wider horizons - spring 2012

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A PUBLICATION OF LETHBRIDGE COLLEGEFATE & THE FORCES P. 6 • MULTIMEDIA MAGIC P. 4 • BMO CCAA PLAYOFFS P. 30

2 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2012

President’s message What’s inside

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to small towns (and small colleges). At first glance, it’s easy to think that not much is going on in a small community.

But lingering a bit longer on the landscape will show the rich diversity of people and experiences. There are many new faces around the city and around the college each year. These newcomers arrive from across Canada and around the world. And while plenty of people who have called Lethbridge home make their own lives here as adults and contribute in so many important ways, others are just as likely to take their talents to do interesting work around Canada and around the world.

This issue of Wider Horizons focuses on the global nature of our college community and highlights the people who come from other places to call Lethbridge home (and perhaps stay longer than planned). It also showcases those who have left Lethbridge to take their passions and potential to towns and cities around the globe.

You will read profiles of five alumni who have used the knowledge and experience they learned at the college and rocketed off to cities around the world doing a variety of interesting and important jobs. Shaun Roth took a teen’s love of videogames and channelled that into a career as a 3-D graphic designer in London, England. Drew Donovan combined the skills he obtained in business administration with those he gained on the job as a Toronto police officer to travel around the world – 80 countries and counting – most recently with a United Nations security organization in Switzerland. Krista Albers transformed her passion for marketing into study opportunities in Ecuador, Australia and the Netherlands and is finishing up an internship at the Canadian Embassy in The Hague. Derek Georget, with the help of a college instructor who happened to be in the right place at the right time, went from almost quitting college and the policing program to winning three of the five top awards

given to recruits in his class in the Royal Navy. And Scott Greer transformed his wanderlust into a career teaching English in China after earning his degree in Communication Arts/Broadcast journalism.

You will also find the stories of some of the students from 48 countries who come to the college to study as well as some of the college students who go out to spend a semester or more learning in another country. You can read all about our new Intercultural Club created by students and even find a delicious international recipe inside (with links to a video of Chef Jamie Williams showing how to prepare it).

Our regular features are here, too – including a fun peek inside the office of Tool Room manager Bill Burch – as well as photos and news from the whirlwind BMO 2012 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament we hosted in March.

Like the small towns many of us know and love, there is much more happening at Lethbridge College than an outsider might see at first glance. Enjoy this issue of Wider Horizons that highlights some of the adventurous people and interesting places where our students and alumni live and work – whether it’s Down Under (where recent grads Andrew Hemmerling and Brent Fikowski headed in February) or down the street.

Dr. Tracy L. EdwardsLethbridge College President and CEO

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President’s message What’s insideVol. 5, No. 2, Spring 2012

Wider Horizons is Lethbridge College’s community magazine, celebrating the successes and accomplishments of its students, employees and alumni by promoting them throughout the community and around the world. This publication aims to educate its readers, engage stakeholders and recognize donors through compelling stories and images that relate to, and resonate with, its readers.

Wider Horizons is published by the Lethbridge College Advancement Office.

We thank you for picking up this copy and we hope you enjoy the read. If you would like to suggest story ideas for future issues or would like to find out more about our magazine, contact us.

Wider Horizonsc/o The Advancement Office3000 College Drive SouthLethbridge, ABT1K 1L6email: [email protected]

publisher: Dr. Tracy L. Edwardseditor: Carmen Tothchief writer: Lisa Kozleskidesigners: Shawn Salberg, Dana Woodwardphotographers: Gregory Thiessen, Jonathan Ruzek, Rod Leland magazine staff: Michael McCready, Elisabeth Morgan, Ron Ostepchuk, Shawn Salberg, Gregory Thiessen, Kasha Thurston, Jonathan Ruzek, Gwen Wirth, Dana Woodwardcontributors: Elisabeth Morgan, Kelly Morris, Megan Shapka intern: Amelia Naismith

In addition to free distribution to our regional community, Wider Horizons is also mailed to all Lethbridge College alumni. Alumni are encouraged to stay connected to the college by emailing [email protected] or by updating their contact information at the Alumni Relations website:lethbridgecollege.ca/alumni

To share this issue with others or access even more content, visit us at widerhorizons.ca

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Sacred Space

Artist and alumna Delia Cross Child unveils her new painting.

It’s a Small World International students bring different cultures to campus.

From Our Kitchens

Savour the best of the season with this recipe for a spring salad.

1036

In Every IssueStudent Perspectives ........................................................................16Office Intrigue ..................................................................................22Q & A ..............................................................................................32Campus in Season ............................................................................34News and Notes ..............................................................................40Widen Your Horizons ........................................................................43A Word or Two .................................................................................44Where Are They Now? ......................................................................45

On the Move ......................................................................................2Krista Albers has carried the lessons she learned at Lethbridge College with her throughout her studies which have spanned the globe.

A World Away, A World of Difference .......................................... 8Scott Greer turned his passion for travel into a career teaching English in China.

A Global Community ..................................................................... 14Our students come to us from around the corner and around the world. Take a look at this visual story of the places our students call home.

Celebrating our Stars ................................................................... 20This year’s distinguished alumni provide plenty of inspiration to Lethbridge College graduates.

Opening Doors to the World ......................................................... 24Drew Donovan moved from small-town Alberta to the United Nations with the same ease he had as a professional hockey player.

Diplomas Down Under ................................................................... 27Two best friends have taken their diplomas – and their love of beach volleyball – to an Australian university.

Learning the Language of Health Care ......................................... 38Lethbridge College’s ESL for Nursing program opens doors for students from across town and across the globe.

On Our Cover:We tell our graduates that the world awaits them, and it does – quite literally. This issue focuses on the global nature of life at and after Lethbridge College.


I enjoyed the opening events and getting into the rhythm of the

new classes and structure. I also had a stron

g support group

consisting of several friends and roommates who had already

completed their diplomas at the college

, allowing me to benefit and

learn from their experience.

The education I received at the college – and specifically th

e

marketing program – has continuously been a point of reference

for me during my six years of post-secondary education,” she says.

It was the ultimate framework to prepare me for and foster my

bachelor and graduate studies.

This certainly provided a solid perspective of the real-world

dynamics, Many skills – including soft-skills – that I acquired a

t

the college were imperative for my graduate studies, which have led

me to where I am now. Earlier this year I was also a marketing

intern for a new start-up company – which is an internship I

never would have applied to if I hadn’t done the marketing program

at the college.


Krista

Albers on the move

3

I enjoyed the opening events and getting into the rhythm of the

new classes and structure. I also had a stron

g support group

consisting of several friends and roommates who had already

completed their diplomas at the college

, allowing me to benefit and

learn from their experience.

The education I received at the college – and specifically th

e

marketing program – has continuously been a point of reference

for me during my six years of post-secondary education,” she says.

It was the ultimate framework to prepare me for and foster my

bachelor and graduate studies.

This certainly provided a solid perspective of the real-world

dynamics, Many skills – including soft-skills – that I acquired a

t

the college were imperative for my graduate studies, which have led

me to where I am now. Earlier this year I was also a marketing

intern for a new start-up company – which is an internship I

never would have applied to if I hadn’t done the marketing program

at the college.

Krista Albers has been on the move since birth – literally. She took her first international flight when she was just 10 days old, heading from southern Alberta to the Netherlands. She would take that trip many times in her life as her family moved from Alberta to Europe and back again, and it would prepare her for other trips to study and work in Ecuador, Australia, Spain and the Netherlands.

Today, Albers (Business Administration/Marketing ’06) is living a life where she is at ease most places in the world. With skills she learned during her two years at Lethbridge College, she has just finished up a dual Master’s program where she studied in Sydney, Rotterdam and Barcelona. She also recently completed a Trade Investment Internship at The Canadian Embassy to the Netherlands. She is an alumna who is not just on the verge of going places – chances are she’s already been there and left her mark.

“She really just amazes me,” says Lethbridge College marketing instructor John Russell (Business Administration, 1985). “Every time I get an email or blog update from her, it’s so impressive. She is constantly working hard and going places. What she has experienced in the years since she left the college – it’s just incredible.”

Albers was finishing up high school in Vauxhall in 2004 when she decided, quite deliberately, to attend Lethbridge College. “Lethbridge College allowed me to take relevant business courses right from the start,” she says. “And the 2+2 program allowed me to obtain two areas of specialization rather than one – Marketing at the college and International Management at the University of Lethbridge.”

Albers remembers her years at Lethbridge College vividly. Thinking she would like to study marketing, she found herself in Russell’s Introduction to Marketing class that first semester. He would end up being one of those teachers who made a real difference “His classes were always interesting since the material was current and students could relate to it,” she says. “And they were constructed so you remember the content – the next week and even years after graduating.”

Russell says Albers was a memorable student.

“She was always really positive and very hard working – tenacious,” says Russell. “And she got along so well with the rest of her classmates.” Russell remembers that while most students chose to work with the same small group of students for the various case studies and group projects throughout the semester, Albers was always moving from group to group. He says she worked well with all of her classmates and learned from all of them as she went along.

Albers has found that she draws on the lessons learned at the college throughout all of her additional studies and work.

“The education I received at the college – and specifically the marketing program – has continuously been a point of reference for me during my six years of post-secondary education,” she says. “It was the ultimate framework to prepare me for and foster my bachelor and graduate studies.”

Albers was last in Lethbridge in the summer of 2011. She took the chance to catch up with friends, family and the

Lethbridge College community as she transitioned from one part of her master’s program – a Master of Management at the University of Sydney to the other – a Master of Science of International Management CEMS (Community of European Management Schools, a program that allows students to study each semester in a different country).

As she looks to the future, she says she’d like to work for a company that she feels some kind of affinity for “so that there is also an element of passion present.” She adds that such an employer could be a small, private company or a large multinational organization. She also has considered starting some kind of business of her own. There are so many choices, so many countries, so many languages, and so much opportunity. At this point in her life, it all looks good.

But wherever she goes, Albers says her Lethbridge College experiences accompany her as closely as her well-stamped passport. She especially appreciated the practical opportunities – field trips, projects and working with actual clients – she had to work while studying marketing.

“This certainly provided a solid perspective of real-world dynamics,” she says. “Many skills – including soft-skills – that I acquired at the college were imperative for my graduate studies, which have led me to where I am now. Earlier this year I was also a marketing intern for a new start-up company – which is an internship I never would have applied to if I hadn’t done the marketing program at the college.”

Albers credits many experiences for her success – her travels, her time living in different countries, her knowledge of several languages, and even that first trip as a newborn. “I’m convinced it all started then!” she says with a smile. All of these experiences together, including her time at Lethbridge College, contribute to her excitement to experience life – wherever in the world she happens to be.

The education I received at the

col lege. . .has continuously been

a point of reference for me.”

— Krista Albers“

From Lethbridge to London, Multimedia alum Shaun Roth creates 3-D special

effects that are out of this world.

Photo by Gregory Thiessen4 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2012

reating the clouds that the superhero flies through, the crumbling bridge that a car is about to drive off, and the “demon turds” that the science fiction monster leaves behind – that’s how Lethbridge College grad Shaun Roth spends his workdays.

“On one hand it’s just another job,” says the Red Deer native, who grew up loving movies and video games. “But I could be digging ditches, you know.”

Roth got his start in the college’s Multimedia Production program, where he earned his diploma in December 2004. That experience eventually led to film school, and to freelance and fulltime jobs, and finally to London, England, where Roth now creates 3-D special effects for the company that did the effects for Captain America and Harry Potter.

It is work he loves, and it all started in the classrooms and computer labs of Lethbridge College.

“My time at the college definitely played a role,” says Roth. “It helped me focus. It let me know that I didn’t want to be a web developer and I didn’t want to be a graphic designer. It also helped me see that if I wanted to do what I thought I wanted to do (go into special effects), then I couldn’t stay in Alberta.”

And so after working and saving his money for a year, he applied for and was accepted at the Vancouver Film School. He said his time at the college helped him with that transition, too. “It gave me a little bit of a leg up,” he says. “When I did have to show my portfolio, I already had one to show. It gave me more confidence heading into the program.”

Roth specialized in 3-D animation and visual effects in Vancouver, and then went to work for the television show Supernatural after he finished. He moved through the ranks, starting as a 3-D artist in 2007 and working his way up to 3-D lead artist by the time he finished season five in mid-2010.

From there, he worked at a company called Zoic Studios in Vancouver as a visual effects technical director from June 2010 to March of 2011. After that, he got the job at Double Negative and moved to London in March 2011. He arrived just as the company was celebrating its Academy Award for special effects for the movie Inception. His job title now is visual effects technical director, and it means he works on movies like Captain America – “my job here was all the clouds” – as well as movies like John Carter and Total Recall.

Roth advises anyone interested in a similar career to focus on one area. “If you find something you like doing,” he says, “do it.”

Roth says one of the best resources he had at both Lethbridge College and the Vancouver Film School were his peers. They worked together and pushed each other to think creatively and find solutions to a wide variety of design problems. Roth’s wife, Roseanna, whom he met in Red Deer, also attended Lethbridge College in 2003 and 2004, studying interior design and merchandising.

He spoke warmly of multimedia instructor Lorne Diemert and former college instructor Leanne Elias (Multimedia Production, 1998), who now teaches at the University of

Lethbridge. “I think Leanne was one of my main inspirations,” Roth recalls. “She was my graphic design teacher and portfolio teacher. She was really dedicated, fun to work with and had a lot of talent.”

Elias spoke equally fondly about Roth.

“What struck me about Shaun was his enthusiasm for each project,” Elias says. “He dove into each assignment like it was the most exciting thing he had ever encountered. It’s that kind of enthusiasm that made him a special student.”

Elias adds that she wasn’t surprised that Roth went on to such success with his diploma.

“The Multimedia program gives students a broad range of skills and understanding, and we hope that our graduates hone those skills by either furthering their education or finding the right fit in the industry,” Elias explains. “The fact that Shaun did both speaks to his curiosity and dedication, both of which were evident while he was at Lethbridge College.

Roth said he got good experience being critiqued while he was at the college and film school. “A lot of people when I was in the college had a problem with getting critiqued,” he recalls. “Well, my whole job now is about getting critiques. I’ve had directors yell and scream and cry in front of me. You need to have a thick skin and let go of the work. In this industry, you have to check your ego.

“At the end of the day it is still the director’s film,” he says. “You are part of a multimedia team. Yeah, we’re artists, but it’s still not our show. It’s the director’s show.”

And Roth plans to enjoy his part in creating that show – crafting whatever wonderful worlds he imagines in his mind and then transferring them to the big screen.

“If you find something you like doing, do it.”

— Shaun Roth

5

ften it takes years to realize what a difference one person can make in someone’s life. But for Derek Georget, a 2011 graduate of Lethbridge College’s Criminal Justice-Policing program, that appreciation came far more quickly. The Saskatoon native came to the college in 2009 straight from high school. By November that year, he was ready to call it quits. Juggling school and work while being far from home turned out to be just too difficult. He had literally packed up his car to leave.

But that Friday night, on his way out of town, he stopped by the department to say goodbye and ran into instructor Hugh Richards, a retired Edmonton police officer who has been teaching at the college since 2000. He and Richards spent three hours talking. “He tweaked me in a way that made me know I could deal with all my stress,” Georget says. “That moment – I was just about to leave, and I was able to talk to him about my future and he said the right things so I knew right there that I could go forward.”

An encounter with an instructor

at just the right t ime helped set

this criminal justice alum on an

extraordinary voyage.

FATE A N D T H E

FORCES

O


7

With Richards’ encouragement, Georget decided to stick it out. He returned to his studies and enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 2010 while he was still a student. He received his diploma from the college in April 2011 and went to Recruit School last June. When he finished basic training in August, he received three of the five top awards given to the 47 Canadian Forces personnel who passed the course and graduated that day: top marksman, top athlete, and top overall recruit.

Georget credits the college – and Richards in particular – for helping him find his way to a life he loves. “If I hadn’t gone to the college,” he says, “I wouldn’t have had that day on the 25th of August line up the way it was supposed to. I can’t emphasize enough how much the college did to prepare me for where I am now.”

In a thank you note Georget wrote after he completed Recruit School at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Southern Ontario, Georget explained that “all of the skills and attitudes I developed while in Criminal Justice directly transferred to my ability to perform as a recruit in the Canadian Forces. From firearms, to arriving on time, to proper dress and especially

conduct in and out of uniform, my studies at Lethbridge College have directly contributed to my single greatest success this past summer.”

Georget was posted at Canadian Forces Fleet School in Quebec City this past fall for three months and was expected to work in Saskatoon for HMCS Unicorn until the spring. He hopes to work at CFB Esquimalt this summer and plans to return to school in September at Mount Royal University to continue his studies in the criminal justice system.

But none of this was even on the horizon that November night.

“He was packing it in,” Richards says. “He was convinced he couldn’t make it. I told him ‘If you think you’re at the end of your rope – you’ve got it wrong. I’ll take you to the streets of Edmonton and Calgary. Then you’ll see what the end of your rope looks like.’”

Richards remembers encouraging Georget but said it wouldn’t be easy. “We’re not handing it to you,” he remembers saying. “You’ll definitely see the good things in life if you are prepared to work, but if you quit this, you’ll quit everything.”

And so Georget worked - and finished his program at Lethbridge College on schedule. He says that all of these events contributed to his solid performance the following summer as a recruit in the forces.

“Boot camp wasn’t fun,” Georget says. “You’re up at five. You’re not allowed to go to bed before 11. You don’t have your own time, and you certainly don’t have a cell phone.” But he loved it – and he loves his employment in the Naval Reserve today.

Richards says it was evident when Georget was graduating that he had found the right career.

“When he was leaving, there was a real excitement in his voice,” says Richards. “And then to see him not just complete it but excel – well, you knew he was doing the right thing and it fit and he knew it.”

I can’t emphasize enough how

much the col lege did to prepare me for where I am now.”

— Derek Georget“


inan, China, is called the “City of Springs” and teems with a population of around seven million people. The capital of the eastern province of Shandong is located about 390 kilometers south of Beijing and never shuts down. But the continuous flurry of activity that takes place here each day has become commonplace to Lethbridge College alumnus Scott Greer (Communication Arts - Broadcast Production), an English teacher at the Jinan Foreign Language School.

Heralding from Coleman, Alberta, Greer is certainly a long way from home. After receiving his diploma from Lethbridge College in Communication Arts in 1992, he started his career in broadcast production. After years in the industry and experimenting with other lines of work,

Greer was encouraged in 2010 by his 15-year-old daughter to go to China.

It didn’t take much encouragement. “I had always wanted to travel to Asia,” Greer says. “When the opportunity presented itself I made the decision to come.”

Now, he starts his day at 5:30 a.m. and catches the morning van supplied by the school for him and the other teachers at 7 a.m. to arrive at school in time for his 8 a.m. class. He teaches English as a Second Language and works primarily with 12- to 14-year-olds on spoken English and grammar. After he’s done with his classes, he takes the 40-minute ride home, settles back into his teacher’s residence, plays “catch up with the West”, and works on teaching materials.

Lethbridge College alum Scott Greer experiences the struggles

and satisfaction of teaching English in China.

By Elisabeth Morgan

Four days out of his week, he spends the rest of his time tutoring students – whose days seem especially long as they run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.—at his apartment.

On his off days and holidays, he travels to cities such as Beijing, to festivals around the country, and to smaller centres such as the coastal city of Qingdao, which runs daily ferries to South Korea and is the home of Tsingtao, China’s National brand of beer.

It’s not all about festivals and fanfare though. Living in Jinan has its own set of challenges. For example, being an English teacher in China demands a great deal of creativity to bridge the language barrier. Greer admits that being in a classroom where you sometimes have to use charades to get a point across can be difficult. “That doesn’t happen often,” he says, adding, “but the wannabe actor in me [comes] out to play then.”

Keeping strong ties to back home also helps to make life in China a little less arduous. Greer says that “managing to keep in touch with Canada and accessing English resources makes it much easier to adapt to life here.” He uses Twitter, email, and chatting programs on a daily basis.

Greer’s ties to Lethbridge College have also helped him connect with his students in a valuable way.

“It showed me that a variety of different teaching techniques could be used to get the results that are required,” he says. “Something I use daily is being able to enunciate clearly. Those skills that were passed on get used constantly as I work with my English students since it is an ESL program.”

Greer can see the difference he’s making in the lives of students. There’s satisfaction in “seeing the look on someone’s face when they nail a pronunciation that they have been working on,” he explains. In the end, Greer notes that the feeling of respect he gets is something he never expected. “A ‘thank-you teacher’ speaks volumes,” he says.

Jody Alston (Travel and Tourism ‘91), an ESL teacher from Lethbridge College, can also attest to that sense of satisfaction. An experienced ESL teacher who worked in Korea, she made the move to teaching at the college in 2002 and has enjoyed her work here.

“Living in a foreign country has many benefits,” she says. “You gain a greater insight into what it means to be a

Canadian and a part of the global community. It makes a person more adaptable, flexible and open minded.”

Both Alston and Greer also agree that researching your destination is the best advice for someone wanting to teach ESL abroad. “I would recommend that you do your homework,” says Alston. “If you find a school that is hiring, talk to someone currently employed and see if that person would recommend it.” She also suggests taking a Teaching English as a Foreign Language class to help give direction about methods and practices used in teaching English. Alston says she does sometimes miss Korea. “It was an adventure and exciting,” she recalls. “The social life is fantastic. I heard once that it’s like being a university student but with money – and no exams.” Still, Alston admits, “I love my students here at the college.”

It’s that same sense of satisfaction Greer has found in his work and life in Jinan that may keep him there for a while. But while he revels in the changes he sees happening in his new home, he does miss Canada, too.

“One thing I really miss is a Tim Horton’s double-double” he says. “I sometimes miss the mountains and the pace of life. Life can be very fast here. Feeling like you need to be two places at once is different.”

But it’s that flurry of activity and those seven million lives that are swirling around Greer that are keeping him rooted.

“I enjoy life here,” he says. “I love the people. They are incredibly nice and will do what they can to help whenever possible. Seeing new places, riding the bullet train to Beijing, standing on the Great Wall and in Tiananmen Square – it all makes me want to see more.”

Thinking about teaching abroad? Try Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), a 40-hour intensive non-credit course taught here at the college. The field of Teaching

English as a Foreign Language involves teaching English in countries where English is not the

primary language. TEFL has grown dramatically into an interesting and exciting career as people

around the world strive to become proficient in English, an international language of

communication, information, education, business, trade, technology and travel.

For more information, go to: www.lethbridgecollege.ca/conted

Life can be very fast here. Feeling l ike

you need to be two places at once is

different.”— Scott Greer“

9


B R I N G I N G S T U D E N T S O F T H E W O R L D

TOGETHERBy Megan Shapka

It ’s the f irst day of school. Your heart pounds and your

stomach turns somersaults as you walk through Lethbridge

College’s front doors for the f irst t ime. You’re ready for

your classes, but you don’t know anyone and you’re nervous

about making friends because this t ime, you’re not just in a

new school, you’re in a new country, too.

11

ow, thanks to a recently established club at Lethbridge College, international students have a place to go to meet people and adjust to their unfamiliar environment. The Lethbridge College Students’ Association Intercultural Club, which became active in January 2012, will be a valuable resource for Lethbridge College’s international students. This year, students from 48 different countries are registered in classes at the college, and this number keeps growing. Founders of the club saw a great need to reach out to this group of students and made it their mission to promote different cultures on campus while being a voice for international students.

Nicci van Straaten of South Africa, first year Business Administration student and president of the Intercultural Club, admits to feeling lonely and isolated upon her arrival at the college.

“You so badly want to reach out and say ‘Hey, everyone I’m here’ but you don’t know where to go,” van Straaten explains. ”That’s why we thought this club would be ideal. Students who walk through the doors have somewhere to go now. They don’t have to struggle and be alone. They can come to us and we will show them around.”

Dennis Ronoh of Kenya, second year Business Administration student and vice-president of the club, says international students face many obstacles in a foreign country. Adjusting to new foods, deciphering language and accents, and bridging the gap between religious backgrounds are just a few of the challenges that visiting students face. Interacting with people in a new culture can be difficult at times. “It’s really hard to go up to someone and say hi when you don’t have anything in common,” he says.

Ronoh adds that most international students group together, which can cause additional challenges for them. When two people who don’t know what to do or where to go turn to each other for help, a solution is often difficult to find. The Intercultural Club will be a first point of contact for students needing assistance.

The Intercultural Club is a place for international students to learn about Canadian culture and each other’s countries, and to express emotions about culture and the challenges they face. It is also a forum for sharing ideas and exploring talents. The students work to dispel negative perceptions that may exist toward other cultures by sharing stories, traditional foods and activities from their home countries.

Imarú Baquero, coordinator of International Education and Services at Lethbridge College, says the Intercultural Club will benefit all students on campus, not just those visiting from other countries.

“The club will create opportunities for cross-cultural awareness and interaction between domestic and international students,” she says. “Canadian students will be exposed to different cultures and perspectives which will help them become global citizens.”

The club is newly ratified and ideas for events and activities are still brewing in the members’ heads. Many great initiatives for improving cultural awareness are coming to the table. Baquero says, “The activities will involve showcasing different cultures on campus and promoting understanding between students with different cultural backgrounds.”

The Intercultural Club executive is anticipating significant interest in the club. To learn about upcoming meetings and events you can visit the club’s Facebook page, Lethbridge College Intercultural Club, or contact members through the LCSA. All students from all countries, including Canada, are welcome.

“We’ve got big plans for this club, we really do,” says van Straaten. “And we’re very excited about it.”

We’ve got big plans for this club, we

really do. And we’re very excited about it .”

— Nicci van Straaten

N

Photos by Jonathan Ruzek

Above photo (left to right): Mehmet Bektas, Nicci van Straaten, Dennis RonohPhoto to left (left to right): Dillon Hargreaves, Dennis Ronoh, Nicci van Straaten, Craig T. Rumano, Monica Oliva, Mehmet Bektas

“


I T ’ S A

S M A L L

W O R L D AFTER ALL

Lethbridge College

opens doors to studies

around the world through

study abroad, online

learning and transfer

agreements

While there are hundreds of interesting classes to choose from each semester at Lethbridge College, students can also take advantage of study abroad, online learning and transfer opportunities while enrolled in some college programs. The students who take part in these programs are still very much a part of the college community – even if they are studying in a room thousands of miles away from their southern Alberta campus.

STUDY ABROAD The two longest-running exchanges at Lethbridge College are between business students and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Kajaani, Finland, and the University of Burgundy (IUT Dijon Auxerre) in Auxerre, France. Each year, a number of Lethbridge College students pack their bags for Finland and France. In return, a handful of students from Kajaani and Burgundy make their way to southern Alberta to take business courses at the college and enjoy a semester or year exploring Canada.

The students pay their regular tuition to their home institution to take part in these programs. Thus, Canadian students are still eligible for Canadian student loans.

There is much to be gained from a study abroad experience, says Kendra Gawletz (Communication Arts/Advertising & Public Relations ‘05), the college’s exchange coordinator.

“You learn how to problem solve,” she explains. “You don’t have your parents close to give you a helping hand. Students truly benefit from being immersed in a different culture and having to do things for themselves – sometimes in a different language – whether it’s opening a bank account or even getting groceries.”

Studying abroad provides for more than a tourist’s trip to a far-flung place. A February article in the Globe and Mail discussed how Canadian post-secondary presidents would like to see more Canadians study overseas. According to the article, living and learning outside of one’s country can lead to stronger international connections as well as an instinct to innovate.

Gawletz agrees. “I can’t emphasize enough how much something like this can change you and broaden your perspective of how the world works,” she says.

For more information, contact Kendra Gawletz at [email protected] or at 403-317-3544.

ONLINE LEARNINGLethbridge College’s active online learning program means more than 500 students are engaged in the college’s curriculum on their computers globally.

“Online learning provides choices for students who want more flexibility in both how and where they learn,” says Karen Harker, director of the college’s Educational Enhancement Team. “Several of our programs are completely online, and this attracts students from afar who can complete all required courses in their programs without ever coming on campus.”

Last fall, 556 students enrolled in online learning courses at the college. Of those, most – 548 – came from Canada. Alberta led the way with 417 students, while 50 logged in from B.C., 48 from Saskatchewan, 25 from Manitoba and points east, and eight students from Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Six of the college’s online learning students last fall made their homes in the United States (in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey and Washington), while two joined all the way from Cairo, Egypt.

With new online learning courses being offered every semester (see “Learning the Language of Health Care” on page 38), the college expects to see the number of online learning students enrolled from across Canada – and around the world – to grow.

For more information, contact Karen Harker, at [email protected] or at 403-320-3463.

TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES Lethbridge College graduates can also choose to transfer to institutions throughout the world. In many cases, the college’s diploma counts as the first two years of a four-year degree at universities around Canada and, increasingly, in the United States and overseas.

Formal transfer agreements exist with Griffith University in Australia, where several Lethbridge College students are currently enrolled (see “From Gold Medals to Gold Coast” on page 27). Other international transfer agreements are in place for engineering students at Montana State University; computer information technology (CIT) students at Minot State University in North Dakota; and business students at Robert Gordon University in Scotland.

“We recognize that we live in a global society,” says Susie Kennedy (Business Administration, ‘87), associate vice-president and registrar. “The internationalization of our campus, through transfer agreements as well as other initiatives, gives our learners unique personal opportunities and distinct advantages as they enter the work force.”

For more information, contact Academic Advising at [email protected] or at 403-320-3323.

Online learning provides choices

for students who want more

f lexibi l i ty in both how and where

they learn.” — Karen Harker 13

“Imaru Baquero is the coordinator of International Education and services. Photo by Gregory Thiessen

17Nigeria

10U.S.A.

1 or more students in the 2010/11 year

1 or more students from 2005-2010

Key

Places We Call Home

For more information about international services at Lethbridge College, go to lethbridgecollege.ca/international

5,100+Canada


63Japan

79India

46China

21Kenya

16South Korea

A growing number of students at Lethbridge College come from outside of Alberta – and outside of Canada. This year, there are students from 48 different countries attending classes here, making up about four percent of the nearly 5,500-member student body. In 2010-2011, the college welcomed large groups of students from India, Japan, China, South Korea, Kenya, and the United States. There are also dozens of students who are the lone representatives from their countries – coming from Egypt, Moldova, Sudan, Belarus, Poland and beyond. “International students enrich our community, bringing new perspectives and diversity while enhancing the intercultural sen-sitivity of our domestic students and employees,” says Imarú Baquero, coordinator of International Education and Services at Lethbridge College. International students also benefit from studying at Lethbridge College, Baquero adds. “Their employment outcomes are enhanced. We offer them high-quality education in a safe, welcoming and culturally-diverse country.”

15

What is great about your home

(both the place where you grew

up and the place you lived when

you studied abroad)?

Mehmet Bektas, 24Hometown: Crancey, FranceProgram: International Trade at Campus Edouard Herriot in Sainte Savine, France, and Business Administration at Lethbridge College

My home for me is special, and that means for me that I will finish my life in my home. You can go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and after that you can see the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, a place that is for the people who love each other.

Lethbridge has been a friendly place; I met many people from everywhere and the vast country is so beautiful. It’s a good experience I think. I like to meet new people and share my culture and learn about new cultures from them. I share my new home with one boy from Korea and two Canadian boys. I am lucky because I learn more and more about their culture.

The best thing about France is I have all my family and friends near to me in my home. But it is great to meet new people and share experiences, anecdotes, and talk about your country. I think everybody has his own history. For this, you have to travel.

Student Perspectives


Noora Juola, 21Hometown: Kajaani, FinlandProgram: Tourism at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Kajaani, Finland, and Business Administration at Lethbridge College

Some things about Finland that I wish people from Canada could experience are the Finnish winter and summer, the Northern Lights, and saunas. Finland is a safe country with good health care and nice and friendly people. You should visit Finland. Finnish summers are nice. Winter in Lapland is very beautiful. In Lapland you could also meet the real Santa Claus.

Canada has so much beautiful nature and many good friends.

Greg Goodwin, 21Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta

Program: Business Administration at Lethbridge College and

Management at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in

Kajaani, Finland

One of the best things about Canada is the space. I think it is something

that as Canadians, we really take for granted. I also really like the diversity

of the Canadian landscape. I mean I live in one of the flattest provinces and

although from the highway you can see for miles and miles in front of you,

you can be in the mountains before you know it – without even leaving your

own country.

Prior to my departure, I hadn’t done very much traveling at all, at least

internationally. At first I was really nervous about the language and culture,

but I was really shocked how similar they were.

My favourite part about my new home in Kajaani was my international

group of friends. I was able to really get to know so many people from a

variety of cultures from around the world and learned so much. I also really

enjoyed the Finnish hospitality. Studying in Kajaani is one of the most

rewarding experiences of my lifetime. I think that for each person it would

be completely different but just as amazing. Everyone should give it a try.

17

Photo by Jonathan Ruzek18 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2012

The Story of a Sacred SpaceCentre Core was packed with representatives from the college, government, First Nations community and beyond on Jan. 30 to see the unveiling of a painting by Delia Cross Child, a Lethbridge College alumna and art teacher at Kainai High School on the Blood Reserve. The two-canvas creation, titled “Blackfoot Spaces: A Narrative,” graces the south wall of Centre Core. Cross Child, an accomplished artist and teacher, received the commission to create the mural with funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

To see the unveiling and hear Cross Child discuss her painting, scan this QR code or visit widerhorizons.ca.

19


Celebrating our stars

Distinguished Alumni AwardSteven W. MeszarosBusiness Administration ’76

This year’s Distinguished Alumnus, Steve Meszaros, was born to parents who had fled from the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and came to Canada with hopes of building a better life. Their son, who is being recognized with the college’s most prestigious alumni award, has done just that, establishing one of the region’s most successful and sustainable businesses, nurturing the training and development of young trades people, and giving back to the community in many public and behind-the-scenes ways.

Meszaros graduated from Lethbridge College with a diploma in Business Administration in 1976. Under what was then a new transfer agreement, he finished his studies at Oregon State University and returned to Lethbridge in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

He started working as a real estate agent and has, in one way or another, kept active in the business of helping people find homes for the past 34 years. In 1995, Meszaros and partners founded Avonlea Homes, which today is known for its commitment to environmentally friendly and energy efficient components and designs. He remains one of the two partners in the company, and has seen the business grow to branches in Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie. The company has picked up many awards along the way, including being named repeatedly as the number one home builder in Lethbridge.

“Steve has shown a true commitment and excellence to his career, the beginnings of which started with his education at Lethbridge College,” says John Wickey, co-owner of Avonlea Homes, in a letter of support for this award.

Among the charities that Meszaros and Avonlea support are STARS, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Boys and Girls Club, Harbour House, Lethbridge College and more. He is also actively involved in other community initiatives behind the scenes, committed to helping out without recognition.

Meszaros has always been proud of his Hungarian heritage and has travelled to Hungary many times. In 2007, he sponsored his cousin’s son, Tamas “Tom” Virag, to come from Hungary to Canada. Tom chose Lethbridge College’s International Student program and graduated from the Business Administration program in 2010.

As Ken Bateman wrote in his letter nominating Meszaros for this award, “Steve speaks fondly of his time at Lethbridge College and continues to support the education process the college granted him.” Bateman added that the very nature of home building means that Meszaros and Avonlea are major employers of the journeyman trades people who study at the college.

“Steve’s career in the real estate and home building business is truly remarkable,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Tracy L. Edwards. “He has proven to be a leader and supporter of not only Lethbridge College, but Lethbridge and its surrounding communities. It is people like Steve who truly make a difference.”

Every spring, as Lethbridge College grads prepare to move from the campus to their new careers, they have inspiring examples to emulate. The three people chosen by Lethbridge College and celebrated on these pages are among the many accomplished alumni who credit their time at Lethbridge College as one of the secrets of their success.

By their dedication and excellence, they distinguish themselves and the entire Lethbridge College community. We are proud to call them ours. Here are the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.


Photos by Gregory Thiessen

21

For her success in the design, delivery and leadership of emergency care services in southern Alberta, Lethbridge College has selected alumna Diane (Irvine) Shanks for the “Career Virtuoso Award.”

Shanks graduated from nursing at Lethbridge College in 1981 and went to work in the Emergency Department of St. Michael’s Hospital. In 1989, she became the manager of the Emergency Department at the newly opened Lethbridge Regional Hospital and became the Emergency Critical Care Director in 1992. Two years later, she led the regionalization of emergency services in the former Chinook Health Region, and through it all, her colleagues say, she worked with extremely high standards and was always dedicated to putting the needs of patients first.

“Diane is an extremely dedicated, gifted nurse and administrator,” says Dr. Vanessa Maclean,

South Zone Medical Director of Alberta Health Services. “She is a leader in her field.”

Shanks has been praised for her leadership of emergency care personnel in Taber and Lethbridge following the Taber High School shooting in 1999. More recently, she successfully led an initiative to decrease wait times in the emergency room, which has improved the flow of patients and resulted in the shortest emergency department waits in the province. Her work in this regard was noted in a February 2010 article in Maclean’s magazine where the chair of the Health Quality Council of Alberta noted “Chinook’s getting better and the province is getting worse.”

Howard Snodgrass, executive director of the provincial air ambulance and EMS south zone operations, calls Shanks a credit to her profession and praises her “‘patient-first’ collaborative leadership and personal humility.”

Career Virtuoso Award • Diane (Irvine) Shanks (Nursing ’81)

For his motivation, dedication, leadership and initiative, for his success in collaborative projects, and for his work for and with Alberta youth, Lethbridge College alumnus Roderick McLeod will receive this year’s Community Leader Award.

“Rod McLeod is a man of great integrity who is extremely dedicated in putting his own time and commitment into several organizations within the City of Lethbridge,” says Shanda Venier, Aboriginal Academic Advisor at Lethbridge College.

McLeod came to the college at the age of 66 in the Child and Youth Care program. He received his diploma in 2003 and was soon employed by Family Ties Association. He also attended night school at the college and received his diploma in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder in 2006 at the age of 70.

In addition to working at Family Ties Association, where at 75 he has been recognized as the oldest Child and Youth Care worker in the city, McLeod is also a foster

parent and has been a Métis Elder for the Métis Local 2003 for more than 10 years. He is also called upon as an Elder for the First Nations Métis Inuit cultural support program at Lethbridge College and advises students on campus and by phone as needed.

While working with McLeod, Ian Thumlert of the Family Ties Association says he “came to appreciate the value of his knowledge of history and his ability to use this knowledge to form effective relationships with youth and family. In addition, his enthusiasm and dedication for work became evident.”

Guy L’Heureux, (Conservation Enforcement ‘76) president for Local 2003, Métis Nation of Alberta, notes that McLeod has also created a large collection of Métis books, pictures, and other items that he shares in presentations at local classrooms and community events.

Thumlert concludes that “This man, quite simply, makes a significant contribution to our community and beyond.”

Community Leader Award • Rod McLeod (Child and Youth Care ’03)

21

Office Intrigue:

Automatic transmission

tools

Wrenches of all shapes and

sizes

Glasses to read the fine print

(usually on Bill’s nose)

Electricalequipment

Step-ladder to reach the high

places

Soldering guns and butane for

torches


Bill Burch (Auto Mechanics ‘89) is surrounded by a potential mess. But the tool room supervisor knows

exactly where every lever and level lives – and you will never find either in the wrong place. About 110

automotive students could come into his domain on any given day, and Burch helps keep them organized

and on track. “This is just a great place to work,” says Burch, who worked for Lethbridge Toyota for

20 years before returning to the college in February 2011. “The entire college has such a positive

atmosphere through and through… wherever you go.” Especially in the toolroom – where everything is

just where it needs to be. [email protected]

Open-ended wrench and impact gun

Dustbuster

Dial indicators and remote

starter buttons Christmascards

WD40 - placed in close proximity to the duct tape

(together you can fix anything)

Screws of all shapes and

sizes

Work orders (always

something on the to-do list)

23


From rural Alberta to the United Nations,

alumnus Drew Donovan carries the lessons learned

at Lethbridge College with him wherever he goes.

25

e has moved seamlessly from small-town Alberta to the professional hockey arenas of Germany to the streets of Toronto, where he worked as a police officer for 11 years. Since 2000, he has worked in a variety of roles dealing with safety and security for the United Nations Security Management System and is now based out of Geneva, although he has travelled to more than 80 countries on the job. The ’87 grad of the Business Administration program at Lethbridge College works in an incredibly diverse culture with colleagues from approximately 152 different countries.

It all started at the southern Alberta campus where Donovan arrived as a student in 1985. He had worked in the heavy equipment industry for a few years after high school and decided that kind of work was far from his ideal job. His twin brother had studied criminal justice at the college and would go on to work for the RCMP. Donovan thought he might like working in marketing (“my dream job at that time was to become a marketing rep for Labatt Brewery,” he recalls) and he decided Lethbridge College was the perfect place to start the next chapter of his life.

That move from his family’s farm in Foremost proved to be the first important step to a life filled with challenging and rewarding work around the world.

“For me, higher education is the one thing that opened the doors,” says Donovan, who juggled his studies with competitive hockey. He also started to travel internationally while he was a student, taking part in a student working abroad program in London, England, in 1986. It was during

this period, he recalls, that he decided “this southern Alberta boy needed to see not only the rest of Canada, but also the rest of the world.”

So after receiving his diploma, Donovan moved to Germany and played professional hockey from 1987 to 1989 in two Bavarian cities, Erding and Bad Reichenhall. After returning to Canada, he enrolled in the Ontario Police College, receiving his diploma in 1990. He was hired by the Toronto Police Service that same year, and worked in jobs ranging from a uniformed officer walking the beat to a Detective Constable specializing in organized crime, intelligence gathering, and criminal death investigations. At the same time, he had enrolled in the University of Western Ontario and earned his BA in Criminology in 1996.

In 2000, he started working for various branches of U.N. organizations, spending time in places like Kosovo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Afghanistan, and Nepal. Today, his title is Senior Security Officer and he is currently in charge of the Safety and Security Coordination Service for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a U.N. specialized agency headquartered in Geneva. He explains that “essentially my job is that of a threat and risk manager. It is my responsibility to determine the most appropriate structures, policies, and operational procedures to ensure the safety and security of all WIPO staff, information and assets.”

He lives in a nearby French town of about 6,000 inhabitants with his wife, Muriel, and their two sons. He says he loves the French countryside, the lakes, the mountains, the French

Drew Donovan is living the kind of life where one week he is

answering emails from the market square of old town Prague

and the next week he is working from his Switzerland office

planning safety and security measures for a major event in China.

H

In 1986, Donovan decided “this southern Alberta boy needed to see

not only the rest of Canada, but also the rest of the world.”

— Drew Donovan


cuisine and the wine. Although he appreciates seeing so many different parts of the world and thoroughly enjoys his job, “my main priority now is to be close and a part of my children’s educational upbringing as these early formative years go by much too fast.”

Donovan also knows that college years go by quickly, too, and he remembers them fondly.

“My time at Lethbridge College was great,” he recalls. “I met a lot of interesting people and some of those friendships are still there.” He worked as a student staff supervisor at the Barn and remembers it as a great gathering place. In the classroom, he recalls two instructors in the Business Administration program as being particularly memorable – Dave Kennedy and Pat Webb.

“They were not only good teachers in knowing the subjects they taught, but they were just real good people, too.”

Kennedy says he remembers Donovan well.

“He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Lethbridge in August 1985 to teach at the college,” Kennedy recalls. The two were on an airplane to the Ball Hockey Nationals in Winnipeg – Donovan playing for Alberta and Kennedy playing for Manitoba, the home he had left a week earlier.

“I found out that he was to be in my class starting the next week,” Kennedy recalls. “He was a great student and very nice guy – he invited me to play on his winter hockey team right away. Drew was very much responsible for my first good feelings about moving to Lethbridge.”

Kennedy recalls that Donovan was “a real leader” on the hockey team and helped lead the team to the playoff championship that year.

“I mostly remember him as a very friendly, level-headed guy that you just knew was going to be successful in whatever he did,” Kennedy recalls. “I always wanted to thank him for welcoming me to Lethbridge.”

Donovan said the college experience was important for him – “it gave me the confidence to go out and do something different than I had imagined before” – and it is something that he now looks for when hiring employees.

“One thing about college and university life is that it brings a little bit of independence,” says Donovan. “When you are successful at obtaining a diploma or degree, you’ve proven you can start something and have the discipline to be able to finish it. As a hiring manager now, I see people from all walks of life. A diploma is a first litmus test. Can they discipline themselves to start something and then finish it? Because once that’s done, it opens doors to wherever you want to go.”

For me, higher education

was the one thing that opened the

doors.” — Drew Donovan

Lethbridge College “gave me the confidence to go out and do something

different than I had imagined.” — Drew Donovan

“

Best friends take their passions from Lethbridge College

to the classrooms (and beaches) of Australia’s Griffith University.

fter spending the first 20 years of their lives in Lethbridge, Brent Fikowski (Business Administration - Accounting, 2011) and Andrew Hemmerling (Business Administration, 2011) have started out on a new adventure together – completing their education and pursuing their passion for beach volleyball on the Australian Gold Coast.

Fikowski and Hemmerling became friends playing volleyball at G.S. Lakie Middle School, then Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

As they approached graduation in 2009, Fikowski looked to Lethbridge College to figure out what to do next.

“I went to the Lethbridge College career centre in grade 12 and spoke with Judy Frank, the chair of Counselling Services, about my future,” Fikowski says. “I took personality tests to see what sorts of careers would best suit me. Accounting came up and it interested me. After talking with professional accountants, they said the college was a better choice to start my post-secondary

27

A

education because there was more hands-on knowledge, and it was an easier transition from high school.”

Fikowski talked to Hemmerling about his decision and it turned out Hemmerling had already decided to study business at Lethbridge College, a choice that meant the friends could stay together. Both were offered spots on the Kodiak Men’s Volleyball team by Coach Ian Bennett.

“Ian Bennett approached us near the end of our high school season and asked if we would come play at the college,” Hemmerling recalls. “I earned a scholarship to play for my two years there. I was drawn to the college because I had the potential to play post-secondary volleyball while still pursuing a degree in business, a strong interest of mine.”

Bennett remembers Fikowski and Hemmerling for their passion and dedication to improvement, agreeing with instructor feedback forms that requested to “clone them.”

“They always represented the program well with numerous volunteer activities inside and outside of the college,” recalls Bennett. “Their grades were exceptional. They were two of the most supportive teammates you could ever play with and their dedication to improvement paid off as they both played very significant roles in the team’s fifth place finish in 2011.”

While attending classes at Lethbridge College, Fikowski and Hemmerling took their love of volleyball to a new playing field – the beach.

“Beach volleyball is the greatest,” says Fikowski. “I have always loved indoor volleyball but beach is my true passion. When playing with Andy I always know what effort level he is giving, and his high level of play pushes me.”

The pair entered their first beach volleyball tournament in 2009, placing fifth in the high school beach volleyball provincials, then first in the Southern Alberta Games that summer. In 2010, Brent began organizing beach volleyball in Lethbridge at the court in Softball Valley.

Since graduating from Lethbridge College in 2011, both young men worked to save money for their next adventure together – continuing their education at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

“In my second year at Lethbridge College I started looking at my options after completing my diploma,” Fikowski says. “One of the transfer options was to Griffith University on the Gold Coast of Australia. Someone from AustraLearn did a presentation at the college on studying there and Andy and I both attended and were instantly ecstatic about the possibility.” The pair flew to Australia on Feb. 7, started classes at the end of the month, and are expecting to earn their accounting and business degrees by June 2013.


“We decided on Australia because of the opportunity Lethbridge College presented us with a transfer agreement between the two schools,” Hemmerling says. “The international experience would work well for us in our pursuit of accounting and business degrees. We also wanted to play competitive beach volleyball year round. Clearly in Canada, we only have about two months to play.”

Fikowski adds that he was attracted to studying abroad “because I had lived in Lethbridge for so long and wanted a change of scenery. The adventure of moving away and living on my own, meeting new people, was extremely appealing.”

Fikowski adds that he is looking forward to “the opportunity to try something completely different... I am 20-years-old with nothing holding me back, going to a foreign country with my best friend. I will get a very respectable educational degree out of it too. And it just so happens my favourite sport is beach volleyball, my best friend is my beach partner, and I am going to the best beach in Australia and one of the best beaches in the world,” says Fikowski.

“It is almost impossible to pinpoint what I am most excited about,” Hemmerling said before leaving on the trip. “I can’t wait to meet new people from all over the world.”

“It is almost impossible to pinpoint what I am most excited about. I can’t wait to meet

new people from all over the world.”

— Andrew Hemmerling

29

Canada’s top female college basketball players gathered in March at Lethbridge College for the BMO 2012 CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championship. After three days of thrilling play, the Cégep Sainte-Foy Dynamiques cut down the net as they were crowned national champions for the fourth time in school history. The Lethbridge College Kodiaks received the Fair Play award.

The tournament also featured the MacEwan Griffins (ACAC champion / Edmonton, Alta.); the Dawson Blues (RSEQ champion/ Montreal, Que.); the UNBC Timberwolves (PACWEST champion/ Prince George, B.C.); the St. Thomas Tommies (ACAA champion/ Fredericton, N.B.); the Algon-quin Thunder (OCAA champion/ Nepean, Ont.); and the Seneca Sting (OCAA silver/ Toronto, Ont.).


Nothin’ But Net

For more photos, videos of all of the games, and stories about the tournament, go to ccaawomensbasketball2012.ca.

31Photos by Tyler Knee & Erin Fisher


Q&A

Q&A

Wider Horizons: Whose style influenced you at 12? At 22?

Caitlin Power: At 12 it was Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I watched a lot of their movies and TV shows and read their books. At that time I was inspired by their style, and I tried to replicate it. At 22 it was Kate Lanphear. I love her androgynous style. She always looks well-put-together and extremely fierce!

WH: What one key item should every man have in his closet?

CP: A European tailored suit. It’s a slimmer fit, very stylish, and compliments most body types. I would also say a great fitting leather jacket.

WH: What makes an outfit move from “meh” to marvellous?

CP: I think that’s all up the wearer. Personal style, confidence and the right accessories can make an outfit come to life.

WH: What colours will be hot this summer?

CP: I always see pops of colour used in spring/summer collections. I think orange is going to be hot this year. If you’re not used to wearing bright colours, you can always pull in colour in your accessories, like a great bag or a statement necklace.

WH: What three items must every well-dressed woman own?

CP: A short leather jacket, a tailored white blouse, and a pair of black skinny jeans. They can be worn together for a great polished, edgy look, but are also great as separates.

WH: Dress up or dress down when taking a long flight?

CP: Not too dressy, and NEVER in pyjamas! I admit I have travelled in leggings, but dressed them up with flat, high boots and a longer blouse.

WITH CAITLIN POWERWider Horizons asked Caitlin Power (Fashion Design and Marketing ’08), the owner

and creative director of the contemporary women’s label that carries her name, to

share a few words on fashion, flare, and finding your own style. To see the some of her

latest creations, head to the runways of Toronto …or check out caitlinpower.com.

33

Q&A

ABOVE: Photos from Caitlin’s SS2012 Lookbook by Jessica Pechet. FAR LEFT: SS2012 show at LG Fashion Week. Photos by George Pimentel.LEFT INSET: Caitlin(on left) with designer Golnaz Ashtiani. Photo by Ryan Emberley.

WH: What fashion rule do you sometimes break?

CP: I sometimes break the “no leggings as pants” rule, but always wear a long shirt over top. I might be breaking the “dress is too short” rule at the same time!

WH: What should I dump from my closet?

CP: Nothing! Keep everything! You never know when something will come back into style. High-waisted jeans are a prime example of this. They were hot in the 80s and have resurfaced. Flared jeans are also coming back. Although I’m not sure if I would follow that trend personally, I have seen a friend pull it off well.

WH: What lessons can a real person take away from the runways?

CP: The runway is all about telling a story with clothes. It shows wearable and non-wearable pieces. I think it teaches people to be more experimental with their own style. I’m very inspired by the future, and like to tell an “out of this world” story. The story for my spring/summer 2012 collection was Primal Futurism. It fuses the ancient, the raw and the primitive with the highly technical modern day aesthetic. Think Blade Runner, Star Trek, and Flash Gordon.

WH: Any advice for someone wanting a career in fashion?

CP: It’s all about the drive. You need to be focused and hardworking, or you won’t get anywhere.

WH: If you weren’t designing amazing clothes, what else would you be doing?

CP: Growing up, my career choices were either to be on the women’s Olympic hockey team or to be a fashion designer. If I wouldn’t have chosen fashion, I’m sure I’d be on that team.

Campus in Season


These last months have treated southern Albertans to some spectacular sunsets. In this photo, the wind turbine training tower on the southwest side of the campus looks more like a crow’s nest on an old sailing ship than the state-of-the-art training tool it is.

Photo by Rod Leland

35

From Our Kitchens

Photo by Jonathan Ruzek36 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2012

Recipe by Chef Charles Parker and Chef Jamie Williams

This kind of spring salad would be found on many menus in Italy at this time of year. The addition of spelt (known by the Italian name “farro”) adds complexity and texture to the salad. Spelt is an ancient type of wheat with a pleasant nutty flavour that is available in most health food stores and larger grocery stores. This small grain, which is similar in size and shape to rice, is still widely grown in the Alpine regions of Europe and in northern Italy, where simmered whole grains of spelt form the base of many meals.

Although we have listed both weights (grams, etc.) and measures (1/2 cup, etc.) for your convenience, we strongly encourage all cooks to invest in a small kitchen scale that toggles between grams and ounces. After all, a cup of honey has a much different weight than a cup of icing sugar. You may find your recipes become even more delicious once you start relying on the precision of a scale.

To see a video of Lethbridge College Chef Jamie Williams preparing this recipe, go to widerhorizons.ca or scan this QR code with your mobile device.

IngredientsSpeltSpelt (dry, whole grain) 100g (just under half cup)Sea Salt 5 ml (1 teaspoon) Cheese Motifs This recipe will prepare about six motifs, which you can also enjoy in soups, salads or as a tasty snack.

Butter (soft) 25g (about 2 tablespoons)Freshly grated Parmesan cheese 25g (about 1/4 cup) Egg whites 1 Worcestershire or Tabasco sauce 1 drop Flour 5g (1 teaspoon)

Herb Vinaigrette Raspberry wine vinegar 30 ml (2 tablespoons)Honey 5 ml (1 teaspoon) Shallots (finely minced) 10 g (about 1 small shallot)Dijon mustard 5ml (1 teaspoon)Fresh chopped basil 5ml (1 teaspoon) Olive oil 45ml (3 tablespoons)Canola oil 45ml (3 tablespoons)Sea salt and black pepper To taste

SaladLeafy greens (your choice) Enough for four people Walnuts (pieces) 40g (about 1/3 cup) Olive oil 15 ml (1 tablespoon)Yellow pepper (cut julienne) 1 whole Goat’s cheese (soft, crumbled) 40g (about 1/3 of a cup) Dried cranberries (craisins) 60g (about 1/3 of a cup) Cheese motifs 4 Herb vinaigretteCooked spelt

MethodTo prepare spelt: • Simmer spelt in salted water for about 90

minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside.

To prepare cheese motifs: • Preheat oven to 375F. • In a mixing bowl with paddle attachment, add

butter, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, egg whites, Worcestershire sauce and bread flour. Mix to a smooth paste.

• Smooth out thinly on a parchment lined baker’s tray to desired shape and size, such as a feather shape.

• Bake 3-4 minutes at 375F, until edges are golden. Set aside.

To prepare herb vinaigrette: • Whisk together vinegar, honey, shallots, mustard

and basil, salt and pepper. • Slowly add the oils in a slow stream, whisking

constantly until incorporated. Set aside.

To assemble the salad for four: • Cut or tear up leafy greens into bite size pieces,

wash and spin till dry. • Toast walnuts lightly in a 375F oven. Remove and

set aside. • Sauté spelt from step 1 in olive oil and season

lightly with sea salt and pepper. • Toss the greens with julienne pepper and

vinaigrette. • Garnish with toasted walnuts, spelt, goat cheese,

craisins and cheese motifs.

37

39

It’s very nice to see babies born. The smile of the

mother. It’s very nice – very hopeful.”

— Mandana Azar Afshar“

hen Mandana Azar Afshar came to Canada from Iran last July, she was in search of educational opportunities for her 16-year-old daughter.

But along the way, the 43-year-old discovered there were opportunities here for her, too. In September, she started taking online English as a Second Language classes offered by Lethbridge College in southern Alberta, classes created specifically for trained foreign nurses to improve their medical English in preparation for writing Canadian nurse licensing exams.

The college is coming to the end of a successful two-year pilot program (made possible by a $300,000 grant from Alberta Employment and Immigration) that has shepherded non-native English speakers from around the world through specialized ESL training. The students can choose from classes in speaking, listening, reading or writing, and “go” to class online, when it suits their schedules, from anywhere in Canada or around the world.

“It is a very good program,” says Azar Afshar. “I definitely recommend it to other people.”

Azar Afshar started the classes just two months after leaving Tehran and arriving in Lethbridge, where she and her daughter moved in with Azar Afshar’s sister, who came to Lethbridge from Iran to attend university and ended up settling.

“My sister said ‘You can improve your English here’,” says Azar Afshar. “So I came to the college for my English lessons.”

Azar Afshar had trained and worked as a midwife in Iran, and delivered more than 100 babies before her daughter was born and she left her career. “It’s very nice to see babies born,” she says. “The smile of the mother. It’s very nice – very hopeful.”

Now in Canada, she would like to find work as a midwife, ideally, or any job in the nursing industry – and she is hopeful the ESL for Nursing program will lead to work down the road.

If recent trends are any indication, once Azar Afshar completes her language classes and sits for her licensing exams, she should have no trouble finding work. In 2007, Canada was short 11,000 full-time nurses to provide hands-on care to patients. If health-care needs mount following past trends, Canada will be short almost 60,000 full-time registered nurses by 2022, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) reports.

“There are global shortages of nurses and all countries are competing for them,” says Gyslaine Desrosiers, president of the Quebec Order of Nurses, in a report for the Canadian Nurses Association.

The government has responded by making it easier for nurses trained in other countries to move to Canada. On July 1, 2011, Citizenship and Immigration Canada released a new list of occupations in demand in Canada and included registered

nurses and licensed practical nurses on it. As a result, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism gives priority to applicants with work experience in one of these high demand occupations.

Philip Harttrup, director of the English Language Centre at Lethbridge College, says he hopes the ESL for Nursing program will help foreign-born nurses bring their English skills to the same level as their nursing skills. The goal is for the students to eventually be licensed in Canada and start filling nursing needs in rural communities, emergency rooms, hospitals and clinics around the country.

Like any specifically skilled profession, nursing has its own set of technical terms and jargon which require mastering if the practitioner is to achieve proficiency. What might be difficult even for Canadian-born students to master becomes more so for those whose first language is not English, Harttrup explains.

The Lethbridge College English Language Centre created the online version of ESL Nursing Pathways program to assist those of other tongues to achieve their goals in the profession. The Lethbridge College portion of the program, which is accessible anywhere in the world, contains four elements: reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Two other elements – medical terminology and cross-cultural communication – are offered by NorQuest College in Edmonton in collaboration with Lethbridge College. The college has also laid the groundwork to eventually facilitate the program through eCampusAlberta.

This year, the program has attracted students from the Lethbridge area, the Philippines, and Peru. The online classes are offered in addition to traditional nursing training offered at all levels to students who come to the southern Alberta campus.

For more information on the ESL for Nursing program at Lethbridge College, visit lethbridgecollege.ca/program/esl-nursing or contact Harttrup at the English Language Centre ([email protected] or 1.800.572.0103 X7223).

Lethbridge College’s ESL for Nursing program

brings the classroom to students around the world.

W

News & Notes

NEWS&NOTES

A GLOBAL COMMUNITY – A CLICK AWAY

Lethbridge College’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Education instructors realize that it takes a village to raise a child, especially when it comes to children with FASD. But sometimes – because of isolation, work hours, being homebound and more – it’s just not possible to connect with the village resources and find support. That’s why Kimber Norbury-Sulin (Rehabilitation Services ‘92), the college’s coordinator of FASD Education, proposed the idea of a Virtual Community of Practice to provide networking opportunities and access to round-the-clock resources for those who live and work with FASD. “We want to connect our online students to each other and to create opportunity for these connections between urban and rural community partners, caregivers, other research institutions, and service providers,” says Norbury-Sulin. With support from the School of Human Service, Norbury-Sulin turned to the college’s Educational Enhancement Team to build the website. A $9,700 grant from the Alberta Rural Development Network allowed for a gathering this spring to officially launch the site and to discuss its role in helping connect people in rural communities. “This online community was something I’ve wanted access to for years so I’m very grateful to this team for building it,” says Terry Gills of central Alberta. “We live FASD daily and I need all the supports I can access.” Marilyn Leiterman of Ontario, a 2010 FASD Education alum and continuing student in the Disability and Community Rehabilitation program, agrees that the website is a welcome addition. “The more people there are to talk to, the more we can cope, plan and support our wonderful persons living with FASD,” she says. To become a part of the virtual community, go to http://www.fasdcommunity.ca/.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE STUDENTS HEAD TO UGANDA FOR WORK EXPERIENCE

Students in the college’s Child and Youth Care program will take their classroom on the road in May as they travel to villages in Uganda to see how child care services can be developed and delivered in rural areas.

The Child and Youth Care program has facilitated an International Study Tour over the past several years to show students how services are delivered outside of Canada. Past tours have included trips to Holland, England, Wales and Scotland. This year, the students will be traveling in Uganda from May 1 to 12. The Child and Youth Care program has partnered with an organization called Buiga-Sunrise which provides education, health and family support services to villages in the Mukono District of Uganda. They work in the village of Banda Kyandaaza and provide outreach to more than 800 people in surrounding villages.

One of the founders and now director of Buiga-Sunrise is a 1998 graduate of the Child and Youth Care program at Lethbridge College, Nicole Van Seters. Look for information in the next Wider Horizons about the students’ trip. They will be learning how community development projects can be mobilized to enable communities to help themselves. Child and youth care in developing countries often reflects a community development perspective that practitioners in child and youth care in Canada don’t necessarily experience. The college’s program plans to continue to offer opportunities for students to experience child and youth care practice in different countries and cultures.

ALBERTA BUSINESS DEANS AND STUDENTS CONVENE AT COLLEGE

The brightest minds in business met at Lethbridge’s two post-secondary institutions in March to discuss the future of business education and solve some real world problems.

Lethbridge College co-hosted the seventh annual Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition with the University of


41

Lethbridge Faculty of Management March 15 and 16. This event brought teams of Alberta’s best business students and deans of the province’s business schools to Lethbridge, where the deans held their annual spring meeting and students immersed themselves in a case study requiring them to develop solutions for real world business problems. The event showcased business programs and opportunities at the college and university. Dennis Sheppard, Dean of Applied Management at Lethbridge College, said the competition “brought together the best business students in the province who will get great hands-on experience solving the kind of problem facing real businesses today. Like much of the work we do at the college, the Case Competition is a chance to put theory into practice.”

The teams were given the challenge of coming up with a business plan based on specific information provided about a fictional cabinet-making company. First place went to the Medicine Hat College team, which received $4,000. NAIT finished second and received $2,500 while Lakeland College came in third and went home with an award of $1,500. Lethbridge College and SAIT received honourable mentions.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE TAKES TRAINING TO NEW HEIGHTS

New technologies demand new responses for health and safety – and Lethbridge College is leading the way.

Already an established Canadian educational institution for workers in wind and solar energy industries, Lethbridge College now can offer training for those called upon to rescue and evacuate people who might be injured while working on a wind turbine or any structure above 10 feet.

Six Lethbridge College Wind Turbine instructors have recently trained with ENSA, which provides safety training within the wind industry throughout North America. The instructors worked with ENSA trainers practicing high angle rescue techniques and training – called Tractel training – and then learned how to teach others the same important safety lessons.

The group spent nearly one day learning teaching techniques and also got to try out different kinds of equipment. The six instructors will be able to integrate new techniques and equipment into college wind turbine courses. Before they even signed up for the training, Ronald Papp, an instructor in the Wind Turbine Technician Training Program, said that the college had received multiple inquiries from industry into training for high angle rescue and high voltage awareness.

OPERATION BEAUTIFUL AT LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

Lethbridge College encouraged staff and students to celebrate their natural sizes during Eating Disorder Awareness Week in February.

This awareness week is an annual event around the world that works to educate the public on the relationship between dieting, body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. The goal is to increase awareness of the factors causing individuals to develop anorexia, bulimia and weight preoccupation.

The week encouraged people to move away from one narrow ideal of beauty to healthy lifestyles and a celebration of natural diversity. This allows people to accept their bodies, get beyond appearance, and concentrate on putting their energies into enjoying their lives. During the week of Operation Beautiful, the campus community was also encouraged to leave positive affirmations on post-it notes promoting beauty from within throughout campus. The notes could be found all throughout the campus.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AT HEART OF NEW PROGRAM

This winter, the Be Fit for Life Centre took part in an innovative program called MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do It!).

This community program empowers families of children who are above a healthy body weight to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. MEND originated in the United Kingdom and multiple trials have shown positive results in the health


and wellness of the children and families who participate. Alberta Health Services supports MEND with grant opportunities to communities and organizations that take part in it, including the college’s Be Fit for Life Centre. Fourteen families with children above a healthy body weight were welcomed into the college to participate in the program this year. During the 10-week program, the families learned about many elements of healthy living in an interactive and fun way. Be Fit for Life will continue to run MEND in the future. Those interested in participating should call 403-320-3202 X5379.

TIFFIN CONFERENCE PRESENTS “CATTLE GATE TO DINNER PLATE”

Speakers at January’s Tiffin Conference at Lethbridge College discussed the livestock industry from the feedlots to the kitchen before a sold-out crowd.

The event featured keynote speaker Temple Grandin, a well-known autism advocate and a designer of livestock handling facilities and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Grandin presented on taking a practical approach to improving animal welfare. Other speakers discussed feed efficiency and the benefits of residual feed intake and the umami method of cooking beef and enhancing that savoury flavour.

The Tiffin Conference is made possible through the Ronald Tiffin Agricultural Endowment Fund, established in honour of Ronald W. Tiffin. The goal is to provide world-class learning opportunities to primary producers, agri-business and agriculture students.

COLLEGE PAYS IT FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Did you know you can support student scholarships and have a chance to win more than $1,000 each month?

Members of the Office of Alumni Relations and Advancement choose one winner each month for its “Pay It Forward” draw. So far, the 50-50 style lottery has raised more than $60,000 for student scholarships and allowed more than staff, students, alumni, and community members to experience the thrill of unexpected cash.

The program started in February 2008 following the suggestion of one of the college’s Alumni Advisory Council members, Randi Knutson. The Pay it Forward program is open to staff, students, alumni and the community. Stop by the Office of Alumni Relations in CE2323 (Advancement Office) or call 403.329.7220 to buy a one-time $10 draw ticket, sign up for more than one draw at a time ($120 for the whole year), or sign up to have $10 deducted from your Lethbridge College paycheque every month. Community members are also encouraged to participate. For more information, call the Alumni Office – 403.329.7220 or email [email protected].

LEO CLUB MAKES DONATION TO ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

A donation by Lethbridge College’s Leo Club changed the lives of students using Accessibility Services.

The club donated two iPod Touches and a $200 iTunes gift card last fall. Coupled with specific applications, the Touches are used by students who need more assistance in their courses. The donation of equipment was of immediate benefit to current students and serves as a tool for making education accessible for many years and students to come. The Leo Club is a volunteer organization comprised of students from the Criminal Justice program at the college. The club volunteers for many events at the college and within the community. Any donations made to the club are donated at the end of the year.

News & Notes

It’s a Family Affair Are you a multi-generational Lethbridge College family? Did you and your siblings all attend Lethbridge College? If so, let us know! We are looking for stories of families where at least three members across one or more generations called themselves Kodiaks. Tell us your story by emailing [email protected] or writing Wider Horizons, c/o The Advancement Office, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge AB T1K 1L6.

Widen your horizon

Prepare for Adventure

Karla Wolsky says that planning for health while travelling is an essential part of the adventure.Photo by Lisa Kozleski.

43

The arrival of spring and longer days might have you pining for the open road and starting to plan for the summer’s big trip. But before you head off on your next adventure, Lethbridge College Nursing Education in Southern Alberta chair Karla Wolsky (Nursing ‘98) has a few tips to make sure you stay healthy and safe both while you are travelling and after you come home.

“People think they can just pack a suitcase and get away,” says Wolsky, who has taught at the college for five years. “But there is a lot more to consider – especially if you are vacationing far away from home.”

First off, she says, be smart.

“If you wouldn’t go to downtown Calgary alone at 3 a.m. on a Friday night,” says Wolsky, “then it’s probably not a good idea to do that in any other city or country.”

Next, medical insurance is a must if you are heading out of country. “You don’t want to go for a weekend in Vegas and come back with a $50,000 medical bill,” Wolsky says. A small investment before the trip may save you from huge medical bills if you need a doctor’s care while traveling outside of your country.

Then do a little research. Do you need vaccines to safely take your dream vacation? Some exotic trips may require a series of vaccinations spread out over weeks or even months before your departure. Check the Alberta Health Services website for the most up-to-date information on travelling out of the country. Vaccines can be given at the Lethbridge Community Health Centre at the old train station, by your family doctor or by some pharmacists. Alberta Health Services can also provide information on health risks and illness prevention; all required and recommended vaccines; medication prescriptions for malaria, altitude sickness and travellers’ diarrhea; follow up of all reported malaria cases; and more.

Once you arrive, be aware of the health risks you might encounter. In some countries, you will want to avoid drinking the water. That includes staying away from ice in drinks and some fresh fruits and vegetables. You also might need to use bottled water when you brush your teeth. If you are headed somewhere that is pretty off the beaten track, check in with travel agents who specialize in that area. They might be able to offer some specific suggestions to make your trip even more memorable.

And finally, Wolsky advises, be the kind of tourist you’d like to encounter at home.

“Always be aware of the culture,” says Wolsky. “Remember that when we travel, we are guests in someone else’s country.”

Where are they now?

What’s the most unusual creation you’ve ever seen?The ancient villages in the middle of Iran and the Terrace Houses in Ephesus, Turkey.

The most beautiful building you’ve ever seen?Versailles in Paris, France, and Catherine’s Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The coolest project that you have been involved in?The design of the Delta Port Container facility, north of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in Vancouver.

The most extraordinary place where you have worked?Tabas, Iran, were I was involved in the design of a coal mine and process facility.

If you could add any new building to Lethbridge, what would it be?A larger terminal at the airport – I would love to see more flights to major Canadian cities.

Name a Canadian place that everyone should see. The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.

What’s the best part of your job? The team I work with every day.

LEGOs or Tinker Toys? Lego – no question.

A Word or 2

A Word or 2

Wider Horizons asked Greg Kaupp (Civil Engineering Technology, ‘85), Lethbridge and Area Manager of Associated Engineering, to share a word or two on memorable buildings around the world. Kaupp, a Certified Engineering Technologist, is a member of the college’s Engineering Design and Drafting Technology Advisory Committee.

Photo by Rod Leland


45

Where are they now?

2011

Kristina Halma, Agriculture TechnologyKristina is a research assistant at a Lethbridge non-profit organization called Farming Smarter. She first worked for the company as a summer student in 2010, between her first and second years at the college, after she saw the job posting through the AgTech program. She was offered a permanent position only a couple of months after she finished her summer job and thoroughly enjoys her work.

Nicole Hoffos, Criminal Justice-Policing After graduation, Nicole worked as a guard at the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment in the holding cells until February 2012. She was accepted to transfer her CJP diploma to Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and was in the midst of moving “Down Under” for 18 months to complete her Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

2003

Trever Broadhead, Business Administration (Marketing major)Trever is the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Lethbridge and District, as well as a husband and father of four. His work allows him to make a real difference in the lives of children every day. In addition, he has started running this past year and is training for a half marathon in 2012. His family writes that they are proud of him and that he is a wonderful example of the possibilities and promise of alumni from the college. Trever tells Wider Horizons: “My experience at Lethbridge College gave me the practical knowledge I needed to develop into the business manager I am today.”

2001

Kim Siever, Multimedia Production Kim works as a communications specialist for Truehope Nutritional Support. He oversees copywriting and managing social media properties, and he edits, designs, and manages Truehope’s print and online newsletters. As part of his program at the college, he took a practicum as a website developer for the University of Lethbridge. That turned into a full-time job where he remained for nine years. After being let go in the spring of 2010, Kim and his wife started a business, Southern Alberta Home Schooling Supplies, which is slowing growing. In addition to his work at Truehope and his home-based business, Kim returned to his studies and hopes to complete his bachelor’s degree at the University of Lethbridge in the spring of 2013.

1998

Shannon (Stenbeck) Seitz, Criminal Justice – PolicingShannon writes: “I went to Depot in 1999 and have been in the RCMP since. I was posted out to B.C. and have worked in several different units within the RCMP over the last 11.5 years.”

1987

Ken Smith, Agricultural TechnologyKen has been the owner and president of Ken Smith Corral Clearers since 1992. The business is based at High River, AB. Read more about it at www.kscc.ca.

1983

Robert James Ward, Business Administration and Data ProcessingRobert is a community services worker. He returned to his studies in

2009, and has been working towards his social work diploma at Medicine Hat College.

1980

Karen (Ketcheson) Wintonyk, Recreation Management and other studiesKaren is the Community Program/Mentorship Coordinator in Athabasca for Family and Community Support Services. After her graduation from the college, she worked in Hinton at the recreation department for the summer and got to know the Family and Community Support Services director there, who gave her an application to apply for the job in Athabasca. She has now been with this program since 1980. “It is a terrific program that has allowed me to work in the many areas of prevention,” she writes. Karen is hoping to reconnect with some of the people she went to school with.

1979

Richard Dale Huculiak, Law EnforcementRichard worked for the Alberta Solicitor General in Corrections as a Probation/Parole Officer from 1982 to 1989 and then for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from 1989 to 2010. He retired from the RCMP in September 2010 and started working as a part-time instructor in Criminal Justice-Policing at Lethbridge College in September 2011. In 2011, he received the “Community Leader” award from Lethbridge College.

1974

Robert (Bob) Joseph Chabay, Business AdministrationRobert worked as an employment standards officer and manager for the provincial government for 31.5 years. He has been enjoying retirement since 2009.

Celebrating the successes of our alumni in their careers and throughout their lives.

New baby? New job? New hometown? Tell your classmates all about it by emailing [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, your program or area of study, the year you completed your program, and a little bit about what you have been doing since you left Lethbridge College. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Photo by Rod Leland


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