SEPTEMBER 2009
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VOLUME 9
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ISSUE ONE
A beacon in the night sky
the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Dr. Bob Boudreau takes on new position
Derek Robinson sets his sights on Vancouver Olympic effort
Don Chandler assumes lead role in Alumni Association
Mark Thom earns Math in Moscow Scholarship
The U of L Legend is published monthly during the academic year by the communications unit within University Advancement. Submissions, comments and story ideas are always welcome. The Legend reserves the right to refuse any submitted advertisement. The Legend can be found online at www.uleth.ca/unews/ legend. Next content deadline is Sept. 25, 2009. A DV E R T I S I N G For ad rates or other information, contact: legend@uleth.ca CREDITS Editor: Trevor Kenney Designer: Stephenie Chester CO N T R I B U TO R S: Abby Allen, Anne Baxter, Amanda Berg, Diane Britton, Bob Cooney, Jane Edmundson, Jana McFarland, Kali McKay, Glenda Moulton, Stacy Seguin, Lindsay Thepsouvanh, Katherine Wasiak, Lori Weber and Bernie Wirzba
University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca
A magnificent sunset frames an equally stunning achievement, the new University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium. Here, the Pronghorns men’s soccer team plays an exhibition match. The stadium’s grand opening is Sept. 25-26.
UNIVERSITY MOBILIZES TO INFORM CAMPUS COMMUNITY
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e FLUless Not Clueless! Influenza A H1N1 is no joke! This is the launch of the University of Lethbridge’s awareness and preparedness plan to students and staff. Various departments across the University have been working diligently, collaboratively and collectively over the last few months in response to the potential spread of H1N1. The University’s position is that it is better to be proactive than to wait for something to happen and subsequently be reactive. Senior administration is in full support of the H1N1 plan and has invested in the acquisition of hand sanitizer units that are presently being installed in many of the common areas across campus. The health and well-being of students and staff is of paramount importance and hopefully with the provision of hand sanitizing stations, education and continual communication, this will assist in minimizing the impact of H1N1 should it resurface as anticipated during the fall and winter months. You have probably noted some hand sanitizers on stands that have sprung up over campus recently. In addition to this, there are approximately 300 wall mount units that the Facilities department is working hard to install.
The Health Centre, Internal Audit, Wellness and Risk and Safety Services have jointly promoted the placement of desktop hand sanitizer pumps at many of the reception desks across campus. Students in residence and the resident assistants are receiving a complimentary hand pocket sanitizer to promote the message that “healthy hands” is one way to prevent the spread of infection. There will also be complimentary pocket size bottles available at new student orientation.
Education and awareness is hugely important in the H1N1 preparedness plan and Lori Weber, manager of the University Health Centre, and Suzanne McIntosh, coordinator of Wellness, are busy with students and staff conducting H1N1 awareness and preparedness sessions. Risk and Safety Services is also assisting in this initiative in the student internship and practicum orientations. We are working as a team and getting the word out to all, including the deans, faculty, students and staff. The H1N1 Communication plan will incorporate messaging through all available communica-
tion mediums such as UNews, the U of L home page, posters and pamphlets, digital signage, Notice Board announcements, Twitter and e-mail. Both Information Technology and Communications have been instrumental in the implementation of this plan and a dedicated website has been launched which can be viewed at the following link: http:// www.uleth.ca/ross/health_centre/ h1n1/. This site will be updated regularly. The University’s medical crisis committee will be meeting regularly to address our response to H1N1 to ensure continuity and consistency in our proactive approach to this pandemic situation that has the potential to adversely affect our community. In addition to this, Anne Baxter of Risk and Safety Services is the University’s representative for the post-secondary pandemic liaison group that Alberta Health Services (AHS), Alberta Health and Wellness and Advanced Education and Technology (co-chair) have established. This committee’s purpose is to assist institutions with pandemic planning and ensure that consistent communication, policies and procedures are developed across the publicly funded post-secondary system.
the Legend
SEPTEMBER 2009
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
THE BILLboard
University of Lethbridge President Dr. Bill Cade chats about what’s happening in the University community
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elcome to the Fall 2009 Semester and what promises to be an exciting and challenging time at the University of Lethbridge. While the summer months allow us all to refresh and refocus for a new semester, there is nothing like the energy of a campus full of students. It is invigorating to see both old friends return as well as the influx of fresh new faces. There is a spirit within these walls that is revived with the resumption of each new semester, and it is inspiring to all of us. I’d like to welcome personally all the new staff and faculty who have come to the University over the summer months. I trust
you will find an accepting atmosphere here and will feel truly a part of our community. It has been a busy summer on campus, most notably in the continued development of our major construction projects. Markin Hall, the future home of the Faculties of Management and Health Sciences, is that much closer to being completed in anticipation of its summer, 2010 opening. This building has already transformed the landscape of our campus and when completed, will set the stage for even further development of this corridor. The Campus Daycare project continues to take shape and is on course to accept its first
children in January 2010. What a great way to enhance our community atmosphere here at the University by providing quality care for the youngest members of our family. The University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium is nearly complete and already open to play. A number of events have been held on the stadium’s artificial turf surface, including soccer and rugby practices, soccer games and high school football games. It is with great pride that I can now look across the river on any given evening and see our stadium’s lights glowing in the night sky. The stadium’s new name reflects the community aspect of
CAMPUS Dr. Ed Jurkowski (Music) and Dr. Deanna Oye (Music) co-presented a paper in July entitled, Interpreting the Music of György Kurtág, at the annual meeting of the International Musicological Society in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Dr. David Townsend (Education) and Dr. Pamela Adams (Education) released their book, The Essential Equation, A Handbook for School Improvement. Through case studies, research and bestpractice information, the book is designed to help educators learn more about school improvement and the challenges facing educators today. David Barrus has been accepted as the first MFA Dramatic Arts student and is specializing in scenic design for theatre, which also makes him the first recipient of the John Farwell Memorial Award. Don Gill (Art) and dancer Sarah Williams (formerly of La La La Human Steps) are featured in a collaborative videoinstallation exhibition, The New Flâneurs: Contemporary Urban Practice and the Picturesque, running Sept. 5 through Dec. 13 in the RBC New Works Gallery in the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton. Soprano Audrina Poepping-Steciw (BMus ’09) placed first in the Provincial National Voice Class in the Kiwanis Music Festival in Edmonton this spring
this project. Built in conjunction with the City of Lethbridge and provincial government, this facility will serve as a magnificent home for our Pronghorn athletes and also as a hub for athletics in southern Alberta. I invite everyone to come out to the stadium’s grand opening event, Sept. 25-26 to celebrate the birth of a new sporting era. As you make your way around campus this fall, you will notice the many hand sanitizing stations that have been provided by the University. The issue of Influenza A H1N1 is real and something we are taking very seriously. It is important we heed the warnings of Alberta Health Services and do all we
can to protect ourselves from the spread of this virus. Please take time to view the notices posted by the Health Centre, Human Resources and our communications team as they will keep our community apprised of all the latest information related to H1N1 and maintaining a healthy campus. The start of a new semester is always exhilarating, and I look forward to meeting many of you as I make my way around campus this fall. The University of Lethbridge is truly an experience and I encourage you to sample all that the U of L has to offer.
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and represented Alberta in the National Class at the competition in Saskatoon in August.
The Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. David Renter (Music) and including University and community musicians performed at the first incarnation of the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival in Lethbridge in June. University musicians included student Brad Brouwer, Ryan Heseltine (BMus/Ed ’04), Don Robb (former U of L Jazz Ensemble conductor), Nick Sullivan (Music) and Ed Wasiak (Music Education)
Dr. Arlan Schultz (Music) returned from a summer residency at the Center for Research in Computing and the Arts at UC San Diego in La Jolla, California. Schultz was engaged in research at CRCA’s large-speaker array audio spatialization lab. James Graham’s (New Media) installation, Unforgivable, used many commonly available commercial products – and specifically those of the French cosmetic giant L’Oreal – to draw connections back to their French fascist and anti-Semitic origins. Displayed in the SAAG storefront gallery during August, the exhibition examined the troubled history of Vichy, France.
Former University of Lethbridge student and Canadian Idol winner Theo Tams made an appearance on campus over the summer. Tams was in town to perform at Whoop-Up Days and participated in a book signing at the U of L Bookstore.
Ont. and then to the Esplanade Gallery in Medicine Hat. A version of this exhibition appeared at the Nanaimo Art Gallery in June. Dana Inkster (New Media) has received generous support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for her new production, Ladies of the Saturday Night, a short documentary about lives lived in the sex trade in Alberta boomtowns. The production is slated for completion by fall 2010.
The University of Lethbridge will receive a 2009 Allied Arts Council Award for Excellence (AACE) at the Mayor’s Luncheon for Business and the Arts on Sept. 10. Michael Campbell’s (Art) exhibition, Field Recordings of Icebergs Melting, toured over the summer to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound,
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Bobbi-Lee Copeland (BA ’05), who has been working as an adult literacy instructor for the Lillooet Area Library Association, has been accepted to the University of Saskatchewan Indigenous Education Master’s Program. Dr. David Renter (Music) has been invited to participate in the 2009 Chiayi City International Band Festival in Chiayi City, Taiwan in December 2009. Renter will perform with an Afro-Cuban Jazz group from Indianapolis, Indiana. Andrew Staniland (BMus ’00, Great Distinction) who completed his PhD in composition at University of Toronto in 2008, went on to win the grand prize in CBC’s National Evolution Composers Competition in March 2009. Staniland has accepted a tenure-track appointment in composition at Memorial University of Newfoundland, starting in January 2010.
SEPTEMBER 2009
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the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN SPARKS CAMPUS GENEROSITY
Facing another new challenge
Look for Kristine Wall, left, and Barb Erler, among others, for your United Way Cash Calendars.
Dr. Bob Boudreau assumes yet another role as he enters his 27th year at the University of Lethbridge.
Faculty and staff at the University of Lethbridge have traditionally been extremely supportive of charitable causes and as the U of L United Way Campaign kicks off, employee generosity will be revealed once again.
BY TREVOR KENNEY
The campaign this year is two-fold, featuring payroll deductions/one-time gifts and the popular Cash Calendar. While there are many worthwhile causes and charities, one plus of the United Way Campaign is that all monies raised are used to support local programs in Lethbridge and surrounding areas. Barb Erler, campaign chair, encourages staff to donate through payroll deductions/one-time gifts and thanks everyone who has supported the United Way Campaign in the past. “All donations, small or large, make a difference and help support local community service agencies in Lethbridge and southern Alberta,” Erler says. Staff at the University make it possible to sign up for payroll deductions and forms for employee payroll deductions/one-time gifts are available through Kyle Halluk in Human Resources. “Monies raised from the U of L United Way Campaign support local programs in Lethbridge and surrounding areas and our support is critical to the ongoing operations of community service agencies,” Erler adds. “Some of the agencies who receive funding from the United Way include Big Brothers & Sisters, CNIB, Interfaith Food Bank, Lethbridge Family Services, Red Cross and YWCA Harbour House.” The Cash Calendar forms part of the U of L United Way Campaign again this year. For $25 the Cash Calendar offers daily draws in November for prizes ranging from $50 to $500. If all 300 calendars are sold, the total prize amount given out in the month of November is $3,500, with $4,000 donated to the United Way. Those who purchase calendars prior to Oct. 15 are eligible for the $100 early bird draw. Cash Calendars are available for $25 through one of the volunteer sellers or in the Office of the Vice-President (Finance and Administration). “Faculty and staff realize that supporting local community service agencies is important and have shown their generosity in the past,” Erler says. “I hope that staff will continue to support the work of the United Way of Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta and contribute to the 2009 campaign.”
CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS • Cathy Kanashiro, Faculty of Arts & Science • Karen Mahar, Faculty of Fine Arts • Carol Van Dyk, Faculty of Management • Doris Kostiuk, Library • Kristine Wall, University Advancement • Annette Bright, Bookstore • Patrick Mack, Human Resources • Diane Boyle, Information Technology • Shauna Haag, Facilities • Greg Martin, Printing Services
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ou can’t blame Dr. Bob Boudreau for being a Montreal Canadiens fan – as a native of Montreal, Que., he comes by his allegiance honestly. Likewise, you can’t question Boudreau’s loyalty to the University of Lethbridge – 26 years of service speak to that. Since first coming to campus as an All But Dissertation (ABD) PhD candidate in 1983, Boudreau has left an impression as both a professor and administrator, worked in a variety of roles, pursued sabbaticals and even taken a leave of absence. In the end, he always came back to the U of L, ready to adapt to any new challenge. “Early on I viewed Lethbridge as a preliminary stop in my career and it obviously became much more than that,” Boudreau says. “Now, 27 years later, I wonder out loud, “What just happened?” It’s been quite a journey.” Boudreau dives into yet another new role this fall as he assumes the position of Associate Vice-President (Academic). He most recently served as Assistant Vice-President (Academic) and prior to that was the acting dean of graduate studies. “In the last five years, I’ve had five different academic jobs whereas the first 20-plus years it was pretty much business as usual,” Boudreau says. He’s only telling half the truth. By his nature, doing the same old thing isn’t how Boudreau operates. An active researcher, he’s often used the opportunities afforded by the U of L to test his theories globally. By travelling to Japan, Belarus, the United States, New Zealand and Australia he’s been able to stay current with his work, most recently studying physician burnout in different cultures. “There’s nothing like going to a different country, either on
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sabbatical, teaching or collecting data. It provides you that freshness, that opportunity to experience and also to check on your own ideas and values,” he says.
“People ask me about the U of L, what I really think about it, and I just say, “Well, my son’s here”. That’s the endorsement.” Boudreau likes to push the envelope and it’s one of the reasons the U of L proves to be such a good fit for him. “I’ve always thought of the University as an institution that is small but thinks big,” Boudreau says, referencing his early days in the Faculty of Management. “When we wanted to do things, like introduce managament skills into our curriculum and make our program better than most others, we did it. There was this sense that we could always stay ahead of the curve. We were nimble, we were quick, we could make change and, within reason, we could do what we wanted.” He fully believes that pioneer spirit exists today. “All we have to do is look around. Look at the people we have in neuroscience, in astrophysics, in water and environmental sciences,” Boudreau says. “We have this reputation of what we choose to do, we do really well, better than most. So, from my perspective, why wouldn’t you want to be here?” Perhaps the most telling testimonial of all is that Boudreau’s son Rylan is now
entering his fourth year of studies (economics and psychology) on campus. “People ask me about the U of L, what I really think about it, and I just say, “Well, my son’s here”. That’s the endorsement.”
G E T T H E FA C T S • Boudreau and his wife Suzan have three sons, Rylan (22), Evyn (17), and Wyatt (15). • An avid golfer and practitioner of Tae Kwon-Do, Boudreau is also a big sports fan. Travelling from Georgia to Lethbridge, he once drove up the east coast of the United States visiting seven baseball stadiums. • While on sabbatical at the University of Western Australia, he helped develop a proposal for a new coaching psychology PhD program of study. • He’s created a bibliography of over 17,000 burnout references and will present his findings at a conference in Puerto Rico in November. • Now a full-time administrator, Boudreau admits he misses the classroom. “Teaching is a great way to test the gap between your current knowledge and whether your theories and data have any application value, whether or not things are making sense. Students these days are pretty good at giving you this kind of feedback. I miss that exchange although my kids are able to fill in some of that gap.”
the Legend
SEPTEMBER 2009
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Celebrating citizenship
connections GLOBAL
History professor Janay Nugent with retired professor James Tagg.
BY KALI MCKAY
Eric Low mans the University of Lethbridge’s Writing Centre.
FINDING THE LANGUAGE OF BELONGING BY TREVOR KENNEY
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here’s a language of belonging when entering an academic environment, and finding the key to unlocking that language is more difficult for some than others. Thankfully, there’s a gatekeeper on hand to assist in the search. Eric Low (BA ’75) mans the University’s Writing Centre, a haven for those searching for guidance when trying to write in a language that, at times, can seem foreign. “There’s a misunderstanding that writing takes place alone. I don’t know very many practicing writers who don’t collaborate in some fashion,” Low says. “Writing, by its nature, works well in a collaborative situation.” The Writing Centre is not a remedial centre and Low, along with Manager of Language Services, International Centre for Students, Jenine Hawryluk, is not there to simply edit papers. Instead, they offer an opportunity for students to vet their ideas and gain feedback on whether they are hitting the mark with their papers. “A great deal of what we do here is listen and respond, at any stage of the process,” Low says. “We’re here to encourage, to suggest, to diagnose problems or patterns and to make suggestions. It then all goes back to the student. After talking to us, it’s the student’s job to say, ‘This is what I’m
“There’s a misunderstanding that writing takes place alone. I don’t know very many practicing writers who don’t collaborate in some fashion.” G E T T H E FA C T S • The Writing Centre’s survey for faculty should be sent out during the first week of classes. • The Writing Centre is located in L1012 in the University Library. It’s an ideal location and allows for collaboration between the centre and the librarians. • Students can book 30-minute or 50-minute Writing Centre appointments online. The Writing Centre is also open for drop-in appointments Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, and Monday to Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. • For more information on the Writing Centre, visit the website at www.uleth.ca/ics/ writingcentre going to do.’ ” Low’s jack-of-all-trades background is extremely beneficial in the work he does with students. An English graduate, he also studied drama and eventually earned a master’s degree in journalism from University of Western Ontario. At the U of L he has taught drama, English, English as a second language and aca-
demic writing, as well as some management and communications courses. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here, I have a varied background and very little astonishes me,” he says. An Ottawa, Ont. native, Low says the Writing Centre welcomes students at all stages of the writing process. Whether it’s helping them with the first stage of unpacking an assignment and making sure they begin on the right path, to clarifying the organization of their ideas and then finally recognizing grammatical pitfalls, it’s all a process to help students understand the forum within which they are now writing. “Anytime a student begins feeling anxious to the point of being concerned about an assignment is the time to come in,” Low says. Students and faculty both profit from this collaboration. To that end, Low and Hawryluk encourage faculty to promote the Writing Centre to their students. Some even make it a requirement to visit the centre at least once during the writing process. To better understand the needs of faculty, the Writing Centre is sending out an electronic survey that will ask faculty questions on style and formatting and just how they’d prefer their students to write.
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As a University of Lethbridge student, Janay Nugent (BA ’95) was influenced by professor James Tagg’s profound belief in community involvement. Tagg, who retired in 2003, believes that educated people have a duty to engage in the support and improvement of their communities, from the local to the international level. Now a professor herself, Nugent continues to impress upon students the importance of citizenship and encourages them to get involved. “We, as a department, believe that with your degree comes a responsibility to society. You should be taking the skills that you’ve gained through this experience to get involved in your community. This was something that Jim was developing and was instilling in the faculty even when I was an undergraduate student.” After receiving a generous donation from the Czechoslovak Canadian Cultural Society of Southern Alberta, a group that was very active in the community, Nugent set to work developing a scholarship that would reflect the values of her and her colleagues. The History Department eventually established the James D. Tagg History and Citizenship Award, which recognizes academic achievement and community involvement, honouring both its namesake
and the society that provided the initial investment. “When Jim retired, he encouraged us to keep striving to instill citizenship in our students. This is something we continue to put at the forefront of our teaching and this award really and truly reflects his legacy,” Nugent says. Nugent’s colleagues embraced the award, and history is one of only two departments on campus to achieve 100 per cent participation in this year’s Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign. “Not only are we honouring a colleague who’s recently retired, but we’re also honouring the concept of community involvement. More importantly, we’re all giving, which demonstrates the department’s commitment to citizenship and hopefully encourages others to follow suit.” Nugent stresses the importance of campaigns like SOS, maintaining that donations to student scholarships help the U of L grow as an institution. “It builds a sense of community when everyone is involved,” she explains, once again placing the emphasis on the role that individuals play in the larger community. “For faculty and staff to encourage further academic studies and scholarship, to support a highly achieving student body, is something from which we all benefit.”
Congratulations to the History Department and the International Centre for Students on achieving 100% participation in this year’s SOS campaign! For more information on how you can make a difference in the lives of students, please visit: www.ulethbridge.ca/giving
SEPTMBER 2009
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athletics AT T H E U
the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Getting a feel for the new turf
Pronghorns women’s rugby head coach Neil Langevin puts his two-time defending national championship team through its paces on the new stadium field.
Sound advice allowed Robinson to seek path psychologist and obviously loved sports but I was a hockey player, I swore in the dressing room, erek Robinson (BA ’00, drank beer in the pub and never MEd ’03) always knew really thought I had the material what he wanted to do – to be a psychologist,” he says. he just needed someone to tell “I think back now to the him it was OK. sessions I had with the counselor The former University of and everything we talked about I Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s actually ended up doing.” hockey forward had an interest The events he refers to include in psychology that he wanted to research pursue but it projects, wasn’t until a working with career counselG E T T H E FA C T S elite athletes or at the U of L and coaching affirmed it was at the highest a realistic path, • Robinson and his wife Lisa level of sport. that Robinson (now an art teacher) both In February, really believed came to the U of L from Robinson he had the Victoria and they have two will be in right stuff. children, a four-year old son Vancouver as “Most and 18-month old daughter. the long track of the guys I speed skating played with • Robinson has also worked team looks were in educain private practice with the for a golden tion or manCalgary Health Region. harvest at the agement and 2010 Olympretty much • While at the U of L, Robinpics. told me I’d son had a 20-goal season in A Victonever get a job 1998-99. ria, B.C. in psychology,” native, RobRobinson, now inson found a mental trainthe U of L to be a perfect fit ing consultant at the Canadian when he came to campus in the Sport Centre in Calgary who fall of 1995. The size of the city works primarily with Canada’s National Long Track Speed Skat- suited him well and he was joining a hockey program fresh off ing team, says. its first national title. However, So he continued on, studythe University would prove to be ing psychology but never fully much more than just a hockey committing to a major until his stop. third year. “The U of L was a great fit,” “I always wanted to be a BY TREVOR KENNEY
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Former Pronghorns men’s hockey forward Derek Robinson will be in Vancouver in February as part of Canada’s Olympic effort. He’ll serve on the support staff of Canada’s National Long Track Speed Skating team.
Robinson says. “Lethbridge is a great place to go to university and it was a really good experience getting my BA there and playing for the Horns. Obviously I liked it enough to go back and complete my master’s degree.” The research focus for his master’s thesis was on the prevalence of mental training in hockey, specifically the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and whether the league’s coaches felt it would be beneficial. The
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majority did but were lacking the resources to add a mental trainer to their staff. “Over the course of my thesis, I formed a great relationship with Dr. Kerry Bernes,” Robinson says. “I really respect both he and Dr. Kris Magnusson, who was running the program at the time. Those two guys were pivotal through my master’s and were really helpful for my career.” He’s looking for a career high note in February, after
which he’ll try and curtail his travel schedule and devote more time to his family. “I’ll be with the support staff at the Games,” Robinson says. “Working with the athletes on such a personal level, it’s very exciting to see them excel and I’ll be thrilled if they do well in Vancouver.”
the Legend
SEPTEMBER 2009
Career Fair a starting point BY LINDSAY THEPSOUVANH “Start Here . . . Go Anywhere” is the theme of this year’s annual Career Fair and with over 80 organizations attending, that possibility certainly exists. Scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness, the Career Fair is venturing away from the University Hall Atrium for the first time ever. Students, graduates, staff and faculty of the University of Lethbridge, as well as members of the community, Lethbridge College and surrounding areas are all welcome to take part in the Career Fair, with admission free of charge. “The Career Fair is an opportunity for students to explore careers and gain information that can help them make solid career decisions,” Pat Tanaka, director of Career and Employment Services says. Aside from hosting Career Fair, Career and Employment Services (CES) offers job searchrelated help for students and graduates of the University. With the state of the economy, one might think that employers have stopped looking for new employees but that couldn’t be
G E T T H E FA C T S • Career Fair 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of Career and Employment Services organizing career events on campus. • A showcase of artwork designed for previous career fairs will be on display. • The Career Fair game “Sign Post-it” will debut. Designed to facilitate interaction between employers and attendees, the person who collects the most signposts has a chance to win a Nintendo Wii. • CES is in need of volunteers for Career Fair 2009. E-mail ces.volunteers@uleth.ca or visit B610 if you are interested. further from the truth. Instead, they are looking towards succession planning by continuing to hire new graduates. “Employers are not at a standstill by any means,” says Tanaka. “We hope students attending the Career Fair will gather ideas, learn about options available to
them once they complete their degree, and begin establishing methods of pursuing these options.” The theme, “Start Here . . . Go Anywhere” is intended to give students a positive and encouraging outlook on their future careers. “Students start their career journey at the University, exploring options and disciplines while gaining skills and being exposed to new ideas and concepts,” Tanaka says. “Through the Career Fair we also encourage them to start building relationships with people in their field of interest. “We want students to know what with the right preparation and motivation they can ‘Go Anywhere’ – whether it is around the world or just around the corner, the possibilities are endless!” Of the 80 organizations scheduled to attend Career Fair, newcomers such as Canadian Hydro, Swap - the Adventure Travel Company, Lethbridge Community Network and Nerds On Site will be on hand. Also attending are some 20-year veterans of event, including: Alberta Employment and Immigration, ATB Financial and Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre. For a complete list of participants visit www.uleth.ca/ross/ces
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
UPCOMING LECTURES A GREAT START TO SEMESTER Just a week into the Fall 2009 Semester and the University of Lethbridge is offering two prominent and engaging speakers on consecutive evenings. Ian Hacking and Stephen Lewis will be on campus making presentations the nights of Sept. 16 and Sept. 17 respectively. Hacking comes to the U of L as part of the Owen G. Holmes Lecture Series. A professor in the department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, Hacking will present, The Abolition of Man. What will biotechnologies do to our sense of who we are? “A Canadian philosopher of international stature, Hacking delves into the philosophy of physical and social science,” Academic Initiatives Manager, Paul Sparrow-Clarke, says. “His book, The Taming of Chance, has been called one of the best non-fiction books of the 20th century. We are privileged to welcome him to our campus for a public lecture.” Hacking presents Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m. in L1060. Admission is free.
The next night, Stephen Lewis will make his appearance as part of the Discovery Lecture Series. A professor in Global Health at McMaster University and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Lewis appeals to a broader audience and is expected to draw a large following from the general public. “Lewis’s work has inspired many in our region to get involved in helping communities in Africa that have been devastated by the AIDS epidemic,” Sparrow-Clarke says. “This lecture will be video-conferenced to dozens of public libraries across southern Alberta, so it is a great opportunity for a wide audience to hear a great Canadian speak.” Lewis will address the growing disparity in the standard of health between the developed and developing countries. He will take a hard look at the emergence and re-emergence of communicable diseases, the struggle for pharmaceuticals at low cost, the absence of health professionals, the question of resources, and the overall efforts of impoverished societies to reach the admirable levels of health which characterize Canada and the United States. The Lewis lecture, Global Health: Hope or Deterioration?, is Thursday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre. A book signing will follow.
The grand opening events will be held on September 25 and 26, 2009 at the stadium.
Friday, September 25th Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – 11 a.m. High School Football – 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Gate admission fee
As you are aware, the University of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge have been building a community sports stadium located on the east side of University Drive. This facility will be operated by the University and includes a new track, several sports fields, seating for 2,000 spectators and a variety of support buildings at the south end of the U of L campus near McGill Blvd.
Saturday, September 26th Minor Football – 9 a.m. Pronghorn Women’s and Men’s Soccer – noon & 2:15 p.m. Pronghorn Women’s Rugby – 5 p.m. Minor Football – 8 p.m. Free admission
The project is near completion and we invite you to the grand opening of this facility. Government, City and University officials, along with athletes, parents and user groups will be on hand to celebrate the opening of this new complex.
I look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely,
Collaborative efforts between the City and the University have achieved great success in the past, as can be seen by the construction of the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre and the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. This facility is another testament to what can be achieved through cooperation within our community.
Dr. Bill Cade President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Lethbridge Professor of Biological Sciences
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SEPTMBER 2009
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
H E A LT H
& wellness
the Legend
Wellness Program looks to reduce vascular disease The University of Lethbridge Wellness Program, the Health Centre and the Faculty of Health Sciences are once again collaborating to provide a vascular screening program to staff and faculty at the U of L. The goal – reducing the risk of vascular disease. Health Canada recognizes that access to health is essential to a healthy, productive population. In 2008, a special project was developed to perform Vascular Risk Assessments (VRA) on a selected group of employees at the University
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of Lethbridge and it was very well received. Now, a follow-up program has been developed to re-visit people seen during the initial project and to allow for assessments of other employees. The goal of the program is to support, educate and motivate U of L staff and faculty to choose to make important lifestyle changes that have the potential to improve their quality of life, both at home and at work.
BY DIANE BRITTON Energy drinks claim to boost your energy and improve performance but they are different from sport drinks such as Gatorade or PowerAde, which have small amounts of carbohydrate and electrolytes.
Individuals will have the option to participate in one-on-one coaching and to attend information sessions to address their health concerns. The data information may also be given to the individual’s physician if requested.
The screening process involves the
apple
Energy in a Can: the Real Story on Energy Drinks
collection of data such as blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference and fasting lipid and glucose profile using a Cholestech machine. It is then compiled to help establish an individual’s risks. After that, it’s up to the employee.
Caffeine. Energy drinks have caffeine listed as Guarana, yerba mate or caffeine. They usually have about 80 mg in a 250 ml can, double the amount found in pop and about half the amount found in coffee. Taurine. Most energy drinks contain one gram of taurine, an amino acid that is easily obtained in the diet from meat and dairy products.
HEED THE H1N1 WARNINGS AND STAY HEALTHY Influenza A H1N1 is no joke and it’s time to be vigilant about protecting yourself from this potentially deadly virus. It has been several months since the world was alerted to the possible H1N1 pandemic and over time, many people have become desensitized to the seriousness of this illness. Constant media attention, coupled with the onset of summer and a natural decline in flu cases, has given people a false sense of security and many now shut off when they hear new warnings of what may become of this virus as fall approaches. Now is not the time to let down your guard. Flu season is fast approaching and indications from the World Health Organization are that H1N1 will not only come back, but will reappear much stronger than it was previously. It is important we here at the University of Lethbridge heed these warnings and do all we can to limit our exposure to the H1N1 virus and should we become ill, follow the proper procedures to treat the virus and limit
The screening period will begin in October and take place Thursday mornings (individuals are required to fast for the screening portion). All data gathered from the screening will be treated with extreme confidentiality. Those interested in participating in
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Here’s a look at what energy drinks contain.
It is a fairly simple procedure (the total time commitment could equal approximately four hours, with the initial screening just a 30-minute exercise) with a potentially huge benefit.
the vascular screening program are asked to complete a questionnaire to assist with prioritizing appointment scheduling. The Wellness office will attempt to schedule everyone interested in the program and although space is limited for the fall, plans are to make this an ongoing program with more opportunities available in February 2010. Contact Suzanne McIntosh (suzanne. mcintosh@uleth.ca) for more information. The Wellness office is also available for presentations to individual campus departments.
MONTHLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY ALL YEAR LONG.
Although the claim is that taurine increases alertness, there is no research to support it. Herbs. Ginkgo biloba and ginseng are listed ingredients in many energy drinks. These can interfere with medications affecting blood clotting. There is no research to support that these herbs improve sports performance. Sugar. These beverages contain about twice the amount of sugar
its spread. “It is easy to become complacent over the summer months,” RN/Manager, University of Lethbridge Health Centre, Lori Weber, says. “There has been a lot of media attention and multiple warnings about a possible H1N1 pandemic but because we haven’t really seen evidence of it here in southern Alberta, people tend to shrug it off. We can’t afford to have that attitude.” As the fall semester begins, so does the onset of flu season and H1N1 is poised to make a comeback. “We are a very tight community here and at any time, we can have up to 10,000 people on campus,” Weber says. “Those are perfect conditions for the spreading of germs so we have to do all we can to limit our risks.” If you feel you are getting sick, please check the website (www.uleth. ca/ross/health_centre/h1n1) for information or call the Health Centre at 403-329-2484. It is very important for us to speak with you before your arrival. “If you feel as though you are getting sick, please call us before you come down to the Health Centre,” Weber says. “It is very important we are prepared for your arrival so that we can limit your exposure to other people at the Health Centre.”
(carbohydrate) as a sport drink and so will interfere with performance. If drank just before or during exercise they may cause nausea, cramps and diarrhea. High doses of sugar may have a short term energy burst, but the body will quickly get the sugar out of the blood stream, causing a big drop in blood sugar about 70 to 80 minutes later. According to research this may slow reaction time both physically and mentally. Health Canada regulates
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energy drinks as supplements. It recommends not consuming more than 500 ml per day and cautions not to mix with alcohol. For anyone in vigorous exercise situations, sport drinks or water are the best choices during exercise. A 20-minute nap, regular meals and snacks throughout the day or a quick power walk are natural ways to boost your energy and alertness. Diane Britton, On-campus Registered Dietitian
FOLLOWING THESE BASIC STEPS CAN PROTECT YOUR HEALTH. 1) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If no tissue is available, try to sneeze into clothing or the crook of your elbow. 2) Throw tissues carefully in the trash. Avoid public spitting of mucous and respiratory secretions. 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If your hands are not obviously soiled, hand sanitizer is a good second choice to clean hands. 4) Try to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth frequently. Your hands may have touched something recently and germs spread quickly in the moist tissues of the face. 5) Perform extra cleaning of common surfaces at home or at school. Having cleansing wipes or hand sanitizer on hand is a good idea. 6) Prepare to stay home for a week or so should you become ill. 7) If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay at home for at least 48 hours after your fever has subsided (except if you are in need of medical care). Try to protect the people you live with by staying separate from them, wearing a mask or extra cleaning. 8) For more information, see the following websites: www.albertahealthservices.ca; www.cdc.gov; www.fightflu.ca; www.publichealth.gc.ca
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the Legend
OUR
alumni
SEPTEMBER 2009
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Chandler brings history, experience to Alumni post BY STACY SEGUIN
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t was 1969, a year of firsts; Bryan Adams got his ‘first real six-string’, Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the moon and Don Chandler (BASc ’73), University of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) president and partner at Meyers Norris Penny LLP, became the first person in his family to attend university. “None of my family had ever gone to university. Most of them didn’t even finish high school so going to university was not an expectation, but I was quite academically inclined and it just seemed natural to proceed on to the University,” Chandler remembers. Attending the two-year-old institution, Chandler’s campus experience was quite different from that of today’s students. “When I started, U-hall did not exist and the campus was at the college site. We went from trailer to trailer for classes. I remember it was very small, only about 800 students and there were not a lot of places to do anything. We used the college library and our basketball games were at the Civic Centre downtown.” While some may have argued such a small institution could not possibly offer a good education, Chandler disagrees. Majoring in geography, he knew all his professors by name. “They knew us so well that if we didn’t perform to their expectations we did not get a good mark. I had senior courses with only four students, so you could not pull the wool over the professors’ eyes,” laughs Chandler. “It challenged me to work hard and do better.” An avid curler, Chandler got involved with the campus curl-
G E T T H E FA C T S • Commercial Men’s Slowpitch League treasurer for 10 years • Coached the Alberta Junior Girls’ Curling Championship Team (2006) • Treasurer on the executive for McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association (ends this month) as well as board chair from 2003 to 2005 • Also involved with the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and United Way • Canadian Curling Association’s Volunteer of the Year for Alberta (2001) • Inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame (2009) • ULAA Honour Society member (2005) ing club and uncovered a passion for community involvement that would become a way of life. “I was introduced to the sport in Grade 10 and began curling competitively right away. I became president of the University curling club during my second year and found out that I had abilities to organize groups and events, follow through with them and make them successful,” Chandler explains. “I have done a lot of that since then.” Indeed, he has. Chandler received his chartered accountant designation in Edmonton in 1977. He and his wife Nadine then returned to Lethbridge
Don Chandler has worn many hats over the years but curling has always been a big part of his life.
where he would begin his accounting career, and his reputation as a driving force in the community. “When I moved back, I immediately got involved with the Lethbridge Curling Club executive. I have been the treasurer for many years and was the president in 1985-86. I was involved in organizing the high school curling league in 2000 and still coach at the high school level. I also coached my children
FIRST-YEAR TEACHER EARNS PARR AWARD Ricardo Avelar (BA/BEd ’08) may have made the move from student to teacher look easy, but he’s the first to admit his first year as a high school English teacher was an eyeopening experience. “The transition was huge,” Avelar says. “Getting ready for my classes each day took much more time than I anticipated. When I was a student, I could decide to put things off at night if I was tired. As a teacher, I can’t do that. I have to walk into the classroom prepared, no matter what.” Apparently he handled the new challenges better than most. Avelar was honoured with the
Ricardo Avelar excelled in his first year at Winston Churchill High School.
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in curling and Little League,” Chandler says. “Coaching is something I always enjoyed and it fit nicely into my other community activities.” Chandler’s community service, which involves many organizations, also includes the University. After two terms on University Senate, Chandler got involved with the ULAA in 2008 and was elected president of the organization in June 2009. “There has been a lot of
growth in the ULAA in the last few years, and we have seen a lot of support from the University. I would like to see that continue,” Chandler says. “I would encourage alumni to volunteer at activities or participate in events such as the John Gill Memorial Golf tournament. Getting involved will not only increase the association’s visibility, it will help maintain the University’s role as a vital part of our community.”
Edwin Parr Award for Zone 6 (southern Alberta area below Calgary), which recognizes exceptional new teachers who go above and beyond for their students. He credited the U of L’s Faculty of Education for getting him ready to take on the demands of full-time teaching. “It’s a great program,” Avelar says. “I felt very ready, logistically, when I graduated.” Avelar, who teaches at Winston Churchill High School, says the greatest challenge facing new teachers is acquiring experience. “I was ready for the technical aspects – creating lesson plans, doing assessments – the Faculty of Education really prepares you for that,” Avelar says. “It was the social aspects of teaching that caught me off guard. Dealing with parents and friends, contending with the fact that students may not have had
anything to eat, or not slept the night before. You know you’ll encounter life issues, but dealing with them is much different than you think it will be.” Avelar drew on his time in the U of L’s Education program to help guide him through. Having been educated in a small-class environment that valued one-on-one time between professors and students, Avelar had experienced the successes of establishing a supportive learning environment. He quickly discovered he has a knack for connecting with students and devising creative solutions for classroom obstacles. He is also quick to credit his Churchill students for helping with the transition. “It was a very fun and positive experience,” Avelar recalls. “My students were really supportive.”
SEPTMBER 2009
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the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
New faces in University Library are all about service BY TREVOR KENNEY
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he University of Lethbridge Library continues to be an innovative campus leader, and it’s reflected in the new personalities they bring into the fold. A year ago, new University Librarian Alison Nussbaumer was introduced, bringing a fresh approach to the highest post in the library’s administration. This fall, two more new faces have been added to the mix in associate university librarians Brenda Mathenia Brenda Mathenia, left, and Wendy Merkley work to make the process of finding information as smooth as possible. and Wendy Merkley. And while their responsibilities may be working in that field however, of different things in the library new University Librarian, we’re unique to their positions, their she soon found that the informaand it’s served me really well and looking at how do we integrate philosophies are remarkably tion aspects of her job, finding been very good experience,” she some of these new things into similar. information, helping others find says. what we’re doing,” Merkley says. “One of my goals is to make it and use it appropriately, led “I like to help people navigate Her journey to librarianship sure our public service is at the her back to library school. the world of information. It’s was also non-direct. An English top, that we’re putting our users “I’ve always been very inalways been easy for me, so I like undergrad at the University of first,” Mathenia says. quisitive and liked to know a lot to share those skills and make it Manitoba, she worked in the As the Associate University about a lot of things,” Mathenia easier for other people.” faculty library while completing Librarian for Client Services and says, calling herself a jack-of-allMerkley, a Manitoba native her degree. Facilities, Mathenia’s group is trades. who worked previously in the “I would love to say it was a often the first contact for people “Librarianship is the perfect Lethbridge public system, is all great passion and I always knew using the library. As such, cusdiscipline to go into because about simplifying the search for what I wanted to do, but it really tomer service is at the forefront you can dabble in all manner of information. The difference is came from that experience,” of her efforts. subject areas.” that her work is done behind the Merkley says. “I really enjoyed A Michigan native, She was given that latitude scenes as the Associate University the atmosphere of a library and Mathenia has a wide and varied in her last job, at the University Librarian for Information Systhe people I worked with and it background, having worked of Nevada-Reno. For four years tems and Technical Services. just seemed like a logical thing in primarily academic settings she worked primarily in the sci“There have been major to do.” throughout her career. A cartogFrom there she moved raphy and geography undergrad, ences but also managed a branch changes in how technology is library and dabbled in major being used in the library world, to Alberta and completed her she earned her first master’s collection development. and this is a really good time with master’s degree at the Univerdegree in urban geography. After “I’ve had my fingers in a lot two new AULs and a relatively sity of Alberta before coming
THOM MAKES MOST OF HIS RETURN TO U OF L CAMPUS BY TREVOR KENNEY Some students can’t wait to get out into the workforce and apply the knowledge they’ve accrued while earning their university degree. Mark Thom (BASc ’06), on the other hand, had a taste of the working world and couldn’t wait to start learning again. Armed with a computer science degree, Thom was quick to apply his knowledge in the private sector, but soon discovered the work he was doing was simply unfulfilling. “Even while I was finishing off my degree, I really started to enjoy problem solving a lot more than the concrete aspects of developing software,” Thom says. “After graduating and working for a year in software development, I decided I didn’t like it so much and came back to do a degree in math.” If there were any doubts as to whether he made the right move, they were quickly dis-
to Lethbridge and entering the public library system. Positions in Lethbridge and then later in Calgary set up a three-year stint in the United Arab Emirates (2005-2008). “I call it my running away period,” she laughs, noting that the pull of her daughter, a thirdyear kinesiology-psychology double major at the U of L, was a major influence in her return. “It was tremendous. You learn an awful lot about yourself when you go in and have to adjust to being a stranger in a strange land.” Her route to the U of L was delayed by a one-year stint implementing video conferencing services for rural Alberta libraries but saw this role as too good to pass up. “In the end, it’s about facilitating that process of helping people find information,” she says. “We strive to find a happy medium between simplicity and still allowing people to do the kinds of research they need to do that sometimes requires a more elaborate search strategy.” She’s enthused about the new technology being implemented and how it can reshape the way the library helps its clients. “It’s really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it. That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed in library so long, because it’s such a changing environment.”
pelled when Thom applied for, and won, the prestigious CMSNSERC Math in Moscow Scholarship. The scholarship allows him to spend the fall semester in Moscow, Russia to study advanced courses in mathematics as well as a Russian language course. With only three such scholarships awarded each year to an undergraduate student in a Canadian university, it’s obvious Thom is one of the country’s elite mathematicians. The Lethbridge native and Winston Churchill High School graduate revels in the challenge of solving some of math’s great mysteries. He’s spent the summer working with Dr. Nathan Ng in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as they research analytic number theory. “It’s essentially using the methods of calculus to answer questions about the integers,” Mark Thom is off to Russia as the latest U of L winner of the prestigious Math in Moscow Scholarship. Thom says. “A lot of the questions we have concerning the expects will be very demanding. areas that weren’t covered unless “This will be a really good integers have been around for “The people who have you were involved in an indeopportunity to establish contacts several hundred years and we recently come to the department pendent study with a professor.” in research,” Thom says. “These still have not really come close to are more or less in my field, and Thom is the second U of L are people who are interested in answering them. It’s a very chalhave built up a very strong num- student to win the Math in Mos- the same sorts of work, and the lenging and interesting field.” ber theory group in the provcow scholarship after Kyle Ham- same sorts of problems and who The work he’s been able to ince,” Thom says. “They’ve been brook captured the award last I may potentially want to work do with Ng has prepared him offering courses that hadn’t year. He sees the opportunity as with in the future.” well for the rigors of his semester really been offered previously, another step toward his ultimate in Moscow; an experience he and developing a curriculum to goal, working in academia.
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events C A L E N D A R
the Legend Lectures
Sept. 14 | Dave Hancock The Alberta Minister of Education speaks about a vision for the future of education in Alberta 4:45 p.m., AH100
Pronghorn Athletics Soccer Sept. 12 | Manitoba vs. Pronghorns Women, 12 p.m. at Stadium Sept. 13 | Regina vs. Pronghorns Women, 12 p.m. at Stadium Sept. 26 | Alberta vs. Pronghorns Women, 12 p.m. and Men, 2 p.m. at Stadium Sept. 27 | Saskatchewan vs. Pronghorns Women, 12 p.m. and Men, 2 p.m. at Stadium Oct. 4 | Calgary vs. Pronghorns Women, 12 p.m. and Men, 2 p.m. at Stadium
Women’s Rugby Sept. 26 | Calgary vs. Pronghorns 5 p.m. at Stadium
Sept. 14 | Art Now: Kristi Malakoff 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Sept. 16 | Art Now: Doug Scholes 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Sept. 16 | Owen G. Holmes Lectures University of Toronto’s Ian Hacking presents The Abolition of Man 7 p.m., L1060 Sept. 17 | Discovery Lecture Series International envoy for humanitarian efforts, professor in Global Health and author of Race Against Time, Stephen Lewis, presents Global Health: Hope or Deterioration? 7:30 p.m., University Theatre, Book signing to follow Sept. 18 | Art Now: Allyson Mitchell 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Sept. 21 | Art Now: Ian Pedigo 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570
Sept. 21 | Architecture & Design Now: Barry Johns 6 p.m., C610 Sept. 22 | Lunch and Learn Kinesiology professor, Jon Doan, presents: Is work (or other activity) causing a pain in your back? 12:05 p.m., TH241 Sept. 23 | Art Now: Brian Goeltzenleuchter 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Sept. 28 | Art Now: Tim Zuck 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Sept. 30 | Art Now: Judy Tuwaletstiwa 12 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Oct. 2 | Global Justice Week Alex Neve of Amnesty International presents: Economic Insecurity, National Insecurity: Don’t Lose Sight of Human Rights 7 p.m., PE250
Performances Sept. 22 | Music at Noon: Dale Ketcheson, classical guitar 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Sept. 29 | Music at Noon: Joni Vonkeman, French horn; Nick Sullivan, trombone; Elinor Lawson, piano 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Oct. 1-3 | Lindsay Price Double Bill A night of light-hearted comedy featuring two works (Anne-Arky and Body Body) by playwright Lindsay Price | Nightly, 8 p.m., Matinee, 2 p.m. Oct. 3, David Spinks Theatre Oct. 3 | Tango~Waltz~Tango Classical explorations of two of the most sensual and elegant dances of all time 8 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570
Miscellaneous Sept. 10 | Latin American Film Series The Year My Parents Went on Vacation 7 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Sept. 11 | CAETL Graduate Student Orientation 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Student Union Ballroom B Sept. 11 to Oct. 23 | Head Shots Art Gallery exhibit featuring portraits by Canadian and international artists, drawn from the U of L’s extensive holdings
Helen Christou Gallery Sept. 18 to Oct. 30 | Allyson Mitchell: Ladies Sasquatch Freestanding, figurative, sculptural works by Toronto-based artist Allyson Mitchell U of L Main Gallery Sept. 19 | Artwalk Guided Tours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of campus sculpture and architecture Sept. 19 | Culture Vulture Saturday Sasquatch sightings and Foot Print Patters 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., U of L Main Gallery Sept. 28 to 30 | Anti-Bullying Week Presented by the Education Undergraduate Society, addressing how to stop bullying in schools Sept. 30 | Career Fair Career Resource Centre hosts its annual Career Fair with over 80 organizations attending 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness Oct. 2 | 3rd Annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry Symposium and Chinook Poster Prize competition Registration closes Sept. 18
AMNESTY INTERNATI0NAL’S NEVE HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL JUSTICE WEEK BY ABBY ALLEN Battling for human rights has been a lifelong commitment for Amnesty International’s Alex Neve. The insight he’s gained from being on the front lines of that battle will form the basis of the lecture he’ll deliver to a University of Lethbridge audience during Global Justice Week, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Neve will cap the week with his lecture, Economic Insecurity, National Insecurity: Don’t Lose Sight of Human Rights. The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), in collaboration with the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG), is hosting the threeday event. Neve’s talk is Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. in PE250. “The purpose is to raise awareness of the fact that we live in an unjust world,” says Alex Massé, ULSU VP Academic and organizer of the event. “It’s so students living here, in the richest part of the world, don’t take their position for granted.”
Within the last year, economic uncertainty has been on the minds of many, from governments to average citizens. Neve, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada since 2000 and member of the organization since 1985, says that can’t take away our focus from human rights. “The message I want to convey is that we live in insecure times,” Neve says. “We live in times of economic insecurity, especially in the last year.” Because of this, human rights often get pushed to the back burner in times of economic distress. Amnesty International is trying to put human rights back into the forefront. Neve, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, a Bachelor of Laws Degree and a Master of Law Degree in International Human Rights Law, believes that security of any sort should be grounded in human rights. Amnesty International has long advocated for fair trials to ensure justice, the proper handling of prisoners in Afghanistan, as well as improvements to
Immigration Security Certificates (a legal mechanism used by the Government of Canada to detain and deport noncitizens). According to Neve, there are currently five Security Certificate cases in Canada in which Amnesty International is involved in various ways. On the economic front, Amnesty International launched the “Demand Dignity” campaign, which looks at human rights violations that lead to and deepen poverty. This is a worldwide campaign that was launched in May. Neve explains that we don’t often look at human rights in terms of poverty. Amnesty International also highlights the plight of Indigenous people in Canada, particularly with regard to women’s issues and the role of the economy in deepening poverty. While Neve’s presentation highlights Global Justice Week, a variety of other events will be taking place, including a talk by Joshua Key, author of The Deserter’s Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away From the War in Iraq.
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Maxy by Allyson Mitchell, 2009 (photo: cat o’neil)
SASQUATCH IS A LADY TOO Strong, sexy and 10-foot tall describes the modern female Sasquatch and the subject of artist Allyson Mitchellís installation, Ladies Sasquatch, at the U of L Main Art Gallery from Sept. 18 through Oct. 30. Ladies Sasquatch challenges the popular perception of Big Footís solitary male persona, highlighting the softer side of the female Sasquatch using rich textiles, recycled fabrics, fake bear parts and fun fur. The display features a commune of lady Sasquatches posed in their unique environments, exposing the lady Sasquatch for what she is and how she relates to her human
counterparts. These monumental beauties are part of a national tour, with additional sightings at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Described as a maximalist artist, Mitchell explores feminist art theory through installation, film and sculpture. Her work has been showcased across Canada and the U.S., throughout Europe and East Asia. She recently completed her PhD in Women’s Studies at York University (Toronto) where she also teaches cultural studies. While visiting the U of L, Mitchell is a featured guest lecturer for the Women Scholars Speakers Series, Sept. 17 at 12:15 p.m. (location TBA) and Art Now, Sept. 18 at noon in the University Recital Hall.
the Legend in focus Sensuality kicks off Faculty Artist and Friends Series M AY 20 0 9
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
BY AMANDA BERG The heat in the University Recital Hall will go up several degrees with the Faculty Artist and Friends first concert of the season, Tango~Waltz~Tango, on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Sizzling melodies, hot rhythms and rich instrumentation will get audience hearts pounding and toes tapping. “There’s been a revival of these dances in popular culture recently,” Dr. Deanna Oye, Faculty Artist and Friends Series coordinator and music faculty, says. “The spirit of these two
FINE ARTS
dances compliment each other nicely – both are elegant, but tell different stories. The waltz is amorous, while the tango is boldly passionate.” “The etudes of Astor Piazzolla are performed by a jazz ensemble featuring tenor saxophonist, Dr. David Renter,” Oye adds. The finale of Le Cumparsita, a tango of the 1900s, will also dazzle audiences. As well, a unique arrangement of the Liebeslieder Waltzes by Brahms for piano duo and vocal quartet is on the program. This year’s Faculty Artist
and Friends Series highlights the talents and musicianship of U of L music faculty and their guests.
“There’s been a revival of these dances in popular culture recently.” DR. DEANNA OYE
Dale Ketcheson inspires
audiences with his classical guitar pieces on Nov. 7. On Jan. 30, 2010 a celebration of great composers will present a program of music from masters Schumann and Chopin, on the occasion of their 200th birthdays. The final concert in the series, An American in Paris, features the U of L Faculty Brass Quintet, consisting of Trudi Mason (trumpet), Keith Griffioen (trumpet), Dr. Thomas Staples (horn), Gerald Rogers (trombone) and Nick Sullivan (bass trombone). The concert, on April 17, 2010, includes a
mélange of French-inspired music and American blues. Season tickets for the series are available at a 25 per cent discount – simply put, buy three get one free. Individual tickets are $15 for regular admission and $10 student/senior. The season ticket price is four performances for $45 regular and $30 student/senior. Season tickets are available through Oct. 3 from the Box Office (404-329-2616).
CULTURE
vulture Culture Vulture Saturdays at the U of L Art Gallery return for another art-inspired year. This hands-on program gives art-lovers of all ages the opportunity to create personalized projects and connect with the exhibitions at the Gallery. “Our first Culture Vulture program is set for Saturday, Sept. 19,” Jane Edmundson, the Gallery’s preparator and curatorial assistant, says. “We’ll
be preparing a sasquatch-themed activity in conjunction with our Ladies Sasquatch exhibition and the Allied Art Council’s city-wide Art Walk festival.” She adds that everyone is invited to become a Culture Vulture, from young children to adults.
from past years have included printmaking, button making and collages. All materials are provided and admission to the gallery is always free.
Culture Vulture Saturdays are scheduled one Saturday every month between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Projects
THEATREXTRA OPENS WITH LINDSEY PRICE DOUBLE BILL The student-run TheatreXtra season kicks off Oct. 1 to 3 with a Lindsey Price Double Bill, directed by fourth-year Drama/ Education student, Mark Ogle. An evening of light-hearted comedy, the Lindsey Price Double Bill features two oneact performances by playwright Lindsey Price: Anne-Arcky and Body Body. “Anne-Arcky is about a high school drama club putting on the play Anne of Green Gables, but from a backstage perspective,” Ogle says. The real drama begins to unfold behind the scenes in an amusing comedy of errors. “The play is utterly hi-
larious,” he says. “I really enjoy comedies because I believe life is a comedy.” The second play of the evening, Body Body, combines tongue-in-cheek with a dose of reality. This one-act play tells the tale of a girlís body image problems from a ridiculous angle. “Different actors will play different body parts,” Ogle reveals. TheatreXtra is also undergoing an evolution this season. “There is no budget for TheatreXtra productions,” says David Gabert, TheatreXtra Artistic Director. “It forces students to economize on their productions without a reliance
on money. This truly simulates a real-world environment for theatre.” Without a budget, the focus is on the quality of the performance, rather than the scope of the production. “Our season will push the boundaries of classical theatre,” he adds. Bold, exciting and entertaining, the TheatreXtra season continues to challenge students and move audiences. Tickets are priced at $11 for regular admission and $7 student/senior at the U of L Box Office, Centre for the Arts Level 5 or by calling 403-329-2616.
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SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE Want to save money and enjoy excellent theatre productions? Consider getting a season ticket for the University of Lethbridge Mainstage Theatre Season. Season tickets are available at the U of L Box Office beginning Sept. 14 (12:30 to 4:30 p.m.) and save ticket holders 25 per cent off the individual ticket price. This year’s Mainstage offerings are Hay Fever by Noel Coward (Oct. 20 to 24), Festen by David Eldridge (Nov. 24 to 28), Hair by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt McDermot (Feb. 9 to 13, 2010), and Life is a Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca (Mar. 23 to 27, 2010). Purchase your choice of seats for three shows, and enjoy the fourth show free by getting your season ticket now. Regular season tickets are $45 and student/senior season tickets are $30. Call the Box Office at 403-329-2616.
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.”- Oscar Wilde
RIGHT
John Will, Untitled (Brother, She’s Crazy), 1989 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1991.
BELOW
Rick Rivet, Dumont, 1994 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 2003.
When combing through an archive as diverse and eclectic as the University of Lethbridge Art Collection, connections and patterns between multiple artworks often rise to the surface. Artists working in various time periods, with a wide range of media and from distinct aesthetic backgrounds, are still regularly drawn to depicting similar subject matter. The theme of portraiture is one of these recurring ideas; our contemporary digital snapshots of friends and family are akin to the allegorical figures in Renaissance paintings, or Caesar’s profile on an ancient Roman coin. Artistic renderings of people evoke feelings of familiarity in the most basic human-
to-human activity: eye contact and facial recognition. Whether the person depicted is well known or a stranger, the viewer is drawn in by the comfortable symmetry of eyes, nose and mouth and can feel a kinship with the subject without knowing them in the flesh. A selection of portraits from the University of Lethbridge Art Collection will be featured in the exhibition Head Shots, on display in the Helen Christou Gallery from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23, 2009. Jane Edmundson, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
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