UNews - ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan

New Chair in Aquatic Health Appointed

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:05:57 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has added to its internationally recognized expertise in water research with the addition of a new Chair in Aquatic Health, Dr. Greg Pyle.

Pyle is the first of four new research Chairs being added to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ this year as part of the Government of Alberta's Campus Alberta Innovation Program (CAIP) Chairs plan. The government is contributing $1-million for four Chairs, over the course of seven years, for a total investment of $7 million.

"It's exciting to be able to bring in an outstanding research talent such as Dr. Pyle," says Dr. Dan Weeks, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's vice-president (research). "His established expertise in the effects of environmental contaminants on the chemical communication systems in aquatic animals will greatly add to the already comprehensive research portfolio that has been established by our researchers in the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE)."

Pyle comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after spending the previous five years as head of the Aquatic Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Thunder Bay, Ont. His research program is considered unique because he is able to study several aquatic species, including both vertebrate and invertebrate animals, representing different positions within a typical freshwater food web and thereby better understanding the subtle effects of environmental contamination.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been building a strong reputation in research over the past several years, especially in the aquatic sciences," says Pyle. "I am thrilled to be part of that growing research culture, and excited by the prospects afforded by the university and surrounding region."

Prior to taking up a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology at Lakehead, Pyle helped establish and build the Department of Biology at Nipissing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He earned both his bachelor and master's degrees from Laurentian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and received his PhD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

The CAIP Chairs plan is part of the Government of Alberta's Campus Alberta collaborative initiative and will provide research Chairs to Alberta's four Comprehensive Academic and Research Intensive (CARI) institutions: the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary.

The U of L will also welcome CAIP Chairs in the areas of brain health and dementia, synthetic biology, and terrestrial ecosystems and remote sensing later this year. Pyle's appointment at the U of L is funded for seven years.

"The program is designed to recruit new research leaders to Alberta in specific areas of study," says Weeks. "Not only do these areas align with the Government of Alberta's strategic priorities, but they also reflect the core strengths of our institution."

RSS change a positive move

trevor.kenney — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:07:47 +0000

They say with change there is growth, and with growth there is opportunity.

The recent amalgamation of Risk and Safety Services (RSS) with Security Services elicits some exciting changes as RSS grows its portfolio.

As part of the changes, RSS is pleased to welcome Lorna Selinger, who is assuming the position of Biosafety Officer. Selinger graduated from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. She started her career with Eli Lilly and has held positions with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan, the province of Saskatchewan, Agrium and most recently with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Selinger brings to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ a wealth of knowledge and significant experience in microbiology. She was highly involved in the design, implementation and training plans for compliance with containment Level 2/2+standards outlined in Containment, Biosafety and Biosecurity Guidelines as required by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

As the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's academic and research programs have expanded, the need to grow the biosafety program became evident. Selinger will be taking over the portfolio from Bruce McMullen, who diligently managed biosafety for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since the early 1990s.

RSS also announced that Carolin Cattoi-Demkiw, who has successfully managed the radiation safety, chemical safety and laboratory safety program for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2005, has been appointed Manager, Safety. Reporting to the director of Risk and Safety Services, Carolin is responsible for the supervision of the safety officers. She also assumes the management and oversight of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's safety program, which includes occupational health & safety, radiation, laser, chemical and laboratory safety as well as biosafety.

Lasting Images - Wilf Perreault

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:07:57 +0000

Wilf Perreault was born in 1947 in Albertville, Sask. While growing up in Saskatoon, he took art lessons from his neighbour, acclaimed prairie artist Ernest Lindner.

After graduating from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan in 1970, he taught high school art while developing his painting practice. Since his first solo exhibition at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in 1978, Perreault's work has been exhibited and collected across Canada and the United States. In 2003, Perreault was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

Wilf Perreault, Disappearing Curb, 1984. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of Rick and Ellen Campbell, 1999.

Perreault is well known for his hyper-realistic depictions of back lanes and roadways, which focus on light, shadow and the minute details of mundane urban living. These painstakingly painted environments challenge traditional notions of beauty found in most picturesque landscape paintings, while also capturing a strong sense of place that makes them readily identifiable with Canada's Prairie region.

Wilf Perreault, Turn Right, 1981. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of Jim Coutts, 2010.

Costa realizing academic, athletic dream

trevor.kenney — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:04:25 +0000

Sometimes all the recruiting efforts in the world pale in comparison to a word-of-mouth endorsement and a Google search.

Such was the case for Brazilian international student Guilherme Costa, who showed up on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge doorstep this past January looking first for an opportunity to study kinesiology and physical education, and secondly to play soccer.

"A few years ago my brother did an international exchange through the Rotary International program and we hosted a girl from Edmonton at our house for five months," says Costa, a 24-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"She introduced me to Canada, and I was amazed to learn about the people, the nature and everything that was here. I decided then to come to Canada; it was my dream."
He first landed in Vancouver, B.C. and spent eight months there before finding a university that suited his interests.

"I heard about the kinesiology program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and about the chance to do research. Now that I've been here for almost a year, I just love it," says Costa. "I did an independent study when I earned my degree in Brazil and that's what I want to keep doing here, and I thought that Lethbridge would be the perfect spot."

International Brazilian student Gui Costa played a key role in the success of the Horns men's soccer team this past fall.

A third-year student in kinesiology, he comes from a family that values education and is extremely supportive of his goals. His father is an engineer, his mother a lawyer and his brother a doctor.

"My interest of study is in sport and rehabilitation," he says. "I want to work with metabolic disease in sports. We all know about the impact of physical activity in sport and metabolic disease, and I want to see how indoor sports like indoor soccer, volleyball and basketball have an impact on the body."

Coming from the world's seventh largest city in population, it is obviously a huge culture shift to arrive in a city of less than 100,000, but Costa seems at ease with the transition.

"It's a pretty calm city and I'm really enjoying that. Sao Paulo is so busy so we don't really have time for anything, and living here is pretty relaxing," he says. "I'm really looking forward to my parents coming here for Christmas. They're going to spend a month with me and we plan to travel all over Canada."

Costa grew up playing soccer and even looked at trying to play professionally in Brazil, but he prioritized education over sport, something that suits him well now as a Canada West student-athlete.

"It's been a little bit hard, because this was my first year and I've had to manage my soccer, my school and work, because I have to support myself here," he says of his job with Sodexo. He also plans to work on the Horns' game day staff team through the winter.

"I chose my classes well so that I could manage things and now that soccer season is over I plan to study and work more."

It was a banner year for the Horns men's team, which set a new team record for total points and equaled its best ever win total. That the team still fell one win shy of qualifying for the playoffs has Costa and his teammates eager for next season.

"I think we were all happy with what we did but at the same time we were frustrated because looking back, there were probably five games we should have won and didn't, and that was the difference at the end," says the first-year centre-midfielder. "So, we know we can do more next year and it makes us confident.

I think everyone wishes next season started tomorrow."

As with soccer and Costa's educational aspirations, this year is only a beginning.

"I want to finish my undergrad degree and then start a master's degree," he smiles. "I want to stay in Canada, that's my plan. Hopefully Canada will accept me."

In many ways, the country already has.

GET THE FACTS

· Horns men's soccer posted a 4-5-6 record on the year and finished three points behind the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan for the final Canada West playoff spot

· Costa played last summer with the Lethbridge Football Club in the Alberta Major Soccer League

· Many of the Horns will play together throughout the indoor soccer season, an opportunity to further develop their skill set for next fall

· Costa says he has no issue with the snow and cold he encounters in Canada but he could do without Lethbridge's winds. "It shocks me a little," he says

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

Athletes of the week named

trevor.kenney — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:35:59 +0000

Matt Medoruma and Megan Bailey have earned honours as the Subway Pronghorn Athletes of the Week.

Medoruma, a fifth-year midfielder for the Horns men's soccer program, picks up the award for the second week in a row.

In what turned out to be his final weekend as a Pronghorn, he was arguably the best player on the field for both weekend games against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

Medoruma had an assist on the Horns' lone goal in Saturday's 2-1 loss that bumped the team from playoff contention. He then scored the only goal in a 1-1 tie on Sunday.

Medoruma started all 15 games for the Horns this season and finished second in team scoring with two goals and four assists.

Bailey was a standout for the Horns women's hockey team as they picked up three of four points from the previously undefeated ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas this past weekend.

The third-year forward scored twice and added two assists for the Horns, and has already set a career high for points in a season in just seven games. She has four goals and three assists on the year and is a team-best plus-5.

Medoruma, Van Eeuwen earn awards

trevor.kenney — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:57:13 +0000

Matt Medoruma and Brandi Van Eeuwen have been named Subway Pronghorn Athletes of the Week following their efforts in Canada West play this past weekend.

Medoruma, a fifth-year midfielder playing the final home games of his Canada West career, led the Horns men's soccer team to a win and a tie against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, keeping the Horns playoff hopes alive.

Medoruma chipped in a valuable assist in the Horns' 2-0 victory over the Golden Bears on Saturday and was a force in the midfield Sunday as the U of L secured another point in its quest for a playoff spot.

The Horns head to face the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan this weekend, needing at least a win and a tie to overtake the Huskies for the final playoff position.

On the women's side, fifth-year prop Van Eeuwen capped her Horns career with a four-try performance against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia in the Canada West women's rugby bronze medal game.

Van Eeuwen was also named a 2012-13 Canada West All-Star for the fifth consecutive season.

Exercise physiologists hold conference

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:44:51 +0000

Undergraduate and graduate students, along with some of the top exercise physiologists in western Canada, are at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge this week for the 6^th Annual Exercise Physiologists of Western Canada (EPOWC) conference.

Delving into issues such as the prevention of osteoporosis and optimizing physical capacity in obese adults, the conference is a student-focused event that invites undergraduate and graduate students from universities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to present their research work in a supportive and constructive environment. It also serves to expose students to the work of leading researchers in exercise physiology and allows opportunities for networking and the development of collaborative relationships.

The two-day event begins Thursday, Aug. 9 with a pair of talks that are open to the general public and feature two of the top exercise physiologists in western Canada.

Dr. Phil Chilibeck of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan presents Exercise and Nutritional Strategies for Prevention of Osteoporosis at 4 p.m. in Markin Hall (M1040). His talk will focus on the best exercises to build bone during growth and throughout the lifespan, based on biomechanical, physiological and clinical evidence. The talk will also cover the best types of exercises for building bone, preventing falls and preventing fracture in people who already have osteoporosis.

Dr. Danielle Bouchard of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba follows with a presentation titled Increasing Physical Capacity in Obese Older adults: Is Weight Loss the Solution? The talk begins at 5 p.m. in M1040.

The second day of the conference, Friday, Aug. 10, features the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Dr. Tom Hazell as he discusses Time Effective Training: How Far Can Short Bouts of Intense Exercise Go in Improving Fitness? His talk, at 2:30 p.m. in M1040, will focus on the acute and chronic effects of sprint-interval training on metabolism and body composition.

Also featured is Dr. Michael Koehle of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, who will present High Altitude Research from the Field to the Laboratory at 9 a.m. on Friday morning.

The keynote presentations are sponsored by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions.

For a full look at the EPOWC conference, access the website at http://www.uleth.ca/artsci/kinesiology/exercise-physiologists-western-canada

U of L joins PIMS as full member

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:45:33 +0000

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) is pleased to announce that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Alberta has joined the PIMS consortium as a full member.

The site has been a PIMS affiliate for many years and has had significant participation in PIMS activities.

Dr. Chris Nichol, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, will represent the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ on the PIMS Board of Directors. Dr. Amir Akbary has been appointed as interim PIMS site director and will begin on July 1, 2012.

With the incorporation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the PIMS consortium now has nine full members, including all the major research universities in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Washington State.

In particular, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge joins the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, in further strengthening PIMS' partnerships in Alberta, where a significant number of PIMS activities take place.

"We are delighted that Lethbridge has become a full member of the PIMS consortium, as they have valuable strengths in a number of areas in the mathematical sciences - number theory is a good example. Through our collaborative research groups, summer schools, postdoctoral opportunities, broadcast seminars and educational activities, Lethbridge faculty and students will be important contributors to PIMS activities," said PIMS Director, Alejandro Adem.

Background

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) was founded in 1996 by a consortium of five universities in Alberta and British Columbia (the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria). Later they were joined by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Washington in the United States and more recently by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan and finally the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The mandate of PIMS is to:

- promote research in and applications of the mathematical sciences of the highest international caliber

- facilitate the training of highly-qualified personnel at the graduate and postdoctoral level

- enrich public awareness of mathematics through outreach

- enhance the mathematical training of teachers and students in K-12

- create mathematical partnerships with similar organizations in other countries, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Pacific Rim.

Health Sciences producing ready grads

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:17:15 +0000

The best testimony as to whether a program works or not is to see the end result. Christine Knaus, soon to be a graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Faculty of Health Sciences Public Health program, is that end result – and yes, the program does work.

Knaus, who is set to convocate this spring, is already employed as an infection control practitioner with Alberta Health Services (AHS), having turned her practicum placement into a full-time job. The only downside is that she now has to finish her Registered Nurse designation online.

"I would have loved to finish my nursing training at the U of L too but because they did such a good job training me, I got a job right out of school and couldn't come back," laughs Knaus, the AHS infection control site lead for the southwestern portion of the province.

Infection control practitioner Christine Knaus assists Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Chris Hosgood in demonstrating proper gowning techniques.

Knaus started her post-secondary career at Lethbridge College, taking two years of nursing. Her interests however were in the public health portion of the program. When the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ debuted its public health degree, she jumped at the opportunity to pursue her passion.

"When this program opened, it was the right time to move into it," says Knaus, a native of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. "I enjoyed nursing but public health allowed me to help those people who are not yet in hospital to be healthy and prevent them from future visits to the hospital."

She and her classmates reveled in the opportunities afforded them with a brand new program, including the chance to shape how it would be delivered.

"Because there were so few of us we really got to give a lot of input into curriculum, what was working and what wasn't working," she says. "We were often referred to as the guinea pigs of the program. It was a trial but we got an amazing education because they did a great job of finding classes for us and even making classes that would help us as practitioners in the public health field."

Knaus credits the faculty for engaging its students in discussions about classes, the hiring of professors and the program's delivery. In fact, as the first group neared completion of the program, they lobbied for change to one of its most difficult, and what they deemed impractical, courses. It was subsequently changed to better serve future students.

"That's one of the aspects I give the Faculty of Health Sciences so much credit for," says Knaus. "When you give them feedback, they take it seriously and you always feel as though you're a part of the decision-making."

Knaus excels in such an environment. She grew up admiring her grandmother's efforts in changing the world through volunteerism in a family that championed the ideal of being an active part of your community and given the chance, grasped the opportunity to take control of her education. In 2010, she was the only undergraduate student who had an abstract accepted to the Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Student Conference, and she developed a stroke resource guide for patients and caregivers that is now being implemented in facilities in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Her practicum placement allowed her the chance to work under Dr. Vivien Suttorp, the medical officer of health at Alberta Health Services.

"I learned so much in that role," says Knaus. "I was thrown right into the position, and got to go with environmental public health to see things such as hoarding houses, water leaks at various facilities, review environmental services cleaning at Chinook Regional Hospital, it really took me everywhere. And it was essentially my practicum that got me my current job with AHS."

As an infection control practitioner, Knaus says she is a resource for hospitals.

"Any time there is an outbreak in a hospital or an Alberta Health Services facility, we assist with that. Infection control is dedicated to the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Practitioners use surveillance to improve patient outcomes. We focus on reducing the transmission of microbes through patient care practices, sterilization, disinfection cleaning, outbreak management and environmental design, and the most important being hand hygiene."

Knaus accepts her role as a pioneer of the program, and wants to continue to shape its future. She comes back to campus to speak to current students and eyes returning as a master's student and possible lecturer.

"I would like to end up teaching here at some point, maybe an evening class or two," she says. "My professors played such a big role impacting my life and inspiring me, I'd really like to give that back to the next generation of students."

GET THE FACTS

· In 2011, Knaus was nominated for the City of Lethbridge Leaders of Tomorrow Award

· She has two younger brothers (one who attends ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan and another in high school) as well as a younger sister

· Knaus does not want to single out any specific professors because, "They were all so good to me, and although they taught us a lot to do with school, they also taught us so much in terms of life lessons."

· Knaus was co-president of the Public Health Students Association and was co-Chair for the Health Sciences Haiti Benefit earthquake fundraiser that raised over $5,000

· She coaches pee wee and bantam level female hockey, and is currently working on developing a summer hockey school program designed to give access to those who could not otherwise afford to participate

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

Taal family influence a Pronghorn tradition

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:04:45 +0000

When Lauren Taal chose to attend the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and play for the Pronghorns women's basketball team, to everyone looking in, it seemed like the easy decision. But make no mistake, beginning with that decision and the ensuing five years that followed, Taal's time as a Pronghorn has been anything but easy – and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I am happy that this is the path I chose," says Taal, a third generation family member to attend the U of L. "I don't think it turned out the way I thought it would but as you grow up, I guess you realize that things aren't always what you expect."

Taal's family tree has an indelible ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge branch to it, beginning with her grandfather Jack Lilja Sr., who coached the Horns women's team for four seasons in the 1970s. Her mother Lynette Taal (Lilja) played for the Horns from 1978 through 1983, while her aunts Lorell (1973-77) and Leslie (1974-79) also wore the blue and gold. Her uncle, Jack Lilja Jr., played both basketball and soccer for the Horns and her father Clarence Taal is another U of L alumnus.

Horns' guard Lauren Taal drives the lane in a recent Canada West game at the 1st Choice Savings Centre. PHOTO courtesy of Paula Gorman.

Given the family lineage, it seemed natural that Lauren would choose to attend the U of L, yet she seriously entertained offers from both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

"It was a difficult decision for me because I knew how important it was and I knew how long the family tradition was to come here," says Taal. "At the same time my parents would have supported me any place I went."

In Taal's time at the U of L, the Horns have never finished above the .500 mark and made just one playoff appearance. Teammates have come and gone, she lost a close friend and mentor, suffered a major knee injury that cost her the second half of her fourth season and veered away from her intended major. Only now, in her final year, can she see the all their hard work starting to pay off and the team making huge strides forward.

"Looking back now, I'm still really glad that I came here," she says. "I don't think I would have learned as much going to programs that have seen more success. I think the people I've met here and the experiences I've had through the school and through basketball, playing with all the people I've played with, they've all had a great influence on me."

Taal has grasped adversity and made it work for her, learning more about herself in times of challenge than she ever learned as a high school star at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

"I had been pretty fortunate before coming here," says Taal. "I'd always played on teams that were pretty good and always been one of the better players, thanks a lot to my mom's influence. Then to struggle the way we did as a team and to get injured – when you lose something that's been such a big part of your life it makes you stop and realize all the things you need to be grateful for because just like that, they can be taken away from you."

Losing her friend Krista Heidinger (née Robson) tragically, a former Pronghorn her mother had coached, and whom she knew and looked up to since she was four years old, was another tough blow. Yet Taal, approaching her final games in a Horns jersey and ready to graduate with a degree in kinesiology this spring, is still thankful for the opportunity to have played in her hometown for the family program and with her younger sister Cassidy (second year).

"After we lost against ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary this year, making it tough for us to get into the playoffs, I was pretty upset," says Taal. "I remember coming out of the dressing room and my little cousins were there saying, "You played so well" and they were so excited. Knowing they support me and come out to games and look up to me and Cassidy, I'm very grateful to have a family that is behind me, that I'm getting an education and playing the game I love. It really puts things into perspective."

After convocation, Taal will explore professional basketball opportunities in Europe, with plans to eventually pursue a master's degree in sports management or administration. There's also a good chance she'll follow another family tradition and turn to coaching.

"I've gotten so much from this game, I feel a responsibility to give back to it," she says. "My granddad passed it on to my aunts and my mom, and she passed her love of the game on to me. Lots of people might not understand that just because they haven't had the same upbringing but I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have basketball, so I can definitely see myself coaching."

Whether it leads her back to the U of L once again remains to be seen.

GET THE FACTS

Taal set a Canada West single-game record for steals recently, nabbing 13 steals against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba Bisons

Taal has already dabbled in coaching, teaming up with former Horns women's head coach Dori Johnson to guide a youth league team last summer

Her grandfather Jack Lilja Sr. played for Canada's 1963 World Championship Men's Basketball Team. He wore jersey No. 7, as did Taal's mother Lynette and as she wears today for the Horns

Her mother Lynette was a two-time Canada West all-star and named Pronghorn Female Athlete of the Year in 1983

The Lilja family was inducted into the Pronghorn Hall of Fame in 2002

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

UNews - ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan

New Chair in Aquatic Health Appointed

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Lasting Images - Wilf Perreault

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Costa realizing academic, athletic dream

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Athletes of the week named

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Medoruma, Van Eeuwen earn awards

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U of L joins PIMS as full member

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