MacEwan University

alumni news

winTeR 2015/16

INSIDE // Ask the Expert

From the Archives Fitness Feature

How our alumni are creating, growing and contributing in communities at Home and around tHe globe

MacEwan.ca/Alumni

KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

STAY CONNECTED.

MacEwanAlumni

@MacEwanU MacEwanUniversity

Alumni

MACEWAN.CA/ALUMNI | 3

Every Little KindnessChanging the world doesn’t always mean travelling halfway around the globe. See how alumni are giving back and making positive changes in their own backyards.

Community is a VerbTree-lined streets and cute houses might be some of the first things that spring to mind when you hear “community,” but our alumni are building their own definition of the word about as far from home as you can get.

Q & A with Amelia Canto EllisWant to make a real impact? Work together, says MacEwan University’s executive director of Alumni and Development. It takes a village to build a great university.

Is Doing Good in the World Good For Business?School of Business professors talk about how corporate social responsibility contributes to the bottom line.

departmentswhat’s happening News and events at MacEwan University

a matter of facts Our MacEwan community

from the archives A look back at the history of Cromdale Campus

grad school spotlight Massage Therapy student wins case competition

art in the community Students and alumni take art beyond the gallery

beyond the selfie How to make your smartphone photos stellar

the evolution of campus food The university’s food scene is changing with the times

the career corner How gifts of time can help you get your dream job

fitness feature Winter workouts to help you chill out and burn fat

ask the expert Six ways to get involved in the MacEwan University community

in one word Meet Nicole Blomme

classifieds

photo finish Fine Art alumnus Robert Harpin on public art

13

19

28

30

7

12

18

23

24

26

33

36

38

40

41

42

43

features

contents

alumni news | winTeR 2015/16

M

EdiTOR-iN-CHiEF

Rebecca Chelmick

MANAgiNg EdiTOR

BJ Anderson

CONTRiBUTiNg WRiTERS

Marc Britten, Twyla Campbell, Nicole Farn, Rachelle Foss, Karly Gerlach, Amy Kemp,

Brock Kryton, Stephanie Sparks, Michelle Woodard

CONTRiBUTiNg pHOTOgRApHER

Steven Stefaniuk

CONTRiBUTiNg iLLUSTRATOR

Andrea Hirji

dESigN

Lindsay Van Driel

M is published two times a year by MacEwan University Alumni and development

as a service to alumni, donors, students, partners, faculty and staff.

M invites your advertising, letters to the editor, story ideas and comments.

please direct them to [email protected].

MAlumni and development

MacEwan UniversityAlberta College Campus

p.O. Box 1796Edmonton, AB Canada T5J 2p2

ph: 780-497-4273 (address updates and all other inquiries)

Email: [email protected]

To receive your copy of M by email, send your name and email address to

[email protected].

publications Mail Agreement No. 40063489

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

Alumni and DevelopmentMacEwan University

p.O. Box 1796Edmonton, AB Canada T5J 2p2

We are committed to environmental responsibility.

M is printed usingvegetable-based ink, on Forestry StewardshipCouncil® certified paper.

4 | WINTER 2015/16

twyla campbell

Twyla Campbell is a blogger, freelance writer and restaurant reviewer for CBC Edmonton AM. Her articles have appeared in local, national and international publications. She is also a research

writer for a law firm where she writes reports on topics relating to indigenous peoples in Canada and South America. in her spare time, she is working to complete her Bachelor of Communication Studies from MacEwan University.

nicole farn (Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing, ’12)

Nicole Farn is part writer, part editor, part engineer. She is the communications coordinator at Change for Children where she writes about

seldom-visited places and people whose stories often go untold. She is a MacEwan alumna, a storyteller at heart and is passionate that small can be Big. Nicole blogs about her own fundraising campaign at forthewellofit.ca.

rachelle foss (Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing, ’15)

Rachelle Foss is a freelance writer/editor, and a recent graduate of MacEwan’s Bachelor of Applied Communications in professional Writing program.

She has worked on a variety of projects, including those with The Western Sentinel and NAiT. She’s been a member of the Earth Common Journal editorial board since 2012, and has published articles in each volume since its inaugural year.

brock kryton (Design Studies, ’11)

A graduate of MacEwan University’s design Studies program, Brock Kryton is now a sessional instructor, teaching a wide variety of photography courses. He is also a freelance

photographer, and was named one of the top 25 emerging artists of 2013 in Canada by the Canadian Association of professional image Creators (CApiC). You can see more of Brock’s work at brockkryton.com.

stephanie sparks (Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing, ’06)

Stephanie Sparks is a writer/editor living in Edmonton. By day, she works as a communications writer at MacEwan University and by night writes

fiction. Her passion for telling stories of all kinds is one she has pursued from an early age. Her writing credits include Alberta Venture, Leap Magazine and Nursing PRN.

michelle woodard

Michelle Woodard is a writer in MacEwan University’s Office of Communications and Marketing where she spends her days getting the scoop on the endless cool things students,

faculty and alumni are up to. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her spending time with her husband Steve and appreciating language in another way—reading stories with their two young daughters.

contributors Go online for more

Visit MacEwan.ca for stories about amazing research, quirky class assignments, awesome alumni and cool students between issues of M.

get MacEwan University news delivered to your inbox! go to MacEwan.ca/News to sign up for our e-newsletter.

CONNECT WITH US!

Follow us on Facebook at

facebook.com/MacEwanAlumni

Follow us on Twitter at

twitter.com/MacEwanU

Follow us on instagram at

instagram.com/MacEwanU

Connect with us on Linkedin

MacEwan University Alumni

Photo by @karmync

Photo by @macewanuask


MESSAGE

from theEDITOR

We also wanted to look for community in unexpected places—in our business classrooms where professors like Leo Wong and Etayanka Muralidharan are building social responsibility into business education and research. Or in our Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications where faculty members are focusing on taking art into the public sphere, and what that means for communities—and the program.

Community is about people, and people are fun. So we decided to have some of that in this issue too. Check out our street photography piece. Or the many ideas our Sport and Wellness staff came up with to get fit right in your community. And how we’re building a local food movement on campus.

We’re all part of many communities—the ones we live in, work in, learn in and play in. Our alumni community is over 50,000-strong, giving back the world over—including right here on our campus. In a candid Q & A, Amelia Canto Ellis, MacEwan’s executive director of Alumni and Development, shares an insider’s view of the impact alumni can make on future generations of students when paying it forward at their alma mater.

GIVING BACK AND PAYING IT FORWARD:hoW oUR ALUMNI ARE MAkINg AN IMpACT

W hen you’re looking for stories to publish in a magazine, it’s the ones about superstars

that usually find their way to you. The people who are making big changes in the world. They’re amazing.

But we’re not all like that. Some of us contribute in smaller ways. Starting a project, giving time, making a donation, serving a meal, shovelling a sidewalk or spending a holiday digging a well. The people who do these things don’t often find their way into the spotlight. Instead, they work away behind the scenes—sometimes for a lifetime—making a difference and building community in their own way.

We think those small things are a big deal. So in this issue, we’re highlighting some of the stories that tend to get lost in the shuffle. Stories about people like Nicole Farn and Ravi Jaipaul whose dedication to giving back has taken them to destinations around the world. Or Tiffany Sustrik and Mandi Friesen who redefined their roles as general enforcement bylaw officers when they set out to give the century-old Calder area a bit of love.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and invite you to reach out to us with your stories. We love hearing them and sharing them.

rebecca, alumni relations liaison Alumni and Development

6 | WINTER 2015/16

MESSAGE

from thePRESIDENT

and excitement happening here. As we continue work on the new Centre for Arts and Culture, not only do we look forward to bringing all our students into the heart of the city, we also look forward to inviting you, our alumni, along with people from downtown and around the city, to enjoy performances and exhibitions, as well as the food and retail services our new centre will offer when it opens in the fall of 2017.

While our buildings are community landmarks, it’s our people who bring them to life—in more ways than one. In late September, we invited faculty and staff to celebrate a new chapter in the university’s history with the launch of our internal Make an Impact campaign in support of the Centre for Arts and Culture. I’m excited to be a part of a campaign that will leave a meaningful legacy for our students.

After all, students—current and alumni—truly are at the heart of the MacEwan University community. Everything we do is connected to the goal of providing our students with the best

N ow that the school year is well underway, each day thousands of students, faculty and staff fill

the hallways and classrooms of MacEwan University. This population is more than just a group of people; it’s a community. So what’s the difference?

For us, it comes down to the many ways in which we connect. We don’t simply occupy the same buildings; we engage, we encourage and we work together toward common goals. We do this by keeping the number of students per class at a level which fosters dialogue between faculty and students. We do it by providing students with a multitude of academic, social and health services. We also do it by staying in touch with our alumni—we are so pleased to count you as important members of our community.

The thriving, vital community we’ve created here is also part of a larger one. Our unique urban setting places us at the centre of downtown Edmonton, and all of the growth

education and post-secondary experience possible. This level of dedication shows in the way that so many of you, our alumni, have distinguished yourselves as leaders, innovators and powerful forces within your own communities. We are honoured that you are also part of ours.

david atkinson, president MacEwan University


Artist’s rendering of the Centre for Arts and Culture building.

Brenda Draney’s work will be a permanent fixture in the new Centre for Arts and Culture.

BroNzE traplINE to WElcomE StuDENtS

Fine Art alumna Brenda draney will spend the next two years preparing to install a permanent bronze

art piece in the university’s new Centre for Arts and Culture. in Brenda’s view, the outline of the new

campus’s atrium space spoke to the outline of a trapline territory near Slave Lake, her hometown.

With that imagery, she began to consider the history of the land that MacEwan is built on—and the

“Trapline” project came to life.

“i thought about ideas around borders, inside and outside, and what happens when you go into a

new territory and what it means to have a territory that feels like home to you—whatever that is,” says

the Edmonton artist.

Over the next two years, she will be working on the paintings, the installation and a hanging sculptural

element. As part of her work, she will journey out to the trapline each season so she can create a

bank of images to work on in her studio. As an added bonus, the experience will allow her to gather

a new set of stories about the Slave Lake community and its people.

“ENDINg SExual VIolENcE” campaIgN rEcEIVES BoarD approVal

MacEwan University is ending sexual violence

on its campuses. At the beginning of the Fall

term, the Board of governors approved a

sexual violence policy and procedures for the

university—sending a clear message that sexual

violence has no place at the university.

“We really wanted to send a clear message

to our community that we’re going to take a

stand against sexual violence and take steps

to prevent sexual violence on campus,” says

Michelle plouffe, vice-president, general counsel

and compliance officer.

Statistics across North America show that

sexual violence is under-reported, and post-

secondary institutions are in various stages of

addressing the issue. According to Michelle, the

purpose of instituting the policy and awareness

campaign is to create a foundation for a culture

of consent, promote reporting and support

people who come forward.

“The university is working hard to encourage the

reporting of incidents of sexual violence and to

prevent sexual violence on campus. We want to

empower our community to take steps aimed at

preventing sexual violence and to appropriately

respond to survivors of sexual violence.”

The university is continuing its program of

education, training and awareness for students

and employees. Read the policy and check

out the Ending Sexual Violence campaign at

MacEwan.ca/SexualViolence.

WHAT’S HAPPENINGat MacEwan University

8 | WINTER 2015/16

WHAT’S HAPPENINGat MacEwan University SocIal chaNgE By DEgrEES

The university’s new Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) may be the second social work degree in

Alberta, but its focus on sustainability makes it unique in North America, says Chair and Assistant

professor Kathaleen Quinn.

“We’re looking at the particular issues we have in Northern Alberta in a different way to create a

program that not only meets the standards, but changes perspectives and uses sustainability in

all its forms—economic, social and environmental—as an overarching theme closely linked with

indigenous knowledge. That’s what makes this so exciting.”

Until now, people who wanted to pursue a degree in social work had two choices—try to claim one

of the limited seats at the University of Calgary or head to another province.

“The new BSW at MacEwan creates a new choice for people who want to keep the momentum of

their education going,” says Michele Markham, manager of Sage Seniors’ Safe House and member

of the university’s Social Work Advisory Committee. “A diploma education is fantastic—it’s what

i have—but when you want to really push for change, you need to fully understand how systems

intersect and have the critical thinking and assessment skills it takes to move the needle.”

Creating that positive change is the very reason dorsa Sobhani chose social work. The second-year

student experienced some of the gaps that exist in the system herself when she came to Canada

as a refugee after fleeing her home country of iran, and decided that she should be the one to help

fix them.

“My plan was always to get my degree, and eventually my master’s, so i was so excited to hear that

the BSW is being introduced while i am at MacEwan.”

dorsa will be applying to the degree program that begins in Fall 2016, and plans to be part of the first

graduating class in Spring 2017.

lEarNINg comES to lIfE oN thE StagE

Students just wrapped up their first production

of the year—Nice Work If You Can Get It—and

are already preparing for Curtains, which runs

February 3 to 13.

Enjoy a fun night out and support the next class

of Theatre Arts and Theatre production students

as they bring this “whodunit” musical comedy to

life on stage. Visit tixonthesquare.ca to buy your

tickets online. prices are $15 to $20.

And mark your calendar for Heathers The

Musical, on stage March 30 to April 9.



coNcrEtE StaIrWEllS turNED markEt garDENS

Unused corners on campus could soon provide

a bounty of garden vegetables for students,

departments and on-site food service providers.

The six-month Tower gardens pilot project

is converting an empty space seven feet in

diameter at the bottom of the spiral staircase

at City Centre Campus into 270 square feet of

aeroponic growing space that grows produce

without soil.

A space seven feet in diameter might not sound

like a lot, but it’s enough room to place three

aeroponic units with seven growing layers each.

And a single unit could yield 400 pounds of

tomatoes in a single growing cycle.

“We would like to see 50 aeroponic units in

underutilized spaces on campus within the next

two years,” says Kris Bruckmann, director of

Retail and Hospitality Operations. “if we are able

to partner with our food service contractors to

purchase what we grow, it could turn us into the

only campus i’m aware of in North America that

grows its own produce on-site.”

Avenue Magazine’s annual “Top 40 Under 40” issue is now on stands and seven members of this year’s group have ties to MacEwan University. We’d like to congratulate these alumni and friends of MacEwan University for being honoured:

Kris Andreychuk Paula CornellMiranda Jordan-SmithNik KozubJesse Kupina Heather Logan Farren Timoteo

top 40 Under 40

our pEoplE

Ask the right question and you’ll get an amazing answer. That’s the premise behind Our people, a new

MacEwan University photo album that shares snapshots of students, alumni, faculty and staff.

The snippets of passion, energy and interesting backstories behind the people who walk, or have

walked, through MacEwan’s halls are sometimes funny, often touching and occasionally surprising.

Visit the Our people album at MacEwan.ca/inspire to learn a bit about the individuals who make up our

community, and get an invigorating burst of MacEwan University spirit while you’re at it.

Fiona Okwado, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student, was featured in Our People earlier this year.

Photo credit: Ryan Jackson, Edmonton Journal

10 | WINTER 2015/16

projEct 10,000 WElcomES mExIcaN StuDENtS

Coming to university is an overwhelming experience for many students—but

imagine travelling abroad to learn another language when you’ve never been far

from home before. That’s what it was like in July for 18 students from Mexico.

They journeyed from their homes as part of the first intake of project 10,000—

an international initiative in which Mexican learners will study the English language

or visit research labs at post-secondary institutions in Canada, including Mcgill

University, University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.

The idea behind the partnership is to involve more Mexican students, teachers

and researchers in academic programs in Canada. Learners coming specifically

to MacEwan will study the English language, while learners going elsewhere may

participate in short-term research or technical certificate programs. Not only does

project 10,000 provide learners with scholarships to advance their academic

pursuits, but it strengthens Mexico and Canada’s partnership, which is “built upon

the importance of education and innovation.”

“MacEwan’s participation with the government of Mexico in project 10,000 is a

key element of our expanding engagement in the Americas,” says John Corlett,

provost and vice-president academic. “Alberta’s strong links to Mexico, particularly

Jalisco State, provide us with a great foundation to build academic links for our

students, faculty and staff with excellent partners in teaching and learning as well

as research. This is part of our strategic initiative to bring the world to MacEwan and

take MacEwan to the world.”

faculty mEmBErS part of $492,000 arctIc rESEarch tEam

Associate professor Mark Furze and his research partner (and

wife) Anna piénkowski—both MacEwan University faculty

members in the department of physical Sciences—are riding high

with the news that their research project has received $492,000 in

funding from ArcticNet.

Their international research team is studying a range of

environmental, human and cultural elements in Arctic Canada.

Mark and Anna are team members focused on the environmental

side; their research, and that of others, will show contributions to

climate change, sustainable resource development, geohazards,

Arctic sovereignty and more.

“Ultimately in some ways it’s about telling a story,” says Mark.

“What were conditions like in the past? How have they changed

through time? And the question then is why is that story important?

it’s because it informs our understanding of long-term processes,

and therefore we can use that to, in part, understand what’s

happening today, but then also forecast what’s going to happen

in the future.”

The research project is led and managed by Université Laval,

and co-investigators include Mark and Anna, and researchers

from dalhousie University, Université du Québec à Rimouski,

and the University of New Brunswick. Key collaborators include

the geological Survey of Canada-Atlantic, the geological Survey

of Norway, Keele University and Bangor University in the United

Kingdom, Alfred Wegener institute for polar and Marine Research

in germany, and Memorial University of Newfoundland—making

this project an international collaboration.

The findings from the research will have significant information

for community groups, industry and government in Canada and

beyond. Mark and Anna begin their research voyage in the Arctic

in summer 2016.


Mark Furze and Anna Piénkowski


Stay coNNEctED WIth What'S happENINg

Visit MacEwan.ca/News for stories about

amazing research, quirky class assignments,

awesome alumni and cool students between

issues of M, including:

• Meet the Class of 2015 (Fall edition)

• Student brings art therapy to a Peruvian psychiatric hospital

To get MacEwan University news delivered to

your inbox, go to MacEwan.ca/News and sign

up for our e-newsletter.

aloha, phySIcal ScIENcES fIElD School

For the first time ever, MacEwan University’s

physical Sciences department offered students

an opportunity to practice their field skills—

in Hawaii. Nine lucky students joined faculty

members Orla Aaquist and Andreas Enggist as

they explored the Big island in May.

Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company.Manulife and the Block Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its a� liates under license. Exclusions and limitations apply.© 2015 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife). All rights reserved. Manulife, PO Box 4213, Stn A, Toronto, ON M5W 5M3.

ALUMNI TERM LIFE INSURANCE

Imaginethat

To a child, anything is possible. With Alumni Term Life Insurance, you can help your loved ones live their dreams. Get a quote today and see how affordable it is to protect their future.

To learn more visit www.manulife.com/macewanmag or call toll-free 1-888-913-6333

during two intense weeks of studying

chemistry in the field, students explored

ancient glacial landscapes; studied

volcanology as Kilauea volcano erupted in

front of them; and took advantage of Hawaii’s

clear skies while visiting observatories to

study astronomy. All the while, they took

countless measurements and field samples

to reinforce the importance of observation.

Upon returning home, they used their daily

observation notes to write their final reports.

The biggest lesson learned? “Science is not

restricted to a classroom or a laboratory,” says

Orla. “it’s all around us and is done everywhere,

and to get that experience is important.”

Read student ian Markewicz’s blog entries

about the Hawaii field skills adventure on

MacEwan.ca/inspire.

Students collect rainforest soil samples during the first Physical Sciences field school in Hawaii


12 | WINTER 2015/16

An educational and enlightening feature sharing facts and figures about MacEwan University.

Our Community Student profile

34.9 % 65.1 %male female

average age

22.710,916full-time students in credit programs

19,250Student enrolment

FACULTY AND STAFF

3 0 6 1full- and part-time employees

FACULTIES AND SCHOOLS

882Residence rooms

part-time and full-time students

53,568 Alumni

International

1,12560from more than

countries

students

2.9 program applications per available learning position


Every Little Kindness

An educational and enlightening feature sharing facts and figures about MacEwan University.

Our Community Student profile

34.9 % 65.1 %male female

average age

22.710,916full-time students in credit programs

19,250Student enrolment

FACULTY AND STAFF

3 0 6 1full- and part-time employees

FACULTIES AND SCHOOLS

882Residence rooms

part-time and full-time students

53,568 Alumni

International

1,12560from more than

countries

students

2.9 program applications per available learning position

By Stephanie Sparks Illustrations by Andrea Hirji

t he moment she was selected for the placement at Boyle Street Community Services, Natalie Chrapko

(Bachelor of Science in Nursing, ’11) knew the experience was going to be challenging.

Growing up in a rural community, she was warned to fear and stay away from homeless people. She may have never set foot in Edmonton’s Boyle neighbourhood if she didn’t need to complete that required community health placement course.

As she climbed the concrete stairs, past the lineup of dishevelled, hungry homeless people, the twinge of fear she felt wasn’t unexpected. But the tremendous kindness she found when she opened those doors certainly was. “It was a turning point for me to see the kindness that everybody showed to the community members and to realize these people are so thankful for that kindness that’s shown to them and to anyone who would give them a helping hand.”

Though it was the most “non-nursing” placement she has ever done—helping serve meals, making crafts and getting to know the community members—Natalie describes it as a blessing, and one that reminded her that every little kindness makes a big impact on the community.

making positive change in the world doesn’t require a global movement or a hashtag— simply lend a hand in your own community

14 | WINTER 2015/16

Poverty, crime, the environment and injustice are global issues found in everyone’s backyard, no matter where you call home. Sometimes you give back—time, money and energy—because you support a particular cause. And sometimes you give back because the work is incredibly important.

It’s part of the job. It needs to get done. It’s an issue that matters to me.

SHAPING YOuNG CITIzENS

“I can honestly say I would do this job in one way or another, regardless of whether we were being paid—it’s that rewarding to me,” says Jody Merrick (Early Learning and Child Care, ’13).

Jody and fellow alumna Anna Szylko are early childhood educators, curriculum coaches and staff support for Terra Centre, a non-profit organization that partners with Edmonton Public Schools at Braemar School; the partnership provides services and support to young mothers as they work towards high school completion. Jody and Anna support the young parents navigating family situations and care for their children while they attend classes.

“There is such a stigma around teen pregnancy and in this place, the stigma is non-existent,” says Jody. “Here they are strong, capable young women parenting their children, often on their own. They’re seeing past their circumstances and achieving great things for their children’s sake.”

HOW TO FIND YOuR CAuSE

Remember that expression, every little bit helps? It couldn’t be truer when it comes to giving back to your community (locally or internationally). But with so many charitable organizations and people in need, you may be overwhelmed about how you can help.

“People give in various ways for any variety of reasons, from personal interests to wider expectations stemming from the groups and organizations they are affiliated with,” says Associate Professor Diane Symbaluk, Sociology department, MacEwan University.

“A 2007 Statistics Canada report on charitable giving found that Canadians are most likely to give of their time and finances if they feel compassion to those in need, if they personally believe in the cause and/or because they have a desire give back to the community.”

1. Drill down to what’s important to you

Do you love animals? Care about children? Want to eliminate poverty? Read the news or get connected through social media. Watch for stories about issues that connect with your values. If a group or cause moves you, go to step 2.

2. Do your research

Find out which organizations or groups align with your interests. Read up on the impact they have on the community.

3. Ask how you can help

Most non-profit groups are looking for three things: money, time and energy, and support. Make a donation, volunteer or find other ways to support the group (maybe by attending an event, marching in a parade or even sporting a bumper sticker on your car).

4. Help!

Now that you know what the group needs, determine in what capacity you are willing and able to help. Not everyone can give money, but you may want to volunteer to mentor youth or deliver meals to elderly people. You can also take a grassroots approach by picking up litter around your block or shovelling snow for a neighbour.

Considering an overseas cause? You may wish to travel abroad to dig wells or build houses, or collect goods at home to send to impoverished nations. The sky is the limit when it comes to where and how you can help.

“I can honestly say I would do this job in one way or another, regardless of whether we were being paid—it’s that rewarding to me.” — Jody Merrick


And those “great things” wouldn’t be possible without the centre’s child care facility. In May, Jody and Anna each presented at the Child Care Conference, demonstrating the clever ways they support the healthy development of the infants and toddlers they work with.

“They are our youngest citizens and they are important,” says Anna. “I like kids, but it’s bigger than that, and I want to be part of it.”

Jody and Anna support a culture of caring by helping families, but other times, it’s entire communities that need help.

A SAFE AND CLEAN CITY

When a police officer and social worker working in Edmonton’s Calder neighbourhood contacted general enforcement bylaw officers Tiffany Sustrik and Mandi Friesen, the two alumni had their work cut out for them.

“We do a bit of work around public safety, education and community engagement, but our main goal is to promote a safe and clean city,” explains Tiffany (Police and Investigations, ’06).

With a population of more than 4,000 people in 2014, the century-old Calder area had not seen much love in a long time. When Tiffany and Mandi canvassed the area, they discovered a large number of “nuisance complaints”—litter, unwanted furniture, overgrown grass, illegally parked recreational vehicles and other private property infractions.

“When we started looking at the statistics of the neighbourhood, we knew that general, mainstream enforcement wasn’t going to work,” recalls Tiffany. “We could see that it was a lower-income area, so we had to do something to support that. It’s one thing to do the enforcement, but only if the residents have the means to clean their property and take care of it.”

So they started a “blitz.” After recording all of the infractions, they turned Calder into a project that they worked on around their regular day-to-day tasks. They took an educational approach, recruiting volunteers to spread flyers around the area, letting residents know that they were going to host a major neighbourhood cleanup event.

“We started with the education piece before we did the enforcement, and then we followed it up with the engagement piece,” says Tiffany.

Sometimes you give back—time, money and energy—because you support a particular cause. And sometimes you give back because the work is incredibly important.

Natalie Chrapko

Tiffany Sustrik and Mandi Friesen

16 | WINTER 2015/16

Despite the dreary grey day, the cleanup event was a success. Not only did they have sponsors to help out, Tiffany and Mandi collaborated with other city departments, including Waste Management, which hauled away six large bins of rubbish.

“Seeing all the stakeholders come together and work toward the same goal and seeing the community utilize the project—we knew we made a difference,” says Mandi (Police and Investigations, ’07).

An assessment of the neighbourhood afterward revealed that they had an 85 per cent increase in compliance. In 2013, they were recognized for their efforts with a City Manager’s Award. Though they have since taken on supervisory roles, they see potential for future community leadership projects.

“We all want to live in a great city,” says Tiffany. “To live somewhere that’s vibrant and that we’re proud of. Edmonton is becoming nationally known and that’s because of everybody’s work, not just ours. We have to give youth and communities the chance to take ownership and do their own projects.”

BEST ADVICE

Want to give back or be part of a good cause?

here’s some advice from people who have been

there.

“get started, the sooner the better, and ignore

the naysayers. My personal motto is a george

Bernard Shaw quote: ‘people who say it

cannot be done should not interrupt those who

are doing it.’” — Associate professor Diane

Symbaluk, Sociology department, MacEwan

University

“Meet people with compassion, love and

respect. Meet them where they’re at and help

them get wherever they want to go, whatever

route they choose to take.” — Natalie Chrapko,

BScN, ’11, on helping the homeless

“Don’t give up. It takes time, it takes energy and

it takes someone to be the leader, and it’ll take

a while to get some followers, but it will come.

And it’s okay to fail. one clean yard is better

than no clean yards, and eventually people

start to get that.” — Tiffany Sustrik, police and

Investigations, ’06

“We have a social responsibility to serve our

community. It’s important as a society to give

back consistently and we need to give without

expecting anything in return.” — Jody Merrick,

Early Learning and Child Care, ’13

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HuMANITY

A couple of years have gone by since Natalie completed her placement at Boyle Street, and her life now looks much different than it did when she was a student—she moved away from the city, is pursuing a career as an operating room nurse and started a family. The experience at Boyle Street may be a mere memory, but it’s one she says has changed her perspective on humanity.

“We are really all the same. Things are going to happen to us that we may or may not be in control of,” she says. “I only need to think about experiences like Boyle Street to remember I need to treat everyone with respect and dignity.”

“We all want to live in a great city. To live somewhere that’s vibrant and that we’re proud of.” — Tiffany Sustrik

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDC A L L F O R N O M I N A T I O N S

Do you know of a MacEwan University alumnus who has made a significant contribution to our community or has demonstrated outstanding achievement in any of the following areas:

BUSINESS ARTS LIFELONGLEARNING

GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15, 2015

For further information or questions, call 780-497-4273 or email [email protected] forms available online: MacEwan.ca/Alumni

18 | WINTER 2015/16

W ith all the buzz around the development and construction of the new Centre for Arts and

Culture, it’s easy to forget that early MacEwan students once cracked textbooks inside a former grocery store.

In the 1970s, Grant MacEwan Community College offered programming at its Cromdale Campus, which had been converted from a Dominion grocery store. It sat across the street from Edmonton’s notorious Cromdale Hotel (demolished in 2012 after years of neglect and criminal activity).

Alumni Advisory Council member Sharon MacLean (Advertising and Public Relations, ’75) recalls a different era of post-secondary education and hanging out with her classmates in the hotel.

FROM the ARCHIVES

LoCATED: 8020 118 Avenue YEARS opEN: 1971 to 1993

pRogRAMS: Educational Management, Teacher Aide and instructional Assistant (Educational Services department); Advertising and public Relations, Audio Visual Technician and Journalism (Communications department); and Library Technician program.

Pa p e r o r p l ast i c ?A look back at the history of Cromdale Campus

in each issue of M Alumni News, we’ll reach back into the archives for a throwback photo from macewan university’s history.

“Sometimes classes were held in the bar,” she says. “Our instructors in PR and journalism were curious, great storytellers and adventurous by nature. They encouraged us to experience life first-hand.”

The outside of Cromdale Campus still looked like a grocery store—it was, after all, meant to be a temporary location. However, by 1983, because of excessive student demand, funding realities and space limitations, the campus remained open while MacEwan developed plans to construct a new campus. Cromdale housed the college’s continuing education programs from 1984 until its closure in 1993 with the opening of City Centre Campus.

Inside the building, Cromdale Campus had classrooms on the left and a large cafeteria on the right where students would gather to study and socialize. On the far side of the cafeteria was a ping pong table, where students, like Sharon, won and lost epic tournaments.

“A lot of life happened in the cafeteria,” she says. Just as it was when the building housed a grocery store, Cromdale Campus was a place to gather around food. Some things never change.”

FAST FACTS - CROMDALE CAMPUS


A look back at the history of Cromdale Campus

a s i witness the people of San Carlos, Nicaragua rallying around the water well being drilled in the heart of

their village, made possible by a group of people thousands of miles away, something occurs to me. Although “community” describes a place, a group or even a feeling, I am convinced that it must also be a verb. An action-word. And this must be what it looks like, feels like and sounds like to engage in it. And I don’t want to stop.

I started the For the Well of It campaign to make a tangible difference through the provision of a basic need that we all too often take for granted—water. After having my own eyes opened and my own heart touched in remote corners of the world, I wanted to give others the opportunity to touch the lives, to change the lives, of people a world away. People who I have met through my involvement with the Edmonton-based organization Change for Children. People whose homes I have visited in places that I have travelled and whose struggles I know to be all too real. People from whom I have collected contaminated water, the only source available, and whose stories I am committed to share.

is a

alumni find community in places as far from

home as you can get, and they’re finding ways

to build relationships across borders

By Nicole Farn

Relationships are at the heart

of sustainable international

projects

Two years earlier, witnessing for the first time the work of Change for Children, I met Jose. “Water is life,” he said, with ease and sincerity. Jose hadn’t meant the proclamation to be insightful. It was merely a declaration of truth. It was no more than a statement of fact coming from a man who, until the year before, had never had the convenience, the advantages or the luxury of a clean, safe, reliable drinking water source. In the small community of La Esperanza in northern Nicaragua, none of its residents had.

Nor were they about to take it for granted. It is here that I met community members who had contributed labour to the water well project, empowered women who formed the newly established Water Committee to ensure its long-term sustainability, and residents accountable to one another to maintain a system that brings improved health to their families. I had never before seen a community actively engaged in this way, and I knew I wanted to help bring this “life” to another community.

Nicole Farn pumping water from new well

20 | WINTER 2015/16

With the belief that small can be big and with the conviction that the power of a united group can drive change, I invited friends, families, classmates and co-workers to do something relatively small—contribute a dollar a day for a year—to collectively bring a sustainable water solution to an entire community going without.

One year later, I stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of San Carlos, my hands clasped tightly in those of Angela, a woman I’ve only just met. We watch water flowing into her community for the first time. It is a powerful thing to witness one small community of people impact another, to realize that the considered toss of a single stone can indeed start a ripple, and I return home knowing that I will do it again. Another community. Another ripple. For the well of it.

A STONE’S THROW

“It’s kind of like a mosaic. No one piece is more important than the others. All the parts come together to make this one really unique body,” says Cassidy Galan, MacEwan University nursing alumna.

Cassidy’s definition of community rolls off her tongue easily and without hesitation, and I hear the passion in her voice. The commitment to connect. She understands that it is indeed a commitment. In the few years that she has been working with the community of Darbonne, Haiti to establish a health centre, she has learned that while physical progress may seem slow, the relationships at the heart of sustainable international projects take time to build.

Cassidy’s first exposure to international community was in 2012. Travelling with her church community, she visited Darbonne where, working with a local partner, they had helped fund the construction of a church and school post-earthquake. The resiliency of the people who lost everything and the unabashed happiness of the children who attended the day camps she organized should have left her feeling hopeful and optimistic, and they did, but she also felt dissatisfied. Despite the progress being made to rebuild this community of new hope, new beginnings and now new friends, it was still without a critical community component—a health centre.

Armed with skills learned in her community clinical placement as part of the nursing program at MacEwan, Cassidy and a small team returned to Darbonne in 2014 to complete a full needs assessment, to ask questions and to let the community provide the answers.

“Find out community needs. Then ask how you can use your strengths and talents to work with that community.” — Cynthia Puddu

Cassidy teaches a group of local children about dental hygiene.

Local kids proudly display their new toothpaste and brushes.


Such community engagement is what Cynthia Puddu, an assistant professor in MacEwan’s Bachelor of Physical Education Transfer program, encourages with her students. Cynthia developed PERL 300, a cross-cultural wellness service learning course that takes students to Ecuador to study community health. “Find out

community needs. Then ask how you can use your strengths and talents to work with that community.”

She hopes that travelling abroad will help more students understand that community can be wherever you are. “Whether it’s local or international, it’s really about the connections that you make with people.”

Cassidy is connecting. “We want the community to learn and grow. They have all the skills and just need help executing their vision,” she says. In the short term, a referral system—a room with a nurse, a table and a phone—would go a long way in bringing the community comfort. And while on each of her visits she has brought a small health promotion project to keep the community engaged, she is using the confidence gained in her Leadership in Nursing placement to draft a project proposal to work towards a more long-term solution for Darbonne—a community-run health centre.

Looking ahead, she wants to work with MacEwan to foster global community by encouraging the establishment of an international placement option in the nursing program. She is hopeful that a new health centre in Darbonne will one day host MacEwan students—that this project will continue to ripple on.

“It’s changed my life. I have tangibly applied what I learned in MacEwan’s program in Haiti, and it’s also changed how I see health care in Canada. This,” she says, holding tightly to her papers, her vision, her passion project, “this is why I’m in nursing.”

Cassidy Galan (bottom left) speaks about community standards of practice.

Cassidy with local children from the community.

22 | WINTER 2015/16

COMMuNITY IS A STATE OF BEING

Former MacEwan student Ravi Jaipaul thrives on community. Whether he’s building it, sharing it or working to be accepted into it, Ravi has spent the last 10 years cultivating community around the globe. For Ravi, community is a state of being.

“To me, community is a group of individuals who feel a sense of belonging, whether it be in mind or geography or whether it be in a shared human experience.”

Ravi has shared the human experience in some of the most seemingly inhuman places. Last year, Ravi spent nine months in war-torn South Sudan with Doctors Without Borders. From performing field nurse duties in the pediatric room to running a satellite hospital, Ravi immersed himself in a community that tested him to his core. He was called on to work within earshot of gunfire, spend nights in a bunker covering his head and, above all, offer hope amid so much hopelessness.

And he was there to answer that call. “You gain a toolkit as you go through life. Your toolkit grows if you allow yourself the time and the skill. You could just sit back and be comfortable, but you can also push yourself a little bit further.”

Although Ravi’s toolkit includes literally building communities in Peru, developing and teaching nursing curriculum in Rwanda and completing his dissertation for his master’s degree in public health in Thailand, he is also proof that one need not leave the country to foster a sense of international community.

In his final year as a MacEwan student, Ravi found his own community of people in “a group of random, eclectic, like-minded individuals who were all passionate about the world and who just happened to be at the same place at the same time”—2007 to 2008, a time of unspeakable suffering in Darfur.

“To me, community is a group of individuals who feel a sense of belonging, whether it be in mind or geography or whether it be in a shared human experience.” — Ravi Jaipaul

Together, his community of friends organized the Walk for Darfur to raise awareness by walking from Calgary to Edmonton, simulating the distance covered by the refugees. Along the way, they inspired thousands of others to join the movement. “That was community,” Ravi reflects, as if assigning this particular definition to the experience for the first time. “We didn’t know these people, but everyone felt connected to something greater than themselves.”

That feeling drives Ravi to encourage others to “find the thing you care about.” To expand your definition of community. “Test who you are. Where does your soul bend and where does your soul break? How do you live your life on that line before you get to the broken part, but where you’re still feeling something very impactful?” That is the place from which to toss your stone into the water. To create your ripple.

I believe in community. But my definition of community is constantly being refined. Broadened. Expanded. By my definition, community is also a verb.

A refugee camp in South Sudan where Ravi Jaipaul spent nine months with Doctors Without Borders.

Ravi Jaipaul


GRAD SCHOOL spotlight

y olanda CasCiaro was a second-year student when she walked out into the reception area to greet her newest clinical patient as part of her Massage Therapy

for Special Populations course. She knew she would be treating a person who had special needs—someone with a chronic illness, recovering from surgery or with a deteriorating condition—and she knew she would need to document her experience in a case report to present data about her assessment and treatment.

What Yolanda didn’t yet know was that writing that case would eventually take her to Pittsburgh to receive a gold medal and present at the 2015 American Massage Therapy Association’s national conference in August.

ADDING TO A NEW AND GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH

MASSAGE FOuND TO REDuCE TREMORS

Yolanda’s patient had Parkinson’s disease, which affects the way people move and gets progressively worse over time.

“When I did some research on Parkinson’s, I found that it wasn’t well represented in the literature for massage therapy,” says the alumna, who graduated from the program in June 2014. “My patient’s disease was advanced, so she had a walker and was dealing with pain from the rigidity and spasms that come with the disease. She was receiving treatment for that, and for this patient, massage therapy was more about respite—a chance to come and have a relaxing treatment and a break from her regular treatments and physiotherapy exercises.”

Yolanda’s careful notes revealed that over the course of several one-hour massage therapy treatments, the severity of her patient’s tremors was reduced, and she decided that would be the focus of her case study. Impressed with her case report, her faculty members submitted it to the American Massage Therapy Association’s annual competition.

Today research is part of Yolanda’s everyday life—she’s currently working part-time as a massage therapist while studying for a master’s degree in rehabilitation science at the University of Alberta.

Her gold medal win is the university’s third award in as many years—students in 2012 and 2013 were awarded bronze medals—and proof that the cases are an important part of the Massage Therapy program.

“for this patient, massage therapy was more about respite—a break from her regular treatments and physiotherapy exercises.”

Massage Therapy student wins gold medal in North American case competition

By Michelle Woodard

Yolanda Casciaro

a rt is a significant part of our human experience. The art we have in our homes reveals something

about us as individuals, and in that same way, public art reflects the identity of a city and its people.

So making public art part of the learning experience of MacEwan’s past and present Fine Art students is a no-brainer. Here are just a few

How fine Art students And Alumni Are tAking Art beyond tHe gAllery

By Rachelle Foss

24 | WINTER 2015/16

ways the work of our students and alumni can be seen throughout the city, contributing to the landscape and enhancing and celebrating the community.

ENGAGING ART

Earlier this year, MacEwan students took part in the Flying Canoe Festival, which recognizes the intermingling of French-Canadian and First Nations cultures. The students created magical displays along the pathway in Mill Creek Ravine, while learning about working with surrounding neighbourhoods. This type of public engagement is an important aspect of student learning, according to Leslie Sharpe, chair and associate professor of the Fine Art program.

“We don’t just send students to galleries, we educate them as to how they can be part of the community,” Leslie explains.

Another example of passionate engagement is a past collaboration between the university and the Stony Plain Business Association, organized by former sculpture instructor Agnieszka Matejko, where student art displays were placed in and around local businesses. The partnership recently culminated in graffiti-inspired graphics painted on buildings to brighten up alleyways.Flying Canoe Festival

Within the areas of the MacEwan and NAIT LRT stations, student-designed bike racks are enlivening the daily commute using a piece of city landscape usually overlooked.

DYNAMIC PuRSuITS

However, MacEwan students aren’t the only ones making their mark in the community. Artist and alumna Brenda Draney is creating a feature installation piece, along with four new paintings, for the new Centre for Arts and Culture. The “Trapline” project is another example of how art both celebrates and commemorates culture and history.

MacEwan alumni are dynamic—not only actively working as professional artists but also championing fields like public art. Alumnus Robert Harpin, also a successful local artist, is a public art officer with the Edmonton Arts Council.

How fine Art students And Alumni Are tAking Art beyond tHe gAllery

By Rachelle Foss


“Public art changes people’s perceptions of location,” he explains, “and if done right, can be a really good source for a gathering point. I have a small sense of pride when it comes to having had a small hand in creating part of the city’s landscape.”

The level of passion and involvement by alumni has contributed to Edmonton’s vibrant and expanding Arts District, as graduates remain staunch supporters of the local scene and actively work with—and from within—local arts organizations. The results of the expansion will benefit students—and the public—once the Centre for Arts and Culture opens its doors in Fall 2017.

Flying Canoe Festival

Collaboration with the Stony Plain Business Association

“Still Life” at the MacEwan LRT station

26 | WINTER 2015/16

Get Close

Combat photographer and photojournalist Robert Capa once said, “If your photos aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” He died stepping on a landmine while documenting the Vietnam War, making the statement painfully ironic, but not untrue. Get closer. Don’t be shy. Follow your instincts.

I did. This photo might look like a shot from an old western movie, but it’s actually two men in deep conversation at a McDonald’s restaurant. I wanted the image and I knew it would be perfect, but I couldn’t get the shot from where I was sitting—even using my zoom. So I got out of my chair and approached the table. They didn’t even notice until I approached them afterwards, and I was glad I made the extra effort.

Go into the light

A few years ago, I read The Digital Photography Book three-part series by Scott Kelby. I was struck by how Kelby encouraged his readers to think about light the way his friend and landscape photographer Bill Fortney does. Fortney says the single most important thing in a photo isn’t the subject, but the quality of light. Always find great light first—sunrises, sunsets, overcast days or through windows—and then start looking for your subject.

BEYONDhoW To MAkE YoUR

SMARTphoNE phoToS STELLAR

By Brock Kryton

Smartphone photography has really taken off, and the technology in those built-in cameras is improving all the time. Here are five quick and easy tips that will significantly improve your smartphone pics.

BEFORE AFTER

Selfie

BEFORE

AFTER


Carpe diem

Don’t tell yourself you’ll get the shot later. You won’t. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve regretted not taking a shot in the moment. Spectacular or not, large or miniscule—if it sparks something in you, take the photo now. Remember that capturing a great photo sometimes involves sacrifice. Don’t let anything stop you.

I was travelling down the highway late one autumn evening as the sun was setting, and a fog was rising in the field I drove by. I saw a lone, naked tree in the middle of the field being consumed by the looming darkness. I quickly pulled over and took the shot. I’m thankful I did.

Don’t settle. Edit.

There are so many ways to enhance your photos to give them more character, emphasize details and evoke emotion. There are countless third-party apps you can use to bring out more detail in the shadows, add contrast and clarity, or play with filters. Two of my favourites are Snapseed and Phoster.

I was teaching a class one day and one of my students was wearing rubber boots. They had an innate hipster-ish appeal and I knew that with a little tweaking—increasing the brightness, adding a grunge filter and lens blur—it would be a photo worth sharing.

Get prints

Never print your pics? Bad idea. Make a book and share your work. Most smartphones have eight-megapixel cameras, high enough resolution to print your photos as big as 20 by 30 inches. Instagram fan? Try using the Chatbooks app that automatically compiles and sends you a book in the mail for every 60 images you post.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

28 | WINTER 2015/16

c olleCtive efforts go a long way to making great things happen. At MacEwan University, that means

creating opportunities for students, whether in the form of scholarships and bursaries or a new building to support academic programming. No one understands this quite like the university’s Alumni and Development team, whose executive director, Amelia Canto Ellis, is committed to bringing people together in ways that make those great things happen.

“What we really want to promote is the knowledge that this institution is here in the city to help you. It’s going to be there for you at every stage of your career and hopefully every stage of your life. It’s a place that we hope will be part of your family for generations.”

Here she talks about how individual donations can come together to make a huge impact and why community giving is vital to supporting the learning experience at MacEwan.

What do alumni need to know about giving at MacEwan?

The growth that MacEwan will be able to undertake now and in the future depends on funding, largely apart from any sort of

government funds.

Government and public funding, which is generous and always greatly appreciated, only gets the institution so far when it involves developing new programs or capital projects, like campus expansions or other major construction. We look to people outside of the public sector for support. And every bit of that support makes a big difference.

What are MacEwan’s funding priorities?

The most visible funding priority right now is the new Centre for Arts and Culture. Even though the current west-end building has served us well, it’s older

and needs to be upgraded significantly. Students in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications (FFAC) will also benefit from a closer connection to the City Centre Campus community, including

w i t h A M E L I A C A N T O E L L I S

better access to amenities, courses and the cross-pollination that will happen between the folks in FFAC and the other faculties.

That, by far, is the highest priority, but we have an ongoing need, of course, for student aid. We still don’t have the level of funding in the student aid area—and for FFAC students, in particular—that we would like to have.

Considering Alberta’s current economic situation, what are some fundraising challenges?

There is a lot of uncertainty—and it’s enough to make people pause before making a donation. Individuals may feel

the need to wait and see what happens with the economy before making a decision, and that is a challenge for us. There is considerable urgency around getting the funding for this building—and we’ll need those funds in place very soon, while the building is being constructed.

However, we in the funding field are optimistic folks by nature and know there are people willing to support our students or a worthwhile project like the Centre for Arts and Culture.

By Stephanie Sparks

H o w G i v i n g B a c k M A K E S A N I M PA C T


other institutions to come here and finish their degrees more than any other post-secondary institution in the province right now. Offering an outstanding learning experience that attracts people to this university is something that we’ve worked hard to be able to do.

By far, the most important feature of any gift is being able to contribute to that student experience, and that can mean a lot of things depending what faculty you’re in. It may be about equipment, space, scholarships or programming. But at the end of the day, any contributions that are made here will make the learning experience a better one.

Aside from economic uncertainty, why might some people be reluctant to donate to a building when they could donate to students?

Sometimes it’s unclear to people how a building can help students, but that’s ultimately what it does. A new building

will facilitate the best learning experiences—we’ll be able to take advantage of new technology, offer inspiring spaces and further encourage and build relationships with the arts sector.

The whole experience is important to MacEwan and it’s always been a strength and a priority for us. The new building will allow us to be able to continue that great experience for people who come here.

MacEwanBookstore.com

FEELING NOSTALGIC?

Alumni hoodies now available at

the mstore.

Why should people donate to this building?

We can’t overstate the importance of the impact FFAC has on Edmonton and the province. For decades, the faculty has populated Alberta’s arts sector with so

many talented and creative individuals, and its part in developing and maintaining the sector is well recognized. The new building will enable us to continue that great work.

How are donations to MacEwan used (i.e., where does the money go)?

It’s all about the student learning experience. The money from donations goes to students. People transfer out of

T h e m o st i m po rta n t feat u r e o f a n y g i ft i s

b ei n g a b le to c o n t r i b u t e to t h at st u d en t ex p er i en c e .

GOOD

GOOD

IS

In the

for buSIneSS?

DoInG

W o r LD

BuilDinG Businesses

with a sOcial cOnscienceBy Michelle Woodard

30 | WINTER 2015/16

I n business, the bottom line has traditionally been the ultimate truth-teller. Want to know whether a company is successful? Look to its profits

and margins. Is a business owner or CEO doing a good job? Check the balance sheet.

But for many businesses and business owners, the measures of success go beyond dollars and cents—making a positive impact in their community, on the environment or around social issues. That can translate into a double, or even triple, bottom line for some organizations, allowing them to tell a different kind of success story.

“The question in business schools 20 years ago was ‘is doing good work in the world good for business?’” says Associate Professor Leo Wong, School of Business, MacEwan University. “Back then it was an academic debate with very little evidence, but now there is a lot of research that shows when businesses invest in socially and environmentally responsible practices, they financially outperform businesses that don’t.”

Today, it’s no surprise to see companies like Microsoft with strong corporate citizenship statements addressing everything from human rights and environmental sustainability, to responsible sourcing and accessibility. Not every entrepreneur has the financial wherewithal to establish the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so the spectrum is broad when it comes to social responsibility.

If Microsoft is on one end, you might find a company like Flatter: Me Belts, whose owner is a regular guest speaker in Leo’s business classes, closer to the other. Claire Theaker-Brown is purposeful in paying higher wages to her small team of Shanghai tailors, improving lives in her adopted city.

“When you aim to make a difference as a business, it costs you in the short term, but over a period of time you develop a sense of goodwill, reputation, a loyal customer following and employees who like working for you,” says Leo. “It’s just a matter of varying degrees of how much and the approach companies take.”

While many entrepreneurs might start their business with some element of social responsibility, others can only be described as all-in. Earth Group’s founders are also regular guests in Leo’s class. The Edmonton-based company sells coffee, tea and water with the sole purpose of giving back to those in need—100 per cent of its net profits go to the United Nations World Food Program.

It’s this particular breed of entrepreneur that fascinates Etayankara (Murli) Muralidharan, assistant professor in the School of Business. His research is all about figuring out what makes entrepreneurs with a social agenda tick.

“There are businesspeople out there who place social action at the core of their business—far ahead of profit—whether they’re working to eradicate poverty, increase literacy levels or any other social activity,” he says. “At a society level, we need these people who come into business with a larger scheme of things in mind.”

for buSIneSS?

DoInG

W o r LD

BuilDinG Businesses

with a sOcial cOnscienceBy Michelle Woodard


— Etayankara (Murli) Muralidharan

So he’s wading through data in huge international databases, looking to uncover the factors that lead people to become social entrepreneurs. It’s work he’s excited to do and enthusiastic about bringing back into his classroom—in part because of the subject matter, but also because of the reception he’s confident he’ll get from students.

“When I talk about my own research and experience with social enterprise in my marketing and international business courses, the reception is positive and students are interested. It’s a huge difference from the year I spent teaching in the U.S. If I started talking about social responsibility there, students would tune out. They weren’t grounded in it the way students at MacEwan are.”

CHANGING THE FACE OF BuSINESS EDuCATION

The grounding Murli speaks of begins in the very first mandatory business course students at this university take, BUSN 201: Introduction to Sustainable Business.

“A lot of business schools are playing with the idea of integrating an element of social responsibility, sustainability and ethics into business education, but it tends to be done as a fourth-year elective and not integrated throughout the school,” explains Leo, who is beginning to research the impact that a focus on sustainability will have on students’ personal and professional decisions. “At MacEwan, we’ve said at a leadership level that we want to integrate social responsibility into our approach and we’ve started doing it strategically in a student’s very first year.”

Introducing social sustainability early, however, doesn’t mean everyone is on side—and Leo says that’s just fine.

“In large, first-year courses like Business 201, it’s not unusual to see polarized opinions, and that healthy debate is valuable. We see students coming out of this course saying that it opened their eyes—that they want to pursue social enterprise as a serious option, but there’s no pressure to adopt any particular belief here. We’re presenting information about what are best practices and what’s being done. Students need to understand it, and then decide if they agree.”

Whether they leave inspired to make a social impact or not, graduates will be equipped to think strategically about a company’s missions and values, and how they align with the values of their customers and other stakeholders.

“We’re not just graduating corporate citizens,” says Murli. “We’re graduating responsible corporate citizens who understand the implications of the decisions they will make.”

At A SocIety LeveL, We neeD theSe peopLe Who come Into buSIneSS WIth A LArGer Scheme of thInGS In mInD.”


32 | WINTER 2015/16


t he sound level in the City Centre Market in Building 6 is clamorous. Gaggles of young people are walking,

talking and texting simultaneously; laptops compete for table space with brightly coloured water bottles and Starbucks cups. It is a very different scene from when I started taking classes, back when the school was known as Grant MacEwan College.

Tim Hortons and Pizza 73 are the only food vendors familiar to me. Everything else has changed.

Nathan Richuk, director of Food Services for Aramark’s Higher Education division, says franchise familiarity is necessary when feeding nearly 20,000 full- and part-time students every year at MacEwan University, but where familiarity is welcome, so too is change. Finding a balance between what is known and what is new is something that MacEwan’s Food Services takes into account when considering the needs

MacEwan University’s food scene is changing with the times

By Twyla Campbell

and wants of students who come from every culture of Canada and beyond.

“In order to take food service in a new direction, change was inevitable,” says Susan Cooper, coordinator, Hospitality Services. “The university needed to be responsive to food trends. Students are sophisticated with sophisticated and varied palates.”

STuDENTS THESE DAYS

Vegan. Vegetarian. Gluten-free. Local. Artisanal.

Type in any of those words into the newly launched MacEwanEats.ca and a list of on-campus food vendors pops up to display who is serving what. Students these days have a whole new dialogue when it comes to food and they’re not shy to ask questions. “It’s important,” says Nathan, “that every food vendor knows the answers to these questions.”

Authentic Thai and Laotian food is what customers can expect from Lan’s Asian Grill.

Owner Monica Lan says the best part of being on the campus is introducing staff and students to food of her culture. In response to concerns regarding food allergies and vegetarian item requests, she has adapted to meet her customers’ needs.

uNIquELY MACEWAN APPROACH

The university found that the way to a student’s heart is through local food, including food trucks. Filistix, in its fourth year of operating out of the Robbins Health Learning Centre, and S’wich, in its second year, were recently named two of the top five food trucks in Edmonton.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more vocal food advocate and pedigreed chef than Kathryn Joel, who received her training from Le Cordon Bleu in London. Kathryn is the owner of Get Cooking—a hybrid cooking school and café in the Residence building. Her unique sandwiches, gourmet salads and baked goods rival those found in any Edmonton restaurant.


34 | WINTER 2015/16

WHY FOOD CHOICE MATTERS

Does locally sourced, healthy, sustainably raised food matter? Several students I spoke with, three of whom were digging into fresh fruit trays and a bowl of Lan’s Tom Yum pho, said eating healthy foods gets them through the rigours of school work, and knowing what goes into the dishes directly impacts their food choices.

“Alternatives are key,” says Nathan. “We look at this as taking a holistic approach where everyone matters: every student, every athlete, every business.”

Residence students attend a cooking class at Get Cooking


WHAT’S IN STORE?

The future of food at MacEwan is about to get very personal. While familiar franchises will always have a presence, Nathan envisions modular spaces that will see vendors changing out depending on what’s hot on the food scene. There will be more options to personalize dishes, and students’ voices will continue to be heard.

“We need to change with what the students want,” adds Susan.

According to what’s on offer at the City Centre Market, students’ needs are vast and varied. If parents worry about what their child is going to eat now that they’re out on their own, they need not. From perogies to beef vindaloo, lasagna to Korean barbeque, these dishes are made on-site, from scratch and with fresh ingredients. The kids will be just fine.

the university found that the way to a student’s heart is through local food, including food trucks.

CALLING ALL ALuMNI

Next time you’re in the neighbourhood, stop by for lunch and see what’s new on MacEwan’s evolving culinary scene; it might make you feel like a student again, and a well-fed one, at that.

“In order to take food service in a new direction, change was inevitable.”

— Susan Cooper, coordinator, Hospitality Services

Lex Boldireff from S’wich preps an artisinal sandwich

36 | WINTER 2015/16

Volunteer experience is highly valued by employers because it demonstrates your commitment to a specific cause, continuity and loyalty. It creates another layer in your candidate profile, providing insight into what is important to you and what inspires you to get involved in your community.

Karly Gerlach is an employer relations specialist with MacEwan University Career Services.

If you have questions regarding this topic or any

career-related questions you would like answered,

please email [email protected] with “Career Corner”

as the subject line.

o ur graduates are everywhere in the community and it’s not surprising to meet fellow

MacEwan alumni at various volunteer events or committees throughout the city and beyond. Because there are so many compelling causes to choose from, it’s difficult to decide how to spend your personal time and how to communicate your volunteer experience to employers. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1) Choose wisely: When screening volunteer opportunities, aim to find the perfect combination of passion and talent. That means finding something you care about while developing desired skills that are in line with your career goals.

2) Be specific: Don’t list all of the volunteer work that you have ever done. Only list the relevant experiences that complement the position you are applying for. You may choose to share more about your involvement if time allows during the interview.

GIFTS OF TIME

3) Research: If you are applying to an organization, take note of connections it may have to a specific cause or charity. You may want to highlight any similar volunteer involvement on your resumé to demonstrate that your values align with those of the organization.

4) Tailor your resumé: Instead of expressing your passion for the cause and how much you enjoyed giving back, focus on the relevant skills you were able to develop or hone during the volunteer position.

5) Consider positioning: Placement of your volunteer experience on your resumé depends on relevancy to the position you are applying to and how much relevant professional experience you have. For example, a new graduate may not have as much paid work experience in a particular field so the focus would be on your relevant volunteer experience and education.

What volunteer work on your resumé says to potential employers

By Karly Gerlach

Here are a few good resources wHen looking for volunteer opportunities:

1) volunteeralberta.ab.ca

2) charityvillage.com

3) idealist.org

4) volunteeredmonton.com

5) volunteer.ca

the CAREER CORNER

Support our Centre for ArtS AnD Culture

W

Visit Macewan.ca/Alumni to save your seat * Seats are limited and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information please call 780-497-4679.

Save Your SeatMacEwan University continues to make an impact on its community with the building of its new Centre for Arts and Culture, opening in 2017.

With your donation of $500, your name, or the name of someone you would like to honour, will be acknowledged on a seat in the proscenium theatre or the recital hall.

S horter days and less sunlight tend to send most of us into hibernation mode. And when our

moods darken, warm comfort food that packs on the pounds can seem irresistible. But if you want to keep or get fit, winter might just be your new best friend. New research is showing cold weather—particularly exercising in it—has some pretty interesting health benefits.

FITNESS feature

COLD WEATHER TuRNS BAD FAT GOOD AGAIN

“Brown fat” is the heat-producing, calorie-burning fat that babies need to regulate their body temperatures. Most of it disappears with age, often being replaced with white fat—the bad stuff—that can up the risk of health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

But a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that being active outdoors in cold weather can burn an extra 108 calories. Researchers also found that when you stay in the cold longer, your body can start converting white fat to brown.

RuN TO THE LIGHT

Sunny winter skies are definitely reason to celebrate spending the coldest season of the year in Edmonton. That coveted sunlight can help improve your mood and prevent or reduce seasonal affective disorder (SAD). How? Sunlight makes your body release endorphins, and those endorphins trigger dopamine and serotonin—our happy hormones. So make sure to head outside and soak up some rays on the shorter winter days.

Unless you’re a Game of Thrones fan, winter isn’t exactly the most exciting time of year.

By Marc Britten and Amy Kemp

38 | WINTER 2015/16


STAY CLOSE TO HOME

If you don’t have equipment to work out at home, get a membership at a fitness facility in your neighbourhood, or look for nearby parks and trails. Try setting up your own winter boot camp, or just go for a walk with your dog, or a run in the snow—stepping and running on uneven surfaces burns more calories. Make sure to choose shoes with deeper treads or invest in some spikes, run slower and with shorter strides, avoid hills and get out before the powder turns into hard-packed ice.

GET SOME HELP

If you don’t know where to begin with a workout plan, getting a fitness assessment is a good place to start. Signing up for classes you enjoy or playing sports can help motivate you when you would really rather cuddle up under a blanket.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LIVING IN A WINTER CITY

Outdoor rinks and tobogganing hills are generally community staples in northern cities. Whether you’re single, married or introducing sports and outdoor fun to your kids, taking part in seasonal activities like skating, hockey, tobogganing, snowshoeing, building a snowman and having a snowball fight will help you keep active and increase your brown fat during the winter.

BE A SNOW ANGEL

Grab your shovel and lend a hand while getting a great workout. Shovelling can burn around 400 calories an hour, so when you’re done your driveway, keep the workout going by helping your neighbours.

Even though the mercury is lower, the same rules apply.

• Don’tskipyourwarmup—preparingyourlungsforthecold by warming up inside and then outside is always a good idea. It can make your workout more efficient and keep you from getting chilled to the bone.

• Drinkwater—youmightnotnoticeyou’resweatingasmuchin the cold, so don’t wait until you’re thirsty.

• Makesuretocooldown—takeafewminutesonceyou’re inside again (and before you pour the hot chocolate) to stretch the muscles you used to help reduce soreness.

Marc Britten is the marketing manager for MacEwan University Sport and Wellness and previously worked with the Students’ Association. He graduated from MacEwan’s Journalism program in 2000.

Amy Kemp has a Bachelor of Physical Education and is certified with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiologists as a certified personal trainer. She specializes in training individuals with weight management goals and anyone looking for a fun and challenging workout.

Ways to embrace yoUr Winter WorkoUt

MacEwan.ca/SportandWellness

• Free fitness and aquatic classes• Highly qualified trainers• Complimentary parking

OPEN TOTHE PUBLIC

TomSport and Wellness Member

Sport and Wellness offers everything thatI need—large fitness

area, appropriate equipment and an

amazing staff that’s always willing to help.

40 | WINTER 2015/16

2. PLAN A REuNION

Get up-to-date news about your faculty, connect with friends and expand your professional network. Class, program and club reunions are typically organized and led by volunteers. Michelle says that while there isn’t a standard format, Alumni Relations and Services can share best practices from past reunions and help get you on the right track.

3. CREATE AN ALuMNI CHAPTER

Want to connect with alumni in a particular city? Or who share a special interest? Or who are on the same career track? Start an alumni chapter. Several already exist or have volunteers looking for members. Visit MacEwan.ca/Alumni and select Get Involved to see which chapters are already in the works, or email [email protected] to start your own.

4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OuR OPEN-DOOR POLICY

Stop by Griffins Landing, our new athletics-themed store at City Centre Campus, to sport your Griffins gear at a game (home games are free for alumni—check out the schedule at MacEwan.ca/Athletics).

“Theatre productions and music performances are also a great way to support our students and enjoy a night out,” says Michelle. “This year, we staged Nice Work If You Can Get It in October, are presenting Curtains in February and Heathers The Musical in April.” Tickets are available through tixonthesquare.ca.

Or maybe you’re looking to let off a little steam. Sport and Wellness memberships for alumni are discounted—so your alma mater can also be your new favourite spot for a swim or a workout.

5. COME TO ALuMNI EVENTS

If you need a more concrete reason to come back, Michelle suggests alumni events. “We’d love to see you at any and all of our family events, Griffins games and professional development workshops,” she says.

6. PAY IT FORWARD

Were you fortunate enough to benefit from a bursary or scholarship? Are you interested in finding out how you can help set up someone else for success? Contact Alumni Relations and Services to find out how.

“We’re always looking for new ways to get our alumni involved and engaged in what’s happening on campus, so if there are things you want, please let us know,” says Michelle.

Check out MacEwan.ca/Alumni to see the many ways you can connect with Alumni Relations and Services.

ASK the EXPERT

Michelle Stevenson is big on community. The new director of Alumni Relations and Services spent years working in community relations and is even a MacEwan alumna herself (Public Relations, 2000), so when it comes to getting involved in the alumni community and reconnecting with your MacEwan roots, we knew she would have some good ideas to share. She didn’t let us down.

1. VOLuNTEER

Michelle began listing the different ways alumni could volunteer and almost didn’t know where to stop.

“There are a number of ways alumni can get involved in helping potential students understand the MacEwan experience and where an education here can lead. Volunteer at Open House, or help the next generation of students start off on the right foot at Residence Move-In and New Student Orientation,” she says.

Not to mention fundraising events, Career Week and the Convocation ceremonies in the spring or fall. “There’s nothing like seeing graduates cross the stage at the Winspear Centre,” she says. “It’s an emotional experience and one that alumni, regardless of the program, always enjoy.”

The bottom line? If you have time, energy, expertise and passion to give, we would love to help you do just that. If you’re interested in learning more about any of the following volunteer opportunities, email [email protected].

YOuR ALMAMATER MATTERS

6 ways you can get involved in the MacEwan University community

By Michelle Woodard

VoLUNTEERoppoRTUNITY

WhEN IT hAppENS

WhEN WE Look FoR VoLUNTEERS

Career Week

open house

Residence Move-In

New Student orientation

Fundraising events

Spring Convocation

Fall Convocation

September

November

August

September

ongoing

June

November

July

August

July

July

ongoing

April

September


Nicole BlommeBachelor of Commerce, ’15

in ONE WORD

one food that you would never give up

Pasta

favorite day of the week

Friday

last downloaded song

Renegades by X Ambassadors

dream vacation

Beach

sunrise or sunset

Sunset

make your bed each morning?Perhaps

guilty pleasure

The Bachelor

one superpower you wish you had

Flying

favourite childhood television show

Arthur

my macewan experience in one word

Growth

NicoleBlomme’sfirstjobafterfinishingherdegreedidn’tchangehercommute one bit. The recent Bachelor of Commerce grad is an employer relations assistant with Career Services, where she spends her time promoting job opportunities for MacEwan University students and helping to plan and schedule career-related events.

Projet : Annonce MMI 2015

Client : TD Assurance

Dossier # : 12-MM9516-15_MMI.AL1.EN•gmu(7.25x5)

Province : Alberta

Publication : M Alumni News

Format : 7.25 x 5

Couleur : Quad

Épreuve # : 1

Date de tombée : 02/10/2015

Graphiste : Marie-Josée Proulx

Hamelin-Martineau Inc. • 505, boul. de Maisonneuve O, Bureau 300 • Montréal (Québec) H3A 3C2 • T : 514 842-4416 C : [email protected]

ATTENTION : MERCI DE VÉRIFIER ATTENTIVEMENT CETTE ÉPREUVE AFIN D’ÉVITER TOUTE ERREUR/PLEASE CHECK THIS PROOF FOR ERRORS

Ask for your quote today at 1-888-589-5656 or visit melochemonnex.com/gmu

Chart the best course for your life in the years ahead.

Start with preferred insurance rates.

The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services Inc. in Quebec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, Montreal (Quebec) H2P 1B6.Due to provincial legislation, our auto and recreational vehicle insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan.

*Average based on the home and auto premiums for active policies on July 31, 2014 of our Alberta clients who belong to a professional or alumni group that has an agreement with us when compared to the premiums they would have paid with the same insurer without the preferred insurance rate for groups and the multi-product discount. Savings are not guaranteed and may vary based on the client’s profile.

® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

HOME | AUTO | TRAVEL

Supporting you... and MacEwan UniversityYour needs will change as your life and career evolve. As a MacEwan University alumnus, you have access to the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program, which offers preferred insurance rates, other discounts and great protection, that is easily adapted to your changing needs. Plus, every year our program contributes to supporting your alumni association, so it’s a great way to save and show you care at the same time. Get a quote today!

On average, alumni who have

home and auto insurance with us

save $725.* Home and auto insurance program recommended by

42 | WINTER 2015/16

HAVE NEWS TO

SHARE? Let your classmates know

what you have been up to

by sharing your stories and

successes in the CLASSifieds.

Submissions can be

sent by email to

[email protected]

High-resolution photos are

welcome and will be used

when space permits. We

reserve the right to edit

submissions for content,

length and clarity.

the CLASSifieds

ADD THESE FOUR LETTERS BEHIND YOUR NAME—

AND WATCH DOORS OPEN.SCMP

SCMA is the leading association for supply chain management professionals in Canada. SCMA Alberta grants the Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation and the Supply Management Training (SMT) diploma.

SCMP stands for Supply Chain Management Professional—and the demand is enormous. In Canada alone, 65,000 supply chain management recruits will be needed for new or vacant jobs every year. And in Alberta, all key industries—manufacturing, agriculture, energy, transportation—are in need of well-trained supply chain personnel at every level.

Contact SCMA Alberta today. It could be the first step of a smart new career.

E: [email protected] | T: 1.866.610.4089 | W: scmp.ca

THIS AD PREPARED BY: RYAN EDWARDS FILE NAME: SCMA_BRANDAD_VENTURE CLIENT: SCMA AB TRIM SIZE: 7.25" X 5" COLOURS: COLOUR

Joni Lumsden, Social Services Worker, ’78 After 20 wonderful years living in the County of Wetaskiwin, Joni and her husband recently moved to Welland, Ontario to spend more time with their family. Passionate about supporting her community, Joni volunteered her time with Alberta 4-H and was a Wetaskiwin District key leader for over 15 years. She turned her passion for sewing into making quilts for Quilts of Valour, a service that supports past and present Canadian Armed Forces members with quilts in times of need. Joni also served as a volunteer coordinator for Valour Place in Edmonton and looks forward to continuing her work in Ontario.

Paul Ledding, Music ’05 and Theatre Arts, ’02 Paul released an EP in 2014 and was recently nominated for the 2015 Edmonton Music Awards in two categories—Jazz Recording of the Year and People’s Choice.

Jillian Turanovic, Bachelor of Arts, ’09 Jillian recently received her PhD in criminology and criminal justice from Arizona State University. She has authored more than 15 publications, and her dissertation was awarded the Graduate Research Fellowship in the Social and Behavioral Sciences from the National Institute of Justice. Her current research examines victimization and offending over the life course, and the collateral consequences of incarceration. She joined the faculty in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University as an assistant professor in the fall of 2015.


a n artist himself, Robert Harpin knows that art offers more than something pretty to look at.

“Public art is meant to enhance a community, but it’s not just about aesthetics,” explains the Fine Art alumnus and public art officer with the Edmonton Arts Council. “Some pieces invite interaction, others inspire discussion. Almost always, art in the community is a way to interrupt the everyday, and give us something to pause and consider.”

Like the infamous and somewhat controversial Talus Dome on the Quesnell Bridge (you know, the pile of silver balls people can’t stop talking about). Or Immense Mode at the Southgate LRT Station (aka, the giant shoes). Or Vaulted Willow at Borden Park…one of Robert’s personal favourites.

“I especially love pieces that people can interact with,” he says. “Art that draws the community in gives us the opportunity to enjoy it in a way that moves beyond the visual.”

Robert is standing beside Still-Life by Studio F Minus, which sits at the MacEwan LRT Station.

art outSIDE thE Box

PHOTO finish

If undeliverable, please return to: Alumni Relations and Services, MacEwan University, City Centre Campus, P.O. Box 1796, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 2P2

PUBLICATION AGREEMENT #40063489

SCHOOL of

CONTINUINGEDUCATION

MacEwan.ca/CE

Free concerts, events, lectures

ARTS, DIGITAL MEDIA AND DESIGNBUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

CONSERVATORY OF MUSICENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

HEALTH AND WELLNESSMINERVA SENIOR STUDIESUNIVERSITY PREPARATION

CONTINUE TO EXPLORE

15% alumni discount on Business and Management coursesCall 780-497-5207 for details

MacEwan University

Documents

Transcript of MacEwan University