Alumni Award Recipients
Dr. Ivan Smith Award – Kelly Meighen BA’71
Meighen provides something ‘right’ for Western
Kelly Meighen says she is sure she was the last student Western let in through the gates in 1968.
“I really struggled through high school and getting into Western was really big for me,” says Meighen, who attended Huron University College. “I completed my degree in psychology, and I learned who I was as an independent individual. But I still didn’t have a robust view of what I could accomplish – and here we are today – something right must have happened along the way.”
Meighen is the recipient of this year’s Dr. Ivan Smith Award, Alumni Western’s highest tribute, presented to an outstanding individual in recognition of their sustained and significant contributions to the Alumni Association, Western and society.
Daughter of Western’s first Dean of Engineering (Richard Dillon), Meighen grew up in London. After attaining her degree from Western, she went on to work for the Ontario Government, General Foods Inc., Beech, Shepell & Associates and finally, in 1994, she took on the role of president of the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.
Since 1977, Meighen has been very involved in volunteering in her community. Today, she lives in Toronto and is a member of Western’s Board of Governors, T.R. Meighen Family Foundation, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Evergreen at the Brickworks and Upper Canada College.
Additionally, she is a past member of the board with Sancta Maria House, Mabin School, The Wellesley Hospital, Mount Allison University and Writer’s Development Trust of Canada.
Through her association with the Board of Governors, Meighen was involved in the deliberations for hiring Western’s new president, Amit Chakma. “Being a part of the process to find Western’s new leader was such a privilege,” she says. “I feel I have had a hand in shaping the future of this university.”
Meighen call it is an honour to devote her time to volunteer commitments and organizations she is passionate about and is thrilled with what the T.R. Meighen Foundation has been able to accomplish in supporting organizations throughout Ontario (including Western), Quebec and in New Brunswick.
“Kelly has continued to zealously uphold the family tradition of lifelong support for Western as a benefactor, champion and Board of Governors member serving on a variety of committees,” says Robert Collins, from his nomination letter. “Kelly serves Western and the community with dedication and compassion.”
Meighen says she is most proud of what she and her husband, Sen. Michael Meighen, have done in raising their three sons – Ted, Hugh and Max.
Professional Achievement Award
The Professional Achievement Award recognizes superior achievement in a professional field. The recipient is a role model for newcomers and sets standards to which others can aspire.
John B. Lee, BA ’74, BEd ’75, MA ’85
John B. Lee’s time in London and at Western gave him his first taste of “city life,” and pushed him to expand his career horizons.
“I went out into the world with the lifeline of learning and experience garnered at Western,” Lee says.
A high school teacher for 13 years, Lee chose to leave teaching for a full-time career as an author, and travelled the world reading his poetry, presenting writing workshops, teaching university students and serving as a writer-in-residence at libraries and schools throughout Canada.
With more than 50 books published and editor of seven anthologies, including two best-selling works, Lee is a recipient of more than 70 prestigious international awards for his writing. He is the only two-time recipient of the People’s Poetry Award.
Marty Gervais, Black Moss Press president, calls Lee probably Canada’s most prolific poet. “John set out to be a writer and found the only way to do that was to sit down and devote himself to that task every day of his life,” Gervais says. “At the same time it freed him to be the teacher, the mentor, the inspirer, and there are so many people who unabashedly will say how much he influenced and shaped their lives.”
Keith M. Barron, PhD ’97
Western opened up a world of possibilities for Keith Barron.
“While at Western, I met so many graduate students and faculty with stories of work in odd corners of the world. I, too, was anxious to take a break from my studies and I chose to go to Australia in 1988,” Baron says. “Since then I have resided in more than a dozen countries and visited close to 80.”
Working in mineral exploration for more than 25 years, Baron has consulted for numerous companies and investment houses, with an expertise in epithermal gold deposits. The founder of two companies, Aurelian Resources Inc. and U3O8 Corp, he is currently working on a number of projects in Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Switzerland.
Baron hopes to reinvigorate the study and teaching of economic geology at Western. He pledged $1.2 million to the Faculty of Science to create the Robert W. Hodder Chair in Economic Geology and establish the Richard W. Hutchinson Visiting Industrial Professor in Economic Geology.
Norman Duke, Western Economic Geology associate professor, says Baron’s commitment to fundamental geology played the key role in his accomplishments. “He is also a living example of the old adage that education is the key to success,” Duke says.
Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award recognizes significant contributions by an outstanding individual in their field of endeavour, whether through professional achievement or community service. The recipients are 40 years old or younger and set an inspirational example for future young alumni.
Lisa M. Given, BA ’93, BEd ’94, MLIS ’96, PhD ’01
Western will always be a core part of Lisa Given’s identity. After 12 years and four degrees from Western, the University of Alberta hired her before she even defended her thesis.
Given attained tenure in record time and achieved full professorship within nine years – all before the age of 40.
“Western played a major role in my career development, serving as a cornerstone of my education and preparation for being a professor,” Given says. “My BA shaped my approach to writing and critical thinking, while my BEd gave me the tools needed to be an effective teacher. I have carried these skills into my work as a professor and I am able to integrate all that I have learned in my research, teaching and service work.”
The Owen Sound native is currently a professor at the School of Library and Information Studies and adjunct professor of Humanities Computing at the University of Alberta. Her research interests include Web usability, spatial analysis and information literacy. She has served as an expert witness in several immigrant and refugee hearings at the Federal Court on the credibility of Internet resources. She also edited the two-volume set, The Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods (2008).
Community Service Award
The Community Service Award pays tribute to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the community and through this generous gift of time and talent, have enriched the lives of others. Recipients have championed civic, charitable, philanthropic and social welfare causes.
Wayne Dunn, BA ’80
Wayne Dunn took his life-changing experience at Western and used it to change lives in the London community.
“Western provided me with a solid foundation that I have used throughout my business career and life,” he says.
The co-owner of County Heritage Forest Products Ltd., a company that manufactures and distributes wood doors and mouldings, Dunn has been in business since 1976 and employs approximately 65 people the London location.
Volunteering in the community for more than 20 years, Dunn has been involved in a number of roles within the London and Ontario chambers of commerce, is a past board member of Junior Achievement and St. Joseph’s Health Foundation, current board member of the London Hunt and Country Club, committee member of St. Joseph’s Tribute dinner, member of Senate at Western, and co-chair of the annual Business Cares Christmas Food Drive.
“Wayne will never know the thousands of lives he has touched through his incredibly active involvement in the London community,” says Ed Holder (BA’76), MP for London West, who nominated Dunn. “For all of us who are privileged to know and be inspired by this caring, powerful person, clearly our city and this community is a better place because Wayne Dunn calls London home.”
2010 ‘W’ Club Hall of Fame Inductees
The ‘W’ Club honours people who have made outstanding contributions to Western’s athletic program as players, coaches or administrators.
Jeff Arp, BA ’81
Jeff Arp says the techniques and mental discipline he learned as a Mustang football player enabled him to succeed at the professional level – despite his size.
At 6-foot-3-inches tall, the 210-pound guard was considered small for his position of offensive guard. But the Mustang offense was able to take advantage of Arp’s lightning speed. And national recognition soon followed.
Arp became the first Western Mustang football player to be named a three-time first-team All Canadian (1979-1981), the same years he helped the Mustangs win three consecutive Yates Cup titles.
“I have many fond memories of great games while at Western,” Arp says.
Drafted by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the third round of the 1982 Canadian Football League draft, he played in the Grey Cup in 1985. He went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts in 1986 before retiring at the end of the season.
Having majored in political science, Arp says his academic experiences at Western provided a great foundation for his career in Ontario public service. He has worked in a cabinet office, ministers’ offices and in communications branches at the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Today, Arp works at the Ministry of the Environment.
Jim Parker, BSc ’67
Jim Parker has many fond memories of his time at Western, both as a student-athlete and coach.
“The high demand put on me in my studies and athletics transferred over to my teaching and coaching,” Parker says. “I demanded the same from my students and athletes. If I could do it, so could they.”
As an athlete, Parker won a number of medals as well as a member of the Mustang relay teams. His specialty was the 440-yard hurdles, for which he won Ontario Conference Championship gold twice and silver the other two years. He also won a gold medal in 1966 in the indoor Canadian Interuniversity Sport, where he set the Western and Canadian record.
Shortly after graduating from Western, Parker began his coaching career at the Western as the men’s rugby speed coach and was the longest-serving assistant coach (for track and field) at Western before retiring in 2005, after almost 35 years of service.
Parker will never forget the comradery of his teammates, both as an athlete and coach. His best memories are of watching the athletes grow and mature, as many of them became Canadian champions – and some even became Olympians.
Ron Watson
Ron ‘Whipper’ Watson spent two-thirds of his life on Western’s campus.
Having completed numerous degrees (BA ’61, BPE ’62, MSc ’64, PhD ’73) elsewhere, Watson chose to settle at Western in 1965. He coached Mustang hockey for 20 years and to this day continues to teach a sport law course in the Department of Kinesiology.
“Western has allowed me and my family to have the most wonderful life – both professionally and personally,” Watson says.
During Watson’s 20 years (1965-85) at the helm, Western posted a 200-93-32 record and made five trips to the OUA Queen’s Cup. In 1972-73, Watson was runner-up for CIAU Coach of the Year and, off the ice, was a founding member of the Canadian Hockey Coaches Association in 1969.
Watson took on several administrative roles for the Mustang program including serving as coordinator of intercollegiate athletics (1986-88), acting chair of intercollegiate athletics (1988-89), associate dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology (1989-97) and director of the School of Kinesiology (1997-2001).
Watson’s future goal is to write the history of Mustang hockey, from 1946-65. He says he may one day write a reflective book about his life and how he grew up loving a sport and was able to make it a lifelong passion.
Guy Zink, BA ’74, BEd ’75
Guy Zink says his experience as a student athlete at Western changed his direction in life.
“Had it not been for an encouraging recruitment letter from Coach Glynn Leyshon, I would not have gone to university at all,” Zink says. “My university experiences built my confidence in so many ways and set the stage for a lifetime in teaching and coaching which has been so enriching for me.”
As a member of the Western wrestling team, Zink was undefeated in OUA dual meet and tournament competition, winning four OUA gold medals, two CIS gold medals and the National Open Championship. He was selected as wrestling MVP twice and competed as a member of the national team in the World Championships and the World University Games.
“Certainly, I am proud of my accomplishments as a wrestler,” says Zink, who says the most important experiences were in the practice room in the bowels of Alumni Hall.
“This is where the real stuff happened. The preparation for the contest was far more taxing than the contest itself,” he says. “More importantly, that is where I solidified so many friendships that have lasted over 40 years. The relationships established with those guys far outweigh any feelings I have about my own achievements.”
2010 Women’s Athletic Alumnae Elfrida Berzins Award Recipients
The Elfrida Berzins Award is presented to a woman who has participated in Western Athletics as an athlete, coach or administrator; made further contributions in athletics, academics or public service; contributed to the development of women in sports-related areas; and acted as a role model. This award is named for Elfrida Berzins, coach and Director of Women’s Athletics from 1956 through 1970.
Belinda Chou, BA ’01, BEd ’05
Belinda Chou’s first year as the lone female varsity wrestler at Western laid the foundation of her life and career.
“While my male teammates were doing their best to be helpful, it was tough on me physically and mentally to spar with young men who were also striving to improve their skills,” Chou recalls. “I had to learn how to be tough mentally because no one was going to feel sorry for me. I learned to endure the difficult times and keep focusing on my goals.”
Wrestling was officially recognized as a sport for women during her time at Western. Chou is regarded as one of the pioneers of women’s wrestling at Western, with her honours speaking for themselves: first place provincially and nationally; team captain and MVP; and the first Western female wrestler to win the FWP Jones Trophy.
“In my 24 years of coaching, I can say that Belinda is one of the most dedicated and well accomplished student-athletes I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” says Ray Takahashi, her former coach. “She exemplifies much of what is highly regarded by Mustang Athletics – achievement, excellence, giving back, and being a role model for younger students, both men and women.”
Bev (Pierce) Warner, BA ’70
Bev Warner believes staying active has helped save her life. The retired secondary school teacher and coach is living proof there is life – and an active one – after breast cancer.
“Word is spreading around the world that exercise is good for you, for breast cancer survivors and for cancer patients in general,” Warner says.
Her athletic drive was obvious as a Western student as a member of both the women’s basketball and track and field teams. Some of her athletic highlights include: Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Association (OWIAA) high jump champion in 1967; three OWIAA basketball team championships; Bronze W winner; three first colours in basketball and track and field; FWP Jones Trophy in 1970; and White Blanket Award winner.
After graduation, Warner taught at Banting Memorial Secondary School, teaching physical education and coaching girls and midget boys basketball, and in 1977-’78 competed for the Hamilton Bobcats women’s senior basketball team, winning the Canadian Senior Women’s Championships.
In 1978, she moved to Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie where she spent most of her career as department head of the Physical Education Department. She finished her secondary school years in the Guidance Department as a counselor, until retirement in 2002.
Mary Lou Dresser, BA ’59
Mary Lou Dresser knew challenges awaited her at Western, both in the classroom and on the court.
The youngest of seven children, she grew up playing many sports, but basketball was her passion. Dresser was a valuable addition to the team, winning the Bronze Baby in three of her four years.
Upon graduation in 1959, she received the FWP Jones Trophy for outstanding female athlete of the year and the White Blanket. In 1960, she began teaching at Western as well as taking on coaching duties with the women’s basketball and track and field teams.
“In the beginning, as I wasn’t much older than the players and had actually played basketball with some of them, it was both a frightening and exhilarating experience,” Dresser says.
Jane Peckham, BA ’69, a forward on the women’s basketball team from 1967-69, says Dresser was an excellent coach. “I always appreciated Mary Lou’s knowledge, enthusiasm, commitment and encouragement, which helped us be successful,” Peckham says. “She was a role model for our generation, creating inroads for women who wanted to play or coach at the university level.”
After 10 years on Western’s faculty, Dresser began working in the healthcare field as an occupational therapy assistant until her retirement in 2003.
Tanya Tygesen, BA’90
Western was the only university Tanya Tygesen wanted to attend. And she made the most of her Western experience.
Staying for six years and graduating with a degree in anthropology and a Certificat de Français Pratique, Tygesen worked in the Registrar’s Office for three years while also garnering many awards and accolades for her accomplishments on the Mustang Varsity Fencing and national teams as an athlete and coach.
“My professors, courses and student life all impacted my life today,” Tygesen says. “From preparing my mind with information on subjects I had never before studied to taking a personal interest in my accomplishments outside the classroom. The people and events from my Western days are still fond memories for me that I will have for a lifetime.”
After Western, Tygesen continued competing as member of the world cup team until 1997, winning gold at the Commonwealth Championships; posting the best ever-Canadian result at a Women’s Epee world cup; and was an Olympic team candidate in 1996.
In 2001, Tygesen hit Hollywood as actress Tia Carrerre’s fencing stunt double on the set of “Relic Hunter,” and continues to be still involved in numerous sports today including tennis, skiing, beach volleyball and golf.