Mount Royal University Summit Fall/Winter 2017 by Mount Royal University

Fall / Winter 2017

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CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE I N E V E RY I S S U E :

Letter from the president

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Bleed Blue: campus highlights

WITHOUT INQUIRY, THERE IS NOTHING

COVER STORY: From conflict comes awareness ... The newly-named John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative and the minor in Peace and Conflict Studies are a launch point to discuss the tenuousness of peace, the creep of conflict, military service and how education and the armed forces can join together.

Investigation and analysis is a way of life at Mount Royal. Enjoy a snapshot of some of the impactful research initiatives underway across campus.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS This year’s roster includes a maverick in the field of interior design, a lawyer working to keep divorcing couples out of court, a visionary crusader for housing the homeless and a compassionate child studies grad offering options for adults with disabilities.

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Special finds

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CULTIVATING THE COUGARS Recruiting for a Cougars team takes years of legwork and commitment, plus tons of travel time. Also take a look at the creation of the new Cougars logo, with piercing blue eyes ready to challenge the competition.

DRILLING FOR INNOVATION The bottom line value-add when it comes to universities is their ability to help diversify economies, create engaged global citizens and improve the quality of lives.

Alumni Q+A

UNDER PRESSURE The number of students reporting feelings of stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties and suicidal thoughts is scary. Hope lies in young people’s self-awareness, the tools available and their willingness to use them.

BACKSTAGE AT THE BELLA The sound technicians of Mount Royal’s very own concert hall talk about how the Bella’s acoustic qualities create intense experiences for both performers and audiences.

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SUMMIT

FROM THE PRESIDENT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF JOY AND SUFFERING, OF LOVE AND HATE. As I write this letter, nuclear threats, genocide, racism and civil wars create agony around the world. Over time, the details change but the themes remain the same. At worst, we’re impervious. At best, we ask ourselves what we can do, and how we can contribute to and influence the world around us. The answer is as unique as each of us and our perspectives, repertoires and preconceptions. History proves universities to be communities at the epicentre of change — leaders challenging the status quo, resisting conflict and advocating (and at times demanding) peaceful solutions. So too, Mount Royal has an important role to play. As an educational institution, our task is to add fuel and ignite the hearts and minds of those seeking to understand the complexities of conflict and peace. We do this by nurturing a campus that encourages respectful conversations about difficult topics, that creates and shares knowledge across disciplines and from a variety of viewpoints and that encourages community service as a way to make a tangible difference. On page 28, the question of how education can serve as a weapon against conflict is posed. For me, peace relies on responsible and engaged citizens. And to be such requires seeking out and analyzing facts, applying them to the current situation, creatively finding solutions and mobilizing others to achieve the desired reality — which is exactly what we at Mount Royal seek to provide as part of an exceptional undergraduate experience.

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David Docherty, PhD President, Mount Royal University

MEET THE TEAM

Inspired by our story on the Bella Concert Hall, what is the most memorable concert or musical experience you have attended?

V I C E – P R E S I D E N T, UNIVERSIT Y ADVANCEMENT Paul Rossmann A S S O C I AT E V I C E – P R E S I D E N T, M A R K E T I N G A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Melanie Rogers D I R E C TO R , C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Andrea Ranson DIRECTOR, MARKETING Dave McLean Summit is an award-winning magazine published in the fall and spring of every year. Each issue introduces you to the exceptional students, faculty, alumni and supporters of Mount Royal University. Summit tells the University’s ongoing story to its various audiences, showcasing the aspirations, achievements and contributions of the Mount Royal community. In doing so, the magazine illustrates Mount Royal’s profile as a Canadian leader in undergraduate education. ISSN 1929-8757 Summit Publications Mail Agreement #40064310 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Mount Royal University 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW Calgary, AB, Canada T3E 6K6 Summit website You can enjoy Summit online by visiting mru.ca/Summit If you would like us to deliver a print copy to your office or home, simply email summit@mtroyal.ca Mount Royal University is located on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot People, the Niitsitapi. Sustainably yours.

EDITOR-IN- CHIEF “BAY CITY ROLLERS WHEN I WAS IN GRADE 2. IT IS STILL THE LOUDEST, ROWDIEST SHOW I’VE BEEN TO. THE WATER IN THE TOILETS IN THE OTTAWA CIVIC CENTRE WAS SLOSHING SIDE TO SIDE IN TIME WITH THE CROWD SCREAMING AND STOMPING THEIR FEET.”

EDITOR Michelle Bodnar Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — Journalism (2005)

ART DIRECTOR Michal Waissmann Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — Electronic Publishing (2007)

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT “NINE MONTHS PREGNANT AT A BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CONCERT. NOT QUITE, BUT NEARLY BORN IN THE SADDLEDOME!”

“TAKING PHOTOS OF NOCHE FLAMENCA AT THE BELLA LAST YEAR.”

“IN 1983 I MADE A PILGRIMAGE NORTH TO SEE DAVID BOWIE PLAY EDMONTON’S COMMONWEALTH STADIUM ON A HOT AUGUST NIGHT. HIS SERIOUS MOONLIGHT TOUR WAS PURE MAGIC.”

Deb Abramson Journalism diploma (1977)

COPY EDITORS Peter Glenn Ruth Myles Andrea Ranson Public Relations diploma (1985) Frankie Thornhill Social Work diploma (2007)

“MY FIRST-EVER CONCERT WAS AT REXALL PLACE IN EDMONTON TO SEE TRAIN AND MAROON 5 PERFORM TOGETHER! WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE WITHOUT “LOVE, PRIDE, DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN” AND “COMPROMISE THAT MOVES US ALONG?”

“IN 1990, BRYAN ADAMS IN THE POURING RAIN AND A LIGHTNING STORM AT CANADA OLYMPIC PARK.”

“BOB DYLAN’S ROLLING THUNDER REVUE, MAPLE LEAF GARDENS, 1975. HE’D BEEN MY IDOL FOR 10 YEARS AND I WENT ALONE BECAUSE NO ONE I KNEW LIKED HIM. I FOUND DESIGN OUT YEARS LATER THAT MY Leslie Blondahl CURRENT HUSBAND WAS AT Bachelor of Communication — Information Design (2014) THE SAME CONCERT.”

Emily Eom Michael Poon Christina Riches Bachelor of Communication — Information Design (2014) Michal Waissmann Chao Zhang

PHOTOGR APHY Michael Poon Christina Riches Chao Zhang

CONTRIBUTORS “SEEING BOB DYLAN WAS AWESOME! WHAT ALWAYS MADE ME LAUGH ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WERE THE CONCERT REVIEWS AFTERWARDS: “HIS SINGING WAS TERRIBLE!” I’M SORRY, WAS HIS SINGING EVER CONSIDERED NOT TERRIBLE? IT’S ABOUT THE WRITING, MAN!”

“IN 2008 I GOT TO SEE Q-TIP OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. ALLROUND LEGEND.”

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Paul Rossmann

“WHEN I WAS A KID I GOT TO SEE STEVIE WONDER AT THE SADDLEDOME. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER SEEN LIGHTERS USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN STARTING FIRES.”

“I SAW THE TRAGICALLY HIP IN 2007 AT THE ASTORIA THEATRE IN LONDON, U.K. IT WAS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR A HOMESICK CANADIAN. THE ENTIRE PLACE WAS PACKED WITH EUROPEAN HOCKEY PLAYERS AND EXPATS.”

“DEFTONES IN ‘98 AT THE WAREHOUSE IN TORONTO — IN THE MOSH PIT WITH UNCLE BILL!”

Jonathan Anderson Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations (2013) Valerie Berenyi Michelle Bodnar Brendan Greenslade Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — Public Relations (2010) Lisa Kadane Jonathan Love “GOING TO SEE HOWARD Dave McLean JONES AT RED ROCKS Ruth Myles AMPHITHEATRE IN COLORADO. Rob Petrollini IT WAS MY FIRST CONCERT, I Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — KNEW (AND SANG ALONG) TO EVERY SONG, AND SEEING A Electronic Publishing (2007) MUSICIAN IN THAT VENUE Jenna Reimer WAS MAGICAL.” Bachelor of Arts — English (2012) Melissa Rolfe Jenn Sheehan Bachelor of Business and Entrepreneurship (Applied) — Sport and Recreation (2013) “MY TEENAGE-HOOD HEROES, PUBLIC ENEMY AT THE MAC HALL BALLROOM IN 1998-ISH. THEY PLAYED A 3-HOUR SHOW AND FLAVOR FLAV COULDN’T MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN’T LET HIM CROSS THE BORDER.”

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BLEED BLUE H I G H L I G H T S F R O M T H E M O U N T R OYA L C O M M U N I T Y Complete listings of events and happenings at MRU can be found at mtroyal.ca/Events

DEAN AND FACULTY ANNOUNCEMENTS MOUNT ROYAL WELCOMES NEW PROVOST Following a national search, Lesley Brown, PhD, is “absolutely thrilled” to join Mount Royal University as its new provost and vicepresident academic. Brown oversees all facets of educational programming and research at the University while advancing strategic priorities including Mount Royal’s newly finalized Academic Plan. Before joining Mount Royal in August, Brown compiled an exemplary record at the University of Lethbridge (U of L) over 20 years, serving as the associate vice-president, research, interim vicepresident, research and, most recently, as the vice-provost and associate vicepresident, academic.

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A powerful champion of undergraduate education, Brown was recognized for excellence in teaching at the U of L at the undergraduate level in 2009 and 2011. In addition to being a proven administrator, Brown is an accomplished scholar. She holds a PhD in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Human Kinetics in biomechanics from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Physical Education from McMaster University. She also completed a three-year post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Oregon.

CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN INDIGENOUS STUDIES BEGINS ROLE

The University’s first Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Studies is Tracy Friedel, PhD, whose focus is on culture, environment and sustainability. The five-year, $500,000 award was approved by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which judges all nominations for research chairs in Canada. Friedel came to Mount Royal from the University of British Columbia, where she was a professor in the Faculty of Education. A descendant of the Nêhiyawêwin (Cree)speaking Métis people of Mânitow Sâkahikanihk (Lac Ste. Anne) in westcentral Alberta, Friedel will concentrate on research in Indigenous land-based learning, teach courses on Indigenous-focused inquiry and epistemology, and contribute to the creation and delivery of majors in Indigenous studies and environmental humanities.

FORMER COUGARS COACH NAMED DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION

NEW DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING AN EDUCATIONAL TRAILBLAZER

Beginning his new leadership role in July, Stephen Price, PhD, was originally hired by Cougar Athletics to be the head coach of the men’s basketball team in 2000. Also an instructor of physical education and recreation studies, after four years his deep connection to students led him to a new position as manager of Academic Advising Services. In 2009, he returned to teaching courses in leadership and coaching, and to oversee the practicum experiences of sport and recreation students. This culminated in his appointment to chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education in 2011. Before July, Price had been serving as interim associate dean since July 2016.

Michelle Yeo, PhD, a leader in educational development, curriculum design and assessment of learning, assumed the role of director of the Institute for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in July. An awardwinning teacher, Yeo is also a top-notch scholar who has published in several peer-reviewed journals. A former faculty member with the Academic Development Centre, Yeo supports her peers in the areas of curriculum and assessment, as well as furthers MRU’s crosscampus efforts on indigenization.

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A B O A R D P U B L I C

T H E

F I R S T

V O Y A G E

F R A N K L I N W R E C K A G E

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E X P E D I T I O N S I T E

Geography professor Lynn Moorman, PhD, recently served as an expert on board an expedition cruise in the Arctic that visited the sunken wreckage of a Franklin Expedition ship, the HMS Erebus. It was the first public visit to the national historic site. The HMS Erebus was one of two ships on the ill-fated expedition led by Sir John Franklin, which left England in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage. The ships became icebound and were abandoned, and no one survived. Undiscovered for 170 years, the sunken wreckages of both ships were recently located — the HMS Erebus in 2014 and the HMS Terror in 2016. On board the expedition, Moorman’s talks focused on geo-technologies, landforms, geologic history and glaciers. “I’m in this (teaching) profession because I want to help people understand more about how the world works, more about the Earth. And that’s the exact same role that I had on the ship.”

SMART PILL DISPENSER A SHREWD SOLUTION FOR AFRICA Faith-Michael Uzoka, PhD, is making computer science count towards global health care. The Mount Royal professor is already known for creating soft-computing models and systems for efficient and effective diagnosis of tropical confusable diseases. Now, he’s partnered with Gift Arnold Mugisha, a high school student in Uganda, to invent a smart pill dispenser that doubles as an inanimate medical assistant. The device is equipped with remote communication capabilities to allow a patient and medical professional to talk to each other, even when kilometres apart. “I see many possibilities for its use. In the hospital, for example, if the nurse is not there, the patient can collect their pills themselves. Or they can press a button and speak to the doctor or nurse, even if they are in a remote location,” says Uzoka, who teaches in MRU’s Department of Mathematics and Computing. “We are improving access (to medical care in Africa) with this device.” Uzoka and Mugisha, who met at a conference in Uganda, won one of the two Best Presentation Awards at the Information Systems and Technology Africa Conference in Namibia. They are refining their invention — which has a preliminary patent — to make it more affordable and scalable. MRU.CA/SUMMIT

BLEED BLUE

RIDDELL LIBRARY + LEARNING CENTRE Grand opening kicks off bold new age of learning

Golden

anniversary gala for nursing

Mount Royal University celebrated 50 years of excellence in the delivery of nursing education at its Golden Gala on Sept. 28. The Gala commemorated those who have contributed to the program over the past 50 years, and those who will make their mark in the next 50. It was an opportunity for current and former students and faculty to reflect, reconnect and look forward. Nursing played an integral role in driving the evolution of Mount Royal from a college to a university. In 2007 it became the institution’s first four-year bachelor’s degree. The School of Nursing and Midwifery continues to give back through the establishment of an endowed scholarship to support those who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment and leadership, and who are working hard to make a difference. Discover more at mru.ca/Nursing50.

In operation since June, Mount Royal’s ultra-modern Riddell Library and Learning Centre officially opened its doors on Sept. 7 during a day-long event. Government and Indigenous community members joined campus leaders to start the celebration. The theme of the day was digital learning in Canadian culture. Four speakers shared their expertise, including Jesse Brown, journalist, digital media expert and founder of the podcast Canadaland; Nicole Verkindt of CBC’s Next Gen Den and advocate of entrepreneurs; Indigenous speaker and educator, Eddy Robinson, who talked about exploring Indigenous ways of knowing through technology and Canadian literature expert and podcaster Dina Del Bucchia. More than 1,500 people explored the four-storey, 16,000-squaremetre structure, which houses the Library’s extensive digital and print collections, as well as technologies including 3-D scanners and printers, industrial sewing machines, design software, circuitry and robotics kits, an immersion studio and an interactive visualization wall. Truly a learning space designed for the 21st century, the Riddell Library and Learning Centre provides a place for the campus and the community to connect and interact with information in all of its forms. Community members can get a free borrowers card at the front desk or use their current TAL Card (the Alberta Library Card).

GETTING THE JOB DONE RIGHT Mount Royal University’s Career Services department is among the best in the country, according to a recent national report. The Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC) ranked Mount Royal’s Career Services department fifth out of 67 post-secondary institutions across Canada in its report Insight into Canadian Post-Secondary Career Service Models. The survey identified the core values, methods and objectives of each department. Mount Royal also hosted CERIC’s principal investigator, Peter Dietsche, PhD, who later said that “other colleges and universities are likely to seek out MRU staff for insight into how they developed, promoted and institutionalized their career services model.”

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Ribbon cutting at the Sept. 7 grand opening of the Riddell Library and Learning Centre. From left, Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt, philanthropist Clay Riddell, Students’ Association President Shifrah Gadamsetti, MRU President David Docherty, Dr. Reg Crowshoe and (former) University Librarian Carol Shepstone.

BLEED BLUE

You did what?

Awards and accolades Latasha Calf Robe, a Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management graduate and current MRU staff member, received the David Crowchild Memorial Award at the 31st annual Calgary Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards for launching and curating the Niitsitapi Resiliency and Empowerment Discussion Group at Mount Royal.

Anupam Das, PhD, was recognized in the Achievement Under 35 category at the 2017 Calgary Immigrants of Distinction Awards. A professor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies, Das’s research interests include economic growth, international financial flows to developing countries and heterodox economics.

Aliyah Dosani, PhD and professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has received a three-year Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant to pursue her study seeking to understand the association between

emotional distress during pregnancy and preterm birth in low- and middleincome countries.

Mohamed El Hussein of the School of Nursing and Midwifery was the recipient of this year’s Alberta Nursing Education Administrators’ Nursing Educator Award. El Hussein’s interests lie in patients’ experiences of health challenges, with a particular emphasis on spirituality as it relates to the healing role.

Creative writing professor Beth Everest, PhD, won this year’s Book Publishers Association of Alberta’s Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry for silent sister: the mastectomy poems. Edited by Mount Royal’s Micheline Maylor, PhD, silent sister explores the impact of severe illness on the mind, body and spirit.

English professor Richard Harrison’s book of poems, On Not Losing My Father’s Ashes in the Flood, reached number one on the Calgary Herald’s

bestseller list for nonfiction, won the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry from the Writers’ Guild of Alberta 2017 Alberta Literary Awards and took third place in the Alcuin Society for Excellence in Book Design Awards.

Cari Ionson, Mount Royal’s sexual violence response and awareness coordinator, was named to the Calgary Police Service’s committee tasked with reviewing sexual assault cases that have been closed as unfounded. The committee offers advice on whether an investigation could be improved to ensure as thorough and complete an inquest as possible.

Travis Juska, a sergeant with the Calgary Police Service who graduated from Mount Royal with a Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies (2006), has been invested into the Canada Order of Merit of the Police Forces (receiving a Member Award) for displaying the qualities of citizenship, service and humanity.

Melanie Peacock, PhD, of the Department of General Management, Human Resources, has been named to Human Resources Director magazine’s annual Hot List. Bringing together the “best of the best” of the industry, Peacock is considered among its top 30 high achievers.

Angela Ryu, a classical violinist with The Conservatory’s Advanced Performance Program, took home the top prize at the 2017 RBC Concerto Competition against stiff opposition. The competition supports the development of emerging artists and the achievement of artistic goals in Calgary.

Cathy Smey Carston, PhD and director of the Centre for Child WellBeing, was awarded the Dr. Sherrill Brown Award of Distinction by the Association of Early Childhood Educators at the Alberta Early Childhood Education Association’s conference held on campus in May.

STAND-ALONE SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESPONSE POLICY SUPPORTS SURVIVORS In addition to articulating the University’s stance against sexual violence, a new stand-alone response policy also lays out the reporting processes, a fair and equitable approach for dealing with instances of sexual violence and the supports and resources available on campus. “The new stand-alone sexual violence response policy enshrines our commitment to providing trauma-informed responses to disclosures of sexual violence,” says Steve Fitterer, vice-president of Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Mount Royal remains focused on fostering a safe learning and work environment and creating a culture where survivors feel safe to come forward.”

Mount Royal grads, you’re a big part of our community. We want to know all about you and where life has taken you. Sign up for updates on alumni events and to receive exclusive benefits. Go to mru.ca/AllAboutU.

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In Memoriam

ADDRESSING COLONIAL DIVIDES AT TRADING POST 150

Continuing the legacies of lives well lived

The annual In Memoriam event celebrated members of the Mount Royal family who truly represented the outstanding character and values of citizenship that MRU students and alumni are encouraged to uphold throughout their lifetimes. Held in the Dr. John H. Garden Memorial Park, endowed scholarships and bursaries were created to remember: Donald B. Black Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army, community philanthropist Carol Pullen Dacyk Mount Royal aviation alumna, nurse and community leader Brian Ludwig Advocate of education and community philanthropist Support students and become a champion for accessible education by visiting mru.ca/Giving.

The people of the Treaty 7 Blackfoot Nations hosted a special cultural event in June on the Mount Royal campus to address the Indigenous perspective of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebration of Confederation. Many argue that Canada’s modern history goes back much further, which is profoundly supported by the recent discovery of a 14,000-year-old Indigenous settlement on Triquet Island, B.C. The event was led by Michael Broadfoot, an MRU health science major, as part of his final assignment in Professor Liam Haggarty’s Indigenous Studies 1101: Introduction to Indigenous Studies: the Canadian Context course. “You can celebrate it: you can protest it. I just wanted (the students) to explore it from an Indigenous perspective,” says Haggarty.

AVIATION PROGRAM SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS

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“For this event the students wanted to focus less on Canada as a nation, and more on Canada as a country of rich cultures, Indigenous ones and many others.” Broadfoot and his team created Trading Post 150, an event that offered cultural goods, teachings and an exchange of ideas. "(Trading Post 150) was about bringing people together,” says Broadfoot, who is also pursuing a minor in Indigenous Studies. “Canada 150 will seldom be celebrated by Indigenous Peoples in Canada, if at all. We looked to set ourselves apart by bringing people together, instead of enforcing colonial divides.” Trading Post 150 was attended by more than 1,000 people and offered a community space to share, exchange and heal.

Enhancing pilot training through mentorship and resource sharing, Mount Royal University’s Aviation program recently signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with WestJet. Under the new partnership, WestJet pilots will share their operational and training expertise with Mount Royal students and instructors. The agreement allows for mentorship and professional development opportunities through use of the company’s facilities and access to resources such as training manuals. The partnership was signed in June and could be expanded to include recruitment programs.

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Spring 2017 Convocation honorary degree recipients Recognizing those who have advanced society and provided opportunities for others nationally and/or internationally.

TODD HIRSCH Honorary Bachelor of Arts — Policy Studies Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial since 2007, is a familiar face on campus, commenting often on economic matters in the media and as a public speaker. His public policy interests and roles are diverse. “Success in life requires enthusiasm,” Hirsch says. “It demands we live each day aware of the possibilities and opportunities.”

EVAN HU Honorary Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management An accomplished entrepreneur, Hu is a central figure in the drive to reshape Calgary’s economy. The board chair of Innovate Calgary served as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at MRU and is an advisor to the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Hu says, “Lift the covers off, ask lots of questions, see what lies beneath and ask why.”

ELDER (GRANDMOTHER) DOREEN SPENCE Honorary Bachelor of Nursing This Nobel Peace Prize nominee is a retired nurse, an accomplished author and an active Elder for the United Nations. The highly respected speaker, healer and mentor has dedicated her life to building understanding, collaboration and reconciliation among all peoples. Grandmother says, “Whatever you do, do with unconditional love. We are here for the betterment of the whole.”

MARK TEWKSBURY Honorary Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations Gold medal-winning athlete, gay rights activist, sports commentator, author, member of three Halls of Fame: Tewksbury is all of these and more. In 2005, he helped launch Positive Space at Mount Royal, a campaign designed to build awareness about sexual orientation and gender diversity. “Thanks to campaigns like Positive Space, the world is changing,” Tewksbury says.

MOUNT ROYAL THIRD IN THE NATION TO RECEIVE DESIGNATION AS A CHANGEMAKER CAMPUS E

T .

In recognition of leadership in social innovation education and a commitment to indigenization Mount Royal University has joined an elite group of 40 universities around the world as a designated Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U. A Changemaker Campus operates in socially and environmentally conscious ways to address local and global challenges. The designation recognizes investment in the continuous development of individuals who see the value of higher education in making the world a better place. “We are honoured to be awarded this designation because it recognizes our history, which is built upon a strong

connection to the community,” says Mount Royal University President David Docherty, PhD. “It also reflects our continued dedication to reconciliation through Indigenous education.” Ashoka U is part of Ashoka, the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Brown University, Cornell University and Duke University are among the 40 universities that have been awarded this prestigious designation since 2008. Mount Royal is the third Canadian institution to receive the honour. “Mount Royal University demonstrates strong leadership for social innovation, including its impressive course offerings and extracurricular programming,” says Marina Kim, co-founder and executive

director of Ashoka U. “Additionally, a unique strength of Mount Royal is a commitment to indigenization as an active process of reconciliation.” The designation resulted from an extensive selection process and marks the culmination of a broader MRU Changemaker Campus initiative that began in 2015 with the development of the Changemaker Campus Roadmap. In July, Elder Miiksika'am blessed the Changemaker Campus Roadmap, an artifact that represents a component of Mount Royal’s growing knowledge bundle. Frank and Darcy Turning Robe of the Siksika Nation sang a traditional victory song to initiate the University’s journey.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

RESEARCH SNAPSHOT

WITHOUT INQUIRY, there is NOTHING MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY EMPOWERS ITS OWN TO REVOLUTIONIZE THINKING COMPILED BY ROB PETROLLINI

The difference between Mount Royal and the “big guys” is that MRU offers research as part of the classroom experience, not just as something a professor does in an anonymous lab or darkened office, out of the way and out of touch. The University’s Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement supports independent and collaborative studies by faculty and students, with an emphasis on projects involving communities and creating change. Here’s a sample of current research initiatives.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CHANGE Bee conservation genetics and pollinator decline

Just say “no” to urban beekeeping

There is indisputable evidence that many species of native and non-native bees are in serious decline due to parasites, habitat loss, global warming and exposure to pesticides. If this trend continues, there will certainly be a negative impact on the global food supply and economy. Professor Robin Owen, PhD, of Mount Royal’s Department of Biology, is seeking to discover what is causing the decline in bees and what the consequences are if bees become extinct.

To address the population loss of the world’s most essential pollinators, many communities have started the practice of urban beekeeping. These good intentions are causing honey bees to dominate other species. Department of Biology Professor Alexandria Farmer is educating others on the importance of diversity among bee species. She says the misinformation regarding the “save the bee” campaign is causing a huge increase in the hobby of urban honey beekeeping, negatively impacting native bees.

Putting beavers to work for watershed resiliency Canada’s national icon, the beaver, supports ecosystems by storing water during droughts, creating habitats for a variety of species and improving water quality overall. However, landowners can come into conflict with these mammals, as they can flood roads, plug culverts and take down prized trees. Affiliated with MRU, the Miistakis Institute (in partnership with Cows and Fish — the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society) is investigating how humans and beavers can co-exist to realize ecosystem benefits. 10

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Don’t let the bugs out! Antibiotics and wastewater treatment have increased human life expectancy and improved the quality of our existence. But there is now a rise in drug-resistant bacteria. Superbugs are now responsible for most of the world’s hospital-acquired infections. Professor Ana Colina, PhD, of the Department of Biology, is reviewing recent research literature to better understand the impact wastewater treatment operations are having.

RESEARCH SNAPSHOT

Frogs, toads and wetlands of Calgary

Aquatic habitats across the province of Alberta are disappearing due to urban and rural development. The City of Calgary recognizes healthy wetlands are a vital component of an urban environment and Calgary was one of the first cities to implement a wetland protection policy. Using amphibian abundance and diversity as indicators of wetland health, Professor Melanie Rathburn, PhD, a faculty member with the Department of Biology, is investigating how best to monitor and forecast the environmental variables that maintain wetland biodiversity.

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

PHOTO BY MELANIE RATHBURN

MODERN CHALLENGES FACING OUR STUDENTS Undergraduate perceptions of social media Professor Erika Smith, PhD, of MRU’s Academic Development Centre, is investigating student perceptions and uses of social media in their learning. Her previous findings demonstrate that social media is a “double-edged sword,” both informing and distracting from learning, and resulted in her being awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant (2017/2019) to continue researching undergraduate digital literacies.

The influence of high standards of comparison on employability evaluations

Developing emerging leaders through leadership programs

Assessing employability refers to gauging how likely someone would be to positively add to an organization, important information for hiring managers and job seekers alike. Bissett School of Business Professor Harris Rubin, PhD, is studying the cognitive processes involved in these assessments, asking how high standards of comparison influence employability ratings for both future job seekers evaluating themselves and employers evaluating others.

Many Canadian organizations are using job rotation as an intervention to mitigate impending gaps in leadership pipelines. Bissett School of Business Professor Christian Cook, PhD, is studying the experiences and perspectives of job rotation participants.

Information for facilitating the settlement and integration of Syrian refugees Bissett School of Business Professors Leah Hamilton, PhD, and Mohammed El Hazzouri, PhD, are investigating the settlement and information needs of Syrian refugees in Canada. Since November 2015, about 40,000 Syrian refugees arrived in Canada, with roughly 2,000 resettling in Calgary. Hamilton and El Hazzouri’s research explores how the provision of information can help refugees have realistic expectations about life in Canada, navigate systems and access services that support their integration.

Student humility before leaving Canada

Ethiopian midwifery tutor training project

Students need to be culturally humble when they participate in international field schools and global service learning, says Professor Margot Underwood of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Without that, well-intentioned international education excursions become mere tourist trips, reinforcing a colonialist sense of privilege. Underwood is exploring ways to teach cultural humility before students leave Canada.

About 25,000 women die during childbirth each year in Ethiopia, making it one of six countries in the world with the highest maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. This prompted professors from Mount Royal’s Faculty of Health, Community and Education to create an educational program for senior Ethiopian midwives, who are then tasked to tutor other midwives. Early results show more than 85 per cent of midwives reporting greater confidence in performing their duties. The next step is evaluating whether training is decreasing newborn sickness and death rates.

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PERFORMANCES

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2017

Mount Royal Alumni Achievement Award Winners M E E T F O U R M R U G R A D UAT E S W H O ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, INDUSTRIES AND BEYOND WORDS BY LISA KADANE PHOTOS BY CHAO ZHANG

hat makes alumni or students stand out in a veritable sea of success stories? Is it their dedication to helping others? Their mission to make Canada a better, more equitable country? Their courage to shake up the status quo, or their willingness to take a chance on a groundbreaking idea or design? In the case of this year’s Alumni Achievement Award recipients, chosen from more than 90,000 graduates, it’s all of the above. Mount Royal is celebrating four outstanding graduates who have excelled in their professional and academic lives to make a big difference in their fields, communities and beyond. From a teacher entrepreneur to a communications pro, and a lawyer to an interior designer, this year’s recipients embody the commitment to community engagement and pursuit of excellence that are the cornerstones of a Mount Royal education. They also serve as inspiration for tomorrow’s alumni. This year, the Alumni Achievement Awards encompass three categories: • The Horizon Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of alumni early in their careers • The Outstanding Alumni Award acknowledges alumni who demonstrate outstanding achievements in their fields • The Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes alumni at the culmination of their careers who have brought honour to their profession and alma mater Meet the 2017 award recipients!

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Michael Parker Interior Design Diploma, 1972

LIFETIME DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Interior decoration has matured to include critical knowledge of interior health and well-being, sustainability and changing lifestyle.”

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hen Mount Royal Interior Design alumnus Michael Parker began his career in the 1970s, the industry was misunderstood, seen merely as a vehicle for showing off the latest colours or furniture styles. Now, interior design is considered an integral part of the building process, and more people — from designers themselves to architects and clients — view it more as a science than an art. Through his work as a designer and his role as a booster of the profession, Parker has helped facilitate that evolution in Calgary. “Interior decoration has matured to include critical knowledge of interior health and well-being, sustainability and changing lifestyles,” Parker says. “It’s not just about trend and fashion; it’s how people can function and grow in a space. I want people to talk more about the science of our industry.” Parker graduated from Mount Royal in 1972, and like any star alumnus, he has maintained a strong relationship with the school. A champion of the interior design program that launched his career, he’s served with the Interior Design Alumni Chapter and supported its annual fundraising event, Primarily, It’s a Party, which raises money for student bursaries and supplies. Professionally, Parker spent the majority of his career at the design firm Dialog, where he worked

on numerous commercial projects for both corporate and not-for-profit clients. He was part of the team that designed the office space for Renaissance Energy (now Enbridge) in the 1980s. The award-winning design included concepts such as fewer walled-off corridors for dynamic workflow, open coffee stations that encouraged brainstorming and “light harvesting,” in which glass-fronted offices facilitated natural light reaching the middle of the space. “People would come in to work, feel good and want to be there,” Parker recalls. Another award-winning project was the design of the Gulf Canada (now ConocoPhillips) office space in the 1990s. The company’s president at the time was all about knowledge sharing and wanted an open-concept workplace, with no walls or private offices for anyone, to assist with the flow of ideas. Workers were presented with a kit of options for personalizing their space, so they could have control over their cubicle and customize it to work for them. Though that style of space is common in today’s tech industry, it was a revolutionary concept in the oilpatch 25 years ago. “We were on the cusp of this generational shift that was starting to happen (with workplace environments) and I’m so proud of that,” Parker says. He’s also proud of his smaller projects, such as Rosedale Hospice. There he was tasked with creating a homey space where residents would feel safe and be able to die with dignity. “No matter what you’re designing, it comes down to people,” Parker says. “How can people feel comfortable in this space?” Parker also found time to speak nationally and internationally about best practices for colour usage. As well, several of his projects have been featured in publications such as the Calgary Herald and Canadian Interiors. “I am particularly honoured to have shared my expertise with numerous agencies, charities and educational institutions. This award rounds off my resumé.” Now retired and looking back on his illustrious career, Parker thanks Mount Royal for giving him a solid foundation all those years ago. “What’s remained consistent is Mount Royal’s attitude toward the student,” Parker says. “The school just feels good, and when people are comfortable and feel good, they perform.”

Cyndy Morin Bachelor of Arts — University Transfer, 1999

O U T S TA N D I N G A LU M N I AWA R D — COMMUNIT Y SERVICE

Without getting clients the non-legal emotional supports they may need, the process can go sideways.”

amily lawyer Cyndy Morin has seen a client fight with a soon-to-be-ex over canned goods in the garage and an eyelet bedding skirt valued at $8. It sounds petty, but when couples are in the throes of a nasty divorce, the gloves come off over anything and everything. Interestingly, in Morin’s experience, disputes over material goods — the spoils of splitting up — are more common when people aren’t getting the essential support they need. “Divorce is very emotional; when emotions run high, people don’t tend to make good decisions, let alone good legal decisions. They have to be ready to deal with divorce. If high emotions get in the way, conflict increases and so does the likelihood of court,” Morin explains. “Without getting clients the non-legal emotional supports they may need, the process can go sideways.” Morin calls her award-winning practice and its multidisciplinary approach to family law a “bridge builder.” The firm employs a full-time client support coordinator who matches, or bridges, clients to agencies such as the Calgary Counselling Centre that can help them cope emotionally and transition mentally from couple- or family-hood to being on their own or living as a single parent. Morin understands first-hand what it’s like to need emotional rescue. In 1997, she was expecting her third child and had just started classes at Mount Royal as a mature student when her husband was killed in a car accident.

“I had a Grade 10 education with no real work experience, and I had two very young children, one of them diagnosed with autism. I thought, ‘How am I going to do this?’” Morin recalls. “I felt so overwhelmed with grief. I couldn’t even make a phone call. But everyone just came to my rescue.” At the same time, one of her friends was going through a painful divorce and grieving the dissolution of her marriage. Morin noted that no one was helping her friend, even though divorce is well documented as being the most stressful life event, after death of a loved one. “It always bothered me that everyone was there for me and no one was there for her,” Morin says. After she completed the Bachelor of Arts — University Transfer program at Mount Royal, Morin went on to earn her psychology degree (with distinction) and a law degree from the University of Calgary. She joined a family law firm before starting Resolve Legal Group in 2011. The longer Morin practised family law, the more she realized it was impossible to separate its emotional impact from the legal process. She saw that some people aren’t able to rationally split up finances and negotiate custody arrangements, for example, unless they’re simultaneously receiving emotional — and, in many cases, financial — support. That “aha” moment was the impetus for Morin’s multidisciplinary approach. Her firm also helps clients seek financial support with the Step Forward Program. This partnership with more than 90 local businesses provides discounts on products and services ranging from daycare and dental work to food and shelter for those going through separation and divorce. Today, Morin’s programs and services have expanded to five Calgary-area locations with 18 full-time staff. She is also implementing the results of a study with the Calgary Counselling Centre on a streamlined custody arbitration program called Kids In Mind, which she designed to achieve cost- and time-efficient results using a supportive process. The program works as an alternative to an adversarial court procedure. Morin definitely likes happy endings with a “winwin” resolution, and she appreciates the foundation she got at Mount Royal. “I loved the smaller classes and the more personalized learning experience,” Morin says. “It was very conducive to supporting my needs.” She’s thankful to the school for supporting her through her own difficult time all those years ago, and setting her on a path that would see her helping others. Morin has paid it forward to current students by being part of MRU’s Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship Program.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

Tim Richter Bachelor of Communication (Applied), 1999

O U T S TA N D I N G A LU M N I AWA R D — COMMUNIT Y SERVICE

Community service runs deep in my family and I’ve always felt a deep sense of duty.”

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

im Richter’s optimism is infectious. The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness president and CEO believes the country has reached a tipping point and will see an end to homelessness, hopefully in his lifetime. Just imagine — every woman, man and child with a home to call their own. It’s a profound and moving thought, and one that’s fuelled Richter’s fire since 2007. For the past decade, Calgary’s homelessness pioneer has dedicated himself to housing everyone, first in the city and now across the country. “A home is so much more than just a roof over your head,” Richter says. “At a superficial level it’s shelter, a building, a space. When we talk to people about getting a home it’s so much more than that. It’s an oasis away from the violence, stress and fear of homelessness. There’s healing there and there’s comfort there. And a huge part of it is belonging. It’s being back in society and being connected again.” Richter didn’t attend Mount Royal with an eye to one day helping some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. But he did enrol with a record of service — he was a member of the Canadian Forces Army Reserve, worked in government as a political staffer in Ottawa and was a dedicated volunteer.

So it’s not surprising that he took his MRU skill set and applied it towards making a difference. “Community service runs deep in my family and I’ve always felt a deep sense of duty,” Richter says. “I was looking for a mission.” It came in 2007, when Richter was working as the director of government relations for TransAlta and volunteering in his spare time. He was approached by the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), an organization that wanted to build a plan to end homelessness and was looking to corporate leaders for help. “I immediately thought, ‘Holy smokes, this might just work,’” Richter says. What sold him on the plan was “housing first” — the idea that if you give a person a home, their other problems, such as addiction or mental illness, can then be addressed more successfully. This approach had worked in cities in the U.S. and Richter was eager to try it in Calgary. By the time Richter left the CHF in 2012, Calgary’s homeless population had shrunk for the first time on record. The idea of housing first had spread across the province and housing numbers were improving in cities from Edmonton to Lethbridge. Richter established the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) in 2012, with the goal of building and leading a national movement to end homelessness in Canada. There are now housing first projects across the country, and the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to a national housing strategy that could signal the beginning of the end of homelessness in Canada. Now, through the CAEH’s 20,000 Homes Campaign, Richter has set his sights on ending chronic homelessness in 20 communities and housing 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable homeless people by Canada Day 2020. Richter hopes the campaign will set an example for other communities and governments to follow. He’s enlisted 36 communities in the campaign and they’ve already found housing for more than 7,200 people. “I think we’re finally at a point where we’ll begin to reverse the lethal trajectory of homelessness in Canada,” he says. Richter credits his MRU education as a key to his success. “I developed a communications skill set and I use it every day in my work.”

Eric Carbert Bachelor of Child Studies (Applied), 2014 HORIZON AWARD

We are striving for a more holistic approach to community where those with disabilities play a role that is not only needed, but welcomed by everyone around them.”

hen Eric Carbert enrolled in Mount Royal’s applied child studies program, he thought he’d end up working with young offenders and youth at risk. But through a serendipitous series of events, the 23-year-old launched a career in special needs education, and it’s led to something larger than he could ever have imagined: Eric’s House. Carbert’s young cousin has special needs and attends Calgary Quest School, a designated special education private school. After helping out with his cousin over the years, when an opportunity arose to work at Quest for one of his MRU practicums, he made a last-minute decision to take it. It proved fortuitous — Carbert loved it. “My job at Quest was to help graduating students transition to adulthood,” Carbert says. Through his work at the school, Carbert discovered a lack of services for adults with disabilities, and that the agencies offering programming are often full. As a result, parents or caregivers must hire private therapists for oneon-one support, or aides to assist with recreation and community outings. It’s a solution, but one that puts the onus on the caregiver to organize

everything. It also doesn’t necessarily foster socialization or peer interactions, something Carbert says is really important. So in late 2015, Carbert rented a house in Calgary to operate a day-program facility. Young adults with disabilities could learn alongside their peers and under the tutelage and supervision of staff who would also take them into the community for field trips and hands-on learning. Eric’s House was born. Carbert and his team help adults with disabilities develop skills that will increase their independence. “A lot of what we work on are life skills — teeth brushing, folding laundry, grocery shopping, basic meal prep — the skills that will help them every day,” Carbert says. Each day is different for every client because Eric’s House personalizes individual programs based on clients’ needs and level of functioning. Some programming and skill building happens on site, such as weekly music therapy sessions and cooking, where kitchen counters are lower to accommodate those in wheelchairs. But a lot of learning happens out in the community, such as shopping, paying for groceries and counting change, or learning how to safely cross a busy street. “You’re learning street safety out on the street, in real time,” Carbert explains. “We are striving for a more holistic approach to community, where those with disabilities play a role that is not only needed, but welcomed by everyone around them.” Thanks to Carbert’s dedication and word-of-mouth marketing, in less than two years, Eric’s House has grown to two locations with five full-time staff serving more than 10 clients. What’s more, Carbert is in the middle of opening a commercial space that will allow Eric’s House to more than triple its number of clients. Carbert credits Mount Royal with not only giving him the confidence to quit his job at Quest at age 21, but for also building the skills necessary to make Eric’s House a success. “Leaving school with that amount of work hours under my belt was pretty useful. I feel like Mount Royal set me up. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.”

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

FROM CO COM AWARENE WITH AW COM KNOW 18

SUMMIT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FALL/WINTER 2017

ONFLICT MES ES S, AND WARENESS MES WLEDGE WORDS BY MICHELLE BODNAR

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHAL WAISSMANN

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

As North Korea threatens, Myanmar suffers crimes against humanity, Syria slowly unravels and Russia’s global intentions remain shadowy, military engagement is at the forefront of many people’s minds. The notion that Canada could find itself in another major armed conflict is uncomfortably real. Rhetoric is easily being tossed across borders, and it seems as though missiles might soon follow. Mount Royal is working to soften the lines that divide and find ways to disengage from argument and engage in resolution.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IS A GROWTH INDUSTRY

Mount Royal alumnus, General (ret.) John de Chastelain, has spent more than 50 years mitigating and settling disputes between and within other countries, as well as within his own. As a military commander, he is known for leading the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and handling Canada’s involvement in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and in the Balkan Wars. He also helped to de-escalate the Oka crisis in Quebec during the 1990s. As a civilian, de Chastelain was named to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, which oversaw the disarmament of paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. His perseverance kept him at the seemingly impossible task of resolving “the Troubles” for 14 years, and by all accounts he was instrumental in brokering peace.

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

General de Chastelain regularly makes a point of noting how important Mount Royal was for his career success. When he arrived in Canada he did not have the math and science credits he needed to enter into Royal Military College, which was his goal. Mount Royal allowed him to complete the necessary courses in one year, something he remains grateful for. On Sept. 21 — fittingly, World Peace Day — Mount Royal University officially renamed its Peace Studies Initiative as the John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative. It is an exploration of conflict, human rights and social change with the mission of building, developing and disseminating interdisciplinary knowledge of local and global issues dealing with peace and violence.

Sociology professor and director of the Initiative, Mark Ayyash, PhD, says it was designed to instill broad, informed thinking that has the power to inspire engagement and citizenship. Conceived as a way to draw lines of understanding between the root causes of conflict and the eventual resolution to ensure solutions are applicable to the problems, the Initiative uses an integrative lens, studying conflict through disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, genderization, economics, the environment and more. The John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative encompasses the Peace and Conflict Studies minor, the Calgary Peace Prize and various themed outreach activities and public lectures.

1985 Assistant deputy minister for Personnel and vice-chief of Defence Staff (lieutenant-general)

“Conflict resolution is a growth industry,” de Chastelain says. “There’s no question there is going to be conflict, and the area for resolving conflict and the means for studying how that is best done is more and more important. “I believe strongly in conflict resolution without the show of force, but also in the use of armed intervention when necessary.” As far as the potential for global conflict today, de Chastelain says that several points of unrest require careful handling, including the exodus of Asians and Africans looking for a better life in more developed nations; the rapid expansion of countries such as China and India; Russia striving to regain its position of world power; and, the distracting effects of terrorism in the forms of al-Qaida, ISIS, the Taliban and the African versions of the same thing. He believes the largest probability for major armed conflict exists in North Korea and the Middle East, but that the likelihood is minimal. “The existence of nuclear weapons by the number of countries that hold them is a deterrent — and I do accept that North Korea is a bit of a wild card in this regard — but I don’t think that North Korea is going to be able to do some of the things it may be suggesting it can at this time. I don’t think China would ever let it,” de Chastelain says. And ever since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 there has been conflict of one kind or another in the Middle East, de Chastelain says, but none has devolved into an international dispute. “The Peace Studies Initiative is entirely appropriate,” says de Chastelain. “Given my background here as an alumnus, it makes me very proud to have my name associated with this organization and this particular program. I wish it well.”

JOHN DE CHASTELAIN, CC, CMM, CD, CH 1955 Moves with family to Calgary from Scotland 1955 to 1956 Attends Mount Royal College 1956 Enters Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) 1960 Achieves a Bachelor of Arts — History from RMC 1960 Commissioned in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry 1962 Becomes a naturalized Canadian citizen

1989 Named Canada’s chief of Defence Staff, handling the 1990s Oka Crisis and Canada’s involvement in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq (general) 1992 Archie Cairns composes a jig for bagpipes in de Chastelain’s honour 1993 Transfers to the reserves and is appointed ambassador to the United States 1993 Named as a Mount Royal Distinguished Alumnus 1994 Re-appointed chief of defence staff 1997 to 2011 Becomes chair of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, instrumental in brokering peace in Northern Ireland

1962 to 1974 Progresses steadily through the ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces

2011 Named honorary chair of Mount Royal’s Military Memorial Bursary project

1974 to 1976 Commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Base Montreal (colonel)

2014 Promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada

Deputy chief of staff of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (commander of the Canadian contingent)

2017 John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative launched in his name

1977 to 1980 Commandant of RMC Commander of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Lahr, Germany Director general of Land Doctrine and Operations 1980 Welcomes first class of female cadets to RMC

“ I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITHOUT THE SHOW OF FORCE, BUT ALSO IN THE USE OF ARMED INTERVENTION WHEN NECESSARY ” GENERAL (RET.) JOHN DE CHASTELAIN

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

TYING TOGETHER LINES DRAWN IN THE SAND

As of the summer of 2017, Mount Royal students can declare a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies within the Faculty of Arts to complement their degree. Sociology professor Mark Ayyash was extremely influential in the development of the program, which he says is the only one of its kind in Alberta. “The minor is about the history of armed and systemic conflict and how to build and maintain peace. Hence, peace and conflict.” Many other universities focus on either grassroots approaches to establishing peace or state-centered institutional methodologies focusing on military strategies. “I wanted a broader area of study that covered peace and conflict issues from both perspectives, understanding that the two are always related. Both approaches need to be part of an overarching education in the field,” Ayyash says. Just a few of the causes that can lead to humans pitting themselves against each other include the exploitation of environmental resources, such as water and land, that results in suffering, human rights abuses, displacement, discrimination, inequality, wealth differentials, corruption in government and discrepancies of faith. All have to be taken into account when searching for understanding. “There are all of these ‘systemic violences’ we live in every day that we need to better comprehend

and shed light on. It’s often those that are the hardest to untangle. In that light, peace is not viewed as the absence of violent armed conflict. Peace is viewed as a long process of establishing justice and fairness,” Ayyash says. A former student of Ayyash’s, Imogene Roulson recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts — Sociology and a minor in Religious Studies. She plans to pursue a post-graduate degree in 2018. Roulson believes that peace studies are important because of their ability to provide clarity. She says, “There is a lot more ‘grey area’ when it comes to complex and difficult topics, such as violence or peace, than we feel comfortable admitting as a society.” Roulson acknowledges that while peace studies encourage people to be inquisitive, bold and ambitious changemakers, the process is long and requires dedication and extensive work over time. Using the example of Syria, Ayyash says that teasing out the causes of that particular conflict can’t be solely based in studying the fighting groups and political factions. “Instead we need to look at what created the conditions that allowed for Syria to be basically torn apart and destroyed, right in front of our eyes since roughly 2011.

“We have to look at international power dynamics (the Russians, Americans, Saudis and Iranians), the long history of British and French colonial violence in the region and even the rising cost of food in Syria due to a severe drought caused by climate change, plus many other factors. In many ways, the Syrian conflict is not a Syrian conflict, but an international conflict.” As well, there’s the context of the Arab uprisings of 2011, the non-violent protests on the streets of Syria against the highly authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad, which turned those peaceful demonstrations into a cycle of violence. “It’s the oldest trick in the book,” says Ayyash. “If the battle is fought on peaceful terms, the regime might lose. If it’s fought on violent terms, the regime has a much better chance of winning. Because it has an army.” Shane Gannon, associate dean of the Faculty of Arts, says that understanding the terrible consequences of conflict will impel future leaders to realize conflict itself is undesirable. “One of the biggest deterrents to conflict is experience; education provides access to these experiences.”

CANADA’S COVERT BATTLE

Mount Royal’s Peace and Conflict Studies minor uniquely requires students to learn about Indigenous and settler issues. “In Canada especially, whenever people think about peace and conflict studies they think about something that is happening overseas. And they think of Canada’s role as just peacemakers. And that ignores the biggest conflict of all, which all Canadians should be working towards resolving. “I want to emphasize that there is a lot of peace and conflict work that needs to be done right here,” says Ayyash. Elder Miiksika’am (Red Crane) is Mount Royal’s Indigenous spiritual advisor. He often speaks to students about restorative justice, residential schools and treaties, and provides guidance on history, cultural protocols, ceremonies and awareness. Through his window one evening at the residential school he attended while just a child (the Old Suns Boarding School, now the Old Sun Community College at Siksika), he watched a cadet corps marching and thought they looked “smart.” He told his friends, “When I grow up I’m going to be a soldier like my father and my brother. And I’m going to be a leader when I come home.” From a long line of warriors, Miiksika’am’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side was the Blackfoot war chief Eagle Ribs. His grandmother was a Hind Bull, of the same family as the well-known war chief of the Moccasin clan. And not only did his father serve in the Second World War, his uncle did as well. His cousin, nieces and nephews, granddaughter and grandnephew have all also signed up to serve. Miiksika’am was accepted into both the U.S. Marines and the Canadian Army on the same day at the age of 17. As he was making his decision where to go, an old veteran advised him (due to his poor shooting skills at the time), “Don’t go to the States, you’ll get yourself killed.” When he broke the news that he was joining the Army, his father said, “Have faith and honesty in what you do. And keep your head down.” Miiksika’am served with the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, finishing his service after five years. He participated in United Nations peacekeeping initiatives in Cyprus and NATO Forces Continental Europe missions during the Cold War, earning three medals. Although Miiksika’am was readily accepted into the military, it’s worth remembering he and his people were not so easily accepted into regular society. It was only in 1960 that Canada’s Indigenous Peoples were finally not required to give up their treaty rights and renounce their status in order to cast a vote. Yet he, and numerous members of his family, still chose to fight, to defend borders they did not establish and protect people who wanted to assimilate them, standardize them and encapsulate them. Even though he had no idea what would happen and how he would be treated, he still joined and left all that he knew behind. “The first thing in life you have to work on is courage,” Miiksika’am says. “Courage to face things, courage to challenge them. If you have courage, then you start to attain wisdom.” Miiksika’am equates service to those working to gain an education. They have a goal, seek an opportunity, work through the battles and obstacles that may get in the way. “Knowledge can protect and serve in the same way that a soldier does,” Miiksika’am says.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

CALGARY PEACE PRIZE

When Mount Royal first began hosting the Calgary Peace Prize in 2016, the recipients were the members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Justice Murray Sinclair, Dr. Marie Wilson and Chief Wilton Littlechild. In 2017 the award went to Douglas Roche, who is known for his extensive work on nuclear disarmament. The 2018 Calgary Peace Prize recipient has been named as Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, the first Jewish woman to sit on the bench of the Supreme Court of Canada. Born in a German refugee camp to parents who were Holocaust survivors, Abella says her father, who had studied law before internment, was her inspiration for becoming a lawyer. She is known for spearheading the Canadian concept of employment equality while leading a 1984 government commission, and developing a ruling in 1998 as a member of the Court of Appeal for Ontario that

allowed for survivor benefits to be extended to same-sex partners. The Peace Prize ceremonies will take place April 4. Before 2016, the University of Calgary, which has a curriculum leaning more towards military, UN security and peacekeeping analysis, oversaw the Calgary Peace Prize. Roulson, who attended the 2016 and 2017 Peace Prize ceremonies, says her favourite line to quote comes from Dr. Marie Wilson in 2016. “She said she would prefer to call the Peace Prize the ‘disrupting the peace prize.’ She qualified this by stating that sometimes ignorance is a peaceful state of mind. Sometimes bringing about peace is about the boldness to disrupt the status quo, and once disrupted the dedication must be towards sustaining the effort of this disruption until the new peace looks more equitable and more just for all.”

THE NEXT CALGARY PEACE PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED TO JUSTICE ROSALIE SILBERMAN ABELLA ON APRIL 4, 2018. MRU.CA/PEACEPRIZE

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

33rd Annual Holocaust Education Symposium

Each year, 2,800 to 3,000 high school students from across Calgary attend the Holocaust Education Symposium at Mount Royal to hear and meet Holocaust survivors in person. As 2017 marked the 33rd year of the event, nearly 100,000 Calgary students have been reached. Mount Royal thanks the Calgary Jewish Federation for being its longtime partner in the symposium, which teaches to never be a bystander to injustice.

HIDDEN SERVICE PEOPLE DO DOUBLE DUTY

Canada’s military often operates out of sight, out of mind, but in reality, service people are everywhere. Not only are they spread out around the globe (from the High Arctic to Haiti to Palestine to the Baltic Sea), they are in nearly every major city in Canada, ready to act at any moment and in every situation (from international deployment to local fires and floods). They are co-workers, fellow students, friends and family who have joined to be part of something bigger. Part-time Mount Royal journalism instructor Michael Vernon is also a lieutenant-colonel and deputy commander of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, second-in-command of Alberta’s army reservists. He attended Royal Military College, subsequently serving nine years full-time as an army officer with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, before becoming a CBC TV News producer and videojournalist and a part-time soldier with the Calgary Highlanders. It was his father’s personal example that spurred Vernon to join. The retired army officer’s uniforms fascinated Vernon as a boy, and he remembers his father’s kilt and other ceremonial items, green combat clothing, boots, helmets, a multi-coloured paratrooper smock and so on. Although he spent his childhood moving nearly every year from base to base around Canada and he joined the military early in his life, Vernon says the “ethos” of service to his country came later. “As a young man starting out I was truthfully more interested in the adventure of it all.” Vernon says that watching once-stable countries such as the former Yugoslavia “slip over the precipice into war” in person is a sobering experience. “It causes you to appreciate the need to be aware and involved in the world, and to use all means (not just military) to avoid such devastating conflict. And if conflict is deemed necessary, then our military exists as the last resort, in tandem with our allies, to defend Canada and Canadians.”

“ AS MUCH AS GREAT WAR SURVIVORS DEPLORED THAT WAR’S

Although peaceful resolutions are always the goal, Vernon says there are times when there is no other choice. “As much as Great War survivors deplored that war’s slaughter and swore ‘never again,’ they were still required to rearm and stand up to Nazism a generation later.” Preserving the past so it can serve as an example is at the heart of Vernon’s work as both a filmmaker and a soldier. For the past two summers, he has been working on a special project that marries his military, historical and journalistic interests. “It’s an oral history that captures reservists’ experiences overseas, from the 1970s through to Afghanistan. Last summer I conducted detailed, candid video interviews with 47 serving and retired army reservists around the province about their experiences,” Vernon says. The resulting documentary is called Deployed: Canadian Army Reservists Overseas, and is being screened in several cities leading up to Remembrance Day. Across campus in the Faculty of Science and Technology, Katherine Boggs, PhD, is a geology professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She spent more than 30 years with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserves, giving up her duties as a lieutenant in September. “The sad thing about humanity is that if you don’t have a force to protect our interests, conflict erupts,” Boggs says. Her father and several uncles served in the Second World War, and tragically one uncle — who was deployed with the Regina Rifles — did not return home. Boggs spent the early summer training for the International Four Day Marches Nijmegen in the Netherlands, thoroughly beating up her feet and ankles in the process, and marched with her fatherin-law and her son. On the third day (out of four) of the gruelling 40-kilometre daily treks, all of the

SLAUGHTER AND SWORE ‘NEVER AGAIN,’ THEY WERE STILL REQUIRED TO REARM AND STAND UP TO NAZISM A GENERATION LATER. ” MICHAEL VERNON, LIEUTENANTCOLONEL

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military groups paid their respects at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, where her uncle Walter Armstrong is buried. Boggs entered the naval reserves in 1984 as a student at Carleton University, starting as a cook, which she says she hated, but it was one of only three positions women were offered at the time. She chose cooking so she could go to sea. At times, she is frustrated that military service is frequently only recognized as the pursuit of war in distant lands. Boggs served as a MARS (Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface) officer, a role responsible for navigation, contact avoidance and the smooth running of the ship’s routine at sea. She has performed drug patrols with the RCMP and rescued people stranded at sea. Canada’s navy also does fish patrols, putting them in potential conflict with fishing boats not respecting legal boundaries and catch yield limits. “Some people don’t realize that one of the largest roles of the Canadian military is domestic, protecting interests such as transportation corridors,” says Boggs, who worked as a liaison officer at the operation centre at Tecumseh, Calgary’s Naval Reserve Division, during the 2013 southern Alberta floods. “Many people who have no experience with the military think of being militaristic as being a bad thing. But it’s a group of people that are trained to handle just about anything. They come with the structure, the skills and the equipment to deal with any emergency. This structure and these skills have been very beneficial to Alberta recently with the 2013 floods and the Fort Mac fire.” There are three parts to why Boggs served, she says. The first is simply that she loves this country, and thinks it’s imperative to preserve its interests. The second is her family history and her uncle having lost his life overseas. “The third is about developing young people. That’s why I teach here at Mount Royal and is a big part of what the military is. You get to see these young people grow and develop, mature.”

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SOLDIERING TOWARDS EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

There are about 1,300 part-time soldiers spread throughout Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Red Deer. They generally work once a week in the evening, perform an exercise one weekend a month and are dedicated to training several weeks in the summer. One of those reservists is third-year Bachelor of Education — Elementary student Aaron Horne. As a corporal with the 41 Signal Regiment, 3 Squadron, he has been serving for nearly five years. Horne was also involved in the Alberta flood response, contributing as a signaller at the command post at Currie Barracks. His father was a police officer, which Horne says instilled him with a sense of duty. He joined the reserves because he thought it would be a good way to contribute while he figured out what sort of further education he would pursue. “Instead of aimlessly wandering around I wanted to have some kind of purpose. I thought it was a good way to make a bit of money, learn some useful skills and give back while I decided where I wanted to go with my life. “And I’m very glad I did it, because it’s what led me into education.” Through the reserves Horne took a Primary Leadership Qualification (PLQ) course, which is designed to foster a sense of leadership in the troops. Part of the PLQ is a module on education. “You teach lessons in a variety of settings, like drill, weapons and so on. I rocked the

lessons, I had a lot of fun and I really liked it. Everyone was complaining about making lesson plans and I was like, ‘What are you guys talking about, this is great!’ “I thought I’d try education and I fell in love with it right from my first placement.” The reserves continue to help Horne reach his goals. “I stay because it’s a great thing for the country and for myself. I get a lot out of it and Canada gets a lot out of it and everybody wins. I can still concentrate on my studies and my development as an aspiring educator, but instead of being lazy on a Saturday I can go out and support somebody who is learning to be a soldier.” Fellow reservist and fourth-year policy studies student William Charabin serves in the same squadron as Horne. A corporal, he has been in the reserves for three years and plans on sticking with it after graduation. His grandfather served with Lord Strathcona’s Horse, which used to be located on the Canadian Forces Base Calgary, and his great-uncle, Floyd Rourke, served in the Calgary Highlanders, earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during the Second World War. For Charabin, the military means sovereignty. “A military is mostly about being capable of defending yourself. It’s not about necessarily needing to. It’s about demonstrating that you can, and that you are sovereign over your own quarters. It comes down to deterrence.”

MILITARY AND MOUNT ROYAL: MARCHING IN LOCKSTEP

According to Boggs, serving in the military is about serving humanity, which is what Mount Royal does in a lot of ways as well. She believes that everyone should have to go through basic training, or have some sort of service component to their life. “There is no ‘coming of age’ ceremony for most, whereas when you go through basic training you’re put through your paces and have to learn to work together as a team and depend on others. I think those skills are incredibly important for everybody and for society.” Some companies now pay for their leaders to go through parts of basic training. “The leadership skills that you develop from an experience like that are phenomenal, and the team-building aspects are recognized as being critical for all managers,” says Boggs. Journalism instructor Vernon says, “The military tends to quickly socialize recruits to the idea that they are part of a bigger entity and that their service contributes to the overall success of the organization, the country and global stability. “There’s certainly room for individuality, but we know we can accomplish more at home or abroad if we work in a focused, concerted manner in the achievement of a goal or particular mission. Certainly, it can be personally frustrating at times to conform to some regulations, but it can also be immensely satisfying to be part of such a bigger, team effort.” One of Vernon’s military responsibilities is the development of what is currently called the Canadian Civil Military Leadership Program in conjunction with other universities in the province. Already piloted at the University of Alberta for several years, and under review at the University of Calgary, conversations are now taking place at Mount Royal.

“Basically, it will reward students with a certificate in Applied Civil Military Leadership if they complete four specific university courses in areas such as history, politics and management and successfully pass their basic training in the Army Reserve,” Vernon says. “The intent is to give soldiers and officers a deeper understanding of the society in which they serve, as well as practical leadership experience.” Additionally, the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension has announced another initiative with the signing of a Fall 2017 Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as represented by 3rd Canadian Division. Students receive advanced placement into certain programs in recognition of their military training and experience. “The Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension places great emphasis on the creation of pathways for learners, and is pleased to establish a significant road map for an individual’s CAF training into academic programming,” says Heather DeBoer, Business and Professional Education program director. She says the faculty is pleased to work hand in hand to provide routes for graduates of the military’s Primary Leadership Qualification and Intermediate Leadership Qualification — Army courses into the Leadership Development Extension Certificate and the Project Management Extension Certificate programs. The federal government’s new Veterans’ Education and Training Benefit provides up to $80,000 for veterans to pursue a degree, diploma or certificate (much like the U.S. GI Bill that has been has been in place since 1944), and the Education Reimbursement program supplies up to $2,000 a year for reservists

and full-time military personnel to upgrade their education. Calgary’s Military Museums is also collaborating with Mount Royal on mutually beneficial educational partnerships. Executive director Sheila Serup says, “We are working with several Mount Royal students in communications and developing Indigenous outreach military education programs. Faculty members are resources to us, particularly as we broaden our education programs to include Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. “We are planning to engage more broadly with history students,” she adds. Students also volunteer regularly at the museums, providing web support, hosting and teaching services, and Serup says they are looking to offer additional opportunities during the Remembrance period. “MRU has a significant amount of military personnel attending as students. It’s kind of a go-to place because the values here are similar to the military. It was an easy choice for me to make when I was deciding where to go,” says Horne. De-escalating conflict is an art involving diplomacy, knowledge, grace and humility. It also requires both the appearance and concept of might. Although ideal, it would be folly to think that militaries are no longer necessary, especially in a world where the threat of nuclear violence is real, terrorism is constant and natural disasters are happening more often and on a larger and more destructive scale. Educational institutions marching in unison with our armed forces will help ensure the safety and prosperity of communities and all Canadians.

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Twenty-eight lives honoured, hundreds of lives changed At Mount Royal University, we remember. Over the past century, hundreds of Mount Royal students have served in uniform and fought for our country. Twenty-eight of them made the ultimate sacrifice. This year marks three important milestones in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history: the 100th anniversary of the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, and the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. For Canadians, these are significant historical events. At Mount Royal University, we remember our students who were there, and those who did not come home.

Photo by James Harris

Lieutenant Everett Boyd Jackson Fallis Died April 9, 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge

Lt. Everett Fallis was just 21 when he died at Vimy Ridge. He attended Mount Royal from 1911 to 1915 before enlisting with the 102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He was killed by sniper fire while defending an enemy trench his battalion took in the morning’s attack and held throughout the day. His commanding officer reported Fallis deserved the highest praise for his gallantry and bravery.

Military Memorial Bursary Program In 2011, Mount Royal University established 28 military memorial bursaries in honour of each of our fallen. These bursaries help current students in financial need pursue their dreams. They also teach valuable lessons of citizenship and sacrifice in memory of young Canadians who had similar aspirations. The Military Memorial Bursary program depends on annual funding availability. Fundraising for a permanent endowment to provide for these awards will ensure students receive this support each and every year. Help remember the Mount Royal students who so bravely fought for us. Honour members of the Mount Royal family by giving to our future. Your gift will last forever.

Eunice Atabongnkeng, 2011 recipient Social Work Diploma and Addiction Studies Certificate – 2011

Eunice Atabongnkeng credits the Wing Commander Albin Laut Military Memorial Bursary she received as a lifesaver. “I was caring for a newborn baby and two other children, while also attending classes full-time. We would not have survived without it.” Atabongnkeng describes the award as more than just financial support. “I was truly honoured. One person’s sacrifice can make such a difference in the lives of so many people. It is wonderful that these soldiers are still providing opportunities for students.”

What is a bursary? • A bursary is a monetary award given to a student based on clearly

demonstrated financial need and satisfactory academic achievement. • MRU students who receive a bursary are 2.2 times more likely to graduate. • Due to a lack of funding, 89 per cent of MRU students who qualify for

a bursary do not receive one.

Visit mru.ca/MilitaryMemorial for more information.

SUMMIT ASKED, “HOW CAN EDUCATION BE USED AS A WEAPON AGAINST CONFLICT?”

General (ret.) John de Chastelain “I think education controls bigotry. I think education can modify hatred. Some are beyond the pale in that circumstance and will never want to be educated, but for those who do, explaining why there is difference, and why those issues exist, is indeed important. “If you can get people to understand issues and not just accept the common rumour about them, to question statements and not just accept glibly some outrageous thing that is said, it’s got to be a help.”

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The Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, lieutenant – governor of Alberta and honorary patron of the Calgary Peace Prize

Lt.-Col. Michael Vernon, deputy commander of 41 Canadian Brigade Group and MRU journalism instructor

“Education is an effective pathway to resolving conflict and building peace because, at its core, education is the process of exploring ways of thinking and points of view that are different from our own. It is a constant, lifelong journey to see the world beyond our own innate reality. Learning about the myriad forces that shape others, and coming to appreciate both our similarities and differences, is the first step toward finding a way for all world views to co-exist peacefully alongside our own.”

“History, politics and economics can provide us the historical context necessary to understand how we arrived at a certain situation. English literature can also help us to empathize with others, to appreciate them as fellow human beings. I found this particularly helpful when I deployed to Sierra Leone on a military training mission in 2011. I’d never encountered such poverty and desperation before, and it caused me to consider how I might behave under similar circumstances if I hadn’t won the lottery and been born in Canada.”

Elder Miiksika’am (Red Crane), Mount Royal’s Indigenous awareness advisor “In order for a warrior to wear a feather in their hair, you used to have to take the enemy down in battle. Now we are starting to give feathers to graduates. Yes, education is the new weapon of today, but the biggest strength we have is Mother Earth, not the leaders of countries and militaries. There have been earthquakes, floods, a volcano is bubbling in Yellowstone. The Earth is reacting. I believe we better tend to Mother Earth. Because it’s hurting right now.”

Professor Mark Ayyash, PhD and director of the John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative “Education can be key in elevating public discourse. The more elevated public discourse is, the more it is engaged with a serious attempt to properly understand political and social issues, the better chance we have as a community, as a society and as a political entity to enact policies that will actually properly deal with political and social issues.”

Jennifer Pettit, PhD, history professor and interim dean of the Faculty of Arts “Education can be used as a weapon against conflict in many ways. The MRU Peace and Conflict Studies minor, for instance, stresses that everyday people can bring about change, and it exposes students to the many pervasive ways in which violence can affect society. It also allows students to explore and discuss the meaning of topics such as reconciliation, and teaches them about various methods to prevent or transform conflict.”

NELSON MANDELA SAID, “EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.”

Shane Gannon, PhD, sociology professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Arts “Imagine that you are sitting by the edge of a river. A body floats down. Then a second. Realizing that something is wrong, you wade in to pull out the bodies. But they keep coming. A person who continues to pull out the bodies is missing the problem. A wiser person would go upstream to find out what is causing the floating corpses. Just like this, a person who studies peace and conflict will understand the source of the mayhem and be able to articulate a better solution.”

Professor Katherine Boggs, PhD, geology professor and veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy — Naval Reserves “I’ve always wanted to put boxing gloves on the world’s leaders and have them duke it out instead of starting a war. They are the ones that start many conflicts. A boxing match would prevent many needless young deaths. “If we look at where populations are well-educated and the economy is stable, there’s relatively little conflict. Where things start falling apart is when, unfortunately, religion starts to take over the education system. The population becomes less knowledgeable, the young people don’t have careers to look forward to and there is nothing to achieve.”

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CULTIVATING THE COUGARS WORDS BY JONATHAN ANDERSON PHOTOS BY CHAO ZHANG

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Student athletes donning Cougar blue on the pitch, hardwood or ice must adhere to challenging academic standards combined with their athletic commitments. Teams show up at the beginning of each season ready to compete, but many people don’t realize that cultivating a Cougars team starts long before the first whistle is blown. Just who are these fresh-faced athletes, and how did they end up at Mount Royal?

Playing in a premier post-secondary sporting landscape is difficult. And finding the right student athletes that meet Mount Royal University’s athletic and academic requirements can be just as hard. Karla Karch, director of Cougars Athletics and Recreation at Mount Royal University, describes student athletes representing the Cougars as those who have a strong desire to excel in all areas while also being well-rounded citizens. “They know that being a member of a varsity program is a privilege and honour that is not to be taken lightly,” Karch says. But how exactly do they get here? According to Karch, the process often takes years to unfold. Potentials can be identified as early as Grade 9. “This process is ongoing; there is no downtime in a given year. This is because athletes are training all year-round.” With eight varsity teams competing in four sports, the Cougars’ success in U Sports’ Canada West conference has raised their status from new kids on the block to a desired destination for student athletes. “Our varsity programs have current and potential recruits from our own backyard of Calgary to all over the world. We have student athletes from the city, province and other parts of Canada, to our internationals from Spain, Australia, the U.S. and Ukraine,” says Karch. “Each program has its own identity that merges with the identity of the department and our school. The student athletes are a true reflection of who we are.”

NOTHING BUT NET

Last fall, Mount Royal’s women’s basketball coach Nate McKibbon waited for his inbox to refresh with news of next season’s roster while one of his top recruits found herself unavoidably occupied. Autumn is baling season in Vanscoy, Sask. This fall, McKibbon will have five freshmen committed to his side, including Sydney Tabin, a pure athlete who leaves rural Saskatchewan with grades in the high 90s. The 6-1 shooting guard likes to play on the perimeter, but because of her height, she can defend post as well as wing. “We identified Sydney in July 2016, saw her play on tape and then went to the U-17 National Championships in Regina. There, we talked to her and her family for the first time,” says McKibbon, who arrived on campus in June 2015 via the basketball hotbed of Ontario, where he worked at McMaster University and with Ontario Basketball. “Even if you are not formally recruiting, you have to still have potential athletes identified early. That way you can start building relationships and begin telling them about Mount Royal. It is not uncommon to have recruiting lists that go back all the way to grades 9 and 10.”

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When the Tabins first met McKibbon, Sydney was playing for Basketball Saskatchewan, as well as her local club and high-school squad. After visiting MRU, Sydney liked what she saw, but kept her options open. She was being courted by a number of schools, including Laurentian University, where her twin sister ultimately chose to take her basketball talents. McKibbon and his staff approached the family, beginning to lay out what Mount Royal could offer. The Tabins agreed to come to campus during Thanksgiving, when the Cougars hosted a preseason tournament. “The visit was wellprepared and organized. (McKibbon) displayed both the basketball and education aspects at MRU with a great amount of detail. It suited what I was looking for in a university,” says Sydney, who began her undergraduate studies this fall in biology, with plans to transition into medicine. Sydney’s mother recalls the positive vibes the family encountered during their first stay at MRU. “All details of the visit were planned, from where we would stay and eat to meeting the athletes, coaches, academic advisors and more. We were made to feel that we were important and our time was valuable,” Val Tabin says. Throughout that fall and into the winter of 2016, McKibbon stayed in contact. When the Cougars came to Saskatoon to take on the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Huskies, the Tabins were there. And in January 2017, Sydney agreed to play at Mount Royal. “I could tell it’s a place that pushes you to be the best you can and make yourself successful. What I liked the most about MRU was how Nate

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got the team members to show me around. It made me feel like I could fit in with them,” Sydney says. For Sydney’s father, Kent, the decision to allow his daughter to head six hours west was an easy one. “Really it was up to Syd and what suits her. It came down to her needs and goals,” Kent says. “We had some input, we did some research, but when we met Nate, it felt meant to be.” Calgary and Mount Royal are not unknown to Kent and Val. In 1995, not long before the pair got engaged, they considered moving to Calgary. Val had her pilot’s licence and explored the option of enrolling in Mount Royal’s Aviation program. Now an EMT in Saskatoon, Val is comfortable with her daughter leaving home, knowing Sydney will be a valuable and respected member of the Mount Royal community. “It’s more about the people than anything else (at Mount Royal),”

Val says. “There is an attention to detail that is noticeable, but might get overlooked unless you compare it with other universities and colleges. I believe this stems from the intent to be professional, and yet personable.” Kent, a member of the Saskatoon Fire Department, noticed the strong focus and connection among McKibbon’s team members. “You can tell Nate has a vision. When they came to the U of S, (it was) watching these girls and their athletic ability, combined with us getting to spend some time with them after, and noticing the way they had bonded,” Kent says. “It’s an extension; you can feel that there are a lot of great things about this team.” For McKibbon, building a championship team requires bringing in quality people. “We make sure that recruits fit the team by doing our research. We

try and identify coaches, athletes and administrators that have some connection to potential recruits and get a sense of what they are like as people,” McKibbon says. With two strong recruiting classes under his belt, this season marks the first time McKibbon’s roster won’t

have any players remaining from before his arrival. “We have all the potential in the world. We need to continue to find people who buy into our vision for the future, and we have made some major strides in the two years I have been here, both academically and athletically.”

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CARVING OUT A FUTURE IN HOCKEY

After wrapping up his career in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Jamal Watson had a multitude of options. A veteran of 328 WHL games, it was the first time Watson had to make a decision about where he wanted to play hockey. Ever. “In junior hockey, you are getting told where to play. If you get traded, you have no say. This was the first time I had the opportunity to say where I wanted to go,” says Watson, a former captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Hockey Calgary standout. Head coach Bert Gilling pushed for Watson to bring his skills to Mount Royal. Since arriving on campus in 2014, Gilling has helped compile a 98-31-4 record. He was named Coach of the Year for Canada West men’s hockey following two seasons with the Cougars. “On the men’s hockey side, there are 35 (U Sports) teams, (with) eight in Canada West. We are all trying to bring in the best student athletes. Nationally, it’s very competitive for the top players,” says Gilling, formerly an assistant coach with Bemidji State University in Minnesota in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The recruiting process starts with a massive pool of potential players. Gilling and his staff collect information on each before beginning to establish a relationship. Midway through October, WHL teams are allowed only three 20-yearolds on their roster; the rest of the team must be age 15 to 19. In November, the contact information for players who might be cut is shared with U Sport clubs.

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“We are generally recruiting the 20-year-old graduating from major junior, primarily focused in Western Canada,” Gilling says. “We try to identify who the local area players are, because at some point you have to be able to thin out all (the choices).” When it came to courting Watson, Gilling didn’t waste any time. The two-time 20-goal scorer recalls being contacted around game 60 of his fifth and final WHL season. “I got a call from Bert in February asking me what my plans were. Of course, at the time I didn’t tell him I planned on going to university,” says Watson, who had attended main camp with the Montreal Canadiens a year earlier. With his junior career officially completed, Watson headed back to Calgary. Gilling reached out again. “Not two days later, Bert phoned me and asked if I could come for a tour,” Watson says with a chuckle. He quickly obliged. Watson was shown the rink and the training facility. Gilling even introduced the rugged right-winger to faculty members in the departments he was interested in. Watson admits he was intrigued, but he also fielded calls from other institutions. “I had a couple other offers to look at. You’re making a four- to five-year commitment, so you have to make sure it’s the right decision,” Watson says. “Bert met with my family. We all got to know one another, and once the whole process ended, I gave him a call and said, ‘I’ll commit to the Mount Royal Cougars.’ ” Having his parents get to know Gilling on a personal level, and what MRU hockey is all about, helped Watson decide. His junior career

ended March 20, 2016, and he agreed to join Mount Royal at the beginning of May. “The important thing was remembering school. I knew if I signed up late, all the good classes would be gone,” says Watson, who was also considering trying to forge a pro hockey career at the time. He says he weighed the two options, and felt that his five years in the WHL had given him the financial resources to pursue a degree, and he wasn’t going to waste that opportunity. Deciding to become a Cougar doesn’t spell the end of Watson’s dream of playing professional hockey, however. Far from it. Gilling’s recruiting tactics include the fact that athletes can access a highperformance dietitian and nutritionist, plus strength and conditioning and mental skills coaches. Gilling also promised to help Watson continue his hockey career after he earns his undergraduate degree. “I view us as the bridge between junior and pro hockey. These people work with them — help develop their ability,” Gilling says. “We sell the academic experience, the student-toprofessor ratio. We really sell the new, fresh curriculum and the development of them as a hockey player. “If they are willing to put in the work, we have the resources.”

Mount Royal Remembers Men’s Hockey Match Friday, Nov. 24 Flames Community Arena Funds raised from this annual Cougars vs. Dinos contest will go to the Calgary Veteran’s Food Bank.

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As someone who has helped develop several future NHL players, Gilling says he aims to recruit student athletes who want to keep playing at the highest level. The dream to play pro hockey is still very much alive in his locker room. “Having alumni like Tyler Fiddler and Cody Cartier go to Europe and, most recently, Cam Maclise and Matt Brown going from our program to the Colorado Eagles and helping them win their firstever championship, the proof is in the pudding now. We’re only three years into it, but this development stream is having an effect.” With his first year of Cougars university hockey on his resume, Watson picked up 23 points in 28 regular season games to go along with his All-Rookie Team nod for Canada West. Now a core part of the Cougars as they aspire to bring that first elusive U Sport championship to Mount Royal, Watson remains vital on — and off — the ice. “Peer-to-peer recruiting is a huge part of what we do here. In Alberta, there are four schools to pick from, so it’s very competitive. Right here in the city we have the University of Calgary right up the highway,” says Gilling. Watson continues to help build the Cougars’ legacy by lending a hand in convincing the next crop of elite prospects to choose Mount Royal blue. For this upcoming season, Watson has helped secure the services of Kord Pankewicz, a former standout with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. “I told him my honest opinion. It’s been very interesting to see the amount of impact we have on recruits. The identity of your team is the identity of the players and we take pride in that,” says Watson.

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Cougars alumna Mount Royal’s first-ever Rhodes Scholar nominee Calgary native Julia Pasieka’s athletic and academic careers have been decorated with achievements at the highest levels. As a Cougars volleyball player, Pasieka was named an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) All-Conference Athlete in her debut season. In her five years as a Mount Royal student athlete (2009 to 2014), she received four Academic All-Canadian honours, two MRU Female Athlete of the Year awards, a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian Athlete award and a Canada West Top Student-Athlete award in 2013. A key member of the Cougars squad, she helped the team to two ACAC championships, a CCAA national championship and a Canada West final four appearance.

“I chose Mount Royal because of the volleyball program. My initial intention was to play a year or two at MRU and then transfer to U of C, but I liked the University and the program too much, so I stayed,” Pasieka says. As an English honours student, Pasieka was named as Outstanding Future Alumni for the 2012 MRU Legacy Awards (now the Alumni Achievement Awards), and upon graduation became Mount Royal University’s first-ever Rhodes Scholar nominee. Although that didn’t pan out, she moved abroad to complete a Master in Philosophy (with first class honours) in Theatre and Performance from Trinity College Dublin and a Master of Science (with distinction) in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics. Pasieka has returned home to attend the University of Calgary to become a lawyer. “Mount Royal showed me the importance of not only working hard, but forging strong and lasting relationships.”

REBRANDING THE COUGARS When Cougar Athletics first approached Mount Royal University Marketing and Communications to take part in a brand assessment, there was understandably a mix of trepidation and excitement. Messing with school history in the form of a logo redesign can be a touchy task for even the most daring of creative teams. It had been nearly a decade since the Cougars brand was last evaluated, and the gymnasium floor (which displays the logo) also needed an overhaul. The timing was right for the brand committee to take a long look at the past, present and future of the Cougars. Knowing it was important to earn buy-in up front, the team started with focus groups in the fall of 2016. As they delved into the conversations, it became clear that students and employees wanted the Cougars brand to be more connected to the institution. They also wanted to feel more connected to the Cougars. The community was looking for a mark that could be more inclusive across campus — shared by everyone invested in the success of MRU and its students. The brand team was inspired not only by Mount Royal’s own history — where the Cougars first appeared as a football team in 1960 — but also by storied Canadian and National College Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions. Throughout the design phase, descriptors such as “fierce,” “intense,” “determined” and “focused” were repeated. Each is a hallmark of not only an athlete preparing for competition, but also a student aiming to ace a challenging course or assignment. The hard work has already paid off. Members of the Mount Royal community registered in overwhelming numbers that

they would be proud to wear the new face of the Cougars. Karla Karch, director of Cougars Athletics and Recreation, says she’s “heard from a number of student athletes how excited and proud they are to wear the new brand and represent MRU while they compete across Canada.” The new look, new logo and new brand were launched at a public event on campus on Aug. 25. President David Docherty remarked, “It is for all of us. Together, we can share in this campus spirit, because together, we are the Cougars.”

Crowchild Classic

Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 Scotiabank Saddledome Visit crowchildclassic.ca for more information. Find out where to take in a Cougars game at mrucougars.com.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

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DRILLING FOR INNOVATION WORDS BY BRENDAN GREENSLADE ILLUSTRATIONS BY MIKE POON

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As the Calgary economy struggles to divest itself from its dependency on the energy sector, what role can universities play in helping to spur innovation that will lead to diversification? Ranking consistently among the best countries in the world for quality of life, Canada’s rich supply of resources and land has served its populace well. But in an era where world circumstances — the ebb and flow of global politics, civil unrest and environmental instability — and ultimately changing times, can have tremendous impacts on resource prices, the result is an uneasy economic wax and wane. Here in Alberta, the taste of affluence from the recent oil boom still lingers. But a multitude of factors, including the global collapse of oil prices, contributed to an estimated $50-billion decline in investment in Canada’s oil and natural gas sector over two years. In 2016, total capital investment dropped 62 per cent to $31 billion from a record $81 billion in 2014. The National Energy Board says crude oil prices are not projected to rise to more than $100 US a barrel until 2040 — meaning a generation of Albertans is not likely to experience the “Alberta Advantage.” The number of job losses connected to the oil price downturn can be a fluid value, but Statistics Canada offers two numbers — one from the Survey of Employment, Payroll and Hours suggests that from December 2014 until April 2016, 3,853 jobs were lost

in Alberta in oil and gas extraction and a further 29,196 in jobs that support energy and mining. The other number, from the Labour Force Survey, indicates that 43,000 jobs have been lost in mining, forestry, fishing, quarrying and oil and gas over that same period. And behind each of these statistics are real people — families, friends and neighbours. Though it can be said those losses are more the result of circumstance rather than mismanagement, the numbers are still not to be taken lightly. Canada ranked first among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in the proportion of adults with a college education (24 per cent) and eighth in the proportion of adults with a university education (26 per cent) in a 2012 study. As highly educated, industrious and proven innovators, how can thinking shift to successfully hedge resourcedriven volatility against external market influences?

Superclusters build on the advantages of dense areas of business activities containing a critical mass of large and small companies, and post-secondary and other research institutions.

REBOUND OR DEAD CAT BOUNCE? While sectors look to each other for solutions to soften the blow of market fluctuations, the federal government is creating all-encompassing “superclusters” of innovation to spur an upswing. Through the Innovation Superclusters Initiative, the Canadian government is investing up to $950 million over five years, starting in 2017/18, to support business-led projects with the greatest potential to build world-leading transformation networks, to secure Canada’s future as a leader in changemaking and to accelerate economic growth. Superclusters build on the advantages of dense areas of business activities containing a critical mass of large and small companies, and post-secondary and other research institutions. According to the Government of Canada website: “Superclusters will make it easier for innovators and potential customers to harness the strengths of their local ecosystems, to work closely together on the research, development and demonstration activities that will lead to major commercial opportunities and boost productivity across industries and to create jobs and drive economic growth.” In an article published on Academica.ca in August 2017, an anonymous senior government official indicated that the federal government’s program has received more bids than expected. The bidding process encourages academia and businesses to work together on strategies to boost fast-growing sectors. iPolitics.ca reports that according to the official, 50 letters of intent came from consortia representing a total of more than 200 companies and 20 post-secondary institutions.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

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Data is the new gold, automation is the new workforce, green is the new black and the jobs of tomorrow will look very different than those of previous generations.

POST-SECONDARY STIMULUS Looking across the job-creation landscape, there are a few key developments to consider. Data is the new gold, automation is the new workforce, green is the new black and the jobs of tomorrow will look very different from those of previous generations. And universities are right in the middle of it all, anticipating and training for those future employment opportunities. “Many, many years ago, I wrote a book about the future of Canadian cities, and in it was a chapter about how great cities need great universities,” says Calgary’s mayor and MRU faculty member Naheed Nenshi. “In Calgary, we have three great universities with key roles to play. They are our talent attractors — they have to both attract great faculty to the community and also great students at both graduate and undergraduate levels. “It’s the talent base drawn to our city that will drive the innovation community.” Nenshi also believes that it’s important for universities to work towards better understanding how to commercialize their research.

Beyond simply being an incubator of ingenuity and innovation, the 88,800 students registered in Calgary’s post-secondary institutions in the fiscal year 2014/15 contributed $8.6 billion to the city’s economy, according to a study published in May 2017 by Calgary Economic Development. The body for governmental oversight of Alberta’s post-secondary network emphasizes the need for universities to act as catalysts to lure pioneering minds to our communities. “Alberta’s post-secondary system helps attract and develop expert researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs who play an integral role in generating new knowledge and commercializing new ideas and technologies that are benefitting Albertans, Canadians and the global community,” says Alberta’s Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt. “Through organizations like Alberta Innovates, our government supports world-class researchers, entrepreneurs and industry innovators. It offers services, tools, expertise, partnerships and funding to focus on accelerating commercial outcomes.”

From a provincial perspective this rings very true, but at the heart of community and innovation are the next generation of learners that will soon be steering the ship. Mount Royal’s new provost and vice-president, academic, recognizes the value of higher education in diversifying Alberta’s commoditydependent economy. At the same time, Lesley Brown, PhD, draws on the classic idea that education is a good in and of itself. “The value of education goes far beyond what can be measured on a balance sheet,” Brown says. “Learning is both personally satisfying and central to advancing our collective understanding of the world that we live in. It’s important to consider the question of ‘value-added’ from all aspects.” This approach is what defines a university education. “General education courses, and the entire experience at Mount Royal, develop intellectual qualities that could never have been realized by following a single linear path from day one to graduation. The breadth of our programs broadens horizons, and this is important because many students will enter jobs that didn’t even exist 10 years ago” says Mount Royal President David Docherty.

VIVACITY CHALLENGE REIMAGINES CALGARY’S DOWNTOWN SPACES As part of this year’s Vivacity

Together, they came up with

but not actually occupied, the

memorable, distinctive and alive,”

challenge, MRU students spent

potential solutions for the

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says James Stauch, director

a semester stationed in two

glut of empty office space

30 per cent.

of Mount Royal’s Institute for

vacant floors of a skyscraper

by re-envisioning the core

in downtown Calgary. Since

of Calgary.

2013, Vivacity has brought

According to Calgary

Four student-led teams

Community Prosperity. “And

presented life-sized concepts,

it creates a sense of place.”

including a U-Brew, a holistic

He explains that downtowns

together students from Calgary’s

Economic Development, the

wellness centre, a 24-hour

are critical contributors to why

post-secondary institutions

official downtown vacancy rate

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people stay in a city, they need

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is floating around 25 per cent,

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to be more than somewhere

implement solutions to local

but if you add in the “unofficial”

type space.

just to work.

challenges, making the city more

vacancy rate, which is space

vibrant, livable and sustainable.

that’s technically still leased

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“Cities that thrive, historically, have vital downtowns that are

TOP 10 JOBS THAT DIDN’T EXIST IN THE 90’s

Social media manager

App developer

“Our general education component is a cornerstone of a Mount Royal undergraduate experience. When students sign up for, say, math, art or a new language, they are probably a bit out of their comfort zone. But as they go to class, they discover they are pretty good in areas they had never considered before. “Those same ideas and concepts keep popping up in their lives and careers, and they are able to apply what they learned in those classes in the future in ways they can’t even imagine today.”

THE TIME IS NOW By advancing world understanding through a broad and diverse education, universities can better anticipate — and create — the jobs and workplaces of tomorrow. For example, Brown points to the ongoing research of Mount Royal professor and physiologist Trevor Day, PhD, who is exploring how “lowlanders” cope with high-altitude environments. Day conducts regular group research trips to the Mount Everest base camp (at an altitude of more than 5,300 metres), creating exceptional undergraduate educational opportunities.

Uber driver

At the same time, the results of Day’s research are also providing business opportunities. His findings are opening doors for entrepreneurs to fill the need for a portable tool that detects altitude sickness before the potentially fatal symptoms set in. The latest Calgary Economic Development annual report (2016) predicts the emergence of an “industrial Internet of things,” meaning machines and production (think the driverless tractor) are becoming more connected. This increased networking is another chance to get ahead of the curve and begin developing technologies that will solidify Alberta’s position as a global business trendsetter. By advancing world understanding through a broad and diverse education, universities can better anticipate — and create — the jobs and workplaces of tomorrow.

BACK TO THE BASICS Phil Warsaba, associate vicepresident, Enrolment Management at Mount Royal, says that although universities need to stay connected to industry to keep

Driverless car engineer

Cloud computer specialist

programs relevant and graduates employable, the institution has a larger duty to educate students to be citizens who can think critically and adapt their skills to an evolving employment landscape. “I would like to see postsecondary institutions protect the interests of students from an educational standpoint,” Warsaba says. “We need to educate students so that they have the soft skills and interdisciplinary knowledge to influence the betterment of society. Improving our society depends solely on groups of citizens that are wellinformed in a variety of things, so that they can approach challenges in a critical and creative fashion.” In what some foresee as the post-modern industrial revolution, with automation becoming more and more prevalent, Warsaba would like to see the population work to re-focus on family, communities and themselves. “Universities aren’t for training people to perform a specific task. We educate students with the general knowledge that will help them be better citizens, and better versions of themselves — it’s these citizens who will guide how our society, and ultimately economy, evolve.” `

Big data analyst/data scientist

Sustainability manager

Online content creator

Drone operator

Millennial generation expert

 MRU.CA/SUMMIT

WORDS BY VALERIE BERENYI ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMILY EOM

WHILE MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS IN ALBERTA SAY THAT THEIR GENERAL HEALTH IS GOOD TO EXCELLENT, MANY REPORT FEELING ANXIOUS, STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED. THEY’RE ALSO SAD, LONELY AND, AT TIMES, MENTALLY EXHAUSTED. A GRIM PERCENTAGE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES. The 2016 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey, the largest known comprehensive data set on the health of college and university students, paints a not-so-pretty picture of students’ mental well-being in the province. Findings include Alberta students reporting that the factors to most negatively impact their academic performance are: stress (40 per cent), anxiety (32 per cent) and sleep difficulties (28 per cent). A worrisome 13 per cent say they seriously considered suicide within the last 12 months. “These numbers tell me students are struggling and need help coping,” says Rachelle

McGrath, the Healthy Campus team lead with Wellness Services at Mount Royal University. “And ‘seriously considered suicide’ means ‘I’ve really thought about it.’ That’s extremely concerning. “It also tells me we need to provide services or resources early, rather than later when the situation is severe.” The NCHA survey doesn’t ask about the cause of stress, anxiety and other mental-health concerns, McGrath says, but “we also need to look at the environment and contributing factors.”

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

ADULTING

One of 17 student volunteers with the Peer to Peer Mental Health program overseen by Wellness Services, Shayla Breen always knew she wanted to work in the mentalhealth field. Originally, she signed up for business courses because she wanted to work in the not-for-profit sector. But the experience of volunteering to connect students with mental health resources on campus for the past two years sharpened her focus. Now in her third year at MRU, she is moving to a Bachelor of Child Studies with a major in youth counselling. On the ground, Breen is hearing about: the pressures of academia; financial issues; students too anxious or stressed to sleep; and young people coming from high school and feeling pressured to make friends, work and stay focused — especially those from out of province. She says that with 73 per cent of MRU students being from Calgary and commuting to the University and only a small amount of housing on campus, it can be tough for newcomers to make connections and friends. Without social contact, they soon feel lost and lonely. Breen touches on several areas that Kandi McElary, director of Wellness Services, sees as part of “the big transition period” in students’ lives as they move into adulthood. Some are leaving home for the first time, away from the structure, rules and support their parents provided. Not having that safety net creates stress, she says. They’ve also gone from being in highschool classrooms most of the day to having minimal time in lectures. And no one’s calling mom and dad if they don’t show up. While at first it seems as if there’s scads of freedom, McElary points out that “for every hour of academic learning, you need to be doing two or three hours of prepping for your courses.” Students have to learn to manage their lives (meals, laundry, paying rent, the whole enchilada) as well as their class schedules and large projects, with due dates seemingly way off in the distance. “All of sudden Thanksgiving comes and students are overwhelmed,” she says. “It’s a landslide of being unprepared.” Add in the pressures of making choices that will impact their future. What program? What courses? Will they get a job if and when they graduate? Students may find

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themselves in programs they don’t like, or taking heat from parents and families about what, exactly, they’re going to do with that degree. And not to be overlooked: mental illnesses such as schizophrenia tend to develop between the ages of 18 to 25 in people prone to suffering the condition, McElary says. “When they’re here, that’s when it shows up.”

HOVERING: HELPFUL OR NOT?

Parental pressures and student adjustment to university life are of academic interest to Tom Buchanan, PhD and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Part of his research zeroes in on helicopter parenting and its impact on students. Buchanan, who received a Distinguished Employee Award in 2016, and his faculty members do bump into hovering parents, those well-meaning yet anxious mothers and fathers who continue to micromanage their fledglings’ lives well into their 20s and beyond. “My faculty members and I have received calls from parents about their child’s marks, and some students request to bring parents to meetings.” Faculty members are not allowed to provide information directly to parents regarding students’ academic performance. However, there are no rules preventing students from having parents included in these discussions when they explicitly choose to involve them. This can create some tension, depending on the situation. In a paper published in 2011, Buchanan and co-author Terri LeMoyne of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found that hovering negatively impacts students’ psychological well-being. Parents want their kids to succeed, to advocate for themselves (sometimes offering to step in), but, being over-involved places more pressure on students. In their study of university students,

Buchanan and LeMoyne found hovering was negatively related to students’ psychological well-being and positively related to prescription medication for anxiety and depression. It may be more nuanced than that, however. The pair’s most recent research, yet to published, shows that helicopter parenting can play a positive role, particularly when it comes to helping male students develop greater resiliency. Buchanan states that first generation students, by definition, have fewer, if any, family members to consult with regarding university experiences. Because academia is different from other work experiences, the first generation university experience is not only potentially more stressful because it is groundbreaking, but also because there can be more tension between family and faculty due to different perceptions. Faculty members may not always fully understand the first generation experience and parents of first generation students may not fully understand the university experience, leaving the student caught in the middle. This tension is heightened when helicopter parenting is involved.

WORK AND MONEY WOES

Cordelia Snowdon has long been concerned about student mental health. The daughter of a social worker, she followed in her dad’s footsteps and completed her Social Work diploma in 2015 at MRU. She’s since returned to pursue a Bachelor of Arts — Policy Studies, and is currently the Students’ Association’s vicepresident academic. A longtime volunteer with the Distress Centre Calgary (DCC) — which provides free 24-hour crisis support, professional counselling and referrals — Snowdon launched the Mount Royal Students’ Distress Centre Club in 2014 to raise awareness about the DCC and other mental health resources available to students. “During my time as president of the club and as a Peer to Peer Mental Health volunteer, the most common stressors I heard from students were either directly course related — assignments or finals — or related to finances,” Snowdon says. Madison Snell, who just graduated from MRU with a Bachelor of Communications — Information Design, says she felt especially stressed at the end of semesters, the “heaviest times,” when individual assignments and group projects were due, there were exams to study for and “everything is happening all at once.” A particularly difficult crunch came in her fourth year, with the additional pressure of trying to arrange a four-month work term (a requirement of her program), work part-time and send out “perfect” resumés and cover letters in an attempt to land a job after graduation. “And I was one of the lucky ones. I still live at home and my parents were supportive with space and food. I paid for

my car and got student loans,” Snell says, noting wryly, “Now I have a pile of debt.” Anecdotally, Buchanan says many of his students have to work to pay the bills, and he’s talked with them about clashes between their work and exam schedules. “Employers aren’t necessarily understanding, so that can be a huge conflict that students have to negotiate.” In fact, 54 per cent of students in the middle years of their program work, with the majority putting in 11 to 20 hours a week, according to the 2017 Canadian University Survey Consortium study.

DIFFERING DEMANDS

Millennials, generation Zs and anyone in a post-secondary liberal arts program are often portrayed as fragile flowers by media and critics. But Buchanan thinks this is an unfair characterization. He reflects on his own time at post-secondary, and says that while he worked weekends for a bit, he could afford to chuck his job when he really had to focus on academics. And he reflects on his son’s post-secondary experience as a student at another Alberta university. “He has to advocate for himself more than I ever did to get opportunities, recognition and to be involved in projects. Volunteerism and service work are now expected of students,” Buchanan says. “These students have a lot to contend with that I did not have to, and they are potentially more stressed as a result.” What Buchanan did struggle with increasingly during his 10 years of teaching research methods in Tennessee was the “increasing demand” from students for detailed instruction about how to problem solve on research projects, instead of

experiencing the challenge of trying to figure it out for themselves. “Many students were afraid of getting a 3.8 instead of a 4.0 (GPA). That’s not so important to an employer, but being able to overcome challenges is.”

LEARNING TO COPE

Snell took to heart a piece of advice from a junior-high teacher to help her at Mount Royal, who said, “This project, this class, is only one snapshot in the album of life.” “I’d tell myself that this one project or exam was not going to make or break my academic career. It helped to put things into perspective.” Volunteering with the Students’ Distress Centre Club for three years also helped to alleviate Snell’s anxieties, because it took her mind off school and introduced her to a lot of new people who became friends. When she felt overwhelmed, she’d give herself little pep talks and make highly detailed lists, with tasks that could be completed in 10 minutes. “It’s so satisfying to cross things off,” Snell says. Breen copes by going to the gym, eating properly and making sure that she’s participating on campus. At the same time, she knows when to say “no,” sleep or spend time with her rodeo horses. Spending time with animals is “very therapeutic,” she says. Throughout the school year, Breen and her fellow Peer to Peer Mental Health volunteers run numerous educational events, including one she developed to dispel the facts and myths about selfinjury. To raise awareness, volunteers created stick-on tattoos to hand out with pamphlets. Most importantly, the volunteers got the word out about the

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

wealth of resources on campus to address student stress and improve their mental health and overall well-being. The days of “study hard, play harder” seem to be fading away, due in part to a concerted effort on behalf of universities. In June, Mount Royal entered into a partnership with peer institutions, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and Universities Canada on an initiative called the Post-secondary Education Partnership — Alcohol Harms, which is working on reducing binge drinking and alcohol-related harms on campuses. The NCHA survey reveals a discrepancy between actual alcohol use and perceived alcohol use among students, as 74 per cent reported using alcohol within the 30-day period before the survey, but perceived that 96 per cent of their peers had used alcohol. A high number (99 per cent) of students who completed the survey reported using one or more safer drinking behaviours, such as using a designated driver, eating before and/or during drinking and avoiding drinking games.

HELP IS AT HAND

Mount Royal is a leader in mentalhealth initiatives among post-secondary institutions, McElary says, and because the University knows that students are under a great deal of stress it offers a wide range of free personalized health services: individual counselling, workshops, access to doctors and mental-health nurses, and a multi-faith chaplaincy. Breathing Room is an online resource with mental health tools, as well as videos and true stories of other students who’ve struggled. It’s not a substitute for counselling or seeing a doctor, McElary says, but it adds to a student’s toolbox of ways to feel better. Breen echoes this. “We try to educate students to know there are ways to help yourself before you get into crisis. It’s like going for an annual physical. You don’t need to be sick.” Recently, MRU announced a new fall term reading week to support students’ mental health and academic success. “It’ll be helpful, a time to take a deep breath and get ready for the rest of the semester,” Snell says.

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The Alberta government has also announced that it will invest $25.8 million over three years to promote mental health on campuses and provide students with better access to 24-hour phone and online counselling supports. The University received $280,000 in September. Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt says the grants will be provided directly to colleges and universities “so that when students need to go to someone for help, they don’t have to wait or search endlessly or give up on their studies or themselves.” McElary is heartened that young people are far more willing to talk about mental health than previous generations, thereby reducing the stigma. In fact, being open and honest may potentially be driving up the statistics reported in the 2016 NCHA survey, she says. One reassuring discovery was that 79 per cent of students reported they would consider seeking professional help from a mental health expert if they experienced a serious personal problem. That’s up from 73 per cent in 2010. Faculty member Mirjam Knapik, PhD, a clinical psychologist and chair of Student Counselling Services at MRU, believes there are positive ways to look at the issues surrounding student stress. Stressors provide opportunities for growth, she says. Students gain independence from their parents. They learn about themselves, their strengths, the world around them and how they can forge a career — despite stress. “The problem is when the demands of life outweigh the resources we have for coping,” Knapik says. “Feeling overwhelmed and stressed requires us to look at demands and resources and consider where we need to make adjustments. We may need to reduce demands and/or we may need to increase our resources.” MRU Student Counselling Services offers a range of workshops that help students improve their ability to handle life’s snags and build resilience, and Knapik says she witnesses many students who are more than just surviving. They are learning how to persevere — and succeed — in ways that support themselves and others.

$ DEVELOP POSITIVE COPING STRATEGIES

MIND YOUR DOLLARS AND SENSE

Build as many coping mechanisms into your life as possible — eating well, exercising, friends, activities, pets, family — to create a sense of balance.

Money is a classic stressor, so a sense of financial well-being is key. Intentional spending and planning can make it so it’s not feast or famine. But also, be sure to set aside some funds for getting together with friends.

MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY Regular, uninterrupted sleep in the seven-tonine-hour range sets you up for success.

TAKE IT OUTSIDE Numerous research studies have shown that being outside and in contact with nature reduces stress and puts you in a peaceful state of mind.

EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET Caffeine, alcohol, junk food and sugar ramp up stress, while fruit, vegetables, nuts, lean protein and complex carbohydrates tamp it down.

MOVE YOUR BODY Being active lifts your mood, gives you a sense of being in control of your life and can connect you with others. Physical activity helps your body get rid of unhealthy hormones such as cortisol. It also elevates your mind.

STAY CONNECTED Social well-being is important. Surround yourself with those who support you, and minimize contact with people who don’t.

STRESS BUSTERS

PROVIDED BY KANDI McELARY, DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS SERVICES

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

It’s a really beautiful place to step into. Every single person who comes in — performer, promoter or audience member — they all have a ‘wow’ moment. — Ben Nixon, theatre technician

TESTING 1•2•3•4

Sound-checking the Bella WORDS BY JONATHAN LOVE PHOTOS BY MIKE POON*

ometown superstar Feist kicked off the 2017/18 Taylor Centre Concert Season with three sold-out shows, and Ben Nixon admits he was nervous. “I’m a huge fan of Feist’s music,” says Nixon, who is one of a team of theatre technicians at Mount Royal’s Bella Concert Hall. It’s not just the “fanboy” in him that caused the stress. For Nixon, it’s all about the sound. “Feist is a performer who, oftentimes, is very quiet with a lot of loud things happening around her.” So, Nixon and his crewmates had their work cut out for them in miking the singer, whose characteristically expressive tone had to stand out over the electric instrumentation.

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PHOTO BY EMA PETER

*Northern Cree powwow, drum and singing group, performing a soundcheck.

Housed within the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, which is also home to the Mount Royal University Conservatory for music and speech arts training, the Bella, a 654-seat theatre open since 2015, is arguably the auditory crown jewel of the city. It has the acoustic quality to house large events, while still allowing shows to feel intimate. Nixon says it’s an easy environment to work in. “It’s a really beautiful place to step into. Every single person who comes in — performer, promoter or audience member — they all have a ‘wow’ moment.” Designed to resemble an Alberta barn, the hall features rich, warm cherrywood throughout, glacial-lake blue seats and a stunning acoustic reflector in the ceiling in the shape of the Alberta wild rose. With accessible seating in all concert spaces and assistive listening devices, it truly is an experience for everyone, which helped earn the building a 2015 City of Calgary Award for Accessibility. Describing his gig, Nixon says, “We do quite a range of things. Everything from choirs and string ensembles to corporate events and dance competitions. Of course, we do popular music concerts as well.” During its inaugural 2016/17 season, the Bella boasted a diverse lineup of headliners, including reggae legend Ziggy Marley, Canadian

pop singer and songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and the first man to ever record an album in space, astronaut Chris Hadfield, keeping the technical crew’s hands full. “Sonically, one of (the Bella’s) greatest strengths is working with unplugged music. Cellos and string ensembles don’t need any reinforcement, because the room was built to make them sound louder and give them a decay that makes everything sound warm and smooth.” That “decay” is one of the defining features of the hall. Nixon explains, “Since every surface isn’t parallel, when you make a sound from one origin point, it goes off in a million directions, reflects off the walls and comes back at you at slightly different times.” The staggered sonic return creates a smooth, general reverberant sound rather than an aggressive slap. This works well for acoustic performances, but offers some challenges for more amplified acts. Imagine needing to hear a subtle conversation while an electric guitar plays in a racquetball court. There is a science that must be respected, Nixon says, and how the sound is created, the ways in which it bounces off surfaces and what mix enters the audience’s ears are all manipulable at the Bella. Nixon’s audio mantra is, “You can never beat physics.”

*Theatre technicians Al Williams and Ben Nixon.

*Sound equipment before a show.

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

Reverb resonance and

Brad Mahon Director, The Mount Royal University Conservatory “We’re lucky to have this worldclass centre and the world-class technicians, instructors and students within it,” says Mahon. Mahon sits on the Taylor Centre Concert Season committee and provides artistic leadership for the shows the institution produces. From a behind-the-scenes perspective, Mahon notes, “Past guests, including singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith, blues singer Ruthie Foster and pipa player Wu Man, who plays in cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble, stopped their respective performances to comment on how beautiful the hall was and the exquisite sound it creates.”

PHOTO BY CHAO ZHANG

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

James Ehnes Juno Award-winning violinist Ehnes was able to play the Bella with a quiet (pianissimo) dynamic that was spellbinding. When attendees complimented the soloist, he responded, “I was just playing the room.”

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN EALOVEGA

Adam Johnson Assistant conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Johnson was the resident conductor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for the Bella’s debut season. Johnson worked with the Bella’s tech crew to help “tune the room” before its grand opening. “Getting such an immediate feedback, both from the sound and the audience, is invigorating for us on stage, which ultimately results in high-quality performances,” he says. “There is a lot more resonance and less distance for the sound to travel (than most concert halls), so more subtlety and nuance is required. Even the softest sounds will be heard, which opens up some wonderful possibilities. On the louder side of the spectrum, things need to be dosed so as to not saturate.” Johnson compares musical tones to a painter’s vibrant palette. When mixed without balance, “too many colours can just become brown.” “I have always sought transparency in the textures of the music, so that every note can be heard without becoming overbearing.”

PHOTO BY ANTOINE SAITO

The silent accompanist Ziggy Marley, who appeared last October, was the biggest show that had been produced at the Bella to that date. The talented showman brought some new “lows” to his sold-out performance. Al Williams, whom Feist recognized as “Sound Man Al” from her days performing as a high-school student with her band Placebo, is another theatre technician for the Bella who has worked with hundreds of acts in dozens of venues in Calgary. He was influential in matching Marley’s complicated sound requirements. “For Ziggy, we had to bring in some additional subwoofers,” Williams says. The actual number was seven. “In the reggae world, aside from the vocals, the most important thing is the bass.” There was some concern as they geared up that the additional vibrations would be too much for the hall to handle. “We were expecting the roof to fall,” he jokes. Audio engineers and technicians in the city were equally interested, and many made a point to get their Marley tickets early to hear for themselves how the Bella would sound. The feedback was unanimously positive. “(The audience) felt they had never heard bass as good as we had it in the Bella with Ziggy.” More importantly, Nixon adds, “We got to the point where people didn’t notice that we were doing sound in a room, which is where you want to be.”

*Bella Concert Hall acoustic reflector and hanging speakers.

*Ben Nixon on the mixing board.

Musical energy bounces off the walls with sonic perfection at the Bella. Many more diverse, worldclass artists are ready to take the stage for the new 2017/18 Taylor Centre Concert Season. Find out more at mru.ca/Taylor

PHOTO BY EMA PETER

MRU.CA/SUMMIT

SPECIAL FIND

Second World War Roll of Honour by A.J. Casson

First World War Roll of Honour by Stafford & Kent, Calgary

ROLLS OF HONOUR Found in Mount Royalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Archives and Special Collections, these three rolls of honour identify the Mount Royal students, staff and faculty who served in the First and Second World Wars. Ninety-two people from our community went overseas for the Great War. Ten did not return. The Second World War saw 303 Mount Royal members leave friends and family to defend against oppression. Sixteen were killed. Each roll is hand-calligraphed, and the two Second World War scrolls were created by famed Group of Seven artist A.J. Casson.

Mount Royal Remembers our fallen heroes. Learn more about our Military Memorial Bursary program on page 28, or by visiting mru.ca/MilitaryMemorial.

SUMMIT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FALL/WINTER 2017

SPECIAL FIND

Second World War Roll of Honour by A.J. Casson Red marks denote those who died during military service. MRU.CA/SUMMIT

CHECKING IN WITH MOUNT ROYAL ALUMNI

Q+A

S H A M U S N EE S O N B R OA D C A S T I N G D I P LO M A ( 2 0 0 5 )

INTERVIEW BY MELISSA ROLFE PHOTO BY CHAO ZHANG

Tell me about your job. I have two. My full-time job is with Canadian Blood Services here in Calgary as an event coordinator and in donor recruitment. I’m also a part-time radio announcer with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group and do the midday show for All Hits B-93.3 FM in Lethbridge. How do you juggle that? The beauty of radio is that it doesn’t have to be live. My show for Lethbridge is produced the night before through a computer system. So, on a typical day, I get to the Canadian Blood Services clinic downtown between 6 and 7 a.m., and leave by 3 p.m. Then I make my way to the radio studio to record my show. Does your education help you in your work with Canadian Blood Services? Absolutely. I do a lot of presentations and I emcee a lot of events. I’m not afraid to talk to people I don’t know. It has a lot to do with my training in broadcasting. What can you say about the quality of teaching you received at Mount Royal? It was amazing, and it all had to do with the relationships that you create with your instructors. Our classes were small. The instructors knew your name and there wasn’t one person at Mount Royal who didn’t want you to succeed.

What was your first job after graduating? Doing evenings, weekends and promotions for Calgary’s 88.9 Shine FM for about a year. What do you love about your current jobs? At Canadian Blood Services, we put in a lot of hours, weeknights and weekends, not to make someone rich, but to make sure someone can survive a blood transfusion, cancer treatment or whatever it is they’re going through. I love working radio because I get to have a connection with my audience. I like being able to stay creative and come up with different ways to engage my listeners. What advice do you have for students interested in a similar career path? Always say “yes.” Always make yourself available. That’s true in broadcasting or in any industry. Show your work ethic and be trustworthy. Tell me about your decision to be a living organ donor. What was the experience like? In May 2015, I read about a woman who had been waiting eight years for a kidney

transplant and I wanted to help. My blood pressure was high, so I was put on hold for six months, and she was matched with a cadaver donor that had become available. I was still ready and willing to donate. Then, I found out that someone I went to St. Mary’s High School with needed a kidney, so I reached out to him through Facebook. Tests confirmed we were a match, and the surgery happened on Feb. 8 of this year. Why was it important to you to donate an organ? We’re not here for a very long time, and if we have the ability to help other people, why aren’t we? I knew what I was doing and I knew the risks. It’s major surgery, it’s a little bit of discomfort, sure, but if we have the ability to lengthen someone’s life, to make their family feel more at ease, why wouldn’t we want to do that? What do you hope to be doing in 10 years? Working at Canadian Blood Services. I’ve also got a goal of donating blood 1,000 times. It’ll take me 20 years — I did the math. I’ll be at almost 700 donations in 10 years. I really like helping people.

Do have a favourite memory? In 2004, there was a fire in Residence. One of the dorms burned down and the international students lost everything. One of my classmates, Tarek Hageahmad, and I held a radiothon on the campus station. We stayed up for 24 hours straight raising money.

A marketing and recruitment professional with Canadian Blood Services, Neeson is a living organ donor who recently donated a kidney to a recipient who was a high-school football teammate.

SUMMIT – FALL/WINTER 2017

Call 1.888.2.DONATE to donate blood or sign up for Alberta’s Living Donor Program

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