U of Winnipeg Wesmen teams get $120K donation from former volleyball champ turned developer

Athletes at the University of Winnipeg say a major donation for its Wesmen teams from a former university volleyball player will have a lasting impact on and off the court. 

Luke Lodewyks, a second-year athlete on the Wesmen men's volleyball team, joined U of W staff, coaches, athletes and community members to celebrate Allan Edie's $120,000 donation to the Wesmen Athletics program on Friday.

"Being around a phenomenal group of people here at the University of Winnipeg has inspired me to be the best version of myself at all times," Lodewyks said, adding that the funding will encourage teammates to work hard for years to come. 

Second-year women's basketball player Jazmin Birch said being part of the Wesmen program has been one of the most meaningful experiences of her life. 

"To me, being a Wesmen [player] means being part of a community that pushes you to grow not just as an athlete but as a leader, a teammate and an individual," she said.

"It means carrying yourself with honour, representing something bigger than yourself and constantly striving to improve."

Birch said Edie's donation will inspire teams to work harder and dream bigger, and will also encourage younger athletes to give back to the program in the future.

Edie, who went on to found Edie and Associates — a western Canadian real estate development and leasing company — was a player and two-time champion with the University of Manitoba's Bisons volleyball team from 1976-81.

He made lifelong friends on the court, he said Friday, and has been reflecting on ways he could give back to the next generation of university athletes in Manitoba.

"I was fortunate that I was given the opportunity to excel, and I carried that confidence into my business career," he said.

"I am not 6'7 and I can't touch 12 feet, but I can still make a difference in the Wesmen volleyball program and hopefully the Wesmen basketball program."

Edie called his donation a starting point and encouraged others, including Wesmen alumni, to also support the team to help show young athletes they are valued and keep them in the province.

"These are Manitoba kids that are excelling at a national level. I'll support that all day, every day, and hopefully others feel the same way," he said.

"The call to action is for people to come back and say, 'you know what, let's get together as a community and invest so that these programs don't die on the vine.'"

The one constant in university sports is a lack of funding and support, he said, adding he'd like to see the University of Winnipeg offer full scholarship funding for athletes, as some other universities do.

Earlier this year, the Wesmen women's soccer team was cut for the 2025 season due to a lack of financial support. A U of W spokesperson told CBC at the time the school was "prioritizing using its limited financial resources to support the core academic and research functions of the university."

Edie said $100,000 of his donation will go toward whatever the Wesmen coaches and director of athletics Cara Isaak say is needed for the program, with the remaining $20,000 being dedicated to new volleyball and basketball uniforms.

"You really share our vision for Wesmen Athletics, which is building on our legacy of excellence through consistent hard work for the success of our programs," Isaak said.

"We measure it not just in championships, but in service to our communities and academic progress and each athlete's sense of belonging in our program, and of course, in the character that we show in victory and defeat."

She said Edie has supported Wesmen athletes for years by cheering on players from the sidelines and encouraging them to pursue their passions. 

U of W president and vice-chancellor Todd Mondor said the donation will serve as a catalyst for ongoing support for the Wesmen program.