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V O L U M E 11
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ISSUE FIVE
Shaping the future
the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Celebrating the University’s 45th anniversary
Rollingson set standards for Horns men’s basketball
Chris Eagan, the University’s new executive director of Facilities, will play a key role in the development of a complex that could cost more than $255 million and add 300,000 square feet of building space to campus.
BY TREVOR KENNEY
Annual Rotaract dinner to support South Sudan
Alumnus Cavilla making a real difference
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 issuu.com/ulethbridge. 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: Angelsea Saby CO N T R I B U TO R S: Amanda Berg, Bob Cooney, Kyle Dodgson, Jane Edmundson, Nicole Eva-Rice, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Ian McLaughlin, Keith McLaughlin, Rob Olson, Stacy Seguin, Jaime Vedres, Katherine Wasiak and Richard Westlund
University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca
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he University of Lethbridge campus has undergone significant change over recent years with the addition of a number of prominent buildings – but the biggest project is yet to come. A proposed 300,000 square foot complex that will transform the Faculty of Arts & Science in particular and the University as a whole is just now in the planning stages and one of the U of L’s newest employees, Chris Eagan, is at the forefront. The University’s new executive director of Facilities looks at the $255 million project as an opportunity for the University to take a major step forward, one that will further define the U of L as a leading comprehensive research institution. “We’re at that natural point where the space that was built in 1969 is ready for renovation,” says Eagan. “We’ve changed as a University and the things we’re doing now, the old space doesn’t fit us well. It is now constraining us fairly significantly and most seriously in the science labs, where safety is a major factor.” Eagan comes to the University from Lethbridge College, where he spent the last three years. Prior to that, the Nova Scotia-born but Saskatchewan-raised engineer worked six years as the director of planning, design, and construction for the University of Regina. He sees many similarities between the U of R and the U of L and brings to Lethbridge experience with the construction of Regina’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC). “I built one of these facilities at the University of Regina that’s very comparable in terms of scope to what we’re planning,” he says. “So, to some degree I’ve taken this journey before but it’s always a learning experience. It’s a great feeling to have an opportunity to be generally
familiar with the process.” To put the U of L project into context, 300,000 square feet is equivalent to adding two-thirds the size of University Hall to campus. And that’s just the start.
“The things we’re doing now, the old space doesn’t fit us well.”
CHRIS EAGAN
“The new construction is just one part of the project,” says Eagan. “Part two, or the second domino, is the renovation of the vacated space in UHall and the repopulation of that space. The third domino is the infrastructure required, such as roads, heating plant and all that’s needed to keep the campus functioning.” Eagan loves the complexity of a major development and revels in the responsibility his team has in setting the direction of a project. “Winston Churchill used to say that for a short time we shape buildings and for a long time, they shape us,” says Eagan. “Everybody has lived in a home or office environment that doesn’t really work for them. Bad environments make people work harder, not smarter.” A typical project of this magnitude, Eagan says, lasts 15 years. To get to this point there’s been a lot of essential work already done, laying the foundation for where the project is at today, in its first phase of planning. This initiation phase is largely strategic planning work defining what the project needs to do for the institution. “It’s not super prescriptive at this point and is designed to make sure the project works in terms of schedule, budget and scope,” says Eagan, who expects to move onto phase two, predesign feasibility and
planning, by February. The final piece of the puzzle is implementation, design, tender and construction. “We want to make sure that in the first two phases that our needs are well understood, well discussed and well defined because the consultants do an excellent job of translating our needs into the physical spaces and organizing those spaces, that’s what architects do well,” he says. “They love it when we show up with binders of needs and know what we want, because then they don’t have to guess.” He stresses that the consultation phase will be comprehensive, all in an attempt to construct a complex that will satisfy the needs of the University for years to come. “Whatever we don’t do we own and fight with for the next 40 years, so that drives us to get it right,” he says.
G E T T H E FA C T S • In September 2011, the
Alberta government pledged $2.3 million in planning funds for a new complex on the U of L campus
• A Town Hall meeting to
discuss the progress to date on the initiation phase of the new complex will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. in C674
• A best-case scenario timeline for the project includes starting construction in March 2013 and moving people into the new space by spring 2016
• Eagan, who holds a bachelor of engineering (civil) degree from Dalhousie University, is married and a father of four children
the Legend
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
OPENMike University of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon chats about what’s happening in the University community Happy New Year everyone and welcome back to campus. As we begin 2012, our 45th anniversary year, it is important to focus our efforts to develop and implement intentional strategies that will support our continuing maturation as a comprehensive, destination university. Current budget challenges dictate that we are faced with difficult choices, but this can be seen as an opportunity to be intentional in how we develop and mature as an institution. When I talk with faculty colleagues and hear of their aspirations and what they want
to accomplish in the coming years, I am convinced that this is a time to be bold. It is also a time to work together to define and build our future. We are in the enviable position of being able to transform the future of our University, and we will do so by moving forward with intentional strategies that maximize our resources. The changing landscape in Alberta, Canada and beyond suggests we need to ensure that we are envisioning our future and at the same time reexamining our present business practices.
In 2012, we will revisit and build upon our present strategic plan. In doing so, we will ensure that this plan is consistent with our academic and research strategies as well as emergent concepts such as further establishing the U of L as a true destination university, empowering our students to foster community engagement and citizenship and building a campus wide framework for recruiting and supporting Blackfoot and First Nations Métis and Inuit students. All of these strategies will be built on the solid foundation formed by our commitment to provide academic programming
CAMPUS
The U of L has made great strides in the past 45 years, and in many ways our values still reflect the bold and independent ideals of our founders. As we look ahead, we will continue to grow our reputation provincially, nationally and globally because of the commitment our faculty and staff have to working together and supporting each other and our students. The future is ours to define and the choices are ours to make.
kudos
Fine Arts faculty, students and alumni were featured prominently in the New West Theatre production, Light It Up. Those involved in the production with University ties include: director Nicholas Hanson (Drama); musical director/arranger/percussionist Paul Walker (BMus ‘82); choreographer Heather Reddekopp (BA/BEd ‘05); costume designer Rebecca Toon (BFA ‘06); set design/construction Ian McFarlane (BFA ‘10); sound design Kelly Roberts (BFA ‘91, Drama tech staff); stage manager Sara Trachsel (nee Turner) (BFA ‘04); head of wardrobe Jolane Houle (Drama student); costume crew Kathryn Smith (Drama student). Cast members include: Devon Brayne (Drama student); Jocelyn Haub (Drama student); Erica Hunt
(BFA ‘00); and Jay Whitehead (BFA ‘05, Drama). Musicians include: Paul Walker (BMus ‘82); Bente Hansen (BMus ‘86, Music); Jim McLaren (BSc/BEd ‘01); and Greg Paskuski (BMus ‘88).
his project, Learning from what Works: Microcredit and microfinance for low-income entrepreneurs in southwestern Alberta. His co-applicants were Sharon Yanicki (Health Sciences) and Dr. John Usher (Management).
The Office of Research and Innovation Services awarded two grants under the U of L Research Dissemination Grant competition. Each award is valued at $2,000. The recipients included: Emily Luce (New Media) for The Cardiff-Miller House (plans); and Taras Polataiko (Art), for Exhibition Sleeping Beauty at the National Art Museum of Ukraine.
Adam Mason (Music) has been accepted as a Yamaha Artist, joining the ranks of some of North America’s most prestigious musicians. Yamaha will be supporting his future activities including upcoming clinics in Japan and the United States, as well as Edmonton, Calgary and the Alberta Day of Percussion.
STUDENTS LINING UP FOR JOB FAIR Since 2003, the Faculty of Education’s well-deserved reputation for quality and ability to shape teachers of excellence has drawn more than 30 school boards or educational organizations to its annual Teacher Job Fair.
of the highest quality. After lengthy consideration, I have created a President’s Task Force on Budget Process. This task force will review our current budget process and make recommendations to the president’s executive team that will support both short- and long-term planning, promote sound decisionmaking in support of institutional priorities, and ensure that a sustainable operating budget is continuously maintained. The task force will seek input from the University community. At 45 years old, the U of L is relatively young when compared to many other universities.
recognizing her significant contribution to mentoring women of all ages. Nominated by her students, the award recognizes a professor who has made an impact, or has been an inspiration in your life, or the lives of others, in the area of science, mathematics, engineering or technology. Taras Polataiko (Art) has his work in the exhibition Bon ÀTirer at Barbara Edwards Contemporary Gallery in Toronto until Jan. 21.
Dr. Yale Belanger (Native American Studies) received an ARDN Networking Grant for
Dr. Ute Wieden-Kothe (Chemistry & Biochemistry) received the Alberta Women’s Science Network 2011 Operation Minerva Mentoring Award,
Tanya Harnett (Art & Native American Studies) has two exhibitions appearing in Edmonton. At the Royal Alberta Museum, Narrative Quest features a selection of artworks by 22 Aboriginal artists from the
This year, the Teacher Job Fair takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 18 in the University Hall Atrium. “The job fair is an excellent opportunity to help our students gain contacts for employment,” says Nicole Spence, Teacher Job Fair co-ordinator. “The fair is a service we offer to both current students and recent graduates so they can interact with employers.” Job fair delegates are primarily Alberta school board representa-
tives but there is also a strong international presence, while a number of private schools also attend. “The delegates are generally part of the administrative team and human resources core from each school board/agency,” says Spence. “There are representatives from our local schools, as well global interest in our students from Australia, the United Kingdom and beyond. “Our students will be ready to start their careers and step into
the classroom within the next few months and the job fair can present viable opportunities for employment. Some prospective employers take this opportunity to interview or make group presentations.” The Faculty of Education encourages third and fourth-year students to attend the job fair at some point during the day to talk with the delegates. It’s a great experience for both employers and students to collect information
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Alberta Foundation for the Arts and is dedicated to the memory of Joane Cardinal-Schubert (1942-2009). At the Art Gallery of Alberta, Our Wilderness is Wisdom . . . is a three-person show featuring Curtis Johnson, Alex Janvier and Tanya Harnett. Dr. Glenda Tibe Bonifacio (Women’s Studies) published a new book, Feminism and Migration: Cross-cultural engagements. The book is a collection on the intersections of feminism and migration in western and non-western contexts. Wellknown and emerging scholars provide an in-depth analysis of how social, cultural, political and economic forces shape new modalities and perspectives among women upon migration.
about potential opportunities with each school board or agency. The Faculty of Education offers some of the most extensive practical teaching experience in Canada – with 27 weeks of practical work placement, students often receive double the amount of time in front of a classroom as other programs. These experiences with the U of L’s many teacher partners often result in long-term work relationships.
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Hendsbee embodies spirit
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A TIME TO CELEBRATE The University of Lethbridge reaches a milestone this year as it celebrates its 45th anniversary. This is an opportunity to celebrate all that is the University of Lethbridge – our past, present and future. In the coming months, you will see a number of initiatives on campus and in the community that reflect this celebration. Each month in the Legend we’ll profile the people and events that shape our University, celebrating the U of L’s controversial past through the recollection and retelling of stories from our rebellious beginnings, and using this foundation to speak to the themes of autonomy, access and student-centred education that continue to be at the forefront of the University’s ideals. You’ll want to watch the Global News Hour each Thursday evening for a series of videos that have been produced for our 45th year. The 90-second clips are a celebration of
PHYSICS HISTORY REFLECTS U OF L The history of the University of Lethbridge is one of bold beginnings and independent ideals, traits that are reflected in the histories of the individual departments on campus. The evolution of the Department of Physics and Astronomy may embody that more than any other. “Our story is really the story of the University,” says department Chair and associate professor Dr. David Siminovitch. “For us, in particular, there were some moments it could have gone quite badly and we might not even be here, but we are and we’ve triumphed.” The department’s story has caught the eye of the Canadian
the University of Lethbridge story, told through the people who shaped the U of L in its earliest stages right through to the staff, faculty, students and alumni who embody what the University is today and aspires to be in the future. The first feature is on Faculty of Fine Arts associate professor Blaine Hendsbee. As you will read in his story and see through his video, he represents the University as an inspiring faculty member, a respected researcher and driver of the community arts scene. His story is just one of many that will be told this year, helping to share our University’s narrative. Look to Thisismyu.ca as the year progresses, as it will serve as a hub for all the stories and videos that are being produced for this celebratory year. We’re proud to celebrate 45 years of bright minds and ideas.
Association of Physicists (CAP) and is featured in the latest edition of its quarterly magazine, Physics in Canada. “CAP approached me several years ago to do this but I just didn’t have the time,” says Siminovitch. “Finally, a couple of years ago I sat down and said if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it. I literally set aside two weeks where I dropped everything else and worked on writing the history of our department. Since then I’d spent a week here or there polishing it.” For Siminovitch, who came to the University in 1990, the exercise proved to be very enlightening. “There was a lot that happened before me,” says Siminovitch. “I had some help from the department and particularly
t didn’t take long for Blaine Hendsbee to see something special in the University of Lethbridge. Similarly, when the University was looking to introduce operatic performance to its undergraduate student body, Hendsbee was a particularly perfect fit for the role. “When I first came to the University I was primarily an opera singer and I had a small private voice studio in New York City,” says Hendsbee. “The job was looking for someone who had a strong interest in operatic voice performance and someone who was eager to develop an undergraduate voice operatic workshop.” Hendsbee was that eager body, having gained an appreciation for the University and the Faculty of Fine Arts from a guest performance he’d made previously. “I was giving a solo recital in Lethbridge about 12 years ago and I was immediately struck by the spirit and energy of both the students and faculty, as well as the incredible facilities,” he says. Hendsbee is a wonderful example of how the University and its faculty have grown over the past 45 years, with instructors that push research boundaries, are active in their field of study and who put great value in the undergraduate student experience. “Working at the University of Lethbridge has enabled me to combine all facets of what I love about singing and performing and teaching, all in one wonderful package,” says Hendsbee. “I am able to still perform as an operatic solo performer as well as share that gift and love of operatic singing with a wonderful new generation of singers at the University.”
from Dr. Arvid Schultz, one of the founding members, and from Drs. Keramat Ali and David Naylor. It was very satisfying for us to get it done and the nice thing is, it now goes into something that is read by virtually every member of the Canadian physics community, including faculty members but also graduate and undergraduate students.” The department’s history spans four decades, each of which has significant milestones, taking the department from its establishment in 1967 as an independent unit of the Faculty of Arts & Science focused principally on teaching to today’s comprehensive research and development group. Over the past 40-plus years, the department’s maturation has been anything but linear, and
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In fact, it was that particular aspect of his position, creating a new operatic culture on campus, which peaked his interest in the job. “That I could bring forward my professional experiences in operatic performance to help open doors and opportunities for young singers who wanted to explore the genre was very appealing,” he says. He has helped nurture the artistic scene throughout southern Alberta and is thrilled to bring a new initiative to Lethbridge audiences this spring with Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Hendsbee’s active research centres on solo creative performance with a focus on English language repertoire. On Saturday, Jan. 14, he headlines the Faculty Artists and Friends Series when he presents Blaine Hendsbee & Friends at 8 p.m. in the University Recital Hall. Ask him what his most memorable moment at the University is and it has nothing to do with his own performances, but rather the growth of his students. “I remember sitting at a performance of The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, and it was the final curtain call,” he says.
MMus candidate Rachel Sinnott stands patiently as costume designer Leslie Robison-Greene works on her gown for the character Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
“It’s an exciting new collaboration with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Glenn Klassen,” says Hendsbee of the Feb. 3-4 performances. “It’s an incredible opportunity and exciting new venture for both the symphony and the U of L Opera Workshop as we’ll be bringing this partnership to the wider community of Lethbridge to enjoy.”
Siminovitch points to a particularly poignant period in history when the future of physics at the University was in question. He describes a department lacking support as it approached its second decade, with a low sense of morale and experiencing high rates of attrition. In 1979, academic vice-president, Dr. Owen Holmes, requested an external, independent review of the department. Its resulting report was frank and blunt, recommending as a bare minimum step to rebuild and strengthen the department that two new faculty be recruited immediately, both active in experimental physics. “Firstly, they had the good sense to go outside the University to find out what they should do,” says Siminovitch. “Then they had the courage to act on
“The students were all coming out to take their bows before a wonderfully appreciative audience, and to see the radiant joy on their faces as they accepted this show of gratitude from the audience was wonderful. This was a culmination of so many hours of work, and to see how happy they were from that experience was something I’ll always remember.”
the recommendations, hiring both Dr. Ali and Dr. Naylor. The rest really is history. They did right back in 1979 and the department is alive and well because of that.” With the history now written and published, Siminovitch encourages other University departments to look into their pasts and to put down their own histories. “I view this as both telling our story but also telling our story at a very important moment in the University’s history,” he says. “The nice thing now is that this history lives on the web (www.uleth.ca/artsci/ physics-astronomy/department-history) and it is dynamic, so we plan to continually update it, not only as we move along year to year but also adding to our past as more stories emerge.”
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Identifying a student need
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
connections GLOBAL
GRASPING AN OPPORTUNITY BY TREVOR KENNEY
Tom Doyle (BSC ‘93) understands the challenges students face when trying to balance studies with work.
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om Doyle knows that being a student isn’t easy. “As a student I worked at least 32 hours per week while taking four to five courses,” says Doyle, who is both a staff member and alumnus of the University of Lethbridge. “It was challenging and kept me busy, but it also forced me to be very responsible with my time.” Doyle persevered, was able to balance his work schedule with his academic responsibilities and earned a bachelor of science degree in 1993. He’s now the University’s manager of enterprise systems for Information Technology. “Although I left the U of L for awhile, I always had an affinity for the University,” he says. “I was happy to come back to work here in 1996 and I have been here ever since.” When Doyle looks around campus today, he understands that many students face the same challenges he did. “I can empathize with
those students who are driven and motivated but struggling financially,” he says. “I know what that is like, and I am passionate about supporting students in those situations.” Supporting Our Students (SOS), an annual campaign aimed toward faculty and staff, allows Doyle to help those students. As co-chair of this year’s campaign, Doyle sees an opportunity for faculty and staff to come together to contribute to the success of students, which in turn benefits the University as a whole. “Strong student enrolment and participation are important, and having scholarships and bursaries available to them helps to support that,” he says. “I am proud to be a part of a core group that is committed to the success of the University and its students.” Doyle readily accepted the responsibility of being a campaign co-chair because he believes in the supportive atmosphere that SOS fosters.
“This campaign demonstrates that staff and faculty members are not just doing a job, but that they are truly engaged with and supportive of the students that come here,” he says. For Doyle, this campaign is about more than financial contributions. “It’s not just about the money, it’s about the real difference that even a nominal gift can make in the life of a student,” he says. “If you care about this campus and believe that education makes a difference, then supporting our students is one of the best things you can do.”
For more information on the Supporting Our Students campaign, please visit www. thisismyu.ca/giving/SupportingOurStudents or call the University Advancement office at 403-329-2582.
Thank you to the 275 U of L faculty and staff who contributed to Supporting Our Students in 2011. The 2012 stickers are now available. Get yours today by making a gift. By coming together to support students, faculty and staff at the U of L show that this is a campus community that cares. Please put students first and make a gift today.
www.uleth.ca/giving/SupportingOurStudents
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Senthooran Thangarajah has found a second home to his native Sri Lanka, one he intends to make his permanent home in years to come. Considering he never knew that Canada or the University of Lethbridge were viable options for his overseas studies until meeting Charlene Janes of the International Centre for Students (ICS) – it’s amazing how far he’s come. “I’d started my schooling in Malaysia in a two-plus-two Senthooran Thangarajah turned a program, so I’d always planned co-op placement into the start of a to finish elsewhere but I thought the United States was my only rewarding career. option,” says Thangarajah, who just completed his final semester His best decision may have in the Faculty of Management been to attend an ICS information (finance). session where he learned about the Janes was at a Canadian University’s co-op programs. He post-secondary education fair in applied at ATB Financial, earned Malaysia when she met Thangaa co-op placement and is now a rajah and presented the U of L as personal banking specialist. an option. With prodding from a When he returned to fullsupportive sister, he took the leap time studies at the University, he and has never looked back. Ready came back with a greater sense of to convocate this spring, Thangaconfidence – but there was one rajah turned a co-op placement obstacle he still needed to conquer. into a job with ATB Financial, has “My first challenge was to immersed himself in Canadian take Writing 1000 again because culture, will soon apply for an I had dropped it the first time,” he international work visa and has his says. “When I passed that class, sights set on becoming a permathat was where I really got motinent Canadian resident down the vated and felt that I could succeed road. at University.” His success was not without Thangarajah sees the future its challenges but through those as limitless, and credits the U of L difficulties, he discovered a culture and his second home for opening of support at the University and his eyes to the possibilities. an internal strength that has led to “I feel people are a lot more boundless opportunity. open-minded here than what I see Thangarajah struggled with back home in Sri Lanka,” he says. his first few classes. He eventually “There are a lot more opportunidropped Writing 1000, contemties to explore here, and if you get plated dropping a Management into the right path, there’s deficourse in which he was languishnitely opportunities to achieve.” ing and performed poorly on his first two midterms. It was eye opening for a student used to success. G E T T H E FA C T S “I think the schooling I did in Malaysia was much easier,” says Thangarajah. “I would sit up for • One of his greatest worthe whole night just before the ries moving to Lethbridge exam and come home with A’s was dealing with the pretty easy, but that wasn’t the case weather. The average daily here. I had to work a lot harder. temperature in Sri Lanka “There it was just about the ranges from 28 to 31 detextbook, there is not much in grees Celsius terms of extra-curricular activities. Here, it’s a much bigger school, • Thangarajah’s parents there’s a lot more extra-curricular were unable to support activity, a lot harder work and him financially beyond his much more real-time experience.” first two semesters, after He discussed his difficulties which he paid for the rest with Janes and she spoke with of his education some of Thangarajah’s professors about the challenges he was facing in adapting to a new style of learn• His work at ATB Finaning. He eventually turned his poor cial includes everything midterms into A’s and began to except mortgage lending, gain confidence. Thangarajah also which he is now pursuing. started to meet people on camHe plans to then move into pus and it opened up his student investment banking experience.
athletics AT T H E U
the Legend
Rollingson made his mark Former Pronghorns guard Tim Rollingson in action against the University of Saskatchewan.
RECORD YEAR A TESTAMENT TO VOLUNTEERS
BY EOIN COLQUHOUN
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nce a fiery competitor with a burning desire to win on the court, Dr. Tim Rollingson (BSc ’99) has turned in his hardwood high-tops for the white coat and drill of a dentist’s office. Utilizing that same passion and discipline that made him successful on the court, Rollingson turned his focus to establishing a similarly successful dental practice, located only minutes from the campus he called home for five years. “I developed an understanding of the discipline that is required to become an expert in a field,” says Rollingson about his time playing for the Pronghorns men’s basketball team. “Spending hundreds of hours on a task became routine, rather than obscure.” Rollingson was the featured speaker at last spring’s Pronghorn annual awards banquet, and it is very apparent how important his time with the Pronghorns still means to him. Reminiscing about his playing days, he delivered a message about discipline, establishing lasting friendships and giving back to the Pronghorn family that had given him so much. “I developed true and life-long friends. Competing together creates priceless bonds and memories,” says Rollingson. “Even after not seeing a teammate for several years, you still feel as close a bond to that person as you ever did. One of my favourite things to do is go
out with a teammate and his family to catch up and reminisce about old times.” A southern Alberta product, Rollingson walked onto the University of Lethbridge campus in 1992 with an impressive list of credentials. He was the three-time Southern Alberta High School Basketball League scoring champion and two-time league MVP with Winston Churchill High School in Lethbridge, and still maintains the league single season scoring average record of 40.5 points per game.
“Competing together creates priceless bonds and memories.”
TIM ROLLINGSON
During his freshman season with the Horns, he did not disappoint, becoming the first Pronghorn men’s basketball player to win the Canada West Rookie of the Year award. After a two year Latter Day Saints mission in Belgium, Rollingson returned to the program, captaining the ‘Horns for his final three seasons. He left the program as the all-time Pronghorns assist leader with 374. While he now sits second on the career assist list, he remains among the top 15 in a number of other career categories, including hitting 150 three-point baskets, the second most in team history.
After completing his bachelor of science (biochemistry) at the U of L, Rollingson earned his doctor of dental surgery degree at the University of Alberta in 2004 and returned to Lethbridge to begin his successful practice. Rollingson enjoys continually learning and keeping up to date with the latest dental techniques and has completed many continuing education courses. He continues to study at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and the Scottsdale Center for Dental Learning. Now a father of four and a prominent member of the Lethbridge community, Rollingson has become a fixture in the stands at not only Pronghorn basketball games, but the hockey arena as well. He’s commonly known as the “official dentist” of Pronghorn Athletics. While his support for the current crop of Horns athletes is exceptional, it is not the only way in which he is impacting the community. As a coach and mentor, Rollingson is now passing on his expertise and passion to the next generation of basketball players, coaching girls’ teams in the Lethbridge minor basketball system. “I feel a true sense of being a member of the Pronghorn community and a need to pay back to the program, at least in some small part, for some of the benefits that I received,” he says. “I truly enjoy my continued association with “my” team.”
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The University of Lethbridge volunteer base is alive and well, and southern Alberta roads are a little safer as a result. Buoyed by a record number of community volunteers, the 2011 Operation Red Nose campaign for Pronghorn Athletics proved to be the best yet, setting records in every statistical category. Heading into New Year’s Eve, the final night of the Pronghorn Athletics 17th annual campaign, ORN had already broken the previous record mark of 1,177 rides provided. During the final night, ORN provided an additional 151 rides with the help of 73 volunteers. That brought the 12-night campaign to a new high of 1,428 rides provided over the holiday season. The year also saw records set in numbers of volunteers (693), total kilometres driven (23,678) and monetary donations ($23,000). “Without the support of our volunteers and sponsors, the Operation Red Nose campaign in Lethbridge could not be nearly as successful as it is,” says Sport and Recreation executive director Sandy Slavin. “A big thank-
you goes out to all the people and businesses in Lethbridge that make the service possible.” Lethbridge’s previous ORN records were as follows: total rides 1,177 (2010), volunteers 659 (2010), kilometres driven 20,373 (2007) and donations $20,438.89 (2008). Operation Red Nose in Lethbridge also had the third highest ride total in the country outside of the province of Quebec, where the ORN program originated. Two Ontario cities, Quinte and Sudbury, provided 1,548 and 1,510 rides respectively but were also able to run 14 and 16-night campaigns. Nationally, the 28th annual campaign provided 85,926 rides in eight Canadian provinces. Throughout Canada, 58,683 volunteers contributed to making roads safer. The ORN program is currently present in 111 host communities, with the 2011 campaign reaching the most communities since the program was first started. Quebec City provided the most rides nationally with 7,478 rides and operated every day in December other than Dec. 1. Until the return of the service in December 2012, Operation Red Nose invites all Canadians to plan ahead for a safe ride home, whether it be by calling a sober friend, a cab or by using public transit.
INGRID SPEAKER
N O M I N AT I O N S Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance The award is open to all full and part-time members of the academic staff currently employed at The University of Lethbridge.
Deadline for nominations and supporting documents:
February 29, 2012
Nominations are welcome from any member of the University community, including faculty, alumni, staff, students, Senate and Board of Governors. FOR NOMINATION FORMS, CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:
403-329-2286 http://www.uleth.ca/awards/ingrid-speaker-medal
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Malinsky returns to a familiar setting Jesse Malinsky is most at home walking the library floor, making sure its patrons are being served well.
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upervisor, Access Service is a new position in the University of Lethbridge Library, but the person occupying it is not new to the U of L at all. Jesse Malinsky assumed the role in August and is proud to return to his alma mater. “To say I was pleased to be able to come back and work here is an understatement,” says Malinsky. “The position offers me the opportunity to create and try something new in the library field.” Prior to returning to the University, Malinsky worked seven years with Medicine Hat College (MHC) Library Services. During his time there he functioned as the library services specialist. That position’s responsibilities included delivering academic writing and library instruction, providing information services, developing and supporting library systems
and web services, and more. “MHC and the U of L are partners in the libraries’ integrated library system. While there, I often liaised with the staff at the University,” says Malinsky. “Before arriving here, I knew they were a dedicated and talented group. They are always asking, “How can we be better?” The needs of the students are always the first priority.” Returning to Lethbridge represents a return to his roots in the library. Before working in Medicine Hat, Malinsky was employed at Lethbridge College as the evening circulation supervisor before later migrating to information services. “My role in Medicine Hat was arguably more analytical and technical in nature. My new position here requires those skills as well, but there is also a greater human dynamic when working in public service,” he says.
As the supervisor of Access Service, Malinsky’s responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the General Services Desk, Document Delivery Services/Interlibrary Loans, stacks maintenance and participation in a variety of library committees. “I am very fortunate to work with a great group of people, who are dedicated to delivering the best service possible to the patrons of the library,” he says. “I was worried that I would lose touch with students because I wouldn’t be in a classroom or in information services, but I’m pleasantly surprised that this isn’t the case.” As the supervisor, he also has the opportunity to oversee 15 to 20 student assistants. “They definitely keep me busy, and pleasantly so. It is good to have a keen group of students with a broad variety of studies – it helps keep me sharp and hope-
fully more in tune with students’ needs,” he says. Malinsky is usually easy to spot in the library. You can find him zipping among the levels, and is almost always wearing a necktie.
NOVEL WRITING GROUP PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE
Month, the library hosted weekly write-ins, opportunities for participants to get together, write together and support one another in the sometimes frantic and often solitary work of writing a 50,000-word novel in one month. One participant describes the write-ins as, “A three-hour time slot where we participate in word wars, get story help, receive a couple of awesome stickers and buttons, and generally just provide a chance to amp up your word count!” Fueled by coffee and snacks,
the writers focused intently on their laptops, breaking occasionally to chat and swap stories about their work. Fingers were flying especially quickly during word wars – timed sessions during which everyone competes to produce the highest word count. National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) began in 1999 in the San Francisco Bay area, and has since grown to an international annual event with over 200,000 participants from around the world. The challenge is to write 50,000 words (approximately 175 pages) between
November 1 and November 30. As stated on the national website (www.nanowrimo.org), it’s about quantity, not quality. Participants sign up on the NaNoWriMo website, often forming regional groups, such as the University of Lethbridge group, that meet up in person for write-ins and other events. A winner is considered to be anyone who has completed 50,000 words by the end of the month. There are over 175 members in the Lethbridge area, including a number of full-time U of L students who accepted the
BY SANDRA COWAN
A
group of eight to 10 people gathered in the bowels of the University Library every Saturday throughout November to work on their novels together. As part of National Novel Writing
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“To say I was pleased to be able to come back and work here is an understatement.”
JESSE MALINSKY
“Yes, the tie is my signature,” he says. “I’ve been wearing them almost daily for the past 10 years. At Medicine Hat, a
co-worker said, “I started here five years ago and about 6 to 8 guys wore ties. You are the last.” I took a little pride in that.” He has in excess of 50 ties in his collection, none of which have books or cartoon characters on them, and uses a variety of knots to tie them – though the Pratt/Shelby is his knot of choice. While some may question the continuing value of libraries in today’s easy to access information age, Malinsky does not hesitate to tout its virtues. “I still see the library as an ivory tower,” he says. “Academic libraries contribute to and facilitate academic/intellectual discourse. We provide human services to access, evaluate and organize information to enhance the academic achievement of our patrons. Though it is more complex than that, it is a sad day if we cannot find value in those simple concepts.”
challenge of writing a novel in a month, in addition to their academic load and just for the fun and experience of the exercise. Some published novels that began as NaNoWriMo projects include Sarah Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Farhan Devji’s The Hockey Farmer (set in Alberta), and Las Vegas Chew Toy, a mystery by Laura L. Alton.
J A N UA RY 2 012
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the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Rotaract event to support emerging education BY BOB COONEY
S
tudents desperate for a permanent place to receive an education in the new country of South Sudan will benefit from a popular University of Lethbridge student-organized fundraising event. The U of L’s Rotaract Club will host Guir Ku Baai – Building Peace through Education, its 7th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, Feb. 4 in the Grand Ballroom at the Lethbridge Lodge. Proceeds from the event will help current U of L Management student Anthony Makwach build a school in his home community of Abouk (pronounced Ab-wark), South Sudan, in the world’s newest nation. Makwach was born during a prolonged civil war between what are now the countries of Sudan and South Sudan, and was raised in nearby Kenya. He
G E T T H E FA C T S • A brief video presentation from Makwach can be seen at vimeo. com/33668154
• The U of L Rotaract Club
is a not-for-profit service club that is part of Rotary International. Its mandate is to fundraise, provide volunteers and, most importantly, raise awareness for both local and international needs
• Over the past six years,
the Rotaract Club has raised more than $100,000 for projects in such varied locations as Burkina-Faso, Iqaluit and Malawi
• For more information,
contact Eva Gorny, vicepresident External Affairs at 403-360-3843 or e-mail rotaract@uleth.ca
has returned numerous times to his home community of Abouk since hostilities diminished in
INSTITUTE SET TO LAUNCH JAN. 17 Small businesses can be big business for southern Alberta – that’s the message two University of Lethbridge Faculty of Management researchers are sending as they launch a new institute that will focus on the specific needs of small businesses. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, The U of L and its Faculty of Man-
Anthony Makwach is looking to give children in his homeland of South Sudan the same educational opportunities he enjoyed in his youth.
2005. Makwach says his long-term dream is the construction of a school to assist the children of the community. “I went back to the South Sudan this past summer to celebrate the country’s independence, and to visit my family,” says Makwach. “I was so inspired, but at the same time heartbroken to see how the kids are struggling for their education. They have no school and are taking classes under a tree. I built a small shelter with my own funds, and came back to Canada with the idea for a project – to build a building big enough for at least 600 elementary school children.” Makwach knows first-hand the value of an education and the freedom it provides. “I had an opportunity and
privilege to go to a high school in Kenya. I got my diploma, and now am attending the U of L, where I am training to become an accountant,” he says.
The direct connection between Anthony, his family in Abouk, and the dedication of the community to build the school formed the basis for the Rotaract group’s support for this project. “It is Anthony’s dream to see
a school built in his community, and we are working to make his dream a reality,” says Eva Gorny, Rotaract’s vice-president, External Affairs. “The Rotaract event typically raises between $10,000 and $15,000. We are hopeful that most, if not all, of the needed funds will be raised at this event.” Makwach’s family members in Abouk and area are builders, and the cost of construction materials will be offset by volunteer labour from the community. South Sudan, as the world’s newest country, is also the poorest, with the majority of its eight million citizens living on less than $1 (CDN) per day. Life expectancy and literacy rates are low, infant mortality rates are high, basic medical care is scarce, education is difficult to obtain and the economy is
unstable. The landlocked nation was officially recognized as an independent country in 2011. Several international aid and development organizations are active in the country, but there remains a significant need for specific projects – such as the Rotaract Abouk School Project – that can help communities develop on their own. Tickets for the Rotaract Dinner and Silent Auction are priced at $65 each ($40 for students), or $450 for a table of eight. Silent auction items, giftsin-kind and monetary donations are also appreciated. Contact rotaract@uleth.ca to purchase tickets or for additional information.
agement will officially launch the Small Business Institute (SBI), the brainchild of Dr. Gordon Hunter and Dan Kazakoff, two management faculty members with several decades of experience in small business consulting, management and education between them. The focus of the institute’s work will be on privately held small businesses, varying from start-up operations to multi-gen-
erational ownership. In addition to entrepreneurship and familyowned businesses, other aspects of their research will include franchises, non-participating family members, succession and sustainability. The SBI is unique in that it will focus primarily on Lethbridge and southern Alberta businesses. Both Hunter and Kazakoff expect a significant student benefit through the exchange of ideas with business people and
faculty. In addition, new courses may be developed or existing courses modified to incorporate ideas that come out of the SBI research process. The launch event and a brief presentation about the SBI takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 17, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in AH100 (Andy’s Place). An advisory council is currently being organized that will provide guidance to Kazakoff and Hunter with regard to the Institute’s direction.
Information about the advisory council will be presented at that time. For more information, contact Steve Craig (steve.craig@ uleth.ca) or call 403-329-5181. To learn more about the institute, visit http://www.uleth.ca/ management/SBI Kazakoff and Hunter also welcome those interested in the SBI to contact them via e-mail: dan.kazakoff@uleth.ca and ghunter@uleth.ca.
“I was heartbroken to see how the kids are struggling for their education.”
ANTHONY MAKWACH
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OUR
alumni
J A N UA RY 2 012
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Cavilla and team making a real difference
Alumnus Jaden Wright
WRIGHT’S CHOICE WAS AN EASY ONE BY KEITH MCLAUGHLIN
Despite the difficult working conditions, Dr. Ben Cavilla and his volunteers from the Flying Doctors of Canada program are able to help persons such as the man featured above, allowing him to return to a normal life.
BY STACY SEGUIN
H
e walked into the tiny, cleared out schoolhouse in a small seaside village on the southern coast of Haiti pleading for someone to help him. He was 61 years old, ostracised – mocked and feared by the children in his neighbourhood. No one would give him work. Five years earlier he had developed a growth the size of a cantaloupe on the side of his head. No one could help him. On this day, in the schoolhouse, he met Dr. Ben Cavilla (BSc ’00), one of three founding members of the Flying Doctors of Canada (FDOC). Cavilla was in Haiti doing humanitarian work with Heart to Heart International and Los Medicos Voladores (LMV) and checking out the suitability of Haiti for future FDOC projects. “I spoke to the patient very frankly about the risks of bleeding and infection from cutting the side of his head open in these very primitive conditions, but he was adamant he wanted it done,” recalls Cavilla. “We did not have anything to put him to sleep so we froze the area as best we could. He sat up in a chair for two hours undergoing this massive procedure in a hot, humid and dusty environment. It was very difficult; there was a lot of bleeding, but in the end I was able to remove it all and close the wound. He healed well; he looks normal and is reintegrated into his community.
“This is one of those cases where you feel like you have done something that really mattered. Stories like these are a part of the driving force behind FDOC being able to do more in the field, more successfully and more frequently.” FDOC was founded in 2006. It is a non-profit, volunteer organization of Canadian healthcare workers whose mission statement includes, “promoting and providing medical care and education and community development without regard for race, religion or nationality to those who are most in need.” Growing up in a family of 10, Cavilla understands the concept of going without. He remembers watching documentaries on Doctors Without Borders and wanting to become a physician. Cavilla earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Lethbridge in 2000, and while studying there his understanding of the needs of others expanded into a global perspective. “One thing that really stands out for me at the University is the liberal education. I really took advantage of that and took a lot of different courses that opened my eyes to the diversity of people in the world. I think it prepared me to go into different countries and be open, accepting and pliable to my approach, to be able to build an organization that was non-exclusive,” says Cavilla. The organization’s work in Central America began in 2009 in Nicaragua and then
El Salvador. One of the most important focuses of FDOC is that the work they do in other lands is sustainable. “We are currently negotiating on some land to build a permanent free clinic in El Salvador. Right now, however, we are a mobile clinic. We assemble volunteer teams of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, translators and students (six each from the Universities of Lethbridge, Calgary and Alberta) and for several weeks each year we head into communities where medical help is not accessible,” he says. Transportation, lodging and food can present major logistical issues. “We haul all our medical supplies, pharmaceutical supplies, our military grade x-ray machine and laboratory equipment. Sometimes we stay in tents or hotels that are little more than empty buildings with mattresses on the floor; often we have no running water and haul our own food. We set up in schools or churches, use local translators and see as many patients as we can,” explains Cavilla, who will be coming to the University early this year to recruit student volunteers. The opportunities for students to make an impact globally is significant and can be life-changing. “Student volunteers are involved in various construction projects including bio-sand projects for water purification, building eco-stoves and clinic construction,” says Cavilla. “They also work in
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G E T T H E FA C T S • Ben and his brother
Mike Cavilla (BA’93 and current Calgary Police detective) were both inducted into the University’s Alumni Honour Society in 2011
• The FDOC has six
board members, four of which are physicians. To learn more about the organization, visit www.flyingdoctors.ca
• The group’s next ex-
cursion is Heart to Heart Haiti, featuring work beginning in April. They will then scout African locations for 2013 health education, and have the opportunity to shadow physicians which gives them great experience.” FDOC has a host of excellent local partners that contribute to the sustainability of the projects, but the costs are great and much of the year Cavilla and the other board members volunteer countless hours to fundraising, planning and organizing the yearly trips. It is a sacrifice all are happy to make. “One of the biggest things we are trying to do with students is to get them to develop an appetite for humanitarian work early on, and it’s likely they’ll then be involved throughout their lives,” says Cavilla.
Every year thousands of young people are faced with the critical choice of where to attend university. For some, the decision is not easy and can take many months. For others, it’s a “no-brainer.” Jaden Wright (BSc ‘09) counts himself in the latter camp. Wright graduated with honours from the U of L in 2009 with a BSc in biochemistry. A high-performing high school student who had his pick from any number of universities, Wright recalls why his choice to attend the University of Lethbridge was so easy. Now studying to become a medical doctor at the University of Alberta, Wright found exactly what he was looking for from the University. “I found the smaller class sizes at the U of L really beneficial. It was nice to be able to see professors outside of class and for them to know what class of theirs I was in,” says Wright. “I found it really easy to approach the professors and ask them for help, and to get involved in undergrad research opportunities.” Wright took advantage of those opportunities and made the most of his chance to gain hands-on experience through a variety of University programs. He worked with Dr. Ute Kothe, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as an independent study student, an honours thesis student, summer student and co-op student. “My co-op work experience was great in that I was able to try different jobs before having to commit to a career choice,” he says. “I was able to see what it was like working in agriculture, neuroscience and biochemistry research, and find out what was the best fit for me.” Wright’s positive memories about the benefits of the University’s student-centred approach are a common refrain among many graduates. Asked if he had any words of advice for current students, Wright says they should take full advantage of the opportunity to have close, one-onone learning experiences with their professors. “Talk to your professors outside of class,” he says. “Most professors I had at the U of L were extremely friendly and helpful. They wanted me to succeed. They also were eager to provide opportunities for research experience and opportunities to develop personal skills not acquired in classroom learning.”
H E A LT H
& wellness
Workplace program designed to help you kick nicotine BY SUZANNE MCINTOSH
W
e have an exciting and healthy initiative coming to campus in January. The Smart Steps . . . towards a smoke-free life – Workplace Smoking Cessation Program will debut. The Lung Association of Alberta & NWT sponsors the program. Smart Steps is a unique, four-session, how to stop smoking program that happens in the workplace. Throughout the sessions, participants will have discussions about quitting smoking, exploring topics such as withdrawal, weight gain and coping mechanisms. They will also learn about specific medications and how to develop a personalized quit plan. You might wonder why this is a workplace cessation initiative. Apart from our homes, workplaces can have the greatest impact on a person’s health. Everyone benefits from a work environment that fosters healthy living, and that includes a smoke-free life. Organizations see great
benefits from a healthy work environment, including improved employee health, a boost in productivity, reduced health costs, enhanced employee job satisfaction and a better corporate image. The Workplace Smoking Cessation program begins with
a one-hour orientation session, followed by three more one-hour sessions. The first session is Monday, Jan. 16 in M3003, with subsequent sessions each Monday through Feb. 6. They run from 11 a.m. to noon and a light lunch will be provided following each session. Individual followup sessions are held at one, three, six and 12 months following completion of the program. All employees of the University, as well as spouses and fam-
• Smoking Cessation • Financial Consultation • Elder and Family Care • Pre-Retirement Planning • Shift Worker Support • Legal Advisory • Childcare and Parenting • Career Smart Counselling
ily members are welcome to attend. Students are also welcome, although they may not be eligible for the reimbursement of costs through Blue Cross benefits. Health Canada is offering a free $200 certificate towards nicotine replacement therapy. As part of employees’ Blue Cross Health Spending account allowances, participants are also eligible for prescription smoking cessation products of up to $500 (lifetime maximum). To register for the Workplace Smoking Cessation Program, send an e-mail with the heading, Smart Steps Registration, to wellness@uleth.ca. Quit and win prizes will also be part of the program.
Did U know?
Services • Workplace Issues and Conflict Resolution
Health Check for U
The following free services are available to employees, spouses and dependents through our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Go to www.homewoodhumansolutions.com/MSA/ExternalRegistry and register online for information and resources.
You can still register for January’s session – a 15-minute confidential, free screening that includes checks of your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference and a follow-up consultation. Check out your heart’s age – take charge of your health and put your Heart into it! To register, send an e-mail to wellness@uleth.ca As part of our involvement with Alberta Health Services and the Workplace Health Improvement Project (WHIP), we are planning to roll out an employee health and wellness survey this
LIVINGSTON FINDS SUCCESS WITH FNTP SUPPORT BY IAN MCLAUGHLIN Growing up in Slave Lake, Alta., some 200km north of Edmonton, you might think the University of Lethbridge would seem like a distant place. But for Maria Livingston, the campus embedded in the coulees was always close to mind. Several of Livingston’s friends and family had already attended and highly recommended studying at the U of L. Still, when the thought of attending university crossed her mind, it often provoked feelings of anxiety and intimidation. Livingston wasn’t sure if she could succeed at university, or if she would even fit in to the university culture. That was until she entered the First Nations Transition Program (FNTP). “It was intimidating at first, attending university, but everything they did for us in FNTP really helped,” says Livingston, who credits program services such as academic workshops and the First Nations speaker series with helping her to excel in the classroom and express her cultural identity.
A traditional hoop dancer, Livingston participated in the 2011 Native Awareness Week celebrations.
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spring. Creating a high quality learning environment for students depends on the employees here at the U of L. Supporting employees to improve their own health and wellness is now more important than ever. By examining the work environment and employee health attitudes and behaviours, the University will have the tools to improve and enhance our employee-focused health and wellness strategies. I look forward to providing your input and feedback on our current programming and services to the WHIP program. We can’t do this without you. As always, I look forward to any comments, suggestions or questions. Suzanne McIntosh is the University’s Wellness Co-ordinator.
Now a second-year art and Native American Studies double major, Livingston is an active member of the U of L’s vibrant First Nations student community. In addition to her art, she practices traditional hoop dancing and was involved in the 2011 Native Awareness Week celebrations. In the future, Livingston would like to work with First Nations’ youth and encourage them to pursue post-secondary education. “University has opened a lot of doors for me,” she says. “I have met so many new people and been given so many opportunities. I want others to have a chance to do the same.” Livingston says she’s glad she never succumbed to her feelings of anxiety about attending university and is grateful for all the academic and social experiences she has had at the University of Lethbridge. Looking at a print she created that was later showcased at the 2011 Career Fair, she remarks, “I just couldn’t see myself doing this before I came here.” When asked about the meaning of the artwork, Livingston says the hoops speak to the circle of life, renewal and regeneration. “They represent struggles. The more hoops you pick up, the harder it is, but you just keep going.”
the Legend
J A N UA RY 2 012
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
events C A L E N D A R
Pronghorn Athletics Jan. 13 | Canada West Men’s Hockey Horns host University of Calgary 7 p.m., Nicholas Sheran Arena Jan. 14 | Canada West Women’s Hockey Horns host University of Calgary 7 p.m., Nicholas Sheran Arena Jan. 20-21 | Canada West Women’s Hockey Horns host University of Alberta 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Jan. 27-28 | Canada West Basketball Horns host University of Manitoba Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game 8 p.m. 1st Choice Savings Centre gym Jan. 27-28 | Canada West Men’s Hockey Horns host University of Manitoba 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena Feb. 3-4 | Canada West Women’s Hockey Horns host University of Regina 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Lectures
Jan. 12 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Dr. Judith Kulig | Looking In and Looking Out: Sharing Findings from Rural Studies Noon, AH100
BY KYLE DODGSON The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU) and the University of Lethbridge Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) are proud to welcome Bill Nye to campus as part of the ULSU’s Annual Student Speaker Series. “One of our primary mandates is to increase student engagement on campus and create a unique and memorable experience for our students,” says Andrew Williams, the ULSU vice-president academic.
Jan. 16 | Architecture & Design Now: Calgary architect Gerald Forseth 6:15 p.m., M1040
Jan. 21 | Big Band Cabaret Enjoy a silent auction, door prizes and dancing to the Lethbridge Big Band | 8 p.m., U of L Ballrooms
Jan. 20 | Art Now: Theo Sims Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 24 | Music at Noon: Elizabeth McDonald (soprano) and Dr. Deanna Oye (piano) | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 23 | Art Now: Calgary curator Monique Weatra | Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 26-28 | TheatreXtra presents Possible Worlds | Part murder mystery, part science fiction and part mathematical theory 8 p.m. nightly, David Spinks Theatre (2 p.m. matinee on Jan. 28)
Jan. 25 | Art Now: Animator Jeff Chiba Stearns | Noon, University Recital Hall (W570) Jan. 26 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Cheryl Meheden, Women in politics 3 p.m., AH100
Jan. 31 | Music at Noon: Mark Rodgers (cello), Colleen Klassen (piano) and LSO cello section | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 27 | Art Now: Tanya Harnett Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Feb. 3-4 | Mozart’s The Magic Flute Sung in English by the Opera Workshop with the Lethbridge Symphony 8 p.m. nightly, Southminster United Church
Jan. 30 | Art Now: Jeremy Hatch Noon, University Recital Hall (W570) Jan. 30 | Architecture & Design Now: Jeremy Hatch | 6:15 p.m., M1040 Feb. 1 | Art Now: Painter John Hartman Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 11 | Art Now: Jon Sasaki Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
BILL NYE COMING TO CAMPUS JAN. 23
Jan. 17 | Music at Noon: U of L Faculty Brass Quintet | Trudi Mason and Keith Griffioen (trumpets), Dr. Thomas Staples (French horn), Gerald Rogers (trombone) and Nick Sullivan, (bass trombone) 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 20 | Plenary Lecture: Dr. Stewart Rood Biology Graduate Research Symposium 4:50 p.m., C674
Jan. 20-21 | Canada West Basketball Horns host University of Calgary Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game 8 p.m. 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Jan. 13 | Art Now: Dominic Rey Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Jan. 16 | Art Now: Scott McLeod, Prefix Photo Magazine | Noon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Performances Jan. 14 | Blaine Hendsbee & Friends Part of the Faculty Artists & Friends Series, Hendsbee sings Noel Coward songs, Finzi’s song cycle A Young Man’s Exhortation and shares the stage with some of his musical friends | 8 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
With that in mind, Williams began the process of courting and finalizing a deal with Nye’s camp over eight months ago. It was a lengthy process but Williams believes it will pay off in a very big way with the Monday, Jan. 23 appearance. “I chose to bring Bill Nye to the U of L for a number of reasons,” says Williams. “He is a man, who for many current students, ignited a passion for learning and pursuing knowledge, and that passion and enthusiasm are contagious.” For over 15 years, Nye has been providing audiences with exciting, educational science entertainment. His most prominent persona, Bill Nye the Science Guy, began in September
Jan. 18 | Faculty of Education Teacher Job Fair | Exhibitors and potential employers from the education sector | 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., University Hall Atrium Jan. 18 | Bamfield Marine Science Centre Information Session 1 to 3 p.m., L950 Jan. 18 | New Media Film Series: The Orphanage | New Media Film Series explores momentous movies of the last 10 years 6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Jan. 20 | Biology Graduate Research Symposium | Highlighting graduate research currently being conducted within the Department of Biological Sciences | Poster presentation, 12:30 p.m., University Hall Atrium Oral presentations, 1:55 p.m., C674 Jan. 25 | Health Sciences Career Fair Exhibitors and potential employers from the health sciences sector | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Students’ Union Ballrooms
Miscellaneous
Jan. 28 | Abbondànza A memorable evening of gourmet food, fine art and fun to raise funds for Fine Arts student scholarships | 6 p.m., Coco Pazzo Italian Café
Jan. 6 to Feb. 24 | Notebook (art + people = x series) | Features work by Lethbridge artists who responded to a call to engage with the U of L Collection | Helen Christou Gallery
Feb. 2 | New Media Film Series: The Necessities of Life | New Media Film Series explores momentous movies of the last 10 years | 6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library
Jan. 12 to Mar. 1 | The Winnipeg Alphabestiary | Winnipeg’s established and rising art stars create a contemporary take on an illustrated alphabet | Opening reception, 4 p.m., Jan. 12 in the Main Gallery
Feb. 4 | Culture Vulture Saturday: Printmaking 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., University Hall Atrium
1993 and ran for five years. Nye hosted a total of 100 episodes to
Bill Nye popularized the study of science for a generation of youngsters.
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Jan. 14 | Culture Vulture Saturday: My Bestiary | Make your own book of the animals that live in your imagination | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., University Hall Atrium
much critical acclaim and captured 19 Emmy Awards. The excitement from both the University of Lethbridge community and the greater Lethbridge area to the event is apparent in the brisk ticket sales. Williams says the ULSU has already sold more than 2,200 tickets. “My hope is that Bill Nye’s appearance will remind students of their strong passion and desire to learn, as well as recharge their batteries, so to speak, before mid-terms begin.” The event’s attendees are not the only ones who stand to benefit from Nye’s colloquial monologues. All proceeds from the event go to the ULSU Food Bank, helping to ensure that its
shelves remain full and at the ready for all those who seek its services. “The ULSU Food Bank is there to provide students in need with one of the most basic of human necessities,” says Williams. The 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium will host the noon event, with the popular University of Lethbridge Chem Guys – John Eng & Wayne Lippa – serving as the opening act. For more information about the Bill Nye appearance, or to purchase tickets, contact the ULSU at 403-329-2222 or stop by their office on the first floor of the Students’ Union Building (SU180).
FINE ARTS
in focus
Faculty series offers opportunity for performance
B
laine Hendsbee (tenor) has plenty of friends, and it should come as no surprise that many of them have strong musical talents. Hendsbee and his friends will take to the stage on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. in the University Recital Hall, presenting Blaine Hendsbee & Friends as part of the Faculty Artists and Friends Series. It is sure to be a delightful evening of musical merriment as faculty, students and alumni perform a program of dazzling classics and exciting newer offerings. The first half of the performance features a striking set of British folk songs, arranged by Benjamin Britten and followed by a song cycle for tenor, entitled, A Young Man’s Exhortation, written by Gerald Finzi with poetry by Thomas Hardy. “It’s a landmark tenor song cycle,” says Hendsbee. “This is a very beautiful piece reflecting on life and love, first from a younger man’s perspective, and then from an older man’s viewpoint.
“This is a very beautiful piece reflecting on life and love.”
BLAINE HENDSBEE
“The second half of the program starts with a Canadian chamber piece modeled after Palm Court Orchestras from
POSSIBLE WORLDS A FANTASTIC RIDE Part murder mystery, part science fiction and part mathematical theory, TheatreXtra’s presentation of Possible Worlds by Canadian author, playwright
Blaine Hendsbee in Clun, England, a location where much of the poetry for his songs was written.
the 1920s and 1930s, written by John Greer, a pianist, coach and composer I met nearly 30 years ago at the Toronto Opera School. It’s an exciting piece that parodies music by Mozart, Schubert, Faure and Verdi, and also mimics musical and dance forms such as the cakewalk and jazz singer scatting.” Margaret
Mezei (clarinet) and Mark Rodgers (cello) will join Hendsbee on stage. The evening’s finale includes a smattering of familiar operetta gems from The New Moon and Student Prince, by Sigmund Romberg. Friends singing with Hendsbee include U of L alumni
McKade Hogg (tenor) and Joseph Bulman (tenor), professor emeritus Dr. George Evelyn (bass-baritone) and an ensemble of 16 talented male vocalists comprised of students from the music department. Pianists featured throughout the evening’s performances include Dr. Deanna Oye, Glen
Montgomery, Gregory Knight and alumna Magdalena von Eccher. To share an evening of engaging entertainment with Hendsbee and his friends, purchase tickets at the University Box Office. Tickets are priced at $15 regular, $10 students and seniors.
and mathematician, John Mighton, takes audiences on a trip through space and time. Playing nightly at 8 p.m. in the David Spinks Theatre from Jan. 26-28 (with a 2 p.m. matinee Jan. 28), Possible Worlds is an original story presented in a very unique way. First-time director and third-year drama major Ryan Reese was attracted to the
creative concepts and unusual storytelling found within the play. “Mighton has a PhD in mathematics from the University of Toronto and the play is what I call math noir. It’s based on a mathematical theory and explores that theory. The noir is the mystery!” says Reese. “There’s truly something for everyone in this play. The story
is very compelling and touches on so many elements.” A man, traveling through space and time, tries to do the right thing for the woman he loves, while two detectives attempt to solve a gruesome murder case. “There’s a lot going on in this play, with parallel narratives and alternate worlds. The cast loves the script as much as I
do, and it’s been exciting to put what’s in my head, on the stage,” he says. Tickets for this suspenseful and thought-provoking drama are on sale at the University Box Office beginning Jan. 9, Monday to Friday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are priced at $11 regular, $7 for students and seniors.
WIND ORCHESTRA PRESENTS BLACK TIE AFFAIR It’s a classy night of music, food and dancing at the U of L Wind Orchestra’s annual fundraiser, A Black Tie Affair, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. in the Students’ Union Ballrooms. With music by the Lethbridge Big Band under the direction of Paul Walker, the evening is sure to be a fun night of entertainment and an
opportunity to help talented student musicians in the U of L Wind Orchestra raise funds for a future tour. “The Lethbridge Big Band is a perennial favourite at providing dance music. The silent auction features many great gifts from local businesses. It’ll be a great night to dress up, dance and have fun with us,”
says Sarah Viejou, music student and musician with the U of L Wind Orchestra. Tickets are available at the U of L Box Office Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616. They are also available daily in the UHall Atrium (Level 6 Centre for the Arts) for $25 each or $160 for a table of 8.
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Distinguished
TEACHING AWARD Deadline for Nominations:
February 1, 2012 http://www.uleth.ca/awards/ distinguished-teaching-award
images L ASTING
William Eakin was born in Winnipeg, Man. in 1952. He studied at the Vancouver School of Art and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Throughout his career, Eakin worked at the National Film Board and Canadian Broadcasting Company, served as Fine Art Advisor for the Sanavik Inuit Co-operative in Baker Lake, and taught at the University of Victoria and University of Manitoba.
Eakin’s photographic work has been widely exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, France, Japan and Taiwan. He has received multiple awards from the Canada Council and the Manitoba Arts Council, including the Duke and Duchess of York Prize in Photography. Eakin’s artistic practice focuses on the process of collecting discarded everyday
goods from second-hand stores, photographing them in great detail to heighten their aesthetic presence, and categorizing them into like groups for display. Eakin’s work explores consumer culture and the by-products of waste, and by reproducing the objects he collects at greater than life size, he encourages the viewer to examine, reflect upon and reconsider the cast-offs of capitalism.
(TOP) William
Eakin, ‘Bottle Cap (Alpine Lager)’, 2001.
(CENTER)
From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 2007.
From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 2007.
(LEFT) William
Eakin, ‘Bottle Cap (Sloop)’, 2001. From the
(CENTER) William
University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 2007.
University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 2007.
William Eakin, Details from ‘Night Garden’, 2000.
Eakin, ‘Bottle Cap (Up-Town)’, 2001. From the