Purchase Mount Royal University: A Work of Art, today!
Don't miss out on this beautiful commemorative art book, telling the story of MRU's first 100 years, using our mural mosaic images. Available at the Mount Royal BookStore until supplies last.
Leave your lasting legacy
Donate to the centennial mural project and receive your own piece of history.
This beer’s for MRU
Every dog has his day, or a case of beer, as the case may be.
About the only thing Mount Royal University alumnus Nick Fanella (above right) and semi-retired computer salesman Robert Madge (above left) and ever won was the love of a good woman.
Then the pair entered a contest to help Mount Royal and the Wild Rose Brewery name a special edition beer the University and Brewery have been collaborating on to celebrate Mount Royal’s 100th birthday.
Ironically, Fanella and Madge came up with the same name — Royal 100. It was a winner.
“Royal 100 really connects Mount Royal and the number 100 immediately,” says Lara Unsworth, Mount Royal’s centennial strategist. “It’s clear, it’s classic, it has a historic tone and it’s easy to remember for people who want to order the beer.”
Madge, who says he found out about the contest while surfing the Wild Rose website, was shocked to find out one of his entries hit the jackpot.
“I said, ‘holy cow, that’s neat.’ I don’t think I’ve won a thing in my life, so it was a fun moment and I’m really enjoying this experience.”
Fanella and Madge won a six pack of the one-litre bottles and a brewery tour for 15. Not necessarily life-changing, but a lot of fun none-the-less.
Sudsy inspiration
Madge says he gave though to and submitted a handful of different names but Royal 100 was more of a spontaneous response.
“It just came to me. There wasn’t much thought, to be honest. I played with Wild Rose and Mount Royal and 100 for a while and I think I sent in about six or seven suggestions, probably spending about 30 seconds on each of them.”
While the 65-year-old father of two never went to Mount Royal, one of his two daughters, Tegan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Athabasca University at Mount Royal in 2007. (Mount Royal now offers a Bachelor of Arts)
Fanella, who graduated from the former Urban Planning and Design program in 1989 and currently works with the Calgary Stampede, found out about the contest while flipping through Mount Royal’s alumni magazine, Reflections.
Short but sweet Reflection
“I strung the words, Mount Royal University 100 years, together and tried to make it as short as I could without giving up the meaning of it,” says Fanella.
“When I opened the e-mail informing me I’d won, I was surprised. I enter contests now and then but I never win. In fact, I’d totally forgotten about it until I opened the e-mail.”
Royal 100 will be available at the Wild Rose as well as at Coop liquor stores.
It will come in a one-liter commemorative bottle, selling for $10 each. The price was chosen because each dollar represents one decade and the size and old-fashioned style of the bottle represents Mount Royal’s deep roots in the community from day one.
The Mount Royal BookStore and Wild Rose Brewery are also selling commemorative Royal 100 pint glasses for $7 each.
“This is all about bringing people together,” says Unsworth.
— Steven Noble, Sept. 16, 2010