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{ A PUBLICATION OF LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC }

THE NEXT CHAPTER VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BUILD NEW FUTURES THROUGH EDUCATION

THE BARN ENTERS A NEW ERA

DAVID USHER: BLENDING AI AND CREATIVE THINKING TRANSFORMING SPACES THROUGH ART FA LL 2 02 5

Editor’s message

{ VOL. 19 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2025 }

Wider Horizons is Lethbridge Polytechnic’s community and alumni magazine, which is dedicated to educating, engaging and delighting our readers through compelling stories and images about our people, places, ideas and experiences. Wider Horizons is mailed to alumni and friends of the institution, distributed in the community and available on campus. Readers who would like to receive an e-version of the magazine, comment on a story, change their address or remove their name from our mailing list should email the editor at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca. Alumni looking to connect with the polytechnic can email alumni@lethpolytech.ca. Lethbridge Polytechnic’s vision:

PREPARING LEARNERS. SHAPING COMMUNITIES. Publisher: Dr. Brad Donaldson Editor: Tina Karst Art director/designer: Dana Woodward Cover illustration: Gillian Goerz Photographers: Lexi Barclay, Spencer Nelson, Rob Olson, Shawn Salberg Illustrator: Gillian Goerz Writers: Stacey Andrews, Melanie Fast, Sam Sasse Proofreader: Jennifer Yanish Distribution: Amy Taylor Polytechnic employee contributors: Taylor Bourret, Kristy Clark, Leeanne Conrad, Ryan Hammell, James Harrison, Melissa Johnson, Greg Kruyssen, Lawrence Krysak, Lanae Morris, James Phelan, Pam Purnell, Derek Rischke, Stephanie Savage, Connolly Tate-Mitchell

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Located on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Lethbridge Polytechnic is committed to honouring the land from a place of knowing. We invite you to watch our territorial land acknowledgement online at lethpolytech.ca/indigenous.

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very story has chapters. Some unfold just as we planned while others surprise us, take us in a completely different direction, or even circle back to where we began. And whether we step into them ready to grow, or stumble into them unexpectedly, there is always an opportunity to learn. I think it’s safe to say that over the course of our lives, we experience both the chapters we planned for and the ones we never saw coming. Whether it’s my oldest child starting middle school (and all that comes with it – catching the bus, being home alone in the afternoons, getting a cell phone!) or changing jobs unexpectedly (I’m still getting used to this editor thing!), new chapters are unfolding every day. As I was putting this message together, it struck me that while our fall issue doesn’t have an official “theme,” most of our features speak to the idea of reinvention, new beginnings and next chapters. These chapters begin with opportunity – like the alumni in our feature story, “Beyond the Uniform” on p. 14, which highlights how Canadian Armed Forces veterans (and their families) are using education benefits to pursue second careers, passion projects or long-held goals. From mastering a new trade to leaning into their communication skills or embracing a lifelong call to public service, their journeys reflect the courage it takes to take that first step in a new direction. For others, a new chapter may emerge from struggle. In “Safe, Seen, Supported” on p. 20, polytechnic student Christian Morin shares his recovery story and how he hopes to change lives on campus as leader of the peer support group Donuts and Discussions. His journey is one of vulnerability, resilience and connection, and it’s a reminder that healing can create space for others to do the same. In our feature with Juno Award-winning musician David Usher, “The Human Future of AI” on p. 28, we explore how invention is reshaping the creative world. Well known for his music career, Usher has taken on a new role as tech entrepreneur – a shift that reflects his own evolving interests and a belief that creativity doesn’t stop at one discipline. His work invites us to see AI not as a threat, but as a tool to amplify what makes us human: curiosity, imagination and connection with others. And change also happens in place. After decades of reinvention, The Barn – one of the oldest buildings on campus – has become the new home of the Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute (SACI). Once a roller rink and student pub, the much-loved space is entering a new chapter of its own as junior high and high school students settle in to explore career paths in trades, health care and agriculture. You can read more about The Barn’s transformation – and SACI – on p. 2. At first glance, these stories may seem unrelated, but each speaks to something fundamental: shaping what’s next and using the past as a foundation. So, wherever you are in your story – or current chapter – I hope you find something in this issue that inspires your next page. Happy reading!

Tina Karst Editor

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SEEN ON CAMPUS Photo by Dr. Brad Donaldson, President and CEO A young Great Horned Owl sits atop a spruce tree on the Lethbridge Polytechnic campus, just outside of the president’s office window.

2 News and Notes 4 Top Ten from the Den

6 The President’s View 34 From Our Kitchens

38 Where Are They Now? 45 Families in Focus

Fall 2025 Valedictorian

For the Future of Farming

Safe, Seen, Supported

“It was such an unexpected and amazing honour,” says Mary Lou Masculino of being named valedictorian.

A transformative $2.8 million gift from the estate of Joe and Laverna Hranac supports agriculture research.

How peer support and campus partnerships are changing the conversation around addiction and recovery.

News and notes

LEARNING LIVES HERE

THE BARN REOPENS AS A HANDS-ON HUB FOR YOUTH CAREER EXPLORATION

LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC’S OLDEST AND POSSIBLY MOST RE-PURPOSED BUILDING, THE BARN, HAS ENTERED A NEW ERA AS THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE (SACI). A partnership between Lethbridge Polytechnic, seven southern Alberta school divisions, career support organizations and local business and industry, the collegiate focuses on pathway programs for students in grades 7 to 12 in the areas of trades, agriculture and health care. While dual credit and career exploration programs have taken place in the polytechnic’s main building for several years, the renovation of The Barn means junior high and high school students now have a dedicated space for learning. “Our collegiate program is really busy; we’re filled with a number of exploratory and dual credit programs,” says Joelle Reynolds, the polytechnic’s Youth Initiatives director. “We’ve slowly been piloting new courses and programs for the collegiate in our existing spaces, but with every year of piloting comes another influx of students. With our own space, we can really program everything that we want to do.” 2

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The renovated 1,195-square-metre building on the east side of campus offers automotive, combined carpentry and pipe trades and electrical shops, and health care and agriculturefocused classrooms. Programs for grades 7 to 9 include career exploration workshops and events while high school students are offered dual credit courses and pre-employment programs. “I started the dual credit program in 2024 and would highly recommend it to all high school students,” says Automotive Service Technician apprentice Ashleigh Nelson. “I was able to sample multiple trades, and it helped me confirm my goal of becoming an Automotive Service Technician.” Long before becoming a hub for young learners to connect, and even before the polytechnic existed, The Barn served as a dude ranch hangout, the venue for Lethbridge’s first rock-androll concert (Bill Haley & His Comets in 1956), a roller rink and, more recently, a student pub. “People have fond memories of time spent in The Barn,” says Reynolds. “And the funny thing is, from the outside it looks almost exactly the same; you wouldn’t know that anything has changed until you go inside. The inside is absolutely unrecognizable.” The new space doesn’t house all of the trades the collegiate offers, so the main Lethbridge Polytechnic building will continue to be used for some programming, while alleviating logistical pressures. Alberta Education provided $5.9 million in capital funding to Palliser School Division – the collegiate’s lead K to 12

The newly renovated building houses automotive, combined carpentry and pipe trades and electrical shops, and health care and agriculture-focused classrooms for students in grades 7 to 12.

partner – in April 2023, in addition to $798,000 in start-up operational funding. Renovations to The Barn began in the fall of 2023 and the building will be ready for SACI programming in fall 2025. “Just having a space to anchor [the collegiate] to, to visualize it and have people come through and see what we do, and see students in action, it’s really important,” says Palliser’s Director of Learning Jason Kupery. “Lethbridge Polytechnic has been extremely gracious and accommodating in terms of the needs of our students; it’s been a really wonderful partnership.” The Pathway Partnership of Southern Alberta, which serves as the collegiate’s advisory body, includes the polytechnic, Palliser, Lethbridge, Holy Spirit, Horizon, Westwind, Livingstone Range and Grasslands public school divisions, CAREERS: The Next Generation, Career Transitions, Southland International Trucks, Advanced Ag and Intercontinental Truck Body. Kupery says trying to navigate the needs of seven school divisions and several external partners can be challenging at times, but he says it’s been a great opportunity to “share the load” not only in terms of finances, but with planning and decision making as well. “It’s nice to have that input from other school divisions and to hear what they would like to see happen in the future,” he says. “It’s helped us be more adaptable, and it’s helped us make positive changes for students in southern Alberta.” Reynolds agrees.

“It’s really something for us all to be proud of,” she says. “As programs draw to a close, we hear students say things like, ‘this really developed my sense of confidence,’ or ‘I didn’t like going to school before because it’s not the way I like to learn,’ or ‘this gave me a reason to think about the future.’” Reynolds and Kupery also point to the friendships students make as another major benefit of the collegiate. “They meet their people,” says Kupery. “Because they’re like-minded individuals from other school divisions, it’s neat to be able to make friends … with people who learn and grow and think like they do.” “It’s a beautiful outcome to witness,” adds Reynolds. “It makes all the difference for them to feel that sense of belonging.” Lethbridge Polytechnic is also part of the Prairie Sky Collegiate – a partnership with Grasslands and Medicine Hat public school divisions – and the PEAKS Collegiate Campus, a partnership with the Livingstone Range School Division. Story by Tina Karst | Photo supplied

For more information on SACI, visit www.southernalbertacollegiateinstitute.ca.

News and notes

TOP

TEN FROM THE DEN

Wider Horizons turned to the people who know the ins and outs of campus best – Lethbridge Polytechnic employees – to pick the top news stories from the past six months. Here’s what they had to say.

9 SWEET SCIENCE IN ACTION

Dr. Rajpreet Goraya, research scientist, Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is using ice cream to spark conversations about food sustainability, health and innovation. She spent years prior to joining the polytechnic studying how the popular dessert can be used to preserve underutilized crops, such as Indian gooseberries, and by-products, like orange peels, to support healthier and more sustainable food choices. Now, Goraya is conducting research on new, long-term storage options for sugar beets while maintaining sucrose integrity.

DCM STUDENT SUPPORTS FEDERAL ELECTION COVERAGE

First-year Digital Communications and Media (DCM) student Jody-Ann Smikle was awarded the Troy Reeb Internship thanks to an article she wrote about student financial literacy. As part of the internship, she spent 14 days with Global News and Corus radio teams in Toronto and Ottawa and worked on Parliament Hill with the Ottawa bureau of Global National leading up to, during and following April’s federal election.

10 POLYTECHNIC RECEIVES $1.75 MILLION FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANT

Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship received approval for its second Technology Access Centre grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. This five-year, $1.75 million grant will grow and diversify the polytechnic’s Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre, serving as a publicfacing applied research, consultation and problem-solving resource for agricultural producers in southern Alberta and beyond. 4

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POLYTECHNIC CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF RAISING PRIDE FLAG ON CAMPUS

For the 10th consecutive year, employees, students, alumni and community members gathered to raise the Pride Flag at Lethbridge Polytechnic. The annual event, held in June, shows support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and reinforces the institution’s commitment to kindness, inclusivity and caring for

one another. The polytechnic first flew the Pride Flag in 2015. Since 2021, the institution has raised the Progressive Pride Flag.

PRAIRIESCAN BACKS NEW HARVEST CANADA WITH $1 MILLION INVESTMENT

In March, Edmonton-based New Harvest Canada announced it had received $1 million in federal funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to advance the Cellular Agriculture Prairies Ecosystem Project. The initiative brings together 12 partners from industry and academia, including Lethbridge Polytechnic, to kickstart a research and innovation ecosystem for building a more resilient food production system. The polytechnic’s contribution will focus on the sugar beet industry.

POLYTECHNIC LAUNCHES NEW POWERLINE TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP

In May, Lethbridge Polytechnic announced its newest offering: a Powerline Technician Apprenticeship program. The four-year apprenticeship consists of three years of classroom learning and a fourth year requiring additional workplace hours to reach program completion. As one of only two institutions offering this training in Alberta, the program provides students with the essential skills and hands-on experience needed to work in the province’s expansive electrical utility sector.

COULEE FEST WELCOMES COMMUNITY TO CAMPUS

Coulee Fest 2025 welcomed students, alumni, employees and friends of the polytechnic to campus in September for a day of adventure and community spirit. Attendees enjoyed live entertainment, a wide array of food trucks, a vendors’ market, monster truck rides, a familyfavourite petting zoo and more.

POLYTECHNIC BUSINESS STUDENTS EXCEL AT LAUNCHPOINT PITCH COMPETITION

Roberta Mistaken Chief, a first-year Business Administration – Business Operations student and owner of Niitsitapi Eats and Treats, was awarded the top prize of $2,000 at the University of Lethbridge’s LaunchPoint Pitch Competition in early March. Seth Tomasson, a second-year Business Administration – Management student, finished in second place and won the fan favourite vote for his Pacific View Window Washing business, while firstyear student Blake Chan placed fourth for his Nudge Phone Case, a unique take on improving personal productivity.

RESEARCHERS CONNECTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO COGNITIVE FUNCTION Three research projects exploring the connection between physical exercise and cognitive function, led by a Lethbridge Polytechnic instructor and two University of Lethbridge students, were selected for presentation at the European College of Sports Science annual conference in July in Rimini, Italy. Dr. Simon Schaerz, instructor, Centre for Health and Wellness, and researcher, Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, presented a research project he led that considered the use of physical activity to improve executive function, including inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility, for the polytechnic’s esports team.

INSTRUCTOR OFFERS INSIGHT INTO ACADEMIC WRITING IN THE AI ERA

An English instructor is making an international impact by helping students and educators navigate academic writing in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). In May, Dr. Olga Klymenko led a virtual seminar for the University of Seychelles on challenges in teaching post-secondary academic writing, implicated by the increasing use of AI. “An instructor’s job is to respond to the needs of students, and we’re seeing our students rapidly adopting this new technology,” she says.

You can read all of these stories and more at lethpolytech.ca/news. Thanks to our polytechnic colleagues who helped shape this list!

News and notes

The

President’s View by Dr. Brad Donaldson

Dr. Brad Donaldson presents Abigayle Terrill, spring 2025 valedictorian, with her medal at Convocation in May. Donaldson says the polytechnic is navigating a shifting post-secondary landscape with purpose and determination.

Photo by Rob Olson

At our spring convocation, I engaged with graduates as they crossed the stage, many beaming with pride, others holding back tears, and later they exchanged high-fives and hugs with classmates and family. It was a powerful reminder that behind every graduate is a story of purpose, choice and perseverance. What struck me most was not just the celebration of achievement, but the awareness that each one made a decision to take control of their future, often in the face of uncertainty and significant challenge. That mindset reflects the very heart of who we are at Lethbridge Polytechnic. We are no strangers to challenge or to change. As we navigate a shifting post-secondary landscape marked by fiscal pressures, the changing needs 6

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of industry and society and evolving learner expectations, one truth remains clear: We cannot afford to drift. We must drive ahead. That’s why we have chosen to take control boldly, thoughtfully and with purpose. While the economic environment presents undeniable difficulties, we are facing them not with hesitation, but with determination. Our response is rooted in action in launching new, future-focused programs aligned with labour market needs, refining our enrolment strategies to ensure access and sustainability and doubling down on our commitment to psychological safety, belonging and community connection. These efforts are not isolated initiatives. Rather, they are connected by a clear framework: our new Institutional Operating Plan that translates the Road to Ready strategic framework to action. It is our guide to aligning day-to-day activities with our long-term vision

of preparing learners for successful careers and shaping resilient, thriving communities. It defines our priorities and focuses our energy on where we can make the greatest difference. Purposeful transformation doesn’t wait for certainty. It happens when teams commit to shared values, act with intention and stay true to their mission even amidst unpredictability. At Lethbridge Polytechnic, we are doing just that. We are taking ownership of our future and choosing progress over immobility. I’m proud of how we continue to model what it means to lead with clarity and courage. Our learners deserve nothing less and our communities depend on it. As we move forward together, let’s remember the future doesn’t just happen to us. We help shape it through every choice, every program, every process, every connection we build. And with collective resolve, I know we’ll emerge stronger with the future we create.

CAMPUS NEWS

CAMPUS KUDOS

Congratulations to the following Lethbridge Polytechnic community members for making a difference in their work and communities:

Plumber apprentice HEADING to WorldSkills Competition Lethbridge Polytechnic plumber apprentice Kylar Bloomberg earned a silver medal at Skills Canada for the second year in a row. The national competition was held May 29 and 30 in Regina, Sask. Bloomberg will go on to represent Canada at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition next September in Shanghai, China because the gold-medal winner does not meet the age requirement for international competition. “Getting the chance to represent Canada at WorldSkills is an honour,” says Bloomberg, “I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me get here, and I’m ready to put in the work and make the most of it.” Bloomberg is coached by Jeremy Bridge, Lethbridge Polytechnic Plumbing instructor and Skills Canada expert. Bridge trains each Canadian plumbing competitor as part of his role with Skills Canada. “It is almost coming full circle, with Kylar’s employer – Justin Fischer, who runs Simpson Plumbing – having gone to WorldSkills in 2018,” says Sheldon Anderson, dean, Centre for Trades and Technologies. “Between Jeremy and Justin, Kylar has all the support he needs to compete at his best next year.”

New Heil Stanger Award supports future nurses

Nursing students at Lethbridge Polytechnic have a new source of financial support thanks to the Heil Stanger Award. Established through a $50,000 gift from Howard and Suzanne Heil – and supplemented by the Board of Governors Matching Endowment initiative – the $1,750 award will be given annually to a continuing Bachelor of Nursing student who demonstrates leadership, class participation and financial need.

Stacey Andrews, (Communication Arts – Print Journalism 2014) communications specialist, Marketing, Communications and External Engagement, completed her bachelor of arts in professional communications from Royal Roads University. She recently began her master’s in digital experience innovation at the University of Waterloo.

Brian Hlushko, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) co-ordinator, was recognized as a Young Achiever by Canadian Occupational Safety (COS). Each year, COS highlights young OHS professionals who demonstrate a blend of technical acumen, strategic insight and human-centred leadership.

Steve Johnson, (Nursing 2001) student support advocate, Wellness Services, added “Certified Therapeutic Game Master” to his credentials. After completing a 10-week course with Geek Therapeutics, Johnson is now equipped to run therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons sessions on campus. Dr. Chandra Singh, Results Driven Agriculture

Research chair and director of the Advanced Post-harvest Technology Centre, was part of a pan-Canadian team of three who received the prestigious John Ogilvie Research Innovation Award for their work creating AI-driven, spectroscopic and optical imaging technology for pulse crop quality assessment.

“The health of an individual and community is essential,” says Howard Heil. “There is a dire need to educate health professionals in Alberta to ensure our health system survives. We believe the nursing program at Lethbridge Polytechnic is critical in supporting the system.” Though they are graduates of other institutions, the Heils say they have always valued higher education and wanted to give back to the community they love.

“We have a great life where we have benefited from having a good education, and it’s time we afford someone else the opportunity to succeed,” says Howard Heil. “My father always reminded me that, ‘it takes little effort to carry a piece of paper in your pocket, but it can open a lot of doors.’ Our goal is to help open those doors for others.” 7

News and notes

CIT student named Fall 2025 valedictorian Computer Information Technology (CIT) student Mary Lou Masculino says she was surprised and deeply honoured to learn she had been selected as valedictorian for Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Fall 2025 Convocation. “It felt surreal,” says Masculino. “When I met with Registrar Marko Hilgersom, and he explained everything to me, I was slowly processing the news. At the back of my mind, I kept asking myself if I was understanding

the situation correctly. It was such an unexpected and amazing honour.” Originally from Victorias City, Philippines, Masculino arrived in Lethbridge in July 2023 as an international student. She had previous work experience in IT audit and compliance but decided to enrol in the polytechnic’s CIT program to build stronger foundational skills. “For me, it struck the right balance between lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions,” she says. “Getting to work directly with computers, routers, firewalls and more helped bridge the gap between theory and real-

world application. This has helped [my classmates and me] to be ready for any career after graduation.” Masculino also acknowledges members of the campus community who helped her adjust to life in a new country and succeed in her studies. “I am grateful for the support system I found here,” she says. Currently working as a research assistant in the University of Lethbridge’s Department of Neuroscience, Masculino plans to return to the IT audit and compliance field, and she says she is considering pursuing additional industry certifications to strengthen her qualifications.

“FOR ME, IT STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN LECTURES AND HANDS-ON LABORATORY SESSIONS... THIS HAS HELPED [MY CLASSMATES AND ME] TO BE READY FOR ANY CAREER AFTER GRADUATION. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT SYSTEM I FOUND HERE.”

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Moch describes her approach to board leadership as analytical but deeply human, shaped by decades of experience working with clients, colleagues and community leaders. She replaces Michael Marcotte, who completed his maximum six-year term as board chair in June.

Polytechnic hosts community safety-focused MicroResearch workshop

Moch appointed new chair of Board of Governors Lethbridge Polytechnic recently welcomed Janene Moch as the new chair of the Board of Governors. The Government of Alberta appointed Moch to a three-year term that began June 30. Moch, who joined the board in March 2021, brings decades of experience in finance, education and governance to the role. “I’ve always been drawn to opportunities where I can help navigate change, and this felt like a natural fit,” says Moch. “We have a strong board, an exceptional executive leadership team and a real opportunity to support southern Alberta’s evolving needs. I’m excited to help guide what comes next.” Born and raised in southern Alberta, Moch holds a bachelor of management from the University of Lethbridge and is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a master’s degree in forensic accounting. Earlier in her career, she taught Business Finance part-time at the polytechnic.

Nearly two dozen polytechnic employees and Lethbridge community members took part in a MicroResearch Canada workshop in June aimed at finding new and innovative ways to address public safety challenges in southern Alberta. Founded by Dr. Noni MacDonald and Dr. Bob Bortolussi, MicroResearch brings together community members from diverse fields to participate in researcher-led workshops. Participants learn the fundamentals of research development, design and implementation with the goal of building local research capacity to address community issues. The public safety workshops were led by MacDonald and Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, two world-renowned research experts. Participants worked in small teams to gain hands-on experience with proposal development, receive coaching and learn how to navigate grant funding. Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, president’s applied research chair in public safety at Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says research skills not only enhance a person’s resume with highly marketable experience, but also build personal agency and a stronger sense of community. “This is how we give back to our community,” she says. “We share our knowledge and skills and aim to demystify the research process.”

Student volunteers and Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association representatives participate in the Whoop-Up Days parade Aug. 19. The polytechnic also teamed up with the University of Lethbridge for the third annual Post-Secondary Pancake Breakfast Aug. 22.

News and notes

Kodiaks celebrate 2025 KODI Awards The athletic and academic achievements of Lethbridge Polytechnic student-athletes were recognized in April at the annual KODI Awards.

The awards capped a strong 2024-25 season for Kodiaks Athletics, with more than 40 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association individual and team recognitions.

The three pillars of Kodiaks Athletics – academic accountability, athletic excellence and the student-athlete experience – guide the selection process for all KODI awards, which is carried out by members of the Kodiaks Athletics administration team and coaches. Public input also plays a role, with this year’s vote drawing 865 participants, a new record for the KODIs. The men’s volleyball team picked up the Val and Flora Matteotti Kodiaks Team of the Year, Best Comeback of the Year and Best Championship Performance of the Year; Hannah Pilling and Nolan Moes were recognized as the Tim Tollestrup

KODIAKS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIAN HONOURS Three Kodiaks student-athletes earned national recognition as Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Academic All-Canadians for the 2024-25 academic year – one of the highest honours in collegiate sport. The CCAA award celebrates student-athletes who excel in the classroom and in competition, achieving honours-level academics alongside outstanding athletic performance. Congratulations to Kodiaks recipients: Halle Aleman, women’s basketball; Megan Morrison, women’s soccer; and Owen Stewart, cross-country running.

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Leadership Student-Athletes of the Year; Greg Gibos earned the Electrical Solutions Inc. Kodiaks Coach of the Year award; the women’s volleyball team won Best Upset of the Year after navigating through a season filled with roster challenges and closing out the season with back-to-back weekend upsets over the No. 1 teams in the south division; and student-athletes Samantha Demchuk and Keegan Hartery were named winners of the Calgary Flames Foundation Leadership Scholarships, which recognize student-athletes who excel in leadership, community involvement and academics.

Kodiaks to host men’s and women’s ACAC Soccer Championships Lethbridge Polytechnic and Kodiaks Athletics are set to host the 2025 Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) Soccer Championships, presented by Southern Alberta Homes/Grassroots Realty, Oct. 23 to 26. The top men’s and women’s collegiate teams from across the conference will compete at Comet Stadium in Raymond, Alta. – a stateof-the-art facility boasting artificial turf, lights and seating for more than 1,200 spectators – for the chance at an ACAC championship title and a spot at nationals in November. “It’s a great opportunity for us to host the championships and showcase the fantastic facilities in Raymond,” says Kodiaks Head Coach Mike Racz. “The ACAC

has some excellent teams, and the level of soccer will definitely be worth the watch.” Racz also says the polytechnic has a proud history of competing in the event. “We know we’ve secured our spot in the championships, but our goal is to earn it through our play,” he says. “Having the support of a home crowd will mean a lot to our student-athletes.” Spectators near and far are invited to catch all the action by purchasing a tournament pass for $25, an adult day pass for $10 or a student day pass for $5. Admission is free for Lethbridge Polytechnic students and children under 12. Those unable to cheer on their team in person, can purchase a streaming pass through ACACTV.

Community supports student-athletes at Lethbridge Polytechnic golf tournament After a six-year break, the Lethbridge Polytechnic golf tournament made its much-anticipated return on Aug. 28, and the community showed up in full force. Held at the Lethbridge Country Club, the sold-out event welcomed 144 golfers and dozens of sponsors and volunteers for a day of friendly competition. Most importantly, it raised close to $70,000 for student-athlete scholarships. “This tournament is about more than golf, it’s about creating opportunities,” says Todd Caughlin, the polytechnic’s director of Athletics and Recreation Services. “Every dollar raised supports our Kodiaks student-athletes to help them succeed not just in their sport, but in their academic and career goals.” With a longstanding tradition of bringing together business leaders, community supporters and alumni, the tournament has raised nearly $1 million in its history. This year’s event carried that legacy forward with strong local support, including title sponsorship from KB Heating, Plumbing and Air Conditioning. “We’re incredibly grateful to KB Heating for stepping up as our title sponsor,” says Caughlin. “Their generosity,

and the support from all of our sponsors, directly benefits student-athletes who are working hard every day in the classroom and in competition while representing the best of the Kodiaks in the community.” Funds raised through the tournament will go toward scholarships that ease the financial burden on studentathletes, allowing them to focus on their studies, training and community involvement. It’s part of Kodiaks Athletics’ broader mission to foster leadership, resilience and academic success among student-athletes. 11

News and notes

HRANAC FAMILY ESTATE GIFTS $2.8 MILLION TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE RESEARCH

FOR THE FUTURE OF FARMING LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC IS CELEBRATING A TRANSFORMATIVE $2.8 MILLION GIFT FROM THE ESTATE OF JOE AND LAVERNA HRANAC, THE SECOND LARGEST DONATION IN THE INSTITUTION’S HISTORY. Announced in August, the gift will support operations at the Lethbridge Polytechnic Research Farm, enabling the continuation and expansion of applied agriculture research and innovation. It also enhances the polytechnic’s capacity for student-focused, industry-connected agricultural research. “This legacy gift from Joe and Laverna Hranac ensures our students and researchers can continue to work alongside industry partners to solve real-world agricultural challenges,” says Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic. “It’s a lasting investment in education, innovation and the agricultural community that helped shape the Hranacs’ lives.” Lethbridge Polytechnic has been conducting applied research in agriculture for more than 30 years, most recently within the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE). CARIE has managed operations on the 385-acre research farm since 2020 as part of a lease agreement with the Government of Alberta. “The Hranac family’s gift – to support the research farm – strengthens our ability to respond to emerging challenges in southern Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sector, specifically in the areas of integrated food production systems, irrigation science and post-harvest technology,” says Dr. Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president – research. “Their generosity also supports the polytechnic’s commitment to hands-on, applied learning that is deeply connected to industry.” 12

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Born and raised in southern Alberta, Joe and Laverna Hranac were lifelong sugar beet, grain and canola producers who farmed land south of Chin and Cranford. Joe passed away in 2008 and Laverna in 2022. Though they had no children of their own, the Hranacs were closely connected to their extended family who say their gift to the polytechnic was inspired by a shared belief in the power of education and a desire to invest in students and agriculture for generations to come.

“THEY BELIEVED IN WORKING HARD, HELPING OTHERS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. THIS GIFT REFLECTS THEIR VISION OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE AND THE KINDNESS THEY SHARED WITH EVERYONE AROUND THEM.” Cindy Powell

“Joe and Laverna’s roots were based in farming, and along with that they carried a love of education and family throughout their lives,” says Joe’s niece, Cindy Powell. “They believed in working hard, helping others and creating opportunities for the next generation. This gift reflects their vision of what’s possible and the kindness they shared with everyone around them.” A formal gift announcement was held Aug. 21 and coincided with CARIE’s annual Farm Field Day. Powell and several members of the Hranacs’ extended family joined the campus community at the Research Farm to celebrate, speak with researchers and learn more about irrigation water management, potato trials, applied agriculture research and how CARIE is meeting industry needs. In doing so, the day served as a bridge between past and present, highlighting not only the potential for the Hranac family’s donation, but the ongoing benefits of a similar legacy gift that helped shape the polytechnic’s research direction more than a decade ago. In 2014, Lethbridge Polytechnic received $3.1 million from the estate of Lloyd and Dorothy Mueller – a recordsetting philanthropic gift for the institution. The donation was instrumental in establishing the Mueller Irrigation Research Group which, over the past 10 years, has helped position the polytechnic as a national leader in water and irrigation innovation.

The Mueller Irrigation Research Group investigates the hardware and software that can enable more sophisticated water management on farms. Researchers explore the impacts of the adoption of these new technologies on water use efficiency at the field scale. The research is shaped in close collaboration with local producers, the provincial government and irrigation districts, and students at the polytechnic are involved in all projects. Current Mueller Irrigation Research Group projects include field studies of water and nutrient management with subsurface drip irrigation systems, field and model studies to quantify the value of various sensor types for irrigation management and economic modeling to optimize water distribution on farms when irrigation water supply is limited. “The Mueller family’s gift more than a decade ago helped shape what our agriculture research program is today,” says Donaldson. “Thanks to Joe and Laverna Hranac’s extraordinary generosity, we can build on that momentum by creating more opportunities for students and researchers to help producers meet the challenges of tomorrow.” Lethbridge Polytechnic is deeply grateful for donors who include the institution in their estate plans, ensuring their legacy lives on through hands-on learning, industry collaboration and community advancement. Story by Tina Karst | Photo by Shawn Salberg

For more information on planned giving, visit lethpolytech.ca/donate.

VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BUILD NEW FUTURES THROUGH EDUCATION

BEYOND THE

UNIFORM Story by Melanie Fast | Illustrations by Gillian Goerz

or many Canadian veterans, the transition from military to civilian life comes with new challenges and new possibilities. Thanks to a growing number of scholarships, awards and education benefit programs, both veterans and active service members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are finding the support to pursue their post-secondary studies, launch second careers and build on the skills they gained while in service. Military life also brings unique challenges for families, and scholarships that ease financial barriers can benefit children and grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, too. The $1,000 Alberta – NWT Command, Royal Canadian Legion Award is given to a student continuing full-time education in any Lethbridge Polytechnic program who demonstrates financial need and who is currently serving or who is a child, grandchild or great-grandchild of someone

who is serving or has served honourably. And the 20th Independent Battery Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to a member of the 20th Independent Field Battery who is a full-time and continuing student at the polytechnic. Of those who apply, the award will go to the member with the highest grade point average. In addition to these options, veterans who have been honourably released from service are eligible for an Education and Training Benefit through Veterans Affairs. This benefit provides funding based on the number of years served, which could be up to $80,000 for 12 years of service. CAF members can also apply for reimbursement of up to 50 per cent of their post-secondary expenses to a maximum of $2,000 per academic year through the Educational Expense Reimbursement program.

READ ON TO LEARN HOW THE FOLLOWING LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC ALUMNI BENEFITED FROM MILITARY-RELATED FUNDING THAT HELPED MAKE THEIR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND FUTURE CAREERS, POSSIBLE.

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Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni (clockwise from top) Gary Wittebolle, Glenn Miller, Patricia Pelkey and Brittney Albers have all benefited from military service-related education funding to pursue second careers, passion projects or long-held goals.

BRITTNEY ALBERS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE CORRECTIONAL STUDIES 2023

rittney Albers joined the military when she was just 16 years old, getting a head start on a lifelong calling to public safety. As the first person in her family to serve, she had to convince them this was what she truly wanted, but for Albers, it was the first step toward her future career. As an active member of the 78th Field Battery Artillery Unit in Red Deer from 2012 to 2015, Albers balanced high school with Basic Military Qualification training. “I saw this as a way to get my foot in the door for future careers,” she says, adding that her age and being a woman presented its own set of challenges. “I had to learn who I wanted to be and had to create my own morals and ethics.” Albers has held different roles – armed forces, emergency medical responder and customer development manager with PepsiCo. – but her heart has always been drawn to making a difference in her community.

She was a mother to two boys when she applied to the polytechnic’s Criminal Justice – Correctional Studies program, making financial support essential. Determined to not sacrifice her family’s finances to further her education, she began researching and applying for as many scholarships as she could. In addition to the Alberta - NWT Command, Royal Canadian Legion Award, Albers was also the recipient of the Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership scholarship, Rita Simons Memorial Mature Award and the Jason Lang Scholarship. “Without these scholarships, attending the [polytechnic] would still be just a dream,” she says. “They gave me a way forward so that I could invest in my family as well as my future.” Determined that with her life experience she could conquer anything that her dream career could throw at her, she relied on her military training to help juggle a home life, two busy sons, a full-time job and school. “Every late night writing papers, every nerve-wracking test and every grade received back I took as a personal challenge to push myself,” she says. After graduating with honours, Albers was hired at a remand correctional facility and now works as a correctional peace officer at the Red Deer Remand Centre where she is a member of the tactical team and, as a field training officer, helps teach new up-and-coming officers. “Armed with the practical skills I learned while in the military, and the incredible education and mentorship I received while enrolled at Lethbridge Polytechnic, I feel I am in a unique position to guide newer staff into the corrections world,” she says. “I am incredibly proud of where I am now, and it is all thanks to the support I had along the way.”

“THEY GAVE ME A WAY FORWARD SO THAT I COULD INVEST IN MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY FUTURE...I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF WHERE I AM NOW, AND IT IS ALL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT I HAD ALONG THE WAY.”

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GLENN MILLER IKKAIYOITSAHSOKITTUPII /FAST HORSE RIDER

COMMUNICATION ARTS – ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2009

lenn Miller doesn’t just wear his service – he lives it. After a 25-year career with the Royal Canadian Artillery, half of it spent in Lethbridge, Miller could have easily enjoyed a quiet retirement. Instead, he launched a second chapter in his life, graduating from Lethbridge Polytechnic just two years after retiring from the military. “We live in an age of credentials, and I needed a piece of paper saying I was good at something,” he says. His military background in public relations helped him fast-track through the Communication Arts program, which Miller says helped him transition to the civilian world of communications. Because he was medically released from the military, Miller wasn’t eligible for the traditional veterans Education and Training Benefit. However, the bursary program from the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No.4 granted him enough money to pay for a semester of tuition and books. This experience has stuck with him, and Miller actively encourages veterans and their families to apply for scholarships and bursaries, especially those tied to military service. “I don’t know of too many families out there that just have cash lying around to pay for tuition,” he says. “For students, I would encourage you – whether you’re young or a mature student – to examine what bursaries are available. It’s important for anyone to not leave money on the table.” His time in the military also gave Miller the self-discipline needed to navigate the challenges of post-secondary and civilian life.

“As a professional soldier, for a lot of our courses, 80 per cent was the minimum to pass the course,” he explains. “So, you don’t go in with a 60 per cent attitude. You strive to not make mistakes because it could impact people’s lives.” Post-polytechnic life has been anything but quiet for Miller who previously worked for two Members of the Legislative Assembly and former Canadian senator Joyce Fairbairn. He has been a service officer for the Legion, worked extensively with Indigenous communities and helped lead major Remembrance Day initiatives. One of his proudest projects, he says, was working with the Lethbridge United Services Institute to organize the creation of a bronze statue depicting six horses pulling a World War I artillery gun, which is now displayed at the Agri-Food Hub in Lethbridge. In recognition of his work, Miller has received multiple honours, including a Knight Order of the Crown – one of the highest honours from the Kingdom of Belgium – and the Blackfoot name Ikkaiyoitsahsokittupii, which means “fast horse rider.” Last year, he was inducted into the honorary Kainai Chieftainship – a recognition currently held by only 30 people worldwide. At the end of the day, Miller says what drives him most is three simple words: lest we forget. “A lot of people have forgotten, but I’m able to bring that to light using the skills I learned in the military and at the polytechnic to give back to the taxpayers who funded me to achieve those skills.”

GARY WITTEBOLLE CULINARY ARTS 2025

fter more than four decades with the Canadian Armed Forces, Gary Wittebolle traded his military boots for chef whites. Enlisting with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in 1980, Wittebolle’s career took him from Manitoba to Germany, and eventually Lethbridge where he transitioned into the Reserves and stayed until his retirement in 2023. Along the way he completed tours in Cyprus and through Africa. Once retired, Wittebolle decided it was time to pursue his longtime interest: cooking. He used the Education and Training Benefit to take the polytechnic’s Culinary Arts program where he learned to make food that competed with mess hall chefs, many of whom are Red Seal cooks. “I found it was a challenge at the start with getting back into the theory and academic part, studying and just getting into a routine,” he says, adding that even enrolling as a mature student was a challenge. He turned to his high school-aged son and engineer neighbour for help studying math for his placement exam (neither were a big help, he notes), but in the end he passed and was accepted into the program.

First-year Culinary students work in the campus Food Court, serving meals to several hundred students and employees each day. This gave Wittebolle a taste of the kitchen processes behind the scenes and taught him to be flexible in dealing with a variety of people. “I have a lot of respect for the instructors because of all the different people they were dealing with,” he says. “I won’t lie; baking was not my forte. But the instructors were great. They push you to that high standard and, with practise, I improved.” Although Wittebolle never had plans to pursue a career in culinary after graduation, he’s grateful he had the benefits available to learn something just for himself. Wittebolle says he’s working on retirement and currently serves as president of the German Canadian Club in Lethbridge. His only cooking now is for friends and family, where he leans on his skills learned in class to experiment with new dishes and take on the occasional catering gig.

“I WON’T LIE; BAKING WAS NOT MY FORTE. BUT THE INSTRUCTORS WERE GREAT. THEY PUSH YOU TO THAT HIGH STANDARD AND, WITH PRACTISE, I IMPROVED.”

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PATRICIA PELKEY CRIMINAL JUSTICE – CORRECTIONAL STUDIES 2024, CRIMINAL JUSTICE – POLICING 2023

efore post-secondary, Patricia Pelkey’s life was shaped by her personal and professional challenges. Growing up in a home affected by domestic violence, addiction and child abuse gave her an insight into trauma and resilience. It’s this resilience that she leaned on for 13 years while working at a shelter for women escaping domestic violence and serving as a board member for Lac La Biche Victim Services. “These roles gave me hands-on knowledge, but I wanted a formal education to go further and make a greater impact,” says Pelkey. “Being a single mom to three children also fueled my decision. I hoped my commitment to school would show my kids the value of perseverance and education.” Pelkey adds that seeing her grandfather’s own commitment to his duties in the army, and as a member of the Armstrong Royal Canadian Legion, helped her understand the meaning of service and integrity that, along with her personal journey, played a role in choosing a career where she could help people and give back to the community.

MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN EXPLORE MORE SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS – RANGING FROM $500 TO $5,000 – BY VISITING SITES LIKE: WWW.SCHOLARSHIPSCANADA.COM

Bernard Thomas Pelkey, or “Tom” as everyone called him, dedicated much of his life to serving others. He joined the army in 1959 and served with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and retired as a warrant officer in 1979. Pelkey says her grandfather never spoke much about his years in uniform and by the time she was old enough to appreciate the stories, the opportunity for him to share had passed. Nonetheless, his family knew he was proud of his service. And, because of his service, granddaughter Pelkey was able to benefit from the Alberta - NWT Command, Royal Canadian Legion Award. “Attending [the polytechnic] changed my life,” says Pelkey. “The scholarship reduced the financial stress of being a single parent going to school. It allowed me to focus more on my coursework without worrying about making ends meet.” Pelkey now works as a supervisor in Children and Family Services for the Government of Alberta, overseeing legal permanency. She says that returning to school gave her the credentials and knowledge to take on this leadership role and she plans to continue supporting youth and their families while advocating for better systemic support.

AND WWW.SUPPORTOURTROOPS.CA.

SAFE SEEN SUPPORTED HOW LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC IS MAKING RECOVERY PART OF CAMPUS CULTURE Story by Tina Karst | Photos by Rob Olson

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Peer support groups are just one piece of a growing recovery-informed culture at Lethbridge Polytechnic that includes harm reduction resources, counselling, alcoholfree housing options, wellness referrals and provincial grant-funded programming.

or many, choosing to pursue higher education is

about more than academics, it’s a step toward a brighter future. But for individuals living with addiction or in recovery, the idea of stepping onto a post-secondary campus can come with uncertainty: Will I find support? Will I be safe? Will I be accepted? At Lethbridge Polytechnic, those questions are being met with compassion, support and lived experience, in part thanks to Christian Morin, a student who knows firsthand just how difficult the road to sobriety – and walking the path of recovery – can be. After years of battling addiction, he now leads Donuts and Discussions, a weekly peer support group on campus that offers a safe, judgement-free space for students to connect and share. “I love it,” he says. “Before [I was sober], it was a lot more self-seeking, more selfish; I kind of didn’t really care about anybody else except myself. So now it’s getting to pass that on. I think that’s what recovery is all about.” The group is just one piece of a growing recoveryinformed culture at the polytechnic that includes harm reduction resources, counselling, alcohol-free housing options, wellness referrals and provincial grant-funded programming aimed at making the campus more inclusive for students in or seeking recovery. “We take this seriously,” says Lori Harasem, Wellness Services health promotion co-ordinator. “We want to be there for every student.”

ccording to the 2024 Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey, six per cent of student respondents self-identified as being in recovery from substances, alcohol and/or behavioural addictions. An additional four per cent of survey respondents said they weren’t sure and two per cent preferred not to answer. Faced with those statistics and looking for additional ways to support students, the polytechnic joined Recovery on Campus Alberta – a relatively new organization founded by the University of Calgary – in 2022. Today, representatives from 26 post-secondary institutions take part in monthly virtual meetings to discuss addiction and recovery on their campuses – what they’re trying, what’s working and what’s not working. “We didn’t actually have any kind of peer support or group support for recovery and addiction on our campus,” says Harasem. “And the U of C’s Donuts and Discussions group was really catching on. I asked if I could steal the concept and [Recovery on Campus Alberta] actually decided a couple of years ago that every campus in the province could steal it.” 22

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Harasem (right) and Morin in conversation in the polytechnic’s newly renovated Wellness Services space. Harasem says she was introduced to Morin by a polytechnic colleague who thought he might be a good fit for the Donuts and Discussions group.

“BEFORE [I WAS SOBER], IT WAS A LOT MORE SELF-SEEKING, MORE SELFISH; I KIND OF DIDN’T REALLY CARE ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE EXCEPT MYSELF. SO NOW IT’S GETTING TO PASS THAT ON. I THINK THAT’S WHAT RECOVERY IS ALL ABOUT.” CHRISTIAN MORIN

In addition to pursuing his diploma in General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology, Morin (right) is also a regular volunteer at Fresh Start in Lethbridge where he helps others in treatment and leads 12-step meetings.

Harasem says she liked the idea of Donuts and Discussions because it sounded very low key, fun and inviting. And while Recovery on Campus Alberta had provided the idea and promotional text and graphics, Harasem was on the hook for recruiting a polytechnic student living in recovery who could commit to leading the weekly discussions. Recognizing it had to be “the right individual,” Harasem says she put feelers out around campus. It wasn’t long before a colleague approached her and said, “I think I found your person.” “Right away, Christian was 100 per cent on board,” Harasem recalls. “He saw the importance of the work, and he was willing to sort of be the face of it because there are some people who want to support others, but they don’t want people to know that they’re in recovery.” Morin, though, speaks openly about his journey from addiction to sobriety, which he says began in Grade 10. “I was smoking a lot of weed. I knew it was a little bit out of control because I didn’t want to stop ever. I liked the haze.” Social drinking followed and at 19 years old, Morin was pulled over for suspected drunk driving and charged with refusal (to comply with a demand for a breath sample). 24

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“HE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK, AND HE WAS WILLING TO SORT OF BE THE FACE OF IT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SUPPORT OTHERS, BUT THEY DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY’RE IN RECOVERY.” LORI HARASEM

“I ended up having to get a lawyer … it cost me a lot of money, and I never got off,” he says. “I ended up losing my license for a year and getting a criminal charge from it, plus my family kind of pushed me away a little bit.”

fter that, Morin says he decided to “do things on his own,” dropping out of Mount Royal University to go work on the rigs. “You can find yourself on a good rig, and it’s all good,” he says, “but you could also be stuck in that lifestyle all of a sudden and it can trigger that addiction – you’re coping, you’re away from family, you’re away from home, you’re with a bunch of people you don’t really want to be with … and from there I ended up what would definitely be considered an alcoholic.” Morin says by the time he was 26, work on the rigs had slowed and he was laid off. He got another job and started using more heavily – not just alcohol but cocaine as well. “I burnt my life to the ground,” he admits. “I lost a lot of friends, I wasn’t seeing my family as much, school wasn’t even an option anymore because I thought I was already getting too old for that.” And then came children – two daughters. “You’d think that would be enough to turn your life around,” Morin says. “For me, it was a time to cope with hard feelings of having to be responsible, having to be accountable for my kids and the mother of my children, and really I had no clue that there were options for me to detox, to get help.” Despite feeling “a lot of guilt and shame,” Morin says he kept using over the next 10 years. “When I was 36, my mom was catching on to how bad I was,” he says. “My dad had died; I had a friend commit suicide who was hard into crack cocaine, and I ended up dabbling with that, too. Then from there it didn’t take long for me to lose all my savings. The mother of my children was kicking me out. I decided to go to detox, finally. And I can’t say that it was necessarily my decision either, lots of people get pushed into it and that’s OK, it’s a start.” Morin spent five days at Renfrew Recovery Centre in Calgary, an inpatient facility that provides medically supported detoxification services. “I was sick for the first few days, and then finally they get you to talk to a counsellor,” he recalls. “I started talking about the issues that I was having, what was bothering me, which helped a lot, you know, being able to talk about that stuff.” From there, Morin contacted the Fresh Start Recovery Centre in Lethbridge and was placed on the waiting list. After about a month, he got the call that a bed was available. Following a couple of relapses and stays at the Fresh Start location in Calgary, Morin returned to Lethbridge in September 2023. “I was getting more educated on recovery and getting therapy and things like that … and then I was like, I want to do something to help. I started looking through programs and decided I’d apply [at the polytechnic].” Morin admits his initial goal was to earn enough credits to transfer to the University of Lethbridge’s addictions counselling degree program, but he says he quickly realized there was more for him to offer through social work and he’s now pursing his diploma in General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology.

“I’M HERE TO LISTEN. I CAN SHARE MY EXPERIENCE, MY HOPE. I KNOW THE KIND OF COURAGE IT TAKES TO COME FORWARD AND ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.” CHRISTIAN MORIN

In addition to leading the Donuts and Discussions peer support program on campus, Morin is also a regular volunteer at Fresh Start in Lethbridge, where he helps others in treatment and leads 12-step meetings. “He’s just very honest and he’s very open and he’s very real,” says Harasem. “He’s OK with where everybody is, but he can also give people hope because he’s been through a lot, he still goes through a lot, and he’s doing it, he’s finding success. So, I think it shows people that their journey can shift, their journey can change.” Morin is quick to point out that his role in Donuts and Discussions is not to be a therapist, or to intervene or even to push abstinence, but to focus on harm reduction and being a reliable confidant for students in need. “I’m here to listen,” he says. “I can share my experience, my hope. I know the kind of courage it takes to come forward and admit you have a problem. Or … you can talk about a friend or a family member who has been struggling with addiction and how it affects you, how it might be seen from an addict’s point of view.” Nicole Carpenter, a second-year General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology student and Donuts and Discussions participant, says she appreciates having a “comfortable, safe zone” on campus where she can connect with others. “There was a point prior to my recovery of not knowing how to reach out to people and that stigma around addiction,” she says. “[Donuts and Discussions] is a gateway for people who are scared to reach out – a way to reach out without actually reaching out.” Harasem adds that because of Morin and the group, the Wellness Services team has met several students who weren’t yet connected with campus supports. “He’ll talk to them in class, or he’ll talk to them in the hallway, and he’ll [recommend] Wellness Services,” she says. “He’s one of our wellness ambassadors … he really does help students understand what we do and what our supports are and how to access them.” 25

ecovery Alberta, a provincial health agency, provides an addictions counsellor each Friday year-round. “She sometimes comes to Donuts and Discussions just to introduce herself and make sure the students know she’s here,” explains Harasem. Post-secondaries can also apply to Recovery on Campus Alberta for provincial grant funding to help cover the cost of providing addiction and recovery supports. Harasem says Lethbridge Polytechnic has been fortunate to receive money each year to promote Donuts and Discussions and a plethora of other initiatives. “We did a week of events and activities for National Addictions Awareness Week last November,” she says. “Some of it was naloxone and harm reduction training, because there have been [opioid-related] deaths on campuses in Canada where nobody had naloxone or didn’t know how to use it. We really try to promote that we have it available – it’s free and we train you on how to use it.” Harasem says Wellness Services has also been working closely with Student Affairs over the past couple of years to make sure that for any campus event focused on partying and alcohol, like Last Class Bash, there is also an alcohol-free event. She says film screenings, games, bingo and mocktail bars have all been well received. “The University of Alberta did a research study that they shared with all of us [in Recovery on Campus Alberta] and it showed a significant number of students will only come to an event if they know it’s substance free,” says Harasem. “They’re actually looking for that, either by choice or because they are in recovery.” Substance-free options extend beyond organized social gatherings, too. Residence Life’s updated housing software allows students to match with roommates and choose their own rooms by selecting their living preferences. Preferences include substance-free, quiet zone, living with mature students, living with other Indigenous students, living with other international students, or no specific preference. “Students would select ‘substance free’ as a living preference at the time of application,” says Shari Edwards, Residence and Guest Services co-ordinator. “Our system will automatically prioritize matching students with others who selected the same preference. Our software also allows the student to see their matches and chat back and forth to decide if they would like to be roommates.” Edwards notes that all events hosted by the Residence Life team are alcohol free, and residence halls are welcoming social spaces that are completely alcohol free as well. “We are well connected with Wellness Services,” she adds, “and we will often send referrals to our campus Care Team if another student or family member reports substance use concerns, and for many other reasons as well, throughout the year.” Wellness Services counsellors are available by appointment each weekday year-round to offer support for a wide range of mental health concerns including stress, anxiety and 26

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depression, disordered eating and body image, substance, gambling and sex addictions, trauma and grief, abuse, sexual assault and more. They also help individuals connect to community resources off campus and can recommend Prescription to Get Active – a provincial program that encourages individuals to discover new activity options as they work toward a healthier life. “For a lot of people in recovery [substance use] was how they spent their time,” Harasem says. “So, it’s like, OK, what are you going to do with your time now? It’s about finding new things to do and discovering new hobbies.” The polytechnic’s Be Fit for Life (BFFL) Centre and Recreation Services are two of several participating locations in Lethbridge. Prescription holders can try any three BFFL fitness classes for free and can take advantage of a free onemonth membership with Recreation Services that includes consultation with certified staff to discuss potential activities, a tour of the facility, an equipment demonstration and a progress follow-up session. “It’s a great way to try a gym and there’s no financial cost to it,” Harasem says. “And then, if they like it, we know a subsidy program that can assist with covering membership long term. And that same subsidy program can be used for arts as well so for some people, maybe they’re going to turn to painting, or they want to explore beading or whatnot.” For students in recovery, knowing help is available at Lethbridge Polytechnic – before they even arrive – can make all the difference. “From the moment a person accepts their offer here, they can start accessing all of our services,” says Harasem. “It doesn’t have to wait until day one.” The message – that support is available and encouraged – is one Carpenter hopes will reach more students. “I think the more it’s promoted and known, the more comfortable people will be with reaching out,” she says. Morin agrees. “It’s hard,” he says. “You’ve got to be really willing, and you’ve got to crash and burn a lot to get there. I’ve managed two years of sobriety now, which is super hard – to abstain from anything for two years. That’s why I don’t put that kind of pressure on anybody.” With growing awareness, campus-wide partnerships and programs designed to meet students where they are, Lethbridge Polytechnic is working to make recovery part of the conversation. And Morin is at the heart of it. “He will change people’s lives,” says Harasem. “I have no doubt.” Wellness Services is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and available to Lethbridge Polytechnic students and employees. Appointments can be booked in person at CE1308, by phone at 403-320-3289 or online at lethpolytech.ca/wellness.

Harasem (right) says that because of Morin and the Donuts and Discussions group, the Wellness Services team has met several polytechnic students who weren’t yet connected with campus supports.

Mason, in the company of her three cats, Arlo (pictured), Opal and Onyx, uses her home-grown perspective and vast experience to build AI apps and develop risk assessment frameworks for the Yukon territory.

“I BOUGHT 10 ACRES WITH MY MOM, AND I BUILT THIS HOUSE OVER COVID. I SPENT FOUR YEARS “HE WILL CHANGE PEOPLE’S BUILDING ANDNO I’M DOUBT.” ALMOST DONE.” LIVES. I HAVE AJA LORI MASON HARASEM

THE HUMAN FUTURE OF AI A CONVERSATION WITH MUSICIAN, AUTHOR AND AI PIONEER DAVID USHER Story by Tina Karst | Photos by Rob Olson

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hen David Usher – the Juno Award-winning musician,

bestselling author and founder of Reimagine AI – visited

Lethbridge Polytechnic last spring, his presentation left a lasting impression. It wasn’t just that he shared compelling insights into the evolving relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence; it was also the clarity with which he spoke about the opportunities and challenges ahead. His fireside chat on Artificial Intelligence and the Power

of Creative Thinking was the latest installment in the polytechnic’s speaker series, presented by Bruce McKillop. Usher spoke with the Wider Horizons team by phone a few months later, from his home base in Toronto, to dig deeper into the rise of AI, the role of creativity in a machine-driven world, and what it really means to leave behind a digital legacy.

David Usher speaks to an audience at Lethbridge Polytechnic March 12. He says accessing one’s innate creative thinking is the key to unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence in this new era.

When or where did your interest in AI begin? I guess around 12, 13, years ago. I was doing a lot of keynote speaking, and I was talking to companies about creativity, but a lot about innovation as well. I really felt the next big thing coming down – the next big innovation or disruption – was going to be artificial intelligence. I was sort of onto it very early, and I don’t like to speak about things unless I have personal experience with them, like hands-on experience with whatever I’m talking about. So, I started looking for a project in artificial intelligence and I got involved with Google, working on a project to build artificial intelligence agents that could collaborate with humans writing song lyrics. And from that experience working with Google, I got the bug basically. And right after that, I started Reimagine AI. As a talented songwriter, what was the process of working with Google Brain like? How did the songs compare to something you would have written on your own? Well, this was before the real language model revolution of the last couple of years … so 10 years ago. The language models were terrible, and Google was very, very controlling about how they collected data. You really weren’t allowed to scrape the web like OpenAI has done and like everyone else has done now, and Google has done as well now. Back then you had to be very, very strict with your data collection. So experimentally, it was really interesting, but as a real tool that people could use, it was sort of meh. But then when OpenAI really scraped the entire web, that changed the ability of these language models to find real purpose and usefulness, utility. Would you consider a song written by AI to be art? I’m not personally interested in songs written by AI, just like I’m not particularly interested in art made by AI or writing made by AI. But that’s just a personal thing. Some people are really into that and those kinds of use cases of artificial intelligence. I use it for different things; in our company we’re using it for different things, but we’re not focused on that at all.

During your visit to Lethbridge Polytechnic, you predicted there would be significant disruption because of AI in the very near future. What steps can or should be taken to ensure the disruption is more positive than harmful? We’re already seeing the disruption, really, aren’t we? The rise of agentic AI, which are sort of multiple agent systems that can work together autonomously; it’s really changing the nature of work, and how fast we work and how many people you need to do a job now. So we’re going to see a lot of disruption in the job market. We’re also seeing some very odd things going on with learning in relation to a lot of kids who are using AI now. We’re sort of in this nebulous place where we’ve just gotten through the big tech companies unleashing social media on kids without any parental control or government control, and now we’re unleashing AI on the same kids without any understanding of how it’s really going to affect the process of learning. Like, how do we learn things when we don’t need to go through the steps of learning to get the answer? I think there needs to be a lot of thought put into how we’re going to use AI in education, or limit AI in education. Our creativity is an important characteristic that sets us apart from AI. How should we be leveraging that innate human quality within the AI world? Creativity is what I call the creative thinking methodology, which is a creative process that you can apply to any vertical to take yourself through a process to come to an output. In this world of AI where AI can do the core work, you still need to be able to run a team and have the vision for what you’re trying to build. And the vision has to be more than generic, especially these days. I just read an article where companies are being overwhelmed by AI resumes. Every resume now looks the same because they’re just spitting it out through AI – make it better, make it this, make it that. And so every resume kind of looks the same and looks pretty good, right? So the creatives are the ones who are going to be able to take the average and make it amazing, and that’s why the process is so important.

“I’M NOT PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN SONGS WRITTEN BY AI, JUST LIKE I’M NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ART MADE BY AI OR WRITING MADE BY AI. BUT THAT’S JUST A PERSONAL THING.”

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“...WE’RE CONSTANTLY INUNDATED WITH EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME, OVERLOADING OUR SENSES. SO HOW DO WE CAPTURE THINGS THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO US, THAT WE CAN THEN CONNECT TO AGAIN AND SAVE.”

“WE’VE JUST GOTTEN THROUGH THE BIG TECH COMPANIES UNLEASHING SOCIAL MEDIA ON KIDS WITHOUT ANY PARENTAL CONTROL OR GOVERNMENT CONTROL, AND NOW WE’RE UNLEASHING AI ON THE SAME KIDS WITHOUT ANY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT’S REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THE PROCESS OF LEARNING.”

Usher, joined by Moist band mate Jonathan Gallivan, incorporates live music, technology and humour in his presentations. The event was open to polytechnic students, employees and community members.

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Do you think we need to regulate the tech industry to address public good, public safety and protecting consumers? One hundred per cent, yeah. I mean, we need regulation. You know, this is the most powerful technology with the biggest possibility of disrupting everything, and we need government to be involved with it. Should tech researchers/developers be required to take ethics training and run projects through ethics boards? There are a lot of people doing research into ethics, for sure. And we need research into ethics. Any time you’re about to release something with unknown consequences onto the world, you should look at the social impact of those things and how we’re going to deal with those things. A request made through ChatGPT consumes much more electricity than a Google search. How have you seen the tech industry navigate environmental impacts? I don’t really think it’s happening right now. I think that it should. I think that all the big tech companies are just on a massive build; they’re building the computers as fast as they can and getting the product out as fast as they can. I’m sure they have teams working on energy consumption as well, but it is a huge issue for sure. Now the hope is, and I think we’re already starting to see it, that as the models get better, like the big reasoning models, the smaller models, or the older models are getting cheaper and faster and hopefully more efficient. In your presentation, you shared that Reimagine AI is working on virtual “echoes” of real people – a digital imprint that lives forever. What is the inspiration behind this technology, and how do you foresee these echoes being used in the future? About four or five years ago, my friend Lucy – who’s one of my best friends from university and this incredible artist – was

diagnosed with stage four lung and brain cancer. We built, basically a digital version of Lucy’s mind, an AI version of Lucy’s mind. And we have a touring exhibit where there’s – if you can imagine – a very, very large screen where you can talk to, almost like a light installation that represents Lucy. And as you talk to Lucy, and Lucy talks back to you, around the walls, all around you, are projected videos from Lucy’s life that are connected to whatever she’s talking about. So if she’s talking about her childhood, those will be reflected on the walls. If she’s talking about her life and dance, that will be reflected on the walls. It’s almost like you’re looking into her memory. And then [this past spring], the exhibit was in New York City, and her oncologist, who’s at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, came to the exhibit and was talking to Lucy live in the exhibit. She suggested we put Lucy online as somebody that people can talk to. They don’t have to tiptoe around anything; they can ask anything they want, or their loved ones can. And so that’s online now under askLucyai.com and we’re just about to start a clinical trial with a hospital in Brooklyn around this idea of the ability for Lucy to be able to help people who are newly diagnosed with cancer, so that’s interesting. And that is part of this whole idea that everyone in the near future, through our [SecondEcho] application, hopefully will be able to build a digital version of their mind, their thoughts, feelings and memories – really their history. And just for fun, we asked ChatGPT to generate the final question for you; if your digital echo could interact with people 100 years from now, what’s one message you would want it to convey? I mean, I don’t really think about myself 100 years from now but what I would say is, with SecondEcho, we’re trying to capture meaning within chaos. What’s your personal story? What means something to you? You know, trying to pull out those moments that have meaning because we’re constantly inundated with everything all the time, overloading our senses. So how do we capture things that mean something to us, that we can then connect to again and save.

TO SIGN UP FOR THE SECONDECHO WAITLIST, VISIT SECONDECHO.AI. FOR A LIST OF AI RESOURCES RECOMMENDED BY USHER, VISIT WWW.REIMAGINE.AI/LIBRARY

From our kitchens

As owner of Niitsitapi Eats & Treats, Chef Roberta Mistaken Chief (Culinary Careers 2007) shares delicious Indigenous fusion dishes with people across southern Alberta. “I have always wanted to be a chef,” she says, recalling childhood hours spent watching her mom in the kitchen, a practice that later turned into cooking for her large family. After graduating from the polytechnic, Mistaken Chief spent 18 years in the industry, running kitchens and catering private events. Now, she’s tackling a new goal of earning her diploma in Business Administration – Business Operations. “I decided I wanted to fulfill my dream of owning a food truck and representing my people’s food and culture in the community,” Mistaken Chief says. “I knew that to be successful, I had to get knowledge of the business side of the industry.” Her focus paid off in March when Mistaken Chief, then a first-year student, won the University of Lethbridge’s LaunchPoint Pitch Competition and its $2,000 top prize. “Things seemed to explode for me,” she says. “It went from a dream and idea to something that can actually happen now!” While her food truck isn’t on the road just yet, Mistaken Chief is giving readers a sneak peek at what’s sure to be a menu staple: fry bread bites. “Fry bread has deep roots in Indigenous cuisine across North America, including the Blackfoot people,” she says. “This version adds a local twist with Saskatoon berries, a wild prairie fruit cherished for its sweet, earthy flavour.” Story by Tina Karst | Photos by Rob Olson

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 c. .................................................................... all-purpose flour 2 tbsp. ................................................................ baking powder 2 tsp. ...........................................................................................salt 4 tbsp. ................................................................................... sugar 2 ½ c. ............................................ water (room temperature) 1 c. .................................................... frozen Saskatoon berries Oil, for frying

1. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Create a well in the centre and pour in the water. Gently mix until a sticky dough forms. Do not overmix. 2. Fold in the frozen Saskatoon berries until distributed. 3. Lightly flour a clean surface and pinch off small pieces of dough. Roll into balls three to five centimetres wide. 4. Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 160–190°C (320–375°F). 5. Carefully drop in the dough balls and fry until golden brown, about two to three minutes. 6. Remove and drain on paper towels.

FOR THE SASKATOON BERRY SAUCE 2 c. ...............................Saskatoon berries (fresh or frozen) ½ c. ........................................................sugar (adjust to taste) ½ c. ......................................................................................... water 1 tbsp. .........................................................................lemon juice 1 tsp. ............................cornstarch (optional, for thickness) Other toppings: powdered sugar, honey or maple syrup For more information on Chef Mistaken Chief’s catering, visit www.niitsitapieatsandtreats.com. To make a reservation at the Garden Court Restaurant, where Chef Mistaken Chief and other Culinary alumni learned their trade, call 403-320-3230. Bon appétit!

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FOR THE SAUCE 1. Combine berries, sugar and water in a small saucepan. 2. Simmer over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often, until berries soften and release juices. Stir in lemon juice. 3. (Optional) Mix cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and stir into the sauce for a thicker consistency. Cook for another two minutes until it slightly thickens. 4. Cool slightly before drizzling over warm fry bread bites. 5. Extra sauce can be refrigerated for up to five days and served with pancakes, waffles or ice cream. 6. Enjoy!

{ Chef Roberta Mistaken Chief }

FRY BREAD BITES with Saskatoon Berry Sauce

Where are they now?

Where are they now? Makers, Doers and Thinkers Celebrating the Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni who are building community and making their mark in memorable ways.

FEATURING:

Jared Garrick, Business Administration – Marketing 2013 Story by Stacey Andrews Photos by Shawn Salberg and Stacey Andrews

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SHARING THE SUCCESSES OF OUR ALUMNI IN THEIR CAREERS AND THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES From backyard painting to public installations, Jared Garrick (Business Administration – Marketing 2013) has never shied away from bold ideas, even launching his art business ROVÜ in the middle of a pandemic. Now, he’s making his mark across southern Alberta and beyond, using art to tell powerful stories, transform spaces and inspire others to chase their passions.

Garrick has always been an artist, but he says it wasn’t until

he discovered graffiti and street art that he began to recognize his talents and lean into his creativity. He recalls starting small – painting in his backyard, working on pieces of wallboard and whatever else he could get his hands on. Over time his work evolved, and he began integrating small hand tools and creating sculptures. He says he started many small businesses and worked fulltime while pursuing art in the background. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Garrick chose to dive in and launch his art full-time with ROVÜ. “It was a risky time to start an art business in southern Alberta, but I felt like that’s what the world needed,” says Garrick. “[I thought] let’s make the world beautiful and see where it takes me.” He says support from his wife Taylor – his “rock” over the years – and co-worker Morris Nguyen, has been pivotal to his success. ROVÜ offers unique experiences, delivering high-end work through architectural features, creative products and place making. The business has been well received, and Garrick says, “the glue is art,” as it connects him to his clients and allows him to tell their stories in new ways. Learning to not fear failure is also an important step for Garrick. “I’ve always been very mindful of that and really pushed that throughout my career, doing things that make me uncomfortable,” he says. “Because that’s when growth happens, and then you change and evolve as a person and as an artist.” Pivoting and adjusting the creative process is part of every project Garrick works on. Whether it’s creating a mosaic brand story for Kasko Cattle Co. Ltd., a family-owned cattle feeding and farming business, or designing apparel with his friend Nick Kern for YDB, a member of American hip hop group

Wu-Tang Clan, during their Las Vegas residency, each project involves being mindful of the client’s goals and the outcome they hope to achieve. Among Garrick’s most recent projects was creating a sign for Lethbridge Polytechnic. As a grad, Garrick says he was excited to work on the project and took into consideration the design of the new logo and elements that make campus unique. “With the design, we really wanted to pay homage to the environment and the placement of the polytechnic,” he says. Using parametric design, a technique that uses computer software to create complex shapes and seamless curves, the sculpture creates a sense of place, representing the beauty of the coulees surrounding campus. Nestled within the landscape and emerging anew sits the Lethbridge Polytechnic logo. While working through the project, Garrick reflected on his own time as a student, noting the hard work spent writing papers and listening to marketing lectures paid off and set the foundation for developing the skills he would need to grow his business. It also required a little willingness to follow his dreams and take a risk on himself. Garrick suggests more people should pursue what makes them happy. He hopes his journey can serve as inspiration – proof that following your dreams is possible if you have a little faith and are ready for whatever happens next.

Where are they now?

ALUMNI

UPDATES We love hearing from Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni! You can find additional updates online at widerhorizons.ca.

John Andrada Bachelor of Ecosystem Management John says, “I was lucky enough to get a job as a wetland ecologist at Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) in the summer of my third year. The faculty at [Lethbridge Polytechnic] helped tremendously in getting my degree finished while working full-time at DUC. The Ecosystem Management degree prepared me in ways I did not even recognize to be successful in my professional pursuits.”

Kevin Castro Guillin To submit your news to share with your classmates and the campus community, drop us a note at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.

Digital Communications and Media Kevin is working as a freelance photographer and videographer.

Susan Samaila

General Arts and Science, Administrative Office Professional Susan tells the Alumni office: “I currently work as an admissions assistant at Train Alberta and at the Lethbridge Polytechnic library as a general support staff. I’m working towards getting my permanent residency and building a life here in Lethbridge. After two years I’ve come to love this welcoming community.”

2022

Krystal Winter

2025

Niculina Jensen Practical Nurse, Health Care Aide 2019 Niculina is now a Licensed Practical Nurse with Addiction and Mental Health Services, Alberta Health Services.

2024

Jill Anderson Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology Jill is currently working at Recovery Alberta as a recreation therapist at the Fort McMurray Recovery Centre. 38

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Business Administration – Management Krystal is the operations co-ordinator for Residence Life at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

2021

Anna Giesbrecht Culinary Careers Anna is working as a sous chef at Southland Trailers in the cafeteria. She works with and trains culinary students during their summer job placements, as well as cook apprentices. Anna says she also works alongside other Lethbridge Polytechnic Culinary program alumni.

2020

Brad Kronlund Business Administration Brad and his team at Custom Cat Cribs designed and built a large jungle-themed temple with trees for Los Angeles Lakers point guard Gabe Vincent’s two Bengal cats. See photos and video of the crib on Instagram – @customcatcribs.

Cassidy Langridge

Digital Communications and Media Cassidy is a digital branding specialist for 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union Ltd. As a member of the marketing team, she helps with marketing for all branches in southern Alberta.

Tyhanna Neudorf

Justice Studies, Correctional Studies 2019 Tyhanna has been employed with the Government of Saskatchewan as a probation officer since 2021 and has worked at various offices, including Prince Albert, Buffalo Narrows, Melfort and Saskatoon.

2018

Janelle Graham Criminal Justice – Policing Janelle is a full-time business agronomist with Independent Crop Inputs, and she is set to graduate from the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program this fall. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she was pursuing a Justice Studies degree,

Building a career in events and marketing

Rheanna Mirus

but she chose to defer her education until in-person classes resumed. In the meantime, she took a job at a feedlot. Despite having no prior experience in agriculture, she quickly rose through the ranks to become cattle manager. Janelle says she has now found “her true passion” within the industry.

2016

Jennifer Cearns Cook Apprentice, General Arts and Science Jennifer is a chef at a gold mine in Ontario.

Digital Communications and Media 2025 Rheanna left her hometown of Olds, Alta. to pursue a university degree but she says she quickly realized university was not for her and she made the switch to Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Digital Communications and Media program. “My time at Lethbridge Polytechnic was truly amazing, I enjoyed the small class sizes and personable experience it provided,” Rheanna says. “The Digital Communications and Media program helped me realize that marketing and communications are truly my passion. Not only was I excited to attend classes each and every day, but I was interested in the lessons being taught and learning from the best. The program taught me so much about the work that goes on behind the scenes of marketing campaigns, video shoots and commercials and I am eager to use the skills I learned in the real world. I can’t wait to make an impact on small and large businesses with the knowledge I gained.” In May, Rheanna was hired as the YWCA Lethbridge & District’s events and marketing co-ordinator.

Mike Paulson

Computer Information Technology Mike is working at Lethbridge Polytechnic as a systems analyst.

Erin Williamson

Business Administration – Marketing Erin is working as a mortgage broker and has been in the mortgage industry for more than six years.

2015

Colby McKee Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism Colby worked for more than six years as a radio creative writer/producer/on-air host for Pattison Media in his hometown of Medicine Hat. For the past three years he has been working for Corus Entertainment in Edmonton as a creative writer for both Edmonton and Winnipeg radio markets.

CELEBRATE OUR AMAZING ALUMNI

NOMINATIONS OPEN NOV. 4

LEARN MORE AT

lethpolytech.ca/honouringexcellence

Where are they now?

2009

Kandace Ballman Practical Nurse Kandace was an acute care nurse for 14 years and recently transitioned to Recovery Alberta as an outreach street nurse specializing in addiction and mental health.

(CLPNA) as a new regulated council member. Her bio on the CLPNA website states: Candace has been a Licensed Practical Nurse for 17 years with more than a decade in men’s health. She has served as clinical manager and sexual health clinician focusing on patient education, clinic efficiencies and inclusive care. Candace has proven leadership abilities and was the winner of the Laura Crawford Excellence in Nursing Practice Award for consistently demonstrating excellence in practice through exemplary nursing knowledge, skills, attitude and judgment; promoting an atmosphere of teamwork; pride in the profession; and mentoring team members.

2006

Jillian MacDonald

2008

Ashley Cesar Practical Nurse After serving four years as Board Vice-President of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA), Ashley began her term as council president on Sept. 1. She says, “serving as vice-president has been a meaningful experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on this new responsibility. It’s a privilege to work alongside such a knowledgeable and dedicated group of professionals who care deeply about protecting the public.” The CLPNA regulates the licenced practical nurse profession in a manner that protects and serves the public by setting and monitoring standards for registration, practice and conduct for practical nurses.

Candace Frey

Practical Nurse Candace recently joined the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta 40

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Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism After graduating in 2006, Jillian built a dynamic career in communications, beginning with radio, television, and the oil sands before transitioning into the public sector. Throughout her time in government, she has provided expertise in strategic communications, public engagement, public education, audiovisual production, content creation, social media management and digital marketing. Currently, she serves as an events specialist with the Government of Alberta, where she leads and executes high-profile events for the premier and various ministries. Jillian lives in Edmonton with her husband and two dogs, embracing both professional and personal adventures in Alberta’s capital.

2005

Preston Scholz Business Administration Preston, who is the director of Portfolio Management and Virtual Sales at ATB Financial, was awarded ATB’s inaugural Helix Award in May. The Helix Award is the highest form of leadership recognition at ATB Financial and is awarded to the most influential and inspiring leaders across the organization.

When asked to describe Preston’s leadership style, his colleagues said he leads with compassion, empathy and with his heart first. Preston has also been a member of the polytechnic’s Board of Governors since June 2024.

2004

Laura Barrett Rehabilitation Services Laura worked at Alberta Health Services in Seniors Addictions and Mental Health for 16 years. She also taught at Lethbridge Polytechnic and worked as an employment specialist with individuals who have medical barriers and disabilities. She is currently completing a bachelor of professional arts in human services through Athabasca University.

Matt Seifert

Business Administration – Professional Golf Management Matt, who teaches golf lessons at Golf Fanatics in Calgary, was featured in SCOREGolf magazine in May. The article highlights his Grow the Game Tour – a volunteer initiative he launched in 2021 to bring free junior golf lessons to rural courses across Alberta and beyond. He has taught hundreds of kids since the program began and now serves as an honorary advisor to more than 20 small clubs that can’t afford a golf pro.

Making history at Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce

Ashley Day Chief

2003

Shari Edwards Child and Youth Care Shari says, “I am fortunate to be part of the Lethbridge Polytechnic family, working with the Residence Life team as the residence and guest services co-ordinator.”

General Arts and Science 2009 Ashley, who is chief operating officer and co-owner of AdvancedAg Inc., was inducted as chair of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, becoming the first Indigenous chair in its 136-year history. Ashley shared her thoughts on LinkedIn shortly after she was inducted at the chamber’s Chair Reception on June 24, saying, it’s “a milestone I carry with both pride and humility.” She added, “as the gavel was passed, my father honoured me with a traditional Blackfoot song. In that moment, I felt the weight of my story, my family and my community all standing with me. There was a time when I wasn’t sure spaces like this were meant for someone like me. Today, I know they are, and I’m committed to helping others see that, too. To me, leadership isn’t about fitting in. It’s about showing up fully and creating space for others to do the same. I’m honoured to serve as the 2025–26 chair for the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, and I intend to lead with authenticity, accountability and a deep belief in what’s possible when we work together.” Lethbridge Polytechnic President and CEO Dr. Brad Donaldson was in attendance and presented Ashley with a Pendleton blanket, a gift from the institution. Photos courtesy of Standout Photography

2002

Jill Grindle Multimedia Production Jill tells the Alumni office: “Although I didn’t find work in my area of education, many of the things I learned and experienced at [Lethbridge Polytechnic] have helped me in my career since. In 2016 I took a leap of faith and became one of the first legally employed cannabis workers in Canada. I began by helping educate medical patients on the nuances of cannabis as medicine and have since built a strong career surrounding the cannabis plant. I have managed retail stores, worked as a sales manager and currently fulfill the role as [quality assurance/quality control technician] for a Health Canada-approved licensed producer (grower). I am proud of the work I have done; there aren’t many people who get to experience pioneering a brand new industry and I am lucky to have been a part of history in Canada.” 41

Where are they now?

Covering precious metals on the world stage

Neils Christensen

Communication Arts – Print Journalism 2001 Neils sent the Alumni office this update: “I am currently the editor of Kitco News, one of the world’s leading sources for precious metals news and information. With over two decades in journalism, I’ve built a career grounded in curiosity, integrity and a passion for storytelling. My journey began in 2001 after earning a diploma in Print Journalism from what was then Lethbridge Community College. My first reporting job took me to Crowsnest Pass, and one of the highlights of my early career was working as a journalist in Nunavut. Every newsroom I’ve been part of has reinforced the power of local storytelling and the vital role journalism plays in building and connecting communities. All my early experiences laid the foundation for my transition into financial journalism in Montreal. What continues to drive me is the opportunity to connect with people – from miners in remote regions to economists on the world stage – and share their stories. Whether I’m reporting from an international economic summit or a small-town council meeting, the goal remains the same: to inform, engage and build trust. My foundation was built at LCC, now Lethbridge Polytechnic, and that early grounding in community journalism remains my guiding philosophy.”

1999

Elizabeth Makarra Communication Arts – Advertising and Public Relations Elizabeth tells the Alumni office: “I have been working at a community health centre in Honolulu, Hawaii, for nearly 12 years, with seven years [as a director] overseeing and developing programs for homeless and uninsured patients. I specialize in health care emergency preparedness, climate resilience and operationalizing federal emergency preparedness rules. I have facilitated multiple trainings state-wide and in California since 2017, guiding other health centres on how to ensure rules are in place that stand the test of staff turnover. I have also co-developed, implemented and managed an emergency department reduction program to reduce nonemergent visits for those patients who go to the emergency room when they could be going to clinics instead. I also created and manage a robust wellness program for health-care staff that is implemented across six sites and 200 staff, with quarterly initiatives that have been going strong for seven years. And I also manage a tobacco treatment program with integrated tobacco cessation services across multiple clinic sites, write [request for proposals], reports and budgets for multi-year grants. I often think fondly of my time and education in Lethbridge and how it led to the foundation of where I am today.”

1995

Kimberly Beck Office Administration, Travel and Tourism 1992 Kimberly says, “After finishing my diploma, I started working at LCC (at the time). I worked there for eight amazing years and then had some babies. Now I am a full-time education assistant at Magrath Elementary and have been for 13 years.” 42

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Retirement filled with family, cars and great outdoors

Warren Salberg

Jeremy Langemann Professional Cooking Jeremy was named 2025 Chef of the Year by the International Catering Association at the annual Art of Catering Food, Catersource + Special Event conference in March in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The award highlights exceptional innovation, leadership and craftsmanship, recognizing those who redefine the catering industry. Jeremy, who has 28 years of experience in the industry, is the executive chef at Bingemans Catering, one of southern Ontario’s largest hospitality companies. “I was truly humbled, deeply honoured,” he told CambridgeToday.ca in an interview after his win. “It’s never been about the accolades, it’s about having the passion and ability to be creative, bring joy to people over a meal and be able to do that with a fantastic team.”

Bryan Pritchard

Business Administration – General Business After completing his Business Administration diploma, Bryan worked at Federated Co-operatives and spent time driving a Schwan’s truck. He later earned a combined management/education degree from the University of Lethbridge. He taught for 12 years in the Lethbridge Public School Division, earned his master’s in educational leadership and moved into school administration roles with Horizon School Division – two years as an assistant principal and eight as

Civil Engineering Technology 1985 After graduation, Warren returned to thenLethbridge College in 1990 as an instructor, sharing his experience and passion for engineering with countless students. From 1994 to 1997, he served as chair of the Engineering Technologies program and helped shape the direction of the department. In 1992, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni for his professional accomplishments. Warren retired in 2019 but continues to enjoy life to the fullest. He and his wife Anita, along with their dog Max, spend their time relaxing at their trailer in the Crowsnest Pass or hanging out with their family. When he’s not enjoying the outdoors, you can find Warren in the garage working on his classic cars. A lifelong car enthusiast, he loves tinkering with his 1958 Dodge D100 and 1951 Pontiac Fleetleader. “I’ve always felt very thankful and fortunate to have had a career where I was able to get to know and interact with so many awesome students and colleagues,” Warren says. “Our graduates have proven to be some of the best engineering technologists in Canada and the world.”

principal. Bryan says, “last year, things came full circle in a way, as I took on the off-campus teacher role in Horizon, which includes working with Lethbridge Polytechnic for dual credit programming, so I get to visit the campus quite often.”

1994

Jeff Melchior Communication Arts – Advertising and Public Relations Jeff is a reporter for Glacier FarmMedia publications with decades worth of experience writing for the broad agricultural industry in addition to community-based publications. Jeff is also a two-time winner of Canadian Farm Writers Federation awards.

1988

Winslow Davis Civil Engineering Technology Winslow is working with First Nations communities throughout Alberta.

1984

Kenneth Gillis Business Administration Kenneth spent 32 years at Safeway, 13 of them in management, and has been with Coke Canada for the past 14 years. He says he is “proud to [have worked] at both companies and how they both have been a great employer to so many Canadians.” 43

Where are they now?

Supporting students as polytechnic cultural advisor

Jordan Head

Business Administration 1971 Jordan returned to the Lethbridge Polytechnic campus, more than five decades after graduation, to take on the role of Indigenous Cultural Advisor. Jordan credits his time at the institution as the foundation for a lifetime of learning, listening and being of service to his community. He says his drive to learn came from his great grandmother, a survivor of one of Canada’s earliest residential schools. “She encouraged me to learn from teachers and soak up all the information I could,” Jordan says. “I valued her insight. She talked of a time when my father and grandfather would no longer be needed in the fields, and that education would become the path to a better life.” Jordan followed a path of learning, pursuing a degree in Native American studies from the University of Lethbridge, and a post-graduate degree in health services administration and a master’s in business administration from the University of Alberta. He says his education has helped him navigate careers in business, health and community service and now, it has brought him full circle to support students at his alma mater. In his role, Jordan contributes directly to the development and improvement of Indigenous student supports on campus. He provides empathy and a unique perspective, which helps him connect with students on a more personal level. “I’m building off what others started,” he says. “And I’m here to help students find a way forward spiritually, academically and personally.”

Al Lucas Communication Arts Al tells the Alumni office that he has worked in media almost continuously since graduation. In 1986 he moved to Red Deer and worked for CKRD in sales, then with ZED 99 and CKGY for more than 20 years before moving up to general sales manager for seven stations. Al is currently working with Harvard Media in Red Deer, which represents 13 stations over seven markets in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He says he still keeps in touch with many of his classmates and other graduates of the Communication Arts program.

1983

Micheal Ward Environmental Science Micheal says he retired after 37 years in law enforcement, having worked with Alberta Provincial Parks, the Manitoba Department of Natural Resources and Manitoba Government Services, in addition to police services in Winnipeg, Springfield and Sainte-Anne, Man.

1977

Laura Trent Drafting Technology Laura has had her own design and drafting business for more than 40 years.

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| FALL 2025

FAMILIES IN FOCUS

The Heggie Family The basketball court at Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Val Matteotti Gymnasium is more than a few basketball hoops – it’s a second home for the Heggie family, and a place where a shared passion became the cornerstone for learning, coaching and togetherness.

t began in 1984, when Ryan Heggie enrolled in General Arts and Science at what was then Lethbridge Community College. He was recruited to play for the Kodiaks men’s basketball team under coach Dave Adams and recalls his time clearly: “Our team was ranked as high as second in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and we finished with silver in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). We made memories!” Heggie returned to the men’s basketball program as head coach in 2011, and it wasn’t long before he and his wife Cori-Jo were watching their daughters – Jaclyn, Haylee-Jo and Brooke – play for the women’s basketball team. At one point, all three sisters were on the team at the same time. “Not many people get the opportunity to play with their sisters in post-secondary,” says Jaclyn (General Arts and Science 2018). “Having my dad there the entire four years was something I don’t take for granted and our relationship became stronger because of it.” Now a mom of four, Jaclyn lives in Raymond with her husband and is planning a return to school to complete her teaching degree; she also hopes to get back into basketball through coaching. Brooke’s (General Arts and Science 2018) connection to the Kodiaks didn’t end after graduation. She’s now in her fourth season as assistant coach of the men’s team, working alongside her dad as she finishes her education degree from the University of Calgary. “Coaching with my dad is the most amazing experience,” she says. “Having my grandparents and nieces and nephews come to games and watch us work is amazing. When I finish my degree, I plan to begin working as a teacher and continue to pursue my coaching goals with hopes of eventually landing a head coaching job somewhere.” Haylee-Jo also soaked up the full family experience during her two years on campus in the General Arts and Science program.

The Heggie family: (from left) Finlee Jensen, Brooke Heggie, Jackie Petrunik (Cori-Jo’s mother), Jaclyn Heggie Jensen, Emerson Jensen, Denny Jensen, Ryan Heggie, Haylee-Jo Heggie, Oaklynn Jo Jensen, Porter Jensen, Cori-Jo Heggie.

“I always planned on attending Lethbridge Polytechnic and playing basketball for the Kodiaks,” she says. “Playing alongside my sisters made the transition from high school so much smoother. And seeing my dad every day at practice, that’s a memory I’ll always be grateful for.” After transferring to Olds College and completing a bachelor of science in agri-business, Haylee-Jo is now focused on earning her education degree while she recovers from two ACL reconstructions. She’s returning to Olds to play her final year of ACAC basketball. The Heggies’ shared experience is a rare one, even in the world of sports. But for Cori-Jo, a lifelong educator who also studied at the polytechnic before moving on to university, it’s the family bonds that matter most. “Watching Ryan coach the men’s team has been a lot of fun,” she says. “It was awesome when all three of our daughters played for the Kodiaks. My 92-year-old mom comes to every game she can, and now my grandkids come to cheer on ‘Papa,’ Brooke and the team!” “There have been great times and tough times, and those experiences help a person navigate life,” says Ryan, who is now entering his 15th season as head coach. “Working here has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging experience. There are relationships I have built with players and colleagues here at [the polytechnic] that I treasure.” Story by Sam Sasse | Photo courtesy of the Heggie family

Are you a multi-generational Lethbridge Polytechnic family? If at least three members across one or more generations attended Lethbridge Polytechnic, let us know by emailing WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca. We’d love to profile you.

THIS IS KODIAKS COUNTRY 2025-26 KODIAKS HOME GAME SCHEDULE

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING Oct. 25

ACAC Championships

INDOOR TRACK Jan. 24 Feb. 14 Feb. 28 TBD

at Concordia at Red Deer Polytechnic at Lethbridge Polytechnic ACAC Championships

JOIN US ON OCT. 24–26 ACAC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships – hosted in Raymond

VOLLEYBALL

Oct. 18 Oct. 31 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Jan. 16 Feb. 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb. 26–28

6 p.m. 8 p.m. CUE 6 p.m. 8 p.m. TKU 6 p.m. 8 p.m. NWP 6 p.m. 8 p.m. SAIT 6 p.m. 8 p.m. AMB 6 p.m. 8 p.m. OC 1 p.m. 3 p.m. OC 6 p.m. 8 p.m. MHC 6 p.m. 8 p.m. RDP 1 p.m. 3 p.m. RDP ACAC Championships

FUTSAL

Jan. 17 Jan. 31–Feb. 1 March 6–7 March 20–22

Noon 1:30 p.m. MHC at Medicine Hat College at Ambrose ACAC Championships

Lethbridge Polytechnic Communications Office 3000 College Drive S. Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6

Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 28 Nov. 29 Jan. 10 Jan. 17 Jan. 23 Jan. 24 Feb. 13 March 5–7

6 p.m. 8 p.m. SAIT 6 p.m. 8 p.m. LAKE 6 p.m. 8 p.m. KC 6 p.m. 8 p.m. UAA 2 p.m. 4 p.m. NAIT 6 p.m. 8 p.m. STMU 6 p.m. 8 p.m. AMB 6 p.m. 8 p.m. BC 1 p.m. 3 p.m. BC 6 p.m. 8 p.m. MHC ACAC Championships

SPECIAL EVENTS Oct. 24–26 Nov. 1 Jan. 23 April 14

ACAC Championships Jr/Sr High Appreciation Night Jr/Sr High Appreciation Night KODI Awards

ESPORTS Schedule to be determined. To view games live, visit: twitch.tv/kodiaksesports

This schedule is subject to change. For up-to-date game times and schedules, visit:

RETURN UNDELIVERABLES TO:

BASKETBALL

gokodiaks.ca