GRENFELLconnects

GRENFELLconnects

A new namefor GrenfellPAGE 2

Student servicesspecial sectionPAGES 3-21

We fell for GrenfellPAGES 26-27

Vol.6,Issue2

CORNERBROOK,NL,CANADA

In September the university’s Board of Regents decided ona new name for Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. The campus’ newname is now Grenfell Campus, Memorial University ofNewfoundland. The name was recommended by the Commu-nications and Nomenclature Committee, which reports to theTask Force on a Renewed Governance Structure for GrenfellCampus. The new name meets the three considerationsoutlined by the nomenclature committee: that it would reflectGrenfell’s relationship with Memorial, that it would honour thelegacy established by SirWilfredGrenfell and that it would dropthe word college, which has created difficulties in the past withrespect to recruitment of students and faculty, as well asattracting research dollars. A full launch of Grenfell’s new look(logo and branded items) is hoped to take place in time for the2011-2012 student recruitment season.

Grenfell’s senior administrative position also experiencedchange this fall – the title of Grenfell’s top official has changedfrom principal to vice-president (Grenfell Campus). A searchcommittee is now in place to find a permanent person; Dr. HollyPike is currently acting in the VP position.

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WHAT’SIN A NAME?

ON THE COVER:Gabrielle Hughes has been named the next Rhodes Scholar forNewfoundland and Labrador. The 22-year-old Corner Brookstudent graduated fromGrenfell last year with bachelor of fine arts(visual arts). Ms. Hughes, who is a member of the Mi’kmaqcommunity and a First Nations rights activist, has continued to takecourses through Grenfell to further her knowledge of art history,including a trip to Memorial’s Harlow campus to pursue British Artand Architecture in England. While at Oxford Ms. Hughes willcomplete a master’s degree in the history of art and visual culturein which she wishes to apply her passion for art history and NorthAmerican heritage.

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EDITORIALPamela Gill, Lori Lee Hollett(graphic design), Jo-Anne Philpottand Jana Walsh

PHOTOSLori Lee Hollett, Pamela Gill,Jillian Hartley, Mandy Cook,Kaitlyn Coombs, Doreen Klassen,Louise McGillis, Michael Newton

WINTER 2011 ISSUE

MAIL TOGrenfell Campus,Memorial University of NewfoundlandUniversity DriveCorner Brook, NL A2H 6P9

Tel: 709 637 6200, ext. 6134Fax: 709 637 6201Email: newsletter@swgc.mun.ca

HELPING STUDENTSTO S.O.A.R.

Helping students be successful in their academic careers is oneof the main goals of the Division of Student Services at theGrenfell campus of Memorial University. This year, the divisionre-organized several information sessions to form the S.O.A.R.series: Students: Organized, Active, Ready.

“These sessions were designed to ensure a successful semester,”said Mary Sparkes, co-ordinator, Student Services. “Thesessions ranged from timemanagement and good note takingto eating healthy and choosing a major.”

The sessions were open to all students, but were aimed atnew students who might need extra support during their firstsemester at university. The sessions included Managing YourTime in University; Taking Good Notes in University; TakingCare of Yourself; Acing the English Essay and Choosing anAcademic Program. Most of the sessions were well attended,and the instructors felt the students found the informationuseful for preparing them to tackle the fall semester.

“This was our first attempt to incorporate our sessions underone umbrella to market them in a more focused way withstudents, as well as to parents during orientation,” said Ms.Sparkes. “We hope to continue a similar program in the future.”

GRENFELLconnectsPublished by the Division of Community Education and College Relations,Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland

www.swgc.mun.ca

Grenfell student Nicole Parsons, who works part-time for Student Services, displays a poster used to help student improve theiracademic performance.

Two students at Grenfell will have the opportunity to studyin Belize, where they can relax on white sandy beaches andexperience Belizean culture.

Thanks to the efforts of Grenfell professor Dr. Michael Newton,the Grenfell campus of Memorial University has been granted$16,000 from the university’s Strategic Internationalization Fundto promote an exchange program. The program will enableeligible students to take courses at Galen University in Belizeand for Galen University students to come here and do coursesat Grenfell. Two students from each university will be chosenand will each receive $4,000 towards travel and tuition.

Grenfell has a well-established connection with Belize, havingactively recruited there for the last decade. Since 2000 ninestudents from Belize have graduated from Memorial (two atSt. John’s Campus and seven at Grenfell). As of fall 2010 21students from Belize are registered – 18 at St. John’s and threeat Grenfell.

Galen courses available to Grenfell students include account-ing, anthropology, archaeology, biology, economics, tourismenvironmental studies, environmental studies, internationalbusiness, marketing, animal science/pre-veterinary, sustainabledevelopment watershed ecology and marine ecology.

BELIZE EXCHANGEPROGRAM READYFOR GRENFELLSTUDENTS

Michael Newton is pictured here with his new iguana friend in Belize.

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GRENFELL STUDENTSATTEND UNIVERSITY

IN CALIFORNIA

This fall Kaitlyn Coombs and Krista Gillard paid their regularGrenfell tuition, but attended university in far sunnier climes atHumboldt State University in California. The National StudentExchange Program allows Grenfell students to attend anypartner university in North America. Both Kaitlyn, who hailsfromWolfville, NS, and Krista, a resident of Roddickton, NL, arestudying psychology at Grenfell, but have had the opportunityto take courses in yoga and Buddhism at Humboldt.

“We travelled to different Buddhist monasteries andparticipated in their everyday lives, waking at 3 a.m. andbecoming completely vegan for a weekend,” said Krista.

Kaitlyn said the NSE program has given her a greater sense ofindependence.

“I'm basically testingmyself to see if I would want to live this faraway from my hometown permanently,” she said. “Plus theclass sizes and the campus are much bigger.”

Both students agreed the NSE program presents theopportunity to learn more about another nation, meet newpeople and experience a myriad of different opportunities.

Kaitlyn Coombs, left, and Krista Gillard at Humboldt State University, in Arcata, California.

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ORIENTATION 2010ROLLED OUT THERED CARPET FORNEW STUDENTS

Orientation 2010 took some lessons from the past year ofchange for the Grenfell campus of Memorial University.

“Orientation 2010 is a call for students to change themselvesand the world around them,” said Brad Evoy, one of theco-ordinators of Orientation 2010. “Our campus has had a lotof changes in the past year and continues to change; similarly,new students at Grenfell have the opportunity to set forth achange in their own lives, which begins in Orientation Week.”

The theme of Orientation 2010 was “Make this place yourown!” Orientation events – all red carpet-themed to shine thespotlight on students – included the Star-Studded WelcomeShow, the A-List Luncheon, campus tours and the brand newHollywood-themed dance. Parent Orientation was held againthis year, encouraging parents to build new relationships withother parents and learn about their children’s unique academicsurroundings. Non-traditional Student Orientation, for mature,transfer or part-time students, was also an important part ofthe orientation week.

“Our orientation team put together a program that allowedstudents to find their own paths while becoming accustomedto the university community,” said Mr. Evoy.

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Orientation 2010 organizers (front to back) Brad Evoy, Nahyelie Burn, Nancy Guy and Terry Randell are ready to roll out the red carpetand make Grenfell’s new students feel like stars this fall.

Grenfell students will learn how to be better leaders during the2010-2011 Student Leadership Program. This year’s programwillrun November 2010 to March 2011.

The program comprises five key components, including a lead-ership conference, a winter workshop as well as experiential,service, and reflective learning components. Faculty, staff andstudents were encouraged to nominate students for thisprogram. Candidates are students with leadership qualitieswho want to develop their leadership skills further. Uponfull completion of the program, students will receive a letteroutlining the program, including specific program requirements,quotes from the nomination letter, and skills learned throughoutthe program.

Participants must be full-time Grenfell students in clearacademic standing. The program included a Student LeadershipConference on Nov. 13, 2010, a one-day conference promotingleadership skills; an experiential learning component, Novemberto March, during which participants must complete eight hoursof experiential learning (volunteering); a one-hour workshop inFebruary facilitated by a recognized leader in the community; atwo-hour community service learning activity; and a writtenreflection on what the student has learned from the program.

LEADINGTOMORROW’SLEADERS

Students Justin Coombs and Leanna Ploughman were student co-ordinators of Student Leadership Conference 2010.

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GRENFELLCELEBRATES

ALCOHOLAWARENESS

WEEK

Several events were held at the Grenfell campus of MemorialUniversity to recognize BACCHUS Canada’s Alcohol AwarenessWeek, Oct. 18-24.

Students had the opportunity to sample free mocktails, to signa harm-reduction poster, and to answer alcohol-related triviaquestions.Week-long events included a daily email trivia contestand mocktail of the day drink specials at the GCSU Backlot.

Alcohol Awareness Week events at Grenfell were being imple-mented by Residence Life, Wellness and Off-Campus Housingprogramming in an effort to encourage alternatives to alcoholand to educate students on responsible drinking practices.

The BACCHUS Network™ is a university and community basednetwork focusing on comprehensive health and safety initiatives.It is the mission of this non-profit organization to activelypromote student and young adult based, campus andcommunity-wide leadership on healthy and safe lifestyledecisions concerning alcohol abuse, tobacco use, illegal druguse, unhealthy sexual practices and other high-risk behaviours.BACCHUS strives to empower students and administratorsto voice their opinions and needs to create healthier and safercampus communities.

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From left, Grenfell students Jessica Bromley and Gail Bailey fix a mocktail to mark Alcohol Awareness Week. Mocktails were served upcompliments of Grenfell’s Off-campus Housing Office, Student Services and the GCSU.

GRENFELLFOOD BANK

HELPS STUDENTSIN NEED

The Grenfell Student Food Bank is a service provided tostudents who may need a little help from time to time.

The food bank, which is conveniently located in StudentServices (AS234), holds food drives at various times throughoutthe year, but donations are always welcome. Items canbe dropped off at either the Student Services offices or theStudent Housing Office (RES221).

When making non-perishable food donations to the StudentFood Bank, please keep in mind that we cannot give out foodthat is expired or past its expiration date.

You can also help by donating your recyclables to account #139at West Lane Recycling on Brook Street.

Items that are frequently used to pack food bags for studentsinclude instant oatmeal or cream of wheat (box of individualpacks preferred), canned veggies, canned fruit, juice (individualand/or family size), canned meals (pasta, stew, soup, bakedbeans), canned meats/fish, dried pasta and jars of pasta sauce,side dishes such as Sidekicks rice, noodle or potato packages,snack items such as granola or cereal bars and popcorn.

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Clockwise from left, Jami Molloy, MorganMcCulloch, Katherine Sheaves, Dylan Porter, Leanna Ploughman and Leighanne Trotter posewith the food bank donations they received after going door-to-door Halloween. Students who donated food were then rewarded witha Halloween treat.

Grenfell Campus is in the process of installing a new emergencyalert system.

The mass notification system, known as Blazecast, is producedby Benbria, a subsidiary of Mitel, which is the supplier ofGrenfell’s telephone system. The emergency notificationsystemwill give authorized staff the ability to send notificationsto telephones and PCs, disseminating emergencymessages toup to 15,000 locations across campus.

A key element of the system allows numerous devices tobe reached with one message. For instance, calls to a user'sbusiness number can simultaneously ring up to eight devices ina personal ring group. These devices can be any combination ofinternal extensions and external devices such as a user’smobile telephone, home telephone or other vendor IP(internet protocol) telephones. The system will send PCdesktop and telephone alerts to students and faculty duringemergency situations. Desktop PCs display alerts as a full-screenmessage while voice and text notifications are broadcast to alldevices in the notification list. The system allows both pre-configured text and voice message templates to be created foranticipated scenarios, substantially decreasing the time betweena serious event and the notification of staff and students.

MAKINGA SAFERCAMPUS

George LeMoine, project co-ordinator, Computing and Communications, displays one of the exterior emergency telephones that willbe installed outside Grenfell’s chalet apartments as part of the new emergency system.

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Come out and support Grenfell’s men’s basketballteam and women’s volleyball teams! They play inlocal leagues in Corner Brook: the men’s leagueholds games once a week at Grenfell, and thewomen’s league is hosted and organized by Grenfell.The women’s team travelled to an Atlantic CollegesAthletics Association Invitational Tournament atMount St. Vincent in October 2010 and placedsecond. Both the men’s and women’s teams hopeto participate in their respective competitions inthe spring. Go Grenfell go!

KNOW?DIDYOU

HOUSINGUPGRADES

REFLECTSTUDENT

PRIORITIES

Recent upgrades to residence and chalet apartments are partlythe result of a poll conducted to determine what students’priorities were.

“If someone has a concern about their living environment, thereare many avenues they can take,” said Jennifer Mitchell,manager, Student Housing Office. “They can report it directlyto the Housing Office, to their residence assistant or chaletadviser, or to their residence and chalet council.”

She said some of the housing upgrades pertained to safety,such as new smoke detectors, ventilation work, and theinstallation of fire-proof doors; others were cosmetic and/orfunctional. New flooring, drapes, tubs, ovens and fridges forresidence, and new furniture, microwaves, washers and dryersfor the chalet apartments have either been installed, or will beinstalled during summer 2011.

“Student safety and comfort are our first priorities," saidJennifer Mitchell, manager of Grenfell's Housing Office. "Ourresidences and chalet apartments are home to some studentsfor a four-year period. First and foremost we want to ensurethat they feel happy and at ease in their surroundings."

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Kevin Morgan, maintenance helper in Grenfell’s Student Housing Office, makes some adjustments; new tubs are part of the upgradesto residence at Grenfell.

The Off-Campus Housing Office can assist students in theirsearch for off-campus accommodations andwith any issues thatmay arise while renting or boarding.

TheOCHOfficemaintains an online list of housing availabilitiesin the Corner Brook area, which can be found atwww.swgc.mun.ca/swgc-res/offcampus. OCH also providesstudents with one-on-one search assistance, as well as searchand renting tips.

Students can also get rental market and city information,provincial renting laws (including copies of the ResidentialTenancies Act) and contacts for campus and communityresources. TheOCHOfficemaintains a volunteer database thatlists community, on-campus and international volunteeropportunities.

In addition, OCH partners with the Student Housing Officeto plan weekly events for on- and off-campus students. Theyoffer programs such as social and recreational events, health/wellness sessions and learning seminars. For instance, duringthe fall semester students took part in laser tag, a stressmanagement/budgeting information session and a healthyexam snacks campaign.

SERVINGOFF-CAMPUSSTUDENTS

Janna Whelan, Grenfell’s off-campus housing co-ordinator, is responsible for maintaining a list of apartments, houses-to-share andboarding houses in the Corner Brook area.

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RESIDENCE LIFE:LIVING AT THE

HEART OF CAMPUS

Nicole Newell knows firsthand how living in residence can be apositive experience for undergraduate students.

“Students choose to live in residence because it makes theadjustment to university that much easier; as the yearprogresses students becomemore engaged in university life,”said Ms. Newell, residence life officer for the Student HousingOffice. “The residence council has done an excellent jobplanning events for students and getting students involved.”

For example, residence life staff (residence assistants and chaletadvisers) have taken responsibility for organizing informationbulletins, swimming events, pizza parties, food drives and trivianights.

In addition, Ms. Newell partners with Janna Whelan, the off-campus housing co-ordinator, to offer events to students onand off campus, such as an art session/gallery tour, sushi demo,alcohol awareness and student housing breakfast. “Theseevents provide a great opportunity to meet new friends andbecome more connected to Grenfell,” she said. “I think theresidence and chalets are literally a home away from home.Students create their own family and it becomes an environ-ment in which they are able to study as well as have fun.”

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As part of the I Fell for Grenfell celebrations inOctober, residence students held “Hallogreen,” where theymodeled costumes theymadefrom recycled items.

photobyJillianHartley

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Delivering the best possible service and resources is the pri-mary goal of the staff at Ferriss Hodgett Library.

Last summer, the library made significant changes, re-designingthe first floor to create new study areas and to let in more of thebuilding’s natural light. Events that contribute to student life arealso attracting students to the library – everything from playingvideo games projected on large screens to yoga during finalexams and mini-golf on a course built entirely of books.

“The events are fun, plus they benefit students,” said CrystalRose, public services librarian. “For library yogaweworkedwiththe Wellness Centre to provide information about stressreduction, and mini-golf was part of I Fell for Grenfell, acampus-wide initiative to encourage school spirit.”

During final exams, the library holds late-night hours, offeringfree coffee and healthy snacks to fuel late-night studying. Thisyear, evening andweekend hours were extended for the entireacademic year to better serve students.

“One of our goals is to create a positive, welcoming space, andbecome ‘the place to be’ on campus,” said Louise McGillis,associate university librarian.

SMALL LIBRARY,BIG SERVICE!

Ferriss Hodgett Library staff ready to assist new students during orientation: in back from left, Jessica Newhook, Maria Burn, ShandaWilliams; middle, Rhonda Mitchelmore, Heather Strickland, Beverley Greene, Lisa Small; and front, librarians Crystal Rose and LouiseMcGillis.

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Roughly 690 Grenfell students are employed on campusthrough programs such as the Memorial University CareerExperience Program (MUCEP), the Student Work and ServiceProgram (SWASP), Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) and studentassistant positions funded directly through Grenfell’s budget.

About 140 positions per year are funded through MUCEP, anon-campus employment program for undergrad students. Eachyear Grenfell receives about $90,000 from the MUN programfor these positions.

SWASP provides about 20 positions in the fall and winter, and20more in the summer semester. Funded by the provincial andfederal governments, the program helps reduce the debt loadof student parents while providing great work experience.

CSJ, delivered by Service Canada, gives career-relatedsummer jobs to people between 15 and 30. Grenfell fills about13 positions through CSJ.

Finally, student assistants – about 500 positions per year –range from research assistants and office workers to libraryassistants and recreation positions.

STUDENTEMPLOYMENTAT GRENFELL

Tara Rowsell, a MUCEP student with Community Education and College Relations, monitors media coverage of the campus as one ofher duties.

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Each year a number of chaplains from the majorreligions in our community participate in a campusministry at Grenfell. The representatives and type ofministry varies each year depending on the availabilityand interest of the volunteer chaplains. Currently wehave chaplains representing the United Church, theSalvation Army and the Roman Catholic faiths. Thereis also a student-driven nondenominational Christiangroup on campus, called the Grenfell ChristianFellowship.

KNOW?DIDYOU

BFA GRADINFLUENCES CITYARCHITECTURE

Richard Symonds (BFA 2001) is still making his mark in CornerBrook several years after he left the Grenfell campus.

The St. John’s-based architect, who graduatedwith amaster ofarchitecture from the University of Toronto in 2005, recentlyplayed a significant role in the design and construction of thenew courthouse in Corner Brook. Mr. Symonds, an architectat Sheppard Case Architects, was the lead designer on theproject, and also played a supporting role in the building’sconstruction.

Following hundreds of hours of meetings with stakeholders,engineers, technicians and provincial authorities, the plan wasrefined and eventually became the building as it stands today.Mr. Symonds said his visual arts and art history background hasbeen a huge advantage.

“While an aptitude for building science, engineering and logicare necessary to becoming an architect, sound design skills areof paramount importance,” said Mr. Symonds. “I never oncefelt that my undergraduate education was lacking whencompared tomy fellow students at U of T –many of whom hadpre-professional degrees in architecture.”

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Grenfell visual arts graduate Richard Symonds poses in front of the new Corner Brook courthouse, for which he was the lead designer.

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ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERSABBOTT ADAMS ADAMS ALLEN ANDERSON

BENNETT BENNETT BENNETT BENOIT

BLAXLAND BRAKE BURSEY BYRNE CAREW

CHAISSON CLARKE CLEVETT COLEMAN

COSTELLO CRANE CURTIS DESJARDINS ELLIOTT

EZEKIEL FLYNN FLYNN FRENCH GABRIEL

GALE GALE GALE GILES GOULD

GREELEY GREEN HACKETT HAYLEY HEMEON

HOFFE HOUSE HUGHES HULL JACOBS

KALSI KEEPING KENNEDY KERESTECI

LEAMON LEMOINE LEWIS LOCKYER LOCKYER

MACISAAC MARCH MARSDEN MATTHEWS

MAYO MCCARTHY MCWHIRTER NORMORE

NOSEWORTHY NOSEWORTHY O’GORMAN

O’KEEFE ORGAN PARK PARSONS PARSONS

PATEY PEACH PENNEY PINK PORTER

POULIN POWELL PYNN RANCOURT

RANDELL RANDELL ROBERTS ROCHON ROSE

ROSE ROXON RUMBOLT RYAN SCOTT

SHEPPARD SHEPPARD SKINNER SKINNER

SLADE SNOW SULLIVAN SWEETAPPLE TAYLOR

TILLEY VARDY VERMA WAGHMARE

WALL WARFORD WARREN WEIR WHITE

WICKS WIGHT VANWIJK ZHU2010-2011

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PRINCIPAL’S LIST2009-2010

From left to right, back to front:Joshua McCarthy, John Douglas Hughes, Stephen Evans,Matthew Ingram, Kayla Head, Stephen Collins, Ying How Lai,Charlene Curl, Edmund Walsh, Kevin Lam, Rochelle ReynoldsSara Taillon Jackson, Joshua Mitton, Alastair Mackay, JaniceColeman, Adam Legge, Shane Belbin, Paul Blakelock, DanielleO’Connor and Sarah Howell.

Missing from photo:Jonathan Andrews, Heather Bartlett, Pamela Black, AndrewBowers, Kate Bowers, Tyler Brown, Samantha Bursey, KyleBustin, Jonathan Canning, Steven Chaulk, Melissa Cook, TessEspey, Whitney Foss, Carolynne Gabriel, Jasmine Gillis,Meghan Greeley, Charlotte Green, Bethaney Hann, MargaretHild, Gabrielle Hughes,MatthewHunt, Katie Jewer, Bret Kenny,Angelica Knee, Marie-Isabel Langois, Virginia Mitford, CarolynMouland, Jillian Murphy, Nyasha Musandu, Bradley Myles,Amanda Payne, Jenna Pittman, Amanda Power, Danai Ratisai,Norman Ryan, Loni Slade, Ashley Targett, Sachin Waghmare,Jake Wells and April White.

Fall Convocation 2010 was the first convocation under thecampus’ new name, Grenfell Campus, Memorial Universityof Newfoundland. In addition, it was the first convocationceremony for Memorial University’s new president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Gary Kachanoski.

Fall convocation was held at the Corner Brook Arts andCulture Centre on Friday, Oct. 8. Grenfell Campus conferred53 bachelor’s degrees in areas such as arts, businessadministration, fine arts, education, nursing and science andone master of arts in history.

Dr. Adrian Fowler was awarded the designation of professoremeritus. An active scholar of Canadian poetry, Dr. Fowler isalso a well-known poet, a fine teacher and a exemplary leaderof the university community. In his roles as vice-principal ofGrenfell College, 1992-1997, and principal, 1997-2004,Dr. Fowler oversaw thematuration of Grenfell College throughthe development of numerous degree programs andestablished its vital place as an economic and cultural force inwestern Newfoundland.

FALLCONVOCATION2010

Dr. Adrian Fowler, centre, was named professor emeritus at the Fall 2010 Convocation in Corner Brook. Dr. Holly Pike, acting VP,Grenfell Campus, and Dr. Gary Kachanoski, president and vice-chancellor of Memorial, joined Dr. Fowler for a photo following theceremony.

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Dr. Fowler is currently an honorary research professor at theGrenfell campus. In bestowing this honour,Memorial Universitygives public recognition to the excellence of teaching anddedication of purpose which have been the hallmarks ofDr. Fowler’s service and distinguished achievements at theGrenfell campus of Memorial University.

In addition, to recognize her selfless and unceasing contributionto the well-being of our citizens, an honorary doctor of lawsdegree was bestowed upon Minnie Vallis.

A woman who has spent a lifetime in the service of hermultiple communities, Ms. Vallis has been a teacher; a motherof six; a councillor, deputy mayor and mayor; an advocate forseniors, abused women, caregivers, people with disabilities,seniors; a volunteer on hospital boards and on the Status ofWomen Council. Ms. Vallis was born in Ramea on the southcoast of Newfoundland and now makes her home in CornerBrook.

Copies of the DVD of Fall Convocation 2010 are available forpurchase at the campus bookstore.

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Minne Vallis received an honorary doctor of laws at the Fall 2010 Convocation in Corner Brook. She shared a moment with her sister,Bernice Crewe of Ramea, following the ceremony.

Doreen Klassen’s Mennonite heritage and her passion to learnmore aboutMennonite communities around the world broughther to Belize and Mexico earlier this year.

These countries may seem unlikely places to find Mennonitecommunities, but during her travels, Dr. Klassen encountereda rich Mennonite culture which provided an abundance ofparticipants for her research on women’s storytelling in LowGerman (her mother tongue). Dr. Klassen spent February andMarch in Belize and April to June in Mexico.

How these communities came to be inMexico and Belize has todo with perceived threats to their way of life in the previousareas in which they’d lived. As modern civilization encroachedon their lands inmore northern climes, the communities movedsouth to relatively remote places.

Today these isolated communities aremaking strides to improveeducation levels and social programs, especially in the areaof treating addictions. Dr. Klassen said changes are comingbecause many women want better options for their children.

The stories of the women she interviewed in Belize andMexicowill form the basis of her next book.

TELLING THE STORIESOF MENNONITEWOMEN INMEXICO AND BELIZE

Ninety-year-old Sarah Bueckert Fast still sews three braided mats a week. She easily shared with Dr. Doreen Klassen her recollectionsof moving to Mexico as a six-year-old.

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PhotobyDoreenKlassen

NINO RICCIREADS TO

CORNER BROOK

One of Canada’s finest novelists, Nino Ricci, held a readingin Corner Brook this fall; the event was organized by Grenfell’sEnglish program.

Mr. Ricci read from his latest work, The Origin of Species, to apacked room of literature enthusiasts at Jennifer’s Barroom onBroadway.

Mr. Ricci is an award-winning Canadian novelist who has twicewon the Governor General’s Award for fiction. His first novel,the internationally acclaimed Lives of the Saints (Alfred KnopfPublishers), won the Governor General’s Award in 1990, aswell as the F.G. Bressani Prize and the Books in Canada FirstNovel Award. His fictional retelling of the life of Jesus,Testament (Doubleday Canada, 2002), won the Trillium Award.In 2008, his fifth novel and most recent work of fiction, TheOrigin of Species (Doubleday Canada), earned him theCanadian Authors Association Fiction Award, as well as hissecond Governor General’s Award. Ricci is also the authorof Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a short biography that forms partof Penguin’s Extraordinary Canadians series, edited by JohnRalston Saul.

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Canadian novelist Nino Ricci reads from The Origin of Species at Jennifer’s Barroom.

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The Grenfell community’s annual I Fell for Grenfell celebrationwas a hit once again. The celebration is part of MemorialUniversity’s I Love MUNdays festivities, which took place Oct.26-30 this year.

“I Fell for Grenfell is an opportunity for Grenfell students,faculty and staff to recognize the sense of community thatexists on the Corner Brook campus and in the surroundingarea,” said Jennifer Hartley, co-ordinator of I Fell for Grenfell.“We were pleased to continue the I Fell for Greenfell themethis year, which incorporates green and sustainable initiativesinto our regular events. We had a great organizing committeewith the participation of several committed students.”

Events began with a healthy brown bag breakfast – minusthe bag for sustainability reasons. The official launch ofI Fell for Grenfell saw several local schools join the Grenfellcommunity for the Campus Dash, a 2 km/1 km run/walk. Otherevents included Greenbooks, Western Regional School ofNursing’s annual health fair, Pie the Prof, International Night,a haunted house, a session on traditional Newfoundlandrug hooking, a teddy bear clinic and the Grenfell Art Gallery’smask-making for children.

WE ALLFELL FORGRENFELL!

M.C. Gail Bailey looks on as Dr. Holly Pike, VP, Grenfell Campus, recovers from a pie in the face.

THROUGH THE LENS ...

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Grenfell’s annual I Fell for Grenfell celebration was well attended byfaculty, staff and students. Clockwise from top: “The Golden Girls”from Student Housing (from left, Jennifer Mitchell, Nicole Newell,Debbie Evans and Janna Whelan) won the best staff award in theRock Bands competition; public services librarian Crystal Rose took tothe library’s book-constructed golf course in style; Kayla Keatsstrutted her stuff as recycled Lady Gaga; and the Computing andCommunications Rock Bands team took a trip back in time (from topleft clockwise: Ed Johnson, Rick Waterman, George LeMoine, CoryWilliams, Newton Pritchett and Howard Giles).

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