Barb Ryan

When honorary degree recipient Barb Ryan was contacted to provide a few comments about being recognized by the University of Regina, she was involved in the signature activity of her life: being “Mom” to her extended family of refugees, immigrant families and international students. In this case, she had just helped place a young refugee into the motor mechanics program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

“I have four kids, and I will mother anyone who will let me,” she says.

Mothering her four active, growing kids – Erica, Jill, Steve, and Jon – gave her good connections with a lot of people in the community. Now, she puts these connections into action whenever one of her other “kids” needs help.

After her husband Bob died at age 54, Ryan joined the Regina Wascana branch of the Canadian Progress Club (CPC), which had provided the down payment for a settlement house for refugees. Through the club, she was introduced to the Regina Open Door Society (RODS) and the work that it does for newcomers. Ryan was deeply moved. “The stories of what these people had endured hit me hard,” she says. “Their resilience is inspiring. I have such respect for these people.”

Ryan has also been involved with fundraising for charities, including the Progress Club’s Festival of Trees and the Champagne Classic women's golf tournament in support of the children’s ward at the Regina General Hospital.

Since then, Ryan has hosted two families from Africa and a refugee family of eight from Syria, showing them the city, helping them with everyday issues and in learning English. Through them, she has met many other families in the immigrant community and been inspired to help them connect with each other. Working with CPC Regina Wascana and RODS, she started a support group called Women to Women, where members teach newcomer women a skill or craft while visiting over coffee. Through the World University Service of Canada program at the U of R, Ryan has become “mom” to students from other countries who are away from their families.

“The Syrian kids regularly come to my place to cook their traditional food. We always have a nice time eating and visiting,” she says.

Ryan has also been involved with fundraising for charities, including the Progress Club’s Festival of Trees and the Champagne Classic women's golf tournament in support of the children’s ward at the Regina General Hospital. She is a consummate networker, using her contacts to scrounge furniture and other household necessities, arrange educational placements and find jobs for members of her extended family.

For her tireless efforts in the community, Ryan has been recognized with the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, the 2016 Red Cross Humanitarian Award, the Senate 150th anniversary medal and, earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. She was delighted when University of Regina President Vianne Timmons informed her over lunch that she was to receive an honorary degree. “It’s an honour, and it’s lovely to have your labour of love recognized in the community,” Ryan says. “I tell my grandkids we are really lucky to live here and I try to show them we have to share; we have to give back.”

Ryan receives her honorary degree on June 5, 2019.

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3148 [post_author] => 6 [post_date] => 2019-05-30 09:36:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-05-30 15:36:17 [post_content] =>

A local humanitarian, football superstar, beloved Canadian actor, tireless Regina volunteer and generous Saskatchewan philanthropic couple are this spring's honorary degree recipients.

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Jon Ryan will be forever immortalized – certainly on the Internet – for his touchdown pass that sparked a comeback playoff victory to ensure the Seattle Seahawks a berth in the 2014 NFL Super Bowl. The scoring toss – part of a fake field goal play – also earned Ryan a place in the NFL record book as the first punter to throw a touchdown pass in an NFL playoff game.

“I always try to lead by example on and off the field,” Ryan says. “That means never cutting corners, and treating all of the people you meet during a workday – and there are hundreds – the same way.”

While that may be his signature play, he says one of his greatest accomplishments, was to be named a team captain by his fellow players for four consecutive years. “I always try to lead by example on and off the field,” Ryan says. “That means never cutting corners, and treating all of the people you meet during a workday – and there are hundreds – the same way.”

Ryan was born and raised in Regina, playing running back, place kicker, and punter for the Sheldon-Williams Spartans, and then wide receiver and punter for four seasons with the University of Regina Rams. At the end of his university career, Ryan was recognized with three team awards from the Rams and named a first-team Canada West All-Star and CIS All-Star.

He is an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, known for his strong response to online homophobic comments made after the Pulse nightclub shootings in 2016. “I’m a believer in equality,” he says, “and that people should not be discriminated against on the basis of their race, sexuality or any other characteristic.”

He then spent two seasons as a punter with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He continued his career in the NFL, playing two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, followed by ten years with the Seattle Seahawks, including a Super Bowl championship in 2013. He was released by the Seahawks in August 2018. Ryan is proud of his longevity, being a member of a select group of just over 300 players who have appeared in more than 200 NFL games.

He is an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, known for his strong response to online homophobic comments made after the Pulse nightclub shootings in 2016. “I’m a believer in equality,” he says, “and that people should not be discriminated against on the basis of their race, sexuality or any other characteristic.”

Ryan also believes in giving back to his community. In Saskatchewan, he founded the Gear Up with Jon Ryan Foundation to fill a gap that he identified in minor football programming in Regina. The foundation initially provided proper equipment for younger players playing tackle football and more training for coaches to improve player safety. It has since expanded to other communities across Saskatchewan, including support for a start-up team in the northern part of the province.

Ryan credits the behind-the-scenes work of his wife – actress and comedian Sarah Colonna – members of his family, and some local business people for the foundation’s success in making football more accessible to young people. “There are about 25 people who put in unbelievable hours to make it go,” he says.

As for receiving an honorary degree from his alma mater, Ryan says it was a complete surprise when he received the call from University President Vianne Timmons. “It’s a great honour, and to receive an honorary degree at the same convocation that my mother (Barb Ryan) is getting one is pretty cool.”

Ryan receives his honorary degree on June 5, 2019.

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