Prestigious award recipients at Assiniboine recognized

Media Release

www.assiniboine.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Prestigious award recipients at Assiniboine recognized

BRANDON, Man. (September 11, 2020)— The recipients of the Governor General’s Academic Medal and the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medals have been presented with their awards in advance of graduation this fall.

James Epp, Network Administration Technology graduate, is the recipient of the first ever Governor General’s award presented by Assiniboine.

"I am honoured to receive this award. I have a great appreciation for my instructors who encouraged and developed my spirit of discovery," said Epp. "Being able to challenge myself by asking the right questions and then having the confidence to find the answers to those questions has given me the skills necessary to develop my career and I am grateful to have this award recognize my abilities."

The Governor General’s Academic Medal recognizes academic excellence. The medal is awarded to the student who has achieved the highest overall average from a diploma program at the college.

“I congratulate James on receiving this prestigious academic award,” said Dr. Deanne Rexe, VP Academic at Assiniboine. “Receiving the highest grade point average at Assiniboine undoubtedly took great determination.”

The Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal recognizes two students who have achieved outstanding academic performance and contributed in significant ways to the college and their community.

This year’s recipients are Darise Peters-Fontaine, a graduate of the Office Management program in Long Plain First Nation, and Mariah McCue, a graduate of Practical Nursing at the Victoria Avenue East campus in Brandon.

"Studying with Assiniboine Community College has been such a rewarding experience. It's uncommon for educational institutions to offer programs on reserves, so I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Peters-Fontaine. “Receiving the Lieutenant Governor's award is an honour. I am grateful for the recognition this award brings and for the opportunities it opens up for my future."

“I was extremely nervous moving to a new province and starting out at a new school. Assiniboine quickly became like a second home, providing me with both an education and a hockey program,” said McCue. “I was able to receive a diploma in nursing and be part of a National championship team 2019 along with an undefeated season in 2020. To say I’m grateful and lucky is an understatement. Thank you, Assiniboine, for three amazing years.”

Students eligible for the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal are nominated by any combination of three staff and students and selected based on academic and technical ability, participation in college community activities, and good character and personality.

“These award recipients embody what we want Assiniboine grads to represent,” said Mark Frison, President at Assiniboine. “When you see a grad that has been engaged and performed well academically, who has also been involved in the college outside of academics or has been a community contributor and volunteer, that speaks to an extraordinary character.”

Then and Now: Pandemics

Then and Now: Pandemics

By Ronnie Neiman

More than one hundred years ago, the influenza pandemic happened. Brandon University continued its schooling back then as well, but in an entirely different format to the one the university decided on this time around. In 1918, there was no option for a digital format, so those who attended classes, had to attend in person and be extraordinarily careful with distance and cleanliness. 

Another factor that set the 1918 pandemic apart from the current COVID-19 crisis is that a hundred years ago was that the world was at war. It was the end of the war, but fighting was still ongoing, and soldiers were still encamped all over the world. 

At that time all students were affected either by the war, the pandemic or both. Some chose to volunteer their time to help the war effort or to help those ailing from the influenza. This took them away from their classes and the university, and sometimes the outcome was the worst possible, their deaths. In that sense, they are all truly heroes. 

Photo’s from the Brandon University Library archives show what was reported on the pandemic at that time. It wasn’t a lot because much of the news was focused on the war but it still shows the student populace’s state of mind.  

On the Philosophy of Time

More than enough times people will be listening to motivational speakers, and they will say stuff like “every passing moment you will never experience again” or “its not the clock that is ticking away here, it is your life.” While listening to those kinds of things can motivate people to not waste time, it will also cause people to not experience time as well. The famous idea of time always seems to be one of the main pillars of every problem everything has. 

The modern understanding of what ‘time’ is, has led us to believe that all the time we ‘lose’ is time we had to begin with. If one, we to survey a large portion of people about whether or not we could change the future, most would say that the future is not set in stone. The problem with this is that in a way contradicts the current understanding of how time works. The time you will gain or lose does not even exist yet. In other words, how could the future not be set in stone if you had a finite amount of time to begin with? If you did have a finite amount of time, then you would have to de-exist at a specific moment in the future, and there would be nothing you could do to change that. In that sense, the future is set in stone. Thus, we cannot lose time exactly, in order to lose time, you would need to know your own final destination. 

One could argue that death is a final destination. However, do you know the exact moment it will happen? No. It could be in the next two minutes or the next thirty years. In this idea, people lose time in a relative manner. Relative to an unpredictable event. Loss implies and end to something, or so that is how it is perceived. 

Imagine existence without time. Everything would be constant unchanging; nothing could ever do anything. Events rely directly on time. Without the idea of time everything things come to enjoy and seek pleasure would cease to be. All things beautiful, and all things horrifying, must begin to end in order to exist. Trying to hold onto moments, by any means is to try to stop the passage of time. Let’s say a god told you if you took a picture of your girlfriend planting a flower, everything in that picture from that point on would be permanently wiped from existence except the photo of the event itself. Would you still be able to bring yourself to take the picture? No, well why not? People take pictures of beautiful moments to try and capture the moment so that they can return to it again. In that thought experiment you get exactly that. We do not do it because we know there will be more majestic moments like that as well, but the only way that hey will happen if is we do not take the picture. In other words, the moment has to end, we have to experience the moment. This is why the idea of taking photos of beautiful moments is ridiculous. When you take a photo, you are no longer experiencing that moment. So, try not to stop time, live the moment. The purpose of time is to remind us to experience the here and now. 

By N. Monk, The Unofficial Philosopher

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Weekly Brain Teasers

What can be seen at the middle of March and April, that can’t be seen at the beginning or ending of the month.

Ans: The Letter 'R’

Brandon University 50th Home Coming

October 11th - 14th Celebrating 50 years since the first class graduated from Brandon University.

 Thursday October 11th Events

 Homecoming Information Booth

Healthy Living Centre

1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Arts Speaker: “Rival Knowledges in Ancient Greece and Present-Day Canada”

Clark Hall, Room 212

4:45 pm - 6:00 pm

 Future Students’ Info Night

Harvest Hall

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Under the Stars

Louis Riel Room, McMaster Hall

6:30 pm – 11:00 pm

 Celebration of Authors

Education Building Room 107

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

 Powerhouse on the Prairies

Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

 ‘In the (K)Now’ student art exhibition – Opening Reception 

Sutherland Art Gallery

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

 pro series Homecoming Concert

Lorne Watson Recital Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-60

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

 Food Trucks

Brandon University

12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

 Friday October 12th Events

 Homecoming Information Booth

Healthy Living Centre

1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

‘Where STEM education can lead,’ with Col. Chris Hadfield, presented by the BU Faculty of Science

Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

 ‘In the (K)Now’ student art exhibition

Sutherland Gallery of Art

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

 Champagne Celebration

Harvest Hall

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 Powerhouse on the Prairies

Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

 Homecoming Kick-Off, presented by Sunrise Credit Union

Healthy Living Centre – Walking/Jogging Track

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

 Basketball Reunion and Wall of Fame kick-off celebration

Brandon University

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

 Bobcats Basketball

Healthy Living Centre

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

 Under the Stars

Louis Riel Room, McMaster Hall

6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

 ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,’ with Col. Chris Hadfield

Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

 Bobcats Volleyball

Healthy Living Centre

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

 Saturday, October 13th Events

 New Beginnings Research Conference

Clark Hall, Room 212

8:30 pm - 1:30 pm

 Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony and brunch

Victoria Inn

8:30 pm - 12:00 pm

 Homecoming Information Booth

Healthy Living Centre

9:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 ‘The Lego Movie’ with cereal bar

Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

 PrairieCon GamesDay

Education Building Room 107

10:00 am – 10:00 pm

 Psychology Department Reunion

Elephant Room, Knowles-Douglas Building

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

 Campus Bookstore and Forbidden Flavours open for Homecoming

Mingling Area, Knowles-Douglas Building

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 BU Family Fun afternoon

Brandon University

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 ‘Campus Chrome’ car show

Brandon University

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 Food Trucks

Brandon University

12:00 pm – 11:00 pm

 Bobcats Soccer – Prowler Cup

Optimist Park

1:00 pm – 5:15 pm

 Open Campus & Tours

Clark Hall, Room 104

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 Parallel Prairies Book Launch

Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

 Alumni Authors & Faculty Book Fair

Mingling Area, Knowles-Douglas Building

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 Philosophy Reunion & Celebration of Dr. May Yoh

He Oyate Tawapi (Ceremony Room), Health Studies Complex, Room 141

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 Bobcat Alumni Games

Healthy Living Centre – North Gym

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

 ‘In the (K)Now’ student art exhibition

Sutherland Gallery of Art

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

 Dinner & Awards

Harvest Hall

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

 Bobcats Volleyball

Healthy Living Centre

5:00 pm

 ‘Fifty Fest” free music concert, presented

Brandon University

5:00 pm – 11:55 pm

 Under the Stars

Louis Riel Room, McMaster Hall

6:30 pm – 11:00 pm

 Bobcats Basketball

Healthy Living Centre

7:00 pm

 Sunday October 14th Events

Harvest Hall

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Friendship

It's hard to describe the feeling we share
It's a feeling of understanding, honesty and trust
Friendship means everything to us
The bonding we have is so strong that it will never end
Like the Sun, the Moon and the stars

Sweet Mother

Sweet mother,
       I will never forget you, you have suffered and struggled to see me become the child i am today, a respectable person in the society.

       I remember when i didn't eat, you also didn't eat, when i was crying, you carried me and wiped the tears from my eyes with your sweet and tender voice consoling me, when i was sick you were there at my bed side taking care of me as a Guardian Angel, If Angels are real then I know you are one of them.

        We had some good days and some not so very good days. The constant lectures, advice, training and scolding you gave to me, i thought those were signs of your hatred towards me, boy was i wrong. Even though i didn't say "i love you too" the countless times you told me you loved me, in my heart i was glad. You've sacrificed alot for me.  Remember that time Dad never showed up for my game, you called in sick just to come see me play and got suspended for lying. i didn't show my gratitude because i was mad at dad but when i saw you, there was this flame that lit in me and i smiled, we lost the match but i won something else, You.

        I was always a jerk and didn't show my feelings to you because i didn't want to look stupid or weak, but that was a child's thinking. I wished i told you a lot of things and how much i loved you. Dad was never there but you were, i took all my hatred for him on you, but you always smiled back and apologized. I knew i was wrong but didn't stop. I saw you the other night crying, I never realised you suffered more, you were always hiding that sadness behind a smile and I felt bad for you,.

        I saved money so i could get  you something for christmas, i was so excited i wanted to tell you not to worry because i got your back, i wanted to say i was sorry for everything i did to you, i wanted to say i love you, i wanted to see that smile on your face, i wanted you to be happy, i wanted you to rest and let me take care of you. I remember that night before christmas when i came back from the store after getting you your present. There were lots of cops outside the house, i saw you, still smiling and looking cute, you just layed there didn't move as the guy covered you up in a black sack and lifted you into the van.

        You were suffering from cancer all this time and you never told me. You were always cheerful and happy and smiling, it breaks my heart right now. I never should have waited for christmas, i should have told you everyday, every minute, how much i loved you, how sorry i was, I'm sorry Ma, I'm sorry Ma, I'm sorry Ma, I'm sorry Ma, I love you a lot and will never forget you.

         It's been twenty five years now since you joined the angels, i havn't forgotten your training, which i use on Tanya all the time, i think she hates me. I just became the president of the company where i work, can you believe that. You still have that perfectly beautiful smile as i look at your grave. Oh yes Tanya just turned 5 today and she has your smile, my there Sweet Mother.

Riddle For The Week

I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air. What am I?

Answer: Smoke

The Quill Holiday Writing Contest: Winter, My Favourite Enemy

Winter, My Favourite Enemy
By Jordan Janzen

It’s four PM, the sun is about to set,

My cheeks are burning and my boots are wet.

The wind assaults the little bit of skin that is exposed,

It seeps through my jacket, even though it’s closed.

My nose is runny and my lashes are frosted.

My legs are like logs, and I am utterly exhausted.

Snowflakes slap me in the face,

But I manage to keep up the pace!

As I trudge through the deep snow,

I just thought you should know,

Although the winter can be tough,

I can never get enough!

Of soaring down a hill on your sled,

Or finishing a snowman with a top hat on his head.

Of racing down the ice, with a hockey stick in your hand,

Or dancing around in the winter wonderland!

Nothing compares to the thrill of the chase,

During a snow ball fight, a smug grin on your face.

Winter comes with its con’s and pro’s,

But the joy often trumps the woes.

Summer is fun, the beach is nice,

But nothing competes with snow and ice.