UNews - Ross

Journey complete for Mackinnon brothers

trevor.kenney — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:15:22 +0000

UPDATE: The Mackinnon brothers completed their journey and dipped toes in the Atlantic Ocean on July 16 before completing their journey back in Comox with a fundraiser barbecue on July 19

Scott Mackinnon (BA '07) understands that the world is so much greater than the space within which he exists. It's a point he undoubtedly learned while watching his once vibrant grandfather slowly lose his battle with Parkinson's disease, and one that was driven home while maturing as a young man at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Now, as he cycles with his three brothers (Sean, Ross and Ryan) across Canada in memory of his late grandfather Neville 'Baha' Munro, he's reminded of that lesson every day.

"I always told my brothers what a supportive, passionate, loyal and aware community Lethbridge was," says the former Pronghorns men's basketball player and native of Comox, B.C. "It's just pretty cool that they are able to experience that first hand now. My experience here at the U of L definitely led me towards doing something like this – to be more socially aware and more conscious of something way beyond myself and something more important than myself."

Biking for Baha was an idea hatched between the brothers years ago. Their grandfather had wanted to cycle across Canada after being diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 60. A special bike was built for him by his eldest son (their uncle) but his declining motor skills never allowed for the trip to take place. In 2003, Baha passed away but his dream lived on.

"The last few years, riding across Canada became a big interest of mine and it became a huge conversation piece between us," says Mackinnon. "We started talking about it but things always seemed to get in the way. This year, all of a sudden, all four brothers fell into a place where there was time to do it and so here we are."

The quest to cross Canada and raise funds for Parkinson's research began May 19 on the B.C. coast and passed through Lethbridge May 30-31. The goal is to dip their tires in the Atlantic Ocean sometime in July (they finished July 16), all the while raising one dollar for every kilometre they cycle, as well as an additional dollar for the distance Baha would have covered for a total of $40,075. The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is the recipient charity.

Coming through Lethbridge was a homecoming for Mackinnon and an opportunity to show off the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community he grew so close to during his time as a Pronghorn.

"Coming through Lethbridge was the best thing that could happen to us," he says. "We're pretty inexperienced touring cyclists so once we got through the mountains, Lethbridge was a key morale boost for us. It's been so good to see Travis Grindle and Eoin Colquhoun, coach Dave Adams and a lot of the people I really respect and look up to. The effort they put in to helping us, we're all taken aback by it."

The group spent two nights in Lethbridge, participated in an evening fundraiser, met kinesiology professor Dr. Jon Doan, toured his lab and learned about his work with local Parkinson's patients.

The generosity and open arms that greeted the group was exactly what he expected.

"I absolutely loved the U of L because of the small community," says Mackinnon, who went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education at Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and just completed his first year of teaching at an international school in Manila.

"I loved how you would be walking through the halls here and everyone would say hi. You have the small class sizes, everyone was friendly, and on the court, the crowds and the community support that you get here is amazing. You just couldn't ask for a better place to go to school and I would recommend to anyone to go here."

The group has now completed its journey, which is chronicled on their blog (bikingforbaha.weebly.com). As well, CBC Halifax created this video upon their arrival.

For Mackinnon, as much as the ride is personal, it continues to drive home the universal lesson he learned long ago.

"I've thought about my grandfather on this ride more than I have in a long time and it's one of the best things about this," he says. "It's really refreshing what an influence he had on our lives and what an inspiring man he was. It's also allowed me to learn so much. Ignorantly, I didn't realize how many people were affected by Parkinson's and it's really cool to be able to know there's that support network out there and that we can help towards finding a cure, towards something that can help these people cope with this terrible disease. It's been very eye opening."

GET THE FACTS

• The Biking for Baha team was greeted by a group of local cyclists as they made their way into Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Lodge provided them with two nights accommodation, while Backstreat Pub and Coco Pazzo's chipped in meals

• Mackinnon played for the Horns over two different stretches, from 2000-2002 and again from 2004-2007, scoring 862 points in 85 career Canada West games

• A true blue Pronghorn, Mackinnon and his brothers were given Horns basketball shirts by head coach Dave Adams. "I'll always be a part of Horns nation," says Mackinnon. "I love this place. If I could get a teaching job in southern Alberta I'd come back in a second."

• Mackinnon will return to Canada to look for a teaching job after one more year in the Philippines

• To donate to Biking for Baha, visit www.michaeljfox.org or www.bikingforbaha.weebly.com

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

Mackinnon and brothers honouring Baha

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:55:38 +0000

UPDATE: The Mackinnon brothers completed their journey and dipped toes in the Atlantic Ocean on July 16 before completing their journey back in Comox with a fundraiser barbecue on July 19

The Mackinnon brothers, left to right, include Ryan, Ross, Scott and Sean. Here they are in Dr. Jon Doan's kinesiology lab after a brief tour of the facilities.

The quest to cross Canada and raise funds for Parkinson's research began May 19 on the B.C. coast and passed through Lethbridge May 30-31. The goal is to dip their tires in the Atlantic Ocean sometime in July (they arrived July 16), all the while raising one dollar for every kilometre they cycle, as well as an additional dollar for the distance Baha would have covered for a total of $40,075. The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is the recipient charity.

Coming through Lethbridge was a homecoming for Mackinnon and an opportunity to show off the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community he grew so close to during his time as a Pronghorn.

The group spent two nights in Lethbridge, participated in an evening fundraiser, met kinesiology professor Dr. Jon Doan, toured his lab and learned about his work with local Parkinson's patients.

The generosity and open arms that greeted the group was exactly what he expected.

The group has now completed its journey, which is chronicled on their blog (bikingforbaha.weebly.com). As well, CBC Halifax created this video upon their arrival.

For Mackinnon, as much as the ride is personal, it continues to drive home the universal lesson he learned long ago.

GET THE FACTS

· The Biking for Baha team was greeted by a group of local cyclists as they made their way into Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Lodge provided them with two nights accommodation, while Backstreat Pub and Coco Pazzo's chipped in meals

· Mackinnon played for the Horns over two different stretches, from 2000-2002 and again from 2004-2007, scoring 862 points in 85 career Canada West games

· A true blue Pronghorn, Mackinnon and his brothers were given Horns basketball shirts by head coach Dave Adams. "I'll always be a part of Horns nation," says Mackinnon. "I love this place. If I could get a teaching job in southern Alberta I'd come back in a second."

· Mackinnon will return to Canada to look for a teaching job after one more year in the Philippines

· To donate to Biking for Baha, visit www.michaeljfox.org or www.bikingforbaha.weebly.com

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

A family of graduates

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:19:05 +0000

Every path to a convocation procession is unique, even when it involves three siblings who are all graduating from the same discipline at the same time. Brian, Alan and Shari Ward all completed their bachelor of science (neuroscience) degrees this spring, and all three did it in their own way.

For Brian (24), his was a path that included leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for a year of study at Lethbridge College, the realization and subsequent conquering of a condition of exam anxiety and a revelation that neuroscience was his true calling.

Brian, Shari and Alan Ward all earned their bachelor of science (neuroscience) degrees at Spring 2011 Convocation.

Alan (23) took more of a direct route, knowing from the onset of his university career that neuroscience was his vocation. This did not preclude him from learning that the approach he took in high school would have to be replaced by much stricter study skills to succeed, leading to an extra year of study as he drove up his GPA with a medical school future in his sights.

Shari (21), the youngest of the graduating trio and the last of five Ward children, is a product of her older brothers' experiences as she only joined the neuroscience stream in her third year at the U of L. She came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ thinking biochemistry was her inclination but after seeing the spark that neuroscience had given her brothers, she too made it her focus.

In fact, if one principle is consistent between the three, it is that once they showed an interest and aptitude for the discipline, the neuroscience professors embraced their willingness to learn.

"I took one semester with two neuroscience courses and I absolutely loved it," says Brian, about his return from Lethbridge College. "The prof I had, Dr. Deb Saucier, basically opened my eyes to the world of neuroscience. After that I almost tripled my GPA. It now comes to me and it comes to me easily."

He'd had the impression that the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) was strictly a research facility but soon found, after getting guidance from Saucier, that he could not only take classes in the CCBN but also, as an undergraduate student, participate in independent study research activities with the professors/researchers.

"I discovered I'm very much a science guy," says Brian. "I love how different parts of the brain and nervous systems work. I love how the central nervous system interacts with the peripheral nervous system and vice versa. I love how stimuli can affect different pathways and so on. It might sound weird but I want to spend $200 on a textbook just to read it because it floors me."

Alan had considered attending Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Halifax but decided to stay at the
U of L because its neuroscience department was more suited to his interest in the behavioural aspects of study. He also saw the independent study opportunities as a huge opportunity.

"That was a strong selling point for me," says Alan. "If you show a little initiative and put your best foot forward, you have a good chance of doing an independent study. That's something I knew about before I came, but then once I got into it, I definitely appreciate it so much more now."

Shari sees herself as a hybrid of her brothers' interests. She excels at the behavioural aspects that Alan loves, but is also intrigued by the pharmacological bent that Brian takes. Her initial misconceptions of neuroscience were quickly dispelled when she spoke with Saucier and found out all she could do within the CCBN.

"The profs here just love it when somebody shows an interest," says Shari. "After taking some classes and then getting the chance to learn techniques in an actual hands-on environment, it became so much more interesting to me. I could see what they were talking about and how it could be used and it really made it exciting."

They all agree that neuroscience isn't as daunting as it sounds, and the faculty cultivate that success.

"It's not what people make it out to be, and I've known students who won't take it because they think it'll be too hard. They're interested in it but they head off to do something else because they're intimidated by the sound of it," says Brian. "I firmly believe that the people in neuroscience, and at the CCBN, are the friendliest and most supportive profs I've ever had."

Evidence of that came on June 2, when the three Ward siblings marched in Spring 2011 Convocation.

"It is interesting, all of us graduating together; it is nice that we get to do it all at once. I think our parents were especially happy because they only had to come for one ceremony," laughs Alan. "But at the same time, none of us are really done."

He alludes to a future that sees him pursuing a medical degree and eventually becoming a surgeon; while Brian is intent on achieving a master's degree that may lead to a PhD and medical school; and Shari eyes a nursing after degree and maybe further study following that. It's safe to say, their passion for education has been ignited.

GET THE FACTS

· In all there are five Ward children, including older brother David, who started at the U of L and is currently a Doctor of Medicine in his second year of residency at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary. Cindy, the eldest, is a stay-at-home mom.

· Both their parents have bachelor of commerce degrees with a major in accounting from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. Mother Debbie is a stay-at-home mom with a graduate diploma in post-secondary education, while father Ross owns and operates Wards Rentals.

· Shari was initially nervous about working with the CCBN rats, saying, "I thought that I was going to hate rats and Brian told me, once you meet the rats you're going to love them. I tell everybody that now, if you could meet the rats, you'd love them because they are so cute."

· All three attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute before enroling at the U of L, and give credit to the teachers at Lakeview Elementary for igniting their passion for the sciences.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Ross

Journey complete for Mackinnon brothers

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