UNews - ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario

Interns a boon to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ library

trevor.kenney — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:14:33 +0000

You can call it a mutually beneficial relationship.

For the past six years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library has had an ongoing association with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario's (UWO) co-op intern program.

Currently, there are three librarian interns working in the library, each pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science degree at UWO. Carla Reimer and Laura Riggs are originally from Ontario and Emma Thompson was born and raised in Nova Scotia.

The interns work at the Information and Research Assistance Desk, where they assist faculty, students, staff and community members with their research and information needs.

Library interns Carla Reimer, Laura Riggs and Emma Thompson.

"Hiring co-op students is an excellent way to enhance the level of service the library can provide to our varied clientele," says Brenda Mathenia, associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ librarian-Client Services & Facilities. "I believe in supporting library-specific co-op and placement programs because of my own experience with similar initiatives when I completed my Master of Science in Information."

Beyond working at the information desk, the interns participate in a wide variety of activities at the library. This includes working with professional librarians and library staff to develop the library's collection, update catalog records, deliver introductory information, literacy instruction and create library research guides. Interns also participate in ongoing projects at the library on an as needed basis. These activities provide interns with opportunities to build practical skills and professional knowledge.

"The hands-on experience at the library provides real-world insight that complements the academic theory I studied at school," says Riggs.

Reimer agrees, adding that this experience will give her a better understanding of where she wishes to take her career.

"I look forward to gaining an understanding of the trends within the profession and learning about opportunities within academic librarianship."

The library has an established history of hiring librarian interns from UWO. Since 2007, the library has had interns on staff for four-to-eight month positions. It has proven to be a win-win for both parties and brings a great new perspective into the library.

"Carla, Emma and Laura are a great addition to our staff," says Mathenia. "They bring a level of enthusiasm and energy that is simply refreshing and contagious. Another added benefit is, as students themselves, they provide the library with valuable insight into how students use information, which is helping us in our ongoing efforts to enhance the student experience."

Thompson, who has been at the U of L since September, has gained a real appreciation for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as she works with its faculty, staff and students on a daily basis.

"The U of L is a top-notch institution with an excellent reputation," she says. "I've found that there's a real engaged student body and I've felt a strong sense of community since I've been here."

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

U of L leads way in establishing ACCRU

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:44:35 +0000

This story by Léo Charbonneau appeared in the Sept. 12 edition of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Affairs. It is re-posted here with their permission.

There is a new university group in Canada: the Alliance of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities.

Created at a meeting in Ottawa in June, ACCRU brings together the vice-presidents, research, of the smaller comprehensive universities in Canada that have "a strong commitment to research," said Dan Weeks, vice-president, research, at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The creation of the alliance is in part a reaction to the group known as the U15, which advocates on behalf of what it calls "Canada's 15 leading research universities."

A graphical representation of ACCRU.

That group, previously called the G10 and then the G13 before it expanded to its current 15 members, has given those institutions "a strong unified voice for consultation and lobbying activities on their behalf," said Dr. Weeks.

However, ACCRU is not meant to be a lobbying group, he stressed. Rather, the aim of the new alliance is to discuss the challenges and issues that these smaller universities face, and to pool resources and best practices with like-minded colleagues.

"If we do have advice and things that have policy implications, the route would be through either AUCC [Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada] or our individual presidents," he said.

Dr. Weeks set the ball rolling for the new group with a letter he sent to colleagues this past January.

The letter reads in part: "There are a number of unique challenges associated with conducting world-class research at Canada's small institutions. Effectively meeting these challenges and ensuring that research investments made in our institutions are of maximal benefit to all Canadians prompts me to suggest that Canada's 'small' research universities might benefit by informal discussion of the merits of forming a group or forum. This would give us the opportunity to discuss and react collectively to issues we face now or that will arise."

The response was "absolutely fantastic," said Dr. Weeks. "Everybody was excited about getting together." The respondents agreed on a date and venue for the event, and of the 25 universities initially contacted, 19 sent representatives to the Ottawa gathering – in most cases, either the vice-president or associate VP research.

While stressing that membership in ACCRU is "meant to be inclusive," Dr. Weeks acknowledged he had to come up with "some sort of algorithm" to choose who to invite.

He and William Bridger, a former vice-president at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario, devised a plan. First, they said the university had to describe itself as a comprehensive university.

Second, they did a rough calculation of the percentage of tri-council funding that each university receives, and "there was a pretty obvious breakpoint, and so we invited everybody below that line," said Dr. Weeks.

But he added, "I really wouldn't put too much stock in this 'who's in, who's out' type of thing. It's really more about the scope of your operations and would you benefit from being at these discussions."

The attendees to the Ottawa meeting "talked a lot about faculty recruitment and, related to that, the general perception of small universities by the public and by other institutions," said Dr. Weeks.

They also discussed research ethics, infrastructure, animal care, research centres and institutes, contracts, "and all the things that we have to fulfill in terms of policies and regulations" but often with far fewer resources than the larger universities, "so we have to be more clever about how we get some of these accomplished."

Katherine Schultz, vice-president research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Prince Edward Island, attended the meeting and said the conversations "were frank and open." She noted that, unlike vice-presidents, academic, there is no national meeting for VPs research, so this group "fills a gap that many of us perceived. … It's a forum for information exchange that didn't exist."

André Manseau, dean of research at Université du Quebec en Outaouais, said it was "very enriching" for him to have his colleagues share their experiences. "We face many similar issues," he said. "Our offices are of relatively modest size and we don't have a lot of specialized personnel."

The ACCRU members agreed to meet again in Ottawa in early December, before the annual Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's leaders meeting (of senior university administrators who serve as points of contact with the council).

The alliance also created three working groups that will report at the December meeting: one looking at best practices, one on governance of the group itself, and a third tasked to craft a mission statement.

Universities represented at the ACCRU meeting in June:

* Acadia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Bishop's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Brandon ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Brock ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Cape Breton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Nipissing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Saint Mary's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Thompson Rivers ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Trent ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Université de Moncton
* Université du Québec en Outaouais
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Prince Edward Island
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Windsor
* Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ sees great value in its external relationships

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:04:50 +0000

By RICHARD WESTLUND

A couple of years ago, while at the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers annual conference, I attended a presentation made by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario and the London Chamber of Commerce about the strong partnership they enjoyed.

At first glance, the session seemed understated and underwhelming, as it was slotted amid more noteworthy sessions that included federal deputy ministers, prominent media columnists and established strategists within government. However it was this session that resonated with me more than the others because it spoke to the great opportunities that arise when partnerships with local entities are established.

Western's relationship with the London chamber, at one point, was fairly one-sided. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ would approach local businesses only when it needed something – such as support for a specific application for government funding.

The relationship changed when the London chamber reengaged the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and insisted that Western become a meaningful partner. After some concerted effort, the chamber and the university created a relationship of mutual benefit.

After returning home and pondering this example, I joined the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee. I had given the local chamber little thought prior to that point but now felt it was important to get involved. What I immediately found was that the Lethbridge and Western situations were hardly comparable.

I discovered that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's relationship with the local chamber goes back decades. On its website the chamber proudly states the significant role it has played in support of the U of L in the community. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has an automatic appointment to its board of directors and various committees have U of L representatives actively participating in events and meetings. Faculty of Management Dean
Dr. Bob Ellis, for example, serves on the Government Affairs committee.

As well, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ researchers have taken the time to share their expertise with the chamber. In the past few months alone, Dr. Geoffrey Hale has spoken on border issues and Dr. Judith Kulig advocated for federal funds to create a pilot program for initiatives that would help universities retain Aboriginal students and assist in their transition to the workforce.

Like the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a role to play in the economic development of the city and beyond. One of the key directions in the U of L's Strategic Plan is to enhance relationships with external communities. Faculty and staff from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ currently share their skills with a myriad of different local organizations. It is this spirit of sharing knowledge and expertise that benefits both the community and the U of L.

Looking at the emphasis the U of L places on community engagement, and by the number of advocates the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ already has in the community, fostering these meaningful partnerships and interactions will only help the city and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to thrive in the future.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's government relations director

Saucier to leave U of L for dean appointment

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:25:54 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Dr. Deborah Saucier, professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience, will be leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ next year after accepting the position of Dean of Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Saucier has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since 2006, joining the U of L as a Canada Research Chair and associate professor. She then progressed to the position of professor and then Chair of the department in 2009. Her appointment at UOIT begins July 1, 2011.

"On behalf of her many colleagues on campus, I would like to congratulate Dr. Saucier on her prospective appointment and wish her the best for her family and her future career in this new role," says Dr. Chris Nicol, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Nicol says Saucier has been an outstanding colleague since joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"She has served as director of the Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience and, more recently, as Chair of the Department of Neuroscience. In addition to a prodigious record of achievement as a scholar and teacher, she also has distinguished herself with recent service to the Faculty Association as Chair of the Academic Welfare Committee. She will be greatly missed on our campus."

Located in Oshawa, Ont. and founded in 2002, UOIT hosts more than 7,500 undergraduate and graduate students on two campuses.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is delighted to have Saucier join its team.

"Dr. Saucier has a proven track record of attracting research funding, investing wisely in her department and ensuring its success by providing opportunities for everyone to succeed, regardless of where they are in their career," says Dr. Richard Marceau, UOIT Provost. "We are looking ahead to Dr. Saucier's arrival at UOIT as our second dean of the Faculty of Science."

Saucier is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She received her PhD in psychology from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario (UWO) in London, Ont. and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at UWO in 1995.

Saucier spent three years as a faculty member in Psychology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and then in 1999 she accepted a position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where she was an associate professor of Psychology.

Student captures NEADS award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:48:25 +0000

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) and BMO Capital Markets are pleased to announce the 12 outstanding winners of the 2010 NEADS Equity Through Education Student Awards Program.

Among the recipients is Katherine Taylor, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge psychology student who was selected from among 375 applicants to join 11 other undergraduate or graduate students as award winners.

All recipients receive $3,000 toward their tuition.

A complete listing of recipients can be found below.

"NEADS congratulates the 2010 winners of the NEADS Equity Through Education Student Awards, says Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, NEADS Past-President and Chair of the selection committee.

"There were many excellent candidates and 375 applications for this year's competition. The dedication, perseverance and achievements of this year's winners embody the spirit of the Awards program. We wish them all the very best in their studies, and look forward to watching their successes in the future. We are grateful to BMO Capital Markets for its generous funding of the Equity Through Education Student Awards."

"Congratulations to all of this year's winners," says Mike Miller, Head of Equity Products, BMO Capital Markets and a champion of the Equity Through Education Program. "Your achievements serve as an inspiration for others and help reinforce the important work of NEADS. We admire the vital role of NEADS, which helps young Canadians with disabilities finish their studies and make a successful transition to the employment market."

The winners in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Undergraduate Studies category are:

-- Naomi Harrington (Computer Science and Psychology combined major,��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria)

-- Devin Ryan (Computer Science, Business option, Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

-- Katie Raso (Communication, Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ)

-- Alexandra Papaiconomou (Law, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario)

-- Katherine Taylor (Psychology, French Minor, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge)

-- Tawnie Wilson (Communications and Women's Studies combined, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Windsor)

Recipients in Graduate Studies category are:

-- James Bell (MA Criminology, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto)

-- Jessica Dunkley (Faculty of Medicine, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ottawa)

-- Kelly Fritsch (Ph.D Social and Political Thought, York ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ)

-- Chelsea Mohler (Masters of Health and Rehabilitation Science, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario)

-- Barbara Schober (Doctor of Philosophy/History, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia).

The winner of the Equity Through Education Student Awards in the College/Cegep Studies category is Larissa Haluszka-Smith (Occupational Therapist Assistant/Physiotherapist Assistant, Centennial College).

Internship a benefit to all

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:27:41 +0000

If you've been in the library lately, you may have noticed a friendly new face: Heather Nicholson.

Nicholson is a co-op student from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario (UWO), where she is studying for a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. She is here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for one term to gain some practical, hands-on experience in a library setting.

"This is a great learning experience, and a great way to supplement what I've learned so far in school," says Nicholson. "Working at a smaller institution like the U of L has given me the opportunity to gain experience with a wide variety of library work."

The library gains from this relationship as well, by getting an enthusiastic short-term employee with new ideas able to help out with special projects. It's not unlike the opportunity U of L students readily take advantage of when they participate in similar co-op placements.

The UWO co-op program is, like the U of L's program, an optional add-on to the degree. Students can choose up to two co-op terms of four months each. And, like the U of L program, many students may eventually find permanent employment with their co-op sponsors – something Nicholson would love to see happen.

Nicholson was previously a junior high school teacher for five years in her hometown of Edmonton. She then taught junior high language arts and social studies for three years at a newly opened Canadian school in Qatar, returning last June to begin her studies at UWO. Helping to develop the collection for the school library in Qatar piqued her interest in library science.

Throughout her teaching career she realized the importance of teaching students solid research and critical thinking skills. Becoming a librarian dovetails nicely with her interest in teaching, while providing her with an opportunity to assist students in developing information literacy skills. Working in the U of L Library, with its emphasis on personal service, leads her to believe she's made the right choice.

"I love the teaching aspect of being a librarian," says Nicholson. "I also enjoy the other parts of the job – working on the reference desk, developing collections, and constantly learning new things as you support faculty and students in their research. It's the wide variety of the job that really appeals to me."

At the U of L, Nicholson has been involved with a variety of projects, including teaching classes, co-ordinating the movement of the collection during renovations, weeding parts of the collection and analyzing the library's print and electronic serials holdings.

"Thanks to my work here at the U of L, I have been able to see the practical application of concepts we've discussed in class, and there's no substitute for actually experiencing how real-world libraries work," she says. "The library staff has been very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience with me."

Pronghorns ready for CIS challenge

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:05:57 +0000

The two-time defending champion ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns will have to get by a number of usual suspects in order to capture a third consecutive CIS women's rugby title, beginning Friday in Vancouver.

The 12th annual CIS tournament, hosted for the first time by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, gets under way Friday morning with six round robin matchups, culminating on Sunday afternoon with the gold medal final.

Joining Canada West champion Lethbridge in Vancouver are the AUS champion St. Francis Xavier X-Women, OUA champion Guelph Gryphons, QSSF champion Concordia Stingers, OUA finalist Western Ontario Mustangs, as well as the tournament host UBC Thunderbirds.

Lethbridge, Concordia and Western will battle in Pool A on Friday, while StFX, Guelph and UBC hope to make it out of Pool B. The top two teams from each group at the end of round-robin play advance to the semi-finals.

In Pool A, the Pronghorns will face a familiar foe and a new rival.

Lethbridge and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario, which lost 39-7 to Guelph in the OUA final last weekend, have battled no less than five times over the past three years at the CIS tourney, with the 'Horns holding a 3-2 edge including a 2-0 advantage in the medal round. They'll meet at 11 a.m. (MT) Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Lethbridge and Concordia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will square off for the very first time at the CIS tourney Friday at 4 p.m. (MT), in the third and final Pool A duel.

The Stingers, whose best result at the national championship is a fourth-place finish in the inaugural tournament back in 1998, booked their ticket for Vancouver with a 13-10 overtime win on the road over previously undefeated Laval in the Quebec final.

The Pronghorns enjoyed another sensational season in 2009. The defending champs outscored their Canada West opponents 333-7 in six overall duels, including a 30-0 win over the five-time national champion Alberta Pandas in the conference final, en route to a fourth straight Canada West banner.

The Pronghorns' toughest opposition might come from Pool B as St. Francis Xavier and Guelph also come into the championship with perfect conference records and have been ranked just behind Lethbridge in the coaches' poll. Both the X-Women and Gryphons have revenge on their minds, as they fell to Lethbridge in last year's CIS final and semifinal round, respectively.

SSN Canada will have live webcasts of Saturday's semifinals at noon and 2 p.m. (MT), as well as Sunday's bronze-medal game at 1 p.m. and championship match at 3 p.m.

Finding the language of belonging

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:36:08 +0000

There's a language of belonging when entering an academic environment, and finding the key to unlocking that language is more difficult for some than others. Thankfully, there's a gatekeeper on hand to assist in the search.

Eric Low (BA '75) mans the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Writing Centre, a haven for those searching for guidance when trying to write in a language that, at times, can seem foreign.

"There's a misunderstanding that writing takes place alone. I don't know very many practicing writers who don't collaborate in some fashion," Low says. "Writing, by its nature, works well in a collaborative situation."

The Writing Centre is not a remedial centre and Low, along with Manager of Language Services, International Centre for Students, Jenine Hawryluk, is not there to simply edit papers. Instead, they offer an opportunity for students to vet their ideas and gain feedback on whether they are hitting the mark with their papers.

"A great deal of what we do here is listen and respond, at any stage of the process," Low says.

"We're here to encourage, to suggest, to diagnose problems or patterns and to make suggestions. It then all goes back to the student. After talking to us, it's the student's job to say, 'This is what I'm going to do.' "

Low's jack-of-all-trades background is extremely beneficial in the work he does with students. An English graduate, he also studied drama and eventually earned a master's degree in journalism from ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario. At the U of L he has taught drama, English, English as a second language and academic writing, as well as some management and communications courses.

"That's one of the reasons I'm here, I have a varied background and very little astonishes me," he says.

An Ottawa, Ont. native, Low says the Writing Centre welcomes students at all stages of the writing process. Whether it's helping them with the first stage of unpacking an assignment and making sure they begin on the right path, to clarifying the organization of their ideas and then finally recognizing grammatical pitfalls, it's all a process to help students understand the forum within which they are now writing.

"Anytime a student begins feeling anxious to the point of being concerned about an assignment is the time to come in," Low says.

Students and faculty both profit from this collaboration. To that end, Low and Hawryluk encourage faculty to promote the Writing Centre to their students. Some even make it a requirement to visit the centre at least once during the writing process.

To better understand the needs of faculty, the Writing Centre is sending out an electronic survey that will ask faculty questions on style and formatting and just how they'd prefer their students to write.

GET THE FACTS

• The Writing Centre's survey for faculty should be sent out during the first week of classes.

• The Writing Centre is located in L1012 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library. It's an ideal location and allows for collaboration between the centre and the librarians.

• Students can book 30-minute or 50-minute Writing Centre appointments online. The Writing Centre is also open for drop-in appointments Monday to Friday,
9 a.m. to noon, and Monday to Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.

• For more information on the Writing Centre, visit the website at www.uleth.ca/ics/writingcentre

Gaudet serving the greater good

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:59:15 +0000

Whether it means taking on the powers that be or courageously facing a room full of "Dragons," Kevin Gaudet (BA '91), federal director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), stands strong in his convictions, a legacy of valour that runs in his family.

"My grandfather, Walthen Gaudet, was the mayor of Charlottetown. He saw public service as a noble profession and lived up to the values of truth, duty and honour. I was brought up that way by my parents," says Gaudet. "They taught me to stand up for what I believe in, and they incubated a curious mind, encouraged it and put up with it."

Gaudet spent much of his childhood moving across Canada with his family, ending up in Lethbridge for his Grade 12 year. After graduating from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in 1986, Gaudet spent a year studying engineering at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, B.C., before deciding that was not the path for him.

"I went back to Lethbridge because my family was there. I was aware of the benefits of a liberal arts undergraduate degree so it was a rather easy decision for me to attend the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. I could stay at home and get a really good quality education," explains Gaudet.

After taking an introductory philosophy course, Gaudet fell in love with the discipline and chose it as a major.

"When I told my parents, they asked me what the hell I was going to do with that, and of course I told them ,'I can do anything I want'," says Gaudet.

He was right. Studying philosophy began opening doors for him from the outset of his education. In his second year at U of L, Gaudet worked as a teacher's assistant for his philosophy professor, U of L President Emeritus Dr. John Woods. He also cut his political teeth that year by winning a seat on school council. Gaudet regards his time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in a very positive light.

"The professors were open and friendly and with the smaller size of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ you could actually get in the doors to talk to your professors so that they could prove to you just how wrong you were when you proposed ideas," laughs Gaudet. "Lethbridge has an interesting culture with its agricultural community, influx of foreign students and religious community. It provides the campus a rich diversity of experience, opportunity and thought, all in one place."

Following his graduation in 1991, Gaudet's education and career continued to grow. He spent five years as the director of opposition research for Preston Manning, graduated with an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario in 2000, and worked for various telecommunications, banking, computer and medical technology companies, performing marketing strategy and government relations.

In 2007, Gaudet began working as the Ontario director of the CTF and became the federal director in January 2008. As director, he is responsible for looking at all policy matters relating to the federal government. The CTF advocates for lower taxes, less waste and a more accountable government. Gaudet does whatever is necessary to get that message out, whether it is planning a rally, or presenting his flat tax message on the television show Dragons' Den.

Gaudet hopes to affect positive change on the national stage and his former professor is proud of the path he's taken since his time at the U of L.

"Kevin's skills are abundantly evident in his work. His policy analyses show an impressive analytical intelligence at work; his television appearances show a cool, elegant and engaging advocate," says Woods. "Kevin Gaudet reflects great credit upon the university that trained him."

GET THE FACTS

• Born in Halifax, N.S., Gaudet has lived in eight Canadian provinces

• He studied logic at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Amsterdam (summer 1990) and is fluent in both English and French

• Gaudet took over for John Williamson as federal director of the CTF

• Volunteering as a scout leader in Toronto, he says his greatest personal accomplishment is, "A very successful marriage and three wonderful children."

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