Our Community Archives

Bleed blue! Awards and Milestones

National campaign supports 2SLGBTQI+ people living with dementia

Jan. 18, 2024—
Dr. Celeste Pang, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities, partnered with Egale Canada on a recently launched national awareness campaign, supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada and in partnership with the National Institute on Ageing, Fondation Émergence, called "Help Us Remain". This campaign, based on her research, aims to spread awareness and improve conditions for 2SLGBTQI+ people living with dementia. Learn more and watch the full video.

Instructor garners multiple awards in 2023

Jan. 04, 2024—
Dr. Brad Hayes, PhD, sessional instructor in the Faculty of Science, is BIG Media’s Person of the Year for 2023. Hayes is president of geoscience consulting firm Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd. Earlier this year, Hayes was awarded the Stanley Slipper Gold Medal by the Canadian Energy Geoscientists Association. This award recognizes individuals that have made outstanding contributions to petroleum exploration and development in Canada over their careers.

Prof recognized for sustainability efforts

Jan. 04, 2024—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts, received the Sustainability Champion Award 2023 from Global Ambassadors of Sustainability, a global network to promote sustainability and build international partnerships. Datta was recognized for his ‘commitment and progressive efforts' to promote sustainability practices.

Students, faculty and alumni participate in decolonization and reconciliation publication

Dec. 07, 2023—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, MRU’s Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research, has brought together a number of members of the MRU community to contribute to his newest publication, "Decolonization in Practice: Reflective Learning from Cross-Cultural Perspectives." The work includes contributions from Indigenous, Black and racialized immigrant, refugee and ally scholars, researchers and practitioners, who share their experiences enacting decolonizing work in their communities. Featured are MRU faculty members Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane and Jebunnessa Chapola, alumnae Kristie Billard and Priyanka Mahey, students Ryan Whitford and Najla Mohammadi, and MRU postdoctoral fellow John Bosco Acharibasam.

'The University we Need'

Nov. 23, 2023—
James Stauch, director of the Institute for Community Prosperity, recently presented The University we Need: An Academy for Tomorrow at TEDxCalgary. His presentation explores how universities and institutions can support and develop innovation into the future.

Community-led climate change solutions

Nov. 23, 2023—
Ranjan Datta, assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research in the Department of Humanities, is a co-author on a new book available for pre-order, Indigenous Practice and Community-Led Climate Change Solutions: The Relevance of Traditional Cosmic Knowledge Systems.

Alumni net Business of the Year and Innovation awards

Nov. 09, 2023—
Athletic therapy alumni and business founders/owners Carly Kolesnik, Brodie Lefaivre, Ally Lo and their partners recently won the Business of the Year and Innovation awards at the Airdrie Business Awards. Sponsored by Airdrie Economic Development and the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce, the awards recognize, celebrate and support business success in Airdrie. Visit their Built By Revival business website.

Thank you for coming

Oct. 26, 2023—
Assistant Professor Elisabeth Richardson, PhD, (cellular and molecular biology) and Associate Professor Liza Choi (School of Nursing and Midwifery), were each recently recognized with an Alberta Newcomer Recognition Award in the Career and Academics Contribution category. Richardson’s innovative reclamation research in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region has been provincially and federally recognised, and Choi has created and championed a successful English as additional language program at MRU. Read more

Landmark study looks at aging well for LGBTQI older adults

Oct. 16, 2023—
Assistant professor Dr. Celeste Pang, PhD, recently published an open-access publication titled, "Aging and Living Well Among LGBTQI Older Adults in Canada: Findings From a National Study." The report was released by Egale Canada and is the largest scale Canadian study of its kind focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ aging issues. Read the study.

Alumni awarded for top business plan

Oct. 16, 2023—
MRU alum Tinashe Mukono, BBA’22, received a 2022 FITT Educational Award from the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), the national agency that provides international accreditation for trade professionals in Canada. Tinashe won the International Business Plan Award for outstanding work in his studies and earning the highest mark for a completed business plan

Marine sciences internship

Oct. 16, 2023—
Reaghan Ross has completed a Bamfield Undergraduate Research Internship at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island. Reaghan worked with Dr. Sara Smith, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. Their research focused on the impacts of climate change on fish populations. The Bamfield Undergraduate Research Internship program links undergraduate students with Faculty mentors as collaborators in marine science research projects. Learn more.

EU ambassador coming

Oct. 16, 2023—
Associate Professor Dr. Rajbit Bhatti, PhD, has organized a visit by Dr. Ailish Campbell, PhD, Canada’s Ambassador to the European Union, who will be on campus on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Professor Leah Hamilton.

Academic Advising team wins ASSC award

July 19, 2023—
The Alberta Services for Students Conference (ASSC) took place at Olds College at the end of June. During the conference, MRU’s Academic Advising Services team was presented with the ASSC award for Most Effective Team in Student Services, which goes to a team consisting of five or more members and that collectively demonstrates effective provision of student services through teamwork. Applications were evaluated by the conference’s provincial planning committee and selected through a majority vote process.

Calgary Black Chambers recognizes business prof

July 07, 2023—
Dr. Jacqueline Musabende, PhD, of the Bissett School of Business, has received the 2023 Calgary Black Achievement Award for Education. This award recognizes a Black educator whose educational practice is making a positive impact in the lives of students or Black youth in the community. Musabende is an associate professor in international business with the Bissett School of Business who does an outstanding job of supporting students. Read more.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognizes Summit

June 22, 2023—
The fall/winter 2022 edition of Summit has garnered a silver in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for its special section dedicated to the people of Ukraine. The award statement notes, “Judges appreciated the different approach to covering the content, with the subject matter of interest and value to its stakeholders and the broader community. We also enjoyed the variety of content, tone of the pieces, and the manner in which the deeper dive was included in the storyline.”

Kristen Schaffer, PhD selected as winner of dissertation award

June 22, 2023—
Dr. Kristen Schaffer, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Education, was recently selected as the recipient of the SERG-GRÉS Dissertation Award, which was presented to her at the 2023 CSSE Conference. Schaffer completed her doctoral dissertation in 2022, titled, “Children Do Science: Learning to Recognize Children’s Funds of Science Knowledge Expressed in a Community-Based Research Club Initiative,” and was nominated for the award by her supervisors.

Biology professor receives research award

June 09, 2023—
Assistant Professor Michael Asmussen, PhD, received a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar award to bring his research to Victoria Island University. The highly competitive award supports early career health researchers who are building leading-edge research programs and is highly competitive. Asmussen is also MRU’s Canada Research Chair in Neuromechanics and Human Physiology and leads the Foot-Ankle Stability (FASt) Lab. Read more.

Humanities professor elected as co-president of faculty association

June 09, 2023—
Associate Professor Corinne Mason, PhD (women’s and gender studies, Department of Humanities), has been elected to the position of co-president of the Women and Gender Studies et Recherches Féministes (WGSRF), which is the Canadian faculty association for women's and gender studies. The goals of the WGSRF are to promote and foster the field of women and gender studies and to build a network of its scholars across Canada.

Summit wins Alberta Magazine Award

May 25, 2023—
Summit, MRU’s university magazine, recently received a Gold award for Editorial Package at the Alberta Magazine Awards held by the Alberta Magazine Publisher’s Association. The award went to the "Stories of Ukraine" section in the fall/winter 2022 edition, and faced stiff competition against the likes of SAIT, the University of Alberta, Lethbridge College, EDifyThe Sprawl, and other great publications. Also nominated were "Tech Transformation" for the Alberta Story category and "What the Big Smoke Brought" in the Essay category, both for the spring/summer 2022 edition. 

Advancing the indigenization of education

May 25, 2023—
Earlier this spring, MRU’s Department of Education, in partnership with the Brown Bear Woman Cultural Centre and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), joined students, teachers and parents at the Dr. Freda Miller School. Teacher candidates from MRU and teachers and administrators from schools across the CBE learned Tipi Teachings from Joe Starlight and Bruce Starlight Jr. as part of a residency of the MRU Department of Education Tipi. Dr. Joshua Hill, PhD, worked with all involved to facilitate the residency, foster relationships and create an ethical space for the Tipi Teachings. Watch the video

BEd alumna shaping Calgary’s youth

May 25, 2023—
Bachelor of Education — Elementary graduate (class of 2015) Sara Tkachuk is now the Assessment Lead at the Calgary Academy, which focuses on supporting unique learners. Read how Tkachuk’s education at MRU led her to this leadership position at one of Calgary's top independent schools.

Special issue article led by humanities faculty member

May 25, 2023—
A special issue, "Anti-Racist Perspectives of Sustainabilities," led by assistant professor and Canada Research Chair Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, just compacted. This special issue has ten peer-reviewed contributions from North America, all free access. Read more.

World Health Organization acknowledges work by nursing profs and student

May 11, 2023—
Nursing professors Mohamed El Hussein, Aliyah Dosani, PhD, and student Nada Al-Wadeiah's publication, “Final-Year Nursing Students' Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review,” published in the Journal of Nursing Education in January 2023, has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Research Database.

Humanities professor selected as senior scientist

April 28, 2023—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, was nominated and selected as a senior scientist for the United Nations’ Development Programme (UNDP) Foresight. As a senior scientist in Community Disaster Research, Datta will support the Futures for the 2030 Agenda and provide a crisp and concise overview of the use of foresight for the implementation of sustainable development goals. Datta is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and MRU’s Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Community Disaster Research.

Providing tools for teachers experiencing vicarious trauma

April 28, 2023—
In collaboration with Bow Valley College, Professor Pat Kostouros, PhD, has created a toolkit titled Vicarious Trauma in the Classroom: Understanding and Preventing Vicarious Trauma. This three-year project had two research assistants from MRU embedded throughout. The toolkit is for teachers of English as an additional language to learn about and find strategies to mitigate the vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout that comes from working with immigrant and refugee learners from war-torn countries.

Every vote matters

April 28, 2023—
Kelly Kaur, an adjunct lecturer in the Department of English for 30 years, was recently named as one of the top 75 immigrants shortlisted across Canada for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award. You can support Kaur by voting before June 9.

Recent Bachelor of Education grad nominated for prestigious award

April 14, 2023—
Chantelle Clairmont, a 2022 Bachelor of Education — Elementary alumna, is the Calgary Board of Education’s (CBE) 2023 nominee for the prestigious Edwin Parr Teacher Award. Clairmont, who teaches at Sir John A. Macdonald School, was selected from 700 first-year CBE teachers. The Edwin Parr Teacher award was created by the Alberta School Boards Association in 1964 to recognize outstanding teaching performance by a beginning teacher — either a first-year teacher or a part-time educator. Read more.

Dr. Aliyah Dosani joins CIHR College of Reviewers

April 14, 2023—
Professor Aliyah Dosani, PhD, has been invited to be a member of the Canadian Institute of Health Research's (CIHR) College of Reviewers for a three-year term in recognition of her “recent success obtaining funding from CIHR, [her] accomplished career and demonstrated track record of excellence.” Dosani is the first invited member from Mount Royal University and joins a list of distinguished colleagues from Alberta.

Esquao Award for education garnered

April 14, 2023—
Assistant Professor Audra Foggin is a 2023 Esquao Award recipient. She will be presented her award in May at the 27th-annual Esquao Awards Gala. Since 1995, the Esquao Awards have recognized the achievements and contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women from throughout Alberta and have raised awareness about the challenges and obstacles they face. They have since grown to be the single largest recognition event of Indigenous women in Canada.

HPED students win winter 2023 research award

April 14, 2023—
Health and Physical Education (HPED) students Jason Oliemans and Donald Golden have each been presented with a winter 2023 MRU Undergraduate Research Dissemination Fund award. They will be attending the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting and World Congress in Denver, Colorado, to present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Oliemans and Golden were supervised by Assistant Professor Jared Fletcher, PhD.

Giuliana Harvie inducted as Research Fellow by INACSL

March 30, 2023—
Dr. Giuliana Harvey, PhD, from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has been inducted by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL) as a Research Fellow. Harvey was selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the INASCL Review Committee. 

Policy studies students make their mark at Alberta Intercollegiate Model UN

March 30, 2023—

MRU policy studies students and instructor Saira Bano, PhD, recently attended the Alberta Intercollegiate Model UN at the University of Calgary. Multiple students won awards, including Best Overall Delegation. 

  • Liam Adamson and Sebastian Bennett-Monterroso won the Best Delegation Award

  • Cooper Johnson and Nida Ahmad won the Best Position Paper award 

  • Kevin Petrosenko and Oren Bachand won the Most Accommodating Delegation award 

  • Kofo Odewale earned an Honorable Mention

Woman of Distinction

March 30, 2023—
Sharmila Ranabhat, administrative assistant to the associate deans, Library, recently received a Woman of Distinction Award from the Honourable Rajan Sawhney, minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism. Ranabhat also received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal this year.

Faculty representation on Commonwealth Games committee

March 16, 2023—
Dr. David Legg, PhD, has been named to the Alberta 2030 Commonwealth Games committee, which will explore the feasibility of a joint bid with Edmonton. A professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, Legg is also a 2022 Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Broadcasting alum takes home award recognizing significant contributions of Albertans

March 03, 2023—
Harnarayan Singh was recently a recipient of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal. Singh is a Broadcasting Diploma alumnus, Honorary Doctor of Laws recipient, co-founder and host of Hockey Night in Canada’s Punjabi edition and commentator for Rogers Sportsnet. Another awardee was former MRU instructor and former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

MRU team wins first place in business case competition

March 03, 2023—
Bissett School of Business accounting students Nigel Chapman, Remi Mitchel, Nina Petinglay and Angela Violini won first place in the inaugural 2023 Winter City Case Competition hosted by NAIT over the week of Feb. 20. They competed against teams from Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary post-secondary institutions. Although the team did not win the first round of the competition, they rebounded to win the wild-card round to earn a spot in the finals and successively outshone the other participants. Chapman, Mitchel, Petinglay and Violini were coached by assistant accounting professor Jason Tang, PhD.

Indigenous University Bridging Program turns 30

Feb. 21, 2023—
In January 1993, Mount Royal College welcomed students for the first cohort in what was then known as the Aboriginal Education Project — the result of planning and collaboration between MRC staff and education advocates within Treaty 7. It has since been renamed the Indigenous University Bridging Program, but continues to provide an educational experience that honours and includes Indigenous knowledge, traditions and values. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Iniskim Centre will be sharing stories from students, alumni and staff. Learn more and share your story

Attend a book launch for a new interior design publication

Feb. 21, 2023—
Natalie Badenduck, PhD, associate professor of interior design at MRU, has recently published a new book. Interior Design Concept is described as, “a comprehensive introduction to design concept, with a reflective examination upon the various ways it can be understood, harnessed, and implemented,” and is available through Routledge.

Guitarist returns to Conservatory

Feb. 21, 2023—
Katie Lonson, a graduate of the Senior Academy Program for Gifted Youth at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory, recently returned to her home stage to perform with the Salzburg Guitar Trio, which is described as “one of one of the leading guitar ensembles of the new generation.” She currently holds tenure as a lecturer with the music faculty of the School for Music and Art in Böblingen, Germany.

Criminal justice student named in 2023 Top 30 Under 30

Feb. 21, 2023—
Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice student Megan Davidson was recognized as a Top 30 Under 30. Davidson is also a psychology minor, a Catamount Fellow and works for the Centre for Social Impact Tech. Read more.

Indigenous faculty member recognized for contributions

Feb. 21, 2023—
Assistant professor of social work, Audra Foggin has been selected as a 2023 recipient of the Esquao Award. Esquao is the Cree word for “woman” and the award recognizes First Nations, Métis and Inuit women for their contributions and achievements.

Queen Elizabeth II honours two MRU employees

Feb. 02, 2023—
Pat Pardo, director of Access and Inclusion Services at MRU, and Latasha Calf Robe, program lead, research, scholarship and community engagement, with the Institute for Community Prosperity, were each recently awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal: Pardo in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of adult education and Calf Robe for her dedication to community development and eco-cultural restoration within the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Suncor Energy Transition Game creates connections

Feb. 02, 2023—
On Jan. 25, Nathan Maycher, Suncor Energy’s director of climate, disclosure and integration, along with five members of his team, ran Suncor’s Energy Transition Simulation Game at MRU with 20 students. The simulation game aims to integrate carbon risk into decision-making while at the same time advancing the energy dialogue. Each game is designed around one type of ‘energy future scenario’, which in our current world is the 'autonomy scenario', characterized by a much faster-than-expected transition away from fossil fuels. Special thanks to Dr. Felix Nwaishi, PhD, Institute for Environmental Sustainability; Diana Grant Richmond, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; the Institute for Community Prosperity and the SDG Student Hub.

'Stuff the British Stole'

Feb. 02, 2023—
Dr. Gabrille Weasel Head (Lindstrom), PhD, and MRU’s Elder Miiksika'am, were recently featured in the CBC documentary Stuff the British Stole, which delves into the choice between signing a deal with Queen Victoria or facing disease and devastation.

Delivering more effective sick-day guidance

Jan. 20, 2023—
Professor Mohamed El Hussein (nursing) and his research colleagues were recently awarded a $277,000 Alberta Innovates grant along with a $100,000 grant from CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) to develop and test a novel mobile health intervention for sick-day guidance in patients with kidney disease, diabetes and heart disease taking medications that can cause adverse events when not stopped during acute illness. 

Bridging the generation gap

Jan. 20, 2023—
The third event for MRU's Intergenerational Speaker Series took place Jan. 18 with a sold-out talk by Calgary food writer Julie Van Rosendaal. Through this series, organized by MRU's chair in Older Adult Health Jocelyn Rempel and the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners, Mount Royal is broadening community connections and becoming a more age-inclusive community by fostering learning across generations. Events are followed by a small group of seniors and students having a facilitated discussion to discover what different generations can learn from each other and how we can set aside possible stereotypes to appreciate our similarities and respect our differences.  For more information, contact Jocelyn Rempel at igss@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.8846.

New publication on energy resilience in Indigenous communities

Jan. 20, 2023—
Assistant professor Ranjan Datta, PhD, MRU’s Canada Research Chair II in Community Disaster Research in Indigenous studies, and colleagues have recently released a new publication titled Northern Indigenous Community-Led Disaster Management and Sustainable Energy. Enter the code AFL01 at checkout for a 20 per cent discount.

Continuing education instructor named to Avenue's annual Top 40 Under 40 list

Dec. 08, 2022—
Amber Craig, a continuing education instructor and advisory board member for MRU’s Cannabis Education program who is also chief marketing officer for 420 Premium Market, has been named to Avenue magazine’s annual Top 40 Under 40 list. Craig brought Canada’s first cannabis consumption area to the Calgary Folk Music Festival in 2019 and is also a co-founder and board member of the Breaking Free Foundation, which supports trauma survivors in Alberta. 

Esteemed visitor on campus

Dec. 08, 2022—
On Nov. 28, the Irish Ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee, PhD, visited MRU on his first trip to Western Canada. The Faculties of Arts and Business and Communication Studies and the office of indigenization and decolonization facilitated a talk titled, "Colonial Ireland and the Making of Canada,” causing listeners to reconsider what they know about the significance of both Canada and Ireland on the world stage over the last 300 years. MRU continues to build international links and further decolonization efforts through research and innovative thought.

Academic contributions recognized

Dec. 08, 2022—
Associate Professor Carrie Scherzer, PhD, of the Department of Psychology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). A Fellow is an AASP member who has achieved distinction through significant contributions to academic and professional practice knowledge in sport and exercise psychology.

Professor Lynn Moorman garners two medals

Nov. 24, 2022—
Geography professor Lynn Moorman, PhD, recently received the Charles Camsell Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) in recognition of her service to the Society and geography community, particularly through education initiatives. Other medallists included the Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien (former prime minister) and astronaut Josh Baldwin. Next week Moorman will receive Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal, which is awarded to those who have shown dedication to their province. 

ETOL students to compete World Cup

Nov. 24, 2022—
Ecotourism and outdoor leadership (ETOL) students Jenna Sherrington and Jared Schmidt are both representing Canada at the Alpine World Cup — Sherrington in biathlon and Schmidt in ski-cross. Schmidt also represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Sharmila Ranabhat receives Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal

Oct. 27, 2022—
Sharmila Ranabhat, administrative assistant to the associate deans, Library, was recently honoured with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal from the Government of Alberta in recognition of volunteer work with the community. Ranabhat received a letter and medal from the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, which was presented by Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Bhullar-McCall Irfan Sabir.

Alumna crowned as top lawyer in Alberta

Oct. 27, 2022—
Former Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice (Honours) student and UAlberta Law graduate Hailey Boutin has just been recognized as one of the best banking and finance lawyers in Alberta. She is the most junior lawyer ever to have earned this recognition. Boutin graduated from MRU in June 2016 and is an associate at Norton Rose and Fulbright (NRF), one of Canada's premier law firms.

Nursing prof becomes Fellow

Oct. 27, 2022—
Dr. Aliyah Dosani, PhD, who teaches in the Bachelor of Nursing program, has been inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. Honouring the best of the profession, academy Fellows earn the right to use the credential “Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing.”

President and professor both receive Platinum Jubilee Medal

Oct. 13, 2022—
MRU has two new recipients of a medal honouring significant contributions to Alberta. Tim Rahilly, PhD, president and vice-chancellor, and Michael Uzoka, PhD, mathematics and computing professor, were both recently awarded the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal. This commemorative medal was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. The award is given to select Albertans throughout 2022 to recognize their contributions, and recipients are nominated by a range of Government of Alberta program partners, such as members of the legislative assembly, Indigenous organizations, the Canadian Armed Forces, and many non-governmental community-based organizations. See photos from the event.

Optimizing mental health for youth

Oct. 13, 2022—
Assistant Professor Daniel Devoe, PhD, with the Department of Psychology, is a collaborator on a $5.13-million grant to create a platform to optimize mental health for youth across CanadaThis project is funded by RBC Future Launch, Power Corporation of Canada and the Canada Brain Research Fund.

Biology prof earns CAFA Award

Oct. 03, 2022—
Associate Professor Sarah Hewitt, PhD, who teaches neuroscience and physiology with the Department of Biology, has received a Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations (CAFA) Distinguished Teaching Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize an academic staff member who excels in teaching, goes above and beyond in their role and has made an outstanding contribution to the wider community beyond the university. Read more.

Computing prof recognized for making a difference

Sep. 16, 2022—
Dr. Faith-Michael Uzoka, PhD, mathematics and computing professor and researcher, has won an Alberta Newcomer Recognition Award. He will be honoured by the Government of Alberta at a Sept. 21 ceremony along with the other winners. In 2017, Uzoka and African student Gift Arnold Mugisha invented a smart pill dispenser doubling as an inanimate medical assistant that is equipped with remote communication capabilities between the patient and a medical professional.

RLLC wins technology award

Sep. 16, 2022—
The Mount Royal University Riddell Library & Learning Centre won second place at the Regional Level of the 2022 ASHRAE Technology Awards. Smith + Andersen designed the building’s mechanical systems, prioritizing ultra-low energy throughout. The HVAC and plumbing systems respond to real-time building demands, reducing overall energy consumption by 54.9 per cent (as compared to an ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard building) with an annual Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 68 kBTU/sqft; impressive in comparison to the EUI of a typical, general use post-secondary building (which is approximately 88.9 kBTU/sqft). Read more.

Prof elected as United Nations lead reviewer

Sep. 16, 2022—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research, was elected as one of the lead reviewers for the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report for the New Technologies, Ethics and Policy Engagement for Sustainable Development: Global Environmental Solutions (UN DESA).

Nursing prof named Distinguished Fellow

Aug. 04, 2022—
Bachelor of Nursing professor Cathy Carter-Snell, PhD, has been appointed a Distinguished Fellow for the Academy of Forensic Nursing. She has also been named as editor-in-chief of the inaugural Journal of the Academy of Forensic Nursing.

LaunchPad competitor goes national

July 21, 2022—
Fourth-year business student and 2022 LaunchPad Pitch Competition competitor Erin Creegan-Dougherty recently won third place in the EO Canada Global Student Entrepreneur Awards’ National Championship for her MRU-born business Maskwa Back Country Foods. She will share in a pot of $100,000 cash with four other winners. Maskwa Back Country Foods creates dehydrated camping meals for those with dietary restrictions and allergies utilizing locally sourced ingredients and traditional Indigenous recipes.

Melanie Peacock becomes Western Alumni Association president

July 21, 2022—

Dr. Melanie Peacock, PhD, associate professor of human resources, is the new president of the Western Alumni Association, which connects Western and its alumni and provides opportunities to grow and learn. Peacock won Mount Royal’s inaugural teaching excellence award in 2014 and was recognized in HRD magazine's 2017 Hotlist as one of the top 30 most influential human resources practitioners in Canada. Read more.

Biomass research reveals effects of industrialization

July 08, 2022—
Assistant professor of mathematics Andria Dawson and colleagues have published a paper in the esteemed journal Science titled, “8000-year doubling of Midwestern forest biomass driven by population- and biome-scale processes,” which explores changes in woody biomass over eight millenia in order to better understand the magnitude of terrestrial carbon fluxes before industrial-era disturbance. The paper’s abstract states, “What took millennia to accumulate took less than two centuries to remove: Industrial-era logging and agriculture have erased this carbon accumulation.”

Education award goes to MRU instructor

June 23, 2022—
Dr. Leslie Robertson, PhD, of the Department of Education, received a 2022 Calgary Black Achievement Award (CBAA) for making a positive impact in the education field. The CBAA Hall of Fame recognizes Black people in the Calgary area who have exhibited an impressive history of high achievement, success, and excellence.

Earth and environmental sciences prof receives national award

June 10, 2022—
Geography professor Lynn Moorman, PhD, has been chosen as the recipient of this year's Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography by the Awards Committee of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG). The recognition goes to a teaching staff member who has distinguished themself in courses with small and large enrolments, and at different levels of instruction, over several years of teaching. Moorman was presented the award at the CAG 2022 Virtual Conference on June 2.

MRU Map the System competitor headed to finals

May 27, 2022—
Bachelor of Science — General Science student Kaitlyn Squires is one of the top four Canadian Map the System finalists selected to travel to The University of Oxford to compete in the global final. Squires will represent Mount Royal with her study titled “Sex Workers in Canada Face Unequal Access to Healthcare.” The project began as a BIOL5201 independent project supervised by Associate Professor Carol Armstrong, PhD, with Assistant Professor Nick Strzalkowski, PhD, as co-supervisor.

Remembering Gordon Williams

May 12, 2022—
Gordon Williams was dean of Mount Royal College’s Faculty of Science and Technology from 1990 to 1995. During that period, the faculty had an annual operating budget of $5 million and supported students in ten university transfer and vocational programs, including aviation. Throughout his career, Williams was a major figure within the Alberta geological community, serving as president of three professional associations: Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA); Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG); and, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG). He was also Professor of Geology (and Department Chair) at the University of Alberta from 1961 to 1985. Read the obituary.

Faculty member leads health journey content and data strategy

May 12, 2022—
Professor and chair of Health and Physical Education, Christy Tomkins-Lane, PhD, has joined Optimity, Inc. as a scientific advisor. Tomkins-Lane is a founding member of the Stanford Wearable Health Lab and a pioneer for digital health and wearable data in risk scoring and underwriting. Read more.

More steps to come

May 12, 2022—
Professors Gaye Warthe, PhD, and Cathy Carter-Snell, PhD, were awarded a Family Violence and Abuse Grant for $100,000 from the Alberta Government for their project, "Stepping Up: Dating, Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention." Learn more about the initiative.

An invitation to review

May 12, 2022—
Humanities professor Ranjan Datta, PhD, has been invited to become a member of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) College of Reviewers. The CIHR College of Reviewers is a member-focused resource designed to professionalize peer review, enhance the quality of peer review at CIHR, and provide a more stable base of experienced members for peer review of all funding competitions.

Students chosen for undergraduate science and biotechnology research program

April 29, 2022—
Two Bachelor of Science students have been accepted to the Amgen Scholars Program hosted by the University of Toronto. Zafina Budhwani and Senay Weldu Kahsay are two of 15 students selected from all over Canada for the premier summer program. 

Faculty book launch

April 29, 2022—
Kelly Kaur, a fixed-term instructor with the English department’s novel Letters to Singapore (Stonehouse Publishing), will launch May 1, and is an account of a Singaporean transplant to Calgary and her correspondences with friends and family. Kaur’s poem, “A Singaporean’s Love Affair,” is also headed to the moon in two separate NASA missions in June 2022 and fall 2023, and is documented in the Lunar Codex website in Reading Hall C.

Alumna represents residential school survivors at the Vatican

April 14, 2022—
Acting as youth delegate for the Assembly of First Nations, Taylor Behn-Tsakoza (Dene, Fort Nelson) recently travelled to the Vatican to represent Indigenous intergenerational survivors. Behn-Tsakoza was a mentee of Associate Professor Andrea Kennedy, PhD, of the School of Nursing and Midwifery as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation network. She graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy. Read more.

Prestigious fellowship earned

April 14, 2022—
On April 10, Heather McLellan, associate professor, Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing (Emergency), was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Air and Surface Transport Nurses (ASTNA) at the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference. The ASTNA Fellowship program is among ASTNA's highest honours, recognizing individuals who have made a significant impact on the critical care transport industry through exemplary volunteer service and leadership, extraordinary accomplishments or other major contributions to ASTNA and the transport industry. 

Nursing student awarded new scholarship

April 14, 2022—
Recent Bachelor of Nursing graduate Jonah Hakkola was the successful recipient of the 2021-2022 Persons Case Scholarship, a new award from the Status of Women Canada. The nominators included faculty members Mohamed El Hussein, PhD, Murray Holtby, PhD, and Gaye Warthe, PhD, who were thrilled to recognize such an outstanding student. Hakkola is currently applying to graduate study programs with the intent of further developing their skills as a leader, researcher and advocate within the nursing field.

Journalism students produce national webinar

April 14, 2022—
In March, the Canadian Agri-Food Marketers Association (CAMA) asked Mount Royal’s journalism students to record and produce a live webinar. Students Spencer Burgess, Wyatt Patterson, Onyinye Ekwulugo, Gergo Koroknay and Ryan Viszlai were recognized by CAMA's Terry Andryo alongside instructors Dr. David Finch, PhD, Sally Haney, Irv Ratushniak, Jason Kokot and Rob Kelly.

English alumna publishes autobiographical poetry collection

April 14, 2022—
Bachelor of Arts  English alumna Skylar Kay’s collection of autobiographical haibun titled Transcribing Moonlight outlines a year of her life of a trans woman. The traditional trope of the moon and the traditional form of haibun become more nuanced and modern, as they represent a marginalized group and some of the struggles that trans women face, both externally and internally. Kay was a student of English instructor and 2016-2018 Calgary Poet Laureate Micheline Mayor, PhD.

Essential equipment donated to journalism and digital media program

March 31, 2022—
MRU’s journalism program has been gifted two equipment kits from Bert Crowfoot, the publisher and founder of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta. Crowfoot donated equipment to support Indigenous students in the journalism and digital media program. The MRU Foundation continues to collect funds for equipment kits through the Blackfoot Emerging Communicators Fund, an active giving campaign that was kick-started by MRU journalism alumni Kelsey (Solway) No Runner and Trevor Solway.

Journalism prof’s personal photo repurposed in commemorative stamp

March 18, 2022—
In the early 1980s, MRU’s long-time photography instructor Paul Coates took a picture of the legendary Stan Rogers performing at the Calgary Folk Festival. That picture in the early 1980s formed the basis for the foreground for an illustration by Peter Strain, which is now featured on a commemorative stamp available through Canada Post. Coates started teaching at Mount Royal in 1987 and has won six teaching excellence awards and two distinguished faculty awards.

Dr. David Legg inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

Feb. 18, 2022—
Professor David Legg, PhD, of the Department of Health and Physical Education, is a 2022 inductee into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to sport in Alberta. He has worked with Wheelchair Sports Alberta, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, and helped found the Children’s Adapted Physical Activity program, a play-based physical activity program for children with disabilities. Legg is also the founder and lead organizer of the Calgary and Area ParaSport and Recreation Collective.

Dr. Aliyah Dosani and Dr. El-Hussein awarded CIHR Grants

Feb. 18, 2022—
Professor Aliyah Dosani, PhD, of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has been awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant for her application titled, 'Using Photovoice and Critical Social Theory to Help Develop Culturally Safe Services for Perinatal Depression in Rural India." Professor Mohamed El-Hussein, PhD, also with nursing and midwifery, and his team received a CIHR grant for the application titled, "What are the experiences and needs of informal caregivers of fracture patients in a rehabilitation setting?"

Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane wins top Canadian children’s book award

Feb. 04, 2022—
Assistant professor Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane’s book, Powwow: A Celebration Through Song and Dance, was awarded the 2021 Norma Fleck Award for Children’s Non-Fiction — considered to be one of Canada’s most prestigious recognitions for children’s books. Selling out during its first print run in just three months, the book is a semi-autobiographical account of Pheasant-Neganigwane’s life as a powwow dancer travelling through North America. Read more.

Alumnus wins prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship

Feb. 04, 2022—
MRU alumnus Aarondeep Maan, who graduated from the supply chain co-op program last year, has earned a McCall MacBain Regional Award. This scholarship recognizes engaged student leaders who have demonstrated character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity — the award provides funding for a master’s or professional program at any public university in Canada. 

Professor credited as lead editor of unique textbook

Feb. 04, 2022—
Professor of Religious Studies, Steven Engler, PhD, is the lead editor of the just released, substantially revised second edition of The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in the Study of Religion. It remains the only comprehensive survey in English of methods and methodology in the discipline. Engler authored the chapter on Grounded Theory and co-authored three others: Research Ethics; Coding; and Theorizing and Analysis (the latter written with MRU professor of philosophy, Mark Gardiner, PhD).

New ICP publication available

Jan. 06, 2022—
James Stauch, alumna Cordelia Snowdon, the Institute for Community Prosperity (ICP) and the Place2Give Foundation’s most recent publication,The Right to Eat Right: Connecting Upstream and Downstream Food Security In Calgary, is available for download here. Find the Executive Summary here.

Journalism and Digital Media student self-publishes

Nov. 25, 2021—
Third-year journalism and digital media student Marius Pintea is working towards a career as a writer and his progress to date is promising. He has self-published three books and credits his bylines to his work with the Calgary Journal, the flagship news service of MRU’s journalism and digital media program, for empowering him to go at it alone.

Institute for Community Prosperity participates in report focused on the aging population

Nov. 25, 2021—
Aging & Thriving in the 21st Century: A Scan and Selective Systems Analysis of Issues, Trends, and Innovations Vital to Older Adults in Canada explores the issues, trends, system dynamics and innovations related to an aging population in Canada. Initiated and commissioned by the ATCO Transformation Team, this scan includes an overview of living and lifestyle trends in the elderly and looks into ideas and opportunities on the horizon. More about the Institute for Community Prosperity

Humanities prof makes waves in high-impact research

Nov. 01, 2021—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, of the Faculty of Arts, was ranked as one of the 66 high-impact researchers in the World List of Sustainability Researchers by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme and the European School of Sustainability Science and Research 2021. Datta is also MRU’s Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Community Disaster Research.

Calgary Journal wins Pacemaker award

Nov. 01, 2021—
Based on the calibre of its final four print editions, the Calgary Journal has once again won a coveted Pacemaker Award for overall excellence. Bestowed by thAssociated Collegiate Press, this contest puts MRU in head-to-head competition against much larger American schools. Congratulations to former MRU faculty member and supervising editor Dr. Sean Holman, PhD, faculty member Brad Simm, student editors Chloe Chapdelaine, Mackenzie Hermann, Angela Lackey and Tristan Oram, and everyone who had a hand in filling the final print editions with great content.

Distinguished award goes to chemistry professor

Sep. 30, 2021—
Dr. Brett McCollum, PhD, Mount Royal University Board of Governors Teaching Chair in Educational Leadership, is the recipient of the 2021 Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations (CAFA) Distinguished Teaching Award. The annual CAFA Awards recognize excellence and raise awareness of the many ways scholarly or creative work of university academic staff members serves the wider community. McCollum was honoured with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship in 2019 and has earned many other accolades.

Professor earns esteemed national recognition

Sep. 21, 2021—
Congratulations to Dr. Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, of MRU's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences on being elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s Class of 2021 of the College of New Scholars. This is a great honour and national recognition of the quality of DeWolfe's internationally impactful research into volcanology and mineral deposits. DeWolfe is also the Mount Royal University Board of Governors' Research Chair in Science, Technology and Society. 

Inaugural award goes to MRU faculty member

Sep. 21, 2021—
Dr. Michael Asmussen, PhD, of the Department of Biology has been awarded the inaugural World Athletics Award for best paper submitted by a scientist in the field at the International Society of Biomechanics Conference. 

Education program named one of Canada's best

Sep. 21, 2021—
Mount Royal’s education major landed a spot in Maclean’s magazine's list of the top-20 university education programs of 2021, coming in at number 19 in the country. 

Alumna awarded annual top title

Sep. 21, 2021—
Interior design alumna Amanda Hamilton has been named as Interior Designer of the Year 2021 by Western Living. Hamilton graduated in 2005 from Mount Royal's interior design program and recently celebrated the twelfth anniversary of her eponymous Calgary firm

International fellowship granted

Sep. 03, 2021—
Associate Professor Kevin O'Connor, PhD, chair of MRU’s Department of Education, was recently granted a fellowship with the North American Association of Environmental Educators for the Civics and Environmental Education Change Fellow. The fellows represent seven countries including the U.S. and its territories, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Mexico and Uganda.

Call for submissions

Aug. 20, 2021—
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research, has put a call out for Special Journal Issue articles on the topic of Anti-racist Perspectives on Sustainabilities at Societies which is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal of sociology, published quarterly online by MDPI. The journal deadline is March 15, 2022. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Datta for internal deadlines.  

Alumna releases debut novel

Aug. 20, 2021—
Mount Royal English alumna Cyla Panin is looking forward to the release of her first young adult fantasy novel on Sept. 14. Stalking Shadows is a feminist retelling of Beauty and Beast replete with sinister gothic vibes, a horrible curse and dark secrets. More information.

Increasing accessibility in sports

July 08, 2021—
Two MRU athletic therapy students recently won a $10,000 award from the Trico Foundation for a social enterprise they are working on to help kids with disabilities be more active. Adaptive Play Personalized Activity’s core objective is to help children and youth with motor disabilities when services and programs are not available.

Investigative journalism garners national recognition

June 11, 2021—

Journalism students Karina Zapata and Nathan Woolridge were recently announced as the recipients of the 2020 Canadian Association of Journalists’ Student Award of Excellence. Their investigation for the Calgary Journal titled "Bad Blood" broke down the Canadian Blood Services' blood donation restrictions for sexually active gay men.

First place for finance students

June 11, 2021—
A team of four Bachelor of Business Administration — Finance students were crowned national champions at the fifth-annual CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge, earning top marks from a panel of CFA (chartered financial analyst) judges and outperforming the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Waterloo, l'universite de Sherbrooke and Dalhousie University. Read the full story.

Alumna receives funds for film project

May 28, 2021—
Alumna Mackenzie Bedford has designs on success with BEACON, a short animated film. The designer, illustrator, animator and writer (Bachelor of Business Administration — Marketing, 2018) received a grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Individual Film and Video Project Funding of up to $15,000 to go into pre-production. Follow her progress via Instagram.

Expertise in ethics guides Bissett finance students to a win in CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge

May 14, 2021—
A team of four Bachelor of Business Administration students have earned the title of national champions following the fifth-annual CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge. Teams were challenged to identify ethical dilemmas within a case study depicting those they may encounter in future finance careers. Congrats to these students and the Bissett finance program on a remarkable accomplishment.

Alum receives grants to support gender diversity in technology

May 14, 2021—
Chic Geek was founded by Kylie Woods (Bachelor of Communication — Public Relations, 2012) to help build gender diversity in technology in the province. This year the company received more than $300,000 in grants with funds from the Labour Market Partnership Federal-Provincial Program, the Small Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant, the Civil Society Fund Grant, and Coalition Support for Calgary Entrepreneurs in partnership with Alberta Innovates. More information.

Documenting the history of the transformation of Old Sun

May 14, 2021—
Former assistant professor Sean Carleton, PhD (now with the University of Manitoba), and ecotourism and outdoor leadership student Wacey Little Light have published a new research note in Prairie History (Number 4, Winter 2021), entitled, “Old Sun, New Buffalo: A Siksika School’s Transformation from Residential School to Community College.” In the 1960s, leaders of the Siksika Nation took control of the Old Sun Residential School building to provide post-secondary opportunities for Niitsitapi students, starting as a satellite campus of Mount Royal College. More information.

Granted!

April 29, 2021—
The Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement is celebrating the latest grants received by members of the MRU community. Dr. Emily Hutchison, PhD (humanities), has been awarded a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) Insight Grant for her ongoing project, "Spatial Narratives of Late Medieval Paris.” Dr. Michael Asmussen, PhD (biology), has been awarded an NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) Discovery Grant for his project, “Foot-Ankle Complex: Mechanisms Underpinning its Stability and Control,” and Dr. Jeella Acedo, PhD (chemistry) has been awarded an NSERC Discovery Grant for her project, “Genome-guided Discovery of Bacteriocins.”

Recognition for reducing gender discrimination

April 29, 2021—
Maddison Scarlett (Faculty of Arts) and Amirah Azmi (Faculty of Science and Technology) have each received a Leaders in Equality Award of Distinction from the Government of Alberta. The program supports students who are working to reduce gender discrimination in their communities, or who are studying in fields where their gender is traditionally underrepresented.

ATB supports Indigenous Housing Program

April 29, 2021—
Families in the Indigenous Housing Program (IHP) will be receiving additional support over the spring and summer months due to a generous donation from ATB of $25,000 that responds to pandemic issues. Unique to Mount Royal, those students who identify as First Nations, Métis, non-status or Inuit and are in the IHP can receive subsidies.

Publication partnership derives from field school

April 29, 2021—
Dr. Peter Choate, PhD (social work), recently published “The Need to Act: Incest as a Crime Given Low Priority — A View with India as an Example,” with Radha Sharan, a graduate student at the Tata Institute in India. Sharan and Choate were brought together through Mount Royal’s India Field School.

Professor contributes to Royal Society of Canada COVID-19 report

March 31, 2021—
Dr. Leah Hamilton, PhD, management professor with the Bissett School of Business, has contributed to the Royal Society of Canada’s (RSC) policy briefing titled “Supporting Canada’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Through Robust Immigration Policy and Programs.” The RSC Task Force on COVID-19 was mandated to provide evidence-informed perspectives on major societal challenges in response to and recovery from COVID-19.

Economics students take second in international competition

March 31, 2021—
Aymie Haslam (policy studies), Diamond Reid (policy studies), Elliot Ryland (sociology), Janine Shen (accounting) and Thomas Tram (accounting), also known as “The Dismal Scientists,” won second place in the international EconGames competition. The faculty advisor was assistant professor of economics Lavinia Moldovan, who is also this year's recipient of the Faculty of Arts’ Outstanding Teaching Award. 

PLAY conference for physical literacy

March 31, 2021—
Dr. Nadine Van Wyk, PhD, and Dr. Lynne Lafave, PhD, are the recipients of a Health and Innovation grant, which is being used to connect physical literacy students to the greater community. They have partnered with the Be Fit for Life network and created an amazing lineup of presenters for the PLAY mini-conference being held today. This mini-conference will explore different perspectives on physical literacy across multiple sectors.

Two first-year teachers nominated for prestigious Edwin Parr Award

March 31, 2021—
Every year, each school district in Alberta nominates a first-year teacher for the Edwin Parr Award. This year, two recent Bachelor of Education grads were recognized. Mikaela McNabb was nominated for the Lethbridge School Division and Jessie McCauley was nominated for the Foothills School Division. Both have shown incredible dedication and resilience during a year of teaching like no other. Watch a video about McNabb.

First Work-Integrated Learning funding received

March 18, 2021—
The  Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada  (CEWIL Canada) Innovation iHub has granted Mount Royal $513,000 in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) funding supporting curricular WIL taking place during the Winter 2021 term. The goal of the funding is to support under-represented students, to remove barriers for students to participate in WIL and to encourage innovation in WIL through partnerships with industry.

Stepping Up to prevent dating, domestic and sexual violence

March 18, 2021—
Mount Royal's  Stepping Up team recently ran a social media contest where students submitted creative works of what healthy relationships look like to them. View the winners here. They also created a podcast series for Dating, Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Week consisting of topics such as boundaries, consent and coercion, stalking, and men in the prevention of dating, domestic and sexual violence.

MRU alumna is recognized as a 2021 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholar

March 05, 2021—
Congratulations to Karina Zapata, a recent graduate of MRU's journalism program, on being selected as a 2021 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholar. This CBC News scholarship program is for aspiring journalists from across the country. Over the course of 16 weeks, scholars will receive valuable hands-on experience in all areas of multi-platform news working in digital, radio and television.

Nursing student receives prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship to further education

Feb. 19, 2021—
The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill are Canada’s first leadership-driven scholarships for master’s and professional degree students. After reviewing 735 applications from across Canada (and some from abroad), their selection committees invited Mount Royal nursing student Shani Markus for an interview, after which she was recommended for a regional award valued at $5,000 for graduate studies at any public university in Canada.

Bissett finance students advance to nationals of the CFA Societies of Canada Ethics Challenge

Feb. 19, 2021—
A team of four Bachelor of Business Administration students has won the Alberta-B.C. division of the CFA Societies of Canada Ethics Challenge. The competition included undergraduate and graduate student teams from other universities, and with this win MRU will be representing Alberta and B.C. at the national finals in May.

Faculty of Business and Communication Studies welcomes new elder-in-residence

Feb. 19, 2021—
The Bissett School of Business and the School of Communication Studies are excited to welcome Hayden Melting Tallow as their new elder-in-residence. Hayden is a Blackfoot elder from Siksika and a valuable ally and guide for faculty members, providing perspectives on Indigenization, reconciliation and Siksika ways of doing.

Providing an excellent example

Feb. 19, 2021—
Dr. Trevor Day, PhD, of the Department of Biology, has been awarded the 2021 Mentor Award from the Health Sciences Division of the  Council on Undergraduate Research. The nomination for this award was co-ordinated by previous MRU students, who provided letters of support, with input provided from current students and Dr.  Sarah Hewitt, PhD, acting chair of biology.

Foggo appears in John Ware Reclaimed

Feb. 19, 2021—
Renowned Calgary historian and filmmaker Cheryl Foggo’s award-winning documentary John Ware Reclaimed re-examine(s) the mythology surrounding John Ware." Dr.  Richard Foggo, PhD, an associate professor of child studies and social work at MRU and Cheryl Foggo’s brother, appears in the documentary, saying that after their initial discovery of John Ware as children “who knew … I would become part of a much bigger celebration of Black History Month to be shared with others." Watch.

Practising what he teaches

Feb. 19, 2021—
Instructor J. Ashley Nixon has published two books this year: Cobbled Together, where he photographs places found in his mother’s poetry, and Social Camouflage, in which he explores how the pandemic is impacting us socially through photography. A selection of photos from  Social Camouflage is included in the exhibition  Fire and Masks at cSPACE King Edward as part of the  Exposure Photography Festival 2021.

Seneca partners with Mount Royal for Stepping Up

Feb. 19, 2021—
Seneca College has partnered with Yellow Brick House for the first year of its own three-year Stepping Up program, thanks to a $244,800 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. Stepping Up was developed by Mount Royal University, and program results have shown that educating students on dating and relationship violence prevention significantly improves their ability to support their friends and peers. Read more.

Seven faculty members reach highest academic rank

Feb. 05, 2021—

Promotion to the rank of full professor is a reflection of a career of hard work, achievement and academic leadership. It is a formal recognition of remarkable contributions to the academy, adding to the collective body of knowledge, taking risks and persisting through much adversity while remaining devoted to the pursuit. Congratulations to:

  • Faculty of Business and Communication Studies
    • Professor Paul Varella Connors
  • Faculty of Arts
    • Professor Lee Easton
  • Faculty of Health, Community and Education
    • Professor Mohamed El Hussein
    • Professor Christy Lane
  • Faculty of Science and Technology
    • Professor Nathan Ackroyd
    • Professor Israel Dunmade
  • Faculty of Teaching and Learning
    • Professor Michelle Yeo

RLLC earns LEED Gold

Feb. 05, 2021—
The Riddell Library and Learning Centre has earned a LEED Gold rating by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. LEED promotes responsible building practices, including sustainable materials and construction and water and energy efficiency. The RLLC was designed to meet LEED Gold and opened in 2017.

CYCC granted accreditation

Feb. 05, 2021—
MRU's child and youth care (CYCC) major has been officially awarded accreditation by the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada (CYCEAB). The CYCEAB's model focuses on program outcomes with the intent that graduate outcomes will ultimately effect the quality of life and quality of care received by young people. MRU joins only 11 accredited CYCC programs of over 50 publicly funded programs across Canada.

Two Cougars playing for the Cavalry

Feb. 05, 2021—
Two Cougars soccer players are going pro after being picked to play for Calgary’s  Cavalry FC during the 2021 CPL-U Sports draft. “We’re going local, we’re going trusted, and we’re going talented,” said Cavalry FC general manager and head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. of his choices of Victor Loturi (midfield) and Ethan Keen (defence) from the Cougars roster.  Read more.

Cougars surpass previous MRU U Sports Academic All-Canadian record

Jan. 22, 2021—
The Mount Royal Cougars have the highest percentage of Academic All-Canadians on their rosters in the Canada West conference, with 44.7 per cent of all student-athletes maintaining a 3.4 or higher GPA while enrolled as a full-time student. This also places Mount Royal in the top 10 of all U Sports schools across the country. Read more.

A multidisciplinary look at reconciliation

Jan. 08, 2021—
Assistant professor of Indigenous studies with the Department of Humanities, Ranjan Datta, PhD, is the editor of the newly-released Indigenous Reconciliation and Decolonization: Narratives of Social Justice and Community Engagement, which “addresses the ethical and practical issues at stake in the reconciliation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.” Datta is also one of Mount Royal’s new Canada Research Chairs.

Champions in the classroom: Cougars Academic All-Canadians recognized

Dec. 18, 2020—
Seventy-six of Mount Royal’s student-athletes received U Sports Academic All-Canadian status for the 2019/2020 season, breaking the record set the previous year of 74. Members of Cougars teams must maintain a 3.4 GPA or higher to obtain this honour, and, notably, these top performers make up more than 40 per cent of all student-athletes at MRU. Women's soccer had the most players recognized with a total of 18 (three-quarters of their roster), however leading by percentage was women's volleyball, with 14 of their 17 members named as an Academic All-Canadian. See the complete list of MRU recipients.

Day receives alumni distinction

Dec. 18, 2020—
Trevor Day, PhD, professor in the Department of Biology has been chosen as the recipient of the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine Alumni of Distinction Award “in recognition of outstanding contributions to education.” A celebration is scheduled for May. Day was also recently elected to the College of New Scholars, Scientists and Artists by the Royal Society of Canada.

Congratulations to our fall 2020 MRU grant awardees

Dec. 03, 2020—
Congratulations to the Fall 2020 MRU Internal Research Grant Fund awardee Ines Sametband, PhD, for the project "Overcoming cultural blindness in family therapy: Exploring opportunities for relational wellness." Congratulations, too, to the Fall 2020 MRU Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Explore Grant awardees Michael Hawley, PhD, for the "Alberta Sikh history project," Ran Ju, PhD, for the project, "Dialogue in a difficult setting: Exploring the application of organization-public dialogue in the oil and gas industry," and Uthpala Senarathne Tennakoon, PhD, for the project ""Environmental and social responsiveness of organizations: An examination from employer branding perspective."

Order of Canada recipients from the Mount Royal community

Dec. 03, 2020—

On Nov. 27, the Governor General announced 144 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Five of those were from the Mount Royal community. The Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

  • George Brookman ― businessman and 2020 Honorary Doctor of Laws recipient
  • Ross William Glen ― philanthropist and benefactor of Mount Royal's Ross Glen Hall
  • John Lacey ― chair of MRU's Conservatory Advisory Committee and 2018 Honorary Bachelor of Arts ― Policy Studies recipient
  • Doreen Spence ― campus elder and 2017 Honorary Bachelor of Nursing recipient
  • Mark Tewksbury ― Olympic champion and 2017 Honorary Bachelor of Communication ― Public Relations recipient

Three 2020 Alberta Community Justice Award winners for MRU

Nov. 26, 2020—
Three  Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies faculty members have received  Alberta Community Justice Awards. Associate Professors Kelly Sundberg, PhD and Tanya Trussler, PhD received an Innovation award for their SAFE Design Council, and Ritesh Narayan received a Leadership award for his work with the Chestermere city council on crime prevention methods and strategies.  Read more.

Making early strides

Nov. 26, 2020—
Mount Royal's first-ever Student Investment Fund team finished as runner-up in the prestigious McGill University Portfolio Competition. This elite global case competition featured 93 teams, and Mount Royal's success is a testament to the high-quality students and excellence in teaching found in its finance and accounting programs.

Pan-Canadian parks and protected areas research network announced

Nov. 12, 2020—
Building on their partnership with the Canadian Parks Council, the Institute for Environmental Sustainability launched a  Pan-Canadian Parks and Protected Areas Research Network on Nov. 10. This network will provide opportunities for MRU faculty and students, advance parks and protected areas research and evidence-based decision making, and support park leaders across Canada.

Call for book chapter

Nov. 12, 2020—
Ranjan Datta, PhD, Canada Research Chair for Community Disaster Research, is seeking submissions for  Imagining the possibilities and potentials for pedagogies of truth and reconciliation in Canada. More information about the project and the submission process can be found  here.

Calgary Journal garners coveted Pacemaker Award

Nov. 12, 2020—
The Associated Collegiate Press announced last week that the  Calgary Journal  has won a  2020 Newspaper Pacemaker Award for  May/June  Calgary under quarantine Mount Royal journalism students also won in multimedia  news and  feature categories and received honorable mentions in  story of the year and  COVID-19 design categories. These awards see the  The Calgary  Journal compete against much larger universities.

Wellness Services creates provincial mental health promising practices toolkit

Nov. 12, 2020—
MRU has demonstrated a commitment to improving student mental health. Through grant funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education, MRU’s  Wellness Services  team created a provincial mental health promising practices toolkit.  Tools for Success: Models of Exemplary Student Mental Health Initiatives at Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions  highlights 11 case studies of exemplary mental health initiatives from various post-secondary institutions in Alberta.  Read more .

Affect and emotion for positive change

Nov. 12, 2020—
English professor Kit Dobson, PhD, published a new, co-edited and collaborative book of essays on the importance of affect and emotion in creating positive change. Titled  All the Feels / Tous les sens , the book builds on Dobson’s  work on resilience . It is a bilingual undertaking supported by MRU, the University of Alberta, the University of Innsbruck and the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Congratulations to Mount Royal's three Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs

Oct. 29, 2020—

The Canada Research Chairs program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. Chairholders improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people. The  Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement is proud to congratulate the following individuals on being named Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs:

  • Michael Asmussen, PhD ― Neuromechanics and Human Physiology
  • Cherie Woolmer, PhD — Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
  • Ranjan Datta, PhD ― Community Disaster Research

Reaching the pinnacle

Oct. 29, 2020—
For his 30-plus years of contributions to Canadian and international climbing, Associate Professor Raphael Slawinski, PhD, of the Department of Chemistry and Physics, has been awarded the prestigious  Summit of Excellence Award . The award celebrates long-term contributions, service and demonstrated impact within the mountain culture community in Canada. One of the country's most prolific ice climbers, Slawinski is also a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year nominee. Read  Slawinski’s climbing blog .

Early success for SIF

Oct. 29, 2020—
The team from the MRU  Student Investment Fund  has proceeded to the semi-finals of the  McGill International Portfolio Challenge. Only  25 of 93 entries were awarded this privilege, making this an amazing accomplishment for SIF's first go at this difficult competition.

Student speaks at Geothermal Press Conference

Oct. 16, 2020—
On Oct. 7, Minister of Energy Sonya Savage provided an update on the government’s efforts to diversify the energy sector by facilitating the development of geothermal energy. During the event, Manjot Klair, a fourth-year  policy studies  student, spoke about the new geothermal regulations and policies as they relate to her role as operations and policy manager at CanGEA, as well as growth in the already existing energy sector and benefits for Indigenous communities. To hear what Klair had to say  watch this video starting at 13.20.

Partnering up for clean water

Oct. 16, 2020—
TC Energy recently teamed up with Associate Professor  Roger Saint-Fort , PhD, of the  Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences  on a groundwater remediation project where Saint-Fort developed and adapted technology to provide potable water in countries around the world.  Read more .

Personal experience with assisted dying

Oct. 16, 2020—
Professor Richard Harrison, winner of the  2017 Governor General's Literary Award , recently spoke for TEDxYYC 2020 regarding his experience with his mother's choice to accept medical assistance in dying. Harrison, who recently retired from MRU, says, "At the time, three years ago, I was deeply unprepared for what would happen. I'm hoping that what I've learned, and how I came to peace, and more, with it, will help others and encourage a broader discussion of the way we live with dying."  Watch here .

Melanie Peacock awarded the 2020 Canadian Human Resources Lifetime Achievement award

Sep. 17, 2020—
Associate professor of human resources  Melanie Peacock , PhD, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the 2020  Canadian Human Resources Awards . This distinguished and highest national honour recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the human resources industry as a whole through visionary people management strategies and leadership.

MRU research gaining reach

Sep. 17, 2020—

MRU has received over $5 million in new federal research support funding, including:

  • Tri-Agency grants with approximately $1.4 million awarded
  • Two new Canada Research Chairs: Ranjan Datta, PhD, C ommunity Disaster Research and Cherie Woolmer, PhD, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
  • The first Canada Foundation for Innovation grants for Professor Gwen O'Sullivan, PhD (environmental science), and Assistant Professor Meg Wilcox and Associate Professor Brad Clark, PhD (journalism)
  • Tim Haney, PhD, sociology professor, and Paul Varella, PhD, associate professor in general management, received SSHRC Insight Development Grants

Remembering those lost to COVID-19

Sep. 02, 2020—
Assistant professor of journalism  Archie McLean  and MRU journalism students Christian Kindrachuk, Angela Lackey and Tristan Oram are participating in the  Maclean’s magazine COVID-19 obituary project which pays tribute to every Canadian who has lost their life to the pandemic. Continuing this fall, “ They Were Loved ” provides an intimate snapshot of each victim.

Board member new chair of AESO

Sep. 02, 2020—
Member of Mount Royal’s  Board of Governors  Karl Johannson was  recently named chair  of the  Alberta Electric System Operator’s  Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for ClearStream Energy Services Inc., was chair of Cancarb Limited’s board, and served on the Board of Directors for Bruce Power LLP., the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, Canadian Gas Association and the Canadian Electric Association.

MRU librarian leads provincial project

Aug. 20, 2020—
Librarian Cari Merkley co-led the  Open Education Alberta project, which is a new collaboration between  University of Alberta Libraries and other post-secondary institutions across Alberta. The project is providing students and instructors with the ability to access and create digital learning materials for free.

Associate professor featured in New York Times

Aug. 06, 2020—
Alexis Morris, former Canadian skeleton athlete and now associate professor in the  Faculty of Science and Technology, was featured in a  New York Times article  about sledding athletes and the effects that high-speed crashes have on their brains. In 2013, Morris used an accelerometer called a gForce Track to measure the g-force created during a skeleton run to look at the impact on the body.

Why computing belongs within the social sciences

Aug. 06, 2020—
Faculty of Science and Technology professor Randy Connolly was the featured author of the cover article for the August edition of the  Communications of the ACM (CACM), which publishes leading academic research in the computing field.  Connolly’s article looked at computing and the role it plays in the social sciences.

Mount Royal partners on Indigenous primary health care research

July 22, 2020—
MRU is partnering with the   Canadian Institutes of Health Research   -funded research project Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network (IPHCPR) with three MRU faculty researchers: Andrea Kennedy, PhD, Gabrielle Lindstrom, PhD, and Katharine McGowan, PhD. The  IPHCPR Network will promote primary health-care system improvement to achieve greater Indigenous health equity.

Mount Royal professor takes home AMPA Volunteer of the Year award

July 09, 2020—
Department of English, Languages and Culture s' instructor Micheline Maylor, PhD, has been named the  Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) Volunteer of the Year. This title is bestowed upon a person involved with an AMPA member magazine that has “bettered the Alberta magazine industry through their involvement and has inspired others to take part in the industry.” Maylor served as the  Calgary Poet Laureate from 2016-2018, acting as an artistic ambassador for the city of Calgary.

Student wins summer intern contest

July 09, 2020—
Mount Royal student-athlete  Jace Timmer was one of 11 winners of the  Green Dream Bloggers, a Forest Products Association of Canada’s summer internship contest. The contest has run since 2013 and helps students working in the forest products sector with opportunities to promote their experiences working in forests and mills during the summer. The 11 winners will receive a scholarship to help with their education.

Collaborative LearningCITY project launches publications and webinars

June 25, 2020—

Over the past six months, an interdisciplinary research team, in collaboration with Calgary Economic Development (CED), has been leading a project called  LearningCITY, which was developed as a direct outcome of the  High-Impact Talent Roundtable hosted last August at Mount Royal. Support for this project was provided by SAIT, CED, and the MRU Institutes for Community Prosperity and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  Two reports have since been released, with authors from MRU including Professors  Evelyn Field, PhD, and  Michael Uzoka, PhD, Assistant Professor  Simon Raby, PhD, and Associate Professor  Michael Roberts, PhD. A recent  op-ed in the  Calgary Herald by project leads Professor  David Finch, PhD, Mary Moran and Jason Ribeiro (CED) and Janet Lane (Canada West Foundation) proposes a re-envisioned city-level learning system. For more information and to register for the June 26 webinar, go to the LearningCITY Lab's website at  LearningCITY.ca.

Member of Environmental Services management team earns COVID-19-related certification

June 12, 2020—

Rebeka Bertram has received specialized training in standards for cleaning, disinfecting and PPE (personal protection equipment) from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. The training included prevention, infection control and contamination control for infectious disease outbreaks. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Environmental Services team has followed AHS cleaning protocols to the highest standards.

"Tainted Water" wins CAJ Data Journalism Award

June 12, 2020—

On May 30, the Canadian Association of Journalists announced “ Tainted Water” as the winner of the 2019 Data Journalism Award. A collaboration with Concordia University’s Institute for Investigative Journalism, Associate Professor Janice Paskey led the team of journalism and broadcast media studies students Alannah Page, Stephanie Hagenaars, Karina Zapata, Noel Harper, Christian Kindrachuk, Jo Horwood, Rose deSouza and Andrea Wong.

Shayla Breen recognized by GOA

June 12, 2020—

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides gave former president of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University Shayla Breen a nod in May for her work in combatting sexual violence on campuses. 

Art gifted for special nursing journal's Indigenous edition

May 29, 2020—
Members of the School of Nursing and Midwifery Lisa Bourque Bearskin, PhD, (Beaver Lake Cree Nation), and Associate Professor  Andrea Kennedy, PhD, (Settler and Métis ancestry), are guest editors for  Nīpawīstimatowin   ―  “Bearing Witness for One Another ." This edition is grounded in Canadian Indigenous discourse and worldviews, focusing on nursing’s role in truth and reconciliation, Indigenous health and well-being and the necessity to decolonize nursing in Canada. Mount Royal's Iniskim Centre's  Medicine Trail Coordinator and artist  Dion Simon (Ermineskin Cree Nation) gifted an inspiring image for this special edition.

Health, Community and Education students earn national recognition

May 29, 2020—
Fourth-year Bachelor of Nursing student Andrew Nguyen, third-year Bachelor of Child Studies student Samantha Petite and third-year Athletic Therapy student Taylor Tsakoza were recently selected as recipients of the National Student Leadership Award in Health, Community and Education. The Canadian Association of Health Sciences Deans initiated this National Student Leadership Award Program in 2014.

Department of Education garners award

May 29, 2020—
The  Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) has recognized the work of Connect Charter School, Tsuut’ina Education and Mount Royal University with the  Excellence in Learning Partnerships Award. This award recognizes partnerships that include the school council, and support parent and community involvement in education to benefit the community and enhance the learning experience of students.

School of Nursing and Midwifery COVID-19 outreach and initiatives

May 15, 2020—

Mount Royal’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (SnoM) faculty have gone above and beyond with their efforts during COVID-19. Not only have they created new and innovative ways to deliver courses and interact with students, they have also volunteered their valuable time. Discover how the SNoM has been mak making a very real difference in the lives of many through donating time, expertise, support, and care.

Peace Prize recipient offers thanks

May 15, 2020—

Acclaimed Globe and Mail foreign correspondent, author and speaker on social inclusion Stephanie Nolen has accepted the 2020 Calgary Peace Prize, supported through Mount Royal's John de Chastelain Peace Studies Initiative. In lieu of April’s cancelled in-person event, more will be heard from Nolen in September in celebration of World Peace Day. Read her words of acceptance.

Mount Royal team advances to Map the System finals

May 15, 2020—

Mount Royal’s winning team from the Institute for Community Prosperity’s 2020 regional Map the System competition performed well enough at the Canadian finals on May 8 to be advanced to the global finals, which will be hosted by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford from June 5 to 7. The team includes the following individuals, who are investigating the question "Is Canadian charity designed to fail?": Jillian Mah, Bachelor of Arts ― Information Design; Ashley Dion, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management; and Matthew Taburada, Bachelor of Arts ―Behavioural Sciences (Ambrose University). The team's five-minute submission video provides an overview of their topic and research.

Bissett students take the podium in the Alberta Not-for-Profit Association case competition

May 15, 2020—

The last Our Community newsletter sent out on May 1 mistakenly identified the Bissett Stock Market Competition as the same as the Alberta Not-for-Profit Case Competition. This is an error, as the two are separate entities. Bissett students from social innovation and accounting placed third in the Alberta Not-for-Profit Association case competition in February. Read the blog post.

Stepping Up to start again

May 15, 2020—

Registered Social Worker Michelle Chimenti, who is a Social Work Diploma alumna, has returned to the Stepping Up program coordinator role as the research-based program returns for 2020/2021. The Stepping Up program focuses on healthy relationships and the prevention of dating, domestic and sexual violence.

Natalie Meisner named Calgary Poet Laureate

April 29, 2020—

On April 27, poet and playwright Natalie Meisner , PhD, was named Calgary’s fifth Poet Laureate , a two-year position that will end in 2022. A professor with Mount Royal’s Department of English, Languages and Cultures , Meisner will act as an ambassador for the written word, saying in the Calgary Economic Development release that, “By no means can poetry take the place of food or safety or shelter or medicine… but sometimes it might just help hold body and soul together for that key moment until we find what we need.” Listen to Meisner accept her new title here (12:50). Read more.

Science graduate receives prestigious research recognition

April 29, 2020—

Bachelor of Science alumna Ellie Campbell (2019) entered graduate studies at the University of Calgary with the support of a $20,000 Cummings School of Medicine Graduate Scholarship. She has since been awarded UCalgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Research Scholarship. Campbell says her undergraduate research was extremely impactful on her life path, and she gained tremendous benefit from attending an international research conference as an MRU undergraduate researcher with support from the MRU Undergraduate Research Travel Award.

Bissett team takes stock market competition

April 29, 2020—

The team of Varune Tillekeratne, Jamal Hussaini and Bidzina Mosiashvili has won the 2019/2020 Bissett Stock Market Competition with a stunning return of 78 per cent. The 14th edition of the annual competition began in September and concluded at the end of March and saw 14 teams start off with $1,000,000 in virtual money. Through the use of a simulator, they traded in Canadian and U.S. markets, with the ability to sell short and use options, navigating through an extremely difficult year. The student beat the market by the highest margin achieved by a team since the competition started in 2005.

Supporting sustainable teaching

April 29, 2020—

Professors Ada Jaarsma,PhD, (philosophy) and Kit Dobson, PhD, (English)have co-edited Dissonant Methods: Undoing Discipline in the Humanities Classroom , which is set to be published by the University of Alberta Press in May. Supported by MRU's Institute for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning , this collection of essays offer concrete and practical meditations on resistant and sustainable teaching. Jaarsma and Dobson both contributed to the collection, as did English alumnus Kyle Kinaschuk, who is now a PhD student at the University of Toronto.

Bachelor of Education capstone projects

April 29, 2020—

On April 16, the Bachelor of Education's , fourth-year students presented their capstone projects online, streaming their research. Watch here as students present about Indigenous Pedagogy , Flexible Seating or Quarantine Conversations.

Journalism students on a hot streak

April 17, 2020—

Three journalism students are finalists for the most prestigious award in Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists’ Student Award of Excellence . Since 2013, students from the program have been nominated six times and won five. This year Alannah Page, Huyana Cyprien and Curtis Larson are the nominated for their work on Ukrainian internment camps , supported by faculty member Patti Edgar. Students working with faculty member Janice Paskey on the Institute for Investigative Journalism's national series " Tainted Water" are also among the nominees.

Prestigious fellowship awarded

April 17, 2020—

Assistant Professor Jeff Pollack , PhD, (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences) has been selected as a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. He joins an international community of geoscientists with the aim of improving knowledge and understanding of the Earth.

PR students publish peers

April 17, 2020—

A team of student editors from Mount Royal’s public relations program have published the top double-blind reviewed voluntary submissions of their undergraduate peers in the second edition of the annual Western Communication Report (WCR). The soft launch was on April 2, and students will continue to promote the WCR throughout the summer. Topics include pieces on flu vaccination, bullying, the equalization formula and more.

SSHRC 2020 Insight Grant recipients

April 17, 2020—

Two Mount Royal professors are recipients of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s (SSHRC) Insight Grant , which supports research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Humanities professor Ada Jaarmsa , PhD, received an Insight Grant for her project titled “Placebos Talk Back,” and professors Kevin O'Connor , PhD, and Gladys Sterenberg , PhD, were recognized for their project titled “Hybrid Spaces Within a Professional Development School Context.” Please note that this information is for internal distribution only pending a formal announcement from SSHRC.

MRU awarded first New Frontiers in Research Fund award

April 17, 2020—

Professor Michael Uzoka , PhD, and co-investigators Professor Joseph Osuji , PhD, and Assistant Professor Yasaman Amannejad , PhD, recently received Mount Royal’s first-ever NFRF award for their cross-disciplinary project titled “A system for diagnosing and treating febrile diseases by lay health workers in resource-scarce settings.” Please note that this information is only for internal distribution pending a formal announcement from NFRF .

Women in data science student recognition

March 20, 2020—

Fourth-year Bachelor of Science ― General Science student Naseem Hijazi won third prize in the Best Poster Award competition at the recent Women in Data Science conference held at the University of Calgary. Hijazi’s poster covered the application of mathematical models to track the spread of Ebola in Congo and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in China. A principal investigator supported Hijazi throughout the project.

Research award goes to health science graduate

March 20, 2020—

Recent Bachelor of Science ― Health Science graduate Jordan Bird has garnered the prestigious Barbara A. Horowitz and John M. Horowitz Undergraduate Research Award. Bird submitted an abstract titled "Severity of Central Sleep Apnea Does Not Improve Sleeping Oxygen Saturation During Ascent to High Altitude" with associate professor of biology Trevor Day.

Administrator of the Year award goes to MRU employee

March 5, 2020—

Manager of Academic Advising for Enrolment Services Shea Ellingham will receive an Administrator of the Year award (Excellence in Advising — Advising Administrator) at the NACADA Region 8 Conferencenext week. NACADA is the global advising community and maintains professional standards for advisors, and many of the academic advisors at MRU are NACADA members. Ellingham will also be taking on a leadership role with NACADA as chair of Region 8 in the fall.

Melanie Peacock named to inaugural Global 100

March 5, 2020—

Twenty leaders in the Canadian human resources space have been recognized on Human Resources Director’s inaugural Global 100 — the definitive list of the best and brightest people practitioners of 2020. Associate professor of human resources Melanie Peacock, PhD, was only one of two academics to be named to the list.p>

Student announced as a 2019/2020 Bank of Canada scholarship recipient

March 5, 2020—

Bachelor of Computer Information Systems student Athina Sofocleous has received a Bank of Canada Scholarship, which are awarded to women, Indigenous students and students with disabilities. The scholarship encourages young Canadians to consider employment in fields related to the work of the central bank and assists them in furthering their education.p>

Students take third in Alberta Not-For-Profit Case Competition

March 5, 2020—

Assistant Professor Catherine Pearl (social innovation) and Associate Professor Simon Magennis (accounting) coached four students to third place at the Alberta Not-For-Profit Case Competition last weekend. The competition is the first live, undergraduate, not-for-profit case competition in Canada. Two accounting students and two social innovation students represented MRU: Mia Baines, Jan Santiago, Kolten Nelson and Xander Jensen.

Karch named to top 100

Feb. 19, 2020—

Director of Cougar Athletics Karla Karch has been named to U Sports’ list of Top 100 women’s basketball players of the century. With Mount Royal since 2005, Karch is a former Canadian Olympian who played basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She also represented Canada at numerous world championships.

Can artificial intelligence improve lives?

Feb. 18, 2020—

James Stauch, director of the Institute for Community Prosperity, and Alina Turner, PhD, of Turner Strategies, have published “ From Algorithms to Altruithms: The Fourth Social Purpose Revolution” in The Philanthropist . The first of two articles about artificial intelligence (AI), this series examines the role of AI in delivering social good and diminishing social harm.

Two books for Taras

Feb. 6, 2020—

Professor David Taras, PhD, Mount Royal's Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies, has co-authored a new book titled The End of the CBC? with Professor Christopher Waddell, PhD, of Carleton University. The book is described as "about three overlapping crises: the crisis that has enveloped the CBC, the crisis of news, and the crisis of democracy." Taras has also co-edited a book with Routledge titled Power Shift? Political Leadership and Social Media , which includes works by leading thinkers in the field from Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Computing book recognized for creativity and impact

Feb. 6, 2020—

Professor Randy Connolly, PhD, of the Department of Mathematics and Computing, received an award from Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling for effort and creativity put into the design of and in recognition of the impact of the first edition of the book, Computing Careers & Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors , which was co-authored by Professor Faith-Michael Uzoka, PhD, and Janet Miller, PhD. The book is now in its second edition.

MRU earns ‘high silver’ STARS sustainability rating

Jan. 23, 2020—

Mount Royal has been recognized through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This was MRU’s first time applying for the rating, which is a commonly used system among post-secondaries. Sustainability is championed by Facilities Management and the Institute for Environmental Sustainability with contributions from across campus.

Reaching dharma

Jan. 21, 2020—

Associate professor of religious studies Jackie Ho is one of two Buddhist women from Canada to qualify for a dharma instructor ordination. Ho achieved this second-level ordination after serving as a dharma assistant for five years and successfully passing an intensive exam on theory and music at the Rainbow Temple in Seattle, WA. She looks forward to promoting women in leadership roles in the Buddhist tradition and to serving the community.

Excellence in Advising

Jan. 7, 2020—

NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising Northwest Region 8 has selected Faculty of Science and Technology academic advisor Cheryl Melatdoost as the winner of the Region 8 Excellence in Advising - Advisor Primary Role Award. Region 8 covers Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Yukon. Read more about how Melatdoost has made a “major” impact at MRU.

Buchanan delivers keynote

Jan. 7, 2020—

Sociology professor Tom Buchanan acted as the keynote speaker for the sixth International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches (iCMA) in Sri Lanka. His address was titled "Multidisciplinary Approaches in a Specialized World: How Active Pursuit of Difference Produces Positive Social Change." During his visit, Buchanan also developed initiatives for research and student exchanges. More information.

200 bears and $2,000

Dec. 11. 2019—

Health and physical education students Danny Pham, Tyson Kapty, Darryl Senholt, Joel Hartzell, Philippe Gabriele, Morgan Zulinick and Evan Lennon recently collected 200 teddy bears and $2,000 for the Ronald McDonald House by organizing a teddy bear toss at a hockey tournament in Chestermere. A sports and recreation management course assignment (SRMG 2440-001 ― Community Development) to support a community in achieving a charitable goal using recreation to bring people together inspired the act.

Creating webs to join communities

Dec. 11, 2019—

Bachelor of Child Studies and Social Work students recently presented their capstone projects to their community partners at the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta and to Gaye Warthe, PhD, associate dean of Teaching and Learning. Guided by elder Roy Bear Chief, the students have learned and are applying the Blackfoot narrative Ani to pisi through creating spiderwebs ― visual representations of their professional growth and the development of their projects ― throughout the term. The students have worked in groups to: plan a conference for families with children and youth affected by cancer and hematological illness (scheduled for April 2020); create online training modules for volunteers; tutor children who are undergoing cancer treatments; and design and implement a physical literacy curriculum for children with cancer. During the presentation, the students explained the Ani to pisi story and shared their webs that included project strengths, vibrations (challenges) and practical ways they have supported each other.

A medal for Moorman

Dec. 4, 2019—

Professor Lynn Moorman, PhD, of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences was a recipient of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society 90th Anniversary medal for work done for Canadian Geographic Education as the post-secondary representative. Each year the Society recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Canada, the Society or the field of geography. In addition, Moorman was also recently named to the editorial board of the Journal of Geography.

Hand-made strings make it to the stage

Dec. 4, 2019—

Calgary Youth Orchestra member Spencer Mung recently brought his hand-made violin to the stage, a project two years in the making. Mung was encouraged by Conservatory faculty member Chris Sandvoss and taught by Natanael Sasaki, a local luthier known for repairing a cello owned by a refugee that had been damaged by militant gunfire as the musician was attempting to leave a performance

Off to the big leagues

Dec. 4, 2019—

Jon Yeoh, a graduate of the Conservatory Academy Program and alumnus of the Calgary Youth Orchestra, has been awarded a position with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s bass section.

Alumni steal the show at Social Enterprize Awards

Nov. 27, 2019—

On Nov. 21 at Calgary’s Social Entrerpize Awards, hosted by the Trico Foundation and the Haskayne School of Business, finalists for What’s Next YYC participated in a live pitch fest vying for four awards of $25,000. Three went to MRU alumni. Paul Shumlich of Deepwater Farms received the Audience Choice Award, with Timothy Lipp (Beaverlodge) and Sean Crump ( Universal Access) each receiving Judge’s Choice Awards.

Winterdyk Presents, Wins Award and Helps Launch Journal

Nov. 26, 2019—

Criminal justice professor John Winterdyk, PhD, attended and presented on human trafficking in Canada at the Canadian Criminal Justice Congress ― 100 Years of Criminal Justice and was the recipient of the organization's Public Education Award. Winterdyk has also been invited to prepare the first editorial and introduction to the Global Journal for Criminological and Criminal Justice Research.

Students play part in lead pipes exclusive

Nov. 14, 2019—

On Nov. 4, Global News and Star Metro Calgary, in conjunction with Mount Royal’s journalism program, published the results of a year-long investigation funded by the Institute of Investigative Journalism at Concordia University into lead in the water in Calgary and cities across Canada. Mount Royal student Alannah Page received a lead credit in the Star story, with Karina Zapata and Stephanie Hagenaars credited for research.

An attempt to scale Canada’s highest peak gives pause to “think deeply”

Nov. 14, 2019—

Associate Professor Ian Sherrington of the Department of Health and Physical Education challenged himself to summit Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada, last May. Along with his brother-in-law, a mountain guide and high-angle rescue specialist, the pair decided to try the more difficult East Ridge route, which Sherrington describes as “an involved climbing objective including knife-edged snow ridges, short sections of rock and ice-climbing, and almost continuous exposure of up to 1,500 metres down on both sides of the ridge." The success rate for this ascent route is only about 40 per cent. They and four other climbers from Switzerland and Canada were the only ones on that part of the mountain. Sherrington spent two weeks on Mount Logan, which is subject to bursts of sub-arctic weather hitting the mountain at regular intervals from the Pacific Ocean located less than 120 kilometres away. Unfortunately, due to weather, the pair were unable to reach the top. Regardless, Sherrington came away with these thoughts: “I have spent 25 years educating people by providing them opportunities to challenge their own comfort zones with the myriad of benefits that spring from this. My time on Mount Logan gave me first-hand schooling on my own ability to deal with adversity and consider my own personal growth. This was the unexpected product of flirting with the deep and sometimes dark boundaries of my own zones of comfort. This brought me to places that gave me pause to think deeply on such ubiquitous issues as mental health and the role of challenge and wilderness in this ever-present equation.” 

Cross-disciplinary course receives international attention

Nov. 14, 2019—

Professors Duane Bratt, PhD, and Brett McCollum, PhD, have been invited to present in Paris at the Nuclear Energy Agency in December, contributing to a workshop on speaking across the disciplinary divide in nuclear and social sciences. Their presentation will focus on almost a decade of teaching the general education course of CHEM 3802: The Science and Politics of Nuclear Energy, programming that is being recognized by the international community as unique and groundbreaking. As part of the course, the professors explore the continuing impact and changes in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear accident, with the pair welcoming a visit from the Japanese consulate in 2018. They have also taken a group of students on a tour of a Cameco uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan in partnership with the University of Calgary.

An in-depth look at the mysteries of violence

Nov. 14, 2019—

Associate professor Mark Ayyash, PhD, of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology recently saw his book, A Hermeneutics of Violence: A Four-Dimensional Conception , published by the University of Toronto Press. The book’s description says, “Theories of violence are numerous today, but because of the mysterious nature of violence, and how each individual or group may endure it uniquely, its study cannot be limited to one specialized and highly restricted field. A Hermeneutics of Violence seeks to remedy this problem by placing in dialogue various theories of violence from the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, international relations and philosophy.”

Child Studies student art to be displayed at zoo

Nov. 14, 2019—

On Nov. 20, National Child Day, second-year students in the Bachelor of Child Studies program will present their Image of a Child artwork exhibition at the Calgary Zoo as part of the Calgary Play Summit. The pieces were created as part of Assistant Professor Carolyn Bjartveit, PhD, and contract faculty Lea Blust's Guidance and Planning course, which challenged the students ― all early learning majors ― to address their preconceptions about their image of the child. Read more.

Fleet of geophysical laboratories in the works

Nov. 1, 2019—

Associate Professor Katherine Boggs of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is working on an ambitious EON-ROSE project to place a fleet of geophysical observatories across Canada to probe everything from the inner Earth to the upper atmosphere, as detailed in “ Earth scientists push ambitious project to map Canada’s geology” published by the Nature International Journal of Science. In addition, Boggs and colleagues also recently published “Google Earth Models with COLLADA and WxAzygy Transparent Interface: An example from Grotto Creek, Front Ranges, Canadian Cordillera” in Geoscience Canada .

Using social media for academic success

Oct. 17, 2019—

Mount Royal University librarian Richard Hayman, faculty development consultant Erika Smith and psychology student Hannah Storrs have evaluated the use of MRU Confessions, a student-run Facebook page that is an unfiltered zone for students to vent, connect and seek advice for all things related to student life. The team has presented their research at national and international conferences, including the Canadian Association for Information Science,where their research was awarded Best Practitioner Paper. Recently, their findings on Information Behaviour of Undergraduate Students Using Facebook Confessions for Educational Purposes were published in Information Research.

Richard Harrison launches 25th anniversary edition of Hero of the Play

Sept. 30, 2019—

Professor Richard Harrison’s Hero of the Play has been in print continuously for 25 years, with a tenth anniversary edition released in 2004. 25 (Wolsak and Wynn), is a celebration of this fact, as well as a meditation on 25 years of hockey poetry. This collection catalogues the way the game has woven itself into the life of the Governor General’s Award–winning poet, and is a reflection on how the game has become such a large part of the Canadian identity.

Cougars give back to the community

Sept. 30, 2019—

On Sept. 24, the Cougars men’s hockey team was awarded the title of the Autism Aspergers Friendship Society’s Community Partner of the Year. The team has been working with Bryce over the last year, who comes to MRU every Monday to assist with locker room clean up and practice preparation. Bryce is also alumnus and graduate of Mount Royal’s Transitional Vocational Program.

Research presented in Vienna

Sept. 30, 2019—

As part of this year’s International Federation of Social Work European Conference in Vienna, Austria, Assistant Professor Marva Ferguson presented her research “I Have to Go Back Home: The Complexities of Caregiving From Afar,” a topic that examines the experiences of Caribbean immigrants who face additional challenges shaped by systemic inequities specific to precarious employment and the lack of access to resources and decision making. More information.

Science website recognized with nomination

Sept. 19, 2019—

Associate professor of biology, Sarah Hewitt, PhD, has been nominated by the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada for the 2019 People’s Choice Awards: Canada’s Favourite Science Online for her website, The Science B-Sides. Browse the sites and vote for your favourite.

'Baddie One Shoe' hits the shelves

Sept. 18, 2019—

English professor Natalie Meisner, PhD, has published a new book of poems titled Baddie One Shoe through Frontenac House. Her poems are odes to the renegades of the past and present who fight the powers that be with laughter.

De-colonizing the social work profession

Sept. 18, 2019—

On Sept. 27, Associate Professor Peter Choate, PhD, of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work, will participate in a PolicyWise 2019 Annual General Meeting panel titled Evidence in Action. Choate will discuss a PolicyWise Seed Grant project that examined the implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations for how new social workers are educated. More information.

‘North-bound and pursued’

Sept. 5, 2019—

Associate professor Randy Nikkel Schroeder, PhD, of the Department of English, Languages and Culture’s new novel, Arctic Smok e , will be released this month by NeWest Press. The story follows aging punk Lor Kowalski as he and his band head north for a mysterious Artic festival tour. The work is described as “An absurdist punk-rock adventure through counter-counterculture’s most otherworldly spaces.” Read more.

Assessing the value of sport and recreation to a community

Sept. 5, 2019—

Associate Professor David Finch, PhD, and Professor David Legg, PhD, in collaboration with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Institute for Community Prosperity are hosting Calgary’s inaugural ActiveCITY Summit on Sept. 18 at WinSport. They will be joined by 250 other leaders in sport and recreation to debate the future of an active economy. Register.

Faculty and student collaboration takes home conference award

Sept. 5, 2019—

Assistant professor Ran Ju, PhD, Associate Professor Sandra Braun, PhD, and MRU public relations students Dat Huynh and Sarah McCaffrey, won second place in the Top Paper Competition in the Public Relations Open Division at the 102nd annual conference of the Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Professor’s play to be performed in New York City

Sept. 5, 2019—

In May, Associate Professor Susan Jacoby of the School of Nursing and Midwifery wrote and co-directed a play titled"Born in the Ruins" for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. The 56-minute performance highlights the important work of midwives and nurses. It will also be performed on Sept. 17 in New York City as part of the UN High Level Commission for Universal Health Coverage. More information.

MRU nursing history to reach a European audience

Sept. 5, 2019—

School of Nursing and Midwifery associate professor Marg Olfert is headed to Florence, Italy, in February to present her research, “The trail of an idea struggling for survival: Jean Mackie Establishes Canadian Nursing Education at Mount Royal College, 1964–68,” at the Florence 2020, International Conference on the History of Nursing, hosted by the European Association for the History of Nursing. More information.

100 anniversary of significant strike commemorated

Aug. 13, 2019—

Associate Professor Kirk Niergarth of the Department of Humanities, Assistant Professor Sean Carleton of the Department of General Education and University of Alberta post-doctoral student Julia Smith are the authors of a museum-style exhibit about the 1919 Calgary General Strike that is currently on display at the Calgary Central Library. Thirteen banners tell the story of how Alberta workers responded during a moment of international unrest at the end of the First World War. It is the 100th anniversary of the strike wave of 1919 that included the Calgary General Strike (in sympathy with the Winnipeg General Strike). Strikes in Alberta persisted throughout the summer and, for coal miners, into the fall. Over the next six months, the banners will be touring to a variety of schools, libraries and union events in Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Edmonton. They will also spend time on display here at MRU and at the University of Calgary. View the banners here.

Research examines how public health authorities advertise to racialized groups

Aug. 6, 2019—

Associate professors at the Bissett School of Business, Mohammed El Hazzouri and Leah Hamilton have concluded that public health authorities need to re-examine how they advertise to racialized groups. Through a series of four studies — partially funded by MRU's Internal Research Grants Fund — the pair has noted an interesting backlash effect. Their research shows that members of racialized groups feel negatively stereotyped by widely distributed public health ads that target their group. In turn, this makes them less likely to want to follow the advice of the advertisers. Findings have been published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing , The Conversation , Pride News and Newmarket Today . El Hazzouri says, “As society seeks to reduce healthcare inequities, we need to do a better job of planning public health campaigns by involving members of racialized groups in the creation of these ads.”

Institute for Environmental Sustainability featured amongst energy thought leaders

July 23, 2019—

The Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES) has been involved in a collaboration with the University of Calgary's Centre for Corporate Responsibility and Energy Dialogues out of San Diego. A podcast was recorded at the Calgary Energy Dialogues of a recent panel discussion with Associate Professor and Academic Director Connie Van Der Byl of the IES as the moderator and panelists from First Nations Major Projects Coalition and the Canada West Foundation. Topics addressed were the implications of Bill C-69, how regulatory approaches to approvals can be balanced and how the current climate is impacting investment in Canada. Listen here.

Religious studies professor to teach graduate course in Brazil

July 23, 2019—

Religious studies professor Steven Engler will be teaching a four-day graduate course in methodology at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brazil, in August. The course will be conducted in Portuguese, and readings will include Engler's co-authored chapter on methods in Brazil's first broad overview of the field, the Compêndio de Ciência da Religião ( Handbook of Religious Studies), along with several translated chapters, published in Brazil, from the first-ever handbook of research methods in religious studies in English, The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in the Study of Religion , co-edited by Engler.

New director of nursing announced

July 10. 2019—

Elizabeth Van Den Kerkhof, PhD, will take on the position of director of Mount Royal’s School of Nursing and Midwifery effective July 9. Van Den Kerkhof earned a Doctor of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in 1998, and for the past 18 years has been a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. She has been deeply involved in research, particularly related to pain-related complex conditions, and has co-authored many peer-reviewed publications, held substantial peer-reviewed funding, participated on many committees and helped develop several educational programs.

Faculty member to work with World Health Organization

July 10, 2019—

From Aug. 22 to 23, in Geneva, Switzerland, chair and associate professor of the Department of Health and Physical Education, Christy Tomkins-Lane, PhD, will participate and inform the development of the World Health Organization’s 2021 Global Report on Effective Access to Assistive Technology. Learn more.

Boom Baby takes grand prize

June 26, 2019—

Professor and PhD Natalie Meisner's most recent play, Boom Baby, has been named the recipient of the 2019 Alberta Playwriting Competition Grand Prize. The play also won the Canadian National Playwriting competition this year and it will have its mainstage debut at Eastern Front Theatre in Halifax. The Mount Royal endeavour fund supported a workshop of Boom Baby, which also had had two MRU creative writing/script writing apprentices on the show. The creation of this play was a cooperative venture with Handsome Alice Theatre in Calgary.  Read more.

Centennial gold medal winner is PhD-bound

June 24, 2019—

Based on the high calibre of his research, Bachelor of Science — Environmental Science alumnus Kevin Hayes is skipping his master's and headed straight to doctoral studies. Read more.

MRU alumna revives groundbreaking magazine

June 24, 2019—

Forum, a groundbreaking feminist magazine that was published in Calgary from 1988 to 2002, is back and hitting streets thanks to MRU journalism alumna Silvia Pikal. New Forum is an homage to the original magazine and will serve as a platform for writers and artists in Alberta. Read more.

MRU winner of the Star Metro Calgary 2019 Community Choice Awards

June 13, 2019—

Mount Royal was chosen by the public as the winner of the Best Post-Secondary Education Institution category for the Star Metro Calgary 2019 Community Choice Awards, beating out nine other options.

Student chosen for cover of science magazine

June 13, 2019—

Earth and environmental sciences student Nikita Kahpeaysewat was chosen as the cover story for the 2019 spring issue of Winds of Change, a publication created by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Kahpeaysewat comes from the Moosomin First Nation, which is near the town of Cochin, Sask. Read more.

MRU among first signatories to the Dimensions Charter

May 29, 2019—

MRU is one of the first Canadian institutions to become a signatory to the Dimensions Charter to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity through greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Alumni-made film receives two awards

May 29, 2019—

A short film titled Memento Mori created by two graduates of Mount Royal’s Theatre Performance Diploma program — Anna Barker and Ryan Irving — garnered two 2019 Calgary Underground Film Festival Awards: the Special Jury Mention — Emerging Filmmaker award and the Audience Award Best Canadian Short. Barker is also currently majoring in English at MRU.

Co-research by professor and students published

May 29, 2019—

Associate Professor Peter Choate, PhD, of the Social Work Diploma program and five of his practicum students were recently published in the Canadian Journal of Law and Society for their research “ Rethinking Racine v Woods from a Decolonizing Perspective: Challenging the Applicability of Attachment Theory to Indigenous Families Involved with Child Protection.”

Professor named the 2019 Hotchkiss Brain Institute Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year

May 29, 2019—

Associate professor in the Department of Biology, Trevor Day, PhD, was awarded the title of the 2019 Hotchkiss Brain Institute Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year, which recognizes the outstanding performance of a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow or research fellow who trained in a neuroscience laboratory at the University of Calgary within the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Day’s PhD was based in the study of cardiovascular/respiratory sciences, and his esteemed research into the physiological challenges and dangers of climbing Everest was recently featured on Global News at 6 .

Excellence in nursing research and education

May 29, 2019—

Bachelor of Nursing faculty members Professor Cathy Carter-Snell, PhD, and Kerri Alderson were nominated for the CARNA (College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta) Awards in the areas of Nursing Excellence in Research and Nursing Excellence in Education (respectively). The CARNA Awards celebrates nursing excellence, recognizing outstanding nurses and partners across seven award categories.

Map the System team heading to finals

May 10, 2019—

For the third year in a row, MRU will be sending a team to Oxford for the global Map the System finals. The interdisciplinary Team Kistoonon, which includes five students enrolled in four MRU different faculties, were chosen from among 15 schools from across the country. The team is examining the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Read more.

The Calgary Journal nets a CAJ Award

May 10, 2019—

Three journalism students have won the 2018 Canadian Association of Journalists Student Award for Excellence. The award recognized the project Lost in the System, which charts the difficulties of transgender people accessing transition services in Alberta. Mount Royal students have now won the excellence award five times in the past six years.

MacEwan University bestows 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award on Associate Professor Scharie Tavcer, PhD

May 10, 2019—

The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1986, is the highest form of recognition presented by MacEwan. Associate professor Scharie Tavcer teaches in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies and previously worked for Correctional Services Canada.

Appointment for Associate Professor Anderson to HSMBC

May 1, 2019—

Associate dean of the Faculty of Arts Joe Anderson, PhD, was recently appointed to a five-year term as the Alberta member for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. 

Collection published by Boschman and Trono

May 1, 2019—

Professor Robert Boschman, PhD, and Associate Professor Mario Trono, PhD, of the Department of English, Languages and Cultures’ edited collection, On Active Grounds: Agency and Time in the Environmental Humanities , has just been published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press. The work is described as a consideration of “the themes of agency and time through the burgeoning, interdisciplinary field of the environmental humanities.”

Professor to appear in forthcoming documentary series

May 1, 2019—

Instructor Carolyn Willekes, PhD, of the general education and humanities departments, will appear in an upcoming documentary series produced by Lion TV for the Smithsonian Channel titled Rome's Chariot Superstar . The series, which was reviewed by the Daily Mail , will be released on April 21 and will also be available on Amazon Prime. 

Discovering 'what’s next?' in the field of Canadian women’s and gender history

May 1, 2019—

Reading Canadian Women’s and Gender History , a new book edited by Department of Humanities associate professor Carmen Nielson, PhD, and colleague, has been released by University of Toronto Press. As characterized in the description, "... this broadly historiographical volume represents a conversation among established and emerging scholars who share a commitment to understanding the past from intersectional feminist perspectives."

Associate Professor Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, wins the William Harvey Gross Award

April 15, 2019—

The William Harvey Gross Award is bestowed annually by the Mineral Deposits Division to a geoscientist less than 40 years of age who has made a significant contribution to the field of economic geology in a Canadian context.  Associate Professor Michelle DeWolfe, PhD’s project "Evaluating mineral potential of the Winter Lake greenstone belt, Slave craton, Northwest Territories" focuses on understanding both ancient and modern submarine volcanic successions and ore-forming processes related to volcanism. She has also received an NSERC Strategic Partnership Grant for her work.

Former athletics employee to be inducted into Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame

April 15, 2019—

Al Bohonus, who was the host chair of the first-ever Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s basketball National Championship at Mount Royal in 1975, will be inducted posthumously into the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Builder Category. He was also host chair for men’s and women’s basketball in 1982 and men’s volleyball in 1994. Bohonus began his career at Mount Royal in 1975 as campus recreation coordinator and took over as athletic director in 1978, occupying the position until his passing in 1995. Under his leadership the Cougars earned 41 provincial college championships and seven national titles. In 1999, Mount Royal received the CCAA 25th Anniversary Overall Sport Supremacy Award.

“In addition to being an outstanding leader at Mount Royal College, Al consistently took on a variety of leadership roles within the ACAC and CCAA to ensure that varsity sport was a meaningful contributor to student life in Canadian colleges,” said Brian Fleming, who worked closely with Bohonus during the 1980s and 1990s.

Bohonus served as the ACAC’s representative to the CCAA Board of Directors from 1980 to 1982 and was on the CCAA Executive from 1982-85 as the 2nd Vice President. Bohonus twice served as the ACAC president, from 1980 to 1983 and again from 1990 to 1992.

Alumna’s training helps save a life

April 5, 2019—

Athletic therapy alumna Savannah Blakely is being credited with helping to save the life of Bob Elliot, whose heart stopped while addressing the attendees of an Okotoks Dawgs banquet. Blakely and team photographer Angela Burger performed CPR on Elliot, keeping him alive until assistance arrived. Blakely has been an athletic trainer with the Okotoks Dawgs for the past eight years.

New book for former student

April 5, 2019—

Bachelor of Arts ― English alumnus Niall Howell’s new book, Only Pretty Damned ( NeWestPress), is set to be released April 15. Staged in a circus during the 1950s, Only Pretty Damned has been well reviewed. English professor and poet Micheline Maylor, describes the work as follows: “Told in the Hitchcockian tradition of the film noir, we follow (the lead character) on a bizarre and dark trail of his life as a circus act. This character-driven spectacle lets us peek behind the literal curtain of the theatre of the strange.” 

Robert Blaine sports memorabilia donation

April 5, 2019—

Calgarian Robert Blaine has donated an interesting collection of sports memorabilia to MRU valued at $80,000. The donation is currently housed in Mount Royal’s Archives and Special Collections and is expected to be used for research and potentially put on display.

Penning their way to the top

April 5, 2019—

Mount Royal journalism students have been nominated for two Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) student awards. Amber McLinden, Rayane Sabbagh and Simran Sachar received a nod for their story, “ Lost in the System.” “ Mindtrap,” by Natalie Valleau, Courtney Ingram and Breanne Kramer, was also recognized. The winners will be announced May 4 at the CAJ conference in Winnipeg.

Associate Professor Paul Johnston a true friend

April 5, 2019—

Associate Professor Paul Johnston, PhD, of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, was recognized with a Friend of the Society award at the 23rd annual Symposium of the Alberta Paleontological Society, held at Mount Royal on March 23 and 24. Johnston along with Instructional Assistant Mike Clark and Professor John Cox, PhD, are instrumental in working with the Alberta Paleontological Society to bring the symposium to Mount Royal each year.

The Canadian soldier experience during the First World War

April 5, 2019—

Professor Geoffrey Jackson, PhD of the Department of Humanities, has published the book, The Empire on the Western Front: The British 62nd and Canadian 4th Divisions in Battle with UBC Press. The work delves in to the divisional level of command during the First World War and the different experiences of the British and Canadian soldiers.
 

Honourable mention for poster presentation

April 5, 2019—

Chemistry professor Brett McCollum, PhD, received an honourable mention for his poster presentation Mapping Chemistry Education Practice to Professional Identity at the Royal Society for Chemistry Twitter Poster Conference last week. The poster maps out how to train students to think like a chemist.

Two publications for School of Nursing and Midwifery profs

March 19, 2019—

School of Nursing and Midwifery associate professor Tammy Sherrow's book Preemie Care (Page Two Books) is focuses on a community engagement agenda and provides health literacy and support for parents of premature babies. Associate professor Katherine Janzen's book Artistic Pedagogical Technologies (Vernon Press) concentrates on practical teaching strategies for faculty in higher education, including online learning.

Two SSHRC Awards plus a publication

March 5, 2019—

Associate professor Cynthia Gallop, chair of the Mount Royal University Human Research Ethics Board, recently received the welcome news that she is the recipient of two Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Awards. The first is an Individual Partnership Engage Grant and the second is an Explore Grant. In addition, her chapter titled “ Insinuating: understanding approaches to critical practice” was recently published in the Routledge Handbook of Critical Social Work.

Mount Royal journalism student announced as a Donaldson scholar

March 5, 2019—

Soon-to-be journalism grad Huyana Cyprien has been named as a 2019 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship recipient. Thirty-three candidates from 13 different institutions were interviewed before the eight finalists were chosen. Cyprien is the fourth Donaldson scholar to emerge from the journalism program. In announcing the winners, the CBC pointed to work that Cyprien and fellow students did on a multimedia project on the Ukrainian internment camps of the First World War.

Information design collaborates with alumnus on Special Olympics logo

Feb. 20, 2019—

Associate Professor Ben Kunz, chair of the information design program at Mount Royal, worked with program alumnus and Special Olympian Christopher Demchuk to design the logo for the 2019 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games, which was hosted in Calgary from Feb. 8 to 10 for the first time in 12 years. Kunz and Demchuk teamed together with the organizing committee to come up with the final concept.

Students win CFA Societies of Canada's Ethics Challenge

Feb. 20, 2019—

For the second year in a row Mount Royal students have won the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Societies of Canada Ethics Challenge's regional round, competing against counterparts from the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge and SAIT. The team of five Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students will now advance to the national championships, to be hosted in Calgary in early May. They will face off against the top schools from the other five regions of the country ( B.C., the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes).

The team is comprised of:
Aliza Carroll, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management, concentration in financial services (2020)
Houston Higgins, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management, concentration in financial services (2019)
Gurdit Khatra, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management, concentration in financial service (2019)
Alaina Magnusson, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management, concentration in financial services (2020)
Allana White, Bachelor of Business Administration ― General Management, concentration in financial services (2020)

Esteemed accreditation earned

Feb. 20, 2019—

The Canadian Public Relations Society recently granted accredited status to 21 of its members after successfully completing the 2017/2018 accreditation program. Assistant Professor Peter Ryan, PhD, has earned the accredited in public relations designation.

Midwifery student receives Outstanding Future Alumni Award

Feb. 20, 2019—

Jenny Limoges was recognized for her commitment to mentorship with an Outstanding Future Alumni Award. She stays connected through the Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship program and by mentoring other students as a Learning Peer. 

Anderson puts people and pigs to pen in new book

Feb. 20, 2019—

Associate Dean Joe Anderson, PhD, of the Faculty of Arts recently had West Virginia University Press publish his book, Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America . The book examines the changing inter-species relationship between people and pigs from the Colombian Exchange in the region that became the United States.

Alberta Education Program student selected for Top 30 Under 30

Feb. 20, 2019—

Aboriginal Education Program student, Glenielia Ariel Crawler, has been selected as a 2019 Top 30 Under 30 from the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation for her work promoting Indigenous rights globally, as well as her service in the Morley community.

Support for national workshop on human trafficking

Jan. 23, 2019—

Professor John Winterdyke, PhD, of the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies, recently received a grant from the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development to deliver a national workshop on human trafficking. The project is part of India's Global Initiative of Academic Networks, which recruits international experts to engage with the Institutes of Higher Education in India.

SHRCC Explore grant awarded for study on ritual polyphony

Jan. 23, 2019—

Professor Steven Engler, PhD, along with three Brazilian colleagues, was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Explore grant (through the MRU Internal Research Grant Fund process) and a Collaborative International Research Grant from the American Academy of Religion for a project on Ritual Polyphony in Afro-Brazilian Religions.

Engler's team will do fieldwork in two cities in Brazil on Afro-Brazilian terreiros (temples) that hold the rituals of one religion one day and the rituals of a different religion the next. The same leaders organize and conduct these sessions, and many members participate in both. This phenomenon challenges how scholars think about religions as discrete entities and religious identities as mutually exclusive.

Compelling Calgarians

Jan. 11, 2019—

Provost Lesley Brown, PhD, and alumnus Paul Shumlich were each named one of the Calgary Herald's 20 Compelling Calgarians. In addition to being a proven administrator, Brown is an accomplished scholar in the field of kinesiology, and Shumlich is growing Deepwater Farms, an aquaponics business he started while still a student at Mount Royal.

Midwifery student receives Métis award

Dec. 10, 2018—

On Sept. 22, Noelle Antonsen, a second-year student in Mount Royal's Bachelor of Midwifery program, was presented the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Award, which helps Métis Albertans realize self-sufficiency through post-secondary education and skills development.
 

Professor Kimberly Williams on pets and the Fort McMurray fire

Dec. 10, 2018—

MRU's Centre for Community Disaster Research (CCDR) just published Professor Kimberly Williams, PhD's, research essay, " Managing Pets during Disasters: Findings and Recommendations from the Horse River Fire, Fort McMurray, Alberta." The essay was also recently covered in the Calgary Herald , as well as in other media, and is available on PreventionWeb, a project of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. A grant from the CCDR funded the project with support from the Faculty of Arts and MRU's Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement.
 

Inspiration Awards recognizes Mount Royal professor and project

Nov. 28, 2018—

Department of Child Studies and Social Work professor Gaye Warthe, PhD, recently garnered an Inspiration Award in recognition of her work to prevent family violence, sexual violence, child abuse and bullying. The award was presented by Alberta’s Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir, who said, “These Albertans work day in and day out to transform lives, promote healthy relationships and prevent violence.”

Mount Royal’s Stepping Up initiative was also recognized. Stepping Up is a research-based program focusing on the prevention of dating violence. The current Mount Royal Stepping Up team includes: Michelle Chimenti, alumna and project coordinator, Elene Rangel Arcila-Otte, peer facilitator and Bachelor of Nursing student, Patricia Kostouros, PhD, associate professor, Child Studies and Social Work, Gaye Warthe, PhD, associate dean, Faculty of Health Community and Education, Cathy Carter-Snell, PhD, associate professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Christine Brownell, associate professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Alumna one of six to win international scholarship

Nov. 28, 2018—

Bissett School of Business alumna Corrine Thiessen is one of six women worldwide to win a prestigious Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship from Zonta International. Since 1923, Zonta International has provided more than 40.9 million US Dollars to empower women and expand their access to education, health care, economic opportunities and safe living conditions. Thiessen first won the Zonta Club of Victoria Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship, then went on to secure the Zonta District 8 scholarship, and was recently successful in earning the Zonta International scholarship. Finance professor Catherine Roy‐Heaton describes Thiessen as “of superior intelligence and (holding) superior analytical and communication skills.” She is currently working on post-graduate studies at the University of Victoria. Read more.

International Social Innovation Research Conference awards

Nov. 15, 2018—

Mount Royal University students Taryn Hamilton and Spirit River Striped Wolf won Best in Stream for two of their presentations at the 10th International Social Innovation Research Conference held at Ruprecht-Karls-University in Heidelberg, Germany from Sept. 3 to 5. Hamilton (justice studies) and Striped Wolf (policy studies) were the only undergraduate students to present their work at this conference, presenting on “Otahpiaaki Law Keepers: Attributional Justice, the Role of Elders, and Decolonizing the Intellectual Property of Indigenous Creatives,” and “Challenging Scarcity: Nation-to-Nation Policy Imperatives for Indigenous Community Prosperity.”

Professor Katharine McGowan, PhD, of the Bissett School of Business also won Best in Stream at the conference for her presentation, "Perceiving a Plague: Understanding Systems from Within During Times of Crisis." 

New publication from Tim Haney

Nov. 14, 2018—

Sociology professor and director of Mount Royal's Centre for Community Disaster Research, Tim Haney, PhD, recently published “Paradise Found? The Emergence of Social Capital, Place Attachment, and Civic Engagement After Disaster” in the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters 36(2): 97-119. The article is linked here with permission of the editor.

Milena Radzikowska named 2018 Educator Award of Excellence Winner

Oct. 31, 2018—

A national association representing Canada’s graphic designers has given Mount Royal University information design professor Milena Radzikowska its inaugural teaching award. Radzikowska, a founding member of Mount Royal's information design program, is one of two teachers receiving RGD’s 2018 Design Educators Award, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to student development and pedagogical research.” Read more.

Natalie Meisner made director of Changemaking

Oct. 31, 2018—

English professor Natalie Meisner, PhD, has been appointed as Mount Royal's internal director of Changemaking, tasked with facilitating changemaking across campus in teaching, learning and curriculum development.

Anupam Das and MRU Faculty of Arts collaborations

Oct. 31, 2018—

Economics professor Anupam Das, PhD, has recently published in the following journals; Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, Journal of the Knowledge Economy, and OPEC Energy Review. Two of the essays were co-authored with MRU arts faculty members Professors Tom Buchanan, PhD, and Young Jung, PhD, and one was co-authored with policy studies student Sariah Seaborn.

Maria Teresa Grillo on José María Arguedas and violence, racism, and reconciliation in Peru

Oct. 31, 2018—

The 2018 monograph volume of the Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos (Canadian Journal of Hispanic Studies), edited by Professors María Teresa Grillo, PhD, and Rita de Grandis (UBC), was published this year. Grillo’s article on Indigenous author José María Arguedas was included in this volume. She was also recently interviewed about her role in editing first issue of +Memoria(s), The Journal of the LUM (Place of Memory, Tolerance and Social Inclusion, Ministry of Culture, Peru), and was interviewed by El Comercio, the main newspaper of Peru. Read more here.

Mark Ayyash on Palestinian Fellahin Resistance and the Space-Place Relation

Oct. 31, 2018—

Sociology professor Mark Ayyash, PhD, had his article, “An Assemblage of Decoloniality? Palestinian Fellahin Resistance and the Space-Place Relation," published in the summer 2018 issue of Studies in Social Justice .

French open-access journal available now

Oct. 31, 2018—

French Professors Antoine Eche, PhD, and Justine Huet, PhD, recently published an issue of their co-edited, open-access journal Convergences Françaises, available here.

Orange Chinook

Oct. 31, 2018—

Orange Chinook: The Politics of the New Alberta , edited by Mount Royal Professors Duane Bratt, PhD, Keith Brownsey, PhD, Richard Sutherland, PhD, and David Taras, PhD, is forthcoming from the University of Calgary Press in January 2019. The book covers the 2015 win of the New Democratic Party over the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta. 

MRU researcher receives prestigious NSERC grant

Oct. 12, 2018—

Professor Michelle DeWolfe, PhD, has been awarded an NSERC Strategic Partnership Grant. This highly prestigious award for the project, "Evaluating mineral potential of the Winter Lake greenstone belt, Slave craton, Northwest Territories," will provide DeWolfe with $306,250 over the next three years for her research.

Calgary Journal nominated for three Associated Collegiate Press Awards!

Oct. 12, 2018—

Mount Royal University's journalism program's publication the Calgary Journal has been named a finalist in the competition for three Associated Collegiate Press Awards. These awards pit the Journal against large American universities. The nominations are:

  • Multimedia Story of the Year ― Closing Midfield
  • Multimedia Feature ― Instafit
  • Photo Slideshow ― Calgary Structures

Honours research earns nod from The Global Undergraduate Awards

Oct. 12, 2018—

Alumnus and spring 2018 Convocation valedictorian Djordje Calic (Bachelor of Business Administration General Management (Honours)), was named a regional winner for U.S. and Canada in the Business category of The Global Undergraduate Awards 2018 for his honours thesis research, “How do we make decisions under uncertainty? Examining how a tutorial influences gender differences in risk propensity.” Calic was also the BBA honours Thesis Award winner and runner up for the Dean’s Award for the same honours research project.

Making an impact in the study of physical literacy

Oct. 16, 2018—

The results from a large national research project led by the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO) at the CHEO Research Institute shows that about two-thirds of Canadian children haven’t achieved an acceptable level of physical literacy. Physical literacy is more than just fitness or motor skill; it includes the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engaging in physical activities for life. Fourteen articles that looked at different aspects of physical literacy and the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) were published on Oct. 2, 2018, as a special supplement in the journal BMC Public Health. Bachelor of Health and Physical Education professor Dwayne Sheehan, PhD, contributed research to six of these articles. More than 10,000 children, aged eight to 12, from 11 cities across the country participated in the study from 2014 to 2017 through the CHEO Research Institute and research partners. Over the three years, 1,300 students from two Calgary charter schools participated in the research. Using the CAPL, children were assessed on a number of different areas, such as step counts and questions about daily activities. Also evaluated were functional motor proficiency or fundamental movement skills in every child. The results demonstrate that more needs to be done to ensure Canadian children are physically literate.

Sport and recreation students recognized nationally

Oct. 2, 2018—

Two Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Sport and Recreation Management students have received national awards from the Canadian Society of Club Managers (CSCM). Chris Jennings won the Young Professional Award and Matt Paley won the Val Mason Scholarship. The CSCM provides scholarships to individuals who are pursuing a career in club management.

Loneliness in LGBTQ2+ immigrants revealed

Oct. 2, 2018—

Professor Yasmin Dean, PhD and chair of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work along with Serbian refugee Boban Stojanovic have penned an article titled “ Identification, please,” set to be published in a third-party social work newsletter and which delves into the complicated experiences of LGBTQ2+ immigrants to Canada. Read the article.

Students headed to Norway to discuss interdisciplinary research

Oct. 2, 2018—

Mount Royal students Jessica Barabas and Tayler Delannoy of the Faculty of Health, Community and Education are reaching an international audience with their research. They are headed to the ISSOTL 2018 Conference in Norway this month to discuss their investigation into whether capstone projects in their faculty could be interdisciplinary.

Gross motor competence study published

Oct. 2, 2018—

On Sept. 27, Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy professor, Dwayne Sheehan, PhD, co-published, “Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, Gross Motor Competence and Peak Height Velocity in 10- to 14-Year-Old Canadian Youth: A Longitudinal Study,” with Karin Lienhard, PhD, of the University of Calgary. The objective of this study was to evaluate gross motor competence and growth spurt in Canadian youth. Read the results.

Adjunct professor appointed provincial sports chair

Oct. 2, 2018—

On Sept. 24, Department of Health and Physical Education adjunct professor, Stephen Norris, PhD, was appointed chair of the Alberta Sports Connection Board of Directors. More.

Alumnus to appear on Dragons' Den

Sept. 19, 2018—

2016 JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition alumnus Zac Hartley and his team from Smoke Barrel (now Burgundy Oak) will appear on Dragons' Den on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. to pitch their venture to the panel of business experts. The company manufactures custom hand-crafted hot and cold smokers from old wine and whiskey barrels.

Physical literacy knowledge helps propel towards success in dance

Sept. 10, 2018—

Fourth-year Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy student Rebecca Thow, won second overall at the world highland dancing championship held at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, Scotland. Last year Thow was named world champion.

Faculty member supporting back science

Sept. 10, 2018—

Bachelor of Health and Physical Education – Physical Literacy professor, Christy Tomkins-Lane, PhD, won Best Paper of the Year from Spine Journal 2018 for her research " Digital biomarkers of spine and musculoskeletal disease from accelerometers: Defining phenotypes of free-living physical activity in knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spinal stenosis." Tomkins-Lane also took home several prestigious awards for similar work in 2017. Read more. 

International business education teaching innovation recognized

Aug. 20, 2018—

Professors Frank Cotae, PhD, and Jacqueline Musabende have received the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE) Award for the Best Paper on International Business Education for their research and teaching innovation. Cotae and Musabende acknowledge MRU's Teaching-Learning Enhancement Grant for making the research and development possible. This is the first time a university offering only undergraduate degrees has been nominated at the Academy of International Business.

Anonymous donor supporting food literacy program through the CCWB

Aug. 15, 2018—

Professor Sonya Jakubec, PhD, has announced a pilot research project being carried out through the Centre for Child Well-Being (CCWB) and supported by an anonymous donor, the same benefactor who supported the development of the Centre and Mount Royal’s Child Development Lab. Along with community partner Calgary's Urban Project Society (CUPS), the CCWB is exploring the nutritional, mental and social well-being benefits of a 12-week gardening and food literacy program for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. The lead investigator for the project is Professor Lynne Lafave, PhD, who is joined by Jakubec, professors Scott Hughes, PhD, and Judy Gleeson, PhD, along with other faculty members from the Faculty of Health, Community and Education.

Professors in Bissett's International Business program recognized

July 25, 2018—

Frank Cotae and Jacqueline Musabende received the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE) Award for the Best Paper on International Business Education. CUIBE is part of the Academy of International Business (AIB), the highest worldwide forum for research in teaching and theory in international business. This is the first time an undergraduate focused university was nominated and received this award.

Nursing professors take top honours for poster presentation

July 19, 2018—

In June 2018, Professors Robert Catena and Heather MacLean from the Bachelor of Nursing program won first place in the Education category for their poster "Does Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) Support Student Nurse Learning During a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation High Fidelity Simulation?" at the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning Conference, held in Toronto. Read more.

Altitude and pregnancy article selected for esteemed American Physiological Society collection

July 12, 2018—

Department of Biology Professor Trevor Day, PhD, has been studying with colleagues the influence of altitude and physical activity during pregnancy above 3,700 metres. Their article titled, " Extreme Pregnancy: Maternal Physical Activity at Everest Base Camp," was selected for APS select , a collection from the American Physiological Society showcasing some of the best recently published articles in physiological research. The article reports on a 28-year-old third-trimester pregnant native highlander (Sherpa), documenting her physical activity, sleep behavior and physiological measurements during an ascent from 3,440 metres to Everest base camp (~5,300 metres) over eight days in the Nepal Himalaya.

New associate vice-president hired for Human Resources

June 27, 2018—

Message from Annalise Van Ham, vice-president, Finance and Administration

It is my sincere pleasure to introduce Mount Royal University’s new Associate Vice-President, Human Resources, Trika MacDonald.

MacDonald comes to Mount Royal from the University of Saskatchewan where she’s served as director of Integrated Human Resources since 2015. MacDonald has an MBA in Human Resource Management from Royal Roads University, and brings a blend of post-secondary, private sector and government experience and a track record of excellence over the past 26 years.

At the University of Calgary, MacDonald held the position of director of Staff Relations and Consulting Services. Following her service at U of C, she was recruited to join Walmart Canada, where she held senior-level roles including national director, Human Resource Employment Practices.

MacDonald’s progressive human resources career began close to home in 1992 with the Government of the Northwest Territories. She’s also worked in human resources-related roles at Parks Canada.

This announcement marks the culmination of a national search that was conducted with the assistance of Davies Park & Associates. Thank you to the selection committee members who participated in this process for their time and commitment:

  • Tanya Caissie
  • Evan Cortens
  • Jeremy Duffin
  • Elizabeth Evans
  • Aaron LeBlanc
  • Catharine Lindland
  • Amy Nixon
  • Marc Schroeder
  • Baset Zarrug
  • Andrea Hennel (resource)
     

A special thank you also to Tanya Caissie for her leadership as interim associate vice-president, Human Resources through this search process.

MacDonald’s first official day at MRU is July 16, 2018.

New director of the School of Nursing and Midwifery announced

June 25, 2018—

Beginning July 1, Professor Paula Price will begin her term as the new director of Mount Royal's School of Nursing and Midwifery. During her 27 years at Mount Royal, Price has served as interim director for the school and as acting chair for the advanced specialty health studies department. She has also been an active scholar and teacher in the critical care nursing program and is the current editor for the Canadian Journal of Critical Care Nursing and the Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.

Aboriginal Youth Award goes to Mount Royal student

June 25, 2018—

For the second year in a row a Mount Royal student has been named the recipient of the City of Calgary's Aboriginal Youth Award. A member of the Siksika Nation, Wacey Little Light credited the support of his family, community and the Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University for his success. Last year the award went to business student Latasha Calf Robe.

Science student takes second place at 101st Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition

June 12, 2018—

Student Jordan Hofmeister recently won second place in the Graduate/Undergraduate Student Oral Competition category at the 101st Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, held by the Canadian Society for Chemistry from May 27 to 31. Hofmeister, a research assistant of chemistry professor Brett McCollum, PhD, presented on his study evaluating the experience of peer learners (similar to teaching assistants) in a flipped classroom environment relative to the criteria of the High Impact Practices of George Kuh. This inquiry was carried out as part of Hofmeister’s fourth-year independent research project.

Alumnus wins two prestigious graduate scholarships

June 12, 2018—

Bachelor of Science ― Health Science (2017) grad Brandon Shokoples has won a Canadian Graduate Scholarship ― Master's Program worth $17,500 and the Lady Davis Institute/TD Studentship worth $10,000. Currently at McGill University as a graduate student in experimental medicine, during his time at MRU Shokoples engaged in undergraduate research with Professors Brett McCollum, PhD, and Carol Armstrong, PhD. He presented his research at the National Canadian Chemistry Conference in Toronto and the American Chemical Society Conference in San Francisco. Shokoples is the co-author of a publication on the International Network for Chemistry Language Development (DOI: 10.1039/C7RP00220C), and co-author of a second article that is currently under review. He also served as a peer leader for the peer-led team-learning environment McCollum facilitates, and appeared in the latest issue of Summit in the article “ Alumni Gone Grad.”

Professor Lynn Moorman receives Influencer of the Year award

May 7, 2018—

Updated June 12, 2018 Professor Lynn Moorman, PhD, of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, received the Influencer of the Year award on June 7 at Tecterras's North51 Connect event in recognition of her accomplishments in the geospatial industry. Tecterra is a not-for-profit organization supporting job creation and innovation in start-ups and small Alberta companies, and the awards were part of an Inventures Canada “unconference” for creative minds.

Research on the effects of helicopter parenting shared

June 12, 2018—

On May 23, Tom Buchanan, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, delivered his research, "Exploring the Impacts of Helicopter Parenting and Parental Contact on University Students in the United States: Well-Being, Drug Use, and Self-Efficacy," at the University of Colombo's Department of Sociology Lecture Series during his field school excursion to Sri Lanka. Buchanan also appeared in the fall/winter 2017 issue of Summit magazine as part of the feature story “ Under Pressure,” which reports on the unique stressors today’s undergraduates find themselves under. 

“Legislating Love” recognized

June 12, 2018—

English professor Natalie Meisner’s (PhD) play, “ Legislating Love: The Everett Klippert Story,” has been nominated for a Betty Mitchell Award in the categories of Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. A beloved Calgarian bus driver, Klippert was the last person in Canada to be tried and convicted under legislation allowing the jailing of homosexuals in 1965.

Alumna Roisin Dillon brings home top prize at Oxford University’s global competition

June 6, 2018—

Mount Royal University’s nursing alumna (and former valedictorian) Roisin Dillon won the top prize at the prestigious Oxford Map the System Challenge at Oxford University over the weekend with a passionate submission and presentation highlighting possible solutions to the opioid crisis in Canada. Read more.

Bachelor of Nursing graduate publishes in undergraduate journal

June 5, 2018—

Recent Bachelor of Nursing alumnus Josiah (Michael) De Los Santos, has published an article in a new interdisciplinary, undergraduate journal created through the University of Alberta called Spectrum . De Los Santos's article, titled " A Socio-ecological Framing of the Philippine Mental Health Act of 2017," evolved out of a major paper/final assignment for PhD Sonya Jakubec's spring/summer 2017 course on critical mental health promotion, NURS 4465: Supportive Environments for Mental Health.

Professor Steven Engler delivers keynote address at international conference on the study of religion

May 18, 2018—

A recognized international leader in the theoretical aspects of the study of religion, Professor Steven Engler, PhD, recently gave the keynote address at the Second International Conference on Religion and Healing at Sogang University in South Korea. As an ongoing consultant for the research team behind the conference, Engler wrote a long context-paper, “Religion/Healing, Theory/Method,” which was published in the conference proceedings. It explored issues raised by the dialogue between religious/traditional healing systems and biomedicine/western medicine. His keynote, “Theorizing Healing in Umbanda,” drew on a Brazilian spirit-possession religion to illustrate themes from the paper.

“With mainstream medical systems under increasing pressure, attention is turning toward how to incorporate insights from alternative healing systems in a responsible and rigorous way. Questions we discussed included therapeutic impacts of religious rituals, the idea of 'total healing,' physical, mental and spiritual, and how doctors' cultural sensitivity can motivate patients to stick with their ‘western’ medical treatments,” Engler says.

Medical doctors, Buddhist monks, Christian Scientists and Religious Studies scholars were among the presenters at the conference. Engler also met with the research team and graduate students. He will be delivering another keynote in early August titled “Teorização na Ciência da Religião [Theorizing in the Study of Religion]” at the 6th Colloquium of the Research Group on Religion and Culture, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Alumna headed to Oxford for Map the System finals

May 7, 2018—

At the recent Canadian finals for the Oxford Map the System Challenge, recent MRU Bachelor of Nursing grad Roisin Dillon (also a former valedictorian) shared the top prize with teams from Simon Fraser University and Royal Roads University. Dillon will participate in the global finals from June 1 to 3 at Oxford University. 

Canadian Association of Journalists recognizes the Calgary Journal

May 7, 2018—

Two MRU journalism projects have been nominated by the Canadian Association of Journalists in the Student Award of Excellence category, alongside projects from three other universities, including McGill, UBC (graduate program) and University of King's College. 

  • Jolene Rudisuela, Lexi Wright and Amy Simpson, plus their instructor Patti Edgar, for Closing Midfield . (Winners)
  • Karina Yaceyko and Ashley King, plus their instructor Patti Edgar, for Beneath the Embers: Uncovering the lasting effects of the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Chemistry professor Brett McCollum elected chair of SoTL Canada

May 7, 2018—

Chemistry professor Brett McCollum, PhD, was recently elected chair of SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) Canada, and will be serving on the board of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. McCollum has also served as the acting academic director of Mount Royal's Institute for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Richard Harrison's poetry translated into Italian

May 7, 2018—

Professor Richard Harrison's Governor General's Literary Award-winning book "On Not Losing My Father's Ashes in the Flood" has been translated into Italian. He will also be reading at Italy's International Poetry Festival in June 7.

Information design alumna recognized for work completed as a student

April 23, 2018—

Devon Proctor, a recent Mount Royal University information design graduate (2017), received a Bronze Award from the International Institute for Information Design (IIID) for her outstanding work on a project submitted an assignment for COMM 4665 ― Instructional Design on the topic of using medicine for cataract surgery. The IIID is recognized as the premier organization in the field of information design, and the awards represent internationally recognized superior achievement in the field.

Nursing program re-approved by the Nursing Education Program Approval Board

April 24, 2018—

On April 19, the Nursing Education Program Approval Board (NEPAB), granted a five-year re-approval for Mount Royal's Bachelor of Nursing program to lead to initial-entry to practice as a Registered Nurse. The re-approval comes after a rigorous program approval process to be able to graduate students that meet industry standards to become practicing nurses.

Results of ATB Investor Services Investment Challenge are in

April 19, 2018—

The 13th annual ATB Investor Services Investment Challenge, otherwise known as the Bissett Stock Market Competition, wrapped up at the end of March after seven months. Starting in September 2017, this year saw a record number of 33 teams compete. The winning team of Bissett students Austin Glenn, Lucy Javorcikova and Harrison Lane had an outstanding return of 92%. The second place team of Jarett Bishop, Rob Flach and Graham Perry managed an impressive 54% return, and the third place team of David Carlson, Amy Gillies and Ahsan Khan were close behind with a return of 44%. All three teams were the recipients of cash prizes. The winning team was immortalized by having their names inscribed on the Stock Market Competition trophy.

Alumnus wins Gold Quill Award

April 18, 2018—

Wes Lafortune, an alumnus of Mount Royal's communications program (2000) and illustrator Samantha Rogan were recently honoured with an IABC Gold Quill Award in the Communications category for their work  on the Hull Services 2017 Annual Report, Diary of an Angry Young Man . Hull is a registered charitable organization with more than 400 employees that serves children and families who face serious mental health challenges.

Lafortune says, "It’s a real honour for Hull Services and as always the ultimate objective is to bring attention to children’s mental health and how Hull Services is leading the way in providing trauma informed care to thousands of Calgary children and their families on an annual basis."

MRU receives Canada Research Chair support and internal SSHRC Explore and Engage grants

April 5, 2018—

Mount Royal has been allocated $2 million in funding for two new Canada Research Chairs (CRCs). The University will be able to bring on a Tier 2 CRC (emerging researcher) for five years and a Tier 1 CRC for seven years. The process of determining how to nominate applicants for these opportunities will begin soon. In addition, MRU was successful in the new Social Sciences and Humanities (SSHRC) Institutional Grant process and will receive $36,500 in each of the next three years to allocate as internal SSHRC Explore (research) and Engage (dissemination) grants. These will be adjudicated and awarded in parallel with the existing Internal Research Grant Fund (IRGF) and Faculty Conference Travel Grant (FCTG) processes and will provide the equivalent of five additional IRGFs and seven FCTGs per year. This is a huge boost to research and scholarship at MRU.

CCDR report featured on United Nations website

March 22, 2018—

The Centre for Community Disaster Research's (CCDR) report titled, "Rising Waters, Difficult Decisions, Findings and Recommendations from the Calgary Flood Project" is being featured on PreventionWeb, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's website. The site receives 100,000 visitors per month. Sociology professor and director of the CCDR Tim Haney, PhD, presents some surprising findings about residents’ awareness of flood risk, their decisions to evacuate, compensation, disruptions to relationships, their decisions to remain and plans for the future. Read more about the report.

Student work to be presented at indigenizing entrepreneurship conference

March 22, 2018—

Three papers by Mount Royal University students Spirit River Striped Wolf (Bachelor of Arts - Policy Studies), Taryn Hamilton (Bachelor of Arts - Justice Studies) and Braden Etzerza (Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science) will be presented at the Global Conference on Indigenizing Entrepreneurship, to be held at Algonquin College from June 3 to 5 in Ottawa. All three papers are derived from experiences with Otahpiakki, a social innovation project based at Mount Royal that partners with Indigenous designers and artists from across Canada. Spirit River Striped Wolf will describe Otahpiaaki as a seven-generations "seed-to-runway" economic model focused on Indigenous fashion and design. Taryn Hamilton will demonstrate how Otahpiaaki Law Keepers are transforming and protecting the rights of Indigenous designers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs, and Braden Etzerza will explore "deep beauty" and Survivance, the foundational values supporting the four pillars of Otahpiaaki's entrepreneurial approach. The work was co-researched and written with Elders Jeannie Smith Davis and Roy Bear Chief along with contributions from Otahpiaaki colleagues Jordan Piraux (Bachelor of Communications - Information Design)  and Patti Derbyshire (Associate Faculty - Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation).

Celebrating Mount Royal’s International Certified Nurses

March 21, 2018—

March 19 was International Certified Nurses Day.

International Certified Nurses Day recognizes the contributions of certified registered nurses (RNs) to advancing the profession and supporting continuing competence.

Created by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Nurses Association in
2008,  International Certified Nurses Day is now celebrated around the world. In Canada, 18,039 RNs are certified by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) in one of 21 specialties/areas of nursing practice.

Certified RNs are …

  • recognized nationally for their practice excellence and commitment to lifelong learning
  • valued by employers, because their certification demonstrates specialized knowledge and brings many benefits to organizations
  • viewed as having enhanced professional credibility

 

The School of Nursing and Midwifery would like to recognize the following nine faculty members with a Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certification in a specialty area:

  • Sandra Gordon (gerontological nursing)
  • Cathy Carter-Snell (emergency nursing)
  • Tricia Bray (critical care nursing)
  • Marnie Lento (gerontological nursing)
  • Heather McLellan (emergency nursing and flight registered nurse (U.S. versions of CNA)
  • Terri McGrath (critical care nursing)
  • Tess Astley (medical-surgical nursing)
  • Clara Puzey (cardiovascular nursing)
  • Gregg Trueman (hospice palliative care nursing)

 

Micheline Maylor shortlisted for poetry award

March 21, 2018—

Mount Royal English professor Micheline Maylor (who is also Calgary's 2016-2018 Poet Laureate) has been shortlisted for the League of Canadian Poets' Pat Lowther Memorial Award. Maylor's Little Wildheart is published by the University of Alberta Press.

Professor Gregg Trueman nominated for AHS President’s Excellence Award

March 27, 2018—

Gregg Trueman, professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has been nominated for an Alberta Health Services President’s Excellence Award as part of the East Calgary Family Care Clinic and Patient Advisory Group for Outstanding Achievement in Patient and Family Centred Care.

Students present at UBC symposium

March 14, 2018—

Four current students, one graduate student and one post-graduate student (all trainees of Professor Trevor Day, Department of Biology) will be presenting their research at the Okanagan Cardiovascular and Respiratory Symposium. Topics include studies in acute hyperglycemia, renal acid-base compensation and acute exercise impairment of cognitive function at high altitudes.

Human resources student team places second at HRC West Case Competition

March 6, 2018—

A team of four Bissett School of Business human resources students placed second at the recent HRC West Case Competition, which was hosted by SAIT on March 2 and 3. This human resources focused case competition is a joint initiative of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) Alberta and the CPHR BC and Yukon professional associations, and aims to develop and showcase the HR stars of the future. Groups from 17 post-secondary institutions from across western Canada participated.

Mount Royal’s team members (under the name of Insightful HR) were Layli Ataie, Colleen Berner, Meredith Johnson, and Jennifer Miko. They were provided with a business case (not previously seen), and were given only three hours to read, analyze, make recommendations and prepare a persuasive and professional presentation to deliver to three CPHR judges from various industries. The team had just 20 minutes to deliver that polished presentation and then respond to 10 minutes of questions from the judges based on their presentation. The finals consisted of a second presentation to the entire case competition delegation in front of a new panel of three judges and over 100 people in the audience.

Calgary Journal named finalists in the Emerge Media Awards

March 6, 2018—

Mount Royal's journalism program's publication the Calgary Journal has been named as a finalist in the categories of Print Cover ("Black Lives Matter Here, Too" by Mary Yohannes and Jan Kirstyn Lopez), Online News Site ( CalgaryJournal.ca) and Multimedia Production (" Closing Midfield" by Jolene Rudisuela, Amy Simpson and Lexi Wright, as well as faculty supervisor Patti Edgar) of the 2018 Emerge Media Awards.

Emerge recognizes the work of post-secondary journalism programs across the country.

Enactus finishes first

March 6, 2018—

Mount Royal University's Enactus team finished first in the Capital One Financial Education Challenge at the regional competition held March 1 and 2. They are headed to nationals in Toronto, to be held May 14 to 16.

Mount Royal receives funding in support of international internships

March 2, 2018—

MRU will receive up to $82,000 for a period of four years as a recent recipient of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program. These scholarships were awarded because of Mount Royal's Sport Leaders International Internship Program. This funding will support 12 international internships ($6,000 each) for qualified students.

Also included is an additional $1,000 per student to support networking, leadership and community engagement activities as well as other project administration requirements. The program will be managed by International Education in close collaboration with Professor Julie Booke of the Department of Health and Physical Education.

MRU is partnered with the Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) NGO. Students will be placed at a Commonwealth Games site over the four-year period.  Project countries include Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Zambia and Namibia. In total, $5.8 million of funding will support 650 students in 20 Canadian university-led projects. Undergraduate and graduate students will enrich their academic, professional and cross-cultural skills while contributing to global projects led by participating Canadian universities.

Finance students headed to 2018 CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge finals

March 2, 2018—

Five senior finance students from the Bissett School of Business took home first prize at the CFA Society Winnipeg Ethics Challenge held at the end of January. The win earned the team a spot at the Canadian Ethics Challenge finals, to be held in Vancouver in May.

The team members were Dylan Assen, Tiffany Doyle, Harrison Kozak, Andy McAuley and Graham Perry. The competition included six universities: University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan, University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, in addition to Mount Royal. The students had four weeks to analyze and evaluate a case, which presented several ethical dilemmas. Their task was to identify the violations of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and to recommend a course of action to address the situations. They had 10 minutes to present their findings to a panel of industry judges, followed by 10 minutes of intense questioning by the judges. 

In Vancouver the team will compete against the top teams from the other four Canadian regions: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.  

MRU students win geoscience trivia contest, headed to Canadians

Feb. 13, 2018—

In January, four Mount Royal University geology students attended the Western Inter-University Geoscience Conference (WIUGC), which was hosted by the University of Regina this year. Bringing in students from roughly seven schools across Western Canada, during the conference the Regional Divisions of Challenge Bowl was held by the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists. This game-show style geoscience trivia contest was won by MRU students Darby Desrosiers and Alex Patterson, who will compete next at the Canadian National Finals at GeoConvention 2018 in Calgary. The conference brings together students in the geosciences and enables them to interact with each other, offering short courses, field trips, student presentations and an industry fair.

New Changemaker in Residence

Feb. 1, 2018—

Early in 2018 the Institute for Community Prosperity welcomed Cathy Glover to the campus's Changemaker in Residence team. Glover comes to Mount Royal from a long career in the energy industry and volunteering with charitable and non-profit organizations in Calgary. Because of her ability to have a system-wide view, Elder Casey Eaglespeaker gifted Glover with the name Aahpii Pitahgii, which means White Eagle Woman. Glover is based out of the Trico Changemakers Studio. Read more.

Professor Scharie Tavcer releases new textbook

Jan. 17, 2018—

Professor Scharie Tavcer, PhD, of the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies Women is co-author of the recently released Women and the Criminal Justice System: A Canadian Perspective, 2nd Edition . The only text of its kind that covers female offenders, victims, and workers in a single resource, the work features a breadth of perspectives from authors and academics located across Canada, giving this edition a well rounded, in-depth approach.

Nursing profs earn elite nominations

Jan. 17, 2018—

Sonya Jakubec, PhD and Mohamed El Hussein, both professors in Mount Royal's School of Nursing and Midwifery, were each recently nominated for a 2018 College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) Excellence Award for Research. This is the second year in a row both educators have received this honour.

Research showing a unique program supporting EAL nursing students is working

Dec. 7, 2017—

Established in 2009 by Liza Choi, a professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the English As An Additional Language (EAL) Nursing Student Support Program has helped over 250 students. This program was founded on the principle of stemming the tide of academic challenges faced by these students in addition to issues of communication, social isolation and marginalization. Using a purposeful design to address both academic and non-academic issues, the framework for this group has combined a number of elements, which include: workshops for clinical and non-clinical communication, large group social gatherings, peer coaching and faculty support. This holistic approach has allowed many EAL/international nursing students to achieve academic success. Scholarly work being performed by Choi examining the effectiveness and impact of this unique program is ongoing and has shown great promise. Extension of this program to other faculties and institutions has been considered and offers a rich opportunity to meet the educational needs of an even greater population of diverse students. 

Anthropology professor receives DNA training

Dec. 4, 2017—

Samanti Kulatilake, PhD and professor in Mount Royal’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology received training in DNA extraction, amplification, sequencing and interpretation at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory, Lakehead University in August 2017. With this training, Kulatilake is able to integrate newly obtained knowledge in her classes in biological anthropology, a subfield in anthropology that is highly sought after by MRU anthropology majors. Future plans are a collaboration with Patrick Carmichael, PhD and adjunct professor in anthropology at MRU to conduct a feasibility study on extracting ancient DNA from mummified human remains from an archaeological cemetery site in Peru.

Student project helps hundreds in need eat better

Nov. 30, 2017—

Mount Royal community service learning students made a big difference in the lives of many through the creation of a pamphlet detailing how food bank clients could better use the food they receive in hampers. Chelsea Harney spearheaded the project after volunteering with the food bank and learning that recipients often have difficulties using all their perishable items before they go bad. Harney and four other students created a pamphlet detailing how to make their food last longer and providing healthy recipe suggestions. Harney estimates they have reached 300 families so far. Read the Calgary Herald article.

Geology graduate honoured with 2017 Young Women in Energy Award

Nov. 30, 2017—

Rochelle Longval, an alumna of Mount Royal's Bachelor of Science ― Geology program, was recently recognized with a 2017 YWE Award. The Young Women in Energy website states that, "YWE aims to address the recognized need to increase female presence, development and leadership in the energy industry." Longval is currently an exploration geologist with Cenovus Energy.

Professor Christy Tomkins-Lane breaking ground in spinal studies

Nov. 17, 2017—

Professor Christy Tomkins-Lane of the Faculty of Health, Community and Education's 2017 paper titled, "Objective measurement of free-living physical activity (performance) in lumbar spinal stenosis: are physical activity guidelines being met?" received the Surgical Award in October in Orlando at the North American Spine Society's (NASS) annual meeting. Tomkins-Lane also gave an invited symposium at the event. The same paper was also was also named The Spine Journal Outstanding Paper in Medical and Interventional Science Runner Up. Additionally, Tomkins-Lane's 2016 paper titled, "Objective measurement of function following lumbar spinal stenosis decompression reveals improved functional capacity with stagnant real-life physical activity" won Outstanding Paper in Medical and Interventional Science Runner Up from both NASS and the Spine journal.

Barrow's Ryan Wenger wins EO Entrepreneur of the Year

Nov. 9, 2017—

The creator of Mount Royal's independent coffee stop, Barrow, business student Ryan Wenger was named the EO Entrepreneur of the Year at the award ceremony on Nov. 8. Business student Ormhel Manuel, whose newest venture is called Barberri, received second. The event was hosted at the Riddell Library and Learning Centre in the Ideas Visualization Lounge.

Mount Royal has won this competition in the past three consecutive years! Winners include Derek Rucki (TLink), Paul Shumlich (Deepwater Farms) and Austin Lang (Green Cup).

Pillar Award goes to Michael Barr

Nov. 3, 2017—

Chief Information Officer Michael Barr of Mount Royal's Information Technology Services recently received a Pillar Award from the Alberta Technology Leaders in Education association at their 2017 Convergence Conference. The award honours outstanding contributions to supporting the convergence of leadership, learning and technology in Alberta.

Richard Harrison wins Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry

April 11, 2017 (Updated Nov. 1, 2017)—

Mount Royal English Professor Richard Harrison has been announced as the winner of the 2017 Governor General's Literary Awards for his collection, On Not Losing My Father's Ashes in the Flood . Publisher Wolsak and Wynn describes the work as, " a generous and enchanting book, one that leaves you, like the poet, thinking about the way 'characters in a novel can escape anything / except their story.'"

Other awards for On Not Losing My Father’s Ashes in the Flood include:

  • Winner of the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry from the Writers' Guild of Alberta
  • Winner of the 3rd Prize for Poetry in the 2017 Alcuin Society's Book Design Awards
  • Shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry
  • Shortlisted for the City of Calgary 2016 W.O. Mitchell Book Prize
  • Finalist for the Poetry category of the High Plains Book Awards
  • Number one on the Calgary Herald's bestseller list for non-fiction

His six books of poetry include Big Breath of a Wish , poems about his daughter’s acquisition of language, and Hero of the Play , poems in the language of hockey, which was launched at the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has published on literary criticism, cosplay, spoken word poetry, and mathematics. As well as hockey and literature (about which he co-edited the collection Now is the Winter ), Richard also contributes to the scholarship on the superhero: with MRU colleague Lee Easton, he co-authored the book of essays, Secret Identity Reader (2010). Harrison teaches composition, creative writing (poetry), and comics and graphic novels.

Bissett School of Business CFA affiliation will result in additional scholarships

Oct. 26, 2017—

The Bissett School of Business’s concentration in financial analysis has been admitted to the CFA Institute's University Affiliation Program. This affiliation is awarded to academic institutions that insert a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, into their curriculum. The recognition will allow the Bissett School of Business to award several CFA Program scholarships each year, and signals that the curriculum of the financial analysis concentration is closely tied to the practice of investment management and is helpful to students preparing for the CFA Program exams.

Cathy Carter-Snell helping reduce the risk of the mental health consequences of sexual assault

Oct. 25, 2017—

Professor Cathy Carter-Snell, PhD, of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has been named on of the 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health. Her four-hour training session for professionals ― including police officers, social workers, nurses, physicians and lawyers ― teaches how to be trauma informed, dispels myths, promotes resilience and recovery and reduces the guilt and shame surrounding sexual assault. She has worked to spread the training across Alberta and Prince Edward Island, and also offers an online version. A nationally and internationally recognized expert in caring for victims of violence, Carter-Snell’s expertise is changing how sexual violence and trauma are being responded to in domains ranging from university campuses to natural disasters. Carter-Snell was also very involved with the Stephanson-Cook Violence Awareness Seminar held at MRU on Nov. 15.

Watch Carter-Snell discuss secondary victimization here.

Recreation nominated for an Inclusion Award

Oct. 6, 2017—

Recreation recently earned a nomination for a 2017 Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre (DDRC) of Calgary Inclusion Award in recognition of Rec's provision of a welcoming and inclusive place to play on campus. The nominator stated that, "The staff at the recreation facility are very polite, friendly, and approachable for our clients (adults with developmental disabilities), and have made an effort to make them feel comfortable while using the facility. They have made a point of getting to know our clients and foster an inclusive environment."

silent sister wins Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry

April 19, 2017 (Updated Sept. 21, 2017)—

Creative writing professor Beth Everest's (PhD) book of poems, silent sister: the mastectomy poems (Frontenac House) won this year's BPAA Awards' Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry. Edited by Mount Royal's Micheline Maylor (PhD), silent sister explores the impact of severe illness on the mind, body and spirit. The work was also shortlisted for both the League of Canadian Poets' Raymond Souster Award and the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Prize.

Bissett grad achieves rare accreditation

Sept. 26, 2017—

Bissett School of Business graduate Jenn Lofgren (2007), chief executive officer and founder of Incito, recently achieved her Master Certified Coach accreditation – one of only 54 in Canada, and three in Calgary. The designation of Master Certified Coach is awarded by the International Coach Federation, which addresses the standards and ethics professional coaching.

Reconciling with the shopping culture: Malled

Aug. 25, 2017—

Mount Royal English Professor Kit Dobson's (PhD) newest book Malled: Deciphering Shopping in Canada (Wolsak & Wynn) is set to be released in late September/early October. Dobson unapologetically hates malls yet he finds them fascinating at the same time. For this work he braves the distracted crowds and shiny floors of Chinook Centre in Calgary, the underground shopping marts of Montreal, Whitehorse's famous Walmart and more to explore Canada's culture of consumerism and how malls reflect the people they serve and the space they occupy. 

New Human Rights Advisor an additional resource for staff and students

Aug. 11, 2017—

Mount Royal's new Human Rights Advisor, Khaula Bhutta, will provide private support for individuals with questions, concerns or complaints involving discrimination, harassment and accommodation. Bhutta has a LL.M in International Human Rights Law and Practice from the University of York and a Bachelor of Arts Law, Politics and Economics from Dublin City University. She is an experienced advisor who has helped individuals, institutions and charities with human rights related issues in Canada, Ireland, UK and Malaysia.

Erika Smith receives SSHRC grant to continue social media research

Aug. 10, 2017—

Professor Erika Smith, PhD, of the Academic Development Centre, is building broader understanding of undergraduate digital literacies by investigating student perceptions and uses of social media in their learning. Building on her previous findings demonstrating that social media is a double-edged sword that serves as a meaningful part of university education, while both informing and distracting from learning, Smith was recently awarded a SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2017-2019) titled "Undergraduate Digital Literacies in Disciplinary Contexts" to research undergraduate digital literacies in their disciplinary contexts.

New research literacy book authored by Sonya Jakubec features additional MRU faculty

Aug. 10, 2017—

Released by Canadian Scholars' Press this month, School of Nursing and Midwifery professor and PhD Sonya Jakubec's newest book, Research Literacy for Health and Community Practice , features a chapter contributed by MRU librarian Cari Merkley and is coauthored by former MRU faculty member Barb Astle.
The book's overview states that its contents will, "introduce students to fundamental research concepts that will enable them to think critically about research and to recognize effective methods for understanding and utilizing research for practice."

MRU students runners-up at Innovation Rodeo

July 19, 2017—

Ormhel Manuel and cofounder Abby Mejia of Carberri, a company born through Mount Royal's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that was one of the winners at this year's LaunchPad competition, recently took home second place in a Alberta-wide post-secondary pitch competition as part of the Innovation Rodeo (held over Stampede week). Carberri provides a safer and better way to buy and sell a used car. Both Manuel and Mejia are Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students with the Bissett School of Business. To reach the finals Manuel won the Calgary regionals against strong competition from the University of Calgary. This came with a $3,000 cash award. On July 14, Manuel came in a close second in a field of five regional winners from across Alberta. Carberri took home an additional $5,000 for this achievement. Interestingly, the team that edged Manuel and Mejia out of first place overall was from McEwan University, but had an MRU connection. Marc Nzojibwami, an MRU BBA student, was a key member of the winning team along with McEwan students.

Spreading social innovation across the globe and at home

June 30, 2017—

Professor Yasmin Dean of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work and Professor Catherine Pearl of the Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Social Innovation helped organize the Social Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia (SESA) Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this past spring (May 22 to 24).

The conference highlighted the benefits of creating enterprises and opportunities in which profit and community building can intersect, a key element of social innovation and changemaking. Pearl says, “The conference provided a platform that enabled inter-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration, aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and creating positive social impact in Southeast Asia.”

Pearl has started work on another conference, this one closer to home. Canada's first-ever National Conference on Social Innovation is scheduled for July 3 to 5, 2018 at Mount Royal.

New book by professor Melanie Peacock published

June 13, 2017—

Melanie Peacock, PhD and human resources professor with the Bissett School of Business, has published her latest book, The Human Resource Professional’s Guide To Change Management Practical Tools And Techniques To Enact Meaningful And Lasting Organizational Change (Business Expert Press) . The work covers ways to help an organization effectively deal with change and will serve as a tool for human resource students and professionals.

Michelle Yeo appointed director of the Institute for SoTL

June 13, 2017—

The Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISOTL) has concluded the search for its new director with the selection of Michelle Yeo, PhD, a current faculty member with the Academic Development Centre (ADC). Yeo will continue with the ADC on a part-time basis in the areas of curriculum and assessment, as well as furthering cross-campus efforts on indigenization. She is an award-winning teacher and member of leading educational associations such as the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, the Canadian Society for the Study of Education and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. At Mount Royal, she’s served on the Teaching and Learning Standing Committee, General Faculties Council and Human Research Ethics Board. As director of ISOTL she will help advance research and practice, support multidisciplinary collaborations and develop future leaders in the field.

Smart pill dispenser wins Best Presentation award at IST Africa Conference

June 7, 2016—

At the recent IST (Information Systems and Technology) Africa Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, Mount Royal computer science professor Faith-Michael Uzoka and team took home one of two Best Presentation awards. Their innovation is a smart pill dispenser that also doubles as a medical assistant, with two-way communication between the patient and the medical practitioner. Uzoka says they will use feedback received at the conference to continue work on increasing the efficiency and reducing the size of the smart medicine cabinet, and they looking for funds to advance the product (which has been patented) to the next level. Uzoka is also known for his work in developing an application to help diagnose and fight back against common tropical diseases in Africa.

Research delving in to history of Medieval Europe earns SSHRC Insight Development Grant

June 7, 2017—

Humanities professor Emily Hutchison’s original research titled “Policing Late Medieval Paris” looks at how the emergence of a royal policing force affected civil governance, as well as class, gender, and racial relations in late medieval Paris. The recipient of a SSHRC Insight Development Grant in 2016, Hutchison is a specialist in medieval culture and history with a particular interest in the history of violence and warfare in France. Currently in Paris carrying out archival work, Hutchison’s SSHRC grant extends until June 2018.

Criminal justice alumnus invested into the Canada Order of Merit of the Police Forces

June 5, 2017—

Travis Juska, who graduated from Mount Royal with a Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies (2006), was recently invested into the Canada Order of Merit of the Police Forces. According to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police website, "The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is a fellowship of honour based on the highest qualities of citizenship, service to Canada, to the police community and to humanity at large." A sergeant with the Calgary Police Service, Juska received a Member Award. He carries out outreach work in the community, often speaks with students in the justice program, is a mentor in the Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship program and is on the leadership group for the Criminal Justice Alumni Chapter.

MRU's poets pop up at ASLC

May 31, 2017—

Mount Royal professors and poetry ambassadors derek beaulieu, Beth Everest and Richard Harrison typed out custom poems as part of the opening events of the Alberta Student Leadership Conference in Lacombe May 28. This most recent Pop-Up Poetry event took place among other attractions such as a rock band, carnie games and a hot dog stand. "There we were," says Harrison, "doing our typing in the shade of a huge tree, a poetic island of cool in the hot sun ocean of fun and games."

Enrolment Services also provided more than 2,000 MRU backpacks for the student leaders in attendance.

Nursing faculty member earns three-year CIHR grant funding

May 29, 2017—

School of Nursing and Midwifery professor Aliyah Dosani, PhD has received a three-year Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant to pursue her study titled, "Psychosocial distress during pregnancy and pathways to preterm birth: Building evidence in LMIC to guide targeted psychosocial interventions.” The study seeks to understand the association between emotional distress during pregnancy, biological measures of emotional distress, and preterm (early) birth (PTB) in a low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Emotional distress places pregnant women at increased risk for giving birth too early and negatively affects their well-being and that of their infants.

Mount Royal represented named to police committee to review sexual assault cases

May 24, 2017—

Mount Royal University sexual violence response and awareness coordinator Cari Ionson has been named to a newly-formed Calgary Police Service (CPS) committee that will review review sexual assault cases that have been closed as unfounded. The committee will offer advice on whether an investigation could be improved to ensure the CPS carried out as thorough and complete an investigation as possible. Set to meet at least three times a year, the committee also includes representatives from the Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team, Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse, the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre and the Alberta Status of Women Ministry. Read more about Ionson's role on campus.

AECEA award goes to Professor Cathy Smey Carston

May 16, 2017—

Cathy Smey Carston, director of the Centre for Child Well-Being, was awarded the Alberta Early Childhood Education Association's (AECEA) Dr. Sherrill Brown Award of Distinction at the AECEA conference held on campus May 13. This award has extra significance in that Smey-Carston worked closely with Brown, who the award was named after.

MRU and SMU study on professor ratings published in Inside Higher Ed

May 11, 2017—

A study co-written by Mount Royal professor Bob Uttl and Saint Mary's University PhD candidate Dylan Smibert titled, “Student Evaluations of Teaching: Teaching Quantitative Courses Can Be Hazardous to One’s Career," was recently noted in an Inside Higher Ed article titled, "What are Students Rating When They Rate Professors." Part of the findings were that class subject had a large impact on student satisfaction and eventual prof ratings. The complete study is available on PeerJ .

MRU wins Best of Calgary for 2017!!

May 4, 2017—

After careful counting of votes by an independent facilitator, Stone & Olafson, it's confirmed! Calgary has shown it's love for Mount Royal and named the University as WINNER of this year's Best Educational Institute category.

Mohamed El Hussein receives ANEA Nursing Educator Award for 2017

May 4, 2017—

Professor Mohamed El Hussein of Mount Royal's School of Nursing & Midwifery was the recipient of this year's Alberta Nursing Education Administrators' (ANEA) Nursing Educator Award. El Hussein was nominated by Professor Cathy Carter-Snell.

MRU has impactful presence on Health Advisory Council

May 3, 2017—

Francesca Simon, wellness services administrator for Health Services & Optimal Therapies applied and was accepted for a second three-year term serving on the Health Advisory Council for Prairie Mountain with Alberta Health Services. This provides Mount Royal with a voice in the future of the province's healthcare system around various issues such as access, quality and wait times. Please let Francesca know of any needs and hopes for a better healthcare system.

Summit takes home two silvers at AMPAs

March 21, 2017—

Mount Royal's Summit magazine was awarded silver in the Digital Presence category for Summit online and silver in the Photograph Essay or Series category for the " Rapid Momentum - Summit Spring, 2016 " photo spread at the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) Awards March 16. Summit beat out entries from publications such Avenue, Western Living, New Trail and Swerve.

Summit photo spread garners top accolades

March 16, 2017—

The "Cougars — Rapid Momentum" photo series accompanying a story about Mount Royal's journey to the CIS found in the Spring 2016 issue of Summit magazine recently won an Applied Arts Community Award. See the complete story online here.

Melanie Peacock featured in HRD magazine’s Hot List

March 15, 2017—

Human Resources Director (HRD) magazine has named Melanie Peacock, human resources professor in the Bissett School of Business, to their annual Hot List. Bringing together the “best of the best” in the industry, Peacock is considered among the top 30 high achievers in the industry.

Angela Ryu wins RBC Concerto Competition

March 15, 2017—

Angela Ryu of The Conservatory's Advanced Performance Program, recently took home the top prize at the 2017 RBC Concerto Competition. A collaboration between the Mount Royal Conservatory, the University of Calgary music department and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the RBC Concerto Competition supports the development of emerging artists and the achievement of artistic goals.

Anupam Das receives Immigrant of Distinction Award

March 13, 2017—

On March 10, Professor Anupam Das (PhD) of the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies was recognized in the Achievement Under 35 category of the 2017 Calgary Immigrants of Distinction Awards. Das's research interests include economic growth, international financial flows to developing countries and heterodox economics.

TVP alumnus to compete at 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games

March 7, 2017—

Benjamin Maeseele, a graduate of Mount Royal's Employment Preparation Certificate Program (2016) is heading to Austria in to compete at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, beginning March 9. Maeseele will compete in figure skating, and says in this Calgary Herald article , “I am most excited to meet other competitors who have made it this far.”

Brain in Motion study partnership

March 3, 2017—

Mount Royal University has partnered with the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine for their Brain in Motion study that looks to advance knowledge of relationship between exercise and brain health. Mount Royal's contribution to the study is being led by Julie Booke, PhD, interim chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education.

From U of C's UToday:

"With 25,000 Canadians diagnosed with dementia each year, by 2030 the number of Canadians living with the disease will be just shy of one million. Finding a cure, or even effective treatment options, is a daunting task, complicated by the fact that researchers don’t know what causes dementia in the first place.
With this in mind, a group of researchers are looking to exercise — the only intervention that has been shown to have a disease-modifying effect — for answers."

Peter Choate joins provincial government's child review panel

Feb. 24, 2017—

Professor Peter Choate of MRU's Department of Child Studies and Social Work was invited to join the provincial government's child intervention panel, struck after several reported cases of injury, harm and loss of life while under government care. Also on the panel are Bruce MacLaurin, professor at the University of Calgary's social work faculty, Patti LaBoucane-Benson, research and evaluation director at NCSA, five NDP MLAs and a member from each opposition party. Results are expected in early March. Edmonton Sun article.

Facilities Management wins 5-Star (ECI) Energy Award

Feb. 17, 2017—

Facilities Management recently received an exclusive Energy Cost Index (ECI) Award from Camfil for their introduction of state-of-the-art, 5-Star Energy Cost Index (ECI) air filters in the U Wing in 2016. The change has resulted in electricity costs decreasing by a whopping 49 per cent, and the filters' longer service life also means a reduction in landfill waste and a large drop in carbon dioxide emissions. The Camfil award is presented to those who work to improve air quality and conserve natural resources, putting their employees, visitors, customers and the environment first.

Pop-Up Poets take part in Converge 2017

Feb. 22, 2017—

Due to the success of Mount Royal's Pop-Up Poetry events, three writers from the Department of English, Languages and Cultures were recently invited to take part in Universities Canada's Converge 2017 conference in Ottawa. Professors Micheline Maylor (Calgary's current Poet Laureate), Richard Harrison and derek beaulieu each typed out custom poems for attendees. This year's conference theme was, "What kind of Canada do we want in the next 50 years?" and it was clear that poetry will continue to play a major role in our futures. Read Richard Harrison's thoughts about the experience.

Improving public attitudes and facilitating refugee resettlement

Feb. 7, 2017—

Professor Leah Hamilton of Mount Royal's Academic Development Centre's article "The Global Refugee Crisis: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications for Improving Public Attitudes and Facilitating Refugee Resettlement," was recently published in the academic journal Social Issues and Policy Review. The article discusses improving public attitudes and facilitating refugee resettlement, and the ensuing policy implications, and was co-authored with Victoria M. Esses of the University of Western Ontario and Danielle Gaucher of the University of Winnipeg. 

Department of Humanities professor co-editor of two new religious studies handbooks

Feb. 6, 2017—

Professor Steven Engler, (PhD), of the Department of Humanities, is co-editor of two major religious studies handbooks, both of which were just released. The Oxford Handbook of the Study of Religion was co-edited with Michael Stausberg of the University of Bergen (Norway), and the Handbook of Contemporary Religions in Brazil was co-edited with Bettina E. Schmidt, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Pam Nordstrom and Jennifer Pettit to each receive The Chair Academy’s 2017 International Exemplary Leadership Award

Jan. 30, 2017—

Interim dean of the Faculty of Health, Community and Education Pam Nordstrom, PhD, and Jennifer Pettit, PhD, chair of the Department of Humanities, have each been awarded The Chair Academy’s 2017 International Exemplary Leadership Award for their ability to advance academic and administrative leadership. The annual conference will be held on March 30 in Orlando, Fla.

Joint paper published in the Rangelands Journal

Jan. 4, 2017—
A research paper created through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the Institute of Environmental Sustainability and the Miistakis Institute in the summer of 2015 was recently published in the prestigious Rangelands Journal. The paper is titled “ Cattle and Carnivore Coexistence in Alberta: The Role of Compensation Programs,” and was written by Winston Jamieson, student research intern, Tracy Lee, senior project manager at the Miistakis Institute, Kim Good, executive director of the Legacy Land Trust Society, Ashok Krishnamurthy, PhD and professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computing and Michael Quinn, associate vice president of the Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement.