mount royal university - summit fall 2015

WARNING:Physical literacy is more than a buzzword — it’s a fundamental skill set that could go the way of the dinosaur if we don’t start moving (literally) in the right direction.

!Physical literacy can reduce rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease while improving mental health! It’s the mastery of movement and sport skills that allows people to move with confidence in everyday activities and it will change your life.

Also in this issue: Game changing bison wrangler | Alumni Achievement Awards | PhD pundits

Fall 2015

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10 G A M E C H A N G E R From stick handling to bison wrangling, this student

entrepreneur has a new meaty venture

14 W H E R E I N T H E W O R L D ? ! MRU celebrates over two decades of globe-trotting

16 A L U M N I A C H I E V E M E N T A W A R D S They’re making their impressive mark on the

world — these winners embody the sense of citizenship and intellectual excellence for which the University stands

34 T E A C H I N G B U S I N E S S W I T H A D O U B L E B O T T O M L I N E

In the new world of social enterprise, MRU is distinctly positioned to contribute to the value-minded economy

38 C H A N G I N G S K I E S Through its Garrison roots, MRU forged its own

distinct aviation history, including one of Canada’s premiere flight-training programs

46 D E F Y I N G T H E S T E R E O T Y P E S Aboriginal youth at MRU’s MEG Energy Summer

Science Camp pursue science studies through determination and community support

51 P h D P U N D I T S They’re loud, proud and opinionated. And that’s

why we love them. MRU’s Policy Studies and Communications professors pursue a life less ordinary

CONTENTS FALL 2015 C O V E R S T O R Y :

B R E A K I N G I N A C T I V I T Y Put down that book, give up the gaming and turn off the tube. Let’s get moving in the right direction and become physically literate

16

14

34

46

38

51

I N E V E R Y I S S U E : 2 Letter from the president | 4 Bleed blue, highlights from the MRU community | 32 Organized chaos | 56 Checking in with MRU alumni

2410

One of the features in this issue of Summit focuses on physical literacy and the health benefits of getting our bodies moving. Every morning I get moving by walking

my dogs, Griff and Ash, on the trails and parks near my home. The dogs wait patiently as I have my 5 a.m. coffee and read

the paper. By 5:30, we’re out the door. Nature is alive in the early morning. The walk allows me to think about the day ahead, contemplate longer-term plans and reminds me of how lucky we are to live in a city that is so intertwined with nature. Watching my dogs sniff and play always brings a smile to my face and, as a bonus, the walk practically guarantees 15,000 steps a day on my Fitbit!

Post-secondary institutions have a role to play in encouraging not just active minds, but active bodies. And we know there is a strong relationship between the two. At Mount Royal University, this means educating and creating more awareness among students, staff and faculty. We’re stepping up our emphasis on physical literacy in our academic offerings through the Faculty of Health, Community and Education and in our general campus happenings. This means, quite literally, “walking the talk” around healthy active living.

I took part in a staff Fitbit challenge this spring and, despite regular dog walking, I was lucky to finish in the top 10. Kudos to each and every person who participated — what a great way to encourage active living. It also means investing in priority areas. Our campus recreation facilities and instructors are second to none. Even the new Riddell Library and Learning Centre will have stand-up desks and treadmills. And as I always remind people, our facilities are not just for those who work and learn at Mount Royal; we invite the community to join us so we can all get moving.

When it comes to where we’re moving as an institution, Mount Royal recently got a new roadmap. This spring our Board of Governors approved the University’s vision: to provide an exceptional undergraduate educational experience. This vision is part of our 10-year strategy called Learning Together, Leading Together. The strategy was born out of countless hours of discussion and consultation with students, staff, faculty and community. This engagement was instrumental in helping us define who we are, what we do and, most critically, why we do it.

In this and future issues of Summit, we will share stories with you that serve as proof points of our progress to implement this strategy. For example, the story on the MEG Energy Science Camp shows our commitment to increase Aboriginal students to seven per cent of our overall student population. The social-enterprise piece is evidence of our quest to explore and adopt innovative approaches. And in honouring the rich aviation history upon which the Lincoln Park campus sits, we engage the community in collaborative learning.

Whatever your connection with Mount Royal, I hope you enjoy reading this season’s Summit. And while you do that, I’ll go look for Griff’s and Ash’s leashes.

Sincerely,David Docherty

FROM THEPRESIDENT

2 SUMMIT – FALL 2015

V I C E P R E S I D E N T , U N I V E R S I T Y A D V A N C E M E N TCarole Simpson

D I R E C T O R , M A R K E T I N G A N D C O M M U N I C A T I O N SMelanie Rogers

M A N A G E R , A L U M N I R E L A T I O N S A N D A N N U A L G I V I N GBuffy St-Amand

Summit is published in the fall and spring each year. Like this issue, its pages will introduce you to exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters of Mount Royal University.

Distributed through various internal and external channels, Summit tells Mount Royal’s ongoing story to its various audiences. Summit’s content will showcase the aspirations, achievements and contributions of Mount Royal students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters and, in so doing, clarify Mount Royal’s profile as a Canadian leader in undergraduate education.

ISSN 1929-8757 SummitPublications Mail Agreement#40064310

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:University AdvancementMount Royal University4825 Mount Royal Gate S.W.Calgary, AB, Canada T3E 6K6

GET IT IN WRITING RIGHT ON YOUR SCREEN

Now, you can enjoy Summit by arranging to have a digital version of the next issue delivered right to your desk or home. It’s easy and environmentally friendly.

Simply e-mail [email protected] with the following subject heading: MRU Summit by e-mail.

Same great stories — now, sustainably yours.

FSC

MEET THE

TEAME D I T O R - I N - C H I E F Carole Simpson

E D I T O R Theresa Tayler Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — Journalism (2005)

A R T D I R E C T O R Michal Waissmann Bachelor of Communication (Applied) — Electronic Publishing (2007)

P R O D U C T I O N M A N A G E M E N T Deb Abramson Journalism Diploma (1977)

M A R K E T I N G A N D E D I T O R I A L C O O R D I N A T I O N Mike Hwang Bachelor of Business Administration — Marketing (2012)

C O P Y E D I T O R S Jonathan Anderson Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations (2013)Michelle BodnarBachelor of Communication (Applied) — Journalism (2005)Andrea Ranson Public Relations Diploma (1985)

C O V E R S T O R YPhotography: Colin WayModel: Owen George

P H O T O G R A P H YLeah HennelMikael KjellströmJames MayRoth & RambergMichal WaissmannChao Zhang

G R A P H I C D E S I G N A N D L A Y O U TChristina Riches Bachelor of Communication — Information Design (2014)Michal WaissmannChao Zhang

C O N T R I B U T O R SDeb AbramsonJonathan AndersonMichelle BodnarCollette BurjackTierney Edmunds Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations (2012)Lisa KadaneMarisa NoronaAndrea RansonJenna ReimerBachelor of Arts — English (2012)Theresa TaylerBryan Weismiller Bachelor of Communication — Journalism (2013)

“STREET HOCKEY. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY DAY WAS WINNING

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD CHAMPIONSHIP!”

What was your favourite outdoor activity as a kid?

“STREET HOCKEY. ALL THE KIDS IN THE

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYED. THE GAME PROGRESSED FROM

RUNNING SHOES TO ROLLER BLADES. IF WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE TWO GOALIES WE PLAYED

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.”

“ALL AGES AND SIZES OF KIDS USED TO GATHER

AFTER DINNER FOR A GAME OF KICK-THE-CAN. ONLY A FEW NEIGHBOURS WOULDN’T LET US HIDE IN THEIR YARDS, SO WE HAD THE WHOLE BLOCK.”

“CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN (OR WAS IT A HILL... NOPE, PRETTY SURE IT WAS A MOUNTAIN) AT MY FAMILY’S FAVOURITE

CAMPING SPOT.”

“THE DEATH TRAP OF THE TRAMPOLINE. BACK FLIPS,

FRONT FLIPS AND DOUBLE JUMPS... AND NO, THERE WERE

NO SAFETY NETS LIKE THERE ARE TODAY.”

“BIKING AROUND THE CITY AND IMAGINING

MYSELF AS A CAPTAIN.”

“I FELT AS THOUGH FISH CREEK PARK WAS MY DISCOVERY AND EXPLORED TO MAKE SURE I WAS THE

FIRST TO SEE EVERYTHING.”

“PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

CREW WHILE BLASTING KID ROCK OR DR. DRE, SIGH.”

3SUMMIT – FALL 2015

SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR RECEIVES JOINT RESEARCH GRANT OF OVER $1 MILLION ON POST-FLOOD IMPACTS

During the summer of 2013, the town of High River was devastated by the historic flood that ripped across southern Alberta. Assistant Professor Caroline McDonald-Harker, PhD, dedicated herself to helping the town heal. In collaboration with Timothy Haney, PhD, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, McDonald-Harker is conducting a three-year study on the impact of the High River flood on families. The study is funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant of $165,336.

As well, McDonald-Harker, along with collaborators Julie Drolet, PhD, from the University of Calgary and Robin Cox, PhD, from Royal Roads University, received $1.1 million in funding from an Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunities - Population Resiliency research grant. They will continue research in a new study entitled “Alberta Resilient Communities Research Project: Engaging Children and Youth in Community Resilience Post-flood in Southern Alberta.”

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN CANADA

What new ways of learning, particularly in higher education, will Canadians need to thrive in an evolving society and labour market? Melanie Rathburn, PhD,

and Roberta Lexier, PhD, both of the Department of General Education garnered a Knowledge Synthesis Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council which will enable them to investigate how the term “global citizenship” is perceived among universities, governments and industry. Their research will synthesize existing information so that a common conversation can begin about how to create a society where individuals consider themselves citizens of the global world.

GRANTS AT A GLANCE

Mount Royal students, who spearheaded the University’s We Are Not Them (WANT) Movement in March, were chosen by the U.S. Department of State as one of the top three finalists (out of 24 universities from around the world) for the P2P: Challenging Extremism initiative (initiated by The EdVenture Partners and the Youth Education Committee). The P2P: Challenging Extremism (P2PCE) project tasked students to build a social campaign to counter online extremism. MRU’s group presented the WANT Movement project, which ran over five days in the spring at the University. The event featured a number of workshops and seminars aimed at educating students about the differences between the Islamic faith and extremism, violence and terrorism. The team placed third to Curtin University (second place) and Missouri State University (first place). MRU was the only university to represent Canada in the competition in Washington D.C. in June.

MRU’s We Are Not Them (WANT) movement recognized by U.S. Department of State

COMPILED BY THE SUMMIT MAGAZINE TEAM

BLEED BLUE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MOUNT ROYAL COMMUNITY


Excellence in education requires accessibility to cutting-edge tools for study. As part of a partnership with GeoLOGIC Systems Ltd. and MRU’s Bachelor of Science — Geology, GeoLOGIC Systems donated an information management resource called GeoSCOUT — a learning tool designed for professional disciplines within the oil and gas industry and valued at more than $300,000.

For MRU geology students, this means access to additional technology. GeoSCOUT grants students access to aerial and satellite imagery to view land characteristics and infrastructures, to digitize paper maps and to provide pressure test data for single wells and pools.

Because of GeoLOGIC Systems’ generous donation, students are gaining experience on the highest level of innovative decision support tools available, further refining their hands-on learning.

Established in 2012, the Mount Royal Library Award for Excellence in Scholarly Endeavours is given annually to students who employ outstanding research skills and use of information resources. The year 2015 is the first year two winners, Kyle Kinaschuk and Chandra Martini, were each awarded a $1,000 prize.

Kinaschuk’s English Honours thesis already earned him a spot in one of the University of Toronto’s prestigious doctoral programs; meanwhile, first-year student Martini’s original research into midwifery practices in black pioneer communities uncovered a link to her own past.

In 2007, MRU set out on an ambitious fundraising campaign with one goal in mind — become Canada’s premier undergraduate university, setting a new standard in post-secondary education. The institution’s determination was at an all-time high, driven by the desire to develop learning opportunities for students, provide a unique educational environment and expand its learning spaces.

With the support of more than 2,500 donors, MRU was able to surpass its goal of $250 million and conclude its most successful campaign to date. This feat could not have been accomplished without the generosity of those who believe in the University.

On June 8, Mount Royal staff, faculty, students and supporters came together to celebrate the close of the campaign.

GEOSCOUT-ING

Award for Excellence in Scholarly Endeavours 2015

University surpasses quarter billion fundraising goal

$250MILL ION

Like many students, third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student Haley Daniels spent the majority of her summer on the river. Instead of floating slowly in a raft, however, Daniels was racing up and down white waters in a canoe chasing medals. One of only of four athletes to represent Canada in canoe-kayak slalom at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, and the only Canadian in the Women’s C1 event, Daniels did her country and school proud capturing a bronze medal on July 19. A week later, she followed that up with a silver medal at the Canoe Slalom National Championships in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL SUMMER ON THE RIVER


MRU’s student Enactus team celebrated many milestones in spring 2015, taking part in several regional and national competitions while capturing the $30,000 first place prize at Change Tank, a 48-hour accelerator aimed at affecting extreme poverty. Business student and graduating Enactus MRU President Dustin Paisley received the 2015 Unilever Leaders for a Bright Future Award at the Enactus

National Exposition in Toronto this past May. Paisley, along with four other student leaders from across Canada, were

recognized for their vision, ability to inspire and motivate others, and use of entrepreneurial action to make the

world a better place to live.

TAYLOR CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OPENSMRU officially opened the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts in August. The new facility boasts the largest musical teaching institution of its kind in Canada and Calgary’s first new major performance hall in three decades. The Taylor Centre will be the home for Mount Royal’s Conservatory, which began in 1911, and it will be able to provide more than 6,000 students each year with unparalleled instruction. It will also house the Bella Concert Hall, a state-of-the-art concert hall that will draw performers from around the world for the enjoyment of audiences.

The $90.5 million community space was made possible through donations, government funding, accessing reserves and some financing. The philanthropic Taylor family made a generous $21 million donation, the largest in the University’s history.

Mount Royal University officially announced its 12th bachelor’s degree at the University’s 18th annual Pearls of Wisdom event in May. The new Bachelor of Interior Design is now available to those interested in studying how spaces can be both effective and influential. MRU has offered a popular three-year Bachelor of Applied Interior Design since 1998. The first year of the full four-year degree is already at capacity.

“The new degree is leading edge and unique,” said Jeff Keshen, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts.

The Interior Design program has been accredited through the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) for a number of years, which is a requirement to work in the industry. The new degree is the only one of its kind in Alberta.

ENACTUS TEAM EARNS NATIONAL PRIZES IN 2015

New Bachelor of Interior Design launched


MRU’s Under Western Skies conference, held in September 2014 and chaired by Robert Boschman, PhD, and Liam Haggarty, PhD, is the 2015 recipient of the Environmental Community’s Organizer Award (ECO-Award) by the Environmental Studies Association of Canada. The national ECO-Award honours an individual, team or organization which has positively contributed to the field of environmental studies in Canada through community-building, research, knowledge-to-action or innovations in practice or approaches.

Bachelor of Business Administration (International Business/Supply Chain Management) student Cassie Doucette received the 2015 Export Development Canada (EDC) International Business Scholarship. This prestigious award not only recognizes Doucette, but also MRU, as the award marks the second time that MRU’s International Business program at the Bissett School of Business has received the EDC nod — the first coming in 2010. Each recipient of the EDC scholarship receives a $4,000 award.

Faith-Michael Uzoka, PhD, Department of Mathematics and Computing is being honoured by Nigeria’s University of Port Harcourt with a Uniport Award. The award recognizes significant contributions to the development of the University of Port Harcourt.

“I started a book drive for Africa in 2004 during my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary. Through the project, I have been able to donate over 2,000 books in various disciplines to the University of Port Harcourt,” says Uzoka.

So far, seven universities have benefited from the project. The book drive is an annual activity.

National Eco-Award goes to Mount Royal’s Under Western Skies Conference

International Business Scholarship goes to a MRU student for second time

Before the information super highway of social media, if people wanted to spread ideas, thoughts and opinions they had to do it in much more creative ways. Many inventive minds did and still do so via “zines.”

What is a “zine” you ask? It is a small circulation of self-published work, original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced on a photocopier.

Zines offer writers, poets and artists the ability to share their perspective and ideas with the world without publication in mainstream media. Few academic libraries in Canada offer as grand a zine collection as the one at MRU’s Library.

The impressive collection of over a hundred zines was created at the initiative of Policy Studies graduate Cheri Konsmo, who approached MRU Library with a proposal inspired by her research on zines, democracy and political engagement. What started out as a class project for Political Science course Women and

Politics grew into a collaboration with the Library that included recommendation of the first titles for the collection. “Cheri’s knowledge and understanding of their uniqueness and their value is really what led to such a rich collection now being used for teaching and research,” says Barrette.

Looking for something completely different? Mount Royal’s zine collection has it.

“[Zines] are very non-traditional,” says Barrette. “They fall into a number of different categories. While some may tell a personal story, others convey opinions on topics.”

Currently, students are actively producing zines and creating new knowledge by sharing them.

“I think its demonstrating to students that there is value to be had from other voices and other perspectives,” she adds. “This really is grassroots, for the people by the people.”

SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE

FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE


English professor’s book short-listed by Atlantic Book AwardsWhen life gets interesting, and you happen to be a writer, it’s time to get non-fiction. Last spring, Associate Professor of English Natalie Meisner, PhD, released her first work of non-fiction, Double Pregnant: Two Lesbians Make a Family, to a receptive audience at the University’s faculty centre. The book, was short-listed for the non-fiction award for the Atlantic Book Awards 2015.

Taking on fundamentalismIt’s not this professor’s first book on controversial subject matter; MRU’s Mahfooz Kanwar, PhD, has penned publications on everything from religion and crime to society. His latest title, Addicted to Religion, which deals with addiction to Hinduism, Sikism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, delves into the world of religious fundamentalism. What role does religion play in society and what dangers can occur when fundamentalism arises in culture? Kanwar’s book discusses issues such as national and international terrorism.

The Muslim professor says the text is not anti-religious in any way. It’s an informative read about how secular education and rational behavior can coexist in the institution of religion.

“I was once a fundamentalist Muslim without understanding the depth of my religion,” Kanwar says. “My training in secular social sciences helped me to understand both religion and rationality.”

PR from a Canadian perspectiveA group of faculty from MRU’s Public Relations program are among the chapter contributors to a bold new textbook published in May by the University of Alberta Press. The Fundamentals of Public Relations and Marketing Communications in Canada, a first of its kind, is considered the nation’s most comprehensive textbook on public relations and marketing communications. It’s targeted to serve Canadian instructors, professors, practitioners and students. The textbook features 19 expert contributors from industry and academia across Canada including MRU faculty members Sheridan McVean, MBA; Allison Mackenzie, MBA; and Sandra Braun, PhD.

Trusting the proseFaculty often worry that students can’t or won’t read critically, a foundational skill for success in academic and professional endeavors. According to research by four MRU professors who completed a study to determine the reading comprehension and strategies students use in their learning, there’s mixed news: the “good” (students can read), the “bad” (students are not reading for social engagement), and the “ugly” (class assignments may be setting students up for failure).

Faculty members Karen Manarin, PhD; Miriam Carey, PhD; Melanie Rathburn, PhD; and Glen Ryland, PhD, who met through the Nexen Scholars Program operated by the Institute for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, researched and penned Critical Reading in Higher Education: Academic Goals and Social Engagement, which was published through Indiana University Press December 2015. The volume is based on collaborative, multidisciplinary research into how students read in first-year courses in subjects ranging from scientific literacy through composition.

The authors offer strategies that can better engage students and provide more meaningful reading experiences.

Provost and Vice-President Academic Kathy Shailer is pleased to welcome two familiar faces to new leadership roles at Mount Royal University.

On July 1, Michael Quinn and Jim Zimmer began their new positions as associate vice-presidents.

“These are two strong threads in the fabric of our Institutional Strategic Plan and revised Academic Plan,” says Shailer, PhD. “Michael Quinn and Jim Zimmer will ensure their portfolios balance our strong commitment to teaching and student success with opportunities for research

and community partnership.”

Quinn, PhD, now serves as associate vice-president, Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement, having previously joined Mount Royal in 2013 as the inaugural Talisman Energy chair for Environmental Sustainability and director of the Institute for Environmental Sustainability. He oversees the Office of Research Services, as well as Mount Royal’s institutes and centres.

Zimmer, PhD, who had been serving as dean of the Faculty of Teaching and Learning, transitions to the role of associate vice-president, Teaching and Learning, amid structural changes to the Academic Affairs division.

Mount Royal announces two new associate vice-president appointments

PENNED AT MRU

Michael QuinnJim Zimmer


Christmas in Song: Winter FantasiaBella Concert Hall, Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts7 p.m.Mount Royal Conservatory’s annual celebration of the season, features Mount Royal’s Artio and Kantorei choirs, the Calgary Youth Orchestra, special guest performers and emcees, the Heebee-jeebees.tickets.mru.ca or 403.440.7770

Events 24OCTOBER

6NOVEMBER

7NOVEMBER

25NOVEMBER

6DECEMBER

21JANUARY

12DECEMBER

12-14NOVEMBER

22-24OCTOBER

Open House9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Ross Glen Hall, Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous LearningA great opportunity to learn about the programs offered at MRU. Meet professors face-to-face and tour the campus and residences. mtroyal.ca/openhouse

Cougars’ Alumni Weekend6 – 10 p.m.Triple GymGet in the game with the Cougars. The weekend will feature both men’s and women’s hockey and volleyball, as well as women’s soccer.mrucougars.com

Convocation2 p.m.Triple GymGraduates and their guests are invited to attend Fall Convocation at MRU. Convocation offers graduates the time-honoured tradition of celebrating their accomplishments with faculty, peers, family and friends.mtroyal.ca/convocation

2015 Symposium on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Connecting People, Practices and PedagogiesBanff Park Lodge, Banff, Alta.This gathering of teachers and scholars is a practitioner’s conference dedicated to developing teaching and learning research, sharing initial findings, going public with results of completed projects and building an extended scholarly community. In its 6th year, the conference draws together faculty, students and administrators interested in the systematic inquiry of teaching and learning.isotlsymposium.mtroyal.ca

Christmas in Song: Sounds of the Season7 p.m.Bella Concert Hall, Taylor Centre for the Performing ArtsCelebrate the season with Mount Royal’s Arietta and Arioso children’s choirs, the Calgary Boys’ Choir, the Conservatory Strings and MRU Speech Arts & Drama students.tickets.mru.ca or 403.440.7770

Crowchild ClassicWomen’s game at 5 p.m. Men’s game at 7:45 p.m.Scotiabank SaddledomeThe Crowchild Classic is the ultimate crosstown smackdown – a year-long series pitting the Mount Royal University Cougars against the University of Calgary Dinos. Be part of the rivalry.

Visit the Cougar Athletics office to get your free ticket in advance of the event. Tickets are also available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Scotiabank Saddledome on game day.mrucougars.com or 403.440.7770

Campus Master Plan9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.Main StreetWe want your input. The Campus Master Plan will guide the growth of campus facilities and amenities for the next 20 years and beyond. Participants will be able to provide feedback on the Concept Plan, Guiding Frameworks and Policies.mtroyal.ca

MRU Remembers Hockey Game6 p.m.Flames Community ArenasMount Royal honours sacrifices made by our military as the Mount Royal Cougars host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies for the fourth annual Mount Royal Remembers Hockey Game.Free admission for all military personnel, MRU students, faculty and staff.mrucougars.com


After suffering a career-ending back injury (2010), most people wouldn’t go on to compete in IRONMAN Canada, one of the most physically-grueling triathlons in the world.

But then, Rudi Schiebel is not like most people.“When they told me I would never play hockey again,

it felt like I was falling into a black hole,” says Schiebel, whose lifelong ambition was to play in the National Hockey League.

“I needed to commit to something and see it through, so I started training for IRONMAN. When I crossed the finish line (2012), I knew I could do anything I set my mind to.”

Three years later, Schiebel is again defying expectations.The fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration

student is now the president and co-founder of a thriving bison ranch and is spearheading a plan to be the first supplier of Canadian bison to China — all before his 25th birthday.

WORDS BY COLLETTE BURJACKPHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKAEL KJELLSTRÖM

From stick handling to bison wrangling, this student entrepreneur is a

game changer

Rudi Schiebel leaps from the boardroom to the bison ranch


Growing up among a family of doctors and engineers, Schiebel had never set foot on a farm until he met his future business partner, Laine Keyes, in junior hockey. Schiebel began working as a handyman on Keyes’ B.C.-based family cattle ranch during the summers.

“There was a sense of freedom,” says Schiebel of working on the farm. “I fell in love with being outside — with working on my own time.”

After his hockey career was cut short, Schiebel still didn’t have any inkling his future lay in agriculture. Instead, he began studying finance at Mount Royal University with the intention of becoming a corporate lawyer.

But, as was becoming the norm for Schiebel, something unexpected happened during his first semester. His friend Keyes called with an insider tip that a quarter section of the Keyes’ family farm was being sold.

“While he was talking, I just got the idea that we could buy the land as some kind of investment,” says Schiebel.

Armed only with the belief they would succeed, Schiebel bought half the land with the dream of transforming the farm into a full-service bison ranch with Keyes.

“At that point, I’d only had four months of

university, so I was using my textbooks to build financial statements,” says Schiebel. “In hindsight, there were 10 different ways we could have done things better, but I don’t think I would have learned it any other way.”

Through sheer grit and determination, Schiebel and Keyes launched Turtle Valley Bison Ranch in 2012, with an initial herd of 100 bison.

“It was a steep learning cliff,” says Schiebel of his abrupt entry into agriculture. “I think my family thought I was crazy to start this business. But we had a lot of mentorship and support from others in the industry.”

A mysterious illness nearly put an early end to the fledgling business in 2014. Unbeknown to Schiebel and Keyes, a mineral in the soil was creating a copper deficiency for the bison, causing sickness and death. They lost 24 of their 91 animals. While the young entrepreneurs worked desperately with numerous veterinary experts to save the herd, Schiebel’s commitment to his business remained steadfast.

“I knew we were going to find a solution — and that once we did, nothing would stand in our way,” he says.

Schiebel’s conviction proved correct. A cure was found and the ranch grew into a thriving business poised to enter the global market.

How a city slicker becomes a cowboy


While Schiebel’s fierce drive got his business off the ground, the opportunities and experiences he received through Mount Royal brought him closer to achieving the global vision he holds for his company.

In 2014, Schiebel was accepted into LaunchPad Accelerator, an exclusive course that helps student entrepreneurs prepare for Mount Royal’s fierce pitch competition. Under the guidance of Ray DePaul, director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Schiebel refined his business plan and pitch.

“I can’t stress how impactful (Ray) has been,” says Schiebel. “To be able to get input from someone who has been there, done that … it’s incredibly valuable.”

With the help of a JMH Venture LaunchPad Readiness Grant, Schiebel travelled to Hong Kong and China as one of the youngest members of the Calgary delegation to the 2014 Hong Kong Forum. Accompanied by Associate Professor Halia Valladares, chair of International Business and Supply Chain Management, Schiebel networked with other entrepreneurs building a China market strategy and met with Chinese government officials and investors.

With Valladares’ support, Schiebel used the knowledge gained from this trip to prepare for the Hong Kong - Canada Business Association (HKCBA) Calgary Investment Pitch Competition (i-Pic), a Dragons’ Den-style competition open to top student entrepreneurs from Calgary’s post-secondary institutions.

On March 26, 2015, Schiebel dominated the competition, taking both first place and audience favourite. In addition to a $4,000 cash prize, he was invited to a dinner with the HKCBA Calgary Chapter Executives.

Only 13 days later, Schiebel created another sensation — this time at the JMH Venture LaunchPad Pitch Competition, where his passionate presentation earned him $20,000.

“Going into these competitions, I just believed in our business,” says Schiebel. “I knew I could make everyone else see

Mount Royal HELPS open doors to China


did you know?

Boldly Bison

exactly what (Ray) and I see — an opportunity to share worldwide a unique product that embodies Canadian culture.”

For DePaul, Schiebel’s success speaks to the possibilities open to all Mount Royal student entrepreneurs.

“The success of (Rudi) and our other student entrepreneurs shows everyone what is possible when you take advantage of all of the great courses and programs available to you,” says DePaul. “Entrepreneurship is about taking something you’re passionate about and making it a reality.”

As for Schiebel, he’s not slowing down. Currently, he’s meeting with other ranchers and coordinating with his Chinese business partners to implement his China market entry plan.

“After a success like i-Pic and LaunchPad, it’s a quick breath of fresh air and then it’s head back down,” says Schiebel with a laugh. “There’s always something new to achieve – something new to aim for.”

While being an international bison rancher is a far cry from the NHL career Schiebel always imagined, he’s glad for the unexpected journey.

“I think bison are a good match for my personality,” says Schiebel, noting that at one point bison were nearly extinct across North America. “We’ve both faced adversity and we’ve both come back.”

Farm-raised bison are still considered wild animals

Bison look like lumbering giants, but can actually run up to 65 kms per-hour and jump two vertical metres

At one time there were only a few hundred bison remaining on the planet — without bison ranching, they would probably be extinct

Today there is about 500,000 bison in North America, still only a fraction of what used to roam here

There are two species of bison in North America — Plains and Woods

There is no genetic link between the African Water Buffalo and the North American "Buffalo"

Bison meat is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, significantly higher in iron than other red meats and is considered to have the most desirable omega fat ratios in any meat product

Bison are better adapted to the environment than other livestock — in winter these hearty animals use loose snow as a water source

Bison require less feed than cattle because of slower metabolic demands

They are highly disease resistant, with minimal veterinary intervention required (this is because there are no hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified breeding practices used in raising bison)

Their grazing behaviour actually enhances range health, fertilizes soil and enhances biodiversity

Greater longevity – bison can have at least five more calves than beef cattle

— Courtesy of Rudi Schiebel and Turtle Valley Bison Ranch


Just over 25 years ago, Mount Royal’s Office of International Education offered eight Mount Royal students the opportunity to partake in an international exchange program. The world has been the University’s oyster ever since.

Mount Royal formally embraced international education over two decades ago, when market research began to surface indicating those with a passion for globe-trotting secured much more than a few stamps in their passports. We know there’s much to obtain through world-wide education. Mount Royal leaders believe that international experience is crucial to the personal and professional success of students, staff and faculty.

Over the past 10 years, the University has cultivated over 80 partnerships with schools across the globe. Currently, more than 150 Mount Royal students formally complete an international experience, through exchanges, field schools, study tours, or internships each year. In fact, at any given time, students are studying abroad across 27 different countries. Since the 1990s, thousands of international students from regions including Mexico, the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, Korea, South America, New Zealand and Australia have ventured to Calgary to study at Mount Royal.

“Working closely with our international partners, we have managed to create innovative and exciting opportunities for the Mount Royal community to internationalize,” says Lorna Smith, who became the director of the City Centre Campus in 1990. Until her retirement in 2015, Smith was responsible for the Office of International Education, including the Languages Institute, which has operated since the 1970s. She quickly began guiding development of a new institution-wide internationalization strategy, one of the first-of-its-kind in Canada and an important factor in achieving Mount Royal’s academic vision.

“I am confident that these and new opportunities will continue to expand in the future,” she says.

Through Smith’s leadership, the Office of International Education was one of the first institutions in Canada to partner with Mexico, and established its first North American mobility partnerships (between the U.S., Mexico and Canada) and its first European partnerships in those beginning years. It is thanks to these partnerships that, over its initial 10 years, the Office of International Education systematically developed a successful range of programs and services. The office was recognized nationally by receiving the Association of Community Colleges of Canada Internationalization Excellence Award in 1995.

Mount Royal celebrates a quarter century of globe-trotting

WORDS BY MARISA NORONAILLUSTRATION BY CHAO ZHANG


The Global Leaders Program at MRU prepares Korean government officials from the Gangwon Province Human Resource Development Centre, Chuncheon, South Korea for the 2018 Olympic Games. This customized, five-week program trains provincial government officials who will be a part of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in English language skills, while enhancing their understanding of the organization of large-scale events, such as the Olympics.

Chuncheon South Korea (2013 – 2017)

India — The Dimensions of Social, Cultural & Personal Development Field School seeks to increase intercultural communication skills and educate students on the importance of international community development. Participating students are enrolled in the faculties of Communication Studies and Health, Community and Education Studies, among other faculties. The next field school to India will be in Spring 2016.

Haridwar and Phagwara India (2012, 2014, 2016)

Through the MRU — Universidad de Guanajuato bilateral exchange agreement, employees from MRU participate in the Summer Language Exchange Program at the Universidad de Guanajuato, while employees from the Universidad de Guanajuato may participate in the Summer Immersion English Program at MRU. Participants can improve their Spanish skills, study each region’s education system, experience Mexican culture and explore ideas for further developing the internationalization of the curriculum.

Guanajuato Mexico (1999 – present)

Four bilateral exchange partnerships have been created with institutions in Australia. The most recent, with James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, offers the opportunity for Mount Royal students to study for a semester in Australia, while gaining credits towards their degrees.

Queensland, Darwin and Canberra Australia (2006 – present)

This student exchange with the Universidad del Pacífico (UP) in Lima is one of two institutional partnerships in Peru. The Languages Institute has delivered its own Faculty Development Program, Teaching Through English at UP, over the past three years and hopes to develop these partnerships as local bases where Peruvian post-secondary professors can gather for training to build a train-the-trainer model.

Jesus Maria District of Lima Peru (2012 – present)

Ethiopia-Canada Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Project: Senior Midwives Tutor Training Program (SMTTP) — in 2013, the Faculty of Health, Community and Education Studies at MRU joined with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta on a five-year project to reduce maternal and newborn deaths, illness and disease in Ethiopia. SMTTP is an education program for Ethiopian midwives selected to tutor other Ethiopian midwife instructors in pedagogical and clinical skills.

Addis Ababa Ethiopia (2013 – 2017)

Scotland (General Education) Field School — The inaugural Sustainability in a National Parks Context themed Field School in St. Andrews, Scotland gave students the opportunity to engage in debate surrounding the management of the Scottish environment and compare and contrast with the Canadian park system.

St. Andrews Scotland U.K. (2015)Planes, trains and automobiles — just a few recent road trips


WORDS BY COLLETTE BURJACKPHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAO ZHANG, MICHAL WAISSMANN

Mount Royal University celebrates the remarkable accomplishments

of its students and graduates through the Alumni Achievement Awards.

Selected for their significant contributions to their profession and

community, recipients embody the sense of citizenship and intellectual

excellence for which Mount Royal stands.

We are proud to introduce this year’s recipients of the Alumni Achievement Awards.


Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award Bachelor of Science — University Transfer, 1947

Dr. Glen Edwards

One of Canada’s most prestigious orthopaedic surgeons and educators has roots in Mount Royal University.

The first of his family to pursue post-secondary education, Dr. Glen Edwards came to Mount Royal in 1947 to study engineering. He remembers attending lectures in quonset huts — structures built for soldiers during the Second World War. Despite these unconventional classrooms, he praises the instruction he received.

“There were outstanding instructors at Mount Royal,” says Edwards. “I felt privileged to have them as teachers.”

Fortunately, for the thousands of patients and students who would be affected by Edwards’s work, he soon chose medicine over engineering. He become a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as the American College of Surgeons, and went on to help found Calgary’s first medical training facility.

During a career spanning more than 50 years, Edwards lectured at universities across the globe and held numerous prominent positions, including the first Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery

at the Foothills Hospital and President of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. He performed more than 20,000 surgeries — to name just a few of his many achievements.

Perhaps most significant is his work as an educator. Leaving behind a career in the U.S., Edwards returned to Canada in 1961 to start a resident-training program in pediatric orthopaedic surgery at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“I was raised here,” says Edwards. “I wanted to give something back to Alberta.”

Over the next four decades, Edwards continued to be a driving force for medical education and research.

He was instrumental in launching the University of Calgary Medical School, where he established a post-graduate training program in orthopaedic surgery.

Today, countless surgeons worldwide can trace their own beginnings back to Edwards and he hopes his work will continue to inspire future generations.

“I was just this kid from Bankview,” he says. “I hope by winning this award, students will look at me and say, ‘If he can achieve all this, anyone can do it.’”

“I was just this kid from Bankview. I hope by winning this award, students will look at me and say, ‘If he can achieve all this, anyone can do it.’” — Dr. Glen Edwards


Outstanding Alumni Award — Community Service Diploma — Social Work, 2006

Karen Gallagher-Burt

Karen Gallagher-Burt is an advocate for social change and a champion for children’s well-being and mental health issues.

“I see my role as helping create a voice and opportunities for marginalized people,” says Gallagher-Burt, who is described by colleagues as a “real-life Wonder Woman.”

She first discovered her calling when she and her husband became an Alberta foster family in 1988.

“I wanted 10 children and my husband wanted two,” she says. “So we had two genetic children and I snuck in 44 more!”

As a foster parent, Gallagher-Burt saw first-hand how a broken system affected children, families and social workers. She vowed to make a difference.

Since then, she’s volunteered with numerous organizations, including Wood’s Homes, the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre, Inn from the Cold and, most recently, the Calgary Police Commission. She’s also served in a professional capacity with Calgary Reads and the Distress Centre, and is team manager for campaign engagement at United Way of Calgary and Area.

While Gallagher-Burt is a source of inspiration and mentorship in Calgary’s not-for-profit community, two early attempts at post-secondary education nearly derailed her ambitions. It was when she enrolled in Mount Royal’s Diploma in Social Work that she found a program that enabled her to achieve her goals.

“It was the instructors who made the difference,” says Gallagher-Burt. “They weren’t just academics; they had hands-on experience in the field and they expected the best of you.”

Gallagher-Burt went on to complete a degree and masters in social work through the University of Calgary and is considering pursuing a doctorate.

Despite receiving numerous accolades for her contributions to the community, Gallagher-Burt’s voice breaks when she speaks of the significance of winning Mount Royal’s Alumni Achievement Award.

“Mount Royal was where I first found academic success and realized I could make an impact,” she says. “It’s the root of my work and the root of my heart.”


Horizon Award Bachelor of Applied Communication — Journalism, 2006

Emma Gilchrist

Fresh out of university, Emma Gilchrist landed a job that would be the envy of many journalism students — her own column at an established daily newspaper. Yet less than three years later, after her column had grown into an entire section, Gilchrist gave up her position to pursue an alternate path.

“Independent, nonprofit media are starting to find their voice,” says Gilchrist. “I wanted to see what other avenues there are for journalists to serve democracy and the public interest.”

In 2009, Gilchrist decided to leave her newspaper career. She was then working at the Calgary Herald. This decision marked a leap into the unknown for the scribe, who has become a trailblazer in journalism. While traditional news outlets face falling revenues and declining readership, Gilchrist is using new media to reimagine how journalists can ignite public interest and engagement in social issues.

Most notably, she became a leader in reporting on environmental issues. As executive director at DeSmog

Canada, an influential online magazine, she provides content on Canada’s energy and environment debate.

“I see it as a great privilege,” says Gilchrist. “So many people struggle just to survive the day-to-day, but I have the opportunity to tell stories about one of the biggest issues of our time. I can’t turn my back on that.”

Gilchrist credits Mount Royal University with launching her career. Not only did Mount Royal teach her the tools of her trade, but through a work semester abroad the University also opened her eyes to some of the gaps in Canadian media, including what she defines as a deficit of in-depth, public interest journalism.

“I’m honoured,” says Gilchrist of receiving an Alumni Achievement Award. “It means a lot to have my university recognize my unconventional path.”

Today, less than a decade after graduation, Gilchrist is a voice for change in Canada’s media landscape.

“There are a lot of different ways to tell a story and serve the public interest,” she says. “You only have so many heartbeats on this earth; make the most of them.”


Outstanding Alumni Award — Community Service Business — University Transfer, 1990

Kurt Pedersen

From rock concerts and stand-up comedians to a legendary game of “Chicken Drop,” Kurt Pedersen’s annual charity events have become much-loved traditions, while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Calgary’s not-for-profit community.

“I see it as my responsibility to give back,” says Pedersen, senior vice president and investment advisor at Richardson GMP. “There are so many organizations and people doing good work, and that’s what makes our community a great place.”

While Pedersen has been instrumental in raising funds for The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Inn from the Cold, Alberta Children’s Hospital and Hospice Calgary, among others, it’s his efforts in support of kidney disease research that he sees as most significant.

After his sons were diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, Pedersen worked with The Kidney Foundation of Canada to launch a global competition to fund medical research. Since its inception in 2010, the program has raised nearly $1 million and funded seven research initiatives.

“Through this research, we’re now confirming medicine that could extend kidney function by 50 per cent,” says Pedersen. “This is medication that doctors in Canada were not prescribing five years ago.”

A former player on the Cougars men’s basketball team, Pedersen remains a staunch supporter of Mount Royal University athletics. In addition to donning his Mount Royal blues to cheer on his team, he has helped raise more than $50,000 for Cougar athletes.

Pedersen continues to play alongside several of his former Cougar teammates as a member of the Fighting Tacos, a local senior men’s basketball team. For Pedersen, it is these lasting friendships that form the heart of Mount Royal’s legacy.

“I met some of my best friends there, including my wife. My career, my relationships, everything comes back to Mount Royal,” says Pedersen. “It’s hard to believe I owe so much to one institution.”


Outstanding Future Alumni Award Social Work Diploma — 2015

Cordelia Snowdon

Growing up, Cordelia Snowdon loved listening to her father’s stories about his job in a group home. She remembers accompanying her dad, a Mount Royal alumnus, to class while he earned a Social Work diploma.

Now, a dedicated volunteer and burgeoning community leader, Snowdon credits her father for inspiring her to pursue a career helping others.

“He was always excited to go to work, even if he had had a bad day,” says Snowdon. “I knew that’s what I wanted.”

Following in her father’s footsteps, Snowdon completed her Social Work diploma in the spring of 2015. This fall, she returns to Mount Royal to begin a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies, which she anticipates will enable her to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

“I want to change policy on a bigger level, so that I can impact more people,” she says.

Snowdon is already driving change, having officially launched the Mount Royal Students’ Distress Centre Club in December 2014.

“I noticed a lot of students were hesitant about seeking help on campus because of a fear of stigmatization,” says Snowdon. “I wanted to create something that gave all students the chance to share their stories, while raising awareness about mental health.”

In addition to her work on student mental health, Snowdon dedicates countless hours to volunteering on campus. She has helped numerous students through her involvement with the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University Peer Support Centre and the Student Outreach and Safewalk Centre. She also serves on a variety of committees, including the Vice-President Academic Advisory Committee and the General Faculties Council. She is a longtime volunteer with Calgary’s Distress Centre.

“Much of my family has been involved in the helping industry,” says Snowdon. “It was ingrained in me from an early age to give back whenever I can.”


Thank You

Sponsors

Find out more about what makes Mount Royal alumni leaders in our community and nominate a friend or colleague for the 2016 awards at

mtroyal.ca/AlumniAchievementAwards

Presenting Partner

Media Partner Affinity Partner MRU Champion


LEARNING TOGETHER, LEADING TOGETHERMount Royal University’s vision is to provide an exceptional undergraduate educational experience. With our people as our foundation, discover how we plan to achieve our goals with the implementation of our 10-year strategic plan: Learning Together, Leading Together.

Visit mtroyal.ca/together as we map our journey and measure our success.

BREAKING INACTIVITY


Put down that book, give up the gaming and turn off the tube.

Physical literacy is more than a buzzword — it’s a fundamental

skill set that could go the way of the dinosaur if we don’t start

moving (literally) in the right direction

WORDS BY LISA KADANEPHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN WAY


Grace Dafoe is, by her own definition, “physically illiterate.” Sure, the Alberta Skeleton Association team member can rocket head-first down the icy track at Canada Olympic Park. But Dafoe, a fifth-

year Mount Royal University student immersed in her Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (BHPE) is lacking in some of her fundamental movement skills.

It’s an ironic problem for a world-class athlete. However, as Dafoe is discovering through her studies at Mount Royal, being fit has little to do with being physically literate. You can run a marathon, but that doesn’t mean you can catch a ball. Or even successfully make contact on a high-five with your best friend. Sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of diverse types of physical activity, are wreaking havoc on society’s motor skills.

Part of her own problem, says Dafoe, is she spent her early years focusing on one sport — competitive figure skating — rather than trying a range of sports and recreation activities.

“Specializing early in sports means you don’t develop all of your fine motor skills,” says the 22-year-old.

Dafoe is majoring in physical literacy, the most popular of the four majors available in the new BHPE degree program offered at the University. Whereas traditional kinesiology is reactive and focuses on fixing problems with human movement, the BHPE-Physical Literacy major is preventative — it connects activity to overall health as an antidote to illness and injury.

You may have heard the catch phrase, “sitting is the new smoking,” — the notion that our office culture of sitting at a computer all day is slowly killing us. The slogan has become part of the mainstream lexicon and the phrase “physical literacy” promises to follow suit.

It’s an academic concept and buzzword drawing attention across Canada. And it’s a topic in which Mount Royal is a leader.

But what is it, exactly?Physical literacy means gaining proficiency in

fundamental movement skills and then using them for life. It’s the mastery of movement and sport skills that

allows children to move with confidence in everyday physical activities and across a range of common sports.

The hope is children will grow into adults that regularly run, jump, climb, swim, skate, throw, catch and kick as easily as they know their ABCs and 123s.

Dafoe wants to be able to live what she has learned. Since she spends her days in classes such as

Movement Education and Motor Learning, studying the processes and principles of movement and motor performance, it only makes sense that she aims to master the motions from her lectures.

Many classes afford time in the gym or in the physical literacy lab (the first-of-its-kind in Canada) for students to jump, balance, skip and kick. But Dafoe is on the fast-track to personal physical literacy, so in addition to going to the gym to train for skeleton, Dafoe registered in a physical re-education class where she practices and perfects fundamental movement skills such as climbing, jumping, playing on monkey bars and even doing handstands.

Dafoe, her colleagues and the profs in the BHPE-Physical Literacy major have big plans to change the culture of movement and activity in Canada. They see a future where children will be active through their entire lifespan.

“We’re going to change the next generation and get them more active. Right now, Canada is failing,” says

Individuals who are inactive are 1.9 times more likely to have a heart attack than their active contemporaries*

“WE’RE GOING TO CHANGE THE NEXT GENERATION

AND GET THEM MORE ACTIVE. RIGHT NOW, CANADA IS FAILING.”

— GRACE DAFOE

MRU BHPE student and Alberta Skeleton Association team member

*Information from (compiled by the) Physical & Health Education Canada’s Economic Cost of Inactivity Facts and Stats website


WARNING:Playing, running and jumping with abandonment can prevent injury and prolong your life!

Physical inactivity is estimated to cause two-million deaths worldwide annually. Improving society’s physical literacy will save lives. The foundation is built at MRU, where courses such as Motor Learning, Teaching Games for Understanding and Physical Growth and Development are offered.


Dafoe. “A lot of people don’t even have the confidence to go out hiking. But, if you’re physically literate, you can try any sport or any movement. In terms of your confidence, it’s huge.”

Being active everyday has benefits beyond fitness — physical literacy boosts emotional health and well-being, fosters social connections and encourages community engagement. Researchers are beginning to study physical literacy in the context of brain development.

“We’re very interested in how physical literacy contributes to executive functioning,” says Dawne Clark, PhD, a professor in the department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal.

Physical literacy is not just a hot topic; it’s become an education issue because experts are concerned. They worry that children are too sedentary; that they

will grow into inactive, unhealthy adults. Childhood obesity rates are soaring and childhood diabetes is becoming more prevalent.

The problem, says Mount Royal Health and Physical Education chair Stephen Price, PhD, is multifaceted and requires more work than just making sure kids have gym class and recess time.

“We live in a world dominated by technology, and kids are drawn to devices to learn, communicate, socialize and play,” says Price.

Experts say kids would often rather play Wii soccer than organize a game in the park with neighbourhood friends. We’ve become more reliant on vehicles to shuttle us about instead of using two feet to walk. Finally, our idea of risk has changed — parents are hesitant to send children out to play in a world they perceive to be more dangerous than the one in which they grew up.

Handing kids iPads for entertainment, driving them across town for organized sports and discouraging them from independent play outdoors has a cost. It teaches youth that activity is about programming and when the season is over, activity stops. They, like Dafoe, might end up specializing in one sport and that’s very limiting in the world of physical movement. Imagine if, in elementary school, children only learned the first three letters of the alphabet rather than all 26.

Reversing this trend and raising physically literate kids means future generations will learn to move like they learn to read or add. “It will become second nature, a part of their lifestyle,” says Price.

Change starts at Mount Royal.Dean of the Faculty of Health, Community and

Education, Chad London, PhD, notes that it is a concept faculty and staff are working to ingrain in campus culture.

“We do things that inspire physical literacy. Rather than sit in the boardroom, we’ve been experimenting with active meetings. We’ll walk around the campus and have our meeting while we’re walking. Or riding stationary bikes in the gym,” he says. “You’re getting your workout, while you’re figuring things out.”

Mount Royal’s new Riddell Library and Learning Centre (slated to open in 2017) will give patrons the option of working at one of the many standing or treadmill desks.

The University’s Wellness Services recently acquired a new state-of-the-art AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill to assist rehabilitation of injured athletes, pre- and post-surgical patients, those with arthritis and individuals requiring neural rehabilitation. The

“WE LIVE IN A WORLD DOMINATED BY TECHNOLOGY, AND KIDS ARE DRAWN TO DEVICES TO LEARN, COMMUNICATE, SOCIALIZE AND PLAY.”— STEPHEN PRICE, PhD

Chair of Mount Royal’s Health and Physical Education department

Physical inactivity is estimated to cause two-million deaths worldwide annually. Globally, it is estimated to cause about 10–16% of cases each of breast cancer, colon cancers and diabetes, and about 22% of ischemic heart disease.*


technology is specifically designed to improve mobility and the technology is available for Mount Royal and the entire Calgary community.

The AlterG gets most of its attention from the sporting community in the U.S. It’s used extensively in the NBA and NFL, as well as most varsity programs in the U.S. However, this NASA-patented concept was developed to enhance mobility in those who are dealing with larger mobility issues.

Graduates of the BHPE are positioned to be wellness leaders, promoting healthy, active living in their places of employment, whether working directly with kids or alongside adults.

They might become physical education teachers, coaches or program coordinators at recreation centres and help youth achieve physical literacy. Or, they could use their education as a jumping-off degree into a health-related specialty such as pharmacy, dentistry or medicine. Graduates could work to enrich and encourage wellness in the workplace by bringing in fitness instructors to teach classes or by organizing regular walking meetings.

The foundation is built at Mount Royal, where courses such as Motor Learning, Teaching Games for Understanding and Physical Growth and Development are offered in labs where students can stand to take notes and practice movements in gym-like environments.

“There are many courses where teachers and students move from classroom settings into active settings,” London says.

Dafoe loves the model and looks forward to school each day.

“The classes are work, but you don’t realize how much you’re learning when you’re having fun,” she says. As for her future, and that of the new BHPE-Physical Literacy degree? It’s bright.

“MRU can really be a game changer and change the future in the coming years.”

Dawne ClarkCreating a Physical Literacy Observation Tool (PLOT) for preschoolers

Just how active are children at daycare centres and preschools? How active should they be?

Dawne Clark, PhD, co-director for the Centre for Child Well-Being and professor in the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at the University, began asking these questions in 2007. At the time, there were no national guidelines for activity levels for preschool children.“Participaction” guidelines began at age five.

A survey of Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) revealed kids in childcare were only getting about 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

“We assume that children are naturally busy all day,” says Clark.

But safety concerns prevent kids from running, jumping and kicking balls indoors, and Canada’s inclement weather is a deterrent to outdoor play during winter.

Clark began developing resources so ECEs could help young children in their care get moving. First came the Hop Skip and Jump activity manual with ideas for active games. Then came the Active Play and Physical Literacy Everyday (APPLE) model to educate ECEs about the importance of physical activity. Clark discovered that treating activity as a literacy skill elevated its importance.

Finally, the APPLE model became policy in 2012: all childcare facilities in Alberta are supposed to incorporate active play into their programs, with the goal of three hours a day broken into manageable chunks of 15 minutes an hour.

Now, Clark is developing a Physical Literacy Observation Tool (PLOT), which charts fundamental movement skills in young children in the areas of stability and balance, loco-motor skills (walk, run, stop) and manipulative skills (throw, catch, kick). Using PLOT, childcare providers will be able to test and then measure the growth of physical literacy skills in preschool kids.

Mount Royal faculty members who are making the world a

more physically literate place


Dwayne SheehanEstablishing a benchmark for physical literacy in children

Experts agree that Canadian children need to be more active and, ultimately, physically literate. But how do you measure progress if you’re not sure where the starting line is?

Establishing a benchmark or baseline for physical literacy in kids is an important first step, and Mount Royal is one of 12 Canadian schools involved in a three-year study that’s gauging the physical literacy of 8,000 children aged eight to 12 across the country.

Mount Royal Associate Professor Dwayne Sheehan, PhD, is heading up the Calgary portion of the study, whose goals are to evaluate current levels of physical literacy and to understand exactly what it is that causes kids to grow into adults motivated to stay active for life.

So far, his team has assessed about 900 children, who are tested in four areas — physical competence, physical motivation and confidence, knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity, and behaviour (how active they actually are).

Much of the testing happens in area schools, but students also wear pedometers and self-report on activity levels. Young people end up with an overall physical literacy score, which is entered into a database, and a national picture of physical literacy begins to emerge.

“Next year, with our data combined with the other 11 sites, we should be able to determine where kids are in their quest for physical literacy,” says Sheehan.

Nadine Van WykCreating physical literacy guidelines for children’s programs

Mount Royal’s Movement Education instructor Nadine Van Wyk, is completing her kinesiology doctorate at the University of Calgary. Her research topic is physical literacy in the recreation sector.

“The recreation sector doesn’t have any physical literacy guidelines to work from,” says Van Wyk. She aims to make changes in programming for young people by creating easy-to-deliver programs, with certified instructors who will get kids moving quickly and efficiently.

Van Wyk recruited 57 six and seven-year-olds and split them into a control group that participated in regular programming, and an intervention group that participated in modified programming using physical literacy best practices: skilled instructors trained to minimize line-ups and maximize participants’ activity time.

The intervention group took part in one month each of swimming, skating, gymnastics and general activity skills at Vivo For Healthier Generations (formerly Cardel Place). At the end of the four-month program, both the control and intervention group were tested on motor proficiency and activity levels using SOFIT, a physical literacy observation tool.

“We were able to increase activity levels so that kids were active 60 per cent of the time, rather than standing for 60 per cent of the time,” she says. The intervention group also showed improved motor competence scores (increased strength and coordination).

Van Wyk hopes her research will inspire other recreation centres to make similar changes to children’s programming. Ideally, her work with the recreation sector will support what’s happening with physical literacy initiatives in schools.


WARNING:The robots are taking over! Not really, but we do live in a world dominated by technology.

Children are becoming more and more tech-savvy, drawn to devices to learn, communicate, socialize and play. As our technological literacy improves, what happens to the future generations’ physical literacy? Experts are concerned that our children are becoming too sedentary.


LAUREN SCHMIDEKBachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship — Sport and Recreation, 2013 F2F Campaign Administrator, STARS Air Ambulance and Golf Channel Amateur Canada & Alberta Tour Director

3 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games pin

“While I was in volunteering at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, I developed a special bond with a Russian woman who happened to have a large collection of pins. She said I could have any of her pins in exchange for the Canadian maple leaf pin I had with me. The 2014 Paralympic Sochi pin in her collection stood out to me and I thought it would be a great addition to David’s office.”

Take a trip to Mount Royal University’s “Sports Hall of Fame” (aka Professor David Legg’s office) to get your sports-aficionado’s fix! This corner cubby has become an athletic haven of souvenirs over the years, as Legg has collected a plethora of memorabilia that would make most sports historians drool.

Legg has his current and former students to thank for his office’s eclectic interior design, as they have long been collecting items from prestigious athletic venues, teams and sporting events around the world — all to give to Legg as a token of their appreciation.

Items in his memorabilia repository range from a traditional Mexican wrestling mask, given to him at the 2011 Parapan American Games (Legg is past president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee), to a mug and a banner from the famous Chelsea Football Club and an autographed photo of the Howe-hockey trio.

“Students get a kick out of hearing about my experiences in sport. They get to see some of my life story through my office — it’s an easy way to connect with them, break the ice and have good conversations,” says Legg.

CHRISTY JOHNSON Sports Administration Diploma, 1999Facilities Rental Coordinator, City of Calgary

2 Chelsea Football Club mug and banner

“I’ve had the opportunity to work at numerous world-class venues with world-class athletic teams such as England Rugby at Twickenham, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Wimbledon and the Chelsea Football Club at the Stamford Bridge stadium.

After my time with the Chelsea F.C. I brought back a mug for David. I look at it as a token of appreciation that is showcased in the historical villa of sports that is David’s office at Mount Royal.

David continues to be a mentor, an advisor and a great contact in my professional career.”

MATT MOUNTEER Physical Activity and Sports Administration Diploma, 2003 Owner and Operator, Fortified Fitness

1 Gordie Howe signed photograph

“I obtained the signed Gordie Howe poster while completing my practicum with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. I had the opportunity to participate in a special celebration to honour Gordie and his sons, whom he played with at the end of his career while with the Aeros. I was able to meet Gordie and his two sons, Mark and Marty.

I wanted to thank David for everything he did for me during my time in the Sports Administration program.”

A G L I M P S E I N T O M I N D S A T M O U N T R O Y A L U N I V E R S I T Y

WORDS BY LAURA CAMELOPHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MAY

CHAOS


Autographed photo of the Howe-hockey trio

Chelsea Football Club mug

Traditional Mexican wrestling mask, given to Legg at the 2011 Parapan American Games

Autographed photo of famous wheelchair track athlete, Rick Hansen

Pin from the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games

“I MAY HAVE TO START HANGING THINGS OFF OF MY OFFICE CEILING SOON.”

On two occasions, a life-sized cut-out of former NFL Pittsburgh Steelers star Troy Polamalu was waiting for Legg outside of his office from MRU Alumni Danny Snow

In 2010, Legg was awarded the City of Calgary White Hat Award from Calgary Sport Tourism for his contributions to amateur sport

Alberta Golf shirt from alum Matt Rollins. Legg and Chad London, dean, Faculty of Health, Community and Education, challenged Rollins and former classmate Jay Formenti to a golf match — Legg and London remain “undefeated” in student versus teacher sports competitions (according to them...)

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THE SOURCE: DAVID LEGG, PhD Professor, Bachelor of Health and Physical Education


Some are calling it the “me to we” generation. Today’s graduates don’t want to choose between chasing wealth and making the world a better place. In the world of social enterprise, Mount Royal University is distinctly positioned to contribute to a value-minded economy.

WORDS BY BRYAN WEISMILLER ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRISTINA RICHES

Teaching business with a double bottom line


James Stauch is intently drawing squiggly lines in his notebook.The outwardly simple scribble he’s penning actually represents the complex continuum in which private

sector businesses operate. Not unlike political or economic spectrums, there’s a left and right side to his model. Purely profit-driven companies occupy one end, whereas socially-motivated organizations take up the other edge.

The centre of the scale is depicted with large loopy circles — and it’s a space of great interest to Stauch and his colleagues at Mount Royal University’s newly-reminted Institute for Community Prosperity at the Bissett School of Business. It’s where social enterprise lives and social innovators thrive.

“We are seeing social enterprise take off with gusto as Generation Y entrepreneurs redefine the workforce,” says Stauch, who

came to Mount Royal in 2014 to take over what was then the Institute for Nonprofit Studies as its new director. He arrived with a mission to help evolve and expand teaching not-for-profit.

Social enterprise has formed a distinct identity at Mount Royal. Stauch and his team (including Jill Andres, MBA; Lesley Cornelisse, MA; Peter Elson, PhD and Pat Letizia, B.Sc.) recently re-christened Nonprofit Studies as the Institute for Community Prosperity. As an extension of a teaching-focused University, Stauch and company contribute directly to the classroom experience by co-creating academic curricula, delivering guest lectures and teaching courses.

They will be the first to tell you, the era of the cut-throat tycoon may be winding down. The next generation of business magnates are more interested in paying it forward while making a profit than building a financial empire on the backs of others.

The intersection of high principle and hard cash has a lengthy history, the term social enterprise only entered our common vernacular over the past two decades. Simply put, it’s about creating communities that are prosperous, not only economically, but also socially, ecologically and culturally.

When it comes to tangible examples of social innovators, look no further than the Kielburger brothers of Free The Children. They, with their We Day series, are instilling a can-do spirit in arena-sized crowds of grade school students across North America.

The Me to We Foundation acts as a financial arm for the Kielburger’s efforts through the sale of socially conscious and environmentally-friendly products.

James Stauch, director, Institute for Community Prosperity


“Most people don’t realize we are paid to work,” Johnson says. “Making money and making a positive difference in the world are not mutually exclusive goals.”

As a summer student at social purpose consulting firm Creating Value Inc., Johnson received hands-on experience working with a range of clients, including the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Calgary Can and The Naaco (food) Truck. Her classroom learning, coupled with work through the not-for-profit student group Enactus, gave her the skills needed to carry out the organization’s mandate of transforming communities for the better.

“It’s not your average nine-to-five desk job,” says Johnson. “Every day, I met with new, exciting challenges and learning opportunities.”

Stauch (who in previous careers worked extensively with the not-for-profit sector and Aboriginal communities across Canada) and the team at Mount Royal are beginning

All this altruistic entrepreneurship doesn’t mean today’s business grads aren’t still interested in their bottom line. Take Anna Johnson, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student who is set to graduate this December with a double major in Social Innovation and Nonprofit Studies.

When she first enrolled in the program, friends and family members often asked: “How are you going to make any money?”

“Making money and making a positive difference in the world are not mutually exclusive goals.”

— Anna Johnson, fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student

Did you know Alberta has a strong burgeoning social enterprise sector?

In June 2015, a team of researchers released the Alberta Social Enterprise Sector Survey Report 2014, which offered a snapshot of the social enterprise activities happening across the province. The key contributors included Peter R. Elson, PhD and Priscilla Wamucii, PhD, of Mount Royal University.

Alberta was home to at least

383 social enterprises as of spring 2014

Here are some of the key findings: Social enterprises provided paid employment for at least 3,590 Alberta workers, who collectively earned upwards of $28 million in wages and salaries

SUMMIT – FALL 201536

to partner with external organizations to focus the conversation about social enterprise in Calgary.

One of the first major city initiatives of that ilk took shape in 2009 when Mount Royal partnered with the Trico Foundation, Enterprising Nonprofits Canada and Simon Fraser University to release the University Social Enterprise Sector Survey. The project measured the size, scope and scale of social enterprises at a provincial and territorial level across Canada. Last year, Mount Royal hosted a pre-conference research event in affiliation with the 2014 Social Enterprise World Forum.

“There’s a deep and extensive history of social enterprise in Calgary and it is very much in tune with the spirit of the city,” says Stauch, citing successful examples of social enterprise in Calgary such as the cooperative models of First Calgary Financial and Calgary Co-op.

When it comes to strategic vision, the

Institute for Community Prosperity moves in lockstep with the University to advance undergraduate research and community-responsive programs. Each year, up to 10 senior students can get funding to turn their research ideas into conference-ready papers. The Institute offers additional funding for travel costs, academic mentorship and summer jobs.

“One of the secrets of Mount Royal is that it’s a wonderful place to earn an undergraduate degree if you want to continue in an academic career,” Stauch says. “You have more research opportunities here as an undergraduate than many research-driven institutions.”

In addition to supplying a pipeline of knowledge to the community, the Institute for Community Prosperity attracts community leaders to the campus.

Jill Andres works part-time at Mount Royal under the title of Changemaker in Residence. Andres brings an industry

insider’s view to campus, having been on the frontlines of social, cultural and environmental change for the past decade as the founder and principal consultant at the aforementioned Creating Value Inc.

She believes the chasm between social-purpose and profit-driven organizations is narrowing. But rather than look at the social enterprise model as shifting inward from either direction, Andres prefers to say it’s growing from the middle out. She credits the millennial generation for driving the change through their search for fulfilling careers.

“Changing the world doesn’t have a specific legal structure,” Andres says. “We’re seeing more and more students seeking meaningful work wherever they can find it.

“There’s an expectation that the wages be commensurate to the skills they’re bringing and the difference they’re making.”

Almost half of social enterprises were located in a big city, whereas the remainder were rural-based enterprises

of 101 survey respondents reported to be most likely to 69%

operate on a city- or town-wide basis

44%

Reported total revenue in 2013 among survey respondents:

$57 million

37SUMMIT – FALL 2015SUMMIT – FALL 2015

Andy Robson, 93, received advanced pilot training at the No. 3 Service Flying Training School, which was located on the land where Mount Royal University now sits.


It’s been 75 years since the Royal Canadian Air Force opened a trio of runways at the heart of what’s now the Mount Royal University campus. With massive neighbourhood redevelopment taking shape around the outskirts of the University, a generation of Calgarians may more readily associate the area with higher education and new neighbourhoods than its rich history as a military hub. However, Mount Royal proudly remembers our past. Largely thanks to our Garrison roots, the University has forged our own distinct aviation history, including one of Canada’s premiere flight-training programs.

Changing skies

WORDS BY BRYAN WEISMILLERPHOTOGRAPHY BY ROTH AND RAMBERG


Growing up in wartime Calgary during the late 1930s, Andy Robson would lay awake in bed listening to military aircraft roar overhead. The sound of twin-engine Avro-Anson bombers thundered above his home as the Royal Canadian Air Force conducted its night-time training exercises.

For Robson and other young men of his generation, aerial combat awakened a sense of adventure. It stoked the fires of imagination. The sky was a boundless arena of exploration.

Robson repeatedly fell asleep with visions of taking to the air.

“Aviation held the same appeal then as space travel has nowadays,” the 93-year-old recalled over a cup of coffee at his Calgary home. “We would eat, sleep and dream about flying.”

But before they could square off against the German Luftwaffe in the Second World War, aspiring airmen had to earn their wings.

It was an advanced round of war pilot training that brought legions of young men to what is now Mount Royal’s Lincoln Park campus and the surrounding community of Currie Barracks. The No. 3 Service Flying Training School — as it was known then — was often the last stop before the boys headed overseas. Regardless of their aviation prowess, as a sign of the times, women were not allowed to train as aircrew in those days. Their role at the No.3 school was mostly restricted to nursing, cooking and other clerical duties.

Andy Robson

The flying school on Mount Royal soil was one of 17 established in Alberta under the auspices of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).

Over a five-year span, more than 131,000 recruits came through the BCATP, making it one of Canada’s greatest contributions to the Allied victory. Most trainees went on to serve as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, wireless operators and air gunners.

Southern Alberta was a major domain for BCATP bases because of the highly-conducive air training terrain. At that time, the province was sparsely populated, lightly forested and remote from the threat of enemy attack.

Air Commodore A.T.N. Cowley presided over the grand opening of what was known as the Currie

Barracks Airport in Calgary on Oct. 28, 1940, according to an account from the Globe and Mail.

More than 1,000 Calgarians attended a grand opening ceremony where they watched a contingent of Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders march in a ceremonial parade past the saluting crowd. Onlookers also witnessed a pair of Harvard aircrafts and five Avro-Ansons circle the sky.

“Visitors were treated to an exhibition of formation flying and acrobatics,” the Globe published in a brief report.

When it opened, The No. 3 Service Flying Training School was one of the largest in the country. It housed six facilities, including a wireless school, two service-flying training schools, repair and equipment depots, and one of the four national training command headquarters.

Like most of the Canadian military airports of its era, the Calgary airfield had three runaways carved in a triangular shape on a prairie plot. With an average length of 940 metres, the airstrips were slightly more forgiving than what was reported to be the national norm. It was a dizzying hub of activity.

That was the experience of the 21-year-old Robson, who arrived at the No.3 flying school on June 1, 1943 after logging roughly 80 hours of air time.

“It was so busy at times,” says Robson, who later volunteered for Britain’s Bomber Command. “There would be several aircraft ahead of you, all coming in to land. You had to watch out.”

Historical accounts suggest the flying school operated much like a typical campus.

On Oct. 28, 1940, the No. 3 Service Flying Training School opened at Currie Field (now

Lincoln Park.) It was one of 17 schools established in Alberta under the British

Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).

— Photo courtesy of Richard Brown, The Bomber Command Museum of Canada

How Calgary got its wings


The cost oftraining forcombat

Left to right:J. ShipleyA. PearsonA. RobsonW. Saunders

— Photo courtesy of Andy Robson

Classes began in the morning and the day typically included four to five hours of flying. Lesson plans were focused on cross-country navigation and engine failure procedures.

Back on the ground, the aerodrome operated as a self-contained community. Three years after opening, the airbase was a maze of sidewalks, flowerbeds and painted corner posts on the thoroughfares.

Baseball, swimming and photography were popular activities. In fact, a basketball team from the flying school was crowned Calgary Foothills League champion in 1944.

Despite the humdrum of curricular activities, learning to fly was a notoriously dangerous pursuit.

A total of 856 trainees were killed while taking part in BCATP— most were Canadians.

A commemorative plaque hangs in the Bissett School of Business in silent recognition of those who worked, trained and instructed at the No.3 flying school — especially the sacrifice of the eight men who died locally during training.

Despite the grim toll, some still credit the Commonwealth plan for reducing the number of injuries. By 1944, only one fatal accident was recorded for each 22,388 hours of flying time, according to The Military Museums of Calgary.

For those who have lost loved ones to armed conflict, there’s no silver lining to war. However, the Second World War was widely considered a financial boon to the Canadian economy. In 1940 the air-training plan cost $2 billion, of which Canada paid 70 per cent. With inflation, that price tag today would exceed $32 billion.

In his book, Saints, Sinners, and Soldiers, historian Jeff Keshen noted the training program had a particularly profound economic impact on the prairies. Keshen, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts at Mount Royal, says the impact the air bases had on the community is one of many “fascinating projects for students to explore.”

“The program catapulted Canada’s aerial capacity, including the addition of new airports and ability to support post-war civilian aviation,” says Keshen.

856BCATP CAUSALITIES


Aviation program takes flight

True to Keshen’s point, the value of the BCATP endured long after the No.3 flying school and the base disbanded in September 1945.

Parts of the Currie Barracks airfield remained open until 1964, in part to ensure an emergency runway was available for any pilot using wartime maps. From then until 1983, the abandoned north-south runway was repurposed as a racing strip for sports cars and motorcycles.

Shortly before Mount Royal moved to its current home in 1972, members of Calgary’s aviation community successfully lobbied the institution’s leaders to start an aviation-training program to address the shortage of commercial pilots.

Housed under the Department of Math and Physics, the faculty was a collection of air force vets. And, given the instructors’ background, the program was based on the training methods used at Royal Canadian Air Force flying schools.

No.3 Service Flying Training School

— Photo courtesy of Andy Robson

The University celebrated the success of its aviation program this past spring after it was approved by one of the world’s leading aviation accreditation agencies. The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) granted Mount Royal accreditation. While he was confident that Mount Royal was already operating one of North America’s premier flight-training programs, associate professor Leon Cygman, PhD, says it’s another sign that the program is producing extremely competent graduates.

“For students applying to work for the major airlines, this accreditation is something that will move their resumes to the top of the pile,” said Cygman, acting chair of the General Management, Human Resources and Aviation department.

In receiving the approval, Mount Royal becomes only the second aviation program to attain AABI certification outside of the United States.

Aviation program reaches new heights after receiving world-class accreditation


The pioneering class of Mount Royal’s Aviation Diploma program enrolled in 1970, with the ground school moving to the Lincoln Park campus three years later.

“Though students could take courses for normal tuition costs, they had to bear the cost for operating the planes,” former Mount Royal President Donald N. Baker wrote in his centennial-era book, titled Catch the Gleam (published in 2011).

Since then, more than 1,000 airmen and airwomen have earned their commercial pilot wings through the program. Classes are still taught at the University’s main campus, as well as at the Springbank Airport.

The aviation program continues to elevate to new heights, including recent recognition from one of the world’s leading aviation agencies. The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) granted the University accreditation, starting in March 2015.

Although Mount Royal’s modern day aviators are no longer training to fight in the war, many still share an affinity for the armed forces.

Lauren Taylor, who just finished her second-year of the aviation program, is a second-generation flyer with her eyes set on a career as a fighter jet pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Taylor compared her experience to the pilots of the past such as Andy Robson, saying she finds commonalities in their aspirations, pride and passion.

“I feel inspired by attending school here,” she says. “Hopefully Mount Royal continues to be known for its achievements in the aviation field and that legacy only grows stronger from here.”

Take a tour around Mount Royal University and you will notice that the neighbouring communities — Currie Barracks, Garrison Green and Garrison Woods — reflect the heritage of the land.

Since purchasing the property in 1995, Canada Land Corporation (CLC) has prioritized preservation of historical buildings and public spaces, while building some of Calgary’s most distinct communities.

Past gives rise to new neighbourhoods

“Aviation held the same appeal then as space travel nowadays.”

— Andy Robson No. 3 Service Flying Training School graduateand Second World War Veteran


It wasn’t only flying centres that comprised the Armed Forces of the west. Calgary enjoys a long history as a garrison city awash in military members of all stripes. The Calgary Highlanders, Lord Strathcona’s Horse and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry were some of the regiments to occupy the Currie Barracks before it was decommissioned in 1998.

Although the training grounds were located in what was long considered to be the proverbial “middle of nowhere”, the military’s presence transcended the physical base. Come pay day, soldiers spilled into Calgary’s downtown core.

The fourth floor of the grand Palliser Hotel was once reserved for Canadian Air Force members, who were notorious for throwing raucous parties, according to a report in the Calgary Herald.

Former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Don Ethell remembers trekking down to the modern day community of Marda Loop, located within walking distance from Mount Royal, from the Currie Barracks to catch the No. 7 bus in to downtown. Ethell admits it was necessary to keep the soldiers busy or else they’d “end up in trouble.”

“Soldiers are soldiers,” he says. “We had to get to a pub to drink beer or chase girls — or, if you were smart, then you’d do both.”

Ethell’s decorated military career began with 20 weeks of basic training with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. During his 38 years of service, he spent many days on the crowded Canadian Forces Base Calgary (as it was renamed in 1968).

Don and Linda Ethell married in 1960 and the couple has called southwest Calgary home base ever since.

In acknowledgement of the retired colonel’s tremendous contribution to the armed service, which included more than a dozen peacekeeping missions, Ethell was recognized with a boulevard named after him in 2003.

What’s now Don Ethell Boulevard was likely a tank track in the colonel’s training days. Though he is heartened by the respect paid by the current landowners, Canada Lands Company, Ethell has solemn feelings when returning to the area.

“I think of all the soldiers that we lost during training. It almost became tradition to lose one soldier a year,” says Ethell, who was awarded an honorary degree from Mount Royal University in 2015 for advancing positive mental health initiatives.

“If you’re going to train hard, you’re going to have casualties.”

Mount Royal campus housed more than planes

On June 5, Alberta’s 17th Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable Donald S. Ethell, received an Honorary Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Degree from Mount Royal for his exceptional community service and commitment to the University.

Valour Park in the Currie Barracks is one of many memorial spots located within a short distance of the Mount Royal campus. There, a trio of bronze statues represents the three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces. Adjacent, Victoria Cross Park pays respect to the 16 Canadian recipients of the prestigious Victoria Cross during the Second World War. In nearby Garrison Green, Peacekeeper Park displays a bronze statue and a Wall of Honour in recognition of the country’s peacekeeping missions.

Custom-designed street signs in the area provide a more subtle nod to the past.

Calgarians may also recognize several commercial buildings with significant ties to the area’s military past. Examples include the Wild Rose Brewery that occupies an old Quonset hut (AF23), and the RCAF Hangar No. 6, which housed a popular farmers’ market for more than a decade. As well, CLC has been working with the Government of Alberta to obtain provincial heritage protection for several landmarks on the 80-hectare Currie Barrack site.

“Commemorating the history of this land is one of our core values,” says Chris Elkey, senior director of real estate with CLC.

By the time construction wraps up, Currie Barracks alone is expected to draw more than 10,000 residents to the area. Elkey describes the current state of the community as a young, family-oriented neighbourhood, with more options for seniors coming on board.

“We’re building a new, high-quality urban neighbourhood,” he says.


WORDS BY ANDREA RANSONPHOTOGRAPHY BY LEAH HENNEL ILLUSTRATION BY CHAO ZHANG


t’s the first day of the MEG Energy Summer Science Camp at Mount Royal University for Aboriginal Youth, and the 19 high school students who’ve travelled up to 12 hours from northern Alberta to participate are being welcomed to Mount Royal for their week-long adventure. At first, everyone’s a little nervous and shy, but a question from a camp coordinator perks the group’s interest.

“Put your hand up if you plan on getting a post-secondary education!” All hands are raised.

“Who plans on studying sciences?” Almost all the hands go up again.

These eager young people are challenging the status quo. According to a 2006 census, eight per cent of Aboriginal People between the ages of 25 and 64 completed a post-secondary program, compared with 23 per cent of non-Aboriginal People. The percentage for those living on a reserve is even lower, at four per cent.

The stats are even worse in the areas of science and technology, with less than 10 per cent of Aboriginal degree holders having a degree in science. At Mount Royal University, less than three per cent of students in the Faculty of Science and Technology are Aboriginal.

But this group of Aboriginal youth and others like them are definitely ready to buck this trend. Some are interested in the sciences, others the liberal arts, and there are those, such as Gwen Cardinal from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation reservation, who just can’t decide between the two.

“It might sound crazy, but I want to go to Harvard. I want to be a doctor or a lawyer, because it would be interesting and I want to make my mom proud of me,” says the Grade 10 student.


Dwight Farahat, Science Camp coordinator and a second year Mount Royal social work student from the Siksika Nation says when one person on the reserve goes to university, they’re proof it’s possible for everyone else.

“The essays these kids wrote to get into the camp were incredible — they’re eager to go to university and passionate about science,” Farahat says.

Mount Royal’s strategic plan lays out a goal of moving the dial of Aboriginal student representation from over four per cent in 2014/15 to seven per cent of the overall student population by 2025. Initiatives such as the Aboriginal Science and Technology Education Program (ASTEP), which prepares Aboriginal students for careers in science and technology, have seen the number of full-time Aboriginal students entering science and technology programs increase from 25 to 40 over the past three years. The week-long MEG Energy Summer Science Camp, in its second year, is

also a positive push in the right direction. This camp includes Aboriginal traditions, knowledge and values alongside exposure to science related post-secondary fields, introductions to university advisors and professors, and other educational opportunities.

“Thinking about careers in science can be intimidating. This week-long immersion camp really opens the doors on how many career options there are, while providing the opportunity to illustrate to Aboriginal youth how their traditions and culture can be prominent in day-to-day life when they leave home,” says Wendy Robinson, manager, internal communications, Culture and Community Investment, MEG Energy.

Many of the camp participants credit their families, especially their mothers and grandfathers — often the primary role models in keeping the Aboriginal culture and traditions alive — for encouraging them to pursue their post-secondary dreams in the future.

Niyanah Rose Cardinal from the Saddle Lake Reservation explains that the benefits of education and pride in the Aboriginal culture are family priorities. At the 150-student school, where her mother is the vice principal, mornings start with drumming and rattles, and there are regular feasts and smudges. Cardinal knows how to trap and has danced pow wow since she was three. Her plan is to go to university, become a registered nurse and then come back to her community.

Niyanah Rose Cardinal


Slade Kenton Delaney and Niyanah Cardinal explore electronics at TELUS Spark. With only four months of training, Delaney won the North American All Indian Boxing Championship. He says he loves science and math. When the Cardston youth learned of the MEG Energy Summer Science Camp from his mother, he leapt at the opportunity to apply, writing a two and a half page essay to get in. Delaney says his work ethic comes from his grandfather.

Slade Kenton Delaney

Niyanah rose Cardinal


Emily Cardinal explores static electricity by getting hands-on with a Van de Graaff ball at TELUS Spark. Cardinal is one of 19 high school students from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 (across Alberta) who came to MRU’s MEG Energy Science Summer Camp in August 2015 to discover her passion for science and technology.

Emily

Cardinal

Quincy Davis lives on the Blood (Kainai) Tribe Reserve and is going into Grade 11. He likes construction and science, and came to camp to learn more about chemistry and robotics. He wants to be either an engineer or psychologist because he likes to listen to people’s problems without judgement. Quincy has a clear view of what is needed to succeed at university. “You’re free to choose how you spend your time, between studying, having a part-time job and spending time with friends. For me, it will mean working hard and putting studying first.”

Quincy Davis


They’re loud, proud and opinionated. And that’s why we love them. What would your nightly newscast be like without those colourful

commentators who wax poetic on the politics of the day?

You’ve seen them quoted in your daily news, you may have taken one of their influential classes. What drives some of Mount Royal’s Policy Studies and

Communications professors to pursue the career path of a pundit and academic? Let’s find out.

pundits

WORDS BY MICHELLE BODNARILLUSTRATIONS BY VANCE RODEWALT


Duane Bratt, PhD chair and professor, department of Policy Studies

Areas of expertiseAlberta provincial politics, international relations, Canadian nuclear policy, Canadian foreign policy

Media factoidCommented for various publications more than 60 times during the four-week 2015 Alberta provincial election

Interesting detailsReceived the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his work in coaching lacrosse

David Taras, PhD Ralph Klein chair in media studies, professor, department of Communication Studies

Areas of expertiseAlberta provincial politics, Canadian media policy, new media, communications

Media factoidRegularly appears on Global TV’s Morning News

Interesting detailReceived the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 and was five-time winner of the University of Calgary Students’ Union Award for Teaching Excellence

Is a graduate of the Legislative Internship Program at Queen’s Park

Lori Williams, MA associate professor, department of Policy Studies

Areas of expertisePolitical philosophy, law (concentration on human rights and constitutional law), women in politics, Canadian and provincial politics and policy

Media factoidSat on the CTV News Calgary election night panel for the 2015 Alberta provincial election

Interesting detailReceived a Teaching Excellence Award from the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) in recognition of dedication to education

It’s a nightmare scenario that happens all the time during family dinners across the nation.

A hapless undergrad sits down with relatives for a meal. The conversation lands on the topic of post-secondary education. The student is asked, inevitably, what they are studying, and there’s barely a pause after the answer of “policy studies” or “communications” before the inescapable query is posed.

“What can you do with that?”It’s an uncomfortable — and tough —

question to answer. It can be very difficult to conceptualize (and describe) where the wisdom lies in studying abstract fields

when some degrees lead directly into well-defined career paths. The vast majority of those taking an education degree become teachers. And those in nursing head into health care positions. But if you’re not planning on becoming a politician, then why take political science and policy studies courses? And if journalism doesn’t strike your fancy, then why take communications?

The answer lies in being able to analyze and articulate a perspective. And, yes, you can make a living at it! During the 2015 provincial and federal elections, three of Mount Royal’s professors were regularly featured as commentators in

the news on just about every campaign issue imaginable. The media consistently turned to Duane Bratt, David Taras and Lori Williams to help wade through the rhetoric that accompanies every impending vote, and the trio’s expertise assisted in filtering the murky waters of electioneering to clarify how certain puzzling campaign topics pertain to actual, real life.

Although they may not always agree on all things political, Bratt, Taras and Williams all concur on the importance of pursuing what could be termed a liberal arts degree. Its use lies in the holder’s ability to recognize the relevance of what’s happening around them.

Politics matters


Duane Bratt, PhD

What was your first introduction to politics? What planted the seed?

In a Grade 6 class, we held a simulation of the 1979 federal election. We divided ourselves into the three parties of the time and held a mock election. That was what really got the bug going in me. It was a defining experience.

What does policy studies or communication studies mean to you?

I use a couple of analogies, and one is the definition of politics that we use in our first-year course. Really the political process is determining who, what segment of society, gets what. Whether it’s a tax break, some sort of benefit, a sanction … that’s a simple definition that has been around for decades.

Another way to answer that is to say, ‘Imagine that I am a zoologist and I am studying orangutans. I want to study everything there is to know about orangutans … how they eat, how they sleep, what their social behaviour is like, what their mating habits are. Everything that is possible to know about orangutans. But, I do not want to become an orangutan.’

I have a lot of respect for politicians, especially in campaign mode. The decisions that they make in government are very difficult. That’s not an aspiration that I have. I would rather study them and analyze them than be one of them.

How do you open up conversations with your students and make politics relevant to them?

A lot of them see politics as distant and not applied to their daily lives, so I try to apply it back to them.

I ask them, ‘Do you like paying an extra 60 cents on a case of beer? Those things matter.’

What is the value of, or what can you do with a policy studies undergrad degree? Why should people take this program?

I think everyone at university should take at least a first-year political science course, just so you have an understanding of things like responsible government and electoral systems.

That one course would give everyone some citizenship value and the ability to understand public discourse, not as a specialist or expert, but broader than, ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that.’

How do you balance your academic work and your work as a pundit/commentator?

The last provincial election I wrote a blog about debates, and the conclusion was that most debates don’t matter unless people know who the leaders are. I said, ‘Most debates don’t matter, but I think this one will,’ and I gave evidence of that. So I was able to apply both political punditry and the background of political science in that case.

That’s why you get interviewed, and I think that’s the value that academics bring.I have opinions on what is right and what is wrong, but I don’t have partisan opinions, even though I get accused of partisanship at various moments.


David Taras, PhD


Living in Quebec during the October Crisis and the rise of separatism, with riots in the streets and bombs in mail boxes, I understood that you couldn’t take the country for granted. You had to care and you had to be involved. I understood that politics was an inescapable part of the world and could be ignored only at our peril.

My great-grandmother used to sell newspapers at the corner of Peel and Sainte-Catherine in Montreal. We used to say that she was in journalism – at the distribution end. The irony is that I’m now teaching in a communication program. What does policy studies or communication studies mean to you?

I study the rise of the new media, including Facebook, Netflix and Twitter, and how they are transforming traditional media as well as how we work, learn, entertain ourselves and communicate with others. My principle focus is on how media change — what I call ‘media shock’ — has affected democracy and the challenges that it poses for our public policy.

How do you open up conversations with your students and make politics relevant to them?

My job is easy. Students already understand the importance that media plays in their lives and they are desperate to talk about it. Mention privacy, piracy, Netflix, the news, texting, bullying or how they communicate with each other and the conversation just explodes.

What is the value of, or what can you do with a communication studies undergrad degree? Why should people take this degree?

We have a complex relationship with these new instruments of communication. You simply cannot have a top job or be in business without understanding how this world works. Communication is not just about how to send messages. It’s about how the world is changing and the very nature of how we live.

What is great and gratifying about being a knowledge expert in a particular field?

It’s always all about the students for me. Hopefully they have ideas and passions, and they pick up tools they can use to create their own job, or to find a place in an industry. The idea is that they have to position themselves for what may be next. They have to find a horizon. And a good course will provide that horizon.

Why pay attention during elections?

I believe in the values of democracy. Debate is healthy. Exposure to issues is healthy. Engagement is healthy. A society that doesn’t breathe that air, that closes itself off to new ideas, that avoids real debate, can quickly become a narrow, backward and poorer place. While elections can be ugly and cynical, they can also bring out the best in people.

Not being involved means that we are leaving decisions about our lives to others.


Lori Williams, MA


I started my university education in science, but took a philosophy course and thought it was really interesting. Then I was drawn by the practical elements of politics and the fact that you can do philosophy and political science in partnership.

I really enjoyed the research and the critical assessment of ideas. I tried to marry the ideas I found so interesting with something I thought would be practical or marketable.

What does policy studies or communication studies mean to you?

The main questions of life for all of us, I think, centre around things like meaning and purpose, and those questions are at the core of politics and communications.

In my philosophy classes, we engage in these kinds of discussions initially by defining terms. What would make a good life? What would make my life meaningful, or a life worth living?

This leads to thinking about what politics is supposed to be about.

How do you open up conversations with your students and make this kind of information relevant to them?

It’s about making that connection between people’s experiences, interests, concerns, passions and what’s happening politically.

We experience freedom in very concrete and particular ways. Most people aren’t thinking about political issues or voting on a day-to-day basis, but they are thinking about what they want to order at the fast food joint or the coffee shop, or perhaps whether marijuana should be decriminalized. When we discuss issues they’re passionate about, they do make that connection between

their ideas about a good life, and how politics can either get in the way or help. From then on, instead of talking about this abstract dry, technical analysis, politics is now something they can use to understand what’s important to them and how to promote it.

What is the value of a policy studies undergrad degree?

Good policy should help an organization of whatever sort to run effectively and accomplish its mission. In order to do well at whatever you’re trying to accomplish, it helps to have policies that make it possible for participants in the organization to thrive and make meaningful contributions.

How do you balance your academic work and your work as a pundit/commentator?

I try to focus on what’s important. To me, it’s about bigger issues, and trying to put what might seem irrelevant or petty issues into the broader context. It’s a privilege to be able to weigh in.

Why pay attention during elections?

There’s no better time to communicate what it is you want from a government, no better way to convey what you think is important, than to make that known during an election campaign. Because if it’s known, and it catches on, and all the parties are looking at it and responding to it, there’s never a greater incentive to respond to the demands and concerns of citizens.

» Advocate » Broadcaster » Campaign operative » Civil servant » Communications

professional » Community group

leader

» Diplomat » Economic or policy

analyst » Editor » Financial planner » Fundraiser » Historian » Information manager

» Intelligence officer » International relations

professional » Investment analyst » Labour relations

specialist » Media producer » Media relations officer

» Public relations professional

» Political aide » Politician » Project manager » Researcher » Strategist » Writer or journalist

Careers for policy studies or communication studies grads


GEOFF SCHOENBERGBachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship — Sport and Recreation, 2007

Schoenberg completed his Master of Commerce, Sport Management from Deakin University 2011 and is currently earning his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Sport Governance from Griffith University (Australia). He is also a lecturer and tutor at Griffith University and works with the sports and events industry.

Q: Describe your career path in 140 characters or less... (Twitter style)A: Openness to opportunities means a winding international path through industry, community and academia, while searching for the next open door.

Q: What three words describe your student experience at MRU?A: Foundation. Opportunities. Encouraging.

Q: What was the most important course you took at MRU and why?A: Business Communications with Brad Quiring, MBA. I did not realize, at the time, how much writing was involved in almost any career path. Crafting a coherent email that succinctly explains what you want is a skill many people underestimate. The attention

to detail I learned regarding document presentation, formatting and grammar have helped me solve conflicts, convince others of ideas and secure exciting opportunities.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you received at MRU that helped prepare you for your career and future studies?A: “When you graduate, you are going to want to buy a painting and a couch to help show the world you are a real adult. Don’t do it. Rather, find a series of short-term contracts doing different tasks in different parts of the world. You will have amazing experiences and make yourself a more employable candidate down the road.” — MRU Associate Professor Joe Pavelka, PhD. Another great one was from Professor David Legg, PhD, who told me: “The best directed field study to have is an unpleasant one.” The advice from Joe and David is something I pass on to my students every semester. There are so many opportunities in the world and by limiting yourself to one path or one location you miss out on the ability to become a more rounded individual with a better perspective.

Q: You’ve now completed a Masters and are working on your PhD. What are you currently studying? A: My PhD examines how an individual’s proactive and proficient behaviours

influence a board of directors’ involvement with its strategic and conformance roles in sport organizations. I want to know how the behaviour of individual board members contributes to a board’s success in achieving its key tasks. While I’m studying not-for-profit sport organizations, the findings would have relevance for many other organizations. Research on boards and governance is a focal issue these days. You only have to look at the struggles of organizations like FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) to see the issues that can result from poor governance. It’s not just major international bodies affected by governance. Clubs, provincial organizations and many others have experienced both the positives associated with good governance and the negatives associated with poor governance.

Q: How have you invested in your community?A: I’m fortunate that much of my paid employment has focused on building community in many different ways. I’ve helped individuals build language and leadership skills. I’ve done the unglamorous jobs in organizations (e.g., registrar, set-up volunteer) as well as conducted training with organizations to develop their own capacity.

INTERVIEW BY TIERNEY EDMUNDS PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE HARRIS

Q&A CHECKING IN WITHMOUNT ROYAL ALUMNI


GAME ON.The Crowchild Classic is the ultimate crosstown smackdown — a year-long series pitting the

Mount Royal University Cougars against the University of Calgary Dinos. Be part of the rivalry.

Join #Cougnation at the Scotiabank Saddledome for the men’s and women’s hockey doubleheader.

CROWCHILD CLASSIC AT THE SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME

JANUARY 21, 2016WOMEN’S GAME STARTS AT 5 P.M.MEN’S GAME STARTS AT 7:45 P.M.

Visit mrucougars.com for ticket information

MRU

COUGARS UofC

DINOS VS

WARNING:Physical literacy is more than a buzzword — it’s a fundamental skill set that could go the way of the dinosaur if we don’t start moving (literally) in the right direction.

!Physical literacy can reduce rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease while improving mental health! It’s the mastery of movement and sport skills that allows people to move with confidence in everyday activities and it will change your life.

Fall 2015

mount royal university - summit fall 2015

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