UNews - Austin Mardon

Mardon receives three awards for lifelong achievement, advocacy work

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 21:24:42 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus and honorary degree recipient Dr. Austin Mardon (BA '85, LLD '14) has been recognized by a trio of international organizations in recent weeks.

Mardon was awarded a 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Award from the American Association of Geographers (AAG) for his lifelong research work in addition to sustained work by, for, and with the mental health and disability communities.

He was also recently recognized as a Peace Award winner by the Institute of International Peace Leaders. Mardon was recognized for having publicly assisted the medical profession by supporting development of policy positions that have helped medical providers treat those with mental illness.

The Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences then elected Mardon as an International Fellow. Fellowship in the ZAS recognizes the achievements of individuals in the advancement of evidence based knowledge for sustainable development.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 30, Mardon uses his own experience and his road to recovery in advocating in the areas of stigma, service delivery, awareness and education.

“I have put my experiences out there for all to see, but it hasn’t been easy,” said Dr. Mardon. “My goal is to see the end of unfair and debilitating stigma against the mentally ill held by society through education and research.”

Mardon is currently assistant adjunct professor with the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre, and was recently appointed as an assistant adjunct professor in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Department of Psychiatry – the first time someone with schizophrenia has been appointed to such a position.

Alumnus Mardon named to Royal Society of Canada

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:24:02 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus and 2014 honorary degree recipient Dr. Austin Mardon (BA '85) has been named a Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada.

Mardon was named a Specially Elected Fellow on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, for his extensive work in the field of mental illness. The following citation accompanied today's announcement of 90 new Fellows.

Specially Elected Fellow - Austin Mardon

Austin Mardon’s contribution to our store of knowledge on living with mental illnesses and the stigma that surrounds them has been immense and unique. Since giving the first partnership speech on schizophrenia in 1993, he has devoted his life to educating professionals and the public on mental illness. He has given hundreds of speeches, written scores of articles, and allowed himself to be the public face of Schizophrenia in Canada.

Mardon is currently an assistant adjunct professor in the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta.

Humanitarian Lindhout to receive Honorary Degree

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 May 2014 16:33:23 +0000

Acclaimed journalist, author and humanitarian, Amanda Lindhout, will receive an Honorary degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge at its Spring Convocation ceremony.

In her courage, compassion, resolve and dedication, Amanda Lindhout is an inspiration, and she embodies the philosophy and values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

“We are very excited that Amanda has accepted our offer of an Honorary Degree,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan. “Her story is one of incredible perseverance and compassion. To be able to use the traumatic ordeal she experienced as the impetus to effect change is incredible. Her attitude embodies the ideals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

The U of L will present Lindhout with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa, at the Spring 2014 Convocation Ceremony III on Friday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Lindhout will also participate in a book signing (A House in the Sky) at 12:30 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bookstore.

She is the fourth Honorary Degree recipient to be named this spring, along with Dr. Barbara Hohn, Dr. Seamus O'Shea and Dr. Austin Mardon.

Amanda Lindhout

Journalist, author, and humanitarian Amanda Lindhout is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation and has devoted her life to social responsibility.

Amanda Lindhout was born in Red Deer, Alta., and at the age of 24 became a journalist, travelling to various conflict zones. In 2008, she and a freelance photojournalist went to Mogadishu, Somalia. Two days after arriving, they were both kidnapped by religious extremists and held in captivity for 463 days. During this time she was repeatedly tortured and assaulted by her captors. After her release, she chose to become a champion for underprivileged people in Somalia.

In 2010, she founded the Global Enrichment Foundation, which aims to provide education, counselling and community programs in Somalia. This foundation has raised millions of dollars to develop programming that empowers Somalians to create a better future.

Since her ordeal, Lindhout has gone to great lengths to share her story, through speaking engagements, a book (A House in the Sky) and other activities. She has participated in a Bill Clinton Global Initiative panel, has given an address to the United Nations Associate in Ottawa, and has moderated a panel of former extremists for the Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism.

In her courage, compassion, resolve and dedication, Lindhout is an inspiration, and she embodies the philosophy and values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Her overcoming of adversity speaks to deep strength, purpose and compassion, and she exemplifies the notion of engaged citizenry.

In recognition of Amanda Lindhout’s courage, humanitarian contributions and advocacy for peace and empowerment, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge confers upon her the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa.

Mental health advocate Mardon to receive honorary degree

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:16:47 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate announced the first of its distinguished 2014 Honorary Degree recipients – well-known and influential advocate for the mentally ill, Dr. Austin Mardon (BA '85).

Honorary degree recipient Austin Mardon with Canada's Governor General, Michaelle Jean.

“We’re very excited that Austin has accepted our offer of an Honorary Degree and are pleased to recognize the passionate work he has done over the years to bring issues of mental illness to the forefront,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan.

The U of L will present Mardon, who was the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa at either the Spring 2014 or Fall 2014 Convocation Ceremonies.

Austin Mardon

In 1992, at the age of 30, Austin Mardon was diagnosed with schizophrenia. This was at a time in his career when he was a promising graduate student after doing research in Antarctica. Though this diagnosis could have curtailed his academic career, Mardon chose to continue his studies. He eventually received a PhD in geography and has co-authored, authored, translated and edited over 50 books and 242 shorter pieces.

Over the last two decades, Mardon has used his own experiences to become an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental illness, for improving services for the mentally ill and for improving education and awareness. His work has helped bring mental illness out of the shadows to improve treatment and opportunities for the mentally ill.

His influence in advocating for mental health awareness has been wide ranging. Mardon has met with politicians, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and others in positions of influence. He formerly sat on the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and was a founding member of the Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addiction. Mardon has also helped the medical profession by supporting the development of policy positions that assist health providers in treating those with mental illness.

The specific ceremony at which Mardon will receive his degree is unconfirmed at this time. Additional information will be released prior to the Spring 2014 Convocation Ceremony.

Campus Kudos - June

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:54:51 +0000

Dr. Heidi MacDonald (History) received an award for the best English-language academic article deemed to make an original and scholarly contribution to the field of women's and gender history by the Canadian Committee on Women's History. Her article, Who Counts? Nuns, Work and the Census of Canada, was published in a recent issue of Histoire Sociale/Social History. Reviewers indicated that MacDonald produced "…an impressive and insightful piece of work on the various ways in which women religious (nuns) have been excluded or significantly undercounted in the Canadian census."

Taras Polataiko's (Art) painting was on view at the National Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv. The work was part of an international exhibition curated by Kateryna Botanova.

Annie Martin's (Art) installation Untitled (horizon) was exhibited in the PAVED Arts main gallery in Saskatoon. A critical text was also commissioned to accompany this exhibition.

Dana Cooley (New Media) has a video work in the group show, A Century of Artists' Films, at the Theatr Mwldan in Wales. Curated by Mike Cousin in partnership with Oriel Mwldan, the show runs until July 2.

Three ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge teams recently walked to raise money to End MS, totalling an impressive $6,762.05 that was donated to the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. The team from the Faculty of Education, captained by
Dr. Cathy Campbell, and consisting of Dr. Robin Bright, Dr. Noella Piquette-Tomei and Dr. Cynthia Chambers raised $2,935. The team from Administration, captained by Dr. Mike Mahon, and consisting of Maureen Mahon, Laurel Corbiere, Trish Jackson, Virginia Wishart and Robin Hopkins raised $2,725. The team from the Faculty of Management, captained by Dr. Lori Kopp, and consisting of Dr. Robert Ellis, Dr. Sameer Deshpande, Dr. Brian Dobing, Dr. Pam Loewen, Joan Kendall, Diane Boyle and Steve Craig raised $1,102.05.

Pictured left to right are iGEM team members Harland Brandon, (fourth-year Biochemistry), Justin Vigar, ( fifth-year Biochemistry) and MSc candidate Lisza Bruder, BSc ’11.

Clark Ferguson, the U of L's chief information officer, presented the keynote address at the Futures in it – Collaboration Western Canada Academy Conference in Calgary recently. Ferguson's address was titled Business Experience – Applied to Post Secondary at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Dr. Austin Mardon (BA'85) received an honorary doctor of laws from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta at its Spring Convocation ceremonies. Mardon, an inspiring advocate for the mentally ill, is a member of the Order of Canada and a past recipient of the CM Hincks Award, the highest award given by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Three members of the U of L iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) team are travelling to Stanford ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in California to attend the 5th International Meeting on Synthetic biology. The sold-out conference attracts researchers from around the world who are working in the growing field of synthetic biology.

Dr. David Clearwater's (New Media) essay, What Defines Video Game Genre? Thinking about Genre Study after the Great Divide, was published in the Spring 2011 issue of Loading... (a Canadian journal covering videogames and interactive entertainment).

Dr. Josephine Mills (director/curator U of L Art Gallery) has recently been named president of the Canadian Art Museum Directors' Organization.

Dagmar Dahle's (Art) work was included in the exhibition ANIMAL, appearing at Museum London in Ontario.

Loralee Sand Edwards' (BFA '05) exhibition iGallery: curated auto-paparazzi (Self-Portraiture in a Digital Age) is in the Main Gallery of the Bowman Arts Centre until July 10.

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

UNews - Austin Mardon

Mardon receives three awards for lifelong achievement, advocacy work

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