Remembering Dr. Régine Uwibereyeho King

A respected scholar, educator and community leader, Dr. Uwibereyeho King devoted her life to advancing healing, reconciliation, racial justice and mental health through her research, teaching and service. As a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, her scholarship explored how individuals and communities recover from trauma and violence, drawing on her deep commitment to compassion, peace-building and African Indigenous knowledges. 

Dr. Uwibereyeho King was a deeply respected faculty member in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She inspired students and colleagues alike through her generosity, wisdom and unwavering belief in the power of community. Her work was recognized through numerous honours, including a Research Excellence Chair appointment, a Killam Emerging Research Leader Award, a Taylor Institute Team-Teaching Award, and the Alberta Immigrant Impact Award for Inclusive Workplaces. 

Beyond her academic accomplishments, Dr. Uwibereyeho King will be remembered for the humanity she brought to every conversation, her dedication to equity and anti-racism, and her ability to help others see hope and possibility in even the most difficult circumstances.

Celebration of life events include the following: 

• A Rwandan Community Wake and Vigil is being held from 5 to 9 pm on Thursday, June 11, at the Marlborough Community Hall, 636 Marlborough Way NE, Calgary.
• A funeral service is being held on Saturday June 13 at 10 am, at Westview Baptist Church, 1313 Ranchlands Way NW, Calgary.

The University of Calgary campus flag is being lowered in her honour on Friday, June 12.

Our thoughts are with Dr. Uwibereyeho King’s family, friends, students, colleagues and the many communities she touched in Canada, Rwanda, and around the world. Her legacy will continue through the countless lives she influenced and the enduring contributions she made to social work, scholarship, and social justice.