UNews - Perry Stein

Inter-institutional panel affirms commitment to Indigenization and decolonization

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 May 2024 20:40:27 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faculty and former students, along with City of Lethbridge and Galt Museum staff, recently presented a panel at the Thinking with and Alongside Critical Indigenous Scholarship Conference at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Oxford. Organized by The Oxford Research Centre on the Humanities (TORCH) and its Critical Indigenous Studies Network, the conference sought to engage Indigenous epistemological and ontological perspectives and the contributions of Indigenous knowledge systems in diverse contexts.

The panel consisted of (top, left to right) Tara Million, Andrea Cuellar, Michelle Hogue, Patrick Wilson, and (bottom, left to right) Ross Kilgour, Camina Weasel Moccasin, Perry Stein.

The panel, Indigenization and Intercultural Collaboration in Municipal and Postsecondary Contexts, was convened by Dr. Patrick Wilson (Modern Languages and Linguistics and Prentice Institute Research Affiliate) and included contributions from Camina Weasel Moccasin (Curator Galt Museum), Perry Stein (Prentice Institute Research Affiliate, BA ’09), Ross Kilgour (City of Lethbridge Senior Community Planner and Prentice Institute Research Affiliate), Tara Million (Indigenous Studies and Prentice Institute Research Affiliate), Dr. Michelle Hogue (Indigenous Studies and Prentice Institute Research Affiliate), and Dr. Andrea Cuéllar (Anthropology and Associate Director of the Prentice Institute).

The panel was organized as a Talking Circle, following Indigenous protocols and ways of sharing knowledge, and consisted of conversations among panelists around four major themes — the TRC Calls to Action in institutional contexts, intercultural collaboration and cross-cultural learning, multiple constructions of Indigeneity and Indigenous identities, and decolonization and Indigenization — as they relate to their work in the City of Lethbridge, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Galt Museum and Archives.

These themes are connected to the ongoing commitment of each panelist to the work of reconciliation, and participation in this conference allowed them to see the relevance of this work in Lethbridge as well as a broader context.

“Reconciliation is not the job of one person, one department, one institution, one community, or even one People; it is an ongoing, collective responsibility,” says Stein. “Participating in this conference allowed us to share the impact of collective action between and across the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, City of Lethbridge and Galt Museum & Archives to advance not only conversations about truth and reconciliation, but concrete action and partnerships.”

Presenting this work at a conference hosted at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Oxford provided a unique opportunity to have discussions around reconciliation and decolonization at a place and institution with deep historical roots to colonization and its legacies and contributed to an ongoing conversation for the need to decolonize academic scholarship.

“Presenting this work in the form of a Talking Circle, where we addressed challenging topics with the audience seated in a circle around us bearing witness to our practice, allowed us to deconstruct conventional forms of conference presentations and offer a different model of disseminating knowledge, rooted in Indigenous ways of knowledge transmission,” says Hogue.

The conference also offered the opportunity for Camina Weasel Moccasin, in her role as Indigenous Curator at the Galt Museum and accompanied by other panelists, to initiate conversations with curators at the British Museum in London and the Pitt-Rivers Museum at Oxford around repatriation and rematriation of Blackfoot items of cultural significance held in those museums’ collections.

“The experience was very overwhelming, but also very enriching. I am grateful I had the opportunity to create new, and positive, relationships with museum staff while there,” shares Camina.

Cuéllar summarized the value of the conference and related activities.

“Participation in this conference allowed us to articulate and share the significance of years of interconnected and collaborative work on Indigenization and decolonization, to assess accomplishments and gaps, and to affirm our commitment to continuing this work.

“The museum visits and conversations with curators were very revealing, they prompted us to think about the need of a transnational reconciliation framework, of which repatriation programs could be a piece.”

The next steps for this collaborative work are to initiate a book project and present the panel at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge during the Fall 2024 semester.

Participation in the conference was made possible by financial support from the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and two ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge SSHRC Exchange grants (awarded to Wilson and Cuéllar).

City Scholars program continues growth, expanding opportunities for ULethbridge students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:14:31 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students continue to make valuable contributions to the City of Lethbridge through applied studies projects thanks to a work-integrated-learning (WIL) partnership between the City and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy. Now in its second year, the partnership has grown to encompass a variety of projects, from studying the best practices of artificial intelligence on communications and public engagement, to exploring planning policy implementations related to the City’s Land Use Bylaw Renewal project, and assessing the economic, social and cultural impact of post-secondary students on the community.

Top row from left are Mick Jacobs, Wynonna Smith, Tobi Adeniyi Adebimpe (SAIT), Kes Soup, Morgan Resler, Brie Wilson, Lawrenz Decano, Sydney Whiting, Erica Gonzalez. Bottom row from left are Taylor Manns, Oluwanifemi Oladoye, Mercy Trinh, Hannah Laberge, Bryanne Wandler, Louisa Seitz.

This partnership is now one piece in the broader City Scholars program established by the city to promote a range of WIL opportunities for post-secondary students from both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Lethbridge College. The City Scholars program successfully taps into the knowledge of students eager to put their course studies to work in an applicable setting while also allowing students to gain valuable skills working with a municipal government and solving real-world problems. It also creates pathways to future employment opportunities.

"The city is thrilled to be able to work with student talent across two world-class post-secondary institutions. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and college students bring new insights, diverse ways of knowing and learning, and creativity to support staff with applied research projects. The research that students complete helps ensure that we are designing and delivering programs, plans and services to meet the needs of our diverse community. As a college and university town, it is vital that we build bridges for students to be more engaged in the community," says Perry Stein, Partner Services Manager, City of Lethbridge.

Andrea Cuéllar, Associate Director of the Prentice Institute, notes that this second year of collaboration with the city has opened the doors to working with Lethbridge College.

"The first joint project will be a Policy Innovation Lab in May 2024. Under this novel WIL model, students from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the college will work together on the topic of urban food security to inform the city’s Land Use Bylaw renewal project," she says. “The Policy Innovation Lab puts into sharp relief how work integrated learning is not just about placing students in experiential opportunities, it is, importantly, about building impactful inter-institutional partnerships. High-quality WIL opportunities are bound to develop from that.”

On Tuesday, Apr. 9, the City Scholars Student Symposium was held at the Foster James Penny Building where many of the participating students were able to talk about their projects and showcase the results of their work experiences to a lively audience from the city, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the college:

Amy Cran, Taylor Manns and Sydney Whiting presented on WIL and labour market outcomes.
Lawrenz Decano, Rachelle Phillips, and Bryanne Wandler presented a tool to guide land development practices, which industry professionals can utilize, contextualize, and implement in their projects.
Erica Gonzalez presented on the Policy Innovation Lab, a novel WIL model that will explore urban food security through the lens of the Land Use Bylaw renewal project.
Mick Jacobs presented on WIL opportunities for fine arts students.
Hannah Laberge, Wezi Mutambo, Sydney Whiting and Brie Wilson presented on best practices to inform the Land Use Bylaw Renewal project.
Hannah Laberge and Brie Wilson presented on a tool that examines the effects of consolidating business and industrial districts to improve planning policy implementation.
Oluwanifemi Oladoye presented on AI-powered systems to streamline public feedback and to promote collaboration between city officials and residents.
Morgan Resler and Wynonna Smith presented on project management best practices with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Dhillon School of Business and Niitsitapi Centre of Excellence.
Louisa Seitz presented on current policies for asphalt-applied artworks with the City's Public Art Committee.
Kes Soup presented on the adoption of AI technology in public service settings.
Mercy Trinh presented a plan to facilitate inclusion in the City's hiring process, aligned with the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA).
Brie Wilson presented on best practices and recommendations required to redevelop Lethbridge's Chinatown, 2nd Ave S.

Collaborative Course Work Projects:

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students engaged in the Bridging Cultures class, exploring the application of a Two-Eyed Seeing for Both Ways Knowing approach to public realm enhancement and Indigenous traditional knowledge projects.
Lethbridge College students assessed the feasibility of using shipping containers to house local start-up businesses. Three other Lethbridge College cohorts brought together skill sets in architectural animation, interior design, immersive architecture and block modelling, to support ongoing City planning and design projects in the Civic Commons precinct.

At the end of the showcase, three of the students presented a panel in which they discussed their experiences learning at the city and developing new skills in a municipal government setting. These projects were made possible thanks to the support of Career Bridge and funding from the city, the Prentice Institute, Mitacs, the Niitsitapi Circle of Excellence in Work-Integrated-Learning, the Dhillon School of Business and the Faculty of Fine Arts.

ULethbridge students benefit from unique WIL partnership between Prentice Institute and City of Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:50:22 +0000

Since the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester, eight ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students participated in five applied studies projects as part of an emerging Work Integrated Learning (WIL) partnership between the City of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy.

The projects focused on a range of topics, which include formulating inclusive engagement processes for urban design projects, conducting a gap analysis of the City’s heritage program to assess the representation of the community’s diversity, supporting the development of project management tools for upcoming urban revitalization initiatives, researching the history of the Warehouse District as part of the City’s ongoing long-range planning work in that neighbourhood, and researching best practices for inclusive urban planning and policy making.

The students worked under the supervision of two City staff from the Opportunity Lethbridge and Planning and Design departments and benefited from the academic supervision of six Prentice Institute research affiliates and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty.

“There is an impressive knowledge base that exists in Lethbridge that the City of Lethbridge is excited to tap into through WIL projects such as the ones being showcased today,” says Perry Stein, Partner Services Manager with the City. “Working with post-secondary students and faculty allows us to access this knowledge not only to enhance our day-to-day work, but to get a better handle on the talent in the community. We hope that students will gain valuable skills working with us and see us as an employer of choice once they graduate.”

The students shared the following feedback about their experience participating in the applied studies projects:

It allowed for the development of skills beyond the classroom, such as public speaking and a better understanding of government processes.
The opportunity aided their ability to translate academic skills to business and policy work, working on tight deadlines and imagining possible career opportunities.
Students gained confidence with current skills and their ability to learn new competencies, including networking and working on a team.
The applied studies validated how valuable their academic studies are in the workplace.
It challenged students to think about how academic work might translate to a hands-on setting.

"The Prentice Institute seeks to provide an ongoing platform through which City staff, faculty and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ students can collaborate to address pressing issues in our city. Other cities in Canada, such as Kamloops, Vancouver and Toronto are benefiting tremendously from collaborations of this sort with universities, and in the process training the next generation of urban planners, policymakers and innovators. Universities, in turn, fulfill the potential to contribute directly, through their academic and research capacity, to their immediate communities,” says Andrea Cuéllar, Associate Director of the Prentice Institute. “We are aware, however, that access to WIL opportunities can be inequitable. Hence, jointly with the City, we provide student compensation to cover course registration and other costs, since ideally there should be no barriers to participating in these valuable opportunities.”

An event was held Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023 to showcase the completed student projects from the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

The City of Lethbridge, Prentice Institute and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge look forward to continuing to partner with students and faculty on future applied studies projects and to develop a broader WIL relationship.

For a more detailed overview of the students and projects, click here.

2021 Truth & Reconciliation t-shirt design unveiled

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:25:50 +0000

Education and resiliency are the focus of Chataya Holy Singer’s design that adorns t-shirts created to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thursday, September 30, 2021, a joint initiative between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge.

Chataya Holy Singer has rooted her work in the Niitsitapiisini — the Blackfoot way of life.

Holy Singer, a Bachelor of Fine Arts student majoring in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s art studio program, is a Blackfoot artist with a personal connection to the residential school system and the themes and issues at the heart of the country’s new national day of reflection.

Her design features First Nation, Métis and Inuit symbolism and can be interpreted in various ways with each symbol conveying its own message. Holy Singer says the overall significance of the design weaves the educational journey for Blackfoot students and resiliency through the past, present and future.

“Education is our new buffalo — our new resource for survival,” says Holy Singer, who has rooted her work in the Niitsitapiisini — the Blackfoot way of life. “We can learn from our past, to understand our present in order to guide the future as we continue to dismantle previous teachings that were put in place to remove our identity.

“With our education, we can continue to remove these teachings by replacing them with the knowledge inherently passed down from our ancestors and implementing them into our current systems.”

The national day of observance is on the same day as Orange Shirt Day, a symbolic day of commemoration that grew from Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her orange shirt taken from her at the age of six when she arrived at St. Joseph Mission residential school. Her story created an opportunity for discussion on the aspects and experiences of the residential school legacy.

For Holy Singer, the invitation to create the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s t-shirt design was special and personal. She previously designed shirts for the City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee.

“I knew I was going to come up with a design that contributes to the perspective of what it means to be an Indigenous student in post-secondary. I personally know the impacts that residential schools have within my own family,” she says.

Many Indigenous communities spent the summer in mournful reflection, as unmarked graves were discovered at multiple former residential school sites throughout the country.

“For me, the unmarked grave discoveries brought up memories of what my mom had told me about her experiences in residential schools,” says Holy Singer. “These recoveries triggered a lot of sadness and anger that I felt for not only my late mother, but for our people who had suffered from this act of genocide. These children were our relatives. They were our ancestors whose stories were never told and are now being let free where they can finally come home.”

The City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee was keen to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to promote a collective community message of reconciliation and healing, with education the driving force behind these important conversations.

“The City of Lethbridge is really excited to be able to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to showcase the work, voice and knowledge of Chataya Holy Singer, and through it, encourage community members to learn more about the legacy of residential schools in Canada,” says City of Lethbridge Indigenous Relations Advisor, Perry Stein. “The process of Truth and Reconciliation requires us to build strong bridges and partnerships. Working with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ on this important initiative, helps us to show up as one, unified community.”

T-shirts are available for purchase at the U of L Bookstore for $15.99 (Update: shirts are now sold out), with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to Indigenous student initiatives at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The City of Lethbridge is also making shirts available through various community partners, including the Lethbridge Public Library.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will host a week of Truth and Reconciliation programming beginning Sept. 27, 2021. Watch the U of L’s social channels for more information on ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ events and programming.

The City of Lethbridge, Reconciliation Lethbridge and community partners are also planning a series of educational and awareness raising events across the community, over the month of September. Working in partnership with community organizations and groups is one way Lethbridge shines brighter together. For more information on City of Lethbridge Reconciliation events, see www.lethbridge.ca/indigenousrelations.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association inducts six into Alumni Honour Society

trevor.kenney — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:44:37 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association is pleased to recognize those who have achieved significant accomplishments by inducting six new members into the Alumni Honour Society. This year’s inductees span discipline and region, and their shared commitment to bettering society has propelled each of them towards greatness.

“This year’s inductees are strong examples of how our alumni make a difference in their communities,” says Jason Elliott, president of the ULAA. “Each of our recipients has taken their education at the U of L and built diverse careers with substantial impact. We’re so proud to recognize their efforts.”

Introduced in honour of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 35th Anniversary in 2002, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association established the Alumni Honour Society to recognize the achievements of a select group of alumni each year. The individuals honoured serve as role models through success in their vocation, outstanding community service or superior accomplishment in their avocation.

Like those before them, the 2020 inductees are outstanding examples of U of L alumni. Each of the individuals used the knowledge they gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to achieve their personal and professional goals, and through these achievements has left a lasting impact on the people, organizations and communities with which they are involved.

2020 Alumni Honour Society Inductees

Roxanne Dicke (BFA ‘93)

Roxanne Dicke

Roxanne Dicke’s accomplishments include founding a theatre company (Spark Theatre), chairing the Prince Albert Arts Board and integrating arts through engagement of diverse groups. Using theatre as a medium for education, Dicke is committed to shining a spotlight on human rights, social justice and gender equality. Her work as an instructor, writer, director and actor extends towards prioritizing space for marginalized voices, including Indigenous artists and survivors of domestic violence. Her passion and commitment to youth and post-secondary drama education inspires her to expand access to arts education throughout the community. Armed with an unwavering advocacy for the positive impact of the arts, Roxanne believes that artists, youth and community members gain confidence and skills from theatre to engage in powerful creativity.

Angela Grace (BFA/BEd ‘96, MEd ‘03)

Angela Grace

Dr. Angela Grace’s passion for preventing eating disorders, trauma and burnout has guided her career as a registered psychologist. Combining her love of theatre, teaching and well-being, she has advocated for youth mental health and eating disorder prevention for over 20 years. Throughout her career, Grace has explored going beyond traditional talk therapy and into holistic approaches that balance body, mind, spirit and relationships. The culmination of her work thus far may best be found in her leadership in creating Evening of Hope, a performance evening where people who have recovered from eating disorders share their stories through art, theatre and performance. She readily advocates for the value of creativity-driven healing and frequently shares her work with students and professionals worldwide.

Michael (Scott) Greer (BSc ‘05, MSc ‘08)

Scott Greer

A leader in the emerging field of cannabis biotechnology, Scott Greer is on the cutting edge of global innovation. As the Senior Director of Operations with Willow Biosciences, a company using synthetic biology to redesign yeast strains to produce cannabinoids, Greer bridges the realms of science and business. Expertly coordinating funding, operations and research teams is all in a day’s work for Greer, and his vision plays a key role in economic and environmental sustainability. He also combines his love of science with teaching, and has spent much of his career overseeing and mentoring biotechnology students. His boundless curiosity fuels his passion, and it is clear that Greer’s academic and professional contributions will impact the world for years to come.

Briana Koop (BA ‘09)

Briana Koop

When Briana Koop found herself seeking supports for families facing infant loss, she struggled to find adequate resources. She was inspired to collaborate with other determined individuals to co-found Empty Arms Perinatal Loss Support Services, which assists families experiencing pregnancy loss and/or infant death. She frequently organizes events and engages local media to generate awareness, bring families together and raise funds. Koop combines her love of photography with her devotion to the non-profit organization by volunteering to take remembrance and memorial photographs for people facing this grief, which are often the only moments families are able to capture. Her tireless work to make a positive impact in her community has built resiliency and strength in the face of difficult loss.

Dale Leffingwell (BASc (BA) ‘71)

Dale Leffingwell

Dale Leffingwell’s dedication to preserving histories unique to rural communities is exceptional. Retiring from a career as a youth worker, he has volunteered his time with local museums and historical societies for over a decade. As the founding president of the Milk River Historical Society, Leffingwell secured dedicated museum space, led the conservation and renovation of the Northwest Mounted Police Barracks and hosted workshops for students and community members with the Centre for Oral History and Tradition. From raising funds to rallying the community to come together, Leffingwell leads with passion and an infectious enthusiasm. This, coupled with his dedication to sharing the stories and history of the Milk River region, ensures future generations will understand the importance of protecting local history.

Perry Stein (BA ‘09)

Perry Stein

Building strong relationships is at the core of Perry Stein. As the first-ever Indigenous Relations Advisor for the City of Lethbridge, Stein integrates community planning and reconciliation to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together. Having led the first broad survey of Indigenous heritage in the city, his work explores topics previously overlooked by the community planning profession, including the incorporation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and the meaningful engagement of Indigenous peoples and communities. Stein is a leader in advancing the conversation around industry’s role in reconciliation, and he frequently shares his knowledge with local and global communities. His level of dedication to this work, coupled with his experience in the public sector, has set the stage for years of vital growth and change across communities.

New media students team up with City of Lethbridge on Oki initiative

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 21:16:42 +0000

Given the chance to contribute to City of Lethbridge Reconciliation Week efforts, three ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge new media students, working through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Agility Program, ran with the opportunity.

The Agility space has four 3-D printers for students to access.

Using 3D printers, the group designed desktop gifts depicting the traditional Blackfoot greeting, Oki, as a small stand-up sign. The gifts were then presented to dignitaries coming to the city for Reconciliation Week activities, as well as the mayors who attended the Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus meeting.

“On Monday, Oki became the official greeting of the City of Lethbridge and we were looking for a way of providing a gift to some dignitaries coming to town that reflected Blackfoot culture and language,” says Indigenous Relations Advisor, Perry Stein. “As 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, we’re trying to celebrate that theme as part of Reconciliation Week and also trying to find those opportunities to make the conversation live beyond this week or even this year.”

Stein looked to the U of L’s Department of New Media, who in turn contacted the Agility Program. He met with new media assistant professor Christine Clark’s students (Jared Gyorffy, Connor Kingston and Sara Séfel) on a Friday afternoon and gave them the background they’d need for the project. By Monday morning, the designs were finalized and the pieces were being printed. By Thursday last week, the mayors were receiving their gifts.

The final product that was handed out to visiting dignitaries.

“Perry came and talked to the students about the reconciliation logo, the context of the oki sign and they were able to embody their own design effects into the process,” says Agility Manager Brandy Old. “It was neat to watch them listen to Perry and the city’s reconciliation plan because these were three students, one from Hungary, who don’t necessarily have much connection with the Blackfoot story. For them to understand the point of the project, what the reconciliation logo means and to walk through the federal government’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission was inspiring.”

For Stein, the project was an opportunity to use a community partner to foster relationship building.

“After city council officially adopted the Oki greeting, I think it sparked a curiosity we’d hoped it would and now people are trying to learn more and this was a unique way to keep that learning going,” he says. “Curiosity is a gateway to empathy, understanding, connection and community building. So, the more we can provide these really welcoming approachable opportunities to make connections, the better off we’ll be.”

The students, meanwhile, engaged in a practical exercise that led to a tangible result.

“From the Agility perspective, it is about connecting the student experience in the classroom and moving it beyond to actually having an impact,” says Old. “The students were able to bridge their technical skills to a meaningful project. This project is one example of how U of L students can apply their education to the real world. As advocates for reconciliation, these types of learning experiences connect our students to Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in a meaningful way.”

Campus culture helps Stein find himself

trevor.kenney — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:23:00 +0000

For many of us, attending university is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. For alumnus Perry Stein (BA'09 Great Distinction), attending the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was more like writing an entire book.

"I grew up in the suburbs of Calgary and felt like an introverted student in high school. I didn't want to be that anymore. Going to school somewhere else gives you an opportunity to somewhat re-define who you are," says Stein. "At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, I didn't want to be just a student who showed up for classes and then went home. I wanted to be involved in things, get the most out of my degree and have a really meaningful experience."

Intrigued by the diversity he remembered seeing when he went to school in downtown Calgary, Stein initially enrolled in international management at the
U of L. However, his excellent marks in another discipline garnered attention and soon led him elsewhere.

Alumnus Perry Stein threw himself into an active student lifestyle and redefined his future.

"After taking a couple of geography classes, I actually got a letter from someone in the geography department telling me I should consider geography," says Stein. "I took a bunch of courses in urban geography and loved it, so I added a second major: urban and regional studies."

He excelled in his new line of study, culminating with him winning the 2009 Urban and Regional Studies Prize, one of two awards generously donated by the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (formerly the Alberta Association, Canadian Institute of Planners). It is awarded annually to the graduating urban and regional studies student with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Stein's personal redefinition was not limited to his academic performance at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Walking down the hall one day, Stein saw a poster advertising a one-month new media course in Romania. Another world was about to open.

"I never really thought about travel before, but I was interested in expanding my horizons. Going to Romania was an incredible experience. It led me to everything I have done since," says Stein. "I think it is really good for students to go outside their comfort zone and be thrown into a different culture, and to challenge some of the stereotypes that they carry around with them. It forces them to realize that the way of life in North America is not the only way of life and that what they think is best, isn't always best for everyone."

While in Romania, Stein learned he was accepted to a six-month cultural exchange program in Chile, through the Faculty of Management. His Chilean courses, offered in Spanish, focused on urban social geography and international management. One of the highlights of the exchange was a social work class that allowed him to take groups of marginalized children on field trips through their own city.

"Chile was awesome. It was probably one of the greatest opportunities I have ever had," says Stein. "I still have contact with a lot of the friends I made there. Working and playing with the kids was an incredible experience."

When he returned from Chile, Stein switched to a single major in urban and regional studies. He did several independent studies with Dr. Patrick Wilson that led to another exchange, this time to the Ecuadorian Amazon and to Quito Ecuador. Wilson introduced Stein to LPIRG (Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group), who later funded further exchange trips for Stein, including one to Cuba. He eventually became a board member of LPIRG, organizing events and presenting documentaries on campus.

Stein, who will complete a master's degree in Latin American Studies in December, along with a certificate in development and sustainability studies at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, believes that the opportunities he had at the U of L changed his life dramatically.

"My time at the U of L really prepared me for graduate school. I learned how to create research proposals and apply for funding; I learned how a non-profit research organization works," says Stein. "I would encourage all students to get involved in issues that you are passionate about. Get involved in activities on campus, find interesting projects and get involved in research. There are so many opportunities out there and if they aren't in your area of interest, create them."

GET THE FACTS

· Stein played a role in establishing the Student Speaker Challenge in conjunction with the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs.

· Stein obtained more than $70,000 in scholarships and research grants while at the U of L, including the SSHRC Bombardier Graduate scholarship, which was worth $17,500.

· He has travelled to more than 20 countries to participate in fieldwork, including Chile, Ecuadorian Amazon, Quito Ecuador, Cuba and Mexico.

· Stein's passion for urban social issues has him looking at a career in government. "I would like to work in the area of sustainable community development and make a difference in municipal government," he says. "I also plan on completing my PhD in the near future."

· Stein won the 2009 Urban and Regional Studies Award as presented by the Alberta Professional Planners Institute.

For a look at the full issue of the November Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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