Spotlight on Hitesh Sharma
On July 10, Hitesh Sharma DIPBA’15 reached the top of the BBC Asian Music Top 40 Chart with his hit song, Young Shahrukh.
Archive: Spotlight
Thomas Chase BA(Hons)’79
In an April 1, 2020 announcement, Thomas Chase BA(Hons)’79 was officially named the University of Regina’s interim president. Chase has a nearly 40-year relationship with the University, beginning as a student. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (High Honours) in English in 1979. In 1984, he earned a PhD from Glasgow University in Scotland, where he held a doctoral fellowship in the Department of English Language. He has served in various academic and administrative positions at the University of Regina, including coordinator of the Linguistics Program, founding director of the Centre for Academic Technologies, associate dean (Research and Graduate) of the Faculty of Arts and, for four years, dean of the Faculty of Arts. Most recently, he served as provost and vice-president (Academic), having been appointed on July 1, 2011.
Tara Hudye BSc’00
Tara Hudye BSc’00 grew up on the family farm near Kamsack, Saskatchewan and earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of Regina in 2000. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Hudye and her colleagues operate Regina’s Veterinary Mobility Centre, a full-service animal clinic that specializes in pain control in family pets. In 2019, she received the Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists Veterinarian of the Year Award and, in 2018 and 2020, she served as a volunteer veterinarian at the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race. Hudye is pictured here with Hector, the prostheses-legged dog.
Art Wakabayashi LLB (Honorary)’19
Art Wakabayashi LLB(Honorary)’19 is no stranger to the Convocation stage. Afterall, from 2001 until 2007, he presided over it as Chancellor of the University of Regina, conferring an estimated 13,500 degrees, diplomas, and certificates on U of R graduates. At this year’s Fall Convocation, it was someone else’s turn to do the heavy lifting. Wakabayashi was awarded an honorary doctor of laws from President and Vice-Chancellor Vianne Timmons. We caught up with him just before one of his twice-weekly curling matches and asked him a few questions.
William Ready tribute
William F. Ready QC, BA, JD, LLD (Honorary ’89) has most ably served as chancellor of the University of Regina since the fall of 2007. During that time, he has conferred more than 13,500 degrees, diplomas and certificates on U of R graduating students. Ready first distinguished himself during a nearly 50-year law career that saw him become a senior partner in McDougall Ready (now McDougall Gauley), one of the oldest law firms in Saskatchewan. He is also well known for his contributions to education. He served as a trustee for the Regina Board of Education for 11 years – two years as vice-chair and two years as chair. In recognition of his commitment to education in Regina, the W.F. Ready Elementary School opened its doors in 1984. This year’s spring convocation at the U of R is Ready’s last as chancellor.
Spot Light on Jim Tomkins
The University of Regina has been the second home of Chancellor Jim Tomkins for more than 50 years. While a student in 1963, he worked for a local concrete company that poured the foundations for the Laboratory and Classroom Buildings. As Tomkins likes to say, “My roots go deep at the U of R.” In the intervening years, his roles have included professor, department head, vice-president, senator, president and now Chancellor. As chancellor, he has conferred degrees, diplomas and certificates on some 15,000 graduates. He presided over his last ceremony in early June.
Spot Light on Vivek Jain BAdmin’99
Vivek Jain BAdmin’99 can be a hard guy to pin down. If he’s not in Regina looking after his young daughters, chances are he is in Los Angeles or New York promoting his new dating app. Or, you might find him in Toronto, appearing in a commercial or acting in an independent feature length film. Not long ago, the accounting graduate and his partners were on CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitching a unique football league. FANchise is a digital-age sports league where every decision, from the colour of the cheerleaders’ uniforms to on-field play calling, is decided by fans.
Spot Light on Paige Klarer
Canada is one of the world’s worst wasters of food. A recent study on food waste released by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation reported that the average Canadian wastes 170 kilograms of food each year. Working extensively in coffee houses, Paige Klarer saw first-hand the waste common in the industry. Klarer decided to do something about it. This summer she volunteered to run the food security program at All Nations Hope Network, a non-profit organization in Regina’s North Central neighbourhood that supports Indigenous people affected by HIV and hepatitis C. Three days a week, Klarer picked up day-old baked goods from cafes around Regina, packed them into large green containers and delivered them to the 25 to 50 people waiting in the All Nations Hope facility for food.
Spotlight on Jennifer Dubois BAdmin’16
In 2012, Jennifer Dubois BAdmin’16 was one of the prize winners in CBC’s Boom Box Indigenous business competition. Her pitch to open an Indigenous hair salon and spa landed her second place, $1,500 and three months of business mentorship. Five years later, Dubois realized her dream when she opened Miyosiwin Salon Spa. Sadly, Dubois’ dream business was decimated by a fire that started at a neighbouring business. Dubois is determinedly working to rebuild the salon. She assures her clients that Miyosiwin will open again soon. If you want to reach out to Dubois, you can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiyosiwinSalon.
Spot Light on Adam Serblowski BASc’08
Adam Serblowski BASc’08 describes himself as hardworking, driven and always up for a challenge. With these qualities, he was just the man to lead Royal Dutch Shell’s quest to develop the world’s first resident, mobile robot designed to operate in potentially explosive environments.