Faculty of Law awards

  • Esteemed Law Professor Barney Sneiderman
  • The Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence 

    This award serves to recognize and celebrate a faculty member’s contributions to teaching at the Faculty of Law.

    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 Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence will be made in the spring of each year if a suitable candidate is nominated. The recipient will receive a monetary award, made possible through donations by the friends and family of Barney Sneiderman in his memory, and through the generosity of the Hon. Mr. Justice Marshall Rothstein.

Activities that may be recognized can include (but are not limited to):

  • classroom instruction (ie clarity in instruction, student participation/engagement, responsiveness to students, provision of useful feedback, building of bridges from existing to new knowledge)
  • innovative teaching methods
  • development of instructional materials
  • supervision of students in research
  • coaching of students in competitions
  • contributions to student development outside the classroom
  • curriculum development

Past Award Recipients:

2024 – Professor Katie Szilagyi
2024 – Professor Mary Shariff
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

Eligibility

Individual teachers (faculty members and sessional instructors) in the Faculty are eligible. An individual will not be eligible to receive the award if s/he has received it within the previous four years.

An individual who has previously received The Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence will be eligible based on teaching since receiving the award previously.

Nominators

Members of the Faculty of Law community (Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni) may make nominations.

Process

  • Nomination forms are available through the office of the Dean.
  • Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and two other members of the Faculty of Law community as described above. These letters should outline how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in teaching and must be signed. Nominations are submitted to the Office of the Dean.
  • The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is March 15 of each year.
  • Following the nomination deadline, the Dean’s Office will contact nominees for confirmation that they wish their names to stand. Nominees will then be asked to provide a copy of his/her teaching dossier or relevant CV.
    NOTE: All nomination papers, letters of support, and curriculum vitae will remain confidential.
  • The Selection Committee will be composed of two faculty members (on alphabetical rotation), one student (named by the MLSA), one alumnus/a (selected by the Dean), and the Associate Dean (JD Program).
  • The Selection Committee will review the nominations and determine which candidate to recommend for the award and prepare the citation for the award recipient.  The Dean will communicate with the successful candidate.

Remembering Barney

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.

  • Outside view of Robson Hall west side
  • The Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Sessional Instructors (Practising Professionals) 

    This award will be made in the spring of each year if a suitable candidate is nominated. The recipient will receive a monetary award.

    Activities that may be recognized by this award can include (but are not limited to):

    • Professional commitment beyond the call of duty to the student experience (classroom instruction, clarity in instruction, student participation/engagement, responsiveness to students, provision of useful feedback, building of bridges from existing to new knowledge)
    • innovative teaching methods
    • development of instructional materials
    • coaching of students in competitions
    • contributions to student development outside the classroom

Past Dean's Award Recipients

2024 – Nick Slonosky
2024 – Dayna Steinfeld
2022 – Liz McCandless
2020 – Natasha Brown
2019 – Greg Evans
2018 – Michael Walker
2017 – Dan Torbiak
2016 – John Neufeld

Eligibility

Sessional Instructors (Practicing Professionals) in the Faculty of Law are eligible. An individual will not be eligible to receive the award if s/he has received it within the previous four years.

An individual who has previously received The Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Sessional Instructors (Practicing Professionals) will be eligible based on teaching since receiving the award previously.

Nominators

Members of the Faculty of Law community (Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni) may make nominations.

Process

  1. Nomination forms are available through the office of the Dean.
  2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and two other members of the Faculty of Law community as described above. These letters should outline how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in teaching and must be signed. Nominations are submitted to the Office of the Dean.
  3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is March 15 of each year.
  4. Following the nomination deadline, the Dean’s Office will contact nominees for confirmation that they wish their names to stand. Nominees will then be asked to provide a copy of his/her teaching dossier or relevant CV.
    NOTE: All nomination papers, letters of support, and curriculum vitae will remain confidential.
  5. The Selection Committee will be composed of two faculty members (on alphabetical rotation), one student (named by the MLSA), one alumnus/a (selected by the Dean), and the Associate Dean (JD Program).
  6. The Selection Committee will review the nominations and determine which candidate to recommend for the award and prepare the citation for the award recipient. The Dean will communicate with the successful candidate.

The Faculty of Law's Extraordinary Service Faculty Award

This award recognizes faculty members who have gone above and beyond in their service to the university, the field of education, and the wider community. It is awarded to individuals who have displayed a remarkable level of commitment, innovation, and leadership in their service to their colleagues and students.

2023 – Bruce Curran
2023 – Gerald Heckman
2023 – Lorna Turnbull

Dean's Eminent Scholar Designation

The Eminent Scholar Appointment Designation signifies outstanding contributions to legal scholarship and academia. Designees are typically awarded for their research impact, publications and leadership within their fields.

2024 – Katie Szilagyi, "Transdisciplinary Research Approaches to Regulating Robotics and Artificial Intelligence"
2023 – Martine Dennie, "Hazing, Abuse, and Discrimination in Canadian Ice Hockey"

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.

2023 – Trina McFadyen
2023 – Lisa Griffin
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

  • 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

  • Awards of Excellence

    2020 - Lisa Griffin

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