UNews - mayor

Chillin' 4 Charity 2013 on at Galt Gardens

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 19:21:31 +0000

That's right, it's Chillin' 4 Charity time again, and this year JDC West is dialing up the fun factor by taking the event off campus.

The annual United Way fundraiser is always a chilln' good time.

Spnsored by YPM Chartered Acountants, the 9th Annual Chillin' is taking place at Galt Gardens in downtown Lethbridge today, near the fountain area.

As always, the event raises funds in support of United Way of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to come to Galt Gardens between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to watch the jumpers, enjoy some food and make a donation.

Last year, JDC West raised $5,460, and they are hoping to exceed that number this year and further support the United Way.

People making a splash for the United Way this year include Dean of the Faculty of Management, Dr. Bob Ellis, and the newly elected Mayor of Lethbridge, Chris Spearman (splashdown is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.).

Those wishing to donate online can visit www.lethbridgeunitedway.ca

For more information about JDC West and Chillin' 4 Charity, visit www.ulethjdcwest.com/.

View photos and video of past Chillin' events at: www.uleth.ca/management/chillin-4-charity-photos.

2013 Honorary Degree recipients

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:01:45 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of five persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2013.

From the sporting field to the boardroom, the concert hall and the halls of parliament and justice, the group represents a cross section of the local, national and international community.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is very pleased that these individuals have agreed to let us recognize them with an Honorary Degree," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan. "Their collective accomplishments have made our local, provincial, national and international communities stronger and have improved the quality of life for people around the world."

Following are brief biographies (in alphabetical order) of this year's honoured recipients.

Dr. Garald (Gary) W. Bowie

A founding faculty member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Gary Bowie is a respected community volunteer, builder, leader and educator.

Dr. Bowie taught and developed courses in physical education and kinesiology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the course of a 30-year career (1968-1998) and played a major role in the construction of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

A former Pronghorns basketball coach and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Dr. Bowie was also active in his community, serving as the Director of Sports for the 1975 Canada Winter Games and Chair of both the Alberta Winter and Summer Games. A co-founder and Chair of the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Bowie is also a hall inductee.

As an educator, Dr. Bowie served 15 years as a trustee on the Lethbridge School District #51 Board, and his volunteer activities have long served the local and provincial homeless populations.

He was recently appointed Chair of the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness and continues to positively influence his community.

Richard (Rick) Casson

The former Manager of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Printing Services, Rick Casson has served the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, his home community of Picture Butte, the people of southern Alberta and Canada as a whole over the course of his 30-plus year political career.

Casson began his community service as a volunteer firefighter before being convinced to run for local political office, eventually serving as a municipal councilor for nine years and then as Mayor of Picture Butte for an additional nine years.

Casson would spend 14 years as a sitting Member of Parliament and was both a successful and influential MP. He served as Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense as well as Chair of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, all the while remaining true to his local roots and actively supporting the constituents of southern Alberta.

Named to the Queens Privy Council for Canada in 2010, Casson has also been a strong advocate for the support of Multiple Sclerosis research, raising $122,000 for the MS Society over the last seven years.

Rivka Golani

A world-class musician, performer, teacher and promoter of classical music, Rivka Golani is among the top-five viola soloists in the world and a major contributor to the advancement of classical music in southern Alberta.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Golani moved to Canada in 1974, performing across the country and spreading the love of music to the communities that she visited.
When approached to teach master viola classes to students in southern Alberta, she enthusiastically shared her immense talent and quickly took up the charge to create an international music festival.

The Fort Macleod International Festival was born and is now in its ninth year.

A dedicated and successful teacher, Golani is also a champion of southern Alberta composers, giving young musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents and taking their works to national and international audiences.

With more than 250 original works composed especially for her, Golani has brought the world of classical music to southern Alberta's doorstep.

Robert Turner

As Chair of the Board of Governors for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for six years (2006-2012), Robert Turner helped guide the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ through an era of significant change and growth, including the creation of a new Strategic Plan, a successful fundraising campaign and a major expansion of campus services.

Turner, a successful attorney and businessman, was elected to the U of L's Board of Governors in 2002 and served four years as a key contributor to the creation of governance policies and practices, as well as the attached responsibilities of the Board, administration and others.

When appointed Chair of the Board in 2006 and then reappointed for a second term in 2009, Turner recruited an outstanding group of Board members, ensuring gender balance, a Pan-Alberta membership and the skills necessary to run an emerging comprehensive university.

Turner's extensive volunteer contributions reflect the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue to have impact at the local, provincial and national level.

Neil Wittmann

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute graduate Neil Wittmann has long been respected as one of the top litigators in the province of Alberta, serving as an exceptional teacher and mentor to junior lawyers and erstwhile champion of ethical litigation.

Now, as Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in the Province of Alberta, Wittmann conducts the majority of his work behind the scenes, continually working to better the practice of law in the province.

As Vice-Chair of the Judicial Conduct Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), Wittmann's work is absolutely essential in ensuring that the independency of the judiciary is maintained in Canada and the conduct of the members of the judiciary adhere to the ethical principles adapted by the CJC.

Wittmann's stellar career as a lawyer in private practice, coupled with his excellence as a judge and now Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench demonstrates the respect and admiration the legal community has for his contributions to the practice of law in Alberta and beyond.

This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

CASA opens its doors

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:08:05 +0000

The City of Lethbridge, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are excited to announce the Grand Opening of CASA, a truly functional 42,000 square foot arts centre with a striking building design.

CASA is the realization of a 20-year dream, shared by many in the Lethbridge arts community, to expand or replace the Bowman Arts Centre and provide a home for the arts in one central location.

"I am very pleased to participate in today's celebration, which will usher in new opportunities for Lethbridge and southern Alberta's artistic community," says Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

"Worthwhile projects such as this create jobs and encourage economic growth, while also providing Canadians with valuable cultural spaces."

Funding for the $20.69 million project includes $6 million from the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (with $3 million provided by both the Federal Government and Alberta Transportation under BCF-CC), $14.4 million from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (administered by Alberta Municipal Affairs) and $200,000 from the City of Lethbridge.

"We're pleased to support local priorities and build communities through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative," says Greg Weadick, Associate Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs and MLA for Lethbridge-West.

"Facilities like CASA bring together families and neighbours while they enrich lives, entertain and create more vibrant economies."

CASA will allow for students of all ages to learn and explore many different mediums of art, drama, music, dance, yoga and more. It will become home to many local groups and events.

After the 11 a.m. Grand Opening, and for the remainder of the week, special events will be taking place in the evenings, with a Party On the Plaza from noon until 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. This community festival is free and will include many local musicians and entertainers, from the Lethbridge Community Taiko Association to the U of L Conservatory of Music.

Other events during the week include dance, theatre, film, the inaugural CASA art exhibit opening and the music of Oscar Lopez.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music has numerous events planned that showcase both the new facility and their diverse programs.

U of L Conservatory information, including program registration and upcoming events listings, can be found at this website.

"Our local arts community has been waiting for this day for a long time. For decades to come, this new arts facility will be a significant cultural and economic asset for downtown Lethbridge and for the entire community," says Mayor Rajko Dodic.

Along with the Allied Arts Council, who will be overseeing the facility, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is also a major partner with its Music Conservatory moving to this facility.

"We are extremely proud of U of L Music Conservatory Director Peggy Mezei and her team, and their achievements as they move in to CASA's bright and beautiful space," says Dr. Mike Mahon, the U of L's President and Vice-Chancellor. "Our commitment to the community takes on many forms, and being such an integral part of the CASA group is something we are very pleased to be a part of. This new facility will be of great benefit to our present and future Conservatory students, and also to the many members of the arts and culture community who use the facility to express their own creativity."

The Rotary Clubs of Lethbridge have also provided support to the project which has led to the naming of the Rotary Plaza, the location of the festivities on Saturday, May 18.

CASA will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 pm. on Sundays. Classes and workshops, including the opportunity to try "sampler" classes for a nominal fee, will begin the week of May 20.

Information on Grand Opening Week events as well as information on classes, workshops, facility rentals and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Music Conservatory can be found at the CASA website.

U of L celebrates its Calgary presence at Bow Valley College

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:28:01 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is celebrating the new location of its Calgary Campus with its post-secondary, community, alumni and government partners, as Bow Valley College officially opens its South Campus today.

In addition to the introduction of a beautiful building that will be utilized by four of Alberta's post-secondary institutions, a new partnership between Bow Valley College, Olds College, Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is being celebrated in front of dignitaries that include Premier Alison Redford, Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Since 1996, the U of L has served a critical role in Calgary by offering university degree level programming through its Faculty of Management in the evenings and on weekends.

"By meeting the needs of busy, working adult learners, U of L students can earn a degree in a manner that accommodates their busy lifestyles," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President, Dr. Mike Mahon. "This niche, combined with our Campus Alberta partnership with Bow Valley College, Olds College and Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will create new, important laddering opportunities for Alberta's students."

The U of L's original Calgary Campus was located at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Significant student growth occurred from 1997 to 2001, primarily due to the post-diploma program offered in Calgary. Today, the U of L's Calgary Campus is home to approximately 700 students in Calgary.

"The success of the programming we offer in Calgary can be attributed to the quality of a U of L degree, but also to the efforts the U of L has made in making a university degree accessible to adult learners," says Dean of the Faculty of Management, Dr. Bob Ellis.

When combined with the many students from Calgary who choose to attend the U of L's Lethbridge campus, Calgary and its surrounding areas become the U of L's most significant source of students. Calgary students make up 38 per cent of the U of L's total student body.

Since its inception, more than 1,460 students have graduated from the Calgary Campus. Overall, Calgary and area is home to more than 7,000 U of L alumni.

"The U of L is very proud of the role it plays in creating access for Alberta students, whether they attend our Lethbridge, Calgary or Edmonton campuses. Further, we are extremely proud of the role our alumni are playing in building communities across Alberta, Canada and internationally," says Mahon.

U of L alums making big City contributions

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:32:09 +0000

One of the greatest compliments alumni can pay to their alma mater is in how they impact their local communities. At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, such compliments keep pouring in as alumni employed by The City of Calgary display a depth of knowledge, a commitment to innovation and a dedication to improving their communities and neighbourhoods.

Lorna Wallace, (BMgt great distinction '01) project manager for The City of Calgary, earned a business diploma from SAIT in the 1980s but she always wanted to complete a bachelor degree. When the U of L launched its Calgary satellite campus in 1996, Wallace jumped at the chance to attend the post-diploma bachelor of management program.

"I appreciated the ability to get to know the faculty and advisors; their flexibility allowed me to do this while I was working full-time and raising a family," says Wallace. "Having my degree reinforced the importance of teamwork and preparation; it opened up many opportunities for me. As the first executive assistant to the city manager, I led a number of projects including a royal visit, and while in the mayor's office I am proud to have recently led the team that launched one of the most successful food truck pilot programs in North America."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni are making a big difference in the big city, with a number of alumni, such as these pictured, working for The City of Calgary.

Wallace is currently working on a council innovation project involving the Community Services and Protective Services Department and 12 pilot communities in Calgary.

"This project builds upon The City's Strong Neighbourhoods Initiative and community attachment work done by Dr. Katherine Loflin and the Knight Foundation. Our goal is to make sure that communities are aware of the services available and to determine which services they need to make their community a great place to live," explains Wallace. "It is ground-breaking; we will be the first municipality in North America to commission this work."

Also working for the city is Glen Radway (BA '85), development strategist - Office of Land Servicing & Housing.

"The research skills I gained at the U of L helped me at graduate school and in my career. With the lower teacher/student ratio, I gained the confidence to dig into the meat of an issue," says Radway, who completed studies at the U of L's Lethbridge campus before obtaining his master's degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo in 1987. "In the work I do now, it is important to spend time really looking at a situation rather than jumping to conclusions, to understand the impacts of your decisions through the eyes of the residents, or understand what you see happening through change in a neighbourhood."

In 2009, city council approved the Calgary Municipal Development Plan review, a project for which Radway was the land-use lead.

"We tried to figure out what we could do to sustain the city financially, environmentally and socially and present policy directions through the MDP. It now forms the basis for a lot of projects that are developed across the city," says Radway. "One of the projects I am working on now is the Industrial Land Strategy to decide how the city will develop industrial parks. We want to support economic development in the city and incorporate more sustainable elements, like green infrastructure, with our own land development."

Blake Kanewischer (BMgt '06) and Matt Rockley (BA '02) are also among the many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni affecting positive change within The City of Calgary.

Kanewischer works as both a sessional instructor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Calgary satellite campus and as a team leader, Project, Processes, Staff Development and Training for the Assessment Business Unit at the city.

"As a mature and working student, I was constantly feeding material back into my working life from my classes," says Kanewischer.

Applying the knowledge and skills he gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has served Kanewischer well in his career. One of his proudest accomplishments thus far is being a member of the team that developed the webwave program. Webwave has won numerous international and national awards for replacing the city's intranet and internet sites with what Kanewischer describes as, "one of the first search and citizen-centric websites for a municipal government anywhere."

When Rockley, Okotoks town councillor and planner for The City of Calgary, entered the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he had no idea what he wanted to pursue as a career.

"One of my professors mentioned that I should consider city planning as a career. At the time I had no idea what city planning was but her advice compelled me to look into it. That turned out to be the best career advice I have ever received," says Rockley.

That advice has had a positive impact on both Rockley and The City of Calgary. Rockley served as co-project lead on rewriting the Rockyview/Calgary Intermunicipal Development Plan, which was approved by both councils in 2012. He recently amended the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan, allowing boutique hotels and limiting new surface parking in the city.

The contributions of these and many other alumni working at The City of Calgary stand as a tremendous tribute to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for inspiring a standard of excellence that continues to impact our communities.

GET THE FACTS

· To look at Wallace's Food Truck Pilot project, visit this site (www.transforminggov.ca/2012/02/yyc-food-trucks.html)

· To view Radway's work on the Municipal development Plan, visit this site (www.calgary.ca/mdp)

· Kanewischer's Webwave awards included a GTEC award for Excellence in Public Service Delivery and a Digital Alberta Award for Business to Consumer Innovation

· Rockley has served since 2008 as a member of the Okotoks Planning Commission

This story first appeared in the March 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

U of L Senate Confirms 2013 Honorary Degree Recipients

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:00:29 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of five persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2013.

From the sporting field to the boardroom, the concert hall and the halls of parliament and justice, the group represents a cross section of the local, national and international community.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is very pleased that these individuals have agreed to let us recognize them with an Honorary Degree," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan.

"Their collective accomplishments have made our local, provincial, national and international communities stronger and have improved the quality of life for people around the world."

The recipients will receive their degrees at the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 Convocation Ceremonies.

Following are brief biographies (in alphabetical order) of this year's honoured recipients.

Dr. Garald (Gary) W. Bowie

A founding faculty member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Gary Bowie is a noted community volunteer, builder, leader and educator.

Dr. Bowie taught and developed courses in physical education and kinesiology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the course of a 30-year career (1968-1998) and played a major role in the construction of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

A former Pronghorns basketball coach and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Dr. Bowie was also active in his community, serving as the Director of Sports for the 1975 Canada Winter Games and Chair of both the Alberta Winter and Summer Games. A co-founder and Chair of the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Bowie is also a hall inductee.

As an educator, Dr. Bowie served 15 years as a trustee on the Lethbridge School District #51 Board, and his volunteer activities have long served the local and provincial homeless populations.

He was recently appointed Chair of the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness and continues to influence his community in positive ways.

Richard (Rick) Casson

The former Manager of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Printing Services, Rick Casson has served the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, his home community of Picture Butte, the people of southern Alberta and Canada as a whole over the course of his 30-plus year political career.

Casson began his community service as a volunteer firefighter before being convinced to run for local political office, eventually serving as a municipal councilor for nine years and then as Mayor of Picture Butte for an additional nine years.

Casson would spend 14 years as a sitting Member of Parliament and was both a successful and influential MP. He served as Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense as well as Chair of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, all the while remaining true to his local roots and actively supporting the constituents of southern Alberta.

Named to the Queens Privy Council for Canada in 2010, Casson has also been a strong advocate for the support of Multiple Sclerosis research, raising $122,000 through the MS Society over the last seven years.

Rivka Golani

A world-class musician, performer, teacher and promoter of classical music, Rivka Golani is among the top-five viola soloists in the world and a major contributor to the advancement of classical music in southern Alberta.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Golani moved to Canada in 1974, performing across the country and spreading the love of music to the communities that she visited.

When approached to teach master viola classes to students in southern Alberta, she enthusiastically shared her immense talent and quickly took up the charge to create an international music festival.

The Fort Macleod International Festival was born and is now in its ninth year.

A dedicated and successful teacher, Golani is also a champion of southern Alberta composers, giving young musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents and taking their works to national and international audiences.

With more than 250 original works composed especially for her, Golani has brought the world of classical music to southern Alberta's doorstep.

Robert Turner

As Chair of the Board of Governors for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for six years (2006-2012), Robert Turner helped guide the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ through an era of significant change and growth, including the creation of a new Strategic Plan, a successful fundraising campaign and a major expansion of campus services.

Turner, a successful attorney and businessman, was elected to the U of L's Board of Governors in 2002 and served four years as a key contributor to the creation of governance policies and practices, as well as the attached responsibilities of the Board, Administration and others.

When appointed Chair of the Board in 2006 and then reappointed for a second term in 2009, Turner recruited an outstanding group of Board members, ensuring gender balance, a Pan-Alberta membership and the skills necessary to run an emerging comprehensive university.

Turner's extensive volunteer contributions reflect the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue to impact at the local, provincial and national level.

Neil Wittmann

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute graduate Neil Wittmann has long been respected as one of the top litigators in the province of Alberta, serving as an exceptional teacher and mentor to junior lawyers and erstwhile champion of ethical litigation.

Now, as Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in the Province of Alberta, Wittmann conducts the majority of his work behind the scenes, continually working to better the practice of law in the province.

As Vice-Chair of the Judicial Conduct Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), Wittmann's work is absolutely essential in ensuring that the independency of the judiciary is maintained in Canada and the conduct of the members of the judiciary adhere to the ethical principles adapted by the CJC.

Wittmann's stellar career as a lawyer in private practice, coupled with his excellence as a judge and now Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench demonstrates the respect and admiration the legal community has for his contributions to the practice of law in Alberta and beyond.

U of L partners with Economic Development Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:11:05 +0000

- Success in Lethbridge campaign celebrates business success

- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge partners with Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) to promote research and community achievements

Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) has launched a marketing initiative designed to raise community awareness of the quality and quantity of business success in the Lethbridge region.

The Success in Lethbridge initiative will build on the momentum of EDL's award-winning Mind Blowing Facts campaign, and will feature stories and facts that showcase business success in the community.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a partner in the Success in Lethbridge Campaign.

Their website, and a sampling of U of L success stories, can be found here.

"Lethbridge has steady, sustained growth that contributes to a successful business environment," said City of Lethbridge Mayor Rajko Dodic.

"As we learn more about the success stories in our community, I believe we will see many reasons why it's an exciting time to be in Lethbridge."

According to Cheryl Dick, CEO of EDL, pro-actively raising awareness of the city's value and telling stories of success is intended to increase the collective understanding of Lethbridge, and enhance the probability of success for businesses, organizations and post-secondary institutions.

"It is the participation of our numerous partner organizations and associations that makes the stories we have to tell so robust and well-rounded," said Dick.

"For this Success in Lethbridge initiative, our partners have added tremendous value through their contributions of information and facts."

Along with Economic Development Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge, the following organizations are launch partners for 'Success in Lethbridge'.

- Canadian Home Builders Association – Lethbridge Region
- Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
- Lethbridge College
- Lethbridge Construction Association
- Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ)
- Chinook Country Tourist Association
- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

While the initiative employs both traditional and digital media on several platforms, the http://www.successinlethbridge.ca website is the key component.

With a fresh, interactive home-page design, it's a gathering point for stories, facts, videos and content that anyone in the community can access and share.

Learn more about Economic Development Lethbridge here

View the Success in Lethbridge website here

Insurance gift inspires young researchers

trevor.kenney — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:33:52 +0000

It would have been a special year for former Lethbridge mayor, the late Andy Anderson (LLD '85), and his wife Rheta.

Not only did the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – which Andy played a key role in establishing – celebrate its 45th anniversary, 2012 also marked the inaugural presentation of the Andrew and Rheta Anderson Scholarship.

The scholarships are the first of a legacy gift Andy and Rheta left to the U of L after their deaths.

"It's nice to know someone is going to benefit from their generosity," says their son, Murray Anderson.

Rheta and Andy Anderson's legacy gift to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will benefit research for generations to come.

The gift came in the form of a life insurance policy Rheta set up with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the owner and beneficiary. During her lifetime, Rheta received tax deductions for premiums she paid on the policy and when she passed away in 2011, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ received a monetary gift. The endowment fund created with that gift will allow the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to give a scholarship each year in the Andersons' name.

Murray says he has no doubt his father – a pharmacist who served four terms as mayor – would be thrilled to know he continues to make a difference at the U of L today.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was close to my father's heart. As mayor in the 1960s, he worked alongside the citizens of Lethbridge to hand-pick the institution's west-side location," says Murray.

While Anderson Hall is already named for his father, Murray feels the scholarship is the ultimate way to honour Andy's commitment to the U of L.

"This is another vehicle which allows us to say he was integral to starting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Murray. "And the scholarships will help further the institution. If one student who receives the scholarship goes on to do something big, that's another feather in the U of L's cap."

When he helped his mother set up the policy after his father's death in 1996, Murray says there was no doubt a scholarship was the right place for the money. He knew his parents would proudly support those pursuing a higher education at the U of L.

"There's not always a lot of money around for scholarships," he notes. "I know my mother was quite enthusiastic it was going to students, and I know my dad would have been as well."

Because Andy battled Alzheimer's disease prior to his death, the family chose the Department of Neuroscience to receive the scholarship money. Equipping students in the field to continue to work towards a cure, notes Murray, is also a legacy he's certain his father would like to leave.

U of L neuroscience majors LeAnna Kalvi and Nolan Murley are the first recipients and they could not be more grateful.

"This award means so much to me, especially as a fourth-year student," says Kalvi. "I am honoured to be one of the first two recipients and am thankful to the Anderson family for providing neuroscience students like Nolan and I the opportunity to receive such a generous award."

The scholarship, Kalvi says, will help offset the cost of her education, which she plans to continue after completing her undergraduate degree.

During his life, Andy demonstrated a strong commitment to the U of L and passion for post-secondary education. Today, he and Rheta leave a legacy that will live on well into the future through the continued support of students.

Sports medicine clinic to take Wellness Centre to next level

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:29:52 +0000

Construction is ongoing this summer on the creation of a news Sports Medicine Clinic

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is poised to become a hub for the delivery of orthopedic medicine and sports medicine to the southern Alberta area.

A lease agreement has been finalized that will bring Dr. Stephen Kwan and his group to campus to open a sports medicine clinic in fall 2012. It's a relationship that has been in the planning stages for years and has finally come together this spring.

"I've always wanted to do something in the way of a sports medicine clinic there," says Kwan, whose practice is currently located on Mayor Magrath Drive South. "We've talked about it for a long time and gone through a whole pile of iterations and models to try and make this work and finally came up with one that suits both our group and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

The clinic will be located in the PE100 space below the south end of the running track in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. Once complete, it will house up to four physicians and associated support staff. The space will feature physiotherapy and exam rooms, treatment areas and doctor's offices. Renovations of the area began in early May and are ongoing.

"When the building was built, this space had always been set aside for a sports medicine clinic because we felt that was a component that fit very well with our vision for the 1st Choice Savings Centre and could support everything from Horns athletics to our community membership to our staff and faculty," says Sandy Slavin, executive director of Sport and Recreation Services.

Kwan says the clinic will be similar to like models established at universities throughout the country.

"We're not reinventing the wheel. The models for this have been out in a variety of universities and we're just doing the same sort of thing here," he says.

"My orthopedic practice will now operate out of the centre. We've got two sports medicine people who will be working part-time out of the clinic, and we'll also have a full-time athletic therapy and physiotherapy clinic there. We're basically just centralizing the delivery of sports medicine to the community as well as to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Nancy Walker, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's vice-president (Finance and Administration), says the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ wanted to ensure they found the right group to partner with for this venture.

"For us, Dr. Kwan is a longtime Lethbridge resident, he plans to continue here and we plan to have a long-term relationship with him and his group," says Walker. "We like this fit because they have a good vision for the future that matches our goals with the 1st Choice Savings Centre. Not only will we be able to provide support for the high performance athletes who train here, but we're able to lead the way in promoting a healthy lifestyle for our students, staff and faculty and the community at large."

Kwan is also interested in the possibility of establishing a joint intake clinic, a pharmacy and to support research opportunities with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ departments in kinesiology and neuroscience.

"I'm very excited," he says. "I've been in Lethbridge 18 years and it's been a vision or a dream of mine since the very beginning."

This story first appeared in the May issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Sports medicine clinic to take Wellness Centre to next level

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:04:25 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is poised to become a hub for the delivery of orthopedic medicine and sports medicine to the southern Alberta area.

Kwan says the clinic will be similar to like models established at universities throughout the country.

"We're not reinventing the wheel. The models for this have been out in a variety of universities and we're just doing the same sort of thing here," he says.

"I'm very excited," he says. "I've been in Lethbridge 18 years and it's been a vision or a dream of mine since the very beginning."

This story first appeared in the May issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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