Our goal is to raise $35,000 for the Alyson Shane Memorial Award in Rhetoric. A gift of any size will honour Alyson’s memory and support underrepresented students studying Rhetoric, Writing and Communications at The University of Winnipeg.
Give online or return a pledge form by email to foundation@uwinnipeg.ca, or call The University of Winnipeg Foundation at (204) 786-9995. All donations are tax-deductible.
A Message from Alyson’s Loved Ones
Alyson was the brightest of souls, whose smile lit up the world and whose big laugh was infectious and unforgettable. Her unique ability to connect people both online and off has touched lives all over the world, and this skill, combined with her degree in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of Winnipeg, enabled her to thrive in the world of social media marketing.
To honour her memory, this award will empower students in the field she cared about so much to achieve similar goals in their own lives. The selection process will give preference to students who identify as female, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, or coming from other marginalized communities.
A writer at heart and prolific blogger, Alyson created Starling Social in 2014. In the decade since, Alyson grew her marketing powerhouse, bringing on a team with a company culture she was very proud of.
Alyson believed in giving back to our community through sponsoring many events and donating her time through organizations like SPARK!, a nonprofit connecting small NPOs with businesses offering pro-bono services, Manitoba Music, where she mentored emerging artists, and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. She was awarded Volunteer Manitoba’s “SPARK Pro Bono Consultant Award” and was recently a finalist for several other awards, including WBOM’s “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award,” and the “Spirit of Winnipeg Award.”
She embodied the spirit of Winnipeg in so many ways, from her outspoken advocacy for organizations like Main Street Project and Siloam Mission, to her impact as the spokesperson for Vote Open, which led to the reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians, reshaping the intersection at the heart of our great city. This legacy will live on forever as a key part of the revitalization of downtown Winnipeg.
Throughout Alyson’s life, she struggled both privately and publicly with her mental health and was a vocal advocate for mental health supports, and helping lift up the next generation and create a better world for and with them. This award will play a part in helping individuals from marginalized communities achieve their goals and build careers in an area that was of great importance to Alyson, and continue to bring thoughtful and integrity-led members into the world of digital communications.
Please donate today to help change the life of the next great communications student to come out of the University of Winnipeg, so they can make their mark on the world.
We welcome you to visit Alyson’s blog and enjoy the videos of Alyson at TedXWinnipeg, on the Strategy Made Simple Podcast and in her own Starling Social webinar.
Thank you for your support!