UNews - Howard Tennant

McDaniel among Alberta Venture's 50 Most Influential People

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:06:29 +0000

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge sociologist’s research into labour shortages in Canada led to some myth-busting that earned her a spot on Alberta Venture’s 50 Most Influential People for 2014.

Dr. Susan McDaniel was the principal investigator in a study that showed Canada is not facing a broad labour shortage.

Dr. Susan McDaniel, director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and Canada Research Chair in Global Population and Life Course, was the principal investigator in a study that showed Canada is not facing a broad labour shortage, although some industries and regions are experiencing skills shortages.

The research, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, has received national attention and challenged accepted notions about labour shortages.

The article on McDaniel can be found at the Alberta Venture website.

McDaniel joins several other people with U of L connections who have made the list in previous years. In 2013, Dr. David Naylor (Physics and Astronomy) and Dr. Robert Sutherland (Neuroscience) were among the 50 most influential. President Emeritus Dr. Howard Tennant and U of L alumnus Ryan Johnson (Geography) were named in Alberta Venture’s 2012 most influential list.

Alberta Venture magazine creates the 50 Most Influential People list to acknowledge Albertans from all walks of life who have had uncommon influence on the province and beyond in the past year.

The complete list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People for 2014 can be found here.

Tennant named Chair of new Alberta agency

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:44:38 +0000

Alberta will build the most comprehensive environmental monitoring program in Canada with the establishment of a new arm's-length environmental monitoring agency, led by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Emeritus Dr. Howard Tennant.

The agency will be built on credible science, research and data collection. This is the key recommendation of the independent Environmental Monitoring Working Group report released by the Alberta government.

The new science-based agency will begin work in the oil sands region and will focus on what is monitored, how it's monitored and where it's monitored. This will include integrated and coordinated monitoring of land, air, water and biodiversity.

A management board named by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen will immediately begin work to set up the new agency. Tennant has been named Chair of the management board.

"Under the leadership of Premier Redford, this government has been clear on the need to improve how we manage natural resource development in the province," says McQueen.

"Building on the implementation of our first regional land-use plan in the Lower Athabasca, the move to an arm's-length environmental monitoring agency is the next critical step. This agency will be the first of its kind in Canada and signals to Albertans, Canadians and the world that we are committed to world-leading resource stewardship."

The work of the six-member management board will focus on how the new science-based agency will operate, long-term funding options and establishing a Science Advisory Board to provide input and advice on monitoring efforts. The initial focus of the new arm's-length agency will be on the Lower Athabasca area with the ability to expand to the rest of the province.

Members of the management board include:

Dr. Howard Tennant - Chair
Dr. Arlene Ponting
Dr. Gregory Taylor
Dr. Ron Wallace
Mr. Doug Tupper
Mr. Paul Clark

"Arm's-length oversight is an essential component of comprehensive, adaptive and effective environmental monitoring," says Tennant.

"The work of the management board will be key to ensuring the foundation of the new agency is based on sound, credible science. I look forward to the high quality technical and scientific advice the board will provide government as we work to build the best system for Albertans."

"Providing scientifically-credible information through an independent body is fundamentally important to excellence in resource management," says Kirk Andries, Executive Director of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute.

"We are looking forward to working with the Management Board to contribute to the development of a fully integrated, multi-media based environmental monitoring system."

"CAPP supports the establishment of the provincial monitoring agency," says CAPP vice-president David Pryce. "This is an important mechanism to further the implementation of scientifically credible monitoring which can be used to confirm and assure responsible development."

The work of the management board will be supported through Environment and Sustainable Resource Development's operating budget. Funding for the management board's work for the remainder of this fiscal year could be up to one million dollars and an estimated $3 - $5 million for next year (2013/14).

While the new agency is being established, environmental monitoring in the oil sands region will continue to be led through a joint federal-provincial program announced in February.

To date, that program has added new water quality sites on the Athabasca River and Muskeg River system; increased air monitoring by adding more sampling sites; and, improved bio-diversity monitoring to include all oil sands producing areas. Up to $50 million a year is being provided by industry in the region to support the joint federal-provincial environmental monitoring plan.

The full report of the Environmental Working Group is available online at http://environment.alberta.ca/03379.html.

Mahon earns Kainai Chieftainship

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:49:06 +0000

Building on a tradition of understanding, friendship and cooperation, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon was inducted into the Kainai Chieftainship on Saturday, July 21.

President Mike Mahon being introduced before the induction ceremony. Photos by Glenn Miller

Mahon joins a distinguished group of individuals who have been recognized by the members of the Blood Tribe as advocates for the people of the Blood Tribe and for all First Nations' people. There are just 40 living members of the Chieftainship, including former U of L presidents Dr. Howard Tennant (Young Eagle, 1991) and Dr. Bill Cade (Calf Shirt, 2006).

"Being inducted into the Kainai Chieftainship, particularly as one of 40 living members, is a humbling experience," says Mahon, who was welcomed by Chief Charles Weaselhead. "Our university resides on traditional Blackfoot territory and has been given the Blackfoot name Medicine Rock. We have had a longstanding commitment to creating an inclusive university for all First Nations', Metis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples. My own experience this past weekend is a further symbol of this cooperative relationship."

Dr. Mahon has his face painted as part of the ceremony.

Mahon was bestowed the Blackfoot name Iipisowahsi or Morning Star, meaning son of the sun and the moon.

"Blackfoot Elder Dr. Pete Standing Alone gave me my name, saying that the sun is the father and the moon is the mother. Therefore, when they are praying, they often refer to the morning star as their brother," says Mahon. "That is very symbolic and reflects the relationship we want to continue to foster with the Blackfoot people."

Mahon was honoured alongside ATCO president and chief executive officer, Nancy Southern (Brave Woman), and John Jurrius, president and chief executive officer of Native American Resource Partners (Rainy Chief).

President Mahon, left, along with fellow inductees and Chief Charles Weaselhead.

Joining the Chieftainship is a very prestigious honour that symbolizes a partnership between cultures and an acceptance into the Blood Tribe. Past inductees into the Kainai Chieftainship include Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Pope John Paul II, former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Senator Joyce Fairbairn and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

The U of L is the first university in Western Canada to establish a Native American Studies department degree program, and Mahon recently commissioned a report to further examine FNMI initiatives across the campus and to develop recommendations on a future strategy. That report is available at www.uleth.ca/president/fnmi

Follow this link for a look at our Facebook photo gallery of the induction ceremony.

The people's President

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:04:03 +0000

He readily admits he was not ready for the job of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president 10 years ago and even jokes that he might not be ready for it today. Such is the self-effacing manner in which Bill Cade has guided the U of L for the past decade, a 10-year period of unprecedented growth and achievement for the institution.

"I think you grow into jobs and anybody who thinks they are ready for any complex job probably doesn't know the job yet," says Cade, who will conclude his 10-year tenure as president at the end of June.

"I remember saying at the outset, "I'm joining your team, you're not joining my team." And to join the team, you've got to know the team. I don't care if it's football, baseball or a team of 800. I spent a fair amount of time getting to know people and learning things about them so I'd understand the role they played here."

That's something Cade never let lapse throughout his 10 years on campus. Considered by many to be the most personable "boss" they'd ever worked for, Cade embodies the personal, supportive environment the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ trumpets as one of its tenets.

"Right from when Bill came to the U of L, he was one of us," says Joan Zimmer, a Telecom assistant with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Info Tech team. "He didn't walk around with his nose in the air looking for subservience as so many do. He showed that he was in the trenches with us working for the good of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Cade's ability to bring the U of L community together is universally lauded.

"Bill has an amazing capacity to see the strengths in people, to nurture those strengths and to challenge individuals to grow," says Senate and Board of Governors member Janice Varzari. "He is very appreciative of others' efforts and is very quick to acknowledge them. His capable and creative leadership has contributed very significantly to the excellence in the education of students at the U of L and the growth of programs."

What amazing growth there has been. Over the course of the last 10 years, the U of L has seen the rise of facilities such as the Library Information Network Centre, the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (both initiated under prior president Dr. Howard Tennant), the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, Turcotte Hall, the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness and most recently, the Community Sports Stadium. Throw in a new residence complex, a daycare facility, the Parkway Service Complex and soon-to-be-opened Markin Hall and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has made building openings seem like an annual event. Cade has been at the forefront of these initiatives, introducing the new U of L campus to the world.

"I think one of Bill's great strengths has been his ability to promote the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Senate member Wendy Fox. "He is a true advocate and champion for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Lethbridge West MLA Greg Weadick agrees.

"He is the greatest cheerleader the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has ever seen – it must be the Texan in him," says Weadick. "Under his watch, the U of L has become a stronger community partner and a source of immense pride for all southern Albertans. It would be impossible to list all of Bill's accomplishments but for me, his most enduring legacy will be the passion and joy that was always contagious whenever I spoke with him."

Cade doesn't like to discuss legacies, saying he'll leave that to somebody else to write. He does however, take great pride in how the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has evolved during his watch.

"When I first came here, academically I thought we were in pretty good shape, especially when it came to undergraduate programming," says Cade. "I still believe we're in good shape there but we've been able to add so much more, including many outstanding graduate programs.
"The research side of our mandate has also grown tremendously and is as high a quality as you could find."

He'll officially leave the position of president June 30, but anticipates returning in the fall to see the opening of Markin Hall, one of the most difficult, but now, satisfying projects undertaken during his tenure.

"Markin Hall had been wished for, for years," says Cade. "It had been at the top of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's priority list for 10 years and we'd gotten nowhere with it. We clearly had to get the Faculty of Management moved out of its location, but to make it happen, we knew we had to construct the building with other academic groups."

The new Faculty of Health Sciences proved to be the right fit, and Cade still has the letter from the provincial government authorizing its $50 million contribution.

"That was a very challenging project to work on and to be able to come back in the fall and open that building will be wonderful."

With a new Strategic Plan in place, Cade is confident the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is on secure footing as it moves forward. He sees his time as president as a continuation of the legacy established before him and one that will endure after he leaves.

"The great success of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge did not just happen," says Cade. "A group of visionaries persisted, overcame obstacles and founded the U of L. Many people followed and worked many years to grow and nurture our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.
"Today, we have one of the finest universities in Canada. The future of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is very bright. I am confident the next four decades will be even more successful for the U of L."

President Emeritus Tennant reappointed to NRC

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:28 +0000

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the National Research Council Canada (NRC), announced Thursday the reappointment of Dr. Howard Tennant, President Emeritus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, as a member of the NRC.

"Dr. Tennant's expertise in the areas of budgeting, financing and commercializing the output of science at the university level will continue to bring rich and diverse contributions to the NRC as it furthers its work," says Minister Clement.

First appointed to the NRC on Oct. 21, 2003, Tennant currently serves on the Advisory Board of Statistics Canada and chairs the Canadian Advisory Board to Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. In addition, he owns and manages Tennant Management Ltd.

Tennant was Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and Associate Vice-President at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan from 1977 to 1987. He also served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Tennant has a Bachelor of Business Administration and an LL.D. from Gonzaga ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, acquired a Master of Business Administration and a Ph.D. from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Oregon and was honoured with an LL.D. from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Recognized globally for research and innovation, the NRC is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.

RSVP deadline for Fitzpatrick dinner

trevor.kenney — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:30:51 +0000

The RSVP deadline for Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick's Appreciation & Recognition Dinner is fast approaching as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge celebrates 10 years of unprecedented growth in research.

Fitzpatrick is leaving the position of Vice-President, Research, after a decade of leadership that saw the U of L move from a position of afterthought as a research institution to one of foremost authority. To honour Fitzpatrick, a Friday, June 5 Appreciation & Recognition Dinner has been organized. The RSVP deadline to attend this dinner is Friday, May 29.

Tickets for the dinner are priced at $40 each. To attend, RSVP to Bette-Jo Kulak at 403-329-2200 or e-mail to b.kulak@uleth.ca

The following is a personal letter from Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick on the occasion of his leaving the position of Vice-President (Research) after 10 years

When I was hired 10 years ago, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was not on Alberta's research map. At provincial research and advanced education meetings, the talk was of Alberta's two research universities. When the U of L applied to join the Alberta Science and Technology Foundation we had to seek approval of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary because of a non-compete clause in the membership agreement. Times have changed. The notion that there are two research-intensive universities has been put to rest.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's commitment to scholarship provided the foundation for change. Research is at the heart of a university, not just an activity for the faculty but also an integral aspect of the student learning experience. Curiosity driven and problem-based learning is important and should be incorporated in the curriculum as soon as possible. Undergraduate level research is an important teaching tool. This prepares students for employment and feeds our graduate programs. As measured by the awarding of some of Canada's most prestigious scholarships, the Julie Payette NSERC Research Scholarship and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, our student research programs are very successful. The hallmarks of research program success – grants, research chairs, fellowships and other honours – are too numerous to list. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has become a comprehensive university.

Timing is everything. The creation of the Canada Research Chairs program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation presented unprecedented opportunities. We accessed funds from other federal agencies, including Western Economic Diversification, to build the most important element of any research program – the human capital and supporting research infrastructure.

The Government of Alberta – through programs managed by Advanced Education and Technology – complemented this federal support and much more. The Government of Alberta funded our first two research buildings; the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neurosciences and the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. These investments changed the very nature of the institution.

People are important. Success within the research portfolio stemmed senior leadership and commitment to scholarship. The support of Presidents Bill Cade and Howard Tennant; Vice-Presidents Andrew Hakin, Nancy Walker and Chris Horbachewski; and Deans Christopher Nicol and Jo-Anne Fiske are gratefully acknowledged. The contributions of two good friends, Vice-President Seamus O'Shea and Board of Governors Research Chair Bryan Kolb, were significant. No one works alone.

The Office of Research Services family made the events of the last decade possible. Heartfelt thanks to Marg McKeen, Jane Allan, Penny D'Agnone, Penny Pickles, Eric Kokko, Morgan Guo, Pejman Ghanipour and Robin Schafthuizen. The contributions of my friend Christine Picken were significant.

A decade has flown by and it is time to take my leave. It has been my honour and my privilege to serve as Vice-President Research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick

Culture of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has changed in recent years

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:53:56 +0000

The following is a personal letter from Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick on the occasion of his leaving the position of Vice-President (Research) after 10 years

A decade has flown by and it is time to take my leave. It has been my honour and my privilege to serve as Vice-President Research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick

President Cade to step aside in 2010

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:36:45 +0000

He's overseen a decade of unprecedented growth and presided over an educational transformation that has repositioned the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a leading research and graduate studies institution. On Thursday afternoon, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Bill Cade, announced he would be stepping aside at the completion of his second term, June 30, 2010.

"Elsa and I have made this decision after much consideration," says Cade, referring to his wife. "We believe that our time as the presidential couple has been the most satisfying experience of our professional lives. It has been a great honour for us to work with all of you to advance our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Dr. Bill Cade, who announced Thursday he would be leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after the completion of his second term as ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ President expires, in June 2010, is well known for his personal involvement with students, staff and faculty.

Cade was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in July 2000. Currently serving his second five-year term, he has overseen the development of many significant initiatives at the U of L, including two five-year strategic plans and the successful completion of the institution's largest capital campaign.

During his tenure, student enrolment grew by 50 per cent and today approximately 8,000 students from around the world call the U of L's campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton home. He also saw the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ evolve from a primarily undergraduate university to a leading comprehensive academic and research institution with corresponding growth in graduate programming, enrolment and external research funding (which increased by a phenomenal 610 per cent).

While the growth numbers are staggering, Cade endeavoured to keep the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ grounded in its principles. His personal style reflected well the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's roots as an institution grounded in liberal education and committed to providing its students with smaller classes and a personal learning experience.

"The best part of my job has been the people," Cade says. "The people who make up the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are intensely proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and what they and others have contributed to it. And similarly, the people of Lethbridge are intensely proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. This sense of pride that people have in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is something that I get enormous satisfaction from."

Since his arrival in 2000, the U of L completed, initiated, constructed or planned about $200 million in capital projects and improvements. These include the Library Information Network Centre (LINC) and the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) (projects started under the leadership of former president Dr. Howard Tennant), the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Parkway Services Complex, the renovation and expansion of Turcotte Hall and the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, which opened this past November.

Currently three more projects are under construction and set to open in 2009/2010, including the Regional Sports Stadium and Field Complex, a campus daycare and Markin Hall – a new home for the faculties of Management and Health Sciences.

"Throughout his presidency, Dr. Cade has proudly served as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's chief ambassador and cheerleader, and has built and strengthened community relations at local, provincial, national and international levels," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Robert Turner. "During Dr. Cade's tenure, the U of L has seen an unprecedented amount of community support in the forms of fundraising and community engagement. On behalf of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors, I would like to thank Bill and Elsa for their decade of dedication and commitment to this institution."

To view a personal letter from Dr. Cade to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, click on the following link: www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=300&s=11846

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