Dr. John Bulman Tribute Blog

Dr. John Bulman and Mrs. Laureen Bulman

If we think about the growth and success the University of Winnipeg has enjoyed for the past 50 years, one name becomes inescapable: Dr. John Bulman. If we look at the founding members of the UWinnipeg Foundation, you will find Dr. Bulman’s name across many of those original incorporating documents.

A mentor to many and guide for many years at the Foundation, Dr. Bulman passed away last week at the age of 94.

The fourth Chancellor in University history and the longest serving to date, Bulman joined UWinnipeg in 1967 as a member of the Board of Regents, which he served for 15 years, including as Chair from 1977-1979. Honoured following his departure from the Board in 1982 with an Honorary Doctor of Laws, Bulman returned to the University in an official capacity in 1984 as Chancellor, a position he would serve until departing in 1996. In addition to his work at the University, Dr. Bulman was a member of our Foundation’s Board of Directors. A truly kind and knowledgeable member of our team, Dr. Bulman was a constant fixture at every Board meeting until his retirement in 2020.

For a man whose tenure spanned the careers of 4 University Presidents, Dr. Bulman undoubtedly knew UWinnipeg better than most. Having worked in numerous roles since he was first brought on as a Regent at the newly chartered university, Dr. Bulman helped transform what was up until that point a local college into the modern undergraduate institution the university is known around the world as today.

Not one to be content with simply lending his time and expertise to the University, Dr. Bulman was also an avid donor to multiple campaigns and scholarships during his lifetime. Partnered with his wife Laureen, the two dedicated much of their charity to the John Bulman Collegiate Scholarship and the Chancellor W. John A. Bulman Scholarship.

In his professional life, Bulman was chairman and president of The Bulman Group Ltd., a family lithography and printing business, and chairman of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance. He also held directorial and executive positions with several Canadian companies. He was chairman of the Board of Governors for The Winnipeg Art Gallery, a director for The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a committee member with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, held offices with the Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, and served for a time as president of the United Way of Winnipeg. For his efforts, Dr. Bulman received the Order of Canada in 2000—a fitting award for a man who spent so much of his life working to better guide the organizations he felt were making a difference in the lives of his fellow citizens.

While my tenure as President started shortly after Dr. Bulman’s departure from our Board, I was fortunate enough to meet him in-person at our first post-pandemic convocation dinner and share a few phone conversations with him later on. When Dr. Bulman described his time at UWinnipeg and the Foundation, you could sense the pride and the passion he had for both organizations. The impact he had on our direction as a fundraising body is something that is still unquestionably felt by those working here today. He will be dearly missed by our team and we won’t forget his contributions and the historical nature of his volunteer work with us. Thank you, Dr. Bulman, your legacy shall live on.