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Senator Mitchell praises positive contribution from U of L program

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:30:36 +0000

Senator Grant Mitchell recently addressed the Senate to discuss the unique Support Program for Aboriginal Nursing Students (SPANS) at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Following is text from his address.

Honourable Senators, it is my pleasure to speak about an exciting program offered at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in Alberta. It is the Support Program for Aboriginal Nursing Students (SPANS).

This program was created in response to the shortage of Registered Nurses in rural and First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada. There is an urgent need for members of these communities to become nurses to address the health issues experienced among Aboriginal people and to provide appropriate health services within their communities.

The main objective of SPANS is recruiting and retaining Aboriginal students who are academically capable and interested in pursuing a nursing career. Assistance and support is then offered toward providing the necessary academic background needed to complete a BN within the existing Bachelor of Nursing program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. It is hoped that when the students have completed their program, they will consider returning to their home communities to work.

SPANS is a partnership amongst the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences, Red Crow Community College, Blood Tribe Department of Health, Aakom-Kiyii Health Services (Piikani Nation), Siksika Health Services and the Blackfoot Confederacy.

There are several elements to this unique program. One element is the pre-nursing year, a transitional year that provides students with an opportunity to enroll in required courses for admission to the nursing program. And they are supported in the often-challenging transition from home and family life to university.

Another element is the integral role that Elders have in the program. Their discussions with students help them to examine concepts related to nursing and health care from a Blackfoot perspective.

In addition to learning from Elders, the Aboriginal nursing students have also benefitted from a Mentorship Program, which has involved current Registered Nurses who work in the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Opportunities for social networking and tutoring are also provided to support the students.

Designated staff and infrastructure provide additional academic and personal support. Thanks to the leadership of the learning facilitator and administrative assistant, the students can feel supported in all that they do.

The success of this program can be measured in a few important ways.

The program has recently expanded to assist students working towards degrees in Addictions Counselling and Public Health. The program has grown from seven students to approximately 60 in four years.

The retention rate of the program is also an indicator of success: of all the Aboriginal nursing students who started in SPANS, only one is no longer enrolled in a post-secondary program. The majority of Aboriginal students remain in a health-related program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Another impressive measure of success is that the students in this program have the opportunity to complete their clinical practicum in their home communities on local reserves and to become role models for other community members.

Honourable Senators, please join me in commending the students and staff of the Support Program for Aboriginal Nursing Students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. They are truly a part of an innovative and visionary endeavour that will benefit First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada for years to come.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Senate Volunteer Award winners to be honoured

trevor.kenney — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:24:03 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will celebrate its 2010 Spring Convocation this week, Thursday and Friday, and among the honouredattendees will be Senate Volunteer Award winners Elsa Cade and Dr. Robert Hironaka.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate's Volunteer Award recognizes people who have volunteered to serve the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"The award is open to people who volunteer for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in many ways," says Chancellor Richard Davidson. "A lot of people don't realize that in addition to our talented faculty and staff, we rely on hundreds of people who perform thousands of hours of volunteer work for the institution each year."

Any member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is eligible for the award, including past and present ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ volunteers and individuals who represent the U of L in the community.

A committee representing volunteers, faculty, staff, alumni and students will screen nominations and develop a pool of approved candidates. Both Cade and Hironaka will be honoured at Thursday evening's Chancellor's Dinner in the U of L Atrium.

Elsa Cade

One of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's most effective ambassadors, Elsa Cade supports and engages in countless ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ activities and events, and advances the institution's relationship with local and global communities.

Over the past 10 years, Cade has been present at every convocation ceremony, many senate committee meetings, all public dinners and receptions, and has attended student events, public lectures, celebrations or announcements, and much more.

She has graciously hosted a vast number of dinner parties for community people, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers. Cade has also travelled frequently to maintain and enhance the U of L's relationship beyond southern Alberta. In particular she has helped foster the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's important relationship with Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Sapporo, Japan.

Beyond the U of L, Cade has provided dedicated volunteer service for several community organizations. She is an active member of the Rotary Club and a board member of 5th on 5th Youth Services of Lethbridge. She has served on the board of the Alberta Science Foundation and the board of the Friends of the Galt Museum.

Following the earthquake in Haiti, Cade harnessed the power of blogging and online social networking to raise funds to purchase 118 shelterboxes, large containers that hold a 10-person tent, blankets, a stove, a tool kit, and other equipment needed by the survivors of that natural disaster.

Dr. Robert Hironaka supporter of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge." src="/unews/sites/default/files/main/articles/senate-hironaka.jpg" alt="" />

Former U of L Chancellor Dr. Robert Hironaka has volunteered throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for many years.

Hironaka was a member of the U of L Senate from 1983 to 1987 and Chancellor from 1995 to 1999. He continues to be one of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's most devoted supporters, making himself available to the U of L whenever he is available to help. He regularly attends special occasions and sporting events at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and participates in committees, fundraisers, celebrations, campaigns, and special presentations.

Hironaka has been an active member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association for several years, in many roles, from executive officer to member at large. He freely shares his expertise and knowledge, and volunteers for many Alumni Association events. A key member of the Alumni Association's Recognition Committee, he is diligent in maintaining this committee's high standards. In 2002, Hironaka received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the U of L, in recognition of his service to the institution.

In addition to his ongoing support of the U of L, Hironaka is an active volunteer for community organizations like Rotary and the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens (which he helped found).

Whatever volunteer work he is doing, he is an exemplary ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Cade, Hironaka honoured with Senate recognition

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:17:47 +0000

Elsa Cade

Dr. Robert Hironaka

Former U of L Chancellor Dr. Robert Hironaka has volunteered throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for many years.

In addition to his ongoing support of the U of L, Hironaka is an active volunteer for community organizations like Rotary and the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens (which he helped found).

Whatever volunteer work he is doing, he is an exemplary ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Flint proving it's never too late to get a university degree

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:45:44 +0000

Like other successful university students, Shannon Flint had to work hard to complete her university degree. Unlike most, she took a decidedly different route to convocation.

Flint (BMgt '07), Executive Director of the Strategic Policy and Innovation Branch with the Oil Sands Environmental Management Division of Alberta Environment, balanced a career, marriage and motherhood with her schoolwork. It meant a great deal of sacrifice and falling back on a strong support system – but it was well worth it.

"There is a lot of burden on the family when you are working full time and going to school part time," says Flint. "My husband had a huge role in supporting me, and it was very good for my daughters to see me working towards my degree. They understand that education is about future choices. Of course, they also say that they'll get their degrees right after high school and not wait like I did."

The daughter of a military man, Flint spent her childhood traveling across the country. She graduated from high school in 1979 and settled in Edmonton where she still resides.

"I never thought I had the option of not finishing high school, but I never felt a whole lot of pressure to do post-secondary education. My dad had been with the military since he was 17. He grew up in the era where you got your Grade 12 and then went out to work," explains Flint.

Like her father, Flint got a job after graduating from high school. She began working as an administrative assistant in the Department of Culture in the Alberta Government.

"Although it was an interesting job, I realized it was probably not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I attended NAIT part time and got a business management diploma in 1985," says Flint.

Throughout her career with the Alberta Government, Flint worked in many different departments and gained extensive experience and knowledge. From promoting the Calgary Olympic Games in the late 1980s to building policy for the regulatory side of the energy business, Flint saw all aspects of business.

Despite her professional success, Flint felt her career choices were still somewhat limited without a university degree. She began to search for a program that would fit her needs.

"I learned of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge management program from my nephew, a recent graduate, who spoke very highly of it," explains Flint. "What I really like about the program is its multidisciplinary approach. The program gives students a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. The instructors in Edmonton had a lot of experience in the workplace and the material was relevant. The flexibility of night classes and the quality of instruction were excellent."

The knowledge she gained from the U of L program benefited Flint in many ways. It opened the door for her current directorship and changed her perspective.

"I analyze problems differently now. I even went back to my textbook on organizational change when I built my work team," says Flint. "I also look at different ways to communicate the story of the oilsands, using new media and tools such as online social networking, for more immediate communication."

One of her responsibilities, as director, is to educate the public about the environmental management systems that are in place to mitigate the ecological impact of oilsands development. Often facing heavy criticism, Flint is adamant that there are good environmental practices in place up north.

"We do a lot of monitoring. We have standards in place for water quantity and quality; we monitor the air and have an active reclamation program," explains Flint.

She continues to create policies and frameworks that support environmentally sustainable development of the oilsands, policies that look at what we have today, but also towards what we will have in the future.

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Senator Mitchell praises positive contribution from U of L program

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