EDUCATION GUIDE
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • DECEMBER 2025
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UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG When learning transforms lives Discover what comes next at the University of Winnipeg E ach breakthrough starts with the push to do better — for our city, our world, and ourselves. At the University of Winnipeg, students step into a vibrant community committed to excellence. Here, they find the support and inspiration they need to push beyond what they thought was possible. When the future is limitless, UWIN on bodies of water rich in fish resources,” Simon says. “Now, these same locations are sought-after destinations for anglers who may be jeopardizing Indigenous interests, such as commercial and subsistence fishing.” At UWinnipeg, Simon researched the ways catch-and-release angling impacts Manitoba lake trout. He has presented his work at national events and received more than 20 academic awards and scholarships.
Having graduated from UWinnipeg with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 2023, Simon completed his Master of Science in In- tegrative Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Now, he’s returned to UWinnipeg to complete the University’s newly launched doc- toral program, the PhD in Bioscience and Policy. “When I found out about the program, it was a no-brainer for me to come back,” Simon says. “I have been really successful at this university. It’s been a great place for me as a researcher and personally.” When passion finds direction, UWIN For Nicole Valencia, her education journey was altered by personal loss. When Nicole initially began her post-secondary education, she was studying radiation therapy, a direction she had taken amid her foster sibling’s battle with a brain tumour. After her sibling’s tragic passing, though, Nicole wanted to make an even greater impact. “Instead of treating people with the technology that we cur- rently have, I would rather be working towards advancements for better patient outcomes,” she says.
A proud member of Peguis First Nation, UWinnipeg alum Josh Gandier has quickly emerged as a well-respected and dynamic community leader. But when Josh first arrived at UWinnipeg, he wasn’t sure which path to take. With the encouragement of his Wesmen basketball coach, Mike Raimbault, Josh began to explore the possibility of a career in business. In the Faculty of Business and Economics, he began to focus on accounting, later gaining practical experience with Canada Revenue Agency and the Office of the Auditor General Manitoba. His time at UWinnipeg also helped Josh develop a deeper inter- est in Indigenous identity, legal issues, and languages. “UWinnipeg really creates space for Indigenous students to build community and learn from Indigenous professors and mentors,” he says. “It’s at UWinnipeg where I was inspired to study Indigenous ways. It’s also the place where I learned to introduce myself in Ojibwe and to be really proud of that. It’s where I built my academic foundation.” Following graduation, Josh worked with the Manitoba Aborig- inal Sport and Recreation Council, which led to opportunities to represent Indigenous youth at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, sit on the Board of Directors for the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, and serve as Youth Chief for the Southern Chiefs’ Organization. Josh is now completing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Manitoba. This fall, he was honoured with the One to Watch Award at UWinnipeg’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Night. When discovery has no boundaries, UWIN UWinnipeg students pursue their passions in countless ways, and for Simon DePasquale, that means diving deep into the science of one of our planet’s most fragile ecosystems. Simon, a member of the Upper Mohawk band, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, grew up with a passion for the out- doors. At UWinnipeg, he discovered he could turn his love of fish and fishing into a meaningful career, and one with lasting impact on the management and preservation of Indigenous fisheries. “Historically, many Indigenous peoples have located themselves
Benefiting from the excellent access UWinnipeg students have to leading researchers, Nicole was able to connect with Dr. Mela- nie Martin in the Brain Imaging and Metabolic Research Lab. Alongside Dr. Martin, Nicole began working on ways to im- prove the accuracy of models for axon diameter measurements of MRIs. In 2025, she presented her research at the Canadian Orga- nization of Medical Physicists’ Annual Scientific Meeting. Nicole is now working to become a medical physicist, pursu- ing a Bachelor of Science in medical physics while completing her undergraduate degree in radiation health and safety. She plans to eventually earn a PhD and continue her lifelong journey to help others through research. At the University of Winnipeg, education is more than going to classes and getting a degree. It’s your next exciting journey, one that is entirely your own. No matter your background or ambitions, you will find the support and inspiration to chase your goals, challenge the status quo, and become who you want to be. n Ready to take your next step? Find out what comes next at: uwinnipeg.ca
WHEN THE FUTURE IS LIMITLESS,
Learn more at UWINNIPEG.CA
JOSHUA GANDIER | Alumnus
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