UNews - Chief

Closing de Grandmaison

trevor.kenney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:40:51 +0000

The Nicholas de Grandmaison: Recent Acquisitions exhibit Closing Reception and Hoop Dance Performance takes place Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in the Main Gallery

Each face, with its deep lines, juxtaposing colours and gentle strokes, tells a story – a story of honour, dignity and character; joy and sorrow; life and death – a story of a people in the midst of transition.

By capturing the faces of Canada's First Nations people, painter Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892 – 1978) left a deeply personal record of history.

A Russian aristocrat forced out of his homeland, a prisoner of war and eventually an immigrant to Canada, de Grandmaison felt an intimate connection to the First Nations people and empathized with the massive cultural changes they were forced to endure during the mid-20th century.

From the 1930s up until his death, de Grandmaison was struck with an urgency to paint the Plains Indians because he believed their way of life was quickly disappearing.

Nicholas de Grandmaison travelled across the Canadian Prairies documenting history through the faces he painted. Recognized as one of the most significant portraitists of First Nations people in Canada, de Grandmaison's own story began across the Atlantic.

Nicholas de Grandmaison. Courtesy of U of L Archives.

Born in Russia in 1892, de Grandmaison's roots trace back to France and a great-grandfather who was rescued during the French Revolution. Because of his heritage, de Grandmaison's early years were privy to upper-class privileges his forefathers had been afforded by Catherine the Great a century earlier, including art lessons and learning about social graces as part of his schooling. After graduating from college, he attended a military school and was trained as an officer.

When the First World War broke out, de Grandmaison, who was in his early-20s, served as a soldier in East Prussia where his unit suffered a terrible defeat and he was sent to Germany as a prisoner of war. He spent a number years as a prisoner of war in Germany where he put his artistic talent to work, drawing his fellow prisoners and even some of the camp's officers.

Eventually, de Grandmaison regained his freedom, but his life was far from worry-free upon returning to Russia. As a monarchist, he ended up fleeing his civil war-ravaged homeland and escaping to Poland/Germany.

In time, de Grandmaison made his way to England. In London, with support from his friends, he attended St. John's Wood School of Art. That creative journey, however, did little to ease de Grandmaison's constant fear of deportation. So, using the winnings from a horse race wager, he set sail for Canada in 1923.

Upon disembarking in Quebec City, de Grandmaison connected with some harvesters who were headed to Manitoba. His career as a farm labourer, however, was not to be. After doing multiple odd jobs, de Grandmaison secured work at a large commercial art firm in Winnipeg. There, in addition to joining the Winnipeg Arts Club, he spent the next few years illustrating catalogues, painting portraits of chief justices, politicians and the children of local business leaders. But it wasn't until de Grandmaison ventured to northern Manitoba in 1930 that he found his true calling in life: capturing portraits of First Nations people.

He once wrote the First Nations people he saw inspired him "to forget the past and look forward to see and paint them all."

Nicholas de Grandmaison, Wolf Tail (Apisoh'soyi), 1960. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of BMO Financial Group, 2012.

Wanting to capture First Nations people in an authentic setting ultimately compelled the artist to move to Alberta where he set out to paint First Nations people who lived far away from cities and towns, and consequently had managed to retain their customs.

While in Alberta, de Grandmaison married Sophia (Sonia) Orest Dournovo, a talented sculptor in her own right, and together they went on to have five children – all of whom would grow up to become artists or work in some facet of the art world.

When the children were young, de Grandmaison worked on a number of commissions as a way of supporting his growing family. Despite these everyday responsibilities, he remained devoted to drawing First Nations people.

Specifically, de Grandmaison was fascinated with his subjects' faces. In them, as he once described, he saw "…all the sorrow, oppression and history…indelibly written. They have character, colour and history in their blood."

But a rich past wasn't the only thing that de Grandmaison saw in the subjects; he was also keenly aware that their cultural practices were under great pressure from assimilation.

In fact, when the artist had arrived in Canada, First Nations people had been moved onto reserves and were being taught how to farm. This dramatic shift, as de Grandmaison came to understand, posed a serious threat to First Nations people's traditional way of life. So while first-hand memories were still vibrant, de Grandmaison felt duty-bound to document the history of First Nations people.

He accomplished this goal in two ways: by recording First Nations people as they told stories in their own languages and by preserving their features in pastel drawings. Today, those recordings and works of art – many of which are housed at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – serve as proof of de Grandmaison's unwavering loyalty to Canada's First Nations communities.

"There are not many paintings that actually depict First Nations people as individuals," says Josephine Mills, director/curator of the U of L's Art Gallery. "De Grandmaison's paintings focus on the honour, dignity and character of each person. He didn't see First Nations people in a stereotypical light; he tried to show their individual personalities and life stories."

Nicholas de Grandmaison, Blackfoot Child, 1936. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of BMO Financial Group, 2012.

Not only a technically skilled artist, Mills says, de Grandmaison possessed the exceptional ability to capture an individual's unique personality. Through careful colour selections, precise compositions and gentle lines, he was able to depict subjects' expressions as well as their character.

De Grandmaison's attention to detail was evident in every aspect of his work. For example, he recognized the importance of portraying First Nations people in their real clothing. It was a commitment to authenticity that stood de Grandmaison apart from other portraitists who chose to dress First Nations people in ornate and often culturally inaccurate costumes.

Instead, de Grandmaison was deeply deferential toward First Nations people, and this approach did not go unnoticed by First Nations communities. In fact, as a symbol of the respect and affection that First Nations people felt for de Grandmaison, he was named Chief Little Plume, honorary chief of the Piikani Nation. When de Grandmaison died in 1978, he was laid to rest on the Brocket Reserve in southern Alberta.

Thirty-five years later, the gestural, unfinished qualities of de Grandmaison's drawings continue to intrigue viewers and tell an important part of the Canadian story. And thanks to a recent gift to the U of L, even more people will now be able to appreciate the late artist's work.

In February 2013, the BMO Financial Group donated 67 original pastel portraits by de Grandmaison to the U of L's Art Gallery, along with $50,000 to care for and create access to the works. The collection, which is valued at more than $1.6 million, spans a period of more than 30 years and traces the development of de Grandmaison's talent and facility as one of the most important painters and portraitists of western First Nations people in Canada.

The donated portraits are part of a portfolio of works by de Grandmaison that were purchased by BMO in 1978 from the artist's family following his death. To that end, the collection now has an ideal home at the U of L, says Robert Hayes, senior vice president, prairies division of BMO Bank of Montreal.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ already owns one of the most comprehensive collections of artworks and artifacts by this important Canadian portraitist. We are excited to enhance this collection with a gift that will allow it to continue to serve as a resource for students, faculty and independent scholars," says Hayes.

This gift of works from BMO Financial Group joins over 170 drawings, paintings and personal archival items (most of which have been deemed to be of outstanding significance and national importance) already housed by the U of L Art Collection and Archives, which the de Grandmaison family previously donated to the U of L.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ takes seriously what it means to be entrusted with these cultural treasures," says Mahon. "These pieces hold special meaning for the U of L as most of de Grandmaison's work was created in this area. I find it fascinating that the communities Nicholas de Grandmaison was passionate about are the same communities the university remains passionate about today."

Being chosen as the keeper of the additional portraits is a testament to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's overall approach to art.

One of the most significant art collections in Canada, the U of L's Art Gallery's holdings number over 14,000 objects from Canada, America and Europe – and those works are not simply kept in storage on campus. "The gallery does a great deal with its works," says Mills. "We exhibit them, send them on tours, loan them to other galleries and use them to generate research."

In addition to using the works as teaching and research tool for faculty and students across the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, there are plans to initiate an oral history project that will collect stories from anyone who knew de Grandmaison and any of the subjects in his portraits. Mills has also commissioned First Nations artists, such as Jeffrey Thomas, to create new works in response to de Grandmaison's artwork, and there are future plans to loan the collection to other museums and create a touring exhibition.

"This generous gift will significantly enhance our collection, exhibitions, and public programs and thus be an excellent resource for our community," says Mills.

Most importantly, the gift preserves a part of the past.

"While we tend to understand history as big events, this piece of Canada's history focuses on the individuals and their stories," says Mills. "If we didn't have these paintings, we would be missing an important part of our Western heritage."

Editor's note: This article references Drawn From The Past – Nicholas de Grandmaison by Gordron Synder, Introduction by Joan Murray, as a factual resource.

The faces of history

trevor.kenney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:12:40 +0000

The Nicholas de Grandmaison: Recent Acquisitions exhibit Closing Reception and Hoop Dance Performance takes place Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in the Main Gallery

Each face, with its deep lines, juxtaposing colours and gentle strokes, tells a story – a story of honour, dignity and character; joy and sorrow; life and death – a story of a people in the midst of transition.

By capturing the faces of Canada's First Nations people, painter Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892 – 1978) left a deeply personal record of history.

A Russian aristocrat forced out of his homeland, a prisoner of war and eventually an immigrant to Canada, de Grandmaison felt an intimate connection to the First Nations people and empathized with the massive cultural changes they were forced to endure during the mid-20th century.

From the 1930s up until his death, de Grandmaison was struck with an urgency to paint the Plains Indians because he believed their way of life was quickly disappearing.

Nicholas de Grandmaison. Courtesy of U of L Archives.

He once wrote the First Nations people he saw inspired him "to forget the past and look forward to see and paint them all."

Nicholas de Grandmaison, Wolf Tail (Apisoh'soyi), 1960. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of BMO Financial Group, 2012.

But a rich past wasn't the only thing that de Grandmaison saw in the subjects; he was also keenly aware that their cultural practices were under great pressure from assimilation.

Nicholas de Grandmaison, Blackfoot Child, 1936. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of BMO Financial Group, 2012.

Being chosen as the keeper of the additional portraits is a testament to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's overall approach to art.

"This generous gift will significantly enhance our collection, exhibitions, and public programs and thus be an excellent resource for our community," says Mills.

Most importantly, the gift preserves a part of the past.

Editor's note: This article references Drawn From The Past – Nicholas de Grandmaison by Gordron Synder, Introduction by Joan Murray, as a factual resource.

Coat of Arms introduced

trevor.kenney — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:17:57 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has an official Coat of Arms.

Unveiled at the October 13, 2012 Fall Convocation ceremony by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Gordon Jong and Deputy Chief Herald Bruce Patterson, (representing the Canadian Heraldic Authority) the Coat of Arms draws inspiration from previous representations and has been designed to reflect signature elements of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

In 2008, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Board of Governors gave approval for the development of armorial bearings from the Canadian Crown under the powers exercised by the Governor General.

A group of individuals from across the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community worked with the Canadian Heraldic Authority, in particular Deputy Chief Herald Bruce Patterson and heraldic painter Robert Grey, to develop a coat of arms that would accurately represent the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ now and into the future.

In January 2012, during the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 45th anniversary celebrations, Chief Herald of Canada Claire Boudreau granted the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge an official coat of arms, which is entered in volume VI, page 100 of the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada.

Description of the images and symbolism:

The arms features a blue shield with white edging and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's signature sun in the centre, representing intellectual enlightenment.

The eagle feather and the Alberta Wild Rose on the crest above denote the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's location on traditional Blackfoot land in southern Alberta, while the books are enduring symbols of education.

The shield and crest are flanked on the left by a pronghorn, representing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's athletic teams, and on the right by a mule deer, a native inhabitant of the area. Together, they also represent the men and women who make up the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

The coulee landscape and rough fescue (the official grass of Alberta) are characteristic of southern Alberta, and the sun-grass-animal connection represents the flow of energy that supports all life and reminds us of our own connection with the landscape.

The rock below the shield recalls the name "Medicine Rock" bestowed on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by Blackfoot Elder Bruce Wolf Child in 2002. It also alludes to glacial erratics, large rocks deposited in the area when the glaciers receded.

The miner's lantern, an artifact of the early coal-mining history of Lethbridge, recalls the idea of the illumination of knowledge and symbolizes the achievements of the more than 34,000 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's motto Fiat Lux (Let there be light) appears at the bottom of the coat of arms.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's official flag, in use since 1988, was also registered as part of this process.

NOTE: Research through the U of L Archives and other sources indicated that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ had a Coat of Arms upon its founding in 1967, designed by then-student Don Matisz, but it had never been formally granted and the original design was used very sporadically by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Some elements transitioned over the past decades into other logos, or different versions of a Coat of Arms / ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Shield design -- all which led to this current version and the more contemporary ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge logo currently in use.

2012 Alumni Honour Society Inductees

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:05:19 +0000

Introduced in celebration of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 35th Anniversary in 2002, the Alumni Honour Society recognizes the achievement of successful alumni within the global community. The alumni inducted into this prestigious group have served as role models to our students and the broader ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community through success in their vocation, outstanding community service or superior accomplishment in their avocation.

René Barendregt (BASc '71)

René Barendregt has been a faculty member of the Faculty of Arts & Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 1982 and took on the role of associate dean in 2001. Dedicated to his profession and respected by his peers, Barendregt's work in the field of physical geography is currently funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. In addition to his research, Barendregt has served the U of L community as a member of the Board of Governors, the Senate and the General Faculties Council.

Viola Cassis (BA '97)

Viola Cassis started her career in international humanitarian work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she was instrumental in revising the organization's guidelines on the prevention and response to sexual- and gender-based violence, and helped to develop policies to ensure gender-equitable access to UN refugee interventions. Cassis currently works with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and has been involved in various CIDA programs in Afghanistan. She has made field visits to Kabul and Kandahar to liaise with Canadian Forces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and other government agencies.

Marilyn Smith (BFA '96) (Multidisciplinary)

Marilyn Smith has more than 30 years of experience in the arts and culture sector and is currently the executive director of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG). Since Smith took on this role in 1999, SAAG has increased revenue over 200 per cent, while membership, programming and sponsorship have also increased. Recently Smith oversaw renovations of SAAG and implemented a three-year strategic plan designed to capitalize on the new facilities. Last fall Smith was honoured with the 2011 Rosza Award for Excellence in Arts Management from the Rosza Foundation.

Gayle Strikes With A Gun (BEd '88)

Raised on the Piikani Nation in southern Alberta, Gayle Strikes With A Gun has been a leader in education for 25 years. After completing her bachelor of education, she worked as the project co-ordinator for the Four Worlds development project, an initiative aimed at helping Blood and Peigan women develop the skills and training necessary to prepare them for post-secondary education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Over the course of her career, she worked as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and acting superintendent in schools across Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. In 2011, Strikes With A Gun was elected the first female chief of the Piikani Nation where she remains committed to helping her people's youth.

Bruce Thurston (BASc '78)

With close to 35 years of experience in business, Bruce Thurston brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to his teaching role in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Management. He is also currently the CEO and president at Management Resource Services, a company that provides management consulting and training in leadership
development, organizational change, workforce diversity and staff development. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Thurston has generously served the community by volunteering his time with local organizations including the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

Keith Walker (BASc '79)

As the director of Library Services at Medicine Hat College, Keith Walker is respected for the innovation and passion he brings to his profession. As the first college librarian to serve as president of the Canadian Library Association in the organization's history, Walker successfully led a major review and restructuring that saw the organization's first balanced budget in over a decade and a doubling of memberships. In 2003, Walker received the Community and Technical College Libraries Outstanding Academic Librarian Award and the Industry Canada Award. The following year, he was honoured with the College and Technical Libraries Innovation Achievement Award.

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

Horns boast 42 Academic All-Canadians

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:56:23 +0000

A total of 42 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns achieved Academic All-Canadian status in 2010-11, a remarkable 20 per cent of the school's total athletes and an increase of 12 from the previous year.

Every academic year, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) honours its student athletes who excel in both the academic and athletic arenas. Those who maintain an 80 per cent average in their studies are honoured as Academic All-Canadians. This is an outstanding accomplishment considering the amount of time student-athletes commit to training and competing. Routinely, Pronghorn Athletics possesses an above average number of Academic All-Canadians recipients in the CIS, and this year was no different with more than 20 per cent of the program's athletes earning accolades as Academic All-Canadians.

Of the 42 honoured athletes, the Horns women's soccer team led the way with eight team members achieving Academic All-Canadian status. The Horns women's hockey team and the men's track and field team also had six athletes each receiving the award.

Following is the list of Pronghorn Athletes who are recognized as CIS Academic All Canadians for 2010-11

Recipient Sport Faculty Home Town

Brittney Adams Women's Track & Field Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Emily Brown Women's Track & Field Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Sarah Gagnon Women's Swimming Arts & Science Fort McMurray, AB
Lauren Smythies Women's Swimming Arts & Science Ladysmith, BC
Megan Bach Women's Hockey Arts & Science Champion, AB
Shelby Ballendine Women's Hockey Arts & Science Quesnel, BC
Becky Heninger Women's Basketball Arts & Science Medicine Hat, AB
Kimberley Veldman Women's Basketball Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Jenna-Marie Durnin Women's Hockey Health Sciences Wawanesa, MB
Kayla Hopkins Women's Hockey Health Sciences Outlook, SK
Jasmin Teske Women's Hockey Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Shauntelle Williams Women's Hockey Arts & Science Sylvan Lake, AB
Erika Anderson Women's Soccer Arts & Science Saskatoon, SK
Kathryn Curtis Women's Soccer Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Cayley Fisher Women's Soccer Arts & Science Edmonton, AB
Jaclyn Groten Women's Soccer Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Janelle Groten Women's Soccer Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Sarah Lajeunesse Women's Soccer Management Lethbridge, AB
Sherry Latrace Women's Soccer Health Sciences Brooks, AB
Amy Schweitzer Women's Soccer Health Sciences Lethbridge, AB
Genevieve Ahart Women's Rugby Arts & Science Champion, AB
Marli Hadden Women's Rugby Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Laura Murphy-Burke Women's Rugby Arts & Science Surrey, BC
Brittany Orr Women's Rugby Health Sciences Fort Macleod, AB
Brandi Van Eeuwen Women's Rugby Health Sciences Duncan, AB
Brett Bromley Men's Track & Field Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Derek Cooney Men's Track & Field Arts & Science Cold Lake, AB
Darren Jones Men's Track & Field Education Drumheller, AB
Adam Manery Men's Track & Field Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Kyle Murray Men's Track & Field Fine Arts Coaldale, AB
Nicholas Ontkean Men's Track & Field Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
David Errington Men's Swimming Arts & Science Red Deer, AB
Logan Whyte Men's Swimming Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Marcus Johnston Men's Soccer Arts & Science Coalhurst, AB
Colin Pattison Men's Soccer Arts & Science Calgary, AB
Tye Silbernagel Men's Soccer Arts & Science Crossfield, AB
Scott Bowles Men's Hockey Arts & Science Penticton, BC
Curtis Cooper Men's Hockey Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Andrew Gilbert Men's Hockey Arts & Science Vulcan, AB
Andrew Marshall Men's Hockey Arts & Science Niagara Falls, ON
Julian Spear Chief Morris Men's Basketball Arts & Science Lethbridge, AB
Derek Waldner Men's Basketball Arts & Science De Winton, AB

Reid, Tait added to Horns' roster

trevor.kenney — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:54:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team bolstered its present with an eye on the future Thursday, introducing two new goaltenders to the mix.

With incumbent and 2009-10 Canada West All-Star Scott Bowles entering his final year of eligibility, Horns head coach Greg Gatto announced the signing of a pair of Western Hockey League graduates, former Spokane Chief James Reid and Lethbridge Hurricane Dylan Tait.

"Bowles has been the backbone for us his entire career but we felt it was important to bring in quality competition and set ourselves up heading into his graduation after this season," says Gatto. "The last thing we want to do is go into a season with nothing but true freshmen as starting goalies."

Reid, a six-foot Calgary native, is coming off an outstanding final season of junior hockey where he was named the Western Conference nominee for the WHL goalie of the year. During his final year of junior hockey, Reid led the Chiefs to the Western Conference final. In 50 regular season appearances, his 2.52 goals against average was fourth best in the WHL and he recorded 35 wins, sixth in the league despite missing significant time due to injury.

"Reid has been one of the top goaltenders in the WHL the last few seasons and we are really excited to have him join the Horns," says Gatto.

Tait, a Lethbridge Athletic Association product, joins the Horns after his lone full season in the WHL with the hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes. Last year, Tait made 27 appearances for the Hurricanes and finished 6-10-1 with a 4.13 goals against average and 0.883 save percentage. Just 19, he gives up his final year of eligibility in the WHL to begin his post-secondary career.

"The last couple of years, seeing what kind of program was taking shape here and knowing some of the guys who have played here and really enjoyed it, I was really looking for an opportunity to come here," says Tait.

Prior to suiting up with the Hurricanes, Tait played with the Drumheller Dragons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

He's excited about the opportunity to work under Bowles, learning not only the goaltending position at the Canada West level but also how to balance an academic career. He plans on studying biological sciences.

"A big thing for me is the school aspect. I've heard he's a great student so hopefully he can show me how to create a good balance between hockey and school because he does such a great job with both," says Tait.

The Lethbridge native developed in the LAA and was part of the goaltending tandem with the Y's Men Titans that led the Alberta Midget Hockey League South Division with a 25-4-7 record and surrendered a league low 84 goals. Tait finished with a 11-2-3 record and a 2.91 goals against average.

"It is important for our program to have quality local guys return or stay in Lethbridge," says Gatto. "Dylan will battle and give us great depth at the goaltending position."

Tait joins a growing list of southern Alberta products to join the Horns in recent years with the likes of Taylor Gal, Mason Conway, Winston Day Chief and Cam Creighton.

Courtney, Steacy earn top honours

trevor.kenney — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:40:54 +0000

Pronghorns Athletics celebrated with its annual Blue and Gold Awards Banquet recently, announcing its Male and Female Athletes of the Year, President's Award winner, Team Academic Award, as well as the respective most valuable players for each program.

Male Athlete of the Year
Andrew Courtney (men's hockey)

Over his five seasons with the Pronghorns, Andrew Courtney not only excelled on the ice, but he was active in the community, embracing the true spirit of what it means to be a Pronghorns athlete.

He was known throughout the program as the first to support other Horns teams and is actively involved in the local community with the Boys and Girls Club. Courtney also planned and executed the highly successful Movember campaign that raised over $10,000 for prostate cancer research.

On the ice, Courtney returned from a serious knee injury to finish fourth in the conference in goal scoring, leading the Horns with 14 goals. He was also 13th in the Canada West in total scoring with 23 points, despite missing all of the pre-season and the first two weeks of conference action.

Courtney finished his Pronghorn career with 43 goals and 26 assists in 97 conference games.

Female Athlete of the Year
Heather Steacy (women's track)

Throughout her Pronghorns career, Heather Steacy has become synonymous with outstanding performances. This past season she raised her performance to an unprecedented level.

Steacy opened the season by reaching a monumental mark, becoming the first woman in Canadian Interuniversity Sport history to eclipse the 20-metre mark in the weight throw with a toss of 20.28 metres at the Bison Open in Winnipeg. She followed that performance with her fourth Canada West gold medal victory, setting a new conference record of 19.82 metres in the process. Steacy was also recognized with the Outstanding Female Performance of the Meet.

Steacy completed her season by then winning silver at the CIS Championship meet in Sherbrooke, Que., her fourth medal in as many trips to the national meet.

President's Award

Emily Brown of the women's track & field team earned the President's Award, which rewards the student athlete with the highest academic standing at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Brown achieved a GPA of 3.92, while balancing her academic and athletic commitments.

Team Academic Award

The Horns women's basketball team received the Team Academic Award for accumulating a combined GPA of 3.32.

Following are team most valuable players, as voted by their fellow team members.

Men's Soccer – Steve Brown
Women's Soccer – Kathy Curtis
Men's Hockey – Winston Day Chief and Andrew Courtney
Women's Hockey – Shelby Ballendine
Men's Basketball – Randy Davis
Women's Basketball – Becky Heninger
Men's Track – Kyle Murray
Women's Track – Heather Steacy
Women's Rugby – Kelsey Willoughby
Men's Swimming – Jeff Nicol
Women's Swimming – Jessica Kelly

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Horns hand out year-end hardware

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:55:51 +0000

Male Athlete of the Year
Andrew Courtney (men's hockey)

Over his five seasons with the Pronghorns, Andrew Courtney not only excelled on the ice, but he was active in the community, embracing the true spirit of what it means to be a Pronghorns athlete.

Courtney finished his Pronghorn career with 43 goals and 26 assists in 97 conference games.

Female Athlete of the Year
Heather Steacy (women's track)

Throughout her Pronghorns career, Heather Steacy has become synonymous with outstanding performances. This past season she raised her performance to an unprecedented level.

Steacy completed her season by then winning silver at the CIS Championship meet in Sherbrooke, Que., her fourth medal in as many trips to the national meet.

President's Award

The Horns women's basketball team received the Team Academic Award for accumulating a combined GPA of 3.32.

Following are team most valuable players, as voted by their fellow team members.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Strikes With A Gun stays true to her vision

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:07:14 +0000

Raised on the Piikani Nation in southern Alberta, newly elected Chief, Gayle Strikes With A Gun (BEd '88), spent her early childhood surrounded by a loving family whose values, teachings and examples had a significant impact on her life.

"I come from a large family of 12 siblings. In my early years we lived with my grandpa, Miikapi, where we were raised under the watchful guidance of aunts and uncles. I can remember my grandpa going out early in the morning to greet the day with a prayer and song," says Strikes With A Gun. "My mother taught us the values of honesty and trustworthiness. She worked hard to provide a warm and loving home for her family. My father, a carpenter and driver for medical transportation, always encouraged us to stay in school and do our best."

Alumna Gayle Strikes With A Gun is the Chief of the Piikani Nation.

Strikes With A Gun's formal education began in residential school and finished in the public system. Several years after her graduation, she attended the Henderson Business College in Calgary. After five years working in the city she returned home to the reserve, later applying to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"In 1984 I met Phil Lane, an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He informed me about a six-week ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Preparation Program aimed at increasing the number of Aboriginal teacher graduates from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and encouraged me to apply," says Strikes With A Gun. "Components of the holistic program included physical, mental, spiritual and emotional development."

During the program, she participated in a goal-setting exercise that became very profound for her.

"I had been given some tobacco and instructed to find a place in the coulee where I could make an offering and ask Creator for guidance. I said – I am going to walk through the entrance doors as a student. Creator, give me strength to be able to finish this program so that I can walk out in four years and finish my degree – and I did," she says.

During her first year at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, professor Calvin Dupree asked her to develop four books on the Piikani Nation covering their food, clothes and culture. Strikes With A Gun, aided by her sister Pam, researched, took photographs and wrote the books. They also included audio tapes, recorded in Blackfoot, so that students could hear the language as they read along in English and Blackfoot.

"It was a big project and it is something I am very proud of. We worked on it over the summer and then had a big celebration in the fall to introduce these books, which are still in the curriculum lab at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Strikes With A Gun.

The following summer, she participated in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Preparation Program, this time as a leader. It was an opportunity to give back to the program that had prepared her so well for her academic journey. The experience as a leader was one she calls, "a nice introduction into education leadership."

Strikes With A Gun graduated in 1988 with a bachelor of education, social studies major, Native American Studies minor. She continued her relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, working for a year as the project co-ordinator for the Four Worlds Development Project, an initiative aimed at helping Blood/Peigan women develop the skills and training necessary to prepare them for post-secondary education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Strikes With A Gun has continued to value education, honesty and hard work. In her newest undertaking as the first female Chief of the Piikani Nation, one of Strikes With A Gun's concerns is for her people's youth.

"We must provide every opportunity for them to learn the Blackfoot language and participate in our culture and traditions," she says. "We need to provide them with opportunities for success. I would encourage our youth to attend the U of L; it is a very good place for First Nations students. I had a positive experience at the U of L. It is important for the youth to have positive self esteem and pride in themselves as they come from a long lineage of Piikani leaders."

She is very excited with her own leadership role.

"I will endeavour to do my best to be a good leader like my grandfathers and grandmothers of the past. I am so fortunate to come from the proud Piikani Nation in southern Alberta."

GET THE FACTS

· Strikes With A Gun has a son, Darcy, who is a culinary arts graduate of Lethbridge College.

· She is the first in her family to receive an undergraduate degree, and later earned a master's degree in education administration from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia.

· Strikes With A Gun started the first taxi service on the reserve, and also negotiated a contract for providing medical transportation from the Medical Services Branch.

· She planned and implemented the Beaufort-Delta Strategic Plan, which includes the Mission, Vision and Beliefs, Strategic Goals and Action Plan.

Horns host T-Birds in key series

trevor.kenney — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:25:21 +0000

It may only be December, but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team is in danger of slipping out of the Canada West playoff race if it can't find a way to put together a winning streak.

This weekend, the Horns (4-5-3) will put the wraps on the first half of the season, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds (5-4-3), Friday and Saturday night. The puck drops at 7 p.m. nightly at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Coming off of their fourth consecutive weekend split, the Horns are still at the bottom of the Canada West standings but are only five points out of third place and will make up their games in hand this weekend. The Horns beat the 6th ranked ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies last Friday before losing the next night.

Earlier this season in Vancouver, the Horns and T-Birds split a weekend series with the Horns winning 5-4 in overtime and the T-Birds rebounding the next night with a 5-0 win.

Winston Day Chief and Nick Hotson continue to be offensive catalysts for the Horns, with Day Chief leading the team with 12 points in 12 games. Hotson sits two points back with 10.

Freshman Max Grassi, also with 12 points, leads the Thunderbirds, while Jordan White has seen the bulk of the action in the Thunderbird net, playing all but 40 minutes through 12 games.

After this weekend's games, the Horns will take a month hiatus for exams and the holiday season, but return to action January 6-7 in a home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos.

UNews - Chief

Closing de Grandmaison

Each face, with its deep lines, juxtaposing colours and gentle strokes, tells a story – a story of honour, dignity and character; joy and sorrow; life and death – a story of a people in the midst of transition.

By capturing the faces of Canada's First Nations people, painter Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892 – 1978) left a deeply personal record of history.

A Russian aristocrat forced out of his homeland, a prisoner of war and eventually an immigrant to Canada, de Grandmaison felt an intimate connection to the First Nations people and empathized with the massive cultural changes they were forced to endure during the mid-20th century.

From the 1930s up until his death, de Grandmaison was struck with an urgency to paint the Plains Indians because he believed their way of life was quickly disappearing.

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The faces of history

Each face, with its deep lines, juxtaposing colours and gentle strokes, tells a story – a story of honour, dignity and character; joy and sorrow; life and death – a story of a people in the midst of transition.

By capturing the faces of Canada's First Nations people, painter Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892 – 1978) left a deeply personal record of history.

A Russian aristocrat forced out of his homeland, a prisoner of war and eventually an immigrant to Canada, de Grandmaison felt an intimate connection to the First Nations people and empathized with the massive cultural changes they were forced to endure during the mid-20th century.

From the 1930s up until his death, de Grandmaison was struck with an urgency to paint the Plains Indians because he believed their way of life was quickly disappearing.

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Courtney, Steacy earn top honours

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Horns host T-Birds in key series

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