College Historian MY DOG, UNDERDOGS, AND THIS OLD DOG Neil Domstad

College Historian

As a senior staff member, which I think may be code for “you are really getting old”, I was honoured to be asked to write an article for this year’s edition of our alumni My Dog, magazine, The Ascent. My life does not compare with the mystery and excitement Underdogs, and one might find in something like the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, but hopefully with a couple of stories, memories, some comparisons and genuine thoughts, you can get This Old Dog some perspective on the Rundle life of this old dog. As one of the original cast members in our first year at the Dr. Carl Safran building, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect A Day in the Life of on the “then” and the “now”, and the realization of how Neil Domstad some things never change and how this can be a good thing; as well as offer some thoughts on the changes and impact as a result of COVID-19.

Before becoming a teacher at Rundle College, life was all about my dog, fishing, and wrestling — chasing trophy trout and that elusive Olympic dream. The trout I managed to corral but after 14 years of dedication to a sport that gave me so much and defined who I was, I fell just short of making the Olympic team. That is when life’s priorities shifted and my career started at Rundle College Jr. High.

Though it was 24 years ago, I can vividly remember the first day of classes. The year was 1996 and my teaching load consisted of social studies, science and physical education. I had more time on my hands than ever, so I hit the ground running, fully immersing myself in everything that first day at Rundle and have relished every moment since.

For those who were fortunate to experience it, our campus was located in the old, but beautiful and historic sandstone Dr. Carl Safran Building. It was visually stunning, adorned by the classic bell tower, separate boys’ and girls’ entrances, complete with ornate wood at every turn.

I have some amazing memories of the staff, students and events that occurred at the Dr. Carl Safran building over the span of nine years, as I do at the Conklin School on 17 th avenue since our move. I have an appreciation for the talent, passion, humour, energy, and love of education

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Saving a Life in a COVID-19 World Christine Coutts ‘09

After graduating in 2009, I chose to pursue my passion for science and medicine at the University of Western Ontario. Four years later, I graduated with a BHSc Honours but found myself unsatisfied with the lack of human interaction.

Numerous discussions with friends led me down a more interactive and fulfilling career path towards EMS. I have since completed all three levels in pre-hospital care and now work in Edmonton with Alberta Health Services as an Advanced Care Paramedic. Through my career, I have also found a passion for teaching and use my practical experience to teach prospective paramedic students.

Many people ask about what its like to be a paramedic — some think it’s a difficult job due to the exposure to trauma. I think it’s the most rewarding career. Being a paramedic means you are awarded the privilege of being there for someone on their darkest days; you are invited into their homes as a beacon of hope and are looked up to by many.

My morning shift consists of: wake up, pack breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner. Arrive at the station 30 minutes early for shift. Check the ambulance to ensure it’s operational. Ensure kits are fully stocked and equipment is charged.

My crew can expect to attend between 7 to 10 calls per shift, depending on complexity, transport times, and hospital waits. Meals are eaten as time permits, sometimes at hospitals, or driving throughout the city.

Each call is approached with the same safety precautions and assessment techniques — supplementary questions, tests, and treatments are provided as necessary.

Safety for emergency crews are of utmost importance and with the current COVID-19 pandemic and some routines have changed significantly. Prior to the pandemic, each paramedic wore gloves and either glasses or safety goggles on scene. If the patient had an infectious respiratory disease, crews had the option of putting a mask on themselves or the patient.

Now, during the pandemic, it is required to wear gloves, safety goggles, a procedure mask, and a gown for each patient transport. EMS is also required to pre-screen their patients prior to assessments. After arriving to a scene and making contact with either the caller or the patient, they must ask about any cough, cold, fever, sore throat, or runny nose. Next, they ask about recent travel or contact with anyone that has been sick.

Some paramedics throughout Canada have noticed a trend of dishonesty with their patients; as some patients believe that having signs and symptoms of COVID-19 means an ambulance won’t attend their emergency. Although this is not true, they choose to lie about symptoms which puts paramedics at an increased risk of exposure. I have experienced this first hand.

One major issue I have noticed with the new COVID-19 regulations and safety protocols is the delayed response to certain calls. Public perception is of huge importance within EMS and should a crew deem it necessary to apply full protective gear, responses can be delayed up to three minutes. It may appear as

if EMS is dawdling prior to entering the emergency scene, but in reality they are taking the necessary steps to protect both the public and themselves. For an anxious family whose loved one is ill, this message is sometimes forgotten. Saving lives is the number one goal for EMS but the top priority must always be the EMS crews’ safety.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes for me is my routine at home with family. When returning home from work, I cannot rush to hug my family. Once I take my boots off outside the house, put my uniform directly in the washing machine, then I shower to remove any germs or bacteria I may have picked up during the shift. Only after these steps can I finally hug my partner and son and enjoy my family’s company. Although it is hard to leave the safety of home, I know it’s necessary to keep emergency services functioning during these difficult times. COVID-19 has forced numerous changes in the prehospital care setting but they’re necessary to limit the spread of the virus. Paramedics will always be here for the public and are willing to put their energy into protecting each other.

“...you are awarded the privilege of being there for someone on their darkest days.”

Thank you

Rundle would like to thank Christine and all frontline workers.

Playing Games Catherine Fuller ‘14

After graduating Rundle in 2014, Catherine Fuller ‘14 studied at Vancouver Film School. She is now a 3D animator at Next Level Games.

When we reached out to Catherine, she describe her typical day spent mostly animating, as one would expect. We also asked her to share a few thoughts on her work and the industry.

Q: What is the greatest source of stress in your line of work?

A: Crunch time. Deadlines become cutthroat. Turnarounds are fast with little care for polishing things that don’t look great. Having your Lead say they need everything changed or they want to add something (still during crunch time).

Q: What is your work philosophy?

A: It’s common to not get too attached to anything since it’ll be changed later. Overall, it’s do the best you can in the time allowed.

Q: What are some of the changes you see in the animation industry? A: Animation has followed the same basic principles and is only ever affected by a change in technology to make it easier to navigate the computer and organize all the controls to bring a CG puppet to life.

It has changed a bit with an upgrade in technology but the general pipeline is the same.

Q: How has the recent pandemic changed your work and life?

A: Everyone at our company has been sent home with their computers which allows us to continue working. It’s been interesting seeing what’s going on from posts online or talking to friends. A lot of funny and crazy things coming from all the bored people out there. I’m not too bothered by it, as someone who mainly spends her time indoors playing video games on her off-hours anyway so not much has really changed. I miss restaurants so much! I never thought about how much I became so attached to going out with a coworker, or even alone, and sitting down for a nice meal. On the bright side, I find more money in my bank account from the lack of overspending on lunch.

Q: Is there any other job you would like to do?

A: I can’t imagine what I’d be doing instead. Animating is my dream job, so I can’t think of anything to top it. Maybe if I get over my fear of the ocean and deep water I’d become a marine biologist like my dad thought I was going to be.

animation check emails morning scrum commute to work

wake up lunch animation

commute home