President’s message

As I write this message, it is with immense joy and gratitude that I reflect on our recent Fall 2023 Convocation ceremony and the profound significance it held for everyone who attended.

On October 20, as we gathered to celebrate the academic achievements of our graduates, I watched my own daughter cross the stage to receive her degree. This gave me an added perspective on the pride, hope, and love felt by other family and friends as their graduates became alumni of the University of Regina.

That perspective is something I have not experienced so fully since my own time as a student many years ago, and it has resonated deeply with me. I believe it has given me a new appreciation for what many of our students experience during their studies. And it has given me a greater appreciation for the important role that all the people around our students play in that collective educational journey.

The metaphor of a journey – with our graduates as explorers – is certainly an apt one, as I indicated that day in my Convocation address.

For our students – many of whom come through our doors at only age 17 – their academic program is indeed a journey of exploration. Over a challenging but rewarding period of several years, they learn about their individual disciplines, pursue knowledge and truth, and with the support of many, go through uncharted waters. By Convocation, they emerge into a new world as hopeful young adults armed with a wealth of academic, life, and work experience that will serve them well in years to come.

This journey can be been transformative for our students and their families. We should never take that for granted, or underestimate its importance.

Perhaps not coincidentally, as we were about to send our graduates onto their next life adventures, we were also opening our doors to a new generation of “explorers” as we hosted prospective new students and their families at our Fall Open House.

The energy on campus during at the Open House was truly invigorating. Last year, we welcomed 300 people to campus for the event, but this year, that number swelled to over 1,000. This surge of interest and enthusiasm from prospective students and their families speaks to the thriving community we are building at the University of Regina.

There is a good reason for the vibrancy that I and many others experience on campus these days: I am delighted to share that we have achieved a record enrolment for the year. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the excellent reputation of our academic programs. It is a sign that our University is not only a place of knowledge, but a hub of opportunity where students can explore their passions, forge new paths, and achieve their dreams.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire University of Regina community for your unwavering support and dedication. Our University is not just a place of learning; it is a family that encourages and nurtures the growth of every student. As we celebrate our graduates and welcome new faces, I am filled with a deep sense of optimism for the future. Our institution continues to evolve, and our commitment to providing an exceptional education remains steadfast.

Thank you, once again, to all of our alumni for being a part of this extraordinary community. Together, we are creating a brighter future for our students, our University, and our province.

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Keshen
President and Vice-Chancellor

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Kelsey Lonie's love of history was sparked by what she describes as stories and history coming together, especially from hearing the experiences of her grandparents Irene and Tony Schmidt in the 1930s, the Second World War, and the years following.

"It started with hearing their stories; their perseverance in doing what had to be done during the war. It was about ordinary people doing extraordinary things," she observes.

Kelsey Lonie BEd'15, MA'24 is playing an important role in a project that will culminate with the erection of an eight foot bronze statue of a Regina Rifleman at a ceremony next year at Juno Beach to honour the sacrifices of Saskatchewan soldiers on the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion. Photo by Trevor Hopkin Kelsey Lonie BEd'15, MA'24 is playing an important role in a project that will culminate with the erection of an eight foot bronze statue of a Regina Rifleman at a ceremony next year at Juno Beach to honour the sacrifices of Saskatchewan soldiers on the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion. Photo by Trevor Hopkin

Her grandmother was a member of a little-known organization formed by the British Columbia government, the Women's Land Army (WLA), while her grandfather served at a gun battery protecting the Halifax harbour from enemy attack.

A change in direction

Lonie would undertake a deeper exploration of her grandmother's story later, but she initially decided to share her love of history as a teacher, earning her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Regina in 2015.

For the next eight years she taught Grade 3 students at the Regina Christian School. One of the highlights was accompanying her students to visit veterans at the nearby Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and encouraging them to write letters to the vets.

"The kids got to meet the veterans and learn from them; it was a really tangible way to keep history alive."

In 2022 she took a leave of absence from teaching to pursue a master's degree in History from the U of R. Her thesis: The role of British Columbia's Women's Land Army, and particularly its connections to Saskatchewan.

"I realized I had stumbled upon my thesis through the stories of my grandmother," Lonie says.

Dr. Ken Leyton-Brown - whose research interests include western Canadian history - served as Kelsey Lonie's thesis advisor. Photo by Trevor Hopkin Dr. Ken Leyton-Brown - whose research interests include western Canadian history - served as Kelsey Lonie's thesis advisor. Photo by Trevor Hopkin

Dr. Ken Leyton-Brown - whose research interests include western Canadian history - served as her thesis advisor. "She knew exactly what she wanted to do," Leyton-Brown says, "and she had a passionate interest in the topic. The history of the WLA in BC was virtually unknown, and Kelsey was the perfect person to explore it."

The government of British Columbia established a Women's Land Army to recruit workers to assist with the harvest, replacing men working in the agricultural sector in BC who joined the armed forces or took work in factories. British Columbia's first in-province recruiting effort fell far short of the hands needed, so the call for help expanded to women in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Lonie's grandmother was one of the young women who responded.

Kelsey Lonie's love of history was sparked by what she describes as stories and history coming together, especially from hearing the experiences of her grandparents Irene and Tony Schmidt in the 1930s, the Second World War, and the years following. Photo by Trevor Hopkin Kelsey Lonie's love of history was sparked by what she describes as stories and history coming together, especially from hearing the experiences of her grandparents Irene and Tony Schmidt in the 1930s, the Second World War, and the years following. Photo by Trevor Hopkin

Opportunity knocks

While she was working toward her master's degree, Lonie decided to take her career in a different direction; to become a historian, with a specific focus on the history of World War Two. A unique opportunity arose to pursue that interest when, as a board member of the Regina branch of the Royal United Services Institute, she heard a presentation from the Royal Regina Rifles Senate and Trust, a registered charity comprised mainly of retired members that helps support the regiment. The presentation outlined the Trust's plans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Rifles' leading role in the D-Day landing at Juno Beach in Nazi-occupied France in June, 1944.

"Right away, I was hooked by the presentation," Kelsey says. "I made some suggestions of other actions they could take, which led to the Trust hiring me as their historian and communications liaison (in May 2023) to help commemorate the history and legacy of the Rifles." A key initiative is what she calls "the legacy piece"; providing opportunities for young people to be involved in the project, learn the stories, and be able to take away something from it. "How do we make history tangible today; how do we make it matter today? That's what I was brought on to do," she says.

A replica of the statue that will be permanently mounted on the seawall at Courseulles-sur Mer, Normandy where the Regina Rifles landed on D-Day. A replica of the statue that will be permanently mounted on the seawall at Courseulles-sur Mer, Normandy where the Regina Rifles landed on D-Day.

A key element of the Trust's plan is the commissioning of an eight-foot high bronze statue of a Regina Rifles soldier that will be installed on the seawall at Juno Beach in June 2024. Unveiling the statue will be one of the highlights of a ten-day Trust's Tour of Honour to allow current members of the Rifles, retired members, and supporters to visit several sites that form part of the regiment's history on D-Day and the ensuing battles in the Fall of 1944, as well as a couple of sites from the First World War.

Retired Brigadier-General Cliff Walker had a 35-year military career. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Rifles when he was 28. Retired Brigadier-General Cliff Walker had a 35-year military career. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Rifles when he was 28.

Ambitious plans

Retired Brigadier-General Cliff Walker, whose 35-year military career includes being appointed Commanding Officer of the Rifles when he was 28, says the project - with the goal of raising almost $500,000 - is the most ambitious the Trust has ever undertaken. Walker, who is a past president of the Senate and Trust, describes another former Commanding Officer of the Rifles, retired Lieutenant-Colonel Ed Staniowski, as the brainchild behind the commemoration project - named Operation Calvados after an area of France where the Rifles fought (and enjoyed the local apple brandy when they were on leave.) Staniowski notes that during the Tour, the Trust will host a dinner in honour of the regiment, with officials from Normandy and Canada among the invited guests. The Trust has also invited HRH Princess Anne, Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, to attend the unveiling.

"Kelsey will help us capture these events and preserve them for future generations," Staniowski says. "She has tremendous drive, and is a natural fit for what we want to achieve with this project."

 

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Ed Staniowski, the man behind the commemoration project. Staniowski is seen here looking at some of his hockey memorabilia from a display at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Ed Staniowski, the man behind the commemoration project. Staniowski is seen here looking at some of his hockey memorabilia from a display at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

Kindred spirits

Lonie has held discussions with U of R President Dr. Jeff Keshen about possible partnerships with students in the departments of History and Film, for example. Much of the Rifles' D Company who stormed Juno Beach on D-Day were Indigenous, she adds, so she is looking for ways to honour their stories as well.

"While the history of the University goes back about 50 years," Keshen notes, "our roots go back to 1911, and that includes important military connections. There are plaques located inside the main entrance doors of the College Avenue building, with the names of students and staff who volunteered. I have laid wreaths there," Keshen continues, "and because we have current and past students, faculty and staff whose relatives served in both world wars I will visit the Memorial Wall at the Legislative Grounds on their behalf this Remembrance Day.

Dr. Jeff Keshen, President of the University of Regina. Photo by Trevor Hopkin Dr. Jeff Keshen, President of the University of Regina. Photo by Trevor Hopkin

"As for Kelsey's terrific master's thesis, it brings to light another perspective on how Saskatchewan people - in this case young women who volunteered to go to British Columbia to help with food production - contributed to the war effort," Keshen says. "And now she has opportunities to discover and tell more stories, through her work with the Rifles."

Lonie has created a website telling the history of the Women's Land Army. You can find it here. She is also writing a book based on her thesis topic.

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