2015
Francesca V. Adams
Business Administration - Marketing
Francesca is currently a student expecting to graduate this year from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland through the 2+2 program the Lethbridge College provided.
2015
Colby R. McKee
Communication Arts - Broadcast Journalism
Colby sent in this update last summer: “I completed my school required practicum at CHAT 94.5 FM and MY96 in Medicine Hat in May, and a few short months later, got accepted for a position as a creative writer/producer with the stations. I'm loving life and am extremely grateful that I was able to go to an institution like Lethbridge College.”
2015
Lindsay Michayluik
Criminal Justice – Policing
Lindsay connected with her former instructors in the New Year, who passed on the news that she accepted an offer for the Alberta Sheriffs and was posted at the courthouse in Edmonton in February. Lindsay said she is excited for this new chapter in her life, and is grateful for the difference the college and its instructors made in her life.
2015
Erik H. Mikkelsen
Communication Arts - Broadcast Journalism
Erik was offered a full time position at Global News Lethbridge after completing his practicum with the news organization.
2015
Luke Wahl
Criminal Justice
Luke is one of four young men who is raising money to bike across Canada in June 2016 to raise money for BASIC (Biking Against Slavery in Canada). The money raised will go to a survivor fund to support Canadian organizations working to get victims out of sexual exploitation and into rehabilitation. The group will be leaving Vancouver on June 6 and will arrive in St Johns, NF, approximately 10 weeks and more than 7,000 kilometers later on Aug. 14. Three members will be riding, while one drives the team support vehicle. Throughout the trip the group will hold events to raise awareness and money for this cause. The group can be reached at [email protected].
2014
Kyle Moore
Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism
Kyle is a morning show host at Kool 101.3 in Bonneyville, Alta. He was born and raised in Strathmore and spent a year in Manitoba before being hired at the Bonneyville radio station.
2014
Erica L. Nichols
Office Administration
Erica has worked at a variety of jobs since graduation, including some that weren’t related to her studies. However, in the summer of 2015, she was hired as a receptionist at a doctor’s office in Yorkton, Sask.
2013
Chantal A. Lortie
Practical Nursing
Chantal is currently working as an instructor at Lethbridge College on a casual basis. She also works casually in Alberta as an LPN for Homecare and in British Columbia as a team leader-managing HCA's at homecare and at three long term care facilities. She told the alumni office “my passion is teaching and so this year I've enrolled myself into Vancouver Community College to begin working towards my provincial instructor diploma.”
2013
Katy Lucas
Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism
Katy has been named the director of marketing, communications and public relations at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. She enters in to the position with a wealth of information about the sport of rodeo, having travelled the rodeo trail with her father, four-time Canadian champion tie-down roper Joe Lucas, as an amateur rodeo and team roping jackpot competitor herself and most recently as Miss Rodeo Canada 2015. Katy says she intends to use her knowledge of rodeo, coupled with her education in Communication Arts and experience as a freelance journalist to help the organization grow. The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, with headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta, is the sanctioning body for professional rodeo in Canada. The CPRA sanctions over 50 events annually with a total payout exceeding $5.1 million.
2013
Cory J. Zimmer
Business Administration
Cory sent this update to the alumni office: “I started my own technologies corporation called One Up Technologies Inc. One Up Tech specializes in outside plant construction of telecommunication networks for clients such as Telus, Sasktel etc. I took great pride in participating with the Lethbridge College Business Administration Case competition in my final year 2014. Our team placed second out of thirteen college competing. The competition really gave me a solid foundation of the type of career I wanted to pursue and that was of entrepreneurship. The idea of owning my own business was very appealing to me from that point on. After graduation, I took an internship with a small telecom contracting company where I worked for 6 months and learned the industry. …My goal is to win an entrepreneurship award in 2016 for ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year.’”
2012
Kayla Whissell
Criminal Justice - Policing
Kayla, who had been working as a research assistant for the Blood Tribe Police Service, underwent her DEPOT training and is now a police officer with the Blood Tribe Police Service. When she was a student at Lethbridge College, she was a member of the Street Team – a group of students who visited local high schools to talk about their experiences as students at the college. Kayla has fond memories of her time at the college: “Coming to Lethbridge College has been such a rewarding experience. The hands on experience of my classes has helped me develop, grow and prosper as a police officer. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Lethbridge College."
2011
Blake D. Buye
Engineering Design and Drafting Technology
Blake has worked with Stantec Consulting for almost five years as a CAD designer/technologist in the civil engineering department. After starting at Stantec in May 2011, he worked as a surveyor to sharpen his skills in the industry and later secured a spot in the office helping design and draft engineering drawings using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
2010
Daniel P. Hettler
Business Administration - Management
After graduation, Daniel managed a retail liquor store and now in the process of becoming a paramedic. He says he is looking forward to using the education he received at Lethbridge College to further his career in EMS.”
2010
Mike McKinnon
Communication Arts
Mike is the new press secretary for the Hon. Marlin Schmidt, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education. He had previously worked in radio news in Medicine Hat and in television news in Lethbridge and Regina.
2010
Tansley Struthers
Interior Design Technology
Tansley, a senior design consultant at Superior Cabinets in Saskatoon, has been selected as a 2016 National Kitchens and Baths 30 under 30 recipient. Tansley was selected from hundreds of nominations throughout North America through a rigorous selection process recognizing her as an outstanding professional in the industry under the age of 30. She has been designing custom kitchens since 2010, and quickly become a sales leader at Superior Cabinets, steadily increasing her sales and close ratio every year, while decreasing her warranty numbers to below corporate targets. She was recognized at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas in January.
2009
Dustin Patzer
Business Administration – Accounting
After completing his studies at Lethbridge College, Dustin went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at the University of Lethbridge and a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He is now practicing law in Lethbridge. Dustin shared this update with his instructors: Where does one go when one is done high school when one is nothing more than a glorified headsmasher/jock (see football player) and one has then spent the next four years in minimum wage go nowhere jobs while continuing to headsmash in the beautiful Okanagan? Well, if you are anything like me, your parents grudgingly convince you to go to Lethbridge College's Business program. But, funny thing, after numerous years of dead end jobs and headsmashing, college doesn't seem to be the drag that high school was. In fact, with the amazing teaching staff who genuinely care about your personal success and give you the personal time you need, all of a sudden you’re getting good grades and enjoying school. I can honestly say that my time at Lethbridge College created in me a passion for learning and for academic success.” Dustin adds that despite his additional degrees, he considered the college to be his true alma mater.
2008
Josh Fankhauser
Agriculture – Plant and Soil Science
Josh was featured in an in-depth article in Country Guide, Canada’s oldest farm publication. The article focused on his dedication to data analysis and how the rigorous analysis of numbers from the field helps Lamb Farms achieve its business objective. The article states that Josh’s mission is to see where a precision seeding tool has a fit on their grain, oilseed, pulse and forage farms near Claresholm – but also makes it clear he loves tinkering with broken-down equipment as much as with numbers. Lamb Farms is a fourth-generation, mixed farming operation that includes about 6,500 acres of annual crop land, another 3,500 acres of hay and pastureland, and a 600-head commercial cow-calf herd. Most of their operation, just east of the foothills, is dryland farming, although they have about 1,000 acres of irrigated land mostly dedicated to producing forage crops.
2008
Nick Kuhl
Communication Arts – Print Journalism
After graduating from Lethbridge College, Nick worked at the Leduc Rep for two months, the Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune for almost two years, and the Airdrie City View for another nearly two years. He then started working at the Lethbridge Herald in April 2012. While there, he has covered general assignments, police, courts, city hall and even sports for a few months. He was named city editor on Aug. 1, 2015. Nick told Wider Horizons: “One of my favourite parts about working at a newspaper is the potential to cover something different every single day. I also enjoy the challenges and expectations of collaboratively putting together a daily project that will end up reaching thousands of people.”
2007
Chris Broughton
Business Administration - Management
After graduating from Lethbridge College, Chris attended the University of Lethbridge and earned a Bachelor’s degree in anagement (majoring in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations). Chris then worked for several years with Precon Manufacturing and has been employed with Meridian for two years.
2005
Kelly Waldron
Information Specialist
Kelly was featured in many media stories early this year as she worked to promote the 2016 STARS Lottery in Lethbridge. Kelly was just hours old when she was flown from Lethbridge to Calgary on Dec. 1, 1985, and became the very first STARS patient. Kelly weighed just 2 pounds 13 ounces when she and her twin brother were born at 26 weeks. She spoke at the official launch of the STARS Lottery in Lethbridge and told the Lethbridge Herald that “STARS and I, we were born on the same day.” Kelly credits STARS with letting her graduate from high school in 2003, earn her diploma at the college, travel around the world, work as one of four partners in a bookkeeping firm and get married in October 2014. “None of these things and all the experiences I still haven’t done would have been possible without STARS,” she told the Herald. “I’m very grateful to them.”
2004
Anna M. Olson
Rehabilitation Services
Anna obtained her degree in Disability and Community Rehabilitation from the University of Calgary and then went to El Salvador for 1.5 months to community build and build houses. She has become the vice president of my neighborhood association, is a board member for a non-profit organization and recently became a Rotarian. She has worked in many different roles in the disability sector from direct support worker, team leader and now advocacy coordinator.
2003
Casey Koyczan
Multimedia Production
Casey is an audio-visual artist and he and his collaborator, Davis Heslep, teamed up with Yellowknife composer Carmen Braden at a three-day gathering in Helsinki in February, which aimed to showcase “diverse perspectives on the Arctic nature and people.” An article in Edge Online, the Yukon-based online news source, stated that Koyczan and Heslep were excited about the opportunity to share their own piece of the North with an international audience. The duo gave an audio-visual performance combining songs and spoken-word poetry by Casey, a musician better known on stage as the Bushman, with Heslep’s video projections. The performance was based on concepts of northern aesthetics and anecdotes of living in the north.
2001
Wayne M. Gryde
Engineering Design and Drafting Technology
Wayne wrote into the alumni office with this update: “After working for a couple manufacturing companies as a draftsperson for more than a decade, I spent five years as an applications specialist/tech support for SolidWorks for a reseller in Winnipeg. I then moved on to start my own home-based business, doing drafting on a contract-basis and have been running for more than two years now.”
2000
Tryntje C. Kerkhoff
Agricultural Technology (General)
Tryntje sent this update into the alumni office: “When I left college, I continued working in agriculture and had a family. I work for a farm corporation, Quattro Farms.”
1999
Reginald D. Ellet
Community Services and Therapeutic Recreation (Gerontology)
Reginald’s update to the alumni office stated: “I have a lot of experience working in related health care employment. The college education in Therapeutic Recreation has provided me many opportunities in recreation therapy. I have a great job in my field here in Calgary and my boss, co-workers and residents in the nursing home treat me with kindness, respect and fairness. Thank you Lethbridge College for all that you have given me. “
1998
Christopher W. Hay
Automotives Apprenticeship
In October, the alumni office received this update from Christopher: “I am happy to be back at Lethbridge College as an instructor. This is my second year instructing at the college.”
1997
Carmen Hellawell
Office Administration
Carmen’s instructors at Lethbridge College remember her as someone who shone during her time as a student. She is currently working as executive assistant to the chief of police at the Lethbridge Regional Police Service.
1997
Marianne E. Johnson
Conservation Enforcement
Marianne works for the B.C. government in the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Her focus is crown land disposition across the northern area of the province, with a primary focus on crown land sales to help encourage economic growth and prosperity in communities.
1997
Loralee Sand-Edwards
General Studies
Loralee, a local visual artist, was one of seven southern Albertans to receive the YWCA Lethbridge and District’s Women of Distinction awards for her outstanding contributions to her community.
Loralee was recognized in the “Arts, Culture and Heritage” category at the March 11 ceremony at the Lethbridge Lodge. YWCA Women of Distinction awards are presented annually by YWCA Lethbridge and District to women who have distinguished themselves through their achievement as individuals or as groups, as members of their communities, and as role models for other women. This is the 40th year the awards were handed out.
1995
Paul G. Michna
Communication Arts
Paul checked in with the alumni office with this update: “I've been with the Government of Alberta in communications since 2010. Since October 2015, I've been Assistant Director of Communications with Treasury Board and Finance, but I have worked in other ministries including Health and Energy. Prior to that, I was in Ontario, working in politics on Parliament Hill (2001-2003), in communications with Defence Construction Canada (2005-2006), and I went back to school from 2006-2010 (got a BA and MA in political studies).”
1994
Jeff Rowden
Criminal Justice – Policing
Jeff was named Deputy Chief of the Prince Albert Police Service last fall. According to an article in the Prince Albert Daily Herald, Jeff started working at the Prince Albert Police Service in 1994 in a variety of positions, from uniformed officer to a plain-clothes detective to, most recently, the inspector in charge of the criminal investigation division. The article notes that as a believer of lifelong learning, Jeff has taken a number of courses to receive more training in senior policing management and leadership and recently completed a Master’s degree.
1993
Bernadine (Bernie) Wojtowicz
Nursing
Bernie started working at the Nursing in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) Chair at Lethbridge College on Jan. 1 this year. Bernie completed her Master of Science in Nursing in 2012 through the University of Lethbridge and is currently enrolled in PhD studies with a focus on demography and population health specific to individual with mental illness. Bernie’s practice experience spans a variety of mental health settings, including rehabilitation, acute inpatient, and the community mental health system where she held positions of leadership, management, and education. Most recently, she has taught mental health theory and practice courses, professional seminar, and research methodology in the NESA BN programs at the University of Lethbridge. Raising community awareness and reducing stigma about mental health and illness has been a primary focus of her nursing career. She has worked with Lethbridge Regional Police and Victims Services agencies to provide education to staff and volunteers in hopes to facilitate successful outcomes for mentally ill individuals in the community.
1992
Collin Mooney
Criminal Justice - Policing
Collin was appointed executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in January. Collin has been with CVSA for the past 13 years and has been the Alliance's deputy executive director since 2010. After joining CVSA in 2003 as director of training programs and later as the organization's director of enforcement programs, Collin was later promoted to the position of deputy executive director, where he has served the Alliance for the past six years. Collin has 27 years of experience in the transportation safety industry, all of which have been dedicated to large truck and bus safety. Collin's public safety career began in Canada with the Saskatchewan Highway Transport Patrol working in various locations within the province. He also spent more than a decade as a transport officer with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch of Alberta Transportation (now Alberta Justice and Solicitor General).
1991
Douglas F. Barker
Recreation and Leisure Services
Douglas caught the alumni office up with his life since graduation: “I took a job as an economic development officer for Coteau Hills Rural Development Corporation in Saskatchewan three days after graduating [and worked there] from 1991 to 1998. From 1998 to 2003, I got involved in an agriculture project and worked as marketing manager and then general manager. In 2003, I moved to Edmonton to work as a business development manager for a large industrial coating company, Park Derochie Inc., who I worked for during summer months while attending high school. In 2010, I became a partner with Park Derochie Coatings (Saskatchewan) Inc. and moved to Saskatoon where we purchased an existing coating business. I was the VP/general manager until 2013 when I became president. From 1991 until 2005, I was actively coaching various levels of hockey including coaching my two daughters. I currently spend a lot of time in the winter months traveling and during the summer months hang out on Lake Diefenbaker. I am enjoying my three grandchildren ages three months, 1.5-years-old, and 3-years-old.”
1991
Murray W. Sackmann
Recreation and Leisure Services
Murray sent this alumni office this update: “Since completing my program, I have been employed by the City of Saskatoon, Leisure Services in various capacities for the past 24 years. I also keep active as a national level volleyball official, working at all levels including CIS and CCAA. Go Kodiaks!!!”
1990
Todd J. Sauve
Civil Engineering Technology
Todd has worked directly in civil engineering for more than 12 years before moving into project management and operations management. In addition to hiring many Lethbridge College grads, he served on the college’s civil engineering technology program advisory council.
1989 and 1991
Darcy D. Brown
Renewable Resource Management and Conservation Enforcement
After leaving Lethbridge College, Darcy went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Darcy sent this update to the alumni office: “For the last 20 years, I have volunteered numerous hours and demonstrated leadership in my community, with youth groups, and within my profession. I currently hold or have held various volunteer positions within our Red Deer Ringette (RDR) Association and estimate donating over 1,000 hours to date. I have also volunteered as treasurer for the Red Deer youth fastball program …and previously volunteered over 500 hours with an AISH youth program for disadvantaged children in southern Alberta. …I am happily married to my wife Tannis and have two wonderful girls, Brielle, 12, and Sarah, 10. We are an active family who enjoy the outdoors, hiking, boating and sports such as fastball, volleyball and ringette.”
1983
Laurette LaPlante
Environmental Science Parks Management
Laurette contacted Wider Horizons after reading the winter 2016 issue featuring “polar bear jail warden” Bob Windsor. Both she and her husband, Perry (Fish and Wildlife 1982), attended the college and their son Kade is currently enrolled in the Renewable Resource Management program. Laurette also played volleyball for the Kodiaks while she was a student. She sent in this update: “Perry is now the Alberta Provincial Manager of Ducks Unlimited and just celebrated his 30 year service award. He started in fundraising in 1985 worked his way up. He completed his college then went on to earn a degree from the University of Lethbridge. I am currently the coordinator of events and Western Communities Foundation, the giving arm of Western Financial Group. Not exactly in my field but it is a great job. I worked for over 20 years with the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society marketing Alberta as a hunting destination to U.S. hunters and the knowledge I learned in college was a great help for that.”
1981
Cinda Chavich
Communication Arts
Cinda is an award-winning writer who works as a food columnist and feature writer Y.A.M. Magazine/Page One Publishing and is a successful full-time freelance journalist, author and photographer for newspapers, magazines and online publications around the world. Last year, Cinda published a new book with TouchWood Editions titled The Waste Not, Want Not Cookbook. The book focuses on the work Cinda has been doing lately to educate readers and cooks about the global issue of food waste, and its impact on the environment. She recently spoke on a food waste panel at the national Zero Waste Conference in Vancouver, did several sessions with authors at LitFest, the annual non-fiction literature festival in Edmonton, offered ideas about how to reduce food waste at home on several CBC radio programs (including the new CBC radio food show The Fork), and was interviewed by other journalists writing about food waste in Canada and the U.S. She also wrote about the topic of food waste last spring for Maclean’s magazine. To read more about Cinda’s work, check out her website, tastereport.com.
1981
Rick Dewsbery
Criminal Justice - Policing
Rick currently oversees operations of the Lethbridge Integrated Traffic Unit with the Lethbridge Regional Police Service and is preparing for retirement in the next few years.
1979
Wendy Stander
Recreation Management
Wendy retired from the federal public service after 27 years.
1968
Delma E. Christien
General Secretary
Delma sent in an update to the alumni office last summer, saying she’s had a varied career over the years. She worked in Lethbridge right after graduation and then got married and had a family. They moved to Brooks where she set up a new office, staffed it and “then was very much family oriented.” In the 1980s, she started her optical career working in sales, optical training and owning a business. In 2005, after two months of retirement, she got involved as an office temp a real estate office, which evolved into an invitation to apply for work in a non-profit. “So many changes over the years but loved the college training - education stays with you,” she wrote.
College grads recognized as some of chamber’s Top 40 Under 40
Lethbridge College graduates continue to populate the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce’s list of the Top 40 under 40. Receiving recognition the last four months are:
- Whitney Bullock (Business Administration – Accounting 2007 nad General Studies) and Ashley Walker (Business Administration – Marketing, 2006), the co-owners and creators of Pink Tie Events, a local event décor and management company, were recognized for working to strengthen southern Albertan women in business and reaching outstanding success of their own. They opened their business in January 2011 after realizing an unfulfilled niche in the wedding and special event market. Now in their fifth year, they have been a part of over 1,000 events in the area, offering multiple levels of customized products and services to each one. Six months after opening Pink Tie Events, Whitney and Ashley won first place in the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge. Since then, they have collected many other awards, including being voted "Best of Best" Event Planner by community peers for 2012-15.
- Jordan Schellenberg (Criminal Justice 2009), the president/director of services and co-founder for Youth One, a locally owned and operated organization that offers new, fresh and exciting youth programs, was recognized for his years of work to improve the lives of local youth. Three years ago, Jordan joined Boys and Girls Club as the director of youth programs and founded a centre for you which is now called The MAT. In April of 2014, Jordan, along with three others, formed a grassroots organization dedicated to giving youth a central community of support which would be completely funded by the community. Youth One was started with enough money to last one month. It quickly gained momentum and has thrived since. Youth One provides youth with a multitude of free programs, activities and supports services, all in the hope of building healthier futures for the youth attending.
- Courtenay Shular (Project Management certificate 2006) is the owner and registered massage therapist at Unwind Massage and Spa and was recognized for her entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and dedication to her clients which has seen her company's continued growth. In 2009, Courtenay started Unwind Massage and Spa out of her home, transforming the entire bottom level into a tranquil space for relaxation and healing. She tailors her services to clients' needs and goes above and beyond to ensure her clients’ health and well-being are taken care of. Since starting her business, Courtenay has shown a love of learning all that she can about the human body, and has taken 20 courses focused on techniques to improve and expand her spa business. Still operating out of her home, Courtenay has plans to expand in to a commercial space in West Lethbridge as her business continues to grow.
- Cory Medd (Business Administration 2000, “Rising Star” Distinguished Alumni award 2009) the owner/operator of Lethbridge’s Two Guys and A Pizza Place, was recognized for his entrepreneurial success. In 2002, Cory and a friend opened Two Guys Pizza in a small takeout storefront on 3 Ave. S. Ten years later, with 30 employees, Cory moved the business in to a larger dine-in building on 11 St. S. featuring a dining room. The business now employs more than 65 people. Whether hiring and training, payroll, menu development, promotions and marketing, social media or sometimes even helping in the kitchen or behind the bar, Cory does it all. He has also won numerous other awards both locally and internationally, including twice being named "Canada's Best Pizza Chef" by Canadian Pizza Magazine.
