the Legend
M A RC H 2013
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
OPENMike
University of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon chats about what’s happening in the University community
One of the words that often comes up when the University of Lethbridge is in conversation with our civic leaders is that of community. The U of L plays an integral role in the Lethbridge community and it is not one I take lightly, rather it is at the heart of many of the things we do on a daily basis. Just recently, we invited the Lethbridge community to come to us and experience the University of Lethbridge through Play Day. It was one way of giving back to the community as a whole and opening our doors to the public. As the University looks ahead however, rather than only asking the community to come
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to us, we want to bring the U of L to the Lethbridge community. With the openings of the Penny Building and the new community arts centre, and subsequently a move of the U of L Music Conservatory downtown, the University is excited to be a driving force in the vitalization of the downtown core. The Penny Building represents a new direction for the University, as it brings several key elements of the University to downtown Lethbridge. The Office of Alumni Relations, as well as members of the Development office within University Advancement, has relocated downtown. As well, a new University gift shop and gallery space have
been constructed in the Penny, allowing an area for Fine Arts students to showcase their work to the general public. The community arts centre promises to be an iconic representation of the artistic culture of Lethbridge, and it is only fitting that the University is playing a major role in its development. By moving the Music Conservatory to the downtown area, the U of L is helping to give arts and culture a profile in this city that it has never before experienced. Our esteemed researchers are also looking to create more community connections through the development of the inaugural Community/University Research Exchange (CURE)
event, to be held Mar. 22. Designed to reduce barriers that might prevent collaboration between key business interests in the city and the U of L’s research expertise, CURE promises to increase the community’s accessibility to the University’s intellectual resources in a way that’s never been done before. One of the key points of discussion throughout the Strategic Plan consultation process was the theme of community and how the University’s contribution to Lethbridge is absolutely vital. This was further driven home during conversations with our Senate members, who expressed a great interest in furthering the University’s role in helping to support and shape
community initiatives. To that end, I can foresee the new Strategic Plan formalizing a community engagement strategy much in the same way that the University developed a formal strategy for First Nations Métis and Inuit initiatives and is working on a similar venture regarding internationalization. In this way, we are able to put to paper not only the University’s commitment to continuing to be a vital member of the Lethbridge community, but we recognize viable strategies to bolster our community relations activities.
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Taras Polataiko (Art) has work in the 2013 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art, entitled The News From Here, at the Art Gallery of Alberta from January 25 to May 5.
Edmonton) hosted by Piotr Grella-Mozejko. The Edmontonbased show is also broadcast in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, St. John’s, New York, the UK, Central Europe and Australia.
Adam Mason (Music) was in Hawaii in January to deliver an African drumming and dance presentation at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He also researched and transcribed traditional Polynesian drumming with indigenous master drummer, Lloyd Chandler.
Corinne Thiessen Hepher (BFA ’09, MFA candidate) recently had her work published in the peer reviewed online Cultural Studies Journal Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture. Collaborative text was published as well, based on a residency she did last summer.
The Faculty of Management appointed Dr. Shamsul Alam to the role of Acting MSc Director. Alam is a professor of management with an emphasis on finance. He will serve in the new role until a formal selection process for the position has been completed.
Joe Porter (MMus candidate) presented a Middle Eastern drumming clinic at Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Brian Parkinson (Drama) was the assistant director for the University of British Columbia Opera’s production of Dialogues des Carmélites by Francis Poulenc. He is also involved in two plays coming up in April as part of the 2013 Brave New Playrites Festival of New Short Plays at UBC. Dr. Rolf Boon (Music) and Dr. Arlan Schultz (Music) had their compositions presented on Avant-Garde & Beyond, a CJSR Radio show (on 88.5 FM
Donna Bilyk (BFA ’11) presents her MFA Thesis Exhibition Traces at the University of Saskatchewan’s Gordon Snelgrove Gallery in March. Matthew Jones (BFA ’12) recently had his work published in Our Canada magazine. Makambe Simamba’s (BFA Dramatic Arts major) play MUD was part of the Fresh Cuts: Lethbridge Stage Reading Series, co-presented by Alberta Playwrights’ Network & New West Theatre. MUD won the 2012 Alberta Playwriting Competition Discovery Prize and the 2012 U of L Play Right Prize.
Royal Society executive director Darren Gilmour, left, with Dr. Susan McDaniel, Dr. Bryan Kolb and Royal Society President, Yolande Grisé.
KOLB, MCDANIEL JOIN LIST OF JUBILEE MEDALISTS In late February, Dr. Bryan Kolb (Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience) and Dr. Susan McDaniel (Sociology, Director, Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy) received Jubilee Medals awarded by the Royal Society of Canada. Both Kolb and McDaniel are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
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(FRSC). This was the first visit to the U of L campus by Royal Society executive director Darren Gilmour and Royal Society President, Yolande Grisé. In addition to Kolb and McDaniel, a number of U of L faculty members have also recently received Jubilee medals, among them Dr. Peter McCormick (Political Science), Dr. Reg Bibby (Sociology),
Dr. Dayna Daniels (Women and Gender Studies), Dr. Rick Mrazek (Education), Tanya Harnett (Fine Arts/Native American Studies) and U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. A complete list of medal recipients to date is available on the Government of Alberta website: alberta.ca/diamondjubileemedal.cfm