The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
THE PAS _ The late Oscar Lathlin, a former provincial cabinet minister and tireless advocate for northern Manitoba, was honoured last week with the opening of a library that bears his name. The Oscar Lathlin Library, a 16,400-square-foot research library, is part of the major expansion underway at the UCN campus in The Pas. 'Oscar was a true champion of the north. He was a quiet man, but when he spoke, people listened,' said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson. 'He worked tirelessly to provide more opportunities for northern families and he never lost his sense of humour, forging strong relationships with his constituents, family, friends and colleagues. I can think of no more fitting tribute than this library that will stand for generations as a symbol of what Oscar stood for.' The library includes a campus commons area for students, computer workstations, study areas and rooms for private meetings. It serves UCN's two main campuses, in The Pas and Thompson, and 12 regional centres across the North, including that of Flin Flon. Lathlin was born May 20, 1947, and died Nov. 1, 2008. He was elected chief of OCN in 1985. In 1990, he was elected to the legislative assembly of Manitoba and following the 1999 election became a cabinet minister. Lathlin lost his father when he was eight and shouldered the responsibility as the principal breadwinner for his mother, brothers and sisters when he was 15. The expansion of the UCN campus in The Pas also includes a child-care facility to accommodate up to 76 children; an aboriginal centre offering culturally appropriate assistance; and centralized administrative offices.
