Grand opening celebrations set at U of S for Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 11 am
Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre
5 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan

• The ceremony will be up to an hour and a half long. Media are invited to a brief interview session 30 minutes before the formal event begins. Available for interviews at that time will be U of S President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff, U of S Chancellor Blaine Favel and U of S Students' Union President Jack Saddleback. The guest speakers will also be available for interviews following the program. For more information, call or text Meghan Sired at 306-381-7992.

SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Feb. 3

10:30-10:45 am: Pre-event interview session

• U of S President Peter Stoicheff
• U of S Chancellor Blaine Favel
• U of S Students' Union President Jack Saddleback

11 am: Opening celebration

• Opening prayer by Elder Larry Oakes (son of the late Gordon Oakes)

Speeches:

• • U of S President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff

• • U of S Chancellor Blaine Favel

• • Member of the Legislative Assembly Paul Merriman

• • National Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde

• • Treaty Commissioner George Lafond

• • Métis Nation of Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette

• • Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas

• • U of S Students' Union President Jack Saddleback

• • Architect Douglas Cardinal

11:45 am: Presentation of gifts

• • Dana Carriere, Aboriginal liaison of the U of S Graduate Students' Association and chair of the Indigenous Gradation Students' Council, and Feather Pewapisconias, president of the Indigenous Students' Council, present a blanket to Jean Oakes, widow of Gordon Oakes.

• • Speech by granddaughters of Gordon Oakes.

Noon: Honour song to end formal ceremony.

Noon to 1 pm: Reception and 15-minute performance by Juno-award winning singer Susan Aglukark.

2-4:30 pm: Student open house: Pizza, cake and tours.

7-9 pm: Alumni reception: U of S President and Vice Chancellor Peter Stoicheff and architect Douglas Cardinal.

Thursday, Feb. 4

2-4:30 pm: Staff and faculty open house: Everyone is invited to come in and take a look around the new centre.

3-3:45 pm: Presentation by Canadian Senator Lillian Dyck.

Friday, Feb. 5

Noon-2 pm: Traditional feast (No photography allowed).

2-4 pm: Community open house: Everyone is invited to come in and take a look around the new centre.

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For more information, contact:

Meghan Sired
Communications Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-6068 (office)
306-381-7992 (cell)
meghan.sired@usask.ca

James Shewaga
Media Relations Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-1851 (office)
306-270-5583 (cell)
james.shewaga@usask.ca