wider horizons spring 2013

A PUBLICATION OF LETHBRIDGE COLLEGELEARNING LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE P. 2 • HER WORK IS NOT FINISHED P. 8 • ENABLED SKIING P. 32

President’s message

It is such a pleasure to have my first opportunity to write a message for Wider Horizons, and I am delighted that it is an issue filled with stories and photos meant to inspire.

Much of the college experience is intended to inspire, after all. We want our students to be encouraged to pursue the subjects they are passionate about, to challenge themselves and investigate and explore. We want our staff members to find innovative ways to share their knowledge and experiences with students and colleagues at the college and beyond. And we want our programs to reflect the latest developments and techniques in the field and our applied research projects to be inspired by and meet the needs of industry.

All of the stories and photos in this issue of Wider Horizons were made with inspiration in mind. As this issue of our magazine is given out to each graduate at Convocation, we thought it fitting to focus on some of the people and organizations in our community who are both memorable and motivating. And so in the following pages, you’ll read about alumni who have taken risks to pursue their dreams, students who have come to the college after working in other fields with hopes of achieving their most ambitious goals, and staff members who have turned challenges into triumphs.

In this issue, you can savour stories like the one told by Melissa Whitegrass, who is featured on our cover with her daughter, Dawni-Rae. While serving in Afghanistan in the Canadian Armed Forces, Melissa and her convoy were attacked by a suicide bomber. Eighteen people died that day. Melissa came home to the Blood Reserve with severe injuries and a new plan – to study business at Lethbridge College and to begin to carve out a new role for herself in her community. We hope her story – and her desire to contribute to her community after having served her country with such distinction – resonates with you.

You’ll also get a glimpse into what my first week on the job was like – quite busy but also very exciting and satisfying. And of course, you’ll find all of the familiar features you love to see in Wider Horizons, including a peek inside the environmental science lab of the cutting-edge Cousins Building and a succulent, savory recipe for “Beer Can Chicken” provided by our inspiring chefs in the college’s Culinary Careers program.

The people in these stories are typical of those in the larger Lethbridge College community and are much like the college itself. They are leaders who contribute to the economic and social prosperity in southern Alberta and beyond. They look to create opportunities for themselves and others by building on their strengths. And we are proud of them all.

There is a group we are especially proud of at this moment though, and I’d like to end with a special note to them, the convocates who will be walking across that stage on April 26, making that important transition from Lethbridge College student to alumni. We are eager to welcome you to the vibrant Lethbridge College alumni community, and we look forward to watching you engage in your own communities and professions and seeing your leadership in action. Who will you inspire? What stories will you come back to share? Whatever they are, I know this much is true – all of us at Lethbridge College truly look forward to hearing them.

Dr. Paula BurnsLethbridge College President and CEO

It is such a pleasure to have

my first opportunity to write a message

for Wider Horizons, in an issue that

is filled with stories and photos meant

to inspire.

Augmented reality: Bringing print to lifeIn this issue of Wider Horizons, we again invite our readers to enjoy more - more content, more photos, and more of the people and places you love to read about in this magazine. Augmented reality - and the Layar app in particular - provides a new way to add digital content to print media.

It’s as easy as one, two, three.1. Download a free application called Layar on your smartphone. 2. Look for the Layar logo throughout the magazine. (In this issue, you’ll see it on pages 13, 27, 31, and 51.)3. Scan the page with the Layar app and watch what happens next. You might be taken to a video, a more detailed story or additional content. We hope you enjoy the experience.

What’s inside

Vol. 6, No. 3, Spring 2013

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 a story or find out more about our magazine, contact us.

Wider Horizonsc/o The Advancement Office3000 College Drive SouthLethbridge, AB T1K [email protected]

publisher: Dr. Paula Burnsexecutive editor: Carmen Tothmanaging editor and chief writer: Lisa Kozleskidesigner: Dana Woodwardphotographers: Rod Leland, Rob Olson, Jonathan Ruzek, Gregory Thiessenmagazine staff: Leeanne Conrad, Alison Fehr, Pieter Luong, Elisabeth Morgan, Heather Nish, Shawn Salberg, Kasha Thurston, Gwen Wirthcontributors: Megan Shapka, Jane Harris-Zsovanintern: Amanda Michalezki

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

To change the address where you recieve Wider Horizons, email [email protected]

In every issueOffice intrigue ...............................26 Campus in season .........................28My perspective ..............................38Q&A ...............................................40 News and notes .............................42

My life ...........................................48It’s a family affair ..........................49Widen your horizons ....................50A word or two ............................... 51 Where are they now? ....................52

2view

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31

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Celebrating our starsOur 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

George KirkhamOur Q&A with the recent donor and collector.

30

From our kitchens Savour the best of the season with some BBQ Beer Can Chicken.

Insight into InspirationLethbridge College students, staff, alumni and supporters are doing remarkable work on campus, in their hometowns, across the province and beyond ............ 12

1

LEARNING LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

Photos by Gregory Thiessen2 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2013

LEARNING LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

Even college presidents need help from the folks in IT before they can truly get to work.

That’s what Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College’s new president and CEO, found the first morning of her first day on the job in February. Her first visitor was Travis Killian, an IT supervisor and member of the college’s Board of Governors, who came to set up her system, pass along the necessary adaptors and make sure her computer was connected to the printer. Once all of that was in place, Burns thanked Killian for his help, sipped her coffee from a Lethbridge College mug and gazed out the broad expanse of windows in the President’s Office. She looked at ease and ready to go.

Burns’ first week on the job was packed with meetings and greetings, listening and learning. While the days were filled with dozens of new faces and countless pressing topics, she took it all in calmly, asking questions and making connections,

laughing and smiling even as the meetings wore on.

In many ways, Burns’ first week looked similar to the first week many people have in a new job – discovering where to park, figuring out which keys open which doors and meeting with HR to learn about benefits. But in other important ways, the work Burns accomplished her first week on the job provides a glimpse into the priorities and leadership style of the college’s newest president. In all of her interactions, Burns, the college’s eighth leader in 56 years, talked about the importance of collaboration and innovation, and she questioned how Lethbridge College does and can continue to excel in both of these areas.

The week and her work started early, on a warm winter morning as a soft southern Alberta wind blew the branches outside of her office and a new college president got down to work.

Listening, learning and laughs fill first days on job

for Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College’s

new president and CEO.

3

Monday, 9:15 a.m. After meeting with Killian, Burns touched base with Dianne Marcellus-Kerr (Secretarial Science ‘80), executive assistant to the president and board of governors, about the schedule for the day.

“My main goal in these first 90 days is to really learn about Lethbridge College,” she said. “I didn’t come with a to-do list. I want to meet with people and hear what they have to say. I have a lot of questions.”

She said she woke up early that morning, but was not anxious about the day ahead.

“Today is the first day I’m a college president, but I really don’t feel any different,” she said with a laugh. “I feel totally comfortable here.”

Monday, 10 a.m. Burns welcomed Peter Leclaire, Lethbridge College’s vice president academic and chief learning officer, into her empty office, where boxes of books, photos and mementos would be arriving from Edmonton to be unpacked in a few days. Leclaire had served as Interim President and CEO following the departure of Dr. Tracy Edwards last June and has been able to answer many of the questions Burns asked and continues to ask.

After chatting for a few minutes about that morning’s surprise announcement that Thomas Lukaszuk had just been named the province’s new minister for enterprise and advanced education, Burns asked Leclaire what he thought their priorities would be for the next few months. “Your transition,” Leclaire replied with a smile. “We need to get you as much exposure as we can, to go over an orientation plan, to highlight the critical decisions that are coming, and more.”

The two then shifted gears to discuss letters that needed to be written on behalf of the college. Leclaire quickly mentioned the president’s Twitter account that he had been maintaining, and then they moved on to the rest of a long list of crucial topics he brought to the meeting, including updates and questions about Convocation, the next board of governor’s meeting, and Burns’ membership on boards such as the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Lethbridge.

Burns said the college has a great resource in Leclaire, who knows what it is like to sit in the president’s seat and who also has the institutional experience and history to be able to speak about so many issues. In many of her later meetings during her first days on campus, she thanked Leclaire for his excellent leadership – for keeping the college on course and guiding it during a time of transition.

“Peter’s done an outstanding job leading the institution,” she told a room of 60 college leaders later in the week, clearly at ease praising the hard work of others.

Today is the first day I’m a college president, but I

really don’t feel any different. I feel totally

comfortable here.” — Dr.Paula Burns

4 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2013

Monday, 1:55 p.m.Joyanne Mitchell, manager of development and alumni relations, and Lana Walsh (Information Specialist ‘96), the college’s special events and program coordinator, sat in the waiting area of the president’s office, eager to discuss some exciting plans in the works for the college community.

Mitchell said she was looking forward to talking with Burns about developing partnerships and building relationships with some of the college’s key collaborators, while Walsh wanted to outline ways to use the college’s events to engage with its partners and showcase innovative program areas. The big events of the year – the new “Night to Remember” in May, the golf tournament in September and the wine auction in November – are all great occasions to celebrate with alumni, industry and community partners. They also provide the opportunity to raise awareness about the college’s important fundraising efforts, such as student awards, the Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project, and the Library and Learning Innovation Project.

Mitchell and Walsh made their way into Burns’ office and sat down with the new president and Leclaire. The quartet got to work quickly, discussing dates, events, priorities and plans.

“Does this work well for the students?” Burns asked when discussing a possible shift in dates for one event. “We want to be showcasing our culinary students and make sure it works for them.”

Monday, 4:15 p.m.Communication Arts students Michael Johnston and Mark McCue came prepared for their video assignment. The camera, the microphones and the notebook with questions were in place, and the students got down to business as soon as Burns arrived in the alcove outside of her office. Johnston started his interview by asking Burns why she wanted to join the Lethbridge College team.

It was, simply put, too great of an opportunity to pass up, Burns replied. The college already had a good foundation in place, and she could see that her leadership style and experience would make for a good fit. “I noticed right away the huge support of the community, too,” said Burns. “I don’t have to start from scratch.”

When Johnston asked about the areas Burns would likely focus on first, she wove in details from conversations she had earlier in the day about the new trades and technology project. “I’m excited to bring out the best in everyone here,” she replied to one of Johnston’s final questions. “I look forward to seeing everyone shine.”

The students then filmed Burns walking through Centre Core, saying hello to people in the hallways and stopping to chat with the staff in the recruitment office. It seemed fitting that Burns’ last formal appointment on her first day on the job included students – those who were gaining real-life experience by putting the theories they learned in the classroom into practice. Providing the opportunity for hands-on experience, after all, is what the college does best.

I look forward to seeing everyone shine. ”

— Dr.Paula Burns

5

Tuesday, 8 a.m.The second day on the job started early. Burns had a meeting with the college’s leadership council – a group of about a dozen deans, department heads and administrators from across campus who collectively provide leadership to the college.

The conversation was quick and varied, ranging from bids and budgets to deadlines and goals.

Some of the goals Burns outlined included “learning Lethbridge College” and developing an understanding of the culture on campus. She also told the council that she’d like to build leadership teams and find ways to connect as leaders. In addition, some other goals included determining and developing her relationship with the Board of Governors, with community partners and with government leaders. She also spoke of her plans to focus on the goals and plans already in place, such as those in the college’s Comprehensive Institutional Plan.

“I’ve got lots to learn,” Burns told the council. “I’m taking notes, keeping a reflective journal every night about needs and progress.”

To help her in her quest to quickly gain insider knowledge of the college, Burns asked the council to work collectively to create a list of all she needs to know. Using yellow sticky notes, the council brainstormed alone and then in small groups as Burns took notes and talked with Marcellus-Kerr, who as executive assistant to Edwards and Leclaire has accumulated a wealth of experience and insider knowledge herself.

Some of the responses from the council were serious – the college needs to make sure that the Comprehensive Institutional Plan links to daily operations. Others were great observations – that people really enjoy working at Lethbridge College and are quite skilled at what they do. Still others might have seemed less significant at first but actually reflect an

important part of campus culture – that staff members love “blue jeans” Fridays.

“It’s a way to learn the what and the how,” Burns explained. “It’s a way to quickly find out what’s working, what’s not, what people are curious about, and what are the most important things people want me to know.”

She left the meeting with a long and insightful list.

Tuesday, 1 p.m.More than 60 Lethbridge College staff members gathered in the Garden Court Restaurant for the college’s Management Forum meeting, a chance for a larger group of managers and leaders to meet and discuss issues important to the college community.

After asking the members to introduce themselves and tell her something they like about working at the college, Burns talked a bit about her leadership style, which is highly collaborative.

I do a lot of informal walking and talking, and

want to set up opportunities to engage the whole

community, including students.”

— Dr.Paula Burns


“I want people to be working in their areas of strength,” she said. “I look for opportunities for people to contribute in the highest possible way. I do a lot of informal walking and talking, and want to set up opportunities to engage the whole community, including students.”

Early Wednesday morning to late Thursday nightBurns’ first week gave her a glimpse of some of the broader responsibilities of her new job as president. In addition to leading the college in Lethbridge, she is also an important contributor to provincial conversations about higher education, job creation and trades training. Even in her first week she has been asked to network with other post-secondary presidents and to meet with provincial and national organizations to discuss the role and future of colleges.

In other words, Burns’ third day on the job had started with an early morning drive to Calgary for two days of meetings. On her agenda were appointments with the eCampus Alberta Board of Directors, meetings and conversations with the Council of Presidents of the Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes, as well as a reception with the president and CEO of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

“It was great to connect so quickly with other post-secondary presidents,” Burns said.

Friday, 3:30 p.m.The last appointment of the last day of Burns’ first week was an interview with Caroline Zentner (Print Journalism ‘00), the education reporter from the Lethbridge Herald. They gathered in Burns’ office, which was now filled with plants and flower arrangements sent from well-wishers and was shimmering in the golden afternoon sun.

Zentner asked if the first week had been overwhelming, and Burns smiled. It was full, she said, but had the right pace and right amount of information.

Burns talked about her meetings in Calgary and told Zentner that she saw the naming of a new provincial minister for enterprise and advanced education as a “real opportunity” for the college. The work students and instructors do in the college’s 50+ programs and apprenticeships supports the premier’s agenda to develop more applied research opportunities, she noted.

Zentner asked about some of her plans for the college.

“We want to build on the strengths here,” Burns said. “We want to focus on applied research and innovation. …I’m a very collaborative leader and want to bring out the strengths of the entire team.”

At the end of the interview, Burns thanked Zentner for coming by. She then took a deep breath and returned to her computer. As the sun fell beyond the coulees outside of her office, she continued the work of a president. Her first week was almost over. But her work – like her story – was just getting started.

We want to build on the strengths here.”

— Dr.Paula Burns

7

HER WORK IS NOT FINISHED

Photo by Rob Olson8 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2013

In a room filled with uniforms and familiar faces, the eyes of Melissa Whitegrass, mother to toddler Dawni-Rae, Lethbridge College student and 12-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, filled with tears.

Mike Bruised Head, her uncle and a Blood Tribe Councilor, was speaking on behalf of Chief Charles Weasel Head. He had just praised Master Corporal Whitegrass’s bravery, courage and commitment to community.

“There are no words to express how much respect she demands from us,” said Bruised Head. “She has achieved in modern times our old stories of a warrior going off on a war path. The deeds and bravery she experienced and expressed make us all proud. We will tell our children about her, and [her] daughter will tell a good story about her mother.”

That story starts with a girl who grew up near Cardston on the Blood Reserve with three brothers and five sisters. As Whitegrass was completing her studies at Kainai High School in 2001, she decided to enlist in the Bold Eagle program,

which is sponsored by the Department of National Defence and provides Aboriginal youth with summer employment that offers a combination of military training and First Nations cultural awareness.

After finishing the Bold Eagle program as the top candidate in the summer of 2001, she briefly enrolled in university but then decided to pursue the Army as a career. For eight years, the Army was her life and she enjoyed the work tremendously. In November 2009, she was sent to Afghanistan. Five months after her arrival, one month before she was supposed to come home, a suicide bomber in a van packed full with 1,650 pounds of explosives detonated right in front of the vehicle she was driving.

“It killed six of my soldiers and a dozen Afghan civilians,” she recalls. “The engine from the vehicle was flying at us and I managed to avoid it. It would have killed all three of us in my vehicle.” Later, Whitegrass would learn she had broken her back and several of her ribs. But in the moment, she said her adrenaline helped her evacuate others who had been injured and killed.

Lethbridge College student injured in bombing in Afghanistan

adjusting to life as student, mother and ceremonial warrior.

HER WORK IS NOT FINISHED

9

Among the honours she has received for her actions that day are a Chief of Defence Staff Commendation in 2012 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal last February – the ceremony where her uncle’s words brought tears to her eyes.

Earlier in the same ceremony, John K. McDonald, president of the Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta, noted that “after manoeuvring her vehicle to avoid the flying engine block of the bomber’s vehicle, she maintained composure despite her injuries and remained in place to provide security and assist with the evacuation of casualties. Master Corporal Whitegrass’ courageous, decisive and controlled actions, performed before receiving treatment, brought great credit to the Canadian Forces.”

After the bombing, Whitegrass was hospitalized for a time in Kandahar, and then sent to Germany and later to Calgary, returning home on June 30, 2010. Medical appointments, rehabilitation and pregnancy filled much of her time upon her return. Her daughter was born one month early, a year to the day after the bombing in Afghanistan.

“In our culture, everything happens for a reason,” Whitegrass said. “I wasn’t supposed to make it – but I made it. The attack was on the 18th of May 2010, and my daughter Dawni-Rae was born one month early, on the 18th of May 2011. It just shows how much the Creator is in our lives.”

Among the adjustments Whitegrass made after returning from Afghanistan was filling a new role in her First Nations community. Whitegrass is a member of the Kainai, or Blood Tribe, a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which also includes the Siksika, the Peigan and the South Peigan. In some ceremonies, a warrior who has seen battle is needed to fill certain roles. Whitegrass was called upon to fill such a role in the summer of 2011, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper was made an honorary chief of the Blood Tribe, the third sitting Prime Minister to be bestowed the honour, behind Lester Pearson and John Diefenbaker.

One of the main events in the ceremony is the “capturing” of the chief-to-be, and only warriors can fill that role. The warrior Whitegrass “captured” Harper – the first woman in the history of the Blackfoot Confederacy to do so, according to Blood elders. The warrior then cites four deeds done in war or battle. Whitegrass said she talked about going overseas, about working in Afghanistan, about the day of the bombing, and about giving birth to her daughter.

“I told him ‘That’s why the Creator brought me home,’” she recalled. Then she wished all the people of the Blood Tribe the same luck, the same Creator’s grace, and said “I wish the best for you, Mr. Harper.”

She then took the prime minister to the medicine man, who painted Harper’s face and presented him with a headdress. She said she is proud to have played that ground-breaking role in her community, especially as Harper was recognized for the government’s long-awaited apology for the residential schools.

“I am happy that times have changed and women can fill these

I wasn’t supposed to make it – but I made it.

The attack was on the 18th of May 2010, and my daughter Dawni-Rae was born one month early, on

the 18th of May 2011.” — Melissa Whitegrass


roles,” she said. “I’m proud my community supports that, and proud that as a woman I can take part in these ceremonies.”

In addition to her new position in her community, Whitegrass is also adjusting to life as a student at the college. She returned to her studies in January 2012, and is studying business and accounting. It has been a slow adjustment back to civilian life – one that she wishes she did not have to make.

But at the end of the ceremony where Whitegrass received the Diamond Jubilee medal, she also announced that her 12-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces would come to an end this summer as she has received a medical release from her service.

“Believe me, I’d love to keep serving my country,” she said with new tears in her eyes. “I was planning on doing this until I was 65.”

She added that she didn’t join the army for recognition – although she appreciated the honours she has received. Instead, she said, she was simply following the path of the Bold Eagle program. After completing the program in the summer of 2001 and enlisting in the army, she went on to mentor other young people in the program. She says this experience – “becoming a role model and mentor to all troops from all walks of life” – is her greatest achievement and is something she will miss terribly.

“But my work is not finished,” she said. “I want to start contributing to my community and not just my country.”

I want to start contributing to my community and not

just my country.”— Melissa Whitegrass

Photo of Whitegrass and Harper by Todd Korol of Reuters.Additional photos above by Gregory Thiessen. Cover photo and photo below by Rob Olson.

11

I N S I G H T I N T O . . .


I N S I G H T I N T O . . .

The next pages offer a glimpse into some of the inspiring people in the Lethbridge College community. It is by no means an exhaustive list – just a slice of the diverse and moving lives our students, staff, alumni and friends are leading. Each photo is accompanied by a short story. In the cases of James Chang, Darren Eveleigh, Rod Pocza and Robin Ross, longer stories can be found online at widerhorizons.ca. If you’d like to hear more from Jeff Heggie or Anna Nemtsova, check out their videos on Lethbridge College’s homepage (and in some cases, in television commercials in your region).

If you’d like to share your own story of inspiration involving a student, staff member, alumni or friend of Lethbridge College, just email [email protected] or post your story on the college’s Facebook page.

We can’t wait to hear it.

When word went around that this issue of Wider Horizons would include articles on inspiration, we were overwhelmed with great story ideas. Lethbridge College students, staff, alumni and supporters are doing

remarkable work on campus, in their hometowns, across the province and beyond – and their friends and colleagues are quick to pass along

their praise and share their stories of success.

Watch videos from a few of these inspiring individuals with

13

Lethbridge’s Cherie Souther grew up in oilfields around the world.

So when the mother of seven children, now aged five to 24, started thinking of returning to school, she looked back to the experiences she had as a child in the Mediterranean and Canada where her father, an engineer, lived and worked. “I got a taste for it growing up,” she explains, “and I thought I’d like to give my own children that experience.”

She met with the Lethbridge College’s career counsellors and realized that a career in Geomatics Engineering Technology – work which could take her back to oilfields to survey and map the land – was the perfect fit. “They really helped me form a

picture of what the future could look like,” she says. Souther started school in the fall of 2011 and is on track to receive her diploma this spring. Her instructors and mentors call her an outstanding student.

She says her grandmother and children have been her inspiration. “My kids are inspirational because they set a good example,” she says, including one daughter who is a Red Seal hairstylist and attended the college, and another who is currently attending the college. “My grandmother was a strong woman who went on to do things she never thought she’d be able to do.”

Story by Lisa Kozleski, photo by Gregory Thiessen.

C H E R I E SOUTHER


A career in the energy sector that spans more than 30 years is bound to have had its ups and downs. To this, Rod Pocza, senior vice president of Twin Eagle Resource Management Canada, can attest.

After graduating from the college’s Business Administration program in 1975, Pocza quickly worked his way to the top of one of the biggest natural gas companies in the country. He was a pioneer in the field of natural gas marketing and trading and learned the ropes on the job.

But the last 11 years have challenged his knowledge, skill and will, he says. Two times, American parent companies declared bankruptcy, forcing his successful Canadian divisions to shut

down. Each time, he restarted from scratch, taking the new company to the top of the field. When the Enron scandal decimated the entire natural gas marketing and trading industry, he jumped on a new opportunity. After the collapse of a major Wall Street investment bank took down that company, he bounced back again.

Today, he says the key to resiliency is to never lose the desire to ask questions in a world that is constantly changing. “I went through some great times and some horrible times,” he says. “You have to have that appetite to always want to do more and learn more and keep up with what’s new and fresh.”

Story by Megan Shapka, photo by Phillip Meintzer.

R O D POCZA

15

Christine Mousir came back to school for one important reason. “I knew I needed to give my kids the best in life,” she explains. “And I knew that doing some simple job wouldn’t be enough.”

So the mother of three children now aged 9, 8 and 6, all of whom have a variety of special needs including autism and ADHD, moved from Edmonton to enrol in the Special Needs Educational Assistant program at Lethbridge College in January 2012. Although high school had been a struggle, Mousir says she was pleased that with plenty of hard work as well as support from her teachers and student services, she earned a 3.6 GPA in her first term at college. “That motivated me to keep going.”

When she finishes her studies, she’d like to work as a teaching assistant and eventually continue her education in social work. Her dream job would be working with parents of children with special needs to help them take a family-based approach to the care of their children.

It hasn’t been easy, but Mousir says she finds inspiration in her children. “Watching them facing their challenges and rise above them inspires me. My 6-year-old told me one day she was so proud of me for going to school. I feel like I am teaching them while I am teaching myself.”

Story by Lisa Kozleski, photo by Rob Olson.

C H R I S T I N E MOUSIR


When asked why he thinks his co-workers say he’s inspirational, James Chang smiles modestly and says he’s not sure. His smile grows when he hears how much his work and dedication is appreciated. Chang performs mask fit-testing for the students and faculty in all college programs that send students to practicum settings where they may be exposed to communicable diseases. Fit-testing ensures the students, faculty and patients are adequately protected from airborne illnesses.

Chang has a developmental disability, but he hasn’t let it stop him from pursing his education and work goals. He has audited classes at the college in the Office Administrationprogram and has completed the Inclusive Post-Secondary

Education program, and now he’s a college employee. “I just say ‘I can do this,’” he says.

Rita Perry (Information Specialist ‘03), Health Sciences placement specialist, says she’s inspired by Chang’s positive attitude, politeness and willingness to do his job. He has truly embraced the opportunity to work with the students and contribute meaningfully to the college. “He takes the fit-test kit home to practice to ensure he continues to get it right,” she says. “This kind of commitment and passion about a job is rare and very refreshing.”

Story by Megan Shapka, photo by Rob Olson.

J A M E S CHANG

17

Crises pervade Philip Fodchuk’s professional life.

“No one ever calls because they’re happy,” says Fodchuk, who received his Criminal Justice diploma from Lethbridge College in 1994 and went on to found the Calgary-based Urgentis Digital Crisis Solutions, a company which deals with computer crime. “They call because things are going wrong.”

Urgentis and Fodchuk have worked with companies ranging from Halliburton to the Royal Bank of Canada to the Government of Alberta providing “offensive” help – consulting, training and teaching organizations to position themselves better in a rapidly expanding digital world – as well as “defensive” help – skilled assistance with digital forensics, corporate intelligence and digital legal issues when needed.

Fodchuk spent 10 years working in the Technical Crimes Section of the Calgary police and RCMP before starting Urgentis. Leaving policing was a difficult choice – it was the one job he knew he always wanted to do. But he also saw growth and opportunity in the private sector when it came to technological crimes.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned in life is that when you think you have your path all mapped out, you’ll always be surprised where it may take you,” he says. “Be open to the world and what the people around you are trying to do to help. Be open to change, and open to wherever your path is going to go.”

Story by Lisa Kozleski, photo by Jim McNally.

P H I L I P FODCHUK


When other children were drawing cats and dogs, Anna Nemtsova (Fashion Design and Marketing ‘11) remembers drawing leopard-print body suits. For as long as she can remember, she loved fashion. But choosing it for a career seemed risky.

When she looked to Lethbridge College for career guidance, every sign pointed her to a career in the fashion industry. “But I thought, ‘I don’t know, my parents won’t like that, it’s not a real job, no one has a job in fashion.’” She applied anyway, and when she was accepted and told her parents, they were thrilled. “They told me I should have done this a long time ago, that it was perfect for me,” Nemtsova recalls. In between learning to sew, seeing her designs come to life and arranging

a practicum experience in Germany, she quickly realized that there were plenty of “real jobs” in fashion – and she’s been working nonstop since graduation.

Nemtsova says she loves designing clothes and hopes to have her own clothing line one day. In the meantime, she thrives working as a trend forecaster at the Winnipeg base of the clothing store Ricki’s. And while her designs may have moved on from leopard-print bodysuits, her current sketches may soon be gracing runways around the world.


A N N A NEMTSOVA

19

When Darren Eveleigh started working in the college’s Information Technology/Computer Services department in 2007, he never imagined he would become addicted to one of the most extreme sports out there – the Ironman Triathlon. In this competition, participants swim 2.4 miles, bicycle 112 miles, and run a full 26.2 mile marathon.

At that point in his life, the downfalls of a desk job had started to take their toll, and Eveleigh felt the need to make a serious change. So he changed his eating habits and started training for an Ironman. At that time in 2010, he couldn’t even run a block. By 2012, he competed in and completed Ironman Canada and Ironman U.K. His next goal is to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, this year.

The Ironman Triathlon “tests all of you and makes you examine yourself and what you’re capable of,” he says. “There was no way I was quitting.”

Eveleigh stresses these races are about more than the competition. They are a way to motivate people who want to keep setting their personal goals higher. And motivation is needed from many sources to keep going. “If it wasn’t for my family and friends’ support,” Eveleigh recalls, “I wouldn’t have made it through that.”

Story by Amanda Michalezki, photo by Rob Olson.

D A R R E NEVELEIGH


Robin Ross recalls driving back from the Lethbridge Airport in 1993 after one of the most rewarding experiences in his life – living and practicing karate for six months in Japan – when he saw a sign that changed his life. The sign said “Future Home of Costco”… and the 100 billion dollar global corporation has been his professional home ever since.

Ross, who received his Business Administration diploma from the college in 1992, is now the Senior Director of Corporate Marketing at the company’s headquarters outside Seattle. His first job – a part-time, entry-level position at the Lethbridge store – involved selling memberships to customers who didn’t even know what Costco was.

From there, he worked his way up to new positions in Kamloops, in Vancouver and eventually in Issaquah, Washington, where he now spends his days developing marketing strategy with his team and overseeing membership at 448 Costcos across the United States. He also supports the membership operations of Costco in the seven other countries where the company operates.

“When I reflect on my career and look at where I started and where I am now, it’s mind-boggling sometimes,” he says. “I can tell an employee who is doing the same job that I started in that there is a path to where I am now.”

Story by Lisa Kozleski, photo by France Freeman.

R O B I N ROSS

21

He spent years on the professional rodeo circuit, wrestling steers and collecting belt buckles across North America. But the most daring feat Jeff Heggie (Business Administration ’99) may have undertaken yet was giving up the security of his work as a bank manager to start his own business.

It’s the kind of dream shared by many, and Heggie turned it into a reality in 2005 with great planning, discipline and some of the skills he learned at Lethbridge College. Today, Heggie and Kodiak Mountain Stone – headquartered in Cardston with offices in Lethbridge and Calgary and a production facility in Utah – are succeeding in ways large and small.

The business has provided stone for buildings across the continent, including the recently renovated Coast Hotel and Firestone Restaurant in Lethbridge. And Heggie and his company have been recognized as “small business superstars” for supporting employee education and providing an employee library and time on the clock to read and learn.

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship has paid off for Heggie. “Being in business for myself has been a great opportunity for me,” he says. “It’s enjoyable – it’s what gets me up in the morning.”


J E F F HEGGIE


Second-year Fashion Design and Marketing student Jena Dee Murray doesn’t look for inspiration. “It just comes to me,” she says of her method of coming up with creative designs, including the dress, coat and shrug that was selected as one of the best 25 student designs in the national Telio “Canada’s Breakthrough Designers” competition in Montreal earlier this year.

“I notice the simple things,” she adds, like the way a hook shines in the light or, in the case of her Telio design, the way a chrysalis becomes a butterfly. Her Telio design received praise from the judges and fashion magazines, including the francophone Magazine Clin d’oeil, which applauded her originality.

Murray’s creative efforts extend far beyond the sewing room. The Alberta native, who won the college’s Media and Design Student Graphic Design Competition in 2012 and 2013, again designed all of the promotional materials used in the annual Collide-O-Scope fashion show in late April. After that, she is packing up her bags and heading to New York City, where she scored an internship at the flagship of designer Anna Sui, one of the most celebrated names in fashion history.

She’ll come back to finish up her last semester at Lethbridge College – and after that, she’ll wait to see where she is inspired to go next.


J E N A D E E MURRAY

23

A native of Denmark, Knud Petersen had plans to go to England as an agricultural exchange student in 1965 when a missed appointment ended up leading to an opportunity to travel, work and study in Ontario. The talented soccer and handball player said “Well, why not Canada?” and has called the country home ever since.

The college and community have benefitted from Petersen’s decision to stay.

“Knud is awesome,” says Debra Bardock (Nursing ‘92), interim co-dean of Health, Justice and Human Services and a member of the committee that selected Petersen to receive the Bachelor of Applied Arts degree at this year’s Convocation. “He is devoted to supporting and improving the wellbeing and interest of others, and he volunteers countless hours to help

many causes, both in the community and around the world. The humanitarian aspect of what he does is exemplary. The positive piece he brings to the table is incredible.”

Petersen started working in Chin, southern Alberta, on the Perry family sugar beet and potato farm in 1969. Eventually, he bought some land and became partners in the potato business with the Perrys. During those years, he also helped raise three daughters – Leslie, Nicole and Elizabeth, all of whom attended Lethbridge College. He put his own competitive soccer skills to use as a coach and referee for his daughters and their teams during the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1994, when Nicole was a student at the college, Petersen and a friend, Alvin Tietz, volunteered to establish the college’s first women’s soccer team with moral support from the college’s


athletic director, Tim Tollestrup. They helped finance the program the first few years along with sponsor Ron Sakamoto, a friend and multiple CCMA winner. During its first year, the team was undefeated and finished the season as national champions. “It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Petersen recalled in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium earlier this year, looking up at the banner that marks the team’s success. He coached at the college for two more years.

When Petersen finished coaching, he started travelling. From 1997 to 2004, he played in World Fun Cup soccer tournaments and backpacked through South America, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Central America, Europe and Africa – the trip he says “still remains the biggest and best experience of all.”

Back in Lethbridge, Petersen has been an active volunteer at a host of community organizations, including the Lethbridge Food Bank, the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA), environmental groups and more. “I just love being involved,” says Petersen. “And I think athletics and physical activity are really important – more important than most people think. Sports also foster team spirit and camaraderie and the ideal of pulling for one another.”

Petersen is scheduled to address the convocates in April. Whether he talks about wrong turns, right choices, hard work, common sense, environmental and social activism, philanthropy or the value of sports, he is sure to inspire the next generation of Lethbridge College alumni who are heading out into their own communities.


K N U D PETERSEN

Knud Petersen, the recipient of this year’s honorary degree from

Lethbridge College, says he ended up in Canada because he took

a wrong turn nearly 50 years ago. And in his case, he says that

small mistake turned into one of the best outcomes in his life.

25

Pulaski axe used by firefighters

Tranquilization guns used by

Fish and Wildlife Technology students

Telemetry equipment used for radio-collared

tracking

3D chemical structures and lab

equipment

Office intrigue

Wilbur the pig

Trail camera used to survey

animals


Jonathan Friesen (Renewable Resource Management, ‘06 and Fish and Wildlife Technology, ‘07) has a unique perspective on the wildlife and wonders collected in the Cousins Building of Lethbridge College. He remembers well the stress and satisfaction of being a student, and now, as a member of a team of lab technicians, he and his colleagues help students with equipment, labs and on field trips. They also know everything there is to know about this state-of-the-art building. Curious if it’s just a campus legend that a full-size stuffed horse is kept in the basement, or where you can find a kangaroo on campus? Jonny and his colleagues are the ones who know.

[email protected]

Outboard motor used by fisheries students

Night vision goggles

Surveying equipment

Wolf pelt and skull, one of more than

20 pelts and dozens of skulls students

use for identification purposes

Learn more about Lethbridge College Fish & Wildlife programs with

Photo by Gregory Thiessen

27

Campus in season


Southern Alberta is one of the sunniest places in Canada, and Lethbridge College

takes advantage of this with windows, skylights and glass-sided walkways

throughout campus. This hallway in the college’s Instructional Building,

which opened in October 2002, is the perfect place to sit, study and catch a

few of the sun’s glorious rays – in any season.

Photo by Rod Leland

29

From our kitchens

One of the many wonderful signs of

spring is the smell from a barbeque

wafting through the neighbourhood.

In this recipe, we take the traditional

barbequed chicken recipe and turn it on

its head (or tail, to be exact). Starting

with brine, adding a spice rub, and using

a beer can and some of its contents (or

any carbonated beverage), this recipe

results in a succulent supper. The beer,

cider or soda is used to create the internal

flavouring steam and moisture that

makes this a memorable meal. Enjoy.

IngredientsFor the brineWater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gallonKosher salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4 cupSugar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/3 cupSoy sauce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4 cupOlive oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4 cupWhole chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

For the rubPaprika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 tablespoonsLight brown sugar . . . . . . . . . . 2 tablespoonsChili powder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonKosher salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonCracked black pepper . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonGranulated garlic . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoonsGranulated onion . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoons Cumin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 teaspoon

To cook the chickenSoaked wood chips (optional) . . . ½ to 1 cupCanola oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoonsFresh thyme or rosemary . . . . . . 1 sprigMinced shallot . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Juiced lemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Recipe by Chef Charles Parker + Chef Jamie Williams

Barbequed Beer Can Chicken


MethodBrine the chicken1. Bring the water to a boil and dissolve the sugar and salt.2. Add the soy sauce and olive oil.3. Cool to room temperature. 4. Put the chicken into a large container, cover with brine and put into the refrigerator overnight.

Prepare the spice rub1. Measure the eight spices into a bowl and whisk to combine. 2. Store in an air tight container until ready to use.

Prepare the wood chips (optional)1. Soak your favourite kind of wood chips in water if you would like. The thickness of the chips will determine how long you need to soak them. Thicker chips need more time to soak up the water. 2. Put wood chips in a foil pouch and save to use later.

Roast the chicken1. Remove chicken from the brine. Trim excess fat, rinse under cold water and pat dry.2. Brush all over with oil and lemon juice. Rub spices on the outside of the chicken.

3. Sprinkle shallot and herbs inside the carcass.4. Pre-heat your oven to 375°F or your grill to high heat. 5. If using wood chips, place them on the grill until they are smoking vigorously.6. Open your favourite can of beer and pour out (or drink) one-fourth to one-half of it. 7. If you have a holder, put the can in the holder and then place the chicken on top. Without a holder, place the can in the chicken and use the legs to balance it upright on the rack.8. If grilling, turn off half the grill and place the chicken on that side. 9. Whether roasting on the grill or in the oven, cook the chicken for 1 to 1½ hours, or until a thermometer reads 77° C when inserted into the thigh.10. Remove from oven or grill and let stand for 10 minutes.11. Carve into quarters or desired cuts and enjoy.

Yields four portions.

IngredientsFor the brineWater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gallonKosher salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4 cupSugar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/3 cupSoy sauce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4 cupOlive oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4 cupWhole chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

For the rubPaprika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 tablespoonsLight brown sugar . . . . . . . . . . 2 tablespoonsChili powder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonKosher salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonCracked black pepper . . . . . . . . 1 tablespoonGranulated garlic . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoonsGranulated onion . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoons Cumin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 teaspoon

To cook the chickenSoaked wood chips (optional) . . . ½ to 1 cupCanola oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 teaspoonsFresh thyme or rosemary . . . . . . 1 sprigMinced shallot . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Juiced lemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Photo by Jonathan Ruzek

Barbequed Beer Can Chicken

Watch chef Jamie Williams make BBQ Beer Can Chicken with

31

From Monday to Friday, they masquerade as typical Lethbridge College students, staff members and alumni, going quietly about their business. But for eight Saturdays each winter, they hit the back bowls and bunny hills of Castle Mountain with very important business to do. They are the members of the Lethbridge zone of the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS). Some of them are blind, have developmental challenges or

physical limitations. Others are parents of members or volunteer instructors who provide support and individualized instruction to guide the skiers with various abilities down the mountain ski runs. All of them are skiers who love nothing more than the blue skies, soft powder and great thrills and elation that come with alpine skiing.

Kimber Norbury-Sulin (Rehabilitation Service ‘92), the college’s coordinator of the Disability and Community


Skiers of all abilities, from Lethbridge College and beyond,

make lasting memories at Castle Mountain.

Rehabilitation program, started volunteering in the early 1990s, when she was a student in the program she now runs. Her two daughters, ages 10 and 13, join her each week to become the next generation of CADS ski instructors.

“I ski with the CADS program because it’s fun and so I can volunteer and be part of a great community of people,” says Norbury-Sulin, who also is the coordinator of the college’s Fetal

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Education program. She adds that skiing with the program allows her to “share this area of human service with my daughters and together we can ski as a family and help others enjoy the sport as much as we do.”

Dean Johnson (Electronics Engineering Technology ‘85), the manager of network services at the college, has been a part of the program for about 25 years. He recalls that two of his former

Photos by Gregory Thiessen

33

ski students were college students in wheel chairs, while another one of his ski students was an able-bodied student at the college who then sustained severe physical bodily injuries and, with encouragement and support, entered the CADS program.

“I feel great when I work with a student in our program and then get to see them graduate to where they don’t need me and they can ski on their own, with their friends or family,” says Johnson.

The Lethbridge zone includes between 20 and 25 students and about 70 volunteer instructors each season. The instructors attend a two-day clinic in January to develop skills on how to support students of all ages, with various skills and abilities, some who may use adaptive equipment such as outriggers or a monoski. During the clinics, the instructors have the opportunity to ski down a mountain blind with only verbal command or in a monoski led by someone else.


To learn more about supporting this program, volunteering as an instructor or becoming an enabled ski student next season, contact Darryl Medoruma at (403) 327-7956 or email [email protected].

Access to the slopes has never been easier – or more fun.

I ski with the CADS program because it’s fun and so I can

volunteer and be part of a great community of people.”

— Kimber Norbury-Sulin

35

STARSEvery spring, as Lethbridge College grads prepare to move from the campus to their new careers, they have inspiring examples to emulate. The four 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 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

C E L E B R A T I N Go u r

D i s T i n g u i s h E D A l u M n i A W A R D

Francis First Charger (Ninnaisipistoo “Owl Chief”) Agricultural Technology, ‘82

This year’s distinguished alumnus is Francis First Charger, a familiar face in southern Alberta and respected leader in the First Nations community. He is recognized as a Blackfoot elder according to traditional Blackfoot protocol and is the owner and manager of his own consultancy group.

First Charger is known for his work with youth, students and the Blood Tribe community and is frequently called on as a guest speaker on the topics of education, the environment and cultural relevance locally, regionally and throughout North America. His community contributions range from work on affordable housing initiatives with the City of Lethbridge to the successful coordination of the “First Nations’ Land Use Certificate Program” with 12 graduates from Red Crow Community College to the effective oversight of the construction phase of the $66.5 million Blood Tribe irrigation project between 1990 and 2000.

“Francis can be counted on for his Elder advisory role and for his support and

attendance at important community events, including the name-giving ceremony at Lethbridge College for Dr. Tracy Edwards,” wrote Marie Smallface-Marule, President of Red Crow Community College. He has served as a First Nations advisor to Dr. Edwards, to Lethbridge College’s FNMI Services, the Aboriginal Council of Lethbridge, the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural Society and numerous other Aboriginal organizations and departments within the city of Lethbridge.

His work teaching community members about learning opportunities, cultural awareness and traditions of the Blackfoot people “has promoted the wealth of diversity within the community and promotes natural heritage of the region,” wrote Dr. Gary Bowie, chair of Social Housing in Action, and Diane Randell, manager of the city’s community and social development group. He has been praised by many for his wisdom, teaching and advice in helping to build a welcoming and inclusive community.


C A R E E R V i R T u o s o A W A R D William (Bill) Peters • Fish and Wildlife, ’79

C o M M u n i T y l E A D E R A W A R D Barbara D. Hofman • Business Administration and Accounting, ’78

R i s i n g s T A R A W A R D Matthew Jubelius • NESA Nursing, ’06

Bill Peters has been recognized for working tirelessly in a distinguished career of conserving valuable wildlife and fisheries resources in the province and across the country. He works as a fish and wildlife enforcement manager, engaging in field operations with officers and support staff members who are stationed within his area – Evansburg, Edson, Hinton and Grand Cache fish and wildlife districts.

Peters has been honoured for his outstanding achievement both local and globally, including being named Officer of the Year by the Government of Alberta in 1988 and by two international organizations in 1989, the North American Wildlife Officer’s Association and the Shikar Safari. He has been praised for his ethics and value system and is recognized as an outstanding mentor, supervisor and trainer.

In her nominating letter, Sharie Cousins, a former colleague, wrote that Peters “humbly attributes his successes to the quality of relations that he has developed with the field enforcement officers he has worked with, and to the strong support he continues to receive from his family.”

Many Lethbridge College alumni have benefitted from his experience and instruction and he promotes post-secondary education in general – and Lethbridge College in particular – to would-be professional field officers. His colleagues note that his level of personal commitment to resource conservation is seldom matched, and that his achievements and efforts will serve to protect the province’s fish and wildlife resources for years to come.

Barbara D. Hofman has been recognized for showing the true spirit of community service and for demonstrating initiative, leadership and creativity. She has operated her own accounting business for more than 25 years while holding a full slate of volunteer positions.

“Barb’s efforts have improved many lives,” wrote Ty Oler in his nominating letter. “Her unselfish giving has helped those in need. Her involvement in realizing recreation facility development, like spray parks, has touched thousands of people by improving their lifestyle activity.”

Hofman was one of the original members of the Nobleford Environmental Recreation and Parks Committee and served on the Local Advisory Council at Noble Central School. She has also been active in her church and is the founder of the 2009 Nobleford Parks and Recreation Society. This group has seen great success in just three years, raising funds needed to build a new park in the heart of the community that meets the needs of visitors of all ages. She has been described as a role model who inspires others by example.

Matthew Jubelius is a Registered Nurse with experience in cardiovascular intensive care and is currently the manager of health simulation at Medicine Hat College. Under his guidance and expertise, the simulation centre has expanded to include several health programs including the Nursing and Paramedic diploma programs. He has also been praised for streamlining the way the laboratory spaces are used to make the centre more efficient for faculty and students.

Rene Hemenway, an instructional designer at Medicine Hat College, wrote that Jubelius “takes his role as an educator very seriously…[and] his energy and drive in the field

of education has helped to improve the experience and expertise of his co-workers as well as advance the education of the many students using the simulation lab.”

Jubelius’ colleagues and supervisors note that he always shows great leadership and enthusiasm in his work, and generously shares his knowledge and insights. In addition, they say he genuinely cares for the students of Medicine Hat College and he helps students strive toward excellence every day by setting an example of unparalleled excellence himself.

37

My perspective

Jeff nielsen lives in Coaldale and is a nutritional consultant with Nutri-Source, a company he co-founded in 2005. He has been sponsoring the Nutri-Source Inc. Endowment since 2011, which supports students in the college’s Agricultural Technology program.

There are a lot of little reasons why we decided to establish this scholarship, and three big ones. First, agriculture is a big, big industry, but people are leaving their family farms and not going to school in agriculture or thinking about careers in agriculture. We wanted to make sure that people who go into agriculture can stay in the program and get a good education.

Second, I went through university and know what it’s like to live as a

student. I had the privilege of receiving a scholarship and I remember what it meant for me.

Finally, I wanted to be an example to other businesses and encourage them to support learning and education and to give as well.

Choosing Lethbridge College was easy. The college is a part of our community. We knew the college and respected the people there and the organization. There are not many facilities that have good agricultural programs and we wanted to make sure the program was strong. We knew the college was a good one to go to.

W H AT I N S P I R E D YO U

T O S U P P O R T S T U D E N T AWA R D S

A N D S C H O L A R S H I P S

AT L E T H B R I D G E C O L L E G E ?

W I D E R H O R I Z O N S a s k e d :


steve Meszaros lives in Lethbridge and graduated from the college’s Business Administration program in 1976. He is a founder and owner of Avonlea homes and sponsors the Steve Meszaros International Bursary to support international students. Lethbridge College gave me my start in life and I feel an obligation to give back. I come from humble beginnings – my family and I came from Hungary after escaping the 1956 revolution. I came to love Canada, and love it more every time I travel. Its beauty and opportunities are endless. I want to help young people become Canadians and add their strong work ethic and values to our country. My generation is heading for retirement. We must help in replenishing our labour force and fill the shoes left empty.

We have seen extreme and rapid growth in our energy and construction industries in Alberta in the past decade. Alberta is on the brink of yet another surge in oil sands expansion, pipeline construction, wind, natural gas and electrical energy production. We will need tens of thousands of new people to fill jobs in these sectors in the next 10-20 years. Putting our heads in the sand and saying “it won’t be my problem” because we will be retired is not the answer. Our federal and provincial governments have already started by beginning to relax immigration requirements for skilled workers wanting to immigrate to Canada. Lethbridge College needs your help, too. Call the Advancement office and see where you or your company can make a difference by funding student scholarships and awards.

Jo hillman retired with her husband to Lethbridge in 2002 and has worked part-time at the Lethbridge College Bookstore since 2011. Her husband, Jay, passed away in 2008 and she first looked into student awards as a way to honour his memory. She sponsors the Jay G. Hillman Sr. Award and the Elizabeth Hay Award.

I looked into scholarships and awards at Lethbridge College when I started looking at a way to create a living legacy for my husband, Jay. He was Métis, and worked in the mining industry as a trainer in the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment, so the award goes to an FNMI student working in the Agriculture and Heavy Equipment Technician program. He had a passion for training and sharing his knowledge. I think he would have been very proud to have an award in his name.

The second award is in memory of my aunt. Born in Yorkshire, she began her career in book selling at the age of 14. She eventually owned and operated a successful bookstore. My aunt gave 100 per cent of her time to the bookstore, and at different times gave jobs to seven of her nieces and nephews – including me – while we attended school and college. What better way to remember her than an award for print journalism students?

I suppose my aunt and my husband are the two people who inspired me most in my life. They both overcame great obstacles and were very successful in life and work. While working in the Lethbridge College Bookstore, I realized just how much the cost of post-secondary education is for students. I wanted to be able to help in some way.

39

Q&A

Q&

Wider Horizons: international Trucks are a bit of a family tradition, aren’t they?

george Kirkham: Yes they are. My father worked for International Trucks for almost 40 years, and I’ve worked with new trucks during the day and old trucks at night and on the weekends for more than 35 years. My younger daughter is working in the parts department right now and is working in the registered apprenticeship program offered through her high school. My older daughter is studying to be a nurse and comes out to our parades, shows and other events.

Wh: What’s the story behind the little blue pickup truck?

gK: My younger daughter was 13-years-old and this 1960 blue and white International B-100 truck was sitting out back. She spent two years begging me to restore it with her. So we spent 9-1/2 months on it – even getting the wide whites (wide white-walled tires). Some days were kind of challenging and a lot of days were fun. My daughter knew what she wanted, and we worked toward that goal together.

Wh: Why is this 1929 Boulder Dam truck so special?

gK: This very likely was one of the trucks that built the Boulder Dam – what’s now known as the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 – International made a movie about it in the 1930s. We believe it to be one of the trucks that worked on the dam. Only 139 of this model were built and there were lots of them on the dam – it was the heaviest truck that International ever built at that time.

AWITH GEORGE KIRKHAMWider Horizons asked George Kirkham, the owner of Southland International

Trucks Ltd., to talk about his incredible history collection and museum filled

with International trucks, the largest of its kind in western Canada. Kirkham has

restored many of the 49 antique trucks in his collection himself and is eager to

share his knowledge and enthusiasm with friends and family alike.


Photos by Gregory Thiessen

Wh: Why do you think people take the time to restore old vehicles?

gK: I think that with a lot of people, the real reason they do this is to bring them back to a place or time in their childhood. As a kid and young teenager, I always wanted a little Scout pickup. And now I have one – my wife’s favourite truck. I know lots of people who, when they do this stuff, they said “Oh we had this when I was a kid.” It takes them back to what they perceive now as a happier time in their life.

Wh: What inspired you to support the college with your company’s recent gift?

gK: I wasn’t a great student in high school. I did take some upgrading and business administration courses at the college but dropped out. But I did learn public speaking skills then, and learned about debits and credits and simple accounting – skills I still use today. In addition, between 10 to 20 per cent of the parts people and technicians who work at Southland use the college for apprenticeship training, night training or other kinds of training. It was a good fit.

Wh: how much time do you spend on this part of your work?

gK: It’s a lot of weekends, and sometimes three or four hours a night after work. My wife and kids are very understanding. We’ve always shown the trucks together. When we do our open house, they’re all there. When we do parades and shows, they’re all there. It’s a family affair.

Turn the page to read more about the recent gift to Lethbridge College from George Kirkham and Southland International Trucks.

41

News and notes

Lethbridge College announced a $100,000 gift in February from Southland International Trucks Ltd.

The gift will create an annual student award for parts technician training and support the college’s Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project (TTRIP) through the establishment of the Southland International Trucks Ltd. Heavy Equipment Bay within the Crooks School of Transportation.

“Partnering with Lethbridge College is a great fit for us, as a typical year usually sees about 20 per cent of my staff taking apprenticeship training and other programming at the college,” says Southland International Trucks Ltd. owner George Kirkham. “Supporting the education of the people who work for me and utilize my business is incredibly important to me as it works towards meeting the demand of skilled tradespeople within our community and province.”

The creation and ongoing support of partnerships like the one announced in late February change the learning experience of Lethbridge College students for the better. The college’s collaboration with Southland will make a difference to individual students as well as to all students involved in heavy equipment technician and parts technician training and other trades programs. Alliances like this further enhance the college’s goal of providing the best education and training

possible to today’s students and tomorrow’s professionals.

“Lethbridge College continues to work with industry leaders like Southland International Trucks Ltd. to forge partnerships that further our vision of providing world-class education and training through our commitment to excellence and innovation,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns. “As so many of our alumni attest, providing opportunities to gain tangible practice in their chosen professions can shape their futures for the better. And building relationships across a broad spectrum has provided the college with stability and support and ensured the institution will be heading in a good direction for decades to come.”

Southland International Trucks Ltd. was founded in 1985 and owner George Kirkham has more than 30 years in the industry. The company is the longest running truck and trailer dealership in Lethbridge. Southland International Trucks Ltd. boasts transportation packages to suit all needs, as well as 14 repair bays, two dedicated lube bays and an easy access parts inventory.

George Kirkham has the largest International history collection and museum in western Canada including over 45 International antique trucks that he has restored and showcases annually.

Photo by Rod Leland

SOuTHlAND INTErNATIONAl TruCKS lTD. GIVES $100,000 TO lETHBrIDGE COllEGE


lETHBrIDGE COllEGE INTErIM PrESIDENT AND CEO ArrESTED

On Jan. 18, Lethbridge police arrested Peter Leclaire, then Lethbridge College interim President and CEO, for a good cause. The Canadian Cancer Society was hosting its annual Jail-N-Bail and Leclaire was more than willing to take part. The charges read were as follows:

Peter Leclaire, you are charged with harassing the government and loitering at the college day and night by the Jail-N-Bail committee. You will be sentenced by the dishonourable judge and your bail will be set. You will be sentenced to a minimum of one hour of fundraising. You have the right to make as many phone calls as you need to, to raise your bail as donations, on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society. Anything you say should be used to gain pledges. You have the right to consult a Jail-N-Bail attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the least capable one will be provided for you.

The Canadian Cancer Society Jail-N-Bail is all in fun. Each year, the city’s typically upstanding citizens find themselves under arrest. They go before a “judge” at the event and then spend time in “jail” while raising “bail” in donations for the fight against cancer. Leclaire raised $3,305 during his stint in jail, and finished as the second highest fundraiser in Lethbridge.

lETHBrIDGE HOME BuIlDErS AND lETHBrIDGE COllEGE: BuIlDING FuTurES TOGETHEr

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association Lethbridge Region (CHBA) announced a unique partnership with Lethbridge College at its annual Building the Best Awards banquet on Feb. 1. Over the next five years, CHBA will partner with its suppliers and tradespeople to build two homes per year and have the proceeds from the sales of each go towards the Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project (TTRIP) at Lethbridge College.

“The proposed partnership met with enthusiastic support from our CHBA members,” says Stephen Amonson, the 2012 CHBA Lethbridge Region President. “Partnering with Lethbridge

College is a great fit for our organization and all of its members. We’re excited for this partnership and hoping to raise upwards of three-quarters of a million dollars through this project.”

It is planned that the homes will be unveiled each year at the CHBA’s Parade of Homes in Lethbridge, which takes place from Sept. 13 to 29 this year. “We’re pleased to be creating this partnership with the Canadian Home Builders Association as it is in direct alignment with several of our existing programs,” says Peter Leclaire, who at the time of the announcement was Interim President and CEO. “A number of CHBA members are alumni of Lethbridge College and countless employees have done their apprenticeship training at the college.” Lethbridge College will further its commitment to promote accessible post-secondary education by donating a $2,500 tuition credit to the home buyer for each of the ten homes.

COllEGE lAuNCHES FACEBOOK COMPlIMENTS PAGE

Lethbridge College launched a compliments page on Facebook in December.

The page was created as a way for students and college community members to enhance the lives of those around them by sharing short, anonymous messages of encouragement and admiration in a creative and positive fashion. To access the page go to lethbridgecollege.ca/compliments or Facebook.com/LethbridgeCollegeCompliments. To post on the compliments page, students or staff just need to send a message to the page and it will be posted anonymously.

The page was launched during the final week of classes for the fall 2012 semester, just before final exams. College officials hoped that launching the compliments page during that busy time might lift the spirits of students and staff during what is typically a stressful time of year.

The idea behind the compliments Facebook page is based on a compliments page started by four students at Queen’s University this past September. Since the initial page was created, more than 50 other post-secondary institutions have followed suit.

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KODIAKS IN ACTION

Lethbridge College athletes racked up quite a few successes this past season. Highlights from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference include:

• The men’s golf team received the gold medal while Luke Meadows-Birch received a bronze medal in the individual championship.• The men’s cross-country running team received the silver medal.• The men’s basketball team finished 4th overall.• The men’s volleyball team finished 6th overall.• The woman’s volleyball team finished 11th overall.• The women’s basketball team finished 11th overall.

In addition, several students received all conference awards, including Robert Olsen and Jared Baker for men’s basketball; Sidney Carlson for woman’s basketball; Cole Runge and Joa Markotic for men’s soccer; Vitor Macedo and Nic Brisbane for men’s volleyball; and William Clack and Solomon Ngetich for men’s cross country. Congratulations to all Kodiaks for another great year of athletics and academics.

ANNuAl BlOOD DrIVE GOAlS MET AGAIN

It came down to the last hours, but Lethbridge College met its goals for this year’s blood drive.

A total of 254 pints of blood – four more than the college’s goal – were given by Lethbridge College students, alumni, staff and community supporters in November’s Race for Life. That translates into more than 760 lives saved by college donors. Thanks to all who helped the college achieve this goal. And for those keeping track – the students again beat the staff. The final total in the friendly competition was 172 pints from students/alumni and 82 pints by faculty/staff.

NOMINATIONS FOr DISTINGuISHED AluMNI NOW ACCEPTED yEAr-rOuND

It’s not too early to submit your nominations for Lethbridge College Distinguished Alumni. Nominations are now being accepted all year long.

Four awards are given each year. The Distinguished Alumni Award was established in 1992 to commemorate the college’s 35th anniversary. This prestigious award is intended to recognize college graduates who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers, made a significant contribution to their communities and demonstrated service to the college and its students. This award is presented annually to an individual who has clearly demonstrated commitment and excellence in service to the individual’s career, the community and the college.

To commemorate Lethbridge College’s 50th anniversary, three new alumni recognition awards were established to recognize the successes and contributions of additional graduates. The Community Leader Award is presented to alumni who, regardless of where they performed their good deeds, have made contributions to their communities through their work or personal interests. Award winners are those with the drive to improve the lives of fellow citizens. The Career Virtuoso Award is presented to alumni who have made significant contributions to their professional fields through their diligence, talent and dedication. They are the inventors, creators and leaders who find new paths to excellence and bring prominence to their chosen fields. Their career path has shown a steady rise towards success which is recognized by their peers and in their industry. The Rising Star Award is awarded to those who, within 10 years of graduation from Lethbridge College, have left trails of success as they hurtle above the crowd to claim their places as driven innovators in their professions.

The deadline is usually in late December or January each year, and awards are usually presented just before Convocation in April. Questions can be directed to the Office of Alumni Relations at 403-329-7220 or at [email protected].

News and notes

STARSEvery spring, as Lethbridge College grads prepare to move from the campus to their new careers, they have inspiring examples to emulate. The four 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 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

C E L E B R A T I N Go u r

D i s t i n g u i s h e D A l u m n i A w A r D

Francis First Charger (Ninnaisipistoo “Owl Chief”) Agricultural Technology, ‘82

This year’s distinguished alumnus is Francis First Charger, a familiar face in southern Alberta and respected leader in the First Nations community. He is recognized as a Blackfoot elder according to traditional Blackfoot protocol and is the owner and manager of his own consultancy group.

First Charger is known for his work with youth, students and the Blood Tribe community and is frequently called on as a guest speaker on the topics of education, the environment and cultural relevance locally, regionally and throughout North America. His community contributions range from work on affordable housing initiatives with the city of Lethbridge to the successful coordination of the “First Nations’ Land Use Certificate Program” with 12 graduates from Red Crow Community College to the effective oversight of the construction phase of the $66.5 million Blood Tribe irrigation project between 1990 and 2000.

“Francis can be counted on for his Elder advisory role and for his support and

attendance at important community events, including the name-giving ceremony at Lethbridge College for Dr. Tracy Edwards,” wrote Marie Smallface-Marule, President of Red Crow Community College. He served as a First Nations advisor to Dr. Edwards, to Lethbridge College’s FNMI Services, the Aboriginal Council of Lethbridge, the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural Society and numerous other Aboriginal organizations and departments within the city of Lethbridge.

His work teaching community members about learning opportunities, cultural awareness and traditional ceremonies of the Blackfoot people “has promoted the wealth of diversity within the community and promotes natural heritage of the region,” wrote Dr. Gary Bowie, chair of Social Housing in Action and Diane Randell, manager of the city’s community and social development group. He has been praised by many for his wisdom, teaching and advice to build a welcoming and inclusive community.



COllEGE STuDENTS WIN lOCAl, PrOVINCIAl AWArDS

A numbers of Lethbridge College students have recently been named winners of local and provincial awards, including:

• Students Cole Black Water of the Blood Tribe – Kainai and Jorgia Robinson of the Siksika Nation, who won ATCO FNMI student awards this year. ATCO is encouraging all eligible FNMI college students to apply for this annual award.

• Nursing student Robyn Donst, who received a UNA Nursing Education Scholarship in March. UNA marked its 35th anniversary of its founding in 2012, and in honour of that, the organization chose to give awards to 11 first-year nursing students from across Alberta.

• stefanie Dunn, a second year Broadcast Journalism student, who was chosen by the college as the 2013 recipient of the Troy Reeb Internship. The internship includes two weeks with Global Television: one week in Toronto and one week in another large market. Dunn will experience first- hand knowledge of the inner workings of a national news studio and what goes into the daily production of each show. Students compete for the internship by providing a story proposal, résumé and their academic record. Candidates are then interviewed by Troy via Skype and by the Troy Reeb Internship Selection Committee, which is comprised of Communication Arts faculty members, Alumni Relations staff and a member of the Alumni Advisory Council.

• Bobbie gaw, a second year Advertising/Public Relations student and resident assistant on campus, who received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award. Gaw was nominated by the Advancing Futures Bursary and received the award for the counseling and assistance she provides residents as well as for the “inspiration” she has been to other foster children. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal is awarded to individuals who make a major contribution to their community and/or province.

• Culinary apprentice Katie overbeeke (Culinary Careers ‘11), who was named the top cook in the province earlier this year. Alberta’s Top Apprentice Awards honour the apprentices in each trade who achieved the highest overall marks in their final period of training, and received strong employer recommendations. This is the second time in three years that a college student was named top Alberta apprentice cook.

“WHO NEEDS VEGAS? DEAlING WITH uNCErTAINTy IN AGrICulTurE”

Lethbridge College’s annual Tiffin Conference, held this year on Jan. 16, was another sold-out success. This year’s conference examined topics that centre on the uncertainty in the 21st century of agriculture.

A wide array of specialists spoke on varied topics throughout the day, including Kevin Hursh, an agricultural consultant, journalist and farmer. Hursh serves as editor for the national magazine AgriSuccess and writes a weekly column for The Western Producer. He presented on government policy, consumer ignorance and farm economics. Dr. Danny Klinefelter, a professor and extension economist at Texas A&M University who specializes in agricultural finance and management development, presented on the 12 best management practices. And keynote speaker Bill Johnson, who helped the golden arches reach new heights as president and CEO of McDonald’s Canada, presented “Conversations with Bill.” This speech included stories about his experience as president and CEO of McDonald’s during a challenging and transitional time for the company.

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.

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DOGGy DE-STrESS rOOM HuGE SuCCESS

Lethbridge College students and staff were treated to cute and cuddly bundles of stress relief just before finals last December. The new pet therapy program – a Doggy De-Stress Room – started with the visit of a puppy to one of the college’s residences and ended with more than 400 students and staff experiencing some puppy love on campus. Staff members brought in their dogs to take part in the program, and volunteers staffed the room throughout the days before finals. Students and staff came in to play with the pups and take a break from the frantic pace of life – and for some students, homesickness – that can come in December. The experience was such a success that organizers were planning to repeat it during the final exam period in April.

PrOSPECTIVE STuDENTS INVITED TO MAKE lETHBrIDGE COllEGE THEIr “HOME FOr THE WEEKEND”

Students who are considering attending Lethbridge College in 2014 or later, as well as high school counsellors who would like to learn more about the college, are invited to the college’s “Your Home for the Weekend” event on July 12 and 13.

“Your Home for the Weekend” is a chance for prospective students and their families (and high school counsellors) to spend the weekend in residence at Lethbridge College and check out the college and its different program areas. Participants check in Friday night and can attend a meet-and-greet hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations. Saturday includes breakfast, tours and answers to all the questions participants may have. Representatives from Chinook Country Tourist Association will be on hand to recommend regional tourist destinations participants won’t want to miss. Participants can also build a vacation around their Lethbridge College visit and stay additional nights before or after the weekend starting at $20/night. Contact the Recruitment Team for more details or to sign up at [email protected] or 1-800-572-0103 ext. 3322.

NISOD AWArD WINNErS ANNOuNCED

Karen O’Dwyer, Dean of the Centre for Teaching Learning and Innovation, and Calvin Whitehead, electrical instructor and chair of the School of Construction Trades, were named the recipients of the 2012-13 NISOD Excellence in Learning Leadership Award. The awards recognize members of the faculty, staff and administration who have made outstanding accomplishments in improving student learning. Both have demonstrated commendable learning leadership that supports the values of the college.

“It is a privilege to work with colleagues to create and foster an environment that serves and inspires learners,” says O’Dwyer. “The collective effort of faculty, staff and administration committed to rigorous standards, professionalism and innovation leads to quality learning experiences and lifelong learning. My inspiration comes from the success of our learners and those who work directly with them.”

Whitehead adds that “In my position as chair, I am privileged each day for the opportunity to enhance the student experience and to assist in my colleagues’ reaching their goals. I try to be accessible to students and staff alike, striving to create a positive learning environment by being available, listening and offering guidance.”

AACTI AWArDS COllEGE rESEArCH TEAM $9,000 FOr AlGAE STuDy

In January, the Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes awarded Biology instructor Tom Graham and research team Phytocentric Biotech Inc. based out of Lethbridge and Vancouver a $9,000 grant to continue their research on algae strains.

The applied research project, titled “Transformation and Gene Expression in the Development of Enhanced Bio-remediation Algae Strains,” aims to alter genes that these organisms already had to make the algae able to separate carbon dioxide better and more naturally from the environment. The testing of phase two that started in January included an innovative way to study products produced by algae such as fatty acids and carbohydrates to try and reduce the ecological footprint left over by emissions.

News and notes


MErlE FullErMerle Fuller, an instructor in the Criminal Justice program and a 1982 Lethbridge College alumni from the Law Enforcement program, has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He had been nominated by the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) for significant contributions to public safety in Canada over the last 31 years. As a retired police officer for the Lethbridge Regional Police Service with over 25 years of service, Fuller has been teaching in a variety of different fields at Lethbridge College. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and taught in the Faculty of Health and Justice: Criminal Justice. In 2006, he began teaching General Studies and currently teaches first- and second-year Sociology and Psychology courses, in addition to being the Chair of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for the last two years.

TErry KOWAlCHuK With experience in one hand and education in the other, Terry Kowalchuk has put his knowledge of science and his practical field skills to good use as a teacher and student. Last year, Kowalchuk, the chair of the college’s School of Environmental Sciences, earned his PhD in Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. He accomplished this doctoral work while working fulltime at the college, a move that he says was difficult but worthwhile. Kowalchuk says his keen interest in what he was studying made him that much more determined to keep going. “It’s really rewarding to figure out the answers to questions that are unknown to everyone,” he says, “and being able to see the effects and impact that human activity has on our environment helps us move forward as a society.” Throughout his exploration, he specialized in studying pintail duck habitat selection and breeding performance in landscapes with varying degrees of human development. “We understand better the impacts we are having on the environment in terms of wildlife success,” he says. Kowalchuk’s work stretched over four years and benefitted over 20 of the college’s past students who worked as research assistants on his project. In the near future, Kowalchuk plans on wrapping up this phase of his research pursuits by publishing his findings. His next research project is already being developed.

SCOTT lEHBAuErScott Lehbauer started out as a temporary lab technician at Lethbridge College in 2000 and always knew he wanted to go on either to medical school or to finish his master’s degree in science. Last year, Lehbauer accomplished one of those goals and completed his Masters of Science degree at the New York Chiropractic College. An instructor of anatomy, physiology and gerontology and chair of developmental education, Lehbauer praised his mentors at the college who gave him the support he needed to finish the degree. He completed his degree online while spending some time in New York throughout his course and said the most interesting experience he had while completing his degree was the dissection aspect of learning anatomy.

SHANNON MAASSShannon Maass, an Articulation Specialist at the college, completed her Bachelor of Management degree from the University of Lethbridge in December. She had previously received her diploma in Business Administration from Lethbridge College and has been praised by her colleagues for doing very important work for students and faculty. SANDy VANDErBurGH Results from Dr. Sandy Vanderburgh’s long-term coastal study have recently been published in The Journal of Coastal Research. During his research, Dr. Vanderburgh, dean for the Centre for Applied Arts and Sciences, looked at the geology of beaches from northern Oregon and southern Washington state that get their supply of sand from the Columbia River. His recent research focused on the Columbia River floodplain from Portland, Oregon, to where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Vanderburgh set out to find out how and when the floodplains were formed. This would give planners and scientists a better understanding of the link between the Columbia River that supplies sand to the coast and the coastal beaches. His research shows that some of the deposits preserved in the floodplains came from surrounding volcanoes in the Portland region. In the past, when local volcanoes erupted, the deposits found their way into the river systems and were stored in the Columbia River. This provided valuable and unique information about where the deposits came from and the age of the floodplains.

AWArDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS By COllEGE STAFF MEMBErS ANNOuNCEDBy Amanda Michalezki

In addition to their regular work as Lethbridge College staff, many members of the college community have been busy completing additional degrees and receiving local, regional and national honours for their community involvement.

A few of those on campus who have recently received new degrees, honours and awards include:

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My life

TA N YA VA I R H I N E S

I have been inspired to live my life by Gandhi’s words: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

The inspiration to enter the nursing profession began long before I enrolled in the nursing program at Lethbridge College. I was seemingly born into nursing, with both my mother, a recipient of the Heritage of Service Award for Nursing Excellence, and my paternal grandmother having been Registered Nurses. From this lineage I acquired an innate sense of compassion and a desire to help, comfort, and continually acquire knowledge so that I, too, could make a difference as a nurse.

I now have over 20 years of service in the nursing profession between my time in Alberta and Texas. I have worked pediatrics, NICU, intensive care, long-term care, homecare, community health and in a rural hospital. The experiences I’ve had in these various areas helped make me the nurse I am today.

In 2004, opportunity came knocking on the door at the recently opened Community Cancer Centre in Drayton Valley. It enticed me because it was a new opportunity to widen my horizons. I took the leap and never looked back. Twenty-one years ago, I would have never imagined oncology would be in

my future. Nor did I realize how complex and challenging it would be or the degree of compassion necessary considering that these patients are all fighting for their lives.

As the primary nurse at the CCC, I collaborate with physicians and other treatment team members to ensure a continuum of care for the patients. Among the nurses I coordinate the sharing of knowledge, treatment strategies and resources. I thrive on developing the smoothest journey possible for the patients as they go through their cancer care, making life easier and services more available for the people in my community and outlying area.

This challenging work has forever changed me as a nurse; all of my patients have left a mark on my life. The scope and duration of cancer care, including chemotherapy, palliative care and survivorship, allows me to develop relationships of trust with my patients and their families. The engagement of patient families and peer groups is integral to helping the patients through this difficult time. At times it has been impossible to set my own emotions aside as I journey with the patients through this fight of their life. I comfort and encourage them; I laugh with them; I cry with them. I witness their incredible strength and courage; they inspire me. This has been the most challenging and rewarding job of my career. It fulfills my goal of service to humanity and to strive to be the change I want to see in the world.

Tanya Vair Hines is a registered nurse who was born and raised in Medicine Hat. She currently lives on an Alberta ranch with her husband and their three active teenagers. She graduated from the nursing program at Lethbridge College in 1992 and now works in the Community Cancer Centre in Drayton Valley. She received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal this year for the commitment and contributions she has made to her community and profession. Wider Horizons asked her to write about finding inspiration – and being inspirational – in her work.

( l e f t ) TANYA WITH PATIENT, GWEN MELNYK.

( r igh t )RECEIV ING THE QUEEN’S D IAMOND JUBILEE IN 2013 .


lyle,Fish and Wildlife Officer, Cardston, ABStudied: Renewable Resource Management (1974)

Kyle, Fish and Wildlife Officer, Smoky Lake, AB Studied: Conservation Enforcement (1999)

shawn, Transport Officer, Balzac, ABStudied: Conservation Enforcement (2001)

scott, Conservation Officer, Red Deer, ABStudied: Conservation Enforcement (2003)

Are you a multi-generational Lethbridge College family?

We are looking for stories of families where at least three members across one or more generations attended Lethbridge College. Email [email protected] to tell us about your family affair.

Lyle Lester is an alumnus of the Renewable Resource Management program at Lethbridge College. When he was looking for a college in the early ‘70s, Lethbridge College was one of the few schools offering the training he wanted. His education gave him the skills he needed to launch a successful career as a fish and wildlife officer – and his three sons have followed in his footsteps.

Lyle says it wasn’t a surprise to him when Kyle, Shawn and Scott decided to attend the college to become enforcement officers as well. Growing up with their father working as a fish and wildlife officer gave them ample opportunity to meet people in the field and fuelled their interest in joining his line of work. And their southern Alberta roots meant they were happy to have the opportunity to complete their degrees close to home.

Lyle says Lethbridge College has established a good reputation for conservation enforcement education in industry. “Through my work I have always maintained a relationship with the college,” he says. “I am certainly an advocate for the program.”

THE LESTER FAMILYBy Megan shapka

It’s a family affair

THE LESTER FAMILY

(back) SCOTT

( l - r ) KYLE , LYLE ,

SHAWN.

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Widen your horizon

“Not many people have a job where they get to garden at work,” smiles Penny Takahashi (Renewable Resource Management ‘03), Aquaculture Technician in Lethbridge College’s Aquaculture Centre of Excellence. And although her speciality is aquaponics gardening – a fairly high-tech and environmentally friendly approach to growing food – many techniques she uses can be applied at home.

“Even people who live in high rises or have no outdoor decks can garden. You can do it in your home, backyard or on the deck,” says Takahashi. You can even garden in a greenhouse in the winter if you have a heat source and LED lights.

Takahashi finds that lettuce is among the easiest plants to germinate, while spinach can be trickier to coax into production. “I do well with root vegetables; beets and yellow onions grow well and radishes, too,” says Takahashi. She adds that advanced gardeners may enjoy experimenting with new types of plants or creating large-scale aquaponics projects to produce trout to eat along with their vegetables.

But for gardeners of all levels of experience, Takahashi suggests increasing your harvest by purchasing seeds from a commercial grower. Try to find seeds with a guaranteed germination rate of at least 75 per cent, she says,

and check the date on the seed package to make sure they are not more than two years old.

Don’t kill those ladybugs in your garden, she adds. They kill aphids. Bio-controls, like ladybugs, which can be purchased online from retailers, are natural predators that attack pests. Using natural predators cuts down on chemical use in your garden. You can also try complementary planting to keep bugs away. Seeding an eggplant among your beans distracts pesky thrips from munching on your legumes. Planting beans with corn enhances nitrogen content in the soil.

Or use fish to fertilize your crops. All you need are a couple of aquarium pumps, two plastic totes, and a few pet-store fish to get started. You’ll find plenty of introductory demos online,

and “Introduction to Aquaponics and Aquaculture” at Lethbridge College on Oct. 25 and 26 can give

you more in-depth learning.

While aquaponic gardening conserves water by recycling it from your plants back to the fish, all gardeners can lower water bills by using rain barrels to catch water. There is a lot to learn when it comes to gardening. Fortunately, you’ll find information online, at your local garden centre and from continuing education classes. “That’s the fun part,” she

says, “researching and seeing what you can create.”

Growing great gardens By Jane Harris-Zsovan

Photo by Rob Olson50 • WIDER Horizons/Spring 2013

Tell us some things that people don’t know about the Yukon.Horses are a great way to travel in the mountains here. There’s not a lot of brush and growth, so once you get up high, it’s a beautiful way to see the country. Describe an inspiring day on the job for you.I remember being up high in the mountains, with the horses and some clients and a friend who was working for us, and we came up over a bend and came on some Dall sheep – and I thought “I can’t believe we’re getting paid for this.”

Any unexpected challenges about working for yourself (or about working in the great outdoors)?You have to be able to adapt – both in business and out in the bush.

Why should someone choose a vacation in northern Canada?We have so much daylight in the summer – you have more hours to enjoy the wilderness and scenery. Campfire coffee: what makes it so awesome?That hint of the smoke flavor – and the way you cook it – and we add a little special secret to our campfire coffee to make it especially good.

Steaks: rare, medium-rare or well-done? Medium-rare – you’d hate to ruin a good steak by cooking it too much.

A Word or Two

Wider Horizons asked Mandy Pearson (Conservation

Enforcement, 1999), owner of her own horse-packing

and trail-riding business in the Yukon, to share a word

or two about entrepreneurship and finding inspiration

in the mountains and majestic trails of Canada.

You can find out more about her business at

yukonhorsepacking.com.

Photo by Rob Olson

A word or two

View photos from yukonhorsepacking.com with

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2014steven Ellertson, upgradingSteven Ellertson, a current upgrading student at Fort Macleod’s Lethbridge College campus, is working towards his goal of getting a Bachelor of Science degree to become a medical researcher, according to an article written last year in the Macleod Gazette. Ellertson had been chosen out of 120 applicants to attend the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association’s Youth Summit at Niagara Falls, Ont. He joined 19 other young people at the conference that promoted healthy lifestyles and created awareness of diabetes. He hoped that being able to network at the conference would benefit his career in the long run. Also, he said he was looking to gain information about healthy lifestyles and diet that he could share with family and friends.

2012Kimberly Balsillie, Environmental Assessment and Restoration Born and raised in Yellowknife, Kimberly Balsillie had her feet firmly planted in nature. She says that her Métis heritage helped ignite her passion to pursue an education in the environmental industry. She says the college has helped her towards her career goal of working with nature. “The Environmental Assessment and Restoration Diploma at Lethbridge College was the perfect stepping stone to help me move forward in the environmental field. The program at the college also gave me a ‘holistic’ view approach,” says Balsillie in a Northwest News Services article that appeared last year.

Elias Cunningham, Criminal Justice - PolicingLethbridge College Criminal Justice graduate Elias Cunningham has filled a long-awaited position for the Municipal District of Big Lakes, Alta., as its new peace officer. Born and raised in northern Alberta, Cunningham says that

knowing a lot of familiar faces in the area will help him do his job well. He says in an article last fall from The South Peace News that he uses his leadership skills when taking initiative during investigations and assisting with other peace officers from Big Lakes.

Chris Middleton-hope, Police Recruit TrainingChris Middleton-Hope, who completed a four-month training program at the college last summer, is one of the two newest members for the Lethbridge Regional Police Service. He is the son of former Lethbridge police chief John Middleton and says his rewarding career knocked on his door when he least expected it. But when the Lethbridge recruitment opportunity came up, he thought it would be the perfect fit. In addition to his father, Middleton-Hope’s older brother, Michael, and his mother, Debbie, also work in law enforcement. Middleton-Hope was featured in a newspaper article in the Lethbridge Herald last fall.

David Wharf, Police Recruit Training David, who completed a four-month training program at the college last summer, was named last year’s top recruit. The training was offered by Centre for Advancement in Community Justice, which is comprised of the college, Lethbridge Regional Police Service and Taber Police Service. A longtime military police officer in the British Army, David is now one of the newest members of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service. While an officer in England, he served in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and various other posts before settling in Lethbridge last spring with his wife and children. In an article in last fall’s Lethbridge Herald, he says he’s looking forward to being on the LRPS’ team and on patrol for the city.

2011 Tess Calderbank, Communication Arts, Advertising/Public Relations Since graduating from Lethbridge College, Tess has been working at Rock 106 and 107.7 The River as a receptionist and promotions coordinator. She got the position straight out of her practicum at Rock 106 and loves the range of work she gets to do there. Calderbank says she really enjoyed her time at Lethbridge College – she says it was “awesome” and that she’s glad she got her education there.

Julie Mireau, Communication Arts, Broadcast JournalismJulie Mireau says she always knew she wanted a career in broadcast journalism. She worked at a radio station in Rosetown, Sask., during grade 11, and after high school graduation she set off to pursue her dream job further. Mireau says she was under the watchful eye of some of the greatest instructors in the world – George Gallant, Raymond Burgess and Pete Gingras – at the college. A few months after graduation, she was hired at CTV Yorkton and spent just over a year there before moving to CTV Saskatoon. She has been enjoying it ever since. Mireau adds that her time at Lethbridge College was the time of her life. “I loved it there,” she says. “The college gave me all the tools I needed to succeed in this industry and I am proud to say I’m a product of Lethbridge College.”

2009 Debbie houghtaling, Communication Arts, Print JournalismDebbie Houghtaling has been writing for the Pincher Creek Echo newspaper since she graduated from Communication Arts in 2009. Her specialties include photography, page layout and design. She says she also likes reporting on community events as well as sports and native affairs. She has previously worked for the Fort Macleod Gazette and Ontario’s The Regional newspaper.

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

Where are they now?


2000Jim Bennett, Criminal JusticeAfter graduating from Lethbridge College, Bennett has worked for the RCMP for almost three years before he went into Oilfield Safety until 2009. As a Safety Consultant for Shell, he supervised all aspects of health and safety, training and accident investigations. He went on to work in various positions for the Blood Tribe Police Service. In 2010, he became an honorary member of the Blood Tribe, receiving the Indian name Morning Power Root. Bennett currently works for the Blood Tribe Police Service.

1997Mark Baril, Business AdministrationAfter completing his Business Administration diploma with honours at Lethbridge College, Mark Baril went on to obtain his Bachelor of Management with Distinction at the University of Lethbridge in 2000. From there he earned his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Saskatchewan in 2005. Baril is a Lethbridge lawyer who has a General Law Practice focusing on family law, general litigation, real estate, personal injury and wills and estates at Stringham Denecky law office. He lives in Raymond.

1996Todd Caughlin, Recreation ManagementTodd Caughlin started General Studies in the 1986-87 school year and then took a break from his academic studies before pursuing his diploma in Recreation Management in 1996. In the late 1990s, he was the head coach of the Lethbridge College Kodiak’s men’s volleyball team. Caughlin is now coaching the Cobras men’s volleyball for South Carolina’s Coker College.

1995Jeremy langemann, Culinary CareersAfter completing his Culinary Certificate in 1995, Langemann apprenticed at The Fairmont Banff Springs. He put his creative skills to use while obtaining a certificate from the Chef de Cuisine culinary apprenticeship program at the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Langemann has held many positions in this field, some of which include Sous Chef at Jasper Park Lodge, Chef Garde Manger in Washington, D.C., Restaurant Chef for the Oak Room at the Copley Plaza, and most recently Executive Sous Chef at the Palliser, all linked to The Fairmont hotel chain.

1988sharie Cousins, Conservation EnforcementSharie Cousins has had a love for Lethbridge College since she was a student here and has always wanted to give back to the college in some way, according to an article that featured her last year in the Claresholm Local Press. Cousins is now a faculty representative on Lethbridge College’s Board of Governors as well as an instructor in the Environmental Sciences program. The new role combines her interest in the college and in teaching, and shows she has the college’s best interests at heart. She added that she likes how the college treats its students, and remembers how well she was treated during her student days.

1986norman Kyle, Civil Engineering Technology (Municipal/Water Resources) Kyle is currently a Senior Transportation Analyst for the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) in Grande Prairie. He previously worked in southern Alberta on irrigation projects, in Bow Island as a junior structural inspector, and in Toronto inspecting bridges and freeway ramps. In Grande Prairie, he now deals mainly with municipal projects involving infrastructure, signs, signals, planning, studies and long-range planning. Last year, Kyle was featured in an article in Technology Alberta, the official publication of ASET, regarding all of his contributions and achievements.

1969gillian nish, Business AdministrationGillian Nish was born and raised in Cardston and remembers that it was a big deal to come to Lethbridge College. After gaining experience in the tourism and hospitality industry after college, she opened her own business in 1988 called Execuserv Plus. Execuserv Plus provides training in business planning, effective speaking, personal budgeting and marketing, among other programs. She and her company have acquired experience in market research, needs assessment studies and tourism/hospitality development programs, according to a news article written about her in 2012 by Management PR News.

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.

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wider horizons spring 2013

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