UNews - L campus

New U of L residence gets a name

trevor.kenney — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:19:14 +0000

The mountain peaks of Waterton Lakes National Park serve as inspiration for the naming of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's newest student residence.

The Phase III housing complex adopts a naming convention that represents some of the highest mountain peaks in Waterton. The structure is named Mt. Blakiston House, as recently approved by the U of L's Board of Governors. Future buildings will acknowledge nearby peaks, such as Mt. Lineham, Mt. Hawkins, Mt. Alderson and Mt. Carthew.

Mt. Blakiston, the tallest mountain in Waterton Lakes National Park (9,547 ft), was named in 1858 for British explorer Thomas Blakiston. He travelled to what is now southern Alberta as part of the Palliser Expedition that, between 1857 and 1860, mapped much of western Canada on a search for possible rail routes.

"We're very excited to be putting a name to the new residence complex after having been able to refer to it only as 'Aperture Park Phase III' for so long," says Director of Housing Services, Terri Thomas. "The Waterton theme is a very good fit in that it is familiar to southern Albertans and an important part of our culture, but it also introduces visiting students to the history and geography of the area."

The $32 million, 259-bed facility opened in time for the start of school in early September, and brings the available space for resident students on campus to more than 950 beds.

The residence park at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is named Aperture Park after the Aperture sculpture, a massive installation that sits at the geographical centre of the U of L campus. Designed by noted Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, the iconic sculpture is a popular photo location.

Phase I of Aperture Park, built in the late 1980s/early 1990s, utilizes names that reflect the area's Blackfoot heritage and the members of the Blackfoot confederacy. The four residence structures are named Kainai House, Piikani House, Siksika House and Tsuu T'ina House. Phase II, opened in 2003 as unique townhome-style residences, is simply named Residence Village.

Kolb, McDaniel join list of Jubilee medalists

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:12:12 +0000

In late February, Dr. Bryan Kolb (Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience) and Dr. Susan McDaniel (Sociology, Director, Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy) received Jubilee Medals awarded by the Royal Society of Canada. Both Kolb and McDaniel are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC). This was the first visit to the U of L campus by Royal Society executive director Darren Gilmour and Royal Society President, Yolande Grisé.

In addition to Kolb and McDaniel, a number of U of L faculty members have also recently received Jubilee medals, among them Dr. Peter McCormick (Political Science), Dr. Reg Bibby (Sociology), Dr. Dayna Daniels (Women and Gender Studies), Dr. Rick Mrazek (Education), Tanya Harnett (Fine Arts/Native American Studies) and U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. A complete list of medal recipients to date is available on the Government of Alberta website: alberta.ca/diamondjubileemedal.cfm

Sports Medicine Clinic officially opens on campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:52:56 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is poised to become a hub for the delivery of orthopedic medicine and sports medicine to the southern Albertaarea with the introduction of a new sports medicine clinic and Rebound Health Centre.

"For the past 45 years the U of L has been committed to creating a vibrant campus community that serves the needs of the broader southern Alberta community," says Nancy Walker, vice-president (finance and administration).

"The 1st Choice Savings Centre is a great example of this. By providing outstanding recreational opportunities for people from throughout the area, this building demonstrates the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's commitment to improving the quality of life in Lethbridge and the surrounding area. The addition of the sports medicine clinic furthers this commitment."

The clinic, located in PE100 below the south end of the running track, houses the orthopaedic offices of Drs. Stephen Kwan, Joel Weaver and Martina Frostad, Rebound Health Centre Ltd., Lethbridge Orthotic – Prosthetic Services Ltd. and East Meets West Acupuncture.

"I've always wanted to do something in the way of a sports medicine clinic on the U of L campus," says Kwan.

"We talked about it for a very long time and came up with a model that suits both our group and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Walker says that the full-service nature of the new clinic meshes well with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's mandate to promote healthy living to the U of L community and beyond.

"We like this fit because they have a good vision for the future that matches our goals with the 1st Choice Savings Centre," says Walker.

"Not only will we be able to provide support for the high performance athletes who train here, but we're able to lead the way in promoting a healthy lifestyle for our faculty, staff and students and the community at large."

McCormick the go-to resource for political information

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:20:10 +0000

Dr. Peter McCormick is a professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

In this episode, McCormick describes his involvement with the Tripolis Senate as well as his research and study of the Superior Courts of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

McCormick is one of Canada's foremost experts on the political process and is routinely featured in media circles when election issues come to the forefront. He is an excellent example of the expertise residing on the U of L campus.

Ann Norford is grateful for her recent U of L experience

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:58:14 +0000

Ann Norford (BA '10) started university at 65 years old after she and her husband retired in Lethbridge.

"As a wife and mother coming of age after World War II, I did not have the opportunity to pursue my own education as a young woman," says Norford, who emigrated from England in 1965. She and her husband spent time in other parts of the country before settling in Lethbridge.

"The U of L campus itself had an openness that encouraged me," says Norford of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Her first impression was confirmed when she met with admissions officers and student advisors who provided the support and encouragement she needed.

"Although I was a senior when I returned to school, no one thought I was crazy for wanting a degree at my age," she says. "I was pleasantly surprised by the admiration and respect I received from my professors and my peers."

Norford graduated in 2010 with distinction.

"I am grateful I had the opportunity to pursue a university education. I give back to my university to express my gratitude."

Installation creating a stir in 1st Choice Savings Centre

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:19:07 +0000

What is red, black, white and causing a stir? It's the new art installation in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Health and Wellness.

Entitled Seek Knowledge Even Onto China by London, Ont. artist Jamelie Hassan, the work is a recent acquisition by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery. It was purchased with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Assistance program, Sam Hassan and an anonymous donor.

"Seek Knowledge Even Onto China is a deceptively simple work that consists of carrying out the artist's precise instructions for installation," explains
Dr. Josephine Mills, Director/Curator U of L Art Gallery.

"Those include painting the wall a specific shade of red and attaching the black and white vinyl lettering, which are scaled to fit the location and repeats the title of the work in Arabic and Chinese characters."

The Hassan work Seek Knowledge Even Onto China as it is being installed.

Seek Knowledge Even Onto China can be displayed either inside a gallery, as it was last year at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as part of a touring exhibition surveying Hassan's career, or in a public location as it is now. The work is a limited edition and thus, despite the technical ease to reproduce it, there is a limit on the number of works that can exist.

Internationally renowned, with an extensive exhibition history, Hassan's practice has been distinguished by her use of a wide range of media – ceramics, watercolours, bookworks, photographs, video and installations – from which she selects an approach appropriate to the task at hand.

"Her work is well suited for public art because of her use of text that connects with memory and identity and her interest in exploring cross-cultural exchange and communication," says Mills. "While travel has a significant influence on Hassan's creative output, equally important to her practice is her view on the world from her home in London. Her pioneering practice has steadfastly asserted that artists have a responsibility to address the critical issues of our time while her geographical location in southwestern Ontario grounds her practice."

Despite the influence of her home, Hassan's work is equally influenced by other places: her research and travels in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon, the homeland of her parents.

This installation is part of a new direction when it comes to public art on the
U of L campus.

"I'm interested in expanding the range of what we have for public art on campus," says Mills. "It can be installations like this work, or other options beyond sculpture or framed works."

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

Parkinson pushes growth of theatre community

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:40:41 +0000

Brian Parkinson, a professor in the Department of Theatre and the Dramatic Arts and associate dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, saw potential in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge when he first arrived on campus more than 30 years ago. He quickly recognized the growth that was possible for the dramatic arts and has been a leader in both establishing a theatrical culture on the U of L campus and taking that to the broader southern Alberta community.

With more than 150 productions to his credit, Parkinson has directed in both academic and professional companies in both England and Canada and he was the founding director of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's TheatrXtra summer stock company that now operates as a student focused second season in the Department of Theatre & Dramatic Arts. For the department's Mainstage season, Parkinson has directed a significant number of productions including, in recent years, Arcadia, Into The Woods, The Lark, The Mikado and Macbeth.This spring he is directing Shakespeare's Hamlet (Feb. 14-18).

Parkinson has worked for many years at establishing professional theatre in southern Alberta and his productions have played in both Alberta and British Columbia. He was the founding artistic director of Fort MacLeod's Great West Theatre and directed the company for seven years before becoming the founding artistic managing director of Lethbridge's New West Theatre Company. During his nineteen years in this position, he also directed the majority of the company's productions.

Parkinson is a past board member of both Theatre Alberta and the Canadian Association for Theatre Research. He has been a nominee for both the Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management and for the Lt. Governor of Alberta Arts Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts. For his work with New West Theatre he was awarded the Alberta Centennial Gold Medal.He has also been recognized as one of the 100 Alberta theatre practitioners who, over the past century, have made a significant and lasting contribution to Alberta's theatrical heritage.

Shaping the future

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:36:04 +0000

Town Hall meeting to discuss development of complex Jan. 18

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus has undergone significant change over recent years with the addition of a number of prominent buildings – but the biggest project is yet to come.

A proposed 300,000 square foot complex that will transform the Faculty of Arts & Science in particular and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a whole is just now in the planning stages and one of the U of L's newest employees, Chris Eagan, is at the forefront.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new executive director of Facilities looks at the $255 million project as an opportunity for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to take a major step forward, one that will further define the U of L as a leading comprehensive research institution.

Chris Eagan, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new executive director of Facilities, will play a key role in the development of a complex that could cost more than $255 million and add 300,000 square feet of building space to campus.

"We're at that natural point where the space that was built in 1969 is ready for renovation," says Eagan. "We've changed as a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the things we're doing now, the old space doesn't fit us well. It is now constraining us fairly significantly and most seriously in the science labs, where safety is a major factor."

Eagan comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ from Lethbridge College, where he spent the last three years. Prior to that, the Nova Scotia-born but Saskatchewan-raised engineer worked six years as the director of planning, design, and construction for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina.

He sees many similarities between the U of R and the U of L and brings to Lethbridge experience with the construction of Regina's Research and Innovation Centre (RIC).

"I built one of these facilities at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina that's very comparable in terms of scope to what we're planning," he says. "So, to some degree I've taken this journey before but it's always a learning experience. It's a great feeling to have an opportunity to be generally familiar with the process."

To put the U of L project into context, 300,000 square feet is equivalent to adding two-thirds the size of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall to campus. And that's just the start.

"The new construction is just one part of the project," says Eagan. "Part two, or the second domino, is the renovation of the vacated space in UHall and the repopulation of that space. The third domino is the infrastructure required, such as roads, heating plant and all that's needed to keep the campus functioning."

Eagan loves the complexity of a major development and revels in the responsibility his team has in setting the direction of a project.

"Winston Churchill used to say that for a short time we shape buildings and for a long time, they shape us," says Eagan.

"Everybody has lived in a home or office environment that doesn't really work for them. Bad environments make people work harder, not smarter."

A typical project of this magnitude, Eagan says, lasts 15 years. To get to this point there's been a lot of essential work already done, laying the foundation for where the project is at today, in its first phase of planning. This initiation phase is largely strategic planning work defining what the project needs to do for the institution.

"It's not super prescriptive at this point and is designed to make sure the project works in terms of schedule, budget and scope," says Eagan, who expects to move onto phase two, predesign feasibility and planning, by February.

The final piece of the puzzle is implementation, design, tender and construction.

"We want to make sure that in the first two phases that our needs are well understood, well discussed and well defined because the consultants do an excellent job of translating our needs into the physical spaces and organizing those spaces, that's what architects do well," he says. "They love it when we show up with binders of needs and know what we want, because then they don't have to guess."

He stresses that the consultation phase will be comprehensive, all in an attempt to construct a complex that will satisfy the needs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for years to come.

"Whatever we don't do we own and fight with for the next 40 years, so that drives us to get it right," he says.

GET THE FACTS

· In September 2011, the Alberta government pledged $2.3 million in planning funds for a new complex on the U of L campus

· A Town Hall meeting to discuss the progress to date on the initiation phase of the new complex will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. in C674

· A best-case scenario timeline for the project includes starting construction in March 2013 and moving people into the new space by spring 2016

· Eagan, who holds a bachelor of engineering (civil) degree from Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, is married and a father of four children

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

Celebrating the achievement of Convocation

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:44:17 +0000

Convocation is one of the very best times of the year for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ because it is the culmination of everything we do and represents the essence of the institution.

To use an agricultural analogy, it is our harvest, when we reap the benefits of years of nurturing and hard work and release a bright crop of graduates ready to affect the world in a positive and productive manner.

Convocation is unique because it involves every aspect of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. At first glance it is a celebration of the accomplishments of students but at the same time, it is also a celebration of the accomplishments of faculty members, staff members and the external community.

Convocation is an opportunity to step back and celebrate achievement on a number of levels.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a member of a much larger community than just those individuals who make their way to the west side on a daily basis. By celebrating our distinguished alumni, by granting honorary degrees and by welcoming our stakeholders to campus to join in the Convocation ceremonies, we extend to southern Alberta and beyond, the family atmosphere that marks the U of L as unique.

The Spring Convocation is an especially significant one for the future of the institution, as we will be installing our next Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan. Her appointment is a very important milestone in the transition of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Outgoing Chancellor, Richard Davidson, was exceptional in his role. A true civic leader, he represented the community of Lethbridge extremely well and was a great ambassador for the institution.

In Dr. McClellan, we welcome an honorary degree recipient and a woman with deep rural roots who has strong provincial ties to decision makers in both Calgary and Edmonton. As the U of L continues its emergence as the province's destination university, McClellan's unique skill set embodies the direction to which we are moving.

I congratulate our President's Award winners for their service and dedication to the U of L. The AUPE group from Calgary was invaluable during the transition from our SAIT location to the present U of L campus at Bow Valley College, while Jamie Chinn continues to provide excellent service in his role with the IT department.

I also want to congratulate our outstanding faculty members, Dr. HJ Wieden and
Dr. Jennifer Mather, honoured with the Distinguished Teaching Award and Ingrid Speaker Medal, respectively. At the end of the day, our fundamental commitment is always to the students, and that we provide a student-centred atmosphere. We can never lose sight of the fact that our core responsibility is to educate the leaders of tomorrow.

I urge you to attend one of the upcoming Convocation ceremonies and share in the joy of our students as they set out to begin the next phase of their lives. It is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the work you do to help them achieve their goals, and serves as a poignant reminder of how everyone in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community plays a part in their success.

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

Helping students find their way

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:29:27 +0000

Shawnee Brave Rock never intended to go to university, but after excelling at her high school upgrading courses, she followed the example of her mother – a PhD student – and enrolled at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Born and raised in Lethbridge, Brave Rock knew the city well, but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus was new territory.

"It was really exciting but at the same time, I was really intimidated. It was just really scary," she says.

For the pre-management student, the Native Student Advisor, Elizabeth Ferguson, has been a critical resource.

Judith Wabegijig, left, and Shawnee Brave Rock are appreciative of the assistance they get from Native Student Advisor Elizabeth Ferguson.

"I'm a single mom, and I think my biggest struggle isn't school – it's life outside of school," says Brave Rock. In the last two years, she's approached Ferguson for help with everything from scheduling classes to accessing the food bank, and says this guidance has eased a lot of the pressure.
"One of the most important factors for success for aboriginal students is the support they receive on campus. This support must be culturally relevant and reflect the needs of the aboriginal community," says Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05).

Campus can feel like a large, imposing place for any student, but it can be especially tough for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students. Many of these students are from out-of-town and may feel shy about asking for help finding the services they need or connecting with the FNMI community. Having an FNMI advisor can mean all the difference.

Judith Wabegijig, a mature student taking Native American Studies, would agree: she meets with Ferguson two or three times each semester for guidance.

"It's stress relieving being able to talk to the advisor about unexpected problems I've had and being directed to the right person to talk to," she says. It's also helped her maintain focus and motivation when the demands of student life pile up.

But success at university requires community support, too. In addition to offering academic counselling for students, the Native Student Advisor organizes several events during the year to connect FNMI students with each other and with the
U of L campus as a whole, like Native Awareness Week. For Brave Rock, these social links are as important as academic services to her success.

"When I'm in class and walking around university, I don't see many aboriginal students. But, because of the services the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offers, I've met a lot of other native students. It's not that it's exclusive, but we stick together and do things together."

With a tradition of strong aboriginal connections, the U of L implemented the Native Student Advising Program in 2002 in response to the growing number of FNMI students, and to ensure they received the support they needed to succeed academically.

This year, the program received a significant boost thanks to a gift from the Ralph Klein Foundation and matching funds from the Alberta Government through the Access to the Future Fund. As a result, the Native Student Advising Program will be able to hire a second advisor, expand its services and help more students like Brave Rock and Wabegijig in the coming years.

"The Ralph Klein Foundation was proud to support the U of L because of the work the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ does for aboriginal students," says Colleen Klein, who served as Chair of the Foundation. "Words cannot express how much this will impact the lives of the aboriginal students: it will provide them with a sense of welcoming and belonging, and will allow them to follow their dreams and become role models for other students."

UNews - L campus

New U of L residence gets a name

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Kolb, McDaniel join list of Jubilee medalists

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Shaping the future

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Celebrating the achievement of Convocation

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Helping students find their way

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