UNews - Michael Gabriel

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge publicly launches $100-million fundraising and engagement campaign

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:49:19 +0000

Today, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge publicly launches the most ambitious campaign in its 51-year history – SHINE: The Campaign for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Two clear goals have been set for the campaign, to raise $100 million and to greatly increase alumni and community engagement. For U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon, these goals are in step with the history of the institution and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s place in the southern Alberta community.

“This is a very bold campaign and reflective of who we are and where we originated,” says Mahon. “Our community came together 51 years ago with a similarly bold and audacious plan, pushing ahead to establish a third university in Alberta and changing forever the culture and economy of southern Alberta. As we look ahead, this campaign will build upon what has already been established and push forward through groundbreaking research activities, new and progressive academic programming, community engagement initiatives and the realization of the Science and Academic Building.”

To date, the campaign has raised almost $67 million through 31,000 gifts from nearly 9,000 donors.

President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon announces the launch of the SHINE campaign.

“We are challenging ourselves with this campaign but this is what we do here on a daily basis,” says Mahon. “The U of L has far exceeded the expectations of even its founders and we are consistently one of the country’s top-ranked universities and research institutions. We challenge our faculty to reach beyond in the classroom and through their research, and we challenge our students to do the same. This campaign is symbolic of a university that is not shy of punching above its weight.”

Chancellor Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02) credits the relationship the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has with the southern Alberta community for making this campaign possible.

“For us to be able to go public with almost $67 million raised speaks to the support we receive from local government, local business and industry and of course, local citizens,” she says. “It is a relationship built on commitment and a trust that we will deliver on what we have articulated as aspirations.”

A large aspect of the campaign involves the U of L’s more than 43,000 alumni and the continuing goal of enhancing their engagement with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

“Alumni have played an important role in shaping the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and will continue to be important players as we move forward,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association President Michael Gabriel (BA ’04). “It’s important we come together and strengthen our community today and for decades to come.”

Gabriel says the campaign goal is to reach 20,000 engaged alumni.

“There are multiple ways to get involved, including making a gift, attending a U of L event, volunteering or mentoring, or simply staying connected and sharing your story,” he says. “An engaged alumni community translates to a stronger social and professional network for all U of L graduates.”

To learn more about SHINE: The Campaign for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and to view the campaign video, visit: shine.ulethbridge.ca.

Battle of the Bands to showcase outstanding local musical acts

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 22:19:53 +0000

Six southern Alberta bands will battle it out for $1,000 in cash and a Cottonwood Records monthly feature package at the Shine On Summer Festival Community Fair. Battle of the Bands will take place Sunday, Sept. 3 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Stadium.

Part of the U of L’s 50th anniversary celebrations and Homecoming Weekend, Battle of the Bands is one of the feature events at Sunday’s free Community Fair. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Stadium and will also include a craft market, food trucks, Horns rugby tournament, inflatable obstacle course, round dance, cultural demonstrations, beer gardens, kite making and flying, face painting and a variety of fun family activities.

The six bands will take the stage looking to emerge as the battle champion, with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) sponsoring the $1,000 cash prize and locally-owned Cottonwood Records awarding the monthly feature package that includes professionally-produced interviews, pro tips and song recordings with accompanying video.

“Summer festivals always feature outstanding music and we felt this was a great way to support and give some exposure to great local musical talent,” says Michael Gabriel (BA ’04), president of the ULAA. “This battle will feature a diverse cross section of musical styles and promises to be great fun. In the end, the winner will get a real boost through their relationship with Cottonwood Records.”

Cottonwood Records is an independent record label created with the mission of connecting talented artists with music fans throughout the world.

“We’re excited to support these artists through the Battle of the Bands and can’t wait to work with the winner to help showcase their music in ways friends, family and fans may have never seen it showcased before,” says Cottonwood Records co-founder Clayton Varjassy (BMgt ’13). “For us, the story begins locally; there’s so much talent in a relatively small community. We want to do our part by building a platform that will be recognized and respected domestically and internationally, and leverage that platform to help artists from the community continue their growth.”

The bands taking part in the Shine On Summer Festival Battle of the Bands are as follows:

Youngbloods
Youngbloods are a band of brothers who have come together to create high energy, loud, pop punk/rock music. They have been inspired by bands such as Beartooth, Parkway Drive, Blink 182, Four Year Strong, Belvedere and many amazing local musicians. Youngbloods deliver a high-energy professional performance that is very exciting to watch.

Alyssa McQuaid and Coyote Junction
Together, Alyssa McQuaid and Coyote Junction create an ensemble of talented musicians supplemented with excellent harmonies. In this 5-piece band, their passion, talent and drive collide to form something truly memorable and special. Collectively, Coyote Junction has over 50 years of experience in the music industry in Alberta, while McQuaid has been performing across North America for 10 years, opening for acts such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aaron Prichett, Lindsay Ell and Hey Romeo!

Awd Fellas x Adequate
The vibrant and energetic hip hop sound of Awd Fellas mixed with the funky grooves and live presence of Adequate leads to a careful layering of conscious lyrics, catchy choruses and expert rhythms that will get you on your feet.

Nevada Place
Nevada Place are unique and quirky. They are not afraid to stir the musical pot. Made up of five talented musicians who play a wide variety of instruments, they always try to twist their covers to make them new and entertaining for the audience.

DIVERSIFIED
DIVERSIFIED is a cover band that consists of two guys and four girls. Now all 15 and 16 years of age, they started performing when they were in GS Lakie Middle School and have continued through to high school. They play a variety of music from the 1950s to more current hits.

Scotch Whisky Limousine
Scotch Whisky Limousine are old rock and roll fans - they're a guitar-driven rock and roll band that is bringing back that old rock and roll sound but with a modern fresh spin that includes keyboards and sax.

For more information on Homecoming weekend and Shine On Summer Festival and Community Fair, visit https://blogs.ulethbridge.ca/50-years/homecoming/.

Youngbloods

Alyssa McQuaid and Coyote Junction

Adequate

Awd Fellas

DIVERSIFIED

Scotch Whisky Limousine

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge eyes reaching goal, celebrating final John Gill Memorial Golf Tournament

trevor.kenney — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 21:55:47 +0000

With an endowment goal and the cementing of a legacy in reach, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is readying to celebrate the 10th Annual John Gill Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 at Paradise Canyon Golf Course.

This will be the final version of the John Gill Memorial and with an additional $25,000 raised, the tournament will end on a high note with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ able to endow a scholarship fund in John’s name at an amount of $125,000. The tournament currently provides six $1,000 student awards in John’s memory each year and this will continue in perpetuity once the fund is endowed.

“Raising funds for scholarships and building friendships along the way were very close to John’s heart,” says Tanya Gill (BA/BEd ’00), John’s wife. “We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received over the years in putting this tournament together and raising the funds we have in support of student scholarships. We’re looking forward to celebrating John’s legacy at this final tournament by reaching our funding goal and endowing this scholarship fund in perpetuity."

This year, the event has been moved from its traditional spring date to coincide with the Alumni Homecoming weekend and Shine On Summer Festival, Sept. 1-3. With the call out to the more than 41,000 alumni from around the world to come home for Homecoming and celebrate the U of L’s 50th year, the tournament promises to be the most successful yet.

“Our alumni are fiercely proud of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and they represent the U of L throughout the world,” says Michael Gabriel (BA ’04), president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association. “They are out there making an impact in their communities every day and I’m confident they will jump at the chance to come back and support this outstanding tournament and the future students who will benefit from its legacy.”

Open to everyone, the tournament format is a four-person, 18-hole open scramble with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $200, which includes golf, a cart and dinner. Players can enter as a single, as a team, or even as a corporate sponsor. Entry forms are available here: http://go.uleth.ca/johngill2017.

For further information, feel free to contact the Alumni Relations Office at 403-317-2825 or alumni@uleth.ca.

UNews - Michael Gabriel

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge publicly launches $100-million fundraising and engagement campaign

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