Horizons May 2008

4

Kudos for Katie & her quarter horse, who won during the Canadian National College Finals in March

5

12

Magnificent Mosaic: We examined beneath the surface to unveil the great stories at Open House

Travelling Tailor by Trade: An African tailor studies at Olds College

Serving our community of students, alumni & friends

Heavy Hitters!

Heavy Equipment Operator Program students Georgina Rollins (L) and Nikki Mills (R) check their equipment during a break.

Story on Page 3.

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Olds College 4500 - 50th Street Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010029

May 2008

Attending Olds College is even more affordable, with two new Entrance Awards available to students applying to select programs this fall.

“At Olds College, we are committed to helping students achieve their educational and employment goals,” says Jeff Suderman, Director of Student Recruitment at Olds College. “We are also committed to providing the business world with graduates who will contribute to our thriving economy.”

A $1000 Program Entrance Award is available for students entering the following: Land Administration; Fashion Marketing; Land and Water Resources; Business Administration; Animal Health Technology (on-line only); and all Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.

Eligible Programs

Also available is a $500 Broncos Athletics Entrance Award for select student athletes attending Olds College this fall. “Olds College offers intercollegiate athletic programs in men’s and women’s hockey, volleyball, basketball, golf, futsal, curling and women’s fastball,” says Suderman.

“All Athletic Entrance scholarships will be awarded at the completion of the sport season.”

All Athletic Entrance Scholarships will be awarded at the completion of the sport season:

Currently, he says, nearly 80 applications have been received. “We estimate we’ll be handing out around 200 scholarships from this initiative,” he says. “We’re doing this because we want to make Olds College more affordable, and we’re helping industry to meet employment demands.”

Contact Chelsea Harbidge at 556-4687 or visit the web for full details. www.oldscollege.ca/scholarships

Volume 2, Number 2 Publication mail agreement: 40010029 Submissions may be edited for content and length.

Fashion Marketing (Olds and Calgary Campus) Land Administration (Olds and Calgary Campus) Land and Water Resources Animal Health Technology (on-line program only) Business Administration Bachelor of Applied Science: Agribusiness Golf Course Management Landscape Management Production Horticulture

$500 Broncos Athletics Entrance Award

Basketball - April 1 Volleyball - January 15 Hockey- April 1 Futsal- April 1 Golf- January 15 Curling- April 1 Fastball- January 1

Olds College Horizons is published four times per year by the Office of Advancement. We welcome comments, letters and suggestions for stories.

Please email jisaac@oldscollege.ca, fax 403-556-4704 or write 4500-50 Street Olds, Alberta, T4H 1R6.

Editor: Jennifer Isaac, Communications Coordinator Publisher, Mark Keller, Manager Marketing Design: Myriah Barr, Graphic Design and Multimedia Coordinator Print: Calgary Colorpress

Off the record A silver sports car sits outside Rez, loaded to the hilt with boxes of books, backpacks and clothes. On my way into the building, I hold open the door for a student who’s got most of her personal belongings piled onto a cart.

“Thanks!” she calls to me.

Every hallway in Rez is blocked with students carting away their school-year essentials, which amount to the items that helped them to make it through their academic program here at Olds College.

On a Wednesday afternoon in April, a lone student leafs through a newspaper in the Learning Resource Centre. The computer lab is empty, except for a staff member.

“It’s pretty quiet around here, for the next four months,” he tells me.

2 May 2008

Quiet? It’s more like a tomb!

Final exams are finished; projects have been passed in; the students have checked out. They’ve moved on to new jobs and new destinations. I can’t help but be nostalgic for the flurry of activity that they created on-campus.

Here are some highlights of events that occurred over the past few months: • The Crossing opened in the Community Learning Campus. The menu features healthy choices, like sweet potato fries and wraps. Prices are great!

• A young man travelled 88 hours by Greyhound to attend Open House on April 5. See his story on our Open House pages.

• Olds College hosted a visiting instructor from Rwanda, who attended classes in the apparel technology program. Read about him in this issue.

• It takes more than a lucky horse to win a rodeo event. Katie Marshall tells us all about her experience on Page 4.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Horizons. Please feel free to forward your news and story suggestions to me.

Welcome to my sandbox “For these students, the only difference is, they’re playing in a bigger sandbox,” says Brian Ross, Field Instructor in the Heavy Equipment Operator Program at the College.

Nearby, student Matt Downs expertly maneuvers an 18,000 pound excavator over a mound of earth. “I found out about this program from an online search,” he says. “I’m learning a lot here, plus it’s great to operate the equipment.” Downs is from Richmond, B.C., and when he’s finished the program, he plans to head up north to Fort McMurray to work in the tar sands.

It’s no easy feat to adeptly handle a machine that weighs in excess of 15 tons, and yet student Brock Busby navigates seamlessly. He comes from a mining background and he looks like a pro behind the wheel of the massive dozer, which happens to be his favourite piece of equipment. “The fact that this program was recognized by the Alberta government really convinced me to take it,” he says, when he steps down from the machine.

Olds College started the Heavy Equipment Operator Program in 2006, and since then, its popularity has exploded. But since the program can accept only 16 students per session, there is a waiting list.

“It is so important to work toward a technically strong education in heavy equipment operation,” says Amber Teed, Trades Extension, Program Manager in the School of Agriculture, Business and Technology at Olds College. “Providing superior training to our students from the get-go makes a huge difference in production once they’re out in the field.”

She adds that Olds College has made a commitment to industry, and is in fact guided by experts. It’s a relationship that has proven to be beneficial to the program. “Several companies have donated equipment,” Teed says. “We give them a gift inkind receipt, and then they get first grabs at our grads. We help to match them up.”

The success of the program can be partly attributed to the critical start-up funding that EnCana Corporation provided. “Without EnCana’s support, our program would not be as effective,” adds Teed.

Another industry partner that has been instrumental in getting the program off the ground is Netook Construction Ltd., based in Olds. “From a safety perspective, the learning curve has increased dramatically,” says David Doyle, General Manager with Netook, which serves a wide radius of clients within Central Alberta. At peak season, Netook employs between 45 to 70 equipment operators.

“Because of environmental rules and regulations, land reclamation and environmental controls have become a huge factor to consider,” he says.

One of the major reasons that Netook approached Olds College three years ago was because of the lack of qualified operators. “Running the machine itself is fairly easy to do,” Doyle says. “It’s knowing what to do with the dozer that presents a difficult task.” To help get the program started, Netook initially donated a packer, a grader, a dozer, an excavator and a scraper.

Other trends in the industry would include the increasing numbers of women entering the field.

Bob Logue is the Operations Manager for Caliber Systems, Inc., a Calgary-based construction company. He says he was hiring women before it became popular. Women, he says, tend to show up for work on-time, they’re gentler on the equipment, and they’re more likely to do the required equipment maintenance.

Another relationship that Olds College has developed is with Women Building Futures (WBF), an organization headquartered in Edmonton.

“The goal is to recruit and prepare qualified female candidates to fill the numerous positions the industry will have available,” says Judy Lynn Archer, CEO with Women Building Futures & The Fixit Chicks Inc. “The collaborative program will prepare women to enter the world of heavy equipment operating with realistic expectations and a toolkit of safety training, hands-on practice and workplace conditioning that will greatly enhance the individual’s chance for success.

“It’s a win for women and Alberta’s roadbuilding and heavy construction industry.”

Olds College student Nikki Mills is one of those women eager to enter the heavy equipment operation industry. As a little girl, she snubbed dolls

Those are the words of a humourous sign that’s posted inside a small tool shack, located in a dirt-filled field just east of the riding arena at Olds College Campus.

and instead, played with action figures and Tonka trucks.

“I’ve always loved engines and machines,” says the 24year-old. “I feel like I’m a part of the machine, and that the engine and oils are just running through my body.”

Mills is enrolled in the winter session of the Heavy Equipment Operator Program at the College, and she explains that it’s a natural course for her to follow.

“I’ve always been a driver,” she adds. “I get a rush from operating machines.”

As well, she’s not intimidated by the fact that she’s entering a non-traditional field for a woman. “I worked seismic for four years before this,” she says. “I’m used to the comments from guys.”

Out of a class of 16, Mills is one of two women.

She agrees that female operators are becoming more common at the worksite.

Fellow student Georgina Rollins laughs when she describes the aspirations of her seven-year-old daughter. “She wants to be a dozer operator, just like Mom,” says the Morley resident and mother of two.

Somehow, though, she’s not surprised by the news. “I come from a family of drivers,” Rollins adds. “When I was 10 years old, I started driving a tractor in a hayfield.”

She notes that when she first sat behind the wheel of a gravel truck in the 1980s, “it was tough for women to get their foot in the door.” “You had to learn to stand your ground,” she recalls.

And yet it’s an occupation that she loves, partly because of the independence and what she describes as the ‘alone-time.’ “I like it when they tell me what I need to do, and then I just do it,” she says. “You build yourself a reputation and then you just pave your way.”

The paving projects will continue, as infrastructure projects continue across Alberta. And the demand for qualified operators will continue to increase. “I don’t see this industry being replaced by computers,” Logue adds.

And Amber Teed at Olds College will endeavour to keep her pledge. “We promised our industry partners they would get the best, and we’re helping to establish a high standard,” she says.

May 2008 3

Guests from each of these countries have recently visited the Olds College BioFuel Technology Centre, to learn more about biodiesel.

What do Russia, China, Mexico and the Dominican Republic all have in common?

Brenda Zenert answers questions from the international group.

Nearly 1,000 visitors have toured the facility in its first year of operation, to discover how biodiesel is produced and utilized. Guests included Premier Ed Stelmach, producer groups, municipal planning officials and students of all ages from Central Alberta schools.

“The BioFuel Technology Centre is a model of sustainability in agriculture and the environment,” says Dr. Abimbola Abiola, Director of Research. “We explore biofuel technologies that provide us with the opportunity to enhance the training that our students receive and demonstrate our commitment for a sustainable environment to Albertans and the world.”

With support form industry, government and the local community, Olds College began production of this renewable fuel from canola oil in May 2007. Applied research is focused on quality control, by-product utilization, the use of alternative feedstocks and economic feasibility. The facility also serves as a demonstration site for innovative new technologies.

The Russian group was engaged in an agriculture technology scouting mission.

“They made a special trip to Olds to look at the facility,” says Brenda Zenert, Biodiesel Production Research Assistant at the College. “This was their first visit to Canada and they already knew about Olds College and its biodiesel initiative. They had travelled through poor road conditions, temperatures of -30 C and had a flight to catch, but they made it for the tour.”

With a translator bridging the language gap, the group communicated their awareness of the agriculturally focused College and expressed interest in learning more about its role in supporting Canadian agriculture.

Before catching their flight to sunny California for the next stop on their tour, the delegation offered to showcase the College in an upcoming Russian agricultural marketing magazine.

Submitted by Carien Vandenberg

Victory Belt Buckles for Olds College students Olds College student Katie Marshall says it’s her horse’s fault that she won the Breakaway Roping event at the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo held at Edmonton’s Northlands on March 29.

“I trust my horse so much,” says the first year Equine Science Business Management student. “He’s awesome.”

Marshall rode Dandy, her eight-year-old black purebred quarter horse, whom she describes as “her baby.”

“I just wanted to throw three clean calves,” she says. With a time of 3.3 seconds, Marshall was the fastest in her event.

Top cowboys and cowgirls from colleges and universities competed for the championship titles in various events.

“It was my first time competing in the Nationals,” Marshall adds. “The victory laps were just amazing.”

Sharing the winner’s circle with Marshall were two other Olds College students: Brett Branden, who took the Bull Riding championship with a final score of 77 points; and Mike Iricandia, in the Steer Wrestling event, with a final time of 5.9 seconds.

“Our Rodeo Club team has been very successful this year,” says Jan Bischler, president of the Olds College Rodeo Club. “We’re so grateful to all of our sponsors.”

Marshall brought home a gold-tone belt buckle, which she proudly wears with a matching belt.

“I always say a prayer for the horses,” she says. “I always hope that nobody gets hurt and that we have fun.”

4 May 2008

Katie Marshall astride her eight-year-old black purebred quarter horse Dandy

Open House

Exposés

A roadtrip takes on new meaning when you’ve travelled for 88 hours by Greyhound, through four provinces.

“I got through four books on the way here,” says Martin Hughes, a 26year-old Kingston, Ontario resident who holds a diploma in Agricultural Equine Studies from the University of Guelph. Hughes caught a bus after working a 12-hour shift, in order to attend Olds College’s Open House. Flying was too expensive, he says, and the train was out of his budget. “My round-trip bus ticket cost only $220.00,” he says.

Hughes has been accepted into the Agribusiness program for next September, and he came to Open House to check out the campus he’ll call home for two years. “There’s a lot more opportunity here than in Ontario,” he says. “There’s so much yet to explore.”

While at Open House, he enjoyed the tours and the demonstrations. “They were pretty cool,” he says. “Especially the Corvette Funny Car.” Hughes stayed a few nights in Rez before boarding the bus to head back to Ontario.

The scoop on the coupe: Dr. Abimbola Abiola (right) explains the features of the biodiesel Corvette jet engine funny car.

Olds is “exactly like Beausejour, Manitoba,”

Tree Tactic: Arboriculture students demonstrate climbing techniques.

Says Hilary Omichinski, who flew to Calgary with her parents the day before Open House.

She’s enrolled in the Fashion Apparel Technology program, and will begin her courses in September.

“It’ll be a little scary, being away from home for the first time,” says the 17-year-old, while lining up for the fashion show. “Olds feels like a good fit for me, though. I’m excited to attend.”

Landscape pavilion facility expansion

Mara-Lee Moroz, Senior Development Officer Office of Advancement Phone:403-507-7721 mmoroz@oldscollege.ca

Our Open House was a great success!

On April 5, hundreds of visitors came through our doors to look, learn and listen. Here are some of the stories we gathered:

Goal $2.19 million

Construction Phase

Donation Goal

Status

Landscape Pavilion Facility Expansion Shop Style Classrooms Connecting Link and Outdoor Staging Lab Equipment

$ 652,500

72%

$ 530,500 $ 164,000

61%

$ 776,000

5%

Read more on page 8

If you have questions regarding the Landscape Pavilion Facility Expansion, or if you would like to find out how you can get involved in supporting the project, please contact:

Stephanie Brezinski says she isn’t very superstitious.

“If I were, I’d have bad luck for life!” says the second-year Olds College Apparel Technology student. It’s a good thing she doesn’t believe in bad karma, because recently, in preparation for the Open House Fashion Show, she broke six full-length mirrors – on purpose – to create a mirrored fountain for the stage.

“We put the mirrors in a garbage bag and smashed them on the sidewalk with hammers,” Brezinski says. “Then we hot-glued the pieces to fishing wire.” Five hours and 100 glue sticks later, the mirrored mosaic was ready to be installed. “We rigged it up with little pumps and dry ice,” she adds. “It took several hours to get it operational on stage.”

Her outstanding showpiece complemented the theme of the fashion show, which was “Enchantment.” Twenty-six students modeled their best projects from the past year. With rose petals sprinkled on the stage, the show ascribed to several period flavours, including Elizabethan, Renaissance and harem-style. Adding to the whimsical ambiance were little fairies, who scampered about sprinkling rose petals on the runway, much to the delight of the 400 people in the audience.“The fashion show at Open House is always a popular highlight,” says Lori Switzer, coordinator of the Apparel Technology Program. “We were very pleased with how it went. The students gave freely of their time, to ensure that the décor, the music, the hair and the make-up were done well.”

May 2008 5

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BRIDLE PATH

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A

BRIDLE PATH

C

C

C

C

C

D A D B

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B

C

C A

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D

PARKING LOT 6 1 B

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BRIDLE PATH

3 D B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

2

K

4

D

7A

7B

14 E

M

E E

E

7C

E

6

F

F

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E E

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F

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F

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BRIDLE PATH

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LEGEND

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BUILDINGS 11

NEW CONSTRUCTION EXISTING BUILDING (TO BE CONVERTED)

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EXISTING BUILDING (NOT PART OF SCOPE)

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N

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P

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J

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J

No lack of horse sense in equine centre planning

The foot print, make that ‘hoof print’, of equine programming at Olds College is changing dramatically as the Canadian Centre for Equine Innovation (CECI) project moves forward, says Dalin Bullock, Chair of the School of Animal Sciences.

The College’s renowned equine programming “will be offered in a different format including a common first year certificate and the opportunity for students to specialize in a major to obtain a diploma in their second year,” he says.

The new format, combined with new facilities, will also increase the number of students the College can accept.

Canadian Centre for Equine Innovation

R

HIGHWAY 2A

“The whole intent is to be able to accommodate more students than we have in the past,” Bullock says. “Our draw is national and beyond as we have far more students from outside of the province than from within.”

HIGHWAY 27

Community Learning Campus

N

Bullock explains the majors available to students after the program changes format in September 2009 will include Breeding and Production, Western Horsemanship, English Horsemanship, as well as Business and Equine Event Management. Plans for the future include the development of new majors to serve the needs of students and the equine industry.

Extensive hands-on training, perhaps the most unique and valued aspect of the Olds College program, is carefully preserved in the re-formatted program. “We could expand the program by simply packing more students in, but that’s not acceptable from a quality and safety perspective,” explains Bullock. Classes will remain small, and students will devote a lot of time to hands-on, or perhaps horse-on, education.

However, combining the desire for practical education with expanded student enrollment means existing equine facilities must grow. That reality has spurred the creation of new equine facilities on the Olds Campus and partnerships with the equine industry to deliver specialized training at other venues.

According to Bullock, a complicated series of construction and renovation projects will begin on campus in the summer of 2008. Bullock explains that the first phase of development will see construction of a new indoor riding arena complete with indoor stabling for 50 horses. Plans call for tenders to close in May, with actual construction commencing as soon as June.

The second phase of the project entails building a new livestock centre to accommodate cattle and sheep that are currently housed in facilities that will be displaced by the new equine facilities.

“Phase three will be the construction of a new Breeding and Production Centre, and a Foaling Centre, with associated penning,” Bullock says. The final phase will be the renovation of the existing riding arena to become a venue to host events.

The full set of equine facilities will be located as close as possible to other campus facilities. “We want to be sure that students are integrated within the core campus facilities and make the best possible use of existing offices and classrooms,” Bullock says.

Esthetics has also been considered in planning. “The concept is that CECI will be defined by a bridal path” ensuring a pleasant setting that welcomes students and visitors.

Bullock says the new facilities will “give all students the opportunity to take equine training as part of their College course load.” Evening riding classes will be available to any student who wishes to enroll.

Employers and industry members will also benefit. “The vision of CECI is to become a focal point for the equine industry for both training and applied research,” Bullock says. He suggests applied research in areas such as breeding, performance, welfare and nutrition will be of interest to Canada’s growing equine industry.

“I believe the project will be very positive for Olds College and our community,” he says. “It provides capacity to serve more students with specialized training, and supports our reputation as a great place to go to school.”

The project has been funded with a one-time $10 million grant from the provincial government. Partnerships with the private sector and interested individuals will continue to be a valued contribution to the College’s equine programs.

When students can’t get enough of a good thing, there’s only one solution: provide more Landscape Pavilion Update 2008

That’s the simple reason Olds College and a host of supporters are investing in a 30 percent expansion of the School of Horticulture’s unique Landscape Pavilion.

“We used to rush to do all our hands-on training in the fall,” says Jack Berggerm, a veteran instructional assistant who can be found almost every moment of every day helping students develop skills in the Pavilion.

“As soon as winter came, we’d be back in the classroom looking at pictures, instead of doing hands-on work.”

That all changed about a decade ago, with the creation of the Bank of Montreal Landscape Pavilion, Canada’s first indoor landscape training facility. With the help of industry partners, the Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association (LANTA) and the Bank of Montreal, the Pavilion rapidly became the place to develop skills in landscape construction, arboriculture, turf installation, irrigation and more.

“The indoor environment is much more conducive to learning a skill,” says Berggerm.

“If you’re teaching on a day like this,” he says, pointing outdoors where snow whizzed horizontally past the window, “it is difficult to concentrate.”

And paying attention to what’s going on is important in the School of Horticulture.

A typical day’s activity in the Pavilion might range from learning tree climbing skills to installing paving stones. And not in discreet blocks of time allowing the noise and dust from one activity to subside before the next occurs.

“Just two weeks ago, I was teaching aerial rescue skills 30 feet in the air, while another class was using plate tampers,” says arboriculture instructor Laurie Newsham. In short, the instructional advantages of the Pavilion have created demands for space and time that have outstripped supply.

The physical expansion of the Pavilion will provide new spaces for training, a step which also increases student enrollment, says Carol Calenso-Fair, Chair, School of Horticulture.

“The expansion increases our capacity to enroll students because it increases our ability to do hands-on training.”

Matthew Swirsky (Landscape apprentice student) “My goal is to build the best looking landscapes out there.

The Pavilion allows us to work through the winter and test new designs and ideas.”

Climbing training, for example, will be in the new space and separated from noisy landscape construction with closing doors.

“There will be more rings in the ceiling, which means more places for students to be up in the air at once.”

Newsham is also looking forward to a new climbing wall that will replicate “what we do when we climb a tree.”

The new space will also provide another Olds College first, a fully enclosed irrigation training facility that can be used year-round.

Turf instructor Ian Morrow says, “This will be a one-of-a-kind facility in Canada, probably one-of-a-kind in North America. We can build the whole irrigation system, we can trouble shoot, we can do installations on the same day that we learn winterization.”

The irrigation lab will feature an indoor pumping station, and for those with a concern for the environment, water in the lab will be collected from the rain on the roof and stored in a cistern.

Like all aspects of training in the Pavilion, today’s students are not the only ones to gain.

“The model is for the irrigation industry to train their customers here.”

Calenso-Fair explains that use of the Pavilion by business partners is another benefit for students, who gain from the knowledge and equipment shared by industry. “We’re grateful for industry support, and not just for the capital, but for the ongoing equipment donations that help our students to learn.”

The vision for the Pavilion is clear, and plans call for students to be at work in the expanded facility as early as September 2008.

Read project details on page 5

“They (students) can come down to the Pavilion and actually ‘do it’,” says Jack Berggerm. “I love to get the students down there and work with them and watch them learn.”

Ian Morrow agrees. “One of the things students always tell me is that it isn’t until we get to the Pavilion that they say, ‘Now I get it.’ The hands-on work is a real confidence builder, because they are prepared to work; they’ve already done the job at school.”

While construction of the Pavilion expansion has started, the College is actively seeking funding to achieve the full vision of the project.

Aspects that remain on the drawing board include an indoor workshop-cum-classroom space to teach technical and mechanical skills such as equipment maintenance, and wood construction, and a sheltered outdoor lab for noisy and dusty training such as chain saw labs.

Olds College student has the one-two-three of a ballroom dancer

Stephanie Sylvestre can cut a beef in half in 30 seconds.

“These saws are awesome,” says the former Rodeo Queen, who is currently the project manager of Meat Processing in the School of Animal Science at Olds College. “You can lift it up and down with your pinkie finger.”

The stainless steel supersaw is installed within a compartment of a 53-foot, custom-built highway trailer, which harbors a multi-location, federally-inspected abattoir. “This is a pilot project that involves several stakeholders, including Olds College and Alberta Agriculture and Food,” adds Sylvestre. “The unit is undergoing testing on campus.”

As an integral part of a study titled “Optimizing slaughter strategies to manage antemortem stress, carcass and meat quality,” the multilocation abattoir will help to provide a baseline to compare with other, more conventional methods of slaughter.

Conceptually, the tractor-trailer unit would park on a flat area within a field. “The multi-location abattoir is a self-contained factory, where you could close up the back doors and just move the carcass along,” she says. “When we pull into a yard, we don’t need a thing.”

Andrew Schur jangles as he makes his way through the corridors at Olds College.

Around his neck are gold, silver and bronze medals, showcasing his recent win at the National Winter Games held in Quebec City in February.

Andrew is a member of the Special Olympics Team Alberta 2008, and he brought home gold in the Giant Slalom, silver in the Slalom and bronze in the Downhill.

“I have to find a place to display them,” says the 19-year-old, who is a student in the Transitional Vocational program at Olds College. When he’s not doing dryland training, Andrew is attending classes at Olds College or completing his work experience program.

“Andrew always wants to do his best,” says his coach, Theresa Garagan, who is also the head coach for Team Alberta.

“He’s a great technical skier who is beautiful to watch. “He’s got the one-twothree of a ballroom dancer.”

Andrew is naturally competitive, she says, and loves to armwrestle or have push-up races during dryland training. “He’s a sweet guy with a big heart,” she says.

Andrew began his skiing career when he was six years old, with lessons through the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing (CADS).

He continued to ski with his parents at several ski hills, including Sunshine, Lake Louise, Fernie and Kicking Horse.

“Andrew’s ability improved dramatically through the years,” says his dad, Barry Schur. “He’s very accomplished at mountain skiing and skis well in all terrains and conditions.”

For three years, Andrew volunteered as an assistant instructor with the CADS.

“He began skiing with Special Olympics in January 2007,” adds his dad. “He competed in the provincial championships in February 2007, where he won three medals in the Men’s Division II.” The National Winter Games attracted over 900 athletes and coaches from 10 provinces and two territories. Team Alberta sent 74 athletes and 22 coaches.

The Quebec City games act as the qualifier to the Special Olympics World Winter Games, to be held in Boise, Idaho in 2009.

“I’d like to represent Canada in those games, if I’m selected,” Andrew says. That decision will be made by the coaches, in May. When he’s not attending classes or skiing, he’s swinging in the early morning hours at a playground near Olds College.

After the animal is slaughtered and bled in the field, its carcass is hooked on and brought into the mobile abattoir. From there, a beef - for example - would be laid on its back on the steel-framed skinning bed, which is housed in the first section of the unit. “Here, we’d take off the hide and remove the head and legs,” Sylvestre says. “The carcass would undergo evisceration in this compartment, with the offal – or, waste – evacuated out a side door.”

Next stop is the saw, where the carcass is cut in half. “After we split the carcass, it’s washed off with hoses,” she says . “The idea is, it becomes progressively cleaner.” Finally, the carcass is hung in a refrigerated compartment within the trailer, which was built to hold up to 12 beef.

Then, it’ll be transported to a cutting plant.

Trials began in the spring, and testing is expected to continue for several months.

Features of the Multi-location Abattoir: •On-board generator •Supersaw •Knife sterilizer •Scale

•Heating and cooling unit in both backrooms •Three 500-gallon water storage tanks •Air compressor •Shower & toilet

Potential Advantages of the Multi-location Abattoir: •A mobile abattoir translates into increased consumer access to high quality meat products in the local area and offers them the opportunity to put their ethical beliefs into practice.

•An outstanding benefit of mobile abattoirs is that the animals are subjected to a minimum of stress, as compared with conventional, pre-slaughter handling that often includes stressful loading, transport, mixing and crowding.

•Reduces handling costs for the producer.

•Offers greater flexibility for specialty meat products.

•Addresses the needs of livestock producers.

•Alleviates the current shortage of abattoir facilities •Capitalizes on niche markets

Stephanie Sylvestre brandishes a meatsaw inside the multi-location abattoir undergoing testing at Olds College.

Andrew Schur proudly displays his medals from National Winter Games held in Quebec City in February.

May 2008 9

Painter Portrays Partnership Ruth Jepson stands in front of her easel, a paint brush in her hand. On a nearby weathered tabletop sit the tools of her trade: a bottle of turpentine; a set of colour pencils; a selection of brushes. She dabs on some paint and then pauses to reflect thoughtfully upon her work. She says she was instantly inspired by the theme for Olds College Gala 2008.

“The minute I read No Limits, No Boundaries, I could see the finished work in my mind’s eye,” she says. “It had to be a space beyond in the future. The DNA is important for what will happen. “And it had to be bright, bold and vibrantly coloured.”

Ms. Jepson was commissioned by the Olds College Gala 2008 committee to create a painting to give to the University of Alberta, the College’s Partner of the Year.

The renowned artist and mother of six was born in Didsbury, Manchester, where she remembers sitting at the dining room table drawing Valentine cards. “As a child, I loved to do that,” she says. “And my parents would sit by the fireplace, listening to the radio.”

She moved to Didsbury, Alberta in 1967, and now lives in a charming, heritagestyle home, called the Corner Studio. “When I first walked into this house, it reached out and put its arms around me,” she says. Throughout her artistic career, she has painted hundreds of pictures, with many hanging on display in her comfortable home-studio. “I see faces in everything,” she says. Admirers can view some of her work on the second floor of Duncan Marshall Place at Olds College, where she has illustrated the History of Fashion throughout the decades. “For five years, I taught fashion illustration at Olds College,” she says.

She’s satisfied with the piece she’s just completed, and says it’s the movement that is so gratifying. “It’s not a static picture,” she says. Seven human figures move along in an upward curve, to the DNA line, to the moon, through the Aurora, and then down. “Throughout the picture, the eye is taken along a pathway, which conveys the message of knowledge being transferred along,” says Ms. Jepson.

“It makes you think.”

Premier Ed Stelmach attended Gala with his wife, Marie

Didsbury artist Ruth Jepson brushes on some finishing touches to the piece she created for Gala 2008. The theme is No Limits, No Boundaries.

Goldfish, golden globes and glamourous guests

Ag Advocates provided invaluable assistance at the sold-out event

On March 14, Olds College celebrated the sixth annual Growing the Legacy Gala, with 340 esteemed guests in attendance. Premier Ed Stelmach and his wife, Marie, were among the notable dignitaries present, as well as University of Alberta President Dr. Indira Samarasekera, MLAs Doug Horner and Mary Anne Jablonski.

University of Alberta’s String Beans Quartet performed for Gala guests

Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Doug Horner enjoyed Gala with his wife, Rose

10 May 2008

“Gala provided a time and a place where people could meet and discuss important College business,” says Dan Fullerton, Director of Innovation at Olds College.

He mentions that he was most impressed by keynote speaker, Lesra Martin, who shared his inspirational story and educational journey. “We keep hearing about how there are no limits,” he adds. “Lesra Martin illustrated a singular story that demonstrated that you can be what you want to be.”

Olds College Gala represents the culmination of hundreds of hours of volunteer effort from Olds College staff, faculty and students, as well as donated resources from industry partners and donors.

Proceeds from Gala, including funds from the Silent and Live Auctions, are devoted toward bursaries, scholarships and program enhancement at the College.

This year, nearly $42,000 was raised.

A fountain was designed and built by Olds College Horticulture staff and students

Presentation of 2008 Partner of the Year

ALUMNI REVIEW

Special benefits and savings for Alumni.

Alumni Corner News

By Sandra MacKinnon-Jahn, OCAA President The 1,200th visitor to sign our guest register was Olds College student, Randy Christensen, on March 18. His reward was a souvenir metal travel coffee mug.

Olds College Alumni Association Board of Directors 2007-2008 President Sandra MacKinnon-Jahn ‘86 Vice President Charles Watson ‘61 Past President Doreen Morton ‘50 Honourary President Irene Miller ‘55 Treasurer Melody Cavin, College Staff Secretary Laurinda Parkinson ‘69 Directors Jim Burns ‘68 Bryan Dowell ’61 Edith Edge ‘51 Christy Hambly ‘98 John Perry ‘63 Ed Shaw ’71 OCSA Rep Laura Hutton Faculty Rep Heather Taylor Olds College President and CEO Dr. H.J. (Tom) Thompson

OCAA President has been very busy with the new administrative duties, manning the museum and office on Tuesdays and attending functions on behalf of the Alumni Association.

Attended the Olds College 2008 Gala on March 14. Grand occasion, excellent networking function.

Attended the Olds College Awards Night on March 19 to present the Good Samaritan Award to Janine Waldo, Bachelor of Applied Science – Land Management Major.

Chaired the 2008 Annual Class Agent Meeting on April 5.

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Jordan Cleland, Office of Advancement, has given us the go-ahead for the expansion of the museum and office space to include all of Room 721 A & B, effective May 2008.

Thanks goes out to Anne Blackburn from the Fashion Design program, for donating retired mannequins for the museum’s use.

My thanks goes to my faithful volunteer, Greta Bolton, who has helped me at Open House for the past five years. The museum is always a popular stop for visitors during Open House activities.

Memorials

• AIR MILES® reward miles • Identity Theft Coverage

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Available through Johnson Inc., a licensed insurance agency. Policies are primarily underwritten by Unifund Assurance Company. Unifund and Johnson Inc. share common ownership. Due to the existence of provincial automobile insurance plans, only home insurance is available in BC, SK, and MB. An alternate plan is available in QC. Call for details. AIR MILES® reward miles not available in SK, MB or QC. AIR MILES® reward miles awarded only on regular home and auto insurance policies underwritten by Unifund Assurance Company.

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The Alumni Board respectfully notes the passing of the following Olds College Alumni and staff, and extends its condolences to their families and friends.

M. Lillian Bergman 2 in 1 Home Economics Program 1943 Neil Bosomworth 2 in 1 Agriculture Program 1937 David Bradshaw 2 in 1 Agriculture Program 1949 Olga Mary Dunn Olds College Employee 1973-1983

James Hainsworth Agriculture Program 1938 Dale George Patterson Agriculture Program 1947 John Quantz 2 in 1 Agriculture Program 1948

James Wilfley 2 in 1 Agriculture Program 1945 William Wyndham 2 in 1 Agriculture Program 1945 Stewart Ferguson Young Agricultural Equipment 1978

Dorothy Raham-Siebert 2 in 1 Home Economics Program 1925

To review the complete obituaries which have been forwarded to our office, please visit the Olds College Alumni section of our website at www.oldscollege.ca/alumni.

“I like to challenge myself by entering into uncomfortable situations,” says the President of Olds College, who recently earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Calgary.

“When you place yourself in situations where you are debating issues with individuals who are recognized experts, you force yourself to collect, synthesize and articulate your thoughts.

Lifelong Learning Dr. H.J. (Tom) Thompson says he likes to step outside his comfort zone.

Dr. Thompson is an enthusiastic participant and supporter of a lifelong learning plan. “As long as I can remember, I have had a thirst for knowledge,” he says. “I like to feel that I am learning something new everyday.”

The title of his thesis was: An Exploration of the Relationship Between the Practice of Shared Leadership and Board Effectiveness Within the Rural Boards of the Public Colleges of Alberta.

As a young man, he admired his uncle, Selby Ogle, whom he describes as “a master teacher.” At the age of 11, Ogle became ill with rheumatic fever, and his parents were informed that he probably would not live past the age of 18. “Instead, he grew up and enjoyed 56 years of marriage before passing away in 2005, at the age of 89,” Dr. Thompson says. “He proved to be an inspiration to me.”

During his two years of doctoral studies, Dr. Thompson recognized early on that he would have to “accept a learning curve in understanding technology.”

“I hit the ground running,” he says. “I realized that I would need support from members of the Olds College community.”

His program consisted of 12 courses, with online delivery of eight classes. “The other four were completed at the University of Calgary,” he says. One of the biggest challenges, he says, occurred while he was travelling. “You had to reconcile the time differences between yourself and the instructors,” he says. “Sometimes, I had to catch a lecture or participate in groupwork at 3:00 a.m.”

He credits the help of his supervisor, Dr. David Kirby from the University of Manitoba. “Dr. Kirby was outstanding,” he says. As well, he’s grateful for the support he received from the Olds College Board, as well as from his administrative staff.

“I believe it is a worthwhile endeavour to never cease learning, whether it’s formal or informal,” he says. “My mother used to say that learning is the spice of life. “In an information age, it is totally spicy and it helps you to prepare for what lies ahead for society.”

May 2008 11

Joseph Nzirorera sits comfortably at an electric sewing machine in the fashion lab at Olds College. The soft-spoken African has grown accustomed to the burst of electricity surging out of the small apparatus, as he works on a pair of pants, a jacket, or perhaps a shirt. Joseph has been studying at Olds College campus since February, in order to enhance and further develop his teaching abilities.

“The courses are good and I’m learning a lot,” he says. “I’m enjoying Canada.”

Travelling Tailor

by Trade

Learning to survive a Canadian winter is formidable even for the most-seasoned Albertans, but for the 29-year-old African – who is afflicted with polio and walks with the aid of crutches – the tasks seemed reasonable, especially compared with the nearly insurmountable odds he has faced in the past. Joseph’s father died when he was three years old, leaving his Tutsi mother to raise four children on her own, until she was killed in the 1994 massacre.

Back home in Rwanda, Joseph is employed as a qualified pattern cutter and tailoring instructor at CFJ Padri Vjeko School, located in the community of Kivumu. Students start out on treadle sewing machines, and then move up to electric, with energy produced by solar power or portable generators.

Tailoring is a viable form of employment for many Africans with a variety of markets offering second-hand clothing for sale.

Joseph’s monthly salary is about $74, a decent wage by African standards. He’s saving to build a small home, which costs $1,000. So far, he’s saved $300. He returns to Rwanda in June, to resume his teaching duties.

Coming Events

4-H 4-Ever!

Class of 2008 Olds College 92nd Graduation Ceremony Saturday, June 21, 2008

A monument resembling a windmill stands in front of the Olds College Residence building. Four green steel ‘blades’ are actually four Hs, joined together at the points. The monument commemorates the beginnings of 4-H in Alberta, at Olds College, which was originally known as the Olds School of Agriculture (OSA).

Fibre Week June 27-July 4th

In 1917, if you were fortunate enough to become a member of Mr. Elliott’s Swine Club at the OSA, you’d find yourself the proud owner of a pair of registered sows. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce provided a bank loan of $30 to buy the pigs, under the condition that students sell one sow at the end of the season to pay back the bank.

The second sow would be used to build up the herd.

Mr. Elliott’s Swine Club was so successful, the Alberta Department of Agriculture asked him to organize clubs province-wide.

At the time, William J. Elliot was principal of the OSA, and he was convinced of the need for scientific training for farmers. His dedication and passion saw him travelling over muddy back roads, to meet with farmers, young people and teachers, in order to recruit students. There are even documented accounts of him pumping his way down the railroad on an old handcar, stopping at towns along the way to talk about the School.

Since then, 4-H has become one of Alberta’s most recognized and valued youth programs, with an emphasis on beef production, home baking, sewing projects and public speaking.

Olds College has been the next step in a career path for many 4-Hers, says Laura Bluck, an Instructional Assistant in the School of Animal Science at the College. Bluck has been on the academic team teaching Olds College Aggies for over 25 years.

“Many 4-H alumni come here to be with like-minded learners,” she says. “4-H provides an opportunity for young rural farmers to belong to an organization.”

We’d like to hear from you!

Please send us your comments, stories or suggestions for future articles. Let us know how we’re doing!

Olds College Horizons is published five times per year by the Office of Advancement.

Please email jisaac@oldscollege.ca, fax (403) 556-4704 or write 4500-50 Street Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6.

Be kind to the environment!

Calgary Stampede July 4-13th Hort Week July 13-18th Phone: 556-4677 www.oldscollege.ca/hortweek Olds College Alumni Reunion July 18-20th 4-H Club Week July 20-27th Registration Day September 4th Olds College 16th Annual Fall Golf Classic September 10th Discovery Day October 17th For updates or more information, please visit www.oldscollege.ca

Check out www.oldscollege.ca for more details on these and other Olds College stories.

When you have finished reading this issue of Olds College Horizons, please pass it along to a friend or recycle it. Thank you.

12 May 2008