UNews - Scotiabank

Saskatchewan MLA to share her wisdom with U of L students

caroline.zentner — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:32:05 +0000

Saskatoon Fairview MLA Jennifer Campeau, who completed a bachelor’s degree in the First Nations Governance program in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Management, will be back in Lethbridge Jan. 26 to 30, 2015 to share her expertise with students and youth.

"We are delighted and honoured that one of our graduates, the Honourable Minister Jennifer Campeau, is returning to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to serve as the inaugural Executive In Residence for our Scotiabank First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Mentors Program,” says Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Bob Ellis. “Her leadership and dedication to public service make her an inspiration for our students and the entire community. We wish to express our deep appreciation to Scotiabank for supporting this wonderful initiative.”

“We are proud to host the Honourable Minister Campeau and welcome her back to southern Alberta. She was one of the first graduates of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s First Nations Governance Program in 2008 and three short years later she was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature,” says Andrea Amelinckx, Chair of the First Nations Governance Area in the Faculty of Management. "She was recently appointed Minister of Central Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Company. She is an engaging speaker and an outstanding role model for our students and Aboriginal youth in general. We know they will benefit from her experiences."

Campeau was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 2011. In 2013, she was appointed legislative secretary to Saskatchewan’s education minister. She also chaired a Premier’s Aboriginal Youth Task Force at the request of Premier Brad Wall. In 2014, she became Minister of Central Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Company.

Before she entered politics, Campeau was an instructor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan and a doctoral student in the Department of Native Studies. After she graduated from the U of L, she obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree at the U of S.

The purpose of the Scotiabank First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Mentors Program is to engage Aboriginal youth in a culturally sensitive, safe and welcoming environment. Mentors are U of L Aboriginal students who provide support to Aboriginal youth aged 12 to 17 enrolled in school in Lethbridge or on the Blood and Piikani reserves. Youth and their mentors meet twice a month to share common interests and participate in activities.

As Executive In Residence, Campeau will speak to several U of L classes, talk to graduate students and students in the First Nations Transition Program, and meet with area high school students. At a dinner Thursday evening, she will speak to the importance of role modeling and mentorship for Aboriginal youth. She will be available to speak to media on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. in the Markin Hall atrium.

Horns' alumna sees giving back as a natural act

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:24:25 +0000

Head coach of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge women's rugby team, Neil Langevin (BA/BEd '91, MEd '10), describes former player and team co-captain, Amanda Riley (nee Richardson, BMgt '10), as "a superstar whose leadership as an athlete has continued on as an alumna."

Therefore it was no surprise when Langevin asked Riley to head an alumni committee for the rugby program that she tackled the task with the same energy and enthusiasm she once used on the field – even in the face of serious health challenges she encountered soon after graduation.

"In 2011, I was diagnosed with Still's disease, which is a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis. Being an athlete, I was used to aches and pains and when I started getting achy and having problems I thought it would go away but it didn't. I have learned a lot from it and I don't take things for granted; I am even happy to do laundry now because for a while there I was having trouble just walking," laughs Riley. "When I was playing rugby, Neil always focused on the power of positive thinking. I think that is one of the really important things I gained from playing on the team. Through everything I have had a positive mindset. It has helped me overcome when my feet did not work for me – and now I am back to exercising and even running a bit."

Amanda Riley, pictured here in her playing days with the Horns women's rugby program, initiated an alumni garden party that netted nearly $10,000 for the program.

With her husband often working out of town, Riley had a tremendous amount of support from her family and friends, especially fellow rugby alumni. It is this shared encouragement and sisterhood, as well as a passion for the game, that inspires Riley to continue her involvement with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's rugby program.

"I initiated some committee meetings last year, inviting local alumni I thought would be interested in helping out. This year we held the first annual Garden Party to raise funds for the program. Because we are strictly a girls' team, we wanted an event that was not a typical dinner. We invited all of the alumni and told them to bring their moms, aunts, sisters, grandmas, anyone they thought would be interested in coming," says Riley. "It was held at a private residence overlooking the coulees. We wore sundresses and sunhats, had appetizers (provided by this year's team) and the coaches and team manager came and served us champagne. It was really nice to meet the current athletes. Now we know who they are when we come and cheer for them at the games."

Money was raised through ticket sales, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Bobby Zaremba, a former rugby parent, arranged for Scotiabank to match funds raised through their Bright Future program. The event brought in $9,527, which will be used to support Horns rugby.

The inaugural event appealed to a wide range of Horns alumna, friends, family and supporters of the program.

"As a former athlete I am extremely happy with the support that we received from other alumni and community members. Financially it will give them more opportunities because it supports their general fund. I have heard some of the current athletes can't wait to have their own garden party when they are alumni so we have succeeded in generating interest in supporting the program down the road," says Riley, who is excited to give back to the program that gave her so much.

"Sometimes it was really difficult as a student-athlete, because I had to balance work, school and rugby, but my professors were so good to work with and playing on the rugby team gave me such great opportunities," she says. "I was able to grow as an individual and develop my leadership and communication skills. I learned a lot of invaluable life lessons. The girls I played with have become like family to me. I don't think I could put a dollar value on what I got out of the program."

GET THE FACTS

· Riley played for the Horns from 2005 to 2009 and was a five-time Canada West All-Star and three-time CIS All-Star

· During her time with the Horns, she was on three national championship teams and was a three-time Academic All-Canadian

· She currently works as a staff accountant at KPMG Lethbridge and is articling to be a chartered accountant

This story first appeared in the October 2012 issue of the Legend. To see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Scotiabank helps launch FNMI mentorship

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:40 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed Scotiabank officials to campus on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to announce a major gift in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students.

The $150,000 investment will help launch a mentorship program aimed at post-secondary students, as well as students in junior high and high schools in Lethbridge and reserve communities throughout southern Alberta.

"This gift demonstrates Scotiabank's incredible commitment to education and the FNMI community, and sets a strong example for others to follow," says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon.

"This gift also represents a partnership. The U of L is committed to working with Scotiabank to ensure FNMI students will have the resources they need to be successful and realize their post-secondary education aspirations. The mentorship program is a great addition to our support programs for FNMI students. We are proud of what it's accomplished already and look forward to growing this program in coming years."

There are two key elements to the program that make it unique, says U of L Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Robert Ellis.

"U of L First Nations, Métis and Inuit alumni will serve as mentors to Aboriginal students in the management and pre-management programs. The alumni will support, give advice, and help to instill confidence in the students."

In turn, the U of L Aboriginal management students being mentored will provide guidance to junior and senior high students in the local city and reserve schools. "This program will allow U of L students to act as role models for the Aboriginal students who are at the high school level.

"Education is one of five pillars of Scotiabank's global philanthropic program known As 'Bright Future'," says Shannon Burch, the VP of southern Alberta/Kootenays for Scotiabank. "We have always believed in contributing to communities in which we live, work and do business. Scotiabank takes tremendous pleasure in supporting important institutions like the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

UNews - Scotiabank

Saskatchewan MLA to share her wisdom with U of L students

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