University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Theodocia Quagraine (BA&Sc’16) earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in interactive systems design. After working as a user interface developer for several years, she joined USask’s Digital Strategy team as a UX content co-ordinator in November 2022.

University of Saskatchewan graduate Kathryn Sawatzky (BA’24), who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, currently works as the study abroad coordinator in USask’s College of Arts and Science. In 2024, she was honoured to be chosen as one of 15 ambassadors for the Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) program.

Murad Al-Katib (BComm’94) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Widely known as the “Lentil King of Saskatchewan,” Al-Katib is an exceptional entrepreneur who has revolutionized the province’s agricultural industry by connecting local producers to international markets.

Dr. Jim Dosman (BA'59, MD'63, MA'69) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Dosman is celebrated in Canada as the “Father of Agricultural Medicine" for his global efforts to address agricultural-related health conditions.

Judy Pelly (BEd'85) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Pelly is a lifelong advocate and educator who provides cultural guidance on Truth and Reconciliation and helped establish National Ribbon Skirt Day.

Andrew Chau (BComm'09) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni Outstanding Impact Award. Chau is a visionary tech entrepreneur and co-founder of SkipTheDishes and Neo Financial, two of the Prairies’ most successful tech startups.

Neal Kewistep (MPA’11) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni Outstanding Impact Award. Neal Kewistep is a passionate policy leader who is highly recognized for his work in Indigenous governance and economic development in Saskatchewan.

Dr. Arinjay Banerjee (PhD’18) is a 2024 recipient of the USask Alumni 'One to Watch' Award. Dr. Banerjee is a rising star in virology who contributed to Canada's COVID-19 response and a champion for the One Health approach.

University of Saskatchewan graduate and honorary degree recipient Dr. Frederick Mulder (BA’64, LLD’17, PhD), who is originally from the small community of Eston, Sask., is known as one of the world’s foremost dealers in the prints of Pablo Picasso and other Modern masters, and his clients have included many of the world’s major museums. Dr. Mulder has donated three more Picasso prints to USask, enhancing the collection of six Picasso linocuts that he gave to his alma mater back in 2012. In this video, Dr. Mulder speaks to USask President Peter Stoicheff about his generous gift and his connections to USask.

USask graduates Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote (BSA’87, MSc’94) and John Cote (BSA’86) are the entrepreneurs behind Black Fox Farm and Distillery, located on Valley Road about five kilometres outside Saskatoon. Their unique method of producing whisky and gin is attracting international acclaim, and their premium spirits can be found around the world, including in China, Denmark, Germany, the U.K., and the United Arab Emirates.

An exhibition at Remai Modern is offering visitors an inside look at a working print studio by showcasing the knowledge and skills of University of Saskatchewan graduate Jillian Ross (BFA’02), a Saskatoon-based printmaker and longtime collaborator of renowned South African artist William Kentridge.

Dr. Colleen Dell (PhD), a sociology professor in USask’s College of Arts and Science and the university’s Centennial Enhancement Chair in One Health and Wellness, said the PAWS Your Stress therapy dogs and handlers have visited with more than 30,000 USask students in the past decade. USask graduate Doreen Stumborg (BA’09, MFA’20) and her dog, Laddie, have been a consistent part of many of the visits since becoming a therapy dog team in 2017. In this video, Doreen and Colleen (with her dog, E-Jay) speak about the PAWS Your Stress program and the difference that therapy dog visits can make.

Educating future health care professionals and neurosurgeons is an important part of USask’s vision for the future—and our livelihood. Dr. Michael Kelly (BSc'95, MD'99, PhD'11) is the Provincial Head of Surgery and a Professor of Neurosurgery in the College of Medicine. Along with a devoted team of colleagues and students, Dr. Kelly explores the complexities of the brain to understand more about strokes, brain trauma, and potential treatments.

Ron (BE'62, DCL’13) and Jane (BEd’62, DCL’22) Graham's commitment to funding scholarship, advancing athletics, transforming education and enhancing spaces for students at USask is truly inspiring and has earned them the distinction of being recognized as the most generous alumni donors in the university’s history.

Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable home. As CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association, Cameron Choquette (BComm’19, MPA’22) works alongside partners, governments and housing providers to ensure Saskatchewan residents have a healthy and resilient housing continuum.

 

The research evidence is clear that companion animals, or pets, can provide many benefits for human mental and physical health. The concept of the human-animal bond suggests that pets can also benefit from relationships with humans. But given the degree of control humans have over their lives and environment, the needs of pets are not always adequately met. By recognizing their sentience, or emotional and cognitive capacities, and meeting their species-specific needs, we can improve the well-being of our pets. In turn, we can enhance our animal-human relationships and bonds.

Food is essential to our survival, and it all starts with a seed. At the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Crop Development Centre, we create seed varieties that farmers grow into food – food that brings people together. Our work is bold and deliberate as we craft new crop varieties that turn a seed into food security, health, and sustainability for our planet.

We stand at a pivotal moment for 2SLGBTQ+ rights in North America, balancing between heightened tensions and increased belonging and acceptance at all levels. Recent setbacks in the US and Canada underscore the fragility of human rights, but instead of expecting a future that is the same as the present, what does it look like to imagine a world where comprehensive gender-affirming care exists, where gender and sexual diversity are a welcome part of the human experience.

After recently purchasing her first iPhone, Akshara Dash was delighted to see that Apple's built-in health app contained an extensive menstrual cycle tracker. She felt seen, alongside millions of other users. It was inclusive. That's one of the biggest metrics in determining whether a product is successful: Do humans feel seen when they use it? The products we use today are shaped by the people who had a vision for the future. With inclusion and creativity built into the heart of the design process, we can shape the future. Let's design the future together.

Sustainability problems are ‘wicked’ – a complex web of social, environmental, economic, and technological challenges that are constantly changing. Unforeseen challenges plague many promising technologies and programmatic solutions to sustainability problems, falling short on predicted outcomes and deviating from planned trajectories.  A paradigm shift is therefore required, by moving the emphasis of solutions from prediction to anticipation and adaptability.

Is music entirely limited to human-developed creations and performances? To answer this question, Spencer Krips (BMuHon'19, BEd'21) is exploring the connection and equality between human-developed and natural music, immersing the audience in the interaction between performer and natural soundscape. Experience calm, contemplative music combining natural music and response from guitar and keyboard.

We caught up with Gord Haddock (BComm'72), a member of the 2022 class of Golden Grads to reminisce about his time on campus at USask and what it means to him 50 years later.

We caught up with the Hon. Lynda Haverstock (BEd'72, PGD'75, MEd'77, PhD'85), to reminisce about her time on campus at USask and what it means to her 50 years later.

Raise a glass with USask alumnus Shawn Moen (LLB'05), co-owner of Saskatchewan’s 9 Mile Legacy brewing company.