University of Alberta in touch a ctive a lumni t started with a dream to install a second ice surface in the Clare Drake Arena as far back as 1982 when the Faculty began turning away would-be users because ice time was tight. The Van Vliet Centre is still without the second ice surface but today the Faculty’s dream is coming close to reality. And it’s morphed into a large-scale physical activity complex, nicknamed PAC, that will not only have the sorely-needed second ice surface, but renovations to the Arena that’ll mean more and better seating and other upgrades, and a new 35,000 sq.ft. fitness and lifestyle centre that will be able to meet the needs of the growing campus population. In doing so, the spectacular new PAC will give physical activity on campus a rocket-like boost. “PAC will help us to fulfill an important mandate we have on this campus very well,” says John Barry, assistant dean, Services, “and that’s to provide quality sport and recreation facilities and programming to all students on this campus.” Barry, who has been working patiently on plans and funding formulae to realise the addition to the Faculty’s existing facilities, says PAC isn’t window dressing, it’s essential to maintain a fit and healthy Leader of the PAC: proposed new Physical Activity Complex aims to keep burgeoning campus fit, strong, on its toes with you 2005 Published annually for the alumni and friends of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation I Continued on page 2 PAC in a nutshell: what’s proposed A new Physical Activity Complex (PAC) will be connected to the Van Vliet Centre and include: ■ A new 35,000 sq. ft. fitness and lifestyle centre with approximately ■ 30 treadmills, 30 elliptical trainers, 60 strength and conditioning machines, 50 stationary bikes (variety), 12 rowing ergometers, 30 televisions, and a wide variety of free weights, benches and accessories ■ A new 3,500-seat ice arena ■ Upgraded Clare Drake Arena ■ Conversion of existing fitness and lifestyle centre into a recreational gym ■ New climbing wall in fitness and lifestyle centre; exterior climbing wall near basketball courts ■ Major renovations to men’s and women’s locker rooms ■ Outdoor sport park with jogging trails, beach volleyball courts, activity spaces and basketball courts ■ Upgrade of main gym amenities
i n t o u c h 2005 PAC in a nutshell: what’s proposed Published annually for the alumni and friends of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation University of Alberta t started with a dream to install a second ice surface in the Clare Drake Arena as far back as 1982 when the Faculty began turning away would-be users because ice time was tight. Continued on page 2
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University of Alberta
i n t o u c hactivealumni
t started with a dream to install a second ice surface in the
Clare Drake Arena as far back as 1982 when the Faculty began
turning away would-be users because ice time was tight.
The Van Vliet Centre is still without the second ice surface but
today the Faculty’s dream is coming close to reality. And it’s
morphed into a large-scale physical activity complex, nicknamed
PAC, that will not only have the sorely-needed second ice
surface, but renovations to the Arena that’ll mean more and
better seating and other upgrades, and a new 35,000 sq.ft. fitness
and lifestyle centre that will be able to meet the needs of the
growing campus population. In doing so, the spectacular new
PAC will give physical activity on campus a rocket-like boost.
“PAC will help us to fulfill an important mandate we have on
this campus very well,” says John Barry, assistant dean, Services,
“and that’s to provide quality sport and recreation facilities and
programming to all students on this campus.” Barry, who has
been working patiently on plans and funding formulae to realise
the addition to the Faculty’s existing facilities, says PAC isn’t
window dressing, it’s essential to maintain a fit and healthy
Leader of the PAC: proposed new Physical ActivityComplex aims to keep burgeoningcampus fit, strong, on its toes
w i t h y o u
2005Published annually for the alumni and fr iends of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation
I
Continued on page 2
PAC in a nutshell: what’s proposed
A new Physical Activity Complex (PAC) will
be connected to the Van Vliet Centre
and include:
� A new 35,000 sq. ft. fitness and lifestyle
centre with approximately
� 30 treadmills, 30 elliptical trainers, 60
strength and conditioning machines, 50
stationary bikes (variety), 12 rowing
ergometers, 30 televisions, and a wide
variety of free weights, benches and
accessories
� A new 3,500-seat ice arena
� Upgraded Clare Drake Arena
� Conversion of existing fitness and
lifestyle centre into a recreational gym
� New climbing wall in fitness and lifestyle
centre; exterior climbing wall near
basketball courts
� Major renovations to men’s and women’s
locker rooms
� Outdoor sport park with jogging trails,
beach volleyball courts, activity spaces and
basketball courts
� Upgrade of main gym amenities
2University of Alberta
campus. “Our current Fitness and Lifestyle Centre is a quarter of the size it should be for the population on campus. At
just 8000 sq. ft. it falls far short of the 32,000 sq. ft current standards require,” he says. “Bottom line – the current fitness
and lifestyle centre just can’t meet demand.” And with the single sheet of ice in the Clare Drake Arena busy from 0700
to midnight every day, and would-be users turned away often, it’s more than a timely project, it’s long overdue.
Concession areas, locker rooms and dressing rooms in the Arena and West Wing are slated for upgrading too. “One of
the biggest issues is infrastructure renewal,” says Barry. “It’s 45 years old and deteriorating rapidly and a Band-Aid
solution just won’t work anymore. The features we’re planning for the new PAC – enhanced way-finding, developing an
outdoor sport park, building indoor and outdoor climbing walls – will add years of life to our facilities and provide
more and better avenues for physical activity.”
There’ll be more space for research projects too. “That’ll mean a bigger, more centralised space to allow for more
collaboration. Different researchers are currently located in different areas of the building and many of those spaces are
quite inadequate. With the PAC, researchers in health and wellness can be in closer proximity in a setting more
conducive to collaboration.”
The best part, says Barry, “is what comes next!”
“This is when we actually get past the conceptual stage to design exactly what we want. We’ve done a programming
study that’s identified what we need, but now we need to put these needs into a building design.”
If the PAC is built as Barry envisions it, it’ll put the
University of Alberta in the number one position for sport
and recreation facilities in Canada. “The new PAC will be
a good recruitment tool for staff and students too,” says
Barry. “For anyone who believes in healthy lifestyle to
have the opportunity to come to study or work at a
university that has the best physical activity facilities, it’s
an added incentive.”
Now it’s up to the student body to put the PAC on the
table. Funding for the Complex depends on students
agreeing – in a fall plebiscite – to a facility enhancement
fee of about $38 per year. “Once students agree to it, and
we have a partnering source of funding, we’ll proceed to
hire an architect and start designing the PAC. We hope to
have it constructed by 2008.”
Access to the new PAC will be available to University of
Alberta alumni at a reduced rate and Barry hopes alumni
will support the new venture. “In donating they’d be
providing for future generations of physical education and
recreation students by enhancing our facilities and making
them the best in the world and lending to U of A
fulfilling its promise to be the healthiest campus in
Canada. Then we truly will be the leader of the pack.”. �
Proposed new Physical Activity Complex… continued from page 1
activealumni
Active Alumni is published annuallyfor the alumni and friends of theFaculty of Physical Education andRecreation. Comments, questions,suggestions for stories arewelcomed. Please contact
Jane Hurly, communications strategistFaculty of Physical Education and RecreationE415 Van Vliet CentreUniversity of AlbertaEdmonton, Alberta T6G 2H9Ph: 780-492-6821; fax: 780-492-2364Email: [email protected]
Publication Mail Agreement No. 40063741
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation,
University of Alberta, E415 Van Vliet Centre
Edmonton AB T6G 2H9
3University of Alberta
Message from the Deanhis year we accomplished something that’s been needed for 55 years: we
have instituted the Faculty’s first Academic Alumni Association.
An academic alumni association will, we hope, bring our alumni community
together more closely, strengthen the bonds between our academic alumni and the
Faculty - and be a valuable resource for our students. We want you to share your
career and life experiences with our undergraduate students and to help us sow
the seeds of what it means to become an alumnus in the minds of these young
men and women who will help shape the future of this country.
Often when students graduate, they don’t completely understand their importance
as alumni to their alma mater. This Academic Alumni Association’s mandate is to
change that – to build a sturdy, and, I trust, well-trodden bridge between our
alumni and the Faculty.
For more details about the Academic Alumni Association, please call or email your
alumni representative, Wendy Andrews, at 483-2570 or [email protected].
As part of Campaign 2008 – the University’s fundraiser to raise $310M - one of the
projects on our wish list is to build a spectacular new Physical Activity Complex by
2008 – which will include a spacious new fitness centre, much-needed renovations
to the Clare Drake Arena and a second ice surface. The new ice surface has been
needed since 1982; the present fitness centre is filled to capacity and the
infrastructure is deteriorating. It’s a project that, when built, will benefit everyone
on campus and it will, naturally, be available to you – as alumni of the University
of Alberta – to use. I hope that you will, through your generous support, help us
to bring this worthy project to fruition.
I know Reunion 2005 is months away, but I’d like to extend a warm invitation to you
to attend this celebration of the unique relationship between alumni and the
University. Reunion 2005 will be held from September 30 to October 2 and we have a
wonderful line-up of events for you to enjoy!
The signature years being recognized this year are those ending in ‘0’ or ‘5’ – if
you’re celebrating a milestone year as a graduate of the University, come and
celebrate with us! There’ll be so much to see! We’re in the process of branding the
Faculty with new signs and banners, and display cases to recognize excellence in
teaching and research, and a wall of recognition for doctoral graduates. We’ll have
a red-carpet welcome for you at Reunion 2005, and always!
Enjoy Active Alumni 2005 and stay in touch.
Mike Mahon, PhD, Dean
T
“This AcademicAlumni Association’s
mandate is to change that
– to build a sturdy,and, I trust,
well-trodden bridge between our alumni and
the Faculty.”Mike Mahon
4University of Alberta
From your alumnirepresentative, WendyAndrews
t is with a touch of sadness that I write this final note to you in my role as
Alumni Council Representative for the Faculty. I have thoroughly enjoyed
my role as your representative on the Cross Faculty Alumni Council and the
three years have literally flown by.
The position of Alumni Council rep has allowed me to learn more about the
Faculty which I have happily shared with my colleagues on the Council. Our
excellence in leading edge research, our recent branding initiatives, our award
winning faculty members, our new facilities and of course our outstanding
athletics teams are all topics I raise at our meetings.
The Faculty plays a major role across campus in providing sport, recreation and
physical activity opportunities to thousands of students and providing quality
facilities for use by students, staff, alumni and the surrounding communities.
After leaving Alumni Council, I will chair our new Academic Alumni Association.
Please join me in pioneering this endeavour. We will formally set up the
Association prior to Reunion 2005. Much work is already being done in
contacting potential and existing class reps.
A number of you responded to my request for involvement in the Association as
a result of my last note and I would dearly love to hear from a few more
alumni, both from recreation and physical education
We are working hard to encourage record numbers of alumni at Reunion 2008
for the University’s 100th birthday celebration.
I cordially invite you to attend Reunion 2005. We have a football game against
Calgary on Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. Come and gather. It does not get
any better than this! Our vision is to gradually increase attendance by alumni at
our Panda and Golden Bear games so that we have standing room only at all
our events.
Take a minute and think about what you might do this year to connect to your
alma mater. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have ideas or questions.
Jacqulynn Mulyk – successful Alberta artistcaptures the essence ofarchitecture on canvas
6University of Alberta
Vince Poscente: Olympian, author and in-demand business strategist helps others reach the top
ince Poscente will try pretty much anything once. The former Olympic speed
skier took up that sport of daredevils at 26 just four years shy of the 1992
Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France – with no funding, coaching or
know-how. So vigorously did he apply himself though, he not only scored a berth on
the Canadian team for the demonstration sport, but was ranked 10th in the world. And
while a medal wasn’t on the cards in the end, he shrugs off the disappointment as just
another life experience – but one that changed his life.
“The Olympic experience pushed me into a fascination with human performance
and how we can perform at the highest level,” says Vince, who graduated with a
BA in recreation administration in 1985 and holds a master’s degree in
organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
“Doing something extraordinary” and living large was what Vince promised
himself in high school he’d enjoy in spades. He learned the hard way, at a
classmate’s funeral, the importance of taking life in both hands and wringing
every ounce out of it! Listening to the eulogy of a life cut short, he says, “I made
a decision then that if life is short, I want to do everything at least once.” He’s
lived that lesson with passion ever since.
Today Vince is in high demand as a peak performance business strategist with a
client list that reads like a ‘who’s who’ of corporate America! Based in Dallas
Texas, he’s CEO of a successful business consultancy aptly named ‘Be Invinceable
Group’, which every year coaches hundreds of executives and employees in
corporate North America to maximise their on-the-job performance with a simple
five step strategy he calls the 5Cs. Applying the strategy means having a clear
vision, committing totally to your goals, applying consistent strategies, leading
with confidence and “controlling what you bring to the environment by
influencing what you have control over,” he says.
He’s passionate about the vital role the subconscious mind plays in getting us what we
want. So much so he’s just authored and published a book about the subject that’s
getting plenty of buzz on the business scene. “The Ant and the Elephant” is a quick-
read – but powerful - parable about how to align our conscious and subconscious
minds to achieve the vision we have for our lives. “It’s really about the empowerment
of the individual,” says Vince, whose signature wit peppers the footnotes.
His success as a speaker – something he’s done for 10 years – was recognised by
his peers when he was inducted into the National Speakers’ Association Speaker
Hall of Fame recently alongside orators like the late Ronald Reagan, business guru
Ken Blanchard and actor and film producer Art Linkletter. “It doesn’t do much for
the career,” laughs Vince, “but it’s a very good feeling!”
How does a degree in recreation administration lead to career in business strategy? “I
wanted to be involved in the Olympic movement and sports administration,” explains
Vince. “Recreation administration offered courses in business and the social sciences
and it was a small department and I liked the environment. My undergraduate
experience at U of A prepared me to be a citizen who could contribute.”
Fast Facts aboutVince Poscente
CEO of Be Invinceable Group
– a business consulting firm
Managing partner in a
media/communications agency
Master’s degree in
organizational management
CSP, CPAE certified (Certified
Speaking Professional, Council
of Peers Award for Excellence)
Author of two business/self-
help books
1. The Ant and The Elephant –
Leadership for the self
2. Invinceable Principles –
Essential tools for life
mastery)
Past Board of Directors –
Canadian Olympic Hall of
Fame
Former VP, Marketing of North
America’s largest real estate
investment service
Accomplished award-winning
real estate sales with world’s
largest real estate company
1992 Olympic Winter Games -
Speed skiing finalist and five-
time national record holder
(135 mph/216.7 km/ph)
www.beinvinceable.com
V
7University of Alberta
Vince Poscente’s5C Strategy topeak performance
Clarity of Vision – identify defining moments
and your emotional buzz
Commitment – lead by example as you 100
percent commit to your next
steps
Consistency – apply 360° research as you
do what the competition is
not willing to do
Confidence – accelerate personal
confidence without trial and
error
Control – design “pre-race” routines for
peak performance
“It’s rewarding to be able to enlighten people, help them progress their livesand make their companies more successful. If I can serve with love in some
way that enriches the world that would be the biggest reward.”
Vince Poscente
And contribute he does – helping organisations tap into what he calls their ‘emotional buzz’ – “the thing that gets you
out of bed in the morning and fired up all day!” - at meetings as small as 10 exhausted graveyard shift workers at a
cardboard box factory, to 16,000 pumped up Amway distributors! “Emotional buzz is when something gives you a
physical reaction up and down your spine – that’s the litmus test of whether an idea is worth pursuing,” he says.
Today, as a successful entrepreneur, Vince says time with his family, wife Missy and three children Max (7), Alexia (6)
and Isabella (4), is precious as he’s on the road so much. “I’m like many dads today who are very aware of the
importance of family and of children having their dad around.” So he limits his engagements to 70 each year but
admits, “I carry my bags and my guilt when I go away!”
Despite the travel, time away from home and long hours, Vince has found his life’s emotional buzz. “It’s rewarding to
be able to enlighten people, help them progress their lives and make their companies more successful. If I can serve
with love in some way that enriches the world that would be the biggest reward.” �
8University of Alberta
hen Edmonton hosted the World Athletics
Championships in 2001, an international spotlight
shone on the city. The legacy of those
competitions lives on today at the University of Alberta’s
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation thanks to
some forward thinking by representatives from athletics
organizations and the University of Alberta.
Their vision to establish the Canadian Athletics Coaching
Centre at the U of A was unique and now promises to
build a more successful, secure future for the sport.
A complementary goal to improve the health and fitness
of Canadian young people through the Run Jump Throw
initiative is seen as a way of developing a pool of high
potential track and field athletes.
In September 2004 the Centre’s first director, Kevin Tyler,
was appointed. In enthusiastic and optimistic leaps and
bounds, this Olympian and top Canadian coach has
already laid down significant groundwork for what he
believes will become a national base for Canada’s track
and field coaches and athletes.
For the first six months the Coaching Centre has been a
“one man band” governed by the 2001 Legacy
Foundation Board and housed in a small office in the Van
Vliet Centre. By the end of summer Tyler hopes to have
his small team up and running and settled into offices at
Foote Field.
“Our aim is to raise the bar for coaching in Canada and
our first focus is on developing real grassroots interest
and skills in the sport again,” Tyler says. “We have an
underdeveloped system and we need to make coaching
relevant in athletics again,” he adds. Funding has come
from money set aside after the 2001 World Championship
in Athletics, a condition set by the federal government
when it supported the event.
The Centre’s first focus is co-coordinating the successful,
school-based Run Jump Throw (RJT) initiative, which
focuses on teaching the fundamentals of running, jumping
and throwing movements – the bedrock of track and field.
Previous RJT programming has revealed that many 12 year
olds have lost the ability to hop on one foot.
The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre – Building a Secure and Successful Future for Athleticsby Wanda Vivequin
Hitting the Ground Running – Kevin TylerKevin Tyler raced home from the
Athens Olympics on August 28
2004 to prepare for the birth of his
and wife Lara’s second child.
His yet-to-be-born son had other
ideas and kept Tyler wondering
whether he would make it to
work on time for his first day on
the job as director of The
Canadian Athletics Coaching
Centre at the University of Alberta.
Finally on September 5th Kai was
born and a couple of days later
Tyler, along with the family dogs
was driving westwards towards
Edmonton for his first day on
September 8th.
It was a somewhat nerve-wracking
start to a new career although
stress is nothing new to this world-
class athlete and top-ranked
Canadian coach.
Tyler left his job as Sports
Marketing Manager for running at
Nike Canada to join The Canadian
Athletics Coaching Centre,
something he says was a perfect
career move. “It’s something that
combines the many aspects of my
career to date,” Tyler says.
Tyler is a former track athlete from
Simon Fraser University and
represented Canada in bobsleigh at
the 1988 Olympics. He has also
coached a number of elite athletes
including Canadian 400m record
holder and 2002 Commonwealth
Games medallist Shane Neimi.
The job of Coaching Centre
director is the culmination of all
these involvements in the sport and
an opportunity, says Tyler, to use
his many contacts and experience
to secure a positive future for
athletics.
W
9University of Alberta
Today there are only two to three full time high
performance athletics coaches in Canada, and this,
says Tyler, is another real issue for the sport. “It’s
very difficult to access high performance coaching
services in Canada outside the main centres and if
coaches are the people who drive the sport, then
the Coaching Centre has a critical role to play in its
future success,” he says. “We are unique because
we are focusing on coaching and one sport.”
“Athletics is the one sport that every kid can do. It’s
part of growing up to compete with other kids in
who can run the fastest, throw the furthest, jump the
highest,” he says.
Two staff members will soon be appointed by the
Coaching Centre to co-ordinate the delivery of, and
coach training for, the RJT program. An intern program
for coaching students is also planned.
“The RJT program is a great way to generate interest in
athletics and anything to get kids moving is a good
thing,” Tyler says.
The Coaching Centre will also become a national base for
track and field coaches, their athletes and researchers, all
focused on all facets of training and performance
techniques.
Tyler envisages top athletes and their coaches will
eventually be attracted to the Faculty of Physical
Education and Recreation at the U of A for training, study
and the promise of being at the cutting edge of sport
science.
“Its all connected, grassroots programming, high
performance activity, coaching and sport science he says.
“The Coaching Centre will become a unique sports
specific centre for coach development committed to
developing techniques that enable all athletes to
maximize their performances. ”
Dean Mike Mahon says the Centre will have a positive
effect on the delivery and calibre of coaching education
in the Faculty’s degree programs.
The Centre will also become a “virtual” base for coaches,
with access to databases and the latest research. All of
this will be discussed at the National Technical Congress
being hosted by the Coaching Centre later this year at
which 150 people are expected to attend.
Tyler says the Centre’s performance will eventually be
measured by the
• Number of athletics coaches employed fulltime
• The quality of teaching material and number of people
capable of delivering the RJT program
• The reach of the RJT program
• The number of youths competing at athletics events.
• The success of club development
• Attendance at regional events
• Number of medals at international events.
“It’s not just a case of throwing more money at the sport,”
Tyler said. “It’s about getting smart and thinking ahead
and I believe The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre is a
crucial step in the right direction.” �
Kevin Tyler (l) working with promising young athlete, Tyler Christopher
“Athletics is the one sport that every kid can do.”
Kevin Tyler
10University of Alberta
t’s just halfway into March but Tom Hinch just can’t
wait for September. That’s when the Faculty will see
the first intake of high school and transfer students
into its brand new Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation,
Sport and Tourism. “The new degree is designed to be
“more attractive and connect with students more readily,”
Ryan Williams – Healing Organizational PainBy Wanda Vivequin
“My passion is for finding outwhat people do and whyand then helping them byusing that information tomake meaningful changes.”
R
12University of Alberta
In another lifetime University of Alberta Pandas basketball coach Trix Baker
(Master of Arts in Physical Education, 1985) might have become a professional
golfer. She talks passionately about the “other sport” in her life. “I just love
playing golf,” says Trix, a Stettler Alberta native whose Dutch parents settled here after
WW2. “It’s a perfect sport for my personality because I am so competitive and playing
golf is competing against myself,” she adds.
Spare time outside the winter months is spent either with 13-year old son Jordan, or
on the golf course with husband Doug, who has coached basketball teams alongside
Trix for a number of seasons. They made a formidable - often vocal - team over the
years, pacing behind the bench and racing along the sidelines trying to get the most
out of their teams.
Trix is the first to admit her bark is worse than her bite. “I know I have something of
a reputation for being quite hard-nosed and vocal on court but I am actually quite a
caring person at heart,” Trix says. “My main priority has always been to help players
perform to their full potential and sometimes you have to get a little vocal,” she adds.
Trix’s life has been completely consumed by basketball. For well over 25 years – more
than half her life – she has been a regular fixture either on the bench or behind it at
provincial and national levels. “Coaching a team is always a challenge especially in
basketball where there is no goalie and success really depends on the performance of
everyone,” Trix says. When the Pandas won the CIS National Championships in 1999,
Trix says her theories were proven true. “We were the underdogs but we performed
well as a team and won,” she says, referring to the win as a real highlight in her life.
Trix made her first appearance as a Panda player in 1976 and has been coach of the
squad for the last 14 years. She got into coaching partly because she did not want to
teach in the school system, something many of her fellow BPE graduates did.
After completing the course work for her Master’s degree in 1981, Trix spent time
coaching and teaching at Grant MacEwan College. In 1985 she finally submitted her
thesis on coach/athlete compatibility. This study has helped Trix understand her
players better and to get the best performance from her players. “It’s important to
focus on the process and not just the outcome,” she says.
Coaching the Pandas has been a demanding job that often takes Trix away from
Edmonton. To balance her life Trix says there are three things she absolutely cannot
do without: her family, her hot tub/spa pool and sunny days.
Without exception, the Bakers spend time in the hot tub every night they are in
Edmonton to soak away the pressures of their respective jobs. “It’s a perfect way to
unwind at the end of a day and soak away all the stresses,” Trix says.
Although basketball means a lot of travel, Trix says she is basically a homebody and
right now can’t wait for the snow to melt so she can dust off the golf bag and take to
the greens. �
Off Court with Trix BakerBy Wanda Vivequin
Trix BakerBasketballHighlights1976:
Graduated from William EHay High School, Stettler,Alberta
1976-81: University of Alberta Pandasbasketball player (during thistime made three nationalchampionship appearancesand was named All Canadianthree times)
1981-82(86): Basketball coach at GrantMacEwan College, Edmonton
1985:Completed Master of Arts insports psychology
1986-87: Assistant coach with husbandDoug Baker of Mount Royalmen’s basketball team
1987- 91: Coach of University ofLethbridge PronghornsBasketball
1993-99: Assisted Canada’s nationalbasketball team
1991: Appointed head coach ofPandas basketball
1999: Pandas won CIS nationalbasketball championships
I
13University of Alberta
n any given day at a lively little school just
north of Bangkok, Thai children giggle and
squirm as they learn English from their young
Canadian teacher, who in turn is equally hard at work,
mastering the complex intonations of the Thai
language.
“I never imagined I’d be working in Thailand,” says
Kari Mohn, who completed a Bachelor of Physical
Education degree in 2003. She’d specialised in adapted
physical activity and the Play Around the World
practicum experience, working with some of Thailand’s
most needy children, adults and youth, opened her
mind to the possibilities of making a real difference
elsewhere in the world. And it’s here, at the Global
English School – a private Christian school attended by
about 250 Thai and Cambodian children, that the
Sherwood Park native has found her calling. “I fell in
love with Thailand,” she says simply.
“I really didn’t know what to do after I graduated,”
says Kari. “Play around the World opened my eyes. I
wanted to travel. I considered doing an MA or maybe
occupational therapy, but really wasn’t sure what
direction I wanted to take. Play Around the World was
the turning point for me. I wanted to come back.”
That wish turned to reality when Kari was approached
by Joy Ronald. Ronald is a co-founder of the Global
English School, and offered Kari a chance to teach at
the school, which focuses on the teaching of English as
a second language. Kari leapt at the chance and today
teaches her 14 enthusiastic Grade 3 charges English,
Kari and boyfriend, Adam, and some friends decided to spend Christmas
at Phi Phi. As it happened, the popular resort area was one of the worst
hit by the fateful tsunami of December 26, 2004
“We met up with the others to go
for Christmas dinner and discuss
our travel plans for the next
couple of days. We were all
contemplating staying one more
day on the island, but decided
that there was more to see so we
would push on.We caught the
only ferry that left to Krabi at 9
a.m.and made it to the port, with
no mention of anything wrong,
until it was time to get off the
boat.
All of a sudden the Thai workers
started shouting “REO, REO!”and
they had a crazy panicked look
in their eyes - they wanted us to
get off the boat really quickly. I
saw a lot of black smoke coming
from the engine of the boat we
were on and figured the boat was
on fire and they were trying to
get all of us off before it exploded.
Helga and I were pushed off, then
the boat left the dock! Adam,
Joyce and Hilary were still on the
boat. I didn’t know what to do.
We were told to get off the pier
quickly and all of the boats were
beginning to speed away from
the dock.
We then saw off in the horizon a
great wall of white stretching
across the entire ocean. I gawked
at the sight, still trying to make
sense of what just happened.
Then I thought,“if that wave
looks that big that far away, we
may just be in a little trouble and
should probably go somewhere a
little higher than sea level.”
We went in to find Adam and the
others - thank heavens I can
speak a little bit of Thai! We were
taken to the old pier and two
hours later we were all back
together again, safe and sound.
After watching the news and
talking to several victims we
found out we had left Phi Phi
island just 45 minutes before the
tsunami annihilated the place!
We stayed in Krabi town for the
next few days listening to
haunting news reports, victims’
stories, and hearing the sirens.
That sound rang in my head for
days even after we left. We didn’t
witness much damage to
property - just a couple of homes
floating through the canal. We
mostly witnessed the
psychological and physical
damage it wrought on people. It
was dreadful. We didn’t volunteer
because we didn’t even know
where to start. Instead we tried to
get things back to normal and
continued with our vacation. Of
course we were plagued with
guilt, but part of me feels we were
exactly where we were supposed
to be, doing exactly what we
were supposed to be doing.”
Teaching in Tailand… continued from page 13
15University of Alberta
ow do you keep a major sports
facility on top its game? Ask the
Golden Bears Football Alumni
Association! They’re going big with their
Foote Field Buy-a-Seat program, which
aims to raise $1.5 million to bankroll
upgrades and expansions to the three-year
old multi-sport complex.
Donations to the ambitious fundraiser
– $1000 buys a new seat with a plaque
inscription of the donor’s choice - will
fund the installation of new stadium
seating in the main football stands seating
area. But, stresses Rick Henschel, former
Golden Bear football alumnus and one of
the directors of the Golden Bears Football
Alumni Association, “this isn’t just for
football.” Funds will also provide new
and expanded coaches’ meeting, video
review and training rooms, administrative
offices to house The Canadian Athletic
Coaching Centre (the legacy of the 2001
World Championships in Athletics) as well
as an expanded indoor viewing area and
hosting facilities.
It’s an aggressive target, says
Henschel. “We want to achieve our target
within 16 months, so we can go ahead
with the seats and the capital expansion –
and have enough money to fund some
endowments for Foote Field and the
players.”
Henschel says he’s passionate about
the fundraiser because the football
program here underpinned his success at
university and in life. “The program
supported me in a number of ways: I
developed lifelong friends and memories,”
he says. “My success in football and in my
education went hand in hand.
“So much of who we are today
developed at university – and football was
such an integral part of that, that most of
us see this as an opportunity to give
something back to a program which, in
many ways, shaped the men we became.”
Golden Bears Football Alumni
Association president, Tom Richards,
couldn’t agree more. “When you look
back at the events and periods in your life
that really meant something to you, my
university experience was one of those
defining moments in shaping the
individual I have become today,” says the
former Eskimo. “I want to ensure that
future generations of Golden Bear football
players are able to gain a similar
experience,” says Richards. “If I can
organise a group of guys to enrich that
experience, I’m all the happier.”
Bob Kinasewich, the Faculty of
Physical Education and Recreation’s
Director of Development and Alumni
Affairs, says there’s good reason to invest
in this prime facility. “The University of
Alberta has the finest athletic program out
of all the Canadian universities. Eldon
Foote envisioned both the need and
benefit of providing a first-class facility to
enable a top-ranked athletic program to
continue – and to allow high-achieving
student athletes to develop and excel in
their athletic endeavours. We now need to
build on that legacy by providing funds to
upgrade, expand and to ensure future
maintenance and operations at Foote Field
continue.”
Richards says response has been good
and football alumni have been incredibly
supportive. “There’s money in the bank
already!” he says.
This is a long-term initiative and
Henschel says the alumni association is
optimistic. “Ten years ago, our alumni
association was just a couple of guys with
a few ideas. We’re now to the point where
we’re taking in $20,000 to $30,000 in
scholarships for the football program. We
have momentum and we’re using that to
go to the next step.
“When you look at a Penn State or
Ohio State, where the football program
generates upwards of $100 million US per
year, I say here’s where we are, there’s the
target. Maybe we’re a hundred years away
from doing that but if we don’t start today,
we’ll never get there.” �
Ambitious Foote Field buy-a-seat program launches expansion drive
“So much of who we are today developed at university – andfootball was such an integral part of that, that most of us see this as an opportunity to give something back to a program which,
in many ways, shaped the men we became.”Rick Henschel
H
16University of Alberta
Reunion2004Lovely to see you again, my friend!
Reunion 2004 was a
blast! Many of you came
to Pub Night to raise a
glass with the Dean and
friends from yesteryear.
At the Dean’s lunch on
Saturday, we recognized
alumni celebrating their
25 and 50 year
anniversaries with
commemorative gifts.
We hope that many
more of you celebrating
milestone years will
come to Reunion 2005.
We loved seeing you
here and celebrating
your Faculty with you!
Reunion 2005 is from
September 30 to October
2 this year. Come for fun;
come to catch up with
old friends and new!
Gregg Meropoulis (BPE ’74), Tom Richards (AG'88) and Percy Gendall ((BEd '84)
Myrna Empey (BPE ’64) and former Dean Herb McLachlin
Elna Nash (BPE '64)
Ida Thomson (BPE '64), Myrna Empey (BPE ’64)and Audrey Ackroy, professor emerita
Deb Larsen (BPE '79), Cheryl Stewart (BPE '79)and Dean Mike Mahon
Billie Niblock (BPE '54) Joyce Cutts (BPE ’54)
Elna Nash (BPE ’64), Gareth Morgan, Ida Thompson (BPE '64), Marna Claerhout((BPE '64) and Euni Mattson (BPE '62)