Drs. Trudy Corbett and Jeff Bales have given $100,000 towards the completion of the 24.3 million dollar project, which opened to the public in January with construction to be finished this spring.

“Health and wellness have always been a big part of our lives,” says Dr. Corbett, “and we are big believers in post-secondary education so this donation is a perfect fit for us in terms of giving back to the community.”

Drs. Corbett and Bales are partners in Smiles Specialty Centre, a Brandon business providing periodontic and orthodontic services. BU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Poff says the husband and wife team are long-time supporters of the University. “In addition to their financial contributions,” says Dr. Poff, “I want to thank Jeff for his many years of service on the BU Foundation Board, including a term as Chair. Both Jeff and Trudy are true community builders.”

“Brandon University is important for Brandon,” says Dr. Bales. “We are not a large city, so having a University is a real feather in our cap, a real asset, especially since the Healthy Living Centre is available and accessible to the community at-large.”

Recipients Sheree Blacksmith, currently in her first year of study in the Indigenous Health and Human Services program, and third-year Native Studies and Languages student, Janine Morin-West, were accompanied by their family members and senior administration from Brandon University to honour their achievement in receiving this award.

“It was my pleasure to host this celebration of Sheree and Janine’s student awards. I sincerely enjoyed meeting their families and welcoming our guests from Enbridge to this celebration at Brandon University,” said Dr. Poff. “The student recipients of this award, through their dedication and achievement, will become ambassadors for the program, exemplifying what can be achieved with hard work and commitment to excellence.”

The event marks the beginning of a three-year partnership with Enbridge in support of the Dakota language. Committing a total of $60,000 to Brandon University, Enbridge is the direct funder of the Dakota Language Program in the Native Studies Department, and supports two annual student scholarships valued at $2,500 each.

“Enbridge is proud to partner with Brandon University to support the revitalization of our country’s Aboriginal languages through our commitment to the Dakota Language Program and the Enbridge Dakota Language Awards,” said Jamie Honda-McNeil, Enbridge’s Manager of Aboriginal Affairs. “We’d like to congratulate this year’s award recipients. We hope these awards will enable recipients to foster the preservation of the Dakota language.”

Dr. Bruce Strang, Dean of Arts at Brandon University, was pleased to join the group and celebrate Brandon University’s new Dakota Language Program, as well as the two students’ achievement.

“The Brandon University community warmly appreciates Enbridge’s support for the teaching of the Dakota language,” said Dr. Strang. “We are committed to the preservation of Aboriginal languages, and we are working with elders, the Southern Chiefs, and Manitoba First Nations Educational Resource Centre to train a new generation of Aboriginal learners who can teach languages in an immersion setting in First Nations’ communities. Enbridge’s support enables us to realize this goal.”

“This project is one that I feel will make a huge difference in our community. In fact, that’s why I’ve volunteered to help,” he said recently. “As we move forward in engaging the community in supporting this project, it is critical that people know of the opportunity that this facility makes possible. From fitness training to a space to hold competitive basketball or volleyball games, the addition of this new building to the Brandon University campus is important to the community and to the University.”

Sports have long been of interest to the former hockey player, and not surprisingly, Jared is an avid fan of the BU Bobcats teams. He has translated his support by ensuring that his company is a committed sponsor of the University’s volleyball and basketball teams. So, true to form, getting involved in the fundraising for the HLC was a natural fit for the local businessman.

“We had no stakes in the construction of the building, but yet we definitely support it. It is great for the community, great for the University,” he said of the HLC, adding another reason for his involvement. “I (also) felt that the local alumni awareness for the younger generations was lacking and by getting involved, it may spur some new ideas and new growth to alumni events.”

A lifelong resident of Brandon, Jared was interested in entrepreneurship as a student and chose to focus his studies in business administration at BU. For three generations, his family’s business — Jacobson and Greiner Homes — has thrived in the Wheat City. To ensure this continued into the future, Jared also obtained his certification as a New Housing Professional through the Manitoba Home Builders Association as well as his realtor licence.

Today, his professional life as CEO of J&G Homes is diversified and keeps Jared very busy. Though he remains involved in the home sales end of the business as well as the interaction with customers, he primarily oversees the continued development of the companies in his purview and creates a vision for the future. As a professional in the construction field, he shared his thoughts on the new sport and fitness facility on campus.

“It looks great practically and functionally,” Jared said. “Lots of times major projects are overdesigned for the look and not the practicality, where the HLC is not. I feel this will help the fundraising campaign as donors will have comfort knowing that dollars given are being spent efficiently.”

A professional who is concerned about his city as well as his alma mater, Jared realizes there will be many benefits for everyone — students and community members alike — with the addition of the HLC.

“It will fill gaps. We never had an indoor track or adequate seating for basketball/volleyball. It will be huge, moving forward, for new sporting events and attracting functions to Brandon, relating to healthy living,” said Jared. “With the aging population, I feel this adds another checkmark in the decision-making process for people moving to Brandon, who are wondering what there is to do and what facilities are available. I also think having the new alumni lounge will be attractive for businesses/alumni to host events and should have positive economic impacts on the rest of the community. It rounds out BU and steps it up with the larger schools in Canada.”

With the local campaign now launched, Jared is planning to successfully reach the targets set to complete the financing of the building and associated programs.

To donate to the HLC fundraising campaign, please call (204) 727-7374.

“This generous donation from Vale will help bring researchers and community-partners closer and make a positive impact in the lives of First Nations and Métis children and youth living in Northern Manitoba,” said Dr. Poff. “We are very grateful for Vale’s interest and financial commitment to this important collaborative venture in research and capacity-building.”

The research activities will be aimed at helping First Nations and Métis children and youth achieve educational and career success.

“The extent of our partnerships such as the contribution from Vale is evidence of the commitment that we all have to building success for our children and youth,” said Dr. Karen Rempel, one of the main investigators in this project. “Our research partnership will build local capacity for community-based skills to use research. The project will also help our Faculty of Education programs adjust to better meet the learning needs of today’s children and youth. The project is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference.”

This project is receiving support from Vale’s top Canadian leadership. According to John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer for Vale in Canada: “Vale is very proud to support the VOICE project and to stand alongside the project’s many forward-looking sponsors. We believe that every Canadian student deserves a high-quality, inspired education so they can achieve personal and professional success, and Vale is honoured to be part of a project that will see this vision become a reality, especially for Canada’s First Nations and Métis youth.”

Vale is a global mining pioneer that discovers and transforms the minerals that are essential ingredients in the products people use every day. Vale is the world’s second largest producer of nickel, with these operations based primarily in Canada. Canadian operations also produce copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver. In Sudbury, Ontario and Thompson, Manitoba, Vale operates mine, mill, smelter and refinery operations; in Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador Vale’s assets include mine and mill operations. Vale employs about 6,000 people in Canada.

The presentation was a special one for Sheryl Moose and her father Patrick Moose. Sheryl, who is originally from Thompson, accepted Vale’s contribution on behalf of Brandon University. Her father, a 31-year employee of Vale Mining, presented Vale’s donation to his daughter.

“I am very excited and grateful to be part of such a wonderful study, said Sheryl Moose, a teacher who is a current graduate student at Brandon University and research assistant on the project. “The VOICE project focuses on Aboriginal student and youth success, particularly educational achievement. This success is really important for communities. The VOICE researchers are people who are dedicated to working with communities for our children and youth. Thank you so much for your donation, Vale. We know we can make a difference for all Aboriginal students and communities in the North.”