Mount Royal University Summit Spring/Summer 2023

SUMMIT

A morbid curiosity and the ethics of true crime

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The power of storytelling

Everyone is drawn to a good story. If you pay attention to how you feel the next time you consume an interesting tale, you might notice a wave wash over you that is a balance of attentiveness and calm. Your mind is craving the next detail of the story while relishing the opportunity to break from other stresses and lengthy to-do lists.

Storytelling is powerful, and the ethics of true crime, a genre that has become very popular in contemporary literature, is a fitting focus for the feature story in this issue of Summit. Mount Royal faculty, journalists and an incredible alumna come together to provide insight into the psychology of what it is that makes true-crime stories so appealing to some, while scrutinizing the painful repercussions to victims and their families. With the power of storytelling comes the responsibility for how and what information is shared.

Speaking of riveting storylines, I know many of us were engrossed in the HBO series The Last of Us , which put Calgary and Alberta on display. Mount Royal was honoured to be selected as a location for shooting, with the East Gate playing a major role in Episode 6. Our alumni are both behind and in front of the cameras in Alberta’s booming film business, which is providing creative opportunities across disciplines.

We are also excited to reveal how MRU is working to fill the gaps in the aviation market and how science is always present in our everyday lives.

Our alumni play an integral part in Mount Royal’s ongoing story and continue to carry it forward while accomplishing significant achievements long after leaving campus. These are the stories that fascinate me, and I continue to look forward to hearing them.

Sincerely,

Tim Rahilly, PhD president and vice-chancellor Mount Royal University

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Cashing in on tragedy

As the true-crime genre explodes in popularity, the focus seems to be less on victims and more on personal entertainment. What are the ethical considerations to take when consuming true-crime content?

Stepping into the limelight

What with the success of HBO’s megahit The Last of Us plus many other notable productions, Calgary and Alberta have taken their place at centre stage of the filmmaking business, leading to plenty of opportunities for grads.

Implementing equity, diversity and inclusion

Mount Royal’s associate vice-president, equity, diversity and inclusion, Dr. Moussa Magassa, PhD, provides his thoughts on the scourge of systemic and endemic discrimination and how post-secondary institutions can work to centre inclusion.

Better design with biomimicry

Associate professor and 2023 3M National Teaching Fellow Sarah Hewitt, PhD, describes how scientists often mimic the natural world to solve complex problems. Two more examples of science in everyday life are available online.

The runway ahead

Mount Royal’s aviation program is poised to fill major gaps in the market through seat expansion, a larger training fleet, a new hangar with more learning spaces and the introduction of a Bachelor of Aviation Management.

Tatum Amy Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy, 2023

Luke Azevedo Broadcasting Diploma, 1984

Tyson Bankert Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice, 2014

Kennedy Borle Bachelor of Science — Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2016

Hailey Boutin Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice (Honours), 2016

Kenna Burima Music Performance Diploma, 2000

Latasha Calf Robe Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management, 2017

Paban Dhaliwal Criminology Diploma — Law Enforcement, 2001

Doug Dirks Sports Administration Diploma, 1983

Rowan Dymond

Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management and Marketing, 2022

Racha El-Dib

Bachelor of Arts — Sociology, 2018

Danielle Fujita Business Administration Diploma, 1999

Kassidy Gerhardi Bachelor of Business Administration — Marketing, 2023

Bill Kerr Broadcasting Diploma, 2010

Paul Lavoie Interior Design Diploma, 1988

Carman Lim

Bachelor of Business Administration — Supply Chain Management, 2023

Robyn Madden, PhD

Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Sport and Recreation Management, 2016

Bachelor of Business Administration — General Management, 2017

Brent Mann

Recreation Management Diploma — Leisure Services, 1996

Kanakii Mekaisto Social Work Diploma, 2000

Quinn Pelland Bachelors of Business Administration — Human Resources and General Management, 2023

Sandra Prusina General Arts and Science Certificate, 2000 Journalism Certificate, 2008

Christina Riches

Bachelor of Communication — Information Design, 2014

Haley Roe Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice, 2023

Karrissa Savage Business Administration Certificate, 2015

Harnarayan Singh Broadcasting Diploma, 2004 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, 2022

Roxanne Singlot

Bachelor of Arts — Psychology, 2017

Nyadholi Thokbuom

Bachelor of Arts — Sociology, 2023

Kim Valleau

Bachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship, 2008 General Studies Arts and Science Certificate, 2006

Sherri Zickefoose Journalism Diploma, 1993 Basic Public Relations Certificate, 1993

Cathy Williams

Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2022

Craig Wrobleski Broadcasting Diploma, 1988

The Cougars women’s hockey team won the U SPORTS national finals this year, beating out all other teams in the country to earn the highest varsity sports honours possible in Canada. In doing so, they made Mount Royal history as the first Cougars team ever to bring home a national banner.

Meet the team

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Paul Rossmann

EDITOR

Michelle Bodnar

BCMM (APPLIED) ’05

PRODUCTION

MANAGEMENT

Deb Abramson

JOURNALISM DIPLOMA ’77

MARKETING AND EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATION

Bailey Turnbull

COPY EDITOR

Matthew Fox

ART DIRECTOR

Michal Waissmann

BCMM (APPLIED) ’07

DESIGN

Leslie Blondahl

BCMM ’14

Astri Do Rego

Mike Poon

Michal Waissmann

Chao Zhang

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cary Schatz

LAW ENFORCEMENT DIPLOMA ’89

Chao Zhang

ILLUSTRATIONS

Astri Do Rego

CONTRIBUTORS

Tyson Bankert

BA — CJ ’14

Kendall Beselaere

Michelle Bodnar

Erin Guiltenane

Haley Jarmain

Dave McLean

Nadia Moharib

Rob Petrollini

BCMM (APPLIED) ’07

Hooda Sadden

Isha Thompson

VICE–PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Paul Rossmann

DIRECTOR, MARKETING

Dave McLean

DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS

Gloria Visser-Niven

DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS

Eleanor Finger

Summit is published in the fall and spring of each year. With a circulation of approximately 64,000, each issue features the exceptional alumni, students, faculty and supporters who make up the Mount Royal community. Summit tells the University’s ongoing story of the provision of an outstanding undergraduate education through personalized learning opportunities, a commitment to quality teaching, a focus on practical outcomes and a true dedication to communities. Celebrate yourself through Summit

ISSN 1929-8757 Summit Publications Mail Agreement #40064310

Return undeliverables to: Mount Royal University 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW Calgary, AB, Canada T3E 6K6

Enjoy Summit online by visiting mru.ca/Summit.

If you would like a print copy delivered to your home or office, simply email summit@mtroyal.ca.

Mount Royal University is located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyâhe Nakoda. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation. Sustainably yours.

Photo source: U SPORTS

There something great to recognize just about every day at MRU, and plenty to get involved in. Find out what’s happening at mru.ca/AlumniEvents.

INTO ACTION

Alumni are leading conversations on complex problems

A new three-part Big Ideas podcast has just been released. Hear from alumni speakers as they discuss democracy and civic engagement and topics including: changing voter demographics, polarization and, ultimately, how to move forward.

Presented by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Big Ideas podcast explores the perspectives, research, lived experiences and hopeful aspirations from alumni and the University community on important topics, both trending and emerging, and showcases MRU’s leadership in addressing local challenges. Listen

MOVING FORWARD BY PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST New provost and vice-president, academic, known for strength as a servant leader

Early in 2023, MRU welcomed its new provost and vice-president, academic, Dr. Chad London, PhD.

It was a homecoming of sorts for London, who spent close to two decades working at Mount Royal in a variety of roles, including dean of the Faculty of Health, Community and Education. He then moved on to the University of Saskatchewan to serve as dean of the College of Kinesiology, broadening his skills as a senior academic leader.

London returned to MRU ready to observe and learn with an open mind while bringing people and teams together to realize goals and achieve what has yet to be imagined. He sees teaching as an area in which MRU excels, as well as research and scholarship that further elevates instruction and enhances the student experience.

“I have been described as a servant leader,” London said. “Supporting people is one of my strengths; I genuinely want to see others succeed in areas that get them excited and develop as leaders themselves.”

London, who earned his doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Calgary, plans to build on the strong reputation of Mount Royal as a studentcentred liberal undergraduate institution.

“MRU is perfectly positioned to elevate its place as the university where students know they belong, are supported and build lifelong relationships, all while they prepare themselves for future career and study opportunities in areas that address societal needs.”

INSPIRING FUTURE GRADUATES Alumni Classroom Takeover sparks connections across campus

The Alumni Classroom

Takeover is a great opportunity to reconnect with MRU, inspire and help students be job-ready upon graduation and share what you love to do. Get involved by joining virtually, teaching a lecture or participating in a panel.

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ACTION

$80,000 in cash and services awarded to student entrepreneurs

The annual JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition is hosted by Mount Royal’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and includes students from across the disciplines. Finalists pitch their business concepts to a panel of experienced judges in a Dragons’ Den -style match up to earn their share of $80,000 in prizes. This year’s generous donor community consisted of JMH & Co., Grant Design, connectFirst Credit Union, the RBC Foundation and Cathy and Bruce Williams.

The Hive

Bianca Veltri (finance)

$10,000 JMH & Co. Award, $15,000 Grant Award for in-kind design services

Providing the needed tools to plan successful events and activities while offering discounts along the way.

LookMa!

Carman Lim (supply chain management) and Rowan Dymond (marketing and general management)

$10,000 JMH & Co. award, $5,000 LaunchPad Alumni Award

Connecting smaller businesses seeking high-quality, user-generated content with micro-influencers eager to create.

Cobra

Kassidy Gerhardi (marketing)

$10,000 JMH & Co. Award

Reimagining the traditional bra with an interchangeable system with separate components for the desired fit, feel and appearance.

Clean Energy Nutrition

Aliya Abdallah (marketing)

$10,000 JMH & Co. Award

Creating all-natural energy products made with sustainably sourced ingredients for the healthconscious gym-goer.

Canada’s best

Mount Royal’s Massage Therapy Diploma has taken its place among the premier destinations for massage therapy education in Canada. In November 2022, the program met a series of rigorous requirements to earn accreditation by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA).

This achievement is the culmination of years of planning and preparation by program staff and instructors. After receiving preliminary accreditation in December 2020 and completing a two-day site visit in October 2022 with CMTCA surveyors, MRU was awarded three-year accreditation, the highest level possible.

Program Administrator Donna Palmer said that while the program has always been committed to teaching its students the most stringent standards of care, technique, hygiene and professionalism, the team is proud of the official distinction.

“It was a priority for us to pursue and achieve accreditation. We’ve been making a number of changes to the program, curriculum, assessments and supervised hours that meet or exceed the national standards. This distinguishes our diploma program from other massage therapy educators in Alberta,” Palmer said.

“Being accredited tells a story to employers and clients about the calibre of training our students have received.”

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE Massage Therapy Diploma program among

Calgarians show generosity of spirit with several notable donations

Thanks to generous support, Mount Royal is equipped to keep offering enriching experiences to students and the community.

Music lover, sports benefactor, philanthropist and businessperson Joan Snyder’s legacy will live on with a planned gift that posthumously donated $5 million in support of Mount Royal’s world-class music and speech arts Conservatory and the Cougars women’s hockey team.

Laurie Matiation, artistic director of the Conservatory’s Academy and Advanced Performance programs, said, “Since 2006, Joan has generously provided annual gifts to students in the Academy and Advanced Performance programs. Through these gifts, students have been able to pursue their passion and work towards their dreams.”

A force in the business world, Cathy Williams and her husband, Bruce, recently provided the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

with $300,000 to assist entrepreneurial development via stipends for students participating in the LaunchPad Lab and Innovation Sprint, and toward the Growth Catalyst and Growth and Resilience Speaker Series.

In June 2022, Williams received an Honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of her long-standing relationship with MRU.

As a new signature sponsor of Map the System, ATCO made a three-year commitment of $250,000 per year to MRU’s Institute for Community Prosperity (ICP). As part of the agreement, the ICP is working with ATCO’s corporate transformation team to offer meaningful engagement opportunities for ATCO SpaceLab participants and other employees to access Map the System tools, learnings and training.

While alumnus Doug Dirks’ voice is an established part of Calgary’s media scene, the popular broadcaster is helping others have theirs heard as well. Dirks

has made a $50,000 gift to MRU, establishing an endowed scholarship. The annual Doug Dirks Journalism Award will support a third- or fourthyear student who has demonstrated academic excellence and financial need.

Giving Day was a rousing success on Nov. 29, 2022, bringing together donors, students, alumni and the community to help MRU surpass its goal and raise $456,023, nearly doubling what was raised in 2021. Funds go towards mental-health initiatives, scholarships, field schools, stateof-the-art facilities and more.

Dr. John Lacey, PhD, is a longtime Conservatory volunteer and former chair of its advisory committee. His latest gift to MRU through the Naomi and John Lacey Foundation for the Arts is a threeyear, $90,000 commitment to fund the new Chamber Ensembles-in-Residence Program, which will provide Advanced Performance Program and Academy Program students access to worldrenowned musicians.

NEVER AGAIN

Holocaust Education Symposium continues to endure

For 37 years and in co-operation with the Calgary Jewish Federation, Mount Royal has been the host of the annual Holocaust Education Symposium. Through the Symposium, tens of thousands of high-school students have been able to hear the stories of holocaust survivors, who have recounted their horrifying and complicated experiences while also bringing forward messages of hope and resilience. This year the Symposium took place from May 2 to 3.

Leading up to the event, MRU’s Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Calgary Jewish Federation and the KSW Calgary Holocaust Education and Commemoration Endowment Fund, presented The Children of Willesden Lane at the Bella Concert Hall. Performed by Grammy-nominated pianist Mona Golabek in April, the performance combined classical works from Bach, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff with the true account of Golabek’s mother Lisa Jura’s experience as a Jewish child refugee and musical prodigy. Jura escaped the Nazis on the Kindertransport to the United Kingdom just before the Second World War.

More than 1,600 Calgary and area junior- and senior-high school students, teachers and chaperones attended two special matinée performances, where they had the opportunity to see the show and take part in a Q&A with Golabek. Generous donors allowed the students to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for free.

VAST BEYOND IMAGINATION

MRU rides wave of ocean research

MRU faculty are exploring the secrets of the deep.

The discovery of an 11,100-year-old fish weir in Shakan Bay on the west side of Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island as part of research led by Dr. Kelly Monteleone, PhD, a contract instructor of anthropology at MRU, confirms the presence of people in the region at least 1,000 years earlier than previous evidence suggested.

Meanwhile, Dr. Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, and Dr. Jeff Pollock, PhD, professors in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, are working with researchers in Canada and the U.S. on a project examining supercontinent formation and the resulting impacts on ocean chemistry, climate and life on land.

Finally, Dr. Sara Smith Wuitchik, PhD, is looking at more reliable ways to predict where ocean creatures can live in light of climate change. Smith, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, uses field and lab experiments to determine traits that will be important for fish survival as their habitat changes.

INVESTIGATING DEATH

MRU criminal justice grads find employment in unique field

Graduates from Mount Royal’s Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice major tend to have aspirations of working in law enforcement or the court system. However, thanks to a unique practicum opportunity, some are discovering an entirely different field: death investigations.

A partnership between MRU and the provincial Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) started in 2017. Those who want to take part are rigorously screened, according to Dr. Janne Holmgren, PhD, who, as a professor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies, oversees the partnership along with academic advisor and practicum coordinator Leann Acheson. Students aren’t immediately responsible for autopsies, but after four months are able to take on some of the more hands-on tasks.

Those who have completed the ME practicum say it completely changed their career trajectory and provided them with an invaluable experience.

Dozens of people apply to work in the ME’s office, Holmgren said, so the fact that upon finishing their degree jobs are being offered to MRU graduates demonstrates the quality of their education and the depth of their capabilities.

ROARING INTO THE POST-SEASON

Every Cougars team earns a playoff spot

All eight of Mount Royal University’s varsity athletics teams advanced to the Canada West playoffs this season.

The women’s volleyball team finished the regular season in second place in Canada West for the third season in a row. They then refused to lose a single set before the gold-medal match. Their subsequent silver earned them a spot in the national U-SPORTS finals, with captain Quinn Pelland, outside hitter Haley Roe and middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom named to the Canada West First All-Star team.

Seeded third for the nationals, the Cougars were upset by the Manitoba Bisons to lose in the quarter-finals. They then beat the second-seed Brock Badgers to play in the consolation finals against the Université du Québec à Montréal Citadins. Women’s volleyball finished off the season with another sweep, taking their last game 3-0 to end up fifth in Canada.

In the fall, both the Cougars men’s and women’s soccer teams came second in Canada West. The women lost to Thompson Rivers

University in the quarter-finals, however the men earned themselves a Canada West bronze medal. They beat the University of the Fraser Valley in the quarter-finals, lost to the University of Calgary in the semis, and subsequently won against the University of Alberta for a third-place playoff finish.

After landing in second in Canada West, the men’s volleyball team clinched a playoff position for the fourth season in a row, but left the competition after a quarter-final loss to the University of Calgary.

The Cougars men’s hockey team finished fourth overall in Canada West, but was knocked out of the playoffs by the University of Saskatchewan in the quarter-finals. Forward Riley Sawchuk was bestowed the prestigious Canada West Player of the Year title.

For the second season in a row, both the Cougars men’s and women’s basketball teams earned a spot in the Canada West playoffs, finishing 12th and ninth consecutively.

Photo courtesy of U SPORTS

National banner earned by MRU

The Cougars women’s hockey team made history in March as the University’s first team to win a gold medal at the U SPORTS national championships.

The Cougars finished the Canada West regular season in third place in the conference. Their silver-medal playoff finish then bought them a ticket to the U SPORTS finale.

After fighting their way to a nail-biter final game against defending national champions, the Concordia Stingers, the Cougars kept up the pressure, ultimately winning in overtime.

Captain Tatum Amy, who is a new Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy alumna, had an exceptional last season. Leading all of U SPORTS in assists with 24, and topping Canada West scoring with 31 total points, Amy was named Canada West’s Women’s Hockey Player of the Year and the Canada West Female Athlete of the Year for 2022/23.

“It’s an amazing feeling that no matter what happens, we will always be the first team at Mount Royal to bring home a national championship banner,” Amy said.

Goalie Kaitlyn Ross stopped 74 shots over the three games of the U SPORTS finals, leading her to being named MVP of nationals and to the U SPORTS All-Star Team along with forward Breanne Trotter, who netted three goals during the series.

“I knew I had to be there for my team and leave it all on the ice, and they did the same for me. I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Ross said.

Read the complete recap at mru.ca/2023Champs

Dr. Sarah Hewitt receives 3M National Teaching Fellowship

A self-described “adventure scientist” who urges students to be bold, creative and take chances, Dr. Sarah Hewitt, PhD, was chosen as one of ten recipients from across Canada to receive the prestigious 2023 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award.

Hewitt, an associate professor of biology, is known for her innovative course designs that broadly advance teaching and learning. She dedicates herself to sharing and disseminating knowledge to benefit the academic community and helping students communicate science with their own flair.

“I try to communicate the value of relaxing into your education and that finding your inner curiosity will allow you to see the connections between ideas and help you let go of the need to memorize and have a definitive answer,” Hewitt said.

“Be bold. Take chances. Try something new. That’s how learning takes place.”

Read how Hewitt sees science in the every day on page 37.

HOMES FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY New labs enable cutting-edge science research

Two new labs in Mount Royal’s Faculty of Science and Technology will enable cuttingedge research in areas making a real difference in the lives of Albertans: environmental forensics, and foot and ankle injuries.

Funding for the labs included support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and matching grants. The Government of Alberta also provided 40 per cent through the Ministry of Alberta Jobs, Economy and Northern Development and its Research Capacity Program.

The Environmental Forensics and Arson Lab supports the work of Dr. Gwen O’Sullivan, PhD, a professor with and chair of MRU’s Department of Earth and Environmental

THE OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARDS

Sciences, and focuses on what she calls environmental “crime-scene investigations.” O’Sullivan and her team complete research on arson, biomonitoring, exposomics, occupational exposure, risk assessment and liability.

The Foot-Ankle Stability Lab (FASt Lab), meanwhile, will support the research program of Dr. Michael Asmussen, PhD. The lab will primarily study older adults, such as those dealing with strokes, peripheral neuropathy from diabetes or multiple sclerosis, and acute musculoskeletal injuries, as well as everyday recreational athletes and elite performers. Students will be central to both labs for research and learning.

Redefining success and achievement for 2023

The Outstanding Alumni Awards (formerly the Alumni Achievement Awards) has shifted towards a new way of defining accomplishment and success. This revamped program aligns with the vision and values of Mount Royal and recognizes the heart that alumni bring to their professional and community work.

Outstanding alumni show up every day ready to create belonging, open minds, change

and transform lives, act boldly, inquire about the world around them and lead authentically. This year’s nominees are systems thinkers, advocates, leaders, storytellers and compassionate caretakers.

For more information about making a gift-in-kind in the form of an art donation to MRU, contact foundation@mtroyal.ca or visit foundation.mru.ca.

ENRICHING SPACES

Art gives meaning to humanity and helps in understanding the world

Donating art to Mount Royal University can transform cold, blank walls in hallways, classrooms and outdoor spaces by adding colour, movement, texture and warmth. These contributions are made as giftsin-kind (a non-monetary donation of a good or service), and benefit the MRU campus community with creative expression and the donor with tax savings.

There have been many generous donations of art to MRU throughout the years, visible throughout the University and grounds.

Korea #1

Alex Janvier (Canada, b. 1935)

Donated by the Estate of Mel Benson

Gifted to MRU by the late Mel Benson’s family in 2022 and on display at the West Gate entrance, Korea #1 by Alex Janvier is a beautiful addition to the MRU art collection. From the Cold Lake First Nations in northern Alberta, Janvier combines abstract curved lines with imagery that evokes his Indigenous roots — creating mesmerizing, engrossing works of art.

Curiosity and inquiry changing lives for the better

MRU research is helping to better understand clinical rehabilitation, early literacy, sun damage of the skin, the role of finance departments in large organizations and alternatives to traditional antimicrobials.

Compiled by Rob Petrollini

Readers teaching teachers

Professor Jodi Nickel, PhD Department of Education

Nickel studies how future educators can learn to teach reading through one-on-one tutoring with elementary-level readers.

Old bones help with modern recovery

can then be ‘read’ from our skeletons,” Gilmour says.

texts is key to building oral language comprehension and vocabulary, Nickel says. Two publications have emerged from the research: “Learning to teach reading responsively through tutoring,” and, “Tutoring to build teacher candidates’ competence as reading teachers.”

A

ssistant Professor

Rebecca Gilmour, PhD Department of Sociology and Anthropology

As an anthropologist, Gilmour studies the health of people from the past by examining bones from archaeological digs — mainly ancient Roman sites in Austria, Hungary, Italy and Britain.

“Bone is a plastic material that responds and adapts to our daily activities and can be influenced by factors such as our health and behaviour. Our bones can break, resulting in injuries that can be quite debilitating, leaving evidence behind that

While looking for fractures and other injuries in old bones and interpreting how the injuries affected the person, Gilmour’s work has shown that individual, social and cultural factors played roles in how people recovered from injuries.

“I work to understand not only how people in the past recovered from their injuries, but also how we might better recover from our physical trauma today,” Gilmour says.

Using archaeological skeletons to investigate past impairments can contribute to clinical rehabilitation recommendations and help people today better understand their potential for recovery and resilience.

“Struggling readers often guess at words and may try to read texts that include spelling patterns they may not yet know how to decode,” Nickel says, who is the MRU lead in carrying on the tutoring legacy started by Calgary Reads as a Dandelion Seed Partner.

“The current iteration of the tutoring framework is built upon structured literacy principles; teacher candidates help students to understand the structure of the English language in a gradual way based upon a scope and sequence that advances in complexity gradually.”

Teacher candidates use a variety of hands-on materials including letter tiles, whiteboards and games. In addition, the teacher candidates listen to the children and coach them in fluent reading. They also read aloud to the students, because reading and discussing rich

New protein bolsters the science of skin

Associate Professor Tatiana Rogasevskaia, PhD Department of Biology

Human skin colour is associated with the pigment melanin, and Rogasevskaia studies the pigmentationrelated proteins that determine skin colour.

Observable traits in human skin are determined by pigmentation-related proteins. A recently discovered membrane protein called NCKX5 has been linked to normal variations in skin colour and is suggested to be the major genetic determinant of fair skin in European populations. Very little is known about this novel protein.

“One of my earlier works (in collaboration with a University of Calgary colleague) has led to discovering the cellular localization of NCKX5, demonstrating its exclusive distribution in the cell compartment called

the trans-Golgi network,” Rogasevskaia says.

The goal of her work involves unravelling the molecular mechanism behind NCKX5-driven variations in skin colour, which would allow for selective targeting to either up-regulate or down-regulate pigmentation pathways.

“This would be crucial to gaining a deeper understanding of the skin’s potential for both the protection against — as well as proneness to — injury,” especially those related to the sun, she says.

Disrupting classic finance

Assistant Professor Tashfeen Hussain, PhD Department of Accounting and Finance

“The role that finance plays in organizational growth and sustainability has been experiencing tremendous change in recent years,” Hussain says, who delves into how finance affects business growth and sustainability. “New strategies in issuing securities, debt management, the increasing importance of corporate governance, financial innovation, global integration of financial and capital markets, and the social and environmental implications of financial decisions,” are all playing a part. For example, corporate fraud committed by a single firm can impact the lending relationship of a whole industry and technological innovations are affecting capital costs.

Hussain’s co-authored publication, “The Effect of Fraud Restatement Spillover on Lead Lender’s Skin in the Game,” examines how a firm’s fraud events effect the credit market through the link of board interlock.

The key objective is to identify research gaps in the behaviour of firms and their relationship with capital markets. Ongoing studies focus on how COVID-19 has impacted cash hoarding, how debt covenant violation affects risk profiles, and peer-to-peer lending, which is significantly challenging the traditional lending industry.

Discovering novel antimicrobials

Assistant Professor

Jeella Acedo, PhD Department of Chemistry and Physics

In her research as a chemist, Acedo leverages large amounts of microbial genomic data to identify novel antimicrobials, specifically bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are produced by bacteria to kill other bacteria and are considered promising alternatives or adjuncts to traditional antimicrobials to help address antimicrobial resistance.

“The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has called for increased efforts to discover novel antimicrobial molecules for the food, agriculture and health sectors,” Acedo says.

Resistance to traditional antibiotics is a global health problem, which bacteriocins, bacteriocin cocktails, or combinatorial treatments with other antibiotics, may help address. The different modes of action of these molecules render resistance development more difficult, Acedo explains. Other advantages of bacteriocins include their potency, the techniques used to produce them and the ease of their use as templates for bioengineering. Acedo is collaborating with the Alberta-wide Antimicrobial Resistance — One Health Consortium and her research on the discovery and characterization of peptide antimicrobials is being funded through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

The brutalist architecture of Mount Royal’s Lincoln Park campus, which opened in 1972, continues to provide visual appeal and spaces to sit and reflect. The Gauthier Courtyard pictured here is named after Stu Gauthier, a former manager of custodial services and long-serving employee who loved Mount Royal.

Photo source: Mount Royal University Archives and Special Collections

Transformative

CASHING IN ON Tragedy

Words by Haley Jarmain Illustrations by Astri Do Rego

As true-crime content becomes more widespread, the focus seems to be less on the victims and more on our personal entertainment.

Society has a strange attraction to murder. Yes, the act of taking the life of another person in most places and situations is wrong both legally and morally, but the narratives around these events often make for great conversation fodder. In fact, for many people, a love of true-crime binge-watching, -listening or -reading has become a personality trait. It’s something they brag about, proudly stating that they fall asleep or do chores while listening to podcasts like My Favorite Murderer. Sure, it’s a quirky and seemingly harmless habit, but the disconnect between consumers and the violence at the source of the content is often overlooked. It’s not taken into account that the events behind it had devastating impacts on very real people.

True crime can easily cross the line from educational to exploitative. Ethical considerations must be taken into account when not only consuming, but producing this type of content.

Death is popular

The numbers don’t lie, painting a vivid picture of just how widespread true-crime obsession is. Podcasting has become a popular medium over the last 10 years, with the boom occurring in the mid-2010s largely attributed to NPR’s podcast Serial, released in 2014. Producer Sarah Koenig documented a 1999 American murder case casting doubt on the killer’s conviction, which became the fastest podcast (at the time) to reach five million downloads. It averaged 1.2 million downloads per episode and amassed more than 300 million downloads overall.

In late-2022, years after the podcast’s production, Adnan Syed, the convicted killer who was the subject of Koenig’s documentary, was released from jail and charges were dropped. In another twist, the charges have since been reinstated by Maryland’s appellate court due to the violation of the victim’s brother’s right to attend a key hearing. A new hearing has been ordered.

Since Serial, the appetite for true-crime podcasts has grown massively. On any given day, Apple TV+’s top-10 most popular podcasts in Canada include at least five or six true-crime stories. Dateline is consistently among the top three, while various other Canadian and American productions swap spots, depending on the week.

Details around how much money the creators of some of these productions earn are often fuzzy.

Crime Junkie is a popular podcast available in Canada and more than 170 other countries. According to Forbes, it is the number-one truecrime podcast in the world, with more than one-billion downloads in its five-year history. That kind of listenership comes with some serious revenue, with various sources reporting a few hundred thousand to a few million dollars annually.

It’s not just podcasts. Netflix’s 2022 series Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, garnered international attention when released. It was the number-one series for several weeks and became the third Netflix series to reach one billion hours streamed within 60 days. Actor Evan Peters of American Horror Story fame was awarded a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the serial killer, which was quickly renewed for another season. However, for as much buzz as it garnered, Dahmer simultaneously received heaps of criticism.

Given the real Dahmer’s prominence in pop culture as well as the fact that dozens of books, podcasts, movies and television series have already been produced about his grisly narrative, viewers and victims’ advocates asked what the point of the series was considering it offered no new information about Dahmer’s life or crimes and didn’t contain testimony from survivors or police who worked on the case.

Arguably, there is some historical value in learning about one of the most prominent criminals of recent memory, but when survivors and victims’ families are not consulted about the production it brings into question its true motivation.

“OUR FAMILY

A morbid curiosity

Individual reasons for consuming true-crime content vary, but generally, according to experts, there are a couple of commonalities why the genre is so popular. The main answer is simple: curiosity. Usually there is a conscious, or at times subconscious, need to know why the crime happened and why it happened in the way that it did, especially if it occurred nearby. Assistant Professor Dan Devoe, PhD, of MRU’s psychology department, says crime as the subject of entertainment is very attractive.

“It is typically gory or so extreme it catches our attention. That makes it different from all of the other stories that are out there, because it is so unfathomable that somebody would actually do that,” Devoe says.

He suggests that true crime impacts our schema, which is essentially our cognitive framework: how thoughts are organized in the brain and the associations we make.

“When something breaks our schema we really tend to pay attention to it. All of a sudden it is very salient to us.”

That is something Devoe says may also be related to survival value and anxiety. In short, people want to know all about these horrific events to avoid those sorts of situations themselves.

Scott McLean, PhD, is a forensic social worker who spent years working with first responders and family members of homicide victims through the Calgary Homicide Support Group in addition to teaching criminal-justice students at Mount Royal. He says there is an element of “good versus bad” linked to interest in true crime, because often the actions are so incomprehensible that details are needed in order to distinguish ourselves from “those” kinds of people. Essentially, the idea is that the more is known about someone like Jeffrey Dahmer, the more confidence viewers can have that he was bad and they are good.

SPENT MORE TIME TRYING TO CORRECTTHEFACTSIN MEDIA THAN WE DID GRIEVING” — MARILYNNE HAMILTON

Do not cross

Police tape around a crime scene is a fluorescent-yellow indicator of clear lines that are not to be crossed by the public. Ethical lines, on the other hand, are not as clearly marked, or even defined at all, leaving it up to consumers and producers to decide for themselves. That ambiguity is where many of the problems with the genre arise.

One of the main critiques around true crime is the lack of consideration for the victim and victim’s family. It’s an unimaginable situation to deal with the unexpected and violent murder of a loved one, and many times grieving families are put on the spot by the media — not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the years to come, as these cases can take many months to get through the court system. It is one thing to have the story shared locally by news media, but there’s now the possibility that it will get picked up by a podcast production team or someone on social media who runs

a true-crime page, and shared on their channels.

“Social media complicates the grief for crime victims,” McLean stresses. “Information may get leaked or become incredibly widespread. On top of that, people have many opinions that they might share in comment sections, and there might be victim blaming.”

It can be especially distressing when families are not contacted about their loved one’s story being shared. In many cases, producers get their facts from news sites and court documents. Much of the criticism leveled at Dahmer was from family members of victims who say not only were they not contacted about the series in the first place, but the depiction of their loved ones was not accurate.

A 2016 Calgary double-murder case is a prime example of just how easily misinformation is spread. In the days following the murders of Sara Baillie and her five-yearold daughter Taliyah Marsman,

speculation started that Baillie was working as an escort, and police even confirmed the rumour. That narrative was amplified by news outlets, even national media, leading to many stories about Baillie and her purported lifestyle. However, police later clarified that there had been no evidence she ever engaged in sex work. It eventually came out in trial that Baillie was killed for trying to get her friend out of the industry.

“Our family spent more time trying to correct the facts in the media than we did grieving,” says Baillie’s aunt Marilynne Hamilton, pointing out that there are still archived news articles that have not been corrected and contain outdated information. So, imagine if a true-crime podcast chose to do an episode on this story and used incorrect information that appeared to be credible because it came from an established media outlet.

Not having control or say in what is being published about a murdered

loved one creates anxiety and panic, according to McLean, and those feelings can be amplified when advocates for the victim(s) are now forced to set the record straight. Additionally, more harm comes in the re-hashing of old news articles and clips from when the crime and court case occurred.

“From a mental-health and wellness perspective, it re-triggers the trauma and then it re-triggers the loss and the grief. So it just complicates their process and reactions,” McLean says.

Many shows claim to want to shine a light on the victim’s life and argue they are helping share their story, but in their execution they end up focusing on the killer and the details around the murder — how gory and deranged they are.

“Even when the victim and victim’s family are included, they’ll be maybe less than five per cent of the whole show, so the focus is really not on those who have been victimized.”

It’s not just ethics around ensuring the victim’s voice is represented and shared accurately. There are also many concerns about plagiarism. Sherri Zickefoose is an MRU journalism alumna who co-authored (with fellow journalist Robert Remington) the national best-selling true-crime book Runaway Devil: How Forbidden Love Drove a 12-Year-Old Girl to Murder Her Family. She knows all too well about just how often truecrime content is ripped off.

“All the time,” is how she responds when asked if she has seen details from her book elsewhere, either in TV shows or podcasts. Many of the exclusive details in her book have been shared on Wikipedia and other popular sites, she says, so it’s become a bit of a free-forall. “In our book we had to use pseudonyms for many of the people due to a publication ban, so when I see or hear people using those exact same pseudonyms it’s very clear they’ve just ripped right from the book.”

Though when proper credit is given, it is not always easily accessible. It is quite common for podcasts specifically to point to their website or show notes for a list of sources, something the average listener doesn’t do either out of apathy or in part because they just blindly trust that said production has done the proper research.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES

Much of the content available now rides a fine line between being purely for entertainment and having educational value, according to MRU alumna Racha El-Dib (Bachelor of Arts — Sociology).

Her opinions come from lived experience, as her sister Nadia was violently murdered in 2018 by an ex-boyfriend. El-Dib had to navigate her grief all while reporters and producers clamoured for interviews. She explains that her family felt pressured to speak out in the immediate aftermath of her sister’s murder so that they could control the narrative.

“Even before people found out it was Nadia and what happened there were already so many rumours out there that were misinformation, and we wanted to make sure that the right information was put out there. We also didn’t want the focus to be on the perpetrator.”

El-Dib recalls that in the days following the murder, an article came out without the family’s consent identifying her sister as

the victim. It popped up on her phone within minutes of her family leaving the medical examiner’s office after formally identifying the body.

They decided that from then on they would work with the media when and where they could to ensure that anything published was done with their consent.

El-Dib notes that as painful as it was to be in front of cameras in the days following her sister’s tragic murder, there was a bit of a cathartic element. To have Nadia’s story out there, and to tell it how she wanted to, helped with El-Dib’s grief.

Because of the nature of the crime and the fact that the case never went to trial (the perpetrator would die in a police shootout west of Edmonton four days after the murder), the El-Dib family actually requested that police release the graphic details of what happened, in part so there would be no more questions.

“We just wanted people to know how violent the situation was and to put all of the details out there so that people knew how much of a monster he was.”

The other reason they are open to talking is in hopes of preventing someone else from being victimized the same way “because Nadia was just doing something most people would do and trying to get closure with a former partner.”

AS A FAMILY MEMBER WATCHING

El-Dib believes true crime is detrimental to not just victims and those immediately impacted by violent crimes, but also to society.

“There’s this narrative that people just listen to it for fun or to fall asleep, and as somebody who has lived through it, it is really disrespectful,” El-Dib explains, noting that often people forget who the victim even was by the time they start the next episode. This is especially true in an age where people binge multiple episodes in a single session.

El-Dib stresses that true-crime consumers need to remember that there are real people involved in these stories. Many podcast descriptions are something along the lines of “exploring the worst of humanity with a little bit of dark humour mixed in.”

But El-Dib wonders where the room is for humour. “If I were to know someone used my sister’s story in a comedic way, I would absolutely lose it and I would maybe even take legal action.”

Even after what she and her family have gone through, El-Dib is not completely against the genre, recognizing where storytelling can be used to educate others.

The story of Nadia El-Dib

Nadia El-Dib is remembered as a beautiful young woman who loved her family.

The second youngest of four children, she was incredibly close with her siblings and very proud of their Lebanese heritage.

She was funny, outspoken and not afraid to be herself.

Known for her outgoing personality, El-Dib loved to sing and dance. In a GlobalTV Crime Beat episode, her sister Racha describes her as the “Kim Kardashian of the family,” as she had long, shiny black hair and always looked glamorous. Her natural talent for makeup is apparent in her photographs.

El-Dib was studying to become a legal assistant with the hopes of one day moving on to law school.

She was just 22 when she was violently murdered by an ex-boyfriend.

El-Dib dated the man who killed her for a few months in 2017 and had broken things off, but he continued to pursue her, according to her family.

In March of 2018, she met up with him for closure. They left a downtown Calgary shisha bar together and she reached out to a friend to say he would not take her back to her car.

Shortly after that he parked in a residential area with El-Dib as an unwilling passenger, where he stabbed her 40 times and slit her throat.

Despite her injuries, Nadia fought for her life and escaped the vehicle.

Her killer followed and shot her twice. He then went on the run and died in a shootout with RCMP four days later.

Her family now uses what happened as an educational tool to warn others. They have created Nadia’s Hope Foundation, a registered charity that raises awareness around domestic abuse and violence and helps families of victims by providing financial aid and relief for funeral and burial costs.

“It can happen to anybody,” Racha says, stressing that there is no typical victim when it comes to domestic violence.

“The red flags in Nadia’s case were looked at as small or minor. Being stalked, him showing up to where she was hanging out, was looked at as him being a typical ex-boyfriend who was not over her, but those things need to be taken seriously because they can lead to something as drastic as what happened to Nadia.”

WHAT TRUE CRIME GETS RIGHT

Despite the ethical concerns around true-crime content, there is no denying that there is an educational aspect, and in some cases a benefit, to having such information shared so widely.

“If there is still some missing element to the case, you will see family members taking part in shows like Unsolved Mysteries because they want to keep the story alive and they feel that it is their duty or role to support their friend or loved one who is either missing or murdered,” McLean says.

According to Unsolved Mysteries ’ website, more than 1,300 stories have been profiled on the show since its inception in 1987. More than 260 of those cases have since been solved or resolved in some way.

“Half of the cases featuring wanted fugitives have been solved, more than 100 families have been reunited with lost loved ones and seven individuals who were wrongly convicted of crimes have been exonerated and released,” the website states.

Zickefoose also points out that true-crime content is a documentation of history. Her book involves Canada’s youngest-ever convicted murderer, a case that rocked the community of Medicine Hat and garnered national and international attention.

In April 2006, three members of a family, including a mother, father and their eight-year-old son, were found brutally stabbed to death in their home in the southern Alberta city. Eventually the couple’s other child, a 12-year-old girl, was convicted in the killings, along with her then 23-year-old boyfriend.

The (now) woman at the centre of the case cannot be named under Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act, which is why the book uses pseudonyms.

“Because of the young-offender aspect and the intensity of publication bans, this case was destined to be lost in files that would be off limits to people and records that are now expunged,” she says.

Given her journalism background, Zickefoose knew she could tell the story in a way that would be respectful to victims while also shedding light on what actually happened. At the time of the murder and subsequent court cases, much of the media coverage was focused on the ages of the perpetrators and their relationship, rather than the victims and many lives impacted.

“At the end of the day, you have to remember who you are writing about and why. These are people who have been stolen from us or victimized in some horrible way.”

Within the oversaturated crime content world, many productions are produced ethically. Dateline almost always includes victims’ family members and friends in their storytelling, and Global TV’s Crime Beat is often touted as educational and ethical while also exploring the most notable and heartbreaking crime cases in Canada. Not only does it feature victims and their families, it includes interviews with police officers and others involved in the justice

system who explain their role in a case. With the consent and participation of the El-Dib family, Nadia’s story was told in Episode 24 of Season 3.

“It was a really good way to memorialize Nadia and have something out there that people can access that showcases who she was,” El-Dib says.

VICTIM ASSISTANCE HARD TO COME BY

Many true-crime productions are raking in money yet few actually share their profits or even make donations to victim-focused charities. Neither are required by any sort of regulations, but it raises the question, “Is it ethical to profit from the worst moments of someone’s life?”

In an unregulated industry like podcasting it is hard to enforce or enact any sort of changes, but both McLean and El-Dib agree that there should be some sort of standard.

“I absolutely feel there is an ethical, and more importantly, a moral responsibility to compensate some sort of victims’ funds,” McLean says, noting that it would make more sense for there to be an obligation to support general funds as opposed to individual families, which could get complicated.

In Alberta, Victims of Crime Assistance and a number of services exist through the Ministry of Justice and the Solicitor General, however there is not much support outside of that, at least not in the public system.

In addition, McLean notes there is a loophole within the Victims of Crime Assistance program in that surviving family members of a homicide victim are not technically listed as victims (because the victim is the person who was killed); meaning they do not qualify for provincially funded counselling.

“Because of the complexity they need high-level, very specific trauma counselling that is ongoing because of

the crime and then the pending court case,” he says, noting that funds do cover some funeral costs.

fees for an autopsy report and parking at the courthouse when these cases go before a judge.

with a few other provinces, that prevents convicted criminals from profiting from their crimes (meaning they cannot author a book or start a podcast and earn money from that), but federally there are no laws or requirements.

COMING TO TERMS

The true-crime genre is not going anywhere. In fact, the market is likely to become even more saturated. Consumers have the power, however, to influence the industry by carefully choosing content that is generated ethically and that centres victims. There are many true-crime podcasts, shows, documentaries and books that are created with the utmost care and consideration, but the onus is on the consumer to seek them out.

their families at the forefront, consumers can also look for productions that give back to victims in some way.

we have to deal with for the rest of our lives,” says El-Dib, reminding fans of true crime to keep remembering those on the other side of the content.

“What you are listening to for an hour, we have to deal with for the rest of our lives”

—racha El-Dib

Resources for help and to help

Victims and Survivors of Crime Week took place in Canada from May 14 to 20. victimsweek.gc.ca

The Calgary Homicide Support Society was founded in 2014 and provides group support, assistance and education to families and those close to victims of homicide in Calgary and the surrounding areas. calgaryhss.ca

211 Alberta is a helpline and online database of Alberta’s community and social services. Dial 211 to connect.

The 24-Hour Family Violence Helpline is available at 403.234.7233, or call 211.

Since 1977, the Calgary Police Service’s Victims Assistance Support Team (VAST) has helped thousands of victims of crime. VAST helps the primary victims (persons who have experienced direct injury, loss or trauma) and secondary victims (those who are impacted by the repercussions of a crime or trauma including witnesses, friends, family and co-workers.) VAST offers many services free of charge, including a call centre, court support, on-scene crisis response and access to trauma dogs.

VAST Call Centre hours: Monday to Thursday — 8 a.m. to 9 p.m Fridays — 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Call 403.428.8398 or toll-free at 1.888.327.7828

The Calgary Distress Centre is available 24/7 via text or by phone at 403.266.4357.

The Alberta Government offers a wider range of services for victims of crime including emotional support, financial assistance and education. alberta.ca/help-for-victims-ofcrime.aspx

Victim Services Alberta is a police-based association offering professional development, education, training, mentoring and advocacy to 126 programs providing services to victims of crime and tragedy. Funded by the Government of Alberta Victims of Crime Fund, donations can be made at victimservicesalberta.com/ donations-charity

For domestic violence specifically, the Connect Family and Sexual Abuse Network can be reached at 403.237.5888 or toll free (in Alberta) at 1.877.237.5888

Dial 911 if in immediate danger.

In memory of Nadia El-Dib, Mount Royal’s University Advancement division has made a contribution to Nadia’s Hope Foundation and to Stepping Up on campus. Stepping Up is MRU’s Relationship Violence Prevention and Research Centre, which is committed to building the capacity for dating violence awareness, support and prevention on campus. Learn more at mru.ca/SteppingUp

To help support our trained peer facilitators in supporting those who have been victims of relationship violence, please go to mru.ca/StepUpSupport

STEPPING INTO THE LIMELIGHT

CALGARY AND ALBERTA A NEW MECCA FOR FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS

Words by Nadia Moharib

Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

The part in the elementary school play was pretty simple.

“I was supposed to go in and when I saw the dead body, scream and run away,” recalls Christina Riches. “I wanted the role so badly.”

Worried about her theatrics disturbing students in a nearby classroom, she held back and her pathetic scream didn’t land her the part. But it did help the actor find her voice.

“About 10 years later, I had an audition for a commercial for the Calgary Stampede and had to scream on a rollercoaster,” the Calgarian says. “When I screamed, it was incredible.”

When HBO’s nine-episode adaptation of the popular video-game series The Last Of Us came to Alberta, Riches landed a dream gig. For nearly a year she was the stand-in for lead actor Bella Ramsey, running through lines and blocking (when actors practise their movements and placements for scenes) while the crew prepared technical aspects before the cameras rolled for real.

“You get to go on set nearly every day and work through the entire production. It was really great.”

The Bachelor of Communication — Information Design alumna’s legit debut into the biz came in 2001 when she was hired as one of several Lucille Ball impersonators opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. in Rat Race. Although her lines ended up on the cuttingroom floor, Riches earned her first credit towards her Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) union membership.

“If you get between one and five lines, you are considered an actor. We had five lines in unison,” she says. “That was my foot in the door to ACTRA.”

Calgary’s vibrant industry also set the stage for Riches to work as a stand-in on the set of the movie RV with Robin Williams and in Jann , Fargo and Heartland .

Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

STREAMING LOCAL CONTENT

Riches works as a full-time graphic designer at SAIT, but hopes for more acting work borne by the booming film and television industry.

“Ideally, I can have two careers that work together — that would be a dream,” she says.

Until then, she appreciates the breathtaking moments experienced while working on The Last of Us — a bona-fide tour of Alberta that took her from the Calgary Film Centre to the Rocky Mountain Film Studio, on to Canmore, Okotoks, High River and remote areas of Kananaskis Country. In Calgary, Stephen Avenue, 1 Street SW, Memorial Drive’s 4 Avenue flyover, SAIT and the MRU campus also hosted sets.

“I was awe-inspired by the massive scale, yet attention paid to the smallest details, when we would arrive on a new set,” Riches says. One of her favourite shoots was at the 4 Avenue flyover, where more than 100 vehicles were “abandoned” on and under the bridge. Many were dressed with foliage, mould and rust, and destroyed as appropriate for 20 years into an apocalypse.

“In film and television, you get to see and do things you’d never have the chance to do in real life. I’ll never be walking on that flyover again and seeing Calgary’s skyline in quite the same perspective.”

Creating those environments was not only amazing for the actors on the day, but led to some phenomenal visual sequences, Riches says.

“Albertans familiar with the landmarks have been blown away when they catch a glimpse of familiar places that were transformed while we were shooting. And the effects work afterwards made it that much more monumental.”

Making such an impressive series isn’t always glamorous work. Riches spent one day face-first in the snow, another doing a running scene over and over, and another mainly in an uncomfortable crouching position.

That said, Riches loves it all. Acting is a labour of love requiring tenacity, tempered expectations and ongoing practise. Oh, and a little luck. It didn’t hurt, for instance, that she closely resembles the lead character, Ellie, in The Last of Us.

“So much of it comes down to your look. There is nothing you can do about the shape of your nose,” she says. “You have to have a thick skin, for sure, and you have to keep at it.”

Award-winning cinematographer Craig Wrobleski, who worked on The Umbrella Academy and, more recently, the Netflix project A Man in Full, stumbled onto his career path while earning his Broadcasting Diploma at Mount Royal in the late-1980s.

He is stoked to see Alberta finally getting the attention it deserves.

“I think our secret weapon is the crews. They have pretty impressive resumés and a give-it-your-all attitude,” he says, adding that wherever he works, people know about Calgary.

MRU PROVIDES THE BACKDROP

While the pandemic transformed the MRU campus into a ghostly quiet place, a push to pitch it as an option for film and television sets brought it back to life. And in some very strange ways, including everything from fireworks in the Bella Concert Hall to bloody battles unfolding on the East Gate lawn for The Last of Us.

“Just seeing a really well-known actor like Pedro Pascal riding up and saying ‘Hello,’ while on the back of a horse — it was exciting for us,” says Brent Mann, MRU’s director of event, theatre and hospitality services and an alumnus of the Sport and Recreation Diploma program.

“Of course, the priority is catering to the student experience, but opening up areas for film productions seems to work well and creates a tremendous buzz on campus when you’re working with productions as large as The Last of Us.”

MRU’s interesting underground tunnels and Main Street also make an appearance in The Last of Us.

Mann’s team produces virtual and in-person tours for location managers showcasing everything from MRU’s Riddell Library and Learning Centre to its broadcast studio. The campus’ diverse and unique architecture beefs up its theatrical productions curriculum vitae that, in turn, helps produce a significant revenue stream supporting students.

Find out more at mru.ca/FilmHere

Photograph courtesy of HBO/Crave

EARNING A GLOBAL REPUTATION AS A FILM-FRIENDLY LOCALE

The industry momentum is projected to continue in Calgary, where productions such as the Emmy-award-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Prey and Under the Banner of Heaven were shot.

Now the country’s fourth-largest production jurisdiction after Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, Calgary has risen to eighth place on MovieMaker’s list of “Best Places to Live and Work in 2023.”

It took time and persistence for Alberta to emerge as a venue offering a supporting cast of world-class crews. Financial incentives and essential infrastructure help fuel the sector, says Luke Azevedo, Calgary Economic Development’s vice-president, creative industries, operations and film commissioner, whose office facilitated more than 144 projects and issued more than 1,100 filming permits in 2022.

“When we are doing half a billion dollars worth of production, it has an impact,” Azevedo says. “There was over $461 million in production in southern Alberta in 2022. We would like to see a billion-plus industry with significant growth in crew, studio space and infrastructure.”

Azevedo, a Mount Royal broadcasting graduate, serves on MRU’s film and television advisory board and has dedicated decades to advocating for Calgary.

Such projects as Unforgiven in the early2000s helped shift the perspective of Alberta from very niche to one with much potential. Films like Brokeback Mountain, Inception, The Revenant and the television series Fargo, which Azevedo calls “one of the most criticallyacclaimed productions ever,” revealed the province as a prime place to do business. What Alberta lacked, however, were the financial incentives other provinces could offer.

Photograph courtesy of Calgray Economic Development

That changed in 2019 when the province removed its $10-million per project tax credit cap on films, TV series and screen-based productions — a move designed to create leverage by offering a credit covering 22 per cent (30 per cent for locallyowned productions) of eligible spending for production and labour costs.

By 2022, the industry’s economic impact saw 5,455 jobs created in the Calgary area.

In the 2023 provincial budget, the Alberta government set aside $100 million over three years for the Film and Television Tax Credit, bringing total funding for the program to $125 million with an expected return of $4.20 for every dollar spent.

“We are in a location that is extremely important,” Azevedo says. “The comment from one of the executive producers from The Last of Us was, ‘We couldn’t have done the show anywhere else.’ ” Cast members have raved about locations such as Canmore and the quality and dedication of the crew. The production not only put a spotlight on Calgary and Alberta, but by conservative estimates meant work for nearly 1,000 crew members, with a talent pipeline of graduates from post-secondary schools such as MRU supporting the sector.

“I’ve been working pretty steadily for about 10 years now,” says Bill Kerr, an assistant location manager and an MRU broadcasting alumnus. “There are some very, very high-profile projects coming through town all the time.”

Although The Last of Us has sadly announced that they will not be returning to Alberta for the second season, locals can expect to keep celebrity-spotting. Filming has started for Billy the Kid 2, starring Tom Blyth and Daniel Webber, and another western, The Abandons by Netflix, is scheduled to begin production in August.

MRU’s theatrical scene-setting

The Last of Us (TV)

Under the Banner of Heaven (TV)

Devious Deeds (TV Movie)

Jann (TV)

Heartland (TV)

Lone Oak Cinema (Music Video)

Left Behind (Movie)

Calgary feature-film credits

The Bourne Legacy

Prey

Ghostbusters 2020

The Revenant

Inception

Interstellar Jumanji

Calgary series credits

Wynonna Earp

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock

The Last of Us

Under the Banner of Heaven

Jann

Black Summer Fargo

The Next Level Brokeback

Mountain

Let Him Go Legends of the Fall

Unforgiven

The Last of Us

Tin Star Game of Thrones Tribal Joe Pickett High School

WHEN WE ARE DOING HALF A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PRODUCTION, IT HAS AN IMPACT”

— Luke Azevedo vice-president, creative industries, operations and film commissioner, Calgary Economic Development

Implementing equity, diversity and inclusion at MRU

Interview by Michelle Bodnar

Dr. Moussa Magassa, PhD, has spent his life facing the kinds of barriers that often keep people like him out. This is, in part, what has directed his education and career centring human rights, social justice, intercultural communication, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

born into it because of the systemic racism and endemic discrimination society has imposed on Black people,’’ Magassa says, who is from Senegal. He is MRU’s first associate vicepresident, equity, diversity and inclusion, and has the role of advising and making recommendations on the overall EDI structure at the University, including strategic change.

Magassa sat down with why EDI efforts are critical within the post-secondary construct and to larger society.

How would you describe EDI?

We should understand that EDI is not only about doing, it is also about undoing.

that changes the cultures and structures that oppress. It is also about ‘undoing’ and dismantling the barriers that prevent people from excelling. Diversity in EDI is about representation and acknowledging our differences as a strength. It is about looking at the demographics of people in your organization, understanding why they are here or why they are not being represented and acknowledging what you are

Our approach to EDI and accessibility should inspire and challenge, and at the same time reassure people that it is important for all of us, that the equitable, diverse and inclusive attitudes, behaviours, actions, practices, processes, social and institutional change we aspire to is for all of us.

Can you provide an example of what may be deeply ingrained racism within a colonial context?

Here is an example that has happened in many institutions in Canada. Certain readings, certain articles written in colonial times, many years ago, include language that is not acceptable today and that is very offensive and discriminatory to many of us. One example is the evolution of the language about Black people or the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

EDI needs to be aware of those kinds of issues and help deconstruct and challenge them. In denouncing such attitudes and language, EDI will help point out their

demeaning nature and their impacts on our students and other equity-deserving individuals and groups. Here, I should insist that ‘intention’ is one thing, but it can’t override the impact on others. EDI looks very carefully at the issues of impact and helps us to develop better ways to treat each other.

Some people may think of EDI as just diversity hiring. What would you say to that?

I would congratulate them, since they have demonstrated an understanding that hiring is indeed part of EDI.

I will also share with them that EDI is more than just hiring. It is also about all aspects and dimensions of our diversity. It is about co-creating inclusive change while dismantling barriers such as ageism and discrimination in all its forms. EDI is about the various intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, country of origin, visible and invisible disabilities, and so on.

Can you tell us about the EDI Opportunities Fund?

The EDI Opportunity Fund provides financial support of up to $15,000 to propel initiatives that educate our community about EDI, or that identify and remove systemic barriers on campus.

Students, faculty and employees at MRU are invited to engage in discussions about how the University can improve and better support and represent equity-deserving groups and their allies.

The EDI Opportunity Fund supports initiatives, large and small, that aim to advance EDI and its intersections at MRU.

We want the fund to bring together the voices and experiences of the MRU community and help create spaces that are welcoming and inclusive of all. And we’ll do that through comprehensive EDI strategies, processes and evidence-based policies, practices and programs.

One of the cornerstones of EDI work is putting resources out for members so that those who are doing the work can be empowered to do more.

Better design with biomimicry

2023 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award recipient Associate Professor Sarah Hewitt, PhD Department of Biology

When was the last time you were inspired by a slime slug, a termite or a snake? Scientists continually observe nature to develop new technologies or solve problems. It’s called biomimicry — mimicking what’s observed in the biological world on a macro or micro scale to answer complex questions. Researchers have used biomimicry to make advances in areas as varied as renewable energy, structural design and materials, medical procedures, city planning and sustainable agricultural systems.

The best known example of biomimicry is Velcro. In 1941, a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral was hunting with his dog when he noticed how the burrs from a burdock plant clung to his dog’s fur. He inspected the burrs closely and eventually developed the hook and loop system that we now know as Velcro.

A common problem in medicine is closing wounds. Adhesives need to be strong enough to stick to wet surfaces on our insides, but also withstand friction and movement. Enter the slime slug, also known as

the Dusky Arion ( Arion subfuscus). The mucous it secretes on its skin is so sticky predators can’t pry it off rocks or leaves — even wet, slippery ones. Seeing this, Harvard scientists recreated the proteins in the slug’s mucous and synthesized a substance that sticks powerfully to moving tissues like a beating heart.

Slugs aren’t the only slimy systems inspiring scientists. Studying how slime moulds move and grow to acquire food helped city planners in Japan design more efficient roads and railways. And to design the fastest bullet trains between cities, researchers used the shape of a kingfisher’s head as a model.

There are countless other examples of biomimicry. Researchers studied the scales of a snake’s skin to design grippier soles for shoes to help prevent falls — a major source of injuries in elderly people. And they studied air flow in termite mounds to develop more efficient heating and cooling systems in buildings.

For every problem we have, nature has solutions. We just need to observe carefully to find them.

THE RUNWAY AHEAD

Mount Royal’s aviation program is filling major gaps in the market

Travellers the world over excitedly returned to the skies in 2022, but not without some turbulence. As international COVID restrictions were lifted, a surge in demand for air travel overwhelmed an already bruised industry and left airlines scrambling. In fact, Transport Canada data reveals that only 238 new pilot licenses were issued last year – a decrease of more than 80 per cent compared to 2019.

Grounded in history

Mount Royal’s Lincoln Park campus sits on the former site of the No. 3 Service Flying Training School, which saw thousands of budding aviators train for duty during the Second World War. Shortly before Mount Royal moved to its current home from its downtown campus in 1972, members of Calgary’s aviation community successfully lobbied the institution’s leaders to start a training program. A group of Royal Canadian Air Force veterans assembled at the then-college to teach the first cohort of fledgling flyers and address a national shortage of commercial pilots.

Thanks to investments from government, industry and donors, however, MRU is poised to supply the talent needed to bring the industry up to altitude. Plans for the Aviation Diploma include expanding the training fleet, building a new hangar to add learning spaces, increasing program offerings and forging stronger industry connections.

A fleet to envy

The venerable Cessna 172 makes up the majority of MRU’s training fleet. This reliable and safe, single-engine workhorse has been in production since the 1950s, but the contemporary 172R and 172S models feature advanced avionics technology rivaling even some airliners.

To complete the two-year program, students earn their multi-engine instrument rating on the tried-and-true Piper Seneca.

“Mount Royal aviation provides state-of-the-art airplanes, instructors who are well-trained and accommodations for every type of student,” says Ethan Best, who is in his second year of the diploma. “The student-centric philosophy pushed by the staff really makes us feel like we are an integral part of the program.”

Words by Dave McLean

MRU training fleet at the Springbank airport.

Transport Canada licenses issued 2019–2022

No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Lincoln Park, Calgary, Alberta, circa 1939-1945. Courtesy of the Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

$14.16 M

CYBW

Alberta advantage

The Springbank airport (CYBW in aviation lingo) is located on the western edge of Calgary — Canada’s sunniest city. Wide-open spaces, proximity to the mountains and ample good weather makes the area an excellent destination for flight training. In fact, CYBW was the fifthbusiest airport in Canada in 2021 (based on aircraft movements), giving students an advanced education in busy airport environments.

While all flight operations take place at the Springbank airport, many courses and simulator training sessions are held at MRU’s Bissett School of Business. New government and donor funding will allow for a modern aviation campus to be built at Springbank.

“We want to be looking at a new hangar with classrooms and simulators there, so everyone can be in one space.” says Deanna Wiebe, chair of the Department of Aviation.

Degree in development

The Bissett School of Business is set to launch a four-year Bachelor of Aviation Management in 2024, for which $6 million was earmarked by the Alberta government in March.

“The degree will provide a business and operations management focus and appeal to pilots or non-pilots looking to open up operations and executive management careers within the industry,” says assistant professor of aviation, Chris Gillanders.

“We’ll have topics that relate specifically to aviation, from supply chain and logistics to environmental issues, ethics and financial management,” Wiebe adds.

Investing in the industry

An October 2022 memorandum of understanding between the Alberta government and WestJet will help double the number of Aviation Diploma students. As part of the agreement, the province will provide $8.16 million in funding to MRU.

Inclusion on the flight deck

According to Transport Canada, around 10 per cent of active commercial pilots are female and even fewer come from Indigenous backgrounds. In collaboration with organizations such as Canadian North and Elevate Aviation, MRU is actively working to change that. Generous donations from Ken Lett, chairman of the Executive Flight Centre, now total close to $3 million and will also play a part in changing the face of the industry.

“Every airline, every airport, every aviation services operation needs good business leaders who understand flying,” Lett says.

of active commercial pilots are female and even fewer come from Indigenous backgrounds

Is the future friendly for flyers?

With all the talk of automation and remotely piloted aircraft, where does that leave future aviators? For today’s pilots preparing for the future, nontechnical skills such as crew resource management, assertive communication and situational awareness will continue to be required.

As long as there are passengers on board, Gillanders doesn’t see the need for pilots up front going away. “A pilot trainee today will advance in their career in aviation in a way not seen in the past 50 years in Canada,” he says.

Government of Alberta funding to expand the MRU Aviation Diploma program and implement the Bachelor of Aviation Management

5th–busiest Canadian airport in 2021

You did what?

Recognizing the achievements of the Mount Royal community

Making a legal impact early on

Former Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice student and University of Alberta law graduate Hailey

Boutin has been named as an up-andcoming banking and finance lawyer by BestLawyers.com. Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2023, Boutin is an associate in the Calgary office of the global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.

Calling the shots

Carving out a coaching career

As the skating coach for the Calgary Flames, Danielle Fujita (Business Administration Diploma) is one of two women to hold such a position in the National Hockey League. She has more than 30 years of experience coaching — with more than 15 in hockey specifically — and helps players across the Flames organization to become more powerful and dynamic skaters.

Exploring the need for clinical genetic services

Hitting the fairway

Bachelor of Science — Cellular and Molecular Biology alumna Kennedy

Borle is now a board-certified genetic counsellor who is currently attending UBC as a doctoral student. She is a researcher with the Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre and was selected as a CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Health Systems Impact Fellow in 2022.

Bachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship alumna and former Saskatchewan junior girls’ champion golfer Kim Valleau has won this year’s Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year Award from the Professional Golfers’ Association of Canada. The award is the highest honour the association can bestow on a working Class “A” professional at a golf course.

Two-time alumna Sandra Prusina (General Arts and Science Certificate, Journalism Certificate) is the play-by-play voice for Calgary’s American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Wranglers. Broadcasting in Calgary for 14 years, Prusina is believed to be the first full-time female play-by-play announcer in the AHL. She can be heard calling Wranglers games at AHLTV.com.

New album for alumna

Calgarian singer-songwriter Kenna Burima (Music Diploma) has recently released a new nine-track album called While She Sleeps Burima first released the album as a songbook, which offers sheet music for all the songs alongside detailed notes of how they came to be.

A quarter century of beautifying spaces

Calgarians we know and love

The Calgary Herald’s annual list of “Compelling Calgarians” highlights those making a difference in our city.

Karrissa Savage

Paul Lavoie, an MRU alumnus and one of Western Canada’s top interior designers, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his firm, Paul Lavoie Interior Design. Through the Paul Lavoie Residential Design Scholarship, Lavoie has supported MRU interior design students for more than six years.

Business Administration Certificate, 2015 Savage is co-owner of Motherlode Coffee Roasters, which combines quality coffee with social activism and contributes to the education of Peruvian girls and supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Kanakii Mekaisto Social Work Diploma, 2007

A 2022 Mount Royal Alumni Achievement Award recipient and community builder, Mekaisto plans to establish a school on the Siksika Nation where traditional Indigenous ways of knowing will be taught.

Bringing home the hardware

Congratulations to members of our MRU community who have received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, awarded to Albertans who have made significant contributions to the province.

Latasha Calf Robe alumna and lead of research, scholarship and community engagement, Trico Changemakers Studio

Sgt. Paban Dhaliwal alumnus and officer, Calgary Police Service, 2022 Alumni Achievement Award recipient Lynn Moorman, PhD geography professor, Faculty of Science and Technology

Sgt. Paban Dhaliwal Criminology Diploma — Law Enforcement, 2001 Recipient of a 2022 MRU Alumni Achievement Award and a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, Calgary police officer Dhaliwal is dedicated to inspiring youth, community policing and crime prevention.

Roxanne Singlot

Bachelor of Arts — Psychology, 2017 Singlot is a program co-ordinator for mental health and wellness at the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, helping women who are newcomers to Calgary adjust to their new home.

Patricia Pardo, PhD director of Access and Inclusion Services

Tim Rahilly, PhD MRU president and vice-chancellor

Sharmila Ranabhat administrative assistant to the associate deans, Library

Harnarayan Singh alumnus, author and commentator for Rogers Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada, recipient of a 2022 honorary doctorate and a 2019 Alumni Achievement Award

Jason Sjostrom sessional instructor, Faculty of Health, Community and Education

Michael Uzoka, PhD mathematics and computing professor, Faculty of Science and Technology

Adults need recess too

Words by Tyson Bankert Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice, 2014

An alumnus of Mount Royal’s criminal justice program, Tyson Bankert’s personal slogan is to “promote justice, edify others and befriend the lonely.” Focusing on his passion for community development, Bankert engages adults to get active through play at his small business, Recess Calgary.

Find more about Recess Calgary on Instagram (@RecessCalgary) or recesscalgary.ca and drop in to a weekly class.

When we leave communities like Mount Royal, prioritizing new and sustaining old connections, while also balancing the demands of adult responsibilities, can be difficult. Feelings of loneliness, plus a lack of exercise and creativity, are societal challenges

I’ve learned that play can be an active form of resistance to the grind. Being an adult can and should actually be fun … at least sometimes! I started Recess to encourage people to get silly, curious and nurture their inner child, even if it can feel uncomfortable.

Recess Calgary is my playground to host, convene, build and provide space for new connections and community. Through recreating experiences from childhood, whether they be summer camp, gym class or games after school, Recess Calgary is an opportunity for adults to play the way they used to.

When people come to Recess, I honour their openness to lean into community. It’s a rewarding experience to see participants, who before the class were strangers, invite each other to hang out after or plan to play together the following week.

I’m known as Coach T. I’ve been wearing my whistle and coaching hat

for more than four years now. As a former child- and youth-recreation leader in high school and during my criminal justice degree, I had always wondered why there were no opportunities for adults to find sport through play. In 2018, I was looking to hone my facilitation skills plus incorporate inspiration from past job experiences and my curiosity about inclusive spaces, specifically in sport. That combination led to the creation of Recess Calgary.

At Recess, people get to connect with each other through movement and embrace whimsy and play as a form of wellness. Over the years, Recess has become a creative outlet, not just because of the types of games I host, but it continually evolves by engaging people through art and placemaking.

Starting my own thing can feel like a challenging mess, so I take breaks, seriously. What I embrace and share about Recess is the value of rest and recuperation. Breaks can mean stopping, leaning into collaborations with other like-minded people, or slowing down and considering the process.

What’s been most gratifying is hosting others while they grow their own creative outlet and develop friendships — it’s been such a fulfilling experience.

Being a Mount Royal alum comes with some pretty sweet benefits. The best way to have your cake and eat it too is to update your contact info with us. mru.ca/Always

Alumni benefits are like icing on the cake

Claim your benefits

Mount Royal alumni can enjoy a whole world of benefits including:

• discounted Recreation memberships

• discounts on mobile devices and phone plans

• access to Career Services for new grads

• discounts on concert tickets

• preferred insurance rates

Get involved

Become a mentor, volunteer at Open House or Convocation or attend an event. There are so many ways to give your time to Mount Royal.

Sign up for the alumni e-newsletter at mru.ca/Always to stay in the loop.

Give the gift of education

Every student can use a helping hand on their journey. Consider contributing to an alumni scholarship or bursary. Visit mru.ca/Giving for more info.