UNews - ambassador

Lasting Images with Fred Greene

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 17:09:23 +0000

Fred Greene grew up in Calgary, Alta. and spent the first 20 years of his career as a conservator with organizations including the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the Centro di Conservazione Archeologica (Italy) and the Conservation Department at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.

Fred Greene will now have more time to devote to his many other passions, such as playing the guitar.

Greene travelled extensively, working on ancient sites and with collections of cultural objects throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa and the former Soviet Union. Upon settling in Lethbridge, Greene completed his Bachelor of Arts at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1998, and began working as the administrative manager of the U of L Art Gallery the following year.

Greene’s focus, energy and vast conservation knowledge have increased the quality of care and management of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s art collection, and he was instrumental in the development of the online database that allows digital access to nearly 14,000 collection artworks. Greene is an enthusiastic ambassador for the Art Gallery and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a whole, and has been dedicated to supporting students’ interdisciplinary education and interaction with works of art. When Greene retires on Sept. 18, people across campus will miss his cheerful greetings in the halls, stories of exotic locales and discussions of the best eateries in Rome.

Please join the staff of the Art Gallery for Coffee’s On Fred – a coffee break retirement celebration, 9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre Lobby (W500). A Salute to Fred begins at 9:45 a.m.

Fred's Art Collection Favourites:

John C. Forbes, Still Life with Melons, 1900. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Purchased in 1984 with funds provided by the Alberta Endowment Fund.

Ronald J. Spickett, Horses in Motion (a), 1967. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Canaccord Capital Corporation, 1995.

Horns bolstered by Kodiak recruits

trevor.kenney — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:02:17 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen has begun re-tooling the men's basketball roster with the signing of a pair of ACAC all-stars from the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

Hansen announced the signing of southern Alberta products Rob Olsen and Jared Baker on Monday afternoon, wlecoming a pair of players whom Hansen previously coached at Lethbridge College during the 2009-2010 season. Olsen and Baker then embarked on their two year missions for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. This past fall, both returned to the Kodiaks program and did not miss a beat, finishing one-two in team scoring.

Both Olsen and Baker have also excelled in the classroom, with each being named CCAA Academic All-Canadians this past season.

Olsen, a 6'1" guard from Cardston, Alta., finished fifth in South Division scoring averaging just over 19 points per game and was named an ACAC first team all-star, while shooting 49.6% from the field and over 47% from behind the arc. He also added 6 rebounds per game and 2.39 assists.

Prior to joining the Kodiaks, Olsen starred for the Cardston Cougars and was named the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League MVP in his final season (2008-09).

"Rob is an incredible talent and an outstanding young man," says Hansen. "I believe Rob is the best player to come out of Cardston since his uncle and former high school coach Ken McMurray. Ken was an all-Canadian for the Horns and I'm confident that Rob will have the same success with us."

Hansen adds that Olsen is also very accomplished off the court and represents the ideal of the Canada West student-athlete.

"Rob represents everything we look for in a recruit, he was not only an all-star, but a CCAA Academic All-Canadian. He is a character kid and will be a great ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

A Raymond, Alta., product, Jared Baker was named an ACAC second-team all-star this past season and averaged 15 points per game for the Kodiaks, while adding just under 6 rebounds and 3.13 assists per contest.

In high school, Baker was a two sport athlete, winning provincial titles for the Raymond Comets in both football (2008) and Basketball (2009). He led the Southern Alberta High School Basketball League in scoring in grade 11 with 24.1 points per game and was named league MVP in 2007-08.

"I'm very excited to be coaching Jared again," says Hansen. "He is such an incredible competitor and is willing to do whatever is needed for a team to be successful.

"He has evolved from being a shooter to an all-around player. Jared has a high basketball IQ and the success he's experienced playing for Todd Heggie's Raymond teams shows in the way he carries himself. His CCAA Academic All-Canadian also demonstrates that Jared expects excellence for himself."

The men's basketball team will look to round out its 2013-14 recruiting class in the coming weeks.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of DeBow

trevor.kenney — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:19:30 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Community offers its most sincere condolences to the family, many friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Shirley DeBow, a Lethbridge-based community volunteer, social worker and educator who served as the 10th Chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge from 2003 – 2007.

Shirley passed away on Monday, March 25, at age 68.

She is survived by her husband Gerald DeBow, and their three children – Jeremy, Suzanne and Adrienne – and their families.

A memorial service has yet to be confirmed.

This notice will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Shirley served the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and broader community with enthusiasm, good humour and dedication, and participated in a host of community activities as Chancellor that served to strengthen the relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the Lethbridge community at large.

She served on the U of L Senate from 1993 to 2001, as well as a number of U of L-specific committees and groups, and received an Honorary Degree from the U of L in 2008 for her extensive community service efforts.

During her time as Chancellor, she either hugged or (was hugged by) more than 6,000 students who were welcomed into the U of L family and helped establish the Senate Volunteer award, as well as an endowed Senate Scholarship for students, among other outreach activities.

"The U of L has long been fortunate to have strong community support and committed volunteers and Shirley DeBow was very much one of those people," said Dr Bill Cade, who served as U of L President during Shirley's term as Chancellor.

"She devoted much time and effort to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ activities over the years, especially in her role as ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Chancellor. This was a job that Shirley loved and was ideally suited for. She performed her duties with much class and with genuine interest in the well being of our students.

Cade said that Shirley also served as an outstanding ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and worked tirelessly with the broader southern Alberta community to advance the U of L.

"One of Shirley's most significant legacies was the establishment of the Senate Scholarship Fund. Shirley provided leadership at a critical time when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate launched a drive to raise scholarship funding for outstanding students. They were very successful and the fund continues to this day. It was a pleasure to work with Shirley in her capacity as Chancellor of the U of L. Elsa and I will miss her and we offer our condolences and best wishes to her family at this time."

Shirley's care and concern for people extended far beyond her immediate family, and she was forever a Maritimer, no matter how much time she spent on the prairies. Shirley was born in Nova Scotia (delivered by the doctor-father of Canadian music artist Anne Murray)and spent her childhood on Cape Breton Island, where her father served as an Anglican priest.

She attended Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, the Maritime School of Social Work, and, after moving to Alberta in 1966, attended the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Faculty of Social Work.

She accepted a position as a social worker with the Government of Alberta, then progressed to NAIT, where she launched the first Social Services Worker program.

Shirley took this experience to the newly-established Grant MacEwan Community College in 1971, where, as the institution's 5th full-time employee, she established several key outreach programs and was particularly proud of an outreach program that she personally delivered to remote and northern locations of the province. She became the Head of the Social Services program, and was an instructor within the program until moving to Lethbridge in 1984.

In Lethbridge, she taught at Lethbridge Community College on a part-time basis and worked as a Social Worker/Supervisor of Social Work Programs at FamilyCare Inc., training and certifying social workers in several communities in southern Alberta, including the Town of Claresholm, the Kainai first Nation and the Siksika First Nation.

She will be remembered as the ultimate grandmother who was fiercely proud of her family, as a gracious host who welcomed people from all walks of life into her world, and as a community volunteer who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for organizations in need.

Condolences may be sent to the family at this address: senate@uleth.ca

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to strengthen research, partnerships in Ukraine

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:44:53 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dan Weeks is participating in a mission that includes Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Deans that will formalize linkages between Canada and Ukraine, and their post-secondary sectors.

The mission, which takes place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, includes universities in all regions of Canada and aims to increase higher education co-operation, increase student recruitment and two-way student exchanges, position higher education collaboration for possible funding and sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ukrainian Rectors and the CBIE.

Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk, will launch the mission during a seminar hosted by the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

During a series of workshops at the Taras Shevchenko National ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Kyiv, Weeks will moderate a discussion between members of the Canadian delegation and Ukrainian universities to determine future areas of academic and research collaboration.

"The international relevance of the research conducted at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge increases every day," says Weeks. "This is due to individual efforts and interests of our researchers, but also as a result of the increasing importance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is placing on creating and nurturing international partnerships. Ukraine provides key opportunities for Canadian universities."

Current linkages the U of L has with Ukraine include the work of Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, who has been involved in the detailed analysis of the genetic consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Also, last year Fine Arts Faculty member Taras Polataiko's exhibition, Sleeping Beauty, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, generated worldwide media interest. The U of L attracts students from about 90 different countries worldwide and is currently home to both undergraduate and graduate students from Ukraine.

Several Memoranda of Understanding will be signed during the mission, including an overarching agreement between CBIE and the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

Expanding the internationalization of the U of L is a key strategic direction identified in the 2009-13 strategic plan. U of L President Mike Mahon reiterated that message in an open letter to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community released last year, entitled the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – Alberta's Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

CBIE's news release regarding the Ukraine mission can be found athttp://www.cbie-bcei.ca/?p=11515.

Von Heyking recognized with merit award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:33:19 +0000

Sonya von Heyking (CA, CIA, BMgt '03 Great Distinction) is one of 22 Alberta-based chartered accountants being honoured with a 2012 Merit Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (ICAA) for making significant contributions to charitable and community causes, as well as to the CA profession.

An internal auditor with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since May 2006, von Heyking is being awarded an Early Achievement Award, presented to CAs who, within the first 10 years since qualifying, have demonstrated excellence in professional, civic, charitable, community or other services. Von Heyking received her CA designation in 2006, and prior to joining the U of L, worked at KPMG in Lethbridge.

Reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board of Governors, von Heyking has worked on numerous projects that have helped to streamline processes or affect savings or efficiencies for the U of L, including H1N1 preparedness, supplier selection processes and analysis of various activities related to strategic priorities.

Internal auditor Sonya von Heyking is a 2012 Merit Award winner.

"We are extremely proud of Sonya's achievement," says Bob Turner, the U of L Board of Governors Chair. "Sonya is a valuable member of our administrative team, and has an excellent working relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. In her position, she looks at many different aspects of our business and financial environment, and has a varied skill set that enables her to advise the Board and our senior administrative group with a high level of confidence. This recognition by the ICAA affirms what we already know, and appreciate, about her service to the U of L."

Von Heyking has also earned her CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) designation, making her one of the few CAs in the province with that distinction. As well, she presents at numerous conferences, recently earning a trip to the Institute of Internal Auditors 'All Stars' international conference – an opportunity based on positive feedback from colleagues, audiences and conference organizers.

Among other projects, von Heyking designed assurance engagements that allowed U of L students to conduct actual audit work under her guidance, and present their reports to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Audit Committee. This project was extremely successful and benefitted both the students and Internal Audit.

As an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta Centennial Ambassador, von Heyking also volunteered extensively in 2010 to establish a long-term fund supporting academic awards in local high schools. Through contributions by Lethbridge and area chartered accountants, the project ultimately raised sufficient funds to provide 60 annual awards to local high school students.

"The ICAA is, once again, honouring a tremendous class of Merit Award recipients," says Blair Nixon (Q.C. FCA), president of the ICAA. "Each of this year's recipients, including Ms. von Heyking, have left a positive impression on those around them. Throughout the profession's history, CAs have been known for making a difference in Alberta's communities – and within the profession. As always, this year's recipients live up to that reputation."

In total, 22 Alberta recipients will be officially recognized at the 2012 Merit Awards Gala, which takes place June 22 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

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

Von Heyking recognized with merit award

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:40:34 +0000

Internal auditor Sonya von Heyking is a 2012 Merit Award winner.

In total, 22 Alberta recipients will be officially recognized at the 2012 Merit Awards Gala, which takes place June 22 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

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

Honorary degree recipients make contributions

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:04:55 +0000

The 2011 Honorary Degree Recipients

A distinguished group of four people make up the Spring Convocation list of Honorary Degree recipients. In each instance, it is apparent that this group gave a great deal to their vocational field but more than anything, they gave back to society.

Maude Barlow

Maude Barlow is a widely published author, leader in the International Water Justice Movement, senior advisor on water to the 63rd president of the United Nations General Assembly and the founding member and national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

Clint Dunford

Clint Dunford is a business consultant and four-term member of the Alberta Legislature (Lethbridge West) who was instrumental in the creation and launch of Campus Alberta and WorkSafe Alberta, among other initiatives. A cancer survivor, Dunford served as the honorary chairman of the Canadian Cancer Society's Walk for Life.

Kim Phuc

Kim Phuc is a noted humanitarian and subject of the famous photograph of a young Vietnamese girl fleeing her village after a horrific napalm attack. Phuc founded the Kim Phuc Foundation and is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for a Culture of Peace.

Gordon Semenoff

A Pincher Creek-born theoretical physicist, Gordon Semenoff is a professor of physics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia. He was the 2010 Bertram Brockhouse medal winner and is a renowned expert on quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, statistical mechanics and string theory.

Senate to recognize Rasmussen with annual award

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:01:51 +0000

Elisha Rasmussen, a valued member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate and a revered advocate for the interests of the U of L and the value of post-secondary education, is the 2011 Senate Volunteer Award recipient.

Over the past several years, Rasmussen has led the Senate Honorary Degree Search Committee, and, under her leadership, has increased the profile of the honorary degree program. An experienced and accomplished journalist, Rasmussen drew on that expertise to spread the word about honorary degrees both internally and externally. As a result, while once there were just two or three honorary degree nominations, the committee now receives 10 to 12 each year.

Elisha Rasmussen has been a long-time advocate for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Rasmussen's contributions go far beyond her work with the Senate. Over the years she has served the U of L in a number of volunteer capacities, such as welcoming international students as a part of the Hospitality Committee, serving with her husband Collin in the Family Friendship program and assisting at numerous convocation ceremonies by pouring tea, greeting guests and providing transportation. She and Collin would routinely help welcome students to campus from places such as South Korea, Germany, Mexico, France, Poland and Ghana by hosting family dinners and including them in other community events.

An exemplary ambassador for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and a gracious host, Rasmussen is a worthy recipient of the 2011 Senate Volunteer Award.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

2011 Honorary Degree Recipients

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:34:32 +0000

The 2011 Honorary Degree Recipients

Maude Barlow

Clint Dunford

Kim Phuc

Gordon Semenoff

Hansen benefits from personal touch

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:25:57 +0000

A Wikipedia search led Danish student Stine Hansen to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's web door, but it was the personal attention she received thereafter that brought her to campus.

Hansen is in her fourth year, thriving as an international student with her eyes set on completing a degree in urban and regional studies. Now an ambassador for the U of L experience, she's a far greater resource than any Wikipedia link.

"Everything I learned about Lethbridge before I moved here, I learned on Wikipedia," she laughs, admitting now that to pack up and leave Denmark to study in Lethbridge, Alberta was a major leap of faith.

International student Stine Hansen found the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through Wikipedia.

"It was a bit of a risk but my parents were, surprisingly enough, very supportive," says the 27-year-old. "The registrar's office was really good helping me with my courses and transcript, and I just got a really good feeling about the place.

"I also got such good support from the International Centre for Students (ICS). They told me what to expect when I arrived, how to get settled, when to arrive, and how they would help me. At the time, because of all that support, it didn't seem that big a deal to sell everything I owned, pack three suitcases and move here. Looking back it was a little bit crazy."

You might think her assimilation into Canadian culture was an easy one. Hansen's a European who speaks English, and she had been motivated to come study in Canada after a high school exchange program took her to Nova Scotia when she was 16. But the culture, food and lifestyle are markedly different and it began to hit her on the drive from the Calgary airport to Lethbridge.

"The first town I went through was Nanton, then Claresholm, then Fort
Macleod and I really started to wonder what I had gotten myself into," she says, having grown up 20 minutes from Copenhagen and recently lived there. "I came into Lethbridge on a rainy Sunday afternoon – it looked deserted and I felt very alone."

She once again used the International Centre for support. Hansen attended the various meet and greet sessions with other international students, took advantage of the Global Connections partner program and signed up to play intramural soccer.

"If you're shy you're never going to get anywhere, you really have to open up. I used to be a shy person but now, I figure you have to step out there," says Hansen.

Her studies followed suit, and she quickly found that the personal attention she received from ICS and the registrar's office was reflected in her classes.

"That's what I like so much about the U of L, it's a small campus and pretty much every class I've ever had I can go to the professors and say, "I don't get this", and they'll sit down and help you out," says Hansen. "They really try, they know your name and I really like that."

Originally interested in pursuing a career in urban planning, she changed her focus to the study of human geography and found a special kinship with anthropology professor, Dr. Jan Newberry. She's excited to work on an Independent Study program with Newberry this summer.

"When I go back home I always say how much I love doing what I'm doing," says Hansen. "Even here, I've convinced a few people to come into my major. I love the multidisciplinary aspect of it, because you can study anthropology, sociology, geography, it's been great."

In fact, Hansen credits women's studies professor, Dr. Tiffany Muller Myrdahl, with setting her on a career path.

"She suggested I attend the Association of American Geographers' Annual Meeting last year. I went with another international student to Washington, D.C., and I came away knowing this is what I wanted to do. I really appreciate her showing that to me," says Hansen, who intends to pursue a master's degree in geography of disability and transportation.

Her success as a student has not been easy, and it hasn't been a straight line but because of support from all over campus, Hansen is eager to talk about her U of L experience. It's why she jumped at the opportunity to participate in the recent International Student Fair in the Atrium, where students from around the globe constructed tri-fold displays to help educate campus about their home nations.

"We got out there and the people who wanted to ask questions got that opportunity," she says. "It's definitely worth doing again. I believe if I only reach a few, it's still a success. I think there's a misconception that international students are only from the Far East but we are a really diverse group and maybe I'm the only one from Denmark but that's OK."

GET THE FACTS

• Post-secondary education in Denmark is free, prompting Hansen to quip, "My parents really love me."

• Hansen's older sister completed a master's degree in economics from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Copenhagen.

• Hansen became ill during her second semester and credits ICS liaison officer Charlene Janes for helping her through. "She is the best person ever. The ICS staff really knows its students and Charlene knew what was best for me at that time. Every time my parents come to visit, they make sure they go visit Charlene because they appreciate how much she looks after us."

• Hansen's tri-fold display highlighted the differences between Canadian and Danish Christmas traditions. She was also eager to tell people just where Denmark is in the world. "I love to talk about my country and I don't expect everyone to know. The Fair was great because I got a chance to show them what my Denmark is like."

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - ambassador

Lasting Images with Fred Greene

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