In March 2009, Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College signed a historical Memorandum of Understanding “Connect 20/20” in which the two institutions vowed to work together to provide improved opportunities for collaboration and student transfer of credit. This nursing partnership is a step toward achieving this goal and the culmination of significant work.

In recognizing the increasing demand for transfer of credit from the practical nursing program to the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program and in the spirit of the Connect 20/20 agreement, the Brandon University Department of Nursing conducted an extensive review of the transfer of credit policy for practical nursing graduates who have completed the 15-month enhanced or the 20-month Practical Nursing diploma program through ACC. The result of this review is a significantly increased block-transfer-credit that recognizes the educational and employment background of Practical Nursing graduates.

Dr. Dean Care, Acting Vice-President (Academic & Provost) says he believes this initiative “is another example of a growing collaboration between ACC and BU. It recognizes the abilities and knowledge level of practical nurse graduates as well as the quality of instruction they have received.”

Judy Marvin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing, and one of the BU’s faculty members who has been actively engaged in this initiative says, “This change represents an important step in Brandon University’s efforts to work with stakeholders and partners to meet the needs of the health region.” The new block-transfer-credit will allow LPNs to bridge more easily into the BN program and build on their knowledge base. For the region, this potentially translates into an increased number of Registered Nurses to help fill wide-spread vacancies.

“It is so important for the college and the university to work to the benefit of all of our students,” says Jack Moes, ACC Vice-President, Academic. “Launching this agreement adds to the list of transfers and articulations that we’ve already established with BU. We recognize that this is something that both students and employers are looking for. We are extremely pleased to move this new agreement for Practical Nursing forward.”

Demand for the new LPN-BN program is expected to be high, as LPN’s have been inquiring and searching for an improved transfer credit system for years. This new and exciting opportunity will allow LPN graduates to attend Brandon University for two years and become a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing degree.

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For more information, please contact:

Tracey Collyer
Bachelor of Nursing Student Advisor
Brandon University
270-18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
T: (204) 571-8567

“We used to be a department way back, then became a school in the 1990s. Here it is 15 years later and this is the recognition of achievement and the natural evolution of an academic unit,” Dr. Care said. “For me, it was about setting a higher standard — for research productivity, scholarly work, like publications and presentations, and teaching enhancement approaches.”

To achieve the status of faculty, the former School of Health Studies had to achieve certain criteria, including having “an independent School Council reporting directly to the Senate”, reaching a sizeable number of students and faculty, implementing graduate programs, carrying out noteworthy research, maintaining a worthy performance record, among others.

“Achieving faculty status for Health Studies represents a tremendous accomplishment. It means our faculty have advanced significantly in their pursuit of research and have achieved significant levels of funding,” said Dr. D. Noreen Ek, Chair Psych Nursing Dept, Acting Coordinator Master’s of Psychiatric Nursing. “Additionally, it means we are reaping the benefits of dedicated faculty who have advanced their educational level, from Masters to PhD’s, while maintaining a teaching commitment. All faculty deserve recognition for the part they have played in delivering quality programs that has helped us achieve this status. It’s like we have finally ‘arrived’.”

Another objective of Health Studies was to garner approval of the two main nursing programs by their respective colleges in the province. Dr. Care stated that this acknowledgement is a sign of excellence and indeed, the Faculty of Health Studies at BU has now fulfilled this. External reviewers awarded the psychiatric nursing program five-year approval and the nursing program four-year approval — the maximum for both.

“This development is so important – for our students, the Faculty and the University. It raises the profile of the entire program making the BU Health Studies experience more valuable to the students. The achievement of this benchmark is a testament to the hard work Dr. Care and the faculty devoted to this initiative,” said Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

Some fast facts about Health Studies at Brandon University:

• 1986 — Two post-diploma programs in nursing and psychiatric nursing, under the auspices of the Department of Nursing and Health Studies, are introduced at BU, housed in the Faculty of Science.
• 1995 — BU launches Canada’s first four-year baccalaureate program in psychiatric nursing and the School of Health Studies is created.
• 1998 — The first two years of the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing is offered by distance education, in Winnipeg, in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg.
• 2001 — Funding from the provincial government in the amount of $5 million heralds the arrival of the four-year B.N. at BU.
• 2003 — The new Health Studies Complex opens its doors.
• 2005 — The Winnipeg campus expands its student capacity in the Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing and classes are now held in the Rice Financial Building.
• 2011 — The Master of Psychiatric Nursing is launched, with 13 part-time and full-time students from across the country.

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Honorary Doctorate Recipients

• Annette Thorimbert Osted: A dedicated psychiatric nurse, Mrs. Osted also held the position of Executive Director/Registrar of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) for more than 30 years. Throughout her career, she also devoted time to volunteer, gravitating to organizations that help those afflicted by a mental illness.

• Anton Kuerti: An Officer of the Order of Canada, Mr. Kuerti is acclaimed for his performances of Beethoven’s music and has appeared with many of the world’s top orchestras. With more than 25 discs to his credit, he is also avid chamber musician has collaborated with other remarkable instrumentalists, the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and the Tokyo String Quartet.

Distinguished Teacher Award Recipients

• Dolores Hardy: Born in Rossburn, Manitoba and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Ms. Hardy is a Brandon University alumna. She spent her first year teaching in Alexander, followed by 21 years at King George School in Brandon.

• Brigit Lavallee: Raised in Winnipeg, MB, Brigit graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1994. She taught for 10 years in Roblin, MB and is now teaching History and English in Rossburn Collegiate.

• Sherryl Maglione: Born and raised in Alberta, Miss Maglione is currently working on her MEd at Brandon University, with a focus on indigenizing the high school English Language Arts curriculum. She has been teaching for 15 years, and in the past five, her focus as been senior English Language Arts at the Sioux Valley High School.

Board of Governors Community Service Award Recipient

• Patrick Johanneson: Patrick, who was born and raised in Ste. Rose du Lac, writes science fiction and fantasy, and has been published in On Spec, Tesseracts 14 and Daily Science Fiction. In 1997, he started taking judo lessons. In 2009, he received his shodan (or first degree black belt) and he currently runs the Brandon Judokan club, which practices in the Brandon University gym. Patrick also volunteers at the Evans Theatre.

Brandon University Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award

• Rochelle Rands: Rochelle, who grew up in MacGregor, graduated with a B.Ed. from Brandon University in 1998. She first taught in Portage la Prairie at Yellowquill School. During this time, she completed a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Education and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Education from the University of Manitoba. In 2008, she completed the Masters Program in Special Education at Brandon University and became the Assistant Superintendent/Student Services Coordinator for the Pine Creek School Division. In 2009, she transitioned back to Portage la Prairie, where she is in her third year as the Administrator of Student Services.

Brandon University Alumni Association’s Excellence in Teaching Award

• Dr Wendy McCallum: Dr. McCallum holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from Brandon University and completed a Master of Music at the University of North Dakota. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. As a faculty member at Brandon University, she conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting courses, as well as instrumental music methods. She is well respected for her knowledge and conducting skills and has been invited to conduct numerous junior high and high school, among other honours.

Valedictorians

• Jennifer Shead: Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jennifer moved to Brandon to pursue her studies in Music Education after high school. During her time at Brandon University, she performed as a member of the National Youth Band of Canada (NYB) in 2010, worked as a Student Ambassador for Recruitment & Retention, and served as President of the Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUSMEA). A multi-scholarship winner, she has been accepted into the flute masterclass program at the Orford Arts Centre in Orford, Quebec for the summer of 2012. She hopes to teach instrumental music in the public school system in Manitoba in the fall.

• Kelsey Grindey: With a lifelong desire to teach, Kelsey left her small rural hometown just outside of Winnipeg and enrolled at Brandon University. During summer breaks, she moved back home to work with Aboriginal youth in Winnipeg’s inner city. She is very proud to be First Nations and is looking forward to starting her career as a Senior Years teacher.

• Natasha Vandamme Born and raised near Baldur, Natasha began her studies at Brandon University in 2008 and is now graduating with a Bachelor of Science (4-Year), with a major in Chemistry and a double minor in Mathematics and Zoology. While at BU, she served several terms as a lab assistant in the Chemistry department as well as was an Academic Residence Advisor. In her third year, she received the Chemical Institute of Canada Silver Medal and she is currently working on an NSERC grant with Dr. Lemaire.

All four ceremonies — at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on both June 1 and 2 — can viewed via live streaming at:

http://www.brandonu.ca/convocation/video
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“I remember studying John’s recordings and compositions when I was a student at Eastman a long time ago,” said Gatien. “He’s not as well known as he should be, having chosen to settle in Wisconsin, but he is a truly remarkable musician. Hearing him play is going directly to the source. Getting to hear him live, getting to play his compositions here in Brandon is a remarkable opportunity.”

A student of the late, world-famous jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, Harmon co-founded Matrix, a jazz nonet. With that group, he contributed to five recordings and countless live performances. Since the early 1980s, the pianist has also been focused on music education. He has been the Director of Jazz Studies at his alma mater, Lawrence University. For almost two decades, he was the music director of the Fox Jazzfest.

Nicknamed ‘Wisconsin’s Gentle Poet of Jazz’, Harmon’s work underlines his concern for the environment and his interest in Native American culture. He has received many awards for his musical achievements. These include an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts (Lawrence University); fellowships from the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters and Culver Military Academy (IN); Distinguished Service Awards from both the International Association of Jazz Educators and Wisconsin State Music Association; the Jazziz Award, and many others.

Harmon will join the Brandon University musicians on Wednesday, May 30, at 8 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Admission to this performance is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
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Key topics will include Special Populations; Collaborative Partnerships, Co-Occurring Disorders Success Stories; and Trauma-Informed Care. Dr. Martin Brokenleg will speak on issues related to Aboriginal youth and youth-at-risk, Dr. John Briere will speak on Trauma.

Two full-day post-institute workshops will be offered. Dr. Sheri Fandrey from the Addiction Foundation of Manitoba will provide a workshop on “Street Drugs & Medication Interactions”. Cheryl Matthews and Christine Willette from Klinic Community Health Centre and the Manitoba Trauma Resource Centre will provide a workshop on “Becoming Trauma-Informed: Mind/Body Approaches to Creating Connection”.

Each workshop will be offered twice so that participants will have the opportunity to attend both of them.

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For more information, please contact:

henaultj@brandonu.ca

(204)-772-0377, ext. 221

CO-OCCURING DISORDERS INSTITUTE PROGRAM – SUMMER 2012

“I am very pleased that we have negotiated an agreement that will facilitate Mount Royal University music students who wish to continue with Music degree opportunities at Brandon University. When universities partner for the benefit of students, both institutions benefit,” said Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

“The School of Music is greatly honored to have forged this alliance with Mount Royal University’s Music Diploma Program,” said Dr. Michael Kim, the Dean of the School of Music at Brandon University. “This collaborative venture will be of great and mutual benefit to both our music programs, and we look forward to welcoming the very talented young musicians from this program in the near future.”

This new agreement between Brandon University’s School of Music and Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Communications Studies was preceded by similar transfer agreements between the Calgary-based University and other Albertan universities. This arrangement will be advantageous for Brandon University, Mount Royal University and the students involved.

“With the signing of this articulation agreement, Mount Royal University will be able to provide its Music Diploma students with a remarkable opportunity to complete a four-year degree at Brandon University in a most prestigious Music School,” said Mount Royal University’s President Docherty.
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“The National Youth Band of Canada allows youths aged 16 to 21 to join together for a week of rehearsals and performances that include excellent leadership, challenging repertoire, and meaningful rehearsal,” said Dr. Wendy McCallum, a faculty member in the BU School of Music and the current President of the Canadian Band Association (CBA). “This experience provides opportunities for individuals to extend musical skills, while developing relationships with musicians from across the nation. The National Youth Band is a significant program in the Canadian Band Association’s mandate to represent and support bands and band music across Canada.”

The BU students who auditioned and were chosen for the NYB are second-year alto saxophonist Lauren Dobko, second-year baritone saxophonist Madeline Lowe, first-year tuba player Tyler Lischynski and fourth-year percussionist Melissa Ballard. As well, this year’s Music Director Dr. Colleen Richardson, who is the University of Western Ontario’s Coordinator of Bands, the Wind Ensemble Director and an Assistant Professor, graduated from the BU School of Music in 1987.

In recent past NYB ensembles, there have been numerous BU students involved, including Corah and Suzu Enns, Jennifer Shead, Kena Olson, Julia Howe, Mikaela Oldenkamp, Wendy Stenger, Taryn Jackson, Joelle Nielsen, Sean Pullen, Derek Thorsteinsson as well as soon-to-be-graduates Holly Bryan, Ryan Premack and Chelsey Hiebert. Meanwhile BU School of Music alumnus and current Master of Music (Performance and Literature) candidate, clarinetist Chris Byman spent the 2007 to 2010 sessions with the NYB. He was able to travel to Prince Edward Island, Southern Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, thanks to this ensemble.

“NYB is a fantastic experience for young musicians in Canada. As the CBA holds the program in different cities around the country each year, it gives re-participating musicians (like me) a chance to not only travel the country, but interact with talented peers and world-class conductors,” said Byman. “The fact that Brandon is hosting a portion of NYB this year is exciting as it shows our city is making yet another national footprint in the arts community.”

The National Youth Band will give two concerts — at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. — Thursday, May 10, in the Western Centennial Auditorium. There are still some tickets left for both performances and will be available at the door.
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Between January 1949 and March 1950, several young musicians recorded an album of music composed for an unusual ensemble of trumpet, alto sax, baritone sax, trombone, French horn, tuba, piano, bass and drums. The compositions were strikingly original, blending jazz harmonies and rhythms with classically inspired counterpoint. Several of the player/composers went on to become household names among jazz followers, including Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan and Gil Evans. The album, called The Complete Birth of the Cool, was released in 1957, and the title reflects the consensus that these recordings marked the beginning of the post-bebop trend in jazz that prevailed through the 1950’s, known as the “Cool School”.

In spite of the vast influence of this recording, the ensemble itself, with its marvelous colours and possibilities, was extremely short lived (aside from the recording sessions, they only performed one two-night stand at a club in New York) and rarely duplicated. This tragic neglect has now been rectified by “The Complete Rebirth of the Cool” project.

“Miles Davis’s “Birth of the Cool” recording is one of the classics in the history of jazz music—a marker of a new style and approach to jazz-ensemble playing. Every member of this project, as a musician and educator, has been inspired in some way by Miles and this recording,” said Platz. “This project serves as both a tribute to the music of those legendary recording sessions and as a catalyst for new creative works by members of the ensemble.”

Under the direction of Winnipeg trombonist and composer, Jeff Presslaff, “The Complete Rebirth of the Cool” recreates many of the conditions of that original burst of creativity: A team of probing musical thinkers and the means to compose and perform their new ideas.

The music reflects to a large degree the sensibilities of the original recording, but the goal is emphatically to make new pieces that reflect the musicians’ personal experiences, as well as the changes in the musical landscape over the past 60 years. There is a greater variety of grooves and much influence from modern composition techniques and the music of other cultures.

“In performance, the repertoire of this project will include a few arrangements of music from the original “Birth of the Cool” recording along with compositions written specifically for this project by some of Western Canada’s leading contemporary jazz composers,” Platz said. “It’s an exciting combination of old and new, traditional and contemporary, that I don’t think you get to hear presented all that often in jazz.”

Presslaff has a strong track record of successfully coordinating collaborative composition projects, including the Jazz Composers Ensemble, All Winds, Papa Mambo and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.

This newly formed ensemble will be drawing on the formidable instrumental abilities of both the composers and highly regarded players from the region. Presslaff will be joined by some of the leading lights of Western Canada’s creative jazz community, including the already eminent Dean McNeil on trumpet (Saskatoon) and Ken Gold on baritone sax (Winnipeg), as well as composers Will Bonness (also on piano), Jonathan Stevens, Chuck McClelland and Danielle Baert. Also in the lineup will be Irene Sas on French horn (Winnipeg) and Steve Oberheu on tuba (Winnipeg).

“Personally, the reward of being involved in this project is the chance to make a connection to an important part of the jazz tradition in the context of a contemporary community of modern improviser/composers. For me, music making is about community—expressing and strengthening community,” said Platz.

This concert will take place Saturday, May 5 at 8 p.m., at The Music Studio, 940 Rosser Avenue. Admission is $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults.

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