UNews - Oldman Watershed Council

Cultivating connections through the Global Citizenship Cohort

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 23:20:39 +0000

The Global Citizenship Cohort (GCC), now in its third year, has been providing first-year students with an enhanced first-year educational experience.

Students are given the unique opportunity to connect some of their first-year courses around a common theme while interacting with a group of like-minded students. The theme for the past few years has been very popular, and centres around water, sustainability and social justice. Students in the cohort have been provided with connections to professors, mentors, job opportunities and volunteer opportunities that complement their academic experiences. This combination offers a unique and engaging undergraduate experience and a head start in whatever career they choose to pursue.

Students in the GCC take five of their 10 first-year courses together: two in the fall, two in the spring, and seminar - for Cohort students only - that runs all year. These five courses are taken as a group, giving the opportunity to build friendships among students with similar interests, be taught and mentored by a core group of inspiring professors, develop leadership skills, and learn how to have a positive impact on the world.

If students already have a major in mind, the cohort will help to fulfill electives and liberal education requirements. If they haven’t chosen a major yet, these courses will give a taste of the variety of disciplines available and help to find a path for the future. Students who complete the five courses as part of the group will receive a Certificate of Global Citizenship upon graduating.

Students that participated in the GCC have gone on to pursue new interests they discovered while in the program.

“Even though my major is environmental science, this semester I am doing an independent study in anthropology that is related to land use issues in Ireland. Taking the anthropology class as part of the cohort last year showed me that this discipline also gives a very important perspective on environmental issues and that it is important to look at both the scientific and social science aspects of an issue,” says Flavia Egli.

Last year, students in the GCC had the opportunity to work on a Southern Alberta Water Charter project with the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC), a community-based, not-for-profit group that works to find practical solutions to environmental challenges that impact us all.

Several of the students formed lasting relationships at the OWC and continue their work either as volunteers, or in the case of Antoine Gendron, on the board of directors.

“The project gave us the time and space to apply what we are learning and our passions into the community and the university. It allowed us to start using our potential beyond hypothetical situations,” explains Gendron.

Jace Briand also volunteers with the OWC and is doing an independent study with one of his GCC professors.

“I really enjoyed all the different presentations we had and how our professors showed us how the many different subjects are tied together. It was great to see so many connections between the majors and minors represented by the cohort members,” he explains. “It was the perfect way to start my first year of university. The cohort is directly responsible for helping me decide which educational path was right for me.”

Katelyn Arik puts special appreciation into the social aspect of the cohort.

“I enjoyed how as a first-year in the cohort you get to deal with the challenges of being a first-year with other people that are going through the same things as you. The cohort made it easier to find a group of friends too because everyone shares the same classes,” she says. “It may seem scary, but just sit next to someone and start a conversation. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is hard enough as it is; sometimes all you need is to know you are not the only one struggling. Push yourself to think outside the box and challenge yourself no matter how simple the task seems.”

In 2018-2019 the GCC will expand to offer an additional theme: one group will focus on water and sustainability, while a second group will focus on identity and politics. Both themes will offer different perspectives on what we see taking place in the world around us. Each theme will also ensure that students are well-prepared for their second, third and fourth years at uLethbridge, as well as for their transition to careers beyond university. Not only do students receive a unique social jump start to their university career, they also have guided access to further opportunities such as applied studies, independent studies, co-operative education, and teaching assistant positions.

Applications for the Fall 2018 cohort are open until June 1st, 2018 and entry is competitive so space is limited. Students in any Faculty of Arts & Science major can participate and students from other majors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please feel free to contact the coordinator Dr. Jay Gamble (403-382-7178 jay.gamble@uleth.ca) with any questions you might have, or learn more about the student cohort at ulethbridge.ca/artsci/gc.

Global Citizenship Cohort demonstrates diverse interests

caroline.zentner — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 19:38:31 +0000

Students in this year’s Arts and Science Global Citizenship Cohort stepped up to help out. Their projects included everything from volunteering at the Soup Kitchen to getting involved in the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) and signing a water charter.

“The theme for the Cohort was water, sustainability and social justice,” says Dr. Shelly Wismath, co-ordinator for the Global Citizenship Program and instructor for the Cohort’s seminar course, Lib Ed 2150. “They got to pick their project for the course. We had some environmental science majors who were keen on water issues. Others in the humanities and social sciences were really interested in social justice issues. They all got really got engaged and they bonded, too. One of the main goals of the cohort was to provide first-year students with this built-in support group from day one.”

One group created rain barrels for the Campus Roots Community Garden and another worked with the YWCA on an event called Attire to Inspire, which provides grad dresses to women who can’t afford the cost of a new dress. They also volunteered at the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, preparing and serving food.

As part of their class project, Adebowale (Debo) Adeneye, at left, and Paris Ellis talked about volunteering with Attire to Inspire. The YWCA program provides grad dresses to high school girls without an outfit for their big day.

Paris Ellis and her group were inspired by a speaker from the OWC. They met with the OWC, signed the Southern Alberta Water Charter 2017 and volunteered to survey the state of the Oldman River near Taber and take water samples to be tested for bacteria and pesticides. Ellis says the Cohort and project helped students connect.

“I definitely think it brought a lot of us together. The friends that I did my project with, four of us have the same major and we all have pretty much the same classes. It was nice because you could walk into class and know people,” says Ellis. “It was a lot of fun.”

Another group wanted to reduce the number of plastic water bottles being bought. Their project involved getting a water dispenser for refillable bottles in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. They raised enough funds to buy the dispenser, which should be installed in Section C on the 6th floor stairwell sometime this summer.

Other student projects involved: calculating a water footprint; conducting a food audit comparing the cost and nutrition of food bought at Urban Market and at a grocery store; volunteering at an assisted-living facility; and volunteering with the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association. Some students elected to write papers or create posters and they tackled subjects like social issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada and the threat of further development in the Jumbo Valley near Invermere.

For his project, Andrew Buckman delved into the reasons why people give to charities and how some charities operate.

“A lot of people are doing it just for show and they don’t have a practical way of accomplishing things. They want to make a difference but they don’t really know how to do it,” he says. “Others just add titles behind their names by joining a lot of things but it’s impossible to really be involved in everything.”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ signs Oldman Watershed Council's Southern Alberta Water Charter

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 17:55:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge joined a host of individuals and organizations from throughout southern Alberta today in signing the Oldman Watershed Council’s (OWC) Southern Alberta Water Charter, lending its support to the charter’s vision of a healthy, resilient watershed where people, wildlife and habitat thrive.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is proud to support the Oldman Watershed Council and sign the Southern Alberta Water Charter,” says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “Over the last 50 years, our students, faculty and staff have played a very active role in promoting the importance of sustainability in our water supply. Whether it be through advocacy, work in the lab or in the waters of southern Alberta, the U of L has established itself as a leader in water research through the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE).”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon addresses an assembled crowd at the singing ceremony for the Southern Alberta Water Charter.

The Water Charter is a voluntary pact encouraging individuals and organizations in the region to plan and perform their own watershed protection initiatives. Each signatory pledges to undertake a specific action in support of the charter’s goals and vision.

The U of L, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Rasmussen, Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair in Biological Sciences, has initiated a new research study as its specific action in support of the Charter. Rasmussen and his team are developing a drone-based approach to characterizing stream water temperatures relative to the requirements of trout. This study includes the use of a thermal, infrared camera mounted on a small drone that will allow researchers to identify cooler or warmer water zones within the watershed. These zones are related to aspects such as spawning and summer survival of trout species.

“This is a cutting-edge strategy to inventory stream water temperatures that are critical to trout and the health of our aquatic ecosystems,” says Dr. Stewart Rood, a biological sciences professor and researcher on the project. “It provides a novel approach that could be applicable across Alberta and worldwide, and will be doubly useful with the likely warming from climate change.”

This study is one of many ongoing U of L initiatives related to maintaining the health of the Oldman Watershed. Another action is the work of the Global Citizenship for Oldman Watershed Cohort. This group of six students, working with Dr. Shelly Wismath of the Liberal Education Program, is currently volunteering for the OWC and has been a key contributor in spreading the message about the charter and encouraging groups to sign the accord.

The group is also initiating its own project, Adopt a River, whereby they will work for eight hours on their designated section of the Oldman River near Taber, collecting garbage, conducting soil and water tests, documenting plants and taking note of any vandalism.

“We’re doing what we can to clean it up and help in whatever way possible,” says 20-year-old student Antoine Gendron. “We’re hoping our project will help bring awareness of local watershed issues to people in the region so they might become more careful in their use of water at home, at work and in their recreational activities.”

As well, Dr. Andrew Hurly, professor emeritus of biological sciences, has been on the OWC board for 12 years and currently serves as the Vice-Chair.

Activities associated with the Southern Alberta Water Charter will commence May long weekend and continue throughout the summer.

For more information on the Oldman Watershed Council, visit oldmanwatershed.ca.

For more on the U of L’s commitment to the Water Charter, visit http://www.uleth.ca/vp-research/oldman-watershed-council.

Alberta Climate Dialogue seeking participants

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:49:16 +0000

In the wake of the devastating floods in Alberta last year, issues surrounding water and climate change are a greater concern than ever to the citizens of this province.

Alberta Climate Dialogue, a community-university research alliance, is recruiting people from diverse backgrounds for an experimental citizen dialogue on water and climate change.

The day-long event will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Participants will learn about the effects of climate change on water, share their thoughts on the issues, and develop recommendations for action.

This event is being organized in collaboration with the Oldman Watershed Council, a community-based, not-for-profit organization that seeks to find practical solutions to environmental challenges. This council makes recommendations to the Government of Alberta.

Gwendolyn Blue, an assistant professor in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary’s Department of Geography, is leading the project.

“Alberta Climate Dialogue is exploring how a well-designed citizen deliberation might shift the politics of climate change in Alberta,” explains Blue. “All of us have a stake in our future climate and all of us are affected by water.”

In recruiting this group, Blue stresses that organizers are not looking for activists or industry spokespersons.

“We want to hear from the unusual suspects,” she says. “We want average citizens. People don’t need to know about climate change to take part. This isn’t an event where everybody has to believe the same thing. We want a range of people who think differently.”

The group will be assembled with the diversity encompassing gender, occupation, ethnicity and age. An honorarium will be offered to participants.

“Since the inception of the province, Alberta has been getting progressively warmer,” notes Blue. “Warming temperatures affect our water. Alberta will be facing more extreme weather events in the future, particularly higher levels of precipitation at a faster rate. But there will also be drier conditions, especially in the southern regions, which are very susceptible to drought.

“As we saw with last summer’s flood, as well as with the drought in 2001, that affects us all, not just financially, but emotionally as well. This brings incredible hardships for people.“

Blue adds, frankly: “The prediction is, we’re going to see more extreme and variable weather in the future. We need to start thinking about this in the context of climate change.”

To take part in this citizens’ dialogue please apply by Feb. 10 at www.albertaclimatedialogue.ca/watershed/ or phone 403-220-7928.

The trickle down effect

trevor.kenney — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:28:47 +0000

Who among us hasn't washed a car in the driveway, sending soapy water into the gutter and smiling with satisfaction at the resulting shine? The activity seems harmless, even joyful – a small celebration of warm weather and pride of ownership. What most of us don't realize is that the chemical residue in that sudsy rinse spills straight into the storm drain and trickles, untreated, back into the river from where it came. It's true. Anything that goes into a storm drain – be it soap, oil, lawn fertilizer or any other potentially harmful substance – takes a direct path into the water we ultimately drink, cook with and bathe in. Surprised? You're not alone.

Most of us are blissfully unaware of the many ways we negatively impact our water supply – a fact that Stephanie Palechek (BSc '01) has made her life's mission to change.

Stephanie Palechek works to raise awareness about the importance of healthy water systems.

As executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC), Palechek works to raise awareness about the importance of healthy water systems and makes strides toward positive change.

"Everybody uses water, but not everyone thinks about where it comes from or how significant it really is," Palechek says. "Literally everything we do every day relies on having a good, clean and abundant supply of water."

Formed in 2003, the OWC is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with communities and individuals to maintain and improve the condition of the Oldman River watershed. Members of the OWC provide leadership and guidance in watershed planning, management and quality monitoring. In addition, they promote the implementation and integration of sustainable water-use practices. Palechek joined the OWC after working on the Partners in Habitat Development program with the St. Mary River Irrigation District.

The list of issues Palechek and her dedicated team of colleagues and volunteers attempt to tackle is extensive, ranging from water scarcity and habitat protection, to irrigation and best gardening practices. As diverse as these issues seem, they boil down to one primary objective: increasing awareness of the importance of clean water and how to best use it.

"We're not going to run out of water in Canada any time soon, but we do need to properly manage our supply to make sure that never happens," Palechek says.

Increased recreation and development in the headwater areas of the Oldman River has put a strain on the water supply in recent years, as have the effects of climate change and a growing population. While the challenges are serious, Palechek sees positive changes in the way people think about water.

"Water issues are on the public's radar now," Palechek says. "We're seeing more people come to our events and ask questions, looking for information and ways to help."

In September 2009, the OWC will release a State of the Watershed report to the general public – a document that compiles studies that assess the overall health and cleanliness of the Oldman watershed. After the release, the OWC will look to community leaders, researchers and volunteers to help develop and implement an Integrated Watershed Management Plan to help ensure the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the watershed in southern Alberta.

UNews - Oldman Watershed Council

Cultivating connections through the Global Citizenship Cohort

Related Topics

Global Citizenship Cohort demonstrates diverse interests

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ signs Oldman Watershed Council's Southern Alberta Water Charter

Related Topics

Alberta Climate Dialogue seeking participants

Related Topics

The trickle down effect

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ signs Oldman Watershed Council's Southern Alberta Water Charter