Burman University Magazine Vol. 8, No. 1 | Fall/Winter 2025
A WAY OF LIFE
RUSS M c CANN, HS ’83
Volume 8, No. 1 Fall/Winter 2025
A story of Russ McCann’s cross-Canada ride with the Terry Fox National Ride of Hope, reflecting a family’s lifelong commitment to service, resilience through challenge, and bringing hope to those impacted by cancer. Pictured on the cover are Cheryl and Russ McCann.
Gifts in support of Burman University may be made at www.burmanu.ca or phone 403.782.3381 x 4161.
Burman University Magazine is published two times yearly by the Burman University, Office of the President, 6730 University Drive, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 2E5.
Burman University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution.
Students served communities in Cavite, bringing care, joy, and hope—forming deep connections that transformed both local families and the students themselves.
Burman University launched its LIFEstyle Medicine and Flourishing Centre, bringing experts together to advance lifestyle medicine, spark healthier communities, and champion whole-person flourishing across Canada.
STUDENTS SUPPORT EFFORT TO COMBAT CHILD MARRIAGE IN KENYA
Students conduct research in Kenya, gathering data to help reduce child marriage and guide evidence-based interventions that protect girls and support a healthier future.
Photo taken by Jennifer Gilbert Photography
A TOUR OF SERVICE AND ACROBATICS
The Acronaires’ return to Belize blended acrobatic performances, service projects, cultural exchange, and spiritual engagement— strengthening communities, forming global friendships, and showcasing Burman students’ commitment to holistic growth and meaningful service.
ALBERTA CONFERENCE PARTNERS WITH THE BURMAN MINISTRY CENTRE ........................................ 21
The Alberta Conference partners with the Burman Ministry Centre to produce the Project New Beginnings video series.
EDITOR
Myla Trenchuk
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN
Jr Ferrer
CONTRIBUTORS
Loren Agrey
Carole Anderson
Lenna Cordett
Carl Cunningham
Massiel Davila-Ferrer
Jr Ferrer
Klaus Irrgang
Adam Kis
Renate Krause
Pekka Määttänen
Jeff Potts
Daniel Saugh
Ron Schafer
PHOTOGRAPHY
Alumni Archives
Dauncey Creative Group
Jennifer Gilbert Photography
Jr Ferrer
Adam Kiš
Dennis Langley
Abby Magbago
JM Martin
Burman University is accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) offering Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) approved bachelor degree programs. We offer over 35 major or track choices in bachelor degree programs in our Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (including the School of Business and School of Education) and our Faculty of Science. We are one of 13 Adventist universities in North America, and the only Seventh-day Adventist university in Canada. We are sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC).
Burman University acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
President’s Message
I got to know Russ McCann when I was dating his big sister, Shelley. One weekend, I went to her parents’ farm. Russ was heading home too, but he decided to bike. He didn’t have a bicycle and asked if he could borrow mine. I had my doubts that my decrepit bike would make it that far, but I lent it to him. Russ set off on the 200 kilometre trip home. He “ took nothing for the journey, ” as the Bible would say, and somewhere around Leduc, he became so thirsty and hungry, he stopped at a farmhouse and asked for food. The good lady fed and watered him and sent him on his way. The last twelve kilometres were rough gravel roads, and Russ struggled terribly, but at last he came in the door. There he lay on the floor, unmoving, moaning slightly to indicate he was alive for some time! In this Burman University magazine, read Russ’s story of his ride with the Terry Fox National Ride of Hope. I hope there’s some small credit for starting him on the road to greatness by being part of his first big ride!
The articles in this issue focus on Burman University alumni and students who have intentionally and sacrificially chosen to be On the Go for God. You will meet people who are excited to be God’s hands and feet, whether through a bike ride, mission trip, health promotion and lifestyle initiative, Acronaires tour, or service in daily campus life. I am honoured and humbled to hear their stories; stories of amazing journeys and innovative ideas; stories that take people out the door and around the world; stories that surely involve moments of lying on the floor and moaning for a while.
Academically, Burman University is also On the Go, expanding degree choices to better meet the needs of graduates. Notably, we offer several new tracks and certificates embedded in existing degrees, including Marketing, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, and Lifestyle Medicine and Flourishing. I am grateful for the innovative work of the faculty and staff.
I am happy, no, ecstatic may be a better word, to announce an increase in enrolment this year. We have a wonderful group of On the Go students. As we celebrate those who are already On the Go in the Burman magazine, please keep us in your prayers as we commit to educating our current group of students for the adventure of sharing God’s love. Let’s go!
LOREN AGREY, PhD, PRESIDENT
Retirements
John McDowell
John concludes 33 years of faithful service to Burman University, leaving a legacy of exceptional leadership and dedication. Throughout his tenure, he served in various faculty roles, as Vice President for Academic Administration, Interim President, and most recently as Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. We are deeply grateful for his commitment and influence on this institution. May God richly bless him in this next chapter, and may his retirement be filled with happiness, health, and peace.
Julie Grovet
Julie retires after more than 32 years of dedicated service to Burman University, leaving a notable contribution within the School of Education. Since 2001, she has served as First Year Advisor, Certification Auditor, and Field Experience Administrator, strengthening connections with school divisions across Central Alberta and supporting countless students. Colleagues praise her commitment, expertise, and profound impact within the McKibbin building. We deeply appreciate Julie’s exceptional contributions and pray for God’s continued blessings as she begins this new and joy-filled chapter.
Lorraine Richter
Lorraine retires after more than 18 years of dedicated service to Burman University, supporting both the Office of the President and Registrar Services with warmth and professionalism. Colleagues describe her as positive, reliable, cheerful, and spiritually uplifting, bringing joy, kindness, and careful attention to every task. Her commitment to students and her vibrant “joie de vivre” made a lasting impact on our campus community. We are truly grateful for her contributions and wish her a joyful, blessed, and well-deserved retirement.
Diane Southcott
Diane retires after more than 18 years of remarkable service in the Office of Advancement, where her kindness, meticulous attention to detail, and strong connections with alumni shaped the success of the department. Colleagues praise her dedication, leadership, and unwavering work ethic—often the first to arrive and the last to leave. Her commitment to Burman and pride in her work have made a lasting impact. We sincerely thank Diane for her significant contributions and wish her a joyful, well-deserved retirement.
A Way of Life
Being self-centred is not the way to live.”
Terry Fox
Being responsive to the needs of others has become a way of life for Russ and Cheryl McCann’s family. For them, it means serving soup to desperate people living on the streets of Surrey. It means taking the lead in a complete home makeover for a paraplegic. It means volunteering to teach art to students at a small church school. It means organizing an annual free oil change for single moms. It means . . . wait a minute. Biking?
Twenty years ago, when, after years of grieving, a friend was still angry at God for the death of his four-year-old little girl, Russ suggested a bike ride. They would start at White Rock, British Columbia and make their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. And, in memory of his daughter, they would raise funds for research to defeat meningitis, the disease that had killed that precious child. So they biked day after day and talked night after night. Together they raised $50,000 for research, and his friend found emotional and spiritual healing.
Now 20 years later, Russ chose to repeat this incredible journey when he was
invited to join the Terry Fox National Ride of Hope. The 7,000 km cross-Canada cycling journey from Vancouver, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland was led by Terry Fox’s brother, Darrell, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope and to pay tribute to Terry’s dream of a world without cancer.
Darrell’s invitation came when the two met during the 2024 55+ Games held in Salmon Arm, now the McCann family’s home city. Russ was told of the dream that was starting to take shape: Darrell was putting a team together. Next year’s 32-day peloton would start in Vancouver, BC on June 9 and end in St. John’s, NFL on July 10. Terry, after having his leg amputated due to cancer, ran. They would bike. Terry ran 2,521 miles to Thunder Bay, Ontario before the cancer spread to his lungs and he was forced to stop. (He died nine months later.) No one could finish for him, but they would be motivated by the same spirit that had motivated him. And they would raise $1 million for cancer research in the process. Would Russ consider joining?
Russ had remained an avid biker throughout the past 20 years. Also, he is in the habit (as he put it) of “saying yes to stuff, even if it’s out of my comfort zone.” But agreeing to participate in this venture wasn’t easy. First there was the concern of putting his entire life—family events, work responsibilities, everything—on hold for more than a month. Then there were finances: each rider would be personally committing to raising $45,000 toward the goal. Finally, there were the physical challenges. Yes, he had already biked once across Canada. But now he was 20 years older. Would he still have the physical and mental stamina to repeat such a marathon?
On the other hand, here was an opportunity to be part of an effort that would bring hope to the millions affected by the scourge of cancer. In 1980, when 22-year-old Terry Fox began his run in St. John’s to support research, he had had a 10 percent chance of survival. Since then, over $900 million have been raised for cancer research in his name, and researchers have discovered new life-saving treatments. Cancer is still a
PREVIOUS PAGE : The riders pass through mist on a winding mountain road.
Travelling through the world’s longest covered bridge located in Heartland, New Brunswick.
At the Terry Fox Monument located in the outskirts of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
ferocious enemy, but we are learning more about it. And knowledge brings hope. So, with his family’s encouragement and support, Russ committed himself—first, to constant training and fund-raising for an entire year; then, to the marathon itself.
As planned, nine riders, together with a host of well-wishers, gathered at the Terry Fox statue in Stanley Park, Vancouver on June 9 to begin the journey that would take them across 10 provinces and through 13 cities. One would leave them in Winnipeg; the other eight would go the full distance. Like Russ, whose mom had died of cancer 10 years ago and whose dad has been in cancer treatment for the past five years, each rider had a story of a family member or friend. These would keep them focused and get them through some of the challenges they would face.
Weather was one of those challenges. Russ talks of the heat, the driving winds and rain, lightning, thunder, and hail. He recalls the time in Sault St. Marie when the police wouldn’t let them go as planned at 6:00 a.m. because the storm was too severe. So they waited. Almost two hours later, the
storm cell moved on and they were cleared to go before the next cell came through. (Despite the delay, they still covered the required distance that day.)
Injuries presented another challenge to the bikers. Russ himself sustained a strained hamstring in Winnipeg. But there was no thought of giving up. He says, “It’s hard to quit when you try to repeat what Terry Fox did. You just steel yourself to pain.” “And,” he adds, “the team was very supportive.”
One positive aspect of the ride, Russ recalls, was that averaging a distance of 220 km each day meant lots of time for reflection and prayer. Of course, there was the temptation to think of everything you “should” be doing. “Usually,” he explains, “one tends to think of ways to better one’s own position in life. But there’s something good to giving back, to thinking about something that’s not you.”
Some of the choices Russ and his family make aren’t always easy. Selfless caring for those in need and for those in pain requires intentionality. And yes, it can even include biking.
LEFT:
ABOVE:
photos courtesy of the Terry Fox Foundation
Mabuhay: Live
On April 29, 2025, fourteen Burman University students, led by chaplains Massiel and Carl and their spouses, set out on a journey to the Philippines. For nine months, they had planned, scheduled, and fundraised for a 17-day mission service project in the Province of Cavite, about an hour north of Manila. Their goal was simple yet profound: to serve, connect, and bring hope to communities in need.
Partnering with the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s Life Hope Center, the team combined medical support and personal
children
connection to meet the needs of local families. The impact was felt immediately. “This morning, 53 persons with physical and mental disabilities were blessed because of your love and prayers,” a local administrator shared. “You have brought joy where it was most needed.” The students offered more than practical help; their presence brought comfort, encouragement, and human warmth to people who deeply needed it.
One of the most moving moments of the trip came during their visit to Mango House Children’s Home. Students played, laughed, and talked with the children, forming genuine bonds in just a few hours. A caregiver expressed deep appreciation: “As I observed your group, it was an amazing and excellent time with the kids. We are so grateful, and we hope to see you again soon.”
For many students, Mango House became
the emotional centre of the mission. Student Shanah Euraoba shared that the visit challenged her in unexpected ways. “After only a few hours at the Mango House, I became overwhelmed with a heavy feeling of fear and doubt… making me question whether I was really meant for a missionary life,” she said. “However, through that experience, I realized that faith isn’t about never doubting; it’s about choosing to keep going, even when the path gets blurry. That’s why the time at Mango House became the highlight of my trip.” She added that
the connection their team built with the children is something she “will always hold close to my heart.”
Another student, Michele Luceno, described the visit as “a very emotional experience.” She recalled meeting ten children aged five to eighteen who had been abandoned, neglected, surrendered, or orphaned. “I didn’t think that I would cry, but I did; my heart was too full of compassion and love for the kids,” she said. She remembered the simple beauty of holding the youngest child’s hand and the joy of activities like a riverbank walk, face painting, painting toy cars, and the children’s favorite, a human knot game. “It was so much fun connecting with them.”
Local leaders expressed their gratitude for the team’s service. “You have blessed the community and the people you have come in contact with. Only eternity will tell the impact
you have made,” one pastor shared. Through medical care, guidance, and attentive listening, the students created lasting moments of hope and encouragement.
As the mission drew to a close, worship and reflection helped students process the experiences that had shaped them. They returned to Canada carrying stories of resilience, faith, and the transformative power of presence.
Burman student Precious Maseko offered a heartfelt summary: “Yes, we brought the toys
and the toiletries, but that wasn’t what the children needed; they needed quality time and affirmation, playtime and conversations… I was reminded that God created me to be a human being. Simple, I know, but there is power in just being a present and decent human being.”
For student Dennis Langley, the hospitality of Silang, Cavite, left a lasting impression. “The good food, the multiple churches, the beautiful people of Silang, Philippines – it was a blessing. Everyone was so pleasant and hilarious with a great sense of humour,” he said. “My highlight was going with the school and seeing how powerful and beautiful the family of God is.”
Through service, compassion, and shared humanity, Burman University students brought hope to others and returned home transformed themselves.
PREVIOUS PAGE : Joshua Martin, a 3rd-year elementary education major connecting with the children at the Mango House. TOP LEFT: L-R: Precious Maseko, a 2nd-year Religious Studies major, and Maranatha Odong, a 2nd-year Biology major, pose with one of the children at Mango House. TOP MIDDLE: The team at the Southern Asia Pacific Division offices, the home-base for the mission trip. TOP RIGHT: Michele Luceno, a 4th-year Biology major and Student Missions Chaplain, poses with
at Mango House.
Fall 2025 Opening Enrolment Overall retention rate 11.6% 413 82%
Enrolment growth from 2024/2025 to 2025/2026
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) dance over the Burman University Library.
Flourishing Through Lifestyle: Burman University’s Vision for a Healthier Future
“Treating disease through lifestyle medicine is important, but we also want to live up to Jesus’ words, to flourish.”
Dr. Carole Anderson
Burman University launched its LIFEstyle Medicine and Flourishing Centre to address an urgent national need. Chronic diseases are rising across Canada, yet the science supporting Lifestyle Medicine, which focuses on preventing, treating, and even reversing disease through healthy living, has never been stronger.
“ We established the Centre because of the urgent need to advocate for evidencebased Lifestyle Medicine in Canada, ” said Dr. Klaus Irrgang, Associate Professor of Wellness. “ Our mission is to advance transformative research, education, and practice in lifestyle medicine and flourishing. ” That mission came to life this spring during Burman’s first Lifestyle Medicine and Flourishing Symposium, a three-day event that brought together clinicians, academics, and students to learn from leaders in the field.
Eighty participants attended, including twenty-five physicians from across Canada, as well as dietitians, public
health experts, and students. Burman set the event up with impressive impact by hosting three former presidents of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, including founding president Dr. John Kelly, whose work has helped reshape healthcare in the United States. Canadian leaders such as Dr. Jasdeep Saluja, Loreen Wales, Dr. Mylène Juneau, Dr. Ema Gye, and Dr. Hussain Khimji added essential perspectives, creating a blend of international experience and Canadian innovation.
The desire for the symposium is to catalyze the growth of Lifestyle Medicine in Central Alberta and across Canada. This event showed the
potential for Canadian leadership in this space. One of the major themes that emerged was the importance of recognizing Lifestyle Medicine not only as prevention but also as effective treatment. “ Most clinicians still see it only as prevention ,” explained Dr. Pekka Määttänen, Associate Professor and Chair of Biology. “ But the evidence for disease reversal is now well established .” Speakers also noted that many physicians receive very little formal training in behaviour change, which is central to lifestyle-based healing. Burman hopes to help close this gap through education and collaboration.
For Burman, health is about more than avoiding illness. It is about living fully. “ As John 10:10 reminds us, ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly, ’” shared Dr. Carole Anderson, Psychology Program Development Director and Assistant Professor of Psychology. “ Treating disease through lifestyle medicine is important, but we also want to live up to Jesus’ words, to flourish. ” She added that flourishing can be experienced in everyday moments of connection with others and with God. “ Even in hardship, we can experience moments of
flourishing that strengthen our mental and physical health .”
Throughout the symposium, participants practiced the principles they were learning. Whole-food, plantbased meals designed by Lisa Lindquist, RD, and the MyViva team, together with Burman’s cafeteria, showcased the power of nutrition. Dishes such as lentil bolognese and haskap chia oats were both nourishing and educational. After the sessions at Burman, attendees traveled to Banff for an additional half-day of inspiring talks including one addressing obstacles to Lifestyle Medicine uptake by Dr. Wayne Dysinger, Chief Medical Officer of Bluezones Health, and a final charge from Dr. John Kelly entitled, I Have a (Lifestyle Medicine) Dream! In Banff, attendees were able to enjoy a morning hike up Tunnel Mountain and opportunities for quiet reflection that made the principles of Lifestyle Medicine tangible.
Saturday’s program included a panel titled “ Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Healthcare ,” led by Dr. Marc Braman, with contributions from Dr. Henry Leung and Dr. Jasdeep Saluja. Government representatives, including Maureen Towle from Alberta Health and
Mollie Cole from the Health Quality Council of Alberta, also attended, showing that Burman’s message is reaching policy circles.
Participants have already launched new initiatives inspired by the event, including webinars in Ontario and a similar symposium in Jamaica that already took place as a followup to the Burman event. Burman University intends to expand its undergraduate programs in Lifestyle Medicine and Flourishing and hopes to open a Lifestyle Medicine Clinic in Central Alberta.
The next Lifestyle Medicine and Flourishing Symposium will take place May 14 -17, 2026, and will feature Dr. Roger Seheult of MedCram and Dr. Constantine Psimopoulos from Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. The vision is a healthcare system that truly lives up to first do no harm and one that values compassion, connection, and the proven power of lifestyle to help every person live abundantly.
Through science, faith, and community, Burman University is helping Canadians rediscover what it means to truly flourish.
PREVIOUS PAGE : Participants pause at the Burman sundial. ABOVE LEFT: Organizers and presenters (L-R): Lloyd Douglas, Klaus Irrgang, Daniel Saugh, Ivonne Szamko, Maureen Towle (Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Performance with Alberta Health), Pekka Määttänen, Carole Anderson, Heather Gretton, and Keynote Speaker John Kelly, founding president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) pause for a photo in the Burman cafeteria.
ABOVE RIGHT: Participants and speakers engage in a lively discussion following Sunday presentations at the Kinnear Centre for Creativity & Innovation, Banff, Alberta.
A Tour of Service and Acrobatics: The
Acronaires’
Belize Adventure
At the end of April and into the first week of May 2025, the Acronaires made a last-minute change to their tour itinerary. Instead of the originally planned tour of the United States, they embarked on their second tour to Belize in Central Americatheir first in 25 years.
This was an exciting venture as the last international trip taken by the Acronaires was to Kenya in 2014. A total of 33 team members, including athletes, coaches, and adult assistants, travelled to Belize to combine performance, service, and outreach.
The group stayed in San Ignacio at the mission house operated by the local Faith FM radio station, under the leadership of Dennis Borland and his family, who have organized and hosted mission trips to Belize for many years. During their stay, the Acronaires presented nine acrobatic performances to local audiences and completed various work projects that included concrete work and cleaning for a school as well as maintenance tasks for the mission house. On Sabbath, they led a Children’s
mini-trampoline. The two teams performed together twice and a small group of Acronaires later traveled an hour to the club’s practice facility to teach acrobatic techniques. This exchange fostered friendship and strengthened the spirit of shared learning.
Another special moment came during the team’s visit to the Seventh-day Adventist hospital La Loma Luz in Santa Elena. The Acronaires had helped build a wing of the hospital during their 2002 trip. During the visit, team member Jaina Druitt, an aspiring ultrasound technologist, performed an ultrasound on a pregnant patient with supervision from the hospital’s sonographer Dennis Borland. It was a powerful reminder of the team’s ongoing legacy of service and learning.
Church program, offering spiritual engagement alongside their athletic efforts.
Most evenings while in Belize, a group of Acronaires students hosted a one-hour radio talk show on Faith FM. Each night’s program focused on holistic development: mental, spiritual, physical, and social growth providing a thoughtful balance to the team’s physically demanding schedule.
The week blended service and adventure as the team balanced meaningful work with exploring Belize’s landscapes and coastlines. A particularly meaningful connection was formed with a young gymnastics club in Belmopan, the country’s capital and home to the only club of its kind in Belize. Since the Acronaires had brought only limited equipment, the Belmopan gymnasts kindly loaned them fold-up mats. In gratitude, the Acronaires gifted the mats they had brought, along with their
Cultural experiences rounded out the trip. The team toured Mayan ruins and even performed acrobatics atop ancient pyramids. A local Mayan family shared traditional dances and taught the group how to make corn tortillas. On especially hot days, the team stopped by Sarita’s ice cream shop for a refreshing treat and they joined the Cinco de Mayo festivities in downtown San Ignacio enjoying local food, music, and community celebration.
The Acronaires’ tour beautifully combined athletic performance, service, spiritual engagement, cultural immersion, and adventure—encouraging connection and building community across borders. It is a vivid demonstration of holistic development in action, and a story of young people thinking, believing and acting as global servants.
PREVIOUS PAGE : Becky Crombie, a Burman alumna, touching up an outdoor mural at the Billy White School. TOP LEFT: One of nine performances of the trip. TOP RIGHT: The team at Loma Luz SDA Hospital in San Ignacio. This hospital wing was built with help from the Acronaires during their 2002 mission trip to Belize.
TOP LEFT : First-year students engaging in team building games at CUE Quest (First-Year student Orientation.)
TOP RIGHT : Dr. Loren Agrey greeting new students during the faculty meet and greet supper at CUE Quest. A 12% increase in Enrolment grew our numbers to 413 students for the Fall 2025 opening enrolment.
ABOVE : Students take a moment for reflection and prayer during the Fall Week In Spiritual Emphasis.
TOP : Friends gather for a quick photo during the Friday afternoon Alumni & Friends Banquet at our 2025 Homecoming Weekend.
TOP RIGHT : Angela Bruce, first-year Biology major and Danny Humbke, 2nd-year Business major, competing at a badminton tournament. This year marks a historic moment in our athletic program as we compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference with the other schools that includes larger universities like NAIT and SAIT.
ABOVE LEFT : Students take a moment to pose with Broose the Moose after service day.
ABOVE MIDDLE : Emma Mowat, 4th-year Wellness major and student newspaper editor, poses with her staff after being awarded first place for Best Student Newspaper Design by the Society of Adventist Communicators.
ABOVE RIGHT : Our fall Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion weekend was highlighted by our special guest Pastor Wintley Phipps.
Students Support Major International Effort to Combat Child Marriage in Kenya
This experience reminded me that connection and understanding grow not from seeing differences, but from recognizing our shared humanity.”
Elijah O’Sullivan
3rd-Year International Studies Major
Burman University students are playing a hands-on role in a new $1.2-million international research project designed to reduce child marriage in Turkana County, Kenya, one of the country’s largest yet most sparsely populated regions. The three-year initiative, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), was awarded in November 2024 and officially launched on February 1, 2025. The project is formally titled SAFE-T Kenya (Supporting Adolescent girls For Ending child forced marriage in Turkana).
Led by Burman professor and researcher Dr. Adam Kiš, who also serves on the ADRA Canada board, the project examines the social, cultural, and economic forces that drive early marriage in a region where livestock is central to family income. In Turkana’s dowry-based system,
girls are often considered marriageready shortly after puberty, typically between the ages of 10 and 14. This leads to high rates of early pregnancy, medical complications, and lifelong psychological trauma. The significant age gaps between girls and their husbands, who are often middle-aged men that have acquired livestock through dangerous cattle raids, create severe power imbalances and contribute to high rates of abuse.
To explore these issues, the SAFE-T Kenya team built a four-partner research network: a Canadian academic institution Burman University, Kenyan academic partner Moi University, a Kenyan government agency NASCOP, and community partner ADRA Kenya. Burman’s primary role is research design, data collection, and outcome measurement.
In May 2025, five Burman students
traveled to Kenya, along with Dr. Kiš, as research consultants after completing intensive training. The team included Julia Butt (3rd year International Studies), Melanie Murillo (3rd year International Studies), Elijah O’Sullivan (4th year International Studies), Ammon Olson (4th year Behavioural Sciences), and Harivony Rakotomalala (2025 International Studies graduate). Their fieldwork in Turkana County produced a 540-person quantitative survey and 82 in-depth interviews with women who were married as children.
These findings will guide ADRA Kenya in developing evidence-based interventions over the next two years. In 2027, another group of Burman students will return to repeat the study and measure whether attitudes and practices have shifted. The data will also be shared with NGOs and help inform Canadian government policy on international development.
PREVIOUS PAGE : The whole team (Burman students and local research assistants) after a day of pilot testing in the field. TOP LEFT: Dr. Kiš and the students departing from Calgary Airport on April 28. L-R: Adam Kiš, Elijah O’Sullivan, Melanie Murillo, Harivony Rakotomalala, Julia Butt, Ammon Olson. TOP MIDDLE: Melanie Murillo, a 3rd-year International Studies major, making a presentation during the research methods training workshop in Kakuma, Kenya.
TOP RIGHT: Dr. Kiš making a presentation during the research methods training workshop in Kakuma, Kenya.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Q: How do you feel this project will make a difference?
A: I believe this research will contribute to positive long-term change, especially as organizations like ADRA and other NGOs are involved in these communities. Cultural change takes time, but I’m hopeful that younger generations will continue to drive that transformation from within. This experience reminded me that connection and understanding grow not from seeing differences, but from recognizing our shared humanity
Elijah O’Sullivan 4th-year International Studies Major
Q: How do you feel this project will make a difference?
A: This is a very important project because these children need people working and advocating for them. Ideally this project is twofold: a) we help advocate for these young girls and allow them and their communities to have a better quality of life and give them choices; b) the project proves that this method and working together with the community closely is the way that the industry should conduct projects always.
Julia Butt 3rd-year International Studies Major
Q: What is a highlight from the trip?
A: When we stopped by the Olmalaika Trust, an orphanage for young girls in Kenya. One evening we had a little vesper-like service to welcome the Sabbath and the little ones were overjoyed about it, leading the worship and being very enthusiastic. It was a true display of God’s goodness. Regardless of the difficulties they had faced at such a young age, they radiated the happiness and love that their community had fostered. That moment truly made the entire trip worthwhile for me.
Melanie Murillo 3rd-year International Studies Major
UNIVERSITY DR
News From Around The Campus
MENTAL HEALTH - A PRIORITY FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Mental health is a basic human right and an integral component of overall health and well-being.
During the winter season, there may be a spike in mental health conditions such as SAD, the “winter blues,” and feelings of despair or loneliness. We know that the mind and body are deeply connected. Prioritizing mental health safeguards your physical health.
Studies show that spirituality and faith can have positive effects. For people who find comfort and meaning in their beliefs, faith can significantly benefit mental health by providing a sense of purpose and meaning; hope and resilience; social support and community; and positive coping mechanisms acting as a buffer against some mental health conditions.
The Bible mentions in Proverbs 23:7, “ For as he thinks in his heart (mind), so is he (become )” What we think can shape the way we think and the way we think can have power over us. We must protect and fortify our minds with the truth and filter out the negative press.
The Psychology Program at Burman University offers several key benefits, and prioritizing mental health is essential for individual and collective well-being emphasizing practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour, delivered from a Christian perspective.
Many students across various disciplines including business, wellness, biology, and religious studies are taking courses, certificates or minors in this area to prepare them to face the challenges in this world where mental health issues are prevalent, prominent, and of paramount importance. Our mental health is not everything, but without mental health, there is no health. Let’s make mental health and cultivating a healthy mind a priority!
ABOVE, LEFT & RIGHT: Religious Studies students, Yovan Balasingam and Precious Maseko were the presenters for Alberta Conference Project New Beginnings video series.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
ALBERTA CONFERENCE PARTNERS WITH THE BURMAN MINISTRY CENTRE
The Alberta Conference rolled out Project New Beginnings , a 12-part video series, an initiative within the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Pentecost 2025 framework. The series supports the goal of mobilizing members to hold 3,000+ evangelistic events across North America and provides modernized, ready-to-use materials for adults, youth, and children.
Precious Maseko, a second-year Religious Studies Pre-Professional major, and Yovan Balasingam, a third-year Religious Studies Pre-Professional major, were the main presenters of the series. They worked alongside a cast of 26 pastors and lay people from all over the world who each hosted a total of 12 episodes. Each host spent about 4 hours recording in the Burman Ministry Centre. Together they produced a total 312 shows.
Results have been consistent: 80–90% of small-group participants attend at least one evangelistic meeting, the majority are baptized, and nearly 100% remain active one year later. Pastor Jeff Potts, President of the Alberta Conference, excitedly shares, “ This is a highly relational evangelistic approach. It is sustainable, and it is extremely effective. It is friendship evangelism at its best !
MARKETING & ENROLMENT
CANADA’S
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY
Marketing & Enrolment Director, Greg Bussey, had the opportunity to meet with the SDACC Board of Directors and the SDACC Educators (pictured left), consisting of Conference Education Directors and SDA School principals from across Canada. He shared the need for greater collaboration across the country as well as decking them all out in Burman polo shirts!
BURMAN
EXTEND YOUR BURMAN EXPERIENCE TO OUR ONLINE CONTENT!
GRADUATION - COMMENCEMENT SERVICE
GALLERY - THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF FALL 2025
REEL - BURMAN’S YEAR IN PHOTOS
REEL - HUG OR A PRAYER? OR BOTH!
BURMAN SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT
REEL - CAMPUS MINISTRIES MISSION TRIP
Adeline Bradley (née Berreth), HS 1951
Alida Westerdaal, HS 1972
Alvin Myers, HS 1964, d. 1-4-2025
Amy Schafer (née Fitch), HS 1958, d. 9-10-2025
Anita Isene, U 1956
Arthur Cooper, att. HS 1946-1950, d. 5-19-2025
Barry Geates, HS 1975, U 1978, d. 7-20-2024
Carol Penner (née Woods), U 1959, d. 3-22-2025
Connie Janes, Staff 1978-1983, d. 4-6-2025
Daniel Skoretz, att. HS 1946-1949, Staff 1968-1971, d. 1-15-2025
Darla Devnich, U 1989, Staff 1997-2005
Deanna Nygaard (née Didow), HS 1959, d. 11-25-2025
Dennis Fortney, HS 1974, d. 9-12-2025
Dianna Connors, Staff 1991-2013, d. 3-22-2025
Donald Smith, att. HS 1958-1961, d. 8-4-2025
Dorothy Holm (née Kuhn), U 1951, d. 10-29-2024
Earl West, U 1970, d. 12-18-2024
Edgar McLeod, U 1967, d. 1-8-2025
Edward Vick, Staff 1957-1963, d. 7-23-2024
Elaine Pappajohn (née Holdal), HS 1954, d. 8-18-2024
Elsie Kwiram (née Penner), att. HS 1947-1950, d. 7-23-2025
Elsie Sharman (née Donesky), att. U 1956-1957, d. 1-7-2025
Ernest Wasyliuk, HS 1968, d. 12-7-2024
Esther Gallant (née Rogers), HS 1954, d. 8-5-2024
Frank Skoretz, HS 1953, U 1957, d. 2-19-2025
Fredella Anderson Litke, att. HS 1947-1949, U 1951, d. 7-20-2024
Gem Fitch (née O’Brien), Staff 1957-1972, d. 8-11-2024
Gerald Tetz, HS 1972, U 1978, d. 5-22-2025
Gerhard Friesen, HS 1948, U 1954, d. 7-29-2024
Glen Rick, HS 1967, d. 7-10-2025
Glen Carley, HS 1948, U 1952, d. 4-20-2025
Glen Brown, U 1953, d. 2-20-2024
Glen Weich, att. HS 1968-1970, d. 6-3-2025
Glenda Pye (née Sandness), HS 1978, U 1982, d. 8-4-2025
Gordon Goertzen, HS 1951-1953, d. 3-27-2025
Harold Frank, U 1946
Harvey O’Dell, Staff 1984-2011, d. 1-12-2025
Helen Anderson (née Palmer), att. U 1940-1942, d. 12-8-2024
Irene Lazeruk (née Nischuk), HS 1950
Irvin Kuhn, U 1948
James Mattheis, HS 1960, d. 2-20-2025
James Bruce , HS 1954, U 1957, d. 12-14-2024
James McKay, HS 1963, d. 6-3-2024
Janean Brooks, U 1983, d. 8-19-2024
Jean Smith (née Blake), HS 1989, d. 7-10-2024
Jim Topolinski, att. HS 1976-1977, d. 11-16-2024
Joanne Currie (née Richardson), HS 1977, d. 1-29-2025
Joctan Garcia, att. U 2022-2025, d. 8-30-2025
John Dubyna, att. HS 1988-1989, att. U 1991-1992, d. 8-7-2025
Joyce Wallewein (née Ellison Jensen), HS 1953, U 1954, d. 12-7-2024
Juanita Irving (née Melashenko), HS 1958, U 1959
Keith Marshall, att. U 1977-1979, d. 10-20-2024
Kenneth Topolinski, HS 1964, d. 5-1-2025
Kurt Roeske, att. HS 1960-1962, d. 12-11-2024
Larry Milliken, HS 1956, U 1960, d. 1-3-2025
Larry Johnson, HS 1966, U 1972, d. 10-11-2024
Leander Raae-Nielsen, att. HS 1953-1956, U 56, d. 7-12-2024
Lewis Shipowick, U 1950, d. 1-30-2025
Linda Nawalkowski, Staff, d. 2-15-2025
Linda Grange née (née Lindner) att. HS 1958-1959, att. U 1960-1962, d. 1-10-2025
Lloyd Janzen , HS 1956, U 1960 & 1964, d. 2-2-2025
Lloyd Birney, att. U 1956-1957, Staff, d. 8-8-2024
Lloyd “Dale” Jones, att. HS 1954-1956, d. 10-29-2025
Lorne Humenny, HS 1982, d. 10-25-2024
Lorne Ganson, att. HS 1947-49, d. 1-3-2024
Louise Roper (née Compton), HS 1960
Lucy Kiehlbauch, HS 1960, U 1963, d. 6-18-2025
Mabel Spenst (née Werner), HS 1954, U 1955, d. 12-14-2024
Mae Rick, att. HS 1948-1951, d. 1-22-2025
Mark Lee, att. U 1997-2000, d. March, 2025
Martha Donesky (née Kerbs), HS 1956, U 1957 & 1962, d. 1-8-2025
Marvin Fredeen, att. HS 1952-1956, d. 5-20-2025
Mervin Kneller, U 1989, d. 5-2-2025
Naida Oliver (née Gimbel), att. HS 1949-1950, d. 12-5-2024
Nora Simmons (née Visger), HS 1947
Norma Bechthold (née Wetzel), HS 1951, d. 1-18-2025
Norma Glatt, U 1944, d. 2-21-2024
Norman Wallewein, HS 1959, U 1962, d. 9-18-2024
Paul Ramalingam, Staff 1980-2017, d. 12-4-2024
Ralph Seland, HS 1952, U 1958, d. 6-7-2025
Robert Smith, HS 1961, U 1963
Robert Morton, HS 1975, d. 1-9-2025
Roger Triebwasser, HS 1975, d. 11-10-2024
Ron Bezugly, HS 1959, d. 7-17-2024
Ruth Yarema (née Scheffler), U 1951
Ruth Strutz (née King), att. HS 1948-1949, d. 6-7-2025
Sharon Carruthers (née Brown), HS 1961, d. 4-14-2025
Shirley Thorp (née Justinen), HS 1965, d. 7-25-2024
Shirley Davis (née Wentz), att. HS 1952-1955, d. 12-16-2024
Theowne Pfannmuller, HS 1959, U 1960, d. 12-11-2024
Timothy Samograd, att. HS 1965-1966, d. 9-9-2024
Victor Lebedoff, HS 1943
Virginia Brucks (née Lamming), att. HS 1949-1951, d. 3-11-2024
Wesley Paul, att. HS 1946-1950, d. 2-21-2025
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Burman University
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Believe in Burman
Burman University is a living example of what happens when we unite around a common purpose: providing a place of higher education where young people from all walks of life can learn to Think with discernment, Believe with insight and commitment, and Act with confidence, compassion, and competence.
Alumni, friends, and Seventh-day Adventist church members across Canada continue to support Burman University through the Believe in Burman offering. Your gift to this fund enhances the campus experience and creates more opportunities for students to discover and fulfill their purpose through faith-based higher education.
You don’t have to wait to make a difference. Take a moment today to show that you Believe in Burman with your gift to the annual fund. Thank you for your generosity.
“Burman has facilitated significant growth for me intellectually, socially, and spiritually. My experience here has shaped me into a better, more wellrounded person, and I feel prepared to take on the world when I graduate. Burman University will always have a special place in my heart.”
Emma Mowat 4th-year Wellness Major
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