UNews - businessman

Jong appointed new Board Chair

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:24:49 +0000

Gordon E. Jong, CA, a Lethbridge-based chartered accountant with a long-standing relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has been appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta as the ninth Chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors.

Jong, who earned Bachelor of Science (1980) and Bachelor of Management (1982) degrees from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, is a former member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors (2006 to 2012) and a 2004 U of L Alumni Honour Society Inductee.

Community work has been a staple for Jong. He has served as Chair of the Board of Governors at Lethbridge College, treasurer of the Southern Alberta Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Lethbridge Jaycee's Club; president of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge; and treasurer of the Rotary International Peace Park Assembly.

Jong is also a successful Lethbridge businessman starting Jong & Company - a private company categorized under Chartered Accountants.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has always been a special place for me," says Jong. "I am very proud of the fact that the U of L has emerged as one of Canada's leading teaching and research universities. I am equally proud that while the U of L remains true to southern Alberta's needs through its teaching and research activities, that it has emerged as a destination university for students across the province, country and from around the world."

"I am looking forward to once again joining a very dedicated group of volunteers on the U of L Board of Governors."

U of L President Mike Mahon says Jong epitomizes the success and contribution that U of L graduates are making.

"Gord's success in business and his commitment to his community is emblematic of a U of L graduate. He is an example of the difference our graduates are making in their communities through the leadership positions they assume," says Mahon.

Jong assumes the role of Chair from Bob Turner, Q.C., who has served in the role for the past six years.

The Jong family boasts close linkages to the U of L. Jong is married to Elizabeth Martin Jong, who also holds a
U of L degree in Music (1981). The couple has two children, Terrah, who earned a Bachelor of Arts (2005), and Christopher.

Blake finds balance in burgeoning musical career

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:01:38 +0000

Ask Pronghorns men's basketball guard Terrence Blake who he looks to emulate and Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo won't be on the list. No, Blake is more likely to drop names such as Lil Wayne, Drake and Akon, because as much as basketball is his game, music is his passion.

"Music started for me when I was in junior high," says Blake, who just recently hit the urban rap charts with his first single, Ima Get Paid. "I've always written, done poetry, and I started turning it into music in high school. From there it's just been a passion I've had and continued on with – it'll probably never stop."

Terrence Blake and Evrlove are making waves in the rap industry

In fact this could just be the start for Blake, who literally came out of nowhere to stun the rap world. Working with his team, Evrlove Music (Corey F and Artafacts), he'd had a number of singles mixed and produced locally. But if the fourth-year marketing major has learned anything during his studies in the Faculty of Management, it's how to promote himself.

"I've been blessed in a way," he says. "Through networking and just talking to people I got my demos out and really I was just looking for feedback. As an artist, I just wanted to learn about the business but within 24 hours of getting my music into the hands of the right person, I was flown out to Los Angeles and started in the studio."

Working with Larry Dee Entertainment (www.larrydeeentertainment.biz) and Grammy Award winning producer Bob Horn (Brandy, Akon), they put Ima Get Paid into the mainstream and it hit big.

"It's still getting a lot of rotation on record stations down in the States," says Blake, who's single is available on iTunes. "The first few weeks it got a lot of buzz and ended up on the Rickett's chart based out of New Jersey. I actually was the only non-signed artist to a major label who made the chart."

He says he draws his inspiration from everywhere, and by simply observing people.

"You could say I'm inspired by Lil Wayne, I admire his talent and most of all how he built something from nothing. He is not only an artist but a businessman as well," says Blake.

Ima Get Paid can be taken literally as a song about making money and Blake says that's fine if people connect with it that way, but to him, it's so much more.

"My intention on this song was the idea that in life we all chase dreams and have aspirations," he says. "This song was more like an anthem stating that I will get my goal, I will make it, I will live the way I want to, Ima get paid."

Blake in action with the Horns. Known as a lock-down defender, he is a valuable role player and veteran presence. PHOTO by Paula Gorman.

An Edmonton native, Blake was highly recruited out of high school and spent two seasons at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary before suffering a devastating ankle injury. After recuperating, he looked south to the U of L, joining the Horns this past fall when good friend Dominyc Coward moved across the river from the Lethbridge College program.

"The atmosphere around here is great, there's a ton of support, I've noticed it's a pretty tight knit community and I've enjoyed it a lot," he says, admitting there was a phase of culture shock moving to a smaller city.

"It's been a positive adjustment though because I've found more time for myself. There's less things to distract you around here so you kind of focus a little more. I think it's definitely helped me with my schooling."

Blake is considered a valuable role player with the club, and played an integral role in the team achieving its best regular season in 12 years. He's earned the respect of his teammates and his coach.

"He's a guy that's mature and had a lot of things that have happened in his life to bring him to this point," says Horns head coach Dave Adams. "The thing I love about Terrence is that he always has a perspective and always brings something into the program that's good for everybody."

As far as his off-court activities, Adams pleads ignorance.

"As a 54-year-old white guy who lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, (the non-demographic for his music) I really have no comment on his music," he laughs. "I have no idea whether it's good or bad but they tell me it's very good."

How good remains to be seen – and heard. Blake will likely see some touring opportunities this summer, opening for bigger acts in California, Ohio and the southern U.S.

"I want to just keep creating buzz and following my passion, and maybe it'll lead to a co-sign or a sign with a label, just a chance to keep doing what I'm doing."

After that, he intends to get back on the court and help the Horns return to the Canada West playoffs. Whether his future is in music or business, he's confident he's setting himself up well either way.

"If I'm not signed by the time I graduate, I'm looking to do some public relations work or some direct marketing, maybe point of sales," says Blake. "I love marketing, really all aspects of business. I love to talk in front of people, so hopefully if I'm not in front of the microphone, I'm in front of a crowd doing something with that."

This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Thrall Jr.

trevor.kenney — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:05:13 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community offers its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Ralph A. Thrall Jr, a well-known southern Alberta rancher, businessman and community volunteer.

Thrall, who received an Honorary Degree from the U of L in 1999 and was a long-serving ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ volunteer, passed away in Calgary AB on Friday, Oct. 28. He was 78.

A memorial service has not been confirmed at this time.

Additional details will be posted once they become available.

Ralph A. Thrall, Jr. was the President of McIntyre Ranching Company, one of the largest ranches in Western Canada and a place of great natural beauty.

The Thrall family's long term land management strategies have preserved the more than 55,000 acre space as both a working ranch and a nature preserve, as well as a unique centre for art, culture and ideas. (http://www.mcintyreranch.com/)

He was also 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 numerous other community organizations.

In addition to being named one of Alberta Venture's 50 most influential people in 2008, Thrall received a ceremonial key to the city from the City of Lethbridge in 2009.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Members Receive Keys to the City

trevor.kenney — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:46:39 +0000

Several individuals and community organizations with 'key' connections to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will receive the City of Lethbridge's highest honour on Friday, July 10 – the keys to the city.

"This recognition is well deserved for all these recipients who, from many different walks of life, serve their community in a variety of ways," U of L President Bill Cade said. "These awards also show the remarkable connections – and affect – the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has on the community. Our congratulations go out to the entire group, in particular our employees, alumni and friends who are honoured."

Recipients include Dr. Leroy Littlebear (BASc 1972, DASc 2004), a respected Native American Studies professor and researcher, U of L Alumnus, Honorary degree recipient and Distinguished Alumnus of the year (2003); Darcy Novakowski, an award-winning author and the Faculty of Education's communications coordinator; and Brigadier-General (Ret) Raymond Romses (BASc 1975), a distinguished Alumnus of the Year (2005) who has returned to Lethbridge following a varied career in the Canadian military which included directing several UN-sponsored missions, the command of CFB Calgary and Land Forces Atlantic area, among others. A complete list of recipients is outlined below.

The "Key to the City" is a gift made by a city to a visiting dignitary or deserving resident. The key represents the city's welcome of the visitor by, symbolically, placing the city at the visitor's disposal.

The practice of giving a key may be traced back to medieval times, when admission into a city was hampered walls and locked gates. Possession of the key symbolized free entry. In Lethbridge, the act of giving a key to the city is symbolic only, since the city has no gates to unlock.

Keys 1 to 4
Shirley McPherson, Chris Wilson, Shirley Kohuch and Diane Foster, playing out of the Lethbridge Curling Club, won the 2008 World Senior Ladies Championships in Vierumäki, Finland.

Key 5 - Darcy Tamayose Novakowski
Darcy received a literary award from the Canada Council for the Arts for her first novel, Odori. This award recognizes literary excellence by Canadian authors writing on Japan, Japanese themes or themes that promote mutual understanding between Canada and Japan. Darcy also wrote and illustrated an art exhibit, Riding Back and the Sacred Circle, which travelled throughout the Alberta School system encouraging the understanding of the Blackfoot culture. Her latest work Katie Be Quiet is targeted at youth.

Key 6 - Del Allen
Del is a well-known businessman and philanthropist. He was chosen Lethbridge Citizen of the Year for 2008 in appreciation for his work with groups as diverse as the Boys and Girls Club, the Third Academy, the Lethbridge Food Bank, the Royal Canadian Legion, Ducks Unlimited, the Lethbridge College and the City's Bright Lights Committee. Del's most recent achievement is convincing CP Rail to allow the lighting of the historical High Level Bridge to celebrate it's Centennial and then being pivotal to getting such a large task ready to go this coming fall.

Key 7 - Vic Stasiuk
Vic was recently inducted into the Alberta Sport Hall of Fame in honour of his commitment to the game of hockey. He enjoyed an NHL career with important roles in the line-ups of the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. Vic played 745 NHL games, scoring 183 goals and 437 points. Thanks to his time with the Red Wings, he sports a very impressive Stanley Cup ring. After his playing career ended, Vic enjoyed a long coaching career in both the NHL (including a stint with the Vancouver Canucks) and the minor leagues.

Key 8 – Lethbridge Iron Works
John and Bart Davies are accepting a key on behalf of Lethbridge Iron Works.
The company was recently included in a book entitled "Little Empires" (written by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge professors M. Gordon Hunter and Dan Kazakoff) which highlighted the value of Lethbridge's long-standing inter-generational corporate citizens to the community. Lethbridge Iron Works is a fourth generation family business, more than a century old. Like the family which operates the foundry, several generations of Lethbridge families have earned their living through the foundry in that length of time. The foundry is modern, automated, safety-oriented, high-production and known for quality.

Key 9 – Leroy Littlebear
Dr. Leroy Littlebear (BASc 1972, DASc 2004) was recently awarded the first-ever "Lifetime Achievement Award" presented by the Aboriginal Council of Lethbridge. That award recognized a lifetime of achievement in education and politics, in giving back to the community and advocating for youth and families. Leroy was instrumental in developing the Native American Studies department at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, which he chaired for 21 years. He is also the founding Director of Harvard ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Native American program, a U of L Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (2003) and an Honorary Degree recipient (2004). Leroy contributed to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the area of criminal justice, and for the Assembly of First Nations on constitutional issues. He is considered one of North America's leaders in Indian philosophy.

Key 10 – Raymond Romses
Retired Brigadier-General Romses (BASc 1975) was awarded the 2005 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award for exceptional professional achievements and service to Canadians. He served on a variety of operational tours and appointments, including two tours with the UN Force in Cyprus, a tour with NATO Stabilization Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a tour with the UN Force in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Romses's service in Canada included command of the First Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Joint Task Force Two – Canada's counter-terrorism unit; Canadian Forces Base Calgary; and the Land Force Atlantic Area. His leadership abilities have resulted in his progression to the most senior ranks of the Canadian Forces, but his illustrious military career all began with the Army Cadets in Lethbridge.

UNews - businessman

Jong appointed new Board Chair

Related Topics

Blake finds balance in burgeoning musical career

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Thrall Jr.

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Members Receive Keys to the City

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Thrall Jr.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Members Receive Keys to the City