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WINTER 2021 - University of ...
W IN T ER 2021

UNIVERSIT Y OF ALBERTA
ALUMNI MAGA ZINE

CAN
SCIENCE
MEND A
DAMAGED
SPINE?
Innovative researchers
across the U of A are pushing
beyond the bounds of what
we know. The results will
change lives.
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
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WINTER 2021 - University of ...
W I N T E R 2 0 21
VOLUME 77 NUMBER 2

                                                               feature
                                                                          18
                                                       The Impossible
                                                        Made Possible
                                                   What does it take to
                                           innovate? Four researchers
                                           tell us how they’re tackling
                                              some of the world’s most
                                                     complex problems

                                                    departments
                                                                           3
                                                            Your Letters

                                                                           5
                                                               Notes
                                           What’s new and noteworthy

                                                                          10
                                               Continuing Education
                                        Baby, it’s cold outside. And our
                                        columnist couldn’t be happier

                                                                          12
                                                          Speaking Of
                                                An unlikely friendship
                                           between a writer and one of
                                            the victims of Flight PS752

                                                                          13
                                                               Thesis
                                           Important things happen at
                                             the edge. We explore why

                                                                          33
                                                                Trails
                                                 Where you’ve been and
                                                    where you’re going

                                                                         36
                                                             Class Notes

                                                                          51
                                                           In Memoriam

                                                                         56
                                                              Small Talk

Matthew Stepanic, ’12 BA(Hons),                             ON THE COVER
poet, mentor and Glass Bookshop      Vivian Mushahwar believes her work
co-owner, is a 2020 Alumni Award   could reverse spinal cord injury. It’s the
recipient. Meet more of the          kind of life-changing innovation that
U of A’s finest on page 45.             happens across the U of A. Page 18.
Photo by John Ulan                                Illustration by L.J. Davids

                                                newtrail winter 2021       1
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
} upfront

 Find What’s Meaningful to You
 changing careers can be                 president, share their lessons on
 terrifying but also refreshing.         leadership on page 39.
     About 1 1/2 years ago, I left a         Thankfully, a lot of what I
 career in industrial construction       learned in my first career was
                                         transferable to my new role — not
                                                                                 OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS                      Native Studies
 to become the president of an                                                   Sean Price, ’95 BCom                            Judy Half, ’94 BA(NativeStu)
 advertising technology company.         the technical skills but problem-       Executive Director, Alumni Relations            Nursing
 After two decades in one career, I      solving and my attitude toward          ALUMNI COUNCIL EXECUTIVE
                                                                                                                                 Christine Westerlund, ’95 BScN(Hons),
                                                                                                                                 ’01 MSc
 could tell my interest was waning.      innovation. I’ve found that if you      Alumni Association President                    Pharmacy
 I had been solving the same             have a learning mindset and the         Tyler Hanson, ’00 BSc(MechEng)                  Ali Damani, ’02 BSc(Pharm)
 problems for years and was ready        willingness to collaborate, you can     Past President                                  Public Health
                                                                                 Heather Raymond, ’82 BEd, ’86 Dip(Ed),
 to take on some new ones.               cross over into fields you might not    ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD
                                                                                                                                 Chris Ashdown, ’78 BSc(Spec), ’82 MHSA
     I’m not the only one feeling this   have imagined you could.                                                                Rehabilitation Medicine
                                                                                 Committee Chair: Alumni Awards                  Michele Moon, ’92 BSc(OT), ’05 MSc
 way lately. In the past year, I’ve          I’ve also discovered that as a      Deb Manz, ’95 MBA
                                                                                                                                 Science
 probably had 15 virtual coffee chats    U of A grad, you can access a ton of    Committee Chair: Alumni Career Services         Keri Reid, ’05 BSc
                                                                                 Chris Ashdown, ’78 BSc(Spec), ’82 MHSA
 with people who are re-evaluating       resources to support your learning                                                      MEMBERS AT LARGE
                                                                                 Committee Chair: Future Programming
 their careers.                          beyond graduation. You can tap          Christine Westerlund, ’95 BScN(Hons), ’01 MSc   Ali Assi, ’15 MPH
     Everyone has their own              into mentorship, professional           Committee Co-Chairs: Priority Programs
                                                                                                                                 Marnie Colborne, ’17 BScN(Hons)
                                                                                                                                 Simone Demers-Collins, ’71 BSc(HEc)
 reason for wanting to make a            development grants, On Demand           Diana Ly, ’99 BSc, ’10 MBA
                                                                                                                                 Diana Ly, ’99 BSc, ’10 MBA
                                                                                 Matthew Hebert, ’05 BA
 change — whether it’s boredom,          webinars and events led by experts                                                      Deb Manz, ’95 MBA
                                                                                 Task Force: Indigenous Alumni Connections       Jesse Moore, ’09 BA, ’09 BA(CertTrans)
 burnout or shifting priorities. But     in their fields. (Check some of these   Jessica Vandenberghe, ’00 BSc(ChemEng),         Ashton Rudanec, ’12 BCom, ’16 MBA
 I think one of the big reasons is       out at uab.ca/alumni.) You also         ’03 MSc                                         Pegah Salari, ’08 MBA
                                                                                                                                 Nathan Sunday, ’20 BA(NativeStu),
 that people want to feel they’re        have a community of people behind       Board of Governors Representatives
                                                                                                                                 ’20 Cert(IndgGov/Ptnshp)
                                                                                 Ryan Thompson, ’03 BSc(Hons), ’13 MA
 contributing to a workplace in a        you, some of whom have probably         Ayaz Bhanji, ’91 BSc(Pharm)                     Tricia Waddell, ’96 BA, ’00 JD, ’14 MBA
 meaningful way.                         been through similar experiences        Senate Representatives
                                                                                                                                 Sheetal Mehta Walsh, ’94 BA
                                                                                                                                 Michael Wong, ’01 BCom
     In my case, I realized I had        and would be happy to talk about        Kate Young, ’07 BScN(Hons), ’15 MBA
                                                                                 Rick Dowell, ’03 BSc(MechEng), ’09 MBA
 become a participant in my              them over a virtual coffee.                                                             EX OFFICIO
                                                                                                                                 Honorary President
 career instead of a leader. I liked         I’m not suggesting that you         FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                                                                                 Bill Flanagan
                                                                                 Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
 my old job well enough but had          drop your day job for your passion      Janice McGregor, ’72 BSc(HEc)                   Vice-President, External Relations
 lost enthusiasm. I was much             project. Not all change needs to        Arts
                                                                                                                                 Elan MacDonald
 more excited about the stuff I          be monumental. But if you want          Rachel Persad, ’15 BA(Criminology)              Executive Director, Alumni Relations
                                                                                                                                 Sean Price, ’95 BCom
 did in my spare time — working          to be a leader in your own life, you    Augustana
                                                                                                                                 Dean of Students
                                                                                 Matthew Hebert, ’05 BA
 with small business owners and          have to be invested in what you’re                                                      André Costopoulos
                                                                                 Business
 entrepreneurs. When I started in        doing. Sometimes, that just means       Denise Prefontaine, ’86 BA(RecAdmin), ’95 MBA   Dean of Students Designate
 my current job, I found renewed         reframing your perspective or           Campus Saint-Jean
                                                                                                                                 Mandy Quon, ’06 BA
                                                                                                                                 Graduate Students’ Association
 energy to tackle new problems.          remembering why you cared about         Thomas Pomerleau, ’18 BCom,
                                                                                                                                 Mohd Tahsin Bin Mostafa
                                                                                 ’18 Cert(Leadership)
 The company where I had spent so        something in the first place.           Dentistry                                       Students’ Union
 much of my earlier career deserved          It’s rewarding to know you’re       Brian McPherson, ’78 BSc, ’83 DDS               Christian Fotang
 some new energy, too.                   putting your skills and energy          Education
     Making way for someone new          toward something meaningful.            Dean Wood, ’72 MEd, ’91 PhD
                                                                                 Engineering
 to bring their excitement and           What’s meaningful to you?               Ken Coburn, ’79 BSc(MechEng)
 ideas is important to a healthy                                                 Graduate Studies
 organization, says Martha Piper,                                                Dinu Philip Alex, ’06 MSc
 ’06 LLD (Honorary), former vice-                                                Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
                                                                                 Amy MacKinnon, ’03 BPE
 president of research at the U of A.
                                                                                 Law
 Piper and Indira Samarasekera,                                                  Alexander Yiu, ’03 BA, ’06 LLB
 ’16 DSc (Honorary), former U of A                                               Medicine
                                                                                 Peter Douglas Davey, ’72 BSc(Med), ’74 MD
                                                                                                                                                                           PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN

      Tyler Hanson, ’00 BSc(MechEng)
      president, alumni association

 2   ualberta.ca/newtrail
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
} letters

SPRIN
        G 202
              1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 What do you think about the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            magazine? Let us know by email or
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the old-fashioned way; you’ll find
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Meet the Author                        Descendant Detective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thanks to Ellen Schoeck,               I’ve been researching my
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              the addresses on page 4. Letters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             may be edited for length or clarity.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’72 BA(Hons), ’77 MA, for              family and discovered my
           RSIT Y
                  OF AL
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                         ZINE
                                                                  } upfront
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    referencing the book Meet              aunt, Denise Ages (Gross),
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      best station us or bust out your

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                                                                           s made their                           question:                      asked a                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ery — you’ll
                                                        every subjec                        way into                          What would                                                    OFFICE OF ALUMNI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        addresses

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    the Spring 2021 issue. The             speak English as a first
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      RELATIONS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                on page 4.       find the
                                                                          t — math,                                                              happen if

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                                                       arts, social                     language                 company                                        a
                                                                                                                                                                                           Sean Price, ’95
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Letters may
                                                                       studies —                                             was willing                                                  Executive Director,
                                                                                                                                                                                                             BCom                                       Medicine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        be edited
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  for length
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                                                       played a big                                                          smaller quanti
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Alumni and Donor                                       Davey, ’72 BSc(Med),
                                                                                                       ts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A Nobel Connection
                                                                                                                                                                                         Tracy Salmon,                                Relations
                                                                         role in determ                          well-made                        ties of                                                 ’91
                                                                                                                                                                                        Director, Alumni BA(Hons), ’96 MSc
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Native Studies                         ’74 MD
                                                       what they
                                                                      learned. Each ining                       led to the
                                                                                                                              goods? The
                                                                                                                                                answer
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Programs                                  Judy Half, ’94 BA(NativeSt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               NEW FREQU
                                                      chose a type                        student                           launch                                                     Coleen Graham,                                                                               u)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In respon
                                                                                                                Unbelts, which of her company,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SAME GREATENCY,
                                                                                                                                                                                                           ’88                                       Nursing
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                                                      up with questi bat to study, came                                                                                                                    Partnerships                              Christine Westerlund,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Drives Nobel “Concern for Patien
                                                                                                               small to ensure keeps its production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Starting this TASTE                                                                                                             ts
                                                     find the answe ons and helped to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ’95 BScN(Hons)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’01 MSc                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Prize Winne

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    author of the book is Ella             language — graduated from
                                                                                                                                                                                     ALUMNI COUNCIL                                                                                           ,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              year,
                                                                                                                                   its  emplo                                                                   EXECUTIV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      New Trail                                                                            (page 6 in                     r’s Resear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              the Winte
                                                                           rs. In a classro                   a living wage.                     yees make                                                                    E                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         will                                                                                               r 2020 issue), ch”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Pharmacy
                                                    of 30 kids,                               om                                In
                                                                                                                                                                                    Alumni Association
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             in your mailbobe landing                                                              Scott (Schne
                                                                    would you                                 a second manuf 2018, she opened
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ali Damani, ’02
                                                                                                                                                                                    Tyler Hanson, ’00 President                                                        BSc(Pharm)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            x twice                                                                             ll), ’73 BEd,            Brenda
                                                    studied 24                      believe we                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              annually.                                                                             us about
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            another Nobel wrote to tell
                                                                                                                                                                                                          BSc(MechEng)
                                                                    different                                                     acturing locatio                                                                                                Public Health                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       You’ll
                                                                                                              where                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         get an award- still
                                                                                                                                                                                   Past President
                                                        It was amazin kinds of bats?                                  she could
                                                                                                                                   launch protot n                                 Heather Raymond,                                              Chris Ashdown,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ’78 BSc(Spec),                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        winning                                                               Her brothe                   connection.
                                                                            g to watch                       quickly —                                                            ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD ’82 BEd, ’86 Dip(Ed),                                                             ’82 MHSA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              magazine                                                                                           r Russell
                                                   invested the                            how                            including                   ypes                                                                                       Rehabilitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Medicine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           bursting with                                                             ’15 LLD (Hono             Schnell, ’66
                                                                     students                                when the                   cloth masks                                                                                             Michele Moon,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              alumni accom                                                                                          rary), was             BSc,
                                                   their learnin                   became in                             pandemic                                                Committee Chair:                                                                  ’92 BSc(OT), ’05
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Intergovernm                 a member
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    MSc                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   U of A researc plishments,

                                HEP C
                                                                     g when they                                                        hit.                                    Deb Manz, ’95 Alumni Awards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                of the

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    May’s daughter-in-law, who             the U of A with a bachelor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Science
                                                  the opport                                                    Grads like                                                                        MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ental Panel
                                                                  unity to unleaswere given                                   Theaker-Bro                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 to be proud h and a lot                                                               Change when                     on Climat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Keri Reid, ’05 BSc
                                                                                                            questions                                                          Committee Chair:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             e

                                                                                            FO R
                                                  curiosity.                                                                                     wn ask                        Chris Ashdown, Alumni Career Services                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     of on your                                                             awarded          the   organi
                                                               What is the            h their                            about how                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       doorstep                                                                                         the Nobel           zation was
                                                 an Egypti                       wingspan                   their comm                   to make                                                   ’78 BSc(Spec),
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ’82 MHSA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             MEMBERS AT LARGE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        — just on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 a                                                                                      Peace Prize
                                                                                              of                           unities and                                        Committee Chair:                                               Ali Assi, ’15 MPH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           different
                                                               an fruit bat?                               better place                    the world                                                 Future Programmin                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              schedule.                                                                                                         in 2007.
                                                 the little red                   Why does                                                              a
                                                                                                                                                                             Christine Westerlund,
                                                                                                                                                                                                        ’95 BScN(Hons) g
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Marnie Colborne,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             want to keep            If you
                                                                                                                           and then                                                                                                                                ’17 BScN(Hons)
                                                                   flying fox                              seek answe                   passionately                                                                      , ’01 MSc         Simone Demers-Col                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            more often, in touch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Look to the Treaties
                                                                                                                                                                             Committee Co-Chairs:
                                                off its body?                    drink water                             rs.                                                                                                               Diana Ly, ’99 BSc, lins, ’71 BSc(HEc)
                                                                                                          long history They’re part of a
                                                                  I ran into                                                                                                Diana Ly, ’99 BSc,            Priority Programs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           check us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        online or
                                                seven years                     one studen                                of creativ                                        Matthew
                                                                                                                                                                                                 ’10 MBA                                   Deb Manz, ’95 ’10 MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   subscribe out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    is also my mother, Margaret            of science and was recruited
                                                                 later, and                    t         solving and                    e problem-
                                                                                                                                                                                        Hebert, ’05 BA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesse Moore, ’09
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        our digital             to                                                              “Understand
                                               still remem                     she said she                              inventive                                         Task Force: Indigenous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ashton Rudanec, BA, ’09 BA(CertTrans)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    newsletter                                                                                  ing Treatie
                                                               bered everyt                              the U of A.                   thinking                           Jessica Vandenbergh Alumni Connections                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ualber ta.ca/n             at                                                           Understandi                s Is
                                               Honduran
                                                              white bats.
                                                                                  hing about                           More than                   at                                              e, ’00 BSc(ChemEn                     Pegah Salari, ’08 ’12 BCom, ’16 MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ewtrail.                                                                               ng,” by Patric Essential to
                                                                                                        Roy Berg,                     50 years ago,                      ’03 MSc                                         g),             Nathan Sunday, MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’79 BEd, in                    ia Makok
                                                   The point                                                         ’50 BSc(Ag                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the                        is,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               widespread Winter 2020 issue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ’20
                                                                  of the unit                           the global                 ), changed                           Board of Governors                                              ’20 Cert(AborGo BA(NativeSt u),
                                              just to teach                       wasn’t                             beef indust                                        Ryan Thompson, Representatives                                 Tricia Waddell,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            v/Ptnshp)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              distribution,         deserves
                                                                kids about                             discovered                    ry when he                        Ayaz Bhanji, ’91 ’03 BSc(Hons), ’13 MA                                             ’96                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 where I live

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The Legend of
                                             to create                           bats. It was                                                                                                                                         Sheetal Mehta BA, ’00 JD, ’14 MBA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     especially
                                                          an enviro                                                   that cross-b                                                           BSc(Pharm)                                                   Walsh, ’94 BA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      in Hamilton,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  SPR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ING
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 202

                                                                                                       cattle made                     reeding                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                a long way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       0

                                             students                   nment where                                                                                   Senate Representa                                               Michael Wong,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ont. It would

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Walker (Macleod), ’43 BA,              to work in Ottawa on the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ’01
                                                                                                                       them more                                      Kate Young, ’07 tives                                          Charlotte Wray, BCom                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  to shed light
                                                         could                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            on the embatt go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              We think of

                                            and let their experiment, explor                          and produ                        resilient                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             land disput
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ’16 BA                                                                                                                                                                                              Sandhill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   PayingFen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       UN

                                                                                                                                                                                            BScN(Hons), ’15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            IVE
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        the Six Nation led
                                                                                                                                                                     Rick Dowell, ’03
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among Imperial Oil Resources Limited; CNOOC Oil Sands Canada; Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership; and Suncor Energy Inc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (with the Suncor interest held by Canadian Oil Sands Partnership #1 and Suncor Energy Ventures Partnership, both wholly owned affiliates of Suncor Energy Inc.).                                                ’78 MBA,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Alumni

                                                            learners,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     n, Ont.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Association,

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Syncrude-Jessica Ad-NewTrail.indd 1                                                                                                                            11/14/19 1:22 PM
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’46 BEd. She self-published            Experimental Farm during
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                                                          A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Autumn 2020 After publishing an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Warm Memories from
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                                                                                                                        ear come when                                                                                                                                                                                                   issue, grads
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ’97 BA, ’19 MA
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                                         me think                                                      ask good                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      have
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        written in               May Walker
                                        the Threshmil our alumn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Executive Director,
                                                                                                                   questi                                       Business                                                                                                                                                 In the 1930s,
                                                                               i in ide the
                                                                                                                            ons, wheth                                                                                                                                                                                                                             to share bits             in the                                                    My wife and
                                                                                                                                us. er our
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Alumni and Donor
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                                                                                                                        virbats                                                                                                                                                                                                         women who
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                                                                                                                                                                Denise Prefontaine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I have many
                                                                                                     protecttery
                                                                                                                                                                                        , ’86 BA(RecAdm                                                                                                                 were a few                     were marrie                          about the                                                 memories                           happy
                                        Mentoring culpact                                        tomys                                                                                                      in), ’95 MBA Sean Price, ’95 BCom                                                                                                                                                          artist’s life.
                                                                       Venture
                                                       Service (VMS)iden              tify      a               people around or how
                                                                                                                                                               Campus Saint-Jean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Dean of Students
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     exceptions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Eleanor Silver             and Ella May d were often not allowe                                                               particular
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    of the U of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A. There is
                                                      of A grads,to program.
                                                                                                                                                               Thomas Pomerleau,
                                                                                                from     the hepati                the                                                                                                                                                                                                    Keeping,                   Walker was                      d                                                              incident that                  one
                                       In VMS, U                                                                                         world                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      one. Her story, to work. But there
                                                                                                                                                                                        ’18  BCom,                           André Costopoulos
                                                                                                                      tis C virus                             ’18 Cert(Leader                                                                                                                                           Canadian                     ’23 BSc, ’24                                                                                    wanted to                        I have always

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    this book in 1995 and sadly            the Second World War. Later
                                                                                                                                                                                 ship)
                                                                                                I’m proud                           (page 18).                                                                                                                                                                                     university)                     MSc, (one                                                                                       tell
                                                                                                   es to
                                                                      faculty and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      and the stories
                                       staff who                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     children manyothers. I have told
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dean of Students
                                                     run their                                                 to be part                                    Dentistry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mandy Quon, ’06 Designate                                                                  were brough               and playw                     of the first

                                                                                          at it tak
                                                                   own                         comm                         of an alumn                      Brian McPherson,                                                                                                                                                         t alive in the          right Elsie                    women to                       of                                                                    it to my
                                      receive coachi                      businesses                     unity that                          i                                                                                                  BA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       details this                                         Park Gowan                     teach scienc                                                  times, and
                                                                                   And wh bel Prize.
                                                                                                                                                                                   ’78 BSc, ’83 DDS                                                                                                                                                   1996 book
                                                                                                                       wonders,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     my grandc
                                                          ng and mento                         and turns                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    , ’30 BA, ’82                   e at a                                hildren when I shall tell it to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Graduate Students’                                                                                       story about
                                      from experi                                                             curiosity            seeks                    Education                                                                                                                                                                                              Meet the                               LLD
                                                                              rship                                                                                                                                       Mohd Tahsin Bin Association                                                                 packed up                    Walker: She                 Aunts. The
                                                      enced                                                               into real chang                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    fictionalized (Honorary),                                  I was comin                 they are older.
                                                                                                                                                            Dean Wood, ’72
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   her car and
                                                                                    earn a No
                                          Claire Theak entrepreneurs.
                                                                                                                                                                              MEd, ’91 PhD                                                    Mostafa                                                                                                              wanted to                                                                                            g out of the
                                                                                                                                               e.          Engineering                                                   Students’ Union                                                                              cent. She                  her two young                   meet a famou                  account                             building in                          chemistry
                                     is a VMS alumn er-Brown, ’08 BA,                        Heather Raymo                                                                                                               Christian Fotang                                                                                        stayed with                        sons and                      s Mexican                                                       the winter
                                                                                                                                                          Ken Coburn, ’79                                                                                                                                                                       relatives                        made the                        artist, so                                                      of
                                                                                             term as presid nd finished her                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I slipped
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              and fell, hitting 1969-70, when
                                                                                                                                                                              BSc(MechEng)                                                                                                                                                                along the
                                     Shanghai,            a. While living                                                                                Extension                                                                                                                                                                                                      way, met            trip withou                     she
                                                                                in                                ent of the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                t spending

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    died in 2004; she would be             in her career, she worked
                                                   she saw first-h                          Association                       Alumni                     Vacant                                                                                                                                                                                                                    the artist                              a                       metal edge                      my head on
                                    the deman                          and how                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   and then                                                        of one of                           the
                                                                                                               on May 31.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    headed home.                         I got up, I                 the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               noticed that steps. When
                                                   d for                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     –Ellen Schoeck
                                    clothing create mass-produced                           new presid                       Meet your                  Graduate Studies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            , ’72             BA(Hons),
                                                                                                             ent, Tyler                                 Dinu Philip Alex,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ’77 MA, Edmont            profusely                     I was bleedi
                                                                                                                         Hanson,
                                    workers and d low wages for                            ’00 BSc(M                                                                       ’06 MSc
                                                                                                           echEng), on                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                on                       from a deep                      ng
                                                     low-quality                                                          page 50.
                                                                                                                                                       Kinesiology, Sport,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 forehead.                      cut on my
                                                                                                                                                       Amy MacKinnon, and Recreation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Suddenly,
                                                                      goods                                                                                               ’03 BPE                                                                                                                                   MORE ONLI                                                                                                                    took my lab                a student
                                                                                                                                                                                   Law                                                                                                                                        NE            Find these                                                                                                          coat,                    appeared,
                                                                                                                                                                                   Alexander Yiu,                                                                                                                                                             stories and                                                                       it on my forehe rolled it up and
                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’03 BA, ’06 LLB                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          put
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 more at ualbe                                  waved down ad laceration. He

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    thrilled to know that it was           with a spectrometer on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   rta.ca/new                                    a cab, got                 then
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   trail. told the driver to take             in with me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              and
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Hospital.                     us to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           He took me                    U of
                                Heather Raymo                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 department                   into the emerg A
                                president,     nd, ’82 BEd,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   and got me                       ency
                                           alumni associa   ’86 Dip(Ed)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       treated. By                      registered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                JOHN ULAN

                                                                       , ’95 MEd,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            the                             and
                                                          tion                                          ’02 PhD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              he had alread time I had the stitche

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    being referenced in 2021. My           pieces of downed planes to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               y left, and                     s,
                                2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            again. I did                    I never saw
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               PHOTOS

                                    ualberta.ca/ne
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           my subseq                      not thank
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       him. In
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             BOTTOM

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          uent years
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the recipie                   at the U of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A Readin                                                                                                                                  nt of many                    A, I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Crack the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         g List for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fresh Perspe                                                                                          and genero                     acts of kindne was
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          sity from
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          spine and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     open your
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ctives                                            Fact or Fiction                        strangers.                  staff, studen ss

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    grandmother drove down                 discover what caused the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               mind.                                              Scientist-app ?                                        And                           ts and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         student who I shall not forget
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  you spot      roved tips
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             help                          helped me                 the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            counterfeit                  day in front                     on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         claims.                          of the chemi that winter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           stry buildin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        –Joseph                            g.                                                                                                                                                                                     Kwok, ’71
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              BSc, ’75 MD,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Toronto

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    to Mexico City with her two            crashes. There are many
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    newtrail spring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2021      3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    sons, Jim Walker, ’40 BSc,             fascinating stories of her

                  The Anatomy of Kindness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ’42 BSc(ChemEng), and Wilf             solving mysteries, including
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Walker, ’46 BSc, to meet the           one involving shoe polish on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    famous Mexican muralist,               a parachute and another with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Diego Rivera.                          paint peeled from buildings.
                  Reading the Spring 2021 issue, I realized the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       –Katie Walker, ’80 BA, Edmonton            – Shar Levine, ’74 BA, Vancouver
                  letter “Warm Memories from a Cold Day” was
                  written by a colleague from my orthopedic
                  surgery residency at the U of A — Joseph Kwok,
                  ’71 BSc, ’75 MD. After a trip to Hong Kong in 1977,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Physics: Missing in Action
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In 1947, my family moved from Halifax to Edmonton. I had
                  he brought me a paperback copy of an anatomy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      completed one year at Dalhousie University. On registration
                  textbook — unsolicited on my behalf — that                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        day for the fall 1947 term, I arrived at the registrar’s office,
                  became my go-to text throughout my professional                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   only to be told that I could not enter the U of A because my
                  life and remains a precious classic in my library                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 high school transcript showed only one science — the U of A
                  today. It was an example of thoughtful generosity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                needed two. My father stormed up to confront the registrar to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    no avail. I had to go back to high school and collect a science
                  Joe’s story of receiving kindness from an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    course in physics. I graduated in 1951 with a bachelor of fine
                  anonymous student was reciprocated towards me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    arts degree, which came out in the early computers as B.FArts!
                  Since reading that letter, I have renewed contact                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        –Jocelyn Pritchard, ’51 BA, Vancouver
                  with my old friend and colleague from the U of A.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         –Norgrove Penny, ’71 BSc(Med), ’73 MD, Victoria

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Blast It All
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dan wrote in to share his answer to the Small Talk prompt from the Spring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2021 issue: What was your “aha” moment?
                  MORE ONLINE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       As a second-year petroleum engineering student, a mining
                  Find these stories and more                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       professor asked me why I would drill a hole and not fill it with
                  at ualberta.ca/newtrail.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          explosives. I quickly changed my major to mining engineering
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    and I’ve been blowing up things ever since!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            –Dan Veldhuis, ’89 BSc(MiningEng), Stony Plain, Alta.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       IN MEMORIAM
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       New Trail would like to acknowledge the passing of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Arlene Christie, ’82 BEd, last year. Arlene was a longtime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       contributor to the magazine, regularly submitting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       obituaries for U of A grads. She played an enormous role
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          What Has a Nobel Prize
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       in documenting history and keeping grads informed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ever Done for You?
                  Become a Better Treaty Person                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Having all-star researchers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  about their classmates. We will miss her cheerful
                  Learn how a better understanding of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     on board attracts students                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   handwritten notes.
                  the treaties can benefit us all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        and boosts the economy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      newtrail winter 2021      3
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
UALBERTA .C A /NE W TR AIL

                           Supervising Editors
                           Lisa Cook, Jennifer Pascoe, ’02 BA(Hons), ’18 MA
                           Editor
                           Karen Sherlock
                           Senior Associate Editor
                           Mifi Purvis, ’93 BA
                           Creative Direction & Design
                           Marcey Andrews
                           Staff Writer
                           Lisa Szabo, ’16 BA
                           Editorial Intern
                           Sharsvarnee Kundasawmy
                           Senior Photographer
                           John Ulan
                           Copy Editor/Fact Checker
                           Therese Kehler
                           Proofreader
                           Philip Mail
                           Digital Imaging Specialist
                           David Vasicek
                           Advisory Board
                           Anne Bailey, ’84 BA; Rhonda Kronyk, ’04 BA(Hons),
                           ’07 MA; Sean Price, ’95 BCom; Karen Unland, ’94 BA
                           CONTACT US
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4   ualberta.ca/newtrail
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
notes
                                                     w h at ’ s n e w a n d n o t e w o r t h y

                     Hands-on Learning
                                                         ben strelkov takes part in field school with other students in forestry
                                                         and environmental and conservation sciences. The 50-year tradition has
                                                         shifted from a three-week camp to 10 one‑day field trips, in part to make it
                                                         more accessible and decrease the cost for students. To further reduce barriers,
                     Fifty-year tradition of             private donors and the forest industry have given to a new U of A fund that
                     forestry field school gets a
PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN

                                                         aims to eventually cover all field school fees for forestry students. “Learning
                     makeover, becoming more             in the field is absolutely critical for students, says Ellen Macdonald, professor
                     accessible to students              in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. “There’s just
                                                         nothing that can replace experiencing an ecosystem real-time.” Students learn
                                                         how to measure trees, navigate with a GPS, collect and identify soil and plants,
                                                         and other skills that are in high demand in the industry. –niall mckenna

                                                                                                                    newtrail winter 2021   5
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
} notes

                                                                      development and production

                                                                                                          15
                                                                                                          NUMBERS
                                                                      to take place within the
                                                                      province, says MacIsaac.
                                                                          The venture will spur
 HEALTH                                                               economic investment,

 A Plan to Prevent                                                    predicts Lorne Tyrrell,
                                                                      ’64 BSc, ’68 MD, founder and
 Drug Shortages                                                       director of the Li Ka Shing
                                                                      Institute of Virology at the
 Goal of new partnership is to create a facility
                                                                      U of A. “Creating a new drug
 that can produce critical drugs in Canada                                                                Minutes it takes to deactivate the
                                                                      is complex and expensive,”          SARS-CoV-2 virus on a disposable
                                                                                                          mask at 65 C in proper lab
 a new partnership is poised to help ensure Canadians can             says Tyrrell. “But if successful,   conditions. A U of A team helped
 access the drugs they need rather than being at the mercy of         the payoff can be huge.”            discover this safe way to sterilize
 the global supply chain.                                                 In December, the Alberta        masks for reuse, a boon when
                                                                                                          sterilization equipment is limited.
    The University of Alberta’s Li Ka Shing Applied Virology          government committed
 Institute has partnered with an industry-led Edmonton non-           $55.1 million to support
 profit to create the Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI).       U of A research and facilities
                                                                                                          NUTRITION
 The goal of CCDI is to build a facility in Edmonton to produce       for vaccine development,
 70 million vials a year of small-molecule drugs — such as            including ways to prevent           CHILDREN’S POOR
 propofol, a common anesthetic — which represent the majority         and treat COVID-19.                 DIETS AN ‘INVISIBLE
 of drugs administered in the country.                                    The university has been a       PANDEMIC’
    “Small-molecule drugs are the backbone of the health-             Canadian leader in COVID-19         The COVID-19 pandemic has
 care system,” says Andrew MacIsaac, CEO of Applied                   research, attracting more           underscored the need to
 Pharmaceutical Innovation, the university’s new partner.             than $30 million in federal         address poor diets in Alberta,
 “The facility will have a number of critical drugs on standby,       rapid response funding              says an annual report on
 with the ability to fill supply gaps across Canada if needed.”       and publishing 121 papers           children’s nutrition.
                                                                      within the first year of the            The report card assessed
    The initiative also has the potential to produce drugs
                                                                                                          the nutritional environment
 for clinical trials, allowing the entire cycle of research,          pandemic. –niall mckenna            for young people based on
                                                                                                          40 key indicators, including the
                                                                                                          cost of nutritious food and the
                                                                                                          availability of healthy options in
                                                                                                          recreational facilities.
                                                                                                              The province’s grade fell
                                                                                                          from a C in the past two years
                                                                                                          to a D in 2021, in part because
                                                                                                          of the limits placed on people
                                                                                                          during the pandemic and the
                                                                                                          interruption of school and
                                                                                                          daycare meals, says Kim Raine,
                                                                                                          distinguished professor in the
                                                                                                          U of A School of Public Health
                                                                                                          and primary investigator of the
                                                                                                          2021 Alberta Nutrition Report
                                                                                                          Card on Food Environments for
                                                                                                          Children and Youth.
                                                                                                              Poor diet can contribute
                                                                                                          to chronic diseases such as
                                                                                                          diabetes, heart disease and some
                                                                                                          cancers and is second only to
                                                                                                                                                PHOTO BY RYAN WHITEFIELD, ’10 BA

                                                                                                          tobacco as a risk for premature
                                                                                                          death in Canada, she says, but
                                                                                                          public health policies can do
                                                                                                          much to improve nutrition.
 NEW ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION Engineering professor Rafiq Ahmad, above, and Emanuel Martínez                     “Prevention requires
 Villanueva, a master’s student who came to the U of A by way of Mexico’s Tecnológico de Monterrey,       improving food environments and
 have designed a mobile respirator to protect frontline workers from COVID-19. Called PROPOS, it          ensuring there’s an opportunity
 combines a snorkelling mask with hoses linked to a special battery-powered fan and filter system.        for kids to make healthy choices,”
 The system has not yet been approved for use in medical settings but Ahmad believes it could             she says. “It’s something that
 protect essential workers in industry or schools. “If there is any further pandemic or if there is a     we’re all responsible for.”
 new pandemic,” he says, “we should be ready for that kind of mass production.” –michael brown            –gillian rutherford

 6   ualberta.ca/newtrail
WINTER 2021 - University of ...
INDUSTRY

                                                                                                                                Fly-In, Fly-Out Work
                                                                                                                                Takes a Mental Toll
                                                                                                                                Workers who fly in and out of
                                                                                                                                Alberta’s oilsands have poorer
                                                                                                                                mental health than the general
                                                                                                                                population, a U of A report
                                                                                                                                suggests.
                                                                                                                                    Thousands of workers
                                                                                                                                commute from within the
                                                                                                                                province and across the
                                                                                                                                country, staying in camps to
                                                                                                                                work on nearby projects on
                                                                                                                                rotations of six to 21 days.
                                                                                                                                    In one of the first such
                                                                                                                                studies in Canada, U of A
                                                                                                                                sociologist Sara Dorow’s
                                                                                                                                team worked with the Fort
                                                                                                                                McMurray non-profit Critical
                                                                                                                                Incident Stress Management
                                                                                                                                for Communities to survey
                                                                                                                                72 workers about wellness.
                                                                                                                                    Study participants reported
                                                                                                                                poor general mental health and
                                                                                                                                high incidences of work-related
                                                                                                                                stress and diagnosed long-term
                                                                                                                                health conditions, says Dorow.
                                                                                                                                They also cited relationship
                                                                                                                                strain, loneliness, poor sleep
                                                                                                                                and stress from being away
                                                                                                                                from home for extended
                                                                                                                                periods, including missing
                                                                                                                                significant events.
                                                                                                                                    Participants indicated
                     AN EVOLUTIONARY GEM A 100-million-year-old crab discovered in a piece of amber jewelry is                  avoiding the use of health
                     helping to unlock the evolutionary history of the crustaceans. Found in a market in Tengchong,             resources at the work site
                     China, the two-millimetre-long creature is the most complete crab fossil ever discovered. “There is a      due to fear of layoffs, loss of
                     lot of excitement about crab evolution because evolution has produced crab-like forms many times           reputation and lost wages.
                     independently,” says researcher Javier Luque, ’18 PhD. Comparing other fossils with this ancient cousin        Dorow says she hopes the
                     demonstrates that marine crabs have evolved to live on land and in fresh water more than 12 times          research will raise awareness,
                     since crabs first diversified and started evolving their characteristic body forms. –michael brown         lead to more research and
                                                                                                                                prompt changes in the
                                                                                                                                industry. –geoff mcmaster

                                                                  WORKPLACE

                                               HOW TO KEEP BURNOUT AT BAY                                                       QUOTED

                          Unlike stress, workplace burnout is a persistent feeling of exhaustion that’s accompanied by          “Ageism has been
                          cynicism and a sense of detachment, says Michelle Inness, an assistant dean and associate              described by other
                           professor in the Alberta School of Business. Not only does burnout affect productivity, it
                          can spill into an employee’s personal life and harm their mental health. “What happens to us
                                                                                                                                 scholars as the last
                           at work can help facilitate or undermine our well-being,” she says. Managers can do more             ‘ism’ that is socially
                            than just hope employees are resilient enough to cope. Here are ways to make the work                accepted. It’s subtle
                                             environment more supportive. –sharsvarnee kundasawmy
                                                                                                                                 and insidious in
                                                                                                                                 societies around
                         DON’T MICROMANAGE                  FOSTER FRIENDSHIPS                      TALK ABOUT IT
                      A lack of control over work is       Positive relationships can           Encourage open lines of
                                                                                                                                 the world.”
PHOTO BY LIDA XING

                       stressful. People want to be       help mitigate burnout, while       communication so employees
                      able to make decisions about        toxic talk can fan its flames.    can talk to you about their work.   Sherry Dahlke, associate professor
                      how they prioritize tasks. Give    Address and resolve workplace      Treating employees with dignity     in the Faculty of Nursing, has
                                                                                                                                developed online training for
                        employees a manageable           conflicts promptly and pursue       and showing appreciation for       nursing students about caring
                       workload and trust them to             positive interactions          their work can help create the     for older patients in an effort
                       juggle their responsibilities.           with employees.               trust required for openness.      to reduce age-related bias

                                                                                                                                          newtrail winter 2021   7
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} notes

                                                                                                           ARCHEOLOGY

                                                                                                           RESEARCHER HELPS
                                                                                                           SET PROTOCOLS
                                                                                                           FOR SAMPLING
                                                                                                           ANCIENT DNA
                                                                                                           An international team including
                                                                                                           a U of A bioarcheologist
                                                                                                           has helped develop the first
                                                                                                           guidelines for sampling DNA
                                                                                                           from ancient remains.
                                                                                                               Elizabeth Sawchuk,
                                                                                                           ’08 BA(Hons), ’12 MA, first
                                                                                                           got involved in ancient
                                                                                                           DNA research as part of her
                                                                                                           archeological research in Africa.
                                                                                                           She was dismayed to find there
                                                                                                           were no universal protocols for
                                                                                                           sampling ancient remains.
                                                                                                               After seeing how much
                                                                                                           damage DNA sampling can
                                                                                                           cause, she co-wrote an article
                                                                                                           on the topic in 2018 that was
                                                                                                           cited extensively.
                                                                                                               “Human remains provide a
                                                                                                           unique source of information on
                                                                                                           the past that we can’t access
                                                                                                           through other archeological
                                                                                                           materials,” says Sawchuk, a
                                                                                                           Banting post-doctoral fellow
                                                                                                           in the U of A Department of
                                                                        tear the mothers’ muscles          Anthropology.
 WOMEN’S HEALTH                                                         and ligaments and damage               “More importantly, they are
 Risk of Injury From Forceps                                            the nerves of their pelvic
                                                                        floors, says Schulz.
                                                                                                           people who used to be alive
                                                                                                           and who may have descendants
 Births Much Higher in Canada                                               Such injuries can lead to      today who care a lot about
                                                                                                           them,” she adds.
                                                                        immediate and long-term
 Authors of study into first-time vaginal births                                                               Sawchuk joined researchers
                                                                        complications, including
 note such injuries can have severe consequences                                                           from 31 countries to develop
                                                                        poor healing, infection,           the global guidelines. The team
 canada has a high rate of forceps use during childbirth                chronic pain, sexual               outlined “strong and universally
 and a correspondingly high number of preventable injuries to           dysfunction, bladder or            applicable” best practices,
 mothers, says an international team of experts.                        bowel incontinence and             including engaging with
     Their study calls for a reduction in the number of births by       pelvic organ prolapse, says        relevant stakeholders such as
                                                                                                           descendant communities. The
 forceps in Canada to reduce anal sphincter injuries.                   Schulz, who is a member of
                                                                                                           guidelines were published in the
     The researchers analyzed nearly two million birth                     the Women and Children’s        journal Nature.
 records from Canada, Norway, Sweden and Austria of                              Health Research               The team also wants to
 first-time births or first vaginal birth after C-section.                         Institute and also      ensure data are made available
 About one in four of these births in Canada and                For more on         works with the         to allow re-examination by other
 Norway in 2016 used forceps, the researchers                these and other          pelvic floor         researchers, “so we don’t have
                                                               great U of A                                to destroy more bones than we
 found, but Canadian mothers had a much higher                                        clinic at the Lois
                                                            research stories,                              need to and can avoid sampling
 rate of injury: 24.3 per cent of them compared                                       Hole Hospital        the same individuals and sites,”
                                                              visit folio.ca.
 with 6.2 per cent of Norwegian mothers had third-                                   for Women in          says Sawchuk, the only Canadian
 or fourth-degree tears to the perineum (the area                                  Edmonton.               co-author on the project .
 between the vagina and the anus).                                                  The study’s                The guidelines will be freely
     “We’re not doing well compared to these countries with                 authors recommend              available to curators, geneticists,
 similar social demographics and health-care services,” says            improving education for            archeologists and the public
 Jane Schulz, ’90 BSc(Med), ’92 MD, chair of obstetrics and             clinicians and providing           and have been translated into
                                                                                                           multiple languages to help get
                                                                                                                                                 GETTY IMAGES

 gynecology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, who was             better information to
                                                                                                           the message out.
 Canadian co-principal investigator in the study.                       expectant mothers about all            “I do believe they will have a
     Shaped like a pair of tongs, forceps go around the babies’         the options before birth.          long-lasting, positive impact.”
 heads to help guide them out of the birth canal. But forceps can       –gillian rutherford                –geoff mcmaster

 8   ualberta.ca/newtrail
Structural barriers such as a lack of
                                                                                      diversity among advocates can prevent
                                                                                      Black students from studying STEM and
                                   STUDENTS                                           business and from building sustainable
                                                                                      careers in those fields, says engineering
                                   A New Approach                                     professor and ELITE program director
                                                                                      André McDonald. But it was the “mental
                                   Black students learn tools
                                                                                      barrier” facing Black students that most
                                   to pursue career goals
                                                                                      inspired him to launch the program.
                                   in high school biology class, Imani                    “Someone can always work hard
                                   Murray fell in love with the brain. Next,          and come up with creative strategies to
                                   she set her sights on pursuing her dream           overcome systemic barriers,” he says.
                                   career: becoming a neurosurgeon.                   “But if you, yourself, don’t think you can
                                       As a third-year physiology student,            do it, forget about it.”
                                   she was able to apply her passion and                  So far, 38 high school and undergrad
                                   studies for the first time through a new           students have had paid internships in
                                   work-integrated U of A program: the                science, technology, engineering and         Free Lectures
                                   Experiential Learning in Innovation,               mathematics (STEM) and business fields.      Live & On Demand
                                   Technology, and Entrepreneurship                   During the eight- to 16-week program,
                                   (ELITE) Program for Black Youth.                   students also receive wellness coaching
                                   As an ELITE intern last summer, she                and learn entrepreneurial skills in          Develop leadership skills for an
                                   worked in the U of A’s Neuromuscular               collaboration with Startup Edmonton.         altered present with the Peter
                                   Control & Biomechanics Laboratory,                     Tinashe Muzah, a third-year finance      Lougheed Leadership College.
                                   helping to develop a wearable sensor to            student in the Alberta School of Business
                                   let people living with multiple sclerosis          who was placed at Sysco Canada, says a
                                   receive treatment remotely.                        highlight has been the connections with      Recorded on September 30, 2021
                                       Murray says she has had few Black
                                   role models as she pursued her dream.
                                                                                      other students and the encouragement
                                                                                      from the ELITE steering council.
                                                                                                                                   IAN CHISHOLM
                                   She has never had a person of colour as                “It’s definitely something I haven’t
                                   a teacher since moving from Jamaica to             had before: mentors who understand the       Recorded on October 14, 2021

                                                                                                                                   DIGIT MURPHY
                                   Edmonton in junior high, and when she              specific nuances of the Black experience
                                   goes to the doctor, the person treating            in a professional sense,” says Muzah, an
                                   her rarely looks like her.                         aspiring lawyer. –kate black, ’16 ba

                                                                                                                                   Recorded on November 25, 2021

                                                                                                                                   LORNE TYRRELL
                                                                                                                                   Watch live on February 3, 2022

                                                                                                                                   JESSE LIPSCOMBE
                                                                                                                                   Watch live on March 3, 2022

                                                                                                                                   PATRICIA MAKOKIS
                                   (From left) ELITE program student Severino Asumu, professor Sedami Gnidehou, student Yanela
                                   Gonzalez Sanchez, professor André McDonald and student Imani Murray
                                                                                                                                   Watch live on April 7, 2022

                                                                                                                                   KRISTIN NEFF
                                   QUOTED
PHOTO BY RYAN WHITEFIELD, ’10 BA

                                   “Just as your thermostat regulates
                                    the temperature in your house, why
                                    can’t there also be sonic regulation?”
                                   Music professor Michael Frishkopf hopes to create a “smart” sound system that uses
                                   machine learning to customize calming sounds for individual patients in intensive
                                   care, based on their heart rate, breathing and other physiological feedback

                                                                                                                                                   newtrail winter 2021   9
} continuing education

 Learning doesn’t end when you accept your degree. We are all lifelong learners, whether we pursue lessons
 in a class or a lecture hall — or these lessons pursue us. Curtis Gillespie, ’85 BA(Spec), reflects on the
 continuing opportunities for education that life throws our way, sometimes when we least expect them.

                                                                                                              added a wool sweater to the one I was
                                                                                                              already wearing. Then I pulled on ski
                                                                                                              pants. Then I slipped my feet into boots.
                                                                                                              Then I donned my Arctic-rated down
                                                                                                              parka. After that, I drew a balaclava over
                                                                                                              my head and added another tuque on
                                                                                                              top of that. Finally, I pulled on my down-
                                                                                                              filled mittens and tightened their straps
                                                                                                              over my forearms. I glanced in the mirror
                                                                                                              and saw what resembled a cross between
                                                                                                              a moon walker and a deep-sea diver.
                                                                                                                  Or little Randy Parker.
                                                                                                                  My arms jutted out at my sides at
                                                                                                              60‑degree angles. The dog was sitting
                                                                                                              by the front door staring at this strange
                                                                                                              creature who had taken 15 minutes to get
                                                                                                              ready for a walk. I waddled towards him
                                                                                                              and he gave me a confused look, unsure
                                                                                                              whether I was about to take him outside
                                                                                                              or smother him in pillowy hugs. Only
                                                                                                              then I realized I had to take off one of my
                                                                                                              gloves to get his leash secured and lock
                                                                                                              the door behind us, a process that took
                                                                                                              another couple of minutes.
                                                                                                                  Outside, the cold hit us like a knife.
                                                                                                              The icy air needled its way to the tips
                                                                                                              of my lungs. It felt good only because
                                                                                                              every other part of my body was cosy
                                                                                                              and warm. We trundled around the
                                                                                                              neighbourhood and returned after only
                                                                                                              15 minutes because the poor dog began
                                                                                                              to hop from foot to foot to avoid contact
                                                                                                              with the frozen turf. We got back inside
                                                                                                              the house and as I began to unlayer, a
                                                                                                              strange sensation overtook me. It was
                                                                                                              like I was being inhabited by a presence
                                                                                                              while remaining totally conscious of it,
                                                                                                              the way alien abductees talk about their

 Let It Snow                                                                                                  experiences.
                                                                                                                  I realized, almost with horror, that
                                                                                                              I kind of like winter. High time, because

O
 IT’S WINTER. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE COLD, AND I’VE FINALLY LEARNED TO LIKE IT                                   there are only two seasons in Edmonton:
                                                                                                              winter and waiting for winter.
                   ne of my favourite seasonal movies is A Christmas Story, in which                              It’s fair to say that I went through a
                                                                                                                                                            ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY SUTHERLAND

                   nine-year-old Ralphie Parker pines for the gift of a Red Ryder BB                          phase — a four-decade phase — where
                   gun. It’s a simple and hilarious movie about 1940s family life in the                      I didn’t really like winter. It was more a
                   white American suburbs, though many scenes were shot in southern                           slow escalation than a sudden dislike.
                   Ontario. One scene that always makes me laugh is when Ralphie’s                            First it was irritation with the end
                   mother swaddles his younger brother, Randy, in so many layers of                           of golf season and November being
 winter clothing that he cannot lower his arms to his sides. On his way to school he                          a blah month. Then it became the
 falls in a snowdrift, can’t get up and has to be righted by Ralphie and his pals.                            post-Christmas “three more months
     Most winters I feel a bit like little Randy Parker.                                                      of this?” blues. Then it was the feeling
     One afternoon last winter during an Edmonton cold snap caused by a polar vortex,                         of being trapped in February, the
 I decided to take the dog for a walk. First, I put on long underwear, then jeans. Then I                     shortest month, which has always felt

 10   ualberta.ca/newtrail
by Curtis Gillespie

                     the longest. At some point, I began to         where I’m using this platform to wax           Scottsdale for three or four months
                     despise March for the way it threw             poetic about winter boots, but here we         every winter to avoid slippery sidewalks
                     us a wintry curveball just as we were          are. I can live with it. I mean, Marcel        and car seats that feel like ice‑cave
                     desperate for spring.                          Proust wrote a 1,300-page book about           benches. I’m supposed to want to have
                         But then about seven or eight years        a cookie. Whereas once I didn’t like           a condo in a gated community and a
                     ago I started playing hockey with some         to walk the dog in the winter, now             golf cart to drive from my garage to the
                     friends at the local outdoor rink. We          I can’t wait to get out and kick my            course. I’m supposed to sit on a patio
                     play on nice evenings once a week. Some        way through snowdrifts. I’ve even              where I can nap in the late afternoon
                     nights it’s simply magical, being able to      started to enjoy shovelling snow,              before awaking to a cocktail and the
                     look up at the stars as you lie flat on your   though I’ll hide this column from my           setting sun over the desert horizon …
                     back after being hacked to the ice by a        wife, otherwise she’ll be quoting me                OK, I’ll stop because that’s actually
                     friend you’ll be spearing in the ribs five     after future massive snow dumps.               starting to sound pretty good.
                     minutes hence.                                 “I thought you said you enjoyed it?!”               But I think all of the above has to do
                         Then my wife began to encourage                 Before Christmas last year I had my       with something broader than feeling
                     me to cross-country ski more often.            second Damascene experience, which             insulated for a change. It’s about feeling
                     We started making trips to Jasper and          while not a religious revelation was           a sense of order to the world, ephemeral
                     Hinton just to cross-country ski. I still      nevertheless powerful. I’m embarrassed         as that might be. I don’t like it when
                     measure the success of any such outing         to admit that it took me nearly three          it’s above freezing in January. That
                     by only one metric, which is whether           decades of marriage to figure it out. My       isn’t what my part of the planet should
                     I fall or not. I’m the only person I           wife likes to keep the bedroom window          feel like. It’s supposed to be cold. We’re
                     know who has broken a cross‑country            open to allow for the passage of fresh         supposed to bundle up. We’re supposed
                     ski pole — twice — through sheer               air. This is logical and healthy, except for   to feel our nasal hairs cracking. We’re
                     clumsiness. As I’ve become less                the fact that she follows this principle       supposed to listen to weather forecasters
                     dangerous to myself and others, I’ve           365 days a year. During last February’s        tell us how little time it will take for
                     begun to enjoy the beauty of nature in         cold snap, when the nightly wind chill         exposed flesh to freeze. That’s winter.
                     winter. The silence of the winter forest       was hitting -50 C, our bedroom window          People cycling in shorts in January
                     holds a hush, a waiting, a husbanding          remained open. There were mornings             is not winter. Although I don’t think
                     of energy. The dark green is intensely         I’d be able to see my breath. Getting          “enjoyment” is the right word to describe
                     beautiful against the white backdrop           undressed and into bed at night had            living and thriving in a cold-weather
                     of the winter.                                 become a kind of game to see how few           environment, it at least seems normal.
                         The tagline for Game of Thrones was        seconds it took me to doff my clothes          And normal feels pretty good these days.
                     “Winter is coming.” Yeah, tell me about        and get between the sheets to avoid                 Maybe it’s about childhood. We all feel
                     it. What’s the big deal? White walkers?        succumbing to frostbite.                       a certain nostalgia and even comfort for
                     Please. I see worse than that every time            In December 2019, I happened to be        the times and emotions of our childhood.
                     I take the dog out. I’m ready and eager        shopping online when I saw an ad for           Mine was all about hot, dry summers
                     for it. There are two specific events that     electric blankets. A light bulb went off,      and cold, snowbound winters. Climate
                     tipped the scales, that forever changed        an electric bulb. I could buy an electric      change has altered that equation such
                     the winter equation from endurance to          blanket! I could put it on our bed! I could    that we now have milder, less snowy
                     enjoyment. I can precisely identify each       be warm at night!                              winters in Edmonton, coupled with
                     event, to the moment.                               As discoveries go, it’s not quite         more humid, stormier summers.
                         I even have the receipts.                  stumbling upon the lost tombs of the                That’s not a climate change trade-
                         The first came two years ago when          pharaohs, but it has changed my life.          off I love. I want the climate to change
                     I bought a pair of serious, big, tall,         Now I switch on the blanket before bed         back. Because there’s nothing wrong
                     pull-on, waterproof, insulated winter          and by the time I slide under the cover        with winter and I don’t know what
                     boots. It probably doesn’t matter              it’s so warm and cosy that I’ll just lie       I had against it for so long. And all it
                     what kind you buy, but mine are a              there, grinning blissfully. Why it took        really took in the end to bring about
                     well-known brand. (I really want to            me decades to realize that there were          the transformation was a good pair of
                     tell you what brand — but blame the            such things as electric blankets I cannot      boots and a cheap electric blanket.
PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN

                     editors, who won’t let me!) You’ll just        explain. But the result is revelatory.
                     have to take my word for it when               Freezing cold bedroom? Bring it on. In
                     I say that they have revolutionized            fact, the colder the better, I say. I’m now    Curtis Gillespie has written five books and earned
                     my relationship with winter.                   armed against it.                              seven National Magazine Awards. His New Trail
                                                                                                                   article “A Hard Walk” won gold for best article of
                         Perhaps it’s the nadir of my writing            I know as I get older, I’m supposed       2018 from CASE, an international post-secondary
                     career that I have come to the stage           to want to retire to Palm Springs or           association.

                                                                                                                                           newtrail winter 2021     11
} speakingof

 Some of our grads are at the centre of experiences others only read about. Their perspectives bring us
 close to the story. Pegah Salari, ‘08 MBA, writes as a friend to passengers on Flight PS752 , which crashed
 in January 2020 with no survivors. Ten members of the U of A community plus family were aboard.                                                   by Pegah Salari

                                                                                                                   I have come to know your sister, too.
                                                                                                               She lives so far away, in Iran. She misses
                                                                                                               you. I try to console her, but my words

 To My Unknown Friend
 I FEEL AS THOUGH I KNOW YOU, BUT THE ATTACK ON FLIGHT PS752
                                                                                                               seem empty. She never asked how I
                                                                                                               know you. It feels as though there is a
                                                                                                               general understanding among all of us
                                                                                                               who miss you. It does not matter if we

I
 HAS ROBBED US OF THE CHANCE OF REAL FRIENDSHIP                                                                knew you before you were killed or not.
                                                                                                               The only thing that matters is that we
         truly wish I had never met you, not this way. It has been rough. You can’t know                       miss you.
         this, but the first mental image I have of you is this: your two hands, clenched                          I have cried for you, Elnaz. I have
         in fists — out of fear perhaps? Your hands, Elnaz, your wedding ring. You were                        shouted your name at rallies to demand
         not there when your husband, Javad, told me about seeing you like this, in a                          justice for you. And in all of this, I
         photograph of you taken after the crash. You see, the first time we met was a                         have made an image of you inside my
         few weeks after you died.                                                                             head. Piecing together little fragments
     I truly wish I had never met you, and that you were still living a happy life                             of memories and thoughts of the
 somewhere in this cold, beautiful city alongside the love of your life, holding your                          friendship we could’ve had.
 baby, perhaps.                                                                                                    It has been two years now, Elnaz. I
     Ever since we met, it is as if I were piecing together fragments of memories of a                         have come to know you and others on
 friendship we never had. Now I have been to your home, I’ve sat next to your orchids,                         that cursed flight. I think about your
 looked into your eyes. I have learned so much about you — without ever actually                               hands, your stolen wedding ring — it still
 meeting you.                                                                                                  hasn’t been returned to Javad. You’d be
     I have been trying to fathom this one-sided friendship I formed with you, but it                          happy to know about all the people who
 hasn’t been easy.                                                                                             have stood by your husband in his fight
     The first time I visited your home, I noticed your sneakers by the door. It was as if                     for justice.
 you’d never left. I saw your note on the wall. “Take your shoes off, please,” you wrote.                          But I wish that we weren’t locked in
 Of course, I obliged. But that note has been sitting on the wall since you left. It was                       this strange friendship. I wish I’d never
 a simple message to the cleaners who were coming one day in your absence. Now it                              come to know you this way, that you
 looks like a message from beyond. Javad has framed that note.                                                 were living a happy life somewhere in
     We met too late, years too late. Do you know how many lunch breaks I took at the                          this city.
 Alberta School of Business, wishing for a friend I could share my school experience                               We might have passed by each other.
 with, someone who really understood what I was going through? Do you know how                                 Who knows? Maybe someday we would
 many days I sat outside the Tory Building, looking at the trees, feeling lost, wishing                        have met at an alumni event or through
 there was someone like you in my program? I did my MBA at the business school                                 a common friend. It didn’t have to be like
 several years before you and Javad started your PhDs there. Somehow in my head,                               this, Elnaz.
 the time difference doesn’t matter. I keep picturing us, sitting together, having lunch.                          For now, your memory stays alive in
     And then I meet you, not only several years too late for a shared lunch, but also so                      the hearts of many, and there hasn’t been
 late that I never got to see you alive. This is the strangest friendship!                                     a moment when I felt our enthusiasm
     Your husband Javad is now one of my good friends. We talk frequently. The                                 ebbing in our fight to find the truth
 pandemic made the world a difficult place. Being there for someone who is going                               about what happened to Flight PS752,
 through a loss has never been so hard. You died on Jan. 8, 2020, along with the rest                          and to hold the responsible parties
 of the passengers on Flight PS752, so many of whom had U of A connections. Two                                accountable.
 months later, the whole world went into quarantine.                                                               But, my unseen friend, I wish I had
     Still, we’re Iranian, and we remembered you on the 40th day after your death,                             never met you.
 then on the 100th day, then at six months and finally a year. Everyone got together
 outside of the Alberta Legislature Building to remember you on Jan. 8, 2021. It was                           Pegah Salari has lived in Edmonton since 2006,
 a cold Edmonton night. Hundreds of little candles burned in your memory — you’d                               when she came to Canada as a student. She is an
                                                                                                               executive leader in wholesale distribution. Pegah
 have liked the candles, Elnaz. Neither the pandemic nor the January weather stopped                           volunteers for the Association of Families of Flight
 people from showing up.                                                                                       PS752 and for the U of A’s Alumni Council. Elnaz
                                                                                                               Nabiyi, ’20 PhD, earned her doctorate from the
     You graduated in June, Elnaz! I watched your graduation online and pictured
                                                                                                                                                                      PHOTO SUPPLIED

                                                                                                               Alberta School of Business posthumously. The
 what it would have been like if you had put on a graduation cap and gown for a photo                          Dear Elnaz Corp., a non-profit organization with
 outside the Jubilee Auditorium. I pictured you throwing your cap in the air. I heard                          the mission to contribute to the educational
                                                                                                               advancement of those in need, created a U of A
 you laugh out loud, celebrating your hard work. All the effort you put into getting                           graduate scholarship to commemorate Elnaz
 admitted to the University of Alberta in the first place, all your sleepless nights.                          and the rest of the victims of Flight PS752.

 12    ualberta.ca/newtrail
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