rhubarb, Ballast, CBC.ca, Potluck Magazine, Pictures & Portraits, Bougainvillea Road Lit Mag, Every Day Poets, The Winnipeg Free Press, The Winnipeg Sun, The Manitoban, and Theodidaktos, among others. October 2017 – Satire and Diversity

 

Ven. Mathumagala Chandananda is a Buddhist monk residing at the Manitoba Buddhist Vihara Association. Mr. Chandananda has B.A. and Masters degrees in Buddhist Philosophy as well as a diploma in psychology and counselling. November 2017 – An Intro to Buddhism.

 

 

 

Dr. Idris Elbakri – Ph.D, MCCPM, Imaging Physicist, CCMB, Adjunct Professor – Physics and Astronomy, Assistant Professor – Radiology; Past President – Manitoba Islamic Association. Our first repeat speaker, January 2018 – Being Palestinian.

 

 

 

 

 
Belle Jarniewski chairs the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada. She serves on the federally appointed delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. She is the current president of the board of directors of the Manitoba Multifaith Council. March 2018 – Antisemitism.

 

 

 

Rocky and Christine Baronins are leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. May 2018 – Mormons.