Section Name
Happy 25th
anniversary
Lloydminster campus! Winter 2015
Alumni invent
grab-and-go camp kitchen PhD takes alumnus to South Africa
Student Managed Farm
– Powered by New Holland
turns 25
Winter 2015
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What I did this summer…
Table of
Contents
Feature Stories
Lakeland students were busy over the summer and we have the photos to prove it. Pictures of restored trucks, lobster fishing, castles in Belgium, harvesting lentils and fishing at nearby lakes are among the 117 entries in the #WhatIdidThisSummer photo contest. Best overall photo (above right) was submitted by Austin Weber, an environmental sciences student, who worked for Ducks Unlimited. In the photo he is standing in a stream wearing chest waders with equipment used to blast beaver dams. Josepha Scott shared a photo from her deep sea diving trip in Cuba (above left), winning first place in the travel category. Reanna Lenart won third best overall for her photo of guiding on horseback in the mountains (top right). See all of the photo entries on the #WhatIdidThisSummer flickr album: flickr.com/photos/lakelandcollege.
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Ask for your quote today at 1-888-589-5656 or visit melochemonnex.com/lakelandc The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services Inc. in Quebec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, Montreal (Quebec) H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, our auto and recreational vehicle insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. *Average based on the home and auto premiums for active policies on July 31, 2014 of all of our clients who belong to a professional or alumni group that has an agreement with us when compared to the premiums they would have paid with the same insurer without the preferred insurance rate for groups and the multi-product discount. Savings are not guaranteed and may vary based on the client’s profile. ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
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Q & A with President Alice wainwright-stewart UT alumnus pursues her passion with PhD program WFC grad paints his path to success Hard work lands alumnus national award International accolades for auctioneering alumnus Stress less, explore more with camp caddy
Winter Season 2015 YEAR
Excel is published by Lakeland College’s Department of Advancement. Excel is also available on Lakeland College’s website at lakelandcollege.ca/excel The Alumni Office distributes mailings, invitations and class lists. Anyone wishing to be excluded from certain mailings should notify the Alumni Office.
Editors: Katie Ryan and Colleen Symes
SMF celebrates 25 years of students in the lead
Creative Design: Kathleen Hughson
Energy centre opens
Cover Photo: Colleen Symes
Lloydminster campus turns 25 Distinguished company
Lakeland salutes notable alumni and community members.
Continue Reading 07
ALUMNI SOCIAL EVENTS
28 Donor Spotlight
Accepting Advertising: Advertising in the Excel is welcome. For rates call the Alumni Office at 780 853 8628 or email alumni@lakelandcollege.ca Contributions Special thanks to all alumni who contributed to this edition of Excel. Letters, photographs and news are welcome. We reserve the right to edit contributions. Submitted photographs must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Please address all correspondence to the Alumni Office. Publications mail agreement No. 40009099
30 Campus news 36 Class notes 38 IN MEMORIAM 39
remember when
Return undeliverable addresses to Lakeland College Alumni Office 5707 College Drive Vermilion, Alberta, Canada T9X 1K5 1 800 661 6490 lakelandcollege.ca/alumni
New president, familiar face 4
President Q & A
President Alice Wainwright-Stewart (centre) is joined by VermilionLloydminster MLA Richard Starke (left) and Darrel Howell, chair of the board of governors (right), at the Vermilion welcome back luncheon in August.
Congratulations Alice! How have you been settling into your role as president? Thanks for the questions! It has been a great six months. Our Homecoming celebration was a wonderful opportunity for me to get out and meet our alumni. I have been at all the planned events except the gathering in B.C. It’s been fantastic meeting so many people who are passionate about Lakeland. I love to hear their stories about the college.
Before this academic year started, you welcomed back staff during luncheons at each campus. In your address you shared your five goals for the upcoming year. How will you go about working towards achieving your goals this year?
I have reached the goals I set for myself this summer: meeting with government personnel, the alumni president and vice president, board members, deans and directors.
My goals are: ensure there is an updated animal health clinic and a new dairy barn, build internal and external relationships, implement a change plan and conduct a gap analysis to understand how effectively college programming is addressing the needs of our regional labour market. I have vetted my goals through our board of governors. They understand what I am planning to accomplish. Many of my goals are underway. Both the animal health clinic and dairy barn projects have teams set up to move these projects forward. This summer I began my work in networking and we have started work on the comprehensive institutional plan. We are working with stakeholders to understand our programming needs.
We celebrated the opening of the Energy Centre and our 25th anniversary of the Lloydminster Campus and then started another new year with increased enrolment. I anticipate another great year as we have a full house of students and wonderful employees.
Lakeland has deep roots when it comes to student-led learning opportunities. How will these grow and evolve at each campus?
The search for a new president and chief executive officer for Lakeland College concluded in May when a familiar face was appointed to the position: Alice Wainwright-Stewart. The extensive search process saw more than 30 candidates apply for the position, 13 in-depth interviews conducted by the college’s search firm and four final interviews with Lakeland’s search committee. “We wanted to be absolutely certain that we chose the best person available and I am confident that we have done that,” says Darrel Howell, chair of the board of governors, referencing Wainwright-Stewart’s more than 30 years of experience and success at Lakeland College. Prior to becoming president, Wainwright-Stewart served as vice president, academic. During her tenure as vice
president, the college became actively involved in applied research and added a number of new programs including heavy oil power engineering, renewable energy and conservation, street rod technologies, western ranch and cow horse, and sign language interpretation. Other highlights include increased enrolment, retrofitting the Trades Centre mezzanine at the Vermilion campus to accommodate more students, and construction of the Energy Centre at the Lloydminster campus. “Alice is a very proactive person and a collaborative leader. I believe that we will have many successful years ahead of us under her leadership,” says Howell.
Hall. Our facilities staff did a fantastic job of stretching our dollars to do upgrades around the college. I look forward to next year’s improvements. It will probably take us the next five years to upgrade the classrooms on the Vermilion campus.
I am excited to watch Lakeland College take this student-managed concept to an even higher level of student directed and faculty guided. This will enable our students to experience leading while under the guidance of our talented faculty and staff.
In your staff address you also spoke passionately about Lakeland’s vision and values, and your optimism for the college. What do you hope your team takes away from that?
The need to invest in capital projects is ongoing for all post-secondary institutions. What do you have planned for Lakeland in the coming years? Lakeland has a plan for continued capital investments. Of course there are challenges with the immediate environment in the energy sector and the drought conditions on the Prairies. We will move ahead slowly with a renewal plan for our Vermilion Campus. I am excited about the three newly renovated classrooms and the study area for students in Alumni
The Lakeland College vision and values are important to the way we at the college do business. I trust each person feels compelled to work together to create innovative learning opportunities for our learners, and at the same time supports and welcomes others to share our Lakeland environment. I hope the Lakeland family lives our values. This type of emotional investment from each college employee means our students will reap great benefits in their educational journey. Our world at Lakeland will thrive when all of our members are working together for the betterment of all.
Timeline to President: Alice Wainwright-Stewart 1980
1983
1983
Education Earned bachelor of arts in liberal studies with a teaching certificate from California State University, Northridge.
lakeland college alumni magazine
1985
Hired at Lakeland Education Earned master of arts in early childhood education from California State University, Northridge.
Hired by Lakeland as a sessional instructor, teaching classes in the early childhood development (ECD) program.
1998
2005
2014
Chair & Dean Became chair of ECD program. Within 10 years she became chair of three additional programs and then took on the dual role of dean and chair of human services programs.
Promotion Named vice president, academic.
Development Created the School of Health and Human Services.
2015
President Appointed president of Lakeland College.
Interim president Appointed interim president.
Winter 2015
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Lakeland College
Alumni Association
Alumni Social Events
Welcome to this issue of Excel. Lakeland College alumni are so fortunate to be associated with such a forward thinking place of learning. Associating with our alumni “family,” we continue to discuss and reminisce about our college years.
President
Barry McCarty ‘69 Vice President
We do agree that our time spent at Lakeland College provided us with a fantastic opportunity to learn and was a great place for all of us to grow up and prepare ourselves for a future on our own. The academic side of college life started most of us on a life-long pursuit of learning. Equipped with this formal education and the tools to plan, save and build, we were prepared to start careers and families.
Ed Lefsrud ‘65 Treasurer
Sandra Bernes ‘66 Secretary
Evelyn Lang ‘63 Past President
Bill Fox ‘58 Director
Charlie Jamieson ‘84 Term Ends 2018 Director
Werner Wennekamp ‘65 Term Ends 2018 Director
Ray Yaworski ‘75 Term Ends 2018 Director
Jack Price ‘66 Term Ends 2016 Director
Tom Kibblewhite ‘59
Starting my term as Alumni Association president has been challenging and rewarding as the learning continues. I look forward to working with an excellent Alumni Association board. We have plans of making all our events a great opportunity to keep in touch with college acquaintances both old and new. Our Alumni Association is 100 years old and that is an accomplishment that bodes well for the future. As fellow alumni, please keep in touch, and give us your constructive ideas. The Alumni Association office is now located in the front office of Alumni House. The phone number is 1 780 853 8466, the email is alumni.association@lakelandcollege.ca and the fax number is 1 780 853 8676. We will endeavor to help you all we can and continue working towards an exciting next 100 years for the Alumni Association and its members. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Term Ends 2016 Director
Gwen Kibblewhite Term Ends 2016 Historian
Margaret Snelgrove ‘47
Barry McCarty 1 780 632 7433 mccartyb@mcsnet.ca
Let’s stay in touch! Go to our website and update your contact information: lakelandcollege.ca/update And why not have some fun! Join our Alumni Facebook page! facebook.com/LakelandCollegeAlumni
Alumni Social Events dates & locations Saturday, February 6, 2016
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Yuma Alumni Snowbird Social Location: Westwind RV & Golf Resort, 9797 East 32nd Street, Yuma, AZ Time: 1 to 6:30 p.m. Cost: $15 per person, supper included Optional lettuce operations tour available for an additional $45/person (US). Tour must be booked two months in advance, please RSVP by Dec. 4, 2015 Contacts: Jack & Jeanette Price, 928 342 4567 Lyle & Sandra Baker, 928 342 4339
British Columbia Alumni Social Location: Hotel Eldorado, 500 Cook Road, Kelowna, B.C. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Possible winery tour on Sunday, April 24, 2016 Contact: Alumni Office, 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628
Thursday, march 17, 2016 - NEW Event Lloydminster & Area Alumni Social Location: Servus Credit Union Hospitality Centre, Lakeland College, Lloydminster, Alta. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Contact: Alumni Office, 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628 Saturday, April 9, 2016 - NEW Event Saskatchewan Alumni Social Location: Tentatively at University of Saskatchewan campus, Saskatoon, Sask. Possible tour. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Contact: Alumni Office, 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628
Saturday, April 16, 2016 Edmonton & Area Alumni Social Location: Country Side Golf Club, 51466 Range Road 232, Sherwood Park, Alta. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Contact: Alumni Office, 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628
Friday - Sunday, june 10, 11 & 12, 2016 Lakeland College Alumni Homecoming Registration form will be in the Spring 2016 Excel Location: Lakeland College, Vermilion, Alta. Contact: Alumni Office, 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628
Wednesday, July 20, 2016 Grande Prairie Alumni Social Location: Dunvegan Campsite, Alta. Time: 1 to 5 p.m. Contacts: Alice Fortier, 780 532 6662 Eric Stamp, 780 766 2464
Saturday, July 30, 2016 Lacer the Racer Alumni Golf Tournament Location: Vermilion Golf and Country Club, Vermilion, Alta. Contact: Peter Walsh, 780 853 8586 or 780 853 4973
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Westlock Alumni Social Location: Westlock Memorial Hall, Elks Room, 99 Ave. – 106 St., Westlock, Alta. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Contacts: George & Ivy McMillan, 780 349 2404 Doug & Vera Brown, 780 349 2410
Alumni are welcome to attend each event. Bring a friend! Please RSVP 14 days prior to each event to assist with planning.
For almost 10 years Darla Yonkman has served as Lakeland’s alumni coordinator. As Darla takes on a new role at the college, we’d like to express our appreciation and gratitude for her commitment to excellence and outstanding dedication to our alumni and the college.
Alumni Social fun
It’s been an eventful summer for Lakeland alumni. From reconnecting at Vermilion’s social in May to celebrating at our annual Homecoming celebration in June, golfing in the Lacer the Racer tournament in July and catching up at the Westlock social in August, there were plenty of events to take part in. Our alumni also gathered for socials in Kelowna, Sherwood Park and Grande Prairie, and at the Rustlers Alumni weekend in September. Our next alumni event will be held south of the border in Arizona on Feb. 6. Check the alumni social events list on page 7 or visit lakelandcollege.ca/alumni for other upcoming events.
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lakeland college alumni magazine
Winter 2015
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Alumni Spotlight
UT alumnus pursues her passion with
PhD You never know where your education will take you. For Laryssa Whittaker, Class of ’91, her doctoral work has taken her to England, South Africa and into new fields of research in ethnomusicology – the study of music in its cultural context.
She has undertaken research at the meeting point of two of the discipline’s subfields – medical ethnomusicology and economic ethnomusicology. Whittaker explains that she’s interested in exploring “the link between the practice and playing of music, how music education develops skills, and how these link with people’s wellbeing.” In her research on music outreach programs in South Africa, she refers to the work of Harvard University economist and philosopher Amartya Sen, who writes about capabilities as the foundation of social and economic development. “Some people who research economic dimensions of ethnomusicology are looking at things like copyrights and how people make money from music and how music circulates as a commodity, but what I am most interested in is looking at music in the context of how is it creating capabilities in people so that they are then able to make choices – not only to think and imagine the choices they might make – but they’re able to make and carry through on those choices because of the skills and capabilities they’ve gained through music, to have lives that they find valuable in their own terms,” says Whittaker. Her journey to South Africa began at Lakeland College. Whittaker, whose father Don served on the college’s board of governors in the 1980s, was among the first students to study at the Lloydminster campus, which officially opened in 1990. She finished the university transfer program in 1991, intent on completing a bachelor of education degree so that she might one day teach. Instead, she discovered her love of writing thanks to instructor Susan Bansgrove. “I always wanted to write and she gave me constructive criticism on my first few essays. I learned a lot from her,” says Whittaker. “It reaffirmed that I loved writing. I didn’t know what I wanted to write about but I knew I wanted to write. She was the first person who said I could do a master’s degree. It hadn’t been on my radar at all before that.” After two years at Lakeland, the Marwayne, Alta. native pursued a parallel interest, studying music in Regina, Sask. In 1995 she completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in church music at the Canadian Bible College, known now as Ambrose University College. As an accomplished pianist and music teacher, Whittaker moved to Edmonton to work on a bachelor of arts degree part-time while continuing her musical pursuits and working as an administrator at the University of Alberta. A car accident derailed her plans though; with a broken finger, awaiting a second surgery to correct it, Whittaker signed up for a class in music and religion.
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lakeland college alumni magazine
“Unbeknownst to me it was ethnomusicology, which I had never heard of,” she says. “I started this course in September, and by October I thought I needed to quit my job and go back to school because it was the thing that rang all my bells. All of my different interests came together; the music was part of it, but I could also write about music. continued on next page...
The Field Band Foundation in action, from the top: a dance rehearsal in Machaba, Limpopo; a sundown parade on the Durban beachfront in the KwaZulu-Natal region; Whittaker with the NGO in Blouberg, Limpopo; and a brass rehearsal in Machaba, Limpopo.
Section Name travelling many miles. Her research included work with the Field Band Foundation, which operates more than 40 bands with nearly 5,000 members throughout South Africa. Through music, the NGO teaches life-skills aimed at improving the quality of life of disadvantaged young people, to increase their chances of building better futures.
“I’m presently teaching academic writing and academic skills to both international and British students at all stages of their academic career,” she says. “I really love working with them to develop critical thinking and express their own unique perspectives.” In the upcoming academic year, she is also teaching advanced level courses in music at Royal Holloway and at another University of London campus. She will be teaching courses in music, power, and politics and a course in music in development.
“These regional projects are basically marching bands, kind of like the American model, but with a South African twist, including South African dance and instruments added to it all,” says “ I am grateful Whittaker.
for my start at Lakeland. It put me on the path to my passion.”
The feedback she’s received from sharing her work at conferences and with colleagues is that there is a need for similar kinds of ethnomusicology research in other countries. And that’s exactly what Whittaker plans to do with her postdoctoral work.
With her research complete, Whittaker wrote her thesis in London and returned to South Africa last year to share her findings with the Field - Laryssa Whittaker Eyeing Brazil as a potential new research Band Foundation, academics and locale, Whittaker hopes the next stage of her many others. Royal Holloway awarded Whittaker with a PhD in academic journey will include comparative research across February 2015 – a culmination of four years of research, travel, several countries to explore their cultural policies, as well as analysis and writing. publishing more of her work and securing a lecturer position at Her work was also recognized by the Society for Ethnomusicology, an American-based international academic society, in 2014, when she was awarded the Charles Seeger Prize for the best student paper at the previous year’s conference. The paper examined how the Field Band Foundation and music outreach programs like it are necessary because of historical and current political and economic structures in South Africa, and how these structures also define the skills and capabilities that NGOs are aiming to develop among youth.
Whittaker captured many photos of the Field Band Foundation’s work, including this dance rehearsal in Blouberg, Limpopo.
“All of my education about music to that point had been about music itself and its sounds, and how it’s structured and about artistry. But at that point I discovered what was really interesting: how people use music in their lives. I was fascinated that I could actually study this. It was a route to pursue all of my interests – music, culture, and languages – and a chance to write about it. I was hooked.”
on the news in Canada one night for their work with HIV and AIDS in villages. I saw this line of South African women wearing t-shirts that said ‘I am positive.’ They were singing and dancing at an HIV awareness event, and I wondered how instrumental music was, potentially, in raising awareness about health and epidemics.”
Whittaker finished her bachelor of arts in 2008 and completed her master’s degree in ethnomusicology in 2010, also at the University of Alberta, what she calls a “trial run” for her PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London. Whittaker’s Lakeland
lakeland college alumni magazine
“I would love to continue the research and I love writing – to go back to the beginning, I love writing. I am grateful for my start at Lakeland. It put me on the path to my passion,” she says. “I think my time at the college was really valuable for helping me discover my interests. Each stage helped me discover more, and when it all came together, it was great. “I am glad that there are places like Lakeland in smaller communities because it makes higher education accessible. And it can be the start of finding those new vistas, those new points of view that you might not have come across otherwise.”
During her first trip to South Africa, Whittaker spent six weeks researching issues that were driving the HIV and AIDS epidemic and realized that social and economic inequality was at its root. As she continued her research, Whittaker noticed there were many music outreach programs focused on local youth. “I wondered if any of these programs were doing work on socio-economic inequality, or trying to bring about social change to increase people’s wellbeing. That’s what I decided to research for my PhD,” she says.
“I wondered whether I would go all the way yearbook photo with this, and my master’s sucked me in even more,” says Whittaker, who discovered topics for her master’s research in South Africa through her former Whittaker spent most of 2012 in South Africa conducting boss who had worked with a non-governmental organization research, immersing herself in the local music scene and (NGO), Edzimukulu, in rural South Africa. “They were featured 12
PhD now in hand, Whittaker has taken her passion for academic writing to a post as a teaching fellow at Royal Holloway.
a university.
From the left: The Field Band Foundation National Championships in Johannesburg; and a low brass rehearsal in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal. Winter 2015
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When Colin Starkevich, Class of 2010, started Lakeland College’s wildlife and fisheries conservation (WFC) program in the fall of 2008, he had a definite career path in mind. He wanted to be an
artist.
WFC grad paints his path to success Starkevich’s artistic journey began in high school in 2006 when his art teacher Dr. Brenda Savella taught him to paint with oils. A year later he won the national Get to Know Your Wild Neighbours art contest. In 2009 he was personally invited by Robert Bateman to attend his weeklong Master Artists Seminar in 2010. Starkevich enrolled in the WFC program at the Vermilion campus so he could learn more about wildlife and their habitats because he knew that was the subject he wanted to paint. “The program gave me an opportunity to work with wildlife and see them up close in places most people can’t access.” After graduating from Lakeland in 2010, Starkevich transferred his diploma credits to the University of Lethbridge where he completed a bachelor of science in environmental science in 2013. He then moved to the Arctic where he worked for Environment Canada as a wildlife technician in a snow geese breeding colony. Later he did bird surveys for Nature Alberta. When Starkevich wasn’t working, studying or creating bird mounts (he’s also an avian taxidermist), he was creating the artwork that would one day help him achieve a goal he had dreamed about since his days as a Lakeland student. During an ornithology class, instructor Chris Olsen encouraged students to visit the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton as it has the largest collection of mounted birds in Canada. While at the museum, Starkevich became inspired by all of the wildlife exhibits
featuring paintings and taxidermy and began daydreaming of one day having his own exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum. He no longer needs to dream. This year more than 60 of Starkevich’s original paintings were on display from May 16 to Sept. 27 in the Royal Alberta Museum’s 2,500 sq. ft. feature gallery. Glimpses of the Grasslands: The Artistic Vision of Colin Starkevich featured work from The Grassland Series that he started
planning and creating in 2009 after he visited southern Alberta. “I really connected with the Grasslands Region and started painting landscapes and wildlife in that setting. It’s the work I’m most passionate about,” explains Starkevich, who also paints en plein air which is outside surrounded by the landscape he’s depicting. Since the exhibit opened at the Royal Alberta Museum, Starkevich, 25, has received accolades about his artwork from family, friends and strangers. “The feedback has been very positive. I know that I want to keep painting and be the best artist I can be.” Some of his pieces from Glimpses of the Grasslands are on display until January at CASA (Creating Arts in Southern Alberta) in Lethbridge. That is also the city where the native Edmontonian is living as he returned to the University of Lethbridge to start his master’s and “a project that will start the next chapter of The Grassland Series.” To learn more about his work visit colinandthegrasslandseries.com or colinstarkevich.com.
Rejuvenation from The Grassland Series. 14
lakeland college alumni magazine
Winter 2015
15
Alumni Spotlight
Ryan Konynenbelt made his first Calgary Stampede International Livestock Auctioneer Championship appearance in July.
Hard work lands alumnus national award Working in the real estate appraisal and assessment field is proving to be Brianne Bors’ award-winning dream job.
“It mixes everything I like,” says Bors, Class of 2011 and 2013. “I like interacting with people, I like being outside, I enjoy working on my computer and I get to see different places. I think it just covers off so many of those things that I like to do.” The Lakeland alumnus, who works with Northern Lights Appraisal in Edmonton, was recently recognized as Candidate Member of the Year by the Canadian National Association of Real Estate Appraisers (CNAREA) for her diligence and professionalism. “I am still really shocked at that,” Bors says with a laugh. “I work hard and I put in long hours. Our team is awesome and we have great mentors. This award is Canada-wide – the candidate who won it last year was from Toronto – so for me to receive it is just a great honour.” As the CNAREA Candidate Member of the Year, Bors received an education scholarship and the good news continued for Bors as she also recently passed the exam to become a designated residential appraiser. “Going into that exam knowing that I had that award, it was such a great confidence boost. Studying went better than I thought and the test went really well,” says Bors. “I don’t have to have people sign off on my work now – I am fully on my own. I can go wherever I want from here.” Bors says her Lakeland experience put her on the path to success. She started Lakeland’s two-year appraisal and assessment diploma program in 2009, when it was offered at the Vermilion campus. “It was the best two years ever. The faculty and staff are very close and personal. It’s easy to talk with people, it’s easy to do well and know you are doing well,” says Bors, noting instructor Ken Rutherford’s lessons and professional insight continue to 16
lakeland college alumni magazine
be helpful. “During my first week of school Ken said that with this profession we may want to further our education with the degree program. At that point I had my mind made up; I am in school now so I am going to keep going while I have momentum and accomplish all that I need to succeed. “Lakeland made it really easy by partnering with Athabasca University and offering (face-to-face) courses in the classroom as well as by correspondence. It worked really well for me.” Bors obtained a bachelor of commerce degree at Lakeland through Athabasca University and began working in real estate appraisal and assessment approximately one month after her convocation ceremony in 2013, with both a diploma and a degree to her credit. “Going from the classroom to in the field working, I found it to be a steep learning curve. And you’re always learning but with my education I had such a leg up,” she says. “I didn’t have to start from the bottom and everything made more sense right off the bat.” A typical day on the job could take Bors to Slave Lake, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan or even Athabasca, or see her working from home, on the road or in her company’s office in Edmonton. Within the next five years, she will have the option to do commercial appraisal work but for the time being Bors says she is really interested in staying with the residential side. “I do so many things and see so many properties that it never gets old for me and I really enjoy it,” she says. “Professionally, it’s an exciting career and I think I am very fortunate. I am 25 and I think I am doing what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.”
International accolades for auctioneering alumnus A Lakeland College alumnus earned top marks internationally for his ability to talk a mile-a-minute.
While a student, Konynenbelt worked part-time auctioneering in Vermilion and Lloydminster. After his spring convocation, he attended the Western College of Auctioneering in June, which Konynenbelt says was a challenge for the self-taught auctioneer.
Ryan Konynenbelt, Class of 2015, placed third out of 27 entrants and was named Rookie of the Year at the 2015 Calgary Stampede International Livestock Auctioneer Competition in July. It’s an impressive accomplishment for the 18-year-old.
“They went through my chant and picked apart what I was doing wrong, what could make me sound better and make me smoother,” he says. “They taught about rhythm, the conduction of the sale and professionalism.”
“It didn’t really hit me that first day but it was a good experience,” says Konynenbelt, who placed in the top 10 at the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship in May in Winnipeg. The Stampede was his second ever auctioneering competition. “It was quite a show,” says Konynenbelt. “After the preliminaries at the Olds auction market, where I placed in the top 10, I entered in the finals at the Stampede grounds. In addition to placing third overall internationally and being Rookie of the Year, I was also the top Canadian in the contest.” Konynenbelt works full-time as an auctioneer and field representative at the Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange in Fort McLeod, Alta. – a position he’s had since graduating with a general agriculture certificate from Lakeland in May. “I’d recommend Lakeland to anybody. The teachers are great, I learned a lot in the animal sciences courses and picked up lots of industry techniques. Plus, the Student Managed Farm is great for hands-on learning and a lot of colleges don’t offer that,” says Konynenbelt. “When you start talking about Lakeland, a lot of people know where you are talking about.”
With the encouragement of friends, family and fellow auctioneers, Konynenbelt entered the Stampede’s competition. “At the Stampede everyone told me I looked so nervous, jumping around practicing but when I got out there it was like ice water running through my veins. They couldn’t tell I was nervous,” says Konynenbelt, who hails from Nobleford, Alta. At competitions Konynenbelt says it’s not how fast you are as an auctioneer that counts, but rather the smoothness of your chant. “It’s more about clarity too so everybody knows where you are,” he explains. “Your bid catching abilities and your control of your crowd and bidders are important.” Before entering any more auctioneering competitions, Konynenbelt says he’s focused on “getting the fall run done” at work first. “It’s a busy time, we’ll have two or three sales per week depending on the week,” he says, noting some auctions include over 25,000 calves and 4,000 yearlings. “I want to keep expanding my client base and continue competing in auctioneer competitions. Ultimately, I want to try to go higher and better.” Winter 2015
17
Alumni Spotlight
Section Name
Stress less,, explore more with alumni’s invention Inspiration can strike at any moment. Scrambling to locate a baby bottle while camping in a tent under a star-filled sky in the wee hours of the morning proved to be an “aha” moment for Greg and Melissa Petersen.
“We thought there had to be an easier way to store things,” says Melissa (nee Feitsma), Class of 2003 agribusiness.
Today, the Petersens are reevaluating their design concept so that the Camp Caddy can be mass produced at a cost-effective rate.
Recalling his earlier camping days as a scout when they would use wooden “chuck boxes,” Greg searched online for a similar product to use on their camping trips. There weren’t any available, so together he and Melissa invented Camp Caddy: a cooler-sized box that easily converts into a camp kitchen.
“We are looking at how we can manufacture it in such a way that we don’t lose the functionality of it but can also afford to build and distribute it, and make it feasible for customers,” says Greg. “We are at the academic stage again, figuring out math and design. The great thing is that we are still in contact with Coleman.”
Featuring legs that fold down, a heat-resistant aluminum top, ample vertical storage, cupboards, adjustable shelving, a towel rack and more, the Camp Caddy converts into a fully functional workstation. “It’s a grab-and-go kitchen. Small and compact, it holds all of our gear in one little spot. When you need to use it, you lift it up and the legs come down, then the table expands so you have a large surface area,” explains Greg, Class of 2004 crop technology. “I feel you don’t even need a picnic table for camping if you have the Camp Caddy. You can camp in the wilderness and use this for everything,” adds Melissa.
Greg and Melissa Petersen’s camping creation – the Camp Caddy – has already proved to be a reliable tool for the family’s outdoor excursions.
After using the Camp Caddy on camping excursions with their children for several years, the Lacombe, Alta., couple decided to share their creation with others. They created plywood prototypes and hired designers from Toronto to create a plastic and aluminum version of the Camp Caddy. They contacted plastics manufacturers and in October 2014 launched a Kickstarter campaign to go into production. While the couple didn’t raise the funds they’d hoped to, they did catch the eye of Coleman, the world’s leading camping and outdoor gear manufacturer. “Coleman contacted us about Camp Caddy and are interested in pursuing design ideas with it,” says Greg. “That’s the biggest feedback we got during the Kickstarter campaign – that a massive company called us two weeks into it.”
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Part of this development stage includes soliciting feedback from the public. Anyone interested in owning a Camp Caddy is encouraged to complete an online survey at campcaddy.com. “We want to find out how much people are willing to spend on it, if plastic is a necessity and gain other ideas from people who want this product to come to market,” says Melissa. “Our long-term goal is to take an affordable Camp Caddy to market,” adds Greg. “We’ve determined the demand for it and we’re not giving up.” In addition to their Camp Caddy work, Greg and Melissa have an active family life raising their four children. After transferring to the University of Lethbridge to complete a degree in agricultural economics, Greg now runs his own grain marketing business too. Calling their Camp Caddy journey an incredible learning opportunity – the “equivalent of a degree,” according to Greg – the entrepreneurial couple drew on their Lakeland College experience along the way. Which is fitting since Lakeland’s Vermilion campus is where the couple first met. “It’s the learning to learn, that’s the biggest thing you learn when you’re in college. Being able to step out, know where to find your resources and try,” says Melissa. “Our biggest advice is don’t give up. If you have a dream or a passion, don’t give up on it.” To complete the Camp Caddy survey, visit campcaddy.com.
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Lakeland Milestones
SMF celebrates 25 years of
The 2015-16 second-year crop technology students take a break from harvest for a group photo. Opposite page: Joe Butcher and Peter Walsh (top) check for disease in a canola crop in 2013 and Rob Baron (below) leads the SMF research team this fall.
Section Name
hands-on learning Faba beans were the wonder crop last year. “It was a strange thing, I had never seen them grow in the field,” says Peter Walsh, with a laugh. “It was a whole new learning experience for me.”
Lakeland Celebrates
As an instructor in agricultural sciences, Walsh has been sharing learning opportunities like the faba bean crop with students thanks to the college’s Student Managed Farm (SMF) – Powered by New Holland. The SMF provides animal science and crop technology students at the Vermilion campus with the real-world experience of operating and managing a multi-million dollar agriculture business. Planting the seed The SMF started on the crop side 25 years ago. Since then, crop technology students have made decisions about what to grow and where, fertilizer and herbicide applications, as well as harvesting and selling their crop. “The idea that we can take everything we are learning in the classroom – all the theory we are giving students – and apply it, put it into practice and make it functional, that is ultimately what the SMF is about,” says Walsh.
Doug Livingstone and Josie Van Lent were also instrumental as the advisory group to the SMF inception.
year’s second-year students completed harvest and will honour the contracts Glassford’s team signed.
“The thought that the students would actually be running a company and that it happened to be a grain farm really struck a note with all of us. We thought this would really distinguish our program. Nobody else was doing it,” says Walsh.
“The SMF is a good way to get hands-on knowledge. It takes all of us as a team to get things done,” says the former SMF crop tech general manager. “You get to plan what you are going to spray, what you are going to seed and how you are going to market your grain. You get to work with the public and go to a lot of meetings with producers and industry committees. Overall, it’s a really good experience to increase your knowledge of the agricultural industry. You get out of it what you put into it.”
The seed for Lakeland’s very own SMF was planted on an Ag Tour Club trip in the late 1980s. At that time the club would load students in a 15-passenger van and visit feedlots and manufacturers.
Lakeland’s SMF started with 500 acres, including three rented quarters west of Vermilion. Twenty students were enrolled in the crop technology program at the time, however, only the secondyears were responsible for running the SMF which is still the case today.
“We bucked out at the end of the semester for 10 days or so,” says Walsh. On one such trip, past instructor Rob Jordan took students south of the border to Nebraska and Iowa where they discovered the student managed farm concept.
“Nine or 10 students started working on it,” says Walsh, thumbing through the log book. “The first-years get a taste of it but the bulk of the operation of the company is done by second-year students.”
The concept took root at Lakeland over the course of a few years before students were able to put production in the ground in the spring of 1990. John Robinson, Mel Mathison, Rob Baron, Bob Brad and Robert McFadzean were the “kingpins” of the SMF in its infancy, says Walsh who was completing his master’s degree during the SMF’s first field year. Allan Forbes,
Taking root Crop technology students are now responsible for around 1,000 acres. For the 2015-16 academic year, there are 42 first-year and 35 second-year crop technology students. Nathan Glassford graduated in 2015 and like all second-years involved with the SMF, he didn’t harvest what he planted. This
Glassford enrolled at Lakeland after working in the oilfield for several years. Working on the SMF was like returning to his roots. “We had a family farm but we sold out. I wanted to get back into agriculture and I saw this as an opportunity I wanted to go for,” he says. Glassford is now in Leader, Sask., working in management with G-MAC’s AgTeam. Lakeland’s SMF is a powerful learning tool and sometimes the best lessons are from mistakes and having to adapt, according to Rob Baron who was the harvest coach for 21 SMF harvests. “I remember in 2002 when we had no crop to harvest due to a severe drought. That year we didn’t learn much about combining, but we did learn a lot about crop insurance,” continued on next page...
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Section Name
Section Name Lakeland Celebrates Students take the lead and gain an understanding of what it’s like to be working in the industry or on a farm making decisions that count thanks to the SMF.
It’s only at
Lakeland More student-managed learning opportunities are available at Lakeland College now that the Energy Centre is officially open. says Baron, who is now the head of the renewable energy and conservation program and is involved with the SMF research team. “I find the students take great ownership and pride in the SMF. They truly do treat it as if it was their own money.”
like conflict resolution, communication, interpersonal skills and collaboration,” says Walsh.
Five years ago, Lakeland expanded the SMF to the livestock side. Today there are commercial beef, dairy, purebred beef Describing the SMF students he’s worked with as peers, Baron and sheep-unit student teams, and in the near future the SMF says a strong bond is developed between program will grow to include agribusiness. In the students and instructors as they work total, the SMF offers 1,700 acres for students to “ We are not training together to manage the farm. live the learning. them for a job; we “These students are my future colleagues “It’s a lot more sophisticated,” says Walsh. “They are training them and friends,” he says. “I always started my learn the tools of the industry and that’s what we first lecture of first year with a ‘welcome for a career.” try to instill in them. We are not training them to the profession’ speech.” - Peter Walsh for a job; we are training them for a career.” Growing strong In 2011, Lakeland and New Holland signed a 10-year agreement In its 25 years in operation, the SMF has evolved with the related to agricultural sciences programming and the SMF. New agriculture industry. Where there were only three teams at first Holland consigns agricultural equipment to Lakeland on an – productions, operations and finance – today the SMF teams annual rotating basis and established an endowment fund for include productions, operations, finance, marketing, research, student awards. and sustainability and stewardship. Students apply for the various teams and jobs that they would like in the SMF. “Instead of classes, students run meetings, which are for information exchange and decision making processes. They coordinate with other teams and develop a number of soft skills
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Lakeland’s commitment to involve industry in the SMF earned the college a silver Award of Excellence in the college-industry partnership category from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics in 2014.
Hundreds of people attended the official opening of the facility on Aug. 26 at the Lloydminster campus. They toured the 2,500 sq. metre building and saw the state-of-the-art equipment available for hands-on learning. Energy Centre highlights: •_ Two-storey distillation tower •_ Five boilers of different configurations •_ Water treatment equipment •_ Cooling tower •_ Steam turbine generator
•_ Two 50-seat simulation theatres •_ Black start generator •_ Economizers •_ Feedwater systems •_ Condensate recovery •_ Six breakout rooms
Lakeland College is the only post-secondary institution in Western Canada to create an integrated power plant featuring a once-through steam generator for heavy oil training. Second-year heavy oil power engineering students put their practical knowledge into practice in the Energy Centre lab where it’s expected that up to 300 kilowatts of power will be produced for the campus grid. Construction of the Energy Centre started in 2013. Partners who helped make the Energy Centre a reality include the Government of Alberta, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Cenovus Energy, and Husky Energy.
Lakeland President Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Board of Governors Chair Darrel Howell, Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young, heavy oil power engineering student Shauna Dillon, Alberta Advanced Education Deputy Minister Rod Skura, Lloydminster Mayor Rob Saunders, Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke and Energy, Entrepreneurship & Aboriginal Programming Dean Kara Johnston participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Energy Centre.
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Lloydminster campus turns
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2015 marks the 25th anniversary of Lakeland’s Lloydminster campus. Home to state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and resources, students from across Canada and around the world take charge of their future at Lakeland’s Lloydminster campus.
By the 1980s, the college offered full-time, part-time and continuing education programs and courses in four leased facilities in Lloydminster.
Lakeland opened its doors in Vermilion in 1913 – known then as Vermilion School of Agriculture – with 34 students in the first class. After years of incredible growth and advanced programming, the college expanded and began offering programming in Lloydminster in 1965.
“When I started at Lakeland College in 1982, I taught business classes in Lloydminster in what was then known as the Resource Centre,” said Glenn Charlesworth, former Lakeland president, during the Lloydminster campus 20th anniversary celebration in January 2011. “Fortunately for our college, there were people
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who wanted to see a campus built in Lloydminster.” Among those in the community who believed a campus should be built was Bill Kondro. He was instrumental in the development of the Lloydminster campus. “I felt strongly that we needed a campus that you could see,” said Kondro in an article published by the Lloydminster Source in 2013. “Once you have that, then people will come – if you offer the right programs of course.” As mayor of the City of Lloydminster from 1982 to 1987, Kondro advocated for the construction of the Lloydminster campus. He encouraged the city to support the project and in 1986 the City of Lloydminster donated 30 of the 65 acres of land where the campus is located. As the college finalized its plans for the Lloydminster campus and officials from Husky Energy were planning the construction of the Bi-Provincial Upgrader, an innovative agreement was reached. The Bi-Provincial Upgrader Joint Venture Board provided some
of the funding towards the construction cost of the 18-building residence complex. The buildings first housed the Bi-Provincial Upgrader construction workers before they were turned over to the college for student use in the fall of 1992. Since opening in 1990, the Lloydminster campus has grown with three additional features: Vic Juba Community Theatre (2002), Bill Kondro Wing (2008) and this year, the Energy Centre. Today, 25 years after first opening its doors, the Lloydminster campus is home to university transfer, business, energy and petroleum technology, and health and wellness programs and courses. It’s also the site of music and drama lessons, concerts, sports events, weddings, conferences and more. “We’re proud of the role our college plays in this area and beyond,” says Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president of Lakeland. “Thanks to the great support we’ve received from so many people, businesses and organizations, we’re confident that we’ll continue to evolve and grow to meet the needs of students, industry and the region.”
airscapes.ca
Lloydminster campus 1990
Lakeland’s programming in Lloydminster was originally offered in the former trades building (left) and the Yellowhead building (right).
Lloydminster campus 2015 Winter 2015
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Distinguished Company
Each year Lakeland College salutes notable alumni and citizens who have made significant contributions or achieved major accomplishments. Albert Miller, Class of 1949, and Wendy Plandowski, Class of 1991, were inducted to the Distinguished Alumni program during the Vermilion and Lloydminster 2015 convocation ceremonies, respectively. As the 2015 Distinguished Citizens, honorary credentials were awarded to Glenn Charlesworth and Bill Musgrave for their achievements at the college and in the community. Learn more about these distinguished individuals:
Albert Miller with Georgina Altman, vice president, advancement.
Glenn Charlesworth (centre) with Darrel Howell (left) board of governors chair, and Alice WainwrightStewart (right), Lakeland president.
Plandowski to grads: The learning lives within you “Your parchment is like a magic carpet. It will take you wherever you want it to take you.” That’s what Wendy Plandowski told Lloydminster campus graduates during the convocation ceremony on Friday, June 5. Plandowski, a member of Lakeland’s Class of ‘91, received the Distinguished Alumni Award for the Lloydminster campus and was inducted to the college’s Alumni Wall of Distinction. She also told grads that there will be times when they fall off their magic carpet and hit the ground. “Pick yourself back up and remember that the learning lives within you. From that experience, make sure that magic carpet takes you higher than it had taken you before,” she said. Originally from Marwayne, Alta., Plandowski completed a year of studies in the university transfer program at the Lloydminster campus then transferred to the University of Alberta where she earned a bachelor of arts degree. She then returned to Lakeland College where she worked until 1996 and again from 2004 to 2013 in a variety of leadership roles. Today she is the chief executive officer at the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. In addition to her successful career, Plandowski has always been very active in the community as a member of local service groups plus chairing volunteer organizations. Her grandmother Grace (Clark) Hesby attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1934-35. 26
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Lakeland’s seventh honorary credential conferred on Charlesworth The number seven is a very lucky number for Glenn Charlesworth. • H e was the seventh president and chief executive officer of Lakeland College. • He served as president for seven years before his retirement. • And now he’s the seventh person to receive an honorary credential from Lakeland College. Charlesworth, a Lakeland employee for more than 30 years, was recognized as a Distinguished Citizen and presented with an honorary bachelor of applied business degree during the Vermilion campus convocation ceremonies on May 29. “Thank you very much for awarding me this honorary credential – I am humbled by the recognition,” said Charlesworth. He congratulated the Class of 2015 on their accomplishments, and noted that he had a special tie with those graduating from a diploma or applied degree program. “You’re part of my last class. I welcomed you here in the fall of 2013 when I was only months away from retirement,” he said. He joked that unlike him, it didn’t take the class 32 years to earn a Lakeland credential. During his tenure as president, many major capital projects were completed at the college, significant enrolment growth occurred, and the college’s financial targets were continuously met if not exceeded.
Bill and Ann Musgrave.
Class of ‘49 alumnus: It’s our duty to support others
Honorary degree presented to community builder
At the heart of Albert Miller’s success as an avid farmer and accomplished businessman is his strong sense of community and service.
The Musgrave family’s connection to Lakeland College grows stronger.
After completing Grade 11, Miller enrolled in the Vermilion School of Agriculture and graduated in 1949. According to the college’s ‘49 yearbook, it was Miller’s ambition to one day own a farm in the Westlock, Alta., district. His hard work and innovation paid off as he continues to farm near Westlock today – 66 years after he graduated from college. In addition to farming, Miller owned a successful John Deere dealership in Westlock for 29 years. During that time his entrepreneurial success was recognized on several occasions when his dealership was lauded as one of Canada’s Top 15 Dealerships. His Chrysler dealership and service centre store in Barrhead, Alta., also reaped the rewards of his strong business acumen. Through his volunteerism with the Rotary Club of Westlock, Miller was instrumental in creating positive change in his community. Local projects he championed include the Rotary walking trails in Westlock and several capital projects such as the local tractor museum and community theatre. With Rotary, Miller also served as the district governor leading 59 clubs in Alberta, as well as parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. In honour of his community service and accomplishments, Miller was presented with the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. The medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society. Giving back to students is a priority for Miller. He does so by fostering an interest in agriculture and mechanics through scholarships. “I have been pretty lucky in my life. I have had good people working with me and I think it’s our duty to support as many others as you can in turn,” he says.
During the Lloydminster campus convocation ceremony on June 5, Bill Musgrave was inducted to the Wall of Distinguished Citizens. Well preceding this honour, Musgrave’s son Scott had graduated from the business admin program and his granddaughter Katie completed the university transfer program. The highly successful entrepreneur and founder of Musgrave Agencies was presented with an honorary bachelor of applied business degree for his work as a community builder. “It’s terrific and quite an honour,” said Musgrave, prior to the ceremony. Drawing on his extensive experience, Musgrave spoke candidly to graduates about the next chapter in their lives. “With a Lakeland education, the choices are yours and the future is really unlimited,” he said. “As you head out to the workplace, the job you begin with will quite likely not be where you end up. But work at it with commitment – like it’s the greatest opportunity in the world – and you will be recognized and someday you will have that ‘made for you’ career.” For Musgrave, his career didn’t start out in real estate, but as a building mover. After that, he moved on to the lumber industry and progressed to management. Then Musgrave started his own real-estate company in 1970, which he brought to Lloydminster in 1978. The family-run operation has been investing in neighbourhoods – large-scale residential neighbourhoods, multi-family dwellings, adult communities and commercial developments – for more than 37 years. As he addressed the Class of 2015, the proud father of three and grandfather of seven encouraged the grads to remember to keep their family first. “I have the honour of working with our two boys today. Maybe tomorrow they will say ‘Now that you have a degree, you are probably old enough to get out on your own,’” Musgrave said with a laugh. “I have been blessed with a treasured friend who has been my wife for 50 years. There is no greater asset than a strong family.” Winter 2015
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Donor Spotlight
Pioneering family inspires students today Ever since the college opened in 1913, students have benefited from the generosity and hard work of those who came before them. From the conversations in the halls on campus to the stories shared on awards night, the achievements of yesterday’s innovators and trailblazers inspire Lakeland students today. For one Vermilion-area family, their legacy lives on with the Robert Ernest (R.E.) Stanley Family Memorial Scholarship. Named after the family’s patriarch, the scholarship recognizes agricultural sciences students for their outstanding academic achievement. It’s a fitting match for an outstanding pioneer. The story of the R.E. Stanley family begins in the 1800s. Born in 1888 in Metcalfe, Ont., Robert Ernest (Ernie) was one of 14 children. In 1906, at the age of 18, Ernie and his brother Lewis boarded a CNR train for Vermilion. They filed for homesteads in the District of Landonville, worked the land and were later joined by three more of their siblings. From road-clearing to starting a small lumber mill and homesteading, Ernie worked hard on the Prairies. He began the next chapter of his life with Bessie McDonald, who he married in 1916. Together they had seven children – Lillian Hazel (Hazel), Norman Ernest, Ross Harvey, Edith Pearl, Jessie Myrtle, Ivy Marie and Robert Alfred – four of whom attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture (VSA), now known as Lakeland College. “Jessie recalls that while growing up, her parents had three ‘House Rules.’ Rule 1 was do unto others – the golden rule; Rule 2 was no arguing – consider, communicate and compromise; and Rule 3 was always keep your sense of humor. These three simple rules seem to have worked well however, as the family continued to prosper through some very difficult historical times,” wrote Murray Ross Hoffman, in the article R.E. Stanley Family: A
Top: Robert Ernest Stanley married Bessie Hazel McDonald on Nov. 8, 1916. McDonald was born Oct. 6, 1897 in Redwood Falls, Minn. Bottom: Ernie and Bessie at their home in the winter of 1916-17.
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graduation was as a nurse at Frog Lake, Alta. near the town Heinsburg. Norman also attended VSA and completed his diploma in agriculture. After graduation he enlisted in the Canadian Air Force and fought on the European front until the Second World War ended in 1945. When Norman returned he purchased the Stanley homestead from his father and eventually sold it to his brother Robert Alfred. Norman worked in the Ministry of Agriculture until his retirement in the 1980s. Ivy Marie and Robert Alfred also studied at VSA in home economics and agricultural sciences, respectively. To date two Lakeland students have benefitted from the R.E. Stanley family’s legacy of innovation, dedication and community support. Their scholarship was last awarded to Jana MacLeod during the Vermilion campus student awards celebration on March 18, 2015. Jessie Myrtle Hoffman (nee Stanley) and her husband Kenneth travelled from Vancouver for the event. “Family and education were of the utmost importance to Ernie and Bessie. R.E. Stanley’s true legacy is the large Stanley clan of well-educated, hardworking and productive Canadians,” wrote Hoffman. Hoffman is the oldest son of Jessie Myrtle Hoffman (nee Stanley) and a grandson of Robert Ernest and Bessie Stanley. He is a retired teacher and high school
Once upon a Century... Help us create a 100-year
Do you have a few hours to give? Could you share photos and stories? History books were printed to mark the college’s 50th and 75th anniversaries. By creating a 100-year history book, we’ll continue to share Lakeland’s Ever to Excel history. Please let us know if you’re interested in making this historical project a reality. — Bill Fox ’58 and Sandra (Hilts) Bernes ‘66 Contact the Alumni Association: 780 853 8466 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8466 alumni.association@lakelandcollege.ca
We want to hear from you!
Join our editorial team and help share Lakeland’s legacy in a 100-year history book! The production of this book is tentative pending alumni involvement.
counselor living in Williams Lake, B.C.
Brief Historic Accounting of the Children of Robert Ernest and Bessie Stanley and Their Legacy.
He spent several of his most memorable
As he raised his family, Ernie was instrumental in building a community barn near Raft Lake; he purchased the first Ford Truck in the region for $1,700; and worked along many others to organize the township of Clandonald, recognizing the need for a more central Wheat Pool grain elevator.
grandparents and staying with his many
Understanding the importance of education, Ernie and Bessie encouraged their children to finish high school, even though it meant boarding in Vermilion during their Grade 12 year. Hazel, the oldest child, enrolled at VSA following her high school graduation. She took a variety of courses in home economics and completed the program in 1940. Her first job after
and the Stanley family re-connected with
summer holidays growing up visiting his cousins on the Stanley family farm (Sec. 10-55-5). While working with one of his students to find a post-secondary institution offering a program in agriculture, Hoffman Lakeland College. Working with others in the Stanley clan, a family scholarship was created in memory of his grandfather Robert Ernest Stanley and others of the R.E. Stanley family. Winter 2015
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Campus News
Campus News
New program helps people transition from military to civilian life When Dale Pearce retired from the military 23 years ago, he recalls walking through the gates of CFB Halifax for the last time and wondering what he would do next. “There was no elation, only fear of the unknown. I woke the next morning and looked at my wife and said to her, ‘What do I do today?’ Before I had purpose and an identity – I was Petty Officer Pearce. Now nothing,” says Pearce.
12 years of excellence at NKBA competitions
Lakeland first to plan, first to lead
Lakeland’s interior design technology program’s winning streak in student design competitions is still alive.
Lakeland College is the first post-secondary institution in Alberta to complete an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).
On Sept. 25 the winners of the 2014-15 National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) student kitchen design and charette competitions were announced.
Students in Lakeland’s agricultural sciences programs who learn on the Student Managed Farm (SMF) – Powered by New Holland at the Vermilion campus are now using the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan online webbook to self-assess farming practices.
Laura Cobb placed first in the NKBA/General Electric Charette Competition and won a $5,000 scholarship while Bree-Anne Hubick finished third and received a $3,000 scholarship. During the charette competition, students were presented with a design challenge and had three hours to plan a safe, functional kitchen that met the needs of the client. The NKBA Student Kitchen Design Competition was won by Lakeland’s Kayla Soto. She also earned a $2,500 scholarship. Cobb finished in third place and collected a $1,000 scholarship. Both also receive a trip to the 2016 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. Sponsored by Waypoint Living Spaces, the student design competition received hundreds of entries from NKBA student members at colleges and universities across North America. “It’s a huge confidence booster for me as it shows me that I have the skill-set to be successful in this industry,” says doublewinner Cobb, who is an office planner at SaskPower in Regina. This is the 12th year in a row that at least one Lakeland student has placed in a design competition.
Green & gold celebration for Class of 2015 Nearly 700 Lakeland College students from degree, diploma and certificate programs sported caps and gowns at convocation ceremonies that marked the end of the 2014-15 academic year.
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When Lakeland College was looking for new programming ideas earlier this year, Pearce suggested creating a program to help military members and their families transition to civilian life. When he presented the concept to officials at Camp Wainwright and CFB Cold Lake in the spring, the response was very positive. “There are programs out there to help members as they move to a civilian workforce, and even though there are some programs that will have some similarity in content to our new program, they do not close the gap. What we’re providing are the soft transitional skills that will help people adjust to civilian life,” says Pearce, an accessibility advisor in The Learning Commons at Lakeland College. Lakeland is now piloting The Way Forward – Transitional Life Skills for Military Members and their Families. The program is an online resource that is free to members, spouses and dependents. Students complete modules on communication, organization, goals, transition challenges, emotions, mental health and resources. There’s no limit to the number of times a student can access the content online.
“We are proud to be demonstrating environmental stewardship on our college farm and to have our students working through the EFP,” said Josie Van Lent, dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences at Lakeland. Throughout the winter 2015 semester (January to April), about 50 second-year students in a number of agricultural disciplines, including animal science technology and crop technology, worked together to complete the EFP. The experience enabled the students to see what best management practices were in place on the campus farm and where they could make improvements to avoid potential environmental risks.
“Right now we’re offering the program to military in Cold Lake, Wainwright and Edmonton. We’ll evaluate and modify the content as needed and our plan is to make the online resource available to military throughout Western Canada and eventually throughout Canada,” says Pearce.
Marcel Lefebvre (right), poppy chairman for Field Marshal Alexander Branch No. 11 of the Royal Canadian Legion located in Vermilion, presented $2,500 from the poppy campaign to Dale Pearce of Lakeland College for The Way Forward.
What will your Legacy be?
Thanks to a $2,500 donation from the Field Marshal Alexander Branch No. 11 of the Royal Canadian Legion located in Vermilion, The Way Forward will soon be translated into French. People interested in learning more about The Way Forward may contact Dale Pearce at 780 853 8438 or email dale.pearce@lakelandcollege.ca
Remember Lakeland College in yourWill. Commit to the future while enjoying your life now. For more information, contact: Joyce Stewart Manager Planned Giving 1 780 974 2807 joyce.stewart@lakelandcollege.ca Winter 2015
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Campus news
Campus news
Little Ranching’s donation supports Equine Centre & student award would often truck the horses to the Vermilion campus or other colleges where the students were participating in rodeos. “At one point we had 18 student horses in the yard. We didn’t do that again,” says Nita with a laugh. But the Littles enjoyed interacting with the students. “They often sat in our kitchen and chatted with us and we got to know a lot of them very well. We’ve been to their weddings and received their birth announcements. It’s been wonderful,” she says.
Ron Hoffman thanks Nita and Herb Little for supporting students and the Equine Centre.
Little Ranching has made a big investment in Lakeland College and its students. Herb and Nita Little, owners of Little Ranching, donated $35,000 to Lakeland in June. Of that total, $25,000 is earmarked for student awards and $10,000 for improvements to the Equine Centre at the Vermilion campus. Herb and Nita Little’s connection to the college goes back to the 1980s when they started taking care of student horses at their ranch one mile north of Vermilion. For about 15 years they provided a place for students to board their horses. Herb
Lakeland ranks high for research Lakeland College has once again made the list of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges. Lakeland moved to 38th place in the 2015 rankings compiled by Research Infosource Inc. The college was 20th in 2014 and 46th overall in 2013. Using data from the 2014 fiscal year, Research Infosource Inc. analyzed research income and the number of faculty involved in research to create the list that was released in October. During the 2014 fiscal year, Lakeland secured $1.12 million in research income which was used for applied research on practical, economic uses of renewable energy sources and on agricultural applied research including research on the optimum level of crop inputs and improving livestock feed conversion efficiency.
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When the college built additional equine facilities in the late 1990s, the Littles no longer needed to board student horses. But they continued to help students. Herb supplied roping cattle for and was a frequent donor to the Rodeo Team. “Over the years they’ve helped the college in a number of ways. This donation is a continuation of their support,” says Ron Hoffman, an instructor in the western ranch and cow horse (WRCH) program and also a close friend of the Littles. Some of the money that the Littles donated to the Equine Centre was used to purchase new arena video equipment and a television so students in the WRCH can review lessons and the Rodeo Team members can study film from practices and performances. The first Herb Little Horsemanship Award will be presented in March 2016 to a student in the WRCH program who is also involved in the rodeo club and/or the ranch horse club. The $1,000 award will go to a student who displays good work ethic and leadership skills. “School and horses are expensive. We just want to help students with some of their costs,” says Nita.
Another Sweet donation for Livestock research Judy Sweet has made another donation to Lakeland College to help with the cost of the modernization and expansion of the Livestock Research Centre. Her recent contribution of $150,000 was made one year after she and her family donated $100,000 towards the project from their company Sportaken Holdings. An additional $100,000 was also donated in May 2014 from The Garth Sweet Simmental Foundation, a foundation established in memory of Judy’s husband Garth. Sweet continues to support the project because she likes the livestock research that is being done at Lakeland College and she is impressed with the college’s Student Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. “I also appreciate the attitude of the instructors at Lakeland. To them, it’s all about the students. They’re really student-focused which is wonderful to see,” says Sweet, noting that it’s great that students have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects and learn from the results.
The conversion of the former bull test station at the Vermilion campus into a Livestock Research Centre began in 2012 with the installation of GrowSafe technology for monitoring the individual feed intake of animals. The second phase, completed in 2013, was the addition of new cattle and sheep handling systems plus a scale system. The third phase of the modernization project was completed this summer. The east side of the building was reworked to create a demonstration space, small lab and washrooms. While sheep and cattle feed trials have been conducted in the Livestock Research Centre since 2012, there was no place for Lakeland staff and students to meet with research partners and members of the public to discuss applied research projects or share results of livestock feed trials, says Alice WainwrightStewart, president of Lakeland College. “An important part of applied research is showcasing the technology and sharing the results. Thanks to Judy’s generous donation, we were able to create a space where we can do that,” says Wainwright-Stewart.
Spectacular student support The northern lights shined on Lakeland’s students in March when more than 400 guests attended the 2015 President’s Gala – presented by Synergy Credit Union – in support of the college’s student awards program. All proceeds raised will enable the creation of scholarships, awards and bursaries needed to make the cost of a post-secondary education more manageable for Lakeland students. This year’s President’s Gala will be held on April 8, 2016. Winter 2015
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Campus news
Campus news
Lindsay Gorkoff (left) presents Geretta Partington (right) with the 2015 Dean Stetson Service Award.
Award-winning dedication
Competing at Skills Canada
Lakeland College students are Geretta Partington’s number one priority, and they have been for more than three decades.
Steamfitter-pipefitter apprentice Hunter Weatherly won gold in the 2015 Alberta Skills Canada Competition and also placed fifth at nationals.
In honour of her dedication to student engagement and learner success, Partington, Lakeland’s financial aid and awards officer, was awarded the 2015 Dean Stetson Service Award at the annual Alberta Services for Students Conference in May. The prestigious award is open to staff at every college, technical institute and university in Alberta. It is presented to an individual in recognition of long-term service to students (10 years or greater) and an outstanding contribution to the development of excellence in student services within the province. Partington started her Lakeland career in 1980 as a clerk and over the years she has bettered the lives of students through her work with Student Services. Her distinguished career includes reorganizing the college’s awards program, driving efforts to improve the awards administration system through research and engagement, and advocating for what will work best for students.
The 20-year-old apprentice entered the provincial competition in May because he wanted to see how his skills measured up against competitors from other colleges throughout Alberta. During the two-day competition, competitors had 12 hours to fabricate a piping system. They were judged on the quality, workmanship and accuracy of their work. “I thought I’d done pretty well but you never know. It was great to win gold and earn a spot at nationals,” says Weatherly, who completed his first period of steamfitter-pipefitter apprenticeship technical training at Lakeland last fall. Weatherly was one of three Lakeland students to win an award in the Alberta Skills Canada Competition. For the second consecutive year, Jeremy Blanchette of St. Paul won silver in the auto service event. Blake Robley of Metiskow won the bronze medal for carpentry.
Lakeland takes research to the skies Lakeland will reach new heights with the college’s new unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAS). A UAS is the combination of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) plus camera payload and image processing software. Lakeland’s applied research will first evaluate the practical use of the UAS within local farming practices. This research tool will add an important dimension of data to the college’s multi-year economic evaluation of crop management intensities project with industry partners, along with many other multi-disciplined research projects. According to Lorne MacGregor, director of applied research and commercialization, the UAV will open new ways for
Lakeland students and faculty to interact with industry, and allow students to learn about emerging techniques and technologies that will enhance research and learning in a broad array of disciplines including agriculture, energy, environmental sciences and fire and emergency services. With funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) and College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, the college was able to purchase a UAS equipped with image acquisition and processing technologies in April. A public demonstration of the new research tool was held in June at the Centre for Sustainable Innovation.
You can help make December the biggest month for giving.
Hole-in-one support The annual Rustlers Golf Tournament saw 124 golfers swing their clubs in support of student-athletes. Held at the Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre on Sept. 1, the tournament raised funds for athletic scholarships, provincial and national championship travel and other related operational costs.
SAY YES TO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
Proud host of the ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship March 3-5, 2016 Lloydminster campus 34
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Winter 2015 Tuesday, December 1, 2015 • lakelandcollege.ca/donate
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Class notes
ClassNotes
Share your news
Class notes
Celebrate and share your news with your alumni classmates and friends of Lakeland College in the next Excel. Please share your news with us, email alumni@lakelandcollege.ca.
Artistic achievement Chanelle Paradis, Class of 2015 university transfer, was the 2015 recipient of the Servus Credit Union Bursary at the annual Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts event in Lloydminster. The aim of the award is to assist a student in pursuing professional training in the arts. Paradis transferred to the fine arts program at MacEwan University this fall.
Attending Vet School Moniek Okkema, Class of 2014 university transfer, is now attending the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). Okkema started working towards attending the WCVM in 2013 when she enrolled in Lakeland’s pre-veterinary medicine university transfer program. After one year at the college, she transferred to the Saskatoon university to continue pre-veterinary medicine studies and automatically qualified for the U of S transfer scholarship thanks to her great marks at Lakeland.
Election winner
Welcoming twins Amanda Migneault (nee Shea), Class of 2007 animal health technology, with her husband Shaun are pleased to announce the birth of their twins Xavier and Avril. The babies had a bit of a surprise entry into the world on Easter Sunday as they were nine weeks premature. Xavier weighed 4 lb. and Avril weighed only 2 lb. 13 oz. After a lengthy hospital stay the babies are now home and growing fast!
Eric Rosendahl, Class of ’73 environmental sciences, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on May 5, 2015. The New Democratic Party MLA represents the constituency of West Yellowhead. He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship. Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Rosendahl worked as a steam engineer for 34 years at the West Fraser pulp mill in Hinton.
Passion for dairy Jake Vermeer, Class of 2015 animal science technology and past Dairy Club president, shared his love for dairy and the value it brings to others in a video produced by Dairy Farmers of Canada. “It’s very important to me to be making milk of the highest quality for the Alberta people and the Canadian people. I feel that’s extremely important and I love it, it’s a passion,” says Vermeer in the video. Filmed on Vermeer’s family dairy farm in the Camrose area, the video is available on the Dairy Farmer of Canada YouTube Channel. 36
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Dream come true Making headlines Shari Leachman (nee Beamish), Class of 2005 agricultural sciences, was featured on the cover of the June issue of Canadian Cattlemen. The article profiles Shari and her husband Lance’s purebred Hereford operation, Big Gully Farm.
Rob Cardinal, Class of 2014 business administration, opened the doors to HQ Clothing Supply in March. Located in the heart of downtown Lloydminster, HQ specializes in unique street wear and Aboriginal designers. “To own my own clothing store has been a dream of mine,” says Cardinal. HQ Clothing Supply is located at 4723B-50 Ave. and carries a versatile selection of brands and products.
If you’d like to see your cattle brand on the legacy wall, contact our Alumni Office. 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8628 Winter 2015
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RememberWhen
inmemoriAm Lakeland College announces the passing of the following alumni, past staff and alumni spouses. Our condolences are extended to their family and friends. Robert Alton Class of ‘57
Vern Gowin Class of ‘50
Richard Osinchuk Class of ‘61
Kim Bennett Class of ‘75
Tanner Graf Class of 2011
Steve Pawlak Staff
Viateur Berube Class of ‘94
Larry Henderson Class of ‘62
Gregory Pelz Class of ‘54
Stan Brandenburg Class of ‘64
Glenn Hillerud Class of ‘40
Kathleen Price Canadian Women’s Army Corps
Robert Brown Class of ‘50
Bernard (Barney) Hughes Spouse
Charlie Rajotte Class of ‘50
Madeline Cameron Class of ‘69
Elaine Kisko Staff
Cheri Reimer Class of ‘97
Jim Carson Class of ‘51
Dan Kolasko Class of ‘54
Bill Riddell Class of ‘53
Munawar Chaudhry Staff
Mike Lukenchuk Class of ‘48
Celina Ritter Class of ‘65
Fred Christopher Class of ‘49
Leonard Malone Class of ‘51
Marsha Sokalski Spouse
Loren Cornell Class of ‘41
Ejnar Mattson Class of ‘37
Harold Street Class of ‘40
Lil Cruthers Class of ‘70
Olga Mattson Staff
Alice Toronchuk Class of ‘55
Vinessa Currie-Foster Class of 2005
Bruce McLennan Class of ‘52
Frank Voltner Spouse
Walter Dietz Class of ‘49
Bill Melenka Class of ‘47
William (Rod) Wallace Class of ‘49
Clayton Dixon Class of 2009
Marie Melenka Class of ‘47
Eddie Willard Class of ‘50
Margaret Elliott Spouse
Irene F. Miller Class of ‘37
Desmond George Class of ‘49
Robert Mottram Former member of Board of Governors
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Rodeo has been going strong for more than 40 years at Lakeland. In 1969 the college was invited to join the Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Although not officially sanctioned by the administration at the time that felt rodeo wasn’t a “sports” team, the members persevered and staged its first rodeo on May 9, 1970. We take a look back at the original Rodeo Club members: Ken Dodds, Harold Braden, Richard Nydokus, Bert Journalt, Glen
Cumming, Richard Ferguson, Hank Holowaychuck, Eva Dodds, Marilyn Wyllie and Heather de Jong. The success of their first event laid the groundwork for expansion and future achievements of the club, which over the years, has involved thousands of students in the club and on the team. There are close to 70 members in the club this year. As the largest and one of the most active clubs on campus, Lakeland’s Rodeo Club continues to be an opportunity for students to learn and grow.
Share your photos! Would you like your “vintage” Lakeland College photos featured here? Send them to the Alumni Office! Our goal is to archive and showcase our incredible history.
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Alumni House
The elegance of yesterday with the charm of today.
For a place to stay or getaway, enjoy the charming atmosphere & quiet elegance of Alumni House. For room and rate information visit lakelandcollege.ca/alumni or call 1 800 661 6490, ext. 8737
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Lakeland College Alumni Office 5707 College Drive Vermilion Alberta T9X 1K5 Canada Post Publication Mail PM40009099