U of L looking ahead to next 50 years
2017 was a year of celebration for University of Lethbridge
Universities often go through points of significance in their history. This past year will most certainly mark that for the University of Lethbridge.
But at age 50, the University of Lethbridge is almost an infant as far as post-secondary institutions go in Canada. As such, the year 2017 will be regarded as a time to look back and celebrate, and also as a time to push forward with new challenges.
“The key is to continue to try to capitalize on the energy and the spirit,” said U of L president Mike Mahon, in a year-end interview with The Herald.
“We’re really pleased with the 50th. We achieved what we wanted to, which was to have a real diversity of experiences as a way to celebrate the 50th. We got great feedback on most of the things we did. As the year finishes up, I’d say we really enjoyed the celebration, but we’re now turning our attention to the next 50 years.”
The U of L’s 50-year anniversary began with Founders’ Day Weekend in January, and had a highlight event on the Labour Day weekend with the large-scale “Shine On” Festival. Throughout, Mahon says, there was a focus on alumni, friends, as well as partnerships with industry and the community, both internal and external.
“Having big events like ‘Let It Shine On,’ which was a big community celebration, was a great way for us to say thank you to the community for supporting us for the first 50 years of our institution’s life,” he said.
A further legacy from the milestone includes a John Wort Hannam song, the 50 Voices projects, and the top 50 Pronghorns athletes list.
Mahon also said the first-ever concert at the Community Stadium has opened discussion to other ideas, including possibly trying to host a CFL exhibition game at some point.
“I’m really excited about the idea of using the stadium in other ways,” he said. “You look to the big cities and what they do with their stadiums to add value to the community — I’d like to see us do that. It would be great.”
Another element that came out of the big festival was partnering with the Enmax Centre. Mahon sees future collaborations with them for “valueadded” contributions to the city. A current one is the bid proposal to host the U Sports hockey nationals in 2019 and 2020.
In November, the U of L hosted the women’s rugby nationals at the U of L Community Stadium.
“The weather is what it is, but we got great feedback from the teams all around the country on how they were treated and the experience of being in Lethbridge,” Mahon said.
“That’s why we’re bidding on hockey nationals. We, I think, have demonstrated to ourselves that we can host these national events. The way to continue to help our university grow is by positioning ourselves nationally and internationally.”
Future growth at the U of L is largely tied to the Destination Project — which is ahead of schedule and on budget. Mahon toured the facility on Dec. 18.
“It is going to be spectacular. It’s coming along great,” he said, adding it will softly open in the first part of 2019.
“It will be done to the point where we can start the transition.”
In addition to the student and faculty use, there will be a big atrium, with coulee views, for public events.
“It will probably be the most spectacular public event space in the city,” Mahon said.
He recalls meeting with then-premier Ed Stelmach in fall 2010 to begin the push for the Destination Project. Seeing it come to fruition was coincidental timing with the 50th anniversary, though, Mahon said.
“It fits so well with this idea of where are we going in the next 50 years. It will be a great symbol for the university,” he said.
“This building (University Hall) is a great symbol of where we have been, where we came from. I think the juxtaposition of this Arthur Erickson building next to the Bruce Kuwabara building, he’s the signature architect, 50 years later, is such a wonderful thing for the university.”
The year 2017 did present a few situations that were not celebrated with cakes or songs, however — most notably the reinstatement of professor Tony Hall following his suspension in 2016.
Mahon wouldn’t directly comment on the personnel situation, but did offer this statement:
“As our 50th closes out, and as we look forward, one of the things we are committed to as a university is to continue to build an academic community that feels the protection of academic freedom,” he said. “Our university is committed to academic freedom. But academic freedom is also not just a uninterpretable concept. It has to be supported within the concept of the broader parameters of society.”
As 2018 looms, Mahon says he is excited for the U of L’s future and the “aspirational opportunities.”
“That’s what the next 50 years is about,” he said, adding that one of the topics will be the “re-imagining” of University Hall.
“We have some very specific ideas. One will be announced in the new year. I think for any institution, a university or others, having the opportunity to continue to look forward is such an important thing for organizations.”
Mahon will deliver his Fiat Lux address on Jan. 18.
“It will be an opportunity for us to say goodbye to the 50th and welcome the next 50. I’ll put out some aspirations we should be willing to articulate,” he said.
“We can be very proud of what we’ve achieved in our first 50 years, but it’s really just the beginning.”
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