BRANDON UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2020 versus 10 theBrandon virus University comes together by spreading apart career in motion 14 politically charged 18 SEVEN SACRED TEACHINGS Knowledge keeper Barb Blind performs a smudging ceremony as signs representing the Seven Sacred Teachings are unveiled outside He Oyate Tawapi (Ceremony Room) in the Dr. James and Mrs. Lucille Brown Health Studies Complex. Little Feet. Big Responsibility. Brandon University Looking after your family is not just about today’s new shoes, it’s about always. Our Term Life Insurance lets you live life fully and enjoy every moment, confident DEGREE FRAMES that you have provided for the future of those most important to you. Available for purchase through Term Life Insurance Please visit us at: the Alumni Association Office. To solutionsinsurance.com/brandon view the many different 1.800.266.5667 styles go to Underwritten by Industrial Alliance Insurance & Financial Services Inc. iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of BrandonU.ca/Alumni/Frames Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. 2 CLARK MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020 IN THIS ISSUE 4 President’s Message 22 Sports 27 In Memoriam 5 Campus 23 Homecoming 28 Discovery 10 Features 26 Alumni 30 Support VERSUS THE VIRUS 10 career in motion 14 politically charged 18 OUR TEAM Produced by BU Marketing & Communications Feedback or Letters to the Editor Send us your stories – As alumni, you undoubtedly [email protected] have much to tell us about the relationships that you Writers – Perry Bergson, Tyler Crayston, Paige Cuvelier, Dr. David Docherty, Carla Eisler, developed while at BU – [email protected] Advancement & External Relations Staff Shawna English, Grant Hamilton, Rob Henderson, Craig Cesmystruk, Web Content Editor Clark is published twice a year and reaches more than Matt Packwood. Paige Cuvelier, Development Officer 15,000 alumni and friends of Brandon University – Bruce Bumstead, Teresa Flannery, Carla Eisler, Director, Advancement & Alumni Affairs worldwide. Photographers Shawna English, Development Officer Surien Fourie, Harald Grove, Grant Hamilton, Rob To date, thousands of alumni have supported the Angela Hamm, Office Assistant Henderson, Gord Hill, Milana Paddock Photography. Brandon University Alumni Association (BUAA) Grant Hamilton, Director, Marketing & Communications through participation in alumni programs, affinity On the Cover – Clark Hall Rob Henderson, Marketing Communications Officer products and service offerings. If you do not wish to – Leech Printing Ltd., Brandon, Robyn Long, Stewardship & Information Layout & Printing be provided with product or service offers or do not Man. This magazine is printed on paper stock Management Administrator wish to receive Clark in the future, please contact the obtained from sustainable sources. Hillary Miller, Office Assistant Alumni Office. Greg Misener, Web Designer Advertising – 204.727.9762 or [email protected] Brandon University Alumni Office Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Publications mail agreement #40064061 Phone: 204.727.9697 • Fax: 204.727.4674 Brandon University Alumni Association [email protected] • BrandonU.ca/Alumni 270–18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 6A9 SUMMER 2020 CLARK MAGAZINE 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Unity in Times of Crisis As I conclude my first year at Brandon University, I times, with a feature on four BU alumni who are now was expecting to have seen some changes. Apologies to in positions of leadership in Manitoba as Members of Groucho Marx, but this is ridiculous! the Legislative Assembly. They include Premier Brian Pallister of the governing Progressive Conservatives, Campus life has been completely upended, and and Uzoma Asagwara, a New Democrat who made I’m sure your life was as well. In the space of mere history last fall by becoming Manitoba’s first Black weeks, the coronavirus pandemic forced us all to re- and queer MLA. evaluate many things we previously took for granted. As the weeks stretch into months, we have a better We’ll also read about a BU professor who helps us to understanding of the new normal but remain in a make sense of all sides of the political spectrum. Kelly constant state of adaptation. Saunders is the chair of our Department of Political Science, a researcher and author, and one of Manitoba’s The pandemic forced us to make changes that most sought-after pundits by the media. previously seemed far-fetched—suspending in-person classes and exams, sending faculty and staff to work The contributions of our faculty, staff and alumni from home, shuttering the campus to public access, remain extremely important at Brandon University and even postponing our Spring Convocation, the and beyond as we chart out our next steps. Students culmination of our students’ academic journey. This will be looking at a very different job market that fall, almost all BU classes will be held online. While we must prepare them for, and communities will be these decisions were painful to make, they were not looking for our research to answer new questions. particularly difficult. The safety of our students, Education is the investment that always pays dividends, faculty and staff, as well as the well-being of our and we are ready here to put that investment to work. entire community, has always been paramount. I am What’s in these pages is just a sampling of the hard work thoroughly impressed by how everyone in the BU and innovation fostered at Brandon University every community has rallied together. day — hard work and innovation that has been working In this issue of Clark you’ll find a deeper look at double-time to respond to and cope with this pandemic. effects of Covid-19 on Brandon University in a special We are in this together, and we will overcome it feature. You’ll see how it has made us reconsider the together. Stay safe and keep the faith. way we deliver academic programming, how we can move forward, and even how we can look at the past for context, recalling the impact of the Spanish flu on Brandon College in 1918. We will also be learning more about some of the people DR. DAVID DOCHERTY we trust to guide us through changing and uncertain President of Brandon University 4 CLARK MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020 CAMPUS Major expansion of Co-operative Education program STUDENTS AT BRANDON UNIVERSITY now have “We’re blazing new trails for students to Manitoba’s fullest selection of experiential learning options further personalize degrees with majors that through Co-operative education. The Brandon University usually don’t have Co-op or work-integrated Senate has approved the addition of Co-op programs to eight learning opportunities,” said Lisa Robson, new majors, nearly doubling the number of majors with Co-op BU’s Acting Dean of Arts. “Students pursuing across the Faculties of Arts and Science. English, French, Religion, Philosophy, Rural and Community Studies and Native Studies This means that, starting in the fall, every BU science student degrees can now get Co-op experience as will have an opportunity to add Co-operative education as part part of their studies.” of their degree. Cora Dupuis This new expansion makes Brandon “Hands-on learning has long been a core part of science education, University the only university in the province to offer Co-op to and our students get valuable education in the lab and in the field,” all of its Science majors and most of its Arts students. said Bernadette Ardelli, BU’s Dean of Science. “Now, through Co-op partnerships, BU students can also get valuable experience “Talent is built in Brandon” said Cora Dupuis, who leads BU’s partnering with industry and communities, where they can Co-operative Education Program. immediately apply their learning in a real-world environment.” “In the coming year, we plan to add Co-op to even more majors Brandon University’s growing Co-op program is also finding and to keep expanding opportunities for students to make their new opportunities for Arts students. degrees work for them.” New Chief Information Officer hired Everett Hopfner leads Conservatory LIBRARIAN AND INFORMATION AWARD-WINNING PIANIST A management expert has joined and Brandon University alumnus Brandon University as its new Chief Everett Hopfner has taken on the Information Officer. role of Interim Director of the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory Melanie Sucha arrived from Calgary, of Music at BU. where she held positions at Suncor Energy and the provincial Alberta Hopfner has taught at the Energy Regulator. From Calgary she Conservatory since 2015 and has Melanie Sucha also taught distance courses in Library also been a sessional instructor at Everett Hopfner and Information Science in the Faculty BU’s School of Music. Raised in the of Information and Media Studies at Western University. Manitoba community of Ste. Rose du Lac, he earned a Bachelor of Music at BU before completing his graduate “I am extremely pleased to welcome Melanie to Brandon studies in Germany. Hopfner has also toured Canada as a University,” said Dr. Steve Robinson, BU’s Vice-President former winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music (Academic & Provost). “Her extensive experience at leading Competition, which is held annually at BU. organizations through digital transformations, combined with her advanced education in library and information science fits Hopfner is overseeing a wide range of programming precisely with BU’s unique needs.” that provides musical education and instruction to hundreds of students, ranging from three years old to The new position replaces what were previously three senior citizens. separate roles: University Librarian, Director of IT Services, and Director of Institutional Data and Analysis. SUMMER 2020 CLARK MAGAZINE 5 CAMPUS Significant gift will launch Al & Bee Wagner Indigenous Transition Program RANDON UNIVERSITY ALUMNA Daphne Wagner B and her husband David Green, along with their children, Lita and Michael, have committed to one of the largest gifts ever received by BU, funding a new program to help Indigenous students entering Business, Science or Health Studies transition Daphne Wagner and David Green effectively to university life.