On January 11th and 12th, put on your BU colours and join us for events and prizes in the new 25-million dollar Healthy Living Centre (HLC).

Activities include Bobcats basketball, facility tours, Kids Carnival and tailgate party. Giveaways include an iPad, University tuition and Bobcat rally towels. Meet radio personalty Tyler Glen from Star-FM. Be a part of raising the Bobcat championship banners in the new gymnasium.

Friday kicks off at 4 pm with the ‘Ten Dollar Tailgate’ followed by exciting Women’s and Men’s Bobcat Basketball. There’s an after-game social, too, featuring The Young Pixels.

On Saturday, tour the new Healthy Living Centre between 3:30 and 5 or wear blue and gold, and receive free admission to that night’s Bobcat games.

“Henry was a sports enthusiast,” says BU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Poff. “During his student days at Brandon University, Henry was a remarkable athlete and passionate supporter. He stayed connected to BU sports through his entire life and recruited top athletes to campus. Our University is a better place because of Henry Champ’s dedication and commitment.”

A native of Hartney, MB, Henry Champ attended BU in 1957 and 1958. He would travel the world through the next five decades; one of the world’s top foreign correspondents reporting from places including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, the Middle East, Vietnam and Washington, DC. Despite his globe-trotting career, Henry never forgot his Wheat City roots, serving BU in many capacities including as member of the Brandon University Foundation. In 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree for his service.

Installed as BU’s sixth Chancellor in November 2008, Henry enjoyed visiting and reminiscing about his own time spent on campus. Thanks to online broadcasting, he rarely missed a Bobcats game and took part in a Bobcat Booster Club meeting days before his passing in September.

Henry had a special interest in recruiting international students to BU – including Bobcat point guard Ilarion Bonhomme, Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2012.

Opened in 1965, the Henry Champ Gymnasium has been home to four Canadian university national championship teams. The storied space is currently being modernized as part of BU’s $24.3-million Healthy Living Centre, with the gym scheduled to be ready in the spring of 2013.

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For more information, please contact:

Glen Kirby, Communications Officer
Brandon University
270-18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
T: (204) 727-9762
kirbyg@brandonu.ca

“The generous gift we have received from the Kiwanis Club of Brandon brings us one step closer to Brandon University’s goal of providing this city with a modern, accessible space for enhanced wellness, recreation and sport,” said Dr. Poff. “This meaningful support from the Kiwanis is reflective of their commitment to both this University and the City of Brandon.”

The Kiwanis recently committed their support to the multi-purpose space located on the second level of the HLC. The multi-purpose space is set to regularly host recreation, fitness and wellness programming, and will be available for booking through the facility once construction is completed.

“The Kiwanis Club of Brandon raises funds in the City of Brandon and donates it all back to the community,” said Vern Gilbertson, President. “Kiwanis recognizes the importance of Brandon University in our City and are pleased to contribute to the Healthy Living Centre. In addition to funding the Healthy Living Centre, we also support Brandon University Mini U. Program. We’ve had a wonderful relationship with Brandon University over the years.”

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For more information, please contact:

Glen Kirby, Communications Officer
Brandon University
270-18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
T: (204) 727-9762
kirbyg@brandonu.ca

“Daryle has a solid reputation for bringing the educational experience to life and continues to find new ways to connect with the students through his innovative approach,” says Dr. Glenn Cockerline, Acting Dean of Education. “I am pleased to see that he is being recognized for his talents and his efforts.”

Over the past 25 years, Daryle has promoted active lifestyles and healthy communities in the Westman area. His belief that laughter and humour are good for the body and soul has put him in demand as a speaker, motivator, and presenter at community, provincial and national health initiatives. Perhaps nowhere is this belief more prevalent than in his classroom.

“I have had the opportunity to have been both a cooperating teacher and student teacher supervisor for many of Daryle’s students. It is through this that I have witnessed first hand the impression he has made on them,” said Daryle’s nominator and fellow educator Bruce Brinkworth. “Daryle leads through his example as a teacher and his guidance to have his students think outside of the box. This hands-on, practical approach to inspire creative thinking has helped to move his students away from the traditional to a more critical and imaginative way of delivering curriculum outcomes.”

During the 25 years Daryle has been with Brandon University he has held various positions including Athletic Director and Recreation Director. Daryle is currently Chair and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education. His early experience included five years as a public school physical education teacher followed by five years as Program Director of Brandon YMCA.

“I am very honoured to be the recipient of the Award for 2012. I have seen and been around so many creative teachers and Physical Educators over the years, some of it must have rubbed off on me,” said Daryle. “No matter what lesson I may be teaching, I believe there is always a better and more interesting way of presenting the information. I am always looking for different ways of creating a learning environment where people (students) feel comfortable, and as often as possible, are encouraged to work together in an atmosphere of anticipation.”

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For more information, please contact:

Vicki Klassen
Associate Vice-President (External)
Brandon University
270-18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
T: (204) 727-9689

Recipients Sheree Blacksmith, currently in her first year of study in the Indigenous Health and Human Services program, and third-year Native Studies and Languages student, Janine Morin-West, were accompanied by their family members and senior administration from Brandon University to honour their achievement in receiving this award.

“It was my pleasure to host this celebration of Sheree and Janine’s student awards. I sincerely enjoyed meeting their families and welcoming our guests from Enbridge to this celebration at Brandon University,” said Dr. Poff. “The student recipients of this award, through their dedication and achievement, will become ambassadors for the program, exemplifying what can be achieved with hard work and commitment to excellence.”

The event marks the beginning of a three-year partnership with Enbridge in support of the Dakota language. Committing a total of $60,000 to Brandon University, Enbridge is the direct funder of the Dakota Language Program in the Native Studies Department, and supports two annual student scholarships valued at $2,500 each.

“Enbridge is proud to partner with Brandon University to support the revitalization of our country’s Aboriginal languages through our commitment to the Dakota Language Program and the Enbridge Dakota Language Awards,” said Jamie Honda-McNeil, Enbridge’s Manager of Aboriginal Affairs. “We’d like to congratulate this year’s award recipients. We hope these awards will enable recipients to foster the preservation of the Dakota language.”

Dr. Bruce Strang, Dean of Arts at Brandon University, was pleased to join the group and celebrate Brandon University’s new Dakota Language Program, as well as the two students’ achievement.

“The Brandon University community warmly appreciates Enbridge’s support for the teaching of the Dakota language,” said Dr. Strang. “We are committed to the preservation of Aboriginal languages, and we are working with elders, the Southern Chiefs, and Manitoba First Nations Educational Resource Centre to train a new generation of Aboriginal learners who can teach languages in an immersion setting in First Nations’ communities. Enbridge’s support enables us to realize this goal.”

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For more information, please contact:

Vicki Klassen
Associate Vice-President (External)
Brandon University
270-18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
T: (204) 727-9689

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

“I am extremely proud of Dr. Marshall for being awarded a 5-year research grant from SSHRC; a major funding agency in Canada,” said Dr. Dean Care, Acting Vice President (Academic & Provost). “Dr. Marshall’s project passed a rigorous and competitive peer review process. Her research study is a culmination of her expertise in the areas of Chinese culture, racism, religion, history, and gender. Brandon University is excited about the positive outcomes that will arise from this research study.”

The central aim of Dr. Marshall’s research is to examine Chinese experiences of racism in Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta villages, towns and small cities. While the focus is on men’s experiences between the 1880s and 1947, Dr. Marshall also wants to consider the later period up to 1960.

“The research program develops out of the principal investigator’s recent pilot project examining the cultural and historical dynamics of sport participation, racist masquerading and entertainment production in two small Saskatchewan towns, and one Manitoba town,” as stated in Dr. Marshall’s grant application. “Building on the experiences and expertise of the principal investigator and co-investigator in Chinese Canadian, Asian-Pacific and prairie studies, and gender and performance theories and methods, the program adopts a Chinese and English ethnohistorical lens to explore previously unexamined Chinese lived experiences in locations beyond Chinatown.”

“I am thrilled and honoured to have received this significant recognition and funding from the federal government to study the relationship among racism, sport participation, and performance. This research will enable us to understand and identify historical and contemporary cultural barriers to Chinese and other newcomers’ integration from Alberta to Ontario,” said Dr. Marshall. “Most significantly, however, the research will provide essential information to school divisions, prairie and northern communities, as well as government agencies who know that welcoming, diverse communities are healthy prosperous communities.”

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