Jim August loved Winnipeg and worked continuously to bring people together to help improve the quality of life in the city. Jim dedicated his professional career to helping develop the beloved downtown spaces that so many of our students, staff and community members enjoy. In an effort to memorialize Jim’s legacy as a true visionary, a collection of his close friends and family created the Jim August Memorial Opportunity Fund Bursary.
After working in tandem with The University of Winnipeg Foundation and voicing their interest in making Jim’s memorial fund as impactful as possible, those in charge of leading the initiative elected to incorporate the fund under the scope of the university’s Opportunity Fund.
Established a decade ago, The Opportunity Fund was designed to help low-income students access fast-track bursaries and tuition credits. The goal of The Opportunity Fund is to offer the prospect of a university education to an ever-widening group of students. As part of this collection, the Jim August Memorial Fund will be used to help assist underprivileged and under-represented individuals—Indigenous, refugee, recent immigrants, and first-generation and mature students—achieve their post-secondary dreams by providing them with financial support throughout their academic careers. A mature student at the University of Winnipeg himself, Jim believed in building communities and improving the quality of life for people living and working in the inner city—a belief that falls in line with the enabling qualities present in the new fund that bears his name.
Jim was someone who helped shape the central area of Winnipeg. Over four decades he had a hand in helping change the downtown. He served in leadership roles as CEO at The Forks/North Portage Partnership and earlier as General Manager at the Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, the country’s first tri-level government agreement for inner city revitalization. Jim’s contributions led to expanded day care and educational and training facilities, the formation of business improvement zones, market and affordable housing projects, the development of arts and culture spaces, restoration and repurposing of heritage buildings, a rejuvenated Central Park, placemaking projects at The Forks and the development of the Assiniboine Riverwalk.
Jim appreciated the contributions of those around him. He was at various times chair of the Winnipeg Arts Council as an advocate for public art and was on the board and chair for a time at the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation, which brought several student and mixed housing developments into fruition in the city centre. He was a director of the Friends of Upper Fort Garry through its renewal as an attraction and a board member of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy which has helped improve this jewel of a park.
The objective of the Jim August Memorial Bursary is something Jim would wholeheartedly support. Having retired in 8 years ago 2014, Jim never forgot the important place that education has in developing any project, stating that, “as we progress as a community, we have to give the same kind of energy toward ensuring quality education for those less fortunate”—a sentiment that continues to guide funds like his and dozens of others at UWinnipeg.
With a current goal of $20,000, those who knew Jim or have enjoyed one of the many community projects he helped plan are welcome to give as part this crowdfunding effort.
On behalf of the fundraising committee and Jim’s family, our sincere thanks for considering a donation to the Jim August Memorial Opportunity Fund Bursary.