University of Lethbridge highlights for the week of March 29 to April 1

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

The University of Lethbridge has a number of events lined up this week that may be of interest to your readers, viewers and listeners. Members of the media who are interested in covering these events are encouraged to contact the individual event organizer directly.

Water Talks seminar series — Solving today’s environmental challenges through community action and collaboration

Tuesday, March 29, 11 a.m. to noon, WE1001, Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building

Shannon Frank, from the Oldman Watershed Council, will talk about the organization’s current projects, including Engaging Recreationists, a program that involves changing social norms and behaviour amongst backcountry off-highway vehicle riders. Other projects include a film that tells the story of the Oldman watershed from the 1800s to 2060 and the Watershed Legacy Program that supports stewards who are taking action to improve the health of the land and water.

Contact: Andreas Luek, andreas.luek@uleth.ca

2016 Kappa Sigma Headshave for Cancer

Wednesday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., University Hall Atrium

Lots of luscious locks will be lopped at the 11th annual head shave for cancer hosted by the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. All proceeds raised will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Contact: Justin Chymboryk, 403-394-8814, Justin.chymboryk@uleth.ca

Religious Studies — Awakening from the Illusion of our Separation: A Buddhist Perspective on the Ecological Crisis

Wednesday, March 30, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., C640, University Hall

Dr. David Loy, visiting scholar from the University of Calgary, will discuss if Buddhist teachings can help us understand and respond to our ecological situation. Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh says we are here to awaken from the illusion of our separation. Loy will explore the parallels between traditional Buddhism teachings about the usual individual predicament and our current collective ecological predicament. The eco-crisis may not only be a technological and economic problem but also a spiritual challenge.

Contact: Bev Garnett, 403-384-1894, bev.garnett@uleth.ca

Conversations in the Arts — James Graham and Ryan Harper-Brown

Thursday, March 31, noon to 1 p.m., W850

Graham will talk about how securing stable research funding has become increasingly complex and unpredictable for Fine-Arts researchers while opportunities for private sector and academic collaboration and innovation are becoming better funded.

Harper-Brown, a New Media instructor, will talk about how he created ‘Mon Oeil,’ a French language web series, with The Cinemagine Society of Alberta.

Contact: Katherine Wasiak, katherine.wasiak@uleth.ca

Prentice Institute — The Future for First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada

Thursday, March 31, 6 to 9 p.m., Theatre Gallery, Lethbridge Public Library

Dr. Cora Voyageur, a University of Calgary sociology professor, Dr. Linda Many Guns, a U of L Native American Studies professor, and Dr. Cheryl Currie, U of L public health professor, will discuss the future of Canada’s FNMI peoples.

Contact: Nancy Metz, 403-380-1814, nancy.metz@uleth.ca

Art NOW — Amanda Dawn Christie

Friday, April 1, noon to 12:50 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570

Curtis is an interdisciplinary artist who works in film, video, performance, photography and electroacoustic sound design. She will discuss the use of fabricated scenarios to explore experiential rather than factual knowledge, including using unverified witness accounts as a way to gather lived experiences as opposed to fact-based historical truths. Christie will also be speaking on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Foster James Penny Building, 324 5 St. S., as part of the Crossing Boundaries Speaker Series.

Contact: Fine Arts, finearts@uleth.ca

Prentice Brown Bag event — The Times, They Are A’changing

Friday, April 1, noon to 1:30 p.m., L1102, Prentice Boardroom, Library

The winds of change blow through First Nations communities and the changes will impact First Nations peoples’ social, economic and political standing in mainstream society. Dr. Cora Voyageur, a U of C sociologist, will talk about some of the initiatives undertaken by First Nations people that are improving their lives and their relationships with the Canadian public.

Contact: Nancy Metz, 403-380-1814, nancy.metz@uleth.ca

A Chitenge Story — Makambe K Simamba (BFA ’12)

Friday, April 1, 3 to 4:30 p.m., David Spinks Theatre

Simamba wrote, produced and starred in ‘A Chitenge Story,’ an autobiographical one-woman show that created a platform to discuss healing from sexual abuse. In ‘A Chitenge Story,’ a young university student is shaken by a male student’s threat to rape and kill her. The threat stimulates night terrors that stem from a suppressed memory about being molested at age five by a relative in her native Zambia. After suffering from depression, she emerges with a singular mission to travel back to Zambia, find her abuser and confront him. A talk-back session follows the show.

Contact: Fine Arts, finearts@uleth.ca

Global Drums — annual spring concert

Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, 7:30 to 10 p.m., University Theatre

This concert is for anyone with a penchant for percussion.

Contact: Katherine Wasiak, 403-329-2227, katherine.wasiak@uleth.ca

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Contact:

Caroline Zentner, public affairs advisor

403-394-3975 or 403-795-5403 (cell)

caroline.zentner@uleth.ca