Sask Polytechnic Magazine - Winter/Spring 2016

INSIDE

MAGAZINE

SHARING THE DRAMA Counselling is a natural fit for Hollywood actor

MAGICAL MOTORBIKE Young boy’s Halloween dream comes to life

THE FIRST DEGREE Psychiatric nurses earn bachelor’s degrees

STAR STUDENT Electronics skills handy for country musician

INDUSTRY LEADER TOM FOSTER: HEADING UP A SASKATCHEWAN COMPANY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

ISSUE 3 | WINTER 2016

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CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

4 NEWS IN BRIEF

DR. LARRY ROSIA, PRESIDENT AND CEO

A roundup of institutional news and updates

5 A VITAL TRAINING RESOURCE

Agreement brings leading-edge software to Sask Polytech

6 A LEADERSHIP ROLE

Tom Foster is putting Saskatchewan on the world map

9 NEW TECHNOLOGY TAKING OFF

Drones are on the frontier of safe and efficient research

WELCOME

O

ur vision was never clearer to me than it was this past year: Saskatchewan Polytechnic will be globally recognized as the first-choice polytechnic in Canada by 2020.

To reach this goal, we will continue to push boundaries, offering more practical programming for students and doing more research to bring value to employer partners. At our campuses in Saskatchewan, at partner institutions overseas, online or through continuing education, we’ll be known as the place to go for applied learning and applied research.

The work we do is making a real difference in people’s lives.

Sask Polytech students are engaged, diverse, self-directed learners with varying needs.

We’re meeting those needs with hands-on programming, employer-built curriculum and real-work experience so our graduates can contribute to their jobs on Day One. Students and employers alike see this as a winning formula.

Enrolments have increased 15 per cent in the past five years.

10 DEGREES OF PROGRESS

Psych nurses earn Sask Polytech’s first bachelor’s degrees

Last year, our grad employment rate was 93 per cent, with 95 per cent of those working in our province. Visible minority enrolments are up by 78 per cent and Aboriginal enrolments are up by 23 per cent. These students are a fast-growing group and the future of Saskatchewan. We have taken steps to make our learning environment inclusive and accommodating, so all students can learn and contribute to the province’s workforce.

We have more Aboriginal students than any other post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan — 18.3 per cent of our student population. We are working toward indigenizing our institution to help Aboriginal students succeed at the same rate as their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

As Saskatchewan’s only polytechnic, we are the connector between applied learning, real problem solving, and you — the economic drivers in this province. By helping faculty, students and employers meet their goals through a polytechnic approach, we’re putting Saskatchewan on the map. ■

12 MEET ‘BLONDIE GIRL’

ASAP initiative gave Cassandra Kowalchuk a boost

13 A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

Indigenization is building a holistic approach to culture

14 A CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP

Carpentry students are working with Habitat for Humanity

15 CAREER PROGRESS

Sask Polytech helped to build success for Kelly Peevers

16 DRAMATIC CHANGES

Understanding emotions is key to addictions counselling

17 A WISH GRANTED

Special motorbike wheelchair was a labour of love

18 NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN UKRAINE

Hope and pride are the hallmarks of international project

19 A LAND OF FIRSTS

International student is loving Saskatchewan life

20 CHAMPIONING FIRST NATIONS

Edmund Bellegarde traces success back to Sask Polytech

22 JUST PLAR IT!

Experience adds up to academic credit for PLAR students

24 RECOGNIZING PARTNERS

President’s Partnership Awards celebrate collaboration

26 HALF-CENTURY FOR SASTT

Professional association marks a major milestone

27 ABILITY TO HELP

Disability support workers get training and support

28 AN INDUSTRIAL-STRENGTH EVENT

The 2016 President’s Gala is slated for a unique venue

29 KUDOS

We are the connector between applied learning, real problem solving, and you.

Noteworthy happenings and achievements

30 Q&A: CODIE PREVOST

Music star is a Sask Polytech electronics grad

Saskatchewan Polytechnic Magazine is a publication of Saskatchewan Polytechnic Editors Clayton Cunningham, Victoria Muzychuk, Linda Miller-Wenman

RedPoint Media Group: Publisher Jane Jordet Client Relations Manager Sandra Jenks Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Managing Editor Miles Durrie | Art Director David Willicome | Staff writer Julia Williams

400–119 4th Ave S, Saskatoon SK S7K 5X2

Contributing writer Barbara Balfour | Contributing photographers Tom Bartlett,

Phone: 1-866-467-4278 saskpolytech.ca

David Stobbe, Don Molyneaux | On the cover: Tom Foster, photographed by David Stobbe

saskpolytech.ca

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SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF AGREEMENT EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS Sask Polytech and Southeast College signed an agreement that paves the way for new and enhanced skills training for students in southeastern Saskatchewan. Under the agreement, the two post-secondary institutions will share their expertise and resources so they can train more skilled workers to fill labour shortages in industries such as energy and mining.

PRINCE ALBERT CAMPUS OPENS RENOVATED SIMULATION CENTRE In November, Sask Polytech opened the newly renovated Simulation Centre at the Prince Albert campus. The Simulation Centre provides a lifelike, hands-on learning environment allowing students to practise skills in a variety of nursing and health sciences programs. The expansion mimics the simulation centres at the Saskatoon and Regina campuses.

$160,000 DONATION

$348,952 FUNDING

YARA BELLE PLAINE INC. HELPS POWER ENGINEERING PROGRAM The Power Engineering Technology program is better prepared to power Saskatchewan thanks to a $160,000 donation from Yara Belle Plaine. Yara’s donation supports the Power Engineering Technology program expansion project. This significant project involves upgrades and enhancements to Power Engineering Technology labs at Saskatoon and Regina campuses.

NRT STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTMENT Natural Resources Technology (NRT) students have access to enhanced skills training thanks to funding from Western Economic Diversification.

Federal funding of $348,952 will allow Sask Polytech to purchase hydroacoustics equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles, enhancing our ability to conduct aquatic habitat surveys and airborne terrestrial mapping activities.

GIRLS EXPLORING TRADES & TECHNOLOGY (GETT) CAMPS Tools and technology have been demystified for girls in grades 6 to 8 during weeklong day camps presented

by SaskPower last summer.

GETT campers were taught axle building, carpentry and computer design skills as they created and assembled a go-kart. The camp wrapped up with a barbecue and fun competition in which the girls race their go-karts.

ARNOLD BOLDT CARRIES FLAG AT PARAPAN AM GAMES Arnold Boldt, celebrated athlete and the Learning and Teaching Division associate vice-president at Sask Polytech, carried in the Paralympic flag at the Opening Ceremonies of the Parapan Am Games in Toronto last summer. This was just one of many highlights from Boldt’s impressive athletic career.

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SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

A VITAL TRAINING RESOURCE Agreement brings leading-edge disaster simulation software to Sask Polytech

A

new agreement with a Canadian software company will give Saskatchewan Polytechnic the world’s most advanced disaster response training tool for leaders and emergency managers. On Dec. 9, 2015, the institution signed a letter of intent with Calgary-based C4i Consultants to provide the school with the company’s simulation software.

C4i is a training and technology company that specializes in simulation, collaboration and

planning software that can be used in a variety of disciplines, from medical to municipal and military settings.

The company’s Emergency Disaster Management Simulation, or EDMSIM, helps teams improve communications, validate contingency plans and procedures and improve outcomes in an environment that realistically simulates a natural or human-made disaster.

Until recently, emergency preparedness training consisted largely of paper-based tabletop exercises that lacked feedback or experiential learning.

“This is our first agreement with a post-secondary institution, and Sask Polytech is the perfect fit,” says Bruce Gilkes, C4i’s president and founder, who graduated with a diploma in Civil Engineering

Technology from Sask Polytech (then SIAST) in 1988.

“We developed EDMSIM in 2005 and it’s used for training by the U.S. Army, U.S. National Guard, NATO and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as a number of municipalities and U.S. states. This will be its first use in an applied academic environment within Canada.”

EDMSIM exercises are scalable, so training can be conducted at local, regional and national levels. Designed for emergency management staff, emergency operations centres and civil leadership, the software can model any type of disaster and response. Its advanced technology is the first of its kind.

Gilkes spent several years in the military before launching C4i 13 years ago. The Calgary-based

BRUCE GILKES OF C4i, LEFT, WITH DR. LARRY ROSIA.

company now has 30 employees. Gilkes credits this success to the engineering skills provided by his Sask Polytech education, combined with the perseverance and resilience he acquired while working in the military.

Sask Polytech president and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia says the relationship with C4i is a natural fit.

“This will provide Saskatchewan Polytechnic with a vital training resource,” he says. “It’s aligned with the applied training opportunities we offer.” ■

JOIN OUR TEAM Viterra has many career opportunities in a wide variety of fields and career stages.

Visit our Careers section at viterra.com to find your next career opportunity.

Viterra is a proud supporter of Saskatchewan Polytechnic and its students through scholarship funding. For more information on these student awards, please visit saskpolytech.ca.

saskpolytech.ca

5

A LEADERSHIP ROLE TOM FOSTER IS A KEY PLAYER IN INDUSTRY, BUSINESS AND THE COMMUNITY

I

t’s been 60 years since Industrial Machine & Manufacturing Inc. came to be, and while company president Tom Foster may come home tired once in a while, he never gets bored. Foster is constantly seeking new challenges and new ways to boost the profile of Saskatchewan industry, and new ways to help the people of the province.

“Making sure we maintain our standing in a diverse economy means we have to look for, accept and enjoy challenges,” says Foster, who owns the midsized custom Saskatoon-based manufacturing company with his wife, Robin.

Industrial Machine & Manufacturing, or IMM, was founded in 1956 to serve emerging heavy industries in the province. Foster’s father Perry bought the business in 1976.

“We are a multi-generational family business servicing the mining, oil and gas and power

6

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

generation industries. Having withstood all the turbulent times along the way has been an accomplishment in itself.”

A 1991 graduate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program, Foster started on the shop floor at IMM. He became president in 2008 when his older brother Craig retired.

His sister, Lina Foster, is also a key player in the company, serving as the director of administration and safety, quality, and productivity.

The company’s staff of 68 includes many with 20 years or more of service, and in several cases more than one generation of a family works side by side.

“We’re a business family and a family in business,” he says.

IMM has customers around the globe, including Canada, the U.S., Ecuador, Venezuela, Norway, the U.K., New Zealand and Indonesia.

“Thanks to the markets we serve and the breadth of our

footprint, we’ve been able to take on terrific projects all over the province and the world,” Foster says.

The company has contributed to economic growth, job creation and quality of life in Saskatchewan. In 2014, IMM was the inaugural recipient of the Saskatchewan Manufacturer of the Year award for exemplary achievement in business success, dedication to community and industry and employer excellence.

PHENOMENAL PARTNERSHIP Foster credits Sask Polytech for his success, both in building the foundation for his leadership role and for formalizing the training he got on the floor. The institution is also a significant source of talent for IMM’s current workforce.

“The majority, if not all, of our staff members have at some point benefited from their education at Sask Polytech. It’s been a phenomenal partnership from the

FEATURE STORY

The majority, if not all, of our staff members have benefited from their education at Sask Polytech.

saskpolytech.ca

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FEATURE STORY

DREAM WHEELS

very beginning of our company, and our main source for recruiting employees,” Foster says.

IMM’s human resources department works closely with Sask Polytech, and the company has offered scholarships toward the institution’s industrial programs.

“With the rapid growth of Saskatchewan’s manufacturing industry, Sask Polytech plays an instrumental role in ensuring we can produce the employees the industry needs right now.”

CONNECT AND COLLABORATE IMM recently teamed up with five other companies to design and build large, automated underground machinery for potash mines.

It took 44 weeks to build the first and 22 weeks to build the second of these 12-metre, 1,400 horsepower, 160-tonne machines. They are now used in several mines.

Lina Foster says where there’s potential for a better outcome, the company doesn’t hesitate to work directly with its competitors.

“It’s a way to adapt to challenging times, especially in situations when one company can land a project but can’t achieve all aspects of it. It’s the connections and collaborations you make over time that help bring things together and move them forward.”

T

he Snakebit custom truck project began as a showpiece for Industrial Machine & Manufacturing Inc., but it soon turned into a fundraising campaign to help Saskatchewan kids in need of medical care.

IMM president Tom Foster got involved in the effort to bring a children’s hospital to the province after he saw the need for a specialized facility firsthand. His newborn daughter, Sophia, now 5, needed hospitalization for a life-threatening illness. (She has since made a full recovery.)

The Snakebit truck was already in the works as a promotional tool for IMM. Foster decided to use it instead to raise funds for the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan — so he started the Wheels of Dreams campaign around it.

The truck is a melding of two automotive concepts: the body of a 1956 Ford F-100 pickup

with a 550-horsepower 5.4-litre V-8 engine (and a few styling cues) from a 2012 Shelby GT Mustang. It was sold in 2014 for $450,000 at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona.

The bidding was intense, thanks in part to some celebrity help from Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss. Foster had reached out to Simmons and his Canadian wife, former Saskatoon resident Shannon Tweed, to raise awareness of the project.

Simmons helped to auction the truck, throwing in an autographed guitar for the winning bidder, Prince Albert businessman Gord Broda.

All proceeds went to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan; the hospital is expected to open in Saskatoon in late 2017.

Visit wheelsofdreams.ca for more information.

Sask Polytech plays an instrumental role in ensuring we can produce the employees the industry needs right now.

Tom Foster played an instrumental role in founding the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association Inc., or SIMSA. Launched in April 2013, the organization promotes Saskatchewan solutions for global resource industries.

The association represents more than 80 members, over

SASKATCHEWAN SOLUTION As an advocate for the promotion of Saskatchewan industrial manufacturers and suppliers,

2,000 employees and tens of millions in annual investment here in Saskatchewan. Members range from small operations to companies with annual sales over $1 billion.

“I saw a clear need to better promote Saskatchewan’s supply chain to companies that were coming here to take advantage

of our natural resources, mining, oil and gas and power generation,” Foster says.

As SIMSA board chair, Foster continues his collaboration with customers, competitors and Saskatchewan suppliers to serve worldwide resource industries and develop innovative products. ■

THE ‘COWBOY CODE’ The staff at IMM tries to live by these 10 principles of the Cowboy Code: 8

1 2 3 4 5

Live each day with courage.

Take pride in your work.

Always finish what you start.

Do what has to be done.

Be tough, but fair.

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

6 When you make a promise, keep it.

7 Ride for the brand.

8 Talk less, say more.

9 Remember: some things aren’t for sale.

10 Know where to draw the line.

— from the book Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street can Learn from the Code of the West,

by James P. Owen

APPLIED RESEARCH DRONE DOS AND DON’TS DO • Fly during daylight and in good weather.

• Keep your aircraft in sight at all times.

• Steer clear of airports, populated areas, moving vehicles and altitudes above 90 metres.

• Keep batteries charged and your drone in good condition.

• Know whether or not you need official permission to fly.

• Respect the privacy of others.

LEFT, TEAL FISHER AT CONTROLS; TOP RIGHT, DAVID HALSTEAD LAUNCHES THE SENSEFLY EBEE RADIO-CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT; BOTTOM RIGHT, SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE RYAN GALBRAITH AND HALSTEAD CHECK THE CRAFT OVER.

NEW TECHNOLOGY TAKING OFF Drones are changing fieldwork for researchers, instructors and students

F

or 20 years Teal Fisher has been teaching students to use computer technology to link maps to digital data. Now he’s on a steep learning curve of his own — he’s become a drone pilot.

Fisher is an instructor in Geographic Information Science for Resource Management at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Prince Albert campus. When he received a drone — or unmanned aerial system — last fall, he put it to work. A quadcopter supplied by Saskatoon company Draganfly Innovations, its

initial flight was to Wanuskewin Heritage Park, where it spotted invasive common buckthorn plants using its high-resolution camera and infrared imaging.

That inaugural experiment was such a success that Sask Polytech now has a drone of its own, a fixed-wing senseFly eBee, which was delivered in December. With a wingspan of about 60 centimetres, it is 46 cm long and weighs 690 grams.

Would mapping invasive species growth be possible without a drone? Certainly, says Fisher, but it wouldn’t be nearly as easy.

These things are going to revolutionize practically everything we do. There’s no limit.

“It would mean picking up and identifying the species on the ground,” he says. “With a drone it’s probably a 10th of the work, and a 10th of the time.”

David Halstead, an instructor and senior researcher in the Natural Resources Technology programs, says these efficient craft have endless applications.

“They’re used in search and rescue, disaster relief, road maintenance, pipeline and transmission line inspections, windmill inspections and agriculture. These things are going to revolutionize practically everything we do,” Halstead says. “There’s no limit.”

Sask Polytech’s new drone will be used for applied research projects. It will help map and classify grasses and tree species, and study wildlife.

Drones also have potential in

DON’T • Fly less than nine kilometres from an airport, heliport or aerodrome.

• Go higher than 90 metres above the ground.

• Get closer than 150 metres to people, animals, buildings, structures or vehicles.

• Fly over populated locations, including sporting events, concerts, festivals and fireworks shows.

• Enter restricted airspace, such as military bases, prisons and forest fires.

— Transport Canada

boundary disputes or poaching cases. Restricted only by battery life and Transport Canada regulations, unmanned aircraft are tremendously useful, Fisher says.

“The information on the screen is phenomenal compared to what we’ve had up until now from satellite imagery.”

Federal funding from Western Economic Diversification allowed Sask Polytech to purchase the aircraft. Including software and training, it cost about $40,000, and Fisher expects the technology will become increasingly affordable. ■ saskpolytech.ca

9

THE FIRST DEGREE

DEGREES OF

PROGRESS

MEET THE FIRST GRADUATES OF SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC’S BACHELOR OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING PROGRAM

W

“

The team effort to develop the program and ensure a successful implementation was extraordinary.

10

hen Amanda Rowley received her Diploma of Psychiatric Nursing from Saskatchewan Polytechnic (then SIAST) in 2010, she didn’t think she’d ever return to school. Then she met Johann Engelke, a fellow Registered Nurse Practitioner who would become her fiancé.

As the North Battleford couple began to plan a life together, they realized their career opportunities would expand if they had bachelor’s degrees. “To get that education really sets you ahead,” says Rowley.

So she and Engelke decided to enrol in Sask Polytech’s new Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree completion program, and Rowley began her studies in 2013 as one of its first students.

became the first two people ever to receive a bachelor’s degree from Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

For Perrault Finch, the ability to complete her psychiatric nursing degree close to home made all the difference. She and her husband were starting a family, and when she began the program she was the mother of a four-month-old; her second child was born a month after she completed her degree.

Had Saskatchewan Polytechnic not begun its bachelor’s degree program in psychiatric nursing, Perrault Finch says she probably wouldn’t have pursued the qualification. “It would have been a lot more time and energy that I would have had to take away from my family,” she says.

COMPLEX FIELD

When Rowley and Perrault Finch were presented with their degrees at the Regina convocation ceremony, it was a personal achievement for them — and a landmark for Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “This was a milestone in our transformation from a technical institute to a polytechnic,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech’s president and CEO. Psychiatric nursing includes four domains of practice: clinical, research, administration and education. Students in the wide-ranging and intense degree program cover coursework

Psychiatric nursing, which focuses on the care of people suffering from mental illness and cognitive disorders, is a complex field. The Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program is intended to prepare students for roles in leadership, management, education and research, and to raise the standard of psychiatric care in the province.

Engelke is on target to earn his degree this year. Rowley graduated from the program in June 2015, when she and classmate Veronick Perrault Finch

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

TEAM EFFORT

ranging from psychology, addictions and physical assessment to informatics for health-care professionals.

It took three years for Saskatchewan Polytechnic to develop the degree completion program. Dr. Netha Dyck, dean of the School of Nursing, describes its launch as a monumental achievement.

“The team effort to develop the program and ensure a sucessful implementation was extraordinary,” she says. Today, 21 students are in the program.

APPLICABLE SKILLS Perrault Finch believes the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is an important step in addressing the evolving needs of the province’s population.

Conditions such as dementia are becoming more common as the population ages, and young people are dealing with issues including bullying and eating disorders. “We’ll have the tools and the backing to be leaders in that field,” Perrault Finch says.

The program is designed for working registered psychiatric nurses who have already completed a diploma program. Students study part time through distance learning and complete a clinical practicum.

Rowley says the skills and knowledge she picked up from her coursework were immedi-

MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH Everyone knows it’s important to exercise, but most people focus primarily on physical fitness. While exercise and nutrition contribute positively to mental and emotional health, there are other mind “workout” habits that offer benefits.

MAKE CONNECTIONS Build and nurture relationships with people who enrich your life. Strong relationships enhance your happiness and act as a positive support structure during difficult times.

REST Plenty of sleep and a regular bedtime help restore your mind and body. Build unstructured time into your waking hours to daydream or meditate.

AMANDA ROWLEY, LEFT, AND VERONICK PERRAULT FINCH EARNED SASK POLYTECH’S FIRST-EVER BACHELOR’S DEGREES.

ately applicable: “I’m providing better care, because I understand the material better.”

Perrault Finch opted to complete a teaching-focused practicum at Sask Polytech, while Rowley did a six-week practicum in leadership and management at the Phoenix Residential Society in Regina, which provides psychiatric rehabilitation services.

“I just loved it,” Rowley says.

“It really sparked my passion.”

CAREER STRIDES Rowley says she and Engelke, who plan to marry this fall, are already seeing the benefit of their enhanced education.

Currently working as a shift nurse in the Admissions Unit of

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF NURSING

“

I think the passion and drive we have is something I really noticed. It made me really proud.

North Battleford’s Saskatchewan Hospital, Rowley has accepted a nurse teaching position beginning in May. And Engelke recently landed a job as a nursing unit manager. “Part of the reason is that degree,” Rowley says.

Perrault Finch is currently on parental leave with her two children. When she returns to work it will be as a nurse facilitator coordinator at the seniors’ longterm care facility Regina Pioneer Village — more of a leadership role than she’s tackled before.

In 2017, the School of Nursing will celebrate 50 years of high-quality nursing education at Sask Polytech. Events to mark the occasion are already being planned.

She adds that her experience in the degree program gave her insight into the commitment of people within the nursing community: “I think the passion and drive we have is something I really noticed. It made me really proud.”

As for Rowley, she says the program strengthened her in a number of ways.

“It motivates me to continue learning and striving to be a better person in my workplace,” she says. ■

Are you a nursing grad from Sask Polytech or its predecessor schools? Complete the registration form at saskpolytech.ca/alumni so you don’t miss any news.

The School of Nursing needs

CONTRIBUTE Find a way to make a difference in your community — even a small one. Volunteer your time, help a neighbour or do something kind for a friend.

ASK FOR HELP Never hesitate to ask friends or family for small favours, like babysitting, and speak to your doctor about counselling services if you feel overwhelmed.

your help reconnecting with students from each graduating year. If you are passionate about keeping in touch with your classmates, email: nursing.50th@saskpolytech.ca. saskpolytech.ca

11

ABORIGINAL STUDENT SUPPORT

“

I’m slowly learning about my relatives now. It’s brought about a peacefulness.

MEET ‘BLONDIE GIRL’ A Sask Polytech alumna reflects on ASAP, community and a nickname that stuck

T

he members of Sask Polytech’s Aboriginal Student Achievement Plan (ASAP) team knew Cassandra Kowalchuk before she knew them.

“I was pretty shy, and they came to me and invited me to see them,” Kowalchuk says.

The job of ASAP is to open doors for students of Aboriginal heritage, connecting them with services and resources.

ASAP, which began in 2008, is

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part of an institution-wide effort to eliminate barriers to success for Aboriginal students.

Kowalchuk completed the Geomatics and Surveying Engineering Technology program at Sask Polytech’s Moose Jaw campus last spring. She knows first-hand the difference ASAP makes. “I took advantage of everything the initiative had to offer, and I know it works.”

She had tried university when she was younger, but found the

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

experience unfulfilling. “I wasn’t feeling a huge sense of community. The class sizes were so big and I didn’t feel a focus.”

Kowalchuk “left quietly,” working in construction and as a waitress. She struggled with stress and depression. Then she enrolled at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Because ASAP took a genuine interest in her development and success, Kowalchuk says, she felt welcomed and cared for. She began to open up. She developed close relationships with the counsellors, and one in particular — Rosemarie Zaba Stewart — gave Kowalchuk the nickname by which she’s still known at the Moose Jaw campus.

“I was very, very blonde, to the point where I had silver hair,” Kowalchuk says, laughing. “‘Blondie Girl’ became a term of endearment. It’s a name seeded in deep friendship, for sure.”

ASAP supported Kowalchuk academically, and it also put her in closer touch with her Aboriginal heritage. Her representative

band is the White Bear First Nations near Carlyle, Sask. Because her mother was adopted at a young age, Kowalchuk has had minimal contact with her roots.

Participating in ceremonies, making connections and hearing from Elders at Saskatchewan Polytechnic helped her to explore that part of her identity, and to overcome a sense of cultural alienation.

“I’m slowly learning about my relatives now,” she says. “It’s brought about a peacefulness.”

When she was invited to speak at Sask Polytech in support of ASAP last spring, Kowalchuk didn’t hesitate. “They had supported me so much,” she says. “The best way to extend gratitude is to give back.”

Her Sask Polytech diploma gave her a two-year head start toward a degree from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where she’s studying and helping to support Aboriginal students.

“We’re all in this life together,” Kowalchuk says. “We need to take care of each other.” ■

ABORIGINAL STRATEGY

A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT Sask Polytech’s Indigenization Declaration:

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is committed to the indigenization of our institution.

Indigenization is our social and collective responsibility and it enriches and benefits all aspects of our institutional culture.

‘I

ndigenization doesn’t mean just one thing,” says Jason Seright, Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s director of Aboriginal Strategy.

“It’s not only about incorporating Aboriginal content into our curriculum. There’s so much more to it than that.”

Sask Polytech has created an Indigenization Declaration (above) that reinforces its commitment to the Aboriginal community. It also supports the calls

“

for action made by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and, earlier this year, signed an indigenous education protocol developed by Colleges and Institutes Canada.

“Our goal is to ensure a welcoming environment,” says Seright. He emphasizes the importance of all students seeing themselves in Sask Polytech’s practices, policies and services.

It’s not unusual to see a Treaty 6 or Treaty 4 flag flying at one

It’s not only about incorporating Aboriginal content into our curriculum.

There’s so much more to it than that.

of the campuses, or Aboriginal art or a medicine wheel on display in the hallways. Meeting rooms have been renamed after First Nations language groups (such as the Tanshi Room and the Edlanet’e Room, which use the words for “welcome” in the Michif and Dene languages), and traditional lands are acknowledged at the start of formal events. Aboriginal honour songs are sung at graduations and Elders conduct pipe and smudging ceremonies on campus.

It’s a holistic approach to indigenization that also encompasses Sask Polytech’s workforce. Seright would like to see

the optional Aboriginal awareness training become mandatory for new hires. 18.3 per cent of Sask Polytech students identify as having Aboriginal ancestry, in contrast to only six per cent of employees.

“A balance is key to a representative workforce,” Seright says. “Our indigenous students will have an enhanced sense of belonging when they see more indigenous faculty and staff on campus.” ■

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13

STUDENTS GIVING BACK

“

This is real-life training that’s better than anything else we could do.

A CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP Sask Polytech carpentry students are building five homes in five years for Habitat for Humanity

W

hen Prince Albert Habitat for Humanity executive director Jan Adamson passed by a construction site at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus last fall, she did a double take. “I was absolutely shocked. They had gotten the walls up so quickly.”

The creators of those fast-rising walls were 16 students in Sask Polytech’s School of Construction. They were working on a new home for Habitat For Humanity, a nonprofit organi-

zation that works in communities around the world to build affordable housing. The home will be moved this spring to its permanent site in the East Hill area of Prince Albert.

It’s the first home to be created through a new partnership between the Prince Albert campus and Habitat. The partnership was formalized in February 2015, with a mandate to build five houses in five years.

Adamson says the houses her organization builds help to break the cycle of poverty. “We can

see the outcomes, especially in children who’ve been involved in a Habitat home,” Adamson says. “They stay in school longer, and they’re more likely to get a post-secondary education.”

It’s also a win for the students who participate in the build, says Jeff Chow, then acting associate dean of the School of Construction. Students can stay close to campus while contributing in a meaningful way to the community — and there are practical benefits too.

“This is real-life training that’s

BUILDING EFFICIENCY

TRY THESE TIPS:

With a few simple steps, your home can be less expensive to operate, more comfortable to live in and better for the environment.

• Install a programmable thermostat.

• Add weather stripping around doors and

14

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

better than anything else we could do,” Chow says.

“We do construction projects in our shop where they build something and then tear it down. This one, they don’t have to tear down.”

Students frame the floor, walls and roof, install windows and doors, lay shingles and install siding, soffits and fascia.

“The exterior of the house will look finished when they’re done,” says Ryan Hooyenga, acting program head of Carpentry.

Once the foundation is prepared and the house moved, the Habitat for Humanity team will finish the interior with the help of the new homeowners, a refugee family from Thailand.

“We are very thankful for the help of the carpentry students,” says Lu Paw, who moved to Canada along with her husband Mar Taw more than five years ago. They will move into their new home with their six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter later this year.

“We feel blessed for the opportunity to receive a Habitat home,” Paw says.

When the five years and five houses are complete, both Habitat for Humanity and Saskatchewan Polytechnic expect the relationship to continue, and perhaps grow.

“After the build we’ll look at other opportunities,” Hooyenga says. ■

caulking around windows.

• Keep your furnace filter, fridge and dryer vents clear of lint and fuzz.

• Look for the Energy Star symbol on appliances. It

identifies the most energy-efficient products.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs or LEDs.

ALUMNI PROFILE

FIVE SILENT ‘DESKERCISES’ Looking for ways to fit exercise into your daily routine? Try these five simple and silent “deskercises” you can do in the workplace.

1

“

With seniors, what you see is not all of who they are. You need to find that out slowly…. They’ve added so much to society”

CAREER PROGRESS Kelly Peevers’s passion for helping seniors started with training from Sask Polytech

F

rom papier-mâché and yoga to sociology and accounts payable, Sask Polytech’s Recreation and Community Development program prepared Kelly Peevers for just about anything.

And that was only his first stint at the institution.

“Back then, in the late 1980s, the program (then called Recreation Technology) prepared you to be a recreational director in a small community,” Peevers says.

“You’d be running the rink and the pool, and you’d have to run all the books for your department.

The program addressed everything from psychology to facility

management to media relations.”

Now director of housing at LutherCare Communities in Saskatoon, where he’s spent the majority of his career, Peevers began work as a recreational therapist in 1989. He found working with seniors in longterm care the most rewarding.

He came up with ways to engage older clients socially, physically and mentally, including exercise, crafts and baking. “The smell of fresh baking is great, and it was stimulating for them to remember recipes they made when they were younger,” he says.

“With seniors, what you see is not all of who they are — you

KELLY PEEVERS, RIGHT, CHATS WITH A TENANT AT THE LUTHERCARE SENIORS’ FACILITY

need to find that out slowly by talking to their families, listening and having patience. They’ve added so much to society.”

Peevers gave his career trajectory a boost in 1997 by returning to Sask Polytech to earn an accounting certificate.

He moved from recreational therapy at LutherCare into accounting, later going on to manage seniors’ housing.

The LutherCare facilities, one of which is a five-time winner of Consumer Choice award for business excellence, are designed for independent living with services such as meals, recreation and wellness centres onsite.

Now director of housing, Peevers supports managers and oversees operations at all five facilities in Saskatchewan, as well as overseeing the building of a sixth, to open in late 2016.

He’s also passed his belief in a Saskatchewan Polytechnic education on — his daughter began the Mechanical Engineering Technology program last fall. ■

Calf Raises: Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, press up onto your tiptoes, pause, then lower back down. Repeat for three sets of 12 to 15 reps. For added difficulty, try using only one leg at a time.

2

Work Your Glutes: For uplifting results, squeeze your buttocks, hold for five to 10 seconds, and release. Repeat until the glutes tire.

3

Abs Squeeze: Try this at your desk, while walking down the hall or seated during a call.

Simply take a deep breath and tighten your abdominal muscles, bringing them in towards the spine as you exhale. Hold for five to 10 seconds and release. Repeat for 12 to 15 reps.

4

Bicep Workout: Sitting up and with both feet flat on the floor, clasp hands with one hand’s thumb up and the other down. Then pull! Resist the motion of both arms (you should definitely feel this in the biceps). Hold 10 seconds or more, release, and repeat.

5

Shoulder Rolls: Roll back your shoulders until your shoulder blades are pinched together. Pretend you’re holding a pencil in between them.

Hold for five to 10 seconds, release, and repeat 12 to 15 times. saskpolytech.ca

15

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

“

By helping people make choices for themselves, you give them back the power of their spirit.

SASK POLYTECH ADDICTIONS COUNSELLING PROGRAM HEAD BARBARA ROBINSON WORKS WITH A CLIENT.

KENNETCH CHARLETTE

DRAMATIC CHANGES

Demi Moore, Gary Oldman and Robert Duvall, is “a very active student in the Mental Health and Addictions Worker program,” Robinson adds.

Co-founder of the Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre, Charlette now uses drama in his work in remote communities.

He sees clear parallels between acting and counselling.

“Both are about a constant search for the truth,” he says.

“They’re about recognizing emotions and being true to yourself.

As a counsellor you learn to be non-judgmental. You have to listen to give back. As an actor, you must listen to give an honest response emotionally.”

Charlette is currently collaborating with performers in Japan on a show related to culture, identity and addiction.

“When it comes to healing, identity and culture are huge issues,” says Charlette, who has been clean and sober for more than 24 years. “The Sask Polytech program has helped me understand myself a bit more and brought up issues I thought I had dealt with. I think students should be prepared for that. The more you can help yourself, the more you can help others.” ■

Understanding emotions is part of a multi-faceted approach to addictions counselling

T

he moment an emotion controls you, it takes away your ability to choose, says Kennetch Charlette — and this realization has been integral to his success as a Hollywood actor and a community development worker.

“When you get angry, what happens? We’re all given the gift of choice in life, but what that emotion has done is make the choice for you,” says Charlette, who works with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and is currently adding to his base of

knowledge as a student in the Addictions Counselling program at Sask Polytech.

The program was the world’s first of its kind when program head Barbara Robinson developed it in 1986, basing it on principles of community development.

“We have two pathways. One is clinical, where grads’ primary role is counselling and recovery.

The other is prevention, training and community development,” she says.

“Both assist people in giving

“

The more you can help yourself, the more you can help others.

16

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

power back to their spirit.”

Charlette’s thinking mirrors Robinson’s words closely. “It is you, more specifically your spirit, that should be allowed to take control,” he says. “By helping people make choices for themselves, you give them back the power of their spirit.”

Passion and dedication are key, but Robinson says training is also critical: “Having knowledge and skills in addictions and mental health is essential if you are to provide credible prevention and community development. Lack of success is often linked to lack of knowledge as to the effects of substance abuse.”

Charlette, whose film and television acting credits include 1995’s The Scarlet Letter with

MANUFACTURING A DREAM

“

I had Annie bring Henry into the school, and it was pretty evident from then on that you can’t refuse a request like that.

T

hanks to the efforts of students from the Industrial Mechanics, Auto Body Technician and Welding programs, a little boy with cerebral palsy got to cruise on his very own motorbike for Halloween.

Led by Sask Polytech Industrial Mechanics program head Rob Gilchrist, a team of 13 students spent a month building a unique attachment to Henry Van Vliet’s wheelchair for Halloween. The seven-year-old’s new set of wheels incorporated used motorcycle parts, a custom gas tank and authentic exhaust system.

It all came about when Henry’s grandmother, Annie Bradford, called Gilchrist on a whim. The two had known each other for more than 15 years and rode motorcycles together.

Although Henry is non-verbal, he is cognitively aware, and Bradford noticed early on that he was a fellow motorcycle enthusiast. “At Halloween I would show him costume ideas that could incorporate his wheelchair — Superman or Spiderman — and he would shake his head no,” Bradford says.

“When I showed him a photo of high handlebars attached to a wheelchair, he would go ‘yeah!’, rocking back and forth and making appreciative noises.”

She asked Gilchrist if he could do something for Henry, as the department often helps with building and repair projects from within the Sask Polytech community.

“While we have less of an ability these days to accept

FROM LEFT, YOUNG HENRY VAN VLIET IS SHOWN SOME OF THE DETAILS OF HIS MOTORBIKE-STYLE WHEELCHAIR BY WELDING CERTIFICATE STUDENT LUCAS WOOD AND INDUSTRIAL MECHANIC CERTIFICATE STUDENT BLAKE BRITTON.

A WISH GRANTED

Sask Polytech students transform a wheelchair into a motorbike enthusiast’s dream come true

requests from people off the street, this one had some special circumstances and we decided it was worthy of an after-hours program for students who volunteered for it,” Gilchrist says.

The project involved design and development, and provided some valuable student learning opportunities, he says.

“It stimulates innovation and working together between the trades, which is hard to teach in regular day-to-day classes. I had Annie bring Henry into the school

and it was evident that you can’t refuse a request like that.”

When Henry came to see the finished product on Oct. 30, he was given a special tour of Sask Polytech with the students and staff who put his motorbike attachment together — all dressed as bikers for the occasion. “There was a lot of emotion; many smiles and tears,” Gilchrist says.

Welding student Lucas Wood, 19, was a key project team member, and says he found the experience gratifying.

“When we were setting it up with his wheelchair and everything fell into place, it was a real feel-good moment for all of us,” Wood says.

Bradford could not have been more pleased. “I don’t think the students realize the impact they’ve made,” she says. “For Henry to have a voice about what he wanted for Halloween, and having that materialize, is incredible. It’s in the living room so he can look at it. He still gets so excited.” ■ saskpolytech.ca

17

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN UKRAINE International project is a source of pride — and hope

W

hen boxes of 14 industry-driven business administration textbooks and learning resources arrived at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s office in Kyiv, Ukraine last May, everyone celebrated.

For many in the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Ukrainian Skills for Employment project these textbooks were a major milestone. “It was exciting. Everyone was signing autographs,” says Angela Wojcichowsky, Director of International Projects at Sask Polytech. “They worked so hard building these resources. None of them had ever been published before.”

While Sask Polytech has operated educational reform programs in Ukraine since the early 2000s, many previous projects focused on creating policies to decentralize vocational education. The Skills for Employment Project, which launched in 2012 in partnership with the Saskatchewan Government, is different.

It aims to improve the quality of business training in three Ukrainian institutions by adding an applied component to what was a theoretical program.

“We bring in businesses, industry leaders and program advisers. At Saskatchewan Polytechnic, our instructors have to have a minimum of five years’ experience in their fields.

There has been no industry involvement in the development of curriculum in Ukraine, ever,”

18

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has been involved in international projects for more than 30 years in places including Kurdistan, Egypt and Uzbekistan. Currently, the institution has international workers in: COLOMBIA: Improving training in the mining sector.

JORDAN: Developing policy that will decentralize vocational education.

PHILIPPINES: Assessing the skills of potential immigrants on behalf of employers in Canada as part of the Skills Passport Program.

VIETNAM: Improving vocational education.

TOP, STUDENTS IN UKRAINE WORK WITH BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE UKRAINIAN SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT PROJECT. ABOVE, THE PROJECT TEAM GATHERS AT THE BOOK LAUNCH EVENT.

Wojcichowsky says.

The program in Ukraine is particularly meaningful for Saskatchewan Polytechnic; more than 10 per cent of the province’s population is of Ukrainian background, including Wojcichowsky herself.

“Ukraine is a very important source of skilled human resources for Saskatchewan employers through the Saskatchewan Immigration Nomination Program

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

(SINP),” says Wojcichowsky.

Textbook and resource development is only one aspect of the project. Establishing project advisory committees, instructor training and student experience are all vital to its success.

Current project participants from both Ukraine and Canada are working together to ensure the knowledge, processes and skills are shared amongst other institutions.

The project is a successful collaboration in what has become a place of unrest.

“It was on everybody’s mind,” she says. “Our local office is located on the main square in Kyiv.

When the fighting broke out in 2013, our project was right in the middle of it. But days like that day in May are joyful — and really highlight how the Skills for Employment Project remains a source of hope.” ■

ALUMNI PROFILE

“

S

achin Modi had never walked into a kitchen in his life before moving to Canada at the age of 27. So his mother was pleasantly surprised when he whipped up some traditional delicacies for her on a trip back home to Mumbai last year.

“She couldn’t believe I can actually cook,” says Modi, now 30, with a laugh. “My time in Canada has made me independent and responsible. I learned to live on my own for the first time here, among so many other new things.”

One of those new experiences included launching a new career as a graphic designer, thanks to completing the one-year certificate program in New Media Communications at Sask Polytech in May 2014.

Modi, who already had a bachelor of commerce degree and a postgraduate diploma in film studies from Mumbai University, has always been drawn to creative fields. While completing a one-year postgraduate certificate in corporate communications and public relations at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., he got to dabble in desktop publishing.

“A course that was part of the curriculum used graphic design software. This awakened my interests in new media, and so I started searching for programs,” says Modi. “The one at Sask Polytech offered detailed, practically oriented courses that were more focused on preparing you for the workplace, rather than theory.

This really appealed to me.”

During his studies, Modi was awarded a $2,000 scholarship

STAYING CONNECTED Looking to keep in touch with your fellow Sask Polytech grads?

Consider joining an alum-

Sask Polytech offered detailed, practically oriented courses … focused on preparing you for the workplace, rather than theory.

SACHIN MODI’S LOVE FOR WINTER IN SASKATCHEWAN SHOWS IN THIS PHOTO, WHICH WAS A RUNNER-UP IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

A LAND OF FIRSTS For international student Sachin Modi, hard work has led to new skills and experiences for international students based on his academic excellence.

He was also the first runner-up in a Western Union competition called Face of My Western Union, where he used the photography skills he learned at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

ni chapter — and if one doesn’t exist in your area, you can form your own.

Chapters provide members with a means of maintaining lifelong connections through

“You had to submit a photo representing what you do to have fun in Saskatchewan, so I sent in a picture of me playing in snow, embracing it with my arms wide open — I love it because I never saw snow in my life in India,” says Modi.

social activities, professional networking opportunities and more.

Alumni chapters are groups of graduates from the same program or field of study at Sask

“People around the world voted for their favourite. They selected four candidates from 200 across Canada and flew us to Vancouver where we had a photo shoot, stayed in a five-star hotel and got to see the city.”

After graduation, Modi completed internships at Action Printing, a Prince Albert printing house, and at the Prince Albert Daily Herald, where he designed online ads, to gain Canadian work experience. He then worked at the Tisdale Recorder as a graphic arts technician and is now back at Action Printing as a full-time graphic designer.

Today, he says, he couldn’t be happier. “I have a good life, a full-time job and all the basic things I need for life. I’m able to financially support my parents, too. My dad retired two years ago; I took a loan to come here on his behalf, and can now repay that loan,” he says.

“When I first arrived in Canada, I came with lots of expectations — I used to see people coming back from abroad and think, ‘Life is so good there.’

Canada is a place where if you work hard you will see the result — and for sure, I have received the results of my work.” ■

Polytech or its predecessor institutions. Alumni chapters can also be formed by Sask Polytech graduates based in a particular geographical area or sharing a com-

mon interest.

For more information on how to join or start a new chapter of your own, contact the alumni office: alumni@saskpolytech.ca. saskpolytech.ca

19

ALUMNI PROFILE

CHAMPIONING

FIRST NATIONS ADVANCEMENT

EDMUND BELLEGARDE CREDITS SASK POLYTECH BUSINESS PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS

“

The instruction and delivery of practical knowledge at Sask Polytech opened the door for me. To this day, some of those classes have stuck with me.

20

I

t should come as no surprise to anyone who knows him today that Edmund Bellegarde used his speech as valedictorian of his 1992 graduating class to encourage his fellow Aboriginal students.

“I spoke to my classmates about preparing to guide our interests as First Nations people,” he says.

Today, Bellegarde is the president of the executive council of the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC), which represents 11 First Nations communities in southern Saskatchewan.

After serving as tribal chairperson, a position equivalent to that of a CEO, Bellegarde is now leading the redesign of the

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

organization to better serve the needs of its citizens.

“Given the practical challenges our community members face with access to housing and clean drinking water, on top of funding and educational disparities, we still have a long way to go to catch up with the quality-of-life standards Canadian citizens take for granted,” he says.

“The business program at Sask Polytech can help with building up this sector.”

He speaks from experience.

Bellegarde graduated in 1992 from the two-year Indian Business Management program, which was held at a Fort Qu’Appelle regional location of the Moose Jaw campus, and he

says the knowledge gained there made his career possible.

“I didn’t have a lot of practical experience — it was the instruction and delivery of practical knowledge at Sask Polytech that opened the door for me. To this day, some of those classes have stuck with me,” he says.

“Studying organizational behaviour prepared me for the unique environment and staffing challenges of a casino, while learning corporate law was instrumental in dealing with the legal and contractual side of doing business. It’s the foundation of a lot of the agreements I negotiate currently.

“Management accounting training has been critical to my

business success, enabling me to be more analytical in reviewing financial performance and determining what needs further improvement.”

While Bellegarde was interested in First Nations affairs and governance early on, the banking sector happened to be the first door he knocked on.

He was barely out of his teens when he started working as a personal account manager at

RBC Financial Group, where he was advising senior executives on establishing Aboriginal banking strategy and client acquisition. Soon after, he was recruited to work in the commercial casino industry.

He went on to become the director of casino operations at Casino Regina, general manager of Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton, and president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian

Gaming Authority (SIGA) from 2001 to 2006. Bellegarde led a corporate governance transformation and expansion of the organization.

Under his leadership, SIGA expanded from four to six casinos with annual revenues of $300 million, developed more than 400 corporate policies and grew from 1,300 to 2,000-plus employees.

Today, Bellegarde is applying

his knowledge to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of First Nations self-government.

“We’re asking ourselves, are we as effective in serving our citizens’ needs as we could be?

We’re starting to think about designing self-government tools that achieve Canadian standards while also preserving our views of the world around us,” he says.

“I find this work tremendously rewarding.” ■ saskpolytech.ca

21

RECOGNIZING PRIOR LEARNING

T

hey were perhaps the six most important words spoken to Val Adams in her entire career: “Have you ever heard of PLAR?” A continuing care assistant, Adams was trained in Ontario and had worked with several seniors’ organizations in Alberta.

But continuing care aide training is not recognized between provinces, and she was told she’d have to demonstrate her competency to be qualified in Saskatchewan.

Passionate about her work, she was prepared to do whatever it took to continue her career.

“The closeness you develop with your residents — I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Adams says. “I tell a lot of my residents I love them before they go to bed.

They need that nurturing.”

So she registered for the Continuing Care Assistant program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

But then she was told she could apply her previous experience toward the program — in effect, she could challenge it.

Through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), working professionals like Adams can apply their knowledge, experience and skills toward credit in a Saskatchewan Polytechnic program. Adams was elated to be able to get a fast track back to doing the work she loves.

In the PLAR process, program faculty members use special assessment tools to evaluate applicants’ knowledge and determine how many credits they’re eligible for through a series of tests that might involve written exams, interviews, demonstrations or simulations.

The faculty for the Continuing Care Assistant program at Sask Polytech evaluates PLAR candidates in the workplace, asking them to demonstrate their skills.

The PLAR process is convenient, accessible, cost-effective

22

JUST PLAR IT! Program helps students apply work experience for course credit

“

It’s the accumulated knowledge and awareness of the preciousness of life. … I love this profession, I really do.

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

and available anywhere in the province. And students who are eligible for PLAR also benefit from the fact they don’t have to take time off work to accumulate the mandatory 255 hours of clinical experience.

For Adams, her 16 years’ experience working with the elderly meant that PLAR was an option that made sense.

97%

High Success Rate:

In 2015, there were 433 applicants to PLAR, a total of 1,186 courses, with 1,149 — or 97% — of those challenges successful.

She earned her diploma in September of 2014.

“There’s a lot more to this profession than just being hands-on,” she says.

“It’s the accumulated knowledge and awareness of the preciousness of life, and treating clients how you’d like your loved ones to be treated. I love this profession, I really do.” ■

Husky’s success is built on the commitment and talent of our employees. We are developing exciting projects that will deliver energy to future generations.

Be a part of our growth. We are seeking dynamic industry professionals in all areas of our business.

• Engineers (Reservoir, Production, Development, Project, Exploitation) • Power Engineers • Project control • Process Safety Advisors • Maintenance Planners • Maintenance & Reliability Leads • Trades (Instrumentation & Electrical) • Laboratory Technologists

www.huskyenergy.com

K+S Potash Canada is recruiting tradespeople and operators with industry experience for the Legacy Project. Be part of a diverse, multi-talented group and work on the latest technology in a brand new facility.

Apply at ks-potashcanada.com

See Yourself Here saskpolytech.ca

23

PRESIDENT’S PARTNERSHIP AWARDS

RECOGNIZING PARTNERS Awards honour the importance of collaboration Saskatchewan Polytechnic President’s Partnership Awards were presented on May 2, 2015.

PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP The Program Partnership Award went to the Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina. Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor, and Dr. david Gregory, dean, Faculty of Nursing, accepted the award.

The relationship between the University of Regina’s Faculty of Nursing and Sask Polytech’s School of Nursing has, in a relatively short period of time, made long-lasting changes to nursing education in our province.

In 2010, the two institutions established a partnership to develop and deliver a new degree program in nursing. The Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program welcomed 345 students in the fall of 2011.

The relationship has already resulted in a second initiative, the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner program, Canada’s first joint master’s program.

ALUMNI PARTNERSHIP The Alumni Partnership Award was presented to Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce since 2007. He has held several senior positions in the Saskatchewan business community, including 18 years with Tourism Regina and Tourism Saskatchewan.

24

SASK POLYTECH PRESIDENT DR. LARRY ROSIA IS SHOWN PRESENTING THE AWARDS. TOP PHOTO: THE ALUMNI AWARD WENT TO SASKATCHEWAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CEO STEVE McLELLAN. LOWER LEFT, DR. VIANNE TIMMONS AND DR. dAVID GREGORY ACCEPT THE PROGRAM AWARD. LOWER RIGHT, ALICE WONG OF CAMECO WITH THE INDUSTRY AWARD.

“

Congratulations to all of the President’s Partnership Award recipients.

Their contributions to Saskatchewan Polytechnic help us grow.

In 1979, McLellan graduated from the Hotel Administration diploma program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Saskatoon campus.

He holds certifications from Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council and has served as member and chair on dozens of local, provincial and national boards.

He’s also received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.

McLellan was named by Sask Business magazine as one of Saskatchewan’s 2011 “Men of Influence.”

He has been an advocate, ambassador and partner to Sask Polytech.

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP The Industry Partnership Award for 2015 was presented to Cameco Corp., with Alice Wong, senior vice-president and chief corporate officer, accepting.

Cameco has partnered with Sask Polytech for more than a decade. Through participation in a number of program advisory councils, Cameco employees, many of whom are Sask Polytech alumni, ensure that Sask Polytech’s program curricula are relevant to industry needs.

Cameco provides practicum and co-operative education placements, and engages Sask Polytech students through a variety of activities.

In 2005, Cameco supported the development of two mobile training labs that allowed Sask Polytech to increase access to trades training in remote areas.

Three years later, support from Cameco helped Sask Polytech move forward with plans for student family housing at our Prince Albert campus. Prior to its official opening in late 2009, all 36 units had been rented. By enhancing access to affordable housing, the complex enables students to bring their dependents to Prince Albert, supporting their success.

Most recently, Cameco has established a student awards program to support Sask Polytech students from the far north.

Cameco has been an industry leader in ensuring that Sask Polytech students, particularly those from the far north, have access to the education and skills training that will make our province grow and prosper. ■

DAR-15-034

CONNECT YOURSELF

REGISTER AS ALUMNI As alumni, you’ll enjoy many different perks: • • • • • • •

Saskatchewan Polytechnic publications Events and reunion support services Library services Business and Industry Dinners Alumni discount programs Recreation services Scholarships for children, stepchildren, grandchildren or stepgrandchildren of registered alumni • Networking opportunities with Saskatchewan Polytechnic students and alumni If you graduated from SIAST or any of the other previous institutions that make up the new Saskatchewan Polytechnic, you are a part of our alumni family.

• • • •

Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (KIAAS) Northern Institute of Technology (NIT) Prince Albert Community College Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (SIAAS) • Saskatchewan Technical Institute (STI) • SIAST • Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (WIAAS)

Celebrating 50 years of quality nursing education.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is coming soon. Stay tuned for more details.

Register or update your contact information at saskpolytech.ca/alumni.

saskpolytech

saskpolytech.ca/nursing

saskpolytech.ca

25

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

HALF-CENTURY FOR SASTT Professional association for applied science technicians celebrates major milestone

N

ot many professional associations get to celebrate their 50th birthday with their first president in attendance, but for the Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists and Technicians (SASTT), the rare possibility became a reality last fall.

The association’s founding president, Michael Majerian, was on hand and spoke at their 50th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 25, 2015. His presence was an important symbol of strength and consistency, says current president and Sask Polytech class of 2001 graduate, Mike Sazynski.

“It spoke to the commitment our members have, not only to the profession but also the economy and where we’re going,” says Sazynski.

SASTT is the only professional association representing applied science and engineering technologists and technicians in the province. Most, if not all, of its 2,500 members are Sask Polytech graduates. “Our members represent 14 unique disciplines, from civil engineering technology to environmental engineering technology, architectural and building technology and mining,” Sazynski says.

Sask Polytech and SASTT are in the process of revisiting their partnership agreement.

“We want to ensure the curriculum continues addressing the needs of the industry, and we often work together to give public presentations on what members are doing once they’ve graduated from the program,” Sazynski says.

Jamie Hilts, dean of the School of Mining, Energy and Manufacturing and the School of Natural Resources and Built En-

26

RON THOMPSON, RIGHT, RECEIVES THE MAURICE M. ZIMMERMAN AWARD FROM MICHAEL MAJERAN, CENTRE, AND MIKE SAZYNSKI, LEFT.

Maurice M. Zimmerman Award

“

We want to ensure the [Sask Polytech] curriculum continues addressing the needs of the industry.

vironment, says the partnership offers exceptional opportunities.

“This partnership develops and promotes careers in applied science, engineering and technology fields and creates a pathway for students to earn a recognized professional designation in their fields,” Hilts says.

“A renewed partnership ensures that we can continue our mutual

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

goal of providing graduates with an opportunity to enrol in a professional association relevant to their areas of study.”

While a SASTT membership has benefits such as professional development and job opportunities, the professional designation proves most valuable.

SASTT offers two designations: A.Sc.T for Applied Science

Long-time Saskatchewan Polytechnic instructor Ron Thompson has received the 2015 Maurice M. Zimmerman A.Sc.T. Excellence in Technical Instruction Award, conferred by SASTT. Coincidentally, Thompson worked at Zimmerman’s desk when he first arrived at Sask Polytech’s Moose Jaw campus 24 years ago, although the two never met.

“Seeing what students can achieve once they graduate has been tremendously rewarding,” says Thompson.

The award honours the memory of Zimmerman, who died in February 2015 at age 77. A graduate of the first civil engineering technology class at what is now Sask Polytech, Zimmerman held several executive positions with SASTT in his career.

Technologists and C.Tech for Certified Technicians. SASTT is responsible for defining and developing the scope of each designation, including a professional code of conduct.

“The designations students earn through their registration with SASTT are recognized by industry and employers,” Hilts adds. ■

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

T

he question: In a sector staffed by people with plenty of experience but little post-secondary education, how can the workforce be offered more formalized training?

Out of an industry advisory committee meeting for disability support workers in the spring of 2010 came an innovative answer.

“What if a Sask Polytech instructor could provide instruction at our work site off-hours?” says Denise Young, program director at Cosmopolitan Industries Ltd., a Saskatoon day program for adults with intellectual disabilities. “It just flew from there. By the fall, we were offering our first night class here.

We’ve since opened it up to four other agencies in the sector.”

Sask Polytech instructor Darrell Mayes stepped in, further developing the partnership with Cosmopolitan to offer two courses each year toward a Disability Support Worker certificate program.

“Sask Polytech has always offered options such as correspondence and night classes, but Cosmopolitan Industries wanted something that catered more specifically to its staff’s needs,” Mayes says. “We felt a workable option was delivering the curriculum as a hybrid between traditional classroom offerings and correspondence. A 40-hour course would involve 20 hours of direct classroom instruction and another 20 hours of home study.

The class is made up of people who know each other and feel comfortable in that environment.”

Young says the program has several benefits for staff members. “The classes help our staff advance their skills and knowledge. If we hire someone without post-secondary training, they start at a pay grid that is lower than someone with training. That’s a great incentive for students to complete the certificate.”

DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKER CERTIFICATE GRADUATE KEITH FISHER ADMIRES SOME PARTICIPANT ARTWORK AT COSMOPOLITAN INDUSTRIES LTD. IN SASKATOON, ALONG WITH DENISE YOUNG, THE ORGANIZATION’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

ABILITY TO HELP Industry partnership fills need for formally trained disability support workers Graduate Keith Fisher, a life skills support worker who has worked at Cosmopolitan for 13 years, says the program has added to his ability to support program participants.

“I had started taking distance education classes prior to the partnership, but I found this format of classroom instruction to be so much more beneficial,” Fisher says. “From lifespan development to program plan-

“

ning, the classes add depth and understanding that enables you to take better care of people.”

A total of 200 students worldwide are registered in the one-year Disability Support Worker certificate program, with a number of them learning online, says program head Kristine Larson at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Human Services and Community Safety.

She says it takes a special kind of

The classes add depth and understanding that enables you to take better care of people.

person to excel in the field.

“The job of a disability support worker is very physically demanding,” Larson says. “It may involve assisting people in wheelchairs, who might be blind or non-verbal; helping them in the bathroom, brushing their teeth or assisting them at mealtimes.”

Day programming at agencies such as Cosmopolitan is provided for individuals who are unable to work at supported jobs in the community; they are provided with training in basic work skills and habits.

This type of programming has developed over the past 40 years, as people with disabilities who would have previously lived with their families or been institutionalized have been relocating to larger communities to live in group homes and work in vocational centres, Larson says.

Plans are in place to expand the on-site certificate program to Regina in early 2016. It will be hosted there by Chip and Dale Homes Inc., which offers residential services to adults with disabilities. ■ saskpolytech.ca

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PRESIDENT’S GALA

AN INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH EVENT Automotive workshop will be the setting for Sask Polytech’s 2016 President’s Gala

A unique location will make for a memorable third annual Saskatchewan Polytechnic President’s Gala. Transmissions, hoists and exhaust hoses will share space with chandeliers and fine dining at this fundraiser for Aboriginal students.

Guests will be welcomed to the Saskatoon Campus Automotive Service Technician training area, where they will enjoy entertainment, a great meal and good company.

Proceeds from the gala will support the Aboriginal Student Advisory Program (ASAP). A comprehensive recruitment and retention plan, ASAP provides targeted programs, support and services for Aboriginal students, right from when they begin thinking about coming to Sask Polytech through to graduation and employment.

Gala guests will help Sask Polytech celebrate the partnerships that are critical to the success of students and graduates.

The Saskatchewan Polytechnic President’s Partnership Awards for outstanding contributions in the categories of program, alumni, and industry partnerships will be presented. ■

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SAVE THE DATE: THE SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC PRESIDENT’S GALA TAKES PLACE APRIL 23, 2016.

For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Pam McLellan at 306-775-7714; email pam.mclellan@saskpolytech.ca.

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

KUDOS

NOTEWORTHY

Commerce and a Sask Polytech alumnus, joined several dynamic speakers in illuminating how cities and communities can build themselves to thrive through difficult times.

Events and accomplishments of 2015

THE WALRUS TALKS – RESILIENCE

TEDX Sask Polytech enjoyed being the visionary sponsor of TEDx Saskatoon, an event created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.”

Dr. Hamilton Greenwood, program head and instructor with Sask Polytech’s natural resources programs, was one of 13 TEDx speakers. Using his wildlife photography, Greenwood explained how we can create better functioning communities and organizations if we learn from nature by being mindful, embracing diversity and taking care of the unique.

Sask Polytech was very proud to be the reception sponsor of The Walrus Talks – Resilience in Saskatoon.

Sask Polytech has experienced a lot of change in the last year and is familiar with the effort required to change the conversation, share new ideas and build up communities on our campuses. It was a pleasure sponsoring this great event, learning how we can contribute to innovative ideas and new ways of thinking across Saskatchewan.

Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of

WORLDSKILLS SÃO PAULO Last summer, Roxanne Kanak and Carson Gustafson took the global stage at WorldSkills São Paulo. They were two of 29 young Canadians who formed WorldSkills Team Canada.

Though both had won medals at the Skills Canada National Competition, that didn’t automatically get them onto the national team. They had to attend the WorldSkills Canadian trials in 2015 to qualify for Team Canada.

Success there was the final stepping stone to WorldSkills.

Sask Polytech is proud of all these two have accomplished and wishes them future success. ■

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER Advance your career with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s flexible learning options including evening and part-time classes and online and distance education. So even with a busy schedule, and even with a family, it’s easy to keep your career growing and improving.

Check out part-time learning opportunities at saskpolytech.ca/CE and find details on: • certificate and diploma programs • employer and industry training opportunities • personal and professional development courses Register today at saskpolytech.ca/CE or 1-866-467-4278.

saskpolytech

saskpolytech.ca/CE 1-866-467-4278

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ALUMNI PROFILE Award-winning country musician Codie Prevost is a 2004 graduate of the Electronics Technician program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (then SIAST). We caught up with him just before he left for an Australian concert tour.

“

As a musician, I’m dealing with lots of electronic equipment…

Having learned how to diagnose problems has certainly helped a lot.

Q:

What drew you to the Electronics Technician program?

You knew you wanted a career in music.

A: I grew up in Archerwill, Sask., a town of about 200 people.

There was no one around me who had a career as a musician, and I had no clue how to get into it. I looked through the programs at Sask Polytech and saw they were offering this one-year program. I thought to myself, “It wouldn’t hurt to do something like that — and who knows who I’ll meet who might help me get further in music?”

Q: Your education did come in handy on the road, didn’t it?

A: As a musician, I’m dealing with lots of electronic equipment like guitars, amps and lights. Many nights I might have to do some repairs, and that’s stuff I learned in school — power, circuitry and how to connect wiring. Having learned how to diagnose problems has certainly helped a lot.

Q: How did your music career get started?

A: I began entering talent contests and performing in concerts when I was at college in Saskatoon. I met the man who became my manager there. After college, I took a small business loan. That made it possible for me to go to Nashville and record my first CD in 2004, right after I graduated.

I was fortunate to start receiving recognition through the Country Music Association, and performed on the road with wellknown bands like Emerson Drive and Doc Walker.

30

Q&A WITH CODIE PREVOST Electronics grad is now a country music star Q: Your greatest successes?

A: The last album I released in 2014, All Kinds of Crazy, was nominated for a Canadian Country Music award, won a Western Canadian Music award and was named Saskatchewan’s country album of the year. As an independent artist, you compete with major label artists, so that was incredible. I’ve released four albums and I’m working on my

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

fifth; I signed a record label deal in Australia and I’m working on deals in the U.S. I feel fortunate to do music as a full-time career.

Q: You’ve done quite a bit of charity and community work as well.

A: I’ve partnered with another country musician, Steven McGuire, to create awareness of bullying as part of the Imagine No Bullying campaign run by

the Red Cross. I’ve done cancer benefits and fundraisers for cystic fibrosis, the Humane Society, families in need and for a town skating rink. The biggest purpose of music is to be a vehicle for something bigger. ■ ••• For a free download of Codie Prevost’s All Kinds of Crazy album, join the mailing list at codieprevost.com.

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Ask for your quote today at 1-888-589-5656 or visit melochemonnex.com/saskpolytech The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL 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, Montreal (Quebec) H2P 1B6. *Nationally, 90% of all of our clients who belong to a professional or an alumni group (underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY) or an employer group (underwritten by PRIMMUM INSURANCE COMPANY) that have an agreement with us and who insure a home (excluding rentals and condos) and a car on July 31, 2015 saved $415 when compared to the premiums they would have paid with the same insurer without the preferred insurance rate for groups and the multi-product discount. Savings are not guaranteed and may vary based on the client’s profile. ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. saskpolytech.ca

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GROWING TOMORROW FUND SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

INVEST IN TOMORROW

The Growing Tomorrow Fund is a way for you to invest in the future of Saskatchewan. Your gift will support scholarships and bursaries that not only reduce some of the financial pressures felt by students, but as importantly, recognize their accomplishments and hard work. From blood work to brake work, Saskatchewan Polytechnic students make a big difference in your life. Will you help us make a difference in theirs? Please send your gift today.

For more information, contact: Dianne Craig, annual giving administrator, 306-659-6938, dianne.craig@saskpolytech.ca.

n I WANT TO INVEST IN TOMORROW! n $25

n $50

n $100

Please direct my gift to

n other $ __________________________________________________________________

n Growing Tomorrow Fund

n other

NName: ___________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________

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Province: _________________________________________

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PAYMENT METHOD n My cheque is enclosed (please make cheque payable to Saskatchewan Polytechnic) n Please charge my credit card

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Card Number ________________________________________ Exp. date ________ / _________ Security code __________ Cardholder’s Name (please print)______________________________________________________________________________ Signature of Cardholder _____________________________________________________________________________________ Donations of $10 or more are eligible for a charitable tax receipt

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC OFFICIAL CHARITABLE # 10795-7540-RR0001

The personal information on this form is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Act and The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This information will be used only for administrative and statistical purposes by Saskatchewan Polytechnic or persons authorized by Saskatchewan Polytechnic where required to perform their duties; and to determine eligibility for alumni benefits and administering alumni operations. If you have questions about the collection or use of this information, please contact the Saskatchewan Polytechnic privacy head at 306-659-3802 or at privacyhead@saskpolytech.ca.

Please return form to: Sask Polytech Donor & Alumni Relations 55 – 33rd Street East, P.O. Box 1520, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3R5 Email: donations@saskpolytech.ca FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Fund/Org # ________________

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