Honouring a Life of Learning: The Bews Family and the Dr. Jeffrey Bews Memorial Scholarship Donor Spotlight

For the Bews family, creating a scholarship in memory of their father and husband, Dr. Jeffrey Bews, was a natural way to recognize who he was and what he valued most. “We felt it was the perfect way to honour his legacy and keep his memory alive,” says Hilary Bews on behalf of the family. “Education was central to Jeff’s life as a student, a scientist, and as a teacher. Through this scholarship, we hope his legacy will be able to continue at the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg).”

Those who knew Dr. Bews remember him as deeply selfless, intelligent, and humble. “He would drop anything to help his family and friends,” says Bews. Despite his professional accomplishments, Jeff balanced his work with a goofy sense of humor and a genuine appreciation for everyday life. He believed in living fully and supporting others along the way.

As an educator, Dr. Bews emphasized perseverance above all else. He taught his students that challenges were inevitable, but that anything could be overcome if you weren’t afraid to make mistakes and ask questions. He had the rare ability to see potential in others before they saw it themselves, and often encouraged them to think critically and push beyond their boundaries to find success.

A proud UWinnipeg alumnus, Dr. Bews earned his B.Sc. in Physics in 1981 before completing a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in the same field. He went on to build a career as a Medical Physicist at CancerCare Manitoba, while also returning to the classroom periodically as a professor. “He always went above and beyond with his students,” says Hilary. “Offering not just academic instruction, but career advice and life lessons too. Establishing this scholarship at UWinnipeg felt especially meaningful. Jeffrey thought highly of the institution, and this fund allows his commitment to education to live on.”

Since its creation, Hilary notes how deeply moving the response from friends, colleagues, and community members has been to the family—“Seeing how many individuals Jeff impacted has helped with the grieving process, and we cannot thank the donors enough.”

Looking ahead, the Bews family hopes the scholarship will support physics students who reflect Dr. Bews’ values: hard work, leadership, curiosity, and a desire to make a difference. “We’d like this scholarship to help passionate students advance towards their desired profession and better the physics community.” Says Hilary Bews.

For the family, knowing that Jeff’s name will continue to support students brings comfort and pride. The Dr. Jeffrey Bews Memorial Scholarship ensures that his passion for learning, teaching, and helping others will continue – one student at a time.