Declan Crawford

Many of the students who enroll in NWP’s Harley-Davidson® program are somewhat new to motorcycle mechanics and most have never worked on a Harley. Declan Crawford is not one of them.

At 19, Declan Crawford recently became one of the youngest tradespeople to achieve accreditation as Master Technician for HarleyDavidson®. This is a remarkable accomplishment as reaching this level is not only a rigorous test of skill and knowledge but requires a significant investment of time, education, and dealership experience. According to harley-davidson.com, a minimum of five years’ experience at an authorized Harley-Davidson® Dealership is required, but it usually takes even longer than that to work through the lower levels and complete the required course work.

To understand how Declan managed to achieve this renowned status less than two years after graduating high school, it helps to know that he has been running around the Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson dealership in Grande Prairie since he was a toddler.

“My mom, Lindsay German (General Manager, Mighty Peace HarleyDavidson), started working at the dealership as a service writer when I was pretty young, so I’ve been around Harleys my whole life,” explains Declan. “By middle school I was sweeping floors and washing bikes, and it wasn’t too long after that that I started helping out the technicians.”

While his family connection to the dealership certainly helped cement his passion and support his goals, it was Declan’s decision to participate in Alberta’s Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) while in high school that set him up to complete his Motorcycle Mechanic Apprenticeship and Red Seal certification in record time. RAP students are both full-time students and registered apprentices and divide their time between an approved work site and their high school studies.

“Being in Alberta, there are so many opportunities available through RAP,” says Declan. “I have nothing but great things to say about the program. I was lucky to already have a place to work but if you don’t, they help you find a job and make industry connections. I earned more than enough credits to graduate, while also working 3 hours a day, getting some great experience and making some money.”

Upon graduating high school in 2020, Declan had already accumulated nearly three years’ worth of apprenticeship hours towards his Motorcycle Mechanic qualification certificate, and enough knowledge to challenge and pass the first-year exam. He finished up his third- and fourth-year technical training at NWP’s Fairview Campus. “Although I found it hard to be away from home for that long, it was a really great experience,” he says. “I met people from all around the province and made some good friends.”

Since returning from Fairview, Declan hasn’t slowed down much. Three months after getting back, he was awarded his Red Seal certification. While his apprenticeship certifies him to work in Alberta, his Red Seal allows him to work as a qualified journeyman across the country. Not long after that, Declan received Harley-Davidson’s top-qualification of Master Technician. Peter Sellers, who teaches both the HarleyDavidson® Certificate and “PHD” Factory training courses for NWP, was proud to award Declan with this latest certification.

“Declan is really one of our shining stars. It is great to see him recognized for his exceptional abilities. He’s a highly skilled and competent young man, and I think he’s done a wonderful job.” than 800 members of the community who each contributed a tile.

It’s been a busy few years for Declan, and though he now has the qualifications, experience, and expertise to work anywhere in the world, he says he is pretty happy to stay put for awhile. Now mentoring apprentices of his own, and his second Harley calling out for customization (a 2019 Street Bob, for those in the know), chances are he’ll be in the shop if you need him.

Sorting carefully through hundreds of wooden tiles, each one decorated in memory of the children who never returned home from Canada’s residential schools, Desiree Mearon couldn’t stop thinking about her young grandson.

Inspired by similar initiatives she had seen towards reconciliation, Desiree started sending out small tiles last fall to nearby schools, students enrolled in the Aboriginal Head Start program, and students, faculty, and staff on both received an enthusiastic reply. “I was grateful for the opportunity to use my skill set to create something meaningful,” says Ess. “It was so beautiful to be involved, because this project allowed people to give back in a way that was accessible to them.”

Before Ess received the tiles, they were smudged by NWP Elder in Residence, Theresa Gladue, in a private ceremony intended to cleanse and bless them. Ess came up with the idea of stringing the tiles so they would overlap, but still be free to swivel and move around.“I felt the tiles were a metaphor for the discovered graves, so I didn’t think they should be fastened in place and put behind glass,” she explains. “I felt they should be interacted with more and be free to move. Metaphorically, it was a stronger way to display them.”

Thoughts about what would happen if someone just took him away, kept haunting her. What if she was too powerless to stop it? Even if he did return home one day, Desiree thought, his beautiful spirit would surely come back broken.

Like many across the country, Mearon was stunned by the 2021 discovery of more than 200 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. As Indigenous liaison coordinator at NWP, Desiree soon began reflecting on what she could do to not only raise awareness, but also try to heal the pain in the community.

The result of Desiree’s efforts is a stunning visual arts project, to be unveiled this fall to commemorate Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Made up of two teepee-shaped installations, each displaying over 400 hand-decorated tiles, the artwork represents a collaboration between Desiree, the Fine Arts department at NWP, and more

NWP campuses. “I left it wide open in terms of what they could do with them; the only direction I gave was to create a design either in memory of a child who didn’t return from residential school, or to honour the healing journey of someone who did come home,” says Desiree, who is Métis.

Designs varied from carefully placed stickers by the youngest contributors, who were aged three and four, to exquisite paintings, Indigenous symbols and wishes for hope and healing through words and phrases.

“The response was very emotional. I was overwhelmed - I never expected such a high quality and quantity of art to come back,” says Desiree. “One thing that was important to us was ensuring this wasn’t a hurried process. Once all the tiles came back, we started planning how they needed to be displayed.”

Desiree then reached out to Ess Hoflick, chair of the Department of Fine Arts at NWP, to help and

Along with several undergraduate students, Ess and Desiree spent more than 100 hours stringing the tiles together with synthetic sinew thread with four beads placed between each tile. As a sacred number in Indigenous culture, the number four represents the stages of life on the medicine wheel as well as the four seasons. The tiles were then split between two wooden cases, one of which will be exhibited on the Grande Prairie campus on the wall outside the executive offices, and the other in a similar location on the Fairview campus.

For Desiree, the artwork is an invaluable opportunity to create further discussion and understanding. “It creates a space where people want to learn more about reconciliation and what that looks like, what it means to be an ally of Indigenous people, and how they can educate themselves more on the subject,” she says.

“When I decorated my tile, I used just a phrase: ‘The children they took and tried to silence are the very ones who have awoken the world.’”

Long-time international student, Tom Wheeler, has come a long way – both literally and figuratively. Six years ago, Tom journeyed to Grande Prairie from Ipswich, Australia. Ipswich is located in inland Australia, approximately 930 kilometres north of Sydney and a whopping 12,000 kilometres and two full days travel from Grande Prairie!

According to Tom, even though it was a world away, choosing NWP was easy. In Grade 11, Tom was a top-level volleyball player and was encouraged to consider how the sport might play into his plans after high school. A Canadian coach came to talk to him and his teammates to introduce them to all the different volleyball opportunities that could be explored at a postsecondary level in Canada.

“He had this big whiteboard of all the colleges and universities that he would recommend, and NWP was on there for Alberta,” says Tom.

It didn’t hurt that Tom’s childhood best friend had come to Canada the year prior to attend NWP and play for the Wolves. His friend shared that NWP was a good school with lots of educational opportunities, and a great place to play sports. That was enough for Tom and he decided, despite how little he knew about this part of the world, to take the leap and enroll in NWP’s Teacher Education North (TEN) program.

There are a few things that have stuck with Tom about his first impressions of NWP and the community of Grande Prairie. He remembers being pleasantly surprised at the small classroom sizes. This allowed him to connect more easily with his classmates and helped him avoid feeling overwhelmed with everything he had going on.

Grande Prairie’s small-town feel was new to Tom and a definite change of pace given that he had left a city five times its size. He remembers being struck by how kind and welcoming people were everywhere he went. And thankfully, his friend’s assurance that NWP was a great place to play volleyball was proven true by NWP’s impressive gym, which Tom believes is the best in the league.

As with every major life transition, there were some trying times. Tom’s first Christmas in Grande Prairie was rough. In Australia, temperatures soar upwards of +40 degrees Celsius in December, and he was finding it hard to get used to -40. Between the weather and the shorter winter days, he started to feel homesick.

Tom knew, however, where to turn for help getting through the hard times and gives top credit to the connections and friendships he had developed through the school. Playing for the NWP men’s volleyball team, he had his teammates to lean on, as well as the diverse group of friends he made through his various education classes. He also found it very helpful to engage with other Australians who had chosen NWP as it gave him an important sense of connection to home.

Many of Tom’s fondest memories at NWP revolve around his time in athletics. From road trips to toga parties, resident move-in days to simply joking around and bonding with his teammates, Tom has enjoyed it all. One experience that stands out is when NWP hosted the Women’s Volleyball Nationals in 2018. “That was awesome,” Tom remembers. “Just seeing the gym crowded with people from around the country… That is one of my favorite memories.”

With each passing year, Tom found himself settling in and feeling more and more acclimatized. Looking back, he can see how he has changed in many ways and how his approach to helping others worked to build up his confidence.

As a senior member of his volleyball team, it is easy for Tom to spot when junior team members are struggling. He explains that being able to support these younger students has been beneficial to his personal growth.

“Being able to help them helps me as well. It’s kind of like, fake it until you make it, I guess,” says Tom. “When I act really confident and reassuring towards the younger guys, it helps me feel confident in myself as well.”

This increased confidence has extended beyond the volleyball court into Tom’s academics. “I feel like I’m a lot more confident in myself and better able to articulate my thoughts and ideas,” says Tom. “That’s pretty important in the TEN program, as there is a lot of collaboration and group work.”

It is important to Tom that students coming to NWP have as positive an experience as possible, so he’s happy to share what worked for him. His advice for incoming international students is to be detail-orientated, always read the fine print and ensure all forms are well filled out to avoid headaches down the road. He adds that they should always ask too many questions, not be nervous about expanding their social group, and to get out to as many NWP events as they can. “Get involved, because you really only have one opportunity to be a student,” says Tom.

We’re thankful that Tom chose NWP for his opportunity to be a student, and that we have been able to play such a positive and significant role in his life over these past six years. For all he’s gained through his time here, we appreciate all that he has given in return!

Dr. Gail MacInnis makes things happen. Whether it’s agreeing to an interview while simultaneously training students in the field (and keeping a watchful eye for bears!) or leading the charge on four active research grants, Gail is adept at identifying a need and doing what it takes to get it done.

Entering the wild world of pollinators in the Peace

As a Research Scientist for NWP’s National Bee Diagnostic CentreTechnology Access Centre (NBDCTAC), Gail focuses on wild bees. Wild bees, as opposed to managed pollinators like honey bees, are species of bees that are usually native to a particular area and that aid in the pollination of both agricultural and wild plants.

“Honey bees are considered a managed pollinator in that humans take care of them and know how to make more. They are kind of like chickens” explains Gail. “The honey bee population has received lots of research focus and funding, and much more is known about the pests and diseases that impact their health.

Wild bees, of which there are more than 20,000 species worldwide, are a different story. Many of the wild bee populations are struggling and their numbers are declining, and for some species declining at a rapid rate. There is a significant need for more research on how we can best support and protect the diversity, abundance, and health of these important pollinators.

While they might not know it, Canada’s wild bee populations are fortunate to have Gail on their side. It almost didn’t go that way. After growing up in Cape Breton, Gail oriented herself towards astrophysics, in which she earned her bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary’s University. A somewhat chance email inviting her on a “wild arctic adventure” to study the physics of wind pollination compelled her to shift course into Environmental Science and the field of pollination ecology. Her arctic adventure in Le Pas, Manitoba, led to many exciting opportunities, including research trips to the Amazon and into West Africa. With pollination firmly established as her field of choice, Gail went on to earn her Ph.D. at McGill University with a thesis on bee diversity, pollination, and fruit production in strawberry agroecosystems.

When asked what drew her to becoming a research scientist, Gail points to the satisfaction she feels in discovering new things. “There are so many bee species out there, and so much of what I focus on is historically understudied,” she explains.

“This means that much of what my teams and I uncover is all new. There is still so much to learn about the ecology and life histories of many of our wild bee species, and there is a significant need for more research and knowledge to understand how these pollinators live, so that we can help maintain their populations and healthy ecosystems.”

Another aspect of the work that appeals to Gail is the practical application of the research she conducts. “We aren’t just building knowledge for the sake of knowledge.

We make these discoveries and then get to apply them to the real world. There is incredible satisfaction in that.”

Underscoring both the need for this work, and the opportunities for real-world application, is the funding and show of support that Gail has received from both industry and government agencies. Even summarized at a high-level, it is easy to see the breadth and depth of Gail’s efforts and its potential impact on our country’s economy, food system, industry, and environmental health.

Improving Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Health And Pest Control

Through a NSERC grant, in addition to a funding contribution by the Alfalfa Seed and Forage Commissions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, this research project is focused on the alfalfa leafcutting bee. This species has been responsible for increasing alfalfa seed yields fivefold and revolutionizing this important forage cropping industry in Canada and the United States. Gail and her team are exploring the parasite and pathogen pressures facing these bees and investigating alternative control options to protect them from one of their most prevalent pests.

ENHANCING PRODUCTION, RESILIENCE, AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH IN NORTHERN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Gail and the team at the NBDC were successful in securing a NSERC Mobilize grant of $1 million over five years to investigate the influence of common regenerative practices used by farmers in northern Canada, such as cover crop management and grazing strategies, on biodiversity, profitability, and animal and pollinator health.

Harnessing The Power Of Pollen Dna Metabarcoding

Gail and the NBDC team will benefit from a research grant funded by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) and Alberta Innovates to develop in-house pollen DNA metabarcoding technology, to enhance pollinator health, and honey value in cropping landscapes. Analyzing pollen DNA in honey, and on the bodies of bees, can accurately determine the plant species a bee has visited and uncover links between bee health and landscape resources. This contribution was made possible through the Agriculture Funding Consortium, a consortium of 18 commodity groups including producers of wheat, barley, canola, bees, and beef.

POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PIPELINES: ENERGY AND BIODIVERSITY ALONG NORTHERN ALBERTA’S PIPELINE CORRIDORS

In comparison to agricultural lands, pipeline corridors represent a unique opportunity to study and monitor our wild and native bees. Through assessments of floral diversity and pollinator habitat along these working landscapes, Gail and her team will gain essential ecological knowledge needed to support wild pollinator populations, while maintaining safety and accessibility for pipeline managers. The main objectives are to establish pollinator diversity monitoring sites along pipeline corridors in northern Alberta, contribute to provincial and global biodiversity monitoring initiatives, and further understand the ecological and conservation needs of native bee species. Support for this project has been received through TC Energy’s Build Strong program.

We look forward to seeing what new discoveries Dr. MacInnis and her team make in support of our Peace Country pollinators.