Faculty & Staff » Teaching, Research and Service Awards

Faculty of Law Awards:

The Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence
The Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence, named in memory of a much loved teacher of law at the Faculty of Law, recognizes one person each year for excellence in teaching practice. The award was created and the fund started by Barney Sneiderman’s friends and family. Through the generosity of retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Marshall Rothstein, and his commitment to excellence in teaching, the award was granted for the first time in honour of the law school's centennial year, 2014.

Nominations for the 2022 Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence are now closed. Nominations are due annually in mid-March.

Past Award Recipients:

2022 – Professor Gerald Heckman
2020 – Professor Amar Khoday
2019 – Professor Jennifer L. Schulz
2018 – Professor Karen Busby
2017 – Professor Virginia Torrie
2016 – Professor Gerald Heckman
2015 – Professor Bryan Schwartz, and Sessional Instructor Eleanor Wiebe

Remembering Barney

Barney Sneiderman photo
Barney Sneiderman (1938-2006)

The Faculty of Law places great value on excellence in teaching. Many students and alumni recall, vividly and fondly, instructors of the past and present. This award is an important opportunity for members of the Faculty’s community to publicly support and recognize our excellent teachers. The award honours Barney Sneiderman who was a beloved teacher from 1969-2006. Barney was eternally curious, confidently irreverent, and passionately interested in connecting with people from all walks of life. He was a devoted educator, in the classroom and beyond, through his writing (of academic texts and op-eds) and his speaking (on the radio and at conferences). He was a devoted husband and father to his wife Carla and his three children Liora, Miriam and Robby as well as an ardent educator. He also strived for excellence in all he did and would be delighted to know that an award to recognize excellence in teaching was created in his name to foster the dedicated teachers who have followed his example with a love of learning. 

The Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Sessional Instructors (Practicing Professionals)
This award serves to recognize and celebrate a Sessional Instructor’s contributions to teaching at the Faculty of Law.

The Faculty of Law is most thankful to dedicated members of the Manitoba legal community who take time out of their busy professional practicing lives to help educate and prepare the next generations of lawyers and legal professionals. This award is an important opportunity for members of the Robson Hall  Faculty of Law community to publicly support and recognize our excellent teachers.

Nominations for the 2022 Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Sessional Instructors (Practicing Professionals) awards are now closed. Nominations are due annually mid-March.

Past Dean's Award Recipients

2022 – Elizabeth McCandless
2020 – Natasha Brown
2019 – Greg Evans
2018 – Michael Walker
2017 – Dan Torbiak
2016 – John Neufeld

The Faculty of Law's Extraordinary Support Staff Award
This award serves to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Support Staff to teaching at the Faculty of Law.

The Faculty of Law is grateful to dedicated and talented team members of the who work tirelessly to support the education and preparation of the next generations of lawyers and professionals. Started in 2021-2022, this award is an important opportunity for members of the Robson Hall  Faculty of Law community to publicly support and recognize our exceptional staff.

2022 – Rosa Muller
2022 – Lily Deardorff

University of Manitoba Awards:

Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching
First offered in 1968, the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually at May convocation. This award recognizes an outstanding University of Manitoba educator who has demonstrated continuing teaching excellence and who made contributions to advancing teaching and learning at the University of Manitoba.

2016 – Professor Gerald Heckman
1996 – Professor Lee Stuesser
1994 – Professor Cliff Edwards
1974 – Professor Jack R. London
1972 – Professor Gerald Nemiroff

Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching
First offered in 1971, the Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually at May convocation to an outstanding teacher. This award recognizes an outstanding University of Manitoba educator who has demonstrated continuing teaching excellence and who made contributions to advancing teaching and learning at both the U of M and at the national or international level.

2015 – Professor Karen Busby
1979 – Professor Phillip H. Osborne
1977 – Professor C. Gordon Dilts

Students’ Teacher Recognition Award (CATL)
This award gives outstanding graduating students the opportunity to honour those teachers who have made important contributions to their education. Recognizing that academic growth and development occurs over many years, the outstanding student is asked to recognize two teachers; one from Kindergarten to Grade 12 years and one from their years at The University of Manitoba. Each student speaks about the impact their honoured teachers have made on their lives.

2022 – Professor Brandon Trask
2021 – Professor David Asper
2019 – Professor Lorna Turnbull
2018 – Professor Richard Jochelson
2017 – Professor Jennifer L. Schulz
2016 – Professor Mary Shariff
2015 – Professor Jennifer L. Schulz
2014 – Professor Phillip H. Osborne
2013 – Professor Evaristus Oshionebo
2012 – Professor Darcy MacPherson
2011 – Professor David Deutscher
2010 – Professor Gerald Heckman

University of Manitoba Annual Outreach Award
Each year, the University of Manitoba honours both support and academic staff who have been active in outreach activities, particularly during the previous year, through presentation of sterling silver pins bearing the outreach logo.  An annual reception is held in late fall to recognize the winners.

2014/2015 – Professor Brenda Gunn
2010/2011 – Professor Darcy MacPherson
2009/2010 – Professor Karen Busby
2004/2005 – Professor Debra Parkes
1994/1995 – Professor Karen Busby
1993/1994 – Professor Barney Sneiderman
1990/1991 – Professor Bryan Schwartz
1979/1980 – Professor E. A. Braid

University of Manitoba Rh Award

2021 – Professor Amar Khoday
2017 – Professor Mary Shariff
2015 – Professor Donn Short (Social Sciences)
2015 – Professor Umut Özsu
1992 – Professor Wesley Pue
1988 – Professor Bryan Schwartz
1981 – Professor Alvin Esau
1975 – Professor Dale Gibson
1973 – Professor John Sharp

University of Manitoba Merit Awards

2020 – Professor Virginia Torrie
2018 – Professor Virginia Torrie
2017 – Professor Virginia Torrie
2017 – Professor Bruce Curran
2017 – Professor Donn Short
2016 – Professor Shauna Labman
2015 – Professor Brenda Gunn
2014 – Professor Donn Short
2013 – Professor Donn Short

University of Manitoba Awards of Excellence

The UM Awards of Excellence were founded in 2006. These awards showcase the innovation and persistence required to facilitate learning, maintain business operations, and ensure that students and employees who are in need are supported.

2020 – Lisa Griffin, nominated by the Faculty of Law for her exceptional work to improve the Career Development Office. Read more about this award on UM Today.

Indigenous Awards of Excellence

The Indigenous Awards of Excellence recognize Indigenous students, faculty and support staff who are going above and beyond to make the University of Manitoba (UM) an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

2022 Staff Trailblazer - Marc Kruse, nominated by Dr. Kjell Anderson. Read more about this award on UM Today.

If a recipient of any of the listed awards is missing or if you would like to see an award added, please email us.