What expectant mothers envision for their birth experiences often isn’t what they realize, according to a University of Lethbridge study.

The result is a drastic rise in Caesarean section rates that has alternative health-care providers, feminist advocates for women’s health and mainstream medical providers all expressing serious concerns about the medicalization of childbirth.

Close co-operation between municipalities and chambers of commerce on both sides of the border is important to ensure that decisions made in Washington, DC and Ottawa will serve the interests of most residents of the region, according to University of Lethbridge political scientist Geoffrey Hale.

Groups like the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) do an excellent job of promoting broader regional interests on cross-border economic co-operation, says Hale, but there are enough different interests at play on border issues that area business groups can’t take political responsiveness for granted.

The University of Lethbridge has reappointed Dr. Robert Boudreau to a second five-year term as the University’s Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Academic). The Board of Governors, as well as the review committee struck to make a recommendation to the Board, unanimously supported Boudreau’s reappointment.

“Dr. Boudreau has been instrumental in ensuring the success of several initiatives over the past five years,” says University of Lethbridge Provost Dr. Andrew Hakin. “For example, Bob was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition for our academic programmes as we relocated our Calgary Campus to the Bow Valley College site and our Edmonton Campus to Concordia University College of Alberta.

The University of Lethbridge Board of Governors today reappointed Dr. Daniel J. Weeks to a second five-year term as the University’s research vice president. The Board of Governors, as well as the review committee struck to make a recommendation to the Board, unanimously supported Weeks’s reappointment.

“The University of Lethbridge continues to evolve as one of Canada’s leading comprehensive research and teaching universities of its size,” says University of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon. “Dr. Weeks has played a significant role in promoting and supporting the many research strengths in all of our faculties and has helped position the University for much future success.”

Join us on a magnificent voyage as Mozart and his young son Karl come to life on stage at Southminster United Church, May 15 and 16.

Discover Mozart’s passion for composing and embark on a magical journey into the world of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Follow the Prince and Papageno as they try to rescue Princess Pamina from the Queen of the Night in Sarastro’s enchanted castle.

Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage includes 23 excerpts from the master’s music. Performed by musicians from the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music, these excerpts are masterfully woven into the drama as two actors recreate historical incidents from the composer’s life. 

Named for a man who embraced education and served to continually better his community, the Dr. Foster James Penny Building will stand as a testament to lifelong learning and the University of Lethbridge’s commitment to the Lethbridge community.

The U of L officially opened the Penny Building on Thursday, May 16, reenergizing the former Capital Furniture building and breathing new life into the city’s downtown core. Gifted to the University in 2012 by longtime businesspersons Jim and Hazel Penny, the building is named after their son Dr. Foster Penny, who passed away in 1992 after a five-year illness with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was only 44 years old.

They've been judged, they've toured southern Alberta, they've hiked all over campus and by all accounts have  had a ton of fun, but there is still more to come for the participants of the 52nd annual Canada-Wide Science Fair, which takes place on the University of Lethbridge campus and in the community until Friday, May 17.

Details of some of the events are outlined below.

GRAND FINALE AWARDS CEREMONY, MAY 16

Thursday, May 16, 2013, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Enmax Centre, 2510 Scenic Drive S.

Nearly $1 million in cash, prizes and scholarships will be awarded to top students.

The late artist Nicholas de Grandmaison is a cultural icon of southern Alberta. He is well known for his portraits of politicians, families and unknown subjects.

During a previous exhibition of his work at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, there was a great deal of interest in discussing stories of the artist and of his Aboriginal subjects. The gallery is subsequently undertaking a project that invites individuals visiting the exhibit to share their unique experiences with the artist or the subjects of his paintings. The project will be publicized during the exhibition of paintings donated by BMO Financial Group at the U of L Art Gallery May 2 to June 27.

The City of Lethbridge, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and the University of Lethbridge are excited to announce the Grand Opening of CASA, a truly functional 42,000 square foot arts centre with a striking building design.

CASA is the realization of a 20-year dream, shared by many in the Lethbridge arts community, to expand or replace the Bowman Arts Centre and provide a home for the arts in one central location.

Canada-Wide Science Fair participants will not just be sitting by their projects this week.

In addition to a host of local and regional tours and activities, faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and staff from the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College have developed a large number of hands-on activities for the students to participate in, and which showcase the diversity of research and creative activities taking place on both campuses.

All events run from 1:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m., on Monday, May 13.  Events are hands-on, and media friendly.