UNews - Washington

Mother's strength inspires legacy

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 17:57:23 +0000

Perhaps one of the most defining moments of the late Dorothy Lundstad’s life was one she was barely old enough to remember.

When Dorothy was only seven years old, her father died. This tragic event changed the trajectory of Dorothy’s life, and today is reflected in an award – the Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship – Dorothy established to honour her widowed mother.

The eldest daughter of Niels and Andrea Block, Dorothy moved with her family to the Millicent area from Washington in 1920. The family was together on their new homestead for only a few months when tragedy struck and Niels passed away at age 31 from pneumonia and complications of an infection.

Dorothy Lundstad spoke frequently and admiringly of her mother, eventually establishing a legacy gift from her inspiration.

While other family members came to help manage the farm, Dorothy’s mother and aunt purchased the Millicent Hotel as a means of supporting the young family. Andrea ran the hotel until 1939, when she fell ill. Andrea passed away in 1942, when Dorothy was 28.

Today, Dorothy’s family, including nieces Kristine Smith and Berna Moss, say Dorothy often shared many early memories of life at the hotel – stories of travellers, home-cooked meals and supportive locals.

Kristine says, however, Dorothy was most profoundly affected by her mother’s strength to rise up and overcome adversity – something that was well known throughout the family.

“Dorothy spoke frequently and admiringly of her mother, who was left as a young woman with two small children to raise and provide for when there were no social safety nets to help her,” says Berna.

Kristine agrees: “Dorothy learned a great deal about perseverance, tenacity and independence watching her mother run a hotel while ensuring her children were educated and well-cared for. She had a great deal of respect for her mother.”

Andrea’s influence in Dorothy’s life created an independent and adventurous woman who went on to engage life in a variety of ways: obtaining her teaching certificate, pursuing an accounting degree, serving in a factory in Eastern Canada during World War II, working as an X-ray technician and operating a dress shop.

Dorothy married in 1952 and farmed with her husband for years in the Claresholm area before moving to Lethbridge. They operated a hotel downtown for several years before selling it and purchasing one in Waterton. An avid gardener and pianist, Dorothy was active in her church and with her family, travelling with her nieces and cousins well into her 80s.

Throughout her life, Dorothy never forgot her roots, or the people of the Eastern Irrigation District. When Dorothy passed away in 2010, she honoured both her mother and those who rallied around her family in those early years with a bequest to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in her will.

The Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a student from the Eastern Irrigation District, where Dorothy spent her formative years. The first recipient of the award, 19-year-old mathematics major Nolan McIntyre, couldn’t be more grateful.

Lundstad's mother kept the family together and thriving through difficult circumstance.

“When I first received the letter saying that I had received the award, I was extremely pleased,” he says. “Then, when I received notice that I was the first recipient of the award I felt – and still feel for that matter – very blessed and thankful.”

Originally from Rosemary, Alta., Nolan says gifts designated for students from rural Alberta are greatly needed.

“Gifts such as the Andrea Block Memorial Scholarship are a huge help,” says Nolan. “The award helped pay for my education and, as a result, my whole first semester was paid for and I could focus on my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

With her gift, Dorothy is able to pay forward the help her family once received – for generations to come.

Calgary alumni dinner hosts Bremmer

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:14:40 +0000

He appears regularly on CNBC, has published articles in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times and Newsweek, all while presiding over the leading global political risk research and consulting firm. Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group, is the guest speaker for the 2013 Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner, Tuesday, Apr. 9 at The Fairmont Palliser.

"He is definitely one of the world's leading authorities on how political developments move markets," says Anil Tahiliani (BMgt '90), Chair of the Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner. "His insight on global macro political trends and the emerging markets they influence is especially relevant for our Calgary audience, many of whom are influenced daily by the changing political climate throughout the world and its effect on the markets with which they interact."

Bremmer founded Eurasia Group in 1998 with an initial investment of just $25,000. Today, the company has offices in New York, Washington and London, as well as a network of experts and resources around the world. He created Wall Street's first global political risk index, has authored several books, writes 'The Call' blog on ForeignPolicy.com and regularly appears on national television and radio programs as an acclaimed expert in his field.

"When we first introduced the Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner, our goal was to create an evening that would not only bring our alumni together in fellowship, but to give attendees a compelling and engaging speaker that reflects the values and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon. "Ian Bremmer is representative of the U of L's ever-growing international reputation as well as its continued emergence as a comprehensive research university."

Tickets for the Apr. 9 event are priced at $175 per plate and are available online at www.uleth.ca/conreg/calgarydinner or by calling ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Advancement toll-free at 1-866-552-2582 or e-mailing advancement.events@uleth.ca.

U.S. Consul General delivers guest lecture

trevor.kenney — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:07:06 +0000

Having just witnessed a Whitehouse changover thought to be a seminal moment in American history, Consul General of the United States, Tom Huffaker, comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a guest lecturer today in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library.

Huffaker, the Consul General of the United States of America for Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories will deliver a brief public lecture on recent developments in the U.S. government system at 1 p.m. in L1060.

Having been the U.S. Consul General in Calgary since August 2006, Huffaker focuses on energy and environment, agriculture and making sure that changes at the border enhance our security without burdening the movement of people and commerce.

He arrived in Calgary from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, where he was Deputy Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs. Previously, Huffaker served as Energy and Environment Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa (1999-2003), which followed a tour in Washington (1997-1999) as Chief Economist in the State Department's Office of Russian Affairs. He previously served in Moscow (1994-1996) in the Economic Section.

Educationally, Huffaker has a BA from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of California, Davis and a JD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of California, San Francisco, Hastings College of the Law. He is a member of the California Bar and completed the masters-level International Economics Program at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

UNews - Washington

Mother's strength inspires legacy

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Calgary alumni dinner hosts Bremmer

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