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Category Archives: Brandon U

Speaker to Discuss U.S.-Mexico Border Immigration Trials and Tribulations

posted February 7, 2012

BRANDON, MB — The Gender & Women’s Studies Program presents the latest speaker in its Frontiers Speakers’ Series. On Thursday, Todd Miller of the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) will give a talk entitled “Policing the U.S.-Mexico Border: The Militarization of U.S. Immigration Enforcement”.

The number of undocumented border crossings from Mexico into the United States has increased exponentially in recent years in response to the growing global economic disparity. In response, the U.S. has increased not only the number of border patrol agents along the lengthy border between the two countries but has militarized this process.

This response to immigration has merged into a war on immigration, drugs and terror, its cumulative force aimed at the migrants who continually cross without authorization. Todd Miller has researched and written about U.S.-Mexico border issues for more than a decade, and he is currently working on a book on immigration and border enforcement. He has worked on both sides of the border for NACLA, Witness for Peace, and BorderLinks.

“This war on migrants happens not only in the borderlands but also along the “virtual border” that follows them wherever they go in the United States and that increasingly extends beyond U.S. shores,” said Dr. Patricia Harms, who has spent some time in 2011 visiting the Migrant Trail.

There will be two presentations, both on Thursday, February 9, in Room 104, Clark Hall. The first, at 12:30 p.m. will be in English, while the 5 p.m. lecture will be in Spanish. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.
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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762

Also posted in Arts | Comments closed

Novell Thomas Named Brandon University Women’s Basketball Coach

posted February 3, 2012

BRANDON, MB – Brandon University Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Novell Thomas as head coach of the Bobcats women’s basketball team.

Thomas brings experience as a basketball player, basketball coach and an industry professional to BU Athletics.

“We’re thrilled that Novell will be the new face of Brandon University’s women’s basketball team,” says Russ Paddock, BU’s acting Athletic Director. “He brings a tremendous blend of basketball knowledge and experience. Novell is extremely well-respected in basketball circles and we think he will do an excellent job.”

Thomas is a former member of the Canadian men’s national basketball team, a former professional basketball player, and a graduate of Simon Fraser University, where he still holds school records for career assists and single-season assists. Thomas has spent the past six years as an Associate Producer for Interactive Entertainment, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts Canada Inc. (EA Sports).

Thomas has coaching experience at various levels, including high school teams, provincial teams, and as an assistant at the CIS level (Canadian Interuniversity Sport).

“I’m tremendously excited for the opportunity. When I got the call this morning I was incredibly nervous, but I couldn’t be more excited,” says Thomas. “I look forward to getting to know the players and getting an understanding of their current mindset moving forward. In terms of coaching, I lean slightly more to the defensive side of things, but I always want my players to focus on execution.”

Thomas will officially begin his coaching duties with the Bobcats on March 23.

For more information visit: www.gobobcats.ca / www.facebook.com/bubobcats / www.twitter.com/bubobcats
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For more information, please contact:

Novell Thomas
(778) 228-1296
novellt@shaw.ca

Russ Paddock
Acting Athletic Director
Brandon University
(204) 761-6730
paddockr@brandonu.ca

Also posted in Athletics | Comments closed

Paleontologist to Speak About the Marine Fossils Found in Manitoba

posted February 1, 2012

BRANDON, MB — The Brandon University Science Seminar Series continues on Friday afternoon. The guest speaker is Assistant Curator of Paleontology at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC), Joseph Hatcher. He will be on hand to give a free talk entitled Marine Vertebrate Fauna of a Xiphactinus Kill Zone from the Gammon Ferruginous Member (Pierre Shale), Manitoba.

“The Pierre Shale is a sedimentary rock formation made up of five smaller members that were deposited at the bottom of a vast inland seaway that covered Manitoba during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 80 million years ago,” Hatcher said. “While dinosaurs such as the meat-eating Albertosaurus and the horned dinosaur Styracosaurus roamed the lowland coastal plains of Alberta, the seaway in Manitoba was occupied by a host a oceanic reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.”

Since 1934, when Charles M. Sternberg excavated the first mosasaur skull in Canada from a section of property on the Manitoba Escarpment, marine fossils have been discovered in abundance. Two years ago, the CFDC located a new site where two large skeletons were discovered — one of a rare 18-foot long prehistoric fish called Xiphactinus and the other a small mosasaur called Clidastes.

“The discovery of these two animals preserved in the same layer, and in direct contact with each other, had not been previously documented in the scientific literature,” said Hatcher. “Furthermore, geological investigations in partnership with the Manitoba Geological Survey confirmed that the skeletons were being excavated from the basal unit of the Pierre Shale, known as the Gammon Ferruginous Member.”

This significant find marked the first known outcrop of the Gammon Ferruginous Member in southern Manitoba, and the fossil record preserved has been reshaping the understanding of life and the environment of the Western Interior Seaway that covered Manitoba 80 million years ago.

The CFDC’s Joseph Hatcher will talk about “Marine Vertebrate Fauna of a Xiphactinus Kill Zone from the Gammon Ferruginous Member (Pierre Shale), Manitoba” at 3 p.m., Friday, February 3, in Room 447, Brodie Building. The public is welcome to attend this Brandon University Science Seminar Series’ presentation.
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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
villeneuvej@brandonu.ca
http://www.brandonu.ca

Also posted in Environmental Science | Comments closed

January Athletes of the Month Announced

posted February 1, 2012

BRANDON, MB – As the Brandon Bobcats prepare to close the doors to the BU Gymnasium, two BU athletes are being recognized for their efforts on the court in January.

AIMEE JOHNSTON is the Pantages on Park Female Athlete of the Month for January. The rookie forward is in the midst of an outstanding first season at Brandon University.

Johnston played in all eight of the Bobcat’s games in January, averaging 10.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while logging 31.4 minutes per game.

On the season, the Vincent Massey grad sits among the conference leaders in a variety of statistical categories. Johnston is in the top 20 in scoring (11.9 points per game), free-throw percentage (.804), and steals (2.3 per game), and she sits fourth in rebounding (8.3 per game), and leads the conference in defensive rebounding (7.1 per game).

DONOVAN GAYLE is wrapping up his career as a Bobcat with a bang. The Scarborough, Ontario product is the Tip Top Tailors Male Athlete of the Month for January.
Gayle started in five of eight Canada West conference games for the Bobcats in January, averaging 10.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game while playing 24.8 minutes per game.

After transferring to Brandon University from the University of Maine at Machias in 2008, Gayle has increased his statistical output while improving his overall game in his four years as a Bobcat.

For more information visit: www.gobobcats.ca / www.facebook.com/bubobcats / www.twitter.com/bubobcats
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For more information, please contact:

Matt Packwood
Sports Administration Assistant
Brandon University
(204) 727-7375
packwoodm@brandonu.ca

Also posted in Athletics | Comments closed

Final Basketball Games to be Played in BU Original Gym

posted January 30, 2012

BRANDON, MB – After 46 years and thousands of basketball games, the final Bobcat basketball games will be played in the original Brandon University Gymnasium this weekend. The Bobcats will host the Lethbridge Pronghorns in the ‘Cats final home games of the 2011-2012 Canada West season, as BU prepares to open the brand new Healthy Living Centre in the fall of 2012.

Opened in 1965, the BU Gymnasium has been the site of incredible basketball games and numerous unforgettable moments. Long-time men’s basketball coach Jerry Hemmings has countless memories from the BU Gym, after leading the Bobcats to 734 wins in his 28 years as head coach, including both a memorable win and a notable loss.

“I remember when we played the University of Manitoba back in 1971 and played to a record low score,” says Hemmings. “We were leading 13-12 before Manitoba won it late in the fourth quarter off a steal. They won that game by a final score of 14-13, but even though it was a loss, that’s a game that always sticks out.”

“I also remember when we hosted the Mid-West Regional Championships for the first time in 1983,” Hemmings adds. “In our first game we were playing Dalhousie, and we were down by eight points. We battled back, then with Earl Roberts hit a last second buzzer-beater to win the game. The gym was so loud it was incredible. It was a great weekend of basketball for Brandon, the southwestern Manitoba region and all of Manitoba.”

Moments like those are just a few of the many that have been created in the BU Gymnasium over the years, and similar memories are shared by those who have worked in the gym for years.

“I remember when the men’s basketball team was playing Manitoba in the late 80’s in the GPAC final”, says Steve Dzubinski, BU’s athletic therapist for the past 35 years. “They beat us Friday night, then we won Saturday, making the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. That Sunday game was phenomenal. The Bobcats prevailed in an incredible game, and the crowd was raucous.”

“Despite the thunderous crowd my infant daughter slept through it. Moments like that will stay with me forever,” adds Dzubinski.”Very few visiting teams like to play here. A crowd of 500 can be deafening. That’s why some people hate this place, while others love it.”

The BU Gymnasium was the home gym of four national championship basketball teams, and was home to BU’s former field hockey, soccer, and badminton teams among others. The gym has also been home to BU’s volleyball teams since rejoining the program in 2005. Both BU’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams have quickly ascended to the national stage and rank among the best in the country.

While the recent successes of Bobcat athletics is commendable, many fans will remember the BU Gymnasium for days gone by and the accomplishments of former athletes and teams.

“It’s so hard to pick just one memory as your favourite because there are so many,” adds Hemmings. “In the late 1980’s, there would be lineups out the door and down the street of people waiting to get into the gym for our games. We’ve been fortunate to have had so many great players and teams over the years and there are a lot of great memories, but like everything it must come to an end.”

This weekend’s games will also be the Bobcats “Shoot for the Cure” fundraiser. On Friday, Jayla Bousquet will shoot free-throws at half-time of the men’s game to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, while Chantel Gaslard will shoot Saturday. Both players are currently collecting pledges leading up to the weekend.

Saturday night’s games will also be Senior’s Night, as the women’s basketball team will say goodbye to graduating player Jayla Bousquet while Kyle Vince and Donovan Gayle will play their final games for the men’s team.

Brandon University’s volleyball teams will be the final Bobcat teams to play in the BU Gymnasium as they wrap up the Canada West regular season against the Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas on February 11 & 12.

For more information visit: www.gobobcats.ca / www.facebook.com/bubobcats / www.twitter.com/bubobcats
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For more information, please contact:

Matt Packwood
Sports Administration Assistant
Brandon University
(204) 727-7375
packwoodm@brandonu.ca

Also posted in Alumni, Athletics | Comments closed

BU Professor Receives Honour in Winnipeg

posted January 26, 2012

BRANDON, MB — During a ceremony earlier this week, Mayor Sam Katz presented a City of Winnipeg Community Service Award to Dr. Alison Marshall, Professor of Religion and Adjunct Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Brandon University. Her leadership in community service was one of the reasons for this prestigious civic award. This recognition underlines Dr. Marshall’s work as a director of the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre (WCCCC), and her Brandon University- and SSHRC-funded input to Chinese Canadian history in the province and Winnipeg more generally.

“Among all of the things that I have done in my academic career, my research and work with the Chinese community has been the most enjoyable and meaningful,” said Dr. Marshall. “I am deeply honoured to have been recognized for this work.”

Dr. Marshall was a co-manager, in conjunction with Dr. Tina Chen of the University of Manitoba, on a project about the history of the Manitoba Chinese community. For this undertaking, which received a Canadian Historical Recognition Project grant (via WCCCC), Drs. Marshall and Chen digitized, archived and catalogued more than 1,200 documentary, audio, and visual files and images, then submitted them to the University of British Columbia Chinese Canadian Stories Web Portal, which is set to open in March 2012. As well, Dr. Marshall contributed to the book entitled Winnipeg Chinatown: Celebrating 100 Years (A Remarkable Achievement 1909-2009).

“My sincere congratulations go out to Dr. Marshall on this award,” Dr. Scott Grills, Vice President (Academic and Provost). “Dr. Marshall’s contributions to the preservation and analysis of Manitoba Chinese history are significant and lasting. I am very pleased that her contributions have been recognized by the City of Winnipeg.”

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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University

270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762

villeneuvej@brandonu.ca
http://www.brandonu.ca

Also posted in Arts | Comments closed

Options for Distributed Medical Education Explored at Brandon University

posted January 26, 2012

BRANDON, MB — From January 19 to 21, a workshop was held on the Brandon University campus as part of the Brandon Medical Education Feasibility Study. This study presents an important opportunity to review and evaluate medical education in Brandon in a comprehensive manner. All options are being considered in the broader context of medical training needs of the province and will encompass undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education components of the medical education curriculum.

The weekend workshop’s main objective was to hear from leaders in the field of distributed medical education.

“The Workshop illustrated what commitment, expertise and vision can do to transform medical education to truly serve the citizens in a province or region,” said Dr. Deborah Poff, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University and the Chair of the Steering Committee.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Paul Worley, Dean of the School of Medicine at Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia). Universities represented included Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, the University of British Columbia, McMaster University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Dalhousie University, the Central Michigan University College of Medicine and Flinders University. Participants also included representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), staff and physicians from the Brandon, Assiniboine and NOR-MAN Regional Health Authorities, representatives from the City of Brandon, the Council on Post-Secondary Education (COPSE), Doctors Manitoba and Manitoba’s Office of Rural and Northern Health.

“The workshop brought many national and international experts on the topic of distributed medical education,” said Dr. Brian Postl, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba and Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee. “The potential to expand educational experiences throughout the Province is clear and with collaboration and engagement, particularly of physicians, it is clear we can do so for the benefit of all Manitobans.”

Workshop participants examined the strengths and challenges of distributed medical education models in Canada and abroad as well as related governance, resource and implementation issues.

“I hope, as Manitobans, we can equally commit to innovative medical education through a partnership between Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, and other stakeholders,” said Dr. Poff.

The Brandon Medical Education Study lead consultants will now compile an analysis of each of the options under review for medical education in Brandon, taking into account the feedback and best practice information shared at this Workshop. The Recommendations Report will be submitted to the Council on Post-Secondary Education no later than March 31, 2012.

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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University

270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762

villeneuvej@brandonu.ca

Posted in Brandon U | Comments closed

Faculty Members Generate Interest in Manitoba Fossils

posted January 25, 2012

BRANDON, MB — Two members of the Brandon University geology department recently had some of their research published in the latest issue of Palaeoworld, a peer-reviewed international journal. This article has renewed worldwide interest in Manitoba fossils.

The paper is entitled “Drilling Predation on Scaphopods and other Molluscs from the Upper Cretaceous of Manitoba, Canada” and was authored by Drs. Rong-Yu Li and Harvey Young. It draws attention to the drilling predation recorded on several groups of molluscs that existed in the southwestern Manitoba part of Cretaceous Interior Seaway about 75 million years ago.

“The fossil evidence of predation, only rarely preserved, can provide a unique window to investigate the direct biotic interactions among once-living organisms. This in turn may allow paleobiologists to better understand the evolutionary arms race between prey and predator,” said Associate Professor Dr. Li, a researcher whose focus is on fossil invertebrates and their paleoecology.

Li and Young examined more than 900 fossil specimens discovered from shale samples found in the Russell area, They discovered that about one-fifth of them have drilling holes made by predators, in scaphopods (“tusk shells”), bivalves, and gastropods.

“While there have been some studies of drilling in bivalves and gastropods, our paper is the first comprehensive study of predatory drilling in scaphopods” added Li.

“What makes the Manitoba fossils unique is that we were also able to identify the specific species of predator that was responsible for the killing based on the exceptional preservation. This is a rare scenario in the study of predation,” commented Dr. Young, a BU professor emeritus and an expert on Cretaceous sedimentology and stratigraphy.

As one of the referees who reviewed the paper put in her comments: “…this is a rather interesting paper because, as the authors pointed out correctly, there have been very few reports of drilling predation in living, let alone fossil scaphopods. So this should be a welcome addition to the literature on drilling predation.”

In fact, immediately following its publication online, the paper attracted countless downloads, showing broad interest in the study.

“I am pleased to see the publication of Drs. Li and Young’s paper in this prestigious international journal. This further demonstrates that many of our faculty members’ research is recognized internationally, and I feel proud of them,” said Dr. Phillip Goernert, the acting Dean of Science.

Li and Young’s research was supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and a grant from the Brandon University Research Committee.
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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
villeneuvej@brandonu.ca

http://www.brandonu.ca

Also posted in Environmental Science | Comments closed

Rural Development Institute’s Call for Papers for Annual Conference

posted January 25, 2012

BRANDON, MB — The annual Conference of Manitoba Planners, slated for February 22 to 24 in Brandon, will endeavour to search for ideas and practices that assist individuals and entire communities to move beyond surviving to thriving. A pre-conference symposium on theory building is also planned to enable the exchange of ideas in preparation for the main conference.

Local professionals invited to submit a proposed paper that addresses the sum of ‘rural + development + planning’, with the underlying theme of thriving communities. This symposium will be held Wednesday, February 22, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants are called to identify critical interfaces and to engage in dialogue, in pursuit of insightful integration and significant synthesis. The symposium will provide an ideal time for reflection on the fundamentals and undercurrents within the conference theme, namely Beyond Surviving: Planning to Thrive.

In a roundtable style, the intention of this pre-conference event is to generate discussions around the rich mosaic of multi-disciplinary theories of planning, in communion with new and emerging theories of rural development. The latter encompasses northern and remote regions as well as the agricultural landscapes. By the end of the symposium, it is hoped that some light will have been shed on leading-edge theory aligned with what might constitute the emerging ‘new normal’ as well as breakthroughs.

As with most critical and creative thinking endeavours with an explicitly applied orientation — be it policy or program or plan development — this symposium seeks to gather a mix of academics, senior civil servants, policy analysts and others, with interests and responsibilities in the broad nexus of ‘rural + development + planning’.

Proposed paper should address at least one of the following:
• Existing theories and modelsof ‘rural + development + planning’ that deal primarily with surviving;
• Current gaps in theoriessuch as emphases beyond simply surviving, that probe realms of thriving;
• Emerging theories and modelsaiming for some breakthroughs, some new paradigms more in line with the times, to inform ‘rural + development + planning’ practices.

Ideally, proposals will engage these themes in a multi-disciplinary and inter-professional way, to fuel a rich dialogue among participants. Post-symposium plans currently call for a monograph of presentations and dialogues that reflect the outcome of a combination of symposium and conference experiences. The monograph will feature applied theory, assessment of strengths and weaknesses in current approaches, illustrative case studies, and a planning to thrive agenda.

Proposals should be submitted, preferably by January 27, 2012, to the attention of:
Wm. (Bill) Ashton, Ph.D., Director – Rural Development Institute, Brandon University, ashtonw@brandonu.ca

See Symposium proposal paper application at: http://www.brandonu.ca/news/2012/01/10/manitoba-2012-planning-conference-beyond-surviving-planning-to-thrive/
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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
villeneuvej@brandonu.ca

http://www.brandonu.ca

Also posted in RDI | Comments closed

Opportunity for Community-at-large to Benefit from Collaborations with BU

posted January 20, 2012

BRANDON, MB — A call for project proposals has been issued for interested community groups and organizations that wish to benefit from the experience of professors and the enthusiasm of students.

The proposed projects must be carried out in collaboration with a faculty member of BU or a student under the supervision of a faculty member. Funding, made possible through support from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI), is available up to a maximum of $3,000 per project.

The Brandon University Community Outreach Service helps facilitate six to eight new projects annually. The partnership projects enable faculty and students to apply their knowledge and expertise while addressing specific needs of communities and organizations. Over the past decade, dozens of Brandon University students developed knowledge and gained valuable hands-on experience in their areas of study for the benefit of communities.

Some recent projects have included:

• Brandon International Women’s Food and Craft Market: Looking Back in Order to Move Forward
Project Partners: Westman Immigrant Services and Dr. Johanna Leseho (Faculty of Education, Brandon University). Funding $3,000.

• Fresh Water Analysis of Killarney Lake and Long River Watershed
Project Partners: Rick Korman (Killarney School) and Dr. Bill Paton (Biology Department, Brandon University). Funding $3,000.

• Limits of Seaweed Growth in Manitoba and a Test of Kelp Utilization as Fertilizer
Project Partners: Michael Goodyear (Churchill Northern Studies Centre) and Dr. Terence McGonigle (Biology Department, Brandon University). Funding $3,000.

The deadline for proposal submissions is February 24, by 3 p.m. For more information on the process or to download an application form, visit the Outreach website page at http://outreach.brandonu.ca/ or send an e-mail message to outreach@brandonu.ca
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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
villeneuvej@brandonu.ca

http://www.brandonu.ca

Also posted in Arts, RDI | Comments closed