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Your Mount Royal News
April 14, 2022

First Canada Foundation for Innovation Awards

MRU projects researching foot and ankle injuries, wildfire forensics and community podcasting were awarded $567,000, funds matched by the Alberta government.

Steps forward in undergraduate research

Two physical literacy students have been recognized for their high-level research into the energy costs associated with the Achilles tendon.

Addressing global inequities in health care

Professor Aliyah Dosani, PhD, is leading work investigating how perinatal depression is understood and treated in India.

Helping caregivers assist in rehabilitation

Professor Mohamed El-Hussein, PhD, is studying how to support informal caregivers when dealing with common fragility fractures.

Funding for women in STEM announced

MRU's Maker Studio was the location of a government announcement that a record number of students will receive the Women in STEM scholarship this year.

Sourcing solutions to real-world problems

This year's Map the System competitors delved into bias towards sex workers, child care inequities and how language reveals geopolitical constructs.

Building a just and sustainable future

Catamount Fellowship students work to understand the root causes of community-identified ecological, social, economic and cultural issues.

Announcements

Register now for Celebrate! Teaching and Learning at MRU

Join in and be inspired by MRU’s collective efforts in teaching and learning. Hear how speakers and colleagues have launched learning innovations and lived the values of MRU: authenticity, belonging, boldness, inquisitiveness and transformation. May 4 in-person events include concurrent sessions throughout the day in the RLLC, the Distinguished Faculty Award presentations, keynote speaker Lauren Waldman (The Learning Pirate) and a reception in the Bella Theatre. On May 5, join online for further concurrent sessions. MRU students, employees and faculty receive complimentary registration. Register. More information at mru.ca/Celebrate.

Gender-Based Violence Working Group

Mount Royal University is looking for students to be a part of a Gender Based Violence Working Group. This group will meet twice a month for one to two hours to develop a Gender Based Violence Policy. Students will receive a honorarium for participation. To apply, review the Terms of Reference and fill out this application. Submit your resume and statement of interest to Cari Ionson at cionson@mtroyal.ca.

Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) Application Submissions Deadline

The deadline for submitting HREB applications for research involving human participants that require approval prior to June 15 is Friday, May 13 through the ROMEO system. Please contact the Ethics Compliance Officer at hreb@mtroyal.ca if you have any questions. More info.

Selection committee for the Vice-Provost, Academic search

The selection committee for the search for the next Vice-Provost, Academic is now established. The committee membership includes:

Elizabeth Evans, Provost and Vice-President, Academic (committee chair)
Stephen Price, Dean, Faculty of Health, Community and Education
Alice Swabey, Chair, University Library
David Clemis, Faculty of Arts
Milena Radzikowska, Faculty of Business and Communication Studies
Christian Cook, Academic Director, ADC
Allison Dube, Department of General Education
Lee Easton, President, MRFA
John Cheeseman, Teaching and Learning
Yasmin Ahmed, VP, Academic, SAMRU
Linda Manyguns, AVP, Indigenization and Decolonization
Jane O’Connor (committee resource)

Help send kids to MRU Camps

As part of the MRU family, you already know about the excellent programming provided through MRU Camps. There are many children in the community who would love to go to camp, but their families cannot afford the program fees. If you would like to make a donation to help send these children to camp, your gift will be matched up to 50 per cent by Shaw Birdies for Kids Presented by AltaLink. Donate through Shaw for a limited time.

Did you know?

You can say a fond farewell in person to the graduating class of Spring 2022 at MRU’s convocation ceremonies on June 1, 2 and 3 in the Triple Gym. Tickets are not required to attend and guest attendance will be limited to four per graduand. A live stream will also be available to watch the proceedings. More information.

Bleed Blue

Alumna represents residential school survivors at the Vatican

Acting as youth delegate for the Assembly of First Nations, Taylor Behn-Tsakoza (Dene, Fort Nelson) recently travelled to the Vatican to represent Indigenous intergenerational survivors. Behn-Tsakoza was a mentee of Associate Professor Andrea Kennedy, PhD, of the School of Nursing and Midwifery as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation network. She graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education — Physical Literacy. Read more.

Prestigious fellowship earned

On April 10, Heather McLellan, associate professor, Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing (Emergency), was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Air and Surface Transport Nurses (ASTNA) at the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference. The ASTNA Fellowship program is among ASTNA's highest honours, recognizing individuals who have made a significant impact on the critical care transport industry through exemplary volunteer service and leadership, extraordinary accomplishments or other major contributions to ASTNA and the transport industry.

Nursing student awarded new scholarship

Recent Bachelor of Nursing graduate Jonah Hakkola was the successful recipient of the 2021-2022 Persons Case Scholarship, a new award from the Status of Women Canada. The nominators included faculty members Mohamed El Hussein, PhD, Murray Holtby, PhD, and Gaye Warthe, PhD, who were thrilled to recognize such an outstanding student. Hakkola is currently applying to graduate study programs with the intent of further developing their skills as a leader, researcher and advocate within the nursing field.

Journalism students produce national webinar

In March, the Canadian Agri-Food Marketers Association (CAMA) asked Mount Royal’s journalism students to record and produce a live webinar. Students Spencer Burgess, Wyatt Patterson, Onyinye Ekwulugo, Gergo Koroknay and Ryan Viszlai were recognized by CAMA's Terry Andryo alongside instructors Dr. David Finch, PhD, Sally Haney, Irv Ratushniak, Jason Kokot and Rob Kelly.

English alumna publishes autobiographical poetry collection

Bachelor of Arts — English alumna Skylar Kay’s collection of autobiographical haibun titled Transcribing Moonlight outlines a year of her life of a trans woman. The traditional trope of the moon and the traditional form of haibun become more nuanced and modern, as they represent a marginalized group and some of the struggles that trans women face, both externally and internally. Kay was a student of English instructor and 2016-2018 Calgary Poet Laureate Micheline Mayor, PhD.

Events

The Mount Royal Conservatory Presents Invictus
April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. — Bella Concert Hall
Celebrate the resilience of everyone who worked to pull us through the many challenges faced by the pandemic. Use the discount code MRU_20 for tickets.

Bi-Weekly Pay Transition Town Hall Meeting for MRSA
Tues., April 19 and Mon., April 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. — I120 or online
MRSA employees can learn more about the upcoming transition to bi-weekly pay. Join virtually or attend in person.

Copyright Support Drop In
Tues., April 19, 26 and May 3, 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Service Desk Consultation Point A
Meet with Copyright Advisor Taylor Stevens to discuss copyright questions related to assignments, projects and more. No appointment needed. Learn more.

Aquaponics, Alum and Agriculture
Wed., April 20 from noon to 1 p.m. — Online
This conversation with MRU alumni will explore emerging technologies employed in aquaponics and changing approaches to food security and sustainable farming. Register.

Changemaker Conversations
Thurs., April 21 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Online
Understand the connection between climate change and grief and how to support yourself and others in managing this type of loss. Register.

Earth Day 2022: Countering Consumerism
Fri., April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. — Online
Three MRU undergraduate finalist videos for the Countering Consumerism Contest — Fast Fashion will be awarded prizes. Register.

decolonizing our mind — a virtual book club
wed., april 27 and May 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — online
this facilitated group seeks to engage readers’ minds with works from Indigenous authors to educate and raise awareness about the decolonization of thought. join.

Bi-Weekly Pay Transition Town Hall Meeting for MRFA
Tues., April 28 and May 2 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. — I120 or online
MRFA employees have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming transition to bi-weekly pay. Join virtually or attend in person.

Research Data Archiving: What You Should Know
Tues., May 3 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. — Viz Classroom (EL 1441)
Topics include planning for participant consent, data archiving policies and choosing a repository (with an introduction to the MRU Data Repository). Register.

Bi-Weekly Pay Transition Town Hall Meeting for Exempt Employees
Tues., May 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. — I120 or online
Exempt employees have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming transition to bi-weekly pay. Join virtually or attend in person.

Bi-Weekly Pay Transition Drop-In Session for all Employees
Tues., May 3 from 2 to 3 p.m. — I120
All employees are welcome to attend to clarify any questions or concerns around the transition to bi-weekly pay.

Walk & Talk
Thurs., May 5 from noon to 12:30 p.m. — East Gate
Join some of your MRU friends for a 25-minute outdoor walk around campus to get moving and connect with others. More information.

Protecting Yourself Against Cybercrime
Wed., May 11 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. — Online
Keep you and yours cyber safe. Learn more.

Negotiating Respectful Interpersonal Boundaries
Tues., May 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. — Online
This online session with Homewood Health will outline how to consciously set time, task and role boundaries. Register.

Have a story, announcement or info to share?

Summit and website stories

We would love to hear about your story! Go to the online story submission tool and guidelines.

MyMRU announcements

Please send announcements for MyMRU's homepage to mymru@mtroyal.ca. Review the guidelines.

Start of semester emails, with option for distribution list
sign-up

As each semester begins (August/September and December/January), areas with ongoing employee activities can send an email to all employees describing their semester activities. Employees can then choose to opt in to that area's distribution list (Google Group) for regular updates. If you would like to send an email and/or set up a Google Group for your area, please contact Marketing and Communications for guidelines.

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