Old Cottonwood Trees Replaced with Brandon Elms

A powerful storm during the summer of 2013 toppled or severely damaged many of the cottonwood trees that have sheltered our hilltop for decades. Plant Services, under the direction of Darren Bishop, recently completed the task of replacing all of the fallen or damaged trees with young Brandon Elms.  

Brandon Elms are very hardy shade trees that grow to 40 feet in height with a spread of 25 feet.  They grow quickly, but unlike Cottonwoods, are, if properly pruned and trained, strong enough to withstand most of the bad weather that strikes our hilltop. They have a life expectancy of 80 or more years.  

"While it is always sad to see a tree removed, I think it is meaningful that when the grandchildren of our current students attend CUC they will enjoy the shade and beauty of these young elms," said one professor.  "When they return for their 60th anniversary they can look up at the trees and tell their grandkids, 'I was here when they were planted!'"
  

Just prior to Homecoming Weekend, Plant Service workers removed the last
of the damaged Cottonwood trees.  The photo below shows the two young
Brandon Elms that now stand where two Cottonwood trees stood for decades.

Lakeview Hall Lobby Undergoes Complete Renovation

Thanks to the generosity of members of the Committee of 100, students will walk into a fully renovated Lake View Hall lobby in late August.  In addition to remodeling the lobby this $135,000 project will replace the two entry doors to the dormitory with one electric door that will open automatically as students approach.  

As part of the renovation, the leaky roof above the lobby has been fully repaired, complete with snow and ice melt guards.  The lobby ceiling has been modernized.  The old carpet in will be replaced with warm, inviting vinyl planking.  To reduce the need for extension cords additional electrical outlets will be installed.  The brick work around the fire place and in other parts of the lobby will be replaced with more appealing rock work.  Please check the President's Page Blog in late August for photos of the completed project.

"The Committee of 100 has been a great blessing for CUC," said President Mark Haynal.  "They have funded important improvements to our campus, from small things like lockers for commuter students to projects like the PE Centre parking lot and the complete renovation of the lobbies of Maple Hall and now Lakeview Hall."

If you would like to join the Committee of 100 and promote good work they are doing for Canadian University College and Parkview Adventist Academy, please contact the Office of Advancement at 403-786-2533.

The entry doors to Lake View Hall, through which so many CUC students have passed over the years, will be replaced with a single, central, automatic door.

Many Alumni Return for Homecoming Weekend

More alumni than usual returned to campus for Homecoming Weekend events June 6-8.  Forty-four members of the high school Class of 1964 gathered to renew friendships and reminisce (62% of living graduates).  For the first time in 7 years the banquet Friday evening was completely sold out, with more than 200 attending.  During the banquet, another 150-200 alumni and friends attended the family picnic.  A record-breaking number of just over 250 people showed up for the pancake breakfast Sunday morning.

A number of alumni received honours and awards during Friday evening's program.  CUC President Mark Haynal presented the weekend's featured speaker, Hugh Roach (C 59), with the Don F. Neufeld Medalion of Excellence.  The complete program for the weekend, including information about all honourees can be found here.  Dr. Haynal's remarks can be read here.  More information about and additional information about Homecoming Weekend 2014 can be found on Facebook.  The weekend's main services were videoed and can be viewed here.

A large number of alumni and friends enjoyed the picnic supper Friday evening.

The Alumni Banquet, Friday evening, was catered by Lacombe's Lito's Restaurant and was sold out.

Nearly 1000 people attended the potluck Sabbath afternoon.

Pastor Hugh Roach (C 59) spoke Friday evening for vespers and Sabbath for church.  Dr. Haynal presented him with the Don F. Neufeld Medallion of Excellence Friday evening.

Philosophy of Religion Study Tour Includes Italy, Spain and Portugal

Dr. Tennyson Samraj, professor of philosophy, led a Philosophy of Religion study tour in May that took 8 students to Spain, Portugal and Italy.  This study tour was one of several opportunities student had to travel abroad to study or do service.  "Every summer CUC offers students an incredible selection of opportunities to travel abroad for study or service," said President Mark Haynal.  "Because the Province of Alberta provides some financial assistance, many students find these tours to be an affordable way to travel while earning university credit."

The group in Florence, near the famous statue of David.

While in Spain the group visited Santiago de Compostela, the third most visited place for Christian pilgrims, after Jerusalem and Rome.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Students Engage in Service in Mongolia

Outward Pursuits professors DonnaLee and Paul Lehmann and nine CUC students traveled to Mongolia in May to help build a training centre and teach classes.  The team of 12 concrete workers, builders, teachers, and students worked in a remote northern area of Mongolia at a school that is operated by a lady who brought the first convert into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mongolia in the 1990s.  The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mongolia now has over 2000 members.

During their time in Mongolia, the team prepared, poured and finished 30 tons of concrete using shovels, wheelbarrows, pails, barrells and much brawn and hand work.  In addition to laying concrete the team also taught English as a Second Language classes, and workshops in basic math, accounting, first aid and compass navigation.

The team poses on the large expanse of concrete they poured and finished.

The team worked under primitive and demanding conditions.  They had to physically haul all of the water needed for drinking, washing and cement work from a well to the construction site.  "The well had been repaired by school personnel and is now used by the school as well as local herders of cattle, sheep, horses and goats," explained Paul Lehmann.  The group also had to carry in wood from nearby stands for cooking and heating.

In addition to the construction and teaching work, the team found time to lead a Week of Prayer, speak at a nearby church, play with the children, and do health visitations with local herders.  At night the group slept in the gers that serve as dormitories for the school.

Students set up the gers (yurts) that were used for housing.

"We designed this study tour to give students the opportunity to learn by giving to and serving others," said Lehmann.  "We did this because we fully believe what Ellen White wrote in The Desire of Ages, 'We can impart only that which we receive from Christ; and we can receive only as we impart to others.  As we continue imparting, we continue to receive; and the more we impart, the more we shall receive.  Thus we may be constantly believing, trusting, receiving, and imparting.'"

Bonita Campbell Chosen Staff of the Year

Bonita Campbell, who has most ably served as the administrative assistant in the Chan Shun Science Centre for the past 15 years is the recipient of this year's Staff of the Year Award.  "Bonita has served the faculty, staff and students of Canadian University College with great efficiency, good humour and much kindness all 15 of those years and we are grateful for each of them," said President Mark Haynal.  "However, this past academic year, with the Chan Shun Science Centre suddenly out of commission, Bonita did extraordinary work under unusually difficult circumstances that made an incredible difference in us being able to weather the loss as an institution."  The text of Haynal's remarks at the presentation can be read here.

Faculty and staff gathered by the sundial in front of the administration building Tuesday afternoon for the Staff of the Year presentation.  The Social Committee, under the direction of Audrey Haggkvist served refreshments including watermelon, chips, and ice cream bars.

President Haynal and AAA Team Visit Ukraine

The AAA team poses in front of the Euro-Asia Division apartment
complex with the UACHE administrative team.

CUC President Mark Haynal was part of an Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) team that recently visited Ukrainskiy Adventistskiy Centr Vishchoi Osvity (Ukrainian Adventist Center of Higher Education or UACHE) in Bucha, a small town on the outskirts of Kiev.  "In countries where regional accreditation is not well-established, accreditation with AAA is a very useful tool for demonstrating academic credibility," explained Haynal.

Ukrainian Adventist Center of Higher Education is the umbrella organization governing two separate institutions that share the same campus.  Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences (UIAS) was established in 1999, with an enrolment of 310, grants bachelor's degrees in seven disciplines.  The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Ukraine offers its 183 students a Bachelor's degree in Practical Theology and the Master's in Divinity in Children and Adolescent Ministry.

"I was deeply moved by how much the students love their school," said Haynal.  "I was surprised that one of several reasons they gave was that the teachers do not demand bribes from their students in order to pass the course!"

Many know that Dr. Haynal thoroughly enjoys eating all sorts of ethnic foods.  "While much of what I ate in Ukraine would not be on the CHIP diet, it was delicious food," explained Haynal.  "Because the work was intense and the days were long and filled with interviews and writing reports every meal was a special treat for me!" 

 

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada was well-represented during this visit.  The team leader was former SDACC Director of Education, Dr. Mike Lekic, now with the General Conference Office of Education.  Also on the team was former Treasurer of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference Brent Burdick, who is now treasurer of the Euro-Asia Division.

Dr. Haynal's maternal great-grandfather, Theophil A. Babienco, grew up in the village of Tarascha, about 140 km south of Kiev.  There he began keeping the Sabbath as a result of his own Bible study.  Because he was convincing many others to keep the Sabbath the Orthodox Church had him banished first to Starvropol in northern Caucasus and later to Huresy, near Mount Ararat.

It was while exiled in Starvropol that Babienco learned of Seventh-day Adventists and officially joined the church.  During his time in Starvropol, Babienco sneaked back to Tarascha and established there an Adventist church.  "I was surprised to find many of the people I met while in Ukraine knew the Babienco name and about the work my great-grandfather did," said Haynal.  The SDA Encyclopedia entry on Babienco can be viewed here.