The Legend June 2011

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VOLUME 10

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ISSUE TEN

A family of graduates

the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

WISE to lead water research initiatives G E T T H E FA C T S

Music in the Making campaign supports Conservatory

Management grad a global success story

Alumnus Matisz earns research honour

The U of L Legend is published monthly during the academic year by the communications unit within University Advancement. Submissions, comments and story ideas are always welcome. The Legend reserves the right to refuse any submitted advertisement. The Legend can be found online at www.uleth.ca/unews/ legend.

A DV E R T I S I N G For ad rates or other information, contact: legend@uleth.ca CREDITS Editor: Trevor Kenney Designer: Stephenie Karsten CO N T R I B U TO R S: Amanda Berg, Diane Britton, Bob Cooney, Kyle Dodgson, Jane Edmundson, Nicole Eva, Wendy Faith, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Rob Olson, Chad Patterson, Stacy Seguin, Jaime Vedres and Katherine Wasiak

University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca

Brian, Shari and Alan Ward all earned their bachelor of science (neuroscience) degrees at Spring 2011 Convocation.

BY TREVOR KENNEY

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very path to a convocation procession is unique, even when it involves three siblings who are all graduating from the same discipline at the same time.

Brian, Alan and Shari Ward all completed their bachelor of science (neuroscience) degrees this spring, and all three did it in their own way.

For Brian (24), his was a path that included leaving the University for a year of study at Lethbridge College, the realization and subsequent conquering of a condition of exam anxiety and a revelation that neuroscience was his true calling.

Alan (23) took more of a direct route, knowing from the onset of his university career that neuroscience was his vocation. This did not preclude him from learning that the approach he took in high school would have to be replaced by much stricter study skills to succeed, leading to an extra year of study as he drove up his GPA with a medical school future in his sights.

Shari (21), the youngest of the graduating trio and the last of five Ward children, is a product of her older brothers’ experiences as she only joined the neuroscience stream in her third year at the U of L. She came to the University thinking biochemistry was her inclination but after seeing the spark that neuroscience had given her brothers, she too made it her focus.

In fact, if one principle is consistent between the three, it is that once they showed an interest and aptitude for the discipline, the neuroscience professors embraced their willingness to learn.

“I took one semester with two neuroscience courses and I absolutely loved it,” says Brian, about his return from Lethbridge College. “The prof I had, Dr. Deb Saucier, basically opened my eyes to the world of neuroscience.

After that I almost tripled my GPA. It now comes to me and it comes to me easily.”

He’d had the impression that the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) was strictly a research facility but soon found, after getting guidance from Saucier, that he could not only take classes in the

CCBN but also, as an undergraduate student, participate in independent study research activities with the professors/researchers.

“I discovered I’m very much a science guy,” says Brian. “I love how different parts of the brain and nervous systems work. I love how the central nervous system interacts with the peripheral nervous system and vice versa. I love how stimuli can affect different pathways and so on.

It might sound weird but I want to spend $200 on a textbook just to read it because it floors me.”

Alan had considered attending Dalhousie University in Halifax but decided to stay at the U of L because its neuroscience department was more suited to his interest in the behavioural aspects of study. He also saw the independent study opportunities as a huge opportunity.

“That was a strong selling point for me,” says Alan. “If you show a little initiative and put your best foot forward, you have a good chance of doing an independent study. That’s something I knew about before I came, but then once I got into it, I definitely appreciate it so much more now.”

Shari sees herself as a hybrid of her brothers’ interests. She excels at the behavioural aspects that Alan loves, but is also intrigued by the pharmacological bent that Brian takes. Her initial misconceptions of neuroscience were quickly dispelled when she spoke with Saucier and found out all she could do within the CCBN. “The profs here just love it when somebody shows an interest,” says Shari. “After taking some classes and then getting the chance to learn techniques in an actual hands-on environment, it became so much more interesting to me. I could see what they were talking about and how it could be used and it really made it exciting.”

They all agree that neuroscience isn’t as daunting as it sounds, and the faculty cultivate that success.

“It’s not what people make it out to be, and I’ve known students who won’t take it because they think it’ll be too hard. They’re interested in it but they head off to do something else because they’re intimidated by the

• In all there are five Ward children, including older brother David, who started at the U of L and is currently a Doctor of Medicine in his second year of residency at the University of Calgary. Cindy, the eldest, is a stay-at-home mom.

• Both their parents have bachelor of commerce degrees with a major in accounting from the University of Alberta. Mother Debbie is a stay-at-home mom with a graduate diploma in post-secondary education, while father Ross owns and operates Wards Rentals.

• Shari was initially nervous about working with the CCBN rats, saying, “I thought that I was going to hate rats and Brian told me, once you meet the rats you’re going to love them. I tell everybody that now, if you could meet the rats, you’d love them because they are so cute.”

• All three attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute before enroling at the U of L, and give credit to the teachers at Lakeview Elementary for igniting their passion for the sciences. sound of it,” says Brian. “I firmly believe that the people in neuroscience, and at the CCBN, are the friendliest and most supportive profs I’ve ever had.”

Evidence of that came on June 2, when the three Ward siblings marched in Spring 2011 Convocation.

“It is interesting, all of us graduating together; it is nice that we get to do it all at once. I think our parents were especially happy because they only had to come for one ceremony,” laughs Alan. “But at the same time, none of us are really done.”

He alludes to a future that sees him pursuing a medical degree and eventually becoming a surgeon; while Brian is intent on achieving a master’s degree that may lead to a PhD and medical school; and Shari eyes a nursing after degree and maybe further study following that. It’s safe to say, their passion for education has been ignited.

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OPENMike

University of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon chats about what’s happening in the University community

As we approach summer and the conclusion of my first year at the University of Lethbridge, I feel it is an opportune time to look back and reflect upon all that I’ve come to appreciate here at the U of L. I think back to my initial impressions of the University and while I certainly understood the ideals of a liberal arts education and its historical context at the U of L, it was not until I arrived on campus and started talking to people that I grasped the extent to which the University remains committed to this concept.

Just recently, General Faculties Council approved direct entry into the Faculty of Man-

agement, and at the heart of that discussion was the significance and importance of maintaining a focus on liberal education. I also hear this the more I speak to our alumni. When they reflect on their time at the University, invariably they single out the liberal education experience as being fundamental to what they value about the U of L. As I think about our students, I reflect on the studentcentred philosophy I have spoke to numerous times over the past year. I introduced this wording as a way forward but it is in the context of how we already deliver on that promise. Talking to students in the hallways, I hear about the quality of their

experience in the classrooms, how their professors know them by name and how small classes and one-on-one attention are truly valued. I even received an unsolicited testimonial from a student I met off campus who had no idea I was associated with the University. He referred to the ‘fantastic’ experience he was having and how he often told his sister, who graduated from another Alberta institution, how much she missed out on having not attended the U of L. As we continue to grow and evolve, emerging as a comprehensive university with a greater focus on research and graduate studies, we cannot abandon our roots of providing that

CAMPUS 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 University of Lethbridge teams recently walked to raise money to End

truly exceptional undergraduate experience. I believe this will be a real strength of the University going forward because our faculty members remain equally committed to the undergraduate experience, something that will separate us from larger comprehensive universities in the province.

Finally, I’d like to talk about the people I’ve encountered over the past year. What has struck me more than anything is the passion everyone has for the U of L. This is reflected in every corner of the institution and has been shown to me time and time again.

Something I will give a great deal of thought to over the sum-

mer is how we can continue to move forward with the strategic directions we’ve established but in a manner that is supportive of our people. I have such an appreciation for how hard our faculty and staff work, and it is important, as a community, to find a way to support each other so that we have an organization that is committed to creating balance in people’s lives.

I thank you all for the manner in which you have welcomed Maureen and I into the community. We are thankful of the opportunity to be a part of the University of Lethbridge experience and are appreciative of the way we’ve been embraced by the U of L family.

kudos 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.

Three members of the U of L iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) team are travelling to Stanford University 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. Heidi MacDonald

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 PiquetteTomei 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.

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 University of Lethbridge.

Dr. Austin Mardon (BA’85) received an honorary doctor of laws from the University 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.

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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 autopaparazzi (Self-Portraiture in a Digital Age) is in the Main Gallery of the Bowman Arts Centre until July 10.

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY SEES GREAT VALUE IN ITS EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

INTERNET SPEEDS GET CYBERA BOOST

BY BOB COONEY

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niversity of Lethbridge students and staff are enjoying a faster delivery of Internet content on campus, thanks to Cybera’s transit exchange service.

The transit exchange provides a connection to the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), which links to major Internet sites like Google, Microsoft and YouTube.

“This new connection to the SIX gives the University better route diversity, so if a disruption occurs with its regular Internet connection, traffic will continue to be directed to our transit exchange service for connection to major sites like Google,” says JeanFrancois Amiot, Technical Operations Manager at Cybera. “This ensures a more consistent level of service for all students, staff and faculty.”

When the service is operating normally, the Cybera transit exchange connection will also allow University users to bypass the regular queues en route to the SIX-connected sites.

This has already been demonstrated at the University of Alberta, which has been using Cybera to connect to the SIX since early January and, as a result, has seen a balance of its network traffic

BY RICHARD WESTLUND

Jeff Oliver, senior network analyst and member of the Communications and Infrastructure team at the U of L, manages the addition of the new Cybera transit exchange service.

loads, as well as cost savings.

“This service is greatly enhancing the performance and delivery of classroom content and activities, as now we are able to offload a significant amount of traffic to Cybera,” says Clark Ferguson, chief information officer at the U of L. “Teaching and learning are the biggest beneficiaries. Professors can quickly link to speeches and lectures offered on sites such as YouTube with virtually no delay.”

“Cybera is now carrying approximately 35 to 40 per cent of Internet traffic, which will have a long-term impact

on reducing our costs,” adds Ferguson.

“This is a substantial improvement to our service and a huge step forward.”

Looking ahead, Cybera is preparing to partner with CANARIE (a consortium of universities participating in Internet delivery) to establish a peering connection with the Toronto Internet Exchange.

Cybera’s connection to the SIX is enabled by a partnership with BCNET – the advanced network in British Columbia. To use Cybera’s transit exchange service, a connection to CyberaNet – the advanced network operated by Cybera – or to the Alberta SuperNet is required.

Water research at the University of Lethbridge will now operate under the banner of the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE).

WATER RESEARCH MAKES WISE STEP The infrastructure is in place, the expertise is on campus and the precedent has been set – so it is hardly surprising that the University of Lethbridge is formalizing its established reputation as a leader in water research with the creation of the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE).

If the WISE acronym sounds familiar, that’s because it is, used from 2002-2006 when it represented the Water Institute for Semi-Arid Ecosystems. Its then-mandate, led by then-Vice-President (Research), Dennis Fitzpatrick, was to expand partnerships with regional, federal and provincial government agencies and elevate the regional, provincial and national profile of the University relative to water research.

It built off the 1988-2004 Water Resources Institute (WRI) that first emphasized water management studies as related to irrigation and more for-

mally established interaction between the University and regional water management agencies. When added to the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research (AICWR, a 2003-2009 initiative funded by Alberta Ingenuity) and the construction of the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building (AWESB) in 2008, it serves as prelude to today’s WISE incarnation.

“The combination of the recruitment of many faculty with interests in water research, the completion of previous initiatives such as WRI and AICWR, and the implementation of the AWESB, provides a foundation for the next step towards the advancement of the University of Lethbridge as a national centre for water research and training,” says Vice-President (Research), Dr. Dan Weeks. “The establishment of this institute is that step.”

Today’s WISE, which was officially approved by the Board of Governors at its most recent meeting, reflects how the University has grown in terms of its profile as a leader in water research and the comprehensive nature by which it approaches water related topics.

Weeks says the WISE acronym was maintained because of its history with the University, but updated to reflect the greater scope the U of L is now prepared to tackle. The word ‘sustainable’ was added to emphasize conservation and stewardship and to reflect expanding research activities that will not be limited to regional or semi-arid environments. Likewise, ‘environments’ replaces ‘ecosystems’ because it suggests a broader context of study.

“WISE will strive to facilitate activities but will not act to limit or screen activities by individuals or groups of University faculty,” says Weeks. “It will be especially effective in encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary research initiatives that involve groups of faculty and students from across the University.”

In that respect, Weeks sees the institute as being an excellent recruitment tool, particularly of graduate and post-doctoral students.

“It will provide a major opportunity to blend teaching and research activities and further establish our emergence as a comprehensive university,” he says.

As the University of Lethbridge has continually expanded its commitment to water research and broadened its reputation as a hub of expertise in water management strategies, the establishment of WISE is seen as a natural evolution.

“By formalizing WISE, it sets the University on course to further stake its claim as the national centre for water research and training,” says Weeks.

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A couple of years ago, while at the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers annual conference, I attended a presentation made by the University of Western Ontario and the London Chamber of Commerce about the strong partnership they enjoyed.

At first glance, the session seemed understated and underwhelming, as it was slotted amid more noteworthy sessions that included federal deputy ministers, prominent media columnists and established strategists within government. However it was this session that resonated with me more than the others because it spoke to the great opportunities that arise when partnerships with local entities are established.

Western’s relationship with the London chamber, at one point, was fairly one-sided.

The University would approach local businesses only when it needed something – such as support for a specific application for government funding.

The relationship changed when the London chamber reengaged the University and insisted that Western become a meaningful partner. After some concerted effort, the chamber and the university created a relationship of mutual benefit.

After returning home and pondering this example, I joined the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee. I had given the local chamber little thought prior to that point but now felt it was important to get involved. What I immediately found was that the Lethbridge and Western situations were hardly comparable.

I discovered that the University of Lethbridge’s relationship with the local chamber goes back decades. On its website the chamber proudly states the significant role it has played in support of the U of L in the community. The University has an automatic appointment to its board of directors and various committees have U of L representatives actively participating in events and meetings. Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Bob Ellis, for example, serves on the Government Affairs committee.

As well, University researchers have taken the time to share their expertise with the chamber. In the past few months alone, Dr. Geoffrey Hale has spoken on border issues and Dr. Judith Kulig advocated for federal funds to create a pilot program for initiatives that would help universities retain Aboriginal students and assist in their transition to the workforce.

Like the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the University of Lethbridge has a role to play in the economic development of the city and beyond. One of the key directions in the U of L’s Strategic Plan is to enhance relationships with external communities. Faculty and staff from the University currently share their skills with a myriad of different local organizations.

It is this spirit of sharing knowledge and expertise that benefits both the community and the U of L. Looking at the emphasis the U of L places on community engagement, and by the number of advocates the University already has in the community, fostering these meaningful partnerships and interactions will only help the city and the University to thrive in the future.

Richard Westlund is the University’s government relations director

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MASTER’S STUDIES GAIN INSIGHT INTO TRAGEDY Master’s student Ainslee Kimmel has worked closely with Dr. Judith Kulig.

BY TREVOR KENNEY As news reports filtered out of fire-ravaged Slave Lake, Alta., recently, tales of heroism and perseverance in the midst of personal tragedy riveted the public.

The stories took on even more meaning to University of Lethbridge master’s student Ainslee Kimmel, who is completing her thesis by studying the effects of wildfire and the resiliency of people who experience its wrath.

Kimmel’s study focus is on the 2009 West Kelowna fire but she couldn’t help but draw similarities to the stories she hears about the residents of Slave Lake.

“I think a big thing I see that’s similar between the two is the factor of the unknown,” she says. “A lot of people said the most stressful thing about the fire was the act of being evacuated, and then hearing reports on what parts of town were and were not affected by the fire, not knowing if they had or had not lost everything.”

Kimmel, a Calgary native, came to the University with a bachelor of psychology degree from the University of Victoria. Her goal is to eventually become a registered psychologist, which might seem contrary to her master’s work at first glance, but it’s all by design.

She chose the University of Lethbridge over other graduate programs because it is allowing her a more handson, practical approach to her vocation.

“The other schools I was accepted to were more research oriented and I wanted to finish my master’s with a practical skillset, and I found that here,” she says.

“It allows me to focus more on counselling as opposed to a master’s in health psychology, which puts you in the stream for studying a PhD and possibly teaching.”

Working with supervisor Dr. Judith Kulig, an expert in wildfire research and community resiliency from a health sciences perspective, Kimmel sees the

GET THE FACTS • Kimmel’s study actually includes three fire events in and around West Kelowna in 2009, including: Terrace Mountain Fire (9,277 hectares burned); Glenrosa Fire (400 hectares); and the Rose Valley Fire (200 hectares).

• Only four structures were lost in West Kelowna, despite the potential of losing many more that were threatened, and Kimmel says her preliminary findings show a sense of pride from residents over how the crisis was handled.

• Kimmel accompanied Dr. Kulig to Texas to present findings from her research at an international conference.

practical potential of her findings.

“I just want to know how people cope after something like a wildfire event,” she says. “Wildfires in Canada are increasingly a big issue and if we can determine how people cope, hopefully we can develop strategies to help people function better after a wildfire.”

Kimmel actually worked with Kulig as a research assistant for a year prior to the beginning of her thesis. Despite the fact that she’s pursuing a master’s of education degree, she was given special dispensation to have Kulig as her supervisor.

She travelled with Kulig to conduct interviews and acquire data following a wildfire event in Barriere, B.C., and is using that experience to guide her through her study of the West Kelowna event.

“Through the work I did with Dr. Kulig, we saw

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

Hitting the right notes Lottie Austin and Dr. George Evelyn are encouraged by the support shown for the Music Conservatory.

people in Barriere who made it through the fire without losing their homes and yet they had lingering symptoms of depression, while some of those who lost their homes were able to bounce back quicker,” says Kimmel. “Understanding how that works and how we can help these people on various levels is the ultimate goal.”

While Kulig’s research emphasis focuses on community resiliency as a whole, Kimmel’s approach, as a psychologist in training, is more specific.

“I felt I could pursue something more on the individual aspects of wildfire,” she says, noting that her findings, although preliminary, are not entirely negative.

“I’m also looking at how people grow from the experience as a result. It’s termed post-traumatic growth in the literature and discusses how people can go through something traumatic and months and even years later benefit from it in terms of developing closer relationships, a better attitude on life and a feeling of strength and confidence that they were able to get through it.”

To date, Kimmel has made one trip to Kelowna, interviewing a host of government and firefighting personnel. She expects to return to complete her interviews this fall and will finish writing her thesis over the winter.

Kimmel says her excellent relationship with Kulig has been integral to the process.

“She’s such a caring person and is really there to help a student. She’s also always included me, in terms of authorship, on anything we’ve worked on,” says Kimmel. “We get along so well on a personal level and I don’t know if everybody has that with their supervisor – it really can make a difference.”

Kimmel’s research was made possible by a $17,500 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant.

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BY KALI MCKAY

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ottie Austin and Dr. George Evelyn are all warmed up and ready to put on a show. As Co-Chairs for Music in the Making, a campaign for the University of Lethbridge Music Conservatory, the couple is showing thanks for the opportunities they’ve had by encouraging others to support something they love – music.

“Music is my core and my soul,” says Austin, as her hands effortlessly move across the polished keys, filling her living room with a melody she’s making up as she goes. If you listen closely, you’ll probably hear Evelyn singing along.

Once a performance musician, Austin is no longer playing for a large crowd of expectant ticket holders.

Instead, more often than not, she’s playing in her own living room for Evelyn, who taught in the U of L music department for 26 years before retiring in 2009.

“Music has been a part of my life since my mother signed me up for violin lessons when I was five,” says Evelyn, who grew up and completed his training in the United States before immigrating to Canada in 1973. “Although it wasn’t with a violin under my chin, I’ve had a rewarding career and from that first lesson on it seemed natural that music was something I was going to do forever.”

For these two, music is more than notes on a page – it’s laid a foundation on which they’ve built their lives.

“My business activities have led me away from music, but I constantly find application for the skills I learned as a musician,” says Austin, who currently works in the finance industry. “Music taught me to analyze, to set goals, to compartmentalize, to work towards success and those same tenets can be directly applied to a career in business. I know the majority of people who take lessons will not go on to be professional musicians but they will always carry music with them. It is a core component that no matter where you are or what your circumstances are, you will always have music with you.”

Having benefitted themselves, this couple is working hard to make sure more people have access to quality music education. Plans for the new Community Arts Centre in downtown Lethbridge include space for the U of L Conservatory, allowing for expansion and growth and helping to build confidence in a new generation of musicians.

“This is an important step as we continue to grow music in our community.”

DR. GEORGE EVELYN

“Music in the Making will help provide the support necessary for the Conservatory to continue delivering quality programs and ensure students have access to the equipment and tools necessary to be successful,” explains Evelyn, who’s excited about the opportunities presented by the new downtown location. “This is an important step as we continue to grow music in our community.”

As construction of the Community Arts Centre gets underway, Austin and Evelyn are looking forward to the Music in the Making launch event on June 17 in Galt Gardens. The event features music by local performers and will be followed by the Young Lions Jazz Concert, a part of the Lethbridge Jazz Festival 2011.

“This is a great opportunity and a fun way for people to get involved in this project,” says Evelyn. “By coming together at this event, we’re showing support for something that will benefit this community in years to come.”

--For more information on the Music in the Making campaign or to contribute, please e-mail advancement@uleth.ca or call 1-866-5522582.

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

athletics AT T H E U

the Legend

Scandinavian tour an eye opener for Horns Kathy Curtis, left, Janelle Groten, middle, and Jaclyn Groten atop the Spire on a cathedral in Denmark.

G E T T H E FA C T S • The tour took the club through Copenhagen and Kolding in Denmark, as well as Malmo, Sweden. The team visited castles and was able to dip their toes in the water at the Skagen Odde, where the Kattegat and the Skagerak seas meet.

BY TREVOR KENNEY

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candinavia Tour 2011 – call it an applied study course for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer program.

The Horns just recently returned from a 10-day trip through Denmark and Sweden, an invaluable experience of exhibition matches, training opportunities and sight-seeing trips that they expect will reap dividends once the ball is again kicked closer to home this fall.

“Seeing how other countries play your sport and the passion they have for it is invaluable.”

ILSA WONG

“It was phenomenal,” says Horns head coach Ilsa Wong.

“We had the opportunity to see some top level professional women’s soccer in Sweden, and for our girls to watch that level of play, I think it was a real wow moment for them. It was great for me to see their response to that incredible level of soccer.”

The tour offered the Horns three exhibition matches. They won the first, 5-1, over a 2nd division Swedish professional team, and lost the next two, including a 6-0 shutout at the hands of the Danish national U18 champions and a 3-1 decision to a Danish professional team’s scout squad.

“It was a much better experience than the tour we had three years ago in England,” says Wong. “It was a good level of soccer for them and nothing really outside of the level they’d participate in here in Canada.

They were definitely challenged, especially against the youth squad. It’s funny, to see them before the game, they are just these skinny little blond girls and then they get on the field and all of a sudden they are these tough, fast amazing players. It

was a very good experience.”

That, in essence, was the goal of the trip, to give the Horns an experience they couldn’t find here in Canada. It opened their minds to new ideas and new possibilities.

“It was quite eye opening to see the way they coach versus the way we’re coached here,” says Horns captain Kathy Curtis, who also took part in the English tour.

“Then playing against the junior national team, some of them were 14 years old and they were so good.

It was really neat to see that level of play in such a young team. These girls probably could have taken down any team in CIS.” Wong says that many of the girls came away with a new appreciation for their sport, and it raises the bar on their expectation level for what can be achieved.

“Seeing how other countries play your sport and the passion they have for it is invaluable,” she says. “I think sometimes we can get complacent in thinking that post-secondary sport is something you just do as an activity.

If we can show some of these student athletes that it’s a way of life for some people, it raises the

standard for them.”

The Horns planned and fundraised for the excursion for the last two-plus years. They served as bleacher cleaners at Pronghorns home basketball games, provided the labour for the Books on Beds program offered by the University Bookstore, sold scarves, ran booster club events and participated in Operation Red Nose.

For Curtis, a defender, she says the experience pushed her to a new level and she could see the rest of the team raise its play simply by virtue of trying to keep up to the competition.

“Playing the whole 90 minutes against a team the calibre of the junior national team really pushes you, but that’s good. I always find my best games are when you’re playing the best teams. I could see in the rest of the girls, that was like a light bulb that went off.”

The only downside to the trip is that it couldn’t be scheduled before the start of the Canada West season.

“We’d really love to bring a lot of that back and use it for

• The Horns were able to train at the FCN Academy in Copenhagen. The professional men’s team boasts Canadian star Patrice Bernier.

• Wong says the program offers an international trip every three years, something that serves as a strong recruiting tool. “The fact we do it every three years means players will get an opportunity to participate at least once if not more, and in a way it sort of shows them where some of their fundraising dollars go.”

• A total of 26 people were on the trip, including some parents. Soon, they will begin planning their next excursion in 2014. next year but it’s hard because now we have a break and we’re not back again until the fall,” says Curtis. “It’d be nice to go on that trip in July, get that experience and then go right into the season.”

On behalf of the University of Lethbridge Music Conservatory, we invite you to celebrate an exciting new phase in the Conservatory’s history as we launch

Music in the Making A campaign to help provide the support necessary for the U of L Music Conservatory to continue delivering quality programs and help instill in students a lifelong appreciation for music.

June 17, 2011 | 1 p.m.

Pergola Square | Galt Gardens | Lethbridge Including a special performance by local jazz musicians

TELUS SHOWS ITS SUPPORT

There is no need to RSVP for this event, but for more information or to contribute please e-mail advancement@uleth.ca or call 403-329-2582.

U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon, far left, helps hold up a banner celebrating Telus’s $350,000 gift to the Horns hockey programs. The money will support the expansion of the Nicholas Sheran Leisure Centre. Also pictured are (l to r) Kathryn Manson and Chandy Kaip of the women’s program, Tony Geheran of Telus and Greg Gatto and Dustin Moore of the men’s program.

For more information on the Music in the Making campaign or to contribute, contact advancement@uleth.ca or call 403-329-2582.

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the Legend GLOBAL

J U N E 2 0 11

connections G E T T H E FA C T S

T

BY TREVOR KENNEY o say Emmanuel Ofoegbunam (BMgt ’11) had a plan when he first left Nigeria for post-secondary studies would vastly underrate his intrepid spirit.

Now 25, a recent U of L grad and a junior accountant at Calgary’s Edon Management, Ofoegbunam’s philosophy is rooted in taking on challenges and adventures.

It led him first to Malaysia to begin his education, then brought him across the world to Canada and the University of Lethbridge.

“You can just read about something or some place but I want to feel it, to experience it so that I can tell the story in my own way,” says Ofoegbunam, who graduated with a bachelor of management degree in accounting and finance.

His people, from the Igbo tribe, are known for their business acumen, and as Ofoegbunam says, “We work for ourselves, we can get it done.”

So it was with that attitude and unfailing support from his parents that he left his hometown of Onitsha for Binary University College of Management & Entrepreneurship in Kuala Lumpur.

“When I left home to go to Malaysia, that was the most challenging part,” says Ofoegbunam. “When I finished my studies, as much as I’m very close to my parents, sometimes you have to give up something to achieve greater things.

SPRING 2011 MEDALISTS A total of 1,454 University of Lethbridge students received their degrees at the June 2-3 Spring 2011 Convocation ceremonies in the 1st Choice Savings Centre.

The following students were awarded academic medals.

They’ve been with me, they’ve supported me every way possible with advice, moral support, financial support – you name it.”

Setting his sights on Canada, Ofoegbunam was accepted to three schools but the U of L quickly won out.

“The most important thing was the turnaround time for replies from the International Centre for Students office and the Registrar’s office,” he says. “The cycle time was one day maximum for phone calls or e-mails. It really made me feel like I was in a one-on-one relationship with the people in Lethbridge.”

That didn’t change when he arrived on campus in April 2007 when he was confronted with, among other things, windy -2C weather and a daunting list of tasks in a completely foreign country.

“It wasn’t anything what I expected . . . it’s better than what I expected,” says Ofoegbunam, thanks largely to the assistance of ICS and specifically International Liaison Officer Charlene Janes.

“I asked her the first week I was here, “Do you treat everybody like this?” She was not just a lady sitting behind a desk getting her job done. She talked to me, gave me advice like a son and that blew me away. She was so helpful from day one.”

The cultural challenges Ofoegbunam faced were many, let alone a weather cycle he had never imagined (both Nigeria and Malaysia average tempera-

• Ofoegbunam’s parents planned to come to Canada for Spring Convocation but were forced to stay behind when his grandmother passed away. “I would have appreciated if they were here with me today but I know they are with me in spirit.”

• Ofoegbunam had never seen snow before moving to Lethbridge. “I didn’t just see it, I felt it,” he says, adding with a laugh.

“The wind, God forbid, it’s bad. When it gets cold, the wind adds to it and it gets to minus-1 million, at least that’s what it feels like.”

• Summing up his educational experience at the University, Ofoegbunam says, “It wasn’t good, it was perfect.” tures in the 28C range). Janes helped him get settled, find an apartment, register for classes and meet the people in the Faculty of Management who would set him on his path. When he again had questions on what major to focus on following his second year, she facilitated meetings with the professors who would best serve his needs.

It was those conversations, what Ofoegbunam calls “out of boundary” talks where his professors related their experience that really pointed him towards his career.

He completed his studies in December 2010 and two weeks later, was employed.

“Now that I live in Calgary, I really see it. If you’re a student, Lethbridge is the place for you,” he says. “There are less distractions, which is good because am I here to just have fun or to study and the answer for me was simple and straightforward. This was the environment that helped me do better with my studies.”

Academic Medalists

UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

PRZYBYLSKI HONOURED BY PROVINCE

Finding success a long way from home

Emmanuel Ofoegbunam is already working as a junior accountant.

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BY BOB COONEY More healthy food products are on the shelves because of the efforts of three Alberta food producers and University of Lethbridge researcher Dr. Roman Przybylski, (chemistry and biochemistry).

All four were recently recognized for their work with a special Premier’s Award.

“Our province has an abundance of talent for producing healthy foods,” says Premier Ed Stelmach. “Through the annual Alberta Food for Health Awards, we are able to bring attention to the healthy and delicious homegrown choices made available to Albertans by Albertans.”

Przybylski was awarded for healthy food and nutrition research. Other award recipients include: the Spring Creek Ranch for healthy Alberta food sold through a retail outlet; the Seniors’ Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) for healthy Alberta food sold through food service; Gordon’s Homemade Sausage for healthy Alberta food for specialty diets.

Przybylski was selected as the Healthy Alberta food and nutrition researcher for contributing to leading edge research in the development of Omega-9 canola oil; a high-quality frying oil suitable for the same uses as traditional oils.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Family members Carolyn Little Mustache (r) her daughter Melanie Pard (centre) and daughter-in-law Nicole Parkin (l) crossed the stage together on June 3 and received their Bachelor of Education degrees.

Maria Lourdes Sophia Verzosa – School of Graduate Studies Medal of Merit, Master of Science

Thomas Arcadius Oram Fox – Faculty of Arts and Science Gold Medal (Science)

Andrea Joy Glover – Silver Medal of the Governor General

Ilona Berth – School of Graduate Studies Medal of Merit, Master of Science (Management)

Jennifer Lyn Shuster – Faculty of Education Gold Medal

Sylvie de Grandpré – School of Graduate Studies Medal of Merit, Master of Education

Henry Dean Heavy Shield – Faculty of Arts and Science Gold Medal (Arts)

Sandeepan Mishra – Gold Medal of the Governor General

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The conversion of Omega-9 canola oil from hydrogenated oil helps to remove unhealthy trans and saturated fats from the North American diet. Providing this alternative can positively impact health problems such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Przybylski’s research is helping to improve Alberta’s food oil industry’s processing and preparation practices while improving nutrition.

Finalists in the award program had their products consumer taste-tested at Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s consumer testing centre in Edmonton. The winners receive $10,000 each to promote their products or invest in future business growth and research.

Alberta Health and Wellness, Advanced Education and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Alberta Innovates Bio Solution and Alberta Innovates Health Solutions jointly manage the Alberta Food for Health Awards program.

The awards were developed to encourage food producers and researchers in the province to develop and research healthy food choices. For more information on the awards visit www.albertafoodforhealthawards.com.

The Alberta government is working to build a better Alberta by fostering economic growth, strengthening our health and education systems, investing in infrastructure, supporting safe and strong communities and ensuring a clean and healthy environment.

Lori Ann Braun – The Alberta Teachers’ Association William Aberhart Gold Medal in Education

Sarah Diane Viejou – Faculty of Fine Arts Gold Medal Alisa Jane Takahashi – Faculty of Health Sciences Gold Medal Raha Ravi Seyed Mahmoud – Faculty of Management Gold Medal

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the Legend

UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

StatsCan Research Data Centre a valuable resource

BY BOB COONEY

I

t’s a tiny, plain research space, with four small workstations and no Internet access. It requires, among other things, an RCMP security clearance to access the information located within it, and has steel reinforcement built into the walls – so forget about cell phone use. Card key access is tightly controlled and someone is on-site to monitor attendance and carefully screen all notes and results that leave.

So, with all this fuss to access, why is Abdie Kazemipur (sociology) so happy? He and other approved researchers now have access to the entire Statistics Canada (StatsCan) database system – a new initiative that will help University of Lethbridge researchers gain significant ground as they work on projects that require raw data sets normally not available to the general public.

The U of L recently flipped the ‘on’ switch to launch a StatsCan Research Data Centre (RDC) Branch, one of just two dozen all-access points in Canada – mostly in larger institutions – for people who are working with data provided by StatsCan for approved projects.

U of L administration (VPAcademic, VP-Administration, and VP-Research) and the dean of Arts and Science supported the $70,000 project. It also received significant input and assistance from the library, campus facilities and IT departments

A MATURE PATH TO EDUCATION

BY WENDY FAITH Not every university education begins after high school.

There are many ways to achieve a post-secondary degree and the University of Lethbridge is home to a variety of mature students pursuing their educational goals across all disciplines.

“I may not have been able to attend university straight out of high school,” says EnglishEducation major Alisha Sims, “but looking back I don’t think that was a bad thing.”

Indeed, Sims points out that her work experience has been a great benefit to her academic progress: as a mature student she knows how to manage her time and focus on the tasks at hand.

Sims also brings journalistic experience to her literary studies. Having worked for newspapers since the age of 15, when she was a junior sportsreporter in Manitoba, Sims went on to Saskatchewan and Alberta, picking up a couple of provincial writing awards along the

as the space was created.

Kazemipur, the academic director of the U of L Research Data Centre and a sociology researcher who uses StatsCan data in his work on immigration, says the chance to access rich individual and household data in Lethbridge saves both time and money, offering an opportunity to significantly increase research productivity.

“I would previously have to go to Calgary, and spend intense days analyzing the data,” he says.

“There were many limitations on my time, and on what I was able to do during the time I had.”

Kazemipur says the new centre should expand research opportunities for many faculty members in social sciences, health sciences and management who, like him, want to go deeper into their research and beyond the data available for public use.

Local access should also be an enticement to other researchers to come to the U of L to work or conduct research, in particular the 22 research affiliates of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, which is expected to be one of the more frequent users of the facility.

“Researchers in the Prentice Institute – more than 20 faculty, post-docs and students – are delighted to have access to micro-level data in our new Research Data Centre,” says Dr. Susan McDaniel, the institute’s director.

“Our mission is to examine population change in shifting economic environments. One of

way. Presently, she is with The Lethbridge Herald, where she is editor of the Lethbridge Sun Times weekly newspaper, Great Reads (Books) page and special sections. She also writes freelance feature articles for Bridge magazine.

All the while, Sims juggles the demands of home life.

“My children know I’m in university and it’s been a real learning experience for them, too,” she says. “While my fouryear-old associates the University with Tim Hortons, my nearly 12-year-old sees me getting my homework done on time, and sees the work I put into my assignments. She’s already talking about pursuing post-secondary education after high school.”

Despite her busy schedule, Sims exhibits a continued passion for her studies in English.

“I get to read well-written literature every day. What’s not to enjoy? The classes offered are interesting: Literature and Nothingness, Mother Figures in Literature, Portrayals of Madness in Women’s Writing – this is not the stuff of dusty old books,” she says. “I look at the calendar and would have no problem filling

Dr. Abdie Kazemipur, (l) and graduate student Martin Russenberger (r) are the people to contact if your research project requires extensive Statistics Canada data.

the best ways to do this is to follow individuals over time rather than compare different sets of people at two points in time.”

McDaniel says that the RDC enables researchers in one of her SSHRC-funded projects to follow Canadians at seven points of time as they move from mid-life into their older years.

“It is really, as famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky was fond of saying, skating to where the puck will be. I am certain that having the RDC here will help us recruit new faculty and junior research chairs to work in the Prentice Institute.”

The process to gain access to the data is not as challenging is it might first sound, Kazemipur says. Projects must go through several steps, including an online application to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which triggers a request to StatsCan for access to the appropriate dataset – and that’s where the security checks come in.

Once approved, a researcher gains access to the data centre with a swipe card, and can sign in and out as needed to complete their work.

Anyone wishing to use the

centre, or who has a project they feel could benefit from access to the StatsCan data, can contact Kazemipur for more information on the process.

Contact him at 403-3295132 or email abdie.kazemipur@uleth.ca. Or, you can contact site supervisor Martin Russenberger, a part-time StatsCan employee and current Geography/Economics graduate student at the U of L (rdc@uleth.ca).

English-Education major Alisha Sims balances a career, family and post-secondary studies.

my schedule up with five English classes if I had the time to take that many in a semester.”

When asked why she chose the University of Lethbridge over other institutions, the choice was logical.

“For me, other institutions

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were not an option,” says Sims.

“I work in the city, my husband works in the city, my daughter goes to primary school and my son is in daycare. It would have been impossible for us to uproot and move to another city so I could attend university. I’m just

fortunate enough to live in a city where the Education program is second to none.”

the Legend

OUR

alumni

J U N E 2 0 11

Matisz looking to make an impact

G E T T H E FA C T S Alumnus Chelsea Matisz won the prestigious Ashton Cuckler New Investigator Award.

BY STACY SEGUIN

W

hen Chelsea Matisz (BSc ’05, MSc ’09) began her academic journey at the University of Lethbridge in 2001, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to be – knowing only that she loved studying biology and was good at it. Ten years, plenty of hard work and several incredible opportunities later, Matisz is a PhD student with a passion for parasitology, ecology and evolution who has earned the distinction of being an award winning research scientist.

Matisz began her research career during the summer of 2003 when she landed a job collecting data for one of her professor’s, Dr. Andrew Hurly.

“I spent the summer in a cabin at the University’s field research station collecting data about the foraging behaviour of hummingbirds,” recalls Matisz.

“Once I realized that there were professors with different research projects going on and that they were looking for keen students to collect data, it was just a dream come true. I was amazed that I could get this kind of job and that I could get paid for it.”

During a course with Dr. Cameron Goater, Matisz became interested in parasitology so she jumped at the chance to work with parasites in Goater’s lab. She spent a summer working as Goater’s lab research assistant before completing her BSc in December 2005. The relationship she established with Goater led to Matisz pursuing a master’s degree with Goater as her supervisor.

“We have a very unique situation in the Goater lab in that we can rear a parasite with a complex life cycle in the lab and we are able to control the age and density of the parasite; that offers some exceptional research

avenues,” explains Matisz.

Using the flathead minnow as an intermediary host, Matisz studied why two parasites migrated to specific areas (one to the minnow’s brain, the other to its liver), how the parasites migrated and what the minnow’s response was once the parasite made itself at home.

In 2007, Matisz was awarded the Meritorious Student Paper Award, after presenting her research at the First North American Parasitology Congress in Mexico. She continued to receive accolades for her work and in June this year she will be the first graduate student to be presented with the prestigious Ashton Cuckler New Investigator Award from the American Society of Parasitologists for work at the master’s level. The award has previously gone to recently graduated PhD students only.

“This award means so much to me because it is validation for the work I have done. I feel immensely proud to get this,” says Matisz.

Goater, who nominated Matisz for the award says, “There could be no better ambassador for our graduate program and for our University.

I am thrilled to see her waive the U of L flag at the annual meeting in Anchorage.”

Now that she is studying for her PhD at the University of Calgary, Matisz looks back on her graduate studies at the U of L with some degree of amazement.

“I had a great experience at the U of L. I was given such incredible resources in terms of support and expertise. Generating three publications for my masters was simply amazing. I don’t feel like I could have done better anywhere else,” she says.

Matisz admits there were times throughout her thesis project when she needed to clear her head, so she attended a variety of

• Matisz also won the 2010 Medal of Merit and was a finalist for the Gold Governor General Award • Matisz had her own radio show on CKXU, Music Soup, while she was at the U of L • Matisz designed the cover for the edition of the International Journal of Parasitology which housed her very first publication • Matisz has been awarded scholarships/grants in excess of $114,000 different lectures on campus.

“The lecturers reminded me why I was doing what I was doing. Seeing their passion was really motivating and helped me keep trucking on, although, there have been times in desperation that I’ve seriously considered abandoning research to be a musician or write fiction,” laughs Matisz.

She completed her masters of science in biology with a 4.0 GPA in 2009. For nine months she worked as a research associate at the University through the Canadian Water Network, before spending another three months at the Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health in Edmonton in advance of her PhD studies at the University of Calgary. Currently she is studying with Dr. Derek Mackay and Dr. Keith Sharkey, researching host-parasite interactions of the rat tapeworm in a mouse and how this can affect or modulate joint inflammation.

“I hope that my studies will one day have an impact on human health. It’s amazing that parasites can potentially have a therapeutic role for inflammatory diseases – and I hope I can be a part of elucidating those mechanisms. That would be amazing,” she says.

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

IMMERSED IN THE CULTURE

Pictured left to right, in traditional dress, are: Sara Kotelniski, Marie Robertson, Ayra Kelly, Cory Farrell, Samantha Gilbert, Alix Blackshaw and Jason Hiebert. As part of a Cultural Night, the ladies wore a corte (skirt) and guipil (blouse), and the gentlemen donned a traditional wool kilt. Community members also taught the group a traditional Guatemalan folk dance, which they performed in front of the whole town.

A group of U of L Rotaract club members were recently in Guatemala to present Roots and Wings International (RWI) with $1,000, which the not-forprofit organization used to provide Internet access to the 1,200-resident village of Pasac in Nahuala, Sololá. The charity recently constructed the first tech center in the area, where 30 computers serve 600 students and members of the community.

While in Pasac, the group stayed with local families, and truly learned what life is like in rural Guatemala.

“Most of our time was spent with the local people, either hiking, working in

their homes with them or playing soccer with the kids,” says Samantha Gilbert.

“The hospitality and generosity we experienced touched all of our hearts, and it is because of this experience that our club has decided to support Roots and Wings in the future with annual contributions to their scholarship fund. We all were able to see with our own eyes just how valuable this group is, and how, through their scholarship programs, computer literacy classes, and after school tutoring, they are making positive changes in the lives of the kids, families, and post-secondary students of the region.”

LIBRARY INTO POP FICTION

they take a break from their schoolwork.”

Eva adds that the addition of a leisure section is partly in response to student queries.

“We have often had requests for fiction materials, and while we certainly do carry some fiction as part of our regular collection – for example, literature studied in English classes – these books aren’t always easily located,” she says. “Now, we will have a dedicated area where some light reading can be found, and a comfortable area in which to enjoy it.”

The books will be listed in the library catalogue just like all of the other libraryowned materials, and can be found by title, author or location. The plan is to have this area ready for the start of the fall term, meaning library staff will be busy ordering and cataloguing the materials over the summer. Be sure to stop by and check out the new area in the fall!

Soon, you’ll be able to get more than just academic reads at the University Library.

The library is planning to set up a leisure reading section on level 10, purchasing a selection of best-selling fiction books that will be displayed on a revolving shelf alphabetically by author. As well, comfortable chairs will be moved from elsewhere in the library to create a cozy, relaxing area.

“As part of constantly improving the whole student experience, we felt that there was a place for a popular fiction collection in the library in addition to the scholarly materials,” says Nicole Eva, co-chair of the Student Outreach Team. “This has been done in other universities with great response; students want to be able to access fun reading materials when

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

H E A LT H

& wellness

the Legend

Changes don’t have to end with Challenge

BY SUZANNE MCINTOSH

T

he 7th Annual Bee Heart Smart Challenge has concluded for the year and what a successful year we had!

A total of 18 teams (consisting of 165 people plus a number of individual participants) took part and the competition was fierce. Although I tried to get my name on the top-10 stepper list, other, more ambitious steppers quickly bumped me.

Thanks to all who joined in the fun. Watch the Notice Board and the Wellness website (www.uleth.ca/hum/wellness) for challenge winners.

Thank you to all our motivators – Mike Mahon, Nancy Walker, Kevin McFadzen – and although Maureen Mahon was not an official Busy Bee champion, she kept me motivated throughout the challenge. What excellent

role models we have here at the U of L. Now that we have been physically active for six weeks, how do we maintain the momentum we’ve established and keep the motivation up for the rest of the year?

Here are some tips: Track your own physical activity Use a calendar in your phone, or on your fridge, to keep track of the number of minutes each day that you are active. Include short bursts of physical activity – even 10 minutes at a time is beneficial – as well as activities such as stretching and yoga. At the end of the month count the total number of days you were active and calculate your percentage of active days.

Compare yourself from month to month and ask yourself, “Was it a good one?” Or could you increase your

physical activity level?

Even 10 minutes is fine Don’t feel up to going to the gym, getting on the treadmill or going for a walk?

Try the 10-minute rule. Do an activity for only 10 minutes, and if after 10 minutes you still want to quit, do so. You might just surprise yourself and find you want to continue. Starting is often the hardest part.

Find a buddy A friend, co-worker, family member or dog can act as a wonderful motivator. Get together to do something physical, even if it is only once per week. Chances are you will increase your activity level during the rest of the week to ensure you can keep up.

Remember to walk We all have to walk somewhere every day. What we might not realize is that

The research team, which includes Dr. Ivan Townshend (geography) and members from universities in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and Australia, has studied fires in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and has found that there are common elements that can contribute to increasing a sense of community resiliency in the face of large-scale disasters, such as wildfires.

Dr. Judith Kulig researches community resiliency after tragedies such as wildfire events.

KULIG STUDY A BLUEPRINT FOR RECOVERY The recent fire in Slave Lake, Alta. has left many people wondering how the community will rebuild and, most importantly, cope with the aftermath of a devastating event that destroyed approximately one third of the community, including homes, the library, town government offices, businesses and much more.

The answer to that lies in the overall health and resiliency of the community itself – and there is strong evidence

to back that statement from researchers like Dr. Judith Kulig (health sciences) who, with several colleagues, has spent the past decade examining what happens in smaller communities when disaster strikes, and how the overall health of the community is reflected in its ability to recover from disaster.

Over the past decade, wildfires in Canada have forced nearly 700,000 people to be evacuated from more than 250 communities. This has caused massive amounts of financial, environmental and personal damage, including job losses, the loss of residents in a community, as well as lingering health and emotional challenges.

Disaster Preparedness • Develop memorandums of understanding with relevant agencies to ensure that during and after the disaster, arising issues are addressed and that lines of communication and authority are in place.

• Develop public education and disaster awareness that is appropriate for the community (e.g., having a livestock evacuation plan).

• Create an updated community disaster plan, which identifies a back-up community that could assist, and transportation plans for evacuations (e.g., use of school busses).

• Maintain up-to-date maps to locate all individuals that may need evacuation.

• Establish policies to determine if large gatherings planned for the time period of an evacuation or evacuation alert should be cancelled.

During the Disaster • Develop communication strategies so that the evacuees are updated about the condition of their homes and community during the wildfire.

• Create effective coordination

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walking is easy on the body, and it burns calories and builds muscle – no fancy equipment required. People who track their progress and realize the benefits of walking are more likely to stay committed to their walking routine.

Challenge yourself Enroll in a race, or try a different competitive or fun activity. Setting a competitive goal might be all the motivation you need to stay with your fitness plan.

In other Wellness news, Building Healthy Lifestyles will be offering a Festive Feasts Summer BBQ class on Friday, June 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. In the class, you will learn about how to make your own marinades, salads and spice mixes, all the while getting to sample some wonderful recipes. Call 403-388-6654 to register for this free workshop.

of all relevant agencies.

• Ensure adequate safety and surveillance procedures are in place for vacated property.

After the Disaster • Collect economic, social and health data in communities that experience wild-fires for 5 years after the wildfire and then every 10 years for 3 more decades.

• Develop temporary programs for the school-aged population to help them deal with the ongoing issues associated with the wildfire.

• Provide long-term mental health/community change facilitation for all community members.

• Provide financial counseling for families.

Fostering Community Resiliency • Providing opportunities for local residents to gather and reflect on the disaster experience thereby building their networks and developing opportunities for interaction.

• Organize celebrations to provide avenues for social support while also creating a sense of belonging and community.

• Provide support for local leaders and develop mechanisms to create the next generation of leaders within the community.

Complete study results are available on the rural wildfire website (www.ruralwildfire. ca).

Donations are still being accepted for the Slave Lake recovery process through the Canadian Red Cross (www. redcross.ca).

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apple

A D AY

SOMETHING FISHY

BY DIANE BRITTON Are you confused about whether or not to eat fish?

Eating fish regularly is part of a healthy diet. In fact, Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends at least two servings of fish per week.

Current research shows more benefits of fish consumption than drawbacks.

However, it is now clear that consumption should consist mainly of fish lower in Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and higher in omega-3 concentrations (the healthy fats found in fish).

Best Bets Fish that contain lower MeHg levels include mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, oysters, shrimp, Pollock, catfish, scallops, tilapia, sole, arctic char, cod, “light” tuna (skipjack), yellow fin tuna, snapper and haddock.

Buyer Beware Fish HIGHER in MeHg that should be avoided in large amounts include fish that live longer life spans and larger fish. Fresh or frozen tuna from albacore or blue fin, and other large fish such as shark, marlin and swordfish have higher concentrations of MeHg. What’s the Beef about MeHg? MeHg concentrations in the environment are rising. Once it is in the fish, upon consumption, humans will absorb about 95 per cent of MeHg. MeHg is a neurotoxin found in both salt and freshwater fish in varying amounts. It is water-soluble and is stored in the muscle of the fish; so eating low fat varieties does not reduce consumption of MeHg. MeHg affects both human central and peripheral nervous systems and particularly affects the developing brain in a fetus and in young children. Toxic amounts may also cause damage to the cardiovascular system. Eating fish in moderation and the type of fish consumed are important elements in a healthy diet.

For an individual nutrition appointment call the Health Centre (SU 020) at 403-329-2484. Hour-long sessions are $40 for U of L students and employees.

Diane Britton is the registered dietitian for the University of Lethbridge.

the Legend

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

events C A L E N D A R Lectures June 14 | Wellness Lunch and Learn: Edible and Sustainable Gardening and Landscaping | Jason Baranec and Julia Mitchell (Southern Alberta Permaculture) present tips on positive solutions for a sustainable future. | Noon to 1 p.m., Andy’s Place (AH100)

June 22 | International Year of Chemistry Guest Speaker: Dr. Pierre Beaumier Your Health and Your Hair – Hair analysis through screening for essential minerals and toxic elements | 7 p.m., PE250

Performances

Miscellaneous

June 20 | Sommernacht Piano duo Bente Hansen and Jesse Plessis present music for two and four hands by Schubert, Corigliano, Brahms, Plessis, Chopin, and The Beatles. | 7 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library

June 17 | Doug Parker Retirement Reception | Join Facilities management and staff in offering best wishes to Doug Parker, Executive Director on his upcoming retirement.

2:30 to 5 p.m., Markin Hall Atrium

INCOMING EXECUTIVE EXCITED ABOUT OPPORTUNITY TO BOOST STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

BY KYLE DODGSON The spring winds bring an annual changing of the guard at the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU). As another successful year at the Students’ Union comes to an end, a new Executive Council is

poised to usher in new, and what it expects will be prosperous, student initiatives.

“All of the initiatives and projects we will be working on will fall under at least one of six headings: increasing the effectiveness of our communications, increasing our presence on campus, strengthening our lobbying voice, improving our events, expanding our service base and promoting sustainability on campus,” says newly appointed ULSU President Zack Moline.

Executive Council has taken a particular interest in boosting the organization’s digital presence and online services.

Numerous initiatives are taking shape that will make the Students’ Union available on more media platforms and subsequently to a larger audience.

One particular undertaking is part of two Executive Council members’ campaign platforms.

Andrew Williams and Leyland Bradley are guiding a venture that would see the creation of an online tutor database.

“Students are currently forced to refer to cluttered posting boards, giving them only a small chance of actually finding the academic assistance they require,” says Andrew Williams, ULSU vice-president academic.

GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS TAKE CITY HALL

BY BOB COONEY A team of Geography students recently received a highprofile lesson in public affairs by presenting their research to Lethbridge City Council.

As part of an Applied Studies project, five students from Gary Weikum’s Geography 2535 Introduction to Planning and Geography 4500 Sustainability Issues in Planning classes spent the academic year conducting research on the sources and quantity of greenhouse gases produced by the corporate operations of the City of Lethbridge.

Weikum, a sessional instructor at the University and former city planner, introduced the project to the student group as a means to complement their classroom knowledge with hands-on experience. He says the students demonstrated their commitment to the project and desire to promote the management of greenhouse gases even after the course was complete by presenting their findings to city council and discussing greenhouse gas issues with the media.

“This was a great opportunity for the group to put their

Craig Wiebe fields media questions with support from (l to r) Jordan Vine, Leo Chow, Andrew Malcolm and their instructor, Gary Weikum.

Missing from the photo is Nicole Gergely. All students are in their third or fourth year of study.

knowledge to action and theory to practice by preparing a professional report for a real client,” says Weikum. “The students can now go back to the classroom with an enhanced perspective and better context for classroom instruction.”

Weikum adds that the project also benefits the students as they are exposed to potential work situations that may be available after graduation.

“The key elements acquired by the students include; the ability to manage large projects with firm deadlines, work in a team environment, and build successful relationships with a client,” says Weikum. “They also participated in several work-

shops to examine their preferred working styles, and strengths and weaknesses of the project management component. These insights will help them refine their career plans.”

Craig Wiebe, a team member who intends to pursue a master’s degree following graduation next year, says the project will help him should he continue on as a community planner.

“Gary deliberately structured the project to be similar to one of the many projects he had worked on as a planner for the City of Lethbridge,” says Wiebe.

“He even included a presentation to council, which is common in projects that planners work on. Working on this project as a

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“I see this as simply unacceptable.”

ULSU Executive Council also plans to utilize new avenues of communication to diversify and improve on-campus events.

“Students have such great and unique ideas. I want their input,” says Lisa Rodych, the vice-president of Internal Affairs.

This year’s council is also excited about the opportunity to advocate for University of Lethbridge students’ interests. As members of both the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and the Council of Alberta University

Students (CAUS), Moline and his colleagues intend to make major strides in improving the postsecondary experience at not only the University of Lethbridge, but for students as a whole in Alberta and across Canada.

“Every year, every new council puts student engagement at the top of their list of priorities for their year in office, and I feel that our council will exemplify this,” says Leyland Bradley, vice-president Operations and Finance. “We want to ensure that our campus events and our advocacy efforts are parallel with the opinions of our students.”

team, with the amount of external data sources and research that we needed to collect and analyze gave us all important work experience.

Members of our project team have already found employers to be keenly interested in the experience that we gained.”

Weikum said that with the success of this project, he plans to initiate further client-based ventures that relate classroom study to community issues.

The student group conducted an extensive review of all City of Lethbridge operations to assess the level of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. The final report is expected to be used by city council and administration for future planning.

The students found that overall, city operations produce more than 130,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents from such activities as heating and lighting buildings, providing transit service, road maintenance, etc. It was discovered that the city-owned landfills (one operating site and two closed sites) account for more than 80,000 tonnes of the total. It was also noted that half of the electrical and gas demand for the wastewater treatment plant is supplied by the combustion of methane gas produced from municipal sewage.

“The most surprising

item we discovered during our research were the enormous amounts of greenhouse gases – in this case, mostly methane – being emitted by the city’s three landfills,” says Wiebe. “Much of the methane emissions are produced by paper and cardboard, which can conveniently be taken to recycling centres throughout the city.”

Wiebe says that landfills were included in the corporate survey, as they are the city’s responsibility, but their share of greenhouse gas emissions is disproportionately high in their report, because the entire community contributes to the emissions.

“A community survey would likely find both transportation and landfills to be leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions,” he says.

While the quantity of greenhouse gases produced by Lethbridge municipal operations are similar to other prairie cities that were benchmarked, the students were able to make several recommendations for future planning to reduce the amount of equivalent CO2 emissions. The recommendations included more detailed studies, public consultation and input into community greenhouse gas reduction and other similar suggestions.

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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

FINE ARTS

in focus

Theatre schedule sure to captivate The University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Fine Arts and its Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts have released the theatre schedule for 2011-2012 and it’s a season catering to all dramatic tastes.

From the classic drama of Shakespeare to the fantastical work of Canadian Michel Marc Bouchard, the Theatre and Dramatic Arts Season is set to captivate audiences of all ages.

Following is a snapshot look at each of the scheduled productions: The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol | Showing Oct. 18-Oct. 22, 2011 | 8 p.m. nightly, University Theatre | Directed by Nicholas Hanson In a small town in rural Russia, the local officials love to embezzle, cheat, and steal – until news of a surprise visit from a government inspector sends them into a panicked frenzy! A classic case of mistaken identity triggers a hilarious series of events, providing a satirical examination of governments and greed.

Imaginative set design is a hallmark of all University of Lethbridge productions.

with global food issues to imagine all the ways in which “you are what you eat.” When we grab our next bite, are we cooking up a recipe for disaster or joining a marvelous, moving feast?

Movable Fest | Showing Nov. 22-Nov. 26, 2011 | 8 p.m. nightly, Matinee 11 a.m. on Nov. 24 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 26, David Spinks Theatre | Directed and choreographed by Lisa Doolittle, Music

by Deanna Oye Imagination, heart, head – and stomach – are all involved when dance, theatre and live music explore that most basic of life activities: eating. The show invites everyone to play with their food, combining ingredients of intimate and local stories

Hamlet by William Shakespeare Showing Feb. 14-Feb. 18, 2012 8 p.m. nightly, Matinee 11 a.m. on Feb. 16, David Spinks Theatre Directed by Brian Parkinson His father murdered and his mother remarried to the uncle he suspects of the killing, Hamlet’s world has been turned upside down; tormented with loathing and consumed with grief he plans to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet is the fullest expression of Shakespeare’s genius.

The Madonna Painter by Michel

SUMMER CAMPS FOR EVERYONE

learn. And it’s not hard, because we use math and computer science ideas every day – we just don’t realize it.

The University of Lethbridge continues to be a hub of activity throughout the summer months thanks to a variety of summer camp options available on campus:

Sport & Rec Sport & Recreation Services camps offer elementary aged children and young adults the opportunity to learn and broaden their horizons acquiring fundamental skills in a variety of activities which range from wall climbing, swimming, gymnastics, hiking to sport specific and to our ever popular multiactivity camp. Your child has an opportunity to participate in all these different activities. All of our instructors encourage and promote social interaction skills, emphasizing cooperation and individual improvement rather than competition. Participants are grouped relative to their age and physical ability levels. This ensures all youth are learning and challenged in an appropriate way.

Life, You, Mathematics and Computer Science (LUMACS) LUMACS exists to encourage interest in and awareness of Mathematics and Computer Science as a part of everyday life. In addition to being important in almost every field of work, they play a huge part in cool things like movie special effects, in everyday things like how we talk with our friends, and in amazing things like space exploration.

Just think how exciting it would be to help design a spaceship to visit Mars, or a new iPhone, or a program to help kids in Africa

Marc Bouchard | Showing Mar. 20-Mar. 24, 2012 | 8 p.m. nightly, University Theatre | Directed by Sean Guist A young priest arrives in the small town of Lac Saint-Jean in the fall of 1918 determined to ward off disease and despair infecting the bodies and spirits of its residents. He commissions a painting depicting the Virgin Mary, and its artist begins selecting a model from a medley of local virgins. Against a darkly dramatic backdrop, The Madonna Painter weaves a story of beauty, fantasy and hidden desire. Mature content.

individual ticket prices. Season tickets are on sale at the U of L Box Office beginning Sept. 13 and are available until the first show of each series. Be sure to reserve your tickets early and guarantee your choice of seats all season long.

University Box Office hours are 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Call 403-329-2616 beginning Sept. 13.

Individual tickets are $15 regular and $10 for students and seniors.

Season ticket packages are $45 regular and $30 for students and seniors.

You can attend this season of exceptional entertainment by becoming a Season Subscriber and enjoy 25 per cent off

Conservatory of Music The University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music offers music instruction to musicians of all ages and levels.

During the summer months, the Conservatory schedules programs that are exclusive to the summer semester. Make sure to add these to your summer plans: Rock On! – a rock camp for all musicians with 2 years experience (ages 9-18). This camp also includes a beginner guitar component; Let’s Sing – a junior voice camp (for ages 6-8 or 9-12); Kindermusik Adventures – music and movement for 18m3yrs and 3-5yrs; and our most intensive summer workshop, Southern Alberta Vocal Experience (SAVE), for ages 13-16 and 17-23. Check us out online, call us at 403-329-2304 or email at music.conservatory@uleth.ca to find the program that’s right for you.

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Destination Exploration Destination Exploration at the University of Lethbridge provides programs to encourage interest and participation in science for children grades one through nine. We offer Learning Quest Science Camps during Reading Week and throughout July and August. We also offer programs throughout the school year including our Bunsen and Beaker and Little Elements Science Clubs. Please call us at 403382-7161 or visit our website at uleth.ca/sciencecamps for more information.

Destination Exploration is a proud member of Actua. Actua provides training, resources and support to a national network of local organizations offering science and technology education programs. Actua members reach over 200,000 youth per year.

Please visit Actua on the web at www.actua.ca.

the Legend FINE ARTS SUMMER CAMPS Instead of spending the summer wishing you had something fun and exciting for your children to do, why not give them the opportunity to create a sculpture, paint a picture, make up a play, or act on stage? The U of L Faculty of Fine Arts Drama and Art Camps are the perfect outlet for their summer fun. There are seven weeklong camps to choose from, which run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Act 1 Drama for ages 7 to 10 Use your body, voice and imagination to create a world of original characters and stories in this actionpacked camp. Participants must be able to read. The camp concludes with a performance on Friday afternoon for parents and friends.

Camps: July 4-8, July 1822, Aug. 2-4* and Aug. 8-12 Encore Drama for ages 11 to 15 Acting, comedy, costumes, make-up, improvisation and more! These camps are perfect for older participants looking for a dramatic challenge.

Camps: July 11-15, July 25-29 and Aug. 15-19 ArtVentures or ages 7 to 10 Explore drawing, painting, mask making, printmaking, sculpture and more – something new and interesting every day. No experience necessary! The camp concludes with an exhibition of the creative exploits of participants.

Camps: July 4-8, July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29 and Aug 2-5*

Artist’s Studio for ages 11 to 15 Specifically designed for students interested in investigating a variety of art experiences including painting, sculpture, printmaking and more. Aug 8-12 and Aug. 15-19 The registration fee for each camp includes all materials and supplies, a unique camp T-shirt and lunch each day. *Camps from Aug. 3-6 are 4-day camps (Tuesday through Friday). All the rest of the camps are Monday through Friday.

For more information about the drama and art camps call Fine Arts Camps Director Katherine Wasiak at 403-329-2227. To register for a camp, call U of L Sport and Recreation Services at 403-329-2706.

(TOP)

Kazuo Nakamura, Grey Day, 1954.

From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Purchased in 1988.

(BOTTOM LEFT)

Harold Town, Reds, Greens, Browns, 1956.

From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Jim Coutts, 2010.

(BOTTOM RIGHT)

William Ronald, Back Thru Autumn, 1954.

From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Avrom Isaacs, 1986.

In 1952, painter Alexandra Luke organized the first Canadian exhibition of abstract painting to be assembled on a national scale in Canada. In the brochure for the show, titled Canadian Abstract Exhibition, she wrote, “Painting should not stop with the already discovered beauty but continue searching.”

Due to what the viewing public misunderstood as childish and insincere, abstract painting in Canada struggled to gain acceptance, especially in

comparison to the nationally supported work of the Group of Seven, CP Rail’s propagated images of the picturesque and traditional forms of landscape and portrait painting.

The abstract exhibition toured Canada in 1953, however it received mixed reviews. At a panel discussion at the Art Gallery of Toronto called Why Should We Buy Canadian Paintings?, writer and critic George Robertson suggested that department stores should be encouraged to sell original Canadian paintings using typical merchandising

methods. Future Painters Eleven member William Ronald was in attendance, and his design work for the Robert Simpson Company prompted an exhibition of abstract and non-objective paintings at Simpson’s department store. The subsequent show, titled Abstracts at Home, was meant to persuade the general public that abstract expressionist painting was just as much at home within the everyday as in an art gallery, and the exhibit featured works from various artists displayed in furnished rooms typical of modern living.

The promotion was a success for the store and the seven

participating artists, resulting in a discussion to show their work together as a group. After agreeing to invite four other likeminded artists, it was decided that a meeting would take place at Luke’s studio to discuss the idea of a large group exhibition of their works. At the historic meeting, Jack Bush, Oscar Cahen, Hortense Gordon, Tom Hodgson, Alexandra Luke, Jock Macdonald, Ray Mead, Kazuo Nakamura, William Ronald, Harold Town and Walter Yarwood decided to call themselves Painters Eleven, and from Feb. 12-28, 1954, at the Roberts Gallery in Toronto, the largest crowds ever

drawn to the gallery viewed work from some of the most influential artists in history.

The Painters Eleven legacy lives on in the form of artwork now held in the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; an example of their influence and success. Unfortunately, after being acquired by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1978, the same cannot be said for Simpson’s department store.

Chad Patterson Museum Studies Intern, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery

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