2

What does it mean to

SHINE?

1

It’s a glowing passion, for work and for play. It’s the spark

of creativity and discovery, and the burning desire to do. It’s

consistently raising the bar. It’s what more than 40,000 University

of Lethbridge alumni are doing every day.

So we’re asking you...

United by a shared experience and connected by our motto —

Fiat Lux, Let there be light — U of L alumni like you are

illuminating the world and we want to hear about it.

SHINE

2

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What does it mean to

Shine?

“To shine, to me, means to be committed to a cause, be engaged with like-minded individuals and to see that my time and abilities are making a positive difference.”

3

Janice Varzari [ BN ’90, MEd ’02 ]

A two-time U of L alumna, a U of L mom, Alumni Honour Society inductee and

an active Board and Senate member, Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02) is no

stranger to convocation. That being said, the Spring 2015 Convocation held

special meaning to Janice — and to the University of Lethbridge.

On May 28, 2015, Janice was officially installed as the U of L’s 13th chancellor.

She is the first U of L graduate to hold the position in the institution’s near

50-year history. “To be installed as chancellor, and then sit there and look at this

sea of students in their gowns, was a surreal and emotional experience,” she says.

“I was, and still feel, so absolutely honoured.”

As the University’s primary ambassador to the community, Janice will lead the Senate

and its more than 60 delegates as the University prepares for its next 50 years.

4

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“My parents were lifelong proponents of combining skills plus opportunities with hard work for the benefit of other people. I think people who do that shine.”

Dr. Jon Doan [ PhD ’06 ]

For the more than 110,000 Canadians living with

Parkinson’s disease, there is no known cause

or cure. Being able to manage their symptoms,

however, can make all the difference.

Alumnus and U of L researcher Dr. Jon Doan

(PhD ’06) is leading a multidisciplinary research

group that has teamed up to advance symptom

management strategies for people living with

Parkinson’s disease. They are taking their research

to ice rinks across Canada, using skating and

stickhandling skills as forms of therapy.

“When we tested people living with Parkinson’s,

we found they skated safely and skillfully at

significantly greater velocity than their walking

and with significantly bigger arm swing,”

explains Jon. “Most interestingly, when these

patients did some walking locomotion after an

episode of skating, they also walked significantly

faster than they did before the skating session.”

In addition to helping people with Parkinson’s

biologically and psychologically, the research has

social and emotional benefits. “If we can get

Parkinson’s patients, particularly those who are in

rural areas, to the rink for therapy, it puts them

in the hub of their community where they are

surrounded by active family and friends.”

6Watch the video: ulethbridge.ca/shine/jon

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7

How

man

y pe

ople

can

cla

im t

hey’

ve d

isco

vere

d a

new

din

osau

r sp

ecie

s? U

of

L al

umna

Wen

dy

Slob

oda

(BA

’0

1)

can,

an

d th

e w

endi

cera

tops

pi

nhor

nens

is

is

nam

ed

in

her

hono

ur.

From

War

ner,

Alta

., W

endy

is

a le

gend

ary

dino

saur

hun

ter.

This

pas

t su

mm

er,

she

mad

e in

tern

atio

nal

head

lines

whe

n th

e jo

urna

l ar

ticle

on

the

wen

dice

rato

ps w

as r

elea

sed

and

the

new

din

osau

r w

as

intr

oduc

ed t

o th

e w

orld

. Es

timat

ed t

o ha

ve l

ived

79

mill

ion

year

s ag

o, w

endi

cera

tops

is

cred

ited

with

inc

reas

ing

scie

ntis

ts’

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

sku

ll or

nam

enta

tion

evol

utio

n in

the

hor

ned

dino

saur

.

“It

is i

mpo

rtan

t be

caus

e it

ties

old

and

new

hor

ned

dino

saur

s to

geth

er,

kind

of

like

a m

issi

ng

link,

” sh

e ex

plai

ns.

Wen

dy h

as t

rave

lled

the

wor

ld o

n pa

laeo

ntol

ogic

al e

xped

ition

s, a

nd i

n 20

16,

she

will

ret

urn

to G

reen

land

. W

hile

oth

ers

mig

ht b

e da

unte

d by

the

tas

k of

sea

rchi

ng f

or f

ossi

ls

that

may

not

eve

n ex

ist,

Wen

dy c

ontin

ues

to b

e ex

cite

d by

the

pos

sibi

lity.

“W

hen

you

go o

ut a

nd

find

a fo

ssil,

you

’re

the

first

per

son

to e

ver

see

it an

d to

uch

it. I

t is

pre

tty

spec

ial

and

exci

ting.

”

Wendy Sloboda [ BA ’01 ]

“To shine is to make yourself stand out and be different. To make yourself needed. To work hard to achieve. To walk miles and miles to find dinosaurs. To go over and above. To be better. To be the best you can be.”

8

Read the full story: ulethbridge.ca/shine/wendy

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The road to a university degree is never easy, but

for Eddie Wolf Child, it was well worth the effort.

“I knew the way to a better quality of life for me

and my family was education,” says Eddie, who

began his studies at the U of L in 2008 in the First

Nations’ Transition Program.

From the Siksika Nation reserve, Eddie credits

his success to the support of his community,

his role models and his sheer, steadfast

determination. In 2014, he graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies

and in 2015 with a Bachelor of Education.

Eddie Wolf Child [ BA ’14, BEd ’15 ]

“When you’re confident and doing what you love, you shine. I’m shining when I’m teaching aboriginal studies to my students. They inspire me to be my best.”

“In life, we all go through struggles,” he says.

“But to overcome your struggles, you have to

put in the work.”

It’s a lesson he’s now passing on to his students

at Old Sun Community College. “I’m so happy

to be home in my community teaching my

people,” he says. And in just a few short

months, he’s already making a difference.

“At Sun College’s graduation, the valedictorian

said, ‘I would not be standing here today if it

wasn’t for Eddie Wolf Child.’ In that moment,

I knew, I’m really doing something.”

10

Read the full story: ulethbridge.ca/shine/eddie

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Watch the video: ulethbridge.ca/shine/paije

12

It was an a-ha moment that set Paije Ottoson’s life on a whole new trajectory.

“I remember sitting in my office one day and saying, ‘I just want to paint.’” Soon after, Paije

left her career in banking and set out on a new path, combining her education and business

background with her passion for art.

After months of planning and hard work (from conceiving the business plan right down to laying

the studio flow), Smudge Art Studio Inc. opened its doors in downtown Lethbridge. “As children,

we all create. Then, somewhere along the way, some of that gets lost,” Paije says. “When artists

come into Smudge, they can feel that inspiration again.”

In only 18 months, Smudge has attracted accolades including: the 2014 Lethbridge Chamber of

Commerce & BDC Business of the Year Award in New Venture/New Business; 2015 Best of the

Best in Best Place to Take the Kids; and 2015 Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge in the General

Stream category; and most importantly, is inspiring artists of all ages — including Paije.

Paije Ottoson [ BMgt / BEd ’04 ]

“When someone shines, they have a certain confidence to them —they are happy in what they are doing and with their life — and it’s contagious.”

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“For me, to shine means to shed light as a leader on the boundless opportunities that exist in business and in life. To give 100% in everything you do and pay back your good fortune whenever possible — and to inspire others to do the same. To leave this world better than you entered it.”

Anil Pereira [ BMgt ’87 ]

As a highly respected Silicon Valley entrepreneur, executive and advisor, Anil Pereira (BMgt ’87) has a unique vantage point on tomorrow’s

technology and business landscape. The founder and CEO of multiple startups, and former executive at VeriSign and American Express,

Anil now spends his time advising a select group of high-profile, early-stage ventures on multiple continents. As such, he has a glimpse

into the future like few others — and it’s a vision he’s sharing with today’s students at the University of Lethbridge. In addition to

serving as the senior advisor for the U of L’s new AGILITY innovation and entrepreneurship program, Anil makes his way back to campus

each semester to connect with students as an executive in residence in the Faculty of Management. He brings with him decades of

industry experience and connections, boundless energy and enthusiasm, and the latest innovations (like the virtual reality device he’s

been demonstrating in student-oriented workshops).

“I’m thrilled to be part of the U of L’s journey to build a true destination university for the 21st century,” says Anil. “A lot has changed since

I graduated 25-plus years ago. The Faculty of Management is thriving with engaged and enthusiastic students and AGILITY is destined

to become part of the new fabric of the University. It builds upon the U of L’s liberal-education foundation by integrating innovation into

programming across disciplines, helping students scale to new heights by preparing them for careers of the future.”

14

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Watch the video: ulethbridge.ca/shine/anil

Watch the video: ulethbridge.ca/shine/kim

15

“To shine — to me — means having a positive attitude, staying true to your values and beliefs as a person, and finding what fulfills you and gives you purpose.”

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16

As an undergraduate nursing student at the U of L, Kim Veldman (BN ‘14)

excelled in the classroom, on the court and in her community.

A first-team Canada West all-star and two-time winner of the Pronghorn

Female Athlete of the Year Award, Kim was also just the second women’s

basketball player in Horns history to win a CIS major award when she

earned the Sylvia Sweeney Award for excellence in basketball, academics

and community service.

“Being a Pronghorn had a huge effect on my life,” she says.

“The busier I was, the better grades I got.” Off the court, Kim

received hands-on experience working in rural hospitals during

her practicum and gave back to her young basketball fans as a

volunteer reading buddy.

Today, she’s a graduate student at the U of L and is working toward

a new goal: inspiring the next generation of nurses. “The ability to

help other students become great nurses is a dream of mine, and

I would like to become a clinical instructor of nursing students.”

Kim Veldman [ BN ’14 ]

17

The process of composing music is different for every

composer. For U of L alumnus Dr. Andrew Staniland

(BMus ’00), it’s a deeply solitary process. “I like to keep my

composition in my imagination as long as possible,” he

says. “Composing is really about creating a work of art.”

Considered one of the most influential musical voices of

our time, Andrew has amassed more than 100 national

and international performances of his work; garnered a

long list of awards and accolades; and represented Canada

at prestigious festivals in Poland, France and Hong Kong.

A rising star in both the worlds of music and academia,

Andrew is a professor of music and an innovative researcher

at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he is

inspiring a new generation of composers and musicians.

“In my experience, love and passion for creativity is totally

contagious, as is the pursuit of musical mastery,” he says.

“I was moved and inspired by my teachers who had these

traits, and in turn, I have the privilege of perhaps inspiring

others the same way through music and through teaching.”

“For me, to shine means to be fully present — not just in music, but in life.”

Dr. Andrew Staniland [ BMus ’00 ]

2015 Alumnus of the YearDo you know a shining U of L alumnus who should be recognized? Each year, the U of L

Alumni Association proudly recognizes the Alumnus of the Year and inducts members to

the Alumni Honour Society. Visit ulethbridge.ca/alumni for nomination details.

Watch the video: ulethbridge.ca/shine/andrew

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19

INSPIRINGLIGHTS

20

shine brighter.

We are a community of

inspiring lights, proving

that together people

really do

Pho

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aim

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s (B

FA ’0

9) P

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21

He

re a

re a

few

mo

re U

of L

a

lum

ni w

ho

are

brin

gin

g

insp

iratio

n to

co

mm

un

itie

s a

rou

nd

the

wo

rld.

1. M

anw

ar K

han

(BSc

’07)

Pub

lic-s

ervic

e em

ploy

ee w

hose

anti-

viole

nce

wor

k ea

rned

him

reco

gniti

on a

s one

of t

he R

BC

Top

25 C

anad

ian

Imm

igra

nts o

f 201

4 an

d Th

e G

over

nor

Gen

eral

’s C

arin

g C

anad

ian

Aw

ard.

Def

ende

r. A

dvoc

ate.

Her

o.

2. Ja

nelle

Prit

char

d (B

N ’1

2) F

ound

er, U

phill

Both

Way

s

Educ

atio

ns a

nd R

elie

f Fun

d, b

ringi

ng e

duca

tion

supp

lies a

nd

emer

genc

y su

pplie

s to

Nep

al. V

ision

ary.

Hum

anita

rian.

Frie

nd

of N

epal

. 3. D

ale

Ptyc

ia (B

ASc

’85)

Sr.

Man

ager

, Lice

nsin

g &

Mer

chan

disin

g, H

ocke

y C

anad

a. S

ports

ent

husia

st. C

oach

.

Prou

d Ca

nadi

an. W

atch

the

video

: ulet

hbrid

ge.ca

/shine

/dale

4. H

on. J

enni

fer C

ampe

au (B

Mgt

’08

) MLA

for S

aska

toon

Fairv

iew

. Com

mun

ity le

ader

. Men

tor.

Mot

her.

5. Je

sse

Nor

they

(BM

us ’1

3) O

wne

r, Je

sse

Nor

they

Pro

duct

ions

.

Mus

ician

. Pro

duct

ion

artis

t. En

trepr

eneu

r. 6.

Wen

dy C

. Fox

(BA

Sc (B

A) ’

71) 2

014

U o

f L A

lum

ni H

onor

ee S

ocie

ty In

duct

ee.

Care

er a

dviso

r. W

orld

trav

elle

r. Cu

lture

seek

er. R

ead

the

full

stor

y: u

lethb

ridge

.ca/sh

ine/w

endy

A fe

w a

lum

ni w

e’re

follo

win

g:

7. E

rika

Jahn

(BA

’08)

Cor

pora

te a

nd C

omm

unity

Dev

elop

men

t Man

ager

, Can

adia

n D

iabe

tes A

ssoc

iatio

n.

Volu

ntee

r. D

evot

ed n

ot-fo

r-pro

fit p

rofe

ssio

nal.

Chan

ge a

gent

.

Erik

a w

rites

on

ever

ythi

ng fr

om w

orki

ng in

the

not-f

or-p

rofit

indu

stry,

to h

ealth

and

rela

tions

hips

. Tw

itter

: @m

serik

ajah

n

8. M

ark

Reie

rson

(BM

gt ’1

1) C

anad

ian

portr

aitis

t. A

utho

r.

Stud

ent o

f hum

anity

. Che

ck o

ut M

ark’s

new

boo

k, E

xcus

e

Me,

May

I? (R

eflec

tions

of a

Stre

et P

ortra

itist

) Ins

tagr

am:

cana

dian

portr

aitis

t Tw

itter

:@m

arkr

eier

son

9. D

ez K

amar

a (B

A ’1

0) F

ilm d

irect

or /

prod

ucer

. Hum

an

right

s act

ivist

. Ant

hrop

olog

ist. C

atch

Dez

on

his r

adio

show

,

Dez

tinat

ion

Wor

ldw

ide,

Sat

urda

y m

orni

ngs a

t noo

n (C

ST) o

n

umfm

.com

, whe

re h

e pl

ays m

usic

from

aro

und

the

wor

ld a

nd

tack

les g

loba

l issu

es. T

witt

er: @

wor

ldbe

atde

z

1.

2.

DEFENDER

MENTOR

HUM

ANIT

ARIA

N

v i s i o n a r ymo

th

er

p r o u d - c a n a d i a n

p r o d u c t i o n - a r t i s t

v o l u n t e e r

h e r o

D I R E C T O R

ENTREPRENEUR

CAREER ADVISOR

change-agent

cultu

re-see

ker

anthropologist

s t u d e n t

ST

UD

EN

T

WO

RLD

-TR

AV

ELL

ER

AC

TIV

IST

PORTRAIT IST

MUSICIAN

COACH

PROFESSIONAL

FRIEND OF NEPAL

A U T H O RA D V O C A T E

Co

nn

ect

wit

h u

s: a

lum

ni@

ulet

h.ca

face

book

.com

/ULe

thbr

idge

Alum

Twitt

er: @

uLet

hbrid

ge

22

We saved this spot for you!

Share your story and stay connected with your alma mater and each other.

We will be sharing U of L alumni stories and updates regularly

on the U of L Alumni Facebook page.

6. 7.

9.

8.

4.

5.

3.

ulet

hbrid

ge.c

a/sh

ine/

dale

ulet

hbrid

ge.c

a/sh

ine/

wen

dy

Twitt

er: @

mse

rikaj

ahn

Twitt

er: @

wor

ldbe

atde

z

Twitt

er: @

mar

krei

erso

n In

stag

ram

: can

adia

npor

trai

tist

23

Post-graduation rally at Galt Garden in

downtown Lethbridge. May 1968.

Photo credit: University Archives

I

24

In 2017, the U of L will turn 50, and it will be a time

to once again come together and celebrate all we

have accomplished. Whether you were part of the

first graduating class or the class of 2015, you’re an

important part of the University’s history and an even

more important part of our future.

Stay up to date on the latest 50th anniversary news

and help us plan a year of celebrations. Send us

your event, story or initiative ideas.

In the 1960s, the community united to establish a university in southern Alberta.

Celebrating 50 years

Celebrate: ulethbridge.ca/50-years

25

J

26

Over the years, many individuals have been proud to call this university their own. As president of the University of Lethbridge Alumni Association, I am honoured to represent the more than 40,000 U of L alumni worldwide.

Sincerely,

Randy Kobbert [ BMgt ’86 ]

President, U of L Alumni Association

I hope you share my pride in our alma mater

and all we have accomplished so far. And on

the eve of our 50th anniversary, I hope you

know this is just the beginning.

As alumni, we play an important role in

the U of L’s story — we represent its past

and will help shape its future. Whether

you live in Lethbridge, or across the world,

there are many opportunities to connect

with your fellow alumni and deepen your

connection to our university. I encourage you

to connect with each other to celebrate the

achievements of your fellow alumni and the

success of our community.

Remember: big movements begin with small

acts. Connect with us on the U of L Alumni

Facebook page. Share your story and learn

more about the alumni who were featured in

this booklet by reading their full stories and

watching their videos. And most importantly,

let others know that you’re a U of L graduate,

and help spread the world about the

difference our university and fellow alumni

are making in communities around the world.

Together we

SHINE brighter.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 0040011662Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

University AdvancementUniversity of Lethbridge4401 University Drive W.Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4

ulethbridge.ca/shine