m - spring 2009

4 AWARD-WINNING MUSICGRADS

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7 NEWBACHELOROF SCIENCEDEGREE

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www.MacEwan.ca/alumni

MacEwan Alumni News � SPRING 2009

THE MAKING OF “M”

What’s in a name? The debutants of Beverly Hills were known by five simple digits: 90210. Harvard’s alumni magazine used a similar postal theme for their ivory league publication.

The creative forces behind the alumni news publication

Wewelcomeyourfeedbackandcomments.Allinquiriesandcorrespondenceshouldbedirectedto:

Traci Toshack Coordinator,AlumniRelationsandServices

Tel:780-497-5543E-mail:

[email protected]

MAILING ADDRESS: AlumniRelationsandServicesGrantMacEwanCollegeCityCentreCampusP.O.Box1796Edmonton,AB,CanadaT5J2P2

SEEING DOUBLE? Haveyoureceivedthispublicationinduplicate?Callusat780-497-4273 andwe’llsettherecordstraight.

Front Cover:Blue Horse MedicinebyDaleAuger.Seearticle,page3.

MacEwan Alumni News

CONGRATULATIONS . . . to Rick Carlson of Kamloops, B.C., who is the winner of the iPod touch draw. Thank you to all who updated their contact information. We appreciate your com-mitment to help us to provide paperless commu-nication in the future. If you would like to update your address information, please contact us at 780 497 4273 or visit www.MacEwan.ca/alumni.

iPod Touch

WINNER!

Unfortunately, T5J 2P2 didn’t have the same effect. In the pro-cess of developing a name for our new alumni publication, it was clear our postal code wasn’t it. But what really spoke to MacEwan alumni?

Other alumni publications took a more straightforward route, from Brown Alumni Magazine and Yale Alumni Magazine to Ryerson University’s Alumni Magazine . . . you get the idea. What we needed was something different. An idea that captured the essence of Grant MacEwan College from it’s inception in 1971 to our degree graduates of 2009.

A committee was created to look at what name we could put on the front of the new publication. Alumni, staff and students with backgrounds ranging from arts to multi-media to fund development came together to come up with the new moniker; members of the Students’ Association, Intercamp and college administration also supplied ideas. It was a diverse group of people to represent the diverse campuses and programs of Grant MacEwan College.

Their role was to create a name to engage with, to appeal to, and reflect our audience.

It needed to be contemporary and modern like the college.

It needed to honour our namesake and inspiration, Dr. MacEwan.

It needed to connect current students familiar with the college’s branding to their future as alumni.

And it needed to be a tribute to the former alumni magazine, Moving On.

Thus, “M” (pronounced em) was born.

It’s simple. It’s cool. And it’s a lot better than a

postal code.

WORDS FROM THE ROUGH: An Anthology of Creative Writing

Join us for our 20th Reunion this June!

Email: [email protected]

for more information.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

CALLING ALL ’89 TEACHER AIDE

PROGRAM GRADS

Authors are like diamond cutters analyzing rough gems for inner worth. Each piece intro-

duces observations, feelings. Like the rough diamonds, these pieces are life in the ROUGH.

The development of this anthology began with a group of students fulfilling the requirements

of English 214, Creative Writing, in the Professional Writing Program at Grant MacEwan

College. Rough edges were forced off and surfaces honed to let the talent shine. Each

story or poem, whether real or fantastic, describes a reality in the raw. As you enjoy these

selections, these poems and stories from new professional writers, you too will see how the

ROUGH can shine. (Excerpt from Preface, the ROUGH: An Anthology of Creative Writing)

STUDENT CREATIVE WRITING FEATURE

WRITER By Goldwin McEwen

“I’m a writer,” I answer in a-matter-of-fact tone to the young lady across the table. Then, because of past experience, I regret using the word and brace myself for the inevitable retort.

As I think of the various replies to my job title, I wonder why people have such strong reactions. It seems the word “writer” conjures up numerous versions of lone word-smiths preparing all sorts of manuscripts or manifestoes or letters or lectures that have lasting effects. Without getting to know me, people paint me with colours from a palette of generalizations. Now that I speak the word “writer,” I wonder what effect it will have on the young lady. My mind reverts to the vari-ous possibilities.

There are the quick bursts that resemble gunshots, a sudden outburst loud and im-mediate; “writer.” It’s spoken, as if difficult to believe, by a wide-eyed individual. “Writer?” Similarly, the word can be said with a tilt of the head; as if the person is questioning whether he or she heard correctly. “Writer?” I always repeat myself when this happens, just to be sure that the person did, in fact, hear me. “Yes, writer,” I say, usually with a smile. But, almost always the person did hear, and we spend what seems to be an hour smiling

at each other through an awkward heaviness and silence as if I said “executioner.”

I’ve said it just as quickly, but without the inflection, as “Writer”. Then it’s a statement of fact made by someone officious as an “x” is placed in the box beside the word “other.”

Sometimes people repeat what I’ve just said, but with an imperceptible clearing of the throat; “writer.” This makes me think that the person is warning others that I have just entered the room. Other times it is said mechanically, as if by a computer; “writer.” It is as if the speaker is checking data banks for informa-tion. When none is found, discussion moves on. Similarly, it has been expressed, by wide-eyed speakers, as a statement followed by a full stop. “Writer.” When said in this way, it seems as if I had just walked in on the individual with one hand in the till. After an awkward silence, the conversation continues.

Sometimes the title is draped in mistrust, expressed in disgust the way Seinfeld greeted Newman. It feels like the speaker is announc-ing that there is a thief in the midst. “Writer.”

Some responses are provided in slow motion. These include the ones sounded out deliberately, questioningly. Eyes squint as the speaker pulls away. “W-r-i-t-e-r?” When I witness this reaction, it makes me question my abilities. But then I remember that a writer

must have a thick skin. Occasionally, well okay, I admit, it was

only once on the west coast, I have had the word expressed longingly in a breath filled whisper with lips that drip sexual tension. “W-r-i-t-e-r.” I think she thought I owned a bigger pen.

The most baffling reactions I have expe-rienced are when the title is spoken as the speaker looks up and grins knowingly, head nodding, “w-r-i-t-e-r.” It is as if I had just an-swered a question about why I am so weird. However, sometimes it is expressed in such a way as to predict a diminutive level of un-derstanding or an unusual sense of humour of the speaker. This is evident when the title is spoken gleefully and lyrically. The speaker’s voice rises in pitch at the end, reminiscent of the valley girls, although I have heard it said this way by men as well, “w-r-i-t-e-r.” I expect the word to be followed by a question such as, “Like, if something is wrong can you right it?”

The scary response resembles a throaty growl, “w-r-i-t-e-r.” As if made by the junkyard dog. You are not supposed to be here.

But, to my surprise, the young lady’s response was quite inviting. Sitting up, seem-ingly without any preconceived images and intrigued at the thought of discovery, “writer,” she stated. “So, what do you write?”

Technological Interface II, acrylic by Allison McNaughton


MacEwan Alumni NewsSPRING 2009 �

Native artist Dale Auger remembered as an inspiring playwright, speaker and visual artist

Renowned and respected First Nations artist and educator, Dale Auger, PhD., passed away on the morning of September 23, 2008, after a valiant battle with cancer. Auger, best known for his visually stunning and spiritually moving works of art, was 50 years old.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger was a highly talented speaker, educator and visual artist. His vividly coloured and highly provocative paintings captured the attention and imagination of audiences everywhere and are included in numerous high-profile public and well-known private collections throughout the world.

His work hangs in numerous collections including those of Prince Charles and former Prime Minister Joe Clark. Others are owned by actors Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn and Brad Pitt whom he met during the filming of Legends of the Fall, shot in Alberta in 1993.

The subject of Auger’s lectures and paintings varied and evolved

throughout the years. Where he once sought to portray various aspects of Native history, he eventually began working toward capturing the deeper, more spiri-tual complexities of Native life in the contemporary world, particu-larly the intricate links between Native spirituality, the natural laws of the land and how knowledge is gained and transferred between all Beings.

Auger was an award winning children’s book author and illustra-tor, as well. His book, Mwakwa – Talks to the Loon: A Cree Story for Children, was illustrated and written in English and Cree and won the award for 2006 Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year and the 2007 R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature. Auger’s book was also a finalist for Alberta’s prestigious Grant MacEwan Author’s Award.

Auger was also well known to viewers of APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) for his documentary, Medicine Walker,

which takes viewers on inspirational healing journeys. The first was through his home territory of Waba- sca, north of Lesser Slave Lake in northern Alberta, the second through B.C.’s Queen Charlotte Islands.

As reflected in everything he did, Auger was profoundly interested in gathering and passing on knowl-edge, utilizing both Traditional and Western modes of education as his inspiration. He worked for a while until it was clear his potential as an artist required something

more. He enrolled in Grant MacEwan College and the Alberta College of Art in the eighties. He continued his education at the University of Calgary and graduated with a doctoral degree in 1999. By combining the traditional with the contemporary, the Native with the non-Native, Auger transcended typical educational techniques and communicated knowledge, experience and belief in ways that very few artists and educators can.

Auger was always in demand

throughout Canada and the United States for his visual work, motivational lectures, workshops and keynote addresses.

Dale Auger is survived by the love of his life, his wife of twenty-seven years and best friend, Grace; by his loving children, Sekwan, Neepin, and Sohkes; and by his grandchildren, Cree, Nitanis and Gracie – all of whom are artists in some way.

You can view Dale’s artwork at www.daleauger.com

“In Honor of the Four Colors”, 2006, Oil on Canvas

“In my dreams, I saw a blue

medicine horse running beside

me, he was powerful and he

talked about the medicine of

healing ones self. He is free and

spoke a language I understood,

his hair danced in the wind, as

he talked to me and blessed me.

That was one of those dreams,

I didn’t want to end, a holy dream.”

– Dale Auger “Blue Horse Medicine”, 2008, Oil on Canvas

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Established by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation, the Emerging Artist Awards provide funding to as many as 10 up-and-coming artists, and helps raise the profile of the arts in Alberta.

Aaron Gervais, an Edmonton-based composer, will use the money to help promote his current project, a concert-length piece for amplified classical trio (soprano, piano, and percussion) designed to be played in nightclubs instead of concert halls. Gervais, who graduated from MacEwan in 2001 has been very proactive in his career. “I’m interested in finding ways to make composed music more relevant in today’s society,” he says. “Listeners are smarter than ever and more knowledge-able about more and more kinds of music. They have higher

standards consequently, so the trick is to bring something to them that is relevant to their lives, but is also a quality artistic experience,” he adds.

Following MacEwan, Gervais went on to receive a Bachelor of Music with Honours from the University of Toronto, a Master’s degree from the University of California at San Diego, and has studied in Havana and The Hague. His works have been performed in Canada, the United States, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Also based in Edmonton, Colleen Brown is a singer/ songwriter with a bright future. Graduating from MacEwan in 2002, Brown plans to use the windfall to promote her career. Her first full length album of all-original folk/pop songs, A Peculiar

Thing, led to her performing alongside seasoned performers such as Ian Tyson, Terri Clark, Corb Lund, and Gordie Johnson. As well, she was hand-picked to perform one of her original songs for Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s live Installation ceremony in the Senate Chamber. Released in 2007, Brown hopes to begin promoting her second album, Foot In Heart, in the United States, Europe, and Australia. To date, she has performed over 200 shows, and has written over 150 songs. “I’ve made a real commitment to doing music for a living,” Brown says. “I had a great time at MacEwan. My whole musical world still revolves around people I played with at MacEwan, or met through my fellow students,” she concludes.

Aaron Gervais’s and Colleen Brown’s careers each

received a $10,000 boost after being named among

the first recipients of a new Alberta arts award

MacEWAN MUSIC GRADS HIT HIGH NOTE WITH AWARD


MacEwan Alumni NewsSPRING 2009 5

part-time • full-time • onlinethe choice is yours

Attend an information session!

Feb. 24 • 7 pm • Room 29610045 - 156 Street, Edmonton

May 27 • 7 pm • Kahanoff Centre1202 Centre St. SE, Calgary

May 28 • 7 pm • Room 29610045 - 156 Street, Edmonton

For more info: 780.497.4408no pre-registration required

Through the Edmonton Arts Council, the City of Edmonton has established the Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award to provide funding to a dozen gifted artists from ethnically diverse cultural backgrounds. The purpose of the awards program is to encourage and support artists from all over the world who serve to enrich Edmonton’s vibrant cultural scene.

Graduating from MacEwan’s Arts and Cultural Management program in 2008, Rahman is using the funding to support his mime and pantomime art. “I think I was selected because of my previous activities, dedication, commitment, and achievements on this universal art form, and for my national and international contributions.” he says. “It is really exciting to be honoured, but at the same time, it also reminds me about my new

MacEwan grad, Zillur (John) Rahman, is presented with $7,500 from Mayor Stephen Mandel, thanks to a new awards program set up by the City of Edmonton.

responsibility, liability, and commit-ment to the city and to the community of Edmonton,” he adds.

Since being handed the award by Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel on January 19, 2009, Rahman says awareness and interest in this art form is increasing. “The award encour-aged me to explore my creative ideas, views, and performance in the greater Edmonton area,” he says. Rahman was invited to perform as a professional artist in the Gala on March 21 as part of the International Anti-Racism Day 2009 and performed in the Edmonton Region One Act Play Festival at the WalterDale PlayHouse on March 6 and 7. He also plans to work with different organizations this year to help people for youth development, social justice and other social issues using mime

and pantomime art. Prior to moving to Edmonton

in 2005, Rahman earned a degree in accounting from the University of Dhaka and a banking diploma from the Institute of Bankers in Bangladesh. Overseas, he worked as a senior banker as well as a project director (funded by the International Labour Organization) to combat child trafficking. He was a founding director of the pioneer-ing mime and pantomime group of Bangladesh and has taught theatre and mime in various theatre schools.

A recognizable talent, Rahman hopes to eventually open a mime school in Edmonton, and organize a mime and pantomime summer festival, something he feels would help make the community more vibrant and culturally diversified.

CITY OF EDMONTON AWARD Helping MacEwan Grad Raise Awareness for Art Form


MacEwan Alumni News � SPRING 2009

Have you heard the expression “nothing but a degree will do?” Well, there is a lot of truth in that statement. The world of work is changing, and employers are demanding a more educated work- force. Everything is ‘work faster, better and smarter’, an attitude that demands employees have the ability to think flexibly, globally, and quickly adapt to change.

The amount of education required by employers is rising. Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry’s 2006 survey indicates both an increased demand for business management positions (4.5% up from 2.1% in 2004), and an increase of degree-holders in these positions (61.4% compared to 48.8% in 2002). This shows the majority of management positions now require an undergraduate degree, typically a Bachelor of Commerce. The report also indicates this is a trend that will continue well into the future.

What exactly is a Bachelor of Commerce degree? Are they all the same? The four-year degree

starts by teaching the broad aspects of business including finance, principles of management, and economics. Students then major in an area of business, depending on their individual skill sets and career goals. Your selec-tion is going to depend on what you want to do with your degree.

International studies are in high demand, with curriculum focusing on the global economy to meet the needs of employers. On top of the trends, MacEwan’s new Bachelor of Commerce degree offers three majors: Management, International Business, and Supply Chain Management. A fourth major in Accounting is in the curriculum development phase. Building on their career-focused roots, MacEwan has produced a degree curriculum in tune with the new international business reality.

And, with career focus in mind, one of the primary goals of the college is to offer the maximum in accessibility. MacEwan is not only the number one transfer out institution in Western Canada, it is

WHAT’S IN A DEGREE?also second only to the University of Alberta for transfer IN. Students with previous business diplomas can transfer into MacEwan’s Bachelor of Commerce degree with relative ease. Block transfer agreements are in place for MacEwan’s Management Studies, Insurance & Risk Management, Golf Management, and Human Resources diplomas.

The world of post-secondary education is changing with our changing world. Canadian colleges are now offering full degrees. They are setting themselves apart with career-focused majors. They also have an additional advantage of offering this training in class sizes that are consistently smaller than their university counterparts.

Research your career options and choose programming that is most in sync with your learning style and career goals. Start with a look at MacEwan’s new Bachelor of Commerce degree: check the web at www.MacEwan.ca/bcom or call (780) 497-5162.

As MacEwan is now granting four year baccalaureate degrees, alumni and current students may choose to continue on into further study. To help with this, MacEwan has formed a Graduate School Liaison Office. The Graduate School Liaison develops and maintains information and resources around researching and applying for graduate study. In addition, the Liaison connects with graduate schools on behalf of MacEwan.

Increasing numbers of Canadians embark on graduate study or professional education. The reasons for pursuing more education vary. People apply for further study to prepare for a career change, to seek different roles or meet new demands in their current employ-ment or to look for interesting challenges (even if it is not directly related to their work).

Recently, there has been a creation of new and innovative masters and Ph.D. programs. Traditionally, there was a focus on one specific discipline. Today, however, programs may involve two, three or more disciplines simultaneously. In addition, many are designed to build on a variety of combinations of individual student education and employ-ment experience.

For example, an undergraduate degree in Sociology, can lead to a graduate degree in Sociology, Social Work, Health Administration, Rehabilitation Medicine, Business, Communications, Public Administration, Economy and Environmental Sustainability, Criminal Justice, Counselling,

Women’s Studies, Organizational Leadership, Native Studies, Multi-Discipline or Inter-Discipline. Undergraduate degrees in other disciplines also lead to a broad range of choices when it comes to pursuing further education.

Focus and structure of programs vary as well. They may be part-time, distance, thesis based, course based, project based, or traditional full-time residence programs. In addition, as the globe becomes smaller due to innovations in technology, one may, for example, study toward a degree from an Australian univer-sity while residing in Edmonton.

The number and variety of programs can be overwhelming. It is helpful to take time to research, compile information and plan for further learning. At the same time, note dates that applications are due. The MacEwan website will soon include a Graduate School Liaison site with access to useful information and resources on topics related to the process of researching and applying for masters or Ph.D. degrees.

If you are considering further study, and are interested in receiving assistance with your application, contact the Graduate School Liaison Office. In addition, if you are accepted, enrolled in, or have completed a graduate degree or professional education, we would love to hear from you. Contact Dorothy Ritz, Graduate School Liaison at [email protected] or (780) 633-3405.

Helping you on the path towards Graduate Studies

MacEwan’s Graduate School Liaison, Dorothy Ritz, provides information and resources in regards to the process of researching and applying for Graduate Study or Professional Education.

LIFELONG LEARNING



We’ve heard from former students and alumni that if given the choice, they would have loved to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from MacEwan. They all agree that their time in one of our university transfer programs gave them the tools to seamlessly transfer to a larger institution and excel at their chosen field of study. But they missed the atmosphere, the smiling faces in the hallway, and the faculty who were always there to help. While it may be too late for our past graduates, it’s not too late for those yet to come. Beginning fall of 2009, students will be able to enter a four-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree program that provides the same high quality instruction, small classes and student support that MacEwan is known for.

The BSc degree at MacEwan offers six majors: biological sciences, computer science, mathematics, mathematical sciences, physical sciences, and psychology. These majors were selected because they are the most popular areas of study at most universities and university-colleges, and because they were identified as the most interesting science courses in a survey of MacEwan’s first and second year science students. Students graduating with a focus in any of these areas are positioned to pursue careers in the areas of study most recently projected by both the federal and provincial governments to have the highest growth in the coming years, and thus provide the highest value both to students and the community.

Flexibility is also a key component of the BSc at MacEwan. In addition to core science subjects, students in

the program will be able to take a business minor or any minor offered in MacEwan’s Bachelor of Arts degree. Consequently, students graduating from MacEwan will have a solid grounding in the sciences and the flexibility to pursue their own interests within the major and minor disciplines. Students also retain the option to transfer to another institution in the first two years of study.

As an alumnus, you know that the environment for teaching and learning sets MacEwan apart and will invariably make the new Bachelor of Science program a welcome choice. First-year lecture classes are still smaller than most junior-level classes at large universities and that means greater class interaction, better personal interaction with the instructor and a learning environ-ment that is centered around enriching the students’ academic development and learning potential. Faculty, including Dr. Jonathan Withey in the Department of Chemistry, are already developing programs to directly involve undergraduate students in research activities, an area that has traditionally been restricted to students in graduate programs. Dr. Withey has seen first-hand the positive growth in enthusiasm, outlook and direction of undergraduates who are engaged in research early in their academic careers.

Graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree from MacEwan will walk across the convocation stage for the first time in the spring of 2012.

For more information, visit [email protected]

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE LAUNCHES IN �009

Self-portrait, acrylic on canvas, by MacEwan Fine Arts student, Layla Folkmann.

STUDENT ARTWORK FEATURE

“Students are positioned to pursue

careers in the areas of study most

recently projected by both the

federal and provincial governments

to have the highest growth in the

coming years.”


MacEwan Alumni News 8 SPRING 2009

BIDDING ADIEU TO A TRUE GENTLEMAN

Co-workers, friends and family members gathered on February 11 to celebrate David Milner’s “Graduation to Retirement”. After 32 years with MacEwan, he crossed the stage to the next phase of his life and learning, and true to character, he threw up his grad cap in celebration!

David received his BA from the University of New Brunswick, a degree in Education from Acadia University (Wolfville, NS) and his Master’s in Educational Technology from the University of Alberta.

He joined the College in 1977 as a full-time faculty member in the Audiovisual Technician Program located at Cromdale Campus, and later took on the position as chair of the Audiovisual Communications Program from 1980 to1990.

During the course of his tenure, he served three terms as president of the Grant MacEwan College Faculty Association (GMCFA), six years as an executive member, two terms as the faculty representative for the Grant MacEwan Board of Governors and ten years as Faculty Development Coordinator. In addition, he ably served five years as president of ACIFA, the profes-sional association representing public colleges and institutes in Alberta. In between teaching and handling administrative tasks, David chaired or facilitated numerous college committees and several provincial conferences. Frequently,

he was first in line to volunteer for the myriad of fundraising activities held throughout the school year.

This past October when MacEwan co-hosted the Interna-tional Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) conference with the University of Alberta, David assisted as the co-chair. Held at the Shaw Centre in Edmonton, the assembly of outstanding educators provided an audience for the MacEwan faculty to present their research and scholarly activities and place Grant MacEwan College on the international stage.

At David’s retirement celebration he was surrounded by people who wished him the very best and it was apparent he will be greatly missed. Celine Miller, who worked with David for ten years during his role as Faculty Development Co-ordinator, mirrored the thoughts of many when she said “David is one of, if not the most, accommodating, calm, fair, flexible, and supportive people with whom I have ever worked. I think the world could stand to have a few more people like David in it.”

With his retirement now on the horizon, David is eager to spend more time pursuing his hobby of photography. Later on in the summer, he and his wife Mary Anne look forward to driving across Canada and visiting with family and friends in the Atlantic provinces.

Heather MacEwan Foran (daughter of the late Dr. J.W. Grant MacEwan) toasts David Milner on his retirement.

David Milner leaves a legacy of getting the best from people by example of competence, respect, and keeping the fun in “work”

MEET AND STAY AT MacEWAN

As MacEwan’s educational offerings expand to include dynamic opportunities like baccalaureate degrees, MacEwan Conference Services’ (MCS) offerings have also grown to include a wide range of new services. Some of the most notable are summer ac-commodations and a host of new meeting and event spaces in the Robbins Health Learning Centre, commonly known as the Robbins.

“What makes these spaces really special is that both of these buildings are green,” says Erin Walton, Senior Conference Services Consultant with MCS.

Of course, the buildings themselves are not green in colour. In fact, they are built with some of the most contemporary architec-tural and design features including concrete floors and large social spaces. They earn the “green” title by featuring many characteristics that make them environmentally responsible when compared to their counterparts.

The Robbins has a pending Silver LEED® certification by the Canada Green Building Council and incorporates many unique elements making it environmentally friendly. It features a roof designed

to collect rain water for use in the toilets and ample natural light to reduce electricity usage. Twenty per cent of the space is open design to encourage social interaction, which makes it people-friendly, too.A similar design was used to build the MacEwan Residence.

From September to April, MacEwan residence houses 800 students on the City Centre Campus. For the rest of the year, MCS is comfortably filling it with families, travelers and groups coming to Edmonton. Residence offers a complete range of fully-furnished summer guest

MacEwan Conference Services provides it all: great spaces and green spaces

accommodations and hotel-style guest rooms.

“Throughout the summer, we have many guests making individual reservations. We’re very fortunate to be able to accommodate almost all requests during these months,” says Heather von Bloedau, Group Accommodations Coordi-nator at Grant MacEwan College. “Many conference groups find our accommodations services perfect for their attendees and guests, while other groups find the residence meets their accommo-dation needs although their event may be held at other locations.”

Located downtown, close to transit routes, and many entertain-ment venues, von Bloedau says she’s receiving an increasing number of calls from new and returning clients wanting to book this summer and into 2010. Clients find the location close to festivals and event venues, whether they are with on-campus events or not.

Walton adds clients and guests appreciate the short walk to conference and meeting facilities

and value options like online registration and the elimination of paper forms. The in-house catering also supports a sustain-ability policy which aims to bring in local, organic, and sustainable products.

“More and more of our clients are looking for green meeting and event spaces and they’re finding we’re able to meet or exceed their expectations,” says Walton. Clients planning to use MacEwan in 2009 specifically because of the sustainable features include the Canada Green Building Council’s Sustainable Building Symposium and the Alberta Environmental Network.

Since the business of being green is more popular than ever, that means there are some very busy times ahead for MacEwan Conference Services.

For more information about MacEwan Conference Services, visit the website at www.MeetatMacEwan.ca or email [email protected]



CONSTRUCTING INNOVEQUITYMacEwan Alumnus Builds Better Future through Innovative Building Concept “You need to be prepared to fall flat on your face”, says Mark Holtom, of his experience as an emerging entrepreneur. “Stress is part of the job. You need to live like there is urgency to it.”

Holtom is making great strides in the world of entrepreneurship, co-founding Innovequity, a startup company that has garnered considerable attention within the construction industry.

After first-hand on-site experience, Holtom’s partner Ben Bertrand saw a need to address the inefficiencies of the building construction process. His obser-vations prompted the invention of the Geometric Construction Unit (GCU), automated equipment that makes building faster, less reliant on labour and therefore more affordable.

“Basically, our goal is to make the existing construction process more efficient. When you are constructing a factory-built home, it takes 10 to 14 building bays and a lot of manpower. With the GCU, we are able to reduce space requirements to as low as four

bays and substantially decrease the manpower required to construct these homes. This means a cost savings of about $20 per square foot, which translates to big savings for the buyer.”

As Holtom explains, pushing the technological limits of construction has done more than just create opportunities for wealth. The company’s namesake comes from a larger goal to see that society benefits by finding ways to make housing affordable for everyone.

“Innovequity combines the idea of innovation and equity. Innovation leads to equity in terms of fairness by making quality housing affordable to all, but it also leads to equity in terms of generating wealth. We are here to make money, but we are not intended to be a company that follows a strict bottom line.”

Holtom’s role in the venture is pivotal as he seeks investment capital and other financial backing to make the dream of commercial distribution a reality. Innovequity has already received $600,000 from Precarn – a non-profit

organization that provides funding to technology-driven startups. The company is also hoping for provincial funding to propel the creation of a prototype into action.

Innovequity is not Holtom’s first venture. At the age of 27, Holtom may be regarded as somewhat of a serial entrepreneur, after gaining experience through two other ventures that provided a training

ground for the future. “As an entrepreneur, you have

to be willing to learn. You have to be a sponge. Experience has been my teacher, and every year I learn so much more.”

As a graduate of MacEwan’s Microcomputer Specialist computer program, Holtom credits his instructors for opening doors and providing learning

opportunities that extended beyond the textbook.

“I don’t think they knew this at the time, but I had a few instructors who were instrumental in fostering my potential. They took me under their wings and brought me outside of the classroom, providing me a way to put practice into action by showing how the industry worked.”

Still in their 20s, inventor Ben Bertrand (left) and entrepreneur Mark Holtom, are co-founders of Innovequity, which has piqued the attention of the construction industry with the promise of providing efficient and affordable construction processes.

women also headed to this year’s Nationals at Nipissing College in North Bay Ontario as a Wild Card berth.

For Griffins’ results, visit www.MacEwanAthletics.ca.

On January 21, 2009, MacEwan hosted its first-ever Get to Work Career Fair. With over 600 students attending and 62 employers exhibiting, the event was a resounding success. MacEwan had not organized a major career event in over a decade. How-ever, to enhance services to our students in response to changes at the college and in the economy, Student Employment Services spearheaded the organization of a career fair. Expected to become an annual event, the next Get to Work Career Fair is scheduled for January 27, 2010. Alumni are most welcome to attend, exhibit or volunteer.

More information can be found via www.MacEwan.ca/careerfair.

“GET TO WORK” CAREER FAIR A TIMELY SUCCESS

Exhibitor Erin Lourie, Regional Staffing Advisor with ATB Finanicial (left), and Rita Kolpak, Chair of the Career Fair Committee and Student Advisor with MacEwan.

Down two sets to Mount Royal in the best of five final, MacEwan had to battle to stay alive. With a 30–28 victory in the third set, the Griffins carried this momentum through the next two sets to bring home the gold.

Chris Womack was named tournament MVP and William Pasieka was selected to the tournament all-star team. The Griffins travelled to Keyano College in Fort McMurray for the CCAA

Nationals March 12–14th. With a strong core of returning players they will be tough competition when hosting the 2010 Championships March 11–13th.

With an ACAC silver finish the

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM ALBERTA CHAMPS

The MacEwan men’s volleyball team show broad smiles after their win.

In a dramatic

five-set battle,

the Griffins are

golden for the

first time since

1983-84


MacEwan Alumni News SPRING 2009

MAD ABOUT MacEWAN!

This year, the college will host the 24th Mad Hatter’s Gala – a fund-raising event that raises money for student scholarships, bursaries and awards, presented by Bell on Saturday, April 25th.

Not only is the Mad Hatter’s Gala one of the longest standing fundraising events in the city, it is also one of the most successful. Last year’s Gala generated over $1.6 million in proceeds for students. Every net dollar raised at the Gala translates into four dollars of support for students thanks to a matching donation arranged by the Family of John and Barbara Poole through the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Government of Alberta’s Access to the Future Fund.

The evening starts with a reception outside Hall D at the Shaw Conference Centre – the spacious new addition that fea-tures stunning views of the river valley through floor-to-ceiling

windows. The evening is themed on the roaring 20’s and the “Flapper” era, based on the College’s recent musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Guests are encouraged to wear crazy and colourful hats as part of the evening’s fun.

For dinner, everyone moves into the main hall to take their seats at tables of ten. The evening includes entertainment by students and alumni, as well as opportunities to meet students from all faculties. Past guests have mentioned how much they appreciate chatting with students about their career choices and their studies at MacEwan. By connecting students directly with donors, we strive to create an atmosphere where our most important people – our students and graduates – get to show community and business leaders how excited they are about turning their studies into employment and the importance

of support for post secondary education.

Heather Dyck, a third-year Bachelor of Arts Honors Psychology student said this about her award: “As a full-time student with two part-time jobs, the financial assistance provided by this award is greatly appreciated. In addition to the monetary aspect of this scholarship, receiving recognition for the effort it takes to be a successful student is something I am truly grateful for.”

It is words of gratitude like this that help motivate our many community volunteers. The 2009 Gala chair is Crystal Graham from

Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. “I love the fact that working with MacEwan inspires me. To be the Chair of Mad Hatter’s Gala 2009 and to help generate new support for students today means we are helping individuals who will be the inspirational thinkers of tomorrow. I can get behind that!”

And get behind it is indeed what Crystal has done. Along with her enthusiastic committee members from the Edmonton business community, the many volunteers from within MacEwan, and especially the student and alumni volunteers, this year’s

Mad as a Hatter, that is

Mad Hatter’s Gala promises to be another successful event.

If you would like to attend as a group or individual, tickets are $300 each, and include the reception, dinner, entertainment, as well as the opportunity to participate in an exciting raffle and live auction. (A tax receipt of $200 is available.) The event is Saturday, April 25th, at the Shaw Conference Centre starting at 5:30 pm. Tickets are available by calling (780) 497-4285.

For more information go to www.MacEwan.ca/madhatters.

Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter play it up with 2008’s Honorary Mad Hatter, Barbara Poole (right). Each year, the Mad Hatter’s Gala chooses an Honorary Mad Hatter who has made significant contributions to MacEwan.

10



A new research project at

MacEwan aims to determine if

acupuncture treatments can relieve

women of the pain and discomfort

associated with menstrual problems

or significant premenstrual

symptoms (PMS)

UNIQUE ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH PROJECT

Gord Grant, an alumnus and instructor in the Acupuncture program at MacEwan, is the chief researcher for this clinical study. He hopes to discover a correlation between symptom relief and treatments involving tiny, specially placed needles, traditionally used by Oriental acupuncturists to unblock chi or energy in the body.

“Normally, people think about acupuncture as helping back pain or neck pain, bones and muscles,” he said. “It works for much more than that!”

It is reported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that 80 per cent of menstruating women have at least one PMS symptom, and three to eight per cent of them have more severe problems such as migraines, cramps, back pain, and diarrhea, often forcing them to miss work or school.

“There is a huge cost to society with the suffering that occurs,” said Grant.

Each of Grant’s study partici-pants will receive one acupuncture treatment per week for three months, using a standardized protocol, focusing on 5 acupoints of her body classically used for menstrual pain and related symp-toms such as nausea, emotional upset, fatigue, and headaches. Once the needles have been placed, the subject will rest for 20 minutes to allow for the effects of the treatment to take place.

Menstrual problems and PMS have been the focus of studies before. Most recently a German study published in February’s American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found women who received acupuncture treat-ments reported a 33 per cent improvement in relief of their symptoms as compared to those who did not receive treatments. These effects were shown to last for 3 months after treatment.

Unlike the German study which allowed acupuncturists to determine the acupoints and techniques they would use week to week, the MacEwan team has standardized and clearly specified the same

treatment for all patients. Also unique to this PMS study is the introduction of a placebo control group – women who think they are having authentic acupuncture treatments but are actually having a non-penetrative needle treatment applied. The special placebo needles look and feel identical to the real needle, and have been used to study other conditions in acupuncture but not PMS or menstrual problems. This placebo dimension and the standardized protocol give this research greater scientific credibility. Not only does it enable them to better determine if acupuncture is having a specific therapeutic effect on PMS and menstrual problems, but also the standardized protocols can be evaluated, reproduced, and re-fined by other researchers around the world from the foundation the MacEwan group is establishing.

Another unique aspect of Grant’s clinical study is the involve- ment of MacEwan Acupuncture students who are pursuing their three-year diploma – along with experienced acupuncture clinicians, students are also giving treatments. Students are involved at all stages of the project, including publicity, assisting acupuncturists, data entry, and many other tasks behind this complex and large project. “We couldn’t have done this without all the student volunteers. This project has really brought students of the program together,” Grant said.

Grant hopes this study will contribute to medical knowledge and be published in western academic journals based on scientifically sound findings. In the future, he also plans to collaborate with other researchers to explore the benefits of acupuncture treatments for other female- related problems, such as infertility and menopause.

Interested in how acupuncture can help you? Grant MacEwan College’s Acupuncture program runs a public teaching clinic with faculty-supervised treatments provided by students of the program. For more information call (780) 497-4610.

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MacEwan Conference Services

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