Mount Royal University Summit Spring/Summer 2022

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Calgary's tech talent is ranked among the top 40 in the world, and among those names are a lot of MRU alumni.

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Planned giving.

Your legacy: the will to change lives.

Celebrate your legacy and unlock the potential of deserving students by including Mount Royal University in your will and estate planning.

Your support will have a profound impact on the lives of students for generations to come.

For more information, contact: Alison Wagg-Morrell awaggmorrell@mtroyal.ca 403.440.8649

mru.ca/PlannedGiving

Foundation

VICE–PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Paul Rossmann DIRECTOR, MARKETING Dave McLean DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Gloria Visser-Niven DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS Eleanor Finger

Summit is published in the fall and spring of each year. With a circulation of approximately 63,000, 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 true dedication to communities.

Celebrate yourself through Summit.

Saluting Alberta’s innovative minds In this issue of Summit, we recognize this province’s long and proud history of entrepreneurialism and adaptability. The first productive oil well in Western Canada was the Lineham Discovery Well No. 1, located in what is now Waterton Lakes National Park. Intermittently operational for several years starting in 1902, the well produced approximately 8,000 barrels of oil. Following that came the Turner Valley period, also known as the Dingman Era, which is considered to be Alberta’s first oil boom. Oil and natural gas were mined in the area from 1914 to 1985.

ISSN 1929-8757 Summit Publications Mail Agreement #40064310 Return undeliverables to: Mount Royal University 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW Calgary, AB, Canada T3E 6K6

Discovery Well No. 1, May 1914

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.

Meet the team

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.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paul Rossmann

Sustainably yours.

EDITOR Michelle Bodnar BCMM (Applied) ’05 PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Deb Abramson Journalism Diploma ’77 MARKETING AND EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATION Bailey Turnbull

FSC

COPY EDITOR Matthew Fox

ART DIRECTOR Michal Waissmann BCMM (Applied) ’07 DESIGN Leslie Blondahl BCMM ’14 Astri Do Rego Mike Poon Michal Waissmann Chao Zhang PHOTOGRAPHY Cary Schatz Law Enforcement Diploma ’89 Chao Zhang

ILLUSTRATIONS Astri Do Rego Mike Poon Chao Zhang CONTRIBUTORS Michelle Bodnar Matthew Fox Peter Glenn Ruth Myles Anna Parks Rob Petrollini BCMM (Applied) ’07 Hooda Sadden Katherine Sharples BCMM '21 Isha Thompson Rachel von Hahn Spirit River Striped Wolf

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In this issue 4

Letter from the president

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Bleed blue

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Alumni council

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Destination give

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Research snapshots

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Alumni Q&A

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Tech transformation Calgary’s booming tech economy requires a diverse set of talent, and MRU alumni are playing a big part in its development in a multitude of ways.

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24 A narrative for a ‘New Alberta’ Of cause for concern, Alberta’s twenty-somethings are leaving the province in unusually large numbers, but MRU research is looking at how to solve the problem.

30 Strength in our differences Instead of sticking with age-old labels, Calgary’s citizens and MRU alumni are harnessing their energy to recreate the city in their own way.

20 What the Big Smoke brought Spirit River Striped Wolf, outgoing president of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University, provides his perspective on the progression of MRU’s indigenization efforts and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into a university culture.

46 The skills you want, when you want them Micro-credentials are providing new ways to up-skill in areas needing trained employees.

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Alumni in this issue Christine Atkins Gio Moros Hernandez Bachelor of Health and Physical Bachelor of Science — Education — Athletic Therapy, Computer Science, 2019 2010 Jacquie Hertlein Eric Bennett Criminology Diploma — Law Bachelor of Applied Financial Enforcement, 1996 Service — Financial Services, 2007 Todd Hirsch Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Jared Blustein Policy Studies, 2017 Bachelor of Arts — Sociology, 2013 Geoff Hughes Business Administration Mercedes Brown Diploma — Marketing General Studies Arts and Management, 2005 Science Diploma — Natural Sciences, 1993 Nidal Islam Bachelor of Business Andrew Browne Administration — International Bachelor of Business Business, 2019 Administration — General Management, 2013 Taran Singh Kainth Bachelor of Business Chloë Chapdelaine Administration — General Bachelor of Communication — Management, 2021 Journalism, 2021 Julia Kaiser Allison Dunne Bachelor of Communication — Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2021 Public Relations, 2017 Jamila Kanji Michelle Fournie Bachelor of Communication — Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2020 Public Relations, 2013 Ryan Kazmerik Will Fowler Bachelor of Computer Bachelor of Computer Information Systems, 2011 Information Science, 2016 Madeline Kendrew Danielle Gibbie Bachelor of Applied Small Bachelor of Business Business and Entrepreneurship, Administration — General 2013 Management, 2015 Tim Lipp Bronson Ha Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Administration — Accounting Justice, 2013 and General Management, 2018 Tia Hagen Bachelor of Communication — Paula Larsson Public Relations, 2014 Bachelor of Arts — History and Anthropology, 2013 Amanda Hamilton Bachelor of Applied Interior Aarondeep Maan Design, 2005 Bachelor of Business Administration — Supply Chain Damon Harmon Management, 2021 Business Administration Diploma, 1995

Shani Markus Bachelor of Nursing, 2021 Murray McCann Honorary Bachelor of Nursing, 2018 Carille Mendoza Bachelor of Computer Information Systems, 2017 Carmen Morin Music Performance Diploma, 2008 Cyla Panin Bachelor of Arts — English, 2012 Natasha B. Russell Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2012 Alistair Shipley Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management, 2014 Harnarayan Singh Bachelor of Communication — Broadcasting, 2004 Tristan Smyth Bachelor of Arts — English, 2015 Trevor Solway Bachelor of Communication — Journalism, 2017 Margaret Southern Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2019 Lauren Steeves Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2017 Courtney Walcott Bachelor of Arts — History, 2015 Clarence Wolfleg Sr. (Elder Miiksika'am) Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2021 Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Sociology, 2016

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People are the pulse We are in a time when there is much thought invested in determining who we are as people, what we value and what we want out of life.

This is part of human nature and indicative of the times we are living through, and observing how it is playing out in the minds of Mount Royal University students, researchers and alumni is fascinating to witness.

In many ways, our province must also ask and answer similar questions through strategic direction that undoubtedly impacts what we teach and students choose to learn at MRU. Alberta’s future indicates that graduates must be job-ready with flexible skills allowing them to pivot to meet evolving market demands. This issue of Summit explores how much of this work is being carried out through workintegrated learning and micro-credentialing, and how MRU alumni are proving that they have the talent needed to advance Alberta's growing technology sector.

I am both inspired and grateful for researchers at MRU who are asking astute questions that interrogate why some young adults, including our alumni, are choosing to leave Alberta and build their lives and careers elsewhere. Our students and alumni are being engaged in an effort to better understand what change they want to see in this city in order to stay. I’m very interested in their answers and I know I’m not alone.

As someone who is still relatively new to Calgary and has benefited from its businesses, services and beauty, I have observed that it really is the people who are the pulse of the city and deserve credit for its amazing energy. There is a clear commitment to innovation here and this University is ready to support municipal and provincial efforts that contribute to the success of our students once they leave MRU. Our goal is to continue to provide meaningful and transformational learning that makes the world a better place in which to live. I am filled with pride when I witness how our community members are assessing the big picture and positioning themselves to best apply their knowledge and talents.

The bottom line is, our alumni and students have a huge impact on the world.

Take care,

President and Vice-Chancellor Mount Royal University

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Bleed Blue These are just a few of the highlights from the past six months at MRU, where there has been something great to recognize just about every day. There's lots to get involved in at mru.ca/AlumniEvents.

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Generosity of spirit bolsters the MRU community Over the past several months, a number of notable contributions have been cause for celebration on campus. These demonstrations of philanthropy will make an enormous impact on the MRU community and broader society for many years to come.

Mount Royal held its first Giving Day on Nov. 30, bringing together donors, students, alumni and the community at large to raise $262,646.86 in 24 hours, surpassing the campaign's goal of $250,000. These funds will be directed towards student awards, scholarships and bursaries, and mental-health initiatives to increase access to supports and mentorship opportunities.

The RBC Foundation has contributed $525,000 over three years to the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which will be divided between the highly respected LaunchPad program and the newer Innovation Sprint. More students will be able to experience the power of turning an idea into a business and the chance to innovate with local companies and non-profits.

TD Bank has committed $500,000 towards work at Mount Royal to bolster established businesses seeking growth. Anticipated programs will help business leaders improve their entrepreneurial and leadership skills to effectively move their ventures through the business growth stages, allowing for major economic impact and the creation of new jobs.

A sponsorship from Shaw Communications of $100,000 has gone to MRU’s Community Podcast Initiative in the School of Communication Studies, a first-of-its-kind program for a Canadian university that will see students and the community develop, produce and promote storytelling focused on giving a voice to marginalized and underrepresented groups.

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Mount Royal community members honoured at 2021 Top 7 Over 70 Awards Proving age is no barrier to achieving goals, four of the seven exemplary individuals recognized are closely tied to MRU.

CLARENCE WOLFLEG SENIOR/ ELDER MIIKSIKA'AM HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS 2021; HONORARY BACHELOR OF ARTS — SOCIOLOGY, 2016

MURRAY MCCANN HONORARY BACHELOR OF NURSING, 2018 McCann is a Calgary business leader and philanthropist best known for initiating Calgary's Field of Crosses and 11 days of remembrance memorializing soldiers from southern Alberta who made the ultimate sacrifice. He has also built many successful companies in Canada, the United States, China, Malaysia and India, and now channels his efforts into charitable activities through the McCann Family Foundation.

MARGARET SOUTHERN HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS, 2019 Southern is well-known for co-founding the esteemed Spruce Meadows with her late husband, Ron. The facility is recognized as one of the finest competitive show jumping complexes in the world. Her passion for sport and recreation led her to become a Companion of the Order of Canada and a member of Alberta's Business Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

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Congratulations to an inspiring group of grads for making the Top 40 under 40 in 2021 The annual Avenue Calgary Top 40 under 40 recognizes outstanding talent in YYC, with this group of six remarkable alumni making the list for their amazing work in helping to build a stronger, safer, more inclusive society.

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G R O U N D B R E A K ER S ,

A residential school survivor, Elder Miiksika’am has given back to the community in many capacities: serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, being an integral part of the justice system, providing leadership on the Siksika Nation Council and currently acting as a spiritual elder advisor to many organizations, including MRU. His traditional name, Miiksika’am, translates to Red Crane in Blackfoot.

DON TAYLOR In 2010, the philanthropic Taylor 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. Don and Ruth Taylor made another $15 million gift in 2021, which will transform older spaces at MRU into new, immersive and dynamic hubs for learning and student services.

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JARED BLUSTEIN BACHELOR OF ARTS — SOCIOLOGY, 2013 The Allium — a vegetarian, communityfocused restaurant with an emphasis on the ethical — is the brainchild of Jared Blustein.

Everyone who works at The Allium, a worker co-operative, is either an invested owner or on their way to becoming one. The restaurant also endeavours to incorporate sustainability in everything they do.

ALLISON DUNNE BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATION — PUBLIC RELATIONS, 2017 Pink Flamingo is a Black-led advocacy group elevating the QTBIPOC (queer and transgender people of colour) community in Calgary.

President and co-founder Allison Dunne facilitates its work through anti-racist education and workshops and partners with local artists to create community masterpieces.

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Gaye Watson Warthe recognized for leadership in the area of gender-based violence In December 2021, Dr. Gaye Watson Warthe, PhD, was the recipient of one of only nine Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards in recognition of her exceptional leadership through her volunteer work and research fighting gender discrimination.

Currently board president of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS), Warthe is Mount Royal’s associate dean of teaching and learning with the Faculty of Health, Community and Education. She has also served in various capacities with the Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society, RESOLVE Alberta and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence. Warthe’s research focuses on dating, domestic and sexual violence and the effects of disaster and the pandemic on gender-based violence, work that has greatly contributed to the efforts of the organizations with which she has served.

“I think I've been on every strategic planning committee on every board I've ever been on because it's such an important part of what we do and it's transferable skills to my work,” Warthe says. “So as much as I bring things learned at my work to the ACWS, I also bring a lot back to MRU. It's a nice exchange.”

Warthe says she is proud to have witnessed the growth in awareness of violence, with policies and guidelines being developed, but suggests that work needs to continue towards providing comprehensive training for early response to volatile situations.

MICHELLE FOURNIE BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATION — PUBLIC RELATIONS, 2013 Bow Valley College is home to the Iniikokaan (Buffalo Lodge) Centre, and is where Michelle Fournie, whose Blackfoot name is Tátsikikkónamaan’ikkitstakiaakii (Centre Pole Offering Woman), works to support Indigenous learners. Fournie also co-founded the Indigenous Knowledge Keepers Network at the College.

CARMEN MORIN MUSIC PERFORMANCE DIPLOMA, 2008 The recipient of a 2016 Alumni Achievement Award, Carmen Morin is an alumna of MRU's Conservatory. She is a classically trained pianist, teacher, music studio owner and the founder of the Love of Music Calgary, which helps provide lessons to children whose families are not able to afford private music instruction.

TREVOR SOLWAY BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATION — JOURNALISM, 2017 Trevor Solway has established a successful production company called Solway Entertainment as well as a grassroots filming society named the Napi Collective that mentors aspiring Indigenous filmmakers. In 2020, Solway was recognized by MRU with an Alumni Achievement Award.

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MRU students and alumni represent Canada in Beijing The Mount Royal family was thrilled with the performances of four of its own as they represented Canada at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Adam Kingsmill, athletic therapy student, competed as goalie for the men’s Paralympic hockey team, which proudly brought home a silver medal.

Athletic therapy alumna Christine Atkins earned her second Olympic medal and first gold as the women’s hockey team’s therapist.

Matthew Soukup, a Bachelor of Business Administration student, won a bronze medal in the new mixed-team ski jumping competition — a history-making achievement for Canada.

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Cougars make MRU history by earning first-ever U SPORTS medal Mount Royal’s women’s volleyball team made Cougars history in March when they fought their way to a second-place finish at the U SPORTS National Championship. Head Coach Shane Smith made a huge impression on the team in his first year in the position, which became known throughout the season for their camaraderie, energy and enthusiasm on the court. The women won a bronze medal at the Canada West finals to earn their trip to the final match of the volleyball season at the highest level of university sport in Canada. A large contingent of fans represented in blue attire at the University of Calgary to watch the Cougars against the Trinity Western Spartans for the last game. Meet the members of the Cougars women's volleyball team at mru.ca/CWV2022.

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Jared Schmidt, an ecotourism and outdoor leadership student, raced his way to the quarterfinals in men’s freestyle ski cross, finishing tenth overall.

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First Mount Royal senior leader in equity, diversity and inclusion announced Dr. Moussa Magassa, PhD, is someone who has spent his life facing barriers to entry that were created to keep people like him out. This is, in part, what has directed an education and a career centring on equity, diversity and inclusion.

“This work didn’t find me, I didn’t find it, I was born into it,'' said Magassa, who will begin as MRU’s first associate vice-president, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in late May. Magassa will advise and make recommendations on the overall EDI structure at the University, which will include strategic change.

As an immigrant from Senegal who has made a home for himself and his family in Canada, Magassa says that he has experienced inequities that are present in society but stresses that the need for diversity is about much more than skin colour. There are many equity-deserving groups that aren’t necessarily identifiable by looking at someone, Magassa said. He believes there is an ethical responsibility for everyone to commit to EDI because every person has the same wish to be acknowledged and included.

Magassa comes to MRU from the University of Victoria, where he spent the past 15 years advancing anti-racism, anti-oppression and human rights education.

“I look forward to welcoming Dr. Magassa to a campus that is eager to collaborate and support program and policy development as well as educational resources for students, employees and the general public,” said Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD, Mount Royal's president and vice-chancellor.

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In November 2021, MRU joined more than 40 other institutions across Canada in signing on to the Scarborough Charter in dedication to continuous work towards ending anti-Black racism and improving Black inclusion in Canadian higher education.

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Michelle DeWolfe elected to RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists For the quality and impact of her research into volcanology and mineral deposits, Dr. Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at MRU, has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s (RSC) College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists — an honour recognizing her as one of the nation’s top mid-career researchers.

Launched in 2014, the College is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership. Members are elected for a seven-year term.

The official induction ceremony took place on Nov. 19, 2021, making DeWolfe the second-ever Mount Royal faculty member elected to the College. She joins Dr. Trevor Day, PhD, a professor in MRU’s Department of Biology, who was elected in 2020.

“Being a member of the College provides the opportunity to be connected with leading scholars, scientists and artists across Canada, so that together we can advance knowledge and increase understanding of issues critical to Canada and Canadians,” DeWolfe says.

“As a woman in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) discipline, I am acutely aware of the need for inclusion and opportunity for minority groups in the natural sciences. I will contribute to the College by striving to increase the inclusion and advancement of women and other underrepresented groups in the natural sciences.”

DeWolfe’s research has included studying 1.9 billion-yearold volcanic rocks in the Karrat region of West Greenland and what they may have in common with those found in northern Manitoba.

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Ptarmigan Foundation provides pathway for Indigenous students to succeed in business Mount Royal University and Siksika Nation’s Old Sun Community College have formed an innovative partnership to help advance Indigenous business leaders with a new Indigenous Business and Economic Development (IBED) concentration within the Bachelor of Business Administration program. Unique in Canada at the undergraduate level, the IBED is an important step for the growth of development opportunities in Indigenous communities as well as the greater economy.

The Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation has provided the foundation for the IBED concentration in the form of a generous $1.4 million donation to fund a chair in this critical area. The Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation Chair in Indigenous Business and Economic Development will drive the work of the IBED, ensuring its impact through the recruitment of an Indigenous academic leader in business to co-ordinate and teach in the IBED concentration. This faculty member will also bring a relevant program of research related to Indigenous business to the University.

J. Richard Bird, PhD, is president of the Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation, a family organization for philanthropy that emphasizes Indigenous education, fitness programs and sports, as well as local and international social services for women and children.

“We really feel that education is a huge enabler for living a fulfilling life, giving people more of a foundation on which to build regardless of what path they want to take. Education provides more ways to pursue those choices,” Bird said.

Launching in fall of 2023, ten courses specific to Indigenous management are in development, with a strong focus on Indigenous partnerships.

“The IBED program is a shared educational space rooted in mutual understanding and allyship and reflects our Indigenous world view and community-based economic and business acumen," said Maria Big Snake, vice-president of business affairs and government relations at Old Sun. “This program strengthens the knowledge base of our Indigenous leaders and business administrators and provides transformative business tools to carve the path forward to community economic prosperity.”

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Putting the city’s rich biodiversity into focus Results from a citizen science project released in January created a buzz with photo evidence of Calgary’s rich and varied biodiversity.

Calgary Captured is a wildlife monitoring partnership with the Miistakis Institute, a not-for-profit, charitable, applied-research institute affiliated with Mount Royal University, the City of Calgary, the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, and the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society.

For the project, 97 motion-activated camera traps were placed in 19 key natural environment parks and movement corridors, which were then monitored between May 2017 and May 2020, resulting in 125,765 images for volunteers to sort through.

Most often caught on camera were deer and coyotes, but moose, red foxes, bobcats, cougars, black bears, raccoons and porcupines also make an appearance. Pet dogs are also “captured,” often running free where they shouldn't be. Of ​​ the more than 20,000 photos collected of dogs off-leash, 89 per cent were in areas where they should have been leashed.

For Kaitlyn Squires, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science — General Science, a research internship at Miistakis had her setting up cameras and collecting data; classifying thousands of images; developing social media

posts and co-authoring the project’s three-year analysis.

Squires also analyzed data collected for a separate research analysis on uncontrolled dog activity in Calgary’s parks.

MRU biology student Charles Blanchard volunteered on image identification. This involved looking through large folders of images and tagging them with what animals are seen.

Learn more about how often bears, moose, coyotes, deer, cougars and bobcats were seen in Calgary parks at mru.ca/CalgaryCaptured.

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You did what?

Alumni, student and faculty awards and accolades CONSERVATORY ALUMNA SCORES 2021 YYC MUSIC AWARD

BROADCASTING ALUMNUS RECEIVES PEACE PATRON AWARD Broadcaster Harnarayan Singh won the 2021 Mosaic Institute’s Peace Patron Award in recognition of his career spent breaking down barriers. The Bachelor of Communication — Broadcasting alumnus is the voice of Hockey Night in Canada’s Punjabi broadcast and the author of One Game at a Time.

ALUMNA IS INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Amanda Hamilton was named Western Living’s 2021 Interior Designer of the Year, highlighting her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for beautiful spaces and meaningful collaboration. Hamilton, whose eponymous firm with 10 employees just celebrated its 12th anniversary, graduated in 2005 from the applied interior design program.

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Mount Royal Conservatory alumna and local singersongwriter Kate Stevens won Solo Artist of the Year at the 2021 YYC Music Awards last September. Stevens has won six YYC Music Awards over her career to date, and released two new songs, “Love Me” and “Comfortable,” in 2021.

JOURNALISM ALUMNA’S BOREDOM PROJECT LEADS TO CANADAWIDE SIGNAGE At age 18 in 2017, journalism alumna Chloë Chapdelaine redesigned Canada’s moose crossing sign, perking up the previous “floppy” highway interpretation of the animal while bored and living in a trailer with no Wi-Fi. Her design is now being rolled out and will become ubiquitous in 2022.

FORMER MRU CONSERVATORY PIANIST TAKES HOME INTERNATIONAL TOP PRIZE Mount Royal Conservatory alumnus Kevin Chen became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Franz Liszt International Competition in Budapest, Hungary.

At just 16, Chen took home the grand prize of $43,000, beating out 21 competitors over seven days of performances.

ALUMNUS GAINS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION Bachelor of Business Administration — International Business alumnus Nidal Islam has been recognized with the International Business Plan Award by the Forum for International Trade Training, a globally-recognized non-profit. Islam now works for Global Affairs Canada as a trade commissioner on the U.S. relations team.

MAKING WAVES IN HIGHIMPACT RESEARCH Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, of the Faculty of Arts, was ranked 66th among the top 166 high-impact researchers in the World List of Sustainability Researchers by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme and the European School of Sustainability Science and Research 2021.

Datta is MRU’s Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Community Disaster Research.

COURTNEY WALCOTT ELECTED AS WARD 8 CITY COUNCILLOR Alumnus Courtney Walcott, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts – History, won his race for city council this past year.

The former Western Canada High School teacher is the first Black man to be elected in Calgary, and was sworn in on Oct. 25, 2021.

KAREN PHEASANT-NEGANIGWANE WRITES WAY TO TOP CANADIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD'

WINS PACEMAKER AWARD The Calgary Journal has once again won a coveted Pacemaker Award for high-calibre student newspapers among four-year schools. Bestowed by the Associated Collegiate Press, this contest puts MRU head-to-head against much larger American institutions.

The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award.

FIRST NOVEL FOR ALUMNA Mount Royal English alumna Cyla Panin published her first young adult fantasy novel last September. Stalking Shadows (Amulet/ Abrams) is a feminist retelling of Beauty and the Beast replete with sinister gothic vibes, a horrible curse and dark secrets.

TWO ALUMNI NAMED TO PRESTIGIOUS MCCALL MACBAIN SCHOLARSHIPS MRU alumnus Aarondeep Maan (below), who graduated from the supply chain co-op program last year, and 2021 Bachelor of Nursing graduate Shani Markus, have each earned a $5,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award. This scholarship recognizes engaged student leaders and provides funding for a Canadian master’s or professional program.

Assistant professor Karen PheasantNeganigwane’s book, Powwow: A Celebration Through Song and Dance, was awarded the 2021 Norma Fleck Award for Children’s Non-Fiction — considered to be one of Canada’s most prestigious honours for children’s books. The book is a semi-autobiographical account of PheasantNeganigwane’s life as a travelling powwow dancer.

PROFESSOR INDUCTED INTO ALBERTA SPORTS HALL OF FAME Department of Health and Physical Education professor Dr. David Legg, PhD, was selected as one of 11 inductees into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame for 2022. Legg has worked with Wheelchair Sports Alberta, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. He also helped found MRU's Children’s Adapted Physical Activity program.

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Meet Mount Royal’s

Energetic group poised to build dynamic opportunities WORDS BY MATTHEW FOX

“I run into a lot of Mount Royal alumni who can talk for hours about their student experiences,” says Danielle Gibbie, Mount Royal University's Alumni Association’s (MRUAA) president and chair of its Alumni Council. “MRU offers such a unique value proposition. It leaves a big imprint on people's lives, their careers and their futures.”

Gibbie and her fellow Council members now want to parlay the enthusiasm many Mount Royal grads have for their alma mater into a richer experience for the MRU communities of 110,000 alumni and 15,000 current students alike.

The MRUAA’s mandate is to promote engagement between alumni and the University, and within the alumni community itself, for the purposes of providing reciprocal benefits to each group. In turn, the Council provides leadership for those efforts on behalf of the association and is a representative voice for alumni to the institution.

Gibbie, a 2015 graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration and director of institutional partnerships for Operation Eyesight, has chaired the Alumni Council since it launched in October 2019. She says the Council — today a team of 10 passionate individuals — has spent that time building from the ground up, “ensuring the Council has 14

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the foundation and the framework to be sustainable for years to come so we can effectively serve the alumni community.”

Gibbie says the Council has identified a number of goals on which to collaborate with the Office of Alumni Relations over the next five years, with three as their immediate priority: • to engage more fully with the University community, bringing alumni involvement and perspectives to key initiatives; • to build awareness of the Council among alumni stakeholders and to strengthen the bond between the MRUAA’s members and the University; • and, to actively work with the University to provide alumni engagement and volunteer opportunities in all facets of campus life.

Eric Bennett, a senior wealth advisor with ScotiaMcLeod/Scotia Wealth Management and a 2007 graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Financial Services, joined the Council last September and is looking forward to facilitating engagement between students and fellow alumni.

“I enjoy the challenge of making connections that benefit both parties,” Bennett says. “I have already spotted some great opportunities to connect students with alumni through a volunteer lens.”

Mercedes Brown is a 1993 graduate of the General Studies Arts and Science Diploma program and a 1999 graduate of the Calgary Conjoint Nursing Program, a past partnership between Mount Royal College and the University of Calgary. The recipient of a 2014 Alumni Achievement Award, Brown looks forward to the Council moving from its foundationbuilding phase to having a larger profile that creates more engagement opportunities. As a nurse clinician, Brown is also a mentor to Bachelor of Nursing students and through the English-asan-Additional-Language (EAL) Nursing Student Support Group and Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship programs.

“What I enjoy is providing connections between students and employers, showing the pathway, helping with resumés and interview preparation,” Brown says. “I get them thinking about the longer term and the process of starting their careers.”

Over the coming months and years, alumni will start to see more opportunities to get involved and engaged, both on campus and virtually. To ensure no possibilities are missed, alumni can update their contact information at mru.ca/Always to receive the Always Blue eBulletin.

The Council is currently looking for volunteers. To join the team, visit mru.ca/AlumniCouncil.

Alumni Council members DANIELLE GIBBIE Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management, 2015

JACQUIE HERTLEIN Criminology Diploma — Law Enforcement, 1996

BRONSON HA Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice, 2013

MERCEDES BROWN General Studies Arts and Science Diploma — Natural Sciences, 1993

GEOFF HUGHES Business Administration Diploma — Marketing Management, 2005

LAUREN STEEVES Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2015

TRISTAN SMYTH Bachelor of Arts — English, 2015

TIA HAGEN Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2014

ERIC BENNETT Bachelor of Applied Financial Service — Financial Services, 2007

NATASHA B. RUSSELL Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2012 MRU.CA /SUMMIT

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Through all ages and each stage of life there are multiple pathways to give to Mount Royal University.

In your 40s and 50s As life becomes more stable in your peak earning years, it's time to take stock and consider putting funds aside for your personal legacy.

Giving in your 20s and 30s Newly graduated, a world of possibilities awaits, but money can often be tight as entry-level salaries need to fund new responsibilities. However, small gifts do make an impact.

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Sign up for monthly or annual monetary gifts Small monthly or annual gifts in an amount that isn’t burdensome, such as the equivalent of a few cups of coffee, add up quickly.

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Volunteering Share the priceless gift of your time and consider volunteering with Alumni Relations or with the Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship Program as a practical and meaningful way to support MRU.

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Retirement savings When setting up your RRSP or RRIF account, you can name Mount Royal University as a beneficiary to receive a dollar amount or percentage of your choosing.

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Life insurance Gifting life insurance is an option for those who wish to make a substantial donation at a relatively low cost. MRU can be made a whole or part beneficiary, or a policy can be signed over and a tax receipt for the annual premium payments is issued.

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Gifts of publicly traded securities Tax incentives have made donating publicly traded securities (shares, mutual funds and bonds) a smart choice. A winwin scenario, with the donation of securities you’ll receive a tax receipt for their full value and avoid further taxes on any significant capital gains.

DID YOU KNOW? Many employers have giftmatching programs that can double your donations’ impact, even contributing matching funds for volunteer time. Ask your human resources representative for more information.

In your 60s and 70s Retirement is around the corner and you are considering the income you’ll need to do all the things you want to do while also reducing taxes.

Supporting organizations you value can help you solve this puzzle.

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Bequests Including MRU in your estate plan is a simple way to provide future support for students. This revocable gift can be changed depending on your needs and it won't impact your current finances.

In your 80s and 90s At this point in time you might be considering simplifying your assets, and any tax break would be welcome.

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Gifts of property Property, including residential and commercial real estate, developed and undeveloped land, can be donated to MRU to provide additional campus space or be sold with proceeds directed towards your favourite MRU program.

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Endowments for scholarships or bursaries An endowment fund will establish a scholarship or bursary that will live on forever, helping students succeed with your support long after you have passed on. Endowment funds can be created through gifts of cash and property, bequests in your will and so on. The possibilities are endless and the impact is immeasurable.

For more information about how you can make a gift to MRU, please visit us at foundation.mru.ca.

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R E S E A R C H

S N A P S H OT S

Mount Royal faculty shape the world we live in WORDS BY ROB PETROLLINI

The following research snapshots offer a glimpse at how research intertwines with everyday life in order to keep products available when needed, further understand evolution, maintain community safety, provide the most practical medical advice possible and improve global access to health care.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JONATHAN MEE, PHD Department of Biology ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR RAJBIR BHATTI, PHD Department of International Business and Supply Chain Management A former member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council, Bhatti’s research encompasses applied machine learning and its integration into the complexities of the modern-day supply chain. Using decision-making logic to enhance all aspects of supply chain management and fulfilment, Bhatti is designing multicriteria models to support supplier performance evaluation, selection and risk-profiling of stakeholders and partners.

“I am also working on designing digital twins of supply chains to predict behaviour and outcomes with the goal of developing robust supply networks,” Bhatti says.

Bhatti has supported several students through their research in the supply chain field and has designed a new capstone course for supply chain majors that trains in the development of critical applied skills for the use of machine learning in a data-driven sector.

“Business decisions are often required to be made based on limited, subjective and, at times, conflicting parameters. Machine learning is a very powerful and futuristic tool for exploring critical insights otherwise not visible using classic statistical tools.”

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The pandemic has exposed people to terminology that was once discipline-specific jargon. Words such as mutation, strains and lineages have crept into the mainstream, biological concepts that Mee has spent years investigating.

“It may seem straightforward — you get a mutation and it results in an altered characteristic, such as a cancer or different-coloured eyes — but most traits are affected by more than one gene,” Mee says.

Mee studies fish populations and uses computer simulations of genomes to determine how evolution factors into the gene-to-trait relationship. “We need biological models and mathematical models to figure it out. It’s complicated, and it’s important.”

The recipient of a 2021 MRU Internal Research Grant, Mee is sequencing the genes expressed in the common dace fish species to further understand how they are regulated and how that affects inter-population differences. He is also sequencing genes in several local brook stickleback populations to figure out how repeatable evolution might be at the genetic level.

PROFESSOR CHRISTY TOMKINS-LANE, PHD Department of Health and Physical Education

PROFESSOR LYNN MOORMAN, PHD Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Moorman works in the field of geography, creating multidimensional models and digital twins of Earth using geospatial technologies such as light detection and ranging, synthetic aperture radar, drone imagery, 360-degree spherical photographs and geographic information systems.

“My research is divided into two areas: the first is spatial cognition and user-design investigations, ultimately to build effective interfaces and learning supports, and the second is the application of geospatial technologies to address complex issues facing communities,” Moorman says.

Currently working with Inuit communities to apply geospatial technologies to local sea ice safety mapping, Moorman is also developing virtual and augmented reality environments for geoheritage preservation and education. She continues to be active in the national geospatial community as a Fellow and Research Grants Chair of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

Tomkins-Lane is an internationally recognized researcher in the areas of digital health, lifestyle medicine and wearable devices. Her research aims to determine how to best leverage technology to understand function and improve health outcomes. Specifically, she uses wearable devices, including the Apple Watch, to identify observable traits or patterns of physical activity for people with lower back pain and arthritis to then develop personalized and disease-specific treatment plans.

“Advances in mobile technology and wearable devices have provided us with the ability to understand function and disease in real time,” Tomkins-Lane says. “This allows us to better understand disease processes and provide precision medicine in the form of personalized exercise prescriptions.”

The co-founder of the Stanford Wearable Health Lab, where she recently spent two years as a visiting professor, TomkinsLane is also the chair of the International Taskforce on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. In 2021 she supported the development of the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Effective Access to Assistive Technology, published earlier this year.

PROFESSOR FAITH-MICHAEL UZOKA, PHD Department of Mathematics and Computing Health-care access in most developing countries is challenging due to high population densities combined with limited facilities. Affordability issues also force some patients to self-medicate or avoid medical attention altogether. Uzoka is working on three initiatives to help solve this problem, starting with a “smart” medical assistant that triples as a pill/supply dispenser, remote medical consulting interface and hospital ward/hospice disinfectant tool using UV rays.

“Our smart medical assistant, named Vitex, utilizes artificial intelligence and robotics to enhance health-care access,” Uzoka says. The research project is highly collaborative, with team members representing universities in China, England, Eswatini, Nigeria and Uganda.

Second, Uzoka is developing a system for frontline health workers to diagnose tropical febrile diseases. Third is an eHealth program designed by Uzoka that provides medical, pharmaceutical, insurance and social support to underserved communities with limited physical, economic and information access to health-care facilities.

In 2021, Uzoka was awarded an MRU Internal Research Grant in support of his efforts.

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What the Big Smoke brought WORDS BY SPIRIT RIVER STRIPED WOLF

Spirit River Striped Wolf (Iyimakoyiomahka), outgoing president of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University, provides his thoughts on a year with dr. linda manyguns, phd, leading MRU’s office of indigenization and decolonization and progress made at the University towards truth and reconciliation. Of Blackfoot descent (Piikani), Striped Wolf will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts — Policy Studies later this year.

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On Jan. 28, I was honoured to participate in a Blackfoot tradition on the Mount Royal campus called a Big Smoke Ceremony. I was asked to be the one who “sits holy” by dr. linda manyguns, phd, MRU’s associate vice-president of indigenization and decolonization.

During the ceremony, which takes place all night through to the early morning, I sat in prayer and meditation while being blessed by ceremonialists and traditional knowledgeholders. There was the smoking of sacred pipes, prayer, singing of sacred songs and the telling of sacred stories.

I asked dr. manyguns, who has chosen to use lower case in rejection of hierarchical symbols, for guidance for my role. Born on the Tsuut'ina Nation and registered at Siksika, manyguns suggested requesting prayers for the students, faculty and employees of Mount Royal to experience good health, success and happiness.

The Big Smoke Ceremony is very intense, participants are often exhausted, but nevertheless it continues. As dr. manyguns took me home at around 5 a.m., she explained that the endurance required to participate has always fascinated her.

Some might find it odd to hear about an Indigenous ceremony taking place in an academic setting and wonder if it is appropriate to have it sponsored by the University.

Personally, I believe this is a great way for Mount Royal to engage meaningfully in truth and reconciliation. One of the principles in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) final report comes to mind: “Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ cultural revitalization, and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols and connections to the land into the reconciliation process, are essential.”

Enduring the ceremony is one thing, but organizing something of this importance and significance is another large challenge. Having worked with dr. manyguns to prepare, I know that the ceremony’s intention was indicative of who our associate vice-president is. Although still quite new to the MRU community, she has a strong sense of duty to this campus and towards all of our success.

A CULTURAL SHIFT THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING dr. manyguns has a vision for her office that will be enduring. She told me that she believes MRU is committed to making change and ensuring that Indigenous people will be welcomed. Being a student leader of Indigenous descent has shown me that MRU does, in fact, have faculty, employees and students who are committed to indigenization and decolonization. dr. manyguns said that her facilitation is vital for a cultural shift.

“Indigenous ways of knowing must be taught and understood,” manyguns says.

The office of indigenization and decolonization is instrumental in that process. When I asked dr. manyguns about whether she’s dipped her fingers in advising the University on changes to its policies, she says that she has first been focusing on such initiatives as to how to engage the campus community on what indigenization and decolonization actually is.

For several months, dr. manyguns has been leading a highly successful poster campaign, since adopted by school boards around Alberta and even into B.C. She has created the mru.ca/decolonize page, a repository of information about indigenization and the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples. The Journey to Indigenization, a two-week long observance including feasts, connection circles and faculty presentations, ensured that important dates like Orange Shirt Day, the anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7, Sisters in Spirit Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation were recognized. dr. manyguns says that any change in policies to reflect indigenization and decolonization really depends on the answer to a single question: “How Indigenous does MRU want to be?” As she puts it, the reason why the indigenization of policies needs to be sought out in this manner is “because the colonizer still has a right to their colonized education. The Indigenous people aren’t going to take control over all education, although they want to take control of theirs.”

Spirit River Striped Wolf

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linda manyguns, phd

Acknowledging that MRU has the right motivations, manyguns asks, ‘‘Do we completely shift everything to an Indigenous format or do we find a middle road?” She goes on to explain that the creation of her role is a starting step in determining the right response by creating opportunities allowing foundational structures within the university to figure it out in a way that moves us forward.

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PRIORITIZING LEARNERS As a student leader, I’m thrilled to have recurring meetings with dr. manyguns. In one of our conversations, she highlighted that the outcome of her work is ultimately for students, especially Indigenous students, and many of the initiatives she has in the works involve their participation.

dr. manyguns also highlighted the valued relationship she’s built with the MRU landscaping and grounds staff (as the land itself has an integral part to play in the indigenization process), as well as Indigenous employees across the institution and the employee community as a whole.

“The support that I’ve gotten from various areas has been outstanding,” she says, “and deeply appreciated.”

Besides getting to know her new campus community, dr. manyguns has been hard at work establishing relationships across the country with other post-secondary institutions and their Indigenous leadership.

Along with other leaders, dr. manyguns will work with former senator Murray Sinclair, who was chief commissioner of the TRC and helped deliver its final report. She and her colleagues want to tackle the question of Indigenous identity within academia. dr. manyguns is also working on developing the Traditional Thinkers Circle, which will involve elders, traditional thinkers and community experts and is meant to bring more Indigenous ways of knowing into the campus community.

As dr. manyguns succeeds in introducing more traditional thinkers, culture, relationships and ceremony to the campus community and to academics, more learning and decolonizing initiatives will arise, such as engaging with the community gardens and campus grounds for land-based teachings.

Since I first started at MRU, I have seen a marked increase in elements of indigenization and decolonization in the everyday. To have dr. manyguns as a resource, I believe, is instrumental for bringing co-ordination and order to a community that is very much engaged in doing their part in making the campus equitable, diverse, inclusive and indigenized.

Ingredients: 6 cups white flour 3 tbsps baking powder 1 1⁄2 tsps salt 2 1⁄2 cups water

Blackfeet Nation Bannock This beginner's bannock recipe was provided by Spirit River Striped Wolf as part of a collaborative project developing K-12 lesson plans for Alberta educators.

Bannock is a simple bread recipe that was introduced to Indigenous Peoples in Canada by Scottish settlers. Indigenous communities adapted the initial recipe, which has been incorporated as a staple food in their cultures. Bannock is a versatile bread used in many contemporary Indigenous dishes, and is traditionally served with roasted meats or wildberry jams.

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl 3. Gradually stir in water until a thick dough begins to form 4. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until the dough is not sticky (it does not need to be perfectly smooth) 5. Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan 6. Use a rolling pin to flatten dough until it is roughly the size of the pan 7. Place dough in pan and adjust to fit 8. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown Turn out bannock onto a cutting board or cooling rack (can be cut while still warm).

Chief Earl Old Person, 1992

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Re-imagining the narrative for a ‘New Alberta’ Looking at the disconnect between perception and reality when it comes to our province and our city.

WORDS BY PETER GLENN

While at Mount Royal University, alum Tristan Smyth was the first student ever to be named to the prestigious 3M National Student Fellowship. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts — English, Smyth went on to earn a Master of Information — Information Management and Policy from the University of Toronto. Smyth is now chief impact and strategy officer of Warshield, an Indigenous-owned government relations and consulting firm where he works on socio-economic development projects for First Nations governments.

Smyth is the kind of well-educated young person Alberta needs as it emerges from a prolonged economic downturn. But while lending their time and talents to MRU’s Alumni Council, Smyth now lives in Quebec with their spouse, who works as a nurse, and has no plans to return. Although praising Calgary’s cultural and food scenes, Smyth saw the career prospects here as less than alluring.

“I left to pursue a master's degree. In leaving Alberta, I assumed I would return, but a year into my master's, it started to dawn on me that I wouldn’t,” Smyth says.

“The greatest challenge Calgary faces is a lack of diversity in industries. After finishing my master's, there were so many more employment opportunities in a wide range of industries (in the east). With the downturn in the oil and gas industry, I found the city palpably more depressed when I visited, and I know other expats who found the same.”

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"We have the tools in the toolbox if we choose to use them."

THE DEPARTURE OF “TWENTY-SOMETHINGS” Smyth is part of an exodus that has come as a reversal for a province long considered to be Canada’s land of milk and honey, a place that previously experienced a net gain of 8,000 young people each year to grab great jobs, access to the Rocky Mountains and other slices of the “Alberta advantage.”

Released in March, a Canada West Foundation Report titled Work to Live: Alberta youth mobility (co-authored by Dr. David Finch, PhD, marketing professor with Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business, and Janet Lane, director of the Human Capital Centre at the Canada West Foundation), revealed that after decades of young people moving to Alberta, the trend reversed in 2016.

For the first time since 1988, more people from 15 to 29 years old moved out of the province than moved in. Since then, Alberta’s net out-migration of those aged from 25 to 29 has averaged 1,133 per year. When combined with an aging population, the province was left with nine per cent fewer people in that age bracket in 2021 than in 2016.

More young adults leaving the province than arriving is an issue the province will need to face head on, and MRU’s Institute for Community Prosperity is attempting to address the conundrum. Their report titled 20/20 Vision: Twenty Conversations with Twenty-Somethings About Calgary consists of 20 interviews with MRU students or recent graduates and found that the city was failing to tick many of their priority boxes.

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— DAVID FINCH, PHD, Marketing professor, Bissett School of Business

into the future, two-thirds of interviewees said they didn’t see themselves living in the city in 10 years, or were unsure. Six had already left for a variety of reasons, including poor perceptions of their job prospects and what they see as a lack of diversity across the city and province as a whole.

The report also asked if young Calgarians “more globally networked through social media and more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations, (are) having difficulty reconciling Calgary’s narratives with the dynamics sweeping the globe and defining the near future?”

Genuineness sums up the dilemma for the city and province, says accounting and general management alumnus Tim Lipp, who is currently interim CTO at YYC Growers and Distributors. Like many, he is looking elsewhere, if not for a new home, then at least for inspiration.

“Being in tech, I think a lot about Silicon Valley. They invented their own authentic game that worked to their strengths. For us, we need to design our city and economic engine in a way that authentically plays to our strengths,” Lipp says.

CORE VALUES ARE FOUND AT HOME As MRU's Career Services helps students connect with employers, director Sarah Imran says, “they are looking for diverse career opportunities, lifestyle, a more cosmopolitan environment and fun things to do,“ and that generally students are finding Vancouver and Victoria attractive.

Imran says application and engagement rates for available jobs in Calgary are low in comparison to previous years as students cite inertia, fatigue, pessimism and again, that perceived dearth in opportunities.

Skyrocketing inflation and decreased affordability are also of concern. More than 80 per cent of Generation Zs in Canada, those between the ages of 18 and 28, worry they will not be able to afford a home in their city of choice, according to a Sotheby’s International Realty survey, however many are willing to forego home ownership for the chance to live where they want.

In a research project involving some 50 students, which informed the Canada West report, Finch looks at the decision to stay or go through a marketing lens. Young people, he argues, are searching to “purchase” a place to live that is a projection of who they are.

“No one’s going to want to be associated with any brand, whether it be an automobile or a laptop or a city, that doesn’t align to their own perception of themselves, especially their core values,” Finch says.

Those values tie into young people’s observations of a city and province where energy and fossil fuels can be seen as the only career pathway for the provision of a stable, prosperous lifestyle. When asking students what percentage of jobs in Alberta are tied to oil and gas extraction, Finch says the guess is between 40 and 70, when the actual number is less than seven.

“The disconnect between perception and reality is massive,” Finch says.

While the province’s economy is much more than oil and gas, the 30 per cent vacancy rate in Calgary’s downtown office buildings is a visual representation of the high-paying oilpatch jobs that have disappeared.

“Young people have always come to and left Alberta in correlation with the vagaries of the oil and gas sector. This time could

be different because the sector is never going to come back to former employment levels. What’s more, this generation of young people has values that differ from what they perceive to be the values of mainstream Albertans,” Lane says, adding that they see Alberta as conservative and without the diversity and quality of life as they see in other regions.

Finch says that Alberta has been both fortunate and complacent in drawing thousands of people in for work. In the future, the city and province will have to work harder and more creatively to keep people.

“If younger adults don’t see Alberta as a place to build a career, or don’t want to relocate to the province for a job, it threatens to undercut the province’s future economic prospects.”

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT Finch and his students have looked at the benefits of early interventions inside and outside of formal education that are focused on the idea of a “New Alberta.”

“Better stories need to be told about what is actually happening in Alberta — (young people’s) perceptions are their reality, but it’s not as bad as they perceive,” Lane says. “Alberta needs a whole new brand — led by a consortium of

organizations with the capacity to conceive it and roll it out — but inspired by youth.”

Lane says better matching the skills and competencies of young people to available jobs, quality work-integrated learning opportunities while in school and building more inclusive communities are key to retaining talent.

“City council, other civic partners and post-secondary institutions can play a really important role in starting to challenge the traditional perception of Alberta and the city of Calgary in regards to what we do,” Finch says. “We have the tools in the toolbox if we choose to use them. But it takes a system-level collaborative approach to start attacking this.”

For example, a joint project with Calgary Economic Development and Calgary Arts Development involving Finch and assistant professor of marketing Dr. AnneMarie Dorland, PhD, is investigating the creative economy strategy, which incorporates a collision of everything from arts and culture to tech.

“It moves us beyond just tech and looks at all the different elements of tech culture, with arts and creativity as really being an engine. And what we’re showing in our research is we have a capacity problem in this city,” Finch says. “We undervalue and underdevelop anyone in the creative sector.

Compared to most other major cities, we have overemphasized other sectors. How do we overcome that deficiency?”

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INTEGRATING EDUCATION EVERYWHERE In addition to making more space for the creative realms, a February 2021 op-ed in the Calgary Herald penned by Finch emphasized breaking down walls between education and the community as a point of importance for young people. Students he worked with called for Calgary to become the first city in North America to introduce community experiential learning in all postsecondary programs, and eventually at the high-school level. This supports their vision of “work, play, learning and community not to be silos or a life stage, but a way of life.”

“These experiences could take many forms, from full internships to live projects embedded in the community with commercial, social and public partners.

Experiential learning is not unique unto itself. What is unique about this proposal is its scale, scope and city-level coordination,” Finch says.

Places where industry and students can collaborate provide the ideal conditions for innovation, says alumnus Damon

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Harmon (Business Administration Diploma).

Harmon leads the Post-Secondary Initiative sub-committee of Calgary Economic Development’s Real Estate Sector Advisory Committee (RESAC), which supports the City of Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan for a stronger core.

“The impact of universities in a city centre creates partnerships with the business community, and in cities where this has happened there’s been an increase in research, patents and entrepreneurship,” Harmon says.

Also underway through RESAC is an incentive program to turn office buildings into post-secondary residences.

“We are talking to all of Calgary’s postsecondary schools and asking them to come together and look at scale by directing their students who need housing to a downtown residence.”

Drawing people to unused downtown real estate could mean inviting more tech companies to take up residence and converting vacant commercial space for uses such as residential living or vertical farms.

“We could create something pretty cool,” Harmon says.

Young people and students with the ability to play a greater role in larger society will be better able to picture themselves in it, finally bringing those perceptions and reality together.

With files from Matthew Fox

What are the skills Calgarians need now and in the future?

Adaptability is the new “most important skill,” says Janet Lane, director of the Human Capital Centre at the Canada West Foundation. Young people need to be constantly learning, unlearning and relearning for their careers and lives.

Literacy, numeracy, communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity are other vital points. “Without a good level of these skills, Alberta will not be able to pivot to the new jobs that will be created as we transition from fossil fuels over the next decades,” Lane says.

Domain-specific skills will change constantly — but must include those that allow workers to adapt the knowledge and capacity had in the energy sector to sustainable energy sources.

As well, Alberta needs to build skills for the jobs that are being created in clean energy and green technologies; food processing; advanced manufacturing; advanced agriculture; advanced health care, and those associated with the caring and social sectors — all of which will continue to see growth in demand.

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Strength in our differences Future-proofing a city means cultivating inclusivity in everything.

WORDS BY KATHERINE SHARPLES

Understanding how to bridge the gap between Calgary’s reputation and its actuality is important for the future prosperity of the city and all those who live in it. Cities are microcosms, reflections of the society they support, and it’s crucial that citizens are comfortable with their characterizations.

James Stauch, director of Mount Royal’s Institute for Community Prosperity, explains that Calgarians have allowed the mythology of the rugged, bootstrapping, hyper-individualist Albertan to take over, when that’s not at all what the city, or the province, are about.

“In reality, our history is rooted in co-operative development. It's rooted in taking care of our neighbours,” Stauch says.

Lately, it seems that a particularly distrustful type of vernacular is being heard more than others, however, where there is a greater concentration on personal freedoms, a lack of faith in government and social systems and a feeling that Alberta is nationally and systemically disrespected, Stauch says, which is sending out a “wave of negativity".

“You don't get any sympathy by throwing shade.

You get sympathy by inspiring people and creating new possibilities and new visions for things.”

Establishing a resilient city is a complex task involving more than just opinions and perspectives.

There is a lot of “doing” that has to happen behind the scenes, incorporating layers of politics, planning, design and maintenance, as well as activities and cultural programming contributing to vibrancy. What glues it all together is when citizens can feel they are part of the progress.

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"The society we’ve built is very fluid. All we really have to do is be supportive and guide change toward what we want it to be."

— COURTNEY WALCOTT, Ward 8 councillor

TAKING CHARGE OF CHANGE Late last year, Mount Royal’s office of Alumni Relations hosted the “Big Ideas” panel discussion dedicated to exploring the future of cities. Panellists included Ward 8 councillor and alumnus Courtney Walcott (Bachelor of Arts — History); alumnus and managing principal of Cresa Alberta Ltd., Damon Harmon (Business Administration Diploma); Michael Brown, president of Trico Homes and member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies; and alumna, founder and executive director of Chic Geek Kylie Woods (Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations).

Moderated by Julia Kaiser (Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations), the discussion acknowledged that making change is messy and complex, but inclusivity is critical for city longevity.

In discussing the development of Calgary’s East Village when he was with Calgary Municipal Land Corp., Brown shared that building a community for all was the main goal. The East Village is a redevelopment success story that turned a mess of somewhat ramshackle shops, bars, apartments buildings and parking lots

into a tightly knit, vital, inner-city community with parks, plazas, small businesses, great accessibility and plenty of amenities.

“We could’ve easily said, ‘Let’s forget about the seniors and the drop-in centres and just build for the urban explorers — the hip kids.’ But our thought process was, ‘the more diverse we are, the stronger we are.’

We focused on the people over the product itself,” Brown says.

When talking about future-proofing a city, Brown says it’s important to build on differences instead of focusing on homogeneity.

“The concept for the East Village was born in the early-2000s, and it’s gone through the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic, among other challenges. Determining whether something is successful is in its ability to stand up through time, not in that moment in time,” Brown says.

Councillor Walcott points out that Calgary has proven its adaptability, having already gone through plenty of change.

“The society we’ve built is very fluid. All we really have to do is be supportive and guide change toward what we want it to be,” Walcott says.

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STRONG STORYTELLING WILL SHOW CALGARY'S GLOW

"We need everyone to feel like they belong in a city that everyone can be successful in."

— MICHAEL BROWN Dean’s Advisory Council for the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies

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“A tale of two Calgaries,” as coined by Brown, explores the “traditional” two ways of being a Calgarian: either you’re a cowboy, or you’re not. He explains that there are folks who’ll say, “Oh, if only we could get Calgary back to being as good as it used to be,” while others will raise their hand and say, “Well, actually, it wasn’t so good for me.”

“We need to build a big tent that both of those types of people can feel at home in.

We need everyone to feel like they belong in a city that everyone can be successful in,” Brown says.

Mount Royal public relations professor Dr. Ran Ju, PhD, says remodelling a reputation starts with storytelling.

“Institutional change is needed, which could start with the municipal government using their social media platforms to share the stories of diverse Calgarians. I’d like to see more innovative ways of promoting the city,” Ju says, including those that better resonate with young people, such as video, photography and podcasting.

In the meantime, it’s individual Calgarians’ responsibility to speak up and share their authentic stories. Before moving to the city in 2015, Ju had heard that Calgarians selfidentify as “hard-working, silent, Western Canadians focused on themselves,” and touches on the stigma surrounding the oil and gas industry.

“Even if those who work in oil and gas tell their stories, saying, ‘Yes, I work in oil and gas, this is how I support my family and I am proud of it,’ it can go a long way,” Ju says.

A recent energy boom has renewed interest in the industry, as well.

“We have one of the cleanest, bestgoverned energy industries globally, and we need to be mindful that it is still a huge part of our economy,” says David Routledge, who studied business administration at Mount Royal College in the 1980s and is a member of MRU’s Board of Governors and vice-president and head of the Western Canada office for Oxford Properties Group.

Another positive note is Calgary's office vacancy rate making a rebound, dropping in the first quarter of 2022.

“Calgary is an amazing city, a great place to live with a high quality of life and an attractive cost base relative to Vancouver or Toronto,” Routledge says.

“That message will resonate.”

In addition to misconceptions around the oil and gas industry, Calgary must also work to break down the disconnect between its four geographic quadrants.

“The northeast is a really good example of this amazing piece of fabric that needs to be celebrated more. We just have to do a better job of telling its story to Calgarians,” Brown says.

"Institutional change is needed, which could start with the municipal government using their social media platforms to share the stories of diverse Calgarians.

I’d like to see more innovative ways of promoting the city."

— RAN JU, PHD, public relations professor, Bissett School of Business

Harmon says spreading the word about what is available in different areas of the city would be made easier by having a stronger, more welcoming core with a more diverse full-time population, including families.

“Less than one per cent of Calgary’s population lives downtown and you can’t have vibrancy if people don’t live there,” he says. “Having kids living there could bring innercity schools, basketball courts, parks and playgrounds,” and provide more places to gather with others and talk about what’s special about Calgary’s neighbourhoods.

“If you’re not reaching out and running into new people you’re not going to learn as much,” he says.

More intersectionality is also what fourth-year psychology student Emma Berger would like to see. As a co-ordinator for the student-run MRU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Student Hub, supported by the Institute for Community Prosperity and the Institute for Environmental Sustainability, Berger explores the United Nations’ SDG intersectional framework covering environmental, economic and social issues with the goal of instilling change in a way that doesn’t value one area over another.

“The way different sectors in Calgary are set up is so divisive, and I think there needs to be more collaboration among them,” Berger says, adding that non-profit, postsecondary education and institutes working in concert together “would make for more avenues to think about challenges in new ways. Working with people who do things differently would ideally lend to solutions for a wide variety of issues.”

Reflecting on the fear that young people are leaving Calgary, to Berger it may be less about a lack of possibility in the city and more about an urge to get out and explore the world.

“I don’t know what I’ll do after I graduate, but I know that if I leave, I’ll miss the city in some ways and I’ll always come back. A lot of us are doing really great things, and I think there’s a lot of hope in Calgary.”

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CALGARY HAS WHAT IT TAKES As a healthy, young, family-oriented city found in one of the most beautiful and resource-rich locations in the world, Calgary already has the infrastructure and wherewithal to accommodate everyone, Ju says. In addition to physical assets, Calgary also has a resilient, hardworking and visionary population that has weathered many storms before and is willing to take the risks and do the work needed to show what the city is truly capable of and what it can be for all citizens.

Walcott says that people will stay in a city, be it for the short or long term, depending on a “reputation that space is available for you.

“Calgary’s a place where you can live the life you choose to live, not just the life you have to live.”

With files from Matthew Fox

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MRU-led initiatives on exploring and improving Calgary’s livability VIVACITY YYC Vivacity brings together students from across Calgary's post-secondary institutions to innovate, create and implement solutions to timely local challenges, making the city more vibrant, livable and sustainable.

BOUNCEBACKYYC BounceBackYYC is centred on creating plans, programs and initiatives to spur exposure and business in Calgary's economy, focusing on tourism and hospitality, retail and restaurants, sports and recreation, and arts and culture.

CITYXLAB CityXLab is a new initiative that combines applied research and community learning in an effort to understand Calgary as a place and as an experience.

The six applied research and convening activities the Lab facilitates are: ActiveCITY, CreativeCITY, LearningCITY, Measuring What Matters, Why Calgary and CityXLab.

Tech transformation

MRU's alumni are making a big impact in Calgary's growing tech economy, which requires all kinds of people and diverse sets of expertise.

WORDS BY MICHELLE BODNAR

By tapping into the expertise of computer scientists, tech companies are implementing interesting business ideas into reality using the power and flexibility of programming, creating solutions for consumers in a range of areas. But the tech revolution is about a lot more than just coding.

Building and developing new products and services from the point of conception requires an innovative mindset, a multi-faceted background and a lot of hard work. Mount Royal grads from all faculties can be found in every corner of the tech economy.

“For these companies to be successful and to grow, all types of talent are needed,” says Ray

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DePaul, director of MRU’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and board member at Platform Calgary, one of Calgary’s tech incubators where those looking to get into the tech field or grow their venture can find the resources they require. DePaul is talking about the business experts, software developers, marketing and communications professionals, finance managers, website designers, graphic artists, and more, all of whom are needed in this fast-paced and quickly changing environment. The tech economy is the perfect space for all kinds of troubleshooters with the agility and ability to pivot and adapt when necessary.

TECH ENABLES, TECH BUILDS Calgary is an ideal location for tech, DePaul says. There is a deeply ingrained problem-solving culture in the city that is working very well to position Calgary — and Alberta — as a forwardthinking, innovative region for and of the future. The Calgary Innovation Coalition, a partnership of support organizations for tech entrepreneurs or high-growth venture entrepreneurs, has come up with a “north star” goal for the city to increase the number of tech startups and scaleups tenfold in the next 10 years.

The result could be 30,000 new jobs and 3,000 new companies by 2031.

MRU alumni have already made an impression in the field. Just a small sampling of the tech companies where graduates are involved include: OpenHouse.ai, HelpSeeker Technologies, Goodlawyer, Dyspatch, atVenu, Showpass, Chinook Aerosports, Arcurve, Conduit, Avanti Software, Vog App Developers, Catch Digital, Neo Financial, Tugboat Logic, Shareworks, Symend, Ground Floor Labs, IBM and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

All of these ventures use computing to solve problems, but that tech is driven by the need to solve humancentred problems.

SEEDS FOR GROWTH According to the CBRE, Calgary experienced a 17.1 per cent rate of tech job growth from 2014 to 2019, placing it in the 34th spot on the North American tech talent ranking scale. As of 2019, there were 42,500 tech jobs in the city, with the average worker earning $95,222.

To assist with the continued growth of the tech economy in Calgary, there’s a need for everyone to work together, says Andrew Browne (Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management).

Browne is head of business development with Thin Air Labs, a venture builder and venture capital firm describing itself as “an ecosystem studio.” As tech businesses are high growth and develop at fast speeds, they require all the right pieces in place and a lot of options, Browne says.

Using the “network effect,” Thin Air Labs creates connections “to get companies accelerating, learning faster, troubleshooting quicker and experiencing the venture journey.” This “critical mass of activity,” as Browne puts it, attracts people with ambition, drive and varying skillsets.

Platform Calgary's academy director, Madeline Kendrew (Bachelor of Applied Small Business and Entrepreneurship), explains they work with founders and scale-ups, and also the general public who are interested in entrepreneurship or a new career path.

“Specifically, my role on the academy team is primarily responsible for the curation, development and implementation of all of our founderfocused educational experiences, not only our programming, but our partners as well, including partner integration and support,” she says. Platform provides

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the tools needed to take a business idea from formation, to execution and then on through the growth stages.

“We work with a large number of partners throughout the year and give them a platform upon which to build, with an expansive, efficient and well-resourced network.”

Programs start with pre-accelerators, the introduction of startups to other tech communities around the world, startup essentials, investment readiness and growth academies. In 2021, Platform Calgary engaged with more than 1,000 startups or founders.

“We work with a lot of startups who have a great foundation for their business,” Kendrew says. “They’re passionate about it and they just need a nudge in the right direction to really gain traction in the market, find customers and early adopters, launch a pilot, close sales to get to revenue and scale that into a repeatable growth model.”

Once all the ingredients are in place for a strong business base, “There’s a little bit of design work to figure out how to best connect them with what they most need,” Browne says.

Both Thin Air Labs and Platform Calgary are trying to create a space where a lot of different startups can begin to grow. Called the tech “ecosystem,” each helps provide the necessary fertile ground where ideas can be planted. As in an ecosystem, some companies struggle for their own space, others figure out a way to work together and others flourish on their own. But tech companies have to develop much faster than an ecosystem, which is why companies tend to start out quite small, taking chances when they need to.

Although the ecosystem is local, tech companies must work in an internet world without borders. “A lot of these companies would be termed as ‘born global,’” DePaul says. “Their first customers might be nowhere near them, which requires employees to have a global mindset and not be afraid to enter new markets and engage aggressively. You need ambitious and talented employees to be able to deal with that kind of competitive structure, and excitement and opportunity.”

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SCALING UP SUCCESSFULLY While half of Alberta startups survive for more than five years, only 0.1 per cent of small firms (less than 100 employees) become mid-sized (100 to 499 employees), and only two per cent of mid-sized firms become large (more than 500 employees). This “scale-up gap” is where Thin Air Labs and Platform Calgary make a huge difference.

Thin Air Labs tends to work with companies at a certain level of maturity, many that have already started their venture, have some early validation with product success, and are looking for ways to keep progressing, Browne says. There are suites of services available to help solve specific venture problems, constraints or barriers.

“We also work really closely with founders to help them get investment-ready, tell their story, build a pitch deck and a narrative that's compelling, help them navigate through the fundraising world and then also help them access other forms of capital from government grants, vouchers and programs like that.”

Venture capital investment in Alberta tech companies reached an all-time high in 2021, outpacing 2019 and 2020 with a total of $561 million in deals, according to the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association's annual report.

Thin Air Labs is actively raising a $100-million venture fund, capital that will be deployed into early stage ventures primarily based in Calgary "to help them accelerate their development towards future financing rounds,” Browne says.

PLATFORM INNOVATION CENTRE

" We can be seen as a global player to attract more talent and people to diversify our economy’s growth and wealth. I think that’s a really exciting thing for future generations that are going to come and be part of it. " — MADELINE KENDREW, academy director, Platform Calgary

Platform Calgary’s new Platform Innovation Centre is a single point of entry for startup founders looking to enter and navigate Calgary’s leading-edge environment. This purpose-built, flexible, future-proofed and accessible home for innovators is situated in an emerging Innovation District in the East Village, right across from the Central Library.

The Centre has more than 70 partners and counting, including Mount Royal’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Thin Air Labs. About 50,000 square feet of innovation space includes a large stage for events, plus regularly scheduled meetups, pitch nights, keynotes and collisions between industry experts, investors and founders.

“We are working together to create a hub, so when entrepreneurs and tech innovators walk through the door of the Platform Innovation Centre they will have access to everything they need to achieve success,” Kendrew says.

Platform Calgary also recently launched a province-wide pre-accelerator program — Alberta Catalyzer — in partnership with Innovate Edmonton. The hybrid program will serve founders from all across the province.

FOR THE FUTURE To be on the frontlines of this sort of critical transition in thinking about business in Calgary is an exciting and fulfilling place to be.

“The fact that we are already one of the world’s top 100 emerging innovation ecosystems means the tech industry is going to create so many jobs for Calgarians. We can be seen as a global player for attracting more talent and people to diversify our economy’s growth and wealth. I think that’s a really exciting thing for future generations that are going to come and be part of it,” Kendrew says.

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MRU alumni represent in tech WORDS BY RACHEL VON HAHN PHOTOS BY CHAO ZHANG

THE INTERSECTION OF COMPUTING AND HUMAN COGNITION Ryan Kazmerik As a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems graduate and a current sessional instructor for the Faculty of Science and Technology in mathematics and computing, Ryan Kazmerik has strong ties to the MRU community.

“Mount Royal’s focus on applied technology means students are ready to go right off the bat. They can graduate and start delivering value at a company right away,” he says.

After his undergraduate experience at MRU, Kazmerik went back to school to complete his Master of Applied Computing at Wilfrid Laurier University — the only program with a solid focus on applied data science and machine learning offered within Canada at the time.

Today, Kazmerik is the director of data science at StellarAlgo, which has created a customer cloud platform that helps sports and entertainment organizations 40

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“quickly and cost-effectively organize, analyze and leverage the data they need to discover actionable decisions.”

According to Kazmerik, the passionate nature of sports fans makes it a unique sector rife with information to work with. Some high-profile clients include the Vancouver Canucks, Portland Trail Blazers, L.A. Galaxy and the New York Yankees.

“Collectively our customers have more than 100 million fans, which means we’re looking at more than 40 billion data points for analysis,” he says.

StellarAlgo’s data engineering products consolidate, process and aggregate large volumes of data taken from areas including ticketing, merchandise, streaming and online betting, allowing clients to more effectively engage with fans. The Calgary-based company announced $16.5 million in Series A

financing last November to accelerate its mission to innovate the future of fan experiences, and is growing and adding more people to its team.

Kazmerik is optimistic about the problem-solving opportunities machine learning presents in a way that “concatenates” the power of the human brain with the constantly evolving capabilities of computing.

"I’m a bit of a pragmatic data scientist.

I don't believe that computers can solve any and every problem. I think the key is figuring out where human cognition and computational power meet appropriately.

We're nowhere near achieving the same calibre of general intelligence exercised by the human brain using machine learning and data science, but what you can do is take a solid idea and supercharge it by combining it with what computing does best."

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF EMPOWERED INVESTORS Taran Singh Kainth

While studying economics at the University of Calgary, Taran Singh Kainth enrolled in an introductory entrepreneurship class that would spark a passion and lead him to become a key player in Calgary’s tech economy.

“I fell in love with the concepts of entrepreneurship and was able to make important contacts within the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he says.

Following this new direction, Kainth transferred to Mount Royal’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, finished with a general management major, and doubled down with a concentration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a minor in Finance.

Kainth says working with MRU’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship gave him a solid understanding of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, knowledge that helped him create and present the winning pitch for the 2019 JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition for his original venture Sharyeo, which leveraged the sharing economy to connect creatives with underused photography and video equipment with those needing short-term use of high-end gear. Building upon this success, Kainth travelled to San Francisco, where he went through an accelerator program and met with Silicon Valley veterans, including the current CEO of Twitter.

“That was my stepping stone to realizing the full potential of what entrepreneurship can be, what it takes to build a real company and how much grit and tenacity you need as an individual,” he says.

Combining his entrepreneurial background, experience with investing and trading, and a portion of the capital from his LaunchPad winnings, in 2020 Kainth joined forces with fellow MRU grad Gio Moros Hernandez (Bachelor of Science — Computer Science), to build Flahmingo. Hernandez is CTO of the company. Flahmingo is a commission-free fractional investment app on a mission to increase the financial literacy of Canadians through empowered investing. By using a

fractional shares model — coined as “pies and slices” on the app — Flahmingo users can begin with as little as one dollar while learning the basics and complexities of investing through the company's in-app educational hub, Flahmingo Central.

While a fairly new player in the fintech world, Flahmingo has already made a big splash, raising $1.88 million in funding and generating a list of 6,000 users eagerly awaiting its launch. Kainth says this high level of support reaffirms that Canadians want to gain control of their own finances.

Behind the scenes, Flahmingo has developed proprietary technology while also working with a number of outside partners to help build its platform.

“Collaborating with other companies in the tech economy helps make things easier and more efficient. Instead of having to build something that’s already been done, we can work together with vendors to create a stronger product in less time,” says Jamila Kanji, Flahmingo’s director of communications and marketing and MRU Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations alumna.

Flahmingo has 30 employees — including six MRU students and alumni — and continues to grow. Kainth says that while their compact company’s size could be seen as an obstacle, it also comes with a silver lining.

“The most challenging part of being a small team is trying to solve difficult problems with limited resources while still being timely and

meaningful. At the same time, it’s one of our biggest competitive advantages. We’re able to be nimble, agile and quick to make decisions that large organizations can’t really do.”

For Kanji, being part of a smaller team has added a dynamic aspect to her role. One day she may be refining Flahmingo's brand voice, the next she’s strategizing a new marketing campaign and after that she’s supporting the product team with userexperience copywriting.

“The recent surge in tech means things are changing every day, not only with Flahmingo but with Calgary as an entire city,” she says.

“Getting to be a part of that is incredible.”

Flahmingo is gearing up for launch this year and was named one of 11 Canadian tech companies to watch in 2022.

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CALGARY’S UNICORN WITH A PURPOSE Will Fowler In the business world, the term “unicorn” is given to privately-held startup companies valued at over US$1 billion — a milestone as rare as the name suggests. In December 2020, Calgary’s Benevity, a donation-management platform, reached this mythical status after striking a US $1.1 billion deal with a U.K.-based investment company.

“At its core, Benevity is software as a service that helps donors give in the most tax effective manner possible, while also maximizing efficiency for the charities,” says Will Fowler, software architect at Benevity and a Bachelor of Computer Information Science graduate.

With over 500 employees and 700 clients, including big hitters like Apple, Microsoft and Nike, Benevity is a true disruptor in the charitable world. During Fowler’s six years with the company, he has had a front-row seat to its rapid growth and expansion.

Recalling the start of his Benevity journey, Fowler says, “We built a product feature called Volunteering, but had massive scale issues because we were growing so fast. We literally had people running around the office yelling about adding more RAM to servers.”

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Fowler says that in addition to keeping up while scaling up, he has also become more aware of the importance of accessibility when developing software. “Some of our clients speak different languages and some have accessibility needs, so it’s necessary to focus on inclusivity and internationalization,” he says.

On Friday afternoons, Benevity schedules time during which employees are free to work on whatever they wish to grow their skills. Fowler chose to build a proof-of-concept mobile app for the main Benevity platform. He was given the green light to continue working on the project full time, and it quickly grew into two full teams developing an iOS (iPhone operating system) and Android app. Fowler worked directly with Apple for the iOS version, which is used today by Apple employees. The opportunity to work on software and “own” projects from start to finish is part of what keeps him motivated, but he adds it can also take a little “luck.”

“There’s a businessy way to define luck,” he explains.

“It’s the intersection of opportunity and persistence.

I was extremely persistent, then had the opportunity, and I seized it.”

HARNESSING THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIETAL GOOD Carille Mendoza Bachelor of Computer Information Systems alumna Carille Mendoza is helping harness the power of technology to bolster societal change and equitable well-being.

Mendoza’s entry into the tech sector began with a five-year stretch at ATB Financial. After progressing from university intern to senior software developer, Mendoza felt ready to explore a new career path in product management. She made the switch to HelpSeeker Technologies, where she currently works as vicepresident of product.

HelpSeeker is a certified “B” corporation (a social enterprise as verified by B Lab, a non-profit organization) aiming to solve complex issues through a mix of social and technological innovation. Their free, location-based systems map and directory quickly connects users to the right services and resources in their area while also identifying service assets and gaps.

“Our data helps us better understand the needs of our users — the ‘help seekers.’ We can then provide them with valuable information to find the services they need,” Mendoza explains.

At the same time, HelpSeeker’s data assists decision makers, including government, funders and systems planners, in understanding problems within their communities to make better decisions on where to allocate funding.

Mendoza points out that historically, the social sector is an industry underserved by technology.

“The services in our social sector are inefficient, there are lots of redundancies,” she explains. “The introduction of technology is a way of reimagining how we can do it better and build the right solutions to answer the questions we actually want answered.”

Looking at Calgary tech on a more holistic level, Mendoza is passionate about the role diversity plays within the economy.

“We need to make sure there is a range of perspectives weighing in,” she says. “Who’s at your table when you’re creating the solutions? Do you have proper representations and are you bringing in the right stakeholders for the right conversation?”

Seeing tech as “a great equalizer,” Mendoza is optimistic of what’s still to come.

“People are starting to be more intentional with how they can solve problems, and there’s more support within Calgary to back them up,” she says. “I’m seeing a lot more hope in the younger generation that they have the ability to make a difference.”

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SCALING IN A GROWING TECH ECONOMY Alistair Shipley Originally thinking he was destined to be a restaurateur, Alistair Shipley (Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management) discovered his passion for technology during an intro to entrepreneurship class at MRU. Since then, Shipley has been full steam ahead in the tech world, including multiple years spent down in Silicon Valley — an experience from which he’s noticing similarities now that he’s back in Alberta.

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“It’s that energy where everyone has an idea that could potentially make an impact on the world. We’re starting to see that here in Calgary, and that excitement is contagious.”

For the last three years, Shipley has worked for Attabotics, a robotics company specializing in inventory management systems.

By providing robotic-centric warehousing and fulfillment systems, Attabotics “replaces the rows and aisles of traditional

centres with a patented storage structure and robotic shuttles,” allowing companies to “reduce their warehouse needs by 85 per cent,” says the website.

“Our robotics play in a very unique space within Calgary’s tech economy. We are one of the few growing startups that handles both hardware and software,” Shipley says. They are the world’s first artificial intelligence-powered 3D robotics supply chain system that greatly lessens the chance for failure.

In his current role as business development manager of network supply chain, Shipley is leading the charge as Attabotics prepares to implement a warehouse network across the United States.

“My job is to build out the new concept, bring on new clients and scale it across the U.S.” With seven years of sales experience, Shipley says product fit is the first thing that needs to be in place when scaling up a business. Also on Shipley’s list are getting the right people on your team, securing buy-in from community builders and having access to capital.

In Attabotics’ case, a fastgrowing company with more than 300 employees, Shipley says support from the government and community as well as the diverse talent pool in Calgary has played a large part in bolstering their success.

“The oil and gas industry has a lot of talent that can switch over to our tech space really, really well,” he says, adding there’s room for both in Alberta.

“Support and investment in one sector shouldn’t come at the expense of the other. I think they can work in parallel. There’s a lot of potential for both.”

Being a Mount Royal alum comes with some pretty sweet benefits. The best

way to have your cake and eat it too is to update your contact info with us. mru.ca/Always

Alumni benefits are like icing on the cake Claim your benefits

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Mount Royal alumni can enjoy a whole world of benefits including: • discounted Recreation memberships • access to Career Services for new grads • discounts on concert tickets • preferred insurance rates

Become a mentor, volunteer at Open House or Convocation or attend an event. There are so many ways to give your time to Mount Royal. Sign up for the alumni e-newsletter at mru.ca/Always to stay in the loop.

Every student can use a helping hand on their journey. Consider contributing to an alumni scholarship or bursary. Visit mru.ca/Giving for more info.

Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. @mrualumni alumni@mtroyal.ca 403.440.7000

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The skills you want, when you want them Their name may be small in scope, but micro-credentials are the next big thing in career development.

WORDS BY RUTH MYLES

As part of the province’s Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative, Mount Royal is introducing micro-credentials to its educational mix, enabling recent post-secondary graduates and established career professionals alike to develop and demonstrate specific skills that today’s employers need.

“Today, a career is a zig-zag path of different jobs, types of work and competencies. For almost all of us, what we are doing today in our job will, in some way, be obsolete in a few years,” says Todd Hirsch, vice-president and chief economist at ATB Financial. “We constantly need to be upgrading our skills, trying to anticipate where or what our jobs will morph into. In some ways, it can be frightening. But in other ways, it's exhilarating — it all depends on your outlook.”

Employers used to look for applicants straight out of school with all the skills they need, but that is unrealistic in today's world where required knowledge advances so quickly, Hirsch says. “The onus has shifted to the employers — and also the employee — to acquire skills as they need them. It's almost like education in real time. And that's how micro-credentialing works.”

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"

Today, a career is a zig-zag path of different jobs, types of work and competencies. For almost all of us, what we are doing today in our job will, in some way, be obsolete in a few years.

We constantly need to be upgrading our skills, trying to anticipate where or what our jobs will morph into. In some ways, it can be frightening.

But in other ways, it's exhilarating — it all depends on your outlook.

"

­— Todd Hirsch, vice-president and chief economist, ATB Financial

Choose your own adventure In January 2022, Mount Royal’s Faculty of Continuing Education offered its first micro-credentials, three short-term, online courses in the high-demand area of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. The ESG reporting microcredentials were developed collaboratively between the Faculty of Continuing Education and the Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES).

“IES leveraged its network of external contacts to review the material and to stay abreast of changes in this highly dynamic context. This is an excellent example of the Mount Royal approach to learning — applied, relevant and thoughtfully developed with rigour through valuable collaborations,” says Dr. Connie Van der Byl, PhD, associate professor in the Bissett School of Business and IES’s academic director.

Each micro-credential course comes with a digital badge that can be shared online so employers can verify the achievement. These electronic images contain secure, embedded data that verifies a credential and that the holder can present as proof of a specific competency or skill. They can be shared on social media, attached to a resumé or added to an email signature. Mount Royal’s digital badges will be managed and verified through MyCreds, Canada’s official credential wallet for post-secondary learners and graduates.

Later this year, Mount Royal is launching its second suite of micro-credentials, this time in applied machine learning (AML). This subset of artificial intelligence (AI) involves teaching computers to act without having to be explicitly programmed. AML has given us self-driving cars, practical speech recognition, effective web search and a vastly improved understanding of the human genome. The four AML micro-credentials will position learners to be relevant within the demands of a data-driven business organization and provide the ability to leverage AI technologies. Completing all four micro-credential earns an Applied Machine Learning Extension Certificate.

In addition, dr. linda manyguns, associate vice-president of indigenization and decolonization at Mount Royal, is preparing micro-credentials focused on Indigenous learnings.

Dr. Brad Mahon, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension, says he is seeing a change from the “one and done” approach to education, instead adding select skills à la carte, targeted to career goals.

“People want affordable, effective professional development that ties into what employers want,” Mahon says. “We look forward to expanding our line of microcredentials with more offerings that are tailored to what is taking place in Alberta’s economy now and in the near future.”

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Continuing Education team up on AWS re/Start The uncertainty experienced in the energy sector motivated Holly Howes to leave her career as a geologist behind for the world of cloud computing. Howes is one of 42 participants in the inaugural Calgary offering of Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) re/Start, a job skills training program that prepares individuals for entry-level roles in cloud computing and connects them to potential employers.

“I really wanted a change. I was losing the passion and motivation I had in my career because I was always worrying about finding the next job to stay afloat,” Howes says. “With AWS re/Start, I’m really interested in AI (artificial intelligence) and the ‘Internet of Things,’ along with building and managing databases. There are so many options, as cloud computing comes with so many opportunities to learn and cultivate your knowledge. You can go anywhere with it.”

With the support of Calgary Economic Development’s Energy to Digital Growth Education and Upskilling Project (EDGE UP) 2.0, AWS and Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Continuing Education teamed up to offer re/Start. Funded by the Future Skills Centre, the online offering is a 12week, full-time skills development program designed to jump-start a career working in cloud computing. The initiative — offered at no cost to participants — focuses on unemployed and underemployed professionals in the Calgary area who were displaced from the oil and gas sector or a related industry.

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R OYA L

A LU M N I

Get a quote and see how much you could save!

Go to tdinsurance.com/mtroyalalumni PAULA LARSSON Or call 1-888-589-5656

Bachelor of Arts — History (Honours), 2013 Bachelor of Arts — Anthropology (Honours), 2013

sense of history.

I highly recommend podcasts INTERVIEW BY ANNA PARKS us about your current research.

The TD InsuranceTell Meloche Monnex program is underwritten

by SECURITY NATIONAL PRIMMUM INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed

by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financi

Quebec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, 12th Floor, Montréa — my favourite is the Secret Life of Canada on My research looks at Canadian anti-vaccination H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, this car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. All trade-marks are the property o logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The rejection Toronto-Dominion Bank. owners. � The TDmovements CBC. Modern events are often the result of and other forms of vaccine

Alumna Paula Larsson is an academic with significant achievements in Canada and the United Kingdom. After graduating from MRU, Larsson went on to receive her master’s in history from the University of Calgary and another master's in medical anthropology at the University of Oxford, where she is now completing her doctorate.

An accomplished researcher, Larsson uses history and science as a tool to highlight social and racial injustices, dedicating significant efforts towards decolonization both as an academic and a volunteer.

Her work on the history of vaccination in Canada has seen her featured in media such as The Guardian and CNN.

or hesitancy in the context of personal identity.

Canada, its provinces and its urban centres have long employed vaccine technologies to control infection. Much like today, there have been repeated resistance movements, beginning in the 1870s with anti-smallpox vaccination sentiments and continuing into the 20th century, up until today. There are many similarities between the movements of the past and modern ones, with one key being that social and cultural identity has a tremendous impact on vaccine acceptance, much more than scientific evidence.

In your opinion, what lies at the heart of vaccine skepticism?

If my research has demonstrated anything, it’s that there isn’t a single type of vaccine hesitancy, rather there are many different forms and they are all shaped by context, social circumstances and personal experiences. It is entirely responsible to ask questions about any medical procedure, and I think it's very important to listen when someone has concerns about vaccination.

Ideally, those questions should be answered by a health-care provider who is trusted and understands your unique personal situation.

How can Calgarians and Albertans expand their sense of history?

There are many great resources easily accessible for those who are interested in expanding their

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historical legacies and looking to the past can help give you a fuller understanding of what’s going on today.

How would you introduce Uncomfortable Oxford, the non-profit you founded, to your fellow alumni?

Uncomfortable Oxford runs walking tours in the city of Oxford, which highlight histories of empire, inequality and discrimination while creating discussions about the legacies of these histories both in Oxford, and abroad. The goal is to make these histories accessible and to allow discussion to evolve productively, rather than the polarized discourse that usually happens in media and in other public spaces. We run a number of specialized tours weekly and aim to be a systemic intervention in the city.

What role did MRU play in your formation as a researcher?

Studying at MRU was an essential experience.

The institution was open and welcoming of new ideas and many of my professors actively encouraged me to pursue research topics that would be meaningful to our modern discussions while having confidence in my capabilities as a scholar. The support and encouragement I received at MRU allowed me to cultivate my interests and gave me the self-assuredness I needed to continue my passion for research.

ial Services, Inc. in al, Québec of their respective 7616-1119

Mount Royal University alumni, feel confident with preferred rates from TD Insurance.

You could save with rates on car, home, condo and tenant’s insurance.

Get a quote and see how much you could save!

Go to tdinsurance.com/mtroyalalumni Or call 1-888-589-5656

The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL PRIMMUM INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. in Quebec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, 12th Floor, Montréal, Québec H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, this car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. � The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

7616-1119