UNews - Andy Hakin

Dr. Erasmus Okine appointed as Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

trevor.kenney — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 22:05:48 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is drawing from internal strength to fill the role of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Provost and Vice-President (Academic), naming Dr. Erasmus Okine, on an interim basis, to the position. Okine will commence his interim appointment immediately and serve until June 30, 2023. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faces a period of unprecedented challenges within the context of the Alberta economy, COVID-19 and the world economy. Okine will provide critical academic leadership during this time.

Okine came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2015 as the Vice-President (Research) and was renewed for a second term in that position in April 2019. He was recently serving as Interim Provost and VPA in addition to his duties as Vice-President (Research).

“Dr. Okine has excelled in his role as Vice-President (Research) and we’re excited to be able to draw upon that success and appoint him to this new role,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, U of L president and vice-chancellor. “He is an excellent relationship builder and has established a very good rapport with our faculty members. His understanding of the academic culture at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, commitment to a student-first approach and ability to see the broad picture moving forward gives me great confidence that he will make this role his own and continue to provide outstanding leadership to the U of L.”

Throughout Okine’s tenure as VPR, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s research footprint continues to grow and he has been successful in increasing the number of research partnerships from industry, non-governmental organizations, government agencies and other universities by about 60 per cent.

“I am very excited to take on this new challenge and the opportunities it allows me to further contribute to the academic experience of our students,” says Okine. “We have a very unique culture here at the U of L that fosters collaboration on so many levels, between students and faculty members, from department to department, and externally to all of our community stakeholders and industry partners. I look forward to seeing what can be achieved in the coming years and how we can continue to strengthen our communities.”

Okine, a native of Ghana, completed a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ghana before coming to Alberta to complete a PhD at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. Okine has been navigating international research opportunities through his research program, focusing on the impact and mitigation of greenhouse gases and increasing the efficiency and productivity of livestock. His leadership skills have helped international scientists improve the fatty acid profile of beef and milk and helped develop an innovative nutrition tool to reduce methane emissions from cattle. He is a member of the Alberta Research and Innovation Advisory Committee, which provides strategic advice and recommendations research and innovation to the Government of Alberta.

For his leadership in agricultural research, Okine has received a number of awards during his career, including the Alberta Premier’s Silver Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research, being named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and a Fellow of the International College of Nutrition.

Okine is assuming the role vacated by Dr. Andrew Hakin, who left in January to become President of St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. A further announcement will be made in the near future regarding the position of Vice-President (Research).

The U of L and Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ sign double-degree agreement

caroline.zentner — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:19:53 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and its oldest international partner, Japan’s Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (HGU), have further cemented their relationship with the recent signing of an agreement that allows HGU students to complete their first two years at their home university followed by two years at the U of L to earn degrees from both institutions.

Drs. Toshimasa Yasukata, president of HGU (centre), and Mike Mahon, U of L president and vice-chancellor, and Andy Hakin, vice-president academic and provost, met recently to formalize a double-degree agreement.

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this double-degree agreement,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, U of L president and vice-chancellor. “The U of L is proud of its friendship with Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and our longstanding partnership has benefited so many students and faculty. We are excited to provide HGU students with two years of outstanding learning and the opportunity to earn a U of L degree.”

Hokkai-Gakuen, located in Sapporo, and the U of L have enjoyed 38 years of faculty and student exchanges. More than 70 U of L faculty members have been to HGU as visiting exchange professors and 60 HGU faculty members have visited Lethbridge. Since 1986, almost 300 HGU students have studied at the U of L and almost 220 U of L students have attended HGU.

Summer programs are part of the U of L-HGU partnership. Every two years, a group of 15 to 20 HGU students come to the U of L and focus on learning English. Similarly, the U of L sends a group of students to HGU every two years for a summer cultural program.

Giving back builds family legacy

caroline.zentner — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 17:29:03 +0000

Russel Orcutt (BSc ’94) credits his parents and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for helping him succeed in life. As a way to give back, Orcutt made a donation to create the Orcutt Family Lounge within the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry in Science Commons.

Members of the Orcutt family recently gathered at the newly minted Orcutt Family Lounge in Science Commons. From left to right are Lisa Orcutt, Russel's wife, Russel Orcutt, Dana Orcutt, Russel's mother, Megan Curtis, Russel's sister, and her husband, Tony Curtis.

“I’ve always felt pretty fortunate to have had a great upbringing,” says Orcutt. “My parents, Darrel and Dana, encouraged me to go to school and get a post-secondary education so I chose the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge with their support. I had a good experience there and throughout the years afterwards, I kept in touch with certain people who were a highlight for me, like Dr. Andy Hakin (vice-president academic and provost), who was instrumental to my success in school. The whole process of going to university helped set me up for life.”

Orcutt grew up on a farm east of Coaldale. His father worked as a seismologist, then owned and operated an Esso/Engro dealership in Picture Butte before taking over and acquiring the family farm. Orcutt thought he would follow a similar path and enrolled at the U of L with the idea of becoming a geophysicist.

“I got the hang of chemistry, math and stats but when it came to the physics side, I struggled. I struggled with physics to the point where I thought it wasn’t going to work out,” says Orcutt. “I’d met Andy by then and, with his teaching and leadership style and encouragement from my parents, I realigned my objectives and went on to complete my degree, finishing much stronger than I started.”

Jobs were hard to find in the early ‘90s so Orcutt joined some friends for a three-month backpacking trip to Australia. When he returned to Canada, he got serious about looking for work and joined a job-finding club.

“I must have sent out over 100 resumes and received 100 thanks-but-no-thanks letters in return,” he says. “I still have that binder as a reminder of how hard it can be. Later in ’94 I got a job with a company in Medicine Hat. That was the beginning of my career.”

Orcutt worked for a series of environmental companies before he and four colleagues co-founded Summit in 2005, a privately held environmental consulting and service company based in Calgary. When he learned about the new Science Commons building, he saw a chance to give back to the institution that helped set him — and others — up for success.

“When this opportunity came up, I discussed it with my wife, Lisa, and we decided it would be pretty cool to donate and give back to the people and the institution that helped me create a foundation from which to develop my future on,” he says. “Canada has outstanding scientists and the new Science Commons will help train the next generation. I want to see more U of L graduates and professors on the world stage because we’re some of the best.”

His father passed away earlier this year from a hard-fought battle with cancer but Russel figures he’d be proud of the decision to name the Orcutt Family Lounge.

“It saddens me that he’s not able to be a part of this,” he says. “We’re a pretty humble family but, at the end of the day, I thought it was a good thing. My dad was always a big supporter so I think he’d be pleased.”

Dr. Robert Wood appointed as new dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 22:20:48 +0000

Accomplished administrator and researcher Dr. Robert Wood has been appointed dean of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Wood, who has served in a similar role as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and subsequently Dean of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs since 2011, is excited about the opportunity to continue to elevate the profile of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

“When I consider the programmatic growth of the Faculty over the past decade, the diversity of the professions, the stellar academic research taking place and the commitment to honouring the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I know that our Faculty has an exemplary future,” he says.

Wood says the Faculty is alive with activity and boasts a collegial group that is continually moving ahead with relevant, community-minded programming and research.

“I’ve always admired the energy and the work ethic of health sciences colleagues and staff. Working together, I know that we will further elevate the identity and the impact of our Faculty,” he says. “When I first came here, they’d just transitioned from being a school of nursing to a school of health sciences. Over the years, they’ve added different professions and the research portfolio has expanded. There’s now this growing cadre of sociocultural researchers of health, such as myself, and I think we may want to start to envision what our Faculty will look like in the future.”

Wood, whose research interests span the areas of social problems, youth culture, addiction, and the sociocultural aspects of problem gambling, came to the U of L in 2000 and began teaching as an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology. He chaired the department in 2010, and was tenured as a full professor in 2013. He earned his BA Honours at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta in 1995, completed a master’s at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto in 1997 and his PhD at the U of A in 2001, all in sociology. In 2018, he was successful in his application to become a full professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, where he continues to maintain involvement in research and graduate supervision.

“Dr. Wood has proven over the years to be a strong presence in the classroom, an excellent researcher and a forward-thinking administrator,” says Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin. “His stewardship of the School of Graduate Studies led to impressive growth for our graduate programming and we fully expect the Faculty of Health Sciences to continue to enhance its profile under his leadership.”

Wood once admitted he never envisioned an administrative role when he began his career in academia but soon found a comfort level in the responsibilities of leadership.

“I miss teaching, absolutely, and felt it was a privilege to be a faculty member, but for me, being an administrator was the first time I really felt I was doing my best work. Administrative work is where I feel the most comfortable and I want to keep doing this kind of work,” he says. “I find it energizing and motivating, and particularly with our group in health sciences. When you’re able to initiate change in a complex organization, it’s really exciting.”

Wood will assume the dean’s role commencing July 1, 2019.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ welcomes Dr. Mary Ingraham as new dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 21:40:59 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomes a new member to its leadership team for fall 2019 through the appointment of Dr. Mary Ingraham as the new dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Ingraham is currently the director of the Sound Studies Institute and a professor of musicology in the Department of Music at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. She sees the transition to the role of dean as an opportunity to engage in post-secondary studies from a new perspective.

“I’m really excited about the chance to participate in different types of conversations about post-secondary learning. I’m very keen on the bigger picture conversations and possibilities that are available at the dean level. It’s the next big challenge in my career,” she says.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Ingraham gravitated to music as a child, emulating her sister by beginning to play piano at the age of three. By five she was allowed to take lessons and, as the daughter of an Anglican minister, continued to hone her skills by playing for and singing in church choirs. She played clarinet and bassoon in high school and completed a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Mount Allison ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for her undergraduate studies.

Her greater interest, however, was on the language and history of music and she focused her graduate studies on musicology, earning a master’s at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria and her doctorate at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Nottingham in the UK. Her research work is interdisciplinary, focusing on cultural studies and considering issues of ethnicity, race, gender and spirituality in identity studies.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the centre of my philosophy,” she says. “Indigenization and internationalization are also part of that and have a place in pretty much everything we do — from teaching to research to public engagement. These concepts have always been integral to what I do and looking at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, there is certainly experience within the Faculty of Fine Arts to move forward with that.”

Dr. Andy Hakin, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s provost and vice-president (academic), says Ingraham is an ideal fit for the Faculty and its breadth of activity.

“The appointment committee was very impressed with Professor Ingraham’s presentation in the interview process and, in particular, her focus on the cultural power and influences of music and art in general. She has long explored issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and as such, recognizes the opportunities available at the U of L with a strong, diverse group of faculty members,” says Hakin.

Ingraham was struck by the wide variety of research work taking place within the Faculty and how the people she has met are open to collaborative work.

“The uniqueness of this combination of fine arts disciplines and how they fit with my own research focus is exciting,” she says. “The new media aspect of it is exceptional. Already, most of the fine arts, such as music, drama and the visual arts, do interdisciplinary work, but when you top it off with new media, you suddenly have a very exciting, forward-thinking opportunity. And from my experience so far, the Faculty has the feel of an incredibly collegial, personable community and you just can’t replace that.”

Her experience in the community also gave her a glimpse of the vibrant arts scene in Lethbridge.

“There’s a lot going on in Lethbridge. It is great to see such a high level of community engagement in the arts. The depth of integration of fine arts in the community is very refreshing and encouraging.”

Ingraham and her husband David Owen, a professional oboist, will make the move to Lethbridge in the fall and she will assume her new role as dean at the outset of the 2019 Fall Semester.

MSS jumps in to support United Way

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 21:59:37 +0000

The Management Students’ Society (MSS), a host of local community leaders and charitable citizens will be dipping into icy waters on Monday, October 22 for the 14th edition of the Chillin’ For Charity fundraising event in support of the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta.

More than $25,000 has been raised over the past four years that MSS has organized the event and more than $100,000 since its inception. A goal of $10,000 of support has been set for this year’s edition.

“We are really looking to make this a community event,” says Andrew Novello, director of Chillin’ For Charity. “I want to encourage members of the community to come down and support the United Way by watching students, faculty members and local business members jump in.”

The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. on the patio adjacent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s bus loop and the Students’ Union Building. Among the local luminaries who have pledged to make the plunge in the name of charity are Lethbridge East MLA Maria Fitzpatrick, United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta Director of Fund Development and Operations Janelle Marietta-Vasquez, U of L Provost & Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin, and others.

Cameron Howey (BA ’18), a former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union President, is now the Community Development Coordinator for the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta. He says Chillin’ For Charity not only raises much-needed funds for the United Way, it also connects students with their community.

“We’re always impressed by the students’ excitement for it, and their hard work to plan and run the event,” says Howey. “Donations to United Way help thousands of people each year through programs at our partner agencies. The programs we fund have a strong focus on reducing poverty, building healthy communities, and giving children and youth the tools they need to succeed. These programs are local and help build a stronger and more resilient Lethbridge every day. We’re really looking forward to the fun on Monday.”

Those interested in participating can register at lethbridgeunitedway.ca/chill. For more information on the Management Students’ Society, check out ulethmss.ca.

Government of Alberta funding announced to support inclusive education initiatives

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 21:32:36 +0000

The Government of Alberta is providing more than $575,000 to help Inclusion Alberta support six students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Portage College. These two institutions are joining 18 others who already offer inclusive education opportunities to students with developmental disabilities.

“Our government is committed to ensuring more Albertans with disabilities have access to post-secondary education. We are proud to partner with Inclusion Alberta and expand this program to help more students achieve their goals and dreams,” says Minister of Community and Social Services and Acting Minister of Seniors and Housing, Irfan Sabir.

The announcement was made Monday, July 16, 2018 at the U of L.

Students with disabilities gain experience by doing the same assignments, practicums and exams as their peers, but with the added support of classmates and inclusive post-secondary facilitators. Students who participate in the Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program also have support when involved in extracurricular activities and students’ associations.

“We’re elated that the Ministry of Community and Social Services has agreed to fund Inclusion Alberta to develop new, inclusive post-secondary education initiatives in partnership with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Portage College,” says Barb MacIntyre, president, Inclusion Alberta. “As my son had the opportunity for an inclusive education at school and university, I know the amazing difference these new opportunities will offer young adults with developmental disabilities in realizing their future aspirations.”

The funding for Inclusion Alberta’s Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program brings the total number of participating universities and colleges to 20 – making Alberta a world leader in supporting inclusive post-secondary education for people with developmental disabilities.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is committed to removing barriers for students seeking a post-secondary experience. We know that education changes lives and communities and today’s investment goes a long way in creating a brighter future for our students, city and province,” says Dr. Andy Hakin, acting president, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"Portage College is happy to be a partner in a program that changes how post-secondary institutions support the learning needs of all community members,” says Nancy Broadbent, interim president and CEO, Portage College. “The funding provided by the Government of Alberta will allow Portage College to support the learners in receiving an exceptional learning experience at our St. Paul campus.”

Dr. Kerry B. Godfrey introduced as Dean of the Dhillon School of Business

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:25:42 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Kerry B. Godfrey as the new Dean of the Dhillon School of Business.

Dr. Kerry B. Godfrey comes to the U of L from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph where he served as Associate Dean (Academic) since 2012.

“We’re very excited to welcome Kerry to the U of L and I know he’s eager to assume the role of dean at such an important time for the Dhillon School of Business,” says U of L Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin. “Kerry, in addition to bringing a wealth of experience with him, is very forward-thinking and keen on driving innovation. He is also very adept at establishing ties with the business community and creating a vibrant academic environment for faculty.”

Godfrey’s appointment is the latest of a number of major developments for the Dhillon School of Business in recent months, including the renaming of the school in March and accreditation recognition from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International and the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) for the Bachelor of Management in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations program

“I am really looking forward to working with all the great people in the Dhillon School, both in Lethbridge and Calgary, and collaborating with colleagues right across the U of L and beyond,” says Godfrey. “I am a strong believer in educational innovation, and I’m quite keen to see how we can further leverage the School’s excellent track record, recent AACSB accreditation, and the tremendous naming gift from Mr. Dhillon to push the boundaries of learning opportunities available to all students and the community.”

Godfrey comes to the U of L from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph where he served as Associate Dean (Academic) since 2012, and recently as Acting Dean of the College of Business and Economics. Previously, he was the Director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Guelph from 2008 through 2012.

Originally from British Columbia, Godfrey earned his Bachelor of Science from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria, a Master of Science from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Surrey, UK and a PhD from the School of Planning, Oxford Brookes ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, UK. He also obtained an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership and an MBA in Educational Management from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Leicester, UK.

Godfrey began his academic career at Oxford Brookes ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, initially serving as Director of Graduate Programs in the School of the Built Environment. He then served as the inaugural Dean of Business at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland before returning to Canada in 2008 to join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph.

In addition to his various roles in education, Godfrey has also been a non-executive director for FUSION, a company focused on supporting entrepreneurial innovation in the north of Scotland, as well as serving on numerous advisory panels and steering groups concerned with business education and enterprise productivity. His professional experience has primarily focused on Europe with project work in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Finland, Canada and Thailand. Prior to returning to Canada, he was also a special advisor for the Cultural Heritage Division of the Council of Europe.

Godfrey became a Fellow of the UK's Chartered Management Institute in 2007 and has extensive experience in academic administration and strategic leadership, curriculum planning and development, faculty development initiatives, interdisciplinary programming, developing external professional accreditation and Internationalization.

Godfrey’s appointment is effective October 1, 2018 to June 30, 2023.

Associate Dean Dr. Shamsul Alam is currently serving as Acting Dean and working closely with Assistant Dean Dan Kazakoff to provide leadership, direction and continuity to the Dhillon School of Business.

Science and Academic Building shortlisted for World Architecture Festival award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 20:56:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s soon-to-be-completed Science and Academic Building, the centerpiece of the Destination Project, has been shortlisted as a finalist for an award at the World Architecture Festival 2018.

Rendering of the completed Science and Academic Building.

“We’ve always known we were creating something iconic and that this building would set a new standard for science and academic facilities in the country. Now that we’re nearing completion, it’s exciting to see it take shape and be recognized for its design and functionality, which we believe will create a revolutionary teaching and research environment,” says U of L Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Dr. Andy Hakin.

Designed by KPMB|Stantec – Architects in Association, the Science and Academic Building is competing in the Education – Future Project category, with a winner to be announced at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam, November 28-30. The U of L project is one of 12 in the category, which includes a trio of Australian buildings, two from both Russia and India, as well as others from Denmark, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Kenya.

“The Destination Project has been an experience of a lifetime,” says Vice-President, Architecture for Stantec, Michael Moxam. “The Integrated Design Process that brought all the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ stakeholders and our incredible design team together has resulted in a vision for the Science and Academic Building that will break new ground in transdisciplinary education and research in science, in environmental sustainability, and in campus building. The iconic landscape that so inspired Arthur Erickson in the design of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall has equally inspired us and this will be clearly evident in the experience of the building.”

A look at construction progress on the Science and Academic Building, April 2018.

Bruce Kuwabara, JV Partner/Co-Project Director at KPMB, says a truly cooperative approach was key to the design of the project.

“This recognition is a testament to deep collaboration between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and our team,” says Kuwabara. “The architecture builds on the past to shape the future: it is inspired by the deep geographical past of the majestic coulee landscape and Canada’s legacy of modernist architecture embodied in Arthur Erickson’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.”

Once completed, the Science and Academic Building will be one of the most advanced facilities for teaching and researching the sciences in the country. Sustainably designed with local climate in mind, students, faculty and community will come together for innovation and discovery. Its open and flexible laboratory environment will encourage and foster research between the sciences, creating opportunities for transdisciplinary collaborations. Ideas will flourish and give students and faculty innovative ways to problem solve with more resources available than ever before.

Brian Sullivan, Destination Project program director, says construction on the Science and Academic Building will be completed in Spring 2019 with its first intake of students in the 2019 Fall Semester.

“Construction is progressing very well with interior fit outs and landscaping well underway,” says Sullivan. “It’s always exciting to see the end of a project approaching and we look forward to opening the doors and realizing its completion.”

The World Architecture Festival is dedicated to celebrating, sharing and inspiring outstanding architecture. It is the only architecture event where keynote talks from the industry’s most influential figures sit alongside live judging presentations from over 500 award finalists plus global networking and an international product exhibition. Held in Amsterdam this year, the WAF awards sit at the heart of the festival, the only global awards program where architects present their completed buildings and future projects live to a panel of internationally renowned judges and delegates from around the world.

For more information, check out the World Architecture Festival and the Education – Future Project category.

U of L dignitaries honoured with traditional Blackfoot names

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 17:30:11 +0000

One of the more iconic events of Homecoming Weekend was the traditional Blackfoot Naming ceremony that saw five esteemed members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community receive Blackfoot names.

Those honoured with Blacfoot names at the recent Homecoming Weekend included (from left) Dr. Van Christou, Dr. Dennis Connolly, Dr. Andy Hakin, Kurt Schalchter and Janice Varzari. U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon, far right, was previously honoured by the Blackfoot Nation.

A decades-long custom, the naming ceremony recognizes and celebrates the relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Blackfoot Nation. Located in Treaty 7, the heart of traditional Blackfoot Territory, the U of L has enjoyed a deep and meaningful relationship with the Blackfoot people since its inception in 1967.

The latest memers of the U of L community to be honoured with traditional Blackfoot names are: Chancellor Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02), Board of Governors Chair Kurt Schlachter (BSc ’00), longest-serving faculty member Dr. Dennis Connolly (LLD '17), Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Van Christou (LLD '84) and Provost & Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin.

Following are the traditional Blackfoot names bestowed upon the honorees.

Andrew Hakin, Provost & Vice-President (Academic) - Iinniowmoowakima – Herding the Buffalo

Kurt Schlachter, Chair, Board of Governors - Stamiksiiitoohkitapoyii- Bull Buffalo Standing on the Hill

Janice Varzari, Chancellor - Oohskwiikkitstakaakii – Blue Offering Woman

Dennis Connolly, Professor - Itiiomaahkaa – Long Journey

Van Christou, Chancellor Emeritus - Iinniowdoomoowa– Buffalo Leader

UNews - Andy Hakin

Dr. Erasmus Okine appointed as Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

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