CHISHOLM CHALLENGES THE CHANNEL 04 Q&A WITH MIKE GILLESPIE
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ALUM PROFILE: MAYOR TED CLUGSTON 16
PEOPLE. STORIES. LIFE.
VOL 6 WINTER 2015
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 College Advancement Medicine Hat College 299 College Drive SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3Y6
PEOPLE. STORIES. LIFE.
Contact College Advancement at 403.504.3667 or alumni@mhc.ab.ca to join our mailing list.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
MHC.AB.CA/REAL PUBLISHER Mark Keller mkeller@mhc.ab.ca
Many have heard the old adage that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Arriving here at Medicine Hat College last May was a first step for both my husband and I to a new community, a new college, and new friends.
EDITOR/CONTENT Rose Paulgaard rpaulgaard@mhc.ab.ca
From the first day of arriving in this new role I met so many wonderful people who love this college and are here for the students we serve. At that very moment I made Medicine Hat College my home. The dream for a college that is at its best has become one shared by both those who have served this institution for many years, and those who are new to our college.
DESIGN/LAYOUT Erin Bennetto ebennetto@mhc.ab.ca PHOTOGRAPHY Erin Bennetto, Rose Paulgaard Submitted Photography (credited) CIRCULATION/ CHANGE OF ADDRESS Contact College Advancement at 403.504.3667 or via email at alumni@mhc.ab.ca to notify a change of address or to remove your name from our mailing list. 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. real will be produced in the spring and fall. To join our mailing list, contact College Advancement at 403.504.3667 or alumni@mhc.ab.ca. 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 acknowledgement.
As we collectively move to an Appreciative campus culture, we do so with the clear understanding that our love of education—of seeing people’s lives changed every day —is why we are passionate about our careers in higher education. Students of every shape, size, colour, and voice have real value and are worthy of our best efforts. Daily, we challenge ourselves to think, act, work, and interact in ways that build upon our strengths. As a philosophy, Appreciative Inquiry emphasizes collaboration and participation of all voices in the organization and enables us to see opportunities. Change is continuous and deeply impactful. When we embrace change in higher education, whether it is cultural or philosophical, it has multi-directional implications. Because we have the choice, we will transform based on our strengths and in so doing become the institution students and all of our stakeholders desire us to be. As we prepare our organization to be future ready, we must not only focus on the now, but also embrace the challenges of the future; a future of which we are, in many ways, unsure. Yet, we know the future will come whether we are prepared or not. I invite you to embark with us on this exciting journey. I’d be delighted to share more about how Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful tool for colleges, businesses, and individuals. As we progress, I offer a quote from Jean-Luc Godard that resonates with me. “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.” Join us on the journey to MHC at its best.
Denise Henning, President & CEO
WINTER2015 03 04 10 16
WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY
MEGHAN CHISHOLM
CHALLENGES THE CHANNEL
Q&A WITH MIKE GILLESPIE
MEET THE NEW DEAN OF SCIENCE & HEALTH
ALUMNI PROFILE: TED CLUGSTON
HAT MAYOR TALKS POLITICS, POETRY & POSITIVITY 02 INTRODUCING MHC AT ITS BEST 08 SCIENCE EXPERIENCE 101 13 YOUNG EXPLORERS CLUB OFFERS FAMILY FUN 14 SOCCER NATIONALS 20 FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING 22 DREAM BIG 23 A MOTHER, A HERO 24 REAL RECOGNITION
COVER PHOTO: MHC TAKES TO THE AIR: MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE IS LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CREATE LEARNING AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITH ITS NEW REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (RPAS). THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY A DJI PHANTOM 2 VISION PLUS QUAD COPTER. PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTER GARRISON AND MARK KELLER
Creating exceptional experiences Medicine Hat College is poised to implement a daring and solid strategic plan that will lay the foundation upon which we will build our greatest hopes for our college. We will be nimble and flexible as we adapt to an increasingly complex world. We will build on the strengths of our students, employees, and communities as we create a college that will thrive in the coming years. After months of listening to our community stakeholders—both on and off campus—MHC will deliver its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan this spring. We thank everyone who shared their ideas, their expectations, and their passion for Medicine Hat College during this process.
We look forward to creating MHC AT ITS BEST with you.
50 YEARS OF STORIES. WHAT’S YOURS? BE PART OF CELEBRATING OUR PAST AND OUR FUTURE. SHARE A STORY, A PHOTO, OR SIMPLY LET US KNOW WHAT MHC MEANS TO YOU. VISIT MHC.AB.CA/50YEARS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
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SOUVENIRS FROM MEGHAN’S HISTORIC SWIM: A WHITE ROCK FROM HER STARTING POINT IN DOVER AND A BROWN ONE FROM THE FINISH LINE IN FRANCE.
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MEGHAN CHISHOLM CHALLENGES THE CHANNEL
WHEN DENIS CHISHOLM, A MEMBER OF THE REGINA RIFLE REGIMENT, STOOD ON THE ENGLISH SHORELINE WITH A COMRADE AND ASKED IF HE THOUGHT THEY COULD EVER SWIM THE CHANNEL, HIS FRIEND REPLIED NO, AND THE TWO SOLDIERS LAUGHED AND WALKED AWAY. LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT 70 YEARS LATER, HIS GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD DO JUST THAT.
Meghan Chisholm had never even dipped a toe in the ocean before arriving in Dover last July to challenge the English Channel, but the 19-year-old from Swift Current was determined to make history by being the first person from Saskatchewan to successfully complete the swim. “My dad says once I have an idea in my head I’m not going to stop until I finish it. I don’t forget until it’s complete and then I move on to the next thing,” said the firstyear nursing student at MHC. “Doing the minimum is never enough. I always want to do the best I possibly can.” This particular idea started to take shape the previous summer while watching videos of other Channel swimmers. She wanted to experience the same sense of accomplishment, so she started researching the swim conditions [rapidly changing, sometimes dangerous], marine life [schools of stinging jellyfish but thankfully no sharks], and water temperature [a cool 15-16 degrees].
“Despite all that, it seemed like a good way to spend a day,” concluded Chisholm. “But it’s one thing to read about it than to actually experience it.” For years, Chisholm was involved with competitive short-track swimming and coaching with clubs in Swift Current, but this experience would test her endurance and ability as a long distance swimmer. Unlike many Channel swimmers, she didn’t have access to comparable swimming conditions or training support to prepare for the challenge, so she did her best by taking cold showers or ice baths and swimming for hours in the local pool. Chisholm had hoped to travel to the BC Coast for training, but as she was saving money to attend MHC in the fall, she couldn’t afford the trip. She completed a qualifying swim in the required temperature of 15.5 C or less, but did so without experiencing ocean conditions. She arrived in Dover and was greeted by many Channel swimmers—both
successful and unsuccessful—who were more than willing to share their stories and their advice. From her taxi driver who had made two unsuccessful attempts, to the Australians who trained in ocean conditions on a regular basis, everyone had the same wide-eyed look of surprise and simply wished her luck when she shared her own training experiences.
“THE CARDS WERE DEFINITELY STACKED AGAINST ME. I WAS A ROOKIE,” SAID CHISHOLM. So when she finally stood on the beach in Dover on the morning of July 22 under cloudy skies and looked out over the rough water of the Channel, Chisholm realized she would need every ounce of her determination to make up for her inexperience. Two soloists were already ahead of her and a relay team was behind her. Several other swimmers were also scheduled that day but their pilots advised them not to go due to the poor conditions. real5
THE SWIM
BREAKFAST TIME: MEGHAN TAKES A NUTRITION BREAK WITH THE CLIFFS OF DOVER STILL VISIBLE IN THE DISTANCE.
00:00 NOT TOO SURE WHEN I SHOULD GO IN THE WATER. ARE THEY GOING TO HONK THE HORN? OH, THEY JUST GAVE ME THE THUMBS UP. OK, I’M OFF.
CHANNEL SWIMMING REGULATIONS STATE THAT AT NO POINT CAN A SWIMMER TOUCH THE SUPPORT BOAT SO MEGHAN’S FOOD WAS DELIVERED ON A ROPE.
Buoyed by adrenaline and the cheers of her support team—which included her parents and the pilot from the Channel Swimming Association (CSA)—in the boat beside her, Chisholm swam the first few hours easily. “Swimming is so relaxing for me. It’s very quiet. It gives me time to think,” said Chisholm, who was very focused initially on technique. Timing her strokes with the waves was essential to avoid ending up with mouthfuls of salt water.
02:00 I WONDER HOW FAR I’VE GONE? IN THE POOL THERE ARE ALWAYS MARKERS. TWO MILES? AWESOME!
By the time she finished her third feeding, Chisholm knew something wasn’t right and she threw up the contents of her stomach three times. It was then that she realized just how nervous she had been.
Problems began for Chisholm when she stopped for her third nutrition break. During her pool training, she consumed solid foods in 3-5 minute intervals, but her nutrition intake during the Channel swim was all in liquid form and the breaks were much shorter.
“I had been thinking about all of these swimmers who have all of this training that I don’t. Everyone was asking me ‘how did I get this idea, why am I here?’ All these nerves had set in, but I got it out of my system and felt a lot better.”
02:30 UH OH.
Halfway through the swim her focus did change, quickly. She had seen a few jellyfish, but now she was seeing more of them—lots more. As she looked for a way to weave through the school of stingers, her mom started screaming:
07:00 FEELING DISCOURAGED. I CAN STILL SEE THE CLIFFS OF DOVER. NEED TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE.
“MEGHAN, THERE’S JELLYFISH!” “YEAH MOM, I KNOW.” Although Chisholm had been mentally prepared to be stung, it still came as a shock. First she got stung on the thigh. Then again on the wrist. In an effort to move quickly out of the school, she took a long stroke and pulled a jellyfish across her face and was stung on the nose. After her encounter with the jellyfish, she settled into a rhythm again, focusing her thoughts on the French flag painted on her support boat.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING: MEGHAN MAKES HER WAY ACROSS THE CHANNEL. real6
“I kept thinking, ‘I want to go there.’ I wanted to say that the first time I went to France was when I swam there.”
With nothing but time to think, Chisholm began questioning again just why she was doing what she was doing. There was the desire to set a goal and achieve it, but there was also the opportunity to give back. While she was able to live her dream, she knew there were others that couldn’t, so she made a commitment to raise money through her swim for those living with juvenile diabetes. Next she began to imagine various scenarios like what would happen if she didn’t finish the swim? Or what would happen if she did? She knew it was still an accomplishment to get this far and that her friends and family would be proud of her regardless of the outcome of the day’s events, but Chisholm knew what she wanted.
After having time to absorb the enormity of her accomplishment and deal with the inevitable media attention that come from such a feat, Chisholm was back in the harbour for a swim a couple of days later, reflecting on her experience.
“I honestly don’t know how I, or anyone, can do this. Some people train all their lives to accomplish this. I had no experience and winged it. The experience helped me determine my own path and make decisions about what I want to do.” And what Chisholm wants to do is keep swimming. While she is preoccupied with nursing school for the foreseeable future, her next big idea is already in the works.
“I wanted to come home and celebrate and say I was the first person from Saskatchewan to ever do this, because who doesn’t want that title? I liked the second ending better.”
Her sights are set on the Ocean’s Seven Challenge that includes seven long-distance, open water swims across the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar.
12:00 I CAN SEE FRANCE! TWO NAUTICAL MILES TO GO!
With the English Channel checked off the list, she sees the Strait of Gibraltar as her next adventure.
13:00 HOW MUCH FARTHER? TWO NAUTICAL MILES.
“I want to say that the first time I went to Africa was when I swam to it.”
14:00 STILL TWO MILES??? GETTING NERVOUS. Despite passing land on the French shoreline, a change in tides meant slow progress for the final leg of Chisholm’s journey. “I had never been so frustrated in my whole life. I wasn’t complaining out loud but it was a different story in my head,” she recalled. Finally, after more than 14 hours in the water and two hours of swimming in place with the finish line in sight, the pilot told her it was time to get ready for the swim to shore.
14:39 I DID IT!
SWIM AT A GLANCE DATE
JULY 22, 2014
START TIME
6:09 AM
END TIME
8:48 PM
TIME IN WATER
14 HR, 39 MIN
WATER TEMP
18˚ C
DISTANCE SWAM
26 NAUTICAL MILES / 48 KILOMETRES
$ RAISED FOR JDRF
$10,432
MEGHAN’S ROUTE: IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS AND THE CHANNEL SWIMMING ASSOCIATION
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: MEGHAN PROUDLY STANDS ON FRENCH SOIL AS THE FIRST PERSON FROM SASKATCHEWAN TO SUCCESSFULLY SWIM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. NOT ONLY DID SHE MAKE HISTORY, SHE ALSO WON THE 2014 AWARD FOR THE SWIM IN THE MOST ARDUOUS CONDITIONS. SWIM PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN CHISHOLM.
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PETER WALLIS, OWNER OF HYPERION RESEARCH LTD.
SCIENCE EXPERIENCE 101 LIKE MOST THINGS RELATED TO SCIENCE, IT STARTED OUT AS A BIT OF AN EXPERIMENT.
moved from the Medicine Hat Mall back to MHC. More and more activities were competing for the time and attention of students.
The concept for the Science Experience 101 program was born from the collective desire of Medicine Hat College employees and members of local community and professional organizations to see more students engaged with the Southeast Alberta Kiwanis Regional Science Fair.
At the same time, MHC was looking to expand its science outreach in the community. Becoming more involved with the annual fair was an obvious choice, recalled Wallis, who had volunteered for years as a judge at the event.
Leading the experiment was Dr. Peter Wallis, owner of Hyperion Research Ltd. and then dean of science at MHC. For years, science fair students had been showing up in the researcher’s lab looking for guidance with their projects. Wallis enjoyed helping the kids and estimates he’s worked with more than 25 students on science fair projects over the years. Many of the students that came through his doors even went on to compete—and win—at a national level. But participation in the regional science fair was on the decline. Volunteers were burned out. The location of the event had been real8
The college teamed up with Praxis, a local non-profit science outreach network, the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA), and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), who also had an interest in generating greater awareness and participation around the regional science fair. Together, this newly established group introduced a different format for the science fair that incorporated Praxis’s popular Science Olympics—hands-on science and engineering activities— to add more value and excitement to what is often a long day for students.
Despite these efforts, numbers were still down so the decision was made to become more aggressive with outreach in the schools. A focus was placed on younger children as most of the interest in science fair occurs between grades 4 and 6. Under Wallis’s direction, MHC invested in hiring a coordinator and the college, APEGA, and Praxis joined forces once more to present the Science Experience 101 program to students in elementary and junior high schools. Wallis was also particularly interested in getting a foot in the door at rural schools because he felt they were under-served in this area, so he took the program on the road to smaller communities in southeastern Alberta.
“It’s an excellent introduction,” said Wallis. “Employers have the opportunity to meet students, learn about their projects, and give back by volunteering their time or providing financial support to these programs. Students have the opportunity to learn about possible careers in science and engineering while gaining knowledge of scientific method, data analysis and presentation skills.” As a small business owner, working with kids through these programs has allowed Wallis to see first-hand the outstanding potential of local students and has given him the opportunity to mentor, and often hire, the best of the best.
Science Experience 101 begins with a brief introduction about the world of science followed by an experiment to engage the students, like blowing up balloons using vinegar and baking powder—the sort of thing that could be done quickly and get the kids going, explained Wallis.
“THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO GET INVOLVED THAT LEAVE A WARM FEELING IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HEART,” SAID WALLIS. “I LIKE WORKING WITH KIDS. IT’S AN EASY CHOICE FOR ME.”
The session would end with a discussion about science fair and how hobbies could be turned into projects. A couple of weeks later, the Science Experience team would return to answer questions and help mold project ideas into reality.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT SCIENCE OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY OR GIVING TO THE SCIENCE FAIR FUND? CONTACT MIKE GILLESPIE AT 403.529.3838 FOR DETAILS.
According to Wallis, the kids were full of ideas, but not always ones that were feasible. “My favourite was a student who wanted to turn her little brother into a mouse. A great project, but technically challenging. We had to disallow it because you can’t experiment with animals in science fair,” recalled Wallis with a smile. Although the program received an enthusiastic response from students and the schools, the overall numbers in the regional science fair didn’t increase dramatically, which Wallis attributed to the timing of the event and the already very full schedules of students today. “Science fair was just another thing. Science Experience 101 definitely helped with participation but it wasn’t as spectacular of an increase as we had hoped for. Even though we hadn’t boosted our numbers greatly at the event, lots of good things were happening at the schools. I realized this was more important and counted it as a success for the college and for science outreach.” While Wallis is no longer a dean at MHC—he retired last year and returned to his lab full-time—he is still committed to the science fair and Science Experience 101 and sees these activities as assets for the college and community. It is for that reason that he chose to start the Science Fair Fund. This award will be used to promote the science fair and increase participation while enhancing the Science Experience 101 program.
WALLIS IN FRONT OF HIS WALL OF FAME. MANY OF THE STUDENTS HE HAS WORKED WITH HAVE GONE ON TO WIN NATIONAL SCIENCE FAIRS AND PURSUE PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.
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Q&A
DR. MICHAEL GILLESPIE Meet Dr. Michael Gillespie, MHC’s new dean of science and health. Originally from Rosemount, Ontario, population 175, there were twice as many people in his university residence than there were in his hometown. Despite what he describes as a ‘deer in the headlights’ introduction to the post-secondary world, Gillespie went all the way with his education. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Adapted Physical Activity) from Ohio State University; a Master of Business Administration (Higher Education Management) from the Institute of Education, University of London; a Master of Science (Adapted Physical Activity) from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor. He has also held professorships and administrative positions at a number institutions around the globe. Gillespie comes to MHC from the State University of New York Empire State College where he served as an associate dean.
MIKE’S FAVOURITE: FOOD
ICE CREAM
MUSIC
FOO FIGHTERS, SARAH MCLACHLAN,
BARENAKED LADIES
BOOK
FEVER PITCH
MOVIE
SLAPSHOT
SPORTS
HOCKEY, CURLING
DESTINATION
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
>>>
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Q WHO IS MICHAEL GILLESPIE? IN 10 WORDS OR LESS.
Q WHAT DOES MHC AT ITS BEST LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
Enthusiastic. Honest. Stubborn. I like to think I’m funny. Bald.
I think it’s about being student–focused. We should always be asking ourselves the question ‘how is this enhancing student education’ when we’re prioritizing, making decisions or allocating resources.
Q WHAT LED YOU DOWN YOUR EDUCATIONAL PATH? I’m a first generation student. I knew that pursuing post secondary was the option I was supposed to take, but I really had no preconceived notion of it. My interests in life at that stage were sports. When I found out you could do a degree in a sportsrelated subject, the decision was easy. I was a lousy student in high school but I did well at university because I made the right program choice—kinesiology and human kinetics. I worked with athletes with disabilities on a work placement and became really interested and passionate about that field. I also had an academic advisor who I thought had the greatest job in the world. When he asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I said ‘your job looks easy and you play a lot of golf. How can I do that?’ Seriously though, faculty really encouraged me to continue with grad school. I’ve stuck around these places for the last 25 years and at some point started getting paid to do so.
Q WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO MHC? My dad’s family is from Alberta so I spent a lot of time out here, but it was the new dean of science and health position at MHC that really intrigued me. Restructuring is always a difficult proposition. With my background in kinesiology, a subject that has a history of being housed in different administrations, I felt I would have the knowledge and experience to help bring the divisions of science and health studies together. It was also an opportunity to challenge myself in a dean’s role, which was the next step in my career.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS AS THE NEW DEAN OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH? I think providing access to education and high quality experiences for students are top priorities for me. Part of that is because I’m a first-generation student so I’m motivated by personal reasons, as well as my background of working with people with disabilities who are wildly under-represented in postsecondary education. We need to look at when, how, and where we deliver our programming to make sure we are maximizing opportunities for all potential students within the region, not just in Medicine Hat. Exploring different means of delivery—whether it’s distance, blended, or technology-enhanced—will also be important. At the internal level, I have two former divisions that have been collided together on the organizational chart. Different divisions and programs have their own micro cultures so it’s important to facilitate activity to bring understanding to our new division. We will be exploring ways to build these relationships and to get people thinking about us as the Division of Science and Health. real12
Being externally engaged is also a really important piece of MHC being at its best. We have a role that is wider than the walls of our campus, whether that’s educating our students in the community or being a stakeholder in the activity of our region. Excellence in teaching may seem overly simplistic but it’s our core business. It’s what the government funds us for, it’s what students pay tuition for. We have to be innovative, and cutting edge, and excellent at teaching.
Q DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE. Have good people and get the hell out of the way! I don’t see leadership as unitary. I’m big on relationship building and think it’s important to get out and talk to people. By engaging with people you are able to engage them. Ultimately my role as dean is to be an advocate for the division and provide the opportunities and resources to allow faculty to thrive.
Q SHARE A FEW OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I’m proud of being a first generation post-secondary graduate. Although education was valued in my family, there wasn’t active participation. Education opened the doors to the next 20 years of my life and everything I’ve experienced. It has been transformative.
Q WHO INSPIRES YOU? I’m inspired by people who are passionate about what they do. We sometimes forget how lucky we are to be surrounded by bright, passionate individuals on a daily basis.
Q WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT HERE? I’m a total sports nerd. I’ll watch anything where there’s competition involved—hockey, curling, thumb wrestling. I also enjoy travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Q WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU? I have dual Canadian/Irish citizenship. And I skipped second grade. It was the highlight of my academic career for quite a while.
WANT TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THE DIVSION OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH? CONTACT MIKE AT MGILLESPIE@MHC.AB.CA.
NEW CLUB OFFERS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FOR FAMILIES YOUNG EXPLORERS. It’s all about bringing families together to experience the great outdoors.
First-year students in Medicine Hat College’s ecotourism and outdoor leadership program have launched a new cooperative in Medicine Hat to help families connect with nature. The students were approached last fall by Grasslands Naturalists (GN), a local, non-profit society, with an idea to develop a program that would encourage a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts. The studentled cooperative would operate independently from GN but would continue to work closely with the organization to receive mentorship and resources. Recognizing the potential value of such a project in the community, the students embraced the concept and went to work researching the necessary steps to establish a cooperative and developing a plan to guide the group. The students officially launched Young Explorers (YE) in November 2014 with an afternoon of adventure under sunny skies. Children, parents and grandparents were introduced to Young Explorers with a tour of the college, followed by a hike down to Kin Coulee Park where they learned about nature, played games, and tested their skills on a low ropes course and slackline. “It was awesome! There were lots of smiles and running around,” said Jillina Gaetz, the YE secretary. “The kids loved it. It was great working with them and seeing them so happy and interested in nature.” For YE President Curtis Groeneveld, the reward was watching everything come together after weeks of planning—and sometimes stressing about getting the project off the ground.
Children of all ages and their families are welcome to join Young Explorers. Parents, grandparents or guardians are required to stay with their children during the activities as the group is focused on creating a family experience. As YE continues to grow, Gaetz hopes they will be able to offer more activities specific to different age levels. Young explorers can look forward to a variety of activities in the months ahead including snow tracking, igloo making, snowshoeing and biking. Whether they’re zip lining, hiking, climbing, or fishing, Gaetz and Groeneveld are passionate about being outdoors and look forward to sharing their excitement with others. When asked why families should consider joining Young Explorers when free time is already at such a premium, they both agreed that YE can offer what other activities cannot. “Nature brings people together in a way that you can’t really get anywhere else,” said Groeneveld. “We wanted to make Young Explorers about family bonding,” explained Gaetz, adding that it’s an opportunity for parents and children to participate in something together. The pilot project is free for families at the moment but the group may look at implementing a small annual fee in the future to support the expansion of the program. WATCH MHC.AB.CA FOR UPCOMING EVENTS, OR EMAIL CURTIS AT CURTIS. GROENEVE@MYMHC.CA OR JILL AT JILLINA.GAETZ@MYMHC.CA FOR MORE INFO.
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CÉGEP GARNEAU ÉLANS QUÉBEC, QC NAIT OOKS EDMONTON, AB SENECA STING TORONTO, ON
SEVEN TEAMS FROM ACROSS CANADA TRAVELLED TO MEDICINE HAT TO JOIN OUR WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM IN A FOUR-DAY TOURNAMENT HOSTED AT THE METHANEX BOWL IN NOVEMBER 2014. OUR OWN RATTLERS SOCCER SQUAD FELL SHORT OF COMPETING IN A MEDAL MATCH, BUT PULLED OFF A PROUD VICTORY AGAINST THE MOUNT ST. VINCENT UNIVERSITY MYSTICS TO FINISH SEVENTH OVERALL IN THE TOURNAMENT. THE NAIT OOKS AND CÉGEP GARNEAU ÉLANS COMPETED IN THE FINAL MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT WITH GARNEAU TAKING THE GOLD MEDAL WITH A 4-0 WIN OVER THE FIRST-RANKED OOKS. THE BRONZE MEDAL MATCH WENT TO THE SENECA STING WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER THE AHUNTSIC INDIENS. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ORGANIZERS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT A SUCCESS! real15
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TED CLUGSTON
MEDICINE HAT’S MAYOR TALKS POLITICS, POETRY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVITY For Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston, visits to MHC are a lot less stressful now compared to his time as a university transfer student over 25 years ago. Instead of studying in the library, he’s more likely to be seen on campus these days celebrating the success of students at convocation or sharing his vision for Medicine Hat’s future at a community event. “I love coming back to the college, especially now when I don’t have an organic chemistry test to write,” joked Clugston, who took a full course load in pre-dentistry for two years at MHC before transferring to the University of Calgary (U of C) where he earned a degree in biological sciences. Clugston came from a strict scholastic background where high expectations were placed on him by his family. His father, a prominent physician in the community, was a major influence in Clugston’s life and instilled a strong work ethic and sense of duty in his son. real16
Although Clugston wrote the dental aptitude test at the U of C, he decided not to apply and instead returned to Medicine Hat where he eventually started a family of his own. He worked as a financial planner and was active in the community as a member of the Kinsmen Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters. His entry into politics came, not from a passion for public service at the time, but disappointment in the direction Medicine Hat was heading. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, he decided to take action and ran for city council in 2007. After two terms as a councillor, he ran for the city’s top job in 2013 and won with promises of building a strong council, expanding the economy, and listening to the community.
“IT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING AND THE MOST REWARDING YEAR OF MY LIFE,” SAID CLUGSTON.
MAYOR CLUGSTON’S FIRST JOB WITH THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT WAS AS A LIFEGUARD. HE WORKED AT ECHO DALE REGIONAL PARK DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND PUT HIMSELF THROUGH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.
“I AM NOW THE FACE OF COUNCIL, THE FACE OF THE CITY. THE BUCK STOPS HERE.” While the response from citizens has been overwhelmingly positive—Clugston has been meeting with one Hatter a week at random since taking office last fall—he admits to being frustrated by chronic complainers and malicious comments made by people anonymously. “It’s ok to have an issue, but then come and talk about it. Every citizen is an ambassador for Medicine Hat. We need to speak highly of our community and be grateful for what we have,” said Clugston, who encourages people with concerns to contact him directly, instead of engaging in anonymous, negative activity. To deal with the pressures of public life, Clugston can often be seen on his daily walk through Police Point Park where he goes to clear his head.
He also writes and memorizes poetry, a result of his parents’ belief in providing him with a ‘renaissance education.’ Clugston was involved with the Rotary Music Festival as a child where he described himself as picking up a lot of pity votes because he was the only boy in the competition. Despite his dislike for the activity at the time, he came to regard poetry as a life manual and can often be heard reciting poems at his speaking engagements. Now in his second year as mayor, Clugston looks forward to working with MHC to build an even stronger relationship between the city and the college.
“THE HEALTH OF THE COLLEGE EQUALS THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. IT’S A TWO-WAY STREET. THE DOOR IS OPEN.”
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Way’s love for learning began when her family moved to Medicine Hat from Calgary in the 1970s after she finished high school. She found a good job but quickly realized it wasn’t what she wanted, so she enrolled in physical education university transfer courses at MHC and played basketball for the Kudas.
“MHC UNLEASED MY PASSION FOR LEARNING. THE INSTRUCTORS I HAD REALLY CHANGED MY DESIRE TO LEARN,” SAID WAY, WHO HADN’T ENJOYED HIGH SCHOOL. “THAT STUCK WITH ME, EVEN UNTIL TODAY.” She went on to complete a degree in physical education at the University of Alberta (U of A) and a master’s degree at the University of Texas. She returned to Canada and worked for the City of Red Deer doing athletics programming for women in individual sports before making the decision to pursue her doctorate. En route to the University of Maryland where she intended to finish her PhD, Way stopped in Medicine Hat for a visit—and never left. She was offered a job teaching physical education in 1982 and found her calling. She also assumed various coaching positions with the badminton, cross-country running, curling, and women’s basketball teams. “What I loved about teaching was the engagement with students. It was interesting being on that side and watching their development and the impact you could have in helping them, not only learn the subject matter, but how to be students at postsecondary,” recalled Way.
FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING STUDENT. ATHLETE. COACH. INSTRUCTOR. DEAN.
The other part she loved about her new career was working with the faculty members whom she had enjoyed learning from years before. “I had a built-in set of mentors. We have amazing faculty who are very committed. It’s one of the consistencies of the college that I love.” During the mid-1990s, Way took a sabbatical and started another PhD at the U of A, studying in a new field about the motor and physical development of children.
Dr. Nora Way has worn many hats at Medicine Hat College over the years. Although she’s retired from her role as dean of health studies, Way isn’t quite ready to call her 32-year career quits.
When she returned to teaching at MHC, she acted as a coordinator for university transfer and athletics programs. She was also involved in the development of the ecotourism and outdoor leadership program. Her strong background in athletics led her to be an active member of the Rattlers Booster Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting student-athletes at MHC.
“I was told my smile was getting bigger and bigger every day,” said Way, about the prospect of a return to teaching this winter. “As a dean, I feel like I’ve had an opportunity to help other instructors find their best path, but I’m excited to teach, which is my passion.”
According to Way, to work at a college is to work in an everchanging environment. New students are always coming in, bringing new enthusiasm. Programs are changing. Administration, faculty and staff are constantly challenged to stay up-to-date and be innovative.
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“That’s the joy of post-secondary. There’s never an opportunity to stagnate.” In 2004, a new opportunity arose and Way became the dean of health studies. “Although I had been at the college for 22 years, it was still a steep learning curve moving into the dean position. Actually, there was no curve. It was just straight up,” laughed Way. As someone who is excited by change, Way embraced her new role. Regardless of her title, one thing never changed.
“ULTIMATELY, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THEM IN DIFFERENT AND BETTER WAYS.” Way has been a strong supporter of students throughout her career at MHC and that impact will be felt for years to come thanks to an endowment and scholarship in her name. “If I’ve left a legacy, it’s about students and helping them find their future. It’s about opening doors for others.”
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Reflecting on a career that has spanned generations, Way remembered a student she taught 20 years earlier. The student mentioned that Way had also taught her grandmother.
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“That story makes me smile because we truly are a multigenerational campus. We have the ability to impact people’s lives, regardless of where they are in their journey. That says a lot about who we are. Our doors are open to lifelong learning.”
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The students of Enactus MHC may have experienced a set-back in their efforts to bridge the Digital Divide in Ethiopia, but they by no means have given up. Enactus is a global network of postsecondary students who work to empower people through entrepreneurship. The MHC chapter of Enactus has been active at Elm Street School for several years and recently launched its first overseas initiative. Project Break Through is a new venture that would put tablet technology in the hands of some of the world’s poorest children. Working closely with Canadian Humanitarian, a local and established international charity, Enactus MHC developed a business plan, launched an online fundraising platform, and shared their dream with thousands of Hatters. “In this day and age, it takes being plugged into cyberspace to compete in global markets and this project aims to do just that,” said Chelsie Jeal, Enactus MHC’s president. “What if we could begin to aid this country, not with a Band-Aid solution, but by empowering Ethiopia to stop the cycle of poverty at its source? By introducing new, cutting edge technologies available in the first world, teaching computer expertise, and equipping students with business and entrepreneurial skills, the children of Ethiopia are being given the opportunity to grow the technology industry in their country.” Despite their best efforts, the team fell short of their fundraising goal, but learned valuable lessons in the process and will push forward on a smaller scale. real22
“We still believe in the project. We just have to change our focus,” said Enactus member Aaron Hoimyr. Quoting a speaker from the Inspire Lectures held at MHC in November, he described the team’s new approach:
“DREAM BIG. START SMALL. FINISH WELL.” So instead of introducing the technology to an entire classroom, Enactus MHC will focus on two or three students who are struggling in their classes and provide them with a tablet, curriculum and tutor to help them learn. Because Canadian Humanitarian is working in Ethiopia, much of the infrastructure for the project is already in place and the Enactus students can simply plug-in to the available resources. “Tablet technology is a proven tool to increase learning retention and engage students in a fun way. We’re trying to build skills, not just in education, but in technology as well. The potential is amazing.” Hoimyr believes that by this time next year, they will be able to report back with success stories of how this technology has transformed the lives of the children. He cites the success of a One-LaptopPer-Child project that launched in two Ethiopian villages in 2012 as an example of the power of technology. Children who had never gone to school were able to teach themselves English. Within five months, these same kids had figured out how to hack into the Android software on their tablets.
“Children are quick learners and with the right tools, they can far exceed everyone’s expectations. There’s power in technology for people who haven’t experienced it before,” said Hoimyr. Because Project Break Through will provide curriculum and tutors, Hoimyr believes the results could be even more impressive. Once students are comfortable with the technology and their English language skills, phase two of Project Break Through will introduce computer programming, design, website development and Microsoft Office software before moving into entrepreneurial training. Hoimyr acknowledges that one of the obstacles Enactus encountered with this project was not having enough hands to do the work. While the group is led by college students, they welcome any volunteers who are interested in giving back. Business people and members of the community are encouraged to join the Enactus advisory board and offer feedback and guidance to the group. “We’re always looking for people who want to invest their time and energy into making the world a better place. It’s what we’re all about.” TO MAKE A CHARITABLE TAX DONATION TO PROJECT BREAK THROUGH, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CANADIANHUMANITARIAN.COM.
SANDOVAL WITH HER CHILDREN, JULIO AND GRECIA.
A MOTHER, A HERO When Violeta Sandoval moved to Canada from El Salvador four years ago, she was excited at the prospect of a new life for her family. Sandoval and her two children were to be reunited with their husband and father, who had been living in southern Alberta as a temporary worker.
desperately needed to do in order to provide for her son and daughter. Through volunteer work at Saamis Immigration and an eventual position with Job Corps as a carpenter’s assistant, her English improved and she was surprised to be placed in the advanced ESL group when she finally started at MHC.
But the much anticipated family reunion and promises of a new life together were short lived. Not long after their arrival, Sandoval was told by her husband that he had a new relationship and that she and the children were not welcome in the community she had thought would be their home.
“I CAN STILL REMEMBER MY FIRST DAY,” SAID SANDOVAL WITH TEARS IN HER EYES. “THEY MADE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE WORTH SOMETHING. SOMETIMES YOU THINK YOU’RE A LOST CAUSE, BUT HERE YOU LEARN YOU ARE NOT.”
With no money, no friends and limited language skills, they were driven to Medicine Hat and left with an acquaintance of her husband’s friend to make their own way.
She worked hard through the ESL program and not only completed her upgrading, but did so with high enough marks to be on the President’s Honour Roll twice. She is currently enrolled in the health care aide program and plans to pursue a diploma in social work with hopes of one day helping people like herself. Her son is also at MHC, studying power engineering technology.
When the shock of her situation subsided, Sandoval, a dental surgeon in her home country, quickly realized that she needed to improve her language skills if they were to stay in Canada. Given the timing of her arrival, she had to wait nearly a year for the next intake of English as a Second Language for New Canadians (ESL-C) at Medicine Hat College. She tried to enrol at Saamis Immigration but was told her English was too good for their program. Unfortunately it wasn’t good enough for her to hold down a job, something she
“Now I have purpose in my life. Now I have a light in my life. Now I know what I want and I’m working toward my goals, doing things that I never thought I could do. It has been an amazing journey,” said Sandoval. “For me, ESL has not been an opportunity. It has been the opportunity to change my life. My kids think I’m a hero.”
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REAL RECOGNITION OUR PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE MHC A SPECIAL PLACE TO LEARN, WORK AND BELONG. JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF MHC ALUMNI, STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND FRIENDS. DROP US A LINE AT ALUMNI@MHC.AB.CA IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WORTHY OF SOME REAL RECOGNITION.
Congratulations to the Rattlers women’s soccer coach Jim Loughlin who was named Coach of the Year by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Loughlin has built a competitive soccer program for both the men’s and women’s teams over the years. He led the women’s team to the 2014 provincial championships where they won the silver medal before hosting and competing at the CCAA Women’s National Championships this fall.
KALEB MOTZ LANDED HIS DREAM JOB DURING A GAME OF PAINTBALL “It’s all about making connections. My boss once told me he knew I was a special guy the first time I snuck up on him and shot him in the head,” laughed Motz, who was offered a job at Dreamstalk before he even finished school. “I certainly didn’t expect that situation to be a career move. I guess it just goes to show that opportunity really does come when we least expect it!” Originally from Hanna, Alberta, Motz moved to Medicine Hat to study visual communications but eventually found a better fit in the business program and graduated from MHC with a diploma in 2013. “The transition from vis comm to business was easy” said Motz. “The concepts and skills learned were very transferable.” real24
Former MHC Students’ Association president, lawyer, executive, and political campaigner, Mark Sakamoto added author to his long list of accomplishments last year with the release of his book, Forgiveness: A Gift From My Grandparents. Sakamoto, a Medicine Hat native, shares the journey of his maternal grandmother, Mitsue Sakamoto, and paternal grandfather, Ralph MacLean during the Second World War.
Motz is now the sales manager for the award-winning Dreamstalk team—a local web development company specializing in web design and content management solutions for school divisions. Dreamstalk cleaned up at the recent Medicine Hat & District Chamber Awards, winning for customer service, innovation and young entrepreneurship. After a decade of building relationships with local school divisions, recognition from the Chamber was a first for the company. Working with nearly 40 school divisions in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and establishing new markets in British Columbia and Ontario, Dreamstalk provides educators with easy-to-use websites and outstanding customer service. “We build websites, but that isn’t what defines us. Technology helps us deliver a product but it’s people that create vision, realize potential, and push boundaries. Knowing this, we’ve done away with the traditional client/vendor relationship.
Rattlers golf coach, Trevor Moore, had an impressive 2014 season and was recognized as the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Golf Coach of the Year. Moore is described as being focused on the complete development of the student athlete, including academics, athletic progress and community involvement.
“Our team is their team. It’s a very refreshing, not to mention saleable, approach,” explained Motz. “We are very people-centric.” This mindset recently captured the attention of StarDyne Technologies, a large technology investment company with a diverse portfolio in the government and education sectors. StarDyne acquired, and is now backing the Medicine Hat business with resources, while benefiting internally from Dreamstalk’s unique corporate culture. “We’re working with them to transplant our methods to some of their other companies. The opportunity here is very exciting,” said Motz. “We believe every company should be like ours in some way. Business today can’t be stuffed into suits and board rooms. It has to put people first, it has to be authentic, it has to be real.”
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