special edition
50 years. 50 stories.
Volume 6 Issue 2 College Advancement Medicine Hat College 299 College Drive SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3Y6
people. stories. life.
This change is for real. Real magazine will be moving exclusively online in 2016. Not only does this change allow us to reduce our environmental impact, it also means we can deliver more stories more often direct to your inbox. Sign up today to receive our real e-newsletter three times annually and connect with great stories and new features. Contact alumni@mhc.ab.ca to be added to our email distribution and visit www.mhc.ab.ca/real to read online. Thank you to our loyal readers. We appreciate your support of real over the years and look forward to sharing this new, exciting chapter in MHC’s history with you!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I’m so proud to be part of Medicine Hat College’s 50 years of growth and contribution to the region we serve. This special edition of real is a wonderful reminder of the everevolving face of our institution.
mhc.ab.ca/real
As I look both to the past and to the future, I’m struck by the parallel between the journey of a single student and that of the college as a whole.
PUBLISHER Mark Keller mkeller@mhc.ab.ca
The personal journey of growth for many students begins with a desire to succeed, perhaps a dream to find a path that better serves personal and family needs. The first step may be recognition that a better future is possible when we open ourselves to new information and shared experiences.
EDITOR/CONTENT Rose Paulgaard rpaulgaard@mhc.ab.ca CONTRIBUTORS Sharon Allan, Melinda Arthur, Barbara Banasch, Anne Baxter, Kendra Borgen, Landon Heilman, Mark Keller, Laurie Milne, Trever Turner, Len Vandervaart, Keith Walker
Over the years, thousands of individuals have included Medicine Hat College in their quest to build a bright future, and we have been honoured to support them on their education journey. The college itself has been on a similar journey.
DESIGN/LAYOUT Tammy Rarick trarick@mhc.ab.ca
Medicine Hat College, or at its genesis, Medicine Hat Junior College, was created by a small group of leaders who looked to the future of our communities. They had the wisdom to recognize that access to higher education would be a critical factor in the social, economic, and cultural development of the region. They shared their vision of hope with others, they brought new ideas to the forefront, and they succeeded. I’m so happy that they did.
PHOTOGRAPHY MHC archives Esplanade archives Submitted Photography (credited where possible)
Much has changed in 50 years. The depth and range of learning opportunities at MHC has advanced and evolved dramatically. The foundations laid for the campus in the early ’70s remain, but the facilities we offer have grown, and the services they house have blossomed beyond the plans of those who built the college.
MANDATE Real people. Real stories. Real life. Our mandate for real is to share news and information about the people—students, alumni, employees, and supporters—who make Medicine Hat College a vibrant place to learn and grow. This focus on the ambitions and accomplishments of people is core to the nature of the college and the publication. The editor reserves the right to limit, select, edit and position submitted copy. Views expressed in real do not necessarily reflect college policy. real content may be printed with acknowledgment.
Yet, as much as the college and the region have developed in the past 50 years, I confidently predict that the pace of change will increase. As technology brings new opportunities, it will bring new challenges. As people encounter change, they will need support. We must match the blistering pace of economic change with nimble business solutions and creativity. As we collectively look to the future, and confront the opportunities and challenges ahead, I know that access to higher education will help us find our path. Medicine Hat College is proud to have served for 50 years, but the true excitement comes as we plan for the future. I invite you to join us for the journey ahead.
President & CEO
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2015
be inspired
02 welcome to medicine hat junior college
delivering health and hope
03 a place to land 04 building a college for the community 06 hepple-mania: college band goes global
proud to educate teachers
07 first impressions 08 uncovering medicine hat’s history
from ged to phd
09 sharing her passion for the past 11 conservatory: a rich history of music and dance 13 sharing the gift of music 21 Khamla Le: determined to learn
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24 Barb Banasch: memoirs of a librarian 25 a ‘vera’ special library 26 evolution of education 30 An international perspective 38 the meaning of mhc
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39 the mhc experience 40 nursing ideas 42 meet our alumni: Q&A 46 building an inclusive community
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48 family first 50 on campus and hands on 52 bits to atoms 54 convocation 2015 56 leaving a legacy for generations
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57 pathways
cover photO: MHC archives
Welcome
Neville O. Matthews (1920 - 2013) Dean’s Message / Reflections Yearbook / 1966
We are again reminded that buildings in themselves do not constitute an institution, for the buildings were here long before the college came into existence. But when young men and women came together and met with instructors in a spirit of inquiry to seek knowledge, understanding and intellectual skills, an institution of learning was born. The meeting of mind with mind, interpersonal interaction and association with one another in the classroom, in the laboratories, in the hallways, in the lounge, in the gymnasium and on the play fields have provided an experience that will never be lost or forgotten, for it has now become an integral part of the complex individual that is YOU.
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It is hoped that as you turn the pages of this yearbook, memories of those that constituted the first student body, staff and administration—the pioneers in a new venture in higher education in southeast Alberta—will be recalled with the pleasant feeling of “it was good to have been here.”
“Mom was very proud to be the college’s first student.” Jeney Gordon, Fay’s eldest daughter
remembering our first student Family. Community. Education.
These were the things most important to Fay (Reiling) Westergreen. As the first registered student at Medicine Hat Junior College (MHJC) in 1965, Westergreen was able to stay close to her family in a community she loved and receive an education. “Mom was very proud to be the college’s first student,” said Jeney Gordon, Fay’s eldest daughter. “Getting an education and being close to family was a win-win for her. She raved about being able to take her program at home and credited the college with her decision to become a teacher.” Her mom may have been MHJC’s first student, but she wasn’t just a number real2
or name on a roster, added Gordon. Because her mother was a real people person, the newly established junior college was a great fit. Small class sizes meant she really got to know her instructors and classmates. After finishing her first year in the Faculty of Education at MHJC, Westergreen transferred to the University of Calgary to complete an education degree. She married Earl Westergreen in 1969 and together they returned to Medicine Hat and raised three daughters – Jeney, Julie and Jamie.
Westergreen taught at Herald and Crestwood schools for many years, and later returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher at CAPE School. She also assisted with CAPE’s after school
program and was very active with children’s ministry at her church. “Mom was a natural teacher. She always loved school and kids,” recalled Gordon. “Children naturally gravitated to her and she often commented on how her times in the classroom were the happiest of her life.” That love of teaching and learning was passed on to Gordon, who also became a teacher and is now the principal of CAPE school where her mother’s legacy lives on. Westergreen passed away in 2012 at the age of 64, and will be remembered as someone who made everyone around her feel like family: loved, accepted and important.
A place to land “I believe the more education any citizen receives the better it is for the whole community. It certainly changed my life.”
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nge (Jorgensen) Ellefson has many fond memories of Medicine Hat Junior College (MHJC) in 1965:
Learning to play bridge in the student lounge. Socializing. Improving her athletic skills during intramurals. More socializing. Even meeting her future husband, Gavin Ellefson. Attending college or university was always an expectation in Ellefson’s family. Her experiences working with children in her youth led to the decision to pursue a career in education. As one of several students who moved from Brooks, Alberta to attend MHJC in its inaugural year, the proximity of Medicine Hat and size of the community were factors in choosing a post-secondary institution. “It was a whole new experience for me,” said Ellefson, who was on her own for the very first time. “It was lots of fun. Maybe even too much fun.” The college students had their own separate wing at Medicine Hat High School, complete with a gymnasium, library and lounge area. Despite a humourous sign of warning to high school students who dared enter the college space, the dynamic between the two groups of young people was friendly. “They made a real effort to make it special,” recalled Ellefson of the space created for the first college cohort.
Because of the small population, the students got to know each other quickly and most had no choice but to be involved with sports and social activities. “There was good camaraderie. It was a really supportive atmosphere.” Ellefson admitted her college grades weren’t much to be proud of at the time. She attributed her poor performance to a lack of intelligence and even went so far as to meet with the college guidance counsellor to discuss her concerns. “He looked at my marks and checked my IQ score and told me: ‘You have brains. Why aren’t you using them?’” Her excuse, like that of many students— college was too much fun. Despite her poor grades at the time, Ellefson credited MHJC with providing a good foundation for future study. She went on to the University of Alberta (Calgary) where the learning environment was vastly different to the one she had experienced in Medicine Hat. “It was quite a shock. I was glad I went to the college first. There were many students from the college who also transferred to Calgary at that time so I could really rely on that support network.” From Calgary she moved to Saskatoon and completed an education degree at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1974, Ellefson returned to Brooks where she began working as the principal of Brooks Primary School. With encouragement from the school superintendent, she went on to finish a master’s degree at the University
of Victoria and later a doctorate from the University of San Diego. Although she’s lived in many other cities while pursuing higher education, Ellefson has considered the Brooks area home since her family moved from Denmark in 1952. “I care a lot about this community. My family is here, my history,” said Ellefson, whose son Lyn, also an alumnus of Medicine Hat College, recently returned home to help her manage the family farm. She retired from teaching in 2002 but is still very active with education and other community initiatives. Ellefson is currently in her third term as a school board trustee and is passionate about organizing an arts and culture association in Brooks. She also worked closely with the Brooks Community Adult Learning Council for many years, helping New Canadians learn English and transition into their new homes. Most recently, Ellefson joined the Brooks Rotary with hopes of giving back. “I believe the more education any citizen receives the better it is for the whole community. It certainly changed my life.” “For me, MHC was the first little step, or maybe a bit of a stumble but I learned so much that year,” laughed Ellefson.
“It was a nice, soft place to land.”
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Building a college for the community W
hen Jack Snedden was asked to join the Board of Trustees of the new junior college in Medicine Hat, he didn’t know what he was getting into. “I foolishly said yes,” laughed Snedden, who was asked to take over a vacant trustee position. “I had no idea what was involved but I learned an awful lot. It was a profound learning experience.” He started on the board in 1967 when the college was still housed at Medicine Hat High School, although plans were underway for the building of a new facility. The city donated 107 acres of land along the TransCanada Highway in 1967 and the official sod-turning ceremony took place on March 16, 1970. The word junior was dropped from the title the same month and the institution officially became Medicine Hat College. Snedden credits Neville Matthews, the first dean of MHC, as being an integral part of the college’s history in the early years. “Neville Matthews was tremendous, a real community person. The college should be thankful to have had him at such an important time.” Working closely with Matthews, Snedden spent his two terms on the board actively involved with the construction of the new college campus. Together they met with local and provincial bureaucrats to navigate the unchartered waters of growing a community college, and travelled near and far to build relationships and learn about best practices as they planned for the future of MHC.
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In addition to attending monthly meetings and negotiating faculty and staff contracts, the board chair was also onsite two or three times a week during his lunch hours to meet with the architects and construction contractors. These were just a few of the activities related to his volunteer position. “I’m a great believer in the face-to-face,” said Snedden, adding that there wasn’t the benefit of modern day technologies to simplify communications. Everything was done over the phone, through the mail or in person.
“The purpose of MHC was to provide post-secondary education at a reasonable price to people in the region. That focus hasn’t changed in 50 years.” One of the important features of the new college facility was the addition of a theatre to house musical and artistic endeavors. Although the plan was met with some resistance, the board believed the theatre would be an important part of integrating the college in the community. “At the time, people just saw the college as an extra year of high school. They didn’t recognize the significance of where the college could go.” “It was a win-win for everybody. A win for the community, a win for the college. The theatre was our chance to resonate with the community,” said Snedden, adding that profits from the first year of college operations were used to launch the Conservatory of Music in the late 1960s.
The new building was designed to be modular, he noted. Each wing was separate to allow for easy expansion in years to come. And expand it has. No one dreamed the college would ever serve more than 900 students a year but with enrolment at nearly four times that number in 2014, plus 3,608 students of all ages enrolled in continuing education and another 707 in conservatory programs, times have certainly changed. One thing that hasn’t changed though is the basic principles of the institution. “The purpose of MHC was to provide postsecondary education at a reasonable price to people in the region. That focus hasn’t changed in 50 years,” said Snedden. Looking back, Snedden often wonders how he managed his role as board chair with his busy dental practice, other volunteer commitments, four young children and a very patient wife at home. “When you go into something and you don’t know what you’re getting into you have to deal with what happens. That’s life really.” “I often say I got another degree during my time on the board. There were just no initials attached to it.” Snedden’s service on the board ended in 1972, following the college’s grand opening on October 3, 1971.
Did you know? • The price tag of the college building contract was $3,543,000. • $26,000 was raised by a celebrity tie auction to help fund the college library. • The original gymnasium had blue walls. • Lunches in the cafeteria were prepared by the commercial cooking class.
Photo courtesy of esplanade archives
MHC OPENS ITS DOORS
watch the video at www.mhc.ab.ca/real real5
hepple-mania college band goes global
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hen Beverley Fischer joined Hepplewhyte she had never seen the mountains, much less travelled overseas on an airplane or sang in front of a packed audience. Originally from Richmound, Saskatchewan, she arrived at Medicine Hat College in 1972 to take the secretarial course. Her roommate encouraged her to join the college band known as Hepplewhyte, which performed at various events around Medicine Hat. The next thing she knew, Fischer was singing at the Banff Springs Hotel and flying across the Atlantic for a tour in the UK.
Hepplewhyte became part of the recruitment team for the college. As such, they visited high schools throughout southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, presenting programs tailored to all ages. The enthusiasm and excitement of the group appealed to audiences and Hepplewhyte was sought after for various school, club and political functions.
The legendary singing group was formed in the spring of 1971 under the direction of J.B. Bird and was composed of 28 musicians and singers from MHC and the community. A handful of interested students met weekly for an evening of enjoyment, singing their favourite songs.
These gigs, as well as an album release, helped fund Hepplewhyte’s big break and in June 1972, the group flew to Britain to present concerts throughout England and Wales where Williams had connections. They played to packed audiences where standing ovations and autograph seekers were common. As a result of this very successful tour, Hepplewhyte was invited to attend the World Festival of Youth and Students in East Berlin in the summer of 1973 as the Canadian representative. They also returned to the UK for another tour that summer.
In the fall of 1971, Tony Williams, a college instructor and very gifted musician, joined Hepplewhyte. Under his direction, the group underwent ‘a great metamorphosis’ with the addition of a brass section and additional singers to produce a unique musical combination of instruments and voices.
Pat Bishop was part of the group’s second tour through Wales. He grew up in Bow Island and met Williams while playing the trumpet at a jazz workshop at the college. The connection was serendipitous. Right before Hepplewhyte was supposed to leave on tour, one of the brass players backed out so Bishop was asked to go in his place.
Photos courtesy of Beverly Fischer
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“Tony Williams was an amazing guy with boundless energy,” recalled Bishop. “He arranged all the music and the choreography and the tours. He was everything to that group.” The show—a review of musical history— went over very well because it appealed to all ages and was very well produced, added Bishop. That, and the fact that they were a young, attractive group of Canadians were also factors in the band’s success. “Being Canadian was a big deal. Ovations. Autographs. I had never experienced that kind of reaction to my music. It was a very positive experience.” Although Bishop, a lawyer and long-time resident of Medicine Hat, was never an official MHC student, his connection to the college provided him with an opportunity he would not have had otherwise. Like Fischer, Hepplewhyte was his ticket to fame, if only for a little while. -With files from MHC archives
first impressions by melinda arthur, director of facility operations, MHC
“it had the shiniest floors I had ever set eyes on...”
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s I reflect on my early memories of Medicine Hat College, I cannot forget, or understate, the awe I felt the first time I visited the college’s brand new campus in the early 1970s. I don’t recall if it was the college’s first open house, but around the time the college opened its campus at 299 College Drive in Medicine Hat, I had the privilege of attending an open house with my parents. I hesitate to say how old I was at the time, lest I date myself, but suffice it to say, I was a young, elementary school-aged child at that time.
“Being Canadian was a big deal. Ovations. Autographs. I had never experienced that kind of reaction to my music.” Pat bishop
I remember thinking that I had never seen such a huge school and that it had the shiniest floors I had ever set eyes on. But the real awe came when we visited the science lab area. It was a whole new world to me with its tall benches and stools, fume hoods, microscopes and other super cool equipment, as well as the “interesting” specimens on display. I remember being particularly impressed with a hair-raising demonstration of a Van de Graaf generator in the physics lab and the live boa constrictor, named Susie, on display in the biology lab. Around the same time as the open house, one of my sisters was attending MHC as science student; she occasionally told stories about Susie and I thought she was the luckiest person—ever—to be going to school in such an amazing place! That open house was just my first visit to the campus. Throughout my childhood I returned to the college for a variety of
things like taking RCM piano and theory exams, performing in the Rotary Music Festival, attending plays, recitals and concerts and utilizing library resources to enhance my high school papers. And then, following high school graduation I registered as a student in... can you guess? ... the university transfer science program. With continued admiration for Medicine Hat College, I was thrilled to join the college team as an employee in 1986. I still have moments when I am awestruck by the people and places at the college—moments like when I take time to appreciate the magnificent beauty of the campus grounds or celebrate the cumulative efforts of students, staff and faculty at convocation. From my first visit to this day, I still think MHC is an amazing place and I feel lucky to have it in our community!
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Fieldschool students at work at Hillside Campsite 2000
Uncovering Medicine Hat’s history MHC archaeology students at work by dr. laurie milne mhc’s longest serving faculty member
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he story of Medicine Hat College’s involvement in archaeological research goes back to the spring of 1971. Babs Congram, a local resident and “rockhound” found animal bones and artifacts eroding from a cutbank along Seven Persons Creek in Medicine Hat and showed them to the curator of the local museum who dismissed the find as “some old horse bones.” This led Congram to send her artifacts to Dr. Barney Reeves of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Calgary. As his colleague and a recent hire at MHC, he suggested that I check out the site. And the rest, as they say, is history! In the summer of 1971 during a visit to what came to be designated as the Saamis Site, large quantities of stone tools, fire cracked rock, butchered bone and pottery were found, confirming the importance of the site. That fall, students enrolled in an introductory archaeology course spent a weekend test excavating. The campsite debris they found was so abundant and diverse that subsequent excavations took place in the fall of 1972 and the spring and summer of 1973. A fieldschool of over 20 students and a crew of seven was funded by a substantial grant from the former National Museum of Canada. The group excavated and mapped over 3,200 sq. ft. of living floors and nearly 80 features including hearths and stone boiling pits. Radiocarbon dates indicate the Saamis Site was initially occupied about AD 1500 and again around AD 1750. The people in question were representative of an archaeological culture called the Old Women’s Phase.
MHC students involved in this work also walked the nearby hills and creek bottom seeking the killsite that was likely the source of the bison carcasses found in the Saamis Site. While they were not successful in locating a kill at that time, they did find another campsite in an elevated basin midway up the valley wall to the west of the Saamis Site. It was named the Hillside Campsite and was excavated in May 2000 by eight MHC students enrolled in an archaeological fieldschool. Old Women’s Phase people occupied the upper levels at the Hillside Campsite but the lowest level contained Pelican Lake Phase remains and is thus much older, dating between 1000 and 1500 BC. Medicine Hat College students also excavated the Larson Site near Irvine, Alberta in 1982, 1986 and 1999 and the Vera Site in the Lauder Sand Hills of southwestern Manitoba in 1998. In total, over 80 students have participated in archaeological excavations under the auspices of MHC. Individual students have gone on to receive graduate degrees in archaeology at North American and British universities and are currently employed in the cultural resource management industry and in public education. The story of archaeology at MHC does not end with these finds, as the family of Babs Congram sponsors the Babs Congram Memorial Scholarship to honor outstanding students in anthropology and archaeology at MHC.
Subsequently, Babs Congram and I coauthored a report published by that agency and titled The Saamis Site: A Late Prehistoric-Protohistoric Campsite in Medicine Hat, Alberta, 1978. Laurie Milne near Saamis Site 2005
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Fieldschool students at Saamis Site 1973
sharing her passion for the past “Students have become my role models.”
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aurie Milne’s long and distinguished teaching career at Medicine Hat College (MHC) is a result of a trip to collect Indian artifacts in sand dunes in east central Alberta when she was just 12 years old. She came home and told her mother she was going to be an archaeologist. “Always supportive, my mother suggested that we check blowout sites west of Bowden and thus began a childhood passion for collecting Indian artifacts,” recalled Milne, who was born and raised in Olds, Alberta.
“Teaching was my thing. The energy of going into a classroom was addictive. It doesn’t get any better for me.” “I grew up in a home with a mother who was an avid fly fisherman and berry picker, so from the time I was a toddler she would take me along to her fishing holes. As I grew older, I developed a real interest in how people provisioned for their families and communities. Subsistence—how people lived and survived—has always been the focus in my archaeological research.” In the fall of 1964, Milne began her formal studies at the University of Alberta at Calgary. She registered in the Honours Archaeology program and was among the first cohort of students in the newly created department. She went on to receive an honours degree in archaeology in 1968 and a master’s degree in 1971. As a grad student, she enjoyed being a teaching assistant and was excited to secure a position at MHC in the early 1970s. In the spring of 1971, Milne was asked by a university professor
to meet with Medicine Hat resident Babs Congram, who had found some artifacts of interest below the present location of the Saamis Tipi. “It became highly evident this was a huge site with lots of materials,” said Milne. When she began teaching introduction to archaeology at MHC that fall, she took her students to test the Saamis Site. They were back again in 1972 and in 1973, she ran a field school with 25 students, thanks to a grant from the National Museum of Canada. “It was exciting every single day,” said Milne, recalling the collection of buffalo bones, pottery and arrowheads the students uncovered at the Saamis Site. “When they see the ‘goodies’ they’re hooked. But it’s dirty work with lots of bugs and snakes. Some realized it wasn’t for them. Others embraced it.” Milne estimates that over 80 college students were involved with various excavations in Medicine Hat, including the Saamis Site and Hillside Campsite, and sites near Irvine, Alberta and in southwestern Manitoba. “Teaching was my thing. The energy of going into a classroom was addictive. It doesn’t get any better for me.” During her 41-year career at MHC, Milne took three sabbaticals and one leave of absence to earn her PhD from Simon Fraser University. “I can’t say enough about how MHC supported me. There were ups and downs, but there was also the opportunity to broaden my academic background and use that interdisciplinary experience elsewhere.”
Over the years, Milne has taught 25 different anthropology, sociology, geography and native studies courses for the University of Lethbridge, the University of Alberta, and Medicine Hat College. In addition to the fieldschools she led for MHC, she’s also worked on similar projects for Brandon and Lakehead universities. Fieldwork has also taken her across Canada and into the United States. In 2000, Milne became a tutor for Athabasca University (AU) and also authored three courses for the institution. Her expertise is shared on several archaeology societies and through her work as a book reviewer. Although Milne retired from Medicine Hat College in 2012, she hasn’t stopped teaching. From 2012-2014, she served as the academic coordinator of anthropology for AU and continues to tutor between 75 and 80 students at a time. From Alberta and Ontario to Bolivia and Slovenia, she’s connected with and supported students from around the world who share her passion for archaeology. One of the most rewarding things about teaching for Milne is sharing in the experiences of students, regardless of where archaeology takes them. She recalls two of her students who went on to complete graduate work in England and others from a variety of college programs who simply took her courses as electives but brought different backgrounds and perspectives into the classroom. More recently, a woman from Edmonton returned home after hiking Machu Picchu and registered for Milne’s introduction to archaeology course offered through AU because she wanted to learn more about where she had been. “Students have become my role models,” said Milne. real9
Real magazine will be moving exclusively online in 2016. Contact alumni@mhc.ab.ca to be included in our email distribution. real10
conservatory
celebrating a rich history of music and dance
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ffering a beautiful view, a variety of performance facilities and outstanding music and dance instruction, the Cultural Centre has been home to the college conservatory for 32 years, but its rich history dates back to 1969 when Medicine Hat Junior College first started offering musical instruction. At the time, the conservatory was located in a house near Medicine Hat High School where most college classes took place, but plans were underway to build a theatre to support the performing arts as part of the college’s new facility. Dance instruction was first offered in 1972 with the introduction of ballet and modern jazz classes. Founded on the assumption that a small college in a small centre could still provide the very best cultural education and artistic enrichment to its community, the conservatory worked hard to attract professional musicians and dancers, often of a national stature, to serve as instructors and to enrich the city’s cultural life. One of those instructors was Elaine DobekShandro, who joined the conservatory in 1979. Since then, the well-known and respected piano teacher has enjoyed watching hundreds of students grow in their musical education. “The reward for me is seeing students perform and express themselves through music,” said Dobek-Shandro, who believes there are many benefits of a musical education. “Children who take music are often more creative and resourceful. They learn time
management and performance skills. They learn to appreciate things of beauty.” She also feels that students who are classically trained are able to play all genres of music. For example, former conservatory student Kalan Porter won the Canadian Idol competition in 2004 while his sister Mackenzie has found success on the country music scene in Nashville. Dobek-Shandro’s own journey began in Blairmore, Alberta, a small town in the Crowsnest Pass with an active music scene. The oldest of 10 children, Dobek-Shandro was exposed to the arts at a young age by parents who sang and a dad who performed in plays. Throughout her childhood she also sang, played clarinet in the band and piano in church, performed in music festivals and accompanied other musicians and vocalists. “Music is the way I communicate. It defines emotions. It is evident in every walk of life.” She went on to complete a Bachelor of Music from the University of Alberta and a Masters of Music from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. She has also done doctoral work with the University of British Columbia. But it was the opportunity to teach in a smaller city with a thriving arts community that attracted Dobek-Shandro to the position in Medicine Hat many years ago. “I feel privileged to be here.” Learn more about the conservatory programs at www. mhc.ab.ca/ conservatory. real11
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Photo courtesy of Orange Girl Banff, Alberta
Sharing the
gift of music R
Now working as a professional musician in Banff, Alberta, Schaufele’s glad that’s one gift she never received.
and teachers. Through the Conservatory Academy Program, an intensive and comprehensive musical education for serious musicians studying strings, piano and voice, as well as the summer strings program, Schaufele was given many opportunities to excel.
“Music is very challenging and it’s a long term commitment, but I have no regrets. Even if I hadn’t pursued a career in music, the discipline, the creativity— all of the things you learn—are highly transferable.”
“I consider the conservatory in Medicine Hat to be a real standout in Western Canada. I now see it as remarkable, what we’ve been given.”
Growing up in a small, rural community, the Bow Island native said her parents made many sacrifices so that she and her siblings could excel in music. They believed music was an important part of education so all six of the Schaufele children began private lessons at MHC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance at the age of six or seven.
She went on to finish a performance diploma at Mount Royal College, again with van der Sloot, and later returned to the conservatory to teach violin alongside her former mentors.
onelle Schaufele once asked her parents for an unusual Christmas gift—to quit her music lessons.
It was a solid investment—the four eldest are now professional musicians and the youngest are still pursuing musical studies. Studying violin under the primary direction of William van der Sloot, Schaufele discovered a sense of belonging and identity at the conservatory within the close-knit group of students
“I love teaching. I feel very strongly that musical education is so important. It’s special, being able to pass down knowledge and traditions that are hundreds of years old.” After three years of teaching, she completed a Bachelor of Music with distinction from the University of Calgary, an Artist Diploma at The Glenn Gould School, and an Artist in Residency program at The Banff Centre. In 2012,
Schaufele founded the Banff String Academy of Music to offer gifted young students advanced musical training. She is also a faculty member of the Calgarybased Amici String Program. Throughout her career, Schaufele has had the opportunity to perform around the world, including places where her favourite composers, Bach and Mendelssohn, lived years ago. From North to South America, throughout Europe, and even New Zealand, her experiences abroad have made her realize just how fortunate she was to have the Conservatory of Music and Dance as part of her musical education. “Growing up, you think it is normal to have those opportunities. Now I know it really isn’t. I consider the conservatory in Medicine Hat to be a real standout in Western Canada. I now see it as remarkable, what we’ve been given,” said Schaufele. “The journey isn’t one I’d trade for anything. I feel very blessed and owe the conservatory so much. My career wouldn’t have been possible without the conservatory as an incubator.” real13
1966 women’s xcountry
1978 bruins hockey
Black
Pantone 130
Rattlers. What a strange nickname
this version for smaller use - 1” and under prepared with: 1978 antelope basketball 2014 rattlers soccer - heavier font for small print - larger printable gap between head and type
for athletics teams! Well, not as strange as casual observation might reveal. A closer look at the history behind the nickname Rattlers indicates that the choice is an apt one. Prior to 1984, the Medicine Hat College athletic teams went by the names Antelope (men) and Kudus (women), but the strong resemblance between the college’s antelope/ kudus logo and that of the nearby University of Lethbridge Pronghorns had left MHC without a unique identity and in search of a new name for its athletic teams. So when a Medicine Hat-based junior football team called the Rattlers disbanded in 1979, MHC claimed the Rattlers nickname for its own. The choice of Rattlers as nickname for the MHC athletics teams was appropriate because the rattlesnake is a creature found in abundance in the southern Alberta area. In many ways, the name Rattlers and its symbol signify attributes that are valuable in athletics. The rattlesnake is a creature of stealth and quickness. It is an efficient and merciless predator. While Medicine Hat College athletes and coaches do not regard themselves as cold-blooded, they do hope to identify with the rattlesnake’s killer instinct.
1978 intramurals
1971 antelope basketball
1970 kudus volleyball
2013 rattlers golf
1966 men’s xcountry
1967 women’s tennis
1970 antelope volleyball
1978 Kudus volleyball
Rattlers, whether of the prairie or of the Medicine Hat College variety, are dangerous creatures to be treated with respect! Rattlers Athletics program, 1984
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1971 antelope volleyball
2015 rattlers basketball
History of Athletics at mhc 1965-66 Medicine Hat Junior College opens. Athletics teams are named the Antelope (men) and Kudus (women). MHJC competes in basketball. 1966-67 Intramural sports include tennis, chess and checkers, cross country, volleyball, and flag football 1968-69 MHJC is admitted into the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) as a full-time member. 1969-70 Lloyd Scherer is named outstanding male athlete of the year, Darcy Gaff is named outstanding female athlete of the year. (basketball) 1972-73 ACAC Bowling Champions ACAC Basketball Champions (W) 1973-74 ACAC Bowling Champions 1974-75 ACAC Bowling Champions 1981-82 ACAC X-Country Champions (W) ACAC Basketball Champions (W) 1982-83 ACAC Basketball (W) ACAC Bowling Champions (M)
1983-84 MHC competes in badminton, basketball, curling, hockey, volleyball. ACAC Bowling Champions (M) 1984-85 Athletics team change from the Kudus and Antelopes to the Rattlers. Jake the Snake is born. ACAC Curling Champions ACAC Bowling Champions (m/w) 1985-86 ACAC Bowling Champions ACAC Curling Champions (W) 1986-87 ACAC Curling Champions ACAC Bowling Champions (W) 1987-88 Rattlers Booster Club is formed under the direction of Mike Havey ACAC Bowling Champions (M/W) ACAC Curling Champions (W) 1988-89 CCAA National Curling Host ACAC Curling Champions (W) ACAC Bowling Champions (M/W) 1995-96 CCAA National Soccer Host 1999-2000 CCAA National Basketball Host ACAC Soccer Champions (W) 2001-02 CCAA National Soccer Host
2006-07 Rattlers undergo a redesign of the brand. Rowdy the Rattler replaces Jake the Snake as the official athletics mascot. 2010-11 ACAC Futsal Champions (W) Sue Higgins and mary Matthiessen are inducted into the Rattlers Hall of Fame. 2011-12 Kudus basketball team (1972-73) is inducted into the Rattlers Hall of Fame. 2012-13 Rattlers mixed curling team (1988-89) and Arnold Frank are inducted into the Rattlers Hall of Fame. 2013-14 ACAC Futsal Champions (W) 2014-15 MHC hosts CCAA Soccer National Championships November 5-7, 2014. Rattlers earn their place in the tournament after finishing second in the ACAC championships and finish 7th overall in Canada. Men’s basketball team places 2nd in the province to earn a place in the national competition.
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Hall of fame Other Hall of FAme inductees Mary matthiessen
p. 17
Sue higgins
p. 18
Athletics administrative assistant
Coach, instructor
physical education department 1983
Arnold Frank 2012 Inducted into hall of fame
Arnold Frank was an instructor for the university transfer/physical education department beginning in September 1969, when MHC programs were still taught at Medicine Hat High School. During his 29 years of service as a fulltime employee, Frank wore many hats. He coached the men’s basketball, volleyball and golf teams for many years. He was the one and only coach of the Rattlers bowling team during its successful five year run. Frank initiated the Be Fit for Life program at MHC in 1982, with the goal of providing health and fitness opportunities to Medicine Hat and surrounding areas. He was also responsible for influencing and training countless local coaches in all sports by instituting and instructing with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCPP) out of MHC. After his retirement in 1998, he continued to work at the college in a part-time capacity until 2004. Frank was a mainstay during his tenure at MHC, and was well respected friend and mentor to his colleagues, coaches, students and athletes.
1972-73 Kudus Basketball Team 2011 Inducted into Hall of Fame
The women’s basketball team of 1972-73 was a blending of high school graduates from local area schools with the exception of one student. As a team, they struggled to overcome those high school rivalries, but were successful by the end of the league in securing the fourth and final playoff spot in the ACAC. This gave the team a berth into the conference championship tournament. At the ACAC Championship, the team showed determination and a flair for the dramatic by winning both the semi-finals and finals by a single point over the MRC Kittens and RDC Queens respectively. Nora Way and Donna Mastel were selected to the ACAC Championship All-Star team while Sonja Smeland was named tournament MVP. Their extraordinary accomplishments are still the measuring stick by which current Rattlers teams are measured. They represented the college with class and professionalism and the stories of their championship run are still an inspiration for today’s athletes.
1988-89 Rattlers Mixed Curling Team CCAA Curling champions 1989
Kudus basketball 1978 real16
2012 Inducted into Hall of Fame
The MHC mixed curling team of 1988/89 consisted of Skip Mike Stroh, Third Lori Schneider, Second Mark Repp, and Lead Pam Weinberger. Sherry and her late husband Randy Rainsford co-coached the team and led them to the CCAA National Championships. They possessed a combined 11 years of coaching experience, and led the team (men’s women’s, mixed) to four consecutive ACAC Championships, as well as silver and bronze medals, and numerous all-star awards at the national level. The team also included assistant coach and former Rattler curling all-star, the late Trevor Teasdale.
The team members were not foreign to curling success with many of them winning championships at the high school and junior levels. Although previous mixed curling teams had achieved success at the ACAC and national bonspiels, it was this young team with only one returning curler that gelled quickly and followed its ACAC championship title with a stellar performance at the CCAA nationals, bringing MHC its only national championship to date.
Boosting the Rattlers’ Spirit
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he Rattlers’ Booster Club was formed in 1988 under the Alberta Societies Act through the initiative of Rattlers basketball coach, Mike Havey. The initial intent of the Booster Club was to support and assist in the operation of Rattlers’ athletic programs, and that mandate remains true today. The Booster Club is still an important part of the athletics program at MHC, providing student-athletes with approximately $50,000 for athletic scholarships and travel expenses. For years, bingos and casinos have been the Booster Club’s main source of raising funds for athletic scholarships, but new ideas were needed to fulfill the club’s commitment to the Rattlers program and its athletes. This commitment led to the organization of the 2015 Rattlers Athletics Scholarship Breakfast this fall featuring NHL hockey hero and former Medicine Hat Tiger, Kelly Hrudey.
“The Booster Club is excited to have a big name attached to their event this year and the opportunity it will provide for college athletes,” said Donna Schneider, Booster Club president and former Rattler. “The success of this breakfast will ensure not only continual scholarship resources but also additional support for the program with funding for new equipment or travel expenses. Ultimately, providing students with the best experience as a Rattlers athlete will contribute to a more successful Rattler program on and off the playing field.” The Rattlers are currently seeking dedicated volunteers who are willing to devote their time and energy towards growing the Rattlers program and enhancing the student-athlete experience.
providing student-athletes with approximately $50,000 for athletic scholarships and travel expenses.
If you are interested in joining the booster club, please contact 403.529.3834 or email rattlers@mhc.ab.ca.
Remembering Mary 1957 - 2009
I
had the privilege of knowing Mary Matthiessen as a student, athlete and coach for over 25 years. She was a remarkable woman. What I remember the most about Mary is how she related to people and made sure everyone was important in the scope of the department. Whether you were a student-athlete, a coach or staff member, she always made the time for you. She was always busy—although she would never tell you that—but not once did I hear her say no to anything extra that needed to be done. When we (coaches and staff) showed up at her house late at night for a nightcap, she always welcomed us in and carried out the snacks and sat down to socialize with us even though all the work she had brought home was right there in front of her to do.
by trever turner, former rattlers athlete & coach
She just had that special quality in making us feel like a part of her family. She meant so much to me and I miss her every day. When I became a coach at the college, I was overwhelmed with the paper work that was part of that position, but Mary was very helpful and made my job easier by guiding me through everything that needed to be done. Her approach to the little details made working and being a student-athlete at MHC a special time in our lives. Her daughters, Laura and Christina, have those same special qualities and should be proud of their mom and what she meant to the Rattler community.
2010 Inducted into Hall of Fame
“Once a Rattler, Always a Rattler.” real17
“Thanks so much to all of my past players and students! you helped make my memories great and I had a fabulous 32 years. if you enjoyed your time at MHC, then please keep on Paying it Forward!”
sue higgins 2010 Inducted into Hall of Fame
what coaching is all about
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or Sue Higgins, coaching has never been about wins or losses. It’s been about people.
Born in Montreal and raised in southern Ontario, she left the land of ‘big water and lots of trees’ and arrived on the Prairies in 1977 to coach the women’s volleyball team at MHC. Although she had been an avid basketball and field hockey player during her years at university, she made the switch to volleyball when an opportunity presented itself to coach at the high school level. “This was a turning point in my life as I felt I had discovered the sport that was a good fit for me, plus it gave me the background and experience that eventually qualified me for the position at Medicine Hat College.” While she was earning her master’s degree in education at Queen’s University, she saw the posting for the MHC position and just a few days later, received a letter from her dean encouraging her to apply. real18
“So I did! And so began my life in Medicine Hat,” recalled Higgins.
She coached the women’s volleyball team from 1977 to 1982 and the men’s team from 1986 to 1993, following a four-year hiatus she took to complete her PhD at the University of Alberta. The fact that her former students still go out of their way to keep in contact with Higgins speaks volumes to the impact she had on their lives and the memories they made together. Courses were difficult and practices were demanding, but Higgins tried to create fun and enjoyable experiences both on the court and in the classroom. “I think both my players and my students would say that I was tough but fair, that I was knowledgeable but also approachable. I hope they feel I helped them to achieve some of their goals in school or in sport, but most of all, I hope they enjoyed the experience of learning along the way.”
Highlights of her 32-year career at MHC include a whirlwind tour through London, Amsterdam, and Paris with adventures on the Metro and “Le Lion,” karaoke singers in Kamloops, anatomy bell ringers in the gymnasium and going to Nationals in Nanaimo, British Columbia. “What I loved most about coaching is the people I worked with along the way. Of course everyone loves to win, but looking back I cannot say I remember how many games we won in a given season or how many medals we collected over the years. I remember my players. “I have been fortunate to have coached some of the most terrific folks anywhere and I know that they are now out in the world doing great things and contributing positively to other people’s lives as they continue on in their respective life adventures.”
Memories on the court T
he year was 1983. With only 12 seconds left on the clock, the Vancouver Community College Falcons sunk a final basket to defeat the Medicine Hat College Kudus 55-53 at the CCAA National Basketball Championships in Toronto. It was a heartbreaking game that Karen Bongaards won’t forget, but her team regrouped and went on to win the bronze medal. As a 5’6” guard for the Medicine Hat College Kudus basketball team, Bongaards won bronze at both the 1982 and 1983 Canadian National Championships. She was also named an ACAC All-Star in 1983, in addition to receiving several Kudu athletic awards.
Bongaards’s basketball career spans the highs and lows of competition. In her first year, the Kudu contingent finished the regular season with an impressive 12 and 2 record. In her two seasons with the Kudus, Bongaards experienced a very strong, close-knit relationship with her teammates and coaches both on and off the court. Coaches Marg and Murray Shivon pushed their athletes to be the best that they could be on the court, while instructors in the classroom were supportive and approachable.
Success at MHC opened doors for the athlete. Bongaards was offered a full-ride scholarship to Northern Montana University where she finished an education degree which led to her “life purpose.” As an educator for 29 years, Bongaards has taught physical education and coached at many grade levels. Now back in her hometown of Redcliff, Alberta, Bongaards teaches Grade 5 at Margaret Wooding School where she still applies the skills, values and lessons learned on the court in her classroom. “Modelling my respected coaches, I expect hard work and discipline from my students while maintaining a positive and patient attitude. My experiences help me to understand the individual needs of my students as I try to lead each one in the right direction,” said Bongaards. “I also enjoy coaching at various levels, and promoting the joy and intensity of the sport. The game of basketball is in my blood and will always be a part of my life.”
“Medicine Hat College was an extremely important and memorable part of my life. To this day, I love going to the college as it brings me back to those fantastic years. It is at MHC that I truly developed my passion for the game of basketball and realized that I could go places with it,” said Bongaards.
“Modelling my respected coaches, I expect hard work and discipline from my students while maintaining a positive and patient attitude.” real19
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Determined to learn Snow and ice. Bread and butter. Mashed potatoes. These are a just a few of the things that were new—and rather unpleasant—to Khamla Le when she arrived in Canada 30 years ago. But these were minor things to overcome for 20-year-old Le, who had been living in a refugee camp in Thailand after ‘escaping to freedom’ from her home in Laos, a communist country in Southeast Asia. “I left because I wanted a better future. It was a hard life,” said Le of her time in the refugee camp. The original plan was for Le and her sister’s family to immigrate to Australia but when that didn’t work out, they applied to Canada and were placed in Medicine Hat by the government in 1985. “It was a shock for us, coming from a hot country to a frozen country,” recalled Le with a smile. “It was so cold. We had never seen ice and snow before.” The family had someone to guide them through settling into their new home, but it was a significant challenge dealing with a new language and very different style of living. Although Le had learned some English during her time in the refugee camp, she still struggled with the language and enrolled in the ESL program at Medicine Hat College. Since then, Le’s life has been entwined with MHC. She studied ESL for a year in Medicine Hat before getting married and moving to Brooks where her husband—also from Laos—lived. She found a tutor and
continued her studies through the Adult Basic Education program offered at MHC’s Brooks Campus, where she also worked part-time as a custodian. “From then on, I always wanted to educate myself, better myself,” said Le, who had only attended school until junior high in Laos. “I was so determined to learn.”
program at SAIT. Both of her children are now working in Calgary. “Our kids were raised to know education is a very big thing. It’s the only thing that can get you somewhere,” said Le. “I didn’t take no for an answer.”
“I enjoy helping students. It’s very rewarding,”
She moved into upgrading at Brooks Campus and eventually earned her high school diploma.
In addition to being a student and custodian, Le has worn many hats during her 30-year relationship with MHC.
“I was excited because I was the first one in my family to achieve these things,” said Le proudly.
As the administrative assistant at Brooks Campus, she’s been the familiar, friendly face at the front desk for years, helping with everything from student residence to finance. She’s also taught cooking and video editing classes, along with children’s summer programming offered through continuing studies.
Her next goal was to earn an office technology certificate. By this time, she was working full-time at Brooks Campus, raising two children and still trying to master the English language. “It’s really frustrating because you want to learn so fast but you are stuck. Language is not something you can rush. It takes time and practice. “I cried sometimes when I took the office technology program. It was lots of homework. I stayed up late and sometimes my kids would come into my room and ask why I was still sitting at my desk. They wanted to know why I was awake so early but I hadn’t gone to bed yet. It was not easy, but I did it.” Instilling the value of education in her own children has always been important to Le and her husband. Their daughter attended MHC before earning an education degree from the University of Lethbridge. Their son also attended the college prior to finishing a technology
“I enjoy helping students. It’s very rewarding,” said Le. She feels especially connected to New Canadians and believes she can encourage others who have come from similar backgrounds and experiences to her own. But what she appreciates most of all about Brooks Campus is its small size and personal atmosphere. “We’re like family. We get to know the staff and faculty and students in a personal way. We support each other in many ways.” That support has been instrumental in helping Le build a new life and a better future for her family. “Canada is home for me now— cold and all.”
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Be inspired Chances are if you’ve been downtown in Medicine Hat, you’ve been to Inspire Studio, Gallery & Café. This little gem on the corner of South Railway and Second Street brings together art, history and culinary delights for a unique, downtown experience. For Maureen Newton, the owner of Inspire Studio & Gallery and graduate of MHC’s visual communications program, Inspire represents many things: her passion for downtown, her love of art and her joy for teaching.
“I realize now how I still use things I learned at the college in my own teaching. At the time, it was about staying home and saving some money but it turned out to be a really good thing for me. I’m lucky to have had that experience.”
Newton grew up with downtown Medicine Hat as her playground. Living on Second Street with her parents and siblings, she recalls running to the IGA, the City Bakery and Handy’s Confectionary as a child and shopping at Raber’s for her grad dress years later.
Not long after finishing school, Newton packed her bags and set off for Europe to experience the great works of art in person. From the Louvre in Paris to the Northern Tate Gallery in Liverpool, she was able to appreciate incredible art on a daily basis.
“Downtown was a huge part of my life when I was little. I have this real affection for it. That’s one reason why we have this passion about trying to contribute to downtown; because we have these childhood memories of what it was like,” said Newton, who partnered with her sister to open Inspire.
When Newton returned to Medicine Hat, she evaluated her experiences and talents and incorporated them into a business concept. Having taught art in Medicine Hat and in various locations across Canada, she knew that teaching would be part of her plan.
With an artist for a father, art was celebrated and creativity was encouraged in the Newton household.
“I really enjoy the teaching component [of Inspire]. Sharing the world of art and travel and showing people how to appreciate it— I love doing that.”
“It was our normal,” recalled Newton. She studied at MHC in the early 1980s before completing her fine arts degree at the University of Lethbridge. Looking back, Newton recognizes the advantages of attending MHC and the solid foundation it gave her for the future. “I’m still really impressed at the quality of courses and instruction I got at the college compared to other places. I still think it’s a great program,” said Newton, adding that she’d love to go back and take her education all over again in the college’s new visual communications facility. real22
Newton teaches a variety of classes at Inspire including drawing fundamentals as well as painting with oils, watercolours and acrylics. From spirited children to terrified adults, Newton is passionate about making art fun and accessible for all. “With children, you’re planting seeds. They’re just starting on their path. I think people underestimate what children are capable of. I know when I’ve said something encouraging to a child because they literally rise up a full inch. Those are my favourite moments.”
“The creative adult is simply the child that survived.” Teaching adults is different. “Many of them have incredible fear because somebody said something to them at some moment in their life that made them doubt their own creativity. The creative adult is simply the child that survived.” Newton’s own art draws inspiration from reading, the environment around her and plays on words. From a series about elephants that grew from her thought ‘I think I was an elephant but I can’t remember,’ to her fascination with bird cages and painting patterns, Newton’s ideas sometimes take years to develop and find their way on to a canvas. She’s also inspired by people with particular stories. Like her own son, who has cerebral palsy but does not allow this condition to hold him back. Or one of her adult students who, despite being in a wheelchair and having only one functioning hand, is creating amazing works of art. “They are fearless. It’s fascinating to me how people can overcome incredible obstacles and still manage to do incredible things. I believe the greatest handicap is fear and a bad attitude.”
“I really enjoy the teaching component [of Inspire]. Sharing the world of art and travel and showing people how to appreciate it— I love doing that.” The idea for Inspire took shape seven years ago and has been a labour of love for Newton and those closest to her. Located in the historic Hargrave-Sissons Block, she originally occupied the second floor of the 115-year-old building next door where she taught art lessons and featured the work of local artists.
“When I took possession of the space, people thought it was an April Fools’ joke,” recalled Newton, who moved in on April 1, 2008. “It was disgusting, but artists can envision an end result.” The ground floor was in a similar state of chaos when she moved downstairs in 2010, but the original floors and other components of the space were lovingly restored and Inspire Café opened in 2011. Now, the high ceilings and exposed brick of the café are a fitting backdrop for the art on its walls. The gallery displays the work of a dozen artists at any given time. “Visitors are blown away by the level of talent that is featured in this little café and I know we’re barely scratching the surface of artistic people in Medicine Hat. “It’s always a joy to see what others are doing. Many artists in the community have encouraged me over the years and I think I’m at a point in my life now when it’s my turn to encourage others and help them along,” said Newton, who organizes the Downtown Art Walk. Right down to washing dishes during a busy lunch rush, Newton enjoys every aspect of Inspire, but what she loves the most is its role in restoring life to Medicine Hat’s downtown area. “That’s part of the gift, I think. This building was closed for so long but now people are able to come inside and enjoy a piece of history.”
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Started: 1970 Retired: 2015 TIME SERVED . . . • 11,700 days of service
memoirs of a librarian
• 81,900 hours of service • 4,914,000 minutes of service SERVED WITH . . . • 8 Library Directors • 46 Circulation Clerks • 47 AV Clerks • 25 Brooks Clerks • And many other wonderful people
by barb banasch
W
hen I began working at Medicine Hat College in January 1970, its location was in the north wing of Medicine Hat High School. Since there wasn’t enough space in the school, a house across the street was used for some of the faculty offices. Many of the college students in the early 1970s had gone to school with me and by the time I retired in 2015, some of the students attending MHC were grandchildren of those same students. It was an exciting time in 1970 because we knew that the next summer we would be moving to the new location. I remember packing a lot of boxes with books to be moved but we were young, worked hard and had a lot of fun. When we moved to the new college location, the library seemed so big compared to the former facilities. The library was located over two floors in the
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center core (where student services and administration now live). Faculty, staff and management would all meet in the cafeteria for coffee breaks and lunch. The college has always been a great place to work. The grounds are beautiful, the building itself, when new, was wonderful. Once it became dated the renovations made it vibrant again. Each September, the hallways were full of life with new and returning students. They kept us young at heart! It gave my co-workers and me a lot of gratification to assist students and faculty and provide great customer service. The variety of work always made my job so interesting and enjoyable that the years just flew by. I consider it a real privilege to have worked at the college for 45 years.
a ‘vera’ special library by anne baxter library technician & keith walker, retired library director
T
hroughout history, the role of libraries in post-secondary institutions has been supportive: supporting students by offering a place to study with materials that can expand their knowledge in their chosen field and supporting faculty by housing classic works of learning to inspire research that will continue leading society in a forward direction. Those ideals are still relevant for today’s postsecondary library. What has changed, however, is how those goals are achieved. In the mid-1960s, Medicine Hat Junior College was located in Medicine Hat High School. It was in its very early stages of development and creating a library was part of the plan. Students from Crescent Heights High School recognized the importance of having a college library and wanted to contribute to its creation. They came up with a fundraiser that involved contacting famous people and asking them to contribute a necktie to be sold at auction. The proceeds from that auction were some of the initial funds used to form the college’s library collection. Student support of the college library was evident again in 2001 when the Students’ Association chose to give funds to the building of a new library which subsequently opened in 2003.
The initial library housed a small collection made up of mostly print books and a few journals. There may even have been the odd filmstrip or 16 mm film reels on those shelves. Print books continue to be very popular and are still what comes to mind when one thinks of a library. However, today those print materials are found working in tandem with the new kids on the block—electronic books and streaming video products. Organization and design of libraries in the not too distant past often centered around the card catalogue. That monstrous piece of furniture full of drawers housing 3 X 5 inch cards was fundamental to the library’s operation. Now, computers dot the landscape of the library and each of those stations provides access to the electronic catalogue which gives students all of the information they need to begin their research. Wander into many libraries today and you will find a portion of the floor space designated as ‘makerspace’. This space is available for collaborating, creating, and sharing by using tools that range from knitting needles to 3D printers. The collaborative workspace theme flows throughout modern libraries as students gather in groups to study, complete assignments, and connect. Quite a
contrast from the hushed halls of silence used by post-secondary students many decades ago. The library at the Medicine Hat campus is named after Vera Bracken, an elementary school teacher who taught in rural southeastern Alberta in the mid-20th century. Much of her teaching career was spent in Grade 1 classrooms where she delighted in teaching her young pupils to read. Bracken had such a special connection with those impressionable young students that she offered scholarships to those that continued their education by attending college. Later, she was able to set up an ongoing scholarship for students who may not have been able to attend a post-secondary institute. It is fitting then that the college library is named for someone who was dedicated to the importance of both reading and lifelong learning. When the library moved locations in 2003, Vera Bracken delivered the very first book to its new home. It was also fitting that this book was a collection of writings authored by Bracken. Students entering the Vera Bracken Library may not know the background of its name but very quickly determine it a special place to be on campus. real25
“the offering of full degrees on campus is perhaps the single-most impressive mark of just how far the college has come in its short fifty years.”
evolution of education
by dr. len vandervaart, former academic vice president
most of its 50 years. And there’d be some truth in the observation.
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ongratulations Medicine Hat College on turning 50! That’s 50 years of impacting students, being part of the region, and ensuring that programs meet the needs of our communities. So what kind of programmatic changes has the college experienced in its first 50 years and what does it tell us about how it serves its students and community? To the casual observer, this question might seem to be easily answered: it might appear as though the college has more or less offered the same programs throughout
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From the time the college was established, and especially by the early 1970s, right up until today, a student could come to the college and choose from the following: adult upgrading, for filling high school gaps; university transfer, in pretty much any arts and science degree program; visual arts, especially art with an applied emphasis; education, to prepare new teachers; business, leading to careers in everything from office administration and management to accounting and marketing; nursing, with direct entry from the college into the profession; athletics, ranging from bowling to basketball; trades, especially the core building trades; and non-credit studies, from continuing education to conservatory style music and dance. But while this program list represents what the college has offered, it is a list that doesn’t give the full picture, or the hard work by college faculty and staff to refresh and rebuild programs and give students new options. For example, in 1965, a student could step up to the registration counter, enrol in Dr. Wilson’s education program and be on their way to
a long and rewarding career as a teacher. They would be able to take the first year, here in Medicine Hat and then have to leave town for the next three. Today, however, that same student would have the option to complete the entire degree without having to leave Medicine Hat; graduating with a parchment in-hand from University of Alberta or Mount Royal University. In fact, the offering of full degrees on campus is perhaps the single-most impressive mark of just how far the college has come in its short 50 years. In addition to the programs already mentioned, the college now offers on-campus completion of degrees in applied sciences, business administration, communication studies, criminal justice, human services, nursing, and social work. So looking at our history of programming what do we see? A college that on the surface quietly does its core job of providing and maintaining the comprehensive program base while also responding to new program ideas, opportunities and student expectations, so that it can continue to meet the needs of the community while also diversifying and growing.
Continuing Studies
Proud to be serving Medicine Hat & Brooks for over
years www.mhc.ab.ca/continuingstudies
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PAST TO PRESENT
1965Fall 1960Fall
Local school board suggests establishing a junior college with the City of Medicine Hat.
Medicine Hat College opens its doors at Medicine Hat High School to 97 full-time and 11 part-time students. University transfer programs are offered: agriculture, arts, commerce, education, household economics, law, nursing, pharmacy, physical education, pre-medicine, predentistry, pre-veterinary medicine, science.
1967Fall
Certificate and diplomas are added to college offerings.
‘60 1979fall
1982spring Former Brooks area resident, former Medicine Hat Mayor, and Medicine Hat businessman, Harry Veiner, donates 26 hectares of land east of Brooks to the province for the college to build a permanent campus in Brooks. Sod turning for Cultural Centre.
Official opening of the Brooks campus in the old hospital, by the Honourable Jim Horsman.
1981fall
Trades and Technology Building (T Wing) opens at the Medicine Hat campus.
1983fall 1982fall
Community Education initiates the adult basic education program.
Official opening of student housing at the Medicine Hat campus.
Official opening of the Cultural Centre and home of the Conservatory Music and Dance. 650 students are registered, with 20 faculty on staff.
Medicine Hat College Foundation is incorporated.
1998summer
2001summer
Groundbreaking for the B Building, a three-storey, $18 million expansion, which will house the library.
1999winter The new health studies building officially opens (E Wing). Medicine Hat College Library is renamed the Vera Bracken Library.
Groundbreaking for a $3.2 million expansion that will house 14 different programs previously spread around campus. The groundbreaking is performed with a Clydesdale horse and a handplow. Library receives $278,700 grant from the province. The one time grant is the college’s share of $20 million in Knowledge Networks funding to 26 post-secondary learning institutions. This will allow the complete automation of the library.
2005spring
2002fall Student residence units are opened at Brooks Campus. Coulee View residence opens on the Medicine Hat campus in October 2002.
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2003fall Grand opening of the 3-storey building and re-dedication of the Vera Bracken Library. (October 9, 2003)
Grand opening of Centennial Hall, the new front foyer and promenade at the Medicine Hat campus. (June 27, 2005) Medicine Hat College confers its first honorary degree to Terry Brekko.
2005fall
Medicine Hat College commemorates its 40-year anniversary with a homecoming celebration.
1970spring Construction starts at present site. 128 construction workers, technicians, and management worked approximately 3,100,000 hours to complete the college complex.
1969Fall
Conservatory of Music and Dance is established.
“Junior� is dropped from the college name.
Academic Upgrading Is added to program offerings.
1971fall
Official opening of the new MHC campus by the Honourable J.W. Grant MacEwan.
1971summer
College Staff moves to new facility.
Crescent Heights High School hosts a fundraising project to purchase books for the Medicine Hat College library. Celebrities, including GovernorGeneral Vanier, Lester B. Pearson, Boris Karloff, and Peter Sellers were approached to donate their neckties for an auction.
1972summer Hepplewhyte, a college singing group comprised of 28 musicians and singers travels to the UK to present concerts throughout England and Wales in the summers of 1972 and 1973.
1977winter 4,200 people are registered in continuing education courses, compared to 280 people who were registered in 1971.
1990fall
1987fall
H Building is opened.
Medicine Hat College celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
1990spring
1989spring Medicine Hat College hosts its first college-wide graduation ceremony.
Sod turning at Brooks Campus.
1991fall 1998winter
Snowstorm in March closes the campus down for the day, the first time the college has ever closed due to a storm. Classes resume the next day at noon.
A Child Development Centre is established on campus in cooperation with the City of Medicine Hat.
1996fall MHC is on the Internet! This is the first time all college services are online, including applications, program offerings and college information.
Dignitaries officially open the new Brooks Campus.
2014fall
2011fall 2009fall Official opening of the EnCana Power Engineering Technology Centre. (October 8, 2009)
Official Opening of the F-Wing.
2012fall MHC receives largest donation in history of
$2.2 million
Official opening of the visual communications expansion at the Cultural Centre. MHC hosts grand opening for the Sunrise Rotary Trail
from the Rodgers family.
See more milestones online at www.mhc.ab.ca/real. real29
friendly ria hirai
MHC IS... an international perspective on life abroad
kind Mari Suzuki
“MHC provides me with a
great experience for studying English.� kenya hiraki real30
Did you know? MHC has hosted 1,141 international students since 2009, and thousands more in years prior. There were 337 international students on campus last year. students come from countries around the world including japan, china, india and south korea. many international students stay with local families for a truly Canadian experience.
“people are welcoming. everything is new for me. i’m so happy to be here.”
Mari Suzuki
awesome tatsuoki ’tats’ matsuda
fantastic! It is my first time away from home. I thought I would be missing my home but I’m not. My homestay mom is so friendly. The teachers are very funny and kind. The sky is very clear. jun matsuda
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delivering health and hope A
fter working on the streets with some of Alberta’s most vulnerable populations, Corey Ranger has gained greater insight and compassion for those living with mental illness. The Vancouver Island native moved to Alberta in 2008 and worked for one year on the rigs to put himself through school. At the time, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to study so he visited an open house at MHC’s Brooks Campus and connected with faculty from the practical nurse program. A last minute cancellation meant Ranger was registered for class in the fall of 2009. “The program was really good. Class sizes were small and there was lots of one-onone teaching. The instructors were great and I still have good relationships with all of them,” said Ranger. Prepared to take his education to the next level, he moved to Medicine Hat in 2011 and completed the nursing degree transition program offered at the college by the University of Calgary. Although he was initially considering a career in pediatric nursing, he discovered his true passion while working in a community health rotation. ranger in class at brooks campus real32
“I learned about street nursing and did a couple of rotations working with the homeless population in Medicine Hat,” said Ranger, whose class helped organize clothing drives, health services, and hot meals for those in need. “It really clicked for me.” For his final preceptorship, Ranger went to Edmonton to work for Streetworks and was eventually offered a temporary position with the harm reduction agency. “It was very eye-opening for me,” said Ranger of his experience in Edmonton. “I was definitely a deer in the headlights when I arrived, but I was open and wanted to take everything in that I could. I was really excited about working there. Every day was different.” Some days Ranger was out on the streets, meeting with clients on their terms or helping them get to appointments. Other days he was working at the nursing station. He also completed the bloodborne pathogens program which prepared him to better assist people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, using injection drugs, or working in the sex trade. Through his experiences, he quickly came to realize that mental health and addictions aren’t treated the same as other illnesses.
“It’s a shame because a lot of people are left in the dark. They’re afraid to even talk about it for fear of being stigmatized or discriminated against. So many people have grown up in areas and situations that we can’t even begin to imagine. When you can start to help people meet their goals and their needs, they develop a little bit of that empowerment and start to handle things on their own. When you see people gain that independence it’s really rewarding.” Ranger’s experiences in Edmonton led to his acceptance of a similar position in Calgary where he gained even more clinical experience. Now Ranger has come full-circle. An opportunity to establish and coordinate an HIV Community Link program has brought him back to Brooks where his
journey with nursing began. He’s also tackling new challenges, working in the operating room at the Brooks Community Health Centre and starting an overdose prevention project in Medicine Hat. Being back in a smaller community and having access to the faculty at Brooks Campus has been a benefit for Ranger.
“They really helped shape my plans for the future and mold me into the person I am today.”
“Community health involves a lot of networking so having developed those relationships with my instructors at school makes it easier to come back to them now and talk to them in a professional context. They really helped shape my plans for the future and mold me into the person I am today,” said Ranger. “My values have definitely changed over time since I was in the nursing program.”
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MHC: proud to educate teachers
in our community
by sharon allan, UT education coordinator
watch the video at www.mhc.ab.ca/real
on their way to becoming teachers
B
orn and raised on a ranch 45 minutes outside of Medicine Hat, Christy and Keri Gust were 17-years-old when they entered Medicine Hat College in the fall of 1991.
and learned about “becoming a teacher” during education coursework, in classrooms with local teachers, and during all-night study sessions in the cafeteria.
“This was an exciting next step for us. With education classes and classroom experiences in our first year, we felt like we were entering our profession,” said Keri. “We were on our way to becoming teachers.”
“We met some of our best friends during our time at the college,” said the sisters.
After graduating from the University of Lethbridge in 1996, both sisters have established careers in the city: Christy as a teacher and librarian at Crescent Heights High School and Keri as an administrator in the Medicine Hat School District.
In retrospect, they recognize their three years of studies at MHC assured them they had chosen the right profession and challenged them to think about the important role of teachers in society. Their own experience as learners reminds them of how important it is to be passionate about what they are teaching and to build connections and relationships with their students.
With small class sizes and instructors who passionately brought life to their subject areas, both Keri and Christy remember how close knit they were during their three years in MHC’s university transfer education program. They felt connected to their instructors, interacted with students in other program areas,
As first-year education students, Christy and Keri were excited to be on their way to becoming teachers. Now, with two decades of teaching experience in the community, they credit their enthusiasm for learning and commitment to supporting success to their positive experience at MHC.
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Listening and Caring: Qualities for the Classroom
Strong Relationships and Collaboration: A Legacy of the Education Undergraduate Society
W
hen Brad Volkman entered the university transfer education program at Medicine Hat College in the fall of 1984, he had no way of knowing his career would include teaching in multi-graded rural classrooms, serving as the principal of Schuler, Irvine and Eagle Butte schools, and in most recent years, taking on the responsibilities of deputy superintendent for Prairie Regional School Division. And now, after 27 years in southeastern Alberta, Volkman will be joining the Wild Rose School Division as its new superintendent. A career path, Volkman credits, having begun here at MHC. “During my two years in the university transfer education program I was involved with the Education Undergraduate Society (EUS) and felt like I was part of something special, something unique, and that the career path I had chosen was important to society.” Volkman recalls the small class sizes at MHC, the opportunities to build strong
relationships and work together with others involved in the EUS, as well as the organizational skills developed while playing with the Rattlers and completing full-time coursework in those first two years of his Bachelor of Education. But most importantly, he remembers the high expectations set by Dr. Roy Wilson, the education instructor during those years, who impressed on every student the importance of teaching, the value of collaboration, and the responsibilities that shape the life of an educator. Established early on and cultivated in the years of experience since, Volkman maintains his commitment to the value of teaching for society and demonstrates this with a strong focus on student success. “At the end of the day, everything we do is to improve the life chances of all students.”
“I
love Grade 1! They tell you stories and soak up everything you give them. And when they love school and have smiles on their faces it is so easy to teach them because once you get them to love school, the rest is pretty easy. They just learn.” Carla Weinheimer attended Medicine Hat College for the first two years of her Bachelor of Education. Since graduating from the University of Lethbridge in 1988, she has spent the past decades getting to know all about Grade 1. She credits her time in MHC’s university transfer education program as shaping her work today in her busy classroom at St. Patrick’s School. Entering the education program directly after graduation from McCoy High School, Weinheimer recalls how comfortable she felt at the college and the ways in which Dr. Roy Wilson, the education instructor, inspired her to be a passionate, enthusiastic teacher. Even after 27 years of teaching, she still radiates energy for learning and provides deep care for students.
In addition to coursework during those two years at MHC, Weinheimer was a member of the curling team coached by Nora Way, Randy Rainsforth, and Sherry Rainsforth. All three coaches encouraged their players to talk to them about any concerns or struggles. She remembers their willingness to listen to them, to care about their lives outside of the classroom, and how important this was to her as a student.
“I love Grade 1!” Her experience as a member of the curling team has shaped how she interacts with her Grade 1 students. “Now it’s my turn to listen. Every day we sit together and I listen to their stories about their weekend camping trip or their birthday parties. No matter what age you are it is important to have someone listen to you.” After nearly three decades of listening to the stories of sixyear-olds while watching them learn how to read and write, add and subtract, Weinheimer still loves Grade 1. real35
Sandra Moore, 37, struggles for composure as she describes a moment in the near future when, in the space of single year, she will attain her PhD, her daughter will graduate from university, and she will celebrate 20 years of marriage.
“T
hese are happy tears, not sad tears,” she said, her voice just a bit gravelly with emotion.
cultural anthropology. She has a home and a happy family, and she contributes deeply to her community.
someone else to be responsible for. “I had a wakeup call,” she said, “This was not the life I wanted.”
She had been reflecting on the Sandra she was two decades ago when she first encountered Medicine Hat College. Seventeen years old. Single mom. High school education incomplete. No marketable skills.
Her journey includes attaining high school equivalency, bachelor and master’s degrees, and strong progress to her doctorate with a significant academic award expected in the near future.
She acknowledges that her high school experience wasn’t the best. “I did not take it seriously. I fooled around, I partied a lot. I did not get good grades probably because I was never there.”
Along the way she collected experience in Ethiopia while serving as the executive director of Canadian Humanitarian, as well as two years developing community capacity on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu.
The effort to turn her life in a more positive direction began with a YMCA program for young moms. Access to high school courses at MHC helped Moore realize that she could be good, perhaps very good, at school.
The starting point for her journey was the realization that as a mom she had
“I passed my GED, then took more upgrading classes like biology and
“When I was a young single mom, living in a tiny trailer, just laid off as a chamber maid, I never saw myself where I am today,” she said. Access to education, and the support of people who believed in her, have Moore on the cusp of completing a doctorate in real36
from ged to phd
by mark keller
“When I was a young single mom, living in a tiny trailer, just laid off as a chamber maid, I never saw myself where I am today.”
English, still not quite sure where I was heading.” With a bookkeeping program complete, she worked in the accounting field just long enough to realize her career would need contact with people rather than numbers. “Before I started school again I began volunteering a lot. I had a thin resume and realized I needed to offer more.” She put her accounting skills to work as a volunteer with Worlds of Women Together. There, she also led classes, helped managed the organization, and met women from around the world.
“You don’t have to accept your fate in life. you have potential and there are other people who want to help you.”
From these new connections Moore heard incredible and inspiring stories of poverty and perseverance that sparked a desire to empower women and families. About the same time, an encounter with retired MHC faculty member Dr. Laurie Milne triggered another turning point. “Laurie suggested I take an anthropology course. I did and immediately changed my major.” Today, Sandra is exploring the impact of the energy industry on people and communities in southwestern Saskatchewan as she works to complete a doctoral degree with the University of Saskatchewan. Sandra’s journey is one of many steps, buoyed by people who care.
“My success has come from all the little steps along the way. You have to combat your fear and just do it. I ask, ‘what’s the worst possible thing that could happen? Then I remind myself that I can always start over. “There have been times in all of my degrees when I have felt that I don’t belong here and there are always people willing to agree with me. But you have to find the people who want to lift you up.” Her advice for a person struggling to find their own future? “You don’t have to accept your fate in life. You have potential and there are other people who want to help you.”
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the meaning of mhc For the Robinson family, Medicine Hat College means many things.
“I liked having my dad in the business department. I could always get lunch money from him or mom.” Cameron Robinson
For husband and wife, Rick and Michelle, MHC is a place to work; an opportunity to grow professionally and a chance to share in the success of students. For their boys, Cameron and Caleb, it is a place to learn; a starting point for the next stage in their lives. Post-secondary education and MHC specifically have played an important role in the Robinson household for many years. Rick started his business diploma at the college in 1996 while working full-time. He was eventually hired on in 2003 to teach—first one class in the business administration program, then part-time in office technology, and later full-time in the global tourism and marketing program. He received his MBA from the New England College of Business and continues to teach in the business administration program. After hearing from Rick the many benefits of working at MHC, Michelle made the jump to the college in 2008. While sharing the same employer might mean disaster for some couples, Rick and Michelle had worked together for many of their 24 years of marriage and are happy to continue. Making the move to MHC is a decision she’s never regretted. “I love my job. As a student placement officer, I connect with the community, colleagues and with a new group of students every year. There’s also lots of opportunity for professional development,” said Michelle, who has taken computer, accounting and conflict management courses during her various positions in the science and health division. Their collective passion for education and for Medicine Hat College was celebrated real38
in 2013 when both Rick and Michelle took home awards from the college’s annual employee recognition event. Rick was presented with the academic achievement award while Michelle picked up the hardware for service achievement. Rick was also honoured with the 2015 Instructor of the Year award at convocation ceremonies in June. Having their boys close by while they pursue post-secondary education is another perk for the parenting duo. “We get to see each other every day,” said Michelle with the smile of a content mother.
instructors during the course of his program. He also likes having his parents on campus—and not just for a daily dose of family camaraderie. “I liked having my dad in the business department. I could always get lunch money from him or mom.” Caleb and Cameron’s older brother, Christopher, also attended Medicine Hat College “from time to time” in 2004 but those memories evoked a few smiles and a couple of jokes at his expense.
That sentiment is shared by her boys as well.
According to his family, Chris learned “how not to be a student at MHC.”
“It’s nice being on campus with mom and dad,” agreed Caleb, who recently completed his first year of the education program and will transfer to the University of Lethbridge for fall 2016. Although he’s still living at home, he likes the freedom of college compared to high school.
Instead, he moved to Shanghai, earned a degree in Mandarin from Donghua University with a minor in Foreign Trade & Economy. So despite his alleged performance at MHC, the college was still a starting point for his future success.
Cameron, who played soccer for the Rattlers and graduated with his degree in business administration last spring, appreciated the small class sizes at MHC and the ability to get to know his
While each of the Robinsons has a unique relationship with MHC, it’s a bond they all share. “Post-secondary education means better opportunities for my kids,” said Rick. “That’s what MHC means to me.”
the
mhc experience A
person’s college experience is one that stays with them forever. It is often considered the best years of their life, full of exciting times, volatile emotions, and many all-nighters that shape who we become. I can honestly say that my experience at Medicine Hat College has been just that. Entering my first year of college was a huge culture shock. Coming out of high school, I wasn’t used to the intense academic work-load, the level of independence, and most of all, having a pub right on campus. Needless to say, my first year could be considered a write-off when it comes to academic achievement. It wasn’t until my second and third year at MHC that I started to do well academically. After much hard work and many sleepless nights, I was able to become one of the top academic achievers of my class but what I didn’t realize was that doing well academically is only one small part of a person’s education.
As I started the school year last fall, I knew there was more I could get out of my education but I didn’t know exactly how to achieve it. That’s when I decided to run for president of the Business Ambassador Student (BAS) Club. My intention was to provide business students with both an opportunity to advance themselves within the business community and have a fun college experience. By using this “best of both worlds” strategy, the club went from struggling year after year to being a huge success.
“It is a combination of making mistakes and learning from them, making new friends and having fun.” After having the opportunity to give back to my fellow business students as BAS president, I wanted to do the same for all students in my final year at MHC. I ran and was elected president of the Students’ Association and look forward to enhancing the student experience in 2015-2016 by
by landon heilman 2015 STudents’ association president
implementing my “best of both worlds” strategy, where we encourage students to do well academically, but also give them ample opportunity to have fun and experience MHC and all it has to offer. What I have learned over the years of being a student at MHC is that getting an education is so much more than just learning information from a textbook. It is a combination of making mistakes and learning from them, making new friends and having fun, and the overall transformation into a more well-rounded and intelligent person. My advice for students? Put yourself out there, get involved, and don’t be afraid to fail. The balancing of academics, community and involvement is what will make the MHC experience the best that it can be.
real39
Real magazine will be moving exclusively online in 2016. Contact alumni@mhc.ab.ca to be included in our email distribution. real40
nursing ideas Shelby LeBel’s accident-prone youth has not only inspired her to pursue a career in nursing, but the dream of entrepreneurship.
With a full class schedule, LeBel still found time develop a prototype, research manufacturers, meet with potential backers and promote her product. Just over a year later, her Ascites training module is on the market.
LeBel, a native of Swift Current, Saskatchewan and third year nursing student at Medicine Hat College (MHC), had a very active childhood – one that landed her in the hospital on numerous occasions – thanks to her participation in volleyball, basketball, motocross and competitive hockey.
Attaching easily to all types of simulators, the product has been designed to produce a realistic fluid wave when pressure is applied to either side of the abdomen and can be adjusted to represent different levels of severity in the condition.
“I spent a lot of time in hospitals with never-ending injuries,” recalled LeBel with a smile. But unlike most kids in similar situations, she enjoyed her trips to the emergency room. “The atmosphere always intrigued me. I was always wondering what the nurses and doctors were doing.” Following high school and a bad knee injury, LeBel moved sports to the sidelines and focused her energy on education. She relocated to Medicine Hat and enrolled in the University of Calgary Bachelor of Nursing degree offered at MHC.
“If we receive a scenario in class of a patient with heart or liver failure, Ascites is a common symptom that may present itself. This product better prepares nurses for real cases, as they would have seen the condition before and understand what it is.” To make her idea a reality, LeBel met with MHC’s Office of Innovation and Scholarship for guidance. She was connected with Alberta Innovation Technology Futures and received funding to conduct prior art and patentability searches. She also worked with the college’s Entrepreneur Development Centre and enrolled in its summer company program, which provides students an opportunity to start a business and benefit from business coaching and mentorship.
“Ideas are the easy part. There’s a lot of hard work, effort and time required to get this far. I believe if you want something, go out and get it. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s an awesome learning experience.” Simulation is a critical component of the nursing program, providing students with real-life medical scenarios to enhance their training. Advantages of high fidelity patient simulation include customized learning experiences, a safe environment to make mistakes, performance feedback and debriefing - all with no risk of patient harm.
“The college has been nothing but supportive,” said LeBel, about the people and resources in place to guide her through the process.
Although simulation mannequins can breathe, talk, blink, cry even bleed – there are limits to what these mannequins can do. “They’re all the same,” said LeBel of current simulator technology. As a result of their limitations, people have started making accessories for these mannequins to expand training opportunities. After hearing about other entrepreneurs in this field, she was inspired to create her own product to simulate Ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity that can result from liver disease or heart failure.
Her passion has paid off. She was named runner up in the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge in Lethbridge earlier this year and recently launched a new business venture — Share the Good — a clothing line that will donate a percentage of its profits to share the good around the world.
“My mind is always racing, always coming up with new ideas but this one stuck in my head,” said the young entrepreneur.
While she acknowledges the benefits of having a business background, LeBel believes having passion is equally important.
“There’s a lot of hard work, effort and time required to get this far. I believe if you want something, go out and get it. Ideas are the easy part. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s an awesome learning experience.”
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meet our alumni merl mayer instructor, mhc
’92 ’05
Program: aUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, wELDING favourite MHC memory?
Even though this institution has drastically changed over time, it quickly felt like home to me. I took the automotive service technician program in the early ’90s and returned in 2005 for welding. My classes were small and the students were tight. Although there are a lot of different instructors here today, there are still some familiar faces. WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
Now I teach welding at the college and am loving it. The small classes are a huge benefit because it gives us a chance to really spend time with all the students. We can work with all students to improve their skills and knowledge, not just focus on those who may be struggling. Like many instructors at the college, I’m excited to share what I can and support student success.
submitted photo
dr. steven trembecki ’96
patricia larose ’87
PROGRAM: Pre-Chiropractic
PROGRAM: Microcomputer Certificate Program
WHY MHC? Medicine Hat College provided me with the opportunity to
favourite MHC memory?
chiropractor
program manager
begin my post-secondary education without having to move from my home in Duchess while I attended Brooks Campus. This allowed me to save money on living expenses and continue working at my current job outside of school hours during my first year.
Hanging out in the cafeteria with my classmates studying and having a great time. Brad Sako was a great teacher. He always kept us on our toes and we could never get anything by him.
In my second year, I was able to transfer smoothly into student life at the main campus in Medicine Hat. The class size was optimal in both schools as there were fewer students per class compared to university classes my friends were attending.
I am currently the program manager for Continuing Education at Camosun College in Victoria, BC.
how did MHC prepare you for future studies?
MHC gave me the confidence to ask professors for assistance when needed as the environment was very welcoming. It provided me with all the courses required to transfer to another post-secondary school to further my education without requiring further courses for acceptance. real42
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
How did MHC help you get to where you are today?
What I discovered at MHC was that I could learn and that I LOVED IT! Going back to school at age 24 was difficult. As a single mom who worried about getting a good job, I knew I had to do something. The program at MHC helped me with my confidence and put me on my road to success. I am eternally grateful.
KATE GARNETT ’12
lead website designer, dreamstalk studios Program: Visual Communications favourite MHC memory?
Thinking back I have so many fond memories; art shows, late nights, and most of all friends that became more like family. INSTRUCTOR WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE?
There were SO many amazing instructors in the VC program it’s hard to pick just one. If I had to pick I would choose Rory Mahoney (now retired). He never failed to inspire, motivate and provide many words of wisdom. Above being a great teacher he is also an amazing person. How did MHC help you get to where you are today?
I didn’t close my mind to any job or position and because of that, I was open to lots of different opportunities. The connections I made at MHC helped me find my career.
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juliA lacey ’11
GORDON DREVER ’65
Program: Business Administration
Program: university transfer
favourite MHC memory?
favourite MHC memory?
Attending Medicine Hat College was a great experience. Some highlights of my time at MHC were attending the Alberta Dean’s of Business Case Competition, making new friends and going to college volleyball and soccer games.
INSTRUCTORs WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE?
Realtor
How did MHC help you get to where you are today?
Taking the business administration program with a major in marketing has aided my career immensely. When I graduated four years ago, I got my real estate license and the skills and knowledge I gained at MHC have given me a great edge when it comes to sales and marketing. I truly believe the education I received from Medicine Hat College has helped me become a successful Realtor®.
sociology tutor, athabasca university
What really sticks in my mind is the endless games of hearts in the student lounge. I took English, French, History, Calculus and Chemistry. Although I did not take Economics, I was most impressed by the economics instructor, Ray Norgren. He and the English instructor, Clement Wyke, ran a kind of salon for student discussion called the Symposium, which met at Norgren’s home in Crescent Heights. Some years later, in the ’70s, I ran into Norgren on a street in Ottawa where he was working for the federal government. We both had fond memories of our time at MHC.
Would you recommend MHC to others?
Yes! MHC is a fantastic college where the class sizes are small, the teachers give you more attention and help if needed, and the students are friendly and a mixture of all ages.
Yvonne Kirstein ’11 registered nurse PROGRAM: Nursing How did MHC help you get to where you are today?
I have been part of the education system at MHC for over 20 years. Most recently, I got my nursing degree. I was 51 years old when I completed the program in 2011 and have been in a full-time position with Alberta Health Services as a Home Care nurse ever since. I am an example of how you are never too old to improve yourself and work towards a better career and future!
favourite MHC memory?
My favourite memories are of all the activities that were organized throughout the year and the steps the staff took to keep students motivated, positive and energized. The support the staff provided helped ensure my success. real43
John Cislo’89 teacher, coach PROGRAM: education
It’s never too late to reconnect with Medicine Hat College. John Cislo, now a high school teacher, basketball coach and assistant football coach in Great Falls, Montana, has fond memories of the place and people that help shaped his future. He initially studied physical education but moved into secondary education with a social studies influence after Nora Way told him he was in the wrong major and needed to pursue a career related to history.
candice henson ’05 registered nurse
PROGRAMs: business administration, nursing
Candice Henson had a lifetime of experiences before returning to Medicine Hat College in 2005 when she enrolled in the nursing program. She’s studied everything from pre-medicine and nursing to management and Latin American Studies and completed two degrees. She’s attended Medicine Hat College — twice — as well as university in Lethbridge, Great Falls, Calgary and Mexico. She’s worked as an assistant general manager for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays and the Great Falls Dodgers, a cultural diversity coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 911 dispatcher for Medicine Hat 911 — just to name a few of her past career paths. For my second degree I chose MHC because it’s close to home, but also because I had heard amazing things about the nursing program. It was an easy decision to make. I knew from my first experience at MHC in the business administration program that the instructors are second to none. My most memorable experiences include having a picture of my chromosomes printed off in my first year sciences and our whites ceremony when I graduated nursing this past spring. MHC prepared me by encouraging my growth and insight but also by being supportive and helpful.
real44
When I left Medicine Hat and headed to Western Montana College, I took my MHC experience with me. Looking back, I really regret losing that contact with college. When asked about what made his experiences so special, Cislo’s answer was people. The teachers and staff were some of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever met. Nora Way, whom I admit I probably drove crazy, is the woman who put me on my current path. Coach Mike Havey was like a father figure to me. He checked on my academic success and of course had issues with me when I did not live up to my responsibilities. Jim McFetridge, the registrar, was a friend who wanted to see me succeed and really pushed me towards learning how to be a responsible college student. Sue Higgins, Mary Matthiessen, Terry Noble—I really believe without these people, I would not have experienced success at a four year school after attending Medicine Hat College.
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dr. kristine dalton ’02 professor, university of waterloo PROGRAM: ut science
Since studying university transfer science at MHC in 2000, Kristine Dalton has helped open the eyes of athletes. As an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo, she’s had the opportunity to build a new research program at the School of Optometry & Vision Science in sports vision. She also started the Vision & Motor Performance Lab in 2013 and, in 2014, was responsible for the creation of a new clinical service, the Sports Vision Clinic, which provides sports vision clinical care for all athletes. Last year, Dalton began working with the Canadian Olympic Pistol and Rifle shooting teams, as one of the sports scientists in their development program. In early 2015, she was invited to begin working with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on improving the classification of visually impaired athletes. Their first research project with the IPC began this summer at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto. Her list of accomplishments is impressive and she credits her current success to her solid start at Medicine Hat College.
The science program at MHC was strong and rigorous and it gave me a great foundation for all of my future studies. Having smaller class and lab sizes also meant we got to do a lot of hands on experiments, and this experience was invaluable. I will always remember my genetics laboratory where we got to work with live fruit fly strains to try and determine where the genetic mutation we were given existed on their DNA through cross-breeding the flies. The project took most the term to complete and is still the best lab project I have ever done. When I got to the University of Waterloo, I found out that students at UW had done a similar experiment, but it was all simulated because it was too difficult to do the actual experiment with the large number of students in the class. In that moment I felt especially lucky to have attended MHC and to have had access to such great learning experiences. MHC is a great place to build a foundation for the rest of your post-secondary education. As a smaller institution it means you can get the personal attention you need to make the transition between secondary and postsecondary education, and it also means you’ll get some hands on laboratory experiences that just can’t be recreated at larger institutions. In all honesty, I would have loved to stay at MHC a little longer.
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“I’ve been allowed to take my expertise and share it. The college has been really receptive to what I’m trying to do.”
Building an inclusive community submitted photo real46
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hether she’s coaching the national sledge hockey team or running an adapted summer camp for kids, Tara Chisholm is passionate about making sport and recreation a reality for everyone. The former MHC student, together with her husband, Derek, started a non-profit organization last year called Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation with the goal of ensuring every person, regardless of their age or ability level, has the opportunity to be active. She attended the college from 2006-2008 where she studied kinesiology for two years and played soccer for the Rattlers. As a student and athlete, Chisholm had strong role models in the classroom and on the field that helped foster her confidence and leadership skills. “Sue Higgins was amazing. She was a strong woman and a well-respected teacher. To have her as a role model was inspirational,” recalled Chisholm, who still looks to Higgins for guidance and feedback as she develops new ideas. Coach Jim Loughlin was also instrumental in giving Chisholm the support to dream big and give back. She transferred to the University of Alberta where she finished her bachelor’s degree and started graduate school. As part of her master’s degree in adapted physical activity, Chisholm returned to her hometown of Medicine Hat to conduct research related to the barriers and facilitators to physical activity opportunities for individuals with a disability living in a small city.
employment opportunity presented itself in the fall of 2014. She was hired on as the wellness programmer in the Be Fit for Life Centre and has since had many opportunities to bring greater awareness to the issue of inclusion in sport and recreation. “I’ve been allowed to take my expertise and share it,” said Chisholm, who has facilitated community classes and presented at the Alberta Teachers’ Association conference. “The college has been really receptive to what I’m trying to do.” She cites the Rattler Run as a good example of how community events can be inclusive. This year, the event included two wheelchair athletes with one completing the standard 3km route and the other an adapted 5 km route. “Having these athletes participate in this event helped bring community awareness to the issue of inclusion. Hopefully, we can build on this in years to come.” As a result of her ongoing commitment to developing awareness and opportunities in sport and recreation for people living with disabilities, Chisholm recently received the 2015 Civic Recognition Award for Community Inclusion from the City of Medicine Hat.
“It’s easy to think of barriers,” said Chisholm, but it was the facilitator side of the research she found particularly interesting.
When she’s not busy working in the college’s Be Fit for Life Centre, or running programs through her non-profit, Chisholm is also the head coach of the women’s national sledge hockey team. Derek, who also plays on the men’s national sledge hockey team, coaches with her. Although they are still working to develop the program, the goal for women’s sledge hockey is to be a demonstration sport at the next Paralympic Games in Korea and a medal sport in 2022, said Chisholm.
“The fact that everybody knows everybody was one of the themes of my research. Medicine Hat is a city but it has a real small town feel. That is a benefit. It is easier for people to connect and get involved.”
From sledge hockey and summer camps to adapted curling and cycling, Chisholm’s reward is watching participants of all ages challenge their own ideas—and community perceptions—about what people with disabilities can accomplish.
Similar to the community, MHC’s closeknit and comfortable environment drew Chisholm back to the college when an real47
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For Fredy Tirado and Lina Ribero, family is everything.
The Colombian-born husband and wife arrived in Canada 13 years ago with nothing but their luggage and 10-monthold son, Daniel, in their arms. After living in Bogota for eight years where they both worked as lawyers, the couple chose to leave their home because of political instability and safety concerns.
looked at the courses she had taken and was told she could finish an associate of arts diploma instead. Fredy’s journey through the social work program was unique in that his life was often an example of what he was learning in class. When discussions were related to the immigration process, Fredy realized he was working through the curriculum on a personal level.
family First
“To come to a country with nothing but a suitcase – you feel like you’re homeless,” recalled Fredy. “But those are only material things. It taught us what is important in life - family. We keep together, no matter what.”
“We’re examples of what you can do.”
Their education in the English language and Canadian culture continued at Saamis Immigration for three months before they enrolled in the ESL program for New Canadians at Medicine Hat College.
“We’re examples of what you can do,” said Lina. “When people see us and hear our accents across the desk, they want to know how they can learn to do what we do. Just our presence makes them think, ‘why not me?’”
Like most newcomers, Fredy and Lina were frustrated by the process of learning a new language, particularly because of the high expectations they placed on themselves. But with support from faculty and staff at MHC, they were able work toward their academic goals while managing their expectations and accepting their limitations.
“To me this is meaningful. Now we have the tools to help people,” added Fredy.
Lina Ribero
They stayed for a short time in St. Catharines, Ontario where they studied English as a Second Language (ESL) before moving to Alberta. Through a family connection, Fredy and Lina arrived in Medicine Hat, prepared to make the city their new home.
After two semesters, Fredy moved into the social work diploma program while Lina started upgrading classes to gain entry into the nursing program. The couple was looking forward to having different careers, after years of working together in the law profession. “I wanted to try something new with my life. A fresh start,” said Lina. Although she enjoyed the teachers and classes in the program, she realized during her first practicum that nursing wasn’t the right fit for her. Unsure of her next step, she met with an advisor who
“There were moments when I wanted to quit,” admitted Fredy. But in those tough times, he would look at other students who were facing even greater challenges and persevere. “It was a reminder – don’t whine.” Now Fredy and Lina are working together – again - as career and employment consultants for the provincial government, helping people who are experiencing similar challenges to the ones they faced as New Canadians 13 years ago.
During their time at MHC, the couple came to regard faculty and staff members as their extended family. Their children loved visiting the library and spending time on campus. As a result of watching their parents work hard and embark on new careers, they’ve grown up with dreams of where post-secondary education will take their lives. Daniel, now 14, loves politics and has his sights set on being prime minister one day while his sister Camila, 10, plans to be a teacher. “We did this for our kids,” said Lina. “We moved to this country to look for a better place to raise them. We try hard and work hard to make a better life for them, for us. We show them education pays back.” It’s all about family.
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On campus and hands-on: junior high students tackle a trade I
n just a few short months, junior high students with no trades experience are able to braise, solder, and sand with ease, thanks to an unique partnership with Medicine Hat College. Now entering its fifth year, students from Notre Dame Academy (NDA) in Medicine Hat are gaining hands-on experience in a variety of trades through Career and Technology Foundations (CTF), a program that targets Grade 9 students. Considered to be leading the province in working with this younger age group, MHC’s proven success with the program has led to its expansion with Parkside School in Redcliff. “We were skeptical at first,” admitted Dave Marshall, one of the college’s trades assistants working with the CTF program. “We had never done anything like this before but once we got started it was amazing. It’s the fastest few hours of the day. The kids are excited, they want to be here.” The college offers three 10-12 week sessions throughout the school year. Each session features a different trade: welding, plumbing or carpentry. Students are brought on campus once a week during that period to work in MHC’s trades facilities. They start with a safety orientation and complete a project under the supervision of their teacher and MHC employees. Education students from the college are also involved with the program to gain practical experience in a classroom environment.
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At NDA, the school holds a lottery each fall for students to choose their electives, and for many, the CTF program is the jackpot. “The students draw sticks to see who gets to sign up first. Everyone runs for the CTF option,” said Scott Duchscherer, the program supervisor from Notre Dame. “Coming on [the MHC] campus motivates the kids. They feel like adults, which helps their transition into high school.” He added that by working in this handson environment, students can see more tangible results from their efforts. Some students who don’t often have success in a traditional classroom environment have new opportunities to build confidence and pride here. For Cody Lions and Michael Plante, the hands-on experience is the best part of the program. After finishing the CTF session last winter, Lions feels like a plumbing apprenticeship is definitely an option for him, and that having this experience will give him an edge in the future. “It feels good to develop our skills. It’s great to come to the college and do something different for a change,” said Plante, who also took the spring carpentry session. For the program’s only female student, Veronika Schall, the trades experience was a welcome opportunity. “I’d love to come again. I prefer this over cosmetology,” said Schall, who enjoyed the
soldering and welding aspects of plumbing and is considering a career as a millwright. Building relationships and developing partnerships with local area schools is a win-win situation for the college and community. Not only does it provide secondary students with access to quality college curriculum, it will hopefully create within them a level of comfort for postsecondary education. In a community where post-secondary participation is low when compared with the provincial average, encouraging students at the junior high level to consider their academic future is a positive step in developing a skilled and educated workforce. Partnerships also allow the college to engage in conversations about the educational needs and wants of the community to better serve its stakeholders. The knowledge and feedback received from partners is invaluable when planning for the future. “It’s an important partnership. I fully believe every school district in our region should have this opportunity,” said trades assistant Phil Bosch, who has watched the Notre Dame students grow in skill and confidence through the CTF program. Evidence of that skill and confidence will soon be on display in the halls of Notre Dame Academy with the installation of their final plumbing project, while the next group of Grade 9 students prepare for their own MHC experience with Career and Technology Foundations.
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New workshop attracts artists to Medicine Hat by kendra borgen
“The collaboration between the college and Medalta is fantastic,” said Johnson. “When I first came here, I did not understand 3D modeling at all and now I’m able to make molds. I really learned a lot about the technical aspect of taking a 3D model from the computer and actually being able to create something.” Johnson will be taking this knowledge back to her students in Florida, where she is hoping to start utilizing her institution’s 3D printer in their classroom. Something she attributes in part to the quality instructors who helped her understand this new technology, and the other artists who were open to sharing their experiences in design.
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or Polly Johnson, a graphic design educator at the Ringling College of Art & Design (RCAD) in Sarasota, Florida, the discovery of ceramic art was a fortunate accident. The art classes she was initially interested in attending were filled up leaving two choices—surrealist slip casting or temporary tattooing. Johnson chose to explore clay—a medium new to her, but one she immediately fell in love with. This passion took her and her husband on a seven day road trip to Medicine Hat, where they participated in the Bits to
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Atoms workshop hosted by Medalta and MHC. This ten day intensive workshop, held in July 2015, integrated the world of ceramics with the new digital movement. Participants, from throughout Canada and the United States were introduced to a sampling of digital rendering programs, 3D scanning, printing, mold-making, slip casting and firing. Throughout the workshop they spent time at both the college and Medalta, which Johnson explained was a unique opportunity.
Cathy Crockford, manager of continuing studies at MHC explained that she is happy with the turnout and felt fortunate to have the opportunity to drop-in throughout the ten days. “The artists that attended this workshop all came with different backgrounds— instructors, ceramic artists, graphic designers—but that’s one of the reasons this workshop was so successful, they not only learned from us, but also from each other,” said Crockford. “It was inspiring to see artists like Polly utilizing our technology to develop a concept and prototype and then see them later at Medalta finishing their ceramic mold.” Crockford mentioned that this course
For more information on the programs offered at MHC visit www.mhc.ab.ca. To learn more about Medalta visit www.medalta.org. was able to draw in people from outside of Canada due to its uniqueness, “We knew that this partnership was something very big. It was not only a way to showcase the technology and culture that exists here, but also a way to expose individuals to the uniqueness of our region. These artists made Medicine Hat their home for 10 days, and hopefully they’ll be back again soon.”
Due to the success of the workshop, Crockford is optimistic that similar workshops will be offered in the future.
“The collaboration between the college and Medalta is fantastic.” Polly Johnson real53
convocation 2015 And the award goes to… Brooke Hawker Student of the Year 2015 The Medicine Hat Drag Strip may have been what attracted Brooke Hawker to Medicine Hat but it was Medicine Hat College that made her stay. Named MHC’s Student of the Year in 2015, the Calgary native planned to spend the summer in Medicine Hat but after a couple months she knew her move was permanent. She withdrew from the University of Lethbridge and enrolled in the business administration degree program offered at the college in partnership with Mount Royal University. Over the past four years, Hawker has been encouraged and inspired by her instructors to do her best and to make a difference. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. The Medicine Hat College Student of the Year is nominated by the faculty and awarded annually to a student with exceptional academic standing. Additionally, this student must have made a significant contribution to the cultural, social or recreational life of MHC. Hawker has done that and more. In addition to her outstanding academic achievement, she volunteers on the Medicine Hat Women in Business Committee as the media coordinator and sponsorship director. She also recently launched Evoke Inspired Marketing, an agency that offers businesses the opportunity to outsource their marketing activities to a results-driven creative network. “Through Medicine Hat College, I have had the opportunity to make amazing friends, work dream jobs, and volunteer for causes I believe in.”
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College honours Larry Henderson Retired educator, Dr. Larry Henderson was selected as the 2015 honorary applied baccalaureate degree recipient at Medicine Hat College. Henderson formally accepted the honour during the college convocation ceremonies on June 5. He was the tenth recipient of the honour, following in the footsteps of Rob Renner, Roy Wilson, Dr. Richard and Deborah Northcott, Bob Porter, John Moldon, Ken Sauer, Jim Horsman, Randy Eresman, and Terry Brekko. After completing his high school education in Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan, Henderson went on to complete a bachelor of education from the University of Alberta in 1960. He later achieved a master of education from the University of Calgary, and a doctor of education from the University of Montana. After a lengthy career as a teacher, Henderson spent many years mentoring other educational professionals. Noted for both his love of learning, and his love for educating others, he was a leader in creating mentorship opportunities for
education students, helping them to realize their potential and successfully motivating them to build positive relationships with students, fellow teachers and parents. “Larry is an exemplary role model for professionals in the field of education. His contribution to education in our communities over the years is inspiring, and we are proud to present him with this award,” said MHC president and CEO Dr. Denise Henning. In addition to Henderson’s support of education, he has also been an active volunteer in Medicine Hat. As a founding director of the public school board foundation, he has spent countless hours supporting the district by organizing charity golf tournaments and telethons and working casinos. Volunteerism in the community has also been an important part of his life. He is an avid supporter of the Southern Alberta Winter and Summer Games (even serving as a committee chair in the past), is an active Lions club member, and has received numerous awards, including the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 and a City of Medicine Hat Civic Recognition Award for Community Service. Henderson is honoured to have been chosen by the Board of Governors to receive the 2015 honorary applied baccalaureate degree. “I really don’t feel that I have done anything to be worthy of this honour. There are so many great teachers in our city. I am very pleased to receive this recognition and I hope all teachers, everywhere will share in this honour.”
Honorary Degrees Presented by Medicine Hat College in recognition of outstanding community contribution
2014 - 2015 Dr. Larry Henderson 2013 - 2014 No award presented this year 2012 - 2013 Mr. Robert W. Renner 2011 - 2012 Dr. Roy Wilson 2010 - 2011 Dr. Richard and Mrs. Deborah Northcott 2009 - 2010 Mr. Bob Porter 2008 - 2009 Dr. John Moldon 2007 - 2008 Dr. James Horsman 2006 - 2007 Dr. Ken Sauer 2005 - 2006 Mr. Randy Eresman 2004 - 2005 Mr. Terry Brekko
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submitted photo Hugh and barbara beaton
Leaving a Legacy for Generations When Barbara Ross Beaton left Medicine Hat in the early 1960s, Medicine Hat Junior College was nothing more than a suggestion. There was no Conservatory of Music and Dance and construction of the Cultural Centre would not start for another two decades. But more than 50 years later, Beaton has become an important part of the college and will leave a legacy for future generations. Beaton toured the Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance when she returned to the city for a visit in 2010 and was impressed by what she saw. “I was quite pleased with the progress it has made. The surroundings and the area are quite conducive to the joys of creativity,” said Beaton, who has lived in Calgary since 1962. With a passion for music and a philanthropic heart, the retired teacher has donated over $30,000 to the Conservatory and the “Bring Back the Music” program. This program provides musical instruction to children who may not have the opportunity to study an instrument otherwise. Many of her charitable donations and volunteer hours have supported non-profit organizations in the Calgary area, including Alberta Theatre Projects and various opera and symphony and dance groups, but the love she and her brother Hugh share for the community where they grew up has resulted in a special bond between Beaton and Medicine Hat College. In addition to her donations to conservatory programs, she created the Hugh Beaton Bursary. This bursary is a $30,000 endowment that continues to provide financial assistance to first year business administration students. She also intends to leave a legacy through her estate to support future projects and programs at MHC. real56
“There are a lot of people who contribute in various ways; they give of their time and their moral support. By my not living there, not being there in person, contributing financially was the one way I could think of to still support the college,” she said. “It’s no big deal.” But it is a big deal, said Jenna Williams, community relations officer with the Medicine Hat College Foundation. “Barbara’s support of MHC ensures we are able to help students realize their full potential for years to come. It means a child could pick up a violin for the very first time and discover the joy of music. Thanks to the Hugh Beaton Bursary, it means a business student doesn’t have to choose between staying in school and making ends meet,” said Williams. “Her generosity is extraordinary, especially when you consider her family hasn’t lived in this community for years. We are extremely grateful for her support.” So in 10, or 20, or even 50 years from now, when that child steps onto the stage as a professional musician, or that business student is named CEO, or countless others reach their potential, Barbara Beaton’s legacy will be remembered. Interested in leaving a legacy of your own? Contact the Medicine Hat College Foundation at 403.502.8997.
Pathways
watch the video at www.mhc.ab.ca/real
Medicine Hat is part of a vibrant and ever-changing region. There are many non-profit organizations to help the low income, unemployed, under-employed, homeless and other individuals that are struggling to provide the necessities of life. But is there a next step? A next step to lead the unemployed father of four, the under-employed young adult, the abused single mother? The Medicine Hat College Foundation believes there is and wants to shine a light on the pathway to hope, confidence and success through education. Medicine Hat College is celebrating its 50th Anniversary by offering an opportunity to donate to the Pathways Student Life Enhancement Fund, a fund that will build a bridge between those dreaming of changing their lives and the place that can make those dreams come true. We encourage you to help non-profits that are the first step for many, and then consider donating to the Medicine Hat College Pathways Legacy Fund as the second step to a brighter future. Together we can build this bridge, this pathway.
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