MacEwan University Alumni News
-
Upload
macewan-alumni -
Category
Documents
-
view
227 -
download
1
description
Transcript of MacEwan University Alumni News
Don Caron, 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient 7
New Brand Launched
Top 40 Under 40
Night of Theatre
41018
Alumni NewsWinter 2013
M2
IT’S EASY BEING GREEN!Get your paperless copy of M today. If you are interested in receiving M only by e-mail, please send us your name and e-mail address at [email protected]. Thank you!
MAILING ADDRESS: Alumni Relations and Services MacEwan University City Centre Campus P.O. Box 1796 Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 2P2
TRACI TOSHACK Senior Manager, Alumni Relations and Services [email protected] 780-497-4273
We are committed to environmental responsibility. M is printed using vegetable-based ink, on paper following strict Forestry Stewardship Council standards
CONNECT WITH US ON LINKEDIN:MacEwan University Alumni
We welcome your feedback and comments. All correspondence and inquiries regarding advertisements and story ideas should be directed to:
MACEWAN ALUMNI NEWS
Call us at 780 497 4273 or send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll make sure that your record is updated
FRONT COVER Don Caron, 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
MESSAGEFROM THEPRESIDENT
the last year has been extraordinary
for macewan university. The institution
was admitted to the Association of Univer-
sities and Colleges of Canada, received an
outstanding review by the Alberta Quality
Assessment Council, became a member of
Canada West, developed and released a new
set of institutional values, launched a new
brand that once and for all affirms MacEwan’s
status as a university, and continued to be
ranked in national polls as one of Canada’s
outstanding undergraduate universities.
There is much in which we can all be proud.
This should be especially so for MacEwan
University’s alumni. Now over 50,000
strong, MacEwan’s graduates have made
a singular contribution to Edmonton, to
Alberta, and even beyond. As the university’s
reputation has grown, the credentials of
those who have studied with us have taken on
increased value. While still young, MacEwan
University’s Alumni Advisory Council has taken
on an increasingly important role in the univer-
sity, and this is something I especially welcome.
There is, though, much yet to be done. We are
in the midst of developing a strategic plan for
the university that will map out its direc-
tion for the next five years. While MacEwan
/ticket*
$349
MONTE CARLO
EXCLUSIVEALUMNI OFFER
A portion of your ticket purchase iseligible for a charitable tax receipt.
Regular ticket price $500
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE
Hope to see you there!
For more information contact:[email protected] or 780.497.4273
Take advantage of this special alumni rate.*Excludes corporate table purchases.Tickets are non-refundable.Don’t wait to buy. Limited tickets available.
To purchase tickets go to:MacEwan.ca/Alumni
Please join us to help support students as they pursue their academic and career aspirations.
M3
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
david atkinson, President MacEwan University
has developed plans before, this is the first
time it will have developed a comprehen-
sive integrated plan that will bring together
all elements of the university—academic,
financial, facilities, human resources, student
affairs, etc.
The strategic planning process is well under-
way, and there have been 22 consultations
across our campuses on the draft Strategic
Directions document. Work has begun on the
foundation plans which are intended to grow
out of the strategic directions (although I real-
ize they have not been finalized or approved).
The last year has been challenging for
MacEwan, as it experienced, along with other
Alberta post-secondary institutions very
serious budget reductions. While this was
regrettable on any number of levels, it is a
testament to the university that it was able to
deal with these reductions without eliminat-
ing any programs or deducing access. At the
same time, we need to be frank in saying that
the university, especially during this impor-
tant transitional time, could have well used
the funding it lost in creative and constructive
ways. MacEwan is currently experiencing
its largest enrolment ever, notwithstanding
reduced circumstances, and we must argue
vociferously against any further reductions
that would negatively impact the university.
As MacEwan University matures, its alumni
voice will be increasingly heard. I am com-
mitted to working with the Alumni Advisory
Council and our Alumni Relations and Services
office to ensure a strong and vital alumni
network. I urge all our alumni to stay in touch
with an institution in which you should be
immensely proud.
M4 DEFINING OUR
IDENTITYThe task of rebranding an organization is sel-
dom a simple one, but it can be done quickly
if you’re prepared to cut corners. In an insti-
tution as large as MacEwan University, it was
vital to provide everyone an opportunity to be
a part of the process.
Over the last year-and-a-half, more than
700 people took the time to provide valuable
insight into who we are as an institution.
We discussed our roots, our defining char-
acteristics, where we’ve been and where we
think we are going. It became clear early on
that people were engaged and wanted to see
this done right. That meant four rounds of
consultation where, after gathering input, we
came back and asked: “Is this what you were
saying? Do these words best express the ideas
we discussed? How can we make this better?”
We debated back and forth on what words
and phrases best expressed our identity and
what makes us distinctive. In the end we
crafted our University Pillars - eight big ideas
that define our core commitments as a uni-
versity. The pillars lay the foundation for who
we are and provide a framework for all future
strategic and academic planning.
The importance of the University Pillars
cannot be overstated. We also produced a
positioning statement, a short paragraph that
defines our distinctive brand profile, purpose
and benefit as a university.
With the establishment of the brand we then
looked to create a logo and a visual identity
that defines our proud name and our image.
Although it is not the most important thing
it was extensive in consultation.
it involved passionate discussion. And it
went well beyond its original scope – which
is exactly what it should have done.
As director of communications and market-
ing, I had the privilege of seeing an amazing
rebranding process unfold. What began as a
simple exercise to update our logo with the
word “university,” went on to become some-
thing much greater, something much more
important. What we did was define our iden-
tity and provide a framework for our future.
MACEWAN UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW BRAND
MacEwan.ca/SportandWellness
• Free fitness and aquatic classes• Squash court bookings• Highly qualified trainers• Complimentary parking
Watch for our winterprogram registrationopening in November!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
M5
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
that came out of the rebranding process, it is
the most visual and needed to represent us
well. Several rounds of consultation were held
with both internal and external stakeholders
as the specifics of the new logo were devel-
oped and then approved.
With the pillars and positioning statement
complete, and logo development well
underway, we then worked hard to create a
tagline that summarizes our positioning and
our brand promise; hence “Connected
– Engaged – Inspired” was born. The tagline
is now being used for marketing and
communication purposes and along with our
new campaign that says, “With the right
preparation, extraordinary happens,”
MacEwan University has begun to rebrand
itself in the marketplace.
Rebranding is not something that happens
overnight – it happens over time. Even though
surveys in 2011 said there was confusion as to
whether we were a university, a college, or some-
thing else, those same surveys said that we
have a glowing reputation in the post-second-
ary world. It is this reputation that we have
built upon and that has helped us take all the
The ‘tower symbol’ represents our sense of place, and celebrates the distinctive heritage of the MacEwan University architecture, locale, and our future as a consolidated downtown campus at the heart of the city. And, in a more cultural way, it represents our sense of community… where people and ideas have come together to achieve extraordinary things. Read more about our brand story and join the conversation at MacEwan.ca/Connect.
good things that make up MacEwan Univer-
sity’s world and form it into a new brand.
It is a brand that clearly identifies that we are
indeed a university; a university that is con-
nected, engaged and inspired.
ken schwanke, Director Office of Communications and Marketing
2013DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDSOne of MacEwan University’s highly regarded awards, the Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to graduates who exhibit outstanding achievements or make significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: service to the community, business, the arts, human development, the environment, lifelong learning, post-secondary education, and/or government. Congratulations to the following recipients on receiving this honour.
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M7
BETTY L. CORNELIUS
Business Administration, 1976
Betty Cornelius is the founder and president
of CANGRANDS National Kinship Support,
a grassroots organization dedicated to provid-
ing information and support to 62,500 kinship
children being raised by grandparents and
other kinship family members.
Since being denied access to one grandchild
and rescuing another from an abusive living
situation, Betty has advocated for kin-children
and kin-headed households. She works tire-
lessly to provide moral and emotional support
to kinship families.
Since 1997, Betty has fought to get Ontario
grandparents rights and was instrumental in
getting Bill 210 passed – commonly known
as the kinship bill. She spoke at the First In-
ternational Kinship Conference, held in New
DON CARON
Accounting, 1991
Lifelong entrepreneur Don Caron grew up in
a family of entrepreneurs. Rather than follow
in his family members’ footsteps, Don chose
to enrol in accounting at MacEwan.
After graduating, he worked for a number of
national accounting firms and relished the
variety of working with a diverse group of
businesses. The family entrepreneurial spirit
emerged when he and his brother co-founded
a private equity group. The company special-
ized in taking an active interest in the man-
agement and growth of public and private
diversified companies, but Don wasn’t ready
to stop there.
In 2007, after searching for a “highly-scalable
business and finding one in Bri-Chem Corp.,
York in 2007, and at the American Association
of Retired Persons (AARP) in Washington,
D.C. in 2008, as well as at the United Nations
Youth round table in Ottawa.
After her mother’s murder in 1980, Betty has
also taken to speaking out on issues affecting
victims of violence. She is also driven to con-
tinue learning about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder, Radical Attachment Disorders and
behaviour modification. With a background
in business, addictions and social psychology,
Betty thrives on making things happen.
On top of all she does, Betty works part-time
as a mental health support worker and has
fostered 32 children over the past 30 years.
he led a multimillion-dollar transaction to
purchase the company and took it public.
Today, Don is chairman, president and CEO
of Bri-Chem, North America’s largest drilling
fluids distributor operating from 25 national
warehouse locations.
Don actively volunteers as an instructor and
mentor for various youth sports groups and
raises funds for community sport associa-
tions and select charities. He was a former
director of the Edmonton Petroleum Club and
for numerous private and public companies.
He was also the recipient of Ernst & Young’s
Entrepreneur of the Year award last year.
DR. JARED TABLER
Arts and Cultural Management, 2003
Dr. Jared Tabler is the vice-president of
operations for ICOM Productions, created the
Style Guy fashion blog and founded market-
ing firm McQueen Creative.
Jared’s early enthusiasm for theatre and vol-
unteerism played a significant role in his deci-
sion to enrol in the Arts and Cultural Manage-
ment program. After graduating, Jared
became a consultant, working with numerous
clients in the areas of marketing, strategic
planning, organizational development and
branding. Jared believes in building strong
communities and as such has volunteered his
time to many arts, culture and human service
organizations including Big Brothers & Big
Sisters, HIV Edmonton, Exposure Festival,
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region,
Theatre Alberta and the Alberta Ballet.
MARK HOLOWAYCHUK
International Business and Supply Chain
Management, 2005
As the founder of Vitamart.ca, Mark Holoway-
chuk grew his company from $1,000 in sales to
a multimillion-dollar corporation in five short
years. Today, Vitamart.ca is one of Canada’s
largest online health supplement stores. Origi-
nally starting out in his basement, Mark now
carries over 5,000 products and runs his busi-
ness out of a 5,000-square-foot warehouse.
Mark regularly returns to MacEwan University
to mentor students in the School of Business.
During his visits, he discusses the benefits
and the challenges of owning and running an
e-business and participates in the e-business
challenge, which involves reading student
reports, attending presentations and providing
guidance and feedback throughout the process.
He readily uses his personal experiences to help
mentor and educate students.
Mark also launched SupplementReviewer.com,
a website dedicated to providing feedback
and reviews on health products. He founded
the Edmonton Internet Millions Mastermind
Group, a monthly get-together for local Inter-
net entrepreneur. Mark was also named one of
Edmonton’s “Sizzlers” in 2010.
Avenue magazine, for which he is the former
fashion editor, named Jared one of Edmon-
ton’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2009. The follow-
ing year he was nominated for the Caldwell
Partner’s national “Top 40 Under 40” award.
In 2009, he received a Horizon Interactive
Gold Award with ICOM Productions, an
e-learning company that creates online train-
ing solutions. Alberta Venture named ICOM,
under Jared’s leadership, one of the Fast
Growth 50 companies for 2013. Jared embod-
ies many MacEwan University values includ-
ing lifelong learning, excellence, community,
collaboration, diversity and individuality,
innovation, and leadership.
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M9
Nine alumni were involved in the rebranding creative development (including video, music
and photography)
An educational and enlightening feature sharing the facts and figures about MacEwan University
x 100More than 700 participants were involved in four rounds of consultations
new logo concepts
were reviewed
new banners
were installed
new official colours:
The banner on the side of the Robbins Health Learning
Centre is 60 feet high
60ft
30ft
0ft
16 exterior building signs and 51 directional signs were changed in
the first phase
MacEwan is 41 years old and has had six logos since its inception
since MacEwan’s last rebrand
BEN WEINLICK
Disability Studies: Leadership and
Community, 2007
Ben is passionate about helping people and
organizations enhance their creative capac-
ity in order to come up with better quality
solutions and services. In addition to being
the founder of Think Jar Collective, Ben is the
Senior Leader of Research and Organizational
Learning at a large NGO called SKILLS Society
in Canada. In this role, he regularly facili-
tates a think tank lab using design thinking
and creative processes he developed with a
research group during his graduate studies.
He also regularly writes for the Creativity Post,
gives keynotes, curates content for Think Jar
Collective and consults across Canada.
Ben has had a tremendous impact on the lives
of people with developmental disabilities in
Edmonton. He is a true community builder
and embodies the belief that strong com-
munities have the capacity to recognize and
appreciate the gifts of all citizens.
Each year, Avenue Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” recognizes individuals who are leaders in their field, and whose passions and professions have helped raise the city’s profile through growth and change. Congratulations to the following alumni and friends of MacEwan University who were honoured.
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS HONOURED AS TOP 40 UNDER 40
M11
JANELLE AKER, Journalism, 2005
When Janelle was a student in MacEwan’s jour-
nalism program, she had dreams of writing for
Transworld or Thrasher magazine, as she loved
skateboarding most of her life. Over time, her
writing inspirations changed, but her passion to
share people’s stories hasn’t.
She has worked in Edmonton’s not-for-profit
sector for nearly 10 years, most of which were
in the homeless community with a focus on
housing. It was her journalism education that
made it all possible.
Her personal life has also transformed into
a “labour of love” career, as she cofounded
a website with her partner, Terah Jans.
“I Dig Your Girlfriend” was created to share
stories, information and to support Edmon-
ton’s LGBT*Q community. The website’s
success has been built on the honest voices
of their friends and writers who have shared
their personal experiences of being in a mar-
ginalized community and how equality issues
affect Edmonton as a whole.
DON BERNER, Friend of MacEwan University
Don has been called one of Canada’s fastest
rising saxophone stars. In addition to appear-
ing alongside such notable jazz luminaries
as Juno Award winner P.J. Perry, Bobby
Shew, and Hugh Fraser, he has performed
at Edmonton’s Jazz City Festival, Yardbird
Suite, Calgary’s “Beatniq”, Saskatoon’s “The
Bassment”, and Vancouver’s “The Cellar”.
Don has also been a featured artist at the
Montreal Jazz Festival.
Don can be heard on numerous CDs includ-
ing his own debut CD, “Sextet,” his second
album, “Fortress of Solitude,” and his brand
new album “The Don Berner Sextet Invades
Calgary,” which has been charting all over
Canada and is the subject of a recent CBC
recording. He has performed on CBC’s
Hockey Night in Canada and numerous
radio and TV specials.
He has also been nominated for the TD
Canada Trust Jazz award, the Galaxie Rising
Star Award, and several Mayoral Arts Awards.
IRFAN CHAUDHRY, Bachelor of Arts, 2003
Irfan holds a masters degree in Criminal
Justice and is an instructor in the Depart-
ment of Sociology at MacEwan University.
He was awarded the Royal Commonwealth
Youth Service Award for his work with the
Youth Restorative Action Project and won the
Centre for Race and Culture anti-racism ini-
tiative for his work with the Mosquers Mus-
lim Youth Amateur Film Festival, which he
helped co-found. He is currently completing
his PhD, researching which parts of Canada
have the largest number of racist tweets and
how this, if at all, relates to the amount of
reported hate crimes in those same cities.
ELLEN CHORLEY, Theatre Arts, 2004
Ellen is an Edmonton-based playwright,
producer, performer and theatre instructor.
She is the founder/artistic director and
festival producer of Promise Productions,
a theatre for young audiences that produces
the Snow Globe Festival of Children’s Theatre
every December. Ellen has written and
produced a number of plays including
Murielle, which received the 2013 Sterling
Award for Outstanding Production for Young
Audiences and Outstanding Independent
Production. She is also the recipient of the
Nextfest Emerging Artist Award and has been
nominated for the Mayor Celebration of the
Arts awards on two occasions.
As an actor, Ellen has performed on stages all
over Alberta and Western Canada. Ellen serves
as artistic associate for Edmonton’s Northern
Light Theatre, and works as a drama group
leader at the Autism Society of Edmonton.
JESSICA KLUTHE, Friend of
MacEwan University
After receiving her Master of Fine Arts in
Writing from the University of Victoria,
Jessica returned to Edmonton in the hopes of
finding meaningful, relevant employment. In
just a few months, she was hired at MacEwan
University as an instructor in the Bachelor
of Communication Studies program.
During her first year of teaching she edited
and completed her first book, Rosina, the
Midwife, which was released this past March
and was on The Edmonton Journal’s list
of best sellers for ten weeks. The book is a
SORIN MIHAILOVICI, Design Studies, 2008
Sorin wears many hats throughout the day,
keeping busy with production work at OMNI
Television and City, as well as running a
mobile app and producing his own TV series.
At OMNI Television, Sorin is responsible
for the development and implementation of
diversity-related programming. He is also
the producer of the ‘DiverseCity’ segment on
Breakfast Television.
Sorin is also the founder of the world’s largest
fraud prevention mobile app, Scam Detector,
accessible on iPhones and Android. The app
RONA FRASER, Arts Administration, 2000
After graduating, Rona started her dream
career in event management and fund
development. Working with SJ Event Man-
agement, she learned how to produce and
promote world-class events. In 2001 she
and her husband started their own event
management company, Event Energy,
which has become a full-service event com-
pany serving all of Western Canada. Rona
has worked on a variety of events including
the Alberta Music Awards, Edmonton’s May-
or’s Celebration for the Arts and the Daddy
Daughter Ball.Over the years, the company
has evolved into specializing with working for
non-profit organizations, with over a million
dollars being raised for worthwhile causes
including The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospi-
tal Foundation, The Canadian Cancer Society
and Ronald McDonald House. Ten years
ago, she did the grand opening for the Nina
Haggerty Centre for the Arts and continued to
work for the centre on a contract basis which
led to her current part-time position as their
director of Development.
migrant story based on Jessica’s great-great
grandmother who stayed behind in Calabria,
Italy while the rest of her family migrated to
Canada during the 1950s.
Two chapters of her book received recogni-
tion before publication: “Scattered” won
the 2012 Other Voices Creative Non-Fiction
contest and “Traces” was shortlisted for the
Writers Guild of Alberta’s James H. Gray
Alberta Literary Award in the summer of
2011. Jessica is currently working on another
book project which is a novel set in Alberta.
exposes the world’s most notorious scams and
educates the consumer on how to avoid them.
Sorin is also the producer of his own TV
series called Travel by Dart. Every episode,
Sorin and his friend Matt Cook throw a dart
at the world’s map and travel wherever it
lands, with the purpose of helping the land
or the people. Whether it’s about building
a school in Uganda or a library in the West
Indies, Sorin and Matt are always ready to
roll up their sleeves.
M13
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
CAROL NEUMAN, Executive Leadership in the
Non-Profit Sector, 2012
Carol is executive director of the Alberta Stu-
dents Executive Council - an advocacy group
representing 175,000 students from across
the province. Her organization has worked to
develop solutions for students ranging from
the Serving Communities Internship Pro-
gram, to the Alberta Campus Mental Health
Innovation fund, to advocating for new
strategies to expand access to post-secondary
programs for rural and northern students.
MICHELLE PONICH, Journalism, 2006
Since graduating, Michelle has gone on to
establish herself as one of Edmonton’s vision-
aries in the not-for-profit sector, an area that
she has great passion for. For over three years
she worked in the area of development with
the Alberta Cancer Foundation forwarding
their mission and raising funds to support
research and cancer care in Alberta. In 2010,
Michelle accepted the position of executive
director with the Edmonton Down Syndrome
Society (EDSS), becoming the first paid staff
person in the organization’s 24 year history.
BEN WEINLICK, Disability Studies: Leader-
ship and Community, 2007
Ben is passionate about helping people and
organizations enhance their creative capacity
in order to come up with better quality solu-
tions and services. In addition to being the
founder of Think Jar Collective, Ben is the
Senior Leader of Research and Organizational
Learning at a large NGO called SKILLS Soci-
ety in Canada. In this role, he regularly facili-
tates a think tank lab using design thinking
and creative processes he developed with a
research group during his graduate studies.
She is also an active community builder,
serving as a member of the Winter City strat-
egy think tank, Edmonton Economic Develop-
ment Corporation’s Downtown Vibrancy Task
Force, a board member at LitFest: Edmonton’s
Non-Fiction Festival, and community co-chair
for Edmonton NextGen. Earlier this year,
Carol also founded the 10 Mile Meal project,
a new initiative that celebrates vernacular
prairie cuisine.
During her time with the EDSS, Michelle has
established the organization on an equal play-
ing field with other like-sized charities in
Edmonton. Her deep-rooted belief in people
born with Down Syndrome has provided her
the drive and passion to not only bring vision
to the society, but change perceptions in our
communities. Michelle also dedicates her
personal time as a board member with CTV’s
Good Neighbour Fund, the Motorcycle Ride
for Dad and Bryan’s Angels.
He also regularly writes for the Creativity
Post, gives keynotes, curates content for
Think Jar Collective and consults
across Canada.
Ben has had a tremendous impact on the lives
of people with developmental disabilities in
Edmonton. He is a true community builder
and embodies the belief that strong com-
munities have the capacity to recognize and
appreciate the gifts of all citizens.
photo credit: claudine lavoie photography
M14
within every child lies a potential that
can often surprise us. This is a fact that for-
mer MacEwan student Anita Lafferty witnesses
on a daily basis. In her role as graduation coach
at St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Edmon-
ton, Lafferty works directly with First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit students (FNMI), helping
them overcome obstacles that may prevent
the realization of their full capacity.
Edmonton Catholic Schools established the
FNMI Graduation Coach Program in 2009 in
response to the unacceptably low number of
FNMI students completing high school. In the
short time that the program has been in effect, it
has been a resounding success, bringing gradua-
tion rates amongst FNMI students at St. Joseph’s
from 14 percent to an impressive 60 percent.
The success of the Graduation Coach Program is
a combination of the support given by coaches
such as Lafferty with a more personal, self-
directed style of learning for the students. “It’s
a lot like university,” says Lafferty. “They attend
seminars once or twice a week, then largely work
on their own. My job is to make sure they are on
track, check their progress, and make sure they
meet the requirements to graduate.”
Lafferty’s journey into the world of supporting
students began at MacEwan University, where
she was initially focused on getting into the
field of nursing. While enrolled at MacEwan,
she became heavily involved with the school’s
Aboriginal Education Centre. “I would do
things like go to high schools and speak to
aboriginal students about my experiences in
post-secondary,” she says. “The Aboriginal
Education Centre got me volunteering with
Edmonton Public Schools, and all sorts of
other things involved with youth. That’s what
really helped change my mind and led me to
get involved in teaching.”
It was at this time when Lafferty met her cur-
rent boss Pamela Sparklingeyes, who was work-
ing in the Aboriginal Education Centre and who
encouraged Lafferty to get involved with youth.
“I would basically volunteer and tutor students
whenever Pam asked,” she says. Such passion
and work ethic clearly didn’t go unnoticed.
“When I finished my degree, I contacted Pam to
let her know and to ask if she knew of any avail-
able positions. She replied immediately, and a
week later I was in an interview.”
Reflecting upon her educational journey,
Lafferty speaks very highly of her experience
at MacEwan. “It is a fantastic, dynamic place.
The Aboriginal Centre was like my family, and
it allowed me to really get involved in a lot of
other things.” Lafferty even went on to become
president of MacEwan’s Aboriginal Student
Club, hosting events such as Cultural Days as
well as developing relationships with faculty
that continue to this day.
Cultural awareness is an important compo-
nent of the Graduation Coach Program, the
success of which Lafferty credits largely to
the resource centre within each participating
school. Dubbed the Braided Journeys room,
it serves as a home base for students seeking
information on post-secondary schooling,
scholarships, events, volunteer opportuni-
ties, or simply a place to hang out and feel as
though they belong. “This is a place where
students feel comfortable. I’m here to support
them, while other staff may come in and do
teachings. It is a piece of the school that these
students can call their own.”
When asked what the most rewarding aspect of
her job is, Lafferty responds without hesitation.
“Graduation day is by far the most rewarding
thing,” she states. “The excitement, the hype,
seeing the parents so happy, it’s just the most
magical day.” Additionally, the Aboriginal
Learning Services department of Edmonton
Catholic Schools puts on an honouring ceremo-
ny for all FNMI graduates each year. “It gets
bigger and bigger each year, to the point where
we have to start looking at bigger venues.”
Having been working at St. Joseph’s for three
years now, Lafferty has seen many students
graduate and go on to post-secondary educa-
tion, with some still keeping in touch. “It’s
always so nice to hear from them,” she says.
“It’s great to see how well they are doing, and
I will probably get some of them to volunteer,
keeping the circle going the way it did for
me.” With such a passion for helping others
succeed, Lafferty will undoubtedly inspire nu-
merous students to find that potential within
themselves to truly shine.
MAKING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF ABORIGINAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
CULTURE OF SUCCESS
Our heroes don’twear capes.They wear gowns.WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING NOMINATIONSFOR THE 2014 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS.
Do you know of a MacEwan University alumnus that has made a significant contribution to our community or who has achieved inspiring success? Each year at Convocation, MacEwan University recognizes the achievements of Distinguished Alumni and their contribution to the university and our community.
Distinguished Alumni awards are open to all MacEwan University graduates. To be considered, a good candidate will have exhibited an outstanding achievement or made an outstanding contribution in one or more of the following areas: • Service to the community • Business • The arts • The environment • Lifelong learning • Government • MacEwan through various channels
Anyone may nominate an alumnus, or themselves and there is no limit to the number of times a candidate may be nominated.
The deadline for nomination is:December 31, 2013
Nomination forms are available online:www.MacEwan.ca/alumni
M15
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M16
and nerve-racking experiences”, she states.
“School really helped me feel more comfort-
able with being a manager, as well as making
decisions on all aspects of my business.”
Leclair first heard of the Arts and Cultural
Management Program after deciding to
transition away from a career as a performer.
“I originally didn’t have much intention on
going to school,” she says. “When I wanted to
stop performing, I realized I should get some
kind of professional training if I wanted to
still be involved in the arts. MacEwan really
sounded appealing.”
Leclair is very enthusiastic when speaking of
her time in the program. “It was very unique,”
she says. “I got a lot of opportunities that
changed my perspective on the Edmonton
arts scene. Getting a behind-the-scenes look
at the Edmonton Opera, the Alberta Ballet,
and touring a variety of facilities lets you see a
side of things you just don’t understand when
you are part of the audience.”
In particular, Leclair identifies the field
placement element of the program as being
of great value in preparing her for entry
into the working world. “You actually get to
work while also being mentored,” she states.
“During our two-month placement, all of the
students would get together periodically for
workshops, and share our experiences.”
With Pique Dance Centre now open for busi-
ness, the base of happy customers continues to
grow. In fact, a graduate of MacEwan’s Theatre
Arts Program who had been cast in the musi-
cal Mary Poppins, yet had no previous dance
training recently approached Leclair. “I love
working with these customers,” says Leclair.
“I almost feel like a consultant.”
Having successfully made the transition from
performance to business ownership, working
within the art form she so loves is very re-
warding for Leclair. “I know that I’m making
a lot of people happy. They aren’t worried
about it being uncomfortable for them to
learn, and that makes me feel like I’m really
contributing to the dance community.”
STEPPINGIT UP
ARTS AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT ALUMNA OPENS DANCE STUDIO FOR ADULTS
for many young artists, it can be diffi-cult to decide between following one’s passion or to choose a more stable
career direction. For Jeanelle Leclair,
choosing was simply not an option. The gradu-
ate of MacEwan’s Arts and Cultural Manage-
ment program instead decided to pave her own
road, incorporating both her love of dance with
a strong entrepreneurial spirit.As a result of
both hard work and true passion, Leclair now
owns and operates her very own dance studio
in downtown Edmonton.
Pique Dance Centre opened its doors in
August of 2013, offering instruction to students
from beginners to advanced dancers looking
to refine their skills. The studio offers an
incredibly diverse range of classes, cover-
ing staple genres such as jazz and tap while
additionally providing expert guidance in
Afro-Cuban, African, and soca styles to name
a few. However, Pique stands out by focusing
exclusively on adult students, providing a ser-
vice previously unavailable to Edmontonians.
The idea for the studio first came to Leclair
while she was attending MacEwan. Having
danced since she was a young girl, she was
able to earn a living after high school by per-
forming professionally, working on a cruise
ship and as a cheerleader for the Winnipeg
Blue Bombers. Wanting to maintain her skills
while in post-secondary, she quickly became
frustrated while trying to find appropriate
instruction. “It can be uncomfortable in
classes where you are the only person older
than 16. Then one day it hit me; I should
open a studio just for adults!”
Transforming the idea into reality didn’t hap-
pen overnight, nor was it a process without
significant challenges. “Nothing goes as you’d
expect it to, and everything that does happen
is totally unexpected,” Leclair says with a
laugh. Yet she is quick to credit her education
with equipping her to deal with many of the
difficulties associated with starting a busi-
ness in the arts industry. “My program really
helped prepare me, particularly in regards
to marketing, market research, managing
finances, and finding funding,” she says.
Dealing with commercial realtors, bankers,
and finding the perfect location for the studio
stand out to Leclair as the most arduous parts
of the process. “Those were really challenging
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M17
M18
this year marked the seventh annual
alumni night of theatre event held at the
John L. Haar Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts
and Communications campus.
Over 250 alumni had the opportunity to
catch up with old friends while enjoying hors
d’oeuvres and wine before heading into the
theatre to watch the performance of Carrie:
The Musical.
Carrie: The Musical tells the tale of an
awkward ugly duckling who transforms into
an avenging swan. After years of struggling
at home with a domineering mother and
harassed at school by vindictive bullies,
Carrie White is awakened to her telekinetic
powers. The musical explores outsiders,
being misunderstood and struggling to
make human connections.
ALUMNI NIGHT OF THEATRE 2013
As in previous years, the Theatre Arts students
and staff put on an amazing show and a great
time was had by all.
M19
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
Carrie: The Musical Photos provided by Epic Photography
I wanted to pass on a big thank you! My guest and I had a great time at the show. The performance was fantastic and the food was amazing. This was my first time attending and I’m happy to say that the evening was very enjoyable. I am very grateful to be a MacEwan alumni!
carmen krysa, Office Assistant, 2006
M20
sometimes, it is the unexpected decisions
that truly define our lives. For Ian Soles,
deciding at age 38 to abandon a successful
career as a management consultant to enroll
in MacEwan’s Massage Therapy program may
have seemed crazy to some. However,
IN GOOD HANDS
MASSAGE THERAPY GRADUATE BECOMES SPECIALIST IN ADVANCING TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA
the move proved to be the right one, marking
the beginning of a most rewarding journey
into the world of patient care.
At present, Soles is the president and lead
therapist of Salutaris Centre, a leading-edge
therapeutic clinic specializing in the treatment of
lymphedema. This condition is the result of an
improperly functioning lymphatic system that
can result in chronically swollen regions of the
body, with many sufferers finding limited relief
through standard medical avenues. Interestingly,
the three other therapists who work at Salutaris,
Lee Saunders, Leila Power and Shaunna Leclair
are all MacEwan graduates.
Prior to delving into massage therapy, Soles’s
consulting career was already well-estab-
lished and prosperous, yet not without sacri-
fice. “My career was going better and better,
but my life was getting worse and worse,”
says Soles, describing long work weeks and
being home roughly 4 or 5 days a month.
“When my two-and-a-half year old daughter
asked me, ‘Are you going to visit me again
today Daddy’ I knew I had to make a change.”
While contemplating his next move, Soles
glanced over the notes of a friend who hap-
pened to be a massage therapist. “I sat and
read her notes and realized that this is what I
want to do. I came back and told my business
associate that I was leaving the firm to become
a massage therapist.” Within 4 months, Soles
had wrapped up his commitments and was
enrolled at MacEwan University.
In speaking of his experience at MacEwan,
Soles is very complimentary of the school’s
focus on working with each student to sup-
port their learning. “As a 38 year-old business
guy, they really helped put together a pro-
gram that met my particular needs, enabling
me to enter this field. They worked with my
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M21
knowledge and experience to help me become
a better therapist.”
Upon graduation in 1994, Soles was of-
fered the opportunity to purchase Elements
Wholistic Centre, a business owned by one
of his instructors. “Of greatest importance to
my success early on was the seriousness with
which the instructors taught the hands-on
work,” Soles says. “Good technical skills are
imperative, and the instructors at MacEwan
really understood this.” As a result, not one of
the 25 clients/week left as a result of the prac-
tice changing ownership, firmly establishing
Soles within his new field.
Shortly after starting his practice, Soles at-
tended a demonstration of the Vodder Method
of Manual Lymph Drainage; a technique that
had a proven track record of reducing lymph-
edema. Soles reveals being truly inspired to
learn the Vodder Method, stating, “I felt that if
I could learn a technique to save a child’s leg,
I would really have done something worth-
while in this world.” Consequently, one of
Soles later patients would be only the second
person in Canada to have a lymphatic vessel
transplant, with the Vodder technique being
critical to their rehabilitation.
After several years of practice, Soles was
approached by Edmonton philanthropists
Dianne and Irving Kipnes, regarding treat-
ment of Dianne’s chronic lymphedema. Their
discussions evolved into their partnering in
the establishment of Salutaris Centre in 2010,
with the goal of helping advance the treat-
ment of this poorly understood disease for the
benefit of the wider population.
Furthering this commitment, the Dianne &
Irving Kipnes Foundation donated $5 mil-
lion in September of 2013 to fund a Lymph-
edema Research and Education program at
the University of Calgary. Soles is extremely
optimistic about this venture, “We hope this
research will help us understand how the lym-
phatic system actually functions, and hopefully
find a cure for lymphedema.” With this area of
anatomy very poorly understood, Soles hopes
that this program will help establish a whole
new area of medical specialization.
It has been a long and winding road for Soles,
one that was truly guided by a passion for
people. “This line of work is not like an office
job, its really about touching people’s lives.”
With such an enduring enthusiasm for helping
others, it is clear that Soles choice to follow his
heart and completely change careers wasn’t
quite so crazy after all.
M22
i always promised myself that i would
travel the world one day. It’s much easier
said than done. Why? Because one minute
you’re ready to explore the world and the next
minute you’re using excuses like, “but it is so
far away” and “I’ll just travel next year.” I was
caught in this cycle for quite some time, until
one day I had a moment of bravery. And in
this resolve, I told myself that I was going to
travel, no more excuses.
The challenge was, I was still enrolled in
the Bachelor of Applied Communications
program and I wasn’t about to drop out of the
program, but I knew that my desire to travel
wasn’t going anywhere. So I began to look for
options and came across MacEwan’s
Education Abroad Program.
NO MORE EXCUSES
With an endless amount of help and support
from MacEwan International, I found myself
in the United Kingdom studying Fashion
Journalism at the University for the Creative
Arts (UCA).
I chose UCA for a number of reasons.
The Fashion Journalism campus is located in
Epsom, which is an hour away from London,
and how could I say no to London? I also
wanted a program that would challenge my
skills as a communicator and introduce me
to new ideas and concepts.
I’ve had people ask me if the Education
Abroad Program was worth it. My answer is
always yes. Taking part in the program was
one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I experienced so much in the UK and I would
do it all over again without a second thought.
I had the opportunity to learn from some of the
industry professionals who influence the Lon-
don fashion scene, and I ended up going there
at least once a week to experience it firsthand.
In a professional sense, I believe that my
study abroad term helped to set me apart
from other graduates. When you go abroad,
your perspective of the world diversifies and
you look at things differently, which is exactly
what some employers are looking for.
After finishing her term in London, Taylor
Blades returned to MacEwan where she is
currently finishing her diploma in Public
Relations. She also received her Bachelor
of Applied Communications in Professional
Writing this past November. She hopes to
return to the UK in the future to pursue a
career in fashion journalism.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A MACEWAN EDUCATION ABROAD STUDENT
The most important lesson I learned from
my exchange was that anything is possible if
you set your mind to it. I never realized how
capable or determined I was until I found my-
self in a different country away from everyone
and everything that I knew. MacEwan’s
Education Abroad Program helped me realize
how captivating the world is and how study-
ing abroad can truly change your life.
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M23
Doctoral Supplement from the Social Sciences &
Humanities Research Council and Sport Canada
for his PhD.
Additionally, as the majority of Canada’s popu-
lation is insufficiently physically active, he is in-
volved in research that assesses how individuals
can improve their physical activity behaviours.
At the same time, he works with multiple sports
teams from Edmonton and the Lower Mainland
as a sport psychology consultant.
Desi’s long-term goals include completing
a doctoral dissertation followed by a one-or
two-year post-doctorate degree, and eventu-
ally work as a professor in sport and exercise
psychology. He plans to continue to work as a
sport psychology consultant and hopes to one
day work as a consultant at the Olympics.
DESI MCEWAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS, 2010
when desi mcewan first stepped on campus in 2005, he met with an advisor who, after hearing about his interests and passions, suggested he pursue a doc-
torate in sports psychology. This advice
turned into a ‘light bulb’ moment for Desi and
thus began his educational journey. He says
that this type of support from staff and faculty
members, including Dr. Rodney Schmaltz and
Dr. Lynne Honey, distinguishes MacEwan
from other universities.
When he was nearing the end of his fourth
year, Desi began his cross-Canada application
process for graduate school. After receiving
acceptance offers at all three of the schools he
applied to, he ended up choosing McMaster
University in Hamilton, Ontario. During his
time at McMaster, Desi received multiple
awards, including a Joseph Bombardier
Canadian Graduate Scholarship from the
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council
and numerous internal university awards.
While working on his masters’ degree, one of
his studies was published in The Journal of
Psychology of Sport & Exercise, and the
Huffington Post wrote about his findings
leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2012, his assistance as a sport psychology
consultant with a local women’s curling team
was acknowledged by the team’s skip at the
provincials for Alberta in articles in the
Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun.
This fall, after completing his master’s degree
at McMaster, Desi packed up again and moved
out west to pursue his PhD at the University of
British Columbia where his focus is on teamwork
in sport. He is interested in learning how sports
teams achieve their goals and what maximizes
their effectiveness. He has again received a Joseph
Bombardier Canadian Graduate Scholarship as
well as a Sport Participation Research Initiative
GRAD SCHOOLSPOTLIGHT
M24
business is about constantly reacting, adapting and prospering; and business at
macewan university is good.
Earlier this year, the School of Business,
welcomed more than 80 academics, students
and businesspeople from across Canada to
e3 = Earth, Education, Economics — the first
Principles for Responsible Management
Education (PRME) Canada Regional Meeting.
PRME is a United Nations Global Compact
initiative. The principles serve as a frame-
work for management and business educa-
tion schools to develop future thought and
business leaders in terms of sustainable and
responsible management.
“In hosting the first PRME regional meeting
within Canada, we hope this nationwide
discussion will continue towards establishing
the definition of the PRME within a Canadian
context,” said Elsie Elford, Dean of the School
of Business.
Former Deputy Prime Minister, the Honour-
able A. Anne McLellan, delivered a keynote
address. In her presentation “From Board-
room to Classroom: Fostering Sustainable
Management,” McLellan advocated that
promoting sustainable thinking is more than
just talk, it is also about integrating ideas into
our core values.
Attitudes in business have long been shaped
by a focus on profit and financial return on
investment. A growing number of business
leaders are demanding change and embracing
sustainability as not just an idea, but also as a
necessity. Changing attitudes throughout the
business community starts with the percep-
tions impressed upon students on their road
to becoming the business leaders of tomorrow.
In other news……
The Business Management program,
(formerly Management Studies), received
national accreditation from the Canadian
Institute of Management this past August.
Graduates will have met the academic require-
ments for the Certified in Management (C.I.M.)
and Professional Manager (P.Mgr.) designations.
The Bachelor of Commerce program will be
graduating its first cohort of Marketing and
Human Resources Management majors in
spring of 2014.
Lastly, the annual Student Business Confer-
ence (SBC), will take place on Wednesday
March 5, 2014 at the Shaw Conference
Centre. The conference will welcome students
from across the university, as well as business
leaders from in and around the Edmonton
area. This year, SBC will feature a business
mixer which will provide students and busi-
ness professionals with a great networking
opportunity. For more information on the
conference and how you can get involved
visit MacEwan.ca/SBC.
UPDATES FROM THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE
TICKETS for all Griffins court sports home games:
ADULTS $5$5 STUDENTS/SENIORS $2$2MacEwan.ca/GriffinsSeason passes are also available.
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M25
how often do you hear the word networking and think of an awkward
business mixer? In reality, we are actually
networking every day; building and maintain-
ing relationships by sharing information and
resources. We generally do this inside and
outside the office, but if you see others being
promoted over you or are never asked to lead
new projects, the reason could be a lack of
internal networking. Internal networking is as
simple as engaging in daily conversation with
your colleagues to build rapport, learn ways to
collaborate and share ideas. It can allow you to
uncover information that inspires new initia-
tives or ways to contribute to the team.
Managers tend to value someone who is
involved, trusted by others and invested in the
success of the organization. A few simple ways
to become an expert internal networker are:
CAREER TIPS, TRICKS AND TRENDSfrom Karly Gerlach, employer relations
specialist at MacEwan University
Career Services.
• Get involved in training, orientation or
mentoring new hires
• Organize an office fundraising event,
new program or sports team
• Attend office functions
• Ask a colleague to lunch who you have
never connected with before and try not
to eat lunch alone
• Find ways to help a colleague
• Internal networking is not for “suck-
ups” or gossips. It is building valuable
connections with colleagues and
receiving recognition from management.
You might even have fun along the way!
If you have questions regarding this topic or
any career related questions you would like
answered, please email [email protected]
with “Career Corner” as the subject line.
M26
CATCHING UP WITH FOOD MARKETEER AND WRITER LESLIE HORNE
leslie horne, a 1994 advertising and public relations graduate, has a pretty sweet life. She lives in Edinburgh,
Scotland – surely one of the most magical,
romantic cities on earth. She works in her
dream job, as a global marketing manager for
Genius Gluten-Free Foods, and spends her
spare time enjoying a number of food-related
interests. We caught up with her to talk about
her career, her life and the role that MacEwan
University has played in her success.
Q. Why did you choose to attend
MacEwan University?
a. I’ve always been interested in Marketing,
and MacEwan had an excellent reputation for
its Advertising and Public Relations program.
I remember reading the course outline and
saying, “yep, this is for me!”
Q. What are your most vivid memories of
your time at MacEwan?
a. The friends I met along the way. We all
studied together, socialized together and
really supported one another throughout the
entire journey. Many of these friends are still
in my life today and we continue to support
one another personally and professionally.
Q. How did you land your first job
after graduating?
a. I volunteered at the Rainbow Society,
a children’s charity granting wishes to chroni-
cally ill children. Through helping the charity
develop their fundraising materials, I met
people in the industry and eventually landed
my first job at Capital Raceway managing
their media relations. I didn’t know the first
thing about cars, racing or motor sports, but
I was delighted to take on the challenge.
I even managed to drive a sprint car, which
was pretty neat, and got to experience mil-
lion-dollar sponsorship activation in action.
Q. How did your MacEwan University
education prepare you?
a. Although I majored in public relations,
most of my career has been spent as a mar-
keteer. The Advertising and Public Relations
program provided enough diversity to allow
me to move into various marketing and PR
roles, which in turn enabled me to fine tune
NO DIETERS ALLOWED!
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
M27
Angela Miniacipublic relations, 2005
If I could dine alone with anyone from any period in history, it would be: princess diana
One book everyone should read: pride and prejudice by jane austen
One movie everyone should see: the breakfast club
One song that would be on the soundtrack of my life: over the rainbow by israel kamakawiwo’ole
Favourite place on campus: library
Favourite place traveled: london, england
One thing I never leave home without: iphone
If I could be one age for the rest of my life it would be: 29
Cats or dogs? dogs
Greatest accomplishment since graduating from MacEwan University: travel
If I could eliminate one insect from the earth, it would be: mosQuitos
My favorite childhood television show: full house
My MacEwan experience in one word: relevant
the direction that was best suited for my
skills, talents and aspirations. However, the
writing skills I developed while at MacEwan
have been invaluable. Not only have I had to
manage PR firms and write countless market-
ing briefs, the skills enabled me to pursue my
passion as a food writer and blogger.
Q. How is living/working in the UK different
than in Canada?
a. Nothing really prepared me for working in
the UK. The first couple of years were pretty
tough, especially coming into a new country
in the depths of a recession. Finding work
had its challenges, many of which I attribute
to cultural attitudes, lack of connections and
understanding of my work experience. Also,
they use different marketing terms and over-
all language than we do in Canada so trying to
understand a conversation can be challeng-
ing. What worked to my advantage was my
North American experience, which many
companies saw as beneficial in developing
their export strategies.
Working in the UK has also been very reward-
ing. I’ve been blessed to work with some
globally-recognized agencies and brands. The
caliber of work and energy that comes out
of London is phenomenal and I would never
have had some of the career and life-changing
experiences had I stayed in Canada. It’s been
tough, but amazing at the same time.
Q. What would you advise a student who
was interested in working within the food &
drink industry?
a. Start working in the industry at any
capacity. That could mean working as a
server in a restaurant or at the local grocer,
or starting a food blog and getting familiar
with social media. People who work in this
industry are very passionate, outgoing and
sometimes downright crazy. But it’s amazing
how much fun working in an industry that is
fuelled by passion can be. You have to love
food, love people and love to eat and drink.
No dieters allowed!
Q. What’s your current job?
a. I am a global marketing manager for Genius
Gluten Free Foods, an amazing growing com-
pany based out of Edinburgh. It’s my dream job
as it’s in gluten-free food, which is my passion,
and I get to work around the world.
Q. What do you do for fun?
a. I eat. I cruise around grocery stores and
markets looking at packaging and for new and
interesting products. I started my own web-
site, www.glutenfreeforall.tv, where I create
gluten-free versions of my all time favourite
recipes. I’m big into recipe development,
food photography, food writing (restaurant
reviews) and entertaining. I also love travel-
ling and trying new cuisines. Living in Europe
lends itself well to this!
M28
FITNESS FEATURE
TIPS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE GOALS
staying active during the winter months
Do you find that when the temperature drops,
so does your motivation to exercise?
Exercising during winter is just as important
as exercise during summer. The Canadian
Physical Activity Guideline’s recommend 150
minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per
week and two strength-building sessions to
maintain good health and reduce the risk of
disease. Instead of hibernating with a cup of
hot chocolate and an endless TV marathon
this winter, read on and find out how you can
stay fit this season.
take it outdoors
Embracing winter can be fun and great for
your health too. Cross-country skiing, downhill
skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice
skating are major calorie burners and a great
workout for your legs and core muscles, as well
as your heart. Skating for 30 minutes burns
approximately the same calories as jogging for
the same amount of time. If you don’t know
how, take a lesson or rent the equipment to try
it out. It will challenge you and keep you fit.
Go out and play! Make it a family activity and
go sledding, build a snowman and make snow
angels. In fact, sled pulling is an exercise fit-
ness trainers recommend to improve cardio,
but instead of doing it at the gym, you can get
some fresh air and have fun at the same time.
Of course you can simply enjoy the outdoors
by walking or jogging. Use caution in extreme
temperature and always dress for the occa-
sion. Layer up with lots of long sleeves, good
pants, multiple socks and heavy coats. And
don’t forget, in winter months, proper foot-
wear is a must.
take it indoors
If the thought of getting outside to exercise
makes you shiver, take your workout indoors.
Join a gym, this will allow you a variety of
physical activities to choose from every week.
Sign up for a class: whether it’s Zumba, kick-
boxing, weight lifting, swimming or Pilates,
a scheduled activity will help you commit to
staying physically active. If you like to bike,
try a spin class. Group classes are motivating
and can keep you in cycling shape over the
winter. To make it easier, ask a friend to join
you. Having someone to work out with will
hold you accountable so when it’s so cold and
you don’t want to leave your house — you will!
It may also give you a chance to learn new
skills and maintain or improve your fitness
for your summer activities.
For those days when you don’t feel like ven-
turing out into the snow, try a fitness DVD.
There are so many to choose from and you
can do it in the privacy of your own home.
Or, you can always set up a home gym com-
plete with light dumbbells, resistance bands,
an exercise ball and a jump rope and do
Mental health is on everyone’s lips.Millions of Canadians are affected by issues related
to mental health. Let’s continue the conversation and, together, we can erase the stigma associated with mental illness.
bell.ca/letstalk
M29
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
circuit-style workouts. Use the stairs: as little
as 20 minutes climbing up and down provides
a very intense and efficient workout. If all else
fails, bang out some sit-ups and lunges while
you are watching your favourite TV show.
Whatever the weather brings, find something
you love to do and make it part of your every-
day life. Don’t let winter slow you down,
get up and be active!
Anita De Boer is a Bachelor of Physical
Education graduate and is certified with the
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology as a
Certified Exercise Physiologist. She specializes
in working with people with specific health
conditions, those recovering from injury,
as well as beginners just starting out.
M30
have news to share?
1986
bert auger (Social Services Worker)
Bert has recently moved to Edmonton from
Grande Prairie, and is currently working with
the Human Services Ministry of Alberta in
their Human Resources department. Ben has
over 18 years of experience working with the
Government including working with First
Nations. He is honoured to be a MacEwan
University alumnus.
lynn sibbons (Social Services Worker)
Lynn is proud to share that she is a grand-
mother to a beautiful little boy.
1989
perri besserer (Advertising and Public
Relations) With over 25 years in the ad-
vertising industry as a Creative Director/
Consultant, Perri spent many years qualifying
clients and coming up with creative ways to
shine their personal and professional brands.
Currently, she is a professional life and suc-
cess coach with her company NuYU Life Skills
Co. She looks forward to connecting with
other graduates.
1996
glenn melnychuk (Police and Security)
After six years as the Director of Corporate
Security, Safety and Regulatory Affairs,
Glenn has moved to Purolator to be closer to
home, and work with a large Canadian owned
company. In May of 2013 he obtained his CPP
(Certified Protection Professional) designa-
tion from ASIS International.
2006
jacinda adams (Police and Security) After
graduating Jacinda worked at ETS Protective
Services as well as Macewan Security. In 2008
she was hired with the Canadian Forces Mili-
tary Police. After serving four years in Edmon-
ton as a patrol member including deploying to
Afghanistan Jacinda has transferred to Ottawa
as part of the National Investigative Service.
bradley grieve (Music) Bradley, recently
released his debut album, The Heart That
Loves Is Always Young, with the Bradley
Grieve Jazz Orchestra. The album features all
original compositions and is now available on
CD Baby.com, iTunes, and Amazon.com.
2008
tess jorgensen (Bachelor of Arts) Tess is
excited to be part of a 12-month Municipal
Internship Program through Municipal Affairs.
rehana meghani (Bachelor of Arts)
Rehana completed her Masters Degree in Psy-
chology (Clinical Track) at the New School for
Social Research in New York. She is currently
working towards her PhD in Applied Organi-
zational Psychology from Hofstra University
in Hempstead, New York. She is expected to
graduate in May 2014.
Let your classmates know what you have been
up to by sharing your stories and successes
in the CLASSifieds. Submissions can be sent
by e-mail to [email protected]
or by mail to:
Alumni Relations & Services,
Macewan University, PO Box 1726,
Edmonton, AB t5j 2p2
High resolution photos are welcome and
will be used when space permits. We reserve
the right to edit submissions for content,
length and clarity.
M31
alumni news fall/winter 2013 macewan.ca/alumni
“Alberta Trees”
Cher Hoffman
Visual Communication Design, 1990
Do you have a talent for photography? The alumnus who submits the published photo will receive a
$100 gift certificate for any campus mstore. Photographs can be submitted to [email protected].
For more details visit MacEwan.ca/Alumni
If undeliverable, please return to: Alumni Relations and Services, MacEwan University, City Centre Campus , P.O. Box 1796, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 2P2
PUBLICATION AGREEMENT #40063489