UNews - Bob Tarleck

Open Mike - February 2013, Strengthening our community bonds

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:49:12 +0000

It was with great pleasure that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ hosted the respective boards of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Lethbridge to campus recently.

The tour was part of a busy morning for both boards as they first ventured to Lethbridge College to view their trade facilities and gain an appreciation for the planned Trades & Technology Renewal and Innovation Project. They then came to the U of L to see the science facilities on campus and learn about the Destination Project, the proposed science complex that would at long last bring state-of-the-art technologies to our science students and researchers and revitalize ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.

President Mike Mahon was pleased to welcome community business leaders to campus this past month.

We had a wonderful dialogue with both boards and it was readily apparent that they understood the need each of our institutions had for these projects, and even more importantly, how these projects would not only invigorate Lethbridge College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge but the city of Lethbridge and southern Alberta as a whole.

While the Destination Project meets a number of needs on our campus, from spurring research activities to recruiting students and faculty and transforming ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, the boards were quick to realize the value that the project would also have to Lethbridge.

From simply bringing more students to the city, to creating employees for new and emergent technologies, to creating incubator space for fledgling companies, the Destination Project is not just a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge project, but rather a community project that will see economic and cultural benefit on a number of levels.

That is why it was so important to bring the city's business leaders on campus so that they could gain an understanding of the magnitude of these projects and thereby champion their worth to the provincial government and potential donors.

I am especially thankful to former mayor Bob Tarleck for addressing the boards and remarking on the key role the Chamber of Commerce once played years ago, when it pushed the province for the establishment of a university in Lethbridge.

These are community projects and it is important that we continue to engage our community so that they see the benefit of a strong post-secondary presence in the city, and that we can count on their support to communicate that to the external world.

Along those lines, our 2nd Annual Play Day celebration, to be held on Monday, Feb. 18 (Family Day), is another way to engage the local community and show off everything we have to offer here on campus.

By opening our doors and allowing families to come in for a day of play, it on one basic level contributes to the health, wellness and quality of life in our community. But on another level, it is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the U of L, for children to be introduced to our campus and experience it in a fun way so that as they grow up, it becomes a part of their lives through further activities such as science camps, Pronghorn games, theatre events and so on.

Our success going forward will only be enhanced through community support and understanding of how integral the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is to the economic and cultural vibrancy of our city.

I encourage everyone to come out to Play Day, help out as a volunteer or simply get the word out to the community that we want the city of Lethbridge to come to our campus to see what we are all about.

This story first appeared in the February 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ individuals earn Jubilee medal

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:54:39 +0000

Community leaders and volunteers from Lethbridge and southern Alberta -- including a number of individuals with ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge -- were honoured today with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The medals were presented by His Honour, Col. [Ret'd] the Honourable Donald S. Ethell at a ceremony at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge.

"The Diamond Jubilee Medal is presented to citizens who share our Queen's commitment to service," said Lieutenant Governor Ethell.

"These community leaders have dedicated themselves to enhancing the quality of life in Southern Alberta and across the province and they have earned the recognition and thanks of their fellow citizens."

BACKGROUND AND BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES -- Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, September 6, 2012, Lethbridge, Alberta

The following individuals were presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge on September 6, 2012.

The Hon. Raymond Speaker (Enchant)- Honorary Degree recipient, 2003

Ray Speaker enjoyed a long and distinguished political career at the provincial and federal levels and, after retiring from politics, he also served the nation as a Member of the Security Intelligence Review Committee. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Member of Privy Council.

Henry Bergen (Coaldale) Honorary Degree recipient, 2008

Henry Bergen is an agricultural innovator whose engineering developments have resulted in important cost savings for producers while increasing crop yields and reducing negative impacts on the land. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Reginald Bibby (Lethbridge) U of L Faculty member

Reginald Bibby is a leading national and international scholar in the field of sociology whose work has enhanced our understanding of Canadian identity. He is a professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and a founding director of the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Sergeant (Ret'd) Clarence Cluff (Coaldale)

Clarence Cluff served overseas during the Second World War as a member of the 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA, Lethbridge, continues to serve in his capacity as Honourary Senior Gunner and has been an active community volunteer. Following an invitations to travel to England and meet the Queen and Princess Anne he came to be known by the Royal Family as "the Alberta Rancher".

Karen Collin BMgt '86 (Lethbridge)

Karen Collin is a key organizer at the Annual Lethbridge Dragonboat Festival and a quiet volunteer who does a great deal for the community. She is a volunteer dragonboating coach, helps to get other coaches on board and serves as a flag person at the events.

Irma Dogterom (Lethbridge)

Irma Dogterom is a researcher and author who has played a vital role in ensuring that Lethbridge residents realize the importance of their history. She was instrumental in efforts to have Legacy Ridge streets named after important women from Lethbridge history and she has been a long term board member of the Lethbridge Historical Society.

Leonard Haney (Picture Butte) Honorary Degree recipient, 2005

Leonard Haney is a noted seed grower and cattleman who has offered valued contributions in agriculture. He has also been a longstanding community volunteer with organizations such as the Lethbridge School Division and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Jane Harris-Zsovan (Lethbridge)

In her role as Social Media Coordinator for the Monarchist League of Canada Jane Harris-Zsovan has been successful in the use of social media to promote the Crown in Canada.

James Horsman (Medicine Hat) U of L Chancellor Emeritus and Honorary Degree recipient,2004

Jim Horsman enjoyed a distinguished tenure as an Alberta MLA and Cabinet Minister. He has been a tireless volunteer, particularly in education, who has served institutions such as Medicine Hat College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Darcie James (Lethbridge)

Darcie James served for 28 years as a police officer and has been an active community volunteer. She was among the first female officers in Lethbridge and was the first to achieve the rank of Staff Sergeant. Now retired, she is manager of the Lethbridge Region Police Service's Victim Services Unit and is president of VSU Alberta.

June Kometz (Lethbridge)

For many years, June Kometz has shown her deep sense of Canadian spirit and national pride through her longstanding service spearheading the annual Canada Day Celebrations in Lethbridge.

Les Manning (Medicine Hat)

Les Manning is a noted artist, teacher and arts advocate. He helped develop ceramics studies at the Banff Centre for the Arts into an internationally respected artist residency program and has offered valued contributions to programs at Medalta Potteries National Historic Site. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Sheriff Troy MacKay (Lethbridge)

Troy MacKay is an Alberta Sheriff who has been a member of the public service for 14 years. He has provided distinguished support to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta since 2000 and also serves as longstanding volunteer with Alberta Special Olympics.

Irwin Kenneth McNeely (Lethbridge)

Irwin Kenneth McNeely served with the 39th Field Battery, RCA, Lethbridge during the Second World War and has been and active member of the Royal Canadian Legion for over 50 years. He has been a dedicated volunteer who is committed to making his city, province and nation a better place for live and raise a family.

Warrant Officer (Ret'd) Glenn Miller (Lethbridge)

WO (Ret'd) Glenn Miller is a great friend to the veterans of southwestern Alberta. His extensive research has added to the military history and heritage of the artillery in Lethbridge and his work as a visitor to schools, museums, the Legion and seniors homes helps to keep alive our military history and the memory of those who have served. He is Constituency Manager for MLA Bridget Pastoor.

Robert Elliot Moors (Lethbridge)

Following service with the Canadian Armed Forces, Bob Moors returned to Lethbridge for duties with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires where he is presently a Chief Warrant Officer. He is a member of the Army, Navy and Air Force Association and has been a longstanding volunteer on behalf of his fellow veterans and the community as a whole.

Ian Morgan CD and Faye Morgan CD (Okotoks)

Ian and Faye Morgan have been longstanding community volunteers. They have donated countless hours working with the Alberta Summer Games, helping at community flu shot centres and contributing their time, energy and expertise to the Naval Museum in Calgary.

Lloyd (Loye) Olsen (Cardston)

Loye Olsen, along with his magnificent horses and horse drawn carriages, is a regular fixture at parades, rodeos and special events in Southwestern Alberta. He has donated countless hours over the years leading his horses and carriages and carrying dignitaries and others through parades in virtually every town in the region.

Margaret Roberts (Lethbridge)

Margaret Roberts is a very active and highly regarded member of the Friends of the Galt Museum who has volunteered in every department of the facility and in virtually every capacity, big and small. She was instrumental in planning the Galt's Centennial Celebrations.

Dr. Kenneth Sauer (Medicine Hat)

Kenneth Sauer has made great contributions as a volunteer in the areas of health, sport and community service, both in the community of Medicine Hat and at the provincial level. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Joan Stebbins (Lethbridge) Honorary Degree recipient, 2009

Joan Stebbins established the Southern Alberta Art Gallery as one of Canada's leading contemporary art institutions and has been highly successful in making contemporary art accessible to the public. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award.

Constable Blaine Stodolka (Lethbridge)

Constable Blaine Stodolka has offered 23 years of exemplary service to the crown through his policing career. He has done extensive work with community groups involved with crime prevention initiatives and has made significant contributions through his volunteer work with the Special Olympic and Safety City Organizations.

Robert Tarleck (Lethbridge)

Bob Tarleck was the 34th Mayor of the City of Lethbridge and has been a great friend to the people and institutions of Lethbridge and surrounding areas. He served as director of volunteers for the Alberta Summer Games in Lethbridge and his efforts to establish positive relations between the City of Lethbridge and Alberta's First Nations led to him being honoured by the Kainai with a name meaning "Owner of Many Horses".

Lorne Vaughan

Citation unavailable at time of publication.

Alma Matters

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:30:55 +0000

Keys to the City

On Oct. 7, a number of notable residents of southern Alberta, including many with ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, received a key to the city from former Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck. Friends of the U of L included The Hon. Rick Casson (former U of L employee), Senator Joyce Fairbairn (LLD '04), Gary Kirk (2004 Faculty of Management Scholarship Dinner honouree), U of L researcher Dr. Ian Whishaw (DSc '08) and Rochelle Yamagishi (BASc '71, MEd '91).

Woykin Featured at TiFF

Cameron Woykin's (BFA '03) dramatic short film Open Window was shown at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival. Open Window was selected to premiere as a part of the Short Cuts Canada programme, highlighting short films by established and emerging directors from Canada.
Since graduating from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Woykin has completed numerous short films, screening his work throughout Canada and internationally. Woykin currently resides in Toronto, where he is completing a master of fine arts in film production at York ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Solie Awarded Griffin Prize

Karen Solie (BA '93) was the Canadian winner of the prestigious 2010 Griffin Poetry Prize for her collection of poems, Pigeon. One of Canada's acclaimed young poets, Solie first launched onto the scene with Short Haul Engine (2001), a finalist for the 2002 Griffin Poetry Prize and winner of many other awards and citations.

Past and Present

U of L alumnus, Darren Joblonkay.

During the summer of 2007, Darren Joblonkay (BSc '10) travelled with fellow U of L students under the direction of professor Dr. Shawn Bubel (BSc '96) to Tel Beth Shemesh, an archaeological site 20 km west of Jerusalem.

"I think the real 'aha moment' that led me to my career [in archaeology] was attending the field school at Tel Beth Shemesh," says Joblonkay.

Since then, Joblonkay has spent every summer working at archaeological digs around Israel. Joblonkay is now pursuing a master's degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto. In the summer of 2011, he will be digging at Tell Tayinat in Turkey, which he hopes will lead to his dissertation.

"I would like to eventually be a professor in Near Eastern Archaeology. I believe it was one of my mentors who told me once that 'any archaeologist would be lying if they said they didn't like digging up treasures,' but our discipline runs deeper than that," he says. "We attempt to preserve and understand humanity's cultural history. We are all captivated by what humans were able to achieve in the past."

Dow Finds Early Career Success

After graduation, Jazlyn Dow (BFA '10) worked on the millinery team for the Albert Ballet show Love Lies Bleeding, a contemporary ballet set to classic songs composed by Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Dow is now on a 10-month contract with the Canadian Opera Company as a wardrobe co-ordinator.

"This chandelier headdress for the Love Lies Bleeding production was so enormous that we had to build a separate crate just for it to travel," explains Dow.

Alumni Troupe Hit the Fringe

(L-R) - Cliff Kelly (BFA ’07), Amanda Blair (BFA ’08) and William Banfield (BFA ’06) in Happy Whackin’ Jim McCrackin.

Happy Whackin' Jim McCrackin, directed by Brent Felzien (BFA '06) and Neil LeGrandeur (BFA '06) and written by Amos Altman (BA '04, BFA '05), tells the comedic story of a veteran hit man who engages in some soul-searching while attempting to complete his last job.

Presented at the 2010 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, it received top reviews from the Edmonton Journal and SEE Magazine. The production featured William Banfield (BFA '06), Amanda Blair (BFA '08), Cliff Kelly (BFA '07) and Kimberlee Stadelmann (BFA '06) as stage manager.

Suriano Looks to Engage an Online Generation

Jason Suriano (BA '01) is using gaming as a means to enlighten a new generation of kids about science, history and technology. Recently, he launched Seek Your Own Proof, a new online game at Discoverykids.com. The game targets six to 12 year-olds and follows the story of three investigative siblings who discover a secret underground agency known as the Central Institute for Exploration (CIE).

The teens are quickly drawn into a chase through time and history against enemy agents who are plotting to rewrite the past, change the present and alter the future. Online users can play the game in traditional form but also have the option of taking field missions to real museums. The debut field mission involved facts around the King Tut exhibit at the Discovery Times Square Exposition in New York, N.Y. Other mission locations include the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton and the Galt Museum in Lethbridge.

U of L Alumnus to Lead Lethbridge

On Oct. 18, Rajko Dodic (BASc '78) was elected as mayor of Lethbridge. Fellow alumni joining Dodic on Lethbridge City Council as alderman are: Jeff Carlson (BFA '92), Liz Iwaskiw (BASc '77), Joe Mauro (BASc '83) and Bridget (Pastoor) Mearns (BA '95).

1970

Ralph Dilworth BASc '74, BEd '85, MEd '92

Dilworth, a teacher-librarian at Western Canada High School in Calgary, was featured in a Calgary Herald article called: Librarians We Love. Originally from Camrose, Alta., Dilworth is a former diplomat who, after graduating from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, went on to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and then at embassies in Poland, France and Yaounde, Cameroon; he speaks English, French, Spanish and Polish. Before becoming a teacher-librarian, he served as a teacher and writer of textbooks including a Social Studies 30 classic, written in French and used regularly in classrooms for a decade until it was recently updated. If stranded on a desert island, Dilworth cited The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky as his book of choice.

Annalee Hearn BEd '74

"After teaching for 30 years, I have retired and moved to Vegreville to be near my two granddaughters. I also have two grandsons living in Abu Dhabi."

JoAnn St. John BEd '75, DipEd '92, MEd '03

"I'm very excited to be coordinating and working in the FastForward High School Completion Initiative with Lethbridge School District #51. I have the opportunity to support, engage and assist young adults in completing their high school careers and moving onto post-secondary studies."

1980

Lynette Duncan BEd '81

"We are enjoying our first grandchild, Cameron Reed Stone Shackleford, born March 21, 2010."

Dawn Ronne BEd '84

"I am principal of Sunnyside School, an elementary school with Palliser Regional Schools."

Daniel Lynn BMgt '85

"Last year I migrated from Hong Kong to Vancouver, B.C."

Doug MacLaren BMgt '88

MacLaren is presently the CEO of the Resource Training Organization (RTO) in British Columbia. RTO oversees the management and development of apprenticeship training for the resource sector in B.C.

1990

Glen Trafford BEd '92

"Marie, Kyle and I moved to Okotoks in September 2009 so that I could become the general sales manager of Straightline Kia in Calgary. Marie has opened a remedial massage therapy clinic in Okotoks and we are settling into being back in Alberta."

Caroline Velie BA '94

"I obtained a bachelor of social work degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary in 2004 and obtained a master of social work degree from Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 2008."

Amanda Chow BA '96

"Hi everybody! I just want to keep in contact with the U of L – I have been missing the people, scene and life stories happening there. I am now a lecturer and teach social work in Hong Kong. Let's keep in touch, I miss you all."

John Granzow BA '99, MSc '10
Michael Granzow BA '06, MA '10

John and Michael, sons of the late Carl Granzow, both received their master's degrees at the 2010 Fall Convocation ceremony. John is currently pursuing a PhD at Stanford ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Michael is now living in Montreal. Their sisters, Andrea Klassen (BA '97, BEd '01) and Kara Granzow (BA '99), are ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduates as well.

2000

Aaron Barr BFA '02

Barr was a character surfacer for the newly released 3D movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. Among numerous other projects, he also worked on the movies The Ant Bully and The Wild. Barr currently works as a surfacer/modeller at Image Engine Design Inc. in Vancouver, B.C.

Nathan Crosby BA '04, BEd '06
Lisa (Polley) Crosby BSc '05

"Lisa and I just got married on Sept. 25, 2010. Although we did not meet at the
U of L, we were both friends with people at the U of L who knew each other. Small world!"

Jarrod Charron BMgt '05

"I recently accepted a media planning supervisor position at PHD, one of Canada's leading media and communications agencies. I will be overseeing media plans for Scotiabank. In January I was nominated for the 2010 Media Planner of the Year."

Sheena DeVries BMgt '06

"I am currently working for MIX 97.7 FM in Calgary. I previously worked at the Calgary Herald."

Michael Macintyre BA '06

Macintyre was recently installed as the new pastor for St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Spruce Grove, Alta. After graduation from the U of L, Macintyre moved to Saskatoon to attend Lutheran Theological Seminary. While at Seminary, he spent three weeks in Peru as a part of a cross-cultural experience. In April 2010, he graduated with a master of divinity degree.

Cyndy Packard BMgt '07

Packard passed the Chartered Accountants Uniform Evaluation (UFE) in 2009. She previously worked at KPMG in Lethbridge from September 2006 to May 2009. She is currently a manager at Quon & Associates in Calgary.

Alumni Relations
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge
4401 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Drive West
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4
Toll-Free: 1-866-552-2582
E-mail: alumni@uleth.ca

For a look at the full issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Whishaw among those receiving key to city

trevor.kenney — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:27:11 +0000

A number of notable residents of southern Alberta, including many with ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, will receive a key to the city from Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck this week.

Neuroscience researcher Dr. Ian Whishaw headlines an impressive group of residents set to be honoured by the outgoing mayor. He'll receive his key on Thursday, Oct. 7 at a ceremony which begins at 2 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 910 4th Ave. S.

Following is a complete list of those receiving keys to the city.

Mr. Ken Nakagama — Downtown business owner (Nakagama's Foods)

Senator Joyce Fairbairn — Member, Senate of Canada and U of L Honorary Doctoral degree recipient, 2004

Dr. Tracy Edwards — President, Lethbridge College

Mr. Kai Yip — Boxing coach, competitor and sports/recreation advocate

Mr. Kevin Sali — Manager, Canadian Pacific Railway and High Level Bridge lighting supporter/facilitator

The Hon. Rick Casson — Member of Parliament, Lethbridge, and recently-named Privy Council member

Dr. Ian Whishaw — Leading neuroscience researcher, member of the Royal Society of Canada and U of L Honorary Doctoral degree recipient, 2008

Ms. Rochelle Yamagishi — Author and U of L alumna BASc (BA) 1971, MEd 1991

Mr. Gary Kirk — Regional business owner, Kirk's Tire, and Faculty of Management Scholarship Dinner honoree, 2004

Chief Charles Weasel Head — Kainai First Nation

Chief Reg Crowshoe — Piikani First Nation

The public is welcome to attend the ceremony.

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:20 +0000

Chancellor named Citizen of the Year

Widely known as one Alberta's most influential people, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson was recognized in May as the Lethbridge Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Herald.

"Clearly in his law practice, his work with the Chamber of Commerce, his work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his work with virtually every other volunteer organization you could imagine, this is one cool dude," says Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck, who also presented Davidson with a key to the city. "This is the highest honour we can bestow upon anyone, and Richard is extremely deserving."

Davidson was appointed a Queen's counsel in 1986 and is a partner at the law firm of Davidson & Williams. In recognition of his many contributions to the community, he has received numerous awards including the Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Community.

U of L at forefront of water hub

World Water Day, on March 22, served as the perfect occasion for federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice to announce $1.5 million in funding for the creation of the Water and Environmental Sciences Water Hub at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Hub, which will be developed over the next two years, will serve as a data repository and will be an authoritative public source of information, providing tools to analyze water and environmental data. This data will be used by governments, industry, academia and the public to make more-informed decisions regarding water, and will create a better understanding of this resource by these stakeholders.

Prentice explains that the government needs reliable water data to make better decisions concerning water.

"To make good decisions, governments in Canada need good information – and it's not as though you can just turn on a tap to get it. We need knowledge generated by scientists and researchers who can provide the evidence for informed decisions about freshwater use," says Prentice.

Ellis welcomed as new management dean

On July 1, Dr. Robert (Bob) James Ellis will join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the new dean for the Faculty of Management.

Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Ellis is an accomplished administrator who successfully bolstered business programs at both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

With a collaborative and visionary approach, he has a strong record of attracting accomplished faculty and raising the research profile of programs. His current research focuses on increasing educational opportunities in society, specifically for aboriginal students in a business environment.

Ellis is looking forward to the creative atmosphere he sees within the Faculty.

"Throughout my career, my focus has always been to try and increase opportunities for students through the development of new courses or new programs," says Ellis. "The faculty at the U of L are very innovative, and I think at the forefront of management thought and action."

Ellis succeeds Dr. Murray Lindsay, who spent the past five years in the position and is returning to the academic community at the U of L.

Education dean O'Dea passes leadership to Loewen

After 10 years of incredible success, Dr. Jane O'Dea will step away from her role as dean of the Faculty of Education at the end of June. And while she is handing the reins of leadership over with plans to return to the classroom, she has no plans to leave the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Dr. Craig Loewen

"Absolutely not. This is a tremendous ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I love its size, I love its entrepreneurial innovative spirit and its emphasis on community and student engagement," says O'Dea.

Taking over the Faculty, Dr. Craig Loewen (BEd '84) will serve as acting dean for a two-year term.

A veteran faculty member, Loewen admits he will miss the classroom, but stands firmly in a belief that whatever the setting, teaching is an important calling.

"You're looking after the path, building for the future, caring about the kids of today. I find it really hard to see anything much more important than that," he says. "The person who you are can, at some point, be traced back to a teacher or mentor."

CREATE funding translates to employment opportunities

On June 10, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the recipient of the CREATE program award. The U of L will be the only institution in Alberta to receive the award this year.

With more than $1.6 million, the CREATE program award provides funding for approximately 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates working in satellite and other imaging programs, including photonics, climate change, civil engineering and optical networks.

Through the program, 20 projects will receive $32 million over six years, support that will help science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace.

As part of this, participating students will complete work placements with local, national and international organizations including companies such as Iunctus Geomatics, the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, NASA and several European research institutes.

U of L Vice-President of Research Dr. Dan Weeks says this will give students a strong mix of professional skills development and workforce preparation.

"The exciting aspect for me is the employment rate for graduates," says Weeks. "It isn't unreasonable to expect 100 per cent employment, because we are looking at this as a model that will provide for sustainable training for research workforce preparation."

Top 40 Under 40

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, a biological sciences and epigenetics researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, can now add recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM to an already long list of accomplishments.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk

Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM, a prestigious national award program, annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40.

With more than 1,200 nominees, honourees were selected by an independent advisory board based on five key criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.

"This is an outstanding award for Olga, the members of her lab team, for her research collaborators here and literally worldwide – and for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says U of L President Dr. Bill Cade.

"Olga has worked very hard to bring new research and new programs to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and has influenced countless young researchers. With her husband and research collaborator, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, they have brought new people with a wealth of international talent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It is an understatement to say that we are extremely proud of her achievement."

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair, as well as a Canadian Institute of Health Research Chair in Gender, Sex and Health, Kovalchuk focuses her research on the effects of long-term exposure to radiation, and how that exposure changes cellular and molecular structures in animals and people.

Inspired by her experience as a high school student living in Ukraine, only 600 kilometres from the nuclear Chernobyl blast, her work examines how radiation induces secondary tumours in cancer patients, the different effects radiation has on women and men, and what can be done to protect the children of radiation-exposed parents from contracting cancer.

Kovalchuk has also played a key role in working toward establishing an Alberta Institute for Epigenetics at the U of L.

Sakamotos give back

Ron and Joyce Sakamoto

Ron Sakamoto (LLD '03), or "Sak," as he is affectionately known, has presented shows from KISS to Shania Twain. In March, the concert provider and his wife, Joyce, announced a $200,000 donation in support of students in the U of L Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program. The gift will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total to $400,000.

Launched last fall, the DAA program is the first of its kind in Canada and produces graduates who are experts in music technology and have skills to integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research.

"The role of audio across all media has changed monumentally from the traditional broadcast media of the past. The culture of audio and visual media is growing and evolving rapidly," says Sakamoto.

"Joyce and I are happy to support students in the DAA program. These are the people who will be superstars in the years to come, and I look forward to the contributions this group will make to the music industry."

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Chancellor Davidson earns city honour

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:17:48 +0000

Over the course of his life, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge chancellor Richard Davidson has served the city of Lethbridge in a number of capacities, many from the volunteer perspective. So it was only fitting that the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Herald recognized Davidson as the Lethbridge Citizen of the Year at a luncheon Monday afternoon.

"Clearly in his law practice, his work with the Chamber of Commerce, his work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his work with virtually every other volunteer organization you could imagine, this is one cool dude," says Lethbridge mayor elect Bob Tarleck, who also presented Davidson with a key to the city. "This is the highest honour we can bestow upon anyone and Richard is extremely deserving."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson and his wife Denise.

Born and raised in Lethbridge, Davidson earned both his bachelor and law degrees from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1986 and is a partner at the law firm of Davidson & Williams, following in the footsteps of two previous generations of Davidson lawyers.

It is his service beyond his professional capacity however that has earned him the city's recognition.

"This tradition has grown in importance in the community because it's our opportunity to recognize people who have been tremendous builders in Lethbridge and southern Alberta," says Tarleck of the Citizen of the Year Award.

Lethbridge West MLA Greg Weadick says that Davidson's talent of bringing clarity to complicated discussions with divergent views is exceptional.

"He is always able to find that nut that you are looking for, that key element that brings it all together and it really is a unique talent he owns," says Weadick.

"He's one of those people that I can honestly say, when Richard comes to a meeting to speak, people stop and listen because he always has a well thought-out approach that people respect."

In 2000, Davidson was awarded the Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Community.

He was an honouree at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Management Scholarship Dinner in March 2002, and has received numerous community service awards, including the Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General in 1992, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005.

Actively involved in the Lethbridge Bar Association and a current member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association, the K-40 Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Country Club, Davidson's community service is extensive. He has served numerous organizations as either president, chairman or as a member of the board of directors. These organizations include: Kinsmen Club of Lethbridge; The Lethbridge Community Foundation; Lethbridge Society for Meals on Wheels; the United Way of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta; the City of Lethbridge Economic Development Advisory Committee; the Small Business Development Centre Committee; Lethbridge & District Community Futures Board of Directors; the YWCA Advisory Board; the Kidney Foundation of Canada; the Lethbridge Regional Hospital Foundation; the Lethbridge Country Club; the YMCA of Lethbridge; and the Chinook Health Region.

Through it all, he has performed in a selfless and humble manner.

"I'm blown away by all of this. I can honestly say I've truly enjoyed the time I've spent in the various volunteer activities I've pursued," says Davidson. "I'm deeply honoured. I know the people who came before me and I could not be more honoured to have my name put forward with the previous year's recipients. I am greatly honoured and very humbled."

He follows in the footsteps of previous winners Val Matteotti (2006), Dr. Gerald Bowie (2007), Del Allen (2008) and Dr. Keith Robin (2009).

Chancellor Davidson named Citizen of the Year

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:12:55 +0000