Bill Tapuska introduced Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, president of the University of Calgary. Elizabeth was named U of C president on July 1, 2010. She is a professional engineer and was dean of the Schuler School of Engineering, U of C. Her specialty is Geomatics Engineering with emphasis on Global Positioning.

Her giftedness as a speaker was recognized by questioner Robyn Braley, who said that she must surely have escaped her engineering roots to become a public relations phenomenon.

Elizabeth told of her PEI roots and her father's Rotary roots. She exclaimed that the U of C and Rotary both work for the Calgary community. She came west in 1982 and said she arrived just as the exodus occurred from Calgary.

SOME INTERESTING DETAILS

• Two-thirds of students are from Calgary and two-third remain here after graduation.
• The U of C has roots to 1906, but, in 1946, a committee was formed to ask government to have a university here.
• The university is 45 years young and will celebrate 50 years in 2016.
• Right now, there are 31,000 students and 5,000 faculty and staff - a small city.
• Their new downtown campus is at 8th and 8th.
• They have a book storage building at Spy Hill.
• There are 140,000 alumni living in 148 countries, but two-thirds live here.
• There is an international public policy programme headed by Jack Mintz - 40 folks from around the world.
• There is a concentrated academic programme for the energy industry.
• There are now 14 faculties and a nursing programme in Qatar (pronounced Kutter).
• 4,000 faculty community leaders and students are visioned for the U of C future.
• They have a plan approved by the board of governors and the faculty association.
• The original motto was: "I will lift up my eyes (sounds like a psalm to me) and the mountains are near." It is now "Eyes High".
• The budget is 1 billion dollars. Half comes from the government, 25% from tuition fees and 25% from research grants.
• It is a research university.
• There is no conflict with the new Mount Royal University. Both schools have increased enrolments.
• The goal is to provide a good education and Elizabeth said that there 95 post-secondary schools in Canada and all are excellent.

Every school has a plan and desires to be the best. And, as a graduate who has attended eight schools of higher learning, and is a graduate of three, I found this presentation truly amazing.

Bryden Horwood thanked Dr. Cannon and presented her with the Boltman.

reported by Don Axford