UNews - Lethbridge

Mother's strength inspires legacy

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 17:57:23 +0000

Perhaps one of the most defining moments of the late Dorothy Lundstad’s life was one she was barely old enough to remember.

When Dorothy was only seven years old, her father died. This tragic event changed the trajectory of Dorothy’s life, and today is reflected in an award – the Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship – Dorothy established to honour her widowed mother.

The eldest daughter of Niels and Andrea Block, Dorothy moved with her family to the Millicent area from Washington in 1920. The family was together on their new homestead for only a few months when tragedy struck and Niels passed away at age 31 from pneumonia and complications of an infection.

Dorothy Lundstad spoke frequently and admiringly of her mother, eventually establishing a legacy gift from her inspiration.

While other family members came to help manage the farm, Dorothy’s mother and aunt purchased the Millicent Hotel as a means of supporting the young family. Andrea ran the hotel until 1939, when she fell ill. Andrea passed away in 1942, when Dorothy was 28.

Today, Dorothy’s family, including nieces Kristine Smith and Berna Moss, say Dorothy often shared many early memories of life at the hotel – stories of travellers, home-cooked meals and supportive locals.

Kristine says, however, Dorothy was most profoundly affected by her mother’s strength to rise up and overcome adversity – something that was well known throughout the family.

“Dorothy spoke frequently and admiringly of her mother, who was left as a young woman with two small children to raise and provide for when there were no social safety nets to help her,” says Berna.

Kristine agrees: “Dorothy learned a great deal about perseverance, tenacity and independence watching her mother run a hotel while ensuring her children were educated and well-cared for. She had a great deal of respect for her mother.”

Andrea’s influence in Dorothy’s life created an independent and adventurous woman who went on to engage life in a variety of ways: obtaining her teaching certificate, pursuing an accounting degree, serving in a factory in Eastern Canada during World War II, working as an X-ray technician and operating a dress shop.

Dorothy married in 1952 and farmed with her husband for years in the Claresholm area before moving to Lethbridge. They operated a hotel downtown for several years before selling it and purchasing one in Waterton. An avid gardener and pianist, Dorothy was active in her church and with her family, travelling with her nieces and cousins well into her 80s.

Throughout her life, Dorothy never forgot her roots, or the people of the Eastern Irrigation District. When Dorothy passed away in 2010, she honoured both her mother and those who rallied around her family in those early years with a bequest to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in her will.

The Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a student from the Eastern Irrigation District, where Dorothy spent her formative years. The first recipient of the award, 19-year-old mathematics major Nolan McIntyre, couldn’t be more grateful.

Lundstad's mother kept the family together and thriving through difficult circumstance.

“When I first received the letter saying that I had received the award, I was extremely pleased,” he says. “Then, when I received notice that I was the first recipient of the award I felt – and still feel for that matter – very blessed and thankful.”

Originally from Rosemary, Alta., Nolan says gifts designated for students from rural Alberta are greatly needed.

“Gifts such as the Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship are a huge help,” says Nolan. “The award helped pay for my education and, as a result, my whole first semester was paid for and I could focus on my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

With her gift, Dorothy is able to pay forward the help her family once received – for generations to come.

Horns' Millman always had U of L on his mind

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 20:56:58 +0000

Peter Millman’s track career began with him trying to run over hurdles as fast as he could. Today, Millman could just hurl them out of the way and waltz down the track – he’s clearly found his niche.

“I thought I was going to be a hurdler in Grades 6 through 8 and honestly, was really bad, and it was sort of embarrassing for my dad,” laughs Millman, whose father Paul coached track at the provincial and national level. “So I started throwing the discus in Grade 8, won provincials my second year and that’s basically where my throwing career began.”

Ready to embark on his second year of studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Millman is already a known commodity on the Canadian Interuniversity Sport track and field scene. That will happen when you win gold and silver medals in your first Canada West Championship meet and are named Canada West Rookie of the Year – and that was just the beginning.

Millman, 19, spent the summer racking up personal best throws and more accolades as he claimed three medals at the Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships. The Truro, N.S. product won gold in the shot put and silver in each of the discus and hammer throw events. He was then named to Canada’s Pan American Junior Championship team and competed in Medellin, Colombia at the end of August, qualifying for the finals of the hammer throw event and improving his Pan Am ranking from 10th to seventh position.

Peter Millman prepares to throw the shotput during the Pan American Junior Athletic Championships.

“Coming here and focusing on throwing and training with Larry Steinke, I believe opens everything up for me,” says Millman, who eyes world championship and Olympic appearances in his future. “I had opportunities to go to the United States but to me, it looked like an athlete factory down there and with Larry, it’s one-on-one focussed training designed to get you to the next level.”

The U of L didn’t have to spend a lot of time recruiting Millman, he was essentially in the family from the time he took his first training trip to Lethbridge in his Grade 10 year.

“I tried to convince my parents to let me move out here in Grade 10 and just start training with Larry but that wasn’t going to happen,” he says. “I had chosen the U of L by Grade 10, it was always where I was coming.”

The draw of course is head coach Steinke, leader of the national throws program and the mentor to Olympians Jim and Heather Steacy. He’s been mining talent from Truro for years, having previously brought Kate Forbes and Jonathan Doucette (now the coach at Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ) to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Along with Millman came Kayla Gallagher (last year’s CIS gold medallist in weight throw) and Montana Forsyth. In the fall, Millman says his dad will bring another high school group to Lethbridge for a week of training, possibly laying the foundation for future throwing prospects attending the U of L.

“The thing about Larry is that his programs are so individually based and he’s so knowledgeable about track, even outside of throws events, he knows the sport so well,” says Millman. “He understands what you need in terms of lifting, really everything within your training, he sets it up. Everybody has their own program focused on what they individually need to develop.”
Millman has changed his academic focus this fall, moving away from international management and focusing on history. He admittedly struggled last year and looks to return to the strong classroom performances he put in while in high school.

“I wasn’t going to force myself to study something I didn’t really want to do,” he says of the management vein he tried to follow in the shadow of father’s career (he runs an international student recruitment program in Nova Scotia). “I want to take something where my interests lie and I’ve done that this year. I really like the courses I’m in this semester so I hope things go a lot better.”

His competitive goals are enhanced this year as he looks to build off his rookie success as well as the summer experience he gained internationally.

“Hopefully, I want to medal this year at the CIS Championships. I had such a great outdoor season with the shot, I hope it transfers to the indoor season,” he says. “After that, theoretically the NACAC Under-23 (North America Central America and Caribbean) Games are a possibility. I’m still pretty young and would have another shot at it in two years but it’d be great to make that team.”

GET THE FACTS

• Millman says he still has an autograph from former Pronghorn thrower and Olympian Jim Steacy on his bedroom wall back home in Truro from his initial visit to Lethbridge in Grade 10

• Millman competes in each of the discus, hammer/weight and shot put events but says, “I’m starting to think that maybe I have more potential in the shot put.”

• Millman has a younger sister in Grade 12 who he describes as a “genius”. She also throws hammer and is looking at attending an Ivy League school in the eastern United States

• Millman placed fifth in shot at the Pan American Junior Athletic Championships, while Horns teammate Kayla Gallagher won bronze for Canada in the hammer throw

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of former professor Schultz

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:15:19 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community offers its most sincere condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and many former students of the late Dr. Arvid Schultz, a physics researcher and founding member of the Physics and Astronomy department at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, who passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Schultz began working for the U of L in 1969 and retired in 1990. He remained closely connected to the department, his colleagues and students and kept current on recent developments in physics research.

He was recognized last year with a scholarship named in his honour that supported a student who got to work in all areas of Physics at the
U of L, and gain broad exposure to the different types of projects and activities taking place in the department.

See the following link for more on Schultz and the scholarship named in his honour.

http://www.uleth.ca/unews/legend/content/schultz-award-honours-inquisitive-spirit

SBI partners with ATB to create speaker series

trevor.kenney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:13:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge joined ATB Financial officials at the new Highlands Crossing branch in west Lethbridge on Friday, October 5, 2012 to announce ATB Financial's support of the newly-established ATB Financial Small Business Institute Speaker Series.

A $36,000 investment will help launch the series, which will see industry leaders and researchers visit communities throughout southern Alberta to share their knowledge, insights and experiences on topics related to small business.

"This gift demonstrates ATB Financial's commitment to education, research and the business communities of southern Alberta," says U of L Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Bob Ellis. "The new speaker series will help forge ties among the small business community, ATB Financial and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, resulting in strong partnerships that benefit southern Alberta business."

The widespread delivery of the speaker series is what makes the program so unique. Presentations from industry leaders and researchers will be made throughout southern Alberta, with a special focus on reaching rural communities.

"One of the things we love most at ATB Financial is being able to help small businesses succeed," says Rob Smith, Vice-President, ATB Financial South. "At ATB, we like to think we know Alberta and Albertans better than any other financial institution. With that in mind, it's exciting to partner with the U of L's Faculty of Management for the ATB Financial Small Business Institute Speakers Series. Having established small business leaders share their knowledge and experience with the rest of southern Alberta can only make our local economy stronger."

Led by Small Business Institute directors, Dr. M. Gordon Hunter and Dan Kazakoff, the series will be of interest to those currently involved or considering an investment or career in small business.

"The focus of our investigations is on privately held small businesses, varying from start-up businesses to those that are multi-generational," says Hunter. "The small business is the lifeblood of many rural communities and it's this unique focus of the Small Business Institute that makes its findings so relevant to the Lethbridge and southern Alberta area."

By further connecting with the rural communities that drive the southern Alberta economy, the SBI and students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge also realize a great benefit from this relationship.

"Our students will benefit from the exchange of ideas with the area's business people," says Kazakoff. "The whole notion is that with an institute, you get people together who might have a common interest in the subject area. By discussing ideas around the table with other individuals, you often find you get a greater depth of understanding. This series offers that opportunity for us to better connect with and understand the issues facing small business owners and operators in southern Alberta."

Jong appointed new Board Chair

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:24:49 +0000

Gordon E. Jong, CA, a Lethbridge-based chartered accountant with a long-standing relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has been appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta as the ninth Chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors.

Jong, who earned Bachelor of Science (1980) and Bachelor of Management (1982) degrees from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, is a former member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors (2006 to 2012) and a 2004 U of L Alumni Honour Society Inductee.

Community work has been a staple for Jong. He has served as Chair of the Board of Governors at Lethbridge College, treasurer of the Southern Alberta Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Lethbridge Jaycee's Club; president of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge; and treasurer of the Rotary International Peace Park Assembly.

Jong is also a successful Lethbridge businessman starting Jong & Company - a private company categorized under Chartered Accountants.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has always been a special place for me," says Jong. "I am very proud of the fact that the U of L has emerged as one of Canada's leading teaching and research universities. I am equally proud that while the U of L remains true to southern Alberta's needs through its teaching and research activities, that it has emerged as a destination university for students across the province, country and from around the world."

"I am looking forward to once again joining a very dedicated group of volunteers on the U of L Board of Governors."

U of L President Mike Mahon says Jong epitomizes the success and contribution that U of L graduates are making.

"Gord's success in business and his commitment to his community is emblematic of a U of L graduate. He is an example of the difference our graduates are making in their communities through the leadership positions they assume," says Mahon.

Jong assumes the role of Chair from Bob Turner, Q.C., who has served in the role for the past six years.

The Jong family boasts close linkages to the U of L. Jong is married to Elizabeth Martin Jong, who also holds a
U of L degree in Music (1981). The couple has two children, Terrah, who earned a Bachelor of Arts (2005), and Christopher.

McAllister named to Paralympic Games team

trevor.kenney — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:11:49 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge can claim another Olympic athlete after Swimming Canada announced that first-year Horns swimmer Zack McAllister will be one of 24 athletes that will represent Canada at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

"We are thrilled that Zack will be a part of Canada's Paralympic Team," says Brad Mori, the head coach of the Horns swimming program. "In our 75-year history, Zack is the first Lethbridge swimmer to qualify for the Olympic or Paralympic Games."

McAllister joins Horns alumnus Jim Steacy and his sister Heather Steacy as Horns athletes headed to London. The Steacys (who have reached qualifying marks but have not yet been officially named to the team) will compete in the men's and women's hammer throw competitions at the Olympic Games beginning July 27. The Paralympic Games begin a month later, Aug. 29.

"It was a long road for Zack to get to this moment," says Mori. "He faced a tough re-classification process and it seemed like this moment was never going to happen."

McAllister represented Canada at the Para Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in fall 2011 before returning to Lethbridge for his first-year classes at the U of L. In the winter, he swam at events in Los Angeles, Colorado, Montreal and Sheffield, England. This spring, McAllister was in Flagstaff, AZ, for a two-week high altitude camp.

McAllister is currently ranked fifth in the world in the 400-metre freestyle in his classification category.

"It sends adrenaline shivers down my spine thinking about Zack going off to London," says Mori.

U of L joins PIMS as full member

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:45:33 +0000

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) is pleased to announce that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Alberta has joined the PIMS consortium as a full member.

The site has been a PIMS affiliate for many years and has had significant participation in PIMS activities.

Dr. Chris Nichol, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, will represent the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ on the PIMS Board of Directors. Dr. Amir Akbary has been appointed as interim PIMS site director and will begin on July 1, 2012.

With the incorporation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the PIMS consortium now has nine full members, including all the major research universities in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Washington State.

In particular, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge joins the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, in further strengthening PIMS' partnerships in Alberta, where a significant number of PIMS activities take place.

"We are delighted that Lethbridge has become a full member of the PIMS consortium, as they have valuable strengths in a number of areas in the mathematical sciences - number theory is a good example. Through our collaborative research groups, summer schools, postdoctoral opportunities, broadcast seminars and educational activities, Lethbridge faculty and students will be important contributors to PIMS activities," said PIMS Director, Alejandro Adem.

Background

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) was founded in 1996 by a consortium of five universities in Alberta and British Columbia (the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria). Later they were joined by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Washington in the United States and more recently by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan and finally the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The mandate of PIMS is to:

- promote research in and applications of the mathematical sciences of the highest international caliber

- facilitate the training of highly-qualified personnel at the graduate and postdoctoral level

- enrich public awareness of mathematics through outreach

- enhance the mathematical training of teachers and students in K-12

- create mathematical partnerships with similar organizations in other countries, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Pacific Rim.

Library brings Herbarium to life

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:40:58 +0000

For more than 30 years, botanists and botany students have been visiting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to study a unique collection of more than 20,000 preserved plant specimens from Waterton Lakes National Park and environs. Now, thanks to a partnership between Herbarium collection curator Dr. John Bain in the Department of Biological Sciences and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library, these invaluable specimens have been digitized and will soon be widely available via the Internet.

The majority of the Herbarium's specimens date from the 1970s and 1980s.

"In 1982, former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge professor Job Kuijt's A Flora of Waterton Lakes National Park was published – after which he deposited in the Herbarium all plant specimens he collected and pressed during his documentation of the flora," says Bain. "It was this abundant and diverse flora found in Waterton Lakes National Park that was, in part, the reason for the park's designation as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1979 and a World Heritage Site in 1995."

Unlike other materials the library has previously digitized, pressed plants pose a slightly different challenge due to their relative fragility and the fact that the specimens must remain on-site in the Herbarium. To facilitate the digitization process, specialized equipment was purchased and located in the Herbarium. Quinn Daviduck, a summer research assistant, was hired to create high-resolution digital images for each and every plant specimen in the collection.

The next step in the process is to catalogue and describe each specimen using appropriate metadata (e.g., locational data, flowering times, ecological and distribution data) in order for the content to be more effectively searched or browsed online.

"In undertaking this project," says Bain, "the library is ensuring that an important natural history collection housed at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will join similar collections around the world in being widely accessible."

An official launch of the Herbarium Digital Collection was held on Monday, Dec. 19 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library.

For more information, contact Associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian, Information Systems & Technical Services, Wendy Merkley at wendy.merkley@uleth.ca.

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Finding success a long way from home

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:49:20 +0000

To say Emmanuel Ofoegbunam (BMgt '11) had a plan when he first left Nigeria for post-secondary studies would vastly underrate his intrepid spirit.

Now 25, a recent U of L grad and a junior accountant at Calgary's Edon Management, Ofoegbunam's philosophy is rooted in taking on challenges and adventures. It led him first to Malaysia to begin his education, then brought him across the world to Canada and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Alumnus Emmanuel Ofoegbunam is already working as a junior accountant.

"You can just read about something or some place but I want to feel it, to experience it so that I can tell the story in my own way," says Ofoegbunam, who graduated with a bachelor of management degree in accounting and finance.

His people, from the Igbo tribe, are known for their business acumen, and as Ofoegbunam says, "We work for ourselves, we can get it done."

So it was with that attitude and unfailing support from his parents that he left his hometown of Onitsha for Binary ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ College of Management & Entrepreneurship in Kuala Lumpur.

"When I left home to go to Malaysia, that was the most challenging part," says Ofoegbunam. "When I finished my studies, as much as I'm very close to my parents, sometimes you have to give up something to achieve greater things. They've been with me, they've supported me every way possible with advice, moral support, financial support – you name it."

Setting his sights on Canada, Ofoegbunam was accepted to three schools but the U of L quickly won out.

"The most important thing was the turnaround time for replies from the International Centre for Students office and the Registrar's office," he says. "The cycle time was one day maximum for phone calls or e-mails. It really made me feel like I was in a one-on-one relationship with the people in Lethbridge."

That didn't change when he arrived on campus in April 2007 when he was confronted with, among other things, windy -2C weather and a daunting list of tasks in a completely foreign country.

"It wasn't anything what I expected . . . it's better than what I expected," says Ofoegbunam, thanks largely to the assistance of ICS and specifically International Liaison Officer Charlene Janes.

"I asked her the first week I was here, "Do you treat everybody like this?" She was not just a lady sitting behind a desk getting her job done. She talked to me, gave me advice like a son and that blew me away. She was so helpful from day one."

The cultural challenges Ofoegbunam faced were many, let alone a weather cycle he had never imagined (both Nigeria and Malaysia average temperatures in the 28C range). Janes helped him get settled, find an apartment, register for classes and meet the people in the Faculty of Management who would set him on his path. When he again had questions on what major to focus on following his second year, she facilitated meetings with the professors who would best serve his needs. It was those conversations, what Ofoegbunam calls "out of boundary" talks where his professors related their experience that really pointed him towards his career.

He completed his studies in December 2010 and two weeks later, was employed.

"Now that I live in Calgary, I really see it. If you're a student, Lethbridge is the place for you," he says. "There are less distractions, which is good because am I here to just have fun or to study and the answer for me was simple and straightforward. This was the environment that helped me do better with my studies."

GET THE FACTS

· Ofoegbunam's parents planned to come to Canada for Spring Convocation but were forced to stay behind when his grandmother passed away. "I would have appreciated if they were here with me today but I know they are with me in spirit."

· Ofoegbunam had never seen snow before moving to Lethbridge. "I didn't just see it, I felt it," he says, adding with a laugh. "The wind, God forbid, it's bad. When it gets cold, the wind adds to it and it gets to minus-1 million, at least that's what it feels like."

· Summing up his educational experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Ofoegbunam says, "It wasn't good, it was perfect."

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

YWCA Lethbridge and District Announces 2011 Women of Distinction

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:07:28 +0000

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards recognize outstanding women who live and work in Southern Alberta.

This year six women have been selected through a competitive process, and the honorees are chosen from a group of nominations.

Among the recipients this year are several with connections to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony showcases the talent and leadership of women in Southern Alberta. Women honoured have been trail blazers, entrepreneurs, innovators, social advocates, and volunteers.

The 2011 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony will take place Friday, March 18 starting at 5 p.m. at the Lethbridge Lodge.

The guest speaker is Crystal Flaman, a social entrepreneur, multiple Ironman Triathlete competitor & 100km Ultra-Marathoner and Author.

Please call 403-329-0088 or stop by the YWCA for your tickets ($75 with a $50 tax receipt).

2011 YWCA WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD RECIPIENTS

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk: Community Leader

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, M.D./Ph.D. was born and raised in Ukraine. Living close to Chernobyl inspired her research into the effects of radiation on living organisms.

She is a medical doctor, cancer researcher and professor in Biological Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Her work is devoted to uncovering the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer development and using new approaches to cancer prevention, diagnostics and treatment.

Dr Kovalchuk has been invited to give lectures on her work in countries around the world and has received over $8,000,000 in funding from both Canada and the U.S. from granting agencies as diverse as Canadian Foundation of Innovation, Alberta Cancer Research Institute, U.S. Department of Energy Low Dose Radiation program, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Cheryl Dick: Community Commitment

Cheryl is the Chief Executive Officer for Economic Development Lethbridge and is highly respected for her strong and tireless commitment to providing exceptional leadership.

Her academic background, corporate experience and core values combine with her leadership in creating a vibrant organization that treats people equitably, achieves goals, celebrates success and serves society.

Cheryl completed her MBA in Executive Management from Royal Roads ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 2003 and holds an "Accredited Public Relations" designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society.

Among other community service efforts, she has held volunteer leadership positions with the U of L Senate, Faculty of Management Advisory Committee, and Senate Honorary Degree Committee.

Bonny Greenshields: Social Advocate

Bonny is the owner and operator of Round Street Café, as well as, a wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many people and organizations in the Lethbridge community.

Bonny and her husband Malcolm moved to Lethbridge where she taught Special Education at Winston Churchill high school until 2004.

She found teaching extremely rewarding and values the connections she made during this teaching period. However, Bonny's dream was to own a three story building where she would have a coffee shop on the main floor, residences for international students on the second floor and live on the top floor.

When a property that fit her dream became available, she and Malcolm took a major risk, sold their home to buy the Wallace building on 5 Street South and in December of 2004 opened the doors of the Round Street Café.

Darcie James: YWCA Champion

Darcie was born in Medicine Hat, AB and relocated to Lethbridge with her family in 1969. She was honoured as Winston Churchill High School's top female athlete in 1976, earned her Diploma in Law Enforcement from Lethbridge Community College in 1979 and was one of the first two women constables hired by the Lethbridge City Police in 1980.

In 1996, she became the first woman in the agency to be promoted to Sergeant. In 2002, she completed her baccalaureate degree and in 2003, she earned the distinction of being the first woman in law enforcement in Lethbridge to achieve the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In addition to her career achievements, Darcie has left her mark on her community through volunteer service.

Arleen Albiez: Spirit of Women

Arleen was a Returning Officer for the City of Lethbridge (1950 – 1995), the first female Returning Officer (Lethbridge West) for the Province of Alberta (1972 – 1979) and the first female Federal Returning Officer (Lethbridge) in Canada (1979 – present). She is still the Federal Returning Officer for Lethbridge.

In her many years of being a Returning Officer, recruiting and hiring paid employees for elections, she has always ensured that women were given equal opportunities to work the elections, gain valuable experience, training and confidence. Many of these women have gone on to successful careers.

Arleen has also been a leader and volunteer extraordinaire in many other organizations in Lethbridge and District: The United Way (formerly Community Chest), Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canadian Cancer Society, Head Start Program, Southland Credit Union, the Red Cross, the Order of Royal Purple of Canada, and the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.

Kelsey Yule: Young Woman of Distinction 2011.

Kelsey is a young woman who has never let a challenge stop her. She grew up in a small agricultural based community, where independence and a 'hard work' ethic were instilled at a young age. Kelsey entered the beauty industry at age 18, and in two years owned and operated her own successful salon.

This business experience developed and sharpened her skills as a stylist and as a leader in the industry. She is the recipient of many awards and recognitions including: 2008 Alberta Salon/Stylist of the Year for Canada, 2008 Redken Cover Competition Alberta Finalist, 2007 Alberta/BC Salon Team finalist for Canada, Youth Initiative Award Winner and the L'Oreal Professional Runway Finalist.

By thinking outside the box, Kelsey offered cosmetology courses to high school students in remote rural areas of Southern Alberta via video conferencing. Her latest business venture is Purely Inspired Academy of Beauty, a high end school and salon in Lethbridge.

Additional information about the 2011 Women if distinction is available on their website:
http://www.ywcalethbridge.org/whats-new

UNews - Lethbridge

Mother's strength inspires legacy

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