UNews - James Wade

Alumni Association announces its 2016 award winners

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 May 2016 20:23:12 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association is proud to recognize a diverse and accomplished group of alumni as its 2016 Alumni Honour Society inductees, the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year and the Young Alumnus Achievement Award winner.

“The alumni we are honouring are shining examples of what it means to be a U of L graduate,” says Randy Kobbert (BMgt ’86), president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association. “Each of the individuals being honoured used the knowledge they gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to achieve their personal and professional goals, and through these achievements has left a lasting impact on the people, organizations and communities with which they are involved.”

2016 Alumnus of the Year

Ronald Arthur Skolrood, BA ’83

Recognized for his integrity and impassioned approach to law, the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald A. Skolrood has made significant contributions to his profession, earning a position on the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Skolrood spent the entirety of his practicing life at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver, B.C., and is known as a contemplative and thoughtful lawyer, concerned with principle and the way in which his work might promote the values of justice and fairness. These qualities are reflected in his judgements and he is well-respected by peers and colleagues from across the country. Over the years, Skolrood has given back generously to his profession, serving as a board member of the B.C. Law Institute and acting as the Chair from 2007 to 2012. He was also a member of the Canadian Bar Association, National Constitutional and Human Rights Law Section, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia Special Compensation Fund Committee. He has been a sessional lecturer at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria and a course group leader at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia.

2016 Alumni Honour Society Inductees

Steve Craig, BMgt ’99

As an alumnus and employee, Steve Craig is an excellent ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. In his current role as director of external relations and student professional development, Craig has a diverse slate of responsibilities. These include running the highly successful Management Co-Op Program, overseeing fundraising and sponsored events, and working with Faculty’s external stakeholders. His genuine interest in using U of L talent to make Lethbridge a better place to do business has earned him the respect of students, faculty, staff and community leaders. He received the U of L President’s Award for Excellence in 2014, was recognized by JDC West as the Advisor of the Year in 2013 and received the Friends of MSS award in 2012/13 and 2014/15.

Patrick C. Forrest, BMgt ’92

Patrick Forrest has contributed immensely to his alma mater, his profession and his community, becoming an exemplary role model for alumni. He has been employed in the investment industry for many years and currently serves as vice-president & associate portfolio manager at BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. He currently holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, and has also been awarded the designation of Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), the highest designation within the Canadian Investment industry. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Forrest is a dedicated volunteer and fundraiser in the not‐for‐profit sector and the charitable sector. He is currently acting vice‐Chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors and is Chair of the Advancement Committee.

Kathy Lewis, BN ’83, MEd ’99

After completing her nursing degree, Kathy Lewis was involved in the development of palliative care, continuing care and sexuality education in Lethbridge and area, establishing herself as a well-respected nursing educator. A strong believer in giving back, Lewis has served on community boards and worked with volunteer groups throughout the region, including the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the Allied Arts Council, the Lethbridge Community Band Society and the Canadian Diabetes Association. She is a strong ambassador for her alma matter and has served on the Board of Governors, the Senate and as president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association where she oversaw the development of the Fiat Lux Ring, the U of L’s official alumni ring.

Ryan MacDonald, BSc ’06, MSc ’09, PhD ’14

A three-time alumnus, Dr. Ryan MacDonald has been conducting research and working in the hydrological sciences for more than 10 years. His work on catchment-scale hydrological processes and aquatic ecosystems has played a lead role in the development and application of process-based hydrological models for mountain watersheds. Having established himself as a leader in this critical field, MacDonald regularly works with clients from government, industry, First Nations, and NGOs in Alberta and British Columbia. He continues to collaborate with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as an adjunct assistant professor, serving on graduate student committees. He has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and co-authored two books, making contributions to academia while still providing services to clients from both the private and public sectors.

Reed Spencer, BEd ’83

Reed Spencer is perhaps best known as the sculptor of The Buffalo, the iconic art piece that rests on the top of the coulee to the south of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. A talented artist, Spencer pursued various artistic methods and mediums over the years while spending his professional career as an educator. Respected by his colleagues, deferred to by his principals and sought out by regional supervisors and provincial peers, Spencer has positively impacted many students. Spencer has also dedicated countless hours to sport development in our community, helping found both the Lethbridge Elks baseball program and the Prairie Baseball Academy. His contributions have been recognized by the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame.

James Wade, BFA ’11

James Wade has established himself as an important new and emerging voice in Canadian playwriting. He has written one full-length dramatic piece and several one-act plays, including two pieces written as an undergraduate student that earned him the top prize in the U of L’s Play Right Prize. In the few short years since he graduated, his work has been performed both regionally and nationally, and he has been recognized with awards from the Ottawa Little Theatre National Playwriting Competition and the Alberta Playwriting Competition. He is presently completing his master’s degree in playwriting at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and is studying with notable Canadian theatre artists, including Clem Martini.

Young Alumnus Achievement Award

Danielle Tait, BMgt '10

In the six short years since she graduated, Danielle Tait’s career has been marked by significant achievements at a world-class art gallery.

First hired as special events coordinator in 2008, she worked her way through a variety of positions to become associate director at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) in June of 2013. In addition to managing increased job responsibilities, Tait gives back to her community through her involvement with the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and as a board member for Economic Development Lethbridge. She has done volunteer work with groups in Tanzania and has supported a number of volunteer organizations, like the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Urban Spirits.

Fine Arts alumni take top two prizes at Alberta Playwriting Competition

trevor.kenney — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:17:53 +0000

A pair of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts alumni have taken the two top awards at the 2014 Alberta Playwriting Competition.

James Wade (BFA ’11) won the competition’s Grand Prize for his work, Helmut’s Day, while Ryan Reese (BFA ’13) was recognized as the Discovery Prize winner for Before the Night Takes Us. It marks the third consecutive year that a U of L alumnus has won the Discovery Prize, Reese having also won the award in 2013, while Makambe Simamba (BFA ’14) took the prize in 2012. Chelsea Woolley (BA/BEd ’14) also had an honourable mention behind Samamba in 2012.

The common thread to all the talented playwrights who have won provincial awards is the fact that they are also past recipients of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Play Right Prize. Wade was a two-time winner for his plays Muse Control (2010) and Greetings from Sardineland (2011), while Reese claimed second place in 2013 with Ascending the Blue. Simamba and Woolley also came through the Play Right competition.

Wade’s grand prize win nets the playwright a $3,500 award.

Helmut's Big Day takes place on an ancient wall protecting the glorious empire from the savage barbarians on the other side. The problem arises when Sabir and Katar, two soldiers tasked with defending the wall, forget which side is which. When they see a rider approaching from either direction, they are given a chance to redeem themselves if they can correctly identify the soldier from the barbarian. Failure to kill the barbarian and salute the soldier will mean possible death and certain dishonour for the both of them.

The jury remarked, "A short, surprising, dynamo of a theatre piece, packed with surreal humour. An exciting, existential read."

Reese presented Before the Night Takes Us, the story of Alison, a young musician whose gift for music has begun to reveal talents she never could have imagined. Desperate for answers, she accepts the help of a mysterious pianist and an icy detective, who know more about her than anyone should. As Alison hunts for the truth, no one will be able to predict who or what she will become.

The jury called the play,“Unusual, nicely surreal, with evidence of solid talent that should be encouraged.”

The Alberta Playwriting Competition is the longest running provincial competition of its kind in Canada and offers the largest cash prize of any provincial playwriting competition.

Playright and Striking Pose winners named

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:51:37 +0000

For the second year in a row, James Wade, a BFA multidisciplinary major, has taken first place in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's PlayRight Prize competition.

The $5,000 in prize money allotted to the PlayRight Prize and Striking Prose competitions is one of the highest awards in the country, with $1,500 going to each first place winner, and $750 and $250 being handed out to the second and third place finishers respectively.

Wade's winning PlayRight entry this year is True Believers. Meanwhile, the top prize in the Striking Prose short story category went to, Wreck on the Highway, by David Bryant. Bryant, who just completed his BA/BEd degree, took the top prize in 2009 and placed third in the 2010 event. Both first place entries will be read in a public performance on Thursday, Mar. 31 at 7 p.m. in the David Spinks Theatre.

Aislinn MacCulloch took second place in the Striking Prose competition with, Getting Martha Home, while Camille Fairbanks', Sacrament, took the third prize. In the PlayRight competition, Camille Pavlenko took second place for, Permission, and Shelly Eli's, Praying for the Man, placed third.

Generously supported by U of L alumnus Terry Whitehead, the competition encourages excellence and development in student writing.

Wade's play, True Believers, is set in the studio of comic book artists and explores the dangerous intersections between art and politics, especially when personal relationships are on the line. The PlayRight Prize jury found that the combination of insightful human emotions and imaginative theatrical concepts provided True Believers with all the ingredients for a compelling stage event.

Bryant's short story, Wreck on the Highway, was called a brilliant and gut-wrenching account of the emotional fall-out experienced by a volunteer fireman's attendance at a fatal traffic accident. The Striking Prose jury found Bryant's writing sophisticated and quite publishable, commenting that he makes the external world and the internal landscape of his story utterly believable.

The juries in both categories had numerous positive things to say about the winning entries. Of MacCulloch's writing, they commented that it showed originality and an ability to project a narrative voice that holds the reader's attention. Her story, Getting Martha Home, is a poignantly comic story about a struggling native woman's friendship with a bemused librarian who tries to help improve her lot in life.

Jurors felt that Fairbanks told a moving story in a convincing manner. Her entry, Sacrament, is a story of memory and mortality, contrasting the idealization of death (and life) with an almost savage realism from the consciousness of the dying protagonist.

Pavlenko's play, Permission, was touted for its quirky sense of humour and a cast of eccentric characters, which offered a clever commentary on the insecurities and anxieties of relationships. Jurors found that Eli's, Praying for a Man, introduces a pair of vibrant characters, who capture audience interest with their outrageously funny and endlessly passionate observations about life on the reserve.

To view the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Muse Control

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:00:41 +0000

Rushmore, starring Bill Murray, didn't attract large crowds of moviegoers when it debuted in 1998, but the cult classic made an impression on U of L Fine Arts student James Wade. The 23-year-old, who was only 11 when the movie premiered, remembers watching it for the first time years after it was released.

"I don't know if I knew it at the time, but that movie inspired my interest in narratives," says Wade. "There's a scene in Rushmore where Bill Murray's character is so vividly portrayed that I relate to him on a personal level. That sense of shared experience is extraordinary because in that moment it doesn't matter that the person I'm connecting with is a character in a movie."

"He's fictional, but you can't have everything," jokes Wade, quoting a line from Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Wade's playful attitude belies the seriousness of his endeavour. He is a self-professed movie buff whose top picks include the classic Casablanca, fan-favourite Annie Hall and box-office hit Jurassic Park. He is able to drop quotes from these and other movies into everyday conversations because for him they have developed a personal relevance.

Playwright, James Wade, draws a great deal of inspiration from Woody Allen.

"I remember every detail. The Germans wore grey, you wore blue," says Wade, illustrating his point using a line from Casablanca.

For Wade, narrative is an art form that transcends geographic, cultural and social boundaries, offering a connection between people who have never met.

"Narrative is ideological," explains Wade. "Stories take shape in response to experiences and in relation to values and beliefs. Regardless of the story being told, narrative is always part of a larger conversation."

Eager to be part of the discussion, Wade started writing his own scripts. Inspired by a summer lecture he attended two years ago, he began investigating the idea of the muse and its role in contemporary society.

"The figure of the muse played an important role in Greek culture; they believed in spirits that would visit them and inspire their artistic creations," explains Wade. "The figure of the muse has lost that significance in today's culture, and we now believe in an artistry that comes from within the individual."

Having found a subject that interested him, Wade began work on what was to become Muse Control. Treating the muse as a literal character, the play plunges audiences into the fantastic life of a struggling author, desperate to break his writer's block. Reality is suspended and twisted as his muse encourages and exposes his creative and personal truths.

"Muse Control is quirky and eccentric but that's what makes it real," explains Wade. "While writing it, I worked with some of my own neuroses as an artist, and I hope that comes across in the characters when people read the script or see the play."

Top Row (L-R), Camille Pavlenko and James Wade. Bottom Row (L-R), Brett Gartley and Devon Brayne.

Wade's self-reflection paid off as Muse Control won the 2010 U of L Play Right Prize, earning Wade a $1,500 cash award and a public reading of his play.

"Winning the Play Right Prize was obviously an honour and went a long way toward validating my work," says Wade, who is hoping for a future in writing.

The U of L Play Right Prize is one of two awards geared at young writers made possible by the generous support of U of L alumnus Terry Whitehead (BA '94).

"My time at the U of L was a very formative period in my life," says Whitehead. "My education and campus involvements helped shape my world view. I am happy to support the Play Right Prize as a way to ensure that both current and future students are given the same opportunities to explore their creativity."

In addition to winning the Play Right Prize, Muse Control is the first play from the competition to be produced at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The play opened the 2010/11 TheatreXtra season.

"TheatreXtra provides great opportunities and experience to students with a passion for theatre," says Wade, describing the primarily student-run productions. "I've envisioned Muse Control in my head for so long, it's great to see it brought to life on stage by a group of my peers."

Wade accepts the accolades humbly and enjoys the process of producing, but he remains true to the writing process believing it to be cathartic.

"You are what you love and not what loves you," says Wade, quoting Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation.

Maybe one day someone will be quoting lines from a James Wade movie.

For a look at the full issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Play Right winner debuts work

trevor.kenney — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:06:38 +0000

Wildly entertaining and delightfully quirky, TheatreXtra's season opens with the debut performance of Muse Control, by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student James Wade. Muse Control won the 2010 U of L Play Right Prize, and is the first play from the competition to be produced.

In the David Spinks Theatre from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. nightly and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 2, this premier production plunges audiences into the fantastic life of a struggling author, desperate to break his writer's block. Reality is suspended and twisted as his muse encourages and exposes his creative truths.

Wade, who is working on a BFA (multidisciplinary) degree, was inspired by the writing of Woody Allen and a summer lecture he attended two years ago.

"The lecture revolved around the idea of the muse and its role in society. That lecture inspired me to think of the muse as a literal character," says Wade. "I started writing Muse Control and finished it to enter the Play Right Prize competition."

The U of L Play Right Prize and U of L Striking Prose competitions are made possible by the generous support of Terry Whitehead, a U of L alumnus. In addition to earning the first place prize for play writing, Muse Control also received a public reading in March.

"This show is exciting because the playwright is one of our students and also because it's a great show," says Derek Stevenson, fellow student and TheatreXtra artistic director. "It was really well received by the audience at the reading in March."

"TheatreXtra provides opportunity and experience to students with a passion and commitment to theatre," explains Stevenson. "Our shows this semester, Muse Control and The Good Egg by Michael Lewis MacLennan, are both light-hearted and comedic in nature. TheatreXtra, for the most part, is student-run and these shows showcase and challenge drama students' abilities."

Tickets for Muse Control and The Good Egg are on sale at the U of L Box Office (403-329-2616), priced at $11 for regular admission and $7 for senior/student. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in W510.

Play Right winner debuts work

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:15:33 +0000

Wade, who is working on a BFA (multidisciplinary) degree, was inspired by the writing of Woody Allen and a summer lecture he attended two years ago.

Plays and Prose winners to debut works

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:04:16 +0000

Audiences are invited to enjoy the winning play and short story from the U of L Plays and Prose Competition on Thursday, Mar. 18 at 8 p.m. in the David Spinks Theatre. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The first prize winner in the play category was James Wade for Muse Control. The short story that took first place was Takeoff by Marian Godfrey. Both prize-winning works will enjoy their first public reading. Runners up in the prose category were Henry Heavy Shield for The Art of Fasting, which placed second, and Dave Bryant for Out of Sight on Barstool Row, which placed third.

Generously supported by U of L alumnus Terry Whitehead, the competition aims to encourage excellence and development in student writing. As first prize winners, Wade and Godfrey each receive a $1,500 award. Second and third prize winners receive awards of $750 and $250 respectively.

The juries in both categories had numerous positive comments about the winning entries. Godfrey's short story Takeoff is a compelling story that challenges both social and narrative conventions.

Jurors reviewing the play entries indicated that James Wade's entry Muse Control had the potential for future productions. They said Muse Control did not overextend itself and pegged it a truly enjoyable play. There is a clear idea that is succinct and carried through, leading audiences on a very funny journey.

Campus Kudos

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:13:16 +0000

Nick Wade (Art) has been invited to show and speak about his work, The Ruin 2005, at a conference dedicated to Eve Sedgwick. Called Spanking and Poetry at the Graduate Centre, CUNY NY on Feb. 25, part of the conference is dedicated to innovative uses of language in many disciplines, including visual art.

Mary Kavanagh (Art) and Michael Campbell (Art) both had work purchased by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in its recent round of new acquisitions. Kavanagh's work, Tarnish: Silver Drawings (2005), is a process piece resulting in a large textile. Campbell's work, Tranquility Base (2006), is a video/audio/sculptural installation.

The winners for the annual student writing competition, Plays and Prose, supported by U of L alumnus Terry Whitehead, were announced recently. James Wade captured the Play Right Prize for his play Muse Control. Marian Godfrey won first prize in the prose competition for Takeoff, while second prize went to Henry Heavy Shield for The Art of Fasting. The third prize was awarded to Dave Bryant for Out of Sight on Barstool Row. This is the second consecutive year that Heavy Shield has earned a prize for his writing.

Mary-Anne McTrowe (Art) was asked by recent Art Now speaker Brian Goeltzenleuchter, to create work to be featured on his Contraposto Home Decor website for Winter 2010, based on items in his product line. She chose to knit cozies for three of the candles offered for sale on the site: Roman Ruins, The Kiss, and Totem.

Daniel Wong (Art Gallery) and Mary-Anne McTrowe (Art), as The Cedar Tavern Singers AKA Les Phonorealistes, travel to San Diego in March to participate in a group exhibition entitled Family Matters at Sushi Center for Urban Arts, which runs from Mar. 4 to Apr. 24. In addition to their installation, they are also presenting a musical performance.

Tido Janssen (Music) was recently elected president of the Alberta String Association (ASA). The ASA is a non-profit, charitable organization that supports and develops programs serving a network of string professionals, string students, and string-interested parties that advocate quality string playing and string education in Alberta.

Dr. Shelley Scott's (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) book, Nightwood Theatre, A Woman's Work is Always Done, has just been published by Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Press.

Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) was named Ms. November (Dance Historian of the Month) in Dance Collection Danse, the national dance archive and publishing organization based in Toronto.

Denton Fredrickson (Art) and John Granzow (Psychology – grad assistant) have their collaboration, Instruments of Removal, appearing in the first issues of the new online publication Boulder Pavement.

Deanna Oye (Music) performed on a concert of international musicians at the Hospitalkirche in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany. She and violinist Jasmine Lin (Chicago Chamber Players) performed Edvard Grieg's 3rd Sonata for Violin and Piano in December.

UNews - James Wade

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