UNews - Ronald Skolrood

Liberal arts education set the foundation for Skolrood's career

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:43:02 +0000

For the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald A. Skolrood (BA ’83), there’s no questioning the value of a liberal arts education. It not only set him on the path to a more than 30-year law career, it broadened Skolrood’s campus experience and helped established the ideals of community engagement and citizenship.

Now, 33 years after completing his undergraduate degree at the U of L, the highly respected British Columbia judge has been named the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year.

Ronald Skolrood, the 2016 Alumnus of the Year, believes a solid undergraduate education prepares students for anything they might pursue.

“There’s a lot of discussion about the value of an undergraduate education and particularly a liberal arts education and how that compares to getting trade training,” he says. “In my view, an undergraduate arts education is the best job training you can get for anything. Who knows what the jobs are going to be in five or 10 years from now, but the opportunity to write, to think and to analyze – all those things you do in an arts degree – I think sets everyone up well for the future. From my perspective, it was a great training ground to go into the law.”

Raised in Lethbridge, Skolrood seemed destined for the U of L. His father was a founding member of the Faculty of Education and, after graduating from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, Skolrood spent the summer working on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s maintenance crew. With a spot on the Pronghorns men’s volleyball team waiting and a group of friends planning on attending as well, it just made sense for Skolrood to stay close to home. The practical choice also turned out to be the prudent one.

“There were times I thought maybe I should have pushed myself a little bit more, gotten out of my comfort zone and gone away but I think the U of L was the perfect place for me at that time,” he says. “I had the opportunity to do a ton of things that I might not have at other places, particularly in my last year. I was on student government, I took part in drama productions, had three great years playing Pronghorns volleyball. I enjoyed being busy and enjoyed being involved in all aspects of the campus.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree in English, Skolrood went on to study law at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria and never left the province. Recognized for his integrity and impassioned approach to law, Skolrood has made significant contributions to his profession, earning a position on the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2013. Skolrood spent the entirety of his practising life at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver, and is known as a contemplative and thoughtful jurist, 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 across the country.

Beyond his work in the courts, Skolrood is renowned for his community involvement. He is an avid supporter of his children’s sports teams, having coached, managed or sat on numerous executives, often taking on several roles at a time. Outside of the sports community, he has committed more than a decade to the Ryerson United Church’s council. Academically, he has been a guest lecturer teaching courses at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria and Thompson Rivers ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Law School and served as a course group leader at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia.

“Maybe it’s because I have a poor attention span and can’t just do one thing,” he laughs. “I enjoy being involved in a number of different things and meeting a number of different people in different walks of life. I also think it’s important for people to get involved, that’s frankly what makes communities tick, is involved and engaged citizens.”

Skolrood has been back to the U of L a variety of times over the years and maintains many friendships from his undergraduate days.

“I must say, the times I’ve been back, I’m amazed at the expansion the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has undergone. It’s such a different place from when I was there back in the early 80s,” he says. “I’m still in touch with a lot of people from those days. It was a very, very friendly, engaging time in my life.”

He and his wife Jane have three children, with two now pursuing post-secondary education. The advice he has for them is simple, and rooted in his own experience.

“They don’t have any great career goals in mind yet and I keep telling them don’t be fussed about that because what you are doing now is going to set you up for the rest of your life. I and many of my friends who came out of the U of L are living proof of that,” says Skolrood, adding that the liberal arts path they are on will prepare them for anything they might encounter.

“By the time you get to be my age, you’ve probably had to reinvent yourself, two, three or four times in your professional career. Things change, society changes and the world changes so you have to be able to adapt and you have to be flexible and you have to have those underlying skills that allow you to do that. I think you get all of those things from a good, solid undergraduate education.”

The judge has spoken.

Esteemed justice Ronald Skolrood named ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association 2016 Alumnus of the Year

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:23:25 +0000

Recognized for his integrity and impassioned approach to the law, the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald A. Skolrood (BA ’83) has made significant contributions to his profession, all the while giving back to his community through generous volunteerism. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Skolrood as the 2016 Alumnus of the Year.

Known as a contemplative and thoughtful jurist, Skolrood is well-respected by peers and colleagues from across the country.

Known as a contemplative and thoughtful jurist, concerned with principle and the way in which his work might promote the values of justice and fairness, Skolrood is well-respected by peers and colleagues from across the country. Skolrood spent the entirety of his practising life at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia, and after a 25-year career practising law, was named to a position on the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2013.

Raised in Lethbridge, Skolrood graduated from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in 1979. He then attended the U of L where his father, Dr. Harold Skolrood, was a founding member of the Faculty of Education. While Skolrood worked toward his BA in English, he was involved in many extracurricular activities on campus. He played on the Pronghorns men’s volleyball team and was named the top scholastic athlete for one season, sat on the Students’ Union Executive Council as Vice President (Internal) and was a founding member of a university-based summer theatre group.

Over the years, Skolrood has put an emphasis on giving back to his community. He has shared his time generously through countless volunteer hours serving professional and community organizations alike. He has spent many years mentoring students and junior associates, and as a contributor to, board member and Chair of organizations including the British Columbia Law Institute, Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of British Columbia’s Special Compensation Fund Committee and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association among others. His dedication to serving and advancing the legal profession has been recognized with numerous awards including Mentor of the Year, the Lexpert Zenith Gold Award for pro bono contributions in Civil Liberties, and Best Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver, and he was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2012.

Skolrood will be presented with the 2016 Alumnus of the Year award at the Let There Be Light Night Alumni Celebration on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 (7 p.m., Students’ Union Ballrooms), and recognized at Saturday’s Fall 2016 Convocation ceremony (10 a.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness Gymnasium).

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.

UNews - Ronald Skolrood

Liberal arts education set the foundation for Skolrood's career

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