Gord Aker has been a stalwart University of Calgary volunteer. For six years he held a variety of leadership positions within Senate, and mentored several students and new senators. Most significantly, he helped craft a new strategic plan for Senate that will guide our actions until 2019. Gord is retiring as a senator and participated […]
Last Thursday we held the convocation for the 2017 University of Calgary graduates in Kinesiology and Science. During this ceremony, we also conferred an honorary degree on William Pulleyblank, an alumnus with stellar accomplishments in theoretical computer science. I noted that Professor Robert Woodrow helped prepare the nomination package for Dr. Pulleyblank. Robert first met […]
Dawn Johnston is an Associate Dean at the University of Calgary. She provides leadership in teaching, learning and student engagement for the Faculty of Arts. Dawn and I are kindred spirits in that we both advocate for interdisciplinary programs at our university, such as the Arts and Science Honours Academy. Dawn also oversees research and […]
On Monday afternoon we held the convocation ceremony for the 2017 University of Calgary graduates in Medicine, Law, Nursing and Veterinary Medicine. In addition to celebrating our new graduates, we also awarded Jo-Ann Munn Gafuik (a longtime and stalwart staff member of our university) with the Order of the University of Calgary and Senator Murray […]
I participated last week in the graduation ceremony for the 2017 class of Robert Thirsk High School. In the evening, I attended the class’s grad banquet. It was the third graduation for the school which has now been open for four years. As a member of the ceremony’s platform party, I congratulated all 450 graduands […]
Todd Hirsch and Rob Roach of ATB Financial are co-authors of a new book entitled Spiders in Space: Successfully Adapting to Unwanted Change. What an intriguing title! The book profiles several Canadian individuals, organizations and businesses who have successfully adapted to change. Drawing on inspiring stories and lessons learned, the book provides insight on how […]
Even though we graduated 41 years ago, I stay in touch with fellow mechanical engineering classmates from the University of Calgary. We met up last evening at Juree’s Thai Place Restaurant to meet Janet Le, one of two recipients of this year’s Dan Mercier Class of 1976 Engineering Award. This annual get together is also […]
My wife and I attended a citizenship ceremony in Ottawa last Friday afternoon. We didn’t know any of the people who were taking the oath of citizenship that day. We just thought it would be a good idea to observe. The ceremony was a formal and dignified affair. For 80 newcomers to Canada, the event […]
One section of my curriculum vitae lists the organizations of which I am or was once a member. There is one organization, however, that I do not mention. Although not listed, I am proud to have been a member of The Troublemakers Club. When I was a young astronaut at the National Research Council in […]
Today I am wrapping up another satisfying week of chancellor activity at the University of Calgary. I so much enjoy the role. Each day on campus puts me in touch with stalwart citizens, inspiring students and cutting-edge researchers. For example, this week I telecon’d with the chancellors from Alberta’s two other major universities to discuss […]