A Student’s Eye View: On the power of community, persistence, and leadership for growth
Each year a fresh cohort of students streams onto campus at the University of Regina, experiencing it anew. These first-time students might find it hard to imagine what campus was like before buildings such as the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport – with its five gyms, research, and programming - were constructed, or the iconic Darke Hall's performance and teaching spaces on College Avenue Campus were revitalized and restored - a gift not to be taken for granted.
Thanks to the hard work of University leaders and our community during fundraising campaigns, many of these buildings, and the services, programs, and research spaces they provide, have altered completely the student and community experience on campus.
With dedicated effort, strong leadership, and deep community connections, universities create opportunities for lasting impact. They play a vital role in building vibrant societies and driving positive change through sustained and sincere engagement with community. Nowhere is this more visible than when university, community, industry, and government come together for a common cause, often during a campaign, in support of students.
There was a mountaintop we were striving for - to showcase our institution, city, and province to the country.
— Victor Thomas, BBA'07, BAdmin'11
On community engagement
Victor Thomas, BBA’07, BAdmin’11, was one such student at the University of Regina. His education, commitment to serving community, and dedication to the successful growth of the University coincided with the U of R’s 2002-2007 major fundraising campaign Building Dreams and Futures (BDF) and bid to host the 2005 Canada Summer Games.
“There was a mountaintop we were striving for — to showcase our institution, city, and province to the country,” says Thomas, recalling the thrill of the challenge. “As a student leader from 2004 to 2006, it was amazing to see how staff, faculty, administration, and students got involved.”
With support from across Canada, the University raised more than $82 million from over 11,000 gifts for areas such as student and research support, construction of the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, and the 2005 Canada Summer Games.
For its role as a partner in staging the 2005 Canada Games, the U of R was the first Canadian institution to win the Outstanding Institutional Achievement Award from the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors – International (ACCED-I) in 2006. The award recognizes the University-wide effort involved in making the Games a success.
“The 2005 Canada Summer Games was a coming-of-age moment for the University of Regina,” recalls Thomas.
The dovetail of University priorities and community aspirations created an unprecedented opportunity for growth in the U of R’s life story and significantly changed the way countless generations of students, researchers, staff, and community members experience main campus.
“September 2006 was the kickoff of what’s possible for our students at scale because of the University’s campaign and the success of the Canada Games,” says Thomas.
On the power of persistence
For Thomas, President of the Students’ Union, that included creating an enhanced Welcome Week experience in the fall of ’06 that students wouldn’t soon forget.
It’s important to have the buildings, but the buildings alone don’t make a university. It’s the students.
— Victor Thomas
Having just experienced the Canada Summer Games, Thomas had a vision for what could be possible for students on campus. Despite the completion of the residence towers and new Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, main campus was still fractured with the ongoing construction of the Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) building. Thomas wanted to bring students together for Welcome Week in a big way, so they could feel at home and experience the incredible new vibe on campus.
“I really wanted to host a Welcome Week in the middle of the campus green at a scale we had never seen before,” says Thomas. “We worked closely with the University and brought out 7,500 people on that first day to meet campus clubs and to experience a live concert.
"Suddenly, I could see the students pouring onto the Green, recently named for Dr. Lloyd Barber. It was heartening because there were many folks who were quick to say, this couldn’t happen, we can’t bring in the stage, we won’t get that many people. But with a lot of coordination and effort, it all came together.”
On leadership
Reflecting on the culture of philanthropy and community engagement he experienced at the U of R, Thomas is quick to acknowledge the lasting impact the University has had on his life and career path.
“During my time at the U of R, I got to work with fabulous people and wonderful leaders,” says Thomas, including a number of the University of Regina’s presidents. “You learn that everyone puts on their shoes one foot at a time. They may have way nicer shoes than you, but at the end of the day, they’re people. Now, I work with global business and government leaders and the same principle is true. Learning that lesson as a student has helped me appreciate how important it is to engage community, meaningfully serve, and work alongside our leaders.”
Since his time at the U of R, Thomas has held leadership roles with national and international organizations, including CARE International, Marval Capital, Precision AI, Rideau Hall Foundation, and the Canadian Red Cross. Thomas is now the President and CEO of the Canada-India Business Council and continues to draw on the core skills he learned from leaders at the U of R and community members.
“Universities exist to elicit critical thinking and develop leaders,” says Thomas. “When you think of the broad spectrum of offerings at a university, you’re able to see different points of view, grapple with those points of view, and come out with strong critical thinking muscles. We need our students to develop those leadership and critical thinking skills, because the more they can develop those skills, the better society will be.”
The promise of growth and innovation
With its 50th anniversary, the U of R has reached a critical coming-of-age milestone. No longer a youngster – and with strong leadership in place – the University has reached a new the level of maturity. Student enrolment achieved a record high in fall 2024 with more than 17,200 students. The University’s burgeoning research and innovation enterprise has grown to include 21 research centres and nine Canada Research Chairs. With campuses on Treaty 4 and 6 territories, the U of R is taking concrete action on truth and reconciliation, guided by its Indigenous Engagement Strategic Plan Tapwewin kwayaskwastâsowin, which it released in 2023. And over 92,000 graduates from around the world are proud U of R alumni. This maturity only could have been reached thanks to visionary leadership and the support of our community.
After 50 years of growth and experience, these outcomes present tremendous opportunities for the University of Regina.
“Now you have generations of alumni who have come full circle and been successful,” says Thomas. “The U of R wants to continue to grow, learn, and improve, so it’s important to look at how you develop a culture of giving with those generations that have intrinsic ties and deep roots.”
The promise of growth and innovation at the University of Regina in support of students and the needs of our community, and beyond, must be met.
It’s a challenge the U of R is ready to take on.
Read more about the U of R's 50-year history of student success, growth, and community impact.
Banner photo credit: U of R Photography