UNews - Ian MacLachlan

Rotaract Club joins Lethbridge Rotary in bringing Mexican school dream to reality

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 17:00:41 +0000

In honour of National Philanthropy Day on Wednesday, Nov. 15, those of us at the U of L's UNews website wanted to highlight some stories from our archives. Each day this week, we'll republish a story that demonstrates the many ways the campus community benefits from philanthropy. Our first story looks at the efforts to create a much-needed school in Mazatlán, Mexico.

An earnest belief in the value of education has led to the creation of an accredited school in Mazatlán, Mexico, where children were once educated by volunteers in a ramshackle structure made of discarded pallets.

The Pallet School Project brought together the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Rotaract Club, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East and the Rotary Club of Mazatlán Norte to create a fully-accredited, government-supported, six-classroom school in one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods. What began as an idea in summer 2014 was realized just last week when the Kinder Urbivilla del Real school welcomed 200 students through its doors.

The former Pallet School was just that, a building constructed of discarded pallets.

“It’s very exciting that it actually came together the way it has,” says Katie Wilson, a U of L PhD student in chemistry and Rotaract Club member. “You look at it now that it is done and it looks like a school – it’s not just something thrown together – but a real school for them to be proud of.”

The need for a school was identified in 2014 when a group of Rotarians were in Mazatlán as part of the Los Amigos Project, an initiative where decommissioned fleet vehicles are donated to Mexican communities. On delivering a collection of fire trucks, handi-buses and ambulances, the Rotarians struck up conversations with some of the locals, who spoke about a school for kindergarten students that had been constructed out of discarded pallets.

“A group of four teachers essentially made a school, with the help of community members, out of scavenged materials, largely pallets sitting on end, stacked up on top of each other and held in place with whatever they could find for columns and posts,” says Rotary Club member and retired U of L geography professor Dr. Ian MacLachlan. “These teachers would volunteer their time and teach the children in the morning and then go to work for paid employment in the afternoon.”

This is one of two buildings that make up the new, modern schoolhouse.

The Catch-22 with Mexican education is that kindergarten is not funded by the State of Sinaloa but is necessary to attend primary school, which is free and fully funded. In the poorest neighbourhoods such as these, it means communities band together to do their best to provide kindergarten so their children won’t be shut out of primary school.

“It’s crazy to think that these kids do not have the opportunity to attend school available to them like we do, and how much effort their parents and their community are putting in to provide them with that,” says Wilson. “For us, being able to support them and to give them that is pretty cool.”

Crammed into tight spaces and working on a dirt floor has now given way to a modern classroom setting, below.

With the need for the school identified, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East wanted to help build a real school but didn’t have the funds to get it started. Rotaract, through a pair of dinners and silent auctions, did, and could devote $36,500 to the project. Using that as leverage, the Rotary Club of Mazatlán worked with local and state governments to secure the necessary permits in short time and begin construction. With additional government funding, what started as a two-room schoolhouse quickly blossomed into more and began to take shape.

Two buildings were constructed, one with four classrooms, the other with two, as well as a bathroom and administrative office, all enclosed by a security fence. The Rotary Club of Lethbridge East is on board to help stock the school with supplies. Nine fully accredited and government-supported teachers are now on staff for the 200 students.

“We had the goal to build this community a proper building where they could have kindergarten but we didn’t want them to just have kindergarten, we wanted it to be accredited by the government, so that it was recognized to allow the kids into Grade 1,” says Wilson. “Now, they also have a building they can use for community outreach. They want to bring in a dentist and a doctor and they now have a modern facility to host things like that.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Rotaract Club is a group of university students with a love for humanity and humanitarian service, chartered by Rotary International and ratified by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union. Their charitable efforts have benefited a number of projects over the years, with funds generated through the annual dinner and silent auction. The 12th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction takes place January 21, 2017 at the Sandman Hotel and will support the Lethbridge District Boys & Girls Club graffiti program.

For more information and to view an album of photos on the Pallet School Project, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ulethrotaract.org/photos/?tab=album&album_id=959157220846094.

Understanding the consequences of the global livestock revolution

trevor.kenney — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:55:47 +0000

The past, present and future of Lethbridge’s livestock industry, and the possible effects of current global meat consumption trends on Canada’s economy, come into sharp focus through the research of economic geographer Dr. Ian MacLachlan.

A professor in the Department of Geography at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, MacLachlan has documented the historical evolution of food animal production in Lethbridge from the 1950s onwards. He also studies today’s global geographical shifts in livestock production and consumption, analyzing the implications of rising demand for meat and other types of animal products in developing countries, and the simultaneous declining demand for these products in Canada. MacLachlan would ultimately like to better understand the economic and environmental consequences of these trends, and the potential opportunities and risks they pose for Canada’s livestock industry.

Dr. Ian MacLachlan says that as more and more developing countries see their prospects rise, the changing dietary habits of their populations could create lucrative opportunities for Canada’s agricultural sector.

“The global food animal population is going up extremely rapidly, and that is the exact opposite of the kind of trend that we’re seeing in North America,” MacLachlan says. “It’s important to study this trend in food animal production from a human welfare perspective and from an environmental perspective.”

MacLachlan grew up a self-described “city kid” in Montreal, and completed his geography degrees at Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto. But in 1990, just months into the beginning of his teaching career at the U of L, he took his students on a field trip to a local meat-packing company, and the experience ignited his curiosity about the region’s cattle farming and beef production activity.

“It caused me to ask a bunch of questions about the origins of and changes to the industry, and I just got more and more fascinated. When I couldn’t find the answers in the library, I started trying to answer them myself,” he says.

The answers he came up with reveal the how’s and why’s of livestock production in Lethbridge over the last several decades, beginning with the creation of the Lethbridge Stockyards in 1950, the “kill and chill” packing plants of the 1960s, the growth of Alberta’s cattle feedlots in the late 1980s and 1990s, and the collapse of the booming cattle-finishing sector after the discovery of the fatal neurodegenerative cattle disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta in 2003.

These days, MacLachlan mostly focuses on better understanding the dimensions of what has become known as the “livestock revolution” – today’s unprecedented global-scale changes in the consumption of animal food products such as meat, poultry and dairy products, which is being driven largely by skyrocketing demand in countries such as China, India and Brazil. Specifically, he would like to answer the bigger questions about these trends, such as: How is consumer demand for livestock-source food connected to the observed dietary changes of consumers? What are the ecological implications of growth in different livestock species and regions? And, will increased livestock production provide income growth and development opportunities in rural regions of developing countries?

As more and more developing countries see their prospects rise, the changing dietary habits of their populations could create lucrative opportunities for Canada’s agricultural sector, he says. But he says it’s important for nations to consider the bigger picture when making policy and regulatory decisions about their livestock industries.

“When we look at the development issues in the world, providing food security for the world’s seven billion people is one of the key challenges,” MacLachlan says. “To what extent do we need to regulate some of these livestock production activities more closely in order to mitigate the environmental and animal health impacts and keep the industry sustainable? And to what extent can we work to promote and foster locally-based institutional adaptations to this change in agricultural land use?”

Student blog offers tour impressions

trevor.kenney — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:41:37 +0000

Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in South Korea has long been a valuable partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and for the first time, U of L students are enjoying the opportunity to participate in a one-month study tour to learn Korean culture, history, society, business and language.

"We've had a longstanding agreement with Ulsan where we offer four-month exchange programs and they send a number of their students here to participate in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program," says Laura Ferguson of the U of L's International Centre for Students. "This study tour is for one month only, is quite inexpensive and is completely in English, so there are no language requirements."

The tour began June 27 and runs through July 26. IDST 2850: Study Tour of South Korea is for course credit and is available to just 20 qualified students. A list of participating students can be found below, as well as a link to a student blog about the experience.

A South Korean monastery stay is one of the highlights of the study tour.

"This course really fits well within the interdisciplinary studies category, given the broad base of what they are learning," says Ferguson.

Ulsan is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million, and is the industrial powerhouse of South Korea, forming the heart of the Ulsan Industrial District. Home to the world's largest automobile assembly plant, operated by Hyundai Motor Company, the world's largest shipyard, operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries, and the world's second largest oil refinery, owned by SK Energy, it also neighbours the historic city of Kyung-ju, the capital of the Silla Dynasty from 57 BC to 935 AD.

Dr. Ian MacLachlan of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's geography department is accompanying the tour participants this summer. While in South Korea, they get the chance to experience every facet of the South Korean lifestyle. The tour includes trips to Hyundai Heavy Industries, a one-night home stay with a Korean family, a night in a Buddhist temple, a week of study in Seoul and many more opportunities.

"You can't really do something like this as a tourist, you don't get access to this type of experience on your own," says Ferguson.

Students advanced through an application process in order to be chosen for the tour.

"They needed to write an essay of about 1,000 words about why they wanted to participate in the program, and what value they thought they'd get from this kind of exchange," says Ferguson.

"We looked for ambassadors of the U of L, people who would go there and show our partner university how great U of L students are."

It's also an opportunity to take advantage of a partnership agreement between the two institutions that sees Ulsan send many more students to Canada.

"This summer program gives students the opportunity to go and study in Korea completely using the English language, which is much less intimidating and allows a lot more people to participate."

Study Tour Participants and Blog Contributors:

Ian MacLachlan (Instructor); Ashley Boras; Mike Burland; Kenny Davey; Jeremy Heidebrecht; Basil Jefferies; Crystal Kensley; Aaron Kurmey; Sang Ha Park; Tyler Ramsay; Jayne Simpson; Derrick Smithson; Brett Stephenson; Evan Strangward.

To follow their study tour blog or send a message to someone on the tour, click on this link.

South Korea tour students offer blog

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:27:03 +0000

Students from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are giving people the opportunity to join them on a cultural tour of South Korea, if only through their eyes.

The new IDST 2850: Study Tour of South Korea class is currently in South Korea and participating students, under the tutelage of Dr. Ian MacLachlan of the Department of Geography, are penning a blog so that others can also experience the tour.

The blog is available by following this link, and gives people a look at many facets of the South Korean lifestyle.

The credit course is provided through the U of L's International Centre for Students and is a one-month tour of South Korea given completely in English. It is offered in partnership with Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and is based out of Ulsan, South Korea.

Spelling things out

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:39:58 +0000

'Protocol' was the winning word for Adrienne Gomes, a grade eight student at Gilbert Paterson school and the winner of the 2010 Canwest Canspell Spelling Bee, which took place at the U of L on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Here, Gomes (front row, left) and runner-up Willow Hordos-Goyer, of St. Michael's School in Medicine Hat, are pictured (l to r) with judge Dr. Craig Monk, (Associate Dean, Arts and Science) pronouncer Dr. Ian MacLachlan, (geography) judge Dr. Lynn Kennedy (history) and judge Elizabeth Hegerat (Lethbridge Public Library).

Long service awards and honoured retirees

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:27:38 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recently honoured 83 employees at the annual Long Service Awards and Retirement Recognition Ceremony.

Employees who have completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service, as well as 18 retiring employees were all honoured at the ceremony.
Following is a list of those employees.

Retirees
Lynn Arnold, Judith Droessler, Eileen Ferguson, Peter Haney, Marilyn Hawryluk, Helen Henderson, Beatriz Housley, Luke Kwong, Ian McKenna, Linda Nicol, Ron Perverseff, Terry Prociuk, Lorraine Schimpf, Hiroshi Shimazaki, Helen Smith, Sara Stanley, Johnel Tailfeathers, Marie Yolland

Long Service Recipients

40 Years | Michael Kubara and Frank VandenHeuvel

35 Years | Lynne Brown, Gary Cunningham, Rose Helmer and Barbara Wolstoncroft

30 Years | Doris Kostiuk and Wendy Vogel

25 Years | Doran Anderson, Deb Bullock, Hank DeRidder, John Federkeil, Carol Gaetz, Ken Nicol, Stewart Rood, Linda Sebastian, Penny Secretan, Jerzy Szpakowski and Guy Vervoort

20 Years | John Bain, Allan Besplug, Craig Bullock, Cynthia Chambers, Helena Danyk, Lisa Doolittle, Marty Gadd, Andrew Hakin, David Kaminski, Luke Kwong, Judy Lavorato, Ian MacLachlan, Edward Malinsky, Duane Rockerbie, Gloria Samuels, Michael Stingl, Carrie Takeyasu, Pat Tanaka, Barb Thomsen, Gitte Villiger, Kathleen Willms, Shelly Wismath and Sajjad Zahir

15 Years | Jim Booth, Teresa Heyburn, Joan Kendall, Rob Kern, Richard Lutwick, Ron Schreiber, Terri Thomas, Nicholas Wade and Judith Whitehead

10 Years | Andrea Amelinckx, John Bronk, Adam Carter, Yllias Chali, Margaret Cook, Robert Cooney, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Fred Greene, Shauna Haag, Geoffrey Hale, Susan Hill, Shahadat Hossain, Charlene Janes, Harold Jansen, Randy Joseph, Edward Jurkowski, Catherine Kingfisher, Laurie Martin, Cathy Newman, Margot O'Donnell, Steve Patitsas, Michele Roberts, Chris Robinson, Debi Sandul, Stephane Simard, A. William Smith, Mike Spiteri, Stuart Thomas, Dawn-Ann Thys, Edwin Wasiak, Cheryl Wheeler and Jim Wills

Long service awards, Wednesday

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:52:19 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is holding its annual Long Service Awards and Retirement Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, May 6, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballrooms. A total of 83 employees who have completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service, and 18 retiring employees will be honoured at the event.

All employees are invited to the ceremony and reception to honour the award recipients listed below. The reception will include light refreshments.

Retirees

Lynn Arnold, Judith Droessler, Eileen Ferguson, Peter Haney, Marilyn Hawryluk, Helen Henderson, Beatriz Housley, Luke Kwong, Ian McKenna, Linda Nicol, Ron Perverseff, Terry Prociuk, Lorraine Schimpf, Hiroshi Shimazaki, Helen Smith, Sara Stanley, Johnel Tailfeathers, Marie Yolland

Long Service Recipients

40 Years

Michael Kubara and Frank VandenHeuvel

35 Years

Lynne Brown, Gary Cunningham, Rose Helmer and Barbara Wolstoncroft

30 Years

Doris Kostiuk and Wendy Vogel

25 Years

Doran Anderson, Deb Bullock, Hank DeRidder, John Federkeil, Carol Gaetz, Ken Nicol, Stewart Rood, Linda Sebastian, Penny Secretan, Jerzy Szpakowski and Guy Vervoort

20 Years

John Bain, Allan Besplug, Craig Bullock, Cynthia Chambers, Helena Danyk, Lisa Doolittle, Marty Gadd, Andrew Hakin, David Kaminski, Luke Kwong, Judy Lavorato, Ian MacLachlan, Edward Malinsky, Duane Rockerbie, Gloria Samuels, Michael Stingl, Carrie Takeyasu, Pat Tanaka, Barb Thomsen, Gitte Villiger, Kathleen Willms, Shelly Wismath and Sajjad Zahir

15 Years

Jim Booth, Teresa Heyburn, Joan Kendall, Rob Kern, Richard Lutwick, Ron Schreiber, Terri Thomas, Nicholas Wade and Judith Whitehead

10 Years

Andrea Amelinckx, John Bronk, Adam Carter, Yllias Chali, Margaret Cook, Robert Cooney, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Fred Greene, Shauna Haag, Geoffrey Hale, Susan Hill, Shahadat Hossain, Charlene Janes, Harold Jansen, Randy Joseph, Edward Jurkowski, Catherine Kingfisher, Laurie Martin, Cathy Newman, Margot O'Donnell, Steve Patitsas, Michele Roberts, Chris Robinson, Debi Sandul, Stephane Simard, A. William Smith, Mike Spiteri, Stuart Thomas, Dawn-Ann Thys, Edwin Wasiak, Cheryl Wheeler and Jim Wills

UNews - Ian MacLachlan

Rotaract Club joins Lethbridge Rotary in bringing Mexican school dream to reality

Related Topics

Understanding the consequences of the global livestock revolution

Related Content

PUBlic Professor Series - Dr. Ian MacLachlan

Related Topics

Student blog offers tour impressions

Related Topics

South Korea tour students offer blog

Related Topics

Spelling things out

Related Topics

Long service awards and honoured retirees

Related Topics

Long service awards, Wednesday

Related Topics