May 14, 2012
University of Saskatchewan calling for nominations for Alumni Achievement Awards
University of Saskatchewan alumni do more than obtain a job after graduation—they go on to change the world. With 64,000 alumni throughout Saskatchewan and 138,000 worldwide, our alumni are making great strides in every corner of the globe. Take Edward Hudek, BSA ’40, a 2011 Alumni Achievement Award recipient who farmed in Hafford, Saskatchewan, before moving on to a high-profile career in teaching and government.
The Alumni Achievement Awards are designed to recognize graduates of the University of Saskatchewan for excellence, leadership and innovation in their achievements and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of society. The University of Saskatchewan is looking for nominations in two categories:
1.The Alumni Achievement Award, open to any University of Saskatchewan graduate
2.The Young Alumni Achievement Award, open to any University of Saskatchewan graduate who is under the age of 40
U of S alumni can be nominated for their success and contributions in fields such as Aboriginal initiatives; agriculture; the arts; athletics, sports, and wellness; business and industry; community leadership; education; occupations or professions; philanthropy; public service; research; and/or, volunteer service.
Recipients will be recognized through an “Honouring our Alumni” event on November 2 at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon.
The nomination deadline is June 29, 2012. Please visit alumni.usask.ca/awards for more information and to nominate candidates.
(Posted May 14, 2012)
April 30, 2012
Mentorship, volunteering key to young president’s success
Christian Braid (B.Comm '06) didn’t know exactly what career path he wanted when he was a student, but thanks in part to his experience at the U of S, he’s built himself a very successful career.
Upon graduating from the U of S in 2006, Braid thought the last thing he wanted to do was become involved in the family business. Instead, he tried his hand at buying and fixing up property—first in Prince Albert, and then around Saskatoon. He did this for a couple years to “test his entrepreneurial spirit” before he began to see Braid Flooring as a business opportunity.
“My experience on my own helped to change my perspective. I felt like I needed the time on my own to develop my own entrepreneurial skills and prove to myself I could do it,” Braid said. “After a couple years, I started to see the family business as a great opportunity.”
Now the vice-president of Braid Flooring and Window Fashion, he also credits his mentors for helping him to see this perspective. He sees mentorship—both as a student and in the field—as a crucial educational opportunity. In fact, when asked what advice he would give to current students or other young alumni, Braid promptly recommended mentorship.
“Look for opportunities to apply the knowledge you’re learning in school. Volunteering, mentorship—all these are crucial to success,” he explained.
“Finding a mentor can really be as simple as picking up the phone and calling someone who is successful in your field. Ask if you can pick their brain over a coffee. Saskatchewan people are very generous with their time and willing to help out students.”
He also is passionate about the importance of volunteering while in school. For himself, he chose to get involved in the Saskatoon business community to connect his learning to the real world. “For me, I really needed to pair up what I learned in the classroom with volunteering—I needed that practical application to make it stick.”
Volunteering is how Braid, now the president of the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, first got involved with the organization. “I’ve always believed that volunteering in the community was important,” said Braid. “I first got involved on a committee about four years ago with the intention to really just give it a whirl.”
Fast forward to 2012, and he is the youngest president the chamber has ever seen. He credits his time at the U of S for providing the broad base of education he needed, along with the opportunity to work with a variety of people while he was a student.
“All that group work paid off!” he said with a chuckle, adding that working in the community means working with a variety of different personalities, something his education and volunteer work prepared him to do.
So with all this success at a young age, what are his plans for the future? Braid says he intends to focus strongly on the chamber this year, while continuing to build up the family company. He plans on staying in Saskatchewan as he believes it is a great place for multiple business ventures and opportunities.
(Posted April 30, 2012)
April 13, 2012
Bryan McCrea latest recipient of the Engaged Alumni Excellence Award
Bryan McCrea (BComm’09) is the 2011-12 recipient of the Engaged Alumni Excellence Award. Created through a partnership between the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) as part of the USSU Experience in Excellence Awards. This award is given to a recent U of S graduate who is actively engaged in their community and has maintained a strong connection to the university.
Alumni who have graduated from the U of S in the past five years and are 35 years of age or younger are eligible to receive the award. Nominations for next year closer February 15, 2013.
(Posted April 13, 2012)
February 10, 2012
Three U of S alumni honoured with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal
Three University of Saskatchewan alumni were among the first 60 Canadians to receive Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals during a special ceremony in Ottawa’s Rideau Hall on February 6.
Dr. David Chalack (DVM’75) was chosen for his contributions to the field of animal care and to the success of the Calgary Stampede.
He has been involved with the Calgary Stampede for over 35 years, serving as president and chair of the board from 2009 – 2011, when he implemented a new animal welfare policy that includes independent reviews and public engagement—a model that is being copied by other large exhibitions.
Dr. Chalack was an early pioneer in the practice of herd health and the entire concept of preventative herd medicine, something now common to all veterinary clinics. He was also recently inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
“As a veterinarian and a person that comes from rural roots, I think it was very meaningful and it speaks to the importance of the festival we call the greatest outdoor show on earth,” Chalack told a reporter from the Calgary Herald.
Clement Chartier (LLB’78) was chosen for his leadership as president of the Métis National Council, and for advocating for Métis and Indigenous rights.
Elected president of the Métis National Council in 2003, and currently in his third term in the position, Chartier has long been an advocate for Métis Nation’s rights at various levels of Canada’s judicial system and continues to provide counsel in on-going Métis-specific cases. He hopes to continue to make progress toward adopting a new modern Métis Nation Constitution over the next few years.
In 2004, Chartier was appointed Queen’s Counsel by the Government of Saskatchewan based on his years of respected legal work.
Chartier has served in both political and administrative capacities with numerous Indigenous organizations, including executive director of the Native Youth Association of Canada, president of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, president of the Canadian Indian Lawyers Association and policy analyst for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
W. Brett Wilson (BE’79) was chosen or his many contributions as an entrepreneur, community leader and mentor.
Made famous by his role on CBC Television’s The Dragon’s Den, Wilson co-founded FirstEnergy Capital Corp—the first investment bank to focus exclusively on Canada's lucrative oil and gas sector. Under Wilson’s guidance, FirstEnergy developed some of the industry's most innovative community giving programs and highly regarded charity events.
In 2011, Wilson was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada to add to his accolades that include Canada’s “Top 40 under 40”, “Top 20 Deal Makers”, and being listed among the U of S 100 Alumni of Influence.
In 2007, he established the Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the U of S. His business and philanthropic ventures have centred on finding opportunities for innovation in his home provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper hosted the first awards ceremony in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. Over the next 11 months, 60,000 Canadians will receive the special medal that recognizes award recipients’ contributions and achievements in service of their fellow citizens.
“The recipients who are honoured by this medal have made Canada better,” said Johnston. “Individually, they have improved the well-being of many of our communities, and together, they have helped to create a smarter, more caring nation. They represent a mosaic of individual experiences and accomplishments. Like her Majesty, they inspire others to take up the call to service.”
Pictured about (l-r) Prime Minster Stephen Harper, Clement Chartier, and the Rt. Hon. David Johnston
Photo courtesy of the Métis National Council
(Posted February 10, 2012)
January 31, 2012
U of S receives rare Picasso prints from alumnus
On January 30, U of S alumnus Frederick Mulder (BA’64) announced his donation of six Picasso prints to the University of Saskatchewan’s art collection.
Mulder was delivering a public lecture at the U of S campus about his journey from the prairies to the world of Picasso at the time he announced the donation.
“Picasso was one of the world’s great artists, and it’s been a wonderful, strange journey from a small prairie town to dealing in his work, meeting his family and his printers, and now bringing his work to the University of Saskatchewan,” said Mulder. Read the complete On Campus News story
(Posted January 31, 2012)
January 18, 2012
U of S alumnus receives UNESCO prize for popularization of science
René Raúl Drucker-Colín (PhD’71) a U of S alumnus and an eminent researcher who brought small doses of science to the general public in his home country of Mexico, is the winner of the 2011 UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science.
An ardent promoter of science, Drucker-Colín’s work is regularly published in La Jornada, a leading Mexican daily, and he has participated in the science programming of Televisa, a national broadcaster, over the past 12 years. Speaking from Mexico City, Drucker-Colín said when he was vice-chancellor of science at National Autonomous University of Mexico, “it was necessary for me to promote science to society, to educate everyone on the public value of science. I created Small Doses of Science, two-minute pieces of news on interesting scientific findings.”
Small Doses of Science grew from a piece on the university’s radio station to a daily rush-hour science item airing on a popular Mexico City radio station and eventually was broadcast six to seven times per day on television. “It became part of Mexican life,” said Drucker-Colín.
Drucker-Colín received his award from UNESCO in early January. Funded by the Kalinga Foundation and the Government of the State of Orissa in India, the prize recognizes contributions made in presenting science and technology to a general public. After earning a bachelor’s degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico and a master’s from Northern Illinois University, Drucker-Colín moved to the U of S where he received a doctorate in physiology in 1971. Since returning to Mexico, his neurological research has focused in two areas: sleep and wakefulness, specifically narcolepsy; and Parkinson’s disease.
“We spend about one-third of our lives asleep,” says Drucker-Colín, one of the founders of the Sleep Disorders Clinic in Mexico City. “That’s 20 years by the age of 60. So it’s important to understand the transmitters and substances related to sleep.” His work includes research on the loss of neurons that produce orexin, a protein responsible for controlling appetite and sleep patterns, and the possibility of its transplantation.
In the area of Parkinson’s research, Drucker-Colín was involved in the first cell transplant to treat the disease almost 25 years ago. A neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s symptoms occur when the cells in the brain stem produce less dopamine. “We can substitute lost cells with those that produce dopamine,” he said. “Not all patients respond in the same way, but we are trying to find which type of cells are best to transplant.”
The UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science includes a monetary award of $20,000. Prior winners include Bertrand Russell (1957), Julian Huxley (1953), Margaret Mead (1970) and David Suzuki (1986).
(Posted January 18, 2012)
January 12, 2012
Engaged Alumni Excellence Award nominations are open
In 2010-2011 a new Experience in Excellence Award was created in partnership between the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union (USSU) and U of S Alumni Association. This new award is called the Engaged Alumni Excellence Award. The USSU’s An Experience in Excellence program recognizes those individuals that show leadership qualities that better both the academic and non-academic environment for the undergraduate students of the University of Saskatchewan.
Nominate someone for the Engaged Alumni Excellence Award who:
• has graduated from the U of S in the last five years
• is under 35 years of age
• is actively engaged in or still connected to the U of S
Deadline for nominations is February 15, 2012.
Visit the awards web page to nominate someone, to see last year’s winner, or for more information.
If you have any questions please contact Andrea Eccleston, Alumni Relations Officer at andrea.eccleston@usask.ca.
(Posted January 12, 2012)
January 04, 2012
MacKinnon and Stiller named Officers of the Order of Canada
University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon (LLM’76) has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, for his contributions to education and for his commitment to innovation and research excellence.
MacKinnon joined the College of Law at the U of S in 1975, becoming a full professor in 1983. He went on to serve as assistant dean and dean before his appointment as the university’s eighth president in 1999. MacKinnon is also a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council, an advisory body to the federal government that measures Canada’s science and technology performance against international standards, and served as chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada from 2003-2005.
MacKinnon will step down as U of S president June 30, 2012.
Dr. Calvin Stiller (MD’65, DSc (honorary)’07), who was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1994, was promoted to officer within the order for his leadership as a medical entrepreneur and for his advancement of scientific research and innovation.
Dr. Stiller, a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, is a pioneer in the establishment of multi-organ transplant services in Canada and was the principal investigator in a study that established the importance of cyclosporine as a first-line therapy for transplant rejection.
As a businessman and entrepreneur, Dr. Stiller founded or co-founded many ventures, including Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund Inc., The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund, and the Canadian Science and Technology Growth Fund.
Both men were named to the University of Saskatchewan’s 100 Alumni of Influence in 2007.
Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
The Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation.
(Posted January 04, 2012)
December 19, 2011
Ninth U of S President Announced
Ilene Busch-Vishniac, currently provost and vice-president academic at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. and a renowned researcher in the areas of acoustic noise control and engineering education, has been named the ninth president of the University of Saskatchewan.
Busch-Vishniac was introduced at an event Dec. 19 in Convocation Hall by Nancy Hopkins, chair of the U of S Board of Governors and the presidential search committee. She takes up her new position July 1, 2012, replacing Peter MacKinnon who will step down after 13 years as president.
“It is clear that the University of Saskatchewan has both the capacity and the drive to contribute on the national stage,” said Busch-Vishniac describing what attracted her to the position. “I look forward to continuing the momentum created by the extraordinary work of President MacKinnon as we foster innovations in teaching and learning, grow research programs that will drive the economy of the province in the future, distinguish ourselves through innovative approaches to the issues of the Aboriginal communities, and define the role we wish to play locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.”
Describing two qualities of the U of S that she found compelling, Busch-Vishniac mentioned the university’s connections to the public sector, both the city of Saskatoon and the province of Saskatchewan, as well as its “strong and growing interaction with Aboriginal communities. My pledge,” she said, “is to be a trustworthy partner for First Nations and Métis communities” with the aim of achieving the mutual goals of cultural preservation, respect and accomplishment.
Prior to joining McMaster University, Busch-Vishniac served as dean of engineering at Johns Hopkins University and associate chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas (Austin). A graduate of the University of Rochester, Busch-Vishniac earned her Master of Science and PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
At McMaster University, Busch-Vishniac has increased student enrolment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, strengthened ties with Aboriginal communities, particularly with the Six Nations in Ontario, expanded the university’s full-time faculty complement, and led both the development of an activity-based budget system and a systems renewal. She has also served as chair of the Ontario Council of Academic Vice-Presidents, and led the creation of a new quality assurance process for Ontario universities.
As dean of engineering at Johns Hopkins University, she raised millions of dollars for the school and oversaw the construction of four new buildings on that campus. In 2008, Johns Hopkins University created the Ilene Busch-Vishniac Lecture to honour her work on issues of diversity in engineering.
Commenting on her career progression, she said “I marvel that a one-time music student from Philadelphia has somehow managed to navigate a winding path, ending up here as the president of the University of Saskatchewan.” She added she is looking forward to meeting all members of the university community and building relationships with U of S partners.
In introducing the president designate, Hopkins said Busch-Vishniac’s outstanding academic background combined with her extensive leadership experience and track record in establishing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships made her an ideal candidate for the presidency. “The University of Saskatchewan has made tremendous progress under President Peter MacKinnon’s leadership,” she said. “We are confident that Ilene Busch-Vishniac will continue to build on this momentum, strengthening the University of Saskatchewan even further as we pursue our ambition to become one of the most distinguished universities in Canada and the world.”
Hopkins said the Board of Governors was assisted in selecting the next president by a search committee with broad representation from across campus, as well as by the public input the search committee received prior to undertaking the search. The search committee included board members Susan Milburn and David Sutherland as well as Chancellor Vera Pezer, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union President Scott Hitchings, Graduate Students Association President Xue Yao, Deans David Hill and Peter Stoicheff, and faculty members Michel Desautels, Ingrid Pickering, Keith Walker and Winona Wheeler.
Busch-Vishniac is married to Ethan Vishniac, currently a professor of physics and astronomy at McMaster and editor of The Astrophysical Journal.
Story and photo from On Campus News
(Posted December 19, 2011)
December 05, 2011
Homecoming for Actor, U of S Alumnus
You could almost consider it a fairy tale story. A prairie boy goes to university, stumbles into acting, becomes the youngest actor ever to play Macbeth at Stratford, plays Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway, finds success on the big screen and becomes a lead actor in a hit cable television series.
Except, bikers don’t really fit into your typical fairy tale.
Kim Coates (BA’81) recently finished filming the fourth season of the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy (SOA), on which he plays Tig, a member of the biker gang the show is named after. Now he is back home in Saskatoon filming a movie, Ferocious. “I come home as much as I can. My mom just loves it when I come home, and I love being home actually shooting a movie here. It’s fantastic!” says Coates during an on-location interview.
Coates is an interesting mix of Hollywood and Saskatchewan—and he seems to naturally bridge the gap between the two cultures. He is as comfortable talking about The Bowl, the Hangar Building and Greystone Theatre as his is talking about working with the likes of Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia or Eva Longoria. He is obviously influenced by southern California, but it’s equally obvious that he has not forgotten his roots.
With over 50 films to his credit and appearances on several television series like CSI, Entourage and Prison Break, Coates is becoming a household name thanks in large part to SOA. “I certainly am getting recognized now. This whole foray into television has been great for me. I think cable is really where it’s at now—it’s more real, more gritty, and I think our show is like no other. I’m really happy on that show, and it allows me to come (to Saskatoon) and do movies in my off time.”
He jets off to do a celebrity bike show one weekend, then guest stars at Saskatoon Soaps the next (planned for December 9). There’s that Saskatchewan meets Hollywood again.
Family keeps Coates grounded too. Not only is he obviously pleased to come home to see his mom (his father passed away three years ago), he beams with pride when talking about his two daughters. Kyla graduated from UCLA summa cum laude—the highest academic honour. “She is just a brilliant brainiac, and she is well on her way to doing some amazing things in the world. She really will make a big difference.” Brenna, the younger of the two, is following in her father’s footsteps. She is studying at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. “She has way more talent than me at that age. She got offers from other colleges, but she always wanted to be in New York where her dad was.”
And what do his daughters think of his SOA biker persona? “Good bad-ass. They can’t believe their dad’s on that show.” Kyla would gather with about 70 UCLA students every week. “No matter what they were doing, they would stop everything for ‘Sons night.’” And Brenna “was too little to watch my stuff.” But now that she is older she “watches her pop and wants to be an actor like me.”
Coates calls Ferocious “a dark little film” and is hopeful it will be a “film favourite, a festival darling.” This is the second time Coates is working with fellow U of S alumnus Anand Ramayya (BComm’98), founder of Karma Films, a Saskatoon-based, award winning production studio. After joking that he “can’t stand him,” Coates, in typical prairie fashion, sings Ramayya’s praises, “Every time Anand calls me I take his call right away. I love him and am really proud of him being a filmmaker from Saskatoon, doing big movies right in the city.”
There is no sign of things slowing down for Coates. SOA was picked-up by FX for its fifth season, he hopes to return to Saskatoon in February to film another movie, and he is branching-out into other aspects of the movie business. “The only thing I haven’t done so far is direct. I love producing and I’ll produce more. Directing is coming up. Sons of Anarchy is such a ‘men-of-mayhem’ show there’s no way that could be my directorial debut; it’s way too difficult.”
Bringing things full-circle, Coates states his intention to return to the stage, “I say no to theatre all the time. I’m going to stop saying no now. I promised Brenna that I’d go back to Broadway when she was in college, so I think I’d better get back to Broadway.”
(Posted December 05, 2011)
November 16, 2011
Top 20 Under 30 for U of S Alumna
Monique Haakensen (BSc’04, PhD’09) is the only Saskatchewan resident to make Profit Magazine’s list of Canada’s top 20 Future Entrepreneurial Leaders (FuEL). The FuEL Awards honour the achievements and aspirations of entrepreneurs under the age 30, identify role models for progressive business practices and inspire youth to make entrepreneurship their number one career choice.
Almost exactly a year ago, Haakensen started Contango Strategies Ltd., a Saskatoon-based company that offers contract microbiology research, development and value-added services for the natural resources and energy sectors.
Haakensen has successfully combined her science background and business acumen to build a successful company, working with clients both large and small. “I get excited about the science, but now I’m always thinking of its application. How can this be used? What client will this serve?”
Contango may not be the only player in the bioconversion and bioremediation field, but larger industrial companies tend to add chemicals, genetically modified organisms or non-native microbes to the process. “We don’t add non-natural or non-native microbes; we don’t’ genetically modify anything.” Haakenson points out. “There are more naturally occurring microbes in a handful of dirt than there are humans on earth. What we do is look at what’s there and ask what they do. Then we ask how we can stimulate it to speed it up. We are using natural processes, things the environment does all the time.”
Haakensen compares the process to bacteria changing milk into yogurt or yeast changing barley to beer, only applied to a different industry. “For example, biodiesel waste is not valuable and hard to get rid of. But there are naturally existing microbes that can be used to turn it into something more valuable, like ‘green’ plastics or non-toxic anti-freeze.”
When your company profile uses words like bioinformatics and biogeochemistry, it can be hard getting publicity and recognition. “This award gives me and the company additional profile and credibility. When you are young with a young business it’s good to have something extra behind you.”
Haakensen keeps close ties to the University of Saskatchewan, as an adjunct professor for the School of Environment and Sustainability, serving on graduate student advisory committees for the Departments of Food and Bioproduct Sciences and Computer Science, guest lecturing for the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the Edwards School of Business, and hiring graduate student interns that need industry experience in their final year of a project.
As if all of that does not keep the young entrepreneur busy enough, expansion is already a reality for Haakensen and Contango. The company’s soon to be completed renovation will not only add much needed laboratory space, they will add gene sequencing to the list of services they provide.
(Posted November 16, 2011)
October 27, 2011
U of S Alumni Receive Awards
Seven University of Saskatchewan alumni will be honoured with Alumni Achievement Awards at a reception October 28.
Award recipients for 2011 are:
B. E. (Bev) Allen (BSP’73) for his teaching, professional and volunteer service to the pharmacy profession.
Tony Dagnone (BComm’65) for his business contributions to Canadian health care and volunteer leadership.
L. David Dubé (BA’84) for his volunteer and philanthropic support of the U of S and Huskie Athletics.
Rui Feng (PhD’92) for entrepreneurial success in the mining and exploration industry.
Edward Hudek (BSA’40) for his contributions to the agriculture sector.
Ken Linnen (BE’72) for his leadership and mentorship in the Saskatchewan housing industry and his community.
Terrence Veeman (BSA’62) for his teaching and leadership in agriculture, forestry and food sustainability.
Jason Aebig (BA’99), president of the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association says, “These alumni, and their significant accomplishments, have added important chapters to the story of our great university. In different spheres, and in different ways, each one of these recipients has demonstrated excellence, leadership and distinguished service. We are proud to honour and recognize these accomplished alumni and hope that their success inspires current students to pursue their own goals and dreams.”
The Alumni Achievement Awards recognize graduates of the University of Saskatchewan for excellence, leadership, and innovation in their achievements and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of society, which positively reflect on the University of Saskatchewan and the Alumni Association.
The format of the awards has changed this year, consolidating seven previous award categories into one Alumni Achievement Award that can be given to up to twelve nominated candidates. The new format will better recognize the diversity of alumni success and the variety of ways they better their communities.
A video of the awards presentation will be posted online soon after the event for those unable to attend. You can join conversation during the event through Twitter (#usaskalumni) or on the Alumni Association’s Facebook page.
Pictured above: Jason Aebig (left) and U of S President Peter MacKinnon (right) present a certificate to Rui Feng at a gift celebration Oct. 12. Photo by David Stobbe
(Posted October 27, 2011)
