volume 25, no. 1 spring/summer 2013 The University of Regina Magazine

Vanity Fair’s Chris Dixon

While most prairie residents were cursing the harsh winter this year, some University of Regina international students from warmer climates were enjoying their first experience in the cold and snow. The Dr. Lloyd Barber Academic Green was actually very white in early March when students (left to right) Precious Onungwe from Nigeria, Penghui Dai from China and Debora Sakano from Brazil braved the cold to build their first snowman. There are about 1,500 international undergraduate and graduate students attending the U of R from more than 60 countries around the world. Photo by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 1 Welcome to the spring ’13 During his time at Adbusters, days at the U of R had on him Charrier admits his impressions edition of Degrees, the Dixon was responsible for beginning on page 28. of North Central were shaped magazine of the University the redesign and conceptual We also have the compelling by crime statistics and media of Regina. We have oodles of development of the magazine. story of alumna Denise Batters, reports, what he found was interesting and entertaining Twyla Smith of Adbusters says a recently appointed Canadian a people-centered, balanced stories shoehorned into this that when Dixon signed on in senator whose husband took community that bore little issue for your reading pleasure. 1997 that “he breathed life his own life in 2009. Batters is resemblance to the media- As the editor of Degrees I am into the design side of the a tireless advocate for mental constructed image of the area. fortunate to hear my share of magazine.” Dixon’s work at health research and treatment There’s also our regular wrap engaging tales about people Adbusters influenced scores and is using her national profile up of campus news, class notes associated with the U of R. It of designers around North to advance awareness of mental and so much more. never ceases to amaze me – America; it also set the stage for health issues in Canada. Her Remember, you’ll also find the incredible stories of the his ascent to the top of his field. story starts on page 22. Degrees posted on our website men and women who study, I must confess that email sat This issue also has a profile at: www.uregina.ca/external/ teach, and graduate from the in my story file for some years. of arts administrator Marian communications/publications/ University of Regina. Periodically I would revisit the Donnelly, an alumna who is degrees/index.html. If you This job is a dream come idea of pursuing the story but at the helm of a popular arts would prefer to view Degrees true for those of us who like to for one reason or another, ink centre in downtown Regina. She online rather than receive it in spend most of our professional never met page on the Chris also ran for mayor of Regina the mail, please contact us at lives chasing down stories that Dixon story. in 2012. In “Drive for five,” [email protected], or call we hope will inform, engage, That was until I checked you’ll read a remarkable story us at 306-585-4112 or toll-free entertain and resonate with up on the aforementioned about Chris Gbekorbu, who at 877-779-4723 and we will readers. As a coworker of mine Mr. Dixon last fall. Turns out will, yet again, walk across the remove you from the mailing used to say when I first stepped he was carving out quite the convocation stage this spring list. into the employ of the U of R, career for himself. So what was and receive his fifth University Please, keep your emails “There is no shortage of great any self-respecting magazine of Regina degree. That story and letters coming. Tell us stories around here.” editor to do? It was time to start begins on page 26. what we are doing right and let One of the great stories spreading the news. You see, it We’ve also got a story on us know where we can make that you’ll find in this edition turns out that Chris Dixon, class the Community Research improvements. Send us your of Degrees first came to my of 1991, can make it anywhere. Unit and the work the unit story ideas or just drop us a attention a number of years After all, he wakes up in that does in Regina’s North note and tell us what you’ve ago when I received an email city that never sleeps. By all Central neighbourhood, a been up to lately. You’ll find all from Michael Simons, a U of R accounts, he’s king of the hill, neighbourhood that was called our contact information on the graduate who suggested his top of the list, and even, head of Canada’s worst in a 2007 facing page. We look forward to friend and colleague, Chris the heap. Maclean’s magazine article. hearing from you and trust you Dixon, would make for a Dixon is the design director Accompanying the story are will enjoy reading this issue of worthy alumnus profile. Dixon of Vanity Fair, a magazine some of the photographs taken Degrees. had been the art director at with a global reputation and a by history professor Philip Adbusters, the influential circulation of nearly 1.2 million. Charrier who took his camera Greg Campbell Canadian anti-consumerism, You can read Dixon’s story and into the community in an effort Editor pro-environmental magazine. find out about the impact his to get to know it better. While

2 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Editor Greg Campbell BFA’85, BJ’95

Director, Communications and Marketing Anna Willey CPR’96

Alumni Association Board 2012-13:

Gwen Keith BEd’74, MEd’77, PGDEA’83, MEd’84 President

Richard Kies BAdmin’93, CPR’03 Past President

Jeff Maystruck BBA’08 First Vice President

Linda Dewhirst BA’75, MVTEd’04 The University of Regina Magazine Second Vice President spring/summer 2013 Margaret Dagenais CVTEd’87, BVTEd’91, Med’97, PHD’11 volume 25, no. 1 U of R Senate representative

Lisa King Bed’78, MAdmin’11 U of S Senate representative On the cover: U of R alumnus Chris Dixon BA’91 has one of the most prestigious Greg Swanson BAdmin’76 jobs in the magazine industry – he’s the design director of Vanity Fair magazine, Past-President Council representative the New York headquartered magazine with almost 1.2 million subscribers.

Nathan Sgrazzutti Photo by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department. URSU Representative

Kaytlyn Barber BBA’12 Don Burns BA’97, MPA’05 Scott Cheston CA’05, DIPBA’06, BBA’08, MCert’10 Bob Friedrich BA’76, CPSTST’07 Brian Hillier DDA’04, BA’04, MBA’09, MHRM’11 Jay Kirkland BA(Hons)’99 Curt Schroeder CA’96, CCS’03 George Smadu BEd’74, BA’80, PGDEA’88, Med’91, PhD’08

Contributors Terina Abrahamson Bill Armstrong 8 22 28 Sabrina Cataldo BA’97, BJ’99, CPR’04 Philip Charrier Emily Eaton Features Drive for five 26 Raquel Fletcher BA’12 Christopher Gbekorbu BA’01, Don Hall Trilby Henderson BAJ’05 The fine art of the BA(Hons)’01, MA’05, BSC’11 will BD Miller BA(Hons)’89, BJ’95 walk across this year’s spring Diane Mullan business of arts 8 Dianne Olmstead After a lifetime of practical convocation stage to receive his experience in the arts and a fifth degree or diploma from the All photos by The University of Regina University of Regina. And he has Photography Department unless U of R executive MBA, alumna otherwise noted. Original design and Marian Donnelly MBA’08 finds his eyes on a sixth. layout by Bradbury Branding and Design. herself right where she wants to Designs on a career Degrees is published twice a year by be – in the centre of the Regina External Relations at the University arts and culture scene. in New York 28 of Regina. The magazine is mailed to Vanity Fair’s design director alumni and friends of the University. Ideas and opinions published in Degrees The class of 2013 12 credits his U of R arts degree do not necessarily reflect those of the Meet this year’s honorary degree as one of his springboards to editor, the Alumni Association or the success. University of Regina. Letters and editorial recipients: Frank Flaman, Art contributions are welcome. Advertising Opseth and Linda Rankin BA’68. inquiries are invited.

To reach us: Community connections 16 departments The Faculty of Art’s Community Editorial/Advertising/Letters Feed Back 2 Degrees, External Relations Research Unit is taking the 210 North Residence, University of Regina University’s expertise to 3737 Wascana Parkway President’s Note 4 Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Regina communities. Regina’s Ph: (306) 585-4402 Fax: (306) 585-4997 North Central neighbourhood, Around Campus 5 E-mail: [email protected] once called Canada’s worst Spot Light 15 Address Change/Alumni Relations neighbourhood in a 2007 210 North Residence, University of Regina Maclean’s magazine article, has Focal Point 18 3737 Wascana Parkway been a major focus of the unit’s Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Ph: (306) 585-4112 Fax: (306) 585-4997 work. Alumni President E-mail: [email protected] Message 31 Toll-free: 877-779-4723 (GRAD) Never lose hope 22 (in Canada and the U.S.) 360 Degrees 32 In January, alumna Denise University of Regina homepage Batters BA’91 realized a lifetime www.uregina.ca Class Notes 36 ambition when she was Publication Mail Agreement Number appointed to the Canadian 40065347 Return undeliverable magazines to: Senate by Prime Minister External Relations Stephen Harper. Now, Batters 210 North Residence, University of Regina is using her national profile 3737 Wascana Parkway Regina, SK S4S 0A2 to bring awareness to mental health issues like those that led ISSN 0843-7092 to her husband’s suicide.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 3 President’s Note Spring is always one of my those with young families. which was recently expanded Health Region and Great Plains favourite times of the year This new facility will help our and re-opened, provides a College results in eight new at the University of Regina. University, and our province, range of services which support students each year beginning The excitement begins with remove some of those barriers. new students in making a this fall. convocation in June, when we Our University community is successful transition to post- On the research front, we celebrate the achievement of increasingly diverse. We have secondary education. recently announced the renewal 1,875 graduates – the largest seen a 22 per cent increase in One of the goals in the of two Canada Research Chairs. convocation in U of R history. the number of international University’s strategic plan Christine Chan, a Tier 1 Canada Congratulations to all our new students compared to last mâmawohkamâtowin: Research Chair in Energy and alumni who join a family of year, and our campus is Our Work, Our People, Our Environmental Informatics, has almost 62,000 University of benefiting greatly from the Communities is to build been renewed for a seven-year Regina graduates. many languages, cultures, and relationships with First Nations term worth $1.4 million to This summer will be backgrounds represented. communities. I recently returned support her work. Christine is a especially busy around the Currently, the University of from a tour of Saskatchewan’s professor in Software Systems U of R campus. We recently Regina has more than 1,000 northern communities where Engineering, and conducts broke ground on a $73.7 million registered undergraduate I announced a new $1,000 research into developing and construction project for a new internationalNot studentsyet from updated entrance scholarship to applying artificial intelligence student residence, child-care more than 60 countries. Equally be awarded annually to technology in energy and facility and underground impressive is the growing one student from each of environmental systems. parkade. The project consists number of international Saskatchewan’s 74 First Christopher Yost, a Tier 2 of two, 14-storey towers with a students pursuing master’s and Nations. The Honouring our Canada Research Chair in five-storey connecting link, and doctorate degrees. Presently, Future Entrance Bursary will Microbes, the Environment and two five-storey residence wings. there are 440 international provide additional support for Food Safety, has been renewed Scheduled to be completed graduate students, an increase new Aboriginal undergraduate for five years for $500,000. by fall 2015, it will be located of 15 per cent over the January students starting this fall. Chris is an associate professor east of the Language Institute 2012 term. Making post-secondary of Biology, and conducts and will provide an additional We are also attracting education more accessible molecular-based research to 605 on-campus beds, 90 new ever-increasing numbers of for Aboriginal students in identify new approaches to day-care spaces, and 150 Aboriginal students to the Saskatchewan is of vital reduce microbial threats to underground parking stalls. University. The number of importance to the province’s food production and protect This initiative is jointly self-declared undergraduate future. Canadians from food-borne funded by the Government Aboriginal students at the U of R Saskatchewan is illness. of Saskatchewan and the has increased by 15 per cent experiencing significant growth, This funding renewal University of Regina. The over the past year. Students and the University of Regina is recognizes the significant provincial government has of Aboriginal descent now proud to play a role. In response accomplishments of our invested $11 million in the represent almost 11 per cent of to the changing needs of our researchers, and the quality and project – $1 million in 2012 for the total undergraduate student province, we are expanding value of the work they conduct planning and design, and $10 body. This increase is, in large programs and extending our at our University. million in the 2013-14 provincial part, due to our concerted reach to meet the educational On behalf of all my budget for affordable housing. efforts towards Indigenizing needs of students all across colleagues at the University of Understandably, we are very our campus, so that all of our the province. I am pleased to Regina, I wish you a safe and excited about this important students – Aboriginal and non- report that the Saskatchewan enjoyable summer with family project. Lack of affordable Aboriginal alike – can learn and Collaborative Bachelor of and friends. housing and scarcity of reliable succeed in the most accessible, Science in Nursing program child-care spaces can be and culturally appropriate has expanded to Swift Current. Dr. Vianne Timmons significant barriers to education environment possible. The The partnership between the President and Vice-Chancellor for many students, particularly Aboriginal Student Centre, University, SIAST, Cypress

4 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Left: Dean of Education James McNinch was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Arbos Award for his contribution to education in Saskatchewan. Centre: Miss World Canada Camille Munro, a graduate of the U of R’s Human Justice program. Right: Former Cougars track and field athlete Chelsea Valois is the 2012-13 FIBT World Cup 2-women bobsleigh champion.

Briefly a vocal advocate of the graduate students will pay an teaches ballet, jazz and tap importance of both student additional $200 in fees each dancing and is a baton twirling As of January 17, 2013, the and teacher well-being, and semester. judge. She also works with University of Regina Board of the sense of belonging in Taking into account the Dress for Success Regina, which Governors has added two new schools and communities. A Saskatchewan Advantage provides professional clothing members. Pam Klein BA’80 has veteran educator with more Scholarships and the province’s for underprivileged women been appointed to the Board than 38 years of experience Graduate Retention Program, entering the workforce. Munro for a three-year term. Klein in the classroom and as an graduates from Saskatchewan will now represent Canada at is the president of Phoenix administrator, McNinch is high schools who remain in the Miss World competition Group, one of Saskatchewan’s fearless in his efforts to address the province after university in Jakarta, Indonesia in leading advertising agencies. intolerance and sensitive graduation will have close to no September, when an estimated Cathy Warner has also been social justice issues that affect net tuition increase. two billion viewers will be appointed to the Board for Saskatchewan’s classrooms The University has invested watching the broadcast from a three-year term. Warner and communities. more resources in teaching across the globe. is a partner with Deloitte and research activities, and and leads the Audit and In May, the University of Regina will enhance student services Former U of R Cougars track Assurance Services team Board of Governors approved and student assistance and field athleteChelsea for Saskatchewan. She is the $187 million budget for from increased fundraising Valois finished off the 2012-13 responsible for the firm’s the 2013-14 fiscal year. This proceeds through the trust Federation Internationale de service levels to a number of 19th consecutive balanced and endowment budget. As Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing key clients in the province, budget reflects the University’s well, new government-funded World Cup with a championship including a number of Crown continued commitment to programs have increased in the 2-woman bobsleigh corporations, public and responsible management and student financial assistance competition. Kaillie Humphries, private companies, and non- governance and the effective by more than 40 per cent last year’s champion and profit organizations.Nathan use of resources. ($1.8 million) from the 2012-13 the 2010 Winter Olympics Sgrazzutti has been re- The 2013-14 Saskatchewan budget. champion, added Valois to elected as the president of the provincial budget provided a Full details of the her sled this past season. The University of Regina Students’ base operating grant increase comprehensive budget plan, pair won seven World Cup gold Union and will serve on the to the University of Regina of as well as a summary of how medals during this year’s World Board of Governors for another 1.9 per cent plus $800,000 in the budget advances the Cup circuit, topping it off with a one-year term effective May 1, funding for the third year of the University’s strategic plan, are gold medal and championship 2013. University’s nursing program available at: www.uregina.ca/ win in St. Moritz, Switzerland While the University of orp/budget.shtml. late in January. Valois was a Dean of the Faculty of Regina’s tuition rates continue President’s Award recipient Education, James McNinch, to be below the national Camille Munro BHJ’13, a U of R as the top graduating student was recently honoured for his average, this year’s budget Human Justice student, has athlete in 2011. contributions to education by realities have resulted in the been crowned Miss World the Saskatchewan Teachers’ following increases to tuition Canada. Munro became The Honourable Lloyd Federation (STF). He was chosen rates and fees: a 4.4 per cent involved with Miss World Axworthy, P.C., O.C., O.M., by the STF Provincial Executive increase for all undergraduate Canada to continue advancing is the recipient of the 29th to receive the Arbos Award credit hours and a 10 per cent the issue she has become annual Distinguished Canadian for Distinguished Support increase for graduate students, passionate about – specifically, Award (DCA) presented by the of Education and Teaching, with the exception of those the empowerment of young University of Regina’s Lifelong which is the highest honour studying in the Kenneth Levene women. She was attracted Learning Centre and the that the Saskatchewan teaching Graduate School of Business to the pageant because of Seniors’ University Group. profession confers. and the Johnson-Shoyama its focus on fund-raising and The Distinguished Canadian McNinch is a champion Graduate School of Public humanitarian outreach. In Award was established by the of inclusive education and Policy. As well, international addition to her studies, Munro Seniors’ University Group in

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 5 1985 to recognize individuals The University of Regina Student Loans to a maximum Association volunteer, has who have made outstanding was awarded the 2013 of $20,000 over five years for been awarded the Canadian contributions to Canadian Regina & District Chamber of nurses and nurse practitioners Association of University life. The award is intended to Commerce Paragon Award for who work in under-served rural Teachers Academic Librarians’ raise public awareness of the Environmental Excellence. and remote communities with Distinguished Service Award. dynamic role older adults, This award is presented to populations under 10,000. Winkler has been at the specifically aged 55 and over, a business or organization Details outlining eligibility for University of Regina for 38 play in society. that acts responsibly on all the program and the application years, and has made significant environment issues and has process are available at www. and sustained contributions to Twenty-five University of Regina demonstrated a commitment to ae.gov.sk.ca/loan-forgiveness- the status of librarians at the graduate students travelled environmental responsibility in nurses. institution and beyond during to Beijing, China in May to its operations. This is the first her career. present their research findings time the University has received The University of Regina’s at Chinese institutions as part this award. Canadian Plains Research School of Journalism graduate of the Shen Kuo program. Last The University was selected Center Press has changed Roxanna Woloshyn has year, 13 students took part in from among several finalists in its name to the University been named one of the 2013 the program. The students are the Environmental Excellence of Regina Press. The new CBC News Joan Donaldson studying a wide range of topics, category, and was recognized name will increase the name Scholars. The scholarship and come from the Faculties for its ongoing commitment to recognition of the University. is named in memory of Joan of Engineering and Applied energy efficiency, sustainability, The new director is Bruce Donaldson, the founding head Science, Arts, Education, and environmental Walsh, a 25-year veteran of the of CBC Newsworld who made Kinesiology and Health Studies, responsibility in all of its book industry and a two-time invaluable contributions to and Science. operations. Several of the winner of the Libris Award for Canadian journalism. Those participants originally University’s recent projects were his outstanding contribution from China travelled to their highlighted for recognition, to Canadian publishing. Walsh Comings and goings home communities to present including the establishment has worked with writers such their research findings. Two of the President’s Advisory as Leonard Cohen, Alice Munro, Esam M. A. Hussein is the other students travelled to Committee on Sustainability; and Peter C. Newman. He new dean of Engineering and China to take part in the Shen Facility Management’s heating is the former vice-president Applied Science. Hussein, Kuo Internship Program on recovery and redistribution of marketing for Margaret currently at the University of Sustainability. They will spend systems; and the energy- Atwood’s LongPen and director New Brunswick in Fredericton, three months as research conscious planning for the of marketing and publicity will begin his five-year interns on United Nations recently announced residence at McClelland & Stewart. term as dean this summer. Development Program projects construction project. Also Walsh also worked for Oxford Hussein replaces Paitoon related to water resource recognized was the success of University Press, Routledge and Tontiwachwuthikul, who has management in China. the University’s tree relocation McGill-Queen’s University Press. served as dean of Engineering project, which saw more than and Applied Science since In April, the Government 500 mature trees relocated to PotashCorp, the world’s largest 2000. of Saskatchewan and the other spots on campus during crop nutrient company, has University of Regina announced the construction of the new made a $150,000 donation to The First Nations University of a $73.7 million construction Centre for Kinesiology and University of Regina athletics. Canada Board of Governors project that will result in a new Health Studies in 2002. Ten The funds will be used to help has named Juliano Tupone as student residence, childcare years after relocation, more support each of the University’s acting president. As a certified facility and underground than 89 per cent of the trees 16 men’s and women’s varsity management accountant, he parkade on campus. The have survived. teams. The announcement has dedicated his career and project, scheduled to be of the gift was made at a financial expertise to serving completed by fall 2015, will be Graduates of the University ceremony before a game First Nations. A graduate of located east of the Language of Regina’s Saskatchewan between the McGill Martlets the First Nations University of Institute. The new residence Collaborative Bachelor of and the Regina Cougars at the Canada where he completed will provide an additional Nursing (SCBScN) Program Canadian Interuniversity Sport a Certificate in Indigenous 605 on-campus beds, 90 will have some of their (CIS) women’s championship Business Administration, new daycare spaces and 150 student loans forgiven if they basketball tournament, which Tupone went on to complete underground parking stalls. work in certain rural areas the University of Regina hosted a Master of Business Information and updates about in the province. In April, the in March. Administration at the University the construction of the new Government of Saskatchewan of Saskatchewan. He replaces student residence, along with announced the launch of a new Linda Winkler, University of Doyle Anderson who left the architectural drawings for the program to forgive up to $4,000 Regina librarian and a long-term presidency to attend to family project, will be posted to the per year in Saskatchewan University of Regina Faculty health matters. University’s website at www. uofrresidence2012.com.

6 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Left: Graduate student Cassandra Opikokew has been awarded funding by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further her work on Indigenous health and education policy. Right: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Mohan Babu has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further his study of mitochondrial diseases.

Research news term worth $1.4 million. Chan, a than $1.2 million in funding. professor in Software Systems The funding will help further University of Regina graduate Engineering, conducts research research in assisting people student, Cassandra Opikokew into developing and applying who deal with chronic pain CICA’09, BAJ’09, MPA’12, and artificial intelligence technology and elucidating the physical postdoctoral fellow, Nuno in energy and environmental and functional interactome of Ribeiro, have been awarded systems. mitochondria in yeast. Nick funding by the Canadian Christopher Yost, a Tier 2 Carleton, assistant professor of Institutes of Health Research Canada Research Chair in psychology, has been awarded (CIHR) to further their work Microbes, the Environment and $467,499 over five years to on Indigenous health and Food Safety, has been renewed use computer software to help education policy. for five years for $500,000. deal with chronic pain. Mohan Opikokew has been awarded Yost, an associate professor of Babu, assistant professor of a Doctoral Research Award, Biology, conducts molecular- biochemistry, has been awarded totaling $108,000 over three based research to identify new $785,135 over five years to help years, to further her work approaches to reduce microbial fight a number of mitochondrial on Indigenous health and threats to food production and diseases. education policy. Opikokew is a protect Canadians from food- PhD candidate at the Johnson- borne illness. Gordon Huang, a Tier 1 Canada Shoyama Graduate School of The Canada Research Chair Research Chair in Energy and Public Policy and the associate program provides federal Environment, and professor director of the Indigenous funding to enhance research in the Faculty of Engineering Peoples’ Health Research Centre and development in Canada’s and Applied Science, has (IPHRC), where she leads the universities. been awarded $662,873 by knowledge translation, policy the Canada Foundation for development and strategic The University of Regina Innovation (CFI) to study climate initiatives of the centre. has attracted $418,500 in change. Huang is the executive Nuno Ribeiro, postdoctoral Government of Canada funding director of the Institute for fellow with IPHRC, has received to support work aimed at Energy, Environment and $92,000 over two years to improving carbon dioxide Sustainable Communities further his work on Aboriginal capture. The money will be (IEESC) at the University youth health and the role coming by way of a Strategic of Regina, a research and that culture plays in negative Project Grant from Natural demonstration institute that health and healthcare delivery. Sciences and Engineering integrates the existing energy, Part of his research includes Research Council of Canada environment and sustainability collecting data from eleven (NSERC). Raphael Idem, research expertise and Aboriginal communities in associate dean (Research and undertakes thematic research rural Saskatchewan in order to Graduate Studies) in the Faculty to address the impacts and measure the impact of culture of Engineering and Applied challenges of climate change on the health behaviours of Science has been awarded Huang’s new research Aboriginal youth. funding over three years for his project, the Western Canadian research for capturing carbon Climate Modeling and Two Canada Research Chairs dioxide from fossil fuel-based Environment Analysis System at the University are receiving industrial exhaust gases. (CMEAS) is Canada’s first renewed funding. Christine multi-disciplinary effort for Chan, a Tier 1 Canada The Canadian Institutes of the analysis and mitigation Research Chair in Energy and Health Research (CIHR) has of regional water stress under Environmental Informatics, has awarded researchers at the changing climate conditions been renewed for a seven-year University of Regina more within a prairie context.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 7 The fine art of the business of arts

Thirty years after she first attended the University of Regina, alumna Marian Donnelly MBA’08 was back, enrolled in the first executive MBA program offered by the then new Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business. After the degree and a lifetime of practical experience in the arts, Donnelly finds herself right where she wants to be – in the centre of the Regina arts and culture scene – the Creative City Centre.

By M E Powell BFA’80, BAJ&C’88, MA’01 Photos by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department.

8 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 arian Donnelly’s new job is a Donnelly’s interest in turning Donnelly first enrolled at the U of R perfect fit. underutilized buildings into art spaces when she was just 16 years old, right out “I arrived at work for my began in 2004, when she attended the of high school. Shortly after that, she got first day of work, and there Creative Places and Spaces conference a job in the music industry and ended up Mwere these business cards sitting on in Toronto and learned about artists dropping out of university in her second the table, and I just thought, well that’s revitalizing downtown and heritage semester. For 20 years, she worked in absolutely perfect,” Donnelly says with districts in major cities across North various capacities, mostly as a concert a laugh. America and Europe. Artists were promoter and artist manager, living in The cards read, “I [heart] culture.” And cleaning up the empty or derelict Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver and the that’s exactly how she feels. buildings, and “soon there was a gallery United States. The newest job in her cultural career opening up and a coffee shop and the In 1996, she took a job as executive is at SaskCulture Inc., as provincial neighbourhood would come back director of the Saskatchewan Recording coordinator of Culture Days, a national to life,” she says. “I came back from Industry Association (now SaskMusic) event that aims to foster appreciation that conference and walked around and later worked as Globe Theatre’s and support of artistic and cultural downtown Regina,” she says. “There were general manager. activities in Canada. It’s the latest in a a lot of empty buildings and there were a At the same time Donnelly was string of arts initiatives that she has led lot of boarded up windows.” earning her MBA, U of R faculty over the past 37 years. members Christine Ramsay and Donnelly has worked as a concert In 2006, she joined the first Kathleen Irwin founded Regina promoter, artist manager and arts ArtsAction Inc. The initiative was administration teacher. She has headed intake of students in the looking at the possibility of forming industry organizations and worked U of R’s new executive a creative hub in Regina’s downtown as a strategic planning consultant for MBA at the Kenneth core to mirror the artist live-work arts organizations across Canada. One spaces that had been forming in other of her current projects, in partnership Levene Graduate School cities. When they found out Donnelly with the University of Regina, has her of Business. had a similar idea, they hired her to do finding places to hang art in empty or a feasibility study. Donnelly’s study underutilized downtown spaces. Soon she was formulating an idea to involved thousands of interviews, as well It was eight years ago, however, that develop an artists’ space. To help realize as online surveys with artists and arts marked the beginning of the non-profit her dream, she also decided it was time organizations. organization for which she currently to go back to school. In 2006, she joined “There was a huge need, clearly serves as chair of the board of directors the first intake of students in the U of R’s articulated by the community,” Donnelly – the Creative City Centre. The Centre new executive MBA at the Kenneth says. Regina ArtsAction tried to secure is a creative hub in downtown Regina Levene Graduate School of Business. some downtown spaces, but when none that gives artists a space to create and “I really wanted to make sure that my of those efforts panned out, Donnelly collaborate. It’s also a venue that engages business skills were where they needed sought other ways to secure a building. the community in arts and culture to be in order to make that happen,” she That’s when serendipity stepped in. through a myriad of programs and says about her decision to return to the A few years earlier, Harold Hague, activities. U of R after three decades. the former owner of Loggie’s Shoes

Opposite page: Art administrator Marian Donnelly photographed in the Hague Gallery in the Creative City Centre, the arts centre she was instrumental in establishing. Donnelly sits in front of two drawings from artist Kelcie De Wildt BFA’12 whose exhibit South on 6 was featured at the gallery from mid-April until the end of May. Above left: The Creative City Centre is home to a fashion design collective, visual artists, arts-related organizations and includes a retail space as well. Above right: Donnelly was the first runner-up in the 2012 Regina mayoral race.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 9 Left: Harold Hague, namesake of the Hague Gallery and former owner of Loggie’s Shoes. Right: Regina Creative City Centre board member Christine Ramsay.

in downtown Regina, was serving as a venue combining performance, gallery “It’s not a very big market that chairman of the Royal Canadian Legion and studio space in an intimate arts we’re in,” she says. “We’re all trying to 80th anniversary committee and asked setting. develop an audience, and so rather than Donnelly to coordinate the event. “I was The Centre’s tenants include a competing with each other or trying to amazed at her drive and her attitude group of young Saskatchewan fashion outdo the other venues, it works much and her confidence,” he recalls. “It just designers and a print-making collective better if we work together and try to renewed my enthusiasm, and renewed called Articulate Ink, along with build an audience collectively.” everybody’s enthusiasm to put on a individual artist studio spaces. It also “She has a modern way of approaching really good show.” houses the Hague Gallery, an art gallery business,” Hague adds. Donnelly’s At 92, Hague has long since sold his and performance space named after focus on developing partnerships and company to his son Kelly. But he can Harold Hague. connections has helped her – and many still be found most days at the store. of the causes and organizations she’s He knew of Donnelly’s study, so the worked for or helped – to succeed. Hagues offered to let her use their empty “She’s a hard-working Ramsay echoes the sentiment. “She’s a second and third floors in return for the person who works for the hard-working person who works for the renovations. community. She’s incredibly community. She’s incredibly persistent. In October 2008, Donnelly began If she has a vision, she’ll take it where it working on the space. “It was a complete persistent.” needs to go. If there are blockades, she’ll disaster up there,” the elder Hague says. find a creative way around them. She’s Peeling paint, bricked up windows “I was bound and determined to do flexible, but she’s committed. She’s a and holes in the ceiling and floor didn’t a building just to show people that it hard worker and if she sees a need for faze Donnelly. She called it “ideal” for was something that could work, it was something, she’ll try to get it done.” what she wanted to do and set about the something the city needed and it was Last year, Donnelly was prepared repairs, often on her own. She even hung something that was financially feasible,” to make working for the community up her MBA in the construction zone. Donnelly says. a full-time proposition when she “You wouldn’t believe the mess that Two years later, the Centre’s activities, became a mayoral candidate in the civic was up there, and you wouldn’t believe and those of its tenants, are expanding. election. Although she finished second the work,” Hague recalls. “She worked Articulate Ink has grown, moving its (with 32 per cent of the vote to Mayor night and day. It was nothing for her to base of operations from a small studio Michael Fougere’s 42 per cent), in typical be there at one and two in the morning.” on the top floor to a larger space on Donnelly fashion, she prefers to look on Donnelly formed the non-profit the second floor to accommodate the bright side. Inner Circle Creative City Development its members, workshops and other “I had more fun doing that than I’ve Corp. (now Creative City Centre Inc.), activities. The Creative City Centre is had for a long time,” she says. “It was and borrowed money from friends and now known for an eclectic mix of music really exciting to see so many people supporters for anything she couldn’t concerts, workshops, film screenings, getting engaged and getting excited finance herself. poetry slams and other arts events. about the possibilities of what we can do “That’s Marian,” emphasizes Ramsay, Recently, Donnelly joined forces with in our city.” D who has been on the Centre’s board since two other Regina performance venues its inception. “She has the vision and she – the Artful Dodger Cafe and Music M E Powell is a Regina-based writer with has the kind of skills – the partnering Emporium and the Artesian on 13th. The work published or broadcast in regional, skills, the business skills – but also the partners have developed a website (www. national, and international media. Her elbow grease.” takeitallin.ca) to market the three venues fiction and poetry can be found in literary The Creative City Centre opened its that, together, have created a significant magazines, and Scholastic Canada published doors on May 10, 2011. It was something surge in arts and cultural activities in her book Dragonflies are Amazing. (www. no one in Regina had tried before; Regina. mepowell.com)

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17_MM9060-13_MMI.EN•uregina (6.5x4).indd 1 13-04-12 1:05 PM

AlumniProjet : Annonce MMISA 2013 VE Province : Saskatchewan Épreuve # : 1

Crowning AchievemenClientt : Meloche Monnex Publication : Degrees Date de tombée : 19/04/2013 Format : 6.5x4 wards A No de dossier : THE Award17_MM9060-13_MMI.EN•ureginas (6.5x4) Couleur :Luther Quad Graphiste : Yannick Decosse Hamelin Martineau DA• 505, boul. deTE Maisonneuve O. Bureau 300 • Montréal (Québec) H3A 3C2 • T : 514 842 4416 F : 514 844 9343 ATTENTION : Merci de vérifier attentivement cette épreuve afin d’éviter toute erreur. The 2013 Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards CoLLege dinner is Friday, September 20! 100th AnniversAry Century of fAithfuLness Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan Reception at 5:30 p.m. ~ Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available in August.

For more information please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 10 to 13 october 2013, regina, SK Join us as Luther College celebrates its 100th [email protected] or Anniversary on the Thanksgiving weekend of 2013. 1-877-779-4723. Reminisce about the past and toast the future with fellow alumni, friends and staff as we honour a century of Luther College traditions and heritage. For more information and to register, visit www.luthercollege.edu/100thanniversary .

Luther-100-UofR-Degrees-ad.indd 1 13-02-01 10:53 AM Degrees | spring/summer 2013 11 The class of 2013 A successful businessman and philanthropist, a professor emeritus in engineering, and a pioneering broadcaster join the ranks of University of Regina honorary degree recipients.

by Bill Armstrong Frank Flaman After a lifetime of business success, honorary degree recipient Frank Flaman has turned his attention to philanthropy and making the world Photo by Dan Riedlhuber. a better place.

sk Frank Flaman a question and the words come tumbling out, revealing an energetic man who has very definite ideas shaped by his life experiences. For example, Flaman credits his parents and growing up Frank Flaman onA a farm near Southey, Sask. for giving him a good foundation in life. At the same time, he was not content with just farming. “people said, ‘Why would a farm equipment dealer sell “A lot of farmers were content to spend the winter curling,” treadmills?’ ” The answer, it seems, is because the market was Flaman observes. “Me, I’d be buying grain bins or something, there, waiting to be tapped. The company is now the largest and then reselling them. Farming was all right, but I could do a retailer of fitness equipment in Western Canada. lot better in business.” The Flaman Group of Companies continues to flourish, but Flaman’s career is certainly proof of that. Soon after he and the man who founded the company has shifted his focus to the his wife Bernice settled on the family farm in 1959, Flaman foundation that bears his name, and to managing more than bought a new baler and swather, and began contracting out $1 million in philanthropic donations made by the foundation his equipment and services to other area farmers. If he could each year. This activity also reflects a shift in Flaman’s sign up enough customers, the equipment would be paid for, personal life. he reasoned. He was right. Bernice managed the business while “I used to have a big house and a new Cadillac every year. I Frank capitalized on the opportunities he saw around him. gave up all that (stuff)! Now I have Ruby, a good family, a two- “I can’t turn on a computer,” he says, “but I know it’s bedroom condo and a Smart car, and that’s all I need,” he says. important to look around at the talents one has and expand on The Frank Flaman Foundation supports some local and them.” national charitable organizations, but most of its emphasis He and Bernice also raised 10 children, including three is on providing the basic necessities of life to people in the teachers (Kate, Fran and Cindy), a business manager (Carla), developing world. This includes projects such as supporting a homemaker (Carmel), a fitness trainer (Gwen) and an schools, providing clean drinking water and restoring the entrepreneur (Crystal). When he began offering a wider range eyesight of people in the Third World. of agricultural equipment and expanding geographically in the “In those places, you can get so much more bang for your 1980s, the three sons – Rudy, Don and Steve – began managing buck,” Flaman states. “You can drill a well for $10,000 that will different locations in Saskatchewan, while Frank headed to benefit 1,000 people, which means it’s only $10 per person,” he Alberta to establish the company there. explains. “You can restore someone’s eyesight for $50. That’s a Although he and Bernice separated about 30 years ago, they very effective investment that will help someone reach their remain good friends. Both are very connected to their children, potential, and other givers who support the Foundation know grandchildren and soon-to-be first great-grandchild. Flaman that their money will be used to do good work.” recently married his partner of the last 20 years, Ruby, who Flaman says he would prefer not to be in the limelight, will accompany him to Regina when he receives his honorary but he’s willing to step forward to share his message about degree. helping to alleviate suffering in the world. When asked if he Flaman shifted his business strategy from expansion to has a formal message prepared to deliver when he receives his diversification in the 1990s, including into Flaman Fitness, honorary degree from the U of R, he says no. At the same time, prompting some people to openly question his sanity. he repeats his rock-solid belief that the world would be a better “When I started with a few treadmills,” Flaman recalls, place if everyone did more sharing of whatever gifts they have.

12 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Art Opseth Art Opseth hadn’t considered a was the chief car mechanic on the farm, having learned a lot from working on farm equipment with his dad. career in academics until he was “The great thing was, you got to see how poorly some things were designed,” he says. asked to teach a class. It was a Opseth has warm memories of attending a one-room country calling for which he was obviously school near Hagen, and then a two-room school in the town, before completing his Grade 12 at the Lutheran Collegiate suited. He would go on to teach in Bible Institute in Outlook. He spent a year on the farm before the Faculty of Engineering for almost enrolling in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s 40 years. degrees in mechanical engineering. “Mom and dad were able to scrape up enough to pay my first rofessor Emeritus Arthur Opseth estimates that from year,” Opseth says, “and after that I was able to get good paying 1974 to 2012, he taught more than 5,000 students in 12 summer jobs. I worked in camps up north, so expenses were different courses during his career at the University of next to nothing, and that allowed me to save enough to live on Regina. He concedes, though, that he hadn’t considered for the rest of the year.” Pa career in teaching until his former professor and master’s After he graduated, Opseth spent a year at the National thesis advisor approached him in 1974 to teach in the newly Research Council and then two years working as part of a team formed Faculty of Engineering at the U of R. of consulting engineers in Montreal, making modifications to Opseth joined the Faculty full-time in 1977. Besides his armoured personnel carriers for the Canadian Army. Then, in teaching duties, at various times he also served as acting 1964, he moved to Regina to begin working for the provincial assistant dean, assistant dean and acting dean. In 1997 he government’s computer centre. received an Inspiring Teacher Award from the University. “It was the largest computer in the province,” Opseth recalls, After retiring from full-time teaching in 2001, he spent two “and I think it had 64K of memory. A lot of the people working years managing special projects for the Faculty, and then there were engineers or mathematicians, because the problem- taught as a sessional lecturer until 2012. All of this followed solving and design processes were the same for engineering after Opseth gave up a job with the Saskatchewan Government and computer program design.” Computer Centre. With the move to Regina, Opseth became a member of the “People asked me why I gave up a secure government job,” Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan (now Opseth recalls. “There was something about teaching that the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists I liked. I enjoyed working with students, and now I have of Saskatchewan, or APEGS). He served as president of the former student friends all over the world, from all kinds of organization in 2003 and is currently the APEGS representative backgrounds.” to the University of Regina Senate. He has also been a member Growing up on the family farm near Hagen, south of Prince of several other local, national and international engineering Albert, Opseth’s aptitude for mechanical engineering came and education-related organizations. naturally. He remembers he and his older brother Melvin On the personal side, his volunteer activities included taking things apart to see how they worked and then (usually instructing downhill and cross-country skiing, being a Cub successfully) putting them back together again. By age 13 he leader, supporting the Regina Water Polo Association and coaching youth soccer. He also served for four years on the Board of Governors of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. In spite of his many accomplishments and contributions to the community, Opseth was surprised to learn he would receive an honorary degree, calling it a huge honour. His advice to the new graduates will be short, he says. “You’re just starting your education,” he chuckles. “You’re going to learn more in the next two or three years than you learned in the last five.”

Photo by Don Hall.

Art Opseth

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 13 Linda Rankin While Linda Rankin BA’68 looks back fondly on her high-tech broadcasting career, these days, after a pair of health scares, you’re more likely to find her living in the moment and appreciating those things that truly

matter. Photo by Gregory Abraszko.

igh-touch” is a once common term that has fallen out of favour, but it aptly describes Linda Rankin’s approach to life, even while she has been involved in landmark events in the high- “Htech world of broadcasting. Rankin’s perspective on the world has been heavily influenced by two near-death experiences: one Linda Rankin in the early 1990s when she received a bone marrow transplant to overcome B-cell lymphoma, and another six-month period Since the successful launch of WTN, Rankin has continued in 2012 when she was very ill. to forge ahead in the area of satellite broadcasting, with both “Those experiences are most significant,” Rankin observes, successes and setbacks. A broadcast licence for the Green “because they forced me to live in the moment and appreciate Channel was granted in 2001, but without full financing, a whole bunch of different things.” Until her first health for now, the digital channel is limited to over-the-internet challenge pushed her to re-order her priorities, serendipity transmission at www.ecology.com. Rankin is also vice- had played a large part in her life. Attending the University president, Corporate Development, for a company that is of Regina was an easy choice, since all of her immediate developing FreeHD, a more flexible alternative to the way family had gone there and her mother also taught English to providers currently offer HD movies and other programming. international students on campus. “It used to be a little easier to find the financing,” Rankin After graduating from the U of R with a bachelor’s degree explains, “but now most of the broadcasting industry in Canada in psychology and sociology, Rankin literally flipped a coin to is dominated by two or three conglomerates.” determine whether she would move east or west from Regina. The U of R has recognized Rankin in the past as an The toss led her east. After working on contract assignments in outstanding alumna, but when she received the phone call Toronto and then with Bell Canada in Ottawa, chance stepped informing her that she was to receive an honorary degree, in again in the form of a job offer to join Telesat Canada, she admits there was “a long, stunned silence as thoughts of which had been established in 1969 as the country’s national ‘Why me?’ ” danced in her head. Looking back, Rankin affirms satellite service. While there she moved the organization that she couldn’t have achieved what she did without her from an engineering-dominated operation to a much larger background in psychology and sociology. sales and marketing-oriented business. Rankin received the “The classes at the U of R were small, and the learning first Outstanding Achievement Award from the Canadian experiences were so good, so intense,” she recalls. “I remember Satellite Users Association for her role in developing satellite profs treating us like adults and showing that they wanted to communications, and a Gemini award for her role in bringing learn more, which made you want to know more for the rest of to air the first HDTV broadcast in Canada. your life.” After Telesat, Rankin became the founding president of Although much of her career has been spent in the business Women’s Television Network (WTN), the world’s first specialty of bouncing digital signals between the Earth and orbiting channel for, by and about women. satellites, Rankin insists she’s still a prairie girl at home in “I received a phone call from a man who asked me if I’d be Sharon Butala’s rural Saskatchewan and Gail Bowen’s Regina. interested in preparing a licence application for a channel And, yes, she remains a proud Rider fan. With plenty of about mothers,” she recalls. “I realized it needed to be of family members still living in the province, and two grade interest to all women and reflect all areas of their lives.” school classmates coming from Calgary, the honorary degree While she had an obvious affinity for the project, she had ceremony provides an opportunity for an extended reunion in also developed an approach that showed her high-touch side. the days leading up to it. “I am so blessed,” Rankin says. D She held bonding sessions with employees to identify their common beliefs. Bill Armstrong is a Regina freelance writer and amateur “A basic tenet was that we don’t lie, cheat or steal,” Rankin photographer with a strong interest in Saskatchewan history. states. “When you see stories of corporate wrongdoing today, you see how fundamental these basic tenets are.”

14 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 William F. Ready QC, BA, JD, LLD (Honorary ’89) has most ably served as chancellor of the University of Regina since the fall of 2007. During that time, he has conferred more than 13,500 degrees, diplomas and certificates on U of R graduating students. Ready first distinguished himself during a nearly 50-year law career that saw him become a senior partner in McDougall Ready (now McDougall Gauley), one of the oldest law firms in Saskatchewan. He is also well known for his contributions to education. He served as a trustee for the Regina Board of Education for 11 years – two years as vice-chair and two years as chair. In recognition of his commitment to education in Regina, the W.F. Ready Elementary School opened its doors in 1984. This year’s spring convocation at the U of R is Ready’s last as chancellor.

D What about your role as chancellor has brought you the most joy? Serving in the governance of the University – particularly as chair of the Senate and as a member of many committees of Senate. I have also enjoyed conferring degrees and presiding at convocations, and serving as a member of the Board of Governors and many of its committees.

D Who stands out as one of the more interesting people you have met in your role as chancellor? Jack Boan, PhD (Professor Emeritus), a fine gentleman with a continuing interest in the affairs of the University.

D Now that the role of chancellor won’t be taking up your time, what will you do to fill your time? I will continue to follow the affairs of the University as reported, and stay abreast of both local and world news. I also have our home in Regina and the cottage at Kenosee Lake to care for. When all else fails, I will continue writing “The Story of My Life.”

D You and your wife Frances have been married for over 60 years. How much of your success do you owe to her? A great deal. She has always been at my side with her encouragement and support.

D For those of us who will never know, how does it feel to have a school named after you? I will never forget the thrill I experienced when, for the first time, I saw my name on the school building, and to know that it would be from that building that many would get their start in life.

D What important life lesson did you learn in Valparaiso, Sask. as a boy? When opportunity knocks, open the door.

D What is your favourite meal? Christmas dinner surrounded by our entire family, now 27 in number.

D Finish this sentence: The University of Regina is important to the community because… The University of Regina is important to the community because it makes the possibility of post-secondary education a reality for many and is a source of pride for all.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 15 Community connections

Left to right: Rob Deglau, executive director of the North Central Community Association; Yolanda Hansen, University of Regina Community Research Unit coordinator; U of R Associate Professor of History, Philip Charrier. Photo by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department.

The Faculty of Arts’ Community Research Unit is helping out neighbourhoods across Regina, perhaps none more than the much misunderstood, North Central neighbourhood. By Sabrina Cataldo, BA’97, BJ’99, CPR’04

16 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 ob Deglau CCDEV’08 responsed government in order to curb the the pictures down in spring 2011, but to the idea of a community rise of homelessness. the community response has been so research unit at the University “Most of these projects are small in great that the exhibition is still up. of Regina with, “Where do I sign scope and short in time – they usually “It has taken on a life of its own. Rup? This is exactly what I need!” As only take a few months. But by the I’m still getting people who recognize executive director of the North Central end, the organization has something themselves or identify friends or Community Association, Deglau knows practical in hand that can help them do relatives in the pictures,” Charrier adds. first-hand the challenges of serving the their work,” explains Hansen. “My goal is to give copies of the images public, while juggling limited human The CRU’s connections also led to to those who appear in them. Keeping and financial resources. With staff a unique photography exhibition in the exhibition up has allowed me, over and funds directed to areas of greatest North Central. Philip Charrier, a U time, to re-connect with an increasing need, non-profits rarely have budgets of R history professor and amateur number of subjects. There is a living for research that could be critical to photographer, was taking photos of element to the show that is exciting.” government lobbying efforts or grant people and places in North Central as a Deglau believes that Charrier’s applications. personal project. “My goal was to know exhibition struck a chord with the The Community Research Unit (CRU) the community better and develop a community because it reflects residents’ in the Faculty of Arts fills that gap by sense of a connection to it,” he says. “I passion for the neighbourhood. connecting non-profits with University started out with a view of North Central “Sometimes people look at the of Regina students and professors. that was based upon news reports of neighbourhood in a jaded way. But When given the opportunity to serve what the neighbourhood was like, Philip saw a neighbourhood that was as one of the CRU’s founding board largely influenced by crime-related very eclectic and unique. He was able to members in 2008, Deglau jumped at the statistics. Now, the view I have is more portray it in a new light,” Deglau says. opportunity. “I was so enthralled by the people-centered and balanced, and The project shows how a small idea of linking academia to the needs bears little resemblance to the media- unit like the CRU can make a major of the non-profit sector,” he says. “The constructed image. Every person who impact on the community. “Sometimes University was a bit foreign to me, but stopped for my camera has a unique all an idea needs to be successful is a I knew it had a wealth of intellectual story to tell.” connection to the right people,” says resources and manpower.” When Charrier decided to share Hansen. D The CRU’s mandate is to provide his photographs with the residents independent, participatory research of North Central, he approached the Sabrina Cataldo is an award-winning support in response to community- CRU for advice on where to hold the communications consultant who is proud to based organizations’ needs. The result is exhibition. Hansen connected him be a homeowner in North Central Regina. mutually beneficial: organizations build with the North Central Community She is vice-president of People for Animals of capacity and enhance the community’s Association and the photography was Saskatchewan, a local cat rescue that does quality of life, and the University installed in the organization’s office in the majority of its work in North Central and increases its civic engagement and fall 2010. Charrier’s intent was to take surrounding areas. opportunities to produce high-quality, relevant knowledge. A true partnership, the CRU’s board of directors has equal representation from the University and from community organizations and CRU Collaborative Research Projects social agencies. North Central’s Community History – A look at the history of the North Central “The unit is a hidden gem,” says CRU neighbourhood, its citizens and important spaces through profiles and an co-ordinator Yolanda Hansen BHJ’06, interactive map found at www.northcentralregina.ca. MA’08. “The Faculty of Arts has so much expertise to offer the community The Cost of Healthy Eating in Regina – Why are so many people using the through our faculty and graduates. The Regina Food Bank? This project examined the gap between the cost of healthy CRU is a one-stop shop for community food and income available to Regina Food Bank clients. organizations. They start with us, and Bridging the Gap: Regina Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance – if we are unable to meet their needs, we This project examined the Regina housing crisis and the relationship between will find someone else at the University landlords and low-income tenants. Winner of the CRU’s 2013 Community to help them.” Connections Award. Watch the video at www.vimeo.com/30740948. North Central Regina has been a Mapping Corporate Power in Saskatchewan – This project mapped the ways major focus of the unit’s work, given and means through which influence may be exercised over public policy the number of non-profit service formation and implementation in Saskatchewan. organizations that work in the area. In 2011, the CRU partnered with Ecole Connaught Community School: 100 Years of Education and Community Carmichael Outreach to research the – In honour of Connaught School’s Centennial, this project gathered historical rental housing market in Regina and information through oral histories and archival research. Available at the relationships between landlords www.connaught100.com and tenants. Based on the findings, Carmichael created a 15-minute More info about projects and partners is available at online video, Bridging the Gap: Regina www.uregina.ca/arts/community-research/collaborative-list.html Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance, an accessible tool that aims to start a dialogue between landlords and See Philip Charrier’s North Central Portraits in the pages that follow.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 17 Anatasia & Jay, 2010.

North Central Portraits by Philip Charrier

18 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Colin, 2010.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 19 Outside 5th Convenience Store, 2009.

20 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Near Wash-Rite Laundry, 2011.

North Central Portraits by Philip Charrier

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 21 Never lose hope

Dave and Denise Batters met in the most unlikely of manners that one could easily believe it had been predestined. But if their meeting and subsequent marriage was providence, why did it end so tragically? Denise Batters BA’91, a recently appointed Canadian senator, shares a story of love and hope – the love she and Dave had for each other and the hope she held right up until the day he took his own life.

By Raquel Fletcher BA’12 Photos by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department and courtesy of Denise Batters.

22 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 hey sat in nearly complete much more brief, waiting for the election Saskatchewan minister of justice. The darkness, their backs against results in their Moose Jaw hotel room on officers tried, but could not make contact the car, his arm around her Dave’s first bid to become the Member of with anyone in the house. Five hours shoulders, the subtle features of Parliament for the Palliser constituency. later, police would discover Dave Batters’ Ttheir faces only faintly illuminated by For Denise, not even the sheer joy of body. the soft glow of starlight. On secluded winning a grueling campaign could “Even though you know that suicide Hapuna Beach on the island of Hawaii, rival that evening spent counting the is always a possibility, you’re never nightfall comes frighteningly fast, but constellations and reminiscing about prepared for the message that your loved Denise Batters was cheerful. That was their chance encounter 15 years earlier one has died,” says Denise. her husband Dave Batters’ effect on her; and their ensuing love story. Nearly a decade has passed since that he always had a way of making her laugh vacation in Hawaii. Whenever Denise off trying situations. For Denise, that moment returns, most recently this past Easter, “He was an extremely funny man,” she visits the spot on Hapuna Beach says Denise. “That’s what I miss most in 2004 is her happiest where she and Dave sat covered by that about him, his ability to make me laugh.” memory – just the two of unforgettable blanket of stars. She can’t The couple had only intended to them, alone together. remember what jokes he cracked, but she spend the afternoon at the beach, remembers laughing. relaxing on the white sand just long “We were a really good The Batters shared many big moments enough to watch the sunset together, team,” she recalls. in their lives – winning elections, but they soon realized one or the other getting married and the many events had locked the keys in the rental car. It Police officers arrived at the home in they attended as an MP and his wife. could have meant the end to a romantic a quiet neighbourhood in the southeast For Denise, that moment in 2004 is her outing; instead, both decided to wait end of Regina, within walking distance happiest memory – just the two of them, patiently for the rental company to of a church and an elementary school. alone together. rescue them. In doing so, they found a A crisis negotiator was among them. By “We were a really good team,” she rare, peaceful moment away from the mid-afternoon on that Monday, June 29, recalls. petty annoyances of daily life that come 2009, it had turned into a perfect early Now a Canadian senator, Denise’s life with the busy schedules of a lawyer and summer day – 24 degrees with a subtle hasn’t slowed down. Quiet moments a budding politician. breeze, slightly overcast. But Regina Police between committee meetings and hectic “We just enjoyed it,” Denise were concerned about what was going schedules are still rare. She can’t help remembers. “At that point, Dave was just on inside the home. They had received a thinking how proud Dave would be of starting up his nomination race. I think call that a man had threatened to harm her. maybe we realized we weren’t going to himself. “There’s nothing that made him get many more of those quiet times.” It was the home the Batters shared, happier than when I accomplished That would prove not to be the case. but Denise was at work. Two years something amazing,” she remembers. A few months later they would share earlier she had accepted the demanding Denise was appointed to the Senate in another quiet moment together, that one position of chief of staff to the January, leaving the position she’d taken

Opposite page top: Senator Denise Batters on the University of Regina campus. Opposite page bottom: Denise and Dave during their university days. Above left: Dave and Denise opening Christmas presents during their time at university. Above right: The happy couple shortly after university graduation.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 23 in 2012 as an executive director of the opinions of her professors, while she hearing the news of Dave’s illness. It was Crown Investments Corporation. “He eagerly joined in debates about current just days before a fall election was to be would be cheering me on like crazy.” events, taking on her classmates in the called. Dave had been on medical leave, She smiles when she thinks back to Ad–Hum pit and even playing then but only close friends and family knew the day they met and how far she’s come Saskatchewan Premier Grant Devine, in about his battle with anxiety. since then. “I have a lot more confidence a mock Meech Lake conference. “It is with deep regret that I have in myself and that is what, I think, he Denise and Dave became good friends informed Prime Minister Stephen Harper always tried to instill in me.” but because he was living in Saskatoon, of my decision not to seek re-election as At 18, the Miller High School graduate it would be a year and a half before the Member of Parliament for Palliser,” had already made it her lifelong goal they started dating. “We had one year Dave wrote in a press release. “I have to become a senator, but it would take of very expensive phone calls back and been ill for the past few months, dealing a while for her to develop a public forth trying to maintain this budding with anxiety and depression. As well, persona. “I always considered myself romance,” Denise laughs. I overcame a dependency on certain more of a “backroom person,” who The following fall, Denise was prescribed medications.” wouldn’t feel comfortable with that accepted into law school at the “Those were his own words,” says amount of public spotlight,” she says. University of Saskatchewan. The Denise. “I was proud of him.” Even so, she was keenly interested in couple began to get serious and they It had not been an easy decision. “Still politics from a young age. In the fall of were married in 1997 in Estevan. Right today people tell me that was quite 1988, she began classes at the University after their honeymoon, they moved to courageous to do that,” she shares. “At of Regina in the department of political Regina where Denise joined the law firm, the time, he was a sitting member of science. It was the time of the free trade Gerrand Rath Johnson. Parliament and he was still suffering.” election. Only a couple of weeks into Dave was elected to Parliament in Even though she had a busy career the semester, she purchased her first 2004, after a nerve-wracking tight race. of her own, looking after her husband’s Conservative Party membership and And Denise, true to her self-proclaimed health became Denise’s main priority in threw herself into the campaign, helping supportive role, stood behind him the the months that followed. As she recalls, to elect Conservative candidate Larry whole way. “We always thought that he she became “head cheerleader,” but it Schneider, a former Regina mayor. had a good shot at that seat even though was tough: “Some days there wasn’t a lot “My political involvement really he was running against a well-respected to cheer about,” she says. started at the U of R,” she says. “It was MP, who had already been a two-term Usually gregarious, Dave isolated because of that I met Dave.” member of Parliament,” she says. himself. Denise tried to pull him out At the November 1989 Progressive The night of the election, though, of it, creating a network of supportive Conservative convention in Saskatoon, she recalls was “daunting” and “highly friends and family. She invited people Denise and Dave stole a glance at each stressful.” They stayed glued to the TV to the house; she urged him to take other while walking across a busy street. in their hotel room, until Dave was phone calls; she accompanied him to That led to a conversation between declared elected – by a margin of only doctors’ and counsellors’ appointments. 19-year-old Denise and her future 124 votes. Neglecting her own health, she husband, who was 20 at the time. “It was complete euphoria,” says frequently became ill and out of shape. “He said he had a feeling when we Denise of the night of their victory party. Despite her caretaking, things didn’t crossed that street,” Denise says. “He But the euphoria didn’t last. improve. Recognizing his dependency heard a little voice, ‘be extra nice to this Denise was prepared for the statement on prescription pills, Dave sought his girl, she’s going to play an important role her husband was about to make. Still, doctor’s help to get off benzodiazepines. in your life.’ ” as they boarded a flight to Quebec City A switch in medication to the longer- In her first year of university, Denise that September day in 2008, the couple acting and less addictive pills would take often found herself disagreeing with the wondered how the public would react to six to eight weeks to become effective. In

Left: The swearing-in ceremony of Senator Denise Batters with Speaker of the Senate, Noel Kinsella in February 2013. Right: More than $21,000 was raised for the Canadian Mental Health Association at the second annual Dave Batters Memorial Golf Tournament in 2012. Opposite page: Batters with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

24 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 the meantime, the 39-year-old fell into a person that you would never expect to be Hughes, a woman who inspires Denise deeper depression. suffering with these things,” she explains. both for speaking out about her battle “That was the stage where I think he “I knew there were a lot of people with depression and her enormous lost hope,” says Denise. suffering who didn’t talk about it.” smile. It’s one thing the two women have Still, she never allowed herself to Her first step towards promoting in common. lose hope. “That would have been very awareness was a charity golf tournament “I feel like when I’m not smiling, it difficult, I think, if I had lost hope too.” in Dave’s name. To date, the three doesn’t even look like me in a picture,” But, always in the back of her mind, tournaments have raised $85,000 and Denise says. suicide was a worry. With understanding Denise uses the money to create and It’s with optimism she approaches co-workers, she was able to leave work broadcast a television commercial her new Senate position: “It’s important when needed and she continued to fight encouraging men dealing with when you have a national platform to for a turnaround in her husband’s health. depression to reach out. use it for something important.” “I did everything I could to help him get Approximately 4,000 people, mostly And with the support she’s received, better.” middle-aged men, take their own lives Denise says she will continue to promote That all changed on that day in June each year in Canada. Denise hopes that, her message. when, less than a year after announcing through her advocacy and the help of “You’re not alone. There is help – he would not run again, Dave chose to others, she can reduce that alarming please reach out.” And, perhaps most take his own life. In the days following statistic. importantly, she adds, “There’s hope.” D Dave’s death, Denise strived to find peace ”My colleagues in the Senate are and not lose hope. She found a sense of really incredible people. Many of them If you or a loved one is suffering from calm by cycling around Wascana Lake in have come to me privately and told me depression or anxiety, help is only a the early mornings before heading back that they really want to work with me mouse click away. Visit the Canadian to the welcome distraction of work. on this. That makes me really excited Mental Health Association website at She knew immediately that she about some of the things we can help www.cmhask.com for more information. wanted to be an advocate for mental accomplish.” To see the Dave Batters commerical go to health and suicide prevention awareness. In March 2012, Denise appeared YouTube and search: Dave Batters CMHA She started with getting her own health before the House of Commons Standing Commercial. back on track – both emotionally and Committee on Health to support a physically. Over the next year, she began private member’s bill which called Raquel Fletcher is a freelance journalist working with a personal trainer. for a national framework for suicide based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Her forte “I had to heal myself,” she says. But prevention. The bill passed that is writing on environmental and business soon, she knew she needed to speak out. December. issues. She received a silver award in the “There’s a stigma with mental health Now, she’s looking to collaborate Emerging Writer category at the 2013 issues. People think that you’re weak with others – in and out of the Senate. Alberta Magazine Awards for her story, if you can’t get over them. But to me, At an Ottawa event in April, Denise was “Ten Tree sees the forest and the trees,” that there’s no better example than Dave for a excited to meet Olympic medalist Clara appeared in the fall 2012 issue of Degrees.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 25 At the U of R spring convocation, Chris Gbekorbu BA’01, Drive BA(Hons)’01, MA’05, BSC’11, will walk across the stage and receive a master of business administration degree. In the process Gbekorbu will become one of the most accomplished for students in the history of the University of Regina. By Sabrina Cataldo, BA’97, BJ’99, CPR’04 Photos by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department five and courtesy of Chris Gbekorbu. t the University of Regina’s spring convocation, Chris Gbekorbu will receive an Executive Master’s of Business AdministrationA degree, his fifth degree. The 36-year-old adds his EMBA to a Bachelor of Science in economics (2011), Master of Arts in English (2005), Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in psychology (2001) and Bachelor of Arts in English (2001). He also earned a Diploma of Business Administration in 2007. “To begin with, it’s very rare for someone to have completed five degrees, but five degrees from the same institution? In my experience, it’s unheard of,” says Thomas Chase, University provost and Gbekorbu’s master’s thesis advisor. Gbekorbu’s passion for learning began at home. His mother, the only one in her family to graduate from high school, stressed the importance of education and encouraged her son to read as much as possible. The library became a major destination during his childhood. “I thought, ‘Wow! Look at all of these books! I can’t read them all, but I’ll try,’ ” he says. At age eight, he became fascinated with eastern philosophy and symbolism, which led him, as a ten-year- old, to explore psychology and the works of Carl Jung. “My mom didn’t always understand the stuff I was reading, but she was very supportive of whatever my interests were.” His interest in psychology continued through high school, leading him to major in the subject at university. Gbekorbu wanted a double major but was unsure of what to pursue as a second specialization. He kept taking classes, searching for a subject he enjoyed as much as psychology. Surprisingly, it was his part-time job as a security guard that led him to choose English. “A lot of the guys I worked with had English degrees and they were all really smart people. I thought, ‘Why not? Knowing how to write would probably be a more useful

26 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 skill than doing philosophy,’ which set aside time for exercise to establish was the other contender for my second that balance.” Having an entrepreneurial major.” However, by the time he had streak, it wasn’t long before Gbekorbu made up his mind, he had earned enough turned his passion for health and fitness credit hours to receive two separate arts into a successful business, working at degrees. local gyms as a personal trainer until he After a few years off, he returned to completed his master’s degree. “I was the U of R to pursue a master’s degree in always at the gym anyway, so I thought, English. Unlike many English students, ‘Why not? I might as well get paid for Gbekorbu had little interest in studying it and help other people at the same literature. Inspired by classes he had time,’” he adds. taken from Chase as an undergrad, he Although he has just completed was drawn to stylistics and how people degree number five, he is not taking any use language. His resulting thesis time off from learning. He is writing the explored electronic language and the level one Chartered Financial Analyst cognitive and social impacts of website exam in December 2013 and plans to hypertext. Opposite page: Chris Gbekorbu has just earned apply for PhD programs in a few years. his fifth University of Regina degree. “It was a great pleasure and an honour Above: Gbekorbu earned two degrees in 2001 – “For me, it’s not about getting the to work with someone of Chris’ calibre. a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of piece of paper, but about the pursuit of At its best, graduate supervision is a Arts (Honours) in psychology. knowledge. There’s not really a plan for dialogue, an exploration involving the what I will do once I get the PhD, but I’m student and the supervisor. I learned if he completed another semester in interested in the process,” he says. “Why a great deal from him during the economics, he would have a bachelor of not?” thesis process,” Chase says. “Chris is science. “I figured, ‘Why not?’ ” Gbekorbu wants to pursue a doctoral an unusually gifted and thoughtful Not too long after his BSc was in program in interdisciplinary studies, man. His intellectual curiosity really its frame, Gbekorbu was back in the exploring issues of environmental knows no bounds. You can see that classroom, this time taking an Executive sustainability through a lens of social in the various academic pursuits he MBA through the Kenneth Levene justice, policy, economics, business has followed. Behind that soft-spoken Graduate School of Business, while and psychology. The degree would exterior lies a fascinating mind.” continuing to work and teach. “A lot incorporate all of his educational and After his master’s degree, Gbekorbu of the work I’m interested in is helped work experience thus far. “It’s all coming began working full-time as a technical by a business degree,” he says. “Having together. The more perspective that I writer at Information Services already done a master’s, I knew how to get, the more informed the decision is,” Corporation (ISC), while also teaching handle the workload and get more work he contends. He is considering programs English 100 and 110 part-time at the done in less time.” at the University of Saskatchewan, University. “The first class I taught Gbekorbu also owns and manages University of Manitoba and University of was horrifying because I have never rental properties, serves as treasurer on British Columbia. been comfortable speaking in front of the board of Regina Home Economics Gbekorbu admits that he is “a bit people. I was so scared that, on the first for Living Project, and has been actively obsessive-compulsive about knowledge,” day, I considered not showing up,” he involved in Habitat for Humanity. In but has no plans to quit seeking it. says. His fear of public speaking was honour of his mother, who passed away “There’s so much to learn. Even though I the main reason Gbekorbu decided to from cancer in 2008, he is a regular know that I will never learn everything, teach; it was another way that he could blood platelet donor to help patients I will fight the good fight. I’ve set myself challenge himself and learn new skills undergoing chemotherapy. “My mom is up to fail, and I’m comfortable with that without officially being a student. Once the real reason I keep going to school,” because you need to fail a lot to find out he was used to being at the front of the he shares. “I keep hearing her voice in what works.” classroom, he really enjoyed it. “The first the back of my mind saying, ‘You will get When asked, “Do you know what time I saw people writing down what an education!’ ” you want to be when you grow up?” I was saying, I thought, ‘They think I Given his busy schedule, ensuring he responds, “No. Some of the most know what I’m talking about!’ ” a healthy life balance is important to interesting people don’t know what Gbekorbu’s employer encouraged Gbekorbu. He turns to exercise for stress they want to be when they’re 40, and I’m him to undertake training related to his relief, doing either cardio, weights or almost there.” D work at ISC, particularly when he moved yoga first thing in the morning, seven from business writing into market days a week. He has been lifting weights Sabrina Cataldo is an award-winning research. “My math had never been since age 12 but became serious about communications consultant who is addicted strong, so I decided I’d take the science fitness in university. “I noticed that a lot to education, tea, cats, and musical theatre, route and force myself to get better at of people would be at the University gym though not necessarily in that order. She plans it,” he explains. His plan was to pursue at the beginning of the semester, but to finish writing the first draft of her MA a diploma in economics; however, when exams hit, they stopped going,” he English thesis this year, with the assistance of upon reviewing the credit hours from says. “In my third year, I decided that it her feline companions, many mugs of green his previous degrees, he realized that was more important to be consistent and tea and frequent singing breaks.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 27 Designs on a career in New York

Chris Dixon BA’91 has worked for The Financial Post, New York Magazine, New York Times Magazine and Adbusters, the influential social activist journal. Now, the U of R grad is sitting in the design director’s office at one of North America’s most famous magazines – Vanity Fair.

By BD Miller BA(Hons)’89, BJ’95 Photos by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department.

hese days, University of Regina alumnus Chris Dixon works on one of the top floors of the Condé Nast Building in New York’s Times Square, designing a magazine with a global Treputation and a circulation of nearly 1.2 million. When he’s not there, you might find him at Vanity Fair’s annual Oscar party in Hollywood, or at one of the magazine’s other celebrity events. Dixon’s come a long way since the late 1980s, when he was a general arts student at the University of Regina – unsure of what he wanted to do in life or even what his major should be. Rather than regret those years as a “major-less” arts student, Dixon speaks fondly of his time on campus and says his studies at the U of R helped propel him to where he is today. Dixon was born near Regina and attended Luther High School. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the U of R in the fall of that year. He is the son of long-time U of R professor William Dixon, who taught theatre and drama for more than 25 years before retiring in 1990. When Chris first enrolled at the U of R, he was like a lot of first-year students, not really knowing what classes he wanted to take or what field he wanted to specialize in. But he enjoyed learning as well as the variety in the Faculty of Arts, and so started working toward his bachelor’s degree.

28 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Vanity Fair design director Chris Dixon in the Condé Nast Building off New York’s Times Square.

“I studied all these things – math and theology and doing at Emily Carr because I was coming at it with a lot more philosophy and logic – and that helped me later in getting into background.” a career,” Dixon says. “Especially working in magazines, the Dixon convocated from Emily Carr in 1997 with a Master arts degree from the U of R gave me a basis of knowledge about of Fine Arts degree, majoring in graphic design. Typically, everything – all different aspects and disciplines.” graduates of that program go on to work for advertising Dixon completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1992. “I had a agencies or do other corporate work such as designing logos majority of psychology classes, so that’s what the major ended and signage. Others end up in publishing, either designing up being,” he recalls. “But I just wanted to get a general arts book covers or working for magazines. Dixon was open to any degree because I hadn’t quite figured out what I wanted to do.” of these possibilities, but as his graduation from Emily Carr As graduation neared, Dixon contemplated what he should neared, a chance opportunity came his way. He got a tip from do next. He considered a graduate degree in psychology one of his professors that Kalle Lasn, editor of Adbusters, a and thought about enrolling in the Faculty of Education to Vancouver-based social activist magazine, was looking to hire a become a teacher, but nothing seemed like a good fit. Some new art director. in Dixon’s position might have looked to their father’s career “Adbusters was a non-profit quarterly magazine, and at that for inspiration, but Dixon says he never seriously considered time it was small,” Dixon recalls. “They usually hired a recent becoming a drama professor. He does remember hanging grad for art director, even though it was basically a top job – around a lot at the U of R’s College Avenue campus, where the you were in charge of the magazine’s design.” Faculty of Fine Arts (and his father’s office) was located. Lasn had recently visited Emily Carr as a guest instructor “Dad was still teaching, and I’d see him around and go visit in a class on political and social design, and Dixon had done a him in the theatre department quite a bit. We would go over project for him as part of that class. His subsequent interview and visit the old campus when they were putting on plays, and with Lasn for the art director position went well, and Dixon spent a lot of time over there watching people build sets and was offered the job. make costumes.” “So I graduated in May and by June I had the job as art Dixon spent the two years after graduation travelling and director at Adbusters – straight out of Emily Carr,” Dixon says. working in Regina. For his own interest, he also started taking “It didn’t pay a lot, but it was a good job.” evening community classes at the Neil Balkwill Centre, Even though he had the art director title, Dixon was basically studying photography, drawing and design. Gradually Dixon a one-man design shop at Adbusters. “Now [at Vanity Fair] I have started thinking about photography and design less as a hobby an entire department. I’ve got designers and photo editors and and more as a possible future career. He enrolled at the Emily all these things,” Dixon says. “There it was just me, so I would Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver in 1994. He do all the design and I would research all the photo shoots and says his time at the U of R helped give him a leg up on many of photography.” his fellow classmates at Emily Carr. While at Adbusters, Dixon embarked on a major redesign of “What was so good about doing a general arts degree at the the magazine. Most of the previous art directors had only worked U of R was that I’d studied all these other things. When I went part-time “so it was always a kind of scrappy-looking magazine,” to Emily Carr to study art and design, a lot of the students had Dixon says. “But I’d just graduated and I thought ‘maybe we can come straight out of high school to do a four-year program, maybe make this magazine look good,’ because the content was so they just didn’t have as much general education. Later on, good. It had good essays and the editor was really passionate the things I studied at the U of R fed into the projects I was about anti-consumerism and the environment.”

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 29 Left: Dixon at his desk at the headquarters of Vanity Fair magazine in New York. Centre: Dixon with comedian Tracy Morgan and actress Betty White. Right: The May 2010 New York Magazine cover featuring Morgan and White.

Dixon changed the magazine’s style by using different types Adbusters and is currently the interactive director and co‑owner of photography and enhancing the cover designs. The new-look of The Goggles, a Vancouver-based media firm. He says Dixon’s magazine started attracting more attention, and Dixon and gifts as a magazine designer and design director are manifest. Lasn began entering Adbusters in Canada’s national magazine “I’ve always appreciated how good he is at assembling a awards. Their collective efforts culminated in 1999 when bunch of different information onto a page and making it not Adbusters won Canadian magazine of the year. only readable, but enjoyable,” Simons says. “He’s also very good “That was the pinnacle of my two years there,” Dixon says. at working with other artists and having that team around him. “After we redesigned the magazine, made it look different, the He’s a natural leader.” magazine started winning awards and doing quite well. We Simons says Dixon has a knack for picking the right photo or were on a roll.” illustration and then presenting it in a compelling way. “That But Dixon had to leave Adbusters and Vancouver soon after shines through in his work. He has this innate sense of what’s when his partner, Mackenzie Stroh, was accepted into graduate going to give an emotional presence to an image or story. What school in Montreal (they’re now married and have a two-year- he did at New York – it was the magazine to look at in America old son). Dixon couldn’t find any design work in Montreal, but for half a decade.” landed a job as a designer with the New York Times Magazine. In fact, while Dixon was design director at New York, the After two years with the New York Times, Dixon freelanced weekly racked up a number of national magazine awards for its for other newspapers and magazines, including designing for covers and overall design and for general excellence. “We did The Financial Times and developing a new in-flight magazine well,” Dixon concedes. “Much of it had to do with Adam Moss for South American LAN Airlines. Meanwhile, Dixon’s former because he was a great editor. But the magazine won all these editor at the New York Times Magazine, Adam Moss, had become awards every year and we started to get a lot of attention.” editor of the city weekly magazine, New York. One of the people taking note of what was happening at “Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, New York was quite a good New York Magazine was Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair. magazine,” Dixon says. “They had Woody Allen writing for He started poaching some of the staff at New York for his own it and Gloria Steinem, and it was an interesting magazine for magazine, and one day an email from Carter landed in Dixon’s journalism. But over the years different publishers had turned inbox. it into this kind of weekly ‘Where to go in the Hamptons’, and “I wasn’t too keen on leaving New York Magazine,” Dixon it had degraded a bit.” says, “but over the next year Graydon and I met a couple of Moss was relaunching the magazine in 2004 with the goal times to discuss it, and finally I just decided to go.” of returning it to its former glory, and he hired a number of He started as the new design director at Vanity Fair in former colleagues from the New York Times, including Dixon as November 2011, and his first issue came out in January his art director. Two years later, Dixon was promoted to design 2012 with Lady Gaga on the cover (photographed by Annie director. In total, he stayed at New York for eight years, during Leibovitz). Coincidentally, Dixon’s first issue also featured a which time the weekly reclaimed its position as one of the top short article about Kalle Lasn, his former editor at Adbusters. By magazines in American journalism. then, Lasn was achieving even greater notoriety as one of the “It was kind of a crazy job,” Dixon says, noting that a weekly instigators behind the burgeoning “Occupy Wall Street” protest magazine like New York requires a much faster pace than a movement. quarterly like Adbusters. “It was really busy and long hours, and Dixon isn’t sure what Lasn would think of his one-time we were just turning stuff out.” art director now working in New York for Vanity Fair, but he He says the most important responsibility of the design hopes he might approve. “There are other magazines that are director at New York is the cover. “That determines how [an more consumer driven that [Lasn] would probably find more issue] sells and it gets certain buzz, so you want something objectionable,” Dixon laughs. “Vanity Fair is known, obviously, clever for the cover, something engaging and interesting and for covering celebrity and Hollywood, but it’s also known for exciting. Our editor was really involved in the covers too, so great writing and for great journalism.” D we spent a lot of time in my office going through different headlines and images and trying different things with type.” Writer and playwright BD Miller is a two-time graduate of the Fellow U of R and Emily Carr grad Michael Simons BA’97 has U of R. His full-length musical drama Swept Off Our Feet: Boris been friends with Dixon since high school and has followed Karloff and the Regina Cyclone premièred last July at the Regina his career with interest. Simons is a former creative director at Performing Arts Centre as a Regina Summer Stage production.

30 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Alumni Association President’s Message

It has been my distinct pleasure During the past year, the Alumni long‑term plans and accountability Finally, I would like to recognize to serve this year as University of Association board committees have measures. outgoing URAA board members Regina Alumni Association (URAA) kept the work of the association The URAA is grateful for the Richard Kies, Lisa King and Jay president. Among the highlights moving forward in such areas as excellent working relationship Kirkland for their dedication and of the past year was the Alumni scholarships, sponsorship and and partnership that exists hard work, particularly through their Crowning Achievement Dinner, fall marketing. The board is particularly with the University’s External contributions to the development of and spring convocations, Slam proud of the new alumni logo that Relations department as well as memorandums of understanding. Dunk and round table meetings with was launched this year. the exceptional communications My very best wishes to Jeph students – in particular Aboriginal We are pleased to have signed a we enjoy with President Vianne Maystruck who will assume the students and alumni. memorandum of understanding with Timmons. University of Regina Alumni I would like to recognize the the University of Regina that secures I would like to offer a special word Association presidency in July. engagement of the University of association revenue from affinity of thanks to the Alumni Association Regina alumni chapters across partnerships. The joint agreement board and executive – they are an Gwen Keith BEd’74, MEd’77, Canada and warmly welcome our with the University’s External outstanding team of volunteers, PGDEA’83, MEd’84 new Regina chapter. Relations unit was developed deeply engaged in supporting your President collaboratively and includes University.

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Degrees | spring/summer 2013 31 In 2001, a broad coalition of farmers, environmentalists and civil society groups came together to put a stop to the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat by the biotechnology giant Monsanto. Many of those same producers who rejected GM wheat had widely embraced GM canola. Why the vastly different attitudes towards the two crops? University of Regina Assistant Geography Professor Emily Eaton suggests it’s, in part, the symbolic importance of wheat and the fundamental difference between bread and oil.

By Emily Eaton Photos by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department and courtesy of Emily Eaton.

Against the grain

32 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 amily farmers have always been as part of my degree at the large urban- Wheat farmers produce a crop that somewhat of an enigma to me: focused Department of Geography at is known internationally for its high they tend to vote for parties on the University of Toronto. I spent the quality standards and protein content, the political right against their summer of 2006 and the winter of 2007 and farmers understand themselves as Fown economic interests; they’ll continue back in Saskatchewan as a home base producing a breadbasket for the world. to operate even when they don’t make and talked to plenty of farmers and This is often spoken about as a patriotic a profit, in fact, they’ll subsidize their representatives from other relevant act of global citizenship. Indeed, farms with the proceeds of off-farm organizations like Monsanto, Agriculture programs like the Canadian Foodgrains work; they deal in huge dollar amounts, Canada, Canadian Canola Council, Bank, where farmers donate their grains but end up with so little. Economists Canadian Wheat Board and many more. as aid to areas of the world suffering call them ”non-rational” actors because The answer to the question about why from famine and malnutrition draw on they exhibit behaviour that makes little farmers had enthusiastically embraced and reproduce the breadbasket narrative. rational sense and political economists RR canola but rejected RR wheat proved The prospect of delivering genetically continue to be fascinated with how to have much to do with the diverging modified grain for bread to the global and why they have not already become political and institutional histories of the community threatens to undermine the extinct and replaced by the corporations two crops and the culturally significant wholesomeness of the breadbasket and that characterize all other processes in differences between oil and bread. the patriotic act of giving. our food systems. Campaigners against RR wheat found it Despite having grown up in fairly easy to engage urban consumers on Saskatchewan, I knew very few farmers Wheat still maintains a the issue because of the ubiquity of wheat until I met many of them during my strong symbolic importance in processed foods and because of the fieldwork while investigating the deep symbolism associated with bread. politics of genetically modified (GM) on the Prairies despite Indeed, bread is a culturally significant organisms. Being a descendant of settlers, an increasingly urban food, one of the main staples of European I have surprisingly few farmers in my population. and North American diets. We break family tree. But when you grow up in bread with our families and communities, Saskatchewan, you also grow up steeped and the food itself is associated with in narratives about the settling of the Wheat still maintains a strong warm thoughts of togetherness. Prairies through the wheat economy symbolic importance on the Prairies Canola, on the other hand, is not and staring at fields upon fields of wheat despite an increasingly urban a culturally significant food. If it has and other crops on long family car trips. population. Stories about the wheat any meaning with consumers at all, Despite my lack of farm background, economy and the back-breaking it is understood as a healthy cooking studying farmers and, particularly, the labour of settlers, who lived in relative oil. Before Canadian plant breeders politics of wheat seemed inherited from isolation without services such as transformed rapeseed into canola in my social and natural landscape. running water and electricity, maintain the 1970s by reducing its erucic acid When six farm groups stood alongside a prominent position in official cultural (thereby lowering its saturated fats) Greenpeace, the Council of Canadians histories reproduced by the provinces. and glucosinolates, rapeseed had been and the Canadian Health Coalition in For Eisler (2006), this is one of the used primarily as machine grease. Thus, 2001 at a press conference in Winnipeg, myths that has produced the sense concerted advertising campaigns had to announcing their opposition to the of belonging and the emotional and transform the crop from machine grease introduction of Monsanto’s Roundup psychological bonds of a provincial to edible oil in the eyes of the consuming Ready (RR) wheat, I was intrigued. Here community like Saskatchewan. Of public. Among farmers, the crop is was another puzzle related to farmers’ course, this construction of community understood as the product of scientific behaviour and political actions. Over is also highly exclusionary to groups innovation (even though current the previous decade, farmers had that were not part of the pioneering varieties of wheat are also the product of enthusiastically adopted the same history and erases the violence done to plant breeding). It is not associated with genetic modification from the same Indigenous peoples who were forced the pioneering history of the province or company in another crop – canola. In off the land in favour of wheat and its farmers, and has an entrepreneurial fact, by 2005, GM canola accounted settlers. Nevertheless, as an image of a rather than a traditional or romantic for 78 per cent of all canola grown shared past the wheat economy remains character. nationally. So why did farmers lead a fundamental to many aspects of modern The history of the wheat economy coalition that successfully warded off prairie society. Not only that, but the in the Prairies is also a story about the introduction of Monsanto’s Roundup wheat economy places the Prairies in farmers organizing collectively to curb Ready trait in wheat? Canadian national narratives; through the economic exploitation they were This would be the question that drove wheat, the Prairies make a claim to experiencing at the hands of the large my doctoral research, which I conducted national belonging. corporations that dominated many

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 33 Early on in the debate, the CWB was quickly and relatively to gain momentum as provincial and federal states began to adjust to easily able to survey its main customers about their and promote neoliberal strategies of acceptance of GM wheat and publicize the conclusive governance that saw state supports results of these consultations – over two-thirds of for agriculture slashed (this happened around the same time as widespread customers had reservations about accepting GM wheat. cuts in other industries and social services). In this policy context, political stages of the wheat commodity chain. Board (CWB), making delivery to it organizing among farmers revolved Despite their relative atomization on mandatory and thereby providing around maintaining the status quo and distant homesteads, in the early 1900s farmers with a powerful institution canola became a cash crop that could farmers began to organize collectively explicitly mandated to work in their help buffer the economic hardships that against the ability of upstream and interests. Indeed the presence and role accompanied international recessions downstream commercial actors to of the CWB in the wheat commodity and declining domestic supports. In capture all the potential farm profit. chain was another factor owing to canola, farmers never formed a collective Much of this early farm organizing farmers’ successful resistance against institution working to promote their took the form of building producer RR wheat. Early on in the debate, the interests. The Canola Council of Canada, cooperatives in the grain handling CWB was quickly and relatively easily for example, dates back to the 1960s, industry, including cooperative elevator able to survey its main customers but was established in order to pool companies in Saskatchewan and Alberta about their acceptance of GM wheat the resources of all those with a stake and a prairie-wide marketing agency and publicize the conclusive results of in the canola industry. The concerns established in 1906 called the Grain these consultations – over two-thirds of private companies (especially those Growers’ Grain Company (GGGC). of customers had reservations about associated with agricultural inputs and In the early 1920s, through large- accepting GM wheat. processors) easily rose to the forefront of scale and labour intensive drives that Canola has no history of collective the Council’s work. involved going ‘door to door’ to convince farm organizing. From the beginning, A final difference between the politics farmers to sign contracts promising canola was viewed as a high-value of RR wheat and RR canola comes down that they would pool their wheat, the cash crop and farmers could generally to the different agronomic practices of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta sell it at a much higher price than farmers associated with the different Wheat Pools were established. When the highest grade of wheat. Although crops. Wheat has certain biological international grain prices collapsed in canola involved more risk than wheat, and agronomic characteristics that 1929 and the Great Depression began, the gamble paid off just often enough. have made it a crop that is particularly the Pool’s Central Selling Agency found Compared to wheat, canola uses a lot of attractive to prairie farmers. Specifically, itself in huge financial difficulty, owing nitrogen and other expensive chemicals substantial sums to banks, and having to control flea beetles, diamondback already given out initial payments for moths and armyworms, but with greater the 1929 crop that international grain fluctuations in price the rewards can prices could not support. Farmers’ be more handsome. For these reasons, demands to bring back a national, state- among others, political organizing operated central selling agency and pool around canola never coalesced as it for wheat (which had been a temporary did around wheat. Furthermore, by measure during the First World War) the time canola was being grown in were finally heeded. any significant amount, a political In 1935, by an Act of Parliament, movement away from the welfare state the Canadian Wheat Board was re- was well underway at regional, national established as a voluntary marketing and international scales. For example, it agency for wheat. The provincial pools was not until 1978 that canola reached continued to operate their cooperative 10 per cent of all acres seeded to grain on grain handling systems allowing farmers the Prairies. This happened during the to by-pass the private grain companies. final stage of a broad political consensus Cooperatives were also used to fight that saw relatively stable funding against banking monopolies; credit and supports for agriculture, both unions and cooperative insurance began provincially and federally, including to be organized in the late 1930s. cooperative enterprises, plant breeding, Prairie farmers eventually gained transportation subsidies, etc. a single desk for the Canadian Wheat The production of canola continued Assistant Professor of Geography Emily Eaton.

34 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 public investment in wheat breeding since the late 1800s has produced varieties that are particularly well- adapted to the short and dry growing season of the Canadian plains. Furthermore, Canadian farmers have relatively unrestricted access to seed and seed saving in wheat. In fact, seed saving remains a culturally significant practice for wheat farmers. The farmers I interviewed as part of this research also report using wheat in their rotations to break cycles of disease and state that a variety of fairly inexpensive herbicides have been introduced to effectively control weeds in wheat crops. For these reasons wheat continues to be a very important part of rotations and prairie farm economies even though farm prices for wheat are low compared to other field crops like canola, lentils and peas. While wheat no longer dominates production like it did in the early 1900s, it still remains a widely planted crop among farmers. Grown by many of the same farmers who save their wheat seed, canola seed, by contrast, is regularly bought by prairie farmers. Canola is also more intensively managed by farmers than wheat. Specifically, the crop’s weed and disease- prone disposition in farmers’ fields has meant that farmers are very interested in new technologies (including production systems such as zero till and genetic modification) and chemicals for weed management. Because of these agronomic difficulties, canola is best grown in a four-year rotation, and, thus, canola is less amenable to the practice Eaton’s current research interest focuses on the Saskatchewan oil industry and the real costs associated with industry and government securing consent for oil extraction in the province. of seed saving. For all of these reasons a culture of seed saving does not exist with the crop, and so farmers were less plant relationships, warding off risk, moved the products of plant breeding resistant to Monsanto’s RR modification fighting for a fair share of the profits into private hands and infringed on that forces farmers back to the store each derived from farm labour and so much cultural attachments to wheat. D year for seed. more. Cultural attachments to bread as a By the end of my research into the meaningful food and wheat as the crop Emily Eaton is an assistant professor of diverging histories, agronomies and with which the Prairies were settled and geography at the University of Regina cultures of wheat and canola I wondered around which early farm organizing specializing in political economy and natural are farmers really ”non-rational” actors coalesced meant that farmers and the resource economies. She is also active in a as economists would have us believe? public understood wheat as much variety of social justice struggles. Her book Perhaps they behave in ways that defy more than its monetary return on the Growing Resistance: Canadian Farmers rational economic behaviour, but family market. We might say that Monsanto’s and the Politics of Genetically Modified farming has always been about more proposed RR wheat economy crossed Wheat was published in April by University than making a living. It’s also about moral boundaries; it proposed a product of Manitoba Press. Excerpts from the book making a community, fostering people- that farmers neither wanted nor needed, appear here.

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 35 Blair Stonechild MA’89, PhD’04 Sandra Favel (nee Pelletier) BISW’98 Jadon Frank BKin’07 moved to 1970-1979 won the Rasmussen, Rasmussen celebrated the birth of her first Caronport, Saskatchewan in 2012 Shirley Whitaker BEd’71 worked and Charowsky Aboriginal Peoples’ grandchild in February this year. to work at Briercrest College as its at the Pembina Trains School Writing Award for his work Buffy athletic business coordinator. Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba Sainte Marie: It’s My Way at the 2013 and Evergreen School Division in Saskatchewan Book Awards. 2000-2009 Marlene Bugler MBA’08 returned Gimli, Manitoba until 2011. After she to North Battleford, Saskatchewan retired, Whitaker and her husband Tara Ursulescu BA Hons’03 has recently to become the executive moved to British Columbia’s 1990-1999 explored many career paths since director with Kanaweyimik Child and Okanagan Valley. They plan to graduating. She interviewed people Family Services Inc. enjoy golf and travel around British Sharon Finnik BA’93 won the YWCA who experienced natural disasters Columbia in their new RV. Women of Distinction Award in the for a documentary series that aired Circle of Friends category for her on The Discovery Channel. She has 2010-present Gunther Pabst MA’72 is working fundraising efforts for breast cancer also used her client-centered skills as a freelance consultant in drug research. in psychology to work at a women’s Doug Yaremko MBA’10 recently development. shelter, as a recruitment counsellor accepted a position with HSBC Bank Melanie Schnell BEd’93 won the and as a human resources Canada. Leonard Moleski BEd’73 was an National Bank Financial Wealth consultant for various government elementary school teacher with Management First Book Award and agencies. Currently, she is pursuing Recent graduate Janell Dautel Regina Public Schools for 36 years. the Drs. Morris & Jacqui Shumiatcher a writing career and is serving CSW’11, BSW’11 is looking forward He retired in 2007 and later moved to Regina Book Award for her work as guest editor of Soulwoman to beginning her career as a social Vonda, Saskatchewan with his wife. While the Sun is Above Us at the eMagazine. She is contributing to worker. 2013 Saskatchewan Book Awards. two upcoming books. Joanne Skidmore BA’74 received the Teresa Thrun BEd’12 is teaching YWCA Regina’s Women of Distinction Interim president and chief executive Satpal Singh Virdi BAdmin’03 is Grade 7 in Fort Qu’Appelle, Award in the Arts category. officer of the Canadian Nuclear enrolled in the Johnson-Shoyama Saskatchewan at Fort Qu’Appelle Association, Heather Kleb MSc’94 Graduate School of Public Policy Elementary Community School Wayne Morgan BA’73, CA’84 was has over 20 years experience in a master of public policy degree and is helping with cross-cultural the director/curator at Regina Public variety of environmental industries. program. He plans to enrol in the awareness. She is also excited to Library’s Dunlop Art Gallery from PhD program this fall. be leading an after-school beading 1970 to 1984. Georgina Bugera Mott BEd’95 has club. been teaching internationally since Sandra Cripps MHRM’06 was 1995. She is currently teaching at the appointed the new CEO of the Kobie Spriggs BA’12 has enrolled in Istanbul International Community Saskatchewan Association for a master’s program after completing 1980-1989 School in Turkey and welcomed a Safe Workplaces in Health. The his arts degree, majoring in Christine Burton BA’80 (Campion daughter in 2010. organization’s mission is to guide philosophy with a minor in women College) received the Queen the health-related industry in the and gender studies. Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Rob Liggette BEd’95 is currently elimination of workplace illness and at an October 2012 ceremony. She working on his PhD in Education injury. From 1998 to 2005 Cripps Kate Ward (nee Kathy DeBenedetti) received the medal in recognition Administrative Leadership. was the director of Recreation and DipBA’12 will receive her certificate of her leadership, particularly in Volunteer Services at Regina Pioneer in public relations from the the promotion of diversity and Gladys Lundy (nee Noble) BEd’95 Village. From 2005 to earlier this University of Regina Credit Studies inclusiveness. She was recently has been working at Crossworld, a year, she was director of Program Division at the spring convocation. appointed the director general of mission organization, since 1973 and and Resource Development in She is also taking classes towards marketing at Service Canada. is celebrating 40 years of overseas the Workforce Planning Branch at her undergraduate degree in service with them this year. She Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. Business Administration. Mary Paula Brooke CPR’85 is the completed her teacher’s certificate editor and publisher of a weekly in 1965. Meghan Krahn (nee Anderson) Jane Lyster BSW’12 is working on a newspaper in Sooke, British Columbia BEd’07 is working for a not-for-profit Master of Arts in Integrated Studies called the Sooke Voice News. Sandra Ermel CSW’96 has retired and organization called Rock Solid through Athabasca University while enjoys travelling. Her most recent Refuge. This certified, independent working full-time. Carol Fulton BEd’86, MEd’93 won road trip took her more than 17,000 school offers 12 to 15 month the YWCA Regina’s Women of kilometres around North America. programs for teen boys struggling A complete listing of Class Notes is Distinction Award in the Education with life-controlling issues, such as available on the Alumni Relations and Mentorship category. Evangeline Godron BA’97 is currently addictions. website. To view Class Notes go to: the vice-president of the Green www.uregina.ca/external/alumni- After working for Sirte Oil from Party of Saskatchewan. She is also Aaron Kaytor BA’08 is in the Royal relations/alumni-stories/class- 1990 to 2003, Brian Braun BA’88 a playwright, with her plays having Canadian Navy. He was deck officer notes/index.html. relocated to south Florida where he been performed at the Regina Globe for five years before returning to co-developed a device to accurately Theatre, Halifax Fringe Festival and a Regina as a recruiting officer in 2012. and continuously monitor the women’s play festival in the United amount of fluid leaving a chemical Kingdom. injection pump.

36 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS Alumni Annual General Meeting and Reception University of Regina alumni are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the University of Regina Alumni Association. A reception will follow Date: Thursday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. Location: College Building, Room 112 on the historic College Avenue Campus. Free public parking is available behind the building and at the parking meters. Please pre-register for this free event at www.uregina.ca/external/ alumni-relations.

Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards Celebration The Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards dinner will be held on Friday, September 20 at the Conexus Art Centre, 200A Lakeshore Drive in Regina. Tickets will be available in August for $75/person or $600 for a table of eight. For more information, contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] or 1-877-779-4723.

University of Regina Alumni Branches Get connected to U of R alumni in your region. To find out more about what is happening in your area, please contact your branch representative. • National Capital Region (NCR)/Ottawa – Joanne Pomalis BSc’86, [email protected] • Greater Toronto Area – Leah Morrigan BFA’96, [email protected] • Saskatoon – Stormy Holmes BASc’98, CA’01, [email protected] • Calgary – Stuart Quinn BAdmin’81, [email protected] • Edmonton – Brad Rollins BAdmin’78, [email protected] • Vancouver – Tricia Gilliss BBA’09, [email protected] Let us know if you would like more information or would like to help organize an alumni event in your region. Contact us at [email protected].

The University of Regina Alumni Association is accepting applications for the URAA Board of Directors 2013-2014.

• Are you interested in serving the University of Regina through alumni participation? • Are you looking for an opportunity to add value to alumni membership? • Are you interested in giving back with your professional expertise and committing volunteer hours to the URAA?

Please respond before the AGM with a resume and letter of how you might serve and contribute to the alumni community. There are two director positions available on the Board. Voting will take place at the annual general meeting in Regina on June 20, 2013. contact: [email protected] www.uregina.ca/external/alumni-relations

Degrees | spring/summer 2013 37 Realize. Supporting indigenization.

Moses Gordon, Student, History & Economics major

ndigenization is one of the key tenets of the University of Regina's Strategic Plan entitled Imâmawohkamâtowin, a Cree word meaning "co- operation; working together towards common goals".

We have committed to a wide range of initiatives to support indigenization across our campus and beyond.

Our newly expanded Aboriginal Student Centre helps ensure our students make a seamless transition into university and helps our graduates make successful forays into the job market.

In April, we hosted a two-day summit exploring best practices in post-secondary education for Aboriginal JoLee Blackbear, Assistant Professor, peoples across Canada. Educational Psychology, and Researcher (impact on Misty Longman, Manager, survivors of Residential School Reconciliation Process) Aboriginal Student Centre Additionally, faculty members like JoLee Blackbear are attracting funding for research that helps us better understand Aboriginal issues and their impact on society.

www.uregina.ca/student/asc