UNews - Allied Arts Council

CASA opens its doors

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:08:05 +0000

The City of Lethbridge, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are excited to announce the Grand Opening of CASA, a truly functional 42,000 square foot arts centre with a striking building design.

CASA is the realization of a 20-year dream, shared by many in the Lethbridge arts community, to expand or replace the Bowman Arts Centre and provide a home for the arts in one central location.

"I am very pleased to participate in today's celebration, which will usher in new opportunities for Lethbridge and southern Alberta's artistic community," says Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

"Worthwhile projects such as this create jobs and encourage economic growth, while also providing Canadians with valuable cultural spaces."

Funding for the $20.69 million project includes $6 million from the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (with $3 million provided by both the Federal Government and Alberta Transportation under BCF-CC), $14.4 million from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (administered by Alberta Municipal Affairs) and $200,000 from the City of Lethbridge.

"We're pleased to support local priorities and build communities through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative," says Greg Weadick, Associate Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs and MLA for Lethbridge-West.

"Facilities like CASA bring together families and neighbours while they enrich lives, entertain and create more vibrant economies."

CASA will allow for students of all ages to learn and explore many different mediums of art, drama, music, dance, yoga and more. It will become home to many local groups and events.

After the 11 a.m. Grand Opening, and for the remainder of the week, special events will be taking place in the evenings, with a Party On the Plaza from noon until 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. This community festival is free and will include many local musicians and entertainers, from the Lethbridge Community Taiko Association to the U of L Conservatory of Music.

Other events during the week include dance, theatre, film, the inaugural CASA art exhibit opening and the music of Oscar Lopez.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music has numerous events planned that showcase both the new facility and their diverse programs.

U of L Conservatory information, including program registration and upcoming events listings, can be found at this website.

"Our local arts community has been waiting for this day for a long time. For decades to come, this new arts facility will be a significant cultural and economic asset for downtown Lethbridge and for the entire community," says Mayor Rajko Dodic.

Along with the Allied Arts Council, who will be overseeing the facility, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is also a major partner with its Music Conservatory moving to this facility.

"We are extremely proud of U of L Music Conservatory Director Peggy Mezei and her team, and their achievements as they move in to CASA's bright and beautiful space," says Dr. Mike Mahon, the U of L's President and Vice-Chancellor. "Our commitment to the community takes on many forms, and being such an integral part of the CASA group is something we are very pleased to be a part of. This new facility will be of great benefit to our present and future Conservatory students, and also to the many members of the arts and culture community who use the facility to express their own creativity."

The Rotary Clubs of Lethbridge have also provided support to the project which has led to the naming of the Rotary Plaza, the location of the festivities on Saturday, May 18.

CASA will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 pm. on Sundays. Classes and workshops, including the opportunity to try "sampler" classes for a nominal fee, will begin the week of May 20.

Information on Grand Opening Week events as well as information on classes, workshops, facility rentals and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Music Conservatory can be found at the CASA website.

Campaign surpasses goal

trevor.kenney — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:05:33 +0000

Music in the Making fundraising campaign surpasses $650,000

Elected representatives, funding partners and a handful of local arts community members got a close-up look at the new Community Arts Centre today.

With construction on time, on budget and now halfway to completion, the City of Lethbridge held a briefing and tour of the $20.7-million facility for federal, provincial and municipal officials.

Also present were local artists and representatives of the Allied Arts Council as well as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music, which will be a major tenant when the Community Arts Centre opens in May, 2013.

Support for the U of L Music Conservatory's move to the downtown location has been overwhelmingly positive, and is natural extension of an already-productive City/��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ partnership, according to U of L President Mike Mahon.

"The City of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have a long history of partnering together to improve the personal well-being of individuals and families, and to enhance the quality of life in local and regional communities," says Mahon. "We are excited to be a key tenant in the new Community Arts Centre as we work with other members of the southern Alberta community to improve access to the arts in our community."

Mahon says that community support was critical to the extremely successful conclusion of the Music in the Making fundraising campaign, launched last year to support the Conservatory's move downtown.

"We set a goal of $500,000, and I am pleased to say that we exceeded it by more than $150,000. Our volunteers and Lottie Austin and George Evelyn, who co-chaired this campaign, have good reason to be proud of the future opportunities their work will provide to current and future Conservatory students."

Funded by the Building Canada Fund – Community Components (BCF-CC) program, Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI), and the City of Lethbridge, the Community Arts Centre will serve as a local arts education hub and become the new off-campus home of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's music conservatory. In addition, an enhancement to the south-east entrance plaza area is being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge.

"Today's tour highlights the Government of Canada's commitment to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity," said Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

"Once completed, this project will further strengthen our city's creative community, while providing new opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Lethbridge's cultural attractions."

Sculpture speaks to artistic culture on campus

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:01:58 +0000

An idea that started over a beer and was roughly drafted on a napkin has evolved into the latest addition to the City of Lethbridge Public Art Collection.

Aeolian Aviary, a collaborative installation by U of L alumni and art professor Denton Fredrickson and Art Studio facility manager Catherine Ross, was recently unveiled in its permanent location on the east side of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG).

Fredrickson and Ross were awarded the public art commission following a competition that attracted 40 submissions from across Canada and beyond. The selection committee consisted of representatives from Allied Arts Council, SAAG, a community member, an artist and a technical expert.

"It is exactly these kinds of awards and achievements that reflect so well on the creative and research work of the members of the Faculty of Fine Arts," says Desmond Rochfort, Faculty of Fine Arts dean. "It also helps to highlight the excellence of our creative activities and research endeavours, and underscores why the U of L Faculty Fine Arts is increasingly the place of choice in Alberta for those wishing to study fine arts.

Aeolian Aviary combines the acoustic resonance of 16 wind and light-sensitive string instruments with the dynamic emergence of 67 bronze birds.

Denton Fredrickson and Catherine Ross beside their public art installation, Aeolian Aviary, at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

Frederickson, Ross sculpture at SAAG

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:35:49 +0000

An idea that started over a beer and was roughly drafted on a napkin has evolved into the latest addition to the City of Lethbridge Public Art Collection.

Aeolian Aviary, a collaborative installation by U of L alumni and art professor Denton Fredrickson and Art Studio facility manager Catherine Ross, was recently unveiled in its permanent location on the east side of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG).

Fredrickson and Ross were awarded the public art commission following a competition that attracted 40 submissions from across Canada and beyond. The selection committee consisted of representatives from Allied Arts Council, SAAG, a community member, an artist and a technical expert.

"It is exactly these kinds of awards and achievements that reflect so well on the creative and research work of the members of the Faculty of Fine Arts," says Desmond Rochfort, Faculty of Fine Arts dean. "It also helps to highlight the excellence of our creative activities and research endeavours, and underscores why the U of L Faculty of Fine Arts is increasingly the place of choice in Alberta for those wishing to study fine arts."

Aeolian Aviary combines the acoustic resonance of 16 wind and light-sensitive string instruments with the dynamic emergence of 67 bronze birds.

Lewis a perfect fit for Alumni post

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:02:36 +0000

Joking that some might call her career path "checkered" – she prefers eclectic – retired nurse, Kathy Lewis (BN '83, MEd '99) is both nervous and excited to take on the role of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) president this year.

Lewis began her nursing career in the early 1970s after receiving her RN certificate from the Holy Cross School of Nursing, but a phone call from a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recruiting officer would lead Lewis to explore a whole new world of possibilities.

"I was married, had two young children and was working as a nursing sessional instructor at the Lethbridge Community College. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was just starting the nursing program and I was asked to enrol. I remember thinking, 'Gee, why are you contacting me?' I really didn't feel that I had what it took academically, but you know the old saying: success breeds success. I found myself completing courses and did very well. I surprised myself," says Lewis, who completed her BN (with distinction) in 1983.

With an undergraduate degree in hand, Lewis says doors opened to her that had formerly been closed. She landed a job as a discharge planning co-ordinator for St. Mike's Hospital and eventually began working as a home care co-ordinator for the Lethbridge Health Unit. Working as a sexuality educator and counsellor in the 1990s, Lewis decided to pursue her master's degree.

Kathy Lewis sees the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a positive force in the community.

"I had always liked the teaching part of my job so I opted for a master's in education at the U of L. My supervising professor was Dr. Cynthia Chambers. She was such an inspiration; she had a lot of life experience as a wife, mother, educator and writer and she brought that experience to the classroom," says Lewis. "By coincidence, Ron Chambers taught me my last class, which was a drama elective. It was one of the most rewarding classes I had in all my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ time. Here I was, almost 50, and I found myself in class pretending to be a cow.

"That is what the university does; it gives you that opportunity to open up to a broad range of ideas, people, experiences and possibilities."

Despite her busy schedule with family, work and schooling, Lewis has always made community service a priority in her life. She has served on various boards, including the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the Lethbridge Community Band Society and the Allied Arts Council, and has been a canvasser for a variety of different organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association. In 2002 she was nominated to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate to which she dedicated six years of service. In 2008, while attending a Senate meeting, Lewis volunteered to join the ULAA.

"It was not in my life plan to be on the Alumni Council, but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is such a positive force, certainly in my life and in the community. It is a major employer in the region, we have excellent research going on, wonderful fine arts and contribute to educating our population. I often say that Lethbridge is a different place because people in the 1960s had a vision. We can be proud of that and proud of the people who made all this happen," says Lewis. "Being a part of the ULAA is a valuable opportunity. I am very much a believer in working together; where we may have shortcomings in experience or knowledge, others fill in. Together we all contribute to the betterment of our society."

During the past two years the ULAA has revised its constitution and by-laws to ensure that the association continues moving in the right direction, maintaining its focus on building relationships with the community, students and alumni.

"In Spring 2012, thanks to the hard work of Cheryl Meheden and her committee, we will be launching a Fiat Lux ring as part of our 45th Anniversary celebration at the U of L. We hope every alumnus will want to have one and wear it with pride," says Lewis. "Our alumni chapters are essential. Together we are over 32,000 strong. We are represented on the Board of Governors, the Senate and many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ committees. Our voice is at the table of decision-making and our participation is vital to the success of this institution. I would encourage each alum that when the timing is right and the opportunity to get involved knocks – open the door."

GET THE FACTS

· Lewis is a proud mother and grandmother.

· A member of ULAA since 2008, she served as ULAA vice-president from 2009 to 2011.

· Lewis plays clarinet with the Lethbridge Community Band Society, and is also a former concert planner.

· Lewis is a former ESL tutor with the Lethbridge Public Library.

· In 2009 she completed her RN re-certification through Grant MacEwan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

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

Bridging the distance

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:04:26 +0000

There is no denying that the physical distance between Lethbridge and Edmonton is great, and from a government relations perspective, it presents a constant barrier. This is true not only for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, but also for a myriad of southern Alberta organizations.

A constant and co-ordinated effort is therefore needed to overcome this distance. The recent Team Lethbridge initiative is an important part of that process, giving Lethbridge-area institutions and organizations the opportunity to make important inroads to both elected and non-elected government members.

The U of L, along with 14 other organizations, joined Team Lethbridge as it travelled to Edmonton to meet with ministers, deputy ministers and other high-ranking officials. Led by Economic Development Lethbridge, the overall message to government officials highlighted the contribution that Lethbridge and area make to strengthening the Alberta economy and improving the quality of life for Albertans and beyond.

Local organizations, such as the City of Lethbridge, the Chamber of Commerce, the Allied Arts Council, Lethbridge Regional Police Services and the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, were able to send three representatives to cover off the flurry of meetings and events that were scheduled.

President Dr. Mike Mahon, Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks and myself attended on behalf of the U of L. In addition to participating in the meetings, the U of L and Lethbridge College created a separate opportunity for other Team Lethbridge members to meet with the government caucus, senior departmental officials, as well as Alberta Legislature senior staff.

Enlightening the provincial government about the outstanding work being done at the U of L, as well as its key priorities moving forward is essential to maintaining a strong government relations strategy. The Team Lethbridge trip also serves as an excellent community relations opportunity, acting much like a retreat for Lethbridge organizations. The dialogue that occurs with the mayor, aldermen and community leaders is invaluable to the U of L.

Administration, faculty members, staff and students take great pride in the roles they play in the community. It was equally evident from the trip that these community organizations place an equivalent value on their relationship with the U of L.

Speaking in a unified voice offers strength and credibility to the message, which is one of the great benefits of the Team Lethbridge initiative. Furthermore, it creates a framework for future collaboration between local members.

The fact that a number of MLAs privately exclaimed they'd like to see their communities participate in similar initiatives, underscores the effectiveness of the Team Lethbridge visit.

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

Campus Kudos

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:56:22 +0000

Mary Dyck (Kinesiology and Physical Education) and Ard Biesheuvel (BEd '90, MEd '98) authored a book, Coaching Volleyball Champions: Principles and Practices of Successful Coaches. Each chapter in the book includes a biography of one of North America's outstanding volleyball coaches, followed by an in-depth interview and the coach's five favorite drills. Dyck also co-authored, Everybody Move: A multimedia package for daily physical activity, published by Human Kinetics in November 2009.

Denton Fredrickson (Art) and Catherine Ross (Art Technician) have been awarded the Public Art commission for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. Applications were received from around the world and the selection committee consisted of representatives from the Allied Arts Council and the SAAG, a community member, an artist and a technical expert. Ross and Fredrickson proposed to create a giant stringed instrument responsive to the day-to-day wind and light levels in Lethbridge. Visually, the installation reflects a flock of birds both at rest and in flight, appearing to move seamlessly from exterior to interior. The work should be installed by fall 2011.

Dr. Shelley Scott (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) has been elected by acclamation to a second two-year term as the president of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (CATR).

Merle Fuller (MEd) has been accepted into the PhD in Management program at Sobey School of Business, St. Mary's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Halifax, N.S. Fuller's project, Living with a cop: A handbook for Police Officers and their Families (a training handbook for police officers addressing work/family issues) was a significant factor in his being accepted into the IO/Pscyh PhD stream of this excellent PhD program.

Dr. Ed Jurkowski (Music) was recently elected to a three-year term as English editor for the journal Intersections, the peer-review bilingual publication of the Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Music Society.

Bente Hansen (Music), Dale Ketcheson (Music), Nicole Higginson (BFA/BEd) and Jesse Plessis (music major) all performed at For the Love of Music: For the Love of Medicine concert to raise funds for a medical mission to El Salvador being undertaken by U of L pre-medical students.

Katherine Taylor (Psychology) is one of 12 winners of a 2010 NEADS Equity Through Education Student Award. Taylor was selected out of a field of 375 total applicants. Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative launched by BMO Capital Markets in 2005 to help people realize their educational ambitions by giving them the means to pursue those goals.

Ed Wasiak (Music Education) has been appointed to the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education (JHRME). Taking over the Canadian seat, Wasiak joins a body of 16 international scholars on the JHRME Committee.

Don Gill's (Art) exhibition Erratic Spaces/THE LAND is at THE LAND/Gallery in Albuquerque, N.M. from June 5 to 26. The exhibition is an installation based on Gill's February 2010 residency at THE LAND/an art site. www.landartsite.org/exhibitions/index.html

Nick Sullivan (Music) performed as a soloist with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra during its season finale.

Catherine Ross (Art) has an exhibition of Stella Mere at the Glenbow Museum, Aug. 2. Stella Mere is a spectacular installation made up of 750 shimmering starfish, each individually cast in aluminum and mounted on thin threaded steel rods. Stella Mere took three years and the help of more than 20 people to complete.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ members earn keys to the city

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:11:50 +0000

Friday the 13th, traditionally a day of bad luck for superstitious people, was instead a lucky day for several organizations and members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and broader community who received a ceremonial Key to the City of Lethbridge from Mayor Bob Tarleck.

"I am pleased that so many of the people honoured with a Key to the City have had ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as employees, faculty members or as volunteer supporters," says U of L President Bill Cade. "This shows that our connection to the community extends far beyond our campus."

The presentation of the "Key to the City" – the municipal government's highest honour – is at the discretion of the mayor, and signifies that the outstanding civic contributions generously given by the recipients are recognized and appreciated.

The recipients included:

- The Allied Arts Council, which promotes and supports local arts and culture

- The law firm of Davidson and Williams, one of Alberta's oldest law firms, now in its 3rd generation of family partnership

- Paul Stevenson, John Bolton and Jack Gleason for their work on the Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games

- Delia Cross Child, First Nations artist and educator

- Lloyd Hickman, community volunteer and veteran RCMP officer

- Bryan Kolb, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge neuroscience researcher

- David Naylor, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge physics and astronomy researcher and inventor

- Harold Pereverseff, community volunteer and cultural exchange supporter

- Ralph Thrall, rancher, community supporter and environmental awareness advocate

Brief biographical information on these groups and individuals can be found below.

Allied Arts Council

The Allied Arts Council has been an important Lethbridge organization since it was established in 1958 with the objective of encouraging arts activities in Lethbridge and the surrounding district. The Council coordinates activities of member organizations – which includes the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge -- and cooperates with persons, groups and organizations in the promotion of arts activities.

Davidson and Williams

Davidson & Williams was founded in 1885 by C.F.P. Conybeare, K.C., who was Lethbridge's first lawyer. Davidson & Williams is one of Alberta's oldest law firms which today is operated by senior partner and third generation member of the firm, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson, Q.C.

Paul Stevenson, John Bolton (BEd '72) and Jack Gleason for Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games

These three gentlemen were key to the successful hosting of the first ever Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games, held in Lethbridge in January 2009. Stevenson served as Chair, Bolton as vice-chair and Gleason as financial officer. The Games attracted more than 1,000 athletes, coaches and officials representing eight zones throughout Alberta. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge provided office space and other services to the organizing group.

Delia Cross Child (BA '96,Bed '02)

Cross Child was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society this year. A Blackfoot artist and educator, Cross Child's creativity and passion have brought pride to her community and awareness to First Nation's issues. As a contemporary artist, she is known for integrating tradition and history with a modern sensibility. Her work has been exhibited at the Glenbow Museum, Walter Phillips Gallery, Southern Alberta Art Gallery and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Lloyd Hickman

Lloyd Hickman is a veteran RCMP officer who came to Lethbridge as superintendent for southern Alberta but spent a significant portion of his career being assigned to high-level posts, among guarding politicians and foreign dignitaries such as Pope John Paul II and former US president George Bush. He also led security operations for the Kananaskis G8 convention in 2002. In between all these commitments, Hickman has served on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate and the Lethbridge College criminal justice advisory committee, among other groups.

Bryan Kolb

Canada has become a world power in neuroscience due in large part to the leadership and vision of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge neuroscience researcher Bryan Kolb. Recognized as a founding father of behavioural neuroscience in this country and one of the most influential neuroscientists in the world, Dr. Kolb has led Canada's research to revolutionize the treatment of brain injury, drug addiction, and conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

David Naylor

David Naylor, a veteran physics and astronomy researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, is putting technology developed at the U of L into deep space to help solve some puzzling astronomical questions and look at the far reaches of space in a whole new way. As a co-creator and Canadian lead investigator for the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) project, Naylor's team is responsible for a device that helps the new Herschel Space Observatory 'see' more accurately by detecting infrared emissions from far-off stars and galaxies. Naylor's research group and scientists from eight other nations are contributing to new knowledge about the origins of the universe.

Harold Pereverseff

Harold Pereverseff is a long-time community volunteer and avid proponent of cultural exchanges through his work with the Lethbridge Twinning Society. He is also a part-time security officer at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Thanks to his efforts, the Lethbridge Twinning Society can boast of solid relationships and formal twinning agreements between Lethbridge and Towada, Japan; Lethbridge and Culver City, California; as well as a friendship with Timashevsk, Russia. He is currently president of the Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association.

Ralph Thrall (LLD '99)

Ralph A. Thrall, Jr. is president of McIntyre Ranching Company, one of the largest ranches in Western Canada and a place of great natural beauty. Although the ranching embodies an important part of our area's history and economy, McIntyre's long history of environmentally sensitive management has succeeded in preserving a native prairie ecosystem. Thrall has also been a very active and dedicated community member – serving many organizations and businesses, including the YMCA, Lethbridge College Foundation, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors and other community organizations.

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:45:27 +0000

Allied Arts Council honours the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge took centre stage at the 2009 Mayor's Luncheon for Business and the Arts on Sept. 10 when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was honoured as the winner of a 2009 Allied Arts Council (AAC) Award for Excellence as the local service organization that has significantly enhanced the arts in the community of Lethbridge.

In total, three awards were handed out, including one to an individual, one to a service organization and one to a local business.

(Once again) Steacy duo wins

In August, U of L track and field star Heather Steacy won gold at the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I. With the furthest throw of 59.92 metres, Heather dominated the hammer throw competition, winning by more than six metres.

Also this summer, Heather's brother Jim Steacy added to his international track resumé, winning the silver medal in the hammer throw at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.

Jim completed his Pronghorn career as one of the most decorated track athletes in Horns history, compiling nine Canada West and nine Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) medals, including 16 gold, and was undefeated in the weight throw versus CIS competition over his career.

New Ingenuity centre boosts information technology

The first of its kind in the world, Alberta's newest Ingenuity Centre is working with entrepreneurs and researchers to use real-time geographical information to address global challenges in resource management.

The new centre, Tecterra, is one of five Alberta Ingenuity Centres for Research and Commercialization that focuses on technology and research to build more sustainable industry practices.

Built on a partnership between the provincial and federal governments, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, Tecterra will tap into the research excellence across the province, allowing resource companies to work with innovative technology companies and the research community to develop world-class solutions to industry challenges.

The more than $50 million investment includes: $21.6 million from the Alberta government, $11.6 million from the federal government, as well as a further $20 million anticipated from industry and other partners.

Among Alberta's 50 most influential people

Dr. Bruce McNaughton was named one of Alberta's 50 most influential people by Alberta Venture magazine in July.

McNaughton, one of the world's experts in neurophysiology, joined the U of L's Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) last fall as the inaugural recipient of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Polaris Award – a 10-year, $20 million research grant.

A sterling past, a golden future

This year the School of Graduate Studies celebrates 25 years. When the School first emerged, it offered a single master's degree in education. Since then, it has developed into a centre for graduate studies in the arts, health sciences, humanities, sciences and social sciences. This fall, the School implemented two new graduate degree programs in the creative arts through a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Music.

On Oct. 16, the School will celebrate this milestone with a special dinner with guest speaker Son Soubert, who is currently a member of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia and a professor at the Faculty of Archaeology of the Royal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Phnom Penh. Soubert has worked to establish responsible politics in Cambodia and has worked extensively to help children, including the establishment of two orphanages.

Charting a new course

Dr. Daniel J. Weeks assumed the position of vice-president (research) in July, a position Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick held for the last 10 years. Weeks joins the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge after more than a decade at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he was a professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, and operator of the Psychomotor Behaviour Laboratory located on the Burnaby campus.

Weeks brings a well-constructed plan for research development to the U of L, with a particular interest in raising the profile of the institution through strategic partnerships and projects.

"There's a tendency for many institutions in Canada to chase available research funding. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has taken a much more thoughtful approach," says Weeks. "The initiatives the U of L has pursued are significant and will have staying power. There's true leadership here and careful consideration about the direction the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ should go – which tells me that Lethbridge is a place where big ideas can come to fruition."

To stay up-to-date on what's happening at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, visit the U of L's official online news centre at: www.ulethbridge.ca/unews

Lasting Legacy: Yosh Senda

On Sept. 9, 2009, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community mourned the loss of Dr. Yosh Senda (LLD '89), a respected leader, long-time member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community and legendary supporter of judo in Canada.

Senda is credited with establishing judo in Lethbridge. He was instrumental in developing the Lethbridge Judo Club and the U of L Judo exchange program with Japan. He remained an active coach at the Lethbridge Judo Club and served as coach and manager of the U of L Judo Club.

With a ninth degree black belt, Senda was the highest-ranking judo black belt in Canada. He instilled in his students that judo is more than just a physical exercise for the body – judo is a way of life.

His philosophy: "You can better yourself by always showing respect for others, and to always give it your best in whatever you do."

In addition to a long list of awards and achievements, Senda was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in 2007 in recognition of his contributions to the development and expansion of judo in Canada as a coach, mentor and role model for more than five decades.

New Community Sports Stadium kicks off

The spirit of the Pronghorn is legendary. It's a spirit that lives inside everyone who has ever worn our blue and gold, and it now lives within the new Community Sports Stadium – a place that fosters a healthy community and team pride.

Built on a partnership between the City of Lethbridge, the Government of Alberta and the U of L, the estimated $12 million multi-purpose, public-access facility, officially opened on Sept. 25 and 26. Equipped with an artificial field for football and soccer, a natural practice field, a synthetic 400-metre track and bleachers for 2,000 fans, the stadium will meet the sporting needs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's athletic programs and those of southern Alberta for many years to come.

Campus Kudos

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:08:34 +0000

Dr. Ed Jurkowski (Music) and Dr. Deanna Oye (Music) co-presented a paper in July entitled, Interpreting the Music of György Kurtág, at the annual meeting of the International Musicological Society in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Dr. David Townsend (Education) and Dr. Pamela Adams (Education) released their book, The Essential Equation, A Handbook for School Improvement. Through case studies, research and best-practice information, the book is designed to help educators learn more about school improvement and the challenges facing educators today.

David Barrus has been accepted as the first MFA Dramatic Arts student and is specializing in scenic design for theatre, which also makes him the first recipient of the John Farwell Memorial Award.

Don Gill (Art) and dancer Sarah Williams (formerly of La La La Human Steps) are featured in a collaborative video-installation exhibition, The New Flâneurs: Contemporary Urban Practice and the Picturesque, running Sept. 5 through Dec. 13 in the RBC New Works Gallery in the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton.

Soprano Audrina Poepping-Steciw (BMus '09) placed first in the Provincial National Voice Class in the Kiwanis Music Festival in Edmonton this spring and represented Alberta in the National Class at the competition in Saskatoon in August.

Dr. Arlan Schultz (Music) returned from a summer residency at the Center for Research in Computing and the Arts at UC San Diego in La Jolla, California. Schultz was engaged in research at CRCA's large-speaker array audio spatialization lab.

James Graham's (New Media) installation, Unforgivable, used many commonly available commercial products – and specifically those of the French cosmetic giant L'Oreal – to draw connections back to their French fascist and anti-Semitic origins. Displayed in the SAAG storefront gallery during August, the exhibition examined the troubled history of Vichy, France.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will receive a 2009 Allied Arts Council Award for Excellence (AACE) at the Mayor's Luncheon for Business and the Arts on Sept. 10.

Michael Campbell's (Art) exhibition, Field Recordings of Icebergs Melting, toured over the summer to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound, Ont. and then to the Esplanade Gallery in Medicine Hat. A version of this exhibition appeared at the Nanaimo Art Gallery in June.

Dana Inkster (New Media) has received generous support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for her new production, Ladies of the Saturday Night, a short documentary about lives lived in the sex trade in Alberta boomtowns. The production is slated for completion by fall 2010.

The Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. David Renter (Music) and including ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and community musicians performed at the first incarnation of the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival in Lethbridge in June. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ musicians included student Brad Brouwer, Ryan Heseltine (BMus/Ed '04), Don Robb (former U of L Jazz Ensemble conductor), Nick Sullivan (Music) and Ed Wasiak (Music Education)

Bobbi-Lee Copeland (BA '05), who has been working as an adult literacy instructor for the Lillooet Area Library Association, has been accepted to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Indigenous Education Master's Program.

Dr. David Renter (Music) has been invited to participate in the 2009 Chiayi City International Band Festival in Chiayi City, Taiwan in December 2009. Renter will perform with an Afro-Cuban Jazz group from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Andrew Staniland (BMus '00, Great Distinction) who completed his PhD in composition at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto in 2008, went on to win the grand prize in CBC's National Evolution Composers Competition in March 2009. Staniland has accepted a tenure-track appointment in composition at Memorial ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Newfoundland, starting in January 2010.

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