UNews - Campus Alberta

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Olds College enter new partnership

trevor.kenney — Thu, 28 May 2015 21:00:05 +0000

Creative design students from across Canada can take advantage of the first ever partnership between Olds College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Beginning with the Fall 2015 Semester, the new agreement provides for an easy transfer from Olds College’s Apparel Technology diploma program to a degree program in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts.

This innovative two-plus-two opportunity enables college students, who meet program criteria, to transfer to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and receive two years of credit for their previous studies at the College. These students enroll in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s post-diploma Bachelor of Fine Arts – Dramatic Arts program with a major in Technical/Design and finish their last two years of the degree program at the U of L.

“Consistent with the vision of Campus Alberta, this direct transfer agreement to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Bachelor of Fine Arts is a great example of simplifying our students’ transition to university,” says Teri McKinnon, Calgary Campus Manager, Olds College Fashion Institute. “The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues our students’ access to enhanced, personalized teaching from instructors with extensive experience in performing arts.”

“This agreement really adds value for students wanting to broaden their knowledge, and skills,” adds Dr. Edward Jurkowski, dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. “Students will have numerous opportunities to gain varied experience during their studies, given the enormous number of fine arts activities at the College, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and, in particular, within the Calgary and Lethbridge communities.”

At the U of L, Technical/Design majors combine academic studies with an immersive approach that prepares graduates for the ever-changing world of theatre, whether they want to work with established theatre companies or on their own artist plans.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ establishes first therapeutic recreation degree program in Alberta

trevor.kenney — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:46:10 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Sciences is unveiling a new post-diploma degree program that will advance the discipline of therapeutic recreation and eventually lead to the establishment of the first accredited therapeutic recreation degree in Canada.

The Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation is designed to prepare graduates to become eligible as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS), a career field that is emerging as one of the most promising growth professions in health care.

“In conversation with government, employers and other post-secondary institutions we became aware of the need in Alberta for a degree option in therapeutic recreation,” says Dr. Chris Hosgood, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. “In the spirit of Campus Alberta, we created a task force that included all stakeholders in the province, including NorQuest College and Lethbridge College, to develop a laddering opportunity for students to move into a two-year post-diploma degree program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

Therapeutic recreation is described as a process that utilizes functional intervention, education and recreation participation to enable individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional and social limitations to acquire or increase the skills and knowledge that allow them to enjoy the leisure aspects of their life.

What it translates to in the workforce is varied and open-ended.

“The profession is really client driven, having the client tell you what they need as opposed to a therapeutic recreation professional telling them what they need,” says Tristan Hopper, a CTRS and master’s student who is currently at the U of L supporting Dr. Jerry Singleton as he assists in setting up the new program. Singleton is on secondment from Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where a therapeutic recreation degree has been offered since 1990.

“I’ve worked in hospitals with clients who have a mental illness. People often think that therapeutic recreation has to be involving clients in sport, but some people aren’t into that,” says Hopper. “Maybe they just want to go to a coffee shop to meet friends and socialize but don’t know how to ride transit or how to properly order a drink once they get there. That’s all a part of what we do.”

The new degree program is being lauded by the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as addressing a provincial need. The program will begin accepting students for the Fall 2015 semester.

“This degree program supports ATRA’s mission to regulate therapeutic recreation through defined programs of study and educational courses for the purpose of registration requirements, a clearly defined entry level for applicants and continuing competence programs for practitioners, standards of practice and a code of ethics,” says ATRA Executive Director Dianne Bowtell. “With this clearly defined therapeutic recreation educational program in place in Alberta, the profession can advance the discipline to improve the health and quality of life of Albertans living with disabilities and illnesses, older adults and others who are marginalized in society.”

Those eligible to apply to the new degree program must first complete a therapeutic recreation diploma course, such as that offered at Lethbridge College. Singleton says the value of the added two years of study and a degree designation is substantial.

“Lethbridge College is doing great things with their program but a diploma allows graduates the ability to be a programmer, not a CTRS,” he says. “The two extra years will enable the individual to develop the critical thinking skills to not only provide an engagement opportunity but to assess the effectiveness of it and how it could be applied to help other individuals in the future. The degree also indicates to the field a minimum level of competency, a quality assurance that will enable graduates the opportunity to compete for positions across Canada and the United States.”

The U of L is also beginning the process by which the degree program will be professionally accredited, something that even Dalhousie has yet to pursue. It would make the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation the first accredited therapeutic recreation degree in Canada.

Update from President Mahon following meeting with Minister

trevor.kenney — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:06:00 +0000

April 12, 2013

Yesterday afternoon I, along with the other 25 presidents of Alberta's post-secondary institutions, met with the Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education, and other officials from the Ministry, to discuss the future of Campus Alberta and the letters of expectation issued to us shortly after the provincial budget. While we have not yet arrived at a position of absolute clarity, I am pleased that the presidents and the Minister have agreed to embark on a collaborative approach to work through these issues.

It was agreed that the timeline for approval on the letters of expectation would be extended to September to enable a more full discussion among faculty, staff and students at each of the institutions in the province. Additionally, the letters would form more of a "memorandum of understanding" reflecting the unique role each institution plays in the post-secondary sector, in the Alberta system overall and reflect the differentiation among each individual institution.

The Minister agreed that differentiation is important and that students must have options throughout the province – including in similar academic areas and that access to opportunity in large and small centres must be maintained. The Minister also affirmed the importance of basic research and applied research and that the government is interested in building research excellence across institutions. He also affirmed that the sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts are important to Alberta, as are professional programs. He emphasized that while our sector's impact on jobs is important so too is our impact on society, culture and quality of life.

I am pleased that the Minister has agreed that the letter of expectation process needs to be extended to allow for institutional discussions, sector discussion and system discussions. I think that the meeting helped to find common ground. I am optimistic that we will find a productive way forward, but there is no question that the budget challenges remain.

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Board Chair message, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ budget and letter of expectation

trevor.kenney — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:06:24 +0000

On Mar. 7, the Government of Alberta introduced the 2013-14 provincial budget. By now, many in our community will have read or heard of the financial impact this budget will have on the two post-secondary institutions in our city – Lethbridge College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ alone, this financial impact is a reduction of $11.9 million for this coming year and for every year that follows.

Having served as Chair of the Board of Governors for Lethbridge College and now as Chair of the Board of Governors of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and as a graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, I've been afforded the opportunity to witness the quality teaching and research conducted at these institutions. I have seen and experienced the dedication and commitment of the faculty and staff to students in all programs and their devotion to their respective fields of teaching, research and creative exploration. I, like many thousands in our community, enjoy the fine arts productions, and the continuing education offerings. I cheer for the Kodiak and Pronghorn athletic programs, I use the facilities regularly, I attend the lectures and am grateful for the unique benefits afforded to Lethbridge by having two outstanding post-secondary institutions in our hometown – a rarity in Canada for any city of our size. I am also concerned of the impact these reductions and proposed changes to the post-secondary education system in our province will have on our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and College.

The financial constraints being imposed on both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and College are significant and given the role both institutions play in our city, they will be felt well beyond the walls of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and College. As significant are the concerns raised by the Letters of Expectation presented to each of the 26 post-secondary institutions in Alberta. The Letters are still in draft form and I remain hopeful that they will accomplish what both the Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education have suggested - that our Universities and Colleges will comprise a world class post-secondary system renowned for its contributions to all elements of our society and a system that prepares students to be the citizens and leaders of tomorrow. While there is always room for improvement and greater efficiency, I would argue that we are already well on our way to accomplishing this vision for our system.

There is much public speculation about the responsiveness of Alberta institutions to the needs of students and the needs of employers. Both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and College are leaders in the province when it comes to collaboration and accessibility. It was the vision of successive Lethbridge MLA's John Gogo and Clint Dunford that created the concept of Campus Alberta. In turn, it was the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College that created the standard for easy and seamless transfer for students in programs like Nursing and now in Management. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ shares a campus with Concordia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ College in Edmonton and early next month will celebrate a partnership with Bow Valley College, Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Olds College in downtown Calgary that truly is expressive of what the Campus Alberta concept can and should be.

As for responsiveness to the needs of employers, I can speak from personal experience that my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ education prepared me well for my career and it prepared me well to be an active and engaged contributor to my community. Personal passion and curiosity are hallmarks of the most successful people in our society. As such, the education a student receives during their post-secondary experience at times will be targeted specifically to a particular job but should also be reflective and preparatory of the long and varied career the individual has before them. Given this, there is a significant role for both the College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the creation of the workforce for our province and there is a significant role for all of the academic programs offered as it is these programs that enable individuals to pursue their personal passions and curiosity.

The Board of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is incredibly diligent and committed to the fiduciary responsibilities assigned to it and the members take seriously the stewardship role that is imparted to them when they accept the volunteer role of Board member. I know from experience that the College Board has the same level of commitment. Any suggestion that there is wastefulness or "fat" at either school is false. I know the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ operates very cost-effectively because our Board demands it of the administration. The resources of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are specifically targeted to the areas that are of greatest importance – the students and the programs. National recognition bestowed on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ speaks to this. Maclean's consistently ranks the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge very high and most recently placed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ 3rd nationally. Research Infosource recognized the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year – Undergraduate Category this year. These are significant accomplishments and illustrate clearly the quality of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ we have in our community. They also display a momentum that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has created and it is this momentum that I am hopeful will not be lost as a result of our current challenge. This is a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ we should be proud of not only for its accomplishments but because it is our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ - born of our community and fought for diligently by our civic, business and community leaders in the 1960's.

I am hopeful that the outcome of the current provincial dialogue will not diminish the quality or reputations of our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and College. We owe that to those who helped create these institutions and more importantly, we owe that to those who have yet to experience these great institutions.

Sincerely,

Gord Jong
Chair, Board of Governors
The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge draft letter of expectation

trevor.kenney — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:44:06 +0000

Late on Friday, Mar. 22, I received the draft of the anticipated Letter of Expectation from the Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education (EAE). We had previously been informed that this draft letter was not for public distribution. But, having reviewed its content and discussed the matter further with EAE, I have made the decision to share it with our community.

The letter outlines expectations of the province's publicly-funded post-secondary institutions, including the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The draft letter includes many considerations for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in regard to programs, learners, collaboration, governance and research. Some of these considerations – like learner pathways - were introduced at a meeting of the Campus Alberta Strategic Directions Committee on Jan. 15, 2013. I was in attendance at that meeting, along with the other presidents of Alberta post-secondary institutions. There were not a lot of details provided then and as you will note in the letter, there still are few details available that would enable us to respond with clarity and certainty.

The letter is in a draft form and I am hopeful that the Minister and EAE officials will engage in the dialogue, as they have publicly indicated they would, with Alberta post-secondary institutions. There are points in the letter that align with the role the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge already plays in the province and reflects many processes and commitments the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ currently performs.

There are however many additional points that are very concerning and require a great deal more detail, understanding and discussion. On Apr. 11, the presidents of Alberta's post-secondary institutions have been invited to a meeting with government officials to discuss the draft letters and the future directions for Campus Alberta.

To view the draft letter and to provide comments to help inform the response of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to it, I would encourage you to do so at http://www.uleth.ca/budget-finance/draft-letter. Please provide your feedback prior to Tuesday, Apr. 2 so that ideas that emerge may be incorporated into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's response. Our response will be further informed by the governance bodies of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Creating opportunity

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:52:23 +0000

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur is used to helping people resolve challenges – she works as an employment counsellor – but receiving the inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies scholarship helped her solve a very significant challenge of her own: how to fund the balance of her master's degree studies.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students, including Ladouceur, who is completing her master's degree in counselling psychology through the U of L's Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur (left) and Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, celebrate the creation of a scholarship fund to support graduate and undergraduate Métis students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and finish my research," says Ladouceur, moved to tears during her comments at the launch event.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to support them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year – six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and $10,000 awarded to graduate student Ladouceur.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon. "There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

Jared Anderson, (Raymond, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program, Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program, Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program, Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program, Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA), Amy Smith, (The Pas, Man.) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program.

This story first appeared in the February 2012 edition of The Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Métis Nation of Alberta creates U of L endowment fund

trevor.kenney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:52:18 +0000

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year, including six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and one $10,000 award to a graduate student.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the President of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon.

"There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

In addition to $15,000 directed to six undergraduate students, Christie-Dawn Ladouceur will receive $10,000 toward her master's degree in counselling psychology, a program she is completing through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization, where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and complete my research," says Ladouceur.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to help them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

- Jared Anderson, (Raymond, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program

- Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program

- Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

- Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program

- Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA)

- Amy Smith, (The Pas, MB) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

The inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies recipient this year is:

- Christie-Dawn Ladouceur, (Edmonton, AB) enrolled in a Master of Counselling Psychology program through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

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.

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

Melnyk enthused about role with Calgary chapter

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:46:18 +0000

Enthusiastic, positive and goal-oriented, Brock Melnyk (BMgt '06), president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) Calgary Chapter and financial advisor for ATB Securities Inc., is thrilled that his life is going as planned. He thanks, in part, the education he received at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's satellite campus in Calgary.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is providing such an amazing opportunity for students. I am indebted to them because if it wasn't for the flexibility and the evening classes at the Calgary campus I would likely not have graduated from university and I probably would not have the job I have now," explains Melnyk. "I had a goal to be married at 30 and have this job. I am getting married at 29 and I have my dream job. I am the happiest person in the world."

Brock Melnyk and his fiance, Terri-Lynn Good, plan to be married this summer.

Melnyk originally began his post-secondary educational career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary. In 2002, he began working full time as a teller at ATB to pay for his classes, switching majors from economics to finance. He then made another switch, finding the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge a better fit for his educational needs. With additional financial assistance from ATB, he transferred to the U of L's Calgary campus for his final two years, took evening classes and continued to work full time.

"In comparing my education to those of my friends at other institutions, I found that the liberal arts focus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was a much more balanced approach," says Melnyk. "The majority of professors are industry professionals and they are able to tell you real life experiences, which is fantastic. They are there, dedicating their time in the evening to educate and give back to their community and they are so passionate about the students and the material.
"I remember doing a project with my friend Jeff Wilson, who is now the vice president of the ULAA Calgary chapter. Basically, we predicted the whole income trust issue a few years before it happened. It was one of those moments that you don't realize until after you graduate how your professors led you to these types of conclusions and how good your education really was. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was such a tight-knit community with really high-level class discussions; that really pushed me forward and prepared me for my future."

After graduating in 2006, Melnyk continued to advance his career with ATB. For the next several years, his career and volunteer activities kept him quite busy, but he felt disconnected with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. With that in mind, he attended his first alumni event in 2007, the Calgary Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament.

"I went to the tournament and Karen Filbert, ULAA president at the time, proceeded to recruit me as a director. When I joined the board I joined to help out with the golf tournament and then I fell back in love with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and with being involved and wanting to do more," says Melnyk. "Since then we have almost quadrupled the attendees at the tournament, and with the funds we raised from that we have doubled the scholarship we give to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Our focus right now is to have well-attended, high-end events that will appeal to all alumni, help them stay interconnected and feel proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. We want to increase the prestige of the U of L and its alumni here in Calgary and encourage alumni to get involved and give back to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the community and I think the new campus that we have here, Campus Alberta, is only going to support that."

Although being president of the ULAA Calgary chapter keeps Melnyk busy right now, he strongly believes in the value of continuing education. He says he has learned that if you set your mind to things, you can always find the time for life-long learning and for helping others.

"I am beginning my MBA at Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in September 2012. I believe if you want to succeed you have to further your education," he says. "Similarly, as university graduates we are likely in a better position than the majority of Canadians, and I think it is important that we give back, whether it is financially or with our time. There is always someone who needs it more than we do and it is nice to be able to lend a helping hand."

GET THE FACTS

· Melnyk is a self-professed Gleek (fan of television show Glee) and amateur chef.

· He earned his Certified Financial Planner qualification in 2010 and anticipates being named a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers this year.

· Organizes the Brock Melnyk Invitation Golf Tournament. Part of ATB Financial's Teddy for a Toonie Campaign, the tournament supports the Alberta's Children's Hospital.

· He is also an organizing committee member for the annual United Way Day of Caring.

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

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