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Feb. 6, 2025

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Cause for bold celebration: Black History Month 2025

 

Feb. 1 kicked-off a time for celebration and pride for the campus’ Black employees, students and alumni. The theme for this year’s Black History Month is "Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations." Learn more

MRU employee joins Team Canada’s cricket team 

 

Nizar Punjani, MRU’s associate vice-president, assurance and advisory, is headed to the world stage along with the rest of Team Canada to compete in the World Series Cup beginning on March 31 in Brisbane, Australia. Punjani is one of six Albertans on the national team.

 

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University to host PD day about contraceptive access

 

Dr. Renee Hall, MD, is spearheading a one-of-a-kind workshop and professional development opportunity for health-care providers just in time for International Women’s Day approaching on March 8. The event aims to fill training gaps surrounding contraceptives.

 

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Athletic therapy alumna saves a life at the skating rink 

 

Megan Drouin was on the job as an athletic therapist for a junior hockey team when a linesman went into cardiac arrest on the ice. Drouin credits her emergency preparedness to the athletic therapy program, saying real-life simulations got her in “fighting shape.”

 

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Sexually transmitted infections clinic coming: A remedy to STIs on the rise

 

On Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students can be confidentially tested for sexually-transmitted blood-borne infections at Wellness Services during this one day clinic, hosted by SAMRU and Safelink Alberta. Please share this convenient opportunity with MRU students.

 

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Visit the MRU Media Room for all of our stories.

 

Announcements

 

Help shape the future of the MRU digital display network

 

Whether you notice the digital screens on campus or not, we want your input. Help shape how campus information such as events, programs, weather and more, is shared. Join a Discovery Session or watch for an upcoming survey on the digital display network. Your feedback ensures these displays serve the whole community. Employees and students can register for their respective Discovery Sessions now. 

 

 

Budget information session available online

 

Thanks to those who participated in the Jan. 30 budget information session, led by the Offices of the provost and vice-president, Academic, and Finance and Administration. A video of the event can be found on the Employee Resources and Timesheets page of MyMRU. 

 

 

Have you done your annual employee cybersecurity training?

 

Employees, access your required cybersecurity training by logging into the training platform with your mtroyal.ca account. This year’s pretest features 22 questions designed to gauge your cybersecurity knowledge. Learn more. Contact the IT training security analyst at 403.440.5677 or securityawareness@mtroyal.ca with any questions.

 

 

Submit 2024 benefits claims by March 30

 

Employees eligible for benefits coverage are reminded that you have until March 30, 2025, to submit any outstanding 2024 claims. Learn more.

 

 

Under cyber attack? Call ITS.

 

Alert ITS at 403.440.6000 to limit the damage before it gets worse. Learn more about what to do if you’re under cyber attack and visit mru.ca/Cybersecurity for tips and resources to stay safe online.

 

 

G-wing update: What’s going on in G-100

 

Work is underway on the transformation of the G-wing into a modern, engaging student-centred space. Right now, the focus is on G-100. Learn more about this exciting project and what’s going on during Winter 2025 in the former library space.

 

 

Join Employee Wellness for Heart Health Events in February

 

Join Employee Wellness for Heart Health events in the month of February. On Feb. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in EL4371A, Heart and Stroke is on campus to offer the CardiacCrash CPR training program. Plus, learn more about making healthy food choices at the Nutrition For Heart Health webinar presented by JM Nutrition on Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. Register now.

 

 

Big prizes and more for entrepreneurial students

 

Do you know a student with a big idea? Nominate them for the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition. MRU students can compete for $70,000 in prizes, gain mentorship and network with industry leaders. Applications close Feb. 23, 2025. Please encourage any interested students to attend the info session or email Tianna Going at tgoing@mtroyal.ca for more information. Learn more

 

 

Spotlight outstanding MRU Alumni

 

Mount Royal alumni make an impact every day — in their industries, communities and beyond. Do you know an MRU grad who deserves recognition for their achievements? Nominators play a huge role in identifying alumni whose dedication and success inspire others. Help us celebrate their contributions by submitting a nomination. Nominate an outstanding alum.

 

 

Bring real-world experience into your classroom

 

This March, participate in the Alumni Classroom Takeover (ACT) by inviting MRU alumni to engage with your students. Alumni can share their career journeys, discuss industry trends and provide mentorship, offering students a practical perspective on what they learn. Apply for ACT Today.

 

 

BCSA Distinguished speaker

 

Dr. Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall, PhD and author of Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook (MIT Press 2023) will host a three-hour interactive careshop Thursday, Feb. 27, on creating a pathway to liberatory joy by embracing decolonial practice. The ability to say "no" to that which might harm us defines the space of liberation. Joy is the deep connection to self, others including our environments, and a higher purpose. Liberatory joy requires consistent hard work and self-reflection, but the return on investment is exceptionally high. Breakfast is at 9 a.m., while the workshop takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in Ross Glen Hall. Registration required

 

 

Journey to Indigenization: Call for presentations and moderators

 

Journey to Indigenization takes place from Sept. 22 to 29 and commemorates the signing of Treaty 7, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day and Sisters in Spirit Day. This event features knowledge-sharing sessions that focus on the integration of Indigenous pedagogies into MRU's curriculum, promoting collective learning and innovation. We encourage you to present your project, work or research, and/or volunteer as a moderator. Apply by June 3. 

 

 

Protocol and Engagement Support Initiative

 

The Office of Indigenization and Decolonization will continue the Protocol and Engagement Initiative in 2025. Faculty and contract faculty can apply for funding up to $500 and non-financial support for ceremonial gifting to engage Elders, knowledge-keepers, artists and guest speakers. Learn more.

 

 

First Nations principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) workshop

 

The Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are considering hosting a virtual, four-hour workshop on First Nations’ principles of OCAP® for faculty researchers. This workshop will enhance understanding of Indigenous data sovereignty and how to apply OCAP® in research. Express your interest by March 1.

 

 

Join us: Wâhkôhtowin Faculty Field School

 

Faculty members are invited to the Wâhkôhtowin Faculty Field School from May 26 to 29. Dr. Vicki Bouvier, PhD, and Dr. Joshua Hill, PhD, will lead this journey to the Métis homelands on the North Saskatchewan River. Participants will learn from Métis Elders, engage with the land and create a traditional capote. Apply by Feb. 28. Learn more and register now.

 

 

Marie Wilson, North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner

Marie Wilson, a journalist and public administrator who served as one of three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) is coming to Mount Royal on March 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. Wilson will reflect on her book, North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. This book chronicles her personal experiences and insights as a commissioner on the TRC addressing the legacy of residential schools in Canada. This event will also feature a book signing and an Indigenous Artisan market. Register to attend here.

 

MRU in the Media — In case you missed it

Hansen-Young balancing hockey and coaching two future Special Olympians

 

Sportsnet ― Jori Hansen-Young, student athlete



Your highway heroes: Why people help strangers

 

CBC Radio’s Alberta at Noon ― Naomi Grant, faculty



This woman went blind after a night out in Bali. She’s warning other tourists about methanol in their drinks

 

CBC Radio ― Ashley King, alum



Mount Royal University pledges to support Alberta’s Recovery on Campus movement

 

CTV Calgary ― Ian Lyon and Laura Simbirski, students

Mount Royal University, faculty, students and alumni are often featured in the media. To subscribe to the daily MRU Media report, email mediarelations@mtroyal.ca.

 

Events

Featured event

Boom Baby: A play by Dr. Natalie Meisner, PhD

 

Award-winning play Boom Baby features Iona, a Nova Scotian who ventures west to work in the oilpatch. Her fragile independence is upended when she unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. She is unsettled by the pregnancy and feels all her options involve serious complications, including offering the child for adoption to an infertile couple who work in management. Can you buy a baby? The intersection of different class cultures in the energy industry meet in this potent, funny and thought-provoking play. Get your tickets now


Check out all the events happening in and around campus on our new events calendar.

 

Have a story, announcement or info to share?

Summit and website stories

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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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