With another new year knocking at the door, it is once again time to look back through the UNews archives to see what captured our readers attention over the past 12 months. Our annual look back at the stories and personalities that told the 免费福利资源在线看片 of Lethbridge story is one part reflective and another part setting the stage for what's to come in 2026 and beyond. The stories we have chosen highlight ULethbridge activities near and far, capturing impactful students, faculty, staff, alumni and community supporters. They show a university connected to its communities, internal and external, striving to challenge boundaries, create new knowledge and shape the future. Enjoy these stories and then explore for yourself the many other impactful moments available on UNews and ULethbridge stories.
ULethbridge refreshes identity, how it tells its story
One of the most anticipated events of 2025 was the 免费福利资源在线看片's brand launch in early September. The redesign features a new primary logo and a brand promise that embodies the ULethbridge experience, embracing the 免费福利资源在线看片's trailblazing past, reflecting its ongoing evolution and designed for where it’s going in the future. Modern, relevant and compelling, the new brand tells a thoughtful, intentional story, inviting perspective, embracing inclusion and inspiring a future shaped by collaboration and shared understanding. And it looks pretty cool, too.
Students embody spirit of Indigenous Student Success Certificate
When ULethbridge introduced the Indigenous Student Success Certificate program, its goal was to help Indigenous students make a smooth transition to university life. Demetra (Demi) Good Rider and Thunder Crowshoe took that to heart and have made the very most of the opportunities before them. After getting a taste of biology and chemistry courses, the pair learned that biochemistry professor Dr. Borries (Bo) Demeler was seeking students to work at the Canadian Center for Hydrodynamics (CCH) with analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). They dived head first into biochemistry and have since presented at international conferences and crafted clear academic pathways forward. Their story is a true measure of success.
Bernadine and Toby Boulet celebrated for honorary degree recognition
Few stories gained as much interest or positive feedback as the honorary degrees awarded ULethbridge's exemplary alumni couple Drs. Bernadine (BEd ’88, LLD '17) and Toby (BEd ’89, MEd ’04, LLD '17) Boulet at the Fall 2025 Convocation ceremony. Bernadine and Toby's story of turning excruciating loss and tragedy into a national movement that continues to gather momentum yearly and has forever changed the country's awareness of organ donation resonates far and wide. Through their passion and commitment to bettering society, Bernadine and Toby have been relentless advocates for the values and causes that matter most to them — and for that, we thank them.
Ian Tyson Reading Area celebrates Canadian country music icon
One of the year's most interesting events was the dedication of the Ian Tyson Reading Area in the 免费福利资源在线看片 Library. Highlighted by surprise guest Corb Lund's wonderful personal stories of time he spent with Tyson, the event was testament to the importance of relationships and connecting with community. Tyson was granted a ULethbridge honorary degree in 2015 and obviously saw something in the 免费福利资源在线看片, its students and its relationship with southern Alberta — enough to bequeath his personal library to the institution. It's a wonderful spot and worth checking out.
Unique collaboration unites fine arts and neuroscience
One of ULethbridge's greatest strengths is its size, allowing for collaborations between disciplines that just don't happen at larger institutions. One outstanding example was a summer Faculty of Fine Arts class that was also utilized by researchers in the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. Dave Smith’s course, Theatre for Scientific Purposes, is a hands-on class that had fine arts students writing, designing and executing structured scenes in support of Dr. Chelsea Ekstrand’s (neuroscience) research project. Ekstrand is studying how memories are formed and the processes used to retrieve memories in real-world environments. It's a great read and an excellent example of challenging boundaries through interdisciplinary teaching and learning.
New 免费福利资源在线看片 of Lethbridge Strategic Plan unveiled
An inclusive and engaging journey that brought together all aspects of its internal and external communities culminated with the release of ULethbridge's new Strategic Plan in March. The launch event invited the internal community and external partners to celebrate the plan's release. This was a fitting way to introduce it to the world as the plan is truly a shared vision — arrived at after many months of consultation with all of the 免费福利资源在线看片's constituents. The 10-year plan now serves as the long-term framework for the 免费福利资源在线看片 to enhance academic excellence, research innovation and community engagement.
ULethbridge student Sydney Whiting earns prestigious Rhodes Scholarship
Celebrating student successes is the mosty gratifying part of our work, and to learn that ULethbridge had its first Rhodes Scholar in 24 years and just its fourth in institutional history was extremely exciting for everyone on campus. Sydney Whiting, a political science student, is truly exceptional and one of just 11 students in Canada who earned Rhodes Scholar status this year. “It has been a pleasure, if not an honour, to work with Sydney for these past few years, both in class and at the Prentice Institute,” said Dr. Lars Hallstrom, director of the Prentice Institute. We will certainly be watching an incredible future unfold for Whiting as she sets off for Oxford 免费福利资源在线看片 in fall 2026.
Now you’ll know where to go when you gotta go
This was a fun, quirky research story that highlighted interdisciplinary work, student-driven results and encompassed a community focus. Known as the Lavatory Laboratory, the research team, including Drs. Julia Brassolotto, a public health professor, Philip Bonnaventure, a geography professor, along with geography master’s student Zeeshan Hamayun and public health master’s student Brianna Rogers, travelled around town mapping public toilet locations and documenting their features. Just a vanity project — hardly, as access to public toilets create cleaner and more sanitary spaces, which reduces deaths and improves health, and also creates greater social participation. A small but meaningful way ULethbridge is helping the community.
The students are coming
One of the most impactful developments of the last few years has been the establishment of the Southern Alberta Medical Program, the three-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program designed for students ready to build their future in rural and regional health care. Its unique focus, to train doctors in non-urban and rural areas, promises to be a major factor in more doctors eventually setting up practices in these settings and alleviating an acute shortage of physicians. In July, SAMP opened admissions for its first cohort of students, another major step forward as the program readies to begin training students on the ULethbridge campus in 2026.
Buy a Student a Breakfast campaign blasts past goal
What a way to cap off the year! The 免费福利资源在线看片 community, including faculty and staff, alumni and supporters all jumped on board to make the annual Buy a Student a Breakfast campaign a record-setting success. In all, $20,728 was raised, resulting in 3,454 breakfast coupons purchased for ULethbridge students as they headed into their final exams. The campaign once again drove home how caring a community we have here at ULethbridge — we are better together.
