Construction begins on The Grove, a new space dedicated to student wellness

trevor.kenney — Wed, 20 May 2026 15:30:04 +0000

Construction is now underway on phase one of The Grove, a new outdoor recreation and wellness space at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, supported by a $500,000 grant from the Embark Student Foundation*.

Today’s milestone marks the transformation of The Grove into a vibrant, inclusive outdoor space at the heart of campus, where connection, engagement and well-being are central to the experience.

A rendering of some of the amenities proposed for The Grove.

Supported by the Embark Major Grant, the shared space is purposefully designed to strengthen relationships by inviting students, staff and community residents alike to experience the vibrancy of campus life, while giving students a deeper sense of place and belonging within the region.

“Countless studies have shown that loneliness is a worldwide issue, with young people being among the most impacted,” says Mark Slomp, Executive Director, Student Services. “Intentional spaces where people can gather, connect and build community are important for all populations and essential in post-secondary settings where many students are new to their surroundings and seeking connection.”

Located east of Markin Hall, The Grove is a centrally located, currently under-utilized grassed field at the core of the ULethbridge campus, with paths from ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, Markin Hall, the Students’ Union Building and Science Commons converging to the area. Together, these elements will create flexible space for study, reflection, events and informal gatherings.

The master plan for The Grove concept involves seven elements, all designed with purpose to strengthen student belonging and engagement, provide areas for outdoor study and reflection, and create a community gathering space for celebrations, performances, markets and other outdoor events.

Grove Features

Phase 1

• Gateway — Vertical elements at the north and west entrances to provide visual reference and wayfinding for the area.

• Coulee Lookout Plaza — At the heart of the Grove, a focal point for gathering at the convergence of the connecting pathways.

• The Hangout — A social space with a harvest table nested between trees.

Phase 2

A key aspect of phase two of The Grove is the Dr. Dennis Connolly Amphitheatre.

• The Gathering — An outdoor fireplace sheltered by planting and topography.

• Coulee Lookout Structure — A contemporary pergola offering a sheltered gathering space.

• Natural Amphitheatre — An outdoor amphitheatre space with cliffstone seating, it will be named the Dr. Dennis Connolly Amphitheatre after the late legendary mathematics professor

• Hammocks — A flexible space with hammocks and moveable furniture to accommodate impromptu gatherings and larger events.

“What is so lovely about this transformation of The Grove is that it reflects another meaningful step forward for students and for the overall campus experience,” says Alejandro Figueroa, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union President. “It is phenomenal to see an underused outdoor space become a place where students can slow down and feel a stronger sense of belonging on campus. That is what makes this project so meaningful, because the spaces between classes are often where community is built and where students begin to feel more connected to the campus they call home.”

The support by Embark Student Corp. affirms the group’s commitment to helping schools realize innovative approaches to enhancing student well-being.

“Congratulations to the team at ULethbridge for creating indoor and outdoor spaces where students can make positive connections and memories that will last a lifetime,” says Andrew Lo, President and CEO, Embark.

The vision of the Grove concept was guided by and aligns with Indigenous principles of land stewardship, which emphasize reciprocity, balance and care for future generations. Today’s symbolic planting of an Indigenous tree honours the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s commitment to reconciliation and marks the beginning of phase one construction with a targeted date of completion in September.

“We’ve already begun fundraising for subsequent phases of this project to fully realize the vision we have for this very important area of campus,” adds Slomp. “Anyone interested in contributing can reach out to philanthropy@uleth.ca or visit go.uleth.ca/grove.”

*The Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program provides funding for innovative programs, initiatives or services that support student success before, during and beyond their post-secondary years. Through this grant program, Embark wishes to partner with post-secondary educational institutions in their efforts to advance access, agency and innovation that will empower students to take hold of their future.

Embark Student Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation and owner of Embark Student Corp., a proud Canadian resource for education savings and planning.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge expanding REC Room initiative thanks to Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:10:42 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will receive $500,000 from the Embark Student Foundation, Canada’s education savings and planning company, as part of a $2.7 million grant program aimed at supporting innovative programs, services and initiatives that have a positive impact on student experiences.

ULethbridge’s successful REC (Refresh, Energize, Connect) Room program launch in 2022 is the impetus behind the grant award. Its introduction of indoor recreational spaces that support connection, play and physical activity has been enthusiastically embraced by students and earned recognition from Embark as one of seven projects across the country receiving support.

REC Room spaces have proven to be busy gathering spots for students.

“The Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program marks our commitment to making the path to and through post-secondary school easier for all Canadians,” says Andrew Lo, President and CEO, Embark. “By supporting these innovative programs, we hope to enrich the lives of students and give them the skills they need to thrive both today and in the future.”

This year, seven recipients were selected as part of the Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program, with $2.7 million being disbursed to qualifying post-secondary institutions across Canada. Each post-secondary institution selected will receive between $250,000 and $500,000 over five years to build their programs and realize their goals.

“It’s very encouraging to receive this support from Embark and we’re appreciative they recognize how important it is to provide an environment that encourages student flourishing,” says Kathleen Massey, ULethbridge’s vice-provost (students). “This funding creates the opportunity for us to enhance and expand this program through the addition of more indoor REC Room spaces, the construction of new outdoor spaces and the development of related programming.”

REC Rooms are equipped with a variety of activities, including quiet pursuits like puzzles, a giant chess board, virtual reality games, digital games and art hives/murals, Indigenous games, as well as some active games such as ping pong and giant Jenga. For those who feel like just relaxing, there are bean bag chairs for reading, chatting or just zoning out.

“We currently have three indoor locations across campus, and they are full of activity pretty much any time of day,” Mark Slomp, executive director, Student Services. “Research has shown us that when students have connections with one another and engage in exercise and activities and have outlets to laugh and play, it sets them up for success in all the other areas of their academic experience. We’re excited to build on the REC Room concept and further support student flourishing.”

Other post-secondary schools receiving funding from Embark include Concordia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Niagara College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Toronto Metropolitan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto and Vancouver Island ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. For a further look at their projects, check out this news release from Embark.

About Embark Student Foundation

Embark Student Foundation is Canada’s education savings and planning company. With over $6 billion in assets under management, the company is committed to empowering families along their post-secondary journeys by giving them the resources and tools they need to better plan and save for all that comes with an education. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Embark Student Foundation, a not-for-profit Canadian corporation, the company, registered as a Scholarship Plan Dealer across Canada, manages almost 600,000 RESPs for Canadians nationwide and helped approximately 53,600 students through post-secondary studies last year.

UNews - Embark Student Foundation

Construction begins on The Grove, a new space dedicated to student wellness

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