The University of Saskatchewan will honour six people who have contributed to their communities during their careers, including a former Moose Jaw teacher who has committed her life to philanthropy and education.
The university will award Jane Graham with an honorary doctor of laws degree during the institution’s spring convocation at Merlis Belsher Place from June 6 to 10. Besides Graham, James Leslie (Les) Henry, Catherine Wedge and Alan Wildeman will also receive an honorary doctor of laws.
Meanwhile, Susan Ormiston will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree and Nicholas J. Carino will receive an honorary doctor of science degree.
According to the U of S, Graham is “a visionary philanthropist and passionate proponent of post-secondary education,” who spent decades giving back to the university that meant so much to her and her family.
“I’m very humbled and very honoured. It’s a very special occasion to be honoured by my alma mater,” Graham told the Moose Jaw Express.
“It means everything (to receive the honorary degree) because the university was such an important part of our (she and husband Ron) life. It really was,” she continued. “What we learned from our years at years of university and playing inter-varsity sports were just invaluable. It’s the place where we met our closest friends. It really gave us a wonderful start to our life after school.”
Mrs. Graham and her husband Ron married in their last year of university, although she had been teaching for a few years while in school. After graduation in 1962 — she with a bachelor of arts in education and him with a bachelor of science in civil engineering — they returned to Moose Jaw, where Ron had a job with Graham Construction.
Ron’s father Peter was running the company, but his grandfather Philip started it in 1926 after coming from England. Some of his first projects included helping build Canadian Pacific Railway train stations across Western Canada.
Mrs. Graham taught for one year in Moose Jaw. However, that was short-lived because she began having children — three boys in total — which, she noted with a laugh, put an end to her teaching career. Still, she stayed in touch with education via other wives, swimming, child care, and working with the school board.
She eventually began working for Graham Construction in its computer operations area and helped sell programs to Moose Jaw businesses. This was a job she “thoroughly enjoyed” since computers had always fascinated her, she added.
Contributions
The Grahams have been the largest cumulative alumni donors in USask history with support for student scholarships, programs, projects, research initiatives and Huskie Athletics, the university said.
One significant project for Mrs. Graham was the creation of the Jane and Ron Graham Centre for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education. This is a centre that helps educators become classroom-ready before entering the profession.
The Grahams’ other major donations helped establish the Ron and Jane Graham Sport Science and Health Centre in Merlis Belsher Place, the Ron and Jane Graham School of Professional Development in the College of Engineering, and the Graham Huskie Clubhouse.
Asked why they have given so much to the school and community, Graham told the Express, “We have the means to do it. We look for areas of need in the communities, and education is very high on our list. And we wanted to help make a difference in the students’ lives while they’re going to university and after their graduation.
“It’s (education) just so important.”
Asked for advice, Graham said that if people have the time, talent, and financial ability, and see a need in their community, they should step forward and lend a hand.
“And you’ll enjoy it so much … ,” she added. “We’ve just sort of quietly gone on and worked at this in our own way (and) hopefully have made a difference.”
