TRINITY WESTERN education. transformation. impact.
Issue 25
THE NEW ERA: TIME TO SHINE passage to israel after hours
t wu.ca maga zine
Issue 25 president & publisher Bob Kuhn ’72
letter from the president
senior editor Caleb Zimmerman managing editor Shara Lee
copy editor Wendy Delamont Lees art director Kazuko Kusumoto
photo editor Katrina Grabowski ’12
web editors Ty Petkau; Adam Ratcliffe ’09
Dear friends, I hope you will enjoy this issue of Trinity Western. Each issue of this magazine provides opportunities to share the stories that shape and define this special University. Uniquely positioned in the Canadian Christian landscape, Trinity Western University represents an irreplaceable presence that God has blessed miraculously over the years, despite many challenges. In the past months, twu and our School of Law (p. 18) have been maligned in the media across Canada. But our University cannot be defined by headlines and sound bites. We are, in essence, a community— founded upon, and grounded in, our belief in Jesus Christ—which offers the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a distinctive environment: one that is both fully academic and fully Christian. We are on the cusp of a new era, in which Trinity Western University will be a bright and enduring beacon reflecting the love of Jesus Christ as Canada’s largest Christian university. Over the past 52 years, God has graciously allowed this University to be a part of His transformational work in the lives of many. The stories in this magazine attest to the difference members of the twu community make in their communities and around the world. From student missions teams serving in Israel (p. 24) to alumni like Associate Professor Rick Sawatzky (’99), whose research will enable healthcare workers to provide higher-quality patient care (p. 12), the twu community exemplifies Christ’s grace and love. I am deeply grateful for every one of our alumni, students, faculty and staff members, parents, donors, churches, and for your prayers as we step boldly into a new era of opportunity, striving in God’s strength to fulfill His chosen mission for this place that we love. In His Service, and Yours,
Bob Kuhn President
contributing writers
Nelson Bergen
Shara Lee
Claire Colvin ’99
Adam Ratcliffe ’09
David Clements, Ph.D.
Wendy Delamont Lees
Ashley Freedman
Jennifer Watton
Mark Janzen
Caleb Zimmerman
contributing photographers & illustrators
Katrina Grabowski ’12
Wendy Delamont Lees
Scott Stewart ’92 Jennifer Watton
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contents
FE AT U R ES
ISSUE 25
18 The New Era: Time to Shine by Bob Kuhn ’72 The School of Law controversy and a new era of opportunity for twu
24 A Passage to Israel by Wendy Delamont Lees Student initiates missions trip to the Holy Land
27 After Hours by Katrina Grabowski ’12 A glimpse into the non-academic side of campus life
18
24
27
D EPA R T M EN T S
5
campus chronicle Liberian refugee gets a new start at twu • llc intern assists
in one of the largest trade agreements in Canadian history • Students go electrofishing • Communications students get serious about board games • Mother and son team up for a periodic table art installation • twu launches ma in special education
10
faculty folio The Inklings keep it relevant • School of Nursing professor awarded a Canada Research Chair
13
partnerships Generous family’s donation preserves ecoforest • Courtyard renovation honours the life of Jordan Thiessen ’12
16
athletics New Spartans men’s hockey coach brings fresh perspective
• Men’s basketball team represents twu in China
31
alumni twu alumnus gives a kidney to a stranger to save his son
42
back 40 The twu archivist’s quest to digitize 50 years of student newspapers O N T H E C OV ER
“Time to shine” – A new day rises over twu ’s Thomas Blaauw Memorial Forest by Katrina Grabowski ’12
YOU LOVE THIS PLACE. SO WILL THEY. Know someone who needs to be at Trinity Western this Fall? Visit twu.ca/referral and send them info on the benefits of attending TWU.
Fresh Start Refugee-turned-twu student builds a new life in Canada by wendy delamont lees
before Ralph received Sarah’s immigration approval, Sarah died in Dillon’s arms. With Dillon alone in Ghana, Horie championed his cause for four years, lobbying Saanich-Gulf Islands mp Elizabeth May and then-Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney. As his last act in office, Kenney approved Dillon’s immigration on a student visa. Horie shrugs off any accolades for her efforts. “That’s how it should be,” she says. “We should care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s our calling.” Currently enrolled in the esli program at twu, Dillon is grateful for the opportunity. “Hildegard fought hard to get me here,” he “We should care for our brothers and says. “Had it not been for her, I don’t know what my fate would be.” sisters in Christ. That’s our calling.” Through the generosity of Horie and others, Dillon’s tuition for this semester has been looked after. But although the soft-spoken tirelessly on his behalf—and First Baptist Church in Victoria, bc. student will be eligible for scholarships and grants for the fall, he Dillon’s journey to Canada was a long one. In 1995, his father will still need financial support. travelled to Liberia to see whether it was safe for the family to return, Horie is concerned—but not worried. “I live by faith,” she says. never to be heard from again. Then, Dillon’s mother and brother “God has all the resources we don’t have. He won’t let Victor down.” went in search of his father, leaving Dillon with Sarah Weeks, a Whatever happens, Dillon, too, is trusting. “God has been widow raising her grandson. They never returned. So Weeks raised guiding and protecting me,” he says. “Without his grace, I wouldn’t Dillon alongside her grandson, Ralph. be where I am now.” Eventually, Ralph immigrated to Canada, and began working to have his grandmother and adoptive brother join him. Ralph— who now serves with the Canadian Navy—shared his family’s To learn how you can help provide financial aid for plight with his First Baptist Church friends. Sadly, just two weeks imagine, if you can, that as a young child you’re forced to flee your country for political reasons. Displaced from everything you know, you and your family settle in a refugee camp. Over the course of time, your father, mother, and brother are killed trying to return to your homeland. You find yourself orphaned and alone, your life in constant danger. Until just a few months ago, that’s what life was like for twu student Victor Dillon, a Liberian who spent 22 years living in a refugee camp in Ghana. In January, Dillon arrived on campus, thanks to the heroic efforts of Hildegard Horie—who lobbied
students, visit twu.ca/supportscholarships.
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 5
wendy delamont lees
campus chronicle
campus chronicle
an internship to remember llc student works on Canada-eu trade agreement
shock and awe in mcmillan lake twu students go electrofishing last summer, electricity was in the air at trinity western University. To be more precise, the electricity was in the water of McMillan Lake. After two long all-nighters, we caught a total of 579 fish via electrofishing. In 2008, twu student Dustynn Diack discovered pumpkinseed sunfish and largemouth bass in McMillan Lake. Since then, the bc Ministry of Environment had been advising us to do something about these alien, invasive fish. During high water, McMillan Lake overflows into the Salmon River, exposing Coho salmon juveniles and other native fish to the predatory bass. In the weeks leading up to the operation, the summer students, our environmental manager, and I feverishly worked to prepare. Then July 16th finally came—and Golder’s electrofishing expert Tom Willms and his netter showed up with the electrofishing boat. The boat produces a short-range electric current that stuns fish so the netter can quickly scoop them up. Electrofishing works best by night—the stealth approach. The electrofishers brought the fish to shore, where our team was waiting. All fish were weighed and measured, then non-native fish were euthanized with an anesthetic and native fish released. Epic memories of the two nights include the team camaraderie, the thrill of close encounters with hundreds of fish of all shapes and sizes, late night coffee runs, trying to handle slippery fish at 4 a.m., 6 trinity western | 2014
april funk with mp ed fast in ottawa
The overall twu experience has been one that Funk will never forget. “It’s a great school,” she says. The chance to gain work experience while studying at the same time was something she valued. Although she’ll miss life as a student, Funk looks forward to future possibilities. “The opportunity to work in Ottawa again,” she says, “would be amazing.” – sl Learn more about the LLC at twu.ca/llc.
jennifer wat ton
fourth-year trinity western university student april Funk (’14) says her time spent as an intern in the office of the Honourable Ed Fast, Member of Parliament and Minister of International Trade— an experience she received as part of twu’s Laurentian Leadership Centre (llc)—was hands-on and fast paced. “It was definitely a highlight of my university career,” she says. Funk’s internship took place during the finalization of the CanadaEuropean Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement—one of the largest trade agreements in Canada’s history. In the weeks following the signing, Funk worked on events and media for the Global Markets Action Plan. “It was a very hectic time in the trade department—the office worked extremely long hours,” Funk recalls. “My job was to help coordinate events, make sure that stakeholders were involved, and ensure different benefits to different sectors were highlighted. It was a huge thing to try to do, especially because we were coordinating across the country.” On top of her internship, Funk spent two days a week in class at the llc. “The classes focused on Canadian politics and leadership, which is something the llc really stands for and emphasizes,” says Funk.
students measure and record the catch of the day
and seeing the sunrise as we headed home after a long night. Thesis student Melissa Bargen was thrilled with the catch of 579 fish. At 4:30 a.m. after two all-nighters she tiredly said, “I’m going to look back on this time with awe.” Her favourite catch from the two nights was an enormous 20 pound carp—an awesome product of our efforts to seize the day … the night … the fish. Carpe diem! – dc David Clements, Ph.D., is professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at TWU.
campus chronicle
illustration by k atrina grabowski ‘12
who wants to be a space captain? Adventures in the theory and practice of game design you are a space pirate captain. Your objective is to locate your enemy’s base by tracking their ships’ movements. Your battlefield: two seven-by-seven inch sheets of grid paper. Your tools: a pencil and a ruler. Space Tracker is a two-player board game that you won’t find in your local game shop—at least, not yet. That’s because it was created by fourth-year communications major Clark Strom (’14) in Trinity Western’s comm 350 class, Theory and Practice of Game Design. The course was developed by Kevin Schut, Ph.D., samc’s Chair of Communication Studies. “Games are a huge part of our pop culture,” says Schut. “The industry is as big as Hollywood, or bigger. Our students should start thinking about how they can speak into that.” He also supports the idea that, within games, there is the creation of
“You actually test your project by playing it.” shared meaning. “Even if games weren’t a major force in our culture, they would still be worth studying because they are a unique form of communication.” Schut starts with the theoretical aspects of game design, which draw from fields like psychology, mathematics, and communication studies. Students study popular board games, from the familiar Monopoly and Scrabble to the niche Settlers of Catan and Small World. They then apply their knowledge of board game mechanics to the practical, hands-on task of designing their own real, working game—utilizing cardboard, construction paper, and borrowed pieces from existing games to do so.
He believes some of his students ideas have real potential. “There are a few games every semester where I think, ‘yeah, you could do this commercially,’” he says, “and I encourage students to do that.” Strom appreciated the room he had to creatively explore in the class. “There’s an aspect of play involved that I haven’t seen in any other course,” he says. “You actually test your project by playing it.” – nb
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t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 7
elemental art Mother and son team up on periodic table art installation
k atrina grabowski ’12
campus chronicle
removing barriers to success twu launches new ma in Special Education it is estimated that one in four classrooms have four or more students with special needs, and some 10 per cent of the school population are learners with identified special needs. “The challenge of enabling learners with special needs has never been more evident,” says Ken Pudlas, Ed.D., twu Professor of Education. “Children who have special needs are often at the margins. They are not a surprise to God—so why wouldn’t we try to help enable them to learn, to remove barriers to their success?” The British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education has approved Trinity Western’s application to offer a new Master’s degree. The Master of Arts in Educational Studies – Special Education will launch in July 2014. twu was among the first in bc to require a course in special education preparation for all education students. “Our students are consistently inspired to further their learning after taking this course,” says Dean Kimberly Franklin, Ed.D. “We are looking forward to providing a high-quality Master’s level program to support teachers in their desire to continue to grow and develop in this area.” The new Master’s program, developed by Pudlas, is based on 8 trinity western | 2014
wendy delamont lees
last summer, fourth-year chemistry student fraser Parlane (’14) and a group of classmates sat around pondering what could be done to the main campus chemistry department wall in the Neufeld Science Centre, which they had informally claimed as their own. Fraser decided to bounce some ideas off his artist mother Heather, who had recently completed a custom piece for her son’s 21st birthday. Using an old chemistry workbook as a base, Heather created a fraser parlane with one of his mother’s handmade periodic elements grid representing the periodic table, and overlaid it with hand-dyed tissue paper. The result was a unique piece that Fraser hung on the This project has been like a parting gift for Fraser’s beloved alma wall of his chemistry lab during his summer placement. mater. “It’s so fun to see something colourful go on the wall,” he says. Fraser convinced his mother to create a commissioned installation “A lot of students come through the department. For many, it’s home.” in a similar style, albeit on a much larger scale, for the bare wall in Fraser graduated this year, but hopes to be back on campus soon. Neufeld—and the rest is history. “I’m really excited about Chemistry in a nerdy way. I want Professor When completed, the installation will be comprised of 103 six-byMontgomery’s job,” he says with a grin. six-inch canvas panels, each representing an element of the periodic Professor Craig Montgomery, Ph.D., had better watch out. Fraser table. The installation is a fundraiser for the chemistry department. is well on his way to earning his stripes, already having lined up a To date, members of the twu community have sponsored 99 of the research opportunity in France this summer with another twu 103 tiles. Professor, Chad Friesen, Ph.D. – sl “It is an honour to be participating in a project that my son is organizing and excited about,” says Heather. “Working with Fraser is always great. Not many moms get a chance to be this involved with For more information on this project, visit periodic-table.twu.ca. their son’s ideas!”
school of education dean kimberly franklin with professor of education ken pudlas
a cohort model, in which students form a cooperative learning community. “This degree is for teachers already in the system who want to empower themselves to more effectively meet the needs of all students—even those with exceptional needs,” Pudlas says. “Our hope is that the program will bring together the confluence of head, heart, and hands into inclusive praxis.” – wdl Interested in this program? Learn more at twu.ca/maes.
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faculty folio Awakening a Richer Faith Through Story Deconstructing the fantasy of the Inklings
by shara lee
if you were raised in an evangelical christian household, you may have bumped into the Inklings at an early age—through works either read aloud as bedtime stories or presented in colourful and collectable hardcover boxed sets for birthdays. Stephen Dunning, Ph.D., co-chair of the Inklings Institute of Canada at Trinity Western University, says he was first introduced to the Inklings through a junior high friend, whose admiration for j.r.r. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings manifested itself in some creative fan art. “He was a kid who had just moved here from England, and he showed me a picture he painted of Minas Tirith,” says Dunning, who remembers being immediately intrigued by the uniqueness of this strange, otherworldly city. “This friend also had an iguana named Smaug,” he recalls with a chuckle. Inklings Institute co-chair Monika Hilder, Ph.D., was also introduced to the Inklings outside of academia as a teen. “I first read Lewis, then many of his friends and mentors,” she says. “I loved them all, but Lewis, especially, helped me learn how to think and write.” In June 2013, The Inklings Institute of Canada was established at Trinity Western to study the works of the Inklings—a literary group whose most famous authors were Tolkien and Lewis, but also included lesser-known authors, like Owen Barfield and Charles Williams—and to bring awareness of these thinkers, and their ideas, to the general public.
10 trinity western | 2014
The Inklings, including friends and mentors like Dorothy Sayers and George MacDonald, began as informal gatherings between likeminded friends, usually at a corner pub called The Eagle and Child, or in Lewis’ Oxford rooms. During meetings, they discussed ideas and read from their emerging manuscripts. “In this, they experienced warm friendship in diversity and the inspiration and encouragement to persist in their writings,” says Hilder. For example, Tolkien, a perfectionist, might never have completed his epic novel The Lord of the Rings without the faithful encouragement of Lewis. “What primarily drew the Inklings into friendship was two-fold: their shared Christian faith, as well as their love for story that had mythic vision,” Hilder says. “The Inklings loved stories that would illustrate spirituality and, in a cultural climate that had decidedly ignored the possibility of faith, these friends fostered a vision of making a difference through storytelling.” The establishment of the Inklings Institute couldn’t have come at a better time; the fantasy literature these authors penned has grown in popularity, due to film adaptations of Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as Lewis’ Narnia series. As for why the Inklings have gained such a following in secular and even atheist communities, Hilder believes this speaks to a spiritual longing in people. “Next to the Bible, The Lord of the Rings tops the list of best sellers,” she says. “In all of these stories, readers
faculty folio
discover that individual choices matter and that evil can be overcome. Essentially, Inklings literature gives readers hope for the present and the future.” While the Inklings have had an impact on popular and secular culture, Dunning thinks that they have had the greatest impact in the evangelical Christian world. He believes these scholars have stretched and deepened evangelical thinking. “They have brought the ‘contemporary world’ into a much larger context—historically, theologically, imaginatively,” he says. “And one effect of this has been to reveal the paucity of our own resources and simultaneously to awaken in us
dunning’s top 7 lesser-known inklings books 1. the man who was thursday G.K. Chesterton (Inklings mentor) 2. at the back of the north wind George Macdonald 3. descent into hell Charles Williams
4. till we have faces C.S. Lewis 5. the mind of the maker Dorothy Sayers 6. saving the appearances Owen Barfield 7. leaf by niggle J.R.R. Tolkien
Stephen Dunning, Ph.D. Inklings Institute Co-chair
Monika Hilder, Ph.D. Inklings Institute Co-chair illustration by k atrina grabowski ‘12
centred and earth-bound to spiritually awakened. “The reason for Ransom’s discovery is his posture of submission or humility to the divine,” Hilder says. “This concept is so important to Lewis, and to Christian thinkers throughout the ages: to understand truth one must have humility. Lewis illustrates how our cultural values of pride and self-reliance lead to folly. To be in tune with the universe, and therefore truly strong, one must esteem humility. I am in awe when 18-year-olds begin to think and to write like this.” Dunning loves moving students beyond the popular Lewis and Tolkien in his classes. “My favourite Inklings class is called ‘The Inklings and Friends,’” he says. “I enjoy “Inklings literature gives it because I emphasize the range of belief readers hope for the present and opinion the various members held, and the future.” and spend more time on the lesser-known members, particularly Charles Williams and a desire for a richer faith in a richer world.” Owen Barfield.” In addition to educating the general The Inklings Institute is still in its early public about the vital contributions of these days, but its establishment highlights the authors, the co-chairs remain committed to unique blend of faith and academics that teaching and helping twu students to think exists at twu. “It’s been said that there’s critically about Inklings literature. a quality of holiness—wellness—that Hilder is constantly surprised by the work permeates these stories,” Hilder says. “Their her students produce. In particular, a paper authors would agree, I think, that there is that won a first-year student essay contest, only One Story that the world has ever heard. titled ‘From Self Narrative to a Posture of When a particular story, in tune with that Submission: Ransom’s Journey in Out of the One Story, is well told, we flock to it.” Silent Planet,’ really impressed her. For Dunning and Hilder, this underlying In this essay, Hilder’s student explored “One Story” is the reason they’re so passionate the protagonist’s change of view from self- about bringing the Inklings to the public.
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 11
bettering the patient experience twu associate professor awarded Tier 2 Canada Research Chair school of nursing associate professor rick sawatzky (’99) has been awarded a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. Sawatzky’s research program focuses on the healthcare needs and concerns of people struggling with chronic, life-limiting illnesses. “The Canada Research Chair in Patient Reported Outcomes is twu’s first in the area of health, and will further strengthen the research capacity of our Master of Science in Nursing program,” says Eve Stringham, Ph.D., Vice Provost, Research and Graduate Studies. “Dr. Sawatzky’s research chair is timely. As the population ages, more individuals will be living with chronic conditions, relying on family members as caregivers.” Together with his team of students, trainees, healthcare providers, and researchers, Sawatzky—who has taught at twu since 2002— will study the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess people’s health and quality-of-life concerns. The PROMs use questionnaires—paper, online, or via hand-held device—through which patients report on important aspects of their illness experiences. “We hope this research enables the perspectives and concerns of patients and their family caregivers to become more visible,” Sawatzky says, “so these perspectives inform all levels of healthcare decision-making.” The Canada Research Chair allows Sawatzky and his team to study how to best obtain, and use, information about the challenges people with chronic, life-limiting illnesses—often with multiple conditions—face within the healthcare system. “Healthcare decisions are often made based on information
k atrina grabowski ‘12
faculty folio
about health services,” says Sawatzky, whose father, George Sawatzky, Ph.D., holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Physics and Chemistry of Nano-structured Materials at the University of British Columbia. “What’s missing is the actual patient’s experience. With this research, we hope to make that experience more visible— particularly for people with advancing illnesses who need a palliative approach to care.” To that end, the PROMs will provide valuable information, in a standardized language, that healthcare providers can use when treating their patients. “Nursing is very much about paying attention to people’s perspectives and experiences of their health and healthcare needs,” says Sawatzky. Three other twu professors hold Canada Research Chairs: Peter Flint, Ph.D., Dead Sea Scrolls Studies; Eve Stringham, Ph.D., Developmental Genetics and Disease; and Jens Zimmermann, Ph.D., Interpretation, Religion and Culture. – wdl
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12 trinity western | 2014
partnerships
few years. In 1966, they returned to Langley and bought their first family farm—a poultry farm run by Ann and their children, John, Janet, and Jennifer—now in its 48th year of Generous gift honours late husband operation. In 1984, Tom bought his first cranberry farm in Glen Valley. “He didn’t have a great command of English, and father, and preserves Langley’s but my dad had a brilliant mind,” says Janet. green space by wendy delamont lees He also cared for others, often plowing neighbourhood streets in winter, or helping those down on their luck. That a canopy of evergreens towers over an inscribed generosity extended to the stray cats and dogs people dropped stone, marking the entrance to the Thomas Blaauw Memorial off in the woods. “My dad was the big tough guy,” Janet says, Forest. About 100 meters down the pathway, a bench beckons “but he’d often share his lunch with some stray that found its visitors to sit a while. way to the farm. Even when cranberry season was over, he’d For years Thomas passed by this land, then known as still drive by the farm to feed the cats.” Grey Pit in the Glen Valley Forest, on his way to and from his Sadly, Tom passed away on August 25, 2012. His cranberry farm. Often, he remarked what a beautiful piece of family searched for a tangible way to honour his life in the property it was. “He liked the green space, the freedom,” says community he loved so dearly. daughter Janet Wiens. “It’s a peaceful, quiet piece of property.” When they discovered that the land their beloved husband Originally from Holland, Tom immigrated to Canada as and father had admired for so long was on the market, they a young man, drawn by the promise of opportunity. Having grown up during the war years, he had to quit school to help “The circle was becoming complete, and support his family. “He always said if he ever got married and it felt like the right thing to do.” had his own family, he would provide more for them than he ever had,” his wife, Ann remembers. “He would do things knew they were on to something special. They decided to differently.” gift $2.5 million to twu to purchase the land. The donation It was a promise Tom kept. After he and Ann married and resulting land deal was the culmination of several groups, in 1960, the couple moved to Richmond, bc, to farm for a
Into the Woods
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 13
partnerships
k atrina grabowski ‘12
including the Township of Langley and environmental advocates Watchers of Langley Forests, working together to preserve Langley’s forested area for future generations. The deal ensures the forest remains available for environmental research, education, and recreational purposes. “Working with the Blaauw family has truly been a blessing as they have honoured their husband and father in such a unique way,” says Paul Weme, twu’s Vice President for Development. Although at the time the family wasn’t directly connected to Trinity Western, there were many links. As the project grew, the family was reminded of and re-introduced to old friends, new friends, and neighbours with twu connections. “The circle was becoming complete,” Ann says, “and it felt like the right thing to do.” In addition to the 25-acre property, the family recently gifted an additional $1 million to twu for the purchase of another two parcels adjacent to the existing land. “Tom was one to save the forest, save the trees,” says Ann. “He would always say to invest in land, because they don’t make any more.” “Knowing that the land is forever going to be preserved is wonderful,” says Janet. “The number of species the twu environmental studies students have found is amazing. What we’re doing now is continuing my dad’s legacy.”
wendy delamont lees
birds eye view of the glen valley forest
To view a map of the forest, visit twu.ca/intothewoods Kierra Obzera, nursing major;
the blaauw family with president bob kuhn and township of langley mayor DaviD DuecK, education jack major; froese Jessica Lin, communications major; Jeremy GutJahr, business major; rebecca birKner, biology major
KIERRA, nursing DAVID, education JESSICA, communications JEREMY, business REBECCA, biology
The future is in their hands – and yours. When you invest in Trinity Western University through your estate plan, you’re investing in students who will impact lives around the world. For your complimentary estate package, contact Inga Warnock at warnock@twu. ca or 604-513-2033.
7600 Glover Rd, Langley, BC, V2Y 1Y1 Spending of funds is confined to programs and projects approved by the University. Each restricted contribution designated towards such an approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason determined by the University, the remaining restricted contributions will be used where needed most as determined by the University.
14 trinity western | 2014 When you invest in Trinity Western University through your estate plan, you’re investing in students who leave TWU changed—and
chantel thiessen (’14) with friends in the jordan thiessen memorial courtyard
But they wanted to do more. “twu had a profound impact on Jordan’s short life,” says Shirley. “Transforming the Douglas Courtyard would not only honour Jordan, but it would benefit Scholarship and courtyard renovation future students as well.” honour the life of Jordan Thiessen Shirley threw herself into raising funds for both the scholarship and the courtyard project. “It gave me great joy to ask people to by wendy delamont lees participate,” she says. “When you’re knee deep in grief, not much makes you happy. But this did.” when jordan thiessen (’12) arrived on campus in the When the Jordan Thiessen Memorial Courtyard was dedicated fall of 2008, the budget-conscious environmental studies major September 14, 2013—on what would have been Jordan’s 24th worried about how far his meal plan might go. So birthday—Shirley says her heart “just exploded.” he spent his first three weeks eating blackberries Now when she’s on campus, Shirley visits the courtyard—often from the bushes he found on campus for finding students hanging out around the fire pit, enjoying the space. breakfast—until his parents, Carey (‘83) and “Jordan’s dream has come to fruition,” she says. “And we played a Shirley Thiessen, assured him that his sacrifice, part.” while thoughtful, was unnecessary. In addition to the fire pit, the courtyard features a water On a walk around campus, Jordan and Shirley, element, an arbor, and a garden area. “Every time a gift comes who is twu’s Director of Parent Engagement, in, we’ll add a new element and make it even more special,” says came upon what was then known as the Douglas Courtyard—an Shirley. “Visiting this courtyard overgrown area used mainly for tug-of-war competitions during is more meaningful than going to Fort Week. “Jordan thought if it had a fire pit, and some trees and Jordan’s gravesite. So much of his shrubs, it would be a beautiful space,” she remembers. character values were cemented at Trinity Western. He thrived “When you’re knee deep in grief, not here.” “Jordan lived to the fullest,” much gives you joy. But this did.” Shirley says, “and with gratitude.” When Jordan lost his life in a workplace accident on October 18, carey, shirley, chantel, and elise 2012—just 12 days after he married his university sweetheart, Elise (Malone ’12)—the family wanted to do something to honour his If you would like to contribute to the courtyard project, or memory. Asking God to leverage their grief for His glory, Shirley to the Jordan Thiessen Memorial Scholarship, please email and Carey established the Jordan Thiessen Memorial Scholarship Shirley Thiessen at shirley.thiessen@twu.ca. endowment.
Labours of Love
k atrina grabowski ‘12
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 15
wendy delamont lees
partnerships
scot t stewart ‘92
athletics
Mighty on the Ice and Off Spartan’s hockey coach leads team through season of growth by mark janzen trinity western men’s hockey coach Barret Kropf has a simple mantra: Win all day, every day. He preaches it. He lives it. And his team embodies it. The former Saskatchewan Roughriders chaplain was hired one year ago, following a second consecutive season that saw twu miss the playoffs. barret kropf In the year since, Kropf not only guided twu to a third-place finish in the regular season—the team’s best ever result—but he also coached the team to its first British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) championship series. For his efforts, Kropf was named BCIHL Coach of the Year. “Since the start of the season, Barret has done a good job of getting everyone on the same page and getting everyone to buy in,” says twu’s third-year captain Brad Bakken. “The guys embraced his message and because of that, the future looks bright.” Both on and off the ice, Kropf transformed his team’s culture. Simply stated, the players grasped his mantra. “The guys are committed to excellence every day,” Kropf says. “In the classroom, in the film room, in the weight room, in practice, and in their game preparation, the players are putting in the effort. 16 trinity western | spring ’14
They have to bring their lunch buckets and have to be committed to work and improve every day.” Over the Christmas break, Kropf and the team embarked on a missions and training trip to the Baltics. Learning to keep winning all day, every day, even when the schnitzel-laden diet became tiresome, helped the group to grow. “That trip solidified the stuff we have been talking about,” Kropf says. “The guys saw a different world view and were able to appreciate the things we have here. We have been given much, so we have much to give back.” The trip brought the team together like never before. “We had a chance to talk about our faith,” he says. “When you have a chance like that, guys become vulnerable. And when you learn about your teammates on a deeper level, that draws you closer together. The guys are now really going to battle for one another and ready go to war for each other.” That’s what happened in this year’s playoffs, as the Spartans fought to beat heavily-favoured Simon Fraser University in a threegame series. In the league championship series, the Spartans ultimately lost to Selkirk, but not before they took another step forward together. After the season’s final horn, Kropf stood in the middle of an exhausted dressing room. He wasn’t yet smiling. The wounds were too fresh. But what he uttered was optimism and confidence. This year was just the first step towards winning. “We didn’t finish second,” Kropf told his players. “We’re just building towards next year’s championship.” For updates on all the Spartans sports teams, visit gospartans.ca
athletics
scot t stewart ‘92
Lots of Goodwill, Not a Lot of Leg Room Basketball team represents twu in China the next time you’re uncomfortable on a long flight, you can at least know you have more leg room than these guys did. twu’s recent delegation to China was its basketball team. On October 12, 2013, as part of twu’s Goodwill China Tour, the Spartans men’s basketball squad took to the court in four major Chinese cities—Wuhan, Tianjin, Beijing and Shanghai, which have a combined population of 60 million. The Spartans came out on top against three other collegiate teams, Wuhan University of Technology, Tianjin Polytechnic University, and Tsinghua University. Trinity Western organized the tour to build on its growing relationships with these universities and government leaders in the Tianjin region. With the popularity of basketball in China, the team proved a great help in promoting twu in the area. “Sport not only bridges cultural divides,” says Associate Provost Phil Laird, Ph.D., who joined the team on the trip, “it also provides an opportunity to showcase twu as a university that invests in student impact and global engagement.” twu has been working with universities in China for nearly 20 years. Over the past 11 years, the University has shared Canadian teaching styles with over 100 visiting instructors from Tianjin. The program expanded to Wuhan in 2013, with the first group of teachers arriving in Langley in late September. Trinity Western also offers the only foreign-delivered mba program in Tianjin. The Great Wall mba, which is delivered in partnership with the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, was officially launched last October. – cz
twu competes against wuhan polytechnic university
“Each day, I am exposed to God’s grace, mercy, and favour over my life. Upon completion of my degree, my desire is to go back to Ethiopia and contribute to my country in a way that is pleasing to God.” bethlehem, 4th-year political science major recipient of a twu international scholarship
Give to student scholarships, missions trips, and other Trinity Western initiatives. You can even create your own project! Support TWU and make an impact.
Visit impact.twu.ca and discover how easy it is to give.
Spending of funds is confined to programs and projects approved by the University. Each restricted contribution designated towards such an approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason determined by the University, the remaining restricted contributions will be used where needed most as determined by the University.
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 17
k atrina grabowski ‘12
THE NEW ERA Time to Shine By Bob Kuhn ’72
18 trinity western | 2014
president bob kuhn can often be seen through the side door of his office , dictating letters before the start of another busy day.
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“T
HIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE”
k atrina grabowski ‘12
is the line from an old Sunday school chorus that I remember singing as a very young child. But what does that involve? Shining as a light for Christ is something we, as Christians, applaud. But in reality, we often choose to take the easier road of ensuring we are not noticed, don’t stand out, and definitely don’t rock the boat. In Canada, this has often been our story. But sometimes we find ourselves, by choice or not, in a place where we must let our little light shine— and it’s far from comfortable. This is where I found myself on two particular dates that will always be etched in my memory.
In some ways, it seems like a long time ago. November 9, 2000, two days before Remembrance Day, was a cold, early winter day in Ottawa. By comparison, only a short time ago, April 24, 2014, the week after Easter, was quite a warm spring day in Toronto. The two holidays are both important days, remembered by many for similar reasons. In their own way, both holidays represent a turning point, the recognition of a new era. For similar reasons, I will remember both November 9, 2000 and April 24, 2014. God was there then, just as He is here now. On November 9, 2000, I stood facing nine stern individuals robed in black. As my time ticked by, each of them at some point leaned forward from his or her place around the single, semi-circle dais, ready to pounce on any misspoken word or ask questions I could not have anticipated. On April 24, 2014, I faced 50 well-dressed men and women, some of whom were crowded around the large oak table that filled much of the room, while the remainder sat on stiff-backed chairs around the perimeter of the room. Very few smiled at me, or at all, as I stood shaking but ready to address them.
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4,914 days passed between the first date and the second date. Much more took place besides the passage of time. And while the two dates had similarities, there were a number of key differences. November 9, 2000, was the day I led a team of lawyers representing Trinity Western University, my alma mater, in the Supreme Court of Canada, where my school faced perhaps the most threatening challenge it had ever encountered. April 24, 2014, on the other hand, was the date that I spoke as the President of Trinity Western University to
pressure was the overarching prayer support of thousands of people, a few of whom lined the back wall of the packed courtroom. I knew that all I had to do was my best because, regardless, God was there as He had been in every prior courtroom. At the end of the day, exhausted, I felt a great confidence that a favourable outcome could be expected, despite the wait of many months for the court’s decision. The second event felt different. The Convocation Room of the 182-year-old
GOD WAS THERE THEN, JUST AS HE IS HERE NOW. Ontario’s Law Society of Upper Canada (lsuc). My speech was in response to the majority of its Benchers (parallel to the concept of directors) who had, some weeks before, made pointed and negative comments about twu and its proposed School of Law and future graduates. Appearing at the Supreme Court of Canada is a high watermark for any lawyer, as few get to hear their voices echoing in its historic chamber. As in our case, it represents the last in a long series of battles through the court system. Fortunately, our legal team—myself, Kevin Sawatsky, and Kevin Boonstra—had been successful in each of the battles leading to the final appeal court. But despite our successes, we knew that whatever was decided by a majority of those nine judges would determine everything. It was like a tied-up playoff series in hockey. It was all on the line and going to a final and deciding game. As we walked the few blocks from the Ottawa hotel to the austere court building on the banks of the Ottawa River, our briefcases and brains bulged with carefully annotated court documents and cases. I felt a strange, contradictory sense of both anticipation and calm. The only thing more evident to me than the overwhelming
Osgoode Hall, in which meetings of the Benchers are held, maintains much of its stately demeanor despite being too small and overcrowded with bodies and chairs, as it was on April 24, 2014. Sadly, the notation, “Let Right Prevail,” etched into the chair at the head of the table seemed, in my opinion, to be ignored by the majority that day. Having heard the strong submissions made by the lineup of lsuc Benchers who had, two weeks earlier, come down hard on twu and its community covenant, I knew we were facing a difficult, if not impossible, situation. They seemed to have made up their minds. Amazingly, many senior lawyers, skilled in diplomatic language and lucid argument, seemed, in my view, to have replaced objectivity and legal analysis with emotional rhetoric and questionable reasoning. Some of them even compared Trinity Western University with oppressive, totalitarian regimes and horrific, historical tragedies. On the morning of April 24, jetlagged and having stayed up most of the night preparing my final submission, I had begun to feel ill and my Parkinson’s tremor increased noticeably. I was becoming increasingly aware of the impossibility of effectively rebutting points made passionately and publicly (via online
THE SCHOOL OF LAW CONTROVERSY
MAY 17, 2001 The Supreme Court of Canada rules 8-1 in favour of TWU (BCCT vs. TWU), stating that, “the concern that graduates of TWU will act in a detrimental fashion in the classroom is not supported by any evidence.”
JUNE 18, 2012 Trinity Western University submits a proposal for a new law school to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC).
DECEMBER 16, 2013 The FLSC approves the TWU School of Law.
DECEMBER 18, 2013 The BC Ministry of Advanced Education approves the School of Law.
FEBRUARY 22, 2014 The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) passes a resolution to prohibit discrimination in “all legal education programs” at its Mid-Winter Meeting in Ottawa. The resolution calls upon the law societies not to accept TWU’s law school graduates into their bar admission programs on the basis of its community covenant.
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 21
The BC Civil Liberties Association writes an open letter in support of the TWU School of Law and TWU’s right to have a community covenant.
APRIL 11, 2014 The Law Society of British Columbia votes 20 to 6 in favour of the TWU School of Law.
APRIL 14, 2014 A petitioner represented by Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby commences a lawsuit against the BC Minister of Advanced Education to challenge the Province’s December 2013 approval of the TWU School of Law.
APRIL 24, 2014 The Law Society of Upper Canada votes 28 to 22 to bar TWU law graduates from articling or practicing in Ontario, despite the FLSC’s approval of the TWU School of Law.
APRIL 25, 2014 The Barristers’ Society of Nova Scotia votes 10 to 6 to bar TWU law graduates from articling or practicing in Nova Scotia, unless TWU changes its community covenant or makes it optional for law students.
MAY 6, 2014
The roll call vote that followed my submissions did not allow opportunity for the Benchers to avoid public scrutiny. In normal circumstances, I would’ve agreed with an open show of hands. But in this case, I knew that transparency in the form of a vote in favour of the Trinity Western University School of Law would mean at least some public criticism, much more than in the case of a vote opposed. Indeed, while discouraged with the 28 to 22 result, I felt like applauding the courage of those who voted in favour of Trinity Western’s position—as had the bc Benchers the week before. It was the first defeat we had suffered in the defense of religious freedom. But I knew it was not likely to be our last. I found myself asking how this dramatic reversal could take place? From the heights of the Supreme Court of Canada victory to the depths of defeat at the hands of a majority of Ontario Benchers seemed a long way to have fallen in 13 years.
It was in the juxtaposition of these two dates, November 9, 2000 and April 24, 2014, and the resulting decisions, that I was confronted with what I have begun to call the “new era.” As Western society has stumbled into the new millennium, it seems to have chosen to speed up the pace with which it abandons Christian values, forsaking all but popular opinion. It is as if we, as developed cultures, having passed the pinnacle of our global ascendancy, now fail to recognize that our quest for greater freedom and equality has led to a kind of moral anarchy. “That was then and this is now!” This is the chant of reason that justifies departing from the seemingly unacceptable parameters of Christian values. It is no longer a biblically-literate population that interprets and applies the millennia-old truths of Scripture. Rather, we look to science and secular norms, as if one can discern wisdom and truth in seconds by doing a Google search. We have, without question, entered a new era. It is a time when community has given way to the lordship of individuality. It is a generation when tomorrow is too long to wait for fulfillment of today’s expectations. It is an era in which the only absolute is that there is no such thing as an absolute. It is an age that echoes the strangely familiar
carmen tomé
MARCH 2, 2014
live streaming). Despite my fears, when I began to speak I felt at peace, even though I knew I was going to say some things that would displease some, or even many, of those Benchers who were listening. Like my Supreme Court of Canada appearance 13 and a half years earlier, it became a lifedefining moment.
TWU announces that it is taking legal action in Ontario and Nova Scotia to defend the right of its law graduates to article and practice in those provinces. In addition, TWU announces it will apply to be added as a Respondent to the litigation against the BC Government so that it has opportunity to present arguments to the BC court.
For the latest School of Law updates, visit twu.ca/lawschool
bob kuhn , j. d., kevin sawatsky, j. d., and kevin boonstra , j. d., during the 2001 twu v. bcct case
22 trinity western | spring ’14
k atrina grabowski ‘12
bob kuhn , j. d., janet epp buckingham , ll . d., and kevin sawatsky, j. d., continue to defend minority religious rights in canada
words of dystopian Judge Dredd: “I am the law.” We live at a point in history where relativism reigns and faith must pass the litmus test of academic rigour or be rejected. But even now, in these darkening days of popular enlightenment, there is a brighter flame of hope. It is a rugged radiance reflected by a counterculture designed by Christ who said, “I am the light of the world.” It is the Savior who comes with a calling to sacrificial love. It is our Creator, who bids us believe that He is greater than all we can imagine. However, in the daily-ness of life, we often forget that succeeding as Christians does not mean achieving a life of ease, a life of acceptance. Our success is defined by how we follow Jesus in order to impact the world for Him. We are called to shine as a little light in the darkness, as insignificant and frightening as that may seem. For us, it is a new era in Canada, one dominated by the demands of secularism. But, despite the potentially harsh realities for Christians clinging to their faith, it is not a time to be discouraged; it provides us with a whole new opportunity to shine for Him. Trinity Western University stands on the edge of this new era of opportunity. Its miracle-marked 52-year history has established twu’s place as a leader, not just in Christian post-secondary education, but in the vanguard of university academic and athletic endeavours. As public universities are struggling just to make their campuses safe, Trinity Western has long provided a positive, healthy, transformative, and faith-affirming environment where the tough
questions of life can be explored in a world increasingly unfriendly towards evangelical Christianity. It does not create leaders. God does that. But it develops the potential in young men and women so that they might find their calling to servant leadership, helping to address the loneliness, purposelessness, and lack of inner peace felt by many.
BUT EVEN NOW, IN THESE DARKENING DAYS OF POPULAR ENLIGHTMENT, THERE IS A BRIGHTER FLAME OF HOPE. It can take a lifetime of preparation to become the leaders we were intended to be. And it takes a trustworthy and purposeful community to provide for that personal development to take place. Trinity Western University is such a community. It is giving hope for the New Era now, just as it did then. Now, in this time when twu has been thrust into the national news and engages in what might again be a long and difficult battle, it is still reassuring to know that God is in control. When I came to twu as a student 42 years ago, I never would have dreamed that my life story would be so intertwined with that of Trinity Western— but now, looking back and ahead, I see another part of twu’s journey being woven into my own: God’s unpredictable and always challenging story.
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wendy delamont lees
A PASSAGE TO ISRAEL student-intiated trip to the holy land fosters passion for the global church By Wendy Delamont Lees
l- r: paul robinson , kristin sikkema , leanne jeffrey (‘14), anna hayashi , and walter brynjolfson (‘14) on campus before embarking on their missions trip to israel
ISRAEL.
For most North Americans, knowledge of this land, where Christianity, Islam, and Judaism converge, comes from what we read in the papers or see broadcast on television. There seems to be a disconnect between the Israel of today and the Israel of the Bible—where Christ was born, performed miracles, suffered the cross, and rose again. Yet for those fortunate enough to experience it, this troubled region—steeped in history and scarred by centuries of conflict— has the power to bring the scriptures to life. For the third consecutive summer, five twu students are currently serving in Israel as part of Trinity Western University’s Global Projects program. “What strikes me most,” says third-year geography major and team co-leader Anna Hayashi, “is how sacred the space feels. The land itself seems both alive and ancient.” For four of the trip’s six weeks, Hayashi and the student team— including co-leader Paul Robinson, a fourth-year Christianity and
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culture and biblical studies major; third-year nursing major Kristin Sikkema; business major Walter Brynjolfson (’14), and sociology major Leanne Jeffery (’14)—are volunteering at SERVE Nazareth’s Edinburgh Medical Society Missionary Hospital, also known as the English Hospital, in Nazareth. Their placements include working in occupational therapy, the psychiatric ward, the medical ward, chaplaincy, and in sterilization. Situated in the Galilee region of Israel, the city of Nazareth has long been celebrated by Christians as the childhood home of Jesus. Today it is the most important Arab centre in the state of Israel. While many tourists visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem, far fewer visit Nazareth. “In Israel, there is a dual economy,” says twu Associate Professor of Political and International Studies Paul Rowe, Ph.D., “and Palestinians often suffer for lack of connections with the major Israeli tour companies. It’s ironic that Jesus spent most of his life in Nazareth, but tourists spend so little time there.”
walter brynjolfson ‘14
students look out over the city of nazareth
walter brynjolfson ‘14
spices , herbs , and pita in the nazareth village
An expert in Middle East politics, Rowe has served as an advisor to each of the three Global Projects teams that have travelled to the region, educating them on what to expect. “This is not like typical missions trips where you go to build something,” says Hayashi. “The body of Christ is all about sharing burdens and joys. This trip is about the power of facechelsea ayers (‘14) initiated the global projects israel trip. to-face interactions and honouring a person’s humanity by looking them in the eye and sharing presence with them.” It’s exactly that type of interaction that compelled psychology major Chelsea Ayers (’14) to propose the initial Israel missions
trip, which took place in 2012. Ayers, who as a high school student travelled to the region with Living Bread International in 2010, pitched the idea to twu’s Director of Global Projects Johannah Wetzel. “I wanted other students to discover the truth I found in Israel,” she says. To qualify as a Global Projects trip, students must partner with existing organizations or churches. With internships lined up with SERVE Nazareth (which connects volunteers with ministries in the region), and Musalaha (a non-denominational organization that builds bridges between Christians over divided lines), Ayers’ request was approved. “We’re passionate about doing short-term missions with long-term vision,” says Wetzel. “As students go on these trips, we challenge them to go as learners and to come back as world-changers.” Deeply influenced by her overseas experience, Ayers is now considering doing her graduate degree at the University of Tel Aviv,
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leanne jeffrey ‘14
kristin sikkema with
“hannah,” a local weaver
“Christ walked and spoke and grew up where these people buy their groceries, go to school, and sleep every night.”
where she has been accepted into the Trauma and Crisis Studies program. In the long term, she plans to pursue trauma and crisis counselling, and perhaps a Ph.D. for teaching research and practice in trauma and crisis. “Israel feels like home,” she says. “I found a bit of myself there.” “It’s a privilege to foster and empower student initiative and passion in such a manner,” Wetzel says. “When students return from these trips, they come back more aware and discerning about global issues, more passionate about the global church, and more sensitive to the needs of others.” Part of that sensitivity means resisting the temptation to take sides. “We encourage students to see their role as helping strengthen the Church among Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians,” says Rowe, who, while not part of the 2013 team, was in Israel at the same time last summer. As a researcher, Rowe put together a project that some of the 2013 team members were part of. The project, which examined how Christians contribute to their societies through civil organizations and social concern, gave one of those students—who wrote his thesis on the project—the opportunity to do groundbreaking research. When talk of the 2014 trip came up, Hayashi—who had applied to be part of the 2013 team but gave up her spot so a graduating student could go—knew this time it was meant to be. The experience thus far has given her opportunities to explore, discover, and observe the land and its inhabitants. “Christ walked and spoke and grew up where these people buy their groceries, go to school, and sleep every night,” says Hayashi, 26 trinity western | 2014
wearing first- century costumes to serve at a special event in nazareth village
who has been appointed as the 2014-15 Global Projects summer missions coordinator. “Regardless of religious stance, the fact that Christ literally, physically walked before them in their daily lives affects how families and individuals move within their space here.” “The weighty reality of Christ’s universal love is embedded in the powerful sanctity of what it means to have had His real, human feet tread these rocks,” Hayashi says. “The people may fight, but the land does not choose sides.”
a day in a life
AFTER HOURS A glimpse into the vibrant student life at TWU photography by katrina grabowski ’12
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“The growth, wake-up calls, slaps in the face, mountain top experiences, and life-changing moments that have occurred as a result of my involvement at TWU will forever shape who I am.”
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– Cody Friesen, 5th-year theatre major, 14/15 TWUSA President
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“The community here at TWU has demonstrated to me day in and day out that fellowship is one of the most precious gifts given to us by Christ.” – Hannah Marazzi, 5th-year history major t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 29
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“Getting involved on campus encompasses a degree of risk. This is because you will grow, and growth often is painful, yet this is where life is richest.”
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– Jennifer Newman, 4th-year nursing major (Below: Jen takes the stage for Open Mic Night in the Lower Cafeteria)
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1+7. CAN-AM HOCKEY 2+8. SAMC THEATRE BACKSTAGE 3 + 4. MARS’ HILL IN PRODUCTION 5. JAZZ ENSEMBLE 6. PILLAR YEARBOOK OFFICE 9. TWUSA BBQ 10. DORM PAINT FIGHT 11+12. OPEN MIC NIGHT For more After Hours photos, go to twu.ca/afterhours
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twu alumni
ALUMNI UPDATES We often hear from alumni that updates are a magazine highlight. So we decided to devote the entire alumni section to updates—with stories of mum alums, pilots, professors, geocachers, bakers, kidney donors, and more. Enjoy! Read more alumni stories at twualumni.org/the-column
1967 RICHARD COLEMAN and his wife Debbie live in Aldergrove, BC. They have three children (two of whom are TWU alumni) and eight grandchildren. Richard went on to further studies after TWU and worked in construction, design, and management for a number of years before starting his own company, Titan Construction, in 1986. He is presently “trying” to retire. Richard expressed his gratitude, saying “God has greatly blessed our family and our business.”
1970 ROGER WELSH finished two years at Trinity Junior College in 1970, and received a BA at Fresno Pacific College in 1972 followed by a MDiv from Talbot Theological Seminary. He joined the us Army as a chaplain and worked in that capacity until 1996. He married Jane Showalter in 1985 while serving at Fort Ord, CA. A local pastor for 12 years, Roger retired in 2009, and now serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Capitola Police Department. His best memories are from his friendships and experiences at TJC!
PERKY VETTER (’70)
in love with teaching Perky recently completed 40 years of teaching, 35 of them at California State Polytechnic University, in Pomona, ca, where she directed a motor development clinic for disabled children. Currently, she is the Department Chair of Kinesiology and Health Promotion for undergraduate, graduate and credential programs. Her time at Trinity Junior College and on the women’s volleyball and basketball teams prepared her for a career in education, and provided her with lifelong friendships, for which she gives God the glory.
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twu alumni
1972 ARNE OLSON and LUCY (WARDLE) have eight grandchildren and life is full! Lucy is still working, whereas Arne is fortunate to be retired after 32 years of flying for Air Canada. For the last two years he has been flying part-time as a crop duster. This past year, he was actively involved with the Special Olympics 2013 BC Summer Games, serving as Chair of the Games Organizing Committee.
1979 MICHELLE SCHOFIELD BULL is now studying at the Atlantic School
of Theology, pursuing a MDiv degree, with a view to being ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. She graduates in the spring of 2016. Her family includes her husband Charles and her kids, Joanna, Daniel, and Peter.
1986 DAVID G. WHITE works as a professor of photography at the Sheridan Institute in Oakville, ON. You can see some of his work at davidgrahamwhite.com
1987
TIM STEPHENSON is a chemistry and astronomy teacher at Walnut Grove Secondary School in Langley. Sheryl is a personal trainer at Innovative Fitness in Abbotsford and a sessional instructor in Human Kinetics at UFV. Their two older boys, Josh and Cody, are both TWU students who have played for the Spartans’ Men’s Hockey Team. Their daughter Katie, grade 10, and son Jackson, grade 8, both attend Langley Fundamental Secondary School.
1989
CARL AND KIM (CHIGRO) MATTEI are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this June, along with the graduation of their daughter Kaitlyn from Whitworth Univ. Their son Colton plays NCAA I lacrosse at Mercer Univ. in Macon, GA. Carl coaches basketball
JULIE (GRANT) KERR moved to Calgary
ARLIN KOCH (’80)
everything’s better in three hills After graduating from twu’s business program in 1980, Arlin co-managed his father’s gm dealership for 10 years, and then worked with a local Petro Canada bulk dealer for three. For the past 18 years, he has been involved in all aspects of The Co-operators insurance company, where he sells and services insurance products. He enjoys working in the life insurance industry, as he gets to help meet the needs of many young families. Deeply involved in community life in Three Hills, ab, Arlin enjoys numerous hobbies including theatre, golfing, cars, Nascar, and travel. He has attended various Nascar races and has been to Hawaii, Mexico, Cuba, and all across the States.
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at Regis Jesuit High, and Kim works as an Office Manager at APS Denver Inc.
in October 2013, where she lives with her husband of 25 years, Michael, and sons, Sterling (13) and Julian (10). Their two daughters, Cameo (21) and Tiara (18), attend TWU, taking Education and Business. The family grew in December with Cameo’s marriage to Jeremy Rempel. Julie is Senior Operating Officer at Alberta Health Services, where she is responsible for Community, Rural, and Mental Health services in the Calgary zone. She has enjoyed reconnecting with TWU as a parent and alumna in recent months.
LEANNE EDWARDS switched careers to the field of accounting. Three years later, she started her own accounting services business, Hawkeye Accounting Services. She still enjoys using her chemistry skills in the kitchen for cooking, baking, and crafting. You can take the girl out of chemistry, but you can’t take chemistry out of the girl!
1996 ALLEN WADE PETERS After 14 years of service, Wade left the Canadian Armed Forces and moved with his family (wife Jenilee and sons Brevan, Jackson, and Degan) to Kelowna, BC, where he now works as an Operations Coordinator for Flair Airlines. Although no longer in the Army full time, Wade still serves part-time as a reservist with the British Columbia Dragoons in the Okanagan Valley.
1998 HEATHER (SOMERVILLE) THIESSEN is
a stay-at-home mom to two little blessings, Sadie Anne (3) and Jackson Abraham (2). She is also the Administrator, Special Education for a DL school based out of Nelson. She and her husband Ed live in Abbotsford, BC, and are involved in HillCity Church.
1999
Choose to become a monthly I This Place donor before June 30, 2015 and your total donation will be doubled. Your $50/month donation becomes $100/month, or $1,200 total for the year! A dedicated group of alumni, believing in the vision of the new Alumni Association and in the leadership of the University, has committed to match all new alumni giving through the I This Place initiative, up to $100,000. Less than 3% of alumni choose to make a financial contribution to TWU each year. If alumni are going to impact the life of the University, this has to change. I This Place is one of the most practical ways alumni can ensure that TWU delivers transformational experiences for years to come. Become a heart donor today and share the love.
COREY & MELANIE DYER recently
Mike Sambrook ('95, '13) Director of Alumni Stewardship
moved back to Airdrie, AB, after five years in Toronto, ON. Corey is flying for WestJet Encore and Melanie is a stayat-home mom to Marlayna (5), James (3), and Amy (20 months).
ilovethisplace.ca Spending of funds is confined to programs and projects approved by the University. Each restricted contribution designated towards such an approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason determined by the University, the remaining restricted contributions will be used where needed most as determined by the University.
twu alumni
wendy delamont lees
GARRY SKIDMORE (’94)
the skidmore family
you can have mine twu alumnus donates kidney to a stranger to save his son As a parent you’d do anything for your child—even if it meant donating a kidney to a perfect stranger. That’s exactly what twu alumnus Garry Skidmore (’94) did for his son, as part of one of the largest living donor paired exchanges in Canada. Garry stops to catch his breath when he thinks back to the moment he and his wife Kirsten (Syverson ’94)—who met and married as twu students—gave their son back to God. Born with a blocked urethral valve, Alex spent more of his first year in the hospital than he did at home.
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by claire colvin ’99
When Alex was just three weeks old, the doctors took the couple aside and told them this was the end of the road. “You don’t have days with him anymore,” the doctor said. “You have hours.” There was a decision to make. They could do nothing, and watch Alex slip into a coma as the toxin level in his body rose, or try what was then an experimental surgery. Garry and Kirsten went home to pray. After much time on their knees, they decided to do nothing. Garry remembers telling family members, “We’re not giving up on Alex, but we’re raising
twu alumni
our hands and giving him up to God.” That was a Friday. The next day, Alex’s toxin levels began to drop. At first, the doctors thought it was a tabulation error—but the levels continued to go down. Suddenly, Alex had a fighting chance. As he grew and gained weight, Alex became a candidate for a kidney transplant. Many family members were willing to donate and after the tests were complete, both Garry and his mother Clarice were viable matches. They decided to have Alex’s grandma donate first. The transplant took place in 2002, and for a while, life went back to normal. But transplanted kidneys don’t last forever. On average, a donated kidney lasts 15 years. Just eight years after the transplant, Alex’s body began to reject the organ. It was heartbreaking news for the family. There were family members
I tell him, ‘You are a story that’s being told. I know it’s not fun for you, and I wish none of us had to go through this, but there is a reason that you’re still here. You’re still part of our family. Your journey isn’t over yet.’” After two matches fell through, the Skidmores finally got the call they were waiting for: a kidney was available through a domino surgery, involving six donors and six recipients. It was one of the largest living donor paired exchanges in Canada. The doctors told them that the donor kidney was an almost perfect match for Alex. It was nothing short of a miracle. On June 30, 2011, Garry had surgery in Ottawa, while Kirsten stayed in Vancouver with Alex. It was difficult to be apart at such a crucial time, but they were glad to make the sacrifice. Garry’s surgery was a success and later that evening he got the news he’d been waiting for: Alex’s new kidney was working. A week later Garry and Alex were reunited and recuperating at home, comparing scars and stories. Garry described the experience as a great time to bond. “I still don’t know what it’s like to be sick. But at least I can say that I’ve been through part of the war with him.”
“At the end of the day, you’re giving your organ away. If I’m going to get something for Alex, I don’t care. You do what you have to do for your family.”
garry and alex
willing to donate but this time around, no one was a match; antigens from a number of blood transfusions had built up in Alex’s body and those new antibodies made him incompatible. The hospital contacted Garry about the living donor paired exchange program, which registers pairs like Alex and his dad, in cases where there’s a patient who needs a kidney and a donor who’s willing to give one but isn’t a match. As Garry described it, “At the end of the day, you’re giving your organ away. If I’m going to get something for Alex, I don’t care. You do what you have to do for your family.” The wait for a match began. “I’ve told Alex he’s special,” Garry said. “He always asks the question, ‘Why me, Dad? Why do I have to go through all this?’
Today Alex is an active 15-year-old, a hockey buff and an ardent Vancouver Canucks fan. He’s got a huge amount of fight in him. That’s why his parents named him Alexander, which means “strength.” He’ll be on anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life but he’s thriving. Through various projects and scholarships, Garry and Kirsten have remained involved with their alma mater. They hope one day their sons—Cameron (17), Alex, and Eric (13), who are all athletic—will get the chance to be Spartans. Looking back, Proverbs 3:5-6 stands out in Garry’s mind. When your child is fighting for his life and there’s nothing you can do, the words “lean not on your own understanding” take on a whole new meaning. “I have no idea what Alex’s path is,” Garry says. “I’m not in control.” He takes comfort in knowing the One who is. “We pray about everything. Nothing is too small,” he says. “We look back now and see that we were never alone. God really took care of us.”
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twu alumni
ANDREW OAKES (’01)
2003 COLIN WOOD and his wife Sarah welcomed their first child, Elizabeth Anne, into the world on December 19, 2013. The Woods currently live in Louisville, KY, where Colin studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
MELISSA (KROEKER) and KEITH REED live in Surrey, BC. Keith
extremely canadian Andrew Oakes, his wife, Rebecca, and two kids, Nathan (12) and Julianne (9) are currently enjoying the extreme environment in Yellowknife, nt. Andrew flies the Twin Otter light utility aircraft for the Canadian military, travelling to locations thousands of miles from civilization, even as far north as Tanquary Fiord. He recently took an arctic survival course in Resolute Bay, nu, where a local Inuk led the group in making snow caves and surviving for a week in -40°c conditions. Cold winters with amazing northern lights starkly contrast with midnight summer fishing trips, and the Oakes family is loving their three-year Canadian adventure.
2001 SUZANNAH V. (WORL) CALVERY graduated with her Ph.D. in Education from Seattle Pacific University in 2013 and has since been working in program evaluation, education research, and consulting—though she is looking to get back into the classroom. She dedicates her doctoral degree to Barbara Pell, a mentor and friend who showed her that it was possible to have it all: adventures, family, and education.
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2002 MARILYN J. CUDMORE After graduating from the Masters of Counselling Psychology program in 2002, Marilyn worked both with the BC Ministry of Children and Families and in private practice. She is currently working on a doctorate at Royal Roads University while also serving on the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra’s Board of Directors with her husband. Marilyn plays piano in her spare time. She and her husband moved to one the most beautiful natural locations on the south Vancouver Island coast. Their 10 grandchildren enjoy it too!
serves as the Associate Pastor of Jericho Ridge Community Church in Langley. After working for seven years in the Admissions Office at TWU, Melissa is now a stay-at-home mom to Hudson (4) and Hailey (1.5). The Reeds enjoy playing trains and dolls, going for walks, and cheering for the Seahawks.
JAMES I. LEE graduated from acts in 2003 and served as the Executive Director of Vancouver Urban Ministries until the end of June last year. At that time, he moved to Ontario to begin a full-time position as chaplain to men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces. James still considers Vancouver his home, and hopes to make regular visits back to see his friends and supporters.
2005 JEFF THIESSEN and Stacey Hrubizna were married on May 4th, 2013. Jeff continues in his role as Bookstore Manager on campus, and Stacey is an ER nurse in Abbotsford. They have made Chilliwack, BC, their home.
JONATHAN MCCAULEY has taken his talents to Brisbane, Australia and the University of Queensland after several years of managing the TWU and UBC Financial Aid offices. He says “G’day” to all his former classmates, students he worked with, and those who wore the black and orange Bomber hockey uniform. “Time to go throw a shrimp on the barbie.”
JACLYN MUNS’ career in sports marketing has led her to spend time in NYC, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. She moved back to NYC
in the summer of 2010. She is currently the Marketing Director at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn. In her spare time, she serves on the Steering Committee of a national human rights organization and a non-profit organization supporting women in sports. She also sits on the Board of Directors of a women’s basketball league, where she also plays.
2006 ADDILYN (STREET) RATCLIFF was married in November 2010 to Michael Ratcliff from Bella Coola, BC. They live in 100 Mile House, BC, with their twin daughters Nevaeh Joy and Karleena Hope, born October 2011, and Elijah Michah, born October 2013. Michael works as a small engine mechanic and Addilyn worked as a TTOC for the local school district before becoming a stay at home mom. Involved in
their local church, they love spending time exploring the outdoors and enjoying the continual adventure of their life!
TRUDI ATTEMA enjoyed serving with Mercy Ships along with four fellow TWU nursing graduates: Hannah (Hoffman ’06) Calvert, Karin (Larson ’07) Benson, Laura Ziulkowski (’05), and Brian Drebert (’06) last year. They lived and worked aboard the Africa Mercy, providing free surgeries to people in some of the poorest countries in the world, including Guinea and Congo. Trudi returned to Calgary, AB, in June last year and is now working in PICU at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
DAVE AZUMA (’07)
the dream job What do you do with a ba in Communications and a love for sports? Why, sports broadcasting, of course. At least that’s what David Azuma (’07) did. He currently works as an associate producer for Rogers Sportsnet in Toronto, but got his start in broadcasting right here at twu. “I was involved with Spartan Web Radio,” recalls Azuma.
“We broadcasted Spartans basketball, volleyball, as well as a few soccer games. I was the play-by-play announcer and worked alongside my friend Jon Adams, who also works at Sportsnet now.” Along with extra curricular activities, Azuma says the classes he took really shaped his world view. “I think I have more of a conscience for [ethical issues] and how television in particular can have a big effect on people’s opinions,” he says, recalling a class discussion on media ethics. “The media holds a lot of power, and we have an obligation to use it wisely.” Today, Azuma works primarily on the Hockey Central show. He is now producing shows, and finds the process quite enjoyable. “Producing comes with more responsibility, because you’re in charge of determining the content of the show,” he says. “You might begin with what you think is a terrific plan, but if news breaks, or something unexpected happens in a game, your original plan gets thrown out, and you have to adapt to the situation.” Azuma is grateful every day to be in a line of work he enjoys. “Not many people can count watching hockey games and talking hockey with former nhl players among their day-to-day job duties,” he says. – ar
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twu alumni
DICK MOES (’07) & FAMILY
the moes family smiles for their annual christmas snapshot
a family of alumni Sometimes, becoming a twu alum runs in the family. This is true for Dick (DMin ’07) and Elsina Moes’ clan; all five of their children graduated from Trinity Western. Dick serves as pastor of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Cloverdale, bc, and a as sessional lecturer at rite Seminary in Donetsk, Ukraine. A lifelong learner with an amazing resource like twu in his backyard, he continues to audit courses and participate in activities to keep up his Greek and Hebrew. His wife, Elsina, loves organizing data, and has been performing that essential role at twu since 2002. All three Moes daughters are teachers and two of them have married teachers. Emily
CRISELDA APRILYN IGUIDEZ moved to Chicago and Milwaukee to teach in the inner-city after graduation. Upon returning to Vancouver, April served as a Missions Director at Fleetwood International Church. Currently she is the Ministry Director at UrbanPromise Vancouver, an international organization that ministers to urban children,
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youth, and families. Recently married, she and her husband are living near TWU and planning a honeymoon that will include backpacking Southeast Asia and working in several orphanages.
2008
(ba ’99), is a special needs teacher for an online school. She lives in Langley with her husband, Adam, a vice principal and part-time instructor in twu’s Education Program and their two children. MaryAnne (bba ’01), also works for an online school, as a teacher and grad counsellor, and lives in Langley with her teacher husband, Burke, and their four children. Lydia (B.Ed. ’07) teaches English at Immigrant Services in Halifax, where she lives with her husband Bruce—who founded an urban planning firm there— and their two children. Before settling in Nova Scotia, they spent two years travelling and teaching English in Korea with several other twu alumni. Ian (bba ’03), and his wife, Jolene, live in Langley with their two girls. Ian, a partner with Kuhn llp, argued a religious freedom case at the Supreme Court of Canada in March 2014. Reuben (bba ’07), lives with his wife Cassie (Barradas, B.Ed. ’10) in Toronto. He works with several twu alumni as a developer at Domain7, and Cassie had so much fun at twu’s 11:07 improv nights that she now studies improv comedy at The Second City. With 10 grandchildren already in the picture, Dick and Elsina hope their family’s twu tradition will continue! – af
She is now working with inner city kids in the Chilliwack school district, continuing to see miracles and transformation in the lives of students.
GABRIELA LABASTIDA’S life these
LAUREN (WILLIAMS) DOLARIAN is
past few years can be best summed up in one word: revival. She worked as a High School English teacher for three years, then travelled to Puebla, Mexico, where, for eight months she taught grade six and lived with nine teenage girls at an orphanage.
living in her hometown of Fresno, CA. She spent four years using her Human Services degree from TWU as a Social Worker in Fresno, and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After her May graduation, she
twu alumni
wendy delamont lees
RUSSELL LENG (’09)
landscape painting 2 . acrylic , spray paint on wood panel . 20” x 24”
created to create “Art was always something I just did,” says Russel Leng (’09), who both majored and minored in art as a twu student. “I took every single art class I could. I made my own bfa, essentially.” Citing the influence of Erica Grimm, Ph.D., Doris Auxier, and Sharalee Regehr, Leng is thankful for his time at Trinity Western. “You build relationships,” he says, “and the encouragement you get and give is more than in a larger program.” A year after graduation, Leng married Bethany Meckelburg (’09) and in 2011, the pair moved to Scotland so Leng could pursue his Master’s of Fine Arts degree at the University of Edinburgh. Leng graduated in 2013, having gained a broader exposure to the art world. “As an artist, you need to constantly redefine your own tastes,” he says. “Otherwise you’ll just keep making the same work all the time.” Throughout his career, Leng has displayed his work at
exhibitions worldwide, including Beers.Lambert (London), ffdg (San Francisco), Hungryman Gallery (San Francisco and Chicago), Fleming Collection (London), Embassy Gallery (Edinburgh), Parts Gallery (Toronto), and Trench Contemporary Art (Vancouver). His work has been commissioned by Tiffany & Company, Aritzia New York, and Istanbul’s Raffles Hotel. Now back in Vancouver, Leng is working on two solo shows: an abstract painting show in Toronto and an installation in Calgary—inspired by sport and the themes of success and failure. “What it always comes back to for me is the site of creation,” he says. “The moment of making is the most exciting part. It inspires me to keep going, or to make a new piece.” “Being an artist is intertwined in who I am,” says Leng. “The fact that I’ve never really doubted my identity as an artist is a huge confirmation that this is the way God created me.” – wdl
Fresno. They love having outdoor adventures when they get the chance to take a break from their studies.
2009 TODD FOLEY began
plans to work toward California Licensure, becoming an LMFT. In September of 2012 she married Josh, a youth pastor from
working with Fraserway RV as a marketing writer in November, 2013. He and his wife Kristen had their first child, Abreanna, in January, 2014.
EMILY LYNCH works in TWU’s admissions office, helping students in Northern Alberta discern if TWU is the place for them. She also volunteers with her church as the social media coordinator. Engaged to fellow TWU alum Jeremy Wood, Emily is planning a Disney-themed wedding for June.
t wu. c a/mag a z i n e 39
twu alumni
ANDREW PERRIN graduated with a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from McMaster University in 2013. He was awarded a two– year postdoctoral fellowship to continue researching the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint at TWU. Aspects of his research have been featured in the Journal of Jewish Studies, Journal of Biblical Literature, Dead Sea Discoveries, and Revue de Qumran. He and his wife Tanya returned to Langley with two little ones in tow, Emma (3) and Jude (6 months).
not performing, John works as a consultant for The Humphrey Group, a company that teaches leadership through the lens of communication.
TRISHA (KINGCOTT) LOEHR married Jordan Loehr on October 19, 2013. In December, 2013 she started her dream job as a Communications Coordinator at YMCA Calgary—writing, tweeting, and blogging to help kids and families.
2011
2010 JOHN VOTH is living in Vancouver and loving being an actor. He recently gave a Jessie award nominated performance in Pacific Theatre’s “The Foreigner” and is looking forward to working with PT again in the fall. You can also catch him this summer at “Bard on the Beach.” When he’s
LEAH (CUMMINS) AND RYAN (CHRISTISON) CAMERON met in the final month of their respective programs and were married in front of their friends,
we are all in As the official apparel provider of the TWU Spartans, Adidas is pleased to offer a 40% discount to TWU alumni, students, faculty, and staff at the Langley Adidas store during TWU Alumni Weekend, Sep. 12-14, 2014. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT TWU.CA/ADIDAS2014
TWU
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
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2014
family, and many of their professors in 2013. In order to symbolize the beginning of a new house, they both took a new last name. Leah is continuing her studies at TWU in the Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities, while also teaching voice at her studio in Langley. Ryan continues to apply himself in an exciting career with the Christian Labor Association of Canada.
SPENCER ANDRES AND ELLIE BEATON were married on July 7, 2013 in Delta, BC. Ellie is working on her Masters of Public Health at the University of Alberta while Spencer completed his Masters of Arts in Planning from the University of Waterloo and is now working for a community planning consultant in Edmonton.
To submit your update for next Spring, visit twualumni.org/contact.
Join fellow alumni, current students, staff and faculty for a spectacular weekend of activities, entertainment, and connecting with everything that makes Trinity Western so special. Bring your whole family or fly solo. This is your weekend, your University – YOU BELONG HERE!
Saturday, Sept 13
Friday, Sept 12 • 11:07 Improv Comedy– Battle of the Decades! (7:11 & 9:30 pm shows)
Sunday, Sept 14 • Alumni Weekend Chapel & Closing Social
• • • • • • • •
Pancake Breakfast Camp Qwanoes Game Park Big, Big, Bouncy Land Spartan Sports Zone 4 Department Reunions and Tent Talks Alumni Association AGM Hutchinson Group Community Stage Class Reunions–2004,1989, 1979, and Early Years 1963-1974 • Alumni Distinction Awards Gala • Late Night with TWUSA
Register at twualumni.org/alumniweekend
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2014
PLATINUM PLUS
PLATINUM
k atrina grabowski ’12
back 40
Preserving Perspectives Digitizing twu’s student newspaper What do twu ’s gym and the Pacific Coliseum have in common? What world record was set at twu? Why did students love this place in 1969? we may never know the answers if not for the meticulous work of one of twu’s least-known experts—archivist Sylvia Stopforth. After receiving a grant from the bc History Digitization Program at ubc in May 2013, Stopforth set out to scan and upload every student newspaper printed since twu’s founding in 1962. Before becoming Mars’ Hill in 1996, twu’s student paper was known as tjc Pioneer, The Pioneer, Salmon River Digest, The Echo, Trinity Western Today, The Today, and twu Today. During this project, Stopforth has discovered just the type of interesting factoids one might expect in a student-run paper— tidbits long forgotten by the formal university establishment. For example, William K. Noppe, the architect behind the Pacific Coliseum, also designed the David E. Enarson Gymnasium. And in 1978, students broke a Guinness world record with a 48-hour soccer game. 42 trinity western | 2014
Early photographs preserve shared experiences that connect alumni through the decades—long-standing traditions such as Hootenanny or the Can-Am hockey game. “These images are often of people and events not represented in the Archives’ Historical Photograph Collection or elsewhere in our holdings,” says Stopforth. The paper reveals twu’s colourful history but also the changing perspectives of each new generation. To Stopforth, this is the real value. “It’s interesting to see things through students’ eyes and understand what matters to them. Each generation has a different slant on things.” With the help of student workers Nathan White, Nicolas Noble, and Ben Wukasch, Stopforth hopes to upload all issues up to spring 2012 by April 2015. Many are already viewable at twu.ca/ student-newspapers. So…why did students love this place in 1969? According to alumna Norma Bodin, quoted in the newly-digitized Salmon River Digest, “Where else but at t.j.c. can you . . . borrow a car (or a truck) from one of the profs for a weekend date?” – sl
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Magazine CANADA Trinity Western University 7600 Glover Road Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1
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Send change of address and comments to magazine@twu.ca Submit alumni updates to alumniupdates@twu.ca
elipsis
Acrylic on canvas. 36x48” by emily garrison ‘14