view . spring 2012
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YOUNG ALUMNI HEADLINE AWARDS NIGHT
The Alumni Association’s Annual General
Meeting featured the presentation of the
Odyssey Award to seven outstanding recipients.
The association recognized the following
individuals who are in the early stages of their
career paths and who have distinguished
themselves through success in their
professional or personal life:
Jim Annan
BFA ’00
This bilingual alumnus has a great
talent for sketch, improv and all
things comedy and has become
a familiar face in both film and
television. Following graduation,
Annan moved to Toronto where
he delved into the comedy scene
at The Second City. His work has
been nominated for Dora Awards, the Canadian equivalent
to the Tony, and the Canadian Comedy Awards for Best
Sketch Troupe and Best Improv Troupe. Bruce Pirrie of
Strange Street Productions states that there is no question
that Annan is one of the very best comedy writers and
performers working in Canada today. Annan is now
launching his newest comedy duo, Unofficial Mascot, with
his writing partner Scott Montgomery.
Steven Bull
BComm ’05
As an undergraduate, Bull’s
strong involvement and service
to UWindsor students and the
campus community earned
him the Alumni Association’s
UWSA Award for outstanding
contributions to campus life.
After earning his Master of Arts
in Journalism at the University of Western Ontario, he
spent six months reporting from Kenya. While there, he
organized a climb of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro
to raise funds for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research. In
2010, he received an International Development Research
Centre Journalism Award. Also in 2010, Parkinson Society
Canada selected Bull to serve as the national spokesperson
for its Parkinson SuperWalk. He appeared in national media
and opened the Toronto Stock Exchange on Parkinson
Awareness Day. Since May 2010, Bull has worked with CBC
Windsor as a video journalist and reporter.
Christine Daly
BSc ’03,
MSc ’07
Daly has already achieved some
celebrity and significant milestones
in her environmental career
as a wetland biologist. Suncor
Energy in Alberta hired Daly for
a position that enabled her to
improve wetland reclamation
practices in the oil sands industry. She participated in the
design, reclamation, and ongoing research and monitoring
of Wapisiw Lookout. In addition, Daly developed the re-
vegetation strategy for the riparian area surrounding the
wetland. Wapisiw Lookout is now a watershed composed
of rolling hills, streams, a wetland, developing forest and
equally important – a habitat for numerous wildlife
species. Daly’s reclamation team was awarded the
company’s highest honour, the President’s Operational
Excellence Award.
Melanie Gardin
BPA ’97,
LLB ’00
It’s innate to Gardin’s personality
to get behind something full
force. As a partner with Chapman
Gordon Gardin Stewart LLP,
she exclusively practises in the
areas of serious and catastrophic
personal injury and has seen
the impact that accidents have on people’s lives. She is
passionate about what she does and credits the Faculty
of Law for giving her the tools she needs to successfully
advocate on behalf of injured victims. Gardin is president
of the Brain Injury Association of Windsor/Essex County.
She brought the provincial program “Helmets on Kids”
to Essex County with the goal of putting a helmet on the
head of every child who cannot otherwise afford one. Since
2009, more than 2,000 helmets have been distributed to
local children in need.
Cameron Hucker
BA ’03
Hucker’s waking moments are
defined by an intensity and
focus that permeates both his
personal and working life. After
graduation he joined Media Street
Productions. As an editor and
cinematographer he partnered
