fun with finance - university of lethbridge · they received. although your alma mater has grown...

Fall 2006 Volume 10 No. 2

F U N W I T H F I N A N C EMargie Gal (BMgt ’90), vice-president and directorof finance at FirstEnergy Capital Corp., is not yourstereotypical straight-laced accountant, althoughher career has all the benchmarks of a woman whoseriously knows her stuff.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40011662Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses ToOffice of University AdvancementUniversity of Lethbridge4401 University Drive WLethbridge, AB T1K 3M4

Alumni Around the WorldU of L alumni live in 60 different countries around the world. Visit this section and discover where U of L international alumni areliving and how they stay involved with their alma mater.

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9

Fun With FinanceMargie Gal (BMgt ’90), vice-president and director of finance atFirstEnergy Capital Corp., proves that fun and finance do, in fact, mix.

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Editor/Project ManagerJaime Morasch BMgt ‘01

DesignSarah Novak Design

ContributorsStephenie ChesterNatasha Evdokimoff BA ‘95, BMgt ‘97Alesha Farfus-Shukaliak BA/BMgt ‘01Kathy MacFarlaneShelagh McMullanJaime Morasch BMgt ‘01Jennifer Schmidt-Rempel BA ‘93

PhotographyBernie Wirzba BASc (BA) ‘82,unless otherwise credited

PrintingQuality Color

The U of L Journal is published by the Office ofUniversity Advancement at the University ofLethbridge. The opinions expressed or implied inthe publication do not necessarily reflect those ofthe University of Lethbridge Board of Governors.Submissions in the form of letters, articles, storyideas or notices of events are welcomed.

Correspondence should be addressed to:U of L JournalUniversity of Lethbridge4401 University Drive WLethbridge, AB T1K 3M4Tel: (403) 317-2825 Fax: (403) 329-5130E-mail: [email protected]

The Journal Onlinewww.uleth.ca/alumni/publications.html

DEPARTMENTS

2 Alumni News

4 Campus Updates

5 Focus on Research

6 Through the Aperture

10 The Alumnac

17 Alma Matters

20 From the Archives

Distinguished Alumna of the YearThis fall, the Alumni Association recognized Dr. Shirley Steinberg(BEd ’87, MEd ’91) as the 2006 Distinguished Alumna of the Year forher accomplishments as a teacher, scholar and champion of studentsin the field of education.

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FEATURES

Psychology and neuroscience professor and University of Lethbridge

alumnus Dr. Robert McDonald (BSc ’89) researches neurological

and psychiatric conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, mood disorders

and schizophrenia.

“Essentially, we all have the same neurons,” says McDonald.

“It’s the way that our brain gets organized during development

and the formation of our memories, experiences and what

happens to us throughout our lives that shape who we are, who

we become and why we behave the way we do.”

Dear U of L Alumni:

Welcome to the fall issue of the Journal. It is withgreat pride that we share the achievements of ouralumni, our students and our University with you.

In this issue of the Journal you’ll read about fellow alumni – Margie Gal, Emily Malcolm and Dr.Robert McDonald – who have gone on to makeimportant contributions in their very diverse fields.You’ll also see some familiar faces – Pat Tanaka,Fred Greene and Laurel Corbiere. Many of you willremember these staff members from your time as astudent, and you know about the extraordinary workthat they do. We’re also very pleased to share thesuccesses of our bright, ambitious students as wellas the great strides the University has made in teach-ing, research and scholarship this fall.

When we talk to our alumni about their experiencesat the U of L, they often tell us how much theyappreciated the small classes and liberal educationthey received. Although your alma mater has grownand much has changed over the last 39 years, weremain grounded in liberal education and commit-ted to providing our students with small classes, apersonal experience, and the most vital and engag-ing learning environment in the country.

The success of the University of Lethbridge didn’tjust happen over night. It is the culmination of manyyears of hard work and dedication by faculty, staff,students, alumni and community members. We aresowing the seeds of success that they planted nearly40 years ago.

In 2007, the University of Lethbridge will turn 40,and we have a great deal to celebrate. We will offi-cially launch our 40th anniversary celebrations atthe grand opening of our new state-of-the-art Centrefor Sport and Wellness on February 8. This will bethe beginning of an entire year of anniversary cele-brations. I extend a personal invitation to you to joinus at this event as well as the many other anniver-sary events that will be held throughout the year.

Thank you for sharing your time with us.

Bill Cade, PhDPresident and Vice-ChancellorProfessor of Biological Sciences

Mysteries of the Mind

P R E V I E W See page 5 for full story

U OF L JOURNAL Fal l 20061

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

2006/07 U OF L ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COUNCILPresidentJohn Gill BA ’94

Vice-PresidentGuy Pomahac BEd ’81, MEd ’03

Past PresidentDoug McArthur Mgt Cert ’90

TreasurerReid Hollander BASc (BSc) ’89

DirectorsSarah Amies BA ’88Doug Hudson BA ’71Sheila McHugh Dip in Education ’84, MEd ’97Ken McInnes BA ’91, BMgt ’97, Mgt Cert ’02Rebecca Remington BSc ’90Tina Shingoose-Fancy BA ’96

Board of Governors RepresentativesAaron Engen BASc (BA) ’86John Gill BA ’94

Senate RepresentativesHolly Debnam BA ’97John Gill BA ’94Cheryl Pollmuller Mgt Cert ’97Guy Pomahac BEd ’81, MEd ’03

Students’ Union RepresentativeDustin Fuller

2006/07 U OF L ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CALGARY CHAPTER COUNCIL PresidentChristine Miller BMgt ’03

Vice-PresidentJillian Erlandson BMgt ’03

Past PresidentKatherine Herron BMgt ’02

TreasurerChristie Allen BMgt ’01

SecretaryLuke Elford BMgt ’04

DirectorsLisa Caruso BMgt ’04Aaron Engen BASc (BA) ’86Karen Filbert BMgt ’90Shane Jackson BMgt ’03Tara Rutherford BMgt ’03

Faculty RepresentativeLorne Williams BA ’89, BMgt ’98

Contact Us:University of LethbridgeAlumni Association4401 University Drive WLethbridge, AB T1K 3M4Phone: (403) 317-2825E-mail: [email protected]/alumni

ULAA – Calgary ChapterJ203 1301 - 16 Avenue NWCalgary, AB T2M 0L4 E-mail: [email protected]/alumni/calgary

A L U M N I N E W S

F R O M T H E A L U M N I O F F I C E

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E


As we anxiously prepare for theupcoming holiday season, it is perhapsappropriate to take some time toreflect upon the achievements of ouralumni over the last few months.

First, I am extremely pleased to reportthat the University of LethbridgeAlumni Association’s annual golf tour-nament – Birdies for Bursaries – raisedmore than $4,000 this year to help cur-rent U of L students facing financialchallenges. In addition, the AlumniAssociation - Calgary Chapter held itsfifth annual golf tournament in August.

Proceeds from this tournament supporta scholarship designated for a U of LCalgary campus student. Both tourna-ments were extremely well receivedby all in attendance. Please accept myheartfelt thanks to all alumni andfriends who supported these two veryworthwhile endeavours.

At this year’s Fall Convocation cere-mony, the Alumni Association waspleased to honour Dr. ShirleySteinberg (BEd ’87, MEd ’91) as our2006 Distinguished Alumna of theYear. Having taught and lectured

around the world, Dr. Steinberg is ashining example of what you canachieve with a degree (or in her case,two degrees) from the University ofLethbridge.

In closing, please enjoy the season, andvisit our web site www.uleth.ca/alumnifor information on the upcoming events being organized by your AlumniAssociation and its Calgary chapter in 2007.

John M. Gill BA ’94, LLBPresident, Alumni AssociationUniversity of Lethbridge

Connection – this word represents thevery heart of the Alumni Relationsoffice. Our goal and passion are to buildand maintain the connections betweenyou and your alma mater, fellow alum-ni and the university community. So wetake great pride when alumni also seethe value in these relationships and takeit upon themselves to keep their tiesstrong. In this edition of the Journal, weencourage you to look for the examplesof how alumni around the world are

staying in touch with each other andwith the U of L.

As we approach the University ofLethbridge’s 40th anniversary, we alsoask you to think about your relationshipwith the University and fellow alumni.Is there a former classmate that youhave been meaning to get in touchwith? When was the last time youreturned to campus? With the many cel-ebrations planned for the University’s

milestone year, there is no better timethan now to reconnect. You can attendan event on campus, update your con-tact information, share your latest newsor fondest memory with us, seek out aformer classmate, visit the alumni website…just make the connection.

Jaime Morasch BMgt ’01Alumni Relations Officer(403) [email protected]

Members of the U of L Alumni Association present a chequeto U of L President Dr. Bill Cade to support student bursaries.

(l-r) Tina Shingoose-Fancy (BA ’96), John Gill (BA ’94), Doug McArthur (MgtCert ’90), U of L President Dr. Bill Cade and Guy Pomahac (BEd ’81, MEd ’03)

A L U M N I N E W S


The Association is proud to recognizeDr. Shirley Steinberg as the 2006Distinguished Alumna of the Year forher accomplishments as a teacher,scholar and champion of students inthe field of education.

Steinberg began her career as an edu-cator in 1978 as the adult educationcoordinator/instructor for the CardstonSchool Division. She graduated fromthe University of Lethbridge with abachelor of education degree inEnglish language arts education in1987 and a master of education degreein 1991. She went on to teach in sever-al southern Alberta schools beforemoving to the U.S. and completing herPhD in curriculum and instruction atPennsylvania State University in 1997.

Currently an associate professor ofeducation at McGill University,Steinberg is internationally recognizedfor her groundbreaking research onsuch diverse topics as urban education,

critical pedagogy, cultural studies andthe media’s influence on students. Shehas taught at four universities and beena visiting scholar at post-secondaryinstitutions in three Canadianprovinces and Korea. Her energy, sen-sitivity and imagination allow her toengage students and support their per-sonal growth as well as their under-standing of critical ideas. She encour-ages teachers to view themselves aspart of larger economic, political andsocial systems and to critique thosesystems through the lens of social jus-tice issues. Her work on how teacherscan bring new levels of critical inquiryto their work has served as a point ofrenewal and inspiration for educators.

A leader in educational research,Steinberg has written or edited morethan 21 books. She is the founding edi-tor of Taboo: The Journal of Cultureand Education and is currently a mem-ber of six international editorial boards.

Her willingness to mentor students andcolleagues through the publishingprocess facilitates productive scholar-ship in education. Famous in academiccircles for her work, she has been invit-ed to speak in many countries andreceived numerous awards for herteaching and writing. Her professionalhonours include the 1999 AdelphiUniversity Woman of Distinction

award, the 1997 Myers OutstandingBook Award from the Gustavus MyersCentre for the Study of Bigotry andHuman Rights in North America andthe American Educational StudiesAssociation Critic’s Choice BookAward in 1995, 1997 and 2004.

C A L L F O R N O M I N A T I O N STo nominate an individual as the Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna of the Year or to the Alumni Honour Society, visit our web site at http://alumni.uleth.ca and click on “Distinguished Alumni”. Download a PDF of the nomination form, read more about these recognition awards and learn about past recipients.

Nomination deadline is January 31, 2007.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA OF THE YEAR 2 0 0 6

Dr. Shir ley Steinberg BEd ’87, MEd ’91

The University of Lethbridge Alumni Association

Distinguished Alumnus/a of the Year Award recognizes

individuals for exceptional professional achievements,

academic excellence, and/or contributions to society.

Photo courtesy of A E Cross Studio

You can read more about what's happening at the U of L by readingthe campus newspaper, The Legend, online at www.uleth.ca/legend.


C A M P U S U P D A T E S

New Chair Appointed to the BoardRobert Turner, QC, was appointed as the new Chair of theUniversity Board of Governors by Advanced EducationMinister Denis Herard in September. Turner has a strongconnection to the U of L, not only as a former student, butas a member of its Board of Governors for the past fouryears. Turner is currently the vice-chairman of FraserMilner Casgrain LLP – one of Canada’s leading businesslaw firms. He has extensive experience as a director ofsome very diverse organizations in Canada and the U.S.,including the Edmonton Space and Science Foundationand EPCOR Preferred Equity Inc.

Robert Turner, QC, Chair of the University ofLethbridge Board of Governors, at the Fall 2006Convocation ceremony on Oct. 14, 2006.

ULink Is Put Out to PastureAfter years of faithful service, registrar’s office and infor-mation technology staff officially unplugged the ULINKtelephone-based course registration system on Sept. 14.Launched in 1993, ULINK was designed to cut down onthe challenges posed by providing in-person registrationto increasing numbers of students. Registration lineupsused to stretch through the tunnel system to the Level 9Devonian Walkway in the University Centre for the Arts,according to Associate Vice-President (Student Services)and Registrar Leslie Lavers (BASc ’78).

“With almost all students now using web registration, itwas inevitable that the refrigerator-sized server and itsoutdated equipment head down the road to retirement,”says Lavers.

U of L Art OnlineThe whole world now has access to the impressive U of LArt Collection thanks to the recently launched onlineresearch database.

“This project adds another dimension for providing publicaccess to the more than 13,000 objects in the art collec-

tion,” says Director/Curator Dr. Josephine Mills. “Thenew database enables people to do their own searches forinformation and research related to our collection.”

Database users can now search by basic information, suchas the artist’s name or the title of a work, as well as genre,content of the image or artistic movement. Visit the U of Lonline database at: www.uleth.ca/artgallery.

Research Ranking Boost for U of LResearch Infosource Inc. recently released its rankings ofthe top 50 research universities in Canada and placed theU of L third in the undergraduate category. Overall, the U of L placed 35th, up from 39th the year previous, andnow sits in the middle third of the ranked institutions. TheU of L also scored a fifth-place finish in the researchincome growth category, with a reported $12 million inresearch funding in 2005/2006.

The Centre for Sport andWellness Opens to ApplauseThe inaugural Convocation ceremony in the Centre forSport and Wellness Centre was held on Oct.14.Approximately 1,330 people were on hand in the new triple gymnasium to celebrate the achievements of379 graduates.

Horns Claim RugbyChampionship

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Women’sRugby Team won the Canada West (CW) Women’sRugby Championship.

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns won their firstCanada West (CW) Women’s Rugby Championship onOct. 22, ending the seven-year reign of the University ofAlberta Pandas. The Horns went on to capture the bronzemedal at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)Championship on Nov. 5.

Horns rugby players Amanda Richardson, Cayley Gunnand Ashley Patzer were selected as 2006 CW Rugby All-Stars, and Patzer was named CW and CIS Player of theYear and a 2006 CIS All-Canadian.

New Imaging Centre at the CCBNU of L officials opened a new imaging centre at theCanadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN)in October. The facility adds two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) magnet units to the CCBN’sexpanding abilities to study the brain. The magnets will be among the most powerful in the province forresearch purposes.

One unit will be used for small animal research, and the other will be used for human subject research. BothfMRI magnet units are expected to be fully operationalin early 2007.

The U of L Remains on the “A” ListThe University of Lethbridge scored grades ranging from“A+” to “B+” in approximately half the categories in the2006 Globe and Mail University Report Card published in October.

Highlights include an “A” for class sizes and facultymembers’ knowledge of subjects and an “A-” for overallsatisfaction with university experience and overall qualityof education.

The U of L was placed in the “small” category with 14other universities with enrolments between 4,000 and12,000 students. (The report card reflects the opinions ofmore than 32,700 undergraduates who are members of thestudentawards.com database.)

New Director of the Calgary CampusThe U of L welcomed Alison Gray (BMgt ’83) as thenew director of the Calgary campus on Nov. 14. Gray, analumna of the U of L, had previously taught at the U of LCalgary campus and was most recently the executivedirector of the Alberta Women Entrepreneurs association.

Alison Gray (BMgt ’83) is the new director of theUniversity of Lethbridge Calgary campus

From May 2006 to November 2006

U OF L JOURNAL Fal l 2006 5

F O C U S O N R E S E A R C H

Never one to follow and accept main-stream solutions when questions canstill be asked, psychology and neuro-science professor and University ofLethbridge alumnus Dr. RobertMcDonald (BSc ‘89) is workingtoward discoveries that could poten-tially prevent these kinds of disordersfrom occurring.

“Essentially, we all have the sameneurons,” says McDonald. “It’s theway that our brain gets organized dur-ing development and the formation ofour memories, experiences and whathappens to us throughout our lives

that shape who we are, who webecome and why we behave the waywe do.”

McDonald and his colleaguesapproach the study of neurologicalconditions with the idea that there isno one single factor that causes braindisorders, but a combination of influ-ences that cause systems in the brainto function abnormally. He explainsthat once we understand how andwhat systems in the brain are affected,and when, we can work to overridethese cascades of events that are thecause of neurological dysfunction.

“It’s all about learning to think differ-ently about these diseases and takingan alternative approach to them,” saysMcDonald.

McDonald’s research has far-reachingimplications answering philosophical,sociological, psychological and neu-rological questions about our memo-ries and their powerful influence onour personalities and behaviour.“Ultimately, memory defines who weare,” he explains. “What happenswhen we lose that?”

Just as our neurological systems areshaped by our experiences and memo-ries, these experiences and memoriescan also cause dramatic changes to thesystems in our brains. Learning howmemory systems are organized in the brain and how they interact

with one another and the rest of thebrain to produce different thoughtsand behaviours is a key component ofa knowledge base that will lead to anunderstanding of how neurologicalconditions and psychiatric disordersmanifest themselves in individuals.

“Once we are able to understand whomay be predisposed to a condition,based on the different factors in theirlives, we could then develop treat-ments that could potentially preventthe condition from occurring in thefirst place,” he explains.

To learn more about the importantquestions that U of L researchers areasking, download the 05/06 U of LReport at www.uleth.ca or call (403) 329-2481 to request a copy.

Mysteries of the MIND

?What if neurological and psychiatric conditionslike Alzheimer’s disease, mood disorders andschizophrenia could be prevented?

T H R O U G H T H E A P E R T U R E

A look through the aperture will provide you with a glimpse of

how educational excellence is defined and accomplished at the

U of L. You’ll learn more about the extraordinary work that goes

on here each and every day, and the contributions that faculty and

staff make to the University and the community.

Through the Aperture tells the University’s story as it’s best told –

through the people.

In this issue of Through the Aperture,we are excited to introduce:

• Pat Tanaka BASc (BA) ‘81• Fred Greene BA ‘98• Laurel Corbiere

The Aperture is a 20-foot-high concreteart structure. It was unveiled at a specialConvocation in September 1972 whenthe University of Lethbridge campus wasofficially opened.

a p e r t u r e : a s p a c e t h r o u g h w h i c h l i g h t p a s s e s i n a n o p t i c a l o r p h o t o g r a p h i c i n s t r u m e n t

T H R O U G H the A P E R T U R E




FRED GREENE BA ’98

Administrative Manager, U of L Art Gallery

“My career in the world of art galleries and museums started almostthirty years ago. It’s something I’ve always been interested in anddrawn to. I’ve worked for various institutes and organizationsaround the world, including The International Centre of thePreservation and Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome(ICCROM), where I studied and was awarded a three and a half yearfellowship in collections care and management. I also worked forthe Glenbow Museum in Calgary, where I worked as an objects conservator (ethnographic collections) and eventually became headof the conservation department.

“I went back to school at the age of 48 to earn a degree that sup-ported and augmented the work I’d already been doing for twenty-some years. The U of L offers independent and applied studiesoptions; this allowed me to continue working internationally andapply various projects to my degree.

“The University of Lethbridge has one of the largest and most significant University art collections in Canada – more than 13,000pieces. The collection is a fantastic teaching resource and all students and faculty have equal access to the works, support docu-mentation and staff expertise. The works are preserved, monitored,researched and properly displayed and interpreted. They don’t justspend their lives uncared for in a dark room.

“I’ve been the administrative manager at the U of L Art Gallery since1999. The gallery has developed a lot in that time, with the most sig-nificant change being the development of a database that hasrecently been put online. It’s a research tool that allows anyone inthe world to access information on all the works in our collection.It’s an invaluable resource for students, other galleries and the general public worldwide.”

• Although he doesn’t consider himself an artist, Greene “dabbles” in print making and sculpture.

• Enjoys fly fishing whenever possible.

• His favorite piece in the U of L Art Gallery collection is Mao by Andy Warhol.

• Go to www.uleth.ca/artgallery to explore the collection.



“There’s nothing I love better than seeing students recog-nize what they have to offer and realize they have thepower to make things happen when it comes to their careerdevelopment.

“I remember the challenges of making a career decision.When I was an undergrad at the U of L, I was much like thestudents I see in my office today – unsure of my choice ofmajor; lacking a career goal; wondering if I had the neces-sary qualifications to apply for jobs and if so, which jobs?

“Our office helps students as they try to answer the ques-tions of ‘where do I go from here and how do I get there?!’We are here to assist students in all aspects of the job searchprocess from identifying their skills, to setting job targets,creating an effective resume, providing interview strategiesand researching companies and jobs. We also strive to instillconfidence in our students and empower them to take control of their work searches.

“It takes hard work and time to find your dream job, buteveryone has something unique to offer. It’s important tokeep in mind that no experience is wasted. There are skillsyou can take with you from every job, your education, community service and even the things you do for fun.

“At Career and Employment Services, students are our prior-ity and that doesn’t end when they graduate. We do whatwe can to support alumni as they step out into the workworld. We also assist alumni in finding students to work forthem.

“Sometimes I’ve thought my career path was a result of luckand happenstance, but I realize the choices I’ve made havehelped me to find a way to my dream job. Looking back, I believe it all began with my own experience in strugglingwith a career decision. My goal is to ease the confusion, toprovide a framework for making good choices and to helpour students succeed.”

• Has worked in the career development field for 25 years. Her first job, upon graduating from the U of L, was with the Hire-A-Student program.

• Loves travelling to San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver to sample fresh seafood. Most importantly, she visits to meet up with her West Coast friends Brenda Kosaka (BA ’78), Jane McMullin (BEd ’72, BA ’76) and Chari Keet (BA ’81).

• Co-ordinates the annual Career Fair each September. Career Fair 2006 was the 18th event hosted by CES and 79 organizations attended. It was the single largest registration for a one-day career fair in the U of L’s history.

PAT TANAKA BASc (BA) ‘81

Director, Career and Employment Services



“Diversity is one of the U of L’s key priorities, and international stu-dents are important contributors to the diversity of our campus.They bring new perspectives and life experiences to the classroomand the campus at large, and help the University to become globallyrecognized.

“My job is extremely rewarding. Being part of a team that facilitateslife-changing experiences is really amazing. I have the privilege ofmeeting many of the students that are here from other countries.Watching how they grow and evolve during their stay is tremen-dously gratifying. I learn as much from them as they learn frombeing here.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with every aspect of ouroperations and have been particularly involved with leading oursummer student programs the last two years. Our programs are continually improving thanks to the great team of people in ouroffice who work together to create the best experience possible forinternational students.

“The largest program we run is the English for Academic Purposes(EAP) program – a bridging program for students who meetentrance requirements but do not meet English language proficiencyrequirements. Many students who come here know the language,but there are many others that don’t, so it’s an integral part of ourwork. The ICS also assists international students by answering theirquestions prior to coming to Lethbridge, provides orientation oncethey arrive, and informs and assists them with many day-to-day matters while in Canada.

“The ICS currently administers international exchange programs inGermany, Australia, England, Japan, the United States and Korea. I have found that alumni who visit us on our recruiting trips areexcellent ambassadors for the U of L. They speak the language andcan talk to prospective students about their experiences. There’snothing more effective than a recommendation from a former student who shares the same language and nationality as theprospective student.”

• Applied to the ICS out of particular interest in marketing the U of L internationally. Began working at ICS in March 2005.

• Earned an MBA from the University of Calgary in 1999.

• Enjoys oil painting – particularly creating images of people.

• Will orchestrate recruitment campaigns in China, Hong Kong andother locations in 2007. Alumni in these countries who are interested in helping out can e-mail her at [email protected].

LAUREL CORBIEREInternational Programs Officer, International Centre for Students

1 - 4

5 - 49

50 - 159

160

378

16,846

ALUMNIAROUNDthe World

Australia 12

Austria 1

Bangladesh 1

Barbados 2

Belgium 2

Belize 1

Bermuda 1

Bosnia & Herzegovina 1

Brazil 2

Brunei 4

Canada 16,846

Cayman Islands 3

China, People’s Republic of 62

Hong Kong, SAR 315

Macau, SAR 1

Cook Islands 1

Czech Republic 2

Ecuador 1

Egypt 1

Finland 1

France 1

Gambia 1

Germany 5

Greece 2

Grenada 1

Guam 1

India 3

Indonesia 6

Israel 1

Jamaica 1

Japan 84

Kazakhstan 1

Kenya 2

Korea, Republic of 11

Kuwait 1

Luxembourg 1

Malawi 1

Malaysia 70

Mexico 2

Morocco 1

Netherlands 6

New Zealand 8

Nigeria 10

Pakistan 1

Saudi Arabia 3

Singapore 56

South Africa 2

Spain 3

Sri Lanka 1

St. Kitts & Nevis 1

Sweden 1

Switzerland 2

Taiwan (Republic of China) 15

Thailand 4

Trinidad & Tobago 1

Turks & Caicos Islands 2

USA 160

Ukraine 1

United Arab Emirates 9

United Kingdom 15

Yemen 1

Zimbabwe 1

The University of Lethbridge is one of Canada’s leadinguniversities with regard to the percentage of studentsjoining us from outside of Canada. As these studentsgraduate and return to their homelands, or as alumnimove around the world, each play an important role inbeing a global ambassador for the University.

The 60 countries shaded on this map represent the distribution of 17,759 U of L* alumni worldwide, with913 people living outside of Canada.

In October, the International Centre for Students travelled to Japan on a student recruitment trip. They were joinedby eight alumni in three cities – Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo. Thank you to the alumni who participated and spoketo interested students about the University of Lethbridge. Your assistance was greatly appreciated.

(l-r) Nagoya: U of L Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science Rene Barendregt,Tatsuya Nogami (BA ’06), U of L International Programs Officer Laurel Corbiere, SachieToyama (Mgt Cert ’98, BMgt ’00), and an interpreter.

Missing from photos: Chie Tagami (BA ’00), J. Sean Bennett (BMgt ’92), Yoko Kawabata(BA ’01) and Taeko Endo (BA ’03).

Osaka: Takeshi Shimizu (BSc ’00) andChiyo Tasato (BA ’93).

<<

T H E A L U M N A C

*The U of L is proud of our more than 25,000 alumni living around the world.However, we have lost contact with 7,250 of you. If you have recently moved or youknow of a grad who has moved, please contact us.



T H E A L U M N A C

International Alumni SurveyNext spring, the International Centre for Students will be travelling to China, Hong Kong and other locations around the world. If you are living outside of Canada, we would love to hear from you! Please visit www.uleth.ca/alumni to participate in the international alumni surveyand share with us your interest in taking part in an international alumni event. The survey will be available until Jan. 30, 2007, and all partici-pating alumni will be entered into a draw to win U of L memorabilia.

A C R O S S the Miles

In 1985, Raymond Soo (BMgt ’90)travelled from Malaysia to Canada toattend the University of Lethbridge.This adventure not only introducedhim to a new country and culture but tomany U of L students who wouldbecome life-long friends. Now livingback in his homeland of Malaysia, Soooften travels to around the Asia-Pacificregion, keeping in touch with his fel-low alumni wherever he goes.

“My uncle and aunt from Coaldale,AB, suggested I consider attending the

U of L. You can imagine my surprisewhen I stepped out of the Calgary air-port for the first time and all I couldsee was the expanse of the prairies formiles around. I had never seen suchflat country ever!

“The pool of international U of L stu-dents I met from countries such asSpain, Kenya, Nigeria, Israel, Kuwait,Hong Kong and Thailand provided awonderful learning experience on dif-ferent cultures. I became friends withmany of them and gained a greater

respect and interest in the customs andtraditions of their countries.

“I believe in keeping close ties with myU of L mates and try to keep in contactwhenever possible. Last year I met upwith Alfee Ho (BASc ’96) and her fam-ily in Hong Kong. It had been 16 yearssince we last met, when I graduated andleft for home. I also remain friends withAdrian Huang (BMgt ’90) andMartin Lee (BMgt ’90), and will bevisiting them again soon during anupcoming trip to Singapore.”

1. Singapore: Adrian Huang (BMgt ’91)with his daughter Ashley and my sonJoshua.

2. Singapore: Martin Lee (BMgt ’90)with his son Gabriel.

3. Hong Kong: Alfee (BASc ’96) andStanley Ho with their children on theleft hand side of the picture, with me,Margaret and our boys on the right.

4. 1991: Sam Tang (BA ’88) and I atDataran Merdeka (Independence Square)in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tang is now living in Perth, Australia.

5. (l-r) 1992: Eric Lim Huck Teik (BMgt ’91),myself, Margaret and my sister Joanne.

Raymond Soo lives in Malaysia with his wife Margaret and three sons, Joshua, Jonathan and Joseph. He isthe operation manager for the Malaysia branch of City & Guilds, a U.K. based vocational assessment body.

“Over the years, there are a few classmates I’ve lost touch with, but through the help of the U of L Alumni office I’ve become reacquainted with many of these friends. Here are some snapshotsof friends that I have kept in touch with across the miles.”

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CALGARY


T H E A L U M N A C

Special feature on U of L alumni inLOCATIONON

University of Lethbridge Alumni Association Calgary Chapter

CA

LG

AR

Y

C A L G A R Y C O N N E C T I O N S

40% of U of L students are from Calgary and area

The U of L’s Calgary campus is celebrating its 10th anniversary

450 students are enrolled at the Calgary campus

In 2001, the Calgary alumni chapter was established

20% of U of L alumni live in Calgary and area

Calgary is also home to the U of L Alumni Association - Calgary Chapter. This dynamic group of alumni work hard to promote and support theU of L throughout the year by coordinating a variety of events for alumni in the Calgary area. These events aim to bring alumni together, provide networking and friendship building opportunities, and to foster the relationship between alumni and their alma mater.

To learn more or to get involved, visit the Calgary chapter web site at: www.uleth.ca/alumni/calgary. You can also stay connected by subscrib-ing to the monthly Calgary alumni e-newsletter by sending an e-mail to: [email protected].

Calgary is renowned for its stampede, booming

economy and the distinctive tower that

graces its skyline. Calgary is also distinguished

by the more than 3,700 U of L alumni who live there.

Two of these alumni are Margie Gal (BMgt ’90), vice-

president and director of finance at FirstEnergy Capital

Corp., and Emily Malcolm (BSc ’02), a member of the

2007 Canadian Women’s Skeleton Team. In this feature,

they share with us how they got on the fast track to

success – Gal in the accounting profession and Malcolm

in the sport of skeleton.


T H E A L U M N A C

Skeleton racing is the backbone of life for a U of L graduate.

If you think you’veseen skeleton racingon television, youhaven’t. Not really.Until you’ve stood next to the ice cov-ered track, felt the ground shake underyour feet and a gust of wind swirl upas a prone positioned racer goeshurtling past you at speeds exceeding120 kilometres per hour, you haven’thad the true skeleton experience.

On a particularly brisk October morn-ing at Canada Olympic Park, membersof the Canadian skeleton team are inad-vertently putting on a breathtakingshow for this audience of one – gearingup for three National Qualifier races inCalgary and Lake Placid, NY. Among

the hopefuls (race results will determinewho goes to future events like theEuropa Cup held this year in Igls,Austria) is Emily Malcolm (BSc ’02) –a U of L graduate whose career in thesport began essentially by accident.

“I knew a guy who encouraged me tocome to a recruiting camp,” saysMalcolm, reflecting on her start in2003. “It was the first time I’d everheard of skeleton, and I just took to it.I’m drawn to the excitement of thesport, but more than anything I love theprecision involved. You’re reading andreacting to the track the entire way.”

As it happens, Malcolm’s ability toread and react is quite astute. She’squalified to race in the America’s Cupevery year since she began sliding,and she made the cut for the Europa

Cup in both 2004 and 2005. She fin-ished sixth in the North AmericanChampionship race in 2004, and hasplaced within the top 10 at majorinternational racing events an impres-sive seven times.

The next big competition, of course, isthe 2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. While the Games are theultimate goal, Malcolm tries to takethings one day at a time. “I basicallyjust concentrate on improving,” shesays. “There are so many little steps totake along the way, you really justhave to focus on developing your com-petition level and getting consistent.”

In addition to regular days on thetrack, Malcolm devotes many hours todry land training, building the kind ofspeed and strength conducive to shav-

ing valuable seconds off the startingblock. “I run sprints two to three daysa week and lift weights two or threedays every week as well,” she says ofher rigorous training schedule. “I’vegot a new dry land coach this yearwho’s helping me work on improvingmy start times.” When she’s not train-ing herself, Malcolm works as a per-sonal trainer for others at the TalismanCentre in Calgary.

As far as what the future holds,Malcolm wants to keep competing –at least for the time being. “I’ll keepsliding as long as I still love the sportand I can justify the dedication ittakes,” she says. “It takes quite a tollon your body. The skeleton regimen isbasically ice time, dry land trainingand physiotherapy.”

BONESbare


T H E A L U M N A C

Gal’s personality is so carefreeand light you could accurately

describe her as effervescent.She radiates fun.


Someone once said that firstimpressions are the lastingkind. Well, whoever coined

that phrase never stepped off the ele-vator on the 11th floor of EnergyPlaza in downtown Calgary (theoffices of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. –a preeminent Canadian energy invest-ment dealer) and proceeded to sit andchat with Vice-President and Directorof Finance, Margie Gal (BMgt ’90).

At first glance, FirstEnergy is every-thing you’d expect an investment bankto be: opulent and impressive, with anaura of controlled calm in the air.Before you’re even aware of it, you’reforming an impression of the peoplewho work there: serious types in busi-ness suits, each with a multi-milliondollar portfolio of clients that keepsthem much too busy for, well, much ofanything else. But then in walks Margie– and all at once your preconceivednotions get tossed out the window.

Gal’s personality is so carefree andlight you could accurately describeher as effervescent. She radiates fun.Her conversation is open, friendly andfilled with humour. She’s hardly yourstereotypical straight-laced account-ant, although Gal’s career has all thebenchmarks of a woman who serious-ly knows her stuff.

After graduating from the U of L, Galarticled for two years in Edmonton andearned her Chartered Accountant (CA)designation, spent a little time travel-ling around Europe and then beganlooking for employment opportunitiesclose to home. Born and raised inLethbridge, Gal saw Calgary as goodground in which to plant professionalroots – just a two hour drive from fam-ily, with plenty of corporate laddersbegging to be climbed.

“The job market back then wasn’t ashot as it is now,” she says. “I spentsome time pounding the pavement andwound up taking a contract positionfor tax season, which eventuallyturned into full-time work.”

Flipping through the newspaper oneday, Gal noticed an inconspicuous ad for the position of controller at a rel-atively new firm in town calledFirstEnergy Capital Corp. “I knewnothing about the company. I actuallyapplied because the ad was so small thatit wasn’t intimidating,” she says.

The rest, as they say, is history. Gal was hired virtually on the spot. “I was interviewed by two really funny people and immediate-ly liked the energy of the place,” she recalls.

Gal quickly showed her talent and waspromoted to vice-president and direc-tor of finance in 2001.

Since starting with FirstEnergy, Galhas seen the firm grow from 25employees to 80, expand to offer arange of client services includingeverything from corporate finance andresearch to sales and trading, and mostnotably, be voted one of the top placesto work in Calgary.

Ask her how it feels to be a woman ina male-dominated field, and yet anoth-er preconception gets shot to bits.“Actually, almost all the CFOs ofinvestment banks in Calgary arewomen,” she points out. “Accountingis a great field for women. There’s lotsof equality in numbers.”

While Gal freely admits she spends alot of time at work, she also speaksenthusiastically about her outsideinterests: sports and travel. She playedas a forward on the U of L women’sbasketball team between 1984 and1988 and has since taken up volleyballin her spare time. “I try to get away acouple of times a year,” she says ofher penchant for travelling. “I meet afriend of mine once a year in somegreat foreign location, and then gosome place like Mexico to break upthe winter.”

Gal also is a familiar face at U of Lalumni functions in both Calgary andLethbridge. “I think it’s important tokeep those connections,” she says.“You might start up a business with afellow graduate, or just help someoneout with information and stories. Andit’s nice to be around familiar faces.”

Small class size is one of the thingsGal truly appreciates about her U of Leducation. “Getting to really knowpeople was hugely beneficial, as wasthe liberal arts mandate of the univer-sity,” she says. “I used to think I justhad to ‘be’ something – study a specif-ic area. But a broader education helpsyou as a person. It changes the wayyou look at things.”

One U of L graduate proves thatfun and finance do, in fact, mix.

WITH FINANCEfun

T H E A L U M N A C


Mushtaq and Catherine Khan at their home in B.C.

Many alumni are kind supporters of the University ofLethbridge. Traditionally, gifts have often come in theform of cash, however, the option of donating securitieshas become very attractive thanks to significant changesin how gifts of publicly-traded securities are now handled for tax purposes.

U of L supporters and alumni Mushtaq and CatherineKhan kindly gave a gift of securities to the University.While the Khan’s now live on Vancouver Island, theymaintain strong ties to Lethbridge and the University.

“The University of Lethbridge broughthigher education within easy reach ofthousands of students from southernAlberta,” says Catherine. “In our case,both of us and six of our children arealumni of the U of L.”

Catherine (BEd ’72, BASc ’77) received the U of L’sFaculty of Education Gold Medal and Scholarship in 1972and served on the U of L Alumni Association board fortwo terms, including one as president (1975 to 1977). Shealso enjoyed a 15-year career as a teacher in LethbridgeSchool District 51.

Mushtaq also spent time studying at the U of L and is wellknown through his work at the Lethbridge ResearchStation. He holds three degrees from universities on threedifferent continents in three disciplines. His diversecareer includes time spent as a veterinary scientist, navalofficer, businessman and research associate.

“Right from its inception, the University of Lethbridgehas been a source of great pride and achievement for thecitizens of Lethbridge. The University has been a drivingforce in the academic, cultural and economic develop-ment of the community,” says Mushtaq.

It is this pride and their connection to the U of L thatprompted the Khan’s to give a gift of securities to theUniversity. Their gift is having a positive impact on U of Lstudents and faculty, and as a result, the Khan’s encouragefellow alumni to consider this giving option.

“Our suggestion to fellow alumni who may be consideringmaking a donation to the University is that, in the longrun, a gift of securities will prove to be the best use oftheir money,” says Mushtaq. “The donation we made hasbeen a very rewarding experience that brought us in contact with many admirable people, and we would happily do it all over again.”

Maximize Your InvestmentNew legislation announced by the Federal Government this spring makes donatinggifts of securities attractive because it improves on previous tax allowances. Prior to thespring budget, when gifts of securities were made to a charity, 25 per cent of the capital gain was included in taxable income. The new provision reduces that inclusionamount to zero per cent. For those who have appreciated shares, this option may bemore favourable than an outright donation of cash.

If the donor sellsthe stock anddonates cash

As you can see, tax savings are $1,350 greater if the donor donates the shares instead of sellingthe shares and donating cash.

For more information on how you can contribute shares to the University ofLethbridge call (403) 329-2582 or e-mail: [email protected].

Value of giftCapital gain ($10,000-$4,000)Taxable gain (50% of $6,000)Tax on gain (assumes 45% rate)Donation receiptTax credit (assumes 45%)Net tax savings (Tax credit less tax payable on gain)Net cost of gift (Value of gift less net tax savings)

$10,000$6,000$3,000$1,350

$10,000$4,500$3,150$6,850

$10,000$6,000

00

$10,000$4,500$4,500$5,500

If the donor donates the shares outrightto U of L

GIFTS OF SECURITIESA Valuable Method of Giving

Example of Gifts of Publicly-Traded SecuritiesA donor contributes stock to the University of Lethbridge. The fair market value is$10,000 and the cost base was $4,000 (the original purchase price of that stock).This example assumes the donor’s other charitable gifts exceed $200.


A L M A M A T T E R S

70sTrevor Cook BASc ’76, BEd ’81“Since 1988, I have been working as a pro-gram officer for Africa with the CanadianCatholic Organization for Development andPeace. This involves managing grants tocommunities and civil society organizationsthat work for democracy, gender equity andcommunity economic development. In2005-2006, more than $1 million was man-aged for the countries of Sierra Leone,Guinea and Senegal.”

Larry Anderson BASc ’77Anderson was appointed as a judge to theProvincial Court of Alberta on Oct. 26, 2006.Appointed to the Edmonton ProvincialCourt, he will serve the criminal division aswell as the family and youth division.Anderson is a past president and bencher ofthe Law Society of Alberta and is active invarious community and civic activities.

80sPeter M. Nnabuo BASc ’80Nnabuo is living in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,and was promoted to the rank of professorin June 2005, by the University of PortHarcourt authorities.

Tim Coleman BASc ’81Shirley (Hicken) Coleman BEd ’81“During the summer of 2002, I joined acrew of two other people and sailed acrossthe Atlantic Ocean in a 29-foot sailboat. Weleft Halifax on June 1 and made landfall innorthern Portugal on July 1. In 2003, Shirleywent on a one-month education mission tosouth-western Zambia. In January 2004, oureldest daughter commenced her studies atthe U of L (psychology) and later that yearour family visited France. In 2005, I started ajob as director of the Mackenzie ValleyPipeline Office in Hay River, NT.

“This past summer, Shirley and I participat-ed in another education mission in Zambiaand also visited Botswana and Zimbabwe.After teaching kindergarten in Yellowknifefor seven years, Shirley has just started a jobwith the education district in Hay River. Our second daughter commenced studies at Mount Royal College in Calgary this fall. We'd love to hear from other alumniwho attended the U of L with us.” E-mail: [email protected].

Rhonda King Blood BN ’82“After 19 years of employment, I retiredfrom Health Canada in 1995. In 1997, Iearned an MA (honors) from GonzagaUniversity, WA, and then spent a year inOttawa employed with the Canadian Councilon Health Services Accreditation. I thenreturned to Alberta; employed with ChinookHealth as a health promotion specialist.Currently, I am working on the new editionof Community Health Nursing: A CanadianPerspective, Chapter 15, AboriginalCanadians. I have a keen interest in researchand lifelong learning; always with the sup-port of my husband Charles. Two of my threechildren are enrolled at the U of L.”

David Burchill BASc ’83Burchill graduated from Queen’s Universitywith a bachelor of laws degree in 2005. Hecompleted his Bar Admission course andarticling component with the OntarioMinistry of the Attorney General, Crown

Prosecutors Office, North Bay, ON, in 2006.Burchill was called to the Bar of the LawSociety of Upper Canada and admitted as abarrister and solicitor in July 2006.

Robert Morrison BASc ’83Morrison was awarded the Frank KnoxAward for teaching excellence from Queen’sUniversity at Kingston in the spring of 2006.Morrison obtained an MPhil from theUniversity of Oxford in 1987, and a PhD fromThe University of Edinburgh. Originally plan-ning to pursue a career as a pianist, Morrisonplayed in a rock band called The Soup duringhis undergraduate years. He attributes hischange of heart to U of L English literatureprofessor Dr. Paul Upton, who inspiredMorrison to become an English professor.Since gaining his PhD, Morrison has taughtat Acadia University and, for the past threeyears, at Queen’s University.

90sJulie (Swanson) Nolan BA ’92“I recently moved ‘home’ to Calgary withour two kids, Tian and Caisa. I'm working atthe Calgary HealthLink as an RN.”

Brett Herman BMgt ’93Herman is president and chief operating offi-cer for TriStar Oil and Gas Ltd. in Calgary.

Chris Ryder BMgt ’93“I am living in the Netherlands and recentlyaccepted the job of marketing director forBHP Billiton Diamonds – a global leader inthe resources industry.”

Kevin Sinnott BMgt ’93Sinnott is a consul and senior trade commis-sioner to Raleigh, NC, and holds accredita-tion to the states of North Carolina andSouth Carolina. Sinnott is a career foreignservice officer with the CanadianDepartment of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade. Since joining thedepartment in 1993, he has been posted toBogota, DC, Colombia, and Monterrey,Mexico from 1999 to 2002.

Justine (Turner) Summers BEd ’93“After graduation, I got a job teachingGrade 6 in Cochrane, AB, and worked therefor 10 years. I married in 1996 and nowhave two wonderful boys, Aidan andWilliam. After my first son was born, I wentback to teaching halftime and was a learn-ing support teacher. Now that I have twochildren, I am happy to stay home to bewith them.”

Edmund Lee BMgt ’94“After having recently worked in the Officeof the Minister of International Trade as thedepartmental liaison, I've been posted toSingapore at the Canadian High Commission.My duties as a trade commissioner havegiven me great insight into the world ofglobal trade, and the position is extremelyrewarding. Living in a dynamic hub inSoutheast Asia has many advantages – allow-ing for much travel and exposure to manydifferent cultures. Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade Canada has treated mewell so far, and I am enjoying my posting.”

Poul Mark BA ’94Michelle Herbig Mark BASc ’94The Mark’s have taken a new step into theworld of coffee. In July 2006, they openedTranscend Coffee in Edmonton, AB.

Mida (Russell) Blades BA ’95“After graduating from the U of L, I begancoaching skating until present. I live on aranch west of Nanton with my husbandJustin and son Cole.”

Anthony W. Salekin BMgt ’96“In February 2005, I completed a master’scertificate in project management from theUniversity of Victoria. Since October 2005,I've been the director of development forthe Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation.”

Trevor Pittman BMus ’97Pittman is the clarinet instructor for theSchool of Music at the University of Windsorand has been hired as their productionsdirector and operations manager.

Belinda Davies BA ’98Davies completed a human resource man-agement certificate and business manage-ment certificate at the University of Calgary.In October 2006, she completed her certi-fied human resources professional (CHRP)designation.

David Renter BMus ’98Renter, a saxophonist and composer,opened the Faculty Artists and Friendsseries on Sept. 22, 2006, at the UniversityRecital Hall. He was joined on stage by theU of L Jazz Ensemble and a variety of other

local musicians. The program consisted ofRenter’s original compositions and arrange-ments along with some jazz standards.

“I was pleased to be back performing at theU of L; it was a great school to attend. Ireceived a lot of encouragement to com-pose and had plenty of opportunities toperform and solo. I also received a lot ofencouragement from my studio professorPeggy Mezei. She’s the reason that I havecontinued my studies.”

Kathleen Wells BA ’98In November 2006, Wells moved to Calgaryand joined the law firm of Foster, Stock andRichmond, specializing in family law.

Suzanne (DeBow) Sjovold BSc ’99U of L Chancellor Shirley DeBow and herhusband Judge Gerald DeBow are happy toannounce the marriage of their daughterDr. Suzanne DeBow to Travis Sjovold. Thewedding took place on July 29, 2006, andincluded fellow alumni and siblingsAdrienne DeBow (BA ’03) and JeremyDeBow (BA ’01). Suzanne is currently anarticling student at Parlee McLaws LLP inEdmonton, AB.

News and notes from your classmates

SHARE YOUR NEWS

We look forward to hearing from you!

E-mail your update to us at [email protected] or complete the form attached inside the front coverof the magazine and return it to us using the postage paid envelope provided (within Canada only).

ALUMNI AUTHORS

A Minor Planet for You and Other StoriesLeslie Greentree BA/BEd ’96Told with devastating accuracy, Greentree’s short fiction creates the satisfying sense of discovering someone’s long-kept secret, or the guiltypleasure of overhearing a scathing conversation. A housewife indulges inmonthly purchases of specialty vinegar and fantasizes about the local grocery store manager; a daughter catches glimpses of herself in the faceof her mother’s suffocating attentions; a minor astronomer accumulatesstar charts and wasted nights rather than moments with his wife. A MinorPlanet for You explores the often hilarious, sometimes dark but consistent-ly fragile fixations of human relationships.

Greentree is currently living in Red Deer, AB, and is an education, awareness and marketingspecialist for The City of Red Deer.

Almost EdenAnita Horrocks Mgt Cert ’92, BA ’97 A touching story that explores what faith really means. In the summer ofher 12th year, Elsie is adrift. Convinced her mother's mental illness is herfault, she tries to make things right – and fails. She fights with her oldersister, she forgets to feed her mother's cat, she betrays her best friend,and ignores her little sister at the local pool, all resulting in disaster. Afterbargaining with God to no avail, Elsie finally horrifies her Mennonitefamily – and herself – by losing faith in Him. Almost Eden is a beautifulportrait of a town, a family, and a young woman with wicked wit and

clarity of vision, who is willing to challenge what doesn't make sense and to fix what does-n't seem right.

Horrocks has published three previous award-winning novels for young adults: Topher, WhatThey Don't Know and Breath of a Ghost. Almost Eden is her first novel to draw on her ownMennonite background growing up in southern Manitoba.

Your Own Devices: A Life ManualDenise Lammi BMgt Arts ’79 and David Wojtowicz BASc ’81In 2003, Lammi and Wojtowicz divested of their accounting practice inorder to pursue other interests. They continue to author and Lammi pres-ents numerous professional development taxation courses for accountants.Most recently, they authored and published a personal development book,Your Own Devices: A Life Manual, written from the perspective of a logical,practical thinker. In addition, Lammi has travelled extensively (SoutheastAsia, Peru, Chile, Easter Island, Middle East, Egypt and Europe) in the pastfew years. Wojtowicz attended and graduated culinary arts school.

A L M A M A T T E R SNews and notes from your classmates


Bryan Turner BMgt ’99Kathy Turner BN ’02“After graduation, I articled in Lethbridgeand Claresholm, and earned my CA designa-tion in 2004. In January 2006, we movednearly 1400 kilometres north of Lethbridgeto experience life in northern Alberta. I amcurrently the office manager for La Crete Co-op Limited, and my wife Kathy is the publichealth nurse for the area. I was recentlyelected to the board of directors for theAlberta College of Paramedics, where I serveas treasurer.”

00sMichael Chikinda BMus ’00Chikinda is completing his PhD in music the-ory at the University at Buffalo, The StateUniversity of New York. He was honouredto have received the Slee Fellowship, whichwas awarded for all four years of study. Thisfall, he will be teaching at both theUniversity of Guelph and the University atBuffalo, while putting the finishing toucheson his dissertation.

Deidra Garyk BMgt ’00“I am working in Calgary for EnerplusResources Corporation as a joint interestcontract analyst. I am also in the process ofcompleting my third petroleum related certificate.”

James Bilcox BMgt ’01Bilcox is a certified financial planner andfinancial planner with RBC Investments inCalgary.

Nicole (Onischuk) Jannesson BMgt ’01Henrik Jannesson BMgt ’05Nicole and Henrik have returned to Henrik'shomeland of Sweden to experience life inEurope. Nicole is a product developer withIKEA Sweden in Almhult and Henrik is a lum-ber trader with Ess-Enn Timber in Emmaboda.

Stephanie Palechek BSc ’01Palechek is the executive director of theOldman Watershed Council. Prior to this, she

was involved with a tree planting programthrough Partners in Habitat Development.

Vance Koberstein BMgt ’02“After dabbling in the worlds of accountingand banking, I have settled in nicely atMount Royal College in Calgary. I'm thework experience coordinator for the bache-lor of applied financial services degree pro-gram. It seems the world of academia iswhere I fit best...despite what some of mypast teachers and profs might say!”

Jonathan Sicotte BMus ’02“I am employed at Farnborough College ofTechnology in the UK, as a course managerand full-time lecturer in music and musictechnology. I am responsible for the FurtherEducation (16+) age group but also teachon the degree courses which are underwrit-ten by the University of Surrey.

“In addition to my work, I am currentlyengaged in other activities including twobook series (fiction), a musical, a symphonicwork and two screenplays. I spend my sparetime with my two sons, Julien and Nicholas,and my wife Chelsea, who is a supportiveinfluence in my life and Lethbridge native.”

Holly (Bitz) Poirier BA ’03“My husband and I recently relocated fromSt. Albert, AB, to Balgonie, SK, as he wastransferred to become a cadet instructor atthe RCMP Depot for the next three years. Iam currently a fifth-year constable with theEdmonton Police Service, however, I am cur-rently on education leave to complete a mas-ter's degree in police studies with a special-ization in forensic psychology. We areexpecting twins in January 2007, a girl and aboy, so we anticipate that we will be verybusy. We hope to return to work inEdmonton, upon completion of my graduatedegree.”

Lisa (Wilde) Prosser BA ’03Prosser recently moved to New York, NY,and is a sales executive for Panther Express,a start up tech company.

Colin Budd BMgt ’04“New house, unfulfilling employment, ram-bunctious three-year-old girl and same lov-ing wife. All I am missing is the white pick-et fence! The neighbour wouldn’t go forthat anyway!”

Ning Dong BMgt ’04“Shortly after graduation, I briefly workedin Japan, the United States and China. Afterbeing in the ‘real world’ for about a yearand a half, I took a volunteer assignment inCambodia as a lecturer. Specifically, I taughtmanagement courses at Maharishi VedicUniversity. It was the most rewarding expe-rience of my life.”

Crystal (Walberg) Marshall BA ’04Marshall is a planning officer for the City ofMedicine Hat.

Kristy Penner BSc ’04Darcy Neniska BFA ’04 “Darcy and I are in Edmonton while I pursuea degree in medicine. We tied the knot inDecember 2005!”

Lyndsey Rejman BN ’04“I am working full time for Chinook Healthas an RN with Community Care.”

Jessie van Rijn BFA ’04Van Rijn recently moved to Vancouver and isthe audience services and outreach coordi-nator for Carousel Theatre. CarouselTheatre, located on Granville Island, BC, pro-duces plays for young people (ages 3 to 17).

Michael Atwood BFA ’05“After completing my courses in December2004, I worked for several months doingfreelance web site design. In the fall of2005, I joined a start-up company with afriend and fellow graduate of the U of L toform Extreme Downtime Inc. The companyspecializes in creating nature-based DVDsfor private and public viewing. I currentlylive in Cardston with my wife and daughter,and have recently purchased an old home. I

am enjoying playing Extreme Home Make-Over to the house and yard!”

Doug Howell BMgt ’05Howell is performing in the North Americanpremiere of Snow White and the SevenGnomes of Christmas at The Citadel Theatrein Edmonton, Nov. 28 to Dec. 17.

Kevin Legg BA ’05Joanna (Voth) Legg BA ’04“Joanna and I got married in September. I amworking in Hong Kong as an account manag-er for Gerson Lehrman Group (I worked forthis company in India last year and hiredthree U of L students). I would like to know ifthere are any other U of L folks in Hong Kongor Singapore with whom I can connect.” E-mail: [email protected].

Chris Stephens BMgt ’05“I can be found in Edmonton, working main-ly as an independent marketing consultant.As some will know, BigBoy MarketingAgency was founded while I was still attend-ing my classes. Since that time I have createdanother company that functions as an out-of-home advertising method called: BigWashAdvertising. This medium is speciallydesigned for commercial advertising insidethe do-it-yourself wand car wash facilities.Entrepreneurship and networking havealways been a large aspect of my workinghabit and accordingly I would like to give ashout-out to those I went to class with. I aminterested in hearing from all you guys; youknow who you are!” E-mail: [email protected].

Gerard Van Ginkel BMgt ’05“Following graduation from the Calgarycampus, I completed a master’s certificate inproject management through the U of Lexecutive programs office. With my certifi-cate and degree, I went to work for Petro-Canada (Oil Sands) in project management. Iam currently working as a project controlsspecialist for the Fort Hills Oil Sands Project. Ireceived my project management profes-sional designation (PMP) from the Project

The Alumni Association offers four types of frames forgraduation parchments. All mats are acid free and tastefully emblazoned with the University of Lethbridgecrest. All frames fit the standard parchments and feature an easy-load system (no tools required).

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE!Display Your Success With a Prestigious U of L Degree Frame

Diplomat Briarwood GoldAntique Wood

To Order: Please contact the Alumni Association or visit www.uleth.ca/alumni to downloadan order form. Phone: (403) 317-2825 E-mail: [email protected]

Money raised by the Alumni Association through frame sales helps to support ongoingactivities and services for alumni and build scholarships.

Management Institute in 2005, and haverecently been admitted to the Haskayne MBAprogram.”

Saikat Basu MSc ’06“I am an international visa student from the cityof Kolkata, India, and I am currently doing myPhD in biomolecular science at the U of L. Underthe joint supervision of Dr. Igor Kovalchuk andDr. Francois Eudes, I conduct my research atboth the U of L and the Lethbridge ResearchStation. My thesis topic is Improvement of PlantTransformation Rates. I expect to submit mythesis and defend by 2009.”

Sheena DeVries BMgt ’06“I am working in Calgary for AVAC Ltd., a not-for-profit private organization that is fundedby the provincial government. AVAC invests inideas and helps them to become commerciallysuccessful in the agriculture and renewableresource sector.”

Garth Finlay BMgt/BEd ’06Finlay is an instructor in the administrationtechnology department at Grande PrairieRegional College.

Ryan James BA ’06James is taking the master’s program in coun-selling psychology at the University ofNorthern British Columbia.

Adina McBain BEd ’06“I began teaching math and physics (two diplo-ma courses) in Innisfail, AB, in February 2006. Ihave a renewed contract for the 06/07 year.”

Melanie Nicol BMus ’06Nicol began teaching at the Prince GeorgeConservatory of Music in September 2006.

Franco Nogarin BSc ’06Nogarin is working for the Government of theNorthwest Territories in the department ofenvironment and natural resources, forestmanagement division – fire sciences unit.

Rammi Pandher BMgt ’06“I married in 2004. I have twins – a boy (Sejal)and a girl (Liraj), born June 1, 2006.”

Brady Robinson BA ’06This past summer, Robinson joined the coach-ing staff of the Chilliwack Bruins (WesternHockey League). Robinson has also been active-ly involved in the Goaltender DevelopmentInstitute for the past 12 years.

James Schalk BSc/BEd ’06“In July I got my first teaching job since grad-uating. I will be teaching Grade 4 at ParkMeadows elementary school in Lethbridge.With jobs being cut and funding tight, I’msure it was my degree from the U of L thathelped me get the job.”

Melanie Thompson BN ’06“I am getting married on Aug. 11, 2007. I aman RN (Pediatrics & NICU) at the LethbridgeRegional Hospital.”

James Tolley BA ’06Tolley is a policy and planning assistant forMunicipal and Community Affairs for theGovernment of the Northwest Territories. Healso served on the Yellowknife BoxingCommission in preparation of the WorldWomen's Title Match held in May 2006.

Robert Trinh BMgt ’06“After graduating in June 2006, I turneddown two full-time HR jobs and decided topursue my acting career. I booked a reality TVshow for Nissan that was similar to the amaz-ing race. I also booked several gigs for BCFashion Week. I guess none of this relates tomy degree but it does in the way that I knowhow to manage myself and sell myself. Markmy words, I will become famous. Then I willpursue business.” Trinh was the winner of theNissan Larger Than Life Versa Road Trip.www.liveversa.ca/en

A L M A M A T T E R SNews and notes from your classmates


Verna Hatton BEd ’76passed away peacefully on April 17, 2006,at the age of 80 years. Hatton was proud of graduating at the same time as herdaughter, Barbara Yakubowski (BEd ’76,Dip Ed ’85).

Dr. Orville Kope LLD ’02passed away on May 4, 2006. In 2002, Dr.Kope received an honorary doctor of lawsdegree from the U of L in recognition ofthe outstanding service he provided to theMedicine Hat community and theCanadian broadcast industry for morethan 55 years.

Dr. John (Tony) Longpassed away on May 18, 2006. Dr. Longand his family moved to Lethbridge in1967, to join the political science depart-ment at the U of L. He taught at the U of L for 29 years and served four yearsas dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science.Dr. Long retired in 1998 and spent manyyears raising, training, showing and hunt-ing with his beloved dogs. Dr. Long wasan ardent fly fisherman and truly enjoyedall these outdoor activities with his wife,sons and good friends.

John Aberle Diploma in Ed ’78passed away on May 23, 2006.

Christina Pitt BEd ’78passed away on June 8, 2006.

Marvin Lenz BMgt ’87passed away on July 6, 2006.

Marion Payne BN ’82passed away on September 2, 2006.

Kevin Wolsey BASc ’86passed away on September 7, 2006.

Barbara Walker BEd ’73, Diploma in Ed ’81passed away on September 28, 2006.

Dolores M. Brown BN ’86passed away on October 7, 2006, at theage of 76 years. After many years of serv-ice, Brown retired from her position asadministrator and night supervisor of theLethbridge Regional Hospital in 1991.Brown was very active within the commu-nity, in particular with the University ofLethbridge, the Lethbridge TwinningSociety and the Friendship Force. Sheenjoyed entertaining with friends andfamily, had an ongoing pursuit of knowl-edge and a great report with her walkinggroup friends.

IN MEMORIAM


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In 1971, then Students’ Union PresidentRobin Dann, QC, (BASc ’72), was thank-ful to see the installation of the coveredwalkway that would connect UniversityHall with the Physical Education and ArtBuilding, and provide shelter to faculty,staff and students from the unpredictablesouthern Alberta climate.

“There was great interest on campus whenThe Worm was being built,” says Dann. “Asthe main campus parking lot was up at thetop of the coulee and most of the campus

activities and facilities were located inUniversity Hall, nearly everyone had to hikeacross campus a few times each day. Duringtimes of high winds, especially in winter,that trek was most uncomfortable; when wehad rain or snow, it was even worse.”

While a functional shelter, The Worm is alsoremembered as a social walkway where stu-dents would pass and meet one another. InAugust 1985, The Worm was torn down andreplaced by an underground tunnel, which isstill being used in part today.

1971: “The Worm”

The covered walkway, nicknamed “The Worm”, was built in 1971. This white and lengthy structure was a very visible and most unusual siteon campus.

F R O M T H EA R C H I V E S

Robin Dann, QC, (BASc ’72), stands in the currentunderground tunnel which now connects theStudents’ Union Building to the University Library.Dann is special projects counsel for Alberta Justiceand a 2002 Alumni Honour Society inductee.

fun with finance - university of lethbridge · they received. although your alma mater has grown...

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