There’s always more to learn

Celebrate. Contemplate. Commemorate.

The year 2021 has been a milestone one for many of us, and for so many reasons. Precisely why we are thrilled to mark the end of a very long tunnel with a bright spotlight — one that is about to beam down on a roster of programs designed to help redefine our future.

Dubbed “Alumni All-Access,” this lineup of interactive online workshops, in-person options and digital experiences is being hosted by an A-list of experts from an Olympian and award-winning authors to community champions, researchers, alumni, and entrepreneurs. Running from Sept. 17 to Oct. 7, Alumni All-Access has partnered with some key community leaders — such as the Calgary International Film Festival, which is providing alumni and friends with some dreamy deals to its upcoming annual celebration of the movies.

Let’s start at the beginning

Kicking off the three-week celebration is the Arch Awards on Sept. 17 at noon, where we will toast this year’s six remarkable alumni in an inspirational virtual party program. The recipient of the Alumni Service Award, Dr. Janice Heard, MD’84, speaks at a timely Zoom talk, Effects of Early Childhood Stress on Development, on Oct. 6 at noon.

On the topic of health are numerous other programs, including a two-day Calgary Health Humanities Symposium on Sept. 24-25, where you’ll learn how the use of narrative can help you understand and improve the human condition. On Sept. 24, Creating a Winning Mindset in Uncertain Times features Olympian Mark Tewksbury, Hon. LLD’10, and Canadian coach Debbie Muir, BEd’75, who will discuss how best to harness your mindset and build resilience. 

Also on the books for Sept. 30 is the Faculty of Social Work Annual Gayle Gilchrist James Lecture, Western Science Meets Indigenous Wisdom. Featuring six heavy-hitters — including Blackfoot Elder Leroy Little Bear, who famously led a series of science dialogues with two of the world’s most significant 20th-century theoretical physicists along with Indigenous Elders and linguists — this buzzworthy event is bound to elicit a heady, spirited discussion. Alongside this panel, being held on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day, will be a film screening and an Indigenous authors webinar.  

Always worth your time are topical programs that deal with money (The Day the Loonie Went Extinct on Sept. 28) and education (Countering a Regressive Curriculum: A Dialogue on Nurturing Student Success and Learning on Oct. 4) — and, of course, our beloved Dinos’ home opener kicks off at 4 p.m. on Sept. 25.

A snapshot of future-focused innovative ideas

And Alumni All-Access just wouldn’t be the same without a timely multidisciplinary program from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and The School of Public Policy. On this year’s menu — What’s the Beef About Beef? — you’ll find an online panel of experts, primed to answer some of the most common consumer questions about one of Canada’s biggest agri-food products: beef. Also on topic is an in-person event called the Future of Urban Revitalization. Taking place at the downtown City Building Design Lab, this event is a chance for alumni to celebrate, reconnect and toast the 50th anniversary of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape while engaging with experts who are tackling complex urban issues in order to shape a more resilient, socially innovative city.

Packed with learning, listening and networking is what’s called Schulich Connects: Engineering Entrepreneurs. Running Sept. 23 at 8:30 a.m., this is your chance to meet fellow alumni and hear how they’ve catapulted entrepreneurial thinking to the next level. Other lively debates taking place between Sept. 17 and Oct. 7 include Courageous Conversations, An Intimate Conversation with author Joshua Whitehead and Idea Exchange.

And, for those with an appetite for all that is new, be sure to attend this year’s virtual sneak-a-peek of UCalgary’s newest building — Mathison Hall. The tour will be available to view Oct. 1.

This fall, think of Alumni All-Access as your entry pass to compelling big-picture sessions that deal with topics as varied as smart cities, mental health, quantum physics, programs that promote EDI, childhood stress, patient rights and storytelling. Many of our feature speakers present a snapshot of the ideas that can most transform our future. We hope you’ll join us at one, or all, of the experiences running from Sept. 17 to Oct. 7 where you’ll experience more opportunities for networking, learning, brainstorming and career-enhancing connections than ever before.