April 6, 2006 Source: :
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/april06/alumni.html U of C celebrates 40 years with 40 outstanding alumni What do Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Charlie Fischer (Nexen president and CEO) and his wife Joanne Cuthbertson (the next chancellor to the U of C), Evan Adams (actor and physician), Robert Thirsk (one of only eight Canadian Space Agency astronauts), and Vicki Adams Willis (Decidedly Jazz Danceworks co-founder) have in common? They’re all graduates from the University of Calgary. These six people, along with 34 others, have been named the University of Calgary’s Top 40 Alumni, from a group of more than 115,000 graduates. As the university celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the Alumni Association chose to celebrate 40 of the university’s top graduates along with the year-long celebrations. "The University of Calgary has made tremendous strides in a short period of time," says U of C President Harvey Weingarten. "Our alumni have played a huge role in the university’s success, and they are critical to it as well, as we move forward more ambitiously than ever." Celebrations for the university’s 40th anniversary are being held throughout 2006; Lumina, the university’s gala evening to officially mark the anniversary, will be held April 8. Invites have been extended to all the Top 40, and there will be a champagne reception prior to the gala in their honour. Top 40 listers are flying in from as far as Mexico, Texas, and even Switzerland. "The University of Calgary is a very special place for Charlie [Fischer] and me, and I have tremendous respect for the individuals I have come to know at the U of C. So, to be selected to be a part of the U of C’s 40th anniversary celebrations in this way is personally meaningful, and I am honoured," remarked Joanne Cuthbertson when she was told of her inclusion on the exclusive list. See attached backgrounder for complete list of the Top 40 Alumni. Interviews can be arranged with alumni, U of C Alumni Association President Tamara McCarron, or U of C President Dr. Harvey Weingarten. For more information, contact:
Grady Semmens
Media Relations Advisor – Research
University of Calgary
Phone: (403) 220-7722
Cell: (403) 651-2515
Fax: (403) 220-1312
Email: gsemmens@ucalgary.ca BACKGROUNDER University of Calgary’s Top 40 Alumni Evan Adams, MD’02
Actor, playwright, Director of Division of Aboriginal People’s Health for UBC Vicki Adams Will, BFA’73
Co-founder of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Bernadette Andrea, BA’89, MA’90
Author, women and Islam scholar Mary-Wynne Ashford, MD’81
Former president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Viola Birss, BSc’72
Researcher of innovative fuel cell technology Kevin Boyles, BPE’88, MKin’98
Former Olympian volleyball player and coach of the Dinos women volleyball team Elizabeth Cannon, BSc’84, MSc’87, PhD’91
Worldwide leader in the field of geomatics engineering Susanne Craig, BA’91
Journalist for the Wall Street Journal Joanne Cuthbertson, BEd’73
Advocate for education in Alberta and newly-appointed U of C chancellor David Damberger, BSc’05
Director of Southern African programming and founder of U of C’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders Bonnie DuPont, MEd’90
Group Vice-President, Corporate Resources for Enbridge Inc. Charlie Fischer, BSc’71, MBA’82, LLD’04
President and CEO, Nexen Inc. Max Foran, BEd’68
Professor, historian, author Cyril Frank, MD’76
Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Orthopaedics, and researcher Ratna Ghosh, MA’73, PhD’76
Researcher on multiculturalism in education; Member of the Order of Canada James Gosling, BSc’77, LLD’99
Key architect for Java programming language Mark Hammel, PhD’96
Technical supervisor for Walt Disney Feature Animation Catherine Hankins, BAH’71, MD’76
Chief scientific adviser and associate director of human rights, gender, and best practice in the Policy, Evidence, and Partnerships Department to UNAIDS Stephen Harper, BA’85, MA’91
Canadian prime minister Kent Hehr, BA’97, LLB’01
Lawyer and president of the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ted Hellard, BEd’80
Founder and chairman of Critical Mass and co-owner and president of the Calgary Stampeders Ron Hugo, BSc’89
Professor in U of C’s Department of Mechanical Engineering award winner of countless teaching awards Diana Law, MSc’82
Nurse and co-founder of Calgary’s Integrative Health Institute Laura Lucier, BSc’99
Mission planner and robotics flight controller at NASA Jane Matheson, PhD’99
CEO of Woods Homes Ross McIntyre, BMus’87, BEd’97
Band teacher at Lord Beaverbrook High School and conductor of Westwinds Jazz Orchestra Luanne Metz, MD’83
Leader of world-respected Multiple Sclerosis clinic through U of C and Calgary Health Region Curtis Myden, BSc’99
Three-time Olympian and near graduate of U of C medical school Andrew Pearce, BSc’84, MSc’88
Research & Development manager for Dreamworks Animation Ben Perrin, BComm’01
Founder of The Future Group, a charitable organization that combats child sex slavery Janet Ronsky, PhD’95
Professor in U of C’s Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and researcher in biomechanics Patricia Rowbotham, BEd’75, LLB’81
Judge with the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta Julie Rowney, MSc’72, PhD’75
Professor and director of international programs for Haskayne School of Business Murray Smith, BA’71
Former Alberta cabinet minister and now minister-counsellor at the Alberta Office of the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. Susan Smith, BN’75, PhD’95
International nurse and now founder and director of an organization for community health in Mexico Dianne Tapp, MN’93, PhD’97
National research chair of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses Robert Thirsk, BSc’76
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chip Wilson, BA’80
Founder of Lululemon Athletica W. Brett Wilson, MBA’85
Chairman of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. D. George Wyse, MD’74
Principal investigator on a study of atrial fibrillation that changed the way physicians around the world treat the condition.
| 