ULethbridge PhD student Michelle Sylvestre named Trudeau Foundation Scholar for groundbreaking AI and equity research

trevor.kenney — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:18:46 +0000

Michelle Sylvestre (BFA – Art ’17, MFA – New Media ’21), a PhD student in the cultural, social and political thought program, has been selected as a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar — the first doctoral student from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to receive this prestigious recognition.

Sylvestre’s research, Intersecting Biases: Exploring Gender and Indigenous Representation in Artificial Intelligence to Promote Equity and Inclusion for Historically Underrepresented Communities in Canada, examines how AI systems reflect and reproduce systemic inequities. Drawing on a research-creation framework, she blends critical inquiry with artistic practice to explore the social impacts of emerging technologies and envisions more inclusive digital futures grounded in care, accountability and community engagement.

Michelle Sylvestre’s creative work spans traditional and digital media.

“This scholarship is an amazing opportunity for advancing inclusive technologies through creative, community-engaged research, guided by my work as a Researcher-in-Residence with the Niitsitapi Pod at CIART (Centre for Indigenous Art, Research, and Technology),” says Sylvestre.

Sylvestre is one of only 16 graduate students from a national pool of 686 applicants to receive the award, which provides up to $210,000 over three years, supporting tuition and research-related expenses, as well as access to a national network of interdisciplinary scholars and mentors.

A multidisciplinary artist and sessional instructor in the Faculty of Fine Arts Department of New Media at ULethbridge, Sylvestre’s creative work spans traditional and digital media, with a focus on the intersection of technology, craft and identity.

“My project examines the colonial and patriarchal biases within artificial intelligence (AI) large language models. Using a research-creation framework, I aim to critique AI while imagining futures built on a foundation of care, inclusion and accountability,” she says.

“This is an exceptional achievement for Michelle and the Faculty of Fine Arts,” says Heather Davis-Fisch, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “Michelle has demonstrated excellence throughout her academic career — as an undergraduate, a master’s student, and now as a doctoral candidate. Her work exemplifies how rigorous research and creative practice can come together to address some of the most urgent social questions of our time.”

Dr. Jackie Rice, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, emphasizes that Sylvestre’s selection reflects both the strength of her research and the high level of support she is receiving as a doctoral student at ULethbridge.

“With more than 680 highly qualified applicants to this program and a rigorous selection process including in-person interviews, we are extremely proud that the Foundation recognized the excellent work that Michelle is carrying out and is providing funding that will help amplify the impact of her work,” says Rice. “We look forward to continuing to support her in her doctoral studies and are excited to see where this work takes her.”

As a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholar, Sylvestre joins a national network of outstanding researchers committed to advancing equity and social justice through their work. The Foundation, established in 2001 as a tribute to the former prime minister, supports the advancement of outstanding, cutting-edge doctoral research that will have meaningful impacts in our communities, institutions and beyond.

“Becoming a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar is an exciting opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and to build lasting relationships with changemakers across Canada,” says Sylvestre.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ saddened by passing of Jim Coutts

trevor.kenney — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:42:27 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community offers its deepest condolences to the friends and family of Dr. James Allan Coutts (LLD 2012) who passed away peacefully in Toronto on December 31, 2013.

"Jim Coutts was an incredibly generous person and an outstanding Canadian who made great contributions in public life to our country and was incredibly generous and supportive of our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. We will miss him greatly," says Dr. Mike Mahon, President and Vice-Chancellor.

Jim Coutts was an icon in Canadian political circles.

"Jim entrusted the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with a significant part of his life's work and passion through gifting his art collection and family homestead in Nanton to the stewardship and care of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. We were humbled to receive that gift at the time and remain grateful to Jim for leaving such a legacy to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with the expressed desire to see it benefit Canadians. Jim was very interested in the continued success of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and dedicated significant amounts of his time in recent years connecting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to others and sharing the story of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge flag has been lowered to half mast in Jim's honour.

Coutts, James Allan, C.M. - Passed away peacefully on December 31, 2013 after a long illness bravely fought. Survived by his sister Jean (Wayne) Moore, his nephews Greg (Cathrine) and Michael (Yehudit), his nieces Pat (Owen) and Laurie, his great nieces and nephews Heather, Jessica, Darren, Liam and Emily.

Jim had a tremendous gift in friendship and will be sorely missed by his many close friends across Canada, in the United States and throughout Europe, and by his devoted assistants Anne Drakes and Sukhlal Patel.

Coutts was most at peace while walking the gardens of his homestead property in Nanton.

Born in High River, Alberta, on May 16, 1938, to Ewart and Alberta (Allan) Coutts, Jim grew up in his beloved Nanton. He received a BA and LLB from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Though he practised as a lawyer and business consultant, his great love since the age of 14 was politics in general and the Liberal Party of Canada in particular. From 1963 to 1966 he was Appointment Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson. From 1975 to 1981 he served as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

From 1970 to 1975, Jim was a Founding Partner, Canada Consulting Group, where he helped Maurice Strong organize the Stockholm Environment Conference and establish the UN’s Environment headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1982 he became a principal of Lowther Consultants Limited and subsequently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CIC Canadian Investment Capital Limited.

Jim’s business success seemed merely a means by which he could undertake his highly activist philanthropy as a generous donor, a relentless fundraiser and a dedicated mentor to countless young people and more than 17 god children. Jim served with exceptional distinction as a founder and chairman of the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific Foundation Board; a co-founder with The Writers’ Trust of Canada of the W.O. Mitchell Literary Prize for Writers and Mentors; a director of The Hospital for Sick Children Board and Foundation for 17 years; a National Chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, where he took the lead in organizing two campaigns that raised over $700 million for conservation in Canada; and a member of the board of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

In recognition of his service to others and to his country, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001. In 2012 he donated his family homestead, which he so passionately restored to renowned gardens with native grasses, to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. In addition, Jim donated more than 300 works of art to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Later he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Jim was a man of many interests. He was a voracious reader and art collector, an avid bird-watcher and gardener, a keen traveler and essayist, a family historian and social analyst. Though he failed in his attempts to become a Member of Parliament, his wise counsel was constantly sought by prime ministers, federal and provincial MPs and party officials to his very last days. He was an unfailing advocate for social justice, education and youth employment. Jim was a true and giving friend to many, from all walks of life, who will miss his stories, his wit, his knowledge, his guidance and his loyalty.

Celebrations of Jim’s life – both in Toronto and in Nanton, Alberta, will be announced at a later date.

UNews - Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

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