Wider Horizons Winter 2024

{ A PUBLICATION OF LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE }

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COLLEGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS

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NEW MÉTIS ELDER NAMED READY FOR SERIOUS FUN ALUMNI AT WORK WIN T E R 2 024

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Editor’s message

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{ VOL. 17 | ISSUE 2 | WINTER 2024 }

Wider Horizons is Lethbridge College’s community and alumni magazine, which is dedicated to educating, engaging and delighting our readers through compelling stories and images about our people, places, ideas and experiences.

Each January, May and September, Wider Horizons is mailed to alumni and friends of the college, distributed in the community and available on campus.

Readers who would like to receive an e-version of the magazine, comment on a story, change their address or remove their name from our mailing list should email the editor at WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

Alumni looking to connect with the college can email alumni@lethbridgecollege.ca.

Lethbridge College’s Vision:

PREPARING LEARNERS. SHAPING COMMUNITIES. Publisher: Dr. Brad Donaldson Editor: Lisa Kozleski Art director/designer: Dana Woodward Cover photo: Rob Olson Photographers: Lexi Barclay, Tanner Fletcher, Perry Le, Rob Olson, Samuel Young Illustrator: Eric Dyck Writers: Melanie Fast, Cathy Gibson-Epp, Tina Karst Proofreader: Jennifer Yanish Distribution: Amy Taylor College staff contributors: Taylor Bourret, Kristy Clark, Leeanne Conrad, Tanner Fletcher, Ryan Hammell, James Harrison, Melissa Johnson, Greg Kruyssen, Lawrence Krysak, Lanae Morris, Ron Ostepchuk, Derek Rischke, Shawn Salberg, Stephanie Savage, Dawn Sugimoto, Allyssa Tuck, Heather Zimmerman

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Located on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Lethbridge College is committed to honouring the land from a place of knowing. We invite you to watch our territorial land acknowledgement online at learn.lc/land-acknowledgement.

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hen I am at work and struggling to get started on a story, my go-to solution is to walk down the hall to the windows that overlook the play area where the daycare children are busy with their important and serious work of play.

Seeing these little ones collaborate, find inspiration, solve problems, laugh and occasionally make mistakes is usually just the thing I need to reset and return to my own work feeling refreshed and ready to go. The daycare kids are definitely working as they explore and create in their campus world. But they are also having fun as they do – and seeing them reminds me to do the same.

There is so much that is fun about my job here at the college – especially at Convocation time. This year, I had the thrill of watching one of my son’s childhood friends walk across the stage, with his mom in the front row, cheering him on as she has throughout his life. Because I am one of those behind-the-scenes people who help make Convocation happen, I got to sneak in and give him a hug and extra cheer right after he got his diploma.

But it wasn’t just this talented young man who made the day so special.

It was also getting to cheer on a grad who had come back to the college to earn another credential, and who I had the pleasure of getting to know while writing her story in this magazine. It was being part of the standing ovation for this year’s valedictorian after her moving and important speech, an inspiring young person I met while writing a media release about her achievement. It was realizing every single new grad was ready to go out in the world and start having fun and making a difference in their own professions.

Making this magazine three times a year is definitely fun. Our team is constantly collaborating, finding inspiration, solving problems and laughing (and occasionally, just like the children, making mistakes) as we plan and prepare each issue, always looking for new ways to share the stories of the people who make Lethbridge College so great. One of those people we are proud of is featured in this issue: Matthew Primrose, a college grad and former Kodiaks volleyball player who spent last year playing his sport professionally in the U.S. and returned to teach and coach in the same classrooms and courts where he studied and played.

Matt seems to be having fun in both of his new roles, and the story of his path to the pros and back to the classroom inspires in all kinds of ways.

This whole issue of Wider Horizons is focused on fun – serious fun.

We’ve included some games, too (as an avid crossword puzzler, it has been a dream of mine to include one in the magazine – focused on college people, places and history, of course). And as always, we’ve packed in stories of amazing alumni and colleagues who, whether by choice or design, have found great fun in their lives and work, and who have some wisdom to share about the topic.

We hope you have fun reading this issue – and as always, we love hearing your feedback and ideas for future stories. Drop us a line at WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca – and thanks for playing along!

Lisa Kozleski Editor

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SEEN ON CAMPUS The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s basketball team, wearing new Indigenous jerseys (p. 10), kicked off the home season Oct. 20 with a 77-56 win against Ambrose University during Homecoming Weekend. The team earned an 8-1 record during the first half of the season and will return to the court Jan. 19 and 20. The Kodiaks unveiled the new Indigenous jerseys as part of Truth and Reconciliation Week activities in September.

Photo by Perry Le

2 News and Notes 6 The President’s View

34 From Our Kitchens 36 Where Are They Now?

43 Alumni at Work 44 The Last Word

From the court to the class

Overnight cinnamon buns

The Last Word

Grad’s journey from unrecruited volleyball player to pro athlete leads him back to college in new roles.

College alumni and Culinary instructor Chef Devon Leys-Wall shares a tried-and-true weekend favourite.

Students reflect on living in residence – from life-long friends to instant community to the world’s easiest commute to classes.

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News and notes

‘WHATEVER KNOWLEDGE I HAVE, I WILL SHARE’ College welcomes Métis Elder Lloyd Cavers to Cultural Support Program Story by Tina Karst | Photos by Rob Olson

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WITHIN MOMENTS OF TAKING A SEAT IN THE NIITSITAPI GATHERING PLACE, MÉTIS ELDER DR. LLOYD CAVERS IS SHARING STORIES, JOKING AND LAUGHING WITH EVERYONE AROUND. HIS WARM SMILE DRAWS PEOPLE IN, AND IT’S NOT LONG BEFORE HE AND A STUDENT ARE DEEP IN CONVERSATION ABOUT LODGEPOLE PINE TREES. LATER, HE’S REGALING NEW FRIENDS WITH TALES FROM HIS YOUTH ABOUT GROWING UP AND PLAYING HOCKEY IN SMALL TOWN MANITOBA.

A life-long educator, Cavers appears right at home as the newest member of Lethbridge College’s Indigenous Services Cultural Support Program. He and Blackfoot Kaahsinnooniks (grandparents) Betty Ann Little Wolf (Anatsi’piiksaakii/ Pretty Bird) and Peter Weasel Moccasin (Miiniipooka/ Berry Child) make regular visits to campus so students and employees can benefit from their support, guidance and traditional knowledge.

“I love teaching, I adore teaching,” says Cavers. “In my 25 years as an educator, I was involved in schools all over southern Alberta – as far east as Grassy Lake, west to the Crowsnest Pass, north to Nanton, south to the Montana border and several schools in between. But one thing I really missed when I became an administrator, was teaching.”

Cavers retired in 2000 as Superintendent of the Livingstone Range School Division. Since then, he’s been a dedicated Elder with the Métis of southern Alberta. It’s how he met Brittany Lee, the college’s Indigenous-focused career and academic advisor.

“Brittany is such an inspirational person,” says Cavers.

“She’s so active and approachable and cheerful – her energy is infectious. So, when she said it might be possible for me to join the college’s Indigenous Services team, I thought it was a great idea. I really wanted to do it.”

Lee is excited too, and not just for personal reasons. “A lot of students who are Métis come to see me, and they ask about having a Métis Elder on campus,” she says. “So, to find that fit, and knowing everything that he comes with – just by being himself – it’s so wonderful.”

As someone who can trace his family tree long before 1869’s Red River Resistance, and who grew up learning about Métis culture, Cavers says he’s looking forward to being a part of the college community and sharing his knowledge with students like Adam Pasowisty (second-year Natural Resource Compliance).

“I really want to learn more about what it means to be Métis,” says Pasowisty, who explains he was aware of his

heritage growing up, but only received his citizenship a few years ago after his mom encouraged him to apply for it. “I haven’t really had people around to answer questions about that stuff, so having a Métis Elder on campus is going to be a cool experience.”

Cavers says more and more people like Pasowisty are identifying and acknowledging their Métis roots. He notes the Lethbridge Métis Local Office has seen an uptick in the number of people wanting to do a genealogical study so they, too, can apply for citizenship.

“Whatever knowledge I have, I will share,” says Cavers.

“This is Blackfoot country, and I think all of us have to learn more about Blackfoot ways, but we also have to share more about us Métis and information about our past that isn’t widely known, like the significant number of Métis children who attended residential schools.”

In addition to teaching Métis culture and history through workshops, events, classroom visits and more, Cavers says he also hopes to be an extra ear to listen, and a source of support and encouragement for students along their path of higher education.

“We all know how low the graduation rate is among Indigenous peoples, generally,” he says, “and I can see the college playing an important role in changing that because there’s absolutely everything here that they need. They can start, and then go on and on and on.”

The sentiment leads Cavers to reflect on his own post-secondary journey, which he admits got off to a rough start (even though he now holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Winnipeg, a master’s degree from the University of Manitoba and a doctorate from the University of British Columbia).

“I went to university and all I did was play hockey – for three different teams – and I didn’t do anything good at school,” he says. “I just wasn’t ready. When I went back, I was ready, and it made a big difference. I think if there had been something like Lethbridge College around, it might have made a difference the first time.”

Above: Métis Elder Dr. Lloyd Cavers (middle) visits with Brittany Lee and Adam Pasowisty in the Niitsitapi Gathering Place.

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News and notes

TOP

TEN FROM THE DEN

Wider Horizons turned to the people who know the ins and outs of campus best – Lethbridge College employees – to get their picks of the top news stories from the past four months.

Here’s what they had to say.

10 COLLEGE CELEBRATES GRADS AT FALL CONVOCATION

Lethbridge College celebrated its fall 2023 graduates on Oct. 14, when more than 180 grads crossed the stage to receive their degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship credentials at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

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9 POST-SECONDARIES KICK OFF YEAR WITH PANCAKE PARTNERSHIP

Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge kicked off the academic year with a delicious new event – a free pancake breakfast held during the city’s Whoop-Up Days celebration in August.

The Lethbridge Post-Secondary Pancake Breakfast brought together current and future students, alumni, employees and friends of both institutions.

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JUSTICE STUDIES INSTRUCTORS, STUDENTS ATTEND COURSE IN CROATIA

Lethbridge College was wellrepresented at the world’s leading post-graduate criminal justice course last May in Croatia. Instructors Aaron Eyjolfson and Seth Adema accompanied six third-year Bachelor of Justice Studies students as they took part in the 37th annual International PostGraduate Course on Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice, which brought together about 80 international students and 50 renowned experts from the field.

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MOBILE LAB READY FOR LIVINGSTONE RANGE STUDENTS

A mobile environmental sciences lab, created in partnership with Lethbridge College and Livingstone Range School Division (LRSD), is ready for students. Representatives from both educational institutions attended the

unveiling at PEAKS Campus, LRSD’s place-based learning centre in the Crowsnest Pass in September. Made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Alberta Education Dual Credit Enhancement Fund and built over the past 10 months, the 27-foot-long lab is delivering a state-of-the-art experiential learning opportunity at the standards required for research.

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FARM FIELD DAY A SUCCESS

Members of the agricultural community had the opportunity to tour the Lethbridge College Research Farm during the second annual Farm Field Day in July. Attendees toured the farm, met with researchers and learned more about how the college’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is meeting industry needs.

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COLLEGE HOSTS NATIONAL BIOENGINEERING CONFERENCE

Researchers at Lethbridge College were excited to welcome close to 200 people from the agriculture, food and bioengineering industries to campus in July for the national conference and Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Society for Bioengineering/ La Société Canadienne de Génie Agroalimentaire et de Bioingénierie (CSBE/SCGAB). This was the first time a Canadian college has hosted the event. Leading the effort to bring the event to the region was Dr. Chandra Singh, Senior Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Lethbridge College, who is the CSBE/SCGAB Alberta Regional Director.

4 NEW BACHELOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM LAUNCHED

Lethbridge College’s new Bachelor of Criminal Justice program welcomed its first students in September, marking the latest evolution in more than five decades of education in policing- and justicerelated fields. This is the third bachelor degree program available at Lethbridge College, joining Ecosystem Management and Agriculture Science degrees.

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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ‘SAVED ME,’ SAYS WELDING APPRENTICE

When a counsellor at Winston Churchill High School asked Colton Ensign if he’d be interested in spending a few hours away from the classroom to learn how to weld, he thought, “Sure, how bad could it be?” Now, Ensign is in his second year of the Welding Apprenticeship program at Lethbridge College, and he credits his newfound passion and career to the skills development program that started it all.

Facilitated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the Community Approach to Skills Development Training program provides youth who have been affected by mental health the opportunity to explore skills training in the trades.

Students must commit to learning and can earn up to 15 high school credits for completing the 14-week program.

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POWERFUL NEW LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT VIDEO UNVEILED

Lethbridge College unveiled a new land acknowledgement video in September as part of campus events surrounding Truth and Reconciliation Week. The creation of the video was a collaborative effort involving the college’s Kainai Kaahsinnooniks (grandparents), colleagues from Indigenous Services, Marketing and Communications; and external videographer Curtis Huisman.

The full two-minute video will be shown at Convocation and other major campus events, and can be seen at learn.lc/land-acknowledgement.

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Traditional Buffalo Winter Count Robe Lethbridge College unveiled its traditional Buffalo Winter Count Robe as part of events surrounding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in September (see Wider Horizons Fall 2023 for more details). The robe will be used as a teaching tool, as a record of major college events, and as a sign of the college’s ongoing work to understand and honour traditional cultures and ways of knowing. “Not only does this tell the story of the college in a meaningful way, but it also is a way for us to lead in implementing the actions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Brad Donaldson. “This robe serves as a visual reminder that the college’s history and the history of the Siksikaitsitapi are inexorably linked.”

You can read all of these stories and more at lethbridgecollege.ca/news.

Thanks to our college colleagues who helped shape this list!

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News and notes

The

President’s View

by Dr. Brad Donaldson

Dr. Brad Donaldson and colleagues Amanda Paul (left) and Marni Hope built connection – while building a Lego Kodiak bear – during a strategic planning session last fall.

Photo by Samuel Young

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spent a lot of the last six months doing work that on the surface might sound dry and boring: strategic planning. Collaborating with colleagues and communities to define the college’s vision, mission and values for the next decade. Meeting with (gulp) stakeholders.

But I learned early in my career that work was always made better when I could weave some fun into whatever task I was doing. After all, children learn by playing games and having fun – that’s their main work! Research tells us that play can improve a child’s abilities to plan, organize, get along with others and regulate emotions – and that is 6

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something I see every day walking past the campus daycare or when our Early Childhood Education students are in action.

The thoughtful work we have been doing on shaping the college’s strategic direction was definitely made fun by the people involved – sharing ideas, being creative and dreaming big. We even brought actual play into the process in September, when our Board of Governors took a break from strategic planning to build a fairly complex Kodiak bear from Lego, with one member seeing the finished product in another room and guiding the others to build from what they could remember.

The process revealed each of our styles and personalities, and at the end, we felt more connected and had a better understanding of our unique skills and how we can best contribute to serve the college.

Lethbridge College’s new mission – we embrace our responsibility to students, employees and partners who look to us for learning, opportunity and belonging – is serious work.

We will be drawing heavily on our values of being caring, responsive and dedicated. But we can’t lose sight of joy in what we do – as we prepare learners and shape communities for whatever happens next.

CAMPUS NEWS

In Memoriam Condolences are extended to the family and friends of Ron Jacobson, a founding member and first director of the Lethbridge College Foundation Board, who passed away in Lethbridge in October just before his 88th birthday.

Ron worked as a lawyer and later as a provincial court judge in Lethbridge, and he devoted his life to service to the Canadian Armed Forces and a wide range of community organizations, including the college. He was named to the college’s Hall of Fame in 2000.

CAMPUS KUDOS

Congratulations to the following Lethbridge College community members for making a difference in their life, work and community. Here are some highlights of their successes: Andrew Dunlop is the new director of applied research

operations for the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE). He comes to the college from Northwestern Polytechnic, where he was in roles including the associate vice-president of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Applied Research, and the dean of Applied Science and Technology.

Wim Chalmet has joined the college as the new director of Facilities Management. He comes to Lethbridge College from the University of Lethbridge where he worked as the director of Operations and Maintenance in the Facilities department.

Three new members were appointed to Lethbridge College’s Board of Governors. Marni Hope (Miisomii’kitsikaakii/Long Time Offering) is serving a three-year term while student members, Niculina (Nicky) Jensen and Stefan Joseph, are serving one-year terms.

Lethbridge College’s Indigenous Services team was

Donor gift opens doors for young people Lethbridge College was pleased to welcome a team from Exteriors by Leroy and Darcy Ltd. to campus in August to see some of our youth summer camps in action. The Lethbridge-based construction company generously supported the college’s summer camps, providing more than $50,000 to support opportunities and provide souvenir T-shirts to all of our young chefs, creators, scientists and athletes. Principal owner Darcy Jerome is a devoted supporter of sports and is an avid outdoorsman, so the campus tour included our Hubbard Wildlife Collection and Kodiaks basketball camp. The college is grateful to Exteriors

by Leroy and Darcy Ltd. for their support of programming that gives young people opportunities to explore, learn and succeed while having fun.

one of eight community members and organizations recognized by the City of Lethbridge with a Reconciliation Award. Colleagues Brittany Lee, Marni Hope, Lowell Yellowhorn and Marcia Black Water, received the “Kiitsi ‘Nooh’ Piin’ Naana” (We See You) award.

Alex Baybuz, risk and liability officer in Institutional Planning, Analysis and Reporting, was one of 24 college and institute climate champions – including institutions, groups and individuals – through the first ImpAct-Climate Challenge from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).

Emmerson Reyes (Computer Information Technology

2016), interim manager of Enterprise Systems, reached his goal of making 100 blood donations in his lifetime this summer, after completing 18 blood and 88 plasma donations.

Dr. John Derksen, chair of the Aquaculture Centre of

Excellence, presented at the 12th annual Aquaponics Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., in September on “Aquaponics Microcredentials – Self Tailored Learning From Anywhere.”

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News and notes

Valedictorian inspires at Convocation Digital Communications and Media student Rachel Gelowitz (she/they) led the procession of graduates at the fall 2023 Convocation and inspired fellow graduates with a moving speech about overcoming challenges and the importance of mental health.

Gelowitz says what they will remember most about their time at the college is the personal growth they experienced in the DCM program. “The program itself forced me to get out of my comfort zone and confront my social anxiety that, at times, felt rather crippling,” Gelowitz says. “During my second year, I was able to meet with Dalaine Kubik, a therapist at the college, who helped me practise self-compassion and gain a better understanding of myself. Overall, I went through a lot of change and growth while at the college, and that means the most to me.”

Gelowitz says after graduation, they would like to begin their career as a junior designer at an agency to maximize their learning potential.

Watch the whole ceremony (including Gelowitz’s speech that starts at 34:45) at learn.lc/convocationfall23.

START Centre receives $700,000 grant

funding allowed the Wildlife Analytics Lab to purchase new analytical equipment from Leica and to hire a dedicated lab technician.

For more information, visit lethbridgecollege.ca/wildlife-analyticslab or email wildlife_analytics_lab@ lethbridgecollege.ca.

Lethbridge College received a significant boost toward its vision of making Alberta Wider Horizons honoured a global leader in virtual and augmented COLLEGE launches Wildlife Analytics Lab reality in October. Alberta Innovates with industry awards Lethbridge College’s Centre for announced that the college received a Lethbridge College’s Marketing, Technology, Environment and Design $709,202 grant as part of the Ecosystem Communications, Alumni and has launched its Wildlife Analytics Lab, a Engagement team was recognized with Development Partnerships program. new research initiative offering fee-forThe grant will help the college’s Spatial more than a dozen industry awards Technologies Applied Research and Training service cementum analysis of wildlife for work completed in 2022. The team (START) Centre serve as a provincial hub for teeth. Cementum analysis is a technique received three awards in the international Alberta’s extended reality (XR) technology, that involves examining the layers of CASE Circle of Excellence competition; cementum (a hard tissue covering the services and operations. four awards from the regional CASE roots of teeth) to determine the age, The Ecosystem Development District VIII competition; and seven reproductive history, and even migratory awards from the Alberta Magazine Partnerships program is designed to enhance Alberta’s research and innovation patterns of wildlife species. Tens of Publishers Association. In addition to ecosystem by collaborating with multiple thousands of teeth are collected from wild Wider Horizons being named the best organizations through research, activities animals in Canada every year to estimate community college magazine in North and products aimed at giving the province their age.

America, the team was recognized The Alberta Professional Outfitters a competitive advantage in innovation and for the Spring 2022 “Never Enough Society played an instrumental role in emerging technologies. The program’s Nature” special issue of Wider establishing the lab by providing more goals align with what the college set out Horizons, the Kodiaks Coke Cake than $145,000 in funding and gifts from to do when it launched the Lethbridge project and more (see the full list at its Wildlife Management Fund. The College START Centre in March 2023. learn.lc/industry-awards23).

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Travels with Taboo:

College employee competes internationally with Belgian Malinois A sleepy rural village in Romania came to life this spring when hundreds of dogs and their handlers descended on the area, prepared to race through the fields, dodge horse-drawn wagons and cheer each other on in every language. Donna McLaughlin, a learning experience designer in the college’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation, was among the crowds as she and her dog Taboo represented Canada in the Fédération Mondiale du Berger Belge (FMBB) international competition, which showcases the talents of Belgian shepherds.

McLaughlin and Taboo compete in several canine events, originally derived as off-season training for sled dogs, like canicross, bikejoring and skijoring. Canicross is a cross-country running sport where a dog is attached

to the handler via a low belt on their hips on a bungee-cord leash. The dog provides the runner extra propulsion forward through the race. Bikejoring and skijoring involve the dog being attached to a bike or handler on skis, respectively.

The three sports, combined with agility, are the perfect fit for six-year-old Taboo, an intelligent and high-energy Belgian Malinois. McLaughlin has spent her life training dogs, horses, llamas and chickens (yes, chickens!) and even dabbled in the world of television with her dogs.

Taboo had already completed a few practice flights in Canada with McLaughlin, but Romania was her first long-haul flight. The dog handled it all like a pro, and enjoyed the dog-friendly culture in Europe where she was allowed to visit restaurants and shops with her people. “She’s very comfortable in a kennel, which is critical,” says McLaughlin. “Her breed is pretty resilient and they have tough temperaments. She really handled it all very well.”

Taboo’s resilience would also come in handy during the races in Romania.

Rain on the days prior had created muddy conditions, but the two powered through. “It’s running with my dog that gets me out,” says McLaughlin.” She needs a lot of exercise, so it gets us out on the trails and all through the coulees in all kinds of weather.”

Following their experience in Romania, McLaughlin, her husband Francis Rankin and Taboo travelled to France for another competition in August. This time she competed in agility, which she says has slightly different protocols in Europe than in North America. Despite the language barrier, she was able to make friends who helped explain the competition to her. Ultimately, the language of dog lovers transcends everything else, McLaughlin says.

Although she didn’t make it on to the podium among the 130 competitors in agility in France, McLaughlin’s optimism continues to shine. “I wasn’t the worst, but I wasn’t the best,” she says. “But it turns out that being in France and not qualifying on a run is more fun than being in Canada and not qualifying on a run.”

McLaughlin and Taboo continue to train and work on their agility in hopes of qualifying for the next FMBB competition, which will be in Italy next year. She is a member of a local group, Lethbridge Mushers, that organizes races throughout Alberta and encourages others to consider these kinds of sports, especially if they have a high energy dog and are looking for ways to be more active.

Read a longer version of this story online at widerhorizons.ca.

Donna McLaughlin and her dog Taboo represented Canada in the Fédération Mondiale du Berger Belge international competition last spring.

Photo courtesy of Wendy Devent

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News and notes

Kodiaks launch new Indigenous jerseys The Lethbridge College Kodiaks unveiled new Indigenous jerseys as part of Truth and Reconciliation Week activities in September.

Just over a year ago, the Kodiaks revealed a new Indigenous logo, gym floor and the name Aikowania, which refers to body awareness and movement – the strength, stamina and sharp mind needed to be able to spring into action at a moment’s notice. The new jerseys, which are worn for special occasions including home openers, include the following words and images:

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• OKI

Blackfoot language for hello.

• AIKOWANIA BEAR LOGO

Lethbridge College is proud to have hired artist Monte Eagle Plume to design the Aikowania bear using traditional Blackfoot painting methods.

• PENDLETON PATTERN

The detailing on the sides of the jersey and shorts is reminiscent of a Pendleton blanket and was contributed

by Multimedia Production student Raven Tailfeathers.

Stories by Lexi Barclay

• MOUNTAIN DETAIL

Shown on the belt and on the floor of our home court, it symbolizes the Blackfoot territory we call home.

• SSPOMITAPIIKSI (STAR PEOPLE)

The icons on the upper back of the jersey represent the cosmos where the kakato’siiksi (stars) and Sspomitapiiksi (Star People) live. Ipiso’wahsi (Morning Star/Venus) with the Ihkitsikamm (Seven Stars/Big Dipper), and the Miohpokoyiiksi (Lost Children/ The Pleiades) are part of a large celestial family. We are all made of stars.

Kayla Blacquiere earns CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program opportunity Kayla Blacquiere, an assistant coach with the Kodiaks soccer program, is part of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program this year, which has been designed to increase access for young women to coach at a post-secondary level, provide high quality coaching mentorship and support professional development. She is the first coach from the Kodiaks to take part in the program.

“I am thrilled about this program because I strongly believe in the inclusion of women in sports,” Blacquiere says. “This opportunity allows me to advance my coaching career in soccer and serve as a role model for both young girls and boys. I embrace the significance of representation.

I excel at my job and take pride in proving that I can perform just as competently, if not better, than anyone else.”

Blacquiere has a rich background in soccer as she grew up in Lacombe, Alta. and played in high school and for a year at Red Deer Polytechnic, where she was named to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) all-conference team and recognized as Rookie of the Year. In 2014, she transferred to the University of Lethbridge to continue her soccer career in U-Sports, playing through 2018.

In 2021-22, Blacquiere worked as the assistant coach for the University of Lethbridge women’s soccer team and then joined the Kodiaks coaching staff. “I can’t wait to see where she’s going to end up,” says Lethbridge College Kodiaks soccer head coach Sean Carey. “Honestly, she’s got the makings of going very high in coaching.

She’s very confident on the field, she knows what she wants from the players, and she knows how to talk to them.”

Blacquiere’s goals for the program are to gain coaching experience in the ACAC and CCAA by continuously improving her understanding of soccer, enhancing coaching skills, building a professional network, positively affecting studentathletes’ development and making a lasting impact on the soccer community.

Going for the gold

Former Kodiaks volleyball player and coach Michael Hawkins, who now is the head men’s volleyball coach for the University of British Columbia and a coach for Team Canada, will be headed to Paris as a coach for the Olympics in 2024. When asked about the value of sport throughout life, he said: “Whether it be qualifying for the Olympic Games, backyard soccer with your friends or organized recreational events, sport and play are so pivotal in our lives. The social, emotional, mental and physical benefits of play can be seen at all ages and levels of sport.” The Lethbridge College community will be cheering on the athletes – and their coaches – next year!

FEB. 22–24, 2024

FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT:

gokodiaks.ca

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FROM THE

COURT TO THE

CLASS GRAD’S JOURNEY FROM UNRECRUITED VOLLEYBALL PLAYER TO PRO ATHLETE LEADS HIM BACK TO COLLEGE IN NEW ROLES Story by Lisa Kozleski | Photos by Rob Olson

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t first listen, the sounds of the men’s Kodiaks volleyball team practising this fall is familiar – the squeaks of shoes sprinting across the court, the thwack of a hand striking the sweet spot after the high toss of a serve, and the shout of “in” or “out” when the ball comes near the line.

But between the practice plays, another sound emerges – chatter.

So much chatter. There are student-athletes praising nice digs, huge hits and unexpected aces; quick conversations about how next time a shorter set or change of position might make a difference; and a constant stream of laughs, groans and cheers.

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Matthew Primrose (General Studies – Canadian Studies 2018, General Arts and Science 2019) made a big mark during his time at Lethbridge College, both on the volleyball court and in the classroom.

He has now returned to both spaces in the role of teacher and coach – after a stint in the pros.

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hat chatter is something Greg Gibos, head coach of the men’s team since 2016 and an instructor in the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences, has worked hard to nurture these last eight seasons. That chatter means the team is connected, communicating – and thriving as a community.

“The vision I had for the program when I started was to grow the game in southern Alberta,” says Gibos. “That means community engagement, like going into schools, hosting camps and practising with high school players. And to achieve our vision – to grow the game here – a big piece of the puzzle was the people on our team. We wanted good people. People who get it, who know it’s not just about themselves, who want to become part of something that’s bigger than themselves.

People like Prim.”

“Prim” is Matthew Primrose, who went from being an unrecruited post-secondary volleyball player to a professional athlete in seven years – three of them spent thrilling the crowds at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium. After graduating from the college with diplomas in both General Studies and Canadian Studies in 2019, he went on to play three more years of volleyball at the University of Saskatchewan and earned an honours degree in history before playing his first season of professional volleyball for the Orlando Southern Exposure this past spring and summer.

In the fall of 2023, Primrose returned to Lethbridge College in a new role – political science instructor in the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences. He’s also starting his second season as assistant men’s volleyball coach, working alongside Gibos and coaching student-athletes he has met and worked with over the years in settings ranging from Kodiaks summer camps to the pros.

“There was no better representation of what we wanted Kodiaks volleyball to be than Prim,” says Gibos. “He’s a good person who works hard. Even if he never touched the floor that first season, at the very least, I knew we were getting a good person. And we can’t have enough of those.”

‘THE POWER OF MINDSET’

Primrose started on his sporting journey at Gilbert Paterson Middle School, thanks to a teacher who gave Monopoly money out as an incentive – including when students would try out for activities. Primrose remembers he would “spend” his cash as soon as he got it, so when the teacher said he could get $100 for trying out for volleyball, he was all in. It was a bit chaotic at first, he recalls, and he wasn’t sure the sport was for him, but “I got through the tryout and

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thought that was it. When I went back to Mr. [Randy] Bardock, though, he said ‘No, you’ve got to actually do it for the whole semester!’”

So he did – and he’s been playing pretty much ever since.

In high school, he played the position of middle for Lethbridge Collegiate Institute’s volleyball team and loved it. But since he also played basketball, he never had the chance to play club volleyball and, as a result, he never got on the radar of post-secondaries looking to recruit. After his high school graduation in 2015, he went to the University of Lethbridge and started in the education program – but “well, super depressed is maybe a strong word, but I was definitely super down all the time,” he remembers.

“I was not having fun, and I missed volleyball so much.”

So he started playing co-ed rec volleyball that year, and “I started to love it again.”

Primrose decided to drop out of university and go to the college, hoping to be a walk-on player that fall. Then he heard that Gibos, who had coached the girls’ team at LCI, was named head coach of the men’s team. Primrose reached out to Gibos – and in the midst of their conversations agreed to help coach at a Kodiaks’ kids camps – and at the fall tryout, he made the team.

“Prim would be the first to admit that he probably wasn’t a great libero when he started,” recalls Gibos. “But the biggest thing with him is always the belief. It’s about the power of mindset. He might have been limited athletically, but he believed in himself, put in the hard work and – he got better.”

Primrose kept working and kept getting better – so much that he went on to captain the Kodiaks in his second and third seasons, received two Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) All-Conference Player awards, was named a provincial tournament all-star, and helped the team win an ACAC silver medal in 2018-19. At the University of Saskatchewan, he played three seasons (one during COVID), and ended up being named a captain there and finishing top five in Canada for digs in 2021-22. In addition, he was named an Academic All-Canadian four times in his post-secondary career – twice at the college and twice in Saskatchewan.

“Prim is the kind of guy who always had a list of goals, right,” says Gibos. “Goal one was to make a team. Goal two was to touch the floor. Goal three was to be an all-star.

Goal four, make it to U-Sports (university sports). He had this list and once he started checking everything off, well, we knew the bottom one – play professionally – was going to happen. The moment he made it was such a moment of jubilation for him. There was a lot of hard work that got all that done.”

“WE WANTED GOOD PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO GET IT, WHO KNOW IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHO WANT TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING THAT’S BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES. PEOPLE LIKE PRIM.” GREG GIBOS

LEFT: Primrose checks in with Greg Gibos, during a practice in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium last fall. ABOVE: Primrose answers a student’s question in an Introduction to Political Science class.

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“MATT IS A REALLY GREAT TEACHER. HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH – HAVING JUST BEEN A STUDENT HIMSELF. HE TENDS TO DO THINGS THAT ARE INTERACTIVE FOR US, AND HE USES REFERENCES THAT WE UNDERSTAND, AND IT REALLY HELPS.” AMBER JENSEN

ABOVE: Primrose played professionally last year with Kohlbe Anderson, and then encouraged him to pursue his postsecondary education – and play – at Lethbridge College. BELOW: Primrose says he is enjoying his new role in the classroom.

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‘YO, COME TO LETHBRIDGE’

The National Volleyball Association is the premiere professional volleyball league in the United States. The season starts in late March, and games run from April to July. Last year, the teams travelled every two weeks to play games in California.

In 2024, they are looking to travel from state to state.

“This league is everybody who is just on the cusp of making their national teams from their respective countries,” Primrose says. “Three or four of the guys from the U.S. who played last season are now on the national team. The competition was awesome.”

Primrose says he had been hoping to be picked up by a squad with more older and experienced players, but instead found himself on a young team and taking on the role of mentor. One of those younger players was Kohlbe Anderson, who grew up in Delaware and plays the position of middle.

“I met Matt as a player, and he was one of the only people who got to truly know my story,” says Anderson. “At the time I was 20 playing professionally and he was asking me what my next step was, and I didn’t really have a clue at the time.

As the season went on, I thought maybe I wanted to start my education again. He was like, ‘yo, come to Lethbridge and we’ll make you better.’ That really meant a lot to me, because I saw how he played and he was one of the better players I had seen – and so I thought, if I can go to the place where he developed, I can get to the same place in the sport.”

So Anderson applied to Lethbridge College and enrolled in the Business Administration program – and is now playing in front of southern Alberta’s enthusiastic volleyball crowds.

“I knew him as a player before I knew him as a coach,” says Anderson. “He was super easy to talk to, and he worked hard on and off the court. He’s a guy who loves to win – I have that in common with him, too. I joined this sport trying to do my best every day I can, and he is someone who does that – he tries his best in every part of his life.”

One of Anderson’s new teammates is Adam Boras, a thirdyear student in the General Arts and Science program and graduate of Catholic Central High School. Like Primrose, Boras plays libero – the back row defensive specialist position – and he grew up watching Primrose play.

“IT SHOWED HOW MUCH HE CARED ABOUT THE TEAM, THE SCHOOL AND US BEING SUCCESSFUL. AND WITH ME COMING HERE, HE REALLY CARED ABOUT ME BEING AS COMFORTABLE AS I CAN BE FAR FROM HOME.” KOHLBE ANDERSON

“He was always one of my role models, one of the guys I would look up to on the court and in the community,” says Boras.

“Prim can be a very serious guy, and he wants the best out of his athletes and his students, and I think he pushes everyone to be better. But while doing that, he keeps his sense of humour and focuses on having fun while getting better. He tries to keep fun in our practices, while doing serious hard work. He really inspires me.”

Anderson agrees, and adds that Primrose’s capacity to care sets him apart. “It showed how much he cared about the team, the school and us being successful,” says Anderson. “And with me coming here, he really cared about me being as comfortable as I can be far from home.”

‘YOU JUST HAVE TO CARE ABOUT IT’

Although Primrose is considering returning to the National Volleyball Association in the spring/summer of 2024, he has new goals on his checklist now – ones focused on coaching student-athletes like Boras, Anderson and the rest of this year’s talented team, as well as teaching students in the General Arts and Science program.

“I always wanted to be an educator, and in my heart of hearts, I wanted to teach at post-secondary,” Primrose says. “It sounds cliché, but I always wanted to do work that didn’t feel like work – something that I am super passionate about and love.”

His teaching goals include being the best educator he can be – to be prepared and organized, and to showcase his interest in his students. “And there’s also the goal to just get better at teaching,” he says with a laugh.

Students in his Introduction to Political Science class appreciate the effort he is putting into his work.

“Matt is a really great teacher. He understands what we have to deal with – having just been a student himself,” says Amber Jensen, a first-year student from Whitecourt, Alta. “He tends to do things that are interactive for us, and he uses references that we understand, and it really helps.”

Jenna Dunne, a first-year student from Lethbridge, adds that she “finds that he likes us to do a lot of group activities, which helps in every class. It helps me learn a lot because he pushes us out of our comfort zone to learn with one another.

And that’s a new style of teaching that I’ve experienced, and I really appreciate it.”

First-year student Juan Puerta, who is from Surrey, B.C., also likes Primrose’s active classes. “He’s very passionate about the topic he teaches, too,” he adds. “I don’t really mind if it’s a lecture, or if it’s a group activity. I enjoy both. The message gets through. That’s the important part.”

Primrose says he is energized by his students and studentathletes, and he thinks it’s important to have fun while doing serious work in both the classroom and on the court.

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“You just have to care about it,” he says. “Like with coaching – we have certain goals we want to reach. There are times to be serious and times to laugh, smile and just enjoy life. Because at the end of the day, you’ve got to be doing something in life that you really like.”

One other aspect of his new roles he is savouring is getting to call some of his favourite former instructors his colleagues – and they are glad to have him on their team.

“Matt is set apart by his kindness – his support for students to ensure everyone is included, cheerful greetings, holding the door for staff, noticing how someone’s day is going, celebrating others’ achievements,” says Marda Schindeler, Associate Dean for the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences. “His approach supports a welcoming and inclusive classroom – both when he was a student supporting his classmates and as an instructor supporting his students.”

Instructor Merle Fuller remembers that as a student, “Matt was a high achiever in everything he put his hands to – from athletics to academics. He possesses both high emotional intelligence as well as high intellectual intelligence – and this is a powerful and rare combination that made Matt many friends, a great student, and now, a great colleague.”

Fuller adds he was pleased to learn the college had hired Primrose, as he is preparing to retire, and “as I do so, I have high confidence in the colleagues I leave behind to carry on the job,” he says. “Matt is now one such colleague among the many, but he is one who I was privileged to teach, and now, equally privileged to work with.”

with him, consoled the heartbreaking losses, and supported him and the team however they could. They continue to support him now as a coach, too.

“There is so much love I feel from my family,” says Primrose.

“I hope they know that. My dad has always been the sports guy and supported me throughout my career. And my mom – well, she’s my best friend – my rock. She was able to level with me and truly listen to me and give me sound advice all the time.

Without her, none of this would be possible, and there aren’t enough words to thank her enough, or let her know how much I love her.”

Primrose recognizes not everyone has that kind of family support or love, and “that’s why I try to offer that support, whether as an educator, coach or friend.”

Gibos is glad to have Primrose’s leadership on the court this season and says: “We’re hoping he wants to stick around longterm and be a major part of the institution and the program.

There are so many athletes, coaches and youth in southern Alberta who continue to chase their athletic dreams because of him and his story. It really goes to show that you can make an incredible impact in your community with small actions, and the pursuit of excellence.”

He adds: “One of our program philosophies is to ‘plant trees we know we will never see the leaves of.’ When we talk about Prim, he’s not only planted one tree, but an entire forest.”

‘PEOPLE LIKE PRIM’

On the court and in the community, Primrose is seeing Gibos’s efforts to grow volleyball in southern Alberta pay off. “I think the community can see we are fostering the development of players who can be successful in the ACAC and in U Sports, which is awesome to see. There is a huge wealth of talent that is being cultivated here in Lethbridge and the surrounding area, and hopefully we can continue to grow that – and hopefully that transfers back into the community. For so long, Calgary and Edmonton used to just dominate at the club level and the next level. And now, well, I think Lethbridge has got something to say about that.”

Primrose smiles, and then adds: “For me, the reason I was only looking at Lethbridge in the beginning is because of finances. But also, this is home. And I want to represent home as best I can. I had the opportunity to play here, which I think is super special – not everybody gets the opportunity to do that.”

The night Primrose took the court in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium for the first time as a Kodiak in 2016, two important people were in the crowd – “my mom and my Nana” – sitting in the second row on the right side. They came to every game, cheered every point, celebrated the thrilling wins

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CATCH THE KODIAKS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS AT HOME THIS WINTER ON JAN. 26 AND 27 AND FEB. 3, 9 AND 10, AS WELL AS WHEN LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE HOSTS THE WOMEN’S ACAC CHAMPIONSHIPS FEB. 22 TO 24. FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT GOKODIAKS.CA.

“MATT IS SET APART BY HIS KINDNESS – HIS SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED, CHEERFUL GREETINGS, HOLDING THE DOOR FOR STAFF, NOTICING HOW SOMEONE’S DAY IS GOING, CELEBRATING OTHERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS” MARDA SCHINDELER

On the court and in the community, Primrose is seeing the efforts to grow volleyball in southern Alberta pay off.

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READY FOR SERIOUS FUN? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF LETHBRIDGE

COLLEGE’S PEOPLE, PLACES AND HISTORY WITH THESE THREE PUZZLES (Answers are on page 42).

JUMBLE ALV AOTTTMTIE UAGNSMYMI HRBUBDA OTLINEOLCC

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GDANRE CUTRO

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RCEENT OREC

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OTBSKREOO

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UCELOE KLWA

NBHUNAAC RRBIAYL

Unscramble the letters below to take a mental trip around campus, and then use the letters in the circles to form the surprise answer.

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— BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT MATTERS MOST.

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ACROSS ALL ACROSS THE COLLEGE ACROSS

DOWN

1.

2. Two-word name of the current student bar where you can play table tennis and pool.

3. Last name of the first chief executive officer of the college (not a president but a dean); and the building where the University of Lethbridge got its start.

4. The occupation of the statue found in Centre Core.

5. First and last name of spouse of the president for whom the wine auction was named.

6. One word name of the collection of wildlife taxidermy animals on campus.

7. Last name of the current president.

10. English spelling of the college’s Blackfoot name of Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan.

15. Name of the school’s mascot.

Last name of one of the college’s founders, also the name of a Lethbridge middle school.

8. Two-word name of the restaurant where studentchefs serve students, employees and the community.

9. Last name of first board chair, a Coaldale educator; also the building on campus where you can find the Food Court.

11. The annual fall festival that brings fun, games, music and beer gardens to campus.

12. Name of the college’s award-winning community and alumni magazine.

13. Two-word name of the former bar on campus that was once a roller rink.

14. What LC student-athletes are called.

16. Kind of tower you can find on the south end of campus.

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7 5 6

2

4

1

8

9

10

11

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How well do you know your Lethbridge College people, places and celebrations?

Challenge yourself with this college crossword puzzle!

(Answers are on page 42).

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UP CLOSE ON CAMPUS Beyond the Kodiaks, Lethbridge College is home to countless ways to play, have fun and compete. Match the 12 fun-and-game opportunities that can be found on campus for students, employees and the community with the close-up photos on the right. We’ve made the first match for you.

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Pokémon GO. Using a smartphone’s GPS and camera, this augmentedreality game allows players to locate – and battle – creatures and “catch” them within the app. Download the game in your phone’s App Store.

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Campus squash and racquetball courts. You can take lessons, join a league, rent the entire space and train to be a champion here. Book your next game at lethbridgecollege.ca/courts.

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Pickleball courts. People of all ages have flocked to this fast-growing sport recently, and at Lethbridge College. To join indoor sessions or take lessons, go to lethbridgecollege.ca/lcextension.

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Cricket. Due to the huge popularity of earlier drop-in activities, LCSA Campus Rec started a full intramural league of this sport in 2022, complete with six teams of 10 players each. Students can learn more at the LCSA.

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The LCSA disc golf course. Since its installation in 2021, this course has helped create community. No cost to play but discs can be borrowed or purchased in the LCSA office.

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Dodgeball. LCSA Campus Rec hosts a good ol’ fashioned tournament each semester, bringing together clubs, Kodiaks and friends seeking the ultimate bragging rights. Visit The Cave or learn more at the LCSA.

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Table Tennis in The Cave. This campus space is bouncing with activity morning, noon and night – as well as at the monthly tournament organized

by LCSA Campus Rec. Visit The Cave or learn more at the LCSA.

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Prairie Baseball Academy. Since 1995, the college and this organization have provided Canadian athletes the chance to prepare to play this sport in the U.S. and possibly go on to the pros. Learn more at prairiebaseball.com.

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Be Fit for Life Learn to Skate classes for adults. It’s never too late to learn this essential life skill! This class can teach the basics of moving forward and backward, turning and stopping. Learn more at learn.lc/adult-fitness.

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Baby and Me Yoga classes. The youngest students on campus (and the adults in their lives) can be found in this weekly Be Fit For Life class that is open to the community. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/bffl.

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Game design micro-credentials. Level up your skills with these bite-sized courses, and be ready to start bringing your game ideas to life.

Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/game-design.

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Lethbridge College’s Lakeshore campus. Students in this carpentry program build beautifully handcrafted pieces that are donated to local nonprofits. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/corrections-education.

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A

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Check out page 42 for the answers – as well as more information about how the community can take part in many of these activities.

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G

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READY SET PLAY Stories by Lisa Kozleski and Cathy Gibson-Epp | Photos by Rob Olson

Even in the midst of serious and important work, it is possible to find fun. That’s what Eric Granson (Communication Arts 2013) finds in his work at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. And although he’s not an origami expert, he worked with colleagues at the garden to create this tiny Kodiak bear. To see a video showing how to make this bear, go to learn.lc/origami-bear.

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LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THRIVE IN PROFESSIONS THAT FOCUS

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ON SERIOUS FUN

ric Granson (Communication Arts – Advertising and Public Relations 2013) is not an origami expert. But he is the marketing manager for Lethbridge’s Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, and when the Wider Horizons team reached out to him for help creating this issue’s cover, he said yes faster than you could fold an origami bear.

“I’ve only been at the garden since November 2022, and I have tried my hardest to immerse myself in Japanese culture,” says Granson. “Part of that is learning origami and its importance to Japanese culture and history. I’m proud that this origami is something that links my time at the college, and that it’s kind of a blend of my passion for Lethbridge College and this amazing career.”

Granson is a big fan of serious fun. Whether he’s helping promote new events that bring visitors to the city, or reintroducing the gem of a garden to long-time residents, he sees real value in finding joy at work.

And he’s not alone. Throughout the Lethbridge College community, graduates, employees and students can all be found learning and thriving in a variety of professions that focus on serious fun.

Take Dr. Simon Schaerz, an instructor in the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences at Lethbridge College and head coach for Kodiaks cross-country running and indoor track. His academic research focuses on physical activity as an essential component of childhood development, and he writes about how physical activity plays a critical role in promoting proper bone development and muscular

strength, as well as protects against chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. “All of these benefits underscore the importance of physical activity during childhood as a foundation for lifelong health,” he adds.

Play, it turns out, is good for you.

Schaerz says game-based physical activities that children naturally gravitate towards – such as soccer, tag and baseball – have shown the most substantial benefits for enhancing cognitive development. That’s due in part because they incorporate high-intensity exercise with open-sequential skills (elements that are unpredictable and complex). This combination helps to build better cognitive processing as the brain is challenged to adapt quickly.

Schaerz is passionate about play for people of all ages, and he says “to encourage children to maintain adequate levels of physical activity, it is vital to prioritize enjoyment and create opportunities for group participation. By ensuring that these activities are fun and engaging, we can foster a lasting interest in physical activity.”

In the following pages, four Lethbridge College alumni whose work is “serious fun” share their wisdom and words of encouragement in bringing more fun to everyone’s work and life – whatever the age. If you have a story about play and work that you’d like to share, email us at WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

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ERIC GRANSON COMMUNICATION ARTS – ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2013

How do you bring “fun and games” into your work at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden?

I love this question! At Nikka Yuko, we have a ton of fun. We’re a very close group and spend time learning some of the traditional Japanese games, such as Shogi (a game like chess), or learning origami from our many origami workshops. On top of that, I tell the odd dad joke around the Bunka Centre.

Why do you think it’s important to have fun at work (and in life)?

Life is short. Having fun at work isn’t impossible, and in my opinion, it’s encouraged. Enjoying life and working don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If you’re passionate about your career, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish, and it all starts with having fun!

What process did you go through learning to make the little origami bear on the cover of this issue?

I got lots of advice from other team members and amazing support from our current origami workshop leaders. As with most things in Japanese culture, it took time, practise and patience to complete this.

Besides great colleagues willing to share their knowledge with you – tell us what else you love about your work.

During my time as a student and my time working in sales, I always heard that you can hear someone smile on the phone when they are talking about work they love. And all of the people that I’ve talked

to on my journey so far in this past year have told me that they can hear the excitement in my voice when I talk about the garden – because it’s hard not to. It’s hard not to have that excitement when you want to leave a legacy somewhere – some sort of stamp for a new generation of people who appreciate the garden, which is what it deserves.

What advice would you give to young people considering coming to Lethbridge College?

My advice is to never give up. My biggest life goal was to make a difference in the community and to help people. I thought that meant going into justice studies. I learned that I never had a passion for policing, but the passion I had was to help support, nurture and give back to this amazing community that has done so much for myself and so many others.

My life changed the minute I met with a program advisor and expressed my passions. The program advisor didn’t question my passion and never discouraged me. They nurtured and embraced my potential. The instructors were even better. They pushed us, helped us and cheered us all on; from day one and even 10 years after graduation, their support and care never wavered.

Before starting work as the marketing manager at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in 2022, Granson had worked in sales and marketing throughout Alberta. He still carries his 2013 Lethbridge College Convocation program with him in his camera case.

Learn more about the garden at nikkayuko.com.

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“MY LIFE CHANGED THE MINUTE I MET WITH A PROGRAM ADVISOR AND EXPRESSED MY PASSIONS. THE PROGRAM ADVISOR DIDN’T QUESTION MY PASSION AND NEVER DISCOURAGED ME. THEY NURTURED AND EMBRACED MY POTENTIAL.” ERIC GRANSON

Making this little origami bear takes time and focus – and more than 50 different folds. To see a video of Eric Granson making his bear, go to learn.lc/origami-bear. If you’d like to share a photo of your bear with the Wider Horizons team, email us at WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

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“CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ACROSS TIME ALWAYS FIND TIME TO PLAY – NO MATTER THEIR SITUATION. WE NEED TO MAKE THAT TIME TOO.” CHERYL HATTEN

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CHERYL HATTEN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 2004

From your experience as an educator (of people of all ages!), what is the value of play to help learning?

Is there anything about play (or fun, or games) that you wish more people knew about?

Play is invaluable for all ages. For young children, play is how they make sense of the world. It is how they learn about so many things – they play and try things out to see what the outcomes are. They are like scientists: they experiment with the materials around them to learn about what they are capable of. They experiment with their bodies to see what they are capable of – they are always playing and they are always learning. For children, play is serious business and it is something that they constantly are engaged in. There are few times in a child’s day when they are not playing. As we get older, we have less and less time in our day to play.

School, work and life often get in the way. It is important that as adults, we make the time to play. When we offer ourselves those kinds of experiences, we can be more ready to engage in learning.

Play is not frivolous. Too often parents of young children think that once their child gets to pre-school, they need to learn their ABCs and 123s to get ready for school. Many parents expect to see evidence of their children’s learning in the form of worksheets or other tangible products. What children really need is time to play and be three or four.

We do not need to prepare a three-year-old to be four, or a four-year-old to be five. We need to let them play. When we offer them thoughtfully prepared environments and materials alongside knowledgeable educators, they will gain everything they need to be successful at being three or four and eventually to be successful at life. Play is valuable in its own right.

Do you have a favourite game, sport or thing to play?

My favourite way to “play” is to read or crochet or craft.

Any advice you can give our readers on bringing more play (or fun, or games) into their lives?

It is something that you have to find time for. [Not playing] can make you unbalanced and can leave you open to becoming stressed. Find something that brings you joy and make the time to do it – even if it means scheduling it into your calendar. Children all over the world and across time always find time to play – no matter their situation. We need to make that time too.

Hatten is the chair of the School of Human Services at Lethbridge College. She has been teaching full time at the college since 2009, and earlier had run the college demonstration preschool program and taught online courses and did practicum supervision.

Students in the Early Childhood Education 1156 class got a chance to teach students from the campus daycare last November. From building towers to exploring nature to reading books and more, the students savoured putting their learning in action.

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JANICE ANTON

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION – GERONTOLOGY 1997

From your experience working in the therapeutic recreation industry and in teaching, what is the value or benefits of using leisure and recreation when it comes to health and wellness?

This profession is based on the benefits of recreation and using evidence-based activities to promote person-centred treatment, where assessment and intervention are systematic, individualized and based on patient needs, strengths and goals. The intervention leads to outcomes that are meaningful and relevant to the person.

I have personally had many experiences seeing the therapeutic value of recreation in my work. One that really stands out to me is an elderly lady with clinical depression, loneliness and social isolation who came to our day program. She was once someone who loved to draw but had lost that ability due to physical and mental barriers. It took a lot of encouragement to have her join an art group at the day program. She did not want to do it as she felt she was no longer “good enough.” After many weeks with her, she completely blossomed into a new version of herself as an artist.

Upon discharge from the day program, she returned to her supportive living facility and was asked to paint a mural for one of the hallways at the facility. It was a magical transformation and one I will never forget.

What are some of the therapeutic recreation services that new grads are using in their workplaces that might surprise people?

Our grads have done some amazingly creative and innovative things in therapeutic recreation. Some of the evidence-based interventions they have recently been using include: reflective awareness photography; innovative drumming circles; creative arts and fireside chats with individuals facing homelessness; animal assisted therapy; nature-based practices such as forest bathing and more.

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Any advice you can give our readers on bringing more recreation into their lives?

All recreation activity has specific benefits to people in different domains – not just the physical domain.

For example, reading can help with our mental processes, playing cards with a group of people can decrease loneliness and improve social skills, and doing art allows for emotional expression.

Do you have a favourite game, sport or thing to play?

I play pickleball with nine other people every Saturday night. Some of the benefits I receive are: physical (improved endurance, improved hand/eye coordination); social (improved socialization and strengthened social connections); cognitive (increased attention span and improvement in memory – scoring is the hardest thing about this game!); and emotional (decreased stress and improved self confidence).

Anton is chair of Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology at Lethbridge College. She started working at the college in 2009 as a casual instructor, and previously had worked part-time as a recreation therapist in a day program for seniors as well as a consultant with Alberta Health Services helping people caring for someone with dementia.

Students in the Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology program get plenty of hands-on learning opportunities both leading and taking part in exercises and experiences in creative arts, horticulture and reminiscing groups. These experiences help prepare them for the work they will do on the job after graduation.

“THIS PROFESSION IS BASED ON THE BENEFITS OF RECREATION AND USING EVIDENCE-BASED ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE PERSON-CENTRED TREATMENT...THE INTERVENTION LEADS TO OUTCOMES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT TO THE PERSON.” JANICE ANTON

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“THE OPPORTUNITIES WITH SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES ARE LIMITLESS. XR CREATES A PERFECT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GAIN IMPORTANT SKILLS WITHIN A SERIOUS GAMES ATMOSPHERE.” MIKE MCCREADY

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MIKE MCCREADY MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION 1999

Your work sounds like a lot of fun. But before we dive in, can you give us the basics of extended reality (XR) technology and the college’s Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) Centre?

XR refers to both virtual reality (VR), which includes entirely computer-generated, immersive experiences; and augmented reality (AR), which combines digital and real-world elements. START is one of five research groups in the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the college. We partner with organizations to apply VR/AR technologies to solve challenges in key Alberta sectors, including agriculture, energy, architecture, health care, cultural heritage and emergency response. The opportunities with spatial technologies are limitless. XR creates a perfect learning environment because people can gain important skills within a serious games atmosphere.

What do you mean by serious games?

The term “serious games” is used to describe games that are created with a primary goal other than entertainment, such as for training purposes. The START team uses tools originating from the gaming industry, such as a driving simulator platform and VR headsets, to create engaging training simulations for police officers, health-care workers, and various other workplace scenarios. Some of our past and current research projects include creating VR environments for caregivers to practise their responses to dementia patients; for utilities technicians to practise for high-risk scenario training; and for visitors to check out dinosaur tracks that are not accessible to tourists in Grande Cache, Alta.

How do you and your colleagues tap into technology to turn up the fun factor in your work?

In our team meetings, we are embodied in virtual avatars, which provide a higher sense of social presence over video conference tools. It also allows our team, which includes a senior developer who lives in Toronto, to feel connected.

We are also taking a fun approach toward a serious topic by organizing an Alberta-wide XR hackathon in 2024. The XR hackathon will connect people in high school, postsecondary institutions and the technology industry with the goal of increasing the high-tech talent pool in Alberta and promoting XR as a career path for serious games. Keep an eye out for more information about the XR hackathon, which will take place in the spring.

Do you have a favourite game, sport or thing to play?

Although I devote much of my time to developing VR training scenarios, I have a deep appreciation for VR gaming.

Titles like Demeo, Half-Life Alyx, and the ever-popular Beat Saber rank among my favourites. The immersive nature of VR offers a unique engagement, making you feel as if you’re truly a part of the game’s narrative. It’s an entertainment experience that’s simply unmatched.

McCready is an industry liaison and research advisor in the START Centre. One of his focuses is the social interactions made possible with VR, and he has planned and facilitated numerous social VR activities that have garnered national and international attention, including the world’s first full-day conference held in VR – Merging Realities.

The START Centre gives students and employees the chance to work in virtual reality as well as in the stateof-the-art motion capture studio that provide digital media production capabilities to multiple industries.

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From our kitchens

For Chef Devon Leys-Wall (Culinary Careers 2010; Cook Apprentice 2011), cooking has always been about bringing people together. “Some of my fondest memories are helping my parents with home-cooked meals and holiday treat-making with my grandparents,” he recalls. “I love to have family and friends over for a good night of food and games.”

And there’s nothing he likes better after a night of fun with family and friends than a morning with fresh cinnamon rolls. The recipe he is sharing in this issue of Wider Horizons is one of his partner’s favourite breakfasts, and he likes that he can make them the day before for a quick and fresh weekend breakfast – and it works well with lactose-free substitutes if needed.

Chef Leys-Wall, who was named the province’s top Cook Apprentice in 2011, worked in the industry after graduation, and came back as an instructional assistant in the Bakeshop in 2022. The most satisfying part of his work teaching is “seeing the growth in my students. It’s amazing to see them go from ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ to ‘This is fun!’ in the few short weeks we have them in the Bakeshop.”

Story by Lisa Kozleski | Photos by Rob Olson

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

F OR THE DOUGH:

1. Whisk together warm milk and yeast. Let stand uncovered for seven minutes. Add ½ cup flour and 2 tbsp. sugar.

Whisk, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature for 45 minutes.

1 c. ..........................................................................milk, warmed ½ tbsp. ............................................................ dry active yeast 4 tbsp. ....................................................white sugar, divided 3 c. ................................................. all-purpose flour, divided 1 ..................................................................................................egg 1 tbsp. ................................................................. butter, melted ½ tsp. ........................................................................................salt F OR THE FILLIN G : 6 tbsp. ............................................................ butter, softened ¼ c. ................................................................ granulated sugar 1 tbsp. ..........................................................ground cinnamon F OR THE ICING: ¼ c. .................................................................. butter, softened 115 grams ........................................cream cheese, softened ½ tbsp. ................................................................................vanilla 1 c. ....................................................................powdered sugar

To enjoy the baking of Chef Leys-Wall and his students, make a reservation at the Garden Court Restaurant by calling 403-320-3230. Bon appétit!

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2. Whisk in eggs, remaining sugar, melted butter and salt.

With a dough hook, add remaining flour ½ cup at a time.

Once combined, knead on counter for 10 minutes. Do not add extra flour to counter. Cover. Let rise for two hours.

3. Grease a 9” x 13” pan. Set aside. Fold dough onto lightly floured counter. Roll into a 17” x 10” rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly across dough. Leave a 1” edge at top of dough with no butter to allow roll to seal.

4. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over dough. Tightly roll dough, ending with unbuttered edge. Slice into 12 pieces. Place in pan and wrap tightly.

Refrigerate overnight or up to 18 hours.

5. The next day, pull dough out. Let it sit at room temperature for 90 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. 6. Brush tops of buns with melted butter and bake for 22 to 24 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.

7. While buns bake, mix softened butter and cream cheese.

Cream together until smooth. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix until well combined.

8. Once buns have cooled, cover with icing, and serve warm.

Enjoy!

{ Chef Devon Leys-Wall }

CINNAMON with Cream BUNS Cheese Icing

–

35

Where are they now?

Where are they now?

Makers, Doers and Thinkers Celebrating the Lethbridge College alumni who are building community and making their mark in memorable ways.

FEATURING:

Royce Olsen

Business Administration 2019

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“WHEN I SEE THAT THEY HAD A GOOD TIME AND CREATED MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME, IT MAKES IT ALL VERY FULFILLING IN THE END.” { ROYCE OLSEN }

SHARING THE SUCCESSES OF OUR ALUMNI IN THEIR CAREERS AND THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. Makers, Doers and Thinkers Featuring

For some, horseback riding through the Rocky Mountains surrounded by breathtaking views is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For Royce Olsen (Business Administration 2019), it’s just another day, but it’s another day of living out his dream.

R

oyce owns and operates Waterton River Trail Rides, located on the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park. Visitors travel from around the world to experience this slice of Alberta for themselves in the only way it can truly be appreciated – from the back of a horse. Royce’s horses are experts in their own right and quietly carry riders through wildflower gardens in the open prairies, splash through the Waterton River and wander along the Elk Ridge Summit. And, although guests are now led by one of six guides on one of more than 30 horses, Waterton River Trail Rides originally began with just Royce and seven horses.

Royce grew up on a ranch near Waterton and has ridden horses his entire life, so the idea of riding horses for a living made perfect sense. And so, eight years ago, he started his business.

“When I started, I already had a herd of horses I had trained, so I thought ‘well, I’ve got the horses, I’ve got the location and I’ve got the desire to do this – so let’s do it,’” says Royce.

He jumped headfirst into the business, which quickly gained clientele through word of mouth. But it was when he started in the Business Administration program at Lethbridge College that his business began to quickly grow. Royce attended college during the school year and would run trail rides throughout the summer months, taking what he’d learned in class and applying it first-hand to his business. His marketing classes helped him get the word out about Waterton River Trail Rides, and his accounting classes were able to show him exactly how successful his business was.

“It was nice to be able to go to Lethbridge College while running my business,” he says. “I was able to put everything that I was learning right into my business, and that went a long way in building a strong foundation.”

He explains how understanding the many aspects of starting and running a business were supported by his instructors who were always willing to answer questions, whether it was for a school assignment or for Waterton River Trail Rides.

“The connections that I made at the college are priceless,” says Royce. “There are even a couple of instructors who I would consider close friends and mentors that I can go to on occasion for guidance.”

With several rides running every weekend from May to October, a full team of staff, a herd of horses and repeat customers making up at least 50 per cent of his client base, it’s clear Royce’s business is thriving.

“At the end of the day, I’m doing what I love – riding horses and meeting new people,” he says. And, despite riding the same routes every day, he notes that it’s the people who keep every day interesting and unique. “It makes my day when I see other people enjoying the rides and what I’m offering,” he says.

“When I see that they had a good time and created memories that will last a lifetime, it makes it all very fulfilling in the end.”

To learn more about Waterton River Trail Rides, or to book your next vacation, visit www.watertonrivertrailrides.com.

Story by Melanie Fast | Photos by Jarom Scott

37

Where are they now?

ALUMNI

UPDATES We love hearing from Lethbridge College alumni! You can find additional updates online at widerhorizons.ca.

To submit your news to share with your classmates and the college community, drop us a note at WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

2023

Kellita Day Chief First-year Early Childhood Education student Kellita was recognized by the City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee at its inaugural Reconciliation Awards evening in September. She received the Young Adult award for her leadership and taking initiative in role modelling values that support Reconciliation in her community. “I have always believed that volunteering in your own community from a young age teaches you many techniques, as well as experiences and opportunities,” she says. “Being Niitsitapi, I have a deep connection to my volunteer work. Volunteering to some may be considered to be free work with no paper reward, but there is a much more valuable and long-lasting reward.

The reward is fulfilling your soul, while helping those in your community who are in need.”

2020

Ocean Kveder Bachelor of Ecosystem Management; Renewable Resource Management 2017 Ocean was featured in an article from the Nature Conservancy Canada in August about their work as the Conservation Volunteers program assistant for southern Alberta. Ocean, who worked as a conservation technician for NCC in 2019 and 2022, said in the article that their education prepared them well for their internship.

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“Connecting with people is one of the ways that the long-term, healthy management of ecosystems can be brought to light – the more you learn about something like this, the more likely you are to want to take action to care for and protect it. When people are given opportunities to try out hands-on conservation measures, they tend to get deeply involved in it and grow a love of it,” Ocean said.

2018

Tucker Pickerell Cook Apprentice Tucker was featured in an October article in the Taber Times celebrating his work for the Taber’s Table long-table event held over the summer. “I had an amazing time cooking for the Taber long-table experience,” he said in the article. “I have done a few other events in Lethbridge but nothing in Taber, so it was exciting to get to come back to my hometown and cook for a large crowd of familiar faces! It was wonderful to get to work side by side with some of southern Alberta’s best chefs and all the other members of the industry!” Tucker has worked at Hudsons Canada’s Pub in Lethbridge for nine years – the last two as head chef.

2012

Alexandra Carnio Business Administration; Rising Star 2022 Alexandra got to take “the trip of a lifetime” when she, along with 46 fellow young entrepreneurs from across the country, was chosen to represent Canada at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit in New Delhi, India. “I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 22 and have learned a lot during my adventures,” she says. “As a young entrepreneur and mom with three kids under five at home, [I bring] a unique perspective on ways we support entrepreneurs, especially moms.” Alexandra, a 2022 Honouring Excellence Rising Star Award Winner, is a marketing and communications strategist and co-founder of ProducKIDvity and The Playce App.

Kiana Van Ee

Business Administration After graduating from the college, Kiana continued her education at the University of Lethbridge where she completed her Bachelor of Management degree. She says her time at Lethbridge College was “nothing short of amazing” as she gained valuable knowledge and hands-on skills in various business disciplines while making lifelong friends and connections. Kiana began her career in human resources and now serves on the college’s Business Administration Advisory Committee. She says the role allows her to contribute to the continuous improvement of the program, ensuring that future students receive the best education and opportunities for success.

2011

Matthew Bourret Business Administration – Accounting Matt works as the inventory manager at Varsteel in Lethbridge, where he has been a valued part of the team since 2014. He is also a dedicated husband and proud dad of two little ones. As a lifelong lover of sports, Matt says that when he’s not spending time with his family and friends, you’ll find him on the golf course or baseball diamond in the summer and the volleyball court in the winter.

2010

Leighton Motz Criminal Justice – Policing Leighton, who is a constable with the Taber Police Service, won a gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Winnipeg this past summer.

According to an article in the Taber Times, he competed in the “Toughest Competitor Alive” category, in the 30+ age, heavyweight category. “When I realized that I actually won my event, the seven months I spent training for it had finally paid off and was worth all the dedication, training injuries and time spent away from family,” he said in the article. “I am especially grateful for my family, friends and colleagues who supported me. This event was no joke and at the start of the day, I decided to leave everything on the table and give it my all. It paid off.” Canada finished first in the competition overall in medals with 594.

2009

Ashley Day Chief General Arts and Science Ashley Day Chief was named Young Business Professional of the Year at the 2023 Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in October. Ashley is the Chief Operating Officer of AdvancedAg Inc., which is a proud Canadian, First Nations and family-owned company with over 20 years of leading-edge biotech research.

AdvancedAg’s team is passionate about environmental sustainability, and its proprietary edge enables the company to selectively grow, blend and stabilize individual strains of bacteria into biologically active products.

Tristen Brown (Civil Engineering Technology 2018)

T

risten was named one of 166 winners of the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship in September. The scholarships, only 55 of which are given in the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), are valued at $50,000 a year for three years, and are awarded to graduate students in Canada who demonstrate leadership skills, research potential and academic excellence in their studies.

The scholarship will support Tristen as he completes his PhD program in Civil Engineering at Lakehead University, where he earned a master’s degree in 2022 and his bachelor’s degree in 2020. All of his education after leaving the college has focused on wind and structural engineering, and his current doctoral research is focused on innovative solutions to modular homes for Indigenous communities throughout Canada.

“This scholarship will help me push my research topic to many communities throughout Canada by implementing a strategic housing solution,” Tristen says. “This can be completed by travelling and communicating to many of the communities throughout Canada that are in need of a housing solution. The work can then be published in many significant publications and conferences to further distribute our research strategies.”

Brown, who grew up in Edson, Alta., says coming to the college helped prepare him for the work he is doing now. “Lethbridge College prepared me for many obstacles, such as scheduling my school, free time and social life,” says Brown. “It has prepared me for many educational hurdles, not only in schooling but in life as well. My time there taught me how to learn by completing hands-on training throughout my educational journey. And lastly, the college prepared me to get out of my comfort zone and interact with many people that I can consider friends.”

39

Where are they now?

Engineering Technologies students shine in competition

Three teams of Lethbridge College students were among the eight finalists for the Capstone Project of the Year Award from the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) announced in October.

Tyce Daniells and Hannah Thompson (Civil Engineering Technology 2023) were recognized for their efforts to determine if the addition of glass fibre to hot mix asphalt would improve its performance.

Macallister Chambers, Kevin Janzen Orozco, Ian Ouellet and Pushapdeep

Singh (Civil Engineering Technology 2023) were recognized for their paper on implementing chopped basalt fibres at various percentages within concrete beams and cylinders.

Nicolas Groenheide, Peter Harris, Julian Krizan and Willy Peters (Engineering

Design Technology 2023) were recognized for their project, which asked the question: “Is a computer software program as effective as a wind tunnel when testing air flow around an object?”

People who have a talent for technology, think analytically and pay attention to detail can turn their interests – whether in information systems, reading and making maps, sketching buildings and bridges, or creating detailed plans – into rewarding careers. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca or by emailing engineeringtech@lethbridgecollege.ca.

2007

Jolane Houle Fashion Design and Marketing Jolane was featured in a September article in Avenue Calgary, which focused on her work with several Calgary theatre production companies. According to the article, Jolane is a freelance costume designer who works closely with Making Treaty 7, the Indigenous theatre company presenting the show as part of its residency at The Grand Theatre.

She says she is Blackfoot from Kainai and picked up her sewing skills from her mother and grandmother – her first inspirations. Along with Making Treaty 7, she has worked with several theatre production companies, including New West Theatre in Lethbridge, Stage West Dinner Theatre and Alberta Theatre Projects, as well as numerous TV and film productions, including The Revenant, Lost in Space and Wind River: The Next Chapter. After graduating from Lethbridge College, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge.

From left to right: Tyce Daniells, Hannah Thompson, Macallister Chambers, Kevin Janzen Orozco, Ian Ouellet and Pushapdeep Singh.

Bottom (from left): Nicolas Groenheide, Julian Krizan, Willy Peters and Peter Harris.

2002

Christina Romeril Business Administration Christina, who was featured in a fall 2022 story in Wider Horizons, has published her latest cozy mystery, called A Nutcracker Nightmare. The book launch was held in November at Analog Books in Lethbridge and included an original interactive murder mystery she wrote for the event.

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1998

Paul Armbruster General Studies student Paul, who played volleyball for the Kodiaks in 1997-98, was named the head men’s volleyball coach at Providence College in Manitoba this summer. After leaving the college, he went on to play for Briercrest College and the University of Calgary Dinos, and then played professionally in Norway. In 2006, he returned to Canada to begin his coaching career, according to an article in the Winnipeg Free Press, where he helped coach Team Alberta and Canada’s junior national team. He had previously served as head coach for the men’s volleyball teams at Ambrose University and Lakeland College.

Cardine Jones Conditional Vocational Program/ Inclusive Post-Secondary Program Cardine began his career as a groundskeeper at Lethbridge College 28 years ago. Since then, he has worked his way up to building maintenance lead.

Cardine says he learns more and more each day, adding “I’ve learned from the legends who were in my shoes 20 years ago, and now I get to be the legend who teaches the next generation.”

Brad Onofrychuk

Business Administration Brad was named Vice President Academic at Northern Lakes College in Slave Lake, Alta. in August. According to a media release from the college, Brad has 16 years of post-secondary experience in Alberta and has served as a faculty

member, program head, chair, and, for the last seven years, dean of Business, Foundational Learning and the School of Energy with Power Engineering and Sustainable Energy. “I am very excited to join the Northern Lakes College family and return to Slave Lake where I graduated high school and spent six years as a youth. I have fond memories of the many outdoor opportunities my family enjoyed while previously living here,” he says. “I am very pleased with the focus Northern Lakes College has on students and accessibility. I look forward to contributing to the success Dr. Glenn Mitchell and the team has experienced.”

1996

Heidi Davis (Inniipoiakii/ Buffalo Talking Woman) Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology Heidi received the Community Leader award at the inaugural Reconciliation Awards evening, hosted by the City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee in September. An addiction and mental health outreach recreation therapist at Alberta Health Services, Heidi works closely with both the Kainai and Piikani Nations. “My life changed eight years ago when I began working with the elders,” she says. “This award is so special to me, since the connections with the Blackfoot community are essential in the work we do as an outreach team.”

Heidi also works to promote Indigenous wellness through the arts to help her patients with their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

1988

Dawn Sugimoto Communication Arts Dawn travelled to New York City in September to be part of a five-person panel on Participatory Democracy to Govern Big Tech: The Canadian Experience. The panel (part of an All Tech is Human event called the Responsible Tech Summit: Shaping our Digital Future) was for an in-

person, invitation-only audience at the Canadian Consulate.

The incredible opportunity stemmed from Dawn’s involvement with the Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression – a Canadian Heritagesupported and Public Policy Forum-led initiative to study and address online harms. In 2021, she was part of a 42-person citizens’ assembly, selected from hundreds of applicants, to learn about the impact of digital technologies on democratic expression, legal options being explored in Canada and other countries, and how solutions might safeguard freedom of speech while protecting the public interest. The assembled group was demographically representative of Canada, including by age, gender, region and socioeconomic factors.

1979

Rick Lewchuk Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism 1979; Distinguished Alumni 2019 Rick, who had most recently worked as senior vice president of Creative Marketing and Brand Standards at CNN Worldwide, spoke with Mark Henick at the Review of Journalism about branding the news. When asked for advice from Rick’s work at the enterprise level to individual journalists starting out who want to brand themselves, Rick said: “Be a good person. There are too many journalists out there who think by really pushing people hard that it makes them look tough. Empathy goes a long way.

Some of the most beloved journalists I worked with at CNN… Anderson Cooper is a really nice guy. He empathizes with people when he talks to them. Wolf Blitzer is a really nice guy. He holds people accountable, but he’s not a jerk when he does it. Clarissa Ward is a really good journalist. But she’s empathetic when she does her journalism. You don’t need to get in people’s faces and you don’t need to be argumentative. That’s not helpful.” The full Q&A can be read at reviewofjournalism.ca/on-brand.

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Where are they now?

College alumni make up half of conservation officer academy

L

ethbridge College alumni, from the Conservation Enforcement degree program and Natural Resource Compliance diploma program, accounted for half of the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy (WCLEA) graduating class in September. Upon completion of the 18-week WCLEA program, officers begin work with their respective agencies in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon, where they receive operational experience and additional on-the-job training.

“We cannot express how proud we are of these new officers as they embark on their dream careers to protect the public, our resources and environment,” said Nichole Fox, Environmental Sciences instructor.

CELEBRATE OUR AMAZING ALUMNI

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION PACKAGE BEFORE FEB. 5 AT

lethbridgecollege.ca/honouringexcellence

READY FOR SERIOUS FUN? ANSWER KEY Up Close on Campus 1-L 2-F 3-E 4-G 5-C 6-H 7-K 8-J 9 -B 10- D 11 - A 12 - I

42

Jumble

1. Val Matteotti Gymnasium 2. Hubbard Collection 3. Coulee Walk 4. Garden Court 5. Centre Core 6. Buchanan Library 7. Bookstore Answer: BE READY

Crossword puzzle ACROSS 1. Paterson 8. Garden Court 9. Andrews 11. Coulee Fest 12. Wider Horizons 13. The Barn 14. Kodiaks 16. Wind

DOWN 2. The Cave 3. Cousins 4. Miner 5. Clayton Allan 6. Hubbard 7. Donaldson 10. Stone Pipe 15. Kodi

Pokémon GO. Download the game in your phone’s App Store.

Campus squash and racquetball courts. Book your next game at lethbridgecollege.ca/courts.

Pickleball courts. To join indoor sessions or take lessons, go to lethbridgecollege.ca/lcextension.

Cricket. Students can learn more at the LCSA. The LCSA disc golf course. No cost to play but discs can be borrowed or purchased in the LCSA office.

Dodgeball. Students can learn more at the LCSA. Table tennis in the Cave. Drop by any time!

Prairie Baseball Academy. Learn more at prairiebaseball.com.

Be Fit for Life Learn to Skate classes for adults. Learn more at learn.lc/adult-fitness.

Baby and Me Yoga classes offered by Be Fit for Life. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/bffl.

Game design micro-credentials. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/game-design.

Lethbridge College’s Lakeshore campus. Learn more at lethbridgecollege.ca/corrections-education.

| WINTER 2024

1966

Bob Jacobson Commerce Bob reached out to Wider Horizons this summer to update his address, and then when the team realized he was an early grad of the college, he provided a few updates on his life and career over the last five decades.

After graduating from the college, Bob earned a degree in accounting from the University of Calgary and received his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation.

He spent over 40 years in public practice in Lethbridge before retiring in 2012. Bob has given much of his time volunteering to both local and provincial organizations. He was a founding member of the Lethbridge Oldtimers Sports Association, a director of CMHA (Southern Region), Treasurer of 1975 Canada Winter Games as well as other community and sporting groups.

Since retiring he said: “My wife Sheila and I spent our summers at our cottage in Waterton. When our daughter Catherine lived in Memphis, we would travel there for two or three weeks every year, by plane, by train (Shelby-Chicago-Memphis) and by our van! About 10 years ago, Catherine and family moved to Scotland when her husband accepted a position at the University of Edinburgh. We now try to get there about once a year and stay about a month. We also have a son and daughter-in-law in Calgary and we have been fortunate to be able to visit them a lot and be part of their daughter Jessica’s growing up. We try to keep active by attending a senior’s balance and movement class at the YMCA and getting out and walking on the many paths in Lethbridge. We also work at socializing with various groups on a regular basis. I do try to keep in touch with colleagues from the accounting world as I met some wonderful people from all over Canada.”

We love hearing from Lethbridge College alumni! Send your updates to WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

ALUMNI AT WORK

WHEN THE STUDENTS BECOME THE TEACHERS W

hen it comes to lifelong learning, two of the college’s Exercise Science instructors are practising what they preach – under the guidance of their former students. Instructors Dawn Keith and Stacia Nelson have been attending CrossFit Framework in Lethbridge, where they’re coached by some Lethbridge College grads. It’s not the first time they’ve trained with former students at various gyms in the city, but it’s the latest example of their reverse mentoring experiences.

“It’s become a circle of learning,” says Dawn, who has taught and coached at the college since 1993. “We train with them or are coached by them, and they keep us connected to what’s happening in the industry. Then we bring that knowledge back to the classroom for the benefit of our students.”

The sentiment is shared by Stacia, who has taught at the college since 2006. She says she’s constantly learning new techniques and getting feedback from her former students, who are now her coaches. “I want to show my current students that we can continue to learn,” she says. “Our industry is changing all the time, so professional development and training with others is important.”

Hattie Kanyo (Exercise Science 2014) and Amanda Jeffrey (Exercise Science 2011) are both trainers at CrossFit Framework, and they say it’s been a rewarding experience coaching their former instructors. “As students, we learned so much from them, and now we can return the favour,” says Hattie. “Coming back and being able to teach them and become friends with them has been the coolest thing ever. I’ve had a lot of fun helping them out and watching them grow.”

“They really value my opinion and look up to me as a coach,” adds Amanda. “They put their trust in what I’ve learned from them, and I want to give them as much value as I can when they’re in my class.”

Above: Exercise Science experts from left, Hattie Kanyo, Dawn Keith and Amanda Jeffrey.

In addition to helping their former instructors and current clients achieve their personal fitness goals, the college’s Exercise Science graduates continue to work hard on goals of their own.

Hattie is a professional CrossFit Athlete who won the ELFIT Crossfit Championships, an international competition held in Cairo, Egypt, in November. She has also become an international CrossFit coach, which she says has strengthened her skills in new ways. “I get to coach people from all around the world, which is really cool,” Hattie says. “Sometimes people don’t speak English, so then I have to really show a lot of body language and show them how to move that way, so it’s definitely eye-opening, and I get to learn a lot more that way.

It’s just a lot of fun, and I love it a lot.”

Amanda is a full-time nutrition coach and also enjoys helping others reach their goals. “I love it! I have like 60-plus clients and I really help change peoples’ lives,” she says.

“Coaching has always been like a true calling for me.”

Those skills are being passed down to other generations in more ways than one. Another former student, Amy (Boyd) Detmers (Exercise Science 2013), coaches fitness classes for children in southern Alberta, and she has previously coached Stacia’s children. “Coaching kids really brings me a lot of joy,” Amy says. “Seeing their progress and how excited they get when they accomplish something big – it’s the best.”

Story by Tina Karst and Cathy Gibson-Epp | Photo by Sam Young

Wider Horizons and the Alumni Relations team celebrate stories of Lethbridge College grads working together.

If you’d like your business showcased in a future issue, email WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca.

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The last word

THE LAST WORD

Illustrated

by Eric Dyck

Those who called Cullen, 30th Ave. or Kodiak House home during their time at Lethbridge College say life in residence meant lifelong friends, instant community and the world’s easiest commute to classes. Wider Horizons asked some current Residence Life community members to reflect on what makes coming home to Lethbridge College so special. Here’s what they had to say: Living in residence is a great way for new and returning students to meet new friends and get involved on campus.

Attending Residence Life events allows students to spend time with their peers in a different environment doing different activities. I really enjoy how friendly all of the residents are on campus – it has a really tight-knit community feeling. I also really enjoy having my own bedroom and being able to go to my own space at the end of the day.

Torii Muzyka

Third year, Bachelor of Agriculture Science degree

What I believe is a great reason for students to choose residence is the sense of community and belonging it brings as a student on campus. Not only have I met so many people, but I have created meaningful bonds with those around me.

A few examples that have come from this are dinner with our neighbours and roommates as well as the numerous Residence Assistant-run events that encourage socialization including the trivia night and arts and craft night.

Ashlyn Sissons

Second year, Criminal Justice – Policing diploma (with plans to continue in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree program)

There are so many benefits to living in residence, but some of the best benefits centre on the amazing opportunities living on campus provides for creating friendships and lifelong memories. Not only can students engage with others who live in residence, but living on campus also offers students an easier way to be involved in the greater campus community too. Our Residence Life office strives to support students to have a positive and memorable college experience.

Shaelin Westerson-Rabl Residence Life Coordinator

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| WINTER 2024

NEXT ISSUE: The last word is yours...

Learning at the library

The Buchanan Library has been serving Lethbridge College students since the college got its start in 1957. Did you check out a skeleton to study when you were a student? Have a favourite reading spot? Linger over the latest piece of art at the entrance?

We want to hear your memories of the library and the role it played in your college life. Just email WHMagazine@lethbridgecollege.ca, and we’ll share your stories in the next issue.

We can’t wait to read your submissions!

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Be a coach.

A GREAT TEAM NEEDS A GREAT COACH. Organizational coaching skills are proven to boost confidence, communication and team performance.

Register for a Level 1 International Coaching Federation (ICF)accredited organizational coaching course through LC Extension.

TAKE LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL

lethbridgecollege.ca/leader-as-coach

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Lethbridge College Communications Office 3000 College Drive S. Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6