techlife: NAIT's 50th Anniversary Issue v6.1

Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth •

Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian

Straub • Guy Turcotte • James Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg

Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy

Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung • Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji Corbin Tomaszeski •

Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor

Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse •

Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James Ahnassay •

Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl McIntyre •

Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung •

Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon Stephani Carter • Don

Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk •

Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen

Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski

James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers •

Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung • Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore •

Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon

Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart

Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen •

Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman

Greg Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn •

Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung • Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin

Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese •

Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan

Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James

techlifev6.1 2012

$4.95

people technology innovation

t e c h l i f e m a g . c a

Celebrate NAIT’s ANNIversAry

JAR I JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

The Journal of Applied Research and Innovati on (JARI) is a new, peer-reviewed, online journal that presents fresh approaches and innovati ve soluti ons to real-world challenges. Launched as part of NAIT’s 50th anniversary, JARI’s vision is to become internati onal in scope and content providing a forum for researchers, administrators and industry partners from diverse sectors to highlight their applied research experiences.

Arti cles, papers and case studies are welcome for peer review. Topics may include technological innovati ons, prototype and product development, proof of concept, testi ng and other data-driven soluti ons, or insight into the direct value of applied research.

Are you or your team addressing the practi cal problems of industry, government or the community in a unique or innovati ve way?Let JARI showcase your process and fi ndings!

INTRODUCING A SHOWCASE FOR IDEAS AND INSPIRATION IN APPLIED RESEARCH

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. David Carpenter, JARI Editorwww.nait.ca/jari

Email: [email protected]

The Future is in your hands.

Develop your skills through Modern Machining

Techniques at the NAIT Sandvik Coromant Centre

for Machinist Technology.

Throughout Sandvik’s �rst 150 years, the combination of developmentand change has been the driving force behind our success. In partnership with NAIT celebrating 50 years the journey into the future continues!

The Future is in your hands.

Develop your skills through Modern Machining

Techniques at the NAIT Sandvik Coromant Centre

for Machinist Technology.

Throughout Sandvik’s �rst 150 years, the combination of developmentand change has been the driving force behind our success. In partnership with NAIT celebrating 50 years the journey into the future continues!

table of contents

on the cover36 CelebrateNAIT’s

Anniversary

technofile17 StatusUpdate

After10issues,werevisitfivestoriesofinnovatorsandtheirprojects.Asitturnsout,youwinsome,youlosesome–butyoualwayslearnalongtheway

techlife > contents

innovate22 FromtheGroundUp

Intheearly1960s,fewknewatechnicianfromatechnologist,evenifindustryneededthemmorethanever.That’swhenNAITarrivedwiththeanswer

27 AFirstTimeforEverythingWhatwasNAIT’sfirstbuilding?Degree?Tweet?Alistof50pointsoforigin

32 TheFuturistsAviewoftheworldoftomorrow,courtesyofourstaffandalumni

34 NAITologyHowwelldoyouknowNAIT?Findoutbytakingourquiz

PeoPle36 Top50Alumni

Findoutwhythesegradsmadethegrade

64 OoksThroughtheAgesWemaynotbebowlingorcanoeinganymore,butovertheyearsourteamshavestillbeenknownbyrivalsto“kicktheirpants”

67 TheMeaningofOokpikNAIT’ssearchforitsmissingmascotturnsupmorethanjustacuteandcuddly

Canadianicon

cUlinait73 TheFineArtofFood

Ahistoryinfivecourses

76 RecipeWhatdoesthesuave,sophisticatedookreachforduringthecocktailhour?ANAITini,ofcourse

dePartments8 Contributors

11 Editor’sNote

12 Feedback

13 Connectionswiththe

President

15 NewsbytesRecentnewsfromtheinstitute

36

82

22

6 techlifemag.ca

62 ContestSignupforthetechlifemag.cae-newsletterandwinalimitededitionT-shirt!

79 5WaystoGetInvolvedWithNAIT

81 AcclaimAward-winninggrads,staffandfriends

82 RewindApieceofNAIThistorycomeshome–thankstoanalumandhisgardenshed

7622

CuisinebyCapraWhyHokansonChefinResidenceMassimoCapratrainscooks,notchefstechlifemag.ca/capra-hokanson-chef-

in-residence.htm

GetYourMotorRunningWanttotour,cruiseortravelatshockingspeeds?Here’showtopicktherightmotorcycletechlifemag.ca/motorcycle-buying-guide.htm

CanadianContentPhotographerHeatherPaulrescuesnationaltreasuresfromthedustbinsoftime(andWinnipeg)techlifemag.ca/photo-restoration.htm

ScanthisQRcodetoconnecttotechlifemag.ca.

Accompanyingsomeofthisissue’sstoriesareQRcodesthatconnectyoutoouronlinecontent.AllyouneedisaQRcodereader;downloadoneforfreefromyoursmartphone’sappstore.Then,useittoscanthecodesfoundthroughoutthemagazine.

TakingittotheStreetsChefNathanMcLaughlin’snewfoodtruckmakesastopatFoodNetwork’sEat Streettechlifemag.ca/the-act-on-eat-street.htm

HockeyHeroesTheundefeated’84-’85OoksentertheAlbertaHockeyHallofFametechlifemag.ca/ooks-hockey-perfect-season.htm

SenseandSustainabilityThreealumniturnatroubledresidentialcornerintoamodelofgreendesignandconstructiontechlifemag.ca/belgravia-green-net-zero.htm

What’s neW at techlifemag.caBetween biannual issues of techlife, we publish stories online. here’s a selection from recent months.

17

v6.1 2012 7

contributors

techlifev6.1 2012

people technology innovationtechlifemag.ca

editor SherriKrastelmanaging and online editorScottMessengerassociate editors KristenVernon,HeatherGrayart directorDerekLueassociate art directorAndreaYurydesignersSandyBrown,DruDavids,TrinaKoscielnuk,JenniferLubrin,SheenaRienercopy editorKathyFrazercirculation managerNicoleRose(Marketing’08)advertising managerLynnRyancontributing writers ElizaBarlow,FionaBensler,RuthJuliebo,FrankLandry,KimMacDonald,CherylMahaffy,NancyMcGuire,LindseyNorris,LisaRicciotti,SandyRobertson,DonTrembathcontributing photographers JohnBook(PhotographicTechnology’87),LeighFrey(PhotographicTechnology’01),JeanetteJanzen(PhotographicTechnology’10),BlaisevanMalsensubscriptionsSendchangesofaddresstocirculation@techlifemag.ca.

Signupforthetechlifemag.cae-newsletterattechlifemag.ca/subscribe.htm.freelance submissionsSendqueriestoeditor@techlifemag.ca.Wedonotacceptunsolicitedmanuscripts.letters to the [email protected] and circulation [email protected]

TechlifemagazineispublishedtwiceayearbyNAITMarketingandCommunications.Onlinefeaturesarepublishedregularlyattechlifemag.ca.OpinionsexpressedarenotnecessarilythoseofNAITortheeditorialteam.

TechlifeisaproudmemberoftheAlbertaMagazinePublishersAssociation,abidingbythenationalmagazineadvertising/editorialguidelines(albertamagazines.com).

PAGE f 45, 50, 55 & 57

Asacommunicationsspecialist,FionaBenslerlovestheopportunitytoworkwithstafffromacrossNAIT.Sheenjoyslearningfromthat–anddefinitelylearnedathingortwofromthefourtop50alumnisheinterviewedforthisissue.Theirpassion,drive,dedicationanddesiretogivebackarevaluabletakeaways.Besideswritingfortechlife,BenslereditsNAIT’sweeklystaffnewsletterandismanagingeditorforA Report on Giving(includedinthisissue),whichhighlightsdonorstotheinstitute.Sheisalsoafrequentcontributortotechlifemag.ca.

PAGE f 22 & 64

JohnBook(PhotographicTechnology’87)isanavidbirdwatcher,fly-fisherand,ofcourse,photographer.“Notverymanyindividualshavetheoptiontoworkeverydayatwhattheyconsidertheirhobby,butIdo,”hesays.Bookhasbeenbusywithhishobbyfor22yearsatNAIT,whereheproducesimagestosupportcurriculumandpromotetheinstitute.Insearchingoutarchivalphotosforseveralstoriesinthisissue,Bookselectedfromover200,000digitalfilesandmorethan60bindersofnegativestohelpcapturetheinstitute’s50-yearhistory.

PAGE f 39

HeatherGraylikesthechallengeanewopportunitybrings.Proofofthiscamerecentlywhenshemovedfromhealth-careeducationadministrationtocommunications.Sheperformedasimilarmove,butintheoppositedirection,30yearsagowhenshetradedhernewspaperwritingandeditingcareerforaneducationinmedicallaboratoryscience.Afewmonthsago,whengiventheopportunitytojoinNAIT’scommunicationsteam,itwasafull-circlemomentshecouldn’tresist.Forher,workingasawriterandeditoronthisissue,whichfocusesoncelebratingNAIT’shistory,reinforcedthenotionthatourpastexperiencesshapeus.

a report on giving managing editorFionaBenslercontributing writerNancyMcGuirecontributing photographerBlaisevanMalsen

PAGE f 73

SincegraduatingfromPhotographicTechnologyin2010,JeanetteJanzenhastravelledtheworldinsearchofcurious,marvellousandunexpectedthingsthatmakeupitscultures.Thinkingshewouldspendherlifeasaphotographeroverseas,shesurprisedeveryone–includingherself–whenshelandedbackatNAIT.Asastudent,herfavouritesubjectmatterwasfoodandbeverages,sohelpingtophotographthisissue’sCuliNAITfeature,inparticulartheNAITini,feltlikecatchingupwithanoldfriendoverdrinks.Butnomatterwhatshe’sshooting,shestilllovestherushshegetsfromoneofherfavouritehobbies:developingblackandwhitefilm.

encana.com

As NAIT celebrates its 50th anniversary, we recognize the institute for helping develop the skilled workforce Canada needs to prosper.

8 techlifemag.ca

encana.com

As NAIT celebrates its 50th anniversary, we recognize the institute for helping develop the skilled workforce Canada needs to prosper.

eDitor’s noteP

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[email protected]

“this institute fulfills oneofthegreatestneedsinoursociety,”saidErnestManningatNAIT’sofficialopeningceremonyinthespringof1963.Thelatepremier’sremarksremainastruetodayastheydidnearlyfivedecadesago,whentechnicaleducationwasundefinedandNAIT’sfutureyettobewritten.

Inthiscommemorativeissueoftechlife,wecelebrateNAIT’sgoldenanniversary,andthemorethan170,000studentsandthousandsofstaffandfacultywhoseliveshavebeenenrichedbytheschool.We’veattemptedtoprovideasnapshotofwhathastranspiredatNAIToverthelastfivedecades,butitisbynomeanscomplete.

Peopleandprogramshavecomeandgone,athleticschampionshipshavebeenwonandlost,andfacilitieshavebeendemolishedandbuilt.WhathasremainedisAlberta’sneed,andthegrowingdemand,fortheuniquebrandofeducationservedupintheclassroomsandlabs,byexperienced,passionatefacultyandstaff.

ThatbecameevidentduringtheprocessofcompilingourTop50Alumnilist(p.36).Frominventorstoinnovators,fromartiststophilanthropists,fromCEOsofthelargestcompaniestoownersofsmallbusinesses,NAITgraduatessolveproblems,createwealthandimproveliveseveryday–notonlyinAlberta,butacrossthecountryandaroundtheworld.

Manyofthe162nominationswereceivedwerefamiliartothe11ofustaskedwithevaluatingthem–afterall,NAIThasproduceditsshareofinterestingpersonalities,manyofwhomwehavecoveredinthepagesoftechlifeanditspredecessorAlumnait.Manynominations,

however,wereforindividualswhohaveavoidedthespotlightbutwhoseaccomplishmentswereasimpressiveasany.Wehonourthemall.

We’realsotakingadvantageofthisopportunityforasecondlookatsomeofthestorieswe’vecoveredinthelastfiveyears(p.17)and,tokeepitinteresting,we’veaskedsomeofourexpertstoweighinonthefutureofseveralfields,includingoilsands,foodproduction,educationandalternativeenergy(p.32)–theirpredictionsmaysurpriseyou.

Wehopeyouenjoyreadingthisspecialissueandwouldlovetohearfromyouaboutthisandpreviousissues.Youcandosoinlessthan10minutesbytakingourreadershipsurvey(p.12).

And,althoughmuchhaschangedsincefirststudentBillRichesarrivedearlyinacabonthatOctobermorningin1962(p.22),somethingsdoremainthesame–ourstudentsareaseager,theOokpikascherishedandManning’sproclamationasrelevantasitwas50yearsago.

Here’stothenext50!

“this institUte fUlfills one of the greatest needs in our society.”

–ERNESTMANNINGPREMIEROFALBERTA,1943-68

v6.1 2012 11

feeDbacK

following each issueoftechlife,wesurveyourreaderstomakesurewearedeliveringwhatyouwanttoread.Weaskwhatcontentyoupreferandhowmuchtimeyouspentreadingthestories.

Wehavelearnedthathalfofyouregularlyreadmostofthemagazine,andthatmorethan80percentspendbetween

here’s what you think about uswe want to hear from you

tell us what you think about the stories you read in the magazine or at techlifemag.ca.

• email: [email protected]

• techlifemag.ca (comment online by logging in through facebook)

• twitter: @nait

• facebook: www.nait.ca/facebook

• mail: sherri Krastel editor, techlife magazine 11762 – 106 st. n.W. edmonton, aB t5g 2r1

Publishedcommentsmaybeeditedforlength,grammarandclarity.

the buildingintheaerialphotoatthetopofPlentyofParking(p.66,V5.2)wasatwo-storeystructureconvertedfromadepartmentstoreintonewdigsfortheentireNAITArchitecturalTechnologyprogramin1977.ItiscurrentlycalledtheEngineeringTechnologiesAnnex.Thefocusofthestory,MBuilding,wasn’teveninthephoto!

Respectfully,BruceBenjaminArchitecturalTechnology’78

one of ourannouncersbroughtyourinterviewwithHolgerPetersen(techlifemag.ca/holger-petersen-talking-music.htm)toourattention.Thanksforagreatarticleaboutagreatman.

KarenHowellWebEditor,CKUA

taKe oUr survey

ScanthisQRcodetotakeourreadershipsurveyorvisit

techlifemag.ca/survey.htm.NeedaQRcodereader?Seep.7.

reader response

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most-read stories

from v5.2

BackingBigOil(p.28):22%

MoveableFeasts(p.52):22%

3Questions:TheLabourShortage(p.15):21%

AskanExpert:BrewthePerfectCupofJoe(p.48):17%

NorthernComposure(p.38):11%

ReadingRoom:Sci-FiMasterpieces(p.13):7%

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10minutesandonehourwithit.Weknowwhichstoriesyoulikebest,andweareworkingtogiveyoumoreofwhatyouwant.

Yourfeedbackisimportanttous.Takeourshortsurveyandhelpusmaketechlifethebesttechnologylifestylemagazineinthecountry.Investlessthan10minutestodayforabettertechlifetomorrow!

We asked about these six stories in our latest readership survey. Below, the percentage of respondents who read the stories in their entirety.

12 techlifemag.ca

connections WitH tHe PresiDent

needsforpolytechniceducationandresearchinAlberta.NAITisrelevantandresponsivetotheprovince,providingoutstandingtechnicaleducation.WhileservingtheneedsofAlberta,NAITisgloballycompetitiveandrecognized.

Toindustry,wepromisetoworkasfullpartnersaswecreateanexceptionalskilledworkforce.

Wepromisestudentsaneducationthatpreparesthemforsuccessinmeaningfulcareersintheirchosenfield,enablingthemtohaveanimmediateimpact.

Tostaff,wepromisetomakeNAIToneofCanada’smostoutstandingplacestowork,focusingonvalueswedefineastheNAITWay.

GlennFeltham,[email protected]

nait at 50!WhatamarvelloustimetoserveaspresidentandCEOofthisoutstandinginstitution.IamamazedbywhatNAIThasachieved,humbledbywhatweareaccomplishingandinspiredbyourplansforthefuture.

Ourremarkablesuccessesduringthepastfivedecadesaretestimonytothededicationandinnovationofformerstaffandstudents.NAIThasconsistentlybuiltonourfoundationasarelevantandresponsivepolytechnic.Wecontinuetodeliverhands-on,technology-basedskillseducationinscience,technologyandtheenvironment,health,tradesandbusiness.Ourmotto–tolearn,todo,tosucceed–isasrelevanttodayasatNAIT’sfounding.WearecentraltoAlberta’sfuture.

Partnershipswithindustry,governmentandotherdonoragencies,togetherwithcontributionsfromindividuals,manyofwhomareNAITalumni,haveallowedNAITtomeetAlberta’sandCanada’sneedsforoutstandingskilledworkers.Forthissupport,weareeternallygrateful.

Aswecelebrateour50thanniversary,wehaveembarkedonanewvision.NAIT2021isourroadmaptothefutureandiscriticallyimportantforAlbertaindevelopingahighlyqualifiedworkforce.ItisourpathwaytobecomingthemostrelevantandresponsivepolytechnicinCanada.

EmbeddedintheNAIT2021visionarepromises.ThisisourpromisetoAlberta:NAIT’sprimaryfocusisonmeetingthecurrentandemerging

50 great years

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environmental studiesandAlberta’shigh-techsectorwillbenefitfromover$5.6millioninfederalgrantsawardedtoNAIT.

Thefundingwillbolsterongoingresearchintoreducingtheenvironmentalimpactoftheoilsandsthroughtheinstitute’sBorealResearchInstituteanditsCentreforGreenChemistryandEngineering.Fundingwillalsofuelaprojecttosupportmembers

funding boost

canada’s best collegiate-levelcurlerswillconvergeinEdmontonthisspring,whenNAIThoststhe2013CanadianCollegiateAthleticAssociation(CCAA)CurlingNationalChampionship.

It’sfittingtheinstitutewasselectedasthesite,saysLindaHenderson,directorofathleticsandrecreation.Theinstitutehasarichhistoryinthesport:thewomen’scurlingteamwonbronzeatthe2012CCAAchampionship,andworld-classcurlersKevinMartinandAdamEnrighthonedtheircraftasNAITstudents.

Thefour-day,round-robintournamenttakesplaceMarch20-23atthenearbyAvonairCurlingClub.Itwillfeatureeightmen’sandeightwomen’steams.

— F.L.

chamPionshiP curling

this spring,theathleticsdepartmentstruckafirstforAlbertacollege-oruniversity-levelsportswithanewappdedicatedentirelytoitsteams.AvailableasafreedownloadforiPhone,iPadandAndroidusers,theappdeliversOoksnews,schedules,resultsandmore,aswellasofferscontests,rewardsforattendanceandeventreminders.TheideaandproductcamefromLyleMozak(ElectronicsEngineeringTechnology’68),CEOofAppsdeveloper.caInc.,whopresenteditasamarketingtooltoincreasetheOoks’fanbase.

“Asanalumnus,Ithought,‘Let’sseehowamobileappcanfixthat,’”hesays.

— Scott Messenger

ooKs go moBile

at work for the boreal research institute in the peace river region.

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oftheprovince’sburgeoningnanotechnologyindustry,particularlyintheareasofprototypingandproductdevelopment.

AwardedinMay,thegrantsinclude$4.05millionfromtheNaturalSciencesandEngineeringResearchCouncilofCanadaand$1.6millionfromtheCanadianFoundationforInnovation.

— Frank Landry

the stars align

dr. glenn felthamsayswhenhestartedaspresidentandCEOin2011,“Iheardloudandclearthatsustainabilityisimportanttoourstaff.”Aspartofhisresponse,theinstituteobtaineditsfirstratingfromtheSustainabilityTrackingAssessmentandRatingSystem(STARS).STARSisaself-reportingtoolforeducationalinstitutestomeasureeconomic,environmentalandsocialperformance.NAITregisteredabronzerating–abenchmark,saysFeltham,bywhichNAITcanmeasureitsprogress.

— S.M.

v6.1 2012 15

DREAM BIGthank you for inspiring the next generation to

Finning Canada is proud to support the Northern Alberta Instituteof Technology. Congratulations on 50 years.

statustecHnofile

UPdate

From Batteries Included, Vol. 2.1 Range: 210 kilometres per charge

equivalent fuel economy: maximum 0.81 litres/100 kilometres (348 miles/gallon)

top speed:170 kilometres per hour, though Pepin has never travelled past 115 (“It can be pretty scary trying to test [a hand-built] vehicle for higher speeds.”)

acceleRation:0 to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately six seconds

the hawk has landed

People, technology and innovation are at the heart of the stories we feature in techlife. after 10 issues, we decided it was time for an update on ideas, projects and business ventures we’ve covered over the years. here’s where a few of them stand today.

stories by KRISTENvERNON

Photos by BlAISEvANMAlSEN

above, nap pepin in his homemade electric vehicle.

the ev advantage

if it’s above 6 candnotraining,NapPepincanbefoundcommutingtoworkinhisalmostentirelyhand-built,two-seaterelectrictrike–describedinarecentSt. Albert Gazettearticle“assomethingoutofNASAorBlade Runner.”

Pepinstartedbuildingthe$26,000-LithiumHawktwoyearsago,aftermakingroominhisgaragebydonatinghisfirstelectricvehicle(EV)–theLithiumBugE–totheReynolds-AlbertaMuseum.

Hisintentionwastolearn

whathecouldfromtheBugE,builtpartlywithakit,andapplythattoanewEVbuiltfromthegroundup.TheHawkaddressesmanyoftheBugE’sshortcomings.“It’sjustalotmorerobust,”saystheElectronicsEngineeringTechnologygrad(classof’85).It’sheavier,hasalongerrange,bettersuspension,isalmostcompletelysilentandwillperformjustaswellonalowbatteryaswhenfullycharged.

Pepin,whohasputmorethan5,000kilometresontheHawk

sinceAugust2011,spentlastwinterdesigningasophisticatedbatterymanagementsystem(hemademorethan23,000spotweldstolink1,976cells)andisnowrefiningthefront-endsuspensionandaddingpowerassisttothesteering.

Asforwhetherthere’sanotherEVinhisfuture,Pepinisn’tsure.

“Allthemanufacturersarecomingoutwithelectricvehicles,”hesays.

“SounlessIcandosomethinguniqueorbetter–why?”

v6.1 2012 17

web extraReadtheoriginalstoriesandgetupdatesonotherpreviouslyfeaturedinnovationsbyvisiting

techlifemag.ca/updates-fall-2012.htm.

From Firestarter, Vol. 3.2

dollars for datafew entrepreneursopttokeepbootstrappingwheninvestorscometothetable.YetthefourengineersbehindMobileDataTechnologies,whichdesignsandsellssensormonitoringandrecordingunitsfortheoilandgasindustry,decidedthatitwasn’ttherighttimeforexternalinvestment–despiteasuccessfulpitchtotheangelinvestorsoftheVentureAlbertaForuminearly2010.

Lessthanayearlater,however,itwasadifferentstory.

Inearly2010,MobileDataTechnologieswassellingaboutthreeunitsamonth.InAugust,itsoldseven.InNovember,itsold11inasingleday–and16thatmonth.Bylate2010,theformernovaNAITincubatorclient

neededacashinfusiontokeeppace.MobileDataTechnologiesgottheinvestmentneededandmovedintoa560-square-metre(6,000-square-foot)shopinAcheson,afewminuteswestofEdmonton.Thecompanyalsostartedhiring,expandingfromfiveemployeestoitscurrent24.Today,theproductlinehasgrownconsiderably,anddemandhasbeensohighthateagercustomershaveboughttheprototypesforsystemsstillindevelopment.

Asits2011-12fiscalyearcloses,thecompanyisexactlywherepresidentandCEODavisMcGregorpredictedinhisinitialpitchtotheVentureAlbertainvestors.Backthen,heforecastsalestogrowfrom$114,000

in2009to$5.8millionin2012.Withsalesfortheyearclosinginon$6million,“We’rerightontrack,”hesays.“We’reactuallyaheadofthatcurve.”

MobileDataTechnologieshassinceexpandedfromWesternCanadaintotheUnitedStates,andsalessouthoftheborderwillbethecompany’sfocusforthecomingyear.By2015,McGregorexpectsthefocustoshiftevenfurtherafield.Inthemeantime,thecompany’sengineersareworkingonaprototypeforanewproduct–aprototypetheyhadnotintendedtosell.Demand,however,provedtoogreat.“Onceagain,thecustomersteppedupandsaidthisiswhatweneednow,”McGregorsays.

above, since 2009, revenues for davis mcgregor’s mobile data technologies have grown more than 50-fold.

opposite, top, outsourcing elements of production has allowed tanya and ryan clarke of dr. scientist sounds to keep working from home and meet booming demand.

opposite, bottom, after a few hard years, innovequity’s mark holtom (left) and ben bertrand have leads for their automated homebuilding technology.

18 techlifemag.ca

tecHnofile

From Frazz Dazzler and the Sunny Day Delay, Vol. 1.2

pedal powerwhen ryan and tanya clarke returnedfromtheirweddinginTofinointhefallof2009,theduobehindDr.ScientistSoundsneededtofindawaytoupproductionoftheirboutiqueguitareffectspedals.Afterall,theywerealmostayearbehindfillingstoreorders.

Ryan(ElectronicsEngineeringTechnology’05),whoengineersthepedals,nowoutsourcesthebuildofthecircuitboardsfortwooftheirfourpedals.Tanya(GraphicSignArts’02),whosedesignsgivethepedalstheiruniquelook,nolongerappliesfinishes,butinsteadhasherdesignsprintedandappliedbyacompanyintheUnitedStates.

Asaresult,they’velargelyeliminatedthebacklog(atmostthey’reamonthbehindthesedays).Andtheyareabletoproducemorethantwiceasmanypedals,shippingabout120amonthto35storesaroundtheworld.“We’rejustinalotbettercontrolofhowitallgoesdownnow,”Ryansays.

Thelong-termgoalis“tokeepgrowingataratethatwefindcomfortable,”Tanyasays.Afterall,sheadds,theydothisforthelifestyleofworkingtogetherathome.

From On the Brink of Big, Vol. 2.1

building equitythings haven’t gone as plannedforBenBertrandandMarkHoltom.Bynow,they’dhopedtohaverevolutionizedtheconstructionindustrywiththeirGeometricConstructionSystem(GCS),whichcanautomaticallybuildfloorsandwalls,completewithwiring,plumbingandfinishingcoverings.“Wewouldhavelovedtohavebeensellingourmachineacoupleyearsago,”saysHoltom,CEOofInnovequity,aformernovaNAITincubatorclient.

Buildingthe$1.4-millionprototypeoftheGCSwas,attimes,afrustratinglyslowprocess.Butinsummer2010themachinebuiltitsfirstfloor,completewithplumbing,electricalandHVAClines.Sincethen,Bertrand,Innovequity’schieftechnologyofficerandinventoroftheGCS,hasfinishedabetaprototypeforbuildingwalls(minusinsulation,acapabilitysoontofollow).

Withoutafirstclient,cashflowiscurrentlythelargestchallenge;attimes,ithasthecompanystrugglingtokeepitsDraytonValleyfactoryopen.But2013couldbetheyearInnovequity’sfortuneschange.Thecompanyhopestobreakgroundontwoprojects.Oneinvolvesbuildingrentalofficeandsleepertrailersforindustrialuse.Theotherisaresidentialdevelopmenttiedtoamajorrefineryprojectnowunderway.TheGCSwouldbeusedtobuildafour-storey,20-unitapartmentblockinBonAccord,30kilometresnorthofEdmonton.

v6.1 2012 19

Byincorporatingthefollowingfeaturesintotheirhome,ConradNobertandRechelAmoresalmostachievednetzerostatus:

• 40-centimetre walls filled with cellulose fibre insulation

• large south-facing windows

• interior concrete floors that absorb heat during the day and then release it during the evening

• a six-kilowatt solar electric system fed by 32 photovoltaic modules

• solar hot water

From No Car, No Furnace, No Problem, Vol. 2.2

what wood have beenthe home of ConradNobertandRechelAmoreswasdesignedtobenetzero,producingatleastasmuchenergyasitconsumesoverthecourseofayear.ThreeyearsaftertheNAITstaffersmovedtheirfamilyoffourintothe200-square-metre(2,200-square-foot)house,ithasyettoreachthatgoal.Butit’scomeclose–andNobertwouldn’tchangeathing.“Ithinkit’sprobablyharderthanwe

thoughttobuildanetzerohouseinEdmonton,”hesays.

NobertandAmores(ComputerSystemsTechnology’99)optedforbaseboardheatersandahigh-efficiencywood-burningstovetoshoreuptheirinsulationandpassivesolarheating.Butbecausetheenergyfromburningwoodcan’tbeaccountedforontheelectricitymeter,whentheystoppedusing

thestovetotestifthehousecouldreachnetzero,theyfellshortoftheirgoal.Hadtheyinstalledageothermalsystem–whichcanbeaccountedforontheelectricitymeter–Noberthasnodoubtthey’dhavemettheirgoal.“Welearnedthatit’spossible,butwedidn’tquitemakeit,”hesays.

Thefactremains:theenergysavingsareremarkable.

Netelectricityuseovera12-monthperiodforthishomeisbetween1,600and2,600kilowatt-hours(again,withoutburningwood,whichcan’tbecountedbythepowermeter).TheaverageEdmontonhome,incontrast,uses40,000kilowatt-hours(withnaturalgasconsumptionconvertedtoitselectricequivalent)overthesameperiod.

the nobert-amores family home didn’t qualify as net zero, but it still uses a fraction of the energy consumed by an average edmonton house.

the zero effect

20 techlifemag.ca

tecHnofile

innoVate

from thegrounD

fifty years ago, alberta wondered how it

would keep pace with a booming economy.

Then nAIT cAme Along.

story by DONTREMBATH

Photos ARCHIvAl

APPROVINGBUILDINGPLANS,CIRCA1960

MEDICALLABORATORYTECHNOLOGY,CIRCA1964

MAINCAMPUS,CIRCA1966

22 techlifemag.ca22 techlifemag.ca

In 1962, bill riches wasa26-year-old communicationelectricianwithAlbertaGovernmentTelephones(AGT)inEdmonton.Heknewthepositionwell,

havingcometoitfromajobatCanadianTelephoneSuppliesinVancouver.SowhenheandhiscolleaguesweresenttoNAITtobeginanapprenticeshipprogramforthejobhewasalreadydoing,hewasabitmiffed.

Previously,thecompanyhadbeenconductingafour-yearapprenticeshipprogramonitsownforemployees.“That’swhatIthoughtIwasdoing,”hesays.

“Ididn’tknowwhatIhadtogotoschoolfor.”Thechangehadactuallybeensetinmotionyears

earlier.In1959,theGovernmentofAlbertaannouncedplanstobuildanewvocationaltraininginstituteinEdmonton.Thetimingwasperfect:theprovince’sprosperitywasgrowingwiththedevelopmentandexportofitsnaturalresources,Edmonton’spopulationwasontracktonearlydoubleoverthedecade,andnewconstructionwastransformingthecapital’sskylinefrombrickwalk-upstothecosmopolitanlookofacitywithabusyfutureinstore.

Withthisgrowthcamesoaringdemandsformoretechnicallyeducatedworkersthancompaniesthemselvescouldproduce–alabourgapNAITaimedtofill.Atthatpoint,theonlytwotechnicaltrainingcentresinCanadaweretheRyersonInstituteofTechnologyinTorontoandtheProvincialInstitute

ofTechnologyandArt(nowSAIT)inCalgary.Takingadvantageofa$400-millionfederalfundintroducedtostimulatethedevelopmentofsuchtraininginstitutions,ateamofvisionariesledbyNAIT’sfirstprincipal,JackMitchell,beganthedauntingtaskofbuildingapost-secondaryinstitutefromthegroundup.

In1962,afterchoosing10.5hectares(26acres)nearEdmonton’smunicipalairportasthesiteofthe$16-millionschool,thegroupbeganassemblingstafftocoordinateprogrammingandschedules,andtofindqualifiedinstructors.OneofthefirsthiredwasDr.KrishanKamra.AsdepartmentheadofLaboratorySciences,hecouldseethechallengeahead.“Therewastremendouspent-updemandfromindustryforCanadatocreateanewworkforce,”hesays.ParticularlyfornorthernAlberta,“NAITwasputinchargeofinventingapersonwhohadnotexistedbefore.”

Evendefiningtechnician provedtobeachallenge.“Atmyjobinterview,[personnelofficer]BillHobdenaskedme,‘Whatisatechnician?’”saysKamra,whowasappointedNAIT’sfirstdirectorofinstructionin1966.“Iflubbedtheanswer.Ididn’tknow.”

TheindustriesdrivingAlberta’sburgeoningeconomyknewwhattheywerelookingfor,however.Hospitalsneededapropertraininggroundfortheirmedicallaboratorytechnologistsanddentistswanted

“ nait Was PUt in charge of inventing a Person Who had not existed Before.”

–DR.KRISHANKAMRAFIRSTDIRECTOROF INSTRUCTION

APPROVINGBUILDINGPLANS,CIRCA1960

ARCHITECTURALTECHNOLOGY,1969

LIBRARY,1969

CIRCASPRING1963.PHOTOSUPPLIEDBYDR.KRISHANKAMRA

v6.1 2012 23

innoVate

–BILLRICHES COMMUNICATION ELECTRICIAN’63

“ We gave the Kids Who came here a fUtUre they didn’t have Before.”

–BOBBUSSE RETIREDINSTRUCTOR

i lived on 124 street. to take a bus around the entire airport would take one hour, if i caught all my connections. i didn’t want to be late my first day, so i called a cab. i arrived quite early. a photographer from the Edmonton Journal took my picture. that was my 15 minutes of fame right there.”

REGISTRAR’SOFFICE,1969

MEDICALx-RAYTECHNOLOGY,1969

FIRSTDAYOFCLASSES,1962.FROMLEFT,J.P.MITCHELL(PROVINCIALDIRECTOROFVOCATIONALEDUCATION),BILLRICHES,

ALSAUNDERS(PRINCIPAL),OTTOKINGSEP(SHOPDIRECTOR)ANDF.WHITTLE(ASSISTANTDIRECTOROFAPPRENTICESHIP)

“i was the first student to ever attend nait.

24 techlifemag.ca

someoneotherthanthemselvestotraindental

techniciansanddentalmechanics(knowntodayas

denturists).CommunicationscompaniesAGTandEdTel

demandedalocalapprenticeshipprogram.Andindustry

leadersfromfieldssuchasengineering,building

construction,banking,businesscommunicationsand

photographyworkedalongsideNAIT’sadministratorsto

ensureclassroomcurriculumalignedwiththeneedsof

theworkplace.

Thechallengeultimatelyfelltotheinstructors,few

ofwhomhadformaltrainingasteachersandlittleorno

curriculumdeveloped.Buttheydidhaveknowledgeand

experiencethatwentfarbeyondwordsinatextbook.

“Wehadexceptionallygoodinstructors,”saysKamra.

“Mostofthemwereintheir30s,hadsupervisoryor

similarattributes,andwerecompetitiveintheirfields.”

Andtheywereabletofigureouttheroleastheywent,

headds.“Therewasalotoflearningbydoing.”

BobBusse,anearlyinstructorintheapprenticeship

program,sumsuphisclassroomexperienceas

extremelyrewarding.“Wegavethekidswhocamehere

afuturetheydidn’thavebefore.”

Combiningthatteachingtalentwithstate-of-the-

artequipment,NAITattractedstudentsfromacross

WesternCanadaand,by1965,wasalreadyexpandingtoincludethe$2.5-millionTowerBuilding.Earlyprojectionsof10,000studentsand300instructorsbeforetheendofthedecadeseemedrealistic.

“Thisinstitutefulfillsoneofthegreatestneedsinoursociety,”saidPremierErnestManningatNAIT’sofficialopening.“Therehavebeencomplaintsthattechnologyistakingawayjobs.Itisnottechnology[thatcausestheproblem],butthefailureofsocietytokeeppacewiththetrainingnecessarytoprepareyoungpeopletofulfillusefulfunctions.”

Then,asnow,NAIT’srelevancetotheeconomyputitatthetopofCanada’spolytechnicinstitutes.“Thereasonwewerecreatedhasremainedourraisond’être,”sayscurrentpresidentandCEODr.GlennFeltham.“Weareprovidingskilledworkers.Wehavebeenabsolutelytruetoourselves.”

Eventually,BillRichesfiguredoutforhimselfthevalueofNAIT.Aftergraduatingasacommunicationelectrician,heworkedinthefieldforeightyears.Later,hereturnedtoNAIT–tobecomeabaker.“Itwasagoodexperience.Verygood,”hesays.“Thedifferenceformewas,beforeIwenttoNAIT,Iknewhowtodoallthethingsformyjob.AfterIwent,Iknewwhy.Iknewthetheory.”

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/NAIT-50th-anniversary-video.htm orscantheQRcodewithyourmobiledevicetoseemoreofthestoryofNAIT’sdevelopment.Don’thaveaQRcodereader?Seep.7.

NAITSTAFF,1962.SUPPLIEDBYDR.KRISHANKAMRA,FRONTROW,FIFTHFROMLEFT.

PRINCIPALALSAUNDERS,LEFT,HELPS

RAISENAIT’SFIRSTMAPLELEAF,1965

DENTALASSISTING,CIRCA1965

v6.1 2012 25

There are few investments

more important today than

promoting the skills and promoting the skills and

abilities of our young

people. At Imperial Oil,

we sponsor a wide

range of educational

programs designed

to spark Canadian

studentsstudents’ interest

in science,

mathematics and

technology – skills

essential to our

country’s prosperity.

Investing

& technology

- one of theways we’re

to Canada’sfuture

www.imperialoil.ca/giving

contributing

math, sciencea focus on

with

in education

Congratulations to NAIT on your 50th anniversary

innoVate

a first time for everythingfive decades have passed since we admitted our first students and began construction on our first buildings. more than 172,000 graduates later, we have celebrated many milestones on our journey to becoming one of the top polytechnics in the country. here’s a look at 50 firsts – the people and the events – that together, tell the nait story. — Sherri Krastel

1964issue of tHe stuDent neWsPaPer, The NuggeT

PublishedJan.1

oPen House20,000visitorsattendedfromMarch11-13

nait stuDents’ association (naitsa) PresiDentWilliamMiles,electedinApril

1963full-time stuDentsTheTechnologyDivisionoffered18programsto580studentsandtheBusinessandVocationalDivisionofferedsixcoursesto498students(theApprenticeshipDivision,meanwhile,offered19tradesprogramsto2,506studentsandfourpre-employmentcoursesto49students)

full-time tuitionStartedat$40foroneyear(StudentAssociationfee:$17)

3

4

1962builDingMortarTrades,completedinApril

class29CommunicationElectricianapprentices,includingfirststudentBillRiches,registeredandbegantrainingOct.1

2

1 mascotChosenbytheNAITStudents’Association.“WeallneedanOokpik,itwillhelpyoupass,itwillmakeyouhappy,itwillmakeyougreat,”declaredThe Nugget

yearbooKThe Northern Torchpublished

aWarDs DayMinisterofEducationR.H.McKinnonspokeontheneedforhighereducationattheOct.28event

6

5

7

9

8

10

1965conVocationHonoured326graduatesofdiplomaandcertificateprograms

11 12

1966ProVincial cHamPionsHiPWonbythebadmintonteam

illu

str

at

ion

by

jen

nif

er l

ub

rin

v6.1 2012 27

innoVate

1967Plastics courseIntroductionofthismanufacturing-focusedcoursewasuniquetoNorthAmerica.Lastofferedin2003-04

resPiratory tHeraPy Program baseD at an eDucational institute in canaDa Theprogramwasaccreditedin1969,allowingthegraduates(thencalledInhalationTherapists)tochallengethenationalcertificationexams

13

1968sHineramaNAITstudentshavesinceraisedmorethan$530,000forthecysticfibrosisfundraiser

15

1970PresiDentWilliamA.B.Saunders(heheldthetitleofprincipalfrom1962-70;JackMitchellwasthefirstprincipaloftheproposedEdmontonvocationalschool,appointedinJanuary1960)

16

1974continuing eDucation sPring/summer session calenDar Featuredmorethan35courses

17

1980atHletes of tHe year CurlerStevePelechandrunnerJulieMcDonald

18

1982national cHamPionsHiPWonbythemen’shockeyteam

19

1985DistinguisHeD frienD of tHe instituteDolliverFrederick(BusinessAdministration’65),amemberofthefirstfull-timegraduatingclassandthefirstalumnustospeakatConvocation

20

1987nait founDation funDraiserACorvettewasraffledoff

alumni magazine Alumnait,firstpublishedasatwo-pagenewsletter

21

22

1988Homecoming Themed“AchievingTogether.”HeldMay28

time caPsulePlacedinthewallofthestudentlounge,TheNest,atitsofficialopening(thetimecapsuleisscheduledtobeopenedonMay28,2013)

23

24

14

28 techlifemag.ca

1999Honorary DiPlomasHenryGusse,founderandchairmanoftheEdmontonExchangerGroupofCompanies,andMadeleineMercier,charteredfinancialplanner

instructional excellence aWarDsGiventoDavidBurry,BiomedicalEngineeringTechnology;EverettHale,SheetMetal/AircraftSkinandStructureRepair;AngelaBork,BiologicalSciences;andJoeAcker,EMT-Paramedic

33

34

2000Personal $1-million Donation GiftedbyDuncanandVerdaMcNeill

35

2002animal blooD banKEstablishedbytheNAITAnimalHealthTechnologyprogram,itremainstheonlyanimalbloodbankthatmakescaninebloodproductsavailableacrossCanada

36

2005alumni council PresiDentWayneLand(BusinessAdministration–Management’70)

37

1995Voice mail AddedtoallphonesonMainCampus(atthetime,only30percentofcallersweresuccessfulinreachingthedesiredpartyonthefirstattempt)

29

1996aPPlieD DegreeOfferedincollaborationwithSAIT;twoyearslater,26NAITstudentsgraduatedwithaBachelorofAppliedInformationSystemsTechnology

Public lecture in tHe neWly oPeneD sHaW tHeatre DeliveredbyjournalistDavidFrum

30

31

1997alumni aWarD of DistinctionGuyTurcotte(GasTechnology’72)

3228

1994WorlD culinary cuP golD meDalsCulinarystudentsparticipatedonTeamAlberta

1989fantasy cruise funDraiser TheSSBenefitNAITsailedtoJamaicaonFeb.24,startingatraditionthatcontinuedfor20moreyears

nr92 broaDcastWentonairat8a.m.onOct.23andcouldbeheardinthemainlobby,hairstyling,poolandarena

25 26 caPital funDraising camPaign PartnersforTomorrowraised$5.4million

27

v6.1 2012 29

innoVate

2008full-time coacHesThesixcoacheshiredwereafirstintheCanadianCollegiateAthleticAssociation

tWeetOnJan.19:“GettingreadyforInfoWeek(Feb.4-7,2008)www.nait.ca/infoweek.htm”

facebooK Post OnFeb.19:“SupportecoNAIThttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6612490807http://www.nait.ca/econait”

business incubatorNovaNAIT,NAIT’scentreforappliedresearchandtechnologytransfer,establishedtofosterappliedresearchandprovidebuddingentrepreneursofficespace,expertadviceandsupportservices

40

41

42

2007baccalaureate DegreeBachelorofTechnologyinTechnologyManagement

Techlife magazine PublishedinOctober

38

39

entrePreneur in resiDenceVentureAlbertaForumpresidentRandyThompson

2009HoKanson cHef in resiDenceCelebritychefRobFeenie(InadditiontoFeenie,topchefsDavidAdjey,SusurLeeandMassimoCaprahavesincespentthreetofivedaysmentoringstudentsandengagingwiththelocalculinarycommunityatNAIT’sHokansonCentreforCulinaryArts)

2010nanotecHnology systems DiPloma ACanadianfirst

2011aPPlieD researcH cHairDr.HaneefMiannamedLedcorGroupAppliedResearchChairinOilSandsEnvironmentalSustainability.ChairsintheJRShawSchoolofBusinessandtheEncanaCentreforPowerEngineeringTechnologyfollowed,givingNAITthemostappliedresearchchairsofanyCanadiancollegeorpolytechnic

PresiDential installation HeldMay5,whenDr.GlennFelthamwasinstalledasNAIT’ssixthpresident

2012PolytecHnics canaDa member to get a rating from tHe sustainability tracKing assessment & rating system (stars)NAITreceivedabronzefromSTARS,aself-reportingtoolthatallowseducationalinstitutestomeasuretheirperformancewithinthethreepillarsofsustainability:economic,environmentalandsocial

season in WHicH eacH ooKs team maDe ProVincial PlayoffsThatledtothesenationalmedals:goldinmen’ssoccer,silverinwomen’ssoccer,bronzeinwomen’scurlingandtwogoldsinbadminton

44 45

46

47

48

49

50

43

30 techlifemag.ca

innoVate

THE futuristsas much as it’s an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, an anniversary is the perfect time to imagine where we’re headed. what will the world look like five, 10, 50 years out? we asked staff and alumni to tell us what they see in the cards.

32 techlifemag.ca

HEAlTHCARE

In20years,healthcarewillbemuchmorepersonalized.Preventionandtreatmentofdiseasewillbecustomizedtoalignwithaperson’sDNA.Thecurrentfocusonchronicillnesswillshifttoprevention.Technologywillmakediagnosis,treatmentandpersonalhealthtrackingmuchmoresophisticated.Ratherthanblastingapersonwithchemo,wewilltargetonlythecancercells.Youwillbeabletogetreplacementbodypartsbeyondahiporaknee–toes,forexample.In50years,peoplewilllive20yearslonger.We’llbehealthier.

Ellen Hughes Dean, School of Health Sciences

NAITCAMPUS

In50years,wewillbetwiceaslarge:onedynamic,pedestrian-friendlycampusinterlinkedwithavibrantcommunityof30,000locatedontheformerCityCentreAirport.NAITretailservices–meatstore,bakery,Ernest’sDiningRoom–willbeshowcasedatthefrontofthiscommunity.Thenext10to15yearswillbringnewresidences,academicbuildingsandawellnesscentre.Wewillcontinuetominimizeenergyusedinourheatingandcoolingsystemsandincreasewaterandwasterecycling.Intheshortterm,thearrivaloftheLRToncampusin2014isagamechanger.

John Engleder Associate Vice President, Capital Projects and Facilities Operations

WIRElESSCOMMUNICATIONS

Intermsofwirelesscommunicationsystems,consumersaredrivingthisindustry.Andit’smorethanjustpersonalcommunicationsandsmartphones.Oilandgas,businessandhealthcareallusewirelesssystemstotransmitvoice,videoanddataincountlessapplications.Sincedemandiseverincreasing,thefuturewillfocusonovercomingthechallengeoflimitedbandwidthandvastgeographicalcoverageareas.Therewillalwaysbeapplicationsbetterservedbywiredandopticaltechnologies,but,evennow,ourkidswillusewiredtechnologyonlywhenabsolutelynecessary.

Colin Polanski (Communication Electrician ’87) Associate Chair, Wireless Systems Engineering Technology

OIlSANDS

Thereiscurrentlynocost-effectivetechnologytodealwithtailings.Overthenextfiveto10years,we’llseefullcommercializationofthat.Oncewecreatereclaimabledeposits,we’llbehitwithanotherchallenge:dealingwiththewater,whichcontainspollutants.Technologyforthatwillfollow.Thenextstagewillcomeassomeoftheminesclosein30to50years.Insomecases,theintentistofillthepitswithwatertocreatelakeecosystems.Soyou’regoingfromtailingstowatertoreclamation.Theygohandinhand.

Dr. Haneef Mian Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Environmental Sustainability

32 techlifemag.ca

Ph

oto

by

lei

gh

fr

ey

THE futurists

Ph

oto

by

lei

gh

fr

ey

v6.1 2012 33

AlTERNATIvEENERGY

We’restartingtoseeintegratedsystemsreallyemergeintheindustry.Andthisisprobablythenextbigachievementforalternativeenergysystems.We’vebeenlookingatindividualsystems,butalotoftheeconomicsandthegainscanberealizedbyhybridizingtechnologiesinasensibleway,suchasusingonesystemtosupplybothheatandpower.Probablywithinadecade,thesehybridizationswillbecomequitesignificant.

Dr. Jim Sandercock Chair, Alternative Energy Technology

Web extravisittechlifemag.ca/alternative-energy-future.htmforDr.JimSandercock’spredictionsaboutthefutureofavarietyofalternativeenergytechnologies.

FOODPRODUCTION

Peoplewillbecomemoreself-sustaining.Greenhousesattachedtohomesandschoolswillbecomestandard,aswillrooftopgardens.Culinarystudentswillbecomemorefamiliarwiththeentirelifecycleoffood,includingplantingseedsandbutcheringmeat.Dietaryissueswilldeclineaswegetbacktoorganicsandwholegrainsandeschewgeneticallymodifiedfoods.Restaurantswillbecomemoresustainable,usingediblecutleryandtableware–yourglasscouldbemadeofice.In50years,wewillhaveeliminatedfoodwaste.

Blair Lebsack (Cook ’98) Instructor, Culinary Arts

HOMEBUIlDING

Buildinghighenergy-efficienthomesisstillinitsinfancy.Obviouslythere’snowmorepublicawarenessofenvironmentalissuesandclimatechange,buttoseearealmindsetshiftinthemarkettakesawhile.Thatsaid,thegenerationcomingoutofuniversityisallintothis.Myfeelingisthattowards10years,we’regoingtoseeanewbuyerwhowilldemandmoreofthesekindsofhomesasanoption.Andfromtherethingsaregoingtoprogressmoredramatically.

Dale Rott (Carpenter ’96) Managing Partner, Effect Home Builders

PERSONAlCOMPUTING

Togetacomputertodoanything,youoncehadtoknowcodes.Nowthere’ssoftware–clickthisandsomethinghappens.Theevolutionofthatisthenatural-userinterface:draggingwithyourfingers,forexample,likeonaniPad.Fromthereitgoestotheall-voicecommand–likeaskingSiritodothingsonaniPhone.Havingcomputersinteractwithyouiswhatwe’reheadedtowards.

AUTOMOBIlES

Mostofwhatwe’llseeinthenextfiveyearsisalreadyonthemarket.Thefocuswillbeonadvancingthetechnology–allwiththegoalofhelpingdriverskeeptheirhandsonthewheelandeyesontheroad.We’llseeadvancesinautomatedparkingtechnologies,voicecommand,mappingsystemsandheads-updisplays.Asforpropulsionsystems,expecttoseeextendedrangeforfullyelectricvehicleswithzeroemissions.

Ron Lavigne Instructor, Automotive Service Technician

FINANCIAlPlANNING

Thirtyyearsfromnow,financialplanningwillbeseenasaprofessionatthesamelevelasaccountancy.Itwillrequireadviserstobelessfocusedonproductsalesandmorefocusedonprocessandadvice.Itwillbemuchmoreholisticthanitisnow.Theadviserofthefuturewillnotjusttalkaboutfinancialassets,butwillbeacareeradviseraspeoplecontinuetoworkafter65.

Hardeep Gill Associate Chair, Bachelor of Applied Business – Finance

EDUCATION

In50years,studentswilldesigntheirowneducationbymixingformallearningwithexperience.StudentswillchooseNAITasapartnertohelpthemconnectwithcareersandgrowthopportunities.Educationalinstitutionswillbeseamlesslyintegratedwithworkplacesandcredentialswillbeseenasnothingmorethanartificialbarrierstofullycontributingtosociety.Intheirplace,employerswilllayouttheskillsrequired,placingtheonusoncareer-hunterstodemonstratethattheyhavethequalificationstodothejob.

Dr. Paula Burns Provost and Vice President Academic

Steve Chattargoon Chair, Digital Media and IT

v6.1 2012 33

naitologytest your knowledge of nait with our quiz. if you get stumped, just flip through the magazine – all the answers are in these pages. then tally your score, counting a point for every correct answer. if you place low on the scale, don’t despair – every good ook started out as an egg.

Questions: scoring:

0 – 5 correct ansWers

egg


HatcHling


fleDgling


full-fleDgeD ooK

1. Whatwasourfirstapprenticeshipprogram?

2. Inwhatschoolyeardidthemen’shockeyteamcompleteaperfectseason?

3. Whatisthenameofourcurrentpresident?

4. Whatyeardidweholdourfirstconvocation?

5. Whatwasthenameofouroldyearbook?

6. WhichNAITStudents’AssociationpresidentreceivedouroriginalOokpikmascotfromthefederalgovernmentin1964?

7. Whatisouron-campusbarcalled?

8. WhocoachedrenownedcurlerKevinMartinatNAITandcontinuestodoso?

9. Inwhatyearwasthefirstissueoftechlifemagazinepublished?

10. Whatisthenameofourfirstbaccalaureatedegree?

11. Whatisourstudentnewspapercalled?

12. WhatyeardidNR92,ourradiostation,startbroadcasting?

13. HowmuchwasNAIT’sfirstfull-timetuitionin1963?

14. Inwhatsportdidwewinourfirstprovincialchampionshipin1966?

15. Whowasourveryfirststudent?

16. HowmuchdiditcosttobuildNAIT?

17. WhichpremierofficiallyopenedNAIT?

18. WhichschoolkidnappedourOokpikmascotin1966?

19. Whatwasthenameofouroldalumnimagazine?

20. Whatisthenameofouron-campusfinediningrestaurant?

ansWers:1.CommunicationElectrician

2.1984-85

3.Dr.GlennFeltham

4.1965

5. The Northern Torch

6.WilliamMiles

7.TheNest

8.JulesOwchar

9.2007

10.BachelorofTechnologyin

TechnologyManagement

11. The Nugget

12.1989

13.Startedat$40

14.Badminton

15.BillRiches

16.$16million

17.ErnestManning

18.SAIT

19. Alumnait

20.Ernest’s

innoVate

illu

str

at

ion

by

der

ek l

ue

an

d t

rin

a k

osc

ieln

uk

34 techlifemag.ca

naitology

BUILDING | CIVIL | INDUSTRIAL | MAINTENANCE | MINING | TELECOM

Founded in 1947, the Ledcor Group of Companies is diversifi ed, privately held, employee-owned collection of construction companies, specializing in building, civil, infrastructure, industrial and telecommunication projects.

Ledcor is proud to be in partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Through the Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Environmental Sustainability as well as numerous student scholarships, Ledcor continues to see the value in NAIT’s programs and services that meet the needs of the market.

Congratulations to NAIT on your 50th Anniversary!

I (WE) BUILT THIS

PeoPle coVer story

Photos byBlAISEvANMAlSENAND NAITSTAFFPHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTENTS

The 1960s38 BernieFedderly

38 CliffordGiese

39 victorGillman

39 JamesMcPherson

39 JackMenduk

40 BobMorgan

40 RayRajotte

41 ArchieRoberts

41 StewartRoth

The 1970s42 FredAtiq

42 GilCardinal

43 NolanCrouse

43 RogerDootson

44 DavidDorward

44 MarleenIrwin

45 Andrewlee

45 Shirleylong

46 HolgerPetersen

46 BrianStraub

47 GuyTurcotte

The 1980s48 JamesAhnassay

49 NaseemBashir

36 techlifemag.ca

it’s almost impossible to

go a day without encountering

the achievements of nait grads.

they’re mainstays on tv and radio, and

cultural mavens and tastemakers. they’re

captains of industry, and government and community

leaders. they’re winning olympic medals and setting

sporting records, and making breakthroughs in science

and medicine. they’re leading-edge designers at

work in your neighbourhood – if, in fact, they didn’t

actually build your neighbourhood. and, overall, their

contributions are too numerous to mention. here,

we celebrate 50, chosen for the difference they

make in our communities, and for inspiring

future generations of alumni to do

the same.

CONTENTS

The 1960s38 BernieFedderly

38 CliffordGiese

39 victorGillman

39 JamesMcPherson

39 JackMenduk

40 BobMorgan

40 RayRajotte

41 ArchieRoberts

41 StewartRoth

The 1970s42 FredAtiq

42 GilCardinal

43 NolanCrouse

43 RogerDootson

44 DavidDorward

44 MarleenIrwin

45 Andrewlee

45 Shirleylo

49 CarolBlake

49 DaveBuchaski

50 JamesCumming

50 KeesCusveller

51 RandyEresman

51 GregKorbutt

51 KevinMartin

52 DarylMcIntyre

52 MarkMcNeill

53 MarkOhe

53 GeorgeRogers

54 TraceyScarlett

54 JulieM.Shaw

55 BruceWoloshyn

55 SandyYakimchuk

55 DanielWaiYukYeung

The 1990s56 MichaelAnderson

56 MarkHamblin

57 AndrewHore

57 ChrisKourouniotis

58 AshifMawji

58 CorbinTomaszeski

58 DeanTurgeon

The 2000s60 StephaniCarter

60 DonOborowsky

61 JulesOwchar

61 JavierSalazar

61 MarlonWilson

v6.1 2012 37

compared to most peoplewhofindthemselvesspinningtheirwheels,veterancrewchiefBernieFedderlymadehisnamedoingjustthat.Formorethanfourdecades,theCanadianMotorsportHallofFamerhassetloftystandardsintheartofmotormaintenance–andafewrecordsontheprohotrodcircuit.AfterhoninghisskillsontracksaroundAlberta,theone-timemilktruckmechanic

workedhiswaytothebigleagues,wherehehelpedturnJohnForceRacingintooneofthemostsuccessfulteamsinNationalHotRodAssociationhistory.Now70,Fedderlyisconsideringretirement.Slowingdown,however,maynotbeeasy.These8,000-horsepowercars–andthesights,sounds,evensmellsoftheracetrack–stillfascinatehim.“I’minaweofthem,”hesays,“evenafterallthistime.”

—Scott Messenger

motor mechanics ’67

Bernie feDDerly

clifford giese was a young Edmontonstockbrokerwhenhetookhisdadforlunchanddreamedupanideathatspawnedanindustry.

TheelderGiesehadtakenhiscarforanoilchangethatmorningandatlunchtime,itstillwasn’tready.TheminorannoyancestuckwithGiese,inparticularbecauseself-servegasstationswerearrivingonthescene–ashifthefiguredwouldspellthedemiseofthefullservicegarage.

Sohowaboutanewkindofplace,hethought,withoilchangeswhileyouwait?

marketing ‘68

clifford giese

Withhisdad,heopenedthefirstMr.Lubein1976and,withinadecade,therewere47storesacrossCanada.In1987,thechainexpandedintotheUnitedStatesafterGiesesecuredapartnershipwithoilgiantExxon.Inbusiness,Gieseexplains,youmusttakecalculatedrisks,andbepreparedtolose.“Tome,thethrillistoplaythegame.”

Sometimes,thestakesarehigher,aswhenGiese’swife,Robin(SecretarialTechnology’68),wasstrickenwithmultiplesclerosis.WhenherhealthstabilizedaftershestartedtakinganexperimentaldrugbeingdevelopedattheUniversityofAlberta,GiesefoundedBioMSMedical(nowcalledMedwellCapitalCorp.).Heandhisteamraised$270millionandtookthedrugasfarasaworldwidetrial.Theresultsweren’tgoodenoughtobringthedrugtomarket,butGiesecontinuestodedicatehislifetofindingabettertreatmentforMS.

Thoughessentiallyretired,he’llstillgiveatemptingopportunityhissignature360-degreelook.“It’sbettertohaveplayedandlostthannevertohaveplayedatall.”

— Eliza Barlow

HoW We cHose

last year, we put out a call for nait grads or retirees who have made significant contributions in the categories of service, leadership, innovation and role model. We received 162 nominations. a committee representing alumni, retired staff, instructors, students and nait’s departments of advancement and marketing and communications then had the tough job of whittling the list down to 50.

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web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/bernie-fedderly.htm toseewhatittakestobeacrewchiefontheprofessionalautoracingcircuit.

web extraVisitwww.nait.ca/nait-50th-anniversary-videosorscantheQRcodefor50thanniversaryvideos,includingtop50alumniRayRajotte,DarylMcIntyreandKevinMartin.NeedaQRcodereader?Seep.7.

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38 techlifemag.ca

fuelled by a lifelong passion forconservation,VictorGillmanhelpedmakeCanadianhistoryinthe1980swhenhewaspartofateamthatnegotiatedandimplementedthefirstcomprehensivelandclaimnorthofthe60thparallel.Signedin1984,theInuvialuitFinalAgreementprotectstherightsoftheInuvialuit,whileprotectingandpreservinglocalwildlifeinanareaofthehighwesternArcticthatincludespartsofNorthwestTerritoriesandYukon.

“Therewerenootherexamplestoworkfrom.Wewereonnewground,”saysGillman,whowasworkingfortheDepartmentofFisheriesandOceans(DFO)

andcontributedexpertiseintheareaoffisheriesmanagement.

“Twenty-eightyearslater,thisisstilloneofthemostsuccessfullandclaimstructuresinCanada.”Henotestheagreementhasfunctionedwithlittletonolitigation,unlikealotofotherlandclaims,andthepartiesinvolvedcontinuetooperatewithasenseofcommonalityandtrust.

Gillmanspentnearlyfourdecadesinfishandwildlifemanagement,retiringin2006asaDFOregionaldirector.Today,hestilldedicatesmuchofhistimetoconservationintheNorthaschairmanofaco-operativecommitteethathelpstomanagetheInuvialuitFinalAgreement.

— Frank Landry

Biological sciences technology ’69alumni award of distinction ’06

back in 1968,james mcpherson hadnoideathefundraiserhehelpedorganizewouldgoontoraisemorethan$530,000.Forty-fouryearsafterNAITjoinedtheannualnationalCysticFibrosisCanadafundraiser,Shineramaisstillgoingstrong.“That’sincredible,”saysMcPherson,whoforgedasuccessfulinsurancecareer,withahiatusfrom1982to1986toserveastheMLAforRedDeer.Shiningshoes–lotsofthem–isamemory

nait’s centre for sustainable energy technology,openedin2011,featuresbanksoftallwindowsandhighceilings.ThatsenseofopennessmirrorsthedesignprinciplesofJackMenduk,theretiredassociatevicepresidentofNAITCapitalProjectsandFacilitiesOperations,wholedtheprojecttobuildthestate-of-the-artfacility.

AstrongbeliefinopencommunicationandfairnessliesattherootofMenduk’ssuccessful25-yearcareer.Fromsmallrenovationstonewbuildingdevelopments,heensuredeveryoneaffectedremainedpartofdiscussionsfromplanningtocompletion.

“Ialwaystriedtoseeeverythingthroughtheireyes,”hesays.Thatextendedtoindustrypartners,too:“Wewantedtobetheownerofchoiceforcontractorsandconsultants.”Lookingback,thoserelationshipsareapointofprideforMenduk;theyenabledhimandhisteamtorepeatedlydeliverontimeandonbudget.

What’smore,theyallowedhimtohighlightNAIT’sstrengths,projectbyproject.Menduk’sabilitytocommunicatehisvisionandhaveothersshareithasinfluencedeverythingfromhisfirstprojectrenovatingNAIT’sDistributionCentretotheplansfortheproposedCentreforAppliedTechnologies.“Wetookoutthebrickwallsandputinglass,”hesays.“Weopenedupthespaces,brightenedthemtocelebratetheteachingspaces–celebratewhatNAITwasallabout.”

Nexttimeyou’reatNAIT,takeacloselookattheimprintMendukleftontheschoolwherehispost-secondaryeducationbegan.Thequalityofthefacilitiesprovesthatstrongrelationshipsleadtogreatspaces.

— Heather Gray

architectural technology ’66

victor gillman

JacK menDuK

distributive technology ’69

James mcPHerson

thatremainswithMcPherson.Alltold,114NAITstudentsraised$2,503.39inthefirstShinerama.

Thatexperience–coupledwiththevaluesinstilledbyhisparents–helpedsetMcPhersononalifelongpathofgivingback,whethervolunteeringwiththeSpecialOlympics,UnitedWayoranumberofotherorganizations.

ItwasforthistypeofworkthatMcPhersonwasnamedRedDeerCitizenoftheYearfor2012.

— F.L. v6.1 2012 39

islet cells play a vital role in regulatingbloodsugars.Shouldtheyfail,theresultisType1diabetes.Luckily,fortheroughlyonemillionCanadianslivingwiththisdisease,Dr.RayRajottehasspentmorethan40yearsinvestigatingatreatment.

AnAlbertaOrderofExcellencerecipientforhiswork,RajotteestablishedthegroupthatperformedCanada’sfirstisletcelltransplantin1989–leadingtotheEdmontonProtocol.Thisprocedureallows100percentoftransplantrecipientstobecomeinsulinindependentforvaryingperiodsoftime.

Issuesmayremain,butRajotteisoptimistic.Heandhiscolleagueshavemademanypromisingadvancestoensurethelong-termsuccessoftheEdmontonProtocol,includingimprovedanti-rejectiondrugs.Success,however,alsoreliesonalargesupplyofisletcells,whichtheteamhopestomakeavailablethroughthedevelopmentofgeneticallydesignedpigsthatproduceisletscompatiblewithhumans.

Rajotte’scommitmentisclear:“Anisletcanperformthisvastfunctionofregulatingthebloodsugarsthatsustainlife;thisismiraculousandfundamentaltothesurvivalofsomanypeople.”

—Sandy Robertson

apprentice bakers across CanadahaveBobMorgantothank,atleastinpart,forhelpingtodefinetheskillsetstheyshouldpossess.

AninstructorinNAIT’sBakerprogramfrom1969to2000,MorganparticipatedinestablishingSkillsCanadaAlbertaandtheRedSealexamforapprenticebakers,bothofwhichencourageexcellenceinthebakingtrade.“Toencouragethetradesalsoencouragesthegrowthofourcountry,”saysMorgan.“Canadawasbuiltbytradespeople.”

AsavolunteerintheearlydaysofSkillsCanada–thenot-for-profitorganizationthatpromotescareersintheskilledtrades–Morganhelpeddevelopthehigh-

Baker ’66

medical x-ray technology ’65alumni award of excellence ’01

ray rajotte

BoB morgan

levelprovincialandnationalcompetitions.“Thebiggestimpactwasfortheperson[competing]torealizehehadbecomethebestofthebest,”saysMorgan.

MorganwasalsopartofagroupofinstructorsandindustryleaderswhocraftedthequestionsposedtobakerstakingtheRedSealexam,whichistheinter-provincialstandardsexamthatconfirmsjourneymenhaveachievedanationallyrecognizedlevelofcompetency.Priortotheestablishmentofthisexam,thereweren’tnationalstandards.Essentially,itwasuptoindustry–theindividualbakeries–todecidewhethertorecognizeajourneymanticket,Morgansays.Today,aRedSealendorsementqualifiesajourneymantoseekworkinotherprovinces.

— Frank Landry

“– felix appelt, hired 1962 – retired 1986 as head of engineering design and drafting technology

I joined NAIT in July 1962 as head of Drafting

Technology (later Engineering Design and

Drafting Technology) and remained in that

position for almost my entire career, which ended

in June 1986. My son Greg attended Architectural

Technology (class of ’78). He joined NAIT in

December of the same year and left NAIT in 2011.

Between Greg and me, we covered 49 of NAIT’s

50 years. Too bad he retired last year!

Greg’s son Kyle has spent a couple of summers

on grounds maintenance. My second son, Doug,

enrolled in Chemical Technology (class of ’80) and

finally there was Bruce, who was employed at NAIT

for a number of months before enrolling in Computer

Systems Technology (class of ’88). When you

consider that Doug’s wife, Janette, also spent four

years at NAIT, first in med lab technology and later

in computer systems, I think that the Appelts have

had a considerable connection with NAIT.

We wanted your help remembering NAIT

over the past five decades. We share your

stories throughout this feature.

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40 techlifemag.ca

“

a leadership coach with apassionforbuildingthings,ArchieRobertsispayingforwardthementorshipthatbeganinhisgrandfather’sworkshopandcontinuedwithhisfirstbossintheconstructionindustry.Provingaquickstudy,RobertslaunchedIntexConstructionin1983,whichthrivedthroughtherecession,earnedhimanodasEdmonton’sSmallBusinessmanoftheYearin1985,andwaseventuallysoldto

LedcorIndustries.LaterrevivingtheIntexname,Robertslaunchedaconstructionmanagementconsultingpracticethatmergedin2006withPivotalProjectsInc.,gainingnationalreach.Stillactivelyguidingup-and-comersthroughtheWorldPresident’sOrganization,inhisownfamilyandatPivotalasasenioradviser,Roberts’passionforbuildingclearlyextendstopeopleaswell.

“Itkeepsmeyoung,vital,thinking,”hesays.

— Cheryl Mahaffy

as president and ceo of guardian chemicals, StewartRothisanadvocateandsupporterofresponsibleeconomicdevelopmentinAlberta.Inthe30yearssinceheteamedupwithfellowalumWilfNikolaj(Accounting’80)tobecomeshareholdersandeventuallypurchaseGuardian,thecompanyhasgrownintooneofthenation’slargestspecialtychemicalsuppliers.Guardianproductsareproprietaryindustrialprocesschemicalsusedinavarietyofsettings:mining,pulpandpapermills,transportation,oilandgas,watertreatment,printing,firefightingandmore.

Byfocusingoncontinuousimprovementthroughresearchanddevelopment,thecompanyhasmovedtothefrontendoftheinnovationcurve–andintointernationalmarkets.Asaresult,RothheadsagrowingcropofchemicalcompaniesspanningtheUnitedStates,Egypt,Ecuador,SouthAfrica,NewZealand,AustraliaandChina.Afew,suchastheU.S.oilandgassupplierSierraChemicals,havebeensoldtolocalmanagers.“Wepracticeintrapreneurship,”Rothsays.“Theideasandtechnologycomefromwithinourcompany,butweencourageemployeestotakeittothenextlevelandbecomeinvolvedfinancially.”

Rothalsoputsenergyintogrowingcommunity,whetherthesubjectiseducationoringenuity.Believingthatsuccessinbusiness,asincommunity,dependsonqualitypeople,GuardianfundsscholarshipsatNAITandtheUniversityofAlberta,expandingthetalentneededtocontinuediversifyingAlberta’seconomy.

—C.M.

chemical technology ’69alumni award of distinction ’01

architectural technology ’69distinguished friend of the institute ’96Board of directors 1991-94

They had a ceremony when they opened the

institute. Premier Manning came down. It

was conducted in the heavy duty shop. They

set a platform right in the middle of A101.

In the heavy duty shop, there’s a great big

transverse crane. It’ll pick up diesel engines.

So to be rather dramatic, they brought this

crane over to the centre of the stage and they

had a big velvet curtain or a canopy rigged up

over this thing. I can remember the premier

pushed the button and it lifted the curtain

and all the dignitaries were there.

– graham johnson, dean of the industrial division (1962–96), on the institute’s official opening on may 27, 1963

archie roberts

steWart rotH

v6.1 2012 41


having added three successfulenterprisestoAlberta’smanufacturingindustry,FredAtiqisfortifyingthesectorthroughNextEquities,afundtoboostfledglingcompanies.SincearrivingfromIndiaasateenandtrainingatNAIT,Atiqhasbroughttotheprovincevinylwindowandextrudedvinylproductmanufacturingthroughtwocompanies(sincesoldandstillgoingstrong).Histhirdventure,

when film director gil cardinalstartedout,anaboriginalmakingfilmsabouttheaboriginalcommunitywasrelativelyrare.Now,after30yearsintelevisionandfilm,theaward-winningdirectorofMétisdescentisarolemodelinthefield.

Cardinalmadefilmsonvarioustopicsinhisearlycareer,butaprojectaboutchildrenandchildwelfarebegantofocushisattentionontellingaboriginalstories.“BeforeIaskedanyoneelsetobaretheirsoul,IthoughtIshoulddothatmyself,”hesays.TheresultwasFoster Child,hisstoryofthesearchforhisbirthfamily.

Today,Cardinalcontinuestocreateaboriginalprogramming,mostrecentlyasawriteronAPTN’sBlackstone,adramaticseriessetonafictionalreserve.

—Kim MacDonald

FiberexGlassinLeduc,standsamongCanada’stop100fastestgrowingcompaniesdespiteseriouscompetitionfromthelikesofOwensCorningUSA,amajorconcerninthefieldofextrudedfibreglass.StillservingasFiberexpresidentandCEO,Atiqtakespleasureinputtingthefamily’shard-earnedcashtoworkthroughNextEquities.

“IfIcanputoneguyintobusinessayear,”hesays,

“I’mahappyman.”

—Cheryl Mahaffy

mechanical engineering technology ’72 alumni award of honour ’06

radio and television arts ’71honorary diploma ’00

fred atiQ

gil carDinal

“– henry vanderpyl, civil technology ’72

During my first year of Civil Tech, I helped set

up the display for Open House and thought that

our display was very mundane and ordinary.

Our ‘rivals’ were Architectural Technology and,

of course, they had some very artistic and nice

looking models, so they won the Open House

trophy for best display for the third year in a row.

In my second year, I decided that I would

organize the Open House display and compete

for that trophy. We made a plywood model that

showed how a curved roadway was built. We even

added a landscape ‘architect’ component by using

green floor sweeping compound granules for the

landscaping of the finished roadway. I used my

calligraphy skills to produce a scroll titled The Role

of a Civil Technologist. Needless to say, we won

and the Architectural Technology students were

disappointed.

1970

s

42 techlifemag.ca

nolan crouse, st. albert’s second-termmayor,owesmuchofhissuccesstoahealthyappetiteforknowledgeandrisk.TakehistransitiontothebigcityandNAITasa17-year-oldfarmboylookingforlifeskillsandatechnicaleducation.“Iknewnothingaboutanything,”hesays,buteventuallyanMBAfollowedhisdiploma,aswellasalengthycareer,splitbetweenindustrialmanagement,entrepreneurshipandcoachinghockey.Butwhenpoliticsoccurredtohimasawaytobuildonhis

loveofcommunityservice,hedecidedtotakeanotherchanceonalearningcurve.“Ididn’thaveanyknowledgeofpoliticsperse,”Crouseadmits,buthehadwhatheneeded.“Youendupusingalltheskillsyouhavebut…inanentirelydifferentrealm.”Today,heseesthejobasawaytomakeapositiveimpact–and,judgingbyhisexperience,asachievableforothers.“Peoplewhowanttocontributeinabroadersensecangetinvolved,makechangeandbuildtheircommunity.”

—Scott Messenger

chemical technology ’73

nolan crouse

in 1971, a 17-year-old farm boy fromIrma,Alta.,gothisfirstbig-cityconstructionjobloadingconcreteblocksontoascaffoldandmakingsurethebricklayershadenoughmortar.HisnamewasRogerDootson,andthesmallbutvitalroleonthesiteoftheDominionBottlingwarehouseinEdmonton’swestendhadhiminstantlyhooked.

HegraduatedfromNAITandeventuallyjoinedPCL,wherehebecamearespectedexecutiveandleaderonmanyhigh-profileprojects,includingthesoutheastlegoftheAnthonyHendayandtheterminalexpansionattheEdmontonInternationalAirport.“Ijustlovebeingpartofbuildingthings,”hesays.“Togobackandseethefinishedproduct,evenyearslater,isverysatisfying.”

Dootsonisabuildernotjustofbuildings,butoftheconstructionindustryitself,havingservedonseveralboardstoadvocatefortheindustry,suchastheMeritContractorsAssociationandtheAlbertaandCanadianconstructionassociations.

DuringAlberta’slastboom,whichhitasbabyboomersbegantoretire,DootsonforesawapotentialleadershipvacuumatPCLjustwhengoodleaderswouldbecrucial.Inresponse,heledteamstoGermanyandtheUnitedKingdomtorecruitseasonedconstructionmanagers“tohelpusthroughthehightide.”EveryonehiredonthoserecruitingtripsremainsinAlbertatoday,hesays.

DootsonretiredfromPCLlastyearandnowdevotesmuchofhistimetohisRogerDootsonCharitableFoundation,helpingyoungAlbertansfollowtheirdreamsofacareerinthetradesandprofessions.It’sjusthiswayofmakingsuretomorrow’sbricklayershaveenoughmortar.

—Eliza Barlow

carpentry ’77alumni award of distinction ’08

roger Dootson

– ed toupin, electronics engineering technology ’73

from left, ed toupin (electronics engineering technology), nolan

crouse (chemical technology) and laren giacomuzzi (electronics

engineering technology) in June 2012. all graduates from 1973,

they trace their 40-year friendship to campus and the year they

roomed together in an apartment on 109 street and 107 avenue.

“One of our very first memories was watching

the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series. We

skipped classes to see Canada win the final

game. I still remember jumping up and down

in our living room hugging each other as Paul

Henderson scored that memorable goal.

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v6.1 2012 43


by his own admission, david dorwardwasn’tmadeforbasketball–notasaplayer,anyway.Atadshortattheendofhighschoolbutstilldrawntothegame,hetooktorefereeinginstead.Givenwherethatled,however,perhapsthatslightremoveallowedhimtobetterseetheimpactthegamecanhaveonplayers’lives.

Duringthattimeandtheyearsfollowingasacoach,Dorwardsawbasketballasawaytoreachless-privilegedyoungpeople.“Iusedthegametoencouragekidstostayinschoolanddowell,”hesays,“andhopefullymakethenextteamastheygothroughlife.”

Tothatend,heboostedaccesstothesportbyfoundingtheSavilleCommunitySportsCentre(GoCentre).Themulti-functionsouthEdmontonfacilityfeaturesasmanyas12hardwoodcourtsandishometolocalheroeskidsmightemulate:theplayersoftheInternationalBasketballLeague’sEdmontonEnergy.

Recently,Dorwardhashadtostepbackfromhisbelovedgame.ElectedApril23,he’snowinhisfirsttermasMLAforEdmonton-GoldBar,aneighbourhoodhehaslivedinformorethanhalfacentury.Unlikepointguard,politicianisapositionforwhichhe’sperfectlysuited.Frombuildinghischarteredaccountancyfirm,he’sgotasolidunderstandingofcomplexfinances.He’senergetictothepointofmakingsocialactivismlooklikeathleticism.Mostimportantly,hefeelsaspersonallyinvestedintheroleashedidcourtside.“Tobeabletoservethepeopleintheareayougrewupinisarealthrill,”hesays.

—Scott Messenger

accounting ’73

david DorWarD

1970

s

there’s nothing half-hearted aboutMarleenIrwin’scareerasacertifiedcardiacdevicespecialist.Hercontributionstocombattingheartdisease,oneofCanada’sleadingcausesofdeath,includewhittlingthein-hospitalstayforpacemakersurgeryfromsevendaystodaysurgeryandbringinginacrucialcompetencyexamincardiacpacingforalliedhealth-careprofessionalsandphysicians.

AclinicalresearcherwiththeUniversityofAlberta’sHeartFailureEtiologyandAnalysisResearchTeam,whichisseekingimprovedheartdiseasetherapies,shehasearnedaccoladesandawardsforraisingthebarinresearch,clinicalcare,teachingandmanagement.Forher,everydayisanopportunitytoimprovepatientcare,andshepredictsthatwillneverchange.

— Cheryl Mahaffy

respiratory therapy ’75

marleen irWin

Patricia Campus might not have been part of the

institute for long if it hadn’t been for Thomas

Harding. The stock keeper showed up to work

his usual half-hour before everyone else, when

he smelled acetylene – a gas used in welding –

coming from the autobody shop. He slowly

opened the door to the shop, careful not to make

any sparks. “The sparks would have blown the

place up,” says Harding, who worked at NAIT

from 1962 to 1994. He aired out the shop and

was eventually able to find the acetylene tank

that hadn’t been turned off. The gas and the risk

were mitigated before staff and students arrived.

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/edmonton-energy.htm toreadmoreaboutDavidDorward’spassionforbasketball.

44 techlifemag.ca

in 1970, a young andrew lee cametoCanadafromHongKongwith$500andadesiretostudyandlookfornewopportunities.Soonafter,heenrolledintheSurveyTechnologyprogram.Togetthrough,Leesharedacrampedroominabadpartoftownand,whennotstudying,waitedtablesandwasheddishes.Buttheexperiencetaughthimthe

importanceofhardwork–avalueheappliedtostartingAmarSurveyswithhiswifein1982.Now,Leeistransferringthecompanytohisson,givinghimanadvantageheneverhad.“Iwon’ttellanyone

‘IfIcandoit,youcandoit’,”saysLee.“It’shardworkwithsomeluckinvolved,andyoujusthavetokeepgoing.”

— Fiona Bensler

while helping train students intheirclinicalpracticum,ShirleyLongdiscoveredthat,whileradiologistsandphysicianshadtextsexplaininghowtousemammogramimagesfordiagnosis,therewasnothingabouthowtogetthoseimagesinthefirstplace.“Ifyoudon’thavetherightpicturesortherightkindofpictures,thedoctorscan’tdiagnose,”shesays.

Tofillthegap,shecreatedtheHandbook of Mammography(nowinitsfifthedition),thefirsttextbookspecificallyfortechnologists.Combinedwithhigh-qualitydigitalimaging,thepositioningskillsoutlinedinthehandbookenabletechnologiststoshowminutechangesinbreasttissueyearsbeforetheycanbefelt.“That’ssuchawonderfulplacetobe:thatyou’vecaughtitsoearlythatthewomanhasa95percentchanceof20-yearsurvival,”saysLong.

—Kim MacDonald

medical x-ray technology ’71alumni award of distinction ’02

survey technology ’73

andreW lee

shirley long“Bread, amongst other goodies, was sold to

customers in the bakery sales area to recover

part of the cost of instruction. It so happened

that flour prices took a hike in the mid-’70s. The

bakery program head went to the front office

to ask to increase the price of a loaf of bread.

Bread at NAIT was 10 cents. We needed to

increase the cost to 12 or 13 cents to bring us

near the break-even point. The answer came

back from the vice president: there would be no

increase because students and staff needed a

break wherever they could find one.

– bob morgan, baker ’66; hired 1969 – retired 2000 as baking Program head

v6.1 2012 45

PeoPle • cover story19

70s

what holger petersentalks aboutwhenhetalksaboutmusicis,essentially,alifelongloveaffair.Followinggraduation,hebeganhiseffortstoelevaterootsandbluesbyhostingCBC’sSaturday Night Blues andCKUA’s Natch’l Blues,thelatterafixtureonCanadianradioformorethan40years.PetersenalsofoundedStonyPlainRecords,promotingnewartistsandlegends,includingSteveEarlandIanTyson.Intheprocess,theDJhasbecomeaculturaliconhimself,inductedasamemberintotheOrderofCanadain2003.Today,hisdevotiontomusiccontinuesunabated.PickingupfromhisdaysasamusicjournalistforThe Nugget,NAIT’sstudentnewspaper,PetersenrecentlypublishedTalking Music,abookthatdocumentsthehistoryofrootsandbluesthroughinterviewswiththemusiciansthemselves.ForPetersen,it’sjustanotherlabouroflove:“Weshouldn’tforgetthesegreatpeople.”

—Scott Messenger

radio and television arts ’70alumni award of distinction ‘04

holger Petersen

it’s a long way from commiseratingaroundthecoaltipplewiththefarmersofcentralAlbertatorubbingshoulderswiththesultanofBrunei.ButforBrianStraub,thevalueofbothgatheringswasthesame:toestablishrelationshipswithpeople,andrespecttheirpointofview.

StraubgrewupnearAlix,Alta.,wherehisfatherownedastripcoalmine.Whenfarmerscametobuycoal,they’dsitaroundthecoal-burningstove,tellingstorieswhiletheyoungStraublistened.

“Itgavemetheabilitytounderstandpeople,”saysStraub,anditwasaskillhe’dusetimeandagainoverthecourseofaninternationalcareerinoilandgas.

AftergraduatingfromNAIT,StraubwashiredbyShell,whichinitsvariousentitieswouldemployhimforthenext32years.In1993,hegothisfirstoverseasassignmentinOman,whereheranupto28drillingrigsandmanagedanannualbudgetover$400million.HewaspostedinseveralmorecountriesincludingBrunei,whereheandhiswifegottoknowthesultanandhistwowives.

Companiesthatwanttobreakintooverseasmarketsneedathoroughunderstandingoftheregionandtheculture,saysStraub.Theyalsoneedtoembracethecountry’sworkforceandsteerclearofcorruption.

Evenintheageofvideoconferencing,hesaysit’sstillessentialtooccasionallymeetpeopleface-to-face–alessonhelearnedathisfather’scoalmineallthoseyearsago.

Straub,whoinhisretirementsitsontheboardsofenergycompaniesMolopoandRidgeline,finishedhiscareeraspresidentandCanadacountrychairmanforRoyalDutchShell.“Ireturned,insomeways,tobeingaminer.”

—Eliza Barlow

hydrocarbon engineering technology ‘75

Brian straub

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/holger-petersen-ckua.htm toreadaboutHolgerPetersen’s40yearsashostof

CKUA’sNatch’l Blues,andtechlifemag.ca/holger-petersen-talking-music.htm tolearnabouthisfirstbook,Talking Music.

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“

guy turcotte’s foresight for economic opportunitiesisguidedbyhisrespectfortheenvironmentandthevalueheplacesonpeople.

Turcotte’sconnectiontonaturehasitsoriginsontheChauvinfamilyfarm,wherehemilkedcowsfromageeightandcouldspend10hoursadayonthetractorasateenager.Thatconnectionhasremainedwithhimthoughouthiscareerasanoilandgasexecutive,financierandpropertydeveloper.

AspresidentandchairmanofStoneCreekResorts,Turcotte’sapproachtodevelopmentsatCanmoreandInvermere,B.C.revereswhatnaturehastooffer,creatingworld-classdestinationswherevisitorsfindtranquility,greatgolfingandmagnificentviews.Hefoundedthreesuccessfulpubliccompanies–ChauvcoResources,FortChicagoEnergyPartners(nowVeresen)andWesternOilSands –neverlosingsightofemployeeswhilemanagingthesemulti-billion-dollarenterprises.“Creatingexcellentcareers,opportunitiesandwealthforemployees,that’swhat’simportant.”

HispassionforcleanenergyisexemplifiedinWesternHydrogenLimited.“ThisispotentiallythebiggestthingI’vedone,”hesaysoftheprivatecompanyfoundedin2006.WithapilotprojectscheduledtocommenceoperationsthisyearnearFortSaskatchewan,Turcotteenvisionshugeglobalopportunitiesfromcommercialrightstoaleading-edgetechnologyusingsodiumsaltsasthecatalysttomanufacturehydrogen.Thetechnologyhasfar-reachingimplicationsforfuelcellpower,hydrogencostsandgreenhousegasemissions–goodforpeopleandtheenvironment.

— Nancy McGuire

gas technology ‘72 alumni award of distinction ’97

gUy turcotte – bruce benjamin, architectural technology ’78

My tuition in 1976 was about $180. Beyond the

cost of books, there was the recommendation

to own a good scientific calculator. I bought

a Texas Instrument one from the NAIT

bookstore for around $265, more than the

rest of the supplies needed for the entire year.

It was one serious purchase at the time for a

poor student. Fast forward to today. My wife

and I were on the road to buy some building

supplies the other day when we realized we

forgot to bring along a calculator. I pulled into

the nearest dollar store and I selected one for

$2. In the queue to pay, it occurred to me that

the $2 calculator in my hand was every bit as

good as the one I bought at the NAIT store 36

years earlier for, hmm, let’s see: 265/2 = about

132.5 times more, not including inflation!

When an april 1977 snowstorm cancelled field classes at Kidney

lake camp, forest technology students built a 3.6-metre timber

cruiser snowman (but only after a snowball fight).

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80

s this summer, wildfires roared within17kilometresofMeanderRiver,oneofthreecommunitiesoftheDeneTha’FirstNationinnorthwesternAlberta.Asablanketofsmokedriftedin,ChiefJamesAhnassayandhiscouncilorderedanevacuation,sendingnearly400peopletoHighLevel,nearly75kilometressouth.TheairqualitybecamebadenoughtoaggravateAhnassay’smildcaseofasthma.

“Forpeoplewhohavemoresevereconditions,”hesays,“Ican’timaginewhatitmusthavebeenlike.”

Duringfourterms,thatkindoffocusonthewell-beingofothershasdefinedAhnassay’sapproachtoleadership.Anditextendsfarbeyondhealthandsafety.Sincetakingofficein1993,hehaspromotededucationasapathtopersonalsuccessaswellasawaytoimprovelocalservices.Healsoremainsdedicatedtoeconomicdiversificationintheregion,includingecotourismpossibilitiesinsurroundingwetlands–whichhasmeantadvocatingfortheconservationoftheseandotherpartsofDeneTha’territoryofinteresttotheoilandgasindustry.

TheremotenessoftheDeneTha’communities,hometoroughly1,800people,willalwayspresentlogisticalchallenges.ButAhnassay,nowthinkingoveracampaignforre-electionnextfall,seesprogress.Employmentandeducationareontherise,budgetsarebalancedand,aswiththerecentwildfire,they’veproventhemselvescapableofovercomingextremeadversity.

“We’remakingimprovements,”hesays,“slowlybutsurely.”

—Scott Messenger

civil engineering technology ’88alumni award of distinction ’09

James aHnassay

“– marcel ulliac, business administration ’82

In fall 1980, I enrolled in Business

Administration. Coming from small-

town Alberta and a high school that

had a graduating class of 12, I found

adjusting to a larger, busier educational

environment a bit challenging. By

early December, I felt I might become

a ‘Christmas Graduate,’ as I was

considering withdrawing. A few days

before the end of term, I was in one

of the student lounges, looking a bit

distraught, when my English instructor,

Paul Saville, came along. Although he

was on his way to teach a class, he took

the time to talk with me and convinced

me to stick it out. That turned out to

be the best coaching advice I ever

received! The caring and compassion

demonstrated by that instructor is just

one of the qualities that makes NAIT

the first-class educational institution

that it is. Thanks for setting me up for

lifelong success!

48 techlifemag.ca

carol blake’s decision to join theCanadianmilitaryinthelate1970ssetheronapathtobecomeadedicatedcommunity-builder.

“Ilearnedsomanyvaluablelessonsinthemilitary,butthemostimportantisthatit’snotallaboutyou,”saysBlake,whotrainedinaunitthatdeliverssuppliesandequipmenttofrontlinetroops.Sincethen,thatphilosophyandskillsethavemotivatedhertoleadfundraisingeffortsamountingtomorethan$250,000forschoolsinher

hometownofKincardine,Ont.,ontheshoresofLakeHuron.Ithasalsoinfluencedherprofessionallife.Justlikeinhermilitarydays,Blakekeepsonthemove,thistimethroughnearbycountrysidewithhermobiledentaltechnicianbusiness,servingthedentistsanddenturistsresponsibleforruralcommunities.Asresourcefulassheisconscientious,Blakealsousestheroutetospreadthewordaboutprogramsshesupportsthatencouragehealthandfitnessandenvironmentalconservation.

— Sandy Robertson

dental laboratory technology ’84

diagnostic medical sonography studentsbenefiteverydayfromtheimpactDaveBuchaskihasoncampus.Along-timeelectronicsaficionado,Buchaskinowteaches,mentors,fundsandpromotesNAITultrasoundstudents–helpingtopreparethemforrolesinAlberta’svitalalliedhealth-caresector.(Becauseofhisefforts,hisemployer,PhilipsHealthcare,alsopitchesinwithresources,includingstate-of-the-artsonography

naseem bashir knows the difficultiesofmanagingamid-sizedcompanyinWesternCanadatoday.Competitorsfromoutsidetheprovince,evencountry,areshowinguphungryforwork,andthatdemandscreativeleadershipfromthepresidentandCEOofWilliamsEngineeringCanada.Talent,brandandsustainabilityareconstantpriorities,astheywouldbeforanysavvyexecutive.

WhatsetsBashirapart,however,ishisabilitytoholdacompanytogetherdespitedisaster.

Thatwastestedfiveyearsago.InOctober2007,acompanyplanepilotedbyCEOandfounderAllenWilliamscrashed,killinghimandtheCFO.Fivemonthslater,anotherplaneflownbyAllen’ssonReagan–hissuccessorasCEO–alsowentdown,claiminghislifeandthoseoftwoothertopexecutivesandtwocontractemployees.

CalleduptoEdmontonfromhisCalgarypostasvicepresident,Bashirpostponedgrievingtofocusonthecompany’sviability.“There’snomaptotellyouwhatyoushouldbedoing,”atatimelikethat,hesays.“Allyoucandoisrelyonyourownbasicinstinctsandprinciples.”

Headmitstothinkingitwouldbeeasiertoletsomeoneelsestepin.Calgarywashome;he’dbeuprootinghisfamilyandleavingfriends.Butthatriskhadtobeweighedagainstthatfacedbythecompany.Thefutureofeveryemployee,himincluded,layinthebalance.

Today,thecompanyisreadyandeagertogrow.Aregionalfirmwithareputationforreliability,environmentallyfriendlydesignsandcommunity-mindedness,WilliamsEngineeringiseyeingthepossibilityofgoinginternational.Thecurrenteconomicclimate–involvingmorecloudsthansunshine–maydelaythoseambitions,butBashirseemssatisfiedwithprogressunderhisleadership.Lookingback,ashardasthedecisiontoleadthecompanymayhaveonceseemed,“IthinkImadetherightchoice.”

— S.M.

electrical engineering technology ’88

carol blaKe

naseem basHir

electronics engineering technology ’84

dave bucHasKi

equipment.)BuchaskialsokeepsNAITinstructorscurrentbyarrangingseminarsandbringinginstellarspeakers.Forhim,thekeyistonotjustpromotereliable,upgradeableequipment,buttoensureitisunderstoodbystaff–andsobythegradsthatNAITproduces.“Nomatterhowgoodthetechnologyis,”hesays,“it’snouseunlessweempowerthepeoplewhouseit.”

— Cheryl Mahaffy

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/naseem-bashir.htm forNaseemBashir’stakeonthechallengeofrunningaprofessionalservicesfirminthecurrenteconomy.

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Building construction engineering technology ’80

Kees cusVeller


when something is importanttoJamesCumminghegivesithisfullattention.In1998,notlongafterhissonGarretthadtostartusingawheelchairduetomusculardystrophy,CummingjoinedtheMuscularDystrophyCanadaboard,servingasitsnationalchairfrom2001to2003.Afterthat,hecontinuedtocontributebyhelpingtoraise$1.61milliontoestablishtheFriendsofGarrettCummingResearchChairinMuscleDisorderattheUniversityofAlbertatopursuecuresfordebilitatingneuromusculardisorders.

Afterhisintenseworkwiththatboard,Cummingsteppedbacktochangethefocusofhiscommunityinvolvementtoeducation.NAITwasanobviouspointoffocus.CurrentlytheCEOofCreativeDoorServices,CummingcreditshisNAITtrainingasthefoundationofhislengthycareerasownerandleaderofconstructionanddevelopmentbusinesses.In2004,hereturnedtohisalmamaterasamemberoftheBoardofGovernors.InOctober2010,hebecameitschair.

Goingforward,CummingisexcitedaboutNAIT’sfuture.Rightnow,amongstotherpriorities,he’sdevotinghimselftoplanningfortheproposedCentreforAppliedTechnologies,whichwillboostsimulation-basedtrainingandappliedresearchonMainCampus.Asanindustryinsider,hehasanintimateunderstandingoftheneedforskilledworkers.“We’vegotamarketplacethat’sbusyandbeggingformoretrainedindividuals,”saysCumming.

“Ourchallengeistomakesurethatwe’reinfrontofthatdemand,notbehindit.”

—Fiona Bensler

construction engineering technology ’81alumni award of distinction ’03Board of governors 2004 - present

James cumming

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0s the construction industry

can’taffordtostandstill,saysKeesCusveller,vicepresidentofbusinessdevelopmentandpre-constructionserviceswiththeGrahamGroup.“Weneedtobeabletocompetewiththeinternationalfirmsthatarestartingtomovein.”Tohim,thatmeansevolvingineveryaspectofthebusiness,includingproductivity,safety,andenvironmentalandsocialresponsibility.Cusveller’sownsuccessfulcareergivesthatpointofviewcredibility.Afterholdingincreasinglychallenging

positionsatPCLConstruction,heledGrahamGroup’sCalgaryexpansion,growingitsannualrevenuesinthecityfromlessthan$30millionto$275millioninadecade.Now,healsoappliesthatsamelead-the-chargementalitytoapassionforvolunteering(which,incidentally,hasrootsinhis1979-80tenureaspresidentoftheNAITStudents’Association)withconstructionassociationsandtodevelopingbuilding-relatedprogramminginpost-secondaryeducation.

— Cheryl Mahaffy

– sharlene millang-borst, secretarial technology ’81

“I got my first job as a secretary two months

before I actually finished my coursework. I was

hired by an engineering firm because NAIT

was the only place that was using magnetic

media storage (electronic typewriters with

mag cards) and they wanted someone who

could use a word processor!web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/james-cumming.htm foraconversationwithNAIT’scurrentchairoftheBoardofGovernors.

50 techlifemag.ca

dr. greg korbutt is aworld-renowneddiabetesresearcheronthevergeofamajorbreakthrough.Butfrom1978to1980,hedroveaCoca-Colatruckwithnoideawheretheroadoflifewouldtakehim.EvenwhenheappliedtoNAITitwastofiveareas;eventually,hesettledonscience.Discoveringlatenttalentsinlabresearch,KorbuttworkedwithDr.RayRajotte(Medicalx-rayTechnology’65)andhisEdmontonProtocolteamtopioneertransplantsofinsulin-producingisletcellsforseverediabetics.

Thenhebeganexperimentingwithneonatalpigsasasourceofislets.Nowhe’sreadytomovethattoclinicaltrials,aNorthAmericanfirst.Todoso,he’ssecured$26milliontobuildinEdmontonthefirstWesternCanadianfacilitytomeetHealthCanadaandtheFoodandDrugAdministration’sstrictregulationsforstemcellresearch.

“It’snottheultimatecurefordiabetes,”saysKorbutt.“Butit’sagoodstop-gapsolution,whichwillincreasetheavailabilityofisletcellsfortransplantation.”

— Lisa Ricciotti

Biological sciences technology ’82alumni award of distinction ’01

as an 18-year-old from Lougheed,Alta.,KevinMartinfacedatoughchoice:playcollegiatehockeyinRedDeerorMedicineHat,orcurlatNAIT.LuckilyforCanadiancurling,hechosetogowithwhohecalls“Canada’sbestcurlingcoach,”NAIT’sJulesOwchar–wholikenedMartintoayoungGretzky.Martin’sinstructorsalsorecognizedhispotentialontheiceandteasedhimabouthowmuchtimehespent

in a natural gas marketthatcanonlybedescribedasadecade-longrollercoasterride,RandyEresman’sgriponhiscompanyisasfirmasever.

EresmantookthehelmofEncana–oneoftheworld’slargestnaturalgasproducers–aspresidentandCEOin2006,26yearsafterhejoinedAlbertaEnergyCompany,anEncanapredecessor.Beforethat,theMedicineHatnativewasthecompany’schiefoperatingofficerfrom2002to2006.

Despiteaprolongedplungeinnaturalgaspricesoverthelastfewyears,EncanahasremainedstrongunderEresman’sleadership.Itbeatanalysts’predictionsinthefirstquarterof2012incashflowandearningsandhasplanstoweatherthestorm,includingcontinuingtoleadthewayinavarietyofoilandnaturalgasplays.Goingforward,Eresmanisbuckledinandreadyfortheupsanddowns.

“Irememberseeinghighnaturalgasprices,andthenthosedroplikearock,andIrememberseeinghighoilprices,andthenthosedroplikearock,”hetoldtheFinancial PostinFebruary.“Easymoney,hardmoney–thisisthebusiness.”

— Eliza Barlow

Petroleum engineering technology ’80

greg Korbutt

randy eresman

Petroleum engineering technology ’87honorary Bachelor of technology in technology management ’10 alumni award of distinction ’11

Kevin martin

attherink.“Iwastherefortheeducation,”saysMartin,“but…IwaslivingattheAvonair[CurlingClub]thewholetime.”Today,Martinhasyettoworkinhisfieldofstudy.Instead,heearnedrock-starstatusasacurler,winningOlympicsilverandgold,fourBriersandnumeroustournamentsontheworldcurlingcircuit.“Itwasagooddecisionmadeinthefallof

’84,”saysMartinwithachuckle.

— Ruth Juliebo

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/kevin-martin-jules-owchar.htm forthestoryofthemostsuccessfulplayer-coachrelationshipinthehistoryofcurling.

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ctv’s daryl mcintyrehas beenaneveningnewsanchorlongerthananyoneinEdmonton.Hecreditsthattoawillingnesstoembracechange.Duringhis26yearswiththestation,he’switnessedseismicshiftsinthemedialandscape:mergers,decliningadvertisingrevenueandtheexplosionofsocialmedia.

Forhim,thebeautyofsocialmedia,includingFacebook,Twitterandblogging,ishowtheyincreasetheconnectionwithviewers.Thatpowerbecameevidentwith

radio and television arts ’83

daryl mcintyre

198

0s he’s spent 33 years growinghisfamily’sEdmonton-based

manufacturingbusinessintoaglobalexportpowerhouse–butthelastthingMarkMcNeillwantstodoiskeepthesecretsofhissuccesstohimself.

McNeillispresidentandCEOofStream-FloIndustries,foundedin1962byhisfatherDuncanMcNeill(DistinguishedFriendoftheInstitute’03),andMasterFloValve,whichtheyacquiredin1982.

“Astheexperiencedcrowd,weneedtoeducateandpassonourlife’slearning–andlearnfromthenewgeneration–tomakesureweserviceourcustomersandourindustryasbestwecan,”hesays.

Tothatend,theMcNeillfamilyhasapassionforsharingtheirexpertisewithup-and-comingbusinesses.NAIT’sDuncanMcNeillCentreforInnovationprovidesearlystagebusinessesandentrepreneurswithofficespaceandadvicefromNAITexperts.

AndMcNeillknowsathingortwoaboutbuildingabusiness.HejoinedStream-Floin1979,sweepingfloorsandbuildingwellheads,thenputhisaversiontolosingandcompetitivenaturetousewithashifttoinsidesales.Heestimateshespent40percentofhistimeontheroad,livinginmostpartsofAlbertaandSaskatchewan.

Buthereallycuthisteethin1986,whenhestartedafive-and-a-halfyearstintinIndonesia,openingupSoutheastAsiatothecompany,whoseleadershipinmanufacturingwellheads,valves,chokesandotherequipmentforboththeoffshoreandsurfaceoilandgasindustryhasseenitsproductsinstalledinatleast50countriesacrossfourcontinents.

Doingbusinessoverseasmeansmanagingculturaldifferencesandtimezones,butMcNeillsaysbuildingandnurturingpersonalrelationshipswithcustomersisauniversalimperative.

Hiswordsofadvice?“Beopen-minded.Andexpecttoworkveryhard.”

— Eliza Barlow

Business administration – marketing ’82

marK mcneill

for scott matheson (Building construction engineering

technology ‘83), “crushing the competition in the bridge

building challenge without getting wet,” was a highlight of

the 1981-82 school year. matheson, team captain, came

up with the winning design pictured here.

theMaddoxFlynnstory.In2010,McIntyreaccompaniedthetwo-year-old,bornwithaseverefacialdeformity,andhisfamilytoNewYorkforsurgery.Combinedwithhistraditionalreporting,thejournalist’sblog,TwitterandFacebookpostsallowedpeopletostayfullyengagedwiththestory,whichsawthegenerationofnearly$300,000indonationstohelpthefamilycovercosts.

“Whenpeopledecidetomobilizeit’sanextraordinarythingtowatch,”hesays.

— Ruth Juliebo

52 techlifemag.ca

“just as mark ohe wastakingaleadroleinthefamilymechanicalbusinessin1991,abackfiringairplanepropellersmashedhisleg.Lessthanfouryearslater,heranamarathonandraised$10,000fortheRainbowSocietyofAlbertatohelpgrantthewishesofkidswithchronicillnesses.Ohe’sblendofgritandgenerosityhasalsoservedenvironmental,socialandhealth-caregroups.Hetraceshisattitudebacktohisfather,GatewayMechanicalServices

founderBillOhe,whoalwaystoldhiskids,“Givingneedstobepartofyourlife,”recallsOhe.“Notjustmoney,butyourtimeandenergy.”NowoneofWesternCanada’sleadingmechanicalservicecompanies,Gateway’scorporategenerosityhelpedbuildtheNAITGatewayMechanicalServicesCentreforBuildingEnvironmentTechnology,whichisteachingthenextgenerationhowtooptimizebuildingenvironments.

— Cheryl Mahaffy

born in a jamaican village, GeorgeRogersknowswhatitistogowithout.Soit’sapointofpridethatasanelectedofficial,firstfortheCityofLeducandnowasMLAforLeduc-Beaumont,hehashelpedlaythegroundworkforcommunitiestoenjoyimprovedqualityoflife.Trainedasanaccountant,Rogersturnedtorealestate,andthenpublicoffice,toworkmorecloselywithpeople.Attractingrecord-settingvotetallies,heservedasLeducaldermanthenmayorwhileactiveintheAlbertaUrbanMunicipalitiesAssociationandtheFederationofCanadianMunicipalities.“IgrewupinLeduc,andbackthenwehadtogotoEdmontonforalmosteverything,”herecalls.

“Todayit’sallavailablerighthere,andalotofthedecisionsI’vebeenapartofledtothatsuccessfulgrowth.”

—C.M.

Business administration – accounting ’80

air conditioning engineering technology ’81alumni award of distinction ’98Board of governors 2010 - present

marK oHe

george rogers“Oh, the Ronald McDonald Cups. It started when the

[University of Alberta Golden] Bears were ranked

No. 1 in the country in their conference and we [the

Ooks] were ranked No. 1 in the country in ours. And

all of a sudden the talk shows started saying: ‘Who

is the No. 1 college team in the country?’ and it just

mushroomed from there. It was exciting. And that’s

when we really felt the school was behind us. I think

there were 15,000 people [at the game at Northlands

Coliseum]. We lost that game. It was 5-4. Exciting

game. Lots of hits. The crowd was going nuts. It was

a really good experience.

– ron amyotte, respiratory technology ’87; member of the ooks men’s hockey team from 1984 to 1987

– helen wladyka, hired 1972 – currently chief information officer, nait information services

When NAIT was first automating the Executive

Office (sometime in the ’80s), we had a challenge

with a certain academic VP who had no interest

in joining in on the fantastic opportunity. We

replaced the unused computer in his office with

a cardboard replica and he loved it! Today, our

executive all use the latest technology – what

a change!

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nine to five? no thanks, says tracey scarlett,whopreferstocontrolherowndestiny–andlovestohelpothersdothesame.

TheCEOofAlbertaWomenEntrepreneurs,anon-profitorganizationthatassistswomenwithbusinessventures,Scarlettcutherentrepreneurialteethraising4-HcalvesonthefamilyfarmnearSexsmith,Alta.,anenvironmentshecreditsforteachinghertoblazeherowntrail.“Growinguponafarmteachesyoualotofindependenceandself-sufficiency,andhowtohandlethingsyoucan’tanticipate.”

AftergraduatingfromNAIT,shewentfrommanaginglabsforsmallcompanies,torunninganelectricalcontractingbusiness,tostartingaconsultingpracticeworkingwithscientistsonmarketresearch.

KMTHepatech,whichhaddevelopedatechnologyinvolvedwithHepatitisCtesting,becameahugeindustrysuccessintwoyearswithScarlettasitschiefoperatingofficer.

WhentheopportunitycamealongtoheadAlbertaWomenEntrepreneurs,Scarlettjumpedatthechancetohelpotherwomenworkforthemselves,whichcontributes$117billionayeartotheCanadianeconomy.

“Seeingbusinessescometolifeonadailybasis,creatingjobs,creatingwealth–thesearetangibleoutcomesthatIfindreallyrewarding.”

Manywomenwhocometoheraredealingwithyoungfamiliesoragingparents,buttheneedforflexibilityisn’twhat’sdrivingthemfromthecorporateworld,saysScarlett.“Theydon’twanttobepassiveabouttheirlotinlife.Theywanttocreatetheirfutures.”

JustasScarlettcontinuestocreateherown.

— Eliza Barlow

medical laboratory technology ’87

tracey scarlett

julie m. shaw was workingher first jobatNelsonLumberinEdmontonwhenayoungcouplecamein,houseplansinhand,tobuythematerialstheyneededtobuildtheirnewtwo-storeyhome.

Sheimmediatelynoticedaglaringomission.“Isaid,‘Youknowyoudon’thaveastaircaseintheseplans.’Theyjustkindoflookedateachother.”

Threedecadeslater,Shawappliesthesamematter-of-factnesstoherroleasvicepresidentfacilities,designandmanagementwithShawCommunications.Foundedin1966byherfather,JRShaw(DistinguishedFriendoftheInstitute’97,HonoraryDiplomainBusinessAdministration’07),thecompanyhasgrowntobecomeCanada’sleadingcommunicationsprovider.ShealsoservesasvicechairofCorusEntertainment.

Shawhasalwayshadakeeninterestinthemechanicsofhowbuildingscometogether.Aftershecompletedhereducation,shelandedaninteriordesignjobwithVancouverfirmHoppingKovachGrinnellwhile“moonlighting”forthefamilybusinessbackinAlberta.

“Whenyourfamilyasksyoutodosomething,it’salways,‘Itwon’ttakelong,’”shesayswithachuckle.“Mydadorbrotherwouldask,‘Couldyoujustdothis?Couldyoujustdothat?’Youfeelcompelled.”

Today,sheandherteamrunallofShaw’ssitesacrossCanada,managingeverythingfrombuildingimprovementanddesigntoparking.She’soverseeingtheconstructionofa25,200-square-metre(280,000-square-foot)datacentreinCalgary,duetoopenaround2015,andanewGlobalTVstudioinHalifax.“Wewanttomakesureit’sacreativeenvironmentthat’sexcitingandmotivating[forthecompany’smorethan14,000employees].”

Onething’sforsure:she’llnevermissastaircase.

— E.B.

architectural technology ’82

JUlie m. sHaW

54 techlifemag.ca

people don’t think of vancouver asfrontierterritory.Butin1995,whenBruceWoloshynjoinedvisualeffectsstartupRainmakerDigitalPictures,itwas.AtleastasfarasHollywoodwasconcerned.

“WehadtodothingstoshowwecouldbetakenseriouslyandthattheindustrycouldgrowandthriveinCanada,”saysWoloshyn.Thankstothoseearlyefforts,Vancouverisnowoneofthelargestproductioncentresforvisualeffectsintheworld.WoloshynwasinstrumentalinhelpingtoestablishtheVisualEffectsSociety,aninternational

entertainmentindustryprofessionalgroup,inVancouver,and,in2007,hostedthevotingforSpecialVisualEffectsfortheEmmyAwardsatRainmaker–thefirsttimeitwasheldoutsidetheUnitedStates.Theaward-winningvisualeffectssupervisor,whonowworksforMethodStudios,hasalsobeenchartingnewcoursesonthebigandlittlescreens,wherehismanycreditsincludeStargate SG-1, The Twilight SagamoviesandNight at the Museum.“Almosteveryprojectdemandsthatwedosomethingwe’veneverdonebefore.AndIreallythriveonthat.”

— Kristen Vernon

radio and television arts ’84

after nait, sandy yakimchuk workedwithelectroniccontrolsystemsonoilrigsaroundtheworld,travellingallcontinentsexceptAntarctica,alife-changingexperiencehebelieveswouldn’thavehappenedwithouthiseducation.NowownerandoperatorofControlFreaksAutomation,anEdmonton-basedfirmthatspecializesindesigningelectroniccontrols,Yakimchukvolunteerednearly500hourstobuild13customprogrammablelogiccontrollers

as the youngest of 14 siblings, daniel yeunglearnedthatcollaborationistheonlywaytogetthingsdone.“Iamluckytohavelearnedtheselessons,becauseIcontinuetoapplythemtomywork,”hesays.Once,itsavedhiscareer.AfterYeunggothisfirstjobasadentaltechnicianin1981,adownturnledtolayoffs.“Iwassavedbecauseoneofourclientssaidtheywouldn’tworkwithanyonebutme.”SincebecomingpresidentofUniversalDentalLaboratories,aproviderofdentalservicesandproducts,hecontinuestoputpeoplefirst.Yeungisknownasastudentmentorandadviser,andasatirelesscommunityvolunteer.AstheonlydentaltechnicianintheEdmontonandDistrictDentalSociety(mostmembersaredentists),hecontributestotheShineforDentistryProgram,whichoffersdentalcaretoEdmonton’sless-fortunateyouth.

— Sandy Robertson

dental laboratory technology ’81alumni award of distinction ’06

BrUce WolosHyn

daniel Wai yUK yeung

electronics engineering technology ’85

sandy yaKimcHuK

(PLC)forNAIT’selectronicsengineeringandnanotechnologyprograms,andalsohelpedwriteanaccompanyingcourse.StudentswilllearnaboutapplicationsforPLCsindifferentAlbertaindustriesandhowtowritethesoftwaretheyusetocontrolmachinesandequipment–broadeningtheircareeroptionsupongraduation.“ThisisafavourbacktoNAITforallowingmetohavesuchalotoffuninmycareer,”hesays.

— Fiona Bensler

“I almost burned the school down. I was making a

music video…. We were shooting in the bigger of

the two studios in the RTA building. One of the

things was to have a Valentine’s card on fire drop

to the floor. It caught the bed on fire on the set

and everybody started flipping out. There was a

fire extinguisher right at the door. I grabbed it and

put the fire out. And then everybody was thinking,

‘You’re going to be in a pile of trouble when they

find out you discharged the fire extinguisher.’ And

I thought, ‘Yeah, but I’m going to be in a lot less

trouble than if I burned the studio down.’

– bruce woloshyn, radio and television arts ’84

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s

mike anderson brought a wholenewbuzztocampuslife,creatingeventsthatbecamethestuffofmemories.Asastudent,hiszanyanticsmadehimtopchoiceasOokmascot;Ookfest,whichhelaunchedasaNAITStudents’Association(NAITSA)vicepresident,grewintooneofNorthAmerica’stopcampuspartiesduringhisnineyearsasNAITSAentertainmentandmarketingmanager.“Iloveentertainingpeople,”hesays.

Business administration – marketing ’98 Business administration – management ’99

michael anDerson

whatever environment MarkHamblinchoosestoinhabit,he’llfindwaystomakeitbetter.Asateen,hedesignedinventorycontrolsoftwareforhisfavouritemotorcycleshops.AtNAIT,andlateratMatrikon,hecreatedmoresoftwaretostreamlinemanufacturingprocesses.Stillinpursuitofproductivityfixes,in2008HamblinlaunchedDynamicManufacturingSolutionstohelpimprovebusinessoperations–effortsthathaveearnedaccoladesforinnovationandrapidgrowthfromProfit andAlberta Venture

computer engineering technology ’95alumni award of distinction ’01

marK Hamblin

AndersonparlayedthatpassionintoacareerwiththelaunchofTrixstarProductions.Quicklybecomingago-tofirmforcelebrityevents,itslistofbigsnagshasincludedUFC’sForrestGriffinandWilliamShatnerofStar Trek.TheLittleBrotherAndersonmentoredforadecadenowwantstofollowinhisfootsteps,andnowonder.NoteverylittlebrotherenjoysbackstageaccesstothelikesofOokfestveteransNickelback.

— Cheryl Mahaffy

magazines.Inaddition,heregularlymentorsandhiresNAITstudents,andorganizesanannualindustryeventattheNAITShellManufacturingCentretoshowcasetechnologiesandpracticesmanufacturerscanusetoexcel.“ThemanufacturingindustryinAlbertaisdefinitelybehindthetimescomparedtootherjurisdictionsinNorthAmerica,”hesays.“TheyneedusandtheyneedNAITtohelpmovethemforward.”

— C.M.

“– stan souch, nait President 1980-97

– mike anderson, business administration – marketing ’98, business administration – management ’99; ook mascot ’96

“I loved being the Ook. It was an outlet for me to

have a lot of fun…. One time I was dancing in the

bleachers and I jumped down and cracked my

heel. I’d do a figure skating show after the game.

I’d spin around and fall on my face. I was still

determined to put on my show. I laced up and

went out there. It took me about an hour to get

my skate off after.

I would play for the NAIT staff hockey team

because we had such a rivalry with SAIT and there

was a lot of pressure for me to play. One time

we went down … and about the second period or

halfway through the third, I got a puck in the ear.

And they took me to the hospital and they said,

‘Boy, are you lucky. We happen to have a plastic

surgeon here.’ Thirty-four stitches later … I even

bled for NAIT.

56 techlifemag.ca

with restaurateurs for parents,ChrisKourouniotisgrewupwithaninsider’sviewofthehospitalitybusiness.Butitwasn’tfoodthatinfluencedhiscareerpath,itwasthediningexperience–andthespecialroleadesignerplaysinthat.“We’recreatingatwo-hourholiday,”saysKourouniotis,principalofCKDesignAssociates,anEdmonton-basedfirmresponsibleforhundredsofrestaurantandofficeinteriorsacrossAlbertaand,throughfranchisedclients,asfarafieldasIndiaandPakistan.Today,Kourouniotisseekstoinspire

up-and-comerslikehisyoungerselfbyactingasanadvisertoNAIT’sInteriorDesignTechnologyprogramandmentoringitsstudents.“It’smyopportunitytostealsomeoneeveryyear,”hesays,andthatwaycontinuetotransformcommonAlbertadiningexperiencesintomealstoremember.

— Scott Messenger

interior design technology ’94

when andrew hore attendedNAIT’shockeycampin1986at10yearsold,thepowerhousemen’shockeyteammadeittheplacetoplay.ButduringhisowntimeasastudentandOoksforwardfrom1996to1999,thefacilitiesandequipmenthadseenbetterdays.Soinfall1999,Horeco-foundedtheOoksHockeyAlumniAssociationtohelpimprovetheprogram.Lastyear,itgave$200,000–itslargestdonationever–tocoverscholarships,maintainequipmentandsendkidstoNAIThockeycamps.Today,Hore,currentlycorporatepartnershipsdirectorfortheEdmontonOilers,thinksNAIThockeyisreadytomatchitsglorydays.“Inmymind,”hesays,

“it’soneofthetopcollegehockeyprogramsinCanada.”

— Fiona Bensler


chris Kourouniotis

andreW Hore

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/nest-renovation.htm toseeChrisKourouniotis’srecentredesignofTheNest,NAIT’scampusbarandgrill.

– stephanie koska, civil engineering technology ’98; civil engineering technology instructor 2001 – present

“My husband Rory and I met in 1996 while both

attending NAIT. He was in the Architectural

Technology program (class of ’98), and I was in

Civil Engineering Technology (class of ’98). We

both played basketball for the Ooks. We met

one night at a social after one of the games and

realized that we both attend classes in the same

building. We dated all through college and were

married on June 2, 2001.

– david robinson, electronic service technician ’85, business administration ’91

“During my time at NAIT, my father was a welding

instructor. He loved his breads and visited the

NAIT bakery almost daily. Sitting in the study hall,

I could often catch a glimpse of my dad off to the

bakery to check the daily goods during his breaks.

Dad is now long retired but still remembers his

fulfilling years at NAIT.

v6.1 2012 57


corbin tomaszeskiisanidealrolemodelforstudentscookingupplanstobecomecelebritychefs–mostlybecausethehostofFoodNetworkTVshowsCrash My Kitchen,Restaurant Makeover andDinner Party Warsneverexpectedhissuccess.ArealistraisedonacentralAlbertafarm,

“IthoughtIwouldworkatafewrestaurants,beachefatmy

ownandthatwouldbeit,”saysTomaszeski.Byfocusingonhiscraft–andonaphilosophythatgreatfoodhasthepowertobringpeopletogether–herosetotherankofexecutivechefatToronto’sHolt’sCafé.Onlythendidaproducernoticehistalent(andhiscongenialityandquickwit).Sincethen,lifeunderthebrightlightshasgalvanizedhisresolvetoremainrealistic–andauthentic.

“ThepersonyouseeonTVistheoneIaminreallife,”saysTomaszeski.“Iwanttobegenuine.IfIlosesightofthat,Ihavetothinkaboutdoingsomethingelse.”

— Scott Messenger

cook ’92alumni award of distinction ’10

dean turgeon has never stoppedasking,Why?AftergraduatingfromNAITat20,thishabitcausedclasheswhenheworkedforconstructionfirmsasasurveyor,drafteranddesigntechnician.“Ineverwantedtofollowthenormiftherewasabetterprocesstoimproveefficiencies,”saysTurgeon.Butwhenhediscoveredanemerginggreenbuildingphilosophyintheearly2000scalledLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign(LEED),hisbigquestionbecame,WhyfollowwhenyoucanLEED?

corBin tomaszesKi

engineering design and drafting technology ’90

dean turgeon

Soin2003hestartedhisowncompany,VitalEngineering,withafocusoneducatingclientsaboutthebenefitsofdesignoptionsincludinggeothermal,solarandpassiveenergysources.Turgeonhasbecomealeaderinhisownright,too.Heregularlyshareshisexpertisewithindustryandgovernmentassociations,andhelpeddevelopNAIT’sAlternativeEnergyTechnologyprogram,forwhichhecontinuestoserveasanadvisoryboardmember.

— Lisa Ricciotti

as the former president and ceo of upside software,AshifMawjiremembersthefirsttimethecompanyboughtnewchairsfortheoffice.

“Thatwasabigdeal–everyonewasreallyexcited.”Formed12yearsago,justasthedot-combubbleburst,the

contractmanagementsoftwarecompanyhadtobefrugaltoweathertheshatteredmarket.“WegotalotofthingsfromeBay,”herecalls.

Mawjilearnedthevalueofself-sufficiencywhilegrowingupinKenya,where,fromtheageof12,hesoldwatchesonconsignmenttomakepocketmoney.

Andhe’slonghadakeensenseofthesmartestusesforhismoney,onethatwouldhelphisfuturebusinesssurviveandthrivethroughmarketupsanddowns.OnafamilytriptotheUnitedKingdom,heboughtacomputertosellataprofitbackinKenya.

AfterheimmigratedtoCanada,Mawjiusedthatsameentrepreneurialsavvytostarttwocompanies,includingUpside.ItsfirstclientwasBurlingtonNorthernSantaFeRailwayand,acoupleofmonthslater,HewlettPackardsignedon.Fromthere,thedealskeptcoming.

Intime,sodidofferstopurchasethecompany.ThisAugust,hefinallyacceptedone,freeinghimuptofocusonvolunteereffortswithcharitiesincludingtheKidsKottageFoundationandtheStolleryChildren’sHospitalFoundation.

Ithasalsoallowedhimtolooktowardnewventures.Amongthem:asoftware-as-a-serviceventuretohelpnon-profitsbecomemoreefficientand,justashelearnedtodo,surviveandthrive.

—Eliza Barlow

computer systems technology ’92alumni award of distinction ’03Board of governors 2004-10

ashif maWji

199

0s

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/chicken-dumpling-soup.htm towatchCorbinTomaszeskimakesoupwithhismom,

andtechlifemag.ca/chef-corbin-tomaszeski.htm forhisviewsonwhatmakesgoodfoodtelevision.

58 techlifemag.ca

AN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COMMITTED TO STUDENT SUCCESS | www.nait.ca

WEAR IT… READ IT… WRITE IT –

NAIT IS !

five decades of great memories1962 – 2012

We make shopping easy: Online: onlinestore.nait.ca | Phone: 780.491.3104 | Email: [email protected] the NAIT Bookstore: Room X114, 11762 106 Street, Edmonton, AB

MARK NAIT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH FUN MERCHANDISE FROM THE NAIT BOOKSTORE

T-SHIRT, $19.95

NAIT@50 on back neck.

HOODIE, $59.95

Full zip in retro-looking charcoal.

BALL CAP, $24.95

Navy with NAIT@50 logo.

APRONS, $20.95 ea.

7 sassy styles feature NAIT@50 logo on neck tie.

WRIST BAND, $9.95

With 4GB USB flash drive.

COFFEE TABLE BOOK, $50.00

COMMEMORATIVE COFFEE TABLE BOOK

Oversize 84-page format features photos and memories marking 50 years of life at NAIT and notable happenings in the city, the country and the world.

MULTI-USE POCKET TOOL, $49.95

So handy!

FLOAT PEN, $6.95

Remember them?


00

s in 2006, stephani carter turned herprivatewaronwasteandtoxinsintoherprofession,takingonthechallengeofgreeningtheconstructionindustrybyfoundingEcoAmmoSustainableConsultinginEdmonton.Despitethatartilleryallusion,Carter’sonlyweaponiseco-knowledge.Toherpleasantsurprise,industrycolleagueshavewillinglyjoinedthecampaign.“Oursocietyisdemonstratingastrongsocialdesireformoresustainableliving;that’snowinfluencingthebuildingindustry,”saysCarter.

Shetracesherpathbacktoherfirstinteriordesignposition,wheresherealizedshewasmoreconcernedwithpaintsthatweren’tpoisonousratherthantheperfectshade.SoshepartneredwiththeprovincialgovernmentandClimateChangeCentraltocreateGreenAlberta,anonlinedatabaseofgreenbuildingmaterials.

Sincethen,herprogresshasbeen,well,organic,withoneprojectseedinganother.AlongthewayshebecameanaccreditedLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign

stePhani carter

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/green-building-products towatchStephaniCarter’stutorialonbuildingwithenvironmentallyfriendlymaterials.

(LEED)professionalandhelpedstartAlberta’sLEEDchapter.Asherexpertiseandexperiencehavegrown,she’sblossomedfrom

“thatgreengirl”toaprofessionalwhoseinsightissoughtafteratconferencesandbyindustrymemberskeentogogreen.

EcoAmmo,inthemeantime,hasgrowntothreepartnersandconsultedoneverythingfromnetzerohousingtocommercialprojectsforclients,includingWalmartCanadaandSecondCup,aswellasinternationalfirms.Regardlessofthefrontiersthecompanywillconquernext,Carterhasn’tforgottenherroots,andgivesbackbyguestlecturingonsustainablebuildingproductsandmaterialstoNAITdesignandarchitecturestudents,andbyservingonitsinteriordesignadvisorycommittee.

— Lisa Ricciotti

interior design technology ’01

don oboroWsKy

“tradespeople with certificates are not born, they’re made.” SosaysDonOborowsky,whohasdedicatedmuchofhiscareertoadvancingthetradesandapprenticeshiptraininginAlberta.

Aspresident,CEOandco-founderofEdmonton-basedWaiwardSteelFabricators,Oborowskysaysthatatanygiventime,20percentofhis500-plusemployeesareapprentices.Qualifiedtradespeople,hesays,requirelesssupervisiononthejob,increaseproductivityandhelpmakeworkplacessafer.

“Thewholeapprenticeprogramisimportant,notonlytomebuttothewholeindustry.Itplaysaveryimportantroleinourwholeeconomy.”

TheneedformorespacestotrainapprenticestosustaintheeconomyledOborowskytomakeasignificantinvestmentinestablishingtheNAITWaiwardCentreforSteelTechnologies.Theworld-classfacilityopenedin2006,boostingNAIT’ssteeltradestrainingcapacityby60percent.

Interestingly,Oborowsky–alreadyasuccessfulbusinessman –returnedtoNAITfourdecadesafterstartinghisCarpenterapprenticeshiptocompletehisowntrainingin2007.Hesayshealwaysfelt“alittlebitofguilt”aboutnotcompletinghistraining.

“IfinisheditbecauseIwantedtofinishit.”

—Frank Landry

carpenter ’07honorary Bachelor of technology ’09Board of governors 2002-08

60 techlifemag.ca

javier salazar inspires confidenceinothers–whetherit’sthehighschoolstudentshementorsorthelow-incomeEdmontonianshephotographs.

Salazar,whoemigratedfromMexicotoattendNAIT,hasbeenorganizingEdmonton’sHelp-Portraitsince2009,offeringthoseinneedaprofessionalportraitasawayofboostingtheirself-esteem.

“Youdon’treallyunderstandthevalueofaportraituntilyougive

ittoapersonwhohasn’teverhadaprofessionalportraittaken –whoreceivesthatportraitandcriesinfrontofyou,”saystheownerofJavierSalazarPhotography.

Byday,SalazarworksforJuniorAchievementofNorthernAlberta,wherehementorshighschoolstudents.“Thewayweempowerkids,that’swhat’skeptmethereforsolong,”hesays.

— F.L.

Photographic technology ’09

if marlon wilson –musician,marketer,mentor,producer,radioDJ,philanthropistandambassador–hadanaliasforeachofhissuccessfulendeavours,we’dneverknowhisrealname.Wilson’sbetterknownasArloMaverick,one-quarterofthesuccessfulEdmontonhip-hopgroupPoliticLive.Asco-founderofMusicforMavericksEntertainment,anacclaimed

it’s like an episodeofCheers:JulesOwcharwalksintoacurlingrinkinnorthernAlbertaandeveryoneknowshisname.He’shadhisfairshareofmediaattentionforcoachingcurling’sgoldenboy,KevinMartin,forthepast27years,butthat’snottheonlyreasonforhiscelebritystatus.He’salsocoachedhundredsofjuniorandprofessionalcurlersfromaroundtheworld.

“Ijustfellintocoaching,”saysOwchar.In1969,hebeganatNAITasaphysicaleducationinstructor.Throughoutthedecadesofmentoringyoungathletes,“thekids,”ashefondlycallsthem,havegoneontowinmorethan40provincialandnationalchampionships(someofthosewereingolf–OwcharisanexpertinstructorinthatotherScottishsportaswell).

“There’ssuchasatisfactionifyoucangivesomethingtothekids,”hesays,“andwatchthemclimb.”

Arguably,nonehaveclimbedhigherthanKevinMartin,agoldmedallistatthe2010WinterOlympics.“Juleshasaneyeforseeingthemechanicsofacurlingdelivery,”saysMartin.Overtheyears,thetwohavedevelopedaworkingrelationshipthatcontinuestoproducepositiveresults.“Weunderstandeachother,”Martinadds.

AlthoughOwcharofficiallyretiredfromNAITin2003,hecontinuestocoachthemen’sandwomen’scurlingandgolfteams.Withhisrare,naturaltalentforspottingawinner,there’snobetterscoutforcurling’snextstar.

—Ruth Juliebo

Javier salazar

athletics Wall of fame ’03

JUles oWcHar


marlon Wilson

independenturbanmusicrecordlabel,healsonurtureslocalmusicians.That’sjustoneexampleofhowhegivesback.For13yearshehasvolunteeredasaradiohostatCJSR.He’sbeenamemberofseveralhigh-profileartsboardsandcontinuestoserveontheJunoAwards’rapadvisorycommittee.Andbeyondmusic,hesupportshislargercommunitythroughfundraisersincludinghisannualHip-HopforHungerevent,whichhasaidedtheEdmontonFoodBanksince2002.CallhimMarlonorArloMaverick,hisisanametowatch.

— L.R.

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/marlon-wilson.htm tolearnwhysomecallhimthefatherofEdmonton’surbanmusicscene.

v6.1 2012 61

good luck! see you online.

techlifemag.ca

DIDYOUHEARaboutNathanMcLaughlin,theEdmontonfoodtruckchefsoontoappearonEat Street?

DIDYOUKNOWOlympicgold-medallistShannonSzabadosplaysnetforthemen’sOokshockeyteam?

HAvEYOUDOWNlOADEDDinerInspect,afreeappthatratesrestaurantsbyhealthinspectionreports?

DIDYOUIMPROvEyourpersonalbottomlinewithourtax,savingsandbudgetingtips?

HAvEYOUTRIEDourstudents’award-winningrecipesforpeardesserts?

IFNOT,NOWISTHETIMETOSIGNUPforthetechlifemag.cae-newsletter.Eighttimesayear,wesendoursubscribersthelatestfromtechlifemag.ca,ouronlinetechnologylifestylemagazinewhereyou’llfindthestorieslistedaboveandmanymore.

SUBSCRIBINGISEASY.Justvisittechlifemag.ca,clickSubscribeandfillintheappropriatefields(orscantheQRcodeonthispagewithyourmobiledevice;seep.7ifyoudon’thaveacodereader).DosobeforeNov.30,2012andwe’llenteryournametowinoneof25limited-editionOokT-shirts.Ifyou’realreadyasubscriber,[email protected].

a limited-edition ooK t-sHirt!

FRONT BACK

OOKSGENERATION

62 techlifemag.ca

ooks tHrougH tHe agesnait’s entry into intercollegiate athletics–atleastonthebasketballcourt–wastentativeatbest,ifa63–28drubbingofthemenbyaveteranSAITsquadonMarch6,1964isanyindication.JudgingfromThe Nuggetthatweek,allthatmatteredwasthatNAIThadenteredthefray:“TheSAITTrojansbetterbewarefornextyear–weshallkicktheirpantsforthem!”

Sincethen,NAIThasindeedkickedsomepants(someyearsmorethanothers).Considerthisthehighlightreel:therecordsset,thedoggeddevelopment,themajorplayersandthebigwins.ThisisthestoryoftheOoksthroughtheyears–champions,winorlose.

— Scott Messenger

“ the sait troJans Better BeWare for next year – We shall KicK their Pants for them!”

nix on tHe cHicKs

the 1989-90 seasonrepresentsaslamdunkforgenderequalityinNAITathletics.Thatseason,women’sbasketballfinallytradedtheChicksmoniker(theywereeventheOokpikettesatonepoint)forOoks,thenameemblazonedonthemen’sjerseys.

tHe Perfect season

the 1984-85Ooksmen’shockeyseasonendedinastatisticalimprobability:25wins,nolosses.Thatperfectseasoncarriedintotheplayoffs,asthemenswepttheprovincialandnationalchampionships.Inrecognitionofthishistory-makingfeat,thesquadwasinductedthisJuneintotheAlbertaHockeyHallofFame.

tHe instigator

immortalizedontheAthleticsWallofFame,firstdeanofStudentServicesGaryMeadussetballsrolling,pucksslidingandallmannerofsportsparaphernaliainmotionbyestablishingtheinstitute’sathleticsprogramsandjoiningtheWesternIntercollegeConferencein1964,nowtheAlbertaCollegesAthleticConference.

too cute to cut it

adopted in 1964,theOokpikremainstheperfectsportsmascotforanortherlypolytechnic:alsoknownasasnowyowl,it’saCanadianiconandanadepthunter.Itsonlydrawbackisthatitcanlookabitcute–hencethemostrecentredesigninitiatedbyathleticsdirectorLindaHenderson.

“Thepreviousonelookedtoomuchlikeacaricature,”shesays.“Wewantedittolookalittlebitmoreintimidating.”

186 23total alBerta colleges athletic conference chamPionshiP titles (varioUs sPorts)

total canadian collegiate athletic association chamPionshiP titles (varioUs sPorts)

PeoPle

Alpineskiing

Bowling

Canoeing

Cross-countryskiing

Fencing

Racquetsports

Swimming

Wrestling

bygone teams

TheOoksoncemadetheirmarkinthesediscontinuedsports:

-THE NuGGET

64 techlifemag.ca

web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/ooks-history.htmforfeaturesonLindaHenderson’seffortstorebuildNAITathletics,ShannonSzabadosasthemen’shockeyteam’sfirstfemalegoalie,the1984-85men’shockeyperfectseason,andthefullresultsofthehistoric2011-12season.

“ she’s the Best female goalie in the World, and We have her on oUr team.”

full-time commitment

shortly after hendersontookoverasdirectorofathleticsandrecreationin2008,shefloatedtheideaoffull-timecoaches–afirstforCanadiancolleges.Sheaskedfor12,gotsix(men’sandwomen’shockey,basketballandvolleyball),andsetthestandardhigh,hiringandfiringliketheproleagues.Theresult:strongerinternalsupportofathletics,increasedpost-seasonrepresentationandmoreprovincialandnationalbanners.“Otherschoolsdidn’treallybelieveitwouldbesuccessfulorsustainable,”saysHenderson.“Whenitbecameboth,Ijustsmiled.”

tHe contenDers

until the 2011-12 season,neverhadallwomen’sandmen’steamsadvancedtothepost-season.Lastyear,student-athletescompetedforprovincialchampionshiptitlesinsoccer,volleyball,curling,hockey,golf,basketball,badmintonandcross-countryrunning.Theywonnationalgoldinmen’ssoccerandmen’ssinglesandwomen’sdoublesbadminton.

just one of tHe guys

shannon szabadosjoiningthemen’shockeyprogramasitsfirstfemalegoaliequalifiesasanothervictoryinathleticsgenderissues.Itwasalsoanobviouschoice.WhennottendingtheOoksnet,thePersonalFitnessTrainerstudentbackstopsTeamCanada.

“She’sthebestfemalegoalieintheworld,”saysKyleJohnson,captainduringSzabados’firstyearin2011-12.“Andwehaveheronourteam.”

tHe future

more championship bannersareanobviousgoal,saysHenderson.Providingfullscholarshipsforeverystudent-athleteineverysportisanother.Butforher,thewayforwardisdefinedbymuchbiggerthinking:

“Weneedanewfacility.”Withit,NAITcouldhostmorenationalchampionships,attractmorestudent-athletesand,sheadds,continuetogivetheinstituteplentyofopportunitiestogatherandcelebratebycheeringonitsOoks.

-KYLEJOHNSONCAPTAIN,2011-12OOKS MEN’SHOCKEYTEAM

clockwise from left, the chicks basketball team, the 1984-85 ooks men’s hockey team, the most recent version of the ooks logo.

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s by

na

it s

taff

Ph

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gr

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v6.1 2012 65

PeoPle

v6.1 2012 67

ooKPiKThe meAnIng of

what happens when the search for a cherished, iconic artifact turns up empty? sometimes you reconsider what it is you’re looking for.

story by RUTHJUlIEBO

Photos by NAITSTAFFPHOTOGRAPHERS

PeoPle

68 techlifemag.ca

When it comes to picking a school mascot,powerfulcreatureslikeeagles,tigersandbulldogsreignsupreme.Butin1964,

NAITmadeadifferentchoice.TheNAITStudents’Association(NAITSA)chosea20-centimetre-tallInuithandicraft:asnowyowl–knowninInuktitutasanookpik.

“Atthattime,ookpikwasabigpopiconinCanada.Therewasevenasongaboutit,”recallsWilliamMiles,NAITSA’sfirstpresident.OnOct.28,1964,MileswaspresentedwithanauthenticookpikbyanofficialfromtheDepartmentofNorthernAffairsandNationalResourcesatNAIT’sfirstawardsday.“BeingthemostnortherlyinstituteofitskindinCanada,wethoughtitwasaperfectfit,”hesays.

Althoughadorable,NAIT’sOokpikrepresentsacreaturethatwasnolessferociousandstrongthanthemascotofanyotherschooloftheday.Thesnowyowl,whichcanbefoundasfarnorthastheArcticCircle,isoneofNorthAmerica’sbiggestowlsatapproximatelyhalfametretallandwithawingspanofaboutametre

andahalf.Thepowerfulbirdsarekeenhuntersandhavefewnaturalpredators.

Naturally,NAITathleticsteamstookthenamein1964(shorteningitovertimetoOoks)andseveralincarnationsofafull-sizemascotfollowedoverthenextfivedecades.Goingforward,theOokpikbecamefirmlyembeddedinNAIT’sidentity,providingapositiveimagefortheinstituteandhelpingtobuildcommunityandcamaraderieamongststudents.

ButoverNAIT’s50-yearhistory,mostpeoplehaven’thadthechancetoseethatoriginalOokpik.Nooneknowswhereitwent–asituationthathascausedquiteastironcampus.

Thatsaid,OokpikhasalwayshadthateffectonthestaffandstudentsofNAIT–nottomentionthoseofotherinstitutes.Soonafteritsarrival,wordofitsimportancetotheinstitutemadeitsouthtotheofficeofSAIT’sstudentnewspaper,The Emery Weal.In1966,itseditordecidedtoact.“WedrovetoEdmonton,rentedamotelroomandliberatedOokpik,”saysDanLind.

top left, first naitsa president william miles received nait’s first ook mascot in 1964. bottom left, the mascot-napping went both ways between alberta’s polytechnics; in 1964, nait students captured sait’s. above, right and below, though the stuffed version of ookpik has remained nearly unchanged throughout the years, other depictions of the mascot have gone through several incarnations.

v6.1 2012 69

ThestudentsbroketheglassonthedisplaycaseholdingOokpik(whichtheylaterhadtopay$50toreplace),andtookittoCalgary–makingitwearawhiteStampedehat.ItwaseventuallysentbacktoNAITinablackshoeboxresemblingacoffin.

Theincidentwaspartofafriendlytraditionofmascot-nappingbetweenAlberta’spolytechnics.Infact,thehijinksgotsoheatedthatNAITSAhadareplicaOokpikmadeandplacedinadisplaycabinetforwould-bethieves.Therealdealwassafelyhiddenaway.

Inthemeantime,Ookpikfeverspreadacrosscampus.ThebookstorewasnamedtheOokshop.ThestudentpubwascalledTheNest.In1977,FroshWeek(heldinSeptembertowelcomenewstudents)wasrenamedOokWeek.

EvenclassesandlabswereinspiredbyOokpik.In1967,theelectricalandelectronicsdepartmentscombinedtheirtalentstobuildanelectricookpikmorethanametretall.Sittingonfourcastorsandcompletelycoveredinsealskin,therobotwasmanoeuvrablewithwire-controlledbrakesandsteering.

ItseemedthatnothinghappenedatNAITwithoutOokpik.

Inlightofthat,aspreparationsbeganforNAIT’s50thanniversarycelebrations,itwasonlynaturaltowanttoincludethemissingmascot.

“Westartedanintensesearchallovercampus,”saysErinKuebler,advancementrelationsofficer.“Therewasanamazingresponsefromourstaff.Itdidn’tmatterwhichprogramordepartmentyouwerein–theOokpikrepresentedthewholeofNAITanditwasawaywecouldexpressouraffinityandappreciationforNAIT.”

NAITofferedafive-coursemealforsixatErnest’s,NAIT’son-campusfinediningrestaurant,asarewardforthetipthatwouldleadtoOokpik’sreturn.Butnotevennationalmediacoverage,broadcastingthestorytosomefivemillionCanadiansineveryprovinceandterritory,producedaviablelead.Instead,NAITgototherookpiks–donationsofaboutadozendollsfromstaffandfriendsoftheinstitute.

ButnonecamequiteasclosetotherealthingastheonefromPeggyRichardson.Uponhearingaboutthe

“ the ooKPiK rePresented the Whole of nait and it Was a Way We coUld exPress oUr affinity and aPPreciation for nait.”

–ERINKUEBLER ADVANCEMENT RELATIONSOFFICER

PeoPle

70 techlifemag.ca

predicament,theNAITInuitelderwasinspiredtocreatetworeplicasoftheoriginalOokpik.Shewasupforthetask.Richardsongrewupinthe1960sinthecommunityofHallBeachinwhat’snowNunavut,andhadaspecialaffinityforthebird:“TheookpikisveryspecialtotheInuit,”shesays.“Theyareourprotectors.”

Aswell,herfatherworkedalongtheDistantEarlyWarningline,asystemofArcticradarstationssetuptodetectSovietbombers.Hetookordersfromotherworkersforhundredsofsouvenirookpikstobemadebyhisdaughter.SheusedthemoneytopurchaseclothesfromtheSearscatalogue–clothesshewouldlaterweartoattendNAIT.

RichardsonpresentedoneOokpiktoNAIT’spresidentandCEO,Dr.GlennFeltham,andtheotherto

NAITSApresidentTeaganGahler.“It’sveryimportantthatstudentshavesomethingtoidentifywithwhenthey’rehereonourcampus,”saysGahler,“and[also]whentheybecomealumni.”

“Wearerecapturingourpast,”saysFeltham.“Aswethinkaboutwherewe’vecomefrom,restoringthissymbolisabsolutelypriceless.”

NAITneverdidfinditsoriginalmascot.ButthequesttolocateitundoubtedlybroughtallofNAITclosertoOokpikanditstruemeaningtousasaninstitute.OokpikisNAIT’ssymboloftraditionandstrength.Moreimportantly,itcontinuestounifyfivedecadesofstudents,staffandalumni.Anditwillcontinuetodosofordecadestocome.Whatmorecouldyouaskfromaschoolmascot?

“ We are recaPtUring oUr Past. as We thinK aBoUt Where We’ve come from, restoring this symBol is aBsolUtely Priceless.”

–DR.GLENNFELTHAM,PRESIDENTANDCEO

Web extraVisitwww.nait.ca/nait-50th-anniversary-videostowatchavideoofNAITInuitelderPeggyRichardsonmakingOokpiks,orscantheQRcode.NeedaQRcodescanner?Seep.7.

left, new ooks under construction. right, inuit elder peggy richardson (centre) presents newly made ookpiks to dr. glenn feltham and naitsa president teagan gahler.

culinait

when the first students enrolledinNAIT’sculinaryprogramin1963,theyembarkedon“cook’straining”andservedfoodintheaptly,ifunremarkably,namedDiningHall.Today,studentsstudyculinaryartsonthepathtobecomingchefs–orfoodwriters,stylists,photographers,evenresearchers.

ProgramchairStanleyTownsenddescribesthemodernchefasaculinaryartistproducingan“evolvingart.”Theshiftfromcooktocheftoartistspeakstothegrowthoftheprogram,butalsotothechangingwaywelookatfood:nolongerisitjustsustenanceonaplate.

InrecognitionoffivedecadesofculinarytrainingatNAIT,weaskedthefacultytoidentifysomeofthemostdramaticfoodtrendsofthepasthalf-century.Whilesomehaveproventobeaflashinthepan,othershavelaidthegroundworkforthewayweeattoday.

a PerioD of conflictthe 1960s doesn’t often getalotofrespectontheculinarytimescale.Itwasaconflictedperiodinthekitchen.Whiletechnologywasbringingmoreprocessed,conveniencefoodstomarket,itwasalso,throughmassmedia,makingiteasierforhomecookstolearntraditionaltechniques.

ItwasthedecadethatsawthesaleofthefirstcountertopmicrowaveandthecreationofCoolWhip,the“non-dairy”spread(developedbyachemist,notachef).Butinthesamedecade,JuliaChildandcompanypublishedMastering the Art of French Cooking.Soonafter,Child’sTVshowaired,andpeoplecouldwatchherspendanafternoonpreparingbeefbourguignonorroastchickenwithportwine.Forthefirsttime,homecookswereencouragedonamassscaletoproduceclassic,restaurant-worthyfoodintheirownkitchens.

it doesn’t get much more classically french than this: foie gras terrine paired with apricot chutney.

food

story by lINDSEYNORRIS

Photos by BlAISEvANMAlSENJEANETTEJANzEN the fine

art of

v6.1 2012 73

culinait

a tall orDerif you had to distil 1980s styleintooneword,youmightusebig–or,moreaccurately,tall:tallhair,tallshoulderpadsandequallystylizedcuisine,whichoftenplacedstructureandpresentationaheadofflavour.Elaboratepresentationwasamust,andatrulyspectaculardishmightresembleaJengatoweronaplate.Bythelatterhalfofthedecade,flavourwasbeginningtocatchuptopresentationinimportance.Californiacooking,orTex-Mex,markedacontinuingmarchawayfromclassicalpreparationstoamorecontemporaryapproachinthekitchen.

“Peoplestartedveeringawayfromtheoldmasters,andstartedtoinventlighterfare,muchstrongerinpresentationandbolderinflavours,”saysStanleyTownsend,CulinaryArtschair.“Theywerestillusingtheclassicalmethodologies,buttheywereusingnon-traditionalingredients.”

tHe centre of attentionby the ’70s, chefs and home cooksalikerecognizedthatfoodwasanopportunityfortheatre.Whilecookingmayoncehavebeendoneinsmall,closed-offkitchens,roastscarvedtablesideandelaborateproductionsinvolvingbrandyandflamebroughttechniqueintothediningroom.

“Itwasthestartoftheopenkitchenthatyouseemoreofteninrestaurantstoday,”saysTejaAtkinson,achefandinstructor’sassistantwiththeCulinaryArtsprogram.“Foodwasmaderightbeforeyoureyes,anditwasawaytoputonthebestshow,togetthearomas,andevenforchefstoone-upeachother.”Whilefewhomecookstodayareregularlysettingfiretothedessert,theoriginalconcepthastakenholdintheopen-conceptkitchen,whichliterallybringsfoodtothecentreofthehome.

dishes like flambé cherries jubilee brought the action to the dining table.

with its strong lines and abundant avocado, the cobb salad combines both the stacked structure and fresh ingredients common in the ’80s.

74 techlifemag.ca

tHe WorlD is your oysterby the 1990s, globalizationandtheInternethelpedcontributetoashrinkingworld.Itbecameincreasinglyeasytotravelandexperienceinternationalcuisines,aswellasshipandimportfoods.Peoplebegantoexperiment:fusionwasbig,andCanadianchefSusurLee(NAIT’sthirdHokansonChefinResidence)earnedinternationalrecognitionforhisinterpretation

ofAsianandFrenchfusion,or“NouvelleChinoise.”Meanwhile,growinghealthconsciousnesswas

pushingbutter-andcream-ladenclassicsfurthertothebackburner.(Interestingly,inthe1996bookCulinary Artistry,32celebritychefswereaskedwhich10ingredientstheywouldtakewiththemtoadesertisland.Onlythreelistedbutter;halflistedoliveoil.)

fast transportation networks brought more seafood to alberta. here, a grilled salmon steak is flavoured with low-calorie lemon and fresh dill.

v6.1 2012 75

culinait

bacK to basicsfarm to fork.Nosetotail.Slowfood.Isitacoincidencethatmodernfoodtrendscanbecondensedtosuchsimplephrases?Elevatedcookingtodayisremarkableforwhatitisn’t:complicated,over-seasoned,elaborate.It’stakenafewyears,buttodayabottleoflocallyproducedcold-pressedcanolaoilcanrespectfullytakeitsplaceonthecounteralongsidetheimportedGreekoliveoil.

In2005,NAIT’snewlyrenovatedHokansonCentreforCulinaryArtsbegantrainingstudentsonsomeofthehighest-techequipmentavailableinthefoodrealm,thoughit’susedtoproducesomeveryold-schoolconcepts.“Rightnow,we’refocusingonseasonalingredientsandnose-to-tailbooks,somoreutilizationofwhatmaynotbeconsideredprimecutsofmeat,”explainsAtkinson.

how to combine local, seasonal cuisine into one soup bowl? try french onion soup, a recipe that has stood the test of time.

tHe futurewhat’s next for food?AtkinsonandTownsendbelievemanytrendsthatexisttodaywillcontinue.Townsendalsopredictsthatpeoplewillbecomemorehealthconsciousandmoveawayfrombigportions.They’llbecomemoreconcernedwithsustainableproductsandcleanerflavoursthathighlighttheingredient.Peoplewilleatseasonallyandlocallymoreoften,andmakemoresustainablechoices.Ifhe’sright,it’squitepossiblethatwhatweeatfordinner50yearsfromnowwillbearmoreresemblancetofoodfromthe1860sthanfromthe1960s–thoughwithalotlessbutter.

THENAITINI15 ml (½ oz) BlUeBerry JUice

45 ml (1½ oz) vodKa

15 ml (½ oz) triPle sec

15 ml (½ oz) lime JUice

Pourtheingredientsintoacocktail

shakerfilledwithicecubes.Shake

for30seconds.Strainintoachilled

cocktailglass.Garnishwithfloating

blueberriesoralimewedge.

sHaKen or stirred?NAITFoodServiceshasturnedoneofthequintessentialbefore-dinnerdrinks

intoacommemorativecocktailtocelebratetheinstitute’sgoldenanniversary.

Whetheryoupreferyourmartinishakenorstirred,thisoneisperfectforyour

nextdinnerparty,orbetteryet–classreunion.

Web extraVisittechlifemag.ca/food-trends.htmfortherecipesforeachofthesedishes.

76 techlifemag.ca

www.waiward.com

TIme cAPsUle13

50th anniversary merchandise

AspartoftheNAIT@50celebrations,we’reaskingalumni,staff,students,friendsandsupporterstohelpproduceatimecapsulethatwillbeopenedonNAIT’s100thanniversary.Thecapsulewillrepresentourfirsthalf-centuryofsuccessaswellasthismilestoneyear.

Contact Erin Kuebler at 780.471.8499 or [email protected] if you have something to contribute. For more information, visit www.nait.ca/nait50.

stay connected

5give backShowyourappreciationofNAITbymakinga$50donationduringour50thanniversaryyear.Donationscanbedesignatedforprograms,emergencybursaries,athleticsornewequipment.Donateonlineatwww.nait.ca/donate.

Celebrate50yearsofstudentsuccessbynominatingadeservingalumnusforanalumnirecognitionaward.ApplicationdeadlineisDec.31,2012.Formoreinformation,visitwww.nait.ca/alumniawards.

4alumni recognition awards

ShowyourOokpridebygetting50thanniversarygear.Gadgets,officesuppliesandclothingcanbepurchasedattheBookstoreonMainCampusoronlineatwww.nait.ca/onlinestore.

get inVolVeD With nait

Toensureyoudon’tmissoutonthelatestbenefitsandevents,keepyourcontactinformationcurrent.Tomakeupdates,visitwww.nait.ca/[email protected].

2

5 Ways

www.waiward.com

v6.1 2012 79

1 Based on Forbes Leading Companies Report 2011.Copyright © 2012 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 12-RC-0007

careers.slb.com

years of

innovation85

What will you be?

Who are we?We are the world’s largest oilfield services company1. Working globally—often in remote and challenging locations—we invent, design, engineer, and apply technology to help our customers find and produce oil and gas safely.

Who are we looking for?We need more than 5,000 graduates to begin dynamic careers in the following domains:

n Engineering, Research and Operationsn Geoscience and Petrotechnicaln Commercial and Business

Proud to support the 50th anniversary of NAIT

acclaim

financial futuresWhenitcomestoeconomicforecasting,NAITfacultymembersareamongthebest.ThisJanuary,max varelaandhardeep gill,JRShawSchoolofBusinessfinanceinstructors,wontwoofsixawardsgivenbytheEdmontonCharteredFinancialAnalystSocietyforbestforecasts.VarelawonfortheCanadianEquityIndex,whileGillmostaccuratelypeggedtheU.S./Canadaexchangerate.ellen wilson,chairofbusinessintheDepartmentofContinuingEducation,wasrunner-upfortheoverallbestforecastaward.Participantswereaskedtoforecastoilprices,exchangerates,bondyieldsandotherkeyeconomicindicatorsforthecomingyear.

grads, staff, students and friends of the institute continue to amass awards and accolades in everything from industry to innovation to athletics. here are a few recent winners.

anD tHe aWarD goes to...

mr. fix-itTheAssociationofScienceandEngineeringTechnologyProfessionalsofAlbertaawardedrj oil sandsitsTechnicalExcellenceAward.Thehonourrecognizestheingenuityofthecompany’sphaseseparator,whichscrubshydrocarbonsfromwater(seep.28,V5.2),inventedbywade bozak(CivilEngineeringTechnology’93).TheRJOilSandsvicepresidenthopestoseethetechnologyputtouseremediatingtailingsponds.

floUr PoWerCulinaryArtsgradsmallory bowesandelizabeth dowdell(classof‘11)wontheprovincialMissionImPULSEiblefooddevelopmentcompetitioninMarchfortheirceliac-friendlyangelfoodcakerecipe.Madewithgarbanzoandfavabeanflours,thedrycakemix–calledBELite(BEforBowesandElizabeth) –isfreeofgluten,wheat,nutsanddairy.InJune,BowesandDowdellwererunners-upatthenationalMissionImPULSEiblecompetition.

business BoosterForpromotingentrepreneurship,sandra spencerreceivedthe2012HSBCWomanLeaderofTomorrowAwardforWesternCanadainMarch.AsformerpresidentofNAIT’sStudentsinFreeEnterpriseteam,shestartedtheHatch

businesscompetition,whichhasawardedthreewinners$20,000eachinseedfundingandincubationspaceatNAIT.ABachelorofBusinessAdministrationstudent,SpencerisalsoabusinessmanageratnovaNAIT–NAIT’shomeofappliedresearchandenterprisedevelopment.

BraWny and brainyTyingwithRedDeerCollege,NAITledthenationwith10AcademicAll-CanadianAwardsfromtheCanadianCollegiateAthleticAssociation.Thisprestigiousdesignationisawardedtostudent-athleteswhonotonlydemonstrateoutstandingathleticachievementbutalsoattainhonoursintheiracademicprograms.

the shoe fits ContinuingEducationbusinessstudenthuseyin mullaoglu wonfirstplaceintheBusinessStrategyGame.Overthepastyear,43,000post-secondarystudentsin50countriesoperatedvirtualathleticfootwearcompaniesintheonlinecompetition.Participantsinthesimulationassessedandrespondedtoavarietyofmarketconditionsinaquesttohavethemostsuccessfulbusiness.Mullaogluwonwiththeoverallbest-performingcompany.

from sea to sUmmitmarl technologies’ subsea drill (p.26,V5.2)receivedtheProjectAchievementAwardattheAssociationofProfessionalEngineersandGeoscientistsofAlberta2012SummitAwards.Ledbyproductionmanagermark gurnett(Machinist ’01,MechanicalEngineeringTechnology’03),theprojectwasrecognizedbothforitsengineeringandforitscontributionstotechnicalprogressandthebettermentofsociety.

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besides its 50th, nait is celebratinganotheranniversarythisyear–and,technically,it’sjustascool.

ThirtyyearsagoinCalgary,themen’sOokshockeyteamskatedtoitsfirstofsevennationalchampionshiptitles,beatingToronto’sSenecaCollege3–0.Tohelpmarkthemilestone,BrianStein(RadioandTelevisionArts’82,ComputerSystemsTechnology’88)recentlygavetheinstituteanathleticsrelic:theOokssignthathungintheSAITarenathedayofthathistoricwin.

Atthetime,Stein–aninducteeintoNAIT’sWallofFame–washandlingannouncingandPRdutiesfortheteam,ajobforwhichhewasrecruitedbylegendarycoachPearyPearn.Stillworkingwiththeteaminthe1990swhenSAITrenovateditsrink,SteinsawthesignhadcomedownandaskedTrojans’coachingstaffforit.“Webroughtitbackontheteambus,”hesays.Fromthere,thefour-by-eightplywoodsignwentcarefullyintohisgardenshed.

“Ijustwantedtosaveit,”hesays.Thesentimentalvalueappealedtohim:the“flying”NAITlogo,theBigBird-likemascot,eventhenameOokpiks,longsinceshortenedtoOoks.

Butthesignalsostoodforaremarkablestretchofathleticachievement,Steinpointsout.Followingthatfirstnationalwin,theOoksenteredtheirmoststorieddecade,winningfournationaltitlesandpostingaperfect1984-85seasonduringarunthatincludedfourAlbertaCollegesAthleticConferencechampionshipsbacktoback,from’84to’87.

Thatwasnosmallfeat,saysStein.Theleaguemayhavebeensmallerthen,headds,buttheotherschoolsweren’tpushovers.“Theyroseabovethecompetition,”hesaysoftheNAITsquads.Theyhadleadersoniceandoff,talentedrecruitsandspiriteddetermination.

And,apparently,theyhadagoodluckcharmmadeoutofthree-quarter-inchfir–nowrightfullyhome.

— Scott Messenger

82 techlifemag.ca

cenovus.com

At Cenovus, we support programs that help passionate people come up with new ideas and new approaches for the development of energy resources. Cenovus Energy. A Canadian oil company.

Congratulations NAIT on your 50th anniversary.

Investing in tomorrow’s big ideas.

New ideas. New approaches.

Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson

• Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred

Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy

Turcotte • James Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg Korbutt • Kevin

Martin • Daryl McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai

Yuk Yeung • Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter

• Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk •

Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin •

Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James

Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett

• Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung • Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis •

Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly •

Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal •

Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin • Andrew Lee • Shirley Long • Holger Petersen • Brian Straub • Guy Turcotte • James

Ahnassay • Naseem Bashir • Carol Blake • Dave Buchaski • James Cumming • Kees Cusveller • Randy Eresman • Greg Korbutt • Kevin Martin • Daryl

McIntyre • Mark McNeill • Mark Ohe • George Rogers • Tracey Scarlett • Julie M. Shaw • Bruce Woloshyn • Sandy Yakimchuk • Daniel Wai Yuk Yeung •

Michael Anderson • Mark Hamblin • Andrew Hore • Chris Kourouniotis • Ashif Mawji • Corbin Tomaszeski • Dean Turgeon • Stephani Carter • Don

Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson • Bernie Fedderly • Clifford Giese • Victor Gillman • James McPherson • Jack Menduk • Bob

Morgan • Ray Rajotte • Archie Roberts • Stewart Roth • Fred Atiq • Gil Cardinal • Nolan Crouse • Roger Dootson • David Dorward • Marleen Irwin •

































































Oborowsky • Jules Owchar • Javier Salazar • Marlon Wilson •

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techlife: NAIT's 50th Anniversary Issue v6.1