Halamandaris remembered by Brandon University

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This article was published 20/04/2022 (1247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon University took some time on Wednesday to honour the memory of professor emeritus Pandelis Halamandaris, who died at the Wawanesa Health Centre on April 14 at the age of 90.

In light of his passing, BU’s flags will fly at half-mast for two days to pay tribute to a man who was known for his numerous contributions to the field of education, especially with regard to local teacher training programs in Manitoba’s Indigenous communities.

“I have fond memories of Pandy as a professor, a friend and colleague,” BU dean of education Heather Duncan said in Wednesday’s news release from the school, using Halamandaris’ nickname.

“I first met Pandy in my master’s program in the late 1990s when he taught me research methods and instilled a love for research that has grounded me throughout my academic career.”

Halamandaris is of Greek descent and was born in the city of Suez, Egypt, in 1932, later getting his start in teaching in the 1950s.

After receiving an undergraduate degree from the American University in Cairo, he then travelled to the United States and earned a master’s degree and a PhD in education research from Indiana University.

Halamandaris eventually made his way to Canada with his family in 1970 and began teaching at BU.

While he was known for spearheading First Nations-focused teacher training at the school, Halamandaris would also embark on some international projects in the African nations of Swaziland and Malawi, later publishing several academic works on the internationalization of Canadian universities.

Halamandaris eventually retired from teaching at BU in 1999, although he was later named professor emeritus two years later. He also earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Swaziland in 2006.

During BU’s most recent in-person convocation ceremony in 2019, the seasoned academic was presented with a lifetime achievement award for all his research and achievements in the field of education.

“Although retired, he kept in touch with colleagues at Brandon University right up until pre-Covid times, and still had a ‘home’ in the Emeritus office in the Education Building,” Duncan said.

“Pandy was an esteemed colleague and a well-liked and highly respected professor across the University. We will miss his wisdom and kindness — a humble man who made a world of difference to many.”

Halamandaris will officially be laid to rest Tuesday at Brandon’s Brockie Donovan Funeral Home. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m., with the ceremony also being livestreamed through brockiedonovan.com.

The longtime academic was predeceased by his wife Helga, who died in May 2016.

The couple are survived by their sons Yorgo and Peter and their grandchildren Carter and Reese.

» The Brandon Sun