2022-23 Impact Report by Ambrose University

UNIVERSITY

AMBROSE 2022/23

IMPACT REPORT

OUR MISSION Ambrose University prepares men and women for wise, joyful and redemptive engagement in the church, society and the created order through excellent Christian postsecondary education.

VISION Ambrose University is a community of transformative Christian higher education – with a vision for the welfare of our city and our world.

OUR VALUES Christian Faith We believe that Christ is the centre of what we do. We are ecumenically minded, broadly evangelical, and rooted in the holiness traditions of The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada and the Church of the Nazarene.

Pursuing Excellence We encourage intellectual curiosity, promoting conversations about difficult issues that are marked by both courage and charity. We provide high-quality education as well as cocurricular experiences pursuing excellence in all that we do.

Holistic Formation We assert that Ambrose is a place where students develop virtues, grow in character, acquire life skills, and prepare for future vocations. We wrestle together with the hard questions of life and faith.

Service We strive to integrate faith and active service to the world. We commit to shaping servant leaders who will honour Christ in their vocations. We shape culture through our scholarship, research, and artistic expression.

Community We believe that spiritual, personal, and academic development is best accomplished within the context of a Christian community that worships and glorifies God. We collaborate to foster a welcoming, hospitable, generous, just, and truth-telling community that strives to fulfill the university’s mission. We seek the welfare of students, one another, and the external community.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear friends of Ambrose University, God is good; and I am deeply grateful for all the ways in which donors and friends of the university have made it possible for Ambrose to not only survive all the limitations of the pandemic, but also to actually thrive. The university is coming out of this challenging time even stronger. And this is due in no small part to those who have contributed financially and generously towards the mission and vision of this unique educational institution. When you invest in Ambrose University you are actively joining us in this mission – to equip and empower an emerging generation of Christian leaders who will serve in the church and in the marketplace, and do so with a profound vision for what God is doing in our world. For this we thank you. Thank you for believing in these emerging leaders. Thank you for helping to make it possible for us to provide them with a quality education. Thank you for your generosity and encouragement. Thank you for being a friend to the university. This report provides you with an overview of how you and others are making a difference. Your part in all of this is deeply appreciated.

Gordon T Smith President

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When you invest in Ambrose you are actively joining us in this mission – to equip and empower an emerging generation of Christian leaders who will serve in the church and in the marketplace.

2022-23 HIGHLIGHTS

Ambrose International Student wins Export Development Canada (EDC) Award Each year, Export Development Canada (EDC) awards scholarships to deserving students through their Youth Education Program. The award is given to those with strong academic standing who are also engaged in volunteer and community initiatives. Diana Hruba of Ambrose was one of twenty students across Canada to receive this award. Diana, a Ukrainian international student, joined Ambrose in the Fall of 2022 and is working on the second year of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Diana had this to say about winning this award:

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Diana Hruba

I was blessed with this scholarship and I am immensely grateful to EDC which has enabled me to unleash my potential and pursue my education at Ambrose University. I am also deeply thankful to my professor Murray MacTavish whose unwavering support and encouragement played an integral role in this achievement. This scholarship not only provides important financial support but also empowers me to channel all my energy towards achieving my academic goals and realizing my dreams. I am forever grateful for those who believed in me and for the doors it has opened for me.”

One of EDC’s standout initiatives is its investment in future leaders through scholarships, mentorship programs, and educational partnerships. By fostering the next generation of business innovators, EDC not only fuels economic growth but also cultivates a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in Canada. To learn more about Ambrose School of Business please visit: https://ambrose.edu/department/business.

School of Business Building We are very pleased to confirm that construction has begun on a new facility that will house the School of Business of Ambrose University. While our master academic plan has all along assumed that sooner than later we would build a chapel and performing arts centre, the immediate priority is for classroom space. The student body is growing, which is great news; and we need more classrooms. In due time, we will also construct a chapel and performing arts centre, but for now, we urgently need classrooms. And we have chosen to give primary focus to our Business Faculty – so that like the Education program, they have their own space – for faculty offices, meeting spaces and classrooms.

We are profoundly grateful to the friends of Ambrose University who have invested in this project that will give us greater capacity.

Dr. Murray MacTavish Associate Dean, Ambrose School of Business

DONOR IMPACT

From Student to Donor: Keeping the Lions’ Den Roaring! The new scoreboard is up in the Lions’ Den and we are grateful to the Calgary Parks Foundation for the matching grant and all our Athletic Alumni who donated to the campaign. Thank you for keeping the Lions’ Den ROARING! Dave and Cathy Dent helped take us over the finish line with a generous donation towards the project. Dave was even able to make it out to Calgary to take in the ACAC Provincials hosted by Ambrose last spring. He had this to say about his visit:

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The competition was intense and the games were fast and physical… As much as the basketball was good, I also enjoyed interacting with students. Randomly, I encountered a diverse group ranging from the ‘renaissance’ man of English and Philosophy who is bound for law school, to a single mom of three who is grateful to Ambrose for a chance to upgrade her qualifications in subject matter that is of significant interest to her. I also eavesdropped on a class; the prof covered probability theory in an energetic and systematic manner reminding me I still use some of those concepts at least implicitly (if not always successfully) when trading options. So it was a very enjoyable time for me on a few different levels.”

Dave and Cathy are Ambrose donors who have a long history with the University and our athletics program. Their journey with Ambrose started in Regina, with Cathy graduating from Canadian Bible College (CBC) in 1976 with a degree in Christian Education and Dave graduating from Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS) in 1981 with a Master of Divinity. Over the years they have been devoted supporters of God’s work at Ambrose, particularly in the area of sport. There is rarely a month that goes by that Dave and Cathy do not reflect on their experiences as university students. Dave’s fondest memories of his studies and the lessons learned along the way all point back to his time spent on the basketball court. It was for this reason that the Dent’s desire was to help push the scoreboard project over the goal line.

Dave Dent > (top row, far right)

During his time at CTS, Dave was quick to become acquainted with the school gym and the basketball program. There were two fundamental lessons that Dave took from his time on the court. First, at its most basic level, sports should be fun. A cheerful heart is the best medicine (Proverbs 22:17), and there is joy even in something as simple as a game of catch - whether you’re the learner, or the teacher. The second lesson is that it is okay to get knocked down as long as you don’t stay down (Micah 7:8). It is in the getting up that one grasps the benefits of commitment, persistence, teamwork, and self-accountability that helps build character. During those years, Dave’s future was shaped in the classroom as well as athletics. After graduating in 1981, Dave spent eight years pastoring in Ontario before earning an MBA and working in the energy sector. His work often brought him to Calgary which is when he kept in contact with Ambrose at the previous downtown location, and eventually our current campus. He and Cathy have maintained an ongoing connection with Ambrose and the athletic department. Their enduring dedication, exemplified by their roles as proud alumni and generous donors, is a testament to their strong tie with Ambrose. Our athletes are thankful for donors like Dave and Cathy who have made a difference in the lives of our students with their donation!

Weber (Randy) Memorial Award Randy Weber’s enduring influence is exemplified through the scholarship established in his honour. This scholarship, arising from his unwavering commitment to creating spaces of worship and community, reflects Randy’s core values of excellence, innovation, and fostering meaningful relationships. It aims to support students who share a similar commitment to these principles in their studies. Described by his family as someone who “…wanted to see people’s gifts developed and exercised for the benefits of the church and the glory of God…”, it was a logical step for Randy Weber’s family to establish a scholarship in his honour when he passed away. The scholarship aims to support students who share a similar commitment to creating spaces of worship and community and espouse the principles of excellence, innovation and fostering meaningful relationships. In this way, Randy’s legacy lives on through this scholarship. Known locally for founding an annual Living Christmas Tree production, Randy touched many lives through this cherished holiday tradition that took place for over 25 years. And the scholarship in his honour continues to impact lives: since it was established more than $50,000 has been awarded to 25 students to help them continue to develop their gifts in ministry. We express gratitude to the family of Randy Weber for their ongoing support, positively influencing the lives of students through this meaningful tribute to their husband, father, grandfather and follower of Christ.

MAP Summer Campaign brought in $43,850, with 94 Unique Gifts (52% increase in unique donors) This fall Ambrose began offering a new M.A.P Certificate of Christian Discipleship. Two students joined the program in the Fall 2023 intake with two more applications coming in to start the following Fall. This cohort-based certificate allows students to immerse in studies of their faith while also getting mentorship with a local pastor.

ALUMNI IMPACT

Education Alumni Highlight Paige Richardson (née Goertzen) graduated from Ambrose University with her Education degree in 2022. Since then, Paige has moved to Ottawa with her husband to teach Core French at two schools located in downtown. Her journey over the last few years has shown her the power of resilience both in her own circumstances and in those of others. The type of classroom that Paige finds herself in is growing increasingly common. Large refugee and Indigenous populations mean that, for Paige’s context, students taking French are learning their third or fourth language in elementary school. Additionally, the various cultural backgrounds and perspectives mean that there is much to manage in the classroom. Paige cites how the Ambrose Education program equipped her for this type of experience: “(Ambrose faculty) taught us that the only way to teach students is to meet them where they are. In my current role as an educator this is a huge factor in building a successful classroom. When working closely with students whose families come from around the world, it’s important they see themselves in the classroom whether it is through bilingual books, language, or creating space for students to share about their own traditions.” Paige has also seen this resilience in her work with the Ukrainian students that joined the Ambrose community in the fall of 2022. Three students came to the university to continue their studies, fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. As the voice that engaged her fellow alumni, Paige wrote a letter encouraging her peers to help raise funds to ensure that the costs of the Ukrainian students’ studies would be covered. At the core of her beliefs, it is her conviction that “education opens doors” that motivates her to be a part of projects such as this. “By removing the financial burden for these students, we are giving them the keys to open a world of possibility.” Whether in her own classroom or in other spaces, Paige finds herself encountering the resilience of those looking to learn. The core concept of “authentic relational teaching” that Paige has taken from her time at Ambrose helps her to connect with each in their own circumstance. The impact of alumni engagement is vital to the life of Ambrose and the many communities our alumni inhabit.

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

President’s Cabinet President – Gordon T. Smith Provost & Senior Vice President, Academic – Pam Nordstrom Executive Vice President, Operations – Myles Nelson Vice President, Student Life – Monique Verhoef Vice President, Finance – Steve Larkin

Board of Governors Debi Mills (Chair) – Businessperson, Stony Plain, AB Calvin Buss (Vice Chair) – Businessperson, Vancouver, BC Larry Koop (Secretary) – Businessperson, Sundre, AB Ian Fitzpatrick – National Director, Church of the Nazarene in Canada Leonard Lam – Lead Pastor, Calgary, AB Ilse Li – Lay Leader Janet Kirby – Businessperson, Kelowna, BC Howard Louie – Businessperson, Vancouver, BC Teresa Davidson – Healthcare Executive, Calgary, AB Darren Herbold – President, The Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA), Canada Bernie Van De Walle – District Superintendent, Canadian Midwest District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Scott Dickie – Lead Pastor, Surrey, BC Srimal Ranasinghe – Urban Planning Consultant, Calgary, AB Alexandria Randell – Businessperson, Calgary, AB

AMBROSE AT A GLANCE

Countries Represented

Denominations Represented

Student to Faculty Ratio

Average Class Size

19:1

900

Students Enrolled at Ambrose

14,391 Total Alumni

$1,708

Mean Donation Received in 2022-23

1,690

# of Applicants for Student Aid

2,389

Total # of Gifts Received in 2022-23

$1.57M

Total Scholarship and Bursary Amount Awarded in 2022-23

% of Students who Apply and Receive a Scholarship or Bursary

$2,018

Average Scholarship and Bursary Award in 2022-23

School of Ministry and Seminary Students in Practicum or Internship Placements

2022-23 Financials Category

Amount

Tuition and Fees

$8,849,611

51% (51.4)

Donations and Constituent Support

$2,539,352

15% (14.7)

Government Grants

$3,136,687

18% (18.2)

Sales, Rent and Other

$792,088

5% (4.6)

Government Relief

$4,483

0.02%

Endowment and Other

$1,874,638

11% (10.9)