Mount Royal University Summit Spring/Summer 2021 by Mount Royal University

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Navigating the future of law enforcement

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DREAMING OF WHERE TO GO? This is your last chance to

WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO ARGENTINA TO VISIT OCÉANO PATAGONIA an alumna-owned luxury beachside eco-resort.

Update your contact information at mru.ca/Always and be entered to win!* And, staying connected means you’ll be the first to know about the latest offers and events for alumni coming this fall. * Contest draw date is June 30. Full details are available at mru.ca/Always.

Mount Royal alumni have access to exclusive perks, alumni events and a community of over 110,000 others — 80 per cent of whom are right here in Calgary. Visit our newly expanded alumni website at mru.ca/Alumni to explore your alumni offerings, including: • Discounts on campus, such as for Recreation memberships, at the MRU Injury & Prevention Clinic and for continuing education courses • Free on-demand career webinars • Personalized career support for new grads • Fall programming, including MRU Reads, our alumni book club (see page 18) • The alumni business directory, featuring products and services from local and Canadian alumni entrepreneurs • Update your contact information at mru.ca/Always to stay up-to-date with new perks, events and resources.

Whether you were a student of Mount Royal College or University, we hope you stay connected.

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Dear alumni, For the first time in Mount Royal’s more than 100-year history, activity on campus came to an abrupt halt over a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, every one of us has been impacted in some way, large or small, by the sacrifices we as a society have made to keep each other safe. Many of you work on the front lines in health care, science, education, communication, supply chain and information technology, maintaining the integrity of the systems that in turn support all of us and our loved ones. Thank you. We are all so proud of you and what you are doing. I know my views about what the future may look like have changed over the past year, and I imagine yours have too. The pandemic has presented challenges, but also opportunities. Cracks in society have been revealed, and it’s up to us to address them now. There is a heightened awareness of how the wealth gap can prevent real progress. There is a renewed focus on the struggle against racism. There is recognition of the harm that results when we turn away from each other and cultivate hate and anger. I have been inspired and heartened by the ways in which students, faculty, staff and alumni have found ways to sustain the sense of community and belonging that is so much a part of the Mount Royal identity. More than ever, we need to make the most of opportunities to connect and to continue to learn together. If we have learned anything after one full year of the pandemic, it’s that Mount Royal is not just a physical campus — not just a “place.” It is a community that wants to hear you and to which you will always belong.

Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor Mount Royal University

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Advance your career from the comfort of home We offer more than 50 continuing education programs that you can complete entirely online. From project management to conﬂict resolution, organizational change management to entrepreneurship, our programs are tailored to meet your professional development needs. MRU alumni can receive a $50 course discount. For details, visit mru.ca/Alumni.

mru.ca/Online

WHERE DIGITAL DELIVERY COMES TO LIFE Get state-of-the-art tech, online event experts and standout venues all in one. Book virtual and hybrid events today!

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mru.ca/MREvents

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VICE–PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Paul Rossmann ASSOCIATE VICE–PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Melanie Rogers DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Andrea Ranson DIRECTOR, MARKETING Dave McLean DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS Eleanor Finger Summit is published in the fall and spring of each year with a circulation of approximately 61,000. Each issue features the exceptional alumni, students, faculty and supporters who make up the Mount Royal community. Summit tells the University’s ongoing story of the provision of an outstanding undergraduate education through personalized learning opportunities, a commitment to quality teaching, a focus on practical outcomes and a dedication to community responsiveness. Celebrate yourself through Summit. ISSN 1929-8757 Summit Publications Mail Agreement #40064310 Return undeliverables to: Mount Royal University 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW Calgary, AB, Canada T3E 6K6 Enjoy Summit online by visiting mru.ca/Summit. If you would like us to deliver a print copy to your office or home, simply email summit@mtroyal.ca. Mount Royal University is located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyâhe Nakoda. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation. Sustainably yours.

Meet the team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paul Rossmann EDITOR Michelle Bodnar BCMM (Applied) ’05 PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Deb Abramson Journalism Diploma ’77 MARKETING AND EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATION Bailey Turnbull COPY EDITORS Matthew Fox Andrea Ranson Public Relations Diploma ’85

ART DIRECTOR Michal Waissmann BCMM (Applied) ’07 DESIGN Leslie Blondahl BCMM ’14 Astri Do Rego Mike Poon Michal Waissmann Chao Zhang

CONTRIBUTORS Jonathan Anderson BCMM ’13 Michelle Bodnar Peter Glenn Ruth Myles Anna Parks Rob Petrollini BCMM (Applied) ’07 Melissa Rolfe Hooda Sadden Zachary Worden

PHOTOGRAPHY Leonora André ILLUSTRATIONS Astri Do Rego Mike Poon Chao Zhang

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In this issue 1

Letter from the president

| 6

Bleed blue

| 20 Research snapshots | 46

Planned giving

| 48

Alumni Q&A

F E AT U R E S:

To serve and protect, and just about everything else

MRU Reads and alumni write

Esports ... from basements to billion$

Police are responsible for maintaining law and order in society, but they do a lot more than that, responding to every imaginable situation. How do we better support our police while also working to improve a complicated system?

Join MRU Reads, Alumni Relations’ online book club, to share in a love of reading. Browse our selection of alumni authors and dive into the minds of graduates who dare to write.

The global gaming industry is now generating billions of dollars in revenue, with esports, or gaming for dollars, becoming a major component. Seizing the opportunity, Mount Royal is getting in the game and leading Alberta’s esports industry charge.

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33 Understanding the conspiratorial mind Dangerous conspiracy theories have been getting a lot of attention as of late. They have the potential to incite violence, harm society and break up families. Understanding where they come from may help us fight against them.

40 Finding the best in the worst Coping during a pandemic is rough, and it’s hard to spot the silver linings. But people are still managing to rediscover themselves, their abilities and their passions.

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Alumni in this issue Krista Andrews Social Work Diploma, 2008

Stefan Makwana Bachelor of Nursing, 2007

George Brookman Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2020

Sid Marty Bachelor Transfer Program, 1965

Sara Bynoe Theatre Arts Diploma — Performance, 2000

Kanakii Mekaisto Social Work Diploma, 2000

Cassie Campbell-Pascall Honorary Bachelor of Communication, 2016

David O’Brien Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2020

Dawn Farrell Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2019

Michelle Porter Bachelor of Applied Communications — Journalism, 2000

Will Ferguson Honorary Bachelor of Arts — English, 2016

Natasha Russell Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2012

Eva Friesen Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2020

Beckie Scott Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2020

Bret Hart Honorary Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy, 2018

Tristan Smyth Bachelor of Arts — English, 2015

Niall Howell Bachelor of Arts — English (Honours), 2014 Broadcasting Diploma, 2008 Christopher Howgate Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Sport and Recreation Management, 2021 Esports Management Extension Certificate, 2021 Kelly Hrudey Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Psychology, 2017 John Lacey Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Policy Studies, 2018

Doreen Spence Honorary Bachelor of Nursing, 2017 Mark Tewksbury Honorary Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2017 Mike Thorn Bachelor of Arts — English (Honours), 2015 Alexander Williamson Bachelor of Arts — English (Honours), 2014 Craig Wrobleski Broadcasting Diploma, 1988

Jen Magnus Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies, 2002

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These are just a few highlights from the past six months at MRU, where there has been something to celebrate just about every day — even at a distance. Want to know what's happening at your alma mater? Go to mru.ca/AlumniEvents.

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Banner year for Professor Trevor Day Dr. Trevor Day, PhD, was honoured last fall as one of Canada’s top mid-career researchers with his election by the Royal Society of Canada to the College of New Scholars, Scientists and Artists — a first among MRU academics. A well-known physiologist, Day was one of 50 people recognized for demonstrating leading scholarly research or artistic excellence and elected for a seven-year term. An active researcher into the integrated physiological responses to acute and chronic blood gas challenges, Day initiated timely research in late 2020 into the temporary physiological effects on health-care workers wearing N95 respirators. Day said he hopes his study leads to better protocols around when health-care workers should take a short break from wearing an N95, “or may even drive innovation in mask design.” A professor in the Department of Biology, Day was also honoured with the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine Alumni of Distinction Award last year in recognition of outstanding contributions to education, and this year he received the 2021 Mentor Award from the Health Sciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research. W ELCO M E

New Alumni Council members Natasha Russell, an alumna of the Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations program, and Tristan Smyth, an alumnus of the Bachelor of Arts — English program, have joined the MRU Alumni Council. The Council represents the 110,000-plus members of the MRU Alumni Association, advises the University on alumni engagement strategies and acts as alumni ambassadors in the wider community. Learn more about your representatives at mru.ca/AlumniCouncil.

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Networks increasing collaboration As part of the Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership (CPCIL), the trio of Mount Royal’s Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES), the Government of Canada and the Canadian Parks Council are working together to foster research to better conserve and manage parks and protected areas across Canada. The Pan-Canadian Parks and Protected Areas Research Network is a collection of scientists, researchers, Indigenous knowledge keepers, students, parks and protected areas specialists and managers that builds upon the IES' success with the CPCIL. The pan-Canadian network will help improve the understanding of issues and the potential solutions for safeguarding Canada’s natural protected areas, with members sharing knowledge and best practices and identifying opportunities to collaborate on joint projects.

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$15 million donation from Taylor family will transform MRU student spaces A $15 million gift from Don and Ruth Taylor and the Taylor Family Foundation will allow Mount Royal University to increase access to post-secondary education and enrich the student experience. The generous donation complements $50 million in capital funding recently announced by the Government of Alberta and will transform empty and old spaces in the main building into new spaces for learning, a hub for student services and areas for broader community dialogue and interaction. The Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of Advanced Education, said, “Partnerships of this kind will be critical to ensuring that our post-secondary institutions continue to offer world-class education, learning spaces and resources to our students.” The gift from the Taylors is dedicated to Robert Samuel (Sam) Taylor, Don’s father. “My dad was a farmer, which is a respectable way to make a living. He always encouraged me, though, to advance my education, which was quite unusual back then,” Don Taylor said. “He would have been very proud of having his name associated with the education process.”

Over the first year, MRU will renovate the former MRU Conservatory space to create four large multifunctional classrooms. After that, the most significant renovation opportunity lies in the former library space at the heart of campus. A welcoming hub for student services, this area will focus on innovation, inclusion and experiential learning programs that use flexible technologies, encourage dialogue and have interactive presentation areas for the broader community. Spirit River Striped Wolf, president of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University said, “This donation will enhance the student experience by supporting muchneeded classroom and gathering spaces, as well as the supports and services provided on campus. This year has been a difficult one for all of us and this investment is a great reminder of how much students are valued in our community.” At a time when access to post-secondary education is key to Alberta’s economic recovery, MRU is well positioned to build on its strengths as an undergraduate university focused on graduating students ready to hit the ground running.

“Alberta is going through a major economic transition. We need different skills and those skills can best be delivered by universities. The more students we can teach, the better,” Taylor said, who built the Calgarybased Engineered Air into a thriving global business thanks to his innovations in air movement engineering. In 2016 he was named an Officer of The Order of Canada. Ruth Taylor is a former teacher, school counsellor and vice-principal. The Taylor Family Foundation is a private family foundation that looks to support education, preservation of teaching and history, advancement of the arts and health care. In 2010, the philanthropic family made a generous $21 million donation — the largest in Mount Royal's history — to build the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts and the Bella Concert Hall, named in honour of the family matriarch, Mary Belle Taylor. “We can’t begin to thank the Taylor family enough for their generosity,” said MRU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD. “They have played a pivotal role in transforming our campus to serve the needs of 21st century learners.” MRU.CA /SUMMIT

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Helping people, families and communities thrive The Government of Alberta has approved a four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at MRU. More than ever, social work is an essential profession supporting Albertans, challenging structural systems that contribute to discrimination and marginalization while helping people develop skills and resources for better lives. “This pandemic has demonstrated that social workers are positioned to help develop and strengthen connections between people. The BSW is something our employment community and our students have all asked for,” said Dr. Yasmin Dean, PhD, chair of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at MRU. Mount Royal has been providing social work education for more than 60 years with its popular two-year Social Work Diploma. The new BSW was built in consultation with government, non-government organizations, a program advisory committee, alumni and students. Courses in social work practice, theory, policy and research are grounded within contemporary theoretical frameworks, including decolonization, Indigenous ways of knowing, anti-oppressive practice and strengths perspectives. The BSW will prepare students for work with individuals, children and families, groups and communities in complex social settings. “Alberta has always been this unusual mix of advantage and disadvantage, and social work has some unique opportunities and obligations in this province. Having another perspective, the Mount Royal BSW perspective in social work education, is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Dr. Gaye Warthe, PhD, associate dean of the Faculty of Health, Community and Education.

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MRU’s BSW, which was awarded pre-accreditation status from the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, permits direct entry to a four-year degree program, an option that did not previously exist in Alberta. It will also be the first program in the province to offer a child intervention concentration, joining B.C. and Ontario, which have similar specializations. “Thousands of families a year are involved with child intervention in Alberta,” said Dr. Peter Choate, PhD, program coordinator for social work at MRU. “Having social workers who are specifically trained to support this population, facing some of the most difficult challenges families can face, is a unique pathway and it’s one we know for which there is a significant and ongoing need.” Alumna Krista Andrews graduated from MRU in 2008 with a Social Work Diploma and now supervises and provides support and leadership to a team of social workers. “There is a saying amongst social workers that you don’t pick social work, social work picks you. I believe this is true for me,” Andrews said. “Social justice, social action and community development are the foundation of what we do, and advocacy is sometimes the toughest and most fulfilling part of the role.” In Fall 2021, the BSW will admit 35 students into their first year, along with 25 students into the post-diploma program. Graduates from accredited social work diploma programs in Alberta can apply to the third year of the BSW. Find out more at mru.ca/BSW.

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Melanie Peacock recognized by the human resources industry with lifetime achievement award Dr. Melanie Peacock, PhD, received the highest recognition given within Canada's human resources (HR) industry last fall. The O.C. Tanner Award for Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the HR profession through visionary people-management strategies and leadership. To be eligible, recipients must have at least 15 years of distinguished experience, made lasting contributions to organizations over the years, shown leadership and provided inspiration to others. An associate professor, Peacock teaches HR in the Bissett School of Business and has almost 30 years of experience as an HR management professional. What she values about MRU’s HR program is its pragmatism and how it blends theory with real-world trends and professional designations. The University was the first post-secondary institution to be accredited by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta, providing students who want to pursue an HR career with a strong competitive advantage.

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Order of Canada recipients from the Mount Royal community On Nov. 27, the Governor General announced 144 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Five of those were from the Mount Royal community. The Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

George Brookman

Businessman, city booster and Honorary Doctor of Laws (2020) recipient

Ross William Glen

Philanthropist and benefactor of Mount Royal's Ross Glen Hall

Dr. John Lacey, PhD

Chair of MRU's Conservatory Advisory Committee and Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Policy Studies (2018) recipient

Doreen Spence

Campus elder and Honorary Bachelor of Nursing (2017) recipient

Mark Tewksbury

Olympic champion and Honorary Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations (2017) recipient

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‘Thank you for your inspiration, graduates’ Formal installation of Chancellor Dawn Farrell Mount Royal's special fall Convocation ceremonies included the formal installation of Chancellor Dawn Farrell, allowing her to now officially confer degrees. While addressing students, Farrell said that becoming the University’s first chancellor is a great honour because of Mount Royal’s exceptional track record and strong focus on getting students ready to participate in their lives. “Graduating class, you have benefited from an education that has made you critical thinkers, problem solvers and collaborators,” she said. “I can tell you that I love working with MRU graduates and the world needs more people like you.” In 2019, Farrell was bestowed with an Honorary Doctor of Laws by MRU.

Honorary Doctor of Laws recipients

“This province and this country has everything that the world wants. What we need to do is harness the energy of you people graduating today to lead us forward into the world out there.”

"You are graduating into a world that needs you ... It needs your energy, your knowledge, your skills, your open and inquisitive minds, your leadership, and most of all, your conviction that you will make a difference."

A well-known Calgary booster, George Brookman is the past president and chairman of the board of the Calgary Stampede; past chairman of Tourism Calgary; past director of Travel Alberta and past president of the Downtown Rotary Club.

An icon in the not-for-profit sector for nearly 40 years, Eva Friesen is president and CEO of the Calgary Foundation, a community organization established in 1955 to facilitate philanthropy and make connections for the benefit of the city.

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“Use your education to not only serve yourself, but to serve others. That is how to realize your highest potential." The former president of CP Rail, David O’Brien has been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. Currently the chairman of the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, O'Brien also received an honorary business degree from Mount Royal College in 2000.

"You can find a million reasons to feel despair and not get involved, or you can choose to see the opportunity, to step in and to make your contribution.” Beckie Scott, Canada’s most decorated cross-country ski racer, is a tireless advocate for Indigenous youth and a powerful voice in the sport integrity movement. She is a widely respected leader in anti-doping, serving on the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Commission for eight years.

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Celebrating a grad like no other MRU’s November 2020 drive-in convocation ceremonies were emotional, uplifting and just plain fun. Guests parked their vehicles to watch live proceedings on the stage, with big screens providing everyone with a great view. Attendees honked their applause, rather than clapped, and audio was broadcast to car radios. Smiles were given behind masks, with handshakes and hugs saved for another time, however the sense of community remained strong. What resonated with everyone was the opportunity to gather — albeit in a parking lot — to recognize something very important: a new generation of Mount Royal alumni. The celebration kicked off with video greetings from faculty, alumni, luminaries and former honorary degree recipients Bret Hart, Cassie CampbellPascall and Kelly Hrudey sending their very best to grads. The message from all was a sincere and hearty congratulations on the completion of graduates’ goals during a year no one could have imagined. Dr. Scott Murray, PhD, professor of history, said, “Some day, looking back, you’ll realize what a huge achievement this is and you should all be very proud. Take what you’ve learned and use it to change the world. Thank you for inspiring all of us, and congratulations." President and vice-chancellor of Mount Royal University Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD, said they were convocation ceremonies unlike any other in Mount Royal’s 110-year history. “(This) is a testament to all of you that as a university community we find innovative ways to celebrate our achievements and continue to gather with both enthusiasm and optimism for the future,” Rahilly said.

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Diversity and racism in sports the focus of Cougars' podcasts

Nyadholi Thokbuom

Mount Royal University Cougars Athletics and Recreation has produced a diversity and inclusion podcast series that aims to spark difficult conversations around diversity, racism and bias by taking real-life examples from the world of sports. World events such as the hijab controversy in soccer to Masai Ujiri’s confrontation with a security guard after the Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship are woven into each discussion. Information, context and opinions are provided from academics, MRU staff and a number of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour) Cougars athletes, including men’s volleyball player Godi Jibi and women’s volleyball player Nyadholi Thokbuom. Conceived by Katya Sodamin, manager, marketing and partnerships with Cougars Athletics and Recreation, podcast contributors include Dr. Marty Clark, PhD, assistant professor in health and physical education at MRU; Steve Kootenay-Jobin, Iniskim Centre events and housing coordinator; Janalee Morris, Academic Strategist Program coordinator; and Dr. Ornella Nzindukiyimana, PhD, assistant professor of human kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University. The series is hosted by MRU’s Dr. Brad Clark, PhD, an associate professor in broadcast media studies. mru.ca/CougarsPodcasts C H A M PI O N S

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Cougars All-Canadians

Godi Jibi

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Seventy-six of Mount Royal’s student-athletes received U Sports Academic All-Canadian status for the 2019/20 season. The Cougars have the highest percentage of Academic All-Canadians on their rosters in the Canada West Conference, with 44.7 per cent of all student-athletes maintaining a 3.4 or higher GPA while enrolled as a full-time student. This also places Mount Royal in the top 10 of all U Sports schools in Canada. Women's soccer had the most players recognized with a total of 18, however leading by percentage was women's volleyball, with 14 of their 17 members named as Academic All-Canadians. "Despite the challenges we have faced and continue to be confronted with, I want to commend all 76 student-athletes for their resiliency and work ethic," said Cougars Athletics and Recreation director Karla Karch. "We are extremely proud of our student-athletes and the time commitment it takes to excel in all areas, including academics, athletics and in the community.”

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RLLC earns LEED Gold The Riddell Library and Learning Centre has earned a Gold rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. LEED promotes responsible building practices, including sustainable materials and construction, and water and energy efficiency. The RLLC was designed to meet LEED Gold standards and opened in 2017.

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Child and youth care counsellor major among select few MRU's child and youth care counsellor (CYCC) major within the Bachelor of Child Studies program has been officially awarded accreditation by the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada (CYCEAB). The CYCEAB's model focuses on program outcomes with the intent that graduates will ultimately affect the quality of life and standard of care received by young people. MRU joins only 11 accredited CYCC programs among 50 publicly funded programs across Canada.

The community family zone at the Riddell Library and Learning Centre.

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Financing for the future

Yvonne and Kevin Wolfe

Associate professor of finance Dr. Allan Dwyer, PhD, along with colleagues from the Bissett School of Business, have developed a transformational student experience: the Mount Royal University Student Investment Fund. The fund offers real-world experience in finance through the analysis and trading of conservative investments. Students study opportunities in different industries, selecting potential companies to invest in after extensive research, while performing analysis based on ethics and compliance.

Ideas must be defended in weekly meetings, where the debate is rigorous, and investment decisions are made from a majority vote. The Student Investment Fund became a reality with a $100,000 gift from Yvonne and Kevin Wolfe last fall, and the trading team subsequently went on to a runner-up finish in the prestigious McGill International Portfolio Challenge in 2020. This elite global case competition featured 93 teams and Mount Royal's success is a testament to its high-quality students and the teaching found in its finance and accounting programs.

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Behind the lens of The Umbrella Academy

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Craig Wrobleski picked up his first video camera at Mount Royal. Today he is an award-winning cinematographer currently working on Netflix’s fan-favourite series, The Umbrella Academy. After graduating from Mount Royal’s Broadcasting Diploma program in 1988, Wrobleski broke into the film biz as a freelancer and has since worked on several groundbreaking and iconic shows. He was director of photography for Fargo, The Twilight Zone, The X-Files, Tales From the Loop, Legion, Heartland and many more. Nominated for an American Society of

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Cinematographers award, Wrobleski has won two Canadian Society of Cinematographers awards and has numerous Rosie Awards from the Alberta Media Production Industries Association on his resumé. The undeniable success of The Umbrella Academy — it is estimated to be watched by 45 million people — has been a career high for Wrobleski. The characters are superheroes, yes, but have realistic, multi-faceted and flawed personalities. Supported by an excellent cast, the storyline is expertly unwound through Wrobleski’s cinematic choices. Remembering his time at Mount Royal well, Wrobleski said his instructors were open-minded and influential, making it a great environment for students to figure things out themselves.

The power that was afforded to Wrobleski and his peers to discover their own strengths is reflective of what the characters in The Umbrella Academy also experience. They grow organically and mistakes are made, but as they learn to believe in themselves, anything becomes possible. The first time Wrobleski touched a video camera at Mount Royal he felt a peculiar familiarity. “It was the weirdest thing,” he said. “I just felt like I knew what to do with it. I've never experienced that any other way. It was almost like some reincarnation thing, where I'd done this before.” What attracted Wrobleski to The Umbrella Academy and the Hargreeves, a family of siblings who reunite to solve the mystery of their father’s death and save the world, was the “incredible humanity in the stories,” he said. “It has really fantastic elements that are just out of this world, but underneath it all, it has a beating heart.” The Hargreeves have the same problems that every family has, Wrobleski said. “They just have to deal with their problems in an incredibly bizarre way sometimes. Essentially, The Umbrella Academy is a family drama at its core.” Read the full story at mru.ca/CraigWrobleski.

Photos courtesy of Netflix

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Journalism students make national and international impact Mount Royal journalism students have helped tell the stories of Canadians who died of COVID-19, contributing to Maclean’s magazine’s “They Were Loved” obituary project. Assistant professor of journalism Archie McLean said students often started with no more than a person’s name. “So just to find them was the first challenge. The second challenge was to interview people who’ve suffered grief and loss. And then finally to write these tightly edited stories. Given all that, I think the students did an incredible job,” he said. The journalism program also, once again, excelled in the Pacemaker Awards of the Associated Collegiate Press competition against some of the biggest journalism schools in the U.S. A series of print-based Calgary Journal issues won a coveted Pacemaker, with several more online stories capturing additional awards.

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Government recognizes justice studies faculty Mount Royal had three winners when the Government of Alberta announced the 29th annual Community Justice Award recipients: Dr. Tanya Trussler, PhD, Dr. Kelly Sundberg, PhD, and Ritesh Narayan, all criminal justice faculty members. The provincial awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to crime prevention. Sundberg and Trussler were honoured in the Innovation category for their SAFE Design Council, a multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts and researchers committed to advancing innovative crime prevention through environmental design standards and methods for the public and private sectors. Narayan, who is also a city councillor in Chestermere, received an award in the Leadership category for his work with the Chestermere Police Communications Committee and for serving on the City of Calgary's guns and gangs task force.

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Colour Season 2 "Bella Blue" The makers of the hit CTV comedy Jann were so taken with the colour of the seat upholstery in the Bella Concert Hall that they sprinkled it throughout eight episodes. The acclaimed series — a quasi-fictionalized reflection of the life of Calgary-based singersongwriter Jann Arden — filmed on Mount Royal’s campus for seven days in October 2019. Crews spent another 12 days on site preparing and wrapping up, in addition to making multiple visits during the scouting and organizing process. Once Season 2 premiered in September 2020, viewers could spot Mount Royal in five episodes. “The variety of unique looks make it a great place to find many locations in one spot,” said location manager Brian Dunne. “(But) the main strength is the team … at MRU.” After filming wrapped, Arden and fellow musician Russell Broom played a mini-concert to thank the 600 extras who volunteered in the season finale.

Photos courtesy of CTV 16

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Common work-from-home injuries can be prevented Whether you’re an office worker or a student, working and learning from home is now the norm for many, and some indications point to this continuing even after the pandemic is over. While there are obvious benefits to “WFH,” it also comes with its drawbacks. As chiropractor Dr. Allison Gross of the MRU Injury & Prevention Clinic points out, a lack of proper ergonomics is one major pitfall. When employers sent their workforce home, most picked up their laptop, plunked it on the kitchen table and are still sitting there more than a year later. “If you asked me to describe a situation that would create neck and back pain, I would definitely say this is it,” Gross says. Ergonomics of workspaces are important. Monitor height, keyboard placement and chair-

to-work-surface height all make a difference. In addition, Gross says, people need to move around more. “We’re seeing how little most people move at home during the day,” Gross says. “At the office you will often walk to a meeting, or to visit a colleague. Even going for coffee was a five- to ten-minute walk. Now it’s just steps away. “Everyone sits in back-to-back meetings online and their head rarely moves.” Without regular access to fitness programs and gyms, people are also getting less exercise, leading to muscle weakness. Add the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic and it’s the perfect combination for doing long-term damage. “The doctors and therapists at our clinic have all noticed how much more neck and upper back pain we are seeing,” Gross says. “This is definitely the most

common work-from-home injury, followed closely by lower back and hip pain.” Hunching over a laptop creates pressure on the discs and joints of the spine and causes imbalances in the neck. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, muscle sprains and degenerative disc disease are also risks. Depending on the situation, chiropractic services, physiotherapy, athletic therapy and massage may all assist in recovery. For more information on how to prevent your own WFH injuries, the MRU Injury & Prevention Clinic is your best place to start. Practitioners at the clinic are trained to not only treat injuries, but also prevent them. If you have new pain or discomfort that wasn’t there before the pandemic, consider looking into the resources at the clinic before a minor problem becomes a major one. Pain-free online bookings are available for everyone at mruclinic.ca.

PAIN-FREE APPOINTMENTS. Take advantage of your alumni discount and book your next chiro, physio or massage appointment with one of our professional practitioners, painlessly using our new online booking system.

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A LU M N I

AU T H O R S

MRU Reads …and alumni write The Office of Alumni Relations’ online book club provides a place for lovers of the written word to congregate. WORDS BY MICHELLE BODNAR

The very first MRU Reads author was Alberta’s own award-winning Will Ferguson, whose works incorporate the immersive world of travel plus the idiosyncrasies of Canadian culture and history. Ferguson was Mount Royal’s writer-in-residence in 2012 and was bestowed an Honorary Bachelor of Arts — English in 2016, making him one of Mount Royal’s 110,000 alumni. The topic of discussion was Ferguson’s newest novel, The Finder, which Publishers Weekly describes as: “Witty, exuberant … Part thriller and part travelogue, this highly original novel offers punchy storytelling and vividly portrayed locales.” Then, in March, MRU Reads members chose the debut novel from poet Joshua Whitehead for their next topic of discussion. Jonny Appleseed is about a two-spirit indigiqueer young man and proud NDN (Native Indian) glitter princess who must reckon with his past when he returns home. Before meeting up (virtually), hosts of MRU Reads engage book club members in discussion and debate around the chosen work. Ferguson believes book clubs matter. “They bring people together and make reading a social and supportive act rather than a solitary pursuit. Book club discussions always add more to a book; you see elements that other people spotted that you may have missed. Plus, there’s wine.”

Supplement your reading list in anticipation of the next MRU Reads book club meeting. Here are some additional choices from several of Mount Royal’s alumni authors.

Teen Angst by Sara Bynoe

The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek by Sid Marty

THEATRE ARTS DIPLOMA —

BACHELOR TRANSFER PROGRAM

Very Bright, Almost Pretty by Alexander Williamson

PERFORMANCE (2000)

(1965)

BACHELOR OF ARTS — ENGLISH

Bynoe is an actor, writer and “producer of fun times” who created the ubersuccessful poetry collection in which she shared her most over-the-top teen suffering journal entries. SaraBynoe.com

Well-known natural history author Sid Marty’s prizewinning book is about an infamous marauding bear and the uneasy relationship between humans and wildlife. SidMarty.com

(HONOURS, 2014)

Only Pretty Damned by Niall Howell

Darkest Hours by Mike Thorn

BACHELOR OF ARTS — ENGLISH

COMMUNICATIONS —

(HONOURS, 2014)

(HONOURS, 2015)

JOURNALISM (2000)

BROADCASTING DIPLOMA (2008)

A work of horror fiction, Thorn’s Darkest Hours is a collection of short stories featuring people whose decisions have led them into strange, scary and unexpected scenarios. MikeThornWrites.com

Porter’s Inquiries is warm, funny and approachable even while revealing the difficult lives of the Métis Red River women and the horrors of Canada’s ignominious legacy of Indigenous inequity.

This refreshing “taut noir” is staged in a circus during the 1950s and driven by colourful characters scheming and scamming to keep their beloved big top open.

Williamson tells the story of what it’s like to live with cystic fibrosis, exploring when hope decides to up and leave and how health must be fought for.

Inquiries by Michelle Porter BACHELOR OF APPLIED

To suggest a work or join MRU Reads, go to mru.ca/AlumniEvents. 18

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R OV I N G

O N

M A R S

TRUE PERSEVERANCE On Feb. 18, the Perseverance Rover landed on the Jezero Crater on Mars in search of past life on the “Red Planet.” It will be collecting rock and soil samples to be sent back to Earth for analysis, and machines will create oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere of mainly carbon dioxide, a development that could lead to eventual human habitation. Dr. Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, is professor of geology at Mount Royal and winner of the William Harvey Gross Award for her work evaluating the mineral potential of the Winter Lake greenstone belt in the Northwest Territories. When it comes to the Perseverance, she says: “As a geologist who specializes in volcanology and ancient Earth processes, I am most excited about the insight Perseverance will add to our understanding of the composition, structure and geological history of Mars, which will help determine if it might once have had Earth-like, or habitable, environments. “One of my research goals is to determine how Earth has evolved over its approximately four-billion year history, including its transition from a planet that was uninhabitable to one that is full of living things. We already know that Mars and Earth share a lot of common geological characteristics, and this latest mission will increase our understanding of the similarities and differences between the two planets.” Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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R E S E A R C H

S N A P S H OT S

Making giant strides in the research world Last year marked some major milestones for Mount Royal University. Three faculty members were awarded Canada Research Chair positions and the University also received its first Canada Foundation for Innovation grants. These achievements are helping MRU researchers shape the world we live in. WORDS BY ROB PETROLLINI

Canada Foundation for Innovation Awards The federal government launched the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in 1997 with the mandate to attract and retain outstanding researchers in Canada. The program helps to remove financial barriers that can prevent investigators from making new discoveries. In March, the Government of Alberta, through the Jobs, Economy and Innovation Grants program (Small Equipment Grants) announced matching funding for the three MRU CFI award recipients, marking the first CFI awards and provincial matching support in MRU history. “The first-ever CFI awards will provide MRU with an opportunity to increase critical research infrastructure,” says Dr. Michael Quinn, PhD, vice-provost and associate vice-president. “The awards provide a huge boost to our faculty researchers as well as world-class opportunities for undergraduate research experience.”

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Associate Professor Gwen O’Sullivan, PhD Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Assistant Professor Meg Wilcox Department of Journalism and Broadcast Media Studies

Forest fires can be caused naturally through lightning strikes, but the majority are initiated by humans. Dr. O’Sullivan has been exploring the chemistry behind wildfires for years, using high-tech instruments to essentially turn wildfire sites into crime scene investigations, but in an environmental context. “We are developing a better understanding of wildfire initiation and propagation, enhancing arson investigation processes and increasing prosecutions and allocation of liability,” O’Sullivan says. O’Sullivan’s CFI grant will support the establishment of a world-class research centre, unique in Western Canada, where innovative techniques for wildfire debris analysis and environmental forensics will be developed. “Our research group is looking forward to having more space and equipment to expand our research.”

The School of Communication Studies’ home at MRU is set to receive an upgrade thanks to research contributions from Wilcox. “Our research focuses on podcasting; looking at new formats and possibilities for the medium,” says Wilcox, who was named as one of Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2020. “We’re particularly interested in looking at how podcasting can build community and become a communications tool for communities that are often not covered by traditional or legacy media.” The Community Podcast Initiative will culminate in the creation of an advanced podcasting hub with additional space and technology for faculty, students and the community to collaborate. Podcasting is a democratic medium, lending itself to “solutions journalism” where community-mindedness is foundational, Wilcox says.

R E S E A R C H

S N A P S H OT S

Canada Research Chairs The Canada Research Chair (CRC) program was created by the federal government in 2000 and stands at the forefront of a national strategy to make Canada a leading country for research and development. Chairholders improve the country’s depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled citizens. “The individuals awarded CRC roles will allow us to advance research in the areas of human physiology, community disasters and the scholarship of teaching and learning,” says Dr. Michael Quinn, vice-provost and associate vice-president. The researchers are focusing on topics identified as priorities for the University.

Assistant Professor Michael Asmussen, PhD Canada Research Chair in Neuromechanics and Human Physiology

Assistant Professor Ranjan Datta, PhD Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research

Assistant Professor Cherie Woolmer, PhD Canada Research Chair in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Also a recipient of a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant, Dr. Asmussen’s inquiries focus on how the foot and ankle are essential for movement. “While walking and running seem like very mundane movements, they are actually difficult to execute if you consider the co-ordination required across the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems.” He seeks to further understand the structure, function and neural control of the foot and ankle during locomotion in healthy, injured and diseased states. Because of this complexity, Asmussen uses a combination of biomechanical tools, physiological measures, computational modelling and simulation techniques to answer his questions. “The end goal is to translate research outcomes into innovative health-care solutions, such as biofeedback systems or participant-specific bracing solutions aimed at improving stabilization of the foot and ankle,” Asmussen says.

Climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, infrastructure failure and cascading risks to food supply, the environment, health and the economy. Dr. Datta is exploring how to best implement policies and actions to reduce the impact of climate change on marginalized communities. “The goal is to combine local and academic knowledge in order to develop tools that will help Indigenous, immigrant and refugee communities make strategic choices about environmental disaster risk management,” Datta says. “Unfortunately, the majority of attention to environmental harm risk management has focused on engineering, reactive, command and control solutions versus strategic approaches.” Datta’s research program incorporates the creation of university-community partnerships that support crisis response capacity-building in communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Dr. Woolmer’s research centres around student-faculty partnerships in higher education to more fully engage students in the process of their education and is informed by critical pedagogy, sociocultural approaches to change and the impact of pedagogical partnerships on institutional culture. Woolmer says she will be accessing and implementing research on how students and faculty can partner together to improve teaching and learning at postsecondary institutes. Working from the Mokakiiks Centre for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and with the Academic Development Centre means that Woolmer is able to connect with extensive research conducted in this field at MRU. “Ensuring connections between research generation, development and dissemination in relation to pedagogical partnerships is central to the work I wish to achieve.”

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To serve and protect ... and just about everything else A tumultuous 2020 puts focus on the future of law enforcement WORDS BY PETER GLENN ILLUSTRATIONS BY MIKE POON

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On Jan. 1, 2021, Calgarians woke to the shocking news that Calgary Police Sgt. Andrew Harnett had been struck and dragged by a vehicle during a traffic stop in Calgary’s northeast on New Year’s Eve. He died soon after of his injuries. What followed was an outpouring of support for his family and police colleagues, showing that for many Calgarians, respect for the men and women who serve and protect, never knowing what a seemingly routine shift or traffic stop will bring, runs deep. That relationship, however, is complicated. A summer of protest raged across North America and around the world after the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, galvanizing attention on police brutality and the role of law enforcement in a fair and just society. In Alberta, calls to defund the police grew out of the Black Lives Matter protests, but came to encompass much more, including the way police respond to a variety of calls involving racialized citizens and people in crisis. Calgary City Council debated the notion of defunding police and shifting those resources into social programs, while Calgary’s police chief Mark Neufeld agreed with the need to review and reimagine the role of police. One of the voices heard on these issues was the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University’s president Spirit River Striped Wolf, who spoke with a number of media outlets about an “awkward, horrible, embarrassing” encounter with police in a restaurant when staff, for no apparent reason, suspected he was doing drugs in a washroom.

Asked to expand on his views, Striped Wolf, who is from the Piikani Nation, said that his personal opinion is that shifting funding from police to other areas should be a priority. “Someone should be checking in on vulnerable Calgarians, but not the police. Many Indigenous people and other racialized folks have trauma when it comes to police,” he says. Recommendations for Canadian police agencies are outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report of 2015, as well as the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, both of which demonstrates that Indigenous people are over-policed and underserved. “Police are meant to hold people accountable to the law, and yet they continue to be nonaccountable. You need accountability in order to trust a person, or an institution, and the police’s track record is just not there for many,” Striped Wolf says. In an attempt to address one aspect of this crisis in confidence, in the fall of 2020 the Government of Alberta announced it was banning the practice of “carding” and establishing clear rules for common interactions between police and the public. These changes prohibit police in Alberta from randomly and arbitrarily stopping members of the public and asking for personal information. In February, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) announced the establishment of a 15-member anti-racism action committee, upon which three MRU alumni sit. In the end, Calgary City Council did not reduce the police budget. Instead, a new community safety investment framework will go ahead in an effort to close gaps in crisis response and will be funded through reserves.

Someone should be checking in on vulnerable Calgarians, but not the police. Many Indigenous people and other racialized folks have trauma when it comes to police. —MRU students’ association president Spirit River Striped Wolf

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WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF POLICING? By working in a close partnership, police and mental health experts can share resources and advocate for clients as they navigate through the justice and health-care systems. —Nursing alumnus and member of the Police and Crisis Team Stefan Makwana

Mount Royal University’s justice studies faculty members and others in the campus community have considered the current situation and how it could be improved. “The defund policing movement in the U.S. is largely associated with concerns about excessive use of police force against persons of colour. Indeed, that was the initial focus of the defund police movement here in Canada, and in Calgary,” says Doug King, justice studies professor at MRU. “The shift in focus to the reallocation of police funds in Calgary to non-police responses for mental health and substance use disorders is largely how Calgary City Council, the Calgary Police Service and the Calgary Police Commission have reframed the discussion. In doing so, the concerns about police excessive force have been largely lost and this is unfortunate.” That said, police responses to mental health crises is an area that could be improved, King says, in part by strengthening existing partnerships. “It is surprising to me that Calgary Police Service has not been more vocal about the existing partnerships it has with AHS that focus on a team response to situations involving individuals experiencing mental health, substance use disorder or psycho-social crisis.” The Police and Crisis Team’s (PACT) partnership between CPS and AHS that King is referring to is similar to models in other major cities and evolved from a CPS initiative from more than 25 years ago called the Crisis Intervention Unit. King recommends expanding PACT, pointing to other models in the U.S. that employ response teams made up of social and health-care workers. PACT teams are similar to those of Calgary’s Downtown Outreach Addiction Program (DOAP) operated through Alpha House. DOAP teams offer assistance to high-risk individuals, connecting them with shelters, detoxification centres, addiction treatment

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services, health care, crisis counselling, advocacy and basic needs. Stefan Makwana, a 2007 alumnus of the Bachelor of Nursing program, has worked in addictions and mental health with PACT for the past decade. In partnership with a CPS member, Makwana is a case manager, advocating for clients experiencing severe mental health and addiction issues and helping them obtain necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, as well as medical and psychiatric care. One day he may be involved in crisis intervention, the next he may be accompanying a client to a medical appointment or housing interview. Making the rounds to emergency shelters, hospitals, urgent care centres, police stations and community agencies is all in a day’s work. “Both AHS and community programs have great difficulty working with these clients, and in many cases they are refused services by shelters, housing agencies and both public and private/non-profit health-care programs and services,” Makwana says. “In many cases, these individuals have completely fallen through the cracks and are receiving no services at all.” PACT’s integration in the justice system and health-care system makes it unique, Makwana says. Clients can be assisted by PACT during front-line crisis responses, entries into the emergency department and through the in-patient admission process. They are discharged back into the community with supports and get help to deal with any legal matters, including at court or while in custody. “PACT fills a gap in service in which clients with acute mental health concerns would not otherwise be able to access services through traditional mental health programs due to acuity level and safety risk. By working in a close partnership, police and mental health experts can share resources and advocate for clients as they navigate through the justice and health-care systems.”

You often hear that policing is a profession. However, there is no profession I am aware of that has no post-secondary education foundation and just six months of training. — Professor Doug King

DO POLICE RECEIVE ENOUGH TRAINING? Is the education required by police departments before being hired enough to ensure only the best and most suitable candidates obtain a badge? King says it is important to differentiate between police training and police education. Currently, police recruits receive about six months of training in areas ranging from high-speed pursuit driving and police-related information systems to policies and procedures. Interspersed in the training are some basic education components related to criminal law and procedure and police-related bylaws. “I have long been an advocate that all police agencies in Canada need to establish a minimum post-secondary education requirement of at least two years in order to apply,” King says. “The focus should be on basic information about the operation of the criminal justice system, criminal law, professional ethics, diversity, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and conflict resolution. “You often hear that policing is a profession. However, there is no profession I am aware of that has no post-secondary education foundation and just six months of training.” Dr. Kelly Sundberg, PhD, an associate professor in justice studies at MRU, is a member of a group that includes Graham Abela, chief of the Taber Police Service. Abela is advocating for a college similar to the College of Physicians and Surgeons that would define the role of a police officer and what they do.

“It would increase confidence in the police and open up a discussion on what should be the credentials needed to become a police officer,” Sundberg says, adding that a College of Policing exists in the U.K. and is in development in parts of Australia. In March, Sundberg and colleagues Dr. Tanya Trussler, PhD, Dr. Christina Witt, PhD, and Dr. Julie Booke, PhD, were awarded a $100,000 grant from the B.C. government to assess the feasibility of establishing a professional college of policing in the province. “What should the education be? How should we be testing people? All of this would be done through the college taking an evidence-based approach. That doesn’t exist right now and there’s inconsistency. The college would provide a standard of practice, it would solidify a standard of care. It would provide an ethical form of conduct and it should open up the practice of policing to more diverse individuals.” King maintains provincial legislation regulating police remains inadequate, adding that oversight needs to be revised through changes to Alberta’s Police Act, which is currently undergoing a review, and the Police Service Regulation. King says he feels the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team should be expanded to speed up investigations and civilian oversight through municipal police commissions reimagined to allow more public involvement.

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... I believe it should be the systemic barriers in hiring practices, training, policies and procedures, and leadership that are examined. — Alumna and former police officer Jen Magnus

ARE POLICE GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED? How and who police hire for the job, and how that workplace treats its own rank and file, is crucial to improving policing, according to Jen Magnus, a human resources consultant, former police officer, alumna of the Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies program and past member of the MRU Board of Governors. “I have noted a lot of discussion by police organizational leaders about examining systemic racism and making this a priority for the future of policing. However, I believe it should be the systemic barriers in hiring practices, training, policies and procedures, and leadership that are examined,” she says. Over a 14-year career as a police officer working in recruiting and human resources, Magnus says she faced systems that were dated and dysfunctional. “Several of these systems were detrimental to many groups, such as female police officers, parents of children, or officers who cared for their sick or elderly parents. It felt as though police leaders and administrators believed officers should prove themselves dedicated to policing rather than working together to come to a solution that benefits all parties.” Magnus says police departments need more focus on family and work-life balance. “Several police officers are married to fellow officers

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or shift workers from other professions and it is nearly impossible to both be shift workers and raise children,” she says, pointing out that flexibility in scheduling has been available in health care for decades. Leadership, whether in senior positions or in a front-line officer, is vital to effective policing and building trust with the community, Magnus says. “These leaders, both formal and informal, must stand up to discrimination, unethical behaviour, sexual harassment and bullying, while supporting each other through the difficulty of the everyday aspects of policing to ensure everyone makes it through to retirement safe and healthy. “I had several friends and officers I worked with commit suicide due to the trauma they experienced on the job and the difficulties they faced in their personal lives. Having supportive leaders who stand up for what is right and ethical is necessary, not only in today’s policing era, but also in the future.” Believing the practice of trauma-informed interviewing employed by sex crimes and child-abuse units is vital in all areas, Magnus says, “Training in this area will help officers recognize their biases when it comes to investigations and ask appropriate questions that acknowledge traumatic experiences.”

(A college of policing) would provide a standard of practice, it would solidify a standard of care. — Associate Professor Kelly Sundberg, PhD

DOES ALBERTA NEED ITS OWN OFFICERS IN BLUE? Another enormous change for policing in Alberta is also under consideration: the establishment of a provincial police force and a move away from the RCMP in order to make policing, especially in rural areas, more responsive and effective. “The interest in an Alberta provincial police agency goes back many decades,” King says. “One of the ongoing concerns is that the RCMP is slow to respond to calls for a greater police presence in rural Alberta. This concern has accelerated in recent years because of the rise of rural crime rates. This rise has been especially prevalent in rural municipalities adjacent to the larger municipalities in Alberta, as some associated with the growing illicit drug trade prey on rural communities in terms of property offences because of the reduced police presence.” However, King emphasized there are significant costs associated with a move to an Alberta Police Service. Right now, Albertans pay about $250 million under the province’s contract with the RCMP, two-thirds of the total cost. Taking over from the RCMP would mean an increase of about $125 million for taxpayers. There would be additional costs related to recruiting and training the Alberta police officers, and new capital costs associated with acquiring buildings, vehicles and other policing necessities. “All of this would be occurring when the provincial government is experiencing serious budget challenges that are resulting in many portfolios having to reduce their expenditures significantly,” King says. It looks as though policing will change, but there’s no doubt it plays an essential part in society. Breaking down systems already in place is a difficult task, but one that can be done with buy-in from leadership and all arms of the law.

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Esports WORDS BY ZACHARY WORDEN

Since the global lockdowns began in response to COVID-19, one industry has flourished. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2020 the global gaming industry generated $159 billion in revenue, an increase of 9.3 per cent from the previous year. During the pandemic, gaming has offered consumers a way to escape from the real world or connect via online gaming communities. Esports, one component of the larger global gaming industry, has offered both experienced gamers and newcomers “a chance to remain socially close while maintaining physical distancing,” Victor Ly says.

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Ly is the co-founder of the Alberta Esports Association (AESA) and an instructor for Mount Royal University’s Esports Management Extension Certificate. The AESA provides support by promoting gaming events and connecting communities and players with resources in Alberta. Esports has grown from just a few friends hanging out in their parents’ basements into a burgeoning billion-dollar industry, Ly says. “Fifteen years ago, we didn’t think about esports growing to where it is today.”

from basements to billion$ GAMING ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL One visual indication of the growth of esports is the rising demand for locations and dedicated gaming venues such as the Gaming Stadium, which opened in Richmond, B.C. in 2019. The first venue of its kind in Canada and the title sponsor for the AESA, the Stadium represents the rising cultural presence of esports. With physical forums in place, esports is becoming a known entity among the general public. In 2019, Newzoo.com reported that 1.5 million Canadians were watching esports at least once a month. “That’s a huge cultural shift,” says Ryan Coutts, a two-time graduate of MRU certificate programs and the business development executive for the AESA. Coutts says that esports is now starting to occupy the social space currently filled by traditional sport. “So it’s a very long-term thing, but as populations get younger and younger, gaming will only become more prevalent.” Coutts and Ly think esports in Alberta is in an earlier stage of development compared with other regions in Canada and the rest of the world. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be starting out from an initial, emerging level and we can see where esports has gone in other parts of the world,” Ly says. “It’s only a matter of elevating ourselves here in Alberta and Canada to get esports to the level found in Asia, Europe and the U.S.”

2020 GLOBAL GAMES MARKET Per device and segment with year-on-year growth rates

MOBILE $77.2 billion US

48%

40% SMARTPHONE $63.6 billion US

40%

PC $36.9 billion US

23%

9% 2%

21% 21%

2% 2020 total $159.3 billion US +9.3% YoY 28% 28%

TABLET $13.7 billion US

NONBROWSER $33.9 billion US

28%

CONSOLE $45.2 billion US

BROWSER $3.0 billion US

U.S. ESPORTS DIGITAL AD REVENUE $226 million US $196 million US $175 million US $143 million US

39% 23% 2018

2019

Esports digital revenue

12% 2020 % change

15% 2021 Source: eMarketer, June 2020 eMarketer.com

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MRU’S ESPORTS MANAGEMENT EXTENSION CERTIFICATE This is the first program of its kind to be offered in Alberta... It’s a significant milestone in both legitimizing esports as an industry but also preparing the industry through academia, which is deeply critical. Victor Ly, MRU instructor and cofounder, Alberta Esports Association

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In 2020, the Faculty of Continuing Education at MRU introduced its Esports Management Extension Certificate, which is offered in partnership with the Continuing Education Division of the University of California, Irvine. The program gives students a chance to explore an esports organization’s structure to gain an understanding of the industry and its operations. With esports teams and opportunities popping up all over the country, aspiring players and managers now have a variety of paths to follow to get involved in the industry. Christopher Howgate recently graduated with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Sport and Recreation Management and is one of the first cohort of the Esports Management Extension Certificate program. Calling himself “slightly more than a casual gamer,” Howgate says the certificate is the perfect complement to his degree and that the career pathways in esports are seemingly endless. “Given that we are living in a COVID world and have been for some time, I knew I was going to have a more-than-normal amount of free time to try something new,” Howgate says.

“This time of lockdown has really given the casual esports market the push it needs to take off,” he says, adding that the support and mentorship he has received through the program has been exceptional. “There’s so much more to esports than just playing the game,” Coutts says. “Like in hockey, there’s not just the players. There are the coaches, there’s the physical therapist, there are managers, marketers and the list goes on and on. The same thing exists within esports.” The certificate offers practical communications and project management skills tailored to planning and executing an esports event. “The great thing about the certificate is that it’s about how to get involved in the industry from the back end of the business. I think it will help a lot of people get in on the ground floor,” Coutts says. “This is the first program of its kind to be offered in Alberta,” Ly adds. “It’s a significant milestone

in both legitimizing esports as an industry but also preparing the industry through academia, which is deeply critical.” As MRU jumps to the front of the line of esports education in Western Canada, three faculty members have put together a textbook exploring the industry and its impact on global marketing, business and society. Dr. David Finch, PhD, professor of marketing, Dr. Brad Clark, PhD, associate professor of broadcast media studies and Dr. David Legg, PhD, professor of health and physical education, are part of the group responsible for Implications and Impacts of eSports on Business and Society: Emerging Research and Opportunities, published in 2019. “The global gaming market today exceeds two billion participants and $150 billion. Esports is an extension of this market and offers enormous potential for future growth,” Finch says.

Esports is such a great community ... Whatever esports looks like at MRU going forward, whether that is hosting in-person tournaments or having a varsity team, I want the identity to stay the same: a community of people who want to play video games, improve and face off against others. Juan Rincon, community esports manager MRU N3rd Club

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VARSITY RECRUITERS ARE SNIFFING AROUND THE PROSPECTS One league that emerged in 2020 was another first-of-its-kind in Alberta. In November, a collegiate competition sponsored by the AESA and the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) took place. The ACAC Collegiate Esport Kick-Off saw 32 participants from eight ACAC institutions: Ambrose University, Concordia University of Edmonton, Keyano College, Lethbridge College, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Portage College, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and St. Mary’s University punch it out playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A player from Concordia took home the title. “The initiative of developing collegiate level esports is certainly happening and being discussed,” Ly says. “Although it started with the ACAC at the college level, we’ve been in discussions with universities to help elevate esports to the varsity level as well.” There haven’t been many sanctioned esports competitions among U Sports member universities as of yet. In July 2020, students were able to sign up to represent U Sports and their school at the International University Sport Federation’s Esports Challenge Football (soccer). A 32-participant tournament for men and women from universities around the world played the Electronic Artsproduced video game FIFA 20 over 32

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10 days. Two University of Windsor students were the only Canadians who participated in the tournament. Gamers are mostly competing through student clubs at their universities or among groups of friends. Earlier this year, 10 students playing under the moniker of the MRU Royals participated in the College League of Legends Mountain West Conference tournament from January to March, when playoffs began. Juan Rincon is the community esports manager at MRU’s N3rd Club, a student-run club with the mission to “foster a community for people with nerdy and geeky interests, such as video games, card games, streaming and anime.” He picked up his controllers for the League of Legends tournament, serving as team manager. “Esports is such a great community,” Rincon says. “Getting the chance to meet new people and talk about video games with people who are just like you is amazing.” Club N3rd is open to playing any game someone feels a community can be built around. “I really want anyone who thinks that a game that has a shot at being a competitive esport to come and try it,” Rincon says, adding that esports should offer a place where anyone and everyone can try out competitive gaming in a supportive environment.

“Whatever esports looks like at MRU going forward, I want the identity to stay the same: a community of people who want to play video games, improve and face off against others,” he says. Howgate agrees, saying the esports’ friendly and inviting community makes it something he sees himself being involved with for the long term. “This is a community I would recommend any gamer in Alberta to join. I believe that these e-leagues and competitions will be here to stay.” Howgate would like to see boundaries continue to be pushed for competitive university esports in Alberta and throughout Canada. He dreams of the next annual Crowchild Classic as having an esports component. He even sees an industry where talented esports athletes could be trained in their chosen game, and then go on to be drafted or signed by professional teams. “MRU has a great partner in the AESA,” Howgate says, and he predicts that the University is perfectly poised to become a pioneer and industry leader in the esports field.

Understanding the

conspiratorial

mind WORDS BY MICHELLE BODNAR

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHAO ZHANG

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

The wild world of conspiracy theories can seem funny and harmless … until it’s

NOT It will be hard to forget the visual from the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Captiol in Washington, D.C., when a shirtless, body-painted man wearing a fur hat and horns participated in the storming of the Capitol under the names of “QAnon Shaman,” "Q Shaman" and "Yellowstone Wolf.” Acting as a manifestation of the conspiracy theory that created him, his mythological appearance was emblematic of the fantasy and fables that the QAnon movement has attempted to proselytize into reality, including that former President Donald Trump was involved in an important secret war against elite Satanworshipping pedophiles in government, business and the media. Although the “QAnon Shaman” has since expressed regret for his involvement in the attack, QAnon remains a safe space for conspiracy theories. These conjectures range from the mass harvesting of adrenochrome from the blood of children for the “elites'' to inject into themselves for long life to lizard people in disguise planted in high positions. Each one is based on what the New York Times describes as the “global cabal theory” in the November 2020 article, “When the World Seems Like One Big Conspiracy.” The global cabal is purportedly secretly running the world, puppeteers controlling everything from behind the scenes. These people

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are often described as the “illuminati,” shadowy figures with boundless powers who are able to influence all aspects of society. They represent one of the main ingredients of any conspiracy theory that thrives — a demonized “other,” a common enemy. Other factors that contribute to the spread of a conspiracy theory are economic disparity and disenfranchisement, a distrust of mainstream media and, of course, the internet. The ease with which misinformation can now be shared has conspiracy theories forming a kind of permanent pollution throughout the online world that is often difficult to see through. Brandwatch.com says that as of December 2019, the internet had 4.54 billion users and 3.725 billion active social media users, each with an average of 7.6 different accounts. Links are shared exponentially across those accounts, and there just aren’t enough fact checkers in the world to ensure the legitimacy of everything. The events of Jan. 6 demonstrate that violence can be a real and dangerous outcome of conspiracy theories. Questioning where these ideas come from and how they proliferate is a step towards understanding the conspiratorial mind and how societal issues and constructs are contributing to less understanding among us.

A place

to belong

Those who fall into the conspiracy theory trap usually feel ignored, scorned and even ridiculed by society, says Dr. David Aveline, PhD, associate professor of sociology. Being the owner of “real” information and part of a select group can provide much wanted selfimportance. If a person has been raised to question the “establishment’ and has a close social circle that supports their beliefs, they will feel validated. Those who believe in conspiracy theories also have a tendency towards dogmatism, as evidenced by former President Trump’s hard-core “birther” campaign during the Barack Obama presidency and his continued claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him. Dogmatism insists on the validity of a specific claim without consideration of evidence or differing opinions and is a trait that leads to “hardened belief systems,” says Mount Royal Professor Emerita Dr. Judy Johnson, PhD, in her December 2020 article, “The perils of dogmatic certainty in uncertain times,” published in the Toronto Star. Johnson taught clinical psychology at MRU for 23 years.

In addition to an “otherness,” and an inability to accept differing views, the psychology behind believing something that has not been “proven” is also rooted in personal experience. Using the biopsychosocial framework normally employed in abnormal psychology, the intersections between biology, psychology and socio-environmental factors can help illuminate why some minds “click” on conspiracy theories more quickly than others, explains psychology instructor Dr. Monica Baehr, PhD. She describes Trump as a “narcissistic” and “antisocial” person who grew up with the “ruthless” modelling effect of his father. "History indicates that this led to a personal as well as business environment that encouraged Donald to feel entitled to do whatever he wanted, and a seemingly desperate need for success regardless of cost to others. These likely were all contributing factors as to why he is more prone to believing conspiracy theories than others,” Baehr says, adding that Trump could also be prone to a form of anxiety.

How we fight against conspiracy theories "I think the way to fight conspiracy theories is to enfranchise people. To not define them as the dregs of society. If you can give people selfworth, and give them the sense that they're actually participating and contributing to society, then I think that conspiracy theories will lessen."

"Personal experience, exposure, is one of the best ways to persuade people. Fear messages are not effective. Keep the dialogue going and provide information, but in a positive way. Persuade people in a way that's moderated and address their actual grievances. Acknowledge that you understand where they're coming from."

“An undergraduate *general* education can lead to the appreciation of a plurality of methodologies informing human inquiry. That, including an enhanced capacity for quantitative reasoning, scientific understanding and an appreciation of diversity of values, beliefs and identities, is crucial."

David Aveline, PhD Associate professor of sociology

Monica Baehr, PhD Psychology instructor

Karim Dharamsi, PhD Philosophy professor

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

The truth is

there is no truth People will also surprisingly easily believe two seemingly contradictory things, something psychologists refer to as cognitive dissonance. Taking the Pizzagate conspiracy theory for example, how is it possible to continue to believe that Democrats were running a child sex ring out of the basement of a pizza parlour that, it turned out, doesn’t even have a basement? Cognitive dissonance is so pervasive that when something is not confirmed, beliefs tend to get even stronger. The theory was developed by social psychologist Leon Festinger, who cowrote the non-fiction book When Prophecy Fails in 1956 about a group of UFO believers called the Seekers. “It was about a cult who was convinced that at midnight a flying saucer would come to take them away to another planet,” Aveline says. When they all went to the designated location at the correct time and waited, not surprisingly the flying saucer did not come. Instead of abandoning their beliefs, however, they became even more passionate. “Because we cannot have two conflicting realities in our minds, we process them and only one becomes dominant,” Aveline says. “So, the cult convinced themselves that the flying saucer did not come because they didn't believe strongly enough. In terms of very strongly held beliefs, evidence against them will, at times, make them even stronger.” This sort of detachment is very hard to come back from because conspiracy theories become part of a person’s core belief system. To ask someone to stop believing in a conspiracy theory is to ask them to stop being who they are.

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It’s important to recognize that “knowledge,” or “truth,” doesn’t have much to do with conspiracy theories, says Dr. Karim Dharamsi, PhD, philosophy professor and chair of the Department of General Education. Conspiracy theories come with specific agendas, such as solidarity, and are built in search of specific outcomes, such as gaining and holding control. In fact, truth itself has been under debate. “In the late modern period there has been an especially aggressive skepticism about the nature of truth and who gets to make claims about what constitutes knowledge,” Dharamsi says. This is what is known as the post-truth era. “We started to adopt this language that knowledge itself is a construct of some kind that comes out of social practices, linguistic practices and the kinds of endorsements we give each other.” In 2016, Oxford Dictionaries declared "post-truth" as its word of the year, an “adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.’" The “truth decay” is also used to describe the post-truth era, which Dharamsi warns is having an impact on social, political and economic values by elevating self-interest above all else. “Donald Trump can stand up and make claims about the world, in fact, even make claims that seem patently untrue to some of us, but that affect some kind of energetic shift in the

If you live in a post-truth era, it's hard to figure out what your point is,

Karim Dharamsi, PhD Chair of the Department of General Education and philosophy professor

electorate. They privilege that political rhetoric above the claims of scientists, mathematicians and academic experts from all disciplines, because the nature of truth is thought to be an extension of one's desired outcomes or preferences, or political interests. The scientist or the mathematician, or even the philosopher, are at a disadvantage," Dharamsi says. “Conspiracies attempt to shape public opinion for reasons that have less to do with whether the evidence is justified than with the political outcomes their purveyors have in mind.” Dharamsi and his colleagues recently completed their second liberal education collection, Between Truth and Falsity: Liberal Education and the Arts of

Discernment, which attempts to reveal whether an education of a particular kind allows for a better ability to differentiate between truth and falsehood. “It's not easy to do that, because the social and political effects of what we endorse sometimes guide the judgments we're making above and beyond our education,” Dharamsi says, providing the example of someone who believes what is best for the economy is therefore best for everyone. A liberal education does offer the ability to see nuance and understand intersectionalities, building armour against conspiracy theories, but the post-truth era is still problematic. “If you live in a post-truth era, it's hard to figure out what your point is,” Dharamsi says.

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

Canadians, COVID and

trust in media

29 % 11

26% 17 %

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Canadians are not immune to the melee of misinformation — often called an “infodemic” — witnessed south of the border for the past four years. The first of a five-part series of studies out of Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication looking at issues related to COVID-19 titled “Part 1: Conspiracies and Misinformation Spreading Online” found that a year ago, 46 per cent of Canadians believed in at least one out of four COVID-19related conspiracy theories. An average of 26 per cent said that they believed COVID-19 was engineered in China as a bioweapon. Nationwide, 11 per cent believed that COVID-19 is not serious, but instead was created to cover up the so-called harmful effects of 5G wireless technology. Twenty-three per cent believed the Trump-led myth that hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment against COVID-19, and 17 per cent thought that rinsing regularly with saline will protect against the virus. Part of the study’s research team is Carleton’s Dr. Chris Waddell, PhD, professor emeritus, who is a frequent writing partner of Mount Royal’s Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies, Dr. David Taras, PhD. The pair most recently co-authored The End of the CBC? in 2020. Although partisan politicians have made the media an enemy of the people, with Trump showing unguarded contempt for members of the White House press corps and repeatedly using the words “fake news,” Waddell and Taras say trust in Canadian media remains high. In July 2020, 47 per cent of Canadians consumed news every day, says Waddell in his paper, “Canadians, their media, and COVID-19.” His research team noted a “generally positive view of news coverage,” with about 80 per cent of respondents saying that local news media were doing a very good or good job covering the pandemic.

“There's big differences between Canada and the United States,” Taras says. “The numbers that we see out of the United States in terms of distrust of the media are very high and growing.” A Pew Research Center study from January 2018 backs this assertion up. After surveying 38 different countries, researchers found that the U.S scored the lowest by far when asked if their country’s news organizations were doing well at reporting different positions on political issues. Conversely, only 21 per cent of those who supported the governing party at the time of the survey said their media were doing a good job, while 55 per cent of those who did not support the governing party did. In Canada, those numbers were 82 and 58 per cent, respectively. “I don't think we're captivated the way Americans are by differences and partisanship and extremist positions. I think Canadians are much more conciliatory, much more trying to understand the other person, and much more trusting of political elites and also trusting of the news media,” Taras says.

More notable conspiracy theories throughout history

Nero burned down Rome.

When it comes to something as serious as a pandemic, the dissemination of the most accurate information is especially critical. “Certainly I think one thing that we've learned from this tremendous crisis — this deadly dangerous crisis that we're in — is that there can't be room for falsehood. That you can't allow people to peddle lies that are dangerous to people's lives,” Taras says. He believes that there is a legitimate crisis of the media right now, which is placing democracy itself in danger. "Media outlets are in a lot of jeopardy and I think they need to be bolstered as major institutions. Whether Canadians are willing to do that, I don't know," he says. Ultimately, a re-investment in the media, both intellectually and monetarily, will allow it to regain the public's confidence. Society must also work to re-enfranchise people, improve self-worth and reduce "otherness." And it's up to individuals to use tools such as social media responsibly. All will help ease the grip conspiracies currently have on the collective consciousness, and provide the necessary clarity, compassion and constraint in communication.

Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Area 51 is a centre for research and experimentation on aliens and their spacecraft.

The moon landings were faked.

The Lindbergh baby is alive. And so is Tupac. And maybe even Elvis.

9/11 was an inside job.

AIDS was created by the CIA to eliminate homosexuals and African Americans.

Vaccines cause autism.

Chemtrails from aircraft are poisoning populations.

Princess Diana’s death was planned by the Royal Family.

The earth is actually flat.

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

Finding the best in the worst Coping during a pandemic is rough, but people are managing to rediscover themselves, their abilities and their passions. WORDS BY RUTH MYLES AND MELISSSA ROLFE

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There’s a scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian that brings to life the definition of an eternal optimist: a shaggy-haired convict played by Eric Idle snaps his fingers and sways his toes in time, advising his death-row inmates to “always look on the bright side of life” while singing a jaunty tune, despite being tied to a cross and about to meet his demise. Look, we’re not saying you can Pollyanna your way out of a bad case of the pandemic blues. Toxic positivity isn’t a healthy coping mechanism. But, looking for the positive in a situation, a.k.a. “the bright side of life,” can alleviate some of the clouds that have hovered over our collective consciousness since we first heard the phrase “novel coronavirus 2019.” “I personally see that there are silver linings to be found despite all the challenges and all the bad things that have taken place,” says psychologist Dr. Naomi Grant, PhD, an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts. “For example, at the start of the pandemic, we started going on walks with our two small children as a family. Even now, we are in the habit of walking daily. I have discovered how much happier the kids are outside.” Psychologists say there is some genetic disposition towards different personality traits, including optimism, and the environment people are raised in and the experiences we have also influence our outlook. “One happiness model says 50 per cent of happiness is thought to be genetic, 10 per cent is the situations you are in — which is much smaller than you would think — and 40 per cent of happiness is determined by the things that you do. That’s a huge percentage,” Grant says. In the spirit of bolstering that 40 per cent, things that can be done, we asked members of the Mount Royal community to share what has been lifting them up over the past year.

Taking pages from the 'silver linings playbook' Prioritizing what’s important Melanie Peacock, PhD Associate professor, Bissett School of Business

Dr. Peacock sums up the gifts of COVID-19 as what she has learned about in three key domains: her profession, herself and others. Professionally, Peacock has attended webinars with experts who used to be available only at conferences, connecting with colleagues around the world and contributing to international virtual events. Her technical skills have improved and she’s learned how other institutions and companies are responding to COVID-19. “It’s going to make me a better teacher,” she says. Peacock feels the pandemic has underscored the importance of being vulnerable and honest with one another, something she vows to continue postCOVID. She has also reflected on her strengths, what she wants to get better at and what she calls “meaning making” in life. COVID-19 has helped Peacock rethink and reframe what she does, forcing her to further contemplate what she chooses to spend time doing. “There is a time to pause and be grateful. It doesn’t mean we diminish other people’s pain. I think sharing gratitude or points of light inspires hope.”

Translating the experience into lifelong learning

Murray Holtby, PhD Associate professor and chair, School of Nursing and Midwifery By the time the Fall 2020 semester ended, those in the nursing and midwifery programs felt exhausted, admits department chair Dr. Holtby. They responded to ever-changing clinical practicum environments, continued to safely run in-person lab and simulation experiences, and adapted quickly to a fully online lecture environment. “We’re always on, 24/7 — that’s been one of the negatives. But coming out of that is the positive of learning to connect in new ways.” Technology has allowed important hospital meetings to occur virtually. Paperless processes have saved time and work, he says. And out-of-province

experts can now participate in evaluating new midwives, which helps address a shortage of local assessors. For nursing students, Holtby says learning in a pandemic elevated basic first-year concepts. “Handwashing, learning how to use personal protective equipment, came to the fore. It was good, good learning. This will be an experience that students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.” In the bigger picture, Holtby points to the rapid development of multiple vaccines, a huge accomplishment for science that will prevent about 95 per cent of people from developing symptoms of the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

Finding flexibility and adaptability Jonathan Withey, DPhil Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology

“COVID-19 forced post-secondary institutions to adapt quickly and without an instruction manual,” notes Dr. Withey. “No element of what we do remained unchanged. And yet each day, our community — students and employees — accepted the challenge and found a way to succeed.” Withey says this flexibility showed that many of the University’s processes and systems are not as immovable as was previously thought. And he hopes people’s

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openness continues because of the potential for continuous improvement. Relationships between people changed too, Withey says, and his goal is to keep focusing on “more connection, more support and more presence” within the institution. “Our isolation helped us to see one another more clearly and completely, I believe, and to appreciate our community differently. And the resiliency of people, that adaptability, may just continue to bind us in other ways.”

Reclaiming time and creativity Jean-Louis Bleau Interim director, Mount Royal Conservatory

When the pandemic shut down workplaces, Bleau found himself with an “extra” two hours a day. During “normal” times, Bleau’s work as interim director of the Mount Royal Conservatory plus roles with the University of Calgary demands a lot of driving. Rather than fritter away those regained hours each day by doom scrolling or binge watching the latest series du jour, Bleau decided to reconnect with his art — composing. Bleau was inspired, in part, by people enrolling in online lessons at the Conservatory to learn an instrument with their own “extra” time, he says. Bleau’s compositional “creative sabbatical” has sparked illumination during some of the darker moments of the pandemic. Any art form has the ability to transport people. You reach a flow state and time becomes irrelevant,” Bleau says. “Sometimes I think, ‘Oh wow, I can’t believe I spent that many hours composing.’ It’s so rewarding to lose yourself and not wonder how you are going to spend that time in your day.”

Leveraging disruption for efficiencies

Ray DePaul Director, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship “If you’re an innovator, anything that disrupts the status quo results in new and fertile ground,” DePaul says. “COVID-19 has let us flex our innovation muscle.” Pointing to the explosion of online shopping, DePaul says, “Entrepreneurs everywhere are now trying to figure out ways to capitalize on this shift and ensure that small and new businesses benefit, rather than solely filling Amazon’s bank account.” On the personal side, DePaul says that COVID-19 has given him the “gift of time.” Having no commute has allowed him to get a better night’s sleep, which makes him more able to face the pandemic stressors. “Also, my workdays are more efficient,” he says, with shorter video meetings and less downtime. “I know I’m missing some of the social stimulation in-person meetings provide, but at least I’m rewarded with time. If I could only figure out what to do with it all.”

MRU.CA /SUMMIT

Prepping parks for greater use

Don Carruthers Den Hoed, PhD Research Associate, Institute for Environmental Sustainability Dr. Carruthers Den Hoed says that the pandemic has provided an opportunity to talk about the health and quality-of-life benefits the public gets out of parks. Lead of the Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership, which fosters collaboration between those representing Canada’s national and provincial natural spaces, Carruthers Den Hoed says that Canadians’ heightened desire to connect with nature during the pandemic has put tremendous pressure on the parks system at times. Having so many people wanting to get outside is not a bad problem to have, especially if experiences turn into advocacy for parks and conservation. “People have paused and appreciated access to nature,” he says. The challenges the parks are facing during the pandemic has led to important conversations, such as whether parks should be considered essential services. And in a future public health crisis, he says, parks will be more prepared. “When people are done making sourdough, they’re going to want to go hiking.”

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Opportunity for organizations to reset

Steve Armstrong Instructor, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Extension Certificate Armstrong knows his disasters. He’s had leadership roles managing and recovering from large-scale incidents such as the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and the 2003 SARS outbreak. A former provincial director with the Canadian Red Cross and longtime member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Armstong is also an instructor in Mount Royal’s Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Certificate program. “For organizations, the pandemic is an opportunity to hit the circuit breaker on themselves and ask ‘Are we viable? What would it look like if we had to do it all over again?’ ” he says. When the first shutdown hit, Armstrong saw his major revenue streams evaporate, so he decided to offer his emergency management services for free to those in need. “A lot of people were open for help. They knew they were in trouble,” he says. An unexpected benefit was the ability to extend his reach to a wider audience, with webinars registering larger audiences than he has ever had before.

Pump up your mental health (but give yourself a break, too)

Finding the positive in a challenging situation is harder on some days than others. Recognizing that, psychologist Dr. Naomi Grant, PhD, offers three ways to bolster mental health while reminding us that it’s OK to have bad days, too:

Get outside It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: being outdoors provides an instant mental-health boost. “One really interesting experiment shows that we are not very good at knowing what makes us happy,” Grant says, citing a Carleton University study. One group was asked to walk to the other side of campus through a network of underground tunnels and the other completed the 20-minute journey outside. When asked to rate their mood at the end of the walk, those who walked outside were happier. “But the most interesting part of the study is those who were going to walk outside predicted they would be less happy than those who were going to walk inside.”

Practise gratitude Keeping a formal gratitude journal works for some people, while others practise the rule of three: each day just after waking up or just before drifting off, reflect on three things that you are grateful for. It could be a meeting that went well, completing a task on your to-do list or the smell of a favourite soap. Some people write gratitude letters detailing how someone has changed their life for the better and read it to the recipient. Benefits of practising gratitude range from better sleep to improving self-esteem. “You can feel happy and sad at the same time,” Grant says. “Silver linings don’t negate the negative, but are certainly buffers to dealing with those negative emotions we are all facing.”

Be a (virtual) social butterfly Social connections make up a large part of our happiness, Grant says, and it’s vital to find alternatives to how we used to foster those ties. But it can be hard to make the effort when you’re not feeling 100 per cent … or even 50 per cent. Creating a schedule to connect with others on a regular basis — virtually, by phone or even by writing letters — provides a foundation for mental health. Grant and her five siblings connected via online board games. “We had never done that before and it was so much fun. It was almost like we were together in person,” she says. “Now, with extended family like cousins, we have monthly drop-in Zooms. We never would have done that before.”

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PL A N N ED

G I V I N G

Plan your philanthropy INTERVIEWS BY HOODA SADDEN

Planned giving, deferred giving, legacy giving … these are all interchangeable philanthropic terms because they take thought, preparation and professional consultation, whether it be with a lawyer or a financial advisor, to assist with your decision to support your favourite charities. Planned gifts help you make a transformational impact without affecting your current finances. They can include gifts of publicly traded shares, endowments, life insurance,

RRSPs, bequests and more. The benefits to you and your family are: creating a legacy that can last a lifetime, offering tax savings for you and your loved ones and, lastly, allowing you to be in control of how your gift is spent. Our planned giving donors at Mount Royal University are staff, alumni, faculty and community members who all have one thing in common: they choose to support MRU students.

Here are some of their testimonials. Mary Anderson created the Mervin (Merv) Alexander Anderson Memorial Bursary for Journalism for her husband, a lifelong journalist who spent more than 30 years with the Calgary Herald. “I decided to create a student award for my husband and my broker reminded me that donating securities has the added benefit of making capital gains not taxable. “Our family is very proud of my husband and his journalism career, which focused on the hallmarks of integrity, honesty and credibility supported by rigorous fact checking. “Journalism is a critical reflection of society, culture and norms. We selected MRU because it is a smaller university and has a strong journalism major. Merv had a lifelong career and passion for journalism and this bursary is in loving memory of and a tribute to a remarkable journalist, husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather who was and will always be a legacy for future generations.”

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PL A N N ED

G I V I N G

Gord and Bev Tallman provide

Former MRU Foundation

their take on giving and why they

Board chair Bob Nelson and

decided to support single parents

his wife Kerry offer their

though their education.

unique approach to giving.

“One of the priorities of mine and my wife, Bev’s, inheritance plan is supporting education. Sixty-nine per cent of university students have average outstanding loan balances of $29,800 when they graduate, and our goal is to help alleviate that concern. We believe there is no greater gift than the gift of education to help support a successful life. “When our son David passed away, we decided to create a memorial scholarship named in memory of him. The David G. Tallman Memorial Bursary helps support two single parents annually. My mother was a single parent to five children, and our daughter-in-law became a single parent when David passed. We know firsthand the struggles single parents face, and the support this award provides is a legacy for David that we treasure.”

“Having served on the MRU Foundation Board of Directors, I witnessed what a great place MRU is. It’s important to think about the next generation and the legacy we leave behind for them. One of the things that struck me was the focus that MRU has on its students and their educational experience. It’s all about the students. “After looking at our personal circumstances, (spouse) Kerry and I decided that a legacy gift to MRU directed to scholarships and bursaries, and other charities we hold dear, would have a significant impact on the next generation. We have set up our family foundation to create our legacy while helping MRU continue to keep its focus on students and their futures.”

Make your planned gift today

Mary, Gord, Bev, Bob and Kerry are just a few of the many donors who support MRU students through planned gifts. Their generosity is building a brighter future. For more information please visit mru.ca/Foundation or email foundation@mru.ca.

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C H EC K I N G

I N

W I T H

M O U N T

R OYA L

A LU M N I

Alumni Q + A Kanakii Mekaisto Social Work Diploma, 2000 INTERVIEW BY ANNA PARKS

From Siksika Nation, Kanakii Mekaisto is a social worker, teacher and community activist known for her compassion and respected for her work in knowledge-keeping for her community. Mekaisto works with the Siksika Board of Education and is the owner of Sikotan Ikimmapii, which provides training and educational opportunities to assist people in building their self-worth and living a healthy and positive way of life using traditional ways of knowing. The name ‘Sikotan’ is in recognition of Mekaisto’s late maternal grandmother, and ‘Ikimmapii’ is a contraction of the Blackfoot word ‘ikimmapii’ipiitsi,’ which means “to help, to care.”

You are a residential school survivor. Can you tell us about the trauma this caused? I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I’ve had insomnia, flashbacks and nightmares. Residential School Syndrome also made me experience self-sabotage, destructive parenting and low self-esteem. I felt inadequate, and when I started accomplishing academically, I would sabotage it by quitting. After we left the residential school, many couldn’t stop binge eating because we had been starved. I was numb; beating and bullying were part of our life, and the sexual touching — you would just try to keep safe because you didn’t know what was happening, you didn’t understand. You’ve said Mount Royal has helped your healing. How so? I went to Mount Royal in 1987. I eventually withdrew because some courses brought up trauma that I would need to deal with. I did go back in 1998, part time. While I was doing my classes I was working full time and caring for five children. I received my diploma in social work in 2000. It would be a beginning for me, realizing how important education is and helping me understand who I was in my healing journey.

SUMMIT – SPRING/SUMMER 2021

Oki Niistowok Natoyikanasoyakii, Siksikakii — who I am inside, my being, my ceremonial name, where I come from.

How have you transferred your learning to your home community? I went on to do my Bachelor of Social Work (University of Calgary, 2005), a Life Skills Coaching Certificate (Bow Valley College, 2006), a Master of Education (University of Lethbridge, 2014) and a Bachelor of Education (Lakehead University, 2015). All the learning has brought me to always giving back to the community and the teaching of the knowledge keepers, which in turn I now do. What are you most proud of now? I enjoy sharing (pohmoksin) the teaching that was transferred to me because this is part of our ways of knowing. Sharing the language, the stories and our ceremonies has been helping our children find a way to understand why our people have been through so much trauma and how we can build a better life by learning who we are. At Siksika Board of Education I facilitated the Traditional Parenting Program, helping people understand the importance of learning our history and how it gives us a sense of a connection to our ways.

How important is indigenization at Mount Royal and off-campus? I am Niitsitapi. We have been called many things by the Indian Affairs of Canada: Indian, Natives, Aboriginal and now Indigenous, but were never consulted on what we want to be called. I think it's important that the true history is being taught in the proper way, and by those who have the knowledge, which would be the peoples of this land. If you had one piece of advice for alumni, what would it be? Keep learning, always ask questions. When you take things at face value you tend to have tunnel vision. Question, and ask others. Kahtahmahtsin.

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