UNews - satellite campus

U of L alums making big City contributions

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:32:09 +0000

One of the greatest compliments alumni can pay to their alma mater is in how they impact their local communities. At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, such compliments keep pouring in as alumni employed by The City of Calgary display a depth of knowledge, a commitment to innovation and a dedication to improving their communities and neighbourhoods.

Lorna Wallace, (BMgt great distinction '01) project manager for The City of Calgary, earned a business diploma from SAIT in the 1980s but she always wanted to complete a bachelor degree. When the U of L launched its Calgary satellite campus in 1996, Wallace jumped at the chance to attend the post-diploma bachelor of management program.

"I appreciated the ability to get to know the faculty and advisors; their flexibility allowed me to do this while I was working full-time and raising a family," says Wallace. "Having my degree reinforced the importance of teamwork and preparation; it opened up many opportunities for me. As the first executive assistant to the city manager, I led a number of projects including a royal visit, and while in the mayor's office I am proud to have recently led the team that launched one of the most successful food truck pilot programs in North America."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni are making a big difference in the big city, with a number of alumni, such as these pictured, working for The City of Calgary.

Wallace is currently working on a council innovation project involving the Community Services and Protective Services Department and 12 pilot communities in Calgary.

"This project builds upon The City's Strong Neighbourhoods Initiative and community attachment work done by Dr. Katherine Loflin and the Knight Foundation. Our goal is to make sure that communities are aware of the services available and to determine which services they need to make their community a great place to live," explains Wallace. "It is ground-breaking; we will be the first municipality in North America to commission this work."

Also working for the city is Glen Radway (BA '85), development strategist - Office of Land Servicing & Housing.

"The research skills I gained at the U of L helped me at graduate school and in my career. With the lower teacher/student ratio, I gained the confidence to dig into the meat of an issue," says Radway, who completed studies at the U of L's Lethbridge campus before obtaining his master's degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo in 1987. "In the work I do now, it is important to spend time really looking at a situation rather than jumping to conclusions, to understand the impacts of your decisions through the eyes of the residents, or understand what you see happening through change in a neighbourhood."

In 2009, city council approved the Calgary Municipal Development Plan review, a project for which Radway was the land-use lead.

"We tried to figure out what we could do to sustain the city financially, environmentally and socially and present policy directions through the MDP. It now forms the basis for a lot of projects that are developed across the city," says Radway. "One of the projects I am working on now is the Industrial Land Strategy to decide how the city will develop industrial parks. We want to support economic development in the city and incorporate more sustainable elements, like green infrastructure, with our own land development."

Blake Kanewischer (BMgt '06) and Matt Rockley (BA '02) are also among the many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni affecting positive change within The City of Calgary.

Kanewischer works as both a sessional instructor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Calgary satellite campus and as a team leader, Project, Processes, Staff Development and Training for the Assessment Business Unit at the city.

"As a mature and working student, I was constantly feeding material back into my working life from my classes," says Kanewischer.

Applying the knowledge and skills he gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has served Kanewischer well in his career. One of his proudest accomplishments thus far is being a member of the team that developed the webwave program. Webwave has won numerous international and national awards for replacing the city's intranet and internet sites with what Kanewischer describes as, "one of the first search and citizen-centric websites for a municipal government anywhere."

When Rockley, Okotoks town councillor and planner for The City of Calgary, entered the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he had no idea what he wanted to pursue as a career.

"One of my professors mentioned that I should consider city planning as a career. At the time I had no idea what city planning was but her advice compelled me to look into it. That turned out to be the best career advice I have ever received," says Rockley.

That advice has had a positive impact on both Rockley and The City of Calgary. Rockley served as co-project lead on rewriting the Rockyview/Calgary Intermunicipal Development Plan, which was approved by both councils in 2012. He recently amended the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan, allowing boutique hotels and limiting new surface parking in the city.

The contributions of these and many other alumni working at The City of Calgary stand as a tremendous tribute to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for inspiring a standard of excellence that continues to impact our communities.

GET THE FACTS

· To look at Wallace's Food Truck Pilot project, visit this site (www.transforminggov.ca/2012/02/yyc-food-trucks.html)

· To view Radway's work on the Municipal development Plan, visit this site (www.calgary.ca/mdp)

· Kanewischer's Webwave awards included a GTEC award for Excellence in Public Service Delivery and a Digital Alberta Award for Business to Consumer Innovation

· Rockley has served since 2008 as a member of the Okotoks Planning Commission

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

Achieving success on his own terms

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:48:31 +0000

It was after a long, hard summer day working with his dad on the family dairy farm that a young Paul Campeau (BMgt '04) first pondered the values that he would live his life by.

"I grew up with a good sense that hard work is required to achieve anything in life. I worked with my father and uncle and woke up at 4:30 in the morning to milk cows and then I would go work in the fields when I wasn't in school," says Campeau. "I remember going into the house for dinner late one day when my dad told me that although his job wasn't glamorous, he loved experiencing life every day, making his own decisions about what to do and how to best do it. That definitely affected my life. I tend to do things off the beaten path. I still work hard; I just do it my own way."

Alumnus Paul Campeau and his business partner Will Henderson represent a new breed of accountant.

The co-owner and partner of the successful new accounting firm, Henderson Campeau Chartered Accountants LLP, also drew inspiration from his mother.

"My mom has always been supportive of everything I do," he says. "I watched her strength and love as she raised five kids. She enjoyed a beautiful life every day. I try to have a positive outlook and enjoy each day to its fullest too."

After high school, Campeau earned a business administration diploma from Red Deer College. Several years later, he applied to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Edmonton campus to complete his management degree with a focus on accounting.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ accepted my business diploma courses and offered the broad range of courses I was looking for. The practical, hands-on approach to teaching gave me the flexibility to be myself, express my ideas, participate in in-depth class discussions and have access to great professors, most of them industry professionals," says Campeau. "I believe that you learn so much from experience and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's satellite campus had a great way of teaching that."

Campeau graduated in 2004 and began working on his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation while articling at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Edmonton. Two years later, with a CA designation under his belt, the lure of beautiful warm weather and a smaller firm had him jumping ship to Bermuda where he met his future wife, Carly.

"When I worked for Deloitte, I got a high level of education and experience but I always wanted to work for a smaller firm. The owners of the firm in Bermuda had a laid back attitude. They expected a lot but they also trusted that I would do what needed to be done," says Campeau.

Moving to Amsterdam with Carly in 2008, Campeau began working as a senior accountant for Align Technology. Living in the Netherlands further highlighted Campeau's desire to enjoy every moment of his life.

"In Amsterdam, your bike is your only source of transportation. They don't take things as seriously there as we do in North America. You learn that you can live a beautiful and uncomplicated life," says Campeau.

Spurred on by this same attitude, Campeau and his future business partner Will Henderson began laying the groundwork for an opportunity to control their own destinies; their accounting firm.

"When we were both students we joked a lot about starting our own firm. The timing was just right and everything just fell into place. We opened the doors in February 2010," explains Campeau.

Taking a different approach from more traditional accounting firms, Henderson Campeau is about high quality service in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The TV in the lobby and couch in the boardroom are examples of this unique approach.

Campeau and Henderson are living life and succeeding on their own terms, balancing hard work, reliability, trust and excellent service with a passion for fun and a determination to savour every moment.

"We don't ever want to get too big for our britches that we forget to enjoy life. We want provide a high level of service for all of our clients. We want to make them comfortable and respond to their needs the same day. It is exciting to see our clients succeed, to know that you have added value to them and to the community," says Campeau. "Walking into work with your best friend, being able to trust each other, help each other out and watch TV over coffee is great. This isn't just a job, it is a lifestyle."

GET THE FACTS

· He still rides his bike – the one he had in Amsterdam – to work each day

· Campeau grew up in a French-speaking household and is fluently bilingual

· Henderson Campeau reached its projected three-year goals in the first year and a half of operation

· Campeau's firm is looking at creating co-op programs to mentor students

· Henderson Campeau (www.hendersoncampeau.com) was recently featured in the fall 2011 Spotlight magazine published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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.

U of L's Calgary campus leaves SAIT location

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:41:04 +0000

Members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Calgary Campus recently capped off a very positive 15-year relationship with SAIT Polytechnic by establishing a new transfer scholarship.

The scholarship program is for graduates from SAIT who choose the U of L, and will be made available to transfer students registering at the U of L in the Fall 2011 semester.

The U of L is relocating its offices to a downtown Calgary location in partnership with Bow Valley College beginning in January 2011. Program growth spurred the move, both at SAIT and the
U of L.

"To best serve our growing number of students – from SAIT and elsewhere in Calgary – the
U of L decided that moving was a viable option," says Lorne Williams, director of the U of L's Calgary campus.

"In turn, this allows SAIT to expand its on-campus space to serve its students. We've had an excellent relationship over the past 15 years, and it will continue, but in a different location."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Calgary Campus was established in 1996 to meet the changing needs of a working student population who wanted classes during evenings and weekends. What started as a small satellite campus for the Faculty of Management, now offers courses across several disciplines. Close to 700 students were registered in classes this semester.

The Calgary campus office is moving to Rocky Mountain Plaza (Suite 1100, Rocky Mountain Plaza, 615 Macleod Trail SE, T2G 4T8), effective Dec. 20. Starting in January, all classes will be held at Bow Valley College.

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

U of L departs SAIT campus for new location

trevor.kenney — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:16:41 +0000

Members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Calgary Campus recently capped off a very positive 15-year relationship with SAIT Polytechnic by establishing a new transfer scholarship.

The scholarship program is for graduates from SAIT who choose the U of L, and will be made available to transfer students registering at the
U of L in the Fall 2011 semester.

The U of L is relocating its offices to a downtown Calgary location in partnership with Bow Valley College beginning in January 2011. Program growth spurred the move, both at SAIT and the U of L.

"To best serve our growing number of students – from SAIT and elsewhere in Calgary – the U of L decided that moving was a viable option," says Lorne Williams, director of the U of L's Calgary campus.

"In turn, this allows SAIT to expand its on-campus space to serve its students. We've had an excellent relationship over the past 15 years, and it will continue, but in a different location."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Calgary Campus was established in 1996 to meet the changing needs of a working student population who wanted classes during evenings and weekends. What started as a small satellite campus for the Faculty of Management, now offers courses across several disciplines. Close to 700 students were registered in classes this semester.

"Our Calgary campus at SAIT is a great example of partnership," says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. "When SAIT opened its doors to the
U of L 15 years ago, the two institutions joined together to meet the needs of students and the community. We continue to partner together, ensuring continued opportunities for students through complementary programming and transfer credit."

Mahon adds that the U of L receives many bright and talented transfer students from SAIT.

"These students are building upon the strong foundation offered by SAIT's diploma program to complete their university degree, and we wish to reward them by creating a new scholarship for SAIT students who choose to continue their education at the U of L."

The Calgary campus office is moving to Rocky Mountain Plaza (Suite 1100, Rocky Mountain Plaza, 615 Macleod Trail SE, T2G 4T8), effective Dec. 20. Starting in January, all classes will be held at Bow Valley College.

UNews - satellite campus

U of L alums making big City contributions

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