Forever Green and Gold

It's that time of year when people turn to their favourite poets to express how they feel. But this year, why not choose a world-class wordsmith with a connection to your other true love—the U of A? Whether you want to woo your sweetheart or contemplate one of life's deepest mysteries, these seven have got you covered.

1. Iman Mersal is an associate professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, focusing on Arabic language, literature and film. In 2014 Mersal’s poem “Love” was named one of the 50 greatest modern love poems in the world.

2. Alumna Mary Pinkoski was the City of Edmonton’s 5th Poet Laureate, serving as ambassador of the spoken word from 2013 to 2015. A love of home permeates much of Pinkoski’s poetry, and is on full display in poems like “My City is A Body” and “Dear Edmonton.”

3. Former professor of comparative literature E.D. Blodgett was Edmonton’s 2nd Poet Laureate (2007-2009). His Apostrophes: Woman at a Piano won the Governor General’s Award for poetry in 1996. “All” is taken from Blodgett’s 2003 collection Apostrophes V: Never Born Except within the Others.

4. Alumnus Malcolm Azania, also known as Minister Faust, is a former teacher turned jack of all literary trades. He was also the University of Alberta’s writer-in-residence in 2014-2015. Azania performed “Hug is Not a Verse-itile Word” for the CBC in 2000.

5. Former professor of creative writing Bert Almon is a past recipient of the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry from the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, as well as the winner of the City of Edmonton Book Prize. “The Feast of St. Valentine” is from 2007′s A Ghost in Waterloo Station.

6. Elizabeth Smart’s novel of prose poetry By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept, an ode to lover and fellow poet George Barker, is considered a classic of the genre. Smart spent a year at the U of A as writer-in-residence in 1982-1983. “Love Poem” can be found in The Collected Poems of Elizabeth Smart.

7. Derek Walcott was one of the most accomplished writers in the world, receiving the Queen’s Medal for Poetry, a MacArthur Foundation Award, as well as the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. While serving a three-year term as distinguished scholar-in-residence at the U of A, Walcott worked on White Egrets, which won the 2010 T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry. Walcott passed away in 2017. Listen to actor Tom Hiddleston recite one of Walcott’s most beloved poems, “Love After Love.” 

Epic discoveries and incredible stories happen every year at the University of Alberta—but some are so fantastic, it's hard to believe they actually happened. We swear it's all true, and here's how some of the top stories of the past year might look if they’d received the Hollywood treatment.

Original story: ‘Pull my finger!’ say scientists who solve knuckle-cracking riddle

Original story: Golden Bears hockey does it again

Original story: How funny is this word? The 'snunkoople' effect

Original story: Poker-playing program knows when to fold 'em

Our campuses became a bit more welcoming and beautiful in 2015 with the addition of some new buildings, student spaces, and public art. 

“...those principles which guide and direct a President’s activities...should be to remember at all times that he must serve the cause of education...”

A former dean of Arts and Science and the U of A’s first vice-president, Walter Johns did not want to hold an installation ceremony. He was persuaded to do so by fellow faculty and members of the Board of Governors, and was installed as the U of A’s 6th president on April 4, 1959. The university saw a great deal of growth under John’s leadership, including expansion in Calgary in 1960. Six years later, the University of Alberta in Calgary would become the University of Calgary.

"We of the University, Sir, are building not for today nor tomorrow but for a time as long as civilization shall endure on these western plains; for no men of prophetic vision would dare to contemplate the time when the university would not exist as the summit and coping stone of the aspirations and achievement of the people."

Robert Wallace was installed as the U of A’s second president on October 10, 1928. His installation was held in Convocation Hall, and was broadcast over the Faculty of Extension’s brand-new radio station, CKUA. Wallace was installed by Alexander Rutherford, now chancellor of the university he’d helped create. 

“Tonight the university community places a measure of trust in me, and people have come from near and far to pay their respects to this University and to me. Such trust and respect come to few people in their lifetime, and I am grateful they have come to me.”

Max Wyman was installed as the U of A’s 7th president on Oct. 6, 1969. He was the first Albertan, and first U of A graduate, to be named president. A mathematician, Wyman was the youngest person ever to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

David Turpin will be installed as the 13th president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta on November 16, 2015. The installation ceremony is a rare occasion, but one that is full of history and tradition. Here are some tidbits you may not have known about installations at the U of A.

1. For The Whole People

The installation ceremony is the public acknowledgment of a new president’s appointment by the Board of Governors. The ceremony is not required under Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act, but it allows an incoming president to share their vision for the university, as well as make a public declaration that they will fulfil and honour the duties and responsibilities of the president. During the ceremony, the new president will be asked by the chair of the Board of Governors to take an oath of office. At the request of the Board of Governors, the chancellor will then install him/her as president, and the newly installed president will then be invested with the robes of office. For this convocation ceremony, President Turpin has asked that the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Honourable Lois Mitchell, be the one to install him as president.

2. Installation Is Not Convocation, But It’s Close

Historically, the installation of the president was part of the convocation ceremony. Given the size of today’s graduating classes, however, convocation and the conferring of honorary degrees will happen separately from the installation ceremony.

3. The Mace Must Be In Its Place

The University Mace is carried into the installation ceremony before the chancellor. Only once it is placed on the stage in front of the chancellor has the ceremony officially begun.

4.   There Are Gaps In The Records

U of A history books and archives provide dates and information on the installation of 10 of the first 12 U of A presidents. Installation information for the remaining two presidents is unavailable. The records show that the U of A’s first president, Henry Marshall Tory, was simply announced as president by Premier Rutherford at the first Senate meeting on March 30, 1908; there was no installation at the first convocation ceremony on October 13 of that same year. There is also no installation information for Robert Newton, who became president through a provincial order-in-council in 1941. This may be a result of a gap in university records, but it may also be that a formal installation ceremony was considered inappropriate at a time when many U of A students, and Albertans, were fighting in the Second World War.

5. Greetings From Planet Academia

One of the oldest traditions of installation is the greetings from other universities and colleges. This year, representatives from over 30 post-secondary institutions will be in attendance, with many more sending in letters of congratulations to the university and President Turpin.

6. Technicolor Dreamcoats

Similar to convocation, members of the procession and platform party will be dressed in academic regalia. The various colours worn represent the degrees earned by the wearer, as well as the institutions they attended. Many individuals also send their gowns to the university in advance of the installation ceremony, because they are too heavy or ornate to carry by the usual means.

7. The First Of His Kind

Max Wyman was the first Albertan, and the first U of A alumnus, to be appointed president. He was the university’s seventh president, serving one term (1969-1974). 

8. Evergreen And Gold

Installation is a time for past leaders of the U of A to return home and take part in the celebration of a new president. President Turpin’s installation ceremony will be no different. Expected to attend the ceremony are Presidents Emeriti Myer Horowitz, Rod Fraser, and Indira Samarasekera; Chancellors Emeriti Peter Savaryn and Linda Hughes; Board Chairs Emeriti Stanley Milner, Jim Edwards, Brian Heidecker, and Doug Goss. Sandy Mactaggart, John Ferguson, and Eric Newell will all be in attendance as former Board Chairs and Chancellors.

9. Double Duty

 In 1974, a unique ceremony was held, wherein both a new president and a new chancellor were installed at the same time. Harry Gunning became the university’s eighth president, and Ronald Dalby became the university’s 10th chancellor. Premier Peter Lougheed also delivered a major address on the state of Alberta and the U of A’s place within it at the ceremony.

10. Honouring Our Place 

Halloween is this Saturday, and there’s a variety of activities happening this week on campus: 

October 28-Halloween at Metro Cinema, hosted by The Gateway

October 28- Deadmonton House, hosted by University of Alberta International

October 29-Spooky Campus Stories, hosted by Alumni Relations (SOLD OUT)

October 29-Free Candy at the Observatory during its weekly observation hours

October 30-All-Day Halloween movies in CCIS L2 003, hosted by the Undergraduate Physics Society

October 30-Plasma Car Derby, hosted by the UAlberta United Way team

October 31-Halloween Howler Hiking Trip, hosted by Recreation Services

October 31-Sonic Masking parade, hosted by the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology

October 31-Trick-or-trEAT, the Campus Food Bank’s annual food drive

Three female graduates at the May 1933 convocation ceremony at McDougall United Church. 

University convocation ceremonies were initially held in Convocation Hall in the Arts Building, but because of the growing number of graduates, from 1931-1958 the ceremony was held at McDougall. In 1958, convocation ceremonies were moved to the Jubilee Auditorium, where they are still held, along with the convocation ceremonies at Augustana in Camrose.

Class of 2015—

Come with me, if you will, on an imaginative journey. Leave pomp and circumstance for just a moment and cast your mind back to your first day at the University of Alberta.

Who were you then? What hopes did you have?

Did you feel a bit overwhelmed arriving on campus? A little unsure about whether you were in the right program, let alone the right building? Or did you feel like you were finally in the right place, ready to become the person you wanted to be?

We all have our own unique University of Alberta beginning.

I’ll never forget one of my first days as president. I was feeling confident and excited, convinced that I was ready to take on the biggest challenge of my life. So out I went during orientation week to speak to students and hand out some U of A goodies. Having just done the research for my interview, I was keen to see what they knew about their university.

“When was the U of A founded?” I asked one bright-eyed student. “1779,” he responded with great certainty. I suggested he try a history course.

I asked another student, “Who was the first president of the U of A?” I received a blank look. After a few seconds, the student said, “And who are you?” I asked, “Who do you think I am?” Her face brightened and she said, “You must be the Students’ Union president!”

How flattering to be mistaken for a 20-year-old, but I knew right then that I had work to do.

Having the title of president was one thing. Becoming a leader she could respect and recognize—that I would have to earn.

And so my own U of A education began.

Today we celebrate the educational journey that you and I began on that first day. The U of A has taught me more than I thought possible. I hope you feel the same. In past years, I’ve had to rely on memories of my own convocation to find the words of advice I’d like to share today.

But this year, it’s different. This year, after 10 years as president, I too am leaving the U of A. Like many of you, I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing next.

I’m even moving back in with my family. Well, to be honest, it’s my daughter and her family who are moving in with me while they have house renovations done. But right about now, without a definite plan, it feels frighteningly close to moving back into the basement.

So here we are, you and I, excited and apprehensive at the same time.

It’s been such a privilege for me to lead this great university and to see so many talented graduates cross the stage. When I reflect on the last decade, my main aim as a person and as your president has been to set myself and every student on a journey to excellence. Today is just the first stop for you on that lifetime endeavour.

I believe that excellence is not merely rooted in ambition and achievement, as many people think, but in something quite different. It is not about your grade point average or academic awards—in fact, it’s not a goal at all. Instead, seeking excellence is a process or a way of living your life—excellence is that point on the horizon giving you direction.

I first learned from my father, who was an ear, nose and throat specialist in Sri Lanka. Every day, he toiled away caring for thousands of extremely poor patients. Faced with this daily grind, my father might have chosen to treat his patients quickly, doing only what was necessary to help them out the door, without thinking deeply about their chronic illnesses. But he was a person who sought excellence in everything he did; “good enough” was not in his repertoire.

In my youth, he uncovered a bioelectric disturbance in the inner ear which caused debilitating dizziness. He then devised a minor operation to treat the condition, which brought unimaginable relief to his patients. I was only a teenager, but I was struck by his passion and deep caring for his patients. His daily caring had translated into excellence. His actions remind me of a favourite quote:

“Excellence can be attained if you risk more than others think is safe, care more than others think is wise, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.”

Here at the U of A, I have continued to learn this lesson many times over.

As you launch your careers, I would like to be able to assure you that, with thoughtful planning, the journey towards excellence goes in a straight line. But it doesn’t. No doubt you already know this. Life constantly surprises us.

Good or bad—sometimes you can feel completely derailed by the unexpected. It’s how we respond to and learn from these surprises that is our true test.

Start by using the skills you’ve gained over your degree. Approach every problem—and opportunity—with both critical thinking skills and imagination. Connect the dots between ideas and people.

Pay attention to details that others may have missed. Read and do research so that you can understand the full context of the issue. Seek alternative perspectives—yours alone will never provide a full picture.

This last point is important. Your generation is often touted as the most connected generation in human history. Hard to imagine, but when I became president, social media was so new that no one really knew it existed yet. Communications technology has made all of our lives infinitely easier. I can send an email, Skype into a meeting, or text a quick instruction—and things get done. But I’ve learned that we can sometimes mistake efficiency for quality.  

Without face-to-face communication—which engages all five of our senses—technology can sometimes dehumanize and create misunderstanding. You may get things done but you may find that you’re doing them alone. As an African proverb teaches:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.”

I think of my father and the thousands of conversations he had with his patients—nothing would have come of them, if he hadn’t been listening with his whole self.

The University of Alberta has a deep, resonant spirit and purpose that injects this kind of human connection into the heart of all we do. It goes back to our first president, Henry Marshall Tory, and his call for us to be a university for the uplifting of the whole people.

His call resonated in 1908, perhaps because Alberta’s pioneers had risked more than others thought wise and believed they could build a better future for themselves and others.

Tory’s call has grown stronger in our awareness that this particular place has a much deeper history of being a gathering place where Aboriginal Peoples of many nations came together for centuries in both spiritual and economic harmony. They knew that only by caring more than others think wise can we survive and prosper.

This fierce pride in community—and its corresponding commitment to serve and uplift others—are hardwired into the U of A. They are now a part of me. They are now a part of you. They give our journey towards excellence a deeper meaning.

Graduands, each one of you has your own particular U of A story. Continue to live out that story with purpose and vision. I ask you to risk more, care more, dream more, and expect more of yourself than you thought possible.

And always remember: By seeking for excellence and striving to fulfil your highest potential, you can and will become a person who uplifts others and makes the human community better for all.

In addition to the usual ceremonial rites of convocation, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students at the University of Alberta are presented with an honouring as they cross the convocation stage. After each student meets the president, chancellor, and representative from the Board of Governors, an elder, as well as a staff member from the Aboriginal Student Services Centre, will rise and greet the student on stage. The elder will then honour the graduating student with a feather, sash, or Inuksuk.

“To be given an Eagle feather is the highest honour that can be awarded within Aboriginal culture. It is a mark of distinction, one that could indicate that a rite of passage has been earned. The Eagle feather represents the norms, responsibilities and behaviours that are all a part of conditioning, learning and commitment to a spirit. It is in this way that life is honoured and becomes whole. The law of nature calls for one order of life to depend on another.

Therefore when one holds the Eagle feather, one must speak the truth in as positive a way as one can, for the ear of the Creator is that much closer to the feather of the Eagle. We honour the feather of the Eagle with great care, showing it respect, honesty, and truth at all times.”

“The Métis Sash is a finger-woven belt made of wool, and it is approximately three metres long. Traditionally, it was used as a scarf or as a rope, or it was tied at the waist to hold a coat closed. It served as a first aid kit, a wash-cloth, a towel, or as a saddle blanket when the Métis were out on a buffalo hunt. The threads of the fingers were used as a sewing kit, or valuable possessions were tied to them. The Sash is considered a great honour and it is worn with pride and esteem.

The colours of the Sash are symbolic of the following:

Red: the blood of the Métis, shed over the years for our inherent rights;

Blue: the depth of our spirit;

Green: fertility;

White: our connection to Mother Earth and the Creator;

Yellow: our prosperity; and

Black: the dark period in which the Métis people had to endure dispossession and repression.”

Narrower sashes are for women, and are worn over the shoulder. Broader sashes are worn by men around their waist.

“An Inuit word that literally translated means ‘stone man that points the way.’ The Inuksuk can be found throughout Northern Canada from Baffin Island to Victoria. The purpose of the Inuksuk was to show direction and guide the way. The Inuksuk has been adopted today as a symbol to remind us of our dependence on each other and the value of strong relationships.”

Spring convocation at UAlberta begins on May 31, with a ceremony at the Augustana campus in Camrose. From then until June 11, the entire University of Alberta community will be celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2015.

We want you to share your stories.

Whether you’re a student about to graduate, or a proud parent, family member and friend, we want you to share your images, videos, tweets and stories with us on social media.

Use the #UAlberta15 hashtag.

"Another year has gone! ... This means another class is departing from us, pushed out into the larger world of men and things. How inexorable is time! You cannot remain because the growing urge from within as well as the call from without, forcing you on, make it impossible. All that we can do, we who have been responsible for guiding your studies for the past four years, is to wish you Godspeed on your journey, expressing the hope that you will find happiness and prosperity. Without question, you will find the work of the world harder and less pleasant than college days, yet paradoxical as it may seem, the real joy of living is before you, the joy of seeing life grow into achievement. If I dared give a word of advice, it would be, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.’" - Henry Marshall Tory

2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag, which was designed by alumnus George Stanley.

Stanley was a Rhodes Scholar, hockey player (he won the Spengler Cup in 1931 while at Oxford) and esteemed historian. He wrote the seminal The Birth of Western Canada: a History of the Riel Rebellions, and a biography of Louis Riel. Stanley was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Companion of the Order of Canada, as well as Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

Stanley wanted the Canadian flag to be simple—something a child could remember and draw—and his design of a single red maple leaf atop a red field with a white centre was adopted and first raised on February 15, 1965.